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Latest News
Hi Resolution Software has released MacAdministrator 3.4.4, the most significant change in this version is a solution to stability issues with applications run through the PowerPC Rosetta emulation environment on Intel based Macs. MacAdministrator 3.4.4 is a free upgrade to existing MacAdministrator 3.4.x users, and the update process can either be done through the "Check for Updates" option under the File menu in the Configuration Manager application, or by downloading the full installer from our FTP server using the same MacAdministrator 3.4.x download instructions as issued previously. If you need to be sent those download instructions again, then please contact sales@hi-resolution.com.
Hi Resolution Software has released MacAdministrator 3.4.3, the most significant change in this version is full compatibility with Intel based Macs. MacAdministrator 3.4.3 is a free upgrade to existing MacAdministrator 3.4.x users, and the update process can either be done through the "Check for Updates" option under the File menu in the Configuration Manager application, or by downloading the full installer from our FTP server using the same MacAdministrator 3.4.x download instructions as issued previously. If you need to be sent those download instructions again, then please contact sales@hi-resolution.com.
Hi Resolution Software has released a new version of WatchIT that includes compatibility with Intel Macs. WatchIT Xi is now compatible with all versions of Mac OS X from Mac OS X 10.2.4 to Mac OS X 10.4.x, including Intel compatibility. For existing users WatchIT Xi is available as a commercial upgrade from WatchIT X. Learn more about WatchIT Xi here. To obtain the evaluation version of WatchIT Xi complete the evaluation request form.
Hi Resolution Software has released a new version of MacPrefect that includes compatibility with Mac OS X 10.4.x ("Tiger"). MacPrefect 5.4 is now compatible with all versions of Mac OS X from Mac OS X 10.2.4 to Mac OS X 10.4.x. For existing users MacPrefect 5.4 is available as a commercial upgrade from MacPrefect 5 X. Learn more about MacPrfect 5.4 here. To obtain the evaluation version of MacPrefect 5.4 complete the evaluation request form.
Hi Resolution Software, the leading provider of fully integrated enterprise solutions for Macintosh computers, is pleased to announce the recent success of its asset management product, MA-Audit, which has been selected by Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing for the centralized audit of the company's technology assets. Toronto-based Metroland is one of Canada's largest community newspaper publishers and the biggest in Ontario, producing more than 4.5 million copies for over 100 newspapers. The company, whose business interests encompass flyers, circulars and consumer show management in addition to newspapers, uses technology assets spread throughout its seven primary locations and several smaller facilities - some many miles apart. With no way of centrally collecting hardware and software data from their 850-plus Macintosh population, Metroland faced the daunting task of a manual audit - until the search for a solution lead them to MA-Audit. MA-Audit's ability to deliver hard numbers fast, on a network of any size and to a centralized location, has dramatically reduced the work involved in getting the complete picture of a company's tech inventory, while saving valuable time and considerable cost. Now, with accurate information at their fingertips, cost-saving decisions on asset allocation can be made to reduce waste and optimize resources. Learn more about how MA-Audit can help your organization here.
