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How 'Post-PC' Could Benefit Linux
Linux Use Increasing At The Expense Of Windows And Unix
Wikipedia Blackout Affirms Overwhelming Support For Free And Open Internet
A Retina Mac: Dream Confronts Reality
Microsoft Blames Poor Windows Sales On PC Slump Due To Thai Floods And Netbook Decline
Ultrabooks To Account For 25-35% Of Total Notebook Shipments In 2012 - Acer Chairman
Ohanaware updates HDRtist Pro - Mac OS X HDR Software
Typinator 5 = Text Expansion + Scripts + Includes + Calculator + More
Pioneer DDJ-ERGO Controller Supports algoriddims djay 4 for Mac Software
The Art of Black and White Photography, 2nd Edition--New from Rocky Nook
Intel Offers Performance Tuning Protection Plan For CPUs
How 'Post-PC' Could Benefit Linux
ZNet's Adrian Kingsley-Hughes notes that 'choice' is no longer a dirty word when it comes to operating systems, and that while over the past decade Linux has gained little traction on the desktop as a challenger to Microsoft Windows' dominance, with market share metrics stubbornly hovering around the one percent mark, he thinks the 'Post-PC era' may finally provide the much-needed boost Linux advocates have been hoping for?
Kingsley-Hughes suggests that widespread acceptance of tablets and smartphones is encouraging users to think outside the psychological circumscription box to perceive computing as something one does not necessarily have to be sitting front of a desktop or notebook to do.
So could that perceptual groundshift be good for Linux? Kingsley-Hughes thinks that with OEMs up to their elbows in new platforms, and Microsoft gambling with Windows 8 working to transform its traditional keyboard and mouse driven desktop operating system into one that people will control with their fingers - a strategy he suspects will flop due to there being no proven market for the primary touch feature, an opportunity could be opening up for Linux as a 'bridge' PC OEMs could offer buyers to span between the PC and the Post-PC eras.
For the full report visit here:
http://zd.net/yrcYwT
Linux Use Increasing At The Expense Of Windows And Unix
The Linux Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the growth of Linux, this week released its latest report ( http://bit.ly/xtclID ) "Linux Adoption Trends 2012: A Survey of Enterprise End Users", which shares new data representing Linux's dominant role in supporting Cloud computing, Big Data and new greenfield deployments.
This year's survey was conducted in partnership with Yeoman Technology Group late last year and received responses from nearly 1900 individuals, and filters the data to surface trends among the world s largest enterprise companies and government organizations identified by 428 respondents at organizations with $500 million or more in annual revenues or greater than 500 employees. The number of respondents from the largest enterprises in the world grew by more than 10% this year, providing an even better picture of enterprise Linux adoption trends.
The 2012 Enterprise Linux survey shows that affinity among new and veteran Linux users continues to increase at the expense of Windows and Unix. Part of this growth is due to Linux's role in two of today's biggest IT trends: supporting the increasing level of Big Data and achieving productivity and security gains with virtualization and Cloud computing. Enterprise Linux users show steady progress on all of these fronts and a clear preference for Linux as the foundation for these trends. Key findings from this year s report include:
(*) Even as IT spending forecasts remain soft, enterprise users are adding more Linux:
Eight out of ten respondents say that they have both added Linux servers in the last 12 months and plan to add more in the next 12 months, with the same number planning to add more Linux in the next five years. Only 21.7% of respondents are planning an increase in Windows servers during that same period (next five years).
(*) More than 75% of respondents expressed concern about supporting "Big Data," and nearly 72% are choosing Linux to support it:
Most enterprises expressed concern with the rapid growth of data, and Linux is clearly the platform of choice to address it. Only 35.9% are planning to use Windows to meet the demands of this new environment.
(*) Linux users see fewer issue impeding the operating system's success, with technical issues cited among respondents dropping 40% from last year's report:
Technical issues cited by Linux users dropped 40%, from 20.3% in 2010 to 12.2% today. Twenty-two percent fewer respondents cite perception by management as an issue, and 10% fewer say there are no issues at all impeding the success of Linux.
(*) The largest collaborative development project gains more contributions from enterprise users: This year's survey surfaced a nearly 12-point increase in those participating in Linux Foundation activities, an 8-point increase among respondents who are working on code, and a 5-point increase in those who are testing submitting bugs.
(*) TCO, feature set and overall security top Linux benefits: More than two-thirds of respondents consider Linux to be more secure than other operating systems.
