macvillagepro.com Here is the last in a series of blog posts and screencasts on Virtualization software from both Parallels and vmware fusion. The focus of this screencast is purely on game play and my experiences with both products. I hope you enjoy it and if you want to read my blog entries about it check out my blog at http
live.pirillo.com – Imagine my surprise the other day when searching for an archived document of mine the other day. There was what I was looking for… the first two hits on Google. The third hit, however, was a link to a video of mine on Zango. Zango?!?! Whaaaaaaaaaaat?
Desktop publishing (DTP) is alive and flourishing—but with some notable differences that reflect today’s advanced technologies. While DTP software was once in a class of its own, today we see a blurring of the lines between word processing and desktop publishing. For example, Microsoft Word allows you to create advanced layouts and linking between documents, and many DTP applications include word processing features.
Dedicated desktop publishing software can be classified into three categories: high end, small business and budget conscious. The following list is not meant to be inclusive, but mentions better-known products in each category.
High End
When we think of high-end DTP software, Quark and Adobe emerge as leaders.
QuarkXPress 7 is said to be the industry standard, holding the market share for high-end DTP software applications. The award-winning QuarkXPress 7 (about $749) is suited for large publishing tasks, such as layouts for magazines and newspapers. Its multi-user capabilities permit more than one user to edit different “zones” on the same page, and allow layout and graphic elements to be edited outside the layout application. Speed is one of this product’s claims to fame, as determined by a new independent report from Ron Roszkiewicz Consulting. According to Quark’s Web site, the report concludes that QuarkXPress 7 offers the highest productivity in both design-intensive and production-intensive workflows.
Adobe’s InDesign CS3 is a stiff competitor and, according to Adobe, is the new standard in page-layout software. This high-end product, costing about $699, is intended for fast-paced publishing environments in which two or more people work on design and layout simultaneously. Like QuarkXPress, it is well suited to laying out large publications. The application incorporates features found in both Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and integrates with other Adobe products, including Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, InCopy, and Acrobat. Individuals not familiar with these products will find a steep learning curve. InDesign CS3 is available for both the Mac and Windows OS.
Scribus
I’m not sure where the Scribus DTP program fits. According to the Web site, “Scribus is an open-source program that brings award-winning, professional page layout to Linux/UNIX, Mac OS X, OS/2 and Windows desktops with a combination of ‘press-ready’ output and new approaches to page layout.” The site promises that, underneath its user-friendly interface, the product supports professional desktop publishing features, including CMYK color, separations, ICC color management and PDF creation. An enthusiastic user community provides support to new users, and the price (free) is hard to beat.
Small Business DTP
Microsoft and Adobe are the ones to beat in this category.
Adobe PageMaker 7 , InDesign’s “kid brother,” is suitable for small businesses, schools or organizations that want to produce brochures, sales letters, newsletters, one-page fliers, complex reports and similar documents. The application provides templates, graphics and intuitive design tools that allow users to work productively across other Adobe applications. It can be output to any printing device, including digital quick printers and high-end commercial printers. PageMaker is available for both the Mac and PC, and sells for about $499.
CNET readers were less than thrilled, however, rating PageMaker only 5.3 points out of a possible 10. Complaints included a steep learning curve, the fact that it is four times as expensive as MS Publisher, its main competitor, and the poor quality of the HTML-generated pages. CNET recommended PageMaker for businesses that publish a lot of documents and want to turn paper documents into PDF files quickly, or assemble catalogues from databases. Adobe is encouraging users to switch to InDesign, so perhaps PageMaker 7 is the last of the PageMaker releases.
Intended for the small business, school or organization, Microsoft Office Publisher 2007 allows you to create the same types of business documents mentioned for PageMaker 7. In this first release since 2003, Publisher is designed to offer a fast start and short learning curve. Interchangeable templates allow you to start with a business card, for example, and then click a button to create a return mailing label using the business card information—already applied.
Publisher’s Task feature is another interesting concept—this feature offers tips on various subjects, such as how to prepare a publication for a mailing list or how to track the effects of marketing campaigns. The application integrates with other Office components, including Office Outlook 2007, Office Excel and Business Contact Manager.
Amazon’s average customer review is 4.5 out of 5 stars. The software is approximately $150 if purchased separately, or comes with MS Office
Budget-Conscious DTP
Quite a few offerings dominate this category, but I couldn’t determine the leading products.
