I have been burned by Roxio/ Sonic several times recently. And, it cost me to the tune of $275 to get my MacBook Pro's motherboard replaced.

Know this before you read any further. I have been a Roxio user for about 12 years now. We're talking going back to 1999. I also review their products for the Windows side. And, their products for Windows is deplorable. Plain and simple.

Roxio's parent company adopted a policy several years ago that they quietly initiated and you wouldn't ordinarily know until you came into a problem. I bought Toast 8 and raved over it like it the best thing since slice bread. And, although they had incorporated their product "Jam" into the suite along with several other softwares that made the package deal a good economic buy, there was no instructions included except for the main software "Toast." So, that left me with trial and error for the one I did use. All was well for a couple of years. Then, something happened.

My laptop would shut down. HUGE writings in different languages would appear on screen telling me to shut the computer down after I'd attempt to burn a cd file that I had placed in Toast. It happen 2 or 3 times before I recognized that Toast and my laptop were suddenly incompatible.

I called Roxio and they told me that Apple had to provide drivers for Toast! I questioned the rep, but then got no other answer. I called Apple and they told me what I had suspected which was that THEY don't provide drivers for other companies software. My follow up call to Roxio resulted in them admitting that my software was no unsupported by them. It was a "legacy" product. What! I wasn't able to burn anything else. A trip to the Apple Store at The Falls in South Miami revealed that the motherboard was toasted. 7 days later and $275 less, I had my baby back.

So, know that with any software, most companies now WON'T provide support for a software they've created if it's more than 2 years old.

****** *********

I've been using the new Roxio 11 for more than a month now. I only use two of the softwares, Toast and Spin Doctor for digitizing cassette tapes. The others, like in the past, won't be used.

The good news is using OSX10.6.8, Toast and Spin Doctor works without fail.

Toast advertises that it can copy "unprotected" dvd's without a problem. Unless I'm mistaken, I tested this on two (2) different commercial dvd's that I have.

On the documentary, "The F* Bomb," there are several interviews that was profound. (I got tired of the documentary about halfway through but in the deleted scenes section I was struck by some commentaries by ICE T and Tera Patrick. ) What was interesting was that the Toast allows you to see a thumbnail of the "video_TS" files. So, I was able to distinguish the ones I'd like to have. Extracting them was as simple as selecting them and placing them in the burn file.

This new Toast gives you the ability to burn or to convert that dvd-quality file into 720p, to mp4 to mov to iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch as well as a "Blackberry" and Android configurations and about 15 others. I converted those files in HD, for the iPhone, Blackberry and Android--both for the EVO and The EVO 3D. Each conversion appeared in full resolution on each of those screens.

Next, I pulled out a dvd of Turning Point 2007. I only bought it because it was the first meeting between Gail Kim and Awesome Kong (what an exciting match!) This dvd was one long file. In Toast, I opened the time line and set the parameters just for that match. Toast copied that match down to the second and gave me similar options for it's conversion. Toast converted that 17-minute match in about 5 minutes or so. And, it looks great on my monitor.

Spin Doctor--One of my aunts gave a speech on Father's Day at her place of worship and wanted me to make copies. I decided to make things a little difficult. I transferred the audio on to a cassette tape. Then, I hooked the tape deck into the laptop's audio in slot and engaged SD.

Roxio has done a tremendous job of creating a modern user interface. SD's beautiful black and silver trim box is a visual treat in minimalist design. The sidebar asks what source to record from and the header gives you a choice recording settings. There's also a retro L/R meters in the center. After you capture the recording, you can elect to see the visual wave form. This recording can be saved in a number of different audio format like Wave, AAC, Apple Lossless and mp3. (The one thing I remember from a few years ago is that longer length audio files in SD sometimes would not save, much less be editable.) The 45-minute audio was captured and saved without issue.

Pro's
+ Toast looks to be a lot more stable than previous versions.
+ Toast gives you multiple options for burning or converting.
+ Beautiful interface.
+ Still reasonable when considering it's still an all-in-one suite.

Con's
- The software is essentially good for only 2 years from the date the company releases it. (Roxio should adopt the same business idea VMWare Fusion adopted'encourage registered customers to upgrade by offering an obscenely low price to upgrade to the newest version.)
- The warranty period should be at least 1 year from date of purchase.

