class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/white_mug.jpg?323f2c" alt="" />If you haven’t noticed, our mission these days definitely includes providing as many holiday shopping tips as we can, with the holiday season upon us and all. href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/4-ways-save-online-christmas-shopping/">Saving money online, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/pages/download-shopping-guide">going online to shop instead of at physical stores, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-10-free-shopping-applications-ios-devices-mac/">shopping-aiding mobile apps, you name the topic, we’re trying to cover it. But are you trying to figure out what to buy?

Is your mind sprinting in the wild, scouring for gift ideas? Here’s an item to consider – mugs. Why mugs? Well, why not? They can be fun gifts that href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-reasons-avoid-cheap-junk-gift-shopping-black-friday-opinion/">won’t cost you a house, and can be for anyone. Not only that, there are some truly ingenious and imaginative mug designs that have surfaced in the past couple of years and are definitely worth a look.

We have gathered some of the coolest mugs you’ve probably never seen before (OK, maybe you have) that can be excellent gifts.

href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/kitchen/e79b/">Ctrl-Alt-Delete Cup Set [$11.99 On ThinkGeek]

align="center"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ctrl_cups1.jpg?323f2c" alt="ctrl_cups1" width="580" height="310" border="0" />

Guilty of using your computer too much? Show your addition to your computer with this black set of cups. When turned up, these cute, dishwasher-safe cups made from plastic can each hold up to 8oz of your favorite hot or cold drink.

align="center"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ctrl_cups.jpg?323f2c" alt="ctrl_cups" width="543" height="441" border="0" />

The set measures 10.5’’ long, 4’’ wide and 2.75’’ tall.

Self-Stirring Mug [ href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/mugs/cf68/#tabs">$18.99 On ThinkGeek, href="http://www.firebox.com/product/4789/Self-Stirring-Mug">£9.59 On Firebox]

align="center"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/self_stirring_mug.jpg?323f2c" alt="self_stirring_mug" width="398" height="408" border="0" />

Do you know anyone who perceives coffee or tea as his or her daily must-have concoction without fail? Of course you do. Then this mug will probably present itself as a great little gift without a doubt, that is, unless your buddy drinks it black. This $18.99 (excluding shipping) stainless steel mug holds a plastic spinning disk that operates (thanks to two AAA batteries, not included) when you press a button on the handle. If you’re in the UK, href="http://www.firebox.com/product/4789/Self-Stirring-Mug">you can order from Firebox, which offers a similar mug for £9.59 (excluding shipping).

href="http://www.firebox.com/product/4231/Tetris-Heat-Changing-Mug">Tetris Heat Changing Mug [£6.99, Roughly $9.37, On Firebox]

align="center"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/tetris_mug_thumb.gif?323f2c" alt="tetris_mug" width="186" height="186" />

For Tetris enthusiasts, this mug reveals a game in its beginning stages when cold. When hot, more of a full game is revealed along with scores and all.

align="center"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/tetris_mug1.jpg?323f2c" alt="tetris_mug1" width="461" height="406" border="0" />

The only con about this mug would be that it’s not microwave- or dishwasher-safe.

href="http://www.amazon.com/Big-Mouth-Toys-Toilet-Mug/dp/B002SQG4TU/ref=pd_sim_sg_2">Big Mouth Toys Toilet Mug [$11.99 On Amazon]

align="center"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/toilet_mug.jpg?323f2c" alt="toilet_mug" width="343" height="351" border="0" />

Here’s a gag gift that’s bound to incite a few chuckles. This is a hand-painted, toilet bowl-shaped ceramic coffee mug that’s suitable for dishwasher use and can hold up to 12 oz of liquid, though to be honest, since I have a weaker stomach, I think it’d do better as a centerpiece instead of an actual mug. However, these customer images from the Amazon product page beg to differ.

align="center"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/toilet_mug_customer.jpg?323f2c" alt="toilet_mug_customer" width="580" height="341" border="0" />

Be sure to read the full buyer reviews on Amazon to see the reactions customers have given.

Rubik’s Cube Mug [ href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/mugs/e865/">$12.99 On ThinkGeek, href="http://www.amazon.com/Rubiks-Cube-Ceramic-Coffe-Boxed/dp/B004O6V03C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323038487&sr=8-1">$9.13 On Amazon]

I first saw this on ThinkGeek but since it’s out of stock till 12/10, I’m linking to a similar product on Amazon that has the same dimensions. The pre-solved Rubik’s cube-shaped mug is 3’’ on each side and features a curved drinking area to ease how you drink, considering it might be challenging to sip out of a cube.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/rubiks_cube_mug.jpg?323f2c" alt="rubiks_cube_mug" width="496" height="324" border="0" />

Camera Lens Mug [ href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/mugs/e89a/">$14.99 On ThinkGeek, href="http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Stainless-Insulated-Tumbler-Refreshment/dp/B004ECJ9N4/ref=pd_sim_misc_4">$19.95 On Amazon]

align="center"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/camera_lens_mug.jpg?323f2c" alt="camera_lens_mug" width="340" height="544" border="0" />

