Welcome to iCreate 118

For me, wireless charging would

be at the top of my list for the
next iPhone. Id love to plonk it
down and know it will be
charged when I next pick it up.
Stephen Ashby
Haptic feedback would be pie in
the sky right? Some of the tech
shown at CES this year would
suggest were getting closer
though, and thats exciting.
Jonathan Gordon
It goes against the trend, but Id
like to see a smaller iPhone. Not
necessarily a tiny screen, but a
smaller body. The iPad mini has
shown bigger isnt always better.
Stephen Williams
If nothing else, Id love to see a
scratch-proof coating developed
by Apple. The iPhone 5 looks
great, but not when it develops a
set of ugly scratches.
Freddie Harrison
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Get in
touch
W
elcome to a very exciting new
edition of iCreate. Youll find all the
usual creative tutorials and essential
Mac and iOS knowledge this issue, but also one
special addition to the magazine that I hope
youre really going to enjoy.
As you turn over the next couple of pages
youll find features dedicated to inspirational
creative projects and the people who make
them, including you. As of this issue well be
featuring a Your Projects section showcasing
your talents, be they with photography, graphic
design, Photoshop, movie making, drawing or
music composition.
From iBooks Author to Logic to Instagram we
want to see what youve been making and we
want to share it with other passionate iCreate
readers. If you have something you want to
share with us, send an email with your project to
gallery@icreatemagazine.com and you could be
appearing in these very pages too. Wed love to
have you involved and hear your feedback.
Elsewhere in the issue its business as usual
with our 99 Mac secrets and Make your Mac
smarter features giving you the knowledge that
will have you squeezing even more creativity
and juice from your machine. Learn the
important shortcuts, the best apps and ways to
teach your Mac to perform tasks for you. I even
learnt a few things myself. Enjoy.
Editor
What do the team most want from a
new iPhone this year?
What do you want from a new
iPhone this year?
Get in touch through
the details below
If you have something you
want to share with us send
an email with your project to
gallery@icreatemagazine.com
Meet the team
Competition has never been
stronger, so the iPhones next
iteration needs to get that wow
factor back. What does that
mean? I trust Apple to find out.
Philip Morris
3
Tutorials
Get more from your Mac
4
Find out how you could be
getting more from your Mac
Featured tutorial:
Create a virtual
orchestra with
GarageBand 50
iPhoto 42
Create and share a cool
photo collage
iMovie 46
Master precision editing
Add motion to static images
GarageBand 56
Create a vocal slowdown eect
How to record live drums
OS X 76
Save a disc as a .dmg le
Combine PDFs into a single
document with Preview
Aperture 62
How to use Expose and Enhance
Everything you need to know about
RAW photo editing
Final Cut Pro X 66
Add DVD chapter markers to your
movie project
Add freeze frames to your movie
Keynote 70
Get the most from the Presenter
tools in Keynote
Parallels 72
How to use the Android OS on
your Mac
Pixelmator 74
Use Magic Eraser to change the
background on an image
Life beyond iLife
Theres a whole world of software out there
Teach your Mac to perform creative
tasks by itself with our guide
88 Make your Mac smarter
Content for every creative project
Free music, images,
film & more
128Free disc
A beginners guide to the
amazing world of animation
32 Make a
stop-motion
animation
22
Mac Genius Guide
5
contents
Discover the creative treats in store this month
06 Pro Gallery
Creative tips from Mac artists
08 Your Projects
The best projects youve been working on
10 FaceTime
Expert advice from creative professionals
12 Time Machine
Looking back at revolutionary Apple design
14 Apple Talk
The future of app design
16 #Trending
The hottest Apple news analysed
22 99 Mac Secrets
The essentials tips and tricks you should know
82 Genius Bar
Got a problem? Solve it here
88 Make your Mac smarter
Boost your Macs IQ in moments
96 iOS tutorials
Top ten Siri tips
Kid-proof your iPad
Make a gif with Moquu
Digitise paper documents with Genius Scan
126 App Store roundup
The best apps for your iDevices
128 Your free iCreate disc
Amazing free content for you to download
130 Next month
What you can expect in the next issue
The iCreate reviews
The latest kit gets the iCreate treatment
108 iMac 27-inch
110 High-speed portable storage
114 Matrox DS1
115 Parrot Zik headphones
116 X-Rite ColorMunki Smile /
SuperTooth Melody
118 Adobe Creative Cloud
122 Animationist
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What is your current working setup?
Im currently using a late 2009 27-inch iMac with 8GB of memory.
I have several external HDs and I also back up to Dropbox. Im
running Adobe CS6. I also have an 11-inch MacBook Air for when
Im on the move, a first-generation iPad and an iPhone 4S. Theres
an old Epson Stylus CX3550 I use as my scanner, but unfortunately I
can no longer get inks locally. I also have a HP Photosmart printer.
What apps do you use the most to create your work?
Id say Im about 90 per cent Photoshop at the moment but I
couldnt go a week without using Adobe Illustrator and InDesign
at least once. For promotion, I would be mostly using Instagram,
Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Where does your inspiration come from when starting a new
piece of work?
When starting a new project I like to look at the most obvious
angles first. As I sketch, quirky ideas start to emerge based on the
shapes Im sketching. Ill explore these ideas and shapes with more
quick scamps until I have something Im happy with. I then redraw
it with a little more detail to show the client (then hopefully they like
it too). Obviously its not always as smooth as that and sometimes
Ill go round and round in circles until something clicks. I would also
use Google images a fair bit for technical details.
Dublin-based illustrator and designer Steve
Simpson uses a combination of pencil, paper
and Photoshop to create his unique style. His
work has seen him create everything from
packaging to childrens books to signage.
Steve Simpson
Illustrator
Creative inspiration from professional Mac artists Creative inspiration from professional Mac artists
Pro Gallery
Steve Simpsons workstation includes a 27-inch iMac, a MacBook Air,
Adobe Photoshop, paper and pencil
The backlit Mexican
Kitchen street sign
was illustrated using
Adobe Photoshop
7
See more of Steves work at www.stevesimpson.com
Ill explore these ideas
and shapes with more
quick scamps until I have
something Im happy with
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Illustrations are inspired by
the imagery surrounding
the Mexican Day of the
Dead holiday
The digitally
illustrated mural
covers an 18
footsection of
wall as you enter
the restaurant
8
Freddie says: The subtle textures, brush strokes and
muted colour palette give this image an organic
feel, despite being produced entirely in
Photoshop. Its a refreshing change from
the heavily processed and super-clean
images that tend to dominate output
produced by most Photoshop users.
1. Untitled Andre Villanueva
Equipment used: MacBook Pro, Adobe
Photoshop
2. The Motor
Cyclist Amanda Smith
Equipment used: iPhone, FX Photo Studio
Jon says: Sometimes getting the most from an
image is really just about subtle changes and
adjusting for poor lighting. To capture a
photo like this one, you cant wait for a
perfect moment. An app like FX Photo
Studio for iOS is a great place to make
those minor edits, just like Amanda has.
1 2
The iCreate team assess the best reader projects of the month The iCreate team assess the best reader projects of the month
Your Projects
gallery@icreatemagazine.com
Share via cloud storage
Post files on disc or flash to:
iCreate Magazine, Imagine Publishing, Richmond
House, 33 Richmond Hill, Bournemouth, BH2 6EZ
For more info go to
www.icreatemagazine.com
Send us
your projects!
9
3. Van Gogh
Avenue Pat (@pweester)
Equipment used: iPhone, Tangled FX
4. For Edmonton
Park (video)
Andy Holt (@themanwho66)
Equipment used: iPhone 4, iMovie for iOS
5. Walking on the
Tracks Peter Star
Equipment used: MacBook Pro,
Adobe Photoshop CS6
Steve says: What gives Pats image real punch is
the fact that the original photo was so beautifully
shot. The mix of warm oranges from
the light in the foreground and cold
blues and whites of the illuminated
snow combine in a stunning piece that
demonstrates fantastic creativity.
Freddie says: Andys video has a real professional
edge, thanks to its minimal use of
effects and great backing music. The
fact that its all produced on an iPhone
is very impressive. You can view the full
video at: http://vimeo.com/32932137.
Steve says: This is a lovely piece of Photoshop
work. Images brought together with no
apparent context to create something
magical. The composition is really
interesting, obeying the rule of thirds to
draw the eye to the right of the image.
3 5
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Email:
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4
10
Where does your passion for photography
come from?
My passion for photography comes from a love of
storytelling, an appreciation of art, and my desire to
share my vision. Its my vocation and avocation its
quite simply my life.
Who are the photographers that you admire?
Who influences you the most?
I can not give you an all-inclusive list of my
favourite photographers unless you devote your
entire magazine to it. Its a very large and
distinguished group. I will say that I love the
work of Howard Schatz, Heinz Kluetmeier,
Stephen Vonfletteren, Joe McNally, Todd
Korol and Laura Heald. All of them I consider
good friends. Jean Loup Sieff, Elliot Erwitt,
James Nachtwey and Sebastiao Salgado are
legendary and wonderful influences.
Youve had an incredibly fruitful career
so far, working for Sports Illustrated
and gaining a pretty enviable set of corporate
clients could you possibly pick a favourite
moment or memory?
I have had a wonderfully lucky career. Ive worked
in more than 135 countries covering a wide range
of topics. Every day brings new opportunities and
challenges. I love it all.
Over the years, youve created more and more
multimedia work combining both still images
and video do you think this would be possible
without the advent of the DSLR and the
increasing portability of laptop computers?
It would certainly be possible to create multimedia
projects without DSLR cameras and laptops. O.
Winston Link built some amazing ones in the late
1950s with all-analog technology. That having
been said, the camera and computer technology
we have now certainly facilitates the process.
Its important to use the technology not just to
complete the task, to make your life easier, there is a
certain responsibility I feel to use the technology to
make my work better, stronger.
You were featured on Apples website as a
professional user of Aperture what about the
app, and the Mac itself, makes it an essential
part of your workflow?
Aperture is the strongest, most complete archiving
software I have ever seen. Its intuitive to use,
Bill Frakes
Photographer
Bill Frakes is a staff photographer for Sports Illustrated. Born
in Nebraska and now based in Florida, his work sees him
using various Macs, Aperture and FCPX to create his stunning
images, short documentary films and multimedia projects.
Expert advice from creative professionals
FaceTime
Anticipate action
and capture the
magic as it unfolds
Bill likes to use Chimera
lights and light boxes for
evenly lit photoshoots
Frakes uses a Nikon D4
DSLR to capture iconic
sporting moments
11
powerful, complete and elegant. It saves me hours
per week, and considering that I worked about 340
days last year, thats so important. For example, just
last week I created a time-lapse video in Norway.
Using Aperture, I was able to archive the trip and
edit the images all in one program. The Lift &
Stamp feature saved me hours by allowing me to
continue working on my Mac as the images were
toned and cropped in the background.
Aside from Aperture, are there any other Mac
applications you find really useful in aiding
what you do?
I would be lost without Final Cut Pro X. I have at
least 50 other Mac apps on my various machines
that I use regularly, but Aperture and FCPX are my
work horses.
What are the most important things you
consider when creating images both in
shooting and editing?
You make photographs with your heart, your mind
and your soul. If you can make the camera work as
an extension of those things you can be successful.
What advice do you have to anyone making
their first steps in the world of photography
and film-making?
Its basic. Work as hard as you can, follow your heart,
make images that you want to share with the world.
Besides your camera and Mac, whats the next
most essential piece of kit you use on a day-to-
day basis?
My favourite pieces of gear that I use constantly
are my Sekonic light meter, and Chimera triolets.
Lighting is the key to what I do and those two
pieces of equipment go hand in hand when I am
working in the field producing short films. In the
picture on the previous page, I am checking the
white balance and exposure to make sure I have
every camera set exactly right. I try my best to get
everything right with the camera so I dont have to
spend precious time fixing it later.
The shoot I was prepping for was a big one: five
cameras, seven lights and two backdrops. I love
the Chimera lights and soft boxes because they
produce reliable and beautiful light every time. For
this shoot, we light the backdrops with two Arri 2K
Fresnels and two Arri 1K Fresnels. The subjects were
lit with Chimera triolets because the light is much
softer and easier to control. The main light was
diffused with a Chimera Octaplus that was raised
above the subjects with a Manfrotto Junior Boom.
Then I put a Chimera Maxi Softbox on both sides
of the subjects face to define facial features and
eliminate shadows.
Equipment used
Various Macs, Nikon D4 DSLR, Chimera lights and
soft boxes, Aperture, Final Cut Pro X
Action vs inaction
For this picture I laid on the ground with a 14-24mm
f/2.8 on my Nikon D4 and shot up to capture the
morning sky as a future Belmont champion ran by.
Capturing the moment
I knew when the final buzzer rang that the players
would go crazy, so I put down my telephoto lens and
picked up my wide angle to capture the moment.
Dynamism is about simplicity
A combination of a long lens, fast shutter speed and
shallow depth of field make this image dynamic. It is
very simple, but its simplicity is its strength.
Finding the angle
To make this image I got as high as I could in the
stands to show the dark clouds and the Olympic city
of London in the background.
Bills photography tips
Four pro moves for better photos
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See more of Bills work at www.billfrakes.com
Bill finds using Lift and Stamp in
Aperture particularly useful as it
saves him time cropping photos
12
15 CRT display 233 MHz PowerPC G3 processor
4GB hard drive 32MB RAM Mac OS 8.1 or 8.5
Its been 15 years since Apple released the
iMac G3. Widely credited with catalysing
Apples return to form, the first machine
to be designed by Apples now Senior
VP of Industrial Design, Jony Ive, the
Bondi Blue iMac was a monumental
invention. Superseding the All-In-One
Power Macintosh G3, the iMac G3 saw
Apple drop its beige shells in favour of
striking translucent plastic and a shape
that cemented its position as a serious
alternative to Windows PCs. It also saw
Apple move forward and ditch the floppy
disk drive, setting a precedent that saw
optical drives absent from the new, super-
thin iMacs 15 years later.
Original price
699/$1299
Price now
100/$150
iMac G3 1998
(Bondi Blue, Revision A)
Celebrating Apples landmark design
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Time for a bigger iPhone? Time for a bigger iPhone?
Y
ou cant just ask customers what they
want and then try to give that to them.
By the time you get it built, theyll want
something new, Steve Jobs famously said, referring
to the way in which Apple isnt known for looking
to its competition, or even to its customers whims,
when it comes to developing future products. Its
a notion that underpins the current debate over
whether or not well see a super-size iPhone come
out of Cupertino this year.
Samsungs Galaxy S III and Note II, HTCs One X+
and even Blackberrys Z10 are all towering over the
four-inch mark and theyre selling-proof, if nothing
else, that theres a demand for larger devices. Whats
more, developers have told us that its technically
possible for Apple to build an iPhone with a larger
Super-sizing the iPhone might be easier than you think
The biggest Apple stories analysed and dissected The biggest Apple stories analysed and dissected
#Trending
4
.
9
4

