Talk Is Cheap -- A straightforward, quick introduction to the ins and outs of using VoIP and other internet telephone options, this book details how to make the switch and what the tradeoffs will be. In addition, you will learn advanced techniques, including how to turn your Palm or Pocket PC into an internet phone and how to work with Wi-Fi phones and videophones. Sample Chapter 3, Free Internet Phone Features That You're Paying For Now (PDF), is available free online.

Switching to VoIP -- Based on real-world experience, this handy manual addresses the most common VoIP migration challenges. Learn how to build your own VoIP system, install it, and begin making calls. You'll also explore the strengths and weaknesses of circuit-switched and packet-switched networks, how VoIP systems impact network infrastructure, as well as solutions for common challenges involved with IP voice migrations. Ideal for IT managers, network engineers, and system administrators. Sample Chapter 14, Traditional Apps on the Converged Network (PDF), is available free online.

Ending Spam (No Starch) -- This landmark title describes, in-depth, how statistical filtering is being used by next-generation spam filters to identify and filter spam, how spam filtering works, and how language classification and machine learning combine to produce remarkably accurate spam filters. Readers gain a complete understanding of the mathematical approaches used in today's spam filters, decoding, tokenization, the use of various algorithms, and the benefits of using open source solutions to end spam.

Swing Hacks -- Packed with programming lessons, this book will show you how to extend Swing's rich component set in advanced ways. The hacks touch upon the entire Swing gamut--tables, trees, sliders, spinners, progress bars, internal frames, and text components. You'll learn how to filter lists, power up trees and tables, add drag-and-drop support, and generally increase your competency with interface-building tools. Sample Hack 89, Fun with Keyboard Lights (PDF), is available free online.

Word Annoyances -- This helpful book offers to-the-point solutions to your most vexing editing, formatting, printing, faxing, and scanning problems. It covers everything from installation and templates to tables, columns, and graphics. It also provides a gentle introduction to the power of macros so you can slay your annoyances by the truckload. The fixes will work with most versions of Word, including Word 2000, 2002 (XP), and 2003. Sample Chapter 3, Text Entry and Editing (PDF), is available free online.

Advanced Perl Programming, Second Edition -- O'Reilly's most high-level Perl tutorial to date, this book teaches you all the complex techniques for production-ready Perl programs. This completely updated guide clearly explains concepts such as introspection, overriding built-ins, extending Perl's object-oriented model, and testing your code for greater stability. Whatever your current level of Perl expertise, this book will help you push your skills to the next level. Sample Chapter 3, Templating Tools (PDF), is available free online.

JBoss: A Developer's Notebook -- This Developer’s Notebook takes you on a complete tour of JBoss in a very unique way: rather than long discussions, you will find code--lots of code. In fact, the book is a collection of hands-on labs that take you through the critical JBoss features step-by-step. Don't just read about JBoss, learn it through direct practical application. Sample Chapter 9, Rolling Out JBoss, (PDF) is available free online.

SharePoint Office Pocket Guide -- With this handy reference as your guide, you can reap all the benefits of SharePoint. It shows you, in plain language, how to construct websites where individuals from all over can capture and share ideas. Learn how to upload documents, edit content, send alerts, track work items, add new team members, and much more.

Project 2003 Personal Trainer -- Entertaining, clear, and informative, this book begins with the fundamentals of planning and managing a project with Microsoft Project 2003, and then includes sections on working with task lists, updating a project, tracking progress, creating reports, and more. This fully illustrated Personal Trainer features dozens of time-saving, task-oriented lessons, includes detailed diagrams, and comes with an interactive CD tutorial to guide your learning. Sample Chapter 5, Working With Tasks (PDF) is available free online.

Astronomy Hacks -- Do you relish viewing and identifying celestial objects? Whether you're a first timer or an advanced hobbyist, this book makes a brilliant cosmic companion. This handy field guide covers the basics of observing, and what you need to know about tweaking, tuning, adjusting, and tricking out a telescope. Includes priceless tips and tools for using a Dobsonian Telescope that you can inexpensively build in your garage. Sample Hack 18, Print Custom Charts (PDF) is available free online.

