Updated Computer Titles Available Now

Want to develop your own program code?  Interested in computer software design?  The Ritz Library has some new titles on software development: 

Objective-C Programming: the Big Nerd Ranch Guide, 2nd ed. by Hillegass & Ward
Learning PHP, MySQL & JavaScript by Robin Nixon
Java: the Complete Reference, 9th ed. by Herbert Schlidt
JavaScript: the Definitive Guide, 6th ed. by David Flanagan
iOS Programming: Fundamentals with Swift by Matt Neuburg
Python Crash Course: a Hands-On, Project-based Introduction to Programming by Eric Matthes
Ruby on Rails: Tutorial: Learn Web Development with Rails, 3rd ed. by Michael Hartl

Stop by this summer and check them out!

Microsoft Word 2007 blues...

You haven't upgraded to Office 2007 because you like Office 2003 and are quite comfortable with it. The only problem is, you are now receiving documents in a .docx format that it's impossible for your computer to open. If faced with this situation, download this converter to rectify the problem and you can continue using 2003 without having to worry about compatibility with newer documents!

Google Chrome

I admit it. I'm a browser-a-holic. I like using different web browsers depending upon the mood I'm in. Sometimes I'll stick to one for awhile and sometimes I'll use two or three different browsers during the day. In general, Mozilla Firefox tends to win out over all the other browsers because it's fast, it's simple, it has great extensions and it's free from clutter. However, not all applications work with Firefox (although more and more of them now do), so I occasionally need to use IE. Then, a few months ago I wrote about the social networking browser, Flock, which truly is a one of a kind browser replete with pictures and ins to Facebook, delicious, mySpace, and all sorts of web 2.0 tools. Netscape Navigator used to be in the loop, but it's been supplanted by the developers by Flock. Opera is an interesting critter, and I mention that one because Google's Chrome has a similar feature to one that I really love about Opera - speed dial. On Chrome it's called "Most Visited". With speed dial you select the pages you want to store and a visual image of the page is displayed, with Google Chrome, the browser stores the pages "most visited" automatically.

Like the Google search engine, the look of Google's browser, Chrome, is one of simplicity. The youTube video describing the new browser touts "speed, stability, and security". Watch the video here. One of the features that I like about the new Chrome is called "new incognito window". That feature allows you to open and download files without cookies being stored and information logged into the browsing history. If you download a file, a giant arrow slides down the browser indicating that data has been downloaded.

I've only been playing with Chrome for a couple of days now, and I have noticed a couple of difficulties: not all applications play nice with Chrome, and my back button hasn't always gone back, but I'm assuming that the little issues will clear themselves up as Google releases new versions of their browser. For further discussion of the "battle of the browsers", check out this PC World article. So take a look at Google Chrome and enjoy running your own comparisons of browsers!

GIMP, it's not just a character in Pulp Fiction anymore!

Let's talk digital photography: you’re walking the streets of London & you get the perfect shot of a group of chic Brits standing in Picadilly. They’re just hanging out, talking, acting ordinary BUT it’s precisely what you wanted, something that screams ambience.

Now you want to post it to your Facebook page, Flickr page, someplace where you can tell your friends & family, “Just look at my artistic ability!” Here’s the problem; the site you’ve chosen to display your photos has a size limit.

Now, before you go and spend $650 on Adobe Photoshop C3, consider this: what if there was a way to manipulate images with free software that has the same features? Try the GIMP at gimp.org. It’s an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program. If you’re not familiar with GNU or open-source software, it’s basically free software you can download from the Web. Without wanting to turn this posting into a political minefield, there’s a growing movement out there to break the bonds of Microsoft Windows as an operating system. The folks who have designed GNU believe that a PC operating system shouldn’t cost hundreds of dollars, it should be free to all.

I’ve used GIMP myself and it has just about all the features that Adobe P-shop does. Plus, if you’re confused about how to operate it you can get help at the GIMP User’s Group site (it's also linked on the GIMP homepage). For now, I’ll tell you how to change the size of a digital photo:

After downloading & installing GIMP, open the photo you want to resize, it will open in a new window. Click on “Image” in the top menu. Click “Scale Image.” You’ll see a new window, adjust the size of the image in the Height & Width boxes to the specifications at your photo website. If they aren’t given, try a size of around 600 pixels wide or 700 pixels high. That should be an acceptable size for any site.

Pretty easy, huh? Just don’t ask me to demonstrate any of the other features, I haven’t gotten that far yet! Once you try it, you'll never consider shelling out money for Photoshop again!