Adobe Audition 3

Reviewed by: Jun Heider [ Senior Developer, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: October 03, 2008

Remember that program Cool Edit Pro that everyone used to rave about? Adobe bought it when it was version 2.1 and Adobe Audition was born. Actually Adobe Audition 1 was a re-branded version of Cool Edit Pro with hardly any new features…similar to some of the *cough* Macromedia stuffs that we now know as Adobe stuffs. History lesson over…on to the goods.

First off, as usual Adobe did a great job with UI design. ... read more

Flex Solutions: Essential Techniques for Flex 2 and 3 Developers

Reviewed by: Jun Heider [ Senior Engineer, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: June 02, 2008

The highly popular ActionScript 3 Cookbook was released back in ‘06.

This was a really good book because it taught you the language through examples that you could use in real world situations. A lot of the Flex and Flash developers I know really loved it. The downside to this book was being an ActionScript book, it it didn’t cover things that were Flex-specific.

At the end of ‘07, ... read more

Adobe Flash CS3 Professional

Reviewed by: Nils Thingvall [ Senior Engineer, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: June 02, 2008

The most recent installment of the Flash line of products is a pretty darn good one. Flash CS3 introduces ActionScript 3 into the mix, as well as a host of other features. ActionScript 3 is a great new step in turning Flash’s language from a scripting language into a full-fledged programming language. Now we have a robust collection of classes that enable us to do a lot more with Flash. Sure, there are some head scratchers such as the absence of duplicateMovieClip() ... read more

Stylin' with CSS: A Designer's Guide (2nd Edition)

Reviewed by: John Crosby [ Senior Engineer, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: June 02, 2008

If you’re looking to jump into CSS or maybe just refresh your skills - then this is a good book to pick up!

Book Description: “This book teaches you everything you need to know to start using CSS in your web development work, from the basics of marking up your content and styling text, through the creation of multi-column page layouts without the use of tables. Learn to create interface components, such as drop-down menus, navigation links, and animated graphical ... read more

JavaFX Script: Dynamic Java Scripting for Rich Internet/Client-side Applications

Reviewed by: John Crosby [ Senior Engineer, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: June 02, 2008

I didn’t really know anything about JavaFX until I picked up this book. Now not only to I know what it is, I can use it too. If you’re looking to understand what JavaFX is and where it might fit in your toolset then go grab the 216 page book “JavaFX Script: Dynamic Java Scripting for Rich Internet/Client-side Applications”. This book will get you rolling quickly and simply and give you the basics you’ll need to know to properly evaluate if it is right for you.

Adobe Photoshop CS3

Reviewed by: Paula Gettman [ Project Manager, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: March 01, 2008

To start off, I am a novice in the world of Photoshop. I've been intrigued by its abilities for awhile and now feel that I need to dedicate some time to learning this now mature piece of software. That being said, this program was a bear to install in MS Vista. But after numerous amounts of attempts and help from others, I finally reached a successful install. *whew* So ,here are just a few mentionables.

As soon as you open the program, you will notice some nice interface changes. ... read more

Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML

Reviewed by: Jun Heider [ Senior Developer, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: December 04, 2007

So part of my job as a technical trainer and active user group member is to review tech books from time to time. Although I wish I could just spend my time reviewing Flex and ActionScript books, sometimes I'm given books that are outside of my normal scope of technology. Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML was one of these books.

Although, it took me a while to get the motivation to pick it up - namely since XHTML, Tables, and Forms are all something that Im already comfortable with - ... read more

Adobe Captivate 3

Reviewed by: Jorma Jennings [ Connect Trainer, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: November 08, 2007

Recently Adobe graced us with the release of Adobe Captivate 3. This product came with the promise of many improvements, and didn't fail to deliver. The biggest improvement was the ability to record a demonstration, a training simulation, an assessment simulation and a custom simulation all at the same time. So instead of recording the same thing over and over, your workload is now cut in half or more. Each of these settings can still be customized to fit your needs. The UI is still the same ... read more

Buy Now!

How to Keep Your Boss from Sinking Your Project

Reviewed by: Paula Gettman [ Project Manager, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: August 08, 2007

Although we know all projects need management of some sort, this PDF really drives home the sentiment starting with its first line "Like it or not, your project needs management." The authors describe well defined tips to a group of programmers that are involved in high-visibility projects, focusing on understanding these guidelines.

• Why do Project Fail?
• Set Expectations Early and Keep Them Up to Date.
• Make an Informed Selection of a Software Process.
... read more

CSS Cookbook, 2nd Edition

Reviewed by: John Crosby [ Senior Developer, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: August 08, 2007

Know some CSS? Do you want to enhance what you know and can do? Ever wonder about how to do something you've seen in on some site somewhere? Well, I have and do, and I've just finished reading a book that provides me with a good theory and example reference for CSS that provides that extra information I was looking for. O'Reilly's CSS Cookbook, Second Edition (ISBN: 0596527411

Pros:

• I definitely like the "Quick look-up" format
• Simple and clear explanations that ... read more

Head First PMP: A Brain-Friendly Guide to Passing the Project Management Professional Exam

Reviewed by: Amanda Johnson [ Senior Project Manager, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: August 08, 2007

Who says that learning about project management has to be bo-o-o-or-ring? After reading lots project management books and articles I have learned that there is wealth of information out there, but that much of it lends itself as a precursor to a nap. Let's face it, PM literature is often dry and dull, which is a shame because I don't believe that's reflective of actually being a project manager.

