Review of Video Systems in an IT Environment, Second Edition: The Basics of Professional Networked Media and File-based Workflows (Hardcover)

As a professional who serves the broadcast, IT, and mobile content distribution business, I was already a fan of the first edition of this book, and purchased several copies for my staff and colleagues since its first printing. With the rapid changes in the IT business including storage and networking, this updated (2nd) edition has fresh content that's current with the state of the art in digital media networks.

This second edition is typeset a little tighter than the first edition, which cuts out some pages and weight without sacrificing content. In fact, there's even more content in this new edition -- just more efficiently placed for easier reading. Either way, this is a hefty volume packed with hundreds of detailed illustrations and lots of examples. When it comes to understanding principles of modern networked media for video and audio, this Focal Press work deserves a prominent place in any serious video or IT engineer's reference library.

Although this book is oriented towards the professional media or broadcast systems engineer (as opposed to a video consumer building a home media network), the author does a nice job of weaving together the essentials of networked media from "A to Z" including a handy glossary of terms for those of us who can't keep our acronyms straight. I've known the author, Al Kovalick, who's a well regarded figure in the broadcast community. His breadth of knowledge is evident throughout each chapter, yet he writes in a witty, practical style that's both educational and fun to read (including some pretty subtle humor that will make an engineer chuckle). Without sacrificing depth, this book takes a complex technical subject and brings it down to earth, making it suitable even for less technical (but motivated) readers.

Bottom line, this book is for you if you're seeking a solid overview of key engineering considerations when designing or recommending networked video architectures, including networking fundamentals, virus and firewall protection, video servers, NSPOF (no single point of failure) storage design including RAID and RAIN methods, as well as other innovative architectures. Several real-world case studies complement the teaching benefits including specific examples by leading-edge media companies and broadcasters.

Chapter Highlights:
Networked Media in an IT Environment
The Fundamentals of Professional Networked Media
Storage System Basics
Storage Access Methods
Software Technology for AV Systems
Reliability and Scalability Methods
Networking Basics for AV
Media Systems Integration
Security for Networked AV Systems
Systems Management and Monitoring
The Transition to IT: Issues and Case Studies
A Review of AV Basics




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Review of Adobe Photoshop Elements 6: A Visual Introduction to Digital Photography (book with CD) (Paperback)

After buying Elements 6 and finding it hard to understand (and the Help menu of little help)for a novice like me I purchased the book by Mark Galer titled Elements 6 Maximum Performance.I found the book too difficult to follow and understand although the included DVD was helpful.I then purchased "Visual Introduction ... and found it to be just what I needed to help me put new life into my digital photographs.The included CD whas somewhat disappointing but nonetheless helpful and that is the reason for 4 stars instead of 5.

The book takes you from downloading your photo's, organizing them in the Organizer, fixing and editing your photos including underexposure and overexposure. Color correction and changing, cropping, all either automatically or fully manual. Using layers and the tool box.Creating albums and scrapbooks, and fun things like photomerge and stiching, slideshows with music, etc., etc.

Excellent step-by-step instruction that is easy to read and understand will take the mystery out of the Elements 6 program.So if you are new to the Elements software like me, a novice like me, and want to know all the in's and out's of Elements 6 like me, then buy this book - like me.



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Review of Color Management for Photographers: Hands on Techniques for Photoshop Users (Paperback)

There are entirely too many books like this.100 pages of information hidden in clouds of personal chatter, name dropping and cliches.Too bad because this is an important area that is almost completely misunderstood.This material should be presented to experienced photographers at an engineering level.It isn't an "all you have to do is..." subject.

If you don't know anything about color, the first 30 pages of this book might help.If you know a lot about photography this book will irritate you, especially when the author runs aground on the subject of Gamma, as so many others have.There is excellent information on the Web that covers this subject so well, nobody needs to misunderstand it.

If you already us Photoshop CS2 and Camera RAW you don't need this book.If you don't use them, you should.Then go to the Adobe website and pick up the white papers by Bruce Fraser and Jeff Schewe.They are free, very well written and focussed on how Photoshop works and what you need to know.

I would recommend anything written by Blatner & Fraser, or Schewe.Add your own experience and just do it.You'll be better off.









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