News for Friday, 26 October 2007

As we reported already yesterday, pay attention to back up your data or clone your current system prior installing Leopard as we have already collected many reports of bugs leading to non-recoverable failure.
For Pro users, take your time before installing, wait for the first patch from Apple.

David Pogue:

"I noted that Apple claims to have added over 300 new features.
Trouble is, if I tried to describe them all in my 1,280-word column, I'd have 4.3 words to describe and assess each one. I try to be concise, but that's ridiculous."

What's covered then?

• Find the Menu
• Three-keystroke application launcher
• Menu-bar calculator
• Dictionary lookups
• Bypass the fan (i.e. Stacks)
• Grid spacing
• Telltale icons
• Three more Time Machines
• iChat

Read the details here.

Just before Leopard launch, Apple released series of hardware and software updates:

iLife Support 8.1.1
This update supports system software components shared by all iLife '08 applications, improves overall stability, addresses a number of other minor issues, and supports general compatibility issues. It is recommended for all users of iLife '08.
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/ilifesupport811.html

iMac MXM Update 1.0
The iMac MXM Update improves video compatibility with Boot Camp on certain 24" iMac models.
This installer places the iMac MXM Update firmware updater in the /Applications/Utilities folder on your computer. Run the updater in the Utilities folder to install the update. Updating takes only a few seconds.
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/imacmxmupdate10.html

iDVD 6.0.4
This update improves overall stability and supports compatibility with Mac OS X 10.5.
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/idvd604.html

GarageBand 3.0.5
This update supports compatibility with Mac OS X 10.5.
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/garageband305.html

MacBooks and iMacs are currently shipping with 5-5-5 DDRII modules (CL-5). TT Hardware (in French) carried out a test on PC to evaluate the impact of faster SO-DIMM modules (4-4-4, CL4) on performance levels.
The test platform being the Intel Santa Rosa, results can be extrapolated to Macs.
The maximal measured performance game is 5%, and the overall gain is 2.38%, in other words, marginal; and the premium cost could simply allow you double the amount of 5-5-5 modules for the same price.

SanDisk decided to sue 25 companies, claiming that they used SanDisk memory card intellectual properties while not owning a license for it.
Among those companies, key manufacturers are most likely the first targets of those legal actions: Dane-Elec, Corsair, PQI, Transcend, Verbatim.....
It remains unclear which patents are included in this law suit, but one could think that it might well be the first sign of an opened war for taking control of SSD which are the normal evolution of today's memory cards.

Macnn reports that the US Patent Office published Apple’s patent application entitled Keystroke tactility arrangement on a smooth touch surface. Descriptions and claims clearly indicate that it could be the basis for a full multitouch keyboard. If such technology is perfectly used for the iPhone and the iPod Touch, it could not be used as such for a LCD panel or for a desktop computer. However we could imagine that a multitouch peripheral could be used instead of a keyboard, providing all functions of a mouse, keyboard and trackpad in a single device...

In a press release, Samsung announced to have removed the expected Blu-ray Disc player BD-P2400 from its pipe line in order to devote more resources to its first Blu-ray/HD DVD combo player BD-UP5000. It should hit shelves mid-December right on time for Christmas shopping period. However its price, around US$1,000 will not make it a true mass market product.
This decision demonstrates that manufacturers are still unsure about the future of HD video format while the war between BD and HD-DVD is still active. On the other side, massive price cuts on one-format player might push consumers to make their choice for one format vs. the other one.

Leopard: H-10:
In about 10 hours, Leopard will officially be launched, however, According to our sources, orders have been so high that Apple might not be able to ship enough units on time.
Some shops already got their Leopard shipment, and we could get our hands on Leopard before the official launch time. To respect both this reseller as well as Apple we will not provide a full coverage right now; however we offer you 3 screen capture: So long Tiger, Welcome Leopard:



Only one comment, about the finder, it is (finally) fast and reactive; similarly to the last version of OS9, while providing the incomparable robustness and GUI of Mac OS X.