Data Management
Rational Systems Developer built on Eclipse
IBM launched software designed to help systems engineers manage their development environment and more easily comply with industry-specific regulations.
Built on Eclipse, IBM Rational Systems Developer helps organizations trace industry-specific regulatory requirements from design to implementation, according to the company. The software is designed to transform a UML 2.0 graphical representation of code into C++, Java or CORBA, enabling systems developers to write code-intensive applications more easily and with higher quality.
The product is intended to provide developers with a vendor-neutral, open platform for Rational software and partners to build upon. Integration with Rational software portfolio allows systems engineers to leverage process guidance, requirements management, change management, and testing capabilities and ensures their work is aligned with their organization’s priorities and regulatory requirements, Big Blue said.
PointBase 5.4 adds unrestricted MIDP storage
DataMirror unveiled DataMirror PointBase 5.4, the latest release of DataMirror’s zero administration SQL92/99 JDBC-compliant Java relational database.
PointBase 5.4 includes real-time performance monitoring. Developers can fine-tune the PointBase database and their applications using a built-in GUI that monitors cache, memory, input/output (IO) and other crucial performance indicators in real time. It also offers full support for CASE, NULLIF and COALESCE expressions in SQL queries, enabling developers to simplify complex SQL queries, reduce errors and minimize the development effort. The PointBase 5.4, Micro version includes unrestricted MIDP storage size. Developers of enterprise applications get much larger space requirements without worrying about managing multiple RMS record stores, Datamirror said. Storage is limited solely to the size of the MIDP device.
Versions include: PointBase Embedded for server application development; PointBase Micro, a database written for use in handheld devices; and Transformation Server for Mobile for synchronizing data between databases residing on mobile platforms and corporate back-end databases.
NCR beefs up RealScan with anti-theft tags
NCR announced enhanced bar code scanning and deactivation technology designed to deliver increased productivity, protection and efficiency at the point of sale. The solution integrates NCR RealScan 76 bi-optic scanner with two Sensormatic Ultra Max anti-theft tag deactivators from ADT Security Services, Inc.
ADT’s product produces a multiplane deactivation zone that increases tag deactivation volume and rates. Integrating the deactivation antenna into the bar code scanner synchronizes the two functionalities and eliminates delays in the deactivation process, allowing for increased throughput at the point of sale, NCR said. NCR RealScan 76 is also equipped with a dual-channel video system that generates 20,000 read scan lines per second.
UB app helps with shortcut keys
Ergonis Software released KeyCue 2.0 as a Universal Binary application that runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs.
KeyCue 2.0 adds the ability to: detect and display shortcut keys that include special keys (such as arrow keys), detect and display shortcuts installed by MenuMaster, swap the order of menu commands and their shortcuts and include or exclude shortcuts from the Apple Menu.
Also in development are Universal Binary versions of PopCharX, the productivity software for use of special characters and fonts and Typinator, the productivity software for automating the entry of repetitive text and graphics.
KeyCue 2.0 is available for Mac OS X 10.3 or later.
Storage
Iomega offers expansion chassis for StorCenter
Iomega Corp. announced the StorCenter Pro NAS 400e Expansion Chassis for the Iomega StorCenter Pro NAS 400r Server. The 400e Expansion Chassis allows users to add up to three 400e Expansion Chassis units to a single 400r series server. Each 400e Expansion Chassis adds 1TB of storage space to the host NAS device-in effect, doubling, tripling, or quadrupling its capacity.
According to Iomega, companies can select the appropriate StorCenter Pro NAS 400r Series server for their current needs (native capacity ranges from 640GB to 1.6TB), and as their storage needs grow they can add additional 1TB via a 400e Expansion Chassis unit as needed (1TB at a time). Users can add up to 3.0TB’s to the original NAS 400r Series server, all managed under the 400r Series server’s Windows Storage Server 2003 operating system licence.
The StorCenter Pro NAS 400e Expansion Chassis connects via an Ultra 320 SCSI port to the Iomega StorCenter Pro NAS 400r Series server. Users can daisy-chain up to three 400e Expansion Chassis units (1TB per 400e Expansion Chassis) to a single NAS 400r unit; the resulting configuration is a maximum total of 12 additional hot-swappable SATA hard drives that can be connected to a single Iomega NAS 400r unit. All of the hard drives can be configured as RAID 0 (striping), 1 (mirroring), or 5 (parity); using the Expansion Chassis, RAID 5 volumes can now include more than four drives, and logical RAID volumes can span across multiple 400e expansion chassis’s.
The StorCenter Pro NAS 400e Expansion Chassis is expected to begin shipping in late February for US$3,399.
E-Business
A1 generates Web site maps
Micro-Sys announced the availability of A1 Sitemap Generator for Windows, a Web site scanner, sitemap builder, and sitemap FTP upload tool for Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003.
