Posted: February 29th, 2008, 2:01am CET by tech-geek
Whether you're building GUI prototypes or full-fledged cross-platform GUI applications with native look-and-feel, PyQt 4 is your fastest, easiest, most powerful solution. Qt expert Mark Summerfield has written the definitive best-practice guide to PyQt 4 development.
With Rapid GUI Programming with Python and Qt you'll learn how to build efficient GUI applications that run on all major operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and many versions of Unix, using the same source code for all of them. Summerfield systematically introduces every core GUI development technique: from dialogs and windows to data handling; from events to printing; and more. Through the book's realistic examples you'll discover a completely new PyQt 4-based programming approach, as well as coverage of many new topics, from PyQt 4's rich text engine to advanced model/view and graphics/view programming. Every key concept is illuminated with realistic, downloadable examples—all tested on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux with Python 2.5, Qt 4.2, and PyQt 4.2, and on Windows and Linux with Qt 4.3 and PyQt 4.3.
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Posted: February 29th, 2008, 1:51am CET by Mr.Blue
Wireless local area networks (WLANs) have traditionally been used to transport only data, but are now being used to carry voice traffic as well as provided new combined voice and data services. Voice over WLANs also offers more flexibility than wired networks (changes to a WLAN dont require changes to installed wiring) and greater capacity than wired networks. This book provides a solid overview of voice over WLANs/VoIP (voice over internet protocol) technology, including voice coding, packet loss, delay and jitter, and echo control. It shows how to combine both WLAN and VoIP technology to create effective voice over WLAN systems.
* Gives complete details on integrating voice and data services on WLANs, including wide area networks
* Explores quality of service (QoS) and security issues
* Step-by-step descriptions of how to plan and implement voice over WLAN networks
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Posted: February 29th, 2008, 1:47am CET by Mr.Blue
I am green with envy for the newest generation of SAS programmers because I wish that I had had this book in front of me 20 years ago when I first started with SAS! Art s book gives a perspective on the REPORT procedure as no other user has done before by ingeniously intertwining his extensive knowledge of PROC REPORT with the experiences and unique approaches of over 100 PROC REPORT power users. His simple approach will give even the most novice SAS user the necessary tools to get started with PROC REPORT, and his nicely flowing buildup to PROC REPORT s more complex usability makes this book a jewel for the entire SAS community. Art s PROC REPORT book has, without a doubt, given all SAS users THE POWER TO KNOW(R)! –Rick Mitchell, Senior Systems Analyst, Westat.
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Posted: February 29th, 2008, 1:45am CET by Mr.Blue
Integration of applications within a business and between different businesses is becoming more and more important. The needs for up-to-date information that is accessible from almost everywhere and developing e-business solutions — particularly business to business — require that developers find solutions for integrating diverse, heterogeneous applications, developed in different architectures and programming languages and on different platforms. They have to do this quickly and cost effectively, but still preserve the architecture and deliver robust solutions that are maintainable over time.
Integration is a difficult task. This book focuses on the SOA approach to integration of existing (legacy) applications and newly developed solutions, using modern technologies, particularly web services, XML, ESB, and BPEL. The book shows how to define SOA for integration, what integration patterns to use, which technologies to use, and how to best integrate existing applications with modern e-business solutions. It also shows how to develop web services and BPEL processes, and how to process and manage XML documents from the JEE and .NET platforms. Finally, it also explains how to integrate both platforms using web services and ESBs.
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Posted: February 28th, 2008, 4:46am CET by Crimson
The purpose of this book is to teach you how to use C++ and the object-oriented programming style to produce better-quality programs, with an emphasis on scientific and engineering programs. Most such programs today are written in FORTRAN or C and without the benefit of any particular programming methodology. For small programs of strictly numerical content, FORTRAN or C may be adequate. However, larger programs and programs containing nonnumerical code are too expensive to understand, to revise, and to improve if written in FORTRAN or C. We present object-oriented programming as a design and programming style that addresses these problems and C++ as a programming language designed to allow efficient use of the object-oriented style. If you are still using FORTRAN or C in your programming, we invite you to explore a new world, the world of object-oriented programming in C++. Audience. (more…)

Posted: February 28th, 2008, 4:44am CET by Crimson
This essential resource for Oracle DBAs has been completely updated to cover the new features of Oracle Database 11g, the industry standard Web-enabled enterprise database system. Oracle Database 11g DBA Handbook details each topic with an emphasis on the big picture, enabling you to achieve effective and efficient database management.
You will learn to get up-and-running on Oracle Database 11g, develop and implement applications, manage storage space, and create reliable system backups. New and revised sections cover high availability, performance optimization, information management, and security procedures. Real-world examples and case studies illustrate each concept along the way.
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Posted: February 28th, 2008, 4:27am CET by Crimson
The Windows Presentation Foundation is a key component of .NET Framework 3.0, which is a part of Windows Vista and available for Windows XP. With the Windows Presentation Foundation, 3D images can be displayed regardless of the video-display hardware on the users machine. Focusing on developing user interface objects or simple animations, this book builds on a readers knowledge of Windows Presentation Foundation essentials to demonstrate how to effectively create 3D graphics for Windows. You get the fundamental information for using the Windows Presentation Foundation 3D application programming interface (API), as well as in-depth coverage of mesh geometries. (more…)

Posted: February 28th, 2008, 4:25am CET by Crimson
Flash Designers: push Flash to the next level with After Effects robust toolset.
