Selected by christinawarren

• 
  The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

• SD card reader for iPhone might help bridge the photo gap

  Aron Trimble

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:35 am

  Filed under: Macworld, Accessories, Hardware, iPhone It's cool that Apple is getting all cozy with SD cards for the iPad; it helps to sell the idea that the iPad is closer to a MacBook than an iPhone. As useful as an SD card reader is for the iPad, there is one minor hiccup: it probably won't work with the iPhone. ZoomMediaPlus aims to fill that gap with the ZoomIt SD card reader/application for the iPhone. The ZoomIt is a dongle that plugs in to the iPhone's dock connector and (with the use of Zoom's app) allows you to view and share content stored on an SD card. According to ZoomMediaPlus,…

• Answers for the 'rents about the iPad

  Erica Sadun

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am

  Filed under: AppleSo my folks were here this weekend, and as you'd expect my Dad is really curious about the upcoming iPad, or as he likes to put it "his new 3G iPad". I convinced him that he should wait for April so he could get the new postpaid-data-ready iPad, which he could use anywhere, not just with WiFi hotspots. As we were talking, I began to realize that he didn't really have a clear idea of exactly what this gadget is -- and lots of you probably have parents in similar situations. So I put together this Q&A using actual questions my Dad asked throughout the course of the…

• SDK devsugar: Re-signing applications

  Erica Sadun

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am

  Filed under: AppleTUAW's devsugar series helps introduce developers to tools and tricks that they might not yet be familiar with. Today's tip centers on signing already-compiled and already-signed applications with a new custom signature. A while back, I posted about a way to sign already-compiled applications with your personal credentials in order to better allow developer-to-developer distribution. By re-signing an application, it allows you to install it on any of the devices you have registered to your account at Apple without having to go through the fuss and bother of normal ad-hoc…

• Apple ships latest version of Aperture for photo professionals

  Mel Martin

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am

  Filed under: Multimedia, Software, Software UpdateIt certainly caused a lot of excitement when the Apple web store went down this morning. No, it wasn't an updated MacBook Pro line but Aperture 3, Apple's high-end photo editing and image management software. The latest version is U.S. $199.00, and upgrades are available for any existing Aperture users for $99.00. Apple says Aperture 3 has "more than 200 new features", including Faces and Places, brought over from iPhoto '09. There is an enhanced tool called Brushes, which allows photographers to paint adjustments and filters directly onto…

• The Apple Store is back online

  Mike Schramm

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:24 am

  Filed under: Apple Yes, as expected, the Apple Store is down for the morning, presumably to update us with brand new MacBook Pros and whatever else Apple has cooked up for a release. We'll keep an eye on the website along with you readers, and when we see what's been updated, we'll let you know. Do be patient -- as many of us are traveling to Macworld today, we might actually be on the roads and/or in the air when it happens, but we'll update as soon as we can. Stay tuned. Update: It's back up, and it appears the new hotness is... Aperture 3. Thanks to all who sent this in!TUAWThe Apple Store…

• 
  Download Squad

• Liquid Scale removes unwanted picture parts to resize images on your iPhone

  Jason Clarke

  8 Feb 2010 | 1:11 pm

  Filed under: Photo, Commercial, Imaging Tips, iPhone Liquid Scale is an iPhone / iPod Touch app that allows you to resize images by removing unimportant elements in the photo, leaving the important ones untouched. It's a technique called seam carving that we've previously mentioned, but what's interesting here is that it's now available to be used on the iPhone. For those that are unfamiliar with it, the seam carving technique analyzes images to determine the most and least important elements, and when you use it to decrease the size of an image it removes the least important parts first, in…

• Logitech's free Touch Mouse app turns your iPhone or iPod touch into a keyboard and trackpad for your computer

  Jason Clarke

  6 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am

  Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Macintosh, Freeware, iPhoneTouch Mouse [iTunes link] is a free iPhone / iPod Touch application from Logitech that turns your iDevice into a wireless keyboard and trackpad for your Windows or Macintosh computer. It's not a remote control application, so you don't get a view of the computer's screen; you simply get an alternative way to control the mouse pointer and keyboard. Touch Mouse works by relying on a small server software component that you install on your desktop computer that listens for connections from the iPhone app. This is very useful when you…

• Apple issues warning about location-based ads in iPhone apps

  Jay Hathaway

  5 Feb 2010 | 8:30 am

  Filed under: Business, Developer, Apple, iPhoneSometimes, Apple's decisions about content in the App Store can be petty and anti-competitive -- like asking developers to remove any mention of Android. But sometimes, they make a call that seems to put users first. This time, it's a request that developers use your location to provide useful information, rather than just serving you location-based ads. Here's the text of the warning to developers, posted in Apple's developer forum: If you build your application with features based on a user's location, make sure these features provide…

• Skype says 3G iPhone app is coming

  Brad Linder

  3 Feb 2010 | 2:29 pm

  Filed under: VoIP, iPhoneLast week Apple changed began allowing third party applications to make VoIP calls over 3G. What that means is that you can make a telephone call over the internet using a wireless broadband connection. The upshot is that you could theoretically use an application like Skype to make free or cheap phone calls while eating up your data minutes instead of your voice minutes. You can also make international calls over a VoIP application for much less money than your cellphone company would typically charge. Right now there's only one problem: Skype's iPhone application…

• How to turn your iPhone or iPod Touch into an "iPad"

  Jason Clarke

  1 Feb 2010 | 1:53 pm

  Filed under: Mods, iPhoneiPad fever seems to have gripped the iNation. If looking at your diminutive iPhone or iPod Touch is getting you down, and you wish you could be stroking a beautiful new iPad, maybe the mod described at Redmond Pie will tide you over. Modifying the iPhone operating system isn't possible unless you jailbreak your device, but once you do a huge number of possible modifications are available. For this particular makeover Redmond Pie suggest installing the following apps from both Cydia (the jailbroken app installer) and Apple's App Store: Winterboard app via Cydia "Simple…

• 
  Christina Warren

• film_girl: @valuerockr HA!

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:34 pm

  film_girl: @valuerockr HA!

• film_girl: Twitter is teh awesome! Thanks!!

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:15 pm

  film_girl: Twitter is teh awesome! Thanks!!

• film_girl: OH! @kylesteed has a point! Corrected: who do I have to blow to get a @dribbble invite?

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:07 pm

  film_girl: OH! @kylesteed has a point! Corrected: who do I have to blow to get a @dribbble invite?

• film_girl: OK, I'm just going to be crass and say it: Who do I have to blow to get a @dribble invite?

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:48 am

  film_girl: OK, I'm just going to be crass and say it: Who do I have to blow to get a @dribble invite?

• film_girl: @chrisDAPS no joke!

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:18 am

  film_girl: @chrisDAPS no joke!

• 
  Variety.com

• Warner Music Group posts net loss

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:15 am

  Music News: Company dips $17 million for fiscal quarter -- Warner Music Group posted a net loss of $17 million (down 11 cents per share) for the fiscal quarter ending Dec. 31, the company announced Tuesday.

• James Cameron's 'Avatar' challenge

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am

  Eye on the Oscars: The Director: Helmer pushes technology for his vision -- Calling James Cameron ambitious is an understatement. Try maniacally motivated to boldly go where no filmmaker has gone before.

• Lee Daniels ready for 'suits'

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am

  Eye on the Oscars: The Director: 'Precious' director found courage to restart filming -- You might think a blistering drama about an obese, sexually abused HIV-positive black teenager would have trouble finding financial backers. But you'd be wrong.

