Adobe Creative Suite 2: Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop still has a complex interface that tends to confuse me (keep in mind that I confuse easily) but some of the features in the CS2 version are close enough to "magic" that I'm willing to do a little work to figure out the interface.

The feature that most reviewers comment about is the "vanishing point" tool, which provides astonishingly powerful perspective correction. You start by drawing a grid that tells Photoshop about the image's geometry. Once you've done that, you can paste in images -- either from the current file or from another file -- and the pasted image will adjust to match the perspective of the initial image. The previous CS version of Photoshop added a "healing tool" and the vanishing point tool makes use of this feature to adjust color and levels to make the object match its surroundings.

That's the most noteworthy feature of the application. Examine the two images below (from Adobe) and you'll understand why.

See the difference? Count the windows, either on the building closest to you (or the one behind it) or the building's reflection.

The healing brush itself has been improved. Instead of having to Alt-click a reference point, the user simply brushes over the area that needs to be repaired. The results are good, but most people will probably give this feature a try and then go back to the old healing brush because it offers better control and better results. We'll see how CS3 does with the new feature.

One thing that's impressive about the CS2 package is how similar the applications are on Windows and Mac machines. Adobe sent me the Windows version for review and we bought a copy of CS2/Mac for CCAD student Kaydee (the younger daughter). I've used her Mac to take a look at CS2 on that platform and have created files that needed to move from Windows to Mac and from Mac to Windows. The main problem in moving files from one platform to the other is typefaces. If the typeface you need isn't present on the target platform, you'll need to convert all text to paths (or curves) before moving the files. Otherwise, the process is surprisingly easy.

When you first launch the application, it will look pretty much like Photoshop CS. This is good because most of the interface remains the same as it was in the previous version. One interface change of significance is the application's WYSYWIG font display. Instead of just showing the name of a typeface (What does "Frontier" mean?) you'll see text in the actual typeface, except for faces such as symbols or dingbats. These typeface names are displayed in a face you can read.

Photoshop users can upgrade for $150, but if you're buying in for the first time, be prepared to spend more than $500. Adobe also has other upgrades to the entire CS2 suite for various prices that depend on what you have and what you want to upgrade to.

CS2 also has better support for "raw" digital camera formats. That means users of high-end cameras will find it easier to open and edit their images in Photoshop.

Other applications in the suite:

• Adobe Illustrator CS2 review.
• Adobe InDesign CS2 review.
• Adobe Bridge and GoLive review.

Technology corner rating for PHOTOSHOP CS2.

9 CATS: If you work professionally or semi-professional with images, you need the latest version of Photoshop. No question. The "vanishing point" technology is so magical that this feature alone is worth the price of admission. Visit the Adobe website for info.

How the Technology Corner rating system works.

The US is still the #1 source of spam

But other countries are gaining. The United States is responsible for slightly more than 25% of the spam worldwide, but South Korea now accounts for nearly 20% and China has a solid hold on third place. The antispam company Sophos maintains a global network of spam traps. Analysis of the spam received shows that the US is still the worst offender. The Can Spam Act is having some effect, though, because more of the spam is moving offshore.

Number one and still champion with 26% of the world's spam is the United States. South Korea has 19.7%, up from about 12% last year, and China has nearly doubled its representation from 9% last year to 16% this year. France, Brazil, Canada, Taiwan, Spain, and Japan all generate 2% to 5% of the world's spam. The UK, Pakistan, and Germany are all under 2%. All the other countries account for less than 19% of the spam.

Sophos says that more than half of the spam originates on zombie computers, machines that have been hijacked.

Sophos senior technologist Graham Cluley says US legislation, legal action, and service pack 2 for Windows XP have all helped to fight spam. Spammers increasingly are relying on unprotected PCs that can be taken over by crackers to relay spam.

Speaking of taking over computers, Microsoft released 8 patches this week and, if you haven't yet installed them, you're overdue. And if you're an XP user who has managed to avoid upgrading to service pack 2, what are you waiting for? Microsoft doesn't send engraved invitations.

One of the patches (MS05-051) released this week closes a serious security hole that Microsoft announced on October 11. This flaw is easy to exploit and could infect Windows 2000 and Windows XP machines. For example, malware installed in an AVI file can silently infect Windows machines even if you have SP2 installed. Your machine will be safe if you've installed the MS05-050 patch.

Why don't people install patches?

One reason is laziness, of course. But another is concern that the patch itself will have a bug that will scuttle a mission-critical application. Some system administrators wait a week or two (or more) to install patches. They can be sure that the patch won't cause a problem, but they subject their company -- in the interim -- to serious threats.

If you're an individual user (home or business) my recommendation is to obtain Microsoft's patches and install them immediately. Microsoft releases patches on the second Tuesday of every month. You'll find them waiting, if you have automatic updates turned on, Wednesday morning.

Not all the bad guys know about every flaw, but every bad guy keeps an eye on Microsoft's patch releases. The patch announcements from Microsoft don't tell a creep how to exploit a flaw, but the announcement provides enough information to let these creeps know what to look for.

