The iPhone 3G (image courtesy of Apple)

Initial Impressions & Design:
Holding the new iPhone for the first time, I noticed the new, curved back really did feel better in my hand. It seemed to fit the natural contour of my hand better and the plastic back provided a more secure grip. With the original iPhone, I would nearly drop it on occasion due to the slightly slippery metallic back. The 3G’s plastic back resolves this issue and I feel more comfortable holding the phone overall.

The all-black case with chrome buttons makes for a slick look. In fact, I think it looks even better than the original iPhone. I have heard complaints that some feel the plastic makes the iPhone look and feel cheap, but I beg to differ. While I like the new look overall, both the plastic back and screen are quickly covered with fingerprints and smudges. These are easily wiped away, but can be annoying to those who like their electronics to look clean. For me, it’s not really a big deal but I can understand the complaint. Other than that, everything feels solid, which is what I’ve come to expect from an Apple product.

Screen:
As many of you may have heard by now, the screen on the iPhone 3G is designed to be “warmer,” or more yellow. Coming from an original iPhone, I instantly noticed this difference. That said, it’s not a bad difference and I have found that pictures and videos actually end up looking nicer. The screen is as bright and crisp as ever, displaying everything from my mail to my pictures to videos and album art beautifully. The screen is also easily viewed at many different angles, and while some applications (read: games) require you to use the phone at unique angles which may reduce visibility to a point, I’ve not found it hard to see the screen in any of my usage thus far. In fact, I’ve already had many occasions where I’ve shared YouTube videos with a group of friends gathered around and everyone has been able to see it perfectly. All in all, the screen is great and I have no complaints here.

Sound:
There’s not much new here, but I have noticed a slightly improved quality in the earpiece and external speakers. Though it’s not exactly a new feature, I have found that I really enjoy having the external speaker for more than just speakerphone functionality. Being able to play music and videos for others to hear or now using applications and games is great. It really makes the iPhone an even more legitimate device for sharing and gaming.

Additionally, I’ve noticed the included earbuds have a new feel to them. The cord appears to be made from a new material or design, and as a result it does not tangle as easily. It’s a small thing, yes, but it’s often the little things that make a difference and it’s very nice not to have to spend 2 minutes fighting with my headphones just to listen to music.

3G Speed & Reception:
Here’s one of the areas where the new iPhone really stands out. The increased speed of the 3G network is extremely nice to have (though not everyone needs or wants it). In my tests, loading webpages and YouTube videos over the 3G networks easily lived up to Apple’s claims of 2-3 times faster than EDGE. For example, loading Apple’s website (www.apple.com) over EDGE took 52 seconds while loading the same site over 3G took only 15 seconds - that’s over 3 times faster on 3G in my test. It was also comparable with the WiFi speeds loading the same site, which took about 12 seconds. This speed difference is similar among other websites, YouTube, and apps that connect to the internet.

Still going strong...

Battery Life:
In the few weeks I’ve had with the new iPhone, I’ve not yet run out of battery. That said, I do charge it every night and have come across the low battery (20% left) warning. In my tests and usage so far, I feel the battery lives up to my daily needs. I’ve easily averaged close to 4 hours of mixed use (phone, internet, YouTube, music) before getting that friendly 20% warning popup - and that’s with WiFi and 3G on (though WiFi is generally not connected in my use). Doing a little math estimates that I should get about 5 hours before the battery were to run dry. However, in anticipation of heavy use of third party applications, I did pick up a car charger. I am planning on using my iPhone in the car for music, maps (with GPS), and more and therefore expect my battery life to suffer on longer trips with extended use of GPS, among other things. Still, I think the battery tests that have been done (by myself, Apple, and others) have shown the battery life to be equal to and/or better than that of the original iPhone in most, if not all, comparable cases.

One thing regarding the battery that many people take issue with is the continued lack of a user replaceable battery. While I’ve never taken issue with it, I can see how a replaceable battery could come in handy with all that you can do with the iPhone. For a look at the battery life from 9 more tests, check out this article over at Gizmodo.

GPS:
The second major feature of the new iPhone is its GPS functionality. Currently no specific navigation applications exist to make use of the GPS functionality, however there is word that they are in development. There is still a wealth of applications that make use of the iPhone’s location aware capabilities and while the older iPhones can still get a decent lock on your location, the GPS in the iPhone 3G provides pinpoint accuracy. In one test, I was even able to locate myself inside a building with incredible accuracy. Another test conducted while driving (well, someone else was driving - I wouldn’t recommend actively testing the GPS while driving yourself!) showed the GPS tracing my every movement in a surprisingly accurate manner - turning when I turned, stopping as I stopped. It behaved in much the same way you’d expect a traditional GPS device to function. I can see the iPhone adding GPS navigation to its suite of features. Imagine driving along, using your iPhone for directions while listening to music with it hooked into your car stereo. Meanwhile, you get a call - the music pauses and you answer on your bluetooth headset. As you hang up, the music fades back in and you continue on your way, guided yet again by the GPS. A truly integrated technological experience.

Applications on the iPhone 3G use it's GPS technology to help perform functions relevant to your location.

2.0 Upgrade:
The 2.0 upgrade comes pre-loaded on all new iPhones but is also available as a free download for all iPhone users. The upgrade is nearly enough to make users of the first iPhone feel like they have an entirely new phone. With some a number of needed improvements (contact search, better mail management, Exchange support, etc), the update adds more polish to the overall feel of the phone. The real story with the upgrade, however, is the App Store and the third party applications that it brings.

The App Store & Mobile Me:
The App Store is currently making the iPhone so much more than a phone. With the App Store, the iPhone can do more and more things each day. Applications like Evernote, AIM, eBay, Facebook, Things, and more make staying connected and productive even easier than ever. Games like Texas Hold ‘Em, Trism, Super Monkey Ball, and more make the iPhone a powerful gaming device using “Wii-like” controls with the ultimate portability. And of course there’s the utterly useless applications that just make you smile - like More Cowbell and PhoneSaber. Every day brings a slew of new applications and I think I speak for a lot of iPhone owners when I say that I’m excited to see what develops in the months to come. The iPhone is truly becoming the next computing platform - and it fits in your pocket!

Just a few apps I have installed...

All that said, the App Store and MobileMe continue to suffer from issues. MobileMe had a rocky start, as mentioned earlier, and appears to be largely sorted out by now. Still, even Mr. Jobs himself has come forward recently to admit they messed up. Additionally, the App Store/2.0 upgrade has it’s own share of issues. The most prominent of these, in my opinion, is the backup time. Some claim that they are able to back up in very reasonable amounts of time (a few minutes) after upgrading to 2.0.1. However, in my experience, I have waited anywhere from 1-2 hours for my iPhone to completely back up. At this point, I don’t even want to bother backing up. This is clearly an issue that should be addressed. Also, I’ve had several occasions where my iPhone restarts itself and gets stuck at the Apple logo. A quick search on Google will reveal this is neither an isolated nor new incident and it is surely a pain to resolve. On one occasion, a complete restore was necessary, which can be time consuming. In the end though, the pro’s outweigh the con’s here and I don’t doubt that future updates will address these issues. It’s just the wait in the meantime that may be painful for some.

Conclusion:
The iPhone 3G builds on an already innovative and impressive breakthrough device. In combination with the software updates and new services from Apple, the face of mobile phones continue to change. As Apple raises the bar higher and higher, other companies must strive to reach the same level of quality and capabilities. That creates a win-win situation for all. Apple continues to amaze and I cannot wait to see what they have up their sleeves next. In the meantime, I’m more than happy with my shiny new iPhone 3G!

