TweakerSoft Releases VectorDesigner Update

TweakerSoft recently updated it's awesome VectorDesigner to 1.4.7. The update fixes a few bugs and is free to all existing VD () owners.

MacUpdate Holiday Promo

Those crazy cats over at MacUpdate are at it again this year with another fantastic holiday promotion. This years bundle includes some outstanding software and as usual you can get it at a ridiculously low price. The promo runs through December 17th and includes the folowing applications:

• RapidWeaver 4
• MacGourmet Deluxe
• iVolume
• WhatSize
• MacPilot
• Default Folder X
• KeyCue
• VirusBarrier X5
• Drive Genius

In addition, if you're one of the first 5000 purchaser's you also recieve iDive from Aquafadas as well, all for only $49.99. That's one heck of a deal espeically if you consider RapidWeaver normally goes for $79 by itself!

Don't be late, as we said this promo runs out on the 17th. Oh, and if you're feeling a little love for AYAAW for pointing out this deal to you, please consider using our affiliate link in the sidebar to purchase the bundle.

Pixelmator Updated to 1.3.1

The Pixelmator team today updated Pixelmator to version 1.3.1. The updated brings a new Color Management Sheet and a new Refine Selection tool. With the new Color Management Sheet Pixelmator seeks to simplify the process of color management which is often one of the hardest things to grasp for beginning digital photographers and artists. The Color Management Sheet brings all the color management tools into one place for easy selection.

The Refine Selection tool offers users the ability to dramatically improve selections made with selection tools. The tool features Smooth, Feather and size settings and of course works in real-time so you can see the results instantaneously.

Other improvements included in the update are improved Type tool stability, user interface tweaks and compatibility improvements, as well as some bug fixes. The update is free to all existing Pixelmator owners and new users can get the full Pixelmator 1.3.1 for $59.

Give Good Food To Your Mac

Give Good Food To Your Mac is back and this years software line up is impressive. Over 65 apps are available during the promotional period. Four of our all time favorite apps are included in the promo: BannerZest Pro, Yummy Soup, Together and RapidWeaver (of course). Here's how Give Good Food To Your Mac works: buy any three of the 65+ apps and receive 30% off your total order, buy any 4 apps and receive 40% off, buy 5 or more apps and receive 50% off. Do the math and that's a heck of a deal. You'd normally pay $316 for our 4 favorite apps and Pulp Motion (we own it but just haven't had a chance to play with it much). If you buy them from Give Good Food To Your Mac you only pay $158! Sound too good to be true? Well it's not but you do have to act fast. As of the writing of this post you only have 5 days, 19 hours, 20 minutes and 27 seconds to make your purchase.

Here's a sampling of some of the other apps offered in this deal:

Toon Boom Studio
Tangerine
Relationship
Pear Note
Nutritionist
Hydra 1.6 + Aperture Plug-in
Comic Boom
Bee Docs' Timeline
Many, many more!

Walk don't run (virtually) over to the Give Good Food To Your Mac page and order up some goodies for your Mac. You won't find better prices anywhere.

Pixelmater 1.3 Released

Yesterday the brothers Dailide (Saulius and Aidas Dialide are the creators of Pixelmator) announced the immediate availability of Pixelmator 1.3, code named Tempo. The update provides more than a few bug fixes, major performance improvements, click-and-drag Magic Wand, Paint Bucket and Eraser tools, improved Hue and Saturation, Replace Color and Colorized tools, a Smart Palette hiding feature and more.

Pixelmator 1.3 Tempo delivers performance gains in almost every function of the application. It takes even more advantage than before of Core Image, OpenGL, and the power of other Mac-only technologies so that dramatic performance improvements are easily seen when one is working with large images—opening and saving, using filters and adjustments, and more.

We haven't had any time to play with the new version but it sounds like a great update. We use Pixelmator on a regular basis here at AYAAW so we're pretty excited about taking Tempo for a test drive. Do you use Pixelmator? What do you think about the latest version? Post your comments in the comment section.

For more info on the update check out the official Pixelmator Press Release.

