Software 'N' Stuff

50 Cent Hoping for “Blood on the Sand” Sequel

admin — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:48:04 +0000

Rapper 50 Cent says that he is hoping to create a sequel to his February 2009 video game “Blood on the Sand,” which is the follow up to his 2005 video game debut, “50 Cent: Bulletproof.” According to MTV, “Blood on the Sand” has been so well received by the gaming community that he’ll “try to do it again.” He added, “[Fans] said it’s a good video game. They enjoyed it. I had the opportunity to play with some people online. That was exciting and another way to reach people that are aware of me.” However, 50 Cent reportedly doesn’t fancy his own gaming skills as too spectacular. He told MTV, “I like to think I’m the best [but] I like to say ‘pretty good’ just in case somebody comes in here that really knows how to do it.”

“Blood on the Sand,” MTV says, “takes 50 to a Middle Eastern-looking city to chase down a crystal skull that’s been stolen from him and his crew. The new game has 18 unreleased 50 tracks, plus hits from several G-Unit and 50 albums and a score from Swizz Beatz.” The crystal skull detail was reportedly 50 Cent’s own addition. “”The crystal skull actually exists. It’s a diamond, an artifact. I saw it in a magazine in Dubai. I took it and said, ‘Make this what they’re after,’” he said.

In the future, 50 Cent says he hopes to pursue more video games, but adds that any other than “Blood on the Sand 2” are not likely to feature him as a character. “I’d like to be a part of designing and marketing a video game I’m not actually in,” he said to MTV.

Apple Rumored to Be Considering EA Purchase

admin — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:45:20 +0000

Recently, there has been a proliferation of rumors about possible Apple acquisitions. First, Apple was rumored to be eyeing hot microblogging service Twitter. Once that rumor was effectively squelched by Twitter Co-founder Biz Stone, another round of Apple rumors hit. This time, it’s EA that the company is purportedly considering. The rumors alone were enough to send shares of EA—the second-largest game publisher in the world—up 1.63% on May 5.

However, Apple rumors are disproved as often as they are proved true, and an EA acquisition may be only fodder for gossip rather than a story with real legs. Says Plugged In’s Mike Smith, “Apple has indeed been bolstering its games know-how, hiring a major Xbox strategist away from Microsoft in recent weeks. And EA is no stranger to Apple platforms: in the last year it’s brought several of its major franchises to the iPhone, including Sim City, Tiger Woods, and Spore, with considerable success. But it’s a far cry from there to a takeover, and that’s putting it mildly.”

Further dismantling this rumor, Smith adds, “Specialist video games analyst Michael Pachter seems to agree. Speaking to Gamasutra, he pointed out that if Apple was looking to make some entertainment acquisitions, it could buy Warner Music—which controls 20% of the music industry—for roughly half of EA’s estimated price.”

Apple has also been rumored to be considering dropping prices on its iMac and MacBook lines as a way to bolster sales. As always, time will tell whether Apple, who is still awaiting the return of CEO Steve Jobs (scheduled for June), is truly on the move.

Mobile Advertising Growth Expected to Coincide with Release of Google’s New Phones

admin — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:44:24 +0000

Although the recession has caused mobile advertising to plateau in recent months, advertising is expected to pick up soon, coinciding with the upcoming release of new Google cell phones built with the company’s Android software, Forbes reports. A new study by Brian Wieser, global director of forecasting for Magna, shows that U.S. advertisers could spend as much as $229 million on mobile ads this year, up 26% from the $169 million allocated to mobile advertisements last year (though up less than was originally anticipated). And Wieser estimates that once the economy accelerates, mobile ad spending could even reach $409 million by 2011. “Every player is investing against the long-term promise of the platform, so I don’t think anyone is slowing down,” he told Forbes.

Wieser added that mobile advertising growth, despite the economic slowdown, has remained promising due to the market’s diverse advertising models for mobile. He said that the high incidence of cellular subscriptions, increased mobile web access, and new mobile applications have also helped drive the popularity of mobile. Meanwhile, Google’s new cell phones are part of its “strategy to accelerate mobile Internet access and generate more revenue by selling mobile ads,” according to Forbes. Google CEO Eric Schmidt has said that he anticipates Android performing very well this year.

In related news, Hitwise has named March 2009’s top 10 mobile websites—which could be significant for mobile advertisers. They are, respectively, MocoSpace, Myxer Tones, MySpace Mobile, Cricket, WeeWorld, PhoneZoo, Sprint – Pictures, goComics, Fun For Mobile, and Yahoo! Mobile.

