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Corel AfterShot Pro Photo Management Software For Mac OS, Windows, and Linux
Intel Macs: The First 6 Years
Microsoft Charts Windows Future
Ballmer Touts Windows 8, Metro User Interface, Xbox in CES Farewell Appearance
USB 3: Time for Apple to Make the Right Choice
Mac OS X Lion Bible
Mac OS X Lion Portable Genius. Shortcuts, Tips, and Tools for Making the Most of the New Mac OS X Lion
Boost the MacBook's Ability to Connect, Share, and Communicate with iLuv's New Multi-Functional, Premium Mac Adapters and Cables
Samsung Releases Next Generation Series 9 Laptop Featuring an Ultraslim, Aluminum Single Shell Body
Corel AfterShot Pro Photo Management Software For Mac OS, Windows, and Linux
Corel AfterShot Pro is a fast, flexible photo workflow solution that combines robust photo management, advanced non-destructive adjustments and complete RAW processing. Organize your photos in catalogs or folders. Find images quickly with extensive Metadata tools that let you search by camera settings, keywords, tags and more. Experiment with and alter images freely with non-destructive adjustment tools and apply enhancements precisely with selective editing. Easily output your work for albums, web sites or client review. With RAW support, powerful batch processing and incredible speed, AfterShot Pro is a fast way to professional-looking photos.
"Corel has done a fantastic job of taking full advantage of multicore CPUs that are shipping in a broad range of AMD VISION PCs. For instance, on our FX-8150 8-core desktop machines, we found performance increases of as much as 605 percent - an impressive speed improvement over the already fast experience we saw with a single core enabled. For photographers working with hundreds of images at a time, this is a huge time savings," says John Taylor, Director of Client Product and Software Marketing for AMD.
RAW power
Make the most of the extra detail and data in your RAW images with ultra-fast RAW processing and incredibly color-accurate images.
Flexible photo management
Create a digital photography workflow that works for you with robust photo management, flexible organization options and powerful search tools.
Non-destructive adjustments
Correct and enhance photos with a wide range of non-destructive editing tools - while ensuring your originals are always protected.
High-speed output
Quickly generate output for albums, web sites or client review using Batch Output options and a variety of standard and customizable template layouts.
Customizable Asset Management
Unlike other workflow tools, AfterShot Pro does not force you to import your images into a catalog just to work with them. You are free to access your photos in existing folders, on a network or on a memory card. If you wish, you can create AfterShot Pro catalogs, then take advantage of powerful digital asset management tools to organize your collection as it grows.
Robust Search Tools
Finding the right photo in a collection of hundreds or thousands is fast with the Metadata tools in AfterShot Pro. Add your own searchable keywords, ratings, tags and labels. Or search by camera-written data like date, camera type, settings, aperture and more.
Quick review
Easily compare, filter and select your best photos from any number of similar shots.
Advanced, Non-Destructive Editing - Powerful Adjustments
Whether youre shooting in RAW or JPEG, you can alter your photos using a wide variety of adjustment tools, including Crop, Straighten, Highlight Recovery, Noise Removal, Color and more.
Multi-versioning editing
Easily make adjustments to multiple versions of your master photo for virtually unlimited ways to experiment with correction options and customizable presets, including Black & White, Cross Processing and more.
With the non-destructive adjustment tools in AfterShot Pro, you can correct and enhance photos without ever altering the originals. Apply intelligent or automatic adjustments, including Exposure Control, Color Corrections, White Balance, Noise Reduction, Curves and Levels, Lens Correction and many more.
Selective Editing
Apply adjustments exactly where you want them with unique Layers and Regions capabilities that isolate precise areas of your photo for adjustment.
Heal and Clone tools
Remove distracting elements from photos with Heal and Clone tools. Use Heal for small elements like dust or blemishes. Choose Clone for larger distractions that need to be covered by sampling another area of your photo.
