DATABASES
Doffing Their Database Hat
There is a new Red Hat plan that will find some new database software making its market entry next week. Continuing the company’s open–source collaborative product strategy, many see this debut as a definite assault against both Microsoft and Oracle and their database offerings, with Red Hat focusing on the software management services units within various companies as targets for subscription sales. Certainly Red Hat seems ready to hop over Oracle’s fence with their new database. Already, Linux OS owned around 27 percent of the OS shipments from last year, according to IDC, with Microsoft hovering just above at 41 percent.
DATA MINING
Wireless Patterns Detected
Folk who surf using wireless devices can now be tracked by DigiMine with their new Wireless Business Intelligence service. Able to analyze data that’s contained in ISP wireless users log files, the software can analyze the info in real–time and reveals how folk are using the wireless Web. The app can not only reveal the most popular sites visited by users of handhelds, but also what promos really work best for cell phone users and the kinds of products that are being purchased from a wireless appliance. The software is a part of the company’s DigiMine–hosted data mining services and discovers patterns within random data. Partnering in the WBI initiative are DigiMine and Telephia.
DEBUGGING
Complexities Eased
TotalView, the complex code debugger from Etnus, is now in a new release with their version 5 that offers new capabilities for threaded–code debugging. However, threaded code can spawn different and invisible processes, which are referred to as child or worker threads. These are nearly impossible to find, but with TotalView 5 developers can have complete program control down to the thread level. Other capabilities include visualization of MPI queues, new compilers support (i.e., Fujitsu F90 and F95 for Linux from Lahey Computer Systems), an enhanced GUI, a dynamic call tree graph and help for displaying complex objects in C++ and F90. On June 18th, you can glom onto the debugger at the company*#146;s website.
DEVELOPMENT
More Wireless Developments
In the world of xplatform development for mobile and wireless appliances, there’s a new tool for use called the AppForge Software Development Kit and AppForge 2.0. This SDK is the first only one that helps developers use Microsoft Visual C++ to create apps and ActiveX controls for Palm OS, Pocket PC and Win32–powered appliances all through a single code base. AppForge 2.0 enables VB programmers to create apps for the aforementioned devices. This offers a smart client environment that runs on various OS and devices and, unlike thin client apps, will operate regardless of whether or not a wireless connection has been established. August of this year is when AppForge 2.0 and the new SDK will release, but in order to use the latter, developers must first sign a Development Agreement with the company. Company website for more info.
DEVELOPMENT
PHP Building Tools Released
Targeting the development of PHP–coded, database–driven web apps is the NuSphere PHPEd Advantage product from NuSphere Corp. Offered are editing tools that speed integration with back–end databases within a xplatform development environment that include debugging, deployment and editing tools for enterprise–quality web apps for leveraging core, open source components. Also included are a database tool for connecting PHP scripts and SQL databases; a code editor with color–coded visual cues and templates for commonly used script features; a built–in debugger that does not require program mods; remote deployment capabilities which include a built–in FTP client; as well as sample applications written in PHP that include a shopping cart and a conference room booking application. Company website for more info.
GRAPHICS
Raining On Your Rendering
Rendering 3D scenes with high accuracy, all the while staying "color–true", the Swift 3D LW plug–in for LightWave 3D has rolled–out from Electric Rain. The plug–in allows LightWave users to render their scenes directly to numerous vector–based file formats (i.e., AI, EPS, FLash, SVG). Models containing more than 200,000 polygons that include complex intersecting and self–intersecting objects can be readily handled and the files are fully optimized. The plug–in is built using the company’s RAViX II rendering technology.
Additionally, the company has released the plug–in version of their Swift 3D product for Discreet 3ds max users so they can also render their 3D scenes to vector–based formats, all via the 3ds max interface. All of the specifics that apply to their LW plug–in apply to this release, as well. Additional product details here.
LANGUAGES
Moving Into Java
Appears as though there is a steady migration of programmers from Visual Basic to Java, at least that’s the conclusion wrought by Evans Data Corp. in an independent survey they have just published. The usage of VB slipped approximately 20 percent last year, and one reason for the movement is that developers do not appreciate having to rewrite their VB apps for Microsoft’s .NET environments. Development tools, such as Oracle JDeveloper, is an IDE based on Java and XML and enable Microsoft developers to build Java2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) apps almost immediately.
MULTIMEDIA
A Revealing View
Showing this week at the Workshop and Exhibition on MPEG4 2001 in San Jose is Emuzed’s suite of MPEG4 technologies. Showcased are an encoder that generates simple profile MPEG4 video from live or stored streams; a player that runs on an iPAQ Windows CE and Windows–based PC that includes a decoder; and a server that supports multiple streams and multicast. Expect additional Emuzed implementations on ARM, MIPS and other architectures and DSPs in the not–too–distant future. More info.
MUSIC
Digitally Sound
The concerns over how to use copyrighted content over the Internet is leading some of the brightest minds in the business to work overtime in developing product to handle this need. RealNetworks has uncovered some new technology that will offer security for MusicNet. This is their partnership with both AOL Time Warner and Bertelsmann that offers users the ability to locate and then download or receive real–time streams of music that’s owned by these labels. Their software is called the RealSystem Media Commerce Suit which includes apps that assist in the creation of streaming and download content, bring a lost licenses recovery tool into the mix, as well as ensure licenses are authenticated and acquired. The RealNetworks technology will be sold by companies such as Cisco to business customers. RealNetworks also unveiled their XMCL open standard which is a language for media commerce. This system would enable digital content to be played without concern for codecs or DRM (digital rights management) systems in use.
RESEARCH
Heading Away From VB?
In a study from Evans Data Corp., 20 percent of programmers using multiple languages are not using Visual Basic, but instead, heading to Java. It gets tedious for programmers to have to rewrite their existing Visual Basic applications for .NET, who are instead heading to open standards–based development tools such as Oracle JDeveloper, which is an Integrated Development Environment based on Java and eXtensible Markup Language (XML). Developers find JDeveloper’s wizards and visual programming tools easier to begin building Java2 Enterprise Edition applications. Those Visual Basic developers new to Java can get free Oracle development software through Oracle’s developer network, Oracle Technology Network, which includes Oracle JDeveloper with Oracle Business Components for Java.
SERVERS
Digitally Sound
How about using Instant Messaging as the UI for enterprise apps? Such is possible using Intanda’s new IM Application Server 1.0. Functionality is extended to consumer and secure IM environments such as AOL Instant Messenger, IBM Lotus SameTime and MSN Messenger. The Web–based architecture includes IML (a markup language based on XML), Translation Manager for converting HTML–based apps into IML, a Session Manager that supports browser–like ops on IM clients, and IM Gateway as the network interface. Additionally, smart features not previously part of an IM environment are delivered via this server and include user–navigation during a session, personalization services as well as a history of each session. Expect the offering to debut during Q4. More info.
