eZ Systems announced the availability of the release candidate version of eZ Publish 4.3. Following the beta 2, made available a week ago, this release candidate should be the last pre-version before the final edition is shipped. This version will include a redesign of its administration interface to provide a better experience to editors, some improvements to RSS publishing, better User Generated Content (UGC), improvements to the Enterprise Search Plug-in eZ Find to offer more capacity to handle multilingual content repositories, the full certification and support for eZ Teamroom. http://ez.no
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Kentico Software announces the Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award, which is a one year industry recognition given to individuals based on their community participation and evangelistic activities in the CMS and .NET communities. The very first person to be honored with the Kentico Most Valuable (MVP) Award is Richard Pendergast for his contributions to the Kentico community, represented especially by the Kentico Developer magazine he founded and manages. Kentico MVPs are selected from hundreds of Kentico CMS experts located within any of the 83 countries where Kentico CMS is being used. To receive the Kentico MVP Award status, individuals can submit their application at Kentico web site. These submissions will then be reviewed by a board of Kentico executives. The MVP program offers its members a number of benefits, such as a free license, participation at selected industry events at Kentico`s expense, exclusive access to beta versions of Kentico CMS, etc. Kentico MVP status is valid for one year, after which the status is reviewed. http://www.kentico.com/
Enfocus announced the availability of five new configurators for Switch 09. The Switch family of products are designed to automate repetitive tasks, as well as standardizing their work. Configurators allow the integration of applications and can automate third-party software application tasks without the need to manually launch those applications. Microsoft Word now includes a configurator, which allows all Word documents to be automatically opened and saved in PDF, XPS or PDF/A formats on Windows (using an add-on) and some other popular formats. Elvis from DutchSoftware.com is a Media Asset Management system for the media, creative and corporate communities. Using the Switch configurator, processes like image enhancement and color correction for Elvis assets can be automated and integrated into workflows. WoodWing's Enterprise is a publishing system that provides content management for the production of print and online publications for newspaper, magazine, book and corporate publishers. Linking this platform to Enfocus' solutions automates the delivery of multimedia content to a variety of output channels. The GMG configurator offers a workflow integration that automates color management with the GMG color management solutions ColorServer and InkOptimizer 4.6. It sends PDF, TIFF and JPEG files from within Switch to ColorServer/Optimizer, allows the set-up of parameters and receives status information (success, warning, error) to track all jobs in the entire workflow. The Switch Configurator is based on the GMG FlowConnect technology and enables job ticket-controlled, automatic and flexible handling of jobs. The new Switch 09 configurators are supported in FullSwitch and PowerSwitch 09. If you are not a Switch 09 user, an evaluation version is available as well. http://www.enfocus.com
DocStoc has released a customized document viewer, allowing users to create embeddable, branded document viewers. This feature is open to all DocStoc users and customizable features include the logo, buttons, links, and color of the viewer. The viewer itself resembles DocStoc’s normal document viewer, and users can directly download documents from DocStoc which will also convert any historical uploads automaticly. Also included in the viewer is the ability to implement streams of ads, which is operated by DocStoc, who will share in advertising revenue with the publisher. DocStoc recently had launched a new marketplace for professional documents and has 3 million registered users. http://www.docstoc.com/
Inmagic has launched the latest release of Inmagic Presto, an application for creating and managing Social Knowledge Networks (SKN). Presto 3.3 incorporates enhancements to productivity, usability, and security, and deepens integration with Microsoft SharePoint, giving users bidirectional query and access capabilities. Key Presto 3.3 enhancements include: Improved SharePoint compatibility; New methodology for deployment and performance; RSS feed enhancements; Federated search management; Security; Enhanced community and profiles: “People” as a searchable content type; Management and administration features. http://www.inmagic.com/
