As a science teacher, I’ve often given thought to the idea of writing a book or study guide for one of the various disciplines I teach. Let me say that again — I’ve often thought about it, but have never actually pulled the trigger because organizing such work is daunting. When I recently dove into Scrivener, my whole perspective on writing such a piece has changed.
I’ve always wanted to learn how to play the electric guitar. So, two years ago at the young age of thirty eight I finally decided to give it a try. Mid-life crisis you ask? Maybe, but I’m having a blast! Anyone else who’s worked hard at learning one of their favorite tunes knows the thrill felt when you finally hit that power chord riff or solo perfectly. I remember the feeling well as I was recently rocking out to Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar On Me.” Hey, cut me some slack, I grew up in the eighties!
It’s this new passion for the guitar that made me raise an eyebrow when I first saw IK Multimedia’s new product, the iRig. The iRig is a cable interface that plugs into your iOS device’s headphone jack, allowing you to connect your guitar cable to your iOS device and a set of headphones or speakers. With a separately purchased app, Amplitube, your guitar is now connected to a complete stomp box and recording center.
Apple iPhone 4 Bumper (currently unavailable for sale)
Griffin Reveal Etch iPhone 4 Case — $29.99
Griffin Elan Frame iPhone 4 Case — $29.99-$34.99
Griffin Outfit Ice iPhone 4 Case — $29.99
By now, the big to-do about iPhone 4 reception issues and Apple’s Case Program seems to have subsided. That being the said, need for a case for your iPhone 4 is still just as great as it has ever been. A recent incident in my own life drove that point home to me clearly.
Just recently while out fishing with my father, I learned a real lesson about the importance of having a case on your iPhone. Let me give you some good advice; don’t keep your phone in your pants pocket while walking around in a boat! Having been an avid fisherman for nearly all of my forty years, I have never fallen out of a boat while fishing — until last weekend.
While placing the boat on the trailer at the boat ramp, I tripped and fell headfirst out of my boat and into the balmy sixty-degree waters of Owasco Lake, one of upstate New York’s famous Finger Lakes. Not only was it truly embarrassing, but with my iPhone 4 in my pocket, I was certain it was instantly ruined! In fact, as I was falling all I could think of was the fact that my iPhone was about to bite the dust. Fortunately, I was testing out the Griffin Outfit Ice case, which provided just enough protection to save my iPhone 4 from ruination.
Otterbox Defender Case for the iPad
Company: Otterbox
Price: $89.95
When I found out about Otterbox’s new Defender Series case for the iPad, I jumped at the opportunity to review it. I’ve reviewed other cases for Otterbox in the past, so I’m already familiar with their attention to detail and quality workmanship that is put into their cases. I couldn’t wait to see what they had for the iPad. I wasn’t disappointed.
I couldn’t help but smile when I opened the Defender case. The packaging was of Apple-caliber, with the placement of everything well thought out. The Defender case for the iPad comes with three layers of protection. The hard plastic inner layer provides rigid durability. This is surrounded by a softer silicone cover that cushions minor impacts and provides scratch resistance. A protective screen film helps to prevent marring of your iPad’s screen, while a hard plastic shell that can be snapped onto either the front or back of the iPad serves a dual purpose as a stand. It’s the ultimate package for your iPad.
As is the case with other Defender series cases from Otterbox, getting the case onto your device takes a bit of work. Fortunately, Otterbox provides illustrated instructions for getting the case on and off without much difficulty. It does take some effort to get the silicone tabs to line up with the slots of the inner shell, but with some coaxing, they go in with an amazing fit. The result is well worth the effort. Your iPad looks stylish in a matte black finish that gives the impression that it’s part of Apple’s design for the iPad.
Otterbox Defender Case for iPhone 4
Company: Otterbox
Price: $49.95
http://www.otterbox.com
Until now, cases for the iPhone 4 have been scarce. With both the front and back of the phone being made of glass, most of us worry about breakage for good reason. I was fortunate enough to find an Apple bumper for my new iPhone while visiting an Apple Store in Charleston, SC. I’ve been using this bumper as my primary case, but while proudly showing off the beauty of the hardware, the bumper doesn’t offer much protection for the iPhone’s back glass.
