January 13, 2009
Picasa for Mac!
December 02, 2008
Press Release: Canvastic LLC Launches a Web Version, Canvastic.NET
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Steve Gandy
303-359-9836
Canvastic LLC Launches a Web Version, Canvastic.NET
'Really Simple Easy Page Publishing for Primary Students'
Lafayette, CO December 2, 2008 - Canvastic LLC announces the launch of their first online version of the popular publishing solution for students and teachers called Canvastic.NET. Canvastic version 3.5, is the desktop application for Macintosh and Windows computers. This web application version, .NET, extends the use of Canvastic to any computer anywhere with Internet access and the Adobe Flash plugin installed.
Canvastic.NET (pronounced: CANVASTIC DOT NET) continues and expands on the concept that software tools our students use to publish should be flexible and incredibly easy to use. It loads in just seconds. It is designed for primary students to easily combine their own writing and drawing into attractive, useful published pages. Besides the basic drawing tools and text area there is a feature called "Replay" that displays the student's work in sequence as in a movie. It is engaging and useful. Vince Ardito, the technology coordinator at Mountain View Elementary School outside Denver, said, "Replay gives me dozens of great ideas for useful activities with the younger students. They love it and it is just a click of the mouse." Students can print or save a downloaded JPEG file to preserve their work.
Canvastic.NET was developed for three reasons. First, to draw attention to the brand name and the flagship application, Canvastic. Second, to provide a free alternative for primary students' publishing in schools where budgets for software are non-existent. Steve Gandy, Canvastic LLC partner, said, "So, many teachers have been interested in Canvastic but have told us that there just isn't any money for software in their schools." Finally, Canvastic.NET is also a way around the draconian security policies that are in place in many Windows based schools. Gandy also said, "A lot of teachers tell us that they are not even allowed to download software for trial at all - even if we provide free licenses, pilot programs or assurances of safety. They are restricted to using Microsoft Office for all their students. It is just sad - for us but more importantly for the students."
The plans for Canvastic.NET depend upon its popularity. It will always be available as a free, ad-supported alternative for students and schools everywhere. In the future, ad-free access may be sold as a yearly subscription. Additional features and the customization that is a big part of the desktop application will come as soon as possible.
Canvastic.NET has been successfully tested on Macintosh, Windows, Linux, and Solaris computers using Internet Explorer, Safari, and Firefox browsers. Installing the current version of Flash is recommended for optimal performance.
Any school can continue to pilot the desktop version of Canvastic for up to 60 days on as many computers as desired. See this prior press release for details: www.canvastic.com/news/download/CanvasticFreeOfferPR-070305.pdf
Many school districts still qualify for a free site license for 50% of their schools. See this prior press release for details: www.canvastic.com/news/download/Canvastic_Grants_Licenses_2008.pdf
About Canvastic LLC
Canvastic LLC is the coming together of two companies to develop and market the software Canvastic. FlatTop Technology, Inc. (FlatTopTechnology.com ) builds custom software applications for businesses in a wide variety of industries and was the lead technical developer of the Canvastic software. TeachTech Inc. (TeachTechColorado.com ) is a consulting firm founded by Steve Gandy that specializes in school and small office training and support. Full product information is available at: Canvastic.com.
###
Contact: Steve Gandy
303-359-9836
Canvastic LLC Launches a Web Version, Canvastic.NET
'Really Simple Easy Page Publishing for Primary Students'
Lafayette, CO December 2, 2008 - Canvastic LLC announces the launch of their first online version of the popular publishing solution for students and teachers called Canvastic.NET. Canvastic version 3.5, is the desktop application for Macintosh and Windows computers. This web application version, .NET, extends the use of Canvastic to any computer anywhere with Internet access and the Adobe Flash plugin installed.
Canvastic.NET (pronounced: CANVASTIC DOT NET) continues and expands on the concept that software tools our students use to publish should be flexible and incredibly easy to use. It loads in just seconds. It is designed for primary students to easily combine their own writing and drawing into attractive, useful published pages. Besides the basic drawing tools and text area there is a feature called "Replay" that displays the student's work in sequence as in a movie. It is engaging and useful. Vince Ardito, the technology coordinator at Mountain View Elementary School outside Denver, said, "Replay gives me dozens of great ideas for useful activities with the younger students. They love it and it is just a click of the mouse." Students can print or save a downloaded JPEG file to preserve their work.
Canvastic.NET was developed for three reasons. First, to draw attention to the brand name and the flagship application, Canvastic. Second, to provide a free alternative for primary students' publishing in schools where budgets for software are non-existent. Steve Gandy, Canvastic LLC partner, said, "So, many teachers have been interested in Canvastic but have told us that there just isn't any money for software in their schools." Finally, Canvastic.NET is also a way around the draconian security policies that are in place in many Windows based schools. Gandy also said, "A lot of teachers tell us that they are not even allowed to download software for trial at all - even if we provide free licenses, pilot programs or assurances of safety. They are restricted to using Microsoft Office for all their students. It is just sad - for us but more importantly for the students."
The plans for Canvastic.NET depend upon its popularity. It will always be available as a free, ad-supported alternative for students and schools everywhere. In the future, ad-free access may be sold as a yearly subscription. Additional features and the customization that is a big part of the desktop application will come as soon as possible.
