Thursday, June 30, 2011

The Faster Mac OS X 10.6.8 is Probably the Last Update!



Mac OS X 10.6.8 is probably the last update of Snow Leopard. Apple has done things rather well. In addition to the support of TRIM on most Apple SSD, performs well in terms of raw performance. As always, Macs Only! Conducted a battery of tests with a Mac Pro with an ATI Radeon HD 5870 and a MacBook Pro with an Nvidia 320M on 10.6.7 and 10.6.8. In the vast majority of tests, Mac OS X 10.6.8 is faster than its predecessor. While in most cases, the difference is relatively minor (about a few points), it is sometimes quite important.

The Mac Pro is able to display 211 frames per second with Halo, against "only" 154 in 10.6.7. On the MacBook Pro, there is also a gain of 41% in one of the Xbench tests dedicated to graphics performance of the user interface. On the latter test, it is to be taken lightly as Macs Only! Note that a test to test significant differences.


Anyway, it seems that the new drivers included in 10.6.8 they have made little effect. Mac OS X 10.6.8 is on the whole faster than 10.6.5, which was previously the reference. Note finally that the activation of TRIM has had a positive impact in terms of performance. For some, the Mac starts up faster since the update.

Samsung would like to get webOS



On several occasions, HP announced that it was inclined to offer licenses to webOS phone manufacturers and other material business or the public. So recently, his boss, Leo Apotheker, had a call from the foot HTC, it seems that American society is also in talks with Samsung. In any case, what has been said three people at Bloomberg. The Korean company would seem to suggest he phones equipped webOS. If such an agreement materializes, the Korean company would to its catalog of devices on four different platforms: Windows Phone, Android, Bada and webOS.

For Samsung, this would be a way to become less dependent on Google. Asian society is not consistent with the strategy of the Internet giant that is to do everything possible so that manufacturers cannot customize the operating system. This would also be a way to revive the market shelves where it has been very successful so far very limited. From this point of view, the discourse of HP is diametrically opposed to that of Google. The computer manufacturer wants to offer its OS if and only if the licensees are providing to the building webOS and do not just sell "stupid" stamped material webOS.

If HP talking to many players of this possibility, it does not seem particularly eager to implement it is to market both devices with an operating system, and offer it to other companies is a something extremely complicated. To popularize the Macintosh, Apple has adopted this strategy in the 90s with the success that we know ...

Was MacBook Stopped?



Recently, it has often been a matter of renewal of the range MacBook Air. But the ultra-portable Apple is not the only model to be rare in the store shelves, the Mac mini and MacBook are no longer in stock in several stores in the United States. The break is far from complete, the Apple Store shows a shipping time of 24 hours for both models. While it is rumored for months that the Mac mini could in turn pass Thunderbolt and Sandy Bridge architecture, the projects on his Apple laptop white are much more obscure.

Apple might be tempted to give this machine to make room for the MacBook Air; the price could drop to the passage of the $ 100 entry level. An $ 899, the ultraportable Apple would probably forget its few flaws, including its storage space reduced. The white MacBook is somehow in the same position as the Mac minis there are three or four years. Apple should probably question the follow-up to this model. One thing is certain; it is no longer the priority.

If the theory of abandonment is credible, it is not the only one. The Cupertino company may very well propose a revision to the minimum with a slightly more powerful processor, more RAM or a bigger hard drive so ... Finally, note that the July 19 return more often regarding the launch of Mac OS X Lion and the new MacBook Air.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Sony uses its technology in an original way for its new ultraportable




Sony introduced a new notebook that uses Light Peak in an original way. The VAIO Z uses the standard Intel to connect the computer to an additional module that contains three USB ports, an Ethernet port, one VGA and one HDMI. This module also incorporates a Blue-Ray or DVD, but also an additional graphics chip (Radeon HD 6650M), which is more powerful than integrated into the computer itself (an Intel chip).

The idea is simple; the computer itself is very small, without compromising on the number of ports or the power when needed. The VAIO Z is a PC with 13.1-inch high resolution (1600 x 900 pixels), it weighs only 1.18 kg for a thickness of 16.6 mm. By comparison, the 13-inch MacBook Air weigh 1.32 kg and measuring its thickest point 17 mm. Inside, the VAIO Z may contain a Core i7 2.7 GHz, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD in RAID 0 (two drives running in parallel) and a battery that offers seven hours of battery life. Good idea further, we can add a battery that does not take the form of an unsightly bulge on the back, but a layer of the computer.

The module itself uses the same technology as the Thunderbolt promoted by Apple, but Sony does not use the name or the connector of the company at the apple. Instead, the Japanese manufacturer has its own proprietary connector which apparently takes the form of a USB port since it can be used and when the module is not connected. The VAIO Z due out in July, but you can already pre-order on the website of Sony. The model with a Core i7 8 GB RAM 256 GB SSD, the additional module with DVD burner and battery and additional costs € 2814.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Apple responds to criticism on Final Cut Pro X Part.IV



FCP X assigns each file a unique identifier and can find it automatically, thus avoiding errors (FCP X to a SQL database each file with its ID). Harrington raises an objection: if the file in question was changed, it can again be lost. It seems that FCP X is able to track changes and therefore never lose a file, with this flexible by base. FCP X indeed completely reverses the management of the media: it is no longer a structure to mimic folders / files, but to add meaning to management. So now Apple is resting on a system of keywords; applied to the media, they can organize them into smart collections. The files are thus more structural units, but the semantic units: Drag a media applied to it in a folder that keyword.

