News, Reviews and more from Australia's Macintosh Authority
News, Reviews and more from Australia's Macintosh Authority
For years, documentary-style film and video makers have struggled to use jury-rigged tables within word processing programs to create the unique two-column scripts needed for planning documentaries, commercials, and corporate videos. Final Draft AV 2.5.2 aims to put a smile on those creative faces by taking over such time-consuming formatting duties so that filmmakers can focus their time where it matters—on content.
Tim Haddock | Jul 6, 2009
Hollywood may love remakes, but ticket buyers beware: it’s often tough to tell whether you’re about to see a modern reinvention of a tried-and true tale, or a timeless classic ruined. Thankfully, Final Draft 8 is a solid sequel to what has become the industry-standard screenwriting application, offering an updated interface, a handful of feature enhancements, and a new file format.
Tim Haddock | Jul 3, 2009
The use of mind mapping software is becoming increasingly common in corporate settings, but who wants to fork out hundreds of dollars just to create these tangled bubble diagrams at home? Thankfully, you don’t have to. At just $US17 ($A26), Markus Müller’s MindNode Pro 1.0.3, is a fun, colourful, and simple-to-use application with a learning curve so shallow even your boss could figure it out.
Tim Haddock | Dec 1, 2008
Looking for a mind mapping application that packs a powerful punch, takes it easy on your wallet, and is a dream to use, even for a novice? FreeMind 0.8.1 will get you two-thirds of the way there.
Tim Haddock | Nov 19, 2008
Some tasks seem impossible in their scale. Climbing Everest. Running a marathon. Writing a novel. Thanks to Mariner Software’s StoryMill 3.1, aspiring authors need not be intimidated any longer.
Tim Haddock | Oct 6, 2008
Once upon a time, it was enough for a screenwriting program simply to format dialogue, magically inserting MOREs and CONTINUEDs where needed. Today, when even the most rudimentary word processor can meet 90 percent of script formatting needs, specialised screenwriting applications must deliver more. Mariner Software’s Montage 1.4 takes an approach to writing that's refreshingly different than what you get from industry-dominating competitors like Final Draft. Non-traditional features like integrated research tools and scene filtering by keyword or scene status offer intriguing workflow possibilities.
Tim Haddock | May 2, 2008
As I type these words, I am waiting for Apple's Developer Connection web site to ease up sufficiently for me to download the long-awaited Software Developer Kit for the iPhone (and iPod touch, just by the by). In a way, I hate developer-oriented announcements — "here's a really cool thing we're working on, and it's available now, and hoi polloi can have it in about six months". Actually, it's the six months I hate.
