Articles - Page 103

Not All Heroes Wear Capes. Here's Why CMS Is Your 'Unsung Hero' in 2025

janus-boye

Need a form with an embedded YouTube video and PayPal integration? <a href="http://www.jotform.com/" target="_blank">JotForm</a> can do that.
<a href="http://www.jotform.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/logo_4x.png" /></a>The web browser based form builder lets you build a highly functional form right on their website's homepage. You can then embed the form on your website, access the source code, or even save it for later. It's a very clever and very accessible form building solution, and there's even a free plan to make use of.
Now though, to round off their feature set even further, JotForm has unveiled <a href="http://www.jotform.com/form-analytics/" target="_blank">Form Analytics</a>.
<h2>Feature-rich Forms, Tracked &amp; Analyzed</h2>
JotForm has been around since 2006, and it boasts a feature set to reflect that.
With over 8,000 form templates, 380 widgets and 100 integration options, JotForm offers every user a wealth of creative avenues.
Not to mention, This new release is following up from several previous ones in quick succession, including an advanced Form Designer, Theme Store, migration tool for displaced Adobe FormsCentral users, and a Fillable PDF Form Creator.
As for the new <a href="http://www.jotform.com/form-analytics/" target="_blank">Form Analytics</a> tool itself, it comes bearing data regarding impressions, conversion rates, devices, and more. Plus, the tool presents all numbers visually, as any good analytics system should.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/formanalyticsscreen615x0-is.png" />JotForm's founder and CEO, Aytekin Tank, had this to say upon the announcement:
<blockquote>
“This feature is really going to help our users discover how to make their forms more effective. Having this kind of data is going to go a long way toward improving any form’s performance.
Knowing how well your forms are performing is a key step for businesses everywhere.
This is the kind of tool that can help save or make a company a lot of money.”
</blockquote>
To get started with JotForm, <a href="http://www.jotform.com/" target="_blank">visit their website</a>.

Browser Based Form Builder JotForm Unveils Analytics

mike-johnston

Jahia has officially announced the release of Jahia Digital Factory 7.1 today. This new release brings with it a host of improvements focused on scalability, stability and performance.According to Jahia CEO, Elie Auvray:<blockquote>“After the introduction of Digital Factory 7.0 last year, our customers and partners showed a huge enthusiasm for the new realm of possibilities it allowed for. As our flagship product becomes everyday the foundations of more and more highly-critical online initiatives – underlining how critical infrastructure UXP now is – this year, we concentrated on further strengthening it. Hence this new version, that will really help our customers expand their online projects safely and with virtually no limit.” says Elie Auvray, CEO of Jahia Solutions Group SA.</blockquote>Digital Factory 7.1 focuses on stability through additional performance enhancements in all areas:<ul><li>The fastest and most reliable “User eXperience Platform”<ul><li>​Performance, stability and scalability now reach new heights with Digital Factory 7.1: browsing and editing operations are faster than ever. The new platform handles twice the load as the previous one with the same configuration, making it Jahia’s fastest and most powerful Digital Factory yet.</li><li>In addition, a new Frontal search engine based on Elasticsearch provides higher scalability without compromising access control or sacrificing publication capabilities.</li></ul></li><li>​Enhanced authoring productivity<ul><li>​Digital Factory authors now leverage a new “Work In Progress” feature that prevents publication mistakes in a far more flexible way than simple content locks but still fully integrated with Digital Factory core capabilities.</li><li>In addition, authors now can publish content in all languages at once with a simple click at a site, page, section or content item level.</li></ul></li><li>​Even more developer agility:<ul><li>​Powerful improvements to Digital Factory’s Rest API allow developers to perform very sophisticated operations and query using the JCR-SQL2 language, thus accelerating, for instance, IoT implementations.</li><li>The new Jahia Studio accelerates development even more: solutions builders can now, for instance, save time by duplicating modules or control dependencies and downloaded sources more tightly.</li></ul></li><li>​Peace of mind for architects and administrators:<ul><li>​Digital Factory now supports Java 8, IBM Websphere 8.5 and JBoss Application Server 7.x and provides the additional flexibility to externalize data and configurations.</li><li>User and Groups service redesign : administrators will now seamlessly manage their preferred authentication providers through a dedicated administration panel, further unifying the Jahia user experience across all products and services and for all audiences.</li><li>Additional enhancements for architects and administrators include new multi-tenancy administration capabilities as well as Jahia instances chaining capabilities, allowing administrators of large Jahia deployments to orchestrate any type of instances (Digital Factory, Workspace Factory, …).</li></ul></li></ul>For more information on Digital Factory, check out the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.jahia.com">Jahia website</a> or watch my recent interviews with Jahia executives, <a href="/cms-critic-interviews-emmanuel-garcin-of-jahia-ahead-of-jahiaone/">Emmanuel Garcin</a> and Christopher Justice.

Jahia Digital Factory 7.1 Release offers more Scalability, Stability and Performance Improvements

