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THE

SPECIAL NEW MACBOOK:


REPORT: TORTURE-TESTED,
13 AFFORDABLE MICROSOFTREVIEWED, AND RATED! 120
WORD ALTERNATIVES AUG
2006

A SB E T T E R M A C H I N E . A B E T T E R M A ¬ A Z I N E .
IDE AM
FR O
THE
S
PR O

CREATIVE
PROJECTS!
EYE-POPPING
HOW-TOS

Craft a
Multiphoto
Portrait
PLUS:
HOW TO…
B Create Your
Own Ringtones
B Fix Mac OS X’s
Make a Stylized Finder Foibles
Illustration B Run Windows
Safely (Really!)

Create a Perfect Panorama


…and more!

COMPOSE Pump Up GarageBand with


LIKE AN AUDIO
ENGINEER the Power of Potent Plug-ins!
Right

Right
04 AUGUST2006
NO.120•VOLUME11•ISSUE8
a better machine. a better magazine.

features
18 Free Your
Inner Artist
We’ve got nine easy-to-do creative projects that show
you how to enhance your digital photos, create and
manage fonts, and use your scanner to capture artistic
images worthy of a gallery wall. by Mark Rosenthal

28 Take GarageBand Out


of the Garage
GarageBand is capable of producing stunning compositions right out
of the box, but when you enhance its powers with potent plug-ins,
the sonic sky’s the limit. by David Biedny

34 Entertaining Intelligence
This month’s Field Guide on home-entertainment terms will help you
tell SED from SXRD, know the difference between EDTV and SDTV, and
distinguish 1080i from 1080p. by Logan Kugler

how to
60 Ask Us
Did you know that every Mac comes standard
64 Create Your
Own Ringtones
with the ultimate troubleshooter? It’s also got Plain-Jane celly ringtones
built-in disk-maintenance utilities, a RAW- are this year’s déclassé
image processor, the most versatile jukebox “You’ve got mail.” You can
on the planet, and a completely configurable create and use your own
Ethernet port (or two). Now you know. ’tones on many phones.
by Cathy Lu
62 Fix Your Finder
If you think the Mac OS Finder is flawless, 70 Run Windows Safely
you’re one of a vanishing few. Exercise A little common sense
your options for file finding, browsing, and can keep your Windows-
carousing. by Niko Coucouvanis rocking Mac surprisingly
safe and secure.
by Niko Coucouvanis

04 August 2006
06 CONTENTS
a better machine. a better magazine.

09 Editors’ Page 42
Do Macs make us more creative, or do we use Macs because
we’re creative already? Hmmm...

10 Get Info 46
Apple unveils the MacBook, its new Intel-based iBook
replacement, plus a sparkling new store in the city that
never sleeps. Also: Apple and Nike get together, what to do
when your Mac stalls during startup, and a close look at the
performance issues with the Universal version of Apple’s
Final Cut Studio.

37 Reviews
38 13-inch 1.83GHz MacBook notebook Mac
42 17-inch MacBook Pro notebook Mac
42 Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser for Mac
keyboard and mouse
53 CyberTablet 8600 tablet
40 Evolt E-330 SLR camera
41 Final Draft AV screenwriting software
49 LX Desk Mount Notebook Arm notebook stand
43 MemoryMiner photo organizer
50 Mercury On-The-Go FireWire 800+USB 2.0
portable hard drive
49 Micro Mini Hard Drive 8GB portable hard drive 38
47 miniStack V2 external hard drive
44 MojoWorld 3 3D-world generator
40 48 44
47 mTune-N iPod nano headphones
48 Photosmart 475 photo printer
46 PowerShot S80 point-and-shoot camera
50 SyncMaster 940BF LCD display
52 ThunderDock iPod speaker stand

55 Games
57 Bullet Candy 1.0.2 shoot-em-up game review 78 Log Out 79 Contest
56 Platypus shooter game review Conquer cable clutter by winning a
56 RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Soaked! tips and tricks 78 Letters BookEndz docking station.
55 The Sims 2: Nightlife expansion pack review Apple’s designers face a 12-year-
56 The Sims 2: Open for Business coming soon old challenger, Steve Jobs—or is 80 Shut Down
55 World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade coming soon it Jennifer Aniston?—has a donut- Apple’s latest legal battle strikes
57 The Xbox 360 and Mac Collide game news obsessed nephew, and 59 percent close to home: the tragic results of a
of our readers pooh-pooh Windows. Ramones-fueled workout.

QUICK TIPS
FROM THIS MONTH’S ISSUE

SAFETY NET PICK A LANE BEAM ME UP TURN DOWN THE NOISE


Keep track of your most-recent Someday you might use If it seems like there’s no Point-and-shoot cameras
Mac OS install disc—when antivirus software (even way to get a custom ringtone can rarely handle the noise-
disaster strikes, it’s the on your Mac); our foray into on your no-frills phone, try reduction algorithms used by
easiest way Windows taught us that using http://xingtone.com, which professional ones. To cut down
to put your multiple delivers ’tones to phones over the noise in your pictures, use
Mac right. antivirus kits the airwaves. From “Create low ISO settings, plus adequate
From Ask is a bad idea. Your Own Ringtones,” p64. lighting.
Us, p60. From “Run From
Windows Reviews,
Safely,” p70. p46.

06 August 2006
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grade media attractive you don’t ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Jose Urrutia, 415-656-8313
PRODUCTION
manager. as well. have to. PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Richard Lesovoy
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Ryan Meith
CIRCULATION
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Peter Kelly
AUDIO & MUSIC FUN & GAMES TechRestore demo video NEWSSTAND MARKETING MANAGER Bill Shewey
Audacity 1.3.0b freeware Atomic Cannon 1.0 demo BILLING AND RENEWAL MANAGER Betsy Wong
PRODUCTIVITY NEWSSTAND COORDINATOR Alex Guzman
SFX Machine Pro demo Avalanche Extreme 1.1 trial
CDFinder 4.6 shareware FULFILLMENT MANAGER Peggy Mores
iFill 1.0 demo Kickin’ Soccer 1.0 shareware DIRECT-MAIL MANAGER Stephanie Blake
Microsoft Office 2004 Test Drive
Roland GI-20 demo video Wordsmith shareware DIRECT MARKETING SPECIALIST Janet Amistoso
OmniGraffle 4.1.1 trial
AUDIO UNIT PLUG-INS GRAPHICS & MULTIMEDIA OmniOutliner 3.6 demo FUTURE US, INC.
(IN AUDIO & MUSIC FOLDER) 4000 Shoreline Court, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080
DeBabelizer Pro 6 trial Spool Pilot for Mac 1.0 demo
www.futureus-inc.com
Ambience Reverb donationware DeBabelizer Server trial TaskTime 4.1.7 shareware PRESIDENT Jonathan Simpson-Bint
Au303 1.04 freeware DivX 6.5 trial Textreme 3.0 shareware VICE PRESIDENT/CFO Tom Valentino
Augustus Loop 1.6.1 freeware Equilibrium Action Packed trial TimeCache 6.1.1 trial VICE PRESIDENT/CIRCULATION Holly Klingel
Automat 4.1 freeware Image Tricks 2.1 freeware TinyBooks 3.0.7 trial GENERAL COUNSEL Charles Schug
PUBLISHING DIRECTOR/GAMES Simon Whitcombe
Bad Cable freeware LiveQuartz Image Editor 1.6
UTILITIES PUBLISHING DIRECTOR/MUSIC & TECH Steve Aaron
Chip32 freeware donationware
AppZapper 1.5 demo PUBLISHING DIRECTOR/BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Dave Barrow
Crazy Ivan 1.1.1 freeware photoprinto 2.1 trial EDITORIAL DIRECTOR/TECHNOLOGY Jon Phillips
CopyCatX 3.5 demo
Crystal 2.4.9d donationware vSlideshow 1.0 trial EDITORIAL DIRECTOR/MUSIC Brad Tolinski
DiskTracker 2.3.3 (Classic) DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL SERVICES Nancy Durlester
DFX Buffer Override freeware
INTERFACE shareware PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Richie Lesovoy
DFX EQ Sync freeware
A Better Finder Rename 7.3.5 DiskTracker 2.3.3 (Mac OS X)
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shareware shareware Future US, Inc. is part of Future plc.
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Default Folder X 3.0 trial eNotes 1.3 demo
DFX Monomaker freeware special-interest magazines, Web sites,
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EntourageABMenu 1.4 shareware MacForensicsLab 1.0 demo passion. We aim to satisfy that passion
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shareware Parallels Desktop demo
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LaunchBar 4.1 shareware Stellar Phoenix 2.0 demo growing number of events in the US, UK, France, and Italy. Over 100
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SupaPhaser 3.0 freeware SpamSweep 1.3 shareware OmniGraffle 4.1.1 trial Tel +44 1225 442244 www.futureplc.com
The Wavebreaker 2.0A1 alpha OmniOutliner 3.6 trial REPRINTS: For reprints, contact Ryan Derfler, Reprint Operations
MEDIA Specialist, 717.399.1900 ext. 167
Warp Drive AU 1.0 freeware OmniWeb 5.1.3 trial
Get Out the Way free MP3 song, or email: futurenetworkusa@reprintbuyer.com
Zoyd public beta plus games Roland GI-20 demo video SUBSCRIPTION QUERIES: Please email mcdcustserv@cdsfulfillment
TechRestore demo video .com or call customer service toll-free at 888-771-6222.
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UPGRADE
If you don’t receive the Disc with your copy of MacAddict, you might want to consider upgrading. Each monthly Disc contains cool demos, useful
shareware and freeware, and an assortment of multimedia goodies. To get 12 issues of MacAddict that include this value-packed Disc with your
subscription (prorated if necessary) for just $1 more per issue, call 888-771-6222—the operator will take care of everything.

08 August 2006
EDITORS’ PAGE
09

Express Yourself! STAFF RANTS


What is it about Mac addicts and Q. What’s the most creative thing you’ve done with your Mac?
creativity? Does the Mac and its
abundance of innovative software inspire Susie Ochs SECRETARY OF PARTYING DOWN
us to be more creative than we would What’s the most creative thing you’ve done with your Mac?
otherwise be, or are we drawn to the Mac Well, it wasn’t on a Mac, but when I was in sixth grade
I programmed a Michael Jordan game in BASIC on my
because we are, at heart, more visually school’s Apple IIE. It had stats, a trivia quiz, and a text-only
and aurally expressive than the average “one on one” game that used input and random-number
commands to simulate a matchup against a IIE-controlled MJ. (What a
peecee-using keyboard tickler? nerd, huh?) I wonder where that 5-inch floppy is now…
Or is it a little bit of both?
Tossing all modesty out the window, Roman Loyola MAN AT THE CROSSROADS
What’s the most creative thing you’ve done with your Mac?
I say it’s a combination of both. We’re I once painted a mural while using my Mac SE as a step
drawn to the Mac because aesthetics matter to us; we use the tools stool. That, and when I made a short iMovie video of my
provided by Apple, Adobe, M-Audio, Digidesign, and many, many first-born son learning how to stand, set to Culture Club’s
“I’ll Tumble 4 Ya.”
others to pursue our own aesthetic goals. Whether we’re fine-tuning
a multicamera video in Final Cut Pro 5 or tweaking a P&L spreadsheet Niko Coucouvanis STINKERBELL
in Excel, we strive to make our work’s appearance as compelling as its What’s the most creative thing you’ve done with your Mac?
I’m learning to dance, sort of. I turned my new MacBook
content. And that’s a good thing. Pro into a lightsaber—I’ll show you how next month—and
Two feature stories in this month’s issue are designed to appeal I’m working on a routine to put that Star Wars Kid (just
to your Mac-empowered aesthetic self. Beginning on page 18, Google him) to shame. Unless you want to hear about
the…um…smoke-delivery device I made out of a Mac Plus.
MacAddict’s own art director, Mark Rosenthal, leads you through a
series of creative projects that will, as his article’s title suggests, “Free Peter Marshutz ART DIRECTORISH
Your Inner Artist.” Being an amateur photographer myself, I used my What’s the most creative thing you’ve done with your Mac?
I can’t believe you’re asking me that, Rik! :-) The most
Nikon D70 and some of his tips to take my fledgling skills to a new creative thing I do with my Mac is design MacAddict layouts
level. Thanks, Mark. each month.
On page 28 you’ll find “Take GarageBand Out of the Garage,”
Elliot Smith MISUNDERSTOOD IDEALIST
an eye-opening—ear-opening?—introduction into the vast galaxy What’s the most creative thing you’ve done with your Mac?
of GarageBand enhancements. Long-time MacAddict contributing When I used it to develop an ingenious plan to design and
editor and music pro David Biedny not only shares his encyclopedic program a bunch of Super Robots™ to take over the world
and put everyone into a virtual world like in the movie…wait
knowledge of Audio Unit plug-ins, but he also rounded up 32 freeware a minute…did you want a real answer?
plug-ins for this month’s Disc so you can dive right in and begin
exploring sonic heights you never knew GarageBand could achieve. Mark Rosenthal DREW LINES
If you’re like most creative Mac addicts, part of the fun and What’s the most creative thing you’ve done with your Mac?
Once, I typed “Mark Was Here” real big in InDesign. Then I
satisfaction of exercising your creativity is sharing your creations with scaled it down in one dimension until it became a hairline.
others. So here’s my suggestion: Once you’ve used the tips and tricks From then on I used in my layouts until I lost it. Now that’s
creative—and maybe a bit hubristic.
in “Free Your Inner Artist” and “Take GarageBand Out of the Garage” to
create your own images and compositions, send the files—JPEGs and Max TURNING 10 NEXT MONTH
MP3s—to letters@macaddict.com, along with a brief description of What’s the most creative thing you’ve done with your Mac?
what you did and who you are; we’ll put the best on an upcoming Disc. Actually, in my case the question should be, “What’s the
most creative thing that the Mac has done for you?” Y’see,
Fame—if not fortune—awaits. without a Mac mouse being wielded by then–Assistant Art
Director Adam Vanderhoof as he created the first issue of
Enjoy, MacAddict in September 1996, I wouldn’t even exist.

comingsoon:september2006
Here’s what our editors are preparing for the next issue of MacAddict.
Now that the MacBook has been released and Apple’s entire notebook line has been Intel-icized, we’ve assembled a
comprehensive Mobile-Mac SuperGuide—tips, accessories, cases, speakers, portable storage, and more. Next month
being MacAddict’s 10th birthday, we’ll relive the bumpy ride that’s been the past 10 years of Macdom. Our Field Guide will
uncover Automator resources, and we’ll toss in a tutorial on how to use Automator to simplify your life. We’ll also create a
Universal disaster disk, explore GarageBand’s movie-scoring chops, and put words into Steve Jobs’s mouth—virtually,
that is. Plus, we’ll have in-depth reviews of Canon’s EOS 30D SLR camera, QuarkXPress 7 page-layout software, Palm’s
700p PDA, Motorola’s SLVR iTunes-enabled mobile phone, Aspyr’s Call of Duty 2 first-person shooter, and more.

August 2006 09
10
the news of the month in bite-size chunks

Perfect
harmony.

BOFFO ’BOOK With the introduction of the new MacBook, Apple’s Intel transition
is nearly complete.

T
here are times when an Apple here’s the conclusion: The MacBook Ethernet plus built-in AirPort Extreme
product announcement provides as much, or more, bang for the and Bluetooth. As with the MacBook
comes as a complete surprise. buck than any slab of portable goodness Pro and the Mac mini, what’s not built in
The May 16 unveiling of the to ever emerge from Cupertino. is a modem—that’s a $49 option.
MacBook was not one of Guts and glory. The MacBook comes You don’t get a whole heck of a lot
those times. in three flavors: low-end, midrange, and more if you decide to pop for either
When the MacBook Pro was black. The $1,099 entry-level model is the $1,299 midrange or the $1,499
introduced on January 10, the demise of powered by a 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo top-end black MacBook. They both
the G4-powered iBook was only a matter linked to a 667MHz frontside bus; ships have 2.0GHz Core Duos and replace the
of time; even guessing its replacement’s with 512MB of DDR2 SDRAM on two Combo drive with a 4x SuperDrive, and
name was a no-brainer. When the Mac 256MB SO DIMMs (more on the RAM in the black beauty ups its hard drive size
mini was Intel-icized on February 28, a a moment); includes a 5,400 rpm, 60GB to 80GB—but you can order a midrange
glance at its components gave you a hint hard drive and a slot-loading Combo model with an 80GB drive for just 50
as to what to expect inside the upcoming drive; peeks at you through a 640-by- bucks more.
MacBook—after all, the original Mac 480-pixel iSight camera above its bright, Style costs. The quick thinkers
mini G4 was essentially an iBook G4 in a 13.3-inch, 1,280-by-800-pixel, glossy among you will notice that if you
cute li’l case. widescreen display; listens and plays upgrade the hard drive on the midrange
This lack of surprise is not to say that through analog/optical audio-in and whitey, it’ll be identical to the black
the MacBook is a disappointment. Not -out ports; ships with an Apple Remote
by a long shot. You can read our review for the bundled Front Row media-center Four MacBooks are powered by an Intel
on page 38, but to save you the trouble software; and communicates with the Core Duo—but that might change soon.
of jumping to that page this instant, world over 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit
PHOTOS COURTESY OF APPLE

10 August 2006
GET INFO
11

’Book, but still $150 cheaper. Yup,


you’re right; it seems that Apple’s
it was switching from PowerPC to Intel
processors. That transition is now
NEW STUFF
NEW STUFF
product pricers took a look at the raging complete for two of Apple’s three main Store and tell.
success of the black iPods and decided product lines: consumer-level Macs
to pick up a bit more cash from MacBook and notebooks. The smart money says
buyers obsessed with style. If that that Apple will announce the Intel-
includes you, temper your obsession— ification of its pro line on August 7 when
the pop-off MagSafe power cable that Steve Jobs gives his keynote speech at
ships with the MacBook Pro remains Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers
glaringly albino. Conference. The chip that will power the 4HD LCD
And about that SDRAM we mentioned pro line, formerly code-named Conroe FireLite XPress
earlier: Like the Mac mini, the MacBook and now officially dubbed Core 2 Duo, is $199.99 (60GB), $299.99 (120GB)
line uses the Intel GMA 950 graphics reportedly ready. www.smartdisk.com
processor, which gloms onto 64MB Interestingly, the notebook-level Available: Now
of the MacBook’s stock 512MB of version of the speedy Core 2 Duo, This portable hard drive has an
system memory. Since Apple’s Rosetta formerly code-named Merom, is rumored always-on LCD that provides
PowerPC-translation technology is a to be ahead of schedule and speeding information such as a list of files,
memory hog—as is Mac OS X—you’re toward a fall release date—which available capacity, and the time
going to want to upgrade the MacBook’s inspires a bit of speculation: Now that when data was last written to
RAM to a gig or more (it maxes out at both the MacBook and the MacBook Pro the drive.
2GB) if you’re using non-Universal apps. are shipping with Core Duo processors,
Unfortunately, you’ll then have two will the MacBook Pro be upgraded to 4DESIGNER’S TOOL
homeless 256MB SO DIMM memory faster, next-generation Core 2 Duo QuarkXpress 7
modules kicking around. eBay, anyone? processors Real Soon Now? And how $749 (full version),
The future is now. It was just one happy might that make recent MacBook $249 (upgrade)
short year ago that Apple announced Pro purchasers?—Rik Myslewski www.quark.com
Available: Now

OH, THANK HEAVEN


This page-layout
app is now The venerable
Apple’s new Fifth Avenue store in New York City is the only Apple Store that’s open Universal (take page maker
24/7, giving late-night revelers another place to hang out besides the local 7-Eleven that, Adobe!) and gets an update.
convenience store—the one at 345 West 42nd Street. Just take a look at all the includes new transparency tools,
advantages the Apple Store has over 7-Eleven.—Michelle Victoria the ability to let multiple users work
on a project simultaneously, and
APPLE STORE PHOTO COURTESY OF APPLE

Job Jackets, which let you define the


specifications of your project.

The one thing Microsoft does better


than Apple.

4FREAKIN’ LASER BEAMS


Wireless Laser Desktop for Mac
$99.95
www.microsoft.com
32-foot glass cube entryway 32-ounce Big Gulps Available: Now
Dramatic glass stairway “Beeeeep!” at the front door Microsoft designed this keyboard
Hands-on experience with Apple products Out-of-order Pac-Man arcade game with the Mac in mind—which means
there’s (finally) a Command key!
Staff of 300 trained Mac Specialists, Guy behind the counter watching
Mac Geniuses, and Creatives elimiDATE on WPIX The keyboard also has one-touch
buttons for iTunes, email, iChat, and
Possible Steve Jobs sightings Favorite hangout of Steve, the jobless
guy who lives with his mom in Queens more, and the laser mouse has five
Learn new skills at free Apple workshops Slurpee-induced brain freeze customizable buttons.

