Betaland.net: A news center of Free Beta software

New Opera 9.5 Beta Improves Security and Adds More Syncing Features

2008-04-27T09:38:00.000-07:00

Opera Software has release a second beta for version 9.5 of its flagship browser. Opera 9.5 beta 2 brings several new features and a number of bug fixes as Opera moves toward the final release (slated for later this year).

Beta 2 adds support for syncing Notes via Opera Link, the company‘s hosted solution for those that want to sync and maintain bookmarks across platforms/PCs. On the security front, beta 2 brings EV SSL certificate support (the next-gen security layer that PayPal may soon require) and improved fraud protection.

The Opera Desktop blog also touts better performance and some UI improvements for the Quick Find search tool (also known as history search), as well as improvements in page rendering times and overall speed.

For complete details about all the new features and a list of bug fixes (which vary slightly by platform) check out the changelog. Although Opera 9.5 is still a beta, we’ve found it stable enough in previous releases. After playing with the new beta for a bit this morning I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it — so long as you bear in mind that it’s a beta and there could be some issues. If you’d like to take the plunge you can grab Opera 9.5 beta 2 from the Opera website.

Skype is now mobile. Calling your world is free.

2008-04-27T09:33:00.000-07:00

Skype is looking to expand its mobile offerings and is opening up a public beta for its mobile software. You don’t need a computer to make free calls anymore. Use 3 Skypephone instead. It’s a stylish mobile phone that calls, texts and takes pictures like you’d expect it to – but wait, there’s more – you can call and instant message your friends on Skype, free.

About 50 different phone models are compatible with the Java-based software. It allows users to chat, show their online presence, and receive both calls from other users as well as through SkypeIn.

The company had been distancing itself from mobile Skype due to handset and technical issues for some time. However it now appears those hurdles have been overcome, and the VoIP software is ready for prime time on mobile devices.

Mobile operator 3 during that time brought Skype to the mobile, however it was not true VoIP as it is commonly found. Instead, the voice signals flowed through a separate voice channel on the company's network.

During the beta, the company will use consumer feedback to adjust the product to meet the needs of its users. Users in several markets also get additional features, including the placing of SkypeOut and Skype-to-Skype calls.

Brazil, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom will all have markets that gain those additional features. The beta is expected to last several months.

"We need to hear what delights them and where there is still work to be done," mobile chief Gareth O'Loughlin said of the beta. "This product underscores our commitment to innovation and to putting Skype conversations in the pockets of today's mobile masses."

Shadow of Legend's Open Beta Doubles its Popularity!

2007-12-23T03:31:00.000-08:00

The numbers are in! And for those who have been with us during our previous versions will have noticed this too: that the release of Shadow of Legend Open Beta was not just another update, but an UPGRADE that brought in an influx of fresh new players and breathed all new life into the game. We are excited to see our players, both experienced and new, give Shadow of Legend Open Beta a try, and see first-hand the difference we are making in the PC-to-mobile gaming industry.

At the moment, we are currently releasing only the PC version of Shadow of Legend. We want our players to get an idea of what will be possible on their mobile devices. Three new events are being implemented in this version: (1) Guarding Your Homeland, (2) The Magic Cube, and (3) the Turtle Sunbathe Island. We hope that these new events will keep your evenings entertaining and your game experience enjoyable.

There may be a war in Agnes, and we can fight each other for conquest, glory, or just for the heck of it; but who’s to say that we can’t have fun at the same time? And more importantly, who’s to say that you can’t have fun away from your PC? Get your mobile phones ready, because we’re stepping up the fun factor in Shadow of Legend to a whole new level. We look forward to your participation.

About SmartCell
SmartCell Technology, LLC, is a leading developer of mobile platform technology, mobile applications, and mobile online gaming solutions. Headquartered in Irvine, CA, with a research and development center in Shanghai, China; SmartCell Technology is currently working on Shadow of Legend, the world's first 2D MMORPG that can realize game play on both PC and mobile devices. More information about SmartCell Technology, LLC and its products can be found at http://www.smartcell.com/. More information about Shadow of Legend can be found at http://www.shadowoflegend.com/.

