31 March 2003
Reported, written and edited by David Duberman
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Web
Crossing, Inc. last week shipped Web Crossing version 5.0, with a new
customization and extensibility architecture that offers appearance themes,
page component options, and plug-ins. Web Crossing v5.0 is designed for
administrator control of the appearance and functionality of its collaboration
tools, including a new WebFiles system for mirroring files from a browser.
Several free plug-ins, themes and customization modules have also been made
available.
The new
plug-in architecture in Web Crossing v5.0 lets administrators add and update
software modules. Plug-ins are available for an array of functionality, such as
Weblogs, RSS feeds, personal and shared calendars, WebMail, visitor comments,
polling, brainstorming, rating auctions, wiki Web and more. Other plugins are
available that let administrators provide extra functionality to their
end-users.
The
WebFiles mirroring system allows for managing server files by mirroring the
file system from a Web browser. When used with Web Crossing's new built-in Web
publishing feature, users can create and edit home page directories via most
browsers. All files that are added or modified via WebFiles or FTP are
automatically synchronized in real time with the host file system.
Administrators
can customize all or part of a site with new themes and layouts using the
"one-click customization" manager. A site's look can be customized
across the entire site or within an individual section, such as a single
discussion area or distinct HTML directory. Overall appearance themes now
include a new default "tabs" theme with editable dynamic tabs,
cartoon colors and pinstripes themes, and an empty theme. Standard page
component options provide choices for folder views, message views and toolbars.
http://wci.Webcrossing.com/cgi-bin/Webx.cgi/50buildnotes
Also new from the company is Web Crossing Express, a free integrated Web Crossing Web/Mail/FTP
server platform. Web Crossing Express runs on Windows, Macintosh, Linux,
FreeBSD, Solaris and other Unix operating systems providing Web, FTP and Email
(POP/SMTP/IMAP) servers in Web Crossing's integrated environment.
http://www.Webcrossing.com/home/products/expressfeatures
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Just out
from Macromedia is Flash Communication Server MX 1.5 for interactive, rich-media
audio/video applications such as on-demand video, live event broadcasts, Webcam
chat, and recorded video messaging. New features include support for HTTP
Tunneling, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), Linux, and MP3s; enhanced audio support
and administration; and a new, improved model for adding capacity.
http://www.macromedia.com/go/commserver/
Macromedia
also announced a free Developer Edition of Macromedia Flash Communication
Server MX 1.5. The Developer Edition is a fully functioning, but
capacity-restricted, version of the server that application developers can use
to learn the product and author applications.
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Parasoft
last week released WebKing 4.0, software that automates error-prevention
practices for Web development teams: static analysis, functional testing and
load testing. It's designed to let organizations automatically verify the
functionality, performance and accessibility of their Web sites and
applications, as well as verify specialized requirements, without scripting.
WebKing's
new automatic static-analysis feature serves as an automated code review,
inspecting source files to pinpoint code that could reduce application
accessibility, functionality and usability or impair transformations and
updates. During static analysis, WebKing analyzes Web sites to automatically:
New
functional testing and regression testing features verify that designated user paths
execute correctly. WebKing can record an application's most popular paths by
analyzing server log files, and can automatically generate unique paths or
record paths defined using a path-creator browser.
An
enhanced load testing feature provides virtual users and ready-to-run load test
scenarios to test the scalability of Web applications. This feature can
customized to use different user paths, tools, traffic combinations and load
distributions, and can include realistic scenarios based on an analysis of
server log files. It can also distribute virtual users across remote server
machines to simulate extremely large loads or test from different locations.
New data
source support allows users to populate forms with values from an existing data
source, streamlining the form population process and increasing the scope and
comprehensiveness of functional testing. WebKing can populate form input
elements with data sources such as CSV files, databases, Excel spreadsheets,
and tables created using WebKing's internal table editor.
New
integration with the Parasoft Global Reporting System (GRS), a component of
Parasoft Enterprise Solutions, which collects and synthesizes results from
WebKing and other Parasoft or third party tools. Team members and leaders can view
and analyze activity related to a given team, project or developer.
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New from
Macromedia is Flash Player 6 for Pocket PC 2002, enabling developers and
publishers to deploy content and applications to Microsoft Windows Powered
Pocket PC 2002 devices.
Developers
can publish standalone Macromedia Flash device content and applications that
can play full-screen outside of the browser, such as games, applications, and
kiosks. Developers interested in delivering executable Macromedia Flash
projectors can license this version of the player for $499. There is no cost to
end users.
Also new
is the Macromedia Flash Player 6 developer kit for Pocket PC 2002. The kit
includes a content development kit, an interface design policy kit, and a set
of optimized user interface components for the Pocket PC.
