Technobrief #10

Summary: Recent findings of software, articles, and more.

Blogs

• Top 200 Blogs for Developers (Q3 2009)
  The most recent compilation from Jurgen Appelo.

Freeware

• EncodeHD
  Re-encode all types of video files for use on your home media player or portable device.
• GUUUI
  This article explains how to use Visio for rapid prototyping of the web pages. It includes a reference to the GUUUI Web Prototyping Tool and sketchy interface widgets.
  
• iWisoft Free Video Converter
  Converts videos between all popular formats like AVI, MPEG, WMV, DivX, XviD, MP4, H.264/AVC, AVCHD, FLV, MKV, RM, MOV, 3GP, and audio MP3, WMA, WAV, RA, M4A, AAC, AC3, OGG; directly converts video for playback on your PSP, iPod, iPhone, Apple TV, PS3, Xbox, Zune, Creative Zen, Archos, and other digital multimedia devices; supports cropping, trimming, merging, adding watermark and special effects to videos.
• MP3 Diags
  A GUI-based application that allows end-users to identify issues with their MP3 files, fix some of the issues and make other changes, like adding track information.
• multiAVCHD
  A tool for authoring VCHD, Blu-Ray, HD DVD, and SD-Video videos.
• Mute on Lock
  A tiny utility that mutes the sound of the speakers when the Windows workstation is locked.
• Quick Sound Switch
  A small system tray tool, which allows you to switch the default sound device with only one click (it is useful for PCs with more than one sound card, or a sound card and a headset).
  
• Selenium
  A suite of tools to automate web application testing across many platforms.
• Ultimate Windows Tweaker
  A freeware utility for tweaking and optimizing 32-bit & 64-bit Windows 7 & Windows Vista (similar to TweakUI for Windows XP).

Opinions

• Code rant: Why is 'Buy' not always better than 'Build'
  Mike Hadlow explains why.
• iTunes Solves the Nested Clause Dilemma
  Theresa Neil describes UI design patterns for implementing predicate builders for complex rules.
• Software Engineering: An Idea Whose Time Has Come and Gone?
  Tom DeMarco wonders if the advice he gave in "Controlling Software Projects: Management, Measurement, and Estimation" (Prentice Hall/Yourdon Press, 1982) -- a book that played a role in the way many budding software engineers quantified work and planned their projects -- was correct at the time, is still relevant, and if he still believes that metrics are a must for any successful software development effort. [SPOILER ALERT: The answers are: "no", "no", and "no".]
• The Duct Tape Programmer
  Joel Spolsky discusses when worse (coding practice) is better (than good coding practice).
• The Benefit Of Attending User Group Meeting
  Marlon Ribunal explains how a user group can help you.
• The Myth of Usability Testing
  Robert Hoekman, Jr discusses the difficulties and misconceptions related to usability testing.
• Wanted
  Michael "Rands" Lopp proposes a hiring strategy that managers should appreciate (a very insightful perspective on high-tech hiring).

Podcasts

• .NET Rocks!, Show #309: Les Pinter Looks Back
  Listen to a very lively conversation with the guy who sold Microsoft Word to Bill Gates.

Presentations

• OSCON 2005 Keynote - Identity 2.0
  This is an old talk, but I really liked the content and presentation style (it's not long, too).

Programming

• 10+ jQuery Form Enhancement Plugins
  Some handy plugins for HTML forms.
• 1000 Free "Farm-Fresh Web Icons"
  This free icon set includes both 16 and 32 pixel versions of icons in PNG format on transparent backgrounds.
  
• 10 Great Free Icon Packs for Your Website or Web App
  Some great free icon packs.
• 10 Usability Crimes You Really Shouldn’t Commit
  Chris Spooner offers great usability tips for web form design.
  
• 20 jQuery Plugins Worth Implementing in Your Themes
  A nice collection of helpful jQuery plugins.
• Click me Only Once - jQuery
  Explains how to execute an event on the HTML page only once.
• Excellent JQuery Plugins To Enhance Form Validation
  jQquery plugins that are related to all kinds of form validation.
• Jumpstarting Your Next jQuery Plugin with an Online Tool
  Elijah Manor explains how to quickly make a jQuery plugin.
• Mastering CSS Coding: Getting Started
  This article explains and illustrates the fundamental properties and capabilities of CSS: padding vs. margin, floats, center alignment, ordered vs. unordered lists, styling headings, overflow, position, background images, and image enhancement.
• Some Useful JavaScript & jQuery Snippets
  QUite useful code snippets for common tasks (see also part 2, part 3, and part 4).
  
• UI.Layout – The Ultimate Page Layout Manager
  When used along with jQuery UI widgets, this jQuery plugin allows to create a sophisticated application (see demos).
• Web Forms for People
  Luke Wroblewski offers great tips for designing web forms.

Webtools

• 1-800-FREE411
  Allows callers from the continental United States to place free five-minute international calls after listening to two short advertisements. There is no limit on the number of calls they can make in a day, and many countries are supported.
• Mockingbird
  An online tool that makes it easy for you to create, link together, preview, and share mockups of your website or application.
• VoiceMeMe
  Provides a personal voicemail box for your web site, classfieds, auctions, blog, social network profile (see tutorial and alternative).