Dance Dance Revolution UNIVERSE 3 for Xbox 360

This weekend I traded in some old games and gaming hardware to Game Crazy and I was going to save up for the big bonanza of Street Fighter IV equipment but I saw that they had a copy of Konami's Dance Dance Revolution UNIVERSE3 for Xbox 360 so I ended up taking it home. The Dance Dance Revolution series of games or DDR as all the cool kids at the mall call it just turned ten years old. For those of you that haven't heard it is a dancing game played on a mat or platform with four arrows. A series of arrows moves vertically up the screen and you tap your feet on the arrows as the arrows cross a bar at the top. This is done in time with the funky Japanese techno pop tunes and you end up doing this weird tapping dance that does not look like real dancing but it is a lot of fun. DDR was like the Wii than way before the Wii was ever made. Being a student of human/computer user interface design I am a big fan of any game that gets me to wave my arms and jump around like an idiot.

DDR is one of the last successful arcade game series left in America. Rock Band and Guitar Hero have been enjoying the spot light a bit too much recently and I am waiting for Dance Dance Revolution to come back and be cool again. I've sort have missed playing DDR. You see the last place that I lived in had low ceilings on the 2nd floor and it was pretty cramped and crowded. My new place has nice hardwood floors and I have enough room to breathe and think at the same time. I have not played Dance Dance Revolution since I had the first DDR game on the PlayStation One.


My younger cousin Gavin is a champion DDR player. He played it for hours each day for years down in California. He is also half Japanese American so it almost in his genetic heritage to kick it at DDR. He wears sport shorts, hydrates ahead of time and stretches out before he plays at the arcade and he usually has a crowd when he turns into a foot tapping humming bird on coffee on the dance floor. However as you can see from the video I am anything but fast or coordinated. He got the better end of the family genetic lottery when it comes to DDR. As a hard core DDR player he has invested countless hours so it is more like a muscle reflex in a zen state than a conscious decision. Behold just how horrible I am at DDR.

I suggest that you might want to wash your monitor screen with bleach after watching me play DDR in my pajamas. (Wow my camera really picked up the bass from the woofer.)


This is a home port of Konami's latest DDR arcade game and as well as having super trippy happy graphics there are some music videos from the original artists. The dancing anime characters looked great. The motion graphics for the songs are a real treat and remind me of Saul Bass at an all-night glow stick rave. There is a custom character tool and a dance city quest mode where you have to unlock clothes and other goodies by winning dance challenges and competitions. There is an online gameplay mode via Xbox Live but unfortunately I kept timing out and could not find anyone else to play with online. Le sigh. Konami is also selling more songs via the Xbox Live marketplace.


The DDR hardware pad has gotten a lot better over the years. The new pad didn't feel like I was going to slip and it pretty much stays in place. In addition to the happy hyper Japanese techno pop that DDR has become known for there is some American disco tracks like Jamiroquai and the Jackson Five. If you hate techno and dance music than you are probably off buying some generic first person shooter game instead or a virtual cow tipping game on the Wii. The game retails with the dance pad for $70 and that is a pretty good price considering you are getting a big dedicated hardware controller and there is a bunch of songs and dances included. Another good thing that I will say about DDR is that it was developed by Konami of Japan and NONE of the people that worked on Rock Revolutions were a part of this game. Konami's lineup of Bemani musical arcade games have been a staple of Japanese arcades for years now and only a handful of them has made it to the US with notable exception of DDR. Konami has been improving and expanding on DDR but they pretty much have kept it true to the vision of the first game.
DDR is one of these genre defying games. It can only play it for about 45 minutes before I want to go down a cold beverage and take a cold shower. It just plain makes you feel good. This is one of the few games that make you work up an adrenaline high from burning calories and moving your behind on the dance floor. This might be the era of Rock Band but I hope that DDR makes a comeback. It sure has never gone anywhere. DDR is one of those few games that makes the entire video game hobby look better. DDR is a perfect game for kids of all ages, adults and anyone that is not embarrassed to be seen dancing spastic pogo dances on a giant video game controller pad.

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, code-named Tube, is the latest Nokia addition to the XpressMusic series portfolio, but the first to feature a touch interface. The company's Symbian operating system has been updated to the 5th version, which is compatible with touchscreen, and I think it's pretty obvious why Nokia chose an XpressMusic device to implement its first touch compatible OS – touch control for music phones is one the most successful recipes nowadays. Moreover, the large touchscreen with a weird resolution (360x640 pixels) makes it also a good tool for Internet browsing. Still, one of the greatest trumps of the handset is its cheap price compared to other touchscreen phones on the market. Furthermore, Nokia made a wise choice by targeting a different consumer market, people interested in music phones rather than the rest of the touchscreen devices, which are targeting business people. The business phone market is already oversaturated with touchscreen handsets by brands such as HTC, Eten, Palm and the newcomers Sony Ericsson and BlackBerry. Announced in October 2008, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic was effectively launched on the market one month later, in November. The 5800 candybar phone can be acquired for only USD 400$ unlocked and with an 8GB microSD card included in the sales package. Potential buyers can opt for any of the three colors available: Black, Red and Blue.
DesignNokia promised a good-looking, stylish device that would top-up all the XpressMusic phones available on the market. Pictures leaked on the Internet before its actual release, revealed a cool handset with a candybar form factor, a little bit too narrow, but with a large touchscreen. Before actually holding it in my hands, I was afraid that it would be too heavy or too bulky. It wasn't like that after all, as Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is very well balanced and because it's a little bit larger than expected, its thickness doesn't give the impression of bulkiness.
window.google_render_ad();
The candybar is manufactured from two different kinds of plastic. The one on the front and both sides is very well polished and shiny, which makes the phone look exquisite and expensive. The back cover is made of a rubber-like plastic, which, as opposed to the one on the front, is frosted. When you put it on any kind of surface the rubber-like plastic on the back cover ensures that the phone won't glide or fall off. While the shiny compound on the front will catch a few fingerprints, that's not the case with the large touchscreen, which gets cover in grease in no time. After only 1 day of use, the phone will look obnoxious if you don't wipe it at all, as I did. Anyway, its construction looks pretty sturdy with no apparent flaws.Nokia 5800 XpressMusic lacks a keypad and a QWERTY keyboard. What you'll get instead are three keys below the huge touchscreen: Green key (Accept calls), Red key (Reject calls), Middle key (Main menu). It is pretty obvious what they do, so I won't bug you with more details. Above the screen, on the right, you'll notice an Ambient light sensor, a secondary video-call camera and for those who didn't know, a touch key that opens the Multimedia bar. The touch key icon is pictured near the XpressMusic logo, but you can check out the pictures for a closer look.
The right side of the phone features a dual volume key, a security key, which locks/unlocks the display when it is slid down, and a dedicated camera key. The left side of the handset features two slots covered with plastic stripes. In one of them you'll discover the 8GB microSD slot card that comes with the phone, while in the other one you'll have to insert your SIM card. That means that both cards (memory and SIM) are hot-swappable, so you won't need to take off the back cover to change either of the two. The back of the phone features a 3.2 Megapixel camera with auto-focus and dual LED flash. The camera is protected by a metallic frame to avoid possible scratches. At the bottom left you'll discover a very slim stylus made of cheap plastic. I haven't used it that much because I didn't like it. On top of the phone no less than three ports have been crowded: microUSB, 3.5mm jack and charger. There's also the usual dedicated power button, which powers on/off the device, but can also be used to lock the screen, remove the memory card or change the profiles.
Overall, I consider Nokia 5800 XpressMusic a huge step forward for the company's design team, which finally developed a good-looking product, after so many fails. Display and CameraNokia 5800 XpressMusic features a 3.2 inch, TFT touchscreen, supporting no less than 16 Million colors. Moreover, the resolution of the screen, 640x360 pixels (16:9 display ratio and 24 bit color depth), makes it a little bit weird at a first glance. The device features proximity sensor for auto turn-off and accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate. With the proximity sensor you can silence a call by turning it upside down. You can also snooze the alarm clock using the same method.
The auto-rotate feature is no news for Nokia, and you can use it when you're browsing the Internet, or turn it off if you think it's too sensible and turns your screen in landscape mode when you don't want to. Even though images are showing great on the display and it performs very well under bright sunlight, Nokia used the most common technology for this display. The so-called resistive touchscreen panel is generally the most affordable technology and offers only 75% clarity. Fortunately, resistive touchscreen panels are not affected by dust or water and are one of the sturdiest. The touchscreen lacks the tactile feedback feature. For performance, please check the benchmark results below.

The 3.2 Megapixel camera features dual LED flash, autofocus capabilities and 3x digital zoom. It uses Carl Zeiss optics and can save pictures in JPEG/Exif format. Other functions include: Auto Exposure, Self Timer, White Balance, Contrast, Sharpness, Light sensitivity, Color tone. I have found the quality of the pictures quite acceptable, even in low-light conditions. The dual led flash is a real disappointment, but daylight pictures are a little bit above average. The camera doesn't support geo-tagging, even though the device embeds a GPS receiver.

Video capabilities are also above average – the candybar can record movies in VGA mode, 640x480 pixel resolution at 30fps. Clips are saved in MPEG-4 format, but you can use the secondary camera on the front of phone to shoot clips at 15fps, 320 x 240 pixel resolution. Overall, without impressing too much, the 5800's camera is well above the rest of the XpressMusic modules and makes a good addition to the device.

