Thursday March 06, 2008
- Apple introduces its iPhone SDK [Update] - Lionel - 21:25:15
After congratulating the 1000 Web applications created for the iPhone, Scott Forestall detailed the new (official) iPhone SDK to create native applications for the device.
-- It is the same as that used by Apple to develop in-house applications.
-- The same API and tools that are available to Apple are also available to developers.
-- The base is "Cocoa Touch," adapted to the tactile interface of the device.
-- Everything seems supported, Core Audio, audio recording OpenAL, Core Animation, Open GL ES, video playback, image formats, Core Location...
Clearly Apple has made the iPhone into a platform ready for development.
The architecture of the iPhone OS is years ahead of what the competition offers.
The SDK comes with extensive documentation to familiarize developers as soon as possible.
As in OS X, there is an Interface Builder, but specific to the touch interface, and allows one to build apps very easily. Simply connect the unit to the computer to gain access to a Debugging mode which will chart the performance of the software and help to root out the bugs. Apple even made an emulator for tje iPhone! It allows one to test software thoroughly without even having one. The SDK will be available free in beta within the next hour.
[translation by CliveAtFive]
- Innovations of the next iPhone firmware - Lionel - 21:17:12
Apple will talk about what the next update 2.0 of the iPhone:
-- In case of theft, it will be possible to remotely delete the contents of the unit
-- It will be possible to use push mail and push calendar
-- There will be direct Microsoft Exchange support via ActiveSync for all applications: mail, calendar, contact, ect.
The device should certainly attract more professionals!
Warning! This firmware will be a paid upgrade on the iPod Touch!
[translation by CliveAtFive]
- iPhone SDK details revealed at Apple Event - moose - 21:16:52
So Apple has finally lifted the curtain on the long-awaited iPhone SDK.
Here is a quick rundown of the main features:
- the SDK is basically Xcode, with special stuff for the iPhone...
- there will be a $99 fee for developper, who will receive an authentication key
- the developpers choose the price of their apps, and keep 70% of the revenue (no credit card charges, no hosting fees)
- developpers can choose to release their app for free at no charge on Apple's side
- the apps will work on the iPhone and iPod touch
- the apps will be distributed via the AppStore, accessible on the iPhone or in iTunes
- apps updates will be automatically distributed through the AppStore
- demos of apps (developped in a week or two) were shown: a motion-sensitive space shooter, EA's Spore (!), a medical app...
- For the business-oriented people, the iPhone (and the touch) will get push e-mail, push contacts and push calendars, using Exchange's ActiveSync, as well as remote swipe of the phone's content
- Apple will provide large companies with a way to deploy apps on their corporate iPhone fleet
Well, that's a lot of features, we'll have more for you later.
Oh yes, the whole stuff will be available on your iPhone/iPod touch in early June, along with the 2.0 version of the iPhone OS.
Head over to the blog for some more personal analysis and reactions on today's announcements.
- In the Ruins of Toshiba's HD-DVD - Lionel - 17:51:41
If the HD-DVD format is officially abandoned, it will survive in China via CH-DVD. This format developed in China is indeed very similar, enough-so to be endorsed by the DVD Forum. It was originally created by Chinese manufacturers that did not want to have to pay royalties to foreign companies. This format, however, will never see the light of day beyond China, due to the lack of Hollywood backing.
Meanwhile, Toshiba does not seem to have digested his defeat. The company announced that it would focus on the still-thriving DVD market (it will remain the majority market for many years), and also invest in downloadable movie technology. On this point they align with Apple's hopes to surpass sales of physical media.
[translation by CliveAtFive]
- iPhone Clone Banned by CeBIT [Update] - Lionel - 17:22:34
Source: Heise.de
Today in Hanover is the largest computer exhibition in the world, CeBIT. On this occasion, the Meizu company has debuted its iPhone clone about which we have already spoken.
The German police, certainly alerted by Apple, have raided their booth and seized all the goods, and after having been asked, closed their stand.
This is certainly a relief for Apple: the device is almost identical to the iPhone, but has 3G and a better camera.
[Update] According Meizu, the problem was not related to this clone, but to another device and a license problem, probably involving the MP3 format.
The iPhone clone will be re-presented at the exhibition ...
[translation by CliveAtFive]
- 2.5" 500 GB disks... 9.5 mm thick! - Lionel - 17:10:55
Electronista
Samsung, who has recently been shaping the HDD market, is now offering a 2.5", 500 GB hard disk capable of fitting into the MacBook and MacBook Pro. This disc consists of three 167 GB platters, runs at 5400 revolutions per minute and has an 8 MB cache. It's priced at $299.
