Keeping you abreast of the ever-changing Java world
Headlines
Bridge the gap between JavaBeans and ActiveX
Communicator PR2: The good and not-so-bad details
Digerati speaks up with 2 new communications packages
Eagerly anticipated JDK 1.1 ships
Faster development times for graphics apps
Hunting elusive Net stats with NetTracker
IBM’s round-the-clock Java development teams make JavaBeans
Jacada converts legacy apps to Java
Java-based 3D tool allows manipulation of 3D content on the Web
Lucent brews Java telephony software
Microsoft says JDK 1.1 apps won’t run on IE 3.0
Marimba Castanet to deliver software and services
Oblix’s Java-based business apps suite for intranets
Pericom makes multiple terminal emulator for Java clients
Rapid Java interface prototyping with Constructor for IFC
Sun snaps up LongView to speed up Java virtual machines
Sun and Prentice Hall add another title to the Java series
Sun sells 3,000 thin-client machines — to itself
Sun’s Zander pushes for pure Java at Internet Expo
SurfinShield gets ActiveX security manager
Oblix’s Java-based business apps suite for intranets
Oblix just announced IntraPower Suite 1.0, a Java-based application suite that includes an integrated employee directory, organization chart, scheduling programs, and other tools under one Web browser-based administration console. The suite comes with two applications — IntraPower Assistant and IntraPower Scheduler. IntraPower Assistant includes Java-based business cards and an organization chart, as well as tools for uploading documents and other resources for users to share. IntraPower Scheduler lets users schedule meetings using a Java-based, drag-and-drop timeline as well as locate available meeting rooms based on search criteria.
IntraPower Suite 1.0 runs on Windows NT, Solaris, and IRIX servers running Netscape, Microsoft, or Apache Web server software. Licenses run from 0 to 0 per user, depending on the number. You can get your free copy from Oblix’s Web site.
IntraPower Suite information:https://www.oblix.com/prodindex.html Original story: http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayStory.pl?970221.eoblix.htm
Microsoft says JDK 1.1 apps won’t run on IE 3.0;
JavaSoft says they will
Volley One: Microsoft swears that applications developed using the new Java Development Kit (JDK) 1.1 will not run on Internet Explorer (IE) 3.0. Volley Two: JavaSoft officials say that is simply not true. More than a little misunderstanding.
The companies are arguing about the JNI (Java Native Interface), which connects a platform-specific Java application to an operating system’s native capabilities. The JNI or any native Java interface is only used when creating a platform-specific application. JavaSoft added the JNI to the JDK 1.1 to spare platform vendors from having to create their own interfaces. Earlier versions of the JDK didn’t have this common single interface. For the earlier versions, Microsoft built its own interface — RNI (Raw Native Interface).
Microsoft says that because it uses the RNI, IE 3.0 won’t execute applications built using JDK 1.1. JavaSoft officials counter this claim by saying that any Java application written to run on multiple platforms would not use the JNI (or the RNI) — only platform-specific Java applications require a native interface. JavaSoft adds that Microsoft can fix this by including the JNI to run along with the RNI.
Microsoft officials are worried about the performance hit it thinks would occur by adding to JNI. It also claims that JavaSoft added the JNI requirement just before the final release of JDK 1.1. Officials at Netscape counter this assertion by saying that they’ve known about the roll-out of the JNI for a long time. The JNI will be built into Netscape’s final release of its Communicator suite.
Microsoft does not plan to fix the problem for IE 3.0. They do intend to have a solution for version 4.0. At present, only the Microsoft platform is affected.
Original story: https://www.pcweek.com/news/0217/20ejdk.html
Eagerly anticipated JDK 1.1 ships
You get a lot of enhancements with the JDK 1.1 that shipped on February 19. For example, there are:
JavaBeans APIs to enable developers to write reusable components once and then run them anywhere.
Improved AWT, with a revised GUI foundation that lets developers create high-performance, sophisticated GUI apps and applets that perform well in PC environments.
Such new features as JDBC (Java DataBase Connectivity) for database connectivity, RMI for remote object access, and additional Java Security APIs.
- Global language support based on Unicode 2.0 standards.
However, there may be incompatibilities between apps developed with the kit and with some browsers. Word also has it that the latest release is a bit buggy. To address the problems, JavaSoft will release version 1.1.1 just in time for JavaOne in early April, and version 1.1.2 will follow six weeks later.
The new Java Native Interface (JNI) feature will slow Microsoft’s implementation of the Java upgrade in its Visual J++ tool and the upcoming Internet Explorer 4.0. (The JNI enhances the simple native method interface in JDK 1.0 with a faster, more portable replacement.)
