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The WAVE Report on Digital Media
3D --- Media Creation --- Shared Space ---Published by 4th Wave, Inc.--- Issue #0535------------------9/2/05 |
The WAVE Report is Searchable on
http://www.3dlinks.com
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0535.2 Administering Software
0535.3 Database Transformation
0535.4 International Grid Networking
0535.5 Expanded Storage
G-Technology, Inc. Introduces Next Generation Quad Interface External Storage Solutions
0535.6 Future Home Technology
0535.7 Phishing & Gaming Add-Ins
New Microsoft Phishing Filter and Games Add-Ins Provide More Tools for MSN Search Toolbar
0535.8 Satellite Communications
Top Five Commercial Satellite Operators Control 63% of Leased Capacity
0535.9 Cell Fuel Evaluation
0535.10 Global Service Delivery
TPI Publishes New Findings in State of Global Service Delivery, a 2005 Study
0535.11 Data Protection
Substantial Needs in Home Data Protection Trigger Major Storage Business Opportunities, IDC Reveals
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0535.1 Wireless School Yards
***Going Back to School Means Going Wireless; School Districts Around the Country Select Cisco Wireless Networking Solutions to Provide Students with Greater Access to Information
SAN JOSE, Calif.
Aug. 31, 2005
As students begin their back-to-school pilgrimage, one thing stands out this year -- the dramatic adoption of wireless networking technologies throughout large and small schools and school districts across the country. As evidence of this untethered trend in K-12 education, Cisco Systems has announced several large-scale wireless local area network (WLAN) deployments spanning the nation from Broward County Public Schools, Florida to Kent School District, Washington State and points between, including Denver Public Schools, Colorado and the Pleasanton School District near San Francisco, California.
According to Market Data Retrieval in their 2004 Technology in Education report, the percentage of public schools utilizing wireless systems has increased almost fourfold from 10 percent in 2001 to 37 percent in 2004. That follows the continually rising trend of laptop penetration in schools, which as grown from 36 percent in 2003 to 53 percent in 2004.
Denver Public Schools
Over 100 years old, the Denver Public School system serves nearly 73,000 students. Currently, Cisco's Unified Wireless Architecture is being deployed throughout all 140 schools and 10 administration buildings to provide students and teachers with a more efficient and productive way to learn and manage students' education. For example, teachers can access and update student information and grades in real time, while students can connect to student services from any of the classrooms, courtyards and cafeterias. To help students adjust to the new year, school officials are equipped with WiFi-enabled PDAs to instantly verify student schedules, aiming to keep students on time and on track.
Kent School District, Washington
Kent School District comprises more than 26,000 students, and is recognized in Washington State as the leading authority on unifying technology into the classroom. The District envisions that every one of their K-12 students will be wirelessly connected via laptop computers through their schools and to the rest of the world.
Pleasanton School District, California
Roughly 40 miles east of San Francisco and located in the heart of many emerging technology companies, Pleasanton Middle School is the first school in the district to deploy the Cisco Unified Wireless Architecture. With plans to equip students with laptop computers, Pleasanton Middle School standardized on Cisco to give its students real-time connectivity from all around its campus.
http://www.cisco.com/go/education
***Second Federal Chief Information Security Officer Study Reveals Software Quality Concerns Increasing and FISMA Burden Growing
ASHBURN, Va.
Aug. 29, 2005
Intelligent Decisions has announced the results of its second annual Federal Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Study. Across the board, Federal CISOs ranked increasing software quality assurance as the number-one area on which the private sector needs to focus, pointing directly to continuing major issues with software quality. The study highlights network compromise, patch management, and FISMA compliance among the major concerns that keep Federal CISOs up at night.
