For years developers and other industry bodies have complained about Microsoft’s secrecy regarding their code but to no avail.
Well recently, make that Tuesday to be exact, Microsoft posted 14,000 pages of preliminary code online.

According to Reuters the information contains “preliminary versions of technical documentation for underlying software code in its software programs”. These protocols are built into Microsoft Office 2007, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. Reuters intimates that increased pressure on Microsoft is the reason behind this move, their recent tussle with Europe’s regulator has cost them dearly. The hefty fine of $1,35 billion is not to be sneezed at and for our local regulator, Icasa, this is a good example of how things should be done. According to Microsoft this latest release brings the total number of underlying documentation available in the public domain to over 44,000 pages.

Tags: Microsoft, Software, software decimentation

A San Francisco-based software firm has just unveiled software that will allow users to share digital media files across devices.

The DoubleTwist software reportedly allows songs purchased on Apple iTunes to be played on other brand-name devices. Previously, songs bought on iTunes could only be played on Apple devices.

The software was developed by a company run by notorious Norwegian hacker Jon Lech Johansen, who cracked encryption codes on DVDs when he was only 15.

The new software is able to convert media files from one device into a format that can be used by another device. Users simply drop the files into a web-based folder that converts them and transfers them onto the external device.

In addition to music, it coverts photos and video clips to be used between computers, mobiles and game consoles.

So far, the software works with Sony’s PSPgames console, Nokia’s N-series mobile, Sony Ericsson’s Walkman and Cybershot handsets and Microsoft’s Windows Mobile smartphones, reports BBC News.

The software is currently available for free on DoubleTwist’s website.

Tags: itunes, Software

Hundreds of IT jobs at data services giant Experian will be outsourced from the UK to offshore locations, as part of a cost-cutting response to the liquidity crunch.

The company, which specialises in software services, will cut its IT development staff in the UK, after it said the financial market had proved “exceptionally difficult.”

About half the 400-strong technical workforce in its Information Solutions Division will lose their jobs, including one of the the firm’s three software development teams. Many of the jobs will go to India.

However, 40 UK employees who work in development will be retained to liaise with the offshore company, Peter Brooker, a director at Experian told Contractor UK yesterday.

Redundancy packages, both voluntary and compulsory, will cost a reported £51million, but Mr Brooker refused to drawn on how much IT staff could expect.

The number of total job cuts, which chief executive Don Robert said would number “less than 1000,” will deliver a reported saving of $80m a year, with half that figure expected in 2008. Experian expects to become more flexible as a result.

The offshoring follows Experian reporting organic sales in its credit services division dropping two per cent, as banks made it harder for customers to borrow money in the wake of losses in the US mortgage market.

During the final three months of 2007, the company increased its revenues by 22 per cent and “performed well,” Mr Robert said, despite organic growth slumping by two per cent.

He added: “While trading conditions are not expected to improve in the fourth quarter, our focus is on maximising profitability and we are today announcing a programme of significant efficiency measures.

“These measures will give rise to a non-recurring charge and will bring benefits in 2009…. We continue to invest to take advantage of the long-term growth opportunities and to position ourselves for market recovery.”

Speaking yesterday, Experian said offshoring software jobs does not represents IT being lower down its priorities in 2008.

“The decision to offshore this function [software development] is as a result of our need to increase our IT resources,” Mr Brooker said.

“We have ambitious plans to accelerate the building and delivery of a greater number of new products that will benefit our clients’ businesses and ensure that our business continues to grow and provide further opportunities for our people.

“But we operate in highly competitive markets, so we need to do operate as efficiently as possible. Offshoring the activity [software development]…will enable us to do this”.

Tags: development, it, jobs, Offshore, outsourcing, Software

New York Stock Exchange parent NYSE Euronext said it would buy closely held Wombat Financial Software for $200 million.

The 140-employee company facilitates the management of large blocks of fast-moving trading data. Such information-management systems have grown in importance for NYSE as a larger share of its stock-trading business moves to electronic systems from its century-old Lower Manhattan trading floor.

NYSE Euronext expects the deal to close early in the second quarter and add to its 2009 earnings. In 2007, Wombat posted revenue of $28 million, with Ebitda (or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) margins in excess of 35%.

The NYSE and competitor Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. have been working to expand their data-management businesses as they have become publicly owned companies intent on profit growth. Media companies such as Bloomberg LP are also big players in distributing market data from exchanges.

Source http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120036395136890211.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Tags: nyse, Software, stock exchange software

The Symbio Group a leading provider of outsourced software development, testing, globalization and support services out of China, announced today that I-Hung Li was named Chief Technology Officer. With more than 28 years of communications experience, he brings extensive technology leadership skills to Symbio. As CTO, Dr. Li will lead the company’s efforts in establishing common process, platform, tools and emerging technologies that will further accelerate client product development and testing.

As Visiting Professor at Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) and Jianzhu University, he will be leading the technology development effort in the areas of wireless mesh networking and Peer-to-Peer technologies. Symbio has established two-first-of-a-kind university-level software engineering institutes at Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) and Shandong University in Weihai, China.

Prior to Symbio, Dr. Li served as CTO and Senior Vice President of Technology for ARBROS Communications and Technologies. At ARBROS, he led the effort defining network infrastructure, the SONET-based Optical Network in the Northeastern region of the U.S., and architecting and implementing the Softswitch and Integrated Operations Support Systems (NGOSS).

Before ARBROS, Dr. Li was the Senior Vice President at Parago Solutions, where he was responsible for the strategic direction and product delivery of the company’s eLearing platform.

During his 19-year tenure at Lucent, Dr. Li held various positions including software engineer, project leader, project manager and system architect manager on many major corporate projects. He also spearheaded the customer technical support effort for the Asian Pacific countries.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Li join the Symbio Group to help lead us in our next phase of technology innovation,” said Jacob Hsu, CEO of the Symbio Group. “His rich background and many accomplishments in the technology arena are well-suited to the needs of our clients, and to the future of Symbio as a global outsourcing powerhouse.”

Dr. Li is a frequent speaker at events sponsored by the International IEEE, including International Fault Tolerant Computing, International Supercom, International Conference on Advance Science and Technology, as well as university-sponsored technology seminars.

He holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the John Hopkins University.

Source http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,250888.shtml

Tags: outsourcing software development, Software, symbio, technology, testing