In a recent email sent to subscribers and in a <a href="https://medium.com/@tdominey/we-re-selling-koken-e1193c019f2f" target="_blank">blog post on Medium</a>, Koken Co-founder, Todd Dominey has announced that the team behind the Photography based CMS wants out and is actively looking for buyers.
Here's the email that was sent out to those subscribed to their mailing list a few minutes ago:
<blockquote>
Newsletter / July 2015
We're selling Koken
After considerable time and contemplation, we've decided it's time for a new team to take over.
We are actively looking for an outside company or group of individuals to acquire the CMS and all related assets.
<a href="http://koken.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a9619ef4b3fd333f807011fef&amp;id=d30cd18394&amp;e=63f7818315" target="_blank">This detailed blog post</a> contains everything there is to know. Our hope is that by being completely transparent with our business we can find the perfect team to provide Koken the leadership and resources it deserves. 
To our dedicated followers and supporters, we thank you. We will do everything we can to ensure this isn't the end but rather the start of something new.
During this transitionary period your Koken installation, web site, and the Koken Store will continue to function normally. New installations may still be created as well.
We promise to share any news or updates concerning this sale that may affect you as soon as we're able to.
Building Koken was a dream come true for us all, and we're so incredibly proud of what we accomplished together. Thank you for anything you did to support our endeavor.
Inquiries regarding this sale may be directed to Todd Dominey (Product Designer and Co-Founder) at <a href="mailto:todd@koken.me" target="_blank">todd@koken.me</a>
</blockquote>
Part of me is sad that they've chosen to sell it as it's got some serious potential but another part of me is hopeful that someone who can put the right amount of time and effort behind the project picks it up and makes something amazing happen. I think Koken is a great product and certainly offers something great to those who want a solid photography CMS but while it remains in limbo, I don't know that I'd be actively considering signing up for a new account.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/1-9dy2ovftqyjoar97ue5llq878x0-is.jpeg" />For those who haven't seen <a href="http://koken.me/" target="_blank">Koken</a>, go check it out. For a list of alternatives, see our recently updated post: <a href="/top-8-cms-for-photographers/" target="_blank">Top 8 CMS for Photographers</a>.
<hr />

Koken, the Photography CMS goes up for sale as Co-Founders announce they want out

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.magnolia-cms.com">Magnolia CMS</a>, the open source Java platform, has unveiled its newest version.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/magnoliacmslogo-1409x0-is.jpg" /> With two awards (<a href="/2014-best-open-source-java-cms/">People's Choice Award for Best Open Source Java CMS</a> &amp; <a href="/2014-best-free-java-cms/">People's Choice Award for Best Free Java CMS</a>) under its belt from the 2014 CMS Awards, Magnolia is a platform that's moving in the right direction. <a href="/magnolia-5-3-blends-cxm-with-cms-to-deliver-best-of-breed-software">The release of Magnolia 5.3 played a part</a>, bringing greater personalization features to the product.Magnolia 5.4 introduces a number of interesting changes and additions. Here's a summary.<h2>Light Modules, Magnolia Templating Essentials &amp; Amazon S3</h2>Magnolia's introduction of light modules allows developers to customize Magnolia by using frontend technologies and HTML on the file system.They can quickly and easily develop light modules and apps without Java know-how and by using their favorite tools, including CSS and HTML editors, instead of Java IDEs and build tools.Furthermore, the new Magnolia Templating Essentials (MTE) provides a set of 32 reusable component templates that allows developers to quickly build templates for their projects.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/lightmodule_png_2015-07-07-17-26-51.png" />Because it is front-end framework agnostic, it enables front-end developers to build powerful integrations with front-end frameworks like Bootstrap and Foundation.Magnolia 5.4 also brings about Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service) support. This enables users to optionally manage assets in Amazon S3 while using them in Magnolia. This move brings unlimited asset management scalability to Magnolia projects.<h2>YAML-based Configuration By File &amp; A New Demo Site</h2>Magnolia 5.4 also enables a consistent, straightforward workflow for editing templates, resources (like Javascript and CSS) and configuration directly on the file system.Developers can now develop powerful extensions using simple YAML files. Configuration by file has a number of advantages, including increased transparency, ease of editing and better collaboration for developer teams.To illustrate how the latest version makes things faster and easier for developers, and to show the easy-to-use author experience, Magnolia has even designed a stunning new demo site.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/demo_png_2015-07-08-14-43-08.png" />Upon the announcement of Magnolia 5.4, Philipp Bärfuss, Magnolia's CTO, made these comments:<blockquote>“Magnolia 5.4 is a significant step forward for developers because of the increased capabilities and agility it enables. The result is improved collaboration among teams and faster work with less input.The new release significantly lowers the entry barrier for developers, who are now able to configure by file and use light java-free modules, in addition to having access to a powerful and easy-to-use templating kit. This makes Magnolia much more accessible.”</blockquote>To find out more about Magnolia 5.4, check out the official announcement.Also, you can get acquainted with <a href="/products/magnolia">Magnolia CMS through our CMS Directory</a>.

Magnolia 5.4: Light Modules, Templating Essentials & Amazon S3 Support

If there's one thing that's a sure thing in the world of CMS, it's that there is almost always a product for every individual need if you look hard enough. Today, I'm going to introduce you to a fairly new CMS to the market called CollectiveAccess.
<h2>Let's start with the basics, what is CollectiveAccess?</h2>
Well, it's a CMS that is best described (according to their website) as software for describing all manner of things, and allows you to create catalogues that closely conform to your needs without custom programming. In other words, It is free open-source software for managing and publishing museum and archival collections.
If that's still not descriptive enough for you, it's basically a CMS that you can use to build all kinds of different types of websites but specifically focused on websites to display things such as online catalogues, libraries, production and broadcast footage, special collections and more. To get an idea of the types of projects it has been used for, <a href="http://www.collectiveaccess.org/#projects" target="_blank">visit this link</a>.
<h2>Features</h2>
<ul>
<li>Runs on any modern web browser</li>
<li>Pre-configured with several library standards including Dublin Core, PBCore, VRA Core and more</li>
<li>Customizable through simple user interfaces — no complex programming required</li>
<li>Reporting tools easily generate finding aids and exports to PDF or spreadsheet-readable formats</li>
<li>Supports multilingual cataloging</li>
<li>Mapping tools allow you to georeference any asset</li>
<li>Integrated with Library of Congress subject headings, Getty vocabularies, GeoNames, and more</li>
<li>Plugins extend the software's core functionality to support timelines, visualizations, image licensing and more</li>
<li>Import frameworks allow for the batch migration and transformation of media and data</li>
<li>Free online documentation and support</li>
</ul>
This is, of course, just a subset of the features available. <a href="http://www.collectiveaccess.org/features" target="_blank">Check here for a full set of features</a>.
<h2>Screenshots</h2>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screenshot_2015-07-08_at_12_53_26_pm766x0-is.png" />
Interested? <a href="http://www.collectiveaccess.org/" target="_blank">Visit their website</a> or <a href="http://demo.collectiveaccess.org/index.php/system/auth/login" target="_blank">check out a demo</a> and play around with it a bit to see if it fits your needs.

