• The costs were too exorbitant and a lot of people didn’t want to take chances with pirated versions.
• The interface is too distended having some very rarely-used features to make learning it simple and straightforward.
• A user actually requires installing the programs onto a machine having specifications which are complied with the program and suffer through many unwanted DRM malware which may also come along with the software.
• The website understands the needs of artists as they are artists themselves.

There are two versions Beta and Alpha:

In the Beta release:

• Phoenix, layer-based image editor
• Peacock, visual laboratory for creating amazing effects and visualizations
• Toucan, color palette coordinator

For the Alpha testing, it is only available to members of the Blue plan:

• Raven, vector editor
• Talon, Firefox extension that lets users to perform screen capturing.

There is additional extensions available too called the Talon on the browsers Chrome and Firefox. With this extension one can perform:

• Complete and partial screen capturing of any webpage.
• Just one click editing and saving any image on the internet.
• Prompt searching of Aviary creation library.

List of tools available in www.aviary.com are given below:

Phoenix Image Editor

With Phoenix Image Editor one can perform from essential image retouching to composite effects, Phoenix offers the key features of a desktop image editor with ease and user-friendliness of a web-based application.

1. Rich editing toolset

One can easily edit images with undo and redo, brushes, magic wand and blend modes available.

2. Powerful layers

To be able to work with layers, groups and masks is easy with Phoenix image editor. It also has instinctive drag and drop interface.

3. Share and learn

Work together with other users. Follow step-by-step tutorials provided to learn innovative skills.

4. Import from well-liked photo-sharing sites

One can easily get to import images from popular sites like Flickr, Picasa, and Facebook.

5. Complementary collection of creation tools

Make use of Phoenix creations in other Aviary tools.

Peacock Visual Laboratory

Peacock is so beautiful and does so many amazing things that it was decided by the website to be called “Visual Laboratory”. A user can easily experiment with the pixel-based images in totally new ways. One can also check out the latest user-created wiki for in-depth documentation.

1. Node-based UI

A user can drag, drop, and connect generators, effects, resources, and controllers.

2. One smart bird

Artists can easily get to combine terrains, patterns, computational effects, and a lot more to form spectacular art.

3. Share and learn

With aviary.com one can team up with other users. They can also follow step-by-step tutorials to study new skills.

4. Import from well-liked photo-sharing sites

One can easily get to import images from popular sites like Flickr, Picasa, and Facebook.

5. Complementary collection of creation tools

Make use of Phoenix creations in other Aviary tools.

Toucan Color Palettes

This can either be used alone or in combination with the other creation tools present in aviary.com, Toucan offers the features you require to inject color into your creative process.

1. Choose and examine

The artists can get to choose up to 20 colors per palette by means of color association rules or an uploaded image.

2. Color associations

Toucan understands everything on the subject of color theory, and a user could even see a color deficiency preview.

3. Share and learn

Team up with other users and follow step-by-step tutorials to learn fresh skills.

4. Import from trendy photo-sharing sites

Users can also get to import images from Flickr, Picasa, and Facebook.

5. Complementary set of creation tools

Make use of Phoenix creations in other Aviary tools.

Raven Vector Editor

Make use of Raven to build completely scalable vector art suitable for logos or tee shirt designs. It is guaranteed that one won’t be able to find a comparable tool on the web.

1. Powerful path engine

Work with paths, lines, curves, and objects. Control stroke, fill color, and gradient.

2. Powerful layers

An artist can easily work with layers, groups, and layer masks. Import scalable vector graphics (SVG) files.

3. Import from trendy photo-sharing sites

Users can also get to import images from Flickr, Picasa, and Facebook.

4. Complementary set of creation tools

Make use of Phoenix creations in other Aviary tools.

5. Share and learn

Team up with other users and follow step-by-step tutorials to learn fresh skills.

Myna Audio Editor

Artists can make use of Myna for remixing music tracks and audio clips. One can also apply sound effects and record their own voice or instruments!

