Activex and java plugins would do the sort of thing required.... basically anything that can run a full application via the browser instead of trying to make a pseudo app using script interpreted by the browser.

For example I've been using use a photo printing site for years now where it downloads an activex control to my browser that helps sort through images, and sizes them, colour corrects, does cropping and allsorts of stuff before handling the uploading in a real slick manner - it's a real application - no browser clunkiness.. it works like proper software should. The point I'm making is that there are ways to do it, the technology is nothing new, and I believe that DNN Corp should (has to) make a proper publishing workflow part of the overall DNN strategy rather than assume, incorrectly so far, that external editors are sufficient.

Rant: 
I mean seriously!.. even the most fundamental operations are not there. I have people unknowingly uploading Mb-sized bitmaps in FCK, and then of course, when they wonder why their page takes minutes to load, there's no way to delete them unless the admin account logs in to browse through the file manager with the person to find out what's not needed or what was a mistake.. it's just unbelievably bad workflow and I can't believe it just carries on and on.

Image processing is the biggest stumbling block in the content creation process. I know my clients would put up with a far simpler text formatting tool if only they could handle images without a bunch of external applications and additional knowledge. 

DNN Corp has to make this one happen because it's not going to just turn up by itself one day. Providing a bare plugin framework just isn't enough. It took all the efforts of one person just to get FCK jammed into DNN and that only makes DNN equal to, but as inadequate for publishing as other open source portal systems. 

Some changes need more active leadership than pasting fad phrases into a powerpoint.

Just ranting some more, at no one in particular. If I had all the code in my pocket I'd hand it right over, but as it is, I can only state and re-state the problem.

Regards
Rob