Rich Harrington claims to have fewer opportunities to customize the view. Its technical director, he, loves, "it's like to have Google search for my project, it's faster and you can sort the media that any arrangement of keywords and phrases.”On this point, it seems we will have to make new habits. Automatic backup ... almost X Final Cut Pro automatically saves the changes on the fly. If several editors applaud the Auto-Save, others see a number of problems; it is impossible to create "branches" of backups is to say different versions of the state assembly, for adapt to the wishes of the client. On this point, the precise operation of FCP in OS X Leo X must be specified; Versions should create a timeline of all the different versions of a project. We could cite many problematic features, but some cited here show the magnitude of the task.

The core problem is the ability of Apple to communicate, assist and reassure customers. X with FCP, the Cupertino Company makes choices clear; for many, FCP 7 will remain for a long time a weapon of choice. Apple seems ready to add functions to FCP X from user feedback: the heart of FCP X allows the application to be updated quickly in small steps. Thus, multicam editing and XML support will be incorporated through minor updates. X FCP seems to contain the seeds of many promises. The question is whether Apple will manage to hold them fast enough to convince.

Apple responds to criticism on Final Cut Pro X Part.III



Randy explains why FCP Ubillos X is unable to directly import FCP projects 7 while imports iMovie projects, "projects FCP 7 do not contain enough information to be properly" translated "into projects FCP X (the connections between clips in FCP 7 are not included in the timeline, but the head of the editor)”. Keep in mind that mutual fund X is a complete rewrite of Final Cut Pro, new software rather than the successor of FCP 7.

To throw away something that worked perfectly and was popular to replace it with something more modern, forward looking, but incomplete spend a year or two to complete and restore functions that were there before; it the "sequence Apple" singled out by an editor, the same sequence as in the overhaul of iMovie, conducted by the same Randy Ubillos. The only difference is crucial for some, is that FCP 7 is no longer available for sale, while Apple had left to download iMovie HD for many months. It is indeed regrettable lack of communication, lack of support from the Cupertino, but Apple is back on his argument: FCP 7 is still there; editors have the time to move on after X FCP familiar with him. Learn new reflexes Luckily Apple seems ready to communicate better, or at least indicate some bridges.

Moving the assembly of project files at the heart of the application causes some problems; it is less easy to exchange projects between assemblers, for example in a studio. Pogue, who repeats the instructions of the Heads Final Cut product, points to the possibility of sharing the project file; if the second editor has all the media, it will reconnect the references of the project file in its media. Harrington explains, however, that this solution is a bit wobbly, and not as "robust" as the media manager in FCP 7. One solution is to duplicate it exposes the project (project alone project with all the references, with only the project files used), then move it. At the other end, we can consolidate the media to ensure that nothing has been lost, and nothing prevents merging events, for example to make a project on a fixed station changes that were made mobility. Aperture has a function dedicated to the reconciliation multiple editors point the finger at his duties, or import from iPhoto's organizational logic as a way forward for FCP X. Of "robustness", it is also about the new function for reconnection; If a file was moved, it can be "lost" by the software. 7 in FCP, you could point to this file manually (FCP 7 remembered the path of the file).

(Cont.)

Apple responds to criticism on Final Cut Pro X Part.II



This is actually the ability to fund X to communicate with other software that is singled out here: Final Cut Pro, with its support of XML, had it opened a strength, to suit different workflow. In fact, X still supports the FCP XML interchange; Apple has confirmed it will soon publish the new specifications. Although increasingly popular, the RED cameras are no longer managed by FCP X. RED and Apple is partners and yet have repeatedly promoted from one another. RED works with Apple to create a plug-in that will import original RED format, which does not address the fact that X does not fund nor other raw formats.

Pogue says that you can always save it as QuickTime, which is far from a solution that format loses much raw information. The only temporary solution that seems acceptable, pending the plug-in, is to use the RED software to convert raw files into ProRes files, which is close to the workflow already adopted by some users of the RED cameras (c is a proxy used only format for editing, where it is more suitable than the raw formats). Another problem is the lack of support for some cards video output of the most popular, particularly in view of mounting a dedicated screen with better color reproduction. Apple Black Magic said working with the support of their cards, while AJ has already beta drivers. As recalled by Rich Harrington, this does not solve the case of other manufacturers, but it is a first step.

Apple does not work against support for the AJA and Black magic cards to work on tape. The Cupertino Company believes strongly in giving up the tape and the transition to a 100% digital workflow; it applies the same strategy as for the abandonment of the floppy, but Rich Harrington explained that the situation is far from the same. The tape is important, although it is indeed on the decline. In an e-transcribed in a conversation on the Apple forums, Randy Ubillos, product designer iMovie and Final Cut, says that Final Cut Pro X 1.0 "is the beginning of the road, not the end." He means by this that many features will be added to as such, but that fund X is a new way; this is how to interpret the abandonment of the cassette.