The Breakdown:
Pros: Sleek new design, faster speeds, GPS, App Store support, MobileMe support, less expensive (up front at least)
Cons: Smudges easily, battery can die quickly under heavy use (like when playing games) and the iPhone lacks a user-replacable battery, expensive contract (though comparable to phones with similar services), App Store/MobileMe/2.0 difficulties
The Verdict: If you don’t have an iPhone, the iPhone 3G is probably the best phone out there in my opinion. It still lacks some features, and currently has a few bugs, but the pro’s far outweigh the cons. The current ability and future capacity of the iPhone is amazing. It’s not far fetched to say that the iPhone is really the next major computing platform.

If you have a current iPhone, download the free 2.0 upgrade and give that a try before buying the new iPhone. In the end, you may still decide you want the benefits of the new iPhone, but I think that there’s a number of iPhone owners out there who will be more than happy with the 2.0 upgrade. In my case, the faster connection, the ability to use data and voice simultaneously, and the built in GPS was enough to make the upgrade more than worth it. And as one last tip - if you do plan to upgrade to the new iPhone from the old one, try selling the old one on eBay. I was able to make enough on my old 8GB to upgrade to the new 16GB. Hard to beat that!

Just a few more images:

Push syncing = amazingly useful!

This screen distracts me from all the things I need to do!

The App Store should have a very familiar look and feel to those who've used the iTunes Store on the iPhone

Miles, I will be emailing you with further instructions. Congratulations, and we do hope you make make World of Apple a regular stop for your Apple news and reviews.

Not a flying car, but still pretty darn cool

As this is my fourth review of video eyewear, I believe it is safe to crown me the Video Glasses Queen of World of Apple. However, I am certainly not complaining as my inner geek loves these gadgets. The product for this review is iMovee’s Theatre Edition personal video viewer selling at a $399.95 price point. Right off the bat there is one feature which many users may consider a distinct advantage over the MyVu video eyewear: this unit may be worn while wearing prescription eyeglasses. As I wear glasses and have difficulty with contact lenses, this was a huge plus in my book. The unit is advertised to be compatible with all video iPod models; however, the i-Movee site is silent on whether or not the device would work with the iPhone though the included manual does claim compatibility with “any other devices with video out.” I had tested the eyewear with an iPod touch. Unforuntately, the unit provided was on a loan-basis only and was returned to the vendor prior to my recent iPhone 3G purchase, so I was not able to see if it would work properly on that device.

The eyewear

The product comes very nicely packaged with a box design reminiscent of the iPod touch writ large. The contents include the glasses as well as numerous connectors, an AC adaptor, a controller dongle, and eleven-page user guide. The vendor has confirmed that it supplies both the universal connecting kit and iPod kit with the standard package with out any further accessories to be bought by the customer. The AC adaptor was a very nice touch as it provided for a way to charge the unit away from a computer without having to purchase an additional accessory. Of course, it can also be charged via a USB port. The glasses themselves are bulky, measuring two inches wide and 1 1/4 inches tall at the center but are foldable for travel. (I’m an American, I don’t do centimeters!!) However, no storage pouch is included. Sound is provided through earbuds that are cleverly kept out of the way by running through a clip along the arms of the glasses. Velcro straps are also provided for even greater fastening. The design of the eyewear is more utilitarian than slick, and the red horizontal line across the silver front gives the glasses a complete “cylon” look - all it needs is the roving light. The video data cable to the dongle attaches to the glasses in an awkward location straight out of the bottom left front causing the user to feel like it is weighing down the glasses on that side even though it really isn’t doing so appreciably. I used the velcro strips intended for the earbud cords to secure the cable to the left arm of the glasses to alleviate the downward pull, but I found that to be a rather inelegant solution, especially as compared to the unobtrusive way the earbuds were attached.

The video cord out of the glasses connects into the dongle which houses an on/off switch and volume controls. This dongle completely takes over the volume control with any changes on the actual iPod having no effect. The volume control is easy to use, but I found it did not have as wide a range of volume as the iPod itself and wished it could be louder. The on/off switch was a bit small and difficult for me with longish acrylic nails. While this hopefully would not be an issue with my male readers, I think it might still be a bit difficult sans fingernails. I was surprised to find that there were no colour/contrast or brightness controls. The situation gets really bulky in the way the dongle connects to the video device. The connections required to use my iPod included composite video connectors with all their attendant bulk and colours. It would be difficult to gracefully hide these connectors and practically impossible in most gym clothing (dizzle doesn’t do fannypacks). Although this entire set-up is all around bulkier than the other video glasses I have used, the glasses themselves felt lighter and more balanced on my nose and head and thus more comfortable with no pinching. The claimed weight by the vendor is seventy grams without cables. Of course, being a Yankee, I have no idea what seventy grams should feel like. The battery life lived up to the vendor’s claimed six to eight hours of viewing time.

Few will look as cute as her, but here's a model wearing the product

The video output is full VGA with 640×480 resolution, and the virtual image is surprisingly large which was a very pleasant surprise. I found the video quality viewing experience to be very good. At least for me (and possibly because I was able to wear my glasses which provide better vision correction in my case than contact lenses), the merge of the image from the left and right outputs was much smoother than other video eyewear I have reviewed to the point of giving a truly seamless experience. The image is slightly less clear due to the larger virtual screen. While the MyVu glasses gave a virtual experience of a 27-inch screen viewed at about eight feet distance, the Theatre Edition is advertised as providing a virtual experience of an “80-inch screen viewed at a distance of 2.5 metres” - the vendor used the mixed measurements, not me! I found this to be pretty accurate though I would put the screen size experience a bit smaller. With each media file I tested, the image always presented in full-screen and could not be placed into letterbox mode. Like the other viewers I have used, they do not perform well with dark scenes or in full sunlight, though these did perform better than others in the sunlit situations. I had watched several episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess which is a darkly themed show, and there were scenes where the video could barely be seen. However, with videos that use a more conventional lighting mode, the viewing quality was very good to great.

Unlike the other viewers I have used, the Theatre Edition does not allow as much peripheral and vertical outside view. This has its good and bad points. It is good in that it blocks out distraction and gives it better performance in brighter viewing situations. It is bad for the same reason it is good: it blocks out distractions. However, sometimes distractions are not mere nuisances but situations in which the user should be very aware of their surroundings. Thus, these might not be as suitable for the gym as it would be easy to mistep on a stair climber or similar cardio machine. It would be suitable for long bus rides, plane trips, or other mass transit unless in an enviroment where the user is vulnerable to theft or other criminal activity.

The vendor notes that this product is not suitable for children younger than seven as eyesight at that age is still maturing.

Pros: Impressively large virtual screen with full VGA resolution and very enjoyable high-quality viewing experience. Also, this viewer can be used while wearing eyeglasses which gives it a big thumbs up from me.

Cons: Bulky and inelegant cords as well as a visual design that would take a bit of courage to wear in public for most people. I have virtual no self-conscious inhibitions when it comes to odd clothing and accessories and would wear them in public in a heartbeat, but most people are more reserved. The price will be beyond the budget of an occasional user.

Verdict: Out of all the viewers I have tried thus far, if money were not an obstacle, I would purchase these and come up with some way to hide the bulky cables. I am a sewer and could probably create some kind of pouch as could any other “crafty” person. The large screen wowed me, and I love being able to wear my glasses. However, the price is a high for an occasional user and is not for the easily embarrassed if the intended use is outside the privacy of one’s home. Also, wearing these while using gym equipment would seem to be somewhat dangerous. I would love to have a pair for the plane trip to MacWorld in January.

