Software Industry Announcements and News
Zombie Apocalypse MMORPG launches 3D Development Blog
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 02.09.10 under Games & Entertainment
Kent, United Kingdom – February 9th, 2010 – Having announced a number of planned enhancements to Dead Frontier (the world’s #1 Zombie MMORPG), including the introduction of 3D game play earlier this month, Jagged Blade Games are pleased to announce the launch of their new development blog.
The blog will allow players to keep up to speed with all the latest news and updates surrounding the development of Dead Frontier’s new 3D client. It will also contain exclusive commentary from Dead Frontier’s Lead Developer, Neil Yates. The blog can be found at www.deadfrontierdev.blogspot.com
In addition to the blog Jagged Blade Games will also be launching the first playable demo of the new 3D client later this month.
About Dead Frontier
Dead Frontier combines 3rd person survival horror action with more traditional role-playing elements to create a totally unique MMO experience. Players will need to have their wits about them as they struggle for survival in the decaying, zombie infested city of Fairview. Will you stay in the relative safety of the last remaining human outpost, or attempt to create your own hideout in the depths of the city? The choice is yours.
Dead Frontier plays exclusively in your browser and requires no extra downloads of any kind. What’s more the registration requires only a few seconds so you’ll be playing in no time!
Begin your survival horror experience now by visiting www.deadfrontier.com
Latest Dead Frontier 3D concept art, screenshots and other press information can be downloaded here:
http://e1h13.simplecdn.net/deadfrontier/frontpage/DeadFrontierPRMaterials.zip
About Jagged Blade Games
Jagged Blade Games is small game development studio based in South-East England. Formed by Neil Yates, JBG has been providing quality shoot ‘em up titles since 2003.
G-Recorder: Record Skype Calls and Chats to Gmail
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 02.09.10 under Communications
February 9, 2010: IM-History has announced the release of G-Recorder, a handy tool for recording Skype chats and calls to Gmail. Such a solution is a must-have for those who conduct business negotiations or learn foreign languages via Skype, as no PC troubles would ever affect important records. Besides, G-Recorder makes it possible to access the records online from any PC or mobile device. It is remarkable that right after the release G-Recorder was nominated for Best IM Feature 2010 by About.com!
Skype, being widely used for video calls, audio conversations and instant messaging, does not support any recording features. This problem can be solved with any of numerous call recorders, but in this case Skype records are kept on a certain PC and can be lost due to Windows reinstallation, hard drive crash, etc. As for G-Recorder, this useful solution is developed to store important audio conversations and chat log safely on Gmail.
Each conversation is kept as an MP3 file in a separate e-mail and can be accessed from another PC or mobile device connected to the Internet. For example, when on a business trip, the user can easily replay calls made from his workplace PC. Moreover, G-Recorder allows recording Skype calls from multiple computers to one Gmail account, arranging them chronologically (it is possible to use one G-Recorder license on up to 10 computers under the same Skype name).
By the way, the useful features of G-Recorder do not interfere with its simplicity and convenience. Configuration is guided by a simple wizard, and the interface is quite clear and intuitive.
Features:
- Recording of Skype calls to Gmail;
- Access to records anytime from any PC or mobile device;
- Recording of Skype calls from multiple computers under the same Skype account;
- Clear interface and configuration wizard.
Pricing and Availability
G-Recorder runs under WinXP, WinVista, Win7 and costs 25.00 USD for a single-user license. Further information on the product, as well as its free 14-days trial edition, is available from http://www.g-recorder.com
About IM-History
Founded in 2007, IM-History is a software development company specializing in online storage of IM logs and call records. The company is known for a free web service of online storage of IM logs and G-Recorder for Skype. For more information please visit www.im-history.com
Matchmaker: Joining Hearts game
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 02.08.10 under Games & Entertainment
Sugar Games has announced the release of Matchmaker: Joining Hearts – the new hidden object game featuring a variety of challenges embedded into romantic story line. With its release timed to Valentine’s Day, the game instantly creates the perfect mood, bringing a player to the small seaside town where there are ten singles in desperate need for advice from an observant matchmaker.
