News Briefs for Tuesday, Nov. 14
FrogPad, Giletech Release Typing Tool
FrogPad and Giletech have released a new tool for users of the FrogPad mobile computing device. "Better Typing" s a utility that displays the FrogPad keypad on screen to aid in the development of one-handed typing skills, allowing users look at the screen regardless of the program being used, such as Word or Excel. A Windows-based demo version is also available.
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NEA Says Teacher Salaries Lag Behind Inflation
The National Education Association today released figures showing that inflation in the United States is outpacing teachers' salaries. According to the organization's Rankings of the States 2005 and Estimates of School Statistics 2006, the average one-year increase in teacher salaries was 2.1 percent in 2004-2005, while inflation increased by 3.1 percent. Over the last decade, average teacher salaries increased by 0.2 percent when adjusted for inflation. In 2004-2005, the national average public school teacher salary was $47,674. Complete details are available on NEA's Web site.
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Page Control 1.0 Allows for Multiple Page Sizes in InDesign Documents
Following an extended beta period, DTP Tools, in collaboration with Pariah S. Burke, has released Page Control 1.0 commercially. Page Control is a tool that allows users to work with pages of multiple sizes within a single Adobe InDesign CS or CS2 document. Spreads can be adjusted as a whole, or individual left and right pages can be adjusted individually. It also allows users to expand the pasteboard to create more working room. Page Control 1.0 is available now for Mac OS X and Windows for $59. A trial version is also available.
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Motorola Ships 2 Megapixel Wireless Phone
Motorola has started shipping its new i880 multimedia wireless phone. The new model, according to Motorola, is the first wireless phone to incorporate a 2 megapixel camera/camcorder into an iDEN handset. It also includes an integrated music player for MP3s and podcasts stored on the unit's 64 MB microSD removable memory card. It also features pre-installed and downloadable Java applications, GPS capabilities, Internet
microbrowser, custom ring tone ID and picture caller ID, a 262,000-pixel internal color screen, voice dialing, voice recorder, speakerphone, datebook and 600-entry contacts list. It's available now through Nextel for $499.99 or $299.99 with a $50 rebate and two-year service plan.
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Extensis Releases Free Quark XTensions for Intel-Based Macs
Extensis has announced free XTensions for QuarkXPress for all of its font-management utilities. The XTensions add native compatibility for Intel-based Macs and run in QuarkXPress 7. The first module, available now for Suitcase Fusion, allows for auto-activation of fonts in QuarkXPress. The Font Reserve Server Client module, available today, and Suitcase Server Client XTensions module, available by the end of the month, will support QuarkXPress 7 or QuarkXPress Passport 7 and will run on Intel-based Macintosh and PowerPC systems. All support English, French and German languages.
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About the author: Dave Nagel is the executive editor for 1105 Media's educational technology online publications and electronic newsletters. He can be reached at [email protected].
Have any additional questions? Want to share your story? Want to pass along a news tip? Contact Dave Nagel, executive editor, at [email protected].