MacTribe looks at some of the best new tools to get your creative expression groove on.
iLugger
Yes, we are all very excited about the new MacBooks, but let’s not forget our desktop, the iMac needs some love too! iLugger’s products allow users to “lug” around the iMac with serious style. Wear it like a backpack, on the shoulder with the detachable strap, or tote it with the small handle on top. It’s super protective and has additional interior compartments for a keyboard, cords, and mouse. The cases accommodate the 17, 20, and 24-inch iMac’s and range from $119.99 to $209.99 based on size. Coming in a variety of colors these iMac Carrying Cases are the perfect combo of style and functionality.www.ilugger.com/imac-cases.cfm
Wacom Cintiq 12WX
Feeling disconnected from your Mac? Spice up your computer relationship with hands-on contact using Wacom’s Cintiq 12WX. This 12.1” TFT monitor is the perfect companion to any laptop or desktop for creative professionals desiring a high performance tactile workspace. Weighing in at only 4.4 pounds with dimensions of 16” W x 10.5” H x .6” D, Cintiq 12WX uses incredible pen-on-screen technology picking up 1,024 pressure levels from its Grip Pen on both it’s eraser and pen tip! The unit rotates 360° and its stand can be adjusted to any angle of your liking. At $999 you too can rekindle your hand-eye coordination and show some personal love to your Mac.www.wacom.com/cintiq/cintiq-12wx.php
Filemaker Pro 10
Filemaker Pro has quite a reputation within businesses large and small as being an outstanding organizational tool. For those who have a million different lists and info all written down in different locations, and can’t imagine how they could possibly systematize any of it, this software is just what the doctor ordered. With a newly designed Status Toolbar interface, all of the features are right at your fingertips, making Filemaker Pro 10 the most advanced and easy to use database of its kind. For $299, manage contacts, track inventory, budget, catalog research, and basically organize your life! www.filemaker.com/products/filemaker-pro/
Axiotron Modbook
Axiotron’s “Modbook” is known as the only tablet Mac. Referred to as the “adult etch-o-sketch” it looks just how it sounds- a MacBook with the no keyboard but with the screen on the actual hard drive. With this electronic notepad, users get all of the normal MacBook perks while having the ability to create virtually hands on. Starting at $2,248, the’09 version has a ton of upgrades including crazy fast graphic performance, longer battery life, pre-installed software, increased pen to tablet response, and too many others to list! There is really nothing else like it.
www.axiotron.com/index.php?id=modbook
Circus Ponies Notebook
Notes that I took in high school are now ineligible. College notes likewise, and now, I am probably the only person who can really understand my work notes. Circus Ponies’ popular application “Notebook” allows users to take notes the way they want to in a Mac based format. The newest version, “Notebook 3.0”, offers a simpler tool bar, sketching support, diagramming tools, sticky notes, annotation of lecture outlines, and many other cool upgrades. Current “Notebook” users can upgrade to 3.0 for $24.95 whereas first-time buyers can purchase for $49.95 ($29.95 for academic users and $99.95 for 3-computer “family pack”). www.circusponies.com/aboutnotebook30.html
QuarkXpress 8
First released over 20 years ago, QuarkXPress quickly became known as the "it" software in the desktop publishing world, and truly dominated during the mid-1990s with weak competition from Adobe's Pagemill and a few other forgettable programs. However, when Adobe came out with InDesign aka K2 (or “Quark Killer”) in 1999, Quark quickly had to share its exclusive limelight and hasn’t had a true comeback since...until now. QuarkXPress 8 incorporates some excellent new features including updated picture and pen tools, “drag and drop” page layout, ability to share content through media, advanced grids, along with enough bells and whistles to make layout artists stand up and take notice. For $799 or an upgrade of $299, see for yourself if QuarkXPress 8 will be the redeeming release to reclaim the top spot that Quark previously held.www.quark.com/
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iPad Costs
iSuppli Corp., which generally waits until it can actually get the new Apple product to estimate its production cost, has decided to forgo hands on examination in the case of the iPad. They have--from just looking at it, it's amazing--decided the base model only costs $219.35 for Apple to produce. According to AppleInsider the base model won't make Apple anywhere near as much profit as the 32 GB model with 3G wireless priced at $729...that one reportedly costs only $287.15 to produce.
That's some profit! No wonder Apple execs have said they'd stay nimble on pricing! With demand for the iPad under scrutiny and this week's news that the "Take Picture" hint was removed from the Address Book app in the iPad simulator even we are starting to wonder if it's not worth waiting for the 2nd generation.
Trust us, it's painful to say.
Google Challenges the Internet
"Think Big" indeed. This time, Google is setting its sights on the very way we transmit information and asking people from around the country to nominate their city or state to be included in an ultra-high speed open internet network of Google's building. Set to include anywhere from 50,000 to 500,000 people, this network will boast 1GB per second fiber optic connections that Google reps are hoping will bolster developer creativity, test new ways to build the infrastructure and challenge internet service providers to band together to create a better internet instead of shunning change to maintain their bottom lines.
This is huge news, and we hope our city is on the receiving end of the new interwebs...here's the official Google Blog if you want to read it all in detail or submit your community.
Dogs on Twitter
From the country that's given us karate and karaoke comes the newest iPhone app: that's right, Japan's Index Corp. has announced the release of "Bowlingual," the dog emotion translator. Latest in a long line of technological advances, this app (to be released this summer) analyzes Fido's bark and puts it into one of six categories, like "needy." Or "happy." Then it adds a caption based on the emotion and allows you to snap a photo of your pooch in its current mood; as if that weren't enough it can modify that photo to enlarge your pet's eyes...oh...so cute.
Seriously, the app is set to sell for $5 and will post your pet's barks to Twitter. Silly? Yes. Fun? Probably!!
Will you let your dog speak his mind? Tell us here.