1
1
3
6
640
HTC One X
492/$800
Like the RAZR i, HTCs 4.7-
inch display One X is only
running Android 4.0 Ice
Cream Sandwich. It does,
however, come with its
popular Sense 4 UI and a
solid hardware history.
Motorola
RAZR i 342/$570
Motorolas RAZR i sports
an Intel processor, eight-
megapixel camera, as well
as a 4.3-inch screen. Its
only running Android 4 (Ice
Cream Sandwich) though.
The competition: super-sized smartphones and the iPhone 5
iPhone 5
4 inch screen
326 pixels per inch
You can still easily access
all apps on the screen with
a single hand
How the iPhone Plus would compare to the iPhone range: iPhone Plus: ppi 246
iPhone 5: ppi 326 iPhone 4S: ppi 326
iPhone: ppi 163
Concept for
iPhone Plus based
onrumoured
dimensions
17
The reseller also reports that
they have heard from Apple that
a new Mac Pro will be arriving in
spring of 2013 Mac Rumors
With Tim Cook already revealing that Apple is working on
something awesome for later in 2013, were pretty confident
in this, but could spring be too soon?
screen without sacrificing its ecosystem, but thats
only half of the story here.
Back in January, the China Times made some
pretty bold claims about Apples plans for 2013,
suggesting that Apple would launch an iPhone
with a 4.8-inch display, dubbed the iPhone Math,
before the end of June. The name might seem
a little bizarre, but the maths certainly supports
it. Instapaper creator Marco Arment did some
calculations, pointing to the way in which the iPad
mini used a screen with the pixel density of a 3GS at
an iPad-sized resolution. With that, he argued that a
super-sized iPhone could feature a screen with the
pixel density of a Retina display iPad with an iPhone
5-sized resolution.
The result? A 640 x 1,136, 246 dpi screen that
measures 4.94 inches on the diagonal a little
off from China Times suggestion of a 4.8-inch
measurement, but not so far off that it becomes
impossible. Its not just the match between rumour
and science that makes this an entirely plausible set
of specs, either. Phillip Caudell, senior iOS developer
and designer at 3 Sided Cube, the developers
behind apps from the American Red Cross and
Boots, points out that Apple, could keep the
resolution exactly the same, but just decrease the
pixel density to achieve a bigger display. This would
require no work from developers, as the resolution
hasnt changed.
Keeping developers on side and apps available
to every device is key to Apple, where the iOS
ecosystem is a huge selling point for its devices.
From a technical perspective, then, a 4.94-inch
iPhone could work but that doesnt necessarily
confirm anything. Tim Cook was keen to point
out during Apples Q1 2013 earnings call that, The
iPhone 5 gives customers the best display without
sacrificing ease of use, and thats important. A larger
iPhone suddenly becomes harder to hold, difficult
to operate with one hand and a little less portable.
In the wake of reports that Apple was working on a
cheaper iPhone, the message from Cupertino was
that it was focused only on creating products that
gave users the best experience possible. Whether a
super-size iPhone would provide this is very much
up for debate.
Rumour roundup
Whats our take on the latest
Apple gossip?
A larger iPhone suddenly becomes harder to
hold, difficult to operate with one hand
The follow-up to Apples iPad mini
will reportedly feature a Retina
display with a pixel density of 324
pixels per inch AppleInsider
Maths tells us that a screen size with this pixel density would
give it the same resolution as the current Retina iPad, making
it highly probable.
If Apple keeps to the same
schedule the company could
formally unveil OS X 10.9 in the
coming weeks, giving developers
time to prepare for a summer 2013
launch AppleInsider
Based on website visitor stats showing OS X 10.9 usage, these
reports seem a little too late for such an early launch, but 10.9
is definitely coming!
If the above buttons are taken at
their literal meaning, Apple could
offer to sell stations of music
based on particular songs, artists,
or genres 9to5Mac
Based on hidden buttons found in the iOS 6 source code, wed
love to see Apple do this, but it is a big conclusion to jump to.
A vacancy in Cupertino for a
Manufacturing Design Engineer
with experience in Advanced
Plastic Tooling and Process could
mean future plastic products iCreate
As we pointed out in our own story, it isnt the first time Apple
has made products from plastic, but itll be interesting to see
what it comes up with next.
Screen sizes: a timeline
As weve already seen, Apple doesnt tend to look to its competitors for inspiration. If it looks to
history, however, theyd see a trend of smaller phones and larger screens.
5
4
3
2
1
0
3.2-inch
HTC Hero
24 June 2009
4.65-inch
Samsung
Galaxy Nexus
17 November
2011
3.7-inch
Nokia Lumia
800
November
2011
4.8-inch
Samsung
Galaxy S III
29 May 2012
4-inch
iPhone 5
21 September
2012
5.5-inch
Samsung
Galaxy Note II
26 September
2012
Facebook:
search for iCreate
Twitter:
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Email:
icreate@imagine-publishing.co.uk
Sony
Xperia Z 522/$850
The Xperia Z may be brand
new, but its five-inch display
is already causing ripples and
makes it one of the larger
smartphones about to grace
the market.
Samsung
Galaxy S III
500/$800
Perhaps the nearest in
size to Apples rumoured
iPhone Math, the S IIIs 4.8-
inch Super AMOLED screen
is the biggest competitor.
3.5-inch
iPhone
19 June 2007
18
1: Ken Burns image viewing
By default any photo you drop into a trailer template
will now have a Ken Burns-style pan and zoom
effect put on it to make it more dynamic.
3: Preview your clip
Rather than guessing whether or not you have a
good clip selected you can preview it in the finder
by tapping the arrow button.
2: Customise panning
By tapping on the scene in the Storyboard you can
make further edits such as the start and end point
for the Ken Burns effect on your image.
4: Final edits
After everything else is done you can go back over
the clips and make more refined selections of the
clip in an isolated window.
iMovie trailers and
audio remastered
iPhoto integration
iMovie and iPhoto on iOS are
now much happier bedfellows.
Reliability has been improved and
slideshow creation made easier
Preview
Dont wait until youve dropped
your clip into a project. You can
take a peak at your footage in the
Video browser first
Audio recordings
If you record some audio with a
project it will appear in the Audio
browser, which makes it much
easier to track down
Additional features
The Help menu highlights the
basics, but each tip links to further
guides on things like image and
audio editing
Split audio
The Precision Editor on the iPad
version of iMovie now allows for
split audio editing, which is an
excellent new addition
Themes
To add some instant polish to
your project think about adding a
theme from the Settings menu. It
brings graphics and music
iMovie trailer upgrades
Updates to audio editing and trailer
making mean that you have even more
control over your projects on iOS devices
The latest OS X and iOS creative app releases and updates The latest OS X and iOS creative app releases and updates
Software Update
Compatibility
iOS 6.0 or later
Upgrade Free
App full price
2.99/$4.99
Available from
App Store
19
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iCreatemagazine.com
Email:
icreate@imagine-publishing.co.uk
123D Design 1.1 Free, Mac
Skitch 2.0.4 Free, Mac
Easy 3D design takes another step forward
Annotate photos for fast and frantic fun with friends
Adobe VideoBite
Free, iPhone
This video app from Adobe was a little
unfortunately timed as it hit around the
same time as Vine, which got all the
headlines. However, theres a similar ease of use
from this fast movie maker thats well worth a look.
Cubasis
34.99/$49.99, iPad
This may seem pricey for an iPad music
app, but its from Steinberg, one of the
premier music production software
makers in the world. This effort lives up to that
reputation and will be reviewed in full next issue.
GraphicConverter
27.49/$38.99, Mac
Not the flashiest image editor on the Mac
market, but still one of the most
comprehensive. A recent update has taken
this app up a notch with Retina and 64-bit support
and enhanced HTML options.
Hype
39.99/$59.99, Mac
This excellent HTML editor continues to
develop and refine on the Mac with some
extra additions helping to make it a little
more user friendly. If youre building a site for
desktop browsing and mobiles, look no further.
Penultimate
Free, iPad
Full Evernote sync, iOS 5 support,
handwriting search and a new design
make the latest update to Penultimate
worth a look. However, this excellent handwriting
app going for free is the most important upgrade.
Sync
0.69/$0.99, iOS
Interesting beatboxes keep appearing on
iPhone and iPad and Sync is one of the
coolest of the bunch. A super-streamlined
interface makes it immediately striking and it has
the instruments to match its looks.
Whats hot on the Mac and
iOS App Stores this month?
On the
App Stores
1: Model on model
The new version of the software
enables you to load a model
inside another model, so you
can combine different designs
into a single finished project.
1: Custom colours
Youre no longer tied down to
a preselected colour selection
palette. Bring up this colour
wheel and get the tone and
shade that you desire.
2: Export as STL
While 123D Design is still
relatively limited in the file types
you can export, you can now
choose Export from the in-app
menu to save in an STL format.
2: Share
Direct URL sharing and web-
friendly codes make your Skitch
creations much easier to share
to whatever social networks and
sites you like.
3: Sketching tools
This update adds new sketching
tools to the app. You can add
sketching arcs, as well as Trim
and Extend while you sketch and
mirror sketches.
3: Timed snapshot
An interesting new addition is the
timed screengrab. Once activated
you select an area of your screen
to capture. This is perfect for
grabbing FaceTime images.
Phoster 1.5.1 1.49/$1.99, iOS
Even more options for your poster making on iOS
1: Horizontal
A full selection of horizontal
and square poster templates
means you can make better
use of your photography and
share to Instagram.
2: Add text
Previously you could only work
within the text boxes provided
by Phoster. Now you can make
your own and adjust the size to
suit as you wish.
3: New fonts
The number of fonts to pick
from has almost doubled in
Phoster with some very smart
condensed fonts, as well as
some artier alternatives.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
To submit your entry, email iCreate@imagine-publishing.co.uk with your answer and subject line: Prisma Comp. Please include your full name, age and address. The closing date for entries is 3 April 2013. Please be
aware that entries must be submitted to the above email address only. This competition is open to residents of the United Kingdom and Ireland only. The prize is one set of Edifier Prisma Speakers for five winners
selected at random. Imagine Publishing has the right to substitute the prize for a similar item of equal or higher value. Employees of Imagine Publishing (including freelancers), their relatives, or any agents are not
eligible to enter. The editors decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into. Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash. Full terms and conditions are available upon request. From time to time, Imagine
Publishing or its agents may send you related material or special offers. If you do not want to receive this, please state it clearly on your entry.
Enter to win one of five stylish speaker
setups for your Mac
W
hile the speaker system of the
latest iMacs really impressed us,
theres no getting around the
fact that theyre not the best
you could be using. Whether youre just a keen
music lover or like to compose your own hits
using GarageBand and Logic Pro, you need
something a little more robust. Thankfully Edifer
ofers some of the best speaker setups for your
Mac, and the Prisma speakers were giving away
this issue are among the very best.
As with all Edifer systems, the Prisma speakers
are a visionary speaker system supporting
state-of-the-art design and extraordinary sound
quality. With its pyramid-shaped subwoofer
and satellite speakers it will look amazing next
to your machine. You should also greatly enjoy
using the wired volume control with in-built
headphone jack that should make controlling
your audio on your Mac even easier. This really
is a very impressive sound system and weve
got fve of them to give away to you. To be in
with a chance of winning one of these speaker
systems, youll frst have to email us the answer
to the following question:
What is the shape of the Prisma Speakers
subwoofer?
a) Sphere
b) Cube
c) Pyramid
Email your answer to iCreate@imagine-
publishing.co.uk with the subject: Prisma
Comp before 3 April 2013 to be in with a
chance of winning.
www.edifer-international.com icreate@imagine-publishing.co.uk
Edifier
Prisma
speakers
to be won
Closing date
for entries is
03/04/13
Courtesy of
Competition
3 Declutter your Dock
There are a couple of things you can do to clear up
your Dock. First, set applications to minimise into
their app icons. Secondly, set your stacks to Display
As Folder and change the icon of the folder to create
a more professional, and tidy look.
5 Master Search
Tokens
You can use Finders search bar to search for specific
items using Search Tokens. Type in a file type, for
example, and you can filter results to just that type.
Combine terms in the search bar like file name and
date and you can find a single file in a hard drive full
of thousands within a few seconds.
22
Nearly 100 things you didnt know about your Mac
Mac Secrets
99
4 Activate zooming
Open System Preferences, select Accessibility
and switch the Zoom option to on so you
can focus in on parts of the screen with a
simple gesture.
General OS X tips
2 Activate Do Not
Disturb mode
Pull Notification Center downwards with your
mouse and you will reveal a hidden setting at
the top of the panel. This switch enters a Do Not
Disturb mode, which stops notifications popping
up for 24 hours in total.
1 Use Screen Sharing
Screen Sharing is an often forgotten feature of OS
X that enables you to view and control another
machine from your Mac. This is particularly useful for
grabbing work from another desktop, and can be
activated through the Sharing System Preferences
panel, and accessed via Finders sidebar. You can
control the machine or drag and drop files between
Macs in seconds.
Security tips
23
6 Get dictionary
definitions anywhere
If you want a quick definition of a word on your
screen, all you need to do is double-tap (not click,
just tap) on your trackpad as your mouse hovers
over the word.
8 Use fast user
switching
Fast user switching was a feature added in OS
X Tiger (10.6), but its one thats often forgotten.
It enables you to quickly change between
different user accounts on a single Mac by
simply selecting a name from the menu bar. To
activate it, open the Users & Groups section of
System Preferences and find it in Login Items.
9 Reorganise
Notification Center
To change the order that apps appear in
Notification Center, drag them up and down
the list in System Preferences>Notifications.
10 Turn off the Empty
Trash prompt
Do you get annoyed when Trash keeps asking
whether youre sure you want to empty it? To
remove this prompt, select Finder>Preferences
from the menu bar. Choose the Advanced tab and
uncheck the box that says Show warning before
emptying the Trash. Now your Trash will empty as
soon as you click the option, with no extra clicks.
11 View advanced
Wi-Fi and sound
information
If you want more information about the AirPort
settings on your Mac, or if you want to
change the sound output or input devices,
you can access these controls quickly
through the menu bar. Hold Alt as you
click the icons and the drop-down boxes
will show different results, with more
information and options.
12 Limit app downloads
In Mountain Lion, you can choose to allow
apps from anywhere to be installed, or, for
more security, simply limit apps to those
downloaded from the Mac App Store.
13 Set a lock screen
security message
In System Preferences choose Security and
you can add a message for when your screen
is locked after falling asleep. This is great
for adding contact details, just in case your
beloved Mac is lost.
14 Check your privacy settings
There is a new Privacy section in System
Preferences that helps you to keep track of
all the apps that have used data from your
machine check it regularly so you know
who sees what.
15 Disable automatic login
If youre worried about losing your Mac for
whatever reason, disabling automatic login
is an absolute necessity. Do it in System
Preferences to stop your Mac booting
straight into your workspace.
16 Make screensaver lock
your screen
Its not well known, but you can set your
screen to lock after the screensaver activates.
If youre worried about security, doing this
and setting a screensaver to appear after two
minutes of inactivity will help.
7 Move menu bar
icons around
Apple automatically adds icons to your menu bar by
default when you first switch on your Mac, but they
dont have to always look the same. You can re-order
the icons, add new ones and remove those you
dont want with a simple keystroke. Hold the Cmd
key while you click and drag an icon and you can
move it around. Drag an icon out of the bar in this
mode and it will be removed.
24
System shortcuts
17 Adjust volume in increments
Alt
Cmd
18 Move to Trash
Cmd
20 Invert colours
8
Alt
Cmd
21 Activate Spotlight
Spacebar
Cmd
19 New Folder with items
N
Ctrl
Alt Cmd
22 Force Quit applications
Esc
Alt
D
Cmd
23 Show or hide the Dock
`
Alt Cmd
24 Switch between windows
25 Slow motion animations
(hold during click)
26 Zoom in or out
Ctrl
Scroll up/down
28 Customise Dock icons
There are some great drawer icons available
online at http://www.geocities.jp/chy065
that you can drop into your Stacks folder.
They will appear at the front of the stacks,
and look like drawers containing your files.
Its a great way to customise your Dock while
keeping things tidy.
30 Change OS X
with Lion Designer
Lion Designer is a brilliant little application
that lets you alter areas of Mountain Lion that
otherwise wouldnt be accessible. For example,
the app offers the ability to change the
wallpaper seen on the login screen, alter the
background of folders in Launchpad and even
choose a different FaceTime ringtone. The app
is free to download, and well worth a look if
you want to change the feel of your Mac.
99 Mac Secrets
Customising
27 Change folder icons
You can change almost any icon easily. Select the
folder or file you want to change and hit Cmd+I
to open the Get Info panel. Select the new icon or
image youve chosen for the folder and copy it with
Cmd+C. Click the folder icon in the top-left of the
Get Info panel so that the icon is surrounded by a
blue glow, then hit Cmd+V to paste the icon.
29 Change viewing
options in Finder
Finder doesnt always display files in exactly the
way we want. In fact, sometimes it looks absolutely
awful. Thankfully you can change that easily with a
few clicks. Open Finder and hit Cmd+J to see the
options you can change how icons are arranged
or sorted, alter their size, and even change the size
and location of the text. If you wish you can also
customise the background with a colour or photo of
your choosing.
31 Open file types
with certain apps
If you always like to open JPEGs with Pixelmator, or
want Word documents to open with Pages, you can
change the setting for all files of the same type with
just a couple of clicks. Select a file with the extension
you want and hit the Cmd+I shortcut to open the
Get Info panel. In the Open With section you can
choose the app you want to use from the drop-
down menu, then check the box to ensure this file
type is always opened with that app.
25
Quick Look secrets
40 Share from Quick Look
In Mountain Lion you can share files that
youre viewing in Quick Look using the
Sharing Sheets youll find throughout OS X.
Click the Sharing button to access this option.
41 View photo grid
Select a number of photos and tap the
Spacebar to open them with Quick Look. Hit
the grid icon in the top left to view them all.
42 Play songs in the background
You can use Quick Look to play audio tracks
while working in other apps and without
opening iTunes. The controls are basic but
work well enough.
43 View video chapters
If you open a movie file in Quick Look, youll
be able to handily flick between chapters
using the thumbnails on the left-hand side of
the apps window.
44 Use Quick Look in Messages
If youre using Messages, you dont need to
download an image to view it in full. Simply
click the photo to highlight it, then hit the
Spacebar to preview it in Quick Look.
Best menu bar add-ons
34 Fantastical
If you just want quick access to
your calendar from anywhere
on your Mac, Fantastical is
your best choice. You can
use it anywhere, but more
importantly it will analyse and
understand written sentences
and use them to create events.
If you use Calendar a lot, this is
an app not to miss out on.
37 Caffeine
If youre watching a video or slideshow, your
Mac might automatically fall asleep, especially
if youve set energy saving settings to save
power. Caffeine will stop that happening one
click and the app stops your machine going
into screensaver mode or falling asleep. Its as
simple as that!
38 Thyme
Sometimes you just
need a quick timer,
and if you dont want
to go searching for the
function on your watch,
or the app on your
iPhone, this incredibly simple app will help. With a
single click you can start the counter, so you wont
burn your dinner, or work for too long again.
39 Bartender
Now that youve got a menu bar brimming full of
useful add-ons, its time to tidy them up. Bartender
is an icon that sits in your Dock and stores as many
extra menu bar icons as you like. Click it to access
hidden icons, or leave it to ensure that the apps dont
take up space and look cluttered.
35 FuzzyClock
For those of us that dont work
in digital, FuzzyClock simplifies
time-telling. Rather than
displaying the time as 17:31, FuzzyClock will simply
show half past five in the menu bar.
32 BetterTouchTool
This app lets you add more gestures to your Magic
Mouse or trackpad. Whether you want to swipe
with four fingers or add a tap gesture for opening
Notification Center on a Magic Mouse, this app can
help. Unmissible if you want more from your mouse.
33 iStat Menus
iStat Menus offers an incredible amount of
information about your Mac in one place. You can
add sections for CPU, memory and network, as well
as calendar, moon phases and a whole lot more.
36 DayOne
If your new years resolution was to keep a regular
diary, you might have already broken it. Whether you
have or not, you might want to try DayOne, a diary
app that reminds you to add an entry every day. You
can add your entry quickly and easily from the menu
bar, too, without leaving the app youre using.
Safari secrets
26
99 Mac Secrets
49 Customise
Top Sites
Top Sites is the grid of sites
that appears when you open
a new window or tab; you
can customise this with your
favourite sites by choosing Edit
and pinning your favourites.
47 Customise Safari toolbar
Right-click the Safari toolbar to customise the
buttons that appear within it.
50 Open link in
new tab
To open a link in a new
tab, hold Cmd while
you click the link.
48 Gesture
between tabs
If you have a trackpad you can pinch to zoom out
on any page to access the tab viewer (theres also
a button on the right of the Bookmarks bar). This
enables you to swipe between tabs with a multi-
touch gesture, which is perfect for those that simply
want to use the mouse or trackpad to navigate
around the web.
54 Send clean
webpages in Mail
You can share websites via email, but to do so
without ads and other messy distractions, open the
site in Reader and email from there.
51 Add snippet
to Dashboard
You can add a section of a favourite website
to your Dashboard via a snippet thanks to this
handy tip. Choose File>Open in Dashboard
and you can select an area of the website you
are viewing to appear on your Dashboard. Now
you wont need to open Safari every time you
want to see that part of the page.
52 Manage website notifications
Open Preferences in Safari and choose
Notifications to alter how websites show
alerts in Notification Center.
45 Manage saved
passwords
Open Safaris Preferences window and choose
Passwords from the tabs along the top to view all
the passwords currently saved by the app. You can
remove individual passwords by highlighting them
and choosing Remove Password, or remove them all
in one go to start afresh.
46 Reopen windows
from last session
Choose History>Reopen All Windows from Last
Session to restore your previous browsing session.
53 Limit font sizes
If youre having trouble reading particular areas of
the web, you can ensure that Safari only shows
text at a certain size. Open Preferences and choose
the Advanced tab. Under Accessibility youll see a
checkbox that lets you limit the minimum text size.
Somewhere around 11-12 is probably the best, but
experiment until you find a setting you like.
27
57 Rename flags
Flags are great for picking out important
messages, but many Mac users dont realise
flags can be renamed for different purposes.
To do this, you need to apply two different
coloured flags to two messages to bring up
the Flagged mailbox. If you dont see it, enable
the sidebar with Cmd+Shift+M. Click on the
arrow next to Flagged to open the list of each
flag, and then right-click and choose Rename
Mailbox to give it one of your choosing.
59 Add Calendar
events from messages
Mail enables you to add Calendar events without
leaving the app. If a date or time is written in a
message, your Mac will recognise it and offer a drop-
down box. You can click this and use it to add an
event in Calendar on the date written. Its quick and
easy, and you wont need to change apps.
Safari shortcuts
Mail shortcuts
Cmd
60 Home
H
67 Attach file
Cmd
A
69 Get New Mail
Cmd
N
62 Move to next tab
Cmd
63 Move to previous tab
Cmd
Alt Cmd
61 Open Downloads list
L
64 Move cursor to Address Bar
Cmd
L
65 Go to Inbox
Cmd
1
68 Reply to Mail
Cmd
R
66 Go to Sent
Cmd
4
Mail secrets
55 Redirect messages
If youve received a message that was meant for
someone else but dont wish to show that the
message has been forwarded, you can use a clever
little feature to redirect it to the required person.
Simply choose Message>Redirect from the menu
bar, or hit Cmd+Shift+E to send the message onto
another person without them even knowing youve
ever laid eyes on it.
56 Switch back to
classic layout
If you dont like the new Mail viewing system that
was introduced in OS X Lion, you can return to the
old, classic view within Preferences. Choose Viewing,
then check the box at the top of the list to revert it
back to the old way.
58 Save space when
composing emails
including photos
Usually, adding a photo to your email will move all
text out of the way and the entire screen will be
filled with your snap. This is often quite frustrating,
but if photos are becoming unmanageable in a
message, you can shrink them down easily. Right-
click the photo and choose View As Icon to see it in
a shrunk-down format.
28
77 View Timeline in a single row
To view your video in a more traditional way, first open
Preferences>General and check the Show Advanced Tools option.
Now go back to your project and hit the button in the top-right of the
Project window to view your Timeline in a single row. 71 Set up
iPhone import
options
Plugging in your iPhone will usually
open iPhoto automatically. You can
disable this in Image Capture search
for this app in Spotlight and plug in
your phone. Click the small arrow in
the bottom-left to see an extra panel,
then choose
the application
you want to
open when you
connect your
smartphone.
78 Resize Thumbnails
There are two sliders in the iMovie window: one changes the clips
displayed time, while the other controls the size of the thumbnails in
the iMovie window. The latter is often completely missed, but its a
great way of checking which clips are which without playing them all.
72 Hide photos
in iPhoto
Its possible to hide unwanted photos
in iPhoto the shots wont be deleted
from your library, but they wont be
visible unless you specifically choose
to show them again. This is a really
helpful tool if you want to clean up
your iPhoto library without removing
photos completely.
76 Skip between clips fast
If youre editing a long movie and want to quickly skip between clips
without scrolling and clicking, hold down the Cmd key and hit the left
or right arrow button to jump between clips and transitions quickly.
When you do this, the clips will be selected so you can immediately do
what you want with them.
73 Preview
original image
when editing
While youre applying effects and
edits to a photo, its often a good idea
to check the original shot regularly to
ensure youre not completely ruining
what it looked like.
You can do this
through the menu
bar, but a much
quicker option is to
tap and hold Shift.
79 Change clip timing to frame counts
For first-time iMovie users, the counter at the bottom of the screen is
easy to use and understand, which is great. However, as you become
more knowledgeable, you need more control, and this comes in the
form of a frame counter. You can switch this feature on in the General
section by checking the box next to Display time as HH:MM:SS:Frames.
iMovie secrets
99 Mac Secrets
iPhoto secrets
75 Avoid unwanted
video resizing
When you import your videos
youll be given two size options.
The smaller option will take less
time to import and export, but
the quality will be lower we
would almost always suggest
going for the full option to avoid
automatic resizing.
iMovie secrets
74 Batch edit photos
To change the names, dates
or other information in a large
number of photos, you can
use the Batch Change option
in the Photos section of the
menu bar.
70 Edit images
side by side
Its not a widely known fact, but you
can edit two photos simultaneously
in iPhoto, side-by-side, simply by
selecting them both then hitting Edit.
Changes are applied to one at a time,
but comparing is a real bonus.
29
80 Use the
EQ Analyser
To open the Visual EQ effect, double-
click a tracks header and choose Edit
from the info panel on the right. Click
the Visual EQ option and you can
manually adjust the equaliser settings
and set the EQ to analyse your
track so you can see exactly which
adjustments are needed.
85 Temporarily disable guide lines
Dragging objects around in iWork will make them automatically lock
into guide lines on the page. Whether theyre aligning with the centre
of the page itself, or aligning with the other objects that youve added
to your page, they can often make it hard to position things precisely
where you want them. To stop objects sticking to the lines temporarily,
hold the Cmd button while you drag them around.
86 Password protect documents
If you want to keep documents secret, you can request a password for
the document youre working on to be opened. To do this, open the
Inspector and in the first tab check the box marked Require password
to open. Youll be prompted to create a password and add a hint, and
once this is done your document will be secure.
87 Export Pages as Microsoft Word documents
While Pages is a brilliant word processor, its often frustrating that
Pages documents cannot be opened and used by Microsoft Word.
Instead, youll need to choose File>Export and then select Microsoft
Word from the options.
83 Change
your account
information
GarageBand will automatically use
the information stored on your Mac
when it comes to adding information
about your track. You can change
this information to whatever you
like, however. Do it by opening up
Preferences and choose the My Info
tab. You can input your own Artist,
Composer and Album Name, as well
as naming the new iTunes playlist the
track will be added to.
88 Add an advanced gradient
Gradients are useful for adding some colour to your work, and with
Advanced Gradients you can add multiple colours to your shapes with
smooth transitions. When you create a shape, open the Inspector to
the Graphic inspector section and choose the Advanced Gradient Fill
option from the drop-down box. You can add points to the gradients
with different colours, as well as move the mid-points around.
84 Edit a movies
audio track
You can use GarageBand to fine-
tune or completely edit the audio
tracks in your movie projects. Open
GarageBand and in the New Projects
section choose Movie. Then, import
the video you want to edit from the
menu on the right of the screen to see
the audio tracks displayed below their
thumbnails. It offers much greater
control over your audio than iMovie,
so its well worth a try for even more
professional results.
89 Multiple inspectors
The Inspector is an incredibly useful tool, but sadly it doesnt let you
see all your controls at once. Thankfully, you can do this by opening up
multiple inspectors, each displaying a different control section. To do
this, hover over the tab you want, hold Alt and click it. A new Inspector
will be opened in that tab you can have as many open as you like.
iWork secrets
GarageBand secrets
82 Copy and paste
with Alt
If youve created a section of
a track that you want to copy
and paste later in the song,
you dont have to use multiple
keyboard shortcuts to do it.
Select the area you want to
copy, then simply hold the Alt
key as you click and drag it.
Now drop it where you want!
81 Change
multi-track view
GarageBand has the ability to record
up to eight real instruments and one
software instrument simultaneously,
which is more than enough for
recording a full band in one sitting.
To activate and set it up, choose Track
from the menu bar, and then click
Enable Multitrack Recording. This will
make a small red button appear next
to each track, and you can click this
to activate the tracks you want to
record simultaneously. Hit R on your
keyboard to start recording.
30
90 Google Chrome Free
If youre looking for a faster, more
customisable browser than Safari, youll
love Chrome. The minimalist interface is
very Apple, and a store full of add-ons offers plenty
of additional content. There are syncing features, too
download Chrome for iOS on your iPhone and
iPad and you can see which tabs are open on other
devices, pick up browsing where you left off and
share bookmarks between devices.
91 Yoink 1.49/$1.99
This app is a tiny hidden drawer that
appears when you start dragging
something. Drop it in the Yoink drawer,
switch apps and drag it out its as simple as that,
and we use it every single day. Its perfect for moving
assets from one app to another when youre in full-
screen mode with Mountain Lion.
92 Reflector 9.99/$14.99
This simple app enables you to
show your iOS devices screen on
your Mac using AirPlay. Open
Reflector and your Mac will pop up as a new
AirPlay device on your iPad or iPhone.
98 Snapheal 8.99/$12.99
If youre looking for a photo fixing app that
packs in most of Photoshops tools without
the price tag, Snapheal is your answer.
Offering plenty of options for fixing blemishes,
smoothing skin and removing areas of the picture
entirely, its a powerful choice for those that need to
get a quick fix without the professional knowledge.
95 Alfred Free
If you use
Spotlight a lot,
youll be used to
tapping a keyboard
shortcut and typing the
name of an app to open it up. Alfred lets you
perform other tasks quickly like instantly opening
applications or files. Its powerful, and while it takes
time to learn, it will speed up your productivity.
96 Flutter Free
Flutter uses the built-in FaceTime HD
camera in all Macs. When you hold your
hand up to the screen, it will play (or pause)
your music. Gesture with a thumb to the right and
you skip forward a song, gesture left and youll skip
back. It might not be something you use every day,
but it makes controlling your music a lot of fun.
99 Pocket Free
With Pocket, you can save websites, articles,
and videos you find online and view them
later. The iOS app syncs automatically, so
you can access the content anywhere, and its all put
together into such a neat package that youll find
youd rather read an article in the app than online.
94 Tweetbot
13.99/$19.99
There are plenty of
Twitter apps
available on the
Mac, and for many, the
choice will come down to
personal preference.
Tweetbot is by far our
favourite, offering a slick
interface, easy-to-
understand conversation views, in-line images and
videos and some of the best customisation options
weve seen. Its expensive, because Twitter limits the
number of users for third-party apps and the team
had to make money, but its well worth the cost.
97 123D Design Free
A recent addition to the Mac App
Store, 123D Design offers simple
and easy-to-use 3D modelling
options that you will pick up surprisingly
quickly. The library of free parts get you
started with a robot or train from pre-made
pieces, before designing your own models.
99 Mac Secrets
Top ten third-party apps
93 Pixelmator 10.49/$14.99
Pixelmator is designed specifically for
the Mac, and it shows. The interface is
beautiful, with some stunning
flourishes, and the app itself is easy to use, but
offers tremendous power even compared to
Photoshop. Well worth downloading once
you start playing with it youll be hooked.
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iCreate Projects Create a stop-motion animation
33
34
If you want to design and create your own characters
for your animation, but dont have a huge amount of
sculpting experience for a clay model, you might like to
try Foldify. The app gives you a range of templates for simple paper
models and enables you to paint characters onto them. Whether
you want to recreate a famous character or item, or youd simply like
a paper version of your friends to feature, the app can help. With the
ability to add premade facial features, patterns, hands and arms, youll
have everything you need to design a character. When youre finished,
you can either print via AirPrint, or send the template as a PDF to print
from your Mac before putting it together. Or, if you prefer, you can
browse the list of hundreds of community-designed characters, which
feature some truly impressive results. The app is brilliant for a new take
on creating characters, and while its a little limited in terms of design
tools, it does the job very well.
5: Print
When your template is finished, hit the printer icon.
You can either print it with an AirPrint-enabled device,
or email the PDF for printing from your Mac.
2: Paints
Use the paintbrush and pencil tools to sketch onto the
template, and fill out things like skin colours quickly.
You can pinch-to-zoom for more accuracy, too.
4: 3D preview
On the left of the screen you can see a live 3D preview
of your model. Swipe to rotate it you should refer to
this regularly to see how your model looks.
1: Templates
The app offers a range of shapes that you can work on
pick one from this screen and its flattened template
will appear for you to work on.
6: Put it together
We printed our models on card, as big as possible.
Carefully cut out the shapes, and then score along the
folding lines with a blunt knife for easier construction.
3: Features
Tap the face at the top of the screen and you can add
a range of facial features, as well as car and house parts
depending on the design youve chosen.
Create your characters
Step-by-step Design your characters in Foldify
Use Foldify to design and make your own
papercraft characters
iCreate Projects Create a stop-motion animation
35
Spotlight
Whenyourecuttingout thegaps for tabs toslideintoonyour papercraft model,
makesureyoucut themslightlylarger thantheyaremarkedfor easier construction.
Other character
options
Clay
Clay character kits are relatively cheap, and
you can have great fun moulding models
from coloured clay, just like the Aardman
animation studio does for its Oscar-winning
feature-length films.
Lego
These small models are perfect for animation
their moveable legs, arms and head make
them very adaptable, and you can build
whole environments easily.
Live action
If you wish, you can even use your friends
for a stop-motion film. Whether you take
snapshots, or film them normally then
remove frames, is up to you.
Paper toys
courtesy of
Cubeecraft
These character templates can
be found on your free disc
or from cubeecraft.
com
Templates by: Chris Beaumont, Jonathan Greenwell, Ricardo Herrera, Mike Swindall available at cubeecraft.com
36
iCreate Projects Create a stop-motion animation
Using Storyboards
Get to grips with the iPad app that lets you plan your movie
Layers
There are three layers for
each scene: a Background
layer, a main Content layer,
and a layer for Annotations.
The background layer only
enables you to add photos
from your iPads gallery,
while the Annotations layer
lets you add arrows and
other shapes to the screen
easily to denote movement.
You can add text and
hand-drawn shapes to the
Content layer, as well as the
included props.
Knowledge base
Set the scene
You can set out items in
the scene however you
want. They can be rotated,
made bigger or smaller and
rotated to multiple angles
perfect for setting the scene
Customise
Customise your
characters by
tapping on them.
You can change their
appearance, including
their clothes, and
organise where
they face. You can
even change their
positions, so whether
you need a character
running or lying
down, youre covered
Library
The Library gives you access to all the models and
props you can add to your scene. Whether its a
piece of furniture in the background or a character
that walks into shot, theres plenty of choice here
Scenes and shots
At the top of the screen is the tool for customising
the scene and shot youre working on. You can edit
its properties from here, enabling you to rename the
shot, and add notes for reference during the shoot
One thing that is vital before you start
recording your movie is planning.
Without knowing what your movie is
going to be about, organising each shot will be time-
consuming and confusing. Instead, use a storyboard
before you start recording to not only plan out your
shots, but also to visualise them before you set up
your camera. This will enable you to quickly place
your characters in the frame without needing to
consider how they look.
There are a few ways to storyboard, but if you
want to stay tech-focused, Storyboards offers a
great choice of settings. There are several versions,
including a free download that offers more limited
options. Still, whichever you choose (the premium
version comes in at 10.49/$14.99) youll be able to
add characters, backgrounds and more to still images,
and organise these sketches into scenes and shots.
Its a really useful tool, and will help you immensely
when it comes to the shooting stage.
Storyboard and record
Use the Storyboards app to plan your shoot ahead of time
Youll be able to add characters, backgrounds
and more to still images
1
Putting together your storyboard is a
great way to organise your thoughts
about your video, and work out exactly
which shots are necessary for your finished
shoot. If its not needed, you can save
yourself shooting time.
2
One of the most important parts of
storyboarding is working out what kind
of motion you want in your shots. Do you
want the camera to pan during the scene? Or
should it be zooming in? This is the perfect
time to decide.
3
Use your characters while you
storyboard; set up a shot with the
models, and work out where each one
should be. You can also work out where you
want the camera to be during the shoot
then form your storyboard around these
ideas. Pre-planning is all-important.
4
Take your storyboard with you when you
go to shoot the scenes, and plan ahead.
If the opening shot and the final shot of the
movie are in the same place, planning with
your storyboard will let you shoot both at
the same time and save another journey.
Storyboarding tips
Camera settings
Once youve started shooting, dont
change the camera settings such as
exposure and white balance these
changes will make the scene look strange.
So long as you maintain continuity you can
always introduce filters as you edit
Overshooting
When you shoot, you
should be shooting
so you dont have to
edit later. Removing
frames is highly
time consuming, so
taking just enough to
complete a scene will
make your life much
easier later on
Single session
Make sure you shoot a scene in one sitting. Once
youve tidied up the set it will be very difficult to
recreate it. Make sure you have enough time to
finish a shot once youve started
Stay solid
You need to ensure
that your camera is
solid and completely
unmoving. If you
bump or move your
camera, the whole
shot will move and
it will be incredibly
jarring. Be sure to use
a strong tripod
Lighting
You need to ensure that your
lighting stays the same for every
shot, or the resulting creation will
be difficult to watch. Ensure that
light wont change, and set up a
flash if necessary
Multiple cameras
If you need to shoot scenes from
multiple angles, take the two
different shots together. Once you
move a character it will be almost
impossible to recreate the shot
exactly, so act while theyre in place
Optimising your
shooting setup
iStopMotion 3
34.99/$49.99
This Mac app makes
the process of editing
stop-motion
straightforward. The timeline
along the bottom enables you
to quickly preview your work,
and the iPhone Camera app
links directly to the Mac app to
create your movie as you shoot.
Stop Motion Studio
0.69/$0.99
This app holds all the
features you need in
one place. Shoot your
movie, then edit it, add sound
effects, voices and music and
upload it to your favourite
video-sharing site. Alternatively,
shoot your footage and import
it to iMovie for more control.
App options
Whether you want to shoot
your movie on an iPhone, or
use a camera and import it
to your Mac, there are apps
to make the stop-motion
process seamless
Spotlight
Planningabackgroundfor your shot is just as important as planningtheshot itself.
Arrangethefloor andconsider what will beappearinginthebackground.
37
38
Once youve shot your clips, its time
to give your subjects a little more
character. Your job is to bring the models
youve photographed to life, and you can
do that with voice actors. Before you start recording
vocals, its important to plan out what kind of voices and
characters the models should have. Make notes and
work out just how each character would perform, before
starting to write your script. Its also very important
to get a good audio setup for your recording.
While your Macs built-in microphone is perfect for
FaceTime calls, for a better recording experience you
will need to invest in a USB microphone. Remember
that for the audio to sound genuine, it needs to be
recorded in a similar environment to the scene youve
shot. Indoor shots are easy to voice, but shots that
take place outside will require some planning, or
some excellent sound effect work. Think about each
recording before you start, and make sure voices fit
into the scenes youve shot.
Add voices to
your characters
Use iMovies voice-over tool to record your characters dialogue
Step-by-step Record and edit vocals in iMovie
4: Audio options
You can tweak the audio options from the menu that
appears. Choose the input source, and change the
noise reduction so it works with what youre recording.
5: Start and stop
When you click on the point at which you want to start
recording, youll get a three second countdown. To
stop, click anywhere in iMovies window.
2: Expanded view
Open iMovie and start a new project. Drag your
imported clips to the project, and click on the audio
waveforms button to view more sound detail.
3: Choose the clip
Click the microphone button to set up your voice-over
recording. You can click on a whole clip to record for its
full length, or click a point to start there.
1: Planning ahead
Use an app like QuickTime to quickly test the audio
you need, and check it all sounds okay. Choose
File>New Audio Recording and record a short clip.
iCreate Projects Create a stop-motion animation
Its also very important to get a good audio
setup for your recording
39
6: Multiple characters
If you need to voice multiple characters, you can either
do it in one recording, or add another voice-over that
runs alongside the first. Decide which one fits best.
7: Music reduction
By default, adding a voice-over will automatically
reduce the volume of any music you add in the
background. Alter by dragging these points back up.
Testing
Before you record
into iMovie, use
QuickTime to
record a snippet
of audio to see
how you sound.
This will let you
adjust positioning
before you start
recording properly
USB microphones
While the Macs built-in microphone is great
for talking to friends on FaceTime, for more
professional recordings, you might want to
invest in a USB-powered microphone
Keep it quiet
Make sure you set
up your Mac and
microphones in a
quiet environment
so there is no
unexpected
background noise.
You also need to
watch out for your
Macs fan making
noise if it gets hot
Set up your vocal studio
Get perfect sound every time
Recording music
You can also create a soundtrack
to your movie to add a final
professional flourish. Whether you
record it live, make it in GarageBand
or add one from iMovie, the results
will be impressive.
1: Record it live
GarageBand is the perfect app for recording live
instruments and putting them together in a single
track. For more advice, check out iCreate issue 116, or
head to our website.
2: GarageBand composition
GarageBand has plenty of instrument presets
that enable you to create a full track without ever
physically playing a note. Use them to create music
relevant to your theme.
3: Built-in
Alternatively, you can choose from iMovies selection
of backing music and sound effects. You may not find
one that perfectly fits your theme, but its definitely
worth a look all the same.
Spotlight
If youdont recordall of your voices inonesitting, makesurethat thesetupyouuseis
thesameeverytime, sothat everythingsounds consistent.
40
2: Splitting clips
If you need to split a clip, hover your mouse over the
point you want to cut and right-click, then select Split
Clip. This lets you add clips in, or edit small sections.
5: Transitions
Just because the movie has been recorded in stop-
motion doesnt mean you cant include transitions. Use
the Transitions menu and drag them into your project.
1: Organising vocals
In iMovie, use the Project Editor to re-order and move
vocals. You can also change the audio settings, and
change the volume of the backing music here.
4: Slow things down
If you want to linger on a single frame for longer, split
a clip so you isolate the frame, then click the blue cog,
choose Video Adjustments and reduce the speed.
3: Zooming
If you want to zoom in to a particular area of the shot,
but you didnt do it while taking your video, use the
Crop button to reduce the size of the frame.
6: Remove frames
Stop-motion makes it easy to remove frames without
ruining a scene. Simply select the frames you dont
want in your project and hit the Backspace key.
Now that you have both your recorded
footage of the animation and your
voice-over dealt with, its time to
cut everything together and start the editing
process for real. Before you get too far ahead of
yourself, its a good idea to organise all of your files into
easily identifiable folders. Naming or numbering your
video and audio clips could also be a smart move as it
will save you time hunting down the files you want for
any particular sequence.
Hopefully by this point you have everything that
you need to make a completed animated movie, but
that may not actually be the case. Dont
be surprised or too disappointed if you
find out during this final process that
youre missing a shot you could really
do with, the continuity of the lighting
doesnt match or the audio youve
recorded isnt quite reflecting what you
need. Like in so many other fields, practice
makes perfect, and the more you experiment
with animating and voice recording, the easier youll
find cutting these scenes together will become. It
should be a lot of fun too!
Create your
finished animation
Bring all the elements of your movie together into a finished product
Step-by-step Putting the final touches together
iCreate Projects Create a stop-motion animation
42
In iPhoto, its possible to bring together all of your favourite
snaps and arrange them in a polished, creative collage that
is perfect for emailing on to your loved ones. With a range
of templates and fonts to choose from, as well as plenty of room to write
personal messages, its a lovely way of putting your own personal stamp
on an otherwise boring zip file.
In addition to your collage, theres also the option of attaching the
photos individually, equipping the recipient with the original files for safe
keeping. Its easy to use and with our straightforward nine-step guide,
youll be done in just a few minutes. Dont forget to send across any
collages to us if youre particularly proud of them.
Create and email your own photo collage
Give your iPhoto projects a new twist and avoid social
networks to share them in a more personal way
Difficulty: Beginner
Time needed: 20 minutes
iPhoto
In the cloud
If you have an iCloud
account, iPhoto will
use your email address
automatically when youre
ready to send the collage. If
you havent set one up yet,
you can easily convert an
Apple ID (used to log into
iTunes or the App Store)
by going into the iCloud
preference screen on your
iOS device or Mac. It takes
minutes to complete.
Knowledge base
Templates
There are ten templates
to choose from in iPhoto.
Some are suitable for
specific scenarios, such as
Celebration for a birthday
or party invitation. More will
likely become available in
future versions of the app
File size
If youre emailing
someone with a
limited internet
connection, keep an
eye on the message
size located at the
bottom of the app.
Reduce the quality of
the photos to keep the
attachment size low
Attach photos?
By keeping this checkbox ticked, when you email your
collage, the original photos will also be included as an
attachment. The drop-down menu can also be used to
alter the file quality for faster downloads
Full-screen mode
To remove any distractions
on your Mac, click the
arrow symbol to go into
full-screen mode. iPhotos
functionality stays the same,
but you wont be able to see
the Library pane on the left
43
4: Add a title
Every collage template has a dedicated space for
a title. Here you can name your project so that the
recipient knows what its about straight away.
5: Write a caption
Use the other text boxes dotted around the template
to expand on your photos. You might want to name
friends, or perhaps explain places youve visited.
6: Choose a font
Once youve finished writing, you can change the
font of either the captions or the headline using this
menu. You can also change the text alignment.
7: Drag and drop
If you want to change the arrangement of your
collage, drag a photo on top of a new frame in the
app. The two images will then switch places.
8: Change the crop
If your photo exceeds the size of the frame, you can
easily change what parts of it are visible. Simply click
and drag to move the image as necessary.
9: Address and subject
Write in the recipients email address, along with
a subject for the message at the top . Finally, click
Send at the bottom to finish your collage!
1: Select images
Launch the app and hit the Photos option from the
Library menu. Select your images either by drawing
a box over them, or Command+clicking.
2: Choose Email
Click the Share button in the bottom-right. A
number of different options will appear, but ignore
most of them for now and just select Email.
3: Pick a template
All of your photos will be inserted into a default
template. If you dont like the look of it, try an
alternative design from the left-hand side.
Step-by-step iPhoto Make your first collage
Spotlight
If youwant tochooseadiferent set of photos for your collage, or createanewonefrom
scratch, youcanalways press Cancel at thebottomof theapp.
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46
When shooting an event you can end up with a long boring
clip if you only capture the action from one angle. By moving
your camera into new positions and changing the shot size you
can shoot the event from multiple angles. These varying camera angles
and shot sizes enable you to cut more effectively between clips in iMovie
and create a more visually interesting sequence.
To cut multiple shots together, you need to be able to trim the start and
end points of each clip with precision so that action flows smoothly. In this
walkthrough well show you how to use the Precision Editor to achieve
frame-by-frame control. Well also show you alternative ways to trim clips,
as well as cutting out unwanted elements like camera shake.
Trim clips for super-smooth sequences
Use iMovies Precision Editor to perform frame-accurate cuts
guaranteed to create more visually appealing projects
Difficulty: Intermediate
Time needed: 15 minutes
4: Precision Editor
Click on shot02 in the Project window and choose
Window>Precision Editor. In the Precision Editor
youll see shot01, a blue cutting point and shot02.
5: Choose an out point
Drag shot01 to the left. This will play the action
backwards. Stop just as the horses back hooves are
about to leave the ground.
6: Match edit
Click on shot02 and drag that to the left until the
horses rear hooves begin to take off. This causes the
action to match on the blue edit point.
1: Create a new project
Go to File>New Project. Set Aspect Ratio to
Widescreen and Frame Rate to 30. Click Create. Go
to File>Import Movies and find our source material.
2: Set preferences
Go to iMovie>Preferences. Click on the Browser tab.
Tick the Clicking in Event Browser selects entire clip
button. This will speed up the clip selecting process.
3: Add shots
Drag shots01 and 02 into the Project window. Tap
the Spacebar to play. We need to trim the shots so
that they cut at the same moment in time.
iMovie
Step-by-step iMovie Use the Precision Editor
47
7: Test the edit
Pop the cursor on the grey bar between the shots.
Tap Spacebar to see the cut from the long shot to
the close up. Drag either shot to fine-tune the edit.
8: And repeat
Add shots03 and 04 to your project. Use the Precision
Editor to position them so that the action cuts as the
horses front hooves touch down. Click Done.
9: Quick trim
Click on shot05. Drag the end points yellow trim
handle to the left to lose the man speaking. Right-
click the yellow rectangle and hit Trim to Selection.
Precision editing
Fine-tune your in and out points to make action flow
Spotlight
TosummonthePrecisionEditor intheblinkof aneye, clickontheshot that youwant to
edit intheProject windowandpress theCmd+/ shortcut.
Continuity
To make your cuts work
well, it helps if the action in
the first clip matches that
in the second. By shooting
repetitive action (such as
our jumping horse) you can
vary the shot size and angle
but still capture continuity
in the subjects movement.
By cutting on continuous
movement you can make
the narrative flow better.
Knowledge base
Get specific quick
Each clip has an orange
trim handle that enables
you to quickly trim up to
one second of footage from
the clips start or end point
without needing to take it
into the Precision Editor
Preview the cut
To preview the effectiveness
of your precision editing,
pop the cursor on this grey
bar. You can then tap the
Spacebar to see how the
footage flows when it cuts
between the two shots
Trim first shots out point
In the Precision Editor the first shot in the sequence
appears at the top. You can drag the clip left or
right to fine-tune its out point, which is indicated
by the vertical blue bar
Choose second shots in point
The second shot in the sequence appears at the bottom.
Drag it left or right to fine-tune its in point. iMovie will cut
from the first shot to the second at the blue bar
48
When filming static subjects such as an atmospheric
Victorian cemetery, you run the risk of capturing video
clips that look very similar to photographs. This can make
for a bland viewing experience as the edited video footage can end
up looking like a slideshow of stills. In this tutorial well show you a few
techniques that can help add movement and variety to still shots.
For example, you can set some cameras to focus on a foreground
object and leave the background blurred. By pulling focus from the
foreground object to a background one you can force the eye to look
from one part of the frame to another and add some motion. As it can
be a challenge to pull focus smoothly while recording video, well show
you how to mimic the skill using two stills and an iMovie transition.
Add movement to static subjects
Use a mixture of camera moves and editing know-how to create this eye-catching technique
Difficulty: Intermediate
Time needed: 15 minutes
Getting advanced with iMovie
Create a pull focus effect using stills
iMovie
Tracking shot
By using a Glidetrack slider
on location, we added
sideways movement to
our graveyard footage.
We repeated the move
using the same speed but
different shot sizes, so that
we could cut from mid-shot
to close-up during the track
Sound
We muted the clips original
sound to hide camera
handling and tracking
noises. The iLife Textures
folder enabled us to
replace the missing audio
with some dramatic and
atmospheric stings
Aperture
By filming video (and shooting stills) on a wide
aperture setting, we were able to focus on
specific objects in the frame and leave other
areas as a delicate blur. This is a common
cinematic technique
Pull focus
By using a Cross Dissolve transition you can
mix between two stills and create a pull focus
effect that draws the eye from foreground to
background. By doing this in iMovie you can
create a smoother pull focus effect and change
the duration with ease
Depth of field
To create a nice background
blur for the pull focus
technique covered in this
walkthrough, it helps if you
can change your cameras
aperture to a wide (open)
setting. The wider the
aperture, the blurrier the
background will be. We
used a Canon EOS 650D to
capture our source clips as
this enabled us to change
the aperture and shutter
speed settings while
recording video.
Knowledge base
49
4: Mute again
When sliding the camera along the Glidetracks
rail we can hear an unwanted sound. Repeat the
technique covered in step 2 to mute the clips.
5: Add stills
Drag the foreground and background photos into
iPhoto. In iMovie, click on Photo Browser and set the
menu to Last Import. Drag the stills to the project.
6: Remove movement
By default, iMovie will add motion to the stills. Click
on the Crop, Rotate and Ken Burns icon and click Fit
to remove the random camera moves. Click Done.
7: Add transition
Go to the Transitions Browser and drag a Cross
Dissolve between the stills. Click the clog and
choose Transition Adjustments. Set Duration to 2:00.
8: Perfect pull focus
Play the clip to view. The camera pulls focus smoothly
from the foreground statue to the background
church. Reverse the clip order if you need to.
9: Add atmosphere
As none of our clips feature sound, they seem flat.
To add depth, go to Music Browser>Textures and
drag some Mystery Accents over your clips.
1: Pull focus
Import the clips from our Static Sources folder. Open
shot01. We tapped on our cameras touchscreen to
pull focus from the foreground to the background.
2: Mute Clip
If your camera uses a servo to pull focus (like shot01),
youll hear the motor. Click on the clip and choose
Clip>Mute Clip to lose this distracting noise.
3: Tracking shot
Add shots 02 and 03. We added a tracking move by
pushing the camera on a Glidetrack slider. Use the
same tracking speed to cut the shots together.
Spotlight
Todiscover howtoaddtracking(sideways) or dollying(forwards or backwards) camera
moves toyour projects, checkout thekit at www.glidetrack.com.
Step-by-step iMovie Add movement to static subjects
50
GarageBand
Whether youre into indie
rock, opera or grime, chances
are youll hear a few string
hits hidden somewhere within your
favourite songs. Far from being confined
to classical music, the modern orchestra
has found its way into almost every genre
and its something you should consider
when youre creating your next musical
masterpiece with GarageBand.
Assuming youre penning your next big
hit on your Mac, youre spoilt for choice
when it comes to assembling your sweet-
sounding orchestral backing. For starters,
GarageBand has its own orchestral pads
which give you the power of the full suite
of strings in a single track its a quick and
effective way of adding strings to your
songs, but it doesnt come without a few
important limitations.
The biggest issue with GarageBands
orchestral pads is that they dont give you
much flexibility you cant have different
instruments playing slight variations on
the same melody, you cant get certain
instruments sounding louder than others
and you cant make use of panning to get
a great stereo sound in the final mix. Fear
not, though, weve got a solution.
Over the next few pages, well take you
through everything you need to know
to help you assemble a virtual orchestra
from the vast selection of GarageBands
individual software instruments. Besides
GarageBand itself, youll need a MIDI
keyboard to map out your score, but even
this can be replaced with your Macs built-
in keyboard if youre producing tracks on
a tight budget.
Despite being a relatively time-
consuming process, assembling a virtual
orchestra from scratch is actually much
easier to do than you might think. Well
even show you a few tips and tricks to
help you save time and build up a pretty
great string section in minutes.
So, it doesnt matter if youre thinking
about putting a dramatic score to your
next iMovie project or adding a few string
hits to your new GarageBand creation,
following this guide will give you the skills
to get the best sounds time and time
again. Grab your MIDI keyboard, open
GarageBand and follow our guide to
assembling your own virtual orchestra.
Create your own virtual orchestra
Combine a collection of GarageBands brilliant software instruments and create your own virtual orchestra to
score your movies and add extra depth to your musical creations. Its easier than you might think
Difficulty: Intermediate
Time needed: 90 minutes
Step-by-step GarageBand Assemble your own virtual orchestra
3: Plug and play
Connect your MIDI keyboard (if youre using one) to
your Mac and open GarageBands Preferences. You
should see a MIDI input detected.
2: Adding the details
Give your project a name and, if you want to, adjust
the tempo, time signature and key settings towards
the bottom before continuing.
1: Picking your project
If youre starting your virtual orchestra from scratch and
not adding strings to an existing song, create a new
project in GarageBand. Select Keyboard Collection.
51
Spotlight
Prefer lifeontheiPad? Skipacoupleof pages tofndout howyoucancreateavirtual
orchestraonyour favouriteportabledevicewithGarageBandfor iOS.
Speakers and headphones
Orchestras produce sounds that
span a lot of frequencies, so its
important to have a decent set of
speakers or headphones on hand to
reproduce them all. Headphones are
preferable if youre in a particularly
noisy environment
Got the power?
An hour or two spent producing music
in GarageBand is bound to put some
strain on your Macs battery. Ensure its
plugged in or, at least, a power point is
nearby and save regularly
MIDI keyboard
Although you can use
GarageBands built-in typing
keyboard, wed recommend
tackling this project with a
MIDI keyboard. They can be
pretty inexpensive, but its
worth shelling out for one
with velocity-sensitive keys
What do you need?
Create the perfect setup
USB MIDI keyboards
There are plenty of USB
MIDI keyboards out there,
but were big fans of the
Korg MicroKey it sets
itself up with GarageBand
with the minimum of
fuss and, at 89.99/$129,
its affordable for most
budding musicians. For the
money you get pitch bend
and modulation wheels,
velocity-sensitive controls
and 37 keys to play on.
Knowledge base
System specs
Creating your virtual orchestra will no
doubt mean youll be using a lot of tracks
in GarageBand, so be sure your machine
has plenty of RAM to cope with it all for
pain-free playback
52
5: Using string sounds
The trick to making GarageBands string sounds work
for you is to only play single note melodies per track
rather than chords. This gives you an authentic sound.
4: Choose your sound
Select the first track in your project and, from the
sidebar on the right, select Strings>Orchestral Strings.
This will form the basis of your virtual orchestra.
6: Layering up
We started off by playing a simple bass melody of single
notes on one track (giving us a cello-like sound) before
adding some higher notes on a second track.
9: Bring on the trumpets
From the right-hand sidebar, select Horns>Horn
Section for your next track. Use these sparingly as they
can overpower everything else if youre not too careful.
8: Attack and Release
Slowing down the Attack time and speeding up the
Release using the sliders in the Strings menu gives us a
more swelling sound, ideal for dramatic crescendos.
7: Editing the instrument
Although the Orchestral Strings sound is great, a little
tweaking can go a long way. Select the Edit tab from
the sidebar then click on the Sound Generator image.
12: Keep em in time
Drag the slider in the bottom-left to zoom in on your
project and double-check that the start of your copied
recordings both match up perfectly.
11: Copy it over
Select your horns track and, ensuring your playhead is
at the same starting point as the part you copied, click
Edit>Paste to copy over the melody.
10: Take a shortcut
Often a number of different instruments in an
orchestra will play the same part. To recreate this, select
a recording from an earlier track then click Edit>Copy.
52
GarageBand
Step-by-step GarageBand Assemble your own virtual orchestra
Spotlight
53
14: More crescendos
A crescendo is a way of describing an instruments
sound increasing. We can simulate this by clicking the
automation arrow and drawing in a volume increase.
13: Add some beats
By using the standard rock drum kit, but increasing the
reverb (by dragging the slider under the Edit tab in the
sidebar), we can get a timpani-like sound.
15: Panning around
Automation can be used for more than just adjusting
an instruments volume. Here weve used it to pan our
flute track left and right for a more interesting sound.
53
Spotlight
Whynot tryworkingyour orchestral scores intomoremoderntracks toaddanextra
musical layer. Needsomeinspiration?ThinkTheVerve, Oasis or evenMuse!
Fine-tuning your orchestra
Create epic, sweeping sounds on the fly
Track volumes
Despite all being software instruments, some of the
tracks here are louder than others. If this is the case
with your virtual orchestra, turn them down using
their individual sliders paying close attention to the
volume meter at the bottom
Automate it
Adding automation to the tracks in your
virtual orchestra project is as simple as
clicking on the triangle next to its volume
slider, selecting the automation type then
drawing it in
Using reverb
Like panning,
reverb can be
used (sparingly) to
help place certain
instruments in
different positions
in the virtual room.
More reverb makes
instruments sound
like theyre further
away and vice versa
Left to right
The panning controls
next to each track
name enable you to set
whether an instrument
plays out more in the
left or more in the right
speaker. Use these
to place each of your
orchestras instruments
in the virtual room
Add more instruments
If youre not happy with
the software instruments
on offer from GarageBand,
theres no reason why you
cant add to your arsenal.
Take a look online for free
GarageBand plug-ins. There
are some great ones on
offer that will install easily
and provide you with a
wide range of sounds.
Check out http://kunz.
corrupt.ch/products for a
great starting point.
Knowledge base Knowledge base
54
An orchestra in your pocket
17: Compress or decompress
If youre keeping your music to yourself, you can safely
uncheck the Compress option. If youre sending it on,
however, select it and check the settings below.
18: Name your work
All the greatest composers named their pieces and
yours is no exception. Do so before you hit Save and
wait for the track to be mixed down by GarageBand.
16: Finishing up
When youre happy with your score, sharing it with
others is fairly easy. Start by clicking Share>Export Song
to Disc to create a single audio file of your project.
GarageBand
Step-by-step GarageBand Assemble your own virtual orchestra
If youre on the go and suddenly get struck by inspiration, fear not!
GarageBand for iOS has a brilliant set of Smart Strings that can help you
lay down some ideas with minimal effort and maximum result. Although
you cant quite control things to the level that you can with GarageBand
for OS X, setting up and recording a virtual orchestra on your iPad is
incredibly easy. To get started, youll need to grab the GarageBand iOS app
(2.99/$4.99) and select Smart Strings from the Instruments menu. From
here you can select different genres of music for your orchestra to play, the
exact instruments involved in your string section and whether youd like to
conduct them (almost) from scratch or take advantage of the very handy
autoplay feature. You are limited to the chords and melodies that can be
played, and theres an obvious lack of horns, woodwind or percussion
here, but its a great starting point for an unexpected idea.
54
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56
4: Select plug-in
Click in the first empty plug-in slot to reveal a list of
plug-ins. The one we want is called AU Pitch select
its name from the list to insert it into the slot.
5: Open automation lane
To the right of the tracks volume slider, you should
see a small, downward-facing triangle button. Click
this once to open up the tracks automation lane.
6: Enable pitch
We need to enable automation for the plug-in to
create the effect. To do this, select Add Automation
from the Track Volume pop-up menu.
1: Isolate target phrase
Position the playhead to the left of the phrase you
want to edit. Use Edit>Split to make a cut at the
playhead position, then do the same at the end.
2: Create new track
Select Track>Duplicate Track to create a new track.
Drag your snipped region down from the original
track into the identical position on the new track.
3: Access plug-in slots
Open the Track Info pane by double-clicking on the
tracks header. Click on the Edit tab at the top of the
pane to reveal the plug-in slots.
The momentary vocal slowdown is a very popular effect right now,
featured in an enormous number of chart recordings, and favoured
particularly by the dance, hip hop and RnB genres. Identified by a
slurring or lowering the pitch of a particular word in a rap or a sung phrase, as if
the stop button has been hit on a tape machine, examples of the effect can be
found in any number of current chart hits by artists ranging from Tinie Tempah
and Katy Perry through to Kanye West and Maroon 5.
Although the examples you hear on the radio are likely to have been created
in high-end audio production software such as Logic Pro or Pro Tools, this is a
relatively simple effect to pull off, and can be emulated quite satisfactorily using
the factory-supplied Audio Unit plug-ins and parameter automation tools found
in GarageBand, part of your Macs iLife suite.
Create your own vocal slowdown effects
An effect popularised by current chart hits, and one you can easily replicate in GarageBand
Difficulty: Beginner
Time needed: 30 minutes
GarageBand
Step-by-step GarageBand Create a vocal slowdown effect
57
7: Tick the box
Now click the grey triangle next to AUPitch to reveal
a list of the plug-ins automatable parameters. Tick
the checkbox next to pitch, then click OK.
8: Take control
The pitch curve appears beneath the audio in the
Arrange window. Place a node either side to lock the
pitch at the original position before and after the edit.
9: Tweak your nodes
Position more nodes on the curve at the points in
time that you want to slow down, and pull them
down to set the required level of pitch adjustment.
Take it slow
Get your slur on with this simple technique
Spotlight
TheAUPitchplug-inalters thepitchof whatever its appliedto, soalthoughits anefect
that works particularlywell onvocals, it canbeappliedtoalmost anything.
The AUPitch plug-in
The AUPitch plug-ins
pitch parameter can
be controlled either by
automation, or set manually
by dragging the control
knob or double-clicking the
text field and typing in a
new pitch value. Clicking on
the small gear icon enables
you to set the quality of
the effect, although wed
recommend the maximum.
Knowledge base
Nodes
You can add as many nodes as you
want to fine-tune the effect, but
if you add too many, just click on
any unwanted nodes and hit the
Backspace key to remove them
Alignment guides
You might find it useful to enable the Show
Alignment Guides feature in the Control Menu
this draws vertical yellow lines up from the
edges of the region that youre moving, so you
can tell its still in the correct place
On the panel
Click the large icon next
to the AUPitch plug-
ins name in the Track
Info pane to reveal its
controls. For best results,
set all controls (except
Pitch) to 100%
Fine adjustments
A node at the lowest
possible point in the lane
represents a two-octave
jump in pitch over a
relatively small physical
distance. To achieve
finer adjustments, hold
down the Shift key when
moving nodes
58
If theres one stumbling block for any home recording
project, its drums. If youre on a budget and an expensive
audio interface with lots of inputs isnt an option, then
recording drums can seem impossible. MIDI keyboards and software
drums are an alternative, but if youre serious about getting a great drum
sound, then its time to make the most of what youve got and go live.
Fortunately, you can get a decent drum sound with just two
microphones using the Recorderman technique. To get started, all youll
need is a pair of condenser microphones (we like Behringers B1s, around
70/$100 each), an audio interface with two XLR inputs and phantom
power (Focusrites 2i2 is a good option at 119/$149) and this guide!
Record live drums in GarageBand
It might seem intimidating, but recording drums neednt take
forever or cost a fortune, especially with GarageBand to help
Difficulty: Intermediate
Time needed: 45 minutes
GarageBand
Adding more mics
If youre lucky enough to
own an audio interface with
more than two inputs, as
well as a couple of extra
mics, you might want to
consider adding an extra
mic in front of the kick
drum (this tends to come
up quietest when using the
Recorderman technique)
and one closer to the snare
to give you more mixing
options later on.
Knowledge base
Compression
If theres one type of
instrument that benefits
from compression more
than any other, its the
drums. GarageBand has a
few preset compression
options we opted for
Drum Kit Punchy so they
really stood out
A little reverb
The Recorderman
technique may leave your
overall sound feeling a little
flat and boxy, so a little
reverb can go a long way.
Again, be careful not to
overdo it think large room
and not cathedral
EQ it
If your drum kit is well tuned
and youve got a good set
of mics, you hopefully wont
need too much EQ, but it
can be used to suppress any
nasty ringing sounds from
the snare or toms
Kill the noise
If your drum part has a lot of
stops and starts, its worth
using a noise gate to cut out
any unwanted background
noise. Be careful not to
overdo it, or your drums will
sound choppy
59
4: And the other
Move the string from the first mic to the second mic
without it moving from the kick and snare drum. If
positioned right, it should create another triangle.
5: Get connected
Connect your mics, audio interface and Mac and
open up a new GarageBand project. Create two new
tracks and select your interface for each input source.
6: Check the levels
With your drummer hitting the snare with a regular
beat, ensure the tracks levels are roughly the same,
or adjust. This is key to getting a balanced sound.
7: Keep in time
More often than not, its best to record with
a metronome to keep in time. Click on the
metronome icon towards the bottom to enable this.
8: R for record
When youre ready, hit the R key or press the record
button towards the bottom to start recording your
drum take. Once youre done, hit Spacebar to stop.
9: Spread it out
Pan each track either left or right by about 45% to
spread out the sound. If youve set up correctly, the
snare and kick drum should sound central.
1: Above the snare
Start by placing the first of your two mics directly
above the snare drum (around two drumsticks
away). Point it directly at the centre of the drum skin.
2: Over the shoulder
Your second mic should be placed over the
drummers right shoulder, again, around two
drumsticks away and pointing directly at the centre.
3: Check your setup
To check the mics are perfectly placed, use a long
piece of string to create a triangle between the kick
drum, first mic and the snare drum.
Step-by-step GarageBand Set up and record live drums
Spotlight
Onceyouvelaiddownyour drumtracks, headbackafewissues tofndout howto
recordliveacousticguitars andpianoyoull haveahit songinnotime.

