Showing posts with label macOS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label macOS. Show all posts

Friday, February 22, 2019

How to use Finder Quick Actions in macOS Mojave

How to use Finder Quick Actions in macOS Mojave
Let us see how to use Finder Quick Actions in macOS Mojave. In order to make it easier to quickly edit files without any need of opening the associated apps, Apple introduced a few Finder Quick Actions in macOS Mojave. With the Quick Actions, the macOS desktop becomes more efficient. Just by using the Quick Action feature in macOS, it can make it very efficient in the way we work. It becomes very useful for busy professionals, whereby the task can be fine-tuned with a bit of minor changes.

How to use Finder Quick Actions in macOS Mojave, you first need to view all the Quick Actions that are available. Firstly, you need to enable the Preview panel in Finder. Open a Finder window and then select the View option in the menu bar. Select the Show Preview or you can press the Shift-Command-P keys.

Let us see how to use Finder Quick Actions in macOS Mojave 


Basically, Quick Actions are buttons in Finder whereby you can take actions on a file just with a click of a mouse. Regarding the features that are available on Quick Actions, it depends on which applications are installed or any pre-existing Apple scripts that are present. By using the built-in Automator tool, you can create customized Quick Actions.

With Quick Actions, you can rotate a video or image, trim a video or image, create a PDF from a document or open a file for markup.

How to use Finder Quick Actions in macOS Mojave for photos and images 


When looking at a photo or graphic file, the Quick Action tools appear. Two tool buttons appear along with the ‘More’ button. The tool that appears is dependent on the file type.

The default tools that appear are:

Rotate Left: The file is rotated anticlockwise.

Markup: The Quick Look window appears with a range of markup tools. The tools include drawing, text, rotation and crop. In order to resize an image or colour correction, you have to open the file in an app.

Create PDF: In the icon list, if multiple images are selected, then you can make a PDF.

How to use Finder Quick Actions in macOS Mojave for videos 


When looking at a video, there are two Quick Action tools that appear.

Rotate Left: With this the file is rotated anticlockwise. This is very useful in the case you have made videos on your iPhone and the orientation it was saved is not correct.

Trim: A video can be shortened. There is a large trimming view that appears. The tool works in the similar manner as is the case for QuickTime Player.

How to use Finder Quick Actions in macOS Mojave for audio files 


In the case of audio files, only the Trim tool appears by default. With the More button you can customize the tools.

How to use Finder Quick Actions in macOS Mojave with PDFs, documents, compressed files and other file types

There is no default Quick Actions tools for file types besides graphics, videos and audio. The Quick Actions tool indicates a ‘More’ button that can be customized.

Customizing Finder Quick Actions in macOS Mojave 


By clicking the ‘More’ button, a Customize pop-up appears. You are led to the Extensions System Preferences. Select an action in the Finder section of the Preference. There are a few options to add.

By using Apple’s Automator app, you can create your own custom Quick Action.

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Apple MacOS Mojave Review - Macmyth.com

MacOS Mojave Review
Do you feel like your tired and your eyes are stressed due to the heavy workload you are doing on your mac? Then the new update from MacOS will definitely fill joy in you as it has improved its performance and brought most potent features which can help you to do work for longer periods. The new update is Mojave, and in this post, we are all set to go for MacOS Mojave Review.

From Past few years, I have been watching out all the useful updates which are rolled out by iPhone and soon think that there may be another update rolled out for Mac users but I was proved wrong every time. And at some stage, I was wondering Why Apple is only focusing on iPhones Rather than Mac Users.

But, now the real-time upgrade has come to the MacOS as well. This new update of MacOS is called as Mojave. It has some powerful and cool features which are helpful for all Mac users. If you are, Mac users mean you will definitely love this update because it is having better features than older versions.

As we are focusing on MacOS Mojave Review, I’ll be covering all the topics, features and real pros and cons of this latest version of MacOS.

So, let's get into the MacOS Mojave Review.

MacOS Mojave Review: 


Mojave is the latest version of MacOS, and it's available for all Mac users. Now, most of you might be wondering whether to download this Mojave OS or not?

If you are one of them then don't worry after reading this MacOS Mojave Review you will have a clear picture of this OS and you will know the ins and outs of this OS as well.

Mojave Release Date and Overview: 


This latest MacOS Mojave is a free update which has arrived on September 24th. In this Mojave, OS apple is mainly highlighting two features one is the Dark Mode feature which will help you work effectively for long periods without affecting our eyes.

The second feature is its Dynamic Desktop features which let your desktop image to change according to the time of the day. Apart from these, you can also see the internal improvement which enhanced the performance of the system. The Galler view in the finder and flexible screenshots are the other important features which you can speak about.

So, lets straightly go into the Features and modes of MacOS Mojave Review.

