alfaQuest Technologies Inc. released its Panther TIFF Input module, which accepts CCITT Group 4 compressed TIFF bitmaps from any network source, including legacy RIPs or scanners. The module allows users to drive the full range of Panther platesetters and film imagers, including alfaQuest’s computer-to-conventional platesetters, the FasTrak CTP/C 50,110 and 160-plate-per-hour models.

            www.alfaquest.com

Wam!Net, a division of Savvis, announced that it is now a vendor member of CIP4, the worldwide standards body aimed at encouraging computer-based integration of processes within the graphics arts industry.

            www.wamnet.com

The Iowa City (Iowa) Press-Citizen replaced its classified system with Digital Technology International’s ClassSpeed software, which automates the process of sending ad proofs to customers. The app will enable the Press-Citizen to allow its customers to receive ad proofs with a Press-Citizen cover sheet. In addition to converting to the new classified software, the Press-Citizen also redesigned its classified section from nine columns to 10.

            www.dtint.com

The News-Journal Corp., owners of the Daytona Beach (Fla.) News-Journal, placed an order for 26 additional Mactive Inc. AdBase licenses to be used in the company’s retail and accounts receivable departments. The newspaper also upgraded its Burt Technologies Inc. preprint production management software.

            www.mactive.com

            www.burtmountain.com

The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Wash., purchased CCI Europe’s NewsDesk BaseLine editorial system. More than 140 reporters and editors will use the software, to be deployed later this year.

            www.ccieurope.com

Agfa released the Apogee Raster Blaster, a data conversion system that allows Apogee prepress automation software to output to more than 100 non-Agfa devices. The system includes Apogee Raster Blaster processing software pre-installed on a PC platform.

            Apogee Raster Blaster lets users preview, monitor and control each job. It takes 1-bit color-separated raster data from ApogeeX, the Apogee PDF RIP or Apogee PrintDrive and sends it to any non-Agfa imagesetter or platesetter.

            www.agfa.com

ECRM Imaging Systems is launching a new version of its ECRM RIP. It can be purchased with new imaging devices or as an upgrade to existing systems.

            The new ECRM RIP software, version 6.2, is based on Harlequin technology and runs on Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Macintosh-based platforms. It supports a variety of file formats, according to ECRM, including those generated by popular graphic design packages, new ProofReady drivers, overprinting of color managed jobs and implementation of an AppleTalk support option for Mac OS X and Windows XP.

            www.ecrm.com

A Lowly Apprentice Production Inc. released of an updated version of its imposition plug-in InBooklet 2.1.4 for Adobe InDesign. This version is a maintenance update, which the company said resolves a number of customer reported issues.

            InBooklet expands the printing capabilities of Adobe InDesign by allowing creation of printer spreads right from within the application. InBooklet will not rearrange or shuffle pages in a user’s document InBooklet and it also has a preview feature that makes it a  soft-proofing tool.

            www.alap.com

SAP AG released details on its new intellectual property management capability, which is one of its enhancements in the new release of mySAP customer relationship management system.

            IPM is designed to help streamline the creation, production and acquisition of intellectual property. The new IPM capability will allow companies to manage contracts and contract compliance, settle and report incoming and outgoing royalties and track IP inventories and performance.

            www.sap.com

Corel Corp. released Corel XMetaL 4, which extends XML content editing to most Windows applications, including e-mail and Web browsers.

            www.corel.com

Fusion Systems International released DigiPage, its render once, output many workflow system. The software generates a set of production workflow files and allows work to be rendered once. DigiPage files can be used independently or in conjunction with any open prepress interface applications.

            www.fusionsystems.com