New Mac Mini

Apple has just released it's latest Mac-mini, and boy is it a good one! It now runs on Lion (10.7) and is 2 times faster than it's predecessor!


With the latest dual-core Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, this Mac-mini sure packs a punch and boasts up to 2 times more speed than the older version.

OSX Lion is out!

Yes, The day has finally come! Lion has been released to the public alongside the new-and-improved Macbook Air! Are you ready to upgrade? Read the following instructions to make sure your Mac can upgrade to iOS Lion!

BEFORE YOU START: YOU MUST BACK UP YOUR MAC ON TIME MACHINE OR YOU WILL LOOSE EVERYTHING(unless you install Lion over SL, but some apps may conflict with Lion)!

1.Your Mac must have an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor to run Lion. How are you supposed to know that? Click the Apple icon in the top left corner and go to 'About this Mac'. The information you need is on the first window that pops up. Got that done? Head onto the next step...

2. Do you have the latest version of Snow Leopard (10.6.8)? Check by going to 'About this Mac', and under the Apple logo, you will see your OS number in gray letters (It should look like 10.6.___). Got 10.6.8? If not, you will have to software update by clicking on the second option in the Apple Menu.

3. After that, all that is left to do is to head on down to the Mac App Store and buy your copy of Lion for only $29.99. Follow the onscreen instructions and your good to go!

If you have any queries, feel free to email us at itechwonderland@gmail.com

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iTech Review- Pencil Animation

Animation techniques are very popular and many people got to Adobe's Flash range when animating. But for many people who are inexperienced, Flash can be very daunting. This is one example of when traditional techniques come in handy. Most people are familiar with flipbooks, books where when you quickly flick through the pages, you see an animation. To make this into an animation on your computer, on of the best choices are Pencil Animation, which specializes in frame-by-frame animation. Here is a review showing you the best features of this free tool-

Mac vs PC vs Linux- Novell AD

Many Mac fans will know about the popular Mac vs PC ads that Apple rolled out a few years ago, which gave these two operating systems life and turned them into 2 people. Here is a parody of this featuring Linux as well as Mac and PC as a Novell Advertisement. Enjoy!

Special thanks to rbrownclown for uploading this for all of us to enjoy

Top 5 Candybar icon packs

Many of our regular readers will be familiar with the useful software, Candybar, which enables users to change the icons of system applications and 3rd party applications with simplicity and ease (those of you not familiar, check out iTech Wonderland's review here). But what use is a $30 software if you can't use it to the best of it's ability? The team at iTech Wonderland set out to find the 5 best Candybar-compatible icon packs to help you turn your Mac into your friend. All of these Icon Packs are completely free, so what are you waiting for?

5. QuickPix 2010 (iContainer for Mac+PC)

This is a nice and friendly icon pack with a comic touch to it, perfect to brighten up those dull little icons. And what else is great is that it works for both Mac and PC! Definitely worth trying if you are a new Candybar user.

4. Steampunk Storage (iContainer for Mac+PC)

Great for die-hard steampunk lovers. With this snazzy 8-icon set, you can make your harddrive icon go from 21 century to Jules Vernes' kettle!

3. Smoothicons 1.5 (iContainer for Mac+PC)

Are you the type that spends more time on Facebook than with your friends? Then this is the iContainer for you! Featuring 11 social networking icons ranging from Facebook to Youtube, it's guaranteed to bring some magic into your computer!

2. Refresh Snow Leopard (iContainer for Mac+PC)

This is a great system icon replacement pack with 26 simplistic, yet powerful icons for your folders. Works for both Vista or higher or Snow Leopard

1. Flurry (iContainer for Mac+PC)

The undisputed king of icon packs, Flurry is a very stylish and popular icon pack, with over 100 icons in each pack and over 4 individual packs, you can turn your computer into an iPhone lookalike with square icons for all your application and system needs, this is definitely an icon pack worth trying out.


Have an icon pack worth noting? Put your comments below to help build up this list!

Are you Mac or PC (infographic)?

Many of our readers have their preferences, but the team at Hunch.com made up a fantastic infographic after multiple tests to determine whether you are a Mac or a PC, and may I add that it is frighteningly accurate. Who knew that your computer could have an affect on your personality?

