IBM i shops that use the latest release of Zend Technology Flash Builder for PHP can now compile their Flash user interfaces into native iOS applications that will run on Apple devices. Flash Builder for PHP version 4.5.1, which was released late last month, enables developers to target all major client devices–including Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs; Web browsers; and iOS, Android, and Blackberry Playbook mobile devices–with a single development effort.

Zend launched the first release of Flash Builder for PHP (version 4.5) in May. The offering combines Adobe‘s Flash Builder development tool with a full copy of the

Effective testing plays a big part in running a successful in-house IT department. Whether it’s functional testing, user acceptance testing, or regression testing, no CIO worth her salt would promote a new or modified application into production without first making sure that it actually works. And since testing requires data, it’s usually a good idea to have something in place to manage all that test data. Such is the purpose of Data-Maker, the flagship test data management software from Grid-Tools.

Test data management is one of those classes of software tools that often gets overlooked. After all, most companies

IBM i shops that use PowerTech‘s Compliance Monitor to ensure their server environments are in compliance with regulations like PCI, SOX, and HIPAA won’t have to do as much babysitting of their compliance checks thanks to a new batch scheduling feature added in version 3. The new version, unveiled last week, also gets a Web browser-based GUI, support for object-level security, new reports, and a better installation process.

PowerTech first released Compliance Monitor in 2005 with the goal of helping IBM i shops satisfy the security audit components of regulations like PCI, SOX, and HIPAA and to ensure that

CNX last week announced the general availability of Valence 3.0, a new Web application development tool that introduces native support for smartphones and tablet devices running Apple iOS and Google Android operating systems. The tool, which is targeted at RPG programmers looking to create Web 2.0 apps to run on the IBM i server, includes several other promising new features as well.

Valence is a unique tool designed for creating modern-looking Web applications that run under the IBM i server’s Apache Web server and access existing RPG business logic. The product has several components, including an OEM version of the

Information Builders last week unveiled WebFOCUS Mobile Data Collection, a new offering that allows mobile application users to perform write transactions and update the database, as opposed to just reading reports.

According to Info Builders, customers who accessed its WebFOCUS business intelligence software from a mobile device were restricted to viewing reports. If a user saw something in a report that warranted further action, the user would have to take it up later with a full WebFOCUS client accessed through a larger computer.

That read-only limitation has been removed with the launch of WebFOCUS Mobile Data Collection. The new software

RJS Software Systems has delivered email and printing enhancements with the latest release of the IBM i version its document management system, WebDocs-iSeries Edition version 3.19.

RJS dubs WebDocs an “electronic filing cabinet” that can capture, store, manage, and route all kinds of electronic documents, including IBM i spool files, invoices, work orders, faxes, reports, scanned documents, and even non-structured data like video and audio files. The software features a Web-based interface, and a server component that runs on either Windows or IBM i operating systems.

With WebDocs version 3.19, the Burnsville, Minnesota-based company has improved its outbound email and

Genelco Software Solutions, a developer of insurance applications that is owned by IBM, last month announced the general availability of version 3 of Genelco Insurance Administration Solution (GIAS), a major new release of its Java-based software.

The software replaces the older OS/400-based Genelco products, such as Genelco Life +, Genelco Administration +, Genelco Claims +, and Genelco Group +. Approximately 200 insurance companies around the world still run these older products, which continue to be supported by IBM, the company says.

The future for Genelco is clearly Java with GIAS, which launched in early 2009 and has been

Manhattan Associates is looking to hire about 100 people–including more than a dozen with IBM i and RPG skills–as part of an on-going expansion. The logistics software developer, whose IBM i-based warehouse management system sets the standard for the industry, has hired more than 300 people worldwide this year, and reported record revenue as other vendors struggle.

In a recent interview with the Atlanta, Georgia, TV news station WSB-TV, Manhattan’s CEO and president Pete Sinisgalli explained his growth strategy and plans for expansion.

“We made a decision during the recession that we’re going to continue to invest for the future,

Mohawk Fine Papers has adopted a cloud-based integration platform from Liasion Technologies, the vendor announced last week. The service enables Mohawk to connect with customers, suppliers, partners, and internal constituents using Liaison’s resources.

Based in Upstate New York, Mohawk Fine Papers is the country’s largest manufacturer of premium papers. The company, which has sales on the order of $300 million per year, is a big IBM i shop; it uses Infor‘s BPCS ERP system.

The implementation of Liasion’s service oriented architecture (SOA)-based technology will provide interoperability between Mohawk’s internal and external applications, services, and data. The software as

Sports apparel company Fanzz and YM Inc., a chain of hundreds of clothing stores across North America, have licensed retail management software from Island Pacific.

Fanzz, which is a division of Larry H. Miller Sports and Entertainment Group that operates more than 60 stores in the western United States, has licensed Island Pacific’s IBM i-based Merchandising Suite. The company will be using the merchandising, financials, replenishment, promotions, and business intelligence components, the vendor announced this summer.

Lorin Hunt, general merchandise manager for Fanzz, says trust was a big component of her decision. “Beginning with their visit a year ago