AAUG Reviews

by Guy A. Mofley, AAUG Member

1977 was a great year for me. My dad had been telling me for months that a new science fiction movie was coming that would re-define special effects. He was right. That summer Star Wars entertained my brother and I in a way that I have never forgotten. Now classic light saber fights, glowing engines from massive spaceships and space explosions that seemed believable were happening right in front of my eyes.

Fast-forward 25 years and now I can make my own epic adventures right on my MacBook pro; complete with light saber type effects, digital explosions, and muzzle flashes. Thanks to FxHome, formally CSB-digital, this is possible. I was first exposed to FxHome when I wanted to make a family movie with my kids and thought it would be great to have a light saber dual as part of my film. I used their early AlamDV program, later upgrading to their AlamDV2 and Chromanator products. It is with great pleasure that I review their newest product Effectslab Pro.

EffectsLab pro has evolved into a wonderfully elegant application that makes creating the special effects almost as much fun as watching them. The layout is intuitive and if you have used iMovie you will recognize certain parts of the layout like the timeline and attributes window.

The basic premise of EffectsLab is called rotoscoping; a technical word for drawing on top of video one frame at a time. This is how the old Star Wars light saber effects where accomplished - painstakingly drawn over the light saber prop one frame at a time to create the illusion of a light sword.

EffectsLab Pro has made this nearly painless. Once you load your clip, you create layers that “float” above your video layer and lock them to the video using key frames. (more…)

by David Enders, AAUG Member

The Burning Crusades is the expansion pack to the incredibly popular World of Warcraft. This is an online game that requires a monthly fee. I had played previous Blizzard offerings Warcraft, Warcraft II, Diablo and Diablo II. I enjoyed all of these games. I tried Warcraft III when it was released but I didn’t like the game play. Talking with co-workers they felt the same way but when I polled them about WoW, they stated in no way was the game play similar that it was much better, much much better. I keep hearing stories of people that are literally addicted to Warcraft that they have to force themselves to stop. The original World of Warcraft is required to play this expansion pack. So the installation in total was 9 cds (5 for base game, 4 for expansion). I would have preferred this to be on a single dvd for each game. The software checks for updates as you install to bring you up to the current release. Blizzard appears to updating on a frequent basis fixing bugs as they are discovered to improve gameplay. One thing I did like that was un-related to the gameplay was the installer used Growl for notifications. I have been using Growl for sometime and like how this interfaces in the OS X environment.

The Burning Crusades brings a new Alliance Race - The Draenel and a new Horde Race - The Blood Elves. An increase in the level cap from 60 to 70. Keep in mind that getting to level 60 is no easy feat and will take some time for you to accomplish. I choose my character to be the Blood Elve, a new chararcter available in the Horde. (more…)

by Randy Brandon, AAUG Member

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1 is finally here….Cheers erupt from the crowds!
Yes, the final release version 1.0 is shipping now.

There has been a “beta” version that has been out for several months now, and the final tweaks were finally put all together into this release number 1.0.

The initial beta was posted on the Adobe website January 9th of 2007, but few people know that the actual programs itself has been in development for a full 4 years at Adobe.
And it was put together as an entirely new way to sort, and edit images, and was built that way from the ground up.  And this alone is a different concept, as many image editing programs are simply reworked assemblies of previous programs.

Believe me when I say that the entire program looks, and feels way, way different than I have ever seen come out of Adobe.
So my initial trepidation at diving into uncharted waters was running at full tilt when I loaded the program up.  Everything is different.  So, I set about trying to learn where all of the controls are, and how to make them all run.

So, here goes:  There are five main modules in Lightroom:  Library, Develop, Slideshow, Print, and Web.  And their respective functions pretty much exactly match their titles.
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by Mary Jo Burns, AAUG Member

This PocketTop works quite well for me.  I carry my laptop around to various rooms easily with the power cords tucked in the convenient pocket.  I can put various other needed item in the pocket also.  I enjoy the bright cheerful color.

The materials are easy to clean and keep tidy looking.  The special edging around the inside of the handle is durable and protects the area where dirty hands could dirty that area.  This edging also looks stylish.  The shape is also appealing to me as it looks stylish and “retro”.  The style reminds me of the “Jetson’s”.  The overall workmanship is quite nice and finished looking.  The zipper works well also.

When I sit with the laptop on my lap alone it heats up uncomfortably.  When I use the PocketTop it insulates my legs from the heat, making using the computer for long hours more comfortable.

I enjoy using this PocketTop and it is quite functional.  It works well as a cover for the laptop when I am not using it also.  Thank you for providing this product for me to review.

by Paul Stang, AAUG Member

This computer briefcase (outside dimensions: 17″ x 131/2 x 3″) is constructed of rugged black ballistic nylon with a decent zipper and 11/4 x 13/4″ sew-on rubber feet on the bottom edge. It is study and well made. It comfortably holds a 15″ laptop (with ample room for an extra battery pack and external mouse). The descriptive tag shows that it has 4 small pockets to hold small items. However, none are big enough to hold a CD, a clear disadvantage. But someone who is handy could sew one on.

It comes with a 3-5′ long adjustable 11/4″ wide nylon shoulder strap. The case is well cushioned and the handle and carrying strap are comfortable to carry and attached with study ballistic nylon tabs that are both sewn and riveted. The Velcro computer hold-down strap is also sturdy and holds the computer snuggly. On the outside, it has a large (15′ x 111/2″ x 1″) outer pocket with a Velcro flap and a 16 1/2″ x 10″ flapless pocket with a parallel Velcro strap just above it. Inside, it has a large (16″ x 10″) flapless pocket onto which are sewn the 4 small pouch pockets. The case weighs about 3 lbs.

