Site point is giving away PDF version of The Photoshop Anthology book. It consists of full fledged Photoshop designs especially for web designers. Usually most of the Photoshop books available across market contain tutorials based on print designs but this book is aimed fully at web designing and how Photoshop impacts it.  Corrie Haffly, a famous web designer and developer is the author who created over 400 website templates and designs. You can have a look at her works in her official site CorrieHaffly.com.

This e-book consists of step by step instructions and tutorials about creating effects and graphics for your website. This is a must for every web-designer who uses Photoshop for their development. Although you can order a hard copy of this book from site point, for a limited period of time they are giving away free download of PDF Versions of this book. As a web designer I myself should not miss this opportunity and so wanted to share this news. Still 12 days remaining for the offer to end, i recommend everyone to download this book doesn’t matter you have to be a web designer but it helps you enhance your Photoshop skills.
What you learn from this book

• Learn the basics: image sizing, layers, vector shapes, transparency, and more.
• Create a multitude of attractive buttons: aqua-style, metallic, glassy, etc.
• Improve digital workflow
• Create seamless tiling backgrounds: rice paper, brushed metal, and granite, plus many others.
• Work with text: style it, create special effects, and wrap it around 3D objects.
• Touch up photographs, match colors, and combine different images.
• Use eye-catching special effects.
• Isolate objects from images.
• Make graphics for CSS rollover buttons.
• Design an entire web site and easily switch between different versions
• Optimize graphics for web use.
• Work smarter: automate your workflow with batch commands and actions.
• Create animated GIF and more….

Site point provide the download of book in two versions of PDF, High quality version is 64mb and low quality is 23mb. You can simply download the book by entering your website in this site.
Download Now | Sitepoint | Author: Corrie Haffly |

After the DirectX 9.0c there are no further versions expected to be released for Windows Xp based OS because Microsoft is concentrating on DirectX 10 which is only compatible with Windows Vista. The question that pops in your mind is will I be able to install DirectX 10 in my XP based operating system?

To resolve your confusion, Cody Brocious of Falling Leaf systems has started a project called Alky which was mainly based on enabling the compatibility of playing Direct X 10 based games in your current operating platform. They have extracted a set of library files from the DirectX 10 and thus make it available for download and usable in Windows XP and other operating systems.

Not everyone can afford Windows Vista and will be upgrading just to compromise for gaming. So the main catch about this project is they developed a set of libraries that will allow the use of DirectX 10 games on platforms other than Windows Vista, which when used in Vista increases the hardware compatibility.

The libraries act as a proxy to all Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) accessed by an application. This enables us to redirect API requests to existing platform functionality or custom implementations as needed. The libraries also allow us to integrate application-specific logic enabling users to explicitly define application behavior

– Falling Leaf Systems

Will Microsoft encourage their development? Absolutely not because, if we have the compatibility of installing directX 10 on Windows Xp then it will affect the market of Vista. Note: Please download the patch at your own risk.

Links: Download DirectX 10 | Falling Leaf Systems.

CC cleaner is one of a best freeware available around which is used for tweaking system and protecting privacy. This is of my favorite software which I would recommend and rate 5 stars. Unlike software like Registry mechanic, System Mechanic, this simple and easy to use cleaner is very effective and stays lite in your system. Also it occupies fewer amounts of system resources while using. Don’t be afraid of spyware or malware coz this freeware is completely free from those junks.

Ok let’s peep in about its features; see below for what this small piece of program can do:

Internet Explorer:
Temporary files, URL history, cookies, Autocomplete form history, index.dat.
Firefox:
Temporary files, URL history, cookies, download history.
Opera:
Temporary files, URL history, cookies.
Windows:
Recycle Bin, Recent Documents, Temporary files and Log files.

Registry cleaner:
Advanced features to remove unused and old entries, including File Extensions, ActiveX Controls, ClassIDs, ProgIDs, Uninstallers, Shared DLLs, Fonts, Help Files, Application Paths, Icons, Invalid Shortcuts and more… also comes with a comprehensive backup feature.

Third-party applications:
Removes temp files and recent file lists (MRUs) from many apps including Media Player, eMule, Kazaa, Google Toolbar, Netscape, MS Office, Nero, Adobe Acrobat, WinRAR, WinAce, WinZip and many more…

One of a recommend program for each and every system, never mind about the system specifications it works like a diamond on all boxes. CC is not only used as a cleaner but built in features like Issues which analyses your computers registry and fix the bugs, including tools for managing the start and installed program in computer. If you want to see my reviews in truth then please try this utility software.

Links: CC Cleaner | Download.

Whats max ? - “Max is a Freeware, actually its not a product but Today Max lets you make beautiful photo slideshows to share with your family and friends. And it recently began showing you the latest news updates from around the world. What will Max do next? Stay tuned! ”

This is what microsoft says …. i think its an opportunity to try an exciting new user experience from Microsoft… More will be Released under this name..

You can Download Microsoft Codename from Microsoft MAX Website.