From timc+perl at divide.net Sat Nov 12 11:41:22 2005 From: timc+perl at divide.net (Tim Chambers) Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2005 12:41:22 -0700 Subject: [Pikes-peak-pm] [Fwd: Newsletter from O'Reilly UG Program, November 10] Message-ID: <43764562.1080000@divide.net> ---------------------------------------------------------------- Book News ---------------------------------------------------------------- -The DAM Book: Digital Asset Management for Photographers -Greasemonkey Hacks -Mac OS X Tiger in a Nutshell -Windows XP for Starters: The Missing Manual -C++ Cookbook -Integrating Excel and Access -Just Say No To Microsoft -Excel for Starters: The Missing Manual -Photoshop Elements 4: The Missing Manual -Creating Web Sites: The Missing Manual -Oracle PL/SQL for DBAs -Access 2003 for Starters: The Missing Manual -Photoshop Photo Effects Cookbook -Unix in a Nutshell, Fourth Edition -Programming ASP.NET, Third Edition -Palm and Treo Hacks -Photoshop Filter Effects Encyclopedia -Photoshop Blending Modes Cookbook for Digital Photographers ---------------------------------------------------------------- Conference News ---------------------------------------------------------------- -ETel Registration Now Open -EuroOSCON in Amsterdam ---------------------------------------------------------------- News ---------------------------------------------------------------- -The Impact of "Ambient Findability" -Laughing Lemur Contest at Findability.org -Avoiding Oblivion in Your Tech Career -Control Freaks: Modding and the Clash with Law -User Group Members receive a special 50% discount on Learning Lab Courses -MySQL 5.0 is Released -What Is TurboGears (Hint: Python-Based Framework for Rapid Web Development) -What Is a Linux Distribution -Sync Services Framework (How It Works and What You Can Do) -Tiger's Improved Firewall (and How to Use It) -Windows Server Hacks: Shadowing Remote Desktop Sessions -Beware of Network Sniffers -JBoss Cache as a POJO Cache -Take Command With AJAX -The Community of Web 2.0 -MacVoices Features Leander Kahney "The Cult of iPod" -Vince Lawrence: 8,000 Square Feet of iTunes -The PEZ MP3 player--A Project, Dream, and a Reality -Give the Gift of MAKE Magazine--Special Offer for UG Members ================================================ Book News ================================================ Did you know you can request a free book to review for your group? Ask your group leader for more information. For book review writing tips and suggestions, go to: Don't forget, you can receive 30% off any O'Reilly, No Starch, Paraglyph, PC Publishing, Pragmatic Bookshelf, SitePoint, or Syngress book you purchase directly from O'Reilly. Just use code DSUG when ordering online or by phone 800-998-9938. ***Free ground shipping is available for online orders of at least $29.95 that go to a single address. This offer applies to US delivery addresses in the 50 states and Puerto Rico. For more details, go to: ---------------------------------------------------------------- New Releases ---------------------------------------------------------------- ***The DAM Book: Digital Asset Management for Photographers Publisher: O'Reilly ISBN: 0596100183 In the world of digital photography, Digital Asset Management (DAM) refers to every part of the process that follows the taking of the picture, through final output and permanent storage. Anyone who shoots, scans, or stores digital photographs is practicing some form of DAM, but most of us are not doing so systematically or efficiently. In "The DAM Book: Digital Asset Management for Photographers," photographer Peter Krogh presents a solid plan and practical advice on how to file, find, protect, and re-use photographs, focusing on best practices for digital photographers using Adobe Photoshop CS2. ***Greasemonkey Hacks Publisher: O'Reilly ISBN: 0596101651 Greasemonkey--the new Firefox extension that allows you to write scripts that alter the web pages you visit--allows you to alter site appearance, fix bugs, or even combine data from different web sites to meet your own needs. Some people are content to receive information from web sites passively; some people want to control it. For those who prefer to customize and control their content, "Greasemonkey Hacks" provides the expertise you need to take command of any web page you view. ***Mac OS X Tiger in a Nutshell Publisher: O'Reilly ISBN: 0-596-00943-7 For consumers, developers, and programmers alike, the up-to-the-minute "Mac OS X Tiger in a Nutshell" provides the perfect overview of Tiger. ***Windows XP for Starters: The Missing Manual Publisher: O'Reilly ISBN: 0596101554 For anyone interested in zeroing in on just the information they need without all the complicated jargon, "Windows XP for Starters: The Missing Manual" provides just the solution. With easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions, and plenty of illustrations this book offers a refreshingly simple approach to XP. Whether you're a first-time user who just wants the basics, or an experienced user who simply needs a quick overview, our new "Windows XP For Starters: Missing Manual" is designed to deliver what you need to know. ***C++ Cookbook Publisher: O'Reilly ISBN: 0596007612 Less a tutorial than a problem-solver, this practical guide shows you how to solve many of the real-world problems that C++ developers encounter, including how to parse a date and time string and how to create a singleton class. It's a trusted