Have you ever needed to composite some images together or make some quick touch-ups of photos but have been away from Photoshop?
Last spring, I had to quickly create a temporary header image for a website but was without access to Photoshop. Thankfully, I came across a free, web-based editor called Pixlr. While many sites and photo sharing apps allow us to make some basic color or lighting adjustments, Pixlr raises the bar by allowing users to create an entirely new composition on a blank or even transparent canvas. That particular feature is much harder to come by with web-based editors and makes the software an excellent back-up for designers when Photoshop is out of reach.
If you really dig it, Pixlr is also available for free download for offline use on Windows machines. Check out www.pixlr.com to get started!
Monday, October 22
Sunday, October 21
Sony announces a new 20-inch, 11 pound tablet PC with Windows 8
Sony is coming out with a new VAIO tablet PC with the new Windows 8 OS. Compared to other tablets that are currently in the market, this new tablet stands tall with a whopping 20-inch screen and weighs about 11 pounds.
This new tablet is designed so that the user can either stand it up making it more similar to a PC or the user can not use the stand and use it like a traditional tablet. This new tablet is a hybrid between a computer and a tablet and has a screen that can recognize up to 10 fingers. The only downside of this new tablet is the battery life which limits users to about 2 hours of play time.
I believe the price is around $879 for a base model.
Sony VAIO Tablet
This new tablet is designed so that the user can either stand it up making it more similar to a PC or the user can not use the stand and use it like a traditional tablet. This new tablet is a hybrid between a computer and a tablet and has a screen that can recognize up to 10 fingers. The only downside of this new tablet is the battery life which limits users to about 2 hours of play time.
I believe the price is around $879 for a base model.
Sony VAIO Tablet
Friday, October 19
GoPro Hero3 Now available for Pre-order
Just in time for us to finally get the GoPro Hero2, the GoPro Hero 3 White, Silver, and Black editions are now available for pre-order. The Hero3 is smaller than the 2 and now takes MicroSD HC(High Capacity) memory cards as opposed to standard SD cards.
The Black edition includes a WiFi remote with an LCD readout showing the same information as you can see on the camera. Also, the Black edition has 4Kp at 12 frames per second and 2.7Kp at 30 frames per second. I'm sure you all know 1080p. That's what these resolutions are... only 2700 and 4000 instead of 1080. That's incredible! Probably won't help much on a TV screen but it would look crisp on a high end computer monitor, or will let you crop the video pretty far while still retaining very high quality. You can check out the specs/prices/etc. at the following web address.
GoPro Hero3
I don't expect to get this soon (if at all) but it's nice to know what the newer model is in case a user needs more than what we off and has up to $400 of expendable income.
The Black edition includes a WiFi remote with an LCD readout showing the same information as you can see on the camera. Also, the Black edition has 4Kp at 12 frames per second and 2.7Kp at 30 frames per second. I'm sure you all know 1080p. That's what these resolutions are... only 2700 and 4000 instead of 1080. That's incredible! Probably won't help much on a TV screen but it would look crisp on a high end computer monitor, or will let you crop the video pretty far while still retaining very high quality. You can check out the specs/prices/etc. at the following web address.
GoPro Hero3
I don't expect to get this soon (if at all) but it's nice to know what the newer model is in case a user needs more than what we off and has up to $400 of expendable income.
Thursday, October 18
Photoshop Tutorials
Hey everyone, while doing my project for the SMDC, I've come across some interesting and helpful tutorials for Photoshop. Since I am doing a poster, these tutorials are incredibly useful and have made my project look a great deal better. The tutorials I focused on were for backgrounds, which I think are easy to do and can make your project go from amateur looking to professional looking. Hongkiat.com has a webpage named "40 Cool Abstract and Background Designs" and I would recommend the "Swoshy Lines" one for a cool background-ribbon effect. These tutorials break down the process step by step and even if you are new to Photoshop, you shouldn't have much trouble recreating the patterns.
