Second Brain gets an update
March 14, 2008
Second Brain, the personal content manager that helps you collect, organise, search and share content from multiple online services in a single library has been given some new features
- Support For Twitter
- Invite your Gmail contacts
- Edit Second Brain bookmarks
- Improved bookmartlets
- Improved performance
- Several bug fixes
Twitter support
You can now add Twitter as a service. Just follow the same procedure as for the other services: go to +Add Content -> select Import content -> Select Twitter. By default you can import your tweets, but you can also select to post to Twitter from the “What’s on my mind” panel.
Invite your Gmail Contacts
If you’d like to see more of your contacts in Second Brain, we’ve created a simple way for you to invite your Gmail contacts. Just go to you personal page
Edit S|B bookmarks
Edit the title, description and tags of bookmarks that you’ve added directly to Second Brain. Just click on the bookmark to go to the bookmark page and select the field that you’d like to edit.
Improved bookmarklets
When you add a bookmark you can now put it directly into a collection. This makes it really easy to use collections to organise your content. You can also add a description to a bookmark automatically by selecting text on the page you’re bookmarking.
If you haven’t already signed up you can do so here
Zoho launch Zoho People
March 12, 2008
Zoho have announced the launch of Zoho People, a Human Resource management application for HR teams in an organisation. This new business application joins zoho’s other business applications - Zoho CRM, Zoho Meeting, Zoho Projects and Zoho DB.
Organisation Module:
This module is used to define the structure of your organisation including departments, designations/titles and also the Org Chart.
Recruitment Module:
The Recruitment module eases the hiring process in an organisation. It automates the steps involved between searching a candidate from resume database to hiring him an employee. This module also lets managers raise job requirements and admins post openings on the website.
Forms Module:
The Forms module has a set of pre-created forms (mini-applications) for common tasks in an organisation like filing expense reports, reporting leave etc. With Zoho Creator integration, this module lets admins create new forms or customise existing forms and make them available to all employees.
Checklist Module:
This module lets admin automate business processes and define the flow based on conditions. Tasks can automatically be assigned to users or groups based on defined flow.
Self Service Module:
This module acts as a self-service module for Employees and Managers. All the employees have access to this module. Managers can define job openings and organise their team structure. Employees can submit information to the HR department using the forms defined by the HR team (like submitting an Expense Report or informing about a leave etc).
Roles and Permissions :
This module is used by admin to define fine grained access for different roles based on permissions - which drill down to field level, action level and form level.
See this video for a more detailed look
Zoho People from Raju Vegesna on Vimeo.
Apple Announces iPhone 2.0 Software
March 6, 2008
Apple today previewed its iPhone 2.0 software, scheduled for release in June, and announced the immediate availability of a beta release of the software to selected developers and enterprise customers. The iPhone 2.0 beta release includes both the iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK) as well as new enterprise features such as support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync to provide secure, over-the-air push email, contacts and calendars as well as remote wipe, and the addition of Cisco IPsec VPN for encrypted access to private corporate networks.
“We’re excited about creating a vibrant third party developer community with potentially thousands of native applications for iPhone and iPod touch,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iPhone’s enterprise features combined with its revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface and advanced software architecture provide the best user experience and the most advanced software platform ever for a mobile device.”
With the iPhone SDK, third party developers will be able to build native applications for the iPhone with a rich set of APIs, including programming interfaces for Core OS, Core Services, Media and Cocoa Touch technologies. The iPhone SDK will allow developers to create amazing applications that leverage the iPhone’s groundbreaking Multi-Touch™ user interface, animation technology, large storage, built-in three-axis accelerometer and geographical location technology to deliver truly innovative mobile applications.
Apple has licensed Exchange ActiveSync from Microsoft and is building it right into the iPhone, so that iPhone will connect out-of-the-box to Microsoft Exchange Servers 2003 and 2007 for secure over-the-air push email, contacts, calendars and global address lists. Built-in Exchange ActiveSync support also enables security features such as remote wipe, password policies and auto-discovery. The iPhone 2.0 software supports Cisco IPsec VPN to ensure the highest level of IP-based encryption available for transmission of sensitive corporate data, as well as the ability to authenticate using digital certificates or password-based, multi-factor authentication. The addition of WPA2 Enterprise with 802.1x authentication enables enterprise customers to deploy iPhone and iPod touch with the latest standards for protection of Wi-Fi networks.
