3G iPhone still worth it? MobileMe is awesome!
Method: Apple, Blog, Technology
So I sat through and listened through the entire WWDC 2008 over a uStream audio stream, and chatted with hundreds of people over TUAW’s IRC chat. Now I’m sitting at my desk, trying to resolve my thoughts on whether or not it’s worth it to buy the new iPhone 3G. I’ll go over what you get with the 3G iPhone:
- iPhone 3G Features:
- 3G network speeds
- Assisted GPS capabilites
- Flush headphone jack
- Plastic Body
- Increased battery life in every aspect
All of that is fine and dandy, but here’s what vexes me:
- iPhone 3G Downfalls:
- No MMS, yet
- No extended bluetooth capabilities, yet
- No front mounted camera
- No 32gb model, yet
- No video capability
- No upgraded camera resolution
- 3rd party app support, MS Exchange, and MobileMe services will still interface with current 1st gen iPhones
So what am I really paying for here? Headphone Jack, 3G, GPS, and GPS app support? The 3G in itself sounds very tempting, but the GPS isn’t true GPS. Everything else can be done with firmware upgrades which Apple would be very stupid to not make future firmware upgrades compatible with the 1st gen iPhone. I have until July 11th to figure things out. At this point, I’m still in favor of keeping my current iPhone and maybe waiting for a 3rd gen iPhone that supports video and video conferencing. I love Apple, but their incremental upgrade business model can get very annoying at times, especially when there are plenty of phones that offer features that SHOULD be in the iPhone.
MobileMe
On an awesome note, the new MobileMe service looks great! I’ve been looking for something that would allow me to organize my life through a universal medium as well as a client side medium. Google services are great for accessing everything via the web browser, but I like using applications through the OS as well. MobileMe looks like it interfaces great with Apple Mail, iPhone, and Windows Outlook. I really can’t wait for this to start rolling out. I’ll be sure to give a review on this service once I’m signed into it next month.
Garage Warfare - Lightsaber Battle
Method: Uncategorized
So the past couple of months I’ve been working on my final project which I chose to be a lightsaber battle. Though I know it could have been so much better, I’m pretty proud of it considering the time constraints. I hope you enjoy it!
I also have a high resolution download available. You can download it by right-clicking on the image below and choosing “save-as.”
Icon Resource Debuts!
Method: Blog
Someone told me a couple weeks ago about Cocoia.com and their sleek design. Upon further researching I found the owner, Sebastiaan De With, had a couple of other projects up his sleeve. One of them was Icon Resource. I’ve always been a fan of sleek and clean icon design and there is no doubt that Sebastiaan has the talent and knowledge to develop and create some great icons.
At 95 Euro (approximately $150 USD), you get access to a wide range of tutorials that guide you through the process of icon developing. From the history of icons to shading and preparing them for final output, all of the videos are there at your disposal. Sebastiaan claims that no prior knowledge of Photoshop is required. The quality of the web site speaks for itself and is but a preview of the quality of art that Sebastiaan will guide you through. All of the movies are downloadable, HD quality, and iPhone/iPod ready. On top of that, he provides the project files for you to follow along with.
At $150 dollars, the price may seem a bit steep on the surface. If the quality of his current work isn’t enough proof, check out the sample video he provides and you’ll soon realize the true value of this icon training series. With a little time and well spent cash, you may soon become a master icon designer.
I’ve followed this project for the past couple of weeks and am very excited that it has finally made its way into our browsers. How often do you find quality tutorials that may instantly raise your Photoshopping skills, understanding of icon design, and your value as a designer? Not often… Here’s the link again just in case: http://www.iconresource.net
Twitter If You Haven’t Already
Method: Blog
My friend Mike got me into Twitter the other day. I’ve always known about it and thought it wouldn’t serve me much purpose. I was wrong. Despite its simple nature, Twitter is just as affective of a social networking tool as MySpace or Facebook (at least in my opinion).
- Here’s what I find interesting about it:
- Micro-blogging - Ever have something on your mind but found it too short to write a full blog post about? Tweet it!
- It’s cool following the tweets of some of the more successful people (i.e. Kevin Rose; founder of DIGG). Especially if they’re active with their tweets.
- Different Mediums - Facebook and MySpace almost force you to be at a computer with an internet browser open. With Twitter, you can receive tweets through different sources. You can have them texted to your phone, iPhone users can use PocketTweets, Mac Users can use Twitterific, PC and Linux users can use spaz.Air, or you can check them online just like anyone else. 3rd party programs make tweeting a lot more enjoyable.
If you want to follow me over Twitter, my user name is Pixelman (twitter.com/pixelman). I’ve only recently joined, so if I see that you’re following me, I’ll most likely follow back.
In other news, Wordpress 2.5 just came out and it’s awesome! If you haven’t upgraded for a while, now is the time to do so.
A Little ‘PiMptastic’ From Yours Truly
Method: Site News
If you haven’t already noticed, a new design is up and running. What’s cool is that this theme only took me 2 days to finish. I’m especially proud of the fact that it works in IE6 as well despite all of the transparent PNGs.
Other big news, Apple’s new release of OSX, dubbed “Leopard,” will be releasing tomorrow. How I wish I had a Mac at this moment (maybe if I get enough Ad revenue from this site =).
In honor of my new design and Leopard just around the corner, my friend Mike decided to share two wallpapers he just created. They’re super clean and ready to use. You may or may not see him contribute more around here, who knows. For now, enjoy some of the fruits of his labor below.
P.S. That awesome RSS image in the top left started with an icon from Stylish Labs. Go check them out.
Featured: Design Meltdown
Method: Site News
Design Meltdown (http://www.designmeltdown.com) is a site where I get a lot of inspiration from. It is a compilation of websites that display creative use under a certain category. Websites that use black, green, 3-columns, blogs, commercial…the list goes on. I am proud to announce that your very own Pixel Mana has made the list (under “Black”). So if you’re ever stuck in “designer’s block” mode, check out Design Meltdown.
Super Fly Box Maker
Method: Templates
As our very first resource, we’re providing you with a Photoshop action/template to make “Super Fly” product boxes. These boxes can be used to advertise almost anything (not just software). This is great if you want to catch a viewers attention, and it also gives your product display a more professional look and feel. We also provide different tips on how to take it a step further and make it look even better. Read more
Awesome Underwater Scenery
Method: Environments, Special FX
This tutorial will show you how to create awesome underwater scenery in Photoshop. Through this tutorial, we will cover the use of channels as well as cool filters such as chrome and radial blur. Make sure to download the PSD file at the bottom of the page for reference. Read more
Beautiful Space Environments
Method: Environments, Special FX
This tutorial will teach you how to make a reflective/metal planet with a nebulous clouds surrounding it. It can also be used to make shiny orbs or buttons. This is a lengthy tutorial so make sure to download the reference PSD file at the bottom of the page for reference. Read more
Advanced Particle Effects
Method: Special FX
This tutorial will show you how to create particle effects in Photoshop. Keep in mind that I only provide the basic guidelines to creating this type of effect. There are tons of possibilities if you experiment and keep your creativity wide open. Read more
Comment