IBM XIV Storage System: Architecture, Implementation and Usage

IBM has just release a brand new redbook for IBM Storage XIV Storage system.

Link : http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/Redbooks.nsf/RedpieceAbstracts/sg247659.html?Open

Project Renaissance (as of July 2009)

Mission Statement of the OpenOffice project team :

“Create a User Interface so that OpenOffice.org becomes the users' choice not only out of need but also out of desire”

The new UI for OpenOffice is coming. It will be enhanced in many areas, but I don't have the details yet. I will post soon when got more information.

See the prototype screenshots below :

Full article : http://is.gd/2gkPy

Once again, Safari 4.0.3 is faster than Firefox 3.5.2.

Since my last post about Safari and Chrome browser on Mac OS X (http://ponkpeerapong.blogspot.com/2009/07/browser-google-chrome-301920-is-faster_09.html), Chrome has the fastest java script engine, then Safari, and the last is Firefox. I didn't mention about IE because for me it is just too slow to use.

You may notice that recently Safari and Google Chrome has improve its Java script engine a lot in teams of performance in many aspects such as bit, date, crypto operations, but seems like Firefox was left behind, the performance of few recently-released Firefox are still slower, although it improved from the previous version 3.0. See the result for yourself.

In this test for Safari 4.0.3 and Firefox 3.5.3, once again Safari won.

Full picture : http://twitpic.com/eon7k/full

12 Really useful and FREE OpenOffice, StarOffice and NeoOffice extensions

I'm the OpenOffice fan, I use it to replace M$ Office, It really works for me. Recently, I found its extension that could dramatically help on my day to day documents and presentations. It's all FREE from the repository (http://extensions.services.openoffice.org)

Here the list the most usable to me :

(1) PDF Import Extension (http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/project/pdfimport)

The PDF Import Extension allows you to import and modify PDF documents. Best results with 100% layout accuracy can be achieved with the "PDF/ODF hybrid file" format, which this extension also enables. A hybrid PDF/ODF file is a PDF file that contains an embedded ODF source file. Hybrid PDF/ODF files will be opened in OpenOffice.org as an ODF file without any layout changes. Users without this extension can open the PDF part of the hybrid file with their PDF viewer.

(2) Sun Report Builder (http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/project/reportdesign)

Create with the Sun Report Builder stylish, smart-looking database reports. The flexible report editor can define group and page headers as well as group and page footers and even calculation fields are available to accomplish complex database reports.

(3) Sun Presenter Console (http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/project/presenter-screen)

The Presenter Console Extension provides more control over your slide show presentation, such as the ability to see the upcoming slide, the slide notes, and a presentation timer whereas the audience see only the current slide.
To avoid confusions by displaying a large number of presentation elements, the Presenter Console displays the elements on three different easily changeable views.

• The first view displays the current slide, including the effects and the upcoming slide
• The second view the speaker's notes in large, clear and scalable type plus the current and upcoming slide.
• and a slide sorter view with the slide thumbnails on the third view.

You will easily love this Extension it helps you to drive your presentation smoothly, especially the notes view which keeps you away from paper notes.

(4) Sun Presentation Minimizer (http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/project/PresentationMinimizer)

The Sun Presentation Minimizer is used to reduce the file size of the current presentation. Images will be compressed, and data that is no longer needed will be removed.
The Sun Presentation Minimizer can optimize the image quality size. Presentations designed for screen or projector do not require the same high quality as presentations designed for print.
Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) objects are useful during the presentation design phase but they are up to twice the size of a regular image.
The Sun Presentation Minimizer can replace these OLE objects with images without any quality loss. In addition to reducing the file size, the Sun Presentation Minimizer can remove speaker notes and hidden slides so that you do not publish confidential information by mistake.
The wizard summarizes of all of the changes that will be made to your presentation, and gives you an estimate of the file size reduction.
Note ! The Sun Presentation Minimizer also works on Microsoft PowerPoint presentations.

(5) Sun Wiki Publisher (http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/project/wikipublisher)

The Sun Wiki Publisher enables you to create Wiki articles on MediaWiki servers without having to know the syntax of the MediaWiki markup language. Publish your new and existing documents transparently with the Writer to a wiki page.

All important text attributes such as headings, hyperlinks, lists and simple tables are supported. Even images are supported as long as they have already been uploaded to the wiki site. An automatic upload of images is currently not supported.

It is the perfect extension for all users who want to make existing documentations and specifications available on MediaWiki servers. Just load the document and call the Extension with 'Send – MediaWiki Server'. A dialog will guide you to publish your document.

