I found out about a great piece of Mockup software to quickly generate a mockup screen for your applications called Balsamiq Mockups. The software is distributed as an Adobe Air application that you can install locally to your PC.

Mockups For Desktop allows you to work on your UI wherever you are, regardless of your Internet connection. It works on planes, at coffee shops, and wherever you like to do uninterrupted work. Import and Export features ensure seamless integration with all the other versions of Mockups, for when you get back online. Plus you can load and save multiple mockups files, use all keyboard shortcuts and lots more.

Here is an example screen mockup that you can create in the software:

I was able to quickly create a web page template as a demo for a project that I am working on in only a few minutes of work. The Balsamiq Mockup software has many templates to use to create mockups. You can even create your own templates or download more at http://www.mockupstogo.net/.

I have not had any problems with the application so far and would recommend you trying it out on your next project as a quick way to mockup a screen for a presentation to your customers or to be used by your developers to create the real screen.

As Jay Smith stated, Ryan Wells has announced the next meeting of the Northwest Arkansas CocoaHeads group.

CocoaHeads is a group devoted to discussion of Apple Computer's Cocoa Framework for programming on MacOS X. During monthly meetings, members present on their projects and offer tutorials on various programming topics.

To find out more about CocoaHeads visit their site at http://cocoaheads.org/.

The next meeting of the Nwa CocoaHeads will be March 12, 2009.  Ryan has encouraged everyone to to bring their favorite Xcode tips and tricks and come ready to learn.

This meeting will be held at Arsaga's Espresso Cafe (map), Mission & Crossover, Fayetteville, Arkansas,  http://cocoaheads.org/us/FayettevilleArkansas/index.html

You can also so monitor #nwacocoa on twitter. 

As Jay Smith mentioned, if you haven’t already registered for the Nwa Code Camp you need to get with it.  The event is schedule for April 25 and space is limited.

To register please visit http://codecamp.nwadnug.org and click on the register link at the top of the screen.

This is the first attempt to have a regional event in Northwest Arkansas and we will be closely monitoring attendance to determine if we should continue to create events of this nature in this area.

There will be 3 tracks with 12 sessions on various topics, everything from SharePoint, Windows Communication all the way to iPhone development. This event is being sponsored by the local Northwest Arkansas .NET Users Group.

Please forward this information on to everyone you know that would be interested and encourage them to attend. Think of this as free training in a time where training and travel budgets are being cut daily.

We need your help making this an event a huge success in our area.

The School of Dev 2009 Conference is coming up soon on Saturday, March 28th 2009 is going to be bigger and better than ever!  This year the School of Dev is joining efforts with the first ever SharePoint Saturday Tulsa!

Offering something for everyone! SharePoint End Users, Developers, Administrators and Architects.  Of course, the School of Dev content will continue to deliver for everyone from beginner to advanced developer!

You think you already know it all? Show up and you'll feel like you should be a contestant on "Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader?".

Registration will be open soon, so keep your eye on the School of Dev 2009 site for more details.

Main Presentation
Title: A Path to Automated Testing

Description: In this session we will discuss different ways of testing applications and the benefits of having an automated suite of tests.  We'll show you how to start unit testing your applications and techniques and strategies you can use in your application and your test cases to make them both easier to maintain.

Presenter: John Teague is a Co-Founder and Principal Consultant for Next Level Technology, focusing on Agile Software development, coaching and training. He is very active in the .Net community as an organizer of the Austin .Net Users Group CodeCamp conference, Los Techies Day of Test Driven Development and presenting at several .Net user groups.

Lighting Presentation
Title: How To Build A Resume

Description: Megan is going to show how to write a technology resume in a way that is clean and easy for potential employers to read in order to put your best foot forward and be able to get an interview.  This will involve a clean, easy to read format, bullet points with active words, and an eye catching objective that caters to each job opportunity.

Presenter: Megan Coger has 4 years of experience as an IT Recruiter in Northwest Arkansas with TEKsystems, the largest IT staffing company in the nation.  She specializes in helping IT Professionals with their careers; this involves helping with career pathing, career opportunities, and coaching with resumes and interviews.

When:
5:30 PM - 5:45 PM - Welcome and News, Sign-in and Food
5:45 PM - 6:00 PM - Lighting Presentation
6:00 PM - 6:10 PM - Intermission – Presenter switch over
6:10 PM – 7:30 PM – Main Presentation
7:30 PM – 8:00 PM – Closing and Prize give-a-ways

Where:
The Jones Center
922 East Emma Avenue
Springdale, AR 72764
Room 130 (Generations)
NetMeeting URL: http://snipr.com/nwadnug
Link RSVP URL: http://snipr.com/clkm7