With the new car smell

The newest version of Toast is here! Read all the way through the review for a chance to win a free retail box copy of Toast Titanium 9! I have been using Roxio’s Toast CD/DVD burning software ever since my conversion to the Mac platform when I was searching for a replacement for the PC-only Nero software. So, when an invitation came in to World of Apple from Roxio to review the newest version, Toast Titanium 9, I jumped at the chance and was given a copy of the program gratis from the developer.

When doing a first impression of a product, I look for attention in the small details that define the Macintosh edge, even in items that might not directly concern everyone, as I believe that a developer who shows care in one area is more likely to show care in others. For example, the “About Toast” selection is a mini-production itself. Also, the reviewer’s kit that was sent by Roxio is the most comprehensive that I have seen to date. They care that accurate information is being published and that any potential reviewers are well-equipped to give an educated opinion to their readers. While this will never be seen by the typical end-user, it is indicative of the developer’s thoroughness. Roxio’s Toast has been providing media burning software for the Mac platform since 1994 in the Jobsian exile dark days.

Now after praising Roxio for their attention to detail, it appears that many users have had complaints that this version was quite not ready for prime-time in the Roxio Support Forums, yet I read very glowing reviews at some sites. I always check the thoughts of others after I form my own initial impressions to see if my thoughts are lining up with the experiences of other users. I was running into one particular audio problem (which will be detailed below), so I signed up at the Roxio Forum never noting in my post that I was writing a review. I point this out so that what I will say next will not be seen as Roxio simply wanting to receive good press. Soon after my post, I received an email from Roxio at my personal email address (i.e. not an @worldofapple.com address) sending me a new version of that particular component to test. My communications with Roxio both by email and by telephone thus far leave me confident that though I will be pointing out several problems I have experienced, Roxio is committed to fixing them. To my delight, when speaking to the developer’s representative on the phone (after the initial email, I disclosed that I was a reviewer), I mentioned one screen which had an interface that was very un-Mac-like, and he responded very positively that I had a very good point, and he would mention it to an engineer.

Note the Un-Mac-like lack of any controls to get rid of this window

This is a richly multi-featured product that would be impossible to review in each of its details in depth in my review, so I will focus on some of the newest features as well as the ones that will be of interest to the broadest base of users. In that regard I will detail certain features that worked very well for me and ones that had difficulties. Unfortunately there are a few new features that I cannot directly test as they are specialty functions for which I do not have the requisite equipment such as a Blu-Ray capable disc player or TiVo. I do, however, own an EyeTV Hybrid which is designed to integrate seamlessly with Toast and is especially useful with the new “Streamer” feature.

A Happy Family

Hot and Toasty

System Requirements

Toast version 9 Titanium requires OS X 10.4.x (Tiger) or 10.5.x (Leopard) as well as a PowerPC G4, PowerPC G5, or Intel Mac with QuickTime 7.1.3 or higher. The retail price point is $99.99 for first-time buyers and $79.99 for an upgrade (after a $20.00 rebate). The HD/DVD and Blu-Ray authoring functions require an additional add-on at a cost of $20.00.

General Interface

The program opens into a main workflow/content window and media browser which are simple and elegant with “drag and drop” functionality. The media browser, similar to the one found in GarageBand, opens in a separate floating pane which can be closed and re-opened easily with right-click contextual menus available for individual media files. The workplace is divided into category, project type/options, disc options, content, and recording areas. The type of projects supported are entitled “data,” “audio,” “video,” “copy,” and “convert.”

Media Browser

Main Window with new larger project size indicator

Basic disc creation involves selecting a category/project, setting disc options, dragging over content, and clicking record. Easy as apple pie. As I hope is obvious in my reviews, user-friendliness is one of my utmost concerns. I grow weary of wonderful programs that unnecessarily require a huge chunk of my limited time to learn or ones that have virtually nonexistent support materials. A hard copy user manual is provided with the retail box version of Toast and is provided as a .pdf document in the Help menu. While there is a video overview of the features, I would really like to see some video tutorials on the Roxio site. However, at each point of the workflow, most tools have an “i” icon which provide tool-tips with mouse-over. There is also Growl notification support which I have grown to rely upon. For former users of Toast, yes, right-clicking on a supported file and selecting “Toast It” will open Toast with the file in the content area under the appropriate project type. I note that when this was initially not functioning properly in the first release, a user reported it in the forums, and Roxio fixed it promptly.

Tool Tip

In testing Toast on two Macs (one MacBook and one Mac Pro tower), I ran into inconsistent stability issues. At times, when the help menu was accessed on the Mac Pro, Toast would freeze and require a force quit. After restarting the Mac Pro, the issue would clear up. This was never replicated on the MacBook and has since ceased happening. Since I started writing this review over the period of several months, it is difficult to determine whether this was something with Toast or a conflict with another process. At this point, with the Mac Pro, I am inclined to blame the issue on some issue other than Toast since it has not recurred, and I have an over-fondness for downloading various and sundry programs that bat their eyelashes at me. However, I experienced (and still do) a fairly frequent grey screen of death (kernel panic) on the MacBook when working with EyeTV files, and Roxio has acknowledged awareness of issues with EyeTV on the support forums. There have been several times though when my MacBook grey-screened when working with more typical media. Unlike my Mac Pro, I am not inclined to blame anything else installed on the machine as it is new, and I have kept it quite vanilla unlike my Mac Pro which is my download playground.

DVD/CD Creation

Video Content

DVD authoring is very simple and straightforward, and the informational mouse-overs will guide even inexperienced users in selecting the proper tool. For example, you have VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders - does Toast want both folders or just the video folder? Toast tells you. Do you have an .mp4 file and are unsure what selection to use for burning? Toast tells you. The same holds true when creating data and music files, including music DVDs. Cross-fades and creative mixes can also easily be created. I found the DVD menu options easy to navigate, but there were not enough stock templates in my opinion, though any image may be dragged in as a background for further customization.

The following video discs can be created: Video CDs; Super Video CDs; DVD-Video Discs; DVD-Video Discs from VIDEO_TS folders; DivX Discs; HD DVD Video Discs (including HDDVD_TS Folders); and Blu-Ray Video Discs (including BDMV Folders). The Blu-Ray and HD-DVD features require the purchase of an additional plug-in, and the Toast materials state that original HD material can be burned onto a traditional DVD disc which can then be played on a HD-DVD or Blu-ray player. This simply requires selecting the proper project type when burning the disc (i.e. Blu-ray Video or HD DVD Video). Again, as this is a fairly new media area, and I do not have the requisite hardware or media, those features were not tested. Supported video formats include DV, AVI, MOV, HDV, MPEG-4, iMovie HD Projects, MPEG-2, DivX, EyeTV, and TiVoToGo. I also tested it with an iMovie 08 “event,” and Toast was able to work with those files as well.

Menu style selection with new large preview

More Menu Style Creation

For lengthy video files, Toast supports “fit to DVD compression” and allows the deselection of sub-portions of files in order to reduce the file size such as “extras” or certain shows of a multi-episode DVD. There is instantaneous preview available so that the video quality settings can be assessed prior to burning, and helpfully, there is a built-in edit function (the same as in EyeTV – please see the EyeTV section of this review for a helpful hint on the editing portion) to remove unwanted portions of video such as commercials and allows the button image to be set when appropriate. This editing is non-destructive in nature so that your original media remains unmodified. I would love to see a commercial auto-detect feature such as is available in some PC software I used to use heavily such as Video ReDo. If another task is needed to be done while a project is burning, Toast allows projects to be paused and restarted to temporarily free up system resources. I tested this feature which worked precisely as it should.

