Perhaps it is interesting for someone that up to June 21 you can buy Genetica - texture creating tool - with 25% discount.
http://www.spiralgraphics.biz/buygen.htm

is genetica the successor to texture maker aka i-tex? i found this tool most outstanding when i used it some time ago.
http://www.i-tex.de/

They are similiar, yes. Look at Genetica videotutorials section.

I like the node-based-approach more than the texture maker's methods though...