Enter Head First PMP: A Brain-Friendly ... read more

Founders at Work: Stories of Startups' Early Days

Reviewed by: Amanda Johnson [ Senior Project Manager, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: May 30, 2007

Although we all know that the mega-tech-companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Google all had fledgling days, it is sometimes difficult to imagine what hurdles and breakthroughs shaped those early years. How did these visionaries take a good idea and turn it into a great company? Founders at Work: Stories of Startups’ Early Days contains interviews with people who started ... read more

Microformats: Empowering Your Markup for Web 2.0

Reviewed by: John Crosby [ Senior Developer, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: May 25, 2007

I didn't know much about microformats, but hearing the buzz and wanting to know more about them led me to the book - Microformats Empowering Your Markup for Web 2.0.

This book is perfect for someone like me that doesn't know much about what microformats are or what they are used for. The book is also totally appropriate for those who are familiar with microformats, but need additional insight to their uses and place in the world of Web 2.0. The book does not limit itself to introduction ... read more

Foundation ASP for Dreamweaver 8

Reviewed by: John Crosby [ Senior Developer, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: May 25, 2007

One of the recent books that I've checked out is Foundation ASP for Dreamweaver 8. Since I used to teach a course similar to the content provided in this book I thought it might be something good to review and let everyone know about.

The first thing that I have to say is that you'll need to be quite familiar with databases to get going with this book. If your not you may just have to take a little extra time with that part of the code and set up. With that said I think that this is an excellent ... read more

Adobe Captivate 2.0

Reviewed by: Sean Mullen [ Adobe Connect Practice Manager, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: May 23, 2007

Being the least technical staff member on RealEyes Media, products like Captive really appeal to me. Any software tool that allows me to get from point A to point B (or problem to solution) efficiently and intuitively, I am all about! Captivate has always had a strong reputation for being one of those types tools, and from what I can tell, Captivate 2 is no exception. The award winning product Captivate is best known for its ease of use in creating Flash-based demonstrations and interactive tutorials. ... read more

Advanced ActionScript 3 with Design Patterns

Reviewed by: John Crosby [ Senior Developer, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: May 17, 2007

I was very excited to receive the book Advanced ActionScript 3 with Design Patterns I had heard great things about the book and was not disappointed as I read through it. I just happen to be stuck in jury duty for a full day and as I waited for the city and county of Denver to decide if they required my services I was able to read through most in the book in a morning.

The really nice thing about this book is the lack of fluff. It is very direct, very to-the-point and very useful. ... read more

Adobe Flex 2: Training from the Source

Reviewed by: Jun Heider [ Developer, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: March 26, 2007

If you are planning on taking the Flex certification, wanting to fill some gaps in your knowledge of Flex, or want to find a cheap alternative or supplement to taking the Certified Instructor-led training, Adobe Flex 2 Training from the Source will deliver. (Btw, clicking on that link will take you to sample chapter excerpts.)

The book content is well organized and consists of a just-in-time learning methodology. ... read more

Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0

Reviewed by: David Hassoun [ Principal, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: February 26, 2007

As an old school Premiere user who jumped ship back in the days when Premiere just wasn't staying progressive with the features tools, and just general STABILITY for god's sake, it is a nice breath of fresh air to see what the latest version of the product has in store.

Adobe started winning me back to Premiere with the first Pro release that really addressed a lot of the issues with the ground up rework they did. Now with Premiere Pro 2, I am a happy Adobe Video bundle enthusiast again.

... read more

ActionScript 3.0 Cookbook

Reviewed by: John Crosby [ Senior Developer, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: January 02, 2007

ActionScript 3.0 Cookbook by Lott, Schall & Peters is an excellent book. This book allows you to quickly jump into AS3 Programming, as well as a nice reference for those items that need to be resolved quickly during the development process.

Each topic is grouped to provide information on specific problems so they can be accessed quickly and easily. This allows for the book to be used as a reference so you don't have to read it from cover to cover&you could if you wanted to however. Along ... read more

Buy Now!

O'Reilly Radar Web 2.0 Principles and Best Practices

Reviewed by: Amanda Johnson [ Project Manager and Developer, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: November 22, 2006

In O'Reilly's Web 2.0 Principles and Best Practices, Tim Musser provides a robust overview of the current online era--what has become known as Web 2.0--from the publisher that coined that term in 2004. In the publication, Musser presents a strong business case that user-centric internet applications drive revenue and brand equity. He lays out eight "core patterns" that are driving the online ecosystem and provides insightful analysis for each. This fast read is great for anyone wanting to look ... read more

Adobe After Effects 7.0

Reviewed by: David Hassoun [ Principal, RealEyes Media ]
Review Date: June 01, 2006

When launching After Effects 7.0, I first noticed that the user interface has been totally redesigned. This new, intuitive workspace gives After Effects 7.0 a cohesive feel with the other products in the Adobe Production Studio, making moving between programs a less jarring experience than in previous versions. Even better, this workspace can be easily adapted using the included workspace to facilitate specific tasks—like motion tracking, painting, and placing effects—and to adapt ... read more