* Add motion graphics and visual effects to your Flash projects
* Fuse 3D depth into 2D animations
* Prepare Flash animations for broadcast
* Save development time in executing animations
Combine these two powerhouse applications to expand your multimedia horizons. Flash + After Effects gives the experienced Flash designer a working understanding of the After Effects toolset with professional techniques that raise the design bar for Web, broadcast, or CD/DVD delivery. The companion DVD contains project media that permit you to practice essential After Effects skills that include:
* Working with video and the AE timeline
* Using alpha channels for keying and enhancing interactivity
* Putting vector animation to work with Text and Shape Layers, and animation presets
* Creating 3D backgrounds with cameras and lights
* Animating with Behaviors, Parenting, Expressions and the Puppet Tool
You also get a video primer, render and file optimization techniques, and publishing and streaming guidelines.
Combine two powerhouse applications to:
* Add motion graphics and visual effects
* Fuse 3D depth into 2D animations
* Prepare Flash animations for broadcast
* Save development time
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Posted: February 28th, 2008, 4:19am CET by tech-geek
This book is part of the Cisco Press® Fundamentals Series. Books in this series introduce networking professionals to new networking technologies, covering network topologies, sample deployment concepts, protocols, and management techniques.
Grevers and Christner are key contributors to the design and architecture of Cisco application delivery and application acceleration solutions.
- Provide high-performance access to remote data, content, video, rich media, and applications
- Understand how accelerators can improve network performance and minimize bandwidth consumption
- Use NetFlow to baseline application requirements and network utilization
- Ensure network resources are allocated based on business priorities
- Identify performance barriers arising from networks, protocols, operating systems, hardware, file systems, and applications
- Employ application-specific acceleration components to mitigate the negative impact of latency and bandwidth consumption
- Integrate content delivery networks (CDN) to centrally manage the acquisition, security, and distribution of content to remote locations
- Leverage WAN optimization technologies to improve application throughput, mitigate the impact of latency and loss, and minimize bandwidth consumption
- Optimize the performance of WANs and business-critical WAN applications
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Posted: February 28th, 2008, 4:09am CET by tech-geek
In Character Recognition Systems, the authors provide practitioners and students with the fundamental principles and state-of-the-art computational methods of reading printed texts and handwritten materials. The information presented is analogous to the stages of a computer recognition system, helping readers master the theory and latest methodologies used in character recognition in a meaningful way.
This book covers:
- Perspectives on the history, applications, and evolution of Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
- The most widely used pre-processing techniques, as well as methods for extracting character contours and skeletons
- Evaluating extracted features, both structural and statistical
- Modern classification methods that are successful in character recognition, including statistical methods, Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Support Vector Machines (SVM), structural methods, and multi-classifier methods
- An overview of word and string recognition methods and techniques
- Case studies that illustrate practical applications, with descriptions of the methods and theories behind the experimental results
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Posted: February 28th, 2008, 3:47am CET by tech-geek
The definitive guide to planning, architecting, deploying, supporting, and creating Voice over Wireless LAN solutions.
Recent advances make it possible to deliver high-quality voice and video communications over a wireless LAN (WLAN), replacing costly wired telephone and video surveillance systems and dramatically reducing support costs. However, today’s new voice over WLAN (VoWLAN) technologies require fundamentally different skills and techniques from those used in traditional voice and video systems. Now, there’s a complete guide to every facet of VoWLAN deployment: planning, design, installation, security, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
- Understand VoWLAN components, applications, and benefits
- See VoWLAN at work in actual enterprise environments
- Master VoWLAN signaling, including voice signal characteristics, A/D conversion, and compression
- Discover the latest 802.11 VoWLAN standards, including 802.11e, 802.11r, and 802.11k
- Secure IP-based VoWLAN systems against intrusion and compromise
- Analyze your organization’s requirements and design an optimal VoWLAN solution
- Plan for capacity, roaming, and integration with cellular systems
- Install, configure, test, verify, and validate your VoWLAN system
- Plan for operational support and implement appropriate administration tools and methods
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Posted: February 28th, 2008, 2:59am CET by tech-geek
If you are a support professional who sets up, maintains, and troubleshoots desktop applications on Windows Vista, now you can build your skills and prepare for exam 70-623, MCITP: Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista Client for Consumer Support Technicians, the required exam for achieving certification as an MCITP: Consumer Support Technician. Inside this comprehensive study guide you'll find:
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Full coverage of all exam objectives in a systematic approach, so you can be confident you're getting the instruction you need for the exam
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Practical hands-on exercises to reinforce critical skills
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Real-world scenarios that put what you've learned in the context of actual job roles
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Challenging review questions in each chapter to prepare you for exam day
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Exam Essentials, a key feature in each chapter that identifies critical areas you must become proficient in before taking the exam
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A handy tear card that maps every official exam objective to the corresponding chapter in the book, so you can track your exam prep, objective by objective
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Posted: February 28th, 2008, 2:36am CET by tech-geek
Secure and share your digital f iles at home. Access them from virtually anywhere.
Windows Home Server makes automatic backups and easy access the norm. If you see the word "server" and think "difficult," stay with us. This book shows you how simple using Windows Home Server can be.