CollectiveAccess - A CMS for Catalogues, Libraries, Museums and More

LightCMS, a website builder capable of eCommerce, blogging and corporate set ups, has rolled out a couple of new enhancements.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/lightcms.jpg" /> 
Selected for coverage as one of the most relevant website builders <a href="https://www.websitebuilderscritic.com/website_builders/reviews/lightcms/" target="_blank">at Website Builders Critic</a>, LightCMS, is a website builder worth keeping tabs on. The platform already powers over 275,000 websites, and also picked up the <a href="/the-winner-of-the-2014-peoples-choice-cms-award-for-best-cloud-cms-for-smb/" target="_blank">People's Choice Award for Best Cloud CMS for SMB</a>.
Here's a quick look at what's new.
<h2>New &amp; Improved Source Code Editor</h2>
First up, LightCMS have introduced a new and improved source code editor. The old source editor was, “utilitarian in nature and limited on the features it offered.”
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sourceeditorsmall.png" />Now though, thanks to a new user-friendly and responsive user interface, the new source editor gives you an environment more closely related to what you would find in your favorite code editor. Here are some of the editor's new features:
<ul>
<li>A full screen editing window</li>
<li>Syntax highlighting</li>
<li>Display preferences such as dark editor, line wrap, show gutter, and show invisibles</li>
<li>Expand/Collapse template files list</li>
<li>Dark Editor: This option lets you select this option to use the editor with a dark background and light colored font, instead of a light background with dark colored font.</li>
<li>Line Wrap: This feature lets you turn line wrap on.</li>
<li>Show Invisibles: This feature display invisible characters such as tabs and spaces.</li>
<li>Show Gutter: Selecting this option displays the gutter, showing the line numbers and the expand/collapse button for parent-level tags.</li>
</ul>
<h2>New Role Page Tree</h2>
Previously, if you wanted to assign a specific role to a page, you had to first go to the manage roles page and create the role. Then, you had to head over to each page that should be assigned to the role and assign it. A time-sapping chore to say the least.
This feature though, makes it faster and easier for LightCMS users to assign custom roles to a page or group of pages. Users can create and assign custom roles to pages from one central location: the “Manage Roles” page.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/editrolespage478x0-is.png" />
The “Add Role” button, the Add Roles page is displayed and lets you enter a name and description for the new custom role. The Pages section of the screen displays a page tree similar to the page tree in the Page Manager.
For more information on this latest LightCMS release, check out their official blog announcement.
You can also get acquainted with LightCMS throughout CMS Directory.

