Simple CMS for Windows SharePoint Services

Thanks Mike for your video!Working with Heather and the team at Pixelmill is a great experience. We are sure that more great work will come out of that cooperation.Overview of new simpleCMS templates for WSS from PixelMill.com. for more info see www.mikegannotti.com


Video: Simple CMS for Windows SharePoint Services

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Problems opening and editing Excel files from SharePoint? (Windows Vista?)

When using Windows Vista there is a special annoyance when working with files stored on a SharePoint 3 document library. I just lost one hour finding a solution and I would like to share it with all of you cursing Windows Vista.

The symptom is: all the files are opened in "read only" mode, therefore is not possible to edit the files and saving them on the same document. Excel pushes you to save it locally, and that is certainly terrible because then you have to upload the files to the SharePoint complicating the work and of course multiplying the chances of overwriting the wrong version of the same document.

What you need to do is to "Check out" the document. Then you can work as you did with Windows XP.

Then there are some other interesting ways of working with that system of checking in out. But that will be covered in a future post.

Simple CMS for SharePoint

Definitively Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) is one of the most powerful web collaboration tools available. It is so easy to edit that many dreamed to have it for editing their company web sites.
Out of the box WSS looks a bit boring and that's why many opted for other kind of solutions for web sites:


Pixelmill just announced the SharePoint Simple CMS, and that is actually the solution to the boring look of WSS plus some enhancements in the editing capabilities. Pixelmill's great graphic design templates are now editable! and with a SharePoint hosting service you could have your web site running in minutes (depending on the service).

B4Contact, the company I work for, developed the SharePoint Simple CMS in cooperation with Pixelmill. Boris Gomiunik is responsible for the development of SharePoint Simple CMS and he is serious about WSS as you could see on his Blog.

Here some samples of web sites working with the SharePoint Simple CMS:


You can see more samples in http://www.sharepointcms.com/templates.aspx

I personally think this will help thousands of organizations and individuals to have a powerful Web site, editable from the same browser and with possibilities of having collaboration intranets or project based web sites. I think Schools and small business will be the most interested.
Some of the characteristics:

• Editable from the browser
• RSS feeds enabled
• Picture gallery integrated with the CMS
• Different levels of authentication

If you would like to know more contact me or simply visit www.sharepointcms.com

Adobe Photoshop Express

After many months from its announcement finally Adobe released a beta version of its online application for managing and editing images: Adobe Photoshop Express.
You will need to create an account no matter if you have an adobe account (very strange... maybe I made a mistake).
The great thing is that it works in Safari, Firefox and IE no matter if you use Windows or Mac based computer.
It also makes easy to upload multiple images at the same time and the editing capabilities are really cool.
By placing the mouse cursor over an uploaded image gives many options (img 1).

Img. 1

The editing options are powerful and very easy to use. In the Img.2 you can see a list of available functions and on the Img. 3 you can see one of the screen that gives you automatic previews of different tint options.

Img 2

Img. 3

The 99 pound Laptop

My comments about the Yahoo and Microsoft situation

Do you think Microsoft and Yahoo will hear our opinions about their "business"?

I think that they would if many of us would talk about it. So I dared to publish my comments and advise to each company about that interesting transaction.
Click here to read the article.

sneak peak:

Online conferencing: Adobe Brio

I've been using Adobe Brio for a few weeks now. According to Adobe this is the definition of the service: "Brio is a web meeting service designed for small collaborative meetings for individual professionals and small businesses. With Brio, you can instantly communicate and collaborate through an easy-to-use, easy-to-access online personal meeting room.".
I find it very good! even it is only for 3 participants at a time for small business it is rare to have more persons in one conference.

Brio is the code name for the next generation of "Adobe Acrobat Connect", it is 100% usable in a Web Browser and no matter if you use a PC a Mac or a Linux computer. Brio works with Adobe Flash 9 (free download). You can Enter to a Brio conference room like a guest or like the host. Guests doesn't need to create an Adobe account.

