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Will Apple Kill the Macintosh?
Are We Living In A Post-PC And A Post-Mac World?
VLC 2.0 for MacOS X Almost Gold
John Browett Joins Apple as Senior Vice President of Retail
Apple Releases Final Cut Pro Version 10.0.3 With Multicam Editing, Broadcast Monitoring, And More
Tiger or Leopard for PowerPC Macs? Does It Matter Anymore?
Prey: A Powerful Recovery Tool For Tracking Your Missing Laptop Or iOS Device
State Hermitage Museum of Saint Petersburg, Russia One of the World's Largest Art Collections, Uses NTFS for Mac OS X to Produce Exhibitor Catalogues and Other Printed Materials
Will Apple Kill the Macintosh?
PCMag’s John C. Dvorak says rumors are circulating that Apple might kill the Macintosh, and he outlines why and how Apple might do it, noting that considering the magnitude of iPhone and iPad profits, Apple probably could kill the Mac, and the iPod as well, and become a two-product company. That point notwithstanding, he thinks such a strategy sounds like idiocy him. But is it?
Dvorak notes that it appears the Mac Pro workstation is on its way out, although he thinks that for now Apple will keep the more profitable laptops and iMac units flowing from China. The only people who will complain, he suggests will be high-end Photoshop users who cannot live with an iMac, but they’re a niche market, and likely expendible in Apple’s game plan going forward.
Dvorak says he doesn’t like the idea of Apple following such a path, and hopes his apprehensions are mistaken.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://bit.ly/wUcerO
Are We Living In A Post-PC And A Post-Mac World?
Writing in The Guardian, Jean-Louis Gassée, who was an executive at Apple Computer from 1981 to 1990, and subsequently founder of Be Inc., whose BeOS was once a contender for becoming the basis of OS X, contends that notwithstanding portest from Mac OS veterans and power users, if the iPad and its successor devices free people to focus on what they do best, it will dramatically change people's perceptions of computing from something to fear to something to engage enthusiastically with. Based on that rationalization, he says he finds it hard to believe that the loss of background processing isn't a price worth paying to have a computer that isn't frightening anymore.
[Editor’s Note: Not being frightened by computers and computing, I disagree that a substantial dumbing-down at the cost of the massive diminishment of efficiency the iOS imposes is a tolerable trade-off, but I apprehend that I’m likely not on the winning side in this battle. Mr.Gassée contends that Apple is now the iOS company. While the Mac first donated its software DNA to iOS, in the latest OS X Lion we witness the iPadification of the elder, observing that his experience of OS X Lion has been mixed, possibly either because the gene splicing is still in transition, or maybe simply because Apple has committed its elite troops to the iOS front, leaving things half-done on the Mac]
For the full commentary visit here:
http://bit.ly/yIYYnG
VLC 2.0 for MacOS X Almost Gold
HardMac’s Lionel notes that VLC 2.0, the Mac cognoscenti’s favorite media player, will be released soon. A release candidate RC1 can already be downloaded, and he cite’s colleague Jean-Baptiste’s quick look comment:
The future version of VLC, aka TwoFlower or 2.0, brings numerous improvement and modifications specific to Mac OS X. Thanks to the effort of Felix and numerous coders and designers, the team was able to continue the development of VLC on Mac OS X. If several bugs will remain to be fixed, the future new version will bring a lot of new features:
New Interface
- The most obvious difference with TwoFlower will be the new interface. This is a single window design to stick with current Mac OS X standard. Two colors will be available, black one for the Mac OS X style and gray for the Lion style. With Mac OS X 10.7, it will be possible to select between the classic full screen mode of VLC and the Lion full screen mode.
The audio and video filters are now available from the HUD.
Extensions
- Supports for new windows and features such as integration of IMDB, Wikipedia, OpenSubtitles and others.
Peripherals
- So far on Mac OS X, it was only possible to use the integrated webcam as a video source. With VLC 2.0, generic support for QKit peripherals has been added for audio (QTSound) and for video (QTCapture). It will allou to view and stream USB or FireWire external webcams, as well as microphones DVB and SDI cards.
