CD suite puts whole library at fingertips

Encarta

MICROSOFT ENCARTA Premium Suite 2003; RRP $199:

For the ultimate reference package it’s hard to look past Microsoft’s Encarta.

The Premium Suite 2003 is a student reference resource that takes current information and powerful homework tools and packs them into a CD suite that will just about replace a whole library.

Encarta’s updates are delivered via the internet and slot seamlessly into the encyclopaedia, keeping all the information fresh and up to date. There are also links to useful sites to provide extra information on the various articles included in the suite.

The fast-working, built-in search engine gives access to comprehensive and relevant information, bringing together both text articles and multi-media content.

Other features are Encarta Researcher, which helps students collect and organise text and pictures as resources from Encarta and the web and to construct exceptional reports and projects, and a Statistics Centre, giving students charts to compare international statistics on population, religion, temperature, language and more. Live Streaming Media allows access to live MSNBC news, weather information and radio broadcasts worldwide.

Usability of GoLive impresses

Adobe GoLive

ADOBE GOLIVE 6.0, price range $987 to $1112 plus GST:

Ask anyone about WYSIWYG web-building software and Microsoft Frontpage always seems to be at the top of the list. Adobe’s GoLive rarely features as a top pick but I really don’t understand why.

GoLive pulls together every facet of web design in one smart piece of software, from WYSIWYG and code editing to the more hardcore side of things, such as back-end technologies like ASP and PHP.

There are two options for pricing, with or without the addition of LiveMotion, an animation and scripting tool that supports the SWF format for Flash movies.For the minimal price difference it’s worth taking the package bundled with LiveMotion.

Looking at the basic building of websites, I was impressed with the usability of GoLive. I usually hand code and as a rule don’t like WYSIWYG editors because they tend to add a large amount of unnecessary code.While there was a little extra fluff added to the mix when I was tinkering around with GoLive, it wasn’t a lot and it was easy enough to clean up.

Accessing the source code is as simple as clicking a tab and you do have the option of viewing both code and graphic versions of your work.

The new site management and collaboration tool, Web Workgroup Server, will be a huge plus for those developing a site as a group effort. Installed on a local machine, it allows local area network or web access to a project.

For users of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, there are stronger workflow ties between the products.
Tight integration lets Photoshop users bring items into GoLive, with changes made with one application updating to the other.

The whole interface works on a drag-and-drop setup and doesn’t take long to get used to.

It’s surprising just how many options are available in the compact set of palettes that open when you launch GoLive and having the ability of setting up custom palette arrangements for different users works well.

GoLive also comes with a pretty good CSS editor and a strict syntax checker.

This isn’t a program aimed at the hobbyist web designer looking to build a site about their cat, and the price reflects this. However, if you’re looking for a professional package to plan, build and deploy content for the web and wireless devices, this is it.

Kitty with a vacuum cleaner game hero

BLINX THE TIME SWEEPER, for Xbox; RRP $129.95:

A cat with a vacuum cleaner that can control time? Okay, so it doesn’t sound particularly realistic but it is entertaining.

Blinx, the feline star of the game, works at the Time Factory and in the event of a major time accident it is his responsibility to defeat all time monsters, sweep up trash and collect time crystals. Oh, he’s got a princess to save as well.

Of course there is a major time accident, without that there wouldn’t be a game.

Playing as Blinx you must collect the right combinations of crystals to allow you to control time and, of course, save the world. The time controls appear on screen and look much like the controls of a VCR.

Blinx’s main weapon is his trusty vacuum cleaner, which he uses to suck up trash throughout the various levels of the game. The items that go into the cleaner can be spat back out in the direction of enemies to destroy them.

The controls are fine once you get the feel for the game, although it can be a bit confusing at first with so many options to choose from.

However, I found the camera angle was a little hard to follow sometimes.

Blinx follows the pattern of most standard platform games _ collect items, kill monsters and progress to the next level. It could be said that it really isn’t much different from so many other platform-style games but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The cutesy main character and the standard way of progressing through the game will no doubt appeal to the younger gamers − the target audience.

Shuttle, Vatican and back to school

(This is the Online column, written for The Southland Times)

Columbia prior to launch.

The big news this week has been the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its seven crew members.