Larry Ewing
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62
Sometimes you think youve got the perfect shot, but when
you see the result on screen, it looks a little flat. This can
happen with any type of image, but is a real problem with
portraits, because you want your model to show clearly. If the image looks
dull, then its difficult to see the face.
In the example shown here, the models white shirt shows up more
clearly than her face, and her skin has a slightly green tone. The whole
image looks muddy, but this can be cured with a few adjustment sliders.
When the work is done, you have the option of leaving the background
wall bright and colourful, or you can take its colour away, so that all focus
goes on the models face. Either way, youll see immediate improvements.
Use Apertures tools to rescue flat images
The Enhance and Exposure tools can bring realistic brightness
to photos that lack depth and suffer from dull finishes
Difficulty: Beginner
Time needed: 10 minutes
4: Set the Black Point
Drag the Black Point slider until the leftmost
mountain just hits the left side of the box. This slider
removes details from darker shadows.
5: Adjust Contrast
Under Enhance, drag the Contrast slider to 0.15. Too
much contrast will look cartoony. If the image needs
more brightness, move the Exposure slider up.
6: Add colour
When you drag Saturation to the right, you add
colour, so a small adjustment to 1.1 adds the right
amount of colour without making skin look too pink.
1: Study the light
Import FlatImage.tiff to Aperture. Click on the
Adjustments tab, and look at the coloured
mountains to see how they change as you work.
2: Change Exposure
Drag the Exposure slider until the right side of the
mountains in the histogram just hit the right of the
box. The image should immediately look brighter.
3: Recover highlights
The white part of the image has become too bright,
so drag the Recovery slider to the right until the
mountain moves back slightly towards the centre.
Aperture
Step-by-step Aperture Brighten images with Enhance and Exposure
63
7: Vibrant image
If you want the wall to look bright, without spoiling
the skin, drag Vibrance to the right. A slight increase
in Definition can also help add contrast.
8: Tint colours
The original image had a green tint, and this remains
in the black areas. Click the Black eyedropper, under
Tint, then click on a black part of the image to correct.
9: Alternative ending
The image looks fine, but sometimes you want to
remove all the colours apart from the models skin.
To create this effect, drag Vibrance right down.
Spotlight
WhenyouclicktheTint eyedropper, theLoupeappears. This is acircleshowingaclose-
upof theimage. This helps youpicktheexact colour youwant withunerringaccuracy.
Exposure and Enhance
Get to grips with the tools you need to brighten images
Histogram
The histogram might look
confusing, but if you follow
the instructions in this
tutorial, youll see how it can
help you perfect an image.
Watch how the mountains
of colour slide right and left
as you make adjustments
Exposure
The first steps to correcting
your image begin in the
Exposure settings. First, use
the Exposure slider to get
the essential look, then use
Recovery to correct over-
exposure and Black Point to
add a hint of contrast
Viewer
No matter what adjustments you make, they
are meaningless unless your photo looks good.
Although youll learn to use the Histogram
readings, you need to check that your image
looks the way you want it to look
Enhance
An extra level of control comes with the
Enhance tools. They give you control of
Contrast and Definition to get exact levels of
darkness and light. Vibrance, Saturation and
Tint give you control of colour
Perfect contrast
If you take a photograph
of a misty lake, with a
shadowy boat, the image
looks good because there
is low contrast. Sometimes
too much can look bad.
If you shoot somebody
standing in full sunlight,
the extreme contrast can
look terrible. When you
use gentle lighting, the
end result often looks too
flat and dull, so use the
Enhance and Exposure
controls to add brightness
and improve contrast.
Knowledge base
When you import RAW images, Aperture tries to make
the image look good quickly, and makes automatic
adjustments based on the camera you used. This can be
fine for many images, but it can make the image look too colourful.
If you do additional image editing it can lead to fake-looking photos.
The solution is to use the RAW Fine Tuning controls to remove the
automatic adjustments. At first, your image will look flat and dark, but
with a few quick tweaks youll soon bring out its best look.
In the example shown here, the automatic adjustments make the
skin look garish, the nose shines, the walls look too
bright and the window appears too white. By
using RAW Fine Tuning, you get natural skin
colours and a much richer image.
Fine tuning RAW images
Difficulty: Intermediate
Time needed: 5 minutes
Access the true colour and sharpness of your image in Aperture
64
2: Expose and Enhance
Under Exposure, drag the Recovery slider up to 1.5.
Under Enhance drag the Vibrancy slider to about 0.7,
until some colour returns to the image.
1: RAW Fine Tuning
Import the RAWModel image and go to
Adjustment>RAW Fine Tuning. Drag the Boost, Hue
Boost and Sharpening sliders to 0.
4: Sharpen and noise
Go to Add Adjustment>Edge Sharpen and Add
Adjustment>Noise Reduction. The default settings
should work well, but you can make slight adjustments.
3: Highlights & Shadows
Under Highlights & Shadows, drag the Highlights
slider all the way to 100. Drag Shadows to 70 and Mid
Contrast to 40 to give balanced colour and contrast.
The RAW details
2
Brush in effects
With Edge Sharpen selected, click the tiny
cogwheel and choose Brush Edge Sharpness
in. You now paint the effect onto the image
only where its required. This is far more
accurate than applying it to the whole image.
Comparing your new image to the original
shows how effective your technique is, while
using effects gives you complete control.
1
Compare images
When youve made your adjustments, hit M
to see the original image. Hit M again to see the
end result. If your new version looks dull, wait a
bit to get used to the more subtle tones.
Aperture
Step-by-step Aperture Fine tuning the RAW controls
When you import RAW images, Aperture tries to make
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66
The festive season may well be a distant memory, but lets not
forget weve got smartphones capable of shooting great quality
video to capture those special moments. If you filmed your Christmas
and New Years Eve shenanigans on your iPhone 5s brilliant four-inch screen,
chances are that youre going to want to cut all of your clips together and export
them to a DVD for viewing in the future.
With these types of DVDs, you might just want to watch one bit; perhaps the
moment that Uncle Joe over-indulged in the sherry and fell asleep face first in
his Christmas dinner, for example. To do this, you need to split your DVD into
chapters like a book. This enables you to skip to the part that you want to see.
Sounds complicated? Not with Final Cut Pro X all it takes is a few clicks. Pull
up a chair, fire up Final Cut Pro X and lets get started
Make your films DVD friendly with Markers
Use Chapter Markers to give your Final Cut projects a professional finish
Difficulty: Intermediate
Time needed: 10 minutes
Final Cut Pro X
Share menu
Select the File menu
and choose the Share
option from the drop-
down that appears.
This is the menu youll
need to begin the
process of exporting
your project to DVD, or
another platform such
as YouTube
Zoom in
The Zoom slider enables you to see more (or less) of your project. It
works by showing more or less frames in each clip making it easier
to locate the perfect Chapter Marker thumbnail
Send to
Compressor
Want to have full
control over how
your DVD looks?
Send your project
to Compressor,
which offers DVD
customisations such
as adding menus and
titles. To do this, click
File and select Send
to Compressor
Quick share
Click the share icon
on the right-hand
side of the Final Cut
Pro X interface in
order to see options
which will enable you
to easily export your
project to be shared
with other people
Customising your DVD
Final Cut Pro X offers you
the opportunity to export
your projects to DVD,
but the DVD will play as
exported. If youre looking
for a little more control over
how your final DVD will
look, Compressor (available
from the App Store) will do
that job for you and its
just as easy to use as Final
Cut Pro X!
Knowledge base
67
4: See Marker options
The Marker will appear in blue. If you hover your
cursor, it will enlarge slightly. Double-click on the
Marker and click the bookmark icon.
5: Convert your marker
Clicking on the bookmark icon converts the Marker
into a Chapter Marker. The Marker icon on the
Timeline will change colour, from blue to orange.
6: Chapter Marker image
Happy? Click Done. Were going to look at choosing
an image for the chapter. Single-click the Chapter
Marker. Youll notice a large pin to the right.
7: Image Marker pin
This pin marks the frame used as the chapters
thumbnail. By default, the pin will use the thumbnail
from the eleventh frame after the Chapter Marker.
8: Find your image
To change the image used, click the pin and drag
it left or right along the Timeline. Use the Viewer to
locate the right frame to mark your chapter with.
9: Youre all set
Once youre satisfied that youve found the right
frame, let go of the pin. Thats all there is to it
youre all set to export your finished project to DVD.
1: Open your project
Navigate to the Project Library and double-click on
your project to open it. Cant see the Project Library?
Click Window>Show Project Library.
2: Find your place
Click on the playhead and drag it left or right along
the Timeline to the place in your project where you
want to mark the start of the new chapter.
3: Mark your chapter
Select the Mark menu and choose Marker>Add
Marker from the drop-down menu. Or save time by
pressing the M key to set the Marker.
Step-by-step Final Cut Pro X Add Chapter Markers to your project
Spotlight
Double-clickingaMarker enables youtoquicklyswitchbetweenMarkers. Switchtoa
To-DoMarker as areminder tocarryout tasks suchas addingefects tothemarkedclip.
68
4: Choose the length
By default, the length of the freeze is four seconds.
To change this, click Final Cut Pro X and choose
Preferences. Click the Editing icon.
5: Change the time
Next to Still Images, click on the up and down arrows
to increase or decrease the default length of time for
your freeze frame. Close the Preferences window.
6: Freeze an event
You can create a freeze frame using a clip which
isnt in your project. To do this, navigate to the Event
Browser and find the clip youd like to use.
1: Get started
Navigate to the Project Library and open your
project in the Timeline. Cant see the Project Library?
Click the Window menu and Show Project Library.
2: Find a frame
Click the Playhead and drag it along the Timeline
to locate the frame that youd like to freeze. Use the
Viewer as a guide to finding the right clip.
3: Freeze the frame
Select the Edit menu and choose Add Freeze Frame
from the drop-down. The freeze frame will be made
and placed on the Timeline, next to the Playhead.
Do you remember playing a game called Freeze Frame at school?
The idea was to get into groups, create a scene or a pose, and when the
teacher shouted freeze, you would freeze on the spot. No? Just us then.
Freeze frames are used in films and television to highlight a specific event, action
or reaction. They can also be used to provide more information news bulletins
will freeze a frame of action and put text over the top of it, which will detail
additional facts about that news item.
Whatever your reason for freezing the action, the Freeze Frame tool is a new
addition to Final Cut Pro X and enables you to create a freeze frame from any of
your project clips in just a couple of clicks. All you need to do is file through this
straightforward nine-step tutorial and annotation and youll be adding another
professional finish to your Final Cut repertoire. So without further ado, fire up Final
Cut Pro X and get ready to put a stop to the action.
Add freeze frames to your projects
Got something to say but need more time to say it? Halt the action with Final Cuts new Freeze Frame tool
Difficulty: Intermediate
Time needed: 15 minutes
Final Cut Pro X
Step-by-step Final Cut Pro X Get to grips with Freeze Frame
69
7: Find another frame
Move the Playhead to the part of the clip that youd
like to freeze frame. Use the Viewer to guide you.
Once youve found it, single-click to mark the place.
8: Stop the action
Next, choose the Edit menu and select Connect
Freeze Frame. This will create the freeze frame, but as
a connected clip above the main storyline of clips.
9: Add to Event Browser
To add the freeze frame to the Event Browser, add a
Marker by selecting the frame and pressing the M
key. Double-click the Marker and add a label.
Everybody freeze!
Add another dimension to your projects
Spotlight
For thebest results inthis project, turnVideoSkimmingof this ensures that youcan
accuratelychoosethebest cliptoset as afreezeframequicklyandeasily.
Freeze frames
explained
Freeze frames are just
like any other clip in your
project. They can be
treated the same as other
clips. They can be moved
anywhere within your
project or be used as a
connecting clip or within a
connecting storyline. You
can also apply effects and
transitions to your freeze
frames in exactly the
same way that you would
with other clips
Knowledge base
Event Browser view
If youre creating a freeze frame from the
Event Browser, use the View buttons to
adjust the way the clips look. This will
give you more space to find the right clip
frame to freeze
Event Browser spotlight
Looking to freeze something specific? If you
know the name of the clip that you want to find
in the Event Browser, type its name in the search
box to quickly and easily locate it
Video Skimming
For more accurate frame
finding, turn off Video
Skimming so you can
view each second of
the clip when dragging
the Playhead over the
Timeline. Single-click the
illuminated Skimming
icon to turn it off
Zoom slider
Drag the Zoom slider
left or right to increase
or decrease the number
of frames you can see
on the Timeline. This
can help you find the
frame youd like to freeze
quickly and efficiently
70
Keynote offers a wealth of tools built specifically for people
who deliver presentations live. Its all executed through the
apps dual-screen mode, which shows your slideshow on an
external display simultaneously with a number of tools on your Mac.
These assists can be as simple as showing you whats on the next
slide, or a readout for how much time has passed since you started
the presentation. It also includes an indicator for when the slide
animations have finished, which is incredibly useful for avoiding messy
slide transitions. The apps Presenter tools really excel when you start
customising them. This includes not just toggling certain assists on and
off, but also resizing and rearranging them on screen. Lets get started.
Master the Presenter tools in Keynote
Make sure the polished and well-designed project you spent
ages creating is presented just how you intended
Difficulty: Intermediate
Time needed: 15 minutes
Keynote
Design tools
Create even better slides
Themes & masters
While its possible to design an entire
slideshow from scratch, Keynote offers
more than 30 themes straight out of the
gate. For each slide in your deck, you
can also choose an individual template
in that theme, referred to as a slide
master. Moreover, you can highlight
specific slides and choose a new theme
for a more diverse-looking presentation.
Knowledge base
Guides
Keynote uses Smart
Guides, which
means that youll
only see them once
an object is lined up
with the centre of
the slide or the edge
of another object.
Use it to straighten
up your slides!
View
The View button
enables you to
quickly change
the appearance of
Keynote while youre
editing a presentation.
Light Table is handy
for seeing all of your
slides together,
while Slide Only
removes the left-hand
thumbnails from view
Inspector
The Inspector button holds all of the formatting tools
needed to change the look and behaviour of your
presentation, such as slide transitions, text alignment
and even what happens when you open the file
Media
Here you can find any photos,
videos and audio files that
you need to create your
slideshow. GarageBand,
iPhoto and iMovie files are
listed automatically, but you
can also add custom folders
for easy reference
71
4: Toggle notes
You will be taken to a new screen that shows the
current layout of your Presenter tools. To see your
notes for each slide, tick the matching checkbox.
5: Ready to advance
If youre using animations to bring in slide content,
tick Ready to Advance Indicator to see a prompt at
the top of the screen when theyve all finished.
6: Clock watching
By default, a digital clock will sit underneath your
current slide. Its a simple, but crucial tool for
keeping track of time if youve started early or late.
7: Timekeeping
The other readout shows how much time has
passed since you started. Tick the second checkbox
to show a countdown if youre prone to waffling on.
8: Move around
Rearrange the Presenter tools as you see fit, either by
dragging them across the screen or using the arrow
symbol in the bottom-right corner to resize them.
9: Rehearse
When youre finished, hit Done to save preferences.
You can now practice with the tools by clicking Play
in the menu bar, followed by Rehearse Slideshow.
1: Show notes
When youre delivering the presentation youll want
some cue cards to prompt you. Start by clicking on
the menu bar and selecting Show Presenter Notes.
2: Jot down
Using the text box at the bottom of the screen,
write down any notes that you think youll need.
Repeat this for all the slides in your deck.
3: Find your tools
Once done, its time to look at what youll be seeing
during the presentation. Click on Play in the menu
bar, followed by Customize Presenter Display.
Step-by-step Keynote Find and tweak the Presenter tools
Spotlight
Microsoft PowerPoint fles canalsobeopenedinKeynote. Occasionallytherewill bean
issuewithamissinganimationor customfont. FixbyclickingtheReviewbutton.
Parallels has been a mainstay of many a Mac user
for years now, particularly in the case of those
who needed to use Windows without the pain
of running it on a regular PC. Beyond Windows, though,
Parallels is a very powerful piece of virtualisation software
capable of running a number of alternative operating
systems including Chrome, Ubuntu and even Android.
Running Googles mobile operating system might not
sound like the most appealing use of your Mac, but if youve
ever wondered what your website looks like on the average
Android tablet or what apps are available over on the
dark side, using Parallels is a great option. Its a significantly
cheaper option compared to splashing out on an Android
device and the whole setup process can be completed in
around 15 minutes, giving you plenty of time to explore.
Its worth noting that the experimental build of Android
4 thats used here is a little limited. First, theres no Google
Play (its not allowed on virtual copies of Android). Secondly,
certain technical restrictions mean not every Android app
can run on your Mac. If you just fancy getting a feel of the
operating system, though, this option is perfect.
To get started, youll need a copy of Parallels Desktop 8 and
a machine capable of running it. The system requirements
arent particularly high, so any Mac built within the last couple
of years should make the cut, but its important that you have
at least 2GB of RAM and plenty of space on your hard drive.
Run Android on your Mac
with Parallels Desktop 8
Learn to experiment with alternative operating systems
72
Difficulty: Beginner
Time needed: 45 minutes
Available:
www.parallels.com
Price: 64.99/$95.99
1: Choose your poison
Once youve installed Parallels on your machine, youll be taken to the
Parallels Wizard, which gives you a few options for installing virtual machines.
In this case, click on the Android option and then the Continue button.
2: Check the details
Before you begin downloading, youll be presented with some information
about the specific build of Android. Its worth noting the limitations here
before you continue. Once youre happy, click the Download button.
Parallels Desktop 8
Step-by-step Parallels Desktop 8 Run Android on your Mac
Experimental
Android OS
Its not quite Jelly Bean, but
the experimental build of
Android 4 for Parallels still
has plenty of up-to-date
features to give you a great
flavour of what the OS is like
Shut down
Clicking on the button in the bottom-
left of Parallels window will give you
some options to safely power down
your Android virtual machine its
worth doing this with any unused OS
Escape the window
In the Android window, youll need to
hit the Control and Alt keys on your
keyboard to free your cursor and
keyboard for use in OS X. Its a little
fiddly, but youll soon get used to it
73
Turn your Mac into a Chromebook
Android isnt the only OS worth experimenting with
if youre trying something different. Parallels also
gives you the option to try out Googles Chrome
OS, perfect for a completely cloud-based setup.
Follow our guide below for setting up and working
with Googles answer to OS X.
1
Head to Window>Virtual
Machines List to add a new
virtual machine to your setup.
You can also access older
virtual machines here.
3
In the Parallels wizard,
select Download Chrome
OS and Continue. Youll need
to download some files so
ensure youre online.
2
In the Virtual Machines
window, click on the +
icon towards the bottom and
select New to bring up the
Parallels wizard once more.
4
Once Chrome has installed,
enter your Google account
details (or create a new one)
then head to the Web Store
and get exploring.
Other OS options
As well as Chrome and
Android, theres also scope
to install Ubuntu using
Parallels. If youre building
your own Mac apps, its
a great way to ensure
backwards compatibility.
Its also the perfect solution
to experiment with
customising OS X without
worrying about breaking
anything too important.
Knowledge base
Spotlight
If yourestill unconvincedbyParallels, checkout our reviewinissue117. Youll fndout
everythingyouneedtoknowabout this great pieceof powerful andversatilesoftware.
3: In the window
Unlike Windows, which is far more integrated, Parallels will open Android in
its own window. You can resize it if you like but the virtual display will always
remain the same size. Click inside the window to control the OS.
4: Grab some apps
To get the full Android experience, youll want to grab some apps to try out.
Open up the built-in browser, search for the Amazon Appstore and follow
the instructions to download and install. From here, Android is your oyster.
Go full-screen
Parallels is fully
compatible with
Mountain Lion, so
youll be able to
take your virtual
machines full screen
Androids display
size wont change,
though, so dont
expect a super-sized
mobile operating
system to appear
Editing images with Pixelmator can be a real joy. Not
only is it a really versatile image manipulation suite, but
the toolset is among some of the smartest weve had
the pleasure of using. One such tool that weve been attempting
to master recently is the Magic Eraser, which is a great way of
removing background elements of a photo.
What you need to start with is an image with a fairly plain, high-
contrast background for the easiest experience in removing it from the
subject. More textured images can cause you issues when you increase
the threshold because colours begin to blend. Its not impossible, but it
can slow you up considerably, and at that point other tools
may actually be more worthwhile.
Difficulty: Beginner
Time needed: 10 minutes
For quick and accurate edits, Pixelmators tools shine bright
74
2: Go slowly
Increasing the threshold too fast can select more of
the image than you want. Move in small segments,
especially around tough areas like hair.
1: Start selecting
The Magic Eraser sits just below the Healing tool. Tap
and hold on your selected image to use it. As you drag
away from this centre point, you set the threshold.
4: Find details
With your original photo on top you should be able
to pick out any areas that still need fixing. Reselect the
Magic Eraser and tidy up some of those loose edges.
3: Replace background
With the background of your image removed, drag
and drop a new photo on top. Resize the image to fit
your frame and then move the layer to the back.
More quick tips
2
Dark dangers
Intricate work is tough enough with Magic
Eraser, but when you have a dark subject
against a dark background, setting a threshold
is tough. Think about changing brightness.
How to make Magic Erasers job easier
1
Draw a boundary
Using the standard Eraser tool you can draw
a boundary around an images subject. This
should make selecting larger areas to delete a
lot easier. Now you can concentrate on details.
Pixelmator
Use Magic Eraser to replace a background
Step-by-step Pixelmator Master the Magic Eraser
Available
from all good
newsagents and
supermarkets
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76
4: Insert a disk
Grab a CD and place it in your Mac. This will show
up on the left and it will also call up a list of options
in the main window when you highlight it.
5: New image
Now, with the CD highlighted, tap New Image from
the top and a pop-down menu will appear. Write a
file name which best identifies the content.
6: Fill in options
You can decide whether or not you wish the image
format to be compressed and also whether you
want to encrypt the dmg file youre creating.
1: Open Finder
The first step is to launch the Disk Utility application
which you can find by opening Finder and then
navigating to your Applications folder.
2: Launch Disk Utility
Find the Disk Utility app. Double-click this icon and
it will launch on your Mac. A new window will open
and it will contain lots of CD disk options.
3: Familiarise yourself
You will see the main interface. To the left is a list of
available disks and this includes the hard drive and
any memory cards. Icons run across the top.
Whether youre moving to a new Mac without an optical
drive or simply want to clear out some discs that are
cluttering up your desk, converting CDs and DVDs to dmg
files is a very smart move. A dmg file on your desktop will behave just
like a physical drive, for example, an external hard drive, flash drive or
disc. So, if you have a new MacBook Pro or iMac you can carry on using
your old discs even though you dont have a drive to insert them in.
Converting a disc to a dmg file is done via the Disk Utility app which
is built into OS X. It is a good way to get a disks content permanently on
your system. As mentioned its the best way of keeping old discs on new
machines without an optical drive, or for sharing programs online that
you may have developed yourself back in the day.
Save a disc as a dmg file with Disk Utility
Take a CD or DVD and save it to your Mac as a dmg file using its built-in software
Difficulty: Intermediate
Time needed: 15 minutes
OS X
Step-by-step Disk Utility Create dmg files from CD/DVD
77
7: Select, save, create
Now select where on your hard drive you wish the
dmg file to save and when you are ready, simply tap
the Save button and the file will be created for you.
8: Access the file
The file will take a few minutes to create. If you wish
to access the file in the future, you can open Disk
Utility and select the dmg file that you have created.
9: Burn the file
If you want to burn the file to another disk, then
eject the original CD or DVD and insert a blank one.
Then click Burn, highlight the file and Burn again.
Spotlight
Whyusedmgfles?Well apart frombeingamountableandtidysolution, theyarealso
easier todownloadandinstall thanother fleformats, whichmakes themverypopular.
Create a dmg image
Looking at the options available to you
Backups
One good reason to create
a dmg file from a CD is
to back up the program
that is on it. This means if
you ever lose the CD (or
DVD), you neednt worry
because you have it stored
safely on your hard drive.
Having up-to-date backups
is always essential, but do
make sure you keep any
product numbers to hand
just in case.
Knowledge base
Size
Go to File>New Blank Image
and you will see a host
of options appear. They
include the ability to select
a custom size and the drop-
down will suggest different
media sizes
Create
When you tap Create, you
will be prompted for a
secure password and asked
to verify it. This way you will
have a secure dmg image.
The password is needed for
mounting it
Encryption
It is possible to encrypt your dmg file. A good
one to try is 256-bit AES encryption which may
be slower than many others, but it is secure
Image format
If you want to be able to add and
remove files on your disk, as we will,
then ensure that the image format is
selected as a read/write disk image
78
Apples Preview app is well known in its capacity as OS
Xs default viewer of PDF files. Whats not such common
knowledge is that its talents are not limited to merely viewing
documents. It can also be used to combine both single and multiple-
page documents to create multiple-page documents of your own.
Once youve combined the pages, you can rearrange the page
order and delete pages you dont want, before finally saving the
result as a separate PDF file. With every new version of OS X, Previews
implementation of this feature seems to change a little, so for the
purposes of this tutorial, were going to focus on how to combine
documents in Mountain Lion (OS X 10.8).
Combine multiple PDF files in Preview
Ever wanted to combine separate PDF files into a single doc?
OS Xs Preview app is designed with this task in mind
Difficulty: Beginner
Time needed: 10 minutes
Thin grey line
When you click the small
grey triangle to view
thumbnails of all the
individual pages within
your document, the end
of the current document
is represented by a thin
grey horizontal line. If
you release the dragged
document too far down
below this line, the result
will just be two separate
documents as before, but
simply displayed in the
same window.
Knowledge base
Close down
If you wish to merge an
entire multiple-page
document rather than just
individual pages, click the
grey triangle to close the
document down into a
single thumbnail before
merging together
Order, order
Once merged, you can
reorder the pages within
the merged document
by selecting the page you
want to move and dragging
it vertically within the
thumbnail drawer to its
brand-new position
Drawer options
You can also open the thumbnail drawer by selecting
View>Thumbnails or by using the Alt+Cmd+2 keyboard
shortcut. Change thumbnail size by dragging the
thumbnail drawers right edge left or right
Page count
The title bar of each window
shows how many pages
the document currently
contains this will help
confirm that your merger
has been successful
OS X
79
4: Second file
Now open Document B, also a single page. Once
the thumbnail drawers in both windows are open,
line them up so that theyre both visible.
5: Drag and drop
Drag Document Bs thumbnail over into Document
As thumbnail drawer and drop it on top. Release the
mouse when the cursor gains a green cross icon.
6: Successful merger
If youve merged the two documents successfully,
the result should be a single document containing
the two pages one above the other, as shown.
7: Multiples
To merge multiple-page documents, open the
thumbnail drawer of the file you want to source the
extra pages from. Cmd+click to select pages.
8: Merge documents
To merge the documents, drag the pages youre
adding into the white space after the last page in the
first document, above the thin grey dividing line.
9: Save yourself
Once youre satisfied with your merged document,
you can save it as a new document (overwriting the
copy you made in step 1) by selecting File>Save.
1: Locate source files
In Finder, locate the PDF documents that you need.
Its a good idea to use File>Duplicate to make a
copy first. This will end up as your merged file.
2: Open copy
Double-click the copy you just made of the first
file to open it in Preview. In this case, were working
with a single-page PDF document.
3: Thumbnail view
Select Thumbnail view by clicking its icon in the
top-left corner of the toolbar. The thumbnail drawer
opens to reveal a view of the page.
Step-by-step Preview Combine multiple PDFs
Spotlight
As well as duplicatingDocument AinFinder beforehand, youcouldalways openit in
Previewfrst, thenusetheDuplicatecommandintheFilemenutomakeaworkingcopy.
Gaming has never been at the forefront of Mac
ownership, but there are some titles that really do push
the boundaries. With such powerful hardware and a
growing population of Mac users, it seems as though developers
are starting to jump on board, but there remains the problem of
controlling such titles. The keyboard and mouse scenario works
well for some genres, but using a dedicated games controller
would greatly enhance the experience.
Have no fear, however, because in this tutorial we will show you
how to connect a genuine games console controller to your Mac
and how to ensure that every function works as it should. We are
demonstrating the process to connect a Wii controller, but you can
also use PS3, Xbox and many other controllers.
Connect a wireless controller to your Mac
Difficulty: Intermediate
Time needed: 10 minutes
You can enjoy console-quality controls with your Mac games
80
2: Connect the gamepad
You will see Scanning marked at the top. Press the 1
and 2 buttons on your Wii remote until the pairing
screen appears, then enter any relevant code.
1: Grab the software
Go to http://wiiji.veltrop.com and download Wiiji.
Install it as normal and restart your Mac. Now look for
the new Wiiji menu bar item.
4: Map any controller
Drivers are available for Xbox controllers and PS3
gamepads will work via Bluetooth, but Joystick Mapper
(bit.ly/U5YXMQ) sets up the commands for most types.
3: Set the commands
Select Preferences and then press the buttons on the
controller that align with the keyboard commands
shown in the list. Take your time with this.
Take your time
2
Multiple commands
Each game may use different commands
for movement and actions so try to set your
preferences within each game to the same
options before defining the commands on
your controller. It will save lots of time.
Dont expect to run an app and have
everything work perfectly. Take care with the
setup, and each game will work properly.
1
Use it wisely
Gamepads work best on most game genres,
but there are exceptions where the mouse and
keyboard still offer a more flexible experience.
First person shooters are a good example and
benefit from the extra options.
Wiiji
Step-by-step Wiiji Connect a Wii controller
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Genius Bar
Genius Bar
82
We all have system glitches from time to time fortunately our resident expert is
here to answer all your Mac, iPhone and iPad-related questions
Facebook:
search iCreate
Twitter:
@icreatemagazine
Web:
iCreatemagazine.com
Email:
icreate@imagine-publishing.co.uk
Your questions answered
Jon
We work with
a lot of images
on iCreate both
for printing on
these pages and
for posting online. To make
sure theyre always in the
right format and dimensions
I have some automations set
up to speed up the process
and save me time.
Freddie
Im a big fan
of Alfred - its a
more powerful
take on Finder
(available for
free from the Mac App
Store) that enables me to
launch apps, find files and
perform a variety of tasks in
the blink of an eye.
Stephen
I use a little
add-on for OS
X called Yoink.
It appears
when you start
dragging an item and lets
you drop them into the
tray. For full-screen apps its
perfect it lets you save
images and files to your
desktop quickly.
Heres a selection of
useful tips & tricks
Hacking my Apple TV
I upgraded my original Apple TV last year
to the new smaller version and it feels like
a waste seeing it sat there knowing its got
memory capacity. Is there any way I can put it to good
use? I was thinking I could use it as an external hard
drive to back up my iTunes or photos?
Many thanks. Mark Greatrex
Hi Mark, although the original Apple TVs processor isnt
particularly powerful, youre perfectly right in saying that it
does have a sizable amount of storage. Youve got a couple
of options when it comes to putting it to good use, with
the most obvious being to rip out that hard drive, put it in
a separate enclosure and use it like you would any other
external hard drive.
If youre feeling a little more adventurous, however, you
could install OS X on it and turn it into an iTunes media
server. Doing this requires a fair amount of technical expertise
and its a lengthy process which we unfortunately dont have
room to list here www.appletvhacks.net is a great starting
point for this, though. Be sure to check it out.
You could install OS X
on it and turn it into an
iTunes media server
With some trickery you can
install OS X Leopard on
your Apple TV
83

