Review: ACDsee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022

My ability to take a half-decent photo is somewhat lacking. Consequently, I need to cheat my way to a better final product. Therefore, a simple but effective editing program is a must-have. Amateur and professional photographers are spoilt for choice in this competitive marketplace. As such, it can be difficult to choose the right piece of software. Recently, I’ve relied upon Adobe as part of my editing setup. However, when I was offered ACDsee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022, I couldn’t wait to get started.

ACDsee Ultimate has been out for a number of years and has been well-received. Yet, many comments have been made about the minimal changes across the franchise. Therefore, I was intrigued to see if the 2022 edition was wildly different from its predecessor. In short, it is very similar, but there are some neat new features that’ll capture your attention. The most noteworthy additions are the colour channel control or colour selection. Other than this, it’s pretty much business as usual. Not that this is a bad thing, because ACDsee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022 is an exceptional piece of kit.

ACDsee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022 has an amazing array of options to use.

ACDsee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022 is affordable for every budget. 

What makes this program stand out is its exceptional raw processing power. What’s more, it does a great job of cataloguing your photos and is perfect for image editing. Alongside this, the wonderful UI and well-labelled tiles and tools make it great for users of all abilities. However, in this day and age, usability is no longer the defining factor. No, instead, people want a budget-friendly option that ticks many boxes.

Luckily, ACDsee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022 has an array of options for every budget. You can select between a perpetual license, or a yearly/monthly subscription service. The first is offered at around £190 whereas, the yearly option is £75, and the monthly £7.50. There are regular sales and discounts available, so prices may vary from time to time. However, what you must consider is which of these best suits your needs! The first offers updates and technical support for up to 1 year. Alternatively, the latter will give you continuous support and updates as long as the money keeps rolling in.

5 tabs and excellent results. 

I’ve used some complicated programs in my time, but ACDsee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022 is not one of them. With 5 clearly labelled options, you know exactly where you are. You can explore Manage, Media, View, Develop, and Edit. These make up an extremely user-friendly environment that is seamless and intuitive. Every base is covered from image selection, editing, raw processing and more. I spent most of my time in the Develop and Edit areas. At first glance, there is a mind-blowing amount of tools and filters available. Yet, a quick play around ensures that it is never overwhelming, nor is it difficult to master.

If you are familiar with the franchise, you’ll know how impressive the manage and develop tabs are. Thanks to the wonderful image categorisation and excellent raw processing tools, your images will never look the same again. You’ll enjoy the familiar colour wheel and an improved pixel targeting setting. Each brush or gradient has its own rules to achieve some awesome results. Furthermore, the original shot remains the focus as you adjust every layer to your heart’s content. As such, creativity is at the centre of everything this software produces.

If organisation and labelling are your things, then you’ll adore the Manage tab. Here, you can customise colour labels, add geo data, ratings, hierarchical keywords, tags, and more. In fact, the vast choice of options ensures that every photo is easy to handle and simple to store.

ACDsee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022 has oh so many filters.

Though the word filters fill me with dread, on a professional level, they are a key editing tool. I despise how generic filtering ruins the original image and everyone looks “perfect”. Luckily, ACDsee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022 gives you full control over everything you do. Consequently, your final product can have layers upon layers of unique filters and elements that enhance the original photo.

Alongside this, you’ll enjoy a smart erase tool, special effects, watermarks, tilt-shift, grain, and more. As you add these to your image, a further window opens with more advanced choices. Effectively, this adds an artistic flair that can be ignored if you so wish. The aforementioned smart erase tool does a nice job of removing unwanted people or objects from your pictures. Though I didn’t use it that much, it is nice to erase the odd photo bombing fool that spoils the shot.

Face detection. 

To help with categorisation, ACDsee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022 has included a face detection feature. Now, you may worry that this is gimmicky, but it really isn’t. With a few simple steps, your photos will be filed and easy to find. What’s more, a handy window highlights any possible matches that should also be included. Subsequently, People Mode is a big step forward for this awesome editing program.