Hope they are as helpful for you as they were for me.
Here's the link:
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/40-cool-abstract-and-background-photoshop-tutorials/
Hope they are as helpful for you as they were for me.
Here's the link:
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/40-cool-abstract-and-background-photoshop-tutorials/
Calculators
I have been asked for a calculator more than once now for a class exam. If this has happened to you, do not forget that the Educational Resource Center has them. The ERC has an online catalog, and they have a lot more to loan than just calculators. Check them out!
Wednesday, October 17
For Mac users in Powerpoint
It seems that the latest Mac-based version of PowerPoint (PowerPoint for Mac 2011) does not have the ability to directly embed YouTube videos into slides. The one workaround I know of involves converting the video to a file type compatible with Macs (Quicktime's MOV format) before opening it in PowerPoint. Are there any regular Mac users that have a better solution to this issue?
Scratching the Surface
The tablet industry is booming, with many people now sporting various kinds of flat electronic devices from Kindles and Nooks for reading to iPads and more fully-functional tablets. Microsoft has capitalized on this with their soon-to-be-released proprietary tablet, the Surface.
When I heard about it, I was skeptical, but looking into it, it looks like a really cool piece of technology. It runs on Windows 8, inspired by the Windows Phone OS and layout, with the multiple panes and the constant social connection and the automatic updates. The professional version of Windows 8 allows you to also drop out of the live-pane layout and go back to the original Windows start menu desktop view, which I think is a very cool innovation, because it gives that desktop familiarity. Also a new innovation with this tablet OS is the ability to open side-by-side windows on a tablet, similar to the snag feature of Windows, an ability that no other tablet on the market can do. Hardware wise, the Surface features a built-in flip-out kickstand on the back so that you can stand it up on a table without having a bulky cover. However, a cover is recommended, because the Surface cover features a magnetic bluetooth keyboard/touch mouse. It also features front and back facing 720p HD cameras.
Obviously Microsoft's answer to the iPad, the new tablet will be released on October 26th. The basic 32GB version without the cover is $499, with the cover is $599, and the 64GB version with the cover is $699. The current iPad out is $499 for a 16GB version, and then the same price for 32 and 64GB. These tablets are useful and innovative, given they're made by the two top computer companies out there right now, but one must question the necessity of getting a tablet that costs so much with not many features included, when a netbook or even a laptop run half as expensive, include much more, are more durable, and much more useful.
To iPad users, do you think it's worth it? Would anyone consider giving this new tablet a shot?
When I heard about it, I was skeptical, but looking into it, it looks like a really cool piece of technology. It runs on Windows 8, inspired by the Windows Phone OS and layout, with the multiple panes and the constant social connection and the automatic updates. The professional version of Windows 8 allows you to also drop out of the live-pane layout and go back to the original Windows start menu desktop view, which I think is a very cool innovation, because it gives that desktop familiarity. Also a new innovation with this tablet OS is the ability to open side-by-side windows on a tablet, similar to the snag feature of Windows, an ability that no other tablet on the market can do. Hardware wise, the Surface features a built-in flip-out kickstand on the back so that you can stand it up on a table without having a bulky cover. However, a cover is recommended, because the Surface cover features a magnetic bluetooth keyboard/touch mouse. It also features front and back facing 720p HD cameras.
Obviously Microsoft's answer to the iPad, the new tablet will be released on October 26th. The basic 32GB version without the cover is $499, with the cover is $599, and the 64GB version with the cover is $699. The current iPad out is $499 for a 16GB version, and then the same price for 32 and 64GB. These tablets are useful and innovative, given they're made by the two top computer companies out there right now, but one must question the necessity of getting a tablet that costs so much with not many features included, when a netbook or even a laptop run half as expensive, include much more, are more durable, and much more useful.
To iPad users, do you think it's worth it? Would anyone consider giving this new tablet a shot?
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