They day we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived! No, we’re not talking about the hardware and software unlock solutions for the iPhone - although those are pretty significant milestones. We’re talking about the day that a natively installed IM chat application becomes available for the iPhone. Apollo IM gets the honor of being the first chat client that brings instant messaging to the iPhone sans the web-app inconvenience.
The Apollo IM application can be natively installed using the uber-easy-to-use Nullriver Installer and is available in a v.-1 pre-beta release. Just hit up the Nullriver iPhone Installer that you have installed on your phone (you do have it installed, right?) and find the Apollo IM application. Install it - nice and easy.
We love the fact that a native chat client has finally hit the iPhone, but we’re not excited about this pre-beta’s buggy performance. What does excite us, however, is the thought of what’s in store for iPhone users. With some more development and a little refinement, the Apollo IM chat client could beat Apple’s Mobile iChat.
Hey Apple, are you really going to let a third-party beat you to the punch? We’re still waiting on an iPhone update that does more than fix bugs, tighten security, and make things a little faster. How about we all just focus on iChat?
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Apple iPhone finally gets a native iChat application
IM Watch: Yahoo Makes IM-to-Cell Connection
Web-based IM
Yahoo is expected to announce new features for its Web-based e-mail service, including new updates that will let Yahoo mail users send instant messages or text messages to cell phones, according to industry reports. The new features are expected to be first released for users in the United States, Canada, India and also the Philippines. To use text messaging within your Yahoo e-mail account, you simply need to add the cell phone information for a person in your contact list.
Last week was a big week for new social network-based IM applications. Vancouver-based Atrexis Systems released SocialBox, a Facebook instant messaging application that lets you log in and simultaneously use Facebook IM, MSN, GTalk, ICQ, AIM and Yahoo messaging services. Atrexis Systems said there will also be future releases for MySpace and other social networking sites, and that future SocialBox updates will include options to enable video and audio chat, user blocking, file sharing and more.
Social networking site Bebo says it plans to launch a Microsoft-powered IM program in the fall, the starting point of a new plan to enable other sites to incorporate Windows Live Web services. The Bebo IM will have limited compatibility with Microsoft's own services and will let Bebo members click a link to start an IM session with any other Bebo member, even without a Windows Live ID. Bebo users will be able to send messages to Windows Live Messenger users only if they also have a Bebo account.
The partnership is designed to help Bebo grow its network by tapping the Windows Live Messenger user base. The arrangement also includes the use of the Windows Live Contacts API so users can freely import and export their contacts and relationships between the services, ultimately giving users the choice where and how they wish to use their social network.
Lastly, other IM and social network partnerships announced this week include news from eBuddy, a provider of Web and mobile instant messaging, who who says that MySpace IM has been added top its list of supported IM networks. MySpace IM users can now use eBuddy to chat with their friends without having to download and install any application. Also, Apple users can now access MySpace IM through this Web-based service, as there currently is no MySpace IM application support for the Apple operating system. eBuddy also supports AOL, GoogleTalk, MSN and Yahoo.
Clients & Platforms
IBM is hoping to further its unified communication and collaboration strategy by expanding its IBM Lotus Sametime software to include new telephony integration software. Lotus Sametime "Unified Telephony" software is designed to make it possible to manage communications across multiple business telephone systems and access them through virtually any application. With the Lotus Sametime Unified Telephony product, IBM says you will be able to manage incoming calls, see similar presence status updates for telephony as they do for IM presence (e.g., away, on the phone, in meeting), and also connect faster with colleagues and with a variety of back-end and legacy systems.
Mobile IM
Meebo launched its Web-based IM client for the iPhone. iPhone users can simply browse to Meebo.com and will automatically be directed to the iPhone-formatted site. On the iPhone version, a "smart buddy" list moves your active conversations to the top of the buddy list to enable message previews, and also alphabetizes your buddies, making them easier to find.
