<p>This MacNews Category Review looks at account management products for the Mac. Products covered include Account Management, Billings Pro, Fanurio, FreshBooks, Minco, Slife and Time Tagger.</p>
<p>I've liked the previous incarnations of the iPod touch; I like the latest model even more as it adds still more features. The gorgeous, svelte touch can now record HD video and supports FaceTime video calling -- as well as doing everything it did in prevous versions.</p>
<p>The iPod touch remains a joy to use. Once you turn it on, there's a "slider" at the bottom of the screen that you use to "unlock" the iPod for use.</p>
<p>Apple's latest version of the iPod nano has come under criticism for omitting features such as -- among many other things -- a built-in camera. However, the previous nano always seemed just too small for that feature (or maybe it's just my aging eyes), so I'm happy to see the small iPod return to its roots as a straightforward music device.</p>
<p>Seagate's (<a href="http://www.seagate.com" title="http://www.seagate.com">http://www.seagate.com</a>) GoFlex Home network storage system makes it relatively easy and works relatively quickly, though not without some caveats. (It also works with Windows systems, but, thankfully, there are none of those on my network).</p>
<p>When the Seagate solution is connected to a wireless router, its centralized storage system simplifies the backup and sharing process. You can wirelessly stream photos, movies and music to most network connected DLNA devices, such as game consoles or a GoFlex TV HD media player, from any room in the house.</p>
<p>Not many programs make it to 20 years of age -- Photoshop from Adobe (<a href="http://www.adobe.com" title="http://www.adobe.com">http://www.adobe.com</a>) is one of the few. The feature list of such a mature program (version 12) has to either get shorter but more extraordinary or branch into new areas -- and Photoshop keeps doing both.</p>
<p>This MacNews Category Review looks at ISP products for the Mac. Products covered include DBabble Chat Server, DNews News Server, FmPro Migrator, Mac OS X Server, MailServe, NameStalker, Optigold ISP and Zeus Web Server.</p>
<p>GEAR4's US$349.99 SoundOrb Aurora docking station (<a href="http://www.GEAR4.com" title="http://www.GEAR4.com">http://www.GEAR4.com</a>) is a cool looking and decent sounding speaker system. But is it worth the manufacturer's suggested retail price of US$349.99?</p>
<p>The company claims the polar white SoundOrb is the first "made-for-iPod and works-with-iPhone" speaker system to feature a separate wireless sub-woofer, and I can't dispute that. It incorporates DSP (Digital Signal Processing) technology that has two psychoacoustic sound algorithms, allowing you to listen to your music and movies in Virtual Wide Stereo or Virtual Surround Sound modes.</p>
<p>There is conservatively five trillion iPad cases and sleeves on the market. OK, OK. Maybe more. And they're all pretty much the same, just different, colors, and fabrics. But this case was developed by Quirky, a social development company.</p>
<p>As the Creative Suite versions of the Adobe (<a href="http://www.adobe.com" title="http://www.adobe.com">http://www.adobe.com</a>) software mature, the list of new features for each program grows smaller, but the new features seem to be getting better. This release has some nice features, making this an important upgrade for those using Illustrator for more artistic purposes -- of course, many of those features are useful for graphic designers, too. Here are the top new features for Illustrator CS5 (a.k.a. version 15).</p>
<p>This MacNews Category Review looks at driver's ed products for the Mac. Products covered include GPS Academy, Online Drivers Ed and Virtual Drive of America.</p>
<p>While many people can do occasional typing on the iPad or iPhone via the virtual keyboard, serious keyboarding simply isn't possible without a true external keyboard. While Apple offers two options, they are limiting and the US$99.95 Matias Folding Keyboard (<a href="http://matias.ca/foldingkeyboard/index.php" title="http://matias.ca/foldingkeyboard/index.php">http://matias.ca/foldingkeyboard/index.php</a>) provides an ideal third option for serious iPad typists.</p>
<p>For the most part you probably won't need to use a stylus with your iPad. However, if you're sketching, drawing or using a handwriting-recognition app like WritePad (<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/writepad/id293033512?mt=8" title="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/writepad/id293033512?mt=8">http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/writepad/id293033512?mt=8</a>), you will need one.<br />
Just Mobile (<a href="http://www.just-mobile.com" title="http://www.just-mobile.com">http://www.just-mobile.com</a>) offers the US$19.95 sculpted-from-aluminum AluPen for just that purpose.</p>
<p>This MacNews Category Review is a look at server security software for the Mac. Products covered include DoorStop X Firewall, eSoft InstaGate, JaSFtp, the Keneisys Virtual Strongbox Manager, MacForensics Lab, NavisRadius, Nessus, SonicWall and VPN Tracker Server.</p>
<category domain="http://www.mactech.com/category/tags/category-review-server-security-apps-mac-os-x">Category Review: server security apps for Mac OS X</category>