In true form, Otterbox has has solved this dilemma by delivering what amounts to armor for your iPhone with its new Defender series cases. As someone who spends a lot of time outdoors with my phone, I really appreciate the thought Otterbox has put into the Defender. Don’t let the higher price-point scare you, the Defender’s built quality and functionality fit the price.
The Elements
Company: Element Collection — Theodore Gray
Price: $13.99
iTunes Link
One of the iPad’s marquee applications is Theodore Gray’s The Elements. There are very good reasons for this distinction. The Elements is truly beautiful to look at and use. As a chemistry teacher, this app fills a niche that I’ve been wanting for my students for a long time.
The first thing you notice about The Elements is the HD graphics. In a word, they’re stunning. The app opens with Tom Lehrer’s famous Elements song where he sings the names of all of the elements. As the song plays, each element’s native state appears as a rotating high-definition video, filling up the Periodic Table of the Elements as it goes. If you’re interested in science at all, it’s awesome.
Apparent Software makes working on a Mac just a wee bit easier with its new offering, Blast. This inexpensive application runs on your Mac’s menu bar, providing a quick way to access any file or application you’ve recently worked on. Blast has proven to be a real asset to my daily workflow and productivity.
How many times have you spent needless minutes searching for a file or document you produced months ago and can no longer find? Apple’s Spotlight app doesn’t always find what I’m looking for, or it takes some real search savvy to figure out how to make Spotlight work to my needs. Blast will truly help you with this dilemma.
Macally Metropad iPad Cases
Company: Macally
Price: $29.99
http://www.macally.com
Apple’s release of the iPad means that many of the biggest selling accessories right now are cases to protect your new addition to the family. With the bewildering number of cases already on the market, MyMac.com’s reviews over the coming weeks will help you come up with a choice of case that best suits your needs.
When you first open your iPad, it feels quite delicate and your first instinct is to want to treat it with kid gloves. Aside from protective films, there isn’t much that can be done to protect the glass front of the iPad. It seems to stay fairly scratch-free as it is. The back casing also needs attention. Being made from aluminum, it’s pretty tough, but none of us wants to see it become marred up and scratched from constant handling or laying your iPad down on various surfaces. Macally’s Metropad Series of iPad cases provide a simple, yet elegant solution to this problem.
Macally offers the Metropad cases in four varieties: clear (Metrocpad), clear with silicon grip (Metrolpad), chrome (Metrompad), and black (Metrobpad).
I received the three cases you see pictured above, and I find that all three cases provide excellent protection for your iPad in a thin and lightweight package. I’m partial to cases that have a slim profile and don’t take away from the aesthetic beauty of your Apple product. Macally’s Metropad cases do this very well.
After using the cases for several days, I’ve found that I prefer the black Metrobpad and the clear Metrocpad over the chrome Metrompad. The Metrompad looks really sharp, but it does get covered in fingerprints relatively quickly. If you don’t mind wiping it off as often as you do your screen, that’s no problem. The Metrobpad looks great too, and the Metrocpad maintains the iPad’s already great looks.
The Metrolpad isn’t pictured, but offers a secure silicon grip around the sides of your iPad with a clear plastic back that lets your iPad’s great looks show through.
The cases snap on without difficulty and stay on very well. Protection at the iPad’s corners is emphasized, leaving the sides and all controls/ports free to access. When you’re ready to take the case off, the case simply pops off and you’re ready to go.
The Metropad cases aren’t going to prevent much major damage if you should drop your iPad from any real height. Not many cases will, for that matter. The cases do a superb job of keeping the back of your iPad clean and scratch-free. Come to think about it, isn’t that the main reason most people buy cases for their electronics?
One subtle, yet very useful feature is the four small projections on the back of each Metropad case. This allows you to set your iPad down on a tabletop so it doesn’t rock around, remaining level as you work. The spacing is just right so you can type on your iPad without it tipping. It’s a feature you don’t really appreciate until you try it out and realize how useful it is.
Overall, I’m impressed with Macally’s first offerings in the iPad case market. They do a great job of protecting your investment, helping you enjoy your iPad well into the future.