Users can
download the free developer kit at http://www.macromedia.com/go/devkit_fp6_ppc/.
Flash
Player 6 for Pocket PC 2002 is available as an ActiveX control, or developers
can license the standalone Macromedia Flash Player for creating projectors for
$499, available through the Macromedia Online Store (http://www.macromedia.com/go/buy_fp6_ppc/).
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WebWare
Corporation last week released ActiveMedia Access, an enterprise-ready digital
asset management system for under $50,000.
ActiveMedia
Access is engineered for the enterprise but designed for the needs of the
workgroup. It enables enterprise workgroups, creative agencies, video
post-production facilities, and similar environments to create a digital
library for rich media: key graphics, layouts, illustrations, slide
presentations, and video.
ActiveMedia
Access is built on the Web services-based ActiveMedia 4 content management
engine, used by marketing and sales portals at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Scripps
Networks, Charles Schwab, and Boeing.
ActiveMedia
Access lets project managers assign business rules to a company's digital
assets at the workgroup level without the need for database administrators or
outside professional services. It also allows authorized users worldwide to
access, approve, track, audit, and transform key product and marketing content
instantly and securely over the Internet. As needs change, the software can be
scaled to become a global enterprise digital asset management repository.
Workgroup
features include:
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Pinnacle
Systems last week announced Liquid purple version 5, a software-based networked
DV editing and effects solution designed for broadcasters and video
professionals. Like Pinnacle's new Edition v5 software, Liquid purple v5
delivers real-time 3D as well as 2D effects, integrated DVD authoring, background
processing, and analog video output. In addition, Liquid purple v5 includes
support for Pinnacle's Palladium Store networked storage systems and Vortex
networked news systems for easy deployment in collaborative workflow solutions.
Liquid purple v5 can either be deployed as a desktop solution or on a laptop
for mobile editing.
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New from
Turbo is AfterBurn 3.0 by Sitni Sati, $495 software for rendering of realistic
effects ranging from clouds, smoke, dust, and explosions, to liquid metals,
water and various procedurally defined "hard" objects.
New
features include:
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Global
Haptics, creator of the spherical Georb controller for working with 3D graphics
software, recently announced more programs it's compatible with. Compatible
software spans both open-source and commercial products, including Rhino3D,
Java3D, VTK, ParaView, and VRPN. This is in addition to the OpenGL and DirectX
interfaces already developed.
The
plug-in to Rhino modeling software was created by software partner BEAR Code.
http://www.bear-code.com/global_haptics.htm
Java3D is
Sun Microsystems' 3D API (application programming interface) for use with
scalable, platform-independent Java applications.
http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/3D/
VTK
(Visualization Tool Kit) is an open-source 3D toolkit used for scientific
visualization applications
ParaView
is an open-source 3D scientific visualization application built upon VTK. It
was developed by a consortium of three national laboratories, for use in
visualizing large 3D data sets generated from parallel computing applications.
http://www.paraview.org/HTML/Index.html
VRPN
(Virtual Reality Peripheral Network) is an open-source VR program that creates
an interface between virtual reality programs and user interface tools,
including interface devices such as VR headsets and position trackers.
http://www.cs.unc.edu/Research/vrpn/index.html
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New from
Digital Anarchy is 3D Assistants EZ for Adobe After Effects. Based on the 3D
Assistants Pro package, the $99 EZ version is a collection of six keyframe
assistants that let users manipulate, animate and arrange layers in 3D space.
The 3D
Assistants EZ are keyframe assistants that are integrated with core parts of
After Effects and allow manipulation of attributes and properties of layers
within After Effects.
Features
include:
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Autodesk
division Discreet and Anark Corporation have partnered to bring media artists a
multimedia and Web 3D toolkit. The Anark Studio / Discreet plasma Bundle is
available now and sells for the suggested retail price of US $995, a savings of
US $700 versus purchasing the products separately.
Discreet's
plasma software and Anark Studio together give artists, designers and
developers 3D tools for creating real-time, interactive, 3D experiences,
including corporate multimedia communications projects, interactive learning
projects, and entertainment presentations across a variety of mediums-such as
DVD, CD-ROM, kiosks, and the Web.
Users can
leverage cross-product integration, sharing 3D models, interactive 3D, video,
audio, and 2D images.
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Lightweight
yet powerful, Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript) from Microsoft is used
by developers in four main areas: server-side Web applications using Active
Server Pages (ASP), client-side Web scripts using Internet Explorer, code
behind Outlook forms, and the automation of repetitive tasks using Windows
Script Host (WSH). In spite of the popularity and utility of the language, the
documentation that accompanies VBScript can be described as lean, at best.
