SWF2Go v2.0 has been released.

Some of the (new) features include:

• Easy to Use: The best and
  complete professional SIS installer and SWF launcher
  toolkit, now with new redesigned user interface.
• Broad Compatibility: Support
  for all versions of Adobe Flash Lite Player (1.1,
  2.0, 2.1, 3.0+) and all versions of Symbian S60 3rd
  Edition (9.1, 9.2, 9.3+).
• Industry Standard: Produces
  Symbian Signed and Express Signed compatible SIS
  installers. Used and trusted by industry leaders as
  well as many small startup companies.
• Advance Extensions: With
  support of Python for S60 and Net60 (.Net CF)
  runtimes, make powerful Flash Lite applications. Use
  existing Open Source frameworks or make your own
  customized solutions.
• Intelli-Launch Technology v2:
  • Python for S60 background script launcher
  • Net60 (.Net CF for Symbian) background
    process launcher
  • Support for custom installation paths,
    including /private folder for better protection
    of Flash Lite applications
  • Intelligent detection and start of SWF with
    the latest on-device Flash Lite player
    Info-note with URL to download Flash Lite from
    Adobe's website, if Flash Lite is not detected
    on mobile device
  • Support to launch multiple Flash Lite
    applications simultaneously
• Make Try-Before-Buy: Make trial version of
  applications with one click. Show a splash screen
  during trial, and optionally open Buy Now link at
  end of each trial run.
• Additional Features:
  • Option to export PKG and SIS source for
    making customized SIS installer
  • Option to keep temporary SIS source files
    for making customized / advance SIS
  • Optionally display of readme and/or license
    agreement during SIS installation
  • Embed other SIS files into main SIS (Flash
    Lite Player / PyS60 / Net60)
  • Supports build automation by XML project
    files and command-line compiler option
  • Express-Compile technology helps rapidly
    build SIS file(s) in seconds
  • Integrates with Windows Explorer to quickly
    compile SWF2Go Project files with right-click
    context menu

You can download it at www.swf2go.com.

We have a long-standing commitment to supporting the educational needs of minority and female students who are interested in being part of the video game industry. By providing this support to the ESA Foundation's Scholarship Program, we hope to allow deserving individuals to further their education and expand workplace diversity within our industry.

• Rock Band 2
• Madden 08
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl
• I-Play Bowling

Filed under: Games, Utilities, Web services

Need to know whether or not your rig can handle the new game you're eyeing up? Head over to System Requirements Lab and fire up Can You Run It.

The browser-based utility will check your hardware configuration against the requirements for the game you select and quickly tell you whether or not you're good to go. The assessment runs very quickly (about 30 seconds) and provides both an overall mark and individual ratings for each component (cpu, ram, OS, video, hdd).

SRL already has an impressive list of games to rate against, including titles like Spore, Bioshock, GRID, and (sigh) Second Life. Speaking as a tech, this is a great way to quickly show a customer why their new game won't run on their haggard old PC.

Can You Run It works in both Firefox and IE.

[via Freeware Genius]

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Although many small businesses begin with only one or two members of staff - the founders - most growing businesses quickly recognise the need to create a larger team. Not only can this spread the workload but a well-selected team can bring in more energy, creativity, drive and knowledge than the founder alone might possess. A small, closely-knit, highly motivated team can be an unstoppable driving force.

The authors of The Beermat Entrepreneur call the members of this core team 'cornerstones'. They suggest that the ideal mix is one entrepreneur providing strong leadership, surrounded by four 'cornerstones' - one for sale, one for finance, one for product development and one for project delivery and customer service. In real terms, most small businesses cannot afford such a big team, and don't really need it to begin with. However, even bringing one other person in to the business can make a huge difference to its success during the first year or so.

In many cases, the original team will be composed of the founder, or founders, and one or two relatives or friends who have been roped in along the way. This works well if everyone is committed to the success of the business and prepared to work hard. As we've seen the early days of a business are defined by long hours and a painfully demanding workload - there is no room for the half-hearted or unenthusiastic. Not only will they not pull their weight, but they will sap everyone else's enthusiasm too.

I've heard it said 'never work with friends or relatives' and it's true that in some cases this leads to disaster. However, a team who like each other - and have a friendship beyond the business - can also be extremely efficient and powerful.

Jude, Business adviser

Remember that just because you enjoy spending time with someone socially it doesn't mean you will like working with them. Ask yourself what they would be like to work with. Are they hardworking? Enthusiastic? What do they have to offer your business? Try to find people whose skills compliment yours, who can bring something to the business that fills 'gaps'. For instance, if you are fantastic on the finances but weak on marketing, you need to find someone who can bring something extra to the marketing side of the business.

A recent London Business School survey of CEOs found that they considered the major factor that had contributed to the success of their businesses was 'selecting the right people with good attitudes who are loyal to the company and who want to excel in their careers'.

Defining Roles

Whether you decide to go into business with others as equals or you employ them as part of your original team, it is very important to define roles carefully. Everyone needs to know what is expected of them and where the boundaries of their 'area' lie. In businesses with two or more equal partners a lack of clarity about roles can be a major source of conflict, taking up valuable time that might be better spent focused on other aspects of the business. If you have a management team, you need to give them space to fulfil their roles and feel that their contribution is valued. This doesn't mean handing over control, final decisions will still rest with you (or if they don't you need to be clear about exactly who is the boss - only one person should take this position or squabbling and infighting can result).

Consider the following key roles and divide them between your core team. You should all be clear on who is going to take each role.

Business leader - who takes the final decisions? In other words, the boss.

Sales person - who sells to your customers? Identifies customers and carries out your customer research?

Finance person - who manages the money and the associated administrative work?

Supply management - who locates suppliers, negotiates with them and maintains adequate supply levels.

Core business - who does the core tasks of your business, by which we mean the things that your business is actually about? This might mean making a product, providing a service or something else.

Marketing and PR person - who promotes your business to potential customers and raises the profile of your business?

Some of these roles overlap, so good communication is also of key importance to your business.

Importance of Role Clarification

People do either one of two things in a business - they either add value or they add cost. There are no grey areas.

One of the most important ways to ensure that your core team members are all adding value is to help them clarify their roles.

There are a number of different aspects to role clarification:

Prescribed role - This is what the business uses to set down the individual's overall goals and objectives. It is usually called a 'job description' or something similar and it sets out the person's responsibilities, authority, and key tasks, as well as their position in the business hierarchy.

While this is a useful starting point, it does not take account of personal differences and changes in circumstances such as growth of the business or the need to cover weak performances by others.

Personalised role - the prescribed role is only part of the picture. These are factors internal to the individual which will affect the way he or she performs in the role.

This includes their abilities, skills and strengths, as well as their expectations of the role, their assumptions (about the role, the business, the sector. etc.), their values and ambitions.

Perceived role - the perceptions and expectations of others in the business will have an impact on the individual. For example, they will have their own views on what the priorities of the role should be as well as the boundaries: 'I don't think Sales Managers should...'; 'I expect you to...' These can limit or restrict the way a person performs, but if expectations are high and positive they can raise the person's game, enabling them to perform to their full potential within their current role.

From the Business Team at Learning Curve; offering a range of unique development programmes for small businesses.

About the Author

Director of Studies at Learning Curve Home Study, one of the UK's leading distance learning providers. Learning Curve offers home study courses in a range of subjects, including Business development courses.