(Click pic to enlarge)

So is it time to get a new computer or do you know what your talking about when it comes to buying computers? Tell us your story in the comments section below.

Thanks Hunch for this great resource.

Review- Parallels Desktop (Mac, PC, Linux)

As the demand for reliable, popular and trustworthy Virtual Machines grows, there is one contender on the market that mops the floor with the competition, Parallels Desktop. Being one of the most trusted and used names on the market, Parallels has almost become a household name in todays society of Operating Systems. But what sets it apart from others of it's kind, and is it really worth the dough when there are free options for users? Read on to find out.

What is Parallels?

Parallels is a virtualization and automation software that specializes in running multiple operating systems on single machines. It is easy to install and all you need is a Mac, PC or Linux with the installation disks of the desired operating system to hand. It is completely legal as long as you use legal copies of the disk and do not bypass any copyright laws.

Parallels vs. Bootcamp

Mac users will be familiar with the name 'Bootcamp'- It is an in-built feature of intel Macs running Snow Leopard which enables the user to natively run another operating system from the same machine from another partition in the hard-drive. The advantages of Bootcamp are that you can run the desired operating system with full speed because it gives it access to 100% of your machines RAM. The disadvantages are of course that the only way to switch from Mac to the other OS is to restart your computer and partitioning your drive is sometimes a risky process. Parallels also stores the other OS's files on your hard-drive, so it you still have the space that Bootcamp's partition would not allow you to access. The one you should use depends on what you will use it for, but you can always use both!

In conclusion, Parallels is a great tool and has won countless awards for it's services. I would highly recommend it to anybody and at around $100, it is definitely something you should look into buying if you own a business or things like that.

Useful links-  

Parallels site

 

iTech Review- Candybar (Mac)

Soon, all of your icons could be looking
as good as this!

If theres one thing that Mac users love about their Mac, it's personalization. But sometimes, changing the wallpaper and screensaver and changing some avatars doesn't cut it for Mac-addicts, but thanks to Candybar by Panic studios, you can take customization to the next level. If you have ever wondered how your the person sitting next to you changed the icons of their apps, or changed the appearance of their dock, their secret is Candybar.

As you may have guessed, Candybar is an application that lets you customize your Mac with simplicity that has never been seen before. It is as simple as drag your icon onto it's desired predecessor, log out of your computer, log back in and SHAZAM!!!! The icon has changed! There are other ways to change icons (manually and with other applications), but Candybar is by far the easiest, most user friendly and popular to use and therefore, you can find many icon packs and dock skins especially optimized for Candybar. You can find just about all of these icon packs at the Iconfactory.

Can't find an icon that suits you? The new-and-improved version of Candybar has a built in version of pixadex, which allows you to edit and make your own custom icons. And the fun doesn't stop there, with Candybar, you can even change the appearance of your dock, from different skins to suit your tastes to different indicators, theres something for everyone.

It has a very sleek and easy to use interface for even the most technologically challenged person. It comes with a built-in icon pack (called 'Float') but you can add your own with just a few clicks. The same applies to docks. Like all good things, it isn't free, but Panic has a fourteen-day trial that you can use before you buy, and yes, it is perfectly safe.

Candybar is $29 to buy and $24 to upgrade from a previous version. Head over to Panic's site for more info.

I will have another post up soon reviewing the top 5 icon packs to help you get started and make the most of this beautiful and useful resource.

Article by PB5110

iTech Review- Open Office (Mac, Windows)

If you have made the decision to buy a Mac, you will know that it isn't cheap. And if you didn't know, unlike PC's, you have to spend EVEN MORE money on office suites to get anything out of your laptop. Suites like iWork and MS Office could empty your pocket in no time. Thats where Open Office, the free and open productivity suite comes in.

When you first click on it, I will admit that it is kind of slow, but not unbearable and the Open Office team updates quite frequently, so that will not be an issue in a little while. MS Office vetrans will notice that the toolbars and layout is similar to that of MS Office, and everything is there; layouts, tools, fonts and formatting etc.

