Category Archives: Tools

Hanu Software Offers Cloud Application Assessment Tool

Hanu Software has launched the “Cloud Application Assessment” Portal as a free service to help Enterprises, Small/Medium Businesses (SMBs) and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) chart a cloud strategy. The online service delivers a recommendation report based on the answers to a series of twenty-four diagnostic questions developed through Hanu’s work with clients who have successfully adopted cloud.

As consumers and businesses demand cloud-based applications, developers must re-write the underlying code to make legacy applications cloud ready. In addition, they must select the best cloud deployment model for their application, which depends on many factors, including application data, usage patterns, compliance and security. Hanu created the Cloud Application Assessment Portal to simplify the initial decision process for application developers.

“We want to demystify the cloud and make it extremely easy for Clients to assess whether their application is a good fit for the Cloud in 10 minutes or less,” said Anil Singh, founder and CEO of Hanu Software. “It’s the first step in a systematic process. Based on the results from the online assessment, Enterprises, SMBs and ISVs can determine their best course of action.” As a Microsoft Azure Circle partner, Hanu works closely with the Microsoft Azure team to develop best practice recommendations for cloud deployment of applications. The Cloud Assessment is an outgrowth of that work, resulting in a decision tree based on application characteristics, current infrastructure, data foundation, integration and security requirements.

Through the Hanu Cloud Assessment, business or technical users answer the series of twenty-four questions based on their application’s unique characteristics. Results are tabulated and a report presented with recommendations that include:

  • Whether or not the application is a good fit for the cloud.
  • Which deployment model — Public, Private or Hybrid — is most appropriate.
  • Whether IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) or PaaS (Platform as a Service) should be considered.

“We are pleased that we’ve been able to fill a void for Clients looking for a straightforward way to get started with the cloud,” added Anil.

“It is a daunting prospect for Clients to choose the best path to the cloud because there are so many factors playing into the decision. By applying the lessons we’ve learned, we hope to make the journey a bit easier for CIOs/CTOs just getting started with cloud deployment.” In response to the growing cloud development needs of Microsoft’s extensive partner network, Hanu helps Clients with Cloud Awareness, Cloud Assessment and Cloud Adoption. Our network of Microsoft Cloud Architects brings Clients the Azure expertise they need for net new Cloud application development as well as for migrating existing applications to the Cloud. After taking the online assessment, users can sign up for the one day, onsite comprehensive Cloud Strategy Assessment followed by Architecture Design Session and Proof-of-Concept programs. For more information on the Hanu Cloud Services, visit: www.hanusoftware.com/services/cloud-services/.


Most Popular: App Status Dashboard of Dashboards

Since we introduced our App Status Dashboards page, it has proven to be our most popular offering. As most of what we offer is news that quickly gets stale that’s not surprising, though it is sort of heartening that something with serious rather than humorous intent is finally edging out our most popular post ever.

How can we make it better? Send any ideas to richard at cloud news daily dot com.


Apica WebPerformance Now Supports HTML5, Integrates with AppDynamics, Cloud Services, and Google Analytics

Enhancements to Apica WebPerformance portal, introduced today, include integration with AppDynamics and Google Analytics, HTML5 support, real browser monitoring from leading browsers, and provides an API solution for advanced monitoring capabilities.

Apica WebPerformance monitors the delivery of all web content and application functionalities from more than 100 locations worldwide, providing a controlled perspective on application performance. Using Apica WebPerformance’s powerful analytics, users can drill down to the code level to better understand the capacity, scalability, and responsiveness of their applications; troubleshoot bottlenecks; and take measures to proactively improve performance.

The latest enhancements to Apica WebPerformance include:

  • Integration with AppDynamics and Google Analytics. Real-time data
    from third-party accounts is fed directly into the Apica
    WebPerformance portal to provide deeper insight into the correlation
    of performance and traffic from a single location.
  • Websockets/HTML5 and SPDY standards support. To optimize the
    performance of live, rich media content such as real-time game
    updates, stock feeds, and status indicators, Apica WebPerformance
    includes Kaazing support, a commercial full-duplex communication
    server using Websockets and HTML5.
  • HTML5 GUI. The entire Apica WebPerformance portal now supports
    HTML5, which means that it can be accessed from laptops, smartphones,
    or tablets. The interface adjusts itself to the chosen platform so
    customers can keep track of their web performance wherever they are
    located.
  • Expanded real browser monitoring. Apica
    WebPerformance now supports browser checks from Google Chrome, in
    addition to Internet Explorer and Firefox. This provides a true
    end-user view of performance from the most popular browsers used today.
  • API access. Developers can embed monitoring results and
    performance check summaries into native programs using real-time data
    from Apica’s
    global network of monitoring agents.
  • Self-service functionality. Users can easily record scripts on
    their own and immediately begin reviewing and analyzing the
    performance of their website.