Hi Resolution has announced the full commercial release of MacAdministrator 3.4 for Mac OS X 10.4.x ("Tiger"). The latest version of the award-winning and first network administration, protection and control product for Macintosh computers arrives following a successful beta testing period in which no major issues were found, and means that all Macintosh clients running on any version of the Mac OS can still be managed with a single solution. Gair Heaton, Technical Director of the Toronto-based software developer, comments: "MacAdministrator 3.4 is an interim version, primarily designed to provide ongoing compliance between Apple's "Tiger" [Mac OS X 10.4.x], in addition to all previous versions, and our own product. "We will also be releasing a totally new MacAdministrator at the end of Q3 2005, which will once again set new benchmarks for the administration of Macintosh computers." MacAdministrator 3.4 is designated as a commercial release and upgrade. Together with "Tiger" compatibility, it includes new features and enhancements to the software distribution and hardware/software audit functionality, ensuring that the product continues to provide unrivaled power to network administrators. MacAdministrator 3.4 is an interim release preceding the all-new MacAdministrator 3.5, which will be available at the end of Q3 2005. Sites upgrading or purchasing new MacAdministrator 3.4 licenses will receive MacAdministrator 3.5 without additional cost. Important information MacAdministrator 3.4 is fully compatible with Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger), all previous versions of MacAdministrator are NOT compatible with Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger). Therefore, if you wish to use MacAdministrator on Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) client machines, then you will need to upgrade to MacAdministrator 3.4. You can request an evaluation copy of MacAdministrator 3.4 using the download request form. For pricing information regarding upgrades or new licenses, please contact your nearest distributor or email sales@hi-resolution.com, or you can also call Toll Free on 1-888 359 0888. If you are already using MacAdministrator 3.4 (beta), the download instructions you were provided with can be used to download the updated commercial software release. You can use the updated installer to upgrade from the beta version to the commercial release. The client computers do not need to have the software reinstalled, they will automatically update themselves when the MacAdmin Maintainer next runs. Below is a list of the new/enhanced features within MacAdministrator 3.4. New Features for MacAdministrator 3.4Full compatibility with Mac OS X 10.4.x ("Tiger") Software Distribution
Configuration Manager / Audit
MacAdmin Client
Configuration Manager
Configuration Manager/Protection
Hi Resolution has introduced a powerful new auditing product for the corporate market: MA-Audit. MA-Audit is a custom module of MacAdministrator, delivering dynamic asset management features to the fingertips of organizations wanting to more effectively manage technology assets and reduce cost. MA-Audit incorporates new standards for the collection of complete software and hardware audit data, application usage, software distribution, remote commands and many other features designed to asset manage Macintosh clients running Mac OS 7.5.3 to 9.2.2 and all versions of Mac OS X. Audit on demandFull software and hardware audits can be scheduled for any time of day, on specific dates and times, or on demand from the supplied management console, which runs from any Macintosh client on the network. Application usage can also be set and delivered at the same time. MA-Audit can be installed on any AFP or AFP/IP compliant server, including Mac OS X Server, ASIP, Windows NT/2000/2003 Server, Unix, Linux, Novell Netware, etc. Two key new features included in the product have been specifically designed to the requirements of the enterprise organization. The ability to designate a single point on the network for data collection - even when multiple or separate MA-Audit installations exist within the WAN or LAN - massively reduces the time and work needed to collect data from various locations, whether spread across different buildings, cities, or even worldwide. The second major new feature is the ability to specify the location of a distribution server by MachineGroup, allowing network loading to be more efficiently distributed and minimizing the impact on network performance. Once MA-Audit is installed, the client computers are immediately registered within the audit database residing on the server-based share point. Using the console, machines can be organized into logical MachineGroups, such as Machine Type, Standard Image, OS version, Location, etc. Individual machines can exist in multiple MachineGroups. Data is collected in standard XML format, which can be viewed through the console as a drill-down report. It can also be exported into a preferred application by Machine or MachineGroup, allowing the data on the selected machines to be merged into a single structure. Software DistributionMA-Audit clients will automatically check for downloads and install any revisions or updates to the software, ensuring that your system is always using the latest and best technology available. Software Distribution is performed by creating distribution sets and attaching them to the MachineGroups, then setting the schedule for the clients to upload the distribution set as required. Distribution sets may be complete packages, images, individual files or folders, or created from the differences between two images or folder structures. Special PlaceHolders, including the "Delete PlaceHolder", may be used to remove unwanted files or folders from the target machines. MA-Audit is priced at 50% of the full MacAdministrator software, and can be upgraded to MacAdministrator at any time without penalty. A 5-client, 30-day evaluation copy of the software is now available for download by completing the request form.
