[sims] Sims 8 new version?

[2ilent8cho]

I just hope the SIMS 8 client will be more OS neutral i.e. browser based so it will run on Linux, Mac OS, iOS , Android and Windows.

[timbo343]

If anything, capita will want to host th DB for you and connect via a browser to their systems. Thats what i heard the long term plan was going to be for SIMS.

[caffrey]

I'm guessing this has the potential to change things in regards to the new Microsoft pricing and shifting away from Microsoft, the timing is about right too

[localzuk]

If anything, capita will want to host th DB for you and connect via a browser to their systems. Thats what i heard the long term plan was going to be for SIMS.

 

Hosted services always bring up the question of migrating existing integrated services. I mean, we have at least 8 systems that pull data from SIMS here.

[matt40k]

I'm guessing this has the potential to change things in regards to the new Microsoft pricing and shifting away from Microsoft, the timing is about right too

 

For your school?

[caffrey]

Not personally no , but I can see the potential

[matt40k]

Potential has always been there, its why folks have switched to other MIS systems and non-Microsoft software

[Barcrest]

I don't know why people are always so down on Microsoft. You can get cheaper but then you go out into the real working world and find everywhere is Microsoft. It isn't beneficial to the students for them to have to use something other than Microsoft Office and windows.

[localzuk]

I don't know why people are always so down on Microsoft. You can get cheaper but then you go out into the real working world and find everywhere is Microsoft. It isn't beneficial to the students for them to have to use something other than Microsoft Office and windows.

 

That is quite simply no longer the case. Companies are increasingly using other software and systems. Cloud services are taking over, including things like Google Apps. The OS on client machines is becoming irrelevant from the user's perspective. Even Microsoft are becoming very "un-Microsoft", with things like their soon to exist "Ubuntu on Windows 10" setup. Apple devices have made significant inroads into a large number of businesses now too.

 

Also, the attitude that it isn't beneficial is absolutely the wrong one to have in schools. Schools must teach transferable skills. So, teach how to create a presentation, not PowerPoint, spreadsheets, not Excel.

[CyberNerd]

I'm guessing this has the potential to change things in regards to the new Microsoft pricing and shifting away from Microsoft, the timing is about right too

 

Looks like it, it's Northern Ireland where SIMS8 is being trialled:

Google Apps for Education rolled out for all schools in Northern Ireland by Capita and C2k | Capita

[bobsmith]

Personally I don't have a big downer on Microsoft, Excel is the best spreadsheet program I've seen, Powerpoint is pretty useful, Word is capable (though not the best I've seen).

 

Their OSes have been improving of late and I actually find MS SQL very competent.

 

However students don't need to be qualified MS users, there are loads of jobs where they will find that other skills are far far more useful. I just feel that the MS is industry standard isn't the most compelling argument. And if there is a move away from MS maybe their education pricing will get more favourable.

[zag]

I welcome the new cloud world.

 

The days when I had to tweak SQL server settings for hours to make sims work should be long gone in my opinion.

 

As for external services, I assume things like groupcall exporter will work just as well in the cloud as they do on a local server.

 

Exciting times!

[SimonRushton]

Interesting reference to the 'big move to SIMS.net. That was a master class in wait for it, wait for, wait for it (but don't look around while you're waiting for it 'cos it will be great... just trust us. (aka The Dilbert school of software marketing)

 

Expect much more of the same as the effort to maintain hegemony ramps up in the interest of the big C's shareholders and stakeholders.

 

All good fun, unless you care about why management (don't use) information systems in our sector are so archaic compared with others.

[minimoo]

Cheshire East council seem to have touched on sims 8 in their recent user group - not sure if they've had more details from capita as I only found this online @ http://www.cheshireschools.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Forums-Presentation-Sec-Spring-2016.pdf

 

"SIMS 8 – The Next Generation

– Complete re-write from ground up

– Probably fully hosted online by Capita

– Unable to provide further information"

[DrCheese]

Hosted services always bring up the question of migrating existing integrated services. I mean, we have at least 8 systems that pull data from SIMS here.

 

Same... It would take a long time for us to migrate all those to different systems (if they even exist!)

[snagrat]

Same... It would take a long time for us to migrate all those to different systems (if they even exist!)

 

I don't see why.

 

All you do for SIMS is point to the SQL or client. The same will apply for when hosted with Captia.

 

You'll just have to update the systems to point to the new location

[localzuk]

If it has a client, and if it has the same APIs etc... It then relies on the third party tools to be able to do this too.

[zag]

I randomly came accross this today while searching for "sims next generation".

 

I am working on the next generations of SIMS, which is very exciting. We are working with new technology along with Silverlight, .net, HTML and SSRS.

A day in the life of a Project Manager at Capita - thebigidea

 

Also some stuff on Phil's twitter feed

[zag]

Bit worrying they are using silverlight though, according to wikipedia its been discontinued!!

 

Microsoft announced the end of life of Silverlight 5 in 2012. In 2013, Microsoft announced that they had ceased development of Silverlight except for patches and bugfixes. Microsoft has set the support end date for Silverlight 5 to be October 2021.[6] Silverlight is no longer supported in Google Chrome since September 2015.[7] Since Microsoft Edge does not support plugins, it also does not support Silverlight.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Silverlight

[BKGarry]

Yeah Silverlight doesn't work with Edge or Chrome.

 

Shooting themselves in the foot there it seems, but hey they could have their own propriety web browser style client. Be interesting to see what happens to the modules like NT6, Exams and FMS as well though.

[matt40k]

Typical project manager, getting the buzz words wrong. It wont be silverlight or ssrs. It'll be html5 and JasperSoft at a guess

[2ilent8cho]

I would not put it past Capita to use Silverlight, i really hope it does not this needs to be pure HTML5.

 

What i am annoyed at is how quiet they are on information, there is a high chance we will dump SIMS in a years time unless SIMS 8 comes out by then or at least is shown off in detail with a realistic time frame.

[MrMat]

I would not put it past Capita to use Silverlight, i really hope it does not this needs to be pure HTML5.

 

What i am annoyed at is how quiet they are on information, there is a high chance we will dump SIMS in a years time unless SIMS 8 comes out by then or at least is shown off in detail with a realistic time frame.

 

I'm pretty sure it's HTML5.

 

I'd imagine information will start to trickle out towards the beginning of next year.

[matt40k]

Pretty sure you could find out more if you sign a NDA, after all it'll be unwise for them to talk about all the new features when your still developing and they are playing catch up! (Ie they are having to write a web mis from scratch... Basically)

[pete]

^ So assuming they're writing it to sensibly resize/change UI at different resolutions, where does this leave all the various mobile apps?