I have used Paint Shop Pro since about version 8, and I have upgraded to almost every other version update since then. I was always recommended PSP from many members of the skinning community, and even today I know many popular skinners who use this. Paint Shop Pro has come a long way since I first started using it, and even though it has moved more towards use with photography, I found it’s still a great graphics tool that is perfect for making skins and themes. Best of all, it’s a great alternative to other higher-end imaging software which costs much, much more.
The first thing I notice when opening Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 is it’s sporty a sleek new graphite theme, which can be disabled if you rather have the previous style. The graphite theme works well and gives a darker look to the whole application, which at least to me, makes working on graphics easier on the eyes. If you are new to Paint Shop Pro, or just need some help in some areas, there is a Learning Center docked to the left side which guides you through the process of several techniques like making photo collages, adding effects, adjusting images, etc. Of course you can configure the interface to your liking, but I found the default quite suitable for my needs. There is also an image browsing window where you can easier organize, find, and edit images stored on your computer.
All the tools you would ever need to either create graphics for skinning, or for adjusting photographs, are right here. I was happy to see one of my favorite tools, the picture tubes, are still there. There is such a wide variety of settings and tools available that I could write all day about, but take my word for it, it has what you need. On the photography side, there are several “one-step” fixes for various common corrections in photos. There is also a new Express Lab which can batch edit several files or folders at once with actions like crop, resize, etc.
Some other new features are the HDR Photo Merge which combines two or more images and corrects the contrast automatically. Also new is the addition of layer styles and watermark support, both of which should be welcomed to both beginner and seasoned professionals. The Black & White conversion tool has also been enhanced along with the Makeover tools which are essential for fixing any impurities in images.
While I was once concerned that Paint Shop Pro would only be useful to photographers, I have now realize that it’s only added to the graphics experience. Whether you are a photographer, graphic designer, or skinner, Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 has all the features necessary to bring your creativity to life.
A couple of months ago we set out to start a new podcast for the community of people who are interested in desktop customization, skinning, and just tech in general. When we started I was using a inexpensive Logitech USB mic. It’s a very good mic for the price, but it’s not up to any type of professional recording level that I now need. With that I sought out an alternative which was insanely expensive, but still had a very good sound quality. I read review after review and did quite a bit of research before deciding on which one I should purchase. The choice I made was the Samson C01U USB condenser mic.
I chose this one for several reasons. One being it was was on the very few condenser mics on the market that was USB, which is a big plus because I didn’t want to have to buy a mixer, and I liked the ability to plus it in to pretty much any computer. On Windows Vista and OS X Leopard, it’s basically just plug and play without any additional software or drivers needed. The next reason was price….less than $100 which a great deal considering the specs on this mic. Depending on where you shop, you can find this with a decent discount.
Included in the box is the microphone itself, a desktop stand, and quite a long USB cord which is very nice, and sometimes uncommon with electronics. If you are on Windows XP there is software that is included that adds an Input Level Meter, and some other features, but it’s not compatible with Windows Vista. The only problem I had during setup was the mic was recognized, but I could not adjust the sound. After 20 minutes of scratching my head I realized I needed a driver update from Windows Update. No big deal, but be sure to check to make sure you have the latest updates when installing.
I used the mic on both a podcast and the recording of a screencast. I was pretty blown away by the quality of sound, and it was a complete difference between the C01U and my previous USB microphone. Background noise was minimal and my voice came through as clear as I can imagine it sounding. I used a few different applications to record the sound including Camtasia Studio 5, and although I configured each application for its own sound settings, the results were basically the same across the board. I didn’t have a problem configuring the C01U for use with these applications other than making sure the mic was the selected recording device.
Obviously, there are better mics out there, but they will also cost you a significant amount more. For the money and quality, this mic gets the highest rating I could give it. I have no problem recommending it for anyone who need a good, but inexpensive mic for podcasting or other recording types. For more information visit the Samson C01U product page.
NetworkWorld’s Tyson Kopczynski gives a review of WindowBlinds 6. It’s a quick review but right to the point and seems to give a great recommendation for anyone wanting to change their desktop appearance.
When I first saw the announcements that Bento was to be released, I was very excited about the potential of it, and was anxiously awaiting the chance to review it. Bento, which is developed by FileMaker, is a personal database application for Mac OS X Leopard. FileMaker is a phenomenal application in itself, but for many people FileMaker is just overkill, especially when it comes to more personal needs. What I needed is an application that will help me organize my contacts, events, projects, inventory, etc., and Bento is all about organization.