Verizon Wireless says its customers can now access AOL, Yahoo! or MSN instant messaging accounts from their wireless phones with Mobile IM. You can send and receive IM and see who is available, busy or offline from their contacts list, all on their mobile phones. The Mobile IM service is pre-loaded on most Verizon Wireless devices and can also be found in the new Messaging menu under Mobile IM on the Verizon Web site. Mobile IM is available on a monthly or per message subscription basis.
IM Security Highlights
Symantec announced its latest version of Symantec Information Foundation 2007, a security product that's designed to provide the controls to safeguard companies against data loss with unified protection for e-mail, Web and instant messaging. Symantec Information Foundation 2007 includes several new features to help control data in organizations, including identification, classification and control of sensitive corporate data held in databases, e-mails, IM and file systems. Controls to review, hold, release and audit of e-mail, IM and Web communications for policy compliance, and also beta support for filtering outgoing Web communications to prevent accidental or intentional data loss through Web mail sites such as Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail or Gmail .
Postini announced its new Message Discovery service optimizes mailbox storage management, e-discovery and litigation case management. Postini says it make archiving services available in three packages: Basic, Standard and Professional and can capture both e-mail and IM traffic. The new Postini Message Discovery is an optional add-on service that will let companies better manage multiple internal and external inquiries, making it easy for any authorized party to discover messages as part of an investigation. Relevant messages then can be save and exported, or put on a litigation hold ensuring that the data is preserved.
This month Yahoo has learned of two denial-of-service and buffer overflow security issues in the Web cam function. Yahoo Messenger clients downloaded before August 21, 2007, are vulnerable to these issues. If using the older version, a Yahoo Messenger client user who accept a Web cam invitation could be controlled by a malicious attacker. Yahoo has posted the details and a security update here.
Skype 2.7 for Mac beta integrates Address Book contacts
We know that many of you are faithful Skype users, and many of you are also masochistic beta software users. With your powers combined... Well anyway, those of you who cross over into both groups might be happy to know that Skype 2.7 for Mac beta just came out today. With it comes, as usual, a handful of useful features that make it easier and more pleasurable to use the VoIP software on your desktop.
According to Skype's Villu Arak, the 2.7 beta allows you to organize contacts into groups—no longer will you have one giant list that sticks your mother right next to that "adult chat" line you've been calling at night. There are a few predefined groups already, but you can add however many new ones that make sense to you, like Family, Friends, Work, etc.
More notably, however, is Skype's ability to use the contacts listed in your Mac's Address Book. This should prove especially useful to people who use their Address Book as the main place to organize all of their daily contacts, freeing them (you? us?) from having to maintain multiple contact lists in multiple applications.
A few less-exciting features added to this latest beta include the ability to create public chats, auto-redial capabilities for when you are trying to dial a busy line, and easier sound-level controls. The Skype team has also "overhauled" the file transfer functionalities, which the team says should appear "more elegant" and behave more smoothly.
As usual, beware of beta software, yada yada yada. You can get the 2.7 beta from Skype's website and it weighs in at 31.8MB.
SugarCRM Adds Ajax E-Mail to 5.0 Beta Release
Sugar 5.0 will be SugarCRM's first rollout on the GNU General Public License version 3, which, coupled with the module builder, could lead to an explosion of module creation -- and sharing. "A developer can create new applications and then also share that package with anyone on the planet with an Internet connection," remarked John Roberts, CEO of SugarCRM. "It is truly an open system."
SugarCRM has released a beta version of Sugar 5.0, a platform upgrade that provides new development tools and a new Ajax e-mail client, and is based on a new so-called multi-instance on-demand architecture.
"This is the largest release in the history of the company's open source project since we founded it three and a half years ago," John Roberts, CEO of SugarCRM, told CRM Buyer. "It represents the end of the first generation of code we developed, in a way."
Platform Enhancements
Many of the enhancements were developed with an eye to customers' requests for greater customization functionality, Roberts said.
