VMware Workstation 6.5, the latest version of VMware's PC or laptop virtualization tool, continues the company's trend of offering top-notch technology to developers and power users. Other vendors are following VMware's lead in this area.
News Software
OpenOffice.org Grows Up
Nine years after Sun Microsystems bought StarOffice, the resulting OpenOffice.org project is ready to roll out its 3.0 release. Enhanced format compatibility and features put it on par with Microsoft Office.
Ubuntu Remains Best Linux Distribution for Desktops
Ubuntu 8.10 still outshines the Linux desktop offerings from Red Hat and Novell, and is the best open-source alternative to Microsoft and Apple operating systems. However, both Red Hat's Enterprise Linux and Novell's SUSE distributions are ahead in the server space.
Fedora 10 a Solid Linux Choice for Workstations, Development Servers
The latest version of Fedora, the Linux-based operating system, gives users a peek at what they can expect to see in future Linux distributions from Red Hat and other vendors.
Google Chrome Web Browser Shines
No longer a beta, Google's Chrome Web browser is an able challenger to Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. Chrome offers strong new features, such as integration with Google Gears, a hybrid search address bar and solid security offerings.
Office 2008 Leaves Mac Users Wanting
While Microsoft's productivity suite for OS X is faster and more usable, the puzzling absence of full Exchange support detracts from Office 2008's basic mandate for providing Windows-world compatibility for the Mac.
Apple Services Keep Apps Fresh
Software Update Server and client-side update tools form the core of the patching model.
Scaling Apps on the Google App Engine
It's been almost a year since Google introduced the beta of its Google App Engine, and eWEEK Labs wants to see what applications have been built on the technology. While none have yet reached the size and power of Facebook or Twitter, some interesting tools have been built on Google App Engine, which shows promise as a viable platform for large Web-based applications.
Microsoft’s Ray Ozzie Talks Open Source, Azure and More
Microsoft's chief software architect, Ray Ozzie, on open source and interoperability, software modeling and the Windows Azure cloud operating system.
SOA: Wanted Dead or Alive
Burton Group analyst Anne Thomas Manes set off a storm of IT industry chatter around the viability of SOA when she pronounced that service-oriented architecture is dead and the recession killed it. However, all SOA-related technologies will continue to gain importance.
Inside Mobile: Why eBooks and eBook Readers Will Eventually Succeed
Reading eBooks from eBook readers similar to the Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader will eventually be the preferred reading method for millions worldwide, predicts Knowledge Centre analyst J. Gerry Purdy.
Six Tips to Build Your Brand
Social networking tools such as Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and others offer SMBs new ways to build communities and your brand. Here are the best ways to build both at the same time.
Will SMBs Spend on Virtualization in 2009?
While some reports suggest small businesses won't be slashing through IT budgets in 2009, is the average midmarket company willing to invest in virtualization technology? DataCore, among other vendors, says yes.
VKernel Capacity Analyzer a Strong Tool in VMware Environments
VKernel's Capacity Analyzer 2.0 can use VMware VirtualCentre statistics to offer clarity in virtualization deployments. However, the virtualization tool is not a cross-platform product; it doesn't address Microsoft's Hyper-V virtualization technology. But in VMware environments, the virtualization tool will help IT administrators get the most out of their ESX installations.
Five Tech Trends to Watch in 2009
Small businesses face tightening IT budgets this year, but here are five technology trends all midmarket companies should be keeping an eye on.
Should Your Corporate Head Be in the E-Mail Cloud?
Big and small providers alike offer hosted or cloud-based collaboration and e-mail systems geared for businesses, with some obvious benefits.
Google Versus Microsoft: The Fight for the Future of Cloud Computing
While Google and Microsoft have each developed very different business models and attitudes toward consumers and the enterprise, both companies are preparing to clash when it comes to how the world's cloud computing infrastructure develops in the next 10 years. While Google and Microsoft might fight for dominance in the cloud, it's not clear which company will win or if a third company might succeed.
Vendors Tie Database Monitoring, Security Event Management
Security vendors such as Imperva and Guardium are increasingly tying security information management to database activity monitoring. The latest example of this trend is NitroSecurity, which has integrated its NitroView DBM and NitroView ESM products.
Salesforce.com Rationalises InStranet Assets to Create Service Cloud
Salesforce.com's latest foray into cloud computing comes in the form of the Service Cloud. This is an effort to combine Google search, Facebook connections, online communities and discussion forums in a SAAS environment to improve customer services for enterprise applications users.
Sun Speaks Out on the Future of the Java Platform
Danny Coward, chief architect of the Client Software Group at Sun Microsystems, on Java Standard Edition 6 Update 10 and the future of the Java Platform.
Ruby on Rails and Merb to Merge to Create Rails 3
Ruby on Rails and rival Merb teams have finally decide to get along. Built on the same foundation, Rails and Merb differ just enough to attract avid developer communities that often clashed. However, the desire to build a better solution brings the two together to deliver a gift to Ruby application developers looking for a stronger, more scalable Rails.
Dell Confirms ‘Adamo’ Luxury Laptop at Las Vegas Expo
Dell confirms that it has developed an ultrathin, luxury laptop code-named Adamo, in an effort to counter what Apple achieved with the MacBook Air.
Microsoft’s Kodu Brings Video Game Development to Beginners
Microsoft delivers Kodu, a new programming environment that enables users to design video games with no programming skills required. The company will release Kodu to the Xbox Live community in the Spring.
Microsoft: Tag It!
Finally, Microsoft does something right in mobile. But success will take lots of marketing and customer engagement - and that might not even be enough.
Will Google Help Contextual Web Blossom With Chrome?
Yahoo, Mozilla and several startups have created browser plugins or widgets to help define the contextual Web, where users can derive greater intelligence and value from their Firefox, Internet Explorer and Chrome Web browsers.