MacOS Mojave Dark Mode: 


MacOS Mojave Dark Mode
When the Mojave OS has arrived the most exciting feature which users are awaited for is its Dark Mode. The new and exciting look of MacOS mutes the colors of the regular menus and its interface so that you can work all the day without any stress or strain to your eyes. This is one of the best features of the new MacOS Mojave and in fact, Apple has offered a true Dark mode on Mac for the first time.

Although there used to be an option of turning to the night shift in previous versions of Mac it would turn down to the blue light in the evening and later dock dark menu. But, Now with new Dark Mode, Mac users are able to darken every element on the system’s interface.

You can just do that with going to System Preferences > General > Dark. By this, you can go to dark mode. When you click on that the menu and other interfaces you will change their total appearance to dark color.

Whenever you click on the Dark option, the entire system workspace will turn into the dark interface, and it will even change the other elements appearance as well. Even safari turns into the dark mode, but web pages will not switch because website owners dictate their presence.

If you are feeling uncomfortable with the normal mode, then you can quickly switch to this impressive Dark mode which protects your eyes and lower your stress. With this feature, Apple has moved a step forward in safeguarding long computer users experience. In this Dark mode version even messages, notes, and backgrounds will become dark, but its text will be white so that you can read properly. So, it is one of the best and creative features in the MacOS Mojave

New Feature of MacOS Mojave “Desktop Stacks”: 


The new desktop stacks is another new additional feature in MacOS Mojave. Once you have completed using and enjoying the Dark Mode you can enjoy Desktop stacks feature as well. Over the past few version, Apple has tried different things to refine spotlight which allows us to tag documents. So that we can quickly preview the file before opening it along with that, it also has made smart folders so that certain types of files can be easily located.

Now, with the help of its previous versions, Apple has recognized that most of us are saving something on the desktop. So, in Sierra, it has added the ability to sync the desktop to the icloud and helped us to access it from any Mac or IOS devices very simply.

Apple has newly updated that version and brought new Desktop stacks feature to create smart folders on your desktop automatically. These created folders can automatically be sorted according to the Date Added, Date modified, File type, tags, Date last opened and more.

When this new feature is turned on means, you can quickly sort all the files on your desktop into a clear structure and folders. This will be very useful for all the people who save their work on their desktop for easy accessing of files.

Now, if you want to open this feature means you have to follow these steps:





  • Go to the Finder Menu.
  • Click on View > Then click on Use Stacks.
  • When you turn on the “USE stacks.”
  • The desktop will be clean and divided into the folders.
  • In that, you can select types such as “Date Last Opened,” “Date Added,” “ Date Created,” “tags” etc. 
  •  
    While using this feature, we found that last opened is the best option to access the critical file we need quickly. And it will make more comfortable for you to access your used work. In this new MacOS you can click on the stack then all contents will appear on your desktop to make life easier for you. You can quickly select the file you want to access without any hassle. 

    Mark up and Finder: 


    When you are having a glance at new features in Mojave, then markup and finder is the other best option you have to watch out for in new OS. This new feature is nothing but the joining of two features in previous versions.

    Those two features are quick look and markup tools. Here Quick look is one of feature which helps you have a glance at the file without even option. It simply generates the preview but you have to press the space bar for that in older versions, and in markup tools, you can edit PDFs and Email attachments.

    Now, these tools have combinedly came into the new Mojave OS. In this new feature when you hover your mouse over the file, you can get to know about the file with preview and metadata associated to the file. Along with these, you can also quickly edit these documents and files in your desired way.

    Improved Screenshots and Videos Editing Options: 


    MacOS Mojave Screenshot option
    With the new feature in MacOS Mojave, taking screenshots and videos are much easier. With the help of the markup tool, you can quickly edit the screenshot you take. Usually, in Mojave, the screenshot you take are shrunk to a thumbnail in the bottom right you can quickly access those and edit those screenshots.

    Unlike previous OS you won't have to open the file and then open image editor to crop or do add changes for the screenshots you can edit or draw on the screenshot without any hassle.once you completed your editing you can simply hit save or share button on your MacOS.

    Similar to the screenshots the videos get process is also the same. Previously we used to record video at that time was necessary to fire up Quicktime and then record the screen. But in new Mojave, this feature is automatically included so you can record entire screen or you can record selected portion as well.

    New APP Improvements in Facetime Ground Video Chat Especially in MacOS Mojave: 


    The new MacOS Mojave has further improvements in APPs as well. The new Facetime group calling app is introduced in the facetime app. With this new feature, you can group video chat with up to 32 people. Although this feature is yet to roll for regular users, the beta tester can use this feature.

    Best Continuity feature to never stop the workflow: 


    Along with this, you can also see the new continuity feature has arrived in Mojave as well. The continuity feature will bring the iPad, iPhone, and other Mac devices together. Here the ability to bring together means the ability to receive messages or take phone calls and another handoff features from one device to another device. So, that you can simply continue your incomplete office works in your home mac without stopping your workflow.

    You can even use iPhone as the capture device. Just you have to right click on the area where you want to add the image, and you have to choose the options to take the photo that’s it. Apart from these, there are a lot more in this device.