The iPhone 2.0 software release will contain the App Store, a new application that lets users browse, search, purchase and wirelessly download third party applications directly onto their iPhone or iPod touch. The App Store enables developers to reach every iPhone and iPod touch user. Developers set the price for their applications—including free—and retain 70 percent of all sales revenues. Users can download free applications at no charge to either the user or developer, or purchase priced applications with just one click. Enterprise customers will be able to create a secure, private page on the App Store accessible only by their employees. Apple will cover all credit card, web hosting, infrastructure and DRM costs associated with offering applications on the App Store. Third party iPhone and iPod touch applications must be approved by Apple and will be available exclusively through the App Store.
During the beta iPhone SDK program, a limited number of developers will be accepted into Apple’s new iPhone Developer Program and offered the ability to get code onto iPhones for testing. The Standard Program costs $99 (US) per year and gives members an iPhone SDK and development tools; access to pre-release iPhone software; technical support; the ability to get code onto iPhones for testing; and distribution of applications via the new App Store. The Enterprise Program costs $299 (US) per year.
In addition to these new iPhone network and security features, the beta iPhone 2.0 software provides several new Mail features such as the ability to view PowerPoint attachments, in addition to Word and Excel, as well as the ability to mass delete and move email messages.
[Source: Apple]
Microsoft Announce Office Live Workspace
March 4, 2008
Microsoft today announced the public availability of Microsoft Office Live Workspace beta (http://workspace.officelive.com), the new Web-based extension of Microsoft Office that lets people access their documents online and share their work with others. Office Live Workspace was among the first entries in the new wave of online services in Microsoft’s software plus services vision previewed last fall.
Office Live Workspace is now available worldwide in English. People can sign up for free at http://workspace.officelive.com and will be granted immediate access to the service. Microsoft is also unveiling a number of new Office Live Workspace features, such as an activity panel, notifications, direct links and multifile upload.
“Today’s announcement moves us further down the path of bringing a software plus services experience to people at home, work and school,” said Stephen Elop, president of the Microsoft Business Division. By combining the rich client experience of Microsoft Office with flexible, intuitive service offerings, we’re providing seamless computing experiences for our 500 million Office users worldwide.”
Access Anywhere, Share and Extend the Microsoft Office Experience
Office Live Workspace lets people organise documents and projects online and work on them from almost any computer. People can save more than 1,000 Microsoft Office documents to one place online,* and access and share them via the Web. They can view and comment on documents in the browser as well as create simple Web lists and Web notes, and share documents in real time through integration with Microsoft SharedView.
Microsoft has also added several new features to Office Live Workspace, based in part on feedback from early beta participants:
| • | Activity panel. A new activity panel shows all the activity in a workspace at a glance. |
| • | Notifications. People can now receive e-mail notifications about changes made to their workspaces or documents. |
| • | Direct links. People can now bookmark their workspace or a workspace item via a unique URL in a browser window. |
| • | Multi-file upload. People can now upload several files simultaneously by simply dragging and dropping from their desktop. |
| • | Improved sharing. New sharing functionality includes an easier user interface and auto-completion of e-mail addresses. |
eBay Desktop 1.0 is now available
February 27, 2008
eBay Desktop 1.0 is now available for download. This free application has been made as an alternative to the website. You can use it to search, browse, bid and keep track of your auctions.
The 1.0 release contains lots of bug fixes and performance enhancements and from user feedback some new features. eBay desktop takes advantage of the Adobe AIR platform which was recently released.
