Java Product News (September 22, 2000)
INDEXHEAD: Free downloads available for devicetop.com developers
Espial is releasing free developer versions of its Java-based software and tools to Java developers who participate in devicetop.com, a portal that provides education and a community for device developers. The free downloads include:
- Espial Architect 3.0, a Java development environment that helps users develop smart device applications
- Espial Espresso 3.2, a suite of GUI components used to develop smart device application services and user interfaces
- Espial Escape 4.5, a Web browser for devices
- Espial DeviceTop 2.0, a device service platform
devicetop.com is sponsoring a contest to find the best Java technology-based smart device application. The developer who uploads this application to the devicetop.com portal will win a BMW Z3. Portal members will vote on contest finalists to determine a winner.
To find out more about the contest and to download the free software visit:
For more information on Espial:
INDEXHEAD: Sun endorses MPEG-4 standard
Sun Microsystems has joined the MPEG-4 Industry Forum (M4IF). MPEG-4 is an ISO/IEC standard, developed by the Moving Pictures Expert Group, that is designed to transport, synchronize, code, and render audiovisual multimedia content for Internet and wireless applications. The standard provides a uniform approach to compressing synthetic and natural audio and visual objects in a scene, as well as mechanisms to compress and stream rich interactive media. MPEG includes the component MPEG-J, which features the Java Application Engine. A programmatic system, MPEG-J specifies an API for Java code interaction present in media content with MPEG-4 media players.
Sun plans to use the MPEG-4 technology in its latest version of the StorEdge Media Central platform, an open-standards-based architecture for the broadcast and Internet streaming-media markets. StorEdge Media Central supports audio, video, and other time-based media on the Java platform.
For more information about M4IF:
To learn more about MPEG-4:
For additional details on Sun’s StorEdge Media Central platform:
INDEXHEAD: Netaphor provides network management remedies
Netaphor Software has announced a new line of development tools for network management solutions. These products include:
- Cyberons for Java — SNMP Manager Toolkit 2.0, a framework of Java classes for SNMP management. Version 2.0 features optimizations and SNMPv3 support. The product will be available in the fourth quarter of 2000. Licensing is priced at 99 per seat; upgrades from version 1 cost 99. An early-access program, to begin in October, will feature a prerelease version; participants will receive a 10 percent discount.
- Cyberons for Java — SNMP Utilities 1.0 includes an MIB compiler/loader, as well as an MIB browser and test tool compatible with all versions of SNMP Manager Toolkit. SNMP Utilities will ship in the fourth quarter of 2000, with licensing priced at 99 per seat.
- Cyberons for Java — NMS Application Toolkit 1.0 helps developers create full-scale network management systems. Included are all SNMP Manager Toolkit and SNMP Utilities components, an HTTP server interface for network management, and TFTP client and utility classes to support runtime logging. The NMS Application Toolkit will ship in the fourth quarter of 2000. Licensing costs ,999 per seat; upgrades from SNMP Manager Toolkit cost ,699. All participants in the October early-access program will receive a 10 percent discount.
INDEXHEAD: Caucho refreshes Idetix’s Revize software with Resin
Caucho Technology’s Resin software, a servlet and JSP engine, will now be included in Idetix’s Web content management software, Revize. Built in pure Java, Revize integrates into a data center’s application layer. The software is portable and can be deployed on any Web server that supports Java servlets. Revize reduces the cost of owning a Website that grants authorized access to individuals who need to maintain information from any standard Web browser.
Resin rapidly compiles JavaScript, XML, and XSL, and enables programmers to structure their applications based on changing requirements. The servlet and JSP engine supports load balancing and, with support for XSL, encourages the separation of content and style.
The companies’ goal is to offer software that features a Java-platform-independent architecture and Internet compatibility, and will help developers create and update Webpages faster and in a stable environment.
