Timlin

Adobe has just released it's newest addition to the budget line of it's photo editing and organizing programs with Photoshop Elements 4.0. This great program can not only edit, crop and do so much more with your photos but is a great photo organizer and presentation software.

Adobe is one of the largest photo editing software companies. They have such a broad range of programs and prices for photo, digital and now even video editing software. Newest in the field of photo editing is the just released Photoshop Elements 4.0. It has a wide range of photo editing, organizing and presentation features that you can spend many hours of fun with your favorite digital photos.

Photoshop Elements 4.0 costs about $100 at most stores but you can find it at Walmart for $80. If there are any sales or rebates I would say to go for it. The program is new and will probably not be going on sale for awhile. The program is also available in a bundle package with the video editing software Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0. I found prices for this package at $150, you might wait to see if Walmart will be selling this sometime soon if you would like this package deal.

I bought the program because I was tired of the limitations of the cheaper programs I had purchased in the past. I had limited my cost for other editing programs to around $50 and wound up with what I paid for. I had last purchased a program more than a year ago and there were things that I and my wife wanted to do with our pictures that we just could not do with the other programs. Now we can, and so much more.

When you first load the program which is pretty easy, just follow the few questions in the setup. You will have to restart the computer and open it again, it will first open to it's welcome screen. I suggest you start the photo organizer and load all your computers pictures into it to start, and go do the dishes or watch some TV. The program takes awhile to load all the pictures on your computer, depending on how many you have. It will ask you to search your computer or just parts of it for pictures to add to the photo organizer. I suggest and recommend to just do all the hard drives on your system to search for pictures. It will take longer but the program will then have any pictures, even ones that are part of games or other programs in one handy place.

You just need to make sure that you or whoever uses the program does not alter and then save any pictures from games or other programs that use those pictures as part of another program. Save any altered pictures in a new location and with a new name to make sure you don't save over ones those programs need. For instance when I look through the pictures I find all kinds of maps and pictures of stuff for parts of a game I recently bought, Half Life 2. If I altered any of these and then saved them back to their original location the game might be messed up because of it. And then again I can already see some interesting fun with some of these pictures and other things. For instance I now have a handy way to look at all the maps that are a part of these games with out having to go to an editor for the game.

The photo organizer automatically loads and sorts the pictures you have by date, and it can be a lot of pictures. I loaded the program on my desktop and found out I had over 7000 pictures on it. I knew I had a lot but not that many. For games there are things like icons and splash screens so that accounts for some, then my wife takes a lot of pictures for her daycare, the kids and special events with them. My kids are in 4-H and they take a lot of pictures of the things they do, projects and the fairs. Vacations, family holidays and all the other things we have in digital format are now organized by the date they were put on the computer in one easy to find place.

When you go to use Photoshop Elements there are three areas of the program it can start up in; the welcome screen which you can then go to any of the various areas for, the photo editor or the photo organizer. The last two are probably the most used areas of the program so they gave those two as separate options. In the welcome screen you can go to those two areas or a few of the others. There are several different areas of the program and for using the editor that you can go to from the welcome screen. Product overview, organizer, quick editor, editor, photo presentation and blank editor to create from scratch a photo creation. There is also some tutorials on this page for you to learn how to use each section of the program from Adobe.

The organizer is probably one of the best and handiest ways to use the program when you are finding and editing photos you have downloaded from a camera, disk or the Internet. Across the top of the organizer is a bar graph showing a representation of the dates the pictures were edited or saved on the computer. If you know about when a picture was saved you can quickly search there or just scroll down the page of all your photos. You can also organize them by attaching tags to any photos you want. You can organize the photos with these tags by favorites, hidden, people, places, events or others. You can make up your own tag categories or sub categories and add them to this list to organize the pictures however you want.

You can also create what is called a collection, a totally different area to save and organize photos that is separate from the main area. This is kind of like a photo album where you can group photos to keep them separate from the other groups on your computer.

From this organizer you can download photos from your camera or scanner and even order photos from Kodak's website. Those special family photos or favorite pet pics can be professionally printed and sent to you via snail mail for a reasonable cost. You can go here for more information of this service: http://www.adobe.com/digitalimag/services_overview.html#orderprints .

