Since my last UT Dallas update the construction here on campus has been increasing at a fever pace (is that even correct grammar?).

This hopefully is a better photo than the last one, both taken from the camera in the iPhone. I thought this photo out a bit better before shooting it.

The construction on the UTD campus makes it a bit of a challenge getting around campus some days, but ya gotta hope we will end up with a much better campus when it is all done.

The job is going really well. I love working in this university setting and am being challenged every day with new stuff to learn and get involved in.

The other thing I am really loving is my iPhone. The always connected aspect is very cool. I am writing this post from the UTD Student Union building in one of my 2 favorite chairs right from the iPhone.

I also purchased an app called "FTP on the Go" ($9.99 in the Apple App Store) that allows me to log on to my other ( non- WordPress) sites, look at all the files, download and edit a file and upload the edited file. That's huge to be able to do that from my phone! At least it's huge to a web designer.

UTD - Where I work.

Where I work, The University of Texas at Dallas, they have been doing a ton of construction on campus!

I finally took a snapshot of it on my iPhone.

You have to walk way out of your way to get many places, but the end result should be worth it.

I also wanted to make a short mention of this great little iPhone app iBlogger, which allows me to make blog posts, like this one in any of my 8 WordPress blogs.

Great products Apple and iBlogger, thanks.

Ruthie and I just purchased iPhone's! These things are just great. I'm making this post from the iPhone now. More from the computer later.

I recently had to modify an online slide show for a site I was working on and had the pleasure of working with a shareware program called Slide Show Pro.

This software has a Flash based (.swf file) player that interacts with a standard XML file and a folder of images to create a very classy looking player that can be easily modified by the user.

I liked it so much I went and purchased the Flash version yesterday for the reasonable price of $29. It was easy to purchase with my PayPal balance or you can use a credit card.

You install it into Flash and then it is available as a component from within Flash. You just drag an instance of the player onto the stage and size it how you want. There are dozens of options available to customize the player via a simple drop down menu interface and the changes show up live on the stage.

Making a folder of images interact with the player and the XML file is super easy and they have video help and instructions for the whole operation. You don't even have to re-size the images before making it because the player adjusts all the images to the size of player you set.

I really love this program. Please check out the site and try the demo if you want to play around without committing to the $29 price.

I have already used it today on a site I am designing and it saved me many hours that I would have spent setting up a gallery by hand.

If you try one yourself, give me a link to the player so we can check out your example.

So I guess my mission has changed a bit since I took a position at The University of Texas at Dallas.

I started there on December 3rd and am now employed full time doing what I love to do - Web Design!

I'm working in a team environment with a team leader and 5 other coders in the Web Services Department. There are various skill levels represented and each member has their little niche that they excel in.

I (don't laugh) have a Dell laptop that I use in tandem with my Apple Powerbook G4 paired with (2) 19" Dell monitors. Each machine has a 19" to extend the desktop, so it's a sweet setup.

I have dived in and am involved already in 2 major projects as well as having just worked on the Fall 2008 Graduation this past weekend.

The school is on break until Jan. 5th, so I don't go back until then. While I am on break I have started a major re-design job for the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation's website.

I will continue to help my freelance clients finish up the sites I was working on. Then I will take on freelance jobs as I have time available, with the ok of the University.

The opportunity came from a job ad I answered on Craigslist while I was in San Antonio working from the hotel. The benefits are really good and the people I am working with are really nice.