4.5 stars.

Length:: 0:30 Mins

There's no reason in the world that anyone should not think that this should be a runaway 5-star book.

On paper, you have an expert lighting designer who has, for more than two (2) decades, lit some of the most eloquent and celebrated affairs in both the political and entertainment circles as well as the private affairs of the more affluent of our society.

On paper, literally speaking, you have a large coffee-table book that runs 150+ pages. So, the author/ subject is afforded much time and real estate to demonstrate his remarkable career.

But, what happened?

The Bad.
LIGHT X, the book, as distinguished from the actual work of the subject, suffers from poor editing. Period.

The book, if one looks carefully and imagines from the poorly lit photographs that Mr. has demonstrated brilliance on a grand scale. But many, my guess would be roughly half of the photographs are dark and washed out. In certain pictures the color (of the room? Camera filter? Film development?) is so opaque as to blur the furniture with the wall fixtures.

The layout of the photographs could have also been arranged in a way that followed some form of thematic concept instead of, what looks to be, an indiscriminant placement.

I recognize that many of the pictures were from a time long before digital cameras and megapixels, but I would have suggested to take the pictures and "remastered" them through Photoshop or Aperture.

It matters for two reasons. One, the artist is deprived of showing his best work under the best conditions. And, two, the book is going for a premium price of $75. (Even if it were for less, the artist (and, the customer) is entitled to the best representation for the money.

***** ********
The Good.

Some of the pictures (they're in the minority) shows what this man is capable of. Simply striking. Strikingly beautiful lighting. Even, small table settings looks majestic. That's all the more reason why something should have been done about the other photographs.

The pictures also lends itself to inspire other kinds of decorations. If you're looking for decorative ideas and want something that'll challenge you to design outside the box, this book has some very interesting points of view to share.

3 stars.

I, like most chronically bad-eaters, marvel at how the Back to Nature/ Green/ Sustainability/ Recyclability crowds have won us over by sheer determination and by example over the last quarter century.

EAT NAKED is one of those book, that looking back to when the early discussions about eating and living healthy was just a brief, fringe conversation, you'd guess most certainly that this book (and author) would have expedited our national transformation by decades.

This is a marvel of book.

Margaret Floyd, a transplanted Canadian who resides in sunny California has undertaken the Herculean task of writing a book that must distinguish itself from a plethora of books on this once-shunned topic. She uses personal anecdotes from her life to accentuate the importance of being informed about what to eat and think about the process of where and how food is manufactured.

And, just so that you know, none of her personal stories are steep in any kind of maudlin recollections of excessive or abusive habits.

What you'll find inside, however, in both tone and expertise, is simple-to-understand language about foods: it's makeup and its effects on the human body and commonsense alternatives.

******* ********* **********

I have always been confused by the subject of "fats." Is fat and cholesterol the same thing? How many kinds of "fats" are there? What're the names of fats? Which one is the good one? Which one am I supposed to avoid at all costs? (Which one, I could never remember.) In three short pages, all of these questions are cleared up.

What about eggs and dairy? Are these healthy? And, what about the nagging question of animals that are injected with hormones and chickens that are physically altered.

Where do you turn if you are to avoid all of the problems that are associated with mass-produced/ engineered food? Is eating a healthier affordable if you're on a tight budget?

She has some very interesting answers. (Hint: And, she's neither a vegetarian, nor vegan.)

This is a very, very interesting read and one that everyone should consider having, especially if you're health-conscious or at least headed that way.

Margaret Floyd makes a very compelling argument in this book.

5 very big, wonderful stars.

A couple of things you should know before you go any further about 3D animation, in general.

One. 3D, or 3 Dimensional animation, is not exactly an "Art" in the traditional sense. This is a technical or scientific field that expresses itself into an artistic expression.

Two. It would greatly help if one had a working knowledge of geometry.

***** ******* *********

3D ART ESSENTIALS: The Fundamentals of 3D Modeling, Texturing and Animation is a guide to understanding the basic principles of 3D animation. No chapter is presented in depth, only a presentation of concepts and terminology.

