I can look back now and say that I should have been backing everything up. The reality is that in three out of four of those instances I was backing things up. I admit that the first time I had to learn the hard way, but the other times it was more a matter of my not backing things up as much as I should be. I have an external hard drive these days and I do weekly backups to make sure that I don’t lose anything. Still, it is possible that I could lose something. With this in mind, I am always on the lookout for the next best thing in computer safety.

The Rebit is considered to be ridiculously simple in terms of backup safety. The company contacted me for a review and it sounded so good that I couldn’t wait to try it out. I received a 320GB Rebit backup system with the ability to use it on multiple PCs. This is literally an out of the box solution. The instructions are like “plug it in.” The only other step once it is plugged in via the USB cord that is provided is to click Start Protecting this Computer with Rebit when the prompt asks you to make a choice after plugging it in.

That’s seriously all it takes. When you plug it in the first time your system does a complete copy over to the Rebit. This is going to take a while, but it’s done in the background so you shouldn’t even notice it going on. From there, any chances made to your computer are copied to the Rebit as they are made. This ensures that you never lose any sensitive data.

If you run more than one hard drive you might need another backup solution because Rebit only handles the main C drive. That being said, the average person isn’t running two internal hard drives so this isn’t going to be an issue for the average person. This is about the only complaint that I could think to bring up and it’s not even really a complaint. It’s more an observation that doesn’t even actually affect me or my buying decision. I know it will affect some people though so it’s worth the mention.

I am happy to say that I have not had to use my Rebit to restore anything, but if that time comes it’s seriously as easy as opening the Rebit and dragging the folders I need to the newly formatted system. Of course, if I didn’t reformat and only lost a file, thanks to the real time backup, I could just as easily retrieve that from Rebit, too. This fact alone makes it nearly invaluable to any serious computer user that works on their computer or uses it for school.

With this in mind, Rebit is fairly cost effective. They offer a number of options for every pocket book. You can get the complete systems in various sizes and for single PC or multi PC use. You can also buy just the software and hook it up to your own external hard drive and save a few bucks that way. The 320GB system runs about $100, which is nothing to complain about.

For the amount of security it offers and the relative ease in which it provides it, this product is a definite must have. You can check out the various Rebit products at the Rebit Website. We highly recommend you pick one up for yourself and any serious computer user on your gift giving list.

Technorati Tags: Rebit, Security, Computer, Software Review, External Hard Drive, Ridiculously Simple Backup, Holiday Review, Highly Recommended

Well, then geocities came up with a web design editor. My curiosity was peaked and so I used it to do all kinds of other crazy text effects and things that would now look rather gaudy to someone with a trained eye in design. Of course, I didn’t realize I was sacrificing my hand coding to an evil editor. It chewed my code up and spit it out in mangled form. I was depressed and vowed to avoid using a web design editor, no matter the cost.

Fast forward several years and I’m running multiple businesses. Some of them call for repetitious coding. Hand coding takes forever. It’s slow, but its accurate. Still, if only there was a way I could have saved time, I would have taken it. Around this time, the big two web design editors were by Macromedia and Microsoft. I could only stomach two minutes in the Microsoft program, also known as FrontPage. It added in all this unnecessary Microsoft coding and messed up my pages. I was told by a designer friend to try Dreamweaver, the other editor option. This was in the program’s early days. Still, my code was much cleaner in Dreamweaver than it was in other editors. Dreamweaver showed remarkable promise.

That brings us to today. I am now a loyal user of Dreamweaver. Now an Adobe product, I’m currently using Dreamweaver CS 4. As the program continues to grow and develop, I’ve realized how much time I can save using Dreamweaver. I still do part of my coding by hand, but Dreamweaver cuts the work out on things like making tables and setting up my CSS documents.

Dreamweaver has the potential to be incredibly newbie friendly due to it’s array of easy to use, easily labeled panels and tabs. I know that if I’d have had Dreamweaver around when I was learning to code, I wouldn’t have made nearly as many mistakes, coding wise. This program would have saved me an incredible amount of time!

When you look at something like Dreamweaver and compare it to a program like Photoshop, you aren’t going to be as likely to see the benefits of the changes in the upgrade quite as much in Dreamweaver. The program works so well now, on its own, that upgrades often include what I like to call “tweaks” as opposed to actual feature changes and inclusions. The next step Adobe is going to have to make is to have Dreamweaver construct vast layouts in one click, for a variety of webpage styles. Of course, that takes most of the fun out of designing.

What I’d like to see, in the next version, is more support for the coding that is done by programs like WordPress. For example, it’d be nice to be able to preview a WordPress theme in Dreamweaver’s visual/design panel before the theme goes up on the webpage or to have coding assistance for WordPress built into Dreamweaver. I’m not sure if this would be possible, but I could imagine how many bloggers would start using Dreamweaver (if they aren’t already) due to it’s support of WordPress. It’s one of the most popular, well used, pieces of open software, so while this would be an awesome edition to Dreamweaver, it’d be more like the icing on the cake than something that I require in order to use WordPress. It’d make my own life much easier, and it’d open up use of Dreamweaver to a larger audience, in my opinion.

Without the inclusion of extension features, like the one I just listed above, Dreamweaver CS4 is still rocking. It doesn’t eat my code. I love that about the software. I don’t have to go in and fix my code, because everything looks as clean as it would had I hand typed it. Dreamweaver also has helpful coding suggestions/hints for those who do hand coding. If I open a tag, Dreamweaver will close it for me wherever I want it closed. It’s just that easy and helpful. If you design websites and don’t use Dreamweaver then shame on you!

Release Information:
Dreamweaver CS 4 was released with other software in the Creative Suites 4 set on September 23, 2008. The CS4 software products can be downloaded individually, in upgrades (if you own past versions) or in sets with other CS4 products, on the Adobe website.

The following collections feature Adobe Dreamweaver CS4:

Adobe CS4 Design Premium – $1,799 – Upgrade – $599
Adobe CS4 Web Premium – $1,699 – Upgrade – $599
Adobe CS4 Master Collection – $2,499 Upgrade – $899

You can purchase Dreamweaver CS 4 on it’s own for $399 or upgrade to this version for $199. For all that Dreamweaver offers, and the upgrades to this version, I believe this price is fairly reasonable.

Price: 4 out of 5 stars

About the Developer:
Adobe is the name I trust above all others when it comes to software that is used for web site design, graphic design, animation and other forms of visual media. I have been using Adobe since the 90s. I remember the early days of Adobe. What is now obsolete in the world of design was revolutionary and Adobe was in the thick of it all. Having acquired products from Macromedia, such as Flash and Dreamweaver, Adobe has opened themselves up to become the definitive source for multimedia and design software.

