Novell has used this week's CEBIT conference to demonstrate the
next version of iFolder, its distributed file technology
Novell's iFolder was introduced as a new feature in Netware 6 last
year to provide remote PC users with access to their documents
across the Internet.
The Professional 2.0 version, due for release next month, extends
the technology to support handheld computer users.
Jeff Hawkins, vice president in Novell's storage division, said
previous editions did not support handheld computers because the
technology was based on Sun's Java language, which he claimed, is
not well supported on handhelds.
The new release provides an HTML (Web) user interface, which does
not require Java, allowing handheld computer users to upload and
download files through iFolder.
At the moment the technology does not support file conversions, a
limitation that Hawkins agreed would restrict its use somewhat to
transferring data from PC applications supported on the user's
handheld computer.
But in iFolder 2.0 Professional, Hawkins said a software
developer's kit would be available, allowing third-party developers
to create file conversion utilities.
The current iFolder requires Java client to be downloaded to a
user's machine in order to work. Normally a registered user would
log into one of Novell's iFolder gateways available through an ISP
and access files either remotely via a Java-based Web user
interface or locally through synchronisation software installed on
the user's PC.