Shadow of Legend Website http://www.shadowoflegend.com/
Shadow of Legend Official Forum http://www.shadowoflegend.com/forum/
Shadow of Legend Myspace Page http://www.myspace.com/shadowoflegend
Shadow of Legend Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=27122140240

Microsoft Updates Open XML Mac File Converter Beta

2007-12-23T03:26:00.000-08:00

Microsoft has published a new beta of its Open XML File Format Converter for Mac.

Microsoft has published a new beta of its Open XML File Format Converter for Mac.

The new version of the software appeared earlier this week. It's required equipment for Mac users seeking to convert documents created in Microsoft's proprietary Open XML standard (which has so far failed to be ratified as a full-fledged industry standard) into a format that's compatible with Office 2004 and Office v.X for Mac.

The software is capable of both individual and batch file conversions of the following Open XML formats: Word Document (*.docx); Word Macro-Enabled Document (*.docm); PowerPoint Presentation (*.pptx); PowerPoint Show (*.ppsx); PowerPoint Template (*.potx).

Microsoft warns that this version of the converter is not compatible with Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac. "If Office 2008 is installed on your computer, do not install this version of the converter as it might cause problems with Office 2008 applications," the company says.

The converter is a Beta release, and might be unable to convert all the data in Open XML files.

Internet Explorer 8 to be available in beta version next year

2007-12-23T03:24:00.000-08:00

After a lukewarm response to the Internet Explorer 7, Microsoft is already planning the next version of its flagship browser. Microsoft has announced that the beta version of the Internet Explorer 8 should be available early in 2008.

Internet Explorer 7 faced a myriad of problems after its release in October last year. The problem centered around a change implemented in the Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) feature. However IE8 will not have similar problems as it has passed the Acid2 test to ensure it does not "break" the Web.

"Acid2 is one test of how modern browsers work with some specific features across several different Web standards," explained Dean Hachamovitch, IE Team general manager at Microsoft. "With respect to standards and interoperability, our goal in developing Internet Explorer 8 is to support the right set of standards with excellent implementations and do so without breaking the existing Web."

Acid2 is a test developed by advocacy group Web Standards Project. The main intention of the test is to see that the browser will be compatible with prevailing web standards like CSS and RSS.

Microsoft had hitherto not focused much on interoperability. The reason was that most developers were anxious to have their products compatible with the Internet Explorer. However the rising popularity of other browsers like Firefox and Safari have forced Redmond to wake up to the interoperability issue.

"Standards are a (critical) means to this end, and we focus on the standards that will help actual, real-world interoperability the most," Hachamovitch admitted. However Redmond has not announced any date for the full release of the IE8. Microsoft said this would depend on the feedback received for the various beta releases.

Firefox 3 Beta 2 for Developers

2007-12-23T03:16:00.000-08:00

Mozilla has released the Firefox 3 Beta 2 for download, solely for developers and testers.

Firefox 3 Beta 2 claims to include 900 improvements over the previous beta, such as fixes for- stability, performance and memory usage, and platform- and user interface- enhancements. Mozilla claims the improvements are based on community feedback received from the testing of beta 1 that was released in November.

Improved security features in Beta 2 promise protection from cross-site JSON data leaks, tighter restrictions on site-specific content using effective TLD service, better presentation of Web site identity and security, malware protection, more strict SSL error pages, anti-virus integration in the download manager, and version checking for insecure plug-ins.

Overall, Beta 2 promises further ease of use through better password management, easier add-on installation, download manager with resumable downloading, full page zoom, animated tab strip, and better integration with Windows Vista, Mac OS X, and Linux.

Refurbished customization tools, enhanced text and graphics rendering, and support for offline browsing along with Web-based protocol handlers are among other improvements in this beta.

Mozilla claims Linux users will appreciate the improved theme, which makes Firefox look more like a native GNOME application, and makes use of GTK+ icons where available.

Meanwhile, developers and testers can download the Firefox 3 Beta 2 at http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-beta.html (available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux in different languages).

Apple iPhone finally gets a native iChat application

2007-08-28T13:26:00.000-07:00

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?

