Feature Pack 2.0 for SAP Business ByDesign Solution Available to Midsize Companies

July 30, 2009 · Filed Under Business Software, Productivity Software, Software News · Comment 

Enhanced Business Functionality of On-Demand Solution Allows Complete Insight for Better Decision-Making

SAP AG announced the availability of the latest update – feature pack 2.0 for SAP Business ByDesign(TM). Specifically designed for midsize companies, SAP Business ByDesign is a comprehensive, fully integrated on-demand solution that helps customers gain a higher degree of visibility across their enterprise in order to make more informed business decisions. In addition, the on-demand delivery model of SAP Business ByDesign helps reduce overall operational IT costs associated with infrastructure, equipment and software management, allowing midsize companies to maintain a competitive edge. The new feature pack 2.0 for SAP Business ByDesign significantly expands functionality and provides more value to customers by offering business support for 35 end-to-end process scenarios. Managed, monitored and maintained by SAP experts in world-class hosted data centers, SAP Business ByDesign delivers the best of SAP technology, on-demand. Currently the solution is available in China, France, Germany, India, the United Kingdom and the United States.

“We are currently implementing SAP Business ByDesign and expect to gain clarity across our entire business, which will help us remain competitive and make fast, well-informed decisions,” said Patti Charlton, CFO, ResearchPoint. “We are excited about the capabilities we have seen in the feature pack 2.0 for SAP Business ByDesign and believe that it offers significant benefits to service companies like ours. Through the new release, we expect to benefit almost immediately from the new capabilities, such as business analytics, project profitability and automated project billing that the feature pack offers.”

As companies carefully examine current and future investments, those in the small and midsize enterprise (SME) market need business models that reduce investment risks while simultaneously assisting users in managing the entire organization. The new feature pack 2.0 for SAP Business ByDesign provides midsize companies with many additional functions to help them make better business decisions and gain clarity into their operations. With the feature pack 2.0, customers can achieve:

  • Complete insight for better decision-making. Through the integration with software from the SAP BusinessObjects(TM) portfolio, including Crystal Reports software and dashboards from Xcelsius software, executives of midsize companies can benefit from increased transparency into their business operation and can utilize comprehensive analytics to make decisions that can improve their business performance. Executive dashboards provide key performance indicators such as cash and liquidity management and sales projections. In addition, through customizable key performance indicators executives can control their key corporate measures.
  • Streamlined processes and faster execution. Feature pack 2.0 for SAP Business byDesign provides services and manufacturing companies more mission-critical business processes in a single, integrated solution. Designed to meet the needs of high growth services companies, feature pack 2.0 integrates customer relationship management (CRM), order-to-cash with automated billing, project profitability and resource management, time and expense reimbursement, procure to pay and service and repair. The solution also helps significantly reduce administrative overhead for services companies by offering a reduced per-user fee for consultants who only need to access the system for time and expense entry. Manufacturing companies will have complete visibility across their supply chain, including suppliers, customers, manufacturing and logistics. They can directly impact their bottom line by managing strategic procurement via an automated request for quotation (RFQ) process, as well as reduce recalls with integrated product engineering and quality management tools. The new feature pack can impact manufacturers’ top-line by having visibility into customer and product profitability using the built-in analytics and drill down capabilities.
  • Enhanced user productivity. With feature pack 2.0, companies can collaborate more effectively internally-as well as with customers, suppliers and partners — through new groupware integration with Microsoft Outlook and MS Office. Companies can achieve higher productivity by utilizing improved personalization features and a series of new third-party Web services that are now available in feature pack 2.0.

“With the availability of the feature pack 2.0, we significantly increase the value that our midsize charter clients are receiving from SAP Business ByDesign,” said Hans-Peter Klaey, president of SME and corporate officer of SAP AG. “Our charter client program for SAP Business ByDesign is a leading program to ensure close support and collaboration for innovative companies that want all the benefits of the only comprehensive and fully integrated on-demand solution dedicated to midsize companies.”