To download the full report, visit The Linux Foundation's Publications website:
http://bit.ly/xtclID
The Linux Foundation End User Council will meet with vendors and the developer community this April 30-May 1, 2012 at The Linux Foundation's Enterprise End User Summit ( http://bit.ly/ACobs9 ). The event will take place this year at the NYSE offices. More information can be found on The Linux Foundation's events website.
For more information, visit:
http://www.linuxfoundation.org/
Wikipedia Blackout Affirms Overwhelming Support For Free And Open Internet
Over the course of 24 hours on Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 162 million people experienced the Wikipedia blackout landing page - an unprecedented, historic shuttering of the largest repository of free knowledge in the world. More than 8 million U.S. readers looked up their Congressional representatives through Wikipedia to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) - proposed U.S. legislation that, if passed, will harm the free and open Internet.
The protest drew worldwide attention to SOPA and PIPA, legislation that had previously been cast as a battle between powerful corporate interests. Before the blackout, the bills were poised to sail through Congress with bi-partisan support. But after the public joined the debate on Wednesday, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle declared their opposition and made passage of the current bills much less likely.
"The Wikipedia blackout is over and the public has spoken," says Sue Gardner, Wikimedia Foundation Executive Director. "162 million of you saw our blackout page asking if you could imagine a world without free knowledge. You said no. You shut down the Congressional switchboards, and you melted their servers. Your voice was loud and strong."
Immediately after the blackout started, #factswithoutwikipedia, #sopastrike, and Imagine a World Without Free Knowledge trended worldwide on Twitter. In the first hour of the blackout, #wikipediablackout constituted 1% of all tweets. More than 12,000 people posted comments of support on the Wikimedia Foundations blog post announcing the blackout.
For Wikipedia, this fight has never been about money, but about knowledge, the organization says. As a community of authors, editors, photographers, and programmers, Wikipedians invite everyone to share and build upon the work already begun.
In a little over a decade, Wikipedians have built the largest encyclopedia in human history. Wikipedia's mission is to empower and engage people to document the sum of all human knowledge, and to make it available to all humanity, in perpetuity.
The Internet has enabled creativity, knowledge, and innovation to shine. As Wikipedia and other websites went dark, readers directed their energy to protecting the free and open Internet.
WIkimedia Foundation thanks readers for their support.
SOPA, PIPA Opponents Celebrate, But Say Work Isn't Done
IDG News Service's Grant Gross reports that a day after an estimated 10,000 websites went dark and more than 7 million people signed a Google.com petition opposing two controversial copyright enforcement bills, opponents of the bills say there's more work to do, with some lawmakers still seeming doggedly intent on approving the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA), and the U.S. Senate headed toward an initial vote on PIPA Tuesday, and even though about 20 senators have announced opposition this week, including six who had co-sponsored the bill.
For the full report visit here:
http://macw.us/A2pMnY
A Retina Mac: Dream Confronts Reality
AppStorm's Joshua Johnson says that since the release of the iPhone 4 and its high-resolution 326ppi "Retina" display, he's been dreaming about Apple expanding its use of this impressive technology to other devices and perhaps even a Mac.
Johnson notes that the natural next step for the Retina display is obviously the iPad, one that if the rumor mills are correct will be realized come March. However, he says that technical hurdles associated with bringing a Retina-like display to a Mac would be significant and likely costly.
But Johnson suggests that once you've got a high-resolution display in the iPad, the jump to say, the MacBook Air, doesn't seem as significant. If, for example, the the iPad's screen resolution turnes out to be 2048 x 1536 with a pixel density of 264ppi, compared with the current iPad 2's 1024 x 768 and 132ppi, as similar jump for the 11-inch MacBook Air would take it from 1366 x 768 at 135ppi, to 2732 x 1536 at 270ppi, which is not that radically different from rumored iPad 3 specs.
However, in the "be careful what you wish for" department, Johnson observes that such a transition would require major co-operation from software developers, recalling that when Apple added the Retina display to the iPhone 4, every app made for older model iPhones suddenly looked like crap on the Retina screens, and that in order to compensate for this problem, every developer had to completely rebuild their graphics at a larger resolution, leading him to wonder just how older apps, to say nothing of websites, would look on a new generation of high-resolution Mac displays.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://mac.appstorm.net/
Microsoft Blames Poor Windows Sales On PC Slump Due To Thai Floods And Netbook Decline
The Register's Iain Thomson reports that Microsoft has released its quarterly results, reporting Windows revenues down 6 percent from the previous quarter, partly due to OEM component shortages due to last years floods in Thailand, and also to robust sales of 'competing form factors' (think iPad) and the collapse in netbooks' popularity, with sales of the latter falling from 8 percent of the total PC market last year to just 2 percent in the last quarter.