"We never imagined that somebody changed editing software in the middle of a project," said he: the career of Final Cut Pro 7 is far from over. Apple insists on this point; it is with Final Cut Pro X of decisions (the abandonment of the cassette, the dissolution of the concept of track, etc.), But stay tuned for the add on other items. Final Cut Pro 7 is currently more mature and stable, but editors can already form the new practices introduced by FCP X. But beware; FCP and FCP X 7 live poorly, it is better to install them on two different partitions.

(Cont.)

Apple responds to criticism on Final Cut Pro X Part.I



X Final Cut Pro (FCP X) unleashed passion in the small world of video, Apple, who had consulted many professionals in the development of FCP X, decided to step into the breach and to send the team to Final Cut questions from professionals. It did so through David Pogue, technology reporter for the New York Times, who compiled the various criticisms made by professionals. As Pogue explains, this is for Apple to distinguish features really missing the functions that have simply changed places or operation, and also indicate what functions are available or come back through plug-ins. Rich Harrington, a specialist among other things Final Cut, said these responses and offers lighting for someone familiar with the software.

From scratch with FCP X, Apple took the risk of alienating some of its customers: the X is silent on certain features of version 7. Some of these functions will return in future updates; some are available through plug-ins. As explained Harrington, 7 FCP can edit up to 128 simultaneous angles, although in practice only a handful was useful for editing multicam events such as concerts, entertainment programs, etc.. FCP X does not have this feature.


Apple looks forward to add to X FCP multicam editing, through updated considered "top priority". Pogue explains that in the meantime, place the different angles on parallel tracks and use the synchronization feature to calibrate based on their audio content can be a substitute - which makes him smile Harrington. X FCP manages the audio so very different from its predecessor: the notion of audio tracks becoming very blurred to the point of almost disappearing. An editor and complained of not being able to easily export audio on different tracks to Protools, which completely breaks the habits of production.

Others complain that they can export to EDL (text file with a list of audio events and video as a reference for mounting), AAF or OMF (both file systems to exchange software). In the case of EDL, the answer is clear: Apple oriented approach 100% digital; it is considered to be obsolete. For audio or AAF or OMF, she headed ProExport Automatic Duck, software $ 495 or $ 195 for update: Apple has also confirmed she was leaving it up to third-party developers to support these files, just as it abandoned their management cassettes.

(Cont)

Amazon, The Best and Foremost Enemy of Apple Part.IV



Material on which Amazon released a very comfortable margin of 48%: for a little over three years, the bookseller hybrid business model to be closer to that of Apple. The next step, which should confirm this transition, the tablet will Kindle, announced by the rumor and, as it confirmed by Jeff Bezos. While Apple's closed ecosystem with software and services, Amazon goes in the opposite direction and will close with hardware ... Android. Amazon has not cluttered with the creation of an OS in a few months, it has privatized virtually a third OS to be able to offer almost a clean version.

Amazon was a partner in the first hour of Google: the couple face + iTunes iPhone, the firm of Mountain View has used Amazon as a content provider for Android Smartphones. Amazon MP3 application, installed on all or most Smartphones Android and not far from impossible to remove, serves as equivalent of the iTunes Store.

Amazon obviously has its own applications on Android, but the company goes further in recent months, it operates its own application store for Android. The Amazon AppStore, it is called, is a true rival to the Android Market: it has a mechanism of editorial control, offers a free daily application fee, and even allows testing applications directly into the browser through an Android emulator!

Amazon has enough weight to have managed to bend the AT & T, which ultimately allowed the installation of third-party shopping for Android users can download the Amazon AppStore. Google is certainly a well-known brand in the United States and elsewhere, but Amazon is less familiar and has the advantage of being established for a long time. Kindle said the company's presence in the material, while the family is eclipsed by Nexus brand Droid operator Verizon. At the selection on the eve of the holiday season, Amazon could buy up the ante with a shelf under a Kindle Android in which it is deeply integrated.

A tablet may be the best competitor of the iPad, but also, paradoxically, its greatest ally against the other tablets Android - found the game at three music stores. Amazon certainly seems to be the worst enemy of Apple...

Amazon, The Best and Foremost Enemy of Apple Part.III



With icloud, Apple may, however, go far beyond the Cloud Drive. Amazon is focusing effect on media content, where Apple offers various services in addition to "productivity" (email, calendars, contacts, files synchronization, etc). Amazon then simply create a digital record, while Apple was able to convince record labels and management companies of copyright to allow the download multiple purchases or duplication of an iTunes library.

Apple takes the advantage because she thought the solution in the cloud as an extension of its equipment, as part of a full circle closed ecosystem. Amazon also has a closed ecosystem: the Kindle (designed by Lab126 ... in Cupertino). It is difficult to measure the success of Kindle and its associated download platform, Amazon do not provide sales figures, but it is undeniable.