• Ivan Reitman grows 'Up'

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am

  Eye on the Oscars: The Director: Director took seven years to nurture film -- "Up in the Air" is only Jason Reitman's third feature, but the film's deft handling of complex themes and conflicting emotions belies his age.

• Quentin Tarantino assembles 'Basterds'

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am

  Eye on the Oscars: The Director: Director went to great lengths to find perfect cast -- For Quentin Tarantino, getting his Nazi-bashing epic "Inglourious Basterds" set up and financed wasn't the problem. "The movie was ridiculously easy to get going," he admits sheepishly. The make-or-break challenge was casting.

• 
  Smashing Magazine

• Applying Mathematics To Web Design

  Adit Gupta

  9 Feb 2010 | 4:52 am

    “Mathematics is beautiful.” This may sound absurd to people who wince at numbers and equations. But some of the most beautiful things in nature and our universe exhibit mathematical properties, from the smallest seashell to the biggest whirlpool galaxies. In fact, one of the greatest ancient philosophers, Aristotle, said: “The mathematical sciences particularly exhibit order, symmetry and limitation; and these are the greatest forms of the beautiful.”Because of its beautiful nature, mathematics has been a part of art and architectural design for ages. But it has not been…

• Color Theory for Designer, Part 3: Creating Your Own Color Palettes

  Cameron Chapman

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:58 am

    In the previous two parts of this series on color theory, we talked mostly about the meanings behind colors and color terminology. While this information is important, I’m sure a lot of people were wondering when we were going to get into the nitty-gritty of actually creating some color schemes.Well, that’s where Part 3 comes in. Here we’ll be talking about methods for creating your own color schemes, from scratch. We’ll cover the traditional color scheme patterns (monochrome, analogous, complementary, etc.) as well as how to create custom schemes that…

• SimpleFolio: A Free Clean Portfolio WordPress Theme

  Elja Friedman

  7 Feb 2010 | 8:35 am

    Today we are glad to release a beautiful, simple and clean portfolio WordPress theme — SimpleFolio, designed by Omar E. Corrales and released for Smashing Magazine and its readers. SimpleFolio is a portfolio theme that includes a blog and a very extensive option page that allows you to exclude all your portfolio items from the blog page. It also includes a front page slider.It has 2 different widget areas and threaded comments, and also supports paged comments and has 2 different page templates for advanced usage. The control of images is done from the post page.Download the…

• Beautiful Motion Graphics Created With Programming: Showcase, Tools and Tutorials

  Vailancio Rodrigues

  6 Feb 2010 | 5:50 am

    When you hear the word “creative”, what type of profession comes to mind? Maybe a graphic designer, painter, sculptor, illustrator, or writer? It’s unlikely that you would consider a “programmer” when thinking of creative fields of work. But programmers have the potential to be creative and come up with ideas or concepts that will impact others in positive ways.We often turn to programmers to solve mathematical-related problems, but the concept of mathematics in programming is what powers programmers to innovate. When you think of mathematics you…

• 50 Free UI and Web Design Wireframing Kits, Resources and Source Files

  Paul Andrew

  5 Feb 2010 | 6:04 am

    Planning and communication are two key elements in the development of any successful website or application. And that is exactly what the wireframing process offers: a quick and simple method to plan the layout and a cost-effective, time-saving tool to easily communicate your ideas to others. A wireframe typically has the basic elements of a Web page: header, footer, sidebar, maybe even some generated content, which gives you, your clients and colleagues a simple visually oriented layout that illustrates what the structure of the website will be by the end of the project and that…

• 
  The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

• SD card reader for iPhone might help bridge the photo gap

  Aron Trimble

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:35 am

  Filed under: Macworld, Accessories, Hardware, iPhone It's cool that Apple is getting all cozy with SD cards for the iPad; it helps to sell the idea that the iPad is closer to a MacBook than an iPhone. As useful as an SD card reader is for the iPad, there is one minor hiccup: it probably won't work with the iPhone. ZoomMediaPlus aims to fill that gap with the ZoomIt SD card reader/application for the iPhone. The ZoomIt is a dongle that plugs in to the iPhone's dock connector and (with the use of Zoom's app) allows you to view and share content stored on an SD card. According to ZoomMediaPlus,…

• Navigon adds some unique features to GPS app

  Mel Martin

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:30 am

  Filed under: Software, Odds and ends, iPhone, iPod touchNavigon has been very aggressive about keeping its highly rated MobileNavigator app [iTunes link] up to date. Now, new features are putting it even further ahead of a lot of the competition. The update adds three innovative features: in-app connection to Facebook and Twitter, Panorama View 3D with 3D terrain views powered from NASA data, and personalized route delivery via NAVIGON MyRoutes, an intelligent direction provider. For Facebook and Twitter connectivity, a simple icon tap posts the user's current position, destination, and ETA…

• Game developers on iPhone outnumber DS and PSP two-to-one

  Mike Schramm

  8 Feb 2010 | 4:00 pm

  Filed under: Gaming, Multimedia, Apple, iPhone, App Store, SDK, iPod touchGame Developer Research has published its 2009/10 survey of video game developers, and the results are pretty impressive for the still relatively fledgling iPhone platform: The number of developers who are working on mobile games increased by 12 percent, and there are actually twice as many developers working on iPhone games as are working on the Nintendo DS and Sony's PSP handheld consoles. That's a pretty amazing number, though it's not quite a surprise when you consider it. First of all, Nintendo DS and PSP…

• Plants vs. Zombies coming to iPhone on February 15th

  Mike Schramm

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:00 pm

  Filed under: Gaming, Software, Developer, iPhone, App Store Yes, PopCap is at it again -- this time, their crazy addictive (just like all of their games) take on the tower defense genre, Plants vs. Zombies, is headed off to the iPhone. They just tweeted confirmation a little while ago, and released this trailer showing all of the flower vs. undead action that we enjoyed so much in the other versions of the game, squeezed into the smaller screen of the iPhone. They don't mention a price point, but I'm guessing it'll come out at $4.99, since that's what most of their releases have debuted at…

• Loopt teams with Mobile Spinach for check-in discounts, Booyah talks about MyTown

  Mike Schramm

  8 Feb 2010 | 2:00 pm

  Filed under: Software, iPhone, App StoreIf the iPhone has a leading app genre, aside from gaming, I'd say the current surge of "check-in" apps is probably it. Sure, back when the App Store first opened up, Twitter apps were everywhere (and they're still being made daily, it seems), but in terms of a genre that can only exist on a location-aware device like the iPhone, "check-in" apps like Foursquare, Gowalla, and so on, are making their mark right now. Here's news on two such apps continuing to grow on the App Store skyline. First up, Loopt [iTunes link] has announced a partnership with a…

• 
  Jeffrey Zeldman Presents The Daily Report

• A List Apart 300

  Jeffrey Zeldman

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:29 am

  Issue 300 of A List Apart for people who make websites solves password-related usability problems with a dash of JavaScript, and employs content strategy to help your site do the right thing at the right time: The Problem with Passwords by LYLE MULLICAN Abandoning password masking as Jakob Nielsen suggests could present serious problems, undermining a user’s trust by failing to meet a basic expectation. But with design patterns gleaned from offline applications, plus a dash of JavaScript, we can provide feedback and reduce password errors without compromising the basic user experience or…