Now, I could go on forever, but I really shouldn’t. Therefore, let’s wrap this up. ACDsee Photo Studio Ultimate 2022 is a big leap forward from its predecessors. Furthermore, it leads the way in many of its features. I loved how user-friendly it was, and the many categorising options. On top of this, it’s a phenomenal piece of software for users of all abilities. Yes, Adobe may be more suitable in some situations, but this all-in-one program will tick many boxes. It is for these reasons that I recommend you to buy it here

A Closer Look at the LEGO Atari 2600

LEGO have just released an Atari 2600 set, and it’s awesome!

Take a trip back to the 1980s with this LEGO Atari 2600 building set for adults. Enjoy a rewarding project creating all the details of this replica console, game cartridges and joystick. Gaming fans will love the 3 mini builds depicting themes from 3 popular Atari games. There’s even a hidden 1980s scene to build for total nostalgia overload.


Rediscover 3 of the most popular Atari games: Asteroids, Adventure and Centipede. There’s a cartridge for each, plus 3 scenes to build capturing the story of each game. The games slot into the vintage-style console and can be stored in the cartridge holder. Check out the artwork, inspired by the original Atari designs plus a touch of LEGO spirit.


Revel in the retro details – This replica version of the Atari 2600 console is packed with authentic details that you’ll remember from the original with a few LEGO twists added.

Build and reveal the 1980s scene – The hidden vignette shows a kid playing Asteroids in a 1980s room. Spot the details like the classic TV, boom box, posters, retro phone and roller skates.

Create 3 game display pieces – Build 3 scenes inspired by the Asteroids, Adventure and Centipede games, including a spaceship shooting at asteroids, a castle and a centipede with mushroom builds.

The Main console model measures over 8 cm (3 in.) high, 33 cm (13 in.) wide and 22 cm (8.5 in.) deep.

One of the first games consoles I got to play on as a kid in the 70s was the Atari 2600 – we were lucky enough to have one and I used to love playing on it. I still have an Atari 2600 console in my collection (not the one we had in the 70s though). One of my all time favourite games is Adventure so I was so happy to see that included!

The attention to detail is exactly what you expect from LEGO and they don’t disappoint. This set really is one for the collection if you are fan of retro gaming and cool LEGO sets!

The LEGO Atari 2600 set is available now priced around £209.99. There are 2532 pieces, it’s aimed a builders aged 18 and over and the set number is 10306.

You can learn more from the LEGO website.

Review: House of Marley Get Together 2 Bluetooth Speaker

Here is our review of the House of Marley Get Together 2 Bluetooth Speaker.

The Get Together 2 Bluetooth Speaker delivers exceptional audio clarity and unmatched sound experience. With a 20-hour battery life, quick-charge technology and an optional multi-pair mode, this innovative Marley must-have promises non-stop sounds. Dust-proof and water-resistant, the Get Together 2 speaker makes for a favourite travel companion, wherever you’re going. True to its roots, this speaker was crafted with natural bamboo and upcycled fabric made from plastic bottles to give new life to old materials.

Features

  • 20-hour playtime
  • Multi-pair mode
  • 30-metre Bluetooth range
  • Dust and water resistant (IP65 Certified)
  • Bass Boost, Acoustic, and Marley Signature Sound EQs
  • Dimensions: 33.4cm x 11.7cm x 10.3cm
  • Made with sustainable materials 
  • 100% plastic-free and recyclable packaging

What’s in the box?

The box contains the Get Together 2 speaker, sticker, quick start guide and USB-C cable.

A Closer Look

Final Thoughts

The first thing you notice about the Get Together 2 speaker is that it doesn’t look like your normal plain speaker. The Get Together 2 is crafted from natural bamboo, premium REWIND fabric, REGRIND silicone and aluminium. Delivered in 100% plastic-free and recyclable packaging, this speaker is good for your mood and even better for the planet. Every purchase also helps to plant trees around the world.

Charging up the speaker is easy, just plug in the charging cable and away you go, you can use the speaker whilst it’s charging too! Even the USB-C cable is branded Marley! When fully charged, the battery will last for around 20 hours, so that’s pretty much all day listening if you are out and about.

