Of Interest

SoftQuad Software has released HoTMetaL PRO 6.0. Features new to this version include FTP and remote file-editing capabilities, improved handling of imported HTML source code, an improved drag-and-drop asset management system, and new customization options. HoTMetaL PRO 6.0 comes with WS_FTP PRO 6.0, DHTML Scripts and Cascading Style Sheets from webreference.com; HTML and JavaScript self-study courses from TrainingTools.com and HTML and CSS reference guides from Index DOT Html/Css.

SoftQuad Software Inc.
161 Eglinton Avenue E., Suite 400
Toronto, ON, Canada M4P 1J5
416-544-9000
http://www.softquad.com/

Cradle Technologies has introduced an embedded processor architecture called the "universal microsystem" (UMS). The UMS architecture is the basis of a line of low-cost, high-performance, fully software-programmable single-chip platforms that combine data processing, DSP, and I/O processing elements in one integrated circuit. The company claims that the UMS architecture allows processors to be produced at about $5.00 per gigaflop (about 20 times less than current costs), with a 25:1 reduction in power at 200 milliwatts per gigaflop. The UMS architecture consists of dozens of fast, RISC-like processors on a single chip. The processors are organized into small groups, with two digital signal processors and one data processor sharing a small block of local memory, and all groups having access to global data via a new type of on-chip bus. Initial UMS chips will offer in excess of 15 gigaflops of processing power in a standard, off-the-shelf single-chip processor format. Cradle and other third parties will offer function libraries which implement software standards such as MPEG2, IEEE 1394, PC, and USB.

Cradle Technologies
46472 Bayside Parkway
Fremont, CA 94538
510-979-7800
http://www.cradle.com/

Scriptics has announced BizConnect, an XML platform for developing applications, utilizing the company's open-source Tcl implementation to allow integration with software components developed using other languages. BizConnect provides an infrastructure for connecting existing systems and applications to Internet-based XML applications. Using a graphical "Post-It Notes" logic model, BizConnect lets you create applications by dragging and dropping elements in a schematic view of an XML document. You can write Tcl scripts for passing data between XML documents and program functions, classes, or EJBs.

Scriptics Corp.
2593 Coast Avenue
Mountain View, CA 94043
650-210-0100
http://www.scriptics.com/

Flashline.com has introduced Components by Design, an auction-based service for outsourcing software component development. The service lets you post software component specifications for bidding by registered developers specializing in JavaBeans, Enterprise JavaBeans, COM, and CORBA components. Components by Design is available at http://www.flashline.com/components/developers/entrypage.jsp

Flashline.com
1300 East 9th Street, Suite 1310
Cleveland, OH 44114
216-861-4000
http://www.flashline.com/

Insight Software Solutions has announced Macro Express 2000, which adds new features such as text, integer and decimal variables, if/then/else logic, and the processing of text files or folders. Features also include logging messages to files, menu or question prompting, password protection, and macro activation via floating menus or mouse. Variables allow input of data into the macro from a variety of sources, such as from the macro itself, a file, user input, the clipboard, INI files, or a window title. Macro Express runs on Windows 95/98/NT and is priced at $34.95.

Insight Software Solutions Inc.
P.O. Box 354
Bountiful, UT 84011-0354
801-295-1890
http://www.wintools.com/

TranDyne has introduced KernTools, a software package that brings together more than 700 optimized functions to eliminate recoding and increase efficiency. Some of the functions and classes include the coding of generic containers, string handling, lists, stacks, queues, data compression/conversion, and CRC generation, as well as a high-speed Boyer-Moore textual search engine. In addition, the full ANSI C/C++ source code compiles directly into all standard 16-bit applications. KernTools is available on CD-ROM and by means of electronic download from the Web.

Transitive Dynamics Inc.
14150 NE 20th Street, PMB 373
Bellevue, WA 98007
800-473-7303
http://www.trandyne.com/

Edinburgh Portable Compilers (EPC) has announced plans to provide a compatible set of compilers that will be common across a number of operating systems expected to be released next year concurrent with the IA-64 Merced processor. The EPC C, C++, and Fortran95 compilers and an associated debugger will be available on the Linux, Project Monterey, and Tru64 UNIX operating systems. Cross-development compilation and debugging environments will also be available. The same C/C++ compilers will also be available for the Novell Modesto operating system. An Early Access program for ISVs preparing products for the IA-64 launch will be available in the first half of 2000. You can e-mail EPC at ia64@epc.co.uk.

Edinburgh Portable Compilers Ltd.
17 Alva Street
Edinburgh, Scotland
44-131-225-6262
http://www.epc.co.uk/

Xdex, an XML indexing tool, has been released by Sequoia Software. Xdex enhances XML with indexing technology that delivers in-context searching and retrieval of any XML document. Xdex continually gathers and accesses all XML data and documents, can be scheduled to scan file systems, web sites, and databases to look for XML data, and automatically indexes new XML structures on the fly, maintaining parent/child relationships between XML elements and attributes. Xdex provides a web-based interface for searching and retrieving XML data. Xdex incorporates server-side XSL to transform XML search results to HTML, making Xdex compatible with all web browsers regardless of their support for XML. Xdex runs on Windows NT and UNIX, and is priced at $495.00 per server.

