For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Naomi Pearce
Pearce Communications
510/528-0824 mailto:naomi@well.com
SOPHISTICATED CIRCUITS SHIPS REBOUND! 2.0 SOFTWARE UPGRADE
-- Significant Upgrade for ADB Auto-Restart Device Offers Smarter
Application Crash Detection and Recovery, Crash Avoidance and
Advanced Logging --
WOODINVILLE, Wash., July 21, 1999 -- Sophisticated Circuits, Inc.
today announced it is shipping Rebound! 2.0, a significant software
upgrade for its popular ADB auto-restart device, with advancements in
automatic crash detection, recovery and prevention, plus new advanced
logging and event messaging features. The Rebound! 2.0 software
upgrade is available immediately from the Sophisticated Circuits' Web
site at (http://www.sophisticated.com/). The software-only upgrade is
priced at $19.95 for currently registered users or free to anyone who
purchased Rebound! in 1999 with proof of purchase. New Rebound! units
complete with version 2.0 software are available for $99 directly
from Sophisticated Circuits at (http://www.sophisticated.com/).
"We have consistently strived to make computers easier to use by
creating tools that make them more reliable," explained Jonathan
Feinstein of Sophisticated Circuits. "This upgrade takes us a large
step closer towards our goal of a completely self-maintaining
computer. The result is an extremely cost-effective, powerful
hardware/software system that provides the maximum up-time for any
computer with the minimum effort, even if the administrator is on
vacation."
Smart Recovery
Rebound! 2.0 continuously watches all running applications and
detects when one unexpectedly quits. It can also relaunch a single
failed application, leaving the rest of the system operating
normally. If an application repeatedly fails over a short period,
Rebound! can restart the entire system.
Additionally, Rebound! 2.0's new "bookmarking" capability offers
administrators the option of restoring the system exactly the way it
was before a crash. Anytime Rebound! 2.0 restarts the system, it can
automatically relaunch all applications that were running on the
computer at the time it crashed.
This all-encompassing application monitoring rounds out Rebound!'s
automatic detection and recovery capabilities to three complete
levels:
* system-level crash detection;
* application crash detection;
* advanced application monitoring for software supporting SCI's
"application timers."
"With three different methods of tracking, Rebound! 2.0 can respond
appropriately to almost every type of application and system
failure," explained Jonathan Feinstein of Sophisticated Circuits.
"This translates into fewer hassles and more up-time. It also follows
our philosophy of attempting the least disruptive response first, so
that services that have not been affected by the failure are not
unnecessarily disrupted."
Status Information When & Where You Need It Rebound! 2.0's new log
interface keeps a detailed log of system activity, including crashes,
restarts and application launches and quits. In addition to logging,
Rebound! 2.0 can now immediately forward high- priority alerts via
e-mail or a pager (when integrated with PageNow! from Mark/Space
Softworks). Rebound! can also send copies of log entries to other
computers, allowing logs to be gathered in one central location -- a
huge advantage for administrators responsible for machines at
multiple remote sites. An included W*API plug-in allows
administrators to view Web server logs from any browser. Rebound! is
fully AppleScriptable, allowing other applications to send log
entries, and allowing administrators to create customized automatic
error responses.
Crash Avoidance
Rebound! 2.0 includes scheduled periodic restarts of the computer, to
prevent crucial problems before they occur. Automatic system restarts
provide regular "house cleaning" to help eliminate common problems
and performance degradation caused by gradual memory leaks or
fragmentation during long, uninterrupted use.
Advanced Monitoring Has Wide Industry Support Reound!'s advanced
application monitoring using patent-pending "Application Watchdog
Timers" to detect several additional error conditions which can cause
an application to fail without actually quitting. Third-party
developers add a few simple routines to their programs to let
Rebound! monitor their internal workings.
A free, open-source PowerKey Tickler WebServer Plug-in is available
that adds this support to any W*API-compatible application. Most
major Mac server-related software vendors currently support
Sophisticated Circuits' Application Watchdog Timer technology in
their products, including: Apple Computer, Inc.; StarNine
Technologies, Inc.; Maxum Development Corp.; Imagina, Inc.; Purity
Software, Inc.; Tenon Intersystems; Stalker Software, Inc.; Spider
Island Software; MDG Computer Services, Inc.; Social Engineering
Inc.; and Fog City Software.
Price and Availability
The Rebound! 2.0 software upgrade is available immediately from the
Sophisticated Circuits' Web site at (http://www.sophisticated.com/).
The software-only upgrade is priced at $19.95 for currently
registered users or free to anyone who purchased Rebound! in 1999
with proof of purchase. New Rebound! units complete with version 2.0
software are available for $99 directly from Sophisticated Circuits
at (http://www.sophisticated.com/).
About Sophisticated Circuits
Founded in 1984, Sophisticated Circuits, Inc. is a privately held
corporation located in Woodinville, WA. Sophisticated Circuits, Inc.
develops elegant, highly integrated hardware/software tools which
make the lives of computer professionals easier by enhancing the
reliability, remote access and automation capabilities of servers and
personal computers. Further information on Sophisticated Circuits may
be obtained by accessing Sophisticated Circuits' Web site at
(http://www.sophisticated.com/), calling 800-769-3773, or sending
e-mail to info@sophisticated.com. International inquiries can also
reach Sophisticated Circuits by calling +425-485-7979, or sending a
fax to +425-485-7172.