• Free advice: show up early

  Jeffrey Zeldman

  5 Feb 2010 | 7:31 am

  Delay happens. The train is late, the flight is cancelled, the traffic is murder. Travel is the leading edge of entropy, and entropy is the universe’s final comment on the meaning of it all. If the universe is expanding and there are snow delays on Route 1, it’s not your fault that you’re 15 minutes late to the meeting, right? Don’t be so quick to excuse yourself. If 80% of success is just showing up, 90% is showing up early. It’s hard for the client to sympathize with your lateness when she, who had farther to travel, managed to make the meeting on time. No…

• Ahem

  Jeffrey Zeldman

  3 Feb 2010 | 3:39 am

  The first part of my post of 1 February was not an attack on Flash. It described a way of working with Flash that also supports users who don’t have access to Flash. I’ve followed and advocated that approach for 10 years. It has nothing to do with Apple’s recent decisions and everything to do with making content available to people and search engines. It’s how our agency and others use Flash; we’ve published articles on the subject in our magazine, notably Semantic Flash: Slippery When Wet by Daniel Mall. We do the same thing with JavaScript—make sure the site…

• Free advice: buy a dongle

  Jeffrey Zeldman

  2 Feb 2010 | 7:20 am

  There is still no Wi-Fi on the northeast corridor Amtrak trains that carry hundreds of thousands of business travelers each day. So quit whining and get a USB 3G modem. It’s free with monthly service, which is tax-deductible. For the $60/month I pay Verizon, I can connect my laptop to the internet from any train, bus, boat, lounge, lobby, conference room, coffee shop, or just about any other environment to which modern business takes me.

• Laying Pipe

  Jeffrey Zeldman

  2 Feb 2010 | 5:22 am

  Dan Benjamin and yours truly discuss the secret history of blogging, transitioning from freelance to agency, the story behind the web standards movement, the launch of A Book Apart and its first title, HTML5 For Web Designers by Jeremy Keith, the trajectory of content management systems, managing the growth of a design business, and more in the inaugural episode of the Pipeline.

• 
  Guy Kawasaki

• GuyKawasaki: Abstinence education done right http://om.ly/fEkp

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:32 pm

  GuyKawasaki: Abstinence education done right http://om.ly/fEkp

• GuyKawasaki: Why personalization of Google results creates huge advertising opportunity http://om.ly/fEkm

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:32 pm

  GuyKawasaki: Why personalization of Google results creates huge advertising opportunity http://om.ly/fEkm

• GuyKawasaki: Google Buzz's official demo [video] http://om.ly/fEjj

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:25 pm

  GuyKawasaki: Google Buzz's official demo [video] http://om.ly/fEjj

• GuyKawasaki: Darth Vader’s original wimpy voice [video] http://om.ly/fEjg

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:25 pm

  GuyKawasaki: Darth Vader’s original wimpy voice [video] http://om.ly/fEjg

• GuyKawasaki: Macworld without Apple http://om.ly/fEhx Apple news coverage at http://om.ly/fEhy

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:09 pm

  GuyKawasaki: Macworld without Apple http://om.ly/fEhx Apple news coverage at http://om.ly/fEhy

• 
  Twitterrati

• Will Google Really Kill Twitter?

  Mark Evans

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:15 am

  The blogosphere is abuzz about Google’s plans to integrate a “Twitter-Killer” into GMail – and there are already people such as Robert Scoble boldly suggesting it’s not going to happen. Twitter is the dominant micro-blogging service, having forced Pownce (remember them?) to go away while a score of such as StatusNet and Plurk quietly toil away in the background. Meanwhile, Google’s first stab at the market, Jaiku, was a dismal failure. That said, anyone who dismisses Google’s chances of posing a threat Twitter would be making a mistake. Here’s a…

• TweetVolume: How Loud is the Conversation?

  Mark Evans

  1 Feb 2010 | 6:19 pm

  TweetVolume is a simple but effective service that measures how often keywords or phrases appear on Twitter. To use it, enter one to five keywords or phrases, click “OK GO”, and you’re done. Given the Super Bowl is happening this Sunday in Miami, here’s a search done for New Orleans Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees, Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback Peyton Manning, the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts. If the amount of activity on Twitter is any indication, you have to believe there’s an awful lot of people hoping that Brees and the Saints…

• A Beautiful and Visual Way to Search Twitter

  Mark Evans

  29 Jan 2010 | 7:24 am

  There are lots of Twitter search engines (Twazzup, Scoopler, Topsy, et al) but for something different and beautiful, check out True Colors of Twitter. It’s a visual search engine that shows tweets as different colored-bubbles that move across the screen. To see the contents of a “bubble”, you click on it. True Colors of Twitter may not be the most efficient way to do searches on Twitter but it’s among the visually appealing.

• 75M Twitter Users But Growth Slowing

  Mark Evans

  26 Jan 2010 | 7:06 pm

  First, the good news: there are now 75 million Twitters users. Now, the bad news: only 15 million are “active” users, and overall growth is slowing after peaking last July. These findings come from RJ Metrics, which based its findings after downloading “just under 2 million tweets from about 50,000 users”. Here are the report’s conclusions: * When you look at new account registrations, no one can deny that Twitter is still growing like a rocketship (that’s good). * However, upon closer inspection, the rate of new user signups has dropped meaningfully from its…

• Tickery: Who’s Following Who in Common

  Mark Evans

  25 Jan 2010 | 4:00 am

  Tickery is another interesting tool to discover new people to follow. It works by having you submit two Twitter users, and then displays the people in common who they follow. By rolling over each avatar/photograph that’s display, you can see information about each person being followed, including their Twitter ID #, which I suspect shows when they signed up for Twitter. By signing in using your Twitter username/password information, you can quickly follow any of the people being displayed. Tickery would be a lot more useful if it includes bio information about each person in addition to…

• 
  Roger Ebert

• Dear John / ** (PG-13)

  "Dear John" (PG-13,105 minutes). A Special Forces soldier and a sweet South Carolina rich girl Meet Cute, fall in love, and pledge to meet and marry when his tour ends in a year. But it s not to be. Another one of those bittersweet Nicholas Sparks stories that laboriously endeavor to wring from us a sad smile. I was sadly smiling not at their loss, but of mine. Although Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried are attractive and well-matched as the would-be lovers, and Richard Jenkins makes autism seem kinda sweet (if it's a mild case), this movie is so doomed to end exactly the way it does that we…

• Fish Tank / **** (No MPAA rating)

  "Fish Tank" (Unrated, adults, 123 minutes). The harrowing portrait of a 15-year-old girl on a reckless path toward self-destruction. Her mother, only about 30, is a drunken slut and she seems on the same path. Covers a few days of fraught experiences with sex and anger. Superbly acted by newcomer Katie Jarvis. Winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes 2009. Directed by Andrea Arnold. Four stars.

• From Paris With Love / ** (R)

  "From Paris with Love" (R, 92 minutes). John Travolta as an American Mr. Fix It who takes a cocky attitude to Paris and backs it up in a messy plot heavy on action scenes concocted from CGI and quick cutting. Nothing original, convincing or involving, although Travolta succeeds almost by being in a movie of his own. Directed by Pierre Morel, whose previous film, "Taken," was much better. Two stars.

