Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Open Source ERP Technology

In 2011, the year of open source technology. Because at this point is provided with open source technology at an affordable price if we compare it with the ERP service. Still, ERP software is one of the most important component of a business enterprise and has become a necessity to implement ERP software in order to improve its business processes. There are various kinds of ERP software as Open Source ERP, for example. This can easily be had of course with lots of great advantage to be obtained. ERP Software as Open Source ERP can be downloaded from the Internet and run in any business environment in order to meet business needs without the need to pay for it.

ERP client server has been implemented by many large media companies despite the fact that this application is quite expensive. Due to great prices most small and medium-sized companies never think to implement the software in their business systems. After the Open Source ERP was launched in the market, things have changed. Because Open Source ERP is able to meet the needs of the sector are small businesses, small and medium-sized companies many started using this software. More on, a free application requests for this application has increased rapidly. All the features of ERP is determined more companies to test in their business environment.

Clearly many companies spend large amounts of money to get ERP software licenses, to obtain professional services as software implementation and training of employees. Using Open Source ERP does not require a license or implementation. It can only download from the internet, installed in the system and run your business. Download and installation process lasted only a few minutes and open source ERP will start working for you immediately, of course ERP software has advantages and disadvantages as other software.

One disadvantage is the fact that companies that use Open Source ERP is not able to take advantage of the services offered by the vendor because the company manages all the business independently. In this case, if a simple mistake is not corrected immediately can have adverse effects and may prove to be an expensive affair. More on, the company will not be offered professional assistance so that it will be forced to learn from mistakes.

Open Source ERP technology has several limitations. For example, they could not find any application in all activities of the company and it is useless when it comes about conventional practices. It is not advisable to implement open source technologies without modifying the old way the system works.

By considering that the type of ERP is a free application and the client does not need to spend large sums of money for the Budget itPsychology, they do not expect to find all the features we usually meet in a traditional client server ERP software.

But despite its limits of Open Source ERP remains the best option for everyone assume that companies that implement and use this software to streamline their business with lower costs.


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HTML5 & CSS3: Take Your Design to Another Level

While both languages for HTML5 and CSS3 aren’t fully complete yet, taking the time time to familiarize yourself with some of the pointers in this post can really help you achieve that clean look and feel for your site. Let’s take a deeper look at them.

HTML5

HTML5 is the latest version of HTML or Hypertext Markup Language. It is currently only fully supported by a handful of browsers but the next year should see a large increase in usage. It isn’t expected to be completed until 2014, but the features that are available now are a great way to become acquainted with HTML5 and add some cool elements to your website.

Steve Jobs famously refuses to allow Flash on the iOS due to the many bugs and crashes it experiences, therefore, learning how to use the more intricate features of HTML5 is going to be a must for those who want to develop apps and iOS-friendly websites. With Google rolling out an HTML5-friendly version of YouTube, many developers are starting to see how important this system will become in the near future. However, with Firefox resisting some of the advent of HTML5, developers and designers are still feeling the need to cover all of their bases when implementing new features on a website.

The idea behind HTML5 is that it’s not one large entity, but rather made up of smaller parts that work together to create something innovative and advanced. Each browser may support different features of HTML5, which makes it important for those interested in coding to figure out which features they need and which will be supported by different browsers.

HTML5 simply builds upon the widespread success of HTML4. That means a coder doesn’t have to throw away the existing markup, but rather build upon and improve the old one. For example, forms can be updated to allow for new features such as a better email input for those using a mobile device. However, viewers stuck in IE6 will simply see it as a text field and still be able to use it.

Features

• Any HTML5 syntax requires a doctype to be specified so that the browser can render the page in standards mode. The good news though is that the doctype declaration has also been simplified from previous HTML. It is now just: <!DOCTYPE html>
• The audio and visual support in HTML5 is outstanding. As soon as it’s fully running and all browsers support HTML5, you will find it easy to add audio and video to websites without the need for outside plugins.
• Editing the content of your website is simplified with HTML5. Using the contenteditable attribute, you can quickly and painlessly change your text by adding contenteditable=“true” to any element.
• The canvas element makes it possible for you to bypass Photoshop to make your 2D images and directly place them in your code.
• The application cache enables you to navigate web applications while you are offline.