One thing that people sometimes dont know about Open Office is not a 'trial program' (it has limited features and/or it lasts only for a period of time). It has the fully-fledged capabilities of MS Office, with word processing, presentations, spreadsheets, HTML and XML capabilities, Open Office may be the only productivity suite you will ever need!

With the fairly recent updates, users can not only create their own masterpieces, they can upload them to Google Docs, upload to their blogs and others. It is the perfect tool for professional publishers to use for ease of editing, it has made it's mark as a tool for casual and professionals alike.

As you can see, Open Office is a great tool for any user to have, and the best thing is that you've got nothing to lose! I would recommend it to any Mac user, even if they have another Office Suite because Open Office is Multi-Platform which makes it a great tool to use if you need to make a document that PC users need to access. It's completely open, free and safe to use as long as you download from trusted websites such as these:
http://download.cnet.com/OpenOffice-org/3000-18483_4-10263109.html
http://porting.openoffice.org/mac/
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Office-tools/Office-suites/OpenOfficeorg-for-Windows.shtml

Don't hesitate to give it a go and write your own reviews in the comments section!

Is Office 2011 right for you?

Plainly the first and most important determining element on everyone's thoughts is price tag. Microsoft Office for Mac Company edition retails for $399.95, and the Residence and Pupil Edition retails for $149.95. Apple's iWork suite retails for $79, or $99 for the Family Pack, which enables set up on up to 5 private devices in the similar home.

For these not acquainted with it, iWork contains Pages, Keynote, and Numbers. Pages is for phrase processing and is identical to Phrase. Keynote is a presentation plan like PowerPoint, and Numbers is a spreadsheet application equivalent to Excel. That is the simplified response. In true Apple trend, each is effortless to use, has powerful capabilities, and integrates with other Apple apps and your paperwork seamlessly.

But which a single do you require? Answering that query isn't as effortless, so let's break down the variations. Microsoft Office has two major versions that utilize to most folks. The Organization Edition is essential if you approach to use it for business purposes and/or call for Microsoft Trade help. If you have no strategy what that indicates, you most likely only need to have the Household and College student Edition. The Residence and University student edition allows set up on up to 3 private computer systems, which means if you have other loved ones members who might want it, 1 value is all you shell out for use on up to three Macs. Each variations contain Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, Entourage, and Messenger. An additional essential distinction is that the Household and Small business edition is not upgradable. The principal problems you will operate into are compatibility. A single of the major misconceptions men and women have when listening to the word "compatible" are thinking of it only as becoming among Microsoft and Apple. Compatibility is just as crucial involving versions as it is between running methods. Another person can email you a Term document built on a Windows pc with Office 2010 and if you have Office 2003 on Windows you may well even now have issues opening the file. Compatibility amongst Windows and Mac variations is not an concern, as each Microsoft Workplace for Mac and Apple's iWork are capable of functioning with Office files designed on a Windows Personal computer. In simple fact, Apple's iWork would seem to have fewer troubles operating with Workplace paperwork than even Workplace itself does. Apple also included into iWork a attribute that will allow you to create a document in Pages, for case in point, and export it as Term document. What this all signifies is that if somebody emails you a Term document, you can open it with Pages, edit it, save it as a Phrase document, and mail it back to them with total self-assurance they can open it. In which you will run into complications, just as with a more recent and older edition on the same computer system, is in the various attributes provided. Pages, for instance, has templates, graphics, and other enhancements that will not function in Phrase, just as Keynote has slide templates and results that are not readily available in PowerPoint. For fundamentals, every software will operate great, but when adding effects and model you might operate into compatibility concerns. Merely staying aware of this can often eliminate any problems in advance of they startoff, and both equally Office an iWork will permit you know about likely difficulties, allowing you to make just the changes you will need to resolve the concerns and complete functioning. I am work seriously can bear hardships and stand hard work, self-motivated.Free time I created my blog,If you treat me blog interested,please send eamil to carlreilly410@yahoo.co.uk,and welcome to visite my site:office 2010,and my blog:http://www.newofficezone.com/blog

Article courtesy of amazines.com

iTech Review- Minecraft (Mac, PC and Linux)

Heres a video from Gamerblast reviewing the popular Mac, PC and Linux survival game, Minecraft.

