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Toronto’s Zevrix Solutions has announced Deliver Express 2.1.6, a feature update to its automated solution to send and share files easily across the Internet and local networks. Deliver Express processes files automatically from watched hot folders and supports various remote and local services. The software can run absolutely unattended and offers variable e-mail notifications, delivery to multiple destinations, automatic file compression and encryption, and much more.

The new update introduces new variable e-mail tokens for date and time elements, giving users the flexibility to use their preferred format for date and time info in email notifications. In addition, it addresses some proxy-related connectivity issues and improves reliability of information stored in delivery history.

“What’s great about Deliver Express for organizations is the unattended nature of using a hot folder,” writes Jeffrey Mincey on Mac360.com. “It’s perfect for all kinds of file delivery. Sensitive documents, encrypted files, financial information, graphic files, photographs, large files and so on.”

Being used by such major ad agencies as BBDO, MacLaren McCann and Innocean, Deliver Express is ideal for companies and users that constantly send files to specific destinations. For example: ad agencies, photographers, audio/video studios, printers, etc. As a company-wide server solution, Deliver Express can run on a dedicated station processing files from network-based hot folders. Users only need to copy files to the hot folders, and they will be sent automatically with customizable e-mail confirmations issued upon delivery. The files can be easily retrieved through the link in notification e-mail.

Deliver Express offers the following key features:

• Automate both external and internal delivery tasks with hot folder processing
• Supports FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, Amazon S3, MobileMe, AFP, SMB and local destinations
• Automatic e-mail notifications with link to retrieve the file
• Submit files from both Mac and PC stations
• Automatic file compression
• Detailed delivery history

Deliver Express can be purchased from Zevrix website as well as from authorized resellers. The license prices are based on the maximum number of destinations and range from US$29.95 to $299.95. Trial is also available for download. Deliver Express is a Universal Binary and available for Mac OS X 10.5 and later.

UNIT4 Business Software the North American subsidiary of UNIT4, provider of business software for Businesses Living IN Change (BLINC™), is meeting increased demand among non-profit organizations that are focused on achieving transparency and accountability to meet the new global demands of a competitive non-profit economy. As non-profits expand and evolve they are operating their organizations as tightly-run, often international businesses in a sector that is becoming more competitive.

UNIT4 Business Software has enjoyed increasing momentum in this sector in the last six months, particularly in North America, signing large non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as ACDI/VOCA, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM), as well as research facilities such as TRIUMF in an agreement worth more than $1 million. UNIT4 has also seen success with European non-profits and NGOs including ZonMw and the Innovation Institute of the Ministry of Health in the Benelux, as well as a leading national charity in the UK.

“All these organizations have one thing in common and that’s the desire to deliver the accountability and transparency of a public company and to be more competitive,” says Ton Dobbe, VP of Product Management at UNIT4. “Warren Buffet has alluded to this in how he chooses which organizations to donate to – those who operate as businesses earn his money because they’re operating on a business level. That’s what our software allows non-profits and NGOs to do.”

Agresso Business World is particularly appealing to Businesses Living IN Change (BLINC™) because it is designed for complex organizational structures that change frequently while still delivering total accountability and transparency. It is known among non-profits for its post-implementation agility that allows end users to respond swiftly and cost-effectively to changing funding levels and new funding structures, regulatory reporting requirements, and reorganization and restructuring without customers having to rely on costly external consultants. Read the rest of this entry »

Animated Media has released LiveMobile, a customizable mobile application that captures and manages video streams in a Flash-based UI.  LiveMobile runs on both Apple and Android based devices, allowing the user to capture video, edit the video, add photo and text annotations, save it locally and then selectively publish it to websites for sharing.  “Reskinning” this application with your unique UI is an easy process.   

LiveMobile is enabled by Animated Media’s multimedia development suite, the VGK Platform  and its innovative ability to deploy Flash content across mobile, consumer and digital home platforms and dynamically manage content to the full capabilities of the underlying hardware — enabling multi-stream video playback at the highest performance possible.  Another feature set supported by the VGK Platform is the ability to access video websites such as YouTube, compile video lists and enable selection and playback of multiple videos on one screen.

