Dell goes dual core
Dell has launched a notebook using Intel’s Core Duo processor, which is designed to offer higher performance for users while performing concurrent applications. The Inspiron 6400 is aimed at entertainment-minded users, with a 15.4-inch widescreen display, an integrated 5-in-1 media card reader and an ExpressCard slot to support next-generation high-speed peripherals. Without having to start Windows, Dell’s MediaDirect technology allows one-button access to digital media stored on the computer or attached devices. A range of options around processor speed, memory, battery and drives are available, with a starting weight of 6.18 pounds. The starting configuration includes an Intel Core Duo T2300 processor, Windows XP Home Edition, 512 MB DDR2 memory, 40 GB hard drive, six-cell battery, and one-year limited warranty.
Availability: Available now. Pricing: Starts with above configuration at $1,249.
URL: www.dell.ca/inspiron
Managed services software for IT solution providers
Ottawa’s Level Platforms Inc. has released Managed Workplace 5.0, a remote monitoring and management software product for IT solution providers that offer managed services to their SMB customers. Hosted at the solution provider’s site, the software is offered on an all-inclusive, per-site subscription price that includes every device and application on the end customer network. Features include a central, Web-based management dashboard, remote monitoring of all devices, applications, network services and external Web sites, automated asset inventory, trouble tickets, remote control, patch management and remote scripting.
Availability: Available now Pricing: Packages starts at US$15 per site/per month for service providers. URL: www.levelplatforms.com
Monitoring IT health
Looking to bring more management and security options to IT managers, Raritan has introduced CommandCenter NOC (CC-NOC), a management appliance that monitors, notifies and reports on key aspects of an organization’s IT health and provides proactive security features around intrusion prevention. With a dashboard accessible via a Web browser, the company said CC-NOC provides current information on network and systems performance, hardware and software assets, as well as security vulnerabilities, and is aimed at bringing greater functionality to the mid market.
Availability: Available now. Pricing: Starts at US$5,995. URL: www.raritan.com
VirusCop is on the beat
Viruses and spam on the lam beware. Calgary’s CyberMatrix Corp. has released version 2.0 of VirusCop, a freeware Windows program for reporting e-mail virus spam, Usenet spam, erroneous e-mail bounces and other spam. New features include automatic bulk reporting, which lets users save many spam messages to a folder. The program then sends complaint reports to the Internet Service Providers of the spam senders. VirusCop works in conjunction with SpamAssassin, automatically removing SpamAssassin headers before reporting. Spam that cannot be reported can be automatically forwarded to another spam reporting service such as SpamCop.
Availability: Available now Pricing: Freeware URL: www.cybermatrix.com
Intel, Microsoft team on Origami ultramobile PC
Intel and Microsoft have announced the first three devices developed around the new ultramobile PC form factor they teamed up to develop over a year ago in a project code-named Origami. One of the three devices, made by Samsung Electronics, carries a 900MHz Intel Celeron M microprocessor, a product meant for mobile devices but not specifically for the ultramobile PC. Intel plans to work to increase the performance of the microprocessors inside the device by a factor of 10, including lowering power consumption and heat, within the next few years. The devices are meant to be used as work and play devices, with video and Internet functions supported by wireless connections standard in each device, WLAN, 802.11 A/G and Bluetooth. But the ultramobiles will also support 3G wireless networks if a product developer wants to add that capability, Intel said. In addition, companies appear to be able to add features to make their devices unique.
Availability: Late June Pricing: US$1,190 URL: www.origamiproject.com
Asigra extends Televaulting tool
Toronto’s Asigra has released an extension to its Televaulting remote backup tool that integrates full data lifecycle management functionality into the backup platform. The company said Backup Lifecycle Management (BLM) would help control storage costs by moving backup and archival data to the most cost-effective storage medium. The BLM tool offers policy-based file archiving, frees up storage capacity used by stale files, and creates restorable point-in-time copies of backup sets for historical reference to meet compliance objectives. It also shrinks the size of the archive by monitoring and eliminating duplicate backup files.
Availability: Available now. Pricing: US$2,500 per terabyte of data stored in the BLM Archive. URL: www.asigra.com
Novell launches next-generation Linux desktop
Looking to begin a “viral” migration from Windows in the next several years, Novell has introduced the next version of its desktop Linux OS. The company said Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 (SLED 10) is the first version of Novell’s desktop Linux that is “good enough” for enterprises to replace Microsoft Corp.’s Windows OS in more than just limited deployments. Novell created a new 3-D graphical user interface for SLED 10 similar to that of Microsoft’s Vista, with 3-D maneuvering of windows on the desktop and transparent windows. A new plug-and-play mechanism immediately recognizes hardware devices, and Novell has also created its own music player software, called Banshee, with the help of RealNetworks Inc.