Menu and SoftwareNokia 5800 XpressMusic runs Symbian 9.4 operating system, with S60 5th Edition interface. Basically, it's a 9.3 version adapted for a touch interface, which is expected to run all the applications 50-75% faster than the older Symbian version. Also, SQL support is now provided by SQLite.

The layout of the menu didn't change too much, except maybe the fact that you can now organize your applications the way you want to. To bring up the Main menu key click the middle key, choose Options/Organise, and put your more often used applications on top, so they'll have their icon more exposed to your finger. That is a good addition, as the Home screen Shortcut bar only features 4 customizable icons. Furthermore, clicking the Multimedia touch key found below the secondary video-call camera will bring up the Multimedia bar, which gives quick access to Music player, Gallery, Mail, Video centre and Internet browser.
There's a wide range of tips and tricks that I wrote about, so check them out here and here. First of all I'd like to remark that the touch mechanism is not that responsive as in the iPhone, HTC Touch Pro or G1. I have noticed that you need to push an icon a little bit longer to actually activate it, and while this might be good if you think that you can easily click on another icon by mistake, it can also be a bad thing as it slows your browsing speed. I believe that every access must be made by clicking on an application to select it and afterwards clicking again to actually open it.

The scrolling mechanism is a real pain, especially when you browse the Internet, and menu scrolling is also pretty bad. There's no dragging or swiping on the touchscreen, as Nokia didn't implement these functions. Fortunately, some applications can be accessed directly from the Home screen if you know where to look. Alarm clock can be accessed by clicking on the clock in the upper left corner. One click on the battery icon will bring up the connectivity menu, while clicking the General profile will enable you access to Calendar or list of all profiles. Pressing and holding the Menu key (middle key) will bring up the Task manager where you can see what apps are running in the background. The phone doesn't have any business applications, such as Office Mobile or PDF reader, but these can be easily installed afterwards.
The menu isn't that well organized anymore, so you get various applications mixed with games and search or localization services. There are two games based on the accelerometer sensor: Bounce and Global Racing Thunder. Unfortunately, control is pretty hard for the racing game and I wouldn't recommend playing it for too long as it gets annoying. Furthermore, there are only a few third-party applications available for Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, but you can put in some Java-compatible apps, as the device features a compatibility mode for Java applications that aren't touchscreen-aware. The system works by using part of the screen for displaying the essential buttons required by the program. Still, I have discovered that not all apps are fully compatible.
The device has a variety of input methods: stylus, plectrum and finger touch support for text input and UI control (alphanumeric keypad, full and mini QWERTY keyboard, handwriting recognition). To sum it up, here’s what we get in Nokia 5800 XpressMusic: complex calendar, notepad, calculator, converter, file manager, recorder, IM. There's no media sub-menu, but you get some dedicated apps under the Music menu: music player, Stereo FM RDS Radio, Gallery, RealPlayer, Podcasting, Music store.
CommunicationsNokia 5800 XpressMusic is a quad-band GSM (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900) handset, HSDPA 900 / 2100 (3.6 Mbps) compatible, which features GPRS class 32 (100 kbps), EDGE 32 class (296 kbps), High-Speed Circuit-Switched Data (57.6 kbps) and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g (UPnP technology). Unfortunately, you don't have a WLAN shortcut on the Home screen anymore to quick access the Wi-Fi. Instead you'll need to click the battery icon and bring up the Connectivity menu, where you'll find the WLAN function. If you want to connect to the Internet, you must first define an Access point (EDGE, WLAN or 3G). You can do that by going to Main menu - Tools - Settings - Connection - Access points and define which access point is to be used whenever a network connection is required (Main menu - Home network – Settings).
The handset features a GPS receiver, which works in conjunction with Nokia Maps. I have tested the localization times and I have noticed that Nokia 5800's GPS is one of the fastest. The built-in GPS receiver features the A-GPS function, which makes localization even faster. It quickly pin-points you even when the phone is indoors. Other connectivity tools include Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP and EDR support, and microUSB for PC synchronization (no charging). The Bluetooth connection reached almost 116 KB/s when sending files and 130 KB/s when receiving, which is way above the average.

In terms of messaging, the phone offers a complete solution accepting all available message types. Furthermore, given the fact that it features a virtual QWERTY keyboard, you'll be able to type your messages faster. The message client works with POP3, SMTP, and IMAP4 protocols, and supports more than one email account. Also, it can download headers or full email, and supports attachments.

The quad-band (GSM 850 / GSM 900 / GSM 1800 / GSM 1900) network compatible handset has a very good GSM signal reception. The sound is very good at both ends, and pretty loud too. The vibration alert is also above average in intensity, so you don't really need to set it to higher levels.Processor and Memory Nokia 5800 XpressMusic features a single ARM

Verbatim Wireless Desktop Laser Mouse

The first mouse we review in 2009 is not from Microsoft, Logitech, or even Razer. No, no, no, we're not boycotting the Big Three this year; we just want to test out products from companies a bit low on the radar. Verbatim, a company known more for their storage media products, releases their aptly titled "Wireless Desktop Laser Mouse." It goes without saying that this is a wireless rodent powered by a laser engine. But what else?

click on image for full viewThe top is dominated by a smooth, silver finish, while grey, textured sides enhance grip. The rubberized scroll wheel ensures a non-slip surface. Belly up, the mouse reveals four Teflon pads for smooth traction, and there's even an on/off switch so that the mouse doesn't turn on accidentally—say if you shoved it in a backpack. Also there's a button that opens up the battery compartment. This is where a pair of AA batteries comes in handy (included).
The Wireless Desktop Laser Mouse boasts a symmetrical design, aptly suitable for lefties and righties equally. Its inclusion of two side buttons (both on the left) makes it slightly more beneficial for the righty than the leftie, but everything else is perfectly symmetrical. In fact, its shape and color reminded us of the Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 8000 which is among our favorite ambidextrous mice today.
In addition to its two thumb buttons, the scroll wheel can be clicked three ways—down the middle, and nudged to the left or right for horizontal scrolling. Though we admit that we have not yet channeled side-to-side scrolling into our mousing habits, some people may find it helpful, especially with wide documents or pictures. Vertical scrolling registers clicky detents, a feature essential for gaming, yet not required for more generic tasks—though we like clicky feedback for more accurate line-by-line scrolling.
About an inch below the scroll wheel is an on-the-fly dpi button capable of toggling between three different speeds (800, 1200, 1600). The dpi button lights up when the mouse is plugged in—signaling 1600 at its brightest, 1200 dimmed, and 800 with no light.
Available online for prices ranging around $30–35, the Wireless Desktop Laser Mouse is among the most inexpensive mice of its category, especially compared with those that come out of Microsoft and Logitech. Is "inexpensive" just a kind word for "cheap?" Or is this truly a bargain? Let's find out Mouse Breakdown
Two side buttons and on-the-fly dpi switching, sure sounds like the qualifications for a gaming mouse. Though classified as more of a desktop mouse, we'll still fire up a game or two to see how it handles gaming tasks—just for fun. For the most part, we'll judge the mouse more on design, buttons, precision, and software.
ErgonomicsGiven that the mouse is ambidextrous, hence making it equally suitable for lefties and righties, you can't match the form fitting design of a right-handed or left-handed specific mouse. Our hands didn't naturally fall into place—perhaps that is because of our preference for larger mice. The narrow shape encouraged more of a fingertip approach when moving the mouse around, which is where you lift your wrist from the mouse and move with only the fingers. This is also called a "precision grip," since you're more likely to make subtle movements with the fingers rather than with the wrist.
DPI and PrecisionOn-the-fly dpi switching is a handy feature to have with any mouse—especially when gaming. For more common tasks, we switched dpi when editing an image in Photoshop, dipping the dpi to its lowest setting when using the eraser and lasso tools.
In our laser tracking stress test, the mouse did pretty well on rough and hard-to-track surfaces. It held its own on marble, but crippled under granite. Only one mouse has been able to stand up to virtually any surface: theMicrosoft Explorer Mouse.
The laser sensor is still a few notches below other more high-end sensors, however, because of two features: its power saving sleep mode and its high lift-off distance. The sensor has a tendency to "fall asleep" and stay asleep when not in use for a few minutes, causing the cursor to disappear and only reappear when you click one of the buttons—as opposed to just moving the mouse around like other wireless mice.
This is likely intentional, giving that Verbatim mentions their "intelligent power saving" technology. Sure, it may help save some battery life in the long run, but the lag and requirement of clicking a button to wake the mouse up is a bit inconvenient.
Also, we weren't' impressed with the sensor's high lift-off distance. Now, this is often times a metric we measure with gaming mice only, but in this case the lift-off distance was pretty high and apparent even with normal computing tasks.
The lift-off distance is how far you can lift a mouse off the mousepad until the sensor stops calculating movement. So if you reach the end of your mousing surface and still have to move in that same direction, you'll have to lift the mouse and reposition it at the center of the surface. Doing so, some mice with high lift-off distances will cause the cursor to jump or continue moving even when lifted off the surface. Ideally, you'll want a very short lift-off distance so that you don't make unwanted movements.
In this case, our mouse would continue tracking well above the normal lift-off distance compared with other mice, causing some erratic cursor behavior.
Buttons and Scroll WheelUsers can reprogram up to three buttons—the two side buttons and the scroll wheel (middle click). That's goes well beyond the call of duty for your average two-buttons-and-a-scroll-wheel mouse you can pick up at the local computer shop. The two thumb buttons are up and out of the way from accidental presses, yet still within easy reach. Pressing them is effortless and they provide firm tactile and aural feedback when executed.
The on-the-fly dpi button, also, is easily accessible but out of the way from accidental presses. Its three-way lighting helps remind users what dpi mode they're on, so that helps.
The scroll wheel registers clicky detents for accurate line-by-line scrolling and weapon selection in gaming. We didn't encounter issues clicking the wheel down the middle and accidentally nudging the wheel to the left or right. Some Microsoft and Logitech mice with four-way scrolling have this issue. But not Verbatim's.
SoftwareThere's nothing really impressive about the software interface or controls. It meets the basic needs of the user, such as adjusting scrolling modes and remapping buttons. We would have liked to have the option to adjust different dpi modes just for a little flexibility Final Thoughts—A Good Value?
Our favorite thing about Verbatim's Wireless Desktop Laser Mouse is its price. The mouse itself really didn't impress us; you can leave that up to high-end mice that cost twice, or even three times as much. But for its price, you get a whole lot at a low price. At around $30–35 online, Verbatim's mouse is one of the most inexpensive wireless laser mice you can find.
Lefties will appreciate its symmetrical design, but we wish that there were one button on each side of the mouse, not both on the left side. This is something we don't understand. Why design a mouse that fits perfectly in the hands of righties and lefties, but with a button placement that benefits righties only? Make one half of the mouse an exact reflection of the other half.
What's interesting about this desktop mouse is that it has features commonly seen in most gaming mice: clicky scroll wheel, side buttons, and on-the-fly dpi switching. Even its highest setting of 1600 dpi is fast enough for most gamers, at least for us. So its versatility to handle things big and small gives it an even stronger selling pitch.
But it's not without its faults. Our main gripes involve the laser sensor. The mouse has an annoying power-saving "feature" where the mouse falls asleep and only awakens when you click a mouse button—not when you move the mouse. Also, the high lift-off distance added to some cursor instability when the mouse was lifted off the mousepad.
Overall, this is a decent mouse for a great price. It's a step down from more high-end mice coming out of the Big Three mouse manufacturers, but it makes up ground with its tempting price tag.