Kindle and iPod are similar: they have succeeded where others have failed with a formula not necessarily new, but distinctive hardware and an integrated software platform available at the right time (technological convergence and preparing the public for the idea). The iPod had a hard drive, the wheel and then iTunes FairPlay DRM, the Kindle screen eIink had its modern, its persistent and 3G as well as its free Kindle Store and a closed file format. In many ways, it has demonstrated the viability of the eBook.

Apple today hunting on the lands of the Amazon with iPad and iBookstore, as do other manufacturers, but from Amazon in this market is 90% (although it is in rapid decline and to fall to 70-75% by the end of the year). In the same way as iTunes, Safari or icloud is available on Windows, you can access the Kindle platform on many devices. Amazon has understood before others, and just as Apple, the central content at low prices and high volume ("set an aggressive price and go for volume" said Steve Jobs): the logical step after that 'we bought books on the Kindle Store, readable only through the application Kindle, is to buy a Kindle.

(Cont.)

Amazon, The Best and Foremost Enemy of Apple Part.II



Amazon's strategy could not be further from that of Apple, who swears by the gross margin, but the two companies come together on several issues, starting with the extreme loyalty of their customers. Better roads Amazon and Apple seem to be closer to the point of cross soon: as Apple has expanded the distribution and service (iTunes Store, App Store, icloud), Amazon’s has ventured into the field equipment (Kindle, a tablet soon). Soon, the two companies may well be in direct competition: each will have a complete ecosystem of distributing content to custom equipment designed and equipped with built-in software.

Amazon launched its music store in late 2007, more than four years after the opening of the iTunes Store. The lack of DRM, the highest quality and lower prices than iTunes Store helped catch up: Amazon has quickly become a viable number two, at least in the United States. The size of the catalogs of the two shops is now similar (14 to 16 million according to the counts): Amazon is characterized by regular lower prices, and generally a more flexible fee schedule, while Apple is known to afford some exclusives (the Beatles to name a few).

Jeff Bezos's company managed to consolidate its position as she was only 4% of purchases of digital music in the United States in early 2008, it now accounts for 11.6% of the market. This growth is currently not at the expense of iTunes, solid leader slight increase, reaching 70% market share. In a sense, Amazon helps strengthen Apple, eliminating weaker competitors such as Rhapsody, but Amazon is growing quickly: Apple may need to be wary.

Amazon's business practices are in fact just as formidable as in the early days. For the promotion of Amazon MP3 and its natural extension, the Cloud player, Jeff Bezos has not hesitated to sacrifice millions of dollars to provide music for song bread and gain new customers. Obviously the transaction cost as much as a traditional advertising campaign, with a different conversion rate.

(Cont.)

Amazon, The Best and Foremost Enemy of Apple Part.I



It is frequently contrasted with Apple to Microsoft, Apple and more recently in Google. Amazon is to forget: in many ways, the firm of Jeff Bezos is perhaps the most formidable competitor to Apple, the electronic book to digital music, sales of applications for sale of equipment.

Amazon-smile, The fictionalized story of Apple based much of its current image: the return of the prodigal son has helped to revive the phoenix from the ashes, to replay the scene of the Macintosh iPod, iPhone and iPad and iTunes in the background. Less well known is the story of Amazon, so it is no less exciting.

Founded in 1994 and launched in 1995, Amazon.com is designed as the "largest bookseller in the world" free from physical constraints, the site was ambitious to sell more books than all its competitors combined. Its founder, Jeff Bezos, quickly launched an ambitious acquisition policy, increasing the acquisition of electronic bookstores (Bookpages, future Telebook and Amazon UK, Amazon DE future, in 1998, Audible in 2000) and many and varied many Internet services (IMDb, Wise in 1998, Alexa in 1999, several management systems in 1999 and 2000).

Amazon's business model has long been atypical in the first version scribbled by Jeff Bezos, it was not about generating profits, but simply to attract capital (the company goes public in 1997) and grow fast enough to reach many markets. The competitive advantage allows it to keep prices low. The genius of Bezos was to take calculated risks: to provide the delivery is a dead loss, but can attracting customers and hope to sell enough to generate a high margin on volume. This set of communicating vessels is the trademark of Amazon.

After years of losses as investors impatient and have to find all the patches available to present the results at their best, the activity becomes profitable Amazon bookstore in mid-2000 before all the activities going on green end of 2001. The demonstration is striking: 80% of sales are made by regular customers, who then spend about € 30 a month on Amazon.

Consolidation accounting rules, limiting or omitting certain practices disguising costs, Amazon is in the red board? Bezos offers delivery and conceded large reductions: sales explode and losses are reduced by half. Amazon MP3 should be promoted and its companion Cloud Drive? Jeff Bezos's company made loss of $ 2.6 million in selling off the last album in fashion; But earned nearly half a million users.

(Cont.)

Monday, June 27, 2011

FoneSync brings Mac OS X and Android together



The German publisher nova media offers new Mac OS software to synchronize a mobile device Android with his Mac. As doubleTwist before him FoneSync looks like the iTunes Android Smartphone and tablets, at least in terms of synchronization. His presentation is so very close to the Apple software and FoneSync can also sync media (music, videos and photos), but also its data as the address book or calendar.

