Eikon for Mac from
Company:
UPEK, Inc.
Price: $59.95
http://www.upek.com

Software security on the Mac can mean a lot of different things to a lot of people. Do you have virus protection? Do you back up your files? Do you have a strong password? Do you require a password from sleep and start-up? Are your Bluetooth and wireless networks secure? This list could go on and on as to exactly what Mac security means to you, and each and every one of these is important. But for me, there is one more issue of security that is seldom covered, and that is unauthorized access to my computer. Since I mostly use a laptop, I worry about someone either using my machine to see my personal files if I leave it on my desk, or simply stealing the machine all together, and then having access to everything about me at their fingertips (no pun intended.)

First off, to be more secure from unauthorized access to this kind of “attack”, you need a really secure password. Experts in the security field say that your password should be changed often, should never be a word in the dictionary or any proper name, and should be at least 8 to 10 characters long. Great, what that really means is some random set of characters that you have to change frequently. And being long and random, you will probably end up writing them down somewhere so you do not forget. That, unfortunately, is not very secure at all. So most people, for convenience sakes, use a familiar word or name of 5 or so characters for their passwords, and those are easily cracked.

Sure, I have a “strong” password I thought was fairly secure at 8 quasi-random characters, but a password cracker found it in less than 4 hours. I should use a longer password in my machine, but typing that every time is a pain, and becomes easier to make errors when typing, meaning trying several times. And what about managing multiple users on the same machine? That means even more passwords to get lost, stolen or forgotten. So how do you handle this nightmare? How about using Biometrics?

Biometrics describes the science of recognizing someone based on physiological traits, typically fingerprints or eye scans. Upek has introduced a new device that not only makes your computer more secure, but also solves these security issues in one small USB device. The Eikon Digital Privacy Manager works on the Mac to provide users with an encrypted security device that uses fingerprints to gain entry to your computer. The eikon basically records and stores up to 10 fingerprints (a numerical representation of the print actually) for up to 10 users, and then later uses those scans to log you into your Mac, and if you want, unlock your keychain as well. It also handles multiple users in a very easy to set-up manner.

Imagine walking up to a Mac in your home, school, or office. Instead of typing a user name and a long password, you simply swipe your finger on a small device, and the Mac logs you into the computer automatically and unlocks the keychain for that user’s session. No more writing down a complex password, no more worries about someone finding out your password and using it, no more forgetting, because it is your finger that authorizes your entry into the machine, and that you cannot forget. And the device is portable, you can move it from one machine to another if you like to log into multiple machines.

Now, there are a few limits however. The fingerprint info is stored inside the device, and not on the Mac, and each fingerprint is associated with a unique account, and an individual fingerprint can only be stored in the unit once. That means that a unique finger can only unlock one account on one machine. So if you wanted to use the same device on two different computers, you would have to use two different fingers. This also means that the same finger cannot log you into two different accounts on the same machine either. But these are small issues.

And do not worry if you loose the device or it is not connected to your machine, because as an administrator on the computer, you can allow (an option) each user to still use a password (they should be long), or limit access to an administrator only password (it should be very long) when the device is not present to restrict access to certain accounts. If the unit is missing, a few seconds after the “swipe finger” dialog appears, it will change to one asking for your password, you enter it, and your in. Ok, so my password is now 16 characters long, and is a total pain to get right, but I hardly type it anymore, so no big deal.

Installation is easy; you install their “Protector Suite” software, plug in the device, enter a few finger scans and your done. From within the program you can manage all aspects of the device and its use. In the fingerprints options, you can add, update, or remove fingerprints for each account, up to 10 fingerprints per account, one for each finger! This also means that you could allow a trusted individual to access your account simply by swiping their finger into one of the empty slots. It is recommended that you enroll at least two fingers, one on each hand, just in case of an accident. While typically a cut will not invalidate a finger swipe, a recent healing bad cut on my index finger caused it to not be recognized for a while. Local and global settings let you set unlocking key chains, modifying permissions of users, requiring a password with the finger swipe or not, and what is displayed when authentication is required. You can also manage other users, and completely erase the device as well.

