iCalamus - 1.13

InDesign is yet another bloated, beachball ridden, Adobe-ego product. (Need proof? Consider Adobe's need to implement yet another entire application for their cumbersome help system. So can iCalamus save me from Adobe convolution with a more intelligent, lighter weight (appropriate weight) solution? Maybe someday. While I wouldn't expect any alternative desktop publishing tools to mimic competitors (unless from Microsoft), it is very preferential that alternatives commit to a fundamental model of the problem domain. Doing so enables users to more quickly experiment with the alternative process of the tool. Otherwise it's likely that potential customers will grow irritated (and possibly give up) due to the need to translate standard terminology for familiar layout concepts, tools and activities into "iCalamusian."

In an attempt to understand the approach to resizing content within a frame, or crop content by adjusting a frame, I finally threw my hands up in the air as the only reference to the term "crop" in the iCalamus help section is under the print preferences section.

It is my understanding that the product is developed in Europe and hence there possibly exists a language barrier between the developers and the English (US) marketplace. My hunch stems from some of the website's marketing copy, which includes, "layouting text in iCalamus is so easy," (something I always find immediately puts me on guard for subpar-ware). So it might be that the only hurdle remaining is hiring translator who is also versed in usability that can help produce a succesful English indoctrination experience.

As of version 1.0.9, iCalamus isn't even worth your time beta testing, much less actually purchasing in order to waste time deciphering.