Summary
This week, Microsoft extended the official support period for Office 2004 for Mac. This support period was previously scheduled to expire in 2010. Now, the support period will end in 2012.
This means that any faculty, staff, or student that has been holding off from upgrading to Office 2008 due to lack of VBA (or simply to delay buying a new Mac) can delay a little further. Please remember – a new version is coming soon. On the horizon is Office 2010 for Mac. This new version will return both VBA support as well as Outlook to the suite of office applications.
More Info
As of Monday, May 26, 2009, WaveNet
login usernames must be entered in all UPPERCASE letters. Passwords are not affected. We are working with the vendor to correct this situation that was a result of the recent maintenance performed on WaveNet. This issue does not affect usernames used for any systems other than WaveNet.
If you have trouble accessing WaveNet, please clear your Web browser cache. For instructions on clearing your browser cache, go to: https://wikis.pepperdine.edu/display/ITHELP/Configure+Your+Web+Browser
. (If applicable, ignore any "License Error" message and scroll down for browser instructions.)
If you have any questions, please contact the Anytime Support Desk at 310-506-4357 (HELP) or 866-767-8623 (toll free in the USA).
Google updated its Chrome Web browser to version 2.0. On the whole, most sites suggest that the new version is stable but does not include vast enhancements that merit fanfare.
Pepperdine does not recommend or support the Google Chrome Web browser. Instead, we strongly recommend the Mozilla Firefox Web browser for all platforms.
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Summary
There is a known security issue with Apple Mac OS computers. This security vulnerability relates to Java and Web browsers.
We recommend that all Apple users use extra caution when browsing the Web and consider disabling Java in your Mac Web browsers unless browsing to Pepperdine services.
Learn More
UPDATE: Adobe released patches for these specific issues on March 10, 2009. Users should use the "Check Updates" feature of their Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat product and install these fixes as soon as possible.
Summary
On February 19, 2009, Abobe has released information about a new security vulnerability in its Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat applications. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Acrobat and Reader (7, 8, and 9). Adobe considers this security flaw critical and is working on a patch. "Adobe is planning to release updates to Adobe Reader and Acrobat to resolve the relevant security issue. Adobe expects to make available an update for Adobe Reader 9 and Acrobat 9 by March 11th, 2009. Updates for Adobe Reader 8 and Acrobat 8 will follow soon after, with Adobe Reader 7 and Acrobat 7 updates to follow."
Products Impacted
- "Adobe Reader 9 and earlier versions"
- "Adobe Acrobat Standard, Pro, and Pro Extended 9 and earlier versions"
What You Should Do
- Keep your anti-virus software up-to-date
- Avoid opening or downloading unsolicited PDF files on the Web or email
- Continue to use caution when surfing the Web
Learn more:
- Official Adobe Release (http://www.adobe.com/support/security/advisories/apsa09-01.html)
- MacWorld Article (http://www.macworld.com/article/138943/2009/02/adobe_vulnerability.html)
Summary
Frontline Systems has released the Solver add-in for Microsoft Office 2008. When Microsoft removed Visual Basic for Applications from MS Office with the release of Office 2008, Solver was one of the missing add-ins. This new release adds this popular tool back to the application for Macintosh.
Download:
Learn More:
http://www.macworld.com/article/135353/2008/09/excel_solver.html
Blackboard identified a configuration issue on one of our two Blackboard application servers. This created a conflict that allowed the Content System to work half of the time. Sessions on Application Server 1 worked fine, while sessions on Application Server 2 would time out or result in an access error.
As of early morning on Wednesday, August 27, Blackboard fixed the configuration issue. The problem seems to be resolved – with the system stable and fast. However, we will continue to monitor the situation and work with Blackboard to address any outstanding issues.
We apologize for any inconvenience and thank the community for their patience.
Some members of the community are reporting issues with the Blackboard Content System ("My Content" tab and WebDAV access to those user folders).
Issues are intermittent and generally present the following symptoms:
- Clicking the "My Content" tab leaves the frame empty with the page loading until it times out. Attempting the same access via a different browser (Firefox or Internet Explorer) may resolve the issue.
- Accessing a Web Folder of a "My Content" user folder may present an error message. Attempting again or a few minutes later may resolve the issue. Some users report that after successfully accessing "My Content" via the Blackboard Web site and returning to the WebDAV folder resolves the issue.
