Review of Digital Evidence and Computer Crime [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

Sometimes, defense attorneys have it easy: one slip-up by the prosecution and evidence is thrown out. Knowing that, law enforcement goes to great lengths to ensure that evidence is appropriately collected and protected. That works well in the physical world, where law enforcement has many generations' worth of experience. But in the modern world of computers and digital networks, where the simple act of rebooting a computer is enough to wipe out large amounts of evidence, law enforcement clearly needs thorough guidance.

Such a resource is here: Digital Evidence and Computer Crime, an excellent book that details the elements of digital crime. Author Eoghan Casey does a superb job of applying forensic science to computers. The information presented here is critical to a diverse audience: law enforcement, attorneys, forensic scientists, and systems administrators, for instance.

While cybercrime law is in some ways similar to other aspects of criminal law, it nonetheless has its own language and categories. For instance, jurisdiction is a key element in both the physical and digital realms, but it is a much trickier concept in the latter. Casey develops this topic and many more.Those new to computers and networks need not worry: the book begins with an explanation of how they function. With the basics out of the way, Casey details how computers can be used in crime and how the evidence created from these activities can be used for later analysis....The accompanying CD-ROM contains simulated cases that integrate many of the topics covered in the text. In all, the book and CD are an excellent introduction to an increasingly important area of law enforcement.



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Review of Keynote Fast & Easy (Paperback)

Not enough in depth information. I ordered this book as soon as I purchased Keynote, but by the time it came (one week later) I already knew everything the book covered!The section on charts is a joke!It tells you nothing!Very disappointing.

Product Description
Relax. Now you can easily create and deliver impressive presentations using Keynote. Targeting just the skills you need, Keynote Fast & Easy offers step-by-step instructions and plenty of screen shots for creating new presentations, importing data, adding special touches like animation and transition effects, and delivering your final slideshow. With Keynote Fast & Easy you simply look and learn!

From the Publisher
Enables readers to quickly and easily develop their ownKeynote presentations that look like they required hours to create,but really only took a few minutes! Educates Keynote users on how tocreate sophisticated presentations that include an amazing variety ofvideo and audio effects including Keynote's professional themes,advanced 3D transitions, and more. Explains the basics, but alsoincludes many tips and tricks to help readers get the most out ofKeynote. Extensive coverage of Keynote's powerful charts and tablestool enables readers to deliver information in meaningful andinteresting ways.

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Review of Cutting Edge PowerPoint For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) (Paperback)

This is one of the more "timely" books I've read in awhile.It's Cutting Edge PowerPoint For Dummies by Geetesh Bajaj, and I plan on incorporating a number of things from this book in my next presentation at Lotusphere...

Contents:
Part 1 - Powering Up PowerPoint: PowerPointing with the Best of Them; Empowering Your PowerPoint Program; Color Is Life; Streamlining with Masters and Templates
Part 2 - Achieving Visual Appeal: AutoShape Magic; Drawing in PowerPoint; Dressing Up the Text Stuff; Adding Images to Your Presentation; Pulling in Diagrams, Charts, Equations, and Maps
Part 3 - Adding Motion, Sounds, and Effects: Listening and Watching - The Sound and Video Stuff; Moving On with Animations and Transitions
Part 4 - Communicating Beyond the PowerPoint Program: Interactivity and Linking; Exchanging Information; Preparing and Delivering Your Awesome Presentation
Part 5 - The Part of Tens: My Ten Favorites PowerPoint Tips; Ten PowerPoint Problems
What's On The CD-ROM; Index

I've put together my share of PowerPoint presentations, and I normally know enough to get the basics down.I'm a firm believer in "just because you can doesn't mean you should", and I try to stay away from font and animation overload.All of that is well and good, but it usually means my slides can lack a bit in the "pizazz" department.Bajaj has written a book that starts beyond the "what is PowerPoint" mark and starts to delve into all the features that can make your presentation stand out.Yes, there is plenty of time spent on how to animate things and such, but he also offers the caveat that too much activity is distracting, not informational.Use with caution.All versions of PowerPoint from 2000 through the current version are well-covered, so you're not shut out totally if you haven't bothered to keep up with Microsoft's latest offerings.