August 2006 11
v

12 GET INFO
the news of the month in bite-size chunks

DROOLWORTHY
Sexy Stuff We Can’t Wait to Get Our Mitts On

Industrial
StrengthB
The Power Box Dock ($49.99, www
.boschtools.com) is an iPod dock
accessory for Bosch’s muy macho
Power Box power center and radio/
CD player ($179.99). The Dock both
plays and charges your 3G, 4G, and
5G iPods, as well as iPod minis,
photos, and nanos.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BOSCH


APower Mat
Sure, they’re not strictly Mac
accessories, but Aluma Design’s
Art Framing Systems are perfect
for art aficionados who want to give
their works the Power Mac G5–grill
treatment. Wall frames include
the Fine Art Line ($99 to $649,
www.alumadesign.com), the Agency
Line ($89 to $499), and more.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALUMA DESIGN

12 August 2006
We have solutions to improve
any creative process.
(Imagine what we can do for yours.)

Apple® Power Mac® G5




Dual 2.3GHz PowerPC G5 processors
Memory: 512MB 2499
$
CDW 862080
• 250GB Serial ATA hard drive
• CD-RW/DVD-R SuperDriveTM

NEC MultiSync® LCD195VX


• 19" analog and digital LCD
• Contrast ratio: 550:1
$32999
CDW 884493
• 3-year limited parts, labor and
backlight warranty

HP Designjet 110plus nr Printer


• Prints up to 24" paper width
• Print resolution: 1200 x 600 dpi
159599 CDW 690377
$
with HP PhotoREt $110 MAIL - IN REBATE
AVAILABLE 1

• Parallel, USB and Ethernet ports

The Mac Solutions You Need When You Need Them.


You’d like to spend as much time as possible focusing on your creative work. CDW has the
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14 GET INFO
the news of the month in bite-size chunks

iPOD CASE Bug of the Month


OF THE MONTH >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
REVIVE A MAC THAT STALLS DURING STARTUP
SKB’s DryPod ($44.95, www
.drypodcase.com) is a waterproof case
for 4G and 5G iPods—it even covers
the clickwheel while still allowing you
I t’s possibly the worst thing that can happen after a major Mac OS X update: The
installation went fine, but at the subsequent restart, the startup process stalls,
either right after the login screen or during the earlier gray-screen phase. Here’s
to use it. The headphone jack has a what to do if you find yourself in this predicament.
watertight seal, and you also get a 1. PLAY IT SAFE Restart your Mac into Safe Mode by holding down the Shift key
belt clip, armband, and lanyard.—MV during startup. Your Mac will run a complete (and lengthy) file-system check, then
start up with only the required kernel extensions and without running any Startup
Items that you installed. If you’re running OS 10.4, it’ll also perform some font
finagling (see Apple support document #107392 for more info). Try starting up
normally again; if you still stall, restart in Safe Mode, and move on to step 2.
2. TRY TRIAL AND ERROR Open /Library/StartupItems folder—that’s the
root-level Library, not the one in your user name folder. Look for potentially
problematic third-party items such as virus-scanning software components.
Remove one or more items to a location outside the Library folder, such as the
Desktop, then restart normally and see if your Mac stalls. If it does, try removing
all items in the StartupItems folder and restart. If all’s now well, place the items
back into the StartupItems folder one by one, restarting each time you put one
back. If—when?—the stall resurfaces, you just identified the faulty component.
3. TIME FOR THE .PLIST PURGE If step 2 didn’t work, sometimes removing
offending .plist files from the /Library/Preferences folder can prove successful—
but be forewarned: This step can be tedious. Remove the entire Preferences folder
Take your ’Pod to the pool. from the Library folder on your startup drive (your Mac will automatically create a
new Preferences folder in the Library folder), then place the files back one by
SUBMIT YOUR CASE Whether your iPod case
is a custom-made one-off or mass produced, you
one until you see the problem return. Alternatively, you can take half of the items
can submit it for Case of the Month consideration— out (all non-Apple .plist files, for example), restart to see if your Mac stalls, then
just send it to iPod Case of the Month, MacAddict, move to a smaller set of items, repeating the process until the culprit is found.
4000 Shoreline Ct., Ste. 400, South San Francisco,
CA 94080. Please note that we cannot return cases. Hang in there…

FINAL CUT STUDIO: UNIVERSAL BLAZES


A pple recently released Final Cut Studio 5.1 ($1,299,
www.apple.com), which offers Final Cut Pro, Soundtrack
Pro, LiveType, DVD Studio Pro, Motion, and Compressor as
PowerBook could rarely (if ever) do. When running Motion 2, the
MacBook Pro also worked in near-real time, as long as we kept
projects down to a couple of DV layers and a handful of applied
Universal apps. The apps don’t have any major new features, filters or effects.
but they can run on the new Intel-based Macs. Final Cut Studio also features scores of small bug fixes and
And do they run fast! The real gains come when you’re several small, but appreciated, new features that Apple doesn’t
rendering video in Final Cut Pro or using Compressor to encode bother to advertise. One new Final Cut addition is support for
video into a variety of digital formats. We used Final Cut Pro to Canon’s XL H1 ($8,999.99, www.canon.com) high-definition
render a 2.5-minute DV movie on two test Macs. On a 1.67GHz camera, and another is the ability to automatically find and
PowerBook G4, the render took about 23 minutes, but on a reconnect media that you may have moved around on your hard
1.83GHz MacBook Pro, the render drive or between drives.
took 16 minutes—a 30 percent Upgrades from earlier versions of
speed increase. Next we encoded Studio or its individual apps range
the same video as an MPEG-2 file; from $49 to $699. For more info,
the PowerBook took 27 minutes, visit www.apple.com/universal/
while the MacBook Pro took 16 crossgrade. One caveat: The Intel-
minutes—a 40 percent increase. based Mac mini and MacBook lack
Other improvements we adequate video oomph for use with
noticed: The MacBook Pro Motion 2.—Helmut Kobler
could simultaneously play four
multicamera angles without any With all the speed improvements,
stutters or stops, something the what will you do with your free time?

14 August 2006
16 GET INFO
the news of the month in bite-size chunks

SHAREWARE PICK OF THE MONTH

What’sNew
• Stellar Phoenix

>>>>>>>>
Macintosh ($199,
RCDefaultApp 2.0 www.rubicode.com Free www.stellarinfo
.com) recovers

W hile Mac OS X might be the best operating system in the world, it has its quirks,
such as setting default applications for files. For example, if you want to have
Microsoft Entourage and Mozilla Firefox be your default applications when launching
data from erased,
damaged, or
corrupted hard
email links or URLs, you need to set the preferences in Apple’s Mail and Safari, drive volumes.
respectively. RCDefaultApp lets you make these systemwide changes in a single It supports IDE,
preference pane.—Andrew Tokuda EIDE and SCSI
drives.

SECURIT Y
• Intego’s Personal
Antispam X4
($49.95, www
.intego.com) filters
spam in Apple
After you download the software, Mail and Microsoft
double-click the disk image, then Entourage and
double-click the RCDefaultApp-2.0.X protects you
icon on your desktop, and finally double- against email
click RCDefaultApp.prefPane. System 2 After you install the software, Internet phishing scams
Preferences will launch, and you’ll be is the first tab available to you. Choose and viruses.
offered the choice to install the app for all your apps of choice for Web browsing, • SubRosaSoft’s
user accounts or just your own. Pick your email, and others. CopyCatX 3.5
account only if you don’t want others to be ($59.95, www
able to use RCDefaultApp. .subrosasoft
.com) can make
3 Click the Extensions tab and you’ll MacForensicsLab: exact duplicates
see a long list of file extensions. Here you Everybody wants of your hard
can set which app you want to launch files to be a crime scene drive or iPod. The
with each extension. For true geeks who investigator. new version is
want everything their way, you can even a Universal app
set defaults for specific UTIs (uniform and has a bootable CD option for Intel
type identifiers) and MIME (multipurpose Macs. SubRosaSoft’s MacForensicsLab
Internet mail extension) types. 1.0 ($995.95), a suite of forensics and
analysis tools for law enforcement pros,
can recover data from recently initialized
SHOEDA THUNK IT? drives, corrupt media, and more.
• Mark Allan’s ClamXav 1.0.3 (free, www

A pple’s latest—and most


unconventional—entry into iPod
accessoryland is the Nike + iPod Sport
more. The data is spoken back to you
through your earbuds so you can keep
your eyes on your route, and can be
.markallan.co.uk/clamXav/index.php)
scans emails and downloads for viruses.
• PACE Anti-Piracy’s InterLok 5.4 (contact
Kit ($29, www.apple.com), which uploaded for analysis on NikePlus for price quote, www.paceap.com) is a
includes a receiver for an iPod nano and .com. To leave no revenue opportunity tool for software publishers to manage
a small, wireless sensor/transmitter that untapped, the iTunes Music Store even copy protection, license management,
you insert into a pair of Nike+ running has a Nike Sport Music section. and license term enforcement; the new
shoes ($85 to $110). Lace ’em up, start —Michelle Victoria version is a Universal app.
running, and the Sport Kit will track your • Marko Karppinen & Co.’s Knox 1.1
time, distance, calories burned, and ($29.95, www.knoxformac.com) backup
utility protects files by encrypting them
using the Advanced Encryption Standard.
Get off your • Maki’s Kids GoGoGo 10.3.1 ($30,
Segway and www.makienterprise.com) lets parents
get some filter Web sites
ON THE
exercise. for kids. The app
can block RSS
DISC
Stellar Phoenix Macintosh,
feeds and explicit Personal Antispam
X4, CopyCatX 3.5,
podcasts. MacForensicsLab 1.0, Knox
1.1, Kids GoGoGo 10.3.1
—Michelle Victoria

16 August 2006
Free Your I
Love your Mac but never escape from the (Microsoft) office?
Play hooky and try these creative projects—we won’t tell.
by Mark Rosenthal

Y
ou’ve mastered creating grant proposals with your the tools—a zillion cool apps are in your arsenal. Maybe you just
word processor. Wielding your mighty spreadsheet, don’t know what to do. Well, we can help.
you’ve calculated the rate of inflation in Azerbaijan to Here are nine creative projects, each tailored to steal you away from
the nearest .001 percent. Your PowerPointing skills are your wordsmithing, number crunching, and idea presenting. Go ahead
legendary. But can you make something that just plain looks nice? and try a few—you may end up with something to hang on your wall.
Well, unless you’re talking about printing pictures of your kitty, And don’t worry, the grunt work will still be there when you’re
the answer could possibly be “No.” It’s not that you don’t have finished.

PROJECT 1:

Take Photographs with Your Scanner


If you think your scanner is limited to 2D, you’re wrong. It can handle the 3D
world with beautiful results.
Most people use their scanners to digitize their pre-digital-
era prints. But if you’ve completed that chore (whew!),
you’ve probably wondered, “What should I do with that ugly
A black piece of paper as
thing now?”
a background gives an
But wait—don’t toss it out! Your scanner’s abilities aren’t limited
elegant look.
to the two-dimensional world. It can actually make beautiful
“photographs” from three-dimensional objects. Of course, so can your
digital camera—but each digital capture device senses light differently,
so each will produce its own look and feel.
First collect some objects that might make a nice still life. You’ll
be placing them directly on your scanner’s glass, so make sure not
to choose things that might mar or scratch the glass’s surface, or
place a piece of Plexiglas over the scanner’s glass if you think you
might make a mess. Your items don’t have to be flat; surprisingly,
your scanner’s lens has great depth of field. This means that when A white background
scanning an item with depth, the scanner should keep all the parts yields a nice blue, but
of your object in focus. that’s the only color
When you’ve finished assembling your still life, attach a piece choice you’ll have.
of black paper or fabric to inside of the lid of the scanner. This will
create an even background and keep light from the scanner’s lamp
from scattering around your arrangement.
Lower the lid. Sometimes it helps to cover the entire scanner
with something lightproof, such as a blanket, but often doing so
A patterned background
isn’t necessary. Now scan away! As with most scans, you’ll have to
is nice, but look how the
adjust your levels, saturation, and so on, either using your scanner’s
white areas turn a little
software or using your image-editing app later. But you’ll find that
blue. It’s best to avoid
your scanner exposes the image remarkably well.
any white.
You have limited options for backgrounds. Unfortunately, scanners
will turn a white background bluish, but patterned paper that has no
white can yield some nice effects, as long as it’s on the dark side.

18 August 2006
Inner Artist
PROJECT 2:

Make a Portrait from Many Photos


By using your camera to shoot at and all around your subject,
you can make a cool interpretation of the scene.
If you want to make a collage of pictures that will capture then resize them (in Photoshop, select Image > Image Size). The
both your subject and the environment, then the first 4-by-6-inch size would make a very big collage since you may be
thing you’re going to have to do is take a lot of shots. using up to 20 photos. We used 2-by-3-inch images for our collage
Since you won’t need large pictures, you can set and chose 150 dpi as their resolution, which is fine for inkjet
your camera to medium resolution. Doing so will printers. That’s a lot of resizing, so create an
make 4-by-6-inch images—that’s still a bit big, Action in Photoshop if you want some help
but you’ll be able to size them down in an image- through this drudgery.
editing app if you so choose. Make a new document in Photoshop
Place your subject somewhere at the same resolution you chose when
out of harsh shadows and resizing your individual shots and
where there is at least a mildly large enough to accommodate
interesting background. (One your collage. We made our window
neat thing about 12 inches by 12 inches.
this collage Using Photoshop’s image
technique is that browser (Window > File
it actually makes Browser), start
dull backgrounds choosing images
more interesting.) from your session.
Now, standing Your aim is to tile
about eight feet together pictures
away, start shooting with arbitrary
your subject in an overlaps and
even, methodical elements that don’t
way, as if trying to quite match up from
document every square picture to picture—see
inch of their body. You our example for, well, an
can pan down to get the example. Double-click an
feet, or crouch down; image in the browser, and
it’s not important. it will open in Photoshop.
The main point is to Select all (Command-
cover everything— A) and drag the image
Talk about atmosphere!
interesting angles are right onto the new, empty document
A fairly placid setting
optional. Your subject you created earlier. Keep doing this with
becomes a swirling, active
doesn’t have to stand enough images to complete your scene.
dreamscape.
stock-still; a little Since Photoshop puts each image on a
movement can even new layer, you’ll have an easy time moving them around. Make
add some variety, but major movements of the sure to click the Auto Select Layer box on the tool options
body or head won’t help. bar on the top of your screen. Doing so relieves you of having to
When you’ve finished the body, start to shoot all around the find the corresponding layer when you want to move an object;
subject, capturing a wide range of background shots. Try not to Auto Select Layer will find the layer for you by sensing what your
miss a spot, and always overlap generously. Don’t be afraid to selection tool is above.
shoot high into trees or low onto the ground (if it’s interesting The rest is just play. Experiment with overlaps and repetition.
ground). These shots can produce wonderful atmosphere. Fifty or If some of your photos are inconsistently exposed, or if the focus
60 shots should do; any more will be overwhelming to work with. isn’t perfect, use these “defects” to your advantage; they add
When you’ve loaded your shots into your Mac, back them up and tone and texture to your collage. Enjoy.

August 2006 19
Free Your
Inner Artist
PROJECT 3:

Use Posterization to Make


a Graphic Portrait
Here’s how to turn a conventional portrait into a dynamic graphic design.

First find a photo with an expressive subject. His or her the magic wand from the toolbox. From the settings bar,
head should contrast the background (dark hair on a above, uncheck the box labeled Contiguous. Any number in
light background or light hair on a dark background). the Tolerance box will work for what we’re doing. Click the
In our example we cut out the background using Photoshop’s magic wand on one of the colors and you’ll see that all areas
lasso tool, since the value of the subject’s hair—its darkness or of that color are
lightness—was too close to that of the background. now selected.
Select Image > Next, choose Make
Adjustments > Work Path from the
Posterize. In the drop-down menu
Levels box, enter of the Paths palette
2; this will convert (Window > Paths).
the image into Enter 10 in the
two distinct colors Tolerance field. Click
plus black. How OK, and Photoshop
Photoshop chooses will draw a path
these colors is a (or multiple paths)
mystery, but if they’re around the area
ugly, don’t worry; we of selected color.
change them in a bit. Here’s a fellow in an excited state—then Choosing 1 for
Click OK. again after his background has been tolerance makes a Our subject is now in three colors. Why
Next, choose cut away. tight, highly detailed these particular three? Who knows…

PROJECT 4:
Create a Different Kind of Panorama
Love panoramic shots? Try this twist on the old pan-and-shoot technique.

Imagine you’re in Egypt. You see a stunning wall of Along the wall is a mural-like assortment of graffiti about 50
hieroglyphics. The wall is quite long, and you want yards long. We set our lens to a zoom magnification that gave us
to capture its breadth with your camera. You decide a normal, undistorted view of our subject (that would be 35mm
to make a panorama and take several shots by panning your on our digital SLR or 50mm on a film SLR). Starting on one
camera from a fixed point. But later, while stitching together
your panorama, you discover that as the wall got farther
from the camera the detail becomes hard to see and the
perspective is severely distorted. You’ve completely lost the
feeling of being there. Well, here’s a way to get everything
you want: the vista, the detail, and nonbending perspective.
Since MacAddict’s budget couldn’t handle a trip to Egypt, we
went down to the railroad tracks to find a modern version of
hieroglyphics: graffiti.
Our site was a long warehouse that runs along the tracks.

20 August 2006
path, while
choosing 10
simplifies the
path, giving
it an abstract
look. Finally,
from the Paths
submenu,
choose Save
Path and give it
a name. Repeat
this procedure
for the other
color plus black.
Now press
Command-A,
When you’re done, you should have three paths then Delete
on your Paths palette. to delete the
entire image—
but not the paths—leaving a white background; we’ll just be using
the paths from this point on. Click on the first path and turn it into
a selection by clicking on the dotted-line circle icon at the bottom
of the Paths palette—that’s the Load Path As A Selection button. Notice that the areas made from the paths have a geometric,
Select Edit > Fill to fill the selection with a color you choose from graphic feel to them.
the Color Picker. Repeat this procedure with the remaining two
paths, choosing a different color each time. The choice is entirely A great thing is that if you’d like to get playful and make
up to you, but we recommend picking colors from the same color color changes, there’s no need to go back to loading the
family, using the lightest color for what would be the lightest part paths. With the magic wand, just click on a color and fill it
of the face and darker colors for the darker parts. with a new one.

The resulting panorama displays all the graffiti evenly and clearly, yet we can also view
the entire setting in a single panoramic image.

end, we took our first picture standing exactly at a right angle shot, we moved sideways to the next section making sure to
to the wall. As with shooting a normal panning panorama, we keep the same distance between our camera and subject. Later,
made sure to overlap the edge of each frame so that we’d have we stitched the pictures together in Photoshop using good ol’
enough extra image material come stitching time. After each fashioned cut and paste.

We also made a traditional


panorama of the same scene. It,
too, is quite interesting—but in
an entirely different way.

August 2006 21
Free Your
Inner Artist
PROJECT 5:
PROJECT 5
Texturize Your Photos
Got a picture with great texture and you don’t know what to do with
it? Here’s how to merge it with another photo.

Texturize Your Photos


Got a picture with great texture and you don’t know
what to do with it? Here’s how to merge it with another.
Sometimes a photo needs a little something extra since the imperfections won’t show when the images are
to make it say what you want it to say—adding a combined. It’s also a good idea to choose a contrasty picture
complementing texture is an easy way to add some for your texture—if yours is flat, add contrast in Photoshop
mood. Make sure that the photo you want to enhance doesn’t (Image > Adjustment > Brightness/Contrast).
have any large areas of white, as these areas will make the The rest is simple. Copy the texture image and paste it right on
texture look more like a photograph and less like a texture. top of your main image. Photoshop will automatically place it on
Then find an image that contains an object or group of objects a separate layer. Then set the blending mode from the pull-down
with a texture that you like—nothing too fine that won’t show up menu on the Layers palette (Window > Layers) to Luminosity.
and nothing too chunky that might overwhelm your photo. Our You’ll see that your texture layer has now covered your entire
example uses a nice, even field of small stones. It is important base image except for its color. To bring through more of your
that your texture file is large enough to cover your base image. It base image’s texture, change the opacity of the texture layer
may be necessary to clone parts of your texture image to make to around 30 percent. Now your subject looks lumpy, grainy, or
a larger image to work with, but a perfect job isn’t necessary whatever texture you chose.

PROJECT 6:

Build Your Own Font YOU HAVE SOMETHING


HANGING FROM YOUR NOSE.
Want to make your signature font? Here’s a beginners’
course in font making, using FontLab’s TypeTool. It may not be elegant, but it’s unique.