Preview Thumbnail

Basic Editing

When creating a DVD from a VIDEO_TS file which contains multiple episodes and extras, I note that menus are only available if the entire contents are burned – if any of the content, such as the extras are excluded, menus are not available. VIDEO_TS files can be lined up for batch recording and compilations which also worked precisely as they should. The VIDEO_TS recording offers a “custom” setting which provides the greatest options for languages and subtitles and allows menus as long as the entire disk contents with extras are selected. While I note complaints in the Roxio User Forums about failed recordings which resulted in wasted discs, I found write failures to occur less than 5% in my testing, and some of those could be easily be due to defects in the original material as some were “ripped” from DRM-cracked commercial DVDs using Mac the Ripper and Hand Brake, which I and World of Apple absolutely do not condone, but I tested this material as I was being realistic as to what the average user will be doing with their owned DVD collections that they wish to back-up unto discs in order to preserve the originals. I also used various brands of media. I did not have any burning issues with material that was initially non-protected, with the exception of the EyeTV problems that will be mentioned below and the occasional grey-screening I experienced on my MacBook mentioned above.

Batch recording

_TS Compilation

There are several ways to assess video quality prior to committing to burn to disc. First, for most projects there is a quick preview window, or alternatively disc images can also be created to assess video quality prior to burning to DVD. The video from the disc image may be previewed through the Mac’s built-in DVD player and then, if acceptable, may be burned to DVD from within Toast.

Quality Preview

Data and Photo Content

Data DVDs and CDs can be spanned across multiple discs, and Toast does allow some customization on where it will choose to split the files. This too was tested without any problems noted. One niggling problem I have noticed is that there are situations in which Toast does not prompt the user for a disc name such as when making multiple discs (but different projects) from within the same program function area (i.e. never leaving the DVD creation area for example). Additionally when producing data discs, Toast assumes that the user wants to title the disc with the name of the first folder dragged into the content pane. In short, even though there is a user preference setting to always ask for “missing” disc names, it doesn’t prompt for names in situations where the disk name is simply “assumed” by Toast, and I don’t think that the program should assume that a copied folder name will be the disc name, or that the disc name of a previous project in the same pane will be the same – especially when the content is different, but it does. It is not difficult to change an assumed name, just click and change like any Mac file (or utilize the “more” panel in the workspace), but it is something that is very easy to forget – especially when you hit forty, like me. In speaking with the Roxio representative, he appreciated the possible difficulty and stated that it might be considered in future revisions.

Data discs can be created in Mac-only formats or Mac/PC formats, both of which I tested with perfect success. The encryption feature was also without fault and rated the strength of the password selected and gave the option to remember the password in the keychain. Using compression, 693mb of data was brought down to around 600mb. However, spanning is not an option if either encryption or compression is selected. Leaving a session “open” so that further data can be added at a later time creates two actual volumes that the Finder treats as two separate discs which is typical OSX behaviour as I understand.

Photo discs are created with automatic slide show functionality as well as a helpful “add to iPhoto” Applescript option when mounted. The slide show program is actually quite nice, and I spent some pleasant time viewing collections of Biblical art images.

Audio Content

Audio discs can be created using any non-protected files in at least the following formats: AIFF, MP3, WAV, AAC, AC3, OGG, FLAC, and even MOV. Audio unit effects, trimming, pauses and various cross-fading options can be applied individually to each track. Each track can also be previewed from within the content area workspace. Music CDs and DVDs can be created with multiple playing options including shuffle, continuous play, and smart playlists which can be combined with data, video, and photo content. Album artwork and music DVD buttons are customizable. As with the video templates, I found the stock selection to be limited – but again, custom backgrounds can be dragged over.

Quick Look Support

While in the media browser in any of the authoring panes, highlighting a file and pressing the space bar or eye-shaped icon brings up full Quick Look functionality so that nearly any media can be previewed from within Toast directly. Roxio notes that the following files are accessing with the integrated Quick Look:

• Most music, pictures, and video files
• Text, PDF, and Word documents
• Keynote and PowerPoint presentations
• Excel spreadsheets
• Mail attachments

I personally tried some unlisted applications such as Pages and Numbers which also opened fine via Quick Look.

Quick Look

Custom Icons and Backgrounds

I had quite a bit of fun with this feature. Instead of settling for the boring disc icon to show up in the Finder, a custom icon can be easily dragged into the “more” options as well as custom background colours or images for when the disc items are accessed (the custom backgrounds only appear when viewed on a Mac).

Disc Artwork

Toast 9 supports LightScribe and LabelFlash; however, I do not have any such enabled drives and could not test these features. I have used LightScribe technology in the past on PCs and though the “burned” disc labelling isn’t anywhere near professional level, it is a pretty neat technology – and as I have seen it integrate very well with PC programs, I am confident that it works very well with Toast. I have no experience with LabelFlash and can thus offer no comment in that regard. There is also an added function to create disc inserts and covers to be printed. I played around with various designs and found it to be competitive with similar programs; however, I did not print out any of the designs as I am currently not on speaking terms with my HP printer (on a side rant, I will never buy an HP product for a Mac again). Google searches for missing artwork can be initiated from directly within the program.

Disc Cover creation

Discover through Google

File Copy

This function in the workspace allows discs and disc images to be copied/burned as well as supporting the merging of disc image files - for instance when one disc will contain a Mac version of an item as well as a Windows version for distribution.

File Conversion

A new “convert” category has been added which also allows automatic import into iTunes after conversion of audio and video files into different formats. I have found this handy, and it has worked without problems. Of course, Toast will not copy or import discs or files with DRM encryption.

Batch Convert

Choose Convert Format

Plug & Burn

This feature allows the importation of video from a DV camcorder through a firewire connection. I used a Sony HandyCam TRV480. To go on a bit of a tangent, while this camera certainly is not a high video quality camcorder, it offers backward compatibility with older 8mm tapes which, if you have a great many, is much cheaper than paying a service to convert them for you. Once the camera is turned on and put into play mode, a camera icon appears in the content area with basic video controls. At this point, the footage may be forwarded or reversed to choose the starting point for the video disc to be created. However, unlike the editing options for a DVD video, the ending point cannot be chosen in this manner – only a certain set number of minutes past the selected starting point which might not be at a convenient or appropriate point. I do see this as a deficiency that seems to be easy for Roxio to change, so I am unsure why they chose this route.

It is at this point that I found the interface potentially confusing. After choosing import, there are multiple options which include a “start from beginning of tape” that over-rides the earlier designated starting point – something that can easily be done unawares as I did. Perhaps a tool-tip at that point would be useful to remind the user that this will reset the starting point to the beginning of the tape, or maybe I am just being a bit dense. I can see that this may be of use to people who want to simply import entire videos to disc (or certain timed segments) without much concern for bad shots, ackward silences, and the other demons which plaque home video. In fact, after playing with it a bit, I think that is precisely what I am going to do. However, I think that most users who want watchable home movie footage (i.e. interesting and not tortuously boring) would opt to import into a video editing program such as iMovie ‘08, iMovie HD, or Final Cut Express to do at least some minor editing before recording, and at least some of the usual video editing programs offer a burning option, and Final Cut Express includes a sophisticated DVD menu creation feature. So in short, this feature worked though the interface is at some points confusing, and there is very little control on the precise footage imported unless the file is imported in full. I am planning on using this feature to do a down and dirty all out conversion of my Sony HandyCam 8mm and Hi8 tapes into a digital format for possible later manipulation if desired. Quite frankly, most of the family footage will simply remain as originally shot in perpetuity.

