News and New Product Briefs (June 23, 2000)
INDEXHEAD: Espial launches portal for Java Internet appliance developers
Espial has introduced Devicetop.com, an Internet portal that offers third-party Java developers an opportunity to learn development skills for smart devices. The portal targets the growing Internet appliance market, which includes wireless smart phones, handheld PDAs, Web tablets, Internet screen phones, game consoles, interactive TV set-top boxes, and in-car computing. Intel, Sun, Amiga, Motorola, Internet Appliance Network, Tao Group, Java Report, Pointbase, JavaWorld.com, and Dr. Dobb’s support the Devicetop.com project. The site provides developers with industry trends and news, technical tutorials, software development tools, and discussion forums that help developers learn and interact.
INDEXHEAD: Inprise/Borland offers JDataStore 3.5
Inprise/Borland is now shipping JDataStore 3.5, a Java-based RDBMS that offers a small footprint and platform independence. JDataStore supplies developers with universal database access for the Java environment through standard SQL and JDBC drivers. The application complements Inprise/Borland’s JBuilder development offering, and it is included with the Inprise/Borland Application Server 4.
JDataStore can either be embedded into remote or client-side applications or perform as a server. Other features include:
- Java Database Connectivity with JDBC 2.0 remote and local Type 4 drivers
- Relational storage
- Lightweight replication and synchronization technology
- JavaBean elements that provide access to JDataStore
- Compressed JAR files, which decrease footprint size
Development licenses for JDataStore 3.5 are free of charge. Deployment licenses are priced at 00 per seat and ,500 per server.
INDEXHEAD: POET Software optimizes Object Server
POET Software has enhanced its Object Server Suite (OSS) version 6.1, an object database for developing C++ and Java applications, with support for Java 2, XML, and ODMG 3.0 standards. The application’s index maintenance, updating, and caching abilities have also been improved, and an enhanced recovery logging feature also refines OSS’s data reliability.
Other new POET OSS 6.1 features:
- Better integration with Java IDEs
- Support for Java ODMG 3.0/JDK 1.2 collections
- Java Enhancer, which adds persistence to third-party Java classes
- POET XML Export/Import Facility
- POET SQL Object Factory for bridging object/relational technologies
POET OSS 6.1 operates with Linux, HP-UX, Solaris, Windows 95/98/NT, and NetWare. Pricing for Windows servers starts at ,000.
INDEXHEAD: InterNetivity takes on data analysis via the Web
InterNetivity unveiled its Cube Injection System at JavaOne 2000. The technology, which allows organizations to offer data analysis capabilities in Java-based Websites, will be incorporated into InterNetivity’s databeacon 5.0 data analysis application (formerly dbProbe). The Cube Injection System allows users to perform interactive data analysis within a client’s Web browser by supplying them with data cubes containing information. The Cube Injection System evolved from a Java Native Interface (JNI) that InterNetivity developers created for the databeacon 5.0 library. It removes the need to develop a new way to execute shell programs or the need to write CGI programs.
Databeacon 5.0 with the Cube Injection System should be available by late June 2000. The Cube Injection System includes a JNI library containing the databeacon 5.0 cube builder as well as documentation and examples.
INDEXHEAD: VisiComp 1.2 enlightens Java development process
VisiComp has enhanced its VisiComp 1.2 Java software visualization tool with the addition of a throttle control that allows developers to control the speed at which a program runs. VisiComp 1.2 provides developers with a dynamic visualization tool that allows them to see what an application does internally during runtime, which can be particularly helpful for developers who are maintaining and enhancing inherited code. VisiComp 1.2 displays program objects visually as drawn boxes, and relationships among them are established with connecting arrows. The software continues to update the rendering process as the application runs. VisiComp 1.2’s visualization capabilities help developers find possible memory leaks, locate potential bugs, verify proper functionality, and test a program’s integrity. VisiComp 1.2 is priced at 95 per copy.
INDEXHEAD: Codagen updates Gen-it for Java
Codagen Technologies has released Gen-it for Java version 1.2, a Java code generator that helps developers automatically generate operations containing redundant code. Version 1.2 includes a new Class Model view that displays the static model as seen by the modeling tool before and after code generation. Other new features include a log tool that contains more trace information, an And/Or format that renders conditions and filters more easily, and more context variables that allow developers to refine templates more precisely. Gen-it 1.2 also allows developers to import templates for a specific project and monitors dependencies between templates to ensure integrity throughout the development process.