Current SAP Business ByDesign customers are notified about updates in the “What’s New” section within the solution to help them start planning for adoption of the new features at their own pace. Topics in the section enable customers to learn more about the value of new and enhanced features. In addition, customers will also receive new or updated learning courses that can be accessed in a personalized manner within SAP Business ByDesign. Further guidance will be provided on how to configure the solution to activate the new features when users are ready.

The online SAP Business ByDesign(TM) Business Center is the single place to go for information about SAP Business ByDesign and allows collaboration with SAP and its partners. Once in the business center, interested parties can access online product information, demos and role-based videos. Visitors to the center can contact SAP directly via phone, e-mail or online chat. The center also provides charter clients with access to the SAP Business ByDesign community.

Source: SAP AG

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Indonesia Now Using MegaMatcher Biometric Technology in Integrated Passport Issuance System

July 28, 2009 · Filed Under Security Software, Software News · Comment 

Neurotechnology’s Multi-biometric Face and Fingerprint Identification Engine Helps Enable Fast, Accurate Passport Processing

Neurotechnology announced their inclusion as the core enrollment and identification engine for the Indonesian Integrated Biometric Passport Issuance System. MegaMatcher SDK multi-biometric technology was used by X/LINK Software, working with ICT Solution Provider PT. Berca Hardayaperkasa, to develop a distributed passport issuance system that enables the Republic of Indonesia’s 100+ Immigration Offices to quickly enroll and process local passport applications. Data from the local offices is automatically forwarded to a centralized biometric matching system that delivers fast and accurate processing of passport information. Neurotechnology’s MegaMatcher provided the best combination of high degree of accuracy, identification of duplicate registrations, exemplary technical support and a low total cost of ownership.

“Neurotechnology’s MegaMatcher has provided Immigration an affordably priced, integrated solution for our unique Passport Issuance System,” said Mr. Erwin Azis, SH, MH, Director of System Information of the Directorate General of Immigration of the Department of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia.

“Indonesia’s passport system was a large and important project and we are pleased that MegaMatcher was selected for its implementation,” said Dr. Algimantas Malickas, CEO of Neurotechnology. “X/LINK is a very experienced integrator, and using MegaMatcher technology they were able to implement a reliable, fast and fault tolerant system.”

The Indonesia passport issuance system uses MegaMatcher Client to generate templates from face and fingerprint images collected at local Indonesian Immigration Offices. These templates, along with scans of other required documents, are stored on a local server and forwarded automatically by X/LINK SAF (Store and Forward) to the Biometric Matching System at Immigration Headquarters. The Biometric Matching System, built upon the MegaMatcher Server solution, provides the identification and duplicate searching in the national passport database. Results are returned to the local office via SAF where, if appropriate, the passport is issued.

The system at each Immigration Office utilizes a Linux Server with browser Clients running Windows XP and the web-based application developed using MegaMatcher Client. The Biometric Matching System at immigration headquarters in Jakarta runs on a scalable Linux server farm.

The high speed and reliability of MegaMatcher facilitates the development of national-scale multi-biometric face/fingerprint identification systems and automated fingerprint identification systems (AFIS) for both civil and forensic applications. MegaMatcher includes both fingerprint and face identification engines with a fusion algorithm that allows the two technologies to work together to provide very fast 1:N (1 to many) matching with higher reliability than AFIS or facial recognition alone.

The MegaMatcher fingerprint recognition algorithm has received full NIST MINEX certification for use in the US Government Personal Identity Verification program fingerprint recognition applications. MegaMatcher supports BioAPI 2.0 and most other biometric industry standards and can be used in conjunction with other Neurotechnology products, including VeriFinger, VeriLook and the FaceCell and FingerCell embedded development kits. All components of MegaMatcher can be used on both Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems.

MegaMatcher 3.0 SDK is available with highly competitive licensing options through Neurotechnology or from distributors worldwide. A 30-day trial version with full functionality is also available for download.

Source: www.neurotechnology.com

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Maxthon releases Alpha Version of Max-3, soon to be the world’s first automatic hybrid browser

July 27, 2009 · Filed Under Browsers, Software News · Comment 

Maxthon today released alpha version 4 of its new browser, Max-3, for public download and testing.