Latest Samsung SGH-U600 Apple Green Mobile Phone

Sporting a 3.2 mega pixel camera with auto focus, the Apple Green Samsung u600 offers full video recording capabilities and a built-in Music Player for your listening pleasure.
An extremely good looking slider with a high gloss finish, the Samsung SGH-U600 Apple Green is a Quad Band GSM Handset with GPRS support and EDGE technology boosting its speed and power of connection. Other connectivity options include Bluetooth Wireless Technology and USB Connectivity.

Samsung u600 Apple Green
Dimensions: 103.5 x 49.3 x 10.9mmWeight: 81gTalktime: 3.5 hrsStandby: 250 hrs
The Samsung U600’s 2.2 inch LCD widescreen is great for browsing on line content or replying to emails, plus with the Document Viewer, attachments can be viewed and edited, whilst the Business card recognition and Yahoo ready features ensure that the Samsung U600 Apple Green lends itself to being a very sophisticated handset indeed.
Space now adays is paramount, but with 60MB of embedded memory which can easily be expanded with microSD card slot, one can be rest assured that the Apple Green Samsung SGH-U600 has everything in hand.
.

Surf Report for iPhone

if the only time you set your iPhone down is to catch a wave, then Surf Report from Oakley deserves a spot on your mobile device. With this app close at hand, you’ll always know what the surf conditions are where ever you happen to be.
Product:
Surf Report 1.0.1
Rating
Company
Oakley
Price as rated
Free
People who read this also read:

Surf ReportSurf Reports features listings for surf spots from North America to Asia, so you’re sure to find at least a few of your own local breaks. In my testing, I found 19 of my local surf spots listed in just a few seconds.
The first thing you will notice when opening up Surf Report is the sleek, beautiful, and intuitive interface. Finding your local surf spots couldn’t be easier with the “Near Me” button, which uses the location features in the iPhone and iPod touch to automatically bring up a list that includes the current wave height. Tap on a spot in the list, and you’ll be presented with many more details such as current and forecasted air and water temperatures, wind direction, wave period and direction, tide times, and sunrise and sunset times. You also can tap a button to get a map of the surf spot.
And if you’d like to see how the other half lives, you can get news, photos, and videos of the latest surf events and conditions, checking out what the surf is like in far-flung locales like New Zealand and Japan.
Oakley’s Surf Report is a great free app for anyone who likes to surf or just hang out at the beach.

Vue 7 Infinite from E-on Software

Vue 7 Infinite is one of the professional versions of E-on Software’s Vue 3D product line. Vue is the software product line which is used to create realistic 3D environments. In total, there are seven versions of Vue. Pioneer is the entry-level version for newcomers to 3D graphics. Esprit is designed for artists and illustrators. Pro Studio is geared for the advanced artist, and Complete is for the small studio. Vue Infinite is designed for the professional 3D animator and production studio. Finally, xStream is the integrated solution; this is a version of Infinite that can integrate directly into other 3D applications such as Maya, 3DS, Lightwave, and Cinema 4D. There is also a product called Ozone 3.0 which is an atmospheric plug-in that is used to create skies and atmospheres in a variety of 3D product. To see all of the differences, you can check out the comparative matrix from E-on Software.
Vue Infinite contains all of the features that the other product lines contain; the main difference between Vue 7 Infinite and xStream is that Vue 7 Infinite is meant to run as a standalone product and xStream is built to run in other products. Other than that difference, the features are the same.
Vue 7 Infinite runs on Windows (2000 or greater), or Mac (OS X 10.4 or later) with 2 GHz or faster processor recommended, 1 GB RAM (2 GB or more recommended), an OpenGL enabled graphics card is not required but highly recommended with 1024x768 in 65K colors/16 bits (24+ bits recommended), and 200 MB free hard-disk space. Multi-processor rendering is only available on all multi-processor OS X, 2000, XP Pro and Vista systems.
E-on Software was founded in 1997 with the release of Vue d'Esprit 2. Embraced initially by artists and animators, it has now become a staple in Hollywood and has been used to create scenes in such movies as Pirates of the Caribbean II and The Spiderwick Chronicles as well as for television shows produced by the Discovery Channel. It is also finding its way into advertising and the fine art industry.
So, what's new with Vue 7 Infinite?
• EcoSystem Generation III is the third generation of E-on's technology for creating landscape images. The creation of real world natural environments is extremely complex. With this latest incarnation of EcoSystem, Vue has made it even easier to populate your scenes with millions of plants, trees and other objects to achieve a new level of natural complexity and detail. With automated Smart Scattering and Dynamic Population, you get better detail along with a more natural look. The EcoSystem painter lets you paint over your objects with four different kinds of painting tools. What's more is that you can save your creations and build a whole library that can be used for other scenes and objects.

ASRock N7AD-SLI Motherboard Review

A few weeks back, we had the opportunity to take a sneak peek at the ASRock N7AD-SLI motherboard. Specifically, we looked at a feature that was available on the board called Instant Boot. We were pretty impressed with the feature, and at the time had no issues installing Windows and getting the board ready for use. We told you that we would be doing a full review on the board, and that is what we intend to do today.
ASRock has always had the ability to bring boards to the market that were very good performers and were priced lower than many other boards in the same class. They have also given extra attention to older chipsets and not abandoned them as they developed the newer boards based on newer chipsets. Many other companies can almost leave you high and dry once they get started on the new cycle of boards that launch with new chipsets. ASRock has not done this though, and they should be commended for that.
The N7AD-SLI board is a board that is based on the NVIDIA nForce 740 SLI chipset. This is not a flagship board by any means. It is a budget board that will allow you to run SLI, which will give an upgrade path to those that may add a second video card later on.
So, what kind of performance will we get from this board? That is what we intend to find out as we put the ASRock N7AD-SLI motherboard through our testing suite.
First, let’s take a look at the specs...

Kaspersky’s Anti-Virus for Windows 7 released as “prototype

So far, there are three “official” anti-virus partners for the Windows 7 beta – AVG, Symantec (with Norton 360 3.0 beta) and Kaspersky Lab, with the latter announcing the release of its Windows 7 solution as a “technical prototype”.
if(typeof(ffxAds)=="undefined")var ffxAds = [];
var ad = {
width: "300",
height: "250",
adtype: "doubleisland",
isiframe: "yes"
};
ffxAds.push(ad);
document.write("");
var sc_project=4176911;
var sc_invisible=1;
var sc_partition=48;
var sc_click_stat=1;
var sc_security="744c3565";
Announcing a “new antivirus engine” in “technical prototype” form, Kaspersky Lab has made its Windows 7 antivirus solution available for free download to Windows 7 beta users. Promising “complex antivirus protection from all types of Internet threats”, as antivirus and security companies are wont to do, the release underscores Kaspersky’s desire to be seen as a fast security mover in an ever changing threat landscape. Alexey Kalgin, Director Product Marketing, Corporate Business Division, Kaspersky Labs said: “We knew the release of the new version of Windows would be a huge event for the IT community, which is why we were prepared for it. “Our company has always made support for Microsoft’s new operating systems a top priority. For example Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Windows Vista was released simultaneously with the operating system’s official launch. When Windows Server 2008 was released, Kaspersky Anti-Virus was the only antivirus product on the market certified by Microsoft. Users can now see for themselves how our antivirus protection technologies perform on the new platform.”The prototype is provides “effective protection” from all types of Internet threats – viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, hacker attacks and spam, forming part of a “comprehensive solution, including not only an antivirus pattern-recognition component but also a heuristic analyzer which can detect and block as-yet-unknown malicious programs based on their suspicious characteristics, a firewall and an anti-spam filter.” Kaspersky is quick to promote its “new antivirus engine” which is “even more effective at detecting malicious programs than its predecessor”. Claimed benefits include dramatically increased “system scanning speed thanks to improved processing of objects and optimized use of system resources, particularly on dual- and quad-core processor platforms” and a “unique product architecture” to ensure “high productivity and one of the lowest uses of system resources in the industry.”Low use of system resources seems to be the new battle cry amongst security vendors, something Symantec has achieved with its Norton Internet Security 2009 software, has implemented into the Norton 360 version 3.0 beta, and is something that BitDefender has also recently promoted with its latest version. Fully compatible with Windows 7 beta in both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions, Kaspersky promises that “both inexperienced and advanced users will find the solution to be user-friendly and easy to install and configure.”