• The Last Station / *** (R)

  "The Last Station" (R, 110 minutes). On his country estate, in his last year, Leo Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer) rules over a household of intrigues. His wife Sofya (Helen Mirren) is in fierce battle with his disciple Chertkov (Paul Giamatti), who thinks the Count should leave his estate to the Russian people, and not to Sofya and their 13 children. Cherkov hires young Valentin (James McAvoy) to act as Tolstoy's private secretary and a spy, but Valentin is seduced by a nubile Tolstoyian (Kerry Condon) and broadens his views about the great man. Sort of a Merchant-Ivory picture with loud…

• Great Movie: The Hairdresser's Husband (1990)

  The hairdressing shop is their ocean liner, their lives are a cruise around the world. They will sail the Nile, kiss in the shadows of the Great Pyramids, see the sun set on every earthly paradise, and it will always be exactly like this. Perfect. "The Hairdresser's Husband" (1990) tells the story of two romantics besotted with love, living in a French hairdressing salon, she reading magazines on her perch by the widow, he working crosswords on the red leather bench, the sunlight flooding in. The yellows, blues, tropical colors. The exotic music he dances to. Occasionally at some unheard…

• 
  Insanely Great Mac

• zoomIt expands storage, connectivity for iPhone/iPod Touch

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:08 am

  zoomIt is a hardware-app combo that looks quite promising in helping iPhone and iPod Touch users increase the functionality of their devices. The device connects to the iPhone/iPod via the 30-pin dock and houses an SD card slot. Media can be placed on the SD card, and then accessed via the zoomIt app.

• Two suede cases announced for iPad from WaterField

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:45 am

  San Francisco-based WaterField announced Tuesday two new cases for Apple's iPad. The latest entries into the iPad accessory field both feature suede designs.

• GT Racing Motor Academy racing app now available

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:04 am

  Gameloft title puts you in the driver seat for the iPhone OS.

• Apple announces Aperture 3

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:08 am

  Tuesday Apple released version 3 of its Aperture graphic program. The release offers up over 200 new features. Headliners include Faces, Places, and Brushes.

• Powermat Wireless Charging System (Giveaway-Review)

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:43 am

  Powermat system consists of home/office charger and a portable/travel mat. Devices can be attached via receivers a included multifunction cable. I was a skeptical, but the convenience factor won me over. Check out the review for more. Also, check the review for the giveaway which ends February 13th.

• 
  PSDTUTS

• How to Create a Somber Composition in Photoshop

  Constantin Potorac

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:08 am

  This one’s another collaboration with my good friend Toma Alin Gabriel. In this tutorial you will learn how to manipulate stock images and turn them into your puppets to express your desired feelings.Final Image PreviewTake a look at the final result first. Want access to the full PSD files and downloadable copies of every tutorial, including this one? Join PSDTUTS PLUS for just $9/month. You can view the final image preview below or view a larger version here.Tutorial Details Program: Photoshop CS4 Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Completion Time: 7 hoursResourcesFirst of all I would…

• Best of the Web – January 2010

  Emil

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:07 am

  The first month of the new year has wrapped up and there was a ton of great content for all the Photoshop Fans. This month was bursting with tons of freebies that the readers could check out and download, for example this month we are featuring some great free font packs, as well as some great 2010 wallpaper packs. On top of that we have some great high quality tutorials that deal with some very interesting 3D techniques. So lets get into this wrap up of January 2010.Tutorial Wrap Creating a Surreal Desert SceneOur first tutorial of the new year is already an amazing photo manipulation…

• How to Create a Stone Giant Matte Painting – Psd Plus Tutorial

  Alex Beltechi

  4 Feb 2010 | 1:30 pm

  We have another Psd Plus tutorial exclusively available to Plus members today. If you want to take your matte painting skills to the next level, then we have an awesome tutorial for you. Learn more at the jump!This Plus Tutorial is Filled with Creative TipsThis tutorial is a collaboration between myself, Alex Beltechi, and college pal, Andrei Bacter. I’ve requested his help to bring you a bit of what we don’t do a lot on Psdtuts – Matte Painting. This technique combines photo scenery and tablet drawn details. As such, the tutorial is divided in two parts. The first one…

• How To Repair Scratches, Tears, and Spots on an Old Photograph

  Robert C. McLaughlin

  3 Feb 2010 | 7:46 am

  In this tutorial you will learn how to repair cracks, scratches, and spots so this photo of the Swedish Nightingale, Jenny Lind, looks just like new. We will purposely avoid using some of the quick fix tools such as the healing brush so that you can gain an understanding of the basics of photo restoration. Let’s get started!Final Image PreviewTake a look at the image we’ll be creating. Want access to the full PSD files and downloadable copies of every tutorial, including this one? Join Psd Plus for just $9/month. You can view the final image preview below.Tutorial DetailsProgram:…

• A Myriad of Vintage Grunge Patterns From Across the Web

  Callum Chapman

  2 Feb 2010 | 8:25 am

  Patterns can be used in almost any style of graphic and web design. They have many purposes, from being used as backgrounds to being used to touch up vector files that look just a little too clean. For that reason we have rounded-up and compiled a huge collection of over 450 free and premium patterns from various different websites for you to use in your personal and commercial projects.Free PatternsGrungy Green Tileable Photoshop Patterns (10)Grungy Natural Beige Photoshop Patterns (6)Grungy Natural Beige Photoshop Patterns (6)Grungy Hearts and Flowers Patterns (8)Seamless Grungy Burgundy…

• 
  AIGA: Home

• AIGA National Design Center holiday hours

  AIGA

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:27 pm

  AIGA’s offices and gallery will be closed Monday, February 15, in observance of Presidents Day. Normal gallery and business hours will resume on Tuesday, February 16.

• AIGA Design Archives 2.0 now live!

  AIGA

  4 Feb 2010 | 2:01 pm

  The AIGA Design Archives site has just been relaunched with a brand new interface by Second Story Interactive Studios—go take it for a spin!

• Enter the AIGA competitions by March 5

  AIGA

  4 Feb 2010 | 12:10 pm

  If selected, your work would be featured in the newly relaunched AIGA Design Archives and seen by countless future designers, students and clients. Just one month remains before the entry deadline.

• Register early for “Gain”

  AIGA

  4 Feb 2010 | 10:24 am

  “Gain,” AIGA’s biennial design and business conference, will take place in NYC this October. This event tends to sell out quickly—register early to reserve your spot!

• Case Study: AIGA Design Archives

  Michael Neault, Second Story

  4 Feb 2010 | 2:00 am

  Learn how Second Story gave the AIGA Design Archives website a new look, improved navigation and greater functionality.

