Floola is an alternative management software for iTunes. Basically you can use Floola to manage your iPod related content, including music, movies and even podcasts without touching iTunes. Floola even has Growl support for Mac OSX and allows you to manage applications that can then be launch right from your iPod. It is donationware and available to download for Mac OS X, Windows and Linux.
17" Powerbook LCD bug, literally!
An actual bug stuck just behind a lovely Powerbook screen. This is a sad (for the owner & the bug), but very interesting article. I just hope that no more hatch in there.
ADC Developer Pavilion Interviews
Head on over to the Apple Developer Connection site and you can listen to interviews with nine different software developers, including Dan Messing from Stunt Software, whose Overflow and Downsize applications we have recently reviewed here on Geekanoids. The interviews certainly give you an insight into what makes these great people tick.
Downsize your images with Downsize
Downsize by Stunt Software, now… what can I tell you about this clever little application? Well, so that I could give you a really good insight into what it offers, I have been using it for the past month. You may well have noticed that all of the images on the Geekanoids site changed. They now all have borders, with rounded edges and a nice subtle shadow, a nice uniform look… all courtesy of Downsize.
The application window is just so easy to get to grips with. On the left hand side you select the source of your images, this can be from iPhoto, a particular folder for batch processing, or you can just drag a single image into Downsize. You can also set a destination folder for your finished images. The right hand panel consists of three tabs, resize, watermark and frame, each determining how your image will look.
In the 'Resize' tab you set your maximum width and/or height that you want your finished image to be. You can also choose a sharp or smooth quality and a compression quality. Just using these settings alone give you a useful way of resizing your images quickly and easily, but there's more…
The 'Watermark' tab allows you to add either a piece of text or an image file to the files you are processing. You can control the placement of the watermark, the opacity and the distance that it will be from the edge of your image. This is a great way of adding some copyright protection to your files. Again, this is so well implemented and a very useful feature.
The last set of features are found in the 'Frame' tab. This is where I played to get the settings I liked for the Geekanoids images. You can add a frame to your images, with adjustments for thickness and colour. Rounded corners are easy, with a slider control to adjust the corner radius. You can even alter the background colour of your images. Shadows are also controlled in this tab, where you can tweak blur, distance, opacity and the angle of the shadow. When all you settings are made, a simple click of the 'Process Images' button and Downsize springs into action.
There are many applications available for OS X, but the ones that count are those that make your day-to-day tasks easier, and Downsize is one of those applications. It found its way into my dock for this review and it will remain there, now an integral part of my workflow. The only minor omission is that you cannot save your settings, so if you want to change them for a different project it is important to make notes beforehand. I mentioned this to Stunt Software and they acknowledged that the ability to save settings is in the pipeline and will appear in a future version.
Downsize really is the best image processor that I have found, not only is it quick, but also very easy to set-up, with just the right amount of features. The fact that it is only $19.95 makes it a total bargain.
Product: Downsize
Price: $19.95 (free to try)
Supplied by: Stunt Software
Contact: info@stuntsoftware.com
Formac Gallery 2010 Xtreme-5 Pro Monitor
Formac has revealed its new Gallery 2010 Xtreme-5 professional TFT monitor, which is available and in stock at various UK resellers. The stunning looking monitor is available in white, silver or black, has a 1600 x 1200 native resolution with a .255 dot pitch and connects via DVI-D.
A nice high brightness of 300cd/m2 and contrast ratio of 1000:1 really ensure this is ideal for professional use, whilst the 8ms response time make it suitable for the playback of moving images. Of note, this is a true 8-bit MVA panel supporting 16.7 million colours.
The Gallery 2010 Xtreme-5 has a retail price of £429.
Spring Cleaning 9 goes Universal
Smith Micro have launched Spring Cleaning 9 for Mac OS X. The biggest news is that it sports full Universal Binary support for Intel and PowerPC-based Macs. On top of this you get new maintenance and cleaning tabs, a permissions fixer, Spotlight index rebuild button, and the ability to securely delete (zero data) from your hard drive free space. There is also a application uninstaller, plus many more features for your money.
Spring Cleaning 9.0 requires Mac OS X v10.4 and costs $49.99, you can upgrade from a previous version for $19.99.
Skype Pro Launched in Europe
Skype have just launched Skype Pro, a new subscription based service that tags onto your existing (or new) Skype account. The initial 5 month subscription will cost £9.20 which includes approximately £3.40 of calling credit, after the 5 months introductory period is over £1.50 per month is deducted from your balance.
What Pro offers is that you pay a 3p connection fee per call to UK landlines, but nothing for the minutes you use. You also get free voicemail, plus a discount on a SkypeIn number. The regular Skype-to-Skype computer based calls remain free.