I did work with the Roxio representative regarding these concerns, and a good workaround is to import the full video onto the computer outside of Toast and treating that file as any other that can be edited with more precision.

Camcorder recognition

DV Footage Screen

Streamer

The feature I was most looking forward to worked perfectly for me - Streamer. With Streamer, the user imports video files into a designated Streamer folder, registers at the Roxio Streamer site, and is given a unique URL from which their videos can be viewed from the Internet anywhere. One snag I experienced, and this is unrelated to Roxio, but instead to AT&T’s terrible DSL customer service (especially when you tell them you are on a Mac), but the designated URL may not work within your own home network, and in that case you simply need to directly access the host computer’s IP and identify the port number assigned to Streamer. The on-screen instructions are very clear as to what settings must be enabled on the network router for Streamer to work properly. Also, despite the very firm assertion by the AT&T technician, you can have Streamer running on multiple computers by simply assigning it to a different port number. So on my system, the default port of 10080 was assigned to my MacPro and 10081 was assigned to my MacBook. Streamer videos can be viewed from any Mac, PC (as if), iPod touch (when connected to WiFi), and iPhone.

Client Side Screen

iPhone View

Another iPhone View

Welcome to Streamer

CD Spin Doctor

This feature allows the user to hijack sounds from their computer such as Internet streaming radio. I tested this extensively with Pandora. However, this is where I started running into glitches which prompted the Roxio technician to contact me. The audio recorded, but unfortunately there were intermittent bursts of distortion in the recording that will have to be corrected before this feature will be at all useable. An additional issue persisted only with the MacBook – that being that the CD Spin Capture support which is required in order to hijack audio simply refused to “stick.” It went through the installation process normally, but refused to appear where it should. I trashed and reinstalled this program as part of a trouble-shooting process, but the capture support still failed to take. Lastly, on my Mac Pro, there were intermittent issues with switching between headphones and line-out, but I have a suspicion that this might be a Mac Pro-only issue since its audio settings do not behave like the rest of the Mac line. Additionally, I have SoundSource installed on both machines which I informed Roxio in the possible case that there were possible conflicts there.

On a more practical note, I do not understand why Spin Capture support is a separate process that the user must install after CD Spin Doctor is installed rather than having it install automatically.

With any segment of hijacked audio, CD Spin Doctor can auto-detect the separate tracks, and the integrated Grace Note technology can automatically identify the song which then can all be imported into iTunes. I have used various auto-identification music programs in the past, and this one so far is the most accurate, and I was pleased with the results.

Starting in Wizard Mode

Track Identification and Editing

This program also features resources to convert analog tapes and actual albums into digital form directly from a turntable or cassette player as well as hiss and noise removal. I no longer have any of this type of media and was not able to test these features. CD Spin Doctor supports importing and editing MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless and AIFF formats.

Connecting Audio Source Screen

EyeTV/Tivo Integration

I do not have Tivo, so I have no comment on that portion. However, I do have EyeTV which does send the recorded files directly into Toast with the click of a button or by navigation through the media browser. I regularly experienced problems burning the EyeTV files into DVDs (the disc could not record because of a Mac OS Error Result code = - 39). On the Roxio User Forums, it was suggested to convert the EyeTV files into a disc image and then burn the image unto a DVD as a temporary work-around until the problem is addressed which has been acknowledged by Roxio as an issue needing to be addressed. That workaround apparently worked for some users, but I received the same error mentioned above when I attempted it. Oddly, there were EyeTV files that burned successfully every time, some that never burned successfully, and some that burned when they felt like it. This is another area in which I have been in active contact with Roxio’s representative who has provided beta versions for me to try in order to fix this known issue. Obviously, Toast does support the necessary Turbo.264 video encoder. As mentioned above, these files can be edited directly from within Toast or EyeTV. That being said, having worked with multiple pro-sumer level video programs, the editing interface is not intuitive or maybe I am just too spoiled by the wonderful tool-tips in other parts of this product. I would strongly suggest watching this video from ScreenCasts Online on EyeTV as he covers a lot of basics, including editing, which I found very helpful (though please note that this is a UK screencast, and there are some differences in the EyeTV hardware and software between the UK and the US versions). Also, from what I understand, a World of Apple review of EyeTV is planned for the future.

Dragging EyeTV Media into Toast

Toast Option from Within EyeTV

EyeTV Edit Screen

ToastAnywhere Recorder Sharing

I was able to test this across my home network sharing my DVD recorder on each of my machines with each other, and it worked flawlessly. This will be very appealing to those with a MacBook Air of whose number I wish I was. I note that this feature boasts the ability to share recorders over the Internet as well, but at this point in time, that function is not working and is acknowledged as a known problem by Roxio.

Get Back-Up RE

I perused and tested some of the basic functionality of this back-up utility. It would be useful for planned back-ups of particular files such as an iTunes library, but for my own purposes, will not be a feature that I will use as I have a three-tier full back-up strategy (Time Machine, Mozy, and Carbon Copy Cloner). Yes, I am paranoid about losing data.

Get Backup Screen

Disc Catalog Maker

As this was a feature for which I had limited interest, I gave it a very brief glance over. It automatically catalogs data discs made so that disc backups could be easily identified and cataloged. As I am not a fan of backing up to disc, this would be of limited usefulness to me. However, I see how it could be very useful to those who find it productive to use discs as part of their back-up plans.

Catalogue of Data Disks Created

Conclusion

This review, while lengthy, still only touched upon wide swathes of the program’s nuances and should not be taken as an exhaustive analysis, though I did strive for thoroughness in the areas in which I focused. I almost feel compelled to post an image of the dog-eared and marked-up Reviewer’s Guide and User Manual that I have been pouring over in order to put the program through its paces.

• Pros: The developer has a basic video presentation on the product. There are more features than ever before, including streaming video which I found to be a real treat and seamless. The interface is inuitive with plenty of helpful information boxes along the way. The excellent authoring functionality that Toast is known for remains and is expanded for greater customization. I now use it exclusively and have it set as default for burning on both of my machines, no longer using the built-in burning functionality of Leopard. Additionally, I have found Roxio to be very responsive to its users and their suggestions and definitely committed to the Mac platform and community.
• Cons: The support site does not have thorough step by step tutorials which are becoming something that is expected among consumers and would be especially helpful for switchers who are already a bit lost with a new OS. The HD/DVD Blu Ray functionality is a plug-in at an extra cost rather than being included with a program of this price point. There are still consistency problems with some of the new features such as CD Spin Doctor, sharing recorders over the internet, and EyeTV file DVD authoring which have caused many users to consider this more of a beta release rather than a final release.
• Verdict: I have a mixed verdict. If you have Toast 8, it may be worthwhile to wait for bug fixes unless some of the new features are things that are very compelling to you. For more assistance in this decision, read Roxio’s feature comparison of the two versions. Personally, Streamer, Quick Look, on-the-fly preview/editing, and CD Spin Doctor (once fixed) would be compelling to me. If you don’t need or want any of the new features, you will want to stick with Toast 8 until all of the bugs are worked out. So Toast 9 Titanium gets a split review – 4 1/2 stars on the typical authoring features that most users will use with the added functions for editing, preview, Quick Look, and Streamer. Three stars for the EyeTV support and integration due to its inconsistency, and 1 star for CD Spin Doctor until the audio quality issues are resolved.