LightCMS Rolls Out New Source Editor & Role Page Tree

Having a stellar content management system (CMS) isn’t enough. It needs the ideal match: marketing automation software.
In a world where customers expect a better and more personalized experience than ever before, running marketing automation software in tandem with your CMS is a must to ensure your enterprise thrives.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/person-731479_1280552x0-is.jpg" /> The world of “martech” is advancing quickly and can seem overwhelming at first blush. Fortunately, the best marketing software options are intuitive, user-friendly and designed to pair perfectly with the leading CMS possibilities.
Are you ready to take your enterprise marketing tactics to the next level? First, <a href="/dir/" target="_blank">make sure you have a premium CMS handling your content organization</a>. Next, take a look at these eight excellent marketing solutions.
<h2>1. Marketo</h2>
This marketing automation software giant brings together every single digital channel. Marketo marries science with digital marketing by offering email marketing, inbound marketing, upsell and cross-selling, lead generation, event marketing, optimized ad spending solutions and so much more.
With real-time personalization, on-demand webinars and even digital book clubs at the ready, you’ll have everything necessary for a killer marketing campaign just like fellow customers Curves International, Northeastern University and Canon Business Solutions.
Visit <a href="http://www.marketo.com/">Marketo’s website</a> to find out more.
<h2>2. Act-On</h2>
Both inbound and outbound strategies are highlighted, including SEO, a focus on landing pages, email management and help organizing events and webinars. Customers can depend on this software for programs and analytics, a comprehensive data studio, and seamless CRM integration. Over 3,000 clients use Act-On for marketing software, such as CobbleStay Vacation Rentals, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and US Fleet Tracking. See what <a href="https://www.act-on.com/">Act-On</a> has to offer you and your enterprise.
<h2>3. Oracle Marketing Cloud</h2>
Like “The Oracle” in The Matrix said, “We are all here to do what we are all here to do.”
For you, this means marketing to consumers in an engaging, smart way. This solution can be broken down into a few key critical umbrella areas: Cross-channel marketing, content marketing, social marketing and a fantastic data management platform. Combine that with Services &amp; Support that include strategic services, a creative studio, implementation services and campaign services, and it’s sure to be a win.
Oracle’s customers are in a number of industries, and include; Kirkland’s, Money Super Market and Whole Foods Market. Learn more at <a href="https://www.oracle.com/marketingcloud/index.html">Oracle Marketing Cloud</a>.
<h2>4. HubSpot</h2>
HubSpot lets you take care of every last online marketing campaign with ease and grace — which is no easy feat.
Those campaigns can be frustrating, but HubSpot puts whole marketing funnels into one simple to understand platform. All at once, you can enjoy more traffic via content that’s optimized, snag more leads with flawless lead conversion campaigns and attract more customers for good.
To reap the benefits of HubSpot alongside clients like; Whittington Consulting, Steam Creative and SmartBug Media. head over to the <a href="http://offers.hubspot.com/">HubSpot website</a>.
<h2>5. Pardot</h2>
You want a streamlined marketing and sales solution from the geniuses at Salesforce? Pardon? No, it’s actually Pardot and it’s become the “official B2B marketing automation app” for and from Salesforce.
Pardot is mobile ready and lets you design, deploy and oversee a slew of marketing campaigns designed to up your revenue, which clients like Arketi Group, SignUp4 and EPAY Systems have already discovered.
Check out <a href="http://www2.pardot.com/">Pardot</a> and see if it’s the right fit for you.
<h2>6. InfusionSoft</h2>
This automated sales and marketing software solution is created just for small businesses and gives you an all-in-one approach. Suitable for all industries, it promotes speed and efficiency.
InfusionSoft provides a stellar customer relationship management (CRM) solution, email and social marketing updates that are automated, real-time lead scoring and e-commerce shopping carts that deter abandonment. Current customers include Mint Social, Salon Success Strategies and CleanCorp Cleaning Service.
Take a look at everything <a href="http://go.infusionsoft.com/">InfusionSoft</a> has to offer your company.
<h2>7. LeadSquared</h2>
This software was created to increase your company’s revenues via stronger leads within a full marketing software suite. Complete with landing pages featuring responsive design, a slew of website widgets made just for enterprises, and the advantage of using every possibility to capture leads from inbound email to communication from online chats, emails or phone calls, lead nurturing can be more efficient.
LeadSquared customers include; Packages Worldwide, Reach Technologies, and Dominate GMAT.
Connect with <a href="http://www.leadsquared.com/">LeadSquared</a> to get your leads squared away.
<h2>8. Teradata</h2>
Move big data forward with easy management, deployment and integration. In big data analytics, you get a discovery platform, connection analytics, and aSNAP Framework, just for starters. Join fellow enterprises like 7-Eleven, Ace Hardware Corporation and Air Canada who have already chosen this software solution as their key marketing tool. The data warehousing is a great option, letting you tear your current “solution” up by discovering what <a href="http://www.teradata.com/">Teradata</a> can offer you.
<h2>The Perfect Partner</h2>
Marketing automation software is the perfect partner for a CMS.
Add any of the enterprise marketing solutions above to your business, and you’ll quickly see how invaluable it is — especially when you already have a solid CMS in place.
What do you think about the future of enterprise marketing software?

8 Enterprise Marketing Automation Softwares to Complement Your CMS

Shopify - The global commerce platform

Build your business with Shopify to sell online, offline, and everywhere in between.

The global commerce platform

#ffffff

<a href="https://www.igloosoftware.com/?utm_source=cmscritic&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=blog" target="_blank">Igloo</a> is an intranet you’ll actually like ― according to its website anyway.
Companies and projects of all sizes need somewhere to keep all ideas, events and members organized. A place for everybody to congregate and collaborate digitally.
Usually, such software comes in the form of a fully featured professional intranet, like Igloo.
<a href="https://www.igloosoftware.com/?utm_source=cmscritic&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=blog" target="_blank"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/8279-2281482291.png" /></a> Igloo is a cloud-based intranet and extranet solution designed to promote communication and collaboration between colleagues and/or clients. It boasts a slew of apps and widgets, is compatible with MS Office, and can integrate with both Salesforce and Sharepoint.
Now without any further ado, let’s find out if Igloo really is an intranet that you’ll actually like.
Here’s a short video to get started with.