    Enhanced News app: 


    While using the news app in MacOS Mojave, we found that this app will import all your existing settings from your iPhone so that you can view all your desired topics stories from Apple news on your Mac device. Along with that, the new news apps is also combating with the fake news similar to the google as well.

    Improved web Browser Safari 12: 


    Almost all Mac users know about the Safari browser in Mac right. In the new version of MacOS, there is are some significant changes rolled out such as anti-advertising features and prohibiting cookies features. With these, there are many other options in safari which we can have a glance at them later.

    Disappointed Home Option: 


    MacOS has a new Home option. This apps working mainly depend on how many home kit appliances are there in your house. Sadly, most of us won't have those home kit ready appliances so it won't work better for some of us. Although we have home kit appliances, also it won't work properly as we have tested it. So, this feature turned out to be a sad feature for us.

    Final Verdict of MacOS Mojave Review: 


    If you are working freak who always like to work? Or if you are gaming lover who always loves playing means, you should definitely use this MacOS Mojave because its Dark Mode helps you a lot in protecting your eyes and also it won't trouble you while working for long hours on the computer.

    As its free and there is enough scope to download and use this MacOS. If you really strive to try Dark mode, then you have to use this version. There are also some hidden features which have slightly improved than the previous version. This makes most of the people to stay with new MacOS. Also, be aware of some things like some of the old version apps will not work in Mojave.

    Tuesday, April 3, 2018

    Apple MacOS 10.13.4 Brings Full External GPU Support to Recent MacBooks

    The newly released MacOS 10.13.4 not only adds support for external GPU but also adds business chat and a new security feature present in iOS 11.3. First announced by Apple in the WWDC held last year, Apple now works on that promise by bringing external GPU support to MacBooks with the improved MacOS 10.13.4 update.

    The upgradeable external GPU with the MacOS update increasingly solves most problems when it came to professionals using MacBooks. As MacBooks moved more towards the customer end of the table, professionals like video editors, 3-D modelers, VR Developers and the like were left with often mediocre and un-upgradable GPUs which was a major setback for these kinds of professionals. Another major disadvantage was that these professionals were stuck using 15 inch MacBook models and the 12 inch MacBooks and the 13 inch MacBook Pros still relied on an integrated graphics card.

    What’s great about the MacOS 10.13.4 update bringing external GPU support? 

    For those professionals who are video editors, 3-D modelers and the like, this MacOS 10.13.4 update brings in the necessary horse power without compromising on battery life, form factor and while also keeping the price of the MacBook models low for non- professional users.

    What was the problem before MacOS 10.13.4 update? 

    Prior to the MacOS 10.13.4 update, many professionals had to add graphics cards to their systems but even adding a high end graphics card to their system gave mediocre results. While the external graphics card gave the necessary horse power and was excellent for gaming, it still felt as an add- on as compared to a seamless feature of the MacBook. Apart from this, users also complained of glitches and bugs even in popular games like FinalCut.

    The new Thunderbolt 3 with MacOS 10.13.4: 

    With the new Thunderbolt’s 40 Gbps transfer rate and some other Apple updates, Professional users can now enjoy better external GBU support than before. Although these transfer rates are not the best that is out there, they still are capable when it comes to most uses. This solution is better for those who do not want to move over to other powerful PCs like Linux or Windows.

    The Drawbacks: 

    As of now Apple only supports AMD graphics cards so getting support for the industry leading graphics card- GTX 1080 TI for example would need hacking and some other methods if you are to get around to using it. This still leaves the RX Vega 64 and some other cards that could provide amazing graphic capabilities without any support.

    Besides not having support for non-AMD graphics cards and if you do decide to get one such card then you have to also think of getting a dedicated enclosure for it. The non- AMD graphics card as well as the enclosure for it are not going to come cheap and what makes it an even steeper buy is the fact that you would have already forked over quite a bit of money when it came to buying the MacBook in the first place.

    Monday, December 4, 2017

    MacOs: High Sierra 10.13.2 Beta Release

    iPhone X
    After a month, after releasing MacOs, High Sierra 10.13.1 and five updates, Apple brings to you the sixth version of MacOs High Sierra 10.13.2. Besides the usual bug fixes and security plugs that all versions of Os across all companies seem to do, MacOs High Sierra also seems to solve a security issue relating to the Macs.

    Where can the Beta Version of MacOs High Sierra 10.13.2 be downloaded from? 


    Any user with a valid profile can download the macOs High Sierra 10.13.2 beta version from the Apple developer center or the Software Update Mechanism from the Mac store.

    MacOs High Sierra 10.13.2 fixes macOs vulnerability: 


    Previously, Macs could be unlocked by simply putting “root” in the place of username with no password. This glitch seemed to unlock the macs making the Apple Pcs very vulnerable.

    Apple said they would resolve the issue with MacOs High Sierra 10.13.1 but has been unable to do the same since the version’s release. Even with the release of the Beta version of MacOs High Sierra 10.13.2, there has still been no change.

