Lutris Technologies, Inc. announced Lutris Enhydra Professional 3.0, the latest Lutris-certified and supported version of the Open Source Enhydra Java/XML application server. The product includes an integrated suite of development and deployment tools for consultants, system integrators and corporate IT departments building Internet and wireless applications. Lutris Enhydra Professional 3.0 is the latest addition to the Lutris product family, which includes Lutris Enhydra Standard currently available from Lutris, and Lutris Enhydra Enterprise scheduled for release in the fall. The professional version includes an integrated suite of tools that speed overall development and deployment of Enhydra applications, enhanced support for development of wireless applications, comprehensive documentation, and additional customer support. Lutris Enhydra Professional 3.0 supports wireless development with the inclusion of a wireless development tutorial, and a wireless development kit that includes versions of the YoSpace WML browser–an all Java Nokia phone emulator, and the WAPtor WML editor. Using these tools, developers can build applications that transparently support varied devices such as PCs, phones, PDAs, and kiosks. Integrated development and deployment technologies include InstantDB, Inprise’s JBuilder Foundation 3.5, and PostgresSQL 6.5.3. InstantDB, an Open Source all Java relational database provides developers with the convenience of an easy to install, standards-based development database. The comprehensive set of award-winning development tools in JBuilder Foundation 3.5 offer developers an integrated environment from which to develop their entire application. Forte for Java Community Edition 1.0 from Sun is also included on the product CD. Pricing for Lutris Enhydra Professional 3.0 has not yet been announced. The product is scheduled for release next month. www.lutris.com
Category: Content technology news (Page 512 of 638)
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IBM alphaWorks has posted two new Java tools in XML messaging and intelligent software for developer feedback — SOAP for Java Q and ABLE — as part of IBM’s ongoing efforts to promote open standards on the Internet. SOAP for Java Q XML-based messaging technology has better synergy with other Internet standards than its predecessor. ABLE provides a framework and graphical editor for constructing intelligent software agents in Java. The SOAP specification defines a simple, Internet-friendly way of using XML to send messages and to access services. SOAP is important to e-business because it provides a flexible, natural way of building applications of which pieces are distributed across networks. With XML and SOAP, each business can choose its own internal implementation technology, such as Enterprise JavaBeans, Microsoft’s Component Object Model (COM), or traditional languages such as COBOL. In addition to HTTP, SOAP services can now be accessed through a variety of message transports. For example, bindings could be defined to IBM’s MQseries, or to electronic mail messages (SMTP). SOAP data representations and structures have been aligned with the proposed W3C XML Schema language, and it is now possible to apply those encodings in a much broader range of message patterns (e.g., streaming, one-way, multicast, etc). Using SOAP, any business can access a service, such as a parts catalog, or send a purchase order, to or from any other business. SOAP makes it easy to bind to the programming language or object system of the developer’s choice. SOAP’s built-in support for Remote Procedure Calls (RPC) also makes it easy to invoke methods on remote objects, using XML and HTTP, so developers can use SOAP to create distributed systems within their own organizations. This posting on alphaWorks is in Java, and is designed to work well with Websphere and other servlet-based systems. IBM and Tivoli’s ABLE is an agent construction toolkit based on the JavaBean architecture. Targeted to the needs of Java application developers, academicians and researchers working on intelligent agent software, ABLE provides an extendable library of JavaBean software components, called AbleBeans, that includes inferencing and learning algorithms. ABLE’s graphical Agent Editor allows users to quickly construct and test intelligent agents. The library of reusable AbleBeans provides forward and backward chaining inferencing, fuzzy reasoning, genetic search algorithms, and neural network learning capabilities. Application developers can focus on the unique requirements of their application and use the intelligent AbleBean components to create solutions. ABLE is designed to allow Java application developers to easily construct hybrid intelligent agents out of IBM and third-party software components. ABLE provides a flexible mechanism for integrating software agents with Java client and web applications. www.alphaWorks.ibm.com