1. Powerful Clip Editing

Artists can trim, Loop, Stretch and Reverse the audio clips, width editable loop points, and interactive time stretch capabilities.

2. Automation

Effortlessly add fade-ins, fade-outs, pan from left to right, and alter gain over time, with editable control points.

3. Effects

Include non-destructive effects to the audio clips including Pitch Change, Reverb, Delay, Parametric EQ, and more.

4. Files Import / Export

Artists have also got the provision to import their own audio files, or search one of our provided libraries. Mix it down and export directly to the desktop or publish back to your account.

5. Share and learn

Team up with other users and follow step-by-step tutorials to learn fresh skills.

1. Falcon Image Markup

Artists can use Falcon and Talon to promptly capture images and web pages from the browser and crop, resize or mark them up.

2. Screen grab the web

With Talon, Aviary’s Firefox extension, one can screen grab and edit in Falcon instantaneously.

3. Quick cropping

Artists can simply resize, rotate and crop images easily. It’s an ideal tool for bloggers and designers.

4. Snag web colors

With this tool one can click any part of a picture to immediately get its color. Great way for matching designs and files.

5. Blazingly fast

Loads immediately, even on slow connections. Hop right inside without irritating wait times.

6. Simple visual markup

Draw arrows, rectangles, text and doodles on any type of image. Alter colors, outlines and size according to the needs and wants.

Are you aware of all the keys on the keyboard? Not yet? TypingWeb has a number of different tutorial software to make your typing perfect. Typing lessons start on with fun exercises to teach the keys. Do you use all of your fingers to type? Typing lessons will direct you to learn to type with all your fingers.

Once you have learnt to master the basic tricks to Type with the least effort and typing can become real fun without really wasting much time on searching for keys on the keyboard. Being techno-savvy in today’s world is extremely important and one can begin to become techno-savvy by mastering the computers. There are plenty of jobs available in the market which requires the basic qualification of computers to be selected. Thus making it all the more important to get yourself acquainted with typing and handling the computer in all. Good typing skills are an important factor to ensure work is done effectively with least wastage of time.

With the help of TypingWeb, learning to type becomes easy and one could also use it as a medium to look for prospective jobs over the internet. TypingWeb is a website which basically aims at improving your typing skills with the help of its typing tutorials and lessons. Once you learn to type and pass the test the site also provides wide variety of jobs for those who wish to work from home. Let us look at in detail what TypingWeb has got in store for its users.

With the help of its Free Typing Tutor one can easily master the keys on the keyboard which helps in improving your typing skills. Users can make full use of the courses offered by the site from novice to professional. It also has useful statistics and real time tracking which lets the users know about the timing and various interesting statistics of the keyboard while learning to type faster. The site provides fun-loving and enjoyable means of learning to type with interactive typing games and offers its users with official typing certificates which can be made use of by the user to confirm his/her typing skills. The certificates of sanctioned to the user from Typing Institute of America. Holding such a certificate is always an added benefit to the user and gives them an edge over others while looking for jobs. It also contains a section named “hall of fame” wherein users from all parts of the world could easily compete with each other according to the country, gender, age to become world’s no. 1 typist. Often one finds that typing lessons tend to get boring over a period of time and the learner tends to slacken. This problem is solved by the motivation of the website which offers interactive games and encouraging information during the lessons.

Certification

TypingWeb as mentioned earlier offers its users and learners with officially sanctioned certificates from Typing Institute of America. These certificates are official, duly signed, frameable and are from the prestigious institute. With the help of this certificate the learner can definitely stand out in the crowd of people while looking for a perfect job. Such certificate shall help in advancing one’s career and help them earn larger sums of money. It also provides an exclusive access to job and business opportunities and is recognized by worldwide employers.

Final Thoughts

There are numerous jobs available in the market which requires an individual to having good typing skills. Keeping this point in mind, TypingWeb has come out with a number of different means to make typing interesting to master. It is with the help of TypingWeb a user can easily master the keys of the keyboard and in turn master typing. Once the individual becomes familiar with the keys on the keyboard he/she doesn’t waste time searching for keys on the keyboard. The best advantage of TypingWeb amongst the numerous advantages is that it offers a 100% authentic certification from the Typing Institute of America. This certificate can be of enormous use and gives the person the required boost to stand distinct and unique in the crowd of people while looking for a job. Typing Institute of America is a prestigious institute and all the employers across the globe recognize its certifications.

