CT Solutions
Collaboration Tools
Adobe Systems has introduced Acrobat 8, its comprehensive toolset
for working with PDF documents and forms. For the first time, all of the
Acrobat 8 products, as well as Acrobat Reader 8, allow one-button
access to Acrobat Connect, a new hosted software service that provides
a web-conferencing venue with tools such as screen sharing,
whiteboarding, chat, and audio/video conferencing. Education price
for Acrobat 8 Professional: $159; Acrobat Connect is available as a
free trial version through the end of the year.
Experience the Enterprise
ERP vendor Datatel has unveiled the ActiveCampus Experience, a strategic initiative that gives campus constituents
complete access to information and enterprise resources. The ActiveCampus Experience leverages existing Datatel technologies—
such as ActiveCampus Portal (pictured), ActiveAdmissions 2.0, ActiveAlumni 2.0, and ActiveCampus CMS)—
with powerful new solutions, customer-centric professional services, and advanced offerings from Datatel partners, to help
colleges and universities make gains in
productivity, improve collaboration and
information flow, and enhance institutional
effectiveness. One integral component
of the initiative: the all-new
Colleague Advancement, a fundraising
and institutional advancement solution
that helps schools streamline administrative
processes, build essential relationships,
and grow support from
diverse sources. Price varies according
to licensing.
Super-High-Resolution Projection
Canon has expanded its REALiS line of high-resolution multimedia projectors,
introducing the REALiS SX6, SX60, and X600. The line features Canon’s proprietary
Aspectual Illumination System (AISYS) optical system, which enhances
LCOS technology to achieve crisp, color-rich, detailed images by efficiently utilizing and equalizing light from the projector
lamp. At 3500 ANSI lumens, the REALiS SX6 (pictured) can display large images clearly in brightly-lit environments, and
features 1400x1050 (SXGA+) resolution, a 1000:1 contrast ratio, and an Adobe color matching system; that means the
projector can handle applications that require super-high resolution, exceptionally small type, and intricate detail. MSRP for
the REALiS SX6: $6,999. Editor’s note: See page 8 for your chance to receive a REALiS SX6.
Capturing Rich Media
Accordent Technologies has announced Capture Station 2.5, its all-in-one hardware and software
lecture-capture device that enables users to create rich media presentations. Presentations can
incorporate live or on-demand streaming media, as well as synchronized images captured from any
VGA-enabled device, including document cameras, projectors, and electronic whiteboards. A new
podcasting feature allows users to create podcasts of their presentations by checking a box within
the Capture Station or the PresenterPlus presentation-editing application; the audio podcasts can
then be archived for review, published to an online portal, or made available via RSS feed. Pricing
starts at approximately $12,000.
Enhanced CRM Solution
Constituent relationship management (CRM) vendor Talisma has announced Talisma CRM 7.1, the latest version of its multichannel
CRM solution for higher ed. Talisma CRM 7.1’s event management module facilitates automated workflow processes
for creating, managing, tracking, and reporting events, and an enhanced web form generator makes it easier to produce
and manage web forms through HTML templates and automated ASP processing. The solution also offers extensive webservices
support, to easily integrate third-party and legacy applications with Talisma. Pricing starts at $75,000 per first 10
named users for a licensed solution; $450 per concurrent user for hosted. www.education.talisma.com.