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Pelarious Newsletter Archive

Adobe Training - Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat, GoLive

Technology News and Information

October 2005: in this issue...

1) Super-Cool Widgets
2) PXL Training for Photoshop Users
3) Gadget Review - BlueTooth Headset
4) Training Schedule Update

LOL :) -- Spell Checker

Super-Cool Widgets

Jack-O-Lantern Can't get enough of Halloween? Shadeland Studios has created a glowing Jack-O-Lantern countdown widget for the Halloween pumpkin enthusiast.

iClipLite
Multi-tasking is made simple with iClip lite - a highly functional clipboard widget. iCliplite works well with most of your programs, enabling you to store and a seemingly endless number of clipboard items like text, pictures, and more in the widget's user-friendly "clip bins."

Say Cheese
Getting a chuckle from your favorite comics has never been easier.
Say Cheese makes the top daily comics accessible in one great widget. Not only can you select from twenty different titles, you can quickly view past comics with just a click of a button or use a menu to choose a specific date. This widget even remembers when you last viewed a particular comic strip, so you'll never miss a day. Sweet!

Quick recap about Dashboard: It's similar to Exposé with the application popping up in front of your Desktop at the click of the mouse button or function key. Dashboard gives you quick access to mini-applications called "Widgets." Each widget has a different function, some need Internet access while others don't, but all activate at the click of a mouse button.

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PXL Training for Photoshop Users

PXL Training is designed and delivered by Danny Hommes, award-winning Digital Imaging Artist of Pixelography, Inc. His real-world approach gives you the edge in using Adobe Photoshop. Each seminar is built around a visual presentation of ideas and techniques that can be applied almost immediately to any project.

Non-Destructive Editing a visual lecture, invaluable to anyone producing high-resolution final art. Learn how to build files which enable you to "find your way home" should something need last-minute revisions. You will work more efficiently and with greater flexibility, reducing costs and increasing productivity.

Tones & Textures is a hands-on session that will show you how to use scanned textures, low-res digital captures, and a variety of techniques for adding visual interest to your image. In addition to some very dramatic results that push towards "Fine Art", you'll learn some practical ways to make illustrations more realistic.

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LOL :)

Spell Checker

I halve a spelling checker,
It came with my pea see.
It plainly marks four my revue
mistakes I dew knot sea.

Eye strike a key and type a word
and weight four it two say
weather eye am wrong oar write.
It shows me strait aweigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid,
it nose bee fore two long
and eye can put the era rite.
Its rarely ever wrong.

I've scent this massage threw it,
and I'm shore your pleased too no,
its letter prefect in every weigh,
my checker tolled me sew.

~ Anonymous

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Bluetake BT400G5 Bluetooth Headset
by Frank Lombaer

Recently I purchased the Bluetake BT400G5 Bluetooth headset from Radtech to replace an older, off-brand bluetooth headset. No particular feature prompted me to choose my last headset. I chose it because of the price -- $75 after rebate. In comparison, the BT400G5 retails for ten dollars less than my first headset, but don’t think I bought this new headset because of its price. The feature list sold me on the BT400G5. The good price was simply a bonus.

So, what is so nice about this particular Bluetooth headset?

First, the BT400G5 is lightweight and comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. For me, much of the comfort comes from the way it sits on my ear. It is not designed to enter the ear canal; the speaker simply sits against the back of my ear and projects the sound towards the ear canal. Normally, my ears get sore from having something jammed into them for long periods of time, so I welcomed this change.

Second, the BT400G5 headset is quite loud. In fact, the BT400G5 can get too loud when set at top volume, even when I am driving in my truck. Adequate volume was frequently a problem with my old headset.

Third, this headset can be paired with multiple devices. I can use it with my mobile phone and my computer without having to unpair it from either device. This feature is nice for audio chatting in iChat. The headset cannot be connected to both devices at the same time, so the device paired last is the one that takes precedence.

Finally, the talk and standby times are excellent. The BT400G5 touts up to five hours of talk time and 120 hours of standby time. I have yet to use it for five hours straight, but I have gone two days of regular use without having to charge the headset, which is very nice.

On the down-side...

The Bluetake headset does not automatically connect with my 6230 when I turn the headset on, but it is not hard to manually connect the devices. Also, it has taken some time for me to adjust to putting this device on. Since it does not fit "in" my ear as much as "on" my ear, it takes some getting used to. And, although the range is quite good – the product info says five to ten meters and I have maintained a clean connection up to three meters -- it still gets fuzzy when the headset is on my right ear and the phone is in my left pocket.

Overall, I am quite pleased with this headset. It is easy to use and having my hands free while driving with no cord in the way allows me to concentrate on the road and not on the phone.

Bluetake BT400G5 bluetooth headset ($64.95 from Radtech.us)
Rating: ++++

+        Kick it to the curb. A waste of money.
++       Disappointing. Not worth any excitement.
+++      Nice bit of tech. Worth checking out.
++++     Sweet! A high-tech hit
+++++    Knock-your-socks-off cool. The best of its kind.

The Pelarious Experts review only shipping product. We accept no advertising from any reseller or manufacturer. All opinions expressed reflect those of the Expert and no other person – although they should.

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Training Schedule Update
Coming up at the Pelarious Professional Skills Development Center:

November 2005
8 -- Non-Destructive Editing In Photoshop (PXL Training event)
9 -- Tones & Textures In Photoshop (PXL Training event)
17 -- Digital Workflow with Adobe Acrobat 7
18 -- Transition to Adobe InDesign
22 -- Mac OS X Essentials
30 -- Mac OS X Administration & Troubleshooting

December 2005
8 -- Photoshop Tools & Concepts for Intermediate Users
9 -- Illustrator Tools & Concepts for Intermediate Users

We are always interested in your comments. Contact us with comments you would like to share. To speak with a Pelarious Representative, please call our office at 314-537-1330.