Box.net announced it is available as an integrated Google Apps service on the Google Apps Marketplace, Google's recently launched online storefront for Google Apps products and services. Google Apps customers can now access and share their Box.net content when logged into Google Apps, and Box.net customers can use Google Apps products within Box.net. Businesses can manage their project files, including product collateral, overview videos, various artwork and Google Docs, in a shared Box folder. From there, users can manage workflow with versioning, tasks, and commenting as well as using Google Docs to collaborate on their files. Finished work can then be published on a company-wide Google Site. Box.net also provides administration and reporting tools, including password management down to the file level, six levels of access permissions, and reports on user and file activity. Initially, Google Apps customers will be able to access, work with, and share their Box.net content with others inside of Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Sites, as well as enter the Box.net Cloud Content Management platform through Google's universal navigation links. Additionally, when in Box.net, users can create a new Google Document or Spreadsheet, as well as select a file or a folder of files to send with Gmail, schedule a meeting and link to a specific file or folder with Google Calendar, or publish to Google Sites. http://www.box.net/
Alfresco Software announced a Beta program for Alfresco SMB Edition, a cloud-based appliance designed for Amazon EC2. This new version of Alfresco Software’s ECM and social collaboration product is designed for small and medium-sized businesses (SMB). The Alfresco SMB Edition will offer a pre-configured Alfresco Cloud appliance that combines the Alfresco server, Explorer and Share modules into an on-demand offering aimed at SMBs with up to 100 users and 200GB of document storage. These appliances are hosted on Amazon EC2 and made available as paid Amazon Machine Images (AMIs). Alfresco has partnered with JumpBox, who specialize in building software appliances, to develop Alfresco SMB. Initially the beta will be restricted to US based subscribers with EU access to follow within two weeks. The program includes access to the Alfresco SMB paid AMI, although testers are expected to pay all relevant Amazon EC2 hosting fees. The Beta program will run from March 15 through May 20, 2010. http://www.alfresco.com
Coveo announced the availability of its Enterprise Search Platform Version 6.1. This latest release features new interfaces, expanded Enterprise 2.0 capabilities, additional connectivity, search analytics, and desktop and email indexing. The Coveo Enterprise Search Platform 6.1 combines structured and unstructured data from any enterprise system onto Coveo's unified index – all without moving data. This lets organizations search for information across multiple databases, including Enterprise 2.0 systems, and see the information in a single view, helping to improve decision making and operational efficiency. Key components of the Coveo Enterprise Search Platform 6.1 include: New Search Interfaces (Outlook Sidebar and Floating Desktop Searchbar), Enterprise 2.0 and Social Search elements. Coveo's connectors can now index social networking platforms including Jive and Confluence. It is also possible to create of information mash-ups and dashboards. Coveo Enterprise Search Platform 6.1 is available immediately. www.coveo.com
Socialtext has released Socialtext 4.0, which features new capabilities that span across all of the social software modules. It includes microblogging channels and filtered activity streams to help digest shared information, as well as new tools for group productivity. Socialtext 4.0 is available on all of Socialtext's deployment options, including an on-site managed appliance. Microblogging channels and filtering are also available on the Socialtext Microblogging Appliance. Collaborative Groups are the featured update designed to help circulate knowledge, ideas, and updates among team members. People can create a group for any purpose, such as to work on a task or project, or to share around a common interest. Anyone can create a Collaborative Group, complete with a group home page, activity stream of group member updates, a dedicated microblogging channel, and one or more workspaces. Collaborative Groups can be synchronized with existing groups in your company's LDAP or corporate directory, and can be configured for privacy to meet the business needs of the group. Other updated features include: Microblogging Channels, Microblogging Search, Activity Stream Filtering, Presence Indication. www.socialtext.com
Socialcast announced the availability of Socialcast Ease (enterprise activity stream engine), with an expanded technology platform designed to support enterprise collaboration through activity streams. Socialcast Ease can be deployed behind a firewall or in the cloud (with SaaS option) and can be integrated with Microsoft Outlook, so that it fits into existing workflows. Other features of Socialcast Ease Activity Stream Engine include a real-time interface aggregates information from existing business systems with employee-generated messages, including microblogging updates, into a live, searchable activity stream that provides employees with a unified view of data and activities flowing across the enterprise. An analytics suite quantifies visibility into employee trends, topics and conversations across microblogging and other social activities within an enterprise activity stream, offering live feedback and actionable insights that can generate real-time operational efficiencies. Socialcast Ease's integration with Microsoft Outlook 2007 and 2003 is the first of multiple planned integrations with business applications that the company plans to announce in 2010. http://www.socialcast.com/
