Subject Matter: Acme Made Trixy Laptop bag. It’s not black!

Most laptop and computer bags come in black, black and…black. Boring. Acme Made has some very stylish, yet sturdy laptop bags for ladies of all ages. Observe the red Acme Made Trixy Laptop bag. It’s good looking, the Trixy comes in three different colors, yet sturdy for a very fashionable bag.

I am hard on bags and purses. Even my watch has a roll bar. And I go through bags and purses. Yet, I don’t have to baby the Acme Made Trixy Laptop bag, and it has multiple uses.

The Trixy bag contains two pull-out pouches, one for your laptop and one for miscellaneous small items (keys, cards, makeup, pills, etc – just the right size). An outside and interior zipper pocket allows me to compartmentalize, and find papers, wallet, keys, whatever. The bag also features four open slide-in pockets for cell phones, glasses, business cards, etc.

Some Nice Features
Leather pull tabs on sturdy zippers and leather trim are attractive features, the bags are made from water resistant material, and raised metal bottom tabs will keep your laptop bag’s bottom surface clean. Dimensions are not bulky and fit most 15.4″ laptops. Nice!

Color choices: Chocolate with pink trim, camouflage, or red with brown trim.

I’m loving this bag. You will too.
Contact: Acme Made Trixy Laptop Bag
Cost: $97.50 US

Each Chapter’s A Lesson
Each chapter takes about 1-1.5 hours to review and practice. It’s best to have the book by your computer while reading, since you’ll want to apply the lessons directly. The first chapter holds your hand becoming established with Apple, setting up the Apple Developer membership (free or paid), and walking through Apple’s process. Thereafter, each chapter provides lesson activities and coaches the reader how to incorporate specific files to develop a beta app. And like most good instruction books, a summary, question & answer, plus a quiz and extra activities are provided after finishing each chapter.

After 24 chapters in 24 hours, the reader will have built, and completed several iPad apps. The last chapter focuses on how to distribute applications through the Apple store. Each book purchase also provides a free online edition for 45 days through the Safari Books Online subscription service.

Overall, it’s a good book for a beginner iPad app developer.

Systems Requirements: Apple platform with Intel processor; Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and the iOS SDK that can be downloaded here: Apple Developer.

Contact: TeachYourselfiPad.com

Cost: $39.99 US; $47.99 CAN

If you’re a beginner at iPhone development, are experienced using Apple platforms but not much experience, if any, coding, and want to develop to an iPhone app,  then read this book.

Each Chapter’s A Lesson
Each chapter takes about 1-1.5 hours to review and practice. Best to have the book by your computer while reading, since you’ll want to apply the lessons directly. The first chapter holds your hand getting established with Apple, setting up the Apple Developer membership (free or paid), and walking through the process. Thereafter, each chapter provides lesson activities and coaches the reader how to incorporate specific files to develop a beta app. And like most good instruction books, a summary, question & answer, plus a quiz and extra activities are provided after finishing each chapter.

After 24 chapters in 24 hours, the reader will have built, and completed several iPhone apps. The last chapter focuses on how to distribute applications through the Apple store.   Each book purchase also provides a free online edition for 45 days through the Safari Books Online subscription service.

Overall, it’s a good book for a beginner iPhone app developer.

Systems Requirements: Apple platform with Intel processor; Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and the iOS SDK that can be downloaded here:  Apple Developer.

Contact: TeachYourselfiPhone.com

Cost: $39.99 US; $47.99 CAN

Defender Series Case
When the boat’s healing over on a stiff breeze, you don’t want objects sliding and crashing to the floor. Otterbox’s Defender iPad case has an attractive hard polycarbonate shell that protects the iPad screen, and a tough, neoprene silicon grip cover on the back. Place the silicone grip cover on any surface, and the iPad won’t slide, even at a 20∘- 25∘ angle. The silicone grip shell fits like a glove and has well engineered portal covers, and the entire case keeps any sand trickling into unwanted openings. A small section slides off that allows the iPad to be docked for recharging. In addition, OtterBox also provides a thin plastic film that self adheres to the screen to further protect against scrapes, marks and dirty fingerprints. We don’t recommend laying an iPad on a log, or rock (sand does blow around in the wind), and the case is not waterproof, but the Defender case provides great protection carrying your iPad in a backpack, bag, or on the boat. The hard polycarbonate shell has a nifty, built-in stand that props up the iPad in two different positions. OtterBox even claims the Defender case can protect your iPad from an occasional bump, drop or scratch. I’ve bumped mine a few times, and yes, this OtterBox protected my iPad.
Cost: $89.95 US

