HP recently released the ProBook 5330m, a business-oriented notebook with a stylish appearance that easily could be mistaken for a consumer model. The redesign is not accidental, as the company is attempting to woo customers who desire a business machine without the lackluster aesthetics of typical enterprise buys. In our full review, we take a look at the new ProBook's balance between form and function.
Motoroola and Verizon are reportedly set to begin LTE upgrades for the Xoom tablet, however the initial rollout is said to be limited to business and government accounts. Unnamed sources have told Droid-Life the companies will be providing LTE upgrades to the pilot groups over the next two weeks, ahead of availability for the general public.
The surprisingly rapid adoption of the iPhone and iPad into corporate and enterprise environments is a movement that started with grassroots users, but now that the door has been opened, Apple continues to reinforce the idea. The company has taken out a full-page ad on the back of the latest issue of The Economist, reports MacRumors, spotlighting business apps and the tagline "iPhone loves business."
Business news cable network CNBC will kick off their season premiere of "CNBC Titans" with an unauthorized biography of Apple's Steve Jobs, AppleInsider reports. The hourlong program will air tomorrow at 9 p.m. eastern and cover Jobs' iconic role in both the personal computer revolution through his work at Apple and NeXT as well as his takeover and subsequent rebirth of Pixar as the leading studio for computer-animated movies. CNBC calls him "the undisputed king of Silicon Valley for the better part of three decades."
Computech has loosed a new version of its business management software, releasing BusinessMan 3.0 today. The software handles most aspects of a business, from its resource planning with CRM capabilities to estimating and invoicing to resource scheduling. Version 3 adds a Project Management module, supporting drag-and-drop Gantt charts and task, job and resource allocation. Also new is a module for Bill of Materials, which tracks assemblies from inventory to completion.
A survey done by mobile enterprise app maker Good Technology of 4,000 of its enterprise customers has shown that the financial sector is adopting the iPad as a business tool more than any other single market, though high-tech and healthcare firms are also investing in the mobile device. The company credits the rapid adoption rate to the iPad's ability to perform mission-critical tasks on the go under secure conditions since the release of iOS 3, which had numerous enterprise-level features Good and other data-security firm have built on.
Oranged Software has launched Studiometry 8, updating its business management software. Studiometry handles contact management, builds estimates, tracks work and bills clients. The software has an easy interface for daily data entry. It can track work time through timesheets, running timers and manual entry. There is also a companion iOS app with full syncing capability.
The Microsoft Office for Mac team has released a new video highlighting Sparklines and photo editing in the forthcoming release. Office for Mac 2011 is due in October and the Office for Mac Blog is attempting to wet customer's appetites with previews of new features. Sparklines, which debuted in Excel 2010 for Windows, arrive on the Mac side in Excel 2011 for Mac. The feature provides numerical graphs that quickly show changes in data over time. They can be generated in cells near corresponding raw data to give fast visual illustrations for numeric data.
Computech has updated its business contact management and sales tracking software, BusinessMan 2. The software tracks and manages customer information, sales, vendors, suppliers, products, marketing, and even human resources. BusinessMan is both a customer-relationship manager, keeping all customer documentation in a FileMaker database, and an enterprise resource planner with scheduling, communication tracking, call handling and financial tracking capabilities. It also provides an integrated e-mail client and invoice modules.
SugarSync Inc has launched its file sync app for the iPad, SugarSync,and Citrix Systems has released its online meeting app GoTo Meeting. Also being released on the eve of the iPad launch is The Omni Group's OmniGraffle for diagramming, charting, page layout and website wireframing and OmniGraphSketcher for graphing and chart-making. The Omni Groups' completely redesigned its iPhone apps for iPad, with OmniGraffle focusing on diagramming and concept visualization, using Multi-Touch to draw shapes, drag in objects, and design elements. The app keeps lines connected to shapes even when they're moved, and includes smart guides, automatic layout, and a full set of built-in stencils. OmniGraphSketcher allows fast, simple graph drawing and data plotting -- It lets users create lines and data points, draw curves, and shade in important areas easily.
MacNN has reviewed ProfitTrain, an invoicing application rebuilt from Billable. ProfitTrain helps freelancers and small businesses keep track of their work and create invoices. Users can track payments and business expenses, generate reports, and input custom line-items for services/parts sold most often. Invoices can be customized with different text fields or logos, while several output options are available.
Jumsoft has expanded its Pages Templates Pro package with several new themes. Geared for business use, the Pages Templates Pro line provides 20 templates with similar styling for brochures, letters, envelopes, business cards, invoices, and other documents. Users can enter text, configure text boxes, switch fonts, or use images to replace template placeholders. Each template is available in both US Letter and A4 formats.