Why Use It

• HTML5 will load much quicker than its older brother because it implements WebSockets.
• Mobile phone applications will be much more accessible if written in HTML5 because you will not have to write applications for a specific brand of phone but rather can create universal applications for all phones.
• You have more flexibility in creating your website.
• Video, audio and images are all easily written right into the code, eliminating the need for any third party software.
• This language is growing and will only result in more, new, better and faster features that will leave old websites looking outdated.
• HTML5 simply builds on HTML4, so the old markup can stay in place as you develop the new features.
• HTML5 and CSS3 together will give you some serious designer credibility.

CSS 3

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) offer increased flexibility in the presentation of website content. In essence, it just makes everything prettier. Although CSS3 isn’t supported by all browsers yet, it’s becoming increasingly popular because it makes these changes so much easier than trying to get the same effect using something like a Javascript plugin or creating slightly different versions of the exact same image.

One drawback to using CSS is the requirement to implement filters to change how something will appear onscreen using different browsers. Although Internet Explorer is known for bugs, CSS can still be incorrectly interpreted by Firefox or Chrome. As such, some web designers have created different CSS codes to be sent to different browsers, or use filters to cut off CSS delivery completely.

CSS3 offers some exciting new features to enhance the appearance of a website. Although these features might not be absolutely necessary to the functionality of a website, users are coming to expect a website to look awesome as well as operate cleanly. CSS3 makes it easier for designs that will make visitors “ooh and aah” over them to be implemented.

Some features, such as menus, are necessary in almost any website. But with CSS3, the functionality and aesthetic appeal increases exponentially. Submenus upon hovering, horizontal menus, menus with rounded edges, submenus with tabs, submenus with descriptions, and menus with submenus with rounded edges with descriptions on hover are now all possible with some tweaking. Users will appreciate the ability to see a little more of what that page is about before potentially wasting loading time.

Complete details and source here.


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Tips in Designing a Single Page Website

There are really different techniques in designing a website but one cannot just opt for a design if it doesn’t fit the site. With the large number of websites, it is a challenge on how one can stand out and get the attention of the readers. Some choose to use single-page websites to be distinct and direct on what they want to offer to their target audience. Many websites have made use of this but not all were successful. This is because there are some things that need to be considered in designing a single page website in order for it to be successful and effective.

Single page websites can only become useful if it is designed in the right manner. No doubt, single page websites give a challenge to the designer on how it can still be effective despite some limitations. Part of making these types of sites functional is by using unique designs, photos, good color combinations and others. But there are still lots of things that one needs to know with regards to it. So, we will give you some tips on how to design an effective single page website. Take a look at it:

1.    Know the purpose.

It would always be important to know what the purpose of a website is before you start designing it. Understand the purpose so that you can create the right website. It would be different if you will have a website for an advertisement of a product and a site to promote your design works. You should know if the site owner wants to sell some products or offer some services. This way, you will be able to apply the right design.

2.    Take note of the basics.

Remember that a single-page website is still a website. Hence, you have to take note of the fundamental rules in web designing. Never forget it because it can help you achieve an effective website. See to it that your website doesn’t lack anything to make it complete. Always consider usability and accessibility.

3.    Have a logical structure.

It would be much easier for your readers to understand the contents if they are arranged logically. Determine what needs to be presented first and what other things will follow. This way, you can elaborate what needs to be given emphasis and add other things in support of it. Part of being logical is to include a contact information and social media plug-ins.

4.    Focus on a topic.

Single page websites have to be focused on a certain topic especially that there is limited room for it. Everything that is in the site should be on one topic and it should not go far from that. This way, the audience could clearly get the intention of the site and could clearly acquire the information the site intends to convey. Make use of the space wisely by placing only those which are necessary.

5.    Be straight to the point.

Do not run around the bush when you are creating a single page website. Include those which are necessary. When you are writing your text, be sure that you could immediately send the right message to the readers. Do not waste your reader’s time by letting them think of what you are really trying to say. Aside from the limited time they have, you should also consider the limited space you have.

6.    Have an interesting layout.

Well, it doesn’t mean that just because you are using a single page website that you will limit your design already. You should even be more creative. Have an interesting layout that can capture the attention of the audience. Let your purpose be clearly seen in the layout and be sure to properly lay down the vital contents of the site. Also, you have to use the right color combinations that could tell your site’s purpose and could attract readers at the same time. Choose fonts that are readable and effective for communication.

7.    Have a clear navigation.

One may think that the navigation can be taken for granted. That shouldn’t be the case. There are instances that sites display some links leading to another site. When you do that, be sure to clearly inform the audience that they will be redirected to another page once they click on the said link. Doing this can be helpful for the users so that they can decide if they want to be redirected to another site or not. Also, always see to it that the navigation is simple and clear.