Giving Norton Antivirus the boot

What if you decide that you'd like to stop using Symantec's Norton Antivirus because you're concerned about the sluggishness of the computer when NAV is running? How do you remove Norton and install something else? That's a question I received recently because Norton Antivirus has a reputation for being difficult to remove.

Everybody has a slightly different approach to this, so the advice you receive from me may not be exactly what you will receive from anyone else. The goals are always the same, though: Trying to avoid doing something that will require reinstalling the operating system.

The good news is that Symantec has cleaned up its act a bit and has an uninstaller on the website. They recommend not using it until after you've tried the usual methods.

The bad news is that overseeing an operation such as this requires being in the same room with the computer. There are just too many things that might go unnoticed (and not be asked about) unless the technician is there to see or hear something.

Here's what I would do:

• First, be absolutely certain that you have a complete and verified backup of all data files on the computer. NAV and particularly some of the other utilities are integrated closely with the operating system.
• Visit the Symantec website and find the installer for the applications you have and for XP. Store them on the computer's hard drive.
• If the application has an uninstall function on the Start Menu, use that; if not, use the Windows Add/Remove Programs function. These should be equivalent, but sometimes the application's own installer knows about a few files that it hasn't communicated to Windows.
• When anything asks if you want to restart the computer, you do. Don't accept the "I'll do it later" option. You may get this message at least once for each of the applications.
• After you think the process is complete, restart the system at least two more times. Occasionally the installer/uninstaller programs still have some functions that are placed in the "run once" section of the registry to finish cleaning up.
• Examine the Programs directory. The Symantec directories should be empty. If they're not, rename them (I usually add ".OLD" to directory names so that I can easily find and delete them.)
• Restart the computer. If you see any error messages (the OS says it can't find a file that it wants), there are still entries in the Registry. If this happens, rename the OLD directory to its original name and use the special utility from Symantec.
• Examine the Programs directory. The Symantec directories should be empty. If they're gone, that's good. If they're present and now empty, you can delete them. If they're not empty, rename them again.
• Restart the computer. If you see any error messages (the OS says it can't find a file that it wants), there are still entries in the Registry. If this happens, you'll need to edit the Registry manually.

And I hope you don't have to go there.

CD warnings

Maybe you've wondered what the pictograms on CD and DVD packaging is trying to tell you. The messages are even more obscure than those represented on the safety card in the seat back pocket on an airplane — the ones that you're supposed to follow along as the flight attendant explains how to use a seat belt (should be you allowed outside by yourself if you don't know this?) and points out the exits.

One of the problems with the pictograms on CDs and DVDs is that they're printed rather small. For example, the image at the right. As a public service, I have obtained a larger copy of the pictograms and the key that explains what they mean:
First, a larger look:

Now let's find out what these obscure symbols mean.

		Do not pour beer on your CD, even if it's really bad beer. Or a really bad CD.
		When playing "Frisbee" with a failed CD, avoid throwing it into the bushes.
		Do not tickle your CD.
		Never attempt to write on a CD simultaneously with two writing instruments.
		Do not place your CD on a counter where a strip of tape is peeling off.
		CDs are intended for use indoors, so the probability of rain is unimportant.
		If your CD seems feverish, allow it to rest.
		Zorro should use a pen instead of a sword on CDs.

This proves, once again, that those of us at Technology Corner are uncommonly symbol-minded.

Nerdly News

Apple's Video Ipod

Last week I said that I'd wait until this week to predict what Apple would announce last week, and it's a good thing I did. Apple launched a new version of its Ipod music player that now, in addition to displaying photos on its color screen, also displays videos. The new Ipod comes with a 30GB or a 60GB disk.

Last week, I wondered if Apple would be able to produce a video version of the Ipod this soon and wondered if the announcement might be just a smaller Ipod. Well, I was right on that count. The new Ipods are also slimmer -- a little more than half the size of the previous version (30GB) and about 10% smaller (60GB). In keeping with the Ipod Nano, the video version is available in any color you want as long as you want black or white.

Apple also claims to have made big improvements in battery life -- 20 hours -- and the display is larger ("The better to see the video, my dear.") The new Ipods support H.264 and MPEG-4 formats.

Have an HP/Compaq notebook? Read this!

Hewlett-Packard is recalling more than 100,000 batteries for HP and Compaq notebooks. Why? It seems that some of the batteries melted their plastic cases. Some caught fire. This is from the Consumer Products Safety Commission.

If you'd prefer that your notebook not melt or catch fire and burn, you'll want to check the lithium ion rechargeable batteries is your HP Pavilion, HP Presario, or Compaq Evo notebook. The company has received 16 reports of overheating batteries.

The devices in question were sold between March 2004 and May 2005 in retail stores and at HP.com and HPShopping.com. HP will replace the batteries for free and the CSPC say that consumers should stop using the products.

Details are on the CPSC website.

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