The fact that Hexagon can consistently deliver these results proves that our processes are sound and that our staff are committed. These days it is too easy for software developers to do a slipshod job and then argue the point over it. But the proof of the pudding is always in the eating, and these days anyone can tell the difference between a high-quality, well developed software product and a bad one. This release is a testament to everyone who worked on it.

Silverlight

There are two things worth discussing in this release. The first is the much ballyhooed Silverlight. We have been banging on about this for months now, and this release has the first two examples out the door. The calculator pictured here is a bit of a toy, but we were trying to see how much we could make a flat web page look and feel like a three-dimensional object from the real world. All of the buttons and the display on this application work just like the ones on the calculator that we all had at school.

The small business website template is now built on Silverlight.  Screenshots don't do justice to the dynamic nature of the new 'experience.'

Stockpicker

The second thing is to report on the results of the stockpicker trials. In April I promised to provide these results. The stock-picking algorithm is driven by a set of parameters and we embarked on a sensitivity analysis exercise to see if we could optimise performance across ASX data for the last six months. The best performing trial returned 419% on investment over a six-month period. Since then, thanks to a bit of an up-tick in the ASX. it has climbed to 450% The last six months was a bt of a roller-coaster on the ASX so hopefully we have exercised the algorithm in all possible scenarios. Still I am cautious. We will continue to watch it for a few months yet. if it continues to perform this well, then the next step will be for the Hexagon directors to invest real money in it!

The medium-term future

This is the product road-map screen. Looking very nice in the new colours. You will notice that we have added a milestone task at the bottom of the list. The directors of Hexagon have set an objective of converting all betas into saleable products at that point. Once we are happy with the new technology platform, all betas will be finished off and converted into saleable products. This will move Hexagon out of the start-up/ product development/ R&D phase that it has been in and put it on a solid commercial footing.

 As I pen this I feel very good about how the company is developing and how the products are developing. We face big challenges, but recognise that and are looking forward to facing up to them.

Tusker Ryan