MyMac.com Review Rating: 9 out of 10
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Colcasac iPad Sleeve
Company: Colcasac
Price: $34.95
http://www.colcasac.com/ipad_case.html
One of the first things that comes to mind when you purchase your new iPad is how to protect it. The iPad is a thing of beauty, so anything you can do to minimize bumps and scratches is important. Colcasac has been making sleeves for MacBooks for awhile now, so it’s natural that they expand their lineup to include a sleeve for the iPad.
I was sent a Damask version of the iPad Sleeve for review purposes. The Damask is designed to be similar to the textiles produced by Damascus weavers and is lined with 100% polyester sherpa fleece. This design provides your iPad with a soft place to rest. The iPad Sleeve also comes in three other colors: black, passion vine, and red delicious.
The hand-made stitching of the Colcasac iPad Sleeve very good, with no loose threads anywhere in sight. A pocket has been sewn into the sleeve’s upper surface to store small accessories such as your AC charger and headphones. The closure flap folds securely over the sleeve’s opening, fastening in place with a strip of heavy duty Velcro. If your iPad sleeve gets dirty, a quick wash in the laundry should clean it up like new.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say that the Colcasac iPad Sleeve will offer a lot of protection for your iPad from significant impacts on the screen or if it is dropped. However, it is well designed for keeping your iPad scratch free as you carry it around with you during your day to day activities. The synthetic fleece actually helps clean your greasy fingerprints off the screen as your carry it around — an added bonus!
The Colcasac iPad Sleeve is a stylish way to carry around your iPad and one that’s sure to generate comments from people as you sip your cappuccino at the local coffee shop, showing off your new iPad.
MyMac.com Review Rating: 9 out of 10
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iTiki Exotic iPhone Skin
Company: Tikicase.com
Price: $29.95
www.tikicase.com
Everyone knows that any iPhone case worth its coconuts comes from the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii! The iTiki Exotic iPhone Skin immerses you in the popular 1950′s Hawaiian Tiki culture like no other iPhone case can.
Tikicase.com has made the case with a ton of tongue-in-cheek humor that typifies the Tiki culture of the 1950′s. The caption on the back of the package reads, "In Polynesian culture, Tiki was the first man and he created woman, because he was lonely. Later, he created the Mai Tai and several himself—themed bars because he was thirsty." I really like the originality of the caption, but nothing says it better than the humorous YouTube video Tikicase.com has made to promote the iTiki Exotic iPhone Skin.
"It’s colorful!"
"It’s attracts women — it’s sexy!"
"It protects you from evil!"
On a more serious note, the iTiki Exotic iPhone Skin is made of quality silicone and looks like a Tiki God with an enormous mouth that’s swallowing your iPhone 3G or 3GS. It comes in two colors: Pacific Blue and a brownish Koa Wood. The fit and finish are top notch, and the attention to detail is impressive, from the feet at the bottom of the case right down to the mysterious "butt—crack" on the back of the case.
The on/off switch, home button and volume control are covered in silicone, but it’s easy to feel the buttons and depress them right through the silicone.
The docking port, mute switch, headphone jack and camera are uncovered, and the silicone lines up with the hardware perfectly.
The one drawback to the case that I notice is along the sides. Like most silicone cases, the sides slide open somewhat easily, allowing dirt and debris get into the case and potentially scratching your iPhone. I’d like the case to have stiffer sides, but I think that would make taking the case on and off your iPhone more difficult.
If you’re into the Tiki culture and would like a case that’s completely unique, the iTiki Exotic iPhone Skin is tailor made for your tastes.
MyMac.com Review Rating: 8 out of 10
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Bento for iPad
Company: FileMaker, Inc.
Price: $4.99
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bento-for-ipad/id363230518?mt=8
There are times when I find my life becomes just too busy. Between planning my high school science classes, grading papers, writing reviews for MyMac.com, maintaining a home and running about for our children, I really need to keep track of my constantly changing schedule without being tied to my iMac. The folks at FileMaker have come up with an elegant solution for iPad owners with Bento for iPad.