Brio lets you share documents and make them available for download to all participants. That means that you could be uploading documents before the meeting starts in order to share important information for the guests. During the conference it is also possible to upload documents.

Within the Brio environment you will find many tools, they are called "pods". One of them that is very cool, even I didn't use it in any of the past meetings, is the "whiteboard". It lets you draw basic shapes, write texts and format the elements with different colors. When someone draws something the rest of the participants will see the drawings on their screens as well.

One of the most interesting characteristics of Brio is the possibility of sharing your computer screen. That is just great! works perfect and it is certainly the ideal tool for showing persons how to perform tasks with their computers, like a customer support tool. The great thing is that it works no matter wich OS you are working with. I could see my friend's screen (Windows Vista) while I was on a Mac.


"Shared notes" is one of the less cool "pods" but certainly is the most useful. Any participant can add notes and that is really helpful to have a resume of the meeting. Then you just need to copy the text and send it by email to the participants to not forget the agreements and conclusions.


Brio is integrated with a telephone conferencing system. It is free for the countries that are listed. In my case, Slovenia is not listed but that is not a problem because using Skype I could call to the free telephone number for United States and I had to pay nothing!

There are many more interesting things about Brio that you should check. You can use a web cam and use a chat room as well.

Don't forget that the documents, notes and drawings will be erased automatically after exiting the conference. At this moment you can't store the files or save the meeting configuration for later use. Remember that Brio is a free service in Beta version. But certainly covers my expectations.

Message from an Apple representative about iPod touch upgrade:"...This software upgrade is available only where the iTunes Store is available..."

So it looks like there is nothing to do. The upgrade for iPod Touch is not available at this moment for people like me. So all of us that bought the iPod Touch in the past few days or weeks with the hope of more software within it... we are fried.
The e-mail message is:

"Dear Jose Antonio,

Thank you for inquiring about the new iPod touch software upgrade that adds the Mail, Stocks, Maps, Weather, and Notes applications to iPod touch.

This software upgrade is available only where the iTunes Store is available. Unfortunately, we currently do not have an iTunes Store in your country, so you will not be able to take advantage of this software upgrade.

Although I cannot comment on future expansion plans of the iTunes Store, please rest assured that we are committed to bringing the iTunes Store to people around the world.

Thank you for your interest in the iTunes Store and iPod touch. Apple appreciates your business.

Sincerely,

Stephanie
iTunes Store Customer Support
http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/ww/"

iPod Touch upgrade

As many of you know, Apple released today a great update to the iPod Touch. It makes the gadget useful in my opinion. Before that is just an beautiful ipod with a under-used screen and interface. Now... it makes sense.

For owners of iPod Touch: bad news! you need to buy the software upgrade. That sounds to me strange. But for users of iPod Touch residents on any country that is not included in the "allowed" list for creating accounts in the iTunes store... they are fried! because you can't but the upgrade. I live in Slovenia, I bought the iPod Touch in a local authorized reseller, and I can't create an account in iTunes, therefore I can't upgrade. Let's hope that Apple will fix that mistake!

For any new iPod Touch: good news! your gadget will be loaded with the software. Just double check on your local retail store... otherwise you will be pushed to pay 20 dollars.

New from Apple: A new server and a new powerful workstation

Apple unleashes new Xserve and new Mac Pro.
2 very powerful choices going to fight with PC manufacturers like HP and Dell. Why?
Apple is known for making good machines for people working on multimedia and design. And it looks like they don't want to forget that space of the market and let it to their competition. That goes for the Mac Pro.
Xserve is making a change: unlimited user licenses including in the price of the server. That makes me think that Apple is thinking on becoming a good alternative for Web servers. The Mac OS X Server sounds interesting because it tries to compete with Microsoft by including a Calendar server named iCal Server like part of the OS; Microsoft offers that with Exchange Server. They also include Wiki Server like an alternative for Blog and Wiki hosting, something that could become competition to Windows SharePoint Services.
MacWorld starts in one week.