Adding a finger scan is as simple as selecting a “scan location” and then swiping your finger three times, but the interface for adding finger scans is not exactly graphically accurate. When adding scans, they show two hands, and a finger scan location for each of your 10 fingers. However, any finger scan can go into any location, and does not, in fact even have to be from the same person. For example, I scanned the index finger of both my left and right hand into those locations on the interface for my account. But I wanted my wife to have access to my account as well, and she wanted to use her index finger too. A look at the interface told me that both index finger spots were used. But it did not matter actually, I simply selected an empty slot (the left little finger), had my wife scan her index finger (three times) and now she can unlock MY account with her index finger as well. The only gotcha here is IF she wanted to use this device on her computer, or she had her own account on this machine, she would then not be able to use that index finger to unlock her own account, and would have to pick a different finger. Yes, it sounds more confusing than it is, and I think the graphic is just there to make normal use simpler, but if your remember one finger, one account, period, and you will be OK.

As for how well it works, I am hooked. The device is quite small, a little large than my thumb. There is also the “Eikon To Go” direct plug in version, looking like a small USB drive if you want even smaller. It has a non-slip bottom so it stays put on the desk, and a long enough cord to allow it to reach USB ports in the back of your computer.

As for use, I put in a very long password to my computer, that now after 21 hours and 51 minutes (about 750,000 attempts) has not been cracked. When I turn on or wake my computer, I am simply presented with a dialog that asks me to swipe my finger, I do so, and I am logged in, unlocked and ready to go. There have been a few bumps in the implementation however, but they are annoyances in most cases. For example, if the device is missing, typing a long password takes a lot of time, and the login dialog can time out. In addition, the “swipe finger” dialog has a place to enter a password, but if the device is not found, that dialog changes after a few seconds, so if you started typing before it changed, you get unknown characters into the second dialog and have to start over. I have had to learn to simply wait for the change before typing my password. And on occasion, my computer has hung on wakening from sleep, sometimes requiring a reboot, sometimes just putting it to sleep and reawakening again works fine. However, the people at Upek tell me they are aware of this issue and should address them in the next release of the software.

Lastly, because of the way the Mac implements security and passwords, the finger scan does not work for all places where your password is needed. Confirmation dialogs for keychain items, for example, use a different authentication method than does login, so it asks for a password and not a finger scan. Yet, installing software asks for a finger scan. However, I noted that when I changed my login password for this device, my older, and shorter keychain password did not change, so this has not been too much of an issue actually.

The bottom line: A great solution to making your Mac a bit more secure.

The Pros: Low price, small size, easy to use, good encryption, stable software.

The Cons: Multiple users and fingers can become confusing, occasional hangs on wake from sleep, does not handle ALL security password dialogs. I also think the software should show up in the Preferences Window.

MyMac rating: 4.5 out of 5.

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Comic Life Magiq
Company: Plasq
Price: $44.95 new customer or $29.95 cross-grade from Comic Life (See article for limited time special pricing)
www.plasq.com

Comic Life Magiq is the latest piece of software by the folks at Plasq and they have hit another home run. It is a spin-off of they’re great Comic Life software. The best way to describe Comic Life Magiq is by saying it is part Comic Life, part Kai’s Power Goo (for those that remember this software), part iWeb (as far as templates), and part iPhoto.

Comic Life is software that provides the tools for making a comic book on your Mac. Comic Life Magiq takes this one step further by providing templates for your comic. You get to fill in the images. There are 12 templates that range from a birthday theme, to pets, to vacations Within these themes are a collection of pages based on that theme, and those pages have pre-made templates with different image arrangements.

You can also make and save your own pages/templates.

On the templates are customizable spots for your images. These images can be added from iPhoto, your pictures folder, or anywhere on your Mac. You can also use your iSight camera to add an image. Access to the images is through a window within the program and adding the images is as simple as drag and drop.