Bento for iPad is a fully customizable database app that allows you to manage your contacts list, keep track of your business/home inventories, log expenses, keep track of projects, keep track of your to do lists and much more. Many Mac users are probably already familiar with the desktop version of Bento, and perhaps even own Bento for iPhone. Bento for iPad takes the iPhone version and adds to it by taking advantage of the larger screen and snappier performance the iPad affords.
When initially starting the app, the first thing a user should do is take a look at the short guided tour FileMaker includes with Bento for iPad. The next task you should consider is setting a pass-code to keep your personal information away from potentially prying eyes. In a matter of minutes, you’ll quickly figure out most of the ins and outs of the app. I’m very impressed with the app’s intuitive interface and rich graphics. It’s clear that Bento for iPad will stand out as an app that takes advantage of the iPad’s capabilities, setting a standard for other companies.
Bento for iPad comes complete with 25 templates for libraries, which are the main groupings of your personal information. There are templates for your address book, inventories, projects, student lists, notes, to do lists, recipes, expenses, time logs, vehicle maintenance, exercise logs and more. Each is well thought out with various appropriate data fields that are fully customizable by the user. There is even a blank theme for you to go completely nuts and create a database that’s unique to you.
The way Bento for iPad does all this is a fun experience on the iPad. Rotating the iPad to landscape allows you to see all of your libraries on the left while working on data on the right. Switching between libraries and records is fast and easy. Want to focus upon a single record? Rotate your iPad to portrait and your record expands to fill the screen in one of three customizable backgrounds: a leather portfolio, a clipboard, or a sleek sheet of glass on a black background. All of the graphics are very realistic and add the to Bento for iPad experience.
If you’re already a Bento user, syncing with Bento for iPad is easy. A touch of the "Sync & Setup" button at the top of the screen allows you to connect to your desktop Mac, keeping any changes in your records consistent.
I plan to use Bento for iPad to bring my sometimes chaotic life to a more Zen-like level. Owners of iPads know that using one is a new and exciting experience. Bento for iPad is what I hope is just the beginning for well thought-out apps that help keep your life manageable while making use of the capabilities of the iPad. Kudos to FileMaker for helping to set the standard!
MyMac.com Review Rating: 9 out of 10
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Guitar for Dummies CD — Mac version
Company: Wiley Publishing, Inc.
Price: $29.95
http://www.dummies.com
As a relative beginner to playing the guitar, I’m always on the lookout for ways to improve my playing skills. I take weekly lessons and I learn a great deal from my guitar teacher, but perhaps there is a way to improve myself, and perhaps even impress my teacher a bit in the process. When I saw Wiley’s new Guitar for Dummies CD, I knew this was a piece of software that was right up my alley, and I wasn’t disappointed.
The Guitar for Dummies CD installation is relatively beefy at over 100 MB, but it installs quickly and easily on your Mac. You do need to have the CD in your optical drive to run the application, though. The user interface is easy to navigate and the menu selections are simple to figure out.
The program is well thought-out and takes you step-by-step through the process of picking up a guitar for the first time and learning to play relatively simple songs quickly and easily. The program has a great introduction, demonstrating various types of guitars, stringing your guitar, hitting frets properly, strumming techniques and using a pick. Each screen along the way is loaded with plenty of audio and video instructions. There are also a number of separate tips that explain questions that might pop up while practicing the activities on each screen.
Once you’ve been instructed on the basics of using a guitar, the program gets right down to the business of teaching simple chords and songs. You have the opportunity to see a diagrams of the chords, to watch short video tutorials on how to play the chords and to play along with the instructor as you practice your new skills. There are two options for practicing your chords. One option allows you to play along with the instructor. While doing so, a fretboard pops up at the top of the screen, highlighting the strings to strum and the locations to fret. I think this is a really useful feature for a beginning player. The second option allows you to switch to a MIDI version of the practice session, permitting you to speed up or slow down the speed of the practice session to accommodate your own abilities.
The software tends to teach simple versions of some chords. Yes, it is much easier to play these simpler versions of commonly played chords, but they don’t sound nearly as rich and full as their slightly more advanced (and more commonly used) versions. As long as you look at it with the mindset that the software is geared toward helping new players get started with as little difficulty as possible (consider the name of the CD), the choice to use simpler chords is an acceptable decision to make.