8.    Make it look neat.

A cluttered layout will not make it attractive for the readers. Since you only have a single page, see to it that you have everything properly and neatly arranged. This way, it will not look confusing for the readers and it will also look professional. You might also lose the purpose of the site if it is cluttered. So, be sure that the design of the single-page website is neat and clean.

9.    Be creative.

Show your creativity on a single page website in order to make it look attractive yet simple. It would indeed be challenging to do that but you will surely be able to think a lot on what needs to be done in order to make the site look creative. You can play with colors if you want to as long as they are of good mixture. Go wild with your imagination to come up of a great site.

10.  Give life to your site.

No one would like to look into a website that is boring and dull. Give it some life by having a great design. You can also add some transitions or animations to make it look exciting. Let it appear like a dynamic site which can interact with the readers. Doing this will surely give it life and you will succeed to get the attention you want.

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Adobe Flash-based mass market games will go 3D in a big way

Adobe is about to taking mass market gaming up a notch. The company is introducing a number of high-end gaming features — from 3D graphics to easier mobile porting — today with the launch of version 11.2 of its Flash Player. The company is also launching a partnership with Unity Technologies, maker of the Unity 3D game engine.

This means that browser-based games and Facebook titles will be able to take a big leap forward in graphics fidelity, potentially offering a big boost for the whole game industry. Social and casual games on the web are expected to grow from $4.94 billion worldwide in 2011 to $8.64 billion in 2014, according to the Casual Games Association.

Adobe believes that it will continue to reach the largest mass market of game players with its Flash Player, which is already running on 1.3 billion PCs worldwide. That vast reach is Adobe’s biggest selling point: developers can create one version of a game and reach the most people. In the past, Flash games running on these PCs were two-dimensional and relatively primitive compared to console games with 3D graphics.

But the new Flash Player 11.2, which debuted in October and is now being enhanced, now has the option of tapping the 3D graphics hardware in a PC, not just the microprocessor. The player uses the Stage 3D applications programming interface that makes it possible to access 3D hardware. That API makes it possible for Epic’s Unreal Engine 3 to run inside Flash. It can also access fast memory features in a computer as well.

That enables Flash-based animations to take on a 3D look that is far better than the old Flash, which is the basis of most Facebook games today. Currently, nine of the top ten Flash games use Flash today.

“We consider Flash to be the game console for the web,” said Diana Helander, product marketing manager for gaming solutions at San Jose, Calif.-based Adobe, in an interview with VentureBeat.”We give game developers extraordinary reach.”

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Photoshop vs. Illustrator

Here are just a few advantages Illustrator has over Photoshop for vector drawing.

·         Selecting shapes

In Illustrator, the interface for selecting vectors within a document is highly streamlined. You can group a collection of shapes, or even a collection of groups, and then grab any combination of them using the group selection tool. In Photoshop, you’d use a combination of selection tools, the Layers palette and the Paths palette to do the same thing.

·         Pathfinder

The pathfinder toolbar lets you modify shapes using other shapes. Photoshop includes the basic shape modes (add, subtract, intersect, exclude) but Illustrator adds more complicated methods like divide, trim, merge, and crop. I use these frequently to turn combinations of simple shapes into (for example) geometrically-inspired logos.

·         Changing colors

Photoshop has pretty sophisticated coloring tools, many of which Illustrator doesn’t even try to mimic, but one thing it doesn’t let you do is easily change the color of an entire shape or set of shapes. In Illustrator, you can either drag a swatch onto a shape, or select a shape and click the color you want it to be. You can even select all shapes by their color and change every blue in your document to a red.

·         Warp

Illustrator’s Warp filter lets you non-destructively change the shape of a vector. Usually this means turning a box or a circle into a shape it would be difficult to draw by hand (say, a flag or a teardrop). I use this a lot for logo design, and I’m not sure if there’s a Photoshop equivalent — there certainly isn’t one that’s as easy to use.

·         Pixel Preview / Pixel align

Traditionally, you’re used to seeing pixels in Photoshop and smooth vectors in Illustrator. As of CS5, Illustrator allows you to view and edit your vectors in Pixel Preview mode, to see how they will look on the Web. This lets you spot where your fractional pixel widths might cause fuzzy edges and distortion so that you can fix them on the fly. Plus, there’s the Align to Pixel option that shuffles your vector around to make the edges smooth (not an exact science, unfortunately). I use this feature when making iOS tab bar icons, and it’s probably saved me days of work all by itself.

