Computing Recent Picks
October 2009
The underlined title links will take you directly to our catalogue.
Some featured items are linked via a book cover to enable you to read more reviews.
Real world compositing with Adobe Photoshop CS4, by Dan Moughamian, Scott Valentine."In Real World Compositing with Adobe Photoshop CS4, Photoshop experts Scott Valentine and Dan Moughamian explain the key elements involved in planning and executing a composite imaging project. Readers will learn about the importance of the planning process, including tips on how to develop creative ideas and stay organized as their project evolves. In addition, they will pick up vital techniques for acquiring and perfecting source images in Photoshop CS4, before bringing them together as a seamless composite. The powerful new 3D features found in the Extended edition are also discussed as part of a 2D-3D workflow.
Serious photographers and digital artists wishing to produce photo-realistic imagery or surrealistic artwork by blending - or compositing - multiple images and light sources can learn all they need to know right here. Building from the reader's existing skill set of Photoshop fundamentals, the authors provide detailed examples and explanations that cover the newest features in Photoshop CS4 and also utilize a variety of tools and software applications." (Amazon)
jQuery, by Steven Holzner. (2009)
"jQuery is a popular JavaScript library that simplifies event handling, animating, and Ajax interactions for rapid web development. Many companies are using jQuery including: Amazon, Google, Twitter, Bank of America, BBC, ESPN, CBS News, Digg, Reuters, IBM, Netflix, Dell, Oracle, Slashdot, Tecnorati, and Intuit.
Even casual web designers, who create web pages for fun, want to add the latest cool effects to their sites, and jQuery--the fast, flexible JavaScript library--is a tool of choice." (Amazon)
Sams teach yourself TCP/IP in 24 hours, by Joe Casad. (2009)
"In just 24 lessons of one hour or less, you will uncover the inner workings of TCP/IP. Using a straightforward, step-by-step approach, each lesson builds on the previous ones, enabling you to learn the essentials of TCP/IP from the ground up.
Practical discussions provide an inside look at TCP/IP components and protocols.
Step-by-step instructions walk you through many common tasks.
Q&As at the end of each hour help you test your knowledge.
Notes and tips point out shortcuts and solutions and help you steer clear of potential problems." (Amazon)
Best iPhone apps : the guide for discriminating downloaders, by Josh Clark. (2009)
"If you want to load your iPhone or iPod Touch with some interesting apps, odds are you'll be overwhelmed by the number of choices at Apple's App Store -- all 35,000 of them (and counting). What you need is a reliable guide to the best, most useful, and most entertaining iPhone apps, concisely cataloged and described. Well, look no further, because Best iPhone Apps is on its way!
Full of colorful and helpful illustrations, this one-of-a-kind catalog gives you the quick lowdown on each app, with brief tips on how to use it. No other guide can help you sort through the wealth of iPhone apps to find the true nuggets. Written by Missing Manual author and iWork specialist Josh Clark...." (Amazon)
Creating Vista gadgets : using html, css and javascript with examples in rss, ajax, activex (com) and silverlight, by Rajesh Lal.
"Windows Vista Sidebar is a panel located on the desktop of a PC where gadgets can be placed for easy access and reference. These gadgets are small, single-purpose applications, such as clocks, calendars, games, RSS notifiers, search tools, stock tickers, etc, that reside on the Windows desktop and on the Windows Sidebar. The book will be a tutorial to design and develop a gadget. It will provide ready-to-use samples using .NET, XML, CSS and AJAX. After reading the book, a web developer/designer will be confident enough to start developing gadgets for Windows Vista Sidebar. The beginner portion of the book shows an overview of the subject with the design pattern, the architecture and implementation details. The later sections will have solid examples for instant results. In short, the book will tell how to do everything with Sidebar Gadgets using solid, unique examples." (Amazon)
iPod touch for dummies, by Tony Bove.
"Touch up your life with music, movies, e-mail, maps, the Web, and more!" (Book jacket)
Office 2007 in easy steps, by Michael Price.
How to do everything with Windows Vista Media Center, by Joli Ballew and Justin Harrison.
Macs all-in-one desk reference for dummies, by Wallace Wang.
Statistical analysis with Excel for dummies, by Joseph Schmuller.
TCP/IP for dummies, Candace Leiden and Marshall Wilensky.
Check your card I New fiction, DVD and cd lists I How to place a reserve I Borrowing I Contact us