Bottom of the list
Ensure the Keyboard Shortcuts
tab is selected at the top then
click on Application Shortcuts at
the bottom of the left-hand list.
Fill it in
In the options that appear, fill
in the details of your custom
keyboard shortcut including
the application, menu title and
shortcut itself. Hit Add to finish.
Add some shortcuts
Click on the + symbol towards
the bottom of the two lists to
bring up options for adding a
new keyboard shortcut for a
specific application.
Cutting things short
Hi, I want to create
keyboard shortcuts for the
various Sort By fields such
as From, Date, Ascending etc. I have
gone into the keyboard shortcut
option within Settings and have
allocated various shortcuts such
as Ctrl+D, Ctrl+F and so on. These
all work except the shortcut for
From. I have tried using a different
keyboard shortcut in case it clashes
with another but it still doesnt
work. Can you help? Russ
Hi Russ, you dont mention which
version of OS X youre using, which
could be the problem. We were unable
to get any of the shortcuts you list
working in Mountain Lion, so it might
be a difference in OS that means were
unable to replicate the problem. That
said, heres a few handy tips to help
Is bigger always better?
I am a proud owner of a late-2009 MacBook
Pro, just upgraded with 8GB of RAM. As a
musician, I would like to have a bigger screen
in order not to destroy my sight! I would then like to
ask you if I should upgrade to a brand new 27-inch
iMac or wait for a new MacBook Pro and pair it with
a Thunderbolt Display? Or even wait for the Mac Pro?
In issue 116 I read that mobility comes at the price of
reduced power, so I look forward to receiving your
advice. Yours sincerely, Michele Galvagno
Hi Michele, youve got some great choices here and its
easy to see why youre torn between the three. We know
from our own benchmarking tests that the new 21.5-inch
iMac and 13-inch MacBook Pro are almost neck and neck
on overall performance, with just a hundred points or so
between them. Depending on the exact options
you choose, you may find that one just about beats
the other. The defining factor for us would be cost,
a MacBook Pro and Thunderbolt Display would
cost significantly more than an iMac. If portability is
paramount, then you may have to bite the bullet
and opt for the more expensive option. But the
best value for money here, in terms of power, is
with the iMac. Another option would be to look
into upgrading your MacBook Pro with an SSD. Itll
make things significantly faster and give
you plenty of money
left over to spend on
a great display!
Creating custom
keyboard
shortcuts
Select the app
Every app has its
own set of options,
so ensure its
correctly set in the
dropdown menu.
Select Other if you
cant find it
Three dots
When youre
typing in the menu
title, ensure that
you hit Alt+; to
create an ellipsis
instead of using
three fullstops
Shortcut
When choosing
your keyboard
shortcut, its
tempting to pick
something simple,
but remember this
might be in use
Restart it
Once youve
assigned your
custom keyboard
shortcuts, be
sure to restart the
corresponding
application
preference
Open up System Preferences
and search for the Keyboard
pane. If it you cant see it, click
and hold the Show All option
until it appears.
Pairing a laptop with a
Thunderbolt Display would cost
a lot more than a new iMac
Genius Bar
84