“Consumer demand for high-performing websites and applications is constantly increasing. Fast response times are no longer a luxury; they are expected,” says Sven Hammar, CEO of Apica. “Performance testing as part of the development process, not just after launch but prior to launch as well, is necessary to avoid problems that can cost businesses time, money, and poor brand reputation. We’ve enhanced our WebPerformance solution with more standards support and integration so users can correlate data from multiple instances and locations across the globe to get a transparent look at application performance and improve the end-user experience. We give businesses the power to optimize their web performance and identify issues before they impact customers.”


New SpringBoard 6.0 Offers Greater Project Management Software Access and Control

LoadSpring Solutions has released SpringBoard Version 6.0, a newly-enhanced hosting portal.

SpringBoard allows secure access to—and control of—Project Management software and data, from any computer worldwide.

SpringBoard 6.0 preserves the same intuitive interface used globally by more than 2,000 enterprise organizations, but now offers new features and tools geared to add functionality, speed and efficiency.

SpringBoard 6.0 goes live October 6th and is designed for greater enterprise access and data control while saving effort, time and capital.

In Version 6.0, SpringBoard allows users to tap the power of the cloud, with such enhancements as:

  • Unified Access with Location Awareness. This feature assures
    fast global access and data integrity.
  • BIM hosting. BIM software is now available in a hosted model
    without performance issues. Users now truly have a single secure
    portal for all their Project Management applications.
  • Instant access to LoadSpring Academy 2.0, now with student
    tracking and quiz reporting, leading to added software compliance,
    acceptance and usage.
  • SmartSupport—LoadSpring’s automated issue resolution system is
    designed to find answers even before the user finishes asking the
    question. Quick self-fixes are available any time, or users can call
    LoadSpring directly for 1-on-1 contact.
  • Set Application roles during provisioning. Now administrators
    can assign P6r8 application roles at the same time they set-up new
    users all from 1 interface.
  • Auto Performance Indicators. SpringBoard now lets users see
    real-time connection speeds and SpringBoard performance at a glance
    allowing them to see if an issue exists.
  • Self-registration option aids administrators by letting each
    user self-register to SpringBoard.


AppNeta Launches Unified Application, Network Performance Management

AppNeta today announced the launch of its unified solutions for End User Experience Monitoring including full-stack application performance tracing and unprecedented network performance insight. With the recent acquisition of Tracelytics, AppNeta now provides industry-first performance visibility that IT teams have never had before, across the complete network and application infrastructure.

As business organizations become completely dependent on Internet and web-based technologies such as unified communications, CRM systems, ecommerce, hosted email, and other custom applications, it is necessary to know how they are running and where problems are occurring. With AppNeta’s integrated performance management solutions, IT teams and developers can easily see into the datacenter applications, down to the specific layer and code, and out to the remote sites where end users are experiencing performance degradation or service failure. With this comprehensive level of visibility and analysis, IT teams can quickly identify if the issues are happening in the network or the applications, and save hours chasing down problems and finger-pointing.

“End users have little tolerance for application performance problems,” said Jim Melvin, CEO of AppNeta. “As today’s applications have become more sophisticated and performance-sensitive, the risk of service disruption is at an all time high. AppNeta solutions provide a level of breadth and depth of performance insight that the industry has never seen before. Our customers solve technology problem before they become business problems.”

“The Application Performance Management market is moving to a SaaS delivery model that allows developers and IT teams to assure performance of distributed applications across datacenters and private/public clouds,” said Bernd Harzog, CEO, APM Experts. “This is leading to innovative, disruptive performance management solutions that are truly transforming the way IT teams assure application performance and end user experience.”

AppNeta’s new TraceView application performance monitoring service delivers immediate time-to-value by providing full-stack application tracing capabilities through application tiers and stacks to get real-time insight into actual web application performance. TraceView offers deep, detailed analysis of performance problems and provides actionable data for quick resolution and optimization.

AppNeta’s award-winning PathView Cloud service provides integrated insight from every element of the network performance stack including active path performance analysis, application-aware traffic flow analysis, automated remote site packet capture, and on-demand device status (SNMP). This complete suite delivered from the cloud brings thousands of global customers the fastest time to resolution in the industry and superior End User Experience monitoring.

