Posts Tagged ‘Twitter’

lynda.com industry news roundup: Windows 7 tricks, Flash on the go, and more

Published by Jack Lyon | Thursday, January 14th, 2010

With a massive electronics trade show, and an abundant supply of product announcements, there was plenty of technology to talk about this week that’s also covered in our Online Training Library®.

Secret Windows 7 trick discovered
Now that many of us are becoming more comfortable with the nuts and bolts of Windows 7, the hunt is on for new tricks and hidden functionality. This week, the Web has been buzzing with the discovery of the undocumented “GodMode” feature — an incredibly handy feature for those that like to fine tune their OS settings. By simply creating a new folder and renaming it with a special string, you’ll be able to access every single Windows setting from a single folder. Though not quite as omnipotent as the name may suggests, GodMode definitely beats wading through the endless panels and tabs of the classic Control Panel. Hungry for more Windows 7 tricks? PC World has 25 more to discover.

Windows 7 god-mode

Just a few of the mysterious powers available in Windows 7 “GodMode.”

More Twitter tools for business
Now that businesses big and small are starting to find the marketing benefits of using Twitter, some are also starting to use Twitter for their customer support and feedback. TechCrunch recently reported about a new start-up called Followbase that’s using Twitter’s API to offer basic CRM (customer relations management) tools. CRM systems are typically used by companies to handle their customer’s technical support, returns and FAQs.

While most CRM systems cost thousands of dollars a year to operate, Followbase comes with a goose egg for a price tag. Customers simply Tweet to a company using the service in one of four standard categories: Mentions, Ideas, Problems, and Questions. While it may not be robust enough for most large businesses, several big name retailers and financial institutions are giving it a shot. Plus, with its simple set up and ability for the entire Twitter community to lend a hand in support, it’s quickly gaining notice with start-ups and smaller companies.

Google’s new phone has Flash
Google stole the spotlight at last week’s CES Show by showing off what it’s calling the world’s first “super phone,” the Nexus One. The new phone, powered by the Android platform, has immediately begun drawing comparisons to the Apple iPhone. However, a recent blog post from Adobe which demonstrates Flash content playing on the Nexus One puts a big plus in the Google column, as well as a big smile on the faces of countless Flash designers and engineers. To the much publicized dismay of iPhone developers, Apple has yet to even hint at when the iPhone will fully support Web-based Flash content.

Make an ultraportable presentation
There’s no disputing that top-tier tools like Apple Keynote and Microsoft PowerPoint make eye-popping presentations a cinch to create. But there are still plenty of horror stories among the road warriors and teleconferencers that need to present under a myriad of unexpected scenarios. While nearly all presentation tools offer hearty HTML-export options, there are still ample limitations around layout customization, and slide navigation. Though it was first offered by the W3C years ago, it appears that HTML Slidy (a tutorial and collection of XHTML, CSS, and JavaScript code) is making a comeback among tech-savvy sites like Digg.com. What’s the reason for the renaissance? Many Web developers are saying that sometimes simpler is simply better.

Facebook get pushy
Even for the most addicted Facebook fan, constantly launching the Facebook iPhone app just to see if there’s anything new can be as monotonous as it is battery-draining. Version 3.1, however, introduces a very handy “push” technology which notifies you of any new content posted to your Facebook account the second it happens. Just choose what type of updates you want to be notified on (messages, wall posts, friend requests, etc.) and a simple alert will appear on your iPhone screen whenever new content is available. Then, simply choose whether to launch the app the view the new content, or opt to ignore it and check it out later.

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lynda.com industry news roundup: Development tips, Gmail unwired, and more

Published by Jack Lyon | Friday, December 18th, 2009

Here’s our latest collection of news and announcements related to some of the more popular technologies covered in our Online Training Library®:

1,000+ apps pulled by Apple
Sure it’s a competitive business, but if you’re building your own iPhone app, be sure to play by the rules. Apple recently banned a whopping 1,103 apps from their store, all of which were from the same developer, Molinker. A group of iPhone fans and bloggers noticed that a vast majority of the user reviews for the developer’s apps were from accounts that only reviewed Molinker apps. They reported their findings to Apple, who subsequently yanked all the apps from their store.