Parallels Desktop 4.0

Updates to Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac virtualization product offers more CPU and RAM capacity, and the ability to run Microsoft Windows 7. With the new capabilities, Parallels keeps pace with VMware Fusion and Sun VirtualBox for OS X in the competition to run virtual machines on Apple hardware.


The Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac update adds the ability to run Windows 7, but it can’t pull ahead of VMware Fusion or Sun Microsystems’ VirtualBox for OS X hosts in the tight race to run virtual machines on Apple equipment.

Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac and VMware Fusion both list for $79.99, while Sun’s VirtualBox for OS X hosts is a no-cost download. If price is your primary evaluation factor, the choice is clear. However, if your development or daily-use needs require that you easily move files between Mac and Windows applications—or your workloads contend for physical host resources—then Parallels Desktop for Mac or VMware Fusion should go to the top of your list.

I tested Parallels for Mac on a Mac mini with the minimum required Intel Core Duo, 1.66GHz processor, and on a Mac Pro with two dual-core Intel Xeon 2.66 GHz processors and an Nvidia GeForce 7300GT graphics adapter with 256 MB of RAM.

New in this point version of Parallels Desktop of Mac, which was released Jan. 19, is the ability of VMs to use up 256 MB of RAM on the video adapter.

Also new is the ability of VMs to utilize up to eight CPU cores and a maximum of 8 GB of RAM. I was able to assign all four of the CPU cores on my Mac Pro to VMs running in Parallels for Mac. Applications responded in a snap.

For an eWEEK Labs walk-through of Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac, click here.

The Parallels Adaptive Hypervisor takes on greater importance given the greater CPU and RAM capacity that is available for VMs. By enabling the Adaptive Hypervisor option, I was able to let Parallels for Mac automatically allocate the host CPU resources between my VMs and the Mac OS X applications depending on which application I was using at the moment. For example, while running Microsoft Outlook in a Windows XP VM and working on a video file on the Mac Pro using Final Cut Pro 5.1, the CPU resources were shifted to the more processor-intensive graphics application.

Parallels for Mac is simple to use. Parallel Tools, which provide mouse integration, and Parallels Coherence, which allowed me to easily move between the Mac OS X environment on the physical host and the Windows applications installed in a virtual machine, are intuitive to use. Adding guest controls—whether in VMware Fusion or Sun VirtualBox—can be a bit of a chore. My tests showed that Parallels has (correctly) assumed that the user wants enhanced mouse and file integration features and made the installation of these almost an automatic part of the virtual machine creation wizard.

I installed Microsoft Office:mac 2008 on my physical Mac hosts and Office Professional 2007 for Windows on a VM running Windows XP SP3. After starting both applications, I could cut and paste heavily formatted text between the two applications with no loss of fidelity and no additional keystrokes beyond those normally associated with this action. New in this version of Parallels for Mac, I was able to use Windows Explorer to browse to a saved Word document in my Windows VM and drag the file to Word 2008 for Mac that was in the Dock on my physical host.

This behind-the-scenes integration of products that are running in different hosts is a convenient feature that competitors will find hard to beat.

Even so, it’s clear that Parallels and VMware are locked in a competitive struggle that can play to the advantage of cost-conscious developers or IT managers working in smaller shops. One manifestation of this is that Parallels for Mac now nicely integrates security tools from Kaspersky Labs (the first year of the subscription is provided in the cost of the Parallels license) and back up and data management tools from Acronis, also included in the Parallels license fee.

Microsoft Office:mac 2008

Updates to Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac virtualization product offers more CPU and RAM capacity, and the ability to run Microsoft Windows 7. With the new capabilities, Parallels keeps pace with VMware Fusion and Sun VirtualBox for OS X in the competition to run virtual machines on Apple hardware.


The Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac update adds the ability to run Windows 7, but it can’t pull ahead of VMware Fusion or Sun Microsystems’ VirtualBox for OS X hosts in the tight race to run virtual machines on Apple equipment.

Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac and VMware Fusion both list for $79.99, while Sun’s VirtualBox for OS X hosts is a no-cost download. If price is your primary evaluation factor, the choice is clear. However, if your development or daily-use needs require that you easily move files between Mac and Windows applications—or your workloads contend for physical host resources—then Parallels Desktop for Mac or VMware Fusion should go to the top of your list.

I tested Parallels for Mac on a Mac mini with the minimum required Intel Core Duo, 1.66GHz processor, and on a Mac Pro with two dual-core Intel Xeon 2.66 GHz processors and an Nvidia GeForce 7300GT graphics adapter with 256 MB of RAM.

New in this point version of Parallels Desktop of Mac, which was released Jan. 19, is the ability of VMs to use up 256 MB of RAM on the video adapter.

Also new is the ability of VMs to utilize up to eight CPU cores and a maximum of 8 GB of RAM. I was able to assign all four of the CPU cores on my Mac Pro to VMs running in Parallels for Mac. Applications responded in a snap.

For an eWEEK Labs walk-through of Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac, click here.

The Parallels Adaptive Hypervisor takes on greater importance given the greater CPU and RAM capacity that is available for VMs. By enabling the Adaptive Hypervisor option, I was able to let Parallels for Mac automatically allocate the host CPU resources between my VMs and the Mac OS X applications depending on which application I was using at the moment. For example, while running Microsoft Outlook in a Windows XP VM and working on a video file on the Mac Pro using Final Cut Pro 5.1, the CPU resources were shifted to the more processor-intensive graphics application.

Parallels for Mac is simple to use. Parallel Tools, which provide mouse integration, and Parallels Coherence, which allowed me to easily move between the Mac OS X environment on the physical host and the Windows applications installed in a virtual machine, are intuitive to use. Adding guest controls—whether in VMware Fusion or Sun VirtualBox—can be a bit of a chore. My tests showed that Parallels has (correctly) assumed that the user wants enhanced mouse and file integration features and made the installation of these almost an automatic part of the virtual machine creation wizard.

I installed Microsoft Office:mac 2008 on my physical Mac hosts and Office Professional 2007 for Windows on a VM running Windows XP SP3. After starting both applications, I could cut and paste heavily formatted text between the two applications with no loss of fidelity and no additional keystrokes beyond those normally associated with this action. New in this version of Parallels for Mac, I was able to use Windows Explorer to browse to a saved Word document in my Windows VM and drag the file to Word 2008 for Mac that was in the Dock on my physical host.

This behind-the-scenes integration of products that are running in different hosts is a convenient feature that competitors will find hard to beat.

Even so, it’s clear that Parallels and VMware are locked in a competitive struggle that can play to the advantage of cost-conscious developers or IT managers working in smaller shops. One manifestation of this is that Parallels for Mac now nicely integrates security tools from Kaspersky Labs (the first year of the subscription is provided in the cost of the Parallels license) and back up and data management tools from Acronis, also included in the Parallels license fee.

Mac virtualization product

Updates to Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac virtualization product offers more CPU and RAM capacity, and the ability to run Microsoft Windows 7. With the new capabilities, Parallels keeps pace with VMware Fusion and Sun VirtualBox for OS X in the competition to run virtual machines on Apple hardware.


The Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac update adds the ability to run Windows 7, but it can’t pull ahead of VMware Fusion or Sun Microsystems’ VirtualBox for OS X hosts in the tight race to run virtual machines on Apple equipment.

Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac and VMware Fusion both list for $79.99, while Sun’s VirtualBox for OS X hosts is a no-cost download. If price is your primary evaluation factor, the choice is clear. However, if your development or daily-use needs require that you easily move files between Mac and Windows applications—or your workloads contend for physical host resources—then Parallels Desktop for Mac or VMware Fusion should go to the top of your list.

I tested Parallels for Mac on a Mac mini with the minimum required Intel Core Duo, 1.66GHz processor, and on a Mac Pro with two dual-core Intel Xeon 2.66 GHz processors and an Nvidia GeForce 7300GT graphics adapter with 256 MB of RAM.

New in this point version of Parallels Desktop of Mac, which was released Jan. 19, is the ability of VMs to use up 256 MB of RAM on the video adapter.

Also new is the ability of VMs to utilize up to eight CPU cores and a maximum of 8 GB of RAM. I was able to assign all four of the CPU cores on my Mac Pro to VMs running in Parallels for Mac. Applications responded in a snap.

For an eWEEK Labs walk-through of Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac, click here.