Product Features:
For those who design webpages, but have never used Dreamweaver, you should. Dreamweaver is friendly to all coders regardless of experience level. The top panel of Dreamweaver features the option to click Design Mode, Split Mode, or Code Mode. Design Mode is the quintessential WYSIWYG editor. You can copy and click buttons in the other panels to do everything from insert images, to make intricate tables and website layouts. The Code Mode is for coders who prefer to do most of their coding by hand. Switching back to design mode allows for visual views of whatever is being written into the code. This mainly supports HTML, unless you have an extension that allows you to view coding such as PHP code.

Split view obviously combines both code and design modes. This is great if you’re trying to troubleshoot a coding problem. As you fix the problem the design reflects the changes. When you are in coding view, as you type, helpful codes pop up to allow you to save time and not have to type every single part of the code out. Dreamweaver’s visual view also supports calls to other created documents by Dreamweaver or hand coding.

For example, as you make changes to a CSS document that an HTML file you are working on in Dreamweaver is calling, you can actually see the CSS changes in the visual view for the HTML file. You have to save the CSS file for the changes to take effect though. Still, I don’t remember this working quite so well in past versions of Dreamweaver.

Dreamweaver supports a wide variety of file types. Nearly any file type you could want to create for your website is supported. Supported types include HTML, PSP, JSP, CSS, XML, Javascript, Cold Fusion, Actionscript, ASP.Net (VB & #C), ASP VBscript, and I’ve even edited PERL code in Dreamweaver. Many of these types of code have syntax highlighting available. Of course, most of the things I’ve mentioned so far about Dreamweaver have been available in past versions. I should definitely spend some time on what’s new for Dreamweaver CS 4.

A lot of pretty cool changes have been made to Dreamweaver CS 4.

The change I like the most is to the Live View Feature. This allows for a live preview of web content that loads in half the time. You can preview and test web content easily and quickly with little to no wait time. It also loads directly through Dreamweaver CS 4. Before, you had to open these files up in an external browser such as Firefox or IE.

One new feature that I don’t use too much, but that I can see the advantage in using is the new Related Files Bar. You can use that to see the source code for your related CSS files, in a code based view, while looking at the main file the CSS file correlates with, in the design view of Dreamweaver CS4. As I mentioned before, you can update your CSS by hand or in Dreamweaver, save the file, and have the changes show up in the Design View for the file with which the CSS is connected. Additionally, Dreamweaver CS 4 allows for use of Code Navigator. This makes it easy to find the CSS source code that relates to the file on which you are currently working.

I also spoke about code hinting. That’s when you start to type in a part of a code, and then the rest of the code pops up, allowing you to select what code you want to type rather than having to type it all out, by hand. This feature has been enhanced even more than what is available in Dreamweaver CS 3. It’s the most useful tool, in my opinion. I use this more than any other in Dreamweaver CS 4. The support in this version has been increased specifically so you can write Javascript and Ajax coding with ease. I’ve also found that it is easier to write PHP and HTML coding from scratch, so some improvement seems to be available for all of the coding languages that are available.

You can now add dynamic data to your webpage without struggling to work with a database (which can be a major hassle) or fighting with XML. This is capable through Spry Data Sets, which recognize interactive data in simple HTML tables. I haven’t found much use for this feature, but if I’m adding dynamic content, I’m using something like Flash rather than coding it into my webpage in another way. That’s just my personal preference, though.

One of the coolest updates I’ve found is the integration of PSD file Smart Objects. I work a lot in Photoshop, especially since I like Photoshop CS 4 a lot more than past releases. Before, I’d have to save my PSD files into JPG or some other extension before loading into Dreamweaver. Well, not anymore. It’s now possible to upload the PSD file into any website that is being designed or tweaked in Dreamweaver CS 4. Then, if I update the image in Photoshop, it updates the changes in Dreamweaver. This also optimizes the images into a web-compatible format. Tres convenient!

CSS coding is enhanced. It’s so easy to put in CSS thanks to extended code hinting. You can also apply specific CSS rules to your files through the properties panel. This is a great function if you’re new to CSS, as each panel offers a helpful explanation of the CSS style.

Finally, Dreamweaver CS 4 offers support for Adobe AIR. This seems to be universal for most of the software packages in CS4.

Product: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Using the Product:
As I’ve mentioned throughout this entire review, this is pretty easy to use. You can hand code, if you want, though you certainly don’t have to. The easily labeled panels and tabbed bar at the top make for easy to use and follow directions when making everything from layouts to tables. Dreamweaver CS 4 even features a variety of pre-made templates that offer a specific layout for your website. Making a website is as easy as a few clicks and some cutting and pasting if you already have the text of the site written.

Functionality: 5 out of 5 stars
Ease of Use: 5 out of 5 stars
Newbie Friendly: 5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Dreamweaver CS 4 is the right step forward, by Adobe, from past versions of this software. With a variety of upgrades and software tweaks, you’d be crazy not to upgrade to this version. If you don’t own Dreamweaver already yet you design websites on a regular basis, then you need to purchase this invaluable, time saving tool. Newbies who wish to learn how to design websites can benefit greatly from using Dreamweaver CS 4. This version of the software is also much more compatible with the W3C’s Markup Validation Policies, making for the cleanest, most web friendly code by a web design editor available.

Reuseability: 5 out of 5 stars
Visually Pleasing: 5 out of 5 stars
Overall Rating: 4.79 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Adobe, Dreamweaver, CS 4, Software Review, website, design, coding, HTML, PHP, syntax, Adobe Air, PSD, Photoshop, compatible

I still used Photoshop, especially when it came to editing, resizing and
improving photos. That’s pretty much my entire purpose for using Photoshop these days. With this in mind, I wondered what the new Adobe Photoshop CS4 would have to offer someone like me. I don’t use Photoshop every day (unless you include using it to resize pictures), but when I do, I want to know that I have the best, most powerful software that I can use.

I was surprised by all of the changes Adobe has made to Photoshop CS 4. There are some really great improvements, especially when it comes to photo editing. It seems like many of the complaints I had with Photoshop were listened to and corrected. Now, nearly anyone, whether they are a professional photo editor or not, can use the point and click style of editing that Photoshop now offers.

Another improvement to Photoshop CS4 is the layout for the program. There seems to be a universal setup style for the layout of the majority of the products in the CS4 line. Panels line either side of the workspace, but unlike the CS3 release of Photoshop, I’m not as quick to minimize these panels. The auto adjustment panel is just one of the new sidebar offerings that are not just there for show. These panels are program necessities and nothing is easier than popping up a panel and clicking whatever adjustments need to be made.

Release Information:
Adobe Photoshop CS4 was released in a standard edition and extended edition, and in various CS4 packs, such as the Adobe CS4 Master Collection. All of the CS4 programs were released on October 15, 2008. The latest version of Adobe Photoshop is a vast improvement from the software I used in the early days of Adobe. It’s incredible to see the improvements in this version, having used one of the early versions of Photoshop.

While Photoshop may seem to be a bit expensive, what you get for the price you’ll pay is well worth it. The price for the standard version of Photoshop CS4 is $699. You can upgrade to the latest version of Photoshop for just $199. Of course, you can try before you buy with a free trial of the software available at Adobe.com. There are also a few different collections, which offer Photoshop as one of the main products. I received Adobe Photoshop in the Adobe CS4 Master Collection.