In the game you assume the role of Helen Jones, a nice woman that moves to a resort town where even wind whispers love. However, there are still some lonely hearts that haven’t found partners yet. An encounter with a new neighbor inspires you to start helping singles choose a partner employing your own highly efficient approach.
Not unlike a detective, you visit the single in question and the three candidates at their places – but instead of evidence you look for objects that may characterize their owner and use your observations to decide who will be the perfect match for your friend. To make sure the choice is right you will also have to spot identical objects in the rooms of the single and the potential partner, as they are bound to have lots in common. After the match has been found, you help your friend make an impressive gift and organize the perfect first date – each of the tasks featuring its own challenge, including searching objects by name and by shape and finding a right place for an item.
Whether you have already found that special someone in your life or your perfect match is yet to be found, Matchmaker will give you unforgettable hours of fun and bring you into the most romantic mood, with photorealistic graphics and sweet soundtrack adding to the vividness of experience.
Features
- 40 different scenes and 70 levels
- More than 2000 unique objects
- Romantic story line and exciting gameplay
- Great replay value due to objects automatically changing location
- Different hidden object gameplay mechanics
Pricing and Availability
Matchmaker: Joining Hearts runs under Windows 98, ME, 2000, 2003, XP, Vista and Windows 7. Matchmaker: Joining Hearts for Mac runs under Mac OS X 10.3 or better. A single-user license costs $9.95 (US). Further information on the product as well as the free trial version is available at http://www.SugarGames.com/matchmaker
About Sugar Games
Founded in 2003, Sugar Games is a software development company providing quality casual games for online distribution. The company delivers exciting gaming experience through captivating family-oriented games, including its popular Rainbow series (Rainbow Web, Rainbow Web 2 and Rainbow Mystery). For more information please visit http://www.sugargames.com/about/
Microsoft Will Be Running a ‘Windows Azure’ Worksho
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 02.05.10 under Development
Microsoft Will Be Running a ‘Windows Azure’ Workshop at the Cloud Computing Congress – 16th March 2010
Cloud Computing Congress 2010
LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Microsoft Corporation, the world’s leading manufacturer of software for business and personal computing, announced today that they will be hosting a workshop presentation on their cloud platform offering ‘Windows Azure’ at the Cloud Computing Congress, http://www.cloudcomputingcongress.com/ taking place on the 16th March at Olympia, London.
Eric Nelson, Microsoft’s Developer Evangelist will be giving an introduction to one of the leading cloud platforms that is at the cutting edge of the Cloud Computing Age. Attendees will learn what Windows Azure is capable of doing and why, how and when you should adopt the Azure platform that went into production on the 4th January 2010.
The free to attend workshop session is a must attend for resellers, developers, the IT community and independent software vendors (ISV) who can explore the potential to increase revenues and decrease its costs.
The session will demonstrate Windows Azure PaaS offering that enables applications built in .NET, Java, Ruby, PhP, SQL Server, MySQL and more to be run on Microsoft Data Centers.
“For the past decade we have relied on Microsoft for underpinning technologies in our foundational SaaS, infrastructure services and innovations in the Media & Entertainment and Enterprise markets’’, said Darcy Lorincz, CEO of Origin Digital. “Integration with the Windows Azure platform is another market leading, evolutionary step for our company and we expect that Origin Digital and our customers will benefit from performance and cost benefits for years to come.’’
“The Cloud Computing Congress is an event designed for building partnerships across the board, and providing a good networking environment for those to communicate and take the cloud debate forward.” commented Ian Johnson, Managing Director, Six Degrees Events. “I’m especially interested in heading the latest in the demand for mobile devices and mobile cloud computing, and the challenges this presents.”
