Skylarking

There are quite a few web design software packages to choose from today. Undoubtedly the big dog on the block is Adobe’s Dreamweaver CS5. Personally, I prefer Microsoft Expressions Web 4. If you use Microsoft Word regularly, you’ll probably like Expressions Web, too, as the interface will already be familiar. Granted there is more to web site design than typing, but this will give you a good jumpstart.

Microsoft Expression Studio 4 Web Professional Upgrade Download $79.95

Even if you use Dreamweaver already, you will find that Expressions Web 4 is capable of working with many of your Dreamweaver files and templates. As a matter of fact, I am part of a design team for another website, and most the programmers work with Dreamweaver and they aren’t even able to tell that I’m not using Dreamweaver.

Also, if you’ve used Microsoft FrontPage then you should consider getting the Microsoft Expression Studio 4 Web Professional Upgrade Download for only $80 from the Microsoft Store. Expressions Web has replaced Frontpage as Microsoft’s flagship web design package. I once used FrontPage, and I love working with Expressions Web.

IF you must know, Expressions Web can also allow you to explore new artistic possibilities and create compelling graphic designs and illustrations for the web. I incorporates the latest tools such as Silverlight, Flash (animation), Deep Zoom, and Windows Media files (video) with drag-and-drop ease. It allows the use of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) for generating elegant, modern layouts with a state-of-the-art design surface. It’s also compatible with Photoshop in that it allows you to import those files directly, with complete control over the layers. I also handles popular image formats like PNG, GIF, and JPEG. If already a fluent programmer you’ll enjoy support for PHP, HTML/XHTML, XML/XSLT, CSS, JavaScript, ASP.NET or ASP.NET AJAX.

If you don’t have a web design program yet, you can also get the full Microsoft Expression Studio 4 Web Professional Download for $149.95 from the Microsoft Store. They’ll even allow you to try it out for 60 days without a purchase.

I don’t have any complaints with Windows 7 whatsoever. Really I don’t, but I have read about some people experiencing a problem accessing the G1′s SD card with Windows 7.

Okay, I experienced this problem too, but, luckily, I knew how to fix it.

What happened? I was connecting my T-Mobile G1 Smartphone to my computer to backup the memory chip in the phone. For your information, the G1 was the first phone to use Google’s Android Operating System for smartphones. Today’s leading Android based phones are Verizon’s Droid, Google’s Nexus One, and T-Mobile’s new Samsung Vibrant.

But, as they say, I digress.

HTC Dream (T-Mobile G1)

Shortly after upgrading to Windows 7, I attached my G1 to my PC via the docking station, and then I “mounted” the SD card in the G1 by selecting “Mount” option from the G1′s notification panel.

Now, for those who don’t have a G1, you “mount the SD card” — sounds ‘dirty’, I know — so you can transfer files to and from the SD or memory card in the phone to your computer.

But, now, with Windows 7, one time I attached my G1 via its USB cable (or docking station) I saw a notification on my computer’s desktop that Windows was “installing a driver” for the “HTC Dream”. (For your information, HTC is the company that makes the G1 for Google and T-Mobile. Dream is HTC’s model name for the G1).

I had never seen this happen before, but I thought it was cool because I was thrilled that Windows 7 was capable of recognizing so many devices when they were attached to the computer.

My thrill was short lived.

Once I mounted the card, and I double clicked the “Computer” icon on the desktop, I expected to see an icon, as I had in the past, that represented the SD card in my phone.

The icon wasn’t there.

I unmounted the card, remounted it, and, again, no icon for the card visible after double-clicking the Computer icon.

Uh oh!

This meant I wouldn’t be able to get my files the old fashioned way. Instead, I would have to remove the card from the phone and insert it into the memory card reader on my desktop computer. That would work, but I would prefer being able to just access he chip by attaching the phone to the computer as I always had.

The Fix. Here’s the solution for anyone who has experienced this problem, too.

1. Right-click the Computer icon.
2. Click Properties.
3. Click Device Manager.
4. Locate “HTC Dream” on the list. You may need to double click a few items on the list to reveal the HTC Dream listing. I think I found it under “Other Devices”.
5. Double-click HTC Dream.
6. Click the Driver tab.
7. Click Update Driver.
8. Select “Mass Storage Driver”.
9. Click OK to close out the dialog boxes.

Now when I connect my T-Mobile G1 via its USB cable or dock, and then mount the SD card, I am able to access the G1′s memory chip and transfer my files without a hitch.

We’re all aware of the use of computers and blue-screens to add backgrounds in the movies and television shows we watch, and — thanks to low-cost digital computers and cameras — now anyone can add fantastic backgrounds to their own photos, and the key is Green Screen Wizard. This software is great for the hobbyist or the professional.

Green Screen Wizard is a software and photo package that makes it easy for you to do professional Green Screen Special Effects (also known as “ChromaKey Effects”) with your camera and computer. And, as they say, it’s as easy as 1-2-3:

1. Take a picture of someone against the provided 5′x7′ portable green screen backdrop
2. Transfer the picture to you computer
3. Match the picture to a provided background, and Green Screen Wizard does the rest.

Green Screen Test Drive. The basic trial package of Green Screen Wizard costs $79 for the next 4 days. But Skylarking readers can take 20% off ANY PURCHASE at GreenScreenWizard, where it’s easy to get started producing green screen effects for photography and video! Enter GSPP20JUNE during checkout.

The 20% off code expires on 6/30/10.

Green Screen Lite includes:

1. 5×7 Popup Screen
2. 20 Magazine Covers
3. 120 Backgrounds in six collections

Upgrade. Maybe you’re a professional or semi-professional events photographer. If you decide you like the trial package and you want to do more, you can apply $50 from your trial package purchase towards an upgrade. The full package is available as a digital download for $99, or you can have the physical package shipped to you for about $170.

Their standalone photography software runs on Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7. They also sell Photoshop Plugins that run on Windows and Macintosh computers.