Once you add the images you can edit them. Editing is done in an interface that reminds me of Kai’s Power Goo (a great program that allowed distortion of photos). In fact, some of the effects you can apply to the image are similar, also. In addition to these effects, you can add drop shadows, reflections, and more.

Once you image is finished you can use the text and effects from the template or add your own. There are lettering effects, text boxes/shapes, borders and more that are based on the chosen theme.

Finished with you book? You can print it, or you can export it into numerous formats. These formats include creating an email, creating a webpage. sending the images to iPhoto or Flickr, or exporting in PDF and other image formats. You can even export to iWeb as a gallery in your website. Very cool!

The entire process is a lot of fun and very easy to learn. Comic Life Magiq is a great addition to the Comic Life family. I highly recommend it. For a limited time your can cross-grade from Comic Life for $19.95 instead of the $29.95 regular price. There is also a discount off the regular full price of $44.95 to $39.95 (also for a limited time).

MyMac.com rating 5 out of 5

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Layers: the Complete Guide to Photoshop’s Most Powerful Feature
by Matt Kloskowksi
Peachpit Press
ISBN 978-0-321-53416-3, 255 pages
$39.99 US, $43.99 CN £28.99 UK

When I conduct introductory digital photography workshops, most people say they have trouble using Photoshop because they don’t understand how to use layers. Though Photoshop takes us out of the darkroom so to speak, for many people any version of Photoshop seems as daunting and confusing as working with film, chemicals, and an enlarger.

Well, Photoshop guru Matt Kloskowski has written a concise introductory guide about using layers, the heart of Photoshop Elements and Photoshop CS series. His book is appropriately titled, Layers: the Complete Guide to Photoshop’s Most Powerful Feature. For this book, Matt incorporates Scott Kelby’s trade mark style of explaining Photoshop layer features and techniques in a well illustrated, step by step process. Each lesson is explained in less than five pages with no more than two paragraphs per page.

Matt of course starts the book off with a simple introductory lesson and illustration of how layers function within Photoshop. This is very important because it’s precisely where many Photoshop newbies get stuck. The concept of layers is a little foreign for some, and Matt does a good job explaining it.

After the introduction, his next eight chapters cover everything from blending and adjustment layers, to layer masks, to the non-destructive power of using smart layers. All the lessons are based on Photoshop CS3, but I’m sure most will apply to CS2 as well.

The image files he uses in the book (which can be downloaded from his website) are a mixture of his own photographs and stock photography, both of which are very attractive and tailored to the lessons. It’s pretty easy to follow the step-by-step, illustrated lessons and not get too confused. But what’s more important is that you not only follow the instructions but try understanding the why of how layers are used and not just the how. In many places in the book, tools are introduced and defined, as when Matt defines blend modes and how they function with layers. However, I would not call his explanations a textbook definition. For example, he explains that the Multiply blend mode means it "multiplies two colors (the top layer times the layer under it. Black times any color will result in black…" That’s about as deep as it goes. And for most Photoshop users, that’s sufficient.

Because Matt is a prolific workshop presenter and has created hundreds of video tutorials about Photoshop tools and techniques, his book is equally thorough, covering the basics of layers, but also providing advance coverage for users ready to learn about the power of layer masks, smart filters, curves, and adjustment layers.

The challenge of any book like this, though, is going beyond the lessons. It’s important to apply what you learn to your own images. That’s where the real learning sinks in. It also means experimenting and building on your understanding what the book presents.

If you want an example of Matt’s concise and friendly style, check out and follow his very useful podcast, Photoshop Killer Tips, and the weekly podcast show, PhotoshopUserTV.

There are indeed other books about Photoshop layers, but this one deserves a MyMac.com rating of 5 out of 5 for being concise, well designed, and probably the best introduction to the subject.