On top of just learning about features you haven't played with before, the author offers up insights and tips based on his extensive experience with the product.You'll learn how best to avoid corrupted PowerPoint files, what features work well (and what features don't), as well as some hidden gems you probably don't know about.For instance, did you know that you can create a basic PowerPoint presentation using Notepad?Neither did I, and it's an intriguing way to get your thoughts and structure down "on paper" before you get distracted by all the PowerPoint bright shiny objects.This is also one of the few books which quickly ended up with a broken seal on the CD container.The full version of Camtasia 3 that's offered gratis is something I've long wanted to play with.Just in time for January's Lotusphere session...

I usually get *something* out of most every book I read.Some books offer up more than a few "somethings".This one ended up in the very upper range of value for my time and money...Very good stuff...

Product Description
Use these great ideas to help you make your point

Create PowerPoint presentations with Flash(r) movies, Excel(r) charts, and more

Okay, you've PowerPointed before, right? And you knew there must be more cool things you could do? Here they are! This handy guide gives you pointers on what makes a powerful presentation, tips on using the right formats and templates, and directions for dressing up text, wowing 'em with color, adding action, and much more.

Discover how to
* Tweak and streamline PowerPoint
* Get the most from color
* Avoid amateur mistakes
* Use shapes, fills, and 3D effects
* Add photos, soundtracks, and DVD video
* Deliver your presentation with punch

From the Back Cover
Use these great ideas to help you make your point

Create PowerPoint presentations with Flash® movies, Excel® charts, and more

Okay, you've PowerPointed before, right? And you knew there must be more cool things you could do? Here they are! This handy guide gives you pointers on what makes a powerful presentation, tips on using the right formats and templates, and directions for dressing up text, wowing 'em with color, adding action, and much more.

Discover how to

• Tweak and streamline PowerPoint
• Get the most from color
• Avoid amateur mistakes
• Use shapes, fills, and 3D effects
• Add photos, soundtracks, and DVD video
• Deliver your presentation with punch

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Review of Model-Driven Software Development (Hardcover)

Do not buy this book unless you want to have a collection of obvious things that do not add anything to you.


Product Description
Abstraction is the most basic principle of software engineering. Abstractions are provided by models. Modeling and model transformation constitute the core of model-driven development. Models can be refined and finally be transformed into a technical implementation, i.e., a software system.The aim of this book is to give an overview of the state of the art in model-driven software development. Achievements are considered from a conceptual point of view in the first part, while the second part describes technical advances and infrastructures. Finally, the third part summarizes experiences gained in actual projects employing model-driven development.Beydeda, Book and Gruhn put together the results from leading researchers in this area, both from industry and academia. The result is a collection of papers which gives both researchers and graduate students a comprehensive overview of current research issues and industrial forefront practice, as promoted by OMG's MDA initiative.

About the Author
Sami Beydeda is an IT officer at the Federal Finance Office (Bundesamt füer Finanzen), Germany. His research interests besides model-driven development include software testing and component-based development. He has written his PhD thesis on "The Self-Testing COTS Components (STECC) Method". Sami Beydeda is a program committee co-chair of TECOS 2004, TQACBS 2005, program committee member of COMPSAC 2004, SEA 2004, QATWBA 2004, QATWBA 2005, TQACBS 2005. Matthias Book is a research associate at the Chair of Applied Telematics / e-Business at the University of Leipzig in Germany. He is writing his PhD thesis on dialog flow control in web applications. His research interests include software engineering for distributed applications and especially model-driven design of web applications.Volker Gruhn is a full professor at the computer science department of the University of Leipzig, Germany. His research interests are component-based development, software processes for distributed systems, architecture of electronic commerce applications and workflow management. He has been chief technical officer of a German software house called LION from 1992 to 1996. In this position he was responsible for a software development department of 150 people. Volker Gruhn was a PC member of major software engineering conferences (ESEC95, ESEC97, ICSE2004) and several software process workshops and conferences. He was program chair of the 6th European Workshop on Software Process Technology and the 8th European Software Engineering Conference. Volker Gruhn has already organized a workshop at ICSE, the Engineering Distributed Objects Workshop during ICSE 99. In 1997 Volker Gruhn co-founded adesso AG, a German software house specialized in component-based software development. adesso AG currently has 170 employees.

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