For those who prefer performance to large capacities, they also released an HDD with "only" 250GB but spins at 7200 RPM and has a 16 MB cache.
Clearly, laptops have almost nothing to envy of office machines.
[translation by CliveAtFive]
- Photoshop, Leopard and Plug-ins... - Rabbit - 16:40:33
Photoshop and Leopard do not mix, especially if you have an Intel-based Mac. Either you are using a version earlier than CS3 and it is no longer compatible (or no longer supported by Adobe), or you upgraded to CS3 and most of your old plug-ins do not work anymore (apart from a few plug-ins maintained by their respective publishers). If you have this plug-in problem, for example, and you can no longer use the TWAIN plug-in for your scanner, or KPT effects, you should know that there is a solution, published by Adobe on their database.
Just check the "Open with Rosetta" box in Photoshop CS3's "Get Info" window to restore use of most of the former plug-ins, including those not written for PowerPC. The loss of speed is negligible (aside from the application's load time) as long as you do not work on images of very large size.
This work-around was suggested in the MacBidouille forum (French) regarding scanners, but the fact that old plug-ins function like new needed to be restated!
[translation by CliveAtFive]
- Flashing PC GeForce 8800 GT and GTS with Mac ROM: Information and Procedures - Eric - 14:30:25
As we reported it previously, one can flash a PC GeForce 8800 GT with the corresponding Mac Edition ROM, saving a substantial amount of money. The entire procedure is available as a new article: Use a PC GeForce 8800 GT in a Mac Pro Rev2.
Some users have immediately tried to flash a PC GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB, and apparently with success according to a report from Macrumors forum. However, it seems that the card does not work anymore when running windows on the same computer.
Before going further, let's see the difference between a GeForce 8800 GT and a GeForce 8800 GTS. Based on specifications, the GF 8000 GT and GTS featuring 512MB of VRAM are very similar. They have the same architecture, the same memory bus; however the GTS model is faster. It sports 128 steam processors instead of 112 units for the GT model, and Core Clock, shader Clock and memory clock are higher:
Core Clock (MHz) | Shader Clock (MHz) | Memory Clock (MHz) | Memory Amount | Memory Interface | Memory Bandwidth (GB/sec) | Texture Fill Rate (billion/sec) | |
GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB | 650 | 1625 | 970 | 512MB | 256-bit | 64 | 41.6 |
GeForce | 600 | 1500 | 900 | 512MB | 256-bit | 57.6 | 33.6 |
Last but not least, the GF 8800 GTS features an improved cooling system (higher performance, less noise).
We decided to flash a PC GF 8800 GTS, and we randomly picked one featuring 512MB of VRAM (models with 320 or 640MB will no work, need a Mac Pro 2008). It was a Gainward-branded model. We applied the procedure described in our article above, and it indeed worked fine. We did not perform additional test running windows, so we can not comment on its incompatibility with such OS. We will post in a near future some deeper analysis , especially regarding the real availability of the higher GTS steam processors on the Mac ROM flashed Pc GF 8800 GTS. We will also try to overclock it, as its improved cooling system might allow us to reach performance level similar to the Pro-oriented Quadro FX 5600 (at least for 3D consumer requirements).
- Update for Radeon 2600 in the Mac Pro is on its way - Lionel - 13:38:59
A reader from XLR8yourmac reported that Apple will soon release an update for the Radeon 2600 XT in the 2008 Mac Pro.
He says he's got information that Apple has asked him to test these new ROM version for the card, which should fix the freezing problems reported by many users from this configuration.
The update should come available soon, when the final tests will be passed.
[translation by xavier]
- New WiFi Drivers from Realtek - Lionel - 10:13:36
Thanks to Jean-Charles for this information.
Realtek is a well-known designer and manufacturer of WiFi components and chips which are being used in several third-party wireless devices labeled "Mac compatible" (WiFi USB key, PCI card, etc.)
The company offers new drivers for download, compatible with Mac OS X 10.4.X and 10.5.X and supporting both PPC and Intel-based Macs.
It should fix the following issues:
- high power consumption
- wireless network scanning problems
- problem when waking up from sleep mode
For downloading the last drivers, please visit the following address: http://www.realtek.com.tw
[translation by Linathael]
- Sharing of DVD/CDs with the MacBook Air - MacEnsteph - 07:37:39
The happy owners of the MacBook Air (and others!) will be delighted to learn that Cupertino has just released an update. "DVD/CD Sharing Setup 1.0" that enables remote disc sharing, system software restoration, and wireless migration with MacBook Air.
This works as well for Tiger (10.4.11) as for Leopard (10.5.1 minimum).
[translation by crispin]