The Cloud Computing Congress will run simultaneously with other conferences including; Enterprise Social Media (http://www.enterprisesocialmedia.net , Social Media World Forum http://www.socialmedia-forum.com , Mobile Social Media – http://www.mobilesocial-networking.com
About Window’s Azure
Windows Azure is the cloud services operating system that serves as the development, service hosting, and service management environment for the Windows Azure Platform. Windows Azure provides developers with on-demand compute and storage to host, scale and manage web applications on the Internet through Microsoft Data Centers.
Software Marketing with SoftwarePromotions: a New Name for the Same High Standards
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 01.29.10 under ASP Member Companies, Business
SoftwarePromotions, formerly known as SharewarePromotions, have a range of new services for online businesses to maximise exposure, gain market share and increase sales. With the recession behind us and recovery underway, now is the time to gain market share.
New Forest, Hampshire, UK (PRWEB) January 29, 2010 — With the worldwide recession over, consumers and businesses alike are reaching for their wallets and opening their budgets. Companies fortunate enough to have survived the economic downturn are already seeing an upturn in spending. Now is the time to be seen. And SoftwarePromotions Limited (formerly SharewarePromotions Limited) are delighted to announce a range of new services for maximising online exposure.
According to Dave Collins of SoftwarePromotions, there’s an overwhelming amount of evidence to suggest that individuals and businesses alike are once again spending – and in some sectors they appear to be making up for lost time.
“Website analytics showed us that while the number of visitors to most websites remained static during the recession, many online businesses saw a fall in conversion rates. However the trend appears to have been reversed. We’re now seeing higher conversion rates and more sales across the board.”
And while many are still feeling the after-effects of the global downturn, there’s little doubt that spending is back. According to Dave Collins, now is the time to be visible. “Hatches that were battened-down need to be opened up quickly. It’s time to start making a lot of noise again”.
“Google AdWords is as viable a solution as ever before, and most industries are seeing less competition than a couple of years ago. Now is the time to gain market share. Now is the time to take advantage of lower costs”.
SoftwarePromotions is an online marketing company with more than twelve years of experience. With a team of qualified AdWords Professionals, Google AdWords Management is one of the opportunities that they offer companies wishing to reach the world with their products and services.
Further information and a no-obligation AdWords Account Audit may be found at http://www.softwarepromotions.com/adwords-pr.asp.
McAfee, Inc. Report Reveals Cyber Coldwar
[ Comments Off ] Posted on 01.29.10 under Security & Privacy
McAfee Report Authored by CSIS Finds that 40 Percent of Critical Infrastructure Organizations Expect Major Attacks in Next 12 Months
Recent High Profile Cyberattacks Revealed by Google Underscore Risk to Critical Infrastructure
DAVOS, Switzerland–WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM ANNUAL MEETING – McAfee, Inc. (NYSE:MFE) today revealed the staggering cost and impact of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure such as electrical grids, oil and gas production, telecommunications and transportation networks. A survey of 600 IT security executives from critical infrastructure enterprises worldwide showed that more than half (54%) have already suffered large scale attacks or stealthy infiltrations from organized crime gangs, terrorists or nation-states. The average estimated cost of downtime associated with a major incident is $6.3 million per day.
The report “In the Crossfire: Critical Infrastructure in the Age of Cyberwar”, commissioned by McAfee and authored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), also found that the risk of cyberattack is rising. Despite a growing body of legislation and regulation, more than a third of IT executives (37%) said the vulnerability of their sector had increased over the past 12 months and two-fifths expect a major security incident in their sector within the next year. Only 20% think their sector is safe from serious cyberattack over the next five years.
Many of the world’s critical infrastructures were built for reliability and availability, not for security. Traditionally, these organizations have had little to no cyber protection, and have relied on guards, gates and guns. Today however, computer networks are interconnected with corporate IT networks and other infrastructure networks, which are accessible from anywhere in the world.
