Review: Vector Designer

VectorDesigner is exactly what it sounds like...a design program that uses vector instead of raster graphics. VectorDesigner is a nice little application developed by TweakerSoft that contains most every major feature you would want inside of a vector graphics program - all for just $69.95, or you can try the demo out at their site. Alongside the basics such as bezier curves, smart shapes and gradients, it includes much more. For one, it has a built-in Flickr tool which allows you to find pictures over Flickr containing specific objects, numbers or even colours. The colour feature is one of my favourites and is a must see to believe kind of thing. Also, it uses the Quartz composer capabilities to allow you to place filters on your
objects to make them more interesting. Included, is also a nice layers pallet similar to the one found in Photoshop which can come in handy when you are creating a very intricate object inside of VectorDesigner.
Some other neat features include being able to convert raster graphics into vector ones which can be manipulated as if you had drawn them, being able to import pictures directly from the iSight atop your Mac, wrapping text around or inside of objects, the use of Boolean tools which allow you to subtract or add two objects together and, finally, being able to sketch things, which is a nice feature if you aren't very good with using the bezier tool.
I found no problems with using it and soon became quite comfortable with its simple user interface. Also, the creator appears hard at work because it seems as though every time I launch it, a new update has arrived with subtle but handy new features. Also worth noting is it received the "Best Of Show" award at Macworld this year - always a nice thing to have. Five stars.

Review: iHome iH5 (Old system but the new ones are almost identical)

Today, I've decided to take a look at the iHome iH5, which I've had for about two years. If you're looking for a system that lets you play your iPod through great sounding speakers, this is the system for you.

When I first got the iHome, I was pleasantly surprised at how excellent the sound coming from it really was. The iHome truly shines, though, when played ridiculously loud because it still continues to deliver spectacular sounding audio. I use my iHome as an alarm clock because it has a couple nice features built in. For one, you have the option to wake up to your iPod every morning to the song of your choice. Also, it has a FM antenna that allows you to pick up radio stations, which is quite nice, I find. Your final choice is a buzzer that gradually gets louder, which is a welcome feature in my opinion. Another nice thing that I found out about it was that when your iPod is plugged in, it will charge it, as if it were a regular dock, but without the ability to connect to your computer. Finally, the sleep function allows you to either listen to the radio or your iPod while going to sleep and it will turn it off at a set time ranging from 120 minutes to 15 minutes.

iHome is a fantastic audio company that pleasantly surprised me in every way and just recently, my whole family has switched their alarm clocks to iHomes as well. Since there is nothing bad that I could find about the iHome I would have to give it five stars.

Review: Apple iPod Touch

If you don't have one already have one, I stronglysuggest that you get one. This is been my favorite toy for the last couple of months and I absolutely love it. The touch screen is the perfect sensitivity and all of the applications and settings are very intuitive; the learning curve for it is probably around 2 minutes. I was one of the ones who pre-ordered it the day it was announced, Sept. 5, so I've had some time to fiddle around with it and absolutely adore it- I couldn't ask for anything better than this wonderful product Apple has made.

A couple of weeks after I bought it, I decided to do a little jailbreaking - and haven't looked back. Now don't get me wrong, the iPod alone is a great feature - and now with the iPhone apps prepackaged even better - but jailbreaking it adds a whole other dimension to its productivity and the community feeling involved with the product. There are quite a few fun games and applications available for it as well. For instance, the game Tap Tap Revolution is a little touchscreen version of Guitar Hero that accesses your song library and compares it to tabs that people have created and placed on the internet for your use, and allows you to use them free of charge.

All in all, the iPod touch is worth every penny and it would be tough for me to live a day without it. Five stars.