I'm a Juicer By John Haley
Whether you are someone who is running errands all day, or have a business which requires you to be away from the office, or even a student who loves music or a avid gammer - this is for you. Not many of us are stationary long enough to to recharge our all in one mobile computer, or at least that is how some think of their iPhones!
...Read More »
Lenovo ThinkStation S20 workstation By John Virata
The Lenovo ThinkStation S20 is the company's mid range workstation that works well in a variety of creative environments, be it video and special effects creation to CAD and animation. Configured with the right graphics card, the unit will fit well in any creative environment. The S20 is larger than most mid-tower cases, and sports ample room inside for user upgrades.
...Read More »
Mercury On-The-Go By Ko Maruyama
There are tons of reasons to check out this lightweight drive. The OWC Mercury On-The-Go drive is a little powerhouse in your pocket. If you're going to run out an purchase an external drive for your Mac laptop, you already know what you want in a drive: FW 800, USB 2.0 for those other connections you may need to make, and bus powered (no external power supply).
...Read More »
PHOTOSHOP DOWN & DIRTY TRICKS By Ko Maruyama
You probably know Scott Kelby from many publications, especially as the editor of Photoshop User magazine. In his latest book, PHOTOSHOP CS4 DOWN & DIRTY TRICKS, Scott and Corey Barker walk through several of the latest design tricks and trends Photoshop users recognize in so much of the print work available today.
...Read More »
FreeForm AE for Adobe After Effects By Kevin McAuliffe
These days, 3D in Adobe's After Effects is a no brainer, and most people don't even give it a second thought. I've been an After Effects user since version 3.5 of the software, and when the 3D feature came along (version 5), it was a huge step forward, except for one problem.
...Read More »
The Archive Titanium Edition from Digimation By Kevin McAuliffe
I like being a "one-man-show." I not only edit, but I do motion graphics, sound mixing and a variety of other jobs that give my clients a "one stop shop" for all their post production needs. These days I'm moving more and more into 3D design (using Cinema 4D), as it is another service I can offer my clients. There is one problem though, and that is that I can't model to save my life.
...Read More »
Modbook from a MacBook Pro By Ko Maruyama
A few years ago, we saw a company called Axiotron out of El Segundo California come up with a Mac tablet which integrated the Wacom tablet technology (similar to the Cintiq) and the Apple MacBook. This is a great solution for those of us who loved to work with software that really took advantage of the stylus. Before the Pro version ships, Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk Sketchbook Pro, and Maxon's BodyPaint 3D were among some of the tools I tried out on the current 15-inch ModBook.
...Read More »
Flip video delivers new Flip UltraHD By Ko Maruyama
The Ultra HD in many ways is like it's predecessor, the flip. The small camera easily fits into a shirt pocket, or purse, it shoots a HD video image HD -- 1287 20x720, and has an easy to use button interface on the back of the upright camera. However, there are many features that set this camera apart from its previous version, and any of the other competitors' offerings.
...Read More »
Lenovo W700ds mobile workstation By John Virata
Lenovo has long been known for innovative notebook computers harking back to the days when it (IBM) came out with the ThinkPad notebook computer. This machine served notice that it was at the top of the heap when it came to design and functionality. The current crop of ThinkPad workstations maintain that innovation as well as some features that could be called obscure, such as the one with the W700ds that I'm reviewing here.
...Read More »
Zaxwerks Serpentine By Ko Maruyama
While you may know Zaxwerks previous offerings, the latest plug-in for Adobe's After Effects is the evolution of some of the best parts from its predecessors. Although the company's other plug-ins offer interesting options for 3D designers, Serpentine gives After Effects artists need ability to create those 3D animations that are most frequently requested in motion graphics.
...Read More »
Review: HP Z800 workstation By John Virata
Hewlett Packard, one of the most widely respected company's in the history of computing, and a true technology innovator (versus marketer), has blown the whole notion of computer design wide open with the latest version of its Z 800 workstations. The system is unique in that not only does it sport the latest Intel technology; the engineers have created a workstation that is both highly functional yet elegant in its form, inside and out.
...Read More »
LightWave 9.6: NewTek's latest update to its flagship 3D product By Jon Carroll
NewTek's LightWave 3D 9.6 update offers some new functions and bug fixes over 9.5, which shipped around SIGGRAPH 2008. I'll admit I'm a long-time user of LightWave, having worked as a freelance LightWave artist for 10 years in various capacities. Some of the new features are easier for me to understand, while to others they may be obscure.
...Read More »
HP EliteBook 8730W By John Virata
Hewlett Packard has been known for years for its solid workstations. The company has been an innovator when it comes to content creation machines, even supplying its own designed graphics adapters in the late 1990s to power its visual systems. When the company decides to enter the market, it does so with a lot of thought, offering systems that are unique from what is currently available from its competitors, yet still remaining price competitive. The company's latest mobile offering is such a system.