IBM and Netscape are planning to phase in JDK 1.1 support for the VM in IBM’s OS and in Netscape’s Communicator, starting in the summer of 1997.
Other tool and Java vendors haven’t been deterred, though. Symantec’s Cafe, Visual Cafe, and Visual Cafe Pro with JDK 1.1 will enter beta testing in March, with general availability slated for the end of the quarter. Borland will debut a beta version of its JBuilder that supports JDK 1.1. And IBM is set to ship VisualAge for Java in final form with JDK 1.1 support next quarter.
And with Java-based Web servers finally hitting their stride, the Servlet API is also getting up to speed. The “servlet” model makes it easy to create powerful server-side behavior. Like most of Java, Sun/JavaSoft is taking the lead with the API, but is quick to listen to and incorporate feedback.
Download: https://java.sun.com/products/jdk/1.1
Original story: http://www.pcweek.com/news /0224/24jdk.html
SCO OSs get ready for JDK
Beginning in the second quarter of ’97, Santa Cruz Operation Inc. (SCO) will provide free JDK 1.1 to its developers, for both the SCO OpenServer Release 5 and SCO UnixWare platforms.
Scott McGregor, senior VP of products, called Java the “next great shift in computing architectures that favors SCO’s server-centric approach.” He said SCO will deliver native Java support in its base operating system with the release of Gemini 1, the code name that describes the consolidation and enhancement of the SCO OpenServer and SCO UnixWare operating systems.
Adding to the announcement roundup at SCO, the company says the SCO Advanced File and Print Server release 3.5.2 (for OpenServer Release 5) is now available. The software delivers Windows integration for small- and large-enterprise environments, and includes Windows NT 4.0 compatibility, a terminal emulator, and localized language support. The software allows access to shared resources through the server’s Internet name or IP address. The Advanced File and Print Server 3.5.2 should be available through SCO’s resellers the first week of March, priced at 95 for a base five-user license.
Advanced File and Print Server 3.5.2 information: https://www3.sco.com/Products/Datasheets/afps.htm
Original story: https://techweb.cmp.com/crn/dailies/weekending022197/feb20digG.html
Java comes to the DoD
Sun Microsystems Federal and the Naval Command and Control Ocean Surveillance Center RDTE Division (NRaD), an advanced R&D lab for the U.S. Navy, have signed a cooperative research and development agreement that allows the two organizations to jointly develop and test a methodology to re-engineer very large software systems by integrating Java into the Navy’s Web-oriented, three-tiered application framework.
John Marselle, president of Sun Federal, is excited by the scope of this Java integration task. “This is the first major re-engineering program to use Java enterprise solutions in support of a huge command and control effort within DoD.” Through re-engineering, the pair will add functionality and reduce life cycle support costs for the Joint Maritime Command Information System (JMCIS) ashore command and control software system.
Original story: https://www.sun.com/smi/Press/sunflash/9702/sunflash.970219.5486.html
Sun’s Zander pushes for pure Java at Internet Expo
Sun Microsystems president Ed Zander delivered a keynote at the Internet Expo conference the week of February 19 encouraging the audience to save Java from the splintering that plagued Unix. He strongly re-emphasized the goals of Sun’s 100% Pure Java initiative: to preserve the “write once, run anywhere” platform independence of Java.
His address kept hitting on the theme that keeping Java intact is up to “you” — meaning the vendors, the ISVs, and the users. He said, “Demand portability and ubiquity from your vendor. It’s up to you to make sure that extensions made to Java don’t violate APIs.”
Zander took a shot at Microsoft’s ActiveX, which he said is too closely tied to the Windows OS. He also mentioned that there are more security concerns with ActiveX controls than with Java applets, noting that Java applets are isolated from the OS and hard drives, but ActiveX controls are not.
Zander peered into his crystal ball and conjured up his view of Java a year from now. He predicted that more than 50 Java thin clients will be in use for specialized industry applications, such as point-of-sale terminals and data entry, and that more than five thousand Java applets will be available for reuse.
Original story: http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayStory.pl?970219.ezander.htm
Jacada converts legacy apps to Java
Client/Server Technology (CST) has launched Jacada — a product that will let you convert legacy applications to Java GUIs and deploy them over the Internet. Jacada consists of a software development kit (SDK) and a server. The SDK lets corporate developers give green-screen applications graphic interfaces with KnowledgeBase, the technology that automatically converts legacy application fields into corresponding Java-based fields. The Jacada Server connects to mainframes or AS/400s and runs the application over the Internet.
