ImageFramer 2.0: Review and Giveaway
May 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment
ImageFramer 2.0, is a custom image framing utility for Mac OS X. With a focus on ease-of-use, ImageFramer can apply photo-realistic frames to digital images, drawings or any original artwork. Users can add single frames (with multiple mats), watermarks, batch process several images at a time, as well as colorize or adjust Hue, Saturation and Brightness of the frames for maximum flexibility.
ImageFramer 2.0 now includes over 60 frame designs, and supports multiple variations to allow easy comparison of various framing designs. Artists and photographers alike will love the ability to adapt the color, size and mat for the best appearance with very flexible export options. ImageFramer also offers a selectable background color to simulate hanging on a wall.
Version 2.0 is a major release, sporting many improvements and bug fixes.
* Frame personal and family images in batch or one by one
* Apply flat color or photorealistic frames
* Adapt the color, and mat of the frame for the best painting appearance before ordering a real one
* Selectable background (wall) color to preview hanging on a wall
* Easily compare multiple variations for each image
* Adapt the color and sizes of the frame and the inner mat
* Export the framed image to a number of formats in a number of sizes
* Flexible watermarking support using images
* Use standalone or with Adobe Lightroom or other programs
* Over 30 new photorealistic frames
* Full user manual available, including instructions of adding own frames
Language support:
English, and Japanese
Minimum Requirements:
* Mac OS X Version 10.4 or later
* Universal Binary for PowerPC and Intel
* 13.9 MB Hard Drive space
* Core Image
Pricing and Availability:
ImageFramer 2.0 can be purchased for $39.00 USD (per single computer license). A Family option is available for only $49.00 USD. A full-featured, trial version can be downloaded. This version 2.0 release is a free and recommended update for all existing customers.
Apparent Software has been very generous in giving MacSupport a ImageFramer 2.0 license to giveaway! To enter, simply comment with reason why you think you should win a free version of ImageFramer, or a feature or suggestion on what you would like to see in the next version of ImageFramer. The giveaway will end on June 3rd.
For Those That Must…VirusBarrier
December 3, 2007 | Leave a Comment
First., let me stand upon the soapbox.
In my Mac help company, we believe that Mac viruses are inevitable. You know Apple is planning for them, the constant stream of security updates lately tells me so. Someone, somewhere, is going to figure out that the typical Mac user makes a bit more money than the typical PC user, and aim directly at our demographic.
OK, off my soapbox now.
So, what is a Mac user to do? Well, if I may, let me suggest 2 options.
Option 1: ClamXav. This free application, well donationware (and yes, I did donate), does a pretty good job of sniffing out any virii lurking around, also spoofing emails and other baddies, though not malware at this point. Based on opensource antivirus databases that sometimes beat the commercial ones to the punch, its a nice addition to anyones toolbox.
Just don’t use the quarantine feature, its buggy. And everything, from updating the database to actually removing the virus, is manual. But hey, its cheap and effective.
Oh, and it doesn’t like Entourage at all. ESPECIALLY quarantine.
Option 2: VirusBarrier. Our tool of choice, VirusBarrier is a easy to use, powerful antivirus/spam tool. Much smarter than Clam, Intego’s VirusBarrier won’t destroy your email database, and its quarantine feature works just fine. It even includes a Windows app or us who have dual platform type Mac setups.
We like to set it up to run late at night, which is easy to do unlike Norton Antivirus, and you know, actually works. It also does automatic database updates and version upgrades.
Like all commercial antivirus, VirusBarrier will only update its database for a year before you must resubscribe to the service, or do it manually like with Clam.
So, no, right now we are safe, I get that. But if you deal with Windows clients, protecting them from a virus filled email your Mac ignored but their WinBox won’t might save your business.
Review: Replug
November 18, 2007 | Leave a Comment
What is Replug?
Think Apple MagSafe for headphones. Save Your Jack is the tagline for the the new audio plug adapter from replug that is designed to transform any standard 3.5mm audio jack into a breakaway connection that will protect your audio jack and headphone cords from becoming damaged should you pull on them with to much force.
How Does it Work?
While the concept is similar to the Apple MagSafe adapter from their latest notebooks the replug works a little differently. Where the MagSafe has tiny magnets that provide the needed connection to your laptop replug relies on tight silicone connection that keeps the replugs two parts firmly connected while being able to breakaway easily should enough force (ie: yanking) be placed on your headphone cords.
Does it Work?
Yes and No. I found that while using the replug while connected to my MacBook and iMac, the replug worked exactly as claimed. Although I don’t normally work on my computer with headphones, I suspect that people in the music and sound editing field live with their headphones on, the replug would save their headphone cords on more than one occasion.
Where I didn’t find the replug much use was connected to my iPod. Most people either carry their iPod in their pocket or hand. The headphone cords that are supplied with your iPod are more than long enough avoid putting stress on your headphone jack in most circumstances. I did do some drop tests on an old iPod that no longer worked and found that while the replug worked as expected, I can’t say you would actually want your headphones to breakaway should you accidentally drop your iPod. All this would would do is allow your iPod to break-free and fall to the ground and more likely damage it.