Free trials of PathView Cloud network performance management service and the TraceView application performance monitoring service are both available today at www.appneta.com.


ApprendaCloud Launches as a Free PaaS for .NET Developers

Image representing Apprenda as depicted in Cru...

Apprenda today launched a free, cloud version of its private Platform as a Service (PaaS) for .NET enterprise applications. With ApprendaCloud, .NET developers always have access to a free environment for individual projects or to experiment with the Apprenda platform without requiring a download and install of its private PaaS.

“On ApprendaCloud, developers always have a PaaS solution to build next-generation applications or cloud optimize existing enterprise applications,” said Sinclair Schuller, CEO of Apprenda. “At ApprendaCloud’s core is an easy way to educate the developer community on building cloud architected applications.”

Apprenda has made it dead simple for developers to familiarize themselves with a private PaaS solution, trusted by enterprises like Honeywell, AmerisourceBergen and Quest Software. ApprendaCloud includes easy, interactive tutorials that guide developers through building world-class enterprise applications as well as the most common PaaS scenarios – deploying an application, scaling application components, and more.

When applications on ApprendaCloud are market ready, users can download an on-premises install of Apprenda’s private PaaS. The Apprenda platform can be consumed as a downloadable installer, virtual machine images, licensed product or PaaS service.


appMobis privateStack Gives Enterprises a Secure Cloud Backend for Mobile HTML5

 

Image representing appMobi as depicted in Crun...appMobi today announced privateStack, a licensable enterprise version of its industry-leading mobile HTML5 app development and cloud services stack. privateStack was created in response to overwhelming interest from businesses, organizations and government agencies that require complete end-to-end control of mobile app deployments for security reasons.

With the recent explosion of mobile smartphone and tablet devices, many enterprises want to create hybrid and Web-based mobile apps for a variety of audiences – sales staff, service technicians, executives, operations personnel and customers. Unfortunately, CTOs have legitimate concerns about data security, service quality and the difficulty of distributing corporate apps in public app stores. Unless they wanted to build it themselves, CTOs were forced to hold off on participating in this exciting trend. privateStack was created to address this need.

“While the consumer market for apps has skyrocketed along with explosive smartphone and tablet sales over the past few years, enterprises and government agencies who wanted to develop mobile apps with data security and deployment control have had no real way to do so,” said Dave Kennedy, appMobi CEO. “privateStack provides enterprises the mobile application management capabilities to develop and deploy apps using the same technology appMobi uses in its commercial cloud services. Ironically, privateStack illustrates how open Web technologies like HTML5 and the mobile Web can be used to create highly secure mobile solutions that can’t be duplicated in closed, vendor-owned mobile ecosystems such as those of Apple and Google.”

privateStack gives enterprise CTOs the ability to support native-quality, HTML5-based, cross platform mobile apps with complete control over hosting geography, security, gateways into corporate data silos and user authentication. For enterprises, hybrid apps are very appealing because they greatly simplify app creation and deployment. Unlike native app development, which requires programming in arcane languages like Objective C, existing corporate Web development teams can create hybrid apps using HTML5. Using privateStack, those apps can be built into iOS and Android store-ready apps or they can be deployed on secure corporate intranets, avoiding the complications of commercial app stores.

In addition to appMobi’s HTML5 development tools, which support hybrid app development using appMobi or PhoneGap, privateStack incorporates the entire appMobi cloud services platform which includes:

  • Authentication
  • Rich Media Push Messaging
  • Mobile App Analytics
  • Remote App Updates
  • In-App Purchasing
  • Gamification – Badges and Leaderboards
  • Social Network Interfaces

appMobi offers privateStack as an Amazon Machine Image (AMI) that gives enterprises world-class uptime and instant, effortless scalability. privateStack is the first mobile HTML5 backend to be offered on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) store as an installable AMI, and it is available in both managed and custom configurations. For customers who want to host privateStack in their own corporate data centers, enterprise source licensing is also available. More information is available at www.appmobi.com/privatestack.


Autodesk Liberates Designers with Cloud-Based Pay-As-You-Go Simulation

Autodesk, Inc. today unveiled Autodesk Simulation 360—a comprehensive set of tools delivered securely in the cloud with a pay-as-you-go pricing model that enables any company to make simulation part of their everyday design and engineering processes.

