Multimedia, multi-channel storytelling becomes a whole lot simpler with Atex's release of Digital Media Desk 1.8.

Taking a new approach to digital asset management, it adds the flexibility, scalability and customisation options of the company's Polopoly web management platform to typical DAM features. The release closes the gap between asset management and content management with a single platform to manage incoming elements and produce content for multiples platforms, and deliver it on digital and print channels with Atex or third-party products.

Among new features are status based workflows integrated into flexible search options and the 'smart folders' architecture, and a preview of variants for multi-channel articles, making it easier to review content differences between digital and print.

Upload of videos has been simplified, making it possible for users to just record and upload from a tablet or smartphone. New content partitioning simplifies the organisation of assets across logical areas, such as incoming content, production and archive. The release also provides full support of NewsML content packages, stories and their related assets.

Atex chief executive Anders Christiansen says many clients are looking for a single tool to manage all aspects of content production: "We are currently running five projects with major publishers in Europe and North America that have a single common denominator - decouple content management and content publishing.

"They want to effectively have a single platform and a single tool to manage all aspects of content production, like content contribution, wires, social input, content authoring, picture and video workflow. When it comes to publishing, they want to retain the flexibility to adopt and integrate the systems that are more relevant and up-to-date or, in some cases, retain their legacy solutions and integrate them with the new platform.

"This is where our product development efforts are focused right now and you can expect more announcements in the same direction in the next weeks."

Pictured: Quick metadata feature allows rapid editing from search results using star ratings or colour and icon coding