Mobile Commerce Applications Abound, but Near Field Communications Adoption Still Years Away

admin — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:43:42 +0000

Making online purchases using mobile and other wireless devices is not uncommon these days. Computerworld reports that the news from the recent Go Mobile 2009 conference is that mobile payment and mobile applications are here to stay. However, widespread adoption of Near Fields Communications (NFC) technology is still years away. At the conference, more than a dozen companies showcased technologies that allow users to pay bills or make purchases using mobile and wireless devices, but no vendors displayed NFC technology that would allow users to use their devices similarly to pay for a subway ride or a grocery store purchase. Computerworld added that only three mobile phones sold around the world have NFC chips, and NFC technology seems to have caught on mostly in Japan, where millions of commuters use their NFC-enabled devices to board subway trains.

At the conference, a panel of industry experts said that other countries will require more time to convert to NFC, though countries that centrally operate their mass transit systems are likely to be first. With the recession still in full swing, they expect subway administrators to maintain payment terminals for as long as possible. Retailers will also require additional time before they can adopt NFC technology.

How exactly does NFC work? According to the NFC Forum, “Operating at 13.56 MHz and transferring data at up to 424 Kbits/second, NFC provides intuitive, simple, and safe communication between electronic devices. NFC is both a ‘read’ and ‘write’ technology. Communication between two NFC-compatible devices occurs when they are brought within four centimeters of one another: a simple wave or touch can establish an NFC connection, which is then compatible with other known wireless technologies such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi…Because the transmission range is so short, NFC-enabled transactions are inherently secure. Also, physical proximity of the device to the reader gives users the reassurance of being in control of the process.” To learn more about NFC, visit the NFC Forum at http://www.nfc-forum.org/home.

Apple May Lower Prices on iMac and MacBook Lines

admin — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:39:25 +0000

As the computer industry grapples with the protracted recession and slowed consumer spending, rumors have surfaced that Apple plans to lower prices on its iMac and MacBook lines in the near future. AppleInsider reports that the company is making changes that will push down prices. According to AppleInsider, “Word of the changes comes just weeks after the Cupertino-based company became the target of a renewed advertising blitz from rival Microsoft Corp., which is using a new series of controversial television spots to cast Macs as overpriced novelty PCs that command a premium purely for their distinctive aesthetic. Still, people familiar with the matter say Apple’s move towards more affordable Macs isn’t so much a response to Redmond’s marketing antics as it is an interim solution to combat the proliferation of budget notebooks—often called netbooks—until the company is ready to introduce its own take on the market in the much rumored Newton-like web tablet, a project which is taking considerably longer to complete than once anticipated.”

At this point, the details of the new price points and the exact date of when they will become effective (if ever) are unclear. However, Apple could use a bit of a boost in Mac sales. Last month, when Apple released its second-quarter earnings for this fiscal year, it reported that Mac unit sales had experienced their first ever year-over-year decline, although at only three percent it was slight compared to the 6.5% decline in sales in the general PC market.

Amazon Introduces New Widescreen Kindle for Newspapers, Textbooks

admin — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:37:14 +0000

The flagging newspaper industry may receive an unexpected boost from the new widescreen Kindle, the e-book reader that sold an estimated 500,000 devices in 2008. Unlike its smaller predecessors, the bigger Kindle DX, with a 9.7” display (the original Kindle had a 6” display), is being touted as ideal for newspapers and textbooks. According to Forbes, this summer both The New York Times and The Washington Post will be offered to Kindle users at reduced rates to try to boost sales. Amazon has also created partnerships with textbook publishers such as Pearson, Cengage Learning, and John Wiley & Sons.

Of the upcoming partnership, Arthur Sulzberger Jr., chairman of The New York Times Company, said, “This experiment will combine the immediacy of the Web with the readability of the Kindle experience.”

Not everyone is as optimistic, however. Some publishers have voiced concerns about lack of control over pricing and the Amazon proprietary format. Others have suggested that Amazon should consider offering greater incentives for publishers to offer their content on the Kindle.

Moreover, the textbook industry isn’t limping to the extent that the newspaper industry is. And thrifty college students may not be enticed to shell out nearly $500 for a Kindle when they can purchase used textbooks for far less. Still, Arizona State University, Case Western Reserve University, Princeton University, the University of Virginia, and Reed College all plan to test the Kindle on their campuses soon, says Forbes.

The issue of the Kindle’s price tag—and added fees for individual content—is perhaps the biggest obstacle to its adoption. Nonetheless, analysts have estimated that Amazon could see Kindle revenues in the $1.2 billion range by next year, which would put Kindle at four percent of Amazon’s overall revenue.