Ch.'s 1/ 2 A concise history of animation, 3D modeling and computer integration.
Ch. 3/4/5 Working with Polygons, "Nurbs" and the integration of both.
Ch. 6 Deforming (aka, digital sculpting)
Ch. 7. Rigging (attaching separate parts to create movement)
Ch. 8. * Animation
-- The 12 Basic Principles of Animation
-- Key Framing
-- Animating With Graphs
-- Motion Capture
-- Facial Animation
-- Automation
-- Fence-Post Animation
-- Animation Workflow

Ch. 9 Dynamics (Action, Movement)
Ch. 10/ 11 Working with color
Ch. 12/ 13 Working with lighting
Ch. 14 Working with cameras (and perspective)
Ch. 15 Environments (Looking at 3D in different locations and settings)
Ch. 16 Rendering (for SD and HD formats)
Ch. 17. Procedures and Graphs (this chapter should have been before "Rendering" (Ch. 16)
Ch. 18. Scripting (programming language for 3D animation software)
Ch. 19 Tools to use. (This should have been presented in Ch. 2)
Ch. 20 Careers

Although, I would have like a more thorough and fleshed out book on the basics of 3D animation--real world usage (as opposed to generic pictures, for example), this book is a simple to understand book on a VERY complex aspect of filmmaking.

I haven't come across another book that breaks 3D down so simply.

4 stars.

I've taught intermittently since 1995. It was after I completed my undergraduate studies that I worked for a time as a elementary and middle school grade teacher. A couple of years later, as a graduate student, I was a part of a delegation who taught the basics of English and poetry to at-risk students of Leon County, which is in the panhandle of North Florida and includes the capital city of Tallahassee.

More recently, I became a volunteer tutor/teacher for adult literacy here in Miami as well as, now, teaching pre-K education to two children of the woman whom lives with me.

One of the things that's abundantly clear is that this "education problem" cannot and will not be solved by anyone who feels that the *sole* responsibility for educating "our children" falls to the teachers in our school system. I have to point that out as it relates to this national emergency we collectively have and with this book.

TEACHING OUTSIDE THE BOX is in its second edition and this review is based solely on my reading of this edition, with no prior knowledge of the earlier edition.

****** ********** ***********

Most of us are familiar with Ms. LouAnn Johnson by the film, "Dangerous Minds" which was based on her autobiography as a high school teacher in California. (The jury's still deliberating Michelle Pfeiffer's performance. I suspect they'll come back with a guilty verdict.)

Ms. Johnson brings both the military and private sector experiences to the classroom. For Ms. Johnson, there are three kinds of teachers: Super, Excellent or Good. She does acknowledge that there are "poor" teachers but she doesn't waste our time or paper addressing them.

The concept of this book is almost wholly psychological. Psychological from several points: positive mental preparation, dress code/dressing the part, seating arrangement, lesson & testing planning, light-sensitivity and various corrective-action plans. (She spends a considerable of time discussing the extremely important sub topic of diet and nutrition but I'll address that separately.)

Book Highlights
Ch. 3 "Dress The Part," pg. 21.
"Cover Curriculum Is Not Teaching," pg. 40
"There's No Such Thing As A Casual Remark To A Child, " pg. 42.

Ch. 4. The Big Three: Preparation, Preparation, Preparation. Pp's 45- 90
Ch. 5. Day One: Start With A Smile. Pp.'s 91-134
Ch. 6. "Rules Vs. Procedure, " pg. 140
"Identify Your Bullies and Outcasts," pp.'s 145-170

Ch. 7. The Three R's: Reading, Reading, Reading! Pp's. 171-198
Ch. 8. "Scotopic Sensitivity," 206-209
Ch. 9. Food For Thought. Pp.'s 215-227
Ch. 10. Top Twelve Motivational Strategies. Pp's 231-260

***** ******** *******

Some things needs to be addressed that I think Ms. Johnson skips over but we all know these factors at various conscious moments of our day.

* Issue #1. Teacher(s) cannot do it all. If there are eight class periods in a day and if a teacher instructs five out of those eight multiply that by the number of students in those classes (arguably 25 students per class). You're dealing with a minimum of 125 students.