<p>I live in Nashville, TN, and the stereotype of guys here is that we're burly dudes with cowboy hats and boots who drive pick-ups with gun racks. I'm 165 pounds, go hatless and prefer tennis shoes to boots. I also drive an Escort (gun not included).</p>
<p>But I can ride a horse and -- yippee ki yay -- if the Saddleback Briefcase from Saddleback Leather (<a href="http://www.saddleback.com" title="http://www.saddleback.com">http://www.saddleback.com</a>) doesn't bring out the cowboy in me. And it may bring out the cowgirl in you ladies.</p>
<p>Let's not mince words. Apple's kludge for moving iWork docs between the iPad and a Mac pretty much stinks. It's awkward, unintuitive and very Apple-ish. Enter Ecamm's PadSync (<a href="http://www.ecamm.com/mac/padsync/" title="http://www.ecamm.com/mac/padsync/">http://www.ecamm.com/mac/padsync/</a>), which offers a better alternative.</p>
<p>Pages, Numbers and Keynote let you share files between your iPad and a Mac via iTunes File Sharing. PadSync streamlines the experience with two-way syncing and also works with other apps that support iTunes File Sharing.</p>
<p>I live in Nashville, TN, and the stereotype of guys here is that we're burly dudes with cowboy hats and boots who drive pick-ups with gun racks. I'm 165 pounds, go hatless and prefer tennis shoes to boots. I also drive an Escort (gun not included).</p>
<p>But I can ride a horse and -- yippee ki yay -- if the Saddleback Briefcase from Saddleback Leather (<a href="http://www.saddleback.com" title="http://www.saddleback.com">http://www.saddleback.com</a>) doesn't bring out the cowboy in me. And it may bring out the cowgirl in you ladies.</p>
<p>Are you ready for Dreamweaver CS5 (<a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/dreamweaver/" title="http://www.adobe.com/products/dreamweaver/">http://www.adobe.com/products/dreamweaver/</a>)? I hope so because the latest release of Adobe’s flagship web design titan packs a punch and is sure to increase your layout and troubleshooting productivity with a handful of helpful new features and commands. In this review, we’ll take a look at the best new features Dreamweaver CS5 has to offer.</p>
<p>It's so much more fun reviewing iPad cases than those for the iPhone or iPad because the very nature of the iPad offers designers a chance to be a bit more innovative with accessories for the tablet. Let's face it: there's only so much you can do with a case for the iPhone or iPod.</p>
<p>That's true for the iPad, but to a lesser device. As evidence I present Brenthaven's 5-in-1 iPad Case (<a href="http://www.brenthaven.com/ipad-catalog/5-1-ipad-case-matte-black" title="http://www.brenthaven.com/ipad-catalog/5-1-ipad-case-matte-black">http://www.brenthaven.com/ipad-catalog/5-1-ipad-case-matte-black</a>). Weighing in at only 1.11 pounds, this multi-faceted iPad case (which measures 7.55 x 9.75 x .5 inches) performs five functions including:</p>
<p>This MacNews Category Review is the third and final part of our multi-part look at retail management software for the Mac. Products covered include Quick Business, Quick Pallet Maker, Rental, ResellerPower, SafariGuide, Sales & Inventory, Sales Organizer, SalesForce, SalesSmartz Standard, SalesPro, ShopKeeper Software, ShopManager Cash Register, Sixth Sense Cafe, Studio Organizer, STX, SuperPro, System 1, TakeCharge, TaxTron, TrueShip, WebClerk, WholeSale Organizer and Xpert Accounts.</p>
<p>Second Gear Software's Elements 1.0 (<a href="http://www.secondgearsoftware.com/elements/" title="http://www.secondgearsoftware.com/elements/">http://www.secondgearsoftware.com/elements/</a>) is a great idevice app for writers, especially considering the kludgey workaround you need to sync iWork docs between an iPad and a Mac.</p>
<p>The name Otterbox (<a href="http://www.otterbox.com" title="http://www.otterbox.com">http://www.otterbox.com</a>) is synonymous with quality protection for your portable devices, so having a line of cases for the iPad is a welcome addition to their family.</p>
<p>Generally, Otterbox cases come in the "Defender" line and the "Commuter" line. While the Defender is the ultimate in protection, the Commuter is an excellent balance of price, performance and bulk.</p>
<p>Kraken cases from Trident Cases (<a href="http://www.tridentcases.com" title="http://www.tridentcases.com">http://www.tridentcases.com</a>) are named after the legendary sea monster that was big and strong (and which swallowed Jack Sparrow -- but that's irrelevant). It's an apt name as they'll more-than-adequately protect your idevice from falls, spills and other mishaps.</p>
<p>InDesign CS5 from Adobe (<a href="http://www.adobe.com" title="http://www.adobe.com">http://www.adobe.com</a>) represents a major step forward in usability and adds substantial new features for creating and exporting interactive documents and eBooks.</p>
<p>I've only been in a tank once. It was some museum in my childhood and I can't remember where, but it was impressive. When you were inside you couldn't hear anything from the outside world.  You'd bang on it and your hand would hurt.  It was an impressive vehicle that provided unbelievable protection from the outside.</p>
<p>"Tank" is the first word I thought of when using my Otterbox Defender for the iPad.</p>
