Archive for April 25, 2017

Xerox DocuShare Flex Introduced

Posted in Commentary with tags on April 25, 2017 by itnerd

Enterprise content management (ECM) used to make sense only for large companies with the size and budgets to make the conversion to digital worthwhile. Now, with the introduction of XeroxDocuShare Flex, small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and company departments can digitize processes like invoicing, sharing files, editing, managing databases and storing documents, just like large companies do.

SMBs tend to rely on inefficient paper-based systems and often lack centralized storage of digital information. According to respondents to a 2016 Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM) survey, poor content management practices result in taking too long to find content (62 percent), duplicated efforts (52 percent) and insufficient re-use (46 percent).

The new DocuShare Flex platform is cloud based and provides the automation, security and scalability of large-scale ECM systems in an affordable package that’s easy to configure and use without IT support.

DocuShare Flex systems will save SMBs hours, days or weeks. Users can complete a range of document-intensive tasks such as:

  • Routing documents automatically to facilitate approval processes and version control;
  • Automating necessary documentation for ease of compliance with government and industry mandates;
  • Simplifying management of the multitude of documents required for transactions, accounting, billing and other document-intensive operations.

 

Easy to Use, Agile, Low Cost

DocuShare Flex can store and manage a wide range of document types and content. It has a scalable storage capacity of hundreds of millions of documents. Managing documents from creation through archiving and eventual disposal is provided out of the box.

DocuShare Flex customers can add capacity and users incrementally to further control costs. The number of users can range from a minimum of five people up to thousands. It has advanced review-process controls that enable annotation, redaction and simultaneous viewing while controlling versions to keep documents current.

Automating Workflows

DocuShare Flex can automate a range of business processes including storing all project documents in one place, managing review cycles, and meeting potential audit requirements. It can also enforce compliance with best practices since management can observe work status.

DocuShare Flex is designed for non-technical staff with an intuitive search engine and a user interface (UI) that requires little training. The UI is Web-based and will run on a wide range of browsers and mobile devices.

The platform can work with back-end company systems to pull data and link to documents. It’s compatible with Xerox ConnectKey multifunction devices and associated apps for developing specific time-saving workflows, and includes a ConnectKey-based scanning service for scanning directly to DocuShare Flex.

The new DocuShare Flex platform augments the Xerox DocuShare portfolio, including Xerox DocuShare 7, which was recently named as a “Leader” in ECM software by G2 Crowd, and as the 2017 Pick award as Outstanding Document Management Solution by Buyers Laboratory LLC (BLI).

Availability

DocuShare Flex is now available in North America. It will be available in Europe and other select regions by May 31, in Canada in June, and in Asia Pacific by the end of August.

DocuShare Flex is designed for efficient selling and rapid deployment by Xerox and its channel partners. Distribution is available via a network of agents, dealers, concessionaires and resellers, as well as through the Xerox direct sales force.

 

Leave a comment »

HP Dreamcolor Displays Announced

Posted in Commentary with tags on April 25, 2017 by itnerd

HP Inc. has announced a true Cinema 4K display, arming color professionals with new features, like color-critical accuracy and automatic calibration, to produce the films and animations of tomorrow. Designed in collaboration with top visual effect and animation studios, the new HP DreamColor Z31x Studio and HP DreamColor Z24X G2 displays are enabling artists, photographers and filmmakers to do what they do best – create – without having to worry about lackluster display performance.

An early pioneer in the color-critical display market, HP DreamColor Displays, for PCs and Mac computers, have been an integral technology for major movie production and visual effects studios around the world. Since 2011, 80 percent of Academy Award Nominees for Visual Effects have used HP DreamColor displays. In 2015, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored the HP DreamColor Display and its developers with the Scientific and Engineering Award.

The HP DreamColor Z31x Studio Display delivers abundant features designed for color professionals, including an expansive color gamut for remarkably vivid colors, innovation to deliver incredible blacks, a built-in colorimeter for self-calibration, and intuitive workflow and management tools. These features, along with HP product reliability, are critical for finishing editors, online editors, colorists, lighters, compositors, photographers, graphic artists and designers. The HP Z31x is crafted with a high-quality, custom panel and technology that allow users to see amazing colors, deep rich blacks, and professional level craftsmanship to withstand years of use.

