New Podcasts focusses On Software

It was a proud day at RHED Pixel (my office). One of our new podcasts made the front page of iTunes. On Software focusses on how software is developed, and features interviews with the creative folks who design and program the tools we all love.

(It's not every day that you're grouped with a presidential candidate, CNN, and PBS)

OnSoftware—Each week, we will talk to some of the software industry's leading developers about a wide range of programming and development issues. Our interviews include talks with Java Puzzlers author Josh Bloch, C++ Inventor author Bjarne Stroustrup, and Java Concurrency in Practice author Brian Goetz to name just three. With discussions on topics ranging from the future of C++ and Concurrency and value driven software development to Design Patterns, Agile Estimating and Planning, Iterative Development, Generics, and language compatibility, we have something for technical professionals working in every part of the industry.
Is it technical... yup. But I still think you'll find it interesting.

A New Windows Browser

In case you missed it... Apple released a public beta of Safari 3.0 for both Mac AND WINDOWS! To be honest, I never saw that one coming... With great new features, its a worthy upgrade for both platforms. I've seen an occasional hang-up, but the program is faster and adds some great features.

Inline find – Search within a web page by pressing Cmd+F (Ctrl+F)
Resizable Text Fields – More room when working online
Improved Security – Shoo!
Pick up the tabs – Rearrange tabs with drag and drop ease
PDFs Control – Zoom, Save, or Send to a PDF app

Get the free download here.

Convert Your Fonts

I just had a need to pull out TRANSTYPE SE. This useful utility comes in handy when working on a design project and getting client-provided materials? Oftentimes fonts come over (which is great), except they are for the wrong platform (which isn't so great). Instead of rushing out to buy the font again, you can usually convert it.
This shareware application converts Mac fonts to PC fonts, or vice versa. Simple in concept, clean in execution--this tool has been a lifesaver that has kept many a motion graphics project on track.

Free Chapter on Layout and Design

I've just gotten permission from my publisher to release a chapter for free from my new book How to Wow with PowerPoint. This is the intro to the book and focusses on best practices for designing graphics for the screen (so even if you aren't a PowerPoint fan, you'll find some wholesome goodness on here).

I hope you all enjoy it, you can download direct or visit the resources page. If you'd like to order the book (it ships in a few weeks) click here.

How to Wow for PowerPoint is On the Presses

The book is DONE! I have just finished a new book on PowerPoint 2007. It’s called How to Wow with PowerPoint and I am writing it with my friend Scott Rekdal. I am quite proud of it... It's full color, to-the-point, and teaches you how to do all the important stuff with PowerPoint 2007. It's great for all levels of users, especially those who feel their skills have leveled-off.

I'm trying to get a sample chapter up this week. If you want to order it, put a pre-order into Amazon or directly at Peachpit. This way you'll get it first (heck we might even get the book out before Microsoft gets the software out).

The Real Reason for Windows Vista Delay

While clearing off my cell phone camera, I came across this gem from Photoshop World. I had intended to sit down and watch a demo on Windows Vista (writing a book on PowerPoint makes you do strange things).

So I went to hear (and see the latest). But it seems that the Microsoft rep couldn't get the system to boot up using Windows Vista. The audience was good natured, but still after multiple reboots and attempts, it just wouldn't work). So, the unaltered photos you see here are what the audience got (at least the demo guy had a sense of humor).

So, has Vegas started taking odds on Apple vs. Windows as to who will get their operating system out the door first? What are your plans about Windows Vista?

5GB of Free Online Storage for PC Users (and Very Patient Mac Users)

AOL has launched a free utility for online storage called Xdrive. They'll give you a whopping 5 GB (which is pretty good). The service is free (for now it appears) as it doesn't charge you or ask for any payment info. But the login screen does allude that they may ask to charge in the future (you won't be billed automatically).

“With your 5GB of secure online storage there's plenty of room to keep backup copies of digital photos, all your important documents, e-mail attachments, and other files — and still have space leftover for your music collection. It's the best way to keep computer crashes from becoming disasters. Think of it as hard drive insurance.”

In that vein, it gets even better. When I logged in, they upped it to 50 GB for free. They offer free software for Windows users that lets you mount the Xdrive as a volume on your desktop. But Mac users can still access the service through a slightly more clunky web interface.

A Universal Media Player

Tired of trying to open your media files in a variety of players only to suffer from incompatibility and versioning issues? Video Lan Client (or VLC) is the most universal player I've found. In my tests, I opened Windows-formatted media files on my Mac with surprising success. I also see greater compatibility on the Windows side as well (plus an easier-to-use interface than Windows Media Player). If your Web video experience seems incomplete, or you are looking for another app to test your media files before distribution, be sure to check this one out. You can open and view pretty much any form of audio or video on both a Mac or a PC (or any flavor of Linux for that matter).

Paralells Gets Even Better

Long time readers will know that we are big fans of Parallels Desktop solution for running Windows on a Mac. No need for multiple partitions or rebooting, you can have both Operating Systems going at the same time. Plus you can install the optional Tools that allow you to copy and paste between systems and even access folders on your Mac.

The good news... their trial is still available and a new update has been released.

Recent improvements include:

• Support for new quad-processor Mac Pro towers outfitted with up to 3.5GB of RAM
• Experimental support for Windows Vista

• An improved Parallels Tools package

• Better video output improvement and acceleration
• Added isochronous USB devices support (including WebCam devices)
• Keyboard support improvement: Eject CD key support and more
• Clipboard synchronization tool
• Sound playback and recording improvement

Microsoft Kills Virtual PC for Macintosh

Microsoft has a bad habit of buying technology... then killing it. It'd not really their fault... they've got all of that cash just lying around. The recent victim is Virtual PC. Originally developed by Connectix, it was sold to Microsoft in 2003. In a statement today Microsoft said it "has made the decision not to move forward with a Universal version of Virtual PC at this time."

At this time is corporate speak for never, in fact never ever. Recent competition from Parallels and VMWare have made the Windows on a Mac space a bit cluttered. Additionally, Microsoft alluded that rewriting Virtual PC to run on Intel Processors would mean having to essentially rewrite the program.

"The (Macintosh business unit) still recognizes that customers need access to Windows applications from their Intel-based Macs and feels confident that alternative solutions offered by Apple and other vendors, combined with a fully packaged retail copy of Windows will satisfy this need," the company said.

Anyone else find it ironic that Microsoft which started as a company that made Mac software, has decided that it is too difficult to get their software to run on Intel chips. Go figure. Guess they're too busy getting Vista out the door.

For more details, head over to CNET.