Microsoft (Profile, Products, Articles) on Wednesday plans to announce it will offer a simplified and lower-priced version of Windows XP in Brazil. Microsoft already said it will offer the product in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Russia, and India. The software is not sold in boxed versions, but installed on cheap PCs designed for first time PC users. Windows XP Starter Edition is part of Microsoft's efforts to take on the growing threat of Linux and piracy, which is common in developing markets. The limited, cheaper version offers localized support and customization options, preconfigured settings, and simplified task management. The starter OS lacks support for advanced features such as home networking, sharing printers across a network, or the ability to establish multiple user accounts on a single PC. It also limits the number of applications that can run at a time to three. Analysts at Gartner have dismissed it, saying it fails to meet the most basic needs of users. Brazil is one of the countries where open source has been getting traction, with the government promoting Linux products. Microsoft did not say when the Brazilian version of Windows XP Starter Edition will be available.

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AXS-One makes records compliance easier with Enterprise 9.0
April 12, 6:25 a.m. PDT
AXS-One, a provider of records compliance management software, has released Enterprise 9.0 - Compliance Edition, the newest version of its financial management solution. The new offering helps address the increasingly complex issues of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and corporate governance. Version 9.0 also features enhancements to the existing Enterprise Financial suite such as a new XML interface and enhanced reporting and cycle management. Enterprise 9.0 - Compliance Edition is priced according to the number of users supported.

LogicLibrary ships Logiscan 2.0
April 11, 6:45 a.m. PDT
LogicLibrary has announced the release of Logiscan 2.0 (formerly known as BugScan (Profile, Products, Articles) (Overview, Articles, Company)). Logiscan, part of LogicLibrary's governance platform for service-oriented architectures (SOAs), is an easy-to-use appliance that analyzes binary code. Logiscan helps developers and architects to scan and eliminate bugs before software is deployed in an enterprise. Version 2.0 features J2EE and Sparc support; expanded reporting options; and a 3-D interface that lets users visually trace data flow. LogicLibrary also announced Logiscan's integration with the Logidex SDA management solution. Logiscan can be used as a stand-alone product or in conjunction with Logidex.

Novell (Profile, Products, Articles) and Wincor Nixdorf partner on Linux POS systems
April 11, 6:45 a.m. PDT
Wincor Nixdorf, a supplier of IT systems for the banking and retail sectors, will install the open source Linux OS in its check-out systems under an agreement announced Monday with Novell. Under the global partnership, Wincor Nixdorf will embed Novell Linux Point of Service 9 software in a range of systems, including the German company's Beetle electronic point-of-sale (POS) terminals. Novell Linux Point of Service 9 allows retailers to use an open, standards-based technology to reduce their operating costs and complexity, according to Novell. The software includes several components of the company's Suse Linux Enterprise Server technology. The combination provides a common Linux environment for the various systems in a retailer's IT infrastructure, including POS terminals, kiosks, embedded devices and servers. In addition to Linux, Wincor Nixdorf offers Microsoft Windows as an alternative OS for its retail systems. In 2003, Novell acquired Suse Linux, based in Nuremberg, Germany.

Siemens (Profile, Products, Articles) acquires IPTV software company Myrio
April 8, 6:50 a.m. PDT
German electronics giant Siemens has reached an agreement to acquire U.S. software company Myrio, which specializes in technology for providing TV service over the Net. Myrio provides middleware and applications for emerging IPTV (Internet Protocol TV) services that use the Internet -- and not broadcast towers or satellites -- to deliver video into consumers' homes. The acquisition will help strengthen Siemens' portfolio of so-called "triple-play" voice, data, and video technologies aimed at network operators, ISPs, and cable companies. Numerous players in the telecoms sector see strong growth potential in providing services such as interactive TV and TV on demand, in addition to telephony and high-speed Internet access. The terms of the deal with the privately held company were not disclosed. Myrio, a 75-person software company, began life as an ISP, formerly called SourceNet. The company later changed its name and focus, moving into the development of software to provide video over IP.

Network Appliance (Profile, Products, Articles) acquires Alacritus
April 7, 7:40 a.m. PDT
Network Appliance announced Thursday an agreement to acquire privately held Alacritus for approximately $11 million in cash. Alacritus' Virtual Tape Library (VTL) software makes disks emulate tape, providing high performance for large-scale backup environments without disrupting established tape backups. In December 2004, NetApp announced a solution that combined Alacritus VTL with NetApp NearStore and FAS storage systems. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of the fourth fiscal quarter of 2005.

HDS, Aptare partner on backup management software
April 7, 7:15 a.m. PDT
Hitachi Data Systems (Profile, Products, Articles) (HDS) and Aptare, a provider of backup resource management software, on Thursday announced a partnership that aims to help IT departments better manage their data protection solutions. HDS will integrate Aptare's StorageConsole Suite with its HiCommand Backup Services Manager software, due later this year. HiCommand Backup Services Manager simplifies backup reporting and monitoring and helps in preventing data loss with its advanced forecasting and analysis capabilities. Aptare's technology will help HDS users with reporting on and managing complex backup and recovery environments, ensuring that their organizations’ data assets are protected and available.