The Parallels Adaptive Hypervisor takes on greater importance given the greater CPU and RAM capacity that is available for VMs. By enabling the Adaptive Hypervisor option, I was able to let Parallels for Mac automatically allocate the host CPU resources between my VMs and the Mac OS X applications depending on which application I was using at the moment. For example, while running Microsoft Outlook in a Windows XP VM and working on a video file on the Mac Pro using Final Cut Pro 5.1, the CPU resources were shifted to the more processor-intensive graphics application.

Parallels for Mac is simple to use. Parallel Tools, which provide mouse integration, and Parallels Coherence, which allowed me to easily move between the Mac OS X environment on the physical host and the Windows applications installed in a virtual machine, are intuitive to use. Adding guest controls—whether in VMware Fusion or Sun VirtualBox—can be a bit of a chore. My tests showed that Parallels has (correctly) assumed that the user wants enhanced mouse and file integration features and made the installation of these almost an automatic part of the virtual machine creation wizard.

I installed Microsoft Office:mac 2008 on my physical Mac hosts and Office Professional 2007 for Windows on a VM running Windows XP SP3. After starting both applications, I could cut and paste heavily formatted text between the two applications with no loss of fidelity and no additional keystrokes beyond those normally associated with this action. New in this version of Parallels for Mac, I was able to use Windows Explorer to browse to a saved Word document in my Windows VM and drag the file to Word 2008 for Mac that was in the Dock on my physical host.

This behind-the-scenes integration of products that are running in different hosts is a convenient feature that competitors will find hard to beat.

Even so, it’s clear that Parallels and VMware are locked in a competitive struggle that can play to the advantage of cost-conscious developers or IT managers working in smaller shops. One manifestation of this is that Parallels for Mac now nicely integrates security tools from Kaspersky Labs (the first year of the subscription is provided in the cost of the Parallels license) and back up and data management tools from Acronis, also included in the Parallels license fee.

Parallels Virtualization Software Improves Running VMs on Macs

Updates to Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac virtualization product offers more CPU and RAM capacity, and the ability to run Microsoft Windows 7. With the new capabilities, Parallels keeps pace with VMware Fusion and Sun VirtualBox for OS X in the competition to run virtual machines on Apple hardware.


The Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac update adds the ability to run Windows 7, but it can’t pull ahead of VMware Fusion or Sun Microsystems’ VirtualBox for OS X hosts in the tight race to run virtual machines on Apple equipment.

Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac and VMware Fusion both list for $79.99, while Sun’s VirtualBox for OS X hosts is a no-cost download. If price is your primary evaluation factor, the choice is clear. However, if your development or daily-use needs require that you easily move files between Mac and Windows applications—or your workloads contend for physical host resources—then Parallels Desktop for Mac or VMware Fusion should go to the top of your list.

I tested Parallels for Mac on a Mac mini with the minimum required Intel Core Duo, 1.66GHz processor, and on a Mac Pro with two dual-core Intel Xeon 2.66 GHz processors and an Nvidia GeForce 7300GT graphics adapter with 256 MB of RAM.

New in this point version of Parallels Desktop of Mac, which was released Jan. 19, is the ability of VMs to use up 256 MB of RAM on the video adapter.

Also new is the ability of VMs to utilize up to eight CPU cores and a maximum of 8 GB of RAM. I was able to assign all four of the CPU cores on my Mac Pro to VMs running in Parallels for Mac. Applications responded in a snap.

For an eWEEK Labs walk-through of Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac, click here.

The Parallels Adaptive Hypervisor takes on greater importance given the greater CPU and RAM capacity that is available for VMs. By enabling the Adaptive Hypervisor option, I was able to let Parallels for Mac automatically allocate the host CPU resources between my VMs and the Mac OS X applications depending on which application I was using at the moment. For example, while running Microsoft Outlook in a Windows XP VM and working on a video file on the Mac Pro using Final Cut Pro 5.1, the CPU resources were shifted to the more processor-intensive graphics application.

Parallels for Mac is simple to use. Parallel Tools, which provide mouse integration, and Parallels Coherence, which allowed me to easily move between the Mac OS X environment on the physical host and the Windows applications installed in a virtual machine, are intuitive to use. Adding guest controls—whether in VMware Fusion or Sun VirtualBox—can be a bit of a chore. My tests showed that Parallels has (correctly) assumed that the user wants enhanced mouse and file integration features and made the installation of these almost an automatic part of the virtual machine creation wizard.

I installed Microsoft Office:mac 2008 on my physical Mac hosts and Office Professional 2007 for Windows on a VM running Windows XP SP3. After starting both applications, I could cut and paste heavily formatted text between the two applications with no loss of fidelity and no additional keystrokes beyond those normally associated with this action. New in this version of Parallels for Mac, I was able to use Windows Explorer to browse to a saved Word document in my Windows VM and drag the file to Word 2008 for Mac that was in the Dock on my physical host.

This behind-the-scenes integration of products that are running in different hosts is a convenient feature that competitors will find hard to beat.

Even so, it’s clear that Parallels and VMware are locked in a competitive struggle that can play to the advantage of cost-conscious developers or IT managers working in smaller shops. One manifestation of this is that Parallels for Mac now nicely integrates security tools from Kaspersky Labs (the first year of the subscription is provided in the cost of the Parallels license) and back up and data management tools from Acronis, also included in the Parallels license fee.

New old puzzle games for PS3

Washington - Two years into the lifespan of the PlayStation 3, Sony's online offerings are a mixed bag. 

On the plus side, LittleBigPlanet and its energetic community of amateur level designers make it essential for PS3 owners to have an internet connection. 

On the minus side, there's PlayStation Home, the drab, under populated virtual world that's drawn almost universal derision since its beta launch in November. 

And then there's the PlayStation Network, whose library of software, game add-ons and movies has grown at a healthy clip over the last year. 

Some of PSN's more experimental titles, like The Last Guy, Echochrome and the forthcoming Flower, have gotten plenty of much deserved attention. 

But lately, I've been relishing some old-fashioned puzzle games from an unheralded Massachusetts developer called Creat Studios. 

Cuboid: The object of Cuboid is to manoeuvre a rectangular brick (actually, two cubes glued together) through a two-dimensional maze. 

Sounds simple, but one key restriction - you can only move the cuboid by flipping it on its sides - makes each puzzle much more difficult than it originally appears. 

As the game progresses, you'll confront new obstacles, like switches, drawbridges and panels that can't bear the full weight of the cuboid. 

Some mazes seem impossible until you stumble across that "a-ha!" moment, which is the most satisfying experience you can ask for out of a puzzle game. Three stars out of four. 

Magic Ball: You know the old Arkanoid formula, in which you use a paddle and ball to clear a screen full of obstacles. That's the essence of Magic Ball, but the simple bricks of the original have been replaced with animated figures. 

In a nautical-themed level, for example, you may have to knock out pirates and sharks. You can also juice up your attack with nifty power-ups, like cannons and meteors. 

Magic Ball doesn't break new ground, but it's the liveliest, most colourful Arkanoid knockoff yet. Three stars. 

Lumines Supernova: The hypnotic block-matching puzzler Lumines has been a reliable time-killer since its debut in 2005. 

The PSN version adds one new mode, Dig Down, in which you're forced to start with a mess of unmatched blocks. Otherwise, most of Supernova is recycled from previous releases. 

It's worth the investment if you're new to the game, but veterans may be disappointed. Two-and-a-half stars. 

Crash Commando: If you get your online kick from running around and shooting your friends, you don't want to miss Crash Commando. It takes the 3D death match game play of, say Unreal Tournament and squishes it into 2D. 

The result is as hectic and hilarious as any full-price shooter. Three stars. 

Jeopardy!: You can't take America's most popular quiz show and make it multiple-choice. 

And you definitely aren't going to meet another Ken Jennings among the dunderheads I've seen playing this lifeless translation of the TV hit. One star. 

Historic Wilmington Foundation Chooses Patron Software Donor Management System

Wilmington, NC (OPENPRESS) January 31, 2009 -- Patron Software, Inc., the Wilmington, N.C.-based provider of software for nonprofit organizations, announced today that the Historic Wilmington Foundation (HWF) has upgraded to Patron Software’s Version 2.0 to manage its donor database of friends and supporters. Patron Software Version 2.0 provides Historic Wilmington Foundation with a variety of donor management tools to help get Wilmington area residents, employers, educators and philanthropists more actively involved in historic preservation, both as donors and in other ways.

“Our donor management software is about more than just raising money,” said Joanne Riesz, Director of Sales and Marketing. “It’s about building a community of individuals with shared interests and concerns.”

The Historic Wilmington Foundation promotes historic preservation in the North Carolina Cape Fear region through educational programs, advocacy, community involvement and fundraising events.

“We have been pleased with our purchase of Patron Software”, said George Edwards, Executive Director of HWF. “With Patron Software, we can identify specific segments within our community, such as members, non-members, volunteers, and historic site owners. In one project, we identified all the buildings in the area designated with our historic plaques. The new memberships we acquired from a mailing to those households and businesses substantially offset the foundation’s investment in Patron Software. The software also makes it easy to identify lapsed members and invite them to rejoin, and to remind current members when it’s time to renew. When they do, we are able to immediately generate thank you letters.”

Patron Software, Inc. was founded in 2001 when Joanne Riesz, then Executive Director of Wilmington Symphony Orchestra met Jenny Romanelli, former Chief Information Officer of a New Jersey direct-mail marketing firm. The combination of Ms. Riesz’s nonprofit experience and Ms. Romanelli’s IT background combined to create a company that offers quality nonprofit software solutions that are flexible and affordable. The Patron Software package includes fundraising software as well as the capability for managing volunteers, tracking memberships and programs, and managing capital campaigns. Additional services include custom programming, support packages, and training.