For instance, the Module Builder, one of the features of the new platform, allows users to build custom modules from scratch or to combine existing custom objects into a brand new customer relationship management module.
A mortgage broker, for example, might create such a module by combining local listings with its current client list and a list of mortgage brokers active in a certain submarket. Or a financial planner could build its own client database to accommodate all the quirky facts about its clients -- say, who has to have that hundred-dollar bottle of wine to be fulfilled -- that make their way into a financial planning session.
These custom modules interoperate with Reporting, Workflow and Sugar Studio tools. Another new feature in the platform, a metadata-driven user interface, stores customizations in a metadata repository. That means users will be able to upgrade their customized modules fairly painlessly.
The platform also offers improved access control to better support team hierarchies and access control functions.
Architectural Support
Supporting these changes is the application's new multi-instance architecture, which takes advantage of horizontal scale-out capabilities of open source software platforms. The result, according to the company, is a significant increase in processing power of commodity hardware and systems management software developed by SugarCRM, which eliminates the tradeoffs between deep customization and easy upgrades.
The benefits to users include better security , flexibility and control. Also, customers can be automatically upgraded to new versions of Sugar, or control when to upgrade. Users will be able to develop new functionality on test servers and then move into production in a multi-instance environment, as well as move between Sugar On-Site and Sugar On-Demand at will.
New CRM Functionality
New CRM features in 5.0 include an Ajax e-mail client integrated with Sugar's sales force automation functionality. Its design includes drag-and-drop capabilities, search, keyboard shortcuts and a rules wizard, as well as support for folders, contacts and personal in-boxes. It also interoperates with all e-mail servers, which means the client can either complement or replace existing e-mail clients.
The dashboard is also enhanced with new charting capabilities, including support for funnel, pie charts, line and bar graphs and performance gauge chart objects. A new feature also provides for multiple dashboards, which allowa users to access prebuilt or custom dashboards from their homepage.
Future Functionality
Previous upgrades of SugarCRM have focused on multichannel marketing, project management, knowledge base, and customer self-service portal functionality. Future releases, Roberts said, will look at building out unstructured content so users can create blogs and wikis, as well as real-time capabilities such as chat. "We will be basing those development decisions, though, on the feedback we get from users about 5.0," he said.
Users are likely to clamor for such developments, Bernard Golden, CEO of Navica Software and author of Succeeding with Open Source, told CRM Buyer. "SugarCRM is doing very well, and the reason is that it is already so easy to customize. It is the perfect example of open source capability marrying a business strategy."
5.0 will be made generally available in October, Roberts said. When it is, it will be SugarCRM's first rollout on the GNU General Public License version 3, which the company announced it was adopting about a month ago. The GPLv3 license coupled with the module builder could lead to an explosion of module creation -- and sharing -- Roberts said.
"A developer can create new applications and then also share that package with anyone on the planet with an Internet connection," he remarked. "It is truly an open system."
Parallels Serves Up Desktop Beta 2
With Beta 2, Parallels has improved the software's Coherence technology so that now Mac users can minimize any Windows screen to the dock as they would with any normal Mac-based application screen. Other Coherence enhancements include support for Exposé and Transparent Windows and the ability to silently boot into Coherence mode.
Parallels has launched the latest beta for its Parallels Desktop for Mac software, an application that allows Intel-based Mac users to run a Windows operating system (OS) simultaneously on their Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) computers.
Beta 2 of the Parallels Desktop 3.0 update focuses on features that allow Mac owners to automatically share movies, pictures, music, documents and even desktops between Windows operating systems and Apple's OS X due to a tighter integration between the two OSes.
"This beta adds two cool new features that make working with a virtual machine easier than ever before," said Benjamin Rudolph, Director of Corporate Communications at Parallels.
The beta is available for download at the company's Web site. Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac, priced at US$79.99, is available as well.
Share and Share Alike
With Beta 2, Parallels has improved the software's Coherence technology so that now Mac users can minimize any Windows screen to the dock as they would with any normal Mac-based application screen. Other Coherence enhancements include support for Exposé and Transparent Windows and the ability to silently boot into Coherence mode.
