So why do hundreds of thousands of new subscribers happily sign up every year to pay Lynda.com a monthly fee to learn software like Excel and Photoshop? lot of Lynda's early traction came from teaching software that students couldn't learn elsewhere. The web is full of free how-to articles and videos. And, more importantly, what can YOU learn from Lynda.com's business about creating content that people want to pay for?

Autobytel operates a network of consumer-focused, automotive websites, focusing on providing automotive information and connecting consumers with auto dealers. Tags: software autobytel automotive executiv Irvine-based Autobytel announced this morning that it has bolstered its executive ranks, hiring Zane Rathwick as the firm's Vice President Development for IT. Rathwick joins the firm from Local.com and Kelley Blue Book, and has previously served as Senior Director at Autobytel.

Pasadena-based Guidance Software has expanded its line of products this morning to include a new security tool. The firm said today that it has rooled out EnCase Cybersecurity, a new product for detecting malware, detecting sensitive information on corporate networks, and more. Pricing on the new software was not released. The new product augments existing antivirus, firewall, and other cybersecurity tools. Guidance develops digital forensics tools used by law enforcement, the government, and others for computer investigation.

Aliso Viejo-based Quest Software disclosed this morning that the firm is planning its own, e-discovery software, which it said it will launch in the third quarter of the year. discovery software is used by companies to store and manage documents and records in relation to legal actions. According to Quest, its e-Discovery Manager will help IT, HR, records managers, and legal investigations E-discovery Pricing on the new software was not released.

Pasadena-based Guidance Software, which makes software used for digital forensics, has signed on the Securies and Exchange Comission (SEC) for a renewal, the firm announced Monday. Guidance said that the SEC is using the firm's EnCase Enterprise and Encase Forensic software. Both software packages are used for searching and indexing digital information on computers and file servers, without The products are used for both criminal and civil investigations. Financial impact of the renewal was not disclose

Irvine-based Epicor Software , disclosed this morning that it is shipping a new version of the firm's IT service management software, Epicor ITSM. According to Epicor, the software--used by companies to manage their information technology service operations--includes improvements to both performance and stability, as well as support for MIcrosoft's latest operating systems and software, including Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, and 64-bit operating system versions. READ MORE>> ...Tags: Tags: epicor software managemen

Santa Barbara-based 15desks , a developer of software-as-a-service for educators, said this morning that the firm has launched a new product for course management. The firm said its product will allow educators, students, parents, administrators as well as others share resources, get information about grades, and other educational information. Tags: 15desks software saas education school universit The firm said it is privately funded, and first launched in 2007 at the University of Santa Barbara. ...Tags:

Pasadena-based X1 Technologies , the document indexing and search software firm backed by Idealab, disclosed this morning that it has released two upgrades to its software. Among the updates is a new release of its X1 Profesisonal Client software, and a new versino of its connector to the Symantec Enterprise Vault product. X1's search software is targeted at enterprise customers, and indexes and allows X1 said the new update of its client adds improvements for IBM Lotus Notes and Mozilla Thunderbird; the updated connector provides faster results searching Symantec's archiving product.

Los Angeles-based SOA Software, which develops software for the enterprise SOA market, said today that the firm has partnered with Compuware, a provider of software and services for the IT market. SOA software develops products used to manage and build service-oriented-architecture (SOA) projects; Compuware will provide expertise and services in the mainframe industry. According to the firms, the two will partner on accelerating adoption of mainframe SOA. SOA is a set of standards based on XML and SOAP used to connect information from enterprise software products.

The firm--which is a spinout of automotive configuration software firm Zag--said it will provide consumers with a "Price Report" showing the full distribution of prices paid by other people, for the exact same vehicle, in a consumer's local area. Tags: truecar automotive pricing shopping information pric Santa Monica-based TrueCar has officially launched its new car pricing site today, saying that it is now providing consumers with details on the prices paid for people on cars in their area. The new service is free, and is based on automotive transactions within the last four