The Tools menu has some great accessories worth mentioning. Included in the menu is a customizable metronome to help you pace yourself while playing. The built-in guitar tuner is an absolute must for every player, no matter how experienced. The tuner utilizes your Mac’s built-in microphone, but you can also use an add-on microphone. A recorder allows you to make recordings your new skills and play them back later. That can really help newbies hear their mistakes they might not even be aware they’re making. And, what guitar instruction software package would be complete without an extensive chord dictionary? It is truly extensive too, listing just about any chord you can possibly use, allowing you to listen to samples of the chord when properly played and demonstrating the proper fret positions.
As you progress through the lessons, they become more and more advanced, adding more chords and other skills such as double-strumming, accented strumming, moveable power chords, and power chord riffs and muting. You also learn to play several older rock tunes such as Bob Dylan’s "Knocking On Heaven’s Door," and Willie Dixon’s/The Rolling Stone’s "Little Red Rooster." The Guns N’ Roses version of "Knocking On Heaven’s Door" is also included in the power chords lessons, but I have to say it was a riot listening to the instructor try to belt it out like Axel Rose! There are other tunes from the Grateful Dead, Rod Stewart, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Richie Valens and The Steve Miller Band too. I think this is an important addition to the package, for nothing makes a new player feel better about their playing than to be able to play songs they already like.
The lessons are well thought out, and breaks are built into the software at appropriate times to allow some rest for sore fingers and hands. By the time you’ve gone through the 80+ tutorials, you have over 20 commonly used chords in your repertoire. For those of us wanting to learn more, the application offers a $20.00 coupon off the purchase of a software package for more advanced players. The eMedia Guitar Method CD normally sells for $59.95, making the discount an affordable $39.95. The upgrade can be picked up at eMedia’s upgrade website.
Overall, I was quite impressed with the Guitar for Dummies CD. If you’re new to the guitar, it will certainly get you playing reasonably well in a fairly short period of time. I’d say that this is a great start for new players, but by no means replaces the advantages of having actual lessons from an experienced teacher. Considering that private lessons typically run $20.00 per half-hour session, the Guitar for Dummies CD is a much more economical way to decide whether playing the guitar is right for you.
MyMac.com review rating: 8 out of 10
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Guitar for Dummies CD – Mac version
Company: Wiley Publishing, Inc.
Price: $29.95
http://www.dummies.com
As a relative beginner to playing the guitar, I’m always on the lookout for ways to improve my playing skills. I take weekly lessons and I learn a great deal from my guitar teacher, but perhaps there is a way to improve myself, and perhaps even impress my teacher a bit in the process. When I saw Wiley’s new Guitar for Dummies CD, I knew this was a piece of software that was right up my alley, and I wasn’t disappointed.
The Guitar for Dummies CD installation is relatively beefy at over 100 MB, but it installs quickly and easily on your Mac. You do need to have the CD in your optical drive to run the application, though. The user interface is easy to navigate and the menu selections are simple to figure out.
The program is well thought-out and takes you step-by-step through the process of picking up a guitar for the first time and learning to play relatively simple songs quickly and easily. The program has a great introduction, demonstrating various types of guitars, stringing your guitar, hitting frets properly, strumming techniques and using a pick. Each screen along the way is loaded with plenty of audio and video instructions. There are also a number of separate tips that explain questions that might pop up while practicing the activities on each screen.
Once you’ve been instructed on the basics of using a guitar, the program gets right down to the business of teaching simple chords and songs. You have the opportunity to see a diagrams of the chords, to watch short video tutorials on how to play the chords and to play along with the instructor as you practice your new skills. There are two options for practicing your chords. One option allows you to play along with the instructor. While doing so, a fretboard pops up at the top of the screen, highlighting the strings to strum and the locations to fret. I think this is a really useful feature for a beginning player. The second option allows you to switch to a MIDI version of the practice session, permitting you to speed up or slow down the speed of the practice session to accommodate your own abilities.
The software tends to teach simple versions of some chords. Yes, it is much easier to play these simpler versions of commonly played chords, but they don’t sound nearly as rich and full as their slightly more advanced (and more commonly used) versions. As long as you look at it with the mindset that the software is geared toward helping new players get started with as little difficulty as possible (consider the name of the CD), the choice to use simpler chords is an acceptable decision to make.