As you can see, it is quite a unique game and the developers update Minecraft often so there is always something new. I would recommend it to younger users, but that shouldn't put adults of playing it! The gameplay is quite complex with multiple inventories, materials and crafting combinations, and it is definitely not a 'baby' game as some people may quote. It is worth a try and is not very expensive (€14.95) because it is still in beta so get it before the price rises!

iTech App Review- World of Warcraft (Mac)

(Click pic to enlarge) Crisp graphics are one of the
attributes that make WOW attractive to young gamers 

World of Worcraft or WOW as it is known to many, has taken the gaming world by storm and this week our very own Becky Brand would like to tell you all about it. As an avid gamer, I feel she is far more equipped to write about it 

than me. 

World of Warcraft (or WoW) is the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) from Blizzard Entertainment. Warcraft initially started out as a series of three games ending in Warcraft 3 with World of Warcraft being set after these games.


When you start the game you need to create an avatar which you will control as you explore the fictional world of Azeroth. You have a choice of two sides; either the Alliance or the Horde with each side having a number of different races that you can play as including Trolls, Dwarfs, Humans, Gnomes and Orcs.


Whether you're a particularly brave player or a reclusive one you can choose to be different characters that have different tatics. You may choose to be a mage who blasts your enemies with spells from a distance or choose to be a Warrior, who charges in and takes the full wrath of the enemies up front. The game caters for most people, so depending on the kind of character you like to play you can choose from different classes including Priests, Rogues, Paladins, and Shamans. Once your character has been created, you need to get stronger in order to tackle stronger enemies and bosses. You will need to quest in order to earn level ups, armour upgrades and new skills.


With approximately 12 million subscribers worldwide, World of Warcraft is one of the biggest online role playing games. Contrary to popular belief; it's not just teenage boys lacking in social ability who play World of Warcraft as it genuinely does appeal to many.


Whilst travelling around you will bump into parents sneaking a quick hour in whilst their kids sleep, men and women who use Warcraft to relax after a hard days work, much in the same way many people will watch their soaps of an evening. The folklore in World of Warcraft is so deep and vast it's almost like an interactive Lord of the Rings.


Admittedly you rarely actually meet the people you play with in Warcraft, but when you keep bumping into the same characters in game, or join a guild with a good group of players, you start to form acquaintances and friendships with the other players. There has even been a few couples who met in the World of Warcraft and ended up being happily married - the game can be a really good social experience if thats what you make it to be.


Your character can take on a particular role within the group if you decide to group up with other characters; for example Priests heal, warriors tank and mages deal the damage. There is even the option of forming a raid group of up to 40 characters to try and overcome the extra strong bosses that are scattered across the lands.


The fact that, when playing WOW, you can always strive to earn better armour so you can defeat the biggest bosses in the game, or try and earn the in game achievements for different titles and rewards means the name literally never comes to an end. Blizzard also periodically introduce expansions, which raise the maximum level, and introduce new content and areas to the game.


Warcraft is a very lucrative business, its luring the players in with all of its merchandise, accessories and books. These go hand in hand with the millions of subscriptions worldwide making it like any good franchise.

Article by Chris Holgate 

Final Cut Pro X- iTech Wonderland

Apple has finally released the latest and greatest version of their revolutionary video-editing products, Final Cut Pro X. At just $300 from the Mac App Store, The team at iTech Wonderland was itching to get their hands on it and when we did, this is what we found:

Looks- Apple claims to have completely rewritten FCPX, and it sure looks that way! The interface has changed dramatically and so have the features. The design is much sleeker and user friendlier, not to mention the two upgraded companion software, Motion 5 and Compressor 4, which together provide you with an arsenal of video-editing capabilities which may even rival that of Adobe's After Effects.

Features- FCPX provides the user with a sea of new features from a new precision editor and magnetic timeline and clip connections to keep everything in time. The new Final Cut Pro X is built for tidiness and many new features help keep your timelines, collections and media in harmony.

Performance- FCPX has been optimized in many ways. With new 64-bit design, it is built for bigger projects with higher frame rates etc. It is built on a cocoa foundation which means it is more responsive and less likely to crash on the native OSX operating system. The new Shared Render Engine means you can have high-quality rendering and you can even edit while rendering with background processing! GPU utilization means you can create higher resolution effects that play in real time. With all these features, its the real deal.