"This is very handy if you're a OS X power user who's dependent on the cool GUI (graphical user interface) stuff that OS X has to offer, Rudolph explained. "It's another way that we're making the experience of work with the applications from different OSes completely seamless."
The company's software designers have also given a boost to the application's Shared Folder tool, which now displays the My Documents folder and all subfolders, such as My Movies, My Pictures and My Music, and their contents, as a Mac home folder. This enables users to access their most frequently used and critical files from either OS, without going through the process of dragging and dropping the files or moving them using a traditional shared folder or copying the file, the company said.
The software also now has the ability to automatically map and access the Shared Folders using the Windows drive.
"What is especially cool is that the new Shared Folder tool provides direct access to the files/folders original location (i.e. it doesn't duplicate anything)," Rudolph continued, "so you don't have to worry about running out of disk space."
Beta 2 also provides Mac users with Linux PC and virtual machine migration to a Mac using the Transporter tool as well as the ability to change their Virtual Machine's disk format with the Parallels Image Tool. Users can change their sound devices on the fly with the new beta and also connect to their iPhone with Windows-based iTunes.
Other changes include better central processing unit usage and overall performance, as well as memory management.
Virtual Computing
When Parallels launched its Desktop for Mac virtualization software in 2006, it was touted as the first solution of its kind to allow users to run Windows-based operating systems simultaneously in no-called isolated virtual machines directly on an Apple Intel-based system running Mac OS X. At the time, analysts predicted that the software would motivate Mac users to cart their Apple laptops to the office and reduce the need for more than one computer. This would give Apple a larger share of the computer market as PC-users who had always wanted a Mac went out and bought one.
However, that prediction has not fully come to pass -- office workers still largely tote PCs. Parallels is a consumer offering compared with VMware Fusion, Natalie Lambert, a Forrester Research analyst, told MacNewsWorld. While it can be used by corporate users, it does not have a centrally managed component.
"It makes it more friendly for Mac users in the office, but that really isn't what it is designed for," she explained. "Desktop virtualization technologies in general are increasing the number of users buying Macs. Why? Because application incompatibilities are a large reason why Apple has had a hard time gaining market share. I think these technologies are a great step forward for Apple."
The new beta serves two purposes for Parallels following increased competition from VMWare, Michael Silver, an analyst at Gartner (NYSE: IT) , told MacNewsWorld. In June, Parallels' rival launched VMware Player 2, which gives users the ability to run 32-bit and 64-bit applications and operating systems on Windows or Linux-based machines, as well as VMWare Fusion for Mac, which allows Mac owners to run Mac, Windows, Linux, NetWare and Solaris-based applications at the same time.
"The big change that's really occurring here is VMWare's entry into the market, and Parallels need to make sure they are competing effectively with them," he said.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Galder Puzzle Game Enters Public Beta
Fastforward Software has announced the public beta of Galder, a new puzzle board game for Mac OS X. In Galder, the player must remove gem stones as quickly as possible from an interactive circular game board by matching identical stones.
Fastforward's Managing Director Joshua Coventry said: "Until now, Fastforward has focused solely on software titles including FinanceToGo and QuickSnap. Today marks our entrance into the gaming market. Mac users need a wider choice of quality games, and Galder is the first of many to come."
Fastforward develops, publishes and distributes software and games for Mac OS X. Fastforward finances and supports independent shareware developers around the world. Fastforward is located in Sheffield, England and was founded in 2006.
A public beta of Galder is available free of charge from the Fastforward Software website. The beta expires within 30 days. Fastforward expects to ship the initial version of Galder as a digital download in late Q3 2007 at a retail price of $19.99 USD. It requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later.
Symantec delays virtual security appliance
Symantec has delayed the launch of its Virtual Security Appliance for Intel's vPro enterprise desktop platform.