Users can generate sitemaps over static and dynamic database Web sites, including sites and pages using https protocol, CD/DVD content, and local/network disks. A1 Sitemap Generator also optionally supports robots.txt, a file often used by webmasters to guide Web site crawlers.
The sitemap builder has both simple options for linking, titles, columns etc. and advanced options including a template system featuring 20+ fields for defining code (e.g. HTML) output.
The sitemap builder system is accompanied by a configurable crawler that can retrieve and store site data. Users can view site structure, pages found, broken and redirected links (wherefrom and whereto), summaries for directories, and more. This data also allows for generating Google XML sitmaps with fields such as already calculated and defined.
It is possible to automate and control A1 Sitemap Generator through the command line. This means you can have a task scheduler (or script/batch file) to launch A1 Sitemap Generator at given intervals. You can automate tasks such as scan Web site, build sitemap and FTP sitemap upload.
Networking
NetScanTools aimed at admins
Northwest Performance Software, Inc. announced the release of NetScanTools Pro 10.3, an all-in-one network discovery and information gathering toolkit used by network administrators, security specialists, network training instructors and law enforcement investigators. This release updates several databases and adds new features like support for SNMPv2c.
NetScanTools Pro is used to research IPv4 addresses, hostnames, domain names, e-mail addresses, or URLs automatically or with manual tools. NetScanTools Pro can be used for security testing by using one or more of the scanning tools like Port Scanner, ARP Sweep, NetScanner (ping sweep) or one of the specialized tools like Packet Generator. NetScanTools Pro assists the network administrator in discovering information about their networks with tools that find IPv4 devices through a number of both active and passive means like Promiscuous Mode Scanner or Passive Discovery. An optional tool of interest to network administrators is the Managed Switch Port Mapping tool that integrates with NetScanTools Pro or can operate as a standalone program.
Specialized advanced forms of Traceroute, Whois and IP to Country Mapping are designed to assist internet crime or computer forensics investigators in tracking IP addresses to responsible parties.
NetScanTools Pro 10.3 is available now in both full download or on CDROM and costs US$249 for a single user license.
Meeting Maker connects to Outlook
PeopleCube announced the latest release of Meeting Maker.
In addition to performance and scalability enhancements, the features in Meeting Maker Connector for Outlook (MMCO) are designed to improve the usability of the module by adding support for Meeting Maker Groups, making it possible to invite multiple groups of people to a meeting when using the Outlook client. Additionally, the enhancements made to the Meeting Maker native client include improvements to the proxy access feature, enabling users to view the schedules of multiple people from within a single view. Further, the Meeting Maker HTML client now supports concurrent access to HTML calendars, allowing multiple users to access the same calendar simultaneously.
Tandberg pumps out visual communications line
Tandberg introduced products that deliver video “anytime, anywhere and for anyone,” advancing its mission of forging more productive organizations through multimedia collaboration.
The visual communication offerings provide Content Server, which converts any video system into a broadcast studio for streaming and archiving video calls. Users can create live and on-demand content from the office, home or the road. The 3G Gateway, meanwhile, allows 3G mobile phone users with video-enabled handsets to place video calls to any IP- and ISDN-based video endpoints. Bank customers, for example, can simply use their mobile phone to access financial experts for a “face-to-face” consultation, or insurance adjusters can speak with their corporate offices from the road to review disaster situations and coordinate response.
Tandberg’s Compass MXP and Utility MXP endpoints are specifically designed for immediate face-to-face information access in public spaces, such as information desks at airports and hotels, or emergency environments.
Wireless
Toshiba puts Duo inside Satellite notebooks
Toshiba of Canada Information Systems Group (Toshiba ISG) announced the launch of Satellite notebook computers powered by the Intel Centrino Duo mobile technology processor.
Ranging from less than 2.5 kg to 3.6 kg, the Satellite P100, Satellite A100 and Satellite M100 all come equipped with an IntelÅr CentrinoÅr Duo Mobile Technology processor, 512MB DDR2 of RAM, 100 GB Hard Disk Drive, built-in DVD Super-Multi Double Layer +-R Drive functions, Toshiba TruBrite technology, Harmon Kardon stereo speakers and Windows XP Home.
The Satellite P100 comes in two versions, featuring 17-inch wide screen displays, nViIDIA GeForce Go 730 graphics controller and weighing 3.6 kg. The P100-JR5 has 256MB DDR dedicated video memory, while the P100-JR1 features 128MB DDR dedicated video memory. The Satellite P100-JR5 and Satellite P100-JR1 retail for a suggested list price of $2,399 and $1,999 respectively.
Featuring a 15.4-inch wide screen display and ATI Mobility Radeonl X1400 M54P with 128MB DDR dedicated video memory, the Satellite A100 weighs 2.72 kg and sells for $1,999.
