Web Development Live

Salesforce.com today introduced the summer upgrade to its on-demand CRM software, called Salesforce Summer ‘08, featuring enhancements on both the client and server-sides of the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform.

Force.com, the Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) that allows developers to build their own applications to run along side the ones provided by Salesforce, has been expanded out to allow for developing any kind of application the users want with Apex, Salesforce’s Java-like programming language.

Also, Visualforce is now live in every edition of Salesforce, enabling developers to create their own custom interfaces based on Web 2.0 UI items that will work on any device. So it’s possible to make your Force.com applications run on a PC, laptop, BlackBerry or iPhone.

“Visualforce really completed the whole stack for how developers can use Force.com to create applications,” Al Falcion, senior director of product marketing for Salesforce, told InternetNews.com.

“Any client with a browser is covered. There’s definitely a need for different UIs, even if they use the same app.” As such, Visualforce lets developers create an application that presents data one way on a desktop, and in a different way on a notebook or smartphone.

One of the knocks on Web 2.0 is the performance of Ajax, which requires a lot of JavaScript to run on the client. “The key is having the right frequency of refreshes so they don’t drag the client down,” said Falcione.

Graphics card maker, Nvidia has announced it is acquiring gaming physics company Ageia to bring the latter’s PhysX solution to Nvidia’s GeForce graphics hardware cards.Ageia developed PhysX, a hardware and software engine that adds physical reality to existing games, like smoke billowing from an object after an explosion, or the behavior of a rock after it hits a target. Developers can also use the PhysX software development kit to create interactive middleware for games. Ageia recently provided a kit to developers to create physical experiences in Epic Games’ Unreal Tournament 3.Ageia will add features to Nvidia’s graphics products that will boost the physical reality users experience while playing a game, said Derek Perez, an Nvidia spokesman.According to AGEIA, there are 140 PhysX-based games shipping or in development on Sony Playstation 3, Microsoft XBOX 360, Nintendo Wii and Gaming PCs. In August 2007, AGEIA announced first PhysX Mobile processor, the AGEIA PhysX 100M, for high performance gaming notebook PCs. AGEIA PhysX Mobile Technology features low power and thermal design with power dissipation of nearly 10W under gameplay conditions. Company president and CEO Jen-Hsun Huang said of the deal, “The Ageia team is world class, and is passionate about the same thing we are梒reating the most amazing and captivating game experiences. By combining the teams that created the world’s most pervasive GPU and physics engine brands, we can now bring GeForce-accelerated PhysX to hundreds of millions of gamers around the world.”Dell XPS 1730, launched in September 2007, is one of the first laptops to integrate Ageia PhysX 100M processor. Terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed, however Nvidia said more details about the acquisition will be provided during the company’s quarterly conference call, to be held in mid February.

Graphics card maker, Nvidia has announced it is acquiring gaming physics company Ageia to bring the latter’s PhysX solution to Nvidia’s GeForce graphics hardware cards.Ageia developed PhysX, a hardware and software engine that adds physical reality to existing games, like smoke billowing from an object after an explosion, or the behavior of a rock after it hits a target. Developers can also use the PhysX software development kit to create interactive middleware for games. Ageia recently provided a kit to developers to create physical experiences in Epic Games’ Unreal Tournament 3.Ageia will add features to Nvidia’s graphics products that will boost the physical reality users experience while playing a game, said Derek Perez, an Nvidia spokesman.According to AGEIA, there are 140 PhysX-based games shipping or in development on Sony Playstation 3, Microsoft XBOX 360, Nintendo Wii and Gaming PCs. In August 2007, AGEIA announced first PhysX Mobile processor, the AGEIA PhysX 100M, for high performance gaming notebook PCs. AGEIA PhysX Mobile Technology features low power and thermal design with power dissipation of nearly 10W under gameplay conditions. Company president and CEO Jen-Hsun Huang said of the deal, “The Ageia team is world class, and is passionate about the same thing we are梒reating the most amazing and captivating game experiences. By combining the teams that created the world’s most pervasive GPU and physics engine brands, we can now bring GeForce-accelerated PhysX to hundreds of millions of gamers around the world.”Dell XPS 1730, launched in September 2007, is one of the first laptops to integrate Ageia PhysX 100M processor. Terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed, however Nvidia said more details about the acquisition will be provided during the company’s quarterly conference call, to be held in mid February.