While thousands of news sites are covering the story, it’s worth remembering that Nasa’s website  has in-depth coverage as well as details about the mission before it took such a disastrous turn.

Shortly after the disaster, United States-based online auction site eBay announced it would not tolerate the selling of Columbia debris. An eBay spokesman said 10 or 15 items related to the disaster had been listed and were quickly removed.

Praise be!

Next time you run into difficulties online, you might just have a higher power to turn to for help.

It seems the Vatican is seeking a patron saint for the internet, with Saint Isidore of Seville the most likely contender.

The 7th century Spanish theologian and scholar was best known for his 20-volume attempt to compile the world’s knowledge.

The Vatican launched its own website in 1996 and Pope John Paul 2 made his first venture into cyberspace two years later when he recited his Sunday Angelus prayers online.

Homework help

The start of a new school year might be a good time to check out some sites that could be used to help with homework.

How Stuff Works does exactly as its name implies, explaining the intricacies of everything from four-wheel-drives to hydropower plants.

HomeworkSpot is a huge portal-type site with information on various subjects broken down by age group.

There is a wide range of information to use here and it’s a site well worth bookmarking.

Tucked away in the Yahooligans directory you’ll find the school bell category. This part of the directory has links to subcategories covering more topics than you can shake a stick at, all of which will be useful for most kids (and quite a few adults).

Chris Pirillo, the man behind the incredibly popular (and incredibly useful) Lockergnome website and newsletters (www.lockergnome.com) has launched a new site specialising in online advertising.

Rent My Chest! (www.rentmychest.com) offers advertisers the opportunity to have the message of their choice written on Chris’ chest in marker pen.

So far the chest ads have included a range of website address, a peace message and a marriage proposal.

Hitting the slopes from the comfort of your couch

AMPED FREESTYLE SNOWBOARDING, for Xbox, RRP $64.95:

Ampped for XboxIt may be the middle of summer here in New Zealand but anyone who would rather be a snow bunny than a sun worshipper can relive winter with Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding.

Playing as a novice snowboarder out to learn the slopes, Amped lets you takes a few runs to get familiar with the controls and moves.

Focusing more on technique than speed, the game gives points based on tricks and where you execute them.

There doesn’t seem to be a correct route to take in any of the runs, just find the one that suits you best and try to get as many tricks in as you can to boost your points tally.

In career mode there are chances to unlock new sections by scoring more points than the run’s champion. Bonus points are awarded for performing tricks near the media.

You’ll see a media sign letting you know it’s time to crank up your ski slope creativity and if you realise you can’t get enough air to pull off that zippy little move you had planned you can always run over a photographer.

Not great for the points total but still somewhat satisfying.

Tricks play an even greater role here than in most snowboarding games but these tricks are more realistic.

Some runs have goals like performing a trick to impress a sponsor or following a champion and mirroring the tricks performed.

At the start of the game the options are four mountains with four runs _ the rest of the game is unlocked as you conquer the existing runs. Replays will help until you get the hang of things.

The controls are a little hard to master, particularly in the landings, but that’s all part of the fun.

The audio in the game lets you know how well you are doing without having to check your points, and taunts and compliments from rival boarders and the cameramen are included.

Amped’s soundtrack can be a bit annoying at times but there are also some good tracks included and you have the option of ripping music from your own CDs.

The web’s weirdest links

As 2002 draws to a close now seems as good a time as any to announce my choices for the best of the net’s weird links.

During the past 12 months I’ve scoured the net looking for interesting sites with my trusty sidekick Seymour the cat. It’s at his insistence that the first award is made.

The Kitty Litter award for gratuitous use of cutesy kittens to sell a site: there was tough competition in this category, with Bonsai Kitten and its range of techniques for this ancient art and Rate My Kitten’s endless photos of cute and not-so-cute kittens. However, in the end it came down to two offerings from one site. Rather Good’s While Punk Kittens, the combination of Led Zeppelin and kittens proved too good to beat –so the award goes to Viking Kittens.

The interweb thingy award for computer torture: Stupid Computer Tricks features a series of photos showing what NOT to do to your computer that will have IT-types around the world clutching their pocket protectors in fear. Check it out soon, the webmaster plans to remove the gallery possibly within the next week.

