Trackballs are not just devices for gamers. They can also provide a viable alternative way to control and select for more traditional computer usage. The Kensington Orbit Wireless Mobile Trackball was reviewed in a non-gaming environment to ascertain if it could become part of the arsenal of a first-time adopter.
Read More
Jean Sibelius, the 150th anniversary of whose birth we celebrate this year (he lived from 1865 to 1957), officially composed only seven symphonies. Certainly only seven were published. Yet fragments of an 8th do exist; and indeed were performed in 2011 barely three minutes long, though. Sibelius certainly withdrew and tried to suppress his 8th.
Read More
Parallels Desktop 10 for Macis hardware virtualization software for Macintosh computers with Intel processors. It utilizes hypervisor technology. This software technology maps the host computers hardware resources directly to the virtual machines resources allowing the virtual machine to operate like a standalone computer.
Read More
You’ve heard it time and time again: backup, backup, backup. Updating software? Backup first. Installing a new hard drive? Backup first. Sounds simply enough, but how many of us are really doing it, or if we are backing up, how many of us are doing it correctly? Never fear, Joe Kissell is here to help us with his latest book, Backing Up Your Mac.
Read More
Last time, Phase Ones Capture One Pro 8 (version 8.3) was introduced as an alternative to Apples outgoing Digital Asset Management (DAM) and photo editing software, Aperture. Capture One Pro 8s functionality was described and some equivalents with Apples effectively discontinued and potentially defunct software touched upon.
Read More
Some considered Adobe’s Lightroom as an alternative to Aperture; but its pricing structure and policy, its integration with other – perhaps unwanted – Creative Studio products, and its difficult user interface make it a far less attractive alternative than what has been a market-leader in DAM, editing and workflow software: Phase One’s Capture One Pro, which is now at version 8.
Read More
Apple’s iPhone 6 is a definite improvement over the iPhone 5, especially when it comes to battery life. Yet, no matter how great something may be, there are always those times that seem to pop up and make one wish for a product that just has a bit more staying power.
Read More
Optical Character Reading (OCR) software is tricky. Although its come a long way from the unreliable and inaccurate offerings of the 1980s (when it first became available for personal computers) if it doesn’t present you with a usable digital representation of your (scanned) hard copy which is also 99% accurate, it really has little more than curiosity value.
Read More
The VisionTek Charging Hub has three ports rated at 2.4A (for iPads, Kindles, pocket power-packs) and four rated at 1.2A for phones and all those other rechargeable gadgets we tend to have around us.
Read More
Apple’s iPhone 6 is a beautiful engineered and designed communication and entertainment device. Users want to protect it so they take the time to purchase cases to protect their investment. The one thing that worries a lot of iPhone users is the durability of the iPhone’s screen. How strong is it and how resistant to everyday wear and tear?
Read More
When I first got an iMac with an Apple Bluetooth keyboard I instantly loved the keyboard. I preferred the size and I appreciated not having the wires. The one thing I missed was the number pad from my old USB keyboard. I used that number pad a lot. I am not a number cruncher, but the number pad made entering numbers into the computer a lot easier and faster.
Read More
Think Tank My 2nd Brain Briefcase 13 is unashamedly a briefcase and designed as a working bag. Whether you are a dedicated road warrior or just someone like me who feels they need to carry more than just their laptop and charger, consider it seriously. Think Tank Photo describes it as a mobile office for Apple power users. It is manufactured in good quality, water resistant, rip-stop type nylon, padded with a good closed cell foam, and lined with heavy duty silver toned nylon.
Read More
Having just evaluated and reviewed Otterbox’s Commuter series case for the iPhone 6, its also time to take a look at the Wallet case for the iPhone 6. Similar in design and build as the Commuter case, there is one striking difference. The Commuter Wallet series case is designed to be your all-youll-ever need iPhone case.
Read More
Home Inventory for the Mac keeps an inventory of your valuables, storing important information about each item and making it easy to provide documentation for insurance claims in the event of loss or property damage. The app allows the addition of photos and receipts to identify, assess value, and provide proof of ownership.
Read More
Apple’s iPhone 6 is a beautiful piece of design and function. Thinner than previous iPhone models, larger in size, it just seems to fit one’s hand perfectly. However, that thinness and the iPhones material seem to make it something that does seem to move by itself at times, especially out of the users hand if they forget that they are carrying it around. Add to that the tendency of most people to simply slide it into ones pants pocket and you might have a recipe for messing up ones brand new iPhone.
Read More
The Missing Manual series, of course, aims to fill gaps that many pieces of software (may) leave by having no – or an inadequate – manual. iMovie The Missing Manual (OReilly) looks at Apples venerable movie editing software.
Read More
I have been running and working out for many years now and since the advent of portable electronic devices, the one pet peeve that I’ve had is that I have never really found a set of headphones that will work properly once I’ve started to sweat during the workout. Apple’s earbuds or any major brand in-ear headphones always seem to have the same issue; sooner or later my sweat will cause one side or the other of the in-ear headphone to stop working properly until I’ve dried it out. So when BlueAnt said that they had a waterproof bluetooth headphone, I knew that I had to give them a try.
Read More
Avid has received a lot of criticism from Sibelius users of late. Two years ago the Finsbury Park, London, HQ of the Sibelius development team was closed, many developers laid off, and the suites coding and maintenance operation relocated to the Ukraine. Rumors of serious financial trouble circulated and the company’s Vice President, CFO and CTO resigned. Yet the market-leading score-writing software did not disappear as some both predicted and feared. In fact, a new version has recently been released; here Sibelius 7.5.1 (a significant further milestone release for bug fixes and maintenance) is examined. Its found to be as good as ever.
Read More
The iHome Lightning Clock Radio features an FM clock radio with six preset channels, and a Lightning dock connector for iPhone/iPod allowing you to charge and play. You can wake up to FM radio or music from your iPhone playlist. The small footprint (4.81″ W x 5.12″ H x 5.12″ D) of the unit makes this ideal for the bedroom nightstand or an office desk.
Read More
STM Bags, based in Australia, have been a supplier of stylish and well designed laptop bags, backpacks, tablet cases and even phone cases since 1998. I have utilized their products as part of my everyday life through the years, particularly when it comes to transporting my electronic gear around, be it by vehicle, subway or airplane.
Read More