cartoons

We like the idea behind Magic Whiteboard; networked users can draw collaboratively on the same image from different computers. Unfortunately, the program's execution leaves a lot to be desired.

The program's interface is cute, with the drawing area framed by a border featuring cartoon animals and gnomes. The actual drawing features are lacking, and will be disappointing to kids who are already familiar with programs like Microsoft Paint. There's a pencil feature whose width can be adjusted on a scale from 1 to 18, and an eraser, but that's it. The really awful thing about this … Read more

Cartoon Generator promises the ability to alter any photograph into a cartoon. The program offers a simple set of tools and a user-friendly layout, but the end product is far from a traditional cartoon.

The program's interface didn't bowl us over with its design but was still quite simple to operate. We needed a brief trip to the Help file's instructions to understand what all the sliders controlled, but were soon making changes to our photo. By adjusting things like brightness, brush size, and dot sensitivity, we were supposed to be able to create a cartoon. However, … Read more

Liangzhu Photo to Cartoon claims to offer tools to transform a normal picture into a cartoon. However, it becomes clear rather quickly that this is nothing more than a glorified collection of filters.

The program's sparse interface was the first clue that things weren't quite right. With a real lack of direction and flow, we needed the online Help file just to get started. Our picture appeared in a Before-and-After split screen, which we thought was a smart design choice, though that was the last time this program pleased us. Its cartoon-making tools are nothing more than the … Read more

Like indie films? Documentaries? Animation? Ho, boy, have I got an app for you: NFB Films lets you watch over a thousand movies on your iPhone. For free.

The "NFB" stands for National Film Board, a kind of Canadian PBS. The app taps the NFB's mammoth library of documentaries, animated films, trailers (for upcoming NFB releases), and more.

All the movies are streamed to your iPhone, but there's also an ingenious "watch later" option that downloads a selected movie for later viewing. However, these downloads expire after 24 hours, not unlike App Store movie … Read more

Like most social-networking sites, Twitter isn't immune to lurkers, fakes, and creeps. The 404 Twitter account received over 600 followers in the last 24 hours, which leads us to believe that we're either becoming wildly popular or more likely, the new adds are demonized accounts; in other words, people that had their accounts taken over by a spam bot. This has to stop, Biz--stop teasing our egos!

In other ridiculous news, the CBS video print ad we picked apart in Episode 411 is fetching up to $400 on eBay--what the what? If we'd known that prices would skyrocket on the black market, we would have ganked a few more copies from our parent company, CBS! This is a great example of how you can buy practically anything online, including an 800 thread count Egyptian Cotton duvet cover or a set of custom-made Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle drapes from your humble host's childhood...don't ask, just watch the show.

After the break, we get to a few Calls From the Public, including one from a caller all the way in the Caribbean! We also run down the 20 best cartoons from the 1990s, but they forgot about the X-Men cartoon! And where is "Teenage Mutant Ninja Frickin Turtles?!" Take a look at the list and let us know your favorites!

While its name may conjure up images of animation, Cartoon Maker actually acts as a simple photo editor. While some may be disappointed, it does function well as a quick photo-editing tool.

The program's interface is very simple, allowing users full control with only a few button clicks and limited options. The program's Help file breaks every process down to the bare essentials, allowing users to learn quickly. To create a cartoon, simply bring up a picture by searching via a file tree. Next, users choose a cartoon option from the onscreen menu. The options for Distort and … Read more

Dream Photo Editor allows users to create photo collages with a variety of special effects. Unfortunately, the program's clunky interface and sometimes tacky content hinder its effectiveness.

Upon opening the program, we were met with several error messages right off the bat. This was followed by two nonsensical screens with unlabeled buttons. We clicked a couple of them at random, got a couple more error messages, and then the program opened. Nice. The program's interface is somewhat cluttered and not particularly attractive. The functions aren't bad. Users can start with a blank background or use one of … Read more

Dream Wallpaper is a wallpaper changer that allows users to select from both wallpapers that come with the program and that can be downloaded from the publisher's Web site. Although the interface and wallpapers are nice, this program is missing some basic features that users may expect of a wallpaper changer.

The program's interface is sleek and very attractive; it integrates well with later versions of Windows. Users have access to a handful of sample wallpapers in both normal and wide-screen formats that are arranged in themes (nature, holidays, etc.), and many more are available for download. Downloading … Read more

It's not often that we come across a program we'd describe as "delightful," but that's exactly what Merlin Funnies is. This program provides a quick and easy way for users to view their favorite comics all in one place. With a simple interface and plenty of comics to choose from, Merlin Funnies is a great way to get your daily laugh.

The program's interface is fairly basic, with a long checklist of available comics. We were expecting the likes of Dennis the Menace and Hi and Lois, but Merlin Funnies offers a ton of … Read more