We possess a certain amount of information that they'll need. Conveying this message is our primary responsibility. But also, laying the groundwork for the "other" subjects they'll need. All of this leads to the ultimate purpose, which is to foster an attitude whereby they treasure learning as a lifelong habit just like students in other countries where education is highly valued: China, Japan, India. Students from these countries are no joke.

* Issue #2. If there's no familial support (for whatever reason), then you're left with the time you can afford to spend individually and the time that the student devotes to her/his study after school.

Teachers cannot accept, nor should we be expected to, the responsibility of being the student's guardian. I don't care how zealous a teacher may be, your best wishes won't magically transform a student into the person he/she can be.

One of the things I bore witness to when visiting a private school and saw on two 60 Minutes telecast of educator Marva Collins, is that re-investing (because that's what it is) re-investing those valuable hours after school in academics has a tremendous payoff. (If you go to YouTube and do a search, you'll find both of the 60 Minutes interviews that Morley Safer did with Ms. Collins and her success with "unteachable children.")

* Issue #3. What is the emotional state of that child on any given day? Boyfriend problem? Alcoholic mother? Grandparent has cancer? No lunch money? Bullies threatening before/after school? Disinterested in learning "new" things? On drugs? Fill in the blanks. And, that's just ONE child. What about multiple dramas?

Every child (and in the case of my experiences with adult learners) every adult child has some issue that has to be retired or, at least, suspended during your class time. I love Ms. Johnson's advice to play soft classical music as a means of counteracting the stress that they're carrying as well as daily "Do Now Assignments," pg. 108.

Every child MUST conclude for themselves, as they know about other things that are important in their life, that Education is indispensable. This knowledge has to be innate. It has to be seminal. It has to be reinforced at every opportunity, in school and out of school.

What I've repeatedly said to my students in the past and adult learners now is that Education is an ingredient. It's not everything, but it is an important part of what they'll be able to do. The challenge as I see it, despite what may or may not be going on in their lives, is the fact that Education must be connected to the things that would excite them.

* Issue #4. And, Ms. Johnson's 100% correct when she talks about the effects of nutrition on learning. But, these are cultural decisions. I see this very thing here in my home. The kids are allowed to eat what they want to eat. If they throw a fit, the mother gives in. When it's time to go over homework or teach them other important lessons, it's at least an hour before the effects of potato chips and coke and Scooby-snacks wear off. I've told their mom repeatedly, she will bear the responsibility sooner than she thinks.

All in all, I think this book is a treasure. I would place this book right behind this book, Marva Collins Way Updated Edition as two of the most invaluable books on teaching one can find.

4 stars.

About a year ago, Adobe found itself caught off guard.

No one had expected the explosion of tablet computer to take off the way they did. Amazon had created the Kindle two years before and with moderate success, it was believed at that time, it would be many, many years before a portable reading device would be a mainstay for the computer literate society. That was before the iPad.

Adobe released a series of videos on how to create eBooks and eZines (e-Magazines) and posted them on their "AdobeDigital" column on YouTube. There, they discussed how to use CS3 and CS4 to create interactive contents for multiple readers. The final episodes in the series they decided to remove from their site. By coincidence, they published new videos on the subject, however this time they were heralding the use of Adobe InDesign CS5!

INTERACTIVE INDESIGN CS5 is a beautiful and might I say, indispensable book on how to take full advantage of a total re-creation of the InDesign in CS5. InDesign, now, is able to fully integrate with the entire Design, video and/or Web graphic suites. This means creating projects in InDesign with both Flash and Dreamweaver capabilities and having the ability to export these files to these programs. (This book was published just before Adobe released CS5.5, so you won't find any mention of any updates that Adobe made to InDesign, Flash or Dreamweaver.)

What I like most about this book is that it's part textbook and part "classroom-in-a-book" format. Author Mira Rubin goes over the fundamentals of InDesign, which is print layout but also goes into great detail how the new InDesign is now a tool that can work in multi-media formats such as the video, web and tablet/eBook readers.

The tone of this book is very, very enthusiastic about the possibilities of working in InDesign.
There's also a companion website that one can download the chapter files for each chapter (except Ch. 2) and work alongside the author in her demonstrations.

Book breakdown:

This book is almost 400 pages. The first 125 pages is a review of how InDesign traditionally works.