IM Watch: Yahoo Makes IM-to-Cell Connection

2007-08-28T13:17:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-28T13:12:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-28T13:11:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-28T13:08:00.000-07:00

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.

Galder Puzzle Game Enters Public Beta

2007-08-20T11:40:00.001-07:00

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

2007-08-20T11:38:00.002-07:00

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

2007-08-20T11:38:00.001-07:00

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.

Get Skype On Your iPhone

2007-08-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

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.

Projity Launches Beta of OpenProj, the Open Source Replacement of Microsoft Project

2007-08-09T12:38:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-09T12:37:00.001-07:00

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.

Digital Currency Beta Testers Needed At Loomster.net

2007-08-09T12:34:00.000-07:00

Loom software makes it possible to transfer digital title of an asset via the Internet. The actual asset may never change hands or move locations but ownership or digital ‘title’ to that asset can change dozens of times or more each hour. Its also possible that the asset may not even be a physical object.

Sign up for beta testing by today by sending a quick email to DGC@aprava.com and say you want on the list. Following your email, you will receive the invitation.

Any user can create and issue their own type of asset. Beta testers can create their own type of Loomster assets. Asset types can be physical objects such as a gram of gold or anything two or more people agree has value.

There is a group now creating “volunteer hours”. A VH is digital title to ownership of work hours donated by members of their organization. There is no physical item stored or ‘backing’ these digital units. Each unit is equivalent to one hour of donated volunteer time within that organization. Their membership groups trade and issue “VH” units to accomplish local tasks such as the recent cleaning and restoration of a old park and vacant lot.

The popular exchange provider GoldNow has issued their own GoldNow Gold Grams. Each digital unit is equal to one gram of gold. Loomster has issued Open2Exchange Bucks or O2E-$ which is equal to one USD for exchange with O2E cash account balances.

Anyone can create or issue their own asset and exchange them on the Loom Software. GoldNow Grams are exchanged on the Loom Gold web site. O2E-$ is exchanged on Loomster. These two domains operate independently of each other but both are the same Open Source Loom Software.

With Loom Software, there is no ‘back office’ system of administration overseeing all transactions. If you lose your folder location, you also lose everything in that folder. You cannot request your old access….its gone and that is final. Lost assets do not secretly become property of the administrator, they are ‘missing at sea’ and unless you know what location to find them…..your assets will never be recovered. There is no backup database that can be mined for your lost or stolen items. No administrator can peek into the system and re-arrange folders, reclaim assets or reverse transactions. It is simply not possible.

Any Loom user can create his or her own assets and transfer title as they desire. No administrator has any ability to block that commerce, reverse it, change it or reclaim it.

Finally, all users must remember, transfer of a digital title is not a guarantee of good delivery for that asset. When using Loom Software users must personally rate the issuer of those assets. If someone you know issues digital title to one of his assets and proves to you that they will deliver if requested, you might reasonably assume since you know them that they will deliver.

Just beware, if someone you do not know, issues assets and they ask you to exchange them for value—-> It is buyer beware.

Loomster has no complaint department if you end up with bogus or worthless assets. Due diligence is 100% your responsibility.

If Boy Scout Troop 384 issued VH units(Volunteer Hours) and I needed my house painted, I’d be happy to buy 5 VH units and have them complete the job. I trust the Scouts and I know Troop 384 members. I know they will deliver on their VH digital IOU. I trust the issuer and I’ll accept those assets.

If Vladamir from Moscow, issues DIA units backed by flawless diamonds for the low low price of just $50 per carat, I would NOT want to own that asset. I don’t trust the issuer to deliver on that asset and would not do business with anyone making that claim.

Users must also be careful to notice that if Peter from Los Angeles, issues his own assets call VH-BS (Volunteer Hours Boy Scouts) and tries to exchange them with you from his local ‘troop 385′, you had better be careful to check if his assets are the real deal (actual VH units from Troop 384) or a clone of the original. Just like checking that you are shopping at the real Amazon.com web site by verfying the SSL certificate, you will want to check that you are doing business with the actual verfied VH unit and not a clone. This is very easy enough to check once you are aware it could be a possible problem.