• 
  Virtualization.com

• Xsigo Teams Up With Hitachi, CTC for I/O Virtualization

  Robin Wauters

  8 Feb 2010 | 2:26 pm

  Xsigo Systems today announced that Xsigo Systems Japan partnered with Itochu Techno-Solutions Corporation (CTC) and Hitachi to jointly offer I/O virtualization solutions to the Japanese market. The companies offer immediate availability of a jointly developed solution that will allow enterprise customers to rapidly implement cloud computing environments. The combined solution includes Hitachi... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• DynamicOps Launches Automated Virtual Desktop Solution

  Robin Wauters

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:59 am

  DynamicOps today announced that it has enhanced its Virtual Resource Manager (VRM) software with NetApp® FlexClone technology, creating a fully-automated virtual desktop solution that significantly reduces desktop provisioning times and associated storage costs. This new version of VRM is combined with a specialized NetApp module that leverages and orchestrates the FlexClone technology of NetApp... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• China VoIP & Digital Telecom Subsidiary Signs Virtualization Agreement with Shandong University of Finance

  Robin Wauters

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:54 am

  Jinan Yinquan Technology , one of the wholly-owned subsidiaries of China VoIP & Digital Telecom, today announced that it has launched its integrated datacenter and desktop virtualization solutions in Shandong University of Finance (the SDUF), a well-known finance university in Shandong Province. Desktop virtualization separates a personal desktop computer from the physical machine through a... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Virtustream Executives Earn VMware VCDX Certification

  Robin Wauters

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:53 am

  Virtustream today announced that two senior executives have earned the coveted VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX) certification. Sean Jennings, vice president, managed services and Matt Theurer, vice president, professional services were two of the first five technology professionals welcomed into the elite group of architects leading virtualization implementations around the world. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• VMware Partner Exchange 2010 Kicks Off: 2,600+ Attendees and 55 Sponsors

  Robin Wauters

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:49 am

  VMware today kicked off VMware Partner Exchange 2010, the company's third annual global partner conference. This year's event comes on the heels of a successful 2009, during which VMware experienced steady growth in the VMware Partner Network and continued investment in programs such as solution competencies, VMware Partner University, and certification training -- helping partners deliver... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• 
  Subtraction.com

• D-Crit Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2010

  desk@subtraction.com

  6 Feb 2010 | 6:43 am

  The School of Visual Arts’ MFA in Design Criticism program, run by my friend Alice Twemlow, is gearing up for its second school year starting this autumn. There’s not another program in the country, to my knowledge, that gives students access to a wealth of critical design knowledge on this level: Create original segments in a radio and podcasting workshop with PRI’s “Studio 360” senior producer Leital Molad and host Kurt Andersen; voyage deep into 20th century design with design historian Russell Flinchum; learn investigative journalism techniques…

• Pulling Over and Asking for Directions

  desk@subtraction.com

  4 Feb 2010 | 6:34 pm

  All told, I think I did a pretty good job of ignoring “Lost” for years, in spite of all the raves and recommendations from friends. Mostly, it was out of self-interest; I couldn’t afford the time investment that another hugely complicated television series would require, especially one that seemed to inspire such obsessive fandom. But now, living with a “Lost” devotee as I do, I find I can no longer willfully ignore the persistent phenomenon that is J.J. Abrams’ labyrinthine television saga. I started watching a handful of episodes here and there last…

• We Love Patterns

  desk@subtraction.com

  3 Feb 2010 | 10:54 am

  Just clicking through this bevvy of gorgeous and incredibly fun pattern designs from the very talented, young, Argentinian illustrator Gastòn Caba (and others) is just plain joyful. I know everyone thinks I’m all about grids and minimalism and monochromatic palettes and being very serious (okay, guilty), but it doesn’t mean I don’t also find this stuff to be totally great, too.

• Notes on iPad

  desk@subtraction.com

  27 Jan 2010 | 6:26 pm

  It’s not as if I haven’t had a point of view on all of this tablet computing device stuff that’s been lighting up the Internets for the past several months, but for professional reasons, I’ve had to keep mum. Suffice it to say, I’m really excited about Apple’s iPad, announced today, and I’m even more excited about what can be done with it. However. I’m pretty sure that I’m in the camp that believes that this is not the salvation that most publishing companies have been looking for. Not that the device falls short in some way, but rather…

• The New York Rocker

  desk@subtraction.com

  26 Jan 2010 | 8:04 pm

  A small but excellent selection of covers from “the definitive music and culture publication in New York City in the early 1980s.” I’d never heard of it before, but then in the Eighties New York was just an idea and not a real place for me yet. These covers evoke that dreamland of my youth though: gritty, plausibly if not authentically punk, confrontational and exclusive (who the hell were Human Switchboard? Oh, that’s who).

• 
  CrackBerry.com blogs

• BlackBerry Accessory Roundup: One Free OtterBox Commuter Case Up for Grabs!

  drm2blv

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:42 am

  This Week's Featured Item: OtterBox Commuter Series Case for the Storm2 Last week we all saw Adam's charging pod he can't live without, and the week before Kevin's extended battery review (big shock he needs one of those huh?) This week's accessory is one that I have grown to love, the Otterbox cases. Otterbox has been around for quite some time now, making cases that date back to the 8800 series devices, if not even longer, but they continue to change and make their product even better. Hit the jump for some more info on OtterBox and this weeks newest accessories. Be sure to leave a comment…

• BlackBerry Security: Compromised Or Slightly Over Blown?

  Bla1ze

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:23 am

  The internet is buzzing lately regarding the recent annoucement of a proof of concept spyware presentation that was delivered at ShmooCon2010 by the folks over at Veracode. The concept video and presentation shows how a BlackBerry device could basically be overtaken by simply installing an application, which allows for all sorts of nasty to happen. Emails forwarded, text messages forwarded even remote listening of conversations from a BlackBerry sitting on a close by table. One thing thing the presentation neglects is the fact these things have been in the BlackBerry OS for quite some time…

• BlackBerry App: ReportAway! for FreshBooks

  Ryan Blundell

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:46 am

  Freshbooks. If you haven’t heard of Freshbooks before, it’s known as “The Leader of Online Invoicing”. It’s an extremely beneficial business tool, especially for those who are looking for any type of outside sales or field service automation. Unfortunately, not everyone is on board with this type of service and some are still using manual invoices, stacks of paper and other handwritten forms that could become a headache for any accounting department. It’s also a valued option for those who wish to keep track of their team, manage contractors, estimates and, of course, their…

• Grooveshark For BlackBerry Updated To v1.0.7

  Bla1ze

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:44 am

  Grooveshark, the premium streaming music application we looked at previously has rolled out an update recently. Sadly, no changelog was issued with the release but users opening up the application were indeed, prompted to download what is now v1.0.7. Seems a lot of T-Mobile users were having issues with getting the application to work previously, so maybe you'll want to give this version a shot to see if it works better. Grooveshark is available for $3/mnth through their VIP program which allows for unlimited streaming and caching of music played for offline usage. For More Details And…

• BlackBerry Tour Gets a Guest Spot on 'House'

  Adam Zeis

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:53 am

  While watching House M.D. last night as part of my lazy Monday night, I was excited to see our good friend the BlackBerry Tour 9630 had a guest spot for most of the show. Right from the start, Lisa Edelstien's character showed she is a true CrackBerry Abuser as her precious Tour rarely left her sight (or her hand for that matter) for most of the show). As her alarm clock rang at 5am (which she should totally scrap for an charging pod and bedside mode combo) she immediately checked her device as any true BlackBerry addict would. Throughout the episode, the stock BlackBerry ringtones made users…

• 
  Film School Rejects

• Weekly Drinking Game: Get Drunk with Doctor Who

  Kevin Carr

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:58 am

  As we bid a final adieu to David Tennant as the 10th incarnation of the beloved Doctor, we’d like to raise a glass and propose a toast. Please drink with us and enjoy the DVD release of Doctor Who: The Complete Specials while we also welcome Matt Smith as the 11th Doctor. And now, to cover our butts… This game is only for people over the age of 21. Please drink responsibly, and don’t mess with a Time Lord. TAKE A DRINK WHENEVER…. Someone laughs Someone is killed The Doctor takes his glasses off or puts them on A previous episode or a spin-off show is referenced TAKE A DRINK WHEN YOU…