Overall the case functions well and isn’t too big to be bulky but big enough to documents, papers etc. in addition to the computer.

by Richard Geiger, AAUG Member

Belkin CushTop

The CushTop which is part of the Belkin Laptop@Home laptop accessories and is designed to hold your laptop computer on you lap, couch, bed, or floor. It has a pocket that you can store your power adapter and mouse. The CushTop is designed to be used with either a 15 or 17 inch laptop depending on which side is flipped up. The product comes in three colors: orange, green, and silver.

I tested the orange CushTop with an Apple Mac Pro 15 inch laptop. I found it was a good size for a laptop and of good quality construction. It keeps your lap cool especially for the new Intel Core Dual microprocessor chips which can run hot. It gives you a little more height to make it more ergonomic to work on the laptop. It is small enough to pack in your suite case to travel.

I found the CushTop too slick for a Apple Mac Book Pro 15 inch laptop when placed on the 15 inch side. If I did not hold onto the laptop it would side off. I found this to be frustrating, but if I turned the CushTop over to the 17 inch side the sliding problem stopped. I did not test CushTop with any other laptops so sliding problem might not be a problem with other laptops from other manufactures.

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by Linda Ewer, AAUG Member

The Elevator is very easy to put together–just 3 pieces, no need for tools, or instructions. It’s obvious how to put it together. The information on the website refers to using it on a desktop, but this doesn’t seem very ergonomic unless you have a separate keyboard and mouse. I have used it sitting on my lap, and it works great. Having it up higher makes it easier for me, rather than just setting the computer right on my lap or on a pillow. The Elevator allows air to circulate around the computer which is always a good thing. It will fit all laptops - Mac or PC.

The surface of the Elevator that the computer sits on has a non-slip type of material that keeps the computer in place, even when it is sitting at an angle. I did not experience any “near misses” with the computer trying to slide off as I readjusted myself in my easy chair.

I think I’ll get a lot of good out of it and it is especially nice that it can be easily dismantled and carried on the plane or in my briefcase. I would estimate the weight to be less than 2 pounds; made of brushed aluminum with one plastic piece.

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by Guy Okada, AAUG Member

OK, I’ll admit that I’m a closet karaoke singer. You’d never catch me crooning a tune at a lounge but in the privacy of my car or shower, I become a Michael Buble` impressionist. So when I heard of a new gadget that could turn my ubiquitous iPod into a personal karaoke machine I couldn’t resist. AAUG has a great business relationship with Griffin Technology, the industry leader of all things iPod, and I received a demo iKaraoke in a few days. Griffin Technology has scored another hit.

iKaraoke comes sleekly packaged. The brushed-metal microphone is about 5″ long and 5/8″ in width. The cable which connects to an iPod dock is only 4 feet so you won’t be swinging the mic around like Rod Stewart. The slim mic lends itself to holding it with your thumb and index finger–like how some pop artists do. The mic features two buttons which control play/pause, track/menu. The buttons are quite small and easily jostled while handling the mic so it takes getting used to. A red led band encircles the mic and flashes when iKaraoke is activated and stays lit during a “performance.” (more…)

by Ronald Schoedel, AAUG Member

Fellowes’ WriteRight screen protectors appear to have started their lives (based on their name and the labeling) as screen protectors for PDAs, things like Palm devices and whatnot. But, they are now available for pretty much any device with a surface or screen that you wish to protect. I picked these up to review because I have a couple digital cameras with large, exposed LCDs that I would like to be protected a bit more from dust, kids, and sharp objects that might come near. You could also use the protectors on your iPod, Sony PSP, cell phone screen, and of course, PDA.

The package includes twelve sheets of 3″ by 4 1/8″ adhesive plastic, overlaid with a gridded backing sheet. The grid is intended to help you cut the sheets to the precise size needed to cover your object. A small cardboard squeegee is also included to help you press out and remove small air bubbles while applying the adhesive sheets.

With a couple cameras to protect, I set to measuring the screen area and then cutting the WriteRight sheets to size. If you have a paper cutter you’re likely to get a straighter cut than if you use scissors, but even though my hands were a bit shaky, I got reasonably straight lines cut and proceeded to apply the protectors.

Even with the squeegee, it was a bit tough to get all of the air bubbles out on the first application. I guess I just needed some practice. So, I peeled the plastic back a bit to reapply, and it went easier the second time around. (more…)

by Linda Ewers, AAUG Member

Review: Being just a “once in a while” user of Photoshop, I found the book to be very helpful. It has been designed as a reference document, not a book that one would necessarily sit down and just read. The Photoshop CS2 is a new book, and it sounds like it has a totally new look and new format from earlier Photoshop editions. Peter Bauer is the author. He has written several books on Photoshop and Illustrator, and is also best known for being the Help Desk Director for the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. To me that last credit says a lot. He has had to field every imaginable question from users, and I’m sure he probably incorporated ‘typical’ user questions into this book.

The layout is very clean, and the illustrations are well chosen, and I found them to be consistent with the concept that was being described. The book doesn’t describe everything about Photoshop CS2, but explanations about those elements that a user would most likely want to know, and presented in both the Mac and PC formats. It is probably not a book for those who have no background in digital photography, or those having limited computer use. There are things the author assumes you know already.

The book is divided into five sections. The first section reviews the basics of Photoshop, and gives a great description of what Photoshop is designed to do. (more…)