Computech has launched new software utilities for business management, BusinessMan Pro and BusinessMan Enterprise. The software is built on FileMaker Pro and offers a customer-relationship management system, with menu-driven modules for prospects, customer management, quotations, invoicing, suppliers and stock. It features an integrated e-mail client and a resource scheduler. BusinessMan Enterprise adds modules for sales order processing, sales ledgers, marketing, purchase order processing, purchase ledgers, document management and HR management.
Acclivity has released an update to its small-business accounting software, AccountEdge 2010. The software handles purchasing, payrolls, inventory management, banking, business contacts and sales tracking. It features over 100 business templates, all of which can be edited to match specific needs of various businesses. It can import and export files and work out budgets spanning several years. The utility also allows users to print checks and make electronic payments.
Laughingbird Software has launched Business Card Creator, a new app for developing logos and creating modifiable business cards, postcards or letterhead templates. The program includes over 95 matching templates, with customization options for scaling, rotation, colors or adding new text and images.
Oranged has released Studiometry 7, upgrading the business management software with new tools for project planning, estimate creation and more. Project stages allow users to track progress from beginning to end, with automated alerts and to-dos shown at important points. The new estimates feature includes a creation wizard that supports itemizing and provides numerous templates.
iPhoneAppQuotes' analysis shows new trends in iPhone development, with a focus on medical, business and book apps. The developer network is also reporting that there has been a 30 percent increase in new members over the past three months, during which time the number of available titles on the iTunes App Store has increased to 65,000.
CampSoftware has included 31 updates in its FMSmallBusiness 1.4.1 release. Most of the changes are user-requested additions, including support for common documents and copying to the clipboard. FMSmallBusiness (FMSB) is based on the FileMaker Pro database platform and geared toward running a small business, with tools for tracking contacts, calendars, schedules, activities, projects, documents and more. The software works with Mac and Windows systems or the iPhone, along with most web browsers, and can be configured for single- or multiple-user configurations on up to 250 workstations.
Synectics Business Solutions has announced a new business-version of its BackJack web-based backup service. The new product, version 5.1, was built from the previous enterprise variant but offers an improved account manager for controlling account information, internal support, storage and user-privilege management. The service features 128-bit CAST encryption for data protection, a single-window interface, block-level incremental backups and automatic software updates.
Kerio Technologies says it is seeing significant -- even surprising -- growth in iPhone users of its MailServer products for small-to-medium-sized businesses. Worldwide Marketing VP Dusan Vitek tells MacNN says the introduction of the iPhone 3G led to a significant increase in demand in recent months.
Oracle has announced Oracle Business Approvals, Mobile Sales Assistant and Mobile Sales Forecast for the iPhone, coming in November. Oracle Business Approvals includes Oracle Business Approvals for Managers and Oracle Business Approvals for Sales Managers, each providing actionable intelligence for on the go decisions, including info on expenses, purchase requisitions, HR vacancies and job offers for managers and sales info such as pending sales quotes.
CardScan on Monday unveiled the CardScan Executive for Mac, a set which includes a business card scanner, coupled with contact management and synchronization software. The scanner itself is capable of reading 20 color cards per minute, while the software is able to take information from the scanner, email signatures, files, and more. CardScan Executive for Mac is available at select Apple Stores, Apple's website, and a number of retailers for $260.
Oranged Software has published Studiometry 6.0, the latest version of its client and project management software. Version 6 adds features such as a new SQL database for storing program data, multi-project GANTT charts, and debt/credit modes. Along with this the company has gone back and optimized old features: the software now launches faster, and all changes are saved instantly. Filesizes have meanwhile been reduced, and the software also closes faster than in previous versions.
blue banana software has released Project Calculator 3, a major update to its project time-tracking software. The new upgrade features Quick Filters, a single-click option for frequently-used filters, as well as a menu bar icon, for quick access to the software without its main window. Also present are Growl notifications and a pause-period editor.
Developer Ken Winograd says he has released v6.0.0 of TinyBooks, a Mac-based accounting and bookkeeping program aimed at families and small businesses. In using the software the program only asks for incomes and expenses, and calculates everything else based on how this data is categorized. The sixth edition introduces extra automation features, such as Auto-Comment option for commonly-used entry descriptions, and a similar option for checks. Multi-country tax support has been improved with automatic tax calculations.
Business shoppers can now buy the iPhone 3G online, AT&T has announced. Although the carrier has offered deals for business clients since the phone's July 11th launch, people ordering outside of large-scale enterprise deals have typically had to travel in person to an AT&T shop, and cope with lineups despite potentially urgent needs. Regular iPhone buyers must always shop in person.
