SYNAPSE CIRCUIT REVIEWS: DRAWPLUS X6, SERIF

Hey! I'm an artist and you can be too! Dandy Warhol by Synapse Circuit. 

This is a fantastic reworking of the Page Setup interface!
It's great that you can specify the colour value of the page / project. 

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT REVIEWS:
DRAWPLUS X6, SERIF
PRICE, £81.69 (FULL). CHECK FOR UPGRADE DEALS!
#Serif #DrawPlusX6 #VectorArt

Good hour, Synapse Circuit Readers! How are you? I hope that all is well with you! This month is hurtling to its end! Soon enough it’ll be Xmas! Yay!

Have you looked at the state of Adobe lately? Can Adobe fall any further? Why don’t they just bring their prices down to a reasonable price instead of this monthly rental? Anyway, if you want to get into illustration and you’re looking for outstanding software at a reasonable price then check out...

DRAWPLUS X6, SERIF
Illustration, the subject matter will either fill you with fear or with glee! Fear because not many people understand the interface of the mighty Adobe Illustrator as readily as the photo editing / manipulation software Photoshop. Getting to grips with new software can be confusing and frustrating. Oh, and if you’re going down the Adobe route, it can be very expensive for older versions of the program or go the monthly rental route (that’s nuts)!

The beauty of DrawPlus X6 – especially if you are already familiar with their other products such as Page and Photo Plus – is that the interface is quite easy to get to grips with! Even if you weren’t familiar with the aforementioned software from Serif there is a real possibility that you could produce something just by experimenting with the tools!

If you are really lost there are great video tutorials that do a terrific job of getting you started and towards advanced projects!

THE INTERFACE
The interface is very intuitive and, once again, Serif has done a fantastic job of adding great refinement from the start when choosing the paper size along with the colour value (CMYK, RGB) for the project / illustration.

You’ll love tools such as instant 3D that will transform text and any vector into three dimensions!

If you happen to possess a talent for drawing then the only thing missing is a drawing tablet! Using a drawing tablet will make the drawing process natural if you don’t like using the mouse!

As with all Serif’s programs there is so much to DrawPlus X6 – more than meets the eye! For example there are many different types of brushes, clip art, stencils, textures (you can add your own textures) and photographic material can be edited using the built in PhotoLab that saves you from using a separate photo editing program such as PhotoPlus! The CutoutStudio is great for removing backgrounds from subjects. Photo images can also be traced into a vector with varying results.

CONCLUSION
DrawPlus X6 manages to cater for illustrators of all abilities from the fine artist to a technical illustrator / concept designer. It’s quite an exciting program for anyone with a creative streak and zeal to share the works of art through a domestic and / or professional printer. Stunning results can be had from software that is wonderfully priced within the reach of most!

SCORE
4.7 / 5

PLATINUM
DrawPlus X6 is given a platinum award because it is a fantastic cost effective program that is easy to use and comes with comprehensive tutorials. What’s more is that you can do animations for your website too!

You will LOVE Serif DrawPlus X6!

FEATURES SYNAPSE CIRCUIT WOULD LIKE TO SEE
Imagine that you’ve brought in a photographic image and you have adjusted the brightness and contrast settings... When you wish to, let’s say, cut the main subject out from the background, all the adjustments you’ve made are gone.

It would be useful for the adjustments to be retained when the photo is taken into the PhotoLab and the Cutout Studio.

Another thing I’d like to see is for the cut out image to retain the transparent background when being auto traced into a vector image.

I hope you enjoyed this review. Stay tuned for more reviews to come.

Watch this space!

Take good care!

Please enjoy the video below! Feel free to leave some comments and subscribe!

 

Thank you for watching and reading!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit website for video, i-PDF and more! 

Synapse Circuit Dot Com

HELLO GOOGLE MOTO 2013

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT:
HELLO GOOGLE MOTO 2013
#Nexus5 #MotoG

Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers! Oooh, it is a very crisp and cold night in North London! I’m sipping a delightful spiced coffee to keep some fire in my belly! Lol! Hey, I was thinking...

...IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE WE HAVE MOBILE PHONE KIOSKS AND IT’S VERY LIKELY THAT GOOGLE WILL DELIVER VENDING MACHINES ON STREET CORNERS!

There’s definitely a sharp contrast between the way Apple and Google do things. No! I am not going to bash Apple because I can sympathise with them; yesterday they were cutting edge and today not so much... The way Google and Google Motorola are going it is as if to say that the “smartphone” is old news... Ok, barring the Moto X, Google have wisely decided to bypass the ceremony of pomp whenever they release a new handset. The Nexus 5 was released without fanfare and yet Carphone Warehouse, in my neighbourhood, sold out within hours! Gosh! Then last week Saturday the Google Motorola Moto G snuck into the mainstream of the heady world of budget handsets! Yes, I was being facetious. You should know how I feel about budget Android handsets but I think the Moto G changes everything! Correction: The Moto G changes things further! Much further! The major manufacturers have been saturating the market with (what I think of as substandard) handsets where the budget market is concerned and all in a bid for world dominance. I have fallen for the trick of “budget” Android handsets several times – I know, you’d have thought that once would have been enough – to great disappointment. So, the Moto G comes as a landmark.