The following collections feature Adobe CS4:

Adobe CS4 Design Premium – $1,799 – Upgrade – $599
Adobe CS4 Web Premium – $1,699 – Upgrade – $599
Adobe CS4 Production Premium – $1,699 Upgrade – $599
Adobe CS4 Master Collection – $2,499 Upgrade – $899

There is also a Photoshop CS4 Extended version, which is available for $999 or a $349 upgrade.

Price: 4 out of 5 stars

About the Developer:
Adobe is, by far, the best developer of software for website design, graphic design and photo editing. Photoshop has been able to move above and beyond less professional offerings to become the definitive photo editing software. I know that many of the top graphic and web designers I know and work with use Photoshop. Going with Photoshop CS4 is the only answer. Past versions just don’t hold a candle to this enhanced version.

Product Features:
Where Photoshop CS4 shines the most is in its features. This isn’t just a fluff upgrade from CS3. The developers of Photoshop CS4 made some hardcore changes that users of past versions struggled with using, the hard way, previously. There are some new features that truly make photo editing much easier and some of these features are so stunning they’ll leaving you asking, “How’d they do that?!”

First, let’s talk about Content-Aware Scaling. This, hands down, has to be the very best feature of Photoshop CS4. Basically, if you’d like to resize an image or continue a background in an image, you no longer have to copy and paste and/or clone. The photo rescales itself, and it does so without blurring or distorting any part of the image. This feature allows for image recomposing so the central part of the image (the focal point – i.e. an individual person or item in the picture) remains relatively untouched. At the same time, backgrounds and less important parts of the image expand without contorting the focal image or the background. It’s pretty sweet to see this feature in action.

You can see my attempt at Content-Aware Scaling above. My nephew, Lil B, is driving in his car and I’ve made his car a bit beefier and the background has expanded in the second image. Like most features in any program, this doesn’t come without a few problems. I could only expand it so far with Content-Aware Scaling before Lil B and his car were affected. The pixels for the grass and trees also distort a bit too much if I force the image smaller. Using a mask can help to improve this by only scaling certain parts of the image. This is a feature you’ll definitely have to play around with a bit before you can perfect it.

What is cool about Content-Aware Scaling is the fact that I no longer have to crop out images, cut out parts of pictures just to move them around in the picture or copy and paste meticulously with the clone tool to expand an image. It’s truly made background enhancement much easier with less time spent cloning and more time spent perfecting the image. The above images could definitely do with some touch ups though and that comes in the form of the next feature I’d like to talk about.

The Adjustments panel was around in other versions of Photoshop, but never in such detail. Through the Adjustments panel, you can adjust various aspects of an image. In fact, you can select certain parts of an individual image and adjust just those parts. It’s that cool to use! You can adjust the Brightness/Contrast, Levels, Curves, Exposure, Vibrance w/Saturation, Hue/Saturation, Color Balance, Black and White, Photo Filter, Channel Mixer, Invert, Posterize, Threshold, Gradient Map and Selective Color. There is also a selection of Presets for Levels, Curves, Selective Color and some of the other Adjustment Tools. I also like how the Curves Tool has a hand button you can press to set the curve on the actual image. It allows certain parts of the image to lighten and or darken without affecting the entire image.

The image below again features my nephew Lil B. The first image (the one on the bottom of this page) shows the picture my brother in law’s shoddy camera took. Then, my goal was to make the image less washed out and brighter. You can see that easily in the very last image I’m featuring in this review (on page two). I plan to play with this feature a bit more and use other tools that Photoshop offers, not in the Adjustments Panel, to further enhance the picture. However, I just wanted to give you an idea of what kind of things this panel can do for you and your photos.

In the past few years I’ve become a competent designer. Well…at least in my own mind. I’m a self-taught web designer. I started out in PSP (of all programs) though I hate to admit I ever used such a substandard program. It wasn’t long before I started using Photoshop. This was way back in 2002. I was new to Photoshop and while I was told that all of the “pros” were using the program, I found it to be much harder to learn than the previous programs I’d used.

Still, I was persistent. I wanted to use what the pros were using. In time and with a lot of help from tutorials (as well as other designers) I became quite proficient in Photoshop. From there, the next logical step was to learn Flash. I was absolutely fascinated with Flash. I started trying to learn Flash back in late 2002. I was obviously quite dependent on tutorials and assistance from other designers in these early days. Flash was in one of its earliest editions, but it was offering a revolutionary new approach to design and illustration. I definitely wanted in on the Flash bandwagon.

Sometime in 2003, I found an excellent Flash tutorial website, Cartoon Smart. The site was (and still is) run by a man named Justin Dike. For a fair price, I was able to receive easy to follow and in depth lessons in how to do many of the things I wanted to learn to do in Flash. Since 2003, I’ve been a loyal fan and customer of Justin’s. I highly recommend all of his tutorials, no matter your level of proficiency in Flash. While I know quite a bit more, and have become quite competent with Flash on my own, I still find Justin’s lessons invaluable. I often buy new lessons and modify what he teaches to suit my own designs and illustrations. Without him, I don’t feel I’d know Flash nearly as well as I do today.

When Flash CS4 Professional was being announced and I found out about all of the new features, I knew I had to have this program. I now use Flash, nearly exclusively as my primary program for website design, development and illustration. The ability to animate, draw, design and develop a wide variety of web friendly applications makes Flash CS4 the flexible, reliable and obvious solution for any web designer. I just happen to be one of the many Flash loyal people on this planet and with all of the really cool features that Adobe Flash CS4 is now offering I don’t see that changing anytime soon!

New Features:
There were several new features I was quite excited about after the release of Flash CS 4 Professional had been announced. The most exciting new features, for me, are object oriented animation, the Bones Tool (which allows for inverse kinematics), and the Deco and Spray Brush. The latter (Deco & Spray Brush) would either be really amazing to use, or a bit corny and not at all helpful. Unfortunately, as of now, I haven’t found much use for it, so I can’t exactly say whether it was worth being added to this upgrade, or not. I will say that it does have the potential to be worthwhile, in the right circumstances. I just haven’t found them.

I was putting my money on the entire Flash CS4 Professional edition being pretty amazing based on the videos of the new features I saw on the Adobe website. I can’t tell you how right I am. You’re just going to have to use this program to see just how amazing it truly is. While Flash (and all of the Adobe software packages) is expensive, I do believe this invaluable tool for designers will pay you back tenfold.

Let’s start by discussing Object Oriented Animation. Back in the good ol’ days, Flash required a series of steps to animate objects. If you didn’t follow the steps just so, your animation might appear bumpy, unrealistic and not at all like animation should look. Now, your object is set as a symbol, you right click, select Motion Tween, go to the ending keyframe, move the object from the start position to where you want it to stop and then the timeline is set for you. Adobe Flash determines the path the motion should take for the movement, ideally, and you just have to sit back and let the program do all the work for you. Pretty cool, eh?

