Month: January 2003 (Page 5 of 6)

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has issued Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 1.1 and Mobile SVG Profiles as W3C Recommendations. SVG 1.1 separates SVG capabilities into reusable building blocks, and SVG Mobile re-combines them in a way optimized for mobile devices. The graphical capabilities of SVG 1.1 are the same as those of the widely implemented SVG 1.0 , which has been a W3C Recommendation since 4 September 2001. What has changed is the way the language is defined. For SVG 1.0, the DTD was a single, monolithic unit. In SVG 1.1, the DTD is divided up into smaller, more flexible functional building blocks that can be reassembled in different ways for different purposes. W3C has used the SVG 1.1 building blocks to make two profiles or subsets of full SVG; SVG Tiny, aimed at multimedia capable cellphones such as the recently announced 3G units, and SVG Basic for handheld and palmtop computers. Instead of sending text messages or canned, bitmap logos, SVG Tiny now makes it possible to send a colorful animated multimedia message. As Mobile SVG is a true subset of SVG 1.1, all conformant desktop players will correctly display all Mobile SVG content. www.w3.org

CambridgeDocs announced the xDoc Converter, a tool for migrating unstructured content from legacy sources, including Microsoft Word, HTML, and Adobe PDF documents into any XML schema (XSD) or DTD. The xDoc Converter is a dedicated platform and IDE specifically designed to help businesses transform pre-existing unstructured HTML and Microsoft Word documents into “meaningful” XML, such as DocBook XML, LegalXML, NewsML, HR-XML, SCORM, and other customer-specific schemas. The resulting XML can be used for content management, multi-channel publishing, and syndication via Web Services. The xDoc Converter allows ordinary programmers or IT personnel to create a set of generic “conversion” rules through the use of a point-and-click interface. The xDoc Converter is a Java 2 platform with a .NET interface, and it works on Windows 2000 and Windows XP. In addition to its point-and-click interface, the xDoc Converter has in-depth reference manuals and product tutorials, and example rules for converting documents into DocBook XML. The application can be downloaded for immediate evaluation and purchase from www.cambridgedocs.com

GlobalSCAPE the maker of the file transfer application, CuteFTP, announced the launch of its new Web content management system, PureCMS, offering a simple, affordable way for users of all skill levels to update their organization’s Web site. PureCMS is Web-based and Windows-like. Users access it from a browser, it runs on a server with Microsoft IIS and it can publish to any Web server. Non-technical users simply browse to a copy of their organization’s Web site on the PureCMS staging server, click the page they want to edit, login and make textual or graphic changes on screen. They can copy and paste content into the Web page from Windows applications such as Microsoft Word. Once proposed changes are saved, that individual’s team leader is notified of pending activity via e-mail. They are able to visually compare proposed changes to the previous version, approve, and publish, or schedule for publishing. Out-of-the-box installation that can be fully operational in a day. PureCMS is available immediately from GlobalSCAPE based on a tiered, per-user license basis. Pricing begins at $350 per user and is available for 3, 10, 20 and unlimited users. www.globalscape.com/purecms

Global Moxie announced the immediate release of Big Medium, a content management system that makes it easy to manage dynamic, fast-changing websites. The software’s browser-based interface allows non-technical staff to add, edit and publish Web content without needing to learn HTML. Designed to fit within the technical resources and budgets of even the smallest businesses and non-profits, Big Medium delivers power and flexibility to organizations that typically find themselves unable to access or afford Web management tools. Big Medium is a suite of Perl scripts that runs on UNIX servers, including Linux, Mac OSX, Solaris and FreeBSD. Big Medium can manage hundreds of websites on a single server, allowing organizations to provide individual departments, products, employees, teachers or students with their own sites. Big Medium was designed to help manage content-rich, frequently updated sites such as news sites, marketing sites, corporate intranets or education sites that require daily, weekly or monthly updates. Big Medium is available today from the Global Moxie website and is licensed for $299, with free updates for one year. The product runs on servers operating the UNIX operating system, including Linux, Mac OSX, Solaris and FreeBSD. www.globalmoxie.com

DataPower Technology, Inc. announced the immediate availability of the DataPower XS40 XML Security Gateway, a network device purpose-built to secure XML-based applications at wirespeed across the entire enterprise with ease. The XS40 device combines wirespeed performance, comprehensive security and agility to allow enterprises to overcome the largest barrier to adopting XML Web Services both internally and externally. With XG3 – DataPower’s XML processing technology – the XS40 is able to parse, validate schema, decrypt, verify signatures, transform, sign and encrypt XML message flows with the wirespeed performance necessary. The XS40 integrates XML/SOAP filtering, encryption, digital signatures, and data validation at the message level or at the XML field level. The DataPower XS40 XML Security Gateway is shipping today. www.datapower.com

Veridocs announced that XMLdocs Beta Version is available free for a limited time. XMLdocs is a hosted, Web-based system for creating and managing user-friendly XML content management solutions. XMLdocs Version 1, slated for release in February 2003, will be available on a hosted basis. With XMLdocs, organizations can create XML document templates for everything from press releases and product descriptions to knowledge-based articles and help documents. Using these templates, non-technical users write XML documents in XMLdoc’s XML word processor. Documents can then be exported for publication on a Web site or elsewhere through a simple Web Service.

Open Text Corporation and Eloquent, Inc. announced that they have entered into a definitive acquisition agreement in which a wholly owned subsidiary of Open Text will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Eloquent for cash consideration of up to US $6,720,000, or approximately $0.34 per share, of which US $1,000,000 will be held in escrow to secure certain representations, warranties and covenants of Eloquent in the acquisition agreement. The purchase price is also subject to downward closing adjustment based on Eloquent’s net cash at closing as described in the acquisition agreement. The companies expect the transaction to close in the next 90 days subject to certain conditions, including approval by Eloquent’s stockholders. Eloquent’s “sales readiness” solution, LaunchForce, is designed to deploy corporate knowledge to front-line employees and partners. Benefits of integration with Open Text’s Livelink include: enhancing Livelink MeetingZone with live video conferencing and rich automatic archiving, adding Livelink for Sales Readiness to the Livelink Application Portfolio, and adding collaboration and knowledge management capabilities to LaunchForce. www.eloquent.com, www.opentext.com