Continuing my pixel bending experiments, this shader converts an image/video into coloured dots, creating a 'retro' feeling (or whatever emotions are stirred in you by the presence of a dotted grid). I tried to get a video demo, but since I have no idea how to do that in Flash, all I got you is this image preview . This shader is compatible with Flash.

I've started experimenting with the awesome Pixel Bender Toolkit (a sort-of shader for 2D images) and since I'm obsessed with HDR-esque imagery, well my first 'hello-world' shader I decided to write would be one that gives pictures an HDR-like highlight effect . The result is far from perfect, there are noticeable artifacts, but it is reasonable. The preview comparison image shows the result as-is, without any post-processing (except the logo and the split, of course).

Google Summer of Code is over and finally, a new version of LimeSurvey is released. Sporting the new Dashboard Engine and UI I've been working on over summer, as well as work of my fellow GSOCer, Daniel (dqminh), who has been improving the Survey Engine and providing back-end code for Statistics, LimeSurvey 2.0 looks forward to a bright future and hopes to attract more developers.

Anyway, the Beta is now up for grabs, but if you prefer, you can take a test ride on the online Developers' Demo first. If you are looking for a powerful, source tool to design and deploy surveys, LimeSurvey is a serious contender for the job!

LimeSurvey 2.0 Beta 1

Menu Inventor is now capable of changing skins. Look in the Showcase section to see the screenshots, then download the one you want or wait for the Skinning Guide to teach yourself how to create a skin! If you are bold enough, try editing an existing skin on your own - it is not at all difficult!

Installing a skin
Firstly make sure that you got Menu Inventor 1.1 installed (a dumb remark, I know). Download a skin and then unzip its contents into the same folder as you installed Menu Inventor. Do NOT put it into a separate folder, Menu Inventor won't be able to load the skin. Change the skin from the Extended Trigger.

Showcase:

Download

zip	Mac OSX 28.8.2007 | 453 kB A Mac OSX-like skin
zip	Orange 9.9.2007 | 432 kB Modern, tech-looking skin, based on the Blender 3D Orange color scheme.

Hi!

Time is pressing me, so I finished version 1.1 and I am really glad that after such a long time the sharp version of 1.1 si now finally released!

Honestly, I am quite tired - getting the whole thing done 6 days ahead than planned, but I needed to move onto other things. So, ENJOY! .

Menu Inventor 1.1

11.9 Update Sorry about the broken links, especially on the Skins page, they are now fixed. Shame on me!

Did it ever occur to you that you had the desire to create your own pc game, but didn't know how to do so or you simply didn't have the desire to learn complicated programming languages?

Game Maker is the best solution for you. A simple program that some of us use to create our own pc games, either for fun or for regular distribution on the Internet. Game Maker could be to some extent described as MS Word for generating pc games. Learn it now!

Yes, I know. The Preview is released before the start of September, but I had to hurry up, because tomorrow I'll be printing them out, so why not publish it right now? So why wait? Five new pages to be seen, all in 150dpi resolution.

And heeere they come!:

Test 1 of Menu Inventor 1.1 beta has been released and is available from sourceforge.net. Please, before downloading read the Notes included, because this test release is really gimpy, so don't complain .

As a relaxation, I created my first mini-short with sound, 5 secs long. Though it is really short, I learned how much time must be spent on creating such a tiny candy.