To make things easier, you can adjust your animation without having to reanimate the layers and reset the motion tween. The object in motion features something called Bezier handles. Adjust those and you can adjust your animation. It’s pretty simple, and easy to use. It makes animating nearly any object a hundred times easier and then some! Of course, the addition of motion presets, which allows you to pop in presets for nearly any type of object saves designers even more time! To add to the motion features is a motion editor, which allows for more control over every aspect of individual tweens including, but not limited to rotation, scaling, easing control, transformation controls and color effects.

If this is still a bit confusing then you are going to want to check out Justin’s (Cartoon Smart) free lessons. This shows an example of how to use motion tweening on any object of your choosing. He also has a lesson on 3D object animation in Flash CS4. You can download both of these lessons for free at the Cartoon Smart Blog. Also, check out my own motion tween video below! This looks pretty nifty doesn’t it?

As if Flash animation couldn’t get any easier or more high tech, the addition of inverse kinematics has to be about the coolest feature of this new upgrade. You can take any chain like object and make it swing around. In the example I’ve included, I quickly drew a funky little cartoon guy. To show off what the Bones Tool can do, which controls inverse kinematics motion. In this case, I moved the funky man’s legs and arms.

Then I made him jump up and down using the object oriented animation motion tween method I mentioned above. I wanted to make him do the air splits and show off how his legs and arms can swing around individually. I should note that I only drew his arms with the intent to move them. After seeing how funny he looked, I decided to move his legs, too. So from the straight drawn legs, I was able to give them dynamic, realistic joints. This is DEFINITELY my favorite new feature of Flash CS4!

To see my animation, go to the next page.

Like many other, struggling, self-taught designers, I scoured the web for tutorials, affordable courses, and anything else I could find. This brought me to the Cartoon Smart website. I’ve had a personal work relationship with Justin, the founder of Cartoon Smart for years, only he didn’t know about it until recently. You see, it’s Justin who has taught me everything I’ve needed to know about using Flash. Justin has taught me everything from animation techniques to Actionscript. Every step of the way, as I’ve learned Flash, Justin has been there.

Justin has been creating Flash Tutorial/Training lessons since before 2003. I know this because I have payments for lessons dating as far back as that year. I took some of his earliest courses and feel I’m all the better for it. Justin’s courses are unique because they make it easy for people of nearly any learning style to learn how to use Flash.

Those who are visual learners can watch the video and then copy what Justin does in their own projects. Auditory learners can listen to the instructions Justin gives on his videos. They are casual, informal and downright entertaining. Hands on learners have the opportunity to jump right in and get to using Flash as Justin is explaining how to do it. These tutorials are just so comprehensive, nearly anyone can and will be able to learn how to use Flash, thanks to Justin.

On the Left: Dominick - mid-tutorial on Part One On the Right: Justin's Completed Part One Tutorial Images

*Click on the Image above to see it in a bigger, easy to view form.

In this review, I had the chance to go through and complete a Five-Part Interface Design Mega Course. After completing this course, I’ve used some of the techniques Justin taught me on at least four or five different website designs and graphics. There are so many practical purposes for this course. I’ve used many of the elements that Justin explains in website design. From image reflection to giving images a glossy appearance, I’ve found this interface design course amongst the most useful tutorial courses that Justin has developed, to date.

The Mega Course is divided up into five parts. In part one, Justin goes through some common illustration techniques he uses. He discusses how he has a big file filled with examples of design elements that he’s used in past designs. This not only gives him ideas for future designs, but he also is able to save time by cutting and pasting parts of past designs, if he can use them, in new designs. I think that’s a smart idea. I know that I’ll sometimes cut and paste Actionscript commands, as opposed to having to rewrite them, over and over within the same project. It’s just another way to be more efficient when designing in Flash.

You can see  a screenshot of what I learned in Part One, midway through the tutorial up above. For reference, I included a screenshot of Justin’s completed Part One tutorial SWF file. As you can see, I follow most of Justin’s tutorial closely, but I also add my own flair to the design. For example, you can see he’s used a basic font for the clock face, while I’ve used a font designed after a clock, to give it a more realistic look. These little things allow me to explore my creative impulses yet teach me the right structure for how to start designing and how to develop interface designs that Justin’s tutorial provides.

Moving on to Part Two, Justin goes into specific interface designs. I’ve actually modified one of the main illustrations he designs in Part Two for the new logo of LI Kids. You can check out my design below and then look at what Justin originally did in his tutorial, which gave me the idea for the LI Kids logo.

This Tutorial from Cartoon Smart Inspired the LI Kids Logo

And here is what Justin teaches in Part Two of his Interface Design Mega Course.

Justin's Interface Design that Inspired the LI Kids Logo

As you can see, with Justin’s designs, there is quite a lot of room for interpretation and the ability to take what he teaches while applying it to your own designs and illustrations. You can go to the LI Kids website to see other elements of design taught by Justin, in this course, too. For example, just by looking down the sidebar, you can see how the element of “reflection” has been used on the LI Kids RSS button. This has become one of my favorite element design tricks, actually. I’d seen it done before, but didn’t really put much stock into it until Justin discussed the appeal of reflective images in the Interface Design Mega Course.

In all, this course is six hours Long. The first five hours teach about a variety of design drawing and illustration techniques. You’ll get to design LED style screen images. Based off of Part Three and Part Five, I’m actually working on an illustration I’m planning to use right here on LI Reviews, but I don’t want to give too much away about that until it is designed. That’s what I like about Justin’s courses. You get what you pay for and it comes back tenfold with each new design you create, using the various techniques he teaches.

In Part Four, Justin goes through an actual design technique that could be used on a high tech, Flash website. I’ve always been more creative and artistic with my designs, but I do enjoy knowing that I could go for the Flashy, more high tech designs if I wanted to. Finally, in Part Five, the designs are given some actionscript and they actually come to life. This is the icing on the cake for this course. I can’t stress how important this course is, to designers of all levels. I’ve been using Flash for a while now, but I’m constantly learning new techniques from Justin. I’ve been a loyal customer of his for years and I intend to keep it that way.

CLICK HERE to see the Effect Above in Full Size. Click on a Link/Button to see what happens!

One more thing about the Cartoon Smart courses is how well laid out they are. Justin takes you from start to finish through Quicktime videos. He shows you every thing he does. He explains every step he takes. Example files are included, with the finished files that he completes in each tutorial. He’s thorough, engaging, easy to listen to and an all around nice guy. In the event you have a question about the tutorial or Flash in general, I’ve found Justin to be a nice, well-mannered, informative penpal. He will get back to you promptly and try to explain what you need to do in Flash, to accomplish the effect or design you want.