Ch. 1- Intro/ Showcase (about 10 pages of how the author uses this program in her daily work.)
Ch. 2/3- Designing For Interactivity
Ch. 4/5/6/7- Buttons (explanation of, uses and demonstration of creating buttons)

The remaining two-thirds of this book is about the applicability of the new features of ID.

Ch. 8- Introduction to Animation in ID-CS5 (Using the basic animation tools in ID)
Ch. 9- Beyond the Basics (learning shortcuts and transition styles)
Ch. 10/11/12- Multiple Objects, Banner Ads, Page Transitions

Ch. 13- Working with Adobe Media Encoder
Ch. 14- Adding Media
Ch. 15/16- Bookmarks, Hyperlinks & Cross-references
Ch. 17/18/19- Working with Text, Multi-page Document Layout, Shapes and Color
Ch. 20/21- Output, Preparing For Output (An overview of Output and demonstration)

If you're interested in publishing in any and all forms, THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU!

For the novice, this book will teach you the fundamentals of page layout for books, magazines and miscellaneous marketing items. But, in addition, for the experienced InDesign user there's a wealth of new information present.

Usually, when we upgrade we think of the reasons why and it usually is the appeal of a new version of Photoshop, Flash or Illustrator but Dreamweaver and InDesign are usually just afterthoughts. It seems ironic, but even if you don't upgrade the entire Adobe suite, this book makes a very strong argument to at least consider upgrading the InDesign application.

When Rabbi Joseph Telushkin remarked, "Why We Need Hillel Now More Than Ever!," it was not an attempt to make an exaggerated proclamation. I suggest, Telushkin was calling out to the Hillel who resides in each of us.

This book is Rabbi Telushkin's quest to open a discussion on the extraordinary life and ideas of The Talmud's most famous teacher.

Hillel lived in the 1st century BCE and during the reign of King Herod. Under the dominion of Rome and still the object of interest from the Greeks. Roman and Greek citizens living side by side with Jews in Jerusalem. This was the focus of the priests' wrath: foreign culture, foreign language, foreign education and foreign religious beliefs. Add to that, you had the migration of Babylonian Jews back to Jerusalem (and often victims of disparaging remarks from "native" Jews, as were the citizens of those imperialist nations.)

This was the environment that Hillel and Shammai had to work in.

We often typecast Hillel and Shammai as polar opposites in terms of understanding and ruling--halakha--the Truth as Telushkin lays out in his book that the issues are not cut and dry; it's not exactly liberal and conservative. These were two men who looked at their country's situation, had the responsibility of teaching Torah and had varying interest in Judaism from foreigners. What were they supposed to do?

Now, the early chapters, Telushkin discusses the issue of conversion and observation. For Shammai, to make it easy for conversion *may have* thought that the problem of Jewish observance (which had always been an issue) would become exponentially worse if the community was integrated with foreigners and perhaps their lack of interest in what they'd deem as benign.

Hillel, also understanding the landscape, looked at the possibility that there'd come a day when Jews wouldn't think it necessary to marry another Jew. His decision was practical and balanced with optimism. He felt, as Telushkin reminds us, that there'd be a possibility that when converts experienced the beauty of Judaism, they'd be less likely to throw it away and any offspring would have the benefit to be reared in a household where Torah is observed and loved.

There's also the issue of divorce. Here, it seems as if Shammai is more appreciative of women's rights. For Hillel, divorce was a man's domain. If, as Shammai ruled that in the case of infidelity a divorce was granted to either party, something that later rabbis considered a balance in terms of remuneration for the injured party. Hillel left the decision of separation as a matter of a husband's right to be happy or satisfied. Telushkin surmised that Hillel takes Deut. 24:1 as the line which determines that a man is seen as the aggressor in forming the union and as such he has the *right* to renounce that decision if he finds anything "unseemly" with his wife.

The issue of education was also an issue of division of between them. Education for the affluent only? Or, teach everyone at every opportunity?

I understand Hillel a whole lot better. With few exceptions, Hillel's thoughts and rulings are indeed life changing.

With all of the contemporary concerns involved with Jewish intermarriage which seems to be the mainstay of our luminaries' (like Alan Dershowitz') national dialog , Hillel's hope in the power and the glory of Torah will withstand any threat--real or imagined--to the Jewish people.