Fonts are a mystery to all of us. Part of the mystery is chills down our spines, beginning the learning process by trying
how they operate within the Mac’s system. But there’s to draw an entire font might be overwhelming. Fortunately,
also the question of how they’re actually made. Many TypeTool provides basic serif and sans serif fonts to use as a
of us would love to have our own signature fonts, but the truth starting point. In this example we’ll take the basic font and
is that making an original font from scratch is a daunting task. make a rather modest adjustment to it. But modest or radical,
Luckily, a relatively straightforward font-creation tool from you’ll still be able to call it your own font when you’re finished.
FontLab called TypeTool ($99, demo available at www.fontlab TypeTool’s main window shows a grid of glyphs that represent
.com) makes this task a little easier. an entire font. Click on a box, and a new window opens showing
When creating an original font, each glyph (that’s fontspeak a set of guides representing baseline, x-height, and left and right
for character) must be drawn individually using the traditional spacing. Had we been working from scratch, these glyph windows
tools for drawing PostScript shapes: Bezier curves. Knowing would be empty, waiting to be drawn in, but because we’ve
that even the sound of the words “Bezier curves” can send opened the basic serif font, every box will have a glyph in it.
As mentioned earlier, these outlines can be
manipulated by moving their points and handles as well
as by using other techniques. Since we’re beginners,
we’ll work on top of this existing font and make some
simple changes to construct a new font.
Remember, any change that you apply to one glyph
you’ll have to do to all the others, so to minimize the
work we’ll just play with the capital letters. Decorating
our character with dots
or stripes would be a
fairly simple direction
to take; TypeTool’s tools
for doing this are pretty
straightforward. But
distorting the glyphs would
be cooler, so that’s what
…just click on a box to see we’ll do here.
TypeTool’s main window shows you the entire font… the glyph’s outline. Choose the Transform

22 August 2006
Find a nice texture, not
too fine, not too clunky.
Sure, the kids
Some contrast helps,
are cute—but
too.
let’s turn this
straightforward
snapshot into art.

The kids have


disappeared,
leaving only their
color behind?
Weird. That’s better—a
decent dose of kids
and a decent dose of
stones.

tool from TypeTool’s toolbox, Make Your Own Type Book


and by dragging one of the
Can’t remember the name of your favorite
corner handles, distort the A
font? A type book is easy to make and is
downward to about half its
great reference.
height. Now whenever you
type an A, it will look stumpy. It doesn’t take long to amass a library of thousands
To go to the next glyph, B, of fonts. Without a catalog of your fonts, it becomes
you don’t have to close the almost impossible to browse your collection. But for
A window and return to the some reason, finding an application that can create a simple
font window. Just click the type book isn’t so easy. Some font utilities don’t create
Use the Transform tool to grab right arrow in the toolbox, type books, and others do so inelegantly. But one freeware
glyph handles to stretch your and your B will appear. It application, Font Sampler (free, www.dotsw.com) makes
letterform. won’t take long to stretch perfectly simple pages for your binder with little effort.
the remaining 25 capital Upon launching, Font Sampler immediately makes a
letters to random heights. WYSIWYG list of all the fonts currently active in your system. If
When you’re finished, go you wish, Font Sampler will scroll down the list automatically
to File > Generate > Mac (you choose the scroll speed) so that you can browse what
Suitcase and choose you’ve got, hands free. You can choose what text Font Sampler
Macintosh Type 1 from the uses as its sample type; this is crucial in getting the feel for
Select Destination Format a font. Here’s a tip for deciding what text to use for your type
drop-down menu. Name book: Choose a short phrase (viewing the alphabet isn’t so
and save your font. Find helpful) with an ascender and
the suitcase file wherever a descender and type it both in
you saved it and load it upper- and lowercase and also
Squash your letters to different using the font utility you in all caps. This way, you’ll have
heights. normally use, or just drop it a two-for-one sample, which
into /Library/Fonts. Your font is useful since many graphic
will appear in your font menus in projects will demand type set
all your apps. You’ve just created in both cases. You don’t want to
a wiggly, unpredictable font to choose a font for a big project,
use in your emails to your wiggly, only to find out later that your font
unpredictable boss. looks atrocious in all caps.

Choose Macintosh Type 1 then A nice, simple viewing window


name and save your font. Load is exactly what you need
it and type away! when looking at fonts.

August 2006 23
Free Your
Inner Artist
PROJECT 7:

Color Correct Quickly Why does everything look pink? Or is


Your photograph’s color looks off, but it’s hard that yellow?
to tell how. Here’s how to fix it.
A color cast occurs when an image shows a color tint (Window > Info) to help you find the lowest (darkest) numbers.
due to low light, odd light sources, or a host of other When you find your spot, click it. Whatever the value of the
factors. Often color casts are quite noticeable—skin pixels at that point were, they have now been shifted to 8, 8, 8.
tones are yellowish, or white objects look bluish. Other times Now, with the white dropper, find the whitest spot (though not
casts can be almost impossible to see, and only when your a superbright reflection) and click that. Examine the numerical
picture is finally balanced do you notice how off it was before. values in the Info window, and you’ll notice that these shadow
Here’s a quick and easy series of steps to apply to all your areas are now balanced with equal values for the R, G, and B
photographs before printing.
Using the droppers from
With your picture open in Photoshop, open Levels (Command-L).
Levels, set your black,
Double-click the black eyedropper in the lower right, and the Color
white, and gray points.
Picker window will appear. Type 8 in each of the fields labeled R,
G, and B; you’re setting your black point—what you would like
your darkest parts of the picture to be. Click OK. Now click the gray
dropper, enter 128 in the R, G, and B fields of the Color Picker, and
click OK. Then click the white dropper and enter 245 in those same
fields—do we need to remind you to click OK? Thought not.
Now click the black dropper and find the darkest part of
your image. You can use the RGB readouts in the Info window

PROJECT 8:
Fun with Filters
Add some of these great filters to your image-editing arsenal.
Alien Skin’s Eye Candy 5
We can remember when it was a source of pride
to spend an entire day crafting a wisp of smoke in
Photoshop. The good news is, that time is gone.
Long gone. The better news is that third-party filters
have been getting better and better. The Impact,
Nature, and Textures filters from Alien Skin’s Eye
Candy 5 series ($99 each, $199 for all three, www
.alienskin.com) are truly amazing. The filters range
from the obscure (one coats your image in ice) to
the extremely useful (one crumples paper). A nice shot—but let’s add some oddness. Drip filter

Andromeda Software’s Artistic Screening Tools


Screening and etching are good ways to treat
photographs when you want to maintain a graphic
look. Andromeda Software’s Artistic Screening Tools
(Screens $109; Cutline $74; EtchTone $98; bundle
of three $225; www.andromeda.com) open up these
worlds for us. The Screens filter subtly converts
grayscale images into a variety of different line art
screens featuring mezzotints, lines, circles, and
waves. Cutline creates beautiful digital engravings
and woodcuts. Finally, EtchTone takes photographs
and simulates the look of a steel etching, but with the
advantages of continuous tone. Let’s change this shot, graphically. Screens

24 August 2006
Ah, that’s better! PROJECT 9:

Frame Images
channels. At the same time, these adjustments pull many of
the other areas of your photo into line. Finally, to use the gray on the Cheap
dropper you’ll need to find something in your photograph that Custom frames are expensive, but
should be a neutral gray. This might be a piece of metal, the dark cheap, ready-made frames never seem
side of a cloud, or a shadow on something white. If you think
your photo doesn’t have a color cast, you’ll know for sure after
to fit right. Here’s what to do.
clicking on a gray area with the gray dropper. Often the results You’ve spent all day working on the perfect print of the
will look wrong, but that’s because our eyes have already told striped bass you caught last spring. You’ve slipped a
our brain that the gray we’ve been looking at is gray. But it isn’t. fine, expensive sheet of 13-by-19-inch glossy photo-
To prove it to yourself, hold any tool over your gray spot and quality media into your printer, chose Scale To Fit in the print
notice that the Info palette will identical numerical readouts for dialog, and made your print. Later you go to IKEA to pick out a
the R, G, and B values—an even gray. frame and a mat. But what’s this? The store has frames that will
Before closing the Levels window, click off the Preview box accommodate your large print, but the mats that accompany them
to see how the photo that had appeared balanced actually had are not the dimensions you need. What do you do?
a color cast lurking in its Of course, there’s always the option of cutting your own
depths. When you do mat, but that’s about as fun as cleaning gutters—and it’s much
close Levels, Photoshop harder than it looks. Unfortunately, you’ll find that having a
will give you the option of framing store cut you one is expensive, and you’ll have to pick it
saving the target values up a couple of days later.
you just set as defaults. Set your target values and save The answer is to plan your project backward. Make choosing
Choose Yes. them for good. your frame/mat combo the first thing you do. Choose a frame
at IKEA, Pottery Barn, or wherever you go for reasonably
priced frames. The size of the mat that comes with the frame
will determine the size of your print. Note the size of the mat
opening (it’s usually printed on the frame packaging), and
scale your image to that size plus one quarter-inch in each
dimension. This extra margin will provide a small overlap (1/8
inch on all four sides) so that you can be sure the white of the
photo media won’t peek out.
After you make your print, put it on a flat surface, face up,
and then place your mat over it, making sure none of the white
of the paper is showing. In three or four places, use Post-Its to
stick the mat onto the printout—Post-Its can be removed later
without marring the image or the mat. Now carefully pick up the
printout-mat assembly and turn it upside down, with the image
now facing downward. Using archival tape, secure the printout
to the mat along all four edges. Stay on the lookout for small
wrinkles on your print that uneven taping might cause; these
will prevent your print from staying flat in its mat. Remove the
Fire Water Drops Post-Its and insert this assembly in the frame. You’re done!

Resources
Discover more creative projects on the web.
HowDesign.com Bookstore Dover Publications
https://www.howdesign.com/store/booksintro.asp http://doverpublications.com
This is one of the best resources for An incredible source for quality clip art,
instructional design, photography, and these collections of both decorative elements
typography techniques. The books offered and spot art from many hundreds of eras
are 20 percent off list price. and cultures come in book form, ready to
Canon scan. In addition, many of Dover’s books
http://cp.c-ij.com/english/digitalphotostyle come with CDs, so you can download the
Canon’s creative site for inkjet printing has files directly. A great site to explore and get
projects, clip art, scrapbook ideas, and even ideas—remember the old designers’ mantra:
free digital photos to download. But the real Steal from the best, ignore the rest.
treasure is the 3D Paper Craft section, which
provides files for you to print and fold into
amazing cutout paper sculptures.
EtchTone Cutline

MacAddict Art Director Mark Rosenthal has shot photographs all over the world. August 2006 25
Well, mostly in his neighborhood—which, for all intents and purposes, is his world.
Left

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Right
ON THE
DISC
This month’s Disc features
a whopping 32 of our
favorite GarageBand effects
plug-ins. See p8 for the
entire list!
28 August 2006
Take

Out
GARAGEBAND

Garage
of the

Pump up GarageBand with a power pack of potent plug-ins. by David Biedny

I
n the good old days of rock and roll, the family garage was not where you’d find the family car; guitars, amps, and a
cheap drum kit dominated the musty confines of that ersatz car-partment. Nowadays, however, the garage’s mildew
and mold have been replaced by the dust bunnies inside your Mac, and software has taken the place of Hammond
organs, Pearl drum sets, and Marshall amps.
GarageBand is the go-to software for cooking up the next great rock anthem or dance sensation—and there’s a wide
world of Audio Units plug-ins that can expand the capabilities of GarageBand in ways you may have never imagined.
While many of these plug-ins cost more than the price of the whole iLife package, fear not—great bargains can be
found, and even some outstanding tools cost no more than the download time needed to nab ’em.
Let’s clean out that garage and get you right to the goodies.

Of Plug-ins and Loops


($229 and $449, respectively; www
.native-instruments.com), and Mark
of the Unicorn’s (aka MOTU) MachFive
GarageBand is great—but you can make it even greater. ($395, www.motu.com). The second
category includes fully synthesized plug-

Y
ou can make great music with INSTRUMENTS ins such as Green Oak’s Crystal (free,
GarageBand right out of the box, The two primary categories of AU www.greenoak.com/crystal), hardware
but its expandability makes it oh- plug-ins are instruments and effects. synths re-created in software such as
ILLUSTRATION BY MELINDA BECK

so appealing for tailoring your own sonic Instruments are software-based minimoog V from Arturia ($249,
signature. Apple’s Audio Units—a plug-in generators of sounds, and they come www.arturia.com), and many others.
technology that allows third-party in essentially two types. The first type There are also hybrids of these two
developers to extend GarageBand’s is based on sampled sounds and approaches: synths that use sampled
capabilities—are the key to giving includes such greats as such as Native sound as a building block, adding all
GarageBand a much bigger repertoire. Instruments’ Kompakt and Kontakt sorts of synthesis goodies to sampled

August 2006 29
waveforms. Native Instruments’ recorded plain-Jane piano track with a effects, there’s a galaxy of loops—
awesome Absynth 3 ($339), for third-party plug-in—just select the new prefabricated pieces of songs that you
example, can use sampled sounds instrument, and voilà! can string together as audio building
as oscillators, allowing you to impart blocks. GarageBand ships with an
a realistic touch to otherwise fully EFFECTS extensive loop library, and Apple’s
synthetic noodlings. Drum-machine The other major AU plug-in category, five different Jam Packs ($99 each,
plug-ins often combine sampled drum effects modify sound coming out of www.apple.com) include fresh loops
sounds with different types of rhythmic an instrument or change the aural in various categories in addition to
intelligence—a suitable replacement characteristics of loops or recorded sampled sounds, such as the rich
for the stereotypically flaky human audio. Effects range from basics such orchestral instruments found in the
can-beater of rock-and-roll lore. as equalization and compression, to Symphony Orchestra Jam Pack. While
Many of the instrument plug-ins specialized reverbs, delays, filters, and there are loads of third-party loops
mentioned in this article are available the like, to outrageous pitch shifters, (check out the bargain-priced, luscious
as standalone applications, but it’s their multitap delays, and more. Effects loop libraries at http://bandmateloops
AU versions that we’re interested in here. can be applied to specific tracks or .com), we’re gonna concentrate on
They work like any other GarageBand instruments or to an entire mix. plug-ins—after all, six pages are…well…
instrument, so it’s easy to replace a In addition to instruments and six pages.

Exploit Plug-in Power want to muck with, you can loop that
section while tweaking its sound.
Once you’ve got a decent musical
Plug-ins may sound like mere plumbing, but they can
groove happening with your selected
make your creativity soar.
instrument, it’s time to kick in some

J
ump ahead to “Inside Audio Units” effects. With an instrument track
(p33) to learn how to install Audio selected, access the Details area of the
Unit plug-ins, then install the ones Track Info window just like you did for
you’ve selected—you’ll find more than instruments, above. You’ll see some
a few freebies on this month’s Disc that hardwired GarageBand effects with
you might want to choose for starters, checkboxes, including Compressor,
such as the Crystal synthesizer. Once Equalizer, Echo, and Reverb. But what
your chosen Audio Units plug-ins are about those extra two pull-down menus
installed, launch GarageBand and get a labeled None? That’s where you’ll find
new music project up and running. Once your extra AU effects plug-ins. Click on
the main GarageBand window appears, the pull-down menu of either one and
double-click its default single Piano Double-click a track, swing open the you’ll see the stock GarageBand effects
track (or select that track and press Details panel, and you’ll be presented with at the top and all your extra AU goodies
Command-I on the keyboard); the Track the Generator and Effects options. below. Select one of the new guys on
Info pane appears, listing the currently the block, and the sound of that track
available Apple software instruments. of hardware synths, for example, come changes instantly. Like instruments,
The key to using AU plug-ins is simple, with loads of presets, but they don’t many effects also have built-in preset
but a tad elusive: Click the disclosure show up in the Presets pull-down menu; libraries. If you’ve selected the
arrow labeled Details at the bottom- to get to them, you have to go into the SupaPhaser, click the Presets pull-
left of the Track Info window; a pane editing mode of the plug-in. down menu on the right and behold the
will open in which you’re given the many ways you can change the effect.
opportunity to access AU instruments PROGRAMMABILITY The pencil button takes you into the
(called Generators) and effects (called, Presets are find and dandy, but SupaPhaser programmability interface,
oddly enough, Effects). All of your the real test of any soft synth is its where you can edit away until dawn.
installed AU instruments should appear programmability. Click on the pencil
below, and clicking any one makes it the button to the right of the Presets pull- PRESETS
currently selected instrument. down menu and you’ll be taken directly GarageBand allows you to make and
The pull-down menu to the right into the programmability interface for save presets even if an AU plug-in
includes the installed presets for the the current instrument. It’s here that you itself doesn’t have this ability. When
selected instrument. If you’ve installed can mod to your heart’s desire. Take note using AU effects without presets,
the lovely Crystal freeware synth, that this editing window is live while GarageBand’s floating editing window
clicking this pull-down menu brings up a song is playing, so if you turn on the has a preset list located above the
a lengthy list of presets. This feature Loop button in GarageBand’s transport main effect interface that allows you to
doesn’t necessarily work for all third- controls and adjust the loop duration to save any state of the plug-in settings
party instruments—Arturia’s re-creations a segment of your composition that you as a preset. Unfortunately, you can

30 August 2006
only use two external AU effects on a
GarageBand track at any time—one of
the reasons that pro musicians turn There Is Free Lunch!
to higher-end software such as Logic Artists are generous. Benefit from their generosity.
and Digital Performer. Another major
drawback to the way AU effects sit in the The selection of freeware and shareware slider’s C3 Multi Band Compressor
audio chain is that you can’t mix the dry AU plug-ins is truly outstanding—you and Linear Phase Graphical Equalizer
(original) signal of a track with the wet could easily assemble an awesome (both free, downloadable from www
(processed) portion of the sound, unless sound-sweetening system for little or no .apulsoft.ch) also provide pro-quality
the AU effect has that ability natively. money. The freeware synth Crystal (free, goodness.
See the sliders for GarageBand’s Echo on the Disc or www.greenoak.com/ Ambience Reverb (donationware,
and Reverb effects? They work by mixing crystal) has the controls you’d expect on the Disc or http://magnus
the dry signal with the wet—critical in from a commercial synth, with extensive .smartelectronix.com) might have a
creating a convincing “space” or “air” sound-shaping options and the ability to Spartan interface, but under its hood
around a sound that has added reverb morph between two completely different lie tons of great presets and some
or echo. The left-most slider setting, 0, preset sounds. Automat (free, on the extreme echo madness. Also, prepare
removes the effect from the mix, while Disc or www.alphakanal.de/snipsnap/ to be warmed and wowed by Expert
100 is nothing but the processed signal; space/Automat) is a terrifying synth, Sleepers’ fearsome Augustus Loop
you’ll usually want settings in the lower especially when you discover the RND (on the Disc or www.collective
half of the scale. .co.uk/expertsleepers), which lets
In addition to adding effects to you be Robert Fripp for a mere 29
individual tracks, it’s easy to add them to bucks. Expert Sleepers also offers the
an entire song. In the main GarageBand marvelous freeware apps Multitap
window, toggle the Master Track on Delay and Meringue backward delay,
and off by pressing Command-B or as well as some great, inexpensive
selecting Track > Show/Hide Master synths. Bram @ Smartelectronix.com
Track—it’ll appear at the bottom of the is the mad genius behind SupaPhaser
main interface. Click it, and the Track (donationware, on the Disc or http://
Info pane’s Details panel will display
the effects available for the entire mix. It’s hard to believe that the amazingly
There is only one pull-down menu for an deep and rich Crystal synth is free.
extra AU effect—use it for equalization or
dynamic compression of your entire mix. (randomize) button, which can instantly
conjure up menacing digital beasts.
DaHornet (free, http://liqihsynth.com/
catalogue.htm)—formerly a commercial
product from DashSignature and now
a freebie from NUSofting—is a tasty
emulation of the classic WASP analog
synthesizer. Big Tick Audio’s Cheeze
Machine and Ticky Clav (both free,
http://bigtick.pastnotecut.org) are
delightful spins on the classic quiller- We adore the Blockfish compressor’s
queso ARP and Hohner Clavinet, and are extensive options and wonderful sound.
perfect for early pop puff.
When it comes to audio effects, the bram.smartelectronix.com), the ultimate
possibilities are endless and the flavors AU phase shifter, and Crazy Ivan
extreme. Blockfish, Spitfish, and (donationware, on the Disc), which
Floorfish from digitalfishphones (all can turn your voice inter-dimensionally
free, www.digitalfishphones.com) are insane. Koen Tanghe’s KT Granulator
a tasty trio of a compressor, de-esser (donationware, on the Disc or http://
(essential for softening spoken voice), koen.smartelectronix.com) is a wild,
and expander/noise gate, and should be granular delay capable of mayhem.
considered essential GarageBand side And don’t even get us started on Super
dishes. The Luxonix LFX-1310 (free, on Destroy FX’s collection (donationware,
GarageBand is so smart, it allows you to the Disc or www.luxonix.com) is a sonic on the Disc or http://destroyfx
create custom presets for plug-ins that Swiss Army knife that performs effects .smartelectronix.com) and bipolar
don’t usually offer them, such as this free, at once and with ease, and slim slow music plug-in pack. Yowza!
groovy fuzz box from Audio Damage.