Perfectly Clear
Quickly optimize your images with Perfectly Clear, award-winning technology from Athentech Technologies Inc. Perfectly Clear automatically adjusts lighting for every pixel in a shot while maintaining true color and zero clipping. It also removes abnormal tint and restores faded photos.
Creative enhancement
Dive into the world of creative photo editing by sending your images to Corel PaintShop Pro X4 or other image editing programs on Windows, Mac OS or Linux. PaintShop Pro offers hundreds of photo-editing features and pro-level effects for advanced image manipulation, photo compositing and more.
Noise Ninja
Reduce noise while preserving detail with Noise Ninja by PictureCode, Inc. Youll get natural-looking results without artifacts with this state-of-the-art technology
High-Speed Output - Create Web Galleries
Quickly create a web gallery to share your images online with friends, colleagues or clients. Choose from various gallery styles to control how your photos are displayed.
Protect your work
Use batches to easily back up and archive your AfterShot Pro catalogs.
Batch output
Process images quickly according to predefined output settings, such as output to JPEG, PDF, create contact sheets or standard print sizes and more. You can also modify Batch settings or create your own custom Batch process that suits your workflow.
Output generation
The Batch Output tools in AfterShot Pro let you create final images quickly. Print in various template layouts, including contact sheets and standard print sizes, or output to PDF. Back up and archive catalogs, and create web galleries to showcase your work.
Asset Management
Whether you are simply reviewing shots or building a searchable library of thousands of images, AfterShot Pro has the tools to support the asset management phase of your workflow. Search photos quickly with powerful Metadata tools that can include your own tagging or information added by your camera.
System Requirements:
Macintosh:
Mac OS X 10.5, 10.6 or 10.7
All Intel Mac models are supported
2 GB RAM
250 MB of free hard drive space
Minimum display resolution: 1024 x 600
CD-ROM drive
Windows:
Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP with the latest service packs installed (32-bit or 64-bit editions)
Intel Pentium 4 or later or AMD Athlon 64 or later
2 GB RAM
250 MB hard drive space
Mouse or tablet
Minimum display resolution: 1024 x 600
CD-ROM drive
Linux:
Fedora Core 10 or Ubuntu 8.04 or later (32-bit or 64-bit distributions)
Intel Pentium 4 or later or AMD Athlon 64 or later
2 GB RAM
250 MB of free hard drive space
Minimum display resolution: 1024 x 600
CD-ROM drive
Dependencies: GLib 2.4, KDE or GNOME recommended
Enable desktop compositing recommended
64-bit distributions require 32-bit compatibility libraries (ia32-libs)
Formats Supported:
RAW file support from most leading camera manufacturers: ARW, CR2, CRW, DCR, DNG, MRW, NEF, NRW, ORF, PEF, RAW, RW2, RWL, SR2
JPEG, TIF
Corel's AfterShot Pro sells for $99.99
For more information, visit:
http://www.corel.com/corel/product/index.jsp?pid=prod4670071
Intel Macs: The First 6 Years
In the latest Low End Mac roundtable, Low End Mac Staff mark the sixth anniversary of Apple's switch to Intel processors. LEM publisher Dan Knight says:
Apple shocked a lot of Mac users in June 2005. After years of extolling the virtues of PowerPC processor architecture over Intel's x86 architecture, Steve Jobs dropped a bombshell at the Worldwide Developer Conference: Apple would make a transition from PowerPC architecture to Intel x86 within a year. Apple had been making x86 versions of Mac OS X all along, and the company would make Pentium-based development systems available so developers could compile their existing software for the new Mac hardware platform - and begin to write new code to take advantage of the new architecture......