Hi Resolution has released version 3.1.6 of MacAdministrator. The update can be obtained either by downloading the full installer, which can be done using the same download instructions as issued previously, or by using the "Check for Updates" option under the File menu in the Configuration Manager application.
MacAdministrator 3 is the focus of U.S. Ed-Tech publication eSchool News, August edition, in a feature that looks at network administration in education. The magazine, distributed throughout the United States and Canada, is available both in print and online. You can read the full text below or you can connect to the eSchool News website and read the article here. Network Administration: Software lends power and efficiency to Mac management Getting the most out of as little as possible is a maxim school technology departments are fast learning to live with. Whether this translates to a smaller budget, in less time, or with fewer staff, school districts are forced to pursue greater reliability, power, and efficiency from their technology resources. Yet as these factors are often interdependent--operating within time constraints can push up costs, while attempting to reduce costs can cause deadlines to slip--the goal often remains elusive. At Minooka Community High School District near Chicago, where 800-plus Apple Macintosh machines serve 1,500 students, officials believe they have solved many of their problems by using a program from Hi Resolution Systems. Minooka's current setup is a mixture of Apple Macintosh OS 9 and OS X client machines, and by the 2004-05 school year the district will have fully converted to Mac OS X. Since deploying MacAdministrator, Director of Technology Les Kern now finds he enjoys the luxury of time to concentrate on long-term planning, while the systems largely take care of themselves. Kern is a veteran of the IT business, having worked in the industry for more than 20 years. "In that time," he said, "no product has done more for me, period. ... Just the time saved alone justifies its price many times over, not to mention the impact we have seen here on learning." With a sophisticated network topology that includes 300 roaming wireless laptops and 23 servers of various types looking after all of the shared directories, security was one of the first issues the district needed to address. Yet the other products Kern tried did not meet the district's needs. "I had tested almost every product out there before I evaluated MacAdministrator, and I had been losing sleep for some time over the support and security issues we were constantly tackling," he said. "All the while, our techs were hard at work addressing the various problems, and students were losing valuable education time." To address their problems, Minooka's technology staff created a 10-point plan, citing the areas they wanted to address to increase system efficiency and minimize downtime. These points included complete desktop control; application control; software distribution; low network impact; low cost per workstation; remote administration; auditing; excellent logging capability; easy and complete access to 'allowed' capabilities; and minimal time spent by a tech on each machine. Kern discovered MacAdministrator at an ed-tech conference and, impressed by what he had heard, downloaded and installed the software onto a server on his return to Minooka. "Ten minutes later," he said, "I had a workstation up and running without any fuss." MacAdministrator is a network administration, desktop security, and control product that provides an administrator with a total management capability over any number of networked Macintosh computers. It works independently of server type, making it especially effective in mixed-server environments such as Minooka. That summer, "I decided to hire a tech from Hi Resolution to come on site to help us set it up," said Kern. "In a day, our systems were humming along perfectly and, as it turned out, we didn't need much technical support because MacAdministrator is so easy to set up. By the end of the day, we felt that we had an excellent grasp of how the whole thing worked and how we could enable more features in the future." When classes began in the fall, "students logged on and what happened next astounded me: pretty much nothing," Kern said. "Everything worked perfectly. The students had absolutely no problem adapting to the system." He added: "Since that first day, productivity has increased. Students are turning out more work and doing more research, because the computers always work." Technology Assistant Debbie Dobson has found the new setup user-friendly and efficient. "I like the ability to log a student out when needed using the Configuration Manager right from my desktop or laptop," she said. "The process is quick and simple, taking less than a minute. Editing the protection settings can also be done conveniently from a desktop or laptop that has the Configuration Manager installed on it. Any machine with MacAdministrator installed on it picks up the new settings at logout or login, depending on setup. If you choose, one simple change can affect all the machines. The program keeps students on task, as they can't access any folder from the server but their own." For many school districts, printing costs put a huge strain on budgets. The ability to strictly control printer use by students and staff is one feature of MacAdministrator that Dobson is looking forward to implementing in the coming months. Kern now looks back on his district's 10-point plan and smiles: "All 800 computers are taken care of by a technology assistant... and I now sleep very well at night."