• Christopher Nolan: Now Responsible for Batman and Superman

  Neil Miller

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:47 am

  The Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan has been a busy man for a while. He’s pumped out one great movie every year or so since 2005, and is now Hollywood’s hottest commodity. That is to say that he’s Warner Bros.’ biggest hired gun at the moment, as he preps his upcoming tentpole Inception for release. And it would appear as if WB is looking for Nolan to be not just the savior of their Batman franchise, but of their Superman frnachise as well. It makes sense — this report that’s coming in from Deadline Hollywood. It has been alleged that Nolan is being…

• This Week in DVD: February 9th

  Rob Hunter

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:22 am

  Rob Hunter loves movies.  He also loves eating tofu and protecting exiled Chinese revolutionaries from assassination. These two joys come together in the form of cash money payments that he receives every week and immediately uses to buy more DVDs. So join us each week as he takes a look at new DVD releases and gives his highly unqualified opinion as to which titles are worth BUYing, which are better off as RENTals, and which should be AVOIDed at all costs. Click on any of the titles below to magically head over to Amazon.com and pick up the DVD.  And don’t forget to check out Neil…

• Culture Warrior: On Hollywood and Cheating

  Landon Palmer

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:01 am

  Editor’s Note: The following article features possible spoilers on Dear John, 2012, Amelia, and The Lovely Bones. You’ve been warned. I typically save the boiling points for Robert Fure, aiming instead to frame my column as an observation of media rather than a critique, analyzing trends and their meaning in the context of film and television as an intersecting object of commerce and art. But there is something that has been getting under my skin in some films released in the past several months, and it’s the way that Hollywood deals with the subject infidelity. Repeatedly in…

• Terminator Rights Sell to Evil Corporate Overlords; SkyNet Plans Revenge

  Neil Miller

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:52 am

  The rights to the Terminator franchise have been sold. And it happened with the least amount of fanfare possible. Aside from rumors that the head of Sony Pictures stormed out of yesterday’s auction, it was a relatively bland affair. According to reports, two major studios — Lionsgate and Sony Pictures — were in the running all the way to the end, but bailed just in time to let Santa Barbara-based hedge fund Pacificor win the final prize. The funny part about all of this is that it was Pacificor that was the debtholder responsible for the bankruptcy of the Halcyon Company,…

• 
  A List Apart

• Words that Zing

  9 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am

  When someone consults a website, there is a precious opportunity not only to provide useful information but also to influence their decision. To make the most of this opportune moment, we must ensure that the site says or does precisely the right thing at precisely the right time. Understanding the rhetorical concept of kairos can help us craft a context for the opportune moment and hit the mark with appropriately zingy text.

• The Problem with Passwords

  9 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am

  Abandoning password masking as Jakob Nielsen suggests could present serious problems, including undermining a user’s trust by failing to meet a basic expectation. But with design patterns gleaned from offline applications, plus a dash of JavaScript, we can provide feedback and reduce password errors without compromising the basic user experience or losing our visitors’ trust.

• Using SVG for Flexible, Scalable, and Fun Backgrounds, Part II

  26 Jan 2010 | 1:00 am

  In Part II, dig deeper into the technology behind using SVG for your site design. Explore how to incorporate SVG in a cross-browser friendly manner, including using SVGWeb to ensure that the SVG shows in Internet Explorer. And discover the unique characteristic that makes SVG ideal for page backgrounds: scalability.

• Using SVG For Flexible, Scalable, and Fun Backgrounds, Part I

  26 Jan 2010 | 1:00 am

  Many of us think of Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) as an also-ran: fine for charts and tables, but not much else. Yet SVG can actually enhance a site’s overall design, and can be made to work in even the most stubborn browser. In Part I of a two-part series, Shelley Powers covers important basics of working with SVG, including browser support and accessibility.

• The Survey, 2009

  15 Dec 2009 | 2:00 am

  For the third year in a row, good citizens of the web, we ask that you take a few minutes to tell us about your professional skills, educational background, career prospects, job benefits, and more.

• 
  The iPhone Blog

• Contest Reminders: Developer Survey and Round Robin — Win a 32GB iPod touch, iPhone 3GS!

  Dieter Bohn

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:12 am

  A couple quick contest reminders as deadlines loom (LOOM I tell you!): The Developer Survey we mentioned here is still running but will end this weekend. Interpret is putting together an exciting set of data about mobile app development and needs your input. Take the survey here and be entered for your chance to win a 32GB iPod touch. Heck, if that isn’t your style, you can also opt for up to $550 to purchase the phone of your choice. Since not everybody will qualify for the developer survey prize, one more reminder: the Smartphone Round Robin contest is still running, but will end on…

• TiPb at Macworld 2010 — Conference Begins!

  Rene Ritchie

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:55 am

  Macworld 2010’s conference portion starts today at the Moscone Center and I’ll be heading over in a few minutes. The Expo starts Thursday, and Leanna will be joining me to bring every complete TiPb coverage. If you’re a developer and you’re going to be at Macworld, shoot me an email (rene@tipb.com) or ping me on Twitter (@reneritchie) and let me know. If you’re a reader, be sure to say hello! And here’s all the Macworld highlights, and a discount code, for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad lovers once again… after the break! Still not sure if you’re…

• Notion Ink Adam — Don’t Call it an “iPad Killer”!

  Rene Ritchie

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:38 am

  Notion Ink’s Atom is one of the next generation “tablet” style devices that will no doubt be compared head-to-head with Apple’s iPad. First, a note to traditional media — if we never read the phrase “iPad killer” it’ll be too soon. We clear? Second and that said, SlashGear shows off some renders and it looks like the Adam brings some interesting ideas with it. the Android-based slate using the latest-gen NVIDIA Tegra chipset and Pixel Qi’s innovative low-power display. Pixel Qi uses a tranflexive display that blends characteristics of LCD (or…

• Apple Store Down — iPad Ordering, New MacBooks, or Just Aperture 3?

  Rene Ritchie

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:48 am

  The Apple Online Store is down again, and it’s a Tuesday, and it’s Macworld — though sadly neither of those two things mean much anymore — and so our email boxes are flooding with heads-up and excited guesses about everything from iPad pre-ordering going live, to MacBook Pro updates, to… Aperture 3. Yeah, Aperture 3. Sorry iPad fans and MacBook hopefuls, but Apple has already put up a PR and so far that’s it. We’ll updated, of course, if there’s anything else. It is a Tuesday after all, and Macworld… Apple Store Down — iPad Ordering,…

• Navigon MobileNavigator Goes 3D, Social, and Intelligent

  Rene Ritchie

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:43 am

  And now we can tell you why Navigon is so excited about their new 3D terrain viewing, social media integrated, intelligent routing version 1.5 update to MobileNavigator [$69.00 on sale -- iTunes link] that they’ve put it on sale and are giving TiPb readers a chance to not only win copies, but get a guided tour at Macworld 2010 on how to use it. Here are the highlights: Connection to Facebook and Twitter: A simple icon tap posts users current position, destination, and ETA without navigation interruption. NAVIGON MyRoutes: Analyzes driving habits, patterns, location, time/day and…

• 
  Hulu Popular Videos

• The Colbert Report - s6 | e21 - Mon, Feb 8, 2010

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:03 pm

  Jonathan Safran Foer makes Stephen ponder the morality of eating animals with his new book "Eating Animals," resparking the ancient battle between carnivores and herbivores.Add this to your queueAdded: Tue Feb 09 07:03:05 UTC 2010Air date: Mon Feb 08 00:00:00 UTC 2010Duration: 21:42Rating: 4.9 / 5.0Closed captions available.

