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Beginning Swift Games Development for iOS: Updated For Swift 3
by James Goodwill Wesley MatlockGame apps are one of the most popular categories in the Apple iTunes App Store. Well, the introduction of the new Swift programming language will make game development even more appealing and easier to existing and future iOS app developers. In response, James Goodwill, Wesley Matlock and Apress introduce you to this book, Beginning Swift Games Development for iOS. In this book, you'll learn the fundamental elements of the new Swift language as applied to game development for iOS. In part 1, you'll start with a basic 2D game idea and build the game throughout the book introducing each SpriteKit topic as we add new functionality to the game. By the end of the book, you'll have experience with all the important SpriteKit topics and have a fully functional game as a result. In part 2 of this book, you'll learn 3D game development using Apple's SceneKit framework and the Swift programming language. And, you'll follow the same pattern we used for part 1. After reading and using this book, you'll have the skills and the code to build your first 2D and then 3D game app that you can run on any iOS enabled device and perhaps sell in the Apple iTunes App Store. What you'll learn What is the Swift Programming Language How to apply it to iOS game development How to use SpriteKit with Swift How to use SceneKit with Swift How to build your first 2D game app using SpriteKit and Swift How to build 3D game from 2D using SceneKit and Swift Who this book is for This book is for iOS app developers new to Swift or for those thinking of doing iOS game app development for the very first time. Table of Contents Part I 1. Setting up your First Game Scene and Adding your First Sprite 2. Digging into the SpriteKit Scene 3. Physics and Collision Detection 4. Adding Scene Scrolling and Game Control 5. Actions and Animations 6. Adding Particle Effects to Your Game with Emitter Nodes 7. Points, Scoring and Sounds 8. Transitioning Between Scenes 9. Refactoring and Best Practices Part II 10. Creating Your First SceneKit Project 11. Building the Scene 12. Lighting, Camera and Materials in SceneKit 13. Animating SceneKit Models 14. Adding Hit Testing and Collision Detection 15. Using SpriteKit within a SceneKit Scene 16. Advanced Topics and Tips 17. Appendix A: The Swift Programming Language
Beginning Swift Games Development for iOS: Develop 2D and 3D games Using Apple's SceneKit and SpriteKit
by James Goodwill Wesley MatlockGame apps are one of the most popular categories in the Apple iTunes App Store. Well, the introduction of the new Swift programming language will make game development even more appealing and easier to existing and future iOS app developers. In response, James Goodwill, Wesley Matlock and Apress introduce you to this book, Beginning Swift Games Development for iOS. In this book, you'll learn the fundamental elements of the new Swift language as applied to game development for iOS. In part 1, you'll start with a basic 2D game idea and build the game throughout the book introducing each SpriteKit topic as we add new functionality to the game. By the end of the book, you'll have experience with all the important SpriteKit topics and have a fully functional game as a result. In part 2 of this book, you'll learn 3D game development using Apple's SceneKit framework and the Swift programming language. And, you'll follow the same pattern we used for part 1. After reading and using this book, you'll have the skills and the code to build your first 2D and then 3D game app that you can run on any iOS enabled device and perhaps sell in the Apple iTunes App Store. What you'll learn What is the Swift Programming Language How to apply it to iOS game development How to use SpriteKit with Swift How to use SceneKit with Swift How to build your first 2D game app using SpriteKit and Swift How to build 3D game from 2D using SceneKit and Swift Who this book is for This book is for iOS app developers new to Swift or for those thinking of doing iOS game app development for the very first time. Table of Contents Part I 1. Setting up your First Game Scene and Adding your First Sprite 2. Digging into the SpriteKit Scene 3. Physics and Collision Detection 4. Adding Scene Scrolling and Game Control 5. Actions and Animations 6. Adding Particle Effects to Your Game with Emitter Nodes 7. Points, Scoring and Sounds 8. Transitioning Between Scenes 9. Refactoring and Best Practices Part II 10. Creating Your First SceneKit Project 11. Building the Scene 12. Lighting, Camera and Materials in SceneKit 13. Animating SceneKit Models 14. Adding Hit Testing and Collision Detection 15. Using SpriteKit within a SceneKit Scene 16. Advanced Topics and Tips 17. Appendix A: The Swift Programming Language
Beginning Swift Programming
by Wei-Meng LeeEnter the Swift future of iOS and OS X programmingBeginning Swift Programming is your ideal starting point for creating Mac, iPhone, and iPad apps using Apple's new Swift programming language. Written by an experienced Apple developer and trainer, this comprehensive guide explains everything you need to know to jumpstart the creation of your app idea. Coverage includes data types, strings and characters, operators and functions, arrays and dictionaries, control flow, and looping, with expert guidance on classes, objects, class inheritance, closures, protocols, and generics. This succinct -- yet complete -- overview provides a detailed introduction to the core features of Swift.Apple developed Swift to address the limitations of Objective-C, and add features found in more complex languages like Python. The results is simpler, cleaner, more expressive code with automatic memory management, functional programming patterns, and more, including built-in features that make Swift apps faster, scalable, and more secure. This book explains it all, helping developers master Apple's new language.Become fluent with syntax that's easier to read and maintainUnderstand inferred types for cleaner, less mistake-prone codeLearn the key features that make Swift more expressive than Objective-CLearn the new optional types in Swift that make your code more resilientUnderstand the key design patterns in iOS and Mac OS programming using protocols and delegatesLearn how to use generics to create highly reusable codeLearn the new access controls mechanism in SwiftGet up to speed quickly to remain relevant and ahead of the curve.