Minieconomy has announced the launch of an official iPhone version of Informatist. Informatist is an online business simulation that has been designed to be as realistic as possible. The game is played through a web browser and is free to play. The game looks to prepare players with the skills needed to succeed in todays business world, including property development, stocks and shares, the manufacturing industry and more. By making players compete against each other they will also learn how all of these components work together in the marketplace.
Kerio says it has added wireless iPhone "push" compatability to its MailServer software, and the company says small businesses have been eager to embrace the iPhone 3G. In an interview with MacNN, Dusan Vitek, VP of Worldwide Marketing for Kerio Technologies, said he's seeing strong demand for iPhone support from typical customers in small to medium-sized companies.
Sun Microsystems recently unveiled OpenOffice 3.0b2, a new beta preview release of the next major version of its business productivity suite, adding a number of optimizations, features, and fixes. The new version introduces new regional grammar and numeric standards for Indian customers, as well as refined behaviour of editing filtered rows. Sun also introduced 'y axis' error bars, allowing users to define a range of error for estimated figures.
Early signs point to a warm reception for the new iPhone from enterprise software and IT firms. Since Friday's launch, MindSHIFT Technologies and TransMedia have announced support for the iPhone 3G. TransMedia is says it will provide Microsoft Word document support and storage at GlideOS.com. MindShift says it has made the "strategic move" to support the iPhone with its enterprise-class remote messaging and managed IT services. The company says it also plans to support Macs as well.
Marketcircle Inc this week released Daylite 3.7.4, a new update to its established productivity suite. Aimed at easing Windows to Mac transitions -- especially in the small business arena -- this latest version of Daylite offers a host of new features. Boasting a Mac OS X-style interface, version 3.7.4 introduces full integration with Apple's Pages, Numbers and Keynote to ensure professional business correspondence. The software also combines improved Microsoft Word support with established features such as iCal, iSync and Mail integration, time-tracking and sharable schedules -- in an effort to to be a central hub for user's daily workflow.
Microsoft says it is working on briging Solver functionality to its latest Excel 2008 release, after removing the functionality that was available in its previous Excel 2004 version. Solver enables linear programming within Excel, useful for capacities, minimums and maximums and scheduling loads; it is commonly used in both business and higher education applications. The company said it had to remove the functionality because it relied on Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), which was removed from the latest Office 2008 release. "We definitely hear you, and we’re working on it" says the Office for Mac Team Blog in an update on Solver, an Excel add-in users are clamoring for.
4D Inc on Tuesday debuted 4D Server v11 SQL, bringing native SQL support to its established server product line. Now a Universal Binary application, the latest version of 4D Server boasts increased processing speed, capacity and power as well as new features, functionality and improved administration tools."4D v11 SQL represents over three years of dedicated development, resulting in a complete transformation of the core of 4D...The release of v11 SQL marks the completion of our transition, bringing more power and speed to the creators and users of today's business applications," President and founder of 4D, Laurent Ribardière commented.
CS Odessa on Tuesday unveiled its ConceptDraw Office business productivity software suite, offering users access to the company's key applications in one package. Included in the suite are ConceptDraw MINDMAP, ConceptDraw PROJECT, and ConceptDraw PRO, providing users with various flow chart, office graphic, and project planning capabilities. CS Odessa is selling ConceptDraw Office for $500, available from its online web store.
United Airlines on Monday said it is the first U.S. Carrier to offer iPod and iPhone connectivity to its in-flight entertainment systems. The hook-ups will allow passengers to view video content on their own 15.4 inch “personal television” as their iPod or iPhone charges. United says the upgrades will be installed in first and business class in its entire international widebody fleet over the next two years.
IPresentee is hoping to bring the simplicity of iWeb to small business. The company has released five iWeb themes -- Office, Global, Money, Illusion and Papery -- targeting small business entrepreneurs looking for an inexpensive Web presence. Each theme contains seven templates: Home, About Us, Services, Support, Clients, Contact Us and a blank template. The company says the themes can be built in minutes to “create a beautiful site with a minimum of effort."
Object Decision has released Contactizer 3.6, an upgrade to its personal information manager. It features a new view that lets Leopard users view contact information as a series of "business cards" in Cover Flow -- designed to simulate users flipping through a paper Rolodex. The upgrade, which is free to registered users of Contactizer 3 and above, brings full Leopard compatibility, along with a dozen other improvements. The personal organizer supports multiple-calendar syncing and sports an easily customized interface.
Redcort Software, publisher of Virtual TimeClock, a time & attendance software for Windows and Macintosh computers, has announced details on their upcoming Virtual TimeClock Pro 6.0 release. Virtual TimeClock Pro is employee time clock software that enables businesses of any size to track employee time and attendance; the timesheet software is a secure replacement for mechanical employee time clocks and paper employee timesheets.