The sad but true award: I’m not sure what I find more disturbing, that Talking Presidents is the first and only creator of United States presidential action figures or that the company’s first release – the George W Bush doll featuring 17 different phrases in his own voice – is currently sold out.

The Take This Job and Shove It award: Tired of the daily grind? Ready for a career change? Become a minister with the Universal Life Church – it’s free and, according to the site, 100 percent legal. You can become an ordained minister and start your own ministry or church of any faith or religion with this very inclusive organisation (yes, they even accept cats, Seymour is now taking bookings for weddings). The site says “Yes, YOU can be a legally ordained minister just five minutes from now. Yes, we offer free online ordination and it takes only three minutes … Now where did those extra two minutes come from?

The Tiny Tim small but interesting award: Point your browser Guimp to take a look at the world’s smallest site.Yes, it’s small but perfectly formed.

The Paul Holmes small but annoying award: the infamous hampster dance site is still bouncing around. Will those hamsters ever quit?

The word-a-day toilet paper award: the Dialectizer takes text or other web pages and instantly creates parodies of them using different dialects. You can choose from redneck, jive, cockney, Elmer Fudd, Swedish chef, moron, pig Latin or hacker.

The Mr Ed award for just plain weird use of horses: This little flash movie of four singing horses kept Seymour entertained for a good 10 minutes.

Public service award: Courtesy Flush, where you’ll find the answers to life’s real etiquette questions, including what level of conversation is acceptable when using a urinal.

The Helen Clark artistic merit award: This prestigious award just had to go to Stick Death Theatre for the quality drama on offer. Here you’ll find it all – sex, intrigue, death and more. Shakespeare, eat your heart out.

The I should be a government consultant money for nothing award: We had a tie in this category. First up is the Amazing send me a dollar website, where the webmaster simply asks that you send him a dollar to post on his message board and help him get his 15 minutes of fame. So far the tally stands at $4934.28. There’s also Save Karyn, where Karyn is asking the world to help her pay off her debts. Her surprisingly successful venture has netted $13,323.08 to date.

And a drumroll please … The saving the best for last award: an interview with God will provide a few chuckles while still delivering a timeless message and some sensible lessons, such as do no harm and don’t pierce your nipples.

What’s in a name?

(This is the Online column, written for The Southland Times)

If you’ve ever wondered what your name means, wonder no more.

Behind the Name covers the etymology and history of first names.

Interestingly, our very own editor Fred Tulett’s name means peaceful ruler.

Anyway, I decided to find out what my name means and discovered the net can be a depressing place.

I looked up Jillian and it said it was a variant of Gillian.

So I looked up Gillian, it said it was the feminine version of Julian.

Next stop, Julian – from the Roman name Julianus, which was derived from Julius.

After finally getting to Julius in the list I read that it was possibly derived from Greek – downy-bearded – all that clicking just to be told I need a shave.

The Hobbit name generator, which takes your real name and gives you the Hobbit equivalent, was only slightly kinder, christening me Myrtle Knotwise of Michel Delving.

If you’ve ever wondered what your Jedi name might be, and haven’t we all, then wonder no more. It’s comforting to know that if I ever felt the urge to take up the light sabre I’d know what to write on the tags sewn into the back of my Jedi robes: Allji Mainv of the planet Augmentin.

Speaking of names, Who Named It details those fortunate enough to have had a disease or disorder named after them, including English surgeon Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie who gave his name to a specific type of haemorrhoid.

I wonder if he put it on his business card?

Finding a voice via blah.net

While some might say computers are antisocial, there are many thriving communities on the internet.

The New Zealand-based Blah.net online community site was launched only a few months ago and already is a busy little place with forums covering every topic imaginable.

Blah is, according to site administrator/owner Scott, the place to voice yourself – nicely.

People from all throughout New Zealand, along with a sprinkling of Aussies and Americans, populate the forums and I’ve also spotted a Canadian.

Apart from posting in the various forums, which cover everything from pets to bad jokes, users can also take part in live chat.

The message board on the Trade Me auction site  has become a little heated lately with flame wars and Trade Me users expressing their annoyance at what they believe to be a distinct lack of customer service on the part of the site’s management.

As a result of this, many of the people who were once regular posters on the message board at Trade Me have migrated to Blah.

 

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