“Anything that runs Java can have access to these applications,” said David Holmes, VP of marketing for Client/Server Technology.
Jacada’s conversion automation technology should save corporate developers time and make it simpler to move legacy applications from dumb terminals to other clients. As an example, the company converted a 35-screen workman’s compensation application for the State of Missouri in fewer than two days.
Jacada currently runs only on the Windows NT Server; plans for native legacy versions of the product are in the works. The SDK starts at 7,000 for one developer seat; the Jacada Server starts at 0,000 for 40 concurrent users.
Jacada product information: https://www.cst.com/htmls/t2c.htm
Original story: http://techweb .cmp.com/iw/newsflash/nf618/0218_st4.htm
IBM’s round-the-clock Java development teams make JavaBeans
IBM says it won’t stop developing Java software components when the sun sets. But its developers won’t be pulling all nighters, either. How? IBM has assembled teams of software coders around the world. When one team finishes its work for the day, it passes the code on to the next team (who may just be getting to work) across the Internet. Is this overkill, or what?
According to Scott Hebner, manager of application development marketing for IBM’s software group, it’s not. “We’re speeding up the cycle time to deliver JavaBeans.” The accelerated work schedule will focus on JavaBeans components for what IBM calls “e-business applications” — eight content areas that include multimedia-based training, sales force management, and human resources functions. Hebner expects the first JavaBeans components from the program to ship by third quarter ’97.
To enable round-the-clock Java development, IBM says it has cut deals with China’s Tsinghua University, Belarus’s Institute of Computer Science, India’s Tata Group, and Latvia’s Software House Group. The JavaBeans will be combined later this year into a package for developers called VisualAge PartsPaks.
Original story: https://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,8044,00.html
Lucent brews Java telephony software
Lucent Technologies Inc. announced today that it will launch a Java Developers Kit (JDK) for its PassageWay Telephony Services at the Computer Telephony Expo trade show in Los Angeles next week.
The JDK, which is based on the recently finalized Java Telephony Application Programming Interface (JTAPI), co-developed by Sun Microsystems and telephony vendors, will enable Lucent customers to write telephony applications in Java that can be shared across different computer platforms through the PassageWay system, according to company officials.
“There is good news and bad news here,” said Art Schoeller, research director of voice call processing at the Gartner Group. “The bad news is that there is yet another telephony API in the market. But the good news is the cross-platform benefits provided by Java.”
https://www.lucent.com/passageway/services.html
Was that a Sun NC on TV?
If you watch NBC’s “Friends,” you may have noticed slightly different computing fare on the office desk of one of the cast members. Not a garden-variety cloned PC; not the TV-ubiquitous Macintosh. Sitting on Rachel’s (Jennifer Aniston) desk in the buying division of a major department store was Sun’s JavaStation — the thin client network computer.
Does this mean the Java-based network computer concept is being rapidly accepted by television? It’s not too far-fetched to believe that a large retailer would be amenable to running an NCnet. Many order- and tracking-based businesses have started deploying the NC concept. Businesses such as CSX Corp., Federal Express, and FTD are using thin client systems to help reduce the total cost of owning and maintaining corporate networks.
“The set decorators wanted something that said `cutting edge,’ props that made this place look like it had everything going for it — all of the best computers, copiers, furniture, and environmental design,” said Harold Randall, co-owner of Silent Stars, a product placement company that specializes in finding special items for TV programs. “JavaStation drew a lot of high-level attention when it was introduced in October, so we knew it was an important product. At the same time, the thing that intrigued me about JavaStation is there’s nothing that looks quite like it. It has this beautifully streamlined, blue and black casing that really makes it stand out. It was perfect for the show.”
Original story: https://www.sun.com/smi/Press/sunflash/9702/sunflash.970218.21372.html
Sun snaps up LongView to speed up Java virtual machines
JavaSoft has agreed to acquire LongView Technologies, a privately held start-up that will provide compiler technology to boost the speed of Java virtual machines. Officials say the LongView compiler technology won’t replace JavaSoft’s, but will augment it — perhaps as much as doubling compile speeds.
“The performance will be a significant improvement over current technology from any source,” a JavaSoft official said. The technology will be available to all of JavaSoft’s licensees. More information will be available at JavaOne, which takes place April 2-4 in San Francisco.