Regarding Blu-ray support, VLC 2.0 allows to access files on non-encoded media for Linux and Windows. It could be ported to Mac OS X. For encrypted media, the libaacs library is NOT ported to Mac OS X yet, if anyone want to contribute, you are welcome!
Codecs
-The MacOS X version of VLC 2.0 will benefit from the same support and availability than the other platforms. The main new feature will be the support for multithreading deciding, bringing access to the power sitting in multicore hardware models running Mac OS X. New codecs are supported: ProRes, AVC/Intra, codecs 10bits and some version of WMV. Support for MKV and MOV have been dramatically improved. GPU-based decoding on Mac OS X, is not ready to be release immediately, it will come later on.
Video output
- The video output in Open GL has been modified, simplified and improved. Subtitles are now rendered according to the size of the displayed window, independently of the source and fully implemented in Open GL. This process improves quality and sharpness of subtitles.
Support for OS X and PowerPC
- This version 2.0 is compatible with Leopard, Snow Leopard and Lion.
The 64-bits version is the priority version for Snow Leopard and Lion, as it is the only one providing native full screen support on Lion. The 32-bits version also works on Leopard.
- There is still a PPC version for Leopard, only tested on G5 hardware. It also allows multhreading decoding in HD format, however, it is possible that the next major evolution of VLC will not be supporting PPC-based hardware.
VLC is freeware.
For the full report visit here:
http://bit.ly/zRkbMJ
John Browett Joins Apple as Senior Vice President of Retail
Apple on Tuesday announced that John Browett will join the company as senior vice president of Retail, reporting to Apple CEO Tim Cook. Browett comes to Apple from European technology retailer Dixons Retail, where he has been CEO since 2007. Beginning in April, he will be responsible for Apples retail strategy and the continued expansion of Apple retail stores around the world.
"Our retail stores are all about customer service, and John shares that commitment like no one else weve met," said Tim Cook, Apples CEO in a release. "We are thrilled to have him join our team and bring his incredible retail experience to Apple."
Prior to joining Dixon's Retail, Browett held a series of executive positions at Tesco plc including CEO of Tesco.com. Earlier in his career he advised retail and consumer goods clients at Boston Consulting Group. He holds a degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University and an MBA from Wharton Business School.
Apple Releases Final Cut Pro Version 10.0.3 With Multicam Editing, Broadcast Monitoring, And More
Edit multicam projects faster than ever before with a collection of innovative features that provide unmatched speed and flexibility. Select video and photos, then create a Multicam Clip by automatically syncing different angles based on time of day, timecode, markers, or audio waveforms. Play back multiple angles at once in the customizable Angle Viewer, and use the powerful new Angle Editor to dive into any Multicam Clip and make precise adjustments. You can change, add, or delete camera angles at any time and work with different codecs, frame sizes, and frame rates without conversion. When its time to cut your multicam project, simply click in the Angle Viewer or use keyboard shortcuts to switch between angles on the fly.
Advanced Chroma Keying
In addition to using the high-quality, one-step chroma key in Final Cut Pro X, you can now access advanced keying controls for color sampling, edge adjustment, and light wrap. Tackle complex keying challenges without exporting to a motion graphics application. And play back results instantly and in context to make critical editing decisions.
Media Relink
Reconnect media and exchange files with third-party applications using a robust relink interface. Select media that has been moved or modified, or locate clips that have been transcoded, trimmed, or color graded by third-party tools. Then easily relink to your Final Cut Pro X project or Event.
Import Layered Adobe Photoshop Graphics
Import and keep all the object layers from a Photoshop file in a single Compound Clip so you can animate, colorize, and add effects to individual layers while editing in Final Cut Pro X.
XML 1.1
Final Cut Pro version 10.0.3 includes support for exporting basic primary color grades to third-party applications like DaVinci Resolve. In addition, you can import and export audio keyframes and intrinsic effects parameters such as opacity and scale. This improved XML support saves time and reduces creative rework when moving projects and media between applications.
