Apple Products Reviews and Newsletter Resources

PDF2Office for iWork v1.0: Converting to Editable Text

We live in a wonderful world of interchangeable information that is conveniently transmitted via Portable Document Format (PDF) files that have become a standard for multi-platform document dissemination. With the introduction of Mac OS X, the ability to “print to PDF” has been just a click away, and we’ve been able to share our creations with almost anyone. But, when we need to edit these documents, what do we do?

I have long known about a great program known as PDF2Office which would convert PDFs files into Microsoft Words files. Recently, they released a new version which makes conversion to iWork '08/ '09 files for the Macintosh. What GREAT version, because this is the environment I work in every day, and an incredible tool for everyday use.

Read the review from the appleJAC Macintosh Users Group.

HoverCam: Digital Age Multi-Scanner

I’ve had many scanners including hand-scanners (4” wide), flat-bed scanners, all-in-one printer scanners, photostrip/slide scanners, portable roller scanners and many others. At the Consumer Electronics Show I found a new concept in scanners at a reasonable price.

The HoverCam Document Camera is a unique design that scans, copies, archives, e-faxes and video captures using a single elevated camera with lighted assistance. It will digitize filing systems, manage bills and receipts digitally, replace outdated scanners, and help make presentations a memorable experience. The included HoverCam Flex software makes managing scanned files an easy task,  cloud computing a reality, and data storage immediately available.

Read the review from the appleJAC Macintosh Users Group

Otterbox Commuter TL iPhone Case

By necessity, iPhone protection is both a personal and practical choice. On the personal level, there is the determination of how much risk you want to take with your expensive phone. Do you go naked or encase it in a massive shield? Then, on the practical level, what is the best balance between good protection without making the phone bulky and unattractive? The Otterbox Commuter TL attempts the Solomonesque job of splitting the difference down the middle, managing to combine a slim, attractive look with some decent protection.

Read the review from the Lawrence Apple Users Group.

Toast 10

Toast has been synonymous with disk burning almost as long as Macs have been around.  I remember when Toast was an Adaptec product and came bundled with my super-expensive SCSI CD burner.  Version 10 of Toast, now owned by Roxio,  is an evolutionary upgrade.  Each version of Toast includes slightly difference bells and whistles. In fact, this version has so many features that if I listed them all, I wouldn’t have any room to review them.  I’ll summarize Toast 10 in this way:  it puts your digital lifestyle in “turbo” mode.  It doesn’t replace iLife and your digital hub, but makes it better and accessible everywhere.  Not only that, but it puts things all in one place.  A majority of Toast’s functions could be cobbled together with third-party utilities, but Toast packages it well together and with greater ease of use.

Read the review from Lawrence Apple Users Group.

A First Look at Google Chrome

Google recently released the Mac beta of Chrome - Google's attempt to penetrate a well-saturated web browser space. It long follows the original Windows beta, released in September 2008. As with Safari, Chrome runs on a WebKit engine claimed to "quickly and accurately" render pages. The Google software differs by offering a minimalist layout design, pushing tabs to the top of the browser, while using a single window - an "Omnibox" that combines search and URL fields into a single bar.

Click here to read the detailed review by The Macintosh Guild.

1Password 3: A Gatekeeper You Can Trust

How many things do you have passworded for security protection? How often must they be changed? Are they truly secure? Do you keep a paper or electronic list? Are they easy to enter, yet sufficiently complex to stop hackers? Have you gotten frustrated because you couldn’t remember an important password in a timely fashion?

For two years now I’ve been using an excellent program from Agile Web Solutions known as 1Password that has both simplified by security, and strengthened my computer defenses. Much to my delight, they have just released version 3 with lots of important improvements. Previously known as “1Passwd”, it started out as a secure login and password management tool. This is a great application that allows you to manage all your Internet logins and passwords using a single master password, securely encrypted in a special keychain.

Read the review from the appleJAC Macintosh Users Group.

Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac: Virtual PC at its BEST

Got a Mac but occasionally need to do something in Windows? Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac is the perfect answer that lets you seamlessly run Windows and Mac OS X side-by-side, drag-and-drop your files between operating systems, and run Windows software on your Apple computer without rebooting.

With more than 70 new, exciting features and enhancements, Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac is faster, smarter and more powerful than ever — helping you run Windows programs and devices seamlessly on your Mac.

Read about this new release from the appleJAC Mac Users Group

iPort FS-3

The iPort FS-3 is a free-standing (FS) digital media system that provides audio connections between your iPod and your home entertainment system. The FS-3 is an elegant, albeit a bit expensive, integrated solution that let's you distribute playback of your iTunes library throughout your house. Installation is not trivial, and likely requires hiring a pro, which increases the cost of this solution. If you have the funds to spend, and don't already have an Aiport Extreme to Airport Extreme system that you use to play your iTunes library, the FS-3 is an incredible way to maximize your iTunes music listening pleasure.

NOTE: Since this product was originally received, iPort has condensed their FS series digital media systems down to two models, the FS-21 and FS-22, and apparently sold off the remaining models to Sonance (who now offers the FS-3 in this review as FS-3W).

Click here to read the detailed review by The Macintosh Guild.

Manfred Schwind's iVolume

Manfred Schwind's iVolume is a spectacular shareware utility designed to enhance your listening enjoyment of your iTunes library. iVolume succeeds where Sound Check often fails. I tried adjusting the volume by moving the iTunes Volume slider in the Options tab of the Info window, but it just didn't work for all media. If the track sounded correct on the desktop, my iPod was too loud. I simply have never been satisfied with the iTunes Sound Check feature. For those with large and more diverse music libraries, iVolume is simply indispensable. Even those with smaller libraries such as myself, this tool really enhances the listening experience. iVolume solved all my sound volume problems, and now every song in my library plays at the same volume. No longer am I reaching for the volume control to adjust playback on my iPod or for CDs burned in iTunes.

Click here to read the detailed review by The Macintosh Guild.

New Features of Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 for the Mac

This new version continues to refine the great user interface and feature set of versions 6 and 7. Mac users will be happy to see this new version on the Mac (skipping version 7). While there is a lot to like in this consumer photo editing app, here are a few of my favorites:

• Mac users get the full Bridge CS4 app included with all the benefits of Adobe Camera RAW plus the ability to create panos and access to the new Photomerge Scene Cleaner and Photomerge Exposure
• On the Windows side instead of Bridge CS4 there is a new Organizer that works with both Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements.
• Photomerge Exposure is amazing!

But don’t just read about it, Terry White from Adobe recorded this video of some of the new features.