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pO4QGqQyGnk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<h2>Initial Thoughts</h2>
If you are familiar with my reviews, you’ll know that I start my journey as any customer or client would; with the vendor’s website.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-8916x0-is.png" /> Igloo’s website is pleasant, but doesn't do an amazing job at getting its message across.
The front page is easy on the eyes for sure, but apart from the video half-way down the homepage, there’s little that actually tells you what Igloo does, or how it does it.
Clicking “Tour” on the menu didn’t make matters much better. There were more videos waiting for me, and although I’m a big fan of video content for when it comes to explaining softwares, I don’t see them as a substitute for good old short, simple core feature descriptions.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-12680x0-is.png" />Igloo’s website just wasn’t drawing me in. I didn’t feel like the software was going to be simple to use, simply because their website wasn’t telling (or showing) me so.
<h2>Getting Started</h2>
Igloo comes free, so it’s easy to get your hands on the platform before taking out your wallet. However, the free version will only get you 10 users, 3 team spaces, and 10 GB of storage.
To get myself started, I entered my email and signed up on the Igloo homepage. After that, I only needed to divulge my name and country of residence before clicking “Get Started”.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-2.png" /> Igloo then welcomed me to their platform by instructing me to wait for an email. There was an introductory video to give me a taste of what was to come, but the potential 30 minute wait for an email seemed far too long for me.
In the end it didn’t take quite 30 minutes, but I still had to wait longer than I would normally expect for an email to arrive.
But in any case, with the email now in my inbox, I was ready to dive in to my Igloo via the link they sent me.
When I got to my Igloo's homepage, a default logo stood adjacent to a menu containing; News, Files, Events, Policies and Staff. It was nice to have a foundation ready to build on.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-4767x0-is.png" />
Further down, a sidebar offered “Quick Links” to different default pages as well as an avenue into my profile where I could update my information.
A calendar widget was also active, as was a welcoming message from Igloo on my new activity feed, prompting me to visit the help page in needed, and also to check out some of their tips and tricks for getting started.
I was more interested in feeling my way around, though.
The top menu bar gave my access to different sections of Igloo which would help keep me and my team organised. This includes areas like To-dos, messages, bookmarks, subscriptions, communities and more.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-4-1.png" /> I was also able to set my status between online, offline, away and busy.
The real action though, was the small + button on the right side of the top menu bar. Here, as an administrator, I was able to quickly add pages, blog posts, calendar events, wiki articles, files and more.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-5-1.png" />This little + button was essentially the command center. One can only wonder as to why the + itself is so small and therefore so easily missed. A minor issue for sure, but one worth rectifying anyway.
<h2>Managing Pages &amp; Spaces</h2>
To hone your Igloo, you'll need to spend time managing the front page, and all the other spaces within your intranet or extranet. Here's some insight into that management experience.
To modify existing pages, you need to click on a small arrow on the right-hand side of the page. It's a very, very small arrow. A drop-down menu then appears with a few options to choose from.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-6-1.png" />
The “Edit” option is the one I'll be focusing on now, and I'll touch on the rest of the options later in the review.
Clicking Edit brings up a neat set of Igloo's widgets. Blogs, forums, wikis, polls, RSS feeds, slideshows and more widgets make up the library.
All I needed to do was drag and drop whichever app I wanted into place. I was also able to re-arrange the entire page via drag-and-drop interface. It was fluid and satisfying to use, just like any good drag-and-drop system should be.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-7-1727x0-is.png" /> So, just as the small + button is the key to adding new pages and content, the small arrow button is the key to modifying it once it's in place. My only issue is the actual size of these two very important buttons.
<h2>Apps</h2>
<a href="http://www.igloosoftware.com/apps">Igloo Apps</a> define the way in which you collaborate with other team members. Such Apps include blogs, calendars, file sharing, forums micro-blogs and more.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-8-1839x0-is.png" />
Apps like calendars, file sharing, wikis and forums on the other hand, are brilliant tools for scheduling tasks, streamlining workflows, asking questions and learning.
<h3>Blogging</h3>
Blogging and micro-blogging are features within Igloo which help team members give updates and spread news internally.
The blogging feature itself is as you would expect it to be. Users can make use of a WYSIWYG interface to type, insert images and format their content. Posts can then be published, saved for later, or submitted to a moderator to approve.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-11-1785x0-is.png" />
As for micro-blogging, it's a quick, easy and potentially playful way for colleagues to update each other. <img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-12-1.png" />Inline images can be used, and replies are in context. Twitter fiends will be happy.
<h3>Files</h3>
With the Files app, Igloo can be used as an asset management system.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-13-1.png" />Files can be uploaded, downloaded, previewed, and locked. Plus, there's version control, update notifications and the ability to email files directly into Igloo. Not a bad little DAM solution at all.
<h3>Calendars</h3>
Events can be organized via the Calendar app. Members can receive invites from Outlook or Gmail, while the calendar itself can be updates with text and rich media.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-15638x0-is.png" />Events can be set to recur, while members can also choose to RSVP.
<h3>Forums</h3>
Igloo's forum app is there to ignite conversation. Ideas can be proposed, and problems can be solved.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-16557x0-is.png" />All posts can be upvoted or downvoted by members, and threads can even be concluded if a response receives enough praise. Threads can also be sorted and searched through in various ways.
<h3>Tasks &amp; Wikis</h3>
Tasks can be set with both due dates and priority labels at low, medium or high.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-9-1401x0-is.png" /> Tasks can also be given sub-tasks, and members can comment on them to keep everybody updated. Notifications will alert relevant members of any progress.
Igloo also lets users set up information and policy hubs in the form of Wikis.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-10-1673x0-is.png" /> Members can continuously update Wikis and Wiki articles, rate them, comment on them and link to related Wiki content.
<h2>Extras</h2>