"VBScript in a Nutshell, Second Edition," by Paul Lomax, Matt Childs,
and Ron Petrusha (O'Reilly, US $34.95), offers reference for programmers and
system administers who want to develop effective scripts in any of these four
areas.
Updated
for VBScript 5.6, WSH 5.6, and ASP 3.0, the new book includes introductory
chapters, a new chapter that introduces the Windows Script Component for
creating binary COM components, and an appendix that documents the Script
Encoder. The main part of the book is an alphabetical reference to the VBScript
language and the Scripting Runtime Library. Each entry has a standardized
listing with the following information:
Chapter 7,
"Windows Script Host 5.6," is available free online at: http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/vbscriptian2/chapter/index.html
For more
information about the book, including Table of Contents, index, author bios,
and samples, see http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/vbscriptian2/
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Scheduled
for April 21-24, 2003 at Oregon3D is a four-day "MaxBustion" class
that emphasizes the combined use of Discreet 3ds max and combustion software
for an integrated 2D and 3D production pipeline.
Taught by
Gary M. Davis, topics for the class include workflow for creating 3D renderings
with the compositing process in mind, using combustion as a paint tool within
3ds max, and the different advantages of RLA/RPF images versus rendering
elements.
Additionally,
the MaxBustion class focuses on using 3ds max to generate footage for the
tracking and particle tools in combustion. The Backburner network rendering
system will also be discussed in detail. Students are encouraged (but not
required) to bring footage and/or projects of their own and should already have
a fundamental knowledge of Discreet's 3ds max prior to this training session.
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Developers,
system administrators, IT managers, and power users are invited to submit
proposals for the second annual O'Reilly Mac OS X Conference, taking place at
the Westin Santa Clara in Santa Clara, CA from October 27-30, 2003.
The
conference program committee is seeking a range of presentations, from
overviews of cutting edge projects, to practical, hands-on advice from
presenters who are immersed in the nuts-and-bolts operation of Mac OS X, as
well as those who are creating its future. They're also looking for proposals
aimed at CIOs and design managers evaluating a switch or trying to understand
the latest tools and techniques. Proposals on scripting, particularly
AppleScript, as well as topics that address applications, hacks, sys admin Mac
style, Unix relationships, networking, and the iApps are especially welcome.
"Without
a doubt, Mac OS X is the coolest and most powerful platform around today. We
want this conference to capture what people find exciting about Mac OS X,"
observes O'Reilly & Associates founder and president Tim O'Reilly.
"Individuals and institutions are 'switching' in droves, and innovative
applications are appearing first on the Mac."
The
conference begins with one day of in-depth tutorials, followed by three days of
sessions covering the landscape of Mac OS X development: technologies,
methodologies, and techniques, oriented to two principal audiences:
The
conference program committee also hopes to have a substantial number of talks
aimed at power users.
Individuals,
companies, and project teams interested in making presentations, giving a
tutorial, or participating in panel discussions are invited to submit
proposals. Proposals will be considered in two categories: tutorials and
conference presentations (sessions). Session presentations are either 45 or 90
minutes long, and tutorials are either a half-day (three hours) or full day
(six hours). Presentations by marketing staff or with a marketing focus will
not be accepted; neither will submissions made by anyone other than the
proposed speaker. Session proposals should be a thoughtful summary or abstract;
outlines are preferred for tutorial proposals. Please provide enough information
for the committee to understand the topic being covered.
Proposals
are due May 14, 2003. Speakers will be notified of acceptance by June 30, 2003.
If you're
interested in joining or moderating a panel discussion, or otherwise
contributing to the conference, send email to macosx-idea@oreilly.com.
For
complete proposal submission details, visit: http://conferences.oreilly.com/macosxcon/
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Sony
Computer Entertainment America last week released Primal, an action-adventure
developed for PlayStation2 by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, Cambridge
Studios, creators of the MediEvil series. Combining exploration and puzzle
elements with an advanced combat system, Primal plunges players into a battle
between order and chaos.
The game
features two playable characters: Jen Tate, a modern-day girl who is
discovering her own supernatural origin, and Scree, a stone gargoyle who is
Jen's ally in the immortal universe. In order to succeed in the adventure,
players must control both characters and determine in each situation whose
skills to employ: Jen's combat skills that take shape in one of her four
different demon forms or Scree's power to possess statues, absorb energy,
translate demon language and climb and explore areas.
Complementing
the combat scenes are the sounds of L.A.-based 16 Volt, an alternative rock
band that supplied nine tracks, including three songs specifically written for
Primal from the album "SuperCoolNothing V2.0" released by Dark City
Music.
