Newly released in three editions - a free Community Edition for development and deployment up to one server and 2CPUs, a Client Edition, and a JSF Edition - Backbase Enterprise Ajax 4.1.2 is the latest version of San Mateo, CA-based Backbase's flagship AJAX framework for the Enterprise. It adds new client SOAP API, improved form validation, several new widgets, new Debugger features, improved data binding, performance increases, and enhanced documentation. More info

SOASTA announced a new, enhanced release of its Web testing application, SOASTA Concerto. SOASTA Concerto now supports Web UI/Ajax testing ensuring Ajax-based Web applications and services meet the reliability and performance demanded by today's Web 2.0 business requirements. With this release SOASTA delivers the best, most powerful cross-browser Web UI/Ajax testing solution available. More info

Today, RIA technology is widely used, also referred to as Rich Internet Clients (RICs). RICs provide the usability, responsiveness, and reuse of client/server applications with the deployment, manageability, and availability of a traditional Web application. Many websites are using DHTML and AJAX technology in HTML pages. Another very popular technology is Flash. How about Silverlight, though? RIAs offer the flexibility and ease of use of an intelligent desktop application, and add the broad reach of traditional web applications with an entirely new kind of web experience that is engaging, interactive, lightweight, and flexible. More info

The OPC DataHub from Cogent Real-Time Systems now provides more ways to visualize and interact with real-time data in a web browser. Its new streaming AJAX Web Data Browser displays immediate updates to data from a wide range of sources like databases, spreadsheets, and OPC servers. This streaming AJAX technology can be used in conjunction with new Java applets for live displays of gauges, trending graphs, progress bars and other animated objects. More info

New interaction paradigms and complex user interface controls of AJAX have raised concerns about access and usability for users of all backgrounds and abilities. Client-side JavaScript code may assume certain language or cultural conventions, alienating vast audiences. Graphical and mouse-based user interaction is often assumed, preventing use by keyboard or assistive technology users. This presentation will review the issues and provide best practices for building accessible and globalized AJAX applications today, including the new W3C Accessible Rich Internet Application (ARIA) specification. This and other strategies used to provide full accessibility and globalization in the Dojo Toolkit will be shown. More info

I was reading news feeds when I read a blog post that included some quotes from Bill Gates. Bill was quoted as saying that Windows 7 will make the keyboard and mouse far less important than in the past. We've all heard that crap before, it's typically what Bill used to say before attempting to pimp yet another failed Tablet PC project. I admit, I fell for the Tablet thing once... I had one, and I hated it. It was never powerful enough to be a real laptop and it was never portable enough to be a good enough tablet. In short, it was useless. More info

FalconStor announced the deployment of a Fibre Channel FalconStor Network Storage Server (NSS), powered by the FalconStor IPStor storage virtualisation platform, at the Office National Interprofessionel des Grandes Cultures (ONIGC). The FalconStor NSS solution, installed by FalconStor partner Astelis, ensures that anticipated storage growth over the next five years can be accommodated, providing ONIGC not only the necessary immediate data protection snapshot services, but additionally a clear path to deploying a disk-to-disk backup solution at a later date. More info

AJAXWorld Conference & Expo, March 18-20, 2008, in New York City will provide an overview of Canoo's RIA technology as compared to its other European competitors. Upcoming AJAXWorld Conference is demonstrating a stronger interest and participation from delegates around Europe. Canoo announced a new release of its Java library for Rich Internet Applications (RIA), UltraLightClient (ULC). This new 6.2 version offers addons to test UltraLightClient-based applications more easily. More info

I met Jonas Jacobi and John Fallows just after Thanksgiving as they pitched their product for inclusion at DEMO. Having helped launch the first Web server at DEMO more than 10 years ago, I understood immediately the importance of what they are providing in this technology. On the spot, I invited them to come to the conference. Where, John asked, would DEMO 08 be held? Palm Desert, I answered. 'That's great. Our families will love it there.' More info

Netbiscuits is the first mobile software development platform to support Adobe Flash and AJAX technologies so developers can create the next-generation Mobile Internet experience worldwide. Now media, content and advertising professionals have a full solution to deliver high-quality, tailored web experiences that incorporate mobile advertising and shopping on virtually any mobile device. The Netbiscuits web platform empowers customers to conquer the three main obstacles to implementing a successful Mobile Internet strategy: create perfectly formatted content; publish content to any mobile device on any network in any country; and quickly generate revenue from mobile advertising and commerce. More info