Gen-it for Java version 1.2 is priced at ,900 per user. An evaluation version can be downloaded free of charge from the Codagen Website.
INDEXHEAD: Cerebellum 2.0 offers realtime access to enterprise information
Cerebellum Software’s Cerebellum Internet Data Integration (IDI) solution, which connects ebusiness applications with corporate data systems, should begin shipping this summer. Cerebellum 2.0 provides users with realtime access to enterprise information and improves the data integration abilities of application servers. Cerebellum 2.0 supports J2EE and EJBs. It also provides access to SAP’s R/3 system.
IDI can be used by organizations to connect ebusiness applications with existing data by updating, accessing, and integrating information in realtime. It can also map business logic to data and integrates with application servers. During summer 2000, evaluation copies of Cerebellum will ship with application servers from SilverStream Software, GemStone, and Bluestone Software.
INDEXHEAD: SiteMinder improves security for enterprise Java apps
Netegrity has added Application Server Agents that support Java application servers to its SiteMinder authentication software. The Application Server Agents provide security for J2EE elements. Specifically, developers can establish secure access for each element of an application, including EJBs and Java Servlets. The Application Server Agents also improve the software’s ability to integrate with application servers. That allows administrators to offer the following capabilities:
- Centralized user privilege management across operating systems, platforms, and applications
- Single sign-on access
- Integration with multiple native user directories (NT, LDAP, relational databases)
- Personalized Web content based on a user’s specific privileges
- Integration with multiplexing environments
- Distributed policy management abilities
SiteMinder with Application Server Agents should be available by mid-July 2000. The first release will be compatible with BEA Weblogic and IBM WebSphere application servers.
INDEXHEAD: Synchrony simplifies customer communication management
Synchrony Communications has introduced Synchrony 2.0, an improved version of its customer relationship management (CRM) software suite. Version 2.0 integrates a customer’s fax, phone, and Internet information onto a single screen of an agent’s PC. It also contains only EJB components, and it is fully compatible with the J2EE platform. The application’s thin-client desktop edition allows users to create new agents via standard Web browsers. The server side is based on EJB components that allow users to create and deploy electronic CRM solutions with a single view of the customer and universal queuing of customer interactions.
INDEXHEAD: Ajile Systems executes Java in silicon
AJile Systems demonstrated its Real-Time Specification for Java (RTSJ) embedded-system design solutions at JavaOne 2000. The company’s board and microprocessor designs were used as a platform to showcase aJile’s single-chip microcontrollers, which are the first hardware offerings to execute native Java bytecode in silicon. By performing Java bytecode in silicon, extremely small Java applications operate more efficiently. The embedded Java processors will be packaged with software to simplify the development and debugging of embedded Java applications.
AJile’s Java technology can also:
- Execute Java bytecodes as native instructions, which eliminates translation software layers while decreasing memory footprint and power requirements
- Implement realtime Java threading primitives and data structures
- Support multiple JVMs
- Optimize linker/application builder
- Support custom instructions, which are defined as extended bytecodes that are loaded into the control store RAM and implemented as Java methods
INDEXHEAD: Entegrity secures EJB applications
Entegrity Solutions is now shipping its Entegrity NetCrusader/EJB access management software for BEA Systems WebLogic Server (WLS), the Inprise/Borland Application Server (IAS), and other Java and EJB platforms. A NetCrusader/EJB Custom Realm Object provides BEA Systems WebLogic Server applications with an external authentication system that does not require changing any application code. Entegrity NetCrusader/EJB also helps organizations secure EJB-based applications by outlining and implementing access procedures. Administrators can centrally manage groups, users, security roles, and permissions via an administrative interface that defines and implements policies. By allowing developers to change permissions on the fly without closing an application, the software also simplifies maintenance.
INDEXHEAD: Emwerks unveils JVM for Palm platform
Emwerks has introduced Kada, a clean-room JVM, that supports Java-compatible wireless applications on the Palm computing platform. Kada Internet-enables small devices, including handhelds and cellular phones. The platform relies on Emwerks technology to execute JVM and JDK specifications in a small footprint, while maintaining the complete Java capabilities of larger JVMs. Kada supports object streaming and AWT. Any Java-compatible application can operate on Kada. It also provides developers with class libraries and development tools for creating embedded and realtime Java applications.
PointBase plans to use the Kada JVM to demonstrate its Java-based SQL database operating on the Palm V and Palm IIIxe.