Broadcast Monitoring Beta
Output video to an external monitor using third-party PCIe cards or Thunderbolt I/O devices.(*) Connect to waveform displays, vectorscopes, and calibrated, high-quality broadcast monitors to ensure that your final project meets broadcast specifications. Or send video to large HD screens and projectors so everyone in the edit suite can see the creative process at work. Broadcast monitoring is currently in beta, and we're working with third-party developers to continue to improve it over time.
(*)Broadcast monitoring is available in beta and requires OS X v10.7.2 or later. Broadcast monitoring via Thunderbolt requires a Thunderbolt-enabled Mac.
System requirements:
• Mac OS X 10.6.8 or later
• 64-bit processor
$299.99
Mac App Store:
http://bit.ly/xNUyvf
Tiger or Leopard for PowerPC Macs? Does It Matter Anymore?
Low End Mac's Simon Royal says:
Whenever a new version of Mac OS X is released, it is always debated whether it is an improvement over the previous version and whether it could slow down your machine, particularly if you are not running the latest hardware.
This was especially true when Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard was released. Leopard really raised the bar in terms of system requirements. Previous versions didn't really need faster hardware: OS X 10.3 Panther required USB, and OS X 10.4 Tiger required FireWire - but the basic requirements (CPU speed, memory, and hard drive space) stayed pretty much the same. Leopard however, jumped the requirement from running on almost any G3 (officially 300 MHz or faster) to requiring an 867 MHz G4.
A lot of people claim running that Leopard on any G4 is too much for the hardware, so you should stick with Tiger. I have run Leopard on both an 867 MHz G4 and a 1.07 GHz G4, and it runs well. The key is RAM: you need at least 1 GB. Of late I have found the latest versions of iTunes really are quite slow and bring up the "spinning pizza of death" just a little too often.
But with the demise of the PowerPC and only a handful of software developers still releasing software for the platform, does it really matter what version of OS X you are running? Are they all not in the same boat these days?
To read more, click here.
http://bit.ly/wiX66l
Prey: A Powerful Recovery Tool For Tracking Your Missing Laptop Or iOS Device
Prey lets you keep track of your laptop, phone and tablet whenever stolen or missing - easily and all in one place. It's lightweight, open source software that gives you full and remote control, 24/7.
Silent but deadly
Basically you install a tiny agent in your PC or phone, which silently waits for a remote signal to wake up and work its magic.
This signal is sent either from the Internet or through an SMS message, and allows you to gather information regarding the device's location, hardware and network status, and optionally trigger specific actions on it.
Recover What Is Rightfully Yours
You can quickly find out where your computer is located, who's using it, and what he's doing on it thanks to Prey's powerful reports system.
By marking your device as missing, Prey will gather all the evidence you request and send it either to your Control Panel account or directly to your mailbox, depending on the reporting method you choose. Next
They Can Run But They Can't Hide
Besides gathering information, you can also trigger actions remotely such as sounding a loud alarm or showing a message which will appear onscreen just in case you want the guy to know he's being chased at.
You can also wipe your stored passwords for security, or even lock down your PC to prevent access. In other words, you're in control. Next
There's two ways in which you can send Prey the activation signal and get the reports.
1. Prey + Control Panel
- Recommended for most users. You monitor your devices on Prey's web Control Panel, where you can watch new reports arrive and manage specific settings, such as changing the frequency for reports and actions. You can add up to three devices for free, and can optionally upgrade to a Pro Account in case you wish to bypass this limit.
2. Prey Standalone
- For advanced users who wish more control. In this case, reports fly directly to your inbox but you need to set up your SMTP settings, and more importantly, you must generate a valid web URL which will trigger Prey to wake up when deleted -- otherwise Prey will keep sending reports on each interval! (For more information please check our FAQ).
Key Features
100% Geolocation Aware
- Prey uses either the device's GPS or the nearest WiFi hotspots to triangulate and grab a fix on its location. It's shockingly accurate.
