Schmant: A new build tool

Welcome to Schmant – a scriptable build tool for building software artifacts.
Schmant provides an environment for running build scripts and a set of tools (tasks) that the scripts can use. Schmant can, and will probably mostly, be used for building Java applications.
Schmant aims to be comparable to Apache Ant in features, but nicer and easier to work with.
Schmant uses the scripting support in Java 6. Build scripts can be written in any scripting language that has a JSR 223-compatible script engine, for instance JavaScript, BeanShell or Jython

VoIP and the Emerging-Market Call Center

Many call centers in emerging markets are making the migration from legacy voice and data communications to VoIP platforms as a means of obtaining a much wider range of features that can increase productivity, reduce costs and lead to more efficient and effective management.The stage is set for further growth in Voice over Internet protocol communications with technological advances, telecom market deregulation and a growing web of fiber optic and wireless networks. more>>>

Free security tool attracts 38 million downloads

An Internet scorecard application which rates potential risks on Web sites has been downloaded more than 38 million times since it was launched 12 months ago.
The application, SiteAdvisor, which was introduced by McAfee, integrates with Firefox and Internet Explorer.
It applies 320 million daily potential risk ratings to Web sites for search results, browsing and e-transactions, and is based on scanning results for spyware, adware, exploits, excessive pop-ups and spam. more>>>

Computer Speakers for Your Ears Only

Microsoft researchers are developing an algorithm that would allow speakers to work like virtual headphones--even as you walk around your office.
More and more people are using their computers for voice communication, such as Skype and audio instant messaging. For the most part, however, using these features requires one either to be tethered to her computer by a headset or to speak directly into a microphone and keep the speaker volume low, especially in shared office space. Technology Review: Computer Speakers for Your Ears Only

Cisco-WebEx will define the future of computing

While most industry analysts see the Cisco acquisition of WebEx as a shot across Microsoft's bow for ruler of the collaboration seas, I see more to it than that.

This is really a preemptive cannonball fired at Google.

Cisco had two choices. Either accept being the dumb pipe, a.k.a. network infrastructure supplier, for the coming age of SaaS and other Web 2.0 applications, or enter the fray and offer services as well as infrastructure.

This acquisition obviously gives us the answer to what Cisco wants to be. WebEx, most widely known for its video conferencing capabilities, also has a very strong hosted application suite, WebEx WebOffice, offering the same calendaring, e-mail, and collaboration tools that Google has. more>>>

How Flying Cars Will Work

Sitting amidst a sea of cars in bumper-to-bumper traffic on an endless expressway, have you ever daydreamed about your car taking off and flying over the road? Imagine if you could just flip a switch and unshackle yourself from the asphalt! Traffic jams are the bane of any commuter. Many of us spend an hour or so stuck in traffic every week.

The growing population is partly to blame for our congested roads, but the main problem is that we are not expanding our transportation systems fast enough to meet ever increasing demands. One solution is to create a new type of transportation that doesn't rely on roads, which could one day make traffic jams a 20th century relic. To do this, we must look to the sky. more>>>

Future Technology - Free Energy

I want my energy bill to come only once, not every month. So be it solar or electro-magnetic, please make it personal and portable with batteries that keep going and going.more>>>

Top 59 Influencers in IT Security

Our list of the most influential security experts of 2007 - from corporate tech officers and government security types, to white hat hackers and bloggers.

1. Amrit Williams http://techbuddha.wordpress.com/
2. Alan Shimel http://www.stillsecureafteralltheseyears.com/
3.Richard Stiennon http://blogs.zdnet.com/threatchaos/ more>>>

Red Hat Releases Enterprise 5.0 Server, New Support Model

Red Hat on Wednesday announced the release of its Enterprise 5.0 Server as well as its Linux Enterprise 5.0 Advanced Platform, concluding two years of development and enhancements including additional performance, scalability and security features. Red Hat also announced a major change in how it will provide customer support.Red Hat (Nasdaq: RHAT) announced Wednesday the release of its Enterprise 5.0 Server and desktop/workstation versions of its open source Linux operating system .

Red Hat also announced the availability of the Linux Enterprise 5.0 Advanced Platform, which provides the architecture to manage end-to-end open source applications run from a single platform. more>>>

Tomcat 6 released and stable

Apache has announced that Tomcat 6.0.10 has been released and is considered stable. Tomcat 6 (download, documentation) implements the "Servlet 2.5 and JSP 2.1 specifications, a refactored clustering implementation, advanced IO features, and improvements in memory usage."

The documentation for Tomcat 6 itself seems to be all right, but the web sites for Tomcat don't list many of the new features, mostly referring to Tomcat 5 as the latest stable release.

Congratulations to the Apache Tomcat team! more>>>