Deal – Graphics editing app, Pixelmator, almost 50% off

Jul16
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Pixelmator for Mac is currently $16, almost 50% off of the usual price of $30. It’s available at the Mac App Store here.

This Apple Design Award winning app is a “full-featured and powerful image editing app.”

“Pixelmator takes full advantage of the latest Mac technologies, giving you speedy, powerful tools that let you touch up and enhance images, draw or paint, apply dazzling effects, or create advanced compositions amazingly simple. Once your images are ready, access them anywhere with iCloud, send them to iPhoto or Aperture, email, print, share, or save them to popular image formats–all right from Pixelmator.”

“And, the new Pixelmator 3.2 comes with full OS X Mavericks support, non-destructive Layer Styles, a complete set of Liquify Tools, 16-bits per channel support, and the new state-of-the-art image editing engine.”

It’s currently rated 4.5 out of 5 stars from 3,056 App Store reviewers.

Deals – 15% off electronics at Target

Jul14
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Expiring today, using Target’s Cartwheel app, you can get 15% off almost any electronic product. This includes items like GoPro cameras, FitBit wristbands, and Sonos wireless speakers that rarely have discounts. There are two caveats, first, you have to go into a Target store to get the discount, it doesn’t work online. Second, it does exclude Bose, DSLR cameras, pre-paid cards, installation & service plans, which isn’t a huge list.

You can read more about the deal here. And if you have a RedCard, you get the additional 5% off as well.

Article – How many devices does your smartphone replace?

Jul14
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How many gadgets does your smartphone replace? by Guy Wright

UK-based Viking has created an infographic that shows how many devices your average smartphone replaces, how much they would weigh and how much they would cost if bought separately.

Mini’app’les Meeting, Tuesday July 15 at 7:00 p.m., Q&A at 6:30 p.m.

Jul14
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The next Mini’app’les meeting will be on July 15th, the third Tuesday of the month, at the Hackfactory (3119 E. 26th Street Minneapolis, MN 55406). At 6:30 p.m., members of the board and other knowledgable people will be available if you have specific questions you would like answered. We will do our best to address your question and help you troubleshoot the issue.

At 7:00 p.m., we will cover some questions that I have been asked over the past month or so, such as what are the best options for using your iPhone internationally and somethings to do when your iOS device says that you are running low on space. We will look at a few new Mac and iOS apps. And through out the meeting, we will take time to answer questions that you have.

We look forward to seeing you there.

On the road with the new digital hub

May20
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In my last post I mentioned an upcoming photo safari. (Anytime you’re driving a classic Land-Rover it’s a safari!) I’ll fly to Denver. Catch a regional light rail to a Park-n-Ride, then hike to a motel where I’ll meet up with Bill, my partner in Land-Rover/photo atrocities for 18 years. From there we’ll drive—slowly—to the Grand Canyon, stopping to take photos and add oil along the way. After that we’re off to Vegas to catch Penn & Teller and keep the party goin’ until my return flight the next day. EZ-PZ. What could go wrong?

I believe in the Pack Light, Go Fast mantra. I won’t be lugging a MacBook along with me; The iPad will provide entertainment, communication and information while serving as my photo bank and digital darkroom. I thought others would be interested in my workflow for backing up, editing and sharing my photos from the road.

I use micro four thirds cameras and my iPhone 5S to capture images. I’ll write more about the MFT gear in an upcoming post. First I’m going to outline the iPhone, iPad and the apps that I use.

I’ve been an iPad user from day one and was soon convinced that I would use the device as a laptop replacement. I’ve always outfitted myself with the top of the line iPad—maximizing the memory allows ample room for photos, videos, books, comics, and music. My current iPad Air is the 128GB-Verizon version.

I choose the the cellular equipped models even though I don’t turn on mobile data very often. $24.95/night for wifi? No thanks. Oh, the promised free wifi isn’t working tonight? No worries. Either way, I’ll provide my own. If I don’t use it? Then like ketchup in a French restaurant, it’s just nice to know its’ there. Besides, I do use the GPS—only available on the cellular equipped models—for mapping and navigation.

My iPad is protected by a rooCASE Origami. I carry an eCase waterproof envelope in case of wet weather or extreme dust. I’m considering a Pelican Progear vault for adventure travel, but I don’t think I’ll be getting it in time for this trip.

Gear fetishists will appreciate that my luggage is by GORUCK. My daily carry/camera bag is a GR Echo backpack that easily accomodates my camera gear, iPad & accessories along with other travel essentials—like a Source hydration bladder. My clothes and other kit are stowed in a GR2. It meets the airline carry-on requirements (unfortunately, my hiking staff/monopod does not) and its little sister Echo slips into the front compartment so I carry only one bag on my back.)

Author using iPad resting on backpack

The GR2 and Casemate Origami serve as a makeshift desk

An Anker 5-port USB charger provides a single-Plug source for charging iPad, iPhone, Jawbone Jambox Bluetooth speaker and other USB devices. For redundancy and field use there’s an Apple iPad charger and a Griffin car charger in my ruck. On this particular journey, the Land-Rover has been equipped with several USB ports for charging on-the-move.

I bring along an Apple Wireless Keyboard that travels in a Casemate Origami case. The keyboard generally stays back in camp during the day. It won’t go into my EDC ruck unless my plan includes an all-night writing bender in a local tavern.

I often (though not on this trip) carry an AirPort Express to extend and bridge networks and an AppleTV to stream my own content to a TV screen.

That’s the basic set up. I’ll outline my backup workflow in the next installment, Images in the bank.

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