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Define your needs and choose the Windows Home Server product that best meets them
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Install Windows Home Server and get it running properly
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Create and use accounts and permissions for shared resources
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Manage automatic backups appropriately for your needs
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Set up a system to facilitate data storage on Windows Home Server
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Learn how to recover lost data
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Monitor the health of your network and enhance your security
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Explore the enhanced functionality of add-ins
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Posted: February 27th, 2008, 9:02pm CET by jaybeere
TIME Magazine February 4, 2008 Vol. 171 No. 5
DOC (MS Word) + PDF + MP3 | English | 3.2 + 1.2 + 15 MB
• COVER: The Resurrection of John McCain — Rising from the ashes again, John McCain may be the GOP's only hope for winning the White House in November. But he still has to convince Republicans that he's one of them
• SCIENCE: Scientist Creates Life — Almost–Craig Venter has built the first man-made genome. Soon those genes may cause a cell to come alive. This tiny organism will be Venter's own — and that's just the start
• BUSINESS: Can the World Stop The Slide? — The U.S. is heading into its first recession in a truly globalized world. Here's what to expect–and why it will be different this time
• PEOPLE: 10 Questions for John Grisham — This former lawyer—and lawmaker—found his greatest success writing legal thrillers like The Client and A Time to Kill. His latest book, The Appeal, is out Jan. 29. John Grisham will now take your questions
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Posted: February 27th, 2008, 6:29pm CET by -cosmos-
Posted: February 27th, 2008, 6:28pm CET by -cosmos-
Posted: February 26th, 2008, 5:16pm CET by Mr.Blue
No matter how visually appealing or content-packed a Web site may be, if it's not adaptable to a variety of situations and reaching the widest possible audience, it isn't really succeeding. In Bulletproof Web Desing, author and Web designer extraordinaire, Dan Cederholm outlines standards-based strategies for building designs that provide flexibility, readability, and user control–key components of every sucessful site. Each chapter starts out with an example of an unbulletproof site one that employs a traditional HTML-based approach which Dan then deconstructs, pointing out its limitations. He then gives the site a make-over using XHTML and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), so you can see how to replace bloated code with lean markup and CSS for fast-loading sites that are accessible to all users. Finally, he covers several popular fluid and elastic-width layout techniques and pieces together all of the page components discussed in prior chapters into a single-page template.
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Posted: February 26th, 2008, 5:06pm CET by Mr.Blue
Dive deep into the architecture of Exchange Web Servicesand master the intricacies for accessing data with the new, unifying API. Exchange Web Services offers new functionality, replacing old, disparate APIs. This practical guide introduces developers to Exchange Web Services. It includes comprehensive, in-depth coverage of the architecture and key features, including messaging, folders, calendaring, tasks, notifications, searching, availability, and autodiscovery. Developers who are moving applications using previous APIs to Exchange Web Services will learn how to determine the correct web services constructsand the implications of those decisions. This book assumes only knowledge of how to write HTTP requests, but it provides proxy examples in Microsoft Visual C#.
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Posted: February 26th, 2008, 4:25pm CET by Mr.Blue
This publication is the second in the Research in Design series. Design is an effort that enjoys a growing attention in the academic world. At Delft University of Technology design is a recognized part of science. Like other technical universities, Delft is rooted in the engineering field. And in spite of questions like 'what is design', 'what is engineering' and 'what is science', which can be debated in long sessions, and differences that are hard to explain, it is possible to feel the differences. In this book the authors contribute to the development of a design language for the service domain. In general the engineering discipline is expanding into a field that embraces perspectives of more disciplines and actors, next to the engineer who is responsible for the artifact. The first volume in this Research in Design Series stresses the stakeholder oriented approach in the domain of architecture and urban planning (Binnekamp, van Gunsteren, & van Loon, 2006). The domain in this volume is services. This is a field in which the involvement of different stakeholders with different interests in the design process is particularly a critical success factor.
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Posted: February 25th, 2008, 6:28pm CET by Mr.Blue
Digital Television is as an authoritative and complete overview that describes the technology of digital television broadcasting. It gives you a thorough technical description of the underlying principles of the DVB standard and the various steps of signal processing. Also included is a complete technical glossary of terms, abbreviations, and expressions that gives you quick reference.
Now in it's 3rd edition, Digital Television, this book is completely up-to-date with standard and new technologies including:
- DVB and DVB-S2
- IPTV
- Mobile TV DVB-H
- HDTV
- High Definition formats 1080i and 720p
- Compression including MPEG, H.264, and VC-1
If you are looking for a concise technical briefing that will quickly get you up to speed without getting lost - this is the book you need.
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Posted: February 25th, 2008, 5:42pm CET by -cosmos-
Functional and flexible, this guide takes an objects-first approach to Java programming and problem using games and puzzles. Updated to cover Java version 1.5 features, such as generic types, enumerated types, and the Scanner class. Offers independent introductions to both a command-line interface and a graphical user interface (GUI). Features coverage of Unified Modeling Language (UML), the industry-standard, object-oriented design tool. Illustrates key aspects of Java with a collection of game and puzzle examples. Instructor and Student resources available online. For introductory computer programming students or professionals interested in learning Java.
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Posted: February 25th, 2008, 5:40pm CET by -cosmos-
Posted: February 25th, 2008, 5:38pm CET by -cosmos-
This book continues to reflect our experience that topics once considered too advanced can be taught in the first course. The text addresses metalanguages explicitly as the formal means of specifying programming language syntax.
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Posted: February 25th, 2008, 5:33pm CET by -cosmos-
Protocols and Architectures for Wireless Sensor Networks provides a thorough description of the nuts and bolts of wireless sensor networks.
The authors give an overview of the state-of-the-art, putting all the individual solutions into perspective with one and other. Numerous practical examples, case studies and illustrations demonstrate the theory, techniques and results presented. The clear chapter structure, listing learning objectives, outline and summarizing key points, help guide the reader expertly through the material.
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Posted: February 24th, 2008, 5:59pm CET by Crimson
From rather humble beginnings as the “Personal Home Page” scripting language, PHP has found its way into almost every server, corporation, and dev shop in the world. On an average day, somewhere between 500,000 and 2 million coders do something in PHP. Even when you use a well-understood language like PHP, building a modern web application requires tools that decrease development time and cost while improving code quality. Frameworks such as Ruby-on-Rails and Django have been getting a lot of attention as a result.
For PHP coders, the Zend Framework offers that same promise without the need to move away from PHP. This powerful collection of components can be used in part or as a whole to speed up the development process. Zend Framework has the backing of Zend Technologies; the driving force behind the PHP programming language in which it is written. The first production release of the Zend Framework became available in July of 2007.
Zend Framework in Action is a comprehensive tutorial that shows how to use the Zend Framework to create web-based applications and web services. This book takes you on an “over-the-shoulder” tour of the components of the Zend Framework as you build a high quality, real-world web application. This book is organized around the techniques you'll use every day as a web developer—data handling, forms, authentication, and so forth. As you follow the running example, you'll learn to build interactive Ajax-driven features into your application without sacrificing nuts-and-bolts considerations like security and performance.
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Posted: February 24th, 2008, 5:57pm CET by -cosmos-
Posted: February 24th, 2008, 5:57pm CET by -cosmos-
Posted: February 24th, 2008, 5:56pm CET by -cosmos-
This text is a handbook of instructions written for the programmer or analyst that shows how to insert common algorithmic functions in C# into one's source code. The code is listed on a companion CD for easy transfer to one's current C# program. The first 12 chapters discuss specifics of the Visual C# compiler: the integrated developer environment (IDE); moving projects from one location to another; passing information between windows; Visual C# code placement; classes, constructors, overloading, and helps; data types and declarations; conversions between data types; string manipulation and on-line data storage; branching and looping; and arithmetic.
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Posted: February 24th, 2008, 5:54pm CET by -cosmos-
Posted: February 24th, 2008, 6:07am CET by Mr.Blue
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (officially titled the Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act of 2002), signed into law on 30 July 2002 by President Bush, is considered the most significant change to federal securities laws in the United States since the New Deal. It came in the wake of a series of corporate financial scandals, including those affecting Enron, Arthur Andersen, and WorldCom. The law is named after Senator Paul Sarbanes and Representative Michael G. Oxley. It was approved by the House by a vote of 423-3 and by the Senate 99-0. This book illustrates the many Open Source cost-saving opportunities that public companies can explore in their IT enterprise to meet mandatory compliance requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley act. This book will also demonstrate by example and technical reference both the infrastructure components for Open Source that can be made compliant, and the Open Source tools that can aid in the journey of compliance. Although many books and reference material have been authored on the financial and business side of Sox compliance, very little material is available that directly address the information technology considerations, even less so on how Open Source fits into that discussion.The format of the book will begin each chapter with the IT business and executive considerations of Open Source and SOX compliance. The remaining chapter verbiage will include specific examinations of Open Source applications and tools which relate to the given subject matter, and last a bootable ?live? CD will have fully configured running demonstrations of Open Source tools as a valuable technical reference for implementation of the concepts provided in the book* Only book that shows companies how to use Open Source tools to achieve SOX compliance, which dramatically lowers the cost of using proprietary, commercial applications.* Only SOX book with a bootable-Linux CD containing countless applications, forms, and checklists to assist companies in achieving SOX compliance.* Only SOX compliance book specifically detailing steps to achieve SOX compliance for IT Professionals.
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Posted: February 24th, 2008, 6:03am CET by Mr.Blue
Microsoft Publisher 2007 For Dummies is a 50-75% revision to Microsoft Publisher 2000 For Dummies, covering both the Publisher 2003 and Publisher 2007 editions. The book focuses on three markets: Small and medium-sized businesses using Publisher for marketing campaigns; churches using Publisher to communicate via newsletters and marketing charity events; and schools using Publisher to communicate via newsletters and projects.
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Posted: February 24th, 2008, 6:01am CET by Mr.Blue
Step-by-step guidance on creating manga, the popular Japanese-style comics Featuring youthful characters with oversized eyes and outsized emotions, expressive graphics, and a wide range of genres, Japanese manga (comics) and anime (animated cartoons) have taken the world by storm in the last few decades. And while much of manga still originates in Japan, American comic book and graphic novel publishers have recently begun producing their own home-grown manga. This friendly guide shows would-be manga artists how to get started, explaining manga’s graphic and storytelling conventions and guiding people step by step from preliminary rough sketches to finished full-color art. Complete with eight pages of color illustrations, advice on plotlines and storyboards, and tips on drawing teens, heroes, villains, weapons, cars, homes, and more, it’s the ideal beginner’s guide for aspiring manga artists. Kensuke Okabayashi (Jersey City, NJ) is a professional artist. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts, his work can be seen in everything from comic books to graphic novels to advertising storyboards. Kensuke teaches art classes at the Educational Alliance Art School in New York City.