Igloo has a few notable extras worth mentioning, which come together to round off the user experience somewhat.
<h3>View Site As</h3>
Another handy option for administrators, is the “View Site As” feature once again accessible from the top menu.
Although the feature is still in beta at the time of writing, I found it worked quite well. It allows you to quickly switch between all group types, seeing the community just as they would.
The loads are extremely fast, and the feature is very easy to manage.
<h3>Advanced, Activity &amp; Access</h3>
Clicking “Advanced” on the drop-down menu for page editing, will bring up SEO options.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-1-1739x0-is.png" />
This page can be used to populate page titles, meta descriptions, keywords and robot access. All handy stuff.
Another interesting administrative feature is “Activity”, also seen as an option when editing pages.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-3-1961x0-is.png" />It gives you an overview of the changes made to the page you're looking at, as well as who made the changes. This helps keep tabs on other administrators or moderators who may have perhaps made tweaks the a page's appearance or functionality.
Access is also found in the same way, and allows administrators to set permissions per page. So, if you only want moderators having access to forums, this is the way to configure such a setting.
<h3><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-2-1738x0-is.png" />
Site Manager</h3>
Within the admin panel is the Site Manager page. Here, Igloo displays the current setup in a tree, enabling administrators to add pages and re-structure the site.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-14515x0-is.png" />For example, a sub-page of a wiki can be dragged-and-dropped to become its own, standalone page. It's a neat way to view the entire site, and it works well as a page management tool.
<h2>Getting Help</h2>
Clicking the “Help” button (which appears on every page when you're browsing as an administrator), brings up a well-populated help page.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-13727x0-is.png" />
There's live chat, phone lines, and a community forum to help solve your issues. but most impressively, Igloo's searchable “Knowledge Base” is full of documentation as well as tutorial videos.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-10875x0-is.png" />
They also have premium support packages for companies requiring personalized assistance. The prices aren’t available, but the details of each package are:
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-7711x0-is.png" />
Plenty of premium support too then. However, I'm not entirely sure why the prices need to be hidden, though. I understand that varying user counts will impact the price, but Igloo should be able to provide more guidance here, as these packages may well be the difference between a company using or bailing on Igloo.
<h2>Pricing </h2>
As previously mentioned, Igloo offers up a free version of itself, giving you access to every app and feature. However, there are limitations.
With the free version, you'll only be able to have 10 users, 3 team spaces, and 10 GB of storage.
To upgrade, you’ll need to pay up $3 per user for an extranet, and $12 per user for an intranet,
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-6588x0-is.png" />
Also, it’s worth noting that Igloo requires you to make a yearly agreement based on the above pricing.
Competitor Bitrix24 also has a free version, catering for up to 12 users, with support for another 12 for just $25 per month. However, they offer less storage and no extranet option at that level.
Yammer, another intranet providing rival, offers its services from $3 per month per user.
So all in all. Igloo have their pricing set out quite well.
<h2>The Verdict</h2>
Without a doubt, Igloo is a quality piece of software.
Unlike many other intranet solutions, Igloo is extremely quick and easy to set up. Plus, the average employee with limited tech skills will be able to learn the ropes pretty fast, and that’s essential in my opinion.
A company could quite easily sign up for Igloo on Monday, and have a fully organized and in-sync office by the end of the working week. Igloo is that simple.
However, there is room for improvement.
I feel that there is a lack of control when it comes to design in particular. Companies will want to brand and customize their intranet, and apart from interchangeable backgrounds, there isn’t much wriggle room, unless you delve into CSS coding.
Another gripe I have with Igloo, is that it doesn’t make the administrative experience as enjoyable as the user experience.
The top navigation bar gives the admin features to tinker with, but to really configure Igloo on a meaningful level, users will need to delve further into the back end, which just doesn’t serve up the same panache as the front end. The interface is cramped, dark and simply not as user friendly.
Igloo will be loved by employees and team members making use of the front-facing features like micro-blogging and file sharing, but I don’t think the fun extends behind the curtain.
<h3>Pros</h3>
<ul>
<li>Igloo comes free, albeit with some limitations.</li>
<li>The drag-and-drop interface allows you to design the ways apps are displayed.</li>
<li>Blogging, micro-blogging, forums, wikis, file management and calendars all come together to make an excellent intranet solution.</li>
<li>Extra widgets like polls, slideshows, member lists and RSS feeds provide handy functionality.</li>
<li>The sign up and set up process is quick, and apps come pre-installed.</li>
<li>Igloo is very fast and responsive.</li>
<li>For (free) support, there's live chat, a phone line, extensive documentation and a user community.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cons</h3>
<ul>
<li>The administrative user experience is lackluster. Igloo provides tidy options from the front end via the top navigation bar, but things get a little dark and dingey when you wander into the back end.</li>
<li>Statistics are there, but not in a particularly pretty or useful capacity.</li>
<li>Don’t like the way Igloo looks? Well apart from the background image, if you aren’t handy with CSS code, you can’t change anything.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Final Remarks</h2>
As previously mentioned, the administrative user experience feels somewhat incomplete. The backend of Igloo simply needs more polishing.
On the other hand, it can be argued that the back of Igloo will rarely be touched. An administrator could configure the general settings, and then join the rest of the company in enjoying the front-facing features. The more technical stuff will only need to be set up once, and can then be forgotten.
Although this may be true, I still feel the need to point out the lack of fluidity when it comes to the administrative experience. It’s something Igloo should see to.
Other than that, Igloo should think about implementing some templates and simple design options to give users more room to brand and personalise.
When it comes to the everyday Intranet features though, Igloo impressed me. There’s certainly nothing incomplete about this far more important side of the platform.
Each feature, from micro-blogging to file sharing, is very easy to get familiar with. Employees and team members will enjoy the easy going nature of Igloo, as well as the handy features it comes boxed with.
All in all, I’m a fan of the platform. It may be a little finicky behind the scenes, but I take nothing away from its speedy, sleek and feature-filled Intranet offering.