    With the release of MacOs High Sierra 10.13.2, sixth beta version, many users have confirmed that the bug seems to be fixed.

    Apple Pay Cash release with MacOs High Sierra 10.13.2: 


    With the final user version of MacOs High Sierra 10.13.2, Apple plans on bringing peer to peer mode of payment to its users through “Apple Pay Cash”. This feature seems to come with a renewable subscription.

    Other Rumors surrounding Apple MacOs High Sierra 10.13.2: 


    Besides some performance improvements and bug fixes, one of the most notable absences is the “AirPlay 2”. Apple plans on bringing AirPlay 2 to IPhones and IPads but at present only interface changes have come up so far with the beta launch of Apple MacOsHigh Sierra 10.13.2

    With IOS 11.3 beta, a new display prompt was released which basically informs users when their Bluetooth or Wi Fi was deactivated in the control center. However with such a change, the Bluetooth and Wi Fi still remain active when it comes to AirDrop, Continuity and Watch connectivity. This does not seem to be the case when it comes to non- Apple devices and third party apps.

    IOS 11.2 also introduced 7.5 watt wireless charging for Apple’s latest releases, the IPhone 8, IPhone 8 Plus and IPhone X.

    Users are still awaiting the Watch Os 4.2 beta and Apple’s TvOs seems to be on its fifth beta run.


    Monday, October 16, 2017

    Why Apple Won't Move the Mac to ARM

    Apple

    Why MacBooks won’t run on an ARM Processor

     
    While there is certainly talk of Apple gaining independence and making its own ARM based processor for MAC, this is not really a good move for the company. Recently there were reports about Apple moving away from Intel processors for its Macbook and instead installing macbooks on ARM based processors.

    ARM based processors have their own advantages. Apple will be able to integrate fingerprint, display and touch functions with the ARM based processor. They are power efficient, fast, will make computers lighter and thinner while at the same time running on a processing power equivalent to other processors.

    ARM based processors are being thought of for only macbooks at present. All other devices such as mac pro, mac mini or Imacs will run on intel processors.

    All this said and done, having an ARM based processor is not an ideal situation for Apple as then macbooks would not run on current versions of macOS.

    This means that one of three things could happen. Either Apple does away with its desktop line of business or has macbooks made that are actually a little bigger than an Ipad or alternatively make new versions of macOS for various of its products.

    Macbook as a Giant iPad- If Apple is really considering taking up to making Macbooks with ARM based processors then their macbooks are going to start looking like oversized ipads.

    This is not altogether bad since Apple knows that inspite of an iPad coming with multiple apps and quality processors it is still unable to match up with the functioning of a notebook.

    However if Apple does proceed with this step it will need to adapt its MacOS to the new processor. Basically the ARM based processor will require new architecture in which to function.

    This processor would require professional software to run, this may not be a very cost effective way to implement the processor and sales of macbooks installed with such a processor would not do well.
    Maintaining two processors- If Apple goes ahead with this move, it is going to have to create two macOS, one for ARM based processors and one for intel processors. As mentioned earlier only macbooks would run on ARM processors while all the rest would run on intel processors.

    Having different processors means that the macOS would have to be configured to meet both processors different needs and architecture. This is a difficult process not to mention the fact that both these different operating systems would have to be maintained, what with all the updates and such.

    No desktop line of business- Instead of all the hulabaloo of adjusting and maintaining different macOS for different processors, Apple can consider getting rid of its desktop line of business.

    But would you get rid of something that may not be a major profit earner but still giving you good returns, well no and with apple recently unveiling a new mac pro and imac this even more does not seem to be the case.

    With the new ARM processor apple would be able to take a step away from intel at present but it would also have to contend with the added workload of having to maintain two varieties of macOS while the macbooks with newly installed ARM processors might not even do well in sales. Basically the move to ARM processors does not make any real sense.

    Friday, March 18, 2011

    Apple talks about the slow web apps



    The controversy swells on Nitro, the JavaScript engine found in Safari Mobile from iOS 4.3. Earlier this week, we noticed that the web app were 2 to 2.5 times slower than the same site displayed in Safari.

    Shortly after a study by Blaze Software said loud and clear that a Nexus S averaged 52% faster than a 4 iPhone to surf the web. However, this study was not conducted directly through Safari, but in a WebView.

    These various data have not failed to create a little controversy, which once will not hurt, drove Apple to break the silence. One of his spokesmen, Trudy Miller, confirmed that the web views do not include all optimizations for Safari. Therefore, the study of Blaze Software is partly inaccurate. It is true that the iPhone's browser is slower than that of Android. By cons, running web app (thus bypassing the browser) is actually much faster on Android.

    So why web apps are they deprived of Nitro and the lack of support for the HTML5 cache? For John Gruber, we must not see evil everywhere and think that the way the Californian Company focuses on native applications to web applications.