August is beta testing month for Loomster.net which is currently operating the Loom Software version 51. Input on the Loomster operation is needed, so please sign up today and get your first Loomster folder with test assets. Loomster is not yet in operation for any actual commerce, it is still in testing mode and learning from beta user’s input. Find out how you can create your own asset and how to value other assets in the Loom system. Learn what secondary exchange market might be available and the benefits of using the Loom Software in everyday commerce.

Sign up for beta testing today by sending a quick email to DGC@aprava.com and say you want on the list. Following your email, you will receive you invitation.

Loom Software is Open Source, for more information see this post Patrick Chkoreff’s Loom Gold Q & A Plus The New Tutorial Video

The openSUSE Project Turns Two with Improved Build Service and 10.3 Beta

2007-08-09T12:33:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LinuxWorld Conference & Expo -- On the second anniversary of the creation of the openSUSE(TM) project, the community program this week marked two new milestones -- the availability of the first beta of openSUSE 10.3 and the continued growth of the openSUSE Build Service.

"We appreciate all the contributions the community has made to the openSUSE project during the past two years," said Michael Loeffler, openSUSE product manager at Novell. "The goal of the openSUSE project is to promote the use of Linux everywhere, and our strong community of developers, testers, writers, translators, artists and users have been instrumental in creating one of the world's best Linux distributions. And as we seek to streamline and improve collaboration between all Linux developers, the openSUSE Build Service has changed the way packages have been built. The build service is quickly becoming a center for building any Linux distribution."

OpenSUSE Build Service Momentum

Now with more than 700 projects and 20,000 software packages, the openSUSE Build Service is an innovative framework that provides an infrastructure for software developers to easily create and compile packages for multiple Linux* distributions. The development team today released the first version of the end-user interface for the build service, with which users of any openSUSE, SUSE(R) Linux Enterprise, Fedora, Debian, Ubuntu or Mandriva distribution can easily search and browse new software for their distribution. Users of the upcoming openSUSE 10.3 can install their software with one click directly from the Web interface. In the past four months, more than 13 million packages have been downloaded from the openSUSE Build Service as developers build packages for various distributions using the tool.

AMD has helped sponsor the progress of the openSUSE Build Service with leading-edge hardware and development expertise. "AMD is helping to ensure that the openSUSE Build Service continues to be an important collaboration and development platform for developers of all distributions," said Terri Hall, AMD vice president of Commercial Systems Marketing. "AMD recognizes the value of the open source development model, and by providing hardware for the openSUSE Build Service, we are able to actively participate in the continued innovation for which the open source community is known."

Developers who want to provide their software to a broader audience of Linux users are often hampered when packages built for one distribution will not work on other distributions. The openSUSE Build Service is the only open source build system that helps developers provide packages with the same high quality for multiple distributions from the same source code. With the system imaging tool KIWI, open source developers can more quickly build a Linux distribution that meets their needs, rigorously test it to ensure product quality, and easily package it for quick installation.

The openSUSE Build Service is completely open source, giving developers and users free and full access to build their choice of Linux packages, whether based on openSUSE, SUSE Linux Enterprise, Fedora, Debian, Ubuntu or other projects. An essential part of the openSUSE project, the openSUSE Build Service is available at http://www.opensuse.org/Build_Service. The new end- user interface can be found at http://software.opensuse.org.

First Beta of openSUSE 10.3

OpenSUSE 10.3 offers a state-of-the-art operating system based on Linux kernel 2.6.22 with a large variety of the latest open source applications for desktops, servers and application development. The first beta of openSUSE 10.3 is now available at http://www.opensuse.org/download.

About Novell

Novell, Inc. delivers infrastructure software for the Open Enterprise. Novell is a leader in enterprise-wide operating systems based on Linux and open source and provides the enterprise management services required to operate mixed IT environments. Novell helps customers minimize cost, complexity and risk, allowing them to focus on innovation and growth. For more information, visit http://www.novell.com.

