Updates to Broadcast Industry Calendar for 2007

As we tick over in to 2007 we have updated our Audio and Video Broadcast Industry calendar with new dates for upcoming events. Where possible we've also added links to their websites so you can obtain up to date information. Don't forget to check out the diary regularly if you are looking for one of the many industry conferences or expos that are planned for 2007.

Visit the industry calendar directly by clicking this link.

A bit of fun for the holidays

Confused about all this talk of "Web 2"? If you'd like a glimpse of what tomorrow's technology might bring us, read on ...

Web 2.0
Uploaded by CrazyCat

WA Daylight savings patch for PCs

Daylight savings have arrived in WA and Microsoft has created a patch (yes, really). While this may not stop the curtains fading (a local joke) it may help keep your programs in synch.

Here's what Microsoft says:

Western Australia is introducing daylight saving on a trial basis for the next three years.

Microsoft products which are aware of daylight saving time changes need to be updated to include the new Western Australia time zone rules.
The following table shows the start and end dates for the daylight saving period in each year of the trial

Start                                                       End
the hour of 2 a.m. on 3 December 2006      the hour of 2 a.m. on 25 March 2007
the hour of 2 a.m. on 28 October 2007        the hour of 2 a.m. on 30 March 2008
the hour of 2 a.m. on 26 October 2008        the hour of 2 a.m. on 29 March 2009

Note: Both the start and end time are specified in standard time, so the end time is 3 am daylight saving time.

The daylight savings WA patch may be downloaded by clicking the link. Download at your own risk.

New solution for CD and DVD Mailers

Procopy has developed a very cool way to package a CD or DVD (or CD/DVD ROM) for distribution by mail or hand-outs. Ideal for Data Brochures, Invitations and conference/sales rep promotions. We can print on the front cover, the double page spread, and the back cover. Using an optional 'masked' disc (transparent edge aka 'clear substrate CD DVD') adds a creative touch. Content may be encoded to CD, DVD or CD/DVD-ROM or CD/DVD interactive (where the data 'interacts' with web based content). For more information, please click on the CD DVD Mailer link.

IE7 comes with blurred vision

If you've recently 'upgraded' to IE7 you may be forgiven for thinking you need an eyesight test. For some inexplicable reason, Microsoft has set the screen resolution default to (apparently) give sharper pictures to super high res LCD users. For the rest of us, it means an experience that's close to myopic. Of course, it's hard to find out how to turn off this 'feature', but with a little persistance - here's Microsoft's explanation:

Why do fonts look blurry in Internet Explorer?

If screen fonts look different in Internet Explorer than they do in other parts of Windows (for example, if they're blurry or bolded), it might be because because of ClearType. ClearType is a software technology developed by Microsoft that improves the readability of text on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) monitors, such as those used on laptops and flat panel screens. [it doesn't on mine - Editor] ClearType can sometimes [no, Microsoft, always] appear blurry on Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitors or un-tuned [huh?] LCD displays. By default, ClearType is always turned on in Internet Explorer, regardless of how Windows is configured, though you can change it. If your fonts are not displaying as clear as you'd like, you can try optimizing ClearType for your monitor.

Go to the Microsoft Typography ClearType (http://www.microsoft.com/typography/cleartype/tuner/Step1.aspx) website, and then follow the instructions for tuning ClearType. The website installs an ActiveX control to help you tune ClearType to your monitor, or you can download a tool that can be used offline instead.

If you still do not like the how ClearType looks in Internet Explorer and you want to turn it off, follow these steps to have Internet Explorer use the same settings as Windows. Once you do this, you can turn ClearType off (or back on) by using the Windows Control Panel. To have Internet Explorer use the same ClearType settings as Windows In Internet Explorer, click the Tools button, and then click Internet Options. Click the Advanced tab, scroll to the Multimedia section, clear the Always use Clear Type for HTML check box, and then click OK. The changes will take effect the next time you start Internet Explorer.

Here's an update.

Seems we're not the only ones who think that Microsoft has got it wrong with Cleartype.

Take a look at this link. One other amazing fact. Microsoft says that "Outlook Express may remain blurred even if Cleartype is disabled in IE ...this is a known bug". Well, that explains why my Outlook (not OE) is now making me feel myopic. So much money, so little common sense ...