Check out the spec:

GENERAL   
2G Network  GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900

CDMA 800 / 1900 - CDMA version

3G Network  HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100

CDMA2000 1xEV-DO - CDMA version

Announced  2013, November

Released 2013, November

BODY           
Dimensions 129.9 x 65.9 x 11.6 mm (5.11 x 2.59 x 0.46 in)

Weight 143 g (5.04 oz)

DISPLAY      
Type  Capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors

Size    720 x 1280 pixels, 4.5 inches (~326 ppi pixel density)

Multitouch

Protection Corning Gorilla Glass 3

SOUND        
Alert types Vibration, MP3, WAV ringtones

Loudspeaker

3.5mm jack

MEMORY     
No card slot           

Internal 8  /16 GB, 1 GB RAM

DATA
GPRS
EDGE

Speed           
HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA

WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot

Bluetooth v4.0 with A2DP

USB  
Yes, microUSB v2.0

CAMERA      
Primary 5 MP, 2592х1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash

Features      
Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR, panorama

Video Yes, 720p@30fps

Secondary 1.3 MP

FEATURES 
OS Android OS, v4.3 (Jelly Bean), planned upgrade to v4.4 (KitKat)

Chipset        
Qualcomm Snapdragon 400

CPU  
Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7

GPU  
Adreno 305

Sensors       
Accelerometer, proximity, compass

Messaging  
SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM

Browser HTML5

FM radio

GPS with A-GPS support and GLONASS

Java via Java MIDP emulator

Colors          
Black (front panel), 7 colour options (back panel)

- SNS integration

- Google Drive (50 GB storage)

- Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic

- MP3/AAC+/WAV/Flac player

- MP4/H.263/H.264 player

- Organizer

- Photo viewer/editor

- Document viewer

- Google Search, Maps, Gmail

- YouTube, Google Talk, Picasa

- Voice memo/dial

- Predictive text input

BATTERY              
Li-Ion 2070 mAh battery

Stand-by      

Talk time: Up to 24 hrs

The price is pretty much spot on, £119.95 for the 8GB version and £149.95 for 16GB. This is 1.2 GHz quad-core! Ok, it would have been the icing on the cake to have a full HD video camera and a card slot. But as budget phones go at least you know that you’ll be able to make use of the latest space consuming free texting and calling apps! If you’re an avid mobile phone photographer you can always store your photos on any one of the various cloud services including Google Drive!

With the quad-core processor you know that the Moto G will be able to keep up with the most demanding apps!

The Moto G should certainly be on your shopping list this Xmas!

I hope you enjoyed this introduction. Stay tuned for more reviews to come.

Watch this space!

Take good care!

Please enjoy the video below! Feel free to leave some comments and subscribe!

 

Thank you for watching and reading!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit website for video, i-PDF and more! 

Synapse Circuit Dot Com

Reallusion Big Lens Starbucks "Pick of the Week”

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT: NEWS
Reallusion Big Lens Selected as the Starbucks "Pick of the Week”

Big Lens has been chosen from the 20 million apps in the iTunes Store as a Starbucks app for their “Pick of the Week” promotion in the US

Northampton, UK, 18^th November, 2013, Reallusion is pleased to announce that Big Lens is one of the Starbucks “Pick of the Week”. This promotion showcases and gives away a paid app from the App Store every week.

Starbucks customers can either pick up a physical card featuring a promo code to redeem the Pick of the Week app or make a free Starbucks account and redeem the app directly from the free Starbucks for iPhone app, saving the trip to a physical location. The Reallusion redemption code for the free Big Lens app must be redeemed by the 11^th February 2014.

When it comes to creating great-looking images, it‘s all about focus. Big Lens gives you the ultimate in focus and filter tools for your iPhone. With great features such as the Smart Focus System, Edge Blur Adjustment and awesome Filter Effects, Big Lens can quickly edit and improve your photos. Now you can also unlock the new custom filter effect functions from the in app purchase to achieve the ultimate artistic result! You will be able to edit foregrounds and backgrounds with light, color balance, saturation, and contrast. Whether you’re a novice or pro photographer, Big Lens is your secret weapon that will turn your iPhone/iPad into a professional SLR camera.

To learn more about Big Lens, visit the iTunes Store, and download http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/big-lens/id470460905?ls=1&mt=8 or visit Reallusion to get more information: iphone.reallusion.com/

About Reallusion, Inc.

