Adobe Updates Digital Publishing Suite with Analytics, iPad Mini, Kindle Fire HD 8.9 Compatibility

Adobe is releasing the latest edition of its Digital Publishing Suite. Version 24 includes expanded device support and analytical capabilities, among other upgraded and new features.

Compatibility with New Tablets, Browsers

In recognition of the increasing popularity of tablet computing, Adobe now makes Digital Publishing Suite (DPS) apps developed for iPad2 by Single Edition, Professional and Enterprise users automatically compatible with the new iPad Mini. Adobe is also preparing for the scheduled November 20 launch of the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD by allowing DPS apps to be compatible with the device as long as developers create a 1900 x 1200 folio.

Furthermore, any DPS-created content socially shared by a reader can be viewed on Internet Explorer 10 on Windows 8 web browsers. And readers of DPS-created content using iOS devices can download a folio and perform other tablet-based activities outside the app while the folio downloads, as long as the app is updated to R24.

Analyze This 

App usage analytics for Site Catalyst users provide data such as number of times an app is opened, how long readers use it, number of days it is read and times of peak usage. Site Catalyst users can also analyze URL data such as how many readers click on hyperlink overlays associated with a URL and web content overlays, as well as how URLs are opened (i.e., via browser, app, etc.).

New analytical capabilities also provide insight into reader data such as type, model, OS, manufacturer and screen size of reading device, as well as the type and carrier of the device connection used.

Let It Flow 

Workflow enhancements allow designers to simultaneously update multiple articles, resume publishing after an error from the point of failure rather than the beginning and select folio orientation in advance. In addition, error messages include links to relevant Knowledge Base articles. 

Adobe ‘Leans Heavily’ on Digital Publishing 

The Next Web feels Adobe is “leaning heavily on its digital publishing efforts” with this latest update of Digital Publishing Suite, as well as other recent DPS activity such as the Single Edition which does not require coding, released earlier this year. The Next Web also endorses Adobe’s embrace of iPad mini apps with version 24 of DPS, citing observers who predict “the iPad mini will become the most popular model, leaving the larger version for more specialized use cases.”

Fending Off App Press

While an IT provider as established as Adobe doesn’t have to seriously worry about being pushed out of the way, Adobe may have the challenge posed by App Press in the back of its mind as it unveils the latest, greatest iteration of DPS. In June, App Press, the provider of a Web-based CMS designed to enable the creation of code-free iOS and Android apps, positioned itself as a direct competitor to Adobe DPS.

Promoting its platform as having no software to install and a user interface that resembles Photoshop, App Press is clearly targeting users who seek convenience and flexibility in developing iOS and Android apps. The vendor touts its signature platform as providing app developers with a “blank canvas” where they can upload content layers with touch-enabled functionality. “Hotspot layers” allow links within the app or to external sites with linear or non-linear navigation.

Ultimately, App Press will likely be used by more artistic designers while Adobe DPS will remain the favored tool of more corporate enterprise designers, but even an artist might like access to detailed analytics and streamlined workflow.

 

 

Source : cmswire[dot]com

The Mobile Enterprise: Still a Ways to Go

“And the best part of my new corporate job is that I get a free iPad (or similar mobile device)!”

Like many of you, I’ve heard versions of this statement on an accelerating basis of-late. It begs the question: why are enterprises handing out mobile devices on such a regular basis to new, and oftentimes nearly all, of their employees?

There is also a land rush to allow employees to bring their own devices. This is the ultimate freebee for the enterprise, but for employees, this will start to cloud the area of “when am I at work or not?”

Getting off track a bit, a new Smartphone or tablet is a cool perk, but the optimist in me wants to believe that it’s also a way to encourage genuine collaboration and increased productivity within the enterprise. Whatever the use-case, it’s clear that the “mobile enterprise” is well upon us, so let’s take a look at some of the practical ramifications and use-cases:

The Road Warrior and UX

You know who you are — you might be in five airports this week alone and have a mix of bosses and employees in several countries. In theory, wouldn’t it be great to have an ultra-lightweight device that enables you to easily stay in contact and collaborate with all those co-workers, across the miles, let alone the new business opportunities you’re trying to close?