You can even charge your phone from the speaker too, after all what’s the point of having an amazing speaker if your phone runs out of battery and you have nothing to play!

Whilst it’s billed as a portable speaker it’s still a little heavy, but not too much that it would put you off taking it with you for a picnic or a party, or anything in between! The speaker is dust proof and water resistant too, so don’t worry about it getting damaged.

Pairing the speaker to a phone was really simple – it took a few seconds once the pairing button had been pressed. Your phone works up to about 30 metres away from the speaker. It works with either Android or iOS. You can even pair it with another Get Together 2 speaker to give you an even better sound experience.

There are three different EQ modes to choose from, Bass Boost, Acoustic, and Marley Signature Sound, all of which can be selected at the touch of a button on the rear of the speaker, the colour appearing to signify which EQ mode you have chosen. All modes sound really great, so it’s really going to be a case of choosing your favourite. Personally I was more than happy with the Marley Signature Sound mode. The speaker itself pumps out 40 watts of power.

You can even use the speaker to answer phone calls and the quality of the inbuilt microphone is great too.

There are three buttons on the top of the speaker that handle all the controls, from changing the volume, to answering and ending phone calls and more.

If you are in the market for a high quality portable speaker that not only looks great, but is great for the environment, then take a look and a listen to the House of Marley Get Together 2 Bluetooth Speaker – you wont be disappointed.

The House of Marley Get Together 2 Bluetooth Speaker is available now priced around £249.99.

You can learn more from the House of Marley website.

A Closer Look at the LEGO Galaxy Explorer

Celebrate 90 years of LEGO creations as you build this scaled-up anniversary tribute to the Classic 497 LEGO Galaxy set.

Join the celebrations to mark 90 years of LEGO creations with this nostalgic building project for adults. This anniversary collectible edition of the Classic 497 LEGO Galaxy Explorer model retains all the joy of the 1979 set but on a bigger scale.


Take your time crafting the features of this buildable model including the blended delta wing configuration of the original craft. The spaceship sits on 3 retractable landing legs and features opening rear doors and a retractable ramp to deploy the rover.

The rear of the ship houses the rover compartment with extra tools and an extendable ramp. The cockpit opens to reveal the interior of the spaceship where there are seats for all 4 astronauts as well as a living quarters with 2 beds, computers and storage compartments.

When I was a kid, a very long time ago, some of my favourite LEGO sets were the LEGO Space ones, I loved building the sets with my Dad and then playing with them, imaging all the adventures the astronauts were on. This was around the time of the first Space Shuttle launch, and all of that really interested me. Now here we are, 40 years (or so) later and I am building space themed sets with my son, and both of us loving it just as much as I did when I was kid, possibly even more now that I am sharing that with him.

This 1,254-piece set includes 4 astronauts and their robot helper, plus a surface rover and accessories and is available now priced around £89.99 and the set number is 10497 (which is a nice touch given the original set was number 497).

If you ever had a LEGO Space set as a kid, or you want to start building LEGO space sets with your kids (or you just want to revisit your youth), then you will want to pick this one up, it’s great! The set is aimed at 18 years old and above, but that didn’t stop us!

You can learn more from the LEGO website.

Review: Waatr LYT Self-Cleaning Water Purifier

Here is our review of the Waatr LYT Self-Cleaning Water Purifier.

This bottle has a powerful ultraviolet light is your family’s new favourite tech! Built right into the cap, hard-working rays are on the same wavelength as the UV used to sanitise operating theatres and water treatment plants. These UV-C rays destroy various micro-organisms in your drinking water. Third-Party tested to kill 99.9% of e-coli in your water. The LYT bottle cap stops odours from breeding inside your water bottle. EVERY HOUR, powerful UV rays in the cap automatically activate, keeping your bottle fresh and clean keeping odour and everyday funk away from the bottle.