    The real problem for Apple is safety. Unlike its predecessors, Nitro is a JavaScript engine that includes the time compilation (JIT). However, a JT needs to have the ability to mark pages in RAM memory as executable. However, unlike Mac OS X, Apple iOS prohibited on grounds of safety. Such a mechanism could lead to hijacked the execution of unsigned code.

    In other words, if Safari 4.3 is under iOS much faster, there is a significant part-cons: if someone manages to exploit a vulnerability in its browser, then it can do much more damage than before. One can imagine that Apple has enough confidence in its browser to integrate such a possibility.

    For Gruber, it is more likely that Apple will not stop there. He believes that to generalize Nitro web applications, there should be a web application to run JavaScript in a process separate and independent, a bit like Safari on Mac and PC that creates a separate process for Flash. In theory, this is what Apple is preparing for Webkit 2, whose project was announced last April: "WebKit2 is designed primarily to support the separate processes, where the Web content (JavaScript, HTML, etc.). made his living in a separate process [...] this model is comparable to Google Chrome, the chief dissimilarity that we have built straight into the structure, and it is easy to get to other browsers.

    Sunday, January 23, 2011

    The iPad 2 makes good use of his legacy



    The iPad 2 comes out tomorrow in the U.S. and the first test reports were released that night. Several journalists have had the new model in the hands for a week. Overview of the opinions of each other, among technophiles blogs and public newspaper sites. A general consensus emerges, the tablet from Apple evolves very well and it could again serve as a yardstick for competition, despite some shortcomings, some of a material nature (poor camera), others to order software (iOS notifications for example) but in this case can be easily resolved. As also suggest some performance tests, developers will have huge engine with which to play. But ultimately, where Apple is unbeatable is the consistency and overall quality of its ecosystem iOS and appliances that go with it.

    Monday, January 17, 2011

    Mac App Store: Apple takes all

    If the Mac App Store definitely creates opportunities for all developers, Apple is doing particularly well in his own store if we are to believe the list of the more profitable. On the Mac App Store U.S. - one that represents the highest volumes in the world - 9 of the 12 most profitable applications today are backed by Apple.

    In the list, there are expected classics, like the three applications of iLife: iMovie (11.99 €), iPhoto (11.99 €) and GarageBand (11.99 €), and three applications iWork: Pages (15.99 €), Numbers (15.99 €) and Keynote (15.99 €). These applications have always been successful before the Mac App Store and it has further highlighted and has probably allowed many users to upgrade at a lower cost by purchasing only the software they used at Instead of buying a complete suite. GarageBand has perhaps the success of the iPad version (3.99 €).



    Although priced at the floor of the App Store, FaceTime (0.79 €) has been so successful that the application has to rise to eighth place among the most profitable applications. FaceTime is still number one overall in the Mac App Store U.S., as in many other countries around the world. Conversely, Aperture (€ 62.99) has perhaps not been as successful as the number of downloads, but its higher price has undoubtedly helped Apple to earn large sums. If the price is at the top of the ladder on the Mac App Store, it is well below the prices before leaving on the application store dedicated to Mac OS X, which explains its success.

    Among these nine applications, where the strangest is undoubtedly that of Apple's development environment, Xcode (3.99 €). For the first time, Apple has decided to sell its IDE, which had always been offered free until then and that was all the same installation DVD included with the Mac. If Xcode 3 is still available for free, provided to create a free developer account, Xcode is now paying 4, available to developers who pay the annual fee of 79 € indispensable to publish on the App Store, or those who want the purchase via the Mac App Store.



    Fairly amazing, FDI is a box of Apple in the Mac App Store and it is today second in many countries. Why such success? IOS developers or those who chose the winning formula from Apple have no reason to buy again in Xcode the Mac App Store because they have free access through the development center. It is all developers "historic" that do not intend to change their means of distribution from a Mac App Store, which did not pay for Apple's developer program, but want to learn Xcode 4.

    This is undeniably the world, but these downloads are also strong, perhaps, a sign of attraction to the public. Xcode allows you to disable the multitouch gestures on the iPad with IOS 4.3 (read: iOS 4.3: enable multitouch gestures for iPad), but there may also be curious, clumsy and maybe, who knows, the Developers who collect all versions of Xcode. Whatever the motivations, the fact is that proposing Xcode on the Mac App Store has been a great idea commercially. And according to the general trend of American reviews, Apple could have sold its software far more expensive ...



    Mac App Store offers unparalleled visibility to thousands of developers. But given this performance, we also understand why Apple has created this store: The company sells its software as ever and this would justify the arrest of software sales in its physical Apple Store. By putting all of its software sold on the Mac App Store, Apple's strength so users of Mac OS X to try this new distribution channel and everything suggests that the company will go deeper into this process. After all, the beta of Mac OS X Leo was sent to developers via the Mac App Store: a system operating in the App Store, the idea would have laughed a few months ago, maybe it will be a reality this summer ...

