Ant-iClimactic

What kind of design blog would we be without sharing the latest and greatest Apple creation? Well folks, if you haven't heard already Steve Jobs unveiled the highly anticipated tablet device, the iPad. Ever since the Kindle hit the market, tech geeks have been anxiously awaiting the Apple counterpart sure to blow the Kindle's socks off. So, ok, the announcement wasn't much of a surprise, but did the product live up to all the hype? Personally, I'm a little skeptical. Which is surprising since I recently got an iPhone, and let's be honest, it has revolutionized my life. But I think that's what is causing some of my skepticism – if you have already own a smartphone, why would you want to carry around a Giant iPhone? With laptops getting smaller and lighter, and smartphones getting faster and more efficient, I just don't know if there is a need for an "in-between" gadget. (Keep in mind I have NEVER had any desire to read a book on a screen, so maybe my opinion shouldn't count as much on this topic.) I suppose only time will tell and perhaps this is the future of technology...or perhaps this is just a lot of hype for a passing trend. And p.s. – what is the deal with the name? iPad??? There are too many inappropriate remarks I could make, but for the dignity of our blog I will refrain. ••••

Opening Day

A very anxiously anticipated Apple store is set to open on Boylston Street this Thursday! Mac lovers will convene at 6 PM for the grand opening of the three -story glass facade building which, according to the Boston Globe, is Apple's largest retail venture in the United States.

In addition to the free t-shirts and paraphanalia distributed on Thursday night, Apple will be offering free four-week "Pro Lab" sessions and a free summer camp for kids in July. Check out a calandar of events here. ••••

A Quick Leopard Trick

Just got a new computer with Leopard, and I am loving it! Thanks to my Leopard Tricks Widget, I am just beginning to learn some quick time savers, so I thought I would share one. If you have Leopard, you can highlight any file on your computer and simply press the space bar to automatically bring it up in preview mode. Then, with one click of the expanding button at the bottom you can easily set it against a black background— terrific for showing your work cleanly. I was doing some scanning of old family photos the other night, so you get to see an image of the Easter Bunny, my sister Kate, and me as the example.

Genius and Genius.

Steve Jobs discusses Paul Rand. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing.

Engrave your Apple products

I really want to get either my Mac Book Pro or my iPhone engraved after seeing a few examples on the site EngraveYourTech.com. There are a few companies out there right now that will do this for you, for example etchamac.com. You can actually upload your own artwork and depending on the amount of surface area covered, the price can vary. Great idea and totally unique.

My Favorite Laptop Bag

Part of being a graphic designer involves a great deal of schlepping your laptop around. Well, the only way to do this, of course, is in style. So let me share with you MY favorite laptop case. It is the Trixy bag from Acme Made, a company that specializes in functional, yet stylish computer cases. It is large enough to hold my laptop, all the cords and gadgets that come with it, as well as other materials such as papers, notebooks, and sketchbooks. It also comes with a separate laptop sleeve and matching accessories bag. It's a great find and I recommend it to everyone.