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Reallusion is a leading-edge software developer providing imaging and animation tools for PC, Mac and mobile platforms. Reallusion development of core technologies and growing base of intellectual property firmly establish the company as power among emerging technology innovators, furthering their graphic and imaging embedded kernels to top-brand device manufacturers worldwide. Reallusion iPhone applications have been downloaded over a million times worldwide already. For more information, visit www.reallusion.com. 

iPAD AIRHEADS!

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT:
iPAD AIRHEADS!
#iPadAir #iPadMini2

Good late evening, Synapse Circuit Readers! I hope that you’re having a great evening and if your day is still unravelling there is still time...

I guess I didn’t miss too much when I took a break... The World of Tech spun and continues to spin as per usual but I can’t say that I was too impressed with the latest iPad models from Apple and here’s why...

iPAD AIR

Also known as Apple iPad 5

LTE carrier support

Available as:

Apple iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular with 3G/LTE support

Apple iPad Air Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi only and no GPS support

GENERAL   
2G Network  GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900

CDMA 800 / 1900

3G Network  HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100

CDMA2000 1xEV-DO

4G Network  LTE- all models

SIM    
Nano-SIM

Announced  2013, October

Status: Available. Released November 2013

BODY           
Dimensions 240 x 169.5 x 7.5 mm (9.45 x 6.67 x 0.30 in)

Weight 469 g (Wi-Fi) / 478 g (3G/LTE) (1.03 lb)

DISPLAY      
Type  LED-backlit IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors

Size    1536 x 2048 pixels, 9.7 inches (~264 ppi pixel density)

Multitouch Yes

Protection Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating

SOUND        
Alert types N/A

Loudspeaker

3.5mm jack  

MEMORY     
No card slot

Internal         
16/32/64/128 GB storage, 1 GB RAM DDR3

DATA
GPRS Yes

EDGE Yes

Speed           
DC-HSDPA, 42 Mbps; HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps, LTE, 100 Mbps; EV-DO Rev. A, up to 3.1 Mbps

WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi hotspot

Bluetooth Yes, v4.0 with A2DP, EDR

USB  
Yes, v2.0

CAMERA      
Primary 5 MP, 2592 x 1944 pixels, autofocus, check quality

Features      
Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR

Video, 1080p@30fps, video stabilization, check quality

Secondary Yes, 1.2 MP, 720p@30fps, face detection, FaceTime over Wi-Fi or Cellular

FEATURES  

OS      

iOS 7.0.3

Chipset
Apple A7

CPU  
Dual-core 1.3 GHz Cyclone (ARM v8-based)

GPU  
PowerVR G6430 (quad-core graphics)

Sensors       
Accelerometer, gyro, compass

Messaging  
iMessage, Email, Push Email, IM

Browser       
HTML (Safari)

Radio No

GPS   
Yes, with A-GPS support and GLONASS

Java, No

Colours        
Space Gray, Silver

- Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic

- Siri natural language commands and dictation

- AirDrop file sharing

- iCloud cloud service

- iCloud Keychain

- Twitter and Facebook integration

- TV-out

- Maps

- Audio/video player/editor

- Organizer

- Image viewer/editor

- Document viewer/editor (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

- Voice memo

- Predictive text input

BATTERY              
Non-removable Li-Po 8,820 battery (32.4 Wh)

Stand-by      

Talk time      
Up to 10 h (multimedia)

POWER
There’s no doubt that the iPad Air is a powerful tablet but just look at the prices:

WiFi only: 16GB, £399.

WiFi + cellular: 16GB, £499.

C’mon, such prices are unrealistic by today’s standards! It is no wonder that Android tablets are rapidly usurping the iPad! It is clear to me that Apple has run out of ideas because creating an extremely thin tablet made from aluminium and glass does not make for a device that is going to last. I have seen some drop tests – that didn’t have to be made – that proves how fragile the iPad Air is .Apple still wants to put the idea across that their devices are premium. As stunning as the iPad Air appears it is just not practical.

In my opinion the iPad (and any other tablet) should be made from durable materials as found on many Android tablets. Apple had the opportunity to use an unbreakable display in the way that Samsung and LG are promising but not quite delivering. Apple has fumbled the ball once again. It is sad but true.

The cost of the 128GB iPad Air with both WiFi and cellular is £739 and I would rather spend that kind of money on a Windows tablet with the full version of Windows 8 and an Android tablet! Why pay so much money for a tablet that runs apps when you can be running full programs on Windows based tablets?

iPAD MINI 2
Yes, at last, it iPad mini 2 has now received a retina screen but once again the price is too high for what it is. Here’s the cost of a base model on WiFi only: 16GB, £319. It’s a mere £80 cheaper and it might appeal to the dedicated Apple fan and it will therefore cannibalize sales of the iPad Air; déjà vu!