“In today’s economic climate, it is imperative that organizations prepare for the instability that cyber attacks on critical infrastructure can cause,” said Dave DeWalt, president and chief executive officer of McAfee. “From public transportation, to energy to telecommunications, these are the systems we depend on every day. An attack on any of these industries could cause widespread economic disruptions, environmental disasters, loss of property and even loss of life.”
“The recently identified Operation Aurora was the largest and most sophisticated cyberattack targeted at specific corporations, but it could have just as easily targeted the world’s critical infrastructure,” continued DeWalt. “The attack announced by Google and identified by McAfee was the most sophisticated threat seen in years making it a watershed moment in cybersecurity because of the targeted and coordinated nature of the attack.”
Other key report findings:
* Low confidence in preparedness: More than a third of those surveyed believe their sector is unprepared to deal with major attacks or stealthy infiltrations by high-level adversaries. Saudi Arabia, India and Mexico emerge as the least confident.
* Recession-driven cuts raising the risk: Two thirds of IT executives surveyed claimed that the current economic climate has caused cutbacks in the security resources available; one in four said resources had been reduced by 15% or more. Cuts are particularly evident in the energy and oil/gas sector.
* Government involvement in cyberattacks: 60% of those surveyed believe representatives of foreign governments have been involved in past infrastructure infiltrations. In terms of countries that posed the biggest threat to critical infrastructure security, the United States (36%) and China (33%) topped the list.
* Laws ineffective in protecting against potential attacks: More than half (55%) believe that the laws in their country are inadequate in deterring potential cyberattacks with those based in Russia, Mexico and Brazil the most sceptical; 45% don’t believe that the authorities are capable of preventing or deterring attacks.
* Insurance firms bearing brunt of cyberattack costs: More than half of those surveyed expected insurance to pick up the cost of a cyberattack while nearly one in five said it would fall on rate-payers or customers. Just over a quarter expected a government bail-out.
“Governance issues are at the center of any discussion of security for critical infrastructure,” said Stewart Baker distinguished visiting fellow at CSIS and Lawyer at Steptoe and Johnson. “The relationships between the governments and private sector organisations involved are complex but it is essential that each have faith in the others ability. The security industry will always strive to stay one step ahead, but in the absence of any technological silver bullet, regulation has a role to play in defending critical infrastructures around the world.”
The McAfee ‘In the Crossfire: Critical Infrastructure in the Age of Cyberwar’ report is available for download at www.mcafee.com.
To learn more about the research findings and opinions, please visit the McAfee Security Insights blog at siblog.mcafee.com.
About the report:
McAfee commissioned Vanson Bourne, a specialist research-based technology marketing consultancy, to survey more than 600 people responsible for IT or security in critical infrastructure enterprises across seven sectors in 14 countries across the globe (US, UK, Japan, China, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Australia and Saudi Arabia).
The Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) then analyzed the quantitative results, conducted additional qualitative research and authored the report.
About McAfee, Inc.
McAfee, Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, California, is the world’s largest dedicated security technology company. McAfee is committed to relentlessly tackling the world’s toughest security challenges. The company delivers proactive and proven solutions and services that help secure systems and networks around the world, allowing users to safely connect to the Internet, browse and shop the web more securely. Backed by an award-winning research team, McAfee creates innovative products that empower home users, businesses, the public sector and service providers by enabling them to prove compliance with regulations, protect data, prevent disruptions, identify vulnerabilities, and continuously monitor and improve their security. http://www.mcafee.com
About CSIS
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a bipartisan, non-profit organization founded in 1962 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. It seeks to advance global security and prosperity by providing strategic insights and policy solutions to decision makers.
NOTE: McAfee is a registered trademark of McAfee, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Other marks may be claimed as the property of others. The product plans, specifications and descriptions herein are provided for information only and subject to change without notice, and are provided without warranty of any kind, express or implied.