And, Jewish people of all stripes.

HILLEL: IF NOT NOW, WHEN? By Rabbi Joseph Telushkin... 5 stars.

Long before the seven-foot, blond, muscle bound, Nordic warrior is seen swinging his "Mjolnir" hammer at his clowned-costumed brother, Loki, Thor was the elder teenage prince who lived in the majestic royal court of his father Odin, King of Asgard and yearned to show his military skills.

This is a full-length feature animation film of the early years of Thor, Loki and The mystical Nine-Kingdom realm of Nordic folklore. This takes place long before he becomes the superhero most of us know him as.

This is also a brilliant piece of animated storytelling to boot.

****** ********* ***********

As someone who has bought and loved comics as a kid and more recently as a buyer of Alex Ross' "graphic novels," THOR has always been an enigma for me. I don't ever remember as a kid ANY issue of Thor where they talked about his background. Every issue was an epic battle with Loki. Those stories got old REAL quick. After awhile, I only ran into Thor when he was with the Avengers.

In THOR: TALES OF ASGARD, my many questions have been answered. This is a phenomenal animated movie. If you're familiar Nordic or Northern European folklore, many of the characterizations are present here.

This film is not in any way like a take on a television animated, this has the feel of a Disney feature. The concept was well thought out and each character/ community had very distinct personalities from the people of Asgard, to the Valkyries, to the Frost Giants.

No superheroic, super powered feats, this is a story of a father and son and the boundaries that are crossed into manhood.

For Thor, his rite of passage means to stow away aboard the "Warriors Three" ship in search of the magical Lost Sword of Sutur. Along the way there's a bar fights, flying horses, trespassing on distant lands, long treks up glacial mountain tops, snow sprites and ferocious Frost sentries, leagues of Amazonian maiden warriors, a flaming sword, an avenging Dark Elf and armies marching upon the grounds of Asgard.

I don't miss the Thor of the comic book pages, this is like an illustrated page from The Lord of The Rings with all of the pomp and adventure.

In addition to this hour and fifteen minute movie is a fascinating documentary on the Making of.

This is a great introduction to the comic book hero, but unfortunately it's so good that any other Thor has to be reworked in light of it.

THOR: TALES OF ASGARD, 5 very, very big stars.

Long before the seven-foot, blond, muscle bound, Nordic warrior is seen swinging his "Mjolnir" hammer at his clowned-costumed brother, Loki, Thor was the elder teenage prince who lived in the majestic royal court of his father Odin, King of Asgard and yearned to show his military skills.

This is a full-length feature animation film of the early years of Thor, Loki and The mystical Nine-Kingdom realm of Nordic folklore. This takes place long before he becomes the superhero most of us know him as.

This is also a brilliant piece of animated storytelling to boot.

****** ********* ***********

As someone who has bought and loved comics as a kid and more recently as a buyer of Alex Ross' "graphic novels," THOR has always been an enigma for me. I don't ever remember as a kid ANY issue of Thor where they talked about his background. Every issue was an epic battle with Loki. Those stories got old REAL quick. After awhile, I only ran into Thor when he was with the Avengers.

In THOR: TALES OF ASGARD, my many questions have been answered. This is a phenomenal animated movie. If you're familiar Nordic or Northern European folklore, many of the characterizations are present here.

This film is not in any way like a take on a television animated, this has the feel of a Disney feature. The concept was well thought out and each character/ community had very distinct personalities from the people of Asgard, to the Valkyries, to the Frost Giants.

No superheroic, super powered feats, this is a story of a father and son and the boundaries that are crossed into manhood.

For Thor, his rite of passage means to stow away aboard the "Warriors Three" ship in search of the magical Lost Sword of Sutur. Along the way there's a bar fights, flying horses, trespassing on distant lands, long treks up glacial mountain tops, snow sprites and ferocious Frost sentries, leagues of Amazonian maiden warriors, a flaming sword, an avenging Dark Elf and armies marching upon the grounds of Asgard.

I don't miss the Thor of the comic book pages, this is like an illustrated page from The Lord of The Rings with all of the pomp and adventure.

In addition to this hour and fifteen minute movie is a fascinating documentary on the Making of.