The editor for photos can be as easy or as detailed as you would like to get into it, and I suppose I'll just have to get into it. I have a lot of photos I want to do things with. There are simple tools such as one step touch up which will automatically enhance a photo or simple red eye reduction. Then there are whole areas of the more complex tools that I still have to get into. The program is a better way not only to edit and enhance photos but is definitely a very good photo organizer and I have not even gotten into the presentation portions of the program yet.

Well, more to come on the other parts of Adobe's newest Photoshop Elements 4.0.

oem mac software

Considering those Time Capsule issues, finding an external hard drive for your Mac is getting a bit tough. Sure, there’s other options out there, but these new Canvio portable hard drives from Toshiba bring a swathe of features to an external shell that’s almost too pleasing to the eyes to pass up.

Following the official launch of the Canvio line back in March, these new portable HDDs are specifically manufactured for Apple’s computers. As was the case with the PC-based HDDs, these new models are designed to make backing up your information from your Mac all that much easier. You can grab three different sizes: 500GB, 750GB, and 1TB. All three models are pre-loaded with Mac-customized backup software. As for the aesthetics, you can grab one in silver, or white.

With that portable title tucked in there, you can imagine that Toshiba wants to make sure if you do take your external storage unit along for the ride, that it’s protected. There’s a shock sensor on the inside of each of the Canvio models, so it should be good to go from those “gentle” bumps and collisions. It’s equipped with USB 2.0. As for pricing, you’re looking at dropping $99.99 for the 500GB, $119.99 for the 750GB, and $139.99 for the 1TB model. Full press release below for your reading pleasure.

Press Release:

Toshiba’s All-New Canvio™ for Mac Portable Hard Drives Deliver Quick, Simple, and Secure Digital Backup Solutions for Mac Users

Providing Piece of Mind and Expanded Storage in a Stunning Design, the Canvio™ for Mac is Now Available In 1TB, 750GB, and 500GB Capacities

IRVINE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–With consumers across the country constantly amassing more “digital valuables” – from photos, videos, and favorite music to important personal documents – Toshiba is proud to offer Mac users the compact, easy-to-use Canvio™ for Mac Portable Hard Drive lineup. Continuing Toshiba’s commitment to make backing up and recovering data simple and easy, the new Canvio for Mac line provides Mac owners 500 gigabytes (GB1), 750GB, or one terabyte (TB) of storage space, with pre-loaded Mac-customized backup software.

“Toshiba develops personal storage devices that combine the latest, high quality designs with top-notch performance and an intuitive, easy to use interface”

According to a February 2010 survey conducted by Impulse Research2, 70 percent of Americans have lost some type of data on their computers. Unfortunately, the majority of consumers surveyed (89 percent) are aware of the importance of regularly backing up their computers to avoid losses but less than half (43 percent) regularly do so, leaving many computer users vulnerable to data loss that could include digital photos and movies, important financial records, or professional documents.

Recognizing that many users do not back up their data because they believe it’s a complicated process, the Canvio for Mac line makes data backup simple for everyone, from novice users to the most tech-savvy consumers. The included NTI® Shadow 5 for Mac software allows for fully-customized backup and synchronization, including the backup of specific folders, certain file types, or even a complete system backup and recovery of everything that is saved on the Mac3. Selected folders on the Canvio for Mac and the Mac computer can be merged and synchronized, while the frequency of backups can be adjusted to different periods (from weekly to continuously) for greater convenience. Complete password-protection with up to 256-bit data encryption prevents unauthorized access to data and a special Drive Space Alert monitor sends an onscreen update when storage space is running low.

The Canvio for Mac’s plug-and-play usability and full customization are matched by its small size and elegant, simple styling. Available in either Radiant Silver with silver accents or Infinite White with glossy white-gray accents on the top cover, both feature an anti-slip design and anti-slip side, making the Canvio for Mac an excellent companion to the full line of Mac computers. On the inside, an Internal Shock Sensor and Ramp Loading Technology keep data safe during day-to-day movement from a desk, pocket, bag, or beyond. Despite being smaller than a postcard and boasting a featherweight (six ounce) frame, the Canvio for Mac – in 1TB form – can hold up to 285,000 digital photos, 263,000 digital music files, or 820 digital movies4.