We’ve all seen the ads touting this potential, but is there a real-world UX priority to make this happen? The answer: sort of, but there’s a lot of work to be done. It seems that every company outside of Apple has recently gotten religion on design — consider how many times during the past couple of months we have heard this coming out of Redmond!

As within the broader enterprise landscape, employees can often access enterprise activity feeds and other “social lite” elements from their mobile devices and can obviously download documents via email or some cloud-based applications. But is genuine collaboration and document sharing really part of the mobile enterprise right now? Not quite, but I’m optimistic that we’ll be there soon. This is definitely worth watching and could be the basis for a whole series of articles.

As I’ve alluded before, secure document sharing is a critical step in enterprise collaboration and the stakes are pretty high. Beyond the convenience of being able to collaborate from any place, anytime, enterprises have be comfortable that their data — especially in verticals like finance and legal, where confidentiality is paramount and most likely regulated — is 100 percent secure and with zero exceptions. On the front end, mobile employees demand a UX that is easy and intuitive while not sacrificing confidentiality parameters so key to their businesses. We’re not there just yet, but stay tuned!

Is Always-on Always Good?

That really cool mobile device can also be a curse, especially for employees who might want to unplug for just a little while. I’ve heard of many instances in which a “Wow, look at this great device I got through my company,” quickly transforms into “Wow, I have my work/company with me 24/7 now.”

What can we, as an industry, do to mitigate this?

From a UX standpoint, as we build applications geared toward mobile enterprise collaboration, we should also empower employees to define what their work hours are on a given device — that is, actually use the device as a way to reinforce work/life balance. I know, it’s idealistic, but from a practical standpoint we’re already seeing this being done and I think this functionality can and should be built into any social collaboration solutions that involve the mobile enterprise.

 

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Source : cmswire[dot]com

Weekend Reading: It's Not the Data, It's What You Do With It

While the hot weather is hanging on in NYC, this week marked the end of vacation for many as students went back to school and the mobile device announcement season kicked into high gear.  

Our contributors helped launch the beginning of the school year with some looks at how to put data to work for you, future trends in the digital asset management world and an explanation of just what semantic web technologies are and what they do (and a hint at how they will change the future of enterprise information management). 

If you're like me and you miss the syllabuses from schooldays, consider this yours for the week.

Putting Data to Work

Four Actionable Steps for Google Analytics Users

Bob Clary (@webucator): As an avid Google Analytics user, I sometimes find myself overwhelmed with all of the data! I could spend days and days trying to determine actionable steps to help improve my website and online marketing endeavors, but that's just not realistic. I'm sure it's the same for you. So I want to provide you with four actionable steps you can do right now within your Google Analytics account.

My, That's Big Data (Or Is It Just a Big Pile of Data?)

Virginia Backaitis:There’s a difference between a big pile of data and Big Data.

It’s hard to believe that this needs to be said. But try this. Ask someone what Big Data is and see if you don’t hear words like petabyte, exabyte, zettabyte, yottabyte and the like dominate their answers. Most common definitions of Big Data revolve around quantity and data/information storage. 

To Meet the Needs of the Customer 

Holiday Promotion Checklist: Seven Factors Your Deal Needs to Have

Diane Buzzeo: Last year, customers turned to e-Commerce retailers in record numbers for their holiday shopping — outpacing forecasts with a 25 percent increase in online sales. According to eMarketer, 2011’s e-Commerce boost warranted a 2012 online shopping prediction of US$ 224 billion, up more than 15 percent from 2011. With the gifting season creeping closer, it’s time for e-Commerce retailers to get their holiday promotion strategies into shape. 

Customer Experience: A Cost Benefit Analysis of Simplicity

Gerry McGovern (@gerrymcgovern): 

Simplicity for the customer causes complexity for the organization.

When Manish Chandra was launching Poshmark, a shopping party app, one of the design decisions he faced related to the payment system. It was relatively easy to plug PayPal in. However, Chandra was focused on making everything really easy for the customer. So, instead of using PayPal, his developers spent two months developing a system where payments could be made in two clicks.