The security vendor was originally scheduled to release the appliance next month, but will now push back the release to mid-2008, Gary Sabala, senior product manager for virtual security solutions at Symantec, told vnunet.com.
Sabala attributed the decision to delay the software to feedback from beta customers and a desire for better support for open source technologies.
"One of our goals for the next version is to move to more open source components that we integrate into our solution," he said.
In a reference to Windows CE, which currently runs all vPro management appliances, Sabala added that the move will "ease our ability to work around some of the licensing issues for third-party components".
VPro is Intel's enterprise PC platform that uses virtualisation to allow for a single management appliance. The appliance runs independently from the system's main operating system and can apply software updates, for instance.
Symantec's appliance will run security software in an isolated virtual compartment, preventing malware and the user from tampering with the software.
As previously reported, Intel plans to launch the second version of vPro, codenamed Weybridge, on 27 August. Symantec originally aimed at launching its appliance, codenamed Project Hood, at the same time as the vPro upgrade.
Intel is also working with Red Hat on a future upgrade scheduled for release in 2008.
The virtualisation in Weybridge relies on proprietary technology that supports one virtual management appliance, such as Symantec's Virtual Security Appliance. The appliances are required to run Windows CE.
Intel and Red Hat aim to build a vPro version based on the open source Xen hypervisor that will allow for multiple management consoles and support Windows and Linux.
Sabala declined to elaborate on the discussions on Windows CE licensing, adding that vendors are still trying to come to grips with virtualisation.
"Virtualisation, especially at the desktop, is still very much at an evolutionary stage. We are still in discussions with Microsoft about how we want to support Symantec and its components in this new environment," he said.
The delay also offers Symantec some breathing space to further enhance its product. Feedback from beta customers pointed out that the appliance was lacking a robust management console, for instance.
This could undermine the value of Intel's vPro platform. Lenovo is currently the only software vendor shipping a vPro appliance.
An Intel spokesperson declined to comment on the effect that the Symantec delay will have on vPro, but said that the company will continue to work with software vendors to build out the platform's features.
Microsoft security puts pressure on
Windows Live OneCare 2.0, offered as an annual subscription for a three-user licence, includes upgrades and unlimited support. The beta of version 2.0 is a free download.
The beta version includes a new multi-PC and home network management feature that will aid the management of multiple PC environments by offering a single navigation bar for monitoring the security and maintenance of networked computers.
The software makes it easy to connect printers to local networks so all users can access the same printer. It also provides a summary in the Windows Live OneCare dialogue box of activities and recommended actions for all PCs in a network.
The newest version of the package adds support for 64-bit PC systems and speeds up PC boot time by removing rarely used applications from the startup menu.
A proactive fixes and recommendations feature will look at the configuration of a system and make proactive fixes and recommendations.
In a blog posting, OneCare lead product manager Gina Narkunas says users increasingly need to do the extra work involved in connecting devices and securing networks, as well as multiple PCs.
In addition, this version tackles the needs of small businesses that may not have the resources for onsite IT support. For example, it provides new functionality for backing up data, and protection against malware.
The version, which comes just six months after the launch of OneCare 1.5 in January, includes new tools for locking down wireless networks and an automated, self-adjusting firewall.
Forrester Research analyst Natalie Lambert says the offer of coverage for multiple PCs at a lower costs will push other software suppliers to cut their own pricing and will change consumer perceptions about the cost of antivirus tools.
"The market is dramatically changing and Microsoft is part of the reason for that," Lambert says. "If you look at demand, consumers are not as willing to pay for security software as they were in the past.
"They've found ways to get these programs for free and Microsoft started some of that activity by driving prices down."
OneCare 2.0 appears to have pulled Microsoft closer to some of its rivals, Lambert says, although many consumers may not be ready to use all of the tools.
Even so, researchers at Austria-based AV-Comparatives, managed by security expert Andreas Clementi, rate the first version of OneCare last in a comparative test with similar products from other security developers in handling large numbers of Trojan horses, viruses and worms.
