adjustments

Solid image editor

Finally there's a free image editor worth reviewing. So many Photoshop wannabes have failed to live up to expectations, which admittedly are high. But PhotoFiltre stands on its own as a basic, capable image editor.

The first good news is the program's user interface, which is very clean and not at all overwhelming, unlike many graphics tools. Menu items line the top of the window with their respective shortcut buttons below in two rows. Rather than using moveable color and tool palettes, PhotoFiltre places them in a narrow right-hand sidebar, which leaves plenty of room for images. We … Read more

Lasso a faster PC

Process Lasso is an interesting tool for speeding up your computer. By prioritizing its processes, this program helps improve an operating system's performance.

The program's interface is both helpful-looking, with a clean design and simple charts, and discouraging, with some highly technical command options. We were constantly spending time with and revisiting the program's Help file for instructions. The program's display clearly showcased all currently running processes and provided a suspected CPU usage chart--"suspected," because it didn't explain what any of the three bar charts represented. The visual aids were nice, but … Read more

Macro photography helper

Macro (close-up) photography is a tricky skill to master. It is difficult to capture images in sharp focus with this type of photography. Helicon Focus can help photographers salvage partially focused macro photographs by combining them into one clear image.

Photographers will be able to use this program with just a cursory look at the Help file. There is a demo that you can watch that shows what the program can do. Amateurs and hobbyists will have to read the Help file more carefully, but it is well written and succinct. We first tried the Animation and 3D Model features. … Read more

Nobis debuts adjustable tech for fitted hats

If you've ever worn a fitted hat, you know that they tend to shrink from your brow sweat after awhile, but who wants to wear a snap-backed cap or, even worse, a hat with one of those awful velcro straps? Nobody, but you still gotta maintain a good fit, and Nobis has your back with a Caps_Lock design that allows the wearer to adjust the size with a simple turn.

The real technology is in the built-in strap that comes with each hat. You can tighten or loosen your fit by adjusting the small dial on the side. Of … Read more

LensAlign system helps you sharpen focus

RawWorkflow has announced its new LensAlign Focus Calibration System for testing for focus issues on lens/camera combinations. LensAlign comes with a focus target, depth-of-field ruler, and custom sighting system to help ensure that the camera is evenly aligned with the test target. The system is available in two versions: the LensAlign Pro at $140 and the portable LensAlign Lite for $80.

LensAlign is for lenses that are f4.0 or faster, which eliminates most consumer zoom lenses. Testing for focus issues on a lens is only beneficial if you can then input that error correction data back into the … Read more

Do away with the one-size-fits-all fridge

If there's one thing I could use more of in my refrigerator, it's vertical height. If your refrigerator door is buckling under the weight of several bottles of wine and cartons of milk and juice, then you know what I'm talking about.

For some reason, most refrigerators have not been designed with these vertically challenged containers in mind, and when I run out of space in the door, I have to stuff bottles on their sides on the middle shelf in a pyramid of glass and plastic that takes up all of the room and often leaks … Read more

Laptop may save posture, not money

You're a road warrior, and your laptop is getting dangerously close to becoming your best friend. But this relationship is giving you neck and shoulder pains, and you're not going to take it lying down anymore.

That's why your head will undoubtedly be turned (albeit creakily) by the "FlyBook VM" from Tokyo-based Dialogue. This lightweight laptop (3.6 pounds) is beautifully designed with a 12.1-inch that can be raised or lowered to your line of vision by a telescoping arm. We too were seduced by the sleek form and practical functionality of this digital … Read more