The Print Shop 22 Deluxe
It’s hard to believe, but this software has sold more than 17 million copies since it appeared in the 1980s. The current version is 22 for PC and 2 for the Mac OS. The PC version is available in both Print Shop Deluxe and Print Shop Pro Publisher Deluxe editions. This software includes graphics and layout tools that allow you to create booklets, business cards, calendars, CD/DVD labels, certificates, family trees, greeting cards, and handcrafted cards and invitations.
Costing around $50, Print Shop 22 Deluxe garnered 3.5 out of 5 stars at Amazon. Various companions are available, including Print Shop Pro Publisher Deluxe, targeted at small businesses; the Print Shop Design Suite Professional Edition; and a couple of applications specific to creating family trees.
CeledyDraw 2
CeledyDraw is a graphic design and desktop publishing software application, suitable for homes, schools and small businesses. Tailored to the non-professional, it creates logos, artwork, flowcharts, diagrams, flyers, brochures, business cards, greeting cards and more. Celedy Draw (about $65) can import text only in text format, which may be an inconvenience for small businesses that are accustomed to incorporating Word documents in their publications. Consumer Guide Products says that this software is best suited to creating one- or two-page documents, and has a rather steep learning curve.
Canvastic3
Canvastic is desktop publishing for K-8 kids. The application offers a clear on-screen display that grows with the user. It has no toy features, and teachers have expanded options to customize the application to meet student needs. The product retails for $80, while a $60 school license is available.
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Open source software is a type of software that is developed using a particular method that allows the software to be more open than other methods. It harnesses the power of distributed peer review and transparency of process. As a result, open source software is of a higher quality, has higher level of reliability, is more flexible, has a lower cost than other software options, and is a feasible end to predatory vendor lock-in.
Open source software has a higher level of quality than many other software options thanks to its peer review process. Much like the peer review methods that are used by scientific, medical, or scholarly magazines, open source software programs undergo many of the same processes. Peer review enables fellow software writers to ensure that the software will actually do what it is designed to do. Open source coding can be analyzed, audited, and vetted by dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of individuals who all expect to be able to use their software without problems.
Another benefit is that bugs and other aberrations can be discovered quickly and patched. This is because the coding for open source software is open and transparent. Because people can look at it, they can easily figure out where the bug or aberration is. This creates something of a disincentive for malicious programmers to place back doors, Trojan Horses, and other types of malicious coding in their programs. In addition, once it has been affected by such a negative item, open source code can be corrected more easily.
Another benefit of open source software is that it is much less expensive than other options. If I company needs $60 billion worth of software for its offices and chooses to go with a less expensive option that still gives all the benefits and minimizes the risks, that company has just saved a lot of money. That can lead to an investment of the money into other areas that will lead to a return on investment rather than further draining the company’s coffers with costly updates.
Open source software really has too many benefits to be named in one place. One of the newest benefits is that the benefits of using it now, in many cases, out weight the possible risks. A recent survey of businesses in Europe revealed that 54% now felt that open source software brought more benefits than risks.
For more information on the open source software and its uses, please visit http://www.mpoweropen.com.
Joseph Devine
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Ten years ago most businesses would not have considered owning call center software for their business telephone system unless they had a true call center environment. The cost was absolutely prohibitive for any other application, but with recent technology advancements it’s now time to ask, “Should I be using call center software for my company?” The financial case for doing so is overwhelming in several new market niches.
The definition and the perception of what a call center now is has dramatically changed in the last ten years. It is no longer just the large outbound telemarketing rooms or the huge inbound customer service centers that qualify. Many small call centers are essential profit centers for their companies, and many others are classified as “non income producing” overhead that are absolutely vital to their smooth operation and business model.
But how do I know if am running at peak efficiency? How do I know if I am understaffed or overstaffed? How do I know who is producing and who isn’t? Are my customers as happy as they should be? Do I really need a full time person to manage a small operation? Not knowing the answers to those questions could cost a company dearly.
When you take a closer look at what call center software reporting and management tools can cost effectively bring to an organization, a whole new set of questions come to mind.