Germany's G Data Security Software came out on top, capturing 99.45 per cent of the malicious code, while Microsoft's software was beaten by 16 other products, including offerings from Symantec, McAfee, Kaspersky Lab and F-Secure.
In stopping systems intrusion through back doors and other malware attacks, OneCare ranked last out of 13 vendors with 79.6 per cent detection.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Get Skype On Your iPhone
Do you want Skype on your iPhone? Well, you're in luck. Shape Services has launched a version of Skype for the iPhone, no hacking required.
Shape Services' Skype client is Web based so you can use it on your iPhone without the need for a hack. Otherwise, though, it works just like Skype. You can use Skype chat, make peer-to-peer VoIP calls, and even use SkypeOut to call regular phone numbers.
Well, almost. There is one drawback. You have to pay for all the calls you make, even the Skype-to-Skype connections which are normally free:
There is a catch, though. Unlike PC based calls, you'll need to pay even if calling another Skype user: IM+ places the free VoIP call as usual, but then calls you back on your iPhone at SkypeOut rates. Still, if you are making calls abroad, it'll be a lot cheaper, and the service is free while in beta testing.
Aside from having to pay for the Skype calls, this looks pretty cool. It also demonstrates that the iPhone, unlike most smartphones, is ready for desktop-style Web-based applications.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Projity Launches Beta of OpenProj, the Open Source Replacement of Microsoft Project
Projity, a leader in on-demand software for the enterprise, SME and SMB markets announced today that the public beta of OpenProj, a complete open source desktop replacement of Microsoft Project, is now being beta tested in over 400 customer sites comprising over 5000 seats. OpenProj, an important component to the open source ecosystem, takes the risk away for customers and allows them to use the product as needed, on demand.
San Mateo, CA (PRWEB) August 8, 2007 -- Projity, a leader in on-demand software for the enterprise, SME and SMB markets announced today that the public beta of OpenProj, a complete open source desktop replacement of Microsoft Project, is now being beta tested in over 400 customer sites comprising over 5000 seats. OpenProj, an important component to the open source ecosystem, is a complete replacement of Microsoft Project and available on Linux, Unix, Mac or Windows.
Since over 28 million users have Microsoft Project installed on their computers, OpenProj offers another opportunity for project managers and anyone trying to manage any type of project. Instead of a $1,000 license fee for Microsoft Project, Projity customers can download OpenProj for free and available on multiple platforms. "The Projity team has received tremendous feedback from key industry leaders, who are already using OpenProj to satisfy their desktop needs," said Marc O'Brien, CEO, Projity. "We have been working on this launch for a while. The Proijty team is excited to provide worldwide usage of a free and open source project management solution that is a complete replacement of Microsoft Project and other desktop solutions. OpenProj's familiar user interface and ability to open existing native Microsoft files makes migrating both free and seamless"
"OpenProj is an exciting addition to the range of professional desktop applications that are available on the free software desktop today. It's increasingly possible to run your business on an entirely open Linux platform, with full compatibility across free software applications and your legacy documents. Congratulations to the Projity team for this milestone release!" said Mark Shuttleworth, Ubuntu CEO
OpenProj builds upon Projity's SaaS release, Project-ON-Demand. OpenProj offers a seamless migration for Microsoft Project files which open easily, and features a simple user interface. OpenProj's value for the Linux, Unix, Mac, Windows and open source communities is compelling.
"Projity's release of OpenProj is an important addition to the open source marketplace. The project management area now has a full equivalent to the commercial software market. OpenProj is a terrific addition for users of OpenOffice and other open source solutions," said Larry Augustin, SourceForge founder and venture capitalist. Free downloads are also available at http://www.projity.com/openproj
About Projity:
Projity is a Silicon Valley and French company with offices in San Mateo, Paris and India. The company founders have been instrumental in the development of the project management software industry, dating to the mainframe and DOS solutions. Projity was founded with a mission of providing SaaS and open source alternatives to existing legacy solutions. Projity currently has three solutions: Project-ON-Demand (SaaS), Projity Enterprise and OpenProj (open source). There are currently over 100 companies using Project-ON-Demand to manage their projects. There has been tremendous worldwide interest with users in China, Russia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, India, Korea, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Honduras, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, South Africa in addition to the many U.S. and European companies.