Novell and SUSE are registered trademarks and openSUSE is a trademark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. *Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Free Fuser Beta - Manage All your Emails and Social Networking Activities from One Site

2007-08-02T13:17:00.000-07:00

Here’s a free Beta that will make it super easy to manage all your emails and social networking activities from one Web site. It’s called Fuser and it’s the first and only FREE online tool that allows Internet users to seamlessly “fuse” their email and social networking accounts into a single inbox that can be easily accessed from any Internet connection. It’s a secure, virtual command center for your Web-based communications including Yahoo!, Gmail, MySpace, Facebook, work email accounts and many more.

To open a Fuser beta account, just visit www.fuser.com and use the registration code: betafuser. Feel free to share with your friends and colleagues.

Microsoft to launch Windows Live installer beta

2007-07-31T13:18:00.000-07:00

Microsoft is touting an addition to its Windows Live offering that will download and install software allowing consumers to connect to multiple online services.

During his presentation at Microsoft's Financial Analysts Day last week, Kevin Johnson, president of Microsoft's Platform and Services Division, mentioned the Windows Live installer. He said that the software maker would begin beta testing it this summer.

He described it as a single download that will let consumers connect to multiple Live-branded hosted services, such as e-mail and messaging. People will be able to access these services from different devices, including PCs and phones, he said.

"This unified installation experience is one example of the more integrated experience we'll deliver with the next generation of Windows Live services," Johnson said.

Microsoft last month started beta testing two products that are part of what will be Windows Live suite: Windows Live Photo Gallery, which lets people organise and share photos on a PC and online, and online storage service Windows Live Folders.

In response to a question, Johnson argued that integration of Microsoft's Live services is a key selling point for the company.

Microsoft Readies Beta Program For Web Analytics Software

2007-07-31T13:16:00.000-07:00

Microsoft plans to launch a beta test program for its forthcoming "Gatineau" Web analytics tool as soon as this summer, a company official said on his Internet blog.
Ian Thomas, of Microsoft's Digital Advertising Solutions Group, said in the posting that the program will be open to a limited number of beta testers "so you may have to wait to be admitted."

Microsoft is designing Gatineau to compete with products from Google, Omniture, and other vendors in the market for software that allows businesses to create detailed traffic reports for their Web sites. The company hasn't released a final ship date for Gatineau.

In his blog, Thomas let slip a number of other details about the product.

"Beta 1 will include the ability to segment data by both age and gender buckets, so you can get more of an idea of what kind of visitors you have," Thomas wrote in a posting that appeared over the weekend.

Thomas said Gatineau gathers Web visitor data anonymously and doesn't collect any personally identifiable information such as names or e-mail addresses.

Thomas wrote that he wanted to divulge more information about the product, but joked that "my implant started beeping.

"Will be back once I've checked with legal," he wrote.

Gatineau is just one of several efforts that Microsoft has undertaken of late to increase its footprint in the market for Web advertising tools and services.

In May, the company said it had acquired Screen Tonic SA, a European manufacturer of software designed to connect online advertisers with users of mobile phones and other digital devices. Last week, Microsoft announced a partnership with Ask.com under which customers of Microsoft's paid search program will see their listings appear on sites operated by Ask.com and its partners.

Simicomm Releases Beta of 15 Minute VoIP System

2007-07-31T13:12:00.000-07:00

MADISON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Born to remove the complexity of VoIP solutions, Simicomm™ today announced EasySpeak PBX, a software-based phone management system. This complete plug-and-play VoIP PBX provides a low-cost alternative to small to medium businesses. The EasySpeak software can be completely installed, including fully automated phone configuration, in only 15 minutes!

The solution is designed for enterprises without the technical abilities to implement or maintain phone systems. It provides resellers with a low cost, reliable solution for companies looking to migrate slowly into a VoIP infrastructure. Based on the Asterisk® open source PBX, EasySpeak works with both VoIP and analog phones. A novice-tested, web-based toolbox enables simple configuration and management.

“We recognize there are many solutions targeting small businesses,” noted Dennis Barnum, CEO of Simicomm. “Our goal was to create something that removes the complexity for a non-technical audience and make it affordable.”