If I had to recommend any course to both beginners and established designers, it would be, hands down, the Interface Design Mega Course. You will find a practical and useful purpose for everything Justin teaches you. I’ve completed this course recently and I design in Flash every single day. This course is exactly what I needed to up the ante on my designs. In the few days since I’ve finished this course, I’ve found myself using the same techniques that are taught in this course innumerable times. There just isn’t anything else to say other than…YOU NEED TO BUY THIS COURSE!

You can purchase the Interface Design Mega Course through the Cartoon Smart Website. This course only costs $20. Seriously! For over six hours worth of training you’ll use for a lifetime of using Flash, this course pays for itself within the first hour of this tutorial.

You can check out all of the other great courses Justin has developed at Cartoon Smart. Justin is a talented Flash designer and he’s the reason I’m still using Flash today. Without him, I’d truly be lost with nary a clue on how to do half the things I know how to do in this wonderful program.

Stay tuned for more reviews for Justin’s courses. With the release of Adobe CS 4, Justin has new courses coming out and I’m planning to share all of the details on the free and paid courses he’s developed for this new, innovative Flash software. Until then, check out the rest of his courses on his website, which include learning how to Illustrate, Design Websites, Make Flash Games and Learn Actionscript.

Technorati Tags: Cartoon Smart, Justin, Interface Design Mega Course, Tutorial, Adobe, Flash, CS 4, Website Design, Flash Tutorial

For years, I filled my days with music in any way I could. I took vocal lessons for over 14 years with professional voice teachers. I taught myself how to play the piano. I played in my school’s band. I was involved in Opera Camp and musical stage productions. Anything I could do to get involved in music, whether it was singing, playing, or composing on the piano, I was doing it.

When everything became computer oriented, it only seemed natural for music to do so as well. I am what I would call, computer competent. So, when I found this entire community of individuals who were as creatively driven as I was, it seemed natural to want to know what they were using.

I compiled a list of all the innovative programs that were allowing people a whole new level of music composition and creation from their home. Names like Cubase, Reason, and SampleTank became a normal part of my vocabulary, and then I heard those two magical words…Sonik Synth. I knew I had found one program I wanted to use no matter what software I was using with it to compose my music. I just had to wait until that medium-sized blue and white box arrived at my door before I was off into my own little world…a world where music creation and composition reign supreme.

IK Multimedia & Sonik Synth Make History

I knew very little about IK Multimedia, the makers of Sonik Synth 2, prior to learning about their software. However, upon further inspection of the IK Multimedia Web Site, I discovered all of the other amazing products the company has made. Besides Sonik Synth, IK Multimedia has developed the award-winning SampleTank & SampleTank 2 XL Sample Workstations, Miroslav Philharmonik Orchestral Workstation, the AmpliTube line of Guitar & Bass Software, a diverse selection of Professional Audio Effects, Audio Interfaces/Controllers such as StompIO, and a wide variety of sounds including refills for Sonik Synth 2 and the R.A.W. loop collections.

Just going to the website can be an overwhelming experience because there are so many products to choose from and there is so much information that is offered on all of them. However, if you are a professional musician (or want to be one) in any capacity, the IK Multimedia website is worth checking out. You will find multiple workstations with a wide variety of sounds to assist in all of your music production projects. Upon inspection of the website, you will learn not only about all of the products you can purchase, but also about the company itself.

As an international music software company, which operates primarily in four different countries (the United States, the UK, Italy, and France), IK Multimedia has set the standard for virtual instruments and plug-in workstations in a generation when cyber studios are reigning supreme for every type of music from classical to hip hop. Of course, you simply cannot find a better, more comprehensive set of instruments in a synth workstation then IK Multimedia’s Sonik Synth 2.

The company, which was founded as a private enterprise in 1996 has continually raised the bar for music production software manufacturers. By developing high quality, reliable software with impeccable performance capabilities the innovative line of IK Multimedia products have become a mainstay for many award-winning and top dollar producing musicians, composers, and vocal artists.

Sonik Synth first made its worldwide debut back in 2001. At the time, the musically inclined had nothing to compare this revolutionary synth workstation to, specifically because Sonik Synth was the only synth workstation of its kind! Comprised of some of the most famous professional synth sounds, Sonik Synth had combined thousands of dollars worth of equipment into one simple package. It only seemed natural for a second version, Sonik Synth 2 to be released in January of 2005.

Sonik Synth 2 was developed as the ultimate synth plug-in workstation and was made in correlation with Sonic Reality, one of the top sound developers for sounds and plug-in instruments in the United States. Users of the SampleTank family of workstations will notice a similarity in the appearance of Sonik Synth 2 and the SampleTank interface. Combining a similar interface style with the sounds that have made Sonic Reality famous, IK Multimedia developed this amazing product.

Sonik Synth 2 – Setup

The setup for Sonik Synth 2 went incredibly smooth. I just had to follow the on screen instructions and in less than five minutes I had the program installed. You will have to install the multiple sound folders separately from two different DVD disks. You must register your software online if you want to use it. There is a helpful setup and installation guide in Adobe Acrobat format in your Sonik Synth 2 folder. If you get stuck trying to use Sonik Synth with any of your music software programs you can look in the guide and find out exactly how to set it up. Most of the major software products on the market including Cubase, Reason, and Fruity Loops support Sonik Synth 2. All of these products, but Fruity Loops, was included in this guide.

Since I use a combination of music software products, I did not have a problem installing until I got to Fruity Loops. While it would have been nice to have an installation guide to help, it did not take me more than a few minutes of fiddling with the program to get Sonik Synth 2 working. This was a relatively minor complaint I had in the grand scheme of things and if you are familiar with music software programs you should not find this to be a major problem for you. In no time, I was hooking up my keyboard and plucking out the notes, as I got familiar with the various sounds (and there are many) that are included with Sonik Synth 2.

Sonik Synth 2 – Features

The most powerful aspect of the Sonik Synth 2 workstation is its synth capabilities. Sure, the slick design is incredibly attractive and nice on the eyes, but behind the pretty, blue and silver GUI is a powerhouse of synth sounds. The user manual that comes with Sonik Synth 2 describes it as “a polyphonic, multtimbral sample based workstation”. In fact, Sonik Synth uses as many as 16 multitimbral layers, which are combined with effects and a powerful synth engine to create sounds that retain the quality of many of the synths that used to be used, by hand, in music production.

Some of the most popular synth sounds used today and throughout history were combined to make Sonik Synth 2 what it is. You will have the chance to use sounds that include the various PPGs, the Gleeman Pentaphonic, Arp 2500 and Quandra and multiple Jupiter and Juno synths. There is five gigabytes worth of sounds so you will need plenty of room to store all of them on your hard drive. Categories for sounds include Synths, Keyboards, Drums and Percussion, Voice, Orchestral Textures, Guitar, Bass, Brass, Winds, Pads, Elements, and Special FX.

If you use SampleTank 2 (or 2 XL), you may already know about the three synth engines that IK Multimedia has developed for their workstations. Sonik Synth 2 uses similar engines to the ones that SampleTank does. You can switch between these engines at your whim allowing for both flexibility and continuity in any musical production. The engines used include the all new STRETCH™, Resampling, and Pitch-Shift/Time-Stretch. Most samplers just use resampling so you get that and more with Sonik Synth 2.