    Friday, December 31, 2010

    Mac Book Pro 13 "Core i7: The Turbo Boost function well



    The 2.7 GHz Core i7-2620m team that the Mac Book Pro 13 "high-end mobile chip with the highest frequency available in the Intel catalog. It may even reach 3.4 GHz on a heart through the turbo boost, but Apple has apparently it off this feature to avoid overheating.

    The Cupertino Company is yet to promote this function on the product page of Mac Book Pro, clearly indicating the frequency of 3.4 GHz that only the Core i7-2620m can be achieved in the current range. PC Pro has never yet managed to achieve this frequency in these tests, the processor remains hopelessly nailed to 2.7 GHz. Core i7-2720QM Mac Book Pro 17 "has no trouble reaching its maximum frequency of 3 GHz, so its four cores are at 95 degrees.

    That's about the same temperature reached by the two cores of the Core i7-2620m Mac Book Pro 13 "at full speed to 2 GHz. This temperature is certainly high, but rather common, however, can only imagine the Turbo Boost, the processor could blithely exceed 100 °, temperatures this time potentially problematic. The English site therefore advances the hypothesis that Apple has disabled the Turbo Boost on the chip to avoid overheating. Notebook Journal (via) confirms this hypothesis: their copy is even temporarily increased to 798 MHz time to control its temperature.

    Even without turbo boost, the Mac Book Pro 13 "Core i7 is a very fast machine. The question is whether Apple disables the default Turbo Boost, or if Mac OS X disables the fly: it will be difficult to know, rise in mean temperature rise mechanically. Having ourselves a Mac Book Pro 13 "Core i7 at our disposal, we will try to verify this behavior: we will update this article accordingly.

    [UPDATE] Our own tests show that the Turbo Boost is indeed active on the Core i7-2620m Mac Book Pro 13 ". On two hearts, the incidence rises to 3.19 GHz (multi-core optimized implementation), so that it goes up to 3.33 GHz on a single heart (non-optimized implementation; Turbo Boost 2.0 is supposed to extend the "boost" Yet, we observe that the frequency goes down enough quickly, in very small increments (Intel explained that Core i7-2620m had 7 frequency ranges between 2.7 and 3.4 GHz).

    The falling speed of the Turbo Boost seems to be correlated to temperature: the "boost" is much better during the first tests (when the processor runs at about 80 °) during the following (the processor then proceeds to over 90 °, with a peak at 97 °). It seems that Mac OS X and / or processor finely monitorent frequency to avoid overheating: it is again a function of Turbo Boost 2.0. Even in influencing the speed of the fans for the processor to overheat (remaining under the 110 ° measure), we observed no deactivation of cores or drastic fall frequency to avoid overheating.

    In short, it seems that this processor is behaving as it should, with a much finer granularity of the "boost". PC Pro Notebook Journal as a tool used by Intel under Windows to test frequency: perhaps he is assigned a bug, or maybe the management of the Turbo Boost this particular model of processor is different ( or faulty) on this platform.

    Saturday, December 25, 2010

    Adobe introduced the "ninth Elements"



    The "Ninth Elements", as Adobe calls it, was presented to the press today. The big news of the ninth edition of consumer products from Adobe Premiere Elements of the arrival on the Mac.

    The entire range of Elements is now available on Mac OS X. Bridge lovers will be disappointed: the browser interface on Mac Adobe disappears in favor of an organizer who was brought from the Windows version. Files, projects and catalogs are fully compatible between both platforms. Managing photos and videos, it takes the tabbed interface that can be found for example in Lightroom: Organizing (with management of keywords and display by date), edit, create (using templates) and share (with integration of social networks).

    As for video, Premiere Elements 9 is therefore coming to Mac. The tabbed interface is again formatting: Organize tab is a bin with integrated import interface, the Edit tab contains themes and effects, the Menus tab of the disk to create DVDs or BDR, and Sharing tab to share .... We like it or not, but we must admit that seems very linear operation for beginners. Unlike iMovie, Premiere Elements is multitrack audio / video (99 tracks).

    We can use files from different sources into one project: the first adaptation project in the format of the first file. The files will be up scaled or down-accordingly. Premiere Elements 9 is able to clean background noise of a video taken by example with a telephone or a small HD camera. The impact compresses the sound a bit, but is really effective. Premiere Elements 9 loads over 70 effects to the questionable value, but is mostly modified at will - and are mainly used on live video, without rendering time.

    Similarly, the DVD menus are the default controls the placement of videos, but it is possible to modify and enrich them, depending on the degree of experience. If we can send his film on DVD or Blu-ray (one will appreciate the humor of Adobe on the topic, since we have not finished waiting on Mac compatible players), we can also make a kind of DVD Web, a Web page that appears as a menu and allows to read videos in an interactive way ... in Flash (FLV or MP4).

    Image side, Photoshop Elements 9 inherits some features of Photoshop CS5, but also embellished resolutely public functions. Photoshop Elements 9 integrates also a gallery of filters in fashion, as the effect or Lomo Pop Art, but also the effects of photomontage. These effects are presented as "recipes", built in tutorials to Photoshop Elements immediately containing the necessary tools. If you are a little more experienced, you can always have access to layers that have helped create the effect or photomontage.

