SAP update slated
An SAP Production system update is scheduled to take place starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 20, and ending by 6 a.m. on Monday, May 23. SAP, ECAT and all SAPweb activity--including employee self-service, requisitioning, journal vouchers, credit card verification and work orders-will be inaccessible during this period. The Data Warehouse will be available with data current as of the close of business on Thursday, May 19. For details, visit web.mit.edu/ist/news/headlines/sapupdate.html.
Recommended systems
Members of IS&T have been working with MIT's preferred hardware vendors--Apple, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and IBM/Lenovo--to identify recommended systems for administrative and general computing on campus. IS&T has set minimum thresholds to help you in deciding when to retire existing systems and to provide guidance on new purchases. Computing Help Desk staff are also available to assist you. For presales advice, stop by the Service Center in N42 during business hours to look at demo systems, send mail to computing-help@mit.edu, or call 253-1101. For more information, visit web.mit.edu/ist/topics/hardware/.
E-mail warning
An e-mail now making the rounds urges wireless customers to sign up their cell phones in the National Do Not Call Registry to avoid calls from telemarketers.
According to MIT's carriers (Verizon Wireless, Nextel, Cingular, T-mobile and Sprint), this e-mail is misleading. No vendor sells or gives phone numbers to telemarketers, or provides any information to the national Wireless 411 directory unless the customer asks to be included. Further, customers who request to be included in the Wireless 411 directory would only have their phone number made available to people who call Wireless 411 and request their listing. The database will not be sold to third parties, and there are no plans for a printed directory.
Even if your cell phone number is not in the Wireless 411 directory, auto-dialers (the automatic dialing systems often used by telephone solicitors) may still randomly dial it. You may want to wait until you actually get telemarketing calls before adding your cell phone number to the Do Not Call Registry at www.donotcall.gov/.
New web service
IS&T has launched a service that enables web publishers to include Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds in web pages hosted on web.mit.edu. It provides an easy way for MIT web publishers to add news to their pages that updates dynamically.
The RSS service lets web publishers designate a news feed and configure various display options via a web form. The RSS output can be customized to blend in with the look and feel of a web site.
To learn more about RSS, attend a free IS&T Quick Start class. The next sessions on RSS will be held on May 19 and June 16 from noon to 1 p.m. in the N42 Demo Center. For more information, visit web.mit.edu/ist/news/spotlight/archive/rss.html.
Digitalk is compiled by Information Services and Technology.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on May 18, 2005 (download PDF).