Microsoft’s Stimulus360 Helps Track Stimulus-Funded Projects

admin — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:29:39 +0000

Microsoft recently unveiled a new software program called Stimulus360 designed to help government agencies monitor projects that have received funding from the economic stimulus program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. According to the company, “the Microsoft Stimulus360 solution can help public agencies track funded programs, monitor progress, and provide intuitive views of the data for different audiences. The solution also supports key performance indicators (KPIs) and other government-backed performance metrics, automated workflow, and comprehensive analysis across consolidated data sources.” Stimulus360 also includes links to legislative and regulatory sources, report templates, and a news feed that provides stimulus-related updates. It may be deployed on-premise or may be hosted elsewhere to minimize deployment costs.

On the company’s website, Microsoft said that the benefits to state and local governments of using Stimulus360 include:

Geospatial features that link data and mapping capabilities.
Integration with familiar Microsoft Office applications, including Microsoft Office Outlook and Microsoft Office Excel, to reduce the learning curve.
Automatic capture of actions and events to facilitate quick, informed decisions and to improve transparency.

Gail Thomas-Flynn, general manager of Microsoft’s state and local business, added in a press release that “Stimulus360 provides a tool that governments can immediately use to meet the specific and often complex requirements of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It helps manage the details and coordination required while, most important, allowing leaders to focus on implementing projects that will create jobs and promote economic recovery.”

2009 CODiE Award Winners Announced

admin — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:23:20 +0000

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) has named its 2009 CODiE Award winners. The awards, originally called the Excellence in Software Awards, are given “to showcase the software and information industry’s finest products and services and to honor excellence in corporate achievement and philanthropic efforts.” According to the SIIA, the CODiE Awards are the only peer-reviewed awards in the industry. The following is a list of this year’s winners in the software category:

Best Asset Management Solution

Novell ZENworks Asset Management, Novell, Inc.

Best Business Intelligence or Knowledge Management Solution

Adaptive Planning 5.0, Adaptive Planning

Best Business Productivity Solution

Adobe Creative Suite 4, Adobe Systems, Inc.

Best Business Software Solution

Salesforce CRM, Salesforce.com

Best Collaboration Solution

Salesforce Ideas, Salesforce.com

Best Communication Solution

Adobe Acrobat.com, Adobe Systems, Inc.

Best Content Management Solution

www.clickability.com, Clickability

Best Data Security Solution

GuardianEdge Data Protection Platform, GuardianEdge

Best Database Management Solution

MarkLogic Server 4.0, Mark Logic Corporation

Best Digital Rights Management Solution

CodeMeter - A Universal Software Protection and DRM solution, WIBU-Systems USA

Best Document Management Solution

Adobe LiveCycle ES, Adobe Systems, Inc.

Best eCommerce Solution

Billeo, Billeo

Best Enterprise Search Engine

Lexis Search Advantage, LexisNexis Group

Best Financial Software Solution

Intacct - Enterprise Edition, Intacct Corporation

Best Human Resources Solution

Taleo Performance , Taleo Corporation

Best Identity Management Solution

Authentify IAM, Authentify, Inc.
Imprivata OneSign 4.0, Imprivata, Inc.

Best Mobile Solution

Studywiz Spark Mobile, Etech Group, North America

Best Multi-Media Solution

Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro Extended, Adobe Systems, Inc.

Best On-Demand Platform

Boomi On Demand, Boomi

Best Open Source Solution

Sugar Professional On-Demand V5.1, SugarCRM, Inc.

Best Project Management Solution

@task, AtTask, Inc.

Best Relationship Management Solution

Salesforce CRM, Salesforce.com

Best Security Solution

Novell ZENworks Endpoint Security Management, Novell, Inc.

Best Social Networking Solution

ELAvate, Neighborhood America, Inc.

Best Software as a Service Solution

Salesforce CRM, Salesforce.com

Best Software Development Solution

OutSystems Agile Platform, OutSystems

Best Software Testing Solution

Fortify 360, Fortify Software, Inc.

Best Storage Software Solution

http://www.box.net, Box.net

Best Systems Management Solution

Netuitive Service Analyzer, Netuitive, Inc.
SolarWinds Orion NPM, SolarWinds

Best Web Services Solution

Force.com, Salesforce.com

In addition, Collaborative Software Initiative was named the “Software Newcomer of the Year.” For more information about this year’s CODiE award winners, visit http://www.siia.net/codies/2009/default.asp.