You can download the latest version here (if you're a new customer) or just use the built in auto updater.

Vector Designer 1.4.6 Released

VectorDesigner 1.4.6

TweakerSoft $69.95

TweakerSoft announced today the immediate availability of Vector Designer 1.4.6. The new version includes support for the new MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air multi gesture touchpad. TweakerSoft also says that the new version squashes some minor bugs and improves performance. TweakerSoft bills VectorDesigner as "the perfect application for vector drawings, diagrams and illustrations, raster image handling, filtering and color correction. Out of the box, it offers everything users need to create professional level vector artwork."

By leveraging the full capabilities of Quartz and Core Image, VectorDesigner retains the feel of traditional drawing applications and features a wide assortment of tools, including smart shapes, rectangles, ovals, rounded rectangles, polygons, stars, bezier creation and editing, as well as raster to bezier conversion.

Combine shapes using unite, subtraction, xor and intersection boolean tools. Text can be fitted inside a shape or along a path preserving all the text editing capability of Mac OS X. All filters and composition may be applied non-destructively to shapes and images. A particularly useful feature is the integrated flickr browser; search texture and images by tags, or by color and download them directly inside the document.

VectorDesigner Features:

* Smart Shapes
* Bezier Creation and Editing
* Text inside shape
* Text along Path
* Layers Support
* Raster To Vector Conversion
* Native Core Image and Quartz Composer Image filters
* Image adjustment panel
* Booleans Operations
* iSight integration
* Scanner Integration
* Flickr Browser
* EPS and PDF import
* SVG Import (WebKit based)
* iLife photo Browser
* QuickLook Support

Minimum Requirements

* Mac OS X Version 10.4 or higher
* Universal Binary for PowerPC and Intel
* G4, G5 or Intel Processor
* 900 Mhz or faster
* 512 MB Memory or higher
* 8.9 MB Hard Drive space

You can get your of VectorDesigner for $69.95 but the update is free for existing owners. VectorDesigner is a pretty slick app and we use it here at AYAAW all the time. It brings an affordable vector graphics editor to non-designers that's simple and intuitive to use. TweakerSoft also provides some very nicely done podcasts that help new users learn to use VectorDesigner. Head on over to TweakerSoft to download a demo of VectorDesigner and then get started by subscribing to the podcast.

Griffin Announces iTalk for iPhone & iPod and iTalk Sync for Mac

On Tuesday, Griffin Technology announced the availability iTalk voice recording app for iPhone and the iPod Touch. Griffin also announced the immediate availability of iTalk Sync, the desktop companion app to iTalk.

Griffin iTalk turns iPhone or iPod touch into an ultra-mobile, super-compact recording unit. This two-part app allows users to create high-quality recordings, and then transfer the recordings to a Mac or PC. Users will appreciate the one-touch recording controls, and the ability to pause/resume recordings and even append to previous recordings on the fly. iTalk is a two-part software application.

Download the iTalk app from the iTunes App Store and install it on your iPhone or iPod touch, for mobile recording and playback. Its companion program, iTalk Sync, runs on your computer to transfer recordings from iPod or iPhone for editing and sharing. iTalk Sync connects to your iPod touch or iPhone wirelessly via your local Wi-Fi network, and makes transfers a snap: just drag the recordings from iTalk Sync's list and drop them onto your desktop. Recordings are saved as high-quality AIFF files, playable in iTunes and most other media players.

High-quality handheld recording

Easy, convenient user interface and controls

Drag and drop file transfers wirelessly to your computer

User-selectable Good/Better/Best sample rate

Pause/resume and append to existing recordings on the fly

Recording on 2nd gen iPod touch works with the addition of Apple's iPhone headset, or with Griffin's updated TuneBuds Mobile and SmartTalk mic/control solutions

For more info see the full press release at Griffin's website.

For a limited time Griffin is giving both apps away free. They don't say how long the "limited time" is so if you want a pretty decent voice recording app combo for your iPhone or iPod Touch and you don't want to pay for it, download them both while you can. There is a small ad that displays across the bottom of two of iTalks 3 screens so perhaps Griffin is testing this as an ad supported app. The ad is very small and unobtrusive so don't let that stop you from trying it out.

