Wow, it seems like it’s taken forever.  The ExpressionEngine v2 release is tomorrow.  Having tested the beta for some time now I’ll be glad to finally be able to discuss it in detail.  I’m also planning to put together some training on using Code Igniter with EE.  It’s refreshing that the developers at EllisLab have indicated that release 2.1 will be production-ready along with the acknowledgement that the current 2.0 version is still not quite ready for primetime.  It’s a huge jump forward though and one that will make the argument for EE over other CMSs such as Drupal and Joomla much easier to make.

Now we just need Brandon Kelly to fasttrack the Playa Plugin.

In June, I spoke with Mario Armstrong of WYPR’s Digital Cafe about the new technologies being introduced to bring 3D to the theatre audience.  We’ve all see cheesy 3D in the past and left the movie with a headache.  But these new technologies along with advances in animation will bring an enhanced experience that will pull viewers off of their sofas and back into the theatre.  In part 1 we discuss these new projection technologies and some of the new movies that will use it.  Podcast - Part 1

I’ve used Via mini-ITX computers in several embedded environments, from digital signage applications to kiosks.  But recently, I’ve started to deploy the Mac Mini in those situations with terrific results.

The specs of the Mac Mini have continued to improve, and there have been rumblings that the platform will see a shift to the new Intel chips and maybe (please) better graphics support.  But even without these new improvements, the Mac Mini has proven to be very capable in enclosed and embedded systems.  Having the ability to run any OS on the hardware from Windows XP and XPe to Linux and Mac OS X makes it one of the most flexible platforms on the market today.  The most common comment I receive is “What about Cost?”  My response is simply, in most situations, when you factor in all the costs, (including time) the Mac Mini is cheaper.  It also has the advantage of a single source warranty from a company that I’ve found to be very responsive to repair issues.  Heat is also a factor in most enclosed environments, but Mac OS X has excellent tools for reducing power consumption, resulting in a cooler and greener kiosk installation.

I sat down with Mario Armstrong of the Digital Cafe late 2007 to discuss the new iPod Touch and what an SDK could mean for the platform.
Podcast