HP DreamColor Z31x Studio Display Key Features

HP has once again pushed the limits of innovation to bring users outstanding accuracy and consistent color from displays, to the big screen and print. Each new feature of this 31-inch diagonal DreamColor Studio Display is a result of direct feedback from customers looking for new ways to transform the way they work. The key features include:

  • Precise image quality from any viewing angle.
  • Reliable and accurate color with an advanced built-in colorimeter capable of measuring and adjusting on-screen performance automatically or at scheduled intervals or on demand.
  • Workflow accelerating features that allow users to create in Cinema 4K resolution, view in True 2K, and speed projects from concept to completion with onscreen markers and keyboard-based input switching between devices.

The HP Z31x image quality is delivered on a true 10-bit Real IPS panel with more than 1 billion colors, including consistent on- and off-axis black levels. HP improved on this IPS technology – inventing new processes that allow for incredible deep blacks, minimal black lift and rich shadow detail.

The pop-up colorimeter of the HP Z31x automatically calibrates the display on demand or on a regular calibration schedule and can even be scheduled to run off hours so creative juices aren’t interrupted. The built-in colorimeter can also be aligned with an in-house reference instrument for consistent, accurate colors facility-wide. The built-in colorimeter maintains perfect color accuracy, and the display works in true 10-bit color delivering HP’s widest color gamut ever (99 percent of DCI-P3).

The HP Z31x is designed with the features demanded by industry-leading digital creators: an integrated KVM (keyboard/video/mouse) switch, True 2K viewing, markers and masks, and much more. The built-in KVM of the HP Z31x can switch between two computers with a quick keyboard shortcut, allowing the user to share one display, keyboard and mouse between two computers. Many artists have two computers, a Linux® box with their animation/compositing app and a Windows® box with Adobe® Photoshop or internet access. Users can minimize distractions with auto dimming front buttons and select between red lights for minimal impact to night vision, or turn off completely for a distraction free environment.

HP’s Most Affordable DreamColor Display

The HP Z24x G2 DreamColor Display delivers the color accuracy and consistency that has become synonymous with the HP DreamColor brand. This DreamColor display’s affordable price allows every artist to have a professional color accurate display on their desks. The HP Z24x, HP’s most affordable color-critical display, offers:

  • A 24-inch diagonal DreamColor panel that produces up to 1 billion colors from a massive color gamut covering 99 percent of Adobe® RGB.
  • Pure, consistent color accuracy from design to production with color calibration on the amazingly affordable display.
  • Push-button color space selection.
  • Calibration software for both Windows® and macOS supporting both the X-Rite i1Display Pro and the Klein Instruments K10-A colorimeters.

Pricing and Availability

The HP DreamColor Z24x G2 Display is scheduled to be available in early July for $559.00.

The HP Z31x DreamColor Studio Display is scheduled to be available later this year for $3,999.00.

Leave a comment »

Flaw In Hyundai Mobile App Allowed For Car Theft For Three Months Before Being Fixed

Posted in Commentary with tags on April 25, 2017 by itnerd

Reuters is running a story that details a security flaw in Hyundai’s mobile app, that allows a car to be started remotely. That in turn made vehicles susceptible to theft from high-tech thieves for three months before the company fixed the bug in March:

Hyundai introduced a flaw in a Dec. 8 update to the mobile app for its Blue Link connected car software that made it possible for car thieves to locate vulnerable vehicles, unlock and start them, said Tod Beardsley, research director with cyber security firm Rapid7 Inc.

Hyundai confirmed the bug’s existence and said it moved quickly to fix the problem.

Both the company and Beardsley said they knew of no cases of car thieves exploiting the vulnerability before Hyundai pushed out a fix to Android and iPhone users in early March.

“The issue did not have a direct impact on vehicle safety,” said Jim Trainor, a spokesman for Hyundai Motor America. “Hyundai is not aware of any customers being impacted by this potential vulnerability.”

It’s the potential for stuff like this that made my wife and I decide to avoid any vehicle with Internet connectivity when we were shopping for a new vehicle. Because when you connect anything to the Internet, a light switch, a TV or a car, the possibility of said device to be pwned by hackers exists. The scary thing is, this report isn’t that bad in the grand scheme of things. As evidence, I will present to you the Jeep hack which hackers as a proof of concept took complete control of the vehicle remotely via the Internet connected infotainment system. Steering, brakes, everything. That led to a recall to fix the issue.