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Zefyr
Company: Moshi
Price: $75.00
www.moshimonde.com

Hi. Mr. Klutz here. But I must say I had some help klutzing the opening of the packaging of the Zefyr, Moshi’s new “high efficiency notebook cooler designed for MacBook 13″ and MacBook Air.” The way Moshi had the product sealed into its padded compartment caused me to try ripping the packaging to release it. That caused the all-too-familiar SPRONG effect, which ejected the unit out of the box and on to my kitchen floor. Oops!

Hey, I did that on purpose to see if the new Zefyr was built tough. It is! Thank goodness. Moshi sure has a thing about their packaging. Check out my past article in the MyMac archives – MOSHI CODEX MACBOOK SHELLCASE.

The only instructions on how to operate the Zefyr are on the back side of the box. Unfortunately, they are diagramed in light grey, and as modern and techy as it may seem, the grey printing does not show the procedure very well. A little darker, please, for those of us whose eye sight is, well, compromised from years of trying to read undecipherable instructions.

We’ve all had our MacBooks “whir” from time to time as the fan goes into high gear from the great demands we sometimes foist upon the computer. I know when I’ve got Photoshop CS3 going with a few windows open, after a while my MacBook starts sounding like a small vacuum cleaner. The new Zefyr is here to solve those problems of overheating and possible slowdowns, or worse. It is designed to maintain peak efficiency of the MacBook, even under heavy loads. To quote Moshi:

“At the core of Zefyr’s design is a high-thermal conduction interface compound, which enhances heat dissipation by providing a direct heat conduction path between MacBook’s bottom casing and Zefyr’s cast aluminum heat sink assembly.” The thermal interface compound is soft which keeps the MacBook in place and scratch-free, while the USB powered fan runs near silent.

One of the side-line benefits of Zefyr is the angle at which the MacBook is positioned when placed on the unit. The back-end of the computer is raised slightly, about 3/4″ by my trusty Stanley Powerlock. That puts the computer tilted at a very comfortable and ergonomic angle. I’m using it right now, and I like it.

The Zefyr is very portable (expandable and collapsable) and can be packed away almost anywhere to travel with your MacBook. As mentioned before, it is powered by a USB connector, which means you’ll be taking up one of the two USB ports on the machine (MacBook). Suggestion to Moshi: Make the wire with the USB connector another inch or so longer. The shortness of it may cause problems later on, after multiple connect/disconnects, from tugging it, trying to get it to line up easily with the USB port. If you are running other outboard gear powered by USB you may need to get a USB extension to accommodate your gear. But if you’re running that much gear at one time, you probably need the Zefyr. If you’ve ever had your computer lock up because of over-heating you’ll appreciate how simply and efficiently Zefyr does its job, in spite of taking up a USB port.

Case and Point: While on the internet I needed to open Photoshop to find some images. I minimized Comcast and parked it for a while in the Dock. As I was fishing through my photos I found several I needed and opened them. The files were too large so I had to resize them. I also decided to change a few of the images’ attributes by saturating the color a bit, and sharpening a tad before downsizing the photos. By this time the old MacBook was wheezing its way along. The fan kicked in and that was my cue to plug in the Zefyr. I counted the seconds it took to cool things off to the point that the MacBook fan would kick off. PLUG! Wait! About 73 seconds and the MacBook was cool enough for the fan to take a break. THATS how the Zefyr works.

This is a fairly well-thought-out device which would work better and be even more user-friendly with the USB connection lengthened and the instructions a little easier to decipher. It is simple and portable. If you’re using your MacBook to check email and write letters you probably don’t need Zefyr. But if you’re doing photo-manipulation, videos, music recording and production, anything with a major power drain, this devise can conceivably save you time and heartache. And that alone is worth the price of admission.

MyMac Rating: 4 out of 5

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Light & Exposure for Digital Photographers,
by Harold Davis
http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com
ISBN: 978-0-596-52988-8, 176 pages
$29.99 US, $29.99 CN

More and more people these days have digital cameras. What is traditionally called point-and-shoot cameras are extremely popular, and affordable and for the most part they produce really good photos. But if you’re serious about photography, at some point you’ll have to get beyond the automatic exposure settings of your camera and learn about the marriage between light and exposure and how to use the features of your camera to make that marriage work.