How long do my customers REALLY wait on hold? Are my reps picking up in a timely fashion? What are the most calls in cue that I get at one time? How many or what % of abandoned calls do I have? Do I lose calls due to excessive hold times?What is the average length of call? How long does it take to “wrap up a call?”Who has the longest average call length? My best agent or worst? Why?How do I know if I am properly staffed? How do I know if my call center has trouble? How do I solve it? These are questions only large call centers with proper management tools could have answered in the past. With new cost effective technology, more and more businesses are looking to software solutions to streamline their operations and answer the essential questions that can differentiate them from their competition. The person that is answering the phone or placing the call for a company costs much more than the actual call itself, so it is imperative to understand how one’s resources are being allocated. Being overstaffed one person could pay for software many times over in a single year. Being understaffed could be costing a company a tremendous amount of business and repeat business because of frustration and substandard service levels.
If the axiom holds true that “I can’t manage what I can’t measure,” being able to measure the business KPI (Key Performance Indicators) is essential. Here are some additional questions businesses use to consider if Call Center Software would be a benefit to their operation:
If I could recruit talent elsewhere in the country without the additional office space or overhead, yet maintain the same management tools and quality of service, would it be beneficial? Is there an associated cost per customer? (Knowing this will help justify my ROI)Do my clients know about additional services and products I am offering? Would a message playing while they are in cue be appropriate to create awareness and upsell? Are there highly profitable new products I want my clients to know about? Is measuring outbound sales call volume important? What happens if I lose my best agent because they are frustrated with my infrastructure or processes? How much does it cost me to train a new representative? How will that affect my operation? How much does it cost me to lose a client? How much does it cost me if I lose my biggest client? What is my actual call volume?How good of a job does the person answering the phone do? Can I record their calls for verification and training purposes?Are per minute toll free number charges attached to inbound calls? If I can reduce my average length of call and hold time 20% per call, would that assist customer satisfaction and cost control? Are my representatives able to visually see, as well as management, exactly how they are performing in comparison to their peers via an electronic wallboard? Would that be beneficial? What, if anything, do my customers complain about? Is it possible that other customers have the same complaint? How do I solve it? If you have ever asked any of those questions or really need to know the answers to them, a telecom software solution may be right for your company. As a guide, always ask if the cost of not knowing the answers to those questions outweighs the cost of the software solution itself. As always, it is recommended you consult with your telecommunications professional to assist you in your search, as there are many options.
Steve Norris is a Texas based Energy Efficient Electrical Contractor that shows business how to implement energy efficient lighting to save electricity and a Telecommunications Broker for over 80 carriers nationwide. He specializes in hardware solution for multi-location business with advanced infrastructure needs. Over 90% of his clients are able to implement a new Fort Worth Business Phone System without increasing their budget with TeleTAP.
go.tagjag.com – twitter.com – I love seeking solutions for people. That’s kind of what got me started in this whole Internet thing, way back in about 1996. I also enjoy answering questions when I can, especially from our sister community over at PC pitstop! Mike is a CAD designer, and is wondering if his XP software will install and run on Windows 7. chris.pirillo.com – http – lockergnome.net
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I purchased this software for my niece who is 3 years old. She has never gotten on a computer before trying this software. I am a school teacher and very much into technology. It disappointed me that my niece had no idea of how to use a computer. This is probably because my brother and sister-in-law have zero technological skills aside from using Microsoft Word. So, I reasearched and found this baby and toddler software. I cannot say enough great things about it! I sat with my niece for 10 minutes, showed her how to move the “hand” (instead of the usual mouse arrow) around the pictures and games; off she went on her own selecting what she wanted to play. She soon told me that she didn’t need my help anymore and that she could do it herself. The first time she used this software she sat at the kitchen table on my laptop for 1 1/2 hours. She was so excited about what she was doing and that she was doing it on her own. She continues to ask me if she can play the computer. She loves it! This game does not require your child to use a mouse to click on any items, they only need to move and place the “hand” on the item they are selecting. Once they place a the hand on an item a star appears. If they keep the hand/star on the item 5 dots slowly appear in each corner of the star. When all 5 dots appear the page then changes to whatever the child choose to play. It is that simple. My operating system is Vista and the program works fine. I would definitely purchase this item if you want your child to begin learning how to use a computer and get the hang of manipulating a mouse.
Two programs in one! Includes: Reader Rabbit Playtime for Baby – a stimulating and playful environment filled with toys and much more! Plus, with Reader Rabbit’s Toddler kids can travel to a fantastic world!
It had to happen: software is now being bundled for your little bundle of joy. Reader Rabbit Playtime for Baby & Toddler will never be a substitute for the tactile joys of real life, but this software does manage to capture infants’ and toddlers’ attention with bright, happy images and a format that responds well to chubby, not-so-coordinated hands.
