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Seashore - Open Source Image Editor

Friday, September 29th, 2006 | Mac Resources, Reviews | No Comments

All Macs come with a great photo organizing program called iPhoto. With iPhoto you’ll be able to make some of the most common photo edits. However, if you’re looking for an image editor that will give you a little more control, but will not run you into bankruptcy, Seashore may be a good alternative. Seashore is an open source software, which means that its free. It won’t cost you a dime to try it. It has some basic tools, such as selection, cropping, text, layers and other image editing features. If you’re used to Adobe Photoshop, then you will find this program a bit limiting. However, considering its price (free) it offers a great set of features and will allow you to do basic image editing. So, head on over to Seashore and give it a try.

Keep in mind, Seashore is still in the initial stages of development. So, there may be some bugs. I’ve been using it for a few months now and haven’t had any problems. But developers of Seashore warn that issues may occur. If you encounter bugs, please report them.

What image editing software do you use? Do you know of any other open source image editing programs?

Tags: iLife, iPhoto, graphics, image editing

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The New iTunes

Wednesday, September 20th, 2006 | Mac Resources, Reviews | No Comments

Last week on September 12th, Apple released a new version of iTunes. One of the more subtle changes that you may notice is a new icon. Those of you who have keen eyes when it comes to details will recognize that it’s no longer green. However, beside the icon, Apple made a few other enhancements that are more attractive to music lovers. One of the major improvements is the "gapless" playback of tracks that are meant to be played seamlessly together. When you first run the new version, it will scan your library looking for tracks that should be played without a gap. From that point on you won’t have to wait for the next track to begin as the prior one ends. But remember, this is not true for all tracks, only for those that are recorded to be played seamlessly.

My favorite part of the new iTunes is the cover flow view. I like things that are visually pleasing. As you probably figured, this view is only nice if you have cover art for all the albums in your library. Fortunately, Apple thought of that too. And they are allowing all who have an iTunes Store login to download cover art from Apple. This doesn’t mean that Apple will have cover art for all of your albums, but in most cases your library should be outfitted pretty well.

I know I’ve touched on only several new features in iTunes 7. There’s lots more to savor in the new iTunes. So, if you haven’t yet, head on over to Apple.com and download the new version. As you explore iTunes 7, which features do you like the most? Are there any features you are still waiting for? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Tags: iTunes, Music, Apple, Audio Players

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Seven Reasons to Own a Mac

Monday, September 18th, 2006 | Mac Resources | No Comments

Perhaps you’re considering to buy a Mac. May be you recently purchased one. I am certain that there are tens, hundreds and possible thousands of reasons to own an Apple computer. Below are seven reason why I purchased a Mac. They were compelling enough to motivate me to spend a significant sum of money. If you don’t already own a Mac, may be this post will help you explore the benefits a Mac can offer.

Design
In most cases the first thing that we encounter when examining a computer is its design. When it comes to design, Apple definitely stands out from other computer makers. I have yet to find another computer manufacturer that meets or exceeds Apple in hardware design. Apple produces computers that are sleek, symmetrical, pleasing to the eye and a wonder to handle; and not lacking in functionality. To illustrate, I share a personal experience in the extended version of this post.

Performance
Performance and design are often placed on a spectrum and treated as mutually exclusive extremes. Once again, I think Apple defies conventional wisdom and attempts to bring together the extremes. Mac OS X is known for its interface animation and abundance of graphics. And it all works very smoothly and with practically no delays.

Cutting Edge Technology
Apple continually strives to stay on the forefront of technology. I think Apple is an obvious leader in multimedia. This is true both on a professional and a consumer level. Since the initial release of OS X in 2002, Apple has upgraded and improved the operating system 6 times. And they are ready to do it again with the upcoming release of OS X Leopard. If you want to use a system that is always improving, then you need a Mac.

Stability
Apple computers run a world class operating system - Mac OS X. Apple has made great strides in improving the stability of its operating system. In my personal experience I’ve had virtually no problems. Mac’s total integration of software and hardware produces unparalleled stability and performance. It does not require the user to constantly defragment the hard drive and rebuild the registry. If you want a computer that just works and doesn’t require lots of user maintenance, then Mac is for you.

Safety
Another great advantage of a Mac is its relative immunity to viruses, spyware, malware, trojan horses and worms. If any of these words sound repulsive, then you need a Mac. When you consider the amount of viruses, spyware, malware, trojan horses and worms floating around for Windows, Mac looks very safe. Just to bring some numbers into the picture, there are over 144,000 known viruses for Windows and only 2 to 3 incidents of infection reported during 2006 of a Mac OS X system.

Versatility
For years the Mac and Windows worlds were divided by a great chasm. The year 2006 has been a year of bridging that divide. Mac now can run both OS X and Windows. So, when you invest in a Mac, you invest in a computer that takes advantage of the best in both worlds.

Price
At first glance, this may be an unlikely reason to own a Mac. However, Apple has come a long way in bringing its prices to an extremely competitive level. I am convinced that if a detailed comparison is performed and all features are taken into account, Macs are a better buy.

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