The Intelligent Decisions' second annual Federal CISO Study, based on telephone interviews and online surveys with 29 Federal agency CISOs from civilian and defense agencies of all sizes, follows the first annual empirical survey of these executives released in November 2004. The goal of the second study was to measure progress against the results of the first study and to capture a better understanding of the Federal CISO role, daily duties, budget, and management responsibilities. In addition to outlining current and future IT security priorities, trends, and concerns, the second study also queried Federal CISOs on issues relating to the security of their agency's wireless networks.
The second study reveals that Federal CISOs across the board are now spending 23 percent more time on FISMA compliance reporting than last year. Compared to the first study, Federal CISOs controlling more than $10 million in annual information technology (IT) expenditures are now devoting 48 percent more time on FISMA compliance reporting, while Federal CISOs controlling less than $500,000 are devoting 13 percent more time on these activities. This suggests that since the first study, the Federal CISOs at large agencies are becoming just as challenged as Federal CISOs at small agencies to carry out the strategic security management functions FISMA intended.
Federal CISOs also identified the expanding use of wireless networks and mobile devices as the number one trend anticipated to increase momentum over the next year. The study highlights unauthorized wireless access points, preventing unauthorized wireless deployments, and rogue WiFi devices among the major wireless security concerns that keep Federal CISOs up at night.
Yet, despite these and other concerns, 54 percent of Federal CISOs at agencies that maintain wireless networks indicated their agency has not implemented the four basic wireless security controls recommended in the Special Publication 800-48 by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). These controls include: comprehensive polices in the implementation and use of wireless networks, configuration requirements for deployment of wireless security tools, monitoring programs to ensure policy compliance, and wireless security policy training for employees and contractors.
This finding suggests that the absence of clear, mandatory controls has led to a FISMA disconnect on wireless security, with many Federal agencies failing to ensure that proper controls were in place before rolling out wireless networks. To address the scattered implementation of these four basic controls, NIST plans to release revised wireless security guidelines for comment in September. These revised guidelines will form the basis for a new mandatory Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS). Once issued, the new FIPS will mandate the adoption of these basic controls, among other standards, that will have a major impact on an agency's IT investment and FISMA compliance obligations.
According to Intelligent Decisions, Federal CISOs have spoken loud and clear that it is well past the time for private industry to get serious about software quality Despite larger budgets and dedicated IT staff, Federal CISOs at larger agencies are becoming just as pressed as small agency CISOs to perform the strategic security management role that FISMA envisioned. Finally, given the scattered deployment of wireless security controls, questions remain as to whether Federal agencies are sufficiently prepared for mandatory standards.
Study Highlights:
-- The FISMA burden continues to grow as Federal CISOs now spend an average of 3.75 hours per day on compliance activities compared to 3.06 hours per day in the first study.
-- The top three trends Federal CISOs anticipate increasing over the next 12 months include: expanding utilization of wireless networks and mobile devices, single sign-on/multifactor authentication, and convergence of database and network security.
-- The top three products Federal CISOs consider most important to their agencies include: network security/firewalls, disaster recovery/continuity of operations planning, and authentication/PKI/encryption devices.
-- The top three activities Federal CISOs identify as the most important for the private sector to consider include: increasing software quality assurance, developing a real-time FISMA compliance tool, and offer guaranteed levels of protection for managed security services.
-- The top three general security concerns of Federal CISOs include: network compromise, patch management, and FISMA compliance.
-- The top three wireless security concerns of Federal CISOs include: unauthorized wireless access points, preventing unauthorized wireless deployments, and rogue WiFi devices.
-- 54 percent of agencies maintaining wireless networks have not implemented the four basic wireless security controls NIST recommends. This finding suggests that the absence of clear, mandatory controls has led to a FISMA disconnect on wireless security, with many Federal agencies failing to ensure that proper controls were in place before rolling out wireless networks.
http://www.intelligent.net/publicweb/about/cisoSurvey.htm
0535.3 Database Transformation
***DataMirror Releases DB/XML Transform 3.0
TORONTO & SANTA CLARA, Calif.