This camera lens-shaped mug doesn’t just look great. It can fool your friends easily. It’s currently out of stock on ThinkGeek (though it’s supposed to be back in stock at the end of this month), which is why I’ve listed a similar product from Amazon. The latter can hold up to 16oz of liquid and is washable by hand only. If you’re looking for an insulated mug of the same shape, be sure to check out alternative products from Amazon, like href="http://www.amazon.com/Canon-zoomable-lens-cup-24-70mm/dp/B004UHHOHG/ref=pd_sim_k_8">this $49 version that can come with a soft travel bag.

href="http://www.vat19.com/dvds/chalk-talk-chalkboard-coffee-mug.cfm">Chalk Talk Chalkboard Coffee Mug [$8.99 From Vat19]

align="center"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/chalkboard_mug.jpg?323f2c" alt="chalkboard_mug" width="458" height="305" border="0" />

Do you have a friend who is a teacher? This mug might remind him or her of more work, but it’s undeniably a fun mug from Vat19. Vat19 is my href="https://www.youtube.com/user/vat19com">new favorite YouTube channel that pumps out loads of witty infommercials, basically, without any of the corny elements that distinguishes TV ads. The ceramic mug itself can hold up to 12oz of liquid, is dishwasher- and microwave-safe and has an erasable surface, of course. And for those worried that chalk dust might go into the liquid, the awesome Vat19 product page says that this shouldn’t happen unless you’re writing on the inside of the cup.

href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/mugs/96c6/">Laboratory Beaker Mug [Starting At $12.99 On ThinkGeek]

align="center"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/beaker.jpg?323f2c" alt="beaker" width="396" height="296" border="0" />

Here’s another teacher-friendly gift mug that can easily suit science buffs as well. The glass beaker can hold up to 400ml of liquid, acid, etc. If you’re so inclined, you can also check out href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/mugs/b3b9/">this other Cocktail Chemistry Set which comes with flasks and test tubes for your adult drinks.

href="http://www.amazon.com/Fred-Friends-Stacked-Ceramic-12-Ounce/dp/B0015MU8T0/ref=pd_sim_k_4">Fred & Friends Stacked Ceramic 12-Ounce Mug [$10.50 On Amazon]

This glossy mug not only has got the good looks of 3 cups, it’s also a cute and unique gift for anyone with a collection of tea cups.

align="center"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/stacked_mug.jpg?323f2c" alt="stacked_mug" width="489" height="618" border="0" />

The single mug can hold 12oz of liquid, whether it’s hot or cold.

href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/face-mug">Face Mug [$18 On UncommonGoods]

Snack lovers, and lazy people in general, rejoice! There’s a cool new way to lug around your dose of coffee along with a cookie or two.

align="center"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/face_mug.jpg?323f2c" alt="face_mug" width="402" height="312" border="0" />

You might just start using this mug to carry everything for you, donuts even (don’t tell me I didn’t warn you).

align="center"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/face_mug1.jpg?323f2c" alt="face_mug1" width="369" height="354" border="0" />

Have you seen some absurd but ultra-creative geeky mug that’s not on this list? Let us know in the comments!

Image Credit: href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emdot/56161034/" rel="nofollow">emdot

View full post on MakeUseOf

class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/image76.png" alt="" />When I first got my class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/ipad/">iPad, I knew I wanted to use it for class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/drawing/">drawing and sketching. Not that I’m an artist by any means, I can barely draw a stick figure, but when you own an iPad it seems almost impossible not to get drawing apps. The device calls for it. It wants it.

Not having many requirements in the area, I focused my energy on finding free drawing apps. None of them were really good, and I resigned myself to the possibility that I would have to get a paid app, like class="vt-p" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sketchbook-pro-for-ipad/id364253478?mt=8">SketchBook Pro, which I’ve heard a lot about and knew would be way over the top for me. Then I found class="vt-p" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sketchbook-express/id410871280?mt=8">SketchBook Express.

SketchBook Express (or SketchBookX) is completely free, devoid of any ads, and it’s awesome. It’s also available on many platforms (Mac, iOS, Android). Here I will focus on the iPad version.

Brushes

The basic part of any drawing app are the brushes, and there are plenty here. To access the brushes you can either tap the brush icon at the top or swipe downwards with three fingers. From here you can access many types of brushes, control size, color and opacity and fill in whole spaces. There’s even an eye-dropper tool for re-using existing colors on your canvas. In the small white window at the top you can see what the exact brush you chose will look like.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/image77.png" alt="image" width="480" height="562" border="0" />

I mentioned that there are no ads, and that’s true, but if you wish to expand your brush collection, you can either upgrade to the Pro version or just buy a pack of brushes for $0.99. Not too bad.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/image78.png" alt="image" width="580" height="773" border="0" />

Even after you choose your brush, you don’t have to access the brush screen again to change the basic things. Tap the small circle icon at the bottom of the screen to access some brush properties.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/image79.png" alt="image" width="580" height="773" border="0" />