Beginning T-SQL: A Step-by-Step Approach
by Kathi Kellenberger Lee EverestGet a performance-oriented introduction to the T-SQL language underlying the Microsoft SQL Server and Azure SQL database engines. This fourth edition is updated to include SQL Notebooks as well as up-to-date syntax and features for T-SQL on-premises and in the Azure cloud. Exercises and examples now include the WideWorldImporters database, the newest sample database from Microsoft for SQL Server. Also new in this edition is coverage of JSON from T-SQL, news about performance enhancements called Intelligent Query Processing, and an appendix on running SQL Server in a container on macOS or Linux. Beginning T-SQL starts you on the path to mastering T-SQL with an emphasis on best practices. Using the sound coding techniques taught in this book will lead to excellent performance in the queries that you write in your daily work. Important techniques such as windowing functions are covered to help you write fast-executing queries that solve real business problems.The book begins with an introduction to databases, normalization, and to setting up your learning environment. You will learn about the tools you need to use such as SQL Server Management Studio, Azure Data Studio, and SQL Notebooks. Each subsequent chapter teaches an aspect of T-SQL, building on the skills learned in previous chapters. Exercises in most chapters provide an opportunity for the hands-on practice that leads to true learning and distinguishes the competent professional. A stand-out feature in this book is that most chapters end with a Thinking About Performance section. These sections cover aspects of query performance relative to the content just presented, including the new Intelligent Query Processing features that make queries faster without changing code. They will help you avoid beginner mistakes by knowing about and thinking about performance from day 1.What You Will LearnInstall a sandboxed SQL Server instance for learningUnderstand how relational databases are designedCreate objects such as tables and stored proceduresQuery a SQL Server table Filter and order the results of a queryQuery and work with specialized data types such as XML and JSONApply modern features such as window functionsChoose correct techniques so that your queries perform wellWho This Book Is ForAnyone who wants to learn T-SQL from the beginning or improve their T-SQL skills; those who need T-SQL as an additional skill; and those who write queries such as application developers, database administrators, business intelligence developers, and data scientists. The book is also helpful for anyone who must retrieve data from a SQL Server database.
Beginning T-SQL
by Scott Shaw Kathi KellenbergerBeginning T-SQL is a performance-oriented introduction to the T-SQL language underlying the Microsoft SQL Server database engine. T-SQL is essential in writing SQL statements to get data into and out of a database. T-SQL is the foundation for business logic embedded in the database in the form of stored procedures and functions. Beginning T-SQL starts you on the path to mastering T-SQL, with an emphasis on best-practices and sound coding techniques leading to excellent performance. This new edition is updated to cover the essential features of T-SQL found in SQL Server 2014, 2012, and 2008. Beginning T-SQL begins with an introduction to databases, normalization, and to SQL Server Management Studio. Attention is given to Azure SQL Database and how to connect to remote databases in the cloud. Each subsequent chapter teaches an aspect of T-SQL, building on the skills learned in previous chapters. Exercises in most chapters provide an opportunity for the hands-on practice that leads to true learning and distinguishes the competent professional. Important techniques such as windowing functions are covered to help write fast executing queries that solve real business problems. A stand-out feature in this book is that most chapters end with a 'Thinking About Performance' section. These sections cover aspects of query performance relative to the content just presented. They'll help you avoid beginner mistakes by knowing about and thinking about performance from Day 1. Imparts best practices for writing T-SQLHelps you avoid common errorsShows how to write scalable code for good performance
Beginning T-SQL with Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and 2008
by Paul Turley Dan WoodIf you've not programmed with Transact-SQL, this book is for you.It begins with an overview of SQL Server query operations and tools used with T-SQL, and covers both the 2005 and 2008 releases of SQL Server query tools and the query editor. The book then moves to show you how to design and build applications of increasing complexity. Other important tasks covered include full text indexing, optimizing query performance, and application design and security considerations. The companion website also provides all of the code examples from the book.