Availability: Late summer 2006. URL: www.novell.com/products/desktop/preview.html
Salesforce.com debuts new CRM ‘Unlimited’ edition
Salesforce.com has released a new high-end take on its on-demand CRM software. The vendor is hoping the product, dubbed Unlimited Edition, will encourage its customers to host more of their non-CRM applications on its AppExchange network. Salesforce.com now offers four editions of its on-demand CRM: Team, Professional, Enterprise and Unlimited. The company said Unlimited is a further step up from Enterprise Edition, which gave users a maximum storage capability of 20 MB per user. Unlimited provides 120 MB. While Enterprise could support 10 custom applications within AppExchange, Salesforce.com is positioning Unlimited Edition as being able to support as many applications as customers need, said the company.
Availability: Available now Pricing: US$195 per month. URL: www.salesforce.com
EMC rolls out new NAS devices, software
EMC Corp. has rolled out two new network-attached storage (NAS) devices and extended its Smarts IP root-cause diagnosis software to NAS systems. The new appliances include the Celerra NS704, which can scale up to 48 terabytes. For smaller shops, EMC rolled out the NS350, which can scale up to 10 terabytes and supports both Fibre Channel and ATA drives. Both devices include NAS and iSCSI connectivity and are Windows-certified. On the software side, EMC debuted Smarts IP Availability Manager for NAS, which can detect NAS systems as IP devices and diagnose root-cause failures in the IP network. It works with EMC’s Celerra systems as well as storage filers from EMC rival Network Appliance Inc. and is based on technology EMC gained in late 2004 through its acquisition of System Management Arts Inc.
Availability: Available now. Pricing: NS704 starts at US$261,000 for 2.2 terabytes. NS350 starts at US$47,000 for 1 terabyte. Smarts IP Availability Manager starts at US$50,000. URL: www.emc.com
Ascalade extends cordless VoIP phone family
Aiming to combine the convenience of a cordless phone and traditional telephone calling with the functionality of VoIP telephony, Richmond, B.C.-based Ascalade Communications Inc. has announced additions to its Companion series of VoIP cordless phones. The Companion Combo can be used for both traditional PSTN and VoIP calls. The phone is connected to a computer to make calls over the Internet using PC-based messaging or peer-to-peer applications such as Skype. Two versions will be available: a colour version with a 1.3” color screen on the handset and a black-and-white version with a three-line alphanumeric handset display.
Availability: Available now URL: www.ascalade.com
HP launches new notebook PCs
Hewlett-Packard Co. has beefed up its line of business notebooks with two new series using dual-core processors from Intel Corp. , the HP Compaq 9400 and HP Compaq 6300 series. The company will sell the machines based on a wide set of business features, ranging from fingerprint-scanning security to a hard drive that protects itself from accidental drops to battery life. The nx9400 product will run for four hours on its standard, eight-cell lithium ion battery, for an additional five hours with HP’s Extended Life Battery, and an additional 10 hours with a $229, 1.7-pound “ultra-capacity battery.” The 9400 line is designed as a desktop replacement model with a 17-inch screen, but has been made 17 per cent lighter (now 7.4 pounds) than HP’s 9600. The 6300 line offers a 15-inch screen and a menu of options,for mobile corporate users or cost-sensitive SMBs
Availability: 9400 available now, 6300 available early April. Pricing: 6310 starts at $1,299, 6230 at $1,599, 9420 at $1,949. URL: www.hp.com
ThinPrint hosts push e-mail for Exchange
ThinPrint GmbH has introduced a hosted service that can push e-mail to Windows Mobile 5.0 device users who may work at companies with old versions of Microsoft Exchange., combining push e-mail with document viewing and printing. Windows Mobile 5.0 supports push e-mail, but only from Microsoft Exchange 2003 servers with SP2. ThinPrint’s Cortado push e-mail service delivers e-mail from previous versions of Exchange to Windows Mobile 5.0 devices and Nokia Eseries phones. Included in the package is Content Beamer, a ThinPrint offering that lets users view and print attachments without having to download them first. Users can send documents from their mobile e-mail box to a printer via Bluetooth or through a corporate network without downloading.
Availability: Available now URL: www.thinprint.com
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