CT Solutions
Ultraportable Notebooks
Lenovo has introduced the ThinkPad X61 and X61s notebooks, featuring a new integrated popup antenna that improves broadband wireless throughput by more than 30 percent, while increasing the range over previous models. Several connectivity options, such as WWAN, WLAN with 802.11n technology, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth, or modem, are available on select models. The X61s (pictured) has a 12-hour battery life (11 hours for the X61), and a new Battery Stretch control feature allows users to gain up to 15 percent longer battery life by temporarily disabling select functions in the Power Manager ThinkVantage software. New 32-byte hard drive password protection and optional I/O port disablement capabilities provide improved security. The ThinkPad X61 and X61s notebooks start at approximately $1,484 and $1,474, respectively.
Enhanced Fundraising Services
Information management systems provider Datatel has introduced Colleague Advancement, a software solution for fundraising executives, business development officers, and alumni relations directors. The system includes constituent management (records and tracks detailed donor, alumni, organization, and relationship information); contribution management (processes pledges, gifts, matching gifts, recurring donations, and auto-pay pledges); communications management (creates and tracks personalized incoming and outgoing communications); campaign management and analysis (includes automatic managing, tracking, and analyzing of results); and reporting and data analysis. Contact company for pricing.
Customizable Clicker
Interactive learning system provider Qwizdom has released the Q2 radio frequency remote. The Q2 uses a three-row custom e-Ink display that supports display of three-digit numbers, right/wrong feedback, and low battery and mode indicators. It allows a number of question types, including multiple choice, numeric, yes/no, true/false, and rating-scale. The remote overlay can be customized with a school mascot and colors. Pricing starts at $950 for a 16-remote system.
Integrated E-mail and Data Security
Proofpoint, a provider of integrated e-mail security and data loss prevention solutions, has announced Proofpoint 5, a single-appliance solution for defending against inbound spam and viruses, preventing leaks of confidential and private data, encrypting sensitive information, and analyzing messaging infrastructures. Powered by a new, unified appliance architecture, Proofpoint 5 boasts enhancements such as more powerful administrative features, advanced data loss prevention capabilities, and highperformance protection against message-borne threats. The Proofpoint platform can be deployed as a hardware appliance, virtual appliance, software, or the recently announced hosted service Proofpoint on Demand. Appliance pricing starts at $6,750 plus annual user license fees.
Digital Media Tool for Faculty
Cdigix, a provider of digital educational services to the college marketplace, has unveiled C-Labs: Faculty Edition (currently in beta), a digital education tool for incorporating rich audio and video media into classroom study. Instructors can choose to post audio or video media onto the platform, or utilize the product’s demonstration module, which offers access to more than 120 pieces of preexisting content. It also offers podcasting capabilities, allowing campus-produced content to be posted in non-encrypted audio and video formats, and then played back on a student’s computer or transferred to a mobile device. Priced per media title; free trial available for faculty users.
Plagiarism Prevention
Blackboard, a provider of educational enterprise software and services, has announced SafeAssign, a new plagiarism prevention service. SafeAssign checks papers and assignments (submitted via the Blackboard Learning System) against information on the internet as well as several different databases, including: the ProQuest ABI/Inform database; institutional document archives containing all papers submitted to SafeAssign by users in their respective institutions; and a global reference database of papers voluntarily submitted by students and faculty. SafeAssign is currently available at no additional cost to all enterprise licensees of the Blackboard Learning System.