Beginning T'ai Chi
by Tri Thong DangMore than a martial art, T'ai Chi is a holistic method of self-healing, a form of moving meditation and a philosophical way of life. T'ai Chi offers its physical, psychological and spiritual benefits to millions worldwide. In this handy guide, Master Tri Thong Dang, an instructor for over three decades, describes the simplified form: a set of movements specifically designed for beginners.Concise descriptions highlight the spiritual essence of T'ai Chi and display its graceful simplicity. With over 160 clear, easy-to-understand illustrations, this excellent volume is the perfect introduction to the world of T'ai Chi.
Beginning Teachers' Learning: Making experience count (Critical Guides for Teacher Educators)
by Katharine Burn Hazel Hagger Trevor MuttonInternational trends in initial teacher education (ITE) and induction increasingly emphasise the importance of school-based learning for beginning teachers, and recent policy shifts have given many more schools a leading role in ITE. This book focuses directly on what has been learned from within well-established partnerships about the nature of beginning teachers' learning in schools and explores the ways in which teacher educators - both those that are school-based and those in universities who work in partnership with them - can most effectively support that learning.Beginning Teaching is part of the successful Critical Guides for Teacher Educators series edited by Ian Menter.
Beginning Teaching: Stories from the Classroom
by John Buchanan Tom Russell Sandy Schuck Peter AubussonThe experiences of the first years of new teachers' professional lives are critical to their decisions about embracing or leaving the teaching profession. Writ large, these experiences have the potential to either underpin or undermine the growth and development of the teaching profession. This book offers a research-based account of beginning teachers' experiences, told from their own perspectives and often in their own words. Beginning Teaching: Stories from the Classroom provides valuable source material to inform teacher education practices. The authors draw on more than 20 years of research on the professional learning, retention and attrition of beginning teachers to provide evocative illustrations of the challenges and successes that occur in the early years of teaching. The compelling and coherent narratives will appeal not only to student and graduate teachers but also to program designers, coaches and senior managers in schools. Above all, the book speaks to teacher educators in the hope that the experiences discussed here will suggest ways of supporting student teachers to grow and flourish once they launch their careers in the profession. These evocative stories express beginning teachers' anguish and elation and also provide testimony to their resilience and perseverance in an altruistic profession. The analysis and interpretation of their stories will challenge and uplift; inspire and shame; give cause for celebration and melancholy; generate empathy and provoke introspection. Above all else, these stories call for change.
Beginning Teaching with Digital Technology
by Joanne BlanninTeachers are now expected to use technology to enhance students’ learning, but what does this mean in the classroom and how can you apply it effectively to subject teaching? This book, for pre-service and qualified teachers, offers you a guide for using technology in primary and secondary schools, including how to decide which technology resource to use, safeguarding and ethical considerations and computer coding in the classroom. Further guidance is provided on using technology across the learning areas of literacy, mathematics, STEM and the arts. Key features include: · Classroom scenarios which tackle common challenges faced by teachers and how to resolve them · Examples of best practice technology use in early childhood settings, primary and secondary classrooms · A future-proofed approach focusing on theory-informed best practice in an ever-changing world of devices and software Essential reading for pre-service teacher education students in both primary and secondary education courses on undergraduate and postgraduate routes into teaching and for qualified teachers looking to deepen their professional knowledge. Joanne Blannin is Senior Lecturer in Digital Transformations at Monash University.