The result of Chandra's relentless pursuit of simplicity for the customer was a mobile app that has been a big hit.

 

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Source : cmswire[dot]com

A Million Apple Device IDs Leaked By Hacker From FBI Source

According to hacker group AntiSec it obtained access to an FBI laptop during March, and among the various files they acquired was one of over 12 million Unique Device Identifier (USID) codes for Apple devices. TheNextWeb reports that alongside the data was an incomplete list of user names and other personally identifying information including cell phone numbers and addresses.

The hackers have now released a "cleaned" version of this list, with just one million UDIDs. AntiSec says it hacked the laptop using a previously known Java vulnerability.

Source : fastcompany[dot]com

Nokia Lumia 920 Leaks Ahead of Official Launch

 Oh dear, Nokia couldn't keep a lid on this one, possibly because it is just too bright. Anyway, here's the Lumia 920, the new range-leading device that features a PureView camera, wireless charging and beefed-up specs to bring Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 to the masses. 

A Brighter Future?

The Nokia Lumia 920 running Windows Phone 8 has exploded across the web, just before Nokia and Microsoft officially unveil it tomorrow. Packing 32GB of storage, 1GB of RAM plus a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, it offers a modest power and specs boost over the current Lumia 900 and the rest of the line-up.

It includes a slightly larger 4.5-inch HD display that will help show more detail on this WP8 tiles, and will be available in a very vibrant red, yellow, and a moodier black plus a few other hues. The PureView camera will be an 8-megapixel unit, so pretty standard, but packed with neat software tricks for better images. Coming with wireless charging by default isn't much of a unique selling point, especially for users who are happy with their phone or tablet in a stable dock, but is a neat feature. 

A Nokia Lumia 920 with wireless charging base

Prepare for War

With such a huge September spread of launches, Nokia will likely lead with the 920 but have a range of other products on show to round out its offering in a monstrously competitive smartphone marketplace. Despite news and images on matching speakers, headphones and other gizmos, nothing has yet leaked out that puts Lumia substantially above its rivals. Still, the Lumia devices certainly look more fun than Samsung's executive-looking Windows Phone 8 ATIV model unveiled last week.

However, with the power of Microsoft alongside it, a huge free Skype minutes or SkyDrive storage offering could sweeten the deal for potential customers. And, as BlackBerry begins to fade from the enterprise, perhaps IT buyers will pick Windows devices as the logical choice?  Expect AT&T to be the first network to offer the phone which should hit stores later in the month, or perhaps October. 

 

 

Source : cmswire[dot]com

Cloud Pricing and Ultrabooks Herald A Slow Death For Optical Storage

As Sony quits the optical storage device market, and cloud storage costs become ever lower, how long will it be before we struggle to find devices to access those DVD archives or Blu-ray backup discs?

How Do You Backup Your Data?

In the old PC days, life was simple. You copied your files to a few floppy diskettes, kept one set on the desk, one in a safe and one at home, and voila, a business-class archive storage solution was born. Hard disk storage on those voluminous Winchester drives made things a little simpler, until files became too big for floppies. 

So, over the years, we had tape, then optical, portable HDD and now cloud storage, all offering ways to keep your data safe and secure. Enterprises probably use a mix of all kinds, but smaller businesses will likely be indoctrinated with the good old regular DVD-R back-up. Those companies won't be in danger any time soon, but like the floppy before it, the DVD and Blu-ray drive are soon to become endangered species. 

In the news this week, the big blow to DVD's future was Sony is closing down its optical drive manufacturing unit. In the wider PC world, we see a majority of svelte upcoming Windows 8 devices that won't be seen dead lugging a bulky optical drive, and Amazon's offer of cheap Glacier cloud-based archival storage putting more data online, 

Shiny Trinkets

On the positive side, there are plenty of drive makers still in business, but optical drives and discs will become a reducing commodity, like floppies, ZiP drives and other formats, which are still in use around the world, but in ever-fewer numbers. 

Most of us will adapt and overcome, gradually moving our DVD archives back to portable hard drives, or as online storage becomes cheaper, to the cloud. The general reliability of DVD drives means investing in a couple of internal units for a tower PC (remember them) or an external unit for your notebook will be an easy way to ensure some degree of future compatibility.