Open Source Programming Certificate: Save 50% -- Our Open Source Programming Certificate Series will teach you the core technical skills necessary to fully understand programming using Linux or Unix operating systems, languages, libraries, and databases. Completion of this series also earns you a Certificate of Professional Development through the University of Illinois Office of Continuing Education. For two weeks only, save 50% on all Open Source Programing Certificate Series classes. Offer ends July 31st.

O'Reilly Nominated for Lovemarks -- The creators of Lovemarks wondered what makes some brands wildly inspirational and came up with Lovemarks, a celebration of respect and loyalty. "Take a brand away and people will find a replacement. Take a Lovemark away and people will protest its absence." Folks can nominate brands that inspire "loyalty beyond reason," and we're thrilled to be in the mix. Show your love!

Making Your RSS Feed Look Pretty in a Browser -- As more and more non-techie websites offer syndication feeds, a growing number of non-technical readers are clicking on the links and filling their screens with confusing XML. But syndication content doesn't have to look like geeky markup or malformed text in your readers' browsers. You can make it look quite pretty, and give clues to what the feed is actually for. Ben Hammersley, author of Developing Feeds with RSS and Atom, shows you how.

SafariU: Create Fall Textbooks Now -- Summertime is the perfect time to create that custom textbook for your Fall courses. With SafariU, you can give your students more in-depth and focused content, far greater convenience, and unprecedented value. Do it all from the convenience of your own computer, whenever you're ready. Launch a tour and register today.

Easy Scripting -- Windows scripts are far more powerful than mere batch files, and much harder to use as well. Mitch Tulloch gives you hard-won advice on how to more easily create scripts, and offers many helpful resources. Mitch is the author of Windows Server Hacks.

EuroOSCON -- Join developers, systems and network administrators, and IT managers at the very first O'Reilly European Open Source Convention in Amsterdam on October 17-20. EuroOSCON will explore the best and newest open source technologies, particularly for companies, governments, and nonprofits. EuroOSCON showcases the diversity in open source while maintaining a practical edge. To receive up-to-date conference news and information, sign up for the OSCON newsletter.

Getting Started with Maven -- In this excerpted chapter titled "Maven Jump-Start," Vincent Massol and Timothy M. O'Brien show you how to install Maven, kick off your first build, and start investigating its features for integrating with IDEs and source control systems. Vincent and Timothy are the authors of Maven: A Developer's Notebook.

New Annoyances Central Site -- O'Reilly has just launched the new Annoyances Central weblog site, focused on topics and issues from the Annoyances Series books. Check out the Daily Fix, the Experts' Blog, and Robert's Rant for the most annoying annoyances--and their fixes, of course. You can even subscribe to the RSS feed and have piping-hot annoyances delivered straight to you.

Smartphones -- Just when you think you've made sense of all of the new phones, calling plans, and options, along comes a new batch of hardware. If you're slogging along with old technology and expired calling plans, you're in the same boat as a few of the O'Reilly folks on the Editors List. Here's a recent conversation about smartphones.

Seven Steps to Noise-Free Digital Audio -- Virtually all audio recordings will contain some amount of noise. Bruce and Marty Fries teach you what causes it, how to avoid it, and how to remove it from your files. Bruce and Marty are the authors of Digital Audio Essentials.

Is Perl Still Relevant? -- With the emergence of .NET, J2EE, Python, PHP, et al., one reader asks whether Perl has lost its niche as a scripting glue language? Tim O'Reilly comments in this Ask Tim.

Internet Annoyances: Searching Annoyances -- Do you spend more time on the internet searching for things rather than actually finding them? It's easy to type a few words into a search box, but it's tough to get succinct results. There's a wealth of information out there, though, and the tips within Chapter 8 of Internet Annoyances will show you how to bend search engines to your will and track down whatever you're seeking. If you like this chapter, read the whole book (and up to nine others) on Safari with a free trial subscription.

Going to the Movies (and More) in iTunes -- Have you played with the video functionality in iTunes? If not, J.D Biersdorfer presents a few things that Steve Jobs has mentioned--and a few he hasn't. J.D. is the author of iPod and iTunes: The Missing Manual, 3rd Edition.