Primal is
set within a large environment featuring four realms surrounding a central hub.
The realms are equally divided between two separate rulers of chaos and order,
each populated by a unique demon race living in a habitat that enhances its
demon abilities. After Jen acquires the demon form specific to each realm,
Ferai, Undine, Wraith, and Djinn varieties, she is able to transform at any
time into that demon in future quests. A dynamic loading system allows for
uninterrupted gameplay between levels, and magical portals act as links and
"windows" into other worlds. Additional technological features
include seamless character morphing between Jen's human and demon forms,
particle effects, and environmental effects such as fog and mist.
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Blizzard
Entertainment last week began shipping The Lost Vikings for Game Boy Advance -
the company's first title under its recently formed Blizzard Classic Arcade
label.
Players
employ the skills of three unique Viking characters cooperatively to solve
puzzles, conquer enemies, and navigate the Vikings' treacherous voyage back
home. Features include over 35 levels, numerous enemies, and hundreds of
puzzles.
In order
to advance through levels, players must learn to master the abilities of the
powerful runner Erik the Swift, the burly defender Olaf the Stout, and the
unyielding swordsman Baleog the Fierce. As the adventure continues, players
will encounter many different worlds to explore, including Prehistoria, Egypt,
The Great Factory, and Wacky World.
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Just out
from Sony Computer Entertainment America is Amplitude, a music-gaming title for
PlayStation2 developed by Harmonix Music Systems. The rhythm-action game lets
players to test their skills in mixing and remixing hit songs by shooting
musical notes in various musical environments in both off- and online gameplay.
Surrounded
by interactive environments with graphics and video that are synchronized to
each artist's song, players re-create their favorite songs in a spaceship that
shoots and captures vocals and instruments such as drums, bass and guitar. In
addition, players can create custom remixes, in single- and multi-player modes.
With six
different game modes, including online play, players can mix music, play
against four other players without a split screen, participate in an online
multi-player live jam session, or just play solo remix mode.
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New from
Electronic Arts is The Sims for Xbox and GameCube. Players can create and
control their Sims with level-based gameplay, two-player modes, and dynamic 3D
graphics.
Players
can create and explore in a new 3D world of The Sims. The title features a new
level-based mode called "Get a Life," where players can start with
just one Sim and move him or her through life's big moments including moving
out of Mom's house, getting a job, and having a family. As players progress
through new challenges, they will unlock console exclusive objects. A love tub
and aromamaster are some of the items Sims will discover and use to spice up
their lives. Both versions will also feature the classic Sim-style open-ended
gameplay.
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GarageGames
last week launched Marble Blast as the premiere download from Lindows.com's
Click-N-Buy Warehouse. Marble Blast was first available on Linux in February,
and now Lindows.com is the first site to distribute directly a GarageGames
game.
The Linux
platform so far has accounted for nearly 20% of the game's online sales. This
was the first game built on GarageGames' own Torque Game Engine to be
published. Originally based on the technology behind "Tribes 2," the
Torque Game Engine has multi-platform support for Windows, Mac and Linux
built-in.
http://www.lindows.com/marbleblast
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Arush
Entertainment and Groove Games announced last week that developer Digitalo's
first person shooter Devastation is shipping to North American retailers at
MSRP $39.99. The game features 22 single-player missions and 14 levels for
multiplayer, plus the ability to choose to play in either Arcade mode or
Simulation mode, each with varying degrees of difficulty.
Developed
with the Unreal Engine technology and enhanced with Digitalo's own OFX particle
system, Devastation pits a team of Resistance fighters against armies of
corporate shock-troopers in a battle through a dark and desolate future Earth, trapped
in a technological dark age. The single-player game plays through linear
story-driven missions in the first half, and then more open-ended combat with a
true team-centric focus in the final missions.
Online
multiplayer game types include Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag
and a new team-based gamestyle called "Territories." The game also
ships with an editor so fans can build and play in their own maps. Devastation
also incorporates MathEngine's Karma physics system, allowing for ragdoll
deaths and giving players the ability to interact with their environment.
Players can pick up objects and move them around to block pathways, throw items
to cause distraction, and make improvised weapons.
http://www.DevastationGame.com
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Spectrum is an independent news service published every Monday for the interactive media professional community by Motion Blur Media. Spectrum covers the tools and technologies used to create interactive multimedia applications and infrastructure for business, education, and entertainment; and the interactive media industry scene. We love to receive interactive media/online-development tools and end product for review.
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- David Duberman
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©Copyright 2003 Motion Blur Media. All rights reserved. No reproduction in any for-profit or revenue-generating venue in any form without written permission from the publisher.