source of information for engineers, programmers, and researchers alike, presented in O'Reilly's classic question-solution-discussion format. http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/cplusplusckbk/ Chapter 10, "Streams and Files," is available online: ***Integrating Excel and Access Publisher: O'Reilly ISBN: 0596009739 This unique reference shows you how to combine the powerful analysis tools of Excel with the structured storage and more powerful querying of Access. It covers everything you need to know, including interfaces, object models, and code. Learn how to crunch and visualize data like never before. Perfect for all Microsoft Office users. http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/integratingea/ Chapter 3, "Data Access from Excel VBA," is available online: ***Just Say No To Microsoft Publisher: No Starch Press ISBN: 159327064X Just Say No to Microsoft begins by tracing Microsoft's rise from tiny startup to monopolistic juggernaut and explains how the company's practices have discouraged innovation, stunted competition, and helped foster an environment ripe for viruses, bugs and hackers. Readers learn how they can dump Microsoft products and continue to be productive. Includes full explanations of alternate operating systems, such as Linux and Mac, and outlines various software applications that can replace the familiar Microsoft products. ***Excel for Starters: The Missing Manual Publisher: O'Reilly ISBN: 0596101546 "Excel for Starters: The Missing Manual" gives you the information you need to make Excel do exactly what you want. Clear explanations (with lots of examples), illustrations, timesaving advice, and step-by-step instructions guide you through the most useful features of Excel 2002 and 2003--including how to build spreadsheets, add and format information, print reports, create charts and graphics, and use basic formulas and functions. Chapter 2, "Adding Information to Worksheets," is available online: ***Photoshop Elements 4: The Missing Manual Publisher: O'Reilly ISBN: 0596101589 With "Photoshop Elements 4: The Missing Manual," author Barbara Brundage has written the perfect digital photography guide that covers new features and techniques--for the most common editing solutions to the more advanced. In a clear, easy-to-read format, the author provides step-by-step instructions so readers can learn the right editing techniques for producing and sharing beautiful digital photography. ***Creating Web Sites: The Missing Manual Publisher: O'Reilly ISBN: 0596008422 Think you have to be a technical wizard to build a great web site? Think again. For anyone who wants to create an engaging web site--for either personal or business purposes--"Creating Web Sites: The Missing Manual" demystifies the process and provides tools, techniques, and expert guidance for making your ideas and vision a reality with a professional and reliable web presence. Chapter 6, "Style Sheets," is available online: ***Oracle PL/SQL for DBAs Publisher: O'Reilly ISBN: 0596005873 PL/SQL, Oracle's powerful procedural language, has been the cornerstone of Oracle application development for nearly 15 years. Although primarily a tool for developers, PL/SQL has also become an essential tool for database administration. DBAs who have not yet discovered how helpful PL/SQL can be will find this book a superb introduction to the language and its special database administration features. Even if you have used PL/SQL for years, you'll find the detailed coverage in this book to be an invaluable resource. ***Access 2003 for Starters: The Missing Manual Publisher: O'Reilly ISBN: 0596006659 "Access 2003 for Starters: The Missing Manual" delivers everything you need to use Access right away. The quick and painless way to learn how to put the world's most popular desktop data management program to work for you, this book explains all the most useful features of Access 2003--including designing and creating databases, organizing and filtering information, and generating effective forms and reports. ***Photoshop Photo Effects Cookbook Publisher: O'Reilly ISBN: 0596100221 You don't have to be a Photoshop expert to create sophisticated effects. With 61 easy-to-follow recipes, "Photoshop Photo Effects Cookbook" shows you how to use Photoshop CS2 to simulate classic camera and darkroom techniques and special effects-without making you learn Photoshop inside and out first. This book is packed with hundreds of full-color photographs, step-by-step instructions, and many practical tips. ***Unix in a Nutshell, Fourth Edition Publisher: O'Reilly ISBN: 0596100299 This quick reference has been reworked to present you with the current state of Unix. Featuring chapter overviews, in-depth command coverage, and specific examples, it's the perfect supplement for Unix users and programmers. New topics include package management programs, source code management systems, and the Solaris 10, GNU/Linux, and Mac OS X systems. Chapter 16, "The GNU make Utility," is available online: ***Programming ASP.NET, Third Edition Publisher: O'Reilly ISBN: 059600916X This updated bestseller has been completely refreshed to give you the inside story on ASP.NET 2.0 and Visual Studio 2005. It features a comprehensive tutorial on Web Forms and detailed explanations of all new Web server, HTML, and custom controls. Ideal for web developers looking to create dynamic, interactive web applications. ***Palm and Treo Hacks Publisher: O'Reilly ISBN: 059610054X Written