Canvastic.NET has been successfully tested on Macintosh, Windows, Linux, and Solaris computers using Internet Explorer, Safari, and Firefox browsers. Installing the current version of Flash is recommended for optimal performance.
Any school can continue to pilot the desktop version of Canvastic for up to 60 days on as many computers as desired. See this prior press release for details: www.canvastic.com/news/download/CanvasticFreeOfferPR-070305.pdf
Many school districts still qualify for a free site license for 50% of their schools. See this prior press release for details: www.canvastic.com/news/download/Canvastic_Grants_Licenses_2008.pdf
About Canvastic LLC
Canvastic LLC is the coming together of two companies to develop and market the software Canvastic. FlatTop Technology, Inc. (FlatTopTechnology.com ) builds custom software applications for businesses in a wide variety of industries and was the lead technical developer of the Canvastic software. TeachTech Inc. (TeachTechColorado.com ) is a consulting firm founded by Steve Gandy that specializes in school and small office training and support. Full product information is available at: Canvastic.com.
###
November 21, 2008
Press Release: Bumper Sticker Spotting Dot Com
TeachTech Inc. Launches Bumper Sticker Spotting Dot Com Web Site
‘Because the sign spotters were getting all the attention!’
Lafayette, CO November 20, 2008 – TeachTech Inc. announces the launch of a new web site for sharing photos that are fun, interesting, and thought provoking. “Spotting” is finding and sharing things of interest. Spotters like to note, photograph and lay claim to the instances of their interest. The act of spotting, photographing and sharing signs, trains, planes, celebrities and just about every thing of interest has spawned web sites, books, and a lot of laughter and thought around the world for years. Now, BumperStickerSpotting.com brings that interest and fun to our cars’ rear ends.
BumperStickerSpotting is a free service and web site that is presented in a web blog format. The blog format is always in reverse chronological order so that provides for the relevancy of “current” pop philosophy to be the first stickers seen there. This should keep the site current and interesting. It is hosted by the popular blogging service, Blogger.com, from Google. Viewers can send bumper sticker photos or text to bumperstickerspotting@teachtechcolorado.com to have them included and viewed by everyone. Everyone and anyone is invited to participate.
About TeachTech Inc.
TeachTech Inc. (TeachTechColorado.com ) is a consulting firm founded by Steve Gandy that specializes in school and small office training and support, photography services and interesting web sites.
###
‘Because the sign spotters were getting all the attention!’
Lafayette, CO November 20, 2008 – TeachTech Inc. announces the launch of a new web site for sharing photos that are fun, interesting, and thought provoking. “Spotting” is finding and sharing things of interest. Spotters like to note, photograph and lay claim to the instances of their interest. The act of spotting, photographing and sharing signs, trains, planes, celebrities and just about every thing of interest has spawned web sites, books, and a lot of laughter and thought around the world for years. Now, BumperStickerSpotting.com brings that interest and fun to our cars’ rear ends.
BumperStickerSpotting is a free service and web site that is presented in a web blog format. The blog format is always in reverse chronological order so that provides for the relevancy of “current” pop philosophy to be the first stickers seen there. This should keep the site current and interesting. It is hosted by the popular blogging service, Blogger.com, from Google. Viewers can send bumper sticker photos or text to bumperstickerspotting@teachtechcolorado.com to have them included and viewed by everyone. Everyone and anyone is invited to participate.
About TeachTech Inc.
TeachTech Inc. (TeachTechColorado.com ) is a consulting firm founded by Steve Gandy that specializes in school and small office training and support, photography services and interesting web sites.
###
November 06, 2008
Obama Mama Cocktail
For an election night party we decided to make some Obama Mama cocktails. Not being able to find a good one online, we created our own recipe:
1/2 to 1 oz. white rum
1/2 to 1 oz. dark rum
Juice from 1/4 lime
1 tsp of powdered sugar
Cranberry juice cocktail to strength
1 1/2 oz. Blue Curaçao Liqueur
Combine all except the Curaçao into a shaker filled with ice.
Shake until cold
Pour over ice.
Pour the Curacao on top and watch the "state" of the cocktail change from red to blue to purple!
October 12, 2008
Clarify Tool in Adobe Camera Raw is now more useful!
Has anyone else noticed this little enhancement? The Clarify slider in Adobe Camera Raw, which previously ranged from 0 to 100 now has negative settings. You can set it from -100 to +100. Now, I have been using it often to give images that sometimes needed punch, especially when there is a lot of detail that you want to stand out...but now you can use it to soften the detail as well.
For some images this is exactly what is needed. See this example. Sharp detail is desired in this blossom (as yet unidentified flower) but the background and leaves suffered from "too much detail." I processed this raw file twice, once for the blossom and once for the background/leaves. The left has a clarify setting in the +30-50 range. The right side has a severe negative setting except for the blossom. A mask brought the blossom into sharp focus. Let me know what you think.
Click the image for a larger view.
For some images this is exactly what is needed. See this example. Sharp detail is desired in this blossom (as yet unidentified flower) but the background and leaves suffered from "too much detail." I processed this raw file twice, once for the blossom and once for the background/leaves. The left has a clarify setting in the +30-50 range. The right side has a severe negative setting except for the blossom. A mask brought the blossom into sharp focus. Let me know what you think.
Click the image for a larger view.
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