This is a great introduction to the comic book hero, but unfortunately it's so good that any other Thor has to be reworked in light of it.

THOR: TALES OF ASGARD, 5 very, very big stars.

Update: I just wrote this review without reading other reviewers comments because I want to present my own views on a project. However, some of the other reviewers have made a legitimate argument from a coder's point of view and one which I have to grudgingly admit is accurate.

This book is filled with credible information based on the author's success with creating an iPad app. What is missing is a more technical explanation on codes once all of the nuts and bolts have been laid out.

If you're into graphic design, like I am, this book seems to give you a great head start in turning a project into an app. But, if you don't know the first thing about coding, then you don't have a clue as to what's missing.

So, considering my colleagues' professional point of views in this area and not wanting to give an exaggerated toast, I'd recommend this book based on the musings of a graphic designer and children's book author but not recommend it as a must-have because there's information that is lacking from a technical standpoint.

Original review follows below.

**** ****** ******

* An Introduction of The Author, Chris Stevens
** Brief outline of the book's contents
*** Breakdown of significant chapters
**** Conclusion

* Chris Stevens, the author, is also the creator of the digital application, Alice For The iPad, an interactive book/ reading experience for the multi-platform iPad computer.

Stevens has a long relationship with the technology industry, having been a columnist for the UK's The Daily Telegraph and The Times as well as the host of CNET's technology show Space Bubble. For there, he started his own digital publishing company, Atomic Antelope, where he created ALICE... and works on publishing projects with clients from around the world.

It is through these varied experiences that this book came to be.

** The book is laid out in a four-part section:

* Understanding The iPad
* Planning Your Killer App
* Designing For Touchscreen Interfaces
* Marketing Your App

*** 1. Understanding the iPad (Pg. 1- 82)

The Ergonomics--(pp.'s 1-22) This section deals with the logistics of how to design a story (or a project) when considering both the physical and operational dimension of the device and the tactile movement of human hands; in short, the ergonomics of the device.

Entering The Marketing Place-- (pp.'s 23- 40) This section discusses marketing and pricing issues.

Getting Inspired--((pp.'s 41- 82) This section is a discussion about the many uses (and perhaps) future uses for the iPad. Essentially, it is a brief talk about thinking about how the iPad as a tool in non-traditional uses.

2. Planning Your Killer App (Pg. 83- 106)

Working With Clients--(pp.'s 83- 90) Pitching a proposal to clients; adopting/ adjusting ideas (constructive criticism) and revenue sharing.

Working on an Independent iPad App--(91- 94) Forming a creative team; working internationally; working virtually with other iPad enthusiasts; motivating yourself.

Organizing Your Workflow--(pp.'s 101- 106) Very brief chapter on planning your app by using a workflow chart, storyboard and Google Doc's* (although the author is correct in the universality of the free Google software, I think more people might be comfortable working with MS Excel or any basic spreadsheet app. I find Google's free app's a bit awkward to look at and to work with.

Designing For Touchscreen Interfaces (Pg. 107- 296)

Delighting the Users of Your App.-- (pp.'s 109- 176) This section goes into more detail about designing a program with the iOS and UI in mind. The importance of prototyping or a mock model to discover any hidden deficiencies. Giving attention to detail and using as much "reality" as possible. Using children as critics.

Designing Books and Magazines-- (pp.'s 177- 216) Deciding whether an app is necessary, or not. Making a book app (picking a strong source text and beautiful illustrations). How to turn pages and build indexes. Adapting an existing magazine.

The Secrets of Alice For The iPad-- (pp.'s 217- 288) Examining the story Alice in Wonderland as the source for an app.

Starting Out With Sound on The iPad-- (pp's 289- 295) How not to annoy with sound. Preparing sound--criteria for good sound. Choosing an audio format. Creating soundtracks and sound effects.

Marketing Your App (Pg. 297- 328)

Zero Budget Solution--(pp's. 299- 320) Understanding and utilizing modern mass media. How the Press works. How to make good videos and market through YouTube and similar outlets. Naming you app. A look at "Angry Birds."

Tracking Sales and Adjusting Prices--(pp's 321- 328) Marketing "Lite" app's. Marketing "Limited-Time" offers. Analyzing app sales data. Dealing with investors.

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3.5 stars.