TechNick

Hot off the tail of the WWDC and announcements of the 3G iPhone, Apple will be releasing iTunes v 7.7 before July 11. The current version of iTunes is 7.6 but on the iPhone Tech Specs page, it states that iTunes 7.7 is required for the new iPhone.

Also, on the iPhone Calculator page, a certain number is shown twice:

Could it be a date? Perhaps the 18th of December 2008? We’ll see….

Name: CoverSutra
Company: Sophiestication (http://sophiestication.de/)
Price: €14.95
Platform: Mac OS X

A small app that goes onto the menu bar, CoverSutra (currently at version 2.1) aims to keeps your hands on the keyboard when doing work, while still giving you the ability to control iTunes.

With a search function that can be accessed by a keyboard shortcut, as well as many other functions (such as play, pause, next track, previous track and increase and decrease volume), once you learn the shortcuts that you define, it will be quicker than trying to use the mouse or trackpad.

The other major feature of CoverSutra is the ability to show the album art on the desktop. When doing this, there are three different styles: classic jewel case, jewel case or, my favourite, vinyl record.

Composite image of the three different desktop album cover views.

I use a MacBook Pro, one of Apple’s notebooks, and I have found that, while visually appealing, this small app is a major battery drainer when not plugged into AC power. However, when plugged into a wall, everything is fine.

While I don’t use CoverSutra for the keyboard shortcuts (I use the Apple Remote that came with my Mac), I have CoverSutra open just for the album art on the desktop.

Also, CoverSutra has in-build Last.FM scrobbling support, so for stats buffs (like myself) this means that, while you will have a new app open, another one can be closed.

Demo versions are available for download.

• Version 2.1.2 (requires OS X 10.5.2 or later and iTunes 7.6.2 or later)
• Version 1.2.1 (requires OS X 10.4.11 and iTunes 7.4 or later)

Pros

• Cheap
• Visually attractive
• Unintrusive
• Last.FM Support
• Choice of icon in dock, menubar or both

Cons

• Battery drainer

Overall, I give CoverSutra 4/5.

CoverSutra is developed by Sophiestication and is available for purchase from the CoverSutra purchase page.

Last.FM

When creating a website, sometimes your code becomes messy and hard to read. However, Dreamweaver CS3 has an inbuilt function to make your code easier to read.

Simply open up the file that you wish to tidy up.

In the Commands menu, click on Apply Source Formatting.

Below is an example of how this changes the code:

Before:

After:

You’ve just finished the movie that you’ve been working on for ages and now you want to make a DVD out of it using iDVD. However, you notice in the bottom right corner of the preview window an Apple overlay.

There is a way to remove it, without the need to pay money for an “update”.

Simply go to the iDVD Menu and click on Preferences. On the general tab, uncheck the box next to Show Apple Logo Watermark.

That’s it. The logo should now be gone from your project.

While it isn’t in the help menu, there is certainly nothing wrong with getting rid of this logo.

Name: Voice Candy
Company: Potion Factory (http://www.potionfactory.com/)
Price: $12.95 USD
Platform: Mac OS X

Voice Candy (currently version 1.2) is an application developed by Potion Factory with one aim in mind. Make recording your voice simple.

In Voice Candy, there are eight different sound effect settings, as well as normal being a selectable option.

To start recording all that needs to be done is the big red button in the bottom left needs to be hit and you’re away. When you’re done, just hit it again and the recording will stop. You can listen to what you just recorded by clicking the play button next to the record button.

While Voice Candy contains an effect called “Vader”, the ominous breathing sound isn’t automatically added. The mouse sound effect sounds like the mice in the movie “Babe” and “Phone” sounds like the person is actually talking to you over a telephone.

If you are happy with your recording, hit “Save to…” and you are given options of where you can save it to, including the Desktop and iTunes. You can even save the recording to play at a certain time, theoretically being able to be used for reminders.

This could be a very useful tool for filmmakers who wish to replace dialogue, or give it a certain effect.

While voice recording is all Voice Candy does, at just $12.95 USD, you can’t really go wrong.

A 15 day trial is also available from the product page.

Requirements:

Mac OS X 10.4 or later
G4 or faster processor

Potion Factory
Voice Candy

Name: EffectsLab Pro
Company: FXhome (http://fxhome.com/)
Price: $149 USD, £89, €129
Platform: Mac OS X, Windows 2000/XP/Vista

I have been a member of FXhome since June 2004 and in that time, FXhome has gone from being a “small” community of just 16,213 people to 79,001 and growing each day. The main reason for the boom is the release of their new range of products in late 2005 known as “The Lab Range” which include EffectsLab (special effects), CompositeLab (compositing) and VisionLab (which has the features of EffectsLab and CompositeLab plus more).