TypingWeb has variety of course for all categories of learners starting from Novice to Professionals. This is definitely a big advantage for the learners who get a chance to learn typing step by step. TypingWeb is a great website and is an advantage for all individuals who wish to enhance their typing skills through simple and step-by-step courses offered by the website.

If you don’t know much about this awesome online photo editing tool, drop by to read on my latest review on: Citrify: Photoshop alternative to edit & enhance photo’s online.

How to Participate

You can be one of the 25 lucky winners in three simple ways.

1. Leave a comment under this article OR review article  in less than 25 words, why you want to use Citrify ?

OR

2. Join App Sheriff on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway article and leave your tweet url in the comment section.How to find Twitter URL of your status message (Link).

OR

3. Join App Sheriff on Facebook and share this giveaway article on Facebook and leave your shared url in the comment section

You can find the Twitter and Facebook Page for App Sheriff on top right area.

On February 23, 2009 the contest will end. We will randomly draw 25 people from the pool of comments. You are only allowed to leave one comment, and please be sure to use your correct email. This is how we will contact the winners. More and more contests are scheduled for the whole month. Stay tuned and don’t miss any opportunity.

Good Luck

How would you prefer thanksgiving to be? AppSheriff has been around for quite some time now, and we now think it is pay back time. We, at AppSheriff, believe that the time has come to repay our readers with utmost gratitude for the support you have been showering on us all through the period we have been bringing to you what you looked for. We, indeed, believe there is no better occasion than Valentine’s Day to express our thanks to our valued readers.

And no, the offers don’t end with Valentine’s Day. We, in fact, start the giveaways and discount a day after Valentine’s. We know you would like it to be so!

As you are aware, AppSheriff has made major breakthroughs in the last few months and would love to reward you, our valuable readers, for this occasion. We are going to do it with giveaways and discounts acknowledging for your valued support and participation. We would like to do it with tons of Web Service and Software Giveaways that would make life easier for you.

So, don’t miss the gifts and discounts on offer. The giveaways will begin February 16, Monday 2010. Wonder what we have for you? Valued reader you are for us, and so we will be lining up the best for you. There will a new web service or software giveaway for every lucky winner or winners. The giveaways will be randomly generated 7 days after the launch from the pool of comments. So, stay tuned and watch this space. Who knows, you could be one of our esteemed winners!  And don’t go away now. We at AppSheriff, are set to give Valentine’s an extension. The giveaways and discounts are sure to make it so. Stay tuned.

Make sure you stay updated with awesome web service/software  pro-accounts/full-license giveways and discounts to make life easier for Designers, Developers and Photographers.

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Good Luck

Bouf has got a collection of items that include championing homeware designers like sofas, tables kitchenware, wallpaper, beanbags, chairs, lighting, cushions etc. You can buy distinctive ceramics, glass, storage, decorative accessories and gifts. In the home page itself, you are given a list of items from where you can choose from. This list includes Furniture, Lighting, Kitchen and Dining, Interior Accessories, Decorating, Electronics, Soft Furnishings, Paintings and Art Prints, Ceramics & Sculpture, Shop by each Room- Living Room, Bedroom etc.You can also Shop by Price- Under £10, £10 to £25 etc. There is also a list of stationary items like Notebooks & Sketchbooks, Invitations & Place Cards, Postcards, Greetings Cards, Gift Tags & Note Cards, Wrapping Paper. The other categories include Gifts, Art, Jewellery & Accessories .

What more? You can also Shop by Type like Bags, Purses & Wallets, Bracelets and Cuffs, Brooches, Charms, Cufflinks, Earrings, Hats, Men’s Jewellery, Necklaces, Rings, Scarves, Watches etc. So now whats the confusion, sign in and start buying!

