Adobe gives out its CS2 software for free

Early this year, Adobe decided to lend a helping hand to those who would like to dabble with their software at home, but don't want to deal with "reader" versions or trimmed functionality of trial applications. 

Both Chromebook or Firefox OS won't work here, but if you're on a Mac or Windows, Adobe offers a lot for you:

• Installation instructions

• Mountable deployment packages for Mac and Windows discs

• Extras

• Video training materials

• Installation troubleshooting guides

Adobe CS2 Free Download

To get to those Adobe CS2 Downloads, click this link. Just in case, the full URL/address to the download page is https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/entitlement/index.cfm?e=cs2_downloads.

There's a quite a bit of software to choose from:

• Creative Suite 2 (includes software packages listed below)

• Acrobat 3D 1.0 for Windows

• Acrobat Standard 7.0

• Acrobat Pro 7.0

• After Effects

• Audition 3.0

• GoLive CS2

• Illustrator CS2

• InCopy CS2

• InDesign CS2

• Photoshop CS2

• Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0

All you really need to do to get ALL of those goodies, is to create an Adobe Account (just as if you were setting up a new account on any other online portal or a shopping cart (no payment info necessary). Let me know if you run into any issues during the process, I may be able to help. Good luck! 

If you're still reading, stop! Just go to the CS2 download page and start downloading, installing and enjoying some really powerful software for free. Don't be bashful, get creative! 

Faster, easier and more productive with AirDisplay, wireless multi-monitor hookup

AirDisplay allows you to stretch your current monitor real estate.

"Whoopty dooo", one might say. "I already have a thick VGA cable along with a power cord and a USB cable hooked to the right of my laptop.

But imagine a situation where:

• you could skip those cables, and actually hold your external monitor in your hand
• you could stretch content from one computer onto another idle computer, a tablet or a smartphone
• you stretch your windows from your Mac onto your Windows machine physically independent piece of hardware
• control your PC or Mac from your tablet
• quickly test how your stuff looks like on a tablet, without going through provisioning processes through Apple or Android
• you easily deploy an additional monitor, on a fly, just tap an app on your tablet, no wires, no additional $$, just pure productivity

Enough about the imagining. That stuff is real. All you need is hookup to an app called AirDisplay. You have to pay for a decent version of that software, but if you give up your 2 frappuccinos tomorrow and the day after that, you'll love how well your money was spent. The time saved on NOT playing around with wires alone will make up for the minor expense.

It may not be as snappy as a wire connection, but if you just need that extra 10 inches to keep a spreadsheet open for lookup, or a mockup of something your designing on your main monitor, AirDisplay will not disapoint you.