With Autodesk Simulation 360, designers, engineers and analysts can more easily predict, optimize and validate the performance of things in the world around us. The virtually infinite power of the cloud allows complex engineering tests that were once limited to simulation specialists to be performed by mainstream designers. For example:

  • Product designers can test how various ergonomic designs of furniture,
    such as chairs, will accommodate and adapt to differing body types and
    levels of use well before the piece is ever manufactured.
  • Manufacturers can understand the heat generated by electronics devices
    enabling them to design-in proper cooling, avoid overheating and help
    prevent costly consumer recalls.
  • Architects and engineers can gain deeper insight into how buildings,
    including plants, will perform by simulating air flow to help ensure
    thermal comfort; analyze environmental effects on bridges and
    buildings; and test the behavior of structural materials including
    concrete — all before anything is ever built.

Autodesk Simulation 360 is the latest offering to build upon the Autodesk 360 cloud-based platform. By performing computationally intensive simulation tasks in the cloud, designers, engineers and analysts can test multiple “what if?” design scenarios in parallel. The computational power of the cloud also eliminates the need for specialized hardware, thereby removing previous limitations and helping to increase productivity.

“The ability to run multiple simulation studies in the cloud, in the same time as a typical singular simulation study with single variables, really opens up the game for us by helping us understand much more of the system in a shorter amount of time,” said Matt Nowicki, senior product engineer at BioLite, Inc. “It’s impressive how easy, valuable and seamless simulating in the cloud can be for a company such as ours.”

“Our customers can now visualize building comfort before the project is constructed. This enables them to make more informed decisions pertaining to project costs and lets them evaluate system and energy trade-offs as well. Providing this type of service helps distinguish us from our competition,” said Darryl McClelland, BIM and Virtual Design manager at Heapy Engineering, which provides Mechanical-Electrical-Technology Systems Design Services, LEED and Energy Consulting Services, Building Commissioning Services, and Planning Services.

The Autodesk Simulation 360 software portfolio includes a wide range of cloud-based mechanical, fluid flow, thermal and plastic injection molding tools at an affordable price. Additional benefits include direct geometry exchange; robust meshing tools; extensive material libraries; and proven solver technology to improve simulation accuracy in the areas of greatest concern.

“Businesses simply can’t afford not to understand how their designs will perform before anything gets built,” said Robert “Buzz” Kross, senior vice president, Design, Lifecycle and Simulation at Autodesk. “Autodesk Simulation 360 puts powerful simulation capabilities within reach for designers and engineers at virtually every company, giving them the tools they need to better predict, optimize and validate their designs early in the design process.”

In contrast to traditional perpetual licensing, Autodesk Simulation 360’s easy and affordable, pay-as-you-go model simplifies access and offers unparalleled flexibility. Autodesk Simulation 360 is now available in English, and is planned to be available in other languages in the near future. For additional information on how to access Autodesk Simulation 360 and take part in the Simulation Liberation event, visit www.autodesk.com/simulationliberation. Additional resources such as simulation experts, on-demand videos and tutorials are available at www.autodesk.com/simulation-360.


appMobi Offers Free Remote Debugging Tool for HTML5

Today appMobi added to its lineup of free and open source HTML5 development tools with the immediate availability of debugMobi, a free remote JavaScript debugging tool.

Until now, HTML and JavaScript have been difficult for developers to debug on mobile devices because of the closed environments of smartphone hardware and Web browser software. An open source tool called “Web Inspector Remote” (WEINRE) provides remote Web debugging for mobile devices, but it requires developers to configure and run their own servers in order to work.

debugMobi dramatically reduces the complexity of remote debugging on mobile devices with a configuration-free, hosted version of WEINRE that developers and mobile devices can tap into from anywhere on the Internet. Like all appMobi cloud services, debugMobi is hosted on the global Amazon AWS “cloud,” which offers dependable high performance all over the world.

debugMobi provides Web developers with a remote window into the target mobile device while the hybrid app or site is actually running. JavaScript and CSS variables can be examined, and JavaScript code can be viewed and modified on the desktop viewer in real time. Because debugMobi is hosted on the open Internet (as opposed to the more typical WiFi or Intranet hosting), debugMobi can be used to debug devices that are physically anywhere in the world – making it the first truly worldwide “remote” debugging tool for mobile HTML5.

This new HTML5 developer tool can be used by anyone who is developing Web-based code for mobile devices, including Web app developers, and hybrid app developers using appMobi or PhoneGap. debugMobi is available immediately at www.debugmobi.com. For developers who use the Google Chrome browser, it is also available as a  Chrome extension.