Original story: http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayStory.pl?970218.wjvm.htm
Rapid Java interface prototyping with Constructor for IFC
Netscape recently announced Constructor for IFC, a Java visual design tool that allows rapid prototyping of user interfaces using Netscape’s Internet Foundation Classes (IFCs). The constructor enables IFC/Java developers to rapidly lay out graphical elements of their application’s user interface, wire target actions between UI objects, and then test the intended behavior. Constructor is not an IDE and does not generate Java code; rather, it generates a “Plan File,” which contains property and state information about the IFC objects that the user has glued together in the constructor. The constructor provides the option of saving user interface projects as simple ASCII or IFC Archive/Binary files.
The drag-and-drop interface will also support the JavaBeans specification.
Download Constructor: https://developer.netscape.com/library/ifc/index.html
Original story: http://www.javology. com/javology/ifc_021797.html
Faster development times for graphics apps
Applied Visions has delivered ObjectGraphics for Java, a vector graphics toolkit that extends the Java Abstract Windowing Toolkit (AWT) to enable extremely rapid development of graphics applications and applets. ObjectGraphics uses a set of high-level classes for building Java applications and applets. When used in conjunction with the AWT, ObjectGraphics reduces the time needed to develop graphics applets.
ObjectGraphics includes ObjectDraw for Java — a complete sample drawing applet that demonstrates all the ObjectGraphics classes. Java programmers can jumpstart their development effort by referencing or reusing portions of the ObjectDraw source code.
The package includes rendering tools to encapsulate drawing attributes, graphic shapes that know how to render themselves, and persistence classes for easily storing and retrieving ObjectGraphics objects from a file.
The software can be used with Microsoft Visual J++, Symantec Visual Cafe, and the Sun JDK. ObjectGraphics applets will run in any Java-enabled browser. Slated to ship on March 1, the package will cost 00 for a single-user license. You can get a beta on the Applied Visions’ Web site.
Overview: https://www.avi.com/ogljavaoverview.html
Beta: https://www.avi.com/beta.html
Marimba Castanet to deliver software and services
Because Marimba sees the bulk of its revenues coming from business use of its Castanet tuner, the company has increased efforts to market Castanet to companies as a means of delivering software and services to employees and business partners. In fact, earlier this week at the Web Design and Development ’97 conference in San Francisco, Marimba revealed new strategic partnerships with over 50 leading Internet technology vendors, corporate customers, publishers, media companies, consulting firms, and international software distributors. Kim Polese, president and CEO of Marimba, promises to announce soon additional insurance, financial services, and other business customers using Castanet on intranets, extranets, and the public Internet.
Castanet channels allow companies to send only those bits of information needed at any given time to users to keep the software and content stored on their hard drives current. Employees, customers, and partners can likewise use channels to send feedback.
Until now, Castanet has been viewed primarily as a type of push technology that allows content providers to reach audiences with TV-like channels of information and entertainment.
Original story: https://www.zdnet.com/intweek/daily/970212e.html
Sun sells 3,000 thin-client machines — to itself
Because Sun heartily believes in the concept of the NC, it is selling itself 3,000 thin clients to replace the desktops in the company by the end of June this year. “We’re a firm believer in using the technology,” said Ed Zander, president of Sun Microsystems Computer Co. He said Sun has been encouraged by the interest that key accounts have shown in the NC since it was announced last year.
Original story: https://techweb.cmp.com/crn/dailies/weekending021497/feb12digN.html
Pericom makes multiple terminal emulator for Java clients
Pericom Software has rewritten its suite of terminal emulation products — called teemworld — in Java. teemworld allows TCP/IP and telnet access to all popular mainframes and Unix systems via corporate intranets and the Web. It supports any Java desktop client, including PCs operating with Microsoft’s Windows 3.1x, 95, or NT, NetPCs, NCRef1 Network Computers, Macintoshes, PowerPCs, OS/2, and Unix workstations. Corporate users with disparate computing power can now standardize on one terminal emulation product for all host applications, hopefully reducing overall administrative, management, and training costs.
“Unlike many of our competitors whose HTML-based terminal emulators will only run on PCs, teemworld is 100% pure Java and will run on any client capable of accessing the Internet,” said John Stephenson, managing director of Pericom Software UK.
teemworld can be run either as a standalone Java app using the Java VM, or as an applet within a browser. It can be loaded locally or from an intranet or Web server. And, because it is downloaded as required, little local disk storage is needed.