The Tools menu has some great accessories worth mentioning. Included in the menu is a customizable metronome to help you pace yourself while playing. The built-in guitar tuner is an absolute must for every player, no matter how experienced. The tuner utilizes your Mac’s built-in microphone, but you can also use an add-on microphone. A recorder allows you to make recordings your new skills and play them back later. That can really help newbies hear their mistakes they might not even be aware they’re making. And, what guitar instruction software package would be complete without an extensive chord dictionary? It is truly extensive too, listing just about any chord you can possibly use, allowing you to listen to samples of the chord when properly played and demonstrating the proper fret positions.
As you progress through the lessons, they become more and more advanced, adding more chords and other skills such as double-strumming, accented strumming, moveable power chords, and power chord riffs and muting. You also learn to play several older rock tunes such as Bob Dylan’s "Knocking On Heaven’s Door," and Willie Dixon’s/The Rolling Stone’s "Little Red Rooster." The Guns N’ Roses version of "Knocking On Heaven’s Door" is also included in the power chords lessons, but I have to say it was a riot listening to the instructor try to belt it out like Axel Rose! There are other tunes from the Grateful Dead, Rod Stewart, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Richie Valens and The Steve Miller Band too. I think this is an important addition to the package, for nothing makes a new player feel better about their playing than to be able to play songs they already like.
The lessons are well thought out, and breaks are built into the software at appropriate times to allow some rest for sore fingers and hands. By the time you’ve gone through the 80+ tutorials, you have over 20 commonly used chords in your repertoire. For those of us wanting to learn more, the application offers a $20.00 coupon off the purchase of a software package for more advanced players. The eMedia Guitar Method CD normally sells for $59.95, making the discount an affordable $39.95. The upgrade can be picked up at <http://www.emediamusic.com/gfd-upgrade> eMedia’s upgrade website.
Overall, I was quite impressed with the Guitar for Dummies CD. If you’re new to the guitar, it will certainly get you playing reasonably well in a fairly short period of time. I’d say that this is a great start for new players, but by no means replaces the advantages of having actual lessons from an experienced teacher. Considering that private lessons typically run $20.00 per half-hour session, the Guitar for Dummies CD is a much more economical way to decide whether playing the guitar is right for you.
MyMac.com review rating: 8 out of 10
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iStopMotion 2
Company: Boinx Software
Price: $49 (Home); $99 (Express); $499 (Pro)
http://www.boinx.com/istopmotion/overview/
I vividly recall my excitement as a kid when the holiday season approached and my favorite Rankin-Bass holiday classics would once again make a fleeting appearance that helped fuel my anticipation for Christmas morning. What kid could tire of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," or "Santa Claus is Coming to Town?" I was mesmerized by the claymation techniques the animators employed to create these holiday classics. These days, the ability to imitate their art form is just a click away with the purchase of Boinx Software’s iStopMotion 2.
iStopMotion 2 allows people of all ages to easily create amazing stop-motion animations right at home. As an educator, I foresee any number of ways to employ this software in helping my students grasp important scientific concepts. With my Earth science classes, I’m going to try the built-in time lapse feature to create videos of processes that occur too slowly in real-time to see clearly. Blooming flowers, the motions of insects and earthworms for behavioral studies and the motions of the Sun are all projects I’m considering. iStopMotion is so easy to use, I’m certain the kids will be creating these types of videos all by themselves with little instruction from me.
The user interface is simple to use. After starting a new project and setting your video size and frame rate, you can begin creating videos by simply pressing a large red button near the center of the screen, capturing a single frame at a time. A ghost image (Live Video Overlay) of your previous frame remains on the screen to help align your object for the next frame’s capture. This is really helpful in maintaining the desired smooth motions and even speeds of your objects being filmed.