The new Pro service will roll out to the rest of the world late 2007.
Who Cares ? The Apple Store of course !
Having attended the Apple Store Bentall Centre opening on the weekend just gone, I wanted to say a quick thank you for all your kind comments about the photographs. They have been attracting so many visitors and have appeared on websites as far afield as Australia, Spain, and Italy.
What make's an Apple Store opening so special is the way in which the staff make everyone feel special. This obviously carries over into the way they serve and talk to you on a regular day too. I mean, how many times have you been clapped, applauded, or given a high five when walking into a Currys store?
Apple Store employees also treat everyone equal. I witnessed users (and prospective users) from all walks of life on that opening day. Even on my previous visits to various branches, I have seen both young and old all being treated with respect and enthusiasm. What other shop would a sales guy (or girl) talk properly to an eight or nine year old, on their level?
So many questions, and the only answer is Apple... if you want to experience this for yourself, get on down to an Apple Store this weekend, don't just click 'n' buy, go and talk to some great people, who care that you really get the best out of what you buy.
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Shipping
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is now shipping in the US for an introductory price of $199. In the UK the Adobe site allows you to pre-order the product for £146.88. The UK price represents a £50 saving, which can be taken advantage of until the 30th April 2007. Even though it is on pre-order, the shopping page does not mention a delayed delivery date, plus you can also choose to purchase as a 64Mb download, so my guess is that it is shipping straight away.
Of note, you do not have to choose a platform, so it would seem that you get both Windows and Mac versions in the same box.
I played with Lightroom in its beta days, but never really found a use for it in my workflow, but from what I did see, its non-destructive editing, superb interface and powerful features make it an ideal application for any serious pro or semi-pro digital photographer.
Forthcoming product reviews
A mid-month update for you to let you know what product reviews you can read on the Geekanoids website. Well, it is an exciting two weeks ahead, with the Griffin iKaraoke review being put online tomorrow, followed by the Archos 404 Cam later in the month.
Here is a complete rundown of reviews, so keep checking back regularly:
- Griffin iKaraoke
- Lindy UK Scart cable
- Crumpler Sticky Date bag
- Lindy UK Optical cable
- Downsize Apple Mac application
- Griffin Xpress Optical cable
- JVC Everio GZ-MG77 HDD camcorder
- Samsung 215TW 21-inch TFT monitor
- Crumpler McBains bag
- Herman Miller Celle chair
- Overflow Apple Mac application
- Archos 404 Cam media player
- DocumentWallet Apple Mac application
- RapidWeaver Apple Mac web design application
- Griffin iMic
- Cinematize2Pro Apple Mac application
- IRISCard Pro scanner
Steve Jobs Introduces First Apple Store
May 2001 saw the opening of the first two Apple Stores, in McLean Virginia and Glendale California. Having just attended the opening to the latest UK store just yesterday (see article below), I thought it would be nice to step back in time and see Steve Jobs introducing us to what the Apple Store would (and still does) offer.
Apple Store Bentall Centre UK Open Today
The Apple Store Bentall Centre, Kingston-upon-Thames opened today, Saturday 17th February at 9.00am. I am happy to say I was there to soak up the atmosphere, with exclusive shots from inside the Apple Store before they opened. In the photo gallery that follows you will see photographs of the whole store, including the astounding applause for the first customer, who had been in the queue since 4am.
The staff at the store clapped and welcomed the first 1,000 customers, with the queue still going strong at 10am. The staff and visitors enthusiasm was superb and things soon sprang into action with advice and sales meeting with so many smiles. The sales were ultra smooth too, using the scanner technology that Apple introduced late last year, customers do not have to get into line to pay. If they have something in their hand, they can have it scanned where they are standing, pay by card and they're good to go.
Also prominent in the store was the "We are better than Vista Campaign", with the new slogan "Go Beyond Vista… It's time to get a Mac" on coloured banner displays and some staff t-shirts (see the full gallery for more on this too).
I was also pleased to see how happy everyone was, and from all walks of life too. There were many silver haired heads to be seen, right down to enthusiastic youngsters using the display machines with big grins all round.
So enjoy the photos, I hope they help you soak up some of the atmosphere that was happening today, and if you are in the Kingston-upon-Thames area be sure to visit the Apple Store... full gallery of photos by clicking here>>
Full Gallery of the Apple Store Bentall Centre UK Opening Day
All photographs ©2007 please do not reproduce without prior written permission.
If you wish to use, reproduce, or obtain a copy, please email Geekanoids with full details.