Projity, OpenProj and Project-ON-Demand are trademarks of Projity Incorporated. Other names used may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Industry Testimonials
"Projity's release of OpenProj is an important addition to the open source marketplace. The project management area now has a full equivalent to the commercial software market. OpenProj is a terrific addition for users of OpenOffice and other open source solutions"
Larry Augustin, Sorceforge Founder and venture capitalist
"OpenProj is an exciting addition to the range of professional desktop applications that are available on the free software desktop today. It's increasingly possible to run your business on an entirely open Linux platform, with full compatibility across free software applications and your legacy documents. Congratulations to the Projity team for this milestone release!"
Mark Shuttleworth, Ubuntu CEO
"We are very excited by the OpenProj software: it clearly fills a gap and we are glad there is now a robust and complete solution for project management from the open source community, we look forward to incorporate it in our distro and make it available to our users"
Francois Bancilhon, CEO Mandriva
"Novell supports all community efforts to bring more applications to the Linux desktop," said Justin Steinman, director of marketing for Linux and Open Platform Solutions at Novell. "OpenProj addresses an important customer need -- the availability of an open source application for project management. As more users migrate to SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop and OpenOffice.org, these users will be seeking tools like OpenProj to help them complete their daily business tasks."
Justin Steinman, director of marketing for Linux and Open Platform Solutions at Novell
"OpenProj is one of the applications that IT Professionals, Project Managers and every other Open Source businesses all around the World would want. Freedom to share, freedom to deploy, freedom to use. This is what Market wants. Every day a new brick towards the Open Source platform completeness is put, and this is a big one."
Fabio Erculiani, CEO Sabayon Linux
"OpenProj looks very promising. I have no doubt it will soon seduce people and we'll see individuals and companies switch to OpenProj the same way they previously switched to projects like Firefox or OpenOffice."
Clement Lefebvre, LinuxMint
"Project managers now have a high quality, cross-platform project management solution available with an open source business model. Projity's OpenPROJ is not only compatible with the format used by the most widely used project management tool, but also offers an easy migration path for those who want to explore its features with their existing project data."
Tony Wasserman,
Director, Software Management Program, Carnegie Mellon West
Steam Community beta upgrade goes live
In a constant effort to better the digital platform, Valve has now made the Community beta open to the public. It is still very much in the beta stage, but the results thus far look promising and gamers are now able to create individual pages which show others their favourite games and gaming statistics.
It's also possible to create groups who can use chat-rooms in both IM and voice modes, schedule gaming events and tournaments, come together to discuss all things gamey and just generally commune with each other.
The community upgrade is the single largest update to Valve's Steam platform since the original release in March 2004. Since then the system has grown to comprise over 13 million users, making games from a number of publishers and developers available anywhere there's a stable internet connection.
In fact, just yesterday Valve and id Software joined forces to make the id Software back-catalogue available over Steam.
More importantly though, the community upgrade has quickly spawned an official bit-tech.net gaming group, which is open for all to join - so feel free to build something alongside myself in Garry's Mod, or wipe the floor with Tim, Rich or Brett in Counterstrike: Source.
To join up to the group, you'll first need to enable the community beta. To do this, start up steam and hit File > Settings > Beta Participation and then restart your Steam client. After that, you'll have access to the beta and will be able to join the official Bit-tech.net group. Sure, it's small right now but it's early days.
If you're having trouble joining the Bit-tech gaming group, or if you just want to weigh up whether it's worth joining a beta or not, then you can always head to the forums and discuss the matter in-depth.