The future of HTML
For those well schooled in XHTML, last summer’s announcement from the W3C that they were stopping development on the XHTML2 standard might be disheartening. It appears everyone is going full bore towards HTML 5 — even Google has pulled the plug on Gears 2 and pledged allegiance. But fear not XHTML fans, this article from TechRadar provides an excellent overview of the often misunderstood HTML 5 standard, and (more importantly) how it can work for those wanting to stick with XHTML.

Google Browsersize

Google Browser Size at work.

What do your web visitors see?
Web designers, take note: Google Labs recently released a handy new tool aptly called Browser Size. Simply type in any Web address and the tool provides a translucent overlay that shows how much of a page is viewable in an average Web browser. Using an early, internal version of Browser Size themselves, Google found that nearly 10% of their users couldn’t see the Install button on their Google Earth page without scrolling first. A quick redesign, and they’ve seen definite improvements.

Selling On Twitter
It’s no secret that some people go a little too far on Twitter (yes, we’re talking to you, Twitter Groom). But more and more businesses are successfully using the service as an effective sales tool. Dell recently reported an impressive $6.5 million in sales via a combination of customer acquisition, support, and special offers across their 35 different Twitter channels.

Go Offline With Gmail
Are you a true blue Gmail fan? Then you’ll be happy to know that Google recently announced the ability to use the email service without an Internet connection. It’s now possible to search, read, organize email, and set up filters all without a connection. New messages can also be composed, and simply wait in the Outbox until there’s a Net connection to be sent out. CNET News explains how to set up Gmail to work while not wired in.

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lynda.com industry news roundup: Announcements, reports, deals, and tips

Published by Jack Lyon | Monday, November 30th, 2009

The Web has been abuzz lately with news and announcements related to some of the more popular technologies covered in our Online Training Library®. Here are a few items that recently caught our eye.

Windows and IE: The Next Generation
With the shrink wrap barely off of Windows 7, Microsoft is already providing sneak peeks into what’s next. At the Professional Developers Conference held recently in Los Angeles, Microsoft developers discussed planned features for IE9, including support for HTML 5 and improved JavaScript performance. Already dreaming of Windows 8? At the same show, reporters managed to snag an official Microsoft roadmap that projects a Windows 8 release in the ominous year of 2012.

Man Arrested For Not Tweeting… Sort Of
Mashable reports
a record executive representing teen sensation Justin Bieber was arrested for not following authorities’ instructions when fans went riotous at an autograph signing in a Long Island mall last Friday. One of the executives failed duties was not updating the record label’s Twitter feed, announcing that the signing was off. Sounds like a classic Web hoax, but the Associated Press backs up the story. Perhaps the crisis could have been averted, had the record exec taken our Twitter Essential Training course.

Fun with 3D Photography
“Stereoscopics” (a technology made famous in ‘50s cinema, requiring those classic cardboard glasses with red and blue lenses) is hardly cutting edge, but a fun digital photography effect to experiment with. Maximum PC recently released a how-to on creating your own 3D camera rig for under $20 (assuming you already have two digital cameras with similar image quality). Not interested in futzing with your coveted digital cameras? Learn how to get similar effects with a single camera in the Do-It-Yourself 3D section, and then skip to the last step to learn how to process your photos.

iPhone Top Money Makers
Looking to make a mint building your own iPhone app? The Chicago Tribune recently discovered a new category in the Apple’s iTunes store called “Top Grossing Apps.” As opposed to the most popular, these are the apps that simply make the most money. Peruse the Tribune’s slideshow of top money makers and maybe you’ll get an idea on how to hit it big.

Holiday Deals on MobileMe
With the recently released MobileMe Essential Training course proving to be a hit with several lynda.com members, we were excited to see this MobileMe discount guide on Geek.com. Included are details on Individual and 5-user Family Pack deals available on Amazon.com as well as a $30 rebate available from Apple’s online and retail stores.