Sequoia Software Corp.
5457 Twin Knolls Road
Columbia, MD 21045
410-715-0206
http://www.sequoiasw.com/

Business Logic has released Xess Spreadsheet for Linux Standard Edition Version 4.2. Xess Spreadsheet for Linux is a spreadsheet designed specifically for X Windows and Motif. The Standard Edition of Xess incorporates spreadsheet functionality with Windows ease-of-use on a Linux platform. Xess provides a full range of mathematical, statistical, financial, matrix, and string functions. Xess Spreadsheet for Linux costs $69.95 for a single-user license.

Business Logic Corp.
4505 University Avenue NE, Suite 88
Seattle, WA 98105
519-763-2097
http://www.blcorp.com/

Objectivity/DB Active Schema, a new option that extends the capabilities of applications written in C++, has been introduced by Objectivity. The Objectivity/DB Active Schema allows programs written in C++ to have the flexibility of languages such as Java and Smalltalk. With Objectivity/DB Active Schema, programs written in C++ can read and modify database definitions, and can also be used to create new object classes. Network Management Systems can be developed with this option. Objectivity's new option fully supports the ODMG 2.0 standard for Schema Interface.

Objectivity Inc.
301B East Evelyn Avenue
Mountain View, CA 94041
650-254-7100
http://www.objectivity.com/

Wise Solutions has announced Wise for Windows Installer 2.0. Version 2.0 sports a five-step Installation Expert that guides you through the creation of an installation in a matter of minutes. Additional features include an SMS Installer conversion wizard and a setup editor that allows for complete customization of any installation. New features include support for Microsoft Windows Installer 1.1, support for French, Italian, German, and Spanish, and an automated build process via OLE Automation. Wise for Windows Installer 2.0 includes dynamic online HTML Help and support for Windows NT. Wise for Windows Installer 2.0 retails for $795.00.

Wise Solutions Inc.
5880 N. Canton Center Road, Suite 450
Canton, MI 48187
734-456-2100
http://www.wisesolutions.com/

InstallShield Software has announced InstallShield Professional 2000, a comprehensive installation and authoring product for the Windows platform, including Windows 2000. The tool includes a utility for dragging and dropping objects into installation projects, event-based scripting, and a static and dynamic file dependency manager. The InstallShield for Windows Installer streamlines the authoring process using wizards and tools such as a Graphical Dialog Editor and SKU Management. The software is available in international editions supporting over 20 languages. InstallShield Professional retails for $995.00.

InstallShield Software Corp.
900 National Parkway, Suite 125
Schaumber, IL 60173
847-240-9111
http://www.installshield.com/

WRQ has unveiled Apptrieve, an application mining solution that enables organizations to build e-business applications that integrate legacy data from IBM mainframe, AS/400, VAX, and UNIX host systems. Apptrieve gives web application developers object-based access to legacy business logic without requiring custom programming or alterations to the host system. Apptrieve's core technology was recently acquired by WRQ from Conextions, the developer of Vision, Expresso, and WebExpresso legacy integration tools and enterprise deployment servers. Apptrieve includes a graphical legacy application mapping tool, SDK, and server for reducing the complexity of legacy web integration. Apptrieve runs on both Windows NT and Sun Solaris platforms. Pricing for the Apptrieve SDK starts at $995.00.

WRQ
1500 Dexter Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109
800-872-2829
http://www.wrq.com/

Intland has announced Intland Source Explorer 1.0, for reverse engineering of C, C++, and Java; remote cross (embedded) development; and quality, metrics, and complexity analysis. The fully Java GUI runs as an installed application or as an applet in a web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, or Netscape Communicator. Source Explorer works on local workstations and in distributed environments using LANs, intranets, or the Internet, and has a comprehensive set of tools such as: Cross-Referencer, Class browser, Symbol browser, Inheritance browser, Include browser, local and remote Edit/Compile/Build, Textual search, and SQL Complexity Query. A trial version is available at no cost via download.

Intland GmbH
Schulze-Delitzsch-Str. 16
D-70565 Stuttgart, Germany
49-711-7871080
http://www.intland.com/

Hewlett-Packard has introduced a series of thin-client appliances supporting the Citrix Independent Computing Architecture, as well as Windows and Java applications. The HP Entria X thin-client runs on Linux and incorporates HP's ChaiVM embedded virtual-machine technology. It is designed for access to UNIX host systems. The Entria L model also runs on Linux but is designed for access to Windows NT and web-based applications. The Entria G model is specifically designed for clients using Windows NT Terminal Server Edition and Citrix MetaFrame software. Priced at $599.00, the Entria appliances provide display resolution of up to 1600×1200×16 bits.

Hewlett-Packard
3000 Hanover Street
Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185
650-857-1501
http://www.hp.com/go/thinclient/

Zilog has announced the eZ80 Internet Engine, a line of embedded microprocessors built on the Z80 architecture. The eZ80 is a reengineered Z80 with features such as an optimized TCP/IP stack, linear addressing of up to 16 MB of addressing space, and DSP capabilities. Zilog's TCP/IP implementation requires less than 64 KB of main memory. The eZ80 uses a single-cycle instruction fetch, making it four times faster than traditional Z80s running at the same clock speed. Available configurations will include UARTs, DMA, Serial I/O, analog modem, digital modem, A/D, D/A, Timers, GP I/O, PWM, real-time clock, I2C, and MMU peripherals. The 8-bit version will be priced from $3.00 to $10.00 depending on configuration.

Zilog
910 E. Hamilton Avenue, Suite 110
Campbell, CA 95008
408-558-8500
http://www.zilog.com/

DDJ