Now you can simply swipe up and down with one finger to change the opacity and swipe left and right to change the brush size. This is limited to the type of brush you already chose, so if you chose a highlighter, for example, it will always remain somewhat transparent even if you set opacity to 1.00 from here.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/image80.png" alt="image" width="375" height="405" border="0" />

As in any drawing application, you can choose between a free line, a straight line and some shapes. There aren’t many options here, so no ready-made intricate shapes, but don’t worry. There is a different way to creates these.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/2011-08-15-12h18_40.png" alt="2011-08-15 12h18_40" width="346" height="163" border="0" />

Tap the symmetry drawing icon at the top, and every line you make will be duplicated in a symmetric way. This allows you to create any shape you want without worrying about it being all crooked and bent out of shape. Here you can see me in the process of drawing a perfect set of blue lips!

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/2011-08-15-12h24_20.png" alt="2011-08-15 12h24_20" width="478" height="235" border="0" />

Layers & Text

Swipe upwards with three fingers or tap the layers icon to enter the layers manager. From here you can add layers and edit their features. You can also add a photo into a different layer if you wish. Each layer in your drawing will be editable regardless of any other layers. You can also make a hidden layer (see the X on the eye icon below).

class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/image81.png" alt="image" width="480" height="506" border="0" />

If you make a hidden layer and then try to draw in it, you will not be able to. You can immediately turn it into a shown layer, though.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/2011-08-15-12h21_28.png" alt="2011-08-15 12h21_28" width="392" height="363" border="0" />

Now for the really cool part. Draw your flower and your bee in two different layers. Now you will be able to control the bee and the flower separately. This means changing size, position, rotation and so on. So you can very easily turn this:

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/2011-08-15-12h22_31.png" alt="2011-08-15 12h22_31" width="400" height="361" border="0" />

Into this:

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/2011-08-15-12h22_15.png" alt="2011-08-15 12h22_15" width="418" height="402" border="0" />

There are many more options to editing layers. You can set anchor points and change your image around them. You can flip, turn and change things every which way. It’s very flexible and you can create almost anything you want.

Another layer you can add is text. Tap the text icon on the top and a keyboard will pop up. Aside from the regular keys, you’ll find color, size, font and opacity controls for your text. Start by entering the text you want to have in your drawing.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/image82.png" alt="image" width="580" height="773" border="0" />

The text is automatically created as a different layer, so when you finish writing it you can manipulate it exactly like any other layer.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/2011-08-15-12h26_21.png" alt="2011-08-15 12h26_21" width="482" height="495" border="0" />

Exporting & Importing

All the drawings you save will appear in the gallery. From here you can view them all, duplicate them, delete them and export them.

If you have it set up, you can print your beautiful picture right away. If not, you can export it to your photo library.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/image83.png" alt="image" width="580" height="773" border="0" />

SketchBookX also allows you to edit existing photos. From the gallery you can import a photo from your photo library, and start playing with it.

You can see below that I played with the zoom. This is done by a simple two-finger pinch. You can do this with any drawing, not just pictures.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/image84.png" alt="image" width="580" height="435" border="0" />

You can easily add drawings and text to the image to create that very special greeting card or just for fun!

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/image85.png" alt="image" width="580" height="435" border="0" />

Conclusion

SketchBookX is the most wonderful drawing application I’ve had on my iPad. If I were an artist, I would seriously consider getting the paid version. As it is, having the capabilities you’ve just seen, I think the free version will provide me with a few months of experimenting before I might need anything else. I probably haven’t even scratched the surface of what this app can do.

Looking for more free drawing apps? Check out these class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-free-doodling-software-apps-ipad-mac/">3 free doodling apps for the iPad.

Know of a better drawing app? Want to share your experience with SketchBook? We’re waiting for your comments!

View full post on MakeUseOf

class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/polls.png"/>The poll question last week asked you to href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/browser-improved-version-makeuseof-poll/">tell us which browser you thought had most improved in their last major update. Most readers voted for Firefox 4 – you can see their reasoning in the href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/browser-improved-version-makeuseof-poll/">comments.

With 504 votes collected, the results were: 49% voted for Firefox 4; 26% think Internet Explorer 9 was the most improved; 15% believe Chrome 10 is the most improved; 8% voted for Opera 11; while only 3% think Safari 5 was the most improved browser.

Full results and this week’s poll after the jump.

Firefox 4 and Internet Explorer 9 are considered the most improved browsers by MakeUseOf readers.

src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/most-improved-browser.png" alt="" title="most improved browser" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-74056" />

And now for a poll question from href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/author/ryandube/">Ryan Dube asking for your opinion on the search giants.

This week’s href="http://www.makeuseof.com/service/polls/">poll question is: Will Bing Search Ever Catch Up With Google?

Google has the market right now, but some people are a little disgruntled with search results. Will Google’s purely algorithm-based search stay ahead of the emerging alternatives? Will Bing ever come out on top? What do you think?