Universal Type Server review
Universal Type Server is a font-management system that aims to make things easy for small design studios, while providing a huge amount of flexibility for big companies.
Universal Type Server is a font-management system that aims to make things easy for small design studios, while providing a huge amount of flexibility for big companies.
Encased in dull grey metal like much of LaCie’s line of larger hard-drive systems, the 2big network would sit well next one of Apple’s pro-level Macs.
With only a single drive at its core, the Network Drive Pro is the simplest of the NAS units we’ve looked at here. It’s also the smallest and reasonably attractive.
The StorCenter Pro 150D is what you expect of a business-focused NAS device: a big boxy chassis that dwarfs its rivals, dull looks, and a noisy fan. But don’t let that put you off.
The Drobo is a USB 2.0 hard drive with a RAID technology all of its own, while the DroboShare is an add-on that allows you to connect it to a network.
Pitched at both home users and small businesses, the N3200 offers the best combination of price and performance. Its three-drive set-up may look odd, but it works fine.
Xara Xtreme is a fast alternative to the likes of CorelDraw. With version 4.0, it has made the leap to Windows Vista. It further improves on the previous version by expanding its photo compositing, DTP and Web offerings, and adding more live effects.
Expression Web 2 continues the design-led approach of Blend, offering a well-sized Design view for working with images and text. Full Photoshop support is a welcome addition, though imported PSD files must meet some criteria first.
Media 2 is the only part of Microsoft’s Studio that runs on a Mac. Offering better import options and organizational ability than the original, Media 2 also supports XAML, Design and Encoder XEJ formats.
Expression Encoder is a new addition to the Expression suite, a scalable encoding solution for producing and distributing VC-1 encoded video wrapped in a Silverlight container.
Microsoft’s Blend is the heart of Expression Studio, the company’s suite of tools that allow designers to create rich Internet applications and user interfaces with Microsoft.NET technologies.
Goe is the first entirely new colour-specification system from Pantone since it first introduced its Pantone Matching System (PMS) in 1963. It provides a completely new set of 2,058 solid colours – almost double the 1,114 of PMS.
Can QuarkXPress 8, the latest incarnation of the former world DTP champion, land a sucker punch against InDesign and see Quark retake some of its former DTP ground?
Unlike its rivals Autodesk Cleaner and Apple’s Compressor, Squeeze focuses on ease of use, though its feature set is fully professional. The learning curve is minimal; almost anyone can get results from the application within minutes.
With the ColorMunki Design Pantone is trying to make colour more exciting. It’s a winning mix of cute hardware and ludicrously easy-to-use software with a unique mix of colour tools.
FxFactory Pro 2 is a collection of filters, generators and transitions for Apple’s Final Cut Pro, Motion and Final Cut Express, offering 122 effects.
Conduit Suite by dvGarage is a nodal compositing plug-in that enables users to build effects in Final Cut Pro, Motion, After Effects and Photoshop using a flowchart-based system.
Apple had its work cut out to fix the shortcomings in its photo editing tool, and the result is Aperture 2. Aside from a vastly redesigned interface, browsing through its library is now fast...
At more than £200 less than its nearest competitor, the LP3065 is a bargain. O
Expression Design is a vector graphics creation tool, suited to producing content for Microsoft’s Web tools Expression Blend and Silverlight.