Edit it
In the Albums view, tap the Edit
button in the top-right corner.
Some albums listed will be
darkened, indicating that they
cant be renamed.
Are you done?
Once youre happy with the
name, tap the Done button
in the top-right of the app to
finish and save.
Rename an
album in iOS
Open up Photos
Start by opening Photos on
your device and tapping on
the Albums tab (at the top
or bottom) to sort all of your
images by album.
Tap and rename
Once youve found the album
you want to rename, simply
tap on its name and enter a
new one using the keyboard
that appears from below.
Where are my emails?
Hi iCreate, I recently purchased an
iPhone 5 and Ive been really impressed
with how simple everything is to set up
compared to everything Ive had before. My only
annoyance with it is that emails seem to take
forever to arrive. Is there any way to fix that?
Josephine Power
Hi Josephine, there are a couple of different
factors that can affect how quickly your
emails arrive in your iPhones inbox.
Obviously, a lot of the time it takes to receive
messages depends on the servers used in
sending and receiving the email, but if you
find your other devices are getting emails
long before your iPhone does, there are a
few things you can tweak.
To find the settings that control how
quickly mail arrives on your phone,
youll need to open the Settings app,
tap on Mail, Contacts, Calendars, then
Fetch New Data. From here, tap on
the Advanced tab and check that
any email account you use is set
to Push or Fetch, as opposed to
Manual. This should ensure that, on
a very basic level, emails are heading
to your iPhone automatically and that its
not waiting for you to manually check for
messages when you get the chance.
From here, take a look at the image to the
left and follow the annotations to ensure youre
getting your emails as quickly as possible. Best of
luck with everything!
Missing photo albums
Further to my earlier
communication (issue 114) my
photos have been numbered
and transferred chronologically to
iPad (in both iPhoto and in Photos)
thank you. To my surprise and
disappointment, 11 albums were not
transferred. Have you any ideas why?
Malcolm Tait
Hi Malcolm, your first port of call here would
be to check if these albums are shown
under the Photos tab in iTunes when your
iPad is plugged in. If they dont, you may
need to check your permissions. Find your
main Photos folder on your Mac, hit the
Command+I shortcut to bring up its info
and ensure you have Read & Write access
under Sharing & Permissions.
Fetch speed
Where accounts dont work
with Fetch, Push is the next
best option. Tap on Every
15 Minutes for the most
speedy email service
Slow it down
It might sound
counter-intuitive,
but turning
down the speed
at which emails
are pushed to
your iPhone can
help increase
battery life
Push it
Where possible, email
accounts should always be
set to Push for an instant
notification whenever your
email arrives ensure this
option is turned on
Speed up your emails
Get your messages to your phone faster
Ensuring you have sufficient permissions may solve access issues
85
Make iPhoto disappear
Ive lost my iPhones charger so Im
currently reliant on plugging it into my
Mac to charge. The issue here is that every
time I go to do this, iPhoto opens and slows down
whatever I happen to be doing at the time. How
do I stop this?
Colin Mansfield
Hi Colin, this is an easily solved issue. To stop any
number of apps popping up when you connect your
phone to your Mac, youll need to open up Image
Capture. The easiest way, by far, to do this is through
Spotlight (in the top-right of your desktop). Once
youve done this, ensure your iPhone is selected in the
sidebar then select No Application from the drop
down menu below. Its that easy!
1: Making
that call
Start by making
your phone
call. It might be
worth turning
up the volume
on your iPhones
ear speaker
to make sure
you dont miss
someone
eventually
picking up,
which defeats
the object here.
Change your hold music
I read and enjoyed your Genius
Bar question about preset
options for call centre calls to get
through their phone trees quicker, but I
have another question which may help
myself and others even more. Is there a
way to listen to music while on hold?
George Yeats
We feel your pain when the on-hold music
or automated messages kick in, George.
Fortunately, theres a solution thanks to a
little-known iPhone trick. Follow our step-
by-step guide below to learn the process of
getting your favourite songs playing while
on hold. You can either use the built-in
Music app or a streaming service like Rdio or
Spotify, just be sure youre on a Wi-Fi
connection for the latter to
avoid any hefty charges
on your iPhones data
bill. Dont forget to
pause the music
when you finally get an
answer as well.
Tip-by-tip
Playing your own on-hold
music is easy thanks to a
quick iOS trick
Stopping
iPhoto or any
other app from
unexpectedly
appearing is easy
3: Get
talking
You should be
able to hear
both your
music and the
phone call
youre making
through your
iPhones
speaker. To stop
this, just pause
your music and
tap near the
top to return to
the call.
2: Find the
music
Once youre
sure youve
been placed
on hold, hit
your iPhones
home button
to return to the
home screen
and find your
chosen music
application.
Then, select a
song that you
want to hear.
Select No Application from
the dropdown menu
Repair & replace guide
Earlier on in this issues Genius Bar, we
discussed a few ways to make use of your
old Apple TV. Nearly all of them involve
cracking it open and gaining access to its
hard drive, so it makes sense to show you
exactly how to do it.
The process itself is fairly simple. The only
particularly complex step involves heating
up the adhesive that holds the Apple TVs
rubber backing in place. To do this, youll
need a heat gun or hair dryer set to a
moderate heat. Keep it moving and apply
heat evenly across the back of your Apple
TV, being careful not to overheat any area.
After youve removed the rubber
backing, though, the process is incredibly
straightforward. As ever, we recommend
going slow and seeking help from the
professionals if youre not too confident or
unsure at any point. Good luck!
Everything you need to know about repairing or replacing
broken and ageing parts from your favourite Apple devices
Replace your original
Apple TVs hard drive
5: Free the hard drive
With everything disconnected, remove the four T8
Torx screws holding the drive in place there may be
some adhesive holding it in place too.
4: Disconnect your drive
Carefully pull the hard drives data cable straight
up from its socket on the Logic Board. A plastic
spudger may help if things look a little too fiddly.
6: Remove and replace
With your hard drive successfully removed, place
your replacement model on the back panel and
follow these instructions in reverse to get connected.
2: Lose four screws
Remove the four T10 Torx screws on the corners of
the bottom casing leave the other four further in for
now as these secure the Apple TVs hard drive.
1: Heat and peel
Using a heat gun or hair dryer, heat up the adhesive
holding the Apple TVs rubber backing to its base
and slowly peel it away be careful, this will be hot!
3: Lift it up
Slowly lift up the lower casing away from your Apple
TV. Be careful not to go too fast here as it still has a
connection attached to it.
Step-by-step Upgrade your Apple TVs hard drive
Need more room
in your Apple TV?
Theres a (fairly) quick
fix for that
86
If you would like more help with
upgrading your Mac, visit the gadget
surgeons at iFixit.com, who kindly
contributed these photos.

Top tips for a
smooth swap
Gather your tools
To perform this process, youll
need both a T8 and T10 Torx
screwdriver and a heat gun or
hair dryer. You may also wish
to use a plastic spudger for
disconnecting cables.
Choose your drive
The original Apple TV uses
a 2.5-inch PATA hard drive
for storage, so youll need to
ensure you have one with the
correct specs to swap it out.
Check your
connections
When it comes to
reconnecting your new hard
drive to your Apple TV, ensure
the connections are secure
otherwise youll be presented
with a question mark on your
TV when you boot it back up
again and no one wants that!