August 2006 31
The samples behind M-Audio’s M-Tron are
from the actual master tapes of a classic
Mellotron—this plug-in even has period-
perfect coffee stains on its top.

serious stuff, and if you haven’t played


with Absynth, it’s about as trippy as its
wormwood namesake. Long, evolving
sonic landscapes are its specialty,
perfect for electronic music and

Instruments soundtracks. The B4 II is a Hammond-


organ simulation extraordinaire, and is
the instant answer for R&B, gospel, and
Go into creative battle with an arsenal of artistic ammunition.
Motown jams. If you’re really in a daring

S
o many outrageously excellent www.m-audio.com) are delightful for mood, plug into Reaktor 5 ($449)—you
AU plug-ins are available for creating Mediterranean or Latin grooves. won’t make it back to Earth soon.
GarageBand that it’s hard to make a They both meld sampled instruments n Steinberg has a wide range of
bad choice—it all depends on the flavors and prerecorded beats with playability sampled instruments, and we’re huge
you like in your compositional stew. Here via a MIDI controller keyboard. The fans of Groove Agent 2 ($299.99,
are some of our favorites. G-Force M-Tron ($129.95) is a re-creation www.steinberg.net). It’s the best
n Arturia’s re-creations of classic of a ’60s Mellotron—heard as what you sample-based virtual drummer in the AU
synths are outstanding, and build nicely thought were strings in the Beatles’ universe, containing an aural history of
upon the aural strengths of the originals. “Strawberry Fields Forever.” the last 50 years of drumming styles and
The aforementioned minimoog V is the
source of deep electronic bass bliss, and
the pads and leads are as luscious as
silk. For more adventurous souls, the
CS-80V ($249) is Vangelis in a plug-
in, and is perfectly suited to moody
soundtrack work of the Blade Runner
realm. The ARP2600 V ($249) takes you
right into the bubbling synth sounds
of “Who Are You” and will put you into
programming-nerd heaven (or hell).
These plug-ins are processor-intensive,
so only fast Macs need apply. The suave beats of Latigo, M-Audio’s Latin The awesome Albino 2 synth from LinPlug
n iZotope iDrum ($69.99, www.izotope groovebox, are as slick as its interface. is perfect for dance music and electronica.
.com) is a great, simple beatbox, well
suited to dance and electronic music. A n MOTU’s MX4 ($295) has some of riffs. And Steinberg has the rest of the
slick interface, easy programmability, the most extensive cross-modulation band covered as well, with The Grand
lots of drum kits and grooves, and a low programmability we’ve ever seen. The 2.0 (acoustic piano), Virtual Guitarist,
price make this one of the most popular sound is nothing short of stellar: thick and Virtual Bassist ($299.99 each). The
Mac drum machines. and dynamic. The MachFive sampler is Virtual Instruments bundle ($149.99) is
n LinPlug is a cool German developer an industrial-strength workhorse, with a great value, with scaled-down versions
that makes awesome synths, including integrated waveform editing and effects. of the main offerings that sound just
the stunner Albino 2 ($199, www.linplug n Native Instruments makes some dandy in your GarageBand noodlings.
.com)—one of our desert-island picks—
and the crazy CronoX3 ($139 download,
$149 CD), both of which are perfect for Hardware Helpers
dance and electronica. Also check out Software isn’t the only thing in GarageBand’s toy box. Hardcore GarageBanders
will appreciate M-Audio’s iControl ($179, www.m-audio.com), a mixer and control
LinPlug’s potent percussion synth, RM
surface tailored specifically for GarageBand that delivers hands-on control of software
IV ($149). And if you don’t want to shell
commands. The company’s Trigger Finger ($249.95) is a tabletop drummer’s best
out the big bucks for Native Instruments’
friend, with 16 velocity-sensitive pads that are great for triggering drum samples and
B4 II ($229), LinPlug’s $49 wonder,
musical passages (in conjunction with a sampler). M-Audio offers loads of great
daOrgan, is a delicious Hammond B3
keyboard controllers, too, but also check out Korg’s Legacy Collection ($625, www
clone that might lack all the options of .korg.com), which includes a unique USB 3/4-scale version of a classic MS-20 patch
the B4 II, but still has all of its vibe. cord synth and excellent digital re-creations of three classic Korg hardware synths: the
n M-Audio’s percussion instruments Wavestation wavetable synth, the Polysix , and the MS-20.
Darbuka and Latigo ($299.95 each,

32 August 2006
Effects mind—and your Mac. Its interface is
extremely slick and intuitive, and its
To paraphrase Gertrude Stein, a sound is a sound is a range of presets truly impressive.
sound—until you sculpt it with effects. n Camel Audio’s CamelSpace ($85,
www.camelaudio.com) is a weird and

L
ike their visual cousins, makes it a great deal. wacky stereo delay, panner (the sound
Photoshop filters, AU effects are n PSP Audioware’s PSP MixPack moves right and left in the stereo field)
capable of everything from subtle ($149, www.pspaudioware.com) is an and flanger, all controlled with a 128-
enhancements to massive paradigm outstanding collection of plug-ins for step gate sequencer. It creates highly
shifts. Like any seasoning, they should juicing up treble, bass, compression, complex—and seductive—wonders
be used with care and grace. Or not—it and saturation. You know that deep, out of drum loops, guitar licks, and
all depends on your sense of taste. subharmonic oomph that permeates hip- anything else you feed it.
hop? That’s PSP MixBass, part of PSP
EQUALIZATION &
DYNAMICS
These are the bread and butter of sound Inside Audio Units
sweetening. Equalizers deliver precise In the earlier days of Mac-based audio, there were a number of competing flavors
control over frequency characteristics of audio plug-ins. In the Mac OS X era, however, Apple delivered a standard format:
and often have an integrated Audio Units. AU is supported by any sequencing or recording package you’re ever
compressor—a critical tool for making likely to use, whether in the realm of GarageBand or in professional recording
instruments or vocals sound smooth studios. While proud owners of Digidesign’s Pro Tools rigs have their own dedicated
and consistent by insuring that quieter plug-in format (TDM), it requires Pro Tools hardware, while AU plug-ins work just fine
with or without Pro Tools.
passages are carefully balanced with
To get Audio Units into GarageBand, copy them into the /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/
more-intense audio. Limiting ensures
Components folder. (That’s the root-level Library, by the way.) Make sure to include
that signals don’t overload and turn to
support files such as presets—place them in /Library/Audio/Presets. You’ll be able
digital mush, and noise gating keeps
to see your new plug-ins in any app that supports AU plug-ins, such as Apple Logic.
down the bad noise while letting the
Also, any time you install a new plug-in, you’ll need to relaunch GarageBand.
good noise (music) rise to the surface.
n While GarageBand includes a basic
equalizer, it’s easily trumped by either MixPack. And then there’s the unbeliev- n PSP Audioware’s Nitro ($149)
ChannelStrip GarageBand ($89, www able PSP VintageWarmer, which takes is another odd jack-of-all-delays.
.mhlabs.com) or Wave Arts’ TrackPlug digital brittleness and turns it into warm
4 ($89.95, www.wavearts.com). Both analog velvetness. It’s the best $149 you
can invest in your overall sound.
n Once your mix is done, you can add
the previously mentioned equalizers to
GarageBand’s Master track to fine-tune
the overall tonal quality, or you can turn
to Wave Arts’ outstanding FinalPlug 5
($199.95) and MultiDynamic 5 ($199.95)
plug-ins to add extra presence and
sheen, something to consider if you plan iZotope’s Spectron has a vast range of
on cutting CDs of your final opus. dynamic effects, and its interface is one of
the slickest in the known universe.
REVERB, DELAY, & FILTERS
A touch of reverb goes a long way to This plug-in is capable of turning
PSP VintageWarmer is the perfect plug- making vocals and instruments come normal sounds into otherworldly
in to add analog warmth and punch to alive. Delay places your sounds in a excursions with extensive controls and
virtual canyon with echoes galore. Filters customization options and a boatload
2600 while growing up in Venezuela.
David Biedny cut his teeth on an ARP

individual tracks or an overall mix.


add frequency and tonal machinations. of cool presets to experiment with and
deliver fine-tuned equalization and n Wave Arts offers solid winners with build on.
compression and excellent noise MasterVerb 4 ($89.95) and MasterVerb n Audio Damage’s corporate-
gating. We give TrackPlug 4 the edge, 5 ($199.95); both come with loads of sounding 914 Fixed Filter Bank ($39,
as it offers 10 bands of equalization to potent presets that add weight and www.audiodamage.com) is anything
ChannelStrip’s six and is less demanding depth to your drum tracks or voice. but vanilla-sounding. This bargain is a
of your CPU. WaveArts also has a more n iZotope’s supremely slick Spectron digital re-creation of the venerable 914
full-featured TrackPlug 5 ($199.95), with ($129.99, www.izotope.com) delivers a filter from the massive Moog Modular
more options for expanded compression wide range of delay, filtering, and other analog beast that provides amazing
and gating, but version 4’s $90 price tag time-domain esoterica that will tax you mojo for drums and guitars.

August 2006 33
Field Guide to HOME ENTERTAINMENT TERMS

Entertaining
Intelligence
by Logan Kugler

T hirty years ago, when shopping for a TV in your local consumer-electronics store, you had two options:
black and white or color. Today you’re faced with a pile of decisions. And it’s not just TVs that have become
complicated—the same is true for virtually every home entertainment component. Here’s a quick look at some
of the language you should know before dropping several thousand simoleons on a new home theater system.

Resolutions COMPOSITE
A type of analog video information that is transmitted over
480i (SDTV) & 480p (EDTV) a single signal. Because of the restrictions of using just one
The i in 480i stands for interlaced, which means the video signal to transmit video, the highest resolution a composite
image is drawn in alternating horizontal scan lines—the first cable can transmit is 480i.
pass draws all the odd-numbered lines, and the second, all the
even-numbered lines. Progressive video, indicated by the p, DVI
draws a whole image in one pass, resulting in less image flicker. Digital Visual Interface is a technology designed to maximize
The number before the letter describes the total number of the visual quality of a digital display device such as an LCD
horizontal lines; 480i has been the standard resolution for over display. DVI works by transmitting the desired brightness of
20 years, and it’s what you’re watching on a good ol’ fashioned each pixel as digital data; the display reads each number and
boob tube. applies that brightness to the appropriate pixel.

720p (HDTV) HDMI


As explained above, the p stands for progressive and 720 High-Definition Multimedia Interface is a widely industry-
indicates the number of horizontal lines in the image. The more supported, uncompressed digital audio-video interface. Its most
horizontal lines you have, the sharper the picture; 720p is impressive feature is the fact that it can transfer both audio and
considered the starting range of high-definition TV. video over its single-cable design. Even better, it does it all in HD.

1080i & 1080p OPTICAL


1080i is widely regarded as a true high-def resolution. However, Similar to HDMI in the sense that it’s industry supported and
it’s not that much better than 720p because 1080i is interlaced, uncompressed, an optical audio connection transfers digital
not progressive like 720p. But if you have a 1080p HDTV in your sound in up to 7.1 channels to an audio receiver or television,
bedroom, consider yourself fortunate, as it provides the clearest all in a single cable, and delivers the best sound possible for
picture available in any television thus far. today’s audio electronics.

S-VIDEO
Connections A type of analog video information that is transmitted or stored
as two separate signals, unlike composite video, which carries
COAXIAL the entire set of signals in one package—and the more signals
If you have cable TV in your home, chances are you’ve seen a you have, the better the picture is going to be.
coaxial cable—it’s the cable that all modern cable companies
use to transfer a television signal from the broadcasting station
to the TVs inside your house. Displays
COMPONENT CRT
A type of analog video information that is transmitted or stored Cathode ray tubes were used in all television sets until late
as three separate signals, versus composite’s one (see next last century and the advent of plasma screens, LCD TVs, DLP
entry), resulting in high-quality video images. (see next entry), and other technologies. As a result of CRT

34 August 2006
technology, television (even non-CRT sets) continues to be disc. Now its proponents claim it’s not an acronym at all—DVD
referred to as “the tube” well into the 21st century. simply stands for, well, DVD. This optical media can be used for
data storage and is best known for storing movies with video and
DLP sound quality that are higher than that of VHS.
Digital Light Processing is used in projectors and projection TVs.
The brainchild of Texas Instruments, this technology is based on HD-DVD
an optical semiconductor that allows light to be modulated HD-DVD, Blu-ray’s main competitor, is another successor to DVD
digitally via millions of tiny movable mirrors on silicon chips. that’s designed for storage of high-definition video and sound.
HD-DVD discs can store up to 30GB.
LCD
A liquid crystal display is a thin, flat-panel device that can
produce picture quality equal or superior to a plasma display
(see below), but without some of a plasma TV’s pitfalls. An LCD
TVs
TV consumes very small amounts of power, typically lasts longer, EDTV
and is thinner than a plasma TV, but costs more per square inch. Enhanced-definition television is not as clear as HDTV, yet
provides quality that’s better than that of SDTV. EDTV resolutions
OLED include 480p and 576p.
An emerging technology, organic light-emitting diode displays
require no backlight to function and, as a result, can run off HDTV
power supplies as feeble as AA batteries. High-definition television has a higher resolution than traditional
formats (NTSC and PAL) allow. HDTV is broadcast digitally and can
PLASMA support multiple resolutions (480, 720, and 1080).
A plasma display is widely favored by many because of the
quality and size you can get for less money than you’d pay for NTSC
any other large flat-panel display technology. The analog television system in use in Korea, Japan, Canada, and
the United States.
PROJECTION
Similar to CRTs in impending obsolescence, projection TVs are PAL
increasingly hard to find due to the fact that the newer DLP TVs An acronym for phase-alternating line, PAL is the system used for
outperform standard projection TVs while maintaining the same broadcast television in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
projection-based technology.
SDTV
SED Standard-definition television refers to television systems that
Still in prototype form as of May 2006, Surface-conduction Electron- can only televise resolutions that are lower than 720p (HDTV).
emitter Displays combine the slim form factor of LCDs with the high This includes 480i, 288p, and 240p.
contrast ratios, refresh rates, and picture quality of CRTs.

SXRD
Used in home theater projectors, Sony’s Silicon X-tal Reflective
Audio
Display technology provides crisp 1080i HD resolutions for DOLBY DIGITAL (EX)
those looking for a picture that’s bigger than any TV on the This audio compression technology, developed by Dolby Laborato-
market today. X-tal, by the way, is Sony-speak for crystal. ries, started the whole surround-sound phenomenon. Dolby Digital
EX is an extension of the standard Dolby Digital sound compression
and is used for audio receivers supporting 6.1 or 7.1 channels.
Discs DTS (ES)
BLU-RAY Digital Theatre System Extended Surround, a multichannel
One competitor for the next generation of optical media. Blu-ray, surround-sound format used for both commercial and consumer
backed by Sony, is a an optical format designed for storage of applications, is typically a feature on audio receivers that support
high-definition video and sound. Unlike its predecessor, DVD, 6.1 or more channels.
Blu-ray can store up to 50GB per disc and has a lot of Hollywood
studio support resting atop its wide shoulders. THX
The trade name of a high-fidelity sound reproduction system seen
DVD in movie theaters, screening rooms, home theaters, computer
Originally, DVD stood for digital video disc, then digital versatile speakers, gaming consoles, and car audio systems.

Logan Kugler has a home entertainment system that does all of the above and more. It
even makes him breakfast in the morning and does his laundry. Actually, that’s a lie. August 2006 35
You’ll be
blown away.
RATIN¬S

You’ll be
impressed.
You’ll be
satisfied.
You’ll be
disappointed.
You’ll be
pissed off.
REVIEWS
better living through smarter shopping
37

When is a mouse not just a mouse? When it’s armed


with a laser. OK, it’s not a laser of the Austin Powers
variety, but Logitech’s S 530 mouse (pictured) uses
a laser for precision cursor movement. Next month
we’ll have reviews of Apple’s Final Cut Express HD
video-editing app, Canon’s EOS 30D digital SLR
camera, QuarkXPress 7 page-layout software,
Motorola’s SLVR mobile phone, and more.

38 13-inch 1.83GHz MacBook notebook Mac


42 17-inch MacBook Pro notebook Mac
42 Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser for Mac keyboard and mouse
53 CyberTablet 8600 tablet
40 Evolt E-330 SLR camera
41 Final Draft AV screenwriting software
49 LX Desk Mount Notebook Arm notebook stand
43 MemoryMiner photo organizer
50 Mercury On-The-Go FireWire 800+USB 2.0 portable hard drive
49 Micro Mini Hard Drive 8GB portable hard drive
47 miniStack V2 external hard drive
44 MojoWorld 3 3D-world generator
47 mTune-N iPod nano headphones
48 Photosmart 475 photo printer
46 PowerShot S80 point-and-shoot camera
50 SyncMaster 940BF LCD display
52 ThunderDock iPod speaker stand

Games
57 Bullet Candy 1.0.2 shoot-em-up game review
56 Platypus shooter game review
56 RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Soaked! tips and tricks
55 The Sims 2: Nightlife expansion pack review
56 The Sims 2: Open for Business coming soon
55 World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade coming soon
57 The Xbox 360 and the Mac Collide game news
PHOTOGRAPH BY SAMANTHA BERG

We’d spend our Universal application


own hard-earned that runs natively on
money on this both PowerPC and
product. Intel Macs.

August 2006 37
38 REVIEWS
better living through smarter shopping

processor clock speed, and the iBook G4


was left in the dust. Buy. More. RAM.
Hot stuff. Front Row and the included
Apple Remote are a pleasure, but
when we watched a DVD of Lawrence
of Arabia—a full three hours and 10
minutes of it on one battery charge—the
underside of the MacBook became
ludicrously hot (and no, our MacBook’s
cooling vents weren’t blocked). This is
one toasty puppy; even Apple’s Web
site warns, “Prolonged contact with
your body could cause discomfort
and potentially a burn.”
The MacBook (right) is more compact and has a brighter display than the 14-inch iBook G4 (left). One final niggle: To get good gaming
performance, you have to sacrifice image

MacBook quality—we had to turn off all of the


graphics settings that make Doom 3 (the
Universal version) look diabolical, and use
CAPABLE CONSUMER-LEVEL NOTEBOOK 640-by-480-pixel screen resolution to get

W e’ve been living with the new


MacBook for a week or so now, and
what was starry-eyed love at first sight has
subsystem reserves 64MB of system
RAM, if you plan to use your new ’Book
for Photoshop or InDesign work, equip it
framerates of even 25 frames per second
from the aforementioned Intel GMA 950
graphics subsystem. At higher resolutions
mellowed into a more mature relationship. with a minimum of 1GB of RAM. and more detail, the GMA 950 chokes.
We’re still enamored, but not so infatuated Case in point: Our 1.83GHz MacBook The bottom line. Don’t let our carping
as to ignore its imperfections. with 512MB of RAM took 4.25 times as long dissuade you from ditching your iBook G4
This entry-level notebook is compact, to complete our real-world Photoshop CS2 and upgrading to a MacBook—it’s our job
lightweight—although, at 5.2 pounds, Actions test than did a 2.16GHz MacBook to point out the pimples on its otherwise
about a third of a pound heavier than Pro with 1GB of RAM, and 3.5 times as long beautiful countenance. When equipped
the iBook G4 it replaces—and features as a 2.0GHz MacBook Pro, also equiped with a reasonable amount of RAM, it’s
a 13.3-inch widescreen display that’s with 1GB of RAM—it was even outpaced a fine performer—and we didn’t even
noticeably brighter than the iBook’s. The by a 1GHz iBook G4 with a measly 256MB mention its dead-simple RAM and hard
glossy nature of the display provides rich of RAM. The performance gaps were drive upgradeability, its pop-off MagSafe
colors and a deep black, but in certain similar in InDesign CS2 and still dramatic, Power Adapter, or its nifty magnetic
lighting conditions reflected glare can though less so, in Photoshop Elements 4. latch.—Rik Myslewski
be annoying. At its native resolution However, when we boosted the MacBook’s
MacBook MacBook Pro (15 ”)
of 1,280 by 780 pixels, the MacBook RAM to 1GB, performance differences
Price $1,099 to $1,499 $1,999 to $2,499
provides about 20 percent more pixelage on most apps were again proportional to CPU Speed 1.83GHz to 2.0GHz 2.0GHz to 2.16GHz
than the iBook, but type and other Hard Drive 60GB, 80GB 80GB, 100GB
screen elements are only a bit over 80 PRO OR NO? Stock RAM
SO DIMMs
512MB
two
512MB, 1GB
one
percent as large as those displayed on its Display 13.3 inches 15.4 inches
14.1-inch predecessor. The MacBook starts at $1,099; the 15-inch Resolution 1,280 by 800 1,440 by 900
Cram it with RAM. In our testing using MacBook Pro, $1,999. They both have Glossy standard optional (free)
display
Universal apps, the MacBook performed built-in Bluetooth, AirPort Extreme, Gigabit Self-dimming no yes
similarly to its more expensive big Ethernet, two USB 2.0 and one FireWire 400 Backlit no yes
keyboard
brother, the MacBook Pro, after taking ports; an iSight, an Apple Remote, Front Row, Graphics Intel GMA 950 Radeon X1600
into account the different clock speeds of a MagSafe Power Adapter, and analog and Video RAM 64MB (shared) 128MB, 256MB
the ’Books’ Core Duo processors. Testing digital optical audio in and out ports; plus Dual-link DVI no yes

using non-Universal applications showed 2MB of shared on-chip L2 cache and 667MHz External video 1,920 by 1,200 2,560 by 1,600
Mini-DVI to optional ($19) included
similar results but uncovered one frontside buses. So what do you get—besides VGA
Expansion none ExpressCard/34
enormous caveat: Since Rosetta, Apple’s an aluminum body, a SuperDrive, and the
Size (inches) 1.08 x 12.78 x 8.92 1.0 x 14.1 x 9.6
PowerPC-to-Intel translator, stores some word “Pro” stenciled on the display—for your Weight 5.2 5.6
of its translated code in RAM, and since extra $900? Quite a bit, actually. (pounds)

the MacBook’s Intel GMA 950 graphics

COMPANY: Apple SPECIFICATIONS: GOOD NEWS: Good price. Great performance on Universal apps.
CONTACT: 408-996-1010, www.apple.com See “Pro or No?” above Easy serviceability. Front Row and Apple Remote.
PRICE: $1,099 (1.83GHz Intel Core Duo, tested), BAD NEWS: Runs hot. Graphics subsystem uses system RAM.
$1,299 (2.0GHz white), $1,499 (2.0GHz black) Performance hit when using non-Universal apps with Rosetta.

