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News

• Google apologises for using part of rival's software

  Google has issued a brief apology for using part of a software application developed by rival Sohu.com in a recently released Chinese software tool of its own.

• Google exec warns against ‘limiting’ overseas-style patents

  Google’s Chris DiBona believes local developers would be unwise to adopt an overseas-style patent system.

• LA baker finds Christchurch software a tasty treat

  A Los Angeles-based food processing business that produces baked and other goods for the Hispanic market has chosen software from Christchurch company SSi to run its expanding business.

• Not so sleepy ‘snorage’ market set to grow again

  Storage has long been overshadowed by other, more exciting and dynamic market segments. It has been accused of being boring and even called derogatory names such as “snorage”.

• HP rejigs software operation, creates BI unit

  In the midst of a company-wide restructuring effort, Hewlett-Packard has taken the next step in an ongoing reorganisation of its software operation. It has established a new unit to bring together its business intelligence and information-management expertise, which is currently spread out across the company.

• IBM releases free search software

  IBM and Yahoo have released free search software aimed at small and medium-sized businesses that want to search across their internal documents and content. IBM is using price to combat competitors who are also aiming entry-level search software at corporate and departmental users.

• The next wave of software licensing arrives

  Users are fed up with the way vendors sell them software. How upset are they? A recent survey by software management provider Macrovision found that only 28% of organisations surveyed were satisfied with their vendor’s pricing and licensing strategy.

• Online software directory coming soon

  Sydney-based Software Choice is developing a New Zealand directory and plans to launch the service at the end of the year, says managing director Meredith Thompson.

• IT steps up as contact centres spread out

  Contact centres are becoming increasingly distributed as companies move away from vast phone rooms in favour of smaller remote offices and home-based agents.

• Software audits: not a case of if, but when

  “There are two types of companies: those that have been audited [for software violations] and those that will be.” So says Robert J Scott, managing partner of legal and technology services firm Scott & Scott. Recent settlement fines for software licence violations have topped US$500,000 (NZ$800,000), says Scott, and that’s only a small part of the true cost to an audited company. Scott, who has extensive experience defending companies in software audits, spoke with Computerworld’s Kathleen Melymuka about your rights and responsibilities.

• Free software flows at network conference

  Savvy Interop attendees last week walked away from the show in Las Vegas with more than a pocket full of USB flash drives and retractable Ethernet cables — they also took home free software.

• Hosted apps: the real cost can be alarming

  Does software as a service offer a graduated scale of functionality, or does it just pick your pocket?

• Geac, FrontRange and Ingres go private

  Private equity firms are to acquire two major software vendors, Geac and FrontRange, and Computer Associates’ Ingres database division is also being sold into private hands.

• Hosted payment, regulatory compliance on agenda at software licensing talkfest

  Less than one-third of user organisations polled in a recent licensing survey said they're satisfied with their vendor's pricing and licensing strategy.

• Recipe for a development disaster

  The Television Station had been using a home-grown interface, and it was our job to replace it. With a US$500,000 (NZ$713,000) budget to work with, I thought we had a good chance of doing it right — and I looked forward to a challenging project. Little did I know!