• The Bachelor - s14 | e6 - Week 6, Part 1

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:03 pm

  The stakes are high for Jake as he visits the final four women's hometowns.Add this to your queueAdded: Tue Feb 09 07:03:05 UTC 2010Air date: Mon Feb 08 00:00:00 UTC 2010Duration: 48:43

• The Bachelor - s14 | e6 - Week 6, Part 2

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:03 pm

  The stakes are high for Jake as he visits the final four women's hometowns.Add this to your queueAdded: Tue Feb 09 07:03:05 UTC 2010Air date: Mon Feb 08 00:00:00 UTC 2010Duration: 37:03

• The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - s15 | e21 - Mon, Feb 8, 2010

  8 Feb 2010 | 10:29 pm

  First Lady of South Carolina Jenny Sanford discusses her new book about dealing with the fallout from her husband's very public affair.Add this to your queueAdded: Tue Feb 09 06:29:05 UTC 2010Air date: Mon Feb 08 00:00:00 UTC 2010Duration: 21:40Rating: 4.7 / 5.0Closed captions available.

• Chuck - s3 | e7 - Chuck Versus the Mask

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:50 pm

  Chuck takes Hannah on her first Nerd Herd mission and must hide that he is also on a CIA mission with Sarah.Add this to your queueAdded: Tue Feb 09 05:50:05 UTC 2010Air date: Mon Feb 08 00:00:00 UTC 2010Duration: 43:22

• 
  Holy Kaw!

• Google Buzz's official demo [video]

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:25 am

  Google has just unveiled its latest attempt to become more relevant in the social media space—Google Buzz. The product is integrated within Gmail and will be rolled out gradually to all of the webmail service’s users over the next few days. While this development is still unfolding, you can check out Google Buzz’s two-minute demo of Buzz in action both online and via mobile. What are your initial reactions? Another soon-to-be-forgotten Google product like Wave, or a Facebook/Twitter killer? Full story at Mashable. Total Google coverage. Permalink | Leave a…

• Darth Vader’s original wimpy voice [video]

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:15 am

  Imagine a galaxy far, far away where Darth Vader sounded like any other British bloke strolling down the corridors of the Death Star. Before James Earl Jones provided the menacing voice of the Dark Lord of the Sith, English actor and bodybuilder David Prowse delivered the lines from inside the Darth costume. While George Lucas never intended for Prowse’s voice to make the flick’s final cut, it’s weird to imagine how different Star Wars would have been with a different Vader voice. Full story at Huffington Post. Tons of Star Wars tidbits. Permalink | Leave a…

• 7 things you didn’t know about condoms

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:14 am

  Rubbers. Raincoats. Inconvenient. Whatever you call 'em, condoms remain a must-have in the safe sex tool box. Long before the days of Durex and Trojans, men used animal intestines to protect their willies (that sounds lovely, eh ladies?) and still to this day use lambskin condoms for latex allergies and supposed extra sensitivity. Want to learn even more fun facts about condoms that will surely impress your friends and potential lovers? Check out Asylum's seven things you probably didn't know about condoms that includes tantalizing tidbits like: Vaseline + condoms = Disintegrated rubber and…

• Horror flick mirror scare mash-up [video]

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:25 am

  Horror movies love to rely on cliches to scare the bejeezus out of us, but does it really surprise anyone that the axe murderer is going to pop in the reflection of a mirror? Ok, yes, it still totally sparks a few pee-in-pants moments. Check out this mash-up of mirror scare moments (fair warning: don’t watch alone in a big, dark, scary house): Full story at Four Four. Boo! Tons of scary and not so scary movie news. Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• 7 things you shouldn't do on Valentine's Day

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:13 am

  Ah, Valentine’s day. February fourteenth marks that special moment in the year when Hallmark cashes in on our emotions and cupid gets busy shooting arrows. Whether you’re indifferent, excited, upset, or madly in love—there are seven things you just shouldn’t do on this lovey-dovey holiday. See a few do-not-do’s below: Go on a first date. First dates are hard enough, why add the extra pressure? Call your ex. Abort mission! On a day like this, it’s normal for your thoughts to drift to the one you used to be with, but you broke up for a reason. So, spare…

• 
  VMware Networking Blog

• F5 Accelerates Long Distance vMotion

  Guy Brunsdon

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:58 pm

  At VMworld last year, F5 previewed and demonstrated their Long Distance vMotion solution. Since then, F5 has worked on integrating the solution into their BIG-IP product and leverage their new WAN Optimization Module (WOM). What does this mean for VMware customers? vMotion over distance on a traditional WAN is constrained by bandwidth and latency. Any packet loss will further throttle throughput as TCP congestion avoidance kicks in. In short distance and bandwidth constrains how far you go and how much you can pump through the link (and how many VMs you can migrate in a unit of time). The F5…

• VMware vSphere + Cisco Nexus 1000V bundles program extended in 2010

  Guy Brunsdon

  15 Jan 2010 | 3:58 pm

  Ok, it’s not really technical, but definitely worth a short blog post. When we released vSphere in May last year, we introduced some cut-price bundles that included the Cisco Nexus 1000V virtual switch. These ‘one stop shop’ bundles made it easier and cheaper for customers to adopt the Nexus 1000V as their virtual networking solution. Last week we announced we’re continuing the bundle program. For more information, talk with your VMware account manager or reseller. And, don’t forget … Release 1.2 of the Nexus 1000V is released and available. I wrote about it back on December 18.

• VMXNET3 vs. VMXNET2 Performance Shootout

  Guy Brunsdon

  15 Jan 2010 | 3:09 pm

  With vSphere 4, we introduced a new paravirtualized adapter—VMXNET3. This was designed from the ground up for high performance and supports a bunch of new features. So how does it perform? One of our engineers pitched it against the previous generation—VMXNET2. VMXNET3 not only performs better (greater throughput on transmit and receive), but consumes less CPU. These results were most significant with a 10GigE NIC on Windows (Windows Server 2008 Enterprise). The results for IPv4 and IPv6 are shown in the graph below. Windows 10GigE throughput…

• Demystifying HP Flex-10 network mappings with vSphere

  Guy Brunsdon

  7 Jan 2010 | 6:00 pm

  Confession: I haven’t had any first hand experience with the HP Flex-10 modules. However, I know from talking with a number of customers that there are a lot of them out there. Kenneth Van Ditmarsch has written a fabulous blog article with the all important diagrams that depict the Flex-10  to vmnic mappings. If you’re stumped on how this stuff hangs together, then this should help you out.

• Cisco Nexus 1000V R1.2 for vSphere 4 Released

  Guy Brunsdon

  18 Dec 2009 | 2:59 pm

  Just on a week ago, Cisco released the Nexus 1000V R1.2 virtual switch for vSphere 4. This introduced a bunch of new features mainly around setup/installation and security. The full list of new features are as follows: GUI setup following software install Layer 3 control between VSM and VEMs Virtual Service Domains for classifying and separating traffic for network services iSCSI Multipath—supporting multipath feature introduced in vSphere 4 XML API for developing client apps for managing/monitoring the Nexus 1000V DHCP Snooping for validating DHCP messages and filtering invalid responses…

• 
  Ars Technica - Infinite Loop

• Aperture 3 adds Faces, Places, and improved local adjustment

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:23 am

  After a long wait, Apple has released the next major update to its pro-class photo workflow application, Aperture 3. The new version boasts over 200 new features, including the addition of the successful facial recognition and geotagging features, Faces and Places, that were introduced with iPhoto '09. Version 3 also adds edge-detecting adjustment brushes for non-destructive localized editing and touch-ups. Along with numerous UI and performance improvements, Aperture 3 adds full 64-bit support on supported systems running Snow Leopard. Aperture has always had a focus on the workflow of…

• etc: Further evidence has surfaced that new MacBook Pros are on the horizon, as BestBuy has dropped the current SKUs from its system. This usually happens ahead of a refresh.