Igloo Review - Intranet Software for Everyone

During the <a href="/cms-critic-is-touring-north-america-and-europe-this-year/">CMS Critic North American Tour</a>, Mike Johnston had a chance to visit the <a target="_blank" href="http://ez.no/">eZ Systems</a> offices in Brooklyn, New York.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/ez-logo_max600height250.png" />He caught up with Roland Benedetti, the Chief Product &amp; Marketing Officer at eZ Systems, about eZ Publish 5.4, as well as upcoming product releases and events.

CMS Critic Interviews Roland Benedetti of eZ Systems

The other day, I came across a new product that's focus it to allow you to quickly and easily build a website through your smartphone browser. Two things came to mind when I saw this; the first was why on earth would I want to design a website through my smartphone and the second was how good can this possibly be?
Let's find out.
First things first, I picked up my Samsung Galaxy S6 and went to the Binarta website to sign up for an account (no credit card required so signing up is easy to do).
You start by selecting one of three available designs:
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screenshot_2015-07-09_at_7_37_53_am700x0-is.png" />And then sign up be selecting a username, password and website name:
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screenshot_2015-07-09-07-31-53327x0-is.png" />
Once you've signed up, you'll see the following loading screen:
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screenshot_2015-07-05-10-03-57372x0-is.png" />
Upon completion, you will see this creepy creature that will forever haunt your dreams (just kidding, I assume this is a cutie?):
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screenshot_2015-07-05-10-04-32372x0-is.png" />
Let's log in and start customizing shall we?
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screenshot_2015-07-05-10-05-09372x0-is.png" />
When you first are logged in, you are presented with your website based on the template you've chosen and a number of options along the top of your browser.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screenshot_2015-07-05-10-05-49372x0-is.png" />In edit mode, you can do basic things like change some of the colors of the menu drop down and other interface objects such as buttons by clicking on the paintbrush icon and selecting from a palette of colors.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screenshot_2015-07-05-10-06-23372x0-is.png" />
To change text throughout the site, simply tap on the text and you'll be given a quick popup where you an modify the text with your smartphone keyboard. All in all, very basic changes are easy to make.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screenshot_2015-07-05-10-06-331440x1733-cropx0y0-is483x0-is.png" />
Depending on the box you click on, there may or may not be formatting options. The formatting toolbar does load on paragraphs for instance, just not on header text where the size is specified as part of the theme.
Here's how things look with the formatting toolbar enabled (clicking on standard paragraph text will give you this):
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screenshot_2015-07-09-07-49-031440x1750-cropx0y0-is478x0-is.png" /> An issue I encountered here was when I went to try inserting a hyperlink by highlighting a word and clicking the link button.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screenshot_2015-07-09-07-48-04327x0-is.png" />
While everything popped up fine, It did not scale properly in Chrome and hitting the back button did not allow me to close the page, meaning I ended up having to close my browser tab and attempt again. On the second attempt, the same thing happened. Initially, I thought this was a CSS issue but given that it seems to freeze the tab, I'm not 100% sure. It doesn't seem to be an isolated issue either as I had my editor, Kaya test this on his iPhone with Chrome and the same issue occurred. Binarta is aware of this issue and looking into it so I'm sure it'll be resolved soon.
If you want to modify any images, you can click on them and you'll be prompted to upload from your phone gallery or documents (depending on the device). All in all, it's pretty straight forward and easy to do.
To make SEO changes such as meta descriptions and site titles, you have to upgrade your account to the Essentials package, currently priced at $29.99. This package comes with some other options as your own domain name.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screenshot_2015-07-05-10-07-18372x0-is.png" />
For support issues, there is a contact form within Binarta which I tried and had a reply within about 10-15 minutes offering help and the support was in english (with no language barrier) so I'll give them bonus points for this. I would, however, be curious if the response time is the same throughout the day or whether there are time zone restrictions. There is also an FAQ on their site as well: <a href="https://binarta.com/#!/en/faq" target="_blank">https://binarta.com/#!/en/faq​</a>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screenshot_2015-07-05-10-07-43372x0-is.png" />
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
Binarta has tons of potential and is excellent if you want to develop websites on your phone, something not offered elsewhere that I can think of. I'd like to see more them expand their feature set a bit to justify the price but for those who need this type of solution, it's the best offering I'm aware of. Binarta has an opportunity here to really nail this if they listen to their users and add some more capabilities to their platform offering.
<a href="https://binarta.com/" target="_blank">Check Binarta out for yourself.</a>
What do you think? Leave your comments below.

Binarta Review - Designing Websites with your Smartphone Browser

WP Engine, the managed WordPress hosting and security solution, today announced WP Engine Automated Migration.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/wp_engine_logo_bb_700x0.png" />Previously this year, WP Engine took an interesting step towards WordPress Customer Experience Management, as it unveiled GeoIP functionality. This gave marketers the power to deliver location-specific content.
Let's take a look at what this latest update brings.
<h2>Faster &amp; Less Technical Website Migrations</h2>
Available as a WordPress plugin, WP Engine Automated Migration enables simple and seamless migrations of WordPress websites to WP Engine’s managed WordPress hosting platform.
Once installed, the tool cuts out the most technical steps it typically takes to fully migrate a site to WP Engine. In fact, a full migration can now be as fast as 30 minutes, thanks to this latest update.
WP Engine Automated Migration creates less work for developers and for marketers. It is a powerful migration solution free from the technical overhead migrations often require.
Furthermore, the plugin reduces the costs typically associated with a full site migration by eliminating the need to pay an additional vendor to move your site from one platform to another.
Jason Cohen, founder of WP Engine, had this to say upon the announcement:
<blockquote>
“At WP Engine, we keep the customer at the forefront of everything we do. We are constantly innovating and building new tools to make our customers’ lives easier. It’s great to hear that developers and marketers are as excited as we are about our new Automated Migration solution.
Migrating sites from one platform to another has previously been an expensive and lengthy process, so we’re looking forward to helping more businesses move across to our platform quickly and easily.”
</blockquote>
To find out more, and to sign up for WP Engine, <a href="/wpengine" target="_blank">visit their website</a>.

WP Engine Announces Automated Migration Solution for WordPress

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.prestashop.com">Prestashop</a>, the rapidly growing eCommerce solution, has just unveiled its latest version in the form of PrestaShop 1.6.1.It's been over a year <a href="/prestashop-1-6-released/">since the release of PrestaShop 1.6</a>, and just a few months since the unveiling of <a href="/prestashop-cloud-review/">PrestaShop Cloud</a>, the worlds first totally free, yet premium-grade cloud-hosted eCommerce solution.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/gi_149548_vertical-logo-2015.png" />It's worth noting that this update comes just days after <a target="_blank" href="https://www.prestashop.com/en/press-releases/2015/06/22/corinne-lejbowicz-as-the-company-s-new-ceo/">PrestaShop announced the arrival of their new CEO, Corinne Lejbowicz</a>. She thrived at organizations such as AOL and Vivendi, and will be looking to push PrestaShop to new heights.You may have also noticed that PrestaShop now has a new and quirky logo.With this latest update, PrestaShop have served up performance enhancements and some design tweaks to their Back Office. Lets take a closer look.<h2>Better Looking At The Back &amp; Faster Everywhere</h2>Cosmetic adjustments have been applied to the PrestaShop Back Office, mainly in relation to contrast and visibility in the navigation. Changes include new logos, images, colors, and a few other design elements.PrestaShop has also worked on improving the installation process, the update process, the search function and back office controls.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/new-design-b-2-1024x528793x0-is.png" /><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/new-design-b-2-1024x528793x0-is.png" />As for performance enhancements, PrestaShop has targeted SQL queries. Thanks to some optimization, PrestaShop stores are now up to 200% faster at carrying out back office operations. Which is impressive.The optimizations also mean that stores will be better equipped for traffic spikes.Finally, PrestaShop 1.6.1 sees the insertion of 15 new options into the “Advanced EU Compliance module”, helping European merchants meet the legal requirements of their land with greater ease.To find out more about PrestaShop 1.6.1, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.prestashop.com/blog/en/delivering-new-improved-v1-6-1-0/">check out their blog announcement</a>.Also be sure to explore <a href="/products/prestashop">PrestaShop through our CMS Directory</a>.