Going Intel was at least as shocking. Just as Apple and Microsoft were enemies in the world of operating systems, Intel and Apple were in opposing processor camps. Apple was going to abandon longtime partners IBM and Freescale to embrace Intel, which had always been viewed as the enemy. Steve Jobs certainly did think outside the box on this one, and while we worried that Macs would become nothing more than PCs and that our existing software would be left behind, he had it all figured out. Macs would still be unique hardware, and Intel Macs would include Rosetta, a program that let them run PowerPC software while the Mac world moved to Intel.
We thought we had a year to get used to the whole idea, but at the January 2006 Macworld Expo, Jobs unveiled the first two Intel-based Macs - five months ahead of what we expected. That's the historical development we're looking at today, Apple's hardware transition from PowerPC to Intel - and how it has changed the platform.....
I don't think we can underestimate the importance of being able to run Windows natively on Mac hardware since the 2006 transition. Macs have had PC cards and emulators since the late 1980s, but they were all poor solutions for those who needed access to PC software on their Macs. Thanks to Intel x86 processors, Mac owners can now boot and run Windows on Macs - and often better than on name brand PC hardware. Add to that virtualization, which allows running Windows alongside Mac OS X, and Windows users risk almost nothing by giving Macs a try. At worst, they have an expensive Windows PC. At best, they slowly discover the power, flexibility, ease of use, and still virus-free world of Macintosh computing - perhaps even giving up on Windows over time.
For all the theoretical and even real world advantages Motorola 680x0 chips had over Intel CPUs of their era and PowerPC had over x86 in their era, the practical advantage of having Intel inside Macs catapulted them from a minority platform ignored by PC power users to become one of the leading PC brands across the board. Thank goodness Steve Jobs anticipated that PowerPC might one day run out of steam and made the bold decision to switch Mac processor architecure for a second time.
For the full commentary, visit:
http://bit.ly/z0M4PV
Microsoft Charts Windows Future
Won't it be ironic if what is almost certainly to be Microsoft's best ever operating system arrives just as the company's dominance of the PC OS world starts to seriously lose traction?
The Guardian's Juliette Garside says Windows 8, Microsoft's forthcoming's new operating system, is stylish, award-winning, multi-platform and critical to the company's future
Garside notes that among the many criticisms lobbed at Microsoft by Apple's late founder Steve Jobs, one of the best remembered was about design: "They have absolutely no taste. And I don't mean that in a small way, I mean that in a big way, in the sense that they don't think of original ideas, and they don't bring much culture into their products."
Consequently she observes that the latest version of Microsoft's operating system for smartphones is a revolutionary product for its parent company because it is considered to have both taste and culture"
"Windows Phone uses the company's Metro interface, whose graphics are so cutting-edge they can make the iPhone seem out of date....
"Windows 8, the latest version of Microsoft's world-dominating PC software, will be released later this year and has been given a Metro makeover. The worry is that Microsoft has discovered the power of good taste a little too late."
For the full report, visit here:
http://bit.ly/zPvJrf
Ballmer Touts Windows 8, Metro User Interface, Xbox in CES Farewell Appearance
The International Business Times's David Zielenziger reports that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said the world's biggest software company will thrive in the exploding world of laptops, tablets and new applications in his farewell appearance at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where his usual rough-shod manner was smoothed in an 80-minute session moderated by "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest.
Zielenziger notes that promising the new Windows 8 OS may ship as early as late February, Ballmer devoted much of his CES keynote - more an extended commercial for Microsoft products than an address on the merits of technology - largely conceding that Apple has won the war for consumer hearts and minds.
For the full report, visit here:
http://bit.ly/zW8EBR
USB 3: Time for Apple to Make the Right Choice
LOw End Mac's Dan Knight says:
Apple usually makes the right choices, but it's sometimes late coming to the party already underway on the Windows side of things....
The Windows world led the way again with USB 3.0, which has a bandwidth of 5 Mbps - over 10x that of USB 2.0 - and supports data transfer in both directions simultaneously. To date, Apple has completely ignored USB 3, although there are a few third-party cards and drives for it. (For the record, USB 1.1 and 2.0 devices work just fine with USB 3 ports, and USB 3 devices work with USB 2.0 ports, albeit not at full USB 3 speed. FireWire 800, on the other hand, used a completely different connector than FireWire 400.)