Booting from a USB drive
If you want to run OS X on your Apple TV but dont fancy
getting your hands dirty and tearing it apart to get to the
hard drive, you can always boot OS X from the USB port.
That said, this tends to be a little less reliable and can cause
more issues. It also gives you less options for plugging in
peripherals such as a mouse or keyboard. Head to www.
appletvhacks.net to find out more.
Check the connections on the
AirPort card they may be a
little loose
Clean that fan
While youve got your
Apple TV cracked open,
it might be worth
getting rid of any
excess dust inside its
fan follow the detailed
steps on iFixit.com for a
hassle-free clean
Ethernet port
If your Wi-Fi isnt working and you cant
splash out on a new AirPort card, you can
always revert to Ethernet it sits right by the
Apple TVs power supply
AirPort card
Is your Apple TV having issues connecting to your Wi-Fi?
Check the connections on the AirPort card located to the
right of the fan they may be a little loose
Inside the Apple TV
What exactly makes it tick?
87
Unauthorized
changes to
hardware can void
warranty - Go to
support.apple.com
for more details
OS X IQ boosters
Step-by-step Schedule start up and shut down
Macs are pretty quick
to boot up, meaning
youll usually be
ready to start whatever youre
working on soon after you hit
the power button. If you want to
save some time, though, you can
have your Mac turn on (and shut
down) automatically at a set time.
Its ideal if you work from a home
office and want to ensure you
stick to a strict morning routine
or simply ensure that youre not
wasting precious minutes staring
at the boot-up screen.
Having your Mac
automatically switch
on as you set foot
in the office is one thing, but
having it load your favourite
apps every time it boots up can
take your productivity to new
levels. OS X Mountain Lion made
this often-overlooked feature a
little more obvious with Resume
saving the exact state of every app
and window on your Mac when
you shut it down and loading
everything exactly as it was when
you started it up again. That said,
if you dont need your old Safari
tabs appearing every time your
Mac loads, there is another option.
2: Pick your preferences
In the menu that appears you can enable automatic
start up, shut down or both, set a time for them to
happen and on which days.
1: Push the button
Head to Energy Saver in your Macs System Preferences
and hit the Schedule button to bring up your power
scheduling preferences in a fresh menu.
Smart Folders appear all over OS X
and essentially take the effort out of
organising files. When you create a
Smart Folder, youll be asked to set a
number of filters that control what goes into them.
In Mail, Smart Folders are known as Smart Mailboxes
and can be very useful. You could set them to
include all mail from your work colleagues or to filter
out mailing list messages from your inbox.
In Finder, Smart Folders are set up much in the
same way as Smart Mailboxes. They pull their
content from anywhere on your Mac and change
constantly. Theyre great for finding recently created
images, for example.
Make your Mac automatically switch on and shut down
Automatically load your favourite apps
Where is it?
Youll find Login
Items under the
Users & Groups
pane in System
Preferences. Click
on your user name
and select the Login
Items tab at the top
to view apps that
automatically load
when you log in
Not just apps
Although Login Items
generally contain
essential applications
that you use every day,
they can also contain
volumes on servers your
machine is connected to
perfect for the office
Hide them
Its a good idea to keep your Login Items to a
minimum, as theyll slow down your machines boot
time. To stop them flooding your desktop, click the
checkbox to hide them when they load
Click n add
To add new apps to your Login Items, click on the +
icon at the bottom. Hitting the icon will remove
them. Unlike Resume, Login Items load applications
fresh, without any saved windows
89
90
When youre looking to get creative on your Mac,
the last thing you want to spend doing is working
on those essential, yet incredibly mundane, tasks
that take all of the fun out of editing your images,
video or audio. For photos, at least, iPhoto, Aperture
and Photoshop can all take care of some of the most
boring aspects of editing. These powerful apps can
organise your images and sort them out in seconds.
As far as iPhoto goes, your options are limited here,
but the Batch Change function does enable you to
edit a selection of the most important metadata for
a large number of images at once. This might seem
a little on the dull side, but if you want to include
a copyright notice in the description of those 300
wedding photos you took, or rename last years
photos with the date for better organisation, theres
really no better way to do this.
If youre after more options, Apertures Lift & Stamp
tool and Photoshops Actions and Droplets let you
apply advanced editing effects in just a couple of
clicks your Mac does all the hard work and youre
left with an expert edit, time and time again.
Step-by-step iPhoto Batch edit photos
2: Choose your changes
In the menu that appears, select the metadata type
youd like to alter and choose what youd like to
change it to using the drop-down menus.
3: Fill in the blanks
If you opt to change anything to the text, youll need
to fill in the details in the field that appears below,
then hit the magic OK button.
1: Select your images
Select the images you want to apply the changes to
in iPhoto, then head to Photos in the menu bar and
choose Batch Change. You can also hit Shift+Cmd+B.
Give your Mac
some creative
intelligence
Train your Mac to take on
repetitive editing tasks so you
can focus on getting creative
Using Lift & Stamp in Aperture
Apply adjustments to every image in just a few clicks
Fixing studio shots
The Lift & Stamp tool works
best when youve taken
multiple photos in a similar
location or with similar
conditions (in a studio, for
example). Its a great way to
quickly fix a days worth of
bad lighting
In the HUD
The Lift & Stamp HUD
gives you the option of
deleting adjustments that
you dont want applied
to every photo. Its easily
done by selecting them
and hitting Backspace.
Otherwise, hit Stamp
Selected Images to apply
the changes
Final tweaks
The Lift & Stamp
tool isnt perfect. It
takes a little while
to process any
particularly large
selections and you
may need to tweak
each photo after
its done, but it is a
huge time-saver
The magic
button
Once youve
applied the correct
adjustments to the
first image, click on
the Lift button at the
bottom of Apertures
interface it looks like
a luggage label with
an arrow pointing up
Step-by-step Aperture Create your own effect presets
2: Name it
In the Effect Presets organiser that appears, give your
preset a name and remove any unwanted adjustments
on the right. Finally, click the OK button.
1: Save it
When youve created a great effect by combining
multiple adjustments in Aperture, you can save it for
later by heading to Effects>Save as Effect.
If youre a Photoshop user, you may
already know about its Actions feature,
which enables you to create Automator-
style workflows that apply edit after edit to your
images automatically. What you may not know is
that you can create Droplets icons for your Macs
desktop which you can drag images on to and apply
a selected action to. Its incredibly useful.
Its a great way to quickly fix a days
worth of bad lighting
91
92
Select a service
When you first open
Automator you will
be asked to select
how the workflow
you create behaves.
Weve chosen to build
a workflow which is
accessible from the
Services menu in the
Finder app from the
menu bar
Get images
In this example, weve
created a service to
resize some images
to 1024 pixels or less
on the largest side
and convert them to
TIFFs. Weve started
by telling the service
to receive image files
from Finder
Finishing touches
To finish off this particular workflow, weve dragged in
a Change Type of Images action to convert our images
into TIFF format. The finished images will appear on
the desktop because of the earlier copy action
Adding actions
Creating an
Automator workflow
is as simple as
dragging in different
actions from the
Actions library on the
left. To start weve
dragged in a Get
Selected Finder Items
and Copy command
to duplicate our
selected images
Got options?
The next action in
our workflow scales
images to a set size
on their largest side.
Here weve typed
1024 into the text field
and selected To Size
(pixels) from the menu
The Actions library
On the left side of Automators interface is the
Actions library. Here every single Automator
action available is sorted by type. Theres also
a search function. Simply find the one you
want and drag it to the right.
Knowledge base
So far weve looked at a few ways in which to
make your Mac that little bit smarter, but if
youre going to go for gold, theres only one
application that can help Automator.
Hidden away in that ominous Utilities folder
among the rest of your applications, Automator
is the key to getting your machine to do just
about anything automatically and eradicating
your life of those mundane computing tasks
that we do every day.
The beauty of Automator is that it doesnt
require a PHD in computer science to use.
Rather than relying on coding or programming
languages, Automator uses a simple, drag-
and-drop interface to create workflows which
it can carry out when its fed a file, prompted
by a calendar event or kicked into play by a file
landing in a folder.
Although simple, it helps to have a little
knowledge of how an Automator workflow is
put together in order to make the most out of
the app. So weve detailed exactly that above.
Whats more, weve included a number of
example workflows on your free iCreate disc to
show you just how great this app
can be. Youll be an
Automator expert
in no time.
Automator: the key to a smarter Mac Automator: the key to a smarter Mac
Taking your Mac to Mensa levels is easy once youve got to grips with this app
Automator uses a
simple, drag-and-
drop interface to
create workflows
93
Automator examples
Quickly resize
images
A slight variation on our initial
example, this workflow will let
you select multiple images and
quickly resize them to 1024 pixels
or less on their longest side. Its
best to save this as a service
which you can access from
Finder in the menu bar (have a
look to the left for instructions).
Create a photo
contact sheet
When youve finished a long
photo shoot and dont fancy
another hour spent staring at a
screen selecting your favourites,
why not select them all and have
Automator create and print a
PDF contact sheet of them for
viewing off screen? This would
also work well as a service.
Crop images
If youve ever uploaded your work
to a creative site like Dribbble,
youll know it requires a cropped
version of your images. Automator
can speed up the process of
creating upload-ready images
by cropping them automatically.
Again, we would recommend
saving this workflow as a service
for easy access.
Automatically
play a playlist
Youve already set your Mac
to switch on first thing in the
morning without your input,
so why not combine it with a
Calendar-triggered workflow that
plays you a motivational wake-up
playlist? Choose your songs in
iTunes and let Automator do the
rest of the work for you.
1: Open your workflow
Once youve downloaded the example workflow
from our free DVD, open it with Automator. This
should be the default option for this type of file.
3: Whats your type?
In the menu that appears, select the correct
workflow type from the menu. In this case were
selecting Service. Hit Choose, then save it.
2: Convert it
Once youve opened your workflow in
Automator, head to File>Convert To to turn it into
a service, application or Calendar-triggered event.
4: Using services
To use a service youve created, select the files
you want to input into a workflow, then head to
Finder>Services and select the service you saved.
94
Weve covered the basics of harnessing the power
of OS X to make your Mac smarter now its time
to look further afield. There are plenty of apps out
there that will offer to make the time spent with
your Mac more productive and automate a lot of the
more tedious tasks you spend your time completing.
Some of these are great solutions, while others really
arent worth the download.
With this in mind, weve selected two of our
favourites Hazel and IFTTT.com which win time
and time again for their efficiency and variety of
uses. Hazel ($25, www.noodlesoft.com/hazel.php),
sits in your menu bar and keeps a watchful eye over
files and folders. By applying certain rules to each
folder on your Mac, Hazel can keep them clean and
organised at all times. IFTTT.com, which stands for
If This Then That, hooks your Mac up to a variety of
online services enabling you to instantly save your
Instagram images to Dropbox, for example.
IFTTT enables you to link up a number of
different web services and create actions
based on what happens with them. It
might sound a little unusual, but if youve
ever wished you could back up your
Instagram images to Dropbox or have
an email sent to you to remind you of
a birthday, this is the website you have
been waiting for. Heres two simple steps
showing you how to make it work.
1: Sign up and create
If you havent already, create an account and sign in to
IFTTT.com, then hit the Create a Recipe button. Start
by selecting your first trigger. We chose Date & Time.
2: Whats the action?
With our Date & Time trigger selected, the second
step is to create an action based on the trigger. Enter
your action and hit Create Action to confirm.
Like Smart Folders
Hazels interface is set
within System Preferences
and setting up different
tasks for the app is much
like setting rules for Smart
Folders. Its all very familiar
and takes just a few
minutes to set up
iLife integration
Despite being a
third-party app, Hazel
manages to seamlessly
integrate with iPhoto,
iTunes and Aperture,
meaning you can have
the appropriate files
from your Downloads
folder automatically
imported into those
apps, for example
Make use of labels
By asking Hazel to apply coloured labels within a
folder action, we can see clearly which files have
been imported into other apps or copied elsewhere
perfect for instantly knowing which ones to delete
Hazel sits in your menu bar and keeps a
watchful eye over files and folders
Organise your Mac with Hazel
A quick guide to the must-have app for anyone who finds their Macs
desktop getting in a right mess too frequently
Third-party
apps and services
Learn in style
Discover more with the Book series expert, accessible tutorials for
iPad, iPhone, Mac, Android, Photoshop, Windows and more
The
Series
TM
BUY YOUR COPY TODAY
Print edition available at www.imagineshop.co.uk
Digital edition available at www.greatdigitalmags.com
facebook.com/ImagineBookazines twitter.com/Books_Imagine
Available on the following platforms
96
Siri has received a lot of publicity since its
introduction, some good and some bad, but
over time the service has been nicely honed
by Apple to produce an experience that can be hugely
beneficial in day-to-day use. Some of the tasks it can be
used for are obvious, and many tricks have been included
which are humorous and lifelike enough to make it feel
completely human, but there are some secrets within Siri
that make it potentially the perfect virtual assistant that you
can carry with you everywhere in your pocket.
We will highlight some areas that you may be unaware
of and also show you how to use them in real-life
situations. The more you use Siri, the more useful the
service becomes and with enough familiarity you may
find yourself rarely using the touchscreen keyboard in the
future. So let us show you what Siri can really do
Top ten Siri tips
Make Apples personal assistant do all the hard work for you
Siri
1
Go anywhere
Siri can navigate you to any place
with two simple instructions. Firstly,
ask Siri where a particular place is such
as a coffee shop or even a specific
address. When Siri responds with a
location, just say take me there and
Maps will pop up and automatically
start up the navigation screen with no
further interaction needed.
6
Kill all of your alarms
Meeting invites and appointments
can quickly build up, but there will
be times when you just need some
peace and quiet to get on with
your day. Tell Siri to delete all alarms
and it will immediately delete them
following a confirmation from you.
This will rarely be useful, but could
help on the busiest of days.
Use natural
language
Its all too easy to take
a lot of time and try to
pronounce every single
word slowly, but Siri is
capable of understanding
your words when spoken at
normal speed and in many
regional accents
Launching Siri
You can either hold the
home button or raise your
iPhone to your ear to launch
Siri. When in a conversation
with Siri, simply tap the
microphone icon to
continue speaking
Location aware
More and more location
specific information is
being added to Siri all
the time. You should
already be able to find a
lot of local businesses and
entertainment in your area
97
2
Search engine
By default, Siri uses Wolfram|Alpha
for searches that are computational
and Google for general terms, but
you can be more specific if you prefer.
For example, if you say search Bing
for magazine publishers, you will
immediately see the Bing search page
appear with the answers you need.
This works for Yahoo searches as well.
3
Update social sites
Twitter and Facebook have
published numbers available for
each country that you can add to
your Contacts. When you have done
this, you are able to say to Siri send a
message to Twitter and to then speak
the tweet you want to post. Siri will
send a text to Twitter and it will be
shown on your timeline immediately.
4
Understand names
No voice recognition system is
perfect and names in particular can
confuse Siri. If you are struggling to
get Siri to recognise a particular name,
select it in Contacts, press Edit and
tap Add Field. You will now be able to
select a Phonetic option and type in
the sounds eg Jo-ann for Joanne. It
really does improve accuracy.
5
Go hands-free
Holding the home button to
activate Siri is hardly a chore, but you
can make the process even quicker
with a simple settings change. Go to
Settings>General>Siri and change the
Raise to Speak option to On. In future,
whenever you lift your phone to your
ear you will hear the Siri bleep and it
will activate automatically.
7
Open any app
Initially Siri could only be used
for specific instructions and to find
information that you needed in a
hurry, but you can now open any
installed default or third-party app.
For example, saying open Tweetbot
will immediately open the app and
display the main screen. It works
seamlessly every single time.
8
Never miss a birthday
Missing someones birthday is
likely to cause much heartache and
at times a series of arguments, but
you can use Siri to quickly get around
the problem. Provided the data is
included in a contact, you can ask Siri
when is (names) birthday? and it will
show you when it is. This simple trick
could save you a lot of trouble.
9
Relationships
You should add a listing for
yourself in Contacts and include your
relationships. This will enable Siri to
understand who you want to speak to
or message when you say something
like send a text to my wife. Its a
simple trick which can be useful in
certain situations, and of course, it
makes Siri feel even more personal.
10
Privacy
Believe it or not, anyone who
picks up your iPhone can use Siri even
if the passcode is enabled. This isnt a
huge issue, but most people would
still prefer to not have the facility
open to anyone. Go to Settings>
General>Passcode Lock and change
the Siri option to Off. This stops access
to Siri without the passcode.
Spotlight
Thedictationfeatureis not actuallyapart of Siri, but it uses thesametechnology. When
thekeyboardis activeinanapp, tapthemicrophonetostart dictatingyour words.
98
Enable Restrictions
Tweak the settings for safer use
An iPad may be a very useful device but it is, ultimately,
a computer and it is connected to the internet. While
a lot of scare stories about the web are usually hyped-up
nonsense, there is a danger that an iPad can give a child access to
content that you would not want them to see.
For this reason, Apple has built-in restrictions which you can use
to lock down your iPad when you hand it to a child. They will have
to use your passcode in order to unlock it, and gain only limited
use of your device to give you extra peace of mind.
Some of the things you will want to disable are obvious. The
internet is a great resource but there is content that you may wish
to monitor closely. By disabling access, you can ensure that your
child only views the websites you want them too.
You can keep a close eye on YouTube, disable your iPads
FaceTime capabilities and stop any accidental app downloads
from the App Store or even in-app purchases. Well show you how.
How to kid-proof your iPad
Difficulty: Beginner
Time needed: 5 minutes
Keep your children entertained safe in the knowledge they cant get up to any mischief
iOS
Turning off Wi-Fi
While it is not possible to
restrict the Wi-Fi access
meni in Settings, you can
tell the iPad to forget your
Wi-Fi settings if you wish
by tapping the blue button
next to your connection
and then selecting Forget
this Network. However,
the other restrictions
should be enough. You
may find it a pain to have
to keep inputting the Wi-Fi
password again and again.
Knowledge base
Passcode entry
When you set any of the
Restrictions, you will be
asked to input a passcode of
your choosing twice. When
you want to disable them,
you only need to enter it
once, and from this point on
a passcode is not needed
Ratings
Within this section,
you need to select
the country in which
you live and then
decide on the various
medias restrictions.
This would prevent
one of your children
from downloading an
18-rated movie
Turn off Restrictions
To remove all of the child-proof settings, tap Disable
Restrictions within the Restrictions screen. All of the
off switches will then revert to on again
Options
Here we can see the apps and services that we have
decided to turn off. They are clearly marked with the
button being greyed out and displayed as off. Any
that you want to keep on are highlighted in blue
99
4: Disable Safari
To restrict access to the web, you need to disable
Safari. Go to Settings>General>Restrictions. Simply
turn off those you do not want a child to use.
1: Enable Restrictions
Go to Settings, select General in the left-hand
menu then Restrictions in the right. Tap Enable
Restrictions. Enter a four-digit code.
5: YouTube settings
Tap Settings within YouTube and select Safe Search
Filtering. Select Strict if necessary. A child could
override this, so you may need to delete the app.
2: Turn off downloads
To stop a child from installing apps, simply tap the
switch which says Installing Apps so that it says Off.
Do the same for In-App Purchases.
6: No FaceTime
Finally, it is worth turning off FaceTime in the
Restrictions area. While you are here, disable Explicit
Language too and alter social media privacy settings.
3: Restrict Allowed Content
Scroll to Allowed Content. Tap on Ratings For and
select a country. Now tap on the menus for Music,
Movies, TV shows and Books to choose restrictions.
Extra features
Spotlight
YouTubeis not part of iOS6andyouhavetodownloadit viatheAppStore. This means it
is nowpossibletoholdtheiconanddeleteit if youdonot wishachildtoaccess it.
Step-by-step Settings Lock down your iPad
Multiplayer Games
You can prevent a child from playing multiplayer
games by turning them off in Restrictions and you
can even stop them from adding friends too.
Music & Podcasts
Music is not always so innocent and there can be
explicit lyrics within songs. You can prevent any
tunes which contain such content being played.
Purchases
When making a purchase in the App Store, a
password is needed every 15 minutes but you can
make sure this is set to immediate.
Siri
To prevent the use of Siri and a backdoor way of
finding content, you can turn it off too. Silencing Siri
cuts off a useful resource, but it optimises safety.
100
1: Pick a key
The smart key selection process is sensitive to which
side you drag down from. Drag the left side and you
can select a key for the chords you want to learn.
2: Chord select
To see how a chord is constructed, tap the circle
beneath the letter notation. The notes needed will
be illuminated and the finger positions revealed.
3: Hear it played
The centre of the wheel turns to a play symbol. Tap
this to hear the chord played. This is excellent for
judging if youre catching it correctly on your guitar.
For some, picking up an instrument and immediately getting
great sounds from it comes very easily. Musical theory appears to
be in their bones. However, most of us need a little more time to get
our heads around complementary chords and scales as we gradually come to
master the guitar or piano. The Jamn app for iPhone and iPad looks to bridge
that gap for you by using a seriously cool visual interface to help make these
links easier to pick up.
The secrets of musical theory are all in here under the user-friendly surface
so you can gradually pick up chords and scales, learning important lessons as
you go without feeling like youre being lectured. In this tutorial well walk you
through the process of selecting and adjusting the
settings of the app so that you can navigate
and learn with confidence. Were also
proud to be giving this app away. Check
out the details to the right to find out
how you could get a download code.
Conquer chords and scales
Use the innovative dial system of Jamn to improve your musical skills
Difficulty: Beginner
Time needed: 15 minutes
Jamn
Step-by-step Jamn Learn chords and scales
Win Jamn
Jamn has kindly offered 50 free
copies of its app to iCreate readers.
To grab one simply go to
www.getjamn.com and scroll to the
bottom of the page. Enter your details
and in the message box write iCreate
Magazine to let it know we sent
you and press send. Its first
come, first served, so
be quick!
101
4: Scaling up
Scales are a little more complicated, but learning
them really gets to the heart of musical theory. Drag
down from the right and the scale keys are revealed.
5: Hear and play
Once again the exact finger placement for the scale
is revealed on the fret board at the top of the screen
and can be heard by tapping the play button.
6: Rotate the wheel
By rotating the wheel you can quickly change the
key. For song construction and musical theory, this
is a great way to find complementary sounds fast.
Jammin around
Keys, chords and scales made easy
Spotlight
Jamnisnt just aniPhoneandiPodtouchappanymore. This is nowauniversal appand
canbeusedfull-screenwithaniPadwithall thesamegreat features.
More features
In-app purchases offer a
number of cool additional
features to Jamn. If you
want to learn about playing
the ukulele for instance,
theres a download pack
for that instrument. New
musicians may also find the
tuner add-on a very handy
addition. For pros out there
though, additional style
packs, like Blues, can easily
teach you new chord and
scale progressions.
Knowledge base
Chords
The circles beneath each note
indicate the type of chord they
play. Solid dots are major chords,
circles are minor ones and circles
with a dot are diminished chords
Major and minor
The major and minor
chords of any given
key youve selected are
indicated by the blue
and red highlights on
the wheel respectively.
Theyll stay in place as
you rotate
Lock rotation
If youre in the middle of learning a set of
chords its a smart idea to lock the rotation of
the wheel with this switch so that you dont
lose where you are
Instruments
The Jamn app comes pre-installed with a
guitar and piano setup. Swipe across the top
of the screen to switch between the two.
Both use the wheel in the same way
102
A Moquu is an animation created using the free iOS app of the same
name. By using up to ten images taken via your camera or using the
Camera Roll on your device, you can use the combination of shots it
creates as an animated GIF. By merging them into a short sequence, they give
the appearance of movement. So with a bit of patience and some creativity you
can create and edit some amazing moving images.
To help take away much of the strain, Moquu comes complete with some
handy Timelapse and Burst features. The former lets you lay down a set time
limit between shots and then takes each image automatically. The Burst feature
records a continuous, set number of images.
Once these images have been taken, you can begin to edit them. There are
built-in filters which add many effects and you can also speed up or slow down
the animation to suit. The good thing is that effects can be applied to one or
more frames, or across the board. And when you have finished, you can save it
as a GIF and share it on social media or even embed it within your own website.
Create and edit an
animated GIF with Moquu
Difficulty: Intermediate
Time needed: 20 minutes
Price: Free
Taking out the need for any type of expert coding knowledge,
Moquu gives you the tools to create animated GIFs on your iPad
1: Find a subject
Line up a subject and press the camera icon. This
is where you can set up Moquu to take a series of
stills. Press the button beneath the camera icon to
select the shooting mode, including Timelapse.
2: Using images
Once you have taken a series of images using the
camera, tap Use in the top-right corner. You can
now begin to edit your GIF file. Here we can see our
two frames. You can have many more.
3: Manipulate animation
You can change the speed of the animation by
using the speed scroll bar. By pressing Play to the
right, you can start the animation. The number of
the frame you are viewing is displayed.
Use the combination of shots
Moquu creates as an animated GIF
Moquu
Step-by-step Moquu Shoot and edit an animated GIF
103
7: Share the image
The Save & Share option in the right-hand corner of
the screen lets you share just the frame you are on,
or, in our case, the project we are working on, as a
GIF file. Tap Animgif to do this.
4: Add effects
Press the Effects tab. You can cycle through a host
of different effects from Sugar to Sunspots. Each
alters the image according to the one you tap.
Tapping Normal reverts to the original picture.
8: Social media
It is possible to upload to Moquus servers. You can
also upload to Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. There
is an embed code option and the ability to send by
email. Select which one you want and hit Share.
5: Strength of effect
When you select the effects, you can also see a new
slider appear, this time for strength. It enables you to
alter the intensity of the image you want to use for
your animated GIF.
9: View your GIFs
Your Moquu projects appear on the main page
together with a tutorial and some other GIFs from
which to draw inspiration. You can create a new
folder and place GIFs within it.
6: Moving frames
Tap the Frames tab. Press and hold the frame you
wish to change. Press the x button to delete the
frame or tap the arrow to move the frame left or
right, repositioning it in the timeline.
Spotlight
Intheapps mainpage, youcantapthemanageiconinthebottom-left todelete
selectedGIFs, movethembetweenfolders or export themtoyour CameraRoll.
104
The dream of a paperless office and digitising all of your important
documents has long been held, and on the whole failed to
materialise. We still work in offices strewn with paper and receive
paper documents in the post every day that we need to refer to from time
to time. Some are vitally important and need to be kept, whereas others are
merely useful to have available when the time arises. Ironically you can create
a paperless document trail very easily on an iPhone and it is easier to build
and maintain than you may think. With Genius Scan, any document can be
quickly scanned and tweaked for perfect readability. You can then organise the
documents into categories and have
them held securely and logically for
when you need to refer to them.
It seems too good to be true, but
we can show you how to build a
paperless office to carry anywhere.
Digitise your paper docs
with Genius Scan
The dream of a paperless office may not be so far fetched after all.
And what do you need? Just your iPhone, of course
Difficulty: Beginner
Time needed: 10 minutes
Genius Scan+ PDF Scanner
1: Time to scan
Upon opening you will see a blank screen with
an orange capture button. Tap this and focus on a
document. Once ready, tap the camera icon.
2: Deal with margins
The image will be shown with an orange grid over
the top of it. Use your finger to drag the corners to
the desired positions and then tap the Use icon.
3: Increase the readability
You can choose to use effects to clarify the text.
Black and white works well on some documents,
but using no enhancements is often preferable.
With Genius Scan, any document
can be quickly scanned and
tweaked for perfect readability
Step-by-step Genius Scan+ PDF Scanner Turn paper into pixels
105
4: Time to save
You will now be asked if you want to save the scan
as a new or existing document. The existing option
lets you create multiple scans for one event.
5: Create some tags
The next screen shows a thumbnail. Tap the top-
right icon and then hit + for a new tag. This creates
a new category for this type of document.
6: Give it a name
Tap the i icon to name the document. The date
and time will already be shown should you wish to
include these in the document name.
7: The virtual filing cabinet
As you create new documents and tag them, you
will gradually build up a database of categories that
are easily accessible by tapping the top-left icon.
8: Sharing your documents
The Wifi Sharing option, which is shown above the
tags, is the safest way to move your documents
around, but you can also use online services.
9: Create some presets
Within Settings you can set your default
enhancement, paper size and orientation. Its best to
stick with the defaults at first to see how they work.
Spotlight
Youcanusedocuments that areinyour CameraRoll inGenius Scan. Tapthebottom-
right iconafter hittingtheorangescanbutton. Nowyoucanscanandorganiselater.
3
Choose a digital
magazine or book
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Visit the website
GreatDigitalMags.com
4
Purchase in-store,
download & enjoy!
2
Filter titles by your
favourite store
Review
108
we really missed with the 21.5-inch
model, so were glad to see Apple
maintain it on the 27-inch iMac.
Next to the RAM slot are the new
connections Apple added to the
new iMacs. Alongside the relocated
SDXC card reader youll find four
USB 3.0 ports and two Thunderbolt
ports, as well as a gigabit Ethernet
port. The additional speed offered
by the new I/Os is a fantastic bonus;
Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 are the
two fastest consumer technologies
on the market right now. Theres no
FireWire 800 here, and Apple has
also removed the audio input port,
leaving only a 3.5mm headphone
jack. If you were a regular user of
these on the old Mac, youll have
to invest in a USB microphone,
or a Thunderbolt to FireWire 800
connector from Apple for 25/$29.
The other big change is the lack of
Is thinner really better for a pro-level iMac?
iMac 27-inch
(late 2012)
1,499/$1,799
at the back, and if viewed directly
from the side the bulbous rear is still
noticeable. However, Jony Ive has
done a great job of hiding it, and
there are only a couple of viewing
angles that make it look anything
but svelte and sexy.
Aside from the obvious size
advantage of the 27-inch screen,
the other big bonus that the larger
model holds over its 21.5-inch
brother is a slot on the rear of the
casing. Pull out the power cord and
press a button to pop this open and
youll find four user-accessible RAM
slots, allowing you to add to the
standard 8GB with up to 32GB of
extra memory. In fact, this is so much
cheaper than getting it from Apple
that even those that want the extra
memory boost should undoubtedly
buy their sticks separately and add
it themselves. This is something
T
he release of a new iMac is
always a cause for celebration.
Just over 15 years ago the first
iMac was launched, marking the
start of Apples return to mainstream
prominence, and Jony Ives first
success under the recently restored
leadership of Steve Jobs. A decade
and a half later and were back with
the latest 27-inch model, featuring
another ground-breaking design
thats thinner than ever before.
Announced in October last year,
Apple focused almost exclusively
on the thin new design during the
new iMacs launch event, and its
here that we start. The aluminium
curves across to an edge that is just
five millimetres thin at its narrowest
point, and the effect when the
iMac is viewed from an angle is
astonishing. Its worth remembering
that the Mac curves out a great deal
Key Features
2.9GHz quad-core Intel Core i5
8GB memory
1TB hard drive
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M
with 512MB
27-inch, 2,560 x 1,440 display
Learn more
www.apple.com
Available from
www.store.apple.com
109
optical drive; like all of Apples new
designs since 2010, its latest Mac
doesnt feature a SuperDrive. Again,
Apple offers an external version for
those that still use CDs and DVDs
for an extra cost, but for many users
this wont be a real problem. We
certainly didnt miss the drive when
we tested the iMac.
The screen has also seen
improvements. First off, Apple
has perfected its manufacturing
technique, making the displays
glass thinner, offering more vibrant
colours and adding a thin anti-
reflective coating. The result is a
screen that sits right on the glass
for incredible viewing angles, and a
glossy finish that somehow manages
to massively reduce reflections.
We sat the new iMac next to the
old model and the difference was
much greater than we expected
its not Retina, but the screen looks
absolutely fantastic.
Internally, the desktop is just
as impressive as on the outside.
We tested the basic model, which
features a quad-core i5 processor
running at 2.9GHz, but it was no
slouch. Everything was snappy,
with a boot time of 25 seconds,
and responsive apps that ran as
smoothly as you would expect. We
also tested it with the Geekbench
tool, and were impressed by the
score. It comfortably beat the
previous, similar model of the iMac
by almost 1,400 points.
We didnt opt for the upgrade to
a Fusion Drive, and it certainly made
a difference. We have previously
tested both the 21.5-inch iMac
and the new Mac mini with Fusion
Drives and the performance boost
offered by the new technology was
outstanding. It wasnt that the 1TB
hard drive in the model we tested
was slow, but ultimately it was no
comparison to the drives in those
two machines. We cant stress
enough just how much faster the
Fusion Drive really is, and if youre
going to spend 1,500 on a Mac, its
an absolute no-brainer: spend the
extra and upgrade to a Fusion Drive.
The 27-inch iMac has always been
geared towards more professional
users, and that hasnt changed here
this is a Mac for getting things
done. There are a few things that
users may not love, like the lack of
optical drive, but for the package as
a whole its easy to see why Apple
made the decisions that it did. This is
a big, powerful machine thats a joy
to use and even more fun to look at,
and makes the perfect case in the
desktop or laptop? argument.
Pros This iMac is thinner, faster, and
better looking than its predecessor
a stunning achievement
Cons The lack of optical drive and
FireWire may be annoying for some
Buy now?
The result is
a screen that
sits right on
the glass for
incredible
viewing angles
It may well be the best-looking desktop ever, but does its
performance match its jaw-dropping beauty?
Benchmarking
The Fusion Drive in our test model really pushed up its score
iMac 21.5-inch late 2012 2.9GHz quad-core i5 13647
The previous 27-inch iMac was beaten easily by the new model
iMac 27-inch mid-2011 2.7GHz quad-core i5 7731
The quad-core processor and 8GB RAM make this a beast
iMac 27-inch late 2012 2.9GHz quad-core i5 10278
27-inch iMac confguration options
2,560 x 1,440
display
2,560 x 1,440
display
2,560 x 1,440 display
2.9GHz Intel core i5
3.2GHz Intel
core i5
3.4GHz Intel core i7
8GB RAM 8GB RAM 16GB or 32GB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce
GTX 660M with
512MB
NVIDIA GeForce
GTX 675MX
with 1GB
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX
with 2GB
1TB hard drive 1TB hard drive
3TB hard drive, 1TB or 3TB
Fusion Drive or 768GB Flash
storage
1,499/$1,799 1,699/$1,999 Up to 3,499/$4,249
Three best accessories
Perfect peripherals to use with your iMac
TwelveSouth BackPack 2
29.99/$34.99
This small, simple-looking shelf
attaches to the stand of your iMac
and offers the perfect place to store
external drives, your iPhone during
charging and even your mouse or
keyboard. Its a great accessory for
those that love tidy desks.
Wacom Intuos5 Touch M
329.99/$349.99
For creative pros, no iMac is complete
without a graphics tablet sitting
alongside. The Intuos5 is a powerful
little machine, with 48 square inches
of working area and more than 2,000
pressure levels. As brilliant an addition
to your kit as you can make.
LaCie LittleBig Disk 1TB SSD
749/$999.95
If the 27-inch iMac is the pro-level
desktop machine from Apple, this is
the pro-level external drive to match
it. Its expensive, but with 1TB of flash-
based storage and a Thunderbolt
connection, you get astounding speed
and plenty of storage space.
High-speed
portable
storage
I
t might have taken a little while, but Thunderbolt
and USB 3.0 are now becoming standards across
a number of accessories and peripherals. While
the latest Macs have only just gained USB 3.0
support, all models have included Thunderbolt
connections for almost two years now. Until now,
the technology has been so new and expensive
that the peripherals were almost exclusively
designed for professionals huge hard drive
setups that cost a lot of money were the only way
to use the high-speed technology.
As time has gone on, these drives have become
cheaper to make, and now the rest of us can start
to take advantage of the huge speed benefits
offered by the technology. And, if youre using the
latest Macs, youre not limited to Thunderbolt, with
a number of USB 3.0 ports offering more choice.
Weve gathered together a collection of portable
drives that offer the latest high-speed technologies
and pitted them against each other to find out
which offers the best value, speed and design.
While the speed difference between USB 3.0 and
Thunderbolt is actually relatively large, they are
both considerably faster than the previous Mac
standard, FireWire 800. Weve included drives with
both in our tests to see how they compare.
Weve also included a mix of standard hard
drives, as well as drives that use flash-based
solid-state storage. SSDs are considerably faster
when it comes to reading and writing data and
are less susceptible to damage thanks to the lack
of moving parts, but hard drives are much more
affordable. In our tests weve tried to find out
whether the performance and safety boost is
worth the extra cash, and ultimately tried to help
you decide whether one of these high-speed
drives is worth your investment.
110
Group test
Take storage up a gear with
this high-speed group test of
the best portable Thunderbolt
and USB 3.0 drives
111
How we tested the drives
We wanted to ensure that our tests were comprehensive, so used
two methods for testing the read and write speeds of the drives.
First, we created a 10GB file and copied this to and from every drive.
We also used the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test to get our readings.
Promise Pegasus J2
369.95/$499.00 (256GB)
Key features: 256GB/512GB available,
Thunderbolt only, power supply
offers performance boost
Learn more: www.promise.com
Elgato Thunderbolt
SSD
239.95/$299.95 (120GB)
Key features: 120GB/256GB available,
Thunderbolt only, includes
Thunderbolt cable
Learn more: www.elgato.com
Verbatim Store n Go
Ultra Slim
59.99/$95.00 (500GB)
Key features: USB 3.0 only, 500GB or
1TB HDD, small, portable design
Learn more: www.verbatim.com
LaCie Rugged
194.99/$249.99 (1TB)
Key features: USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt
ports, 120GB/256GB SSD option,
includes Thunderbolt & USB 3.0 cables
Learn more: www.lacie.com
Freecom Mobile
Drive Mg
179.90/$275 (1TB)
Key features: USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt
ports, Thunderbolt drive 1TB only,
includes USB 3.0 cable
Learn more: www.freecom.com
Seagate Backup Plus
79.99/$109.99 (1TB)
Key features: USB 3.0 standard,
Thunderbolt adaptor available,
500GB/750GB/1TB HDD
Learn more: www.seagate.com
112
Group test
Design
Like many of the drives here, the Elgato SSD is
relatively plain at first sight. We like the sandblasted
grey metal finish, and the simple design is pleasing,
but the whole thing feels a little bulky compared to
the other drives.
Size and weight
The Thunderbolt SSD is by far the heaviest drive in
our test at 270g, even managing to beat the hefty
LaCie Rugged. Its also surprisingly large considering
that it only contains flash memory and no fan its
not a device you could keep in your pocket.
Connectivity
The back of this drive keeps things as simple as
the top and front. All youll find back there is a
Thunderbolt port, which may cause problems if
youre using an older Mac, but otherwise it will offer
the optimum performance.
Speed
Considering that it uses SSD technology, we werent
hugely impressed by the write speed of the Elgato
drive, as it only averaged around 115MB/s. However,
read speeds were much better, with 220MB/s copies
making this considerably faster than the competition.
Size and cost per GB
The drive is available in both 120GB and 256GB sizes,
and youll be paying around 2/$2.50 per GB. This
is the price of the higher speeds offered by SSDs
right now, but until the technology becomes more
affordable, youll have to pay for extra performance.
Design
We suspect the orange rubber padding will very
much be a love it or hate it design choice, but we
absolutely love it. Aside from that the drive is simple
and functional, with a soft LED on the rear alongside
all the included ports.
Size and weight
The Rugged is one of the biggest and heaviest of
the drives we tested, but it also offers the most
protection for your hard drive. The extra weight
adds a sturdy feel to the drive, but its not for those
wanting to travel light.
Connectivity
Youll find both a Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 port on
the back of the Rugged, which matches several other
drives in our test and means its nicely compatible
with all Macs just dont expect impressive speeds
using USB 2.0.
Speed
We tested the hard drive version of this drive, and the
biggest issue is the speed of the disc. Youll get better
transfer rates with the SSD model, but the maximum
this drive hit was at 106MB/s for writing and 110MB/s
for reading files.
Size and cost per GB
This was among the most expensive hard drive
options, costing around 20p/25c per GB. The SSD
models are considerably more expensive the
256GB model costs 249.95/$349.99 but the
performance jump will be massive.
Design
While the drive itself looks lovely thanks to the
brushed effect it is coated with, the plastic casing
of the drive makes it feel a little flimsy for our liking.
Itll look great sitting on your desk, but feels at risk of
being damaged in your travel bag.
Size and weight
The Seagate Backup Plus is the third heaviest in the
group test after the LaCie and Elgato efforts, but
among the smallest. Its portable, and thin enough
to slip into a pocket, but the strength of its casing is a
concern to us when dropping it into a bag.
Connectivity
Straight out of the box, the Seagate drive will
connect via USB 3.0. However, the adapters on the
back of the device are interchangeable, so if you want
a Thunderbolt connection, then its available for an
extra cost. At least you have the choice.
Speed
Once again, USB 3.0 offers the fastest possible
speeds, but the disc inside limits both read and write
speeds to 104MB/s and 105MB/s respectively. If you
have a machine with USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt, there
is no need to upgrade the adaptor.
Size and cost per GB
This hard drive is fantastic value, and becomes better
value as you go up the impressive storage range. For
the 1TB option youre paying around 8p/13c per GB,
while the 500GB model still comes in at a recession-
crunching 12p/21c per GB.
Elgato Thunderbolt SSD LaCie Rugged Seagate Backup Plus
Summary
Its expensive, but the SSD
offers an impressive speed
boost over the hard drives
in the rest of this test
Summary
A great-looking drive that
performs well, with an
SSD option that offers a
considerable power-up
Summary
A cheap and cheerful drive
that offers average speeds
but great value just be
aware of the build quality
Editors
Choice
HHHHH HHHHH HHHHH
113
Design
The Pegasus J2 is around the size of a deck of cards,
with a black and silver design that slopes up at one
end to accommodate the ports at the rear of the
device. It looks slick and feels surprisingly solid to
hold in the hand.
Size and weight
It cant beat the tiny Verbatim drive when it comes
to lightness, but at just 140g, the J2 is impressively
svelte. However, for optimum speeds youll need a
power adaptor, which will add bulk when carrying it
around on your travels.
Connectivity
The rear of the device houses a Thunderbolt port and
power jack connection. The drive will run without
external power simply from the Thunderbolt port,
but for the best performance youll need a plug
nearby to offer a helping hand.
Speed
At optimum RAID settings we managed an
impressive 135 MB/s write and 255 MB/s read speeds
unpowered. When powered, we got an astonishing
577MB/s write and 729MB/s read. Sadly, in this case
youll actually be limited by your Macs drive speed.
Size and cost per GB
Because it uses two SSDs set up as a RAID system,
the price per GB is a wallet-punishing 1.45/$1.95.
Its available in both 245GB and 512GB storage
capacities, but the cost of SSDs make it a rather
expensive choice.
Design
Verbatim has kept things very simple here, with
a glossy black casing that curves neatly around
the drive and branding marking the only break in
the look. Its a lovely looking device, although not
everyone will like the plastic.
Size and weight
The Store n Go is by far the smallest and lightest in
our group test, weighing in at a featherweight 127g.
It would easily fit into any pocket this device is only
marginally thicker than an iPhone 4S and is light
enough that you wont even notice it.
Connectivity
The only port on the back of this drive is USB 3.0,
enabling for faster speeds and better connectivity
with older devices. Its a shame theres no
Thunderbolt, but as it has kept the price low its a
trade-off we can handle.
Speed
The Verbatim drive was a real disappointment in
our speed tests, managing a measly 46MB/s write
speed, and a slightly less disappointing 99MB/s read
speed. It seems the drive isnt fast enough to take full
advantage of its USB 3.0 connectivity.
Size and cost per GB
The price per GB for the 500GB version of the Store
n Go is just 12p/19c, and the monster 1TB version
is even less. However, the speed of the drive youre
paying for is lower than that of the others in the test,
so it counter balances itself.
Design
The magnesium bodywork of this drive looks and
feels great, and matches the blasted aluminium of
the latest Macs perfectly. In fact, its clearly been
designed to look perfect sitting next to a MacBook
Pro, and this works really well.
Size and weight
The magnesium body helps this drive fall among the
lightest in our test, and in size its almost identical to
the Seagate offering. Its comfortably pocketable,
and the metal casing ensures that its sturdy enough
to throw in a bag without concern.
Connectivity
The Mg features both USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt ports.
The disc inside limits transfer speeds, so the two
ports will offer similar performance, but for more Mac
compatibility its great to see Thunderbolt USB 3.0 is
only included in new Macs.
Speed
Like many of the other drives in our test, we
managed speeds of around 107MB/s for both writing
and reading, whether testing through USB 3.0 or
Thunderbolt. Its fast, but doesnt take advantage of
the either connections true powers.
Size and cost per GB
The Mobile Drive Mg was the cheapest Thunderbolt-
enabled option in our test, costing just 17p/27p per
GB. The Thunderbolt model is only available in 1TB,
while USB 3.0 is also available in a 1.5TB option for
those needing more space.
Promise Pegasus J2 Freecom Mobile Drive Mg Verbatim Store n Go Ultra Slim
Summary
Incredible performance,
but expensive. Even an SSD
in your Mac cant match
this devices potential
Summary
Very cheap and portable,
but sadly doesnt offer the
same performance as the
competition in the test
Summary
The Mg offers great
connectivity for the price,
and a speed that matches
most across our tests
Best
Value
HHHHH HHHHH HHHHH
O
ne of the reasons that Apple
developed Thunderbolt
with Intel was its sheer
adaptability. The interface enables
you to send data in both directions
down a single cable at high
speeds, and while this is perfect for
connecting a number of devices
to one port in whats called a daisy
chain, it also means you can add
docking stations, like the Matrox
DS1, which add a huge amount of
extra functionality to your Mac.
The DS1 is clearly built with the
latest laptops from Apple in mind
the MacBook Air is particularly
light on included ports, while the
MacBook Pro with Retina display
isnt much better off. The DS1
includes a high-speed USB 3.0 port,
along with two USB 2.0 ports, a
Gigabit Ethernet and audio in and
out jacks. There are two models
of the DS1 available from Matrox;
both include all the ports weve just
mentioned, but offer either a DVI-
out or HDMI-out for connecting an
external display. Our review model
was the DVI option, and we tested it
by plugging peripherals and cables
into every port and running them all
at once. Everything worked as you
would expect we had a small issue
with our headphones at first, but
we simply needed to change the
sound output in System Preferences
to clear it up. Aside from that we got
normal speeds from all the ports,
and were impressed with how the
hub worked.
The DS1 looks the part, with
a curved metal frame that does
a great job of matching the
aluminium of Apples lineup. We
have to say, though, that we were
a little confused about the placing
of the ports on the device. The
front of the box houses the USB 3.0
port, the Thunderbolt port and an
indicator light to tell you everything
is working. All other ports are on the
back. While the Thunderbolt port
will likely be the most-used port
if you travel with your MacBook,
Apples Thunderbolt cable is
thick and quite large when its
plugged into the hub it protrudes
around 5cm from the hub itself,
and looks rather messy. Wed also
have liked an extra Thunderbolt
port with just one, the DS1 will
have to sit at the end of your daisy
chain. These small issues certainly
dont ruin the product, however,
and as an affordable hub solution
its completely unmatched in the
market at the moment.
Add extra high-speed ports and unmatched functionality to your Mac
Compatibility
iMac (mid 2011 or later)
MacBook Pro (early 2011 or later)
MacBook Air (mid 2011 or later)
Mac mini (mid 2011 or later)
MacBook Pro with Retina display
Learn more
www.matrox.com
114
Review
Matrox DS1 190/$249.00
Buy now?
Pros Great connectivity, simple to use
and as fast as you would expect
Cons FireWire 800 and an extra
Thunderbolt port would be ideal