Hi Resolution has today released the latest version of Mac MacAdministrator. MacAdministrator 3.1 is a significant update to the previous version, 3.0, and all current users are advised to install. This update has been fully tested with both 10.2.8 and 10.3.3, including all security updates that have been released up to this date, and addresses all known issues. We strongly recommend that all client machines should be running 10.2.8 or 10.3.3 - as Apple have solved numerous issues in their dot upgrades, and there are no costs involved in updating from 10.2.x to 10.2.8, or updating from 10.3.x to 10.3.3.
Hi Resolution has released WatchIT X for Mac OS X. WatchIT X is the latest version of the powerful time monitoring and billing software solution, now providing complete compatibility with Mac OS X. Also released is the new WatchIT version 2 for pre-Mac OS X computers, which works over IP and is compatible with WatchIT X. This compatibility provides centralized and integrated reporting for all Macintosh clients. WatchIT delivers the power to collect, process and analyze information on time spent on one or more Macintosh computers, all from a single machine. The product has been highly successful in many industries such as design, print and publishing, legal and accounting, where monitoring time and work on specific jobs is an essential, revenue-saving business component. For many businesses, time is money, and if it's not accurately recorded, it's not accurately billed. Whenever computers are used to produce or provide work for clients, WatchIT makes sure that every minute is automatically recorded and accounted for - without the need for user input or intervention - and organized into a configurable, detailed report. "This product genuinely sets a new standard in terms of accuracy and ease-of-use, delivering comprehensive and exact time management and monitoring. It can be used for a range of business applications including billing, monitoring and reporting," explains Jim Dovey, who has been leading the development team on the product. "You can use the extensive reporting features to quantify your billing or to assess whether employees' time is being managed effectively, for example if they're working on several projects or for multiple clients. It can also be run in 'invisible' mode." Read more about WatchIT X on the Product Overview page. To inquire about receiving a free evaluation copy of the software, click here.
Hi Resolution has today announced the release of MacPrefect 5 X for Mac OS X. It is the first desktop protection software for stand-alone Macintosh computers running Mac OS X. This award-winning product has become the de facto standard in desktop protection and security in education and corporate environments. MacPrefect 5 X is fully functional on networked computers; however, it does not require a server, or server application. The license and software supplied with MacPrefect 5 X will include both versions of MacPrefect, allowing users to install MacPrefect 5 on pre-Mac OS X machines and then move up to MacPrefect 5 X, without further cost, when upgrading those machines to Mac OS X. Complete ControlMacPrefect 5 X maintains a machine's standard desktop without altering the user interface or affecting the user's experience. It unobtrusively protects both the machine and the user to levels determined by the system administrator. Protection settings can be configured, named and saved for use as required.
It is the ideal solution for any Mac OS workstation where multiple users have access to the computer. MacPrefect saves many hours of an administrator's time previously spent tidying or repairing damage caused by accidental or deliberate misuse by users. MacPrefect 5 X has an unrivalled range of features and settings for Application Launch Control; Classic Control; Dock Control; Finder Control; Media Access; System Preferences; Menu Control, Folder Control and Print Control. This extensive package makes it the most powerful and versatile desktop protection product available, and the only choice for Mac OS X. View the full Features List To arrange for an evaluation copy of the software, or details of the Hi Resolution product range, please contact us, or use the inquiry form on our web site.
Hi Resolution has released an update to MacAdministrator 3.0. We would recommend that all MacAdministrator 3.0 users apply this update as it adds 10.3 (Panther) compatibility, as well as addressing various issues with 10.2.x. The update can be obtained either by downloading the full installer, which can be done using the same download instructions as issued previously, or by using the "Check for Updates" option under the File menu in the Configuration Manager application.