Always willing to go its own way (or think different), Apple teamed up with Intel to create Thunderbolt, a new port twice as fast as USB 3.0 that is both more intelligent and more flexible....
That's all fine and dandy, but at this point there is no Thunderbolt for Windows, and there are a lot of PCs with USB 3. And a lot of those PC users also have iPhones, iPads, and iPods, which only support USB 2.0 speed. Imagine if they could sync ten times faster! That's exactly what USB 3 would allow, along with more power to charge the batteries of these iDevices.
For the full commentary, visit:
http://bit.ly/w8zrgZ
Mac OS X Lion Bible
Research and Markets ( http://bit.ly/yLIear ) has announced the addition of John Wiley and Sons Ltd's new book "Mac OS X Lion Bible" to their offering.
The latest Mac operating system takes full advantage of the latest multi-touch trackpads, the new App Store for the desktop, and a host of upgrades that incorporate some of the best elements of the iPad experience. This book covers every new feature as well as all the basic Mac information for every level of expertise. Beginners will learn all about Mac OS X Lion and how to use it, while more advanced users can delve into tips, tricks, and higher-end professional information.
The book:
- Looks at Mac OS X Lion, the latest version of the Mac operating system, and its features that bring Mac power together with iPad convenience
- Offers comprehensive coverage of all the new features in depth, including multi-touch trackpad gestures, the App Store for Mac, Mission Control, and more
- Includes basic coverage to give beginners a thorough understanding of the Mac OS, plus advanced information for those who want professional tips, tricks, guidance, and much more
- Written by a recognized Apple expert and frequent contributor to Macworld
Mac OS X Lion Bible gives beginners a sound foundation in the new Mac operating system and provides experienced users with the information to take their skills to the next level.
Author Galen Gruman is principal at The Zango Group, an editorial and thought leadership consulting firm. He is also Executive Editor at InfoWorld and author of more than two dozen books on Mac OS X, iPad, and desktop publishing. He has been editor of Macworld, M-Business, and Upside.
For more information visitz;
http://bit.ly/yLIear
For Charles W. Moore's Book Mystique Review of The Mac OS X Lion Bible, visit:
http://bit.ly/y0MsUr
Mac OS X Lion Portable Genius. Shortcuts, Tips, and Tools for Making the Most of the New Mac OS X Lion
Research and Markets ( http://bit.ly/zEyt6p ) has announced the addition of John Wiley and Sons Ltd's new book "Mac OS X Lion Portable Genius" to their offering.
Packed with the latest and greatest tips, tricks, and techniques for getting the most out of all that Lion has to offer, this handy guide is like having an Apple genius at your fingertips. Inside you'll find savvy advice on everything from simple tasks like getting started to intermediate-level information that covers how to use the coolest features of the new Mac operating system.
Written in an authoritative and no-nonsense, yet approachable, tone, this book can go where you go so you can conveniently find invaluable insight and helpful tips, all aimed at making your Max OS X Lion experience as enjoyable as possible.
The book:
- Serves as an ideal guide for anyone eager to get started enjoying the new Mac OS X Lion to the max
- Shares shortcuts, tips, and tricks about Mac OS X Lion so that you can accomplish whatever task necessary
- Features a straightforward, no-nonsense writing style that skips the fluff and pares down to only the essentials
- Explains how to customize your computer and workspace, troubleshoot and maintain your Mac, listen to music and podcasts, manipulate images, copy music to an iPod, add a printer, and sync to other devices
With this book by your side, you're well on your way to enjoying the new Mac OS X Lion to its fullest!
Author Dwight Spivey is a software and support engineer at Konica Minolta, where he specializes in working with Mac operating systems, applications, and hardware. He teaches classes on Mac usage and has written several books about Apple software.