Beginning Teaching with Digital Technology
by Joanne BlanninTeachers are now expected to use technology to enhance students’ learning, but what does this mean in the classroom and how can you apply it effectively to subject teaching? This book, for pre-service and qualified teachers, offers you a guide for using technology in primary and secondary schools, including how to decide which technology resource to use, safeguarding and ethical considerations and computer coding in the classroom. Further guidance is provided on using technology across the learning areas of literacy, mathematics, STEM and the arts. Key features include: · Classroom scenarios which tackle common challenges faced by teachers and how to resolve them · Examples of best practice technology use in early childhood settings, primary and secondary classrooms · A future-proofed approach focusing on theory-informed best practice in an ever-changing world of devices and software Essential reading for pre-service teacher education students in both primary and secondary education courses on undergraduate and postgraduate routes into teaching and for qualified teachers looking to deepen their professional knowledge. Joanne Blannin is Senior Lecturer in Digital Transformations at Monash University.
Beginning the Assistant Principalship: A Practical Guide for New School Administrators
by John C. DareshEstablish your goals as an assistant principal! Beginning the Assistant Principalship provides excellent tools to navigate your way as a new administrator. Full of ideas, this valuable resource helps you ask yourself the important questions, find answers, and develop strong plans of action. Some significant topics to help you in your new job include: Building a platform Developing leadership skills Carrying out management skills Maintaining balance and perspective Knowing your job Using effective disagreement to your advantage Building your profile as a leader Listening, listening, then listening some more
Beginning the Linux Command Line
by Sander VugtThis is Linux for those of us who don't mind typing. All Linux users and administrators tend to like the flexibility and speed of Linux administration from the command line in byte-sized chunks, instead of fairly standard graphical user interfaces. Beginning the Linux Command Line is verified against all of the most important Linux distributions, and follows a task-oriented approach which is distribution agnostic. Now this Second Edition of Beginning the Linux Command Line updates to the very latest versions of the Linux Operating System, including the new Btrfs file system and its management, and systemd boot procedure and firewall management with firewalld! Updated to the latest versions of Linux Work with files and directories, including Btrfs! Administer users and security, and deploy firewalld Understand how Linux is organized, to think Linux! What you'll learn The information in this book is verified against all of the most important Linux distributions Updated to the latest versions of Linux Finding help from in-system resources Finding the right command for the task you have to accomplish Working with text editors and intelligent filters Shell programming Managing partitions and file systems Configuring access to hardware devices Who this book is for Everyone who uses Linux. No exceptions. Table of Contents 1. Starting Linux Command-Line Administration 2. Performing Essential Command-Line Tasks 3. Administering the Linux File System, including Btrfs 4. Working with Text Files 5. Managing Partitions and Logical Volumes 6. Managing Users and Groups 7. Managing Permissions 8. Managing Software 9. Process and System Management 10. System Logging 11. Configuring the Network 12. Configuring the File Server 13. Working with the Kernel 14. Introduction to Bash Shell Scripting A. Installing Linux
Beginning the Principalship: A Practical Guide for New School Leaders
by John C. Daresh Linda AlexanderThe Ultimate Resource to cultivate self-awareness and excellence in Today’s Principals A commitment to continuous improvement paves the road to true leadership. New and veteran principals who understand this will translate thoughts into sound decisions and inspire a vision that can nurture others. They will drive progress and invite innovation. These are today’s newest superheroes, leading by example and cultivating greatness in others. But every superhero needs a mentor. In this updated bestseller, Beginning the Principalship, Daresh and Alexander offer intensive encouragement and help in a practical hands-on guide to help principals navigate the challenges of school leadership. The strategies and cases included here will inspire all school leaders and nurture their passion for the immense responsibility they have undertaken. Practical Questions, Points to Ponder, and numerous examples in every chapter help foster reflection and collaboration to build a shared vision for campus improvement. Plus, discover how to: Drive student learning as the primary mission of the school Deal with others’ expectations of you as principal Master the technical skills needed to run an efficient school Create and clarify a personal professional growth plan Work effectively with the greater community and parents Celebrate instructional and non-instructional staff in a positive school culture Don’t just survive your years as principal. Read this guide and thrive! "Novice and seasoned principals, and new and seasoned administrators would really benefit from reading this book for skill building and improvement. Each chapter provides a wealth of information and has a space to record one’s own plan for self-improvement." Delsia Easley, Principal Gadsden City Schools, Gadsden, AL "I am disappointed that I didn’t own this book when I started as a principal. This book would have answered some of my pressing questions and guided the work I did my first few years. I will recommend this to any friend or colleague starting a new principalship." Kelly VanLaeken, Principal Ruben A. Cirillo High School, Walworth, NY
Beginning the Principalship: A Practical Guide for New School Leaders