Fact: Since the full release of EffectsLab and CompositeLab on the 23rd of November 2005, the community has almost tripled in size!

Today I will be reviewing EffectsLab Pro.

This is probably the most difficult step that you will encounter while using the program. You need to buy the software. (I’m not saying its difficult, I’m saying that the program is so easy to use that this seems like Everest compared to the matchbox that is working the program). This can be done from the FXhome store, Amazon.co.uk and certain retailers also have the products in stock.

If you buy it from FXhome.com, you can have it running on your computer within 10 minutes because it is offered as a download. However, if you buy it from Amazon or your local retailer, you have to wait or go out and get it yourself.

Installation couldn’t really be simpler. Follow the prompts and you’ll be good to go.

When you first load up the program it asks you which language you would like to use. Although FXhome is a British company, users come from all over the world and have translated the programs into French, Spanish, Italian and German. The program only asks you which language you want to use when you install or upgrade.

TIP: You can change your language settings at any time by going to Edit –> Preferences

After you have chosen your language you are shown the welcome screen which is like “home base”, everything starts from here. You can start a new project using a movie file or an image stream you have, use a blank canvas, or open a previously saved project. The welcome screen also has the latest news from FXhome.com so you can see what is new on the site if you decide not to visit it.

Once you have loaded/imported your footage you can now start “playing” with the effects engines. You have a choice of the “Neon Light” engine which can be used to make neon signs, lasers and even lightsabers as seen in Star Wars, the “Muzzle Flash” engine which, as the title suggests, creates muzzle flashes that are seen when a weapon is fired, the “Optics” engine used for creating lens flare and almost anyother type of light effect that you can think of and the “Particle” engine (known in the community as “Penguin”) which can create almost anything you can imagine!

Adding effects to your footage is as simple as just clicking and dragging the effect you want. Of course, you will have to place the effect where you want it to appear on your footage but that is easy too. When using the neon light 4-point engine its as simple as clicking your mouse four times. With muzzle flashes, optics and particles you have just one point to drag around the canvas. Try and tell me that your more expensive programs are that simple!

Also, FXhome have a huge preset library where you can download “premade” effects from other FXhome users to save you time if you are looking for a certain effect. EffectsLab can also import stock footage, image streams and still images for you to add to your project too.

Once you are happy with what you have its time to render. To do this, set the “in” and “out” points on your footage that you want to render, select the menu item Render –> Render Settings, set the settings, hit “OK”, choose the menu item Render –> Render and wait while EffectsLab does its magic.

TIP: If you are happy with your render settings you won’t need to change them each time.

EffectsLab can export Apple Quicktime (.MOV) and Directshow (.AVI) files and import PSD, BMP, JPEG, PICT, PNG, SGI, TARGA, TIFF as well as .MOV and .AVI.

If you are having trouble working out what you need to do with your new program, you can use the Support section of FXhome.com which includes video tutorials, text tutorials and support forums where you can ask other FXhomers and Team FXhome themselves!

When you feel your masterpiece is good enough, or you want some constructive criticism, you can submit your movie to their online cinema and let the community voice their opinions.

A fully functional, non-time limited version of EffectsLab Pro can be downloaded from the product demo page.

Well I guess this just about wraps up this review of EffectsLab Pro.

Design: 4/5
Realism: 4/5
Ease of use: 4/5
Support: 5/5
Value: 5/5

Brining the total score to 85%

System Requirements:
Mac OS X

• 1GHz PowerPC® processor (G5 recommended)*
• Mac OS X v10.3.2 or greater
• 512MB of RAM (1024MB or more recommended)
• 100MB of available hard-disk space for installation
• 32-bit (millions of colors) color display adapter
• QuickTime 6.5 software recommended

*Compatible with Intel® processors but not a Universal Binary.

Windows

• 800Mhz Intel® Pentium® III processor (or equivalent) and later
• Microsoft® Windows® 2000 with Service Pack 4 or Windows XP Professional or Home Edition with Service Pack 1 or greater or Windows Vista
• 512MB of RAM (1024MB or more recommended)
• 100MB of available hard-disk space for installation
• 32-bit color display adapter
• Microsoft DirectX 9.0b software required
• QuickTime 6.5 software recommended

Useful links:
FXhome.com
Store
Cinema
Support
Online forums