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VMware’s game changing move: free VMware Server February 6, 2006

Posted by James Webster in : virtualization , 1 comment so far

UPDATE: Its available, no sign of Workstation for OS X though!

Although not yet announced on their website, over the weekend it had been rumoured and then confirmed that VMware would be making available a free version of their VMware Server GSX product. The essential difference between GSX and the meatier ESX is that ESX operates its own host operating system exclusively for running guest OSes, whereas GSX (and the upcoming VMware Server) must still be installed on top of a host OS (Windows or Linux). For heavy-duty virtualization environments ESX Server will still be the preference. Availability of a free VMware Server will be particularly beneficial for many development teams wanting to test their software in a distributed environment without needing separate physical servers.

Of course, the open-source Xen has been offering a Linux-only server virtualization solution (Windows support coming sometime in ‘06 apparently) but I would wager that the VMware solution may be easier to get up and running.

virtualization.info has the scoop on the anticipated features of VMware Server. The VMware home page also hints of other big announcements today; ‘Find Out What’s Coming Soon From VMware, Monday 6th February’. I wonder if an OS X Intel version of Workstation and Player will be announced?

Colibri, Quicksilver for Windows February 5, 2006

Posted by James Webster in : software, windows , 2 comments

Any Mac user worth their smug air of superiority (and hey, that includes me!) will be familiar with Blacktree’s Quicksilver; a highly extensible, keyboard driven app launcher and ‘command-line interface for the GUI’. It is one of THE apps that makes working with a Mac so much fun, especially for all the GTD and productivity acolytes. But many of us also need to get things done in the World of Windows. Unfortunately there hasn’t really been a worthwhile Quicksilver substitute on the Windows platform. Yes, I’m aware of AppRocket, but it isn’t free and it hasn’t been updated for ages. It was great then to come across Colibri, which is promising to be all that Quicksilver is on the Windows platform.

So give it a go and start to see what all the Mac/Quicksilver users have been harping on about for so long. Its also the cure-for-what-ails-ya if your wrists are about to fall off. An ergonomics expert told me, around the same time I happened to be suffering from bad RSI, that the key to working safely with a computer is avoiding the mouse if at all possible. The advice was heeded and I have seen the results. Any app that enables more keyboard-focused operation or has good keyboard support itself gets a big thumbs up from me!

Build IVR and VoiceXML apps for free! February 1, 2006

Posted by James Webster in : software, telephony , 1 comment so far

All that and more looks possible thanks to Voxeo’s Prophecy platform, currently available in a preview edition.

Prophecy includes ‘high-quality’ speech synthesis AND recognition, out of the box compatibility with most SIP providers,100% compliant VoiceXML and plenty of other bullet points worth checking out. The greatest part about Prophecy is that it is an all-in-one download, prepackaged and ready to be tinkered with.

Voxeo have already proven themselves to be a developer-savvy organisation with the introduction of a Skype partnership for the Evolution Skype Developer Program. Now you can easily build SIP-compatible voice apps, and once finished Voxeo will happily host them for you. 2006 is definitely shaping up to be the year of disruptive voice applications (or was that 2005 already???)

Check out the press release. Also, additional discussion at VOIP Magazine and at the spkydog koop. The rest of the blogosphere seems to be remarkably quiet about this at the moment, c’mon people let’s build some voice apps!