Hi Resolution is delighted to announce the full commercial release of MacAdministrator 3.0 on 25th June following the successful completion of the beta testing programme. MacAdministrator 3.0 is a powerful network management and administration product that enables Macintosh networks to work more efficiently and with a greater range of control. It saves time and reduces overall costs by enabling total management of networked Macintosh clients from anywhere on your network. As a result, Network Managers are able to do more, in less time, and the end users benefit from increased productivity. MacAdministrator 3.0 is a powerful management system for computers running Mac OS from version 7.5.5 to 9.2.2 and Mac OS X. It provides an extensive range of features, implemented automatically on client machines by extensible agent technology. Agents can run on login, logout, start-up, shutdown, or at administrator designated dates and times. MacAdministrator 3.0 sets new standards for managing, protecting, administrating and integrating networked Macintosh computers in educational organizations and corporations of any size. Its ability to administrate all Macintosh clients from one point of control on any network platform makes MacAdministrator 3.0 not only unique, but the most powerful and advanced product available for Macintosh networks. In addition, it provides true interoperability with PC clients on the network through authentication and the mounting of common shared volumes and users' home folders. The MacAdministrator Configuration Manager, which runs under Mac OS X and earlier versions of the Mac OS, provides remote administration and control for all users and client machines. The comprehensive range of features includes login and authentication to any server platform, desktop protection, print monitoring and control, software and hardware audits, software distribution and healing, user and user groups and profiles, machine and machine groups and profiles, timetabling, remote administration, remote commands and much more.
Nicky Delahunty, Sales Manager for Canada and the US believes that the product will surpass the success of its predecessor, MacAdministrator 2.5, winner of Macworld's Education Product of the Year, 2002. "MacAdministrator 3.0 is a landmark product for Macintosh clients and networks. It is the first and only management suite able to fully integrate and control all Macintosh clients with any server platform. This, combined with the range and power of its features, means you have both the most powerful and cost-effective Macintosh network solution ever. "MacAdministrator does not require a server application, or even a Macintosh server - just a Macintosh share on any server platform. With its client-based agent technology it is extremely 'network-lite' and, as a result, highly scaleable. You can also configure the required settings from any Macintosh client on the network. In times like these where technology budgets are under a lot of pressure, these benefits are of great importance. We believe that this product will significantly change the way organizations function, and significantly reduce the amount they spend." A free 30-day evaluation of MacAdministrator 3.0 is available from Hi Resolution. For further information contact us in the US, Canada and the UK, or contact one of our major distributors. You can also request an evaluation through the website.
We have today released an update to MacAdministrator 3.0. This update includes:
We have today released an update to MacAdministrator 3.0. It can either be obtained through the "Check for Updates" option under the File menu in the Configuration Manager application, or downloaded from our FTP server using the same download instructions as issued previously. This update includes Desktop Protection for Mac OS X. In the MacAdmin Configuration Manager application, if you open or create a protection file, you will now get two tabs: "Pre Mac OS X" containing the protection options for Mac OS 9 (and earlier) client machines, and "Mac OS X" containing the protection options for Mac OS X client machines. The "Mac OS X" protection options are also obviously now correctly applied on the actual client machine. The handling of home folders has also changed. If AutoMount is configured to mount an individual user area, then this will still be mounted, but the home folder location will also now be redirected to that mounted folder. If AutoMount is not configured to mount an individual user area, then the home folder location will be redirected to a "MacAdministrator" folder in the local "Users" folder. This MacAdministrator folder is permanent, in that the folder and it's contents will remain over multiple logins and restarts - therefore each user who doesn't have a remote home folder will get the same local home folder. We have also removed the reliance on having the two, admin and non-admin, users on the Client machines. Their presence won't affect the latest MacAdmin Client, but we would therefore suggest removing these users on existing installations, as they are no longer needed.
