Wacom is the main offender in the tablet world, all they do is tablets and tablet accessories. Wacom offers a full range of tablets with a wide range of prices starting with the Bamboo (less than $100 for the base model) series which is for casual use and ending with the monstrous Cintiq 21UX ($2000+ for the top model) which is a full backlit LCD monitor that you can draw directly on to. The Intous 4 series falls right in the middle of Cintiq and Bamboo and for me, it is perfect.

I got my Intous 4 Medium for around $450 CND, and so far I think it was well worth the investment. Before I purchased mine I asked around to see what other tablet users thought about tablet size. I found a wide range of answers, everything from “ get a small one because you have to move your wrist less” to “get the large one because it feels like a real canvas”. I bought the medium one because it was exactly the same size as my 17” Mac Book Pro so the tablet just slides into my laptop case for easy transport. I am stoked on the size of the tablet. I find that I have enough room to not feel cramped while designing and not so much room that my arm tires out from moving around to much.

The Good:

The pen (or stylus) that comes with the Intous 4 is really comfortable to use, and a number of extra tips are included to give the pen multiple different feelings. My favourite tip is the felt tip – makes it feel just like a skinny sharpie! Of course at the professional level of tablets multiple levels of sensitivity are expected this model offers 2048. The multiple levels allow you to pick a brush size say 50px and stroke from soft to firm and have the stroke start at 5px and end at 50px – much the same as stroking a felt pen on a sheet of paper. I’d say for my standards this pen functions as intutively as a real pen right down to if I make a mistake my first reaction is to flip the pen over and start erasing, which is exactly what happens. The pen automatically swaps your tools from pen or pencil tool to the eraser tool. Again the levels of sensitivity work great, except instead of going from skinny to fat, the erasers opacity levels change – press softly and it barely erases press hard and it will erase with a sharp edge.

The mouse is exactly what you’d expect from Wacom. It feels good, and is always reliable. I really enjoy not having to worry about batteries with this mouse – as long as it is on the tablet pad with in the working area, the mouse works.  I often use the mouse more than I use the pen because I feel like I have better control with it.

The OLED screen is amazing. It was one of the reasons I went for the medium over the small size Intous 4. You can program the 8 buttons and 4 scroll wheel functions on the side of the tablet to do almost whatever you want. You have the ability in the settings panel to specify what each button does depending on what program you are using. Based on the program selected the windows on the tablet will display the function, for example I can set the button to be “Command S” for Photoshop and have the OLED screen display “SAVE”. It might not seem like a huge deal at first but you can get pretty creative if you are always making use of different hot keys all the time.

The Bad:

I have to say that over all I have been extremely satisfied with my purchase. However, that being said, there are a few glitchy things that happen from time to time that I feel obligated to mention.

My first complaint is if you close your laptop and open it again the OLED doesn’t come back on. Really its not a huge deal the tablet still works, but you can’t make use of the OLED screen. It only becomes annoying if you have a bunch of different settings for a bunch of programs. Which brings me to my second complaint about the Intous 4.

Remember the OLED screen I was talking about… the one that I paid the extra cash for? Well I have found that it rarely works as advertised. I don’t think it has anything to do with the screen its self, but is more of a software issue with the settings. When the tablet was brand new I spent the better part of a day opening each application I regularly use, identifying all the hot keys and common features I use and then setting up the buttons on the tablet to match. About a week later, for whatever reason, the settings were all deleted. At first I was pretty annoyed, I went through and re-set all my settings and continued to work with the tablet. Again, my setting files were deleted. This time I just went and re-set the hot keys for Photoshop. Next time I used the tablet… Deleted. I am tired of re-setting my settings every time I use the tablet. Those 8 keys are supposed to improve my workflow not cause me to waste what I am sure must be 8 hours at this point setting up the dang tablet. I am confident that this issue I am having is not a user error, but if anyone has advice for this I’d love to hear it.

The Verdict:

Over all this tablet for me is totally worth it. Despite having a few issues, this tablet improves my work flow (granted not as much as it could) and it allows me the use of a pen which for certain applications can not be beat. I would feel comfortable recommending it to anyone who is serious about design, at $450 CND it’s really probably overkill for casual users.

If you like the sounds of using a fancy tablet but lack the skills to necessitate a tablet, get the skills in the
Interactive Design program @ Capilano University in North Vancouver

A web designers favorite tool: free usability testing software

Usabilla is a usability design application that us web design students up here at Capilano University often use in the early stages of development. You can use the software for free, or you can pay which will unlock some extra features.

