Parallels' Windows enhancement tools save time, effort

Source: Parallels. Parallels Toolbox for Windows is a great sidekick for Windows users.

Parallels, a global leader in cross-platform solutions and creator of software for running Windows applications on a Mac, has launched Parallels Toolbox for Windows to streamline common computing tasks.

“Parallels Toolbox for Mac received an outstanding response after its initial launch last August, so we decided to bring these time-saving benefits to Windows users,” said Jack Zubarev, Parallels President. “Now, whether you use a PC or Mac, you can simply and quickly get tasks done on either platform.”

Parallels Toolbox for Windows is a go-to resource for accomplishing daily tasks, at a lower price than a single utility from competitors. Tools that save time and effort include the ability to easily download and convert YouTube videos, take specialised screenshots, block the computer’s built-in camera and record a video of your screen.

Some of these functionalities may be available in Windows but relatively inaccessible, or they may not be available at all. Users would typically have to buy a third party app to provide a single function, whereas Parallels Toolbox for Windows includes a wide range of utilities for an affordable yearly subscription.

Capabilities in Parallels Toolbox for Windows include:

• Archive: Create compressed archives from your files to save space or easily share files

• Block camera: Block the built-in camera so applications will no longer have access to it

• Capture area: Take a screenshot of a part of the screen

• Capture screen: Take a screenshot of the entire screen and save in different formats (PNG, JPEG, TIFF, PDF and GIF)

• Capture window: Take a screenshot of a single window

• Convert video: Convert many video types to MP4 so they can be played on phones and tablets

• Do not disturb: Disable notifications and animations that would interrupt your work or presentation

• Do not sleep: Prevent the computer from going to sleep

• Download video: Download video from the Internet to the computer

• Eject volumes: Eject all external hard drives, memory cards, network volumes and mounted disk images with one click

• Hide desktop: Hide icons on the desktop for clutter-free presentations

• Lock screen: Lock the screen to prevent unauthorised access

• Launch: Open several items—such as applications, folders, links or other files—all at once with just one click

• Mute microphone: Mute the computer’s microphone

• Record area: Record video from a selected area on the screen

• Record audio: Record audio from the microphone

• Record screen: Record video of the entire screen

• Record window: Record video from a single window

• Take photo: Take photos immediately using the PC’s camera

• Take video: Immediately use the computer camera to take video with the click of a button

• Unarchive: Unpack various file compression formats—such as RAR, RPM, XAR, and Z—to obtain usable files

Interested?

Free trials of Parallels Toolbox for Windows 1.0, as well as Parallels Toolbox for Mac 1.7, are available online. Each version is available for US$9.99 per year, and includes free future updates with additional tools as they are added.

Unlock leadership potential with a new tool from Hogan Assessment Systems and Sirota

On July 30th, Dr Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, CEO of Hogan Assessment Systems, a pioneer of personality profiling and psychometric testing, will take the stage at the Oasia Hotel Singapore alongside Lewis Garrad, Managing Director Asia Pacific at Sirota, a performance consulting specialist to provide a sneak peek of a new, jointly-developed employee assessment model.

The Engaging Leader tool will be released in the Asia Pacific market in October 2015 to help companies and brands better unlock hidden leadership potential. 

“The issue of poor managers is something that has plagued Asian businesses for too long, and an end-to-end solution is necessary to fix this complex problem. While Hogan’s expertise lies in profiling individual managers and developing selection systems, Sirota surveys and assesses organisational climate to help encourage more effective leadership practices. Considering less than 60% of employees in Singapore feel their company is effectively managed and well-run, combining our expertise is a no-brainer to address the local leadership problem,” says Lewis Garrad, Managing Director, Sirota Asia Pacific.

Mercer and Saville Consulting to provide global leadership solutions

Consulting companies Mercer and Saville Consulting will work together to provide sophisticated leadership assessment and development tools to corporate clients operating in increasingly complex, cross-border markets.
The two companies have signed a formal agreement in response to growing demand from corporates in emerging markets for tools that help them accurately predict the future effectiveness of their senior leaders in a rapidly changing, global context.

For the first time, companies will be able to conduct standardised, global leadership assessment in multiple languages that specifically address the needs of today’s business environment.

