Four new themes

Posted by Jake Knapp, UI Designer and Manu Cornet, Software Engineer

Manu: Hey Jake, you still using that same old theme?
Jake: Well, yeah. I mean, I like it -- but I don't know... I guess it just doesn't feel as new as it used to.
Manu: I hear ya. Well, good news! Today four new themes are out there for everybody. Just go to the Themes tab under Settings...and ta da!
Jake: (click, click) There we go!
Manu: Should we tell people about why we created these four themes?
Jake: We should.
Manu: Assuming they're still reading.
Jake: Right. Okay, well, Gmail themes have been out since November, and I know we were ready for some new ones.
Manu: And we heard some of you asking for new ones too. So we thought about what we wanted to stare at all day long, since we work on Gmail.
Jake: I've been living in Zurich for the last year, and I missed Washington State, where I grew up. The Orcas Island theme definitely takes away a little bit of that homesickness with a new image each day of the week.


Manu: Homesickness eh? What about timesickness?
Jake: There's such a thing?
Manu: Totally. Sometimes I find myself timesick.
Jake: For when?
Manu: For a simpler time. For a time when processors weren't too fast. When graphics weren't too realistic.
Jake: Sounds like a real bummer. Too bad there's no cure for timesickness.
Manu: That's where you're dead wrong, my friend. Take a look at High Score. It's like being in a time machine isn't it?


Jake: (click, click) Aren't these colors a little bright?
Manu: Aren't you supposed to be a designer?
Jake: We'll have to agree to disagree, my friend. This one just isn't for me. I need something soothing. Something like laying face down in the grass.
Manu: I suppose you're talking about Turf now. What's the story behind that one?


Jake: Well, who doesn't like the color green?
Manu: And it doesn't change every day, so it was easier for us to make.
Jake: Are you suggesting we're lazy?
Manu: Prove that we're not.
Jake: We just made four new themes. How about that?
Manu: It took us ten months. And the fourth theme (Random) merely cycles through all the others.
Jake: Well, enjoy these themes for now. And, of course, let us know what you think. Maybe we'll have some more for you in the next ten months ;)

View Original Article

Nokia outs the XpressMusic X6 and X3

I like the XpressMusic line. I really do. It is fun to watch Nokia try something different and these two new models are no exception. The X6 has 32MB storage and Comes With Music unlimited downloads. It will cost about $650.



The X3 looks like a cousin to the Motorola RAZR and has a 3.2-megapixel camera, FM radio, and takes MicroSD cards. It will be $160.

No word on US availability but don’t hold your breath.

via Giz

View Original Article

Aleo Photo Collage Maker 1.6

Aleo Photo Collage Maker lets you organize pictures into interesting designs. This is a fun way to use your digital snapshots.

The program's interface was a breeze to navigate, thanks to its simple flow and obvious command icons. Most users can skip the step-by-step Help file, but it is available for those who need a little more direction. Creating collages was a simple process that focused on dragging and dropping photos. You select a template or create your own by inputting the dimensions and simply slip photos into the clearly labeled slots. Thumbnails of user photos are displayed after a folder is selected, which makes picking and choosing a cinch. While making a collage was quick and efficient, we were really impressed by the additional options we hadn't foreseen: using the same method as collages, we were able to create a variety of greeting cards and calendars.

The 30-day trial is plenty of time to fully navigate the program. It also adds a watermark on the created design. With its simple functionality and more than ample features, this program is a great download for any photo collage lover.

 

Easy to use

The software features a wizard style user interface and is very easy to use. Firstly, choose from a variety of collage templates, then drag & drop your photos into the collage. Secondly, decorate your collage with cliparts, callouts and texts. Finally, print the result image or set it as wallpaper or send via email.

Applying photo frames and masks

You can choose from a variety of cool photo frames and masks, drag and drop it on a photo to apply it.

Adding cliparts decorations

The software offers numerous cliparts of different categories, you can simply drag and drop the clipart on the collage to decorate it.

Adding calendar images

You can add a fully customizable calendar image to your collage. You can set the year and month, change font name, size and color, set background color or set it as transparent.

Decorate your collage with texts and callouts

You can add texts to your collage or choose from a selection of rounds and rectangles and add a callout box with text. You can control callout shape, size, color, orientation, and drop shadow, and text font, size, style, layout, and color.

Powerful printing and Easy Share

You can print your collage with customized size or even more than one collages on one paper, you can save results as JPG, GIF, PNG and other popular image formats, set result as wallpaper, send via email, save as screensaver, PDF and stand-alone executable slide show file.

Free Photo Slideshow Screensaver Included

Aleo Photo Collage Maker contains a free photo slideshow screensaver "Aleo Photo Screensaver". You may customize the time interval between photo slides, specify the folder of your photos, and add background music. You may right click your desktop, then click "Properties". In the "Display Properties" dialog box, click the "Screen Saver" tab, and then select "Aleo Photo Screensaver" from the drop down list, then click "Setup" to configure it, and click "Preview" to preview it.