One other thing. The fact that it took three months to fix this is problematic. With security issues the turnaround has to be quick to protect users. The thing is that Hyundai is a car company and not a security company. Thus this is new to them and I am willing to cut them some degree of slack. And what I just said can be applied to any car company not named Tesla who has this process nailed down. All of them need to raise their game and think and act like software companies. Otherwise something catastrophic is going to happen to them and their customers.

UPDATE: A reader asked me if this affects Canadians. It does not as Blue Link is currently only available in the United States.

Leave a comment »

#EpicFail: Webroot AV Deletes Windows Files & Causes Serious Problems For Users

Posted in Commentary with tags on April 25, 2017 by itnerd

There’s a 14 page thread on the Webroot Community Forum that describes a very crippling issue where Webroot Antivirus started flagging Windows system files as malicious. Crippling said systems in the process. Now the company has a manual fix for this that was posted to its community forum that involves logging into the Webroot online console and manually creating override rules for all of the erroneously blocked files. Then wait until it takes effect which may be 24 hours or more.

Users are not happy about this and have taken to the community forum to vent their frustration. And rightly so because this is called a false positive. A case where a clean file is flagged as malicious and is blocked or deleted. To have Windows system files affected by this is a #EpicFail because this should never, ever happen.

Webroot has a lot of explaining to do after they help to clean up the damage that this event has caused.

 

Leave a comment »

#EpicFail: Mayer’s Golden Parachute From Yahoo Is $186 Million

Posted in Commentary with tags on April 25, 2017 by itnerd

So… Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has managed to ensure that when the Verizon buyout of Yahoo is finished in June, that’s she’s going to score a ton of cash before being shown the door. How much cash? Here’s what The New York Times has to say:

Her Yahoo stock, stock options and restricted stock units are worth a total of $186 million, based on Monday’s stock price of $48.15, according to data filed on Monday in the documents sent to shareholders about the Verizon deal.

Oh… But it gets better…. Depending on your point of view of course:

That compensation, which will be fully vested at the time of the shareholder vote, does not include her salary and bonuses over the past five years, or the value of other stock that Ms. Mayer has already sold. All told, her time at Yahoo will have netted her well over $200 million, according to calculations based on company filings.

All together now… Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? This is a woman who has presided over one of the biggest epic fails in American corporate history. And that was before Yahoo got hacked multiple times. How she manages to walk away with this much money is mind boggling. And it beats the millions that Mark Hurd was given to quit his job as CEO of HP after allegations of either sexual harassment or an “inappropriate relationship” with an HP employee that was tied to inaccurate expense reporting that likely covered up the former surfaced.

If I had Yahoo stock, I’d be royally pissed right about now.

Leave a comment »

#EpicFail: Netgear Router Software Has A Critical Bug That Affects macOS….. And They Won’t Fix It

Posted in Commentary with tags on April 25, 2017 by itnerd

I’ve become aware of a growing issue that has macOS users of Netgear products ticked off. The issue came to light on MacInTouch where a user posted that upon installing a piece of software that Netgear supplies to manage their router called Netgear Genie, this happens:

I bought a Netgear router, and noticed something strange when I installed the Netgear Genie software: the dock vanished for a moment, and when it returned, my desktop picture was reset to the Apple-supplied default. And all my desktop picture settings (e.g. random rotation of a particular folder) were wiped out.

Now that sounds trivial. But when the user investigated, he discovered that it is not trivial. Here’s why:

The explanation is simple. I can see in the Genie installer that at the end of a new or upgrade installation, it runs a script which contains this command:

Code:
rm -f ~/Library/Application\ Support/Dock/*.db && killall Dock

That’s right: the installer will blithely delete any database that is in the OS X Dock library folder.

This is a critical bug because you really should not be deleting anything in that directory. Not just because you’ll inconvenience users by resetting their dock and desktop preferences. But because of the fact that Apple might use that directory for other things in the future. Thus by installing this software to manage your Netgear router, you might hose your system.

#Fail

What’s worse is if you read through the post on MacInTouch, Netgear’s response has been shambolic. They’ve asked for irrelevant information. They’ve raised roadblocks to getting a timely resolution. And they’ve generally been unhelpful.

#EpicFail

Clearly, Netgear has dropped the ball here and either doesn’t recognize that or doesn’t care. Either way, the correct response to this is to not buy their products. Any company that has a potentially catastrophic bug and does nothing to address it doesn’t deserve your money.

2 Comments »