Together, Mercer and Saville Consulting will deliver a suite of leadership solutions. In particular, they will launch a Global Leadership Profile Tool, which brings together Saville’s psychometric testing with Mercer’s insight into how companies can develop global leadership capabilities among senior executives.

Mercer predicts that developing a truly global leadership capability will continue to become even more critical in sustaining economic success and competitive advantage across growth markets.

“Mercer’s research and experience with large corporate companies around the world demonstrates an ever-increasing need for leaders with a global mindset and an understanding of cultural and geographical sensitivities. This is now a must have for modern businesses. Traditional leadership competencies are no longer enough,” said Kate Bravery, Partner and Leadership & Organisational Performance Practice Leader, Growth Markets for Mercer.

Aptugo creates the web software you want, no training needed

Aptugo, a software tool which helps people with no programming experience to create their own websites, is now in beta* and will be available from 2015, say its developers, also called Aptugo.

"Aptugo will reduce the gap between large and small companies. It doesn't require knowledge of programming at all," emphasised Gaston Gorosterrazu, Head of Aptugo. "At the same time, having some knowledge allows the user to extend what they can do with Aptugo, as it is designed with the idea to empower the user and take him a few levels beyond." 

The Aptugo software is targeted at small business owners and can help them to tailor-make web software such as an online video library. Traditional software development is expensive, may not deliver exactly as conceptualised, and takes months. In contrast, the Aptugo tool guides users into developing their own software, completing it in minutes, the company said. 

Source: Aptugo. The Aptugo software.

Other advantages include:

• Support for different programming languages 
• Ability to reuse the basic structure in future projects
• Optimised for speed: Websites built by Aptugo respond in 40ms to 150ms without expensive hosting infrastructure. The Aptugo website is built on Aptugo, and a reflection of the response times which are possible.

Gorosterrazu said the software should deliver more value than its cost. "It will be 100% free for non-profit organisations of any size," he said.

View a video of how Aptugo works here. In the beta stage, Aptugo is limited to producing web applications in PHP. The ultimate goal is to support the creation of applications for any platform and operating system, Gorosterrazu said.

Existing registered users from Asia Pacific include those from the Philippines, India, Indonesia, and then Australia, Gorosterrazu added.

*Beta software is not fully final, so some features may not yet work as advertised.

Corporate India struggling to find women candidates for jobs

MyParichay, a Facebook-based recruitment platform, says social recruiting is now a necessity, with nine in 10 recruiters believing that a social media based hiring tool will give them a competitive advantage in gender diversity hiring.

Source: MyParichay

According to a pan-India survey conducted by the company, 85% of Indian companies surveyed mentioned that diversity is crucial to fostering innovation in the workplace. Three in four recruiters are struggling to find qualified women candidates to support gender diversity goals set by their leadership, MyParichay said, and attribute the challenge to a lack of specialised hiring tools. 

"Corporate India is looking for ways to tackle the challenges faced in gender diversity hiring," said Ranjan Sinha, Co-founder and Chairman of MyParichay. "This survey validates our thesis that social recruiting has become an essential element of today's corporate recruiting strategy and will continue to play a pivotal role in the future. MyParichay will continue innovate and bring products to market to support the goals of business leaders and HR executives."
 
Some of the key findings from the survey are:

Hiring

• Nine in 10 recruiters believe a Facebook-based hiring tool will give them a competitive advantage in gender diversity hiring, since most of the users in India are on Facebook. Currently 90 million internet users are active on Facebook.
• Companies are looking for specialised tools to help them with gender diversity hiring goals.
• Nine in 10 companies will adopt tools that allow them to target and connect with qualified women professionals.
• Only two in 10 companies have specialised tools that allow them to promote gender diversity hiring.

Branding

• Less than half the companies plan and execute brand campaigns to promote gender diversity goals.
• Four out of 10 companies have employer branding plans to promote gender diversity and hiring.

*Conducted in March 2014, MyParichay's survey polled 100 HR and recruitment professionals across various cities in India. MyParichay's Gender Diversity Hiring survey is a bi-annual survey on gender balance and diversity.