Monday December 03, 2007
- Pay Attention to Magnet-containing Covers or Case - Lionel - 12:46:44
Hereafter is a report from Jean Michel.
I purchased a brand new iPod nano 3G last week, and already used it intensively with music, video, podcasts...Magnets have never been good friends of consumer electronics, so pay attention of it before purchasing such type of cases.
So, after couple of days, I decided to purchase a protection case for the iPod, and chose a slick and nicely fitting model from "case logic".
But, then I immediately experience freezing problem with the iPod. So, I reinitialize it... but it does not help.
Did I install a corrupted file or performed an incomplete synchronization? So I decide to entirely restore the iPod... but 10 minutes later, the iPod freezes again.
Last trial, I remove the iPod from its case to repeat the last restoration procedure... start playing music... 5 minutes... 10 minutes... it works!!
Then I ask myself? Is the problem linked to the case? There is a magnet to close it? Could it be as simple as that? without the case, the iPod worked over night while installed in the case, it freezes within 2 to 10 minutes...
So, I remove the magnet, install the iPod back in its case, and... it works!
[translation by Linathael]
- Is Leopard Reducing Battery Lifetime? - Lionel - 12:46:09
Several readers, as well as members from Apple discussion forum, reported to have experienced a significant decrease of the battery lifetime for their MacBook when running Leopard. Among our team members we did not experience such phenomenon.
Hereafter is a compilation of information we collected about this issue:
- The problem could be linked to faulty batteries, and Leopard battery power management firmware might simply speed up their "death".
- According to MacFixit, one can perform the following procedure and should expect to recover part of their original battery lifetime:
* Zap the PRAM
* Reset the PMU (including entire switch off of the computer, removing the battery, then pressing the power button at least 10 seconds before installing it back)
* Delete the file com.apple.PowerManagement.plist located in /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/ before rebooting.
* Check selected options in Power Saving Tab of the preference panel.
We keep collecting information, and we will publish an update as soon as we obtain additional tips.
[translation by Linathael]
- iPhone: 3G Next Year? - Lionel - 12:45:37
AT&T CEO dropped a small bomb during a press conference by announcing that the iPhone will support 3G protocol next year.
If this was expected, considering that Apple will need a 3G iPhone in order to ensure a successful launch in Japan, it remains surprising that such announcement is not made by Apple or Steve Jobs. Apple did not implement 3G support in the first iPhone for 2 reasons: higher power consumption linked to 3G and the small 3G network in USA. Indeed, Apple develops its products for the US market before offering them worldwide.
By giving one year between the original iPhone and its 3G-ready brother, Apple gave enough time for internal and external R&D resources to deliver 3F optimized components and applications while ensuring optimal power consumption.
[translation by xrissley]
- Waiting for New Mac Pro: Was Apple Waiting for the New Compiler? - Lionel - 12:45:04
Many users are waiting for the new Penryn-based Mac Pro. If the new Xeon Penryn is now officially available, Apple did not release the new revision for the Mac Pro, as one could have expected it.
Part of the answer might be lying in the recent release by Intel of the new Software Development Products for Mac OS X. While some might have been thinking that it will only bring support for SSE4, it seems that one can expect larger performance gain especially with Pro-oriented applications if they are recompiled with the new software development tools.
So, Apple might be recompiling some of its Pro applications with the new compiler and libraries in order to offer a new Mac Pro models taking full advantages of the Penryn and its faster FSB. Last but not least, the new compiler allows a much better support of n processors-based hardware, something really important for the 8 core-based Mac Pro.
For additional information about the new compiler, visit the following page at http://www.intel.com/
[translation by Linathael]
- List of Leopard-compatible Printers - Lionel - 12:43:37
To avoid having users queuing to complain about the incompatibility of their printers with the new Mac OS X 10.5, Apple released a list of compatible printers in a TechNote: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306684-fr
Users will also find Leopard drivers developed by manufacturers for their most recent printer models, but also the generic drivers Gutenprint and CUPS. The latest can be a temporary option while waiting for a printer-dedicated driver to be released. Some of those drivers might be included in future Software updates, but one can find them also on dedicated website (pay attention to the driver’s version, as some are already included in Leopard DVD).
Hereafter are some links to some printer manufacturers’ websites where you can check for drivers for your printer:
- Epson and Leopard
- Lexmark and Leopard
- Pilotes Samsung (de nouveaux sont proposés, mais pas regroupés sur une seule page)
- Canon and Leopard link 1 and link 2
- HP and Leopard
[translation by Linathael]