The first thing I noticed about Bento is the clean and well designed layout. It’s not cluttered, and offers basically everything you need to get started in a very usable manner. Looking through the source category, I immediately noticed the integration between Bento and Address Book and iCal. All of your iCal events and tasks, along with your contents of the Address Book are easily manageable inside Bento. Any changes you to make to these entries in Bento, will reflect in your Address Book and iCal.
Bento ships with quite a few templates sorted by education, personal, and work. These templates cover a wide range of needs including projects, events, planning, inventory, and more. You also have the option to start with a blank template, and build your own solution from scratch. The pre-made templates are completely customizable, so you can tailor them to your specific needs with ease.
Over the last couple of weeks I have created several different project types, but I wanted to focus on the one that Bento seemed most valuable to me, and that was the ability to create a complete inventory of my home. I started out using the Inventory template, and with about 20 minutes or so of customizing the layout and input fields, it was exactly what I needed. Once you are working inside a form, clicking the customize icon will let you easily modify the current template to your liking both visually and functionality wise. Arranging the layout is as simple as drag and drop, and adding fields like text, currency, media, etc. are setup by entering just a few choices.
I set my inventory form up to have two columns which one contained fields for item description, price, date purchased, serial numbers, and other relevant info. The second column was dedicated to media and notes. The media field allows you to add items like images, audio, video, and even gives the option to take your own pictures and import them directly to your form entry. Since my focus was inventory, I took pictures of my household items, and simply dragged them into the field. I had no problems importing media, but I would love to see an integration with Flickr where I could pull images from there right into a field.
The real difficult part was just adding all the data, but that is one thing that unfortunately Bento can’t do by itself. After a few short hours I had all my inventory data entered, and was very pleased with the final result. The table view inside Bento gives you a quick spreadsheet-like view of your data, which also gives you easy access to sort your data. There is also a summary view that will show your column stats depending on what type of data is entered into that area. For instance, in my “cost” category it can show me the total sum, average, minimum, or maximum data for that column. Don’t worry if you have a bunch of entries either, the iTunes-like search is quick and accurate.
Now I’m at the point where all of my data is entered, I have a good template setup that will make adding additional items easy, so just one more thing to do which is customizing my library. Clicking the customize icon once again, I browse through the over 20 included themes which give you different backgrounds, colors, and text. The included themes are good, but I would like to have the ability to add my own themes as well.
The last feature I wanted to try, and is probably the most important is the backup ability. After all, what’s the point of entering all your data if there is no way to save it to a safe place. To backup your database, or to restore a previously saved one, just select the option from the file menu and save or open the database. It can’t get much simpler than that. I took my backup and placed it on a secure thumb drive for safe keeping. A feature I would like to see here is the ability to password protect the backup directly from Bento.
As I said in the beginning, I was excited about the potential of Bento, and after using it for several weeks, Bento delivers on its mission to offer a powerful, yet simple, database solution for the rest of us. If you need a database solution for your home, or even small business, and don’t need the full power of something like FileMaker Pro, then Bento is the answer.
Last September I gave a review of the Sena Ultraslim iPhone case. I still think it’s a great pouch for the iPhone, but after a few months of usage, I needed to move on to a solution where I didn’t have to keep taking the iPhone in and out of the pouch. After some research and recommendations I placed an order for the Signature Leather iPhone case from Case-Mate. The case is available in several colors, but it opted for the Phantom Black.
I ordered direct from Case-Mate.com and even with the standard shipping option, the case arrived in just a few days. Upon opening the box, this case includes the case, a screw-in ratcheting belt clip, and a clear protective screen cover.
The iPhone fit perfectly in the case, just snug enough to hold it, but not overly tight. The case has a felt-like inner layer which does a good job of prevent scratches in the times you do need to remove the iPhone. The outside of the case seems to be a decent quality of leather, and is very well made. There is a metal attachment on the back of the case which is where you can screw-in the belt clip accessory if needed.
I didn’t use the clear protective screen cover as I am already using one, but it was nice to have that included. Included with the order was the option to have your name, or any other text, etched into the back of the case. It’s nothing fancy, but adds a nice bit of style to the case. After using the case for several months it still looks as good as the day it arrived, and even though I have repeatedly taken the iPhone in and out of the case, there has been no scratches or markings on the iPhone. I have to give this case a 5 out of 5, and definitely recommend it to anyone with an iPhone. The MSRP is $34.99, but it looks and feels much more expensive, and I know you won’t be disappointed.
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