» Software

Creating your own blog theme

Ellen Hage — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:03:24 +0000

Artisteer Logo

I’ve noticed lately that it is getting harder and harder to find a variety of software in stores. I wonder if this is just where I live or is it everywhere. I can remember rows of software and computer books in Best Buy just a few years ago. Not so. Other than Microsoft offerings, there are bargain software applications that include mostly games. So when I started looking for something to help me make my own WordPress theme, I turned to the Internet. I found some online generators, but I wasn’t happy with the results. Then I found Artisteer. Here’s a quick description from their website:

Artisteer is a web design automation product that instantly creates fantastic looking, unique website templates and blog themes. Design awesome WordPress^TM Blogs and professional Joomla! ^TM and Drupal^TM Websites in Minutes.

So far the program lives up to its description. It does have its limitations. I wish I could import a template and then convert it into a WordPress theme. Maybe it is possible. Still there is enough variety within the program to create your own unique design.
It is a bit expensive. So is getting someone to create a design for you. The Home/Academic Edition is $49.95 and the Standard Edition is $129.95. Both editions offer free upgrades for a year. I bought the Standard Edition a few months ago when it was on a “Special Sale” of $99.95. I think that you could get your money’s worth out of though by creating templates for others such as friends, associates, and family. Artisteer is really easy to use and I could see kids getting a kick out of it. There is a trial version available for you to check out and see if it’s for you. Money is tight all around so try before you buy.

Cleaning up my Bookmarks

Ellen Hage — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 01:52:44 +0000

Every few months or so, I like to go through my IE bookmarks to update changes. It is always sad when I delete another e-book link and recently it is becoming the norm rather than the exception. In particular, the Ebookman sites have dwindled down to just a few. Does this mean that no one is using the reader anymore? Mine is still kicking although I have to admit I rarely ever use it. There are things that I really like about my Ebookman 911 that are not present in the newer e-book readers. Not only is the reader purse friendly, it also has a nice size screen, backlighting, and a jog wheel. I had high hopes when I first got the reader, but having to constantly restore the device every time I changed batteries became a hassle. Another annoyance is that the desktop software did not keep up with Microsoft. When I updated to Windows XP and Office 2003, I could not sync the reader or install new software.

Ectaco still sells the reader repurposed as a dictionary. From what I can tell it has the same features and software. I do know that the price for the device remains as expensive as it was almost six years ago. Still the site is good for picking up extra accessories for the reader. These accessories come at a premium price though and for many people it may not be cost effective. So just in case there are any of you that still have a working Ebookman, here are my links that are still functioning. Some offer free applications. Take caution before buying any software. Contact the seller to make sure all the information on the site is correct. It could be that these sites are no longer supported.

Beiks Games

Reneris Games and other software

Franklin For desktop software

Ebookmaniac Games, Utilities

Fan Site Free software

Jurie Games and other software

Mike Pickering Get EbmDoc (an application for the Franklin eBookMan to read Palm Doc-formatted files)

Ectaco Buy the reader and accessories

Gutenbrowse for Nokia N800

Ellen Hage — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:55:19 +0000

OS2008 has been available now for a while. I initially tried to update mine just before Christmas, but I had trouble being able to download and install the update. I figured that the servers were busy with everyone else trying to do the same thing. This week I read over at Internet Tablet Talk that there were server problems as well. All should be fine now. This week I have been busy installing the new operating system. This is the same OS that comes installed on the N810. So far, I like the update. My only observation so far is that my N800 seems to move a little slower. I also miss my Valentine’s theme that came packaged with OS2007. I wish there was a way that I could have kept that theme. All the other themes seem so masculine. I downloaded and installed Gutenbrowse. This utility works in conjunction with FBreader. You also have to have Python Runtime 2.5 installed. Gutenbrowse allows the user to search, find, download, and read e-books from Project Gutenberg. All I can say is that this is one fantastic little program. All I had to do is input either the author or title and seconds later I got the results. I then clicked the one I wanted, it downloaded and asked me if I wanted to read it. I clicked yes and Voila! FBreader opens and I am reading. This has certainly made obtaining books from Gutenberg not just faster and more convenient, but actually fun.

This could be a lifesaver for students. I hope that someone out there will port this over to the Eee PC. The application also works on OS2007. I did not see a version for OS2006. I may have to hack my husband’s N770 so that he can take advantage of the application’s features.

And now that I mentioned the Eee PC, I wanted to give a heads up for those looking for a case for their small wonder. Some users have reported that the Case Logic Hard Drive case makes a great carrier for their Eee and its accessories. Overstock has it on sale for $21.99.

EBW1150 Holiday Sale

Ellen Hage — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:11:53 +0000

In the midst of all the new e-book devices hitting the market, don’t forget the tried and true reader. Right now Ebookwise has their reader on sale. You can save $10 on the device and also receive free shipping (Fedex ground). Faster shipping is available and is also discounted. I really like their reader, especially since it has backlighting and a dictionary. I have found their customer service to be excellent and there is a user forum with a great bunch of folks. Another plus is the library software available. The software costs $14.95 and is really worth the price. While there are free methods for converting text for the reader, the software makes it so much easier. Just think, if you already have a few SMC cards from back in the day or don’t need more than 10 books on your reader at any given time, you can buy four EBW1150 for the price of one Kindle. That’s a family pack! The only drawback is one that is common to all other devices and that is DRM and the availability of books. Still, there are a lot of multi-format books available at Fictionwise and free e-books that are already formatted for the device. And of course you can brew your own.

Here’s the sale and shipping summary from their site:

Reader with 64mb SMC 129.95

Reader with internal memory only 99.95

Reader with 128mb SMC 169.95

Last Ship Dates for Christmas Delivery

USA Ground: order no later than Noon EST December 14

USA 2-Day: order no later than Noon EST December 20

CANADA Ground: order no later than Noon EST December 10

CANADA Air: order no later than Noon EST December 19

A matter of ethics

Ellen Hage — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 03:18:17 +0000

This topic has been on my mind for quite some time, but I have been somewhat reluctant to write about it. My reluctance stemmed from not wanting to end up in a “How-to get on the e-book dark side” situation. The following is something that happened and I would love to know what others think (Disclaimer: This is not exactly as it happen, but as I understood it).

A couple of months ago, someone (I’ll call her Jan) created a script that stripped the DRM of a certain e-book format (I’ll call the format .nbb). The .nbb format had never been broken. On top of that, the company responsible for the format had just experience a server failure that lasted a few weeks. So many people were excited at the news of being able to free their books. At first the script worked on its own, but Jan had to remove parts of her script to avoid conflict with the original writer of some of the files she used. This new version required that the user had certain files available to him or her. The files needed were not easily obtained, but depended on possession of a Software Development Kit (SDK), or the device the SDK supported. Fast forward about a week. Jan gets a letter from the .nbb lawyers. Needless to say that it was a cease and desist order along with some threatening to sue type of correspondence. So in compliance the script was removed from her website, but what about the downloads prior to the removal?

Forget about the legalities; just think about the ethical dilemma for the following:

1. Should the people who downloaded the script delete it from their PCs?

2. Were they wrong to have used it in the first place; even if it was used on books that they bought with no intention of “sharing”?

3. Knowing why the script was deleted from the web, would someone be wrong to start distributing it among friends, newsgroups, forums, etc?

4. After the three week down period, there was no real explanation or apology from the .nbb folks, and many people are now circumspect about buying this format. They no longer trust the .nbb folks. Does this matter?

5. Suppose, instead of being down for a few weeks, the company was gone altogether, like Gemstar. There is no way to convert these books, so when the device dies, so does the library. Does this change the game rules?

6. What about Jan who freely gave this script to help people?

7. If all this is wrong, why is it that using Convert Lit seems to be acceptable?

I’ve always considered myself an ethical person. I know that not everything is black and white. Those cases take care of themselves. It’s that gray portion, that makes me think about the common good versus the universal wrong versus the slippery slope versus fair use.

A new free Office Suite

Ellen Hage — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 19:35:16 +0000

If you’re tired of buying MS Office consider trying out some of the free choices available. I used to think that everyone knew about Open Office, but as I have said before, the literature course I am taking has really opened my eyes. A fellow student was lamenting about needing an office suite, but couldn’t afford to buy MS Office. Now usually when I suggest open source software people turn up their noses. They seem to think that since it’s free and non-Microsoft it must be inferior. I guess they’d rather be without anything if they can’t buy Microsoft or spend their time trying to get an illegal bootleg copy. I told her about Open Office and her eyes seemed to double in size. So I was pleasantly surprised when she told me that not only had she downloaded it, but had installed it on her children’s computer. Even more surprising was that her daughter’s teacher somehow caught wind of her installing a free office suite and contacted her to find out where he could get it. This past week I have been following IBM’s introduction of a free office suite called Lotus Symphony. The suite is in beta, but I plan to give it a try. It’s available for Windows including XP and Vista, as well as some Linux platforms. I do not know if it is open source though. So why aren’t more people informed about alternatives? Maybe people have all been brainwashed to think that all software worth having is expensive. So please get the word out there especially to schools, students, people on fixed incomes, and anyone else that will listen.

Edit: I’ve edited for some typos. I had to have Lasik enhancement surgery on Friday afternoon and my vision isn’t that great right now. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Portable Applications

Ellen Hage — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 00:01:59 +0000

No, this isn’t strictly about e-books, but I feel that it’s worth talking about. By now most people have more than enough thumb drives, especially the lower capacity ones as we constantly upgrade. So if you are wondering what to do with those 256 and 512mb drives consider installing some portable software. Portable applications can be run directly from your flash drive so no matter where you are you can use your own applications. A great place to start is Portable Applications. In addition to Open Office they have applications ranging from games, photo editing, chat, and password managers. My favorite other than Open Office is the pdf creator. These are some of the possibilities listed on their site:

Carry your web browser with all your favorite bookmarks

Carry your calendar with all your appointments

Carry your email client with all your contacts and settings

Carry your whole office suite along with your documents and presentations

Carry your antivirus program and other computer utilities

Portable applications are also convenient too! The most convenient feature is that you can carry utilities that can be used to help your friends that are having PC problems. Another site to check out is Everything USB.

SanDisk’s Cruzer Freedom comes with applications already install on the flash drive. The software allows the user to storage and use copyrighted digital content such as e-books, games, and music. SanDisk offers a variety of books at their digital store. While the Freedom Cruzer is geared towards students, others may find the content offered interesting. You may want to check out the virtual tour. I like that it has a dictionary onboard. Maybe now that the prices are so low we may see mobipocket books on a stick. Just think about having the Harry Potter collection on one and being able to read it on any PC. Just a thought.

Reading e-books on your Nintendo DS lite

Ellen Hage — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:27:06 +0000

This weekend I finally got around to getting my DS lite to read e-books. There are a few things you need in order to do this. First, you need something like a Max Media Dock or Datel’s Games and Music cartridge. Both are under $30. There are other cartridges such as a Supercard SD, Gameboy Advance Movie Player, R4 Multimedia card, etc. You will also need either an SD, Micro SD, or Compact Flash card depending on what kind of dock or cartridge you buy. Finally, you will need the e-book reader software from one of the homebrew sites. I’ll list all links at the end of this post. The process was rather easy once I found an how to guide on Pocket Gamer. This guide shows how to install DS Reader, but this guide will work for any NDS software. I found three readers available for the DS: Read More, DS Libris, and DS Reader.

So far DS reader is the most stable one I tried. There was no screen freezing and it is easy to navigate. DS reader recognizes txt files only and uses True Type Fonts. It comes with two included, but you can add your own. You can also choose to have either a white or black background, standard style or anti-aliased. Another thing I like about this software is that you can adjust your font size. Screen view settings include top, bottom, and both. Another choice is whether or not you want smart paragraphs. I would pick yes to avoid lines with only one word on it.

I also tried Read More and DS Libris. Both readers are portrait mode so you would hold the DS lite like a book and it displays two pages. I was impressed by these two programs since I felt like I had a regular book opened. The problem is that they didn’t work that well for me. First, Read More opens to an introduction of the program, but that’s as far as I got. Whenever I tried to get to the menu, the program would freeze. I searched some forums and there were others who shared my experience, but so far no answers. So I can not tell you if this application is customizable. Now for DS Libris. This is a new home brew and the author states that it may have many bugs. The program only lists the first eight files and only recognizes files in xht (XHTML) format. I tried to format some text using Word, but no luck. I may try it using Open Office. The program is also prone to fail on start up. It worked great for awhile and then it started to give error messages. From what I could tell there is no way to change any of the settings. Another problem worth mentioning is that I couldn’t find a way to exit out of any of the three reader programs. All I could do was turn off the DS.

Overall it was a nice experience reading on the DS, which has beautiful bright screens . I wouldn’t use it as my primary reader, but on trips it could be a nice diversion from gaming.

Links

Max Media Player

Newspapers on the Go

Ellen Hage — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 13:34:25 +0000

E-book Impressions: Books in Adobe, MS Reader, and Mobipocket formats. They also have a user forum. One thing I found interesting is their categories. They have a few that I don’t see often such as Juvenile Fiction, Academic, Art and Culture, and Magazines to name a few. E-book Impressions also offers about 100 free e-books. For those who are new to e-books the site offers a primer that includes a comparison of the three formats that they offer.

Read Newspapers Another surprise was their link to Press Display, an online Newspaper Stand. Press Display offers online newspapers from around the world. Newspapers are not free of course. Readers can buy one issue or subcribe monthly. Single issues cost $2.75. A better deal and probably the best option is to subscribe to a monthly plan. The Economy play is $9.95 per month and includeds 31 issues, 7 days back issues and 200 book marks. For what I can tell these issues can be any papers that you want. So you are not stuck with just one paper. The other plans are quite expensive starting at $29.95 per month and topping off at $199.95 monthly. No software is needed if you plan to only view your papers online. Just open your browser and go directly to their site and log in. If you want to download your issues then you will need to download their reader software which is free. Currently they support, Win 2000/XP/Vista, Mobile Devices such as PDAs and Smartphones, and Mac OS X. Unfortunately I saw nothing on Palm OS, so I don’t know if Palm’s Browser is supported for downloads. The only browsers I saw that they support are Win IE, Firefox, and, Netscape. You may be able to access through their RSS feeds. Plans are in the works for Safari support, so that’s good news for iphone users. It seems like they have a good variety of newspapers and offer the full issue to include ads, instead of just selected articles. I plan to try this out by buying one issue to see how it goes and report back here.

Palm Desktop update

Ellen Hage — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:12:54 +0000

Just in case you haven’t heard yet, Palm has updated their Desktop for Windows to include support for Vista users. According to the directions it is not recommended for other Windows users such as XP. Also, it does not support all Palm devices and is English only. So check and make sure your device is listed. It’s Beta, but a friend of mine has installed it (she owns a Palm TX) and it works for her so far. Now she can get rid of her ailing XP machine.