·         Perspective grid

Another new CS5 feature, the perspective grid is a tremendous aid to drawing images with depth. You get to set up a grid in 2-or 3-point perspective, and then draw shapes as usual. Illustrator will force a perspective on what you draw: rectangles elongated toward the horizon, right-angles become obtuse, evenly-spaced objects foreshorten, all for free.

·         Color Guide

Lets you adjust all the selected colors in your document at once. For example, you could make all your blues slightly greener, or less saturated, or exchange one color for its counterpart on the color wheel. It does a lot of other stuff too, but this alone is worth the price of admission. Photoshop does this as well (for example the Selective Color or H/S/B tools), but not as elegantly or precisely, and not as quickly.

·         Offset Path

Creates a similar version of a shape that fits neatly over another shape such that the space between their edges is always the same. Huh? It’s hard to explain, but very useful, trust me. In Photoshop, I suppose you’d do this by selecting your shape, contracting the selection, and converting the selection back to a vector, but in Illustrator it’s a 1-step process.

·         Extrude / Bevel

Lets you make simple 3d representations of a shape. Turns a square into a cube, and lets you rotate it and apply some simple lighting effects. Photoshop may have some equivalent feature, but all of its 3D features require a dedicated graphics card, which is probably overkill for most users.

·         The canvas

Imagine a tabletop with a piece of paper on it. In Illustrator, the piece of paper is your Artboard, the document you’ll give to clients, and the tabletop is your Canvas. Since the canvas isn’t part of the final illustration (it doesn’t need to be printed or exported by default) you can use it to keep reference images and alternate versions of the shapes on your artboard. Does that make sense? It’s like a scratchpad. This is a great way to work, and something Photoshop doesn’t support at all.

·         Live Trace

Automagicaly converts raster images (like photographs) into an approximation of the same image in a vector version. It’s not perfect, but it’s a very slick feature that a lot of people were asking for before it was included in Illustrator CS2. There’s nothing even close to this in Photoshop. I think Photoshop would be scared to even try something this crazy.


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5 Steps to Good Business Web Design

Creating and building your own website is easy. You can even do it in minutes. There are a lot of tools found online that can help you build your website. And that becomes the problem, especially if you are building a website for your own business, or perhaps your company’s website. I offer you this article to aid better design and clearer understanding about web design.

1.    Determine the goal of your website

Before you plunge into the design phrase you must determine first what you aim for in building your own website. Do you plan to build a website for a business? Most of the website built nowadays is more on advertising their products. If this is what you intend to do so, then, it requires a more sophisticated and secured website. Business websites also require web site internal to your organization to address some technical and financial concerns.

Once you have identified your goal already, it is time now to choose your domain name. You can choose between hiring a consultant or you can do it yourself. You also need to make a decision whether to host the site internally or with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or web hosting service. Choose the one that has less hardware and security issues.

It is important to allocate persons in each key area such as for site maintenance. Once taken for granted, this key area can be totally disastrous and can even lead you to start back from the start. Have a regular input into the content and design of your website.

2.    Plan the website carefully

Lack of planning can be the reason behind many bad sites. You can plan out your site by creating a flow chart. Start by drawing in a pad paper. Identify how people will get engage in your website, what information they are more interested, or you can create polls to know their opinions on how to improve your website at the same time how your site can give better service to them. Maintain consistency by using templates and to speed up the coding process.

3.    Avoid noisy effects

As much as possible, do not use noisy and startling effect in your website. Stuff like this is only applicable if you are building an entertainment or personal website. Though gadgets like animated GIF's, Java/Javascript, frames or some scrolling text are admittedly “cool” effects, you must be aware that these can be reasons of a very slow loading of your page and can sometimes annoy people who visit your website. Opt for a less complex and reader-friendly website by uploading useful and interesting contents. Make sure the contents in your website attract communication and not frustration.

4.    Include an email link

Make sure there’s a place in your website that sends your reader to a webmaster. Include contact information and how they can get in touch with you. If you plan to put up a business online, make it easier for people to reach you. Ensure that there are navigation links throughout your websites.

5.    Test the website functionalities

Lastly, test your website on different computers, with different browsers and at different screen resolutions. Try different (old and new) versions of IE and Firefox. Not all CMS are compatible in a certain browser or computer model. Make sure to rectify whatever errors found once tested.

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