Roxio is working on resolving the problems noted within this review, and I will post an updated review when these items are addressed.

GIVEAWAY: Post in the comments and you will be entered into a random drawing to win a retail box copy of Toast 9 Titanium PLUS the added HD DVD and Blu-Ray plug-in. You will only be entered once, so multiple comments will not provide more chances. The winner will be announced on August 4. The software is the retail box version, so the winner will need to provide their address to me, and I will forward it to the Roxio representative. If you are uncomfortable giving your address if you win, but still wish to comment, just note in the comments that you do not wish to enter the giveaway drawing.

There are two versions of this product: the “Made for iPod” edition which is compatible with the video nano, touch, classic, and 5th generation video iPods, and the “Universal Edition” which is compatible with most portable video devices with video out. The FAQ page states: “Myvu has not yet been certified “Works With iPhone”. However, Myvu “Made for iPod” versions, like many iPod accessories, will work well with the iPhone when the iPhone is set to Airplane mode.” The glasses are lightweight and fold compactly into its carrying pouch which is a good feature for travel. The battery will last for about two movies (four hours) with a fully charged unit and iPod. The included documentation consisted of a four-step quick start guide which was slickly produced and easy to follow. A full user manual can be found at the vendor’s website. The deficiency I noted in the prior quick start guides has been corrected in this version, i.e. it explicitly states that the unit must be individually charged and does not draw power from the iPod. Also, I have noticed a marked improvement since my first review in the professionalism of the vendor and in the quality of its website.

Like the other models, there is full visibility above and below the low profile glasses; however, the Crystal also has semi-transparent “panels” to the left and right of the viewing screen so that there is peripheral visibility as well. Personally, I did not like this addition as the glow from the viewing image seemed to reflect off on both sides creating an undesirable mirror effect. This might be a matter of personal preference in a trade-off between peripheral visibility and a less distracting viewing experience. I experimented with the unit by placing black electrical tape over those side panels which greatly improved my viewing experience. If I purchased a pair, I would cover those panels permanently as I find the over and under visibility more than adequate. On its website, MyVu has an “Experience” page which has some pretty clever and accurate video simulations of the viewing experience including the peripheral semi-transparency. Though I did not find this stated on the MyVu site itself, another reviewer noted that the amber version of the Crystal allows more peripheral light than the black version. If that is indeed true, I would definitely recommend the black unit as my experience would lead to the conclusion that even more peripheral light would not be desirable.

The $100 higher price point is primarily due to the tremendous increase in video quality in comparison to the less expensive units. Instead of a quarter VGA resolution (320X240), the Crystal boasts full VGA resolution (640X480). I was completely pleased with the viewing quality which lacked the graininess in the prior models with my only complaint being the lack of fine-tuning for contrast and colour as mentioned above. MyVu also states that the field of view is 33% wider than other models.

Pros:

• High quality video with full VGA resolution (640×480)
• Easy access to volume and picture controls on dongle
• More attractive design
• Perfect for use at the gym and during long commutes
• Lightweight and portable (under 3 ounces)

Cons:

• The contrast and brightness controls only offer three different gradations
• The $299.95 price point will be out of range for many users, but it is commensurate with the video quality
• Not suitable for eyeglass wearers though a prescription lens insert can be obtained for an additional cost from MyVu

Verdict:

• I love it. I want one. Badly. It would have received five stars if the contrast and brightness control allowed for more precise fine-tuning.

I also wanted to note that I spoke with each of the 3 developers and they all have plans to release native iPhone versions of their applications. For those of you with iPhones and one of these apps, be sure to keep an eye on the App Store!

Now, without further ado, our winners:
For Cha-Ching: Congrats to Rebecca. You commented curious to know about the stability of these programs and we’d like to give you the chance to see first-hand with your own copy of Cha-Ching! And with version 2.0 coming soon as a free upgrade, we’re sure you’ll find numerous enhancements.
For iBank: Congrats to Danny Greg. We hope you find your new iBank license helpful in meeting your need for a more powerful banking app.
For MoneyWell: Congrats to Cameron Williams. We’re glad that MoneyWell reflects how you work and happy to be able to provide you with a license you weren’t otherwise able to afford right now!

For our 3 winners, I have sent your information to the respective developers and they should be e-mailing you soon! For everyone, thank you for the great comments and be sure to come back often for Apple news and even more reviews and giveaways (much like one coming soon that will have the photographers out there interested!).

Be sure to check out the review to find out what my top pick is and be sure to comment with a suggestion for your favorite application and you’ll be entered to win a license for that application! Hurry though, the giveaway is on June 27th!

In this special 3-in-1 review, I will look at the pros and cons of each (while focusing on the unique factors between them, as all 3 programs have similar, basic functions that you’d expect from a piece of banking software) and decide a winner. Note that in the end, my choice will reflect the software that I feel meets my needs best and I’d encourage you to try all 3 to see what works best for you. Hopefully my review will help guide you in your decision. As with my past reviews, the developers of these three programs have generously offered to give away 1 license to a lucky reader. That means we will have 3 total winners this time. Since this is a special review, I’m asking for some special comments. I’d like you, the reader, to try out these programs and come back to comment stating which of these 3 programs is your favorite, why it is your favorite, and at least one thing you’d like to see improved. 3 lucky readers will receive a license for the program they stated as their favorite! So without further ado, my review!

Cha-Ching:

Cha-Ching

Cha-Ching also offers a unique way to view your online banking information with a built in browser of sorts. It’s not a browser you’d use to replace Safari by any means, but it’s a great way to quickly and easily access your online bank account to verify or download your latest transactions. With the integration of smart folders, a scheduler, budgets, and accounts, Cha-Ching allows you to take your banking information and organize how you prefer. It even allows you to attach pictures or files to your transactions. Here’s a quick example of how this could work for you: You snap a photo of the new iMac you just bought (lucky you!) and scan the receipt for your purchase. You attach a PDF version of your receipt to the transaction and drop the photo in. Now, when you are looking through your transactions, you can see photos of exactly what you bought, as well as check the receipt. Cha-Ching also supports tagging, which makes finding past transactions even easier. If you stay current and diligent putting your financial information in, Cha-Ching makes it extremely easy to keep track of your financial history.

iBank:

iBank

iBank also allows for managing portfolios - a great tool for investors, adding charts - which provides a great way to view a breakdown of your spending habits, budgets, smart import rules (in conjunction with the capacity to download your transactions) - great for making future imports easy, and more. Overall, iBank is a fairly powerful tool for managing finances and it allows you to tweak just how you want to view your finances. On the downside, however, all these options also make iBank feel more cluttered than the other 2 programs.

MoneyWell:

MoneyWell

All that said, it’s easier said than done. MoneyWell has a bit more of a learning curve to it and I found that it took me longer to set up everything as I wanted it in MoneyWell than it did in the other 2 programs. Still, once set up I found MoneyWell to be the easiest way to view my finances. What it lacks in power (i.e. no portfolio accounts, customizable charts, or alternate views) and in design (not as cluttered as iBank, but still more cluttered than Cha-Ching) it makes up for in its straightforward nature, that is once it’s set up.