More information about the capabilities and donor management software services of Patron Software, Inc. can be found on the company’s website,

Intel Pushes New Operating System For Netbooks

Forget the Microsoft Windows 7 beta. The alpha version of Moblin, an open source-based Linux operating system designed specifically for netbooks, is out. 

The preliminary version of the Moblin 2 OS has been specifically created for netbooks that run Intel's company's Atom processor. 

The idea is to build a new experience for netbook users, who so far have been buying netbooks loaded with either Microsoft's Windows XP or a Linux flavor OS. It could also help notebook makers maintain their price margins by building greater differentiation among their devices.

Inexpensive lightweight netbooks have become one of the fastest growing categories in the PC industry. The Moblin project sponsored by Intel among others attempts to create an OS specifically designed for a netbook processor that will be offer users a better experience on these tiny devices.

Earlier this month, Rahul Sood, chief technology officer for HP's Voodoo Business Unit complained on his blog that netbooks in their current form could kill PC innovation.

Netbooks were designed as companions for laptops and desktops but increasingly users are buying them as their primary device. That means users get a stripped down version of a notebook that doesn't entirely give them a satisfactory experience, says Sood. 

Operating systems created specifically to take advantage of a netbook's processor such as Intel's Atom could help change that. It could also make it easier for notebook manufacturers and chip makers to prevent cannabilization among their products. "How do you differentiate the higher performance machines from the netbook equipped systems?," asks Sood. 

Netbooks with their own customized OS could help create more distinct products. It's also one of the reasons that Intel has been actively supporting Moblin offering it the resources needed to optimize the OS for Atom processor. 


The alpha release of Moblin 2 is the first chance for interested users to start multiple-level testing of the core Linux OS including the boot process, the connectivity and networking manager and the user interface development tools. The software has been tested on the Acer Aspire One, Asus eeePC 901 and the Dell Mini 9. 

The release may not be something that Joe the plumber would want on his on his netbook yet, but as the user interface for Moblin develops it could become a viable alternative to XP and other Linux distributions, says Ars Technica. 

Apple iPod touch (Gen 2) Review

Apple's iPod touch is the device for those who want all the features of the iPhone, but without the phone. The first-generation model came out in 2007, and has recently been followed by an improved version.

One of the best things Apple is known for, outside of releasing revolutionary electronics devices, is quickly updating said items with more features, better battery life, and much sleeker looking designs.

The second generation iPod touch follows that same trend with a slimmed down look, substantially improved battery life, onboard speaker, and a wide range of applications offered through the Apple App Store. Has Apple finally turned the iPod touch into the ultimate handheld computer?

BUY the Apple iPod touch

Best Buy $359.99

Beach Camera $269.95

Amazon.com Marketplace $309.90

The design of the new iPod touch is slimmed down and much smoother than the previous generation, and it is noticably thinner than the iPhone 3G, too.

Overall, this device has a tablet shape, and is 4.3 inches tall, 2.4 inches wide, and 0.33 inches thick.

The old design had a flat stainless steel back with plastic trim around the display. The new model has a curved stainless steel back that wraps around to border the display, cutting out the plastic trim (see here). The new back has a vacuum sealed look compared to the old model, slimming down towards the edges. Besides the rear cover, the new iPod touch looks identical to the old model.

Build quality is excellent to average depending on what area you look at. The screen is very scratch resistant with its glass surface, and the metal body prevents any flexing or creaking.

The polished stainless steel back is not without its flaws, though; it is very susceptible to scratching. The first day out of the wrapper the finish started to show very fine scratches. After more than a month of usage the back is very scratched and abused.

Display

The 3.5-inch display on the iPod touch is one of the nicest displays I have seen, hands down.

Back in the early days with flexible layer resistive touch screens, the flexible layer would mar images with its inconsistent finish, and partially block your view with its tiny wires. With the newer capacitive touch displays you can use completely rigid surfaces like glass, giving it a cleaner look, and in my opinion much better colors. The small wires are also gone, something that annoyed me on some screens as some were more visible than others.

The glass finish also has another benefit, reducing and in some cases completely removing the risk of scratching the screen. The iPod touch was the first mobile device I could carry in my pocket without any risk of damaging the screen. The shiny metal shell might get dinged and scratched up, but the glass display still looks perfect after a bit of rubbing to remove any finger prints. The same couldn't be said about my Compaq iPAQ after someone used a wool sweater to wipe down the screen. For mobile device users this means you can store the handheld in your pocket or bag without a case, making it much smaller and easier to carry around.

Color saturation and brightness are excellent, making it perfect for watching a movie or surfing the Web. The backlight brightness puts my TV and laptop to shame, and easily readable in bright conditions at 30-40% brightness. I have not been in any outdoor setting where I could not read the iTouch's screen, even with excessive amounts of glare reflecting in my face. Viewing angles are also very good, with little color inversion at steeper angles.

One problem I have noticed, on both of my first generation iPod touch and second generation model, is dust between the layer of glass and the LCD. I went through two models the first time and only noticed the dust on my current second generation model well after the initial return period. Nothing is ever completely perfect, but I really dislike screen defects.

Multitouch Interface and Keyboard

This handheld's multitouch interface replaces the old stylus with your finger for handling user input. Apple designed the entire user interface around your finger, with swiping or twirling motions used for navigating screens.

For typing emails or entering in other text information, you have two keyboard options depending on the screen orientation. Both options have decent speed, but still slower than a physical keyboard. It takes a while to get used to the lack of tactile feedback, and it also makes it difficult to place your fingers in the right spot without first looking at the screen.

For those of you dead-set on still using a stylus or just have a hard time hitting the correct keys with your finger, a company has recently made one that works with the iTouch's capacitive touch display. Ten One Design has released the Pogo stick, which has a soft end that transmits electrical signals from your hand onto the display to simulate your finger touching the screen. It doesn't fully replace a true stylus but it gets very close.

Wireless

Wireless capabilities are still limited to Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), with functional Bluetooth still out of the picture. This isn't an iPhone, so don't be asking about 3G.

Still, if you spend most of you time near Wi-Fi hotspots, you won't miss cellular-wireless access. With the iPod touch, you can check your email, surf the Web, and access the App Store without having to pay AT&T a monthly service fee.

A small note: the iTouch does have a chipset that communicates with the built-in Nike+ interface that is similar to Bluetooth, but it is locked for only that function. The Nike+ feature is used for tracking running information when paired with a transmitter you put in your shoe. This captures pace, distance, and calories burned and allows you to view this information at a later time to track progress.

Extra Features

A great add-on to the second generation iPod touch is the internal speaker. To watch a quick YouTube clip on the first generation, you needed to grab a pair of headphones to hear the audio. Now you can just listen to it without headphones, expanding the audience to friends or other people around you.

Another great not-so-advertised feature is a microphone input through an extra pin in the headphone jack. Using headsets designed for the iPhone you can take quick audio notes, or even make cheap or free phone calls over Wi-Fi with VOIP software like Fring. It won't completely replace your phone by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a great alternative in some situations.

Software

The Apple App Store is the best thing that has happened to the iPod touch (and iPhone). The first iPod touch was limited to only a handful of applications unless you hacked it for use with non-approved software. Now Apple has finally opened it up to third-party software that goes through a basic approval process.

At the time of this article the App Store has approximately 15,000 applications that are available for a small sum or completely free. A few of my favorite applications are listed below:

WootWatch - Used for keeping tabs on current Woot! Deals. 
TapDefense - Great strategy game based off of Desktop Tower Defense. Currently this is a freeware game and easily keeps you occupied for long periods of time. 
Fring - Communications application that can integrate with chat applications like GoogleTalk and AIM and VOIP services like Skype. Currently freeware 
CrazyTanks - 3D tank fighting game that uses the gyroscopic capabilities of the Touch to maneuver your tank around the course to defend yourself and aim at opponents. I picked up this application at release when it was free, but now it is 99 cents. 
SimCity - If you loved SimCity growing up, you will probably find it hard not to spend ten bucks on this game. It is challenging and makes the iTouch consume quite a bit of power, but it's well worth it. 
FS5 Hockey - Air Hockey game that two players can play using the same iPod or over a wireless network. This game is free with minor ad interruption as it loads up. 
Performance

The mobile version of Apple's OS X software environment is very snappy and rarely has any lag. The rendering of webpages is one thing that many mobile devices show some lag in, especially if they are loaded with images. The iPod touch can navigate pages with ease and has by far the smoothest scrolling I have seen short full computer.

Another area that the processing capability of the iPod touch gets shown off is inside third-party 3D games. Many of these look as good as or rival those found on dedicated mobile gaming platforms.

The only area I have been able to make my iPod touch lag or crash is playing third-party games, but these are early revisions that have since been updated to fix some of the problems.

Battery Life

With this new version, battery life has been increased in most areas, including music playing and watching movies.

The original iPod touch was rated for 22 hours listening to music, 5 hours watching movies, and 4 hours surfing the web. With the newer chipset Apple has bumped music playing to 36 hours, movies to 6 hours, but leaving internet surfing the same at 4 hours. For those of us who rely on our iPods to keep sane on long flights, this is a very nice improvement.

Charging times are listed at 2 hours for a fast 80% charge, and 4 hours for a full charge.

Conclusion

The iPod touch's wonderful display and wide selection of third-party software makes it an outstanding mobile device for playing games, surfing the web, and keeping in touch with your friends via email.