Both apps are very intuitive and using them went without a hitch. Syncing via iTalk Sync was painless other than having to turn on Wi Fi on the iPhone. When the app store first opened I immediately purchased nFinity's QuickVoice and it's desktop companion app for the then special introductory price of $9.99 for both. QuickVoice has been a nice app and now nFinity is giving away the iPhone/iPod touch app. You still have to buy the companion app which is currently priced at $14.95 (nFInity's QuickVoice PC page says the regular price is $25). QuickVoice PC is certainly a more full featured app than iTalk Sync. In fact the only thing you can really do with iTalk Sync is wirelessly sync with your iPhone and then drag and drop your recordings to your Mac. iTalk and iTalk Sync are free, however, so they'll no doubt give the QuickVoice combo and all the rest of the voice recording apps on the iTunes app store a run for their money.

Oh and one more thing. Although the iPhone version of QuickVoice works well and has some pretty cool features (upside down mode for when you want to point the iPhone mic away from you) I can't get the desktop app to import any of my recordings. I go through the motions and it does import something but for the life of me I can't figure out where they go. Add to that the seriously ugly interface and OS X 2002 feel and the desktop app just seems like a bad port from a Windows version. I've filed a support request (there is a serious lack of documentation with the desktop app) so hopefully nFInity will be able to help me figure this thing out. We'll see....

In the mean time check out the iTalk & iTalk Sync screen shots below and the QuickVoice shots below that.

iTalk Sync

QuickVoice iPhone App

QuickVoice Desktop App

Aquafadas Releases BannerZest 1.2.6

Yesterday, Aquafadas announced the availability of BannerZest 1.2.6. The update includes bug fixes to the Accordion, Coverflow and Hanging themes as well as a new scrolling theme and Sliding Sticker theme. The new BannerZest used the newest swfobject (1.2.1) and adds many new options in several themes.

BannerZest comes in two versions, $129 for the Pro and $49 for the Standard, and sports English, French, Italian, Danish and Japanese language support.

BannerZest is a great product and by far the easiest way to spice up your website with flash banners. Aquafadas offers downloads of both the Pro and Standard versions so try before you buy and see what all the fuss is about.

Aquafadas announces VideoPier v1.0 and VideoPierHD

From the press release:

Montpellier, France - October 9th 2008 : Aquafadas is pleased to announce the immediate availability of VideoPier and VideoPier HD v1.0. The VideoPier family of products is aimed at videographers who own MPEG-2 or AVCHD camcorders and who struggle with these video formats on their Mac.

VideoPier and VideoPier HD make it very easy to transfer clips from these camcorders to a central location on their Mac, without requiring any conversion, without any loss in quality. The clips appear grouped by Events in the VideoPier elegant user interface, ready to be viewed, organized and converted to any format. VideoPier handles equally well data that has already been copied to disk and will let you access all your clips easily. In addition, VideoPier HD lets you capture HDV material directly from tape based HDV camcorders.

VideoPier and VideoPier HD v1.0 integrates seamlessly with your other video applications and let you use workflows that are not supported by default on the Mac. One example: still using iMovie06 ? Use VideoPier to acquire data from your MPEG2 or AVCHD camcorder; then use the specifically designed iMovie06 export function to send versions of those clips to iMovie06 in a format it understands.VideoPier comes with an extensive set of export functionality, to iMovie 06/08, iPhone, Quicktime and Final Cut (VideoPier HD only).

If you work with MPEG2 and AVCHD material, VideoPier will make your life a lot easier.

Language support
English, French

Minimum requirements:
* Mac OS X Version 10.4.11 or later
* 1-GHz G4, G5, or Intel-based Mac
*512 MB of RAM (1 GB recommended)

Pricing and Availability
A single user license for VideoPier v1.0 US$49, and VideoPier HD US$79.

We haven't tried either but we are big fans of another Aquafadas app: BannerZest Pro. If VideoPier is anything like BannerZest, it's a quality app.