As long as you look after them, the storage media too is pretty reliable, so there will be no great panic. Internet-savvy companies are probably using their remaining DVDs for target shooting. Still, there are tens of millions of users and smaller businesses who will need to start looking ahead now and planning to ensure historical data, digital documents, official photos and family backups are all accessible for that that time when you dig out a DVD and suddenly realise there is nothing in the office or home to play it on. 

 

 

Source : cmswire[dot]com

Gartner: Enterprises Must Develop Bring-Your-Own-Device (BOYD) Policies

Despite the reluctance of many companies to seriously consider Bring-Your-Own-Device (BOYD) polices, Gartner says that in the coming years the development of such polices will create as big a shift in enterprise computing as PCs did when they first entered the workplace.

While that seems like a fairly dramatic claim, it needs to be understood here that Gartner is not saying that every company will allow employees to bring their own device, but that in terms of enterprise computing companies are going to have to make strategic allowances for it.

Enterprise BOYD Programs

To be clear, BOYD refers to company policies that allow employees, business partners and others use personally selected and purchased client devices, and to access enterprise applications using those devices.

The security implications and threats are clear. So much so that earlier this year we saw IBM decide against allowing workers to bring their own devices despite having started off with a BOYD policy that enabled them do this. IBM stated at the time that it was afraid that sensitive data would find its way outside the workplace and into the hands of competitors.

The result, in this instance, is that device use in IBM enterprises is strictly controlled, and smartphones and other devices that have not been vetted are off limits — including unapproved PCs.

Developing BOYD Policies

While this may appear to go against Gartner’s claim, which is contained in a research paper "Bring Your Own Device: New Opportunities, New Challenges" by David Willis, it actually falls in nicely with what Gartner is saying — that all enterprises in the future will have to develop BOYD policies.

Factors that are necessitating the development of such a policy include mobile innovation that makes even the most powerful smart devices affordable for most employees, as well as making upgrades easier and less expensive.

Rather than entire enterprises trying to keep up with the pace of change that this is encouraging, it will be easier for enterprises to develop a policy that enables their employees do this, while at the same time keeping data and networks safe from outside interference.

A typical BOYD approach would involve permitting users access rights to certain enterprise applications and information on personal devices, subject to enterprise security arrangements, demands and management policies.

Enterprises, for example, may provide a list of acceptable devices that the user can choose from. The IT department may then be able to offer partial, or even full IT support to users, along with full, partial, or no reimbursement to users that sign up to it.

Theoretically, everyone here is happy. The employees gets technology they want and are used to working with and get support for the work applications that they want to use. For enterprises that reimburse there will often be initial economic advantages as employees take up special offers from vendors that are only available to individuals, and enterprise security is guaranteed.

BOYD Drawbacks?

Except that according to Gartner it won’t evolve like this:

Just as we saw with home broadband in the past decade, the expectation that the company will supply full reimbursement for equipment and services will decline over time, and we will see the typical employer favor reimbursing only a portion of the monthly bill. We also expect that as adoption grows and prices decline employers will reduce the amount they reimburse,” Willis says.

 

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Source : cmswire[dot]com

Google Takes The Nexus 7 Tablet To Some Of Europe

Google has, with little fuss, expanded the international availability of its Nexus 7 7-inch Android tablet to include France, Germany and Spain. That exposes some 200 million people to the device, which until now had only been available in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia. The tablet is selling for €199 for 8GB and €249 for the 16GB model ($249 and $311 equivalent price, likely including sales tax).

Google's Nexus 7 may be one of the most interesting Android tablets around, thanks to its low U.S. price of just $199 and the fact it's an official own-brand product--a cheap flagship, if you will. Amazon, Google's biggest rival in the 7-inch tablet game with its heavily-skinned U.S-only Kindle Fire device, is expected to release its updated Fire lineup in early September. An updated Fire may be joined by a larger tablet approaching the iPad's size. Apple, leader in the entire tablet game, is now rumored to have its own small format iPad launch in October.

Source : fastcompany[dot]com