Since its initial launch back in Nov 2005, Aperture has actually went through quite a lot of major changes before it reaches the current version. With version 3, I can see that things are starting to take shape, whereby integration is much better now. Below are some of the key new features for version 3:

• Faces  – Organize photos using face detection and recognition tools.
• Places – Use GPS data to explore photos by the location where they were shot.
• Brushes – Retouch precisely with nondestructive, edge-aware brushes.
• Adjustment Presets – Choose from dozens of professional imaging effects. Or create your own.
• Full-Screen Browser – Use every inch of your brilliant Mac display to browse and edit.
• Advanced Slideshows – Create slideshows with photos, HD video, titles, and layered soundtracks

Just installed Thunderbird 3, and fail to authenticate your IMAP with Gmail? Simply go to Tools > Account settings…, and make sure all the fields follow the settings below and see if it helps:

Under the IMAP Mail Server (IMAP) change the settings as below:
Server Name: imap.gmail.com
Port: 993
User Name: name@gmail.com or name@yourdomain.com (for google apps users)
Connection security: SSL/TLS
Use secure authentication: Unchecked

Under the Outgoing Server (SMTP) change the settings as below:
Server Name: smtp.gmail.com
Port: 25    Default: 25
Use name and password : Unchecked
Connection security: none

We already have Windows and Mac OS, and now Chrome has just joined in the fun too! However, this time round its gonna be an open-source OS (integrating with the Linux). Check out the latest product from Google – Chrome OS. Not really a typical full-fledged OS, but more like integrating everything like the web apps (e.g. Gmail, Facebook, Twitter) together with the Chrome browser, the OS doesn’t seem to support SSDs, but able to read USB drive content. Things still look pretty incomplete, more details about the browser will only be announced next year, when its near the launching date. Check out the two videos below introducing the OS, as well as its UI concept. I have yet to find out more about the concept soon…

Sources:
Google Official Blog
Gizmodo: Everything you need to know about Chrome OS
Engadget: Live from Google’s Chrome OS

MacHeist is currently providing this free nanoBundle consisting of 6 different apps for your Mac. It’s totally free (Usual price: USD 154). However, you have 3 days left only, get it fast today! Following are the 6 different apps and its descriptions:

• ShoveBox – Catch all the little scraps of information that you can’t immediately act on, but don’t want to forget. ShoveBox sits up in your menu bar, waiting for you to drag in text, images, URLs, and more.
• WriteRoom – A simple, but powerful app that provides you with a distraction-free writing environment. WriteRoom does one main thing and does it incredibly well: It’s all about writing…
• Twitterific – An exquisite app that enables you to make the most out of your Twitter experience. It has a clean user interface that’s designed to take up little of your precious desktop space.
• TinyGrab – A simple, powerful app that enables you to quickly share screenshots of everything on your Mac.
• Hordes of Orcs – A Tower Defense strategy game where you build walls and towers to defend your village from orcs gone rogue.
• Mariner Write – A fast, streamlined word processor that’s useful for everyone… professional writers, educators, students, casual computer users, and everyone in-between. It has a simple, elegant user interface so that you can create beautiful documents the very first time you start using it.

Recently, while I was browsing the web to look for new interesting wallpapers to decorate my computer desktop, and happen to come across this site called Vladstudio.com. All the wallpapers are designed exclusively for the site, and by the author himself, some of them are available for free downloads, while those older design will require you to purchase either a life-time, 3-months or 1-year subscription to gain access. Nevertheless, its worthwhile to visit the site, and give it a try!

Other than the wallpapers, there is a category called Wallpaper Clocks, whereby the desktop wallpaper will refresh itself every minute to keep your time and date precise as well as stylish in many artistic ways! Its kinda cool. However, before using the wallpaper clocks, you will need to install a program, which is available here to download. Enjoy…

If you are a Singaporean student, and would like to look for most of the legal software (excluding Microsoft Office) from Microsoft, here is the good news, you might want to check out if your school has been enrolled in this MSDNAA (MSDN Academic Alliance) program. Some of the new software such as Windows 7 (both 32-bit and 64-bit are readily available for you to download). However, each student is entitled to one license per software. For NTU students, you might want to visit this site straight away, and get your login account from Lee Choi Wah (through NTU Webmail). You should be able to receive your login account to MSDNAA pretty soon… Enjoy!