First versions of teemworld include full DEC terminal emulation for DEC VT52-VT420. Additional emulations such as IBM 3270 and 5250, Tandem 6526/6530, HP 700/92, Data General D200/410, Wyse, and others will follow. teemworld includes support for all native terminal functionality, including double width/height, downloadable character sets, true 80/132 column, character and field attributes, and multinational character sets. It also has a set of productivity tools, including floating toolbar and button palettes, graphical keyboard remapping, attribute-to-color mapping, mouse integration, copy and paste, and multiple-session control. File transfer via FTP and a scripting/macro capability will also be available.
U.S. site: https://www.pericom-usa.com/products/products.html
U.K. site: https://www.pericom.co.uk/products/products.htm
Object DB for Java interface
POET Software is delivering a pre-release version of its 100-percent ODMG-compliant Java tight binding, making POET’s Universal Object Server the only object database offering direct, transparent access to all objects from either Java or C++ applications. Features include multiple database transactions, multiuser access, queries, replication, and publish/subscribe.
POET Java 1.0 is the first implementation of the Java tight binding as defined by the work-in-progress draft of Chapter 7 of the ODMG Release 2.0 standard. POET’s Java tight binding creates a single, unified object-type system shared by the Java language and the POET object database. The programmer perceives the binding as an extension to the development language. The syntax used to create, delete, identify, reference get/set field values, and invoke methods on a persistent object is no different from that used for objects of shorter lifetimes, allowing a single expression to freely intermix references to persistent and transient objects.
This release contains a Java client and relies on the fourth-generation POET kernel written in C++ for the local client database engine. The POET ODBMS is available for all major platforms, including all flavors of Windows, Macintosh, OS/2, NetWare, Solaris, HP-UX, IRIX, SCO Unix, and AIX.
The POET Java Software Development Kit costs 99 and contains a beta release of the POET Java 1.0 ODMG-compliant tight binding and the 1.0 release of the POET Java generic binding. The full product release will be available in June 1997 for 99, as well. An evaluation version is free and available now for download from the POET Web site.
https://www.poet.com/products.htm
Sun and Prentice Hall add another title to the Java series
A new book from Prentice Hall and Sun, Inside Java WorkShop, is the latest volume in SunSoft Press’s Java Series. The guide covers Java WorkShop tools and features, tips and tricks from the folks that created Java WorkShop — in short, just about everything you need if you want to create, test, debug, and publish local or Internet projects.
You get a working tour of the Java WorkShop development environment, covering the concepts and practical benefits of all the integrated tools in Java WorkShop: Project Manager, Portfolio Manager, Source Editor, Build Manager, Visual Java GUI builder, Project Tester, Multi-threaded Debugger, and Source Browser. It also includes advanced coverage of GUI building and debugging with a summary of probable trends. You learn the basics, such as managing projects of any size, GUI building with a visual point-and-click interface, debugging multithreaded programs, and publishing applications on the Internet.
The accompanying CD includes a 30-day, full-functioning version of Java WorkShop, complete with project examples and sample programs, including source code. You’ll also find links to Java resources available on the Web.
Inside Java WorkShop costs 9.95 (Sun Microsystems Press/Prentice Hall PTR, ISBN 0-13-858234-3). It is available at bookstores and on Sun’s Web site.
Inside Java WorkShop: https://www.sun.com/books/books/Weaver/Weaver.html
Sun Books catalog: https://www.sun.com/books/
Communicator PR2: The good and not-so-bad details
The good news: The next pre-release version of Netscape’s Communicator (a suite of apps built around Navigator 4.0) is ready for you to test. The not-so-bad news: An early look says its a little buggy, but you’ll want to try it anyway.
JavaWorld got an early look from CNet Online in Rex Baldazo and Sean Timberlake’s “Netscape Communicator PR2: buggy but worth the download.” Their findings:
In Preview Release 2 (PR2), Netscape has come several steps closer … with improved page layout and messaging features, as well as groupware functions to help you collaborate across the Internet. And Netscape finally delivers on its real strength, cross-platform support.
Navigator 4.0 finally supports Cascading Style Sheets, level 1 (CSS1). Style sheets give Web designers greater control over text layout, letting you specify fonts, spacing, and so on. The bad news for Navigator 4.0: some of the CSS1 features — such as the ability to override styles with an inline style — aren’t implemented yet.
…
The HTML editor has been renamed Composer and comes as part of Communicator. You can use it both as an editor for HTML pages and to compose HTML email messages. One nice touch — you can configure Communicator to know which email recipients can safely view HTML email.
JavaScript support has improved since the first Preview. But again, support isn’t perfect — we were unable to run our Netscape Admin Server from either Preview.
