The SoftwareMedia Tribune
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Help & How To
Microsoft Open Business Licensing
Microsoft Open Volume Licensing
Adobe TLP Licensing Guide
Symantec Licensing Gude

New Releases This Month
Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0
Adobe Audition 3.0
CA Internet Security 2008
Borland C++ Builder 2007 R2

News in Brief

• Microsoft Excel 2007 bug shows the number 100,000 instead of 65,536; Microsoft working on a fix.
  
• Google and Microsoft to sit for Senate panel to debate Google’s acquisition of DoubleClick.
• Microsoft is back on a 2-3 year release cycle with SQL Server, to be released in Q2 2008.
• Office for Mac 2008 by Microsoft is expected to ship January 15th, 2008.
• Computer Associates (CA) has released its entire line of 2008 consumer security and desktop software.
  

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SoftwareMedia has expanded its software license offerings to include Microsoft Open License (Open Business and Open Volume), Adobe Transactional License and Symantec Express License. The expansion was in response to customers’ growing interest in software licensing and the many benefits that accompany it. Buying through a licensing program gives small and medium businesses volume discounts, support options, more customizability and less packaging to deal with. A top complaint is that licensing programs are confusing, as each program has different rules and requirements. That’s why we recommend contacting a licensing specialist from the SoftwareMedia Customer Advantage Program. For your convenience, you can also use one of our convenient buying guides to determine the best licensing options for your business needs.

Adobe has a new logo and tag line for its popular Photoshop family of products. The new logo takes the shape of a speech bubble and also the letter P, and is accompanied with the tag line “See What’s Possible”. Adobe’s goal with the new image is to deliver a unified message and enhance Photoshop’s presence and visibility in the marketplace. The new logo will appear on the product packaging, web, etc. It was announced at Photoshop World this month in Vegas, where Adobe also gave a preview of Photoshop Express, an online, consumer-focused image-editing solution.

Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate has shipped, allowing select customers to get a hold of near-finalized code for the program. One major new feature of the new release is Windows Server Virtualization, which will ship as a beta version with Windows Server 2008. Virtualization is the simulation of an actual machine running in a virtualized hardware environment on top of a physical machine which acts as the host. VMware is the current leader in the field in which Microsoft is behind. Windows Server Virtualization, code named Viridian, will ship with Windows Server 2008 in February 2008.

Most of those using Bluetooth technology on their phone or laptop are unaware that they are susceptible to new threats: bluejacking, bluesnarfing and bluebugging. Bluejacking is a new method of sending an anonymous text message, and if Bluetooth is enabled, the device can be used to search other contacts and send them text messages. Bluejacking wouldn’t create a great danger. But bluesnarfing, which allows hackers to access information stored on a mobile device, can be dangerous. It takes advantage of a security flaw in older Bluetooth devices. But the most serious new Bluetooth threat is Bluebugging, where the hacker can access the commands without alerting the owner. The hacker could potentially make phone calls, send text messages, see contacts, eavesdrop on conversations and connect to the internet. The one thing to note with these threats is that the hacker usually has to be within 30 feet or so from the device. The moral of the story? Symantec suggests not turning on Bluetooth unless it is being used. They also suggest antivirus and firewall applications. Other effective methods are passwords and not opening attachments from people you don’t know.