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:49 am

  Further evidence has surfaced that new MacBook Pros are on the horizon, as BestBuy has dropped the current SKUs from its system. This usually happens ahead of a refresh. Read More: TUAW, MacRumors forums

• Apple investigating Mac Pro performance and heat issues

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:13 am

  Last week, we told you about some unusual issues affecting Nehalem-based Mac Pro models, characterized by abnormal performance degradation and CPU power draw when using on-board audio circuitry. Several sources have told Ars that Apple support technicians are now saying the problem is known, and that the issue is being actively investigated by Apple engineers. The problem is most glaringly illustrated by merely playing music using iTunes. Though Activity Monitor will report just 1 to 3 percent CPU load, CPU power draw will increase tenfold and CPU temperatures will hover near the safe limits…

• Survey tries quantifying iPad hype, suggests interest waning

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:40 pm

  "iPad hoopla" has passed, according to a survey by electronics shopping site Retrevo, and consumers have lost interest after the product's unveiling less than two weeks ago. More than twice as many respondents said they were uninterested after the iPad was announced compared to a week prior. Of course, there are lies, damned lies, and statistics—three times as many said they were confident they would buy one after finding out the product's details. Retrevo did similar surveys to gauge interest in Apple's new portable touchscreen device both before it was announced and after.

• Mozilla dropping 10.4 support with next Firefox release

  8 Feb 2010 | 4:11 pm

  The next major release of Firefox will not be compatible with Macs running Mac OS X 10.4, also known as Tiger. This comes from a mozilla.dev.planing discussion on Google Groups started by Josh Aas, a Mozilla-employed developer working on the project. The change will go into effect later this year when the browser's Gecko rendering engine makes the jump from 1.9.2 to 1.9.3. The Mozilla Foundation estimates that there are currently about 1.4 million Tiger users using Firefox 3.5 every day and approximately 36,000 using version 3.6. Those numbers total a little under 24 percent of daily Mac…

• 
  Filmmaker Magazine

• BEIJING TAXI: THE METER IS RUNNING

  Scott Macaulay

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:28 pm

  Filmmaker Miao Wang, a Beijing native now based in Brooklyn, is currently racing to finish her feature doc Beijing Taxi in time for SXSW, where it's scheduled to world premiere. She needs to raise $11,000 to cover post-production expenses and is just under half way there with five days left to go at Kickstarter. From the Kickstarter page: BEIJING TAXI is a feature length documentary that vividly portrays Beijing undergoing a profound transformational arch. Through a humanistic lens, the intimate lives of three taxi drivers connect a morphing city confronted with modern issues and changing…

• A DIFFERENT KIND OF CLIP REEL

  Scott Macaulay

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:02 pm

  Most movie-moment montages work an A-B-A structure in which "A" is sentimental uplift. This montage by Paul Proulx goes for something different. (Hat tip: Anne Thompson.) the films of the 2000s from Paul Proulx on Vimeo.

• DAVID LYNCH ON MAKING A GOOD MOVIE

  Scott Macaulay

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:35 pm

• HOW COOL IS INDIE FILM?

  Scott Macaulay

  8 Feb 2010 | 10:03 am

  Indie film champions are often fond of comparing what we do to indie music. If bands can tour, why can't we? If bands can sell merch, then we should too. If recording artists can form boutique labels, then why can't film distributors? Like, for example, Oscilloscope, the film label of Beastie Boy Adam Yauch. At Flavorwire, Judy Berman takes this assumption to task in a piece called "Why is Indie Film Dying While Indie Music Thrives?" She bases her assessment of indie film's slow-motion death on Edward Jay Epstein's "Can Indie Movies Survive?", which I found to be a pretty reductive piece. The…

• PAOLA MENDOZA ON BIG ART, LITTLE DEBT

  Scott Macaulay

  7 Feb 2010 | 6:40 am

  In the new issue of Filmmaker, Esther Robinson penned "The Big Art/Little Debt Plan," which discusses the relation of filmmakers to risk, their films, and their money. She reached out to several filmmakers by email, and their responses helped shape her article. We are running several of the responses Esther received here on the blog. Below is the one from Paola Mendoza, director of Entre Nos. What strategies did you employ to stay no/low debt during your production? My strategy was pretty simple: I refused to go into debt. While making art is the essence of who I am, I cannot make art at the…

• 
  IFC.com

• In defense of long end credits.

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:10 am

  The San Francisco Chronicle's Mick LaSalle has a problem: he thinks end credits are boring, and that we should return to the pre-'60s era, when "most movies ended symphonically, with a big finish and the words, 'The End' flashed on the screen." From overwhelming emotion to a disorienting return to the real world: that's what we need. Now, he says, we're all just sitting in the dark, processing what it is we've just seen before getting on with it. Instead, movies would benefit if the lights came up right away, throwing us "bodily onto the hard sidewalk of real life." Well, these days most…

• The great dauteurs of Hollywood.

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:45 am

  Nepotism is an accepted part of the movie business, but given the gender inequality in the directorial ranks, it's particularly pronounced with the news that Ami Caanan Mann will direct "The Fields." A thriller starring "Avatar"'s Sam Worthington as a Texas detective investigating a spate of murders around the state's oil refineries, "The Fields," Mann's second feature, will start shooting in April. If that surname sounds familiar, it's because Ami is the daughter of Michael, and if this entire scenario rings a bell, it's because it seems as though one of the only reliable ways to break…

• Watching movies from inside books.

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:20 am

  Don DeLillo's new novel "Point Omega" is narrated by a documentarian and begins and ends with a description of Douglas Gordon's "24 Hour Psycho," a 2006 MoMA installation in which Hitchcock's film was slowed down to stretch over a day and night. Maybe that's why everyone writing about the book seems more focused on DeLillo's obsession with movies than with how it ranks in his canon. At the New York Times, Geoff Dyer, who knows more than most about art criticism (check out his own recent novel "Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi," set during the 2006 Venice Biennale) sees DeLillo's take on "24…

• Watching your younger self on screen.

  8 Feb 2010 | 10:38 am

  In an interview with the Independent, Shirley MacLaine reveals what might possibly be the only interesting thing about the big, bloated "Valentine's Day" monster coming our way. During an argument with her husband (played by director Garry Marshall's good-luck charm Hector Elizondo), the 1958 film "Hot Spell" screens in the background -- representing the couple's on-screen marriage, sure, but also showing us how much/little MacLaine's changed in fiftysomething years of acting. It's an effect that's not nearly as common as you'd suspect -- using the camera to show us icons changing and aging…

• Kevin Smith's next movie might land you in the "Red."

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:37 am

  Kevin Smith's first studio-backed comedy "Cop Out" (there's a red band trailer here), hasn't yet hit theaters, but the director is already talking about a return to the independent world. As in really independent, with his long-rumored horror script "Red State." Smith once told MTV the proposed film was "not a commercial movie by any stretch of the imagination." So instead of shopping the script around to studios, Smith spilled the beans during a roundtable interview that he's in the process of setting up a site where fans will be able to donate money to the film's budget and he'll match them…