Thursday, July 2, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Snow Leopard making news.
Apple this past weekend distributed a new beta of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard that altered the programming methods used to optimize code for multi-core Macs, telling developers they were the last programming-oriented changes planned ahead of the software's release.
More specifically, Apple is said to have informed recipients of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard build 10A354 that it has simplified the application programming interfaces (APIs) for working with Grand Central, a new architecture that makes it easier for developers to take advantage of Macs with multiple processing cores.
This technology works by breaking complex tasks into smaller blocks, which are then routed -- or dispatched -- efficiently to a Mac's available cores for faster processing. This allows third-party developers to leverage more of a Mac's hardware resources without having to be well-versed in multithreaded programming.
People familiar with the latest Snow Leopard build say it was these Grand Central "dispatch" methods that were tweaked, or simplified, alongside build 10A354. Going forward, Apple reportedly told developers that "no further API changes are planned for Snow Leopard."
This means developers can now press forward with Snow Leopard versions of their applications with confidence that further Apple-instated changes won't force them to make significant alterations to their code between now and the time the software hits the market. It can also be seen as a sign that the the operating system upgrade is one step closer to reaching a final developmental stretch that will focus on stability and optimization.
With the private release of build 10A354, Apple also reportedly informed developers about a couple of other recent changes to the software, namely the addition of Chinese handwriting recognition support for Macs that include a multi-touch trackpad. Similar software was added to iPhone Software 2.0 a year ago, allowing users to draw Chinese symbols on their handset's touchscreen and then select matching symbols suggested by the iPhone Software.
In support of the handwriting recognition software in Snow Leopard, Apple also reportedly tweaked the system's Language & Text Preference Pane to include support for bidirectional text.
Also drawn to developers attention in build 10A354 is a new codec due to debut with Snow Leopard called MPEG-4 High Efficiency AAC (or HE-AAC). Apple said the codec is an extension of the Low Complexity AAC (or AAC-LC) codec that's optimized for low-bitrate steaming of audio and podcasts.
Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard is expected to hit the market sometime this summer with a near finalized version likely to make a public appearance at Apple's annual developers conference in about a month.
Meanwhile, Apple this weekend also equipped developers with Mac OS X 10.5.7 build 9J61, which corrected one more minor issue with the impending Leopard update.
More specifically, Apple is said to have informed recipients of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard build 10A354 that it has simplified the application programming interfaces (APIs) for working with Grand Central, a new architecture that makes it easier for developers to take advantage of Macs with multiple processing cores.
This technology works by breaking complex tasks into smaller blocks, which are then routed -- or dispatched -- efficiently to a Mac's available cores for faster processing. This allows third-party developers to leverage more of a Mac's hardware resources without having to be well-versed in multithreaded programming.
People familiar with the latest Snow Leopard build say it was these Grand Central "dispatch" methods that were tweaked, or simplified, alongside build 10A354. Going forward, Apple reportedly told developers that "no further API changes are planned for Snow Leopard."
This means developers can now press forward with Snow Leopard versions of their applications with confidence that further Apple-instated changes won't force them to make significant alterations to their code between now and the time the software hits the market. It can also be seen as a sign that the the operating system upgrade is one step closer to reaching a final developmental stretch that will focus on stability and optimization.
With the private release of build 10A354, Apple also reportedly informed developers about a couple of other recent changes to the software, namely the addition of Chinese handwriting recognition support for Macs that include a multi-touch trackpad. Similar software was added to iPhone Software 2.0 a year ago, allowing users to draw Chinese symbols on their handset's touchscreen and then select matching symbols suggested by the iPhone Software.
In support of the handwriting recognition software in Snow Leopard, Apple also reportedly tweaked the system's Language & Text Preference Pane to include support for bidirectional text.
Also drawn to developers attention in build 10A354 is a new codec due to debut with Snow Leopard called MPEG-4 High Efficiency AAC (or HE-AAC). Apple said the codec is an extension of the Low Complexity AAC (or AAC-LC) codec