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Gimp
by Trixi
GIMP is a freely available, open source image manipulation programme. The ethos behind open source is such that the programme is developed by volunteers and is free for all users.
Now some of you may think "well if it is free there must be a catch" or if volunteers developed it, it can't be that good.
However, ... I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Those in the know and those that have even dabbled with it ...will soon come to realise that the GIMP has tools and power features that can compete with the "BIG BRANDS" that cost you the earth (and then tend to hit you again when they upgrade)
GIMP is an image editor that can allow you to edit and retouch your images with ease.
Features include channels, layers effects and masks, filters and tabbed palettes, editable text tools and improved printing.
The separate windows for palette may seem a bit cluttered in terms of how it looks on you desktop but you soon get used to it.
There are a variety of plug ins available as well.
So whether you are a dabbler in such things or a web designer that needs a substantial amount of features, this is a package you should take a look at.
All upgrades are free as well. If you find a bug, it is possible to report it and hopefully it will be fixed and hopefully resolved in your next version.
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Honestech FOTOBOX Plus
by MalibuMands
OK I admit it: I'm not a technical whizz, so please excuse the fact that this review won't contain tons of jargon. But if you're also a beginner who wants to know the basic whats and how to's, read on...
Ok; first things first. This product was designed with netbook users in mind (no disc drive for software), but this ... product is fine for use with a laptop (The family uses both, so I tried them for comparison. There was no difference in how it worked). It just means that users already familiar with various photography software might find the features on the FOTOBOX PLUS a little basic.
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Set up
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Simply take the memory card from your camera, insert it into the FOTOBOX's SDHC/SD/MMC slot, then insert the device into your netbook/laptop's USB port....
Then this is where the only blip happened: The instructions tell you that the programme will just run automatically, however, the first time you use it, it won't...
I had to go to the netbook's Computer panel. Once I opened that, I saw there was a new F drive listed: FOTOBOX. Click launcher, let it load, then you will be ready to go.
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Features
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Easy mode or advanced mode? I naturally went with easy, and quickly picked up where everything was and how to use the templates to create slideshow's with my photos.
Now, advanced mode is really where it's at. There's no increase in difficulty, so I'm not really sure why there is a option of 'easy' or 'advanced' to be honest, it has all of the same 'easy mode' options. The main difference between the two levels is the choice to edit photos before making your slideshow; Cropping, amend colour, brightness, red-eye removal, and adding in text. You also get more options on the presentation of your slideshow; You can use your own music and if you have a mike you can record your own narration.
OK: You're now happy with your finished slideshow; now how best to show it to family and friends? How about uploading it to your mobile, Ipod or PSP? I have family and friends who live abroad, so eyeballing my Ipod over coffee isn't an option. Luckily FOTOBOX has thought of that and allows you to easily upload your finished masterpiece to YouTube and Facebook.
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My opinion
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All in all, I'm pleased with the options available here and the ease in which I could use it. It's something which I'll reuse, as opposed to being a 5 minute wonder. The main issue some users may have is the the product's chunky design may block unused USB ports.
However, I've removed one star for the hiccup I had the first time I used it. The [basic] instructions don't tell you about this and it took me a little while before it occurred to me to check customer reviews online for help.
I've removed the second star because - despite FOTOBOX being simple and faster - you can find similar software free online, if you search a bit.
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Friendly warning
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Depending on the type of memory card you use [e.g. MSD] you may need to buy an adapter to fit into FOTOBOX.
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System Requirements
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Operating System : Windows® XP, Windows Vista®, Windows 7
USB 2.0 Host Controller/Port
Processor : Intel® Pentium® IV 2.4 GHz, Pentium® D, Pentium® M 1.3 GHz, Pentium CoreTM Duo, or AMD® Athlon® 64 processor
Memory : 512MB of RAM
Free Hard Disk Space : 10GB for DVD creation
Other :
Microsoft DirectX 9.0 or higher
Windows Media Format SDK 9 or higher
Windows Media Player 7 or higher
QuickTime Player for MOV
CD Writer for VCD, SVCD
DVD Writer for DVD
Microphone for narration
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RRP
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£49.99
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Apple iPhoto '09
by lizbsn
I should probably make it clear at the outset that I am an Apple freak, an iSnob. I love everything that Apple make, and I am one of those strange people who actually has two iPods.
But the reason I am so Apple-crazy is because their products are just amazing, so user-friendly and organised, and iPhoto '09 is no ... exception.
When you connect your camera to your computer, iPhoto immediately offers to upload your photos. Unlike previous photo-uploading software I have used, iPhoto offers an option to hide photos you have previously uploaded, saving a lot of time that would otherwise have been spent un-ticking.
iPhoto automatically divides your photos into "events", based on what date they were taken, but it is easy to merge days into one event, or separate out some photos from others taken on the same day. Like all things Apple, all you have to do is drag it to where you want it to go, and it is done. You can then rename your events, and your photos within the event.
You can view all photos within an event in slightly smaller sizes, or double click on a photo to see it at full size.
iPhoto also has the option of tagging people in photos, and once you have tagged someone, it "recognises" other photos of them, and asks you if this is actually that person. This facial recognition gets more accurate the more photos of someone you have tagged, and is usually quite good. iPhoto creates an album of a person full of all the photos of them.
It also shows you (with remarkable accuracy) where your photos were taken on a map of the world. Really, iPhoto does everything.
The amazing thing about iPhoto is that it will upload your photos onto Facebook, MobileMe and Flickr. The only one of these I have used is Facebook, but the iPhoto uploader is brilliant. It only takes about a minute and just one click to upload an entire album - even with my slow internet connection. Much simply than uploading photos the old-fashioned way!
You can also "flag" important photos which go into an album of their own.
All in all, iPhoto is absolutely amazing for those of us who like to be organised. It never ceases to make me happy.
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