by John C. Daresh Linda AlexanderThe Ultimate Resource to cultivate self-awareness and excellence in Today’s Principals A commitment to continuous improvement paves the road to true leadership. New and veteran principals who understand this will translate thoughts into sound decisions and inspire a vision that can nurture others. They will drive progress and invite innovation. These are today’s newest superheroes, leading by example and cultivating greatness in others. But every superhero needs a mentor. In this updated bestseller, Beginning the Principalship, Daresh and Alexander offer intensive encouragement and help in a practical hands-on guide to help principals navigate the challenges of school leadership. The strategies and cases included here will inspire all school leaders and nurture their passion for the immense responsibility they have undertaken. Practical Questions, Points to Ponder, and numerous examples in every chapter help foster reflection and collaboration to build a shared vision for campus improvement. Plus, discover how to: Drive student learning as the primary mission of the school Deal with others’ expectations of you as principal Master the technical skills needed to run an efficient school Create and clarify a personal professional growth plan Work effectively with the greater community and parents Celebrate instructional and non-instructional staff in a positive school culture Don’t just survive your years as principal. Read this guide and thrive! "Novice and seasoned principals, and new and seasoned administrators would really benefit from reading this book for skill building and improvement. Each chapter provides a wealth of information and has a space to record one’s own plan for self-improvement." Delsia Easley, Principal Gadsden City Schools, Gadsden, AL "I am disappointed that I didn’t own this book when I started as a principal. This book would have answered some of my pressing questions and guided the work I did my first few years. I will recommend this to any friend or colleague starting a new principalship." Kelly VanLaeken, Principal Ruben A. Cirillo High School, Walworth, NY
Beginning the World Again
by Roberta SilmanAfter a chance meeting in 1981, Lily Fialka confronts the defining time of her life: 1943-45 in Los Alamos, when her physicist husband, Peter, worked on the atomic bomb as part of the Manhattan Project--a time of isolation, hard work, temptation, and loneliness, yet exhilaration and triumph; when great breakthroughs were made, but lives felt narrow; when loyalty was paramount, but the need for secrecy created unbearable tension. At the same time, Lily and her friends are haunted by what is happening to Dietrich Bonhoeffer in the Resistance in Germany, and his story serves as a counterpoint to theirs. In a sweeping historical novel that cuts across continents and reveals a deep knowledge of the science of the making of the bomb, Beginning the World Again offers valuable insights into that fascinating time.
Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory (Third Edition)
by Peter BarryBeginning theory has been helping students navigate through the thickets of literary and cultural theory for well over a decade now. This new and expanded third edition continues to offer students and readers the best one-volume introduction to the field. The bewildering variety of approaches, theorists and technical language is lucidly and expertly unravelled. Unlike many books which assume certain positions about the critics and the theories they represent, Peter Barry allows readers to develop their own ideas once first principles and concepts have been grasped. The book has been updated and includes two new chapters, one of which (Literary theory - a history in ten events) innovatively surveys the course of theory, while the other (Theory after 'Theory') maps the arrival of new 'isms' since the second edition appeared in 2002. Liberal humanism - Structuralism - Post-structuralism and deconstruction - Postmodernism - Psychoanalytic criticism - Feminist criticism - Lesbian/gay criticism - Marxist criticism - New historicism and cultural materialism - Postcolonial criticism - Stylistics - Narratology - Ecocriticism - Presentism/Transversal poetics/ New aestheticism/Historical formalism/Cognitive poetics.
Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory (Beginnings)
by Peter BarryBeginning theory has been helping students navigate through the thickets of literary and cultural theory for over two decades. This new and expanded fourth edition continues to offer readers the best single-volume introduction to the field. <p><p>The bewildering variety of approaches, theorists and technical language is lucidly and expertly unraveled. Unlike many books which assume certain positions about the critics and the theories they represent, Beginning theory allows readers to develop their own ideas once first principles and concepts have been grasped. <p><p>The book has been updated for this edition and includes a new introduction, expanded chapters, and an overview of the subject (Theory after "Theory") which maps the arrival of new 'isms' since the second edition appeared in 2002 and the third edition in 2009.
Beginning theory [An introduction to literary and cultural theory]: An Introduction To Literary And Cultural Theory (Beginnings Ser.)
by Peter BarrySince the first edition of this book (which was written in the earlier part of the 1990s) literary theory has continued to change and develop. To reflect these developments, I have added a new chapter on ecocriticism, making this the first book of its kind to register the increasing interest in 'Green' approaches to literature. Of course, my own feelings about the various kinds of theory have changed a bit too. In particular, I now find structuralism rather more interesting than poststructuralism, and to reflect this I have added a new chapter on narratology, a branch of structuralist theory which lends itself very readily to enjoyable and thought-provoking practical applications. Apart from these new chapters, the second edition is the same book as the first, but with up-dated bibliographies.
