Stock full of swag from Mid-Michigan CFUG and MAX, my son decides to reveal to the world his secret identity of Adobe Boy.

Here he is suited up for a RIA mission.

I’m happy to announce that Vertabase 4.5 launched today (official press release).

This is the biggest launch of our project management software to date.  It includes a totally new interface and tons of great new features. 

It was built entirely with a rich internet application approach powered by ColdFusion.   To me this means:

1. An intuitive, immersive user experience
2. Enabling quick visibility and access to information
3. Facilitating sharing, data portability and data visualization
4. Integration with the user’s eco-system.

You can see how Vertabase 4.5 adheres to these principles in the 2 minute Quick Tour.  To read about specific new features check out the Vertabase 4.5 Release Notes.

Along with the version, there’s a new, searchable video learning center and we added customer support via instant message using Skype (search for Vertabase Support).

We’re getting ready to launch the latest version of Vertabase project management software.  As always, before a launch, I spend time writing down the message behind the software.  When we release a new version its not just about adding new features. Each release encapsulates our specific approach to technology and its application to managing projects.

This time around, it struck me how intertwined our approach is with the continued development of rich internet applications (perhaps because of MAX) and how core ColdFusion has been to the evolution of RIA’s and to our product.  In putting the message down on paper/pixels I hope to describe why ColdFusion is so powerful for rich internet application development.

From the very beginning, we’ve relied on ColdFusion for the external releases of our professional product.   The main reason at that time was the speed at which we could build a high-grade web-based application.  The first wave of RIA development, remember, was getting applications to run on the web. There were numerous “thin client” approaches that would serve desktop applications over a network. But that was simply changing the deployment/delivery method of accessing the same old software.  Web-based applications were fundamentally different.

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The bailout is on track to rack-up another $800 billion. That’s in addition to the original $700 billion, which is in addition to $25 billion here and there to rescue various financial service firms before the $700 billion and the roughly $135 billion of other funding that was attached to the $700 billion.

This brings the total amount to over $1.6 trillion dollars

And people are fussing over $25 billion to the auto industry?

Here is pdf of the presentation I gave at Adobe MAX CF Unconference on Project Management and Time Management.

The main theme is that having great information before, during and after a project are the keys to a successful project. That information gives you a basis for good communications and good management (of your team and client expectations). The presentation then discusses how time tracking can be an easy habit and powerful tool for generating great information.

Its been a whirlwind week and I haven’t had a chance to blog about three other events that took place this week in the world of Vertabase. Here is a summary.

1. Vertabase Project Management Software -we publicly launched the pre-release version of Vertabase 4.5. Clients are already using it and raving. Here is a link to the full release notes (on the pre-release).  Some significant changes are:

• New interface, new look and feel
• Resource Calendar view of projects, tasks, resources, etc. across calendar days and weeks
• Change request system with change logs
• Faster timesheet entry
• Enhanced MS Excel import for even faster template and schedule creation.

We launched the next version of the Vertabase site to go with it and a new Vertabase Video Learning Center.

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Where to start? It all happened so fast. In the blink of an eye the MAX BOF Session on CFML Language Development came and went. But what a great session.
First off, thanks Jason Delmore (Adobe), Adam Haskell and Matt Woodward (OpenBD), Gert Franz (Railo -who wins the pulling an all nighter to participate award) and Sean Corfield (CFML Advisory committee -graciously agreeing to speak).

And of course, everyone who participated in person and online.

About half the meeting got recorded on Acrobat Connect right here

Here is a recap of the first half from my recollection. I would invite speakers and participants to add in their recollections as well.

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Plan for Success

Your project management plan is your bible for success. Without it, there will not be a project because without a workable plan, you have no way to reach your goal. Your plan must start at with the goal that you want to achieve. Then, break down that go into workable segments. Set a timeline for each segment. Your team should know these timelines and adhere to them. This does not mean that you make a mad dash between segments. You want to allow enough time for these various stages to be achieved while still being able to meet the overall deadline. Remember, you can rework your plan to find better ways to get you where you need to be.

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The biggest winner was Barack Obama (though the RIA technologies definitely shined on the news websites).

Every major news site seems to have caught the RIA bug.

Check out http://www.cnn.com and http://www.foxnews.com for some electoral map Flash fun. On Fox News the electoral vote count below the map re-tallies in real team, right before your eyes as the new numbers come in. Can’t tell if its just animation or if its actually counting it up.

NBC News has got the desktop pegged with RIA Widgets they call Newsware Widgets.

Fun stuff.