PrestaShop 1.6.1 Released With Performance Improvements & Back Office Facelift

If you are overwhelmed by Google Analytics or just looking for an alternative that offers heatmaps and shows you how people actually use your website, then you should consider taking a look at Lucky Orange.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/luckyorange-logo.jpg" /><h3>What is Lucky Orange?</h3>It's an exceptional analytics platform that offers not just your typical users stats but something more. You can actually play back each individual session to see what and how a user surfed your site. Sound too good to be true? Must be expensive right? It's not. Not only do you get unlimited session recordings but you get a huge host of features for as little as $10 / month. That's a pretty amazing investment if you ask me.To see how the live session recording works, check out this video:Not only does Lucky Orange offer session playback (something that really is incredibly useful as a marketer) but it also offers user heatmaps and a ton of other features such as:Form Analytics<ul><li>Automatically calculate form metrics</li><li>Abandonment Rate</li><li>Conversion Rate</li><li>Engagement Rate</li><li>Time to Start Forms</li><li>Time Spent in Each Field</li><li>Which Fields are Most Often Abandoned</li><li>Which Fields are Repeated</li><li>What Order are Fields Filled Out</li><li>Watch Recordings of People that Abandoned, to Learn Why</li></ul>Real Time Analytics<ul><li>Accurate counts of what's happening right now on your site</li><li>Unique visitor count vs number of browser tabs opened</li><li>Top Keywords</li><li>Top Countries &amp; Cities</li><li>Top Referrers</li><li>Top Pages</li><li>Realtime Related Tweets</li><li>Uses various available transports to create a cross browser/platform real time experience</li></ul>Live Chat Software<ul><li>Chat box stays on the page and follows visitor as they browse your site for a seamless experience.</li><li>Can watch visitors screen while chatting with them</li><li>Add Customized Pre Chat Questions</li><li>Customizable colors, text, positioning</li><li>Multiple Chat Operators and Operator chat room</li><li>Operators can have profile pictures and sub titles</li><li>Ability to transfer chat to another operator</li><li>See when a visitor is typing, typed, stopped typing</li><li>Simple dashboard lets you chat with many people at the same time</li><li>Ask a user to chat</li><li>Searchable Chat Logs</li><li>Visitor can Initiate Live Chat</li><li>Toggle chat on/off with one click</li></ul>Visitor Polls<ul><li>Ask simple questions with up to 4 responses and comments</li><li>Quickly gain valuable customer insight</li><li>Watch results in real time</li><li>Create country specific polls</li><li>Show polls on specific pages</li><li>Show polls to random sample</li><li>Show polls after certain number of seconds</li><li>Instantly add / delete / pause polls without adding any more code to your site</li><li>Graph and searchable log of responses</li><li>Can push poll results, views, closes, to Google Analytics</li></ul>Visitor Recordings &amp; Live Sessions<ul><li>Watch in real time or automatically records visitor browsing sessions</li><li>See exactly what your visitors did on your site</li><li>Ability to chat with visitor while you watch them browse.</li><li>Watch every mouse movement, keypress, scroll, screen resize</li><li>Works with dynamic html and member only pages</li><li>Saves the HTML that the visitor saw at the time of the recording</li><li>Works across multiple browsers / screen resolutions</li><li>See mouse paths drawn over the html</li><li>Watch Visitor Path accross site and jump to any page</li><li>Searchable recordings, including finding recordings that include a specific url</li><li>Stores visitor keywords, search engine, referrer information with recordings.</li></ul>Heat Maps<ul><li>Aggregate lots of click data to form beautiful heatmaps</li><li>Click heat maps</li><li>Mouse movement heat maps</li><li>Scroll Depth heat maps (see how far people are scrolling down the page)</li><li>Works with fluid layouts &amp; different browser sizes</li><li>Create heatmaps based on date ranges, urls, browsers, location and more.</li><li>Accurately finds the actual div the user clicked on instead of just using relative mouse coordinates.</li></ul>Live Visitor Map<ul><li>Watch a real time visitor map of all your website visitors</li><li>Animated with custom effects</li><li>Plot line between points for neat effect</li><li>Can be launched in Full Screen for use with large monitors, or to display in a waiting area</li><li>Simple or Detailed Map View</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.luckyorange.com/">See here for a full breakdown of features.</a>Pretty amazing sounding isn't it? The software really is a marketers dream and the price point is well within any budget which makes it even more tempting. The best part is you can get a free trial to play around with the system before making any firm committments one way or the other.<blockquote><a target="_blank" href="https://www.luckyorange.com/">Check it out a 7 day free trial (no credit card required)</a></blockquote>

Lucky Orange - An Excellent Alternative to Google Analytics

Hotjar - Spot what confuses

Spot what confuses your users with Hotjar & AI

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