Now if you want to sell your goods then firstly List your items. This can be done by adding images, text, meta tags, delivery costs and dispatch times, product & price variations like sizes, colours etc. The customers can also add images and text to their orders. Then people will come to buy your items.

The Bouf attracts lots of customers from everywhere seeking distinctive and unique items. These customers can purchase your goods directly from you using the secure Bouf checkout. Each time a payment is processed you will be receiving an email detailing your order. Thirdly you can dispatch your items. That is, once you receive an order, you must then dispatch your goods to your customer. You should print an invoice to your customer and attach it to the parcel. Finally funds are transferred. Your earnings will be automatically transferred to your PayPal account. Bouf will invoice you for the sales commission owed on your month’s sales and that money will be automatically deducted from your funds transfer. All you got to do is just invoice your customer.

But to make it work, there are some requirements. It requires a server application and plugin to be installed on your Windows or Mac computer where you have Photoshop or Elements installed. It’s free for 48 hours, so might be worth trying out. Get them here for Windows and Mac (Link).

KPShop includes over 300 functions easily accessible through an intuitive graphical interface. KPShop uses circular pan out menus, slider controls, dial controls, pan controls; all with colorful icons in addition to text captions, and coloring that helps group functions together intuitively. Dial in opacity or brush size; swipe to nudge; and just tap to access most photoshop drawing and editing functions, including many advanced operations.

Never got a chance to try this. But, i already downloaded the KP server and leaving it for my next weekend fun project.

Let me walk you through the steps on how to perform this easy and fast conversion from PSD to Wordpress.

1. Open your Photoshop design and launch Divine plugin.

2. Set and assign all Wordpress elements according to the plugin.

3. Setup your FTP client and upload your finished Wordpress CMS theme.

4. Go to your Wordpress Dashboard>Themes and activate your new theme

5. Test your site. Use Browsera, to look out for Cross-Browser Layout Problems And Scripting Errors

Yes, your theme design is now  fully coded and ready for your visitors.

Download the PSD to Wordpress Converter – Link

Do check out his portfolio and IMDB profile (a long list of films, where he has made awesome contributions) . Click on the image for an interactive slideshow presentation.

D-Scribe Digital Pen

Designer : Reuben Png

Texting or mail may not be just about punching those QWERTYs anymore. D-Scribe, the digital fountain pen concept, has all in it to enable you to send text and e-mail messages from any surface like paper. Just jot down what you want to convey by the keyboard and circle the name of the person to send it in a more in a more expressive way of communication. Significant would be the fact that you have complete access to your message history through a computer since the device records every single word you scribble with it. Add a sketch or scribble that’s funny so that the recipient too shares a laugh.

Palette Digital Artist

Designer: ImagineCup

Art meets digitization on a more special that ever. What’s so unique, you might ask. The design concept of a palette-digital has in it the potential to give a new standard in digital painting. This could also mean that you can fully do away with all the gadgets you until now have been using to get a digital painting done. Interestingly enough, this new fancy takes flight as a normal canvas and palette. You can even touch and feel the canvas, the way you used to with a traditional one. Designed to have connectivity with other devices such main PC system, main monitor or other wireless peripherals, the Palette would come about as a hardware system design with all ammunition in store for the digital artist. You will be able to bring in connectivity between the Palette and PC and other devices via a wireless network. The Palette also would boast of a user interface which deploys photo-optic visual sensor with color recognition.

Dump the mouse and keyboard, and touch, draw and paint as you once used to when you wanted to sketch what was in mind. Feel and touch the digital canvas and palette the same way as you use ordinary canvas and palette. The welcome difference in the new age would be that whatever you draw on the canvas would automatically reflect and sync with your PC that is wirelessly connected. This is one concept that might look as if all designers could have as part of their wish list, owning to the fact that conservative ways are fast getting blended with digital-modern tools. This breathes life too!