POET Software announced a third major release of its popular B2B eCatalog management solution. Targeted specifically for the emerging class of eSuppliers, POET eCatalog Suite Supplier Resident Edition is a comprehensive supply-side solution for creating, managing, and distributing custom eCatalogs to customers, eProcurement networks and eMarketplaces. The release of POET eCatalog Suite Supplier Resident Edition expands catalog management with a browser based interface for online access by buyers to manage their eCatalog requirements, an expanded schema for multi-supplier aggregation, and complete scheduling capabilities across POET eCS’ range of functions. For suppliers using SAP’s R/3, tailored data extraction has also been added. POET eCS supports all major eCatalog exchange formats as well as data export to websites and print catalog applications. Using POET eCS, suppliers import content to a central eCS data repository, or “master catalog” of products. Buyer profiles store each recipient’s preferred catalog content, contract pricing, and preferred commodity codification system, which are customized to reflect the supplier’s specific attribute, media, and industry requirements. A powerful transformation engine creates custom eCatalogs in all major catalog formats, including xCBL, cXML, and BME-CAT. For other XML and flat file formats, the Catalog Developer’s Kit (CDK) facilitates rapid creation, customization and deployment to ensure all customer requirements are met. With POET eCS, each eCatalog is customized for the user, destination, and protocol. POET eCS Supplier Resident Edition will be available in mid- June with pricing starting at $60,000. www.poet.com
webMethods, Inc. announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Active Software, Inc. in an all-stock transaction. This acquisition brings together two vendors whose software solutions address the integration requirements of global companies and industry trading exchanges, both within the enterprise and across B2B trading networks. The companies expect that the transaction will close during the third quarter of 2000, pending completion of customary closing conditions and receipt of Active Software and webMethods stockholder and required government approvals. Under the terms of the agreement, Active Software’s stockholders will receive 0.527 of a share of webMethods common stock in exchange for each share of Active Software common stock. The transaction, valued at approximately $1.3 billion based upon the Friday, May 19, 2000 closing price of webMethods common stock, is expected to be accounted for as a pooling-of-interests. Approximately 13.6 million shares of webMethods stock will be exchanged for all outstanding shares of Active Software. webMethods was advised by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, and Active Software was advised by Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Thomas Weisel Partners. Until now, companies have been forced to adopt separate solutions for uniting internal business processes, and then sharing and integrating these processes with external trading partners, either directly or via B2B marketplaces and trading exchanges. Upon completion of the acquisition, Active Software’s products and operations will be combined with webMethods. Phillip Merrick will continue in his role as president, CEO and chairman of webMethods, with Jim Green, Active Software’s CEO, joining the team in the role of CTO and executive vice president, product development. Green will also join the webMethods Board of Directors. Other members of the Active Software management team will join the webMethods management team. Active Software’s Santa Clara, Calif. offices will become the West Coast headquarters of webMethods. The combined companies will have nearly 600 employees worldwide. www.webmethods.com, www.activesw.com
Vignette Corporation and OnDisplay, Inc. announced that they have signed a definitive merger agreement under which Vignette will issue 1.58 shares of its stock for each outstanding share of OnDisplay. The combination of Vignette’s V/5 suite and OnDisplay’s XML-based business-to-business infrastructure products will create a comprehensive offering for companies building businesses online. OnDisplay’s B2B infrastructure products enable organizations to integrate more closely with their customers, suppliers and business partners through the real-time exchange of information and transactions. OnDisplay’s XML technology allows critical business information — such as purchase orders, inventory status checks, invoices and product catalog data — to be integrated, aggregated and exchanged between multiple suppliers and distribution partners quickly and efficiently. This functionality increases a business’s online selling effectiveness and extends its trading networks to suppliers and vertical marketplaces through secure, guaranteed online connections. Together, Vignette and OnDisplay will offer eBusiness applications that power automated cross-enterprise transactions and highly personalized end-user interaction. B2B commerce requires automation of business transactions between trading partners and integration of back-office systems with Web-based commerce systems. For example, purchase orders implemented as cXML based transactions or connections to ERP systems using standard XML interfaces will increasingly be required for online marketplaces and the companies who wish to participate in them. Combining the business process automation capabilities of OnDisplay with the real-time personalization, analysis and content management capabilities of Vignette’s V/5 eBusiness platform will enable companies to tightly coordinate their suppliers and distributors to create true “collaborative” commerce. With the acquisition, Vignette will have approximately 2,000 employees, 870 customers and global operations — from the U.S. to South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. In a stock-for-stock, tax-free transaction, each outstanding share of OnDisplay will be exchanged for 1.58 shares of Vignette. Based on fully diluted shares outstanding and both companies’ closing price as of Friday, May 19, this transaction represents a purchase price of approximately $1.7 billion. Vignette will account for the transaction using purchase accounting and expects to close the transaction in the third quarter, subject to approval by OnDisplay’s stockholders and other customary closing conditions. www.vignette.com, www.ondisplay.com