The Breakdown:
So what does this all mean? I skipped all that stuff up above, just give me the pros and cons of each! When it comes down to it, which one is best? After playing around with the programs for a few weeks and without further ado…

Cha-Ching:
Pros: Clean interface, feels very “Mac-like,” easy to learn and use, it has many features, but contains them all well within its one window.
Cons: Clipart is more of a chore than it should be, lacks any real charts for viewing a breakdown of spending, no way to manage investments/stocks.
The Verdict: Out of the three programs, I’d have to say Cha-Ching is my favorite and the one I’d use. It’s clean, straightforward, and doesn’t have more features than I need. It’s easy to learn, easy to use, and feels very much like a native Mac app. In the end, I’d like to see some more features for breaking down my spending (i.e. Please give me charts!), but with 2.0 on the horizon I’m sure we’ll see some improvements!
Cha-Ching is available from MidnightApps for $40. If you buy Cha-Ching today, you’re eligable for a free upgrade to Cha-Ching 2.0 - coming soon.

iBank:
Pros: Powerful, a variety of views, professional account management (stocks/investments), built in clipart library, easy import functions.
Cons: Cluttered interface, alternate views are cool but can be impractical, feels too much like Quicken (which may be a good thing for you, but was more of a con for me)
The Verdict: I’d have to rank iBank as my least likely choice of the three. It’s a great program, it’s just not for me. I’d still encourage you to try it as I really believe that for many out there, this can be the perfect banking solution.
iBank is available from IGG Software for $59.99 (uprades to iBank 3 from previous versions are $29.99)

MoneyWell:
Pros: Unique approach to money management, fairly straightforward once set up, fairly clean interface
Cons: Much more of a learning curve, lacks strong charts, set up takes a while and can be confusing to some.
The Verdict: Personally, I like MoneyWell. I even wanted it to be my first choice. I just couldn’t justify ranking it above Cha-Ching, however. The level of work it took me to get MoneyWell up and running was just too much more than Cha-Ching. Still, it’s a close 2nd for me and I’ll be keeping my eye on its development.
MoneyWell is available from No Thirst Software for a special price of $39.99, but only for a limited time. The price will then be set at $49.99

So in the end, Cha-Ching works best for me, and it just happens to be the least expensive as well. But we’re all different in how we manage our finances and I’d encourage you to visit each website, to play around with all 3 of these great programs, and see what works best for you. Do that now and comment back here about your favorite and you’ll be entered to win a copy of that respective license! Winners will be announced on June 27th. Happy banking!

Once again, the product was kindly provided to me by the vendor on a review-copy basis. The price point remains the same at $199.95. There are two versions of this product: the “Made for iPod” edition which is compatible with the video nano, touch, classic, and 5th Generation Video iPod, and the “Universal Edition” which is compatible with most portable video devices with video out. The MyVu site is silent on whether the Shades 301 will work with the iPhone but does state in a FAQ regarding the MyVu Solo Plus Edition that “Myvu has not been certified through the ‘Works with iPhone’ licensing program. However, Myvu Made for iPod versions, like many iPod accessories, will work with the iPhone when the iPhone is set to Airplane mode.” I do not have an iPhone to test whether this would hold true for this particular product but rather tested it using my iPod touch.

Like the Solo Plus, MyVu does advertise that the image quality is comparable to an iPod screen; however, my experience has been that it is far grainier and less clear. With that being said, I believe that the quality is a good value for the reasonable price point which must always be a consideration. The video specifications are stated by MyVu as a quarter VGA resolution (320X240).

This model differed in several respects from the MyVu Solo Plus. First, I found the angle of the glasses as worn with the “shade” affixed at the top created a more pleasing viewing enviroment while still allowing full visibility around the glasses. The shades serve to relieve the eyes of two competing outside views (above and below the glasses) and instead direct them more downwards without sacrificing full visibility. However, while I found that the affixed shades did provide some additional viewing clarity in bright light situations, at times, the picture was completely unviewable and obscured. I did not attempt the use of a sun visor or hat to determine if this would alleviate this situation as suggested by the website because I do not find it reasonable to expect the typical consumer to be likely to appreciate the requirement of wearing such headgear in order to have an adequate viewing experience. I wouldn’t. Second, I found the nose-rest to be much more comfortable; however, I would recommend still more padding. One criticism that I have of the Shades 301 that I did not have with the Solo Plus might not be inherent in the product, but rather due to the multi-person usage of a review unit - that being that the glasses felt loose around my head although they did not appear to be stretched at the joints in any fashion. Due to this, I would state that these would definitely not be suitable for smaller adults or children. I am of a somewhat small frame, and the looseness was enough to be a bit bothersome. The major difference between the Shades and the Solo Plus appears in the expected battery life. The MyVu Solo Plus provides four hours of viewing time with a fully charged viewer and a fully charged player while the Shades 301 provides ten hours of viewing time with initially fully-charged devices. However, my iPod touch only provides a maximum of five hours of viewing time which effectively caps my portable viewing time at that limit rather than the higher capacity of the viewer.

There are brightness, contrast, and volume controls on the pendant sitting between the glasses and the video player such as the iPod. If my memory serves me correctly, this configuration is a bit different from the MyVu Solo Plus which did not provide volume control. I was a bit disappointed with the lack of more precise fine-tuning for the brightness and contrast but found the easy access to volume control to be quite useful.

I note that MyVu has also announced another addition to their product line: the MyVu Crystal. This product sells at a $299.95 price point and is advertised to deliver full VGA resolution (640X480) as opposed to the quarter VGA resolution (320X240) offered by the MyVu Solo Plus and the MyVu Shades 301. I will be requesting a review copy of this product in order to offer a comparison and opinion on whether the higher priced product might be the better choice and for which consumers. Between the Shades 301 and the MyVu Solo Plus, I would choose the Shades as they have a better balance between the “geek” and “dork” factors, and the affixed shades do provide a less distracting viewing experience.

Pros:

• Reasonable price point
• High “geek” factor, perfect for private viewing in public situations such as mass transmit or the gym
• Easy to operate

Cons:

• Grainy video as compared to viewing directly on the iPod and not suitable for use in bright light situations
• The contrast and brightness controls do not offer more than three different gradations

Verdict: If you are a person who uses mass transit frequently or works out regularly at a public gym, then this is a highly recommended product at a reasonable price point. For a niche product, it serves its purpose well. Higher quality resolution video eyewear is available, but the price points for such are expectedly higher.

The MacBook Air was long rumoured prior to its release to be an “ultra-portable”, but when Jobs finally showed off the Air at Macworld it became clear that Apple avoided the niche market of ultra-portables and instead headed for the ultra-thin notebook market. The Air lacks the power of the MacBook, has no optical drive and doesn’t contain a removable battery but instead is incredibly thin, features long battery life and has a full-size keyboard.

Read more…

MemoryMiner is a photo management tool that allows you to categorize your photos in two specific ways: by people and by places. Adding photos is as easy as choosing to have your iPhoto library imported, adding selected photos from the media browser, or dragging and dropping from the desktop or a folder.

Organizing your photos by people is achieved by a method similar to “tagging” people in Facebook photos. You simply select the person with a resizable box and then tag them apporiately. This is great for photos of family and friends as it allows you to keep track of who is in what picture. Then, you can choose through the list of people you’ve input and see all the photos that they appear in. What’s more, you can categorize people by family, friends, and more and even tag them across stages of their life! Looking for that photo of grandma when she was your age? It’s as easy as choosing grandma from your “People” list and checking it out.

Getting the people into MemoryMiner is another story. It takes a bit of time up front to popularize the list with all the people you’d like to include. Adding the initial name/photo is easy if you’ve got everyone in your Address Book - just drag them from Address Book over (though some form of importing within the program would have been nice). Once there, add some additional details if you please and you’re ready to go.