Mail Factory from BeLight on sale at MacZot

We here at AYAAW love BeLight software. In fact, it is our opinion that BeLight is one of the premier Mac development houses in operation today. BeLight software titles are powerful and immenently useful. Check out our Art Text 2 review for a more in-depth look at one of BeLight's best apps. Ok, enough blathering and just get to the point!

Today, MacZot is featuring BeLight's Mail Factory and it's on sale through midnight for $19.95. That's half off for an extremely cool app that makes printing envelops, labels and postcards a breeze. Not only that but with Mail Factory this mundane task is actually kind of fun. With Mail Factory you can print just one envelope or set up a list for batch printing; paste included mail related clipart onto the envelope; choose to print to any of about a bazillion different labels (Avery, DYMO, Xerox and many other label manufacturers that I've never heard of); the list goes on.

If you do any amount of mailing (for your home based business, club, etc.) you really need to download and try out the demo. Like every other BeLight title Mail Factory is a fantastic app.

As of this posting, you only have just over 7 hours to snag this deal, so what are you waiting for? Get over there and do it.

Review: Art Text 2

If you find yourself needing to create beautiful, professional looking graphics check out our comprehensive, brand-spanking new review of Art Text 2 in AYAAW's review section. We highlight Art Text 2's new features as well as it's strengths and weaknesses. Read more about this powerful and fantastic app after the jump.

BeLight Software Releases Art Text 2

Yesterday, BeLight Software announced the immediate availability of version 2 of it's Art Text graphics application. Art Text 2 can be used for creating headings, web graphics, buttons and logos with an ease not found in other software. According to BeLight, the new version features a new Template Gallery with over 200 ready made buttons, headings, icons. Multiple layers support and redesigned interface turn Art Text 2 into flexible tool to create complex graphics. 120 new vector icons and over 190 supplied textures were added. Pricing starts at $39.95, upgrade is free for people who purchased version 1 starting July 1st, 2008 and costs only $19.95 for those who purchased earlier:

"We are thankful to all Art Text users who found version 1 useful and wrote us feedbacks and suggestions about improving the program. When working on version 2 we tried to account on most of those wishes and nevertheless keep the software easy to use, so that two clicks are enough to bring joy to any user!"- says Pavel Skurtul, Art Text Product Manager.

Other Art Text version 2 changes:
- 120 new vector icons added;
- Redesigned program interface;
- Merge layers using one of the 11 blend modes;
- Texture library with over 190 supplied textures added;
- Multi layers support added, each layer has its own properties;
- Library of Shading materials grew to 245 surface materials in total;
- Template Gallery with 200+ editable button, heading, icon and logo templates becomes available.

Art Text 1 is a fantastic app that put the power of higher end graphics programs into a smaller, lighter-weight package that's easy to use and create fantastic looking graphics. We here at AYAAW can't wait to put version 2 though it's paces. Check back for a complete review in the next couple of weeks.

Realmac Software Announces LittleSnapper

Realmac Software, makers of the amazing RapidWeaver, announced their latest creation LittleSnapper at last weeks Paris Apple Expo. LittleSnapper appears to be a screenshot application that can also take snapshots of entire web pages, even those that extend past the bottom of your screen. Beyond that LittleSnapper will also store your screenshots with a workflow that seems to be similar to the now familiar iTunes or iPhoto system of cataloging. According to Realmac, LittleSnapper's cataloging ability features tools to add comments to screenshots, annotate with shapes and text, add ratings and tags, group into collections via drag and drop and build Smart Collections based on information from your library.

LittleSnapper also features the ability to share screenshots via a one-click publishing tool, take shots of individual webpage elements and according to the Realmac blog it will integrate with your favorite image editing application. The one-click publishing thing really appeals to me. I love and use Skitch daily so I'm hoping it works similarly.