For the full report visit here:
http://bit.ly/z5AWpU
Ultrabooks To Account For 25-35% Of Total Notebook Shipments In 2012 - Acer Chairman
Digitimes' Aaron Lee and Steve Shen report that Acer plans to launch its second-generation ultrabook models in the second quarter of 2012, with more new models to come in the third, and projects that ultrabooks will account for 25-35% of its total notebook shipments for the year, according to company chairman J.T. Wang.
Mr. Wang told the reporters that sales of Acer's Aspire S3 ultrabook totaled about 250,000-300,000 units in the first quarter after launch, and the company expects its new Aspire S5 tablet PC will do even better, although Acer's notebook shipments are expected to spike downward by 10-15% sequentially in Q1of 2012, the company is still predicting that total shipments for the year will still manage 10% growth.
For the full report visit here:
http://bit.ly/zMwkkI
Ohanaware updates HDRtist Pro - Mac OS X HDR Software
Ohanaware has announced release of HDRtist Pro 1.0.6, an update to their award winning HDRtist Pro software for the Mac. HDRtist Pro is the more advanced version of Ohanaware's free HDR software, HDRtist. Featuring a simple yet streamlined workflow, with features such as 1-Click editing, It's been designed to provide more creativity with HDR images, while continuing to be easy to use. Version 1.0.6 features an improved alignment module, optimized Inspector previews, improved error handling and more.
Ohanaware, a family team specializing in intuitive photo editing software, today are very proud to announce the immediate release of an update to their award winning HDRtist Pro software for the Mac. HDRtist Pro is the more advanced version of Ohanaware's free HDR software, HDRtist. It's been designed to provide more creativity with HDR images, while continuing to be easy to use.
HDRtist Pro is easy to use HDR processing software for Macintosh computers. It has a simple yet streamlined workflow, with features such as 1-Click editing. A live interface, where changes happen as the options are adjusted. The core engine processes HDR images using 128-bit floating point data (16,843,009 times more precise than a JPEG). The unique file format also allows HDRs to be saved and re-edited at a later date. Even JPEG files generated by HDRtist Pro can be re-opened and edited. With HDRtist Pro, it's possible to create an HDR effect from a single RAW or JPEG image.
New In Version 1.0.6:
(*) This latest version features an improved alignment module
(*) Optimized the previews in the Inspector
(*) Fixed some minor bugs with the program
(*) Improved error handling when HDRtist Pro can't create an image
(*) Prevented the entire Aperture library from being loaded into HDRtist Pro
System Requirements:
• HDRtist Pro requires an Intel powered Macintosh running Mac OS X 10.5 or newer, with at least 1GB of memory. A 256mb Graphics Card is recommended for Hardware acceleration.
HDRtist Pro 1.0.6 is a free update for all customers, for new customers HDRtist Pro is $29.99 (USD) / 19.99 (GBP).
Existing customers can use the "Software Update" or "Check for Update" function from the HDRtist Pro menu within HDRtist Pro to update, or simply download the new version from the Ohanaware website. A free unlimited 14-Day trial can also be downloaded from the Ohanaware website. HDRtist Pro can be purchased from the Ohanaware website and Apple's Mac App Store.
Ohanaware:
http://www.ohanaware.com/
HDRtist Pro 1.0.6:
http://www.ohanaware.com/hdrtistpro/
Download HDRtist Pro:
http://www.ohanaware.com/hdrtistpro/HDRtistPro.zip
Purchase:
http://www.ohanaware.com/store/
For Charles W. Moore's 'Book Mystique Review of HDRtistPro (version 1.0.2) see:
http://bit.ly/iSJbt3
Typinator 5 = Text Expansion + Scripts + Includes + Calculator + More
Ergonis Software has announced the release of Typinator 5, a major new version of their text expander utility. With a long list of new features and enhancements, Typinator 5 looks to enhance its role as the leading text expander on Mac OS X systems.
The major new Typinator 5 feature is scripting support, which opens up a wide range of opportunities to create more generic and versatile text snippets than ever. With a simple inclusion mechanism, text expansions can execute external scripts and include their results in the expansion. Typinator supports scripts written in in many different languages like AppleScript, Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby, and arbitrary shell scripting languages.
Typinator has always offered quality, speed, and robustness, but with version 5 a completely rewritten expansion mechanism and many internal optimizations take these attributes to a new level and lead to lightning-fast text replacement and enhanced compatibility with arbitrary target applications.
