Articles - Page 61

Bland Brands Beware: Optimizely’s New Identity Brings Human Creativity to its Agentic AI and AEO Ambitions

matt-garrepy

It is with great pleasure that I share with you the amazing products that you selected as nominees for a 2014 People's Choice CMS award.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmscritic.com/cms-critic-awards/"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/votenow-1.png" /></a>Here is a complete list of all nominees in all categories (with links to their websites so you can learn more).Don't forget to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmscritic.com/cms-critic-awards/">cast your vote as well </a> (and be entered for a chance to win a brand new Chromebook!).Here are the nominees in each category:<h3>Best Cloud CMS for SMB</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.surrealcms.com/">Surreal CMS</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.acquia.com/products-services/acquia-cloud">Acquia Cloud</a></li><li>Light CMS</li></ol><h3>Best Cloud CMS for Enterprise</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.acquia.com/products-services/acquia-cloud">Acquia Cloud</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.crownpeak.com">CrownPeak</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.clickability.com/">Clickability</a></li></ol><h3>Best CMS for Corporate Intranets</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.entando.com/portal/">Entando</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.liferay.com">Liferay</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ocportal.com">ocPortal</a></li></ol><h3>Best eCommerce Solution for SMB</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://aspxcommerce.com/">ASPx Commerce</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.prestashop.com/en/">Prestashop</a></li><li><a href="/products/shopify">Shopify</a></li></ol><h3>Best eCommerce Solution for Enterprise</h3><ol><li><a href="/products/bigcommerce">BigCommerce</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.prestashop.com/en">Prestashop</a></li><li><a href="/shopify/">Shopify</a></li></ol><h3>Best Free Forum Solution</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="https://nodebb.org/">NodeBB</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.mybb.com/">MyBB</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://vanillaforums.org/">Vanilla Forums</a></li></ol><h3>Best Commercial Forum Solution</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.invisionpower.com/apps/board/">IP.Board</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ninjapost.com/">Ninja Post</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://vanillaforums.com">Vanilla Forums</a></li></ol><h3>Best Enterprise PHP CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://ez.no/Products/The-eZ-Publish-Platform">eZ Publish</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://drupal.org">Drupal</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://typo3.org/">Typo 3</a></li></ol><h3>Best Enterprise Java CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.adobe.com/solutions/web-experience-management.html">Adobe AEM</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.onehippo.com/en">Hippo</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.jahia.com/products">Jahia</a></li></ol><h3>Best Enterprise .NET CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.kentico.com">Kentico</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sitecore.net/">Sitecore</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sitefinity.com/">Sitefinity</a></li></ol><h3>Best Enterprise CMS (Other Langs)</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.getmura.com/">Mura CMS</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.paperthin.com/">Paperthin Commonspot</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://plone.org/">Plone</a></li></ol><h3>Best Free PHP CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.concrete5.org/">Concrete5</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.joomla.org">Joomla</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.processwire.com">ProcessWire</a></li></ol><h3>Best Free Java CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.dotcms.com">dotCMS</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.liferay.com">Liferay</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.magnolia-cms.com/">Magnolia</a></li></ol><h3>Best Free .NET CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.dnnsoftware.com/">DNN Platform</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://sageframe.com/">Sageframe</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://umbraco.com/">Umbraco</a></li></ol><h3>Best Free CMS (Other Langs)</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.getmura.com/">Mura CMS</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://plone.org/">Plone</a></li></ol><h3>Best Open Source PHP CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://ez.no/Products/The-eZ-Publish-Platform">eZ Publish</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.joomla.org">Joomla!</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://modx.com/">MODx</a></li></ol><h3>Best Open Source Java CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://dotcms.com/">dotCMS</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.liferay.com/">Liferay</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.magnolia-cms.com/">Magnolia</a></li></ol><h3>Best Open Source .NET CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.dnnsoftware.com/">DNN Platform</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://sageframe.com/">Sageframe</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://umbraco.com/">Umbraco</a></li></ol><h3>Best Open Source CMS (Other Langs)</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.getmura.com/">Mura CMS</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://plone.org/">Plone</a></li></ol><h3>Best Small to Midsize Business PHP CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cmsmadesimple.org/">CMS Made Simple</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://buildwithcraft.com/">Craft CMS</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.impresspages.org/">ImpressPages</a></li></ol><h3>Best Small to Midsize Business Java CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.percussion.com/">Percussion CM1</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.liferay.com/">Liferay</a></li></ol><h3>Best Small to Midsize Business .NET CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.dnnsoftware.com/">DNN Evoq Content</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.envisagecms.co.uk/">Envisage CMS</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.orchardproject.net/">Orchard</a></li></ol><h3>Best Small to Midsize Business CMS (Other Langs)</h3><ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.django-cms.org/en/">Django CMS</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.movabletype.com">Movable Type</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.surrealcms.com/">Surreal CMS</a></li></ul><h3>Best Website Builder</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.squarespace.com">Squarespace</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.weebly.com/">Weebly</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.wix.com/">Wix</a></li></ol>Congrats to all who were nominated. Now please <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmscritic.com/cms-critic-awards/">head on over to vote </a> for your favorites.

Announcing this year's nominees for the 2014 People's Choice CMS Awards

mike-johnston

<a href="https://www.cubecart.com" target="_blank">CubeCart</a> has released version 5.2.13, bringing about a number of usability and security updates.
Available for free, CubeCart is a popular eCommerce solution, and one which featured on my list of <a href="/55-ways-to-build-a-website-with-bluehost/" target="_blank">55 ways to build a website with BlueHost</a>. It's a pretty solid solution if you aren't looking to invest large amounts of money.
CubeCart Pro is the premium version of the platform, which naturally has less restrictions and far more features.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/ond_cal8-1400x0.jpeg" /> Here's what version 5.2.13 brings to the table:
<ul>
<li>Complete rewrite of discount codes and gift certificate redemption </li>
<li>Shipping now has the ability to inherit the average basket tax rate</li>
<li>Improved automation to “Cookie Domain” setting with session lockout prevention</li>
<li>SagePay upgraded from 2.23 to 3.0</li>
<li>“Assign to European Union” added to tax configuration instead of one country at a time</li>
<li>New EBS India Payment Module</li>
<li>All shipping and billing address fields added to order reports CSV export</li>
<li>“SMTP with SSL” setting added for secure email delivery</li>
<li>Miscellaneous bug fixes</li>
</ul>
You can download CubeCart 5.2.13 <a href="https://www.cubecart.com/downloads/" target="_blank">right here</a>.
For more information, check out the <a href="https://www.cubecart.com" target="_blank">CubeCart website</a>.