Beginning to End Hunger: Food and the Environment in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and Beyond
by M. Jahi ChappellBeginning to End Hunger presents the story of Belo Horizonte, home to 2.5 million people and the site of one of the world’s most successful food security programs. Since its Municipal Secretariat of Food and Nutritional Security was founded in 1993, Belo Horizonte has sharply reduced malnutrition, leading it to serve as an inspiration for Brazil’s renowned Zero Hunger programs. The secretariat’s work with local family farmers shows how food security, rural livelihoods, and healthy ecosystems can be supported together. In this convincing case study, M. Jahi Chappell establishes the importance of holistic approaches to food security, suggests how to design successful policies to end hunger, and lays out strategies for enacting policy change. With these tools, we can take the next steps toward achieving similar reductions in hunger and food insecurity elsewhere in the developed and developing worlds.
Beginning to Heal: A First Book for Men and Women Who Were Sexually Abused As Children
by Ellen Bass Laura DavisThis guide to starting the healing process after childhood sexual abuse “will offer hope and help to all survivors and those who care about them” (Bessel A. van der Kolk, MD, New York Times–bestselling author of The Body Keeps the Score).Drawn from the authors’ bestseller The Courage to Heal, this revised edition of Beginning to Heal offers guidance for adults who are just starting the process of recovering from childhood abuse. No matter how great your pain today, you can not only heal but thrive.The book takes you through the key stages of the healing process, from crisis times to breaking the silence, grief, and anger to resolution and moving on. It includes inspirational highlights, clear explanations, practical suggestions, and compelling accounts of survivors—their pain, their strength, and their triumphs.
Beginning to Heal, A First Book for Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
by Laura Davis Ellen BassBeginning to Heal offers hope, support, and guidance for all surviors starting the healing journey. No matter how great your pain today, you can not only heal, but thrive. Based on selected parts of The Courage to Heal, Beginning to Heal takes you through the key stages of the healing process, from remembering and crisis times, to breaking the silence, grief, and anger, to resolution and moving on. It includes insperational highlights, simple and accurate explantions, practical suggestions, and compelling first-person stories where survivors talk about their pain, their strength, and their triumpths.
Beginning to See the Light: Sex, Hope, and Rock-and-Roll
by Ellen WillisFrom the New Yorker&’s inimitable first pop music critic comes this pioneering collection of essays by a conscientious writer whose political realm is both radical and rational, and whose prime preoccupations are with rock &’n&’ roll, sexuality, and above all, freedom. Here Ellen Willis assuredly captures the thrill of music, the disdain of authoritarian culture, and the rebellious spirit of the &’60s and &’70s.
Beginning Ubuntu for Windows and Mac Users: Start Your Journey Into Free And Open Source Software
by Nathan HainesBeginning Ubuntu for Windows and Mac Users is your comprehensive guide to using Ubuntu. You already know how to use a computer running Windows or OS X, but learning a new operating system can feel daunting. If you've been afraid to try Ubuntu because you don't know where to start, this book will show you how to get the most out of Ubuntu for work, home, and play. You'll be introduced to a wide selection of software and settings that will make your computer ready to work for you. Ubuntu makes your computing life easy. Ubuntu's Software Updater keeps all of your software secure and up-to-date. Browsing the Internet becomes faster and safer. Creating documents and sharing with others is built right in. Enjoying your music and movie libraries helps you unwind. In addition to a tour of Ubuntu's modern and easy-to-use interface, you'll also learn how to: * Understand the advantages of Ubuntu and its variants--Kubuntu, Xubuntu, and more * Install Ubuntu on its own or alongside your computer's existing operating system * Search Ubuntu's catalog of thousands of applications--all ready to install with a single click * Work with files and disks that were created with Windows and OS X * Run simple, interesting tasks and games using the command line * Customize Ubuntu in powerful ways and get work done with virtual machines Ubuntu is the world's third most popular operating system and powers desktop and laptop computers, servers, private and public clouds, phones and tablets, and embedded devices. There's never been a better time to install Ubuntu and move to an open source way of life. Get started with Beginning Ubuntu for Windows and Mac Users today!