Oracle launches PeopleSoft supply chain tools
Oracle Corp. announced the availability of Oracle’s PeopleSoft Enterprise Supply Chain Management 9.0 and PeopleSoft Enterprise Supplier Relationship Management 9.0.
PeopleSoft Enterprise eProcurement 9.0 features amount-only requisitions and off-catalog requests to simplify the procure-to-pay process for both procurement organizations and their suppliers, For direct materials categories, this latest release provides mappings for key supply chain transactions needed to simplify document exchange formats for manufacturers and distributors.
PeopleSoft Enterprise Supply Chain Management 9.0 and PeopleSoft Enterprise Supplier Relationship Management 9.0 also provide a set of key performance indicators in the Supplier Relationship Management dashboard. The embedded role-based metrics align information with job function in order to provide the right information, to the right supply manager, at the right time.
For example, PeopleSoft Enterprise 9.0 includes monthly business unit-level summaries of requisitions, purchase orders and receipts. In addition, PeopleSoft Enterprise Supply Chain Management 9.0 adds features to help proactively manage supplier Service Level Agreements (SLAs), including enhanced SLA monitoring capabilities and automated SLA violation notifications.
PeopleSoft Enterprise Supply Chain Management 9.0 and PeopleSoft Enterprise Supplier Relationship Management 9.0 have been integrated with Oracle Fusion Middleware including Oracle Business Process Execution Language (BPEL) Process Manager and Oracle XML Publisher.
Lenovo offers two screen choices on ThinkPad tablets
Lenovo announced the ThinkPad X60 Tablet, a convertible tablet PC with two new screen choices and dynamic screen rotation.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X60 Tablet’s 12-inch MultiView indoor/outdoor, anti-reflective/anti-glare display, is combined with the MultiTouch feature that allows users to move the cursor with their pen or finger, as well as a standard 170 degree viewing angle.
The ThinkPad X60 Tablets come equipped with Lenovo’s patent-pending Active Rotate function. With Active Rotate, the screen immediately orients to the user, no matter which direction it turns. The ThinkPad X60 Tablet’s design also focuses on improving more traditional tablet features like navigational tools and the pen. Now a redesigned navigational dial lets users move easily in four directions, and it remaps keys so “up” is always “up” as the user changes orientation with Active Rotate. Also, a pen resumes from suspend mode automatically when a user removes it from its cradle. An enhanced digital microphone repositioned on the front bezel enables accurate voice recognition, IBM added. Pricing for the X60 Tablet starts at $1,999. The X60 Tablet will be available for shipping in early December with select models available immediately for pre-ordering.
ViewSonic rolls out rugge handhelds
ViewSonic Corp. announced the V38r-06, V38r-07 and V38r-07a rugged handheld computers.
Built on Microsoft’s PPC 2003 operating system and Intel Xscale CPU, the handheld computers offer Bluetooth and GPS tracking. In addition, they meet the IP54 design standards for sealing against dust, moisture and extreme environmental conditions, while offering secure data exchange with 802.11b/g wireless communications and Cisco infrastructure compatibility.
The ViewSonic V38r models feature a 3.5-inch 240 x 320 LCD display and 520 Mhz Intel Xscale processor, along with a hot-swappable, rechargeable Li-Ion battery that allows battery changes without shut down or loss of data. A jog-dial and four launch buttons enable navigation through files and applications, and a built-in Secure Digital (SD) slot provides additional memory for storage and back-up operations.
Available now, the V38r rugged handheld computers will be sold through authorized ViewSonic distributors and resellers. The devices are backed by a one-year limited warranty on parts and labor, and extended warranties are available.
Samsung puts PMR into hard drives
Samsung Electronics Ltd. introduced the M80 SATA Series and M80 Series. Both series utilize Perpendicular Magnetic Recording (PMR) technology, feature free-fall sensors and offer increased storage capacity, now up to 160GB.
The M80 SATA Series features the 80GB HM080HI, the 120GB HM120II and 160GB HM160JI. The M80 Series includes the 80GB HM080HC, the 120GB HM120IC and the 160GB HM160JC.
The M80 SATA Series and M80 Series are Samsung’s first hard drives based on PMR technology. Unlike traditional longitudinal recording technology, which lays data bits end to end where they can flip and corrupt data on the disc, PMR technology places the data bits perpendicular to the disc, which reduces the corruption factor, Samsung said. In addition, by placing the data bits standing on end, more data can fit onto a disc, allowing for greater storage capacity. With PMG technology, users can fit up to 40,000 MP3 songs and 160 hours of video on a 160GB Drive.
Samsung’s 2.5-inch drives promise users increased damage risk protection by incorporating free-fall sensors. Hard drives enabled with the free-fall sensor are better able to detect changes in acceleration caused by a freefall, according to the company. The free-fall sensor parks the drive’s head on the ramp and turns the hard drive off, protecting it from damage caused in a fall. This offers a dramatic increase in reliability and resistance to hard drive damage caused in the event of a fall, Samsung added.
PowerVault drives combine hard disk, tape features
Dell introduced the PowerVault RD1000, a removable disk-based storage device for data backup and restore.
Weighing about the same as a mobile phone, the PowerVault RD1000 features an internal shock absorber to protect against impacts and handling. It is available in both USB-connected external and SATA-attached internal configurations. Backup and restore software designed specifically for the PowerVault RD1000 allows installation, management and basic backup and restore for a single server or workstation. Customers can schedule monthly, weekly or daily backups via the intuitive user interface.
Cartridges are available in 40GB, 80GB and 120GB capacities. File transfers at about the same rate it takes to save to a regular PC drive, up to 34MB/sec. It offers access time of less than one second vs. an average of one minute for tape, Dell said.
The PowerVault RD1000 will be available later this month for use with Dell PowerEdge servers and Dell Precision workstations. Pricing will range from $3403 $5653 for the 40 GB2 internal SATA version to the 120 GB2 external USB version (all of which include the disk cartridge and backup and recover management software).