Wifi Autoconnect
- If enabled, Prey will attempt to hook onto to the nearest open WiFi hotspot when no Internet connection is found.
Light As A Feather
- Prey has very few dependencies and doesn't even leave a memory footprint until activated.
Know Your Enemy
-Take a picture of the thief with your laptop's webcam so you know what he looks like and where he's hiding. Powerful evidence.
Watch Their Movements
- Grab a screenshot of the active session - if you're lucky you may catch the guy logged into his email or Facebook account!
Keep your data safe
- Hide your Outlook or Thunderbird data and optionally remove your stored passwords, so no one will be able to look into your stuff.
No unauthorized access
- Fully lock down your PC, making it unusable unless a specific password is entered. The guy won't be able to do a thing!
Scan your hardware
- Get a complete list of your PC's CPU, motherboard, RAM, and BIOS information. Works great when used with Active Mode.
Full Auto Updater
- Prey can check its current version and automagically fetch and update itself, so you don't need to manually reinstall each time.
Prey for iOS: The Inner Workings
The developers say that when they began drawing sketches, trying to imagine what the iPhone client for Prey would look like, it sure looked easy-peasy. But when they actually put our hands into it, they bumped into a number of things they had to sort out to make Prey work the way thery wanted to, and of course, without breaking any of Apple's rules. So it took longer than expected but the work is now done, and the wait finally over.
Prey is now available for iPhones and iPads at the App Store. Open source, for free, tested and ready to kick some burglar butt.
Heres a detailed explanation of how the iOS client actually works.
Keeping the bird watchful
The first thing that Prey does after being installed on a device, is to add a hook for iOS Significant Location Change (SLC) service. This provides a way for Prey to be woken up when needed, using the least possible amount of battery.
What the SLC service does, internally, is to instruct the phone or tablet to poke Prey every time it connects to a different cell antenna. Once Prey receives that poke, it will ask the Control Panel about its status, very much like the desktop and laptop version does using Cron or CronSVC.
What comes next, you already know: if the device is marked as missing, Prey will begin to send new reports. If it isnt, it will simply go back to sleep and wait until it is poked again, when the phone connects to another cell antenna.
So, the first difference with the laptop/desktop version is that on iOS the delay between reports and actions isnt a fixed, regular interval, but rather a semi random one which is triggered when phones move from one location to another. Pro users, however, do have On-Demand activation available in the Control Panel, that activates Prey in a glimpse without having to wait. Just as it works on PCs and Android devices.
Regardless of the way you sent the signal either pull (interval) or push (On-Demand) Prey will send reports until the device is unflagged as missing in the Control Panel.
The main reason why Prey uses the SLC listener from iOS is simple: if it didnt, it would need to be opened by the person holding the device in order to work. This way, Prey can run silently in the background, without giving any indication to the guy who took your phone that hes being chased.
The SLC service as well as support for background apps was added on iOS 4.0, so unfortunately Prey wont work on older versions of iOS. So if youre running an earlier version then it may be time to update!
Geo Module Accuracy
On iOS devices, Prey's Geo module includes a accuracy option which defines the frequency it will poll iOS for a new geolocation fix. As you may imagine, more accuracy means more battery consumption, but also a higher level of precision about your phones current location.
We suggest you try different options, so you get a better idea of the level of accuracy and the delay between reports. This is important because when setting the accuracy to the lowest level, Prey may not get a new fix from the iOS in a while so reports may take longer to arrive than expected. In the end, it all depends on how fast the person holding the phone moves around.
Front-Facing Camera Support
If your iPhone or iPad has a front facing camera then youll be happy to know that Prey's iOS client supports it. This is how it works.
As soon as you push the On-Demand button, a predefined message will be displayed on your device (like the one on the right). Once the thief moves the slider, Prey will take a picture using the built-in camera, while a random bank page is opened showing a Loading message. This way we can get the thiefs attention so that he looks right into the camera lens when the picture is taken.