The problem has been reported to Blackboard. Blackboard will be restarting the application Friday, August 22 at 11:00 PM to apply new SSL security certificates to our hosted applications. This restart may also restart the Content System application and resolve connectivity issues.
We will continue to monitor the problem and escalate to Blackboard if the system restart does not fix the issue.
August 2008. Thanks to a generous donation, the Seaver College Business Administration Division installed new financial markets technology in the CCB (Center for Communication and Business).
CCB 300 - Student Lounge
- New 20-foot, Tri-Color LED Market Ticker Installed
CCB 301 - Finance Classroom
- New 12-foot, Tri-Color LED Market Ticker Installed
- New LCD TV installed, steaming currencies, commodities, and other financial data
August 2008. This summer as part of Seaver College's annual "major equipment" refresh process, three (3) classrooms have been upgraded with new projection and audio-visual equipment.
CCB 140
- New Projector Installed
- New A/V wall-mounted control center installed
- DVD/VCR combo deck wall-mounted
CCB 303
- New Projector Installed
- New A/V wall-mounted control center installed
- New DVD/VCR combo deck installed at instructor table
- New connection installed for portable document camera
- New media remote available to control DVD/VCR anywhere in the room
CCB 340
- New Projector Installed
- New A/V wall-mounted control center installed
- New DVD/VCR combo deck installed at instructor table
- New connection installed for portable document camera
- New media remote available to control DVD/VCR anywhere in the room
A big thanks goes out to IT's Presentation Services team for coordinating the installations of the above equipment.
Pepperdine University has licensed the Elluminate Live! online virtual classroom and collaboration service. This is an extremely robust online communication tool that enables faculty to conduct online courses, hold online office hours, facilitate group project collaboration, and more.
How do students access Elluminate in Blackboard?
- Go to the course in Blackboard
- Click "Communication" in the left navigation "Tools" box
- Scroll down and click "Elluminate Live!"
If you'd like to make access even easier, simply add a link to your course navigation.
- Go to your course
- Click "Control Panel"
- Click "Manage Course Menu" (bottom left in "Course Options" box)
- Click "+ Tool Link" button
- Select "Elluminate Live! Scheduling Manager" in drop-down list
- Name the link "Elluminate"
- Click "Submit."
The Blackboard 8.0 upgrade has completed successfully. The upgrade included a hardware upgrade on the application servers as well as a software upgrade to the latest version of Blackboard 8.0.
The system was back online by 10:30 AM on Friday, August 15. The upgrade took much longer than Blackboard projected.
The system is online and accessible to all Blackboard users.
New to Blackboard 8:
- New Grade Center
- Elluminate Integrated
- And more...
Known Issues:
- Old Java Collaboration Tools not working. The old Blackboard collaboration tools ("Chat/Office Hours" and "Virtual Classroom") are not working under Blackboard 8. Blackboard is aware of this issue and working on a hot fix to address the problem. All users are encouraged to use the new and much more robust collaboration tool, Elluminate.
Scheduled Upgrade: Blackboard 8.0
Blackboard will be unavailable Tuesday August 12, 2008 & Wednesday August 13, 2008 for System Upgrade
Summary:
Pepperdine will be upgrading its hosted Blackboard service from version 7.2 to version 8.0. Blackboard will be unavailable from 6 AM on Tuesday 8/12/2008 until Thursday morning 8/14/2008. Blackboard hosting projects that the upgrade will take 26 to 48 hours.
Resources Being Changed:
The Pepperdine Blackboard hosted service is being upgraded from version 7.2 to version 8.0
Change Benefits:
The latest version of Blackboard will be available for use by the Pepperdine community.
Impact on End Users:
System will be completely unavailable 6 AM on Tuesday 8/12/2008 until Thursday morning 8/14/2008.
Proposed Start Date/Time:
6 AM on Tuesday 8/12/2008
Duration:
48 hours
Solver Coming Back to Office 2008
Microsoft is working with Solver creator, Frontline Systems, to bring the Solver add-in to Office 2008 for Mac. When Microsoft developed Office 2008, it removed Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) from the product. Popular add-ins, like Solver and Analysis Toolpak, relied on that VBA component.
By popular demand, Microsoft's Macintosh Business Unit (MacBU) has partnered with Frontline Systems to return Solver to Office 2008. A solution is expected mid-September 2008.
More information can be found here:
http://www.officeformac.com/blog/Solver-For-Excel-2008--Available-By-Mid-September
http://www.officeformac.com/blog/Excel-2008-And-Solver
http://www.solver.com/mac/