Commuter Series Case
The Commuter iPad case has a similar neoprene, silicon grip cover with silicone plugs to protect portals, and a thin adhering film to protect the screen. An additional polycarbonate shell protects the back. The Commuter case is best suited for carrying your iPad in a brief case, or side pocket in a back pack/bag to take to work, the library, school, etc. Yes, we had it on the boat, and when we flipped the iPad covering the screen, the neoprene sides gripped the counter surface, even tacking upwind with 10 knots of wind. I’m not easy on electronics, but with this sturdy case, I wasn’t concerned about dropping the iPad overboard.
Cost: $64.95 US

If you want a light weight, sleek, yet sturdy iPad cover that delivers, consider the Otterbox iPad Cases. I’m very happy with these two cases, however, I will probably keep the Defender series on my iPad. Heck, even my Casio watch has roll bars, so I’m pretty happy I’ve placed a lightweight yet tough, sleek Otterbox case on my iPad.

Contact: www.otterbox.com

To operate Google TV, users have to purchase a new Sony Internet TV (no cost listed online, but probably pricey), or buy the Logitech Review ($299) to attach to their TV. Will there be an attached subscription cost with the TV, along with the cable, satellite, and other services?

Call me a skeptic, but instead of watching Netflix movies, YouTube, or catching up on the latest news on your computer, you can watch it on a bigger screen via Google TV. And while checking out an interesting website when watching a game, that’s possible too. However, connecting a HDMI, or VGA cable from a laptop computer, or computer to your TV works great too for watching movies.

Educational Opportunities
Pricing may restrict Google into the educational market, however, I can see teachers using Google TV for various lesson plans. Say an English teacher’s lesson focused on Henry IV. While discussing a specific scene, they could link to the movie via Netflix, or YouTube (no DVDs required) and play the specific act while students were reading the play at their desks. Chemistry teachers could display various 3D chemical formulas from a website (water, methane gas, C4 explosives – chem teachers do like to blow things up), open up a separate video link and portray the physical product, or end result. However, will Google offer a discount to schools and colleges to encourage classroom integration?

More Moola For More Toys
Google TV sounds like another form of multitasking, gotta have it all attitude. Google TV is providing another box to integrate your TV inputs (satellite, cable, or over the air TV), the internet and upload some special service software…my, this sounds like a specialized, entertainment computer. Pass me the remote, or was that the phone?

Will Google TV deliver the convenience of an integrated, entertainment or educational experience? It has the potential, but…we’ll see.

Handy Apps on One Screen
I’m getting to know my iPad better. And one issue is only one application can be run at a time. This feature may not seem limiting, but it can be a bit redundant having to pop back and forth into the Home page to run a calculator, check a calendar, the weather, write yourself a note (you know, some quick, handy apps).

Enter the DashPad app. For $9.99, iPad users can download this application that provides a dashboard on one screen. Current apps provided on the Dashboard include a clock, calculator, monthly calendar, Google search button, convert units, Yellow Pages, sticky note, and weather.

Download the Dashpad app, and hit the + button on the iPad to add the Dashpad icon to your home screen. If you’re tired of having to sign off on one application (Google, or a calculator), and want to check the weather, than consider getting 8 applications in one. To access the widgets, hit the +- button on the upper lefthand corner, and a widget dock slides up on the screen bottom. Just click on to add, or remove each widget.

Users can also submit app requests. It will be interesting to see how many applications will be added to the Dashpad.