38 August 2006
adsbygoogle.com
40 REVIEWS
better living through smarter shopping

Evolt E-330
UNCONVENTIONAL SLR CAMERA
ups with the camera on a tripod, moving
a little green target box on the screen to
perform a 10x magnification of sections
of the image. We were then able to
critically focus on those areas without
moving the camera or zooming in, both
of which would have required us to
reframe the image. If macro or tabletop
photography is your thing, this feature is
priceless.
The E-330 delivered beautifully
sharp pictures with virtually no noise
up to and including ISO 400.
And although ISO 800 is
a bit noisy, it’s tolerable.
However, we found that the
camera’s noise-reduction
feature (which can’t be turned
The E-330 is the first off) softened images a little too
much for our liking at ISO 1600. Aside

T
digital SLR camera to
he Evolt E-330 is the offer live image previews on from that, exposures are right on, and
first interchangeable-lens its tilting LCD. color is near perfect.
digital SLR camera that allows live The camera also has an excellent
previewing of images on its 2.5-inch LCD. and locked in place so photos can be range of image-adjustment settings for
For most photographers it’s probably previewed exactly as the camera’s color, tone, and sharpness, as well as
not a big deal, since SLR cameras let you 7.5-megapixel NMOS sensor, called Live lightning-fast writing to memory cards.
see an accurate, through-the-lens image MOS, will record them. Both methods Buttons and dials are in the right places,
of your shot in the optical viewfinder. work well when used appropriately, but and the grip is extremely comfortable.
But live LCD framing can be handy when each has its own nuances. We liked the option of being able to
holding the camera up high to shoot over Different views.
a crowd or down low for dramatic angles. We used Live
And it can be invaluable for shooting View A for general
small objects and ultra close-ups with photography, but
the camera on a tripod—you don’t have when we held
to straddle the tripod or use a step stool the camera away
to look through the viewfinder. from us, we had to
An image viewed in the optical finder remember to flip
of a digital SLR first passes through the a lever to prevent
lens upside-down and is then reflected light from backing With the E-330’s Live View B mode, you can target any part of the image
(hence the reflex) by a series of mirrors into the viewfinder, for 10x critical focusing without shifting the camera or zooming the lens.
so you can see it correctly. However, the which can cause
position of one of the mirrors prevents underexposed images. In Live View A, manually control the flash intensity,
the transmission of a live image preview you can use autofocus—but remember, especially useful for close-ups. Menus
to the LCD. In the E-330, Olympus you only see about 95 percent of the could use a bit of work, though; that’s
positions a small, second sensor in the actual image you are shooting. always been Olympus’ Achilles heel.
reflex viewing path that allows the image Live View B mode lets you see the The bottom line. The E-330’s live-
to be displayed at about 95 percent of actual size of the image the E-330’s Live view capability is a technological
its size on the LCD—this mode is called MOS sensor will capture. But in this breakthrough that you’ll find quite
Live View A. In Live View B mode, the mode, you have to manually focus the useful, especially when you’re shooting
mirror that’s in the way is moved aside camera. We used this mode for close- at odd angles.—Arthur Bleich

COMPANY: Olympus REQUIREMENTS: USB, GOOD NEWS: Excellent image quality. Live image previews
CONTACT: 800-622-6372, www.olympus.com Mac OS 10.1 or later on bright, 2.5-inch, tilting LCD. The 14-45mm lens is a gem.
PRICE: $999 (body only), $1,099 (with 14- BAD NEWS: Sluggish manual focus. Menus can be
45mm lens) confusing. Images somewhat soft at ISO 1600.

40 August 2006
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42 REVIEWS
better living through smarter shopping

17-inch MacBook Pro Cordless


HUMONGOUS NOTEBOOK Desktop
S 530 Laser
A pple debuted its first 17-inch
notebook about three years ago,
and we’re still gasping, “Gosh, that for Mac
sucker’s big!” every time we take the
CUSTOMIZABLE
wraps off a new 17-incher. In this
case, it’s the 17-inch MacBook Pro, KEYBOARD AND MOUSE
Apple’s first plus-sized ’Book with
an Intel processor.
For the lowdown
T he Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser
for Mac’s advantage is the range of
its customizable buttons. The mouse
on what’s has eight buttons. You can reprogram
inside the them to control brightness, eject a CD,
new 17-inch shut down your Mac, launch the App
MacBook Pro we Apple’s Switcher, or open any app, document,
tested, read the gray box below. 17-incher gets folder, or Web site. The mouse’s
The 17-inch MacBook Pro is $300 more Intel-icized. scroll wheel doesn’t roll smoothly or
than the 15-inch 2.16GHz MacBook Pro omnidirectionally, but rather in stepped
( May/06, p36), but you get the MacBook Pros (and, come to think of it, increments. However, it does tilt side to
bigger screen, more hard drive capacity every other Intel-based Mac), running a side, which is helpful.
(the 15-inch MacBook Pro has a 100GB non-Universal app with Rosetta (Apple’s The keyboard features a cornucopia of
hard drive), an 8x double-layer SuperDrive translator that lets you run non-Universal preprogrammed buttons. It has buttons
(versus a 4x single-layer SuperDrive), a apps on Intel-based Macs) can actually for shutting down, controlling the
FireWire 800 port (the 15-inch MacBook be slower than the same app running on volume, and launching iTunes, iPhoto,
Pro doesn’t have FireWire 800), and three a PowerPC Mac or ’Book. For example, Spotlight, email, and a Web browser.
USB 2.0 ports instead of two. That’s a in our Adobe Photoshop CS2 Actions There are also iTunes controls (Play and
lot for 300 bucks. You can also choose test, the PowerBook G4 was actually 11 Pause, Forward and Back) as well as
between a 5,400 rpm, 120GB hard drive, percent faster than the MacBook Pro. In Scroll and Back buttons. The keyboard is
or a 7,200 rpm, 100GB drive, at no cost. our Adobe InDesign CS2 PDF Export test, flat, and its keys feel great when you’re
To gauge the MacBook Pro’s speed, the PowerBook G4 was 27 percent faster. typing. However, we found the palm rest
we ran several application-based tests And in our Adobe Photoshop Elements to be a bit wide, which made it difficult to
on both it and a 17-inch PowerBook G4 4.0 Auto Smart Fix test, the PowerBook feel our way to the right row of keys when
with a 1.67GHz G4 processor. When using G4 was 28 percent faster. we had the keyboard tucked away on a
Universal apps (software that includes We tested battery life by watching tray. The keyboard has no USB ports.
code designed to run on Intel processors), Lawrence of Arabia on DVD. The MacBook The bottom line. Even though the S
the MacBook Pro offers impressive Pro lasted 2 hours and 45 minutes—more 530 isn’t perfect, it’s a useful keyboard
speed gains over the PowerBook G4. than enough to get through the first DVD and mouse.—Cathy Lu
When creating a OneStep DVD from a of the movie, and 11 minutes longer than
movie in iDVD, the MacBook Pro was 30 the PowerBook G4.
percent faster than the PowerBook G4. The bottom line. The 17-inch MacBook
When applying a sepia tone video effect Pro is ideal for video, audio, and imaging
in iMovie HD, the MacBook Pro was pros—Apple’s Final Cut Studio (see Get
34 percent faster. In GarageBand, the Info, p14), iLife ’06, and Aperture 1.1
MacBook Pro was 33 percent faster than are Universal apps, so you’ll reap the
the PowerBook G4 when performing a speed benefits. But if all you want is the Controls at your
Send Song To iTunes task. big, bright, wide screen, go ahead and fingertips.
As we experienced with the 15-inch indulge yourself.—Roman Loyola
COMPANY: Logitech PRICE: $99
COMPANY: Apple SPECIFICATIONS: 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo, 1GB (single SO DIMM) 667MHz DDR2 CONTACT: REQUIREMENTS: USB,
CONTACT: 408-996-1010, SDRAM, 100GB 7,200-rpm SATA hard drive, 8x double-layer SuperDrive, 17-inch 1,680- 800-231-7717, Mac OS 10.2.8 or later, 2 AA
www.apple.com by-1,050-pixel widescreen display, 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 video subsystem www.logitech.com and 3 AAA batteries
PRICE: $2,799
GOOD NEWS: Tons of programmable buttons. Side-
GOOD NEWS: Fast performance when using Universal applications. to-side mouse scrolling.
Loads of improved capabilities compared to the 15-inch MacBook Pro. BAD NEWS: Keyboard
BAD NEWS: Size may be unwieldy for some. Performance hit when using lacks USB ports. Incremental
non-Universal applications with Rosetta. scrolling can be a bear.

42 August 2006
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44 REVIEWS
better living through smarter shopping

MojoWorld can produce


great results, but the
journey is a strange one.

bombs. Alternatively, you


can import them from
other apps.
The interface is
infuriatingly obscure; it
feels like you need an
Egyptologist to interpret
all the hieroglyphic-like
icons. Some are symbols,
some tell you that you
need the Pro version
to use a feature, and
some are weird-looking
sliders—things can
quickly get overwhelming.
Pandromeda has tried to
simplify processes in a

MojoWorld 3
number of ways, such as
presets and a Planet Wizard to select
general planet attributes.
Another prominent feature is the
FRUSTRATING 3D WORLD GENERATOR Layout mode. While it’s not a wizard,
this mode removes most of the complex

M ost Mac terrain-generator apps


work on landscapes where the
viewpoint ranges from a few feet to
updates too slowly to be of real value.
Terrain creation. MojoWorld can
create latitude-based terrain zones—to
tools, provides vast amounts of tool-tip
help, and, through a sequence of tabbed
panels, provides a logical workflow
30 miles above the virtual surface. simulate ice caps, for example. You can for scene creation. It’s handy, but no
MojoWorld is different. It’s optimized to also create a parameter bomb, which is substitute for a well-designed main
work on a global scale, with views as far a user-defined square or circular area interface. The whole app should be as
away as outer space. Pandromeda waxes that contains localized terrain, trees, well thought out as this.
lyrical about the dreamlike possibilities, a river system, imported terrain from MojoWorld has a lot of potential.
such as creating flight paths hundreds Bryce, 3D models, and more. If you use It’s undoubtedly competent at creating
or thousands of miles in length, but a parameter bomb to create localized weird, sci-fi-lookin’ planets with cooled
MojoWorld’s interface interferes with terrain, the new creation blends lava flows, sharp rock escarpments,
the fantasy. seamlessly into the existing terrain; the sweeping dunes, and towering glaciers.
In MojoWorld, your terrain has no ability to create freehand parameter It’s just not so good at creating Earth-
borders. The camera can move in any bombs would have been useful here. like scenes or precise, user-defined
direction until it arrives back at your MojoWorld doesn’t provide a multi- fine detail.
starting point, without the need to viewport configuration, so you can The bottom line. Once you’re past
manually create additional terrain. only add new features in a single view. the tough learning curve, the initially
Annoyingly, the slow preview window Having said that, the app’s perspective frustrating user interface, the needless
can sometimes provide only a sketchy view has the most-responsive and best- obscurity, the difficulty of creating exact
idea of what the rendered landscape designed scene-navigation controls of features, and the totally different way of
will look like. When adding complex- any 3D program we’ve ever used. thinking about landscapes, MojoWorld
shaped boulders with the new Boulder MojoWorld’s greatest weakness is its is quite fun to play with, and the view
tool, for example, you only see a sphere terrain-editing tools, which are virtually randomizer gives you that “explorer”
for positioning purposes. How can you nonexistent. You can’t manually sculpt feeling. But while it can produce great
orient complex shapes under these a crater or a canyon. Instead, you select results and has a few clever tricks up its
conditions? There’s a postage-stamp- a formula that generates such objects, sleeve, its competitors are much more
size preview, but it’s too small and and then insert them using parameter flexible and effective.—Mat Broomfield

COMPANY: Pandromeda REQUIREMENTS: 1GHz G4, 256MB GOOD NEWS: Infinite views. Fun to play with once you
CONTACT: 304-788-7894, RAM, Mac OS 9 or later, 350MB disk grasp it. Includes a simplifier wizard.
www.pandromeda.com space BAD NEWS: Sluggish and infuriating interface. No
PRICE: $199, $149 (upgrade) Undo function.

44 August 2006
46 REVIEWS
better living through smarter shopping

PowerShot S80
AMBITIOUS POINT-AND-SHOOT CAMERA

T he eight-megapixel, 3.6x optical-


zoom PowerShot S80 has everything
we expect from a Canon camera: ease of
S80, the noise was more noticeable than
what we’ve seen from other comparably
priced cameras.
S80 uses a wheel to adjust shutter
speed or aperture settings if it’s set in
either of those modes. The wheel was
use, intuitive design, and a great set of We also took several pictures in annoyingly loose—it’s too easy to have a
features. Unfortunately, it was also a bit bright daylight under cloudless skies. finger resting on it, unknowingly rotating
of a letdown. The blue sky appeared to be out of an the setting to something else.
We used the PowerShot S80 Impressionist painting, with the amount The mode dial is on the upper-right
to take several pictures of a of noise increasing as we raised the side of the camera. To switch between
Macbeth ColorChecker Auto, Program, Shutter Speed Priority,
chart (a grid of different Aperture Priority, Manual, Custom,
colors used to check Video, Stitch Assist, My
the color balance of Colors, and Scene
the camera you’re modes, you use
using—check it out at your thumb to
www.gretagmacbeth move the dial
.com). We shot photos up and down.
using shutter speeds An icon that
of 1/125 and 1/60 corresponds
of a second with the to the mode
camera set at all of its you selected
ISO values (50, 100, appears on the
200, and 400) in open LCD. It’s easy
shade on a sunny day. to see and use.
Our images all displayed When you select
noise—grainy artifacts the Scene mode,
in an image—ranging you get more
from simply noticeable to A whole lotta shooting modes,
obnoxiously mottled. We pixels in a li’l camera. including Night
experienced the most noise at Scene, Underwater,
ISO 400 and the least at ISO 50, but the Digital Macro, Portrait,
images at ISO 50 seemed underexposed. and Landscape. You
To a degree, this was to be expected, ISO. The best combination of ISO and navigate through these choices using
since, in general, the higher the ISO shutter speed we arrived at was at ISO the same wheel you use to adjust shutter
and the longer the exposure, the more 100 and a minimum shutter speed of and aperture speed. It’s a lot easier to
noise you get. But with the PowerShot 1/80 of a second or faster. We also took use than it sounds.
several shots of scenery, people, events, One of the PowerShot S80’s best
and more, and the good news is that features is its 2.5-inch LCD. It’s excellent
GO LOW ISO, BRO
despite the noise, we were quite pleased for reviewing your images, and works
TIP

To fit eight or more megapixels


on the sensor of a point-and- with the camera’s accurate and vivid well most of the time when framing your
shoot camera, the pixel-capturing color fidelity. shot—and when we had some problems
elements on that sensor must The PowerShot S80, which stores seeing the LCD in bright sunlight, the
shrink. As their size decreases, the
amount of image noise they produce
images on an SD card, is as compact as optical-zoom viewfinder was more than
increases—and point-and-shoot any other eight-megapixel camera on the adequate.
cameras can rarely handle the robust market. The sliding door that protects The bottom line. For everyday point-
noise-reduction algorithms used the lens when it’s not in use also acts as and-shoot moments, the PowerShot S80
by professional digital cameras. To
the power switch. The camera is quite is a capable camera. But temper your
help cut down the noise, use low ISO
settings whenever possible, plus easy to use with just one hand, as all expectations when it comes to image
adequate lighting. the controls are within easy reach with it quality from an eight-megapixel point-
held in your right hand. The PowerShot and-shoot camera.—Rick Oldano

COMPANY: Canon REQUIREMENTS: USB, Mac OS GOOD NEWS: Easy to use. Large and good-looking
CONTACT: 800-385-2155, 10.2 or later LCD. Good color accuracy.
www.canon.com BAD NEWS: Noisy images.
PRICE: $549

46 August 2006
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48 REVIEWS
better living through smarter shopping

Photosmart 475
ROAD-WORTHY PHOTO PRINTER
Large image files took some time to
appear on the printer’s LCD; for example,
Small printer. five-megapixel images took a lengthy
Big image quality. seven seconds each to come up on the
LCD. Smaller images files didn’t take as
long; 1MB photos, for example, took
about three seconds to appear.
It took about two minutes to print a
4-by-6-inch photo at the printer’s Best
setting, and 85 seconds at Normal. We
didn’t find a noticeable difference in
quality between the two settings, but
the Photosmart 475 defaults to Best
and had to be tediously reset to Normal
by diving through menus each time—a
real pain. It took two minutes and 33
seconds to print a 5-by-7-inch photo
at Best and one minute, 43 seconds
at Normal.
The Photosmart 475 uses a tricolor
ink cartridge; HP claims images will last
82 years under glass before beginning
to fade. There’s no black ink cartridge—

T he Photosmart 475 Compact Photo


Printer—HP also calls it the GoGo
Photo Printer—can go-go just about
With 1.5GB of internal memory, it’s
easy to transfer and then delete images
from your memory cards, freeing the
dark tones are produced by blending the
three colors, resulting in more ink being
used and longer drying times. Prints
anywhere. It’s hard to believe this cards for more pictures. It took well over on Premium Photo Glossy paper (which
mini-boom-box look-alike, weighing four minutes to transfer 102.7MB—not provides stunning image quality) needed
only 3.3 pounds and smaller than a box very speedy, but that was offset by several hours to cure, and we had to
of Kleenex, can churn out photo-finish- being able to visually verify that our gingerly handle them by the edges to
quality prints up to 5 by 7 inches, images had transferred before we prevent smearing. After the photos are
something most other portable photo erased our cards. We also liked plugging dry, however, they aren’t water resistant.
printers can’t do—but it can. the printer into the video input of a big HP has a cheaper, quick-drying,
The Photosmart 475 prints JPEG TV screen and viewing our photos as a waterproof paper that we also tried—it
and TIFF files directly from most slide show—when the Photosmart 475 reproduced muddy shadow details and
popular memory cards (including is connected to a TV, you can use the lacked the brilliance of Premium Photo
CompactFlash, Memory Stick, Secure included IR remote to control the slide Glossy paper.
Digital MultiMediaCard, xD-Picture show, as well as print pictures. The printer has many menu options–
Card, and more), from any PictBridge- Several optional accessories expand sharpening, brightening, red-eye
enabled digital camera (that’s most of the 475’s portability. A rechargeable removal, black-and-white printing (with
them these days), and even from your battery ($79) puts out enough juice a special cartridge), printing multiple
iPod—and, of course, your Mac. The for about 75 4-by-6-inch prints, a car images per page, decorative frames,
printer displays big, clear images on its battery adapter ($39) lets you take to picture zooming and rotation, border
2.5-inch LCD and can print bordered or the road, and a Bluetooth adapter ($59) options, image storage using keywords,
borderless 4-by-6-inch, 5-by-7-inch, and allows wireless printing from camera and more.
4-by-12-inch panoramic prints, as well phones, PDAs, and other devices—the The bottom line. Though it has room
as other esoteric photo sizes, such as Bluetooth option won’t work when the for improvement, the Photosmart 475
3.9-by-5.8-inch Japanese Hagaki (post) printer’s tethered to your Mac, however. is lightweight, extremely compact,
cards. It’ll also grab and output frames Prints a-go-go. We gave the virtually silent, and as versatile as they
from video clips. Photosmart 475 a printing workout. come.—Arthur Bleich

COMPANY: HP REQUIREMENTS: USB, GOOD NEWS: Excellent image quality. Prints 5-by-7-inch photos. Internal image
CONTACT: 888-999-4747, Mac OS 10.1.5 or later storage. TV interface. Prints direct from popular memory cards, cameras, iPods.
www.hp.com BAD NEWS: Premium prints not water resistant. Slow image-to-image viewing.
PRICE: $249 Printing sluggish at Best setting. Images hard to see on LCD when viewed nine-up.