For more information, including table of contents, visit
http://bit.ly/zEyt6p
Boost the MacBook's Ability to Connect, Share, and Communicate with iLuv's New Multi-Functional, Premium Mac Adapters and Cables
iLuv Creative Technology, maker of a comprehensive line of accessories for the mobile lifestyle, has created a line of premium Mac adapters and cables. The entire line won the prestigious iF Product Design award, an international award for outstanding achievement in design, in recognition of their superior design and their capabilities to enhance the versatility of MacBook products.
MacBook users want to take full advantage of the built-in features of their laptops. Many times this means extending their reach, says Peter Choi, Marketing Manager at iLuv. Our Mac adapters and cables do more than provide additional connectivity - they expand the functionality of your MacBook, providing an effective tool for everything from adding the use of a headset and mic, to adding a memory card reader, to simply just adding more USB ports.
The Mac adapters and cable line up is designed to be OS-agnostic, plug-and-play and multi-functional, all with the brushed aluminum look and feel made to compliment the design of the Mac. No extra AC adapters, software or drivers are needed. Each adapter and cable comes compact and portable, and is manufactured with high performance materials for improved reliability, durability, and protection from signal loss. The new line of Mac adapters and cables are aesthetically distinct, yet retains the premium look and feel of your Apple laptop without compromising any features, appealing to the design-conscious, world-traveling users of todays ever-more-hip mobile gear.
Mac Adapters and Cables
- iCB718: Card Reader with USB Hub - Adapter with two additional USB 2.0 ports and card reader with CF (all series), MS/MS Duo/MS Pro Duo, M2, MMC, SD/SDHC/SDXC, microSD/TF, xD slots
- iCB758: USB Audio Adapter - Converts USB to 3.5mm audio and microphone signals. Use PC-style headsets with separate headphone and mic plugs to converse or play games
- iCB708: USB Ethernet Adapter with USB Hub - Provides 100Mbps Ethernet port and two additional USB 2.0 ports for more connection options
- iCB709: 4 Port USB Hub - Adapter provides 4 additional USB 2.0 ports
- iCB701: MiniDisplay Port to VGA Adapter - Connect any Mac computer with MiniDisplay Port output to a VGA monitor; Works with all MiniDisplay Port inputs including Thunderbolt Cable
- iCB702: MiniDisplay Port to DVI Adapter - Connect any Mac computer with MiniDisplay Port output to a DVI monitor; Works with all MiniDisplay Port inputs including Thunderbolt Cable
- iCB703: MiniDisplay Port to HDMI Adapter - Connect to monitors or HDTVs that have HDMI ports at full 1080p resolution; Works with all MiniDisplay Port inputs including Thunderbolt Cable
- iCB705: MiniDisplay Port Cable- Connect Apple monitors with MiniDisplay Port input to Mac with Mini DisplayPort output; Works with all Mini DisplayPort inputs including Thunderbolt Cable
- iCB707: USB File Transfer Cable - Quickly transfer files between any two computers; no extra software or drivers needed
- iCB716: High-Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet - Enjoy true 3D gaming and home theater in full HD 1080p resolution; HDMI Ethernet Channel adds Internet connection
Prices for the iLuv Mac adapters and cable solutions range from $24.99 to $49.99 and will be globally available at select retailers in May.
Follow on Twitter @iLuv_World, or friend on Facebook at iLuv Creative Technology.
For more information, visit:
http://www.i-Luv.com
Samsung Releases Next Generation Series 9 Laptop Featuring an Ultraslim, Aluminum Single Shell Body
Samsung Electronics America Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, has announced the second generation Samsung Series 9 notebook at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Following the former models premiere at the CES 2011, the new Series 9 represents Samsungs best-in-class innovation and craftsmanship in the premium notebook segment.