Gigabit Ethernet
One of the biggest complaints about
the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro
with Retina display is the lack of
Ethernet. The DS1 solves this neatly
DVI or HDMI
Depending on your
preference, you can
choose either DVI or
HDMI with embedded
audio its great to
have the choice
Power supply
The included power supply is
required for use with the hub, but it
contains adaptors for every plug style
imaginable, which is impressive
2.0 or 3.0?
While the newest Macs all include USB
3.0, older Macs with Thunderbolt will
now also be able to use the high-speed
USB technology thanks to the DS1
If you like this
You might also like
Apple Thunderbolt Display
849/$999
The only other
Thunderbolt
hub on the
market right
now is this
expensive all-in-one solution
from Apple, although Belkins
Thunderbolt Express Dock will
ofer competition soon.
115 115
T
he best thing about gadgetry
today is that style and
functionality are not mutually
exclusive terms as Apple fans
well know. And so, the dream team
of technology specialists Parrot and
designer Philippe Starck was always
going to capture the attention of our
ears and eyes. Starck, who has turned
his technical pencil on everything from
consumer electronics to hotel interiors,
has designed a set of sleek cans with a
gorgeous combination of matte black
and polished alloy as easy on the
eyes as they are soft to the ears.
So, visuals aside, what can they
do? Well, in terms of high-end
headphone technology, Parrot has
taken a kitchen sink approach. Touch
control, Bluetooth, active noise
cancellation, and a concert hall app
have you feeling a bit go go gadget
headphones! But, is it the case that
Parrot has over-egged the pudding?
Fantastically, it hasnt. The touch
controls are brilliantly responsive (left
and right to change tracks, up and
down for volume, tap to pause), and
the pause and un-pause upon taking
the headphones off and putting
them back on is not only extremely
useful, but also super cool. The noise
cancellation via the in-built mics works
a treat when you have no music
playing you are privy to sounds around
you, but when you want to ignore
peripheral noise and concentrate on
tunes, you can barely hear a thing.
Unfortunately, this is not a two-way
street, as the Ziks have pretty terrible
sound-leakage. For the price, wed
expect this to be a feature that comes
as standard, but hey, at least you cant
hear the insults coming your way from
co-workers when youre wearing them.
The Parrot Audio Suite app
simulates the environment in which
the audio is presented, from silent
room to concert hall, and also has a
function to alter speaker angle and
EQ settings all of which we thought
were pretty accurate, and could really
add to the music we played. We ran
some hyperdub through them and
can confirm that the bass response
is enormous, but we were equally
impressed by the way it took to some
softer classical pieces, with a rounded
mid range and perky treble. The
battery life ranges from six hours with
everything on, to 18 hours ANC and 24
on standby which isnt bad.
All in all, the Parrot Ziks are a five-
star set of headphones, hamstrung by
some serious noise-leakage, so they
cant get more than a four. But oh my,
what a four they are.
Why choose between style and substance when you can have both?
Compatibility
iOS devices
Mac
Bluetooth
Learn more
parrot.com/zik
Available from
store.apple.com/uk
Parrot Zik headphones 349.95/$399.95
Buy now?
Pros So many features, and they all
work spectacularly
Cons Seriously anti-social levels of noise
leakage wont make you any friends

Jack
If you dont want to
drain your devices
battery using power-
intense Bluetooth,
just connect the
added 3.5mm cable
On/off switch
Conserve juice by hitting the button
when youre not using the Ziks. The light
also flashes red when charging
Touch plate
The surface of the right-hand can is set
up for touch control. Swipes up and
down, and left and right can alter the
volume and track
Microphones
The built-in microphones are part of the
active noise-cancellation technology,
which stops the outside world
interfering with your experience
115
If you like this
You might also like
Logitech UE 9000 Wireless
Bluetooth headphones
299.95/$399.95
Less
functionality,
but also less
cash. It all
depends on
how much you
think the extra
features of the Ziks are worth
wed say its around 50.
When you come to use your new
Mac, its normal to simply switch
it on and enjoy the wonderful
experience that OS X Mountain
Lion delivers. However, whether
youre using a brand-new iMac
or MacBook, or plugging your
device into an external monitor,
calibrating the display is often a
good idea to ensure what youre
seeing on-screen is an accurate
representation of real life.
The ColorMunki Smile is a small
pod that hangs down onto the
centre of your screen. Scan with the
included software and it will create
a calibration profile that is designed
to give more accurate colours,
which is what we all want.
But, at first we were quite
disappointed with the results
our deep colours seemed a little
more washed out in comparison,
but as soon as we started looking
at photos we realised how much
difference it had made. We could
pick out more detail in shadows
and colours seemed more realistic,
but working elsewhere on the Mac,
such as browsing the web, didnt
look quite as nice.
It does its job well, making
photos look more realistic than ever,
but for those that want vibrancy
from their machine in other
everyday situations you may find
yourself switching back to your old
calibration more often than not.
Wireless headsets are quickly
becoming more popular, and
this pair of Bluetooth phones
from SuperTooth offer more than
seven hours of playback, as well as
on-device controls for simple use.
The headphones are small and very
light; the casing is almost exclusively
plastic, but still manages to feel
impressively solid.
The rotating cups allow for
relatively simple storage, and while
theyre small, they fit comfortably
on the ears for extended periods.
Controls sit on the right ear-cup,
with volume on the bottom of the
bezel, and play/pause, call and skip
buttons on the face of the cup. They
work well enough the volume
controls feel pleasingly clicky, but
the play/pause button sometimes
required multiple pushes to
function. A microphone sits on the
right cup as well. Its useable, but
the quality is understandably low
considering its position.
The biggest shame was in the
sound quality. The set uses A2DP
Bluetooth technology, which
ensures wider compatibility but
lacks the quality of the apt-X system.
Bass was strong, but the high and
mid-ranges both lacked any real
power. They dont sound bad, by
any means, but theyre not up to the
standards wed expect for the price
bracket for 70/$100 theyre very
average unfortunately.
Bluetooth headphones with poor sound quality Is your monitor displaying colours correctly?
116
Review
SuperTooth Melody 69.99/$99.99
Buy now?
Pros Simple to use and does a good
job of making photos look natural
Cons Expensive, and colours looked
duller when working in most areas

Buy now?
Pros Widely compatible, comfortable,
and featuring on-ear controls
Cons Audio quality isnt up to scratch
for the price you pay

X-Rite ColorMunki Smile 84.99/$199

Key
features
One-click calibration
Repeat calibration reminders
For laptops and desktops
Learn more
www.xritephoto.com
Available from
amazon.com
Key
features
A2DP Bluetooth 2.1
Lithium-ion battery
On-headphone controls
Learn more
www.supertooth.net
Available from
amazon.com
117
QDOS Libris Red
34.99/$TBA
Compatibility: iPad mini
Easily the most stylish of the bunch,
the QDOS Libris combines a soft
imitation leather outer with a suede
inner, which is great for both your
hands and your iPad mini. Plus, the
classy red exterior makes this a case
fit for the artist formerly known
as Prince himself. Port and button
access is a doddle, and the secure
fit means the front and rear camera
holes are perfectly placed. The Libris
case also has two foldout stands
for both portrait and landscape
viewing, providing maximum
hands-free versatility.