Macbook Touch

Designer: Tommaso Gecchelin

Look at the MacBook Touch of the future. Have you ever imagined what would it be like if Apple were to go small? Going by the current day Apple laptops, it is obvious that flexibility has been given the miss by the devices’ unibody design. Now, think of the days ahead. Flexibility is what a consumer would look at than hard rigidness. So it would be no wonder if flexible OLED technology takes over the scene. Flexibility features could come to be accepted as they can provide rich color and resolution density needed for a smaller screen without being a power hog and resists damage by its malleable nature. The thinnest screens now are barely 8mm thick and can fold like a piece of paper.

Designer Tommaso Gecchelin has in fact started vouching for the technology. With the core of this concept being a technology christened iSpine, it functions as the spine of a book, the technology brings in aspects that avoid excessive compression on the screen. Sounds brilliant, ain’t it?

External Touchscreen

Designer : Mac Funamizu

You are in an urgent need to type out a few paragraphs and it is really urgent indeed. And, what if you are on the go? The external touch screen is one device that could come to your aid. Easily deployable as a substitute for your keyboard especially when complicating control is needed, the external touch screen offers the options to turn it into a keyboard. It would also tell you how many new e-mails and RSS feeds you’ve got, time, schedule, new flickr photos of your bookmarked photographer. You may even pick your YouTube movies and watch them too.

Netpad – Ultimate Mobile Computer

Designer : T3

Everyone knows this one won’t take too long. The notebook NetPad, an ultimate device in its own right, has entered into an advanced design stage and might arrive soon. Being built incorporating valuable suggestions from around, the new NetPad might be one device whose main display comprises two info bar touchstrips that offers great convenience of spotting new email arrivals, changing songs and bringing up photos to the user. It would also sport a retractable, thin keypad that allows the user to keep it away when not in use. Do whatever you want to do with it, being watching movies, streaming other media or whatever. You can safely carry it wherever you want to go, as it would come with a carbon fiber lid that can keep the screen up by transforming into a stand when watching movies. It can also be detached if you would like to lay it flat.

Sci-fi Projector

Designer : Mac Funamizu

This one would make you go Wow! Basically a mobile phone concept, this futuristic device comes as if it has sailed out of those sci-fi flicks we just applauded. Cobalto, the glass screen of this mobile phone concept has been envisioned to be able to produce 3D objects in the air. The device features deformable metal which will allow the user to function either on traditional number buttons or a dial like iPod.

Rolltop Foldable Notebook

Designer : Evgeny Orkin

Roll it up after use. This is exactly one unique convenience the RollTop offers you. A flexible notebook concept that can be folded like a roll of paper, it also allows the convenience of carrying and storing it even in a congested place. It features a 17” flat-screen OLED display when fully rolled out with the multi-touch facility that will offer the ease and functionality of that of an iPhone. It can also be folded into a 13” smart tablet PC. Full fledged keyboard like conventional notebooks with which convenient typing can be performed has also been offered as part of the package. And, when you ware not using it, roll it up and swing it around your shoulder with a hanging belt. How convenient can life get?

Mozphone – Blackberry Concept

Designer : Billy May

A combination of a Blackberry 7139 and an optimus keyboard could mean the birth of a new Mozphone concept. The OLED Blackberry may be seen as a result of the constant endeavor of mobile makers to provide the best of the services to their users. The combination opens up a lot of communication channels and this concept utilizes every inch of the phone thus providing complete utilization.

Mac Tablet

Designer: Isamu Sanada via Apple-Style

The Tablet Mac Computer could be revered as the ultimate showpiece some day. Sleek, stylish and elegant, this laptop wouldn’t need a keyboard. Expected as extremely practical for business professionals, artists and technology leaders, the laptop would feature a 13.3 inch widescreen LCD that will enable one to inscribe on the screen with true pen and Handwriting recognition. When it arrives, it will boast of all essential features such as internal CD/DVD combo drive, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi capabilities and Global Positioning System. We are waiting Mac!