Animated Media continues to bring browser functionality into native apps.  Our tools and services bring a mix of web functionality and Flash technology to support simultaneous live broadcast or streaming video, in-app advertising, and audience and social media interactivity in a single native app with exceptionally fast performance to deliver the best user experience.

Montreal’s OneDesk helps businesses become more social by connecting customers, partners, and employees to the product and service development process. OneDesk is leading the market in providing solutions that help companies realize the benefits of social product development, co-creation, and customer-driven innovation.

This blended suite of SaaS applications enhances a company’s ability to:

Engage with customers and take action. Right now, customers are online discussing your products and services. OneDesk helps you leverage social media (Facebook, Twitter, blogs, discussions, etc.) and other web media (email, portals, etc.) to discover what is being said about your brands, industry and competitors.

OneDesk’s feedback and ideas management tools lets you easily capture customer suggestions, keep on top of conversations, reply to them, and feed customer input directly into the development process. With OneDesk, no feedback is misplaced or lost; instead it is properly categorized, responded-to, and acted upon.

Reduce customer service costs. Building strong customer relationships involves quickly resolving customer issues. OneDesk’s integrated help desk solution allows you to automate your customer service, tap into the knowledge base from employees, partners & customers, while creating and managing a community of loyal contributors.

Simplify the requirements and project management processes. OneDesk lets you easily manage and prioritize product and service requirements. Comprehensive project management and collaboration applications addresses the needs of Project Managers and their teams.

Structure the conversation and get the job done. It is important to structure the conversation between employees partners and customers to deliver business value. OneDesk’s social collaboration tools are directly connected to business goals.

Small business owners walk the work-life balance tightrope differently than the rest of us. Because their working lives are spent on their own business, they’re more likely to put in extra hours and still feel they’ve got more balance than a typical employee. Intuit Canada, makers of QuickBooks accounting software have released the findings of a national poll on work-life balance among small business owners and is offering expert tips to help them make the most of the time they spend on their business.

The recent national survey commissioned by Intuit found 88 per cent of the small business owners said they were satisfied with the balance between their personal and professional pursuits. The majority (84%) also feel they have a better balance than if they worked for someone else.

“Small business owners have told us before, work-life balance is as important to them as finding and keeping customers,” said Barb Anderson, QuickBooks product marketing leader. “Through QuickBooks, we help them carve out time for balance by providing tools that help organize and manage their business finances easily and more efficiently.”

Work-life balance is often measured by comparing the amount of time spent on the job against time spent on personal pursuits. However, 97 per cent of small business owners said their view differs from the norm.

“Even though nearly half of respondents (46%) said they work beyond 40 hours a week it’s the sense of ownership over the work they do, the ability to set their own schedule and do what they want when they want that contributes to their sense of balance,” said Anderson.

“Working smarter, not harder is the key to making the most of the time small business owners choose to devote their work and personal lives,” said Anderson. “We talk to entrepreneurs every day and invariably, those who embraced the right tools and strategies are better able to balance their schedules.”

To help small business owners improve their work-life balance, Anderson offered the following tips to help save time when managing finances:

• Get organized: Having your financial records scattered among a host of file folders or different programs on your laptop is inefficient. Financial management software provides a one-stop snapshot of money coming in and going out of your business so you always know where you stand
• Stop stuffing envelopes: Send invoices through email and eliminate the time it takes to print, prepare and post them. In addition to cutting out the trip to the mail box, it gets invoices in the hands of your customers immediately
• Save time with your accountant: Don’t pay your accountant to spend time sorting through your shoe box of receipts. You’ll make the most of your meetings by getting organized ahead of time, and getting the strategic advice you need to move your business forward.

Ultimately the secrets to achieving balance are as varied and personal as the more than 2.4 million small businesses in Canada. Intuit is inviting business owners to share their stories and tips on how they find balance on QuickBooksCanada on Facebook and on Twitter, reference hashtag #qbwlb.  Submissions will be collected from now until July 31 and made available for sharing on the QuickBooks, Facebook page in early August.

Montreal’s Spline Technologies Corporation has released a major update to SplineTech JavaScript Debugger PRO, an independent standalone Web development tool that enables Web developers to easily edit and debug JavaScript and VBScript inside HTML and AJAX pages, without the need for any add-ons, plugins or changes of their code to handle the debugging process. Client-side JavaScript, JScript and client-side VBScript debugging languages are fully supported for simple and complex HTML, DHTML and AJAX debugging scenarios.