...Read More »
Manga Studio 4 and website By Ko Maruyama
It has been almost 3 years since I first tried manga studio 3.0 for the PC. At that time it had just been ported from Japan's Comic Studio. Although there were two versions offered by E. frontier, both were extremely feature rich, and required some experience. Now you can get training and online assistance at manga studio online.
...Read More »
Adobe Flash CS4 Professional By Kevin Schmitt
I have bad news for those out there who were expecting Flash CS4 to, well, suck: It doesn't. Far from it. Adobe certainly seems to have responded to the pressure of having viable Flash competition by delivering a polished upgrade that is chock full of thoughtful improvements and useful new features. So despite the fact that I've spoiled the ending, I hope you'll come along as we explore the latest and greatest in the most recent release of the Flash authoring tool.
...Read More »
Lenovo ThinkPad W700 mobile workstation By John Virata
It's not very often that a notebook computer has the potential to be a game changer in the market. The routine of the notebook manufacturers are fairly predictable. Intel releases a newer, faster and lower power CPU, and the manufacturers build yet a new notebook around it and call it the next best thing. Lenovo has taken a slightly different, yet radical tact to notebooks by building a Wacom Tablet right into the wrist rests of its ThinkPad W700 workstation class notebook computer
...Read More »
My Comic Book Creator and Comic Life Review By Heath McKnight
Planetwide Media's My Comic Book Creator, including Comic Book Creator 2 and Marvel Heroes Comic Book Creator (Windows only, www.myplanetwide.com), along with Plasq's Comic Life 1.4 (Mac and Windows, www.plasq.com), are making it easier for users to create their own comic books. The applications are a lot of fun, and for this comic book geek, a way to try my hand at even professional comic book creation.
...Read More »
Windows on Mac, hardware style By Ko Maruyama
There are many reasons that people like to use new keyboards. In addition to the occasional coffee spill and other mishaps, sometimes keyboards just give out and need to be replaced. Other times, a keyboard is chosen for comfort and portability. I had a chance to check out Adesso's USB roll up keyboard, the AKB-230.
...Read More »
Particles Get a Touch Up By Ko Maruyama
It's been a while since I've written about particleIllusion from wondertouch, so it was good news to see that the Mac OS X software got a minor upgrade that includes some necessary fixes and features.
...Read More »
Lenovo D10 ThinkStation workstation By John Virata
The Lenovo D10 is the big brother to the ThinkStation S10, and as such sports dual Intel XEON CPUs for a combined four processor cores, 12MB L2 cache and a 1333MHz front side bus. Housed in a tower configuration, the D10 system is wider than the S10, and can accommodate more internal drive space, with support for five 3.5-inch hard drives as opposed to three for the S10, two PCIe x4 slots, two PCI X slots, and a single PCI slot.
...Read More »
I'm a Juicer
Whether you are someone who is running errands all day, or have a business which requires you to be away from the office, or even a student who loves music or a avid gammer - this is for you. Not many of us are stationary long enough to to recharge our all in one mobile computer, or at least that is how some think of their iPhones!
...Read More »
Lenovo ThinkStation S20 workstation
The Lenovo ThinkStation S20 is the company's mid range workstation that works well in a variety of creative environments, be it video and special effects creation to CAD and animation. Configured with the right graphics card, the unit will fit well in any creative environment. The S20 is larger than most mid-tower cases, and sports ample room inside for user upgrades.
...Read More »
Mercury On-The-Go
There are tons of reasons to check out this lightweight drive. The OWC Mercury On-The-Go drive is a little powerhouse in your pocket. If you're going to run out an purchase an external drive for your Mac laptop, you already know what you want in a drive: FW 800, USB 2.0 for those other connections you may need to make, and bus powered (no external power supply).
...Read More »
PHOTOSHOP DOWN & DIRTY TRICKS
You probably know Scott Kelby from many publications, especially as the editor of Photoshop User magazine. In his latest book, PHOTOSHOP CS4 DOWN & DIRTY TRICKS, Scott and Corey Barker walk through several of the latest design tricks and trends Photoshop users recognize in so much of the print work available today.
...Read More »
FreeForm AE for Adobe After Effects
These days, 3D in Adobe's After Effects is a no brainer, and most people don't even give it a second thought. I've been an After Effects user since version 3.5 of the software, and when the 3D feature came along (version 5), it was a huge step forward, except for one problem.
...Read More »
The Archive Titanium Edition from Digimation
I like being a "one-man-show." I not only edit, but I do motion graphics, sound mixing and a variety of other jobs that give my clients a "one stop shop" for all their post production needs. These days I'm moving more and more into 3D design (using Cinema 4D), as it is another service I can offer my clients. There is one problem though, and that is that I can't model to save my life.
...Read More »
Modbook from a MacBook Pro
A few years ago, we saw a company called Axiotron out of El Segundo California come up with a Mac tablet which integrated the Wacom tablet technology (similar to the Cintiq) and the Apple MacBook. This is a great solution for those of us who loved to work with software that really took advantage of the stylus. Before the Pro version ships, Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk Sketchbook Pro, and Maxon's BodyPaint 3D were among some of the tools I tried out on the current 15-inch ModBook.