We have today provided an update to our public beta release of MacAdministrator 3.0. The update is available by download from our FTP server using the same download instructions issued for the previous MacAdministrator 3.0 Public Beta installer. As stated with the initial release, the public beta program is being staged to allow for cross platform testing of the core components in an orderly and controlled manner. The initial release concentrated on components primarily dependent on our own AFP implementation, which was required due to issues with the basic operating system from Apple. We are now satisfied that it has been tested against the many different types of servers, and types of AFP implementations available on those servers, which we could obviously not completely cover through in-house testing. This first stage of the public beta highlighted some minor issues with our AFP implementation, all of which have been addressed within the new release. Over the next month we will be releasing further regular updates, which will obviously address any future issues as well as adding the remaining features not yet released. These will include desktop protection for Mac OS X clients, authenticators and timetabling. At the end of the public beta period, which only covers Mac OS X, we will release the full version, which will include a Configuration Manager for running on either Mac OS versions 7.5.3 to 9.2.2 or Mac OS X and client software for all of the covered Mac OS versions. MacAdministrator 3 will therefore provide one central point for the network administration and control of all of the specified Mac OS clients directly connected to any server providing AFP or AFP/IP. To assist with the process of obtaining updates, the latest Configuration Manager includes an improved version of the "Check for Updates" feature. This will automatically find and download any updates available on our FTP server. The evaluation period built into MacAdministrator 3.0 Public Beta has been extended from 30 days to 60 days to accommodate the full beta program.
MacAdministrator 3 (Public Beta) for OS X has been released today (January 13th) and is now available as a download from Hi Resolution. Please complete the download request form in order to receive the access details for the evaluation copy. As a public beta, we have only included the client and configuration manager for Mac OS X. The full release will contain clients for both Mac OS 7.5.3 to 9.2.2 and Mac OS X. Furthermore, we will be posting a series of updates during the course of the next month, which is the expected period for the public beta program. This will enable Hi Resolution to stage the public beta testing and evaluation of the various components of MacAdministrator. MacAdministrator 3 represents a substantial development to the award-winning Version 2.5, and includes many enhancements for all versions of the Mac OS. During the public beta period, we would appreciate any comments or issues being emailed to support@hi-resolution.com. A listing of the features included within the initial public beta release and the features to be staged during the course of the next month are detailed below. MacAdministrator 3 introduces a new form of protection called Software Regeneration, where the MacAdministrator Client will automatically restore the machine to its original state if altered, by accident or malice, by the user. Software Distribution and Asset Management are features that have also received substantial investment, delivering on a belief that the ability to quickly and efficiently manage and account for software and hardware resources from a single point will save customers from what can be extremely time, labour and cost intensive tasks. MACADMINISTRATOR 3 FEATURES LIST - PUBLIC BETA RELEASE DATED 13th JANUARY 2003 FOR MAC OS X Authentication
MACADMINISTRATOR 3 FULL FEATURES LIST - STAGED OVER PUBLIC BETA PERIOD FROM 13th JANUARY 2003 Authentication
Hi Resolution Systems is pleased to announce the release of MacPrefect 5.1. We have also reduced the pricing for the product for both new licenses and upgrades, making it the most comprehensive and competitively priced product for Macintosh security. MacPrefect 5 is an extensive upgrade to our previous version 4. There are many new features and updates to ensure on-going compatibility with the Mac OS from 7.5 to 9.2.x. The completely new user interface makes it the most powerful, logical and easy to use version of the product to date. MacPrefect 5 is an extensive desktop security software solution. It protects each machine unobtrusively from user error to levels determined by the system administrator. This award winning software has become the de facto security standard in educational or corporate environments where multiple users have access to Macintosh computers. To request further information, or to download a demo, please fill out our Download Request Form
Features include:
The new user interface provides extensive drag and drop technology, or selection between allowed and disallowed listings as required. |