Unfortunately, Apple only allows the use of the camera when the application is running on the foreground, so the webcam module won't work if the application is sent to the background.
In other words, if youre not a Pro user youll need the app to be running in the foreground for the Webcam module to work (i.e. the user must tap the Prey icon on the phone, which is not likely to happen). If you are Pro, however, youll be able to send the On-Demand, push notification that, if opened, will raise the app to the foreground.
The bottom line is that if you want to take pictures remotely, you'll probably want to upgrade to Pro.
Camouflage Mode
If you installed the app on your device then you probably saw an option called Camouflage Mode. When Camouflage is enabled, a random image is shown instead of the Prey logo when the apps icon is tapped by the user. This is just to trick the guy into thinking that Prey is a game and not the reason of his future arrest.
What you can and probably should do is to move the Prey icon into one of iOSs subfolders (like Utilities, which includes the Clock and Calculator). This way the thief won't notice the application at a first glance.
For more information, visit:
http://preyproject.com/
State Hermitage Museum of Saint Petersburg, Russia One of the World's Largest Art Collections, Uses NTFS for Mac OS X to Produce Exhibitor Catalogues and Other Printed Materials
Paragon Software Group (PSG), Paragon Software’s backup, disaster recovery and cross-platform solutions software developer, has announced that the publishing department of The State Hermitage Museum of St. Petersburg, Russia, uses their cross-platform utility, NTFS for Mac OS X 9.5, on their Mac computers to gain instant access to works of photographers saved on media of various formats, including Windows, while preparing catalogs and other printed materials for the museum. NTFS for Mac OS X 9.5 is one utility in Paragon’s major cross-platform product line based on Paragons Universal File System Driver (UFSD).
The State Hermitage Museum is a museum of art and culture founded in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1764 by the Russian Empress Catherine the Great. Today, the collection comprises nearly 3 million paintings, graphic works, sculptures and works of applied art, archaeological finds and numismatic material. The collections occupy a large complex of six historic buildings, including the Winter Palace, a former residence of Russian emperors.
“Our utility NTFS for Mac OS X 9.5 is widely used in publishing businesses around the world. The cross-platform software erases the boundaries between incompatible file systems, most often between Windows and Mac OS X, running any materials in Windows format on a Mac without the usual delays in the rhythm of the production process,” comments Natia Kartvelishvilli, Director of Business Development of Paragon Software Group. “It is our special pride that Russia's largest museum, our national heritage, the State Hermitage Museum, uses Paragons tool to produce their catalogs and brochures to promote the art and culture of Russia.”
The publishing department of the State Hermitage Museum celebrates its 80th anniversary in fall 2012, having published exhibition catalogues, scientific papers, archeological findings and much more throughout its lengthy history. Today, the museum employs several authors who publish more than 50 book titles a year under the State Hermitage imprint.
When publishing catalogues and brochures, the museum includes works of photographers submitted on multimedia devices of different formats, most often Windows. Common incompatibility issues arise when transferring these photographs to the museums Mac systems. With Paragons cross-platform technology, barriers between multimedia devices and media file systems are eliminated, allowing users to enjoy multimedia devices that can write data to and read data from external media of any file system. Paragon’s UFSD technology makes it possible to process unsupported partitions to browse contents, read and modify files, copy and create new files and folders, and more, while maintaining high-performance read/write access and speedy file transfers.
Key Features include:
• Updated support of the latest OS X Lion, including 32/64-bit native mode.
• Support for the latest Thunderbolt devices.
• Support for extended attributes.
• Fast volume transfer speed.
• Full read/write access: Modify existing files, delete files and create or copy new files.
• No limitation to maximum file/partition size (must be within Mac OS X and NTFS specifications).
Paragon NTFS for Mac OS X 9.5 is available for USD 19.95, EUR 14.95 or GBP 12.95, and can be downloaded at:
http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/
Owners of Paragon NTFS for Mac OS X 9.0 may upgrade to version 9.5 for free.
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