Aug. 30, 2005
DataMirror has announced the availability of DataMirror DB/XML Transform 3.0 (DB/XML 3.0), DataMirror's solution for data integration between XML, text, database and EDI file formats.
Enhancements to DB/XML 3.0 include support for SOA integration, improved error reporting, enhanced platform support and embedded database functions that reduce the cost of integrating data between multiple source and target applications. DB/XML 3.0 offers easy-to-use data integration capabilities and out-of-the-box support for integrating growing volumes of XML data with applications, relational databases and message queues.
DB/XML 3.0 enhancements include:
- Web services control - Supports sourcing and targeting Web services and integration within a SOA.
- Logging rejected records - Provides for easier administration and monitoring of rejected records by allowing users to log rejected records during text to database transformations. If a record from the source text file fails to be sent to a target database, it is stored in a text file with the same structure as the data source.
- Transformations of flat files - With support for data transformations, users can define the file structure of source flat files in a schema file when integrating XML, EDI, and text with applications, relational databases or message queues.
- Multiple flat files as a source - Allows joins between multiple flat files, such as XML, into a single business transaction before the files are sent to an application, database or message queue. This makes it easy for users to integrate data from multiple flat files and integrate that data into applications.
- Support for JMS queues - DB/XML 3.0 can integrate information into applications through a message queue by targeting JMS queues natively.
- Deployed with Embedded Database - PointBase, DataMirror's full-featured, SQL92/99 JDBC compliant Java relational database, is embedded within DB/XML 3.0, providing a built-in staging database for performing joins and other complex transformations as data is mapped between business applications. With an embedded database, transformations are performed on the data to meet complex business requirements without requiring the use and management of third party databases. The transformations occur within the DataMirror application.
0535.4 International Grid Networking
***Korean National Supercomputing Center Deploys Force10 TeraScale E-Series to Build Resilient International Grid Network
MILPITAS, Calif.
Aug. 29, 2005
Force10 Networks has announced that the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI), Korea's national supercomputer center, has deployed the Force10 TeraScale E-Series in an international grid network to connect the country with scientists and researchers worldwide via the Global Ring Network for Advanced Applications Development (GLORIAD). Leveraging the high density and resiliency of the TeraScale E600 at the core of its network, KISTI is building the foundation for Korea's next generation information infrastructure.
The Force10 TeraScale E600 is the foundation in an international grid network that connects Daejon, Korea, with Seattle. In addition, the E600 is connected to the Korea Research Environment Open Network (KREONET2), a high performance government-funded network that provides scientists with supercomputing resources and enables the exchange of science and information technology data.
Part of the GLORIAD project and Korea's own government initiatives to build a next-generation information infrastructure, this international grid will connect scientific organizations in Korea with similar groups in Russia, China, the United States, the Netherlands, Korea and Canada. The network provides scientists around the globe with advanced networking tools and computing resources to further scientific data exchange and enable collaboration on such topics as geosciences, high energy physics, atmospheric sciences and astronomy.
KISTI was chartered by Korea's Ministry of Science and Technology to establish the national science and technology information infrastructure. Heavy government support to enable e-science is propelling Korea's adoption of grid-based supercomputer architectures. As part of that initiative and to play a major role in advancing research and development around the world, KISTI is connecting its supercomputer resources to the GLORIAD grid.
Force10's TeraScale E-Series leads the industry in density, performance and resiliency. The TeraScale E-Series supports 1,260 Gigabit and 56 line-rate 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports in a single chassis and can process one billion packets per second, the highest in the industry. And, with support for an industry-leading one million access control lists (ACLs), the TeraScale E-Series provides scalable protection against denial of service attacks.
http://www.force10networks.com
***G-Technology, Inc. Introduces Next Generation Quad Interface External Storage Solutions; New G-DRIVE(TM) ``Q'' Provides Up to 500 GB of High-Performance Media Storage with Universal FireWire 400, FireWire 800, USB 2.0 and eSATA Connectivity
SANTA MONICA, Calif.