As far as the iPad mini 2 goes I think it is outmoded by the Google Nexus 7 2013 and a bunch of other Android tablets. You might even prefer a phablet instead such as the Galaxy Note 3!

Apple seriously needs to go back to the drawing board and rethink that this “premium” idea. Apple: rethink differently!

I hope you enjoyed this introduction. Stay tuned for more reviews to come.

Watch this space!

Take good care!

Please enjoy the video below! Feel free to leave some comments and subscribe!

 

Thank you for watching and reading!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit website for video, i-PDF and more! 

Synapse Circuit Dot Com

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT REVIEWS PRODAD HEROGLYPH V4 PRO

Above: The stages of creating a video wall.

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT REVIEWS:

PRODAD HEROGLYPH V4 PRO TITLE SOLUTION
PRICE, £199.99 (FULL). UPGRADE, £106.80
#ProDAD #HeroglyphPRO #HeroglyphV4

Good hour, Synapse Circuit Readers! Did you miss me? I sure missed you! I was down with a case of bad flu and I also was badly in need of taking a much needed rest! I can’t wait to replace my fleshy weak body parts for a spanking new machine upgrade! It’s good to be back! Yay!

Hey! Are you serious about video production? Great! Check this out...

HEROGLYPH V4 PRO, PRODAD
Trying to grab some attention on YouTube does take some doing and therefore you ought to make sure that you take every opportunity to make your videos stand out!

WHAT IS IT?
Heroglyph V4 Pro functions as a plugin for video software (watch out for the Synapse Circuit Magix Movie Edit Pro 2014 Premium review coming soon...) and standalone video titling software.

IN USE
Heroglyph V4 Pro couldn’t be easier to use as it is template driven. There are over 500 templates to chose from that covers a wide range of situations i.e. weddings, christenings, sports, news and so much more! Once a template has been chosen it is so very easy to customize it with video, graphical and text (depending on the fonts installed on your PC) content.

In essence there are title intros, newscaster tickers (as seen on the likes of CNN, Sky, etc), slideshows, travel routes, video walls (a great effect) and a combination of the above!

I found that I didn’t need to consult a manual as the interface is pretty much self-explanatory! I had great fun with it!

VERDICT
ProDAD (I love that name as it conjures up images of professional fathers) has produced another winning plugin for many of today’s leading video editing programs and standalone.

I truly think that Heroglyph V4 Pro is essential for anyone serious about video production and video blogging.

The only thing that I would change is that in standalone mode is for more video formats to be supported beyond Windows Media. As you should know many of today’s video recording devices captures video in the MP4 format and it is a bit of a pain to have to launch a video editing program and / or reformat to AVI / WMV. But having said that I think that ProDAD Heroglyph V4 Pro is very cost effective and can save a lot of time in trying to reinvent the wheel where video titling is concerned.

There is a slight danger of videos looking similar to other videos produced by others using Heroglyph V4 Pro but with a bit of care i.e. YOU putting in your OWN graphical / video content your productions will be able to stand out. It is the BBC, CNN, Sky, etc logos that makes their productions distinctive.

I am very much inspired by ProDAD’s brilliant plugin! You will be too!

SCORE OUT OF 5

4 .8 / 5

SUPERB VALUE!
The price is right for video producers of all abilities!

COMPATIBLE VIDEO EDITING SOFTWARE
ProDAD Heroglyph V4 Pro is compatible with the following software:

Adobe

Adobe Premiere Elements 1.0, ..., 11.0

Adobe After Effects CS5, CS5.5, CS6, CC

Adobe Premiere CS5, CS5.5, CS6, CC

Avid

Avid Studio

Avid Media Composer 5.5, 6.0, 7.0

Corel

Corel VideoStudio Pro X4, X5, X6

Grass Valley K.K.

GV EDIUS NEO 3.x

GV EDIUS 6.0, 6.5, 7.0

MAGIX

MAGIX Video deluxe 16, 17, 18

MAGIX Video deluxe 2013, 2014

MAGIX Video Pro X3, X4, X5

MAGIX Movie Edit Pro 17

Pinnacle Studio

Pinnacle Studio 14, 15, 16

Sony

Sony Vegas Pro  9, 10, 11 (32-/64-Bit)

Sony Vegas Pro 12 (64-Bit)

Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 10, 11, 12

Sony MoviEZ generally doesn't support third party plugins.

OFX version of Heroglyph V4 Pro plug-in supports Vegas Pro 10 & 11 64-bit versions or Vegas Pro 12 only.  All other versions of Vegas Pro use the non-OFX version.

I hope you enjoyed this review. Stay tuned for more reviews to come.

Watch this space: Synapse Circuit dot com!

Take good care!

Feel free to leave some comments and subscribe!