Aimtech unveils enhanced Jamba 2.0 Java authoring tool.NASHUA, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 20, 1997 -- Award-Winning Java Authoring Tool Adds Enhanced Animation, Wizards, and Data Collection Aimtech Corporation, a leader in Internet and multimedia authoring software, today announced a new version of Jamba(tm), its award-winning Java authoring tool that provides a host of new features to simplify the process of adding animation, sound, and interactive navigation to web pages. The results are more stimulating and dynamic web sites that keep web audiences engaged and making repeated visits. Jamba is a Java authoring tool for web content creators and graphic designers who want to take advantage of Java's ability to add animation and interactive navigation to static HTML An HTML page (Web page) that displays the same information for all users. Although it may be updated from time to time, it does not change with each user retrieval. Contrast with dynamic HTML. pages. Jamba offers a non-programming environment using a point & click interface that creates feature-rich Java applets that run across all major web browsers The following is a list of web browsers. Historical Historically important browsers In order of release:
New in Jamba 2.0 are timeline animation, Data Collection/Data Publishing capabilities, Jamba Wizards, improved performance and a refined user interface. New Timeline, Path-based Java Animation Capabilities Jamba's new timeline and path-based animation brings a new level of "visual" ease-of-use to creating Java animation. It lets web content creators and animators visually lay out a sequence of graphic movements and actions with effects such as fade, rotate, hide, and zoom. "Many web content creators use GIF animation See GIF animator and animated GIF. which typically lacks interactivity and requires large files to play back and does not play back quickly," explained Foy Sperring, vice president at Aimtech. "Jamba provides a powerful alternative to GIF animation. Jamba now allows you to craft powerful and interactive animations in minutes, not hours, and creates significantly smaller files (12K) than those created with products like Director/Shockwave." Data Collection/Data Publishing Jamba's data collection and publishing objects are much easier to use and lighter-weight than full JDBC (Java DataBase Connectivity) A programming interface that lets Java applications access a database via the SQL language. Since Java interpreters (Java Virtual Machines) are available for all major client platforms, this allows a platform-independent database or JSQL (Java SQL) An implementation of the SQL query language for database applications written in Java. It provides a common way of using SQL from within Java to access a database. . There are three ways of capturing and managing data within Jamba 2.0: E-mail, FTP FTP in full file transfer protocol Internet protocol that allows a computer to send files to or receive files from another computer. Like many Internet resources, FTP works by means of a client-server architecture; the user runs client software to connect to , and CGI CGI in full Common Gateway Interface. Specification by which a Web server passes data between itself and an application program. Typically, a Web user will make a request of the Web server, which in turn passes the request to a CGI application program. . -- E-mail Object -- allows electronic mail to be composed and sent within the confines of a Jamba applet. Example: user feedback form with Submit button to send feedback via e-mail. -- FTP (File Transfer Protocol A communications protocol used to transmit files without loss of data. A file transfer protocol can handle all types of files including binary files and ASCII text files. See Kermit, Zmodem and FTP. ) Object -- commonly used to create survey forms to store multiple records in one place. -- CGI (Common Gateway Interface) Object -- used for communicating between a Jamba applet and a web server running a database. Improved Usability The new Jamba Wizards are designed to ease the process of creating new Jamba applets as well as new components inside of a Jamba applet. Organized into five different categories to quickly allow users to create common components such as banner ads, tickertape text and data collection forms, the wizards automatically create all of the objects and To Do lists to make the applet work. They also contain instructional notes that describe what the objects do and how to modify them in a step-by-step fashion. Several improvements have been made to the Jamba User Interface that will facilitate the easy creation of Java applets. The new Page Inspector gives authors a visual "tree view" or "decision tree" of each object and event on the Jamba page. This visual representation makes it easy to follow the order, sequence, and flow of components on a page inside of a Jamba applet. The Notes Tab on the To Do List provides authors with a way to add notes to individual objects inside of Jamba. The Jamba Wizards automatically populate these tabs with text that describes how the object was build and gives instructions for modifying the object. Power New user-defined variable, expressions, and If/Then conditional processing support in Jamba 2.0 provide additional power features favored by serious web page developers who want the flexibility to provide alternate content depending on how visitors are navigating within an applet or on their web site. For example, go to <http://www.jamba.com/applets/dragdropshop/> to see a "drag, drop, and shop" shopping cart applet where users can mix and match differently priced clothing items on an electronic mannequin. Improved Performance The Jamba Java classes have been made even smaller (40-130K in size) in Version 2.0, even with the software's increased functionality. This will mean smaller files to download, resulting in quicker startup time for Jamba applets. In addition, the Java code for the 2.0 classes has been streamlined and optimized for playback performance. Future Technology Directions Jamba will continue to evolve over the next several months as features are added to the authoring environment. Later this year, Aimtech will add higher level design functionality, a Java Database Control (JDBC) add-on tool, and a Macintosh version of Jamba 2.0. After July 1, 1997, new wizards and templates will be available as a free download to registered users at <http://www.jamba.com/freestuff/>. Pricing and Availability Jamba's list price is $349 (expected street price: $225). Version 2.0 will be available at PC EXPO A trade show for resellers, corporate managers and technical professionals from CMP Media LLC, a subsidiary of United Business Media. First held in New York in 1983 with 120 exhibitors and 9,600 attendees, the show grew from the personal computer's early years to 550 vendors and more than in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of on June 17, 1997 and will include a Bonus Bundle of clip media and the ImageLab graphics utility. Current Jamba users can upgrade to Version 2.0 for $69. Jamba is sold online at buydirect.com and software.net and through major mail order and retail outlets. A 30-day free trial is available at <http://www.microsoft.com/sitebuilder/>. For development, Jamba supports Windows 95 and Windows NT. For delivery, Jamba will run on any platform that supports the Java Virtual Machine A Java interpreter. The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is software that converts the Java intermediate language (bytecode) into machine language and executes it. The original JVM came from the JavaSoft division of Sun. : Windows 95, Windows NT, Unix and Macintosh. Aimtech Corporation, a privately held company privately held company A firm whose shares are held within a relatively small circle of owners and are not traded publicly. headquartered in Nashua, N.H., develops and markets software tools including Jamba, IconAuthor(r), and CBT (Computer-Based Training) Using the computer for training and instruction. CBT programs are called "courseware" and provide interactive training sessions for all disciplines. Express(tm) for the creation and deployment of interactive multimedia applications delivered via CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). , the Internet, and corporate networks. Companies using Aimtech's software create competitive advantages for their products and services, and achieve breakthroughs in the management of employee and customer interactions. URL URL in full Uniform Resource Locator Address of a resource on the Internet. The resource can be any type of file stored on a server, such as a Web page, a text file, a graphics file, or an application program. : <http://www.jamba.com/>. CONTACT: Aimtech Corporation The Weber Group David Conti Conti (kôNtē`), cadet branch of the French royal house of Bourbon. Although the title of prince of Conti was created in the 16th cent. Susan Breuer (603) 883-0220 Ext. 26 (617) 520-7004 davidc@aimtech.om sbreuer@webergroup.com |
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