CubeCart 5.2.13 Released

If you asked today’s web designers which wireframing or prototyping tool is best, you’re likely to get a few different answers. Well, maybe more than a few.As you might have guessed, there are plenty of choices out there: free tools, SaaS apps, and even some that aren’t purpose-built for the job (think <a target="_blank" href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/powerpoint">PowerPoint</a>). With so many options to choose from, it may prove challenging to find a single tool that meets your needs.While most platforms offer similar features, few bring the entire design process into a unified experience. That’s where UXPin is changing the game. In this review, we’ll explore the benefits of their all-in-one wireframing and prototyping tool, which offers some slick, integrated capabilities – and is designed to work across every device.<h3>Wireframing and prototyping: what’s the difference?</h3>Building a website or mobile app without wireframes is like building a house without blueprints. Wireframes save significant time in the design process and help bring ideas and concepts into laser focus.But what exactly is a wireframe? Quite simply, it’s a low-fidelity “skeleton” of a website. Wireframes show the general layout of web pages, the elements on those pages, and the size and placement of those elements. Since it is meant to convey a website’s architecture, it is intentionally devoid of any colors or graphics.Wireframes are lightweight and fast to produce, allowing for ample design thinking, lean UX development, and iterative feedback. A lot of designers still start their wireframing on paper, sketching out digital components and entities in the most analog way.Prototypes, on the other hand, are medium-to-high fidelity views of a website or application. They offer more detail, showcasing visual elements such as colors, graphics, and font types. In essence, a prototype is a preview of what a working website or mobile application will look like to a user.<h3>A brief history of wireframes and prototypes</h3>Wireframes and prototypes have certainly been around the block. Wireframing has its roots in magazine mockups for galleys and layouts, while prototyping evolved from software product development with visual UI requirements – and a need for rapid testing and feedback.While wireframes are elemental in nature – using simple shapes and objects to detail the flow and structure – designers have often relied on different tools when moving into prototyping. The first ones emerged in the 1980s with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html">Adobe Illustrator</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html">Photoshop</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/visio/flowchart-software/">Microsoft Visio</a>.But it wasn’t until IBM introduced RAD (Rapid Application Development) in the 90s that the concept of minimum viable prototypes (MVPs) took off – and so did the focus on design experience. By the early 2000s, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.omnigroup.com/omnigraffle/">Omnigraffle</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.gliffy.com/">Gliffy</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://balsamiq.com/">Balsamiq</a> were changing the way designers think about wireframing and prototyping by giving them more options to choose from. By 2010, UXPin and other solutions were hitting the market. The rest, as they say, is history.<h3>What is UXPin?</h3>UXPin is a comprehensive cloud-based design prototyping tool that works on any operating system. It brings developers and designers together even if they use Mac and Windows – because UXPin is fully powered by the cloud.With UXPin, you can move seamlessly through every phase of your project – from low-fidelity wireframes to high-fidelity prototypes – with access to rich features like interactive elements and animations. In addition, UXPin allows you to add conditional interactions, variables, and expressions to get your prototypes closer to real, coded apps.One of the best things about UXPin is that it's designed with both individual designers and teams in mind. It's flexible enough for a freelancer working on their own – or a squad collaborating to develop new products or experiences. UXPin offers some dynamite capabilities for enterprise customers to manage their teams and libraries with advanced permissions, making it an awesome platform for an ecosystem of users.<h3>Features</h3>Components<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/uxpin-components.jpg" />Components save you plenty of time by minimizing repetitive and tedious work – allowing you to reuse existing parts across your designs. A button, a footer, an icon, or even a cell in a table can be a Component. UXPin comes with a handy library of pre-made components, but it also allows you to create your own components. You can also share them across your projects through UXPin’s Design System Libraries.Built-in Design Libraries<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/uxpin-expressions.jpg" />Apart from your own libraries, UXPin offers built-in iOS, Material Design, Bootstrap, Foundation, and User Flows libraries – each with interactive elements, colors, text styles, and icons.Design system libraries are the place for shared design patterns (such as colors, text styles, assets, and Components) that allow teams to build high quality, consistent prototypes. This empowers users to save time while keeping projects steadily on-brand. With DS libraries, you can also create a fully-documented Design System.Data For a lot of designers, Lorem Ipsum is still a go-to placeholder for text. Still, for some projects, Latin copy isn't preferable – even at the mockup stage.Another great feature of UXPin is that enables users to add real content to their wireframes and prototypes using the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.uxpin.com/studio/blog/replace-lorem-ipsum-with-real-data/">Data</a> feature. Upload JSON, CSV or URLs and demo a prototype that's even closer to the finished product. If you're early in the process and want to use filler for placement, UXPin also has a database of placeholder components, from mock names to dummy credit card numbers.One other notable feature is stock photography. Most platforms don't provide direct access to image libraries, which can be essential to developing a finished prototype. UXPin lets you upload photos directly from their partner, <a target="_blank" href="https://unsplash.com/">Unsplash</a>. This integration may seem like a small thing, but it can accelerate the entire design process from idea to execution by enabling users to work fluidly in a single, unified platform.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/uxoin-unsplash-integration.gif" />Make Your Designs Interactive Once you build the static version of your prototype, you can use states to add interactive elements such as text fields, checkboxes, and radio buttons.In UXPin, each element can have several states with a different set of properties and interactions. For example, you’ll be able to create a single button that has a default, hover, active and disabled state – and then switch between these states once a specific action is triggered. States also let you build complex components like drop-down menus or navigations.For each state, you can determine an alternative set of properties. In the case of a button, it could be a different fill and content. The important fact is that you’ll still have the same elements, just with various styling options.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/uxpin-element-states.gif" />Import from Sketch One cool feature of UXPin is its ability to import from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sketch.com/">Sketch</a>, which is an incredibly popular design tool. It seems like the UXPin team really understands the value that other applications play in the design ecosystem, and they’ve made it easier to build meaningful connections.Importing designs from Sketch to UXPin is just a simple drag-and-drop. UXPin keeps all of your layers intact, so you can pick up exactly where you left off and turn them into fully interactive online prototypes.Easy Collaboration UXPin is a cloud-based tool that works on any operating system – so you and your teammates can collaborate in real-time. As we've already mentioned, it effectively "unites" designers and developers, even if they use Mac and Windows systems. You can even take your collaboration to the next level with in-app commenting, allowing you to tag your teammates in comments and keep them in the loop when you're working on the same prototype.You can also make the most of your collaborative design process and invite your team, stakeholders, and reviewers to work with you. It's incredibly simple to set their permissions via User Management and control what they can see and do.Preview Designs on Mobile With the UXPin Mirror app, you can effortlessly preview your prototypes on mobile devices to see how they look and behave. As you make changes in the editor, the prototype on your mobile device will update on the fly.Another nifty feature: you can download the UXPin app from <a target="_blank" href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.uxpin.mirror">Google Play</a> or <a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/uxpin-mirror/id1446596008?ls=1&amp;mt=8">App Store</a> and see exactly how your designs look on mobile devices.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/uxpin-preview.png" /><h3>Pricing</h3><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/uxpin-pricing-annual.jpg" />UXPin offers two types of pricing: monthly and annual. There are four tiers:Basic Plan Get everything you’ll need for wireframing and prototyping, including animations, interactions, and states. Basic also offers:<ul><li>Version history for saving iterations of your designs and retrieving them at will.</li><li>Export function for moving your designs to PDF, PNG, and HTML.</li><li>Stakeholder approval for sharing your prototypes with your team or customers, gathering feedback, and obtaining the all-important "OK" to proceed.</li></ul><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/uxpin-custom-workflows.png" /><ul><li>Comments and assignments for keeping your team and stakeholders connected around feedback and assigning specific tasks.</li><li>Password-protected views for securing your prototypes with a password.</li></ul>The Basic Plan is $24 per month but offers a discounted rate of $13 per month with an annual plan.Advanced Everything from the Basic plan, plus:<ul><li>Contextual documentation to set up guidelines or leave notes – and pin them to specific elements on your prototype.</li><li>Conditional logic for setting rules around custom interactions.</li><li>Expressions, which use Javascript to create computational components like shopping carts or validate user inputs such as emails.</li><li>Variables that dynamically update text elements, capture data from inputs, or store user preferences for later use on your prototype.</li></ul>The Advanced Plan is $39 per month. But like the Basic Plan, it offers a discounted rate of $29 per month with an annual plan.Professional Everything from the Advanced Plan, plus:<ul><li>Design systems: package your design, code, and other elements to create reusable Components and style guides.</li><li>Roles &amp; permissions: define what team members can do and what projects they have access to. Each team member has one role – “creator”, “manager”, “owner”, or “collaborator” – and you can control the state and privileges.</li><li>Priority support: get help when you need it via email, phone, or Zoom.</li><li>Advanced security: trust that anything you design is securely encrypted and fully backed-up by UXPin.</li></ul>The Professional Plan is $89 per month with a discount to $69 per month with an annual plan.Enterprise UXPin’s Enterprise plan is perfect for large organizations with dedicated design teams and product development squads. Used by Fortune 500 companies, Enterprise provides unlimited users, unlimited design systems, and advanced security – all of which allows you to facilitate the design process at scale.The Enterprise Plan has custom pricing based on the size and needs of your organization.<h3>Conclusion</h3>UXPin really earns the “UX” part of its name by focusing on the user experience. It’s the perfect blend of features for both wireframing and prototyping, and it brings team collaboration to the next level by working across platforms and operating systems. It definitely feels like an enterprise-grade product, but it’s also a solid tool for freelancers with its affordable Basic Plan.If you’re curious how UXPin stacks up against their competition, check out their “tale of the tape” comparison on their website. They proudly display how they rate against other similar platforms such as Figma, Invision, Framer, Adobe XD, Sketch, Axure, Balsamiq, Zeplin, Marvel App, and Proto.io. They even provide a <a target="_blank" href="https://get.uxpin.com/uxpin-vs-sketch/">checklist of differences</a>.One of the biggest advantages of UXPin is that it’s cloud-based. This allows users to design, prototype, and test ideas together – whenever, wherever. This is a big advantage over Sketch (for example), which only works on macOS. Someone using a Windows system can’t use Sketch, nor do they have access to files sent by other team members using it. Still, with Sketch being such a popular design tool, UXPin lets you import Sketch files and templates directly into their app – so you can get the best of both worlds.There is one con with UXPin: as a SaaS product, you’re on the hook to pay in perpetuity. With tools like Sketch, you only pay for the product once and renew when you’d like to upgrade. Your files belong to you – and aren’t locked into a third-party system. But what if you want to cancel your UXPin subscription? Well, if you want to maintain your libraries and components, you’ll need to “park your account” and keep an active profile. That costs $5 per month and only lets you preview your projects or export them. You can reactivate at any time, but it might be worth considering when you decide to sign up.If you’d like to see some examples of projects done with UXPin, they have a prototype showcase: <a target="_blank" href="https://showcase.uxpin.com/">https://showcase.uxpin.com/</a>You can also <a target="_blank" href="https://www.uxpin.com/sign-up">try UXPin for free</a> for 14 days without a credit card. You’ll be limited to 2 projects, but it’s still a great way to take it for a test drive and experience it yourself as a user.<h3>About UXPin</h3><a target="_blank" href="https://www.uxpin.com/">UXPin</a> is a design platform that for building mockups and wireframes, interactive prototypes, UX document creation, and collaborating with both design and development teams. Features include variables, conditional interactions, expressions, interactive states, and a data generator integrated with Unsplash to get free stock photos directly in UXPin.Unlike in other image-based design tools, anything you create in UXPin is based on html, css and js code. Since it's the same technology developers will work with, their code will match your design perfectly.Why code-based design? Since 2010, UXPin has been on a mission to enable the best user experiences by merging design and engineering into one world of better, faster product development.

UXPin Review: Elevate Design with All-in-one Prototyping and Wireframing

paris-tuzun

<a href="http://www.sitesupra.com/" target="_blank"> SiteSupra</a> has released some new updates, in the form of three new themes and a new page deactivation feature.
Although technically still in beta, SiteSupra is a hosted website builder and CMS which gives you the tools to create good-looking, responsive websites.
SiteSupra's headquarters lie in Latvia, and users can choose between free and premium plans to build their websites. To learn more about what the platform can do, check out my recent <a href="/sitesupra-review/" target="_blank"> SiteSupra Review</a>.
<h2>Steady Improvement</h2>
Publicly launched at the beginning of 2014, SiteSupra is still a growing platform.
Despite my overall enjoyment of using SiteSupra during my review, there were some issues I pointed out. A slight lack of templates was amongst those issues, and SiteSupra team has clearly been working on this.
Three new templates have been released; Drava, Taillia, and Aira.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/ssupra700x0.png" /> 
All three look great and work well, much like the previous seven SiteSupra templates.
Furthermore, SiteSupra users can now deactivate pages quickly in the SiteMap. This feature was brought in to make it easier to remove demo pages quickly, without having to preview them first.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen_shot_2014-07-15_at_18_10_13.png" /> 
For a more detailed look at SiteSupra, <a href="/sitesupra-review/" target="_blank"> check out my review</a>.
Also, be sure to check out the <a href="https://www.sitesupra.com/" target="_blank"> SiteSupre website</a>.

SiteSupra Introduces New Templates & Features

JotForm today announced <a href="https://www.jotform.com/products/mobile-forms/">JotForm Mobile Forms</a>, a version of its popular form service that works on all mobile device types.
The new app is designed to remove limitations on where and how you can collect data, with advanced features like offline capabilities, kiosk mode, and the ability to quickly access and share forms. It works well for users who want to fill out their own forms from remote locations as well as users who want to request that others fill out their forms.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/asset11_nnlgnx.png" /> <img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/asset1-scaled_b5rlnx.png" /> <img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen-shot-2019-06-13-at-175122_zp7zz9.png" />
Photographers and marketers especially will benefit from JotForm Mobile Forms, since it improves remote access to much-needed forms. 
Photographers can quickly and seamlessly collect signatures on the go, which makes getting model releases and session agreements incredibly simple. Marketers can leverage kiosk mode, which automatically resets their form after someone fills it out on a public device — great for collecting feedback or emails on a signup form at a booth.  
Key features:
<ul>
<li>Collect data offline.</li>
<li>Create and edit forms. </li>
<li>Assign and share forms. </li>
<li>Record your voice as a form submission.</li>
<li>Use geolocation to pinpoint exact locations.</li>
<li>Turn your phone into a public kiosk station.</li>
<li>Customize notifications.</li>
</ul>
JotForm has always worked well on mobile devices; however, JotForm Mobile Forms substantially improves access to users’ forms.
The new product also makes JotForm an attractive data-collection option for industries that haven’t typically been JotForm users, including safety inspectors, oil and gas workers, repair professionals, and construction workers. In use cases that have traditionally involved collecting information using paper and pen, JotForm Mobile Forms is designed to improve speed and accuracy, while reducing expensive and wasteful paper.
JotForm Mobile Forms is available for free on the Google Play store and the App Store. Learn more about its capabilities by visiting <a href="https://www.jotform.com/products/mobile-forms/">https://www.jotform.com/products/mobile-forms/</a>.

JotForm Mobile Forms launches to improve remote data collection

With digital technology advancements – websites and web applications have evolved from static to rich and interactive customer experiences. User perception is most critical – so the poor, rushed design does not cut it anymore. User experience goes beyond on-screen design. It requires well defined web content management, product information management, digital asset management, omni-channel e-commerce and enterprise customer relationship management.
Pimcore helps their customers to create this balance and make things simple – they fit all the pieces together in one place.
They help their customers to build a seamless tomorrow by building rich user experiences and effective integrated enterprise applications.
Pimcore puts the pieces together
Pimcore has a unique platform where everything a software integrator, digital agency, professional or enterprise needs is all together in one place. A total digital transformation can take place with just the use of Pimcore’s own product suite which includes – CMS, DAM, PIM/MDM, and e-commerce.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/pimcore1.png" />With Pimcore CMS, users can create, manage and easily maintain a digital experiences and its data all in a single source. It can then be published to all output channels: web, mobile, apps, social platforms, print and digital signage.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/pimcore2.png" />
Managing a collection of digital assets can be tricky – but with Pimcore it is made much easier. Pimcore’s enterprise DAM platform enables users to easily consolidate, manage and share all digital assets by assigning meta-data, making them searchable, and delivering assets in the right format to any output channel.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/pimcore3.png" />
For any organization with a large product base, storing and managing the enormous amount of product information is challenging. Pimcore’s PIM platform enables easy organization, aggregation, classification, and translation of product information – all in a single location. Because of the consolidated product suite, the data can be easily delivered to all output channels.
Almost all retailers today have online B2B and B2C e-commerce platforms. The Pimcore e-commerce framework creates flexible and responsive online shopping platforms for multi-channel and omni-channel retail. Their methodology is both efficient and effective, creating an outstanding user experience, across all channels – web, mobile, social, and POS.
Pimcore Success Stories
Pimcore has over 80,000 users around the world with success stories to prove it. Major well-known companies have used Pimcore to enrich and enhance their digital world.
Take for example, <a href="https://www.pimcore.org/en/ikea_c1349_233#content">IKEA</a>, an internationally known home furnishing retailer. They wanted to offer in-store shoppers a mobile touchpoint to view sales and promotions. Using Pimcore’s CMS, IKEA could build customized landing pages for each store that could be easily updated as needed. Shoppers were automatically directed to landing pages when connected to WIFI.
<a href="https://www.pimcore.org/en/GANT_c1464_233#content">GANT</a>, an international clothing company used various Pimcore products to achieve their digital goals. They needed a way to manage and distribute their product information. Using Pimcore’s MDM/PIM products they could easily and instantly send all product information to their stores and partners globally. They also used Pimcore’s E-commerce product to enhance their customer’s online shopping experience.
There is, of course, many more examples, all of which can be found on <a href="https://www.pimcore.org/en/resources/casestudies" target="_blank">Pimcore’s case study webpage</a>.

Open-Source Pimcore Digital Platform: Consolidating PIM/MDM, DAM, CMS & E-Commerce

<a href="https://ghost.org/" target="_blank"> Ghost</a>, the newest and most exciting blogging platform, has just released version 0.5.
Launched in late 2013, Ghost has taken the blogging world by storm, offering users a hosted and self-hosted option with a remarkably straightforward, yet progressive user interface. In fact, questions have even been raised in relation to <a href="/wordpress-vs-ghost/" target="_blank"> WordPress vs Ghost</a>. But that's a discussion for another day.
In any case, this new Ghost release, Codenamed MSR1, brings about a huge host of changes. Labelled as, “a massive technical progression”, Ghost 0.5 represents a total of 616 commits across 471 issues from 61 contributors across the globe. Let's take a look at the highlights.
<h2>Tweaks and Changes, Big and Small</h2>
First up, Ghost now has multi-user support. 
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/05-3-1700x0.jpg" alt="Ghost 0.5" />
This means that multiple Authors, Editors, and Administrators can work together on the same blog, making life a lot easier for companies, communities and all kinds of collaborative projects.
Furthermore, Ghost has become the first and only open-source publishing platform to build a public JSON API. What does this mean? Well, Just like Twitter and Pinterest have an API which developers can build apps on top of, Ghost now has the same power. Now, iOS, Android, Desktop and even Web Apps can all be built on top of any Ghost blog.
The Ghost default theme has also enjoyed massive update with beautiful new user profile pages, full-bleed homepage cover images, restructured navigation, improved mobile styles, and a massive improvement to typography.
Also, thanks to a Ember.js conversion and a re-writing of the admin area, the Ghost team is now able to start building user-interface components which look and feel like what you might expect from a desktop (or mobile) operating system.
Here's some more of what Ghost 0.5 brings to the table:
<ul>
<li> Privacy.md  – Ghost has a new Open Source initiative called <a href="https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/blob/master/PRIVACY.md">Privacy.md</a>. They now ship a text file with a plain English description of every feature within the software which might affect user Privacy.</li>
<li> New Install Screen  – A refined UI when installing a new Ghost blog.</li>
<li> OAuth Support  – for extensible, secure authentication with less hassle.</li>
<li> Theme API improvements  – New helpers, functionality, and tools for theme developers.  <a href="http://dev.ghost.org/themes-multi-user-ready/"> 
</a></li>
<li> Auto-GZip  – Theme assets are now automatically GZipped in production environments. This makes Ghost blogs load faster.</li>
<li> Improved Keyboard Shortcuts  – New navigational shortcuts and international (non-English) keyboard support.</li>
<li> Mobile Improvements  – Better support on touch based devices.</li>
<li> HTML Emails  – All system emails now sent in a beautiful HTML email template (with plaintext fallback).</li>
</ul>
And that's not all, either. For a full list of changes, check out the <a href="https://gist.github.com/ErisDS/b7aa1a6e954f415cbb5b" target="_blank"> Ghost 0.5 changelog </a> .
<h2>New, Faster Release Cycle Announced</h2>
Ghost has that, “Screw it, I'll do it my way” swagger to it, and this bit of side-news is a prime example of it.
Instead of following the normal route of releasing 2-3 major updates a year, Ghost have decided to do things differently.
From here on out, Ghost users can expect to see new features, improvements and bug-fixes every 2-3 weeks. Not only is that different, but it's also majorly impressive.
Ghost Pro users will get these updates automatically, without needing to lift a finger. However, users running Ghost on their own server might feel tentative about this announcement. Although they can update whenever they like, new updating each month to gain the latest features might get a little time consuming.
Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing Ghost become more organic with it's new plan of constant self-improvement. It will certainly be interesting to see how well it works out, and f other follow suit.
For more information on Ghost 0.5, or to download it, check out the <a href="http://blog.ghost.org/ghost-0-5/" target="_blank">official announcement</a>.
To get started with your very own hosted or self-hosted Ghost blog, visit the <a href="https://ghost.org/" target="_blank"> Ghost website</a>.

Ghost 0.5 Released with Re-written Admin UI, Multi-user Support & More

Call Tracking + AI 

Call Tracking + AI that Turns Calls into Leads

#ffffff

Every day, countless people are searching the web for all different types of information. In response to this, google is constantly adding new features and adapting their search strategy so that people can get access to the most relevant information for their search queries.
If you run a website, it is important to always keep an eye on what is happening with Google in order to stay current and to take advantage of new opportunities. In the past little while, one very noticeable addition that Google has added is the featured Snippets.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/picture1722x0-is.png" />
<h2>What is a Featured Snippet?</h2>
A featured snippet is basically a summary of someone’s search query. In order to help bring the most contextual information to a person’s query, Google has started placing a search result at the very top of the page with information that they think is the most relevant to the search. The information is extracted from a website, and goes directly to the section of the site that features a result that most directly addresses the search parameters. The snippet is literally an open snap shot of the content they want from inside of a site.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/picture2722x0-is.png" />
<h2>How to Get Featured?</h2>
If you want to try and rank for a featured snippet, first try and decide what your target query is. You should focus on something that is relevant to your website, and that will likely draw higher numbers of search.
Generally, the “how to” category is one of the simpler ways to rank for a snippet. If you try to target a simple question, it is easier to ensure that your site will feature a straightforward answer. For instance, if you write about how to embed a video on a blog post and list step by step instructions, it will be easier for Google to recognize your step by step instructions as the most relevant answer for a search query about “how to embed video”.
Remember, it Is also critical that your post is using the correct markup. You need to ensure that Googles bots will scan your page and what could be the most relevant for a snippet. If you want to learn more about which elements are important to include, you can check out Wix’s SEO Hero article about optimizing snippets.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/picture3722x0-is.png" />
<h2>Can anyone be Featured?</h2>
Majority of the time, Google will choose snippets from sites that are ranking between 1-3 on the search results page. However, about 30% of the time the snippets are drawn from websites that are ranking lower on the page – to help create a bit of balance. So, don’t lose hope if your site isn’t ranking 1-3 on the search results page, you may still get chosen for a featured snippet. However, it is a good strategy to try and get your site ranking a little bit higher before you start focusing on snippets in order to prove your relevancy to Google.
Snippets are a powerful tool for bringing information that is relevant, easy to understand and concise for the person preforming the search query. Featured snippets also prove very trust worthy for the person preforming the search, leading in them spending additional time reading your site. So take some time to invest in snippets – it can add a distinctive edge!

Google is Changing the Game with  Featured Snippets

<a href="http://www.sitecore.net/" target="_blank"> Sitecore</a> have announced an early access program for <a href="http://www.sitecore.net/Platform/Channels/Commerce-Experience.aspx" target="_blank">Sitecore Commerce, powered by Commerce Server </a> , the first enterprise-grade .NET customer experience management (CXM) solution with fully integrated commerce functionality.
The new offering will enable marketers and merchandisers to deliver personalized and relevant digital shopping experiences from initial customer acquisition through online transaction using a single, connected platform.
Let's take a deeper look at what SiteCore's latest technological addition brings to the table.
<h2>Keeping it Personalized</h2>
Sitecore Commerce is the latest puzzle piece added to  <a href="http://www.sitecore.net/Products/Sitecore-Experience-Platform.aspx" target="_blank"> The Sitecore® Experience Platform™</a>. It gives marketers access to actionable insights, collaborative abilities and a holistic view of their customers.
<img style="max-width:400px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sitecore_logo_400x0.gif" />
Sitecore Commerce empowers brands to drive e-commerce innovation and growth opportunities, leading to reduced implementation costs, quicker time-to-market and increased conversion rates.
Regarding the announcement of Sitecore Commerce, Michael Seifert, co-founder, and CEO of Sitecore, made these comments:
<blockquote>“We view e-commerce a key piece of the customer experience platform puzzle. I’m proud of the addition of Sitecore Commerce to our leading platform, and excited to bring such a robust yet easy to use solution to the market.
As the only complete end-to-end .NET solution, Sitecore Commerce enables brands to go to market within rapidly reduced timeframes, more quickly increasing their revenue and accelerating growth.”</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.sitecore.net/Products/Sitecore-Experience-Platform.aspx" target="_blank">The Sitecore® Experience Platform™ </a>   includes integrated digital marketing, e-commerce, multichannel customer experience and big data-analysis applications. Sitecore Commerce works natively within Sitecore Experience Platform’s easy-to-use user interface, allowing merchandisers and marketers to quickly and easily implement the service into current campaigns.
Other key benefits include:
<ul>
<li> Single, connected administration:  All product catalog information is available within Sitecore, with no data duplication or synchronization hassles.</li>
<li> Unified content and campaigns:  Marketers and merchandisers can easily search and edit all assets, view end-to-end campaigns and access customer insights across all touch-points, and measure conversions and customer value.</li>
<li> Enterprise-grade:  Sitecore Commerce is built to meet the most demanding enterprise commerce needs, with performance throughput and robust systems to meet seasonal shopping peaks head-on.</li>
<li> Highly flexible:  Developers can build customized environments to meet specific brand needs and create unique shopping experiences, instead of relying on templates.</li>
</ul>
As far as availability is concerned, Sitecore Commerce will be broadly available from September 2014.
Furthermore, Sitecore Commerce, powered by Commerce Server, will be demonstrated at Sitecore Symposium 2014 in Las Vegas on September 8-10.
To learn more, visit the <a href="http://www.sitecore.net/Platform/Channels/Commerce-Experience.aspx" target="_blank"> Sitecore website</a>.
Also, don't forget to explore more of <a href="/products/sitecore/" target="_blank"> Sitecore via our CMS Directory</a>.

Sitecore Commerce Unveiled: the First Enterprise-grade eCommerce Integrated .NET CXM

There are a number of great hosted CMS solutions on the market, we've highlighted a number of them in one of our recent issues of CMS Critic Recommends (<a href="/cms-critic-recommends-july-edition/">read</a>) and LightCMS is definitely a contender.LightCMS is packed with features at what we think is a reasonable price compared to other options on the market. For a full list, visit the LightCMS tour after you read our review.What makes it unique? What are it's strengths and weaknesses?Let's take a look.First off, for the average user, you may be able to make do with their free package which allows you a decent starting point to begin seeing what the system can do for you. It's a great way to try out LightCMS and decide whether you want to give it a go long-term or not.Once you've chosen your subdomain you'd like to use from their website, you are ready to get started. We chose http://cmscritic.publishpath.com (for obvious reasons).On your first visit, you are greeted with a basic website waiting for your input. You can access the main administrative interface by adding /admin to the end of your URL (ie: http://cmscritic.publishpath.com/admin) which would then prompt you to log on for access to the “dashboard”.Upon logging in, you'll be greeted with a screen similar to the following (dependent upon the theme you chose):<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sitefinity_tedkqt.jpg" alt="Initial Screen - LightCMS" /> Initial Screen – LightCMSAs you can see, a number of areas of the website became activated once you logged in. You are now able to add/remove elements and edit the various areas of the cms simply my clicking no any of these buttons.As an example, clicking on pencil icon to the left of the “Welcome to the new site” text area would present you with the following easy to use content editor, complete with WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editing area, tags and more:<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2021/07/26-08-2010-12-18-36-pm-580x674_pmt38y.jpg" alt="Content Editor - LightCMS" />Content Editor – LightCMSVisually, the content editor is attractive and akin to something we'd expect to find in a typical CMS.  It's intuitive, familiar and easy to use. Good start.What happens if you click on one of the “Add an element” boxes?Doing so would provide you with a dialog and a drop down box from which you can select a number of elements to add to the page:<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2021/07/26-08-2010-12-24-10-pm_gljf9q.jpg" alt="Add an Element - LightCMS" />Add an Element – LightCMSThere are plenty of options that can be added and using each of these, we found them all to be very intuitive and well designed.One of the more common of the choices that we can see being used here are forms. Let's take a quick look at what the interface to a form element looks like.Here's where LightCMS outdoes it's competitors. Once you have added the element for a form, you simply click on “edit form” in a drop down box within the element which will take you to the form edit screen.From within this screen, there are two tabs. One for the various form fields you can add to the form (note: all that is required to add a field is to click on it):<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2021/07/26-08-2010-12-31-24-pm-580x428_wktzlr.jpg" alt="Add Fields - LightCMS" />Add Fields – LightCMSThe second tab provides various settings for the form. There are the usual suspects such as form name, description, email notification, captcha, etc.  but where it really shines is the option for payment settings.Clicking on this option allows you to embed payment functions right into your form complete with integration into Google Checkout, Paypal and Authorize.net. Now that my friends, is very simple and very slick. It's the little things that make the difference and this is definitely one of the best and easiest to implement functions we've seen so far in a form module.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2021/07/26-08-2010-12-34-57-pm_dz9kpg.jpg" alt="Payment Options in Forms - LightCMS" />Payment Options in Forms – LightCMSNow that we've looked at the various elements and content functions of the system, let's dig a bit deeper into the administrative interface shall we?LightCMS includes the ability to manage settings on a page by page basis or on a site basis (or both).  If you wanted to set individual meta data, css, user access permissions or SSL encryption for instance, this can all be done by clicking on the Page Settings button right from the Page you are currently on. You are also able to define custom templates (themes) to the individual pages as you see fit.Here's a quick screenshot of what this page looks like:<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/billrogers-150x150_wkzay1.jpg" alt="Page Settings - LightCMS" /> Page Settings – LightCMSYou can see in the screenshot above, there is another menu bar in black that offers links to Designs, Users, Settings, Pages and Stats as well.Under the Designs menu, you are given the ability to perform the following options:<ul><li>Upload your own design (this page also has indepth documentation on how to create your own templates as well as how to alter existing ones).</li><li>Choose from a library of provided designs.</li><li>Order your own custom designs created for you by the developers of LightCMS.</li></ul>The Settings button at the top allows you to setup redirects, modify your robots.txt files and add/remove domain names as needed.Clicking on the Stats button (an option available to paid and not free accounts) gives you access to a simple but effective statistics screen highlighting activity on your site.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/campsite_zycpew.jpg" alt="Statistics - LightCMS" />Statistics – LightCMSAnother very unique function that LightCMS provides is the ability to set up and bill your clients (if you are a developer) for each site you create and host with LightCMS.You can dictate your own pricing structure (separate from what you pay LightCMS for use of their service) complete with your own plans, pricing structures and automated billing. It's like running your own business but all of the work is done for you.We won't get into great detail about how this works (it's better to just visit the site yourself then for us to attempt to paraphrase it. What we will say is this: It's incredibly easy to use, convenient and a huge time saver.Final ConclusionsPro's:<ul><li>Everything but the kitchen sink is included.</li><li>Incredibly easy to use, might just be the easiest solution we've found to date.</li><li>Fast, intuitive, loaded with configuration options.</li><li>Pricing is very reasonable.</li><li>Fantastic form builder with integrated payments.</li></ul>Con's:<ul><li>To get all of the cool features such as stats and payment integration, you have to pay. Although if we weren't paying, we'd feel kind of guilty considering the amount of work put into this system.</li></ul>Overall, LightCMS is one astoundingly agile platform. It's fast, intuitive, easy, packed full of options and VERY reasonably priced.  We highly recommend it.

LightCMS Review

<a href="http://www.hannonhill.com/products/index.html" target="_blank"> Cascade Server</a> version 7.12 is now <a href="http://www3.hannonhill.com/c/1921/172220/55376" target="_blank">available for download</a>.
Cascade Server is a Java-based “push” CMS that can either be installed locally or hosted in the cloud by Hannon Hill – the company behind Cascade Server.
Version 7.12 of Cascade Server is another step taken by Hannon Hill to, “improve the user experience”. They have focused on content reporting and content authoring by adding improvements to the draft and editing interfaces. Let's take a deeper look at what's new.
<a href="http://www.hannonhill.com/products/index.html" target="_blank"><img style="max-width:224px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/cascade_server.jpg" /></a>
<h2>UI Tweaks, Link Checkers &amp; More</h2>
Cascade Server 7.12 features a brand new site-wide broken link report. We all know that keeping up with the quality of your site’s internal and external links is no easy undertaking, but it's an essential part of maintaining a high caliber website. This feature will regularly scan your site for both internal and external links, allowing users to find and fix these links before they ever go live.
This new feature will check all publishable Pages and Files in the system for broken links on a daily schedule. Any broken links encountered are stored in the database as a report which can be viewed on the Link Checker dashboard. Accompanying the Broken Link Report is the new Link Checker Summary dashboard widget, which provides a summary of the status of broken links on the current site.
Below are some more notable features from version 7.12:
<ul>
<li>Improvements to the Editing and Drafting UI. We’ve revamped the drafting experience to be more seamless and less obtrusive.</li>
<li>Stale Content Filtering. You can filter down your Stale Content Dashboard and see only what you want to see.</li>
<li>Improved support for inserting and link-checking scheme-relative links. This will allow you to keep up with the trend towards more HTTPS-enabled sites and a secure web.</li>
</ul>
The Hannon Hill team will be releasing a series of informative blog posts to give users more details about the major improvements in 7.12, but you can also learn about the new features in the  <a href="http://www3.hannonhill.com/c/1921/172220/55375" target="_blank"> 7.12 Release Notes</a> and by checking out the  <a href="http://www3.hannonhill.com/c/1921/172220/55374" target="_blank"> 7.12 Press Release</a>.
You can <a href="http://www3.hannonhill.com/c/1921/172220/55376" target="_blank"> download Cascade Server 7.12 right here</a>.
To find out more about Cascade Server, <a href="http://www3.hannonhill.com/c/1921/172220/55376" target="_blank"> visit their website</a>.
Also, be sure to check out <a href="/products/cascade-cms/" target="_blank"> Cascade Server via our CMS Directory</a>.

Cascade Server 7.12 Released

Purple Parrot is a proprietary CMS with plenty of out-of-the-box features for a variety of website needs. Purple Parrot caters to small business, e-commerce, and online education sites. The CMS is cloud-based and multi-user.
<h2>Overview</h2>
<a href="http://www.purpleparrot.com/about/" target="_blank">Purple Parrot</a> is a full-fledged CMS, including a web design and software solution firm. Purple Parrot has been in business since the early days of widespread Internet usage (over 20 years). Part of their sell is the ability to take an existing website and place it into their own CMS, giving you the ability to take full control of a website. In spite of having plenty of features, Purple Parrot has some features that users may find limiting, including difficult site design process, lack of access to code, and some unwieldy operations in the CMS.
<h2>Creating a Site</h2>
I'll walk through the process of creating a site on Purple Parrot.
When I log in for the first time, the Admin Dashboard is a bit bewildering. Here's what I see.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple1-620x463.jpeg" alt="purple1" />
SiteBuilder
The most prominent category is “SiteBuilder Features.” Within this category are the following features, including a brief onscreen description.
<ul>
<li>External Widgets – External widgets are portable chunks of code supplied by third-party sources that can be installed and executed on any of your site's pages.</li>
<li>General Information – Provide general information about your company.</li>
<li>Menu Designer – Design the menus that will help your visitors navigate through your site.</li>
<li>Page Manager – Create the custom or module pages you have selected for your site.</li>
<li>Select Your Color Theme – Select or create your own color theme for the site.</li>
<li>Select Your Font – Choose the font to be used throughout your site.</li>
<li>Template Manager – Design the templates that contain the header, footer, and/or sidebar for the pages of your website.</li>
</ul>
I found the descriptions of each feature to be helpful, but was nonplussed as to which I should choose to start my site.
The dashboard links are replicated in the menu bar. So, instead of clicking one of these dashboard links, I chose the “SiteBuilder” menu link, and chose “General Information.”
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple2.jpeg" alt="purple2" />
General Information
On this screen, I edit my site's general information, including the company name, a description, and a login option.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple3-620x463.jpeg" alt="purple3" />
The customization options at the bottom are denoted with green checkmarks. When I attempt to “select site width,” I receive the following information:
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple4.jpeg" alt="purple4" />
To “check the page out,” I go to the top of the page, where I see the following:
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple5.jpeg" alt="purple5" />
Clicking the lock image then “checks out” the page, where I can complete further operations.
Site Width
There are two options for site width:
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple6-620x393.jpeg" alt="purple6" />
These two options are standard. I do notice, however, there is little flexibility to change these options, nor is there a responsive design option. The customization is limited, which is acceptable for someone with limited web experience.
Metadata
There is an area to edit the metadata, which is helpful for SEO purposes.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple7.jpeg" alt="purple7" />
The logo upload process is fairly straightforward, if not a wee bit clunky.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple8.jpeg" alt="purple8" />
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple9.jpeg" alt="purple9" />
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple10-620x359.jpeg" alt="purple10" />
Font Selection
Finally, I go to select my font. I find it a bit unusual that selecting a font takes me to a new edit page. Here's a look at it.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple11-620x463.jpeg" alt="purple11" />
After choosing “Century Gothic, 14px,” I move on to “Go to Color Selection.”
Color Selection
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple12-620x463.jpeg" alt="purple12" />
The color selection page allows me to choose color themes, which “will affect elements such as text boxes and the search button on your visitor pages.” Customization is available to “edit this theme.”
I choose the “Neutral Green” theme.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple13-620x463.jpeg" alt="purple13" />
A word about navigation so far. The navigation does not immediately strike me as intuitive. However, as I have been creating the site, I realize that I am following the order of the menu elements under “Site Builder.” (See menu screenshot above). At this point, I've come to the “Menu Designer” element on the site.
Menu Designer
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple14-620x463.jpeg" alt="purple14" />
In order to edit an element of the menu, I first must click the lock icon. Then I click the pencil icon to edit the menu element. This brings up a new screen:
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple15-620x463.jpeg" alt="purple15" />
The right area of the screen displays a preview of what the menu looks like. Changes are instant.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple16-620x74.jpeg" alt="purple16" />
The menus are prepopulated with the demo elements. I had to remove these one-by-one in order to create my own menu items.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple17.jpeg" alt="purple17" />
Renaming menu elements required a multiple-click process. Each time I create a new one, I am redirected to the beginning of the process.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple18.jpeg" alt="purple18" />
Overall, the menu customization is somewhat cumbersome and confusing. When I finish editing my menu elements, I click “Save,” and am prompted to click a lock again,  click “Save &amp; Close.” I arrive at the main menu designer page.
External Widgets
The next element to customize is “External Widgets.”
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple19-620x463.jpeg" alt="purple19" />
The widget option is helpful in that it allows a variety of codes to be added to the site. Purple Parrot allows an unlimited number of widgets. When a widget is added from this main External Widgets page, it can be added to any page on the site, or added to the sitewide template.
Adding a new widget prompts a popup to paste the code.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple20-620x511.jpeg" alt="purple20" />
Template Manager
The next element for me to modify is Template Manager.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple21-620x463.jpeg" alt="purple21" />
I am prompted to design a new template for the header, footer, and sidebar. The first step is to “Add New Template.”
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple22.jpeg" alt="purple22" />
Once I add the new template, I can edit it after selecting it from the template list.
This is the template editing page.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple23-620x463.jpeg" alt="purple23" />
The persistent WYSIWYG preview pane is a helpful at-a-glance perspective of how the template customization is going. The downside of the large preview pane is that it allows limited space for customization.
Under template properties, I can select a background style, layout, and title style.
Under the Standard Toolkit Menu options, I am provided with the following toolkit items:
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple27.jpeg" alt="purple27" />
To add an element, I simply drag it to the live editing pane. Once I do, a setup box appears that allows me to customize that specific element.
Advanced Toolkit
Beyond these basics, I am provided with a variety of advanced elements.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple35.jpeg" alt="purple35" />
Each of these advanced toolkit options has its own unique set of customization options, similar to those in the basic toolkit.
Having finished my template design, I click “Save &amp; Close.” I see a notification that my template was saved successfully, and return to the template manager page.
This process of template creation can be continued to create as many templates are desired.
Page Manager
The page manager menu furnishes me with a list of the pages on my site. The list seen in the screenshot below are the pages already created in the demo site that I have been editing. Each of these pages can be edited.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple36-620x463.jpeg" alt="purple36" />
To edit the page, I first click on the lock button to “check out” the page. Then, I click on the pencil edit icon.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple37-620x463.jpeg" alt="purple37" />
The page editor replicates many of the elements seen in the template editor. The options and editing options are simpler. One addition that is not part of the template editor is the “Search Information” for SEO purposes.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple38.jpeg" alt="purple38" />
The standard toolkit and advanced toolkit elements are all available for adding to these custom pages.
Beyond the pages created for the site, it is possible to create special module pages.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple39-620x463.jpeg" alt="purple39" />
This completes the site creation phase. Depending on the extent of the site being created, this process can take a few hours or up to several days. There are a surprising number of options available. The level of customization is also impressive.
Publish
Having completed my site to my level of satisfaction, I click “Go to Publish.”
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple40-620x463.jpeg" alt="purple40" />
After receiving the publish confirmation, I can also view the custom pages and modules that were created or modified.
Modules
So far, I've only created the general site pages and structure. Purple Parrot has created an extensive list of modules that enhance a site's usability and versatility. Available modules are listed below.
<ul>
<li>Checkout Settings </li>
<li>Classes </li>
<li>Contact Information </li>
<li>Event Calendar </li>
<li>FAQ </li>
<li>Forms Manager </li>
<li>Google Analytics </li>
<li>Inventory </li>
<li>Jobs</li>
<li>Library </li>
<li>News </li>
<li>Release Notes </li>
<li>RSS Feeds</li>
<li>Showcase</li>
<li>Social Networking</li>
<li>Testimonials</li>
<li>Video Catalog</li>
<li>Media</li>
<li>User Management</li>
</ul>
Back to the Dashboard
When I return to the dashboard after exploring every element of Purple Parrot, the dashboard makes more sense. It provides a way to easily access all of the <a href="http://www.purpleparrot.com/features/" target="_blank">features</a> that are also included in the menu above.
<h2>Getting Help</h2>
The persistent top menu in the Purple Parrot admin provides two help menus — Help and Help Desk. (In addition there is a <a href="http://www.purpleparrot.com/m/faqs" target="_blank">FAQ</a> menu.)
Main Help Menu
The help menu provides a readme style help document. It is navigable and readable, if not a bit Web 1.0-looking.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple61-620x610.jpeg" alt="purple61" />
Help Desk
Help Desk is for registered users.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/purple62.jpeg" alt="purple62" />
I was unable to test the response of the help desk.
Overview of Help Availability
One of the most helpful features of Purple Parrot was the way it guided users through each element of site creation and editing. Throughout the editing process explanations are included that describe what an element is, how it works, and what to do to make changes. Purple Parrot provides a good setup for users who have little web design or development knowledge to create an entire site with lots of features and considerable power. In addition to these consistent explanations, there are also question mark and information buttons situated at main junctions for further information.
Sample Sites Built with Purple Parrot
Listed on the Purple Parrot site are several organizations that have used their CMS.
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.severnriverglobal.com/">http://www.severnriverglobal.com/</a></li>
<li><a href="http://itsmalliancellc.com/">http://itsmalliancellc.com/</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.clayhealth.com/">http://www.clayhealth.com/</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mcecloans.com/">http://www.mcecloans.com/</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
Pros
<ul>
<li>WYSIWYG editing. Seeing changes as I make them is a helpful feature. Although viewing the actual sample site requires a few extra clicks, there are some editing areas in which WYSIWYG performance is available.</li>
<li>Extensive module menu. I was impressed with the number of modules and the extent of power that they provided. This was, perhaps, the greatest advantage of the CMS. Purple Parrot is primed for power.</li>
</ul>
Cons
<ul>
<li>Clunky. The advantages of Purple Parrot as a firm with 20+ years of experience is evident. There are, however, some areas in which this advantage could be a downside. Site navigation is confusing at times. Features of the editor are not at all fluid or easy. Some actions take multiple clicks, creating confusion and delays.</li>
<li>No source code access. Although it is possible to edit a site to a detailed extent, it is not possible to dig into the source code. As a solution designed for the non-developer, it's fine. For those who desire more power, this may be viewed as a limitation.</li>
<li>Lack of ready-made templates. One advantage of Purple Parrot is that they can convert an existing site to their CMS. For the user who doesn't have an existing site, they will need to either contract with Purple Parrot to create one, or try to make their own. There are no ready-made templates that I found except for a duplicate of Purple Parrot's own site in the demo version. This can create a hurdle. First, creating a site from scratch is time consuming and out-of-reach for those who have limited design experience. Second, having Purple Parrot create a site may not meet the user's wishes, due to the somewhat dated design style that is evidently used by Purple Parrot.</li>
</ul>
Overall, Purple Parrot provides a comprehensive and workable CMS. Pricing is provided in a <a href="http://www.purpleparrot.com/solutions/" target="_blank">three-tier model</a>, depending on the user's needs. Purple Parrot may not be the first choice for those who want a polished look with quick-and-easy startup. Although Purple Parrot has a nice array of modules, it is lacking in design beauty and ease of use. I was disappointed and sometimes confused about how to perform a simple function. Furthermore, because of its design limitations and inability to create a responsive site, Purple Parrot will not satisfy customers who desire to adapt to mobile visitors. Unless this CMS make some significant revisions to adapt to updated design trends and mobile access, Purple Parrot will remain in a bygone era of web design.
You can visit <a href="http://www.purpleparrot.com/" target="_blank">Purple Parrot</a> to find out more. To request a demo, you can fill out the <a href="http://www.purpleparrot.com/demo/" target="_blank">demo request form</a>.

Review of Purple Parrot CMS

daniel-threlfall

The latest version of <a href="https://www.phpfox.com/" target="_blank"> PHPFox </a>  has been announced, making the social networking platform sleeker and sexier than ever before.
<a href="/phpfox-rebrands-to-moxi9-reveals-pricing-changes/" target="_blank">Freshly re-branded as Moxi9</a>, PHPFox has enjoyed its status as a popular community-building CMS, giving users the ability to offer features found on Facebook, MySpace, and other networks.
With PHPFox V4 – which is due for release during Fall 2014 – brings about a new look and feel. It also pairs with Moxi9 Unity, allowing developers to create powerful apps. Let's take a closer look.
<h2>PHPFox Streamlined</h2>
Reading through the improvements that PHPFox V4 is soon to bring, one word sprung to my mind. Streamlining.
The team behind Moxi9 are pushing PHPFox into modernity with a host of needed features, bells and whistles. And it looks pretty damn good.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-1700x0.png" alt="PHPFox V4" /> 
In fact, users can look forward to a revamped user interface, including cleaner activity feeds, side panels, user profiles an pages in general.
Additionally, Moxi9 have stated that they will include a responsive theme with V4 by default, which all future themes can extend with ease.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-2700x0.png" alt="PHPFox V4" /> 
Perhaps one of the most notable changes though – particularly for developers – is the Moxi9 Unity pairing.
Moxi9 Unity opens the doors to developers to create powerful apps without needing access any server. Plus, they won't be bound to a specific programing language. That means secure, one-click installs for clients and easy updates for developers.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-3700x0.png" alt="PHPFox V4" />
For all the details of PHPFox V4, FAQs about the new software, plus some more screenshots, check out Moxi9's recent blog announcement.
Also, be sure to explore more of  <a href="/products/phpfox/" target="_blank"> PHPFox via our CMS Directory</a>.

PHPFox V4 Announced: Improved UI, Responsive Themes & More

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