STRETCH™ stands for Sampletank Time REsynthesis TeCHnology. With STRETCH™, you have more control over the sound of each sample then ever before. When using the STRETCH™ engine, you can control the pitch of the notes played, the tempo that is played, and the harmonics. With STRETCH™ you can make sure your sounds are on target, in sync, and sound great with a natural quality unlike any other. STRETCH™ even works when you are using multi-sample instruments allowing for even more accuracy during music production.

The effects you can use are not limited in Sonik Synth 2. There are plenty of effects built in, with at least five per instrument channel. This means there are 32 different DSP effects you can tweak to make your music sound that much better. The effects include various types of reverb, flanger, wah-wah, and chorus. The simplicity Sonik Synth 2 has given musicians is astounding, as you no longer have to fiddle with a program to make the sounds, a program to make effects on each sound, etc. Everything is built right in to Sonik Synth 2 for your convenience.

Sonik Synth 2 is incredibly versatile. It will work with Mac, PC, and a wide variety of music software platforms. With full midi control, the ability to make your own sound presets (and save them) and patches, you will have the chance to collaborate when you exchange sounds and data amongst computers operating Sonik Synth 2. You will also have the ability to mix to further enhance your sounds as Sonik Synth 2 has mixing parameter controls and a mix view.

If you are looking for a particular sound, the interface of Sonik Synth 2 is easy to browse. Additionally, there is a search function included that make finding sounds a near effortless experience. The backup functionality makes saving information a snap, and Sonik Synth 2 can be fully integrated with the SampleTank GUI allowing you to use the two together. You can add realism to any sound production with the portamento feature and edit your sounds easily and efficiently with the zone feature.

As you are playing your sounds, you will see the notes played on the interface keyboard, which offers seven different octaves you can play. You can test notes out by pressing them with your mouse. The midi device you are using to play the notes will input the information through the keyboard interface, so you can actually watch the notes (which appear blue when you hit them) as you play them.

You also have the ability to play with the various silver knobs and buttons on the interface. For instance, near the left side of the Sonik Synth 2 interface, there are the mono, poly, and legato buttons. By switching between them, you can make your sound monophonic (mono), polyphonic (poly), or it can be a legato version of monophonic (legato). Other buttons/knobs help you control the various sounds and instruments including how the songs react to midi controls and changing the pitch and filter effects. Of course, depending on your program you are using Sonik Synth 2 with you can add further effects once your sounds have been played.

A Practical Guide to Using Sonik Synth 2

The best thing about Sonik Synth 2, in my opinion, is the ability to use the sounds in various types of music. I enjoy a wide variety of styles. As someone who is trained in both operatic and Broadway singing, was in a classical orchestra, and who listens to everything from rock to hip hop, this was incredibly important to me. I have the ability to create the more dramatic, classical pieces with the orchestral textures and conventional percussion pieces as well as the off the hook hip hop tracks with their fat kicks and crazy synthesized sounds.

You need to have a fairly decent computer to use Sonik Synth 2, especially with over 5 GB of sounds, which you will need to be able to access through your computer whenever you are using Sonik Synth 2. The minimum recommended settings for a Windows® based PC are as follows:

Processor: 744 MHz Pentium® III or Athlon™
Memory: 512 MB of RAM
OS: Windows 2000 or XP
Screen Resolution: 1024 x 768

*IK Multimedia recommends the Pentium® IV with 1 GB of RAM

The minimum recommended settings for a Mac® are:

Processor: 667 MHz Power Macintosh® G4
Memory: 512 MB of RAM
OS: Mac® OS X 10.2.8
Screen Resolution: 1024 x 768 with thousands of colors

*IK Multimedia recommends a 1.25 GHz Power Macintosh® with 1 GB of RAM

Using Sonik Synth 2 is a piece of cake. You will want to play around with the effects, synth engines, and the various buttons and knobs on the interface. Try to experiment to see just how capable Sonik Synth 2 is when you are producing music. You might be surprised at how simple, efficient and effective this program is. It is no wonder it has become the primary plug-in I use for all of my musical creations.

A Sonik Sample

To check out something I worked on while using Sonik Synth 2 (it is a rough cut, but it can give you an idea of the sounds this workstation comes with and the kind of music you can create while using it) you can listen to the song here:

Funky Melody

The Bottom Line

Sonik Synth 2 is an incredibly powerful synth workstation unlike anything else you will find on the market. If you are looking for a program that is going to work with you to make your production pieces better, more realistic, and smoother in sound then this is the program you need. I highly recommend Sonik Synth 2 for anyone involved in the music scene. While the price (at $399 USD) may seem a little high it is worth its weight in gold when you see how quickly you will complete your music projects and do so the right way every time.

You can purchase Sonik Synth 2 from a number of retailers at from the IK Multimedia website where it retails at $399 USD.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Sonik Synth 2, IK Multimedia, Music Production, Software, Synth Workstation, SampleTank, Songs

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]]> http://www.li-reviews.com/2007/10/30/software-review-sonik-synth2/feed/ 0 http://www.li-reviews.com/2007/09/07/sampletank-25-ik-multimedia/ http://www.li-reviews.com/2007/09/07/sampletank-25-ik-multimedia/#comments Fri, 07 Sep 2007 22:03:45 +0000 Ryan the Admin http://www.li-reviews.com/2007/09/07/sampletank-25-ik-multimedia/ The industry-standard sample workstation just got more powerful!

September 2007, Modena, Italy -­ IK Multimedia is pleased to announce that SampleTank 2.5, a powerful update for the top-class sample workstation plug-in SampleTank 2, is now available. It includes many new features such as an enhanced built-in multi-effects system with send and master effects, the addition of a high-quality studio reverb, the ability to read all Powered by SampleTank instruments and more.

New effects section with SEND and MASTER effects. IK Multimedia has added an expanded FX system that now includes 5 new Master insert effects and 5 Send pre/post effects, in addition to the previous 5 effects per part. All are selectable among the expanded list of high quality effects (including DSP taken from IK¹s award-winning AmpliTube and T-RackS). This means you have an effects powerhouse for your sounds with up to 15 effects per part (and up to 90 per instance). SampleTank 2.5 enables you to produce more creatively and efficiently with one of the most sophisticated effects routing systems and high-quality effects around.

Includes a high quality reverb from the award-winning Classik Studio Reverb. The addition of a high-quality reverb derived from our popular Classik Studio Reverb brings the overall list of available DSP effects in SampleTank 2.5 to a staggering number of 33 effects (more than any other sample-based instrument on the market). This astonishing reverb, which emulates the sound of high-end classic studio reverbs, will give your sound a spaciousness and character that simply cannot be achieved with other instruments.