Usabilla allows you to sign up for an account and then take up to 5 screen shots for one free usability test. You upload the screen shots, and then specify the questions you want to ask your user group. There are standard usability questions provided or you have the option to create custom questions. Once you have created your test,  you simply send it off to a maximum of 25 users (free account), and wait for the feed back.

Usabilla offers clearly outlined usability test results

As the users complete the usability test the results filter back to you in real time. As a web design student and a usability enthusiast I must admit that for me, this was the most exciting part of the process.

I am currently working on an unofficial Craigslist redesign. I was interested to see how the users would answer my questions, and if my original assumptions were correct. The information I got back was extremely valuable because I was able to get direct feedback from 14 people within 1 day of posting the test. Under normal circumstances that would have cost me 14 conversations and a ton of time in carrying out each survey individually.

The results of the test show hotspot areas where the users clicked – highest amount of clicks are indicated in red and the lowest are blue. This gives you a direct idea of what the users found important or unimportant on the webpage. In the context of this craigslist re-deign it allowed me to see which items should receive more attention and which items should be completely removed from the main page.

Highlighted hotspots help web designers understand their users flow around the page

This software is simple and easy to use. I found it to be the perfect solution to my minor usability re-design questions. I recommend you give it a try the next time you are interested in testing some designs before coding, or before conducting a full re-design on an existing site… the results may surprise you!

Check out http://www.usabilla.com for more information. Don’t forget to check out the INTE Labs website http://www.capilanou.ca/programs/interactive-design.html for more information on Vancouver’s best Interactive Design program at Capilano University in North Vancouver.

D.O.G. decided to sit down and spend some quality time with his amazing sister and see if  she had any words of wisdom to share with The readers of Robot Salmon.

D.O.G : Can you briefly describe your work and what you do?

Jessica Stockholder: I explore the relationship between picture making and three dimensional material. Towards this end I explore the phenomenal experience of color next to its evocative potential. In relation to the materials I use I am interested in the myriad of ways they can be understood – in the gap between the words we hang on them and how they fill up space. I create sites for me and my audience’s to reify internal experience.

D.O.G : The one thing all creatives have in common is that in order to become successful you have to become an expert at self marketing. Do you have any tips for getting yourself out there and seen?

Jessica Stockholder: Know what you care about and take advantage of opportunity. Be aware that in some cases you have the power to alter situations to suit you – to let the world know what you have to offer.

D.O.G : Unlike many contemporary artists,  you seem less interested in creating an elaborate story with your work. Designers are also always trying to achieve visual coolness over whatever conceptual problem the are charged with solving. Can you shed some light on your process? Where do you start? How do decide when you are finished? What is the goal of your art?

Jessica Stockholder: I am not interested in story telling in my work – though I do love stories! I’m more interested in how form is meaningful in relationship to how and why we live than I am in coolness. Though on those rare occasions that I manage to be cool it’s not so bad!

My process – I start with ideas and things lying around the studio, or spaces I’ve been offered to work in. I try to have some bit of fantasy idea I have laced together with things in the world. I’m finished when the work oscillates between stasis and motion – in terms of the eye and the brain.

The goal is to make sense of life.

In this post we feature some of our incredibly talented friends in the Illustration program (IDEA). Here are 3 video’s that the Robot Salmon crew shot and edited last semester. We worked together with 4 of the second year IDEA students from across the hall up at Capilano University. We wanted to profile the student experience… these 3 videos show you a bit of a different angle than you might have seen if you watched my profile of Andrew Young…

If you are wondering what I’m talking about when I say the IDEA program here is a bit of background info for you:

“IDEA is a career-based 3-year diploma program offering instruction in both communication design and applied illustration. This dual curriculum sets IDEA apart from other post-secondary design programs and gives graduates a lifelong edge in the job market.

In this demanding, full-time cohort program, students are given a strong theoretical foundation and learn how to develop and apply concepts, manage complex projects and meet current industry expectations, both creatively and technologically. All instructors are current industry professionals – graphic designers, illustrators or consultants. ” From the Idea Program Website

Duder met with Cara Bain, a kick-ass, super cool girl with tons of style. She is an incredible illustrator with a true talent for capturing the essence of a person and portraying it in her work.

State Side got a chance to hang out with second year IDEA student Gabriel Hall. It seems like Gabriel is one of the few people in the IDEA program that could jump across the hall and hold his own amongst us aspiring web designers….almost….

Big Red had the opportunity to interview Stephanie Larsen for an afternoon to see what she does day to day in the IDEA program and get the low down about how she finds the challenge of translating her fine art skills onto the computer. Keep an eye out for her wicked poster designs around Vancouver.