“Toshiba develops personal storage devices that combine the latest, high quality designs with top-notch performance and an intuitive, easy to use interface,” said Manuel Camarena, product manager for consumer storage at Toshiba Storage Device Division. “Our Canvio for Mac products give Mac users a safe, convenient, and truly portable solution for backing up their digital entertainment, documents, and other content instantly.”

Continuing its commitment to environmental friendliness, Toshiba developed the product packaging with 100 percent recyclable materials.

The Canvio product line is available now at http://www.toshibadirect.com/canvio_mac or through major retailers and online outlets. For a complete list of retailers offering the Toshiba Canvio, please visit www.wheretobuy.toshibastorage.com.

Suggested retail prices by capacities are:

* $119.99 for the 500GB Canvio for Mac
* $139.99 for the 750GB Canvio for Mac
* $189.99 for the 1TB Canvio for Mac

Press Release:

Apple Updates iMac Line

Introduces New Multi-Touch Magic Trackpad

CUPERTINO, Calif., July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple® today updated its all-in-one iMac® line, widely praised as the world’s best desktop computers, with the latest Intel Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processors and powerful new graphics. Starting at $1,199, the new iMac line is the fastest ever with dual-core processor speeds up to 3.6 GHz, quad-core speeds up to 2.93 GHz and discrete graphics including the powerful ATI Radeon HD 5750. The new Magic Trackpad, with a smooth glass and aluminum design, gives iMac users the same intuitive Multi-Touch(TM) gestures that Mac® notebook customers have come to love and is available separately for $69.

“We took the world’s best all-in-one and made it even better,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With the latest processors, high-performance graphics and signature aluminum and glass design, customers are going to love the latest iMac.”

Dual-core Intel Core i3 and Core i5, and quad-core Core i5 and Core i7 processors set a new benchmark for iMac performance. The processors feature an integrated memory controller to access the system memory directly, allowing the new iMac to take full advantage of its faster 1333 MHz memory. New discrete ATI Radeon HD processors deliver incredibly smooth, crisp graphics for the most demanding 3D games, creative software and technical applications. iMac displays feature IPS technology to deliver a brilliant image across a wide 178 degree viewing angle. The SD card slot on the iMac now supports the SDXC format to handle the latest high-capacity storage cards. Customers of the 27-inch iMac have the option to order a 256GB solid state drive (SSD) as a primary or secondary drive. The iMac SSD supports up to 215 MB/s data transfer rates for faster startup and application launch times.

Every iMac comes with Apple’s innovative Magic Mouse and customers can also order the new Magic Trackpad as an option. The Magic Trackpad brings the intuitive Multi-Touch gestures of Mac notebook trackpads to the desktop. With its glass surface, the wireless Magic Trackpad enables users to scroll smoothly up and down a page with inertial scrolling, pinch to zoom in and out, rotate an image with their fingertips and swipe three fingers to flip through a collection of web pages or photos. The Magic Trackpad can be configured to support single button or two button commands and supports tap-to-click as well as a physical click.

Continuing Apple’s commitment to the environment, Apple’s desktop lineup is a leader in green design. The iMac meets stringent Energy Star 5.0 requirements and achieves EPEAT Gold status.* iMac features LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. iMac uses PVC-free components and cables, contains no brominated flame retardants, uses highly recyclable materials and features material-efficient system and packaging designs. A new Apple Battery Charger provides a convenient and environmentally friendly way to always have a fresh set of batteries for your Magic Trackpad, Magic Mouse and Wireless Keyboard. The Apple Battery Charger is available for $29 and comes with six long shelf life rechargeable batteries.

Every Mac also comes with Mac OS® X Snow Leopard®, the world’s most advanced operating system, and iLife®, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music. Snow Leopard builds on a decade of OS X innovation and success with hundreds of refinements, core technologies and out of the box support for Microsoft Exchange. iLife features iPhoto®, with breakthrough ways to organize and manage your photos by who appears in them and where they were taken; iMovie® with powerful easy-to-use features such as Precision Editor, video stabilization and advanced drag and drop; and GarageBand® which offers a whole new way to help you learn to play piano and guitar.