Incipio LGND
Premium Hard-
Shell Folio
19.99/$29.99
Compatibility: iPad mini
This one came to us in a rather
outlandish cherry blossom pink,
which unfortunately swiftly faded
as the nubuck cover collected dirt,
making it more of a mosquito-
bite colour. The LGND combines a
protective shell for the rear of the
device with the aforementioned
nubuck cover, which can be bent
into two shapes to provide a
horizontal stand though were
unsure how long the shape will
actually hold with repeated use. The
front flap also wakens your device,
and there is easy access for all ports
and buttons.

Tuff-Luv
Slim-Stand
19.99/$29.99
Compatibility: iPad mini
The Slim-Stand is one of the
most functional and protective
among the cases on this page. The
padded folio has a ridged inner,
and a durable elastic strap ensures
nothing will be slipping out of
place. The graphite colour adds
an executive air, and the cover has
a wake function. The inside cover
is a soft micro-fibre that feels like
suede and protects your screen.
Stand-wise, the cover has three
grooves, enabling for three different
heights with which you can view
your screen. Button access is slightly
fiddly, but the synthetic straps hold
your device in place.

BookBook
Hardback
Leather Case
59.99/$69.99
Compatibility: iPad mini
One persons tatty is anothers
haute couture, and there will
certainly be some who appreciate
the BookBooks leather-bound
literary look. It feels luxurious,
and your mini is fully secure when
zipped in. You slide your mini into
an additional inner slip, which pops
up to reveal a small stand. Access-
wise, the buttons and ports can
be hard to reach, owing to the zip
getting in the way all the time and
there is no camera hole. However,
if you use your iPad mini while
commuting, the added protection
may come in handy.

Accessories
iPad mini cases
Review
118
Adobe Creative Cloud
The best of Adobe in
one convenient cloud
app but is it worth
the monthly cost?
119
F
or creative professionals, no set
of apps is quite as widely used
as Adobes Creative Suite. The
recently released CS6 continues that
trend, with a ream of new features
and a redesigned interface for the
most popular apps.
Adobe simultaneously released
Creative Cloud, a service and
purchasing option that gives you
complete access to the full Creative
Suite, as well as several other benefits
for a monthly subscription fee.
With recent updates that add new
features to the Creative Suite apps,
were taking a look at Creative Cloud
to find out whether it represents
value for money, whether its right
for you and if the new updates and
cloud-specific features are worth the
monthly cost. When you can pick
and choose individual apps from CS6,
will the offer of all Adobes apps be
enough to tempt you into signing up?
Creative Cloud is primarily a
business choice that enables users to
download any and all of the Creative
Suite apps to their Mac whenever
they want. Whether you want just
one app, or you will use every single
one, youll pay the same price; the
subscription model lets you sign
up for either a single month or a
12-month period. Your payment
offers you the ability to download the
apps from an App Store-like installer.
Sadly, this installer only enables you
to download and install one app at
a time, so those wanting to get a
number of apps at once will have
to keep checking back with their
machine. Still, the downloading and
installation processes were simple
and impressively fast, and after a short
time we had all the applications we
wanted on our Mac.
Creative Cloud is centred around
an online portal which offers you
20GB of storage space. This area can
be accessed by CS6 apps directly,
as well as via a web browser or
through using one of the Adobe
Touch apps (which well talk about
more in a moment). A desktop sync
app called Connection also enables
you to upload files directly from
your Mac to your storage space by
simply dragging and dropping them
into a folder on your Mac. Youre not
limited to simply CS6 files, either
you can use your Creative Cloud as a
Dropbox-style storage area for all your
files if you wish.
One of the biggest bonuses of the
subscription is the backup licence
that youll get when you sign up. For
those that use two machines, youll
be able to install apps on both with
Adobe Creative Cloud
46.88/$49.99 p/m
Key features
20GB of cloud storage
Every CS6 application
Licence for backup computer
Typekit included
App Store-like installer
System
Requirements
Multi-core Intel processor
64-bit support
OS X 10.6.8 or higher
4GB RAM
10.5GB hard drive space
Learn more
www.adobe.com/creativecloud
Review
120
just one Adobe ID; the only limitation
is that you cant use both machines
simultaneously. The subscription is
cross-platform, too, so if you work on
both Mac and PC you will be able to
install CS6 apps on both without any
problems with compatibility.
These apps are just what you
would expect from Adobe, and youll
have access to all the apps on offer
in the Master Collection. Some have
been beefed up with extra features
for Creative Cloud users, but many
remain the same as the non-cloud
version, which is a shame. We liked
the additional apps of Muse and
Edge, Adobes website-creation tools,
which arent available unless you buy
them separately. Sites created in Muse
can be uploaded to Adobes Business
Catalyst component, which can host
five sites, and also benefits from
other great online features including
analytics and social media integration.
We also liked that Adobes Typekit
was included in the cloud offering, as
its huge range of high-quality fonts
is second to none, and absolutely
essential for those wanting to step
up their professional work. We were
happy to see that scriptwriting and
planning tool, Story Plus, offers
collaboration options through
the Creative Cloud app for video
professionals, too.
Photoshop also impressed, with
a selection of new features that
are exclusive for Creative Cloud
customers. Tools like Smart Filters,
which can now be applied to
both images and video, are a great
addition, and Conditional Actions
are sure to make things easier
for photographers who want to
add certain parameters to a shot
depending on specific criteria.
However, these exclusive
features will only be a small part
of the decision for most would-be
purchasers. For many it will come
down to how much the apps on
offer are wanted. You can subscribe
to Creative Cloud for 46.88/$49.99
per month on a one-year contract,
or the higher cost of 70.32/$74.99
if you want a month-by-month
contract that can be cancelled at any
time. It should be clear, first of all, that
customers in the UK are getting a
considerably worse deal than those in
the US, with prices that are around 30
per cent higher than their American
Imaging/designing
The imaging and design area of the Adobe suite has been
expanded thanks to some Photoshop additions in a recent
update. The extra features are welcome, and will undoubtedly
please designers. Elsewhere, the other imaging apps are much the same
as their standalone, non-Creative Cloud equivalents; its really Photoshop
thats flying the flag for the subscription service in this area.
Web development
Web development has become a big part of CS6 since the
launch of Creative Cloud. Adobe Muse is included, which allows
you to put together websites without needing to know a great
deal about coding, before hosting it through the Adobe Business Catalyst
component. HTML5 authoring is also integrated thanks to Adobe Edge
both apps are exclusive to Creative Cloud unless you wish to pay for them
individually. Combined, sites like the one above should be achievable.
counterparts. This is something that
has always been the case with Adobe,
and is reflected in the price of the full
Creative Suite anyway.
The other disadvantage is the
fact that the Adobe Touch apps,
which also link into Creative Cloud,
are not included in the monthly
price. Instead, purchasing these
apps will grant you one months free
121
subscription Adobe reportedly
attempted to reach a deal in which
the apps could be given away for free
to Creative Cloud subscribers, but it
was not possible with Apples App
Store system. Its a shame these arent
included, but the majority of the apps
are good enough to warrant buying
on their own, and are certainly worth
it with the extra incentive of a free
months subscription.
Subscribers will get unlimited
access to the apps in the CS6
Master Suite, which on its own costs
2,667.60/$2,599.00, for a yearly fee
of around 560/$600. Considering
that Creative Cloud offers extra
functionality, as well as the latest
versions of the software whenever
theyre updated, it makes a great
deal of sense for those that want the
full suite to upgrade. Considering
the Creative Suite is usually updated
completely every two years or so,
there is a potentially hefty saving
to be made here. The month-by-
month option also makes sense for
those that simply want to try out the
Creative Suite for a month without
paying a full retail price. If you only
use a couple of the CS apps, however,
its a harder sell. There are single-app
options for a lower price, so if you
just want Photoshop you can pay
monthly for access to just the single
app, but the most difficult decision
that we can see is for those that use
some, but not all, of the CS6 apps.
We have to say that having access to
Creative Cloud made us branch out
more, try new things and experiment
with apps we would never have
tried otherwise, and thats a bonus
that shouldnt be underestimated.
However, for some, the price will
simply be too much of a problem
to justify upgrading. It will certainly
come down to personal preference,
but if youre not sure, its great to
know that you can try all the apps for
a month and see how you feel before
making a long-term commitment.
Buy now?
Pros Good value, good additional apps
and features, cloud storage is brilliant
Cons Expensive if you only use certain
apps, needs more exclusive features

Creative
Cloud
Master
Collection
Photoshop
Ext
(standalone)
Photoshop
Ext (monthly)
Price 46.88/$49.99
2,667.60/
$2,599.00
944.64/
$999
17.58/
$19.99
Effective cost
(for duration of
product lifetime
24 months)
1,100/$1,200
2,667.60/
$2,599.00
944.64/$999 421.92/$479.76
Included apps All Adobe apps All Adobe apps
Photoshop
Extended
Edition
Photoshop
Extended
Edition
Extra features
20GB cloud
storage,
exclusive app
functionality,
backup licence,
Muse, Edge,
Typekit
None None
20GB cloud
storage
Having access to Creative Cloud
made us branch out more, try new
things and experiment with apps
we would never have tried
Pricing
table
Video
Video enhancements are a little thin on the ground in Creative
Cloud of course, you still have access to all the video apps
within CS6, including Premiere Pro and After Effects, but there
are limited extra features. Story Plus is included, which will be perfect for
writing scripts and planning production, and Photoshops Smart Filters can
be applied to videos as well as photos, but aside from these features there
is nothing standout that isnt available in the Master Collection.
High DPI
The latest versions of Photoshop and Lightroom both
offer full support for the high-quality screen on the latest
MacBook Pro with Retina display. Like the laptop itself, this
is primarily aimed at professional users who are looking to
get the most from their photos, but its great to see the most
popular software from Adobe supporting the hardware that
makes editing photos a richer experience.
When it comes to
creating your own
animations, it often
takes expensive
software and a great deal of
knowledge to even get started.
Animationist aims to make the
process easier, using keyframes,
presets and a range of options that
are simple to learn, but deep enough
to look truly professional.
The app is perfect for creating
customised titles for iMovie projects,
and whether you want to add text,
logos or images, its all possible.
Animationist includes an impressive
collection of preset animations,
too. Theyre of such a high quality
that you might be happy enough
simply editing them rather than
creating your own animation from
scratch. And, if youre a newcomer
to keyframe animations, this is also a
great place to start when learning the
software. Theres a full set of tutorials,
both in video and text formats,
for those that want to learn. The
keyframing makes things surprisingly
easy; the system basically enables you
to move the text from the point at
which you want it to start to the end
point. Move a slider at the bottom
of the screen, and the movement
between the two will be added
automatically. Stacking up these
animations lets you make the titles
more complex.
There are plenty of built-in effects
you can add from a drop-down
menu, too. Each one has a useful
preview in the drop-down menu
to give you an idea of how your
animation will look. Each one can be
completely customised from a menu
on the right of the screen, which
keeps track of every element in your
animation and the effects associated
with it. Your timeline sits at the
bottom of the screen, and is divided
into sections showing the timing of
each animation. In and out points are
marked by a small icon, although we
wouldve preferred a bar that filled
the section its sometimes a little
difficult to see when an animation
stops and when it starts.
The app offers great depth, and
we were really impressed by the
quality of the finished animations.
Exports took a little while to process,
but werent any longer than we
expected, and the user interface puts
everything you need within easy
reach. Its expensive for what could be
looked at as an expansion to iMovies
own features, but if youre serious
about your video editing its a decent
addition to your repertoire.
Animationist 20.99/$29.99
Animation made easy, or a complicated mess? Lets take a closer look
Key Features
Video tutorials included
Animation presets built in
Sequencer for visual editing
Learn more
www.syniumsoftware.com
Available from
Mac App Store
Review
122
Buy now?
Pros A powerful editor with plenty of
options and great-looking presets
Cons The app is expensive, with a few
slightly annoying niggles

Toolbar
The toolbar along the
top offers every tool
you could need, with
shapes, editing tools,
and effects that can be
added with a couple
of clicks
Visual editing
You can physically
move items around
the screen to create
animations, so you
dont need advanced
animation skills to use
the application
Elements
Each element can be
viewed on the right
of the screen, with
animations listed
below. This is a great
place to play with the
animation settings
more precisely
Timeline
The timeline at
the bottom of
the screen tracks
each element as
time goes by. The
markers show
where each one
starts and ends
Truly wireless
The SMA is a precisely tuned speaker system with
unrivalled wireless connectivity. Now you can
literally take your music anywhere.
www.pioneer.co.uk/sma
www.pioneer.co.uk
Tuned by Andrew Jones, Chief Speaker Engineer, Pioneer Electronics.
3 Key
Features
Mastering FX
The app includes iZotopes
Mastering Efects Bundle, a suite
of six plug-ins: EQ, Multiband
Compressor, Exciter, Imager, Limiter
and Reverb.
Restore and repair
Exclusive to the Mac version,
you also get iZotopes Declicker,
Denoiser and Declipper audio repair
plug-ins thrown in.
Supported file formats
Opens: 3G2, 3GP, AAC, AIF, AMR, CAF,
M4A, MP3, MP4, SDII, SND,
W64, WAV.
Saves: 3G2, 3GP, AAC, AIF, CAF,M4A,
MP3, MP4, SND, W64, WAV.
Windows users have had the
benefit of Sound Forge Pro for
several years now, so a Mac version
has been eagerly anticipated by the
Apple faithful. Far from being the
ported-over clone of Sound Forge Pro
10 that many people were expecting
however, Sound Forge Pro Mac is an
entirely new app, written from the
ground up especially for the Mac
platform. As a consequence, there are
a number of significant differences
between the two versions that not
everybody is going to be particularly
happy about.
The apps core functionality
remains the same its a capable
audio editor and VST/AU plug-in host.
Not only does it access all the AU
and VST2 plug-ins already on your
system, it also comes bundled with
a sophisticated and great-sounding
set of iZotope mastering and audio
repair tools, plus high-quality Zplane
elastique time-stretching and pitch-
shifting options.
Sound Forge Pro Mac can handle
up to 32 simultaneously recorded
channels of audio, depending on
the interface you have connected,
at up to 64-bit, 192kHz resolution.
The interface initially resembles an
amped-up version of iTunes, but can
be personalised by assigning various
functions such as level meters, file
browsers and plug-in chains to a
system of movable panes that can
be arranged as required around the
central audio waveform editing area.
In use, the workflow is easy to
get the hang of, and the majority
of standard audio editing tasks can
be dispatched with ease, notably
normalising, reversing, stretching,
repitching and fading in and out. The
most glaring omissions when lined up
against the PC equivalent, however,
are batch processing, CD mastering,
video support, auto-regioning, phase
meters and spectrum analysis. There
are also missing toolbar buttons, far
fewer key commands and a much
narrower range of file export options
than the Windows version.
Theres the core of a useful and
versatile app here, whose appeal is
pitched firmly at the fields of sound
design and post-production, but at
the time of writing it appears very
much a first release, with obvious
scope for improvement. Many Mac-
based audio professionals have been
waiting years for this, but if Sound
Forge was the only reason you were
keeping a PC, you might want to wait
a little longer, or at least compare
its current feature set to your own
requirements before moving on.
Sound Forge Pro Mac 1.0 174.95/$269.95
Sound Forge finally arrives on Mac. Was it worth the wait?
Specs
Intel dual-core processor Mac
running OS X 10.7 (Lion) or 10.8
(Mountain Lion)
2GB RAM
200MB of free hard disk space for
installation
Internet connection for
registration
Learn more
www.sonycreativesoftware.com/
soundforgepromac
Available from
www.sonycreativesoftware.com/
soundforgepromac
Review
124
Buy now?
Pros Zplane time-stretching and
iZotope bundles sound fantastic
Cons Limited feature set compared to
PC version, pricey, no FLAC support

125
If youve ever found
yourself scribbling
down ideas or drawings
on scraps of paper or
painstakingly annotating an image
in Preview, then youre not alone.
Fortunately, Aged & Distilled the OS
X developer behind Napkin has been
hard at work to provide a solution.
Put simply, Napkin enables you
to easily annotate images, photos or
screenshots with callouts, redactions,
text and arrows in an interface that
Apple itself wouldve done well to
have designed. This might seem
pretty straightforward, and it is, but
Napkins real strengths lie in how
simple and easy it is to use, enabling
you to get started and create your
annotations and show off your ideas
in a matter of seconds.
Once youve downloaded the app
from the Mac App Store, youll be
presented with a short introductory
video and then youre free to get
creative. Napkins interface feels
incredibly intuitive, thanks in no small
part to its native OS X feel in fact, if
youve ever used Pages, Numbers or
Keynote, youll feel right at home here.
Beyond the visual UI, though,
things get even more impressive,
with the vast majority of what can be
done in the app accessible by simply
drawing on the screen. To get started,
you drag an image or screenshot
onto Napkins blank canvas and get
annotating. In our testing, we didnt
have any issues importing most
common (and uncommon) image
files into the app Napkin happily
accepted TIFFs, JPEGs and even PSDs
before intelligently resizing them to fit
in the window.
Everything in Napkin is controlled
by drawing on the canvas an arrow
can be made by drawing a straight
line, callouts can be made by drawing
a circle over an image to zoom in on
a certain area, and theres plenty of
other small touches that make this
app incredibly easy to work with.
Adding text, for example, is as simple
as typing Napkin will automatically
place it near the selected item and
ensure it stands against a background.
All in all, Napkin is nothing short of
impressive and beautifully simple to
use, and theres some great advanced
features in the form of iCloud and
Mountain Lion integration, too. The
only real issue with this desktop app
is its price tag. The usability here is
absolutely spot on, but some users
may feel like theyre paying a lot for a
limited set of features.
Annotating images and digitally scribbling ideas has never been easier
Specs
Mac OS X 10.8 or higher
64-bit processor
Learn more
www.aged-and-distilled.com
Available from
Mac App Store
Buy now?
Pros Beautifully simple interface, great
Mountain Lion and iCloud integration
Cons A little too pricey for some

Napkin - Concise Image Annotation and

Communication 27.99/$39.99
Creating callouts
Picking out a part of an image is as
simple as drawing a circle and dragging
the viewfinder over the area you want
to highlight
Sharing the
results
Napkin fully integrates
with iCloud, so you
can upload images
to your account and
create a link to share
them with friends
All about
arrows
Drawing a straight
line from one item
to another creates
an arrow, itll even
lock to those two
items and move
when they move
Recognise?
Napkins interface
is very familiar
and thats down
to its similarity
between many
of the native OS
X apps including
Pages, Numbers
and Keynote
App Store roundup
A comprehensive art app that will satisfy beginners and professionals
PicsArt Photo Studio Free
A free photo
editing app that
also promises the
ability to draw with
customisable brushes
may seem a little too
good to be true. With that in mind
we approached PicsArt Photo Studio
with no small amount of caution. We
were pleasantly surprised to find that
as bold as the claims may have been,
PicsArt actually manages to pull off
this feat and be the kind of easy-to-
use, but versatile image app that every
iPhone photography fan can enjoy.
The menu is immediately
welcoming, although perhaps not
very clear about what its offering.
Effect lets you add filters to your work,
Edit is for trimming and quick fixes,
Collage creates a more artistic piece
of work and Draw is naturally for
sketching on a photo or blank canvas.
Having said that, many of these
options are available as you work in
other areas, so you dont have to go
back and forth to the main menu.
The Interesting feed offers up
some images from the community.
On the whole we would say its a
largely dull affair with lots of basic
family images and not much by way
of creative work. Its a disservice to
the app really, as you can do so much
more with only a little bit of time
spent. The filters and effects on offer
in PicsArt Photo Studio offer a lot
of customisation so you can
really make a snapshot into
something special. Drawing
with PicsArt was the biggest
and happiest surprise though. The
selection of brush shapes, the ability
to change opacity, thickness, angle,
and more means you have a lot more
control over your sketches than you
would in some dedicated apps. Youre
unlikely to paint a masterpiece with it
as it can be a little laggy in responding
to brush strokes, particularly long ones,
but you should be able to jot down
outlines and quick ideas pretty well.
Not to mention, of course, painting on
top of an image youve already taken
or importing one afterwards. There are
just so many options.
The community of PicsArt users
needs to grow a little before the social
side of things really kicks into gear, but
the tools it offers should definitely be
checked. With the ability to share to
Twitter and Facebook this could well
be a worthy upgrade from the likes
of Instagram for those looking for
more creative control over their quick
mobile snaps.
Overall rating
Compatibility
iPhone, iPod touch
Developer
Socialin Inc.
126
The Interesting gallery of community
images is a bit too sparse at present
We were very impressed by the
quality of brush controls
Thanks to filter
controls on
things like the
Artistic and Pop
Art effects, you
can create some
great images
127
Browsing or searching by hashtags
brings some really interesting results
Want more great app reviews?
Get the new issue, on sale now from www.imagineshop.co.uk
While not the first app
thats attempted to
bring the brevity of
Twitters 140 character
posts to the world of video, Vine
is the only one that Twitter itself
decided to buy. The simple premise
then is to record six-second clips,
tag it and then share via Twitter,
Facebook and the Vine community.
Six seconds may not sound like a lot,
but when you see what others do
with it youll realise the possibilities.
The whole interface for browsing
clips (which play automatically,
like GIFs) and recording by simply
holding anywhere on the screen is
delightfully simple. This is one video
app that could really grow and grow.
With an interface that is
as intuitive as it is clean
and captivating, Bloom.
fm is the kind of app
that could and perhaps should be
competing in your mind with the
likes of Spotify. You have the option
to stream radio stations through
the app for free and play 30 second
clips of other music, but the months
free unlock of the full service may
be enough to convince you that up
to 13.99 a month isnt too much to
ask for. Subscribing from Bloom.fms
website appears to be cheaper too.
The ability to borrow tracks to play
offline is just one more reason to
give it consideration.
Vine Make a scene Free
Bloom.fm Free
Compatibility
iPhone, iPod touch
Developer
Vine Labs Inc
This interesting image
editor is pretty unique
in its focus and its
interface. The main
purpose of Gel is to add colour
to your images, but it goes much
deeper than that. Solid geometric
shapes, gradients, tints and overlays
can be used to create some really
intriguing final effects.
After youve picked or taken a
new photo you can scroll through
the palette of colours, and then by
tweaking the options at the top
of the screen you quickly select
new ways of using that colour on
your image. We were fans of using
geometric shapes against black
and white pics or using tints to add
subtle edits. Play around with it and
youll find something you like.
Compatibility
iPhone, iPod touch
Developer
James Moore
Adding subtle colours can give your
images an even more seasonal feel
Directr Free
Developer Directr, Inc
This is a very easy and quick
way of cutting together movie
clips, perhaps as keepsakes of
family events or nights out with your
best friends. Select the number of clips
you want to take, record and Directr
does the rest for you. It then posts
online instantly too.
Videosis Free
Developer Alexandros Karargyris
For some quick video capture
and the ability to check out
filters before you even start
recording your movie, Videosis is a
pretty smart little application. Youre
not going to get huge amounts of
editing control, but the effects are
interesting to play with.
PIP Camera Free
Developer Fotoable, Inc
We rather like this photo
grabber as you select a frame
for your image (taken live
or selected from your Camera Roll),
and then edit with filters to create
an interesting contrast between
foreground and background. You can
create some really cool images.
CrossDJ for iPhone Free
Developer INVIBES Sarl
As music mixing applications
on the iOS App Store go,
this is one of the simpler and
easier to navigate ones weve used,
which isnt a bad combination. More
experienced and knowledgeable
turntable fans may find it a little
limited, but there are some good
effect controls and beat syncing here.
Presstomatic Free
Developer Pressto, Inc.
Mixing a scrapbooking app
with the aesthetic of a social
news network like Flipboard,
Presstomatic delivers a stylish
experience. You can add photos and
video, but we would have liked a little
more customisation.
More great
creative apps
Blooms name is reflected in this petal
system of finding artists
Youll need to search, but there are
some epic videos on show
Sliders can be used to change the
intensity of the colour youre adding
Gel 0.69/$0.99
Overall rating
Overall rating
Overall rating
Compatibility
iPhone, iPod touch
Developer
Digital Distribution Networks Ltd.
Subscribing to Bloom.fm lets
you play full tracks
TESTED, TRUSTED
AND TALKED ABOUT
WINNER 2011
When your Mac and PC
worlds collide, nothing unites
like Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac.
No wonder its the #1 choice* of
customers worldwide who want to
run Windows apps on their Mac.
The only software that gives you the
absolute best of both worlds just
got better.
Mountain Lion features come to Windows.
From gestures to Dictation, youll think
your Windows applications were made
for your Mac.
Effortless browsing.
Open in Internet Explorer button allows
you to switch browsers with the click of
a button when you visit sites that dont
work well in Safari.
No more presentation glitches.
The Presentation Wizard allows
you to easily and beautifully show
presentations on any external monitor
or projector.

Its like having two
computers in one.
www.stormfront.co.uk www.currys.co.uk
www.pcworld.co.uk
2012 Parallels IP Holdings GmbH. All rights reserved. The Parallels logo, Parallels and Parallels Desktop are registered trademarks of Parallels IP Holdings GmbH. Microsoft, Internet Explorer, Windows, Windows 7, Windows 8,Windows Vista, Windows XP
and any related graphic logos or icons are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Apple, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Launchpad, Mac, the Mac logo, Mac OS, MacBook, MacBook Air,
Mission Control, and Safari are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Symantec, the Symantec Logo, the Checkmark Logo, Norton, and NortonLive are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation or its affliates
in the U.S. and other countries. Other product and company names are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
*No. 1 claim based on NPD Techworld Reports for the period 8/1/065/31/12.
2
Based on internal performance testing, June 2012.
3
30-day complimentary subscription plus special offer; requires software download.
4 5
For Windows only. Reviews and awards
cited may be for previous versions of Parallels Desktop for Mac.