News for Tuesday, 13 June 2006

As you know now, Sketchup for Mac has just been released by Google and its free version is therefore available for all to download. This famous 3D modeler has been purchased by Google, who now puts it forward as a mean to design architectural structures (buildings...) and export them as .kmz files so that they can be integrated in Google Earth landscapes. Sketchup has long been famed for its user-friendliness, which is not exactly the case of Blender 3D , an otherwise astonishingly powerful and versatile open-source 3D software. I tried to see it there was no way to have both communicate in order to have the best of both worlds and - bingo! - you can! The .kmz files exported by Sketchup can be imported in Blender using the Python scripts you can download here . Just remember that in order to install a Blender Python Script you have to be able to see invisible files, then you have to "Show package content" (ctrl+click on the Blender icon) and then copy the script in Contents->MacOS->.Blender->scripts.
For the reverse operation, you should export your Blender objects using the .dxf format.
In both cases, the conversion seems very clean and keeps traces of the materials.
Although you have to keep in mind that the free version of Sketchup is not supposed to be used for commercial purposes, this Sketchup/Blender pairing can be a really efficient one, and is definitely a kind of mini-revolution in the world of free 3D modelling on Mac.
[Edit] The missing link to the scripts has been repaired.

Google remains active on all possible fronts.
Today, Google Earth was released in Universal Binary, and can interact with SketchUp.
Talking about SketchUp, the Mac version was also released today, even though it was expected after Google acquired the 3D company that developed this 3D modeling application; however it's not available in UB yet.
To download Google Earth (version 4.01563 beta) : here
To download SketchUp (version 5) : and there
JCJ

Many sources indicate that AMD will significantly decrease the price of its processors in order to respond to the introduction of Conroe from Intel.
At the same time, P4 processors are available with large discounts in order to prepare the massive introduction of Core architecture-based desktop CPU launch (Conroe and later on Xeon WoodCrest).
In addition, according to some sources, Intel might quickly revise prices of Conroe CPU models a couple of weeks after their introduction (-15% on average).
So, one can consider that both giants are preparing their weapons to be able to be the first to fire or to fire-back. So we might expect Apple to decrease the price of Intel-based models accordingly.
JCJ

Micromat has released a beta version 4.5.1 of TechTool Pro for Intel-based Macs.
It is available for download, but it will require a valid serial number to be functional: http://www.micromat.com

Belkin, which wide peripheral range prestige is so adapted to the Mac world values, is a highly appreciated brand among Apple aficionados. But sometimes it seems their representatives find it difficult to speak the same language.
We presented here last year their Nostromo N52, a gamers' absolute weapon, and an incredible asset for World of Warcraft or Call of Duty series fans. Fre2x3 from our French forum, and member of the iClan gamers guild, who wrote our REVIEW of this product, is now worried that no UB upgrade of the N52 drivers is in sight. Belkin technical support (for France and UK) first answered no update was planned, before writing the following as he insisted:

We told the person responsible of this product, who might develop a driver for N52 and MAC in UB. But we don't know yet if a driver is to be made for such or such platform.

It would be a shame that no update were planned though: as the Nostromo's warranty is lifelong, its buyers that would get themselves a MacIntel might as well send it back to Belkin, and ask for a refund without any hesitation...
But this same Belkin technical support answer to iMacX, another member of our forum who contacted them about the N52, sound like there might be a solution there:

You are correct, it is not yet compatible. We do not have compatible software as of yet. Please check back in a month for updates.

We just hope an update is to be released, which would confirm by the way Belkin's reputation of being reactive. On the other hand, not doing it would represent a suprising lack of interest on their behalf for the Mac gaming market: while every sign is that the time when it was only a niche market is over, this would be quite a weird "strategy".

Last week, we were posting benchmarks of a Mac mini powered by a Core 2 Duo (aka Merom).
On the following webpage, another Mac mini has received a new heart named Merom (plenty of captures and photos.


As we already mentioned it, one will need a firmware update to see the CPU recognize as a Core 2 Duo; but chance are quite low, Apple will probably never make such release before it starts using the same CPU in Mac mini revision. At the opposite, apple might introduce some tricks in future firmware update to prevent users to perform CPU upgrade, but we hope that Apple is not seriously considering this option as it might generate the biggest anti-Apple campaign.
But one should not forget that it happened already in the past, when G3 B&W which have had their CPU exchanged for a G4 could not boot anymore after a simple firmware update provided by Cupertino.