Aug. 30, 2005
G-Technology, Inc. (G-Tech) announced that the company has utilized Oxford Semiconductors' 924 chipset in its new quad-interfaced G-DRIVE Q. The system is the latest addition to the hugely popular line of external disk solutions that include the award winning G-RAID and G-DRIVE mini. G-DRIVE Q offers the ultimate in flexibility by providing users with FireWire 400, FireWire 800, USB 2.0 and eSATA ports all in a single unit. G-DRIVE Q integrates Hitachi's new 7K500 SATA II Deskstar hard disk drives for storage capacities up to 500 GB.
G-DRIVE Q features:
-- Oxford 924 DSB chipset
-- Capacities up to 500 GB using Hitachi 7200 RPM SATA II drives
-- (2) FireWire 800 ports, (1) FireWire 400 port
-- (1) USB 2.0 port
-- (1) eSATA port
-- Stylish all aluminum enclosure with integrated heat sink
-- Two-year factory warranty.
Availability
G-DRIVE Q will be available in September 2005 with prices (US list) starting at $229. Pre-orders are now being accepted by G-Tech and its authorized resellers.
***IBM to Release ``IBM and the Future of the Home'' Podcast
ARMONK, N.Y.
Aug. 30, 2005
IBM announced that the second podcast in its inaugural series, "IBM and the Future of . . ." is available on its investor Web site. The podcast is called "IBM and the Future of the Home."
"IBM and the Future of the Home" explores how an explosion of new consumer-electronics devices, smart-home appliances and home network technologies promise to combine together to change the way our homes work and how we interact with them, introducing a new category of home integration software and services. The podcast is hosted by George Faulkner and includes a discussion with George Bailey of IBM Business Consulting Services and Kevin Reardon of IBM Engineering and Technology Services. Both are experts in the consumer-electronics industry and work frequently with clients.
The podcast is available on IBM's investor Web site, at
http://www.ibm.com/investor/viewpoint/podcast/30-08-05-1.phtml
While the current information on its investor Web site is largely historical, IBM's new podcast series will discuss both industry-wide trends and IBM specific innovations in a variety of emerging business and technology areas.
Future topics will include "IBM and the Future of . . ." healthcare, computer gaming, work, information and banking.
The first podcast in the series, "IBM and the Future of Driving," can be downloaded at
http://www.ibm.com/investor/viewpoint/podcast/05-08-05-1.phtml
0535.7 Phishing & Gaming Add-Ins
***New Microsoft Phishing Filter and Games Add-Ins Provide More Tools for MSN Search Toolbar
REDMOND, Wash.
Aug. 31
MSN has unveiled two new MSN Search Toolbar Add-ins, enabling people to customize their toolbar to their specific interests and providing a smarter searching and browsing experience. These latest add-ins for MSN Search Toolbar include a beta of the Microsoft Phishing Filter Add-in, which helps protect customers from potential risks of phishing Web sites and online identity theft, and the Games Add-in, providing one-click access to some of the Web's most popular online games via MSN Games.
Helping Protect Customers From Web Fraud
The Microsoft Phishing Filter Add-in for MSN Search Toolbar -- the first such technology to be integrated into a Web search toolbar -- currently offered in a beta version, helps provide powerful dynamic protection against "phishing" Web sites, a fast-growing class of online identity theft. Phishers create fraudulent Web sites that resemble those of legitimate businesses, financial institutions or government agencies to convince visitors to disclose sensitive personal and financial information that can then be used for criminal activity such as identity theft.
If a customer inadvertently visits a potentially fraudulent Web site that can steal the customer's personal information, the beta Microsoft Phishing Filter Add-in will proactively help protect the customer. This new add-in uses a dynamic system that quickly checks the Web pages customers visit with an online service with up-to-the-hour information to see if the sites they visit are suspicious or actual reported phishing Web sites. The filter will block customers from entering personal data if the site is confirmed. If the Web site contains characteristics common to a phishing Web site, but is not in the list of known sites, the MSN Search Toolbar will provide a warning and give people the option to continue or close their tab in the toolbar.