    Elements 9 uses the engine of Photoshop CS5 for example offer repair or correction of the photos shown taking into account the content: you can now automatically fill the missing areas of a panorama, rather than the crop, or remove elements noise of an image (a kind of automated cloning tool). The results are convincing ... until we do not zoom to 100%. Finally, like Photoshop Elements Premiere 9 integrate social networks: it is possible to export his creations on Facebook or Flickr.

    Monday, November 29, 2010

    Change of strategy



    Overall, the whole approach of the Apple security that Charlie Miller and castigated early March, although he conceded being "somewhat responsive to bugs that has been providing it with:" Apple does not pay security researchers. Apple assumes that it has no security problem and did not need to work with researchers. "Worse, he said," Apple is certainly capable of producing a safe product, but do just not yet made the effort. "And, in fact, Apple may have changed his tune: he moreover subject - among others - pre-release version of Mac OS X Leo.

    In addition, Apple has recently recruited several experts in computer security: David Rice, a former NSA, Ivan Krstic, former director of the OLPC, or Windows Snyder, who has contributed to strengthening the security of Firefox.

    And he has this apparent convergence between Mac OS X iOS. Apple uses sandboxing widely within IOS, but not in Mac OS X, maybe it will evolve. ALSR arrived in IOS with version 4.3, its use may be extended with Leo. Code signing is also utilized to secure iOS. With the Mac App Store, it used to protect applications distributed through this, against piracy. But perhaps Apple plans to go further ...

    Wednesday, November 17, 2010

    Faults! Yes, but it is still necessary to exploit ...



    But it is on one side and holes on the other, the possibility of exploiting them. Mac OX 10.5, Apple introduced two devices to protect its operating system against this: the ASLR and DEP. The first, and Address Space Layout Randomization, is to introduce an element of chance in the distribution of data areas in virtual memory. And thus limit the possibilities of executing malicious code introduced in memory overflow the buffer, for example. DEP completes the first device by prohibiting the execution of injected code still in memory areas reserved for data. The DEP is closely tied to the hardware architecture of the computer.

    In Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6, the ASLR is too partial. Charlie Miller underlines that "there are many things that are not random, as the location of the dynamic linker [which deals with memory and seek to link shared libraries when an application is launched], or stack and heap [two areas in memory where some data are stored temporarily]. "And for the DEP, the situation is no better: it only applies to 64-bit process. Charlie Miller, he must report this to the world in the face: "In Windows, ASLR is complete and they have the DEP." And if, for Apple, the move to 64 bit improves security for Miller " this makes the circumvention of DEP that more difficult. "But not impossible.

    Certainly, as pointed out Charlie Miller, Apple has made available to developers - and uses in Safari - tools from further strengthen security: "canary." These are reference values that are placed in a buffer and to verify the data stored in the stack to monitor potential buffer overflows, the first data corruption in this case to just be the canary. But again, the expert pointed out that using this type of security systems based on the specific compiler may require a migration to environment and development is not entirely suited to large projects with a strong history.

    Wednesday, November 10, 2010

    Apple and security issues



    The reputation is not everything. And, as usual, Mac OS X did not fail to fail at the last edition of Pwn2Own at CanSecWest. This time, it is the French Security VuPen who managed to find and exploit a flaw in WebKit HTML rendering engine of Safari - in particular.

    It must be said that VuPen has made a specialty of so-called "intrusion friendly" or, in other words, the penetration test. Among the clients VuPen Security include including Microsoft, Shell, Sagem or IGN. Their job is the testing of security policies applied to information systems. Teams efficient enough that during the 2009 conference on Security Workshop VuPen has sold out and has attracted the interest of representatives from the retail, telecommunications, or the Army.

    For IOS, it's even Safari which served as a gateway. And it's a regular who has taken on the task: Charlie Miller. Security analyst at Independent Security Evaluators, Charlie Miller has been awarded four times during Pwn2Own. Twitter, he describes himself as "Mr. Apple 0-day", ie one that runs from previously unknown flaws in the software firm at the apple. A specialty of Miller, the Fuzzing. An approach to vulnerability research developed mainly by Ari Takanen, CTO of Codenomicon Finnish. Jared DeMott, Charlie Miller, he co-authored a book dedicated to the subject, "Fuzzing, for software security testing and quality assurance", published in 2008 by Artech House. At the end of the book, a case study is also devoted to the search for vulnerabilities in QuickTime Player.

    The basic concept of Fuzzing is relatively simple: it is looking application interfaces accessible from the outside and saturate the corrupted data - in the sense that they are not consistent with what the application is supposed to address - and then see what happens ... In a way, we can see a parallel here with the compromise of websites SQL injection: in both cases, the software is not adequately protected against attempts injection data does not correspond to that it must wait for a legitimate user ...