Mimicry of iTunes goes a long way, there are exactly the same form used for space and can synchronize virtually the same elements, and play lists for music events in iPhoto.

Counterpart of this tight integration, FoneSync does not work with all Smartphone Android, far from it. Currently, the application is only compatible with two Nexus Google phones from Samsung, Sony and Motorola. HTC expected to follow those, but if you are not listed, you cannot use the software. The publisher does not specify whether the tablets Honeycomb are compatible with its software.

Each version costs € 9.99 and if FoneSync is a Mac application, it actually buys the corresponding Android application before installing the utility on Mac by connecting the USB terminal. The operation is complex and involves paying the software again if you change brand of phone. DoubleTwist in turn is free and works with many Android devices...

Apple more aggressively against the jailbreak with iOS 5



With iOS 5, Apple would have become more aggressive in the struggle between the supporters of the jailbreak. Recently, Apple seemed rather free rein and let teams do their job jailbreak: iOS 5 has been unbridled and Apple has dug some ideas in the world of jailbreak for the new version of its system.

If one could think that Apple turned a blind eye and allowed, he is not. According to the Dev Team, Apple has stuck with the possibility of iOS 5 go back and install an older version of IOS. This is useful in the world of jailbreak; it facilitates the return to a previous version, a practical procedure in case of problems with an update including IOS. With iOS 5, Apple could easily block the back. The jailbreak tethered (the terminal cannot restart without the computer) will always be possible, but not the jailbreak not tethered.

The Dev-Team does not despair of finding a solution to counter this deadlock, but until the release of the final version, the group will not publish anything before then.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

LaCie CloudBox



Before the announcements at Apple developer conference (WWDC), there was talk of a Time Capsule that can bridge the gap between the Mac and the cloud. We imagined such as Time Machine backups stored on the Time Capsule will be transferred gradually to Apple's servers in the background without the computer having to be permanently lit.

If you dream of such a feature, then the LaCie CloudBox you might be interested. This is a 100 GB NAS specialist backup. Once your data stored on this device, they are automatically transferred in the background Wuala, the online backup LaCie. The system supports version management. When backups are transferred from the Cloudbox, is encrypted 128-bit AES.

Once the data online, users can access them from anywhere and this from an iPhone for example. The Cloudbox will be sold $ 200 and will include a trial period of one year Wuala with 100 GB of storage space. Thereafter, the subscription will be charged $ 100 per year.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

The Phases of iPhone for the last 4 year



Presented June 7, 2010 by Steve Jobs at WWDC 2010, iPhone 4 began his career on June 24 of that year: he thus celebrates its first anniversary. Contrary to what one might think, this is not the first time any iPhone passes the course of the marketing year without a successor has been presented: for a few days, the iPhone original holds the record for longevity.


The iPhone is 4 for the first time in the form of a photo stolen from the site Engadget, April 17, 2010. Two days later, the same model spread of Gizmodo. This is actually a prototype lost in a bar in Redwood City by Gray Powell, an Apple engineer. Whoever found it made the rounds of American media in search of a buyer: Gizmodo, a subsidiary of Gawker who made his fortune on the news "people", bought for $ 5 000. Thus begins the "case Gizmodo," culminating in a police raid in Jason Chen, the site editor a few days after he made the prototype to Apple. The investigation has since been suspended.

We forget sometimes, but a second prototype was circulated: Taoviet, a Vietnamese site, bought a $ 4000 iPhone4 out of production lines. He has determined the SoC (Apple A4), and confirms the definition (960x640px) and storage (16 GB or more) of the new model. We forget - or ignore - just as much: the first photos of four iPhone actually circulated on the Internet from February 21, 2010, through Twitter. So we feel about this old friend for a long time.

The beginning of the career of the iPhone 4 was assigned too many problems. From July 23, Apple announced the postponement of the release of the white model, with a terse press release: "The white models of the new Apple iPhone 4 continue to be more difficult to manufacture than expected and will be available later in the course of the year. The availability of the most popular iPhone model black 4 is not affected. "


Twenty days earlier, the Cupertino company had to publish a long letter to try to end a controversy now known as "Antennagate" the "problem of reception of the iPhone 4" makes a subtle blend between a software problem (incorrect calculation of the display of the number of bars of reception) and a material reality (the greater sensitivity of the external antenna system used by the iPhone 4). A case that caused a media outburst and made fodder for consumer, while experts antennas had explained the problem right out of the iPhone 4: a communication operation later (the now famous "Operation Case ") and" Antennagate "was almost forgotten.

This controversy summer, reinforced by other more compelling issues (problems of the camera, the screen, proximity sensor) and resolved by software updates and adjustments on assembly lines, n ' has not managed to scratch the image of the iPhone. Between June 24, 2010 and March 26, 2011, when the last count, Apple has sold as many as 50.69 million iPhones.


