New TurningPointRed Wing Software is due to release an updated version of its TurningPoint accounting software for midsized businesses by the end of the month. The more than three dozen enhancements include cost-of-goods tracking for Sales Category set-up; better commission, aged receivables, and inventory stock status reports; time-saving improvements in invoice and order entry; quick, one-time check printing without setting up a vendor; more flexibility in statement printing; and a new add-on utility to help with invoice information from third-party software.
Price: Contact vendor.
Red Wing Software Inc.
www.redwingsoftware.com
(800) 732-9464
ACT! 2006
Sage Software has released ACT! 2006, the latest version of its contact and customer management software. Designed for individuals or small businesses with 10 or fewer networked users, ACT! 2006 has an advanced company and group tree for a more comprehensive view of group and company relationships. It also adds contacts more easily to multiple groups and companies; prints phone numbers on calendars for calls, even if they weren't listed by the user; and has enhanced synchronization, remote-user permissions and Lotus Notes integration.
In addition, Sage also announced the creation of over 40 new add-ons for ACT! The add-ons offer extra functionality, ranging from custom map creation and automatic address extraction from Web sites and e-mails, to handwriting conversion and one-click faxing. A complete list and prices are available online at www.actsolutions.com.
Price: New - $229.99; upgrade - $149.95.
www.act.com/estore
(888) ACT-2006
Whistle not included
The business world resembles third grade in many ways, not least in this: While tattletales are often encouraged by the authorities, they need protection on the playground. SilentWhistle's suite of Web and phone-based reporting systems lets whistleblowers report fraud, harassment, discrimination, safety concerns and name-calling without fear of recrimination. The suite automatically distributes reports to the appropriate people, and manages the documentation, investigation and resolution of reported cases.
The suite also provides anonymous suggestion, survey and question features, and the whole suite can be tailored to fit organizations' needs according to rules that they provide. The only thing it doesn't have is a whistle.
Price: Contact vendor for quote.
SilentWhistle LLC
www.silentwhistle.com
(866) S-WHISTLE
Timesheet 7.0
Why do they use "herding cats" as a metaphor for difficulty? Herding people is harder. Helping managers keep track of unruly employees and their outrageous spending is Journyx's Timesheet, a Web-based time and expense tracking process. The new release, 7.0, has a redesigned user interface with branding and color-scheme options, customizable toolbars, and more.
There are also more audit tracking options for changes to approved timesheets, a centralized Reports tab, enhanced search capabilities, and improved help menus. The program offers more accuracy in time- and expense-tracking, quicker billing times, and improved control over your projects, people and expenses.
Price: 20-user bundle - $2,700 for Windows, $2,550 for Unix.
Journyx Inc.
www.journyx.com
(800) 755-9878
Waaaaay wireless
Don't you just hate wires? They're always getting tangled, coming unplugged or accidentally strangling co-workers. For the wire-hater in all of us, HP's iPAQ Pocket PC h6300 is about as wireless as you can get, offering voice and data connectivity not just through GSM networks, and not just through GPRS networks, but also through Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. So you can make calls, send and receive e-mails, take and share pictures and much more, without ever seeing another wire. Unless you want to wear headphones. Expect the next generation to be able to beam MP3s directly to your brain.
Price: Starts at $579.
HP
www.hp.com