SplineTech JavaScript Debugger PRO offers following main features to address the most common Web development issues:

– Advanced form debugging for JavaScript form validation – Programmers to cause order forms to validate in clients’ browser windows before they are submitted.
– JavaScript pop-up debugging
– Debug DHTML menus and JavaScript menus
– Debug JavaScript and VBScript events: Debug JavaScript Pop-ups, onclick, onmouseover, onfocus and any
other event.
– Debug DHTML behavior
– Debug client-side JavaScript controls: Debug calendars and any other control
– Multi-Functional VBScript and JavaScript script editor for HTML and AJAX
– Full Support for native VBScript and JavaScript syntax (color-coded)
– Explicit JavaScript runtime error information
– Execution line highlighting: Display the current line of the code to be executed

Aside from a vast array of main features, this major update of SplineTech JavaScript Debugger PRO includes these new and unique features:

– Pause code execution in 3, 5 or more seconds (user adjustable)
– Reformat unreadable JavaScript and AJAX scripts (turns large one-line AJAX scripts into properly formatted readable multi-line code)
– Step Through multiple lines of code at once (user adjustable)
– Go back (and forth) to any step within your code
– Call Stack enables developers to view all function names taken from function lists (since IE reports most of them as anonymous)
– View all current variables in a dedicated Current Variables panel

Without requiring any manual configuration or network configuration, SplineTech JavaScript Debugger PRO runs on the Windows 7/2008/2000/2003/XP and Windows Server 2008 platforms (both x86 and x64) with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or better. SplineTech JavaScript Debugger PRO is priced at $35 per single-user license.

Maximizer Software has announced that its new cloud-based CRM Solution, Maximizer™ CRM Live, is available for purchase on the Microsoft Windows Azure Marketplace. With an affordable, web-based monthly subscription model ($49/user/month), Maximizer CRM Live provides organizations with a proven, full-featured CRM solution, designed to drive more sales, improve marketing effectiveness, and enrich customer service interactions.

“We are excited to bring 20+ years of experience and proven success with CRM to the Windows Azure Marketplace,” said Vivek Thomas, President of Maximizer Software. “The availability of Maximizer CRM Live from the Windows Azure Marketplace will make it even more convenient for customers to access and start experiencing the power of our full-featured, cloud-based CRM solution.”

Recognition of the technological capabilities and robust features of Maximizer CRM Live is a further testament to Maximizer Software’s long standing relationship with Microsoft, including Gold Certified Partner status for over 5 years. After passing a rigorous selection and integration process, Maximizer CRM Live has been selected as the first CRM application available for purchase on the Windows Azure Marketplace. Customers can now gain access to the award-winning features of Maximizer CRM Live directly through the Windows Azure Marketplace.

“By accessing the Maximizer CRM Live solution from the Windows Azure Marketplace, customers will gain functionality, value, and quality,” said Sudhir Hasbe, senior product manager, Windows Azure, at Microsoft. “Maximizer CRM Live is one of the first commerce-enabled applications available through the Windows Azure Marketplace, and we welcome this feature-rich cloud-based CRM application.”

Maximizer CRM Live delivers an easy to use and flexible CRM solution to customers by leveraging the robustness and security of the award-wining Windows Azure platform. Accessible from anywhere on any computer or mobile device, users can manage sales opportunities, marketing initiatives, provide customer service and collaborate with teams all in real time. With no technical expertise required, customers can be up and running within moments of signing up. Customizable to fit any industry, Maximizer CRM Live is secure with a 99.5% uptime guarantee.

Tutoring industry software provider TutorPanel has announced the addition of Google Calendar Sync to their tutor scheduling and invoicing software, which will allow for integration of tutors’ and students’ schedules with Google Calendar. This new feature allows companies to take advantage of additional features offered by Google Calendar such as syncing events to desktop calendars such as Microsoft Office, Apple iCal, Mozilla Sunbird. It also offers tutors and students the convenience of being able to view their tutoring schedule alongside other events on their calendars.

TutorPanel users have two ways to connect their TutorPanel calendars to their Google Calendar. First, tutors can sync events from their Google Calendar to their TutorPanel calendar. This feature makes it easier for tutors and administrators to find available time slots to schedule tutoring sessions.