RealMac hasn't posted a downloadable demo yet nor have they announced a release date or pricing, although they do state it will be available late this year. This is very intriguing to me on a number of levels. Firstly, I seem to really like and collect screenshot taking apps. I do use them when building websites but have absolutely no need for as many as I have. Secondly, it's being developed by Realmac so you know it's going to be good. Lastly, I really like and collect screenshot taking apps. Whoops! I listed that that twice. I must only have two levels. ;-)

I can't wait and am giddy with anticipation at being able to take screenshots. Er, wait a second. I can already do that with any number of apps. I'm still giddy anyway because one can never have too many screen shooting apps, can they?

Joe Henry

Mudbug Software Releases Webify Beta

Mudbug Software announced on Wednesday the immediate availability of Webify beta. Webify is a basic image editor aimed at simplifying the process of producing quality, web-ready images for use on the web.

Webify's Effects panel includes options to:

• Flip images horizontally or vertically
• Rotate an image on its X or Y axis (this is very cool)
• Apply a Sepia Effect
• Adjust Exposure, Gamma, Saturation, Sharpness, Contrast and Brightness

Webify also includes a crop tool and you can save your image as a GIF, JPEG, JPEG 2000, PNG, PhotoShop, PDF or Tiff formated image.

I've been playing with Webify for a couple of days and find it to be a very capable little image editor that's lightweight and easy to use. It launches immediately and I find myself launching PhotoShop Elements 6 less and less for images I'm using on the web. It really is a great little app and the developer has stated that the final 1.0 full version will also include a reflection option as well as additional batch processing features. Developers will also appreciate a public SDK included in with the final version that will allow the creation of plug-ins that add functionality to Webify.

To experience all this image editing goodness you'll need to fork over $10. Mudbug is only offering the beta as a paid beta but in return you get the app for $10 rather than $20 when the final version is released. Webify is a nice app and does exactly what it's intended to do. Gary Byrd, Webify's developer and RapidWeaver theme developer extraordinaire, is good people so don't hesitate to jump on this deal. If launching PhotoShop just to do a couple minor edits on a web-bound image has got you down give Webify a try. You'll be glad you did.

Joe Henry

MacUpdate Back to School Bundle Extended Until Friday

Good news everyone: the fine folks over at MacUpdate have extended the Back To School Bundle promotion until Friday at midnight (EDT). I'm not sure if I'm going to buy the bundle as there is really one one I app that I need/want: Lightzone. I downloaded and played with the demo and it's a pretty amazing app. Bookends and Contactizer Pro could also probably be put to use here at AYAAW but I wouldn't buy the bundle for those two. Considering that those three apps alone would normally sell for over $250, the bundle is a very good deal.

All application licenses are full and offer the normal upgrade path so you're not getting some stripped down, crippled trial app.

MacUpdate also runs daily promotions where you can usually get up to 40% off on quality Mac software. Check them out at Today's MacUpdate Promo, 40% off

BannerZest Standard $29 at MacZot

BannerZest, the easiest way to create Flash banners for your website, is on sale for two days at software discount site MacZot. It's regularly $49 so this is a great deal. I use BannerZest Pro regularly for creating fantastic and professional looking banners that I use on my websites. Its drop-dead simple to use and really does create stunning banners.

The standard version, which is the one on sale at MacZot, doesn't come with all the bells and whistles but does come with all the major ones. Aquafadas, the development company that makes BannerZest has kindly put up a comparison page that shows the differences between the standard and the pro version. The biggest difference between the two is that you get "Pro" themes with the pro version (no really?). A notable second feature included in the pro version is the ability to create clickable links from the images used in the banner. There are other differences but those were the two biggys for me. If you have the need or the desire to include beautiful Flash banners in your websites you owe it to yourself to check BannerZest out. Especially if you're like me and a total dolt when it comes to Flash.

Hurry, though, this deal only lasts through Sunday night at midnight. Did I mention it's only $29?

Joe Henry
EDIT: FYI the BannerZest Standard license does not allow banner creation for commercial purposes. The Pro license does but not the Standard. Just wanted to make that clear for anyone taking advantage of this MacZot deal. It's still a great price for a slick piece of software. Who knows, if you asked Aquafadas nicely they might even allow you to upgrade to the Pro version from the MacZot Standard version.