Extended feature set. The addition of several convenient features like the new Global Volume/Pan, Master Loop sync or the new selectable Portamento curves, extend the feature set of what has become the industry standard in sample-based virtual instrument workstations.

More sounds. 200 new Combi patches have been specially designed by our expert team of sound designers, based on the SampleTank 2 XL sound set, taking full advantage of the 16 multi-timbral parts of SampleTank 2.5. Additionally, the newly boxed version of SampleTank 2.5 XL will include a bonus sound disk for more sounds on your SampleTank set-up!

Able to read any ³Powered by SampleTank² instruments. SampleTank 2.5 allows the immediate usage of sounds in Miroslav Philharmonik, Sonik Synth and the upcoming “Powered by SampleTank” Sonik Instruments: SampleMoog, SampleTron and StudioPhonik. This allows you to work from a single interface accessing thousands of sounds that can now be mixed, matched, combined and edited with the extended feature set of SampleTank 2.5 for a truly unlimited world of sounds!

Free software update for all SampleTank L and XL users. SampleTank 2.5 is a FREE update for all SampleTank 2 L and XL users and is now available for download from their IK User Area.

SampleTank 2.5 ŒŒWhat¹s New¹¹ Features:

€

5 send insert effects and 5 Master insert effects
€ New Master Loop sync
€ New Global Volume/Pan
€ New selectable Portamento curves
€ Includes high-quality reverb derived from Classik Studio Reverb
€ Includes 200 new Combi patches based on SampleTank XL sound set
€ Able to read any ³Powered by SampleTank² instruments such as Sonik
Synth 2, Miroslav Philharmonik and the upcoming SampleMoog, SampleTron and
StudioPhonik
€ Includes bonus sound disk in SampleTank XL (boxed version only)
€ Free update for all registered SampleTank 2 L and XL users
€ Fully compatible with Mac OS X (Universal Binary) and Windows (XP /
Vista). Supports VST, RTAS, and Audio Units plug-in formats

Price & Availability

SampleTank 2.5 is available for free as a downloadable update for all registered users of SampleTank L and XL. The new boxed version of SampleTank 2.5 XL costs $499/Euro 419 and comes with 2DVDs with over 1,800 sounds, more than 6.5GB of samples, plus a bonus sound disk not previously included. SampleTank 2.5 is available through our network of dealers and distributors and in the IK Online Store.

Existing IK costumers can also take advantage of our Crossgrade for ALL policy, IK’s upgrade/crossgrade program. Any customer who has a registered copy of any IK software, including versions bundled with 3rd party products, qualify to purchase the discounted upgrade/crossgrade versions of ANY other IK software. Using the Crossgrade for ALL policy, registered IK costumers can get SampleTank 2.5 at a specially reduced price that can save them up to 40% off the regular price.

To check out the new SampleTank 2.5, you may download the fully functional 10-day trial version of the updated software with more than 20 demo sounds, here.

For more information on this exciting release from IK, please visit the Sample Tank Web Site.

Technorati Tags: SampleTank 2.5, Press Release, IK Multimedia, Music Software

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]]> http://www.li-reviews.com/2007/09/07/sampletank-25-ik-multimedia/feed/ 0 http://www.li-reviews.com/2007/07/07/playfirst-dream-chronicles/ http://www.li-reviews.com/2007/07/07/playfirst-dream-chronicles/#comments Sat, 07 Jul 2007 09:51:34 +0000 Dominick http://li-reviews.com/2007/07/07/playfirst-dream-chronicles/ I am a visual person. In fact, the most visually stimulating games attract me the most. That is why I was entranced when I was given the chance to play the new game out by Playfirst, “Dream Chronicles”. While I must admit, I’m also much more of an action fan when it comes to gaming, it is nice to slow down and play a casual game from time to time. Sometimes I will find a game I enjoy. Other times, I will find a game I’ll want to avoid. With that in mind, I set out on a quest to discover if “Dream Chronicles” was a game I would enjoy…or not.

The Enchanted Plot

In this game, whether you are female or not in real life, you play the role of a young woman named Faye. When the game begins, you have just discovered that an evil woman who has magical powers, Lilith, has cast a sleep spell on your entire kingdom! You also discover that your beloved husband, Fidget, is missing! You deduce that he must have been kidnapped by Lilith. In the meantime, you are the only one who is awake to solve the mystery. Even your daughter, a young and beautiful little girl named Lyra, is entrapped within Lilith’s sleep spell and you are her (and everyone else’s) only hope.

In the meantime, you must find out what secret Fidget has hidden from you, why Lilith has cast the sleep spell and kidnapped Fidget, and several other questions about your past life, to reveal secrets you never knew. You discover these secrets through Fidget’s diary, which he has written, to accompany you on your journey and provide clues to both the present and the past.

At the same time, you must also find hidden gem pieces, which fit into structures called “Dream Pieces”. You will see them as tiny glints of light, which occasionally flash on each screen. There are a total of 115 gems in the game. You can find out how many you have by turning the pages in Fidget’s journal.

You will want to complete the Dream Pieces because they are going to help you defeat Lilith. Until you get to the end of the game, you will need to get through multiple puzzle boards. Some are pretty simple and involve matching shapes together. Others are more complex and have you playing a piano or weighing objects. However, each board brings you one step closer to saving Fidget, removing the spell from the Kingdom and defeating Lilith.

Before you can move on, open a door to head into another room, or leave the village, you must solve each puzzle. The puzzles can be difficult because some objects are hidden incredibly well. On some boards, it can be a little confusing, when you are trying to figure out how to solve the puzzle. In these boards, you can have a little bit of assistance if you wait for the flash of light on the screen. This glint is a clue/hint to the puzzle and clicking on it generally helps you figure out what to do. This was one of the few annoying parts of an otherwise enjoyable game.

Dreamy Graphics

This was perhaps my favorite part of the game. Developed by Playfirst, “Dream Chronicles” is by far, one of the most visually pleasing casual games I have ever played. Each screen has intensive and high resolution graphics that have a dreamlike quality. Each screen is different and looks exciting. The lighting inside the home is a bit dark, but once you get outdoors, the lighting is better. Additionally, lightening your screen resolution helps with the darkness factor.

If I had to rate “Dream Chronicles” just on its graphics, I would give it five out of five stars. From the welcome screen to the puzzles, everything is so visually pleasing it makes the whole game worthwhile.

Soothing and Carefree Audio

The Audio for “Dream Chronicles” is soothing. I’ve played many games where the music becomes incredibly annoying and repetitive. However, this isn’t one of those games. It is quite catchy though. I found myself humming along with the music even when I wasn’t playing the game! You also can hear sounds when you click on objects, complete part of a puzzle, or solve the screen/puzzle completely.

The nice thing about the sound in “Dream Chronicles” is that you can turn down both the music and other sounds individually. If you like the music, but get annoyed by the sounds, you can turn down just the sounds. If you like the sounds, but not the music, you can turn down just the music. You can also mute all of the sounds and play with your own music or background sounds.

I would rank the audio four and a half out of five stars.