EasySpeak PBX (300 MB file) is downloaded from www.simicomm.com, and burned to a CD. The CD is loaded onto a (dedicated) server, which will run through the installation steps automatically. Just plug the phones and Internet into the Ethernet ports (1 and 0 respectively) and you’re ready to go. To use analog phones, a line card (i.e. Digium® analog telephony devices) is required. Telephones will automatically register and be assigned extensions in the order they are connected. Changing of extensions and management of other features can be made by logging into the web-based toolbox.

EasySpeak PBX contains the features of the high-end solutions, including: Auto Attendant, Web Access to Voicemail, Music-on-Hold, Blind Transfer, T-38 Fax support, Call Forward/Forward on Busy, Call Parking, Call Queuing, Call Routing (DID & ANI), Call Transfer, Call Waiting, Caller ID, Caller ID Blocking, Caller ID on Call Waiting, Roaming Extensions, Assisted Transfer, Three-way Calling and high-end Voicemail functionality.

A free 14-day trial of EasySpeak is available through www.simicomm.com for a limited time.

Microsoft releases Remote Desktop for Mac 2.0 beta

2007-07-31T13:05:00.000-07:00

Microsoft's Macintosh Business Unit has kept true to its promise from a couple of weeks ago by announcing an update to its Remote Desktop Connection client today... in beta form. RDC 2.0 for Mac (beta 1) has been a looooong time coming, and finally brings RDC up to Universal Binary status. But that's just the beginning of the listed features. According to Microsoft's download site, here are some features you can expect to see in the new beta:

Universal Binary
Runs natively on both Intel-based and PowerPC-based Macs.
Remote Desktop Protocol 6.0
Provides better compatibility with Windows Vista, improved security features, and many other improvements.
Multiple Sessions
Lets you connect to multiple Windows-based computers at the same time.
Improved User Experience
Provides a true Mac experience and improved usability.
Improved Customization Options
Lets you change application preferences, including keyboard shortcuts, while you are running a session. Changes take effect the next time that you connect.
Dynamic Screen Resizing
Lets you resize your session window or switch to full-screen mode during a session.
Improved Printing Support
Supports all configured printers on your Mac. No longer limited to PostScript printers.

For those not familiar, RDC allows you to remote desktop into your Windows computer from a Mac. And despite Microsoft's sometimes shoddy reputation among Mac users, RDC works pretty darn well for the task at hand. It's not virtualization of course, and so people who want to run Windows apps natively will still want to run something like Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion. However, RDC is certainly very helpful for performing small tasks on a Windows machine that's across the room, down the hall, or on the other side of campus (as the case may be).

Also announced today was an update to Microsoft's Office Open XML File Format Converter. The software was originally released in May of this year as a way to convert Open XML documents created with the Windows version of Office 2007 to a Mac-friendly format. Version 0.2 (Beta) "improves conversion of Word documents that contain XML content, inline graphics, hyperlinked graphics, WMF/EMF graphics, SmartArt graphics, tracked changes in the document header and footer, Unicode characters, and Japanese Rubi fields," writes Microsoft. "In addition, this version succeeds when converting Word documents that contain bibliography fields, citation fields, and complex tables."

The RDC beta is currently only available in English, although you can expect that other languages will be supported once the final version is released. It also expires on March 31, 2008—but luckily for us, RDC is free (or has been in the past, anyway), so when the final version gets released, you hopefully won't be put in a bind. The Open XML converter expires at the end of 2007.

ReplayTV beta testing HD software

2007-07-31T13:02:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year ReplayTV PC Edition went from being the most expensive commercial PVR software on the market to being among the cheapest.

ReplayTV may still have some name recognition (the company was one of the pioneers of PVR technology along with TiVo). But ReplayTV PC Edition lacks some of the features of Windows Media Center, BeyondTV and SageTV -- notably HDTV support.

ReplayTV is working to catch up to its siblings in the PC-based PVR market. The company is seeking beta testers for a new HDTV capable client.

It looks like the beta will run through September. Testers will be asked to participate in online forums, answer weekly surveys, and of course submit bug reports. In other words, you'll be expected to work for your free software trial. Or you could just wait until ReplayTV releases a final edition. The current version of ReplayTV PC Edition includes a 30-day free trial, and I'm guessing the same will be true of the HD version.