Ruby Rocking Chair

Designer : Pouyan Mokhtarani

A crazy idea, it might look. More than just a traditional rocking chair, the Ruby comes with water-filled cushions and would be Ruby chair is outfitted with two huge liquid pillows at the seating area that distributes the pressure of your body weight and decrease the temperature of your certain body areas. Sit n it and just pull the clutch – it starts rocking. Rocking indeed, the design is.

Light Touch

Designer : Light Touch

When you want to type, just switch on the lights. We are crazy, you thought? We mean it, in fact. What we have now is a device called the Light Touch, which comes across as an innovative projector that has the capabilities to transform any flat surface into an interactive touch screen. So you switch it on, and you will be able to just play with the content just like you do on hand-held devices using multi-touch feature. It comes spruced up with an integrated Holographic Laser Projection technology allows the projector to produce high-quality video in WVGA resolution. The functional infrared sensors can detect any sorts of motion and turns the projected image in to 10.1” touch screen that allows the user to control the projector and intermingle with applications. Further, the ultra portable device also extends the workspace of users by changing the working principle of interacting with multimedia content.

Computer Recliner Concept

Designer: Anthony Sanchez

Gamers, your attention please. Here is one special design for you and it is called a Computer Recliner. An interactive design, the Computer Recliner would allow you to explore the digital media without using conventional input devices such as mouse or keyboards. So how do you do it, you wonder? The two touch surfaces and a footrest provided can be adjusted according to your needs for longer computing comfortably. An 18 inch screen makes sure that eye strain is not a hindrance. When you switch it off, it sits on the wall like a transparent sheet. And now if you have work to be done on the PC, you can do it reclining as it is ergonomically designed. A piece of truly futuristic marvel, indeed.

]]> http://www.appsheriff.com/inspiration/creative/majestic-concept-devices-a-designers-wishlist-for-the-future/feed/ 1 http://www.appsheriff.com/inspiration/rollip-create-high-quality-photos-with-40-filters/ http://www.appsheriff.com/inspiration/rollip-create-high-quality-photos-with-40-filters/#comments Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:19:48 +0000 appsheriff http://www.appsheriff.com/?p=2573 Rollip ensures you with high quality photo effects retaining its original image sizes, 40 filters, all completely online. It definitely has the professional online photo effects.

Rollip.com is a website that would allow the users to create what looks similar to an old Polaroid photograph out of any of the image files. The original image file needs to be either in the JPG, GIF, PNG or the BMP format. This website allows the users to choose from among the several different effects that are applied to their photos. In addition to this, the users can choose from the various styles along with the different borders and text styles for the text that can be added as a caption to the chosen photo. The website will return the file as a JPG image file that is ready for download and provides the users with a URL to share so that the others can download this image.

There are a number of different text styles that can be added to the users photo which includes computer like text and handwriting or hand-printing style text. The outcome of this is a photo that would look like an old, blurry, off-colour Polaroid photo. This website is very easy to use.

Firstly you will have to click on one of the several effects that you want to apply to the picture. Secondly choose the style that you would like for the border. This includes the text style for the caption of the photo. And thirdly, upload the file. Within 10 seconds this website would returns with a link to download the file along with a URL for the users to share with their friends.

The Rollip.com has undergone steady growth since its launch. The website has an active Flickr users group containing photos that were created with the application and uploaded by the members. The main difference compared to then other applications is that the competition to the Rollip comes from the sites like Poladroid.net. The Poladroid creates a more lifelike Polaroid style image than the Rollip. At the Poladroid, the bottom text area of the photo is much more thick which is more similar to an actual Polaroid photograph. In addition to this, the user interface is much more easy to use at the Poladroid as you can drag and drop the photos from your computer to the application. However the Rollip offers more effects that can be applied to the image.

The look of this application and its feel to use is a clean and uncluttered. The navigation is intuitive and this website is very easy to use. There is a convenient user friendly top menu bar with the entries to subscribe to the website’s newsletter. You can also leave a feedback about the website or even visit the website’s Flickr group. The Polaroid conversion application is very easy to use and is also self-explanatory. The website is responsive and the page loading and the image conversion process happens very fast. The advertisements are displayed at the top of the website which is not a hindrance.