In this new post to the SeeIT Consult blog they show you how to use the Google Mail STMP service to send emails directly from PHP - no local MTA required.

I use a local Apache/MySQL server on a laptop to do a lot of my development – I don’t need a full mail server just to send mail. Also SMTP servers on dynamically assigned IP addresses are so untrusted these days that you can be pretty much guaranteed that a decent spam filter will reject your email based on a RBL lookup. By using Google Mail’s authenticated SMTP service you bypass this restriction.

Their solution uses the ssmtp tool instead - a simpler MTA that doesn't require near the setup of others. They show you how to adjust the config to handle the PHP emails, set up some users and configure PHP (the sendmail_path in the php.ini) to push the emails through it. Because of the configuration changes, it then knows enough to push those emails out to Gmail's SMTP.

MTA (publisher of the php|architect magazine) has announced today that they have added a new training course materials/functionality to help you pass the Zend Framework Certified Engineer certification Zend offers.

We're proud to announce that we will be releasing two new products dedicated to the recently announced Zend Framework Certification. The first is a brand-new version of Vulcan, our exam simulator, built specifically for the ZFCE exam. Like our current ZCE Vulcan, the new version will provide a realistic simulation environment in which ZFCE candidates will be able to test their knowledge of the exam topics before taking the actual exam.

[...] In addition to the new release of Vulcan, we're happy to announce that we are hard at work on a new training course that will expand on our existing Zend Framework training course to provide specialized training for the ZFCE.

The new training will launch November 5th and will be open to all, including those with licenses for the previous version of Vulcan. The training course will be launched later on this fall.

MTA publishing (php|architect) has released another new book - Stefan Priebsch's "Guide to PHP 5 Migration":

Written by Stefan Priebsch, this is the only book you will need to help you through the rough spots when migrating your PHP apps from PHP4 to PHP5. Not only is this an extremely comprehensive and in-depth resource, it will show you virtually every pitfall you may encounter and will undoubtedly make your migration as smooth as possible.

The book covers things like the concepts surrounding migration, some strategies to follow and an outline of a recommended migration process (as well as some tools to help). You can find out more about this new book on its page on the php|architect website and order your own copy - $33 CAD for the print and PDF versions together and just $29 CAD for the PDF only.

php|architect has recently announced a partnership they're worked up with Varien to provide training for the Magento eCommerce platform.

According to Roy Rubin, President of Varien, "MTA is a leader in PHP training programs and we are excited to have them working with us to provide Magento Partners and community members with Magento Training by php|architect".

Keep an eye out for the first of the courses to be offered for the popular platform - "Developing with Magento" starting April 22nd, 2008. It will be available through the php|architect website.