I have received a number of emails regarding Maintidget not recognizing passwords that have special (non-alphanumeric) characters in them. I still haven't found a great way to ensure that all such characters are accepted, but at least the new version 1.5.2 handles a number of them better. It you have been having troubles with Maintidget accepting special characters in your password, try out the latest version.

Another addition to the iFruit line of comics was released a few weeks ago. Check out Jason's iFruit/Avatar mix on page 22. But almost more important, Bill Amend is back! Ok, I shouldn't tease you like that. But GoComics is filling our daily FoxTrot void by providing a daily Classic FoxTrot. Add it to your RSS feed, and suddenly you are returned to daily FoxTrot bliss.

Two new photography tips have been posted. The first discusses the pros and cons of "designed for digital" lenses. These are really great for beginners or those who want a lighter camera bag, but not so great for longevity. On the other hand, extension tubes are great for everybody. With a relatively inexpensive set of tubes, you can turn your ordinary lenses into very macro capable lenses. This frees your bag and wallet for the more expensive glass or accessories on your list.

I may have only had a DSLR for a few months, but I have been learning about photography for years. From my first digital camera with aperture and shutter priority modes, to the Canon S5IS which had some fully manual settings (especially with the CHDK installed), to the 50D, I have spent a lot of time trying to become a better photographer. Now I have taken these learnings, and created a place to bring my findings to the world. My new photography tips section will be linked from the left side navigation, and contains a handful of tips to start off, with many more to come. Take a look, you may learn something!

One camera accessory that I needed shortly after getting my Canon 50D is a new tripod. My old tripod could barely hold up the camera body, let alone a long focal length lens. Of course, I didn't want to spend a fortune, so while the Gitzo and Manfrotto brand tripod look great, their prices are less than appealing. Enter the much lesser known company Benro, who is making high quality tripods with exceptional specifications for prices that the hobbyist can afford. After a lot of debate over which model, I decided on the Travel Angel TRA269 which was only $190 at Amazon. Check out my review for why I think very highly of this purchase.

I got a birthday surprise from my parents: the new Magic Mouse. I wasn't expecting it at all, but am sure glad I got it. This mouse finally fills the void of a multiple-button Bluetooth mouse, by providing no buttons at all! The gesture support (similar to what's available on the MacBook Pro or iPhone) gives the Magic Mouse nearly unlimited potential. If you are looking to replace that aging two button Bluetooth mouse, I would highly recommend the Magic Mouse.