Superman Systems for the Super Hero in You
In coordination with the release of Warner Bros. Pictures’ upcoming epic action adventure film, “Superman Returns,” which will be seen in theaters from June 28, Alienware has released limited-edition desktop and notebook systems inspired by DC Comics’ Super Hero, Superman. The desktop and notebook systems feature the Man of Steel artwork on the outer cases. Each system also includes a specially-designed Superman desktop theme by The Skins Factory utilizing Stardock’s Theme Manager software.
The case design of the individually-numbered Superman desktops was created by the artists at DC Comics. The artwork traces Superman’s progression from child to Super Hero in vivid detail and includes other memorable characters such as Lois Lane and Lex Luthor. Meanwhile, the individually-numbered Superman notebooks come in a striking blue design adorned with the iconic S-Shield logo on the front panel of the notebook.
The special-edition desktop and notebook both feature an immersive Superman desktop theme that transforms users’ icon, wallpaper and media player designs by incorporating distinctive touches from the Superman universe, such as green Kryptonite and Clark Kent’s glasses. Powerful as well as stylish, the Superman systems are loaded with an array of cutting-edge technology: The Area-51 Superman Edition desktop features Intel Viiv Technology with dual-core Intel Pentium D processors and high-definition audio, while the Area-51 Superman Returns Edition notebook also features Intel Viiv Technology and offers Intel Core Duo processors and dual hard drives to go with a 17-inch screen display. For more information, click to http://www.alienware.com/SupermanPR.
ArtZone Makes Worldwide Debut
ArtZone, a unique and focused online destination that brings community to art, is now available and free to artists worldwide. ArtZone is a community in which artists of every medium can share examples of their work, whether it is computer-generated or otherwise. It was created to be just as inviting to those who simply appreciate art or want to grow in their own skill levels.
Each member may present a personal profile and their own virtual galleries which are open to member comments. Through mediums such as groups, live chats and message boards, artists may also mingle with each other socially, professionally or in any way that encourages their appreciation for creativity and collaboration.
ArtZone offers unique features including virtual galleries, spotlight images, multimedia links, searchable artist profiles, forums, events and more. To take a tour of ArtZone and create your own profile, visit www.artzone.com.
Webcast Discusses Businesses, Bird Flu
A new webcast, sponsored by Interwise, can help businesses understand and prepare for a potential Avian Influenza pandemic. During this one-hour event, featured Gartner Vice President and Research Fellow Ken McGee led a discussion which reviewed likely scenarios offered by global health leaders, explained why conventional business continuity plans would not be effective in addressing those scenarios and outlined the steps that business leaders should take today to prepare for the first pandemic of the information age.
“It is shocking how ill-prepared businesses are for a pandemic,” explained McGee. “Without adequate planning today, businesses are putting themselves at great risk.” According to the Gartner report — “Scenarios for Avian Influenza and How IT Can Mitigate Risk” — published on March 7, 2006, “most businesses are not prepared for an outbreak of avian influenza and have failed to heed earlier warnings ... Traditionally, business continuity has been focused on the outage of critical (physical) infrastructure.”
Speaking at the World Health Organization meeting on avian influenza and human pandemic in November 2005, the late Dr. Lee Jong-Wook had sobering words for the delegates: “It is only a matter of time before an avian flu virus — most likely H5N1 — acquires the ability to be transmitted from human to human, sparking the outbreak of human pandemic influenza. We don’t know when this will happen. But we do know that it will happen.”
Because an avian influenza pandemic would constitute the first global-scale business continuity crisis, there is no road map for businesses to follow. This webcast helps IT and business leaders realistically understand the challenges posed by the inability of large numbers of employees, partners, suppliers and customers to get to work and ask the questions necessary to prepare for this challenge: Would their employees be able to work remotely for days or even weeks? Do key executives have emergency communications backup? How will disruptions to supply chain, customer support or partner interactions be handled? Is impact to offshore vendors accounted for? Visit http://www.interwise.com/Gartner.html to register and tune in to the webcast.
New Way to Find the Perfect Vacation Home
Designed to take the frustration out of searching many websites looking for a vacation residence, HomeAway.com consolidates five leading industry sites into the new and easy-to-use HomeAway marketplace. HomeAway.com is a complete, user-friendly means to locate rental homes for vacation use. Travelers can visit the website to search through more than 60,000 homes across 90 countries to find a barn, bungalow, cabin, castle, chalet, chateau, condo, cottage, house, houseboat, mansion, villa or yurt — perfect for their vacation or special event.
HomeAway.com enhances the online travel experience with complete and organized information that includes photos, detailed property descriptions, pricing and booking information. In addition to searching for properties by location and the number of bedrooms, users may also search by activities, such as “winter sports,” or “beach;” amenities, including “swimming pool” or “Internet access;” and suitability, which sorts homes convenient for children, pets and the elderly.
Vacation rental homes offer space, amenities, privacy and convenience that hotels can’t match. According to a recent HomeAway survey, the top four reasons travelers choose a vacation home are privacy, amenities including fully-equipped kitchens, more space and price. Weekly rates on HomeAway.com range from $200 for a rustic cabin in North Carolina to $45,000 for a lavish estate in Jamaica.
Homeowners and property managers can list their property on HomeAway.com for a $299 annual fee. The site anticipates it will have more than 100,000 properties listed by the end of 2006.