Artificial Intelligence

The Artificial Intelligence of the game is done for you. You do not have to move your character, Faye through the game. She is moved for you. All you have to do is use the mouse to click on doors, objects, gems, and various other objects. You may have to drag an object somewhere or guide it to a particular place. Otherwise, everything is done for you.

You would think with such a simple setup, “Dream Chronicles” would get the highest rating. However, the mouse does not always work as it should in the game. It can be hard to click on things just right. Even knowing what I was supposed to do, I had trouble with a few of the clicks. I had others in my house test the click out as well, but they were unsuccessful. After multiple tries, the clicks would eventually work. As a result, the AI received a rating of three stars. This problem only happened on a few boards, and made the game only temporarily annoying.

Replayability

Once the game is solved, you know the secrets and answers to the questions you had to answer from the very beginning of the game. You can replay the game, but it isn’t a game you would play for years to come. I would be willing to play the game on occasion, from time to time, if I was bored. However, since the game has the same exact puzzles, which you already solve the first time you play the game (with little to no variation whatsoever) it really is unnecessary to replay the game at all.

Due to the lower replayability factor, the game only receives two stars in this area. While it might be fun to play it once or twice further down the road, it is not the type of game you want to keep playing over and over again!

Final Thoughts

“Dream Chronicles” is a beautiful, fun game to play with minimal problems when it comes to the artificial intelligence of the game. The sound is enjoyable and the story is unique enough to keep you interested the whole way through. If you’re looking for a little fun, and a chance to relax from your busy life, then consider purchasing “Dream Chronicles” from PlayFirst. Chances are, you won’t regret it.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: PC Game Review, Playfirst, Dream Chronicles, Casual Game, Puzzle, Dreams

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]]> http://www.li-reviews.com/2007/07/07/playfirst-dream-chronicles/feed/ 0 http://www.li-reviews.com/2007/07/03/press-release-star-spangled-ik-multimedia/ http://www.li-reviews.com/2007/07/03/press-release-star-spangled-ik-multimedia/#comments Tue, 03 Jul 2007 23:46:52 +0000 Ryan the Admin http://li-reviews.com/2007/07/03/press-release-star-spangled-ik-multimedia/ 10 days of Hendrix tributes and giveaways of over $8,000 in prizes

July 4th, 2007, Modena, Italy ­ IK Multimedia is proud to announce the Star Spangled Days Web Event ­ 10 days of Hendrix tributes and online prize giveaways from July 4th to July 14th, 2007. Inspired by Jimi Hendrix¹s famous 1969 Star Spangled Banner performance at Woodstock, IK¹s Star Spangled Days will give people the opportunity to have their own Hendrix experience through different online features including interpretations of the Star Spangled Banner recorded by various artists using the AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix software, the premiere of the AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix Video Trailer, and an iconic Hendrix photo gallery with historical commentary.

The Star Spangled Days Event will also feature a ³Download AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix and Win² giveaway with over $8,000 of prizes up for grabs including IK Multimedia products such as the Total Studio Bundle, Total Effects Bundle and the StealthPlug, two Hagstrom Super Swede guitars, KRK Systems studio monitors, CAD microphones, Ultrasone headphones, Dean Markley Hendrix Strings, plus an assortment of Jimi Hendrix DVD¹s and CD¹s courtesy of the Universal Music Group.

No purchase necessary to win ­ simply download the demo and complete an entry form by July 14th to enter. Customers who purchase and register the full-version or limited-time crossgrade of AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix by July 14th will qualify for special prize packages.

For more information on this special limited-time Web event, please visit: The Following Website.

Technorati Tags: Star Spangled Days, IK Multimedia, July 4, Independence Day, Web Event

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]]> http://www.li-reviews.com/2007/07/03/press-release-star-spangled-ik-multimedia/feed/ 0 http://www.li-reviews.com/2007/05/30/pc-game-review-jewels-of-cleopatra/ http://www.li-reviews.com/2007/05/30/pc-game-review-jewels-of-cleopatra/#comments Wed, 30 May 2007 18:37:44 +0000 Ashtyn http://li-reviews.com/2007/05/30/pc-game-review-jewels-of-cleopatra/ Archaeological addicts will love “Jewels of Cleopatra” as this game was made just for them. Travel through each tile matching puzzle to explore the wonders of this Egyptian based game. If you like the excitement of uncovering the next new find then “Jewels of Cleopatra” definitely has something to offer you. From the start you can expect a simple download procedure and a quick install without any problems.

In “Jewels of Cleopatra” you will become Dr. Felicity Turnstone. Your job is to uncover nine different ancient artifacts that were buried in nine different temples along the Nile Valley. Keep in mind though not everyone you deal with in the game will be a help to you. Shady McGrady, the art dealer in the game, is sure to be trouble. It becomes your sole purpose to match as many gems as you can in order to move through the game faster than he can and trust me when I say this is not always the easiest thing to do!

If you have played games such as “Gem Shop” or “Jewel Quest” then you will be right at home when playing “Jewels of Cleopatra”. As you match three stones they will turn gold and allow you to travel along them on your quest to reach the door and finish the level. You do not need to clear the board by turning it all gold. You only need enough gold stones to move to the end of the line. If you clear the board you get more points, but these points don’t do anything more than rack up a higher score.

Despite only having nine major goals there are over 100 levels in total, which offers a lot of game play. On the downside, the game is not extremely challenging, except when you are racing Shady, and there is only one game play mode. While your goal is to uncover the nine artifacts you cannot do that without successfully matching the tiles and moving through the levels. The heart of the game is all about the puzzle and tile matching.

There are puzzles within puzzles that will need to be won in order for you to win the game. These games include scarab races and hieroglyphic based puzzles. These games are fun because they add a little variety to the basic game in “Jewels of Cleopatra”. If you manage to pass the levels faster than the games “shady” art dealer you will receive the winning artifact and you will win the game.

Of course, you can expect some things to stand in your way. There will be things blocking your path. When this happens you will have to create several different jewel combinations to move those things and continue on in your game. If a rock is in your way, you can swap it, but you cannot get rid of it. As you move on, some stones will require you to swap them more than once to turn them gold.

You will also receive tools to help you advance such as rock blockers, dynamite, and gold pieces. It’s important to watch out for bugs, too. If you move too close to one of the bug crypts they will be released and move towards you. All you have to do to get them out of your way is squash them by changing the tiles that they are on. If the tiles are gold you can change them anyway, but if you don’t they will come after you and can cause plenty of trouble.

“Jewels of Cleopatra” ends up being addictive though had there been additional game play options the game could have been even more exciting. Regardless, if you remove the slight flaws, and that’s pretty easy to do when you play the game, you end up with a fun and addictive game that you will want to finish once you start.

You can download “Jewels of Cleopatra” at Arcade Town. Get the Free Download or Own the Game by clicking on the links.

Technorati Tags: Jewels of Cleopatra, Arcade Town, PC Game Review, casual game

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