Type of Article: MacTech Reviews

By Tami Fry-Pietsch

In the newest update to Corel Painter (http://www.corel.com) for Mac OS X and Windows there are some exciting changes. The interface has undergone a complete overhaul and now provides almost limitless possibilities for customization.

If you want the toughest portable hard drive around — at least the toughest I’ve field tested — you’ll want ioSafe’s Rugged Portable (http://www.iosafe.com). And now it’s available in a FireWire 800 version, which is a lot faster than the USB 2.0 models.

By Ron Duncan

Are you a secret agent on a clandestine assignment? Or perhaps, just want to plan a secret getaway for your significant other. Whatever the case may be, here’s an inexpensive way to aid in your covert operation.

The US$39.99 Encrypt Stick from ENC Security Systems (http://encryptstick.com) installs quickly and easily on a USB flash drive turning it into a “Digital Privacy Manager.” This allows users to create encrypted and hidden vaults on a wide variety of devices — local or network drives, external hard drives, other flash drives, etc.

The holiday season is fast approaching and lots of Mac-using girls and boys (and men and women) are thinking of, giving and receiving computer games. To take full advantage of the games, you’ll need the right peripherals. Being Santa’s helpers, we’ve compiled a look of some of the accessories out there for Mac gamers. This is part four.

X-Arcade

X-Arcade (http://www.xgaming.com/store/category/arcade-joysticks-and-game-controllers/

If you’re looking for a pair of compact, wireless speakers for your iPhone, iPod or iPad that have adequate sound look no further than iHome’s (http://www.ihomeaudio.com) US$99.99 iDM15. It’s a rechargeable Bluetooth speaker system.

In addition to iOS devices, the iDM15 also works with a computer, handheld game system and just about any gadget that supports wireless streaming of music via Bluetooth. What’s more, the iDM15 sports a speakerphone with built-in mic and answer/end buttons to take calls using the iPhone or other Bluetooth-enable cell phones.