Communicator is still a work in progress, with lots of bugs and missing features.
The guys weren’t all that hot on trying out PR1, but they say PR2 is worth a look.
Download: https://www.netscape.com/comprod/mirror/client_download.html
Original story: http:/ /www.cnet.com/Content/Reviews/Hands/022497/sunshine.html
Bridge the gap between JavaBeans and ActiveX
The bridge beta between JavaBeans and ActiveX is here and should provide users of legacy OLE/COM/ActiveX containers (such as Microsoft Word or Visual Basic) with the ability to embed and use portable JavaBeans components in the same way they would OLE/COM/ActiveX components. The beta gives developers a chance to test their Beans-based stuff with the ActiveX bridge.
Beta technologies include:
A GUI packager utility that can create OLE-type library information and Win32 registry information for a selected Java Bean.
Beans can fire events that can be caught by OLE/COM/ActiveX containers.
Beans can act as servers for OLE/COM/ActiveX method invocation.
Features you can expect:
A command-line version of the packager utility.
Additional packaging support, which allows developers to deliver Beans that will automatically be installed in a target Win32 system during setup.
Automatic conversion support to change GIF icons to Win32 icons.
http://splash.java soft.com/beans/bridge/index.html
Digerati speaks up with 2 new communications packages
Digerati is delivering alpha versions of two communication packages — superMail and Agenda.
superMail is a Java-based email client that offers IMAP4, POP3, SMTP, and MIME support, with a visual IFC-based drag-and-drop interface and a built-in address book. Future enhancements include a spell checker, disconnected operations, a rules engine, and PGP/SSL security.
Agenda is a Java-based news client that lets groups post and retrieve messages in a collaborative fashion. The drag-and-drop GUI uses IFC technology based on RFC977 and RFC1036 standards. It is compatible with other NNTP-based systems and may also be used to access the Usenet. Data is represented in MIME format along with popular encoding schemes, such as uuencode and binhex.
Both products are available in Internet and intranet versions.
superMail: https://www.digerati.net/products/supermail/
Agenda: https://www.digerati.net/products/agenda/
Java-based 3D tool allows manipulation of 3D content on the Web
Dimension X claims that its Java-based Liquid Reality is the first tool for non-programmers to manipulate 3D content on the Web. This tool lets users create dynamically extensible VRML environments that seamlessly integrate special effects like motion, sound, and interactivity. Users also can replay scenes and edit content on the fly, without having to export and view them in a separate VRML browser. Bonus: Any model written in VRML 2.0 will work with the tool.
Liquid Reality, which is free during beta testing, will ship for Windows 95 in April.
Liquid Reality: https://www.dimensionx.com/products/lr/
Original story: https://techweb.cmp.com/crn/dailies/weekending022897/feb24digH.html
SurfinShield Xtra gives you an ActiveX security manager
Finjan just introduced the proprietary SurfinShield Xtra, which lets Internet users enforce ActiveX and Java desktop security. With Xtra, you can control the type of ActiveX or Java applet allowed to enter the desktop, the functions the applets are allowed to perform, and the kinds of resources they are permitted to access.
The included ActiveX Security Manager provides similar security to ActiveX controls that the Java Security Manager does for Java applets. “Xtra adds a layer of security to ActiveX and places decisions about its activities in the hands of desktop users,” said Shlomo Touboul, CEO of Finjan Software.
SurfinShield Xtra, with dual Java and ActiveX capabilities, sells for 49. It enters the beta stage in March. You can see a demo of Xtra in the Microsoft Pavilion at Internet World in Los Angeles on March 12.
https://www.finjan.com/sfsxtra.htm
Hunting elusive Net stats with NetTracker
Sane Solutions will demo NetTracker 2.0, a Web-based usage-tracking software, on March 10 at Spring Internet World in Los Angeles.
NetTracker 2.0, which resides on the server and doesn’t require users to download log files, runs in a Web browser and is easily accessible from anywhere by anyone with the password.
The software provides users with a quick overview of the data, which is organized in an intuitive manner. Users then can drill down through the data to get a detailed version. The data is dynamically updated and can be exported to several software formats. NetTracker 2.01 can also graph data in many different ways.
NetTracker 2.0 for Unix Web servers is available now. A version for Windows NT Web servers will be available by March 1. The single-domain version of NetTracker 2.0 is priced at 95. ISPs who participate in the NetTracker ISP Partners Program will get a free version.
Online demo: https://www.sane.com/demo/NetTracker/
Info: https://www.sane.com/products/NetTracker/information.html