The alpha is available at http://dl.maxthon.cn/mx3/msetup3.0.0.139.exe . When the complete version of the browser is released, early next year, Max-3 will be the Internet’s first browser to use automatic-detection hybrid technology to power its display of Web pages.

Max-3 will contain two rendering engines. One is the Trident engine already in the current version of Maxthon, as well as being used by Microsoft’s Internet Explorer.

The second rendering engine, Webkit, is newer than Trident, and used by Google’s Chrome and Apple’s Safari. Both of those browsers have won praise in reviews for their rendering speed. Early benchmark tests of Chrome found it to be 42 times faster than Internet Explorer 7, and nine times faster than Firefox 3. Max-3 is expected to have similar speed advantages.

A rendering engine is a collection of code that translates the text-based HTML and Javascript instructions into signals used to correctly display a Web page that could include photos, graphic decorations, video, and text.

Trident is relatively little changed since it was introduced several years ago. Since then, design trends have introduced such innovations as CSS with different functions, the W3C standard, and different aesthetics. The result is that a page rendered by Webkit may look fine. When Trident tackles the same page, it doesn’t understand the newer instructions and botches the display.

Webkit, however, may not properly construct one of the millions of older Web pages originally designed to display on systems running only Internet Explorer.

Max-3 is designed to provide the best of both rendering engines.

Shifting Gears

In Maxthon’s hybrid rendering engines, running display commands through Webkit is called Ultra Mode in recognition of its extreme high speed and its ability to work with the latest Web design fashions. Ultra Mode significantly improves JavaScript execution and page loading speed. It has also much better support for the W3C standards, as evidenced by Max-3′s passing the W3C’s Acid2 and Acid3 tests.

Most of the time, Max-3 will operate in Ultra Mode. Max-3 may encounter pages, such as certain online banking sites, that Webkit cannot display. When that happens, Max-3 automatically suspends Ultra Mode and engages the Trident engine to put the browser into Retro Mode. As the name suggests, Retro Mode will function to display correctly Web pages that have used the same design commands that originated some 20 years ago. The switch from Ultra to Retro is seamless and ordinarily goes unnoticed by the user.

If the browsing mode is not switched automatically, the user can make the switch manually by clicking the Browsing Mode button next to the address bar. Maxthon makes a data entry about the mode selected by the user, and automatically activates that mode during return visits to the page.

The hybrid engines are available for testing in the new alpha. Other major updates to the alpha code include:

  • Auto-Update Module, allowing Max-3 to be updated online.
  • Address Bar Optimization. The bar now supports smart sorting of its drop-down list and shortcuts for completing URLs. For example, users may type the first part of a URL and complete it with Ctrl+Enter for .com, Shift+Enter for .net, and Alt+Enter for .org.
  • Added Favicons for display in the Address Bar, Tab Bar, Favorites Bar, and Favorite List.
  • Smooth Scrolling Support. Web pages will move smoothly when scrolling the mouse wheel.
  • Enhanced Javascript performance by about 10 percent.

Source: Maxthon

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Apple Unveils New Logic Studio with Major Upgrades to Logic Pro and MainStage

July 24, 2009 · Filed Under MP3 Audio Software, Software News · Comment 

Apple unveiled the next version of Logic Studio with major upgrades to Logic Pro and MainStage and more than 200 new features that simplify complex tasks.

Logic Pro 9 features new Amp Designer and Pedalboard plug-ins that provide realistic virtual guitar amps and stompbox effects to create amazing custom guitar rigs. A new set of Flex Time tools allow Logic users to manipulate the timing and tempo of audio quickly and easily. MainStage 2, Apple’s live performance application, includes the new Playback and Loopback plug-ins to provide backing tracks and creative, real-time loop recording for performing on stage. Logic Studio also includes the new Soundtrack Pro 3, with new multitrack audio tools for video production, and Compressor 3.5 for encoding in a variety of formats.

“The new Logic Studio is ideal for professional musicians, live performers and GarageBand enthusiasts who want to take their music to the next level,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Guitar players are going to love Amp Designer and Pedalboard and the new Flex Time tools allow you to quickly improve your recordings and create tighter performances.”