System Requirements: An Apple iPad
Contact: www.pxlcreations.com
Cost: $9.99 US

Powerful Workflow Tools
The Nik Software Complete Collection provides a powerful end-to end digital workflow solution. The Complete Collection includes:

• Dfine 2.0 - Noise Reduction
• Sharpener Pro 3.0 – Raw Pre-sharpening & Output Sharpening
• Viveza – Color and Light Control
• Color Efex Pro 3.0 – Image Enhancements
• Siliver Efex Pro - Black & White Conversion and Black & White Enhancements

Workflow
While these tools can be used in any order, for consistent results it is best to apply noise reduction before changing the image. Otherwise the noise may be altered and become difficult to remove. A clean image without noise is easier to edit and enhance. Next apply presharpening if desired. A sharp image is also easier to edit and enhance.

Adjusting color, light and adding enhancements can be done in any order. NIK Software recommends adjusting light an color prior to enhancing the image. When the image is ready for prime time apply output sharpening.

User Interface
These five tools all share an intuitive, user-friendly interface that enhances workflow productivity. The user interface was part of the new features for Dfine 2.0; Sharpener Pro 3.0 and Color Efex Pro 3.0. The user interface remains the same when accessing the plug-in from Photoshop, Lightroom or Aperture. The ability to use all five tools from these different applications promotes workflow flexibility.

Training
NIK Software provides the following training resources:

Training videos

Webinar schedule

Archived webinars

System Requirements:
Windows
• 32-bit version of Windows XP with Service Pack 3 and Windows Vista
(64-bit operating systems with 32-bit host application)
• Pentium III 1GHz or better
• 1 GB RAM
• Adobe® Photoshop® 7 through CS4, Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 through 7.0; other Adobe Photoshop plug-in compatible application**
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom® 2.3 or later

Macintosh
• Mac OS 10.4 and later
• G4, G5, Intel® Core™ Solo, Intel Core Duo, Intel Core 2 Duo, Intel Xeon®
• 1 GB RAM
• Adobe® Photoshop® CS2 through CS4, Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 and 6.0; other Adobe Photoshop plug-ins compatible applications**
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.3 or later
• Apple® Aperture™ 2.1 or later

** Nik Software product filters are developed to integrate seamlessly into many popular image editing applications that support the Adobe plug-in architecture and there are numerous software applications that accept Adobe plug-in compatible filters. Please consult your image editing application’s documentation for compatibility and installation instructions for 3rd-party plug-ins.

Contact: Nik Software
Cost:

$299.95 US Lightroom & Aperture Version

$599.95 Phot0shop, Lightroom & Aperture Version

Bokeh creates an intentional and visually distinctive out-of-focus area within a photograph. The eye is naturally attracted to the focus subject. A photographer creates out of focus areas through lens, aperture (f-stop) and distance from the subject. Sometimes, the photographer doesn’t have this control, which is where Bokeh can be applied.

Highlights of Bokeh:

Clean & Easy Interface
Bokeh opens in an intuitive, clean, easy-to-use interface that provides factory and user defaults, and the power of custom adjustments. This interface, by selecting “Settings” tab, provides a large selection of factory preset settings. Custom settings can be saved and reused enhancing efficiency. The default and custom settings can be adjusted with sliders after selecting one of the two adjustment tabs: Bokeh and Vignette on the user interface.

The focus region selection enables control over the how the filter is applied on the image. Typically, a radial focus region is placed over the subject, or portion of the subject to preserve important detail. In contrast, the planar focus region provides a gradient and direction for the out-of-focus effect.

Images
To illustrate Bokeh’s effects, an image was selected from photos taken with a Nikon D200 (10 MP sensor), and processed in Photoshop CS4 . The original and processed images are presented below.

Original Photo

Bokeh with radial focus region

Original photo

Bokeh with one planar focus region

Bokeh with two planar focus regions

The above images are just the tip of the iceberg. Select one of the presets to create an out-of-focus effect. Then employ the controls in the adjustment tabs to fine tune the image with the full creative power of Bokeh.

Pros: Easy to use interface, Powerful out of focus controls

Cons: None noted

System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.4 with PowerPC or Intel processor (Adobe Photoshop CS2 9.0.2; Photoshop Elements 4.0.1; Fireworks CS3); Windows XP with Pentium 4 processor (Adobe Photoshop CS2; Photoshop Elements 4.0; Fireworks CS3; Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo XI)
Contact: www.alienskin.com
Cost: $199 US Full Version