Linotype today released FontExplorer X Pro, the long-awaited update to their free font manager.

Unfortunately, it's no longer free. Linoptype has stepped-up the competition in the professional font management arena with this latest release, offering the standard desktop client, as well as a server version for larger shops.

I'm sure many people aren't going to be too happy about the fact that it's not only no longer free, but costs nearly as much as the much more mature Suitcase Fusion2 by Extensis. The free version is still available for download, but will no longer be updated or supported - nor will it work with the new server version.

Macupdate is offering a fantastic Holiday Bundle of ten really popular, and highly useful OSX apps for only $49.99 (regularly $447.69), now through December 19th.

The Holiday Bundle includes:

1. Drive Genius - Optimize/repair/test/resize and clean up your Mac's drives. The Apple Genius Bar reps use it, so you know it's a great tool.

2. DefaultFolder X - Enhance your Save and Open dialog boxes. This is one of the first things I install on any new Mac!
3. RapidWeaver - Create beautiful template-based Web sites rapidly. This is perfect for throwing together quick Web sites and blogs.
4. MacPilot - Enable over 700 hidden features in Mac OSX & other popular apps! I love this litte app!
5. Little Snitch - Alerts you to outgoing network connections. Excellent for connection troubleshooting, and finding out which apps are "phoning home" and to wear.
6. Virus Barrier - You can't get infected, but you can spread them.
7. MacGourmet Deluxe - Easily create, build, and share your recipe collection. Yummy!
8. iVolume - Improves the built-in "Sound Check" function of iTunes.
9. KeyCue - Displays all the menu shortcut commands. Handy for newly downloaded apps.
10. WhatSize - Helps you find out what's taking up all the space on your hard drive.

At just $49.99, this bundle is a bargain just for having Drive Genius, Default Folder and RapidWeaver. But when your throw in Little Snitch, MacPilot, and the other apps, it's probably the software deal of the year - far better than past bundles from MacHeist.

I've written a full review of Extensis Suitcase Fusion 2, which you can read at Macworld's Creative Notes blog, where I covered the user interface, auto-activation, and my real-world experience using the application.

If you've used it in the past, or are looking for something a little more powerful than Apple's Font Book app or Linotype's FontExplorer X, then this review should answer any questions you have about the latest Suitcase upgrade.

Finding free images for use on your Web site, blog or design project can be a real pain. You could turn to some of the free stock photo sites out there. Some are pretty decent, but most of the images have a distinct "stock photography" look about them. Instead, try using images from Flickr.

Photo by Spoon Monkey.

Before you say "the images on Flickr are copyrighted, so they can't be used for commercial work," think again.

Here's how you can use Flickr images for free, without depriving the photographer of the credit he/she deserves.

That's right, DON'T upgrade to Adobe Illustrator CS4 when it's released later this month. Oh, that is UNLESS you want the two most requested features in Illustrator's long and storied history.

Multiple Artboard documents and transparency in gradients have finally found their way into Adobe's latest upgrade. A whole host of other feature enhancements to smart guides, text on path, the user interface, and more, complement the two big new features in this latest upgrade.

If you're a heavy Illustrator user, this Illustrator CS4 review is definitely something you'll want to check out.

When I launched InDesign CS4 for the first time, it took all of about ten seconds to see that I was going to like what I found. After a few hours of using it, my suspicions were confirmed. Every release of InDesign has brought new and improved features and speed bumps, but none have brought more than Adobe’s latest offering of its flagship page layout application.

While InDesign CS4 offers a host of small improvements and additions, such as inline notes, an improved Story Editor, contact-sheet placement, and a new zoom method, and numerous other small additions, I’m going to focus on some of the major additions that will interest virtually every graphic designer and production artist.

These new features include a new graphical user interface, rotatation of page views, smart layout features, Kuler integration, Flash export, and more.

Read Adobe InDesign CS4 first look.

With the utter failure of Microsoft's recent "day in the life" ads starring Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld, Microsoft has launched phase 2 of their campaign to combat Apple's "Hello, I'm a Mac" ad campaign.

As with the previous Seinfeld ads, this latest round is well done as far as cinematography goes, but once again there doesn't appear to be a point. Ok, so I "get" that they're trying to say that everyday people use a PC. But who doesn't already know that? And more importantly, who cares? What does that say about Microsoft and its products? The fact that some goofball who steam-cleans my shirts for a living uses a PC doesn't exactly make me want to run out and buy Windows, nor would it make me feel better about MS if I already did use Windows.

So how are the new ads? Judge for yourself. In my opinion, I could only come up with one word to describe the campaign: FAIL!

The Graphic Mac: For all your design and OSX tips, tricks, and discussion.

I recently wrote about a nifty little application/contextual menu item for OSX that makes attaching files to a new email easy as pie. Ego-systems also offers a System Preference Pane which takes an often asked-for hack, changing the screenshot file format, and puts it right where it should have been to begin with.

There are plenty of 3rd party applications and utilities which can change your screenshot file format. You could also do it manually with the terminal. But Ego-systems' Screenshots Preferance Pane makes it easy to select from nearly a dozen different graphic file formats. The preference pane also allows you to select a specific folder to which all screenshots will be stored in.

As I stated earlier, there are plenty of ways to adjust your screenshot file format, but this preference pane makes it simple - and free!

If you're reading a Web page and want to go back to the last site you visited without leaving the current site you're on, there's a simple trick to allow you to do so.

Hold down the Command (Apple) key and click the Back button in Firefox or Safari. The site you're currently visiting remains open and the previous site you visited will open in a new tab.

Tip courtesy of The Graphic Mac.

In honor of Father's Day, XtraLean Software is offering a special deal for Mac enthusiasts. Buy Shutterbug at the discounted rate of $29.95 (normally $39.95) and receive ImageWell (normally $19.95) absolutely FREE!

Just use the coupon code MACDAD08 when you make your purchase before June 15th through the XtraLean Father's Day store.

ImageWell allows you to Edit and Send your pictures, screenshots and other files to anyone, anywhere with one simple click of a button! Batch process your images, layer multiple images, label your screenshots, add drop shadows, shapes and borders, save your favorite styles, and much more. Download a demo here.

Shutterbug allows you to get a site up in a hurry. Satisfy the hunger and do more with your website - photo albums, movies, journals, image rollovers, contact forms and a selection of more than 80 fully customizable free themes. Create a simple online gallery or go all the way with a full featured website. Try ShutterBug and experience the control and freedom everyone is talking about. Shutterbug is a template-based Web editor that also allows you FULL WYSIWYG control. Download a demo here.

I can personally vouch for both products. I know the developers quite well and they're very responsive to questions & suggestions. I have used both of these great products for years and they couldn't be easier.