INDEXHEAD: Flashline.com boosts JBuilder 4 with Flashline Component Manager
Inprise/Borland’s JBuilder 4, a Java cross-platform development environment, will ship with Flashline Component Manager, a Web-enabling IDE add-in from Flashline.com. JBuilder 4 creates business, database, and distributed applications based on the Java 2 platform. Flashline Component Manager is featured on the Borland JBuilder Companion Tools CD that comes with JBuilder. As part of JBuilder 4, Flashline Component Manager supplies and catalogs Java components through a single interface.
To find out more about Flashline Component Manager:
For more information on JBuilder 4:
INDEXHEAD: GemStone and TogetherSoft collaborate to speed application development
GemStone Systems and TogetherSoft plan to integrate their respective technologies, GemStone/J and Together Control Center. GemStone/J’s Java-based Extreme Clustering technology enables versatile scaling at enterprise levels and quickens the development of e-business platforms. The Together Control Center platform creates a development environment designed to increase application developers’ productivity. The partnership will offer users rapid application development and deployment on any application server.
INDEXHEAD: Dialog Server quickly activates Web interfaces
Dialog Server, a new product from ActionPoint, easily and rapidly deploys personalized Web interfaces. The XML-based software provides a platform for creating productive business-to-employee intranet applications, B2B and B2C applications, and commerce or project management applications. Dialog Server was designed specifically to make Web interactions faster and easier. The product’s interactive Q&A process helps users choose products that fit their needs. It also turns Web forms into questioning sessions that inform users of mistakes and provide realtime updates on pricing and availability.
ActionPoint Dialog Server consists of two components:
- Dialog Designer: an XML schema-based development environment that makes it easy for developers to create business, data access, and user interaction rules
- Dialog Server: a pure Java component that builds the user interaction in realtime by calling the appropriate HTML file, transforming the corresponding XML schema-based rules into embedded JavaScript, populating the file with appropriate initialization data, and delivering the resulting dynamic HTML file to the user’s browser
-
Dialog Server works with standard Web browsers, including Netscape Navigator 4 and Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 and 5.
INDEXHEAD: MessageBay adds audio to banner ads
MessageBay has introduced a Java audio-enabling service for banner advertising and email marketing. MessageBay features 2-KB Java applets that are compatible with 95 percent of all current browsers; they also stream compressed-voice and radio-quality audio. No plug-ins are required. The technology can also be used for audio-enabled HTML email marketing, or for adding audio to a Website. A reporting and tracking service is included.
Demos are available on the company’s Website:
https://www.messagebay.com/demos
INDEXHEAD: Ganjo’s new Web application server deploys on all platforms
Ganjo Application Server 2.0 extends HTML through custom tags on any platform, including Linux. Ganjo, a developer of Web-based application products, is considering releasing this new tag-based, cross-platform Web application server as an open source project. Written entirely in Java, Ganjo Application Server includes a new browser-based administration feature that allows users to maintain their sites with standard browsers. In addition, the latest version can:
- Support cookies and HTTP requests
- Create custom Java tags that allow applications to perform any function
- Track user connections internally, allowing variables to be carried across multiple pages
- Control connection settings to reduce page processing times
- Cache frequently accessed pages to improve service request processing
A copy of Ganjo is available for download:
INDEXHEAD: O’Reilly releases second edition of Java programming guide
Database Programming with JDBC and Java, Second Edition, by George Reese, describes the Java interfaces that make portable object-oriented access to relational databases possible, and offers a model for writing easily maintained applications. The book, published by O’Reilly, introduces the JDBC and RMI packages and uses them to develop three-tier applications. Updated for JDBC 2.0, the book also features reference listings for JDBC and the principal RMI classes. Database Programming with JDBC and Java includes the basics of JDBC and SQL, and provides examples and a discussion about the architecture of a robust, maintainable database application. The book also explains the relationship between JDBC and Enterprise JavaBeans.
Chapter 9, “Persistence,” is available free at:
For more information on the entire book:
