XMP Metadata

Assignment 3 in COIN78b instructs us to print xml data using the xmp tag.  I really don't understand what that's all about, but I did find a rather interesting video put out by Adobe on XMP.  So, I'll store it here for future reference!  Meanwhile, I'll keep plugging away.  Supposedly the class is over this Friday, and I am roughly 5 weeks behind.  YIPES!





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XMP Metadata

Assignment 3 in COIN78b instructs us to print xml data using the xmp tag.  I really don't understand what that's all about, but I did find a rather interesting video put out by Adobe on XMP.  So, I'll store it here for future reference!  Meanwhile, I'll keep plugging away.  Supposedly the class is over this Friday, and I am roughly 5 weeks behind.  YIPES!





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Web Designers vs Developers

Here's a great graphic on the differences between web designers and web developers.

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Consuming Web Services

Here's a video on creating and consuming web services using Microsoft Visual Studio 8. I'm not prepared to explain what this is all about yet - I'm still studying it! But, I'll embed this video here for later reference. Someday, hopefully, I'll know what it's all about!


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Object-Oriented Programming

Here's a GREAT video on using JavaScript and object-oriented programming.  The examples are explained well, and sample code is available.  I will have to study this one!


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FTP on the Go

Here's a good idea - FTP on the Go enables you to upload and EDIT your webpages!  Now, I'm not sure I really want to attempt this from my iPhone, but I like the ability to do so.  It's so frustrating not being able to edit pages when I find errors.  I especially like the idea of being able to add links "on the go".  So - here's a video - check it out!  BTW - I found out about this from the recent Business Week issue touted as "The CEO Guide to Mobile Apps".


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Arrays into Methods

Here's another video by Bucky ("the new Boston"), #32 in a series on Java Tutorials. This one is on passing arrays into methods. I've posted it here so I can find it again, because I think I may need it one day!


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Methods and Parameters

Well, I signed up for an XML class, but it looks like I need to learn some Java too! The biggest problem has been parameters and methods. Luckily for me, I found this video that helps to highlight the difference between the two, and demonstrates how to use them. Check it out!


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JavaScript and the DOM

Here's a 10-minute video that's chock full of info about using JavaScript to traverse the DOM.  What is the DOM?  It's the Document Object Model, as specified by the W3C.  More than that, it's the road-map to web pages.  Each element (tag), text, comment, or attribute, has a specific location in a web page.  If you know how to read the "map", or DOM, than you can reach any of these elements, and alter them.  This is the tool that allows web designers to make their web pages interactive, and allows web viewers to get the most current version of their favorite web pages. It's really one of the slickest tools around, so have a look.  I must admit, I'm hardly a pro, but I think I'll find this one of those irreplaceable web tools that I'll come to rely on - once I get the hang of it!


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Stopwatch

Here's a blogging tool tip: go to Stopwatch, enter your blog's URL, and test out how fast it loads.  My results: 3.39 seconds.  Now - is that good, or bad?  No idea... Anyway, here's the link: http://www.numion.com/Stopwatch/index.html
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Transforming XML with Saxon9

Why couldn't I find this video when I needed it?  Anyway, it's never too late to find out how to do something.  In this case, the silent movie shows how to add an environmental variable showing the classpath to the Saxon9 file.  That seems to be the hardest part of using Saxon to transoform XML files using XSL stylesheets - just finding it!  The rest, it appears, is easy...


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Parsing XML via DOM

Here's a video about how to parse XML code using the DOM. I'm finding out that videos are the best way for me to learn this stuff - seeing is believing; a picture is worth a thousand words; etc. I tried to copy the code from the link at the end of the video, but it didn't work. Too bad...


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ScanSnap-py

Here's a quick musical interlude, with a video from ScanSnap showing how to add a scanned page to an Adobe pdf file.  Love that ScanSnap!! Love this video...


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Setting up a Java Path

I have had the dickens of a time trying to figure out how to use the FOP (Formating Objects Processor) from Apache that will enable me to do my homework for the XML class I'm taking.  It's already week 5, and I still don't have my software set up.  HELP!!!!  Well, I finally turned to YouTube, and there it was: a video showing me how to create the environment variable for the Java that is already on my system.  Here's the video, and let's hope it works!!




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Datasets with Dreamweaver

This week's lesson in COIN 78b (Internet Programming with XML)is dealing with data - how we can learn to display it using XML and HTML. What a coincidence to discover this video about creating datasets with Dreamweaver. Check it out!


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XSLT video

I've been having trouble figuring out how to transform an XML page into HTML using an XSL document. Lots of letters, no? Basically, I want to be able to put design styles on my XML page. Here's a video that shows a little bit about how to do it. Unfortunately, the sound is so low, it's hard to hear what's going on. However, we can see what's happening. Maybe if I view it a dozen times, I'll figure it out!!


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FlipBoard

Website Magazine features a video about a new iPad app: the FlipBoard. All the more reason to get an iPad!

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Stanza eBook

It seems like everyone now has eBook readers! Here's a new one from Stanza:



Having watched this video, I think I'll download the app. It seems to operate a lot like the iPhone itself, and it has options I've been looking for. I LOVE my Kindle, but it feels a little clunky at times. I'll let you know how Stanza works out...
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Excel Data to XML

I cannot believe the video I just saw - Convert Excel Spreadsheet Data to XML. Wow - he makes it look easy! I'll have to try this out. If it really IS this easy, than I am sold on the idea of learning XML. Watch the video for yourself:



I'll report back later what I find out...
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Accessible PDFs

Xenos provides a way for corporations to create accessible .pdf documents, for the sight-impaired. The video below is quite interesting - it describes WHY this is a necessary web tool, and HOW it makes using the Web easier for many Americans.



One of the capabilities of XML is its facility in creating almost any type of file, whether for print or for the Web. I imagine the way the Xenos software works is in just such a way - it transforms information in an XML format into an accessible PDF file. Maybe we'll learn more about this in this class. In any case, it's nice to learn that the Web is becoming more accessible...
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XML is next...

I have signed up for Robert Cormia's counrse in XML, and am looking forward to it.  It may be a challenge, doing 12 weeks work in six weeks (and being "on-the-road" for one-third of that time!), but hopefully well-worth the time and effort and expense.  Biggest problem - I have so many projects in mind, it'll be hard deciding just where I want to focus. Recipes, photo albums, travel locations, household inventory - all look like they could use some XML coding.  Time will tell, what wins out...

Here's a few links that may be useful:

• Foothill College's COIN 78 - eXtensible Markup Language
• Google's Directory of XML Tutorials
• IBM's New to XML
• O'Reilly's XML from the Inside Out
• W3C Schools' Tutorial on XML
• W3C's XML Definitions

If any of my classmates (or instructor) come across this blog, feel free to add to it! Any information shared is appreciated.
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Apple Algorithms

GigaOM had a good article on How the Web Reads You. In it, they talk about how Apple uses algorithms to figure out what you want (and might buy!). In particular, they show how Apple operates it's Genius iTunes recommendations.  It's always good to know how the inner-engine works - check it out!
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JavaScript Live

I just finished the SitePoint class on JavaScript Live. Loved it! Kevin Yank does a really great job of introducing students to JavaScript and JQuery. It's actually quite a full-featured class, and provides students with two key code examples: an accordion menu, and a weather widget. Another cool feature is the video chats: At the end of weeks 1, 2, and 3 there was a one-hour web-cast, which was recorded and posted on UStream. Check it our for yourself: JavaScript Live on USTREAM. For tips on JQuery, check out Learning jQuery.
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TinEye - Amazing!

Here's a GREAT new Internet feature - a reverse image search. What's that, you say? It's something that allows you to upload an image, or link to an image on a webpage, and then the search engine looks for all other images online that match the "fingerprint" of your image. How's it work? Check out this video!


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Tungle Me!

I don't know if this is a good thing, or a bad thing, but it does sound like a FUN thing! I'm looking for a way to set up a family conference call with my father. We've used WebEx, but that required my brother to initiate the call. What we need is something that I can initiate wherever I am. AND, something easy for techno-phobes and "illiterates" to easily operate!! Well, let's check this out...



PS - Something new to me on this YouTube video is the use of Privacy Enhanced Settings. I have no idea how it works, but let me know if it doesn't!
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Photoscape Plus

Here's a photo program that looks appealing - Photoscape:



My only question is - Do I really need another photo program? I'm going a little nuts as it is. I use PhotoShop CS4, Adobe PhotoShop Elements 5, Picasa, and Windows Picture Gallery. It's getting confusing!! Online, I use Flickr and Picasa, and have accounts also with PhotoBucket, Slide, youTube - YIPES!

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eBundled Books

Do you own a Kindle? Well, I'm one of the lucky ones that does. BUT, how do I get free content for it? I've used the Kindle store on Amazon, but have recently discovered another way: SitePoint Books are now available in the MOBI format, which apparently is what the Kindle uses. I'm about to try it out. I took advantage of the SitePoint offer of 5 e-book-bundles (5 books, each in PDF, EPUB, and MOBI format) for $29.95, and have already downloaded them. The video embedded here shows us how easy it is to access these books on the Kindle. If it works, I'll soon have some new books available for my viewing pleasure!




BTW - I think the EPUB format is viewable on iPhone. I'll save that adventure for another day!

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Read It Later Digest

Read it Later, an add-on for the Firefox browser, has added something new: a DIGEST. This nifty tool will automatically categorize the articles you save, so that they're easier to read when you finally get around to it. As an added feature, you can create your own "folders", or topics. Unfortunately, they've added a price tag. Even $5 is a deterrent to me - but it may not be for you! Check it out!!


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The Comeback

Thanks to Joe at: THISAPARTMENTLIFE
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Browse Inside

Here's a cool idea: HarperCollins Publishers allow you to add a widget to your webpage that enables one to "brownse inside" of a book. What a way to drum up sales - and a pretty nifty idea, too! Let's test it out:

Browse Inside this book Get this for your site

The book itself looks pretty interesting. It's Peter Hessler's story of his experiences driving in China. And you thought YOUR city was challenging! Would love to experience this in person...
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Incredible Bookmarks

Here's an idea I got from the SF Chronicle's Tech writer, David Einstein: Incredible Bookmarks, an add-on tool for Firefox. What appeals to me is the ability to colorcode bookmarks and folders, and the ability to find out when bookmarks expire, or if there are duplicates. I'll try it out for awhile and let you know! Meanwhile, here's a video that shows what it's all about:


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Desktop Piles Possible

It is now possible to create piles on your desktop, using the 3-D tool from BumpTop. Check out this video:



I came across reference to this tool in the April 27, 2009 Business Week article, "Thinking Outside the Desktop", by Stephen Wildstrom. I haven't tried it out yet, but I'm a'thinkin' of it! Just goes to show - it takes me awhile to test out ideas...Have you tried this? Let me know if it works!
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