System requirements- 

Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor or better2GB of RAM (4GB of RAM recommended)OpenCL-capable graphics card or

• Intel HD Graphics 3000 or later

256MB of VRAM                    

• 
  
• Display with 1280-by-768 resolution or higher

Mac OS X v10.6.7 or later2.4GB of disk space

(It works like a dream on the new Macbook Pro)

Click to enlarge

In conclusion, FCPX is a must have for budding movie makers and caters to the needs of noobs to pros. And for only $299.99, Why not give it a try?

iTech Review- Magic Mouse

It is definitely a much better method of interaction/interacting together with your laptop and that we may use the term landmark to describe the Apple Magic computer mouse in one word. And, it merely does not get far better than this; the world's first ever multi-touch mouse now responds to gestures.

It looks like Apple has taken a remarkable selection relating to the launch in the Magic computer mouse as being a common addition with the iMac. It's provided other Bluetooth-enabled Mac equipments a facelift (or mutated them to super-gadgets) by allowing users go complete hog on multi-touch makeovers. The very first in its type, this is a sleek gadget sporting a sleek top-shell, and an eye-catching style.

Earliest time Mac customers might discover the Apple Magic mouse a little bit awkward for use since the whole computer mouse simulates one button for the multi-touch attribute covering the entire best. It takes a while acquiring utilized to this; nonetheless, once you receive utilised to it, the sleep is absolutely nothing more than a cakewalk. Scrolling the computer mouse pointer (in any direction) requires just a finger getting moved for the best in the mouse and laptop customers will take on pleasure in it. For swiping through documents, two fingers are enough. The predictive chip inside has turned the perform a entire good deal easier.

The conventional optical monitoring has been replaced by laser monitoring that is a lot more sensitive and responds similarly on any provided surface area. Sure that tends to make this one-piece manufacturing a great deal extra delicate than other regular mice, but it is sufficient to handle the workstation wars.

What Can make Apple's Magic Computer Mouse Superior Than The Rest?

But, the million dollar query that's popping up inside minds of the critics is - regardless of whether it's fit sufficient to score lengthy expression if in comparison with the other optical mice?

Nicely, the response proved to be a huge yes! And, the credits go very first to its faintly various ergonomics. As opposed to other people, it is low and aerodynamic, that keeps clear in the contour of your palm. It doesn't make 1 sense the computer mouse to become a portion with the hand. Next, it reaches for the built in Bluetooth that releases you with the trouble of using time consuming and messy dongles (and needless to say saves you in the additional investment).

An additional improvement included inside the Apple Magic mouse could be the existence with the two plastic bars beneath; these reduce contact using the surface the computer mouse is touching but impacts monitoring; it is a thing the computer mouse is not fully trained at. Along with a obvious delineation among the correct button and the left button would happen to be a action closer to user-friendliness. Nonetheless, they are things a individual will get utilized to in a short while.

Apple launched touch initiated scrolling with the Magic mouse and if nothing else, it's fluid and natural. Any quantity of fingers anywhere for the mouse surface is sufficient to start the function. The dual-mode operation is handy, but transforming the modes needs reaching the internal settings. Perhaps Apple ought to believe about devising a touch-reaction for this aspect as well and toil a little a lot more on maintaining the aesthetic appeals for longer. It's painful to see a brand new item losing the untouched finish so fast. In any case, it's an excellent development from their last item, the Mighty computer mouse.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/team-building-articles/imac-mouse-apple-magic-mouse-review-1890300.html#ixzz1QE8dGNBB 


Article by Jon Apple

An Apple Fan's Review of the MacBook

First, the bad stuff. Sadly, there are 1 or 2 dead pixels on the glossy wide-screen, but a quick look around the Internet and I've realized there's not a lot of point taking it back because low end TFTs can suffer from dead pixels. It's only when you pay more for a "pixel-perfect" display that there is a return policy on dead pixels. Oh well.

That aside, it has all the trade marks of a classic Apple product. The packaging was superb, and minimal. In fact, I've noticed a trend in packaging. My new Sony Rescission K310i from Orange came in a box barely big enough to fit everything in. It's good to see manufacturers producing packaging solutions that are both functional and well designed.