IGG Software has announced iBank 3.1 the latest release of its personal and small business financial manager made exclusively for Mac OS X. Among the most important changes in the iBank 3.1 upgrade is the ability to preview direct downloads for matching transactions; users are alerted if a duplicate transaction has already been imported to iBank, or advised to proceed when no matching transaction is found. iBank's internal browser, which allows users to log in to online accounts without leaving the application, has been enhanced with improved page loading and more banks' websites available to users
Marketcircle has updated two of its key business applications, including the Daylite suite, and one of its add-on components, Delivery. Daylite 3.7.3 is said to improve the speed of online and offline database syncs by as much as five to 10 times, particularly in the case of some offline syncs. The software can additionally archive or strip attachments for e-mail, letters and notes, and schedule multi-day appointments in its calendar, as opposed to just multi-day events. Licenses for Daylite start at approximately $187 per user, with discounts in bulk.
HP on Monday added two new desktop PCs for business users to its range, with the Compaq dc5850 and Compaq dx2450. The two are some of the first HP PCs to use AMD's triple- and quad-core Phenom X3 processors. The latter is the value-oriented offering, and can be configured with a choice of AMD processors, ranging from the 2.1GHz Sempron, through the 2.8GHz Athlon and to the 2.5GHz Phenom. Four memory slots allow for expansion up to 4GB while NVIDIA and ATI graphics cards are offered as options. Operating systems are Windows offerings that include a range of Vista and XP Professional interfaces, as well as FreeDOS.
Sony Corporation of America has signed a merger agreement with Gracenote, Inc, and will pay approximately $260 million plus other contingent consideration for the digital media information warehouse. Formerly known as CDDB, Gracenote delivers information -- including lyrics -- on music to various services including Apple iTunes and Yahoo! Music Jukebox. The companies say that Gracenote's existing business will continue to operate separately as a wholly owned Sony subsidiary, and that the senior management team will remain with the company.
Apple's growing marketshare among end-users is helping push the Mac's acceptance in corporate America. InfoWorld notes the Macs are spilling out of its traditional areas of marketing departments and media companies and into wider array of business environments, thanks to, what it calls, "the confluence of a number of computing trends, not the least among them a rising tide of end-user affinity for the Apple experience." The trends, the column says, are "making it easier for tech departments to say yes to the Mac by facilitating IT's ability to provide enterprise-grade Mac management and support." In particular, the article cites growing browser competition, a move toward universal Web-based computing, virtualization, more standard connectivity, advanced enterprise management software, and more, but concludes that Macs are "close, not equal."
CS Odessa today released ConceptDraw 7.6 an update to its drawing and business diagramming software package. The professional business graphics software permits users to create sophisticated and high-quality organization charts, flowcharts and business graphics as well as the ability to create network and database diagrams. Version 7.6 includes a specialized flowchart library as well as traditional flowcharting shapes with more than 150 objects available for use. ConceptDraw 7.6 also significantly improves text editing performance and support of Chinese and Arabic characters. ConceptDraw 7.6 is a no charge update for all registered users of ConceptDraw 7.x. Owners of earlier versions can upgrade for only $150; the full version is $300.
Michael Gartenberg of Jupiter Research has published an article addressing the suitability of Apple products -- the Mac and iPhone in particular -- for business purposes. Noting that Most IT departments are not deploying Macintosh systems in large numbers and those that are are deploying are usually in niche spaces such as graphic arts, Gartenberg says that the Mac OS has changed significantly in the last few years and says that Apple's systems now offer a reasonable alternative for Windows systems used in businesses.
Hewlett Packard, with some assistance from DreamWorks, is announcing a new technology dubbed "HP DreamColor" that the company says will be a "disruptive" force in the market place. MacNN spoke with Jim Zafarana is Vice President, Worldwide Marketing for Hewlett-Packard Company's Workstation Global Business Unit and Jeff Wood, Director Product Marketing at HP about the new technology, which will purportedly pave the way for displays with accurate, predictable color reproduction at a fraction of the cost of similarly capable monitors and finally offer a transition route to flat-panel displays for graphic design firms (like DreamWorks) that have thus far been stuck with CRT displays.
Late last month, Cisco's WebEx division announced expanded Mac OS X support across its suite of business process collaboration applications, saying that Mac use has doubled in the last year. The online collaboration services--including WebEx Meeting Center, WebEx WebOffice, WebEx Event Center, WebEx Training Center, WebEx Sales Center and WebEx Support Center -- now offer cross-platform support for Mac OS X Leopard and Safari 3, as part of Cisco WebEx's ongoing attention to multi-platform support and its growing customer base of Mac users.