Flash Fires Up Video Playback
On their Flash Platform Blog, Adobe recently announced that the prerelease of the Flash 10.1 player is now available for Windows users. Most notably, the latest player finally supports hardware acceleration of high def (H.264) video, when using a PC with a fairly recent ATI, NVIDIA, or Intel video chip. HotHardware.com recently took the player though the paces by playing HD videos on Hulu and YouTube, and found a significant improvement in HD video playback, with a noticeable drop in “stuttering” or dropped frames. AdobeLabs is offering a free download of the prerelease player. To take advantage of all the major new technologies included in the latest official release of the Flash Player, be sure to check out our Flash Player 10 New Features course.

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How do you get your lynda.com news and new releases fix? Take our poll.

Published by Crystal McCullough, executive editor | Friday, September 18th, 2009

For a while now, lynda.com has published ‘New Releases’ announcements, a podcast, and a monthly newsletter. In the last few months, we’ve been reaching out via social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as launching this blog to help broaden our communication with both members and non-members about new products and new features.

How do you get your lynda.com news and new releases fix? We’re guessing that if you’re reading this post, you get at least some of it via this blog, but we’re also wondering just how many other ways you stay up to date on us. Please take a few seconds and check those services or feeds that you use—click on each one that is applicable to you. And as always, please feel free to leave comments!

How do you keep up with what's new at lynda.com?

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New feature: Share information on every Online Training Library® course

Published by Crystal McCullough, executive editor | Thursday, August 20th, 2009
SHARE button on each course listing

We've added a new feature: Each course now has the option to easily email, print, and share about it on multiple social networks or blog services with minimal clicks. Try it!

Even if you’ve never clicked on it, by now you may have noticed a Share button like the one above on many of your favorite sites. Its purpose is to expedite the sharing of news stories, blog posts, and other page content to one or more social networks, other blogs, or simply sending to your printer or bookmarks list.

share2

Each of the courses in the lynda.com Online Training Library® now has its own AddThis Share button, located just under the course release date. If you want to share information about and a link back to the course, click on the Share button, then choose the method of sharing you prefer.

Sharing on Facebook, for example, gives the option to post the link to your profile or sending the information in a private message to one or more of your Facebook friends. Sharing on Twitter automatically creates a shortened bit.ly URL and transfers it to Twitter, ready for you to tweet.

Enjoy! And if you like this or any of our blog posts, the Share button is down here waiting for you at the bottom left of every post.

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lynda.com author news: dinners, unicycles, Photoshop, InDesign, Twitter, Facebook, and more

Published by Megan O. Read, author relations manager | Friday, August 14th, 2009
dinnershots

Top group dinner shot, left to right: Some of the lynda.com production team, Andy Ta, Roon Tamuli, Nick Brazzi, Samara Iodice, Max Smith, and Andrew Geibel. Then it's Ian Robinson (author), Megan Read (me), Nigel French (author), and Nigel's friend. Center unicycle shots: the first and second photos are the multitalented author Ian Robinson, third photo is our own Nick Brazzi. Bottom group shot, left to right: Max, Nick, Deke McClelland (author), me, Robbie Carman (author).

Over the last two weeks, we’ve had authors from all over the place in our recording booths. Ian Robinson from Virginia was in-house recording some eye-catching new Motion 4 training, Nigel French was here all the way from the UK recording an interesting new InDesign typography course, and Michael Ninness was here from Seattle recording the must-see InDesign Power Shortcuts.

This week is another busy one at lynda.com! We’ve got Robbie Carman also from Virginia recording some brand spankin’ new Color 1.5 training, Anne-Marie Concepción in from Illinois recording a cool new course about marketing your business with Twitter and Facebook, and of course, Deke McClelland from Colorado recording handfuls of must-see Photoshop training.

Our authors are all hard-working professionals, but occasionally, they get to let their hair down at a nice dinner with their lynda-peeps, or let off some steam with a fun Friday lunch playing on unicycles in the parking lot. Yes, there are actually quite a few unicyclers here at lynda.com!

Enjoy the pix, and as always, the training!

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