Sales growth is still very strong, allowing Apple to not lose or lose some market share against Android, which siphons RIM, now relegated to third place in the Smartphone industry. Better: Apple is now the fourth global manufacturer of mobile phones in all categories. Several milestones marked the continued success: the release of the iPhone 4 Verizon, which has finally managed to hinder Android United States (read: Android: Verizon iPhone effect) and the output symbol of the iPhone 4.


These sales figures include the iPhone 3G 8GB, valiant entry also presented June 24, 2010. This model derives in fact the iPhone 3G introduced in June 2009, itself very close to the iPhone 3G in July 2008. A cushioning device which raises the question of an entry-level iPhone next generation, which could be either an iPhone mini, iPhone is a low cost using components run in, the aim being to descend below 200 €.


Since we are talking about next generation, we must mention the successor to the iPhone 4: Will there an iPhone 4S, a simple variation improved 5 or iPhone, a rethinking of the concept? The balance leans rumors gradually to this hypothesis, reinforced by the history of Apple itself: early 2012, the iPhone will be five years. This is the life of a product cycle in Cupertino, when a concept needs to be overhauled to forge ahead: Apple prefers mediocrity product itself rather than leaving that task to competition.

The iPod nano, introduced a little less than five years after the first iPod, has announced the transition to flash memory. Steve Jobs himself, in 2007, estimated in advance of the iPhone to five years: Android is now on his heels almost everywhere, even to major markets. Anyway, the iPhone 5, if that is his name, will not arrive until late summer or early fall. It will replace a 4 iPhone contest, but the undeniable success.

Apple Confirms iCloud Web Apps



Apple has published a FAQ on the transition to MobileMe icloud. She confirms that including MobileMe web apps (mail, contacts, calendars, Find My iPhone) will be accessible through icloud.com this fall. These functions will remain thus accessible icloud in a browser.

E-mail, contacts, calendars, bookmarks and services Find My iPhone and Back to My Mac to MobileMe will be transferred from icloud. It will also find a new way to sync keychain, widgets, Dock items and preferences system (see for example, use Dropbox and symbolic links, as we explained for example Safari extensions, read: No -by-Step: synchronize your Safari extensions on multiple Macs). IWeb publishing, galleries and iDisk disappearing in favor of new services icloud: iTunes in the cloud, the flow of photos, backup and restoration, or the automatic download of applications and electronic books. The storage space by default is 5 GB, expandable against payment: Apple will specify the conditions by launching icloud.

All active MobileMe accounts June 6, 2011 were automatically extended for free until June 30, 2012, when MobileMe will disappear forever. This period allows current users to find alternatives to services that will be then removed in the summer of 2012. Even if a user has the MobileMe transition icloud, he can access their iWeb sites and galleries until June 30, 2012.

This will keep MobileMe address (@ mac.com or @me.com) addresses icloud default is en@me.com. The MobileMe Family Pack can be converted: the master account and each account will become members’ icloud individual accounts. Apple does not specify the fate of aliases, and has not lifted the veil on the conversion of accounts with expired MobileMe account. Finally, Apple recalled the terms of repayment of current MobileMe subscriptions for those who do not need the extra time to retrieve any data.

Mac OS X Lion New revolution ahead Part.III



Again Apple wanted to streamline the Airdrop, which allows exchanging files with Mac nearby, without configuration and without any Wi-Fi network; however, this method gives a semblance of consistency to the file, so that everything in Lion pushes the use of IOS as: applications become points of access to their own files, for a presentation as a library.

This mode of use has had some detractors, not unreasonably given the way so far, management of files for each application was made in iOS iTunes. Again icloud addresses this problem and provides a consistent solution: the file no longer exists. Those who demanded a Finder IOS will be for free: the concept itself has become simply obsolete. It remains to propose a way to exchange files with other users on how to easily Airdrop of IOS.

And it took many steps to arrive at the disappearance of the file as we have always known. These functions are direct descendants of Time Machine, but also Spotlight: it is the search for metadata that is likely to make navigation file obsolete term. Integrated with facial recognition photos can do research on the content of images them, without having to remember the name and location of the jpeg. Various teams are currently working on generic object recognition in images.


But Apple is not his first attempt. In 1995, she tried to redefine the boundaries between applications and files with OpenDoc, which allowed the use of application functionality scattered within a single document. Certainly, there was no question at that time to end the file, Apple still had tried a different approach, which proved unsuccessful, and to which he was terminated shortly after the return of Steve Jobs at Apple, then as special adviser Gil Amelio.

Still, for users of Mac OS X, there will be definitely a before and after Leo. In the future, you may rethink the way you currently manage your files with some amusement.

Mac OS X Lion New revolution ahead Part.II



In common use, you can switch operation between various parameters Version: block the file status (not to automatically save the changes you might add), clone the file (to create a working copy, thus incidentally create template files), and return to the status of the document as it was when you opened it. Let us make no mistake: with this feature, Apple editing for the first time since the first Macintosh in 1984 not backing up files.


In other words, these functions would have greatly benefited from the support of ZFS, which incorporates features specifically iterative and incremental backups, among others. Unfortunately Apple has had to abandon plans to support ZFS in Mac OS X as a matter of license. Apple will have no rest, probably at the cost of a little more space on the disk and less flexibility, HFS + cannot bear comparison with ZFS.

