HAI (Home Automation, Inc.), a leading manufacturer of integrated automation and security products, has announced a new software product ‘WL3′ for Windows Home Server. WL3 is an Add-in for a Windows Home Server that allows you to monitor and control your HAI Home Control System from any device with a web browser, including the newly announced iPhoneT 2.0, iPod TouchT, BlackBerryT, Smartphone, computer, PDA, etc.

The WL3 allows you to change your home’s temperatures, adjust the lights or security settings, or view any supported camera securely and easily. WL3 automatically configures supported UPnP IP cameras on your home network and allows you to manually configure other IP cameras on your network or cameras that reside anywhere on the Internet. It also allows you to view and record video from cameras in your home or from public IP cameras around town, such as traffic and weather cameras.

When the WL3 for Windows Home Server Add-in is installed, it is continually monitoring your home. It can inform you of events such as the alarm system being disarmed or activated, a car entering the garage/driveway, or even if the wine cellar door or pool gate has been opened.

Microsoft will release a version of its internet browser that will make surfing the web with mobile phones just as good as desktop computers. This Internet Explorer Mobile software will be released by October.

MS is also set to release an update to its Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system targeted at BlackBerry. It will enable workers to have email “pushed” to devices from their company’s enterprise servers.

PointDev, a small software company found that Sony was using pirated version of their software. They raided the place and found four servers running pirated software. Sony BMG was using a pirated license for one of its system administration tools which is really a matter of shame. If one company software was found pirated, many others must be there too. We can’t blame Sony also here but head officials must not aware of it and some notorious people must have done it to save them from buying software or does the Sony feels ashamed of buying software from smaller companies?

Microsoft has released the beta version of its latest browser, Internet Explorer 8 and is now available for public download. Click here if you want to head straight to download page which offers many flavors’ of IE 8 for different versions of windows. There are many new features added this time which can grab attention like WebSlices which is much like a feed reader, better toolbar, improved phishing filter and crash recovery. Crash recovery will not close the entire browser but will retain all other tabs and recover the crashed tab! Nice!! It’s really frustrating when you click and nothing happens and then you know its going to show that ‘not responding’ message.

Handwritten schedules at restaurants were a troublesome job because of errors and wastage of time. But now with service like Schedulefly, employees get the whole restaurant scheduling as a text message on their cell phone. This online scheduling is great for facebook users also as they can simply add Schedulefly to their profile and get updates on schedules. People who use this service and many restaurant owners have found this employee scheduling excellent for their business.

AOL to finally discontinue its not so successful browser Netscape. They tried many times to give life to it but when Firefox and Opera were gaining popularity, Netscape could not survive and it’s now official that Netscape will be discontinued for ever. Last release of this browser was Netscape 9 which used both Firefox and IE engine. For the few who use this browser, security fixes will be available till Feb 1, 2008.