The new Amp Designer and Pedalboard plug-ins give guitar players incredible new recording and sound design capabilities. Amp Designer recreates 25 legendary vintage and modern amp heads in beautiful detail with matching controls and 25 paired speaker cabinets that emulate the sound and feel of a guitar running through a real tube amplifier. Guitar players can create their own custom rig by mixing and matching amps, cabinets, reverbs and EQs, and can choose from three different microphone types that can be positioned in 3D space to capture the ideal guitar tone. Pedalboard adds an assortment of 30 guitar stompbox pedals that can be arranged in any order to produce a wide variety of lush, creative effects including overdrive, distortion, fuzz, delay, chorus, flange, phaser, tremolo, treble boost, wah and more.

Flex Time is a new collection of tools that allow musicians to quickly manipulate the timing and tempo of recorded audio, including vocals and instruments, to create tighter performances. Using the Flex Tool, individual beats in a waveform can be moved effortlessly with a mouse click, without the need for tedious slicing and editing. Audio Quantize can instantly fix or adjust the timing of an entire performance by aligning notes and beats to a musical grid with a single menu selection. Varispeed provides the ability to slow down and then speed up an entire multi-track production to help record challenging parts. Flex Time also enables recorded tracks to be moved between different Logic projects and matched together, even if they were performed at different tempos. All Flex Time edits are performed non destructively and in real time, even when using the highest quality settings.

MainStage 2 lets musicians use all the instruments and effects from Logic Studio to turn their Mac into the ultimate live performance rig. The new Playback plug-in provides musicians with a backing band, allowing them to perform with pre-recorded audio, like drums, sound effects and other accompaniments that can be triggered to play while they are performing live. The new Loopback plug-in allows musicians to record, layer and jam along with their own performance so a single musician can lay down a rhythm and then play a lead over it.

Soundtrack Pro 3 adds powerful new audio editing tools including Voice Level Match which extracts volume information from the vocal content of one clip and applies it to another without altering any other audio content, so editors can easily correct mismatched voice levels. An enhanced File Editor includes new tools to make sophisticated edits and fine tune volume adjustments by targeting specific frequencies such as the rustle of a paper or the bump of a desk without affecting dialogue. The new Advanced Time Stretch feature stretches and compresses audio with incredible precision using three Apple-designed algorithms or other algorithms available as third party plug-ins. Soundtrack Pro and Compressor are also available as part of the new Final Cut Studio , allowing Final Cut and Logic users to collaborate and share files.

Pricing & Availability

Logic Studio is now available through the Apple Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) and existing users of Logic Studio and Logic Pro can upgrade for a suggested retail price of $199 (US). Full system requirements and more information on Logic Studio can be found at www.apple.com/logicstudio. Logic Express, a streamlined and even more affordable version of Logic for GarageBand users who want more power and control, will ship in August for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) and will be available through the Apple Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.

Source: Apple

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PGP Corporation launches new mobile data protection and security solutions

July 21, 2009 · Filed Under Security Software, Software News · Comment 

Encryption Applications Enable Enterprises to Extend Corporate-Wide Data Security Policies

PGP Corporation announced two new mobile security encryption solutions, PGP Portable and PGP Mobile 9.10, designed to address the critical challenges facing organizations that share portable data and secure email on smartphones. An extension of the award-winning PGP Encryption Platform, PGP Portable is a new data protection solution that provides self-contained encryption on any removable storage device or optical media, including USB sticks, CDs and DVDs. In addition to data encryption, PGP Mobile 9.10 now includes encryption for email and email attachments (both stored and in transit) on Windows Mobile smartphones, extending PGP Corporation’s multi-platform support. Furthermore, PGP Corporation is also rolling out new enhanced support programs to meet the changing needs of its customers.

According to the recently published annual 2009 U.S. Encryption Trends Report by The Ponemon Institute, 59 percent of respondents said that it is very important/critical to encrypt mobile devices and 26 percent indicated they encrypt a smartphone or PDA most of the time, but 51 percent said they never do.