Microsoft Phishing Filter helps detect potential phishing Web sites and divert visitors away from them in three ways:
-- It compares addresses of Web sites a consumer attempts to visit with a list of reported legitimate sites that is stored on the consumer's computer and updated periodically.
-- It analyzes the sites that people seek to visit for characteristics common to phishing sites.
-- It provides the option to automatically send Web site addresses that a consumer attempts to visit to an online service run by Microsoft Corp. that checks the address against a frequently updated list of reported phishing sites.
Fast Access to Favorite Games on MSN
The new Games Add-in for the MSN Search Toolbar provides one-click access to MSN Games. This tool delivers a pull-down menu of links to that day's most-played games, with the option for people to add their favorites, join the action and see how many other gamers are involved. The Games Add-in lets users play a daily trivia question directly from their toolbar, and players can guess the answer or get a hint from MSN Search.
MSN Games is composed of an active community of dedicated enthusiasts and entertainment seekers with more than 30 million registered gamers worldwide, and is the No. 1 clicked on channel from the MSN home page. MSN Games users can choose from a diverse selection of more than 300 action, puzzle, card, board, word or trivia games.
Add-ins are available to download for free at
and consumers can obtain the free MSN Search Toolbar at
The latest add-ins are currently available in the U.S. only.
0535.8 Satellite Communications
***Top Five Commercial Satellite Operators Control 63% of Leased Capacity; Proposed Merger of PanAmSat and Intelsat to Equate for 37% of Global Leased Capacity and 25% of Industry Revenues, According to Northern Sky Research
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.
Aug. 31, 2005
In its recently released study, "Global Assessment of Satellite Demand, 2nd Edition", Northern Sky Research (NSR) offers a completely updated, in-depth and unbiased analysis of the global, commercial satellite market. This study segments the market into seven distinct applications and assesses trends in market demand for C-, Ku- and Ka-band satellite transponder capacity for each of these applications in twelve regional markets. Further, the study assigns market share to the leading satellite operators in each region based on total leased C- and Ku-band capacity.
NSR's analysis of the commercial satellite market is structured such that over 100 individual demand forecasts were performed in order to build up a highly granular evaluation of which demand drivers are creating growth in the industry and illustrating where demand is declining. Separate regional C-, Ku- and Ka-band demand forecasts were generated for each of the major satellite applications investigated in the study. These applications include video distribution, Direct-to-Home, video contribution & OUTV, telephony & carrier, satellite broadband, narrowband VSAT and a group of other niche satellite services. Whenever possible, NSR built its market assessment using a bottom-up approach for each of the following regional markets: North America, Central America & Caribbean, South America, the Atlantic Ocean Region, Western Europe, Central & Eastern Europe, the Middle East & North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Ocean Region.
According to NSR, a regional and application-based approach to the commercial satellite market is essential because capacity demand drivers can be complete different in moving from one region or application to the next. Examining the market in this way allows one, for example, to pinpoint where a merged PanAmSat and Intelsat truly are complementary in their businesses and where they overlap. NSR's study also assesses the role of the 33 other smaller and regional commercial satellite operators and how they split the remaining 37% of the leased capacity and 35% of the revenues between them.
Beyond NSR's own assessment of the market, this study is seen as a tool to be used by its clients in their individual assessments of the market. For this reason NSR includes all of the study data in Excel files, along with a point-by-point forecast methodology, which will allow the study's users to manipulate the data to suit their own internal forecast needs and their view of how each separate satellite application will develop in the twelve distinct regional markets.
***Portable Fuel Cell Rental Program
New Program Offers Fuel Cell Power for Remote Communication, GPS, Laptop and Surveillance Equipment
MANTECA, Calif.