Since I’m teaching a unit on meteorology, I’ve decided to run some test footage with iStopMotion 2 to get a feel for some of the software’s capabilities. For the test, I’ve set up a Canon ZR950 MiniDV camera on a tripod at my lab’s window. I have pointed the camera at the roof-mounted weather station and set iStopMotion 2 to run a time-lapse recording of the clouds passing overhead. I used a frame rate of 10 fps, which isn’t ideal for the smoothest video, but works very well for the lessons I want my students to learn from the video. At a capture rate of one frame every ten seconds, I have created a way to capture the motions of clouds as they pass over my high school that are not easily perceived in real time.
With a single click, iStopMotion turns nearly one hour of real time footage into 30 seconds of time-lapse video. The resulting cloud motions are impressive and my students think it’s amazing. I have posted the footage on YouTube here (and below) My students are now bugging me to try more techniques out using some of the other features in iStopMotion 2. I can’t say that I’m complaining – I managed to get a bunch of 15-year-olds to WANT to learn about science!
When creating stop-motion video, iStopMotion 2 offers an extremely useful Live Video Overlay feature that uses a slider to control how much of the last frame and how much of the live frame you can see on your screen. This makes it easier to gauge how much you need to move your subject for the next frame’s capture.
Onion skinning is another great feature for animators. Onion skinning allows you to superimpose up to five previous frames on your screen to get a better feel for how your animated creation is going to look. It allows you to move the object of your animation and to then compare how its motion looks in real time. It helps keep your object’s movement even and steady. A very useful feature!
If you prefer not to have ghost images confusing your composition as you set up each frame, you can utilize the Blinking feature. Blinking allows you to select any time interval for your screen to blink between the previous frame and the current frame to allow you to get a better feel for how your animation is progressing.
For those of you working solo and prefer not to run back and forth between your computer and your scene, iStopMotion also has a Voice-Activation feature. You can trigger the next frame capture audibly, saving you a tremendous amount of time.
You can purchase one of several different versions of iStopMotion, depending upon your needs or financial situation. iStopMotion 2 Home is $49 for a single user and $89 for a five-license family pack. It offers fewer high-end features, but will suit the needs of most people very well. iStopMotion 2 Express offers several more features such as rotoscoping and soundtracking at a cost of $99 for a single license and $179 for a five-license family pack. iStopMotion 2 Pro is fairly pricey at $499, but it offers everything professional animators could possibly need, including Final Cut Pro integration and HD support.
Overall, iStopMotion 2 offers users an amazing new venue for creativity. It’s a fun way for educators to bring new methods of learning into their classrooms and it offers families way to become closer and create lasting memories. I can’t wait to continue using the software over the years to come. Simply put, I love it.
Hardware requirements:
Computers vary a great deal, but you want as much RAM as possible. A good graphics card is important as well.
iSight camera or digital still camera
Other supported cameras
A tripod would be a VERY good idea
Software requirements:
Mac OS 10.4 Tiger or later
Quicktime 7.1 or higher
Universal application — works on PowerPC or Intel Macs
MyMac.com review rating: 9 out of 10
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Kensington Windshield/Vent Car Mount with Sound Amplified Cradle for iPhone
Company: Kensington
Price: $39.99
kensington.com
Owners of iPhones who make daily commutes to and from work can relate when I say that finding an optimum arrangement for using your iPhone in your vehicle is a source of constant frustration. This is especially true in states such as my home state of New York, where only hands-free use of a cellular phone while driving is legal. Without a Bluetooth® or audio-in jack on your dash, hearing your calls or listening to music can be difficult at best. Kensington has tried to help us out by introducing their new sound amplified cradle for the iPhone.
The Kensington Sound Amplified Cradle for the iPhone offers two mounting options: on your windshield via suction cup or on an air vent using a specialized mounting bracket that’s supplied in the kit. Having used the car mount extensively for the past month, I can say that the windshield mount is of superior quality. It offers a snug fit for your iPhone and stays firmly in place. I consider it one of the very best mounting options I’ve seen on the market for the iPhone. The vent mount Kensington supplies works well, but I don’t like having hot or cold air constantly blowing on the back of my iPhone. Even with the vents turned off, some air still leaks out. It’s a mounting option I’m not personally comfortable with, but use your own preference when choosing your mounting option. Check your local laws in case your home state has laws against windshield mounted devices.