"When designing the new Series 9, we focused on improving key elements that our customers loved in the original award winning Series 9, including the sophisticated, lightweight design," says Todd Bouman, vice president of product marketing at Samsung Enterprise Business Division. "Our engineers worked very hard to develop the amazingly thin form factor and one of the most compact chassis in the world, which allowed us to house a 15-inch display in a 14-inch chassis. We also made changes to the new model based on customer feedback, such as the inclusion of a 1600x900 high resolution screen, to truly make this a top-of-the line, irresistible laptop that represents the ultimate in Samsung precision engineering and premium design."
Weighing as little as 2.5 pounds and measuring just a half inch thick, the second generation Samsung Series 9 was crafted by Samsung's team with over 33,000 hours in research, design and development. The end result is a laptop that is 37 percent thinner and 0.4 pounds lighter than the original Series 9, as well as more visually striking. The build is nearly seamless, using an aluminum single shell body and featuring a more pronounced Series 9 hallmark polished edge. Key components such as the LCD panel, keyboard, motherboard, cables, fans and battery have been customized with precision to fit into the Series 9s extra flat single shell body. Additionally, the Series 9 has been sand-blasted for fingerprint resistance, keeping the Mineral Ash Black colored body and natural matte aluminum sides pristine at all times.
The second generation Series 9 display is astonishingly thin thanks to Samsungs engineers, who carefully thinned the layers of the LCD screen without sacrificing quality. Featuring 1600x900 resolution and Samsungs SuperBright Plus technology (400 nit), the 13.3-inch or 15-inch screen is ideal for viewing everything from photos and movies to work documents. The display is housed in one of the thinnest and most compact chassis ever, enabling Samsung to fit a 15-inch screen in a 14-inch chassis, reducing the products overall size. The wide viewing angle and matte nature of the display makes for easy use both inside and out, while the backlit keyboard lets you remain productive even in low lighting.
A Larger Screen Size Option
For the first time, the new Samsung Series 9 will offer the worlds thinnest and most compact 15-inch premium notebook. The Series 9 15-inch features a vivid SuperBright Plus display that fits into a compact 14-inch chassis. With a stunningly slim profile measuring just 0.58 inches and weighing just 3.5 lbs, makes this 15-inch Series 9 almost 50 percent more compact than any existing 15-inch thin & light notebooks.
Performance and Signature Samsung Technology
For powerful performance on-the-go, the second generation Samsung Series 9 will include a 128 GB SSD and Intel Core i5-2467M processor at launch. Accessible connectivity was also highlights major improvements, moving everything to the corners without any impedance; users can easily access video, audio and data connectivity including USB 3.0 and a multi-card reader.
Thanks to Samsungs Fast Solutions technology, the new Series 9 boots in as little as 9.8 seconds and wakes up in 1.4 seconds and offers web browsing speeds that are up to twice as fast.
For road warriors, Samsungs Easy Settings make it effortless to connect the Series 9 to wireless networks, projectors and more by providing easy access to commonly used PC settings, resulting in stress-free business travel and presentations. With Samsung Easy Migration, users can seamlessly transfer existing files to the new laptop by connecting their old PC to the new one and simply launching and starting Easy Migration.
For optimum mobility, the Series 9 offers up to ten hours of real-time battery life for the 15-inch and up to seven hours on the 13.3-inch, keeping users connected to both their professional and personal lives all day. Additionally, the inclusion of Samsung Battery Life Plus technology means that the battery will retain 80 percent of its original capacity for up to 1,500 charges giving users a battery that can last up to five times longer than other notebooks and works whenever and wherever they need it, even after three years of use.
The second generation Samsung Series 9 will be available starting February 27, 2012. It will retail for $1,399.99 for the 13.3-inch and $1,499.99 for the 15-inch. All Samsung mobile PC products are available through Samsung resellers and distribution channels. For a full list of retailers, call 1-800-SAMSUNG or visit:
http://www.samsung.com
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