    Last year, Charlie Miller stressed in particular that OS X "has a broad surface attack involving open source components, third party components closed [with Flash], and Apple closed components [Preview, etc.].." Each of these software elements can be an attack vector. Recently, as part of an interview with German magazine Heise, he explains his stubbornness to attack Apple's software: "I use various Apple products and it is in my interest that they are as safe as possible [. ..] If you listen that Apple (or Mac fan boys) you believe that Macs are impossible to hack, which is not the case. "

    Especially for him, it is important to know the faults to measure the level of software security, it does not boil down to this: "you must take into account those who threaten you, the resources available to them. "So, for him too, right now," a Mac with Snow Leopard is the safest choice [to surf the Internet] mainly because of its market share. "But the Mac's OS is it more secure? No, he answers without reservation: "In my experience, it was easier to find and exploit vulnerabilities in Mac OS X systems in modern Windows (Vista and 7)." Indeed for him, Web browser is the safest Chrome, Google. And recommend the passage of any extension disable unnecessary.

    Thursday, November 4, 2010

    Mac OS



    Mac OS X1 is a line of proprietary operating systems developed and marketed by Apple, whose latest version (Mac OS X v10.6, "said Snow Leopard) is installed on all Macintosh computers sold today. Mac OS X is known for its simplicity, reliability and user friendliness. Apple engineers had only one ambition for Snow Leopard: Making a marvel of a prodigy. It is more reactive bottom-up and performance has improved at all levels. It offers new features like Spotlight search customization options and an improved icon view that can browse a document or watch a QuickTime movie.

    The sixth version of Mac OS X, even if appearance does not seem to be a real "revolution", just a "big update" of Leopard 10.5. However, major changes under the hood ": deletion of PPC, 64 bit, new Finder, Grand Central Dispatch "," OpenCL " etc.... This is another milestone in the long and sometimes tumultuous development of Mac OS X. OS X is more reliable, smoother, faster! It is always possible to use some good old software like "AppleWorks". SNOW LEOPARD does, however, more on Mac PowerPC processor (G3, G4, G5) and only works INTEL Mac. PPC Mac owners will have breaking the bank to taste the joys of " Snow Leopard."

    Saturday, October 30, 2010

    The iMac



    In January 1998, Jobs announced the first positive result for over a year. In May, he presented the next release of a new type of Mac: iMac, offering a compromise between power and money to satisfy basic users. He also explained that the project would be based not only MacOS X Rhapsody (NeXT technology) but also on MacOS 8.

    The year 1998 was a year of profit for Apple iMacs are selling like hotcakes. In 1999, the output of the PowerMac G3 Blue and the announcement of the release of the iBook kept up the wave motion. Then came the announcement of the generation of G4 PowerMacs.

    In January 2000, the release of iTools Internet tools dedicated, demonstrated the new strategy strongly oriented Internet firm to Apple, as Steve Jobs announced that he remained at the head of the company.

    Monday, October 25, 2010

    Restructuring



    In late 1996, while the situation has not changed, Apple announced the acquisition of NeXT and the re-integration of former CEO Steve Jobs. This merger was to integrate the core NeXTStep development of future MacOS (Rhapsody project, scheduled for 1998). In early 1997, Amelio was forced to resign after failing to regain control. Jobs then found himself assigned duties to wider society, and did not need to pray for decisions to restructure the firm at the apple.

    In August 1997, at the Boston MacWorld, Jobs turned his speech in a tone of novelty and change, including the announcement of new advertising campaigns, new Macs, the progress of Rhapsody, and especially to an agreement spent with Microsoft. This agreement allows both companies to exchange patent for 5 years, Apple offered $ 150 million in shares to Microsoft, and Microsoft paid an undisclosed sum to Apple's intellectual property problems emerged during the development of Windows.

    On the clones, which eventually flew more customers to Apple without increasing sales of Macs, Jobs took the decision to recover the licenses that were granted, thereby halting the production of manufacturers.

    In November 1997, Jobs announced that the sale of Macs would also now live: online or by telephone, and the output of Power Mac and PowerBook G3.

    Saturday, October 16, 2010

    The appearance of the PowerBook



    The idea of granting licenses to expand production of Macs was abandoned by the new CEO (Michael Spindler, who was appointed in June 1993). In 1991, the PowerBook first appeared. It was a great success. Apple then began to study the Personal Assistants, who later would lead to the release of the Newton in August 1993. The handwriting recognition system, not very developed, does not provide a very favorable opinion of the users. In 1994, the Power Mac first arrived.

    These machines, using a processor developed by the joint powers of IBM and Motorola, proved well able to compete and surpass the speeds of the latest Pentium processors. Besides this, licenses were granted to some companies to build Mac clones turning MacOS (Power Computing, Umax ...), but this opening was not sufficient to address the backlog of trade policy from Apple. In addition, the release of Windows 95 did not help things. In January 1996, while Apple crossed its biggest crisis, the Performance machines, low cost, was another failure, and Spindler was forced to resign. Gil Amelio replaced him.