Features

  • UVC Purification technology.
  • 10-12mW UVC LED.
  • Destroys bio-contaminants.
  • 99.99% kill rate – tested on e.coli in 3 mins.
  • Self-cleans bottle.
  • 18/8 Stainless steel bottle.
  • Vacuum insulation technology.
  • Keep cold 24 hrs. Hot 12 hrs. 
  • Port-less magnetic charger.
  • TSA-friendly.
  • Does not remove chemical, metals, etc.

What’s in the box?

The box contains the water bottle and a charging cable.

A Closer Look

Final Thoughts

Everyone needs water to survive, and there are plenty of water bottles on the market that ensure the water in the bottle remains cool for a period time. The Waatr LYT bottle adds to that – it actually purifies the water in the bottle killing 99.99% of bio-contaminants.

There is a magnetic charging cable in the box that you connect to the LYT cap in order to charge it. Once charged you only need to ensure the purification function is enabled (you can also disable it to stop it using the battery when you are not using the bottle). The purification cycle happens automatically every hour.

When you fill up the bottle you can start the purification process by pressing the top twice and the blue light comes on. The process takes around 3 minutes to complete.

The process also keeps the bottle clean and odour free too!

I found the bottle easy to use (there really isn’t much to it!), it kept my water cool for a long period of time (to be fair I had drunk the contents and filled up way before the 12 hour limit to keep the water cool, but overnight it was very useful in keeping the water cool).

Taste wise I couldn’t notice any difference from drinking the water straight from the tap, but I felt reassured the purifier was making the water “safer”.

If you drink a lot of water and want a bottle to not only keep the water cool but to ensure its pure, then look no further than the LYT self-cleaning water purifier.

The Waatr LYT Self-Cleaning Water Purifier is available now from Zero Water with prices starting around £49.99. It also comes in a variety of colours too!

If you already have one of the many supported bottles you can just buy the LYT cap only to provide the waster purification function for around £29.99.

You can learn more from the Zero Water website.

A Closer Look: Army AirTag Case from RUGD

Here is a closer look at the Army AirTag Case from RUGD.

The RUGD. Army AirTag Case is the perfect companion for protecting your Apple AirTag. This ultra-protective case is made with super tough materials that are durable enough to withstand any outdoor activities. 

What’s in the box?

The box contains the case and carabiner clip.

A Closer Look

Final Thoughts

If you have an Apple AirTag then this really is a useful bit of kit!

Fitting the AirTag took a few minutes as the material was a little stiff (although that also gave me a good feeling about protecting it too).

The box includes a carabiner clip that you can attach the case to and then attach to a bag or something else, or you can just fit the case to your keyring.

The Army AirTag Case provides a useful addition to not only protect your AirTag but make it easier to use it for whatever purpose you bought it for!

The Army AirTag Case from RUGD is available now priced around £14.99.

You can learn more from the RUGD website.

A Closer Look: Extendable Tripod from Kikkerland

Here is a closer look at the Extendable Tripod from Kikkerland.

Great for both photography and video recording! The extendable tripod offers a height range between 13.7 (35cm) to 28.3 (72cm). Perfect for use on a tabletop surface or as a hand-held camera prop. Each leg extends individually for convenient use on uneven or outdoor surfaces. Adjustable handle for accurately positioning the camera angle, including a built-in level to ensure picture is level. Equipped with an easy-to-mount universal phone holder (suitable for phones up to 3 (7,62 cm) wide) that also works with regular cameras.

What’s in the box?

The box contains the tripod and camera clip.

A Closer Look

Final Thoughts

The Extendable Tripod is small and lightweight, and it can easily slip into a bag with very little effort.

Setting up the tripod is effortless and you just screw on the phone clip to the top. Then just place your phone in the clip, adjust the height of the tripod and start using it – it really is as simple as that.

The tripod also has a spirit level so that you can make sure your phone is level when you use it – that is a really useful addition!

Whether you want to use it to take pictures or you want to do vlogging, this is a useful bit of kit at a very reasonable price.

The Extendable Tripod from Kikkerland is available now priced around £20.

You can learn more from the Kikkerland website.

A Closer Look: Camera Pencil Sharpener from Kikkerland

Here is a closer look at the Camera Pencil Sharpener from Kikkerland.