“Corporations are increasingly reliant on mobile technology as their primary platform. Mobile platforms of choice are driven by employees who are bringing in their own devices that IT departments need to support,” said Michael Osterman, president and founder of Osterman Research. “This is driving increasing concerns around mobile security and organizations now need a solution that provides email and data protection across a diverse set of platforms, which PGP Corporation offers.”

PGP Portable – Protect Data On Any Media

PGP Portable enables users to share encrypted data regardless of their operating system and without requiring them to install additional software or have special machine privileges. Based on the evolution of PGP Corporation’s patented virtual disk technology that is market proven, trusted and FIPS 140-2-validated, key features and benefits of PGP Portable include:

  • One-click encryption: PGP Portable converts removable devices and media into containers of encrypted data with a single click.
  • Access and modify encrypted data without installing software: When authorized users plug in a USB drive or CD/DVD secured with PGP Portable, they are prompted for a passphrase. Once authenticated, the user can access and modify data on these devices securely and the data remains encrypted on these devices. Users can share encrypted data with others that do not have PGP software on their system.
  • Native operating system user experience: Users access PGP Portable removable drives and media using the standard Windows or Mac OS X operating system file managers.
  • Extends data protection: PGP Portable is easily added to PGP Corporation’s centrally managed full disk encryption, network file sharing and desktop email protection applications.

“Corporations are becoming increasingly concerned with data breaches occurring from the loss of their employees’ mobile devices,” said Michael Disaboto, vice president and service director at the Burton Group. “Security offerings such as PGP Portable can provide protection for data at rest on a wide variety of devices.”

PGP Mobile – Smartphone Data Security Made Easy

PGP Mobile 9.10 for Windows Mobile now provides comprehensive email and data encryption for Windows Mobile 6.0 and Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional Edition smartphones and storage cards for information that is stored, in transit or shared.

Key benefits and features include:

  • Automatic Email Encryption and Protection: Send and receive encrypted emails and attachments directly with Windows Mobile smartphones.
  • Easy Set-up and Deployment: Automatic protection of email and file data with few changes to the user experience; reduce administrator set-up time and speed deployment with over-the-air deployment and integrated provisioning.
  • Enforced Security Policies: Centralized deployment and management of policies, users and keys using PGP Universal(TM) Server that is easy to complement using PGP Desktop Email for complete, end-to-end email encryption. Integrates with Windows Domain Authentication and Active Directory to control provisioning and key management.
  • Comprehensive Data Protection Self-Decrypting Archives enable information sharing with recipients who lack encryption software. PGP Mobile also includes PGP Virtual Disk, PGP Zip and PGP Shredder.

“People are the new corporate perimeter – whether they are employees, suppliers, partners or consultants – carrying sensitive data on mobile storages devices and smartphones that can be easily lost or stolen,” said Phillip Dunkelberger, president and CEO at PGP Corporation. “If the email and data is not protected on these devices, organizations face a huge risk in data breaches and failure to meet compliance. With PGP Portable and PGP Mobile 9.10, PGP Corporation is helping businesses manage the risk involved with today’s ever present mobile technology.”

New Enhanced Support Programs

To help customers worldwide maintain business continuity, PGP Corporation offers four support program options – PGP Bronze, PGP Silver, PGP Gold and PGP Platinum. PGP Bronze Support is best suited for small businesses and individual customers who don’t require round-the-clock Enterprise Support. PGP Silver, PGP Gold and PGP Platinum levels of support are targeted at enterprise customers who generally utilize PGP Universal(TM) Server to manage client policy. All levels of support provide customers with full access to the PGP Support site, including the PGP KnowledgeBase, FAQ and Tutorials, and the PGP Community Forum.

Pricing and Availability

PGP Portable and PGP Mobile 9.10 are both available today from PGP Corporation and its worldwide channel partners. Pricing for PGP Portable begins at $21 USD and pricing for PGP Mobile 9.10 begins at $105 USD. For more details on PGP Bronze. PGP Silver, PGP Gold and PGP Platinum Support Programs, please contact a PGP sales representative or channel partner.

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