We are currently developing a new update to Spark which should be out in the September timeframe. The direction of this update is around workflow, resource management, timesheets and general usability! We are very excited about it and think you will be too.
(Our first beta site said – Wow, this is AWESOME!)
Some notes:
The ability to put notes against a job to display in the WIP with an ETA and responsible person
Formatted WIP PDFs!
Project Proposals so you can have one PDF with multiple proposals summarised onto it.
More improvements to timesheets including comments on Multi-Time entry and “last 7 days”
Re-ordering of Materials in your Proposals and Invoices
Improvements to the user interface for easier training
Lots of small fixes and touch-ups
We will be sending out release notes closer to the time which will detail all the improvements – and then arrange to come out and walk you through the update so you get good use out of the system!
For more information contact Gemma Hurst or Marcus Radich on (09) 477 0396
We have been working on the translation of Keynote presentations from your Mac over to the iPad version. The iPad version is very powerful – but does have a cut down feature set compared to the Mac version. With the iPad coming soon (or for those who already have them!) the use of Keynote is an interesting one, especially when you have the iPad to VGA cable allowing you to connect the iPad to projectors!
So, in order to get your presentations ready, take a look at these Apple support pages here and here. And there are a few third party tips sitting here.
Presentations from the Mac are synced over to the iPad using iTunes and then Keynote for the iPad will import the presentation. On that import, it will check your presentation and alert you to any issues which you can then resolve.
Layers magazine has a nice article on the art of type. It goes into quite a level of detail about type spacing, x-heights and more. A good read if you are interested in the dark art of typography.
To prepare yourself for the new iOS 4, backup your iPhone 3G or 3GS with iTunes 9.2. This version of iTunes is iOS 4 compatible and allows the backup of the folders which iOS 4 has.
To recap on the new features for the iPhone 3G and 3GS, check out Apple’s iOS 4 site.
iPhone 3G owners need to be aware that some new iOS 4 features are not available on the iPhone 3G hardware.
We would like to welcome Gemma Hurst to our Software team. Gemma will be a name many of you will recognise as she previously held a position at Digital Arena providing training in Spark.
Gemma has been working client-side in Spark for a number of years and brings her knowledge and experience to help you maximise your Spark.
Get ready, Apple’s Steve Jobs takes the stage once again to show us what the company has been up to. This year it looks like the iPhone and iPad will be the highlight – but the Mac faithful are holding out for something “Mac” in the keynote.
If you are interested in finding out more, check out this site.
Or check back here on the morning of 8th June (US 7th June) for details of the Apple announcements.
The iPad pre-order for New Zealand will probably start soon – so before you dive in and get the first one that comes to mind, lets have a look at what the options are (and mean).
First thing to know about the iPad. Without internet of some kind, it is just a big note taker and games machine. It comes into its own with internet. A lot of people in the US ended up buying twice because they thought the wifi only model would be fine.
So, there are two models – the wifi-only and the wifi+3G model. Both come in 16, 32 or 64GB storage versions – so you have 6 models to choose from!
If you have wifi everywhere you go – then the iPad wifi is all you will need. It is then just a matter of choosing the storage you think you need and you are done! Remember that iPad apps are bigger than the iPhone versions in most cases. We think the 32GB version represents the best value/feature balance.
If you think you may venture away from your wifi occasionally – then the iPad wifi+3G would be for you. First, lets dispell a few myths.
The microSIM is just a cut down SIM and can be easily fabricated. However, both Telecom and Vodafone will have the microSIM on hand soon.
You don’t need another contract for the iPad. Both telcos have a simple data prepay SIM available – and if your data use is small, you can use a 2degrees prepay SIM. It is only 2.5G – but it is fine for email and the occasional Google search!
The iPad auto switches between wifi and 3G data – it is just like the iPhone and is seamless.
The iPad cannot be tethered to the iPhone and use the iPhone data contract without hacking. It is best to stay away from hacking your iPhone and take a look at the prepay data options.
If you are the ultimate geek – then the iPad 64GB wifi+3G probably has you shaking at the knees. All your music, games, email, movies, books, browsing and more in one slab of glass. Why not??
Once the iPad is officially released into New Zealand we will have more information about the iPad data plans.
One of the cool features in Adobe Photoshop CS5 (and actually, Illustrator to some extent) is the bristle brush which gives the same effect as painting with a real brush (especially using your Wacom). Have a look at this video from Photoshop Cafe which gives a simple introduction.
With Adobe CS5 site upgrades in full swing, here is a little tip for those who need to exchange documents with others on InDesign CS4.
In the past you used the InDesign Interchange format (.INX) to save down from one InDesign version to another. With Adobe InDesign CS5 – this is not an option! Instead, Adobe have provided the InDesign Markup Language (IDML) as a format for moving a document to another version.
So, in InDesign CS5, you go to Export in the File Menu and choose InDesign Markup.
Then drag/drop the IDML file onto the InDesign CS4 icon and it will reconstruct the document. If you need to take it back to InDesign CS3 – you must save the .INX file from InDesign CS4.
Spark 5.5 has a new Purchase Order move feature in the Admin which enables you to move purchase orders from one job to another – but we also enhanced the Time/Material move. Previously you could only move the entire block of Time/Materials from one job to another – now you can choose. It is best illustrated by a picture!
To use this feature, you must have Administration rights.
