viziblr

I love everything about this. Click play and get lost for a moment.

Radium Audio Ltd - Music & Sound - Strange Arrangements from Radium Audio Ltd on Vimeo.

What stood out for me this week was two videos, each about on a iPad-like tablet device.

Video #1 the Samsung Galaxy Tab

There’s even more on Engadget’s preview of this device, but let’s on the key points.

• Better-pixel density that the iPad (even though there are slightly fewer pixels in total)
• Smaller than an iPad – that should translate into weight savings that would let me use this as a comfortable eBook reader
• An experience built to take advantage of the pixel density, multi-touch, form factor

Based on the video, this looks like a solid device that does everything I expect and - as far as I can say at the moment - it is my leading contender for a slate device.

Video #2 the HP Slate

Via Engadget

First, let me say this. It’s not that I believe Windows 7 itself necessarily has problems running on such a form factor – the OS components and User Experiences are overall great. I say that both as a consumer and as someone who designed and implemented features that exist in Windows.

But to achieve a great User Experience will require companies like HP to have software designed for the this form factor and the user scenarios. The same interfaces, concepts, assumptions, and affordances that let me successfully use Visual Studio on my 30” LCD monitor (2560x1600 resolution) are not going to simply transfer over to a 7” to 10” lcd and “just work” in a way that will charm users. Ars Technica explores this even further in their post indelicately titled “HP Slate video shows all that's wrong with Windows 7 on tablets”.

In short this device – or rather the experience of this device - looks to be a disaster. I hope HP can prove me wrong.

I gave up on the full Photoshop applications some years ago and have been using Photoshop Elements ever since. So I was very excited to see that adobe announce Photoshop Elements 9 this week. Priced around $100($80 after $20 rebate) it’s well worth every penny – especially now with the new features they’ve put in there from it’s more powerful brother - Photoshop CS5.

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopel/

Content-Aware Fill + Healing Brush

I’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival and integration of these features.

The video below shows you how it works in Elements 9.

Other new features of interest

• Publishing directly to Facebook. For me this isn’t a huge thing – as I don’t perceive this to be a very difficult task now. However, if you spend a lot of time editing and then putting pictures on Facebook you may find this simplifies your workflow
• Layer masks – Another good feature but I can’t imagine the typical consumer caring about this – or having the time to use it.
• More Photo Effects – The additional effects look fine – I just never find that adding them to any product has a lasting benefit. When everyone uses the same set of basic effects – especially if the effects are visually strong - it just becomes tacky.

Take advantage of the Bundle

If you are in the mood for doing video, you should also be aware Adobe has a bundle featuring Photoshop Elements 9 and Premiere Elements 9 for $150 (only $120 after rebate).

Should you Get the the “PLUS” version instead?

Here’s a comparison:http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopel/membership/

I can’t see that paying for these additions is worth it – at least with what they are offering now.

Stay Tuned

More to come when I get it installed…

Just before Google released Google Instant. Below is a YouTube video if you didn’t catch it the first time.

Google Logo Hates Mouse by theseanpercival

For the benefit of us all, kind souls have implemented their own customizable versions

Bouncing Balls at removeablefeast

http://www.removablefeast.com:8000/google-bouncing-balls/

Here’s are sample of using different density settings

Dotty Dots if you like Google-style color

http://dotty-dots.appspot.com/

With larger monitors (23 inches and above) I wouldn't buy anything that didn't have IPS – which is why I'm happy to see another entry in the 30" LCD category from Dell – the UltraSharp U3011 – which is shipping now

Key points

• Resolution - 2560 x 1600 (16:10 aspect ration) – what you'd expect for this size. Though I wonder if Apple's new 27" Led Cinema Display will set a new standard with 2560-by-1440 which matches the cinematic 16:9 aspect ration.
• Video Input - HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI-D
• USB ports
• 7-in-1 media card reader – Nice touch!

Keep in mind it enters a category with other great options (all are IPS monitors)

• HP LP3065 30-inch LCD Monitor  – that I own and adore even if it isn't the one with the most fancy options
• HP ZR30w 30-inch LCD Monitor – a successor to the LP3065
• Apple LED Cinema Display 27-inch – with it's 16x9 aspect ration and higher pixel density it might be a reason to downsize if you find the 30" monitors just too bulky.