Apple Plagued By Problems With Leopard

Apple have been hit by a number of issues with their new OS, Leopard. The problems include issues with the firewall being disabled upon installation, an issue with finder deleting files during a move, and losing data under certain circumstances such as a power fluctuation. There are also many reports of system freezes or glitches which relate to the use of the graphics display system. The final one is really ironic, as it concerns the appearance of the Dreaded BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) which so often plagued Windows. Yes, the BSOD is now appearing in OS X. Even more of concern is Apple's apparent censoring of discussion on their support forums of many of these issues. It appears that Apple either rushed this product to market, or didn't allow enough beta testing cycles. Either way, Mac OS X Leopard is not quite ready for prime time.

I-O data Launch Tough 16 GB Flash Drive

Japanese Firm I-O data have created the HDMC, a 16GB, freezable, droppable, completely waterproof USB flash drive. This device isn't cheap mind you, at ¥25,300 or about US$230, this device will put a hole in your wallet. Visit Akihabara News for more info and a really cheesy, albeit interesting video.

Spotlight On ... Adobe Photoshop CS3 A-Z

As far as reference books for Photoshop CS3 are concerned, Focal Press has been really busy the last few months. This book by Phillip Andrews isn't a tutorial book, but rather a lavishly illustrated and in-depth reference which covers pretty much every feature in Photoshop CS3. Andrews does a thorough job of explaining the use of all the tools and even begins with a very nice step-by-step section which I would have liked to see more of (a few more tutorials in other words). The rest of the book provides a well-organized and detailed reference for anyone who has ever wanted a comprehensive manual with Photoshop CS3. It is both highly useful and extremely easy to follow. Highly Recommended.

Virtual Vixens: 3D Character Modeling and Scene Placement

Focal Press are one of my favourite publishers of books dealing with Photography. With this reference work by Arndt von Koenigsmarck, Focal Press take a look at the world of Virtual or 3D people, or more specifically the creation of believable 3D Females. The book starts with a look at the work of artists like Steven Stahlberg and Liam Kemp who are well versed in creating virtual females. There is even an excellent feature on the work of Max Edwin Wahyudi, which focuses on the creation of a virtual Natalie Portman. I was quite impressed with the quality of the model and images produced. The book continues with several excellent workshops which focus on software and techniques for refining these characters and models. This book could have demonstrated just how far the technology has come in recent years but instead provides a solid groundwork for anyone interested in the techniques and tools currently being used. The one thing which stands out in this book is the importance of having excellent photo reference, both as source material and as textures. Virtual Vixens is worth a look, but don't expect it to show you anything groundbreaking unless you're a beginner.

Citizen Buys Bulova...

For those of you out there who are watch lovers, the big news is that Japanese watch maker Citizen has bought U.S. based Bulova from Loews for $247 million. This purchase is aimed at enhancing Citizens position in the $200-$600 area of the market.

Samsung Halts Consumer Product Sales in Japan

In a moved born out of frustration with the closed nature of the market in Japan, Samsung has decided to halt sales of all of its consumer product lines there. Japan is notoriously difficult to trade in due to severe restrictions and protectionism.