The Finder itself reflects these “flattening” files: the default view window now displays all the files on the disk equally, with no indication or hierarchical file. Ultimately, it is conceivable that Launchpad takes precedence over the Finder to become the default access mode, although direct access to the files will remain indispensable for some time.


Apple has also brought another part of the answer to this question with icloud, which synchronizes your devices seamlessly. A user will no longer have to use USB or send each its own files by email to make them move from one machine to another, which a little disembodied file. There remains the problem of communication of a file to another person.

(Cont.)

Mac OS X Lion New revolution ahead Part.I



Apple had already obliterated the notion of IOS file; it will push the logic even further with Leo. Who among us has never found a raging against fatal crash, which occurred "unexpectedly" before any backup job in progress? And conversely, never regretted a backup unfortunate, disfiguring involuntarily working hours following a false manipulation '?


So far, it was the user that he belonged to "make clean" to manage their files, save, classify, list them, in short, time well productivity unnecessarily flown by itself, and worries that everyone without. In the absence of any alternative, we had to do against bad luck, good heart.

Mac OS X 10.7, two technologies relegate such practices to the level of inconsistencies of the past as automatic backup of IOS, and versions, a system that allows to go back on the various stages of changes in your.

With the automatic backup, you will not have to worry about any crashes, power failures and other accidents: the application opens in the state where you left off, reopening the file on which you were to work. Better yet, the windows are repositioned such that you had placed before leaving the application, and even the current selection is returned in the same condition. Nothing distinguishes the application state between the two moments.

Versions promises to further ease the use of software: with a format similar to Time Machine, you can navigate in time to return to previous versions of your document. If you want a version you can scroll the document window to inspect it, and even make a copy and paste from an old to a new version. This feature alone promises new ways of working and use your Mac. The work is temporal and it will be possible to annotate a document as and when its edition to appear with nothing in the end and a simple return on the file's history will reveal these notes.

(Cont.)

Friday, June 24, 2011

Testing the 27 "iMac" Thunderbolt - part V



Even in the video where the Mac Pro is traditionally at home, Westmere processors marking time: we find the fine balance between the raw frequency and the number of cores, which directly determines the performance for different applications. Handrake, for example, recognizes only core logic: this iMac is fighting against is with four cores to eight cores Westmere Mac Pro to € 3 400. But Handbrake does not take advantage of all the subtleties of Xeon processors, while the raw frequency is a key element of its operation: the iMac, with half of a good heart but more than the gigahertz Mac Pro, dominates with insolence. He can deal with anything against the twelve core Mac Pro to € 8 300: the frequency difference is less important than offset by the use of three times as many hearts.

The very marked differences in the Photoshop tests confirm the very different profiles of these machines. The DHT test uses a lot of old filters, so that the differences are erased in excess of five hearts (real and virtual) so the iMac is the hand with its higher frequency. The RAT test, it is much more realistic and simulates the touch of a photo with the latest filters: Although Photoshop performance peaked with massively multi-core configurations, the Mac Pro are Westmere at this time.

A beautiful iMac € 2 700 can be put in the closet of Mac Pro much more expensive? In most areas, yes, and widely: it shows, once again, the effectiveness of the Sandy Bridge Intel platform. The self in need of power will therefore turn to the iMac, which is not only the most powerful iMac ever made by Apple, but Mac is also one of the most powerful of the current range. The difference between these two lines is therefore not about raw power, but the concept: the iMac is an all-in-one, unlike the Mac Pro, which is still relevant for its scalability, ensuring a sustainability specific to dampen investment, therefore that represent the largest configurations. It also remains the machine of choice for certain niches, here for its computational capabilities, there to him the possibility of adding expansion cards. Still, the iMac is more than ever like the computer to do everything from Apple.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Testing the 27 "iMac" Thunderbolt - part IV



It is indeed one of the great surprises of this model: despite the powerful processor and the summer climate of the test period, the temperature of the iMac Sandy Bridge has remained surprisingly low levels. Most of the time, CPU temperature stays around 30 to 35 °: the ventilation system is effective and extraction points at the top of the screen and behind the foot, once hot, now warm. When exporting Aperture, the temperature rises to 48 °. A video encoding where the four cores are at 100% for 25 minutes? 55 °. The fans always keep the composure of the machine without a voice, a sharp contrast to the previous generation and some MacBook Pro Sandy Bridge.

This discretion only to mask the raw performance of the iMac Core i7: they reach or exceed those of most of the range Mac Pro. This is not the first time we see the top of the range iMac rival the Mac Pro or exceed, but it's the first time that the difference is so great and strong.

The distinction is clear: the common tasks, the iMac Core i7 overwrite the entire Mac Pro. It drives not only its direct rival, the Westmere Mac Pro 2.4 GHz or eight cores (€ 3,400), but offers the luxury of making lousy Westmere Mac Pro 2.93 GHz twelve hearts, a machine ... € 8 300! We cannot even say it's SSD benefit: the twelve core Mac Pro was tested with excellent Toshiba 512 GB SSD So Sandy Bridge architecture that works wonders on the cuts in the Finder or the export Garage Band or Aperture. Match almost zero on the export music with XLD.