Should you buy a replug?
If you use headphones while working on your desktop or notebook computer, replug would be a good investment. As for using replug with iPod, your mileage may vary.
Where can you get one?
Currently you can only order directly from the replug online store. Both black and white versions of the replug are available for $17.95 plus shipping. Worldwide shipping is available as well as gift wrapped orders just in time for the holidays.
Play Poker Online On Your Mac
August 22, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Playing poker online with your computer used to only be available to Windows users. For a while Mac users were left out in the cold trying to find a Mac compatible poker program download or website. Enter Mac Poker a website that does the hunting for you. They keep constantly updated website listings that display Mac compatible poker sites. All listing on the Mac Poker site are 100% compatible with the Mac without the aid of Windows software. This means you can now play poker online without resorting to 3rd party emulation tools like Microsoft’s Virtual PC or Apples BootCamp beta. Read more
Mac Games and More
June 19, 2007 | 1 Comment
We all know that working on a Mac gives us a great sense of enjoyment in itself. Sometimes though we need to take a break from creating our next iMovie or iWeb site. This is where Mac Games and More fills the void. If your looking to take a break from the day to day check out some of the great Mac games featured on Mac Games and More.
Whether you enjoy Mahjong or Suduku Mac Games and More has you covered.
Most of the games listed on the site are freeware produced by independent Macintosh developers which have worked hard to provide you an enjoyable Mac gaming experience. For those games that are not freeware most are quite reasonably priced under $20. Best of all you are supporting the little guys who generally work long hours on their own unpaid time to bring you great shareware and freeware products. Read more
Buildium Property Management Software
June 11, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Buildium Property Management Software is an online property management software solution that is geared specifically to small and mid-size property managers.
Buildium Property Management Software is a good alternative to alternative to larger scale property management systems, but is not without its own hitch, which I will cover later.
Where does Buildium fit in?
“While large property managers are well-served by enterprise level products, small to mid-sized landlords and property managers have been left behind ” commented Michael Monteiro, VP of Customer Relations for Buildium. “Our vision is to bring state-of-the-art online solutions to this market segment in order to reduce costs, cut administrative time and streamline routine tasks.”
How much does it cost?
Currently Buildium offers a free 15-day trial of their property management software. Since this product is online based you simply have to sign-up for your free trial and you will receive an email shortly with login instructions and your password. One part of the free trial offer sign-up that I didn’t find necessary was the required fields for your business name and address. Although Buildium does have a privacy statement I didn’t think this step was really necessary for receiving a free-trial.
After your trial has expired you can continue to use the online software starting at $9.99/month to $174.99/month depending on the package you choose. Basically the price depends on how many units you manage and how much online storage you require on the Buildium servers. You can also opt to host Buildium on your own domain name for an additional $19.99/year.
This is where the catch comes in with both pros and cons. Read more
All Joost Up
April 8, 2007 | 19 Comments
Our invite came yesterday.
I read about Joost about a month ago, clicking through my RSS feeds in Vienna. As soon as I read about it, and who was behind it (the boys behind Skype and Kazaa) I knew I had to see what they had made.
What they have made, if not the future of television, is certainly the future of television on the internet.
First, what is Joost? The short answer: It uses the internet to broadcast television shows to your computer, without completely loading them first (a process called streaming). The long answer: Joost uses peer-to-peer technologies to do for video what Kazaa did for file sharing and Skype does for telephony.
Before I go into the details, lets get one thing clear. Joost is a huge deal. Even if its business model fails, the technology behind it will live on. YouTube proved video online would be popular and draw an audience. Joost will commercialize it.
Right then, on with the review:
The Interface: Should match Leopard well. Its all black, black background, black widgets, and controls in colorful buttons bordered in (you guessed it) black. I have seen the Apple TV in action, and while similar in theme, they differ quite a bit in operation.
While Apple TV uses a familiar “push” system inherited from the iPod, Joost has more in common with Dashboard. The four compass points are where your controls live, the top telling what network you’re on, the right for your application controls, the south for playback controls and the left to change stations.
“Widgets”, like the live chat widget or an RSS based news feed, are on floating translucent windows.
Overall, it lacks the intuitiveness of Apple TV, but most users will get the hang of it in an hour or so.
The Experience: Great! Within 24 hours, it was firmly in our Dock. It is beta, and the channels are limited, but even just with what’s there, its as good a time waster as real TV. Plus it works with the Apple Remote!
Yes it stutters, yes there is a bug with commercials not working, forcing you to reconnect to a show and try an figure out where you were in it. But its beta, and I get that. I have beta tested before, and this feels “close to finished” like a .9 version should.
Really, I have only one complaint, and its not Joost’s fault. As a Canadian, I am once again considered second class on the net. Television content rights are far behind music and even Hollywood in the internationalization game. Hence, some cool channels like SciFi and Alliance Atlantis (ironically, a Canadian company) are not available in Canada. Others only in Europe.
My hope is that when Joost really catches on, such nonsense will finally get worked out in the courts.
Until then, I have a World Poker Tour game to watch…
VERICO Paragon Pacific Mortgages Inc.