Market-Touch Corporation announced the latest release of its hosted Web solution, Market-Touch version 2.5. Market-Touch Corporation integrates XML technology with its DataGem Server to fully enable personalized, 1-to-1 marketing and sales collateral creation. The latest version of its software includes simplified content management features, usability enhancements, and improved Internet performance. With the introduction of the DataGem XML Tag Language, marketing departments can now empower their sales forces with automatically generated, personalized documents that are consistent with the look and feel of any collateral they have traditionally used. When a sales representative generates a dynamic document, Market-Touch retrieves relevant information from the DataGem Server and structures and formats it according to the rules in the XML template. The result is a professionally written, corporate-standard document that conveys exactly the right message for each and every prospect. Prior to version 2.5, Market-Touch provided ten templates for dynamic documents. Now, customers can create any number of document templates. As a hosted Web application, all enhancements to Market-Touch 2.5 are free to current customers, and do not require upgrades, updates, or customer-side IT or administrative support. Using the Market-Touch SMART implementation methodology, new customers can be up and running in as few as 3 weeks. Market-Touch 2.5 includes mobile support for the Palm VII Connected Organizer and integration with leading SFA solutions. www.market-touch.com
OverDrive Inc. and Microsoft Corp. announced a comprehensive set of authoring tools and services to enable publishers to easily create eBook titles based on Microsoft Reader with ClearType display technology. A beta version of the initial product, ReaderWorks Standard — which enables individuals to convert content from Microsoft Word, HTML, ASCII, OEB or image files into Microsoft Reader format — is available via free download from the ReaderWorks Web site. Through its ReaderWorks family of products, OverDrive offers publishers tools and services to join the eBook revolution. Individual authors, as well as large-scale production houses and datacenters, are able to easily and economically build eBook titles and repositories for Microsoft Reader. ReaderWorks Standard is a free Microsoft Windows-based application that enables users to build and customize Microsoft Reader-enabled eBooks from Word documents and HTML, ASCII, images or Open eBook Specification files. ReaderWorks Publisher is an upgrade that prepares Microsoft Reader-compatible titles for sale and distribution by eBookstores. With ReaderWorks Publisher, eBook authors can answer a few questions about their title and create XML files that contain marketing and copyright protection data in ONIX, XrML and Microsoft Digital Rights Management architecture. ReaderWorks Software Developers Kit includes developers tools for integrating the automated production of eBooks in Microsoft Reader format. ReaderWorks SDK also permits software applications to add “save as Reader” support. ReaderWorks Professional is a suite of eBook conversion and quality control tools for volume producers of LIT files (Reader format) in a batch environment. OverDrive and its network of VARs offer publishers a range of education, training and conversion services, including turnkey systems. The ReaderWorks Standard beta version is available free of charge at www.readerworks.com. The other products in the ReaderWorks suite are expected to be commercially available within the next 90 days; pricing has not yet been announced. www.overdrive.com
Worldweb.net announced their third generation content management solution, Expressroom I/O, which enables content to be entered from and delivered to multiple formats and devices. Because of its XML and Java-based open architecture, Expressroom I/O expands content management beyond just managing and delivering content on the Web. It enables syndicated content, live news feeds, and legacy information to be managed and delivered to multiple sources including web pages, cell phones, and other wireless devices. Expressroom I/O provides a reliable and scalable foundation for obtaining and creating content from multiple sources. Expressroom is then able to manage the interaction and deliver the content across fixed and wireless communication channels such as those using Wireless Markup Language (WML). Expressroom I/O uses XML to provide a highly sophisticated content management solution that is targeted to both web professionals and everyday users. It is designed to create, manage, deploy and deliver web content. Non-technical contributors effectively control content input and design/layout issues by using Graphical User Interfaces that provide a collaborative environment for managing XML-described site components. Content input and design/layout issues are separated from web site administration in Expressroom I/O, empowering non-technical end-users with the ability to make real-time content changes ‘on the fly’. Expressroom site components are managed within a versioned, access-controlled, and XML-aware asset manager. It is then deployed to a page server that performs just-in-time transformation of XML-described content into any delivery format needed. By fully separating the web site development environment from the deployment environment, Expressroom I/O supports distributed content delivery for thousands of users and millions of page views. Newly supported inputs and outputs of Expressroom I/O include: WML, Kinecta Syndication Server. ScreamingMedia, QuarkXpress, and Oracle 8 and 8i databases. Expressroom I/O will be available at the end of Q2, 2000. Expressroom is sold on a monthly or annual subscription basis. www.worldweb.net
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