Organizing your photos by place is just as easy. Create the location by entering the specific address or general area and MemoryMiner’s integration with Google Maps instantly finds the place and you’re ready to tag. Drag the place onto the photo(s) you want and there you have it. Now, you are able to filter you photos by people, location, or both. The integration between the two is nice. For example, I can click on my friend Ben who I’ve labeled in several pictures across my collection. A quick click later and I’m presented with a map showing flags of all the locations that Ben is tagged in. Pretty cool.

So there you have it. Your photos can now be organized by people, place, and time in a more intuitive fashion than possible with iPhoto. It’s difficult to describe everything MemoryMiner does in just words. I could use pictures and videos of my own, but there is a great collection of videos over at MemoryMiner’s video gallery. I strongly recommend checking those out to get a bigger grasp on what MemoryMiner can do for you. Overall, MemoryMiner can be quite useful. It’s a very powerful application and I cannot give justice to all of its features in this brief review. To explore all it has to offer, I strongly suggest watching the videos and downloading it and giving it a try. You can try it out for 15 days to see what it can do for you. All in all, I like MemoryMiner. I like what it does and I like the idea that it strives to fulfill. I do, however, think it falls short in being easily used. I’m not quite sure what it is about it, but I think I’d like to see an updated interface that comes closer to that of iPhoto. It’s a great tool with powerful sorting options, but I found in using it that I wish it had a cleaner overall look to it. At this point I’m indecisive at best on whether or not I’d find MemoryMiner more useful than iPhoto at this point. A more streamlined interface could do a lot for me though.

MemoryMiner can be purchased for $45 from http://www.memoryminer.com/. And, of course, the gracious folks over at MemoryMiner have donated a license to give away to one lucky reader who comments on this post with some feedback, positive or negative, on MemoryMiner. Winners will be announced on May 16. [Winner announced]

The Breakdown:

Pro’s: Great management software for pictures. Allows for easy categorization of pictures by people, places, and times. Allows you to create a story surrounding your pictures and gives them more meaning and context

Con’s: Interface isn’t as clean and intuitive as it could be. I feel that an updated interface is needed.

The Verdict: If you’ve got a lot of pictures and need more/easier organization than iPhoto allows then MemoryMiner is for you. The price is worth it for those who like to keep their pictures organized, but it may be a bit expensive for the casual user.

Let's Hook Up

I tested this using my Google account as well as separate iCal accounts on my two home Mac computers over the local network which synced within moments. The same result was achieved when my laptop calendar was edited off-site and then brought back into the network. The calendars are maintained as distinct identities in the sidebar so that if there are two separate persons coordinating events, their calendars do not simply get mushed into each other. For example, on my MacPro, I am subscribed to a published calendar called “Dizzle Laptop,” and on my laptop I am subscribed to all of the published calendars from my MacPro. If I try to add or rename a calendar on either machine to one that already exists on the published network, the command is refused so that there is no naming confusion. If calendars with identical names are attempted to be published, a conflict resolution screen will appear. BusySync also has options to reset sync history (if for some reason the synchronization stopped), reset BusySync (which will delete the BusySync database and subscriptions leaving all information in owned calendars intact), and restore iCal from backup (BusySync keeps ten backups of the host iCal database.) All of these features worked without a hitch for me under multiple contrived test scenarios.

In short, this is a very simple-to-use program that fills a specific niche need and does so flawlessly.

There is a video tutorial on the developer’s site which thoroughly walks through the installation and operation process as well as a detailed online user’s guide. A fully functional 30-day trial is offered. The price point is $19.95 until May 1, 2008. The regular price is $25 per license with discounts offered for 5 or more licenses. Each Macintosh on the network needs to have its own license and installation in order for it to participate in the synchronization cloud.

Pros: Simplicity and elegance of use. In the product testing, there were no errors or glitches encountered. This product would work well for all users from the unsophisticated to the advanced. Adds wonderful integration and functionality for scheduling amongst multiple locations and users.

Cons: Cost. $25 per computer can easily get expensive in an Apple-loving household.

Giveaway: 3 Free licenses for one person running two to three Macintosh computers. (Giveaway now over, winner is Davinian!)

Please note that the two licenses I used for review purposes were given to me gratis from the developer.

Preference Pane

Publish!

Don't Be Evil

Dear Leader in the Well

The program launches into a compact “well.” Images can be dragged from nearly any application into the well for fast and easy resizing and transmission to an idisk or server. In fact, any file can be dropped into the sender to be transmitted to the web. I read a review of this product where it was called “the blogger’s friend” and that certainly has been my experience. Oftentimes on my blog, I will have a large image of, say, Steve Jobs and need to resize it quickly. ImageWell is perfect for that task. Yes, there are other programs that can perform this function, but I have found that ImageWell is quick, light, and unobtrusive with a lot of functions packed into the compact well. There are many options to perform some quick and dirty edits such as resize/offset, rename, and send to folder/web.

Other features:

Locations: Save folders (such as the desktop) and ftp locations can be configured for use with the “send” function on the well window. ImageWell also supports file transfer to Flickr, SmugMug, or ImageShack accounts as well as batch transfers. Once a file is transferred to the web, the url is copied to the clipboard for easy pasting into a browser. This option is configurable with alternative options to copy formatted image/bulletin board tags ([img] or [image]) or html image tags to the clipboard. The history of links or tags created is retrievable and can be changed to other options via a pull-down menu.

Live Preview: The live preview window is accessed by clicking on the well, and a larger canvas will appear showing how the image will appear on a website.

Some Edit Options

Editing: While obviously this application is not going to replace a heavy-duty image editor such as PhotoShop, I have found that its editor is capable of handling my needs 90% of the time. Its features include non-destructive cropping, shapes, overlay with transparency, draw objects, caption balloons, borders, drop shadows, and opacity.

Watermarking: Images can be very easily watermarked with text or another image with ample editing controls.

Templates: Multiple customized templates can be created for repetitive workflow actions.

Batch Mode: A group of images can be batch-processed to apply resizing, shapes, and watermarks at one time which can then be sent to a folder or the web at one time.

Screen Grabs: Under the “more” option in the main well window, there are options to take screen grabs of the whole screen, selected portions of the screen, or a specific application window which is then sent to the well and can be manipulated like any other image.

In the interest of Disclosure, I have been an ImageWell user for nearly one year when the basic features were free. The shareware version was given to me gratis from the vendor upon my request for a review copy. However, I would have purchased and reviewed this product in any event as it has been one of my favourites since switching from the PC. It will have special appeal to former XP users who were frequent users of the image resizer powertoy.

Pros: Good online how-to manual with video tutorials (the vendor is working on making videos for each feature with about 50% done thus far, and there is a good off-site tutorial as well); compact and intuitive; perfect for bloggers and bulletin board participants; eliminates the need to fire up a heavyweight editor for the majority of typical user image editing tasks.

Cons: Price (I believe a $14.95 price point would make this irresistible; however, it is well worth the $19.95 price point); accidental overwrites are too easy (no warning screen pops up if the original is about to be overwritten); no print function.

Giveaway: One person commenting to this review will be randomly chosen to receive a free license to ImageWell. I thank the developer for offering this to World of Apple readers. The Mac development community rocks! (Winner will be announced 28th May 2008)

Update: The giveaway winner has been announced - - congratulations to Jamie McFarlane! You will be hearing from us soon regarding your free license.