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Posted: February 24th, 2008, 6:00am CET by Mr.Blue
Get up to speed fast with this full-color guide to Apple’s revolutionary new mobile phone– widescreen video iPod–Internet communications device. Announced to great fanfare, Apple’s iPhone promises to reinvent the market for portable electronic devices, combining mobile phone, music and video player, digital camera, Internet browser, and e-mail in a single sleekly designed, brilliantly engineered package. Illustrated throughout with full-color screen shots and illustrations, this fun and easy guide helps you make the most of all the features of this pioneering device. Discover how to: Make and receive phone calls Set up iTunes and your iPod Buy music and videos Play podcasts, music, videos, and photo slideshows Browse the Internet Send and receive e-mails and instant messages Take and organize photos Sync with your desktop Troubleshoot common problems.
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Posted: February 24th, 2008, 3:15am CET by Crimson
Effective C++ CD is the HTML (Netscape-oriented) version of Scott Meyers' previous two works, Effective C++, Second Edition and More Effective C++. Additionally, five supplementary magazine articles appear in the collection. There are also links to relevant material on the Web which that been added to the current edition and which did not appear in the print edition.
Scott Meyers' work is so well known as scarcely to need introduction. Respect for his C++ acumen and pedagogic skills is so widespread that I was prepared to thoroughly detest his work, which I have encountered often but barely deigned to read to date.
On close examination, I find Meyers' books to be superb.
Of the 50 catechismic "Items" in the body of Effective C++, the vast majority are of critical importance to solid C++ programming. Virtually everything Scott Meyers suggests on these subjects is germane and practical. Where one could conceivably differ with Meyers' approach, his is nevertheless an entirely sound approach.
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Posted: February 24th, 2008, 3:13am CET by Crimson
- Microsoft Expression Interactive Designer will simplify the development of rich, interactive Web applications and this comprehensive reference introduces every tool and characteristic of this new software
- Detailing the ins and outs of the program, veteran authors Gurdy and Mary Leete provide professional Web designers, developers, and serious home users with the know-how they need to create amazing Web sites
- Readers interested in online game development will enjoy the coverage of 3D Web animations-something Flash can't do
- Key topics include working with drawings, text, and 3D objects; adding audio, video, and animation; programming Expression Interactive Designer; and more
- Discusses how to integrate this program with the Vista operating system as well as other components of the Expression suite
The impact of an aesthetically pleasing user interface is remarkable. Web site visitors respond eagerly to attractive, easy-to-use designs, and Blend allows you to create these with much less effort. This A-to-Z guide shows you how to design a new generation of applications that make the most of digital media, including animation, 3D, audio and video, sophisticated typography, and other stunning visual effects—all without bogging down in code. Here's everything you need to succeed with Blend.
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Posted: February 23rd, 2008, 6:04pm CET by witforce
Your in-depth guide to designing and developing secure PHP applications
It’s a hacker’s dream come true: over one million Web sites are now vulnerable to attack through recently discovered flaws in the PHP scripting language. So how do you protect your site? In this book, bestselling author Mohammed Kabir provides all the tools you’ll need to close this security gap. He presents a collection of 50 secure PHP applications that you can put to use immediately to solve a variety of practical problems. And he includes expert tips and techniques that show you how to write your own secure and efficient applications for your organization.
You’ll learn how to:
• Implement the featured applications in business environments such as intranets, Internet Web sites, and system administrations
• Develop e-mail and intranet solutions using PHP
• Determine the importance of certain coding practices, coding styles, and coding security requirements
• Follow the entire process of each PHP application life cycle from requirements, design, and development to maintenance and tuning.
• Use PHP in groupware, document management, issue tracking, bug tracking, and business applications
• Mature as a PHP developer by using software practices as part of your design, development, and software life cycle decisions
• Improve the performance of PHP applications
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Posted: February 23rd, 2008, 6:02pm CET by witforce
"PHP Game Programming" offers you the introduction you need to begin creating your own online games. You'll be amazed at the games you can create with this powerful - and completely free - development tool! Dive right in as you begin with coverage of server configuration and the major features of PHP. Then you're off and running as you use PHP to create and manipulate graphics, develop a chess game using a non-relational database, and send and receive data through sockets. Put your new skills to use as you create your own massively multiplayer online game! From the basics of PHP and HTML to the exciting task of creating dynamic terrain and Flash movies, "PHP Game Programming" will help you turn your online game ideas into reality! (more…)

Posted: February 22nd, 2008, 6:32pm CET by Mr.Blue
Poser 7 is one of the most enjoyable applications for creating realistic animated 3-D characters. In Poser 7 Essential Training, instructor Larry Mitchell explains how to design, pose, and animate 3-D characters using the program's intuitive interface, tools, and workflow.
The training covers everything from essential animation principles to working on the intricate details of individual body parts and complicated facial expressions. Larry also teaches the minute steps required to create characters that can lip-synch to recorded sound files. Advanced topics, such as incorporating HDRI lighting, animating to reference videos, and integrating Poser 7 and Vue 6, add to the full learning experience. Exercise files accompany the tutorials.
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Posted: February 22nd, 2008, 6:26pm CET by ClareGo
InnerWorkings .NET Training provides practical, self-paced training for .NET developers. Using hands-on coding challenges, you learn and practice key .NET techniques in a realistic learning environment. With this sample, you get 2 hours of FREE hands-on learning material on VS 2008 and .NET 3.5. It's fully integrated with Visual Studio 2008 and covers the important new features in C# 3.0 and VB 9.0.
As the offer is available for a limited time only, why not check it out today!
