Wednesday April 26, 2006

- Skype in Universal Binaries... well almost ready - Lionel - 23:07:21

Skype has released for a short time the Universal binaries version of its well known application as version 1.4.0.39, but then pull it out from its website couple of hours later after many bugs were reported by MacIntel users.
The last version currently available on their website is the 1.4.0.35.
The final UB version is now announced to be released in May.
www.skype.com
So do not try to download it from websites that have made it available via mirror download sites; it is urgent to wait.

[translation by Eric]

- Raptor 150 and RAID 0 - Lionel - 23:02:00

Thomas reports an important information for Mac users wishing to use Raptor 150 HD in RAID 0 in PMG5.
Indeed, there are currently 2 references for this HD: WD1500ADFD-00LR0 and WD1500ADFD-00LR1.
But only the Raptor 150 WD1500ADFD-00LR1 can be used with RAID 0 settings in a PMG5 (Quad in his case).
Information obtained from Western Digital confirmed this problem.

We have asked our partner Macway to investigate the problem. They have also confirmed to have many reports of problem with this HD in PMG5 (even without using a RAID 0 settings). We have asked them to repeat tests with the Raptor WD1500ADFD-00LR1 to identify which PMG5 can use without problem this fast and powerful HD.

According to Western Digital, the problem with this HD model, as well with other WD HDs might be due to an incomplete implementation of the SATA format by Apple. As a consequence, system using such HD would be unstable and prone to crash.


[translation by Eric]

- iTMS: the best place to advertise? - Lionel - 16:45:03

According to www.AdAge.com, Apple is currently evaluating the possibility of opening the lower left corner space to advertising contents.
Podcast would be the first to receive such visual component in addition to the audio ads usually present in a Podcast.
If the user reactions are not too negative, it might even be extended to the entire services available on the iTMS...
For sure, most iTunes users will not be very happy to see a non-solicited video advertising content appearing on their window...


[translation by Eric]

- 17 Headphones Tested - Lionel - 14:30:06

Les numériques have just released a test comparing 17 headphones for digital music players. This test confirms what we concluded months ago about the Etymotic ER-6; but it also shows that it also does not really make sense to buy a really expensive headphone if it will be used only with a digital music player... (you will get the best from the MP3 player, not from the headphone)

[translation by Eric]

- Apple smear and maple syrup - Lionel - 12:12:04

Thanks to Karl, from Montreal, for sending us this news item.

Apple has launched Remote Desktop 3 in April and the press release announcing the event bears the signature of Huguette Guilhaumon, as Apple Canada's spokeswoman. The thing is she is also the spokeswoman of the Canadian Minister of Transports Lawrence Cannon, and the new governement, which was elected with a very narrow margin, had pledged to gain the public trust by putting forward a bill stipulating that such civil servants should resign from their positions in the private sector firsthand. Now Ms Guilhaumon is the very focus of a dispute concerning possible conflicts of interest, although she says she resigned from her position in Apple Canada back in February. But then why is her name still mentionned in recent Apple documents (but not in Apple Canada's website) ?

- America’s Army on Mac: this is end my friend, the end... - Lionel - 10:19:44

Report from JF.

I know that you are not often posting news related to Mac games, but we have learned that one of the most popular games on our platform, America’s Army, often compare for its quality to "Ghost Recon", will be discontinued (both Mac and Linux version). The US Army had already since a long time discontinued Mac and Linux support, and all versions released for the Mac recently were made by a courageous and volunteer developer Ryan Gordon. The current version 2.5 might be updated to 2.6 if he ever finds time to finish it up.

The US Army decision has nothing to do with the release of Boot Camp since it was anterior to the recent Apple announcement. The decision was the consequence of GameSpy network to discontinue Mac support on their servers. Despite the fact that Ryan, decided to support the Mac version and modified it in order to allow mac users to connect to GameSpy servers, future “middlewares” that will be added in the game code force him to stop supporting the Mac version.

By releasing Boot Camp and moving to the Intel processor, Apple has probably saved Mac gamers since online games for Mac were already dying since GameSpy decisions to close servers, or the introduction of technologies such as Havok, have made PC games impossible to be ported to the Mac.

- NeoOffice 2 for PPC available in alpha version - Lionel - 10:01:31

The new version of NeoOffice is available in pre release, via a Early Access Program:

The Early Access Program allows people to download a NeoOffice release before the official release date. The NeoOffice 2.0 Alpha PowerPC Early Access Program will start on 25 April 2006 and end on 23 May 2006.

Since the NeoOffice project is funded by donations but donations cover less than half of our costs, we sell program memberships to raise funds for the costs that donations do not cover. Membership prices for the NeoOffice 2.0 Alpha PowerPC Early Access Program are listed below:

Purchase Date Price
Before 9 May 2006 US$25
9 May 2006 or later US$10

Starting on 23 May 2006, you will be able to NeoOffice 2.0 Alpha PowerPC for free.