Digital Strategy, Design and Development
Digital Strategy, Design and Development
For a few years now I have being using Maxdox, an useful tool for creating Java Mobile (J2ME) electronic books for use on mobiles. The creation tool (very rarely in the mobile world) was available for use on all major platforms. Essentially it used XML templates to frame content which could be transmitted to and stored and used on Java compatible phones. Sadly it looks like the Finnish firm has disappeared. Maxdox.com and other associated URLs (web addresses) are not working and emails to the small team producing the tool are not being responded too.
If it has disappeared from the mobile content development world then it is a sad loss. It was one of the few tools that allowed non-technical content developers to produce good materials relatively easily for the tricky mobile platform. Also, it was free for educational use, which meant students could produce their own materials and some great things had been produced.
It was an expensive commercial product and perhaps this one of its problems. It carried a price bracket similar to much larger products like Adobe’s Dreamweaver but little of the functionality and flexibility.
Perhaps the guys from Finland are resting and will resurface again. I hope so.
I have been experimenting with the maxdox publisher for a college project. Very disappointed that they have dissappeared. Their product was one or two steps away from being a superb easy to use may of creating mobile content. Any news on them? Anyone seen any good similar products?
There is no alternative “Maxdox” but there are others ways or working at creating mobile objects. One of the weaknesses of Maxdox was the page length limit (i.e. no scrolling) and the need to export for different versions J2ME but its big advantage was each object was self contained and could be transmitted via bluetooth (keep costs down etc) and once on a device connectivity was no longer needed. I am looking at some viable alternatives, so keep watching this space for some updates in the next week or so, or get in touch via the contact page.