The second generation is a solid upgrade from the previous model. The increased battery life by more than 50% while playing music is phenomenal and new internal speaker fills a big gap in the previous design.

While the App Store is not unique to just the newest iPod touch, it is one of the most significant upgrades to hit the model lineup.

With all of these improvements Apple still found a way to lower its price down to $229, a big drop from the $299 release of the original model. I can't say these improvements are enough to make someone upgrade to the new model, but it does make it a sweeter deal if you don't own one yet.

Pros

Beautiful display 
Nearly scratch-proof glass cover 
Better battery life than the first generation iPod touch 
Thousands of applications available at the App Store 
Cons

Still no Bluetooth support 
Rear cover is very prone to scratching 
Screen susceptible to dust between each layer 
 

AMD Catalyst 9.1 Software Suite Available for Download

After much anticipation, it appears that the Sunnyvale, California-based chip maker AMD has finally released the new Catalyst Suite Version 9.1, providing Radeon graphics card users with the latest display drivers and the well-known Catalyst Control Center. As with almost all driver releases, the new Catalyst Suite version 9.1 comes to fix a number of known issues and provide a higher level of power, performance and reliability. 
 


According to the release notes, the Catalyst Software Suite 9.1 will provide users of Radeon graphics cards with the Radeon display driver 8.573, the HydraVision for both Windows XP and Vista operating systems, the HydraVision Basic Edition, designed only for Windows XP, the Southbridge/IXP driver and the new Catalyst Control Center 8.573. The new Catalyst drivers offer support for both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Microsoft's Windows Vista and also for the company's latest Radeon graphics cards.

 

The new Catalyst Suite is now available for download for both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Microsoft's Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems. Here are the links for AMD's new Catalyst 9.1 Software Suite:

After much anticipation, it appears that the Sunnyvale, California-based chip maker AMD has finally released the new Catalyst Suite Version 9.1, providing Radeon graphics card users with the latest display drivers and the well-known Catalyst Control Center. As with almost all driver releases, the new Catalyst Suite version 9.1 comes to fix a number of known issues and provide a higher level of power, performance and reliability. 
 


According to the release notes, the Catalyst Software Suite 9.1 will provide users of Radeon graphics cards with the Radeon display driver 8.573, the HydraVision for both Windows XP and Vista operating systems, the HydraVision Basic Edition, designed only for Windows XP, the Southbridge/IXP driver and the new Catalyst Control Center 8.573. The new Catalyst drivers offer support for both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Microsoft's Windows Vista and also for the company's latest Radeon graphics cards.

 

The new Catalyst Suite is now available for download for both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Microsoft's Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems. Here are the links for AMD's new Catalyst 9.1 Software Suite:

OneVue releases new version of VuePoint 2.0

January 30, 2009 (USA) 
 

OneVue has announced the recent release of its flagship software suite, VuePoint 2.0. VuePoint 2.0 enables cross-channel retailers to reduce overhead cost and increase revenue. One force behind the cost-saving benefit is the enhanced and automated customer communication feature. A real-time customer account feature is easily accessible and allows end customers to check order status, shopping cart, discounts applied, and more. Combined with e-mail, the interaction keeps end customers informed through every step of the order process and fulfillment. This information drastically reduces inbound calls to a retailer’s call center, allowing a retailer to operate with less staff.

The new version features more intuitive navigation for both OneVue clients as well as the end customers. The simplified navigation and reduced learning curve has immediate, positive impact on all levels of a retailer’s business. Rod Anderson, CEO of OneVue, stated, “One of our national retail accounts was able to train its call center staff in less than one day. Even better, it trained its warehouse and shipping staff in about 20 minutes. This nearly eliminated the interruption to business usually associated with a change in software.”

VuePoint 2.0 is built on a .NET implementation and deployment. It utilizes standards-based data formats to ensure a low-intensive conversion process. “OneVue respects each customer’s unique way of doing business. We’ll never dictate changes to their operations, but rather let each customer’s needs dictate how we tailor VuePoint. It’s designed to adapt to what the customer wants to accomplish so they can achieve their business goals,” stated Rod Anderson.

One retailer already using VuePoint responded positively. It previously utilized 90 staff to ship about 7,000 packages per day. After implementing OneVue’s solution, that same company ships over 10,000 packages per day with only 22 staff.

The 2.0 release of VuePoint offers proven revenue boosters as well. VuePoint 2.0 boasts an integrated, enterprise-wide promotions module, whether for web or catalog sales. Current promotions are continuously updated on all areas of the site, and can even change based on what is inside the customer’s shopping cart. Additionally, a fraud prevention module flags certain types of transactions long before an order is processed.

Anderson concluded, “We’re confident retailers will see the value of this new version. With our quick implementation, any retailer can see an immediate impact to their bottom line.”

OneVue, a leader in Cross Channel Retail Solutions featuring VuePoint, serves retail chains nationwide as well as international organizations. The VuePoint software suite delivers a robust, scalable, and flexible Cross-Channel Management System designed to deliver comprehensive information across the entire retail enterprise.  

Shane Richie and Lex Shrapnel on Minder

Is Lex Shrapnel’s hand bandaged because a fan of the original Minder challenged his decision to take part in a modern-day remake on Five? Sitting on a sofa nursing a finger that had to be rebroken in order to heal properly, the 29-year-old actor says that he did the damage himself, filming one of the final scenes with Shane Richie, the new Daley. And anyway, he maintains, “This isn’t a remake.” 

It’s a wise stance that Five and Shrapnel are taking, claiming that this new version is a “reinvention” of the classic Eighties series for a new century. Shane Richie, who plays Arthur Daley’s nephew Archie, says that he’s not going to be the wheeler-dealer Arthur Daley in a new sheepskin coat, but that the time is right none the less to bring the classic series’s ideas back to TV. 

“It’s in a tight time that people like the Daleys thrive,” Richie says. “There was a credit crisis when the original Minder started in 1979.” Indeed, the former EastEnders star says that his own family – “working-class people who make money out of car boot sales” – have noticed that in the current climate, “there are thousands of people going to markets who haven’t been for years.” 

Even so, it’s a brave thing to remake a series with fans that are as loyal as Minder’s. Dennis Waterman and George Cole’s roles in stories set on the fringes of the London underworld have retained an army of fans, thanks to repeats on ITV’s digital channels, but both stars have moved on since the series ended in 1994. Neither is involved in this new version. 

“When we started this project, we heard that they both weren’t too pleased,” says Richie. “But that was when everyone thought we were doing a remake. I explained the new idea to Dennis Waterman and now he’s like, ‘Yeah – I get it.’ ” Richie doesn’t say that the “sequel” explicitly has Waterman or Cole’s blessing, but he says that both now realise that it’s not trying to replace their work. 

“It’s done out of love,” says Shrapnel, who, as Jamie, a London cabbie, effectively takes on Waterman’s role. “This is a programme about a buddy relationship – Archie and Jamie are like Butch and Sundance.” 

So why not just make a show about two buddies, rather than seek to take on the Minder mantle? “You could think that we shouldn’t be trying to tap into Minder, but why not take that story and move it forward?” asks Shrapnel. “Take that Daley family and you know where you stand – you’ve got the ball rolling.” 

It may take more than that to convince fans, but the depths of Richie’s affection for the original are beyond doubt. “Three years ago,” he says, “I did a thing for ITV called Must See TV, where they get actors to talk about their favourite shows and mine was Minder – I interviewed Dennis, and George – then lo and behold, three years later I’m doing it.” 

The new Minder, however, is very different from the original – the scripts are lighter, the locations are, generally, glossier and, for a 21st-century crime drama, the stories are remarkably wholesome. Shrapnel says that guns don’t really feature, “and we cut a scene where someone was threatened with a machete because it just didn’t fit”. 

In the opening episode, Richie jumps into Shrapnel’s cab just outside London’s Gherkin, and after a hairy ride finds himself defending a neighbourhood from two brothers who are keen to develop the area for unscrupulous profit. There are fights, fires and, of course, scenes in the Daleys’ local The Winchester, but this Minder really is not a straightforward remake. Not least because, as Richie puts it, “we’ve got mobile phones now”. 

Time has moved on – it’s 30 years since the series began – but both Minders still portray an endearingly odd couple. “You get that funny relationship right and you can take them anywhere, like we did with EastEnders’ Kat and Alfie,” says Richie. “And besides, they said you can’t remake it to the people behind the new Doctor Who…” 

Kingston Digital releases new range of SDHC cards

Kingston Digital has announced it is releasing a new line of SDHC video cards for use in digital camcorders.

To help consumers know which size will suit their needs, the SDHC cards come with the approximate recording time in minutes on the packaging, and are available in 60 (4GB), 120 (8GB) and 240 (16GB).

Kirsty Miller, product marketing manager at Kingston Digital Europe Ltd, commented on the idea behind the new line.

She said: "The concept of releasing the new cards is driven by the increased usage of HD-capable flash-memory-based camcorders and hybrid camcorders that contain both hard drives and card slots.

"The Kingston SDHC Video cards are perfect for high definition camcorders, making them ideal for capturing 1080i High Definition recording."

The full range features a Class 4 speed rating, which guarantees a minimum data transfer rate of 4MB/sec., for quick camera to PC transfer.

The SDHC Video Card 8GB and 16GB capacities will be shipping across Europe in the first quarter of 2009, with prices are to be confirmed. The 4GB version is available now.

