News for Tuesday, 11 November 2008

Parallels announced version 4 of its software of virtualisation for Mac OS X.
This new version is compatible with 64 bits, Direct X 9, Open GL 2.0 and would make it possible to boost the performances in Windows by 50%.
It is marketed at $79.99$ while the update from version 3 costs $39,99. A functional demonstration version for 15 days is available on the site.
Parallels

Toshiba just broke a record by announcing a portable equipped with 3 video cards. The first is well-known for us since it is the itegrated NVidia gpu, the 9400M. But rather than add another card, Toshiba decided to associate two Geforce 9800 GTS in SLI.

Thus, the user will have the choice between the integrated video for work, and the SLI for playing games. Of course, this is only possible on a bulky machine, which is the case weighs nearly 4,5 kg and it is also a good thickness (equal to two Macbook Pro).

In "La voie et la vertu", the latest Largo Winch that came out this week, one can see, on page 13 , a laptop Sony Vaio which functions obviously under Mac OSX.
When will the Apple lawyers be found among the shelves of our local bookshops? : - D

NVidia launched the new Quadro FX, aka Quadro FX 5800 which is according to the company the fastest graphic card in the world:
- 240 CUDA Parallel Processor Cores
- 4GB GDDR3 GPU Memory with ultra fast memory bandwidth (102 GB/s)
- 1 DisplayPort
- Power consumption 189W
Quadro_FX5800
Of course, NVidia is using performance level obtained by using its CUDA technology, so the best hardware with the best system currently available from NVidia. And indeed, results are impressive, but you will have to spend around 3,500 USD to install such “beast” in your computer.

Whereas the market shares of Mac is clearly non-negligable, certain companies continue to ignore the Mac users as Renzo testifies.

Just little note to inform you, and announce to all those that may buy the " PRELOGUE" that the Internet part (starwars.com) is not compatible with the Mac.
This DVD (The attack of the clones in this case) is the key to reach an exclusive Star Wars site devoted to the DVD, where certain options are reserved for the owners of the DVD.
Unfortunately the incompatibility of the Mac is not announced on the box but only stated after the reading of the DVD.
It is very surprising to still find nowadays such an incompatibility on this kind of product.

Thanks to Mike for sending us the details of the forthcoming offer from Orange and specifically dedicated to the iPhone and entitled Christmas Origami Star for apple iPhone 3G:

So, the iPhone 3G 8GB model will cost you 99 Euro + a 45 Euro/monthly subscription plan for 24 months. It seems that Orange is pushing hard to surf on the iPhone wave while trying to push the iPhone as the most sold mobile phone in France.