Typinator 5 supports date and time calculations and features a new pocket calculator, which lets you insert the result in various formats. Typinator is now a universal 32/64-bit binary and requires Mac OS X 10.5 or newer to make best use of current system architectures.
Visit Ergonis Software's website to learn more about the changes in this release and to download and try the new version.
"After two years of development and internal testing, we are proud to finally present the most versatile scripting solution for text expansions. We managed to make powerful scripts usable for everyone, even without programming knowledge," says Christoph Reichenberger, CEO of Ergonis Software. "And programmers can easily extend the scripting repertoire of Typinator with even more features like stock quotes, calendar functions, time zone calculations, clipboard manipulation, URL processing, dynamic signatures, context-sensitive code fragments. The possible uses are virtually unlimited."
Guenther Blaschek, CTO of Ergonis Software, adds: "One of the best things of Typinator's scripting feature is its flexible technology under the hood. Parameters and persistent variables enable script developers to combine multiple scripts and communicate with Typinator in novel ways. These details open the door for many future extensions. We are excited about the new possibilities and can't wait to take Typinator to the next three or four levels in the next releases to come. Stay tuned for a continuing revolution in text expansion!"
Typinator is a powerful but still elegantly simple solution that boosts your productivity by automating the process of inserting frequently used text and auto-correcting typing errors. Across all applications, it detects specific sequences of typed characters and automatically replaces them with text snippets, graphics, URLs, dates and special characters.
System requirements:
• Typinator 5 requires Mac OS X 10.5 or newer and is fully compatible with OS X Lion.
Typinator can be purchased securely on the Ergonis Software website. The upgrade to Typinator 5 is free for anyone who has purchased a license on or after June 1st 2011 as well as for anyone who is still covered by a previously purchased time-based license. Other users of a previous Typinator license may upgrade to Typinator 5 for EUR 12.49 (single license). For information about purchases, including enterprise licenses, volume discounts, and upgrade pricing offers, see the company's web site.
Instead of purchasing Typinator by itself, customers can get the Macility Productivity Bundle that also contains two of the company's other productivity tools, PopChar X and KeyCue.
Ergonis Software:
http://www.ergonis.com/
Typinator 5.0:
http://www.ergonis.com/products/typinator
Download Typinator 5.0: http://www.ergonis.com/downloads/typinator-install.dmg
Purchase Typinator 5.0:
https://store.ergonis.com/products/typinator
Pioneer DDJ-ERGO Controller Supports algoriddims djay 4 for Mac Software
Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc., Professional Sound and Visual Division has announced that its DDJ-ERGO DJ controller for home DJs can now control algoriddims djay 4 software (version 4.0.3) for Mac OS, bringing sophisticated, professional-style control of iTunes music libraries to the platform.
Introduced in September 2011, the DDJ-ERGO controller's sleek design and compact size places the same emphasis on the DJing experience as djay 4 for Mac, bringing simplicity to both setup and performance without compromising on features and sound quality. Native integration of the DDJ-ERGO with djay enables direct access to all key features via dedicated controls, mirroring djays graphical user interface and ensuring a seamless and easy user experience.
"The DDJ-ERGO provides consumers with a lot of flexibility, giving them various choices in the software they want to use including algoriddims new djay 4 for Mac," says David Arevalo, senior marketing manager for the Professional Sound and Visual Division, Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "We're bringing the unique Pioneer DJ feel to djay users for the first time."
The djay 4 for Mac software has an efficient visual interface that pros and beginners alike can appreciate for its ease of use, while delivering forward-thinking features. Its Harmonic Match feature is an example of djays seamless integration with the Mac Platform, utilizing the built-in iTunes browsing interface. The software automatically registers the key of each playing song and matches it to songs of the same key in the users iTunes library. For users of djay for iPad or iPhone, the software automatically syncs cue points and other metadata created over-the-air via Apples iCloud service, making them readily available when performing live.
"We are thrilled to pair djay with a controller as sophisticated and fun to use as Pioneers DDJ-ERGO," says algoriddim CEO Karim Morsy. "We have always believed in making djay a tool for all levels of DJs. Supporting the DDJ-ERGO allows DJs of all levels to enjoy this elegant and simple combination of hardware and software."
DDJ-ERGO Features Include:
Pulse Control The integrated Pulse Control of the DDJ-ERGO provides users with visual prompts via various types of illuminations on its buttons and platters. The controller utilizes a new Pure Platter jog wheel that helps guide the user during performance with the movement of lights in accordance with the pitch, beat, and effects of the music as well as when a song is being loaded.
