October 7, 2008
Image Source: petewarden.typepad.com
Yahoo recently opened up its Web mail platform. It aims to encourage external developers to create their own plug ins, simple utilities and applications that can further enhance Yahoo Mail user experience. The announcement is a big news for the developers. It is to note that Yahoo offered unlimited storage capacity just last May of this year. The plan to open up the platform was under way since September of last year. So that developers can tweak and come up with their own applications specifically for Yahoo Mail. And the tools are now available at its website, Yahoo Developer Network. Yahoo has same development tools for other services like photo sharing site Flickr and the Yahoo search engine. It believes that opening the platform for third party developers will undeniably benefit them. Because these developers will certainly come up with useful and innovative applications for their online services. Yahoo has taken it further by offering incentives, monetary at that, $10 specifically, for every account created in the Yahoo Mail Plus because of its referral from an approved developer.
August 21, 2008
Image source: www.balto-line.netfirms.com
Nearly all forums use alike or the same software, so many forums offer a similar user interface and posting abilities. So the two things that really make a forum service stand apart are security and support. The best forum services provide excellent security that blocks spam posting and protects member information and it also provides responsive and helpful customer support.
*Forum Features –Some services allow message boards to be hosted on any site, whereas others host on their server, which means the forum owner does not benefit from the content in terms of the search engines. The top forums support an advanced level of flexibility, offer hosting options and are ad free.
*Posting Options – This is the technology available to contributors for posting messages. All forums include a text editor and most support the uploading of files, images and avatars. Numerous services also offer social networking features like buddy lists, private messaging and emailing.
*Administration Tools – Administration tools are the features available to the forum owner, manager or moderator, which may include edit and deletion ability, thread locking and pin threading. Some services also include traffic monitors and syndication tools. The best bulletin board services also provide filtering tools.
*Protection/ Security Features – This is possibly the most vital consideration when choosing a forum. Disappointingly, spam attacks are tremendously common and can render a forum ineffective and unappealing fast. The best forum and message board services protect forums from spam posts, spam flooding and email address grabs.
*Help/Support – Although most forum services are inexpensive or free, they should still include sufficient support. The top services provide support by telephone, email and/or chat. They ought to also offer online help through FAQs, a searchable knowledge-based and a support forum.
April 27, 2008
Sun Microsystems Vice-President for Software Rich Green stroke away on how Java presents a high-quality virtual machine which enables running all digital life applications possible. Green didn’t discuss anything about this new applications reliance on establishment of services.
They also claim that they prioritize the users among others. A distinct impression is that enterprises had grown to be a bit of an addition with the Java braintrust.
Sun seems to have a clear view of how they want their customers’ digital life stands in the near future. It still remains a mystery for how to back up enterprises with development problems they have today.
February 28, 2008
Remember that Watchfire was acquired by IBM early this year? Well, they sure aren�t wasting time as they will now officially release IBM Rational AppScan 7.7. This new improved Web application security tool is based on Watchfire’s AppScan. This product basically identifies, validates and reports on gaps in Web applications. However, the latest version has new features (i.e. Scan Expert and State Inducer) designed to make the product more user-friendly for those who have not much background in application testing. It also includes recorded Web-based training (now that one is useful to me) to instruct users on application security and industry standard compliance.
Source: Eweek
February 22, 2008
The US local governments are encouraging residents to help cut on CO2 emissions by using council web services instead. How? Well, the answer is quite logical. Instead of using transportation, whether public or private, residents with internet access to make use of the services offered in the government web sites and therefore saving the planet from �millions of air miles in carbon emissions.�
The Department of Communities and Local Government commissioned environmental specialists Best Foot Forward to conduct an independent study report.
The report states that city councils could save 80,000 kg of CO2 each year or 14,000 tons of CO2 nationally. Not only that, online services turn out to be more cost efficient. Staff time is used wisely and resources and supplies such as paper are also saved.
Source: Computer Weekly
The H.R. 404 bill which was passed July of last year is now pending before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee to clarify accountability language. The bill that was sponsored by Mr. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, focuses on customer service performance of different government service agencies. This includes Web interaction services. The bill, if approved, will eventually require the White House Office of Management and Budget to develop a system of performance metrics that would ensure citizen satisfaction. One incentive of H.R. 404 is that it would allow agency heads “to pay a cash award … to employees for demonstrated excellence in customer service.” Agencies will have to post customer-service guidelines and customer-service contact information on their public Websites.
Source: Government Executive
January 21, 2008
Ooh� and who said the internet isn�t exciting? RBN (Russian Business Network), a notorious Russian online gang which has recently closed their St. Petersburg IP address (but has apparently established themselves elsewhere in cyberspace, yet continuously moving to avoid detection), is said to be linked to a November iFrame injection attack of Monster.com an online employment service company. The attack, caused by a NeoSplit or a malware tool, inserted code into pages that then caused systems to download a virus. Monster.com has reported that they�ve already cleaned all the affected Web pages and is now working with law enforcement on the matter.
Source: eweek.com
January 14, 2008
The information search engine, Ask.com has released AskEraser, a new tool that can be considered as the first step (of many) in handing over the rightful control of privacy to its users. According to EPIC’s Marc Rotenberg, this cool tool prevents from storing any search data. It can completely delete search queries and any other associated information from the site�s servers. This includes complete texts of queries, IP addresses, user ID�s, and session ID�s. Users can find the link for the AskEraser tool on the upper right corner of the search engine’s homepage and search results pages and can be turned off anytime. AskEraser is available now in the U.S. and in the UK — and will be deployed globally in 2008.
Source: Newsfactor
January 1, 2008
Is anybody here familiar with Salesforce.com? It�s a company that offers CRM or customer relationship management services. It does everything from sales force automation to partner relationship management, marketing, and customer service.
Well, this enterprise recently launched a feature in its Web site. It lets users share data with partners much like how it happens in Facebook. Salesforce.com wants business partners to connect and link-up information without the bother of integrating an application. It also enables Salesforce partners to distribute and exchange leads, and custom objects with partners, employees, resellers, distributors, suppliers and anyone else can be included in the network if the user pleases.
Dell, which has signed a major deal with Salesforce.com is the technology behind this.
Source: E Week
