Software delivers enterprise-wide digital asset management.
Press Release Summary:
Canto Cumulus v6.5 supports user management module, LDAP directory servers, and authentication API. Centralized administration tool, Server Console, features existing Remote Admin and User Manager modules as well as Activity Monitor, Backup Manager, and Log Manager modules. To facilitate workflow, Actions and Metadata Templates define sets of procedures that can be modified by user. Metadata Template Editor guarantees that all entered information remains consistent.
Original Press Release:
Canto Cumulus 6.5 Delivers Digital Asset Management Throughout the Enterprise
Latest version is optimized for greater performance, improved workflow, convenient administration, and offers enhanced features for enterprise-wide deployment.
February 8, 2005 - San Francisco, Berlin. Canto, a global leader in Digital Asset Management (DAM) solutions, today announced the release of Canto Cumulus 6.5 with enhancements designed to manage content more effectively and significantly reduce learning time for easier enterprise-wide deployment.
With its fast growing role as a core component of the enterprise infrastructure, the newest version of Cumulus focuses on simplifying administration with enhanced authentication methods including LDAP support and new administration tools for increased system control.
"Setting up a flexible solution that allows easy administration and intuitive workflow can be labor-intensive and complex," said Ulrich Knocke, Canto's Senior Product Manager. "With Cumulus 6.5, we've managed to add more functionality for enterprise-wide deployment and at the same time offer ease of use and help drive down the cost of implementing a valuable system. Cumulus 6.5 offers the benefits and technology required to manage the wealth of digital content large organizations work with daily, without the pain and expense of competitive solutions."
Enhanced Authentication Methods for More Effectively Managing Enterprise-Wide Content Cumulus 6.5 supports an enhanced built-in user management module, LDAP directory servers as well as a new authentication API. User authentication can be based on passwords stored in the built-in authentication method or an LDAP server, on system passwords (e.g. domain passwords), and with the new authentication API, even on any other authentication system.
To simplify the Administrator's task Cumulus 6.5 introduces the Server Console. This is a centralized administration tool for the Workgroup Server Solutions and Cumulus Enterprise. The Server Console features the existing Remote Admin and User Manager modules, as well as some new ones such as the Activity Monitor, Backup Manager and Log Manager.
Dramatic enhancements have been made to the permissions management in the User Manager. It is much easier to use, comes with a performance boost, and allows the setting of permissions, even on the Sets. These include View Sets, Assets Handling Sets and also Metadata Templates.
In order to address customer workflow needs, Actions and Metadata Templates have been introduced in all versions of Cumulus 6.5. Cumulus Actions is a new time saving feature that defines sets of procedures. An Action is a combination of certain functions that now allow several procedures to be performed in one quick step. Also, users can now create, modify or use Metadata Templates that are sets of preset field values with additional attributes for selected record fields. The Metadata Template Editor guarantees that all entered information remains consistent.
"We are continually challenged to streamline our operations," said Frank Ray, Texas Instruments. "Using a digital asset management system is critical for the efficient use and control of our digital media. Cumulus 6.5 continues to build on its core capabilities. Consolidating and simplifying user administration, with the new authentication API and LDAP integration, increases flexibility and security. Metadata templates and enhanced query functionality will make it even easier to catalog, maintain, and more importantly find, our expensive digital assets. These and other new features within Cumulus 6.5 will make it even easier for us to benefit from our digital media library."
"Having LDAP authentication in Cumulus 6.5 is truly an asset, and I am even happier to see the automated catalog backups, and the Log Manager. I believe these two items will get the most applause, and wide spread usage among customers," said Gerry Siebel, Senior Programmer at Prepress Solution Specialist Carey Digital. "Being able to schedule backups of your catalogs adds to the customers' security. Being able to easily view the logs helps them track, justify, and improve its usability."
Many other new features have also been introduced in Cumulus 6.5 to enhance the user experience. These range from improved presentation features and customization capabilities to ease of use. For example, Cumulus 6.5 now supports Image Color Management (ICM), ensuring that colors will be accurately and consistently represented, offers enhanced CMYK support in the Pixel Image Converter, and even allows lossless rotation of JPEG originals on the hard disc. The original image quality remains untouched, and optimum image quality is guaranteed when opening an image in any application. This feature will be especially useful for photographers.
The 'Quicksearch' function is now customizable and queries can now be selected from the toolbar by a mouse-click. Version 6.5 will also find duplicates and records of which the assets are missing. These valuable functions will keep users' catalogs up-to-date and consistent.
Availability
Cumulus 6.5 Single User, Workgroup (Server Solutions) and Enterprise are immediately available in English, German, French and Japanese. Server versions for Mac OS X, Windows, Linux and Solaris, and Client and Single User versions for Mac OS X and Windows are offered. Upgrades are offered for existing installations. Users who participate in the Upgrade Advantage Program will receive this upgrade within that UAP. For more information on all Canto products and services and to download demo versions go to: www.canto.com
About Canto
Founded in 1990, Canto is the leading supplier of Digital Asset Management products and services with over one million Cumulus licenses sold and more than 12,500 client/server systems installed worldwide. Canto's business focus is to deliver world-class solutions at an inexpensive price to the creative arts, publishing, corporate communications and other industries. The company's product line "Cumulus" is designed to manage and archive all types of digital assets used in production, publishing, communication, and other workflows, offering cross-platform and Internet technology that scales completely from Enterprise to Single Users.
