New Media Tools
The plethora of tools available for creating new media is amazing. As you consider tools to review and use, don't ignore the tools already in your toolbox. New ways to use existing tools are often worth investigating (for example, go to the "Resources" page follow the link to David Byrnes' experiments with PowerPoint).
The links to the left will take you to free trial downloads of some reliable software, most of which I have at least tried. Trial versions usually don't have all the features of purchased packages, but you can get a feel for the tool.
ECU Resources
ECU does offer a number of software tools and platforms *free* for us. Here's some info:
Virtual Computing Lab. http://www.ecu.edu/cs-itcs/vcl/connect-vcl/index.cfm. If you need software that you don't own 9Dreamweaver or Flash for example), go here and choose "Option 2." You will be able to access software distantly from the virtual lab. You will need to download a plu-in to use it.
Services At-a-Glance (visit http://www.ecu.edu/itcs for additional resources)
Web Space. Academic Web Space >> Go to http://myweb.ecu.edu (NEW!), log in with your ECU PirateID and passphrase, and click the Create Web Space link to get started. You can manage your own permissions, transfer files to and from your Web site right through the browser...even create a blog! You can also go directly to http://blog.ecu.edu and create your WordPress blog.
Microsoft Expression Web (NEW!) , a Web page editor similar to Dreamweaver, is now available to ECU faculty and staff (for your university-owned computer). Download Expression Web from the university software download site at http://download.ecu.edu. Online tutorials for Expression Web can be found at http://expression.microsoft.com (click “Video Tutorials” in the right menu) or http://www.learnexpression.com. (If you're not teaching at ECU, but want to try this, we might be able to get it for you--let me know and I'll find out.)
Freeware and Trials
Arc GIS Story Maps: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/en/
Aviary. http://www.aviary.com/ Aviary is a free suite of powerful online creation tools
Gimp. http://www.gimp.org/ Image manipulation tool
SmartDraw. http://www.smartdraw.com/specials/ppc/drawing-tools.htm?id=10479&gclid=COag4fLezpwCFQxM5Qodlh-tLQ
DimDim. http://www.dimdim.com/ Collaboration tool
Googel Aps for small screens
Best Online Collaboration Tools 2009 - Robin Good's Collaborative Map http://www.mindmeister.com/12213323 This page, put together in MindMeister, lists a number of tools for collaboration that you might want to try.
MindJet.http://www.mindjet.com/campaign/lp/mindjet/mm8/default.aspx?gclid=CIeElNPfzpwCFcZM5QodRktpKQ Brainstorming, mind-mapping tool.
iMindMap http://www.imindmap.com/ Mind mapping and presentation software.
ErrNet http://www.errnet.net/index.html This is a proof-reading tool.
Image Map Creator. http://www.kolchose.org/simon/ajaximagemapcreator/ Lets you map (put clickable areas in) images you upload and gives you he html for the map.
Story Space: http://www.eastgate.com/storyspace/
Freeware Sources
ZDNet downloads
Free Scripts
Script.aculo.us! Cool scripts you can customze and script tools
Brainjar.com. DHtlm, Javasctript, more
DHTML Tutorial. DHTML, CSS, and more; free scripts and tutorials
Dynamic Drive. Lots of DHTML for a variety of purposes
Google Code. Google's open source project
JavaScript.Com. Offers, well, Javascripts
There are just SO many sites that share scripts free. As with anything "free," you sometimes get what you pay for. "Shop" around.
Software Reviews
Web Developers' Journal Software Reviews
Amazon.com Software. Some professional and some user reviews available.
Webmonkey provides reviews of software. You need to search for articles on the software you're interested in.
Shareware Junkies. Reviews on shareware and other products.
irt.org (internet Related Technologies) Reviews. Lots of reviews on software for Web and multimedia development.