Graphics card maker, Nvidia has announced it is acquiring gaming physics company Ageia to bring the latter’s PhysX solution to Nvidia’s GeForce graphics hardware cards.Ageia developed PhysX, a hardware and software engine that adds physical reality to existing games, like smoke billowing from an object after an explosion, or the behavior of a rock after it hits a target. Developers can also use the PhysX software development kit to create interactive middleware for games. Ageia recently provided a kit to developers to create physical experiences in Epic Games’ Unreal Tournament 3.Ageia will add features to Nvidia’s graphics products that will boost the physical reality users experience while playing a game, said Derek Perez, an Nvidia spokesman.According to AGEIA, there are 140 PhysX-based games shipping or in development on Sony Playstation 3, Microsoft XBOX 360, Nintendo Wii and Gaming PCs. In August 2007, AGEIA announced first PhysX Mobile processor, the AGEIA PhysX 100M, for high performance gaming notebook PCs. AGEIA PhysX Mobile Technology features low power and thermal design with power dissipation of nearly 10W under gameplay conditions. Company president and CEO Jen-Hsun Huang said of the deal, “The Ageia team is world class, and is passionate about the same thing we are梒reating the most amazing and captivating game experiences. By combining the teams that created the world’s most pervasive GPU and physics engine brands, we can now bring GeForce-accelerated PhysX to hundreds of millions of gamers around the world.”Dell XPS 1730, launched in September 2007, is one of the first laptops to integrate Ageia PhysX 100M processor. Terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed, however Nvidia said more details about the acquisition will be provided during the company’s quarterly conference call, to be held in mid February.

Graphics card maker, Nvidia has announced it is acquiring gaming physics company Ageia to bring the latter’s PhysX solution to Nvidia’s GeForce graphics hardware cards.Ageia developed PhysX, a hardware and software engine that adds physical reality to existing games, like smoke billowing from an object after an explosion, or the behavior of a rock after it hits a target. Developers can also use the PhysX software development kit to create interactive middleware for games. Ageia recently provided a kit to developers to create physical experiences in Epic Games’ Unreal Tournament 3.Ageia will add features to Nvidia’s graphics products that will boost the physical reality users experience while playing a game, said Derek Perez, an Nvidia spokesman.According to AGEIA, there are 140 PhysX-based games shipping or in development on Sony Playstation 3, Microsoft XBOX 360, Nintendo Wii and Gaming PCs. In August 2007, AGEIA announced first PhysX Mobile processor, the AGEIA PhysX 100M, for high performance gaming notebook PCs. AGEIA PhysX Mobile Technology features low power and thermal design with power dissipation of nearly 10W under gameplay conditions. Company president and CEO Jen-Hsun Huang said of the deal, “The Ageia team is world class, and is passionate about the same thing we are梒reating the most amazing and captivating game experiences. By combining the teams that created the world’s most pervasive GPU and physics engine brands, we can now bring GeForce-accelerated PhysX to hundreds of millions of gamers around the world.”Dell XPS 1730, launched in September 2007, is one of the first laptops to integrate Ageia PhysX 100M processor. Terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed, however Nvidia said more details about the acquisition will be provided during the company’s quarterly conference call, to be held in mid February.

The school is one of four in New Zealand trialling small, rugged classmatePCs made by Intel.
The computers have been compared to the Asus Eee PC %26ndash; which went on sale at Dick Smith outlets last year priced at $599. They were inspired by the $100 laptops developed by the non-profit group OLPC for use in the third world.
Ms Stuart says the classmatePCs are great for wordprocessing and online work, though they wont replace the need for some conventional computers.
The obvious advantages are price, size, weight, portability and robustness. They also have a wow factor with kids.
The school is trying out machines with 30 gigabyte disc drives, rather than relying on other versions with smaller but more robust 4 gigabyte flash memory drives.
None have been damaged so far and the trial has shown children quickly adapt to the smaller keyboard, she says.
Richard Morgan, managing director of Cyclone Computers, which distributes classmatePCs in New Zealand, says they are available only to schools, priced at about $600. He is hoping for a significant price cut this week and says the computers may be sold in shops by the middle of the year.
In a speech to the International Confederation of Principals conference in Auckland last year, Ms Stuart called for school leaders to transform their role to that of a learning coach.
We need to work out how we can safely and powerfully use Web 2.0 technologies to educate our students for their future, she says.
Ideally, the school would have one laptop for every three pupils. That was not possible under current funding arrangements but, as prices dropped, more parents would buy them for their children. The challenge for schools is how are they going to respond when students begin to arrive at school with laptops?
Dick Smith senior buyer Nick Lapwood says the retailer has struggled to meet demand for the Asus Eee PC, which has frequently been out of stock. It hopes to sell a version with 8 gigabytes of flash memory by May.

Graphics card maker, Nvidia has announced it is acquiring gaming physics company Ageia to bring the latter’s PhysX solution to Nvidia’s GeForce graphics hardware cards.Ageia developed PhysX, a hardware and software engine that adds physical reality to existing games, like smoke billowing from an object after an explosion, or the behavior of a rock after it hits a target. Developers can also use the PhysX software development kit to create interactive middleware for games. Ageia recently provided a kit to developers to create physical experiences in Epic Games’ Unreal Tournament 3.Ageia will add features to Nvidia’s graphics products that will boost the physical reality users experience while playing a game, said Derek Perez, an Nvidia spokesman.According to AGEIA, there are 140 PhysX-based games shipping or in development on Sony Playstation 3, Microsoft XBOX 360, Nintendo Wii and Gaming PCs. In August 2007, AGEIA announced first PhysX Mobile processor, the AGEIA PhysX 100M, for high performance gaming notebook PCs. AGEIA PhysX Mobile Technology features low power and thermal design with power dissipation of nearly 10W under gameplay conditions. Company president and CEO Jen-Hsun Huang said of the deal, “The Ageia team is world class, and is passionate about the same thing we are梒reating the most amazing and captivating game experiences. By combining the teams that created the world’s most pervasive GPU and physics engine brands, we can now bring GeForce-accelerated PhysX to hundreds of millions of gamers around the world.”Dell XPS 1730, launched in September 2007, is one of the first laptops to integrate Ageia PhysX 100M processor. Terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed, however Nvidia said more details about the acquisition will be provided during the company’s quarterly conference call, to be held in mid February.