...Read More »
Flip video delivers new Flip UltraHD
The Ultra HD in many ways is like it's predecessor, the flip. The small camera easily fits into a shirt pocket, or purse, it shoots a HD video image HD -- 1287 20x720, and has an easy to use button interface on the back of the upright camera. However, there are many features that set this camera apart from its previous version, and any of the other competitors' offerings.
...Read More »
Lenovo W700ds mobile workstation
Lenovo has long been known for innovative notebook computers harking back to the days when it (IBM) came out with the ThinkPad notebook computer. This machine served notice that it was at the top of the heap when it came to design and functionality. The current crop of ThinkPad workstations maintain that innovation as well as some features that could be called obscure, such as the one with the W700ds that I'm reviewing here.
...Read More »
Zaxwerks Serpentine
While you may know Zaxwerks previous offerings, the latest plug-in for Adobe's After Effects is the evolution of some of the best parts from its predecessors. Although the company's other plug-ins offer interesting options for 3D designers, Serpentine gives After Effects artists need ability to create those 3D animations that are most frequently requested in motion graphics.
...Read More »
Review: HP Z800 workstation
Hewlett Packard, one of the most widely respected company's in the history of computing, and a true technology innovator (versus marketer), has blown the whole notion of computer design wide open with the latest version of its Z 800 workstations. The system is unique in that not only does it sport the latest Intel technology; the engineers have created a workstation that is both highly functional yet elegant in its form, inside and out.
...Read More »
LightWave 9.6: NewTek's latest update to its flagship 3D product
NewTek's LightWave 3D 9.6 update offers some new functions and bug fixes over 9.5, which shipped around SIGGRAPH 2008. I'll admit I'm a long-time user of LightWave, having worked as a freelance LightWave artist for 10 years in various capacities. Some of the new features are easier for me to understand, while to others they may be obscure.
...Read More »
HP EliteBook 8730W
Hewlett Packard has been known for years for its solid workstations. The company has been an innovator when it comes to content creation machines, even supplying its own designed graphics adapters in the late 1990s to power its visual systems. When the company decides to enter the market, it does so with a lot of thought, offering systems that are unique from what is currently available from its competitors, yet still remaining price competitive. The company's latest mobile offering is such a system.
...Read More »
Manga Studio 4 and website
It has been almost 3 years since I first tried manga studio 3.0 for the PC. At that time it had just been ported from Japan's Comic Studio. Although there were two versions offered by E. frontier, both were extremely feature rich, and required some experience. Now you can get training and online assistance at manga studio online.
...Read More »
Adobe Flash CS4 Professional
I have bad news for those out there who were expecting Flash CS4 to, well, suck: It doesn't. Far from it. Adobe certainly seems to have responded to the pressure of having viable Flash competition by delivering a polished upgrade that is chock full of thoughtful improvements and useful new features. So despite the fact that I've spoiled the ending, I hope you'll come along as we explore the latest and greatest in the most recent release of the Flash authoring tool.
...Read More »
Lenovo ThinkPad W700 mobile workstation
It's not very often that a notebook computer has the potential to be a game changer in the market. The routine of the notebook manufacturers are fairly predictable. Intel releases a newer, faster and lower power CPU, and the manufacturers build yet a new notebook around it and call it the next best thing. Lenovo has taken a slightly different, yet radical tact to notebooks by building a Wacom Tablet right into the wrist rests of its ThinkPad W700 workstation class notebook computer
...Read More »
My Comic Book Creator and Comic Life Review
Planetwide Media's My Comic Book Creator, including Comic Book Creator 2 and Marvel Heroes Comic Book Creator (Windows only, www.myplanetwide.com), along with Plasq's Comic Life 1.4 (Mac and Windows, www.plasq.com), are making it easier for users to create their own comic books. The applications are a lot of fun, and for this comic book geek, a way to try my hand at even professional comic book creation.
...Read More »
Windows on Mac, hardware style
There are many reasons that people like to use new keyboards. In addition to the occasional coffee spill and other mishaps, sometimes keyboards just give out and need to be replaced. Other times, a keyboard is chosen for comfort and portability. I had a chance to check out Adesso's USB roll up keyboard, the AKB-230.
...Read More »
Particles Get a Touch Up
It's been a while since I've written about particleIllusion from wondertouch, so it was good news to see that the Mac OS X software got a minor upgrade that includes some necessary fixes and features.
...Read More »
Lenovo D10 ThinkStation workstation
The Lenovo D10 is the big brother to the ThinkStation S10, and as such sports dual Intel XEON CPUs for a combined four processor cores, 12MB L2 cache and a 1333MHz front side bus. Housed in a tower configuration, the D10 system is wider than the S10, and can accommodate more internal drive space, with support for five 3.5-inch hard drives as opposed to three for the S10, two PCIe x4 slots, two PCI X slots, and a single PCI slot.
...Read More »