Aug. 30
Sandpiper Technologies, Inc. (STI) announced the Fuel Cell Power Rent-to-Own Program. According to STI, this is the first time any company has rented a modern, methanol-powered fuel cell so clients can evaluate portable fuel cells or solve a critical but temporary power problem without purchasing a system.
Fuel cell prices have plummeted 70% from three years ago, making this technology cost effective. Weekly rentals are calculated from $99 to $149 depending on the total number of contracted weeks, plus power used.
STI's new Rent-to-Own Program allows the first-time user to try the fuel cell for at least two weeks with a 100% rental credit towards immediate purchase. STI's standard rental credit of 50% applies towards later purchases.
Unlike traditional battery "charge-use-recharge" cycles that require the battery be disconnected during the recharge cycle, the fuel cell acts as an "intelligent" battery charger that can remain connected and won't overpower the electronics. Power-critical users will appreciate the nonstop power for days, weeks, months because a unique feature maintains power during fuel cassette changes so users never have to power down their electronics.
The STI Fuel Cell Remote Power System is a self-contained, portable 50 watt 12 Volt methanol-fueled Remote Power System (RPS). The system weighs 28 pounds in a weatherproof case and each 5.0 liter fuel container weighs 10 pounds.
STI offered fuel cells two years ago with an eye towards wildlife research clients in the Arctic, Antarctic, Alaska, the Pacific Northwest and remote island locations.
Sandpiper Technologies now offers this fuel cell technology for rent or purchase to researchers, law enforcement, search and rescue, marinas, boat owners and emergency power consumers.
0535.10 Global Service Delivery
***TPI Publishes New Findings in State of Global Service Delivery, a 2005 Study; Global Service Delivery Set to Grow During The Next 18 Months; Companies Can Leverage The GSD Maturity Curve to Map Success
HOUSTON
Aug. 29, 2005
TPI, Inc., has announced the publication of its Initial Findings on the State of Global Service Delivery, based on analysis of more than 200 respondents in a comprehensive survey undertaken in mid-2005. The report concludes that global service delivery (GSD), or "offshoring," is expected to grow during the coming 18 months, particularly among companies with three to five years of GSD experience.
The growth spurt in GSD is largely driven by expanded work activity being planned and executed at offshore locations around the world. The study introduces the concept of a Global Service Delivery Maturity Curve and concludes that GSD maturity level is the key determinant of operational success in offshore service delivery. The GSD Maturity Curve defines clear and distinct dimensions and metrics that companies can use to improve overall efficiency as they advance through various maturity stages.
The Initial Findings are based on research compiled from companies of all sizes, with strong representation from organizations with annual revenues of $10 billion or more. The GSD-mature respondents manage operations that cover a total of 65,000 global personnel. The Initial Findings report also analyzes key offshore productivity factors, GSD satisfaction levels, and key developments among the large, global service providers vis-à-vis their national, pure-play counterparts, in India and elsewhere.
***Substantial Needs in Home Data Protection Trigger Major Storage Business Opportunities, IDC Reveals
FRAMINGHAM, Mass.
Aug. 30, 2005
Consumers are not very different from commercial IT users when it comes to data protection, IDC uncovered in its latest primary research into the home data protection market. They have substantial concerns about possible data loss of their digital information, and believe they should protect their growing catalogs of PC, image, music, and video assets. Fully understanding this need is an emerging business opportunity for commercial storage suppliers.
Among the biggest consumer concerns are the following:
-- Malicious acts -- hacking, theft, and viruses -- no matter what the source of data.
-- Losing data stored on the PC, much more than camera images, MP3/iPod music, or TiVo/DVR programs.
IDC's new study, Home Data Protection, 2005, (IDC #33817) sheds light on the extent of concern consumers have about their growing digital data assets and what specific losses concern them. More than 400 consumers in the United States were surveyed. This study describes how concerns vary overall, compared with various data types such as MP3/iPod data and TiVo/DVR data. Recommendations for supplier actions and additional research are included.
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