Aspect Releases Aspect Spectrum ACD 10.2 Version

Aspect Software, a company that specializes in unified communications solutions for contact center, has just released the new 10.2 version of its Aspect Spectrum Automatic Call Distribution (ACD.

The new version comes with intelligent routing capabilities and an improved user interface.

Aspect Software’s automatic call distribution products are designed to help businesses to engage in superior, cost-effective interactions with their customers. Aspect offers ACD capabilities in Aspect Unified IP, as well as in two standalone ACD solutions – Aspect CallCenter ACD and Aspect Spectrum ACD.

The Aspect Spectrum ACD, an inbound solution supports critical, high-volume customer interaction by combining ACD functionality with sophisticated computer telephony integration applications in both traditional circuit-switched infrastructures and software-only IP environments.

The previous version, ACD 10.1, which was released in 2007, included Session Initiation Protocol(SIP)-based Voice over IP (VoIP) capabilities designed specifically to reduce operational costs and increase flexibility.

Additional innovations are being delivered in the Aspect Spectrum ACD 10.2 release, said the company. The version includes features that offer intelligent overflow capabilities for the VIPR card to better support multi-site contact routing requirements in a SIP environment.

The new version also includes various customer-driven enhancements, including; Data-directed routing and scripting enhancements, with tighter integrations to customer data for improved real-time routing, premier skills-based routing and graphical user interface improvements in adding skills to agents, increased recording features through tight integrations with Aspect Quality Management for supervisor recordings.

Additionally, Web Powered Agent user interface improvements are also added for the thin client agent desktop application. The version supports easier upgrades and improved logging too.

Moreover, this release includes a number of third-party updates, including enhanced virtualization support, which allows customers to reduce their physical footprint of the solution by requiring less hardware and lowering operational costs.

“Aspect is continuing to help our customers leverage virtualization tools to lower costs and increase flexibility," said Serge Hyppolite, director of interaction product management, Aspect.

Emphasizing the importance of virtualization to organizations, Hyppolite mentioned that Aspect will continue to focus on capabilities and functionality that will allow them to reduce physical infrastructure costs, expand global reach and leverage appropriate resources regardless of their physical location.

Don’t forget to check out TMCnet’s White Paper Library, which provides a selection of in-depth information on relevant topics affecting the IP Communications industry. The library offers white papers, case studies and other documents which are free to registered users. Today’s featured white paper is Fixed Service Strategies for Mobile Network Operators, brought to you by Comverse

Jai C.S. is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Jai's articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Michelle Robart

Opera Releases Final Version of Mini 4.2 for T-Mobile G1

Written by Humberto Saabedra on January 28, 2009
Google Android (OHA), T-Mobile
After almost three months in beta, Opera has released a final version of Opera Mini 4.2 with new features for the T-Mobile G1.

The new features consist of SD card access for uploading and downloading files with the possibility to save pages locally, video playback with Opera Mini using the operating system video player, double tapping works to zoom in/out, inline url entry instead of using the native textbox, a fix for password text entry to show hidden characters if needed, fixed issues with closing application when back button was pressed, improved trackball speed, enabling the use of Extra Large font in the built in pages, among more small changes and fixes.

The new version is available now from the Android Marketplace for free.

Infor releases new version of PLM software for apparel manufacturers

By Datamonitor staff writer

Infor, a provider of enterprise softwares has released version 4.7 of Infor PLM Runtime, its product lifecycle management software for manufacturers in the apparel and footwear industries.
Neonlite selects Infor to reduce waste in manufacturing operations
Infor makes School Food Trust 'accountable'
Infor enhances enterprise resource planning application
According to the company, the new version of PLM Runtime has standard integration capability with client-side Microsoft Outlook to enable a collaborative design environment across the supply chain without heavy IT overhead.

The company has said that PLM Runtime's integration with Outlook mail improves an apparel and footwear manufacturer's ability to design new products and collaborate with suppliers by allowing users to share drawings and style information via e-mail from the product lifecycle management (PLM) software. Suppliers and partners are able to review the information, make changes and respond to the original user, who can reconcile the changes in PLM Runtime.

Additional enhancements in PLM Runtime version 4.7 include improved usability and functionality. The software has increased color capabilities to help in the design of products with multiple color schemes, and provide users of the system with tree menus which simplify the location process for multiple articles, added Infor.

Rory Granros, director of solution marketing and process industries at Infor, said: "The enhancements to PLM Runtime enable apparel and footwear manufacturers of all sizes to collaborate with suppliers in the product design process so that they can keep up with the speed of fashion, while keeping IT costs low, which is especially crucial in a down economy."

Ghent PDF Workgroup Releases the new version of Ad Ticket 1.1

NEW YORK The Ghent PDF Workgroup (GWG), headquartered in Ghent, Belgiuim, announced the availability of GWG Ad Ticket v1.1, a standard way to include advertising metadata in a PDF file. The GWG Ad Ticket was developed in collaboration with AdsML, the international consortium supporting a global standard for end-to-end advertising workflows.

The GWG Ad Ticket facilitates receiving of advertisements by providing information needed to match files sent with ad bookings. The group worked for almost three years to combine all existing global initiatives. Version 1.0 was published in 2006. Version 1.1 is available at no charge at http://gwg.org/Jobtickets.phtml.

"This GWG Ad Ticket now offers a fully documented specification that, in addition to facilitating ad delivery, can be used by developers or IT professionals who are interested in combining PDF Ad Ticket metadata with their own solutions or data asset management workflows," Stephane Georges, Dalim Software senior product manager and GWG Ad Ticket specification subcommittee chairperson, said in a statement.

Version 1.0 tracked who delivered an ad, publication to receive the ad, and the advertiser's or agency's identity. The new version not only includes corrections but also adds identification of an advertisement's version (when the publication has multiple versions). It includes detailed specification documentation providing the exact definition of the ad ticket properties. (Version 1.0 provided only a user interface to type in information using the Adobe custom panels.)

As before, this version was developed with collaboration and technical support from GWG member Medibel+, the organization that unites the Belgian advertising sector. The GWG Ad Ticket is an extension of the existing Medibel+ Ad ticket, conforming 100% with Medibel+ ad content.

GWG's Job Ticket subcommittee defines best practices for different forms of job tickets. Its initial focus has been implementing the ad ticket and a soft-proofing ticket. It is at work on a Delivery Note Ticket as a means to automate delivery of ad campaigns. Formed in 2002 as an international assembly of industry associations and suppliers seeking to establish and disseminate process specifications for best practices in graphic arts workflows, GWG keeps close contact with developments within organizations like CIP4 and AdsML

Stonefield Releases New Version of Sage Timberline Office Database Reporting Software

Regina, Saskatchewan (PRWEB) January 27, 2009 -- Stonefield Software, Inc. announced the release of Stonefield Query Version 3.2 for Sage Timberline Office. The new version of this popular database reporting software provides tools to easily create custom Sage Timberline Office accounting reports, pivot tables, and charts. Stonefield Query for Sage Timberline Office is available through a North American network of Timberline Office accounting Dealers or directly through Stonefield Software, Inc.

Stonefield Query for Sage Timberline Office Version 3.2 adds over 100 new features including cross-tabulation, charts, labels, Google Maps, negative queries, support for Vista, and e-mail reports. With its step-by-step wizard driven design, novice users can query the database and create custom Sage Timberline Office reports with just a few clicks of the mouse.

As an add-on database reporting solution, Stonefield Query extends the basic reporting capabilities of Sage Timberline Office by enabling non-technical staff such as salespeople, administrative staff, and managers to create custom Sage Timberline Office reports, pivot tables, charts, and graphs in just minutes. The user-friendly tool requires virtually no technical knowledge which means custom reports are generated quickly without waiting on IT staff.

Stonefield Software also announced that they have been invited, for the second consecutive year, to participate in the Sage Construction and Real Estate (CRE) Development Partner Program in 2009. Criteria for participation in the CRE Development Partner Program includes meeting customer satisfaction requirements, achieving high overall approval ratings with Sage Timberline Office dealers, and offering a solution that's a good fit for Construction and Real Estate.

According to Doug Hennig, Vice-president and Chief Technology Officer of Stonefield Software, "We have a vision … rather than build another database reporting tool geared towards IT professionals, we've designed a user-friendly package targeted at the 99% of the population who aren't technically inclined. We take care of all the hard programming so that the end user can simply pick the information they want and Query will automatically format the output."

The Stonefield Query SDK (Software Developer's Kit is also available to enable Stonefield Query to work with virtually any other database including Oracle, DB2, Microsoft SQL Server, and many others. With the SDK, developers can build custom user-friendly reporting solutions for in-house or commercially deployed applications.

Existing Sage Timberline Office accounting customers can purchase Stonefield Query through their Sage Timberline Office dealer or directly from Stonefield Software for customers who are not currently aligned with a Timberline reseller.

Stonefield Software is offering a 30 Day Trial of Stonefield Query for Sage Timberline Office.

About Stonefield Software, Inc.
Stonefield Software focuses solely on development of its flagship database reporting solution Stonefield Query. Stonefield has offices in both the USA and Canada. Stonefield Software has won multiple awards for Stonefield Query including the Developers Choice Award for Best Reporting tool. Stonefield Software is a Sage Gold Development Partner and its Stonefield Query has the Sage stamp of approval through the 'Sage Certified Solution' program. Stonefield Query is available for Sage Accpac ERP, Sage Pro ERP, Sage SalesLogix CRM, Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 ERP, Sage Timberline, and Act! by Sage.