Creative IT solutions should be designed not just to make you more profitable, but to make you more creative.

Apple release new toys

Posted: September 2nd, 2010 | Author: James Andre | Filed under: Apple | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Apple have released a whole load of exciting product updates at its annual September event.

Apple TV – The Apple TV has had a major make over and now comes in a very small, sexy package. Apple has realised streaming media to your TV is the way to go, you can stream media from your computer or from other sources such as YouTube and Netflix (only to US subscribers though). You can control the Apple TV via your iPhone or iPod Touch with the ability to stream media from your iDevices coming soon.

iPod Touch - Has received the somewhat expected but appreciated features of FaceTime video calling, a camera on the front and another on the back, high resolution retina display and HD Video Recording. To help with gaming it has a three-axis gyroscope for greater movement precision.

iPod Nano - Has been given a redesign, it now features a small and square multi-touch interface. It also has a built-in FM radio.

iPod Shuffle - now resembles an earlier generation shuffle as the clickwheel has made a comeback. It also features a VoiceOver button so your iPod Shuffle can tell you what song or playlist is playing.

iTunes 10 – Now has iTunes Ping for following artists and friends, TV Show rentals, AirPlay for playing music wirelessly and improved syncing with Apples iDevices.


Multi-Find/Change for Adobe InDesign

Posted: August 20th, 2010 | Author: James Andre | Filed under: Tips, Tricks and Goodies | Tags: , , , | No Comments »

Multi-Find/Change from Automatication is a scripted plug-in for managing and running Find/Change queries using InDesign or InCopy.

Available for CS4 and CS5 Multi-Find/Change organises multiple Find/Change queries into saved sets so they can be easily run when needed with a click of a button. Sets can be easily shared with other Multi-Find/Change users.

The Find/Change command is a powerful tool for cleaning up and formatting tech within your InDesign Document. Useful for removing or replacing double spaces, double tabs, changing multiple returns to a single return and correctly formatting text within your document.

Multi-Find/Change saves you from the laborious task of manually correcting and formatting your document by having multiple scripts do it for you quickly and efficiently.


More features for Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac

Posted: August 19th, 2010 | Author: James Andre | Filed under: Microsoft | Tags: , , | No Comments »

Microsoft demonstrate some new features of Office 2011 for Mac. Compatibility with Office for Windows, visualisation of data within Excel and basic photo editing within the Office suite feature in this video. Background removal and colour correction in Office… interesting.

Warning: This video may contain a moustache.


Auckland InDesign User Group – Adobe Creative Suite to give away

Posted: August 11th, 2010 | Author: James Andre | Filed under: Adobe, News | Tags: , , , , | No Comments »

The next meeting of the Auckland InDesign User Group is scheduled for Tuesday August 24th.

We have an extra special guest this meeting! We also have a copy of Adobe Creative Suite to give away — so come along with your best shortcut, tip, or trick to go into the draw.

If there is something you would like us to present, or question/s answered, please email us prior to the meeting.

==========================
Date, time, and location
==========================
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Media Design School
Level 10
242 Queen Street
Auckland, Central 1010

*Sign in on level 10 then proceed to 12.

=========================
Agenda
=========================
6:00 – Doors open to mix and mingle
6:30 – Introduction
6:40 – Automatication’s Multi Find/Change for CS4 and CS5
7:10 – Using Object Styles in CS4 and CS5 with Marcus
7:40 – Something new, very cool and awesome in InDesign CS5 with Heather
8:10 – Shortcuts, Tips and Tricks —  best one gets the prize
8:30 – Mix and mingle plus draw for prize
9:00 – Doors Close

==========================
Please register to attend
==========================

Don’t forget to Register.


A preview of Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac

Posted: July 29th, 2010 | Author: James Andre | Filed under: Microsoft | Tags: , , | No Comments »

Here is a quick preview of the interface of the next version of Office for the Mac.


Apple introduce new goodies

Posted: July 28th, 2010 | Author: James Andre | Filed under: Apple, News | Tags: , , , , | No Comments »

Apple has given its Mac Pro line a significant refresh today. Processors have been upgraded, Intel’s “Westmere” is available in two 2.4GHz Quad-Core, or two 2.66GHz 6-Core configurations. The video card in the Mac Pro now comes with 1GB of GDDR5 memory with 2 Mini DisplayPort outputs and one dual-link DVI output.

Check out the Mac Pro here

The new video card will allow you to use two of Apple’s new 27″ LED Cinema Displays on your Mac Pro. The new Cinema Display is very similar to the existing 24″ LED Cinema Display. It does have upgraded speakers and a longer video cable though. It is expected that the 27″ display with replace existing Apple’s 24″ and much older 30″ displays.

Check out the 27″ LED Cinema Display here

The iMac has also been given a refresh, Intel’s dual-core i3 and i5 processors are put to good use with quad-core i5 or i7 available on the higher end iMac. The high end iMac also gets the option of a solid state drive as either a primary or secondary drive.

Check out the updated iMac here

Apple also introduced the Magic TrackPad, a wireless trackpad that resembles a small Wacom but allows you to use multitouch gestures like you can on Apple’s mobile devices. You can pinch, scroll, swipe and rotate on the Magic TrackPad in the same way you can with your Apple laptop. The Magic TrackPad is being marketed as a companion to the mouse, it looks like it will be a while before the mouse gets relegated to history.

Check out the Magic TrackPad here


Photoshop CS5 – Content Aware Fill

Posted: July 23rd, 2010 | Author: James Andre | Filed under: Adobe | Tags: , , , , | No Comments »

Mike McHugh gets excited and demonstrates content aware fill in Photoshop CS5.


Digital Arena get their balls out

Posted: July 21st, 2010 | Author: James Andre | Filed under: News | Tags: , | 1 Comment »

Today Digital Arena got together today to take on Ten Pin Bowling at Takapuna. There were plenty of strikes, spares and gutter balls and with all of the excitement no one remembers who the winner was.


Exporting PDF files from InDesign CS5

Posted: July 1st, 2010 | Author: James Andre | Filed under: Adobe, Tips, Tricks and Goodies | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Mike McHugh provides an overview of the Export to PDF option from InDesign CS5


Mac Mini gets an Aluminum Unibody make-over

Posted: June 15th, 2010 | Author: James Andre | Filed under: Apple | Tags: , , , | No Comments »

Apple has given the Mac Mini a make-over. The new Mac Mini features an Aluminium Unibody design with much improved performance.

It looks like the Mac Mini will make an even better media centre than before as it now includes HDMI output to connect to your HDTV, a SD card slot to view and transfer photos from your digital camera, 4 USB ports and 1 Firewire 800 port for connecting external drives. It also includes a Mini DisplayPort, ethernet, wireless and bluetooth so you can use it as a computer should you want to.

For more information click here.