What’s in the box?

The box contains the pencil sharpener.

A Closer Look

Final Thoughts

If you use pencils then at some point you are going to need a pencil sharpener. The Camera Pencil Sharpener from Kikkerland looks like an old style camera.

The place you put the pencil to sharpener it can be extended to fit any size pencil.

All the pencil shavings are collected in the base of the camera and the drawer easily pulls out to empty them in a bin.

If you are looking for a cool gift for a birthday or even Christmas present then take a look at this!

The Camera Pencil Sharpener from Kikkerland is available now priced around £14 from Amazon.

You can learn more from the Kikkerland website.

Review: ACDsee Luxea Video Editor 6

I, like most people, have dabbled in content creation. As such, I’ve fallen into the normal pitfalls, and I’ve experimented with an array of video editors. My go-to option was Adobe Premiere, but this professional editor was wasted on me. Instead, I wanted something that was intuitive, easy to use, and quick to pick up. This is where ACDsee Luxea Video Editor 6 comes into play. It’s an incredible piece of software that is great for beginners and more advanced users.

Furthermore, it won’t break the bank and has three price points to select from. First, there is the free option which has everything included, but there is a catch. A small intro and outro for the product is included in everything you create. If this isn’t for you, there is a one-time payment option. For around $80, you have a perpetual licence with every upgrade for version 6. However, any new programs will have to be purchased separately. Finally, there is a yearly payment plan. For about $30 a year, you get every upgrade and the latest version of the software. The latter two options don’t have the intro and outro videos, so your final product isn’t tainted by unnecessary advertising.

Whichever one is suitable for you, you know you’ll be rewarded with an excellent editing program. What’s more, there is a screen capture mode, standalone voice recording, and much more. As such, it is an incredibly versatile tool that will tick many would-be content creators’ must-have boxes.

ACDsee Luxea Video Editor 6 blew my mind. 

My aforementioned use of Adobe Premiere has prepared me for complex and often convoluted experiences. Accordingly, I was expecting a harsh learning curve and many hours of trial and error. However, instead, ACDsee Luxea Video Editor 6 blew my mind because of how simple it is to use. With straightforward guides to follow, and obvious tiles to work with, you can get straight to work. Yes, there are some advanced options missing that Adobe offers, but many people won’t miss these.

Instead, you can get to grips with trimming, adjusting, filtering, and transitioning whatever clips you want. Furthermore, there are an array of excellent filters to use to alter your final product. Thankfully, to make things easier, each layer you’ve created can be added to each clip to ensure continuity is consistent throughout. Alongside this, the audio and video can be split to play with each element. What’s more, you can adjust or mute the volume altogether if you so wish.

This leads me to one of my minor issues with the software. Where Adobe Premiere excels is its audio balancing technology. Sadly, ACDsee Luxea Video Editor 6 doesn’t have this option. Consequently, if you have many small clips, you have to merge and balance each one manually. This is a key area that needs to be worked on in the future. This is especially important as there is no dB indicator. Subsequently, getting voice and video levels right takes some effort.

Make your videos pop. 

Being able to place two clips together is all well and good. However, for a professional finish, you’ll want slick transitions, overlays, animations, unique text, and so forth. Luckily, many of these options are free to download or included from the off. What’s more, placing the transitional elements between clips is straightforward and worry-free.

If you are familiar with editing, you’ll like some of the regular choices available. However, ACDsee Luxea Video Editor 6 also has some unusual ideas. Consequently, your videos will pop and stand out from the crowd. Thanks to the excellent UI, it is easy to edit the transparency and length of effect. As such, you feel in total control of every video you create. 

ACDsee Luxea Video Editor 6 is easy to use. 

What was particularly great was the drag-and-drop functionality. Clips are imported into a separate window and you are free to place them however you like. Accordingly, swapping clips around and changing your movie is incredibly easy. Alongside this, you’ll enjoy up to 60 FPS, frame-by-frame scrolling, limitless tracks for video, audio, and images, and much, much more.