for beginning to experienced Palm users, "Palm and Treo Hacks" is full of practical, ingenious tips and tricks you can apply immediately. Whether you're looking to master the built-in applications or you want to trick out your Palm to its fullest extent, this book will show you how. Sample Hacks such as "Get the Most Out of the To Do List" and "Use Your Treo as a Modem," are available online: ***Photoshop Filter Effects Encyclopedia Publisher: O'Reilly ISBN: 0596100213 "Photoshop Filter Effects Encyclopedia" explains and decodes the settings of every filter that Photoshop CS2 has to offer. And, unlike many reference books, it is filled with easy-to-follow, step-by-step recipes for creating truly amazing effects using Photoshop filters. Packed with hundreds of full-color photographs, clearly written instructions, and practical tips, this book is the ultimate, no-nonsense Photoshop CS2 Filters reference for creative photographers, designers, and artists. ***Photoshop Blending Modes Cookbook for Digital Photographers Publisher: O'Reilly ISBN: 0596100205 Layer blending modes have been part of Photoshop for years, but they're not easy to understand at first glance. With clear, step-by-step instructions, an easy-to-follow format, and hundreds of full-color examples, "Photoshop Blending Modes Cookbook for Digital Photographers" shows you how to use blending modes to achieve a wide range of image adjustments and special effects-without first having to learn everything there is to know about Photoshop. ================================================ Conference News ================================================ ***ETel Registration Now Open Emerging telephony networks enable a new generation of powerful communication applications, which threaten established business models--but more importantly, open up new opportunities and new markets. O'Reilly's Emerging Telephony Conference, January 24-26 in San Francisco, aims to articulate this revolution, provide a framework, and spark creative discussions among enterprise managers, developers, hackers, and sponsors interested in telephony. Join us as we explore this exciting new territory and investigate its implications. Receive 20% off the registration price when you use our special discount code. Please email marsee at oreilly.com for details. To register for the conference, go to: ***EuroOSCON has come and gone in Amsterdam It was a great experience and attendee comments ranged from "wonderful" to "I'll be back again next year!" OSCON will definitely be back in Europe next fall, as well as in Portland in July. Check out the Convention Coverage Page for all the latest session files pictures and news. ================================================ News From O'Reilly & Beyond ================================================ --------------------- General News --------------------- ***The Impact of "Ambient Findability" Peter Morville, author of "Ambient Findability," discusses the results of being able to find anything from anywhere at anytime, thanks to ubiquitous computing and the Net in this Business Week article. ***Laughing Lemur Contest at Findability.org To enter, snap a photo that includes the lemur, upload it to Flickr, and tag it with ambientfindability. Entries will be accepted through December 11, 2005. Evaluation criteria include popularity (in Flickr, Google, de.licio.us), comicality (make the lemur laugh), and other facets of the user experience. The winner will receive a $500 Amazon Gift Certificate, a $100 O'Reilly Gift Certificate, and autographed copies of the lemur and polar bear books. For contest details and rules, please go to: ***Avoiding Oblivion in Your Tech Career Life moves quickly for the technologist, so it's imperative to stay young and vital in one's tech career. Using the analogy of Shakespeare's renowned soliloquy from As You Like It on the seven phases of life, Michael Havey offers tips on how you can sustain technology excellence well into your golden years. Michael is the author of "Essential Business Process Modeling." ***Control Freaks: Modding and the Clash with Law Modders, and the millions more who possess a natural creativity and an urge to get control over their lives, have, as Andy Oram puts it, "tumbled head-on into a legal snake pit." Their passion for changing things has become one of the fastest up-and-coming social trends in the US, and thus has drawn the litigious eye of large entertainment and media companies. Andy remains optimistic, however, that modders themselves can find ways to shift the focus away from modding as a legal issue, and toward a view of modding as a social and business issue. ***User Group Members receive a special 50% discount on Learning Lab Courses As an O'Reilly User Group member, you save on all the courses in the following University of Illinois Certificate Series: -Linux/Unix System Administration -Web Programming -Open Source Programming -.NET Programming -Client-Side This offer ends December 31st, 2005. To redeem, use Promotion Code "ORALL1" to save 50%. Each course comes with a free O'Reilly book and a 7-day money-back guarantee. Register online: --------------------- Open Source --------------------- ***MySQL 5.0 is Released Kevin Yank goes over the new release of MySQL, the ever popular open-source database software, and what new features it contains. ***What Is TurboGears? (Hint: Python-Based Framework for Rapid Web Development) TurboGears is a Python-based framework that enables you to quickly