Review: Wink 2.0

Wink is a Tutorial and Presentation creation software, primarily aimed at creating tutorials on how to use software (like a tutor for MS-Word/Excel etc). Using Wink you can capture screenshots, add explanations boxes, buttons, titles etc and generate a highly effective tutorial for your users.

Previously I used FastStone Capture 5.3 for single screenshots, but unfortunately the software is no longer freeware. You might find the old version 5.3 on the net somewhere.

With Wink it is very easy to make multiple screenshots to register your actions. This small tool creates tutorials and presentations with ease. The export possibilities are just great. PDF, html, but also Flash for animated demonstrations.

Download your copy here.

Open Source desktop imaging

Recently I was wondering if there is a alternative for imaging solutions like Altiris Deployment Solution, Ghost, and Acronis. Why? Because they cost money, for a simple task.

I discovered PING, that stands for Partimage In Not Ghost. The basic component is an .iso image that allows you to clone a machine. A simple Windows server can be used for central image storage.

Some additional files are available for download, that modify your Windows RIS installation, so that the PING-made images can be installed over the network. You can also use TFTPD32 in stead of RIS for PXE booting your PC’s.

PING is a simple, but effective solution for image deployment over your network.

My new pet: Leopard

This Friday I decided to upgrade my MacBook from Tiger (Mac OS X 10.4) to Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5). Before the upgrade process I made a backup of my entire machine and a separate backup of by Windows Vista bootcamp partition.

After booting the Leopard DVD, the installer asked me the destination disk and a couple of times Next. First I thought that the installation was going to be a clean install, because there was no visual detection of my existing installation.

After two hours the system booted with Mac OS X Leopard, including all my existing applications. Even the Windows Vista bootcamp partition was still in tact.

Within the Windows Vista bootcamp partition I upgraded the software to Apple Bootcamp 2.0, which is on the Leopard DVD.

I played around with the new features learned from the Mac OS X Leopard Guide Tour. Spaces is a kind of virtual desktops. One feature I really like is Cover Flow.

Cover Flow is a way to visually search your documents. Documents are instantly shown as you browse through them.

For those that still hesitate, Leopard is cool and the upgrade is easy.

Mac or PC

RES Software gets serious

The last few days RES Software held their yearly company event RES Focus in Amsterdam. During three days distributors, partners and customers were informed about upcoming solutions, product insight, customer success stories and future ideas.

RES PowerFuse Series 8 Release Candidate was officially released and RES Orchestra was announced. A lot of good material.

RES PowerFuse Series 8 is a rewritten RES PowerFuse with a new underlying architecture and many new features. Although all the new features, the product is much faster than the 7.03. The RTM is expected at the end of October.

The new product RES Orchestra provides service delivery in a controlled and intuitive way. My opinion is that this product is another great solution for getting things done in a Windows environment.

The session locations Passenger Terminal Amsterdam and Music Building were well picked. The party at the Ocean Diva was of good taste.

I would advise everyone who works with RES Software solutions to join the RES Focus next year and meet enthousiastic partners and customers.

I love my Zune

Recently I got hold of a Zune media player. The device is solid and pretty cool.

In Europe, the Marketplace is still not available, but all other features work like a charm. Browsing the net for software I found some usefull hacks. Yeah, the Zune can be hacked.

One hack presents the Zune as a normal removable media in your Windows Explorer. An iPod has this behavior be default.

Another hack adds support for many AV formats, that are NOT supported by default. To be able to import for example .mkv, install the XP CodecPack and rename the file to .avi before you drag it to the Zune software.

The forum ZuneBoards will probably keep me up to date with all future hacks that will extend the Zune functionality.

What a single Touch can do…

As soon as I showed my new HTC Touch, these girls wanted to pose with me.

Just kidding. This photo was taken during the TT-Assen, where again Valentino Rossi demonstrated that there is only one Doctor on the track.

Hardware: HTC Touch

Today I have received my HTC Touch mobile phone. The size is really impressive. Up to now, the smallest Pocket PC mobile phone I have seen.

The PPC is Windows Mobile 6 Professional powered and TouchFLO enhanced.

The TouchFLO feature provides simple navigation with thumb gestures. Frequently used menu items such as phone, contacts, media player and messaging are accessible by simply stroking the touch screen. Pretty cool and it actually works.

After the next few days with the HTC Touch, I will update this item with my experiences.

Up to now, I am in love ;-). Whoosh, whoosh.

Update: The phone filled up with my data (contacts, agenda etc.), provisioned with TomTom 5.21 and SplashID 3.4 does a good job. The only drawback is the lack of Transcriber on the Dutch version of WM6. Typing SMS messages with the keyboard is not my preferred method. The smartphone way of typing works better for me than the visual keyboard. But… still in love.

Release: SVS 2.1 Personal

On my laptop I SVS for application virtualization/ isolation. Recently version 2.1.2069 has been released by the new owner Symantec. The latest version is Vista ready and has some bugfixes over the last public version 2.0 SP1. Performance has also been improved.

You can get your copy by clicking in the meta bar on the right.

Leisure companion ;-)