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Posted: February 22nd, 2008, 6:25pm CET by -cosmos-
This book is a study of all the crucial Benoni systems apart from the Modern Benoni. It presents diverse and practical options against the queen's pawn opening for dynamic, tactical players and solid, positional players alike. Included are such daring defences as the controversial Blumenfeld Counter-Gambit and the Benko Gambit, a favourite with uncompromising Grandmasters such as Veselin Topalov and Vassily Ivanchuk. On the other hand, Black also has the opportunity to adopt solid, respectable defences such as the Czech Benoni and the Schmid Benoni. Whether Black likes to sacrifice and take the initiative, or whether he prefers to play in a more restrained manner, there is something here for all types of player.
In this user-friendly book, opening theoreticians Alexander Raetsky and Maxim Chetverik go back to basics, studying the fundamental principles of the Benoni Systems and its many variations. Throughout the book there are an abundance of notes, tips and warnings to help the improving player, while key strategies, ideas and tactics for both sides are clearly illustrated.
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Posted: February 22nd, 2008, 6:23pm CET by -cosmos-
Posted: February 22nd, 2008, 6:20pm CET by -cosmos-
Posted: February 22nd, 2008, 6:18pm CET by -cosmos-
System administrators need to stay ahead of new security vulnerabilities that leave their networks exposed every day. A firewall and an intrusion detection systems (IDS) are two important weapons in that fight, enabling you to proactively deny access and monitor network traffic for signs of an attack.
Linux Firewalls discusses the technical details of the iptables firewall and the Netfilter framework that are built into the Linux kernel, and it explains how they provide strong filtering, Network Address Translation (NAT), state tracking, and application layer inspection capabilities that rival many commercial tools. You'll learn how to deploy iptables as an IDS with psad and fwsnort and how to build a strong, passive authentication layer around iptables with fwknop.
Concrete examples illustrate concepts such as firewall log analysis and policies, passive network authentication and authorization, exploit packet traces, Snort ruleset emulation, and more with coverage of these topics:
- Passive network authentication and OS fingerprinting
- iptables log analysis and policies
- Application layer attack detection with the iptables string match extension
- Building an iptables ruleset that emulates a Snort ruleset
- Port knocking vs. Single Packet Authorization (SPA)
- Tools for visualizing iptables logs
Perl and C code snippets offer practical examples that will help you to maximize your deployment of Linux firewalls. If you're responsible for keeping a network secure, you'll find Linux Firewalls invaluable in your attempt to understand attacks and use iptables—along with psad and fwsnort—to detect and even prevent compromises.
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Posted: February 22nd, 2008, 8:30am CET by Mr.Blue
Learn the basics of Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) and gain advanced configuration, maintenance and troubleshooting skills through examples Learn the fundamentals of Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) Study configuration models and real-world examples that you can use in your own networks Practice troubleshooting scenarios and management exercise to gain a deeper understanding of CEF How does a router switch a packet? What is the difference between routing a packet and switching a packet? What is this CEF feature that is referred to in Cisco documentation and commonly found in Cisco IOS commands? "Cisco Express Forwarding" addresses these questions through comprehensive discussions of Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF). CEF is a term used to describe one of the mechanisms used by Cisco IOS routers and Cisco Catalyst switches to forward packets. CEF offers the benefits of improved performance, scalability, and resilience. CEF is found in almost all Cisco IOS routers and Catalyst switches, however documentation of the topic is very scarce. This book addresses common misconceptions about CEF and packet switching across various platforms. It will help you understand CEF and how to troubleshoot whether there is a CEF or another problem occurring in the network. The book guides you through CEF basics, supplying exercises and troubleshooting scenarios that enhance their ability to recognize common mistakes, as well as to provide them with some models for configurations that they can follow in their own networks.
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Posted: February 22nd, 2008, 8:28am CET by Mr.Blue
"Securing Windows begins with reading this book." –James Costello (CISSP) IT Security Specialist, Honeywell
Meet the challenges of Windows security with the exclusive Hacking Exposed "attack-countermeasure" approach. Learn how real-world malicious hackers conduct reconnaissance of targets and then exploit common misconfigurations and software flaws on both clients and servers. See leading-edge exploitation techniques demonstrated, and learn how the latest countermeasures in Windows XP, Vista, and Server 2003/2008 can mitigate these attacks. Get practical advice based on the authors' and contributors' many years as security professionals hired to break into the world's largest IT infrastructures.
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Posted: February 22nd, 2008, 8:26am CET by Mr.Blue
Building on the success of the first edition, Mobile Messaging Technologies and Services offers extensive new and revised material based upon the latest research and industry developments. While early implementations targeted person-to-person messaging, MMS has now evolved to facilitate such requirements as the mass delivery of time-sensitive messages for content-to-person messaging. This Second Edition exploits the technical maturity of MMS as it is poised to generate a wealth of new business opportunities across the mobile communications sector. The author provides the fundamental technical background required for SMS, EMS and MMS, and supports this with industry cutting-edge developments.
● Contains a revised section on the fundamentals of MMS, including an updated section on GPRS to explain current commercial implementations such as GRX applications.
● Presents the latest developments in MMS standardization, including the design of synchronized multimedia integration language (SMIL) presentations, Digital Rights Management (DRM), transcoding techniques, postcard service and support of advanced multimedia formats.
● Describes the processes for standardizing telecommunications services and technologies (3GPP, OMA, GSM Association, IETF and W3C).
● Provides updated sections on SMS, EMS and heavily revised coverage of the developments in MMS, including MMS interworking and the forthcoming MMS version 1.3.
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Posted: February 22nd, 2008, 8:25am CET by Mr.Blue
The Academy Award–winning Maya 3D animation and effects software is the top choice for film and video artists, game developers, and 3D design professionals. Learn to build, render, and animate your own digital models and scenes, and begin to develop professional-level Maya skills with Introducing Maya 2008.
This new edition of a perennial bestseller is the ideal initiation to 3D and Maya. Starting with the basics, it builds from the ground up, combining straightforward text with practical examples that make it fun and easy to learn Maya's core tools while introducing the latest Maya 2008 features. Follow clear-cut, step-by-step lessons while you learn by doing using a wealth of hands-on files provided on the CD. You'll also find compelling examples in the full-color insert to inspire you.
The enclosed CD features images, movies, and scene files that let you view material from the book. The support files will enable you to complete all of the tutorials. The CD also includes Maya Personal Learning Edition software.
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Posted: February 22nd, 2008, 8:22am CET by Mr.Blue
A Guide to MATLAB Object-Oriented Programming is the first book to deliver broad coverage of the documented and undocumented object-oriented features of MATLAB??. Unlike the typical approach of other resources, this guide explains why each feature is important, demonstrates how each feature is used, and promotes an understanding of the interactions between features. Assuming an intermediate level of MATLAB programming knowledge, the book not only concentrates on MATLAB coding techniques but also discusses topics critical to general software development. It introduces fundamentals first before integrating these concepts into example applications. In the first section, the book discusses eight basic functions: constructor, subsref, subsasgn, display, struct, fieldnames, get, and set. Building on the previous section, it explores inheritance topics and presents the Class Wizard, a powerful MATLAB class generation tool. The final section delves into advanced strategies, including containers, static variables, and function fronts. With more than 20 years of experience designing and implementing object-oriented software, the expert author has developed an accessible and comprehensive book that aids readers in creating effective object-oriented software using MATLAB
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Posted: February 21st, 2008, 7:23pm CET by -cosmos-
Posted: February 21st, 2008, 7:21pm CET by -cosmos-
The first edition set a standard of excellence that has eluded all followers, and I have recommended it to my clients for years. The new edition is a gift to the field and should be required reading for all managers. — Adrian J. Bowles, Ph.D., Vice President, Giga Information Group. One of the most readable introductions you will find. The new edition offers vital insights into the effective use of objects in business. — Chris Stone, President , Object Management Group. The first edition of Object Technology: A Manager's Guide is widely viewed as the classic introduction to this powerful computing concept. Object technology offers increased agility, significant time-to-market reduction, and the opportunity to exploit the potential of the World Wide Web by deploying globally distributed business systems. At a time when many of the world's largest companies are making the transition to object technology, David Taylor has updated his book to address the important issues facing the growth of object technology and to provide a glimpse into the future of this evolving paradigm. In updating this seminal work, David Taylor has retained the signature conciseness and clarity of discussion that made the first edition a best-seller. Object Technology: A Manager's Guide, Second Edition, covers the key terms, emerging concepts, and useful applications of objects. Managers, salespeople, engineers, software developers — anyone interested in understanding or implementing object technology — will find this a lucid introduction to the topic. Highlights of this new edition include: an explanation of how to use objects to create evolutionary software that rapidly adapts to changing business conditions, eliminating the need for most new application development; an introduction to Java, and an explanation of how its use of message interfaces enables a new generation of portable, mix-and-match, Internet-enabled business objects; an update on the state of object databases and extended relational databases, with guidelines for combining the two for optimal information storage; and an introduction to the new generation of object engines and how they combine storage and execution capabilities for maximum software integration.
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Posted: February 21st, 2008, 7:18pm CET by -cosmos-
The fourth edition of this popular pocket guide provides quick-reference information that will help you use Oracle's PL/SQL language, including the newest Oracle Database 11g features. It's a companion to Steven Feuerstein and Bill Pribyl's bestselling Oracle PL/SQL Programming.
This concise guide boils down the most vital PL/SQL information into an accessible summary of:
- Fundamental language elements (e.g., block structure, datatypes, declarations)
- Statements for program control, cursor management, and exception handling
- Records, procedures, functions, triggers, and packages
- Calling PL/SQL functions in SQL
- Compilation options, object-oriented features, collections, and Java integration
The new edition describes such Oracle Database 11g elements as PL/SQL's function result cache, compound triggers, the CONTINUE statement, the SIMPLE_INTEGER datatype, and improvements to native compilation, regular expressions, and compiler optimization (including intra-unit inlining). In addition, this book now includes substantial new sections on Oracle's built-in functions and packages.
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Posted: February 21st, 2008, 7:14pm CET by tech-geek
CCDA Official Exam Certification Guide - Third Edition
- Master all 640-863 exam topics with the official study guide
- Assess your knowledge with chapter-opening quizzes
- Review key concepts with foundation summaries
This official study guide helps you master all the topics on the DESGN exam, including
- Network design methodology
- Network structure models
- Enterprise LAN design
- Wireless LAN design
- Enterprise edge module design
- WAN design
- IPv4 and IPv6
- Routing protocol selection
- RIP, EIGRP, OSPF, and IS-IS
- BGP, route manipulation, and IP multicast
- Security management, technologies, and design
- Voice architectures and IP telephony design
- Network management protocols
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Posted: February 21st, 2008, 7:11pm CET by tech-geek
The definitive guide to collecting usage information from Cisco networks
Understanding network performance and effectiveness is now crucial to business success. To ensure user satisfaction, both service providers and enterprise IT teams must provide service-level agreements (SLA) to the users of their networks–and then consistently deliver on those commitments. Now, two of the Cisco® leading network performance and accounting experts bring together all the knowledge network professionals need to do so.
Network Management: Accounting and Performance Strategies imparts a deep understanding of Cisco IOS® embedded management for monitoring and optimizing performance, together with proven best strategies for both accounting and performance management.
- Compare accounting methods and choose the best approach for you
- Apply network performance best practices to your network
- Leverage built-in Cisco IOS network management system components to quantify performance
- Uncover trends in performance statistics to help avoid service degradation before it occurs
- Identify under use of network paths, so you can improve overall network efficiency
- Walk through hands-on case studies that address monitoring, capacity planning, billing, security, and voice networks
- Understand Cisco network performance, deliver on your SLAs, and improve accounting and billing
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Posted: February 21st, 2008, 2:29am CET by Mr.Blue
This is the eBook version of the printed book.Most design pattern books are based on C++ and Java. But Ruby is different–and the language's unique qualities make design patterns easier to implement and use. In "Design Patterns in Ruby," Russ Olsen demonstrates how to combine Ruby's power and elegance with patterns, and write more sophisticated, effective software with far fewer lines of code.After reviewing the history, concepts, and goals of design patterns, the author offers a quick tour of the Ruby language–enough to allow any experienced software developer to immediately utilize patterns with Ruby. The book especially calls attention to Ruby features that simplify the use of patterns, including dynamic typing, code closures, and "mixins" for easier code reuse.Fourteen of the classic "Gang of Four" patterns are considered from the Ruby point of view, explaining what problems each pattern solves, discussing whether traditional implementations make sense in the Ruby environment, and introducing Ruby-specific improvements. You'll discover opportunities to implement patterns in just one or two lines of code, instead of the endlessly repeated boilerplate that conventional languages often require."Design Patterns in Ruby" also identifies innovative new patterns that have emerged from the Ruby community. These include ways to create custom objects with metaprogramming, as well as the ambitious Rails-based "Convention over Configuration" pattern, designed to help integrate entire applications and frameworks.Engaging, practical, and accessible, this book will help you build better software while making your Ruby programming experience more rewarding.
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Posted: February 21st, 2008, 1:40am CET by Mr.Blue
Webmasters and Web programmers around the world know that PHP and MySQL provide a robust, easy-to-learn, open-source solution for creating dynamic, database-driven Web sites for eCommerce and content management. In fact, PHP is used in one of every three Web sites on the Internet and MySQL has been downloaded millions of times. PHP and MySQL provide a freely downloadable and widely supported alternative to ASP.NET.
Written by the bestselling author of PHP & MySQL For Dummies, this book provides six discreet minibooks that show you not only how to program in PHP, create and administer a MySQL database, and manipulate MySQL data via a Web interface, but also shows you how to create a secure Web site, and how to code the most popular Web applications, such as login programs and shopping cart applications.
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Posted: February 20th, 2008, 8:56am CET by Mr.Blue
Everybody talks about it—how much you can save , and earn, when you start an online investment program. If you’ve decided you’re ready to find out what all the excitement’s about, you’re in luck. Investing Online For Dummies has been completely revised and updated with the latest tools, Web sites, rule changes, and tips that can make online investing easy and profitable. To be a successful online investor, you need to know your way around the Web and you also need to understand something about investments. Investing Online For Dummies can help you make sound financial decisions by: Outlining basic investment fundamentals Explaining how stock options work and helping you determine the value of your employee stock option plan Pointing out costly traps and ways to avoid them Directing you to resources that provide information you need and helping you make sense of it Showing you how to use the Internet to become a savvy investor This 5th edition of Investing Online For Dummies provides clear instructions and ample illustrations, taking you from the basics of online investing to making your own online stock transactions to purchasing bonds online.
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Posted: February 20th, 2008, 8:49am CET by Mr.Blue
Teach yourself the fundamentals of working with Visual Basic 2008 one step at a time. With STEP BY STEP, you work at your own pace through hands-on, learn-by-doing exercises. Whether you re a beginning programmer or new to this specific language, you ll understand the core capabilities and fundamental techniques for Visual Basic 2008 and rapidly build robust, elegant applications. Each chapter puts you to work, showing you how, when, and why to use the latest features of Visual Basic guiding you each step of the way as you create actual components and working applications for Windows. You ll also explore data management and Web-based development topics. PLUS get practice files with sample code and data sets on the companion CD.
Key Book Benefits
Covers the latest enhancements and features of Visual Basic 2008
Provides step-by-step guidance on how to use Visual Basic 2008 with Microsoft Visual Studio® 2008 to create smart-client and Web applications
Features easy-to-follow, logically planned lessons in the popular STEP BY STEP format ideal for anyone with fundamental programming skills
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Posted: February 20th, 2008, 8:44am CET by Mr.Blue
* Django and Turbogears are the two leading MVC frameworks for Python programmers today; MVC frameworks allow programmers to develop and launch Web sites in a fraction of the time required by traditional techniques .
* This Professional Wrox introduces Python developers to these new technologies and explores the concepts and goals behind their designs, such as greater stability, scalability, and database management than current alternatives.
* Teaches Python programmers the idiosyncrasies of developing sites within a framework and explains how they'll be able to take Web sites from inception to launch within a matter of days and cut the number of lines of code to 1/10th or more.
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Posted: February