Requires StarOffice 9 (or OpenOffice.org 3.0) or higher

(6) Sun Professional Template Pack 1 (http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/project/SunTemplatepack_1)

Use the OpenOffice.org template package to save time and professional "look and feel" of templates ensure output is noticed and read. Each template makes creating personalised and individual OpenOffice.org documents a breeze with built-in images and text styles. All you need to do is to add your own content.
More than 80 templates for OpenOffice.org Writer, Calc, Draw and Impress

• Business (formal) correspondence templates
• Cover pages, tournament and league brackets, and certificates templates
• Presentation and presentation background templates
• School and University relevant templates
• Keep an overview over your personal and mortgage expenses with the spreadsheet templates

This is the English version of the Professional Template Pack. All templates are in English
These templates are also available in four other languages :

Requires StarOffice 8 (Update 4 or higher) or OpenOffice.org (2.0.4 or higher).

(7) Sun Professional Template Pack 2 (http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/project/TemplatePack_II)

Do you want to enhance the quality of your created documents or want to create professional and stunning looking presentations?

With these professionally designed document templates and presentations it is a simple task.

More than 120 templates for OpenOffice.org Writer, Calc, and Impress

Template Pack II includes

• Business correspondence templates in six different layouts
• Budget and project plan templates
• Event posters in six different layouts
• Invoices, notes, minutes, press release templates in six different layouts
• Presentation templates
• A dozen formal and personal letter templates
• Business card templates

A German version of the Template Pack II is also available.

(8) Sun Connector for MySQL (http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/project/mysql_connector)

The Sun Connector for MySQL installs a native MySQL database driver. It is faster, seamless integrated, easier to administrate and there is no need to install and setup a JDBC or ODBC driver separately. It was never easier to use MySQL databases in OpenOffice.org Base. Create new database tables or use the powerful SQL query editor of OpenOffice.org to visually build MySQL database queries without learning SQL commands. Not to forget the database forms, that allow you to display and manipulate data.

You might also want to check out the Sun Report Builder to create stylish, smart-looking database reports. The flexible report editor can define group and page headers as well as group and page footers and even calculation fields are available to accomplish complex database reports.

Please note that this extension requires an OpenOffice.org 3.1 and a MySQL Server 5.1 or newer.

(9) eFax for StarOffice and OpenOffice (http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/project/efax)

Send and receive faxes from within the StarOffice or OpenOffice.org office suite. eFax is an online fax service that eliminates the need for a fax machine, an extra fax line and all the associated expenses (paper, ink cartridges etc.). You can continue to use your existing fax number or obtain a new number for free. When someone faxes to your number, the fax is displayed in the eFax Messenger solution if it's installed on your computer or the fax is converted to a file and is emailed to you as an attachment. The extension integrates eFax into StarOffice or OpenOffice.org and gives you a free 30-day trial.

If you already have an eFax account you can continue to use your current eFax number, or you can sign-up today to get a new local or toll-free eFax number for a FREE 30-day trial.

eFax is a service of J2global, for more information see the eFax web page

Requires StarOffice 8 (Update 5 or higher) or OpenOffice.org (2.1 or higher)

(10) Sun Connector for Alfresco CMS (http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/project/alfrescoconnector)

The Sun Connector integrates OpenOffice.org and StarOffice perfectly with the Alfresco Document management server. The user has full access to all documents stored on the Alfresco server. An easy to use and clear front end makes it easy to create, load, edit and save documents including checking in and checking out. Move over to the fully supported Alfresco Workflow for auditing documents. Not to forget the support of the Alfresco Spaces and the ability to search within the documents hosted on the Alfresco server.

Alfresco is the Open Source alternative for Enterprise Content Management systems.

The Sun Connector for Alfresco CMS is free of charge.

(11) Sun Connector for SharePoint Server (http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/project/sharepoint_connector)

Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services provides a single workspace for teams to organize documents and participate in discussions. The Sun Connector for SharePoint Server makes StarOffice or OpenOffice.org the perfect SharePoint client and adds the support for the ODF (OpenDocument) file format in Microsoft SharePoint Services.

The Extension allows users to search, browse, edit or check-in/out documents that are stored in the Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0. It also extends the Microsoft Office SharePoint Server front end to load documents with OpenOffice.org and enables Microsoft SharePoint Services to search within ODF documents.

Note: This first release of the SharePoint Connector will support the Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 and later this year, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 will be supported.

(12) Ichitaro document filter (http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/project/ichitaro)

Researcher Warns Of 'Critical Bug' In Windows 7 RTM

A Critical 'ShowStopper' bug found in Windows 7 RTM that causes the crash.

Source : http://www.crn.com/software/219000173;jsessionid=JVJ211TMNCVJLQE1GHRSKHWATMY32JVN