Skype with the new 2.8 Beta version for Mac introduced an exciting new feature: Screen Sharing.

Screen Sharing allows you to transmit the images on your display to the person you're talking to over Skype. You can share your whole screen or just a portion of it. This is really very convenient if you want to discuss a brief with your colleagues or present a job to your client.

While you're sharing your screen you can also speak and switch between Screen Sharing or using your camera to show your face. If you have multiple screens, Skype will ask which screen you want to share.

Skype is about to replace professional videoconferencing tools. They just need two features to crack. Multiple person video and shared virtual workspace.

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.

Notice the new option in Google Image Search. Besides the image size now you can also select the image type. You can choose from "news content", "Faces", "Clip art", "Line drawings" and "Photo content". This makes searching for reference images much more faster. It's not yet perfect, but pretty close. See the results for the search term apple below:

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.

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.

Gmail launched many new Labs features to choose from:

1. Right-side chat, so you can make use of your wide-screens.
2. Right-side labels, for the same reason.
3. Hide Unread Counts, to clean up the Gmail interface.
4. Advanced IMAP Controls. Choose which labels show up in IMAP, turn off message auto-expunging, or trash messages when they're deleted from IMAP.
5. Canned Responses. Save and then send your common messages using a button next to the compose form. Also automatically send emails using filters. This is a very powerful and very useful tool for those who don't already use one of the auto complete features on their OS.
6. Default 'Reply to all'. Very powerful if you collaborate with many people frequently, but can be dangerous if you're not careful.
7. Quote selected text.
8. Navbar drag and drop. Allows you to reorder your sidebar items. Very useful. I wish it allowed me to close some altogether.
9. Mail Goggles. It's a toy to get your thoughts together.
10. Forgotten Attachment Detector. Very useful indeed.
11. Vacation Time! Lets you specify starting and ending dates for the vacation autoresponder.
12. Custom Label Colors.
13. Mark as Read Button. I don't see much use as it's already up there.
14. Go to label. Only useful if you use labels, which I don't.
15. Google Calendar gadget. This is my favorite. It puts a mini customizable calendar in your sideabar. Total time saver!
16. Google Docs gadget. Also a great addition as it allows direct access to your commonly used or starred docs.
17. Add any gadget by URL. Wow, this really opens up the interface to practically anything. Can you guys suggest what gadgets could be useful here?

The iPhone and iTouch are great companions for a designer when on the go. Besides the basic communication apps there are at least 10 applications you must carry with you to make the most out of your Apple pocket device.

The links below will take you directly to the iTunes Music Store where you can download the apps instantly.

Let's take a journey through a working week enhanced by your new iPhone apps.

I was hoping for an eBook reader that would gain enough acceptance worldwide, so that it can become the new standard for all book publishers. Kindle was a great start, but the device doesn't has enough copies sold to become mainstream.

By some estimates there are more than 10 million iPhones and iTouches are out there worldwide. The iPhone's mobile platform supports rich media, touch sensitivity and great wireless connectivity. This device can potentially be the first mass market eBook as well. While there are several eBook reader applications out there for the iPhone already, none of them are good enough to capture the imagination of a real book lover. But this may soon change.

Meet the soon to be released the Classics iPhone application. It looks great, feels great and retains as much authenticity of the books as possible on a small screen. The page turn animation even supported by a sound effect. You can almost smell the old paper.

I read The New York Times on the small screen for the last few weeks instead of a laptop and I must say it is convenient. I do not miss a larger screen and it doesn't put a strain on my eyes or brain.

I'm not yet sure if the small screen will work just as well for long text. We'll just have to try and see, but if anything Classics will be a turning point.

Hopefully iTunes MS will soon feature thousands of free and payed eBooks that we can read on our touchscreen devices.

We all love portable devices because they provide flexibility. Ironically most of the time they are being used as desktop devices and are plugged in all the time.

This is potentially a problem because batteries wear off much more faster if they are not being used enough.

To protect your battery in your MacBook, MBP, iPod or iPhone let it completely go empty until the device switches off. Then, charge it to 100% again. This cycle will "format" your battery and allows it operate more efficiently on the long term. Format your battery this way at least once in two weeks. The more you do it the better.

One might think that eating has nothing to do with your creative capacity, but he would be so wrong. What you put in your system greatly influences how many good ideas you will have and how fast they will come.

Most importantly you need to think long term. If you're in the creative business you have to come up with ideas daily or at least several times a week. You should not abuse your body for short term gains. On long term such practices will make you suffer.

Numerous studies have shown that eating the right kind of stuff can increase your brain powers besides making you healthy.

For fuel your brain uses carbohydrates. Omega 3 fatty acids are used as building blocks for the neurotransmitters. Antioxidants help preserve your brain powers on long term. Now, let's look at these in detail.