For the last few months I’ve had the joy of conducting Better Digital Photography workshops at local Borders bookstores in my area. Each class has been well attended, but the best part of the class is seeing how amazed some participants become when they learn how to use say the exposure compensation feature on the camera – a feature that most of them never heard of.

My classes are only an hour-long each, so I always suggest a couple of good books that participants should read in order to extend their knowledge and skills. Exposure Photo Workshop is one of the books, which was recently reviewed by MyMac’s lead reviewer John Nemo in the form of interview with the book’s author, Jeff Wignall. I too read and found Wignall’s book a very useful guide for beginning and intermediate photographers on the topic of exposure.

A second book on the same subject that I now will start suggesting is Harold Davis’s Light & Exposure for Digital Photographers. Like Wignall’s book, Light & Exposure covers well what you need to know about using appropriate aperture, shutter, and ISO settings for effective digital photography.

While both Wignall and Davis’s books cover the same subject, Davis’s book is geared more toward the artistic side of digital photography. Each of it’s 176 pages are filled with stunning scenic photos ranging from macro images to tiny water worlds to vast circle of stars in the sky. The images help illustrate the topics Davis explains in his book, which include:

- Evaluating light and choosing the best exposure
– Working with aperture and depth of field
– Selecting shutter speed
– Using ISO, noise, and light sensitivity to your advantage
– Shooting in available and artificial light
– Understanding the true potential of digital darkroom
– Starting with the best exposure in your camera, rather than relying on post-processing fixes

Each topic is covered in a short but well developed paragraphs on nearly every page of the book. Davis’s writing is not laborious. He knows how to break down topics in terse language, providing you just about as much as you need to know to understand the subject. Shorter chapters on macro and night photography are also included but they mainly in my view just wet your apatite on the subject.

Concluding chapters of the book deal with image editing and enhancement in the the digital darkroom. Here, Davis explains RAW conversion and what it means for digital photography, and then follows up on post-processing images in Adobe Camera Raw (ACR), an application plug-in that comes installed with Photoshop CS2 and 3. While this book is not about Photoshop (indeed, most books on digital photography put far too much weight on post-capture using some version of Photoshop), it’s good to see that Davis at least introduces exposure editing features in ARC that are important to improving the quality of digital images. Introducing this topic insures that novice digital photographers don’t think the photos in the book come straight out of the camera looking that awesome. I imagine that Davis could write a full-length book on post-processing in ARC and Photoshop, but in this book he provides just enough information to help readers understand the relationship between how exposure and light work in the camera and exposure works when images are processed on the computer.

As thorough as this book is, however, I would say that Davis’s book is not quite for absolute beginning photographers who just purchased a camera. It’s for readers who are serious about taking their photography to the next level beyond the point-and-shoot and automatic mode. This book will be of little use if you’re not shooting photos on a regular basis and challenging yourself to understand just how camera exposure works and to make a habit of reading light in various settings.

A few topics in the book could have been expanded upon and illustrated, namely the histogram feature that exist in nearly all digital SLR and even many compact cameras. Far too often when we preview photos on the LCD of screen of camera, we’re not getting an accurate picture of the image exposure. The pixels are so compressed and sometimes the screen is so small that it’s hard to tell if you have under or overexposed a image. The histogram helps in this regard. David mentions and defines the histogram in a few brief sentences but he provides no illustration of the feature or how to best use it. Perhaps he doesn’t rely on it, but it’s a topic well worth covering in this type of book.

Despite a few drawbacks, I highly recommend Light & Exposure for any serious photographer needing to understand the subject of this book better.

MyMac.com rating: 5 out 5

Bakari Chavanu is a professional photographer out of Sacramento, CA. His website: http://lifetimevp.com.

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