48 August 2006
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50 REVIEWS
better living through smarter shopping

Mercury On-The-Go FW 800+USB 2.0


TRANSPARENT PORTABLE HARD DRIVE

W hile Other World Computing’s


Mercury On-The-Go FW 800+USB
2.0 hard drive appears to have been
FireWire 400, USB 2.0, or both.
The drive comes with a
nondescript, but functional,
The-Go drive
averaged
41MB per
separated at birth from LaCie’s vinyl carrying case to hold second using
silverscreen ( Feb/06, p39), it the drive, adapter, and FireWire 800,
serves a completely different purpose. cables; it fits neatly versus 11MB per
The silverscreen is designed for media in a backpack or second with USB
playback on TVs, while the On-The-Go book bag. 2.0. Clearly, if speed is
hard drive is a general-purpose, portable We used Xbench your priority, you should
storage device. It’s clear (pun intended) (free, www.xbench use FireWire 800—if the
that more than one product designer .com) to gauge the No metallic Mac you’re using has it. In
discovered that a transparent case speed of the drive over grate design here. the current Mac lineup, only the
would look cool. Not necessarily unique, FireWire 800 and USB 17-inch MacBook Pro and Power
but cool. And we’ll admit, we’re dazzled 2.0 on a Dual 2GHz Power Mac G5. On Mac G5s have FireWire 800 ports.
every time we plug in the drive and the Sequential Uncached Write test, The bottom line. For toting around
watch the front LED light up. the On-The-Go drive averaged 35MB your video projects, music compositions,
The On-The-Go drive we tested had per second using FireWire 800, versus or just multiple gigabytes of files, this
a pair of FireWire 800 ports and a USB 10MB per second with USB 2.0. On the itty-bitty drive with a mega-maxi name
2.0 port; OWC also offers drives with Sequential Uncached Read test, the On- does the job well.—Roman Loyola

COMPANY: Other World PRICE: $139.99 (40GB) to $349.99 GOOD NEWS: Nice design. Good FireWire 800 speeds.
Computing (160GB, tested) BAD NEWS: Unimpressive USB speeds.
CONTACT: 800-275-4576, REQUIREMENTS:
www.macsales.com Mac OS 10.0.3 or later

SyncMaster 940BF
DECENT LCD MONITOR

W hat sets the SyncMaster 940BF


apart from most displays is its
MagicTune software, which you use
Colors in the photos we displayed
looked realistic and even, and the
SyncMaster 940BF handled DVDs
to adjust the monitor’s settings, such nicely—we saw no noticeable streaking
as brightness, contrast, color tone, and good colors when watching
gamma, and more. MagicTune works Lawrence of Arabia.
much like the built-in controls of any The SyncMaster 940BF has only one
display, but you get to use your mouse VGA and one DVI connector. It doesn’t
to point and click the options—an easier have a USB hub, which isn’t a bad
and more efficient way to navigate thing—but for the price, you can’t help
and make adjustments, compared to wanting a few niceties. You can adjust
using the buttons on the front bezel the angle of the display by tilting it
(which you can still opt to use instead forward or back, but you can’t adjust
of the software). The one caveat: For There’s still a demand for standard-aspect- the height (the SyncMaster 940BF isn’t
reasons known only to Samsung, ratio 4:3 LCDs. alone in not allowing height adjustment,
MagicTune for the Mac isn’t bundled with but it would be nice if more displays
the display, and it took some poking Software aside, the SyncMaster had it).
around Samsung’s Web site to find it. 940BF has decent overall image quality, The bottom line. The SyncMaster
Fortunately, the software is worth the despite some slight unevenness in the 940BF is a good display for general
time spent downloading it. brightness of the unit we looked at. use.—Roman Loyola

COMPANY: Samsung REQUIREMENTS: DVI video GOOD NEWS: Good controls. Decent image quality.
CONTACT: 800-726-7864, connector BAD NEWS: Mac software not bundled with display. No height
www.samsung.com adjustment.
PRICE: $499

50 August 2006
00137_GR20GI20_MacAddict_ADS.qxd 5/24/06 9:06 AM Page 1
52 REVIEWS
better living through smarter shopping

ThunderDock
UNDERWHELMING IPOD SPEAKER STAND

W ith a name like ThunderDock, you’d


expect to have to brace yourself
for some Earth-shattering sound. But
could really use
some stickier
feet—it tended
this iPod speaker stand produces very to slide when we
little thunder. pressed our ’Pod’s
The one-piece ThunderDock measures clickwheel. This ThunderDock neither rocks nor rolls.
10 by 4 by 3.25 inches and weighs a light Two touch-
2.5 pounds (including the external power sensitive buttons kicking sand in its face. Highs sag,
adapter), making it easy to transport, control volume, and on the back you’ll and bass totally whimpers despite the
although no case is included for toting find a stereo jack for connecting other vaunted “Thunder Base [sic] Boost”
it around. A pair of two-inch speakers audio devices (a short cable is included). circuitry. This device is loud, although
(6 watts each) straddle a center dock Syncing our iPod through USB was we don’t think you’d want to blast such
that can take one of three adapters to problematic at first—the ThunderDock sad sound for long.
give your iPod a nice snug fit (nanos and didn’t recognize our ’Pod—but after The bottom line. While the
video iPods will work, but no adapter swapping out the bundled USB cable for ThunderDock has a few things going for
was included with our unit). Even iPod a new one, we were able to sync away. it, you’d be best off avoiding it due to its
shuffle owners can get in on the action Go figure. dismal sound. Take your cash and look
by using the bundled USB adapter to The ThunderDock’s main problem? for a more capable offering elsewhere.
dock the shuffle. The ThunderDock Sound so weak that you’ll feel like —Gil Loyola

COMPANY: Global American PRICE: $129 GOOD NEWS: Compact. Compatible with all iPods.
Technologies REQUIREMENTS: iPod or iPod BAD NEWS: Slippery feet. Weak sound.
CONTACT: 718-729-4920, shuffle
www.globalat.com

iPod Showcase
Banshee Listening Station iPodCopy iPod Mounting Solutions

The only 5.0 surround system in


a single listening station.
Shatter the perceived limitations of
audio for your iPod with a massive Taking your music with you
50 watts of peak output power. The iPodCopy is a Mac/PC is even easier with ProClip!
Banshee’s patented technology application that lets you ProClip mounting solutions are
produces ultracrisp midranges with retrieve music from your iPod. the best way to mount your iPod in
deep and powerful bass. Available Use iPodCopy to extract your music your vehicle. The mount clips on in
at RadioShack, select Circuit City and videos from your iPod straight seconds without interior damage.
stores, Discovery Channel Stores, back to iTunes. Really useful if For details on ProClip mounting
and Chicago-area Abt Electronics you loose all your media on your solutions for your iPod as well
locations. computer following a reformat. as your other devices, visit:
www.BansheeAudio.com www.wideanglesoftware.com/ www.proclipusa.com
312-474-6108 ipodcopy/ 800-296-3212

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REVIEWS
53

CyberTablet 8600 This 8-by-6-inch table


doesn’t take Mac
compatibility
DISPLEASING TABLET
seriously.

T he CyberTablet 8600 doesn’t look


out of place next to most Macs.
But beyond that visual parity, the only
tablet’s controls
anywhere
in System
reason you’d want the 8600 over a Preferences, and
similarly sized Wacom Graphire4 even Spotlight
( Jan/06, p48) is that the 8600 failed to turn up 8600’s 8-by-6-inch active-area tablet
costs half as much. Otherwise, you’ll the app—that’s has 512 levels of pressure sensitivity.
make some significant sacrifices. because it had been installed in the Neither the CyberTablet pen nor the
Despite trumpeting Mac compatibility Applications folder as the creatively two-button, scroll-wheel mouse are
on both its Web site and its box, the spelled CyperTablet. Even the updated particularly ergonomically pleasing,
CyberTablet 8600 clearly doesn’t have driver (version 1.55 at press time) is a but the pen performed as intended
Macs in mind. The documentation refers bit buggy. An Adesso rep told us that the in both Adobe Photoshop CS2 and
only to Windows; the software bundle is company is working on a new driver and Illustrator CS2, providing the drawing
all Windows-only. You must download updating the documentation. Neither and retouching precision you can only
a Mac OS X driver from Adesso’s Web were available at press time. get from a tablet.
site. During installation, the driver The 8600 has 16 programmable The bottom line. If you’re short
messed with our OS X security settings, function keys across the top of its active on funds but long on patience, the
and it took two reboots to fix matters. area—and you’ll want to program them, CyberTablet will give you pen-point
After installation, we couldn’t find the since the defaults don’t work. The accuracy.—Michael J. Shapiro

COMPANY: Adesso REQUIREMENTS: USB, Mac OS X GOOD NEWS: Affordable compared to other tablets.
CONTACT: 909-839-2929, BAD NEWS: Bundled software isn’t Mac-compatible.
www.adesso.com Buggy driver. Lackluster mouse.
PRICE: $129.99

iPod Showcase
Elite Audio Gear Core Cases iPod Repair

Hardcore hard-case protection


for iPod addicts.
Designed to balance your need for
protection and function. The unique Everyone drops their iPod now
6i Isolator Earphones deliver hinge-free slider design keeps your and again, but if it breaks,
detail, balance, comfort, nano, nano. Fully padded interior what do you do?
and value. and built-in screen protector protect The professionals at iPodMods
The in-ear secure fit reduces your ’Pod, while user-friendly .com have a solution for you. We
background noise so you can listen cutouts balance the function. offer free diagnostic testing and
at safe levels. Hear crisp, clear Includes a neck lanyard and have what it takes to fix every iPod
music inside your head. Great for removable clip. Limited-edition blue problem. Get your iPod juiced up
travel and working out. Available is just one of six colors. Save 10% and tuned up with the real iPod
online or at Apple Stores and other sitewide with IPOD ADDICTS code. experts.
retail locations worldwide. www.corecases.com www.iPodMods.com
www.etymotic.com 866-228-7896 888-763-6637

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May2006
2006 53 53
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GAMES because you play as hard as you work
55

The Crusade’s
COMING SOON

A-Comin’
Can’t we all
get along?

You may already know about some of the features coming in Draenei. Players already at level 60 will love the new tier 3
The Burning Crusade, the expansion pack for World of Warcraft: dungeon sets that now include rings. In the new jewelcrafting
new lands, high-level dungeons, a maximum character level profession you can create gems that add bonuses to the new
of 70, and a new playable Horde race, the magic-thirsty Blood multisocket items. If you’ve got the gold, trek to Outland and
Elves. Well, Blizzard has released more info about The Burning buy one of the new winged, controllable mounts so you can find
Crusade. The new Alliance race is the noble, horned, and hoofed the special areas that can only be explored by air.—Matt Osborn

WORLD OF WARCRAFT: DEV/PUB: Blizzard, www.blizzard.com


THE BURNING CRUSADE AVAILABLE: End of 2006 ■ PRICE: TBD

The Sims 2: Nightlife


and so on), you get more time to achieve
dream-date status. If the date’s a bust,
your escort leaves in a hurry and may end
SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS SIMS 2 up doing uncouth things such as leaving a
EXPANSION PACK flaming bag of poo on your porch. You can
even pay a matchmaker to find someone

N ightlife, the latest expansion


pack to the Sims 2 series, is all
about being a social butterfly. It adds
find a poker game, sing karaoke, or even
take over DJ duty at the local disco.
You know how you like to call your
for you to date.
One awesome addition: You can now
buy yourself a sweet set of wheels.
a booming downtown area with tons friends for Friday-night outings? You Build a driveway for your car, and head
of destinations, including bowling can do the same in Nightlife using call downtown (no more waiting for taxis!) or
alleys, restaurants, art museums, and groups; this lets you quickly phone drive to work.
nightclubs. There’s plenty to keep you up a set of people—well, Sims—to hit The bottom line. Nightlife doesn’t
occupied; you can enjoy a long dinner, the town. There are also new social necessarily add an integral new
interactions, such as a slow dimension to the game, but it brings
dance and a longing gaze. enough fun and substance to the
And now you have chemistry franchise that hardcore Sims fans won’t
(based on personality and want to miss it.—Cathy Lu
aspiration) with certain
Sims, which determines how COMPANY: Aspyr
well your interactions go. All CONTACT: 512-708-8100, www.aspyr.com
PRICE: $34.99
are welcome features that REQUIREMENTS: Mac 1.2GHz G4, Mac OS 10.3.9
give the game more depth. or later, 256MB RAM, 2GB disk space, full version of
The Sims 2
Dating is a new part of The
Sims 2. If you ask a Sim on a GOOD NEWS: Tons of fun, new going-out locales.
Improved social interactions. Cars!
date, a timer automatically BAD NEWS: Doesn’t drastically alter gameplay. A
starts. If you do things that touch sluggish in public areas.
satisfy both you and your date
RATED
Sim dates are timed minigames. Come to think of it, it’s not (such as getting something to
that much different than reality. eat, going to particular places,
SOLID

August 2006 55
56 GAMES
because you play as hard as you work

Platypus 1.15 COMING SOON

SATISFYING
Be Your Own Boss
For years, your Sim left for work, disappeared
SIDE-SCROLLING for a while, and came back home with the
SHOOTER bacon. Now it’s time to cast off the shackles,
Ah, the side-scrolling shooter. It plays stick it to the man, and go into business for
just as it sounds: The game landscape yourself in The Sims 2: Open for Business. In
automatically moves to the right as flying this expansion pack you can create your very
enemies appear. All you have to do is own Sim business—anything from a fast-food
shoot ’em while avoiding enemy fire and chain to a toy shop to a clothing boutique to
ships. Such a simple concept, yet it yields an electronics superstore (selling Mac games,
such a high amount of satisfaction—and of course) and more. Design and test your
Platypus 1.15 doesn’t disappoint. products on other Sims, design retail and
The story doesn’t really play a factor; workshop space, hire and fire employees,
this game is simply about ’splodin’ pitch big deals, and otherwise develop your
stuff. Your ship, the Platypus, is the sole Sim’s occupational skills.—MO
defender of Mungola, which is under
Taking the virtual stairs is
attack from the neighboring country of
just too tiring for a Sim.
Collosatropolis. Besides the well-paced
action, Playtpus has a nifty look, sort
of a cross between cartoon graphics
and claymation. Luckily, you can press THE SIMS 2: DEV/PUB: Aspyr, www.aspyr.com
OPEN FOR BUSINESS AVAILABLE: TBD ■ PRICE: TBD
Escape to pause the game and admire the
graphics—often you can’t stop and take
a good look around while playing since
enemy fire is everywhere.
Two players can play at the same
time—a fun option. However, it can
T I P S A N D T R I C KS
be awkward for two people to sit side ■ Building thrill rides will attract guests
by side at a 17-inch display, one using
the keyboard and the other using the RollerCoaster and increase your park rating, but make
sure your maintenance teams keep them
mouse. Be sure to shower first.
The bottom line. Fire this up for a Tycoon 3: running smoothly. Broken rides are no
good for anyone.
dose of shoot-em-up action. You brain
may not be fully engaged, but your smile Soaked! Tips ■ Improve the wait for your guests by training
muscles will be.—Roman Loyola Use these tips to keep the hordes your staff to the third level ASAP and then
coming back to your park’s putting them on your most profitable rides.
attractions—and contributing to
your slushie fund.—MO ■ If your goal is to gain a high park rating,
avoid having too many wet activities and
rides. Soggy guests are unhappy guests,
and that will lower your rating.

■ Get the Giant Slide when you have the


cash and max out its levels—a Giant
Slide equals giant profi ts.
Mr. Bill’s favorite vacation spot.

COMPANY: Idigicon
CONTACT: www.idigicon.com
PRICE: $19.99
REQUIREMENTS: Mac OS 10.1 or later

GOOD NEWS: Fun. Playful graphics. Two players can


play at once.
BAD NEWS: You’ll have to get pretty cozy with the
second player. Wet is fun, but too
wet is no fun.
RATED
GREAT

56 August 2006
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Right
60
because inquiring minds have the right to be inspired

other settings after capturing the shot. selected items to the Source window’s title
iPhoto will display RAW-format images bar (where it says Source) until a little plus
without altering the original RAW file; if sign appears under the cursor—when you
you edit the image, iPhoto will create a release the files, iTunes will automatically
new JPEG version, leaving the original put them in a new playlist.
RAW file untouched.
Once you see the
plus sign, release
the mouse button
for an instant
playlist.

TOOLS RULE
HEAD(SET)LESS What are my options for making a
Is there a Mac-compatible headset with bootable diagnostic and repair tool
headphones and a microphone that I for my Mac?
can use with iChat or Skype? These days, the prime repair tool is
Your Mac plus iChat AV equals a viable your Mac OS X system-install disc,
alternative to your telephone, but which contains a bootable Mac OS X
conversing via your Mac’s built-in mic iPhoto processes a JPEG but preserves the system and Disk Utility for repairing
and speakers gets old fast—and will original RAW file. problems in your drive directory and
drive your conversation buddies nuts. A disk permissions. The install disc
headset will keep your discussions more iTUNES TRAUMA also provides the napalm bomb of
private and provide better sound quality My wrist is burning from dragging troubleshooting: a clean reinstall of OS
to boot. Any model that uses standard songs into iTunes playlists all day X. Another option is to install Mac OS X
1/8-inch audio jacks will work with most long—there’s got to be a better way. and your favorite disk utilities onto an
Macs, and plenty of newer USB models Actually, there are four better ways to external hard drive that you can start
provide Mac-compatible driver software. create playlists in iTunes. Select a gang up from in an emergency—tune in next
Plantronics (www.plantronics.com) sells of songs from your iTunes Library—Shift- month for the Ultimate DIY Disaster Disk
both varieties, starting at $19.95. click to select multiple songs in a row or How To.
Command-click to select multiple songs
iPHOTO ME RAW that aren’t listed together (for your ABBA CRACK MOUSE
Can I use RAW digital photos with and ZZ Top mix). With multiple songs I bought a fancy new optical mouse,
iPhoto? selected, press Command-N or select File but now my cursor bounces around the
As of version 5, iPhoto does indeed > New Playlist From Selection from the screen like Whitney Houston on a binge.
support RAW-format photos. If you didn’t menu bar to create a new playlist with all Welcome to the future, friend! Optical
know, RAW is the digital equivalent of of the selected songs; to add selected mice free us from the annoyance of
an undeveloped film negative, in that songs to an existing playlist, Control-click scraping crud off the balls and rollers
you need to develop (or process) a print any selected song and pick Add To Playlist that drove the computer mice of
to view it—the benefit being that you > playlist name from the pop-up menu. yesteryear. Optical mice do have an
can fine-tune exposure, brightness, and And our favorite: Simply drag the group of Achilles heel, though—if your mousing

QUIET, MAC!
How can I turn off the annoying
crunching paper sound that happens
whenever I empty the trash?
Open System Preference > Sound
and click the Sound Effects tab. Now
uncheck the box labeled Play User
Interface Sound Effects to mute the
WTF, CNN? trash sound, as well as other trivial
What’s up with CNN.com? Its stupid interface sounds.
news clips won’t play on my Mac.
Sure they will, in a couple of different ways. But you’re really not missing much.
You can install the Flip4Mac WMV component
(free, www.flip4mac.com) to your discontinued, Windows Media Player
QuickTime player, or pick up the free, but for OS X (free, www.mactopia.com). Trash the trash sound.