build database-driven, ready-to-extend web applications. In this article, Matthew Russell takes you inside this framework for a look at its internal mechanisms, then introduces you to its creator, Kevin Dangoor. ***What Is a Linux Distribution? The Linux kernel may be the star of the show, but like any star, it needs a supporting cast. In this case, the supporting cast is known as a Linux distribution--a useful set of system and application programs bundled with the OS. Edd Dumbill serves up overviews of the major Linux distributions as well as the specialist distros, and for who (or what) each distro is best suited. --------------------- Mac --------------------- ***Sync Services Framework (How It Works and What You Can Do) With Tiger, Apple introduced a new extensible Sync Services framework embedded into the OS. And it's available to any application, not just Apple programs. Mary Norbury-Glaser explains this framework and shows you practical examples of its implementation. ***Tiger's Improved Firewall (and How to Use It) Among Tiger's many enhancements, Apple introduced a whole new firewall called ipfw2. It works just the like the old firewall, but has new features that allow greater flexibility and more control. In this article, Peter Hickman shows you some of the new features and how you can use them to more easily manage your firewall. --------------------- Windows/.NET --------------------- ***Windows Server Hacks: Shadowing Remote Desktop Sessions Shadowing Terminal Services sessions is a cool feature of Windows Server 2003 that lets you remotely control the desktop session of another Terminal Services user. ***Beware of Network Sniffers Network sniffing is harder than most people think, but that doesn't mean it's not a threat. Mitch Tulloch, author of "Windows Server Hacks," tells you the truth about sniffing dangers, and shows you how to protect your network. --------------------- Java --------------------- ***JBoss Cache as a POJO Cache Typical in-memory cache systems can trip you up in ways you don't expect, from mangled object relationships to overly expensive serialization operations. A POJO cache offers a simpler, lower-maintenance alternative. Ben Wang uses JBoss Cache to show how POJO caches work. ***Take Command With AJAX Want to get a bang out of your AJAX artillery? In this hands-on tutorial, Stoyan puts AJAX on the front line as he develops a web app with which you can execute shell commands on your web server. The downloadable code provides a real tactical advantage as Stoyan marshals JavaScript and XML to create the application. ***The Community of Web 2.0 In this 48-minute audio program from the Web 2.0 conference, Tim O'Reilly speaks with Sun Microsystems COO Jonathan Schwartz and Mozilla Foundation president Mitchell Baker about developer communities, distribution, architectures and expandability, and the value of open source. --------------------- Digital Media --------------------- ***MacVoices Features Leander Kahney "The Cult of iPod" No Starch Author Leander Kahney discusses the impact of the iPod and how it has changed the music industry, the music culture and how music is consumed. ***Vince Lawrence: 8,000 Square Feet of iTunes Step inside the cavernous studio of Chicago's Slang Musicgroup, where teams of computer-packing producers create hit songs and remixes in a vast range of styles???inspired by 20,000 CDs worth of networked iTunes. --------------------- MAKE --------------------- ***The PEZ MP3 player--A Project, Dream, and a Reality Pat Misterovich is a stay-at-home dad with a one-person company who had a dream to make an MP3 player that looks like a PEZ dispenser. We've been covering Pat's PEZ MP3 player throughout the year, reading his progress and milestones, anxiously awaiting the arrival of this dream-turned-PEZ MP3 player. Sample Projects from MAKE: ***Give the Gift of MAKE Magazine--Special Offer for UG Members Give the geek on your list a truly unique gift this holiday season-- their very own subscription to MAKE magazine. MAKE is the first magazine devoted to digital projects, hardware hacks, and DIY inspiration. Each issue brings the do-it-yourself mindset to all the technology in your life. You have a choice: Give a gift for $5 off the regular gift subscription rate--$29.95 (US), $34.95 (Canada), $44.95 (all other countries): Or place your gift order at the regular price $34.95 (US), $39.95 (Canada), $49.95 (all other countries)--and get a MAKE T-shirt free. ***Please note gift postcards and MAKE vol 4 will begin mailing on 12/9/05, orders received after 12/9/05 and non-US orders may not arrive in time for the holiday season. Your recipient(s) will receive the opportunity to add digital access to their subscription. All MAKE T-shirts will ship to your billing address. To order multiple orders for multiple countries, please contact customer service at 1-866-289-8847 (US & Canada), 1-818-487-2037 (all other countries) between the hours of 5am and 5pm Pacific time or Email: MAKE at espcomp.com ================================================ >From Your Peers ================================================ ***Don't forget to check out the O'Reilly UG wiki to see what user groups around the globe are up to: Until next time-- Marsee Henon ================================================================ O'Reilly 1005 Gravenstein Highway North Sebastopol, CA 95472 http://ug.oreilly.com/ http://www.oreilly.com ================================================================