News for Monday, 17 January 2005

We wish to thank each and every applicant who contacted us after we published our recruitment ad towards the end of last week, to join and help reinforce our team of macbidouille's translators. We must say we're pretty glad we drew the attention of so many qualified persons, looks like we definitely have really fine readers, to which we'll now be able to give more, thanks to the new recruits.
This first step is now complete, and we shall now answer every one who applied. This will be done tomorrow, as we needed a little time to read all the messages we've received and to decide what the next step would be.
So, to all applicants (you know who you are !):
Check you mailboxes tomorrow :)

jpb has developed a small benchmark software using "Forth" language.

Before running any benchmark software, one should close all running applications 'including network connection) in order to free optimal CPU resources.
2 types of measurement can be performed:
- Pure CPU resource benchmark by selecting the button on "ROM" in the "CONTROLE" window, followed by a reset ("R"),
- CPU and GPU access benchmark by selecting the button on "FLASH" followed by a reset. Then, you will have to wait 1 or 2 minutes to see forth core screen saver to start on the second window.
In both cases, you only need to wait for the computed value (representing operations/sec) tp stabilize and then you get your benchmark score (in the window "CONTROLE").
Now, if you are interested by Forth programming language, do not hesitate to visit my website: http://jpb.forth.free.fr/Anglais/encadrement.html
http://jpb.forth.free.fr/Anglais/encadrement.html

To download the software:
CoeurFORTH.dmg

TCS Macs is informing us that they have original Bluetooth module in stock.

So far, it was almost impossible to buy such modules, Apple refusing to sell them.

A new generation of worms frightens the PC world. Past their propagation inside a WMA or WMV file, they use the track right management phase to launch their attack.
When Windows Media Player launches a track, it might ask a site to check its origins and authorizations.
The worm will use this funcion to load many things on the machine, such as spywares, malicious codes...
A solution to this problem might promptly have been found, yet Microsoft declared this problem was in no way related to their DRM system. The update that will be proposed, won't eliminate the source of the problem.
And it's true that Microsoft have a problem. If you deprive the protected files of their web authentification procedure, all the online music selling sites that use the Microsoft format will have to update their products, and exchange all those they already sold...

In its paper version, MacUser, an English journal [also has an online version but due to an annoying and most indiscrete registration system, I won't give the link — K.], produced a comparison of 20 and 23" displays. Of course, the Apple 23" is one of them and, good news, their test didn't diagnosticate the infamous pink coloration issue: this might be history, or let's hope so. There still is a blue-gray strip, yet it is discrete and not present all the time. On the other hand, Apple's display is far from winning the test. It's not only because of the price, as this dropped significantly. But the warranty issue is still a big drawback. When the other brands tend to adopt the no faulty pixel as a norm, Apple's warranty is always so willingly obscure about that.
The Formac Gallery 2010 xtreme is the winner of their test due to its price (829 Euros VAT not included) and its no faulty pixel warranty.

One of our readers has sent us data related to Mac mini availability for the 2 biggest French Mac resellers:
- TECH DATA is announcing availability on March 16th, and is expecting 1000 units for both 1.25 and 1.42GHz models.
- INGRAM is announcing availability on February 2nd, and is expecting 1500 units for both 1.25 and 1.42GHz models.
Those 2 large Mac resellers are the only dealers for smaller Mac resellers which can not deal directly with Apple.

Thank you Vincent for the info.
Engadget proves again how the iPod became the reference in portable MP3 players. Apple has introduced a "Made for iPod" campain. Accessories manufacturers will now be able to have this logo on their products, making them approved by Apple. It's also yet another way to cash on the iPod buzzword.

The Mac mini has stolen the headlines to the iPod, pretty much everywhere on the web.
It hit 3rd rank on the best selling items list on The Apple Store, below the iPod mini, but in front of the other iPods, and it spurs a lot of feedback here and there.
Someone has xBench'ed the little dude, and the results are quite honorable, except for the HDD test, but that is not really suprising. The CPU gets a score of 171, and the "User interface" test returns a 201.
If you still don't picture how small the Mac mini is, here's a photo that should give you a pretty good idea (from http://android8.users.whitehat.dk)

The Mac mini fits into the footing of the cube, which was the previous reference in "Mac petite". You'd need to stack up 5 Mac minis to reach the height of the Cube.
Some people are already thinking of a beowulf cluster of those (haha), but that will stay an elusive dream, due to the lack of Gigabit Ethernet, or PCI slot for Infiniband goodness.
Others, like hosting company Aqua Ray, want to offer Mac mini dedicated servers. Of course, you can physically cram a lot more minis in a rack than you could conventional 1Us, but we can't help but wonder how well the puny 4200rpm laptop drive would handle heavy loads in the long run. Heck, our server runs on a RAID 5 array of Ultra SCSI 15,000 rpm drives...
We have been bashing Apple and some of its products quite a bit in the recent months, so this much praise is to be expected when they hit the nail right on money. Let's hope Apple won't do anything to cloud this rosy scenery.

Games are back on the Mac, or so it seems. Our hardcore gamer friend Fre2x3 gave a try to the (somewhat) weird looking Nostromo-n52 by Belkin, and tells us off his pretty positive experience in an exclusive article (just in front of here).

Better read it before you face him in Call of Duty!