So, we know that the editing side is excellent. But, how about the exporting elements? Well, these were phenomenal as well. Thanks to an easy pop-up design, you can quickly select from an array of choices. Upload to YouTube or Vimeo, select a file-specific device such as a mobile phone or games console or store the file on your computer. Whatever you decide, it’s as simple as that.

Of course, you can delve deeper by improving the quality and the compression size. Word of warning, however, the file size can be quite large when using 4k. Yet, you needn’t worry too much when uploading to YouTube as their system compresses the hell out of it, anyway.

Mere mortals can access it. 

When video editing is mentioned, the words high-performance PC normally follow. Fortunately, ACDsee Luxea Video Editor 6 doesn’t require a beast of a machine to run. That being said, the better the animal, the greater the performance. Yet, I understand high-end tech isn’t within everyone’s reach and this software works on moderately powerful machines. 

Your specs are as follows. Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen (2GHz or faster) processor, 8GB Ram (16GB Ram recommended), a DirectX 10 compatible graphics adapter, a 1024x768px display (1920x1080px recommended) and just 4GB of available hard disk space. As you can see, these aren’t top-notch specs by any means, and subsequently, most “average” users can run this program. Sadly, though, Mac owners are out of luck as this is a Windows-only piece of software. 

ACDsee Luxea Video Editor 6 is designed for amateurs. 

Video editing isn’t traditionally aimed at the amateur market. However, ACDsee Luxea Video Editor 6 has broken this mould. Accordingly, it allows more would-be creators a chance to show off their skills and video content. Moreover, it is ridiculously easy to get to grips with. On top of this, its finished product is up with the market-leading programs at a quarter of the price. It is for these reasons that I recommend you to buy it here

How to Use an Apple TV for Digital Signage

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The great thing about Apple TV is that you can add apps and make various alterations to the digital sign and/or TV that you are using. This gives you a degree of flexibility and adaptability that makes it easy to set up digital signs and run them the way you want.

Set Up Your Digital Sign and Your Apple TV Device

This is pretty simple since the Apple TV (or set-top device) tells you how to set it all up. You need it up and running so that you can see the menu working on your screen. You then need to connect it to the Internet. 

Will you need a permanent Internet connection for your digital sign? That really depends on the type of setup you want. For example, if you want live updates or the ability to change your content live and over the Internet, then you are going to need a permanent Internet connection. However, that subject is better saved for when you decide how you want your digital signs to operate.

Add the Digital Sign Software

Since you are running an Apple TV system, you are able to add apps to your set top box and/or to the Apple TV device (smart TV) itself. If this is all set up and you are able to do it correctly, then you need to download your Kitcast Apple TV app and install it. 

Installing your digital sign app is not that different from installing an app on your Smartphone. You download it, and it installs almost on its own. You agree to a few privacy agreements and so forth, and you are up and running. Now, at this point you will need your digital sign connected to the Internet so you can continue with the next part.

Add Your Digital Sign Software To Your PC or Laptop

You now need a device from which you may operate your digital devices. If you had several digital signs set up, you would control them all from this single device. In truth, the device you use can be a Smartphone or a tablet, but most people prefer a Mac or Windows computer simply because it is more powerful and they can use other more powerful programs while using the digital sign software.

You install your software on your PC or laptop, and then you add your digital signs to the system. If your digital sign is connected to the Internet, you should be able to connect it to your PC/Laptop software. There are several ways to do this, but one of the most common (perhaps the most easiest) is to generate a security code with your digital sign and then enter it into your PC/Laptop software. It is a little like when you pair two devices and use a pass code so that other people cannot pair into that connection.

Adding Content To Your Signs

You will need to learn how to use the digital sign software on your PC or laptop. You will need to learn how to add content, how to alter your content, and how to send it to different digital signs. There are also issues like if you want to send the same content to all your digital signs, or if you want each sign to have its own content. It isn’t really that difficult, it is just a lot of micromanaging as you set each digital sign going. However, once you have set them up, there is need to keep fiddling with them. You can just leave them running, and you can even save the settings so that every time you set up your digital signs they will run the same content until told otherwise.