The second way TutorPanel users can connect to Google Calendar is by displaying tutors’ lessons on their own Google Calendars. This allows tutors to have easier access to their lesson schedules and allows them to take advantage of Google Calendar’s sync feature with desktop calendars and mobile devices.

The addition of Google Calendar Sync to the TutorPanel system came in response to requests from TutorPanel users that felt their companies could benefit from this type of functionality. TutorPanel’s close relationship with tutoring companies and their ability to implement requested features plays an enormous role in the success of the software.

Tutoring companies interested in evaluating TutorPanel can learn more and try it free for 30-days by going to  the TutorPanel website.

Lingo Media Corporation and Lenovo have signed a Custom Software Business Partnership Agreement which provides for a custom version of Lingo Media’s English language learning software to be installed on millions of Lenovo computers sold in China.

Under the terms of the agreement, Lenovo will promote, distribute, and resell Lingo Media’s software, primarily by pre-installing a custom version on Lenovo’s popular Think-branded commercial PCs and Idea-branded consumer PCs. Online marketing, joint promotional activities and other marketing activities are underway between the two companies.

The new custom learning product will be a Lenovo branded version of Lingo Media’s ELL Technologies English Basic software. Each individual who purchases a Lenovo computer will have the opportunity to take three free lessons on a trial basis. Upon completion of the trial offer, the customer will have the opportunity to purchase the full course for a Lenovo promotional price of 200 Yuan RMB ($29.00). The profit potential is significant, and will become progressively stronger with the launch of custom versions of English Intermediate, Advanced, Master and the Business courses – in future phases of the partnership.

“This is a significant and very lucrative agreement for both Lenovo and Lingo Media with great profit potential as China continues to focus on teaching and learning English. We are pleased to partner with the largest computer manufacturer in China and deliver our product on their platform,” said Michael Kraft, President & CEO of Lingo Media. “The combination of Lenovo’s brand and Lingo Media’s ELL Technologies’ proven solutions will result in a rewarding learning experience for millions of Chinese computer users. We expect to generate significant revenue from the partnership, which represents another major milestone in the growth of our company as we pursue our mission of, Changing the Way the World Learns English. This deal comes at a time when Lenovo is expanding dramatically in the Chinese computer market and the demand for English grows daily.”

Jeff Chai, Director of Software & Content Services, Product Group of Lenovo,  added that “We believe we have found the ideal partner in Lingo Media to enhance our customer needs as the demand for English expands rapidly in China. In today’s market, installing practical, cost-effective software applications like those created by Lingo Media’s ELL Technologies for Lenovo consumer and SMB notebook models, ensures that we address and continue to meet our customers’ needs. With Lingo Media as our partner, we will demonstrate that Lenovo is the leader in offering customers new choices. Lingo Media has a long record of success in China. They know how to meet the needs of people — from school children, to university students, to employees — who want to enhance their incomes by becoming proficient in English as China emerges as an economic super-power in the global economy where English is the main language of business.”

Desire2Learn UK Ltd. (Desire2Learn), today announced that after an extensive review process, Oxford University Press (OUP) has chosen Desire2Learn^® Learning Suite, better placing OUP to deliver its English Language learning resources to customers across the world. Many aspects of the Desire2Learn Learning Suite will aid with this goal, including

– Learning Environment

– Learning Repository

– ePortfolio

– Analytics

“It is extremely important that our customers can access ELT courses anytime, anywhere,” explained Ernst Kallus, Digital Media Director, English Language Teaching, Oxford University Press. “The Desire2Learn solution offers great flexibility and ease of customization, and enables us to integrate and optimize our Learning Management Systems. We look forward to being able to attain new levels of global reach as well as an enhanced customer experience.”

“We are extremely pleased to be partnering with OUP, given their position as one of the global leaders in the provision of educational resources,” commented John Baker, President, Desire2Learn. “Our Desire2Learn Learning Suite will allow Oxford University Press to offer their customers content with increased efficiency and enhanced scalability, shortening response times, and bolstering the delivery of educational resources to institutions and organizations around the world.”

OUP will run a pilot programme in 2011, with a view to launching a global offering in 2012.