Blogcritics Section: Sci/Tech

Software Review: Adobe Master Collection - Photoshop CS4 from Adobe Systems

T. Michael Testi — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:10:05 EST

In my opinion, the new features make it very much worth the upgrade, especially if you are using CS1 or earlier.
This is the first of a series of reviews that will cover what is contained in the Adobe Creative Suite 4 (CS4) Master Collection. When Adobe released CS4 fall 2008, they not only released single version products, but also six separate suites of products. They are Design Premium, Design Standard, Web Premium, Web Standard, Production Premium, and...

Website Review: Gifts.com

Stephanie Rasch — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:48:45 EST

Does the mall crowd make you crazy? Try cruising this website in your bunny slippers instead.
I had only one thought when I stumbled upon Gifts.com: "Sweet Jesus, I'm saved!" Usually I'm a pretty creative gift-giver. Birthdays and anniversaries do not daunt me. Then Christmas finds me clutching a "nice" list that stretches for miles, trying to avoid an angry mall crowd bound to test the heartiest of shoppers. I don't want my favorite people...

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Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:48:45 EST

The Big One

Brian Murff — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:42:11 EST

Want to know real danger? Move to California.
Californians -- particularly those living in the southern half of that state -- are living on borrowed time. Scientists have predicted with near certainty that the San Andreas Fault will produce an earthquake with a magnitude of at least 6.7 and likely higher than that.Earthquakes, of course, are nothing new to Californians. Their state is riddled...

Product Review: i1 Product Line: Part 2, i1 RGB Output Module Upgrade from X-Rite

T. Michael Testi — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:38:18 EST

For the existing professional, or someone who is trying to become professional, the i1 Basic system is the best for success.
In an earlier review, I looked at X-Rite's new product called the ColorMunki which really blew me away with the quality and performance of this product. Over the course of several articles, I will now look at X-Rite's all new i1 product line.There are two fundamental paths that you can take with the i1 line: i1 Basic and the i1 XTreme. The...

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Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:38:18 EST

Product Review: Bluelounge Cable Box

Scott Deitche — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:53:35 EST

A simple, elegant solution to the electrician's nightmare.
My Dad use to call the space behind my Commodore 64 computer, TV, and VCR the "electrician's nightmare." Cables and wires were twisted and coiled with no apparent regard for form or function. What did I care? I was 14. Now however, with house and family, appearances and order mean a little more. But so do functionality and price....

Google's Search Engine Optimization Start Guide and Why It's Bad for Innovation

Jeremy Gin — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 22:58:06 EST

Only by kicking Google out of its comfortable position atop the search market will the Internet realize its innovative potential.
Google has always been coy when it comes to search engine optimization (SEO). And understandably so. Google must balance its need for Web sites to be formatted such that they can be properly crawled and indexed with its need to keep people from manipulating the search process. The result is muddled. Other than basic documentation on its Webmaster...

Video Training Review: Photoshop CS4 New Features with Deke McClelland from Lynda.com

T. Michael Testi — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 02:40:23 EST

A short course that focuses just on the new features of Photoshop CS4.
Alright, you know Photoshop pretty well and they just came out with a new version, CS4. How exactly do you get up to speed with the new stuff without having to hash through the old just to find the differences? Well, just ask Deke! Get online and in Photoshop CS4 New Features from Lynda.com; he will show it to you.Deke McClelland has put together a...

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Sun, 16 Nov 2008 02:40:23 EST

Software Review: Adobe Photoshop PhotoFrame 4 Plug-In from onOne Software

T. Michael Testi — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 03:04:51 EST

Incredibly easy to use and it really makes a difference in your presentation.
PhotoFrame Pro 4 is the latest version of the plug-in from onOne Software that lets you create image frames and border effects for your images. You can now add realistic film and darkroom effects, as well as artistic edges like torn paper, brush strokes, and even full-on layouts with backgrounds, textures, and adornments.PhotoFrame Pro 4 requires...

Software Review: CINEMA 4D R11, Part 2: Advanced Render 3, MoGraph, MOCCA, and Hair Modules from MAXON

T. Michael Testi — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:46:47 EST

If you want to get into 3D, now is the time to check out CINEMA 4D Release 11.
CINEMA 4D R11, Part 2: Advanced Render 3, MoGraph, MOCCA, and Hair is the second of a multi-part review covering MAXON's new CINEMA 4D Release 11's offerings. Because this product has so many items available for the user, I could not do it justice in a single review, and so I will break it down in separate reviews. This second one will...

Google Searches Can Also Track Intellectual Outbreaks

Robert K. Blechman — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:26:42 EST

Simple steps to avoid an epidemic of cognitive activity.
An article in today's New York Times discusses how Google queries can anticipate the rise in reported flu outbreaks and beat the forecasts of the CDC, sometimes by weeks at a time.A similar technique could be used to track intellectual activity through Google queries. A recent article in The Atlantic suggested that using Google is making us...

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Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:26:42 EST