We have worked on the project for nearly 2 years, and I am very pleased with the end result. We have lots more enhancements planned for the coming weeks and months, but this the most important milestone so far. The eBay Desktop team from Effective UI has worked incredibly hard on this, and I’d like to thank them all: Sean, Greg O., Greg C. Jason, and all the project alumni: thank you! And thanks to all the eBay members who have provided great suggestions, ideas, bug reports, and words of praise. I hope that we can continue to provide great user experiences that make the eBay marketplace more fun and dynamic, and help connect more individuals through the simple act of commerce.
You can download the destop client here
[Via eBay Desktop Blog]
Yahoo Buzz Launches
February 26, 2008
Yahoo have today launched Yahoo buzz the Internet news and trends tracker. The service tracks content from around the internet and a story is ranked based on its Buzz Score. The score is derived from search term popularity, the number of times a story is emailed from Buzz, and the number of votes a story receives. Stories with the highest Buzz Scores may be published on the Yahoo! home page - you can impact what millions will see on Yahoo!
Check it out at buzz.yahoo.com
LinkedIn launch Mobile Version
February 25, 2008
LinkedIn have finally launched it’s mobile version of the service. The beta product includes a version specially optimised for the iPhone and is available immediately in English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese with additional languages to follow.
Mobile features include
- Search LinkedIn profiles (including photos and bio) to help recall and connect with business acquaintances at events and conferences
- Research the common contacts they have with other professionals to help make real world referrals and introductions easier
- Invite professional acquaintances and peers you meet at events to LinkedIn with just their email address. Exchanging business cards is just not cool anymore!
- Receive regular Network update capabilities about your connections while on the go
- International versions currently launched include French, German, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese. More to follow.
Just point your mobile browser at http://m.linkedin.com
ShifD launches in Beta
February 25, 2008
Hot on the heals of the release of Adobe Air, the New York Times are releasing an application in public beta named ShifD.
ShifD is a mobile application that provides users the capability to seamlessly shift content back and forth between their desktop computers and mobile devices. Users cab update information from any Web browser, through their mobile web browser on the ShiftD mobile site or by using the downloadable Adobe Air application on there desktop. Information added through any of these methods is saved to the users id and automatically updated and accessible on all devices.
I’ve been using ShifD all day today and I’ve got to say it’s a excellent little app.
Transform your Windows User Interface with Cairo
February 23, 2008
Cairo on Wednesday have confirmed that the Alpha testing selections have gone out for the Windows UI software
With Cairo you can transform your desktop from the dated Windows user-interface to a brand new system that will change the way you use your computer forever. Taking advantage of proven functionality, and with stability and performance in mind, the Cairo Desktop system aims to give users a productive and easy to use shell that advances current technology standards. Welcome to the Revolution.
Cairo was originally created by Michael Ciarlo as a simple project containing a floating taskbar and hovering ’start’ menu. After a few weeks of work Michael abandoned the project; it had no future as a Samurize shell replacement and was limited by the program’s abilities.
A few weeks after development ended on the Samurize shell, Joseph LaFountain contacted Michael and offered to help develop the project in a different format: Desktop X. Accepting the offer, the two began working on concepts for the new Cairo shell. Once the project shifted away from the original floating taskbar and start menu concepts, both developers knew that Desktop X would not be an appropriate development platform. Days later, concept work began for a shell written in C#. Cairo was on its way to revolutionizing the Windows desktop.
Today, Cairo is being developed by a wonderful team of designers and programmers who all share a common goal: to redefine the desktop experience. Guided by fundamental design principles and attention to every detail, the following individuals distinguish Cairo as a leading shell replacement with their determination, wisdom, and selflessness.
From the early screens this is looking very nice can’t wait to get my hands on it to try..
Animoto Getting Massive Upgrade Tonight
February 23, 2008
Just seen this post on the animoto blog
Tonight at 11PM EST, we’ll be undergoing a massive system upgrade. The process will take about 6 hours.
What’s this all about? Well… we’re glad you asked.
Over the last few months, we’ve been hard at work… redesigning our entire system. This upgrade serves as the foundation for a bunch of new Animoto possibilities, and it marks the first of many cool feature & product releases to be announced over the next several months.
Thanks for your patience! We promise it’ll be totally worth it.
Can’t wait to see what these guys have in store…more to follow