Once out the box, the MacBook looks simply stunning. The outer casing is a similar white polycarbonate (I believe) to the iBook. Opening the MacBook is a joy - there are no latches or buttons, it's all magnetically done. Opened, the MacBook is a departure to Apple laptops of the past. The keyboard keys are spaced out more and flatter, and the casing is the same ceramic-like material that is found on the base of the Mac Mini.

The connections on the left of the MacBook are the usual stuff, with one notable exception - the MagSafe power connection. It's a small, rectangular port and is also magnetically charged. When plugging in the power adaptor, the connector literally snaps into place due to the magnet. Very neat. The concept is simple, if the power cord is ripped out, instead of pulling the laptop with it, the MagSafe connector just comes out.

Powering up is quick and simple, and after the standard Tiger set up, we're up and running. Only a password was required to connect to my wireless network (new MacBooks have Airport built in) and a few more minutes tinkering had the MacBook set up how I like my Macs to be.

The first noticeable thing is how bright the 13.3 inch display is compared to my old 12 inch Powerbook. I can see me having to turn the brightness down to avoid headaches. The keyboard, which I was worried about, turns out to be almost as usable as a standard keyboard, with lovely positive feedback. Again, a definite improvement over my Powerbook.

After a few minutes playing on the Internet and trying to fix the couple of dead pixels (to no avail) I had a good play, running a few apps to see how the machine responded. General OS stuff is super quick (although the Quad Xeon I played with in the Trafford Centre was slightly quicker!).

From what I've seen so far, I'm impressed. With a 2GHz Intel chip, 1 Gig of RAM and an 80 Gig hard drive, it's got plenty to keep me going (although one of the first websites I visited was Crucial to price up the 2 Gig kit). 


Article by James Ashberry

OSX Lion update

If you have been on the Apple site recently, you may have noticed a box at the bottom right hand corner. If you click this, you will come across a new page that outlines the stuff we already know about Lion. But thats not all, It also says that lion is coming to the Mac App Store in July for only $29.99. This has been Apple's latest response to their upcoming operating system, Lion, which was believed to be released much later this year, but it is a huge relief for Apple fans that the wait has been cut short. Be sure to keep up with iTech Wonderland for the latest news about OSX Lion.

iTech App Review- Evernote

Ever had a thought you need to urgently record? Ever had a brainwave that you know is important? Ever got told off for forgetting things? If you have, Evernote is one app that you simply can't live without. Basically, its an online notes service, you can make notes from your iPod, iPad, iPhone or Mac and view them from different devices because it's all stored on Evernote's International Server. And you aren't just limited to typing the note; Evernote has the ability to create a snapshot, saved photo or audio note to suit everybody's tastes. Why not just do a voice recording or take a photo? I hear you ask, it's because it won't be accessible with any device. You can favourite notes and even set up multiple notebooks!  Evernote is probably the most user-friendly and practical note-taking app on the market, and best of all, it's FREE! Evernote is definitely a must-have for anyone with a busy lifestyle and it's guaranteed to be an app that will stay on your most-used-apps list!

Angry Birds free!(Chrome Web app)

Have you checked out the new Chrome webstore? It's quite neat and practically everything is free, including the hit game, Angry birds! Why? It is not clear yet, but who cares? One reason may be that Rovio is helping advertise Google Chrome, because in order to play the game, you must have the browser- in fact, every one of the apps open in Google Chrome. If Google continues to make everything free (Im talking about stuff like MS Office, Photoshop, big-name products like that), Google could possibly rule the world...

Microsoft buys Skype

Skype has been up for sale for a while now, but only recently, Microsoft decided it was time to take out their (huge) wallet and set their eyes on one of the most popular IM client in the world. Skype has a lot to offer Microsoft, with over 405 million people with Skype accounts, although Microsoft's intentions may be unclear at the moment, There are many ways Microsoft can pay of this huge deal, including the fact that millions of people a day make paid calls with Skype. When all of this goes into Microsoft's pocket, Microsoft can easily turn the tables with this 8.5 billion dollar deal (Microsoft's biggest deal ever).