Watch a Student Experience on Robot Salmon’s You Tube Channel

Interested in what else the Robot Salmon crew and the rest of the other web design students do up in the mountains at Capilano University check it out here!
>> interactivedesignlab.com

Twitter is a great web application that allows us to keep up with our friends and followers as well as all recent trending topics. I like to keep up on my Twitter account on the go. It’s the perfect activity while I’m waiting for the bus, having a coffee, or driving!

The big question is what Twitter App should I get for my iPhone. Well, here are the 5 best Apps I have used:

The 5 Apps reviewed.

Tweetie 2

Price: $2.99

Website: atebits.com

Review: This is hands down my favorite Twitter App. Tweetie 2 is incredibly intuitive and feels really light when it is running on your phone. I like the way that everything in this app is based on the touch interface. If you want new tweets you just pull the list down to refresh, if you’d like to RT or reply to a tweet just swipe across the desired tweet to see the options. Tweetie 2 also allows you to have more than one account open and accessible at the same time in the single app. This is perfect for someone who constantly updates a personal account and a few work related accounts. Over all I dig how minimal this app feels, it is a must download for any Twitter’r.

Push - Pull refresh function.

TweetDeck

Price: Free!

Website: tweetdeck.com

Review: TweetDeck for iPhone is exactly what you’d expect if you’ve used TweetDeck for Mac. It pairs perfectly and has all the same features. I like it because of the column layout TweetDeck offers, it is easy to switch between “all friends”, “mentions”, “direct messages”, and any other searches you have going. This layout system makes it straightforward to keep track of specific peoples tweets, or any hash tags you are currently following. If you are someone who likes to save lots of searches or hash tags then I think TweetDeck for iPhone might be the perfect app for you.

TweetDeck for iPhone

Twitterriffic

Price: Free! ($4.99 for Premium)

Website: twitterrific.com

Review: Twitterriffic is another straightforward Twitter app. All your friends tweets are displayed in a single column with all the controls in a small menu bar below. Here you can do all the usual things… reply, RT, or make a new posting. The free app was alright and I thought it was worth listing here but I did find it to be lacking a few features and thought that it was kind of difficult to figure out at first. Based on my experience using the free version I didn’t see the sense in upgrading to the premium version.

Twitterriffic in action.

Twittelator

Price: Free! ($4.99 for Pro)

Website: stone.com

Review: Twittelator is similar in features and functions to Tweetie 2. I found it to be simplistic in style and thought that it worked great. The free version is ad supported, but I found it to be good enough for my testing purposes. I’d recommend giving this app a try if you are looking for a generally basic Twitter app.

Twittelator

Simply Tweet

Price: $4.99 (Lite version Free!)

Website: motionobj.com

Review: Simply Tweet is a totally usable Twitter app. There isn’t anything in particular that seems to be wrong with it, but I wasn’t particularly impressed with it either. It does have a clean design and is seems simple to use, however at $4.99 I was kind of expecting something awesome. I can’t make a download reccomendation on this app, just based on the fact I don’t believe it offers enough value at $4.99, maybe try the lite version first…

Simply Tweet

There you have my Top 5 Twitter app’s… some good, some almost good but I did definitely think that they were all worthy of this list.

As a Vancouver web design student I hope my research on the usability of popular iPhone app’s should be on target since I have spent the last 2 years learning how to analyze this stuff… I hope that you think so too! If you are interested in learning about Usability Design or other Interactive Design related topics check out my program up at Capilano University

Enter: Gowalla..

Home page of Gowalla for iPhone

Gowalla was released in December 2009 and has been gaining popularity ever since. Gowalla is a social network that allows you to join in on a world wide scavenger hunt with all your friends. The idea is that you can “Check In” (through the Gowalla App on your iPhone or Android) at almost any establishment, ie: bars, pubs, stores, restaurants,   schools, and more.

Once you have checked in you are able to see who else is checked in and when they checked in, and you can also see what items have been left at the location you are at. Collecting items is really where Gowalla departs from being a social network and becomes a game.

You begin with around 5 different items than you can trade in for new items you find when you check in. For example yesterday I checked in at Capilano U and I found a watering can and some wooden building blocks. If you arrive at a destination you think other Gowalla’rs should check out you can fill out a quick form and become the creator or founder of the new location. From there the location is open to anyone to check in at and leave items.

One of the coolest features of Gowalla is at each location you can view who has checked in and how many times. Users are ranked by number of check ins and whoever is at the top of the list is considered the mayor of that location. Since you can view all the check ins by date and time you can see if any of your friends are currently at your local coffee shop before you decide to make the trip over.

So far I have found Gowalla to be incredibly fun. I love checking in at different locations I go to and it’s always easy to pass the time looking for different items to collect. This social network / App is perfect for anyone who’s interested in trying out a more social, social network.