BEIJING China has banned video and audio products containing elements of horror or the supernatural in a bid to protect the “psychological health” of minors.In an order posted on its Web site, China’s General Administration of Press and Publication said all existing products were to be pulled off the market and all hints of horror and the occult had to be removed from anything currently in production. It gave no details on how the crackdown would be enforced.The horror, violence and cruelty portrayed are extremely harmful to the psychological development of children, it said in a statement posted late Wednesday.Video and audio products often “involve alien-looking characters and fictional storytelling, both specifically plotted for the sole purpose of terror,” it said.China first began a crackdown on horror in April 2006, targeting the popular Japanese comic “Death Note,” which involves a deadly notebook that can kill people if their names are written in it. The graphic novel depicts details of each victim’s gruesome demise.Earlier this year, China announced a national crackdown on sexually suggestive video and audio products as part of a campaign to curb content considered harmful or in bad taste.Regulators have also issued new warnings against pornography and a requirement that video-sharing Web sites apply for permits. The anti-pornography order said some movie companies and Web site operators had illegally broadcast pornography, inflicting harm on youthful audiences.

Apple also said it would let people rent films over the web with upgrades to its iTunes online media store, a technological challenge to a movie industry still largely focused on DVDs.
Shares of movie rental firms Netflix and Blockbuster fell sharply in response, and Apples own stock lost 5.5 per cent since the announcements were widely expected and Chief Executive Steve Jobs failed to conjure up any big surprises.
Jobs set a high bar last year by unveiling the iPhone. In addition, many times he ends presentations with by saying, One more thing… as a prelude to something unexpected. This year there was none.
Still, Jobs talents as a showman were on display when he took the stage at the annual Macworld convention in San Francisco to cheers and applause from a few thousand software developers, customers and Apple employees.
He detailed a series of new products and services but saved the laptop, dubbed the MacBook Air, for last, drawing it out of a standard manila envelope to emphasize its slim dimensions.
Jobs said the new notebook was the thinnest available, measuring 0.76 inches at its thickest point and tapering to just 0.16 inches.
Priced from $US1,800 ($NZ2280), the Air bridges the gap between Apples entry-level and high-end laptops, but analysts voiced concern that it could steal customers away from pricier products.
Its not really clear how many more incremental buyers you can drive, and there could be some cannibalization, said Shaw Wu, an analyst with American Technology Research.
MacBook laptops have been one of the companys strongest products, with sales rising 37 per cent on the year in the fiscal fourth quarter ended last September.
NEW APPLE USERS SOUGHT
Phil Schiller, Apples vice president of marketing, said the new laptop could appeal to a large swath of customers, including business travelers, those in education and people who wanted a more attractive computer at home.
The goal overall is to continue to grow the business, so having another product in the line helps to do that. If the mix (of customers) changes a little bit, it doesnt matter as long as we grow everything, Schiller said.
Apple stock has nearly doubled since last years Macworld, and in late December topped $US200 for the first time, driven by market-share gains by Mac computers, continued iPod strength, and enthusiasm over the iPhone, which Jobs said had sold more than 4 million units since its release last June.
Jobs showed off new iPhone features such as displaying a users location on a map and a way to customize the main screen with icons linking directly to specific parts of a website.
The iPhone is not standing still. We keep making it better and better and better, Jobs said.
But the company has struggled to find a big audience for Apple TV, a product originally designed as a Mac accessory for watching internet video on a television and unveiled alongside the iPhone a year ago.
Its not what people wanted. We learned what people wanted was … movies, movies, movies, Jobs said.
A new version of Apple TV will be able to connect to the internet directly and download TV shows, movies and music through iTunes. Viewers will be able to choose movies directly from their TVs and Apple said viewers could start watching within seconds if they had a fast Internet connection.
Jobs announced deals with all six major movie studios and several smaller ones to offer movies for rental through iTunes in the US, with new releases costing $US3.99 and library titles $US2.99. High-definition movies will also be available.
The revamp of Apple TV hardware combined with a broad selection of movies would give Apple an edge over competitors such as Amazon.com, Netflix and Microsoft, American Technology Researchs Wu said.
News Corps 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney, Time Warners Warner Bros, Viacoms Paramount, General Electrics Universal, Sony Pictures, Lionsgate, MGM and New Line have all signed on to Web rentals, Apple said.
Its too early to declare that this is going to be a big hit but this is arguably the best offering out there right now, Wu said.