Pricing & Availability

The new iMac line is shipping now and available through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.

The new 21.5-inch 3.06 GHz Intel Core i3 iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,199 (US), includes:

– 21.5-inch 1920 x 1080 LED-backlit display;
– 3.06 GHz Intel Core i3 processor with 4MB shared L3 cache;
– 4GB 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
– ATI Radeon HD 4670 discrete graphics with 256MB GDDR3 SDRAM;
– 500GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
– slot-load 8x SuperDrive® with double-layer support (DVD+/-R
DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW);
– Mini DisplayPort for audio and video output (adapters sold
separately);
– AirPort Extreme® 802.11n wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
– iSight® video camera;
– Gigabit Ethernet;
– four USB 2.0 ports;
– one SDXC SD card slot;
– one FireWire® 800 port;
– built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
– Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.

Configure-to-order options include up to 8GB of RAM.

The new 21.5-inch 3.2 GHz Intel Core i3 iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US), includes:

– 21.5-inch 1920 x 1080 LED-backlit display;
– 3.20 GHz Intel Core i3 processor with 4MB shared L3 cache;
– 4GB 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
– ATI Radeon HD 5670 discrete graphics with 512MB GDDR3;
– 1TB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
– slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R
DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW);
– Mini DisplayPort for audio and video output (adapters sold
separately);
– AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
– iSight video camera;
– Gigabit Ethernet;
– four USB 2.0 ports;
– one FireWire 800 port;
– one SDXC SD card slot;
– built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
– Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.

Configure-to-order options include a faster 3.6 GHz Core i5 processor, 2TB hard drive and up to 8GB of RAM.

The new 27-inch 3.2 GHz Intel Core i3 iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,699 (US), includes:

– 27-inch 2560 x 1440 LED-backlit display;
– 3.20 GHz Intel Core i3 processor with 4MB shared L3 cache;
– 4GB 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
– ATI Radeon HD 5670 discrete graphics with 512MB GDDR3;
– 1TB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
– slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R
DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW);
– Mini DisplayPort for audio and video input and output (adapters sold
separately);
– AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
– iSight video camera;
– Gigabit Ethernet;
– four USB 2.0 ports;
– one FireWire 800 port;
– one SDXC SD card slot;
– built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
– Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.

Configure-to-order options include a 3.6 GHz Core i5 processor, 2TB hard drive, 256GB solid state drive (SSD) and up to 16GB of RAM.

The new 27-inch 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US), includes:

– 27-inch 2560 x 1440 LED-backlit display;
– 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 processor with 8MB shared L3 cache;
– 4GB 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
– ATI Radeon HD 5750 discrete graphics with 1GB GDDR5;
– 1TB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
– slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R
DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW);
– Mini DisplayPort for audio and video input and output (adapters sold
separately);
– AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
– iSight video camera;
– Gigabit Ethernet;
– four USB 2.0 ports;
– one FireWire 800 port;
– one SDXC SD card slot;
– built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
– Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.

Configure-to-order options include a 2.93 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 processor, a 2TB hard drive, 256GB solid state drive (SSD) and up to 16GB of RAM.

Additional accessories include: Magic Trackpad, Apple Battery Charger, wired Apple Mouse, wired Apple Keyboard, wired Apple Keyboard with numeric keypad, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple Remote, the AppleCare® Protection Plan; and pre-installed copies of iWork®, Logic® Express 9, Final Cut® Express 4 and Aperture® 3.

*EPEAT is an independent organization that helps customers compare the environmental performance of notebooks and desktops. Products meeting all of the 23 required criteria and at least 75 percent of the optional criteria are recognized as EPEAT Gold products. The EPEAT program was conceived by the US EPA and is based on IEEE 1680 standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products. For more information visit www.epeat.net.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork, and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple is reinventing the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

© 2010 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, iMac, Multi-Touch, Snow Leopard, iLife, iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, Apple Store, SuperDrive, AirPort Extreme, iSight, FireWire, AppleCare, iWork, Logic, Final Cut and Aperture are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.