52
60 August 2006
2005
DIFFICULTY No whining—
anyone
It’ll take some
effort, but you
This stuff’s
for the pros.
HOW TO
61
RATINGS can do this! can do it.

surface is too shiny or reflective, the


mouse’s optical positioning system UNIX UNIVERSITY
gets lost, causing your onscreen cursor
to stutter, twitch, or fly uncontrollably WHAT THE HECK IS
around the screen. A different mouse FSCK, AND DO I NEED
pad or a piece of brown cardboard A PH.D. TO USE IT?
should mellow your mouse. File System Check, aka fsck, is
a Unix utility for repairing file
WHO’S ON FIRST system directories. Basically,
How can I put the current user’s name in it’s a hard drive repair tool, like
the menu bar? Disk Utility or DiskWarrior, that
That’s a sign of Fast User Switching. works via the Unix command
Choose System Preferences > Accounts; line; fsck checks your directory When disaster strikes, don’t cuss. Call on fsck.
click the gold lock and enter your and fixes things like incorrect links
password to authenticate your and inode counts. When fsck is finished, it’ll hopefully display
administrator status. Then click the The thing about fsck is that you can’t the text, “The volume your Mac’s system
Login Options icon and check the box use it by firing off commands in Mac OS volume appears to be OK.” Otherwise, it’ll
labeled Enable Fast User Switching. X’s Terminal application (/Applications/ say, “File system was modified,” indicating
Utilities)—fsck requires you to reboot that fsck found that something was amiss
your Mac to a pure command-line and repaired it. In the latter case, type the
interface. Restart your Mac and hold same command to run fsck again, and
down Command-S to start up in Single keep running it until you get the message
User mode—a black screen with some that your drive appears to be OK.
informational text, ending with a command When you’re done with this command-
prompt followed by a cursor. Type line hackery, press Return, type reboot,
/sbin/fsck –fy and press Return to and press Return again to restore your
start the magic; status lines will appear on Mac’s friendly graphical desktop. As
the screen (such as “Checking HFS Plus with most Unix commands, you can view
volume”)—some steps take longer than information about fsck by launching
others, and your Mac’s fans may go into Terminal, typing man fsck, and
jet-engine mode, but don’t worry about it. pressing Return.

This puts your name (or icon) in the menu bar. known as Universal apps. The mighty KEYBOARD MENUS
VersionTracker has spawned a When navigating fields on a Web page
SOFT WHERE? Universal Application Resource Center using the Tab key, how can I access drop-
I just got my Intel-inside iMac—where’s (www.versiontracker.com/macintel) down menus without using the mouse?
a master list of compatible software? listing all Universal Binary releases Use the Tab key to
Applications that have been retuned along with links to Intel-Mac-related select the menu
to run on both PowerPC Macs and troubleshooting and news. Check out and then use the Up
new-age Intel-powered Macs are www.macintouch.com as well. and Down arrows to
navigate the menu
items. When you
EJECT ME NOT NETWORK GEEKOUT reach the item that
The kids in my school’s computer lab Can I adjust the speed of my Mac’s you want, press
are getting smart and devious. How do I Ethernet port? Return or Enter.
disable the keyboard Eject key? We’re still trying to figure out why you’d
Believe it or not, you can’t disable the need to do that, but it’s possible. Open Look Ma, no mouse!
Eject key—you can, however, gouge it System Preferences > Network and select
Buz Zoller is a graphic designer living
out with a fork (the fate of many Built-In Ethernet from
in Florida. He has been a devoted Mac
a Help key). Henceforth, good old the Show menu, then user for over 10 years and has worked for
Command-E will eject your discs, select the Ethernet both Apple and Power Computing.
but to open the disc tray when tab. Choose Manually

Submit
there’s no disc in it, you’ll have to (Advanced) from the technical questions
launch Terminal (/Applications/ Configure menu and or helpful tips directly
Utilities) and type drutil tray knock yourself out. via email (askus@macaddict.com) or c/o
eject and press Return to open MacAddict, 4000 Shoreline Ct., Ste. 400,
South San Francisco, CA 94080.
the tray. Duplex, Speed, what?

August 2006 61
62 HOW TO
fix your finder

Fix Your Finder


by Niko Coucouvanis

WHAT YOU NEED


Mac OS X 10.4 ($129, www.apple.com)
Spotless 1.1 ($9.95, www.fixamac.net)
EasyFind 3.8.1 (free, www.devon-technologies.com)
Filegazer ($19.95, www.donelleschi.com)

W
hen we start mocking Apple’s flagship OS
technologies—such as Stoplight—it’s time for a
change. Rather than wait for Apple to (hopefully)

ILLUSTRATION BY ELLIOT SMITH


revamp it in the forthcoming Mac OS 10.5
Leopard, we’ll start by disabling Spotlight
entirely, and then we’ll replace it with a ON THE
faster file finder. While we’re at it, we’ll DISC
Spotless 1.0, EasyFind
explore some smarter ways to navigate to 3.9, Filegazer 1.3.1, Path
Finder 4.1.1
files on your Mac.

1 2
Spot Selectively Sayonara Spotlight
At its core, Spotlight uses the Unix mdutil command—aka Spotlight’s default modus operandi is to automatically
the metadata utility—so Unix-savvy users can simply fire index all of your Mac’s drives and volumes, including
off some mdutil commands in the Terminal to bend Spotlight to external devices. Spotlight immediately checks each drive
their will, but what of us mere mortals? Open System Preferences that you mount on the Mac, and if it doesn’t find a content
> Spotlight, click the Privacy tab, and click the plus-sign icon to index, it creates one for you, like it or not. We don’t like it. To
navigate to a drive or directory that you want Spotlight to ignore neuter Spotlight’s indexing for good, fire up Spotless ($9.95,
when it searches—or simply drag items into the window. The on the Disc or www.fixamac.com) and either use the Master
downside here is that the privacy settings don’t always stick— Indexing Control to neuter Spotlight outright, or highlight a
especially, in our experience, to external drives. Plus, Spotlight volume in the list and use the center row of buttons to enable
remains active in the background, so its drive-indexing mojo or disable indexing à la carte—just remember to disable
might still get in your way. indexing before you click the Delete Entire Index Directory
button, or
Spotlight will
automatically
start reindexing
the volume
If this fix seems too easy, that’s because it is. Say goodnight, Spotlight. again.

3
Exit to EasyFind
Remember the good old
days of OS 9 when finding
things via Command-F just worked? 2 3
1
EasyFind is your ticket back. Install [spotlight3.tif MINI 2-STEP FRANKENSTEIN]
the app (free, on the Disc or So what if it’s not in the menu bar? EasyFind
www.devon-technologies.com) and completely shames Spotlight. 4
use it like this.

1. WHERE Pick your poison: Point 5


EasyFind at any volume or directory
on the Mac—servers and external
drives, too. 3. HOW All Words, Case Insensitive, date, name, size, kind, or location.
2. WHAT Are you looking for a file, a hold the Invisibles! 5. WHO Specify file types here (click the
folder, or something inside a file? 4. WHEN Sort results by modification light switch to open this drawer).

62 August 2006
HOW TO
63

4
Gaze upon Ginormous Contextual Menus
We’re content putting our Applications folder in the Dock
for easy access, but you can take that nested-menu
convenience to the extreme with Filegazer ($19.95, on the Disc
or www.donelleschi.com). Install Filegazer and launch it to set
up your menus. Filegazer creates up to seven hot spots on your
screen; when you hover your cursor over a hot spot, the Filegazer
menu pops up. The left-side and lower-left-corner spots are
preconfigured to show your Home directory and startup drive,
respectively, and you can set the remaining hot spots to show any
volume or directory on your Mac. You can tweak the hot spots,
menu formatting, and other settings via Filegazer > Preferences.
If your Exposé or Dashboard hot corners interfere with Filegazer,
change them in System Preferences > Dashboard & Exposé—you
can assign modifier keys (Control, Command, and so on) to Exposé Filegazer is like a cascading contextual menu, with previews as big
or to Filegazer. as you like.

Find a Whole New (Path) Finder


You are here.
WHAT YOU NEED
Mac OS 10.4 ($129, www.apple.com)
Path Finder ($34.95, www.cocoatech.com)
cocoatech.com)
Handy breadcrumb-

P
style navigation.
ath Finder ($34.95, on the Active applications
Disc or www.cocoatech are one click away.
Tabbed windows, Web
.com) might be overkill if browser style! (Apple, Where you’ve
you’re only slightly peeved with Drop files on the please take note.) been.
the Finder, rather than royally Drop Stack for
cheesed off at it. Although it looks temporary holding Proper previews:
generally similar to the Mac OS when you get lost Path Finder knows
FInder, Path Finder is surprisingly mid drag-and-drop. that you want to see
complex and full of features—we’ll the page, not its
show you the important stuff and As with Apple’s underlying HTML.
then let you explore on your own. Finder Sidebar, you
decide what gets Plenty of file info
listed here. up front; click More
Info to tweak file
Toggle display of the Terminal permissions, visibility,
window, sidebar, and the Info/ Geek out in the integrated and creation/
Preview pane, respectively. Terminal—or turn it off. modification dates.

1 2
Musical Sidebars Pick Yer Preview
Customize Path Finder’s window layout Maybe you’d rather preview
by clicking on the separators and the source code of an HTML
selecting what to display in the respective document than see how it’d look
sidebar: Volumes, the Shelf, rendered in a Web browser. ¡No
Folder History, Selection Path, Belly up and problema, amigo! Open Path Finder
File Info—whatever you like. pick your > Preferences, click Preview, check
poison for Ignore HTML Commands, and make You get to decide if what you
any sidebar. any other preview tweaks you want. see is what you get.

3
Cut Short
Much as we dig interacting with the Mac via Path Finder, we don’t advise nuking Give Path Finder dibs
your Mac OS Finder outright—if that’s even possible. But you can push it out of the on the desktop—and
way. Select Path Finder > Show Path Finder Desktop, and the app will quickly rearrange while you’re at it, get
your desktop icons. But more importantly, until you select Path Finder > Hide Path Finder a proper Trash can
Desktop, clicking the desktop background will bring the Path Finder app forward. as well.

Niko Coucouvanis wants Apple to revamp the Finder so


that it’s good enough to make him eat these words. August 2006 63
64 HOW TO
create your own ringtones

Create Your Own Don’t play with your


ding-a-ling when you

Ringtones could be rocking real


tunes as ringtones.

by Cathy Lu

A
re you tired of reaching for your cell phone every time
someone else’s rings? Avoid the in-vain pocket reach
by creating a custom ringtone out of your favorite song.
Today’s sophisticated phones support real-music
ringtones in common formats such as MP3 and WAV. Since most of
us have a few hundred (thousand?) MP3s on our Macs, the choices
are nearly endless (just remember: personal use only). Here we

ILLUSTRATION BY SUSAN SYNARSKI


show you how to make ringtones for two popular cell-phone models:
the Motorola RAZR V3 and the Palm Treo 650. We
also show you how to find out if your phone is up to ON THE
snuff, and give you other options if you’re rockin’ DISC
a phone that doesn’t support Bluetooth transfer Audacity 1.2.4b,
OnSync 1.13
and/or real-music ringtones.

WHAT YOU NEED


Rock Your RAZR
Motorola RAZR V3 or other phone that supports MP3
ringtones and Bluetooth
■ If you have a phone that supports both MP3 ringtones and
Bluetooth syncing—such as the superslick Motorola RAZR—you Bluetooth-equipped Mac
can create your ringtone entirely in iTunes, then send it directly Music you want to hear every time your phone rings
to the phone.

1 2
Trim the Tune Tweak the Settings
Go to your iTunes Library and pick the song that you Once you’ve chosen the part of the song you want,
want to play every time your phone rings. Listen to the compress it into a phone-friendly size. Go to iTunes >
song and pick out a 10- to 15-second snippet that you want to Preferences and click Advanced. Under Importing, select MP3
set as your ringtone. When you find the section you want, note Encoder from the Import Using menu, then select Custom
the time at which the snippet starts and ends. Go to File > Get from the Setting menu. In the resulting dialog, set the Stereo
Info, and under the Options pane, check the Start Time and Bit Rate to 64kbps, Sample Rate to 22.050kHz, and Channels
Stop Time boxes, then enter the exact minutes and seconds to Mono, or whatever you prefer, but keep in mind that you’ll
for both. Don’t see the song’s playhead and running time in be playing this back through a low-fi phone speaker and that
iTunes’ display you need to keep the file size small since the phone has just a
area? Click the few megabytes of memory. When you’re done tweaking these
circled arrow settings, click OK to return to the iTunes browser; right-click (or
to switch to Control-click) the song and select Convert Selection To MP3.
playhead view.

We chose a section
from the beginning
of a song, so our
start time was
0:00.

Press the arrow to


toggle between
visual and less-
visual displays. Tweak the MP3 Encoder’s options to keep your file size small.

64 August 2006
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MacAddict_August06.indd 1 5/26/06 11:43:21 AM


66 HOW TO
create your own ringtones

3 4
Find Your Tune Send It On Over
Once you convert your clip, locate it in the main iTunes Now it’s time to transfer the ringtone to your phone
Library. It’ll have the same name as the original song, so using Bluetooth. First make sure that your phone’s
to find the correct file, look in the Time column, and locate the Bluetooth is enabled. On the RAZR, go to the Settings menu,
shorter one. Go to File > Show Song File; this will open the folder select Connection > Bluetooth Link > Setup and make sure that
containing your file. Note where it is: You’ll need that info for the Power is set to On, then select Find Me. On your Mac, go to the
next step so you can send your new ringtone to your phone. Now Bluetooth menu bar and select Send File (if you don’t have a
before you forget, go back to the original version of your song, Bluetooth icon in your menu bar, go to System Preferences >
open its Get Info window by selecting the song and pressing Bluetooth > Settings and enable Show Bluetooth Status In The
Command-I, and uncheck the Start and Stop times. Also revert Menu Bar). Navigate to the ringtone file that you located in
your encoding settings to the options you usually use. Doing this step 3 and click Send; hit the Search button to find your phone.
now will prevent you from having a “D’oh!” moment the next When your Mac locates the RAZR, click Send. Accept the file on
time you rip a CD. your RAZR, then wait for it to transfer. When it’s done, click the
Store softkey on your phone, then select Apply As Ring Tone.
Call yourself to
revel in your new
ringtone.

To send the file,


find your phone
in the Bluetooth
Suss your songs’ lengths to figure out which version is the ringtone. device list.

Tune Tones for Treos WHAT YOU NEED

■ Palm’s popular Treo 650 smartphone features an MP3 player, Audacity 1.2.4b (free, http://audacity.sourceforge.net)
yet it can’t play MP3 ringtones. But it can play WAV-formatted
Palm Treo 650 or other WAV-supporting phone
ringtones, so all you have to do is convert your music to a WAV file,
and presto! You’ve got your own Treo ringtone. Although iTunes Bluetooth-equipped Mac
is capable of converting files to WAV, we’re going to use the free A tune that doesn’t scream, “I’m annoying!”
audio editor Audacity, which provides a little more control.

1 2
Crop Your Tune Add a Fade
Using Audacity, open the song that you want to have as your ringtone (File Using Audacity, you can add fades as
> Open). Unfortunately, Audacity can’t handle AAC files, so you may have to well as other effects such as echoes and
use iTunes to convert your song to MP3 first. Next you’ll need to pick the snippet of tempo changes; here’s how to add a fade-out.
song that you want to turn into your ringtone. To do that, zoom in on the waveform Highlight the part at the end of your ringtone
(click the magnifying glass), then click the Play button to listen to your song; note the that you want to fade out and select Effect >
approximate time your snippet starts and ends. To clip the piece, highlight the area Fade Out.
of the song you want to keep and click Play to hear just that section. To tweak the You’ll see your
start or end point, hover your cursor over the edge of the selection until it becomes a waveform thin
hand; use the hand to nudge the selection in or out. Click Play again to listen to the out at the end.
snippet, and keep nudging till you’re satisfied. Select Edit > Trim to seal the deal. Press Play to
make sure that
the fade is to
your liking. If
not, go to Edit
> Undo Fade
Out and try
again.

Add a fade to
your selection.
Highlight the part of the song you want to signal an incoming call.

66 August 2006
Customer Service: 718-338-3028
Local & International: 718-338-1800
24 Hour Fax Hotline: 718-338-3029
Email: info@bwayphoto.com

1-800-951-9632
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 9:00am-9:00pm • Fri: 9:00am-4:00pm • Sun: 9:00am-7:00pm • Sat: CLOSED
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• 7.5 MegaPixels • 2.5” LCD Screen • 3x Optical Zoom • 800x Digital Zoom • 2.5” Color LCD Screen • 2.7” LCD Screen
$
71999 $
359 99 $
209 99 $
22999 $
52999
$
57999
E-1.........................................$529.99 NEW! *ist-DL2..........................CALL S6 ..........$174.99 S60........$169.99 NEW! NEW!
E-500.....................................$464.99 NEW! K100D .......................$519.99 A10 ........$229.99 E10........$149.99
E-500 (Kit 1) ..........................$509.99 NEW! K110D........................$419.99 M10........$164.99 T10 ........$254.99 GZ-MC500 ...................$849.99 GR-D350......................$214.99 NEW! DZ-BX35A .........$349.99
GZ-MG20 .....................$449.99 GR-DF470 ......................CALL DZ-GX20A ..................$449.99
SONY DSC-H5 SONY DSC-R1 SONY DSC-W100 GZ-MG21 .....................$409.99 GY-DV5000................$3499.99 NEW! DZ-GX3100A.....$439.99
• 7.2 MegaPixels • 7.2 MegaPixels • 6.0 MegaPixels NEW! GZ-MG27 ..........$449.99 GY-DV5100................$3699.99 NEW! DZ-GX3300A.....$699.99
• 3.0” LCD Screen • 8x Optical Zoom • 2.0” LCD Screen GZ-MG30 .....................$429.99 GY-HD100U ...............$3749.99 DZ-MV730 ...................$309.99
$
399 99 $
649 99
264
$ 99 NEW! GZ-MG37 ..........$504.99
JY-HD10U ..................$1649.99
GY-HD200 .......................CALL
GY-HD250 .......................CALL
DZ-MV780 ...................$284.99

DSC-M2 ..............................$264.99 NEW!


