The W3C XML Schema Working Group has released the First Public Working Draft of XML Schema 1.1 in two parts: Part 1: Structures and Part 2: Datatypes. The drafts include change logs from the XML Schema 1.0 language and are based on version 1.1 requirements. XML schemas define shared markup vocabularies, the structure of XML documents which use those vocabularies, and provide hooks to associate semantics with them. Visit the XML home page at www.w3.org/XML

Mark Logic Corporation has launched xq:zone, an interactive Web site where developers can find everything they need to put XQuery to work. Developers can download XQuery software and tools, share XQuery solutions, participate in discussions and learn to write production XQuery code. XQuery under development by the W3C, and is designed to query collections of XML data, including vast amounts of disparately structured data that businesses work with every day, but do not fit into traditional relational databases. Visitors to the xq:zone site may download the Community Licensed version of Mark Logic Content Interaction Server. The Community version is not time limited and can be used to build production applications. The license will never expire, but is limited in the amount of data it can contain — approximately 50 MB. However, other editions of Content Interaction Server can be extended to handle a terabyte or more of content. The site also hosts open source software projects, including sample XQuery applications and J2EE integration tools. http://xqzone.marklogic.com

FileNet Corporation announced general availability of the latest release of its FileNet P8 architecture, FileNet P8 3.0. FileNet P8 3.0 is comprised of integrated product suites that offer customers the flexibility to buy what they need to meet specific business requirements and add additional components as required. FileNet P8 3.0 is an ECM platform that is designed to enable customers to leverage Business Process Management (BPM) capabilities throughout the entire breadth of product functionality — Content Management, Image Management, Team Collaboration, Forms Management, Records Management and Web Content Management. New features include support for two new product suites, FileNet Records Manager and FileNet Team Collaboration Manager. The solution also offers new language packs that offer the ability to download and install language-specific interfaces. FileNet P8 3.0 offers expanded operating platform support for Windows, Solaris, AIX and HP/UX. Additionally, with FileNet P8 3.0, FileNet introduces XML Web service-based access and support for Service Oriented Architectures (SOAs). FileNet P8 3.0 is now shipping. FileNet Records Manager is scheduled to ship in August 2004, and FileNet Team Collaboration Manager is scheduled for release during the fourth quarter, 2004. www.filenet.com

EMC Corporation expanded the capabilities of EMC Centera content addressed storage (CAS) with new functionality that allows customers to securely archive virtually any data type from any application running on any platform. Through a new version of Centera Universal Access software and Centera’s API customers can archive data from open systems and mainframe applications that are integrated to the API, or from applications running on Windows, Unix or Linux environments that use industry-standard protocols. The new Centera Universal Access Version 2.1 now natively provides support for: Network File System (NFS) including IBM iSeries via Integrated File System (IFS) using NFS, Common Internet File System (CIFS), FTP, and HTTP. Centera is also able to archive data from mainframe applications not- integrated to the Centera API through Bus-Tech, Inc.’s Mainframe Appliance for Storage (MAS) for Centera, which provides access to Centera via Enterprise Systems Connection (ESCON) or Fibre Connection (FICON) connections. www.emc.com

Macromedia announced the Macromedia Web Publishing System (WPS) and Contribute 3. WPS enables tens, hundreds, or thousands of content contributors to publish websites for internal and external communications. The WPS consists of the Macromedia Studio MX 2004, Macromedia Contribute 3, Macromedia FlashPaper 2, and new Contribute Publishing Services. The new Contribute Publishing Services server component allows web and IT managers to centrally manage users, roles, and website editing permissions. The application runs on Windows, Linux, and Unix servers and can be deployed to standard J2EE application environments. It enables administrators to centrally manage access to websites, integrate with enterprise systems via LDAP and Active Directory user directories, and track publishing activities across large numbers of websites and publishers. Macromedia Contribute 3 adds granular administrator control, flexible approval workflow, editing enhancements, WebDAV support, and incorporates their CSS engine. Preview releases of Contribute 3 and WPS are available. Contribute 3 and WPS are expected to ship for Windows and Mac OS X in English worldwide in August. Contribute ricing is $79 for upgrades, $149 for new users, and $699 for a Contribute six-pack. WPS Pricing is $2,499 for the starter 10-pack, $12,495 for the 50-pack, $24,990 for the 100-pack, and a single seat is available for $229. Current Contribute users can upgrade to a Web Publishing System seat for $109. www.macromedia.com

Software AG, Inc. announced that its Tamino XML Server has been updated to provide accelerated data access, advanced security and expanded query and text retrieval functions. Tamino version 4.2 now offers XML-based message persistence for auditing and tracking, business document management, and a metadata repository in support of a service-oriented architecture (SOA). The updates in version 4.2 will enable Tamino to better support multiple roles for enterprise integration and software developers. Enhancements for developers include Expanded XQuery and XPath and text retrieval functions, including thesaurus; additional indexing capabilities for rapid query execution; improved handling of standard XML schemas; and a re-designed and more intuitive online tutorial. Tamino XML Server version 4.2 is shipping in three editions: Enterprise Edition, Standard Edition and Developer Edition. Pricing begins at about $2,500 per-user for the Developer Edition (including maintenance), $10,000 per-CPU for the Standard Edition, and $25,000 per-CPU for the Enterprise Edition. Operating system platforms currently supported by all editions include: Windows 2003 Server Standard/Enterprise Editions, Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000 Professional Server/Advanced Server, Solaris 8 & 9 (64 Bit), HP-UX 11i (PA Risc 64), IBM AIX 5L V5.2 (64 Bit), Linux for Intel (SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 & Red Hat Advanced Server 2.1) and Linux for IBM S/390 and zSeries (SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8). www.softwareagusa.com

Arbortext Inc. announced it has entered into a systems integration partnership with AVIC Information Technology Co Ltd, a professional information technology company based in Beijing, China. AVICIT will work with Arbortext to provide sales, professional services and technical support for Arbortext applications as well as build and implement market awareness programs that highlight the importance of XML-based enterprise publishing. Since its formation, AVICIT has focused its research and practice on XML-based content management and information publishing applications in China. www.arbortext.com

Agilent Technologies Inc. and Scientific Software Inc. (SSI) announced an exclusive agreement for Agilent to market, sell and support SSI’s CyberLAB Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS). Agilent will market the product under its new family name, Agilent Cerity, to the pharmaceutical, chemical, petrochemical, forensic, environmental, homeland security, and food and beverage markets. CyberLAB ECMS is a Web-based electronic library that collects, organizes, indexes, stores, archives and shares electronic records, from raw analytical instrument data and reports to compliance records, MS Office documents, PDF documents, molecular drawings, pictures and video. CyberLAB automatically extracts searchable metadata from each of the files, and provides search capabilities and embedded viewers for many file types. Under the agreement, Scientific Software maintains intellectual property rights to CyberLAB ECMS and will continue to focus on new product development as well as work with technology partners to develop integrations with enterprise applications. www.agilent.com/chem/CerityECMS, www.scisw.com