Link via BostonHerald.com
 Cambridge actor Ben Affleck credits Avid Technology for easing his directing turn in “Gimme Shelter,” a documentary on the humanitarian crisis in the Congo.
Affleck touts the Avid Media Composer software in a new podcast on the Tewksbury company’s Web site. It’s the latest installment of Avid’s “The Rough Cut” series of interviews with industry pros sharing their stories about working with its products.
The technology allowed Affleck to view and edit footage in a hotel room each night after shooting the film in November in the North Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Avid Media Composer 3.5 is available at an academic discount price of $295.
Link via CGSociety
 It was easier for me to bring an already posed mesh into ZBrush to tweak it. I made the goggles with box modeling and positioned it according to the first of Geppettos posed forms.
There was no special technique in making the goggles. I based it on some references taken from the web and started to model it from two cylinders. It was very fun to make. The eyes are very important for this character because they show his personality. He is crazy, so I wanted to make very big rounded eyes refracted by the goggles. Refracting the original eyes through the goggles looked weird, so I made a separated mesh for the eyes and eyelids, closer to the lens.
When this mesh was refracted, it made an exaggerated effect. Back in ZBrush I started to add more details on Geppetto.
When Geppetto was done, I simply exported the higher mesh back to 3ds Max. It wasn’t necessarily hard work with a displacement map. I think a very high poly is lighter to render than a mesh with mental ray displace. I made the teeth later in Max using box modeling.
ZBrush 3.1 is available at an academic discount price of $390.
3ds Max 2009 Student Superpack Windows (13-month term) is available at an academic discount price of $195.
Link via MSNBC.com
 Getting Things Done (GTD) is a powerful methodology and highly practical system for improving personal and organizational productivity. GTD Summit host and MindManager user David Allen, whose bestselling book has sold more than one million copies, is a technology advocate and has helped thousands of individuals discover mind mapping as a powerful complement for Getting Things Done.
“Mind mapping software is one of my most valuable tools. Since I love creating and thinking at my computer, having a capturing device like this sort of free-form application has boosted my productivity tremendously,” said Allen.
MindManager 8 for Windows is available at an academic discount price of $149.
Link via Building Design
“3D for Everyone” is the strapline used by Google to promote the latest version of its ubiquitous software SketchUp 7. This is a fairly accurate slogan, as most architects around the world have at least heard about, or tried SketchUp since Google took ownership, and provided a free version for download.
However, the Pro version is what most architects really need, owing to its increased functionality, compatibility with other design software and integrated LayOut 2 application.
Overall, Google SketchUp 7 has evolved into an important tool for many architects’ workflow. The latest professional version has improved in so many areas that it is well worth the upgrade. Rather than being a replacement for other cad software, SketchUp 7 is best used in partnership with them.
It has now matured into a great tool for developing and presenting ideas, especially at the front end of the architectural design process.
Google SketchUp Pro 7 is available at an academic discount price of $49 to students.
Google SketchUp Pro 7 is available at no cost to instructors.
Link via Creation Engine
Office 2008 for Mac Home & Student Edition
Special price of $129! Normal price $149.95.
Offer good while supplies last.
Link via Creation Engine
 Acrobat 9 Professional $95 Special!
Only $95! $64 off normal price $159.
Offer good through 3/31/2009.
Link via MacTech
In the majority of overall averages of our tests, Parallels Desktop is the clear winner running 14-20% faster than VMware Fusion. The one exception is for those that need to run Windows XP, 32-bit on 2 virtual processors, VMware Fusion runs about 10% faster than Parallels Desktop.
And, while both products these days have very little CPU footprint, Parallels Desktop had a surprisingly small RAM footprint, which was actually typically lower than the amount of RAM configured for the virtual machine. Presumably, once Windows actually needed more of the allocated RAM, the actual footprint on the Mac would increase.
Finally, for gamers, experiences will differ with each game. In our tests, MacBook users will have a better experience with Parallels Desktop, presumably because of the lower end graphics capabilities of the hardware. Beyond that, you should look at each game and what the feedback from users from both the Parallels and VMware communities.
One thing is clear, given the track record, expect Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion to both keep getting better and better.
Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac free 2GB USB Flash Drive Special on $39.99!
VMware Fusion 2 is available at an academic discount price of $39.
Link via Creation Engine
 StoryBoard Quick 6 Special!
Introductory price of $199 after $50 discount! (List Price: $349)
Offer good through 3/31/2009.
The March 2009 issue of MacWorld magazine compares 9 leading mind mapping programs and picks ConceptDraw MindMap. According to the review:
 ConceptDraw MindMap has an excellent array of color and image options. Its line and fill choices are ample but not overwhelming. Simple fill patterns and gradients, as well as line weights and styles, are all packaged neatly in an iLife-style inspector. ConceptDraw MindMap includes hundreds of symbols and an impressive selection of clip art.
Ultimately, I found that ConceptDraw MindMap Pro 5.5 has the best combination of features, ease of use, and results. It will suit the needs of almost every thinker, with style and ease.
ConceptDraw MINDMAP 6 is available at an academic discount price of $99.
Link via Creation Engine
 V-Ray for Rhino
$50 off normal price of $229!
Offer good through 2/28/2009.
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