A test like Cinebench shows that Westmere Mac Pro keeps the advantage in raw power; the iMac is above the Nehalem Mac Pro. The entire iMac line is better than the Mac Pro graphics side, a habit now.

(Cont.)

Testing the 27 "iMac" Thunderbolt - part III



Intel also provides the chipset of the iMac, a Z68 Series 6, replacing the P67 which had experienced numerous problems in the launch of the platform Sandy Bridge (SATA performance degradation). This chipset manages Smart Response, a new technology to use a SSD (up to 64 GB) as a cache for the hard drive, like the hybrid discs as the Seagate Momentus XT. Apple does not use this function: the SSD and hard drive of the iMac appear as two completely separate volumes. They are both connected to SATA III, allowing them to express themselves to their full potential.

The potential for the SSD is 240 Mb / s maximum throughput of 160 Mb / s of average flow. It's good but not dazzling, especially the hard drive of 1TB provided by Apple (a Western Digital Caviar Black 7200 RPM SATA III and 32 MB cache) is doing very well. The high density of its platters, SATA III interface and 32 MB cache allow it to reach speeds of around 120 Mb / s, with a fine linearity over large files.

Overall more efficient, the SSD, arranged in housing behind the SuperDrive, takes advantage of two areas: its access time and noise level. Fast, fast, fast, these are the three adjectives to describe what DSS quick fix on the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, it is also on the iMac. While the scratch disk and is sometimes responsible for a certain delay, the SSD can boot the machine in a few seconds (12-14), forget the color wheel of death, and fluid in general operations, all in a royal silence accentuated by the presence of discrete fans.

(Cont.)

Testing the 27 "iMac" Thunderbolt - part II



The presence of two Thunderbolt ports used to connect the iMac 27 "to two external displays. You'll have no problem to connect two Apple Cinema Display 27": Use two mini-Display Port cable (same connector as the Thunderbolt), and any ... work of 81 inches diagonally. If you use a screen of another brand or a former Apple screen, you will need an adapter: your adapter VGA, DVI, HDMI to Mini Display Port working perfectly. The only problem will come from screens 30 "you should use a dual-link adapter, an active housing costing hundreds of Euros.

Otherwise, the ports are used to little Thunderbolt: devices using this new standard, although promising, will not arrive until mid-summer. Intended primarily for professionals, promises to be cost prohibitive and limited uses for the moment, the interest of this new connector is limited to the general public.

This is not the case for other race horses of the new iMac. The processor is an Intel Core i7-2600, the fastest second-generation Core i7. It has four physical cores, identified as eight logical cores (hyperthreading) clocked at 3.4 GHz. When an application does not use all cores but needs power, the processor can disable cores dynamically to increase the frequency of the remaining cores: it can go up to 3.8 GHz on a heart (Turbo Boost). With all reasonable thermal envelopes in this range, 95 W is worth mention (32 nm etching).

(Cont.)

Testing the 27 "iMac" Thunderbolt



Sandy Bridge processors, connectivity Thunderbolt, SSD are the elements that we begin to know well, together or separately, on many Mac. Put everything in a single iMac, and you get a real bomb.

The configuration we are testing today is the top of the line iMac: Screen 27 "of course, 4 GB of RAM DDR3 1333 MHz, an Intel Core i7 Quad 3.4 GHz, AMD Radeon graphics card HD 6970M with 1 GB of GDDR5 memory, hard drive 1 TB and 256 GB SSD could obviously put more RAM, disk drive 2 TB or the graphics card to 2GB, but as it stands, this configuration costs a whopping € 2699 - € 300 more than the Mac Pro "basic".

This iMac is first ... yes, an iMac. The problems therefore remain the same: a screen can be a bit too bright, an SD card reader a little too close to the SuperDrive ... This new generation, however, offers many small innovations: the webcam is now able to shoot HD 720p (even if the quality is more than average) while the USB 2.0 ports (4) FireWire 800 are joined by Thunderbolt ports. Also, the drives are now connected via SATA III (theoretical maximum of 6 Gb / s, the SuperDrive is in SATA II), and the WiFi card is connected to three antennas, which allows to use the iMac 2011 WiFi 802.11n three channels at 450 Mb / s.

(Cont.)

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Apple wants serial number to Install Mac OS X Lion


To install Mac OS X Lion, it is imperative to be connected to the Internet. It was unclear why Apple was keen to see that the Mac is online. With DP4, Apple is no longer hidden. If you need to reinstall for one reason or another the system and you are offline, the following message appears.

For some reason, Apple apparently wants to get the serial number of your computer so you can restore it. This behavior if it were to be confirmed in the final version of Leo is relatively new, at least for the client version. Apple has long used a system of serial numbers for Mac OS X Server.

Finally, as one can understand the discipline need to be connected to install Leo, as it can be difficult in the case of a restore. You do not always choose when your Mac crashes. And this can occur miles away from a connection to the net.

On reflection, it is not impossible that such verification takes place through Find my Mac to ensure that the computer in question has not been stolen.