The base of the cradle holds interchangeable rubber inserts that provide a seal on the speaker and microphone at the base of your iPhone. Kensington supplies various rubber brackets designed to fit any model of iPhone/case combination. Although the cradle is designed primarily for the iPhone, I can still manage to fit my slimmer iPod Touch into it too. The initial fit is good, but after a month’s use, I’ve noticed that one rubber insert doesn’t quite stay in position in the cradle’s base. I haven’t noticed any affect on the functionality of the cradle, however. In principle, these rubber inserts are essential for the proper amplification of your iPhone’s sound output. The back of the cradle is hollowed out with internal channels that focus the sound from your iPhone’s speaker out to the left side of the cradle. It effectively doubles your speaker’s volume.
Using an iPhone 3G, I still find it difficult to hear my iPhone’s sound while in the cradle. I drive a small car, a 2009 Toyota Corolla (spare me the jokes — I had the recalls repaired), so it’s possible that external noises such as road and wind noise are more of an issue for me. While driving in town, I can hear the cradle’s output fine, albeit the sound is quite "tinny," not even close to the quality from a built in audio jack. At highway speeds or with the air vents turned up, I find it difficult to hear the amplification. At those speeds, the sound from my iPhone seems louder, but not enough to carry out a phone conversation.
To be fair, I have given the cradle a try in my fiancé’s Nissan Quest minivan. The sound quality from the cradle is definitely improved in the minivan because it’s better insulated from exterior sounds. In the minivan I can easily carry out a phone conversation at speeds up to 55-60 mph, but beyond that the road noise makes clearly hearing the iPhone’s output difficult.
While there are situations where Kensington’s Sound Amplified Cradle for the iPhone will assist you in hearing your music or phone calls, it’s my opinion that there are still some very difficult hurdles to clear before your iPhone’s speaker will compete with the sound quality that can be obtained from your vehicle’s built-in audio system. Kensington’s latest addition to the market can certainly offer those of you without those options an improvement that will help in certain situations. If for no other reason, give it a try because as a stand alone car mount it is one of the best I have ever used.
MyMac.com Review Rating: 7 out of 10
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iPhone 3GS Portable Genius
By Paul McFedries
Wiley Publishers
http://www.wiley.com/
$25.00
ISBN: 978-0-470-52422-0
Most iPhone users take it for granted that they know how to use most of their phone’s features. An iPhone is a thing of beauty, a device so well designed that most of us can figure out how to utilize its basic functions in short order. Apple surely realizes this – the iPhone ships with a manual, doesn’t it?
Once the novelty of an iPhone begins to wear off, many owners begin to probe some of their “Jesus Phone’s” lesser known functionalities. Once you begin to dig under the surface, you realize that the iPhone does A LOT of things. Yes, there’s an app for that, but the iPhone already does so much! How then, do we take advantage of all of these features on a more regular basis?
iPhone 3GS Portable Genius is an easy-to-read, full-color guide to all of the features your iPhone 3G or 3GS has to offer, right out of the box. Its pages are full of tips that provide something for everyone, whether it’s about configuring your iPhone or trying to maximize iTune’s potential when syncing it up.
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Defender Series iPhone 3G/3GS Cases – AT&T Exclusive
Company: Otterbox
Price: $49.95
http://www.otterbox.com
Belkin Micra Flex iPhone 3G/3GS Case
Company: Belkin
Price: $24.99
http://catalog.belkin.com
Otterbox Commuter and Otterbox Commuter TL iPhone Cases
Company: Otterbox
Price: Otterbox Commuter for iPhone 3G/3GS – $34.95 and Otterbox Commuter TL for iPhone 3G/3GS – $29.95
http://www.otterbox.com
An iPhone has a tough life. Getting shoved into someone’s front pockets all the time, getting tossed around on tabletops, sliding into and out of docks, and suffering the indignity of sweaty hands during intense game play are all going to take a toll on a sensitive piece of equipment. I threw chance to the wind and for a long time, I was a MyMac’er who rolled with his iPhone exposed and naked, susceptible to all the abuses of world around i
t.
Got iPads?
In the past, many teachers have brought a laptop of some sort with them to access e-mail, take notes during sessions and access the Internet. For the past several years, the number of people bringing laptops with them to the conference has grown noticeably larger — until this year.
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