Laptop Dock Design Like Pioneers other DDJ controllers, the DDJ-ERGO is designed to accommodate the placement of a laptop computer below the unit to help save room and bring the screen closer to the user. The controller also features removable legs, enabling it be used in angled or horizontal positions.
Matching Hardware Layout The algoriddim djay 4 is designed to work intuitively with the DDJ-ERGOs two players and two-channel mixer setup. The controller offers a user-friendly layout and features HOT CUE, samplers and effects.
User Interface The DDJ-ERGO enables users to slide the keypads of their laptops under the controller for easy viewing of the GUI displayed on the computer screen. The new djay software features key detection and matching (Harmonic Match), beat detection and matching (BPM Sync) and visual waveforms to make DJ performance fun and easy.
USB Power The DDJ-ERGO utilizes power from USB connections found on a Mac, eliminating the need for an external power supply and allowing for quick play of the djay software.
Additional Features The combined controller and djay software are fully optimized and designed for OS X and feature MIDI Learn and support multi-touch control.
The DDJ-ERGO controller is available now at a suggested retail price of $699.
Algoriddims djay 4 software (version 4.0.3) for Mac for the DDJ-ERGO is now in the Mac App Store for $19.99.
The DDJ-ERGO firmware must be updated to the latest version before use with the djay 4 software for Mac. The latest DDJ-ERGO firmware (version 1.10) can be downloaded at no charge at Pioneer Support.
For more information follow on:
Twitter at twitter.com/PioneerDJ
Facebook at facebook.com/PioneerDJusa
YouTube at youtube.com/pioneerdjglobal
For more information, visit:
http://www.pioneerdjusa.com
The Art of Black and White Photography, 2nd Edition--New from Rocky Nook
Over the last few years, most books on photography have been focused on the new breed of cameras and how to master the digital imaging workflow. In "The Art of Black and White Photography, 2nd Edition" (Rocky Nook, $44.95 USD), author/photographer Torsten Andreas Hoffmann takes a different approach, focusing on image composition and image capture, with an emphasis on the creative aspects of black-and-white photography rather than on the digital workflow.
After introducing the ground rules of composition, Hoffmann illustrates their applications with his own stunning black-and-white images that cover various photographic genres including architecture, street photography, portraiture, and surreal photography. Also discussed are the elements of a "photographic language," which distinguishes creative photography from random shooting. Finally, you will learn valuable post-processing techniques, mostly using Photoshop, as Hoffmann emphasizes the functions necessary for creating outstanding black-and-white images.
This second edition has been updated to include Photoshop CS5; as well as featuring brand new images, new content, and a revised layout.
Born in Duesseldorf, Germany in 1956, Torsten Andreas Hoffmann is the internationally renowned photographer and author of illustrated books on New York, Paris, Rome, and the Himalayas. Having spent his educational years studying art and majoring in photography, Hoffmann has dedicated most of his life to this craft. He is a teacher of workshops on composition and black-and-white photography, and shows his students how to find their own individual style. Hoffmann specializes in the medium of black-and-white photography, as well as in the field of conceptual photography. His stunning photographs have been shown in numerous exhibitions in Germany and abroad, and have been published in many well-known magazines. In addition to his many books, he regularly writes articles on picture design for the popular German magazine "Photographie," and he is a regular contributor to LFI, the highly acclaimed international journal published by Leica.
The Art of Black and White Photography, 2nd Edition
Publisher: Rocky Nook
By Torsten Andreas Hoffmann
Print ISBN: 9781933952963
Pages: 264
Print Price: $44.95
1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000
For more information about the book, including table of contents, author bios, and cover graphic, see:
http://bit.ly/Axe6ES
Intel Offers Performance Tuning Protection Plan For CPUs
The Performance Tuning Protection Plan (hereafter referred to as the Plan) is a program owned and administered by Intel Corporation, an optional support plan which, if purchased, would provide specific defined benefits in addition to Intel's standard boxed processor limited warranty.
The Plan only applies to issues directly related to performance tuning, and only provides for a one-time replacement for eligible processors, which include:
Intel Core i5-2500K
Intel Core i7-2600K
Intel Core i7-2700K
Intel Core i7-3930K
Intel Core i7-3960X
applicable to the replacement of Eligible Processors and only when the Plan is purchased within one year of the purchase of the Eligible Processor
For more information, visit:
http://www.intel.com/go/tuningplan
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