DSC-N1 ..............................$374.99 SONY DCR-VX2100 SONY HDR-HC3 SONY DCR-SR100
DSC-H1 ...........................$284.99 DSC-P200...........................$219.99 DSC-W7...$244.99 DSC-W30 .$194.99
DSC-H2 .......................... $314.99 DSC-S600...........................$159.99 DSC-W50.$204.99 DSC-W70 .$239.99
• 12x Optical Zoom • 10x Optical Zoom • 3.3 MegaPixels
• 48x Digital Zoom • 120x Digital Zoom • 10x Optical Zoom
SONY DSC-T30 CANON DIGITAL REBEL XT KIT CANON EOS 30D • 2.5” LCD Screen • 2.7” LCD Screen • 120x Digital Zoom
• 7.2 MegaPixels • 8.0 MegaPixels
• 3x Optical Zoom • 1.8” LCD Screen
• 8.2 MegaPixels
• 2.5” LCD Screen
$
1949 99 $
104999 $
79999
$
354 99 $
549 99 $
1079 99
NEW!
NEW! EOS 30D KIT (18-55 lens) ....$1139.99
NEW!
EOS 20D .................................$899.99
DSC-T5 ..$204.99 DSC-T7 . $244.99
DSC-T9 ..$289.99 DSC-T10 . . . CALL Rebel Digital XT.....................$519.99 EOS 20D KIT (18-55 LENS) ...$999.99 NEW!
CANON EOS 5D CANON PowerShot SD700 IS CANON PowerShot S3-IS HDR-FX1 ...................$2479.99
HVR-A1......................$1599.99
• 12.8 MegaPixels • 6.0 MegaPixels • 6.2 MegaPixels DSR-PD170 ...............$2299.99 HVR-Z1 ......................$3749.99 GVD-1000 ....................$919.99
• 2.5” LCD Screen • 4x Optical Zoom • 12x Optical Zoom
$
2299 99 $
364 99 $
349 99

SONY DCR-DVD505 SONY DCR-HC96 SAMSUNG SCD-C164


SD30......$189.99 SD450.......$219.99
SD550....$269.99 SD600.......$254.99 • 2.1 MegaPixels • 3.3 MegaPixels • 33x Optical Zoom
EOS 1DSII..$5799.99 EOS 1D IIN..$3049.99
SD630 ....................................$279.99 S2-IS .......$289.99 S80 .....$364.99 • 10x Optical Zoom • 10x Optical Zoom • 1800x Digital Zoom
• 120x Digital Zoom • 120x Digital Zoom • 2.7” LCD Screen
CANON PowerShot A700 FUJI Finepix F11 FUJI FinePix Z2
• 6.0 MegaPixels
• 6.3 MegaPixels • 5.1 Mega Pixels
$
66999 $
53999 $
29999
• 6x Optical Zoom
• 6.2x Optical Zoom • 3x Optical Zoom
$
23999
$
244 99
NEW! $
209 99
NEW!
NEW! NEW! SCD-365 ......................$259.99
A410..........$94.99 A420 .......CALL FP A400 ....$119.99 FP A500 .$134.99 SCD-557 ......................$409.99
A430........$109.99 A520 ...$149.99 FP A600....$184.99 FP E900 .$289.99 DCR-DVD105 ..............$379.99 SCD-963 ......................$264.99
FP F30......$304.99 FP F470 .$199.99 FP S3 .......$999.99 FP S5200 $249.99 DCR-HC26...................$264.99
A530........$149.99 A540 ...$204.99 DCR-DVD205 ..............$409.99 SCD-965 ......................$299.99
A610........$194.99 A620 ...$214.99 FP F600....$199.99 FP 650....$264.99 FP S9000 .$409.99 FP V10 ....$234.99 DCR-HC32...................$259.99
DCR-DVD305 ..............$459.99 DCR-HC36...................$304.99 SCD-6550 ....................$369.99
KODAK Easyshare V610 KODAK Easyshare P880 KODAK Easyshare Z612 DCR-DVD405 ..............$524.99 DCR-HC46...................$359.99 NEW! SCM-M10S........$289.99
• 5.1 MegaPixels NEW! SCX-205L..........$334.99
• 8.0 MegaPixels • 5.0 MegaPixels
• 12x Optical Zoom • 2x Digital Zoom • 10x Optical Zoom
PANASONIC VDR-D200 PANASONIC PV-GS500 PANASONIC AG-DVX100B
$
334 99 $
389 99 $
299 99
NEW! NEW! • 30x Optical Zoom • 3.1 MegaPixels • 3x 1/3” Progressive
• 1000x Digital Zoom • 10x Optical Zoom Scan CCD
P850 .......$214.99 C530 ...........$99.99 • Flipout 3.5” LCD Screen
V530 .......$174.99 V550 .........$214.99 C533 .......$139.99 C643 .........$179.99 Z650........$219.99 Z700 .........$124.99 • 2.5” LCD Screen • 700x Digital Zoom
V570 .......$289.99 V603 .........$224.99 C663 .......$179.99 EZshare 1.$269.99 Z730........$164.99 Z740 ........$219�.99 $
41499 $
64999 $
214999
PANASONIC DMC-LX1 PANASONIC DMC-FX01 CASIO EX-Z1000
• 8.61 MegaPixels • 6.0 MegaPixels • 10.1 MegaPixels
• 4x Optical Zoom • 3.6x Optical Zoom • 2.8” LCD Screen NEW! AG-DV2500 ...............$1299.99
$
369 99 $
244 99 $
284 99
NEW!
AG-DVC7 .....................$769.99
NEW! EX-S600 .....$234.99 EX-Z5 ...........CALL
SDR-S100....................$779.99
NEW! SDR-S300 .........$799.99
PV-GS29 ......................$214.99 NEW! AG-DVC20 ............CALL
AG-DVC30 .................$1199.99
PV-GS39 ......................$259.99
DMC-L1 .........CALL DMC-LS2.$159.99 EX-Z60........$184.99 EX-Z120...$169.99 VDR-D100 ...................$344.99 PV-GS59 ......................$284.99 AG-DVC60 .................$1679.99
DMC-LZ3...$179.99 DMC-LZ5.$214.99 DMC-FX9....$234.99 DMC-FZ5...$274.99 EX-Z500 .....$199.99 EX-Z600...$214.99 VDR-D250 ...................$574.99 AG-DVC200 ...............$3549.99
DMC-TZ1 ..$249.99 DMC-FZ7 ....$284.99 DMC-FZ30 $419.99 EX-Z750 .....$219.99 EX-Z850...$269.99 PV-GS180 ....................$409.99
VDR-D300 ..................$609.99 PV-GS300 ....................$469.99 AG-DVX200 ...............$4049.99

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68 HOW TO
create your own ringtones

3 4
Make a WAV Transfer Your Tone
Now it’s time to adjust the settings. The WAV format Now it’s time to transfer your ringtone. We’re going to use
supports uncompressed audio, but here you’ll want Bluetooth, although you could also transfer it via USB. First make
to ratchet down the settings in order to keep the file size sure that your Treo’s Bluetooth is enabled. On the main screen of your Treo,
phone-friendly. Go to Audacity > Preferences; under the File go to Bluetooth and make sure that Bluetooth is set to On and Discoverable
Formats tab, change the Uncompressed Export Format pop- is set to Yes. On your Mac, go to the Bluetooth menu bar item (as in step
up menu to WAV (Microsoft 4 Bit IMA ADPCM). You can go 4, above), and select Send File. When the ringtone is fully downloaded
for higher quality, but we found that this yielded a good- to your phone, go to your Treo’s main screen and select Sounds. Under
sized file that didn’t hog too much space on our phone Tones, you can set your
(612KB for a 14- ringtone to be the song
second snippet). you just transferred. Now
When you’re head to Starbucks and
done, select File > watch everyone stare at you
Export As WAV. jealously (or disgustedly) the
next time your phone rings.
Choose a lower-
quality setting Locate the audio clip you
for your resulting want to send using the
WAV file. Bluetooth Send File function.

Workarounds for Older Phones and Other Oddities


Select your source song here.

Mind the length and file size.

Click here to send off your new


ringtone for direct download to a
cell phone.

Crop to taste in the waveform editor.

Cathy Lu is a former MacAddict editor and current freelancer who spends more time
with Microsoft Word than she does with her husband, friends, and cat combined.
PLAN B:
Xingtone Ringtone Maker
If you don’t have a Treo 650, RAZR, or any
sort of phone that supports MP3 ringtones,
you still have a chance. Xingtone Ringtone
Maker ($19.95, http://xingtone.com) will
let you edit any audio file; it can then
format it and upload it to any phone that
the program supports. Check http://
xingtone.com/support/phones.php? to see if Xingtone Here’s how it works: Crop your ringtone using the Xingtone
supports your phone. The free trial version lets you create and editor (it works similarly to Audacity, which we discussed
upload one ringtone. above), then click Send to upload it. Xingtone sends your phone
a text message containing a link; you can then use your phone’s
WHAT ABOUT MY PHONE?
Web browser to download your ringtone. Xingtone’s Web site
provides instructions on how to download and set a ringtone for
TIP

If you’re not sure what type of ringtones your phone supports (if any)
or whether transferring via Bluetooth is an option, the best way to find
each phone it supports. We tested it out using a fairly generic
out is to check the manufacturer’s Web site. To avoid the frustration Cingular phone, the Samsung SGH-E317. We were able to upload
of finding info on last month’s phone on today’s Web site, don’t go in and set our ringtone fairly easily, although the program did crash
the front way—sneak around the back by searching, say, RAZR V3 and on us quite a few times during the editing process—Xingtone
Motorola and ringtone at www.google.com. reps told us that this is a known bug that will be quashed in the
next release.

68 August 2006
70 HOW TO
run Windows safely

Run Windows Safely


by Niko Coucouvanis

WHAT YOU NEED


An Intel-based Mac running Windows XP
Firefox (free, www.mozilla.com)
Ad-Aware Personal (free, www.lavasoft.de) or
Spybot Search & Destroy (free, www.spybot.info)

W
hether you use Apple’s Boot Camp or Parallels
Desktop (www.parallels.com), you’ll quickly find
that securing Windows isn’t that tough—you just
have to be smarter than the average Windows user.
Luckily, that’s not difficult. Follow these tips
ON THE
to keep your Windows experience as smooth,
safe, and secure as possible.
DISC If you load Windows on your MacIntel, battening down the
Parallels Desktop hatches is the first order of business.

1 2
Lay Down a Safety Blanket Avoid the Three P’s
System Restore is that rare Windows feature that doesn’t Windows is the number-one target for malicious
just seem like a bug incognito. At regular intervals, or hackers, but it takes two to tango. The easiest way
whenever you opt to create a Restore Point, Windows XP saves to dodge malware and protect yourself online is to avoid the
a snapshot of your system’s configuration. That way, when Internet’s three evil P’s: porn, pirated software, and peer-to-
your printer driver eats your scanner driver, you can easily peer file-sharing networks. But clean living alone can’t protect
restore your system back to a time before the drivers clashed. Windows—see the next step to purge the inevitable malware
To use System Restore, go to Start > All Programs > Accessories from your system. Speaking of malware, don’t use Windows’
> System Tools > System Restore, and follow the directions to built-in Internet Explorer
create a Restore Point browser—download the latest
or to restore your driver version of Firefox instead (free,
settings to an earlier www.mozilla.com).
time when things still
worked. User error is still one of Windows’ biggest bugs—right up there
with Internet Explorer.
System Restore is one

4
Security Demystified

Finally familiar with Windows, Niko Coucouvanis is starting to


understand the herd mentality that bred the OS’s prevalence.
Windows feature we’d like
to see on the Mac. Finally, a visit to the Windows Security Center (Start >
Control Panel > Security Center), where you’ll find idiot-

3
Eradicate Adware and Spyware friendly settings managers for your Internet apps, Automatic
Adware and spyware are sneaky little apps that creep Updates, and the Windows Firewall. Click Internet Options and
into your system via email attachments, Web cookies, select the Security tab. Then click the Internet icon and push the
and other means, looking to annoy you with random pop-up Security level slider to the top setting (High). As long as you’re
advertisements—or to steal your passwords and other personal in the Security Center, you should enable Automatic Updates,
information. Protect yourself by installing Ad-Aware Personal which updates the Windows OS and its components—no skanky
(free, www.lavasoft.de) or Spybot Search & Destroy (free, third-party apps. The Windows Firewall is another keeper—but
www.spybot.info) and remembering to run it at least once you’ll probably also want to explore the wild and woolly world of
a week. Also remember to update it every time you use it; Windows antivirus
malware propagates and evolves even faster than knowledge of software.
the Windows security holes it exploits.

More is better,
Spybot only found especially when
some harmless setting Windows’
cookies—this time. security.

70 August 2006
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vv t

78
tell us how you really feel

LETTERS ONLY 248,908


SHORT
One day I was bored, so I took
MOVE OVER, JONATHAN IVE!
out your April issue. Looking at
the iPhoto 6 review/strategies
thingy (“iLife ’06 Strategies,”
p19), I saw a picture of a
display with “A Quarter
Pumped and proud. Million?!” photos. As I looked
at it more closely, it turned out
INK DIFFERENT there were only about 1,092
I figured at 58 years old it photos (42 columns times
was time to get a second 26 rows), and the scroll bar
tattoo—the other one is from was showing almost every
my U.S. Marine Corps days. photo.—Holland Gibson
I wear them both proudly! Trust us, Holland, Rik really
—Rod Adams did stuff his home Mac
We salute both your with 250,000 photos for
passions, Rod—and your his testing; we loaded up hi im Michael hanna and im 12 and I drew the ipods future
devotion to the proper use one of our office Macs with and I think the staff of Mac addict should see it.
of adverbs.—Max only a mere 1,500 photos
specifically for that picture.
64-BIT GOODNESS You certainly have sharp BUTT THANKS! editors would be great, but
I haven’t read anything about eyes—and way too much free Thanks for all the hard if there is a hiring freeze at
an Intel 64-bit chip—why a time.—Max work you guys put into the MacAddict, I suggest that you
64-bit OS without a 64-bit magazine. It’s saved my butt poll your readers as to who
processor?—Jon many times!—John Palisano on your staff should get a
����� ������������
������
Rest assured, Jon, that the And thanks to you for the sex-change operation. ���
�I
��vote
�����
����
����
����
���
��� ��
soon-to-be-released Core 2 kind words, Mr. Palisano— for Mark.—Steve���Ingram � ������ ��

��������
Duo chips that will show up we work ours off to help I have a less-frightening
�� ��
��
��
������������
��
in the soon-to-be-released save yours.—Max suggestion: Turn to page


��
���
��
pro Macs and next-gen 9 in this issue and meet

���
��

���������
HER NOOBNESS
� ��
MacBook Pros—formerly our new managing editor,

���
��

code-named Conroe for the I’ve noticed that over time Susie Ochs.—Max
��� ����

desktop jobbie and Merom You’d need 228.94 30-inch the MacAddict crew has
�����
�������������������

for the laptop whatzis— Cinema HD Displays to see morphed into an all-male ����
����������
are, indeed, fully 64-bit a quarter-million images in lineup. Is there a shortage ���������

thingamadoodles.—Max iPhoto. of girl geeks? Some female ��������������������
������������������ �
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Survey Says
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WHAT MAC-IGNORANT SOFTWARE


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Actually, it’s $279.


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MIGHT ENTICE YOU TO INSTALL


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WINDOWS ON YOUR MAC?


IT AIN’T FREE
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Am I the first to notice
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10% that you on your June Disc


Random crazy crap from the CompUSA bargain bin



��
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you called Freeway 4 Pro ��� ���

59% ��� �� �
��� ���

3%
���
“Freeware 4 Pro”? Do I win a
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Norton AntiVirus
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You can install


������� �� ��
������������������������
first-place prize? Am I a
1% Kazaa Windows on my first-rate dork for asking?
Mac after you pry —Fred Good
23% Half-Life 2 my cold, dead I’m afraid it’s we who are the
fingers off my dorks, Fred. As you might
Here are the results of our mouse! imagine, the good folks at
April 2006 survey. Check out 1% ACT! Softpress weren’t too happy
www.macaddict.com each with that typo, nor with the
month for a new online poll. 3% Visio Freeway 4 Pro and Express
����� ������ reviews in our Jun/06 issue;
372 respondents read on.—Max
������ ����� �������� ��� �����
78 August 2006
WRITE TO US!
MacAddict, 4000 Shoreline Court, Ste. 400,
FOR CD PROBLEMS:
go to www.futureus-inc.com 79
South San Francisco, CA 94080 FOR SUBSCRIPTION QUERIES:
or letters@macaddict.com call (toll-free) 888-771-6222

A SECOND OPINION D’OH!

WIN!
Perhaps the reviewer Recently, I was browsing
just didn’t “get it” in the Wikipedia, and when I went
recent Freeway Pro and to Steve Jobs’s wiki page I
Express reviews? He missed noticed that Steve has a sister
important facts, including named Mona Simpson—which
Pro’s ability to automatically is also the name of Homer Win a BookEndz ’Book Dock!
generate validating Strict Simpson’s estranged mother. If you own a ’Book—Power, i, or Mac—you know what a hassle
(X)HTML and compliant CSS, Therefore, Steve Jobs must be it is to reconnect each and every cable each and every time
its full Unicode support, and Homer’s uncle.—Chris Liepold you place it on your desk. The solution? A quick-attach, quick-
its Universal status. And Steve related to Homer? As release BookEndz docking station ($159.95 to $299.95,
the “new Markup dialog” H.S. once said, “Mmmm… www.bookendzdocks.com). Just write the best caption to the
came with Freeway 2! With sacrelicious!”—Max photo below, and BookEndz will award you with a docking
native Photoshop-file station that fits your particular ’Book.
support, automatic image CLASSY, INDEED Only one entry per contestant.
slicing and combining, and In your “Class of ’76” parody
complete freedom of layout, (Shut Down, Jun/06, p80), Entry Form
open-minded pros (veterans you clearly mislabeled two
or otherwise) don’t find pictures. The picture labeled
Freeway at all confusing. Steve Jobs was obviously
Also, Freeway Express is not an early picture of Jennifer Write a caption
supposed to be template- Aniston, and the picture for this picture.
driven; it is a real design tool labeled Niko Coucouvanis is
with master pages, high-end clearly an early Tom Hanks.
CONTESTANT INFORMATION
layout features, editable —dRStone
Full Name:
graphic text, transparency,
Address:
and more. Web design is not
City: State:
“templates or programming.”
Zip:
Freeway offers a better way—
Email or telephone:
try it for yourself.—Richard
Logan, managing director of Send email entries to contest@macaddict.com with the subject: Dock Contest
(Don’t forget to include your address information!)
Softpress Might opposites attract? Send snail-mail entries to: Dock Contest, MacAddict magazine,
4000 Shoreline Court, Suite 400; South San Francisco, CA 94080.
Deadline for entry: August 31, 2006.
SEAFOOD DELIGHT NOW HEAR THIS! Contest results will appear in our Dec/06 issue.

Your “surprise and delight” Here’s a pic of my current Contest Rules The judges will be MacAddict editors and will base their decision on 33 percent humor, 33 percent
originality, and 33 percent creativity. All entries must be received no later than August 31, 2006, with the winner
strikes again! “SeaMonkey: iPod project. The sound announced around December 2006. By entering this contest, you agree that Future US, Inc. may use your name,
likeness, and Web site for promotional purposes without further payment. All prizes will be awarded, and no
better than brine shrimp.” quality is not as good as minimum number of entries is required. If two or more people enter identical winning captions, the entry received

(What’s New, May/06, that of the new iPod speaker fi rst will be awarded the contest prize. Prizes won by minors will be awarded to their parents or legal guardians.
Future US, Inc. is not responsible for damages or expenses the winners might incur as a result of this contest
p12) Kudos to whomever systems—but hey, the new or the receipt of a prize, and winners are responsible for income taxes based on the value of the prize received.
A list of winners may also be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Future US, Inc. c/o
came up with that one. Not ones really suck as air-raid MacAddict Contest, 4000 Shoreline Court, Suite 400; South San Francisco, CA 94080. This contest is limited to
residents of the United States. No purchase necessary. Void in Arizona, Maryland, Vermont, Puerto Rico, and
many people know that sea sirens.—Martin Horejsi where prohibited by law.

monkeys are brine shrimp; I certainly hope you don’t


we scientists who feed them
to our fish are among the few
have Slayer’s Reign in Blood
on your nano, Marty.—Max Winner! Congratulations
to Jeff Justice,
and proud who appreciate whose surreal take on a fish’s
these details. MacAddict’s indecision won him a 500GB
funny/quirky side gives WiebeTech SilverSATA II RAID array
it a great edge over the and PCI host card (value over $800,
competition. I hope I speak www.wiebetech.com), and thanks “What am I thinking?
for many of your readers to the 89 of you who riffed on Even if I do catch it, I have
when I say that “I come for alternate pronunciations of “bass.” no ears!”
the articles but stay for the
Volume 11, Issue 8
humor.” Keep up the great MacAddict (ISSN 1088-548X) is published 12 times a year by Future US, Inc., 4000 Shoreline Court, Suite 400, South San
Francisco, CA 94080. Periodicals Postage Paid at South San Francisco, CA, and at additional mailing offices. Newsstand
work!—Joe Ross distribution is handled by Curtis Circulation Co. Basic subscription rates: one year (12 issues + 12 CD-ROMs) U.S. $39.90,
Canada $43.95, U.S. prepaid funds only. Canadian price includes postage and GST 128220688. IPM 0962392. Outside the
MacAddict: the only U.S. and Canada, price is $53.95, U.S. prepaid funds only. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MacAddict, P.O. Box
5126, Harlan, IA 51593-0626. Future US, Inc. also publishes Maximum PC, PC Gamer, Official Xbox Magazine, PSM, Guitar
übergeek rag in which World, Guitar One, Guitar World Acoustic, Bass Guitar, Guitar Legends, Future Music, Future Snowboarding, Snowboard Journal,
Snowboard Trade News, Revolver, and Scrapbook Answers. Entire contents copyright 2006, Future US, Inc.. All rights reserved.
you’ll find brine-shrimp The industrial-strength Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. Future US, Inc. is not affiliated with the companies or products covered in
MacAddict. Ride-Along enclosure in the following edition(s): B, C, C1, C2. PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
jokes.—Max iPod Hi-Fi. Publications Mail Agreement #40043631. Returns: 4960-2 Walker Road, Windsor ON N9A 6J3

August 2006 79
80 SHUT DOWN
don’t let the back page hit you on the way out

More Legal
Trouble for Apple
The estate of former MacAddict Reviews Editor Roman
Loyola has filed a wrongful-death suit against Apple. Court
documents reveal that Roman’s new Nike + iPod Sport Kit
(see “Shoeda Thunk It?”, p16) tragically locked into an
infinite loop of Ramones tunes, forcing the portly product
pundit to run at a blistering pace until his quesadilla-clogged
coronary artery burst under the strain. Tommy Ramone was
unavailable for comment—as, sadly, were Joey, Dee Dee,
and Johnny.

80 August 2006
Left

Left
Seriously priced.

Image# 887748: House Hunting by Bertrand La Dennie (Canada).


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MacAddict_iStck_July.indd 1 6/5/06 12:06:49 PM


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