In Playtime for Baby, a game of tag between Reader Rabbit and Mat the Mouse ends with Mat hiding in a toy box. With Mat’s help, each of the 10 toys in the box leads the baby into a new experience: singing, manipulating shapes, playing hide-and-seek, discovering body parts, reading storybooks, and (oh joy!) rummaging in drawers to make music. Your baby controls the action by hitting any key on the keyboard (or just hitting the keyboard, as they are wont to do) or simply moving the mouse. No clicks are required. The cursor is a big fat star that leaves a trail of twinkles. Brushing it against an object onscreen will elicit anything from a childlike giggle to a kerplunk to the appropriate animal noise.
The only critique of this CD is that the artwork is simplistic. It would be nice to see more depth and smoother movement, if only to make the program more enjoyable for the adults who must guide their babies through it. Other than that, by developing cupboards with no locks, personalized storybooks with pages that don’t rip, and farm animals willing to engage in endless games of hide-and-seek, the creators of Playtime for Baby have managed to tap into a baby’s wildest dreams.
Playtime for Toddler has a lusher look than Playtime for Baby. Again, mouse movements or keyboard pokes inspire action in nine activities that include things that send most toddlers into fits of joy. One of the better games is Bubble Castle, where your toddler “pops” bubbles with animals in them, and the freed creatures gallop into a castle and peep from the windows. This simple payoff engaged one 2-year-old tester for many minutes, shouting “Bye-bye, animal!” each time she liberated a critter. Pop and Play Place teaches matching and music as toddlers activate three jack-in-the-boxes until whatever pops out matches, upon which they are rewarded with a song (”We are mice, we are nice. We say please when we want cheese!”). In Follow Me Theater, Reader Rabbit acts out hand-motion hits like “Eensy Weensy Spider” and “I’m a Little Teapot.” Other activities include a puzzle and color tutorial called Sky Shapes; Peekaboo Jungle, where kids investigate animal noises with a flashlight cursor; a Musical Meadow; an ABC Train that teaches letters with the help of slick animation and audio; and Baby Basket Bingo, a cute bit of business that requires toddlers to reunite baby animals with their parents based on the tiny roar or peep that comes from the creature hidden in the basket. Rainbow Rock is the only loser in the bunch, a coloring program that doesn’t even attempt to teach colors.
One of the best features of Playtime for Toddler is that younger babies can bang on the keyboard and automatically get “correct” results, while older ones can use the mouse to drag the cursor in a mode that involves more trial and error. Both options are available at once; no settings need to be changed. Clicking does nothing here, which may puzzle some tykes who have already discovered that clicking gets results in grownup programs. Overall, this is a decent bundle for babies, with Playtime for Toddler being the stronger, more realistic offering of the two. (Ages 1 to 3) –Anne Erickson
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Learn how to use Sonoma Riffworks T4, the recording software that comes with amplitube Fender® Studio. Record your ideas quickly and easily, mix them down and share them with the world!
In the past, designs for embroidery were created by hand. You’d have to spend long hours tracing patterns by hand with your pencil. And it’s not that simple! Patterns that have to be traced have to be carefully looked over every time to make sure that it is being done the right way. Nowadays, designing for embroidery is made easier and most anyone can do it. All you have to do is use embroidery software.
Embroidery software is easy-to-use and normally comes with a machine that you can use it in. The software lets the machine to the tracing for you and it creates great quality traces every time.
Some types
Digitizing Software: This type of software is one of popular ones used for embroidery. It is simple to use and offers you different tools that are fairly easy to learn. This software lets you create beautiful designs that are entirely your own. It also works well with pattern pills, clip arts, and stitch patterns to name some.
Lettering Software: This type of software allows you to make letters for your embroidery design. With a number of tools, it can help you comfortably do your designs. The software can be downloaded from the Internet and also allows for ways to auto digitize, photo stitch, and edit any design.
Reminder
There are different types of embroidery software out there that you can use, each one featuring a characteristic that is different from another. Regardless of the type of software that you buy, each is sure to make your embroidery experience unique and memorable. When you buy one, make sure to read the instructions carefully so you can fully utilize the software and its different features.
Shopping help / Consumer information
A complete Guide to EMBROIDERY SOFTWARE is available in Picky Guide, one of the fastest growing online magazines giving free consumer advice and product information.