Feature
In addition to production-ready functionality, Magnolia’s latest release delivers content presentation that follows accessibility guidelines, is search-engine optimized and introduces support for mobile devices.
Stop and Smell the Flowers
With the new release, Magnolia (news, website) boasts that managing the layout of one or multiple websites is as simple and yet as sophisticated as managing content. Designers and programmers using the platform now have full control over the look and feel of content input and output interfaces within both the front and back-end through the browser-based administration interface. Users can also put their design skills to the test by building custom website designs on top of the new Magnolia Standard Templating Kit.
"With Magnolia 4.0 we have reached our goal of further simplifying the development process of Web site layouts as well as keeping control of design maintenance in a professional way,” says Magnolia CTO Boris Kraft. "This is not only true for a site's front-end displayed to regular visitors, but also true for the back-end, where Magnolia 4.0 allows users to modify or add input interfaces for content authors with a few clicks in its administration interface."
Supersonic!
The most hyped new feature in 4.0 is what Magnolia calls Supersonic Templating. ‘Supersonic’ because, As Kraft puts it, “You can create custom, feature-rich and pixel-perfect websites faster than you can fly from Paris to New York.”
Supersonic Templating is brought to you by the support for a new templating language called Freemarker in addition to templating in Java Server Pages (JSP). Freemarker enables the storage of templates in the repository which in turn allows them to be put under version and access control (three cheers for workflow!).
Learning Opportunities
Webinar
May
30
ChatGPT and the Future of Conversational AI
This discussion explores various aspects of AI implementation, ethical considerations, and challenges for your organization.
Webinar
May
31
The Evolution of Employee Listening - 2023 Trends & Best Practices
Learn proven effective methods and solutions to supporting an inspirational future of Employee Voice
Webinar
Jun
1
How organizations can design, build and run Generative AI into the Customer Experience
Discover how to drive enhanced CX through Generative AI
Webinar
Jun
6
The Future of Social Media: Emerging Trends and How to Stay Ahead of the Curve
The impact of emerging technologies like AI on social media
Webinar
Jun
7
The Building Blocks of Personalization
This webinar will explore how personalization can create powerful ecommerce shopping experience.
Webinar
Jun
13
The Future of Contact Centers with AI at the Helm
Learn how to balance human intuition and interaction with the potential uses of AI to create delightful and lasting CX
Webinar
May
30
ChatGPT and the Future of Conversational AI
This discussion explores various aspects of AI implementation, ethical considerations, and challenges for your organization.
Webinar
May
31
The Evolution of Employee Listening - 2023 Trends & Best Practices
Learn proven effective methods and solutions to supporting an inspirational future of Employee Voice
Additionally, that Freemarker doesn't depend on Java means users can write templates without knowing Java. Newcomers to Magnolia can now begin getting familiar with the platform without feeling intimidated, and veterans can breathe a little easier known their maintenance efforts will be significantly reduced.
Here is a quick look at some other new features:
- New web forms module
- New templates management module
- New Multi-Site module (Enterprise Edition)
- Enhanced email module
- Access control, workflows, automated backups for design elements
- Follows Web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG2 and Germany's BITV)
- Incorporates Search Engine Optimization (SEO) best practice
- XHTML-conformant page templates with table-less CSS layout
- Smart view-port detection to provide optimal browsing experience on any device, including mobile devices such as the iPhone
They’re in a Good Place
Kraft addresses the economic downturn on his blog with almost unheard of optimism. He shows confidence in Magnolia’s new features and their ability to carry the company through 2009 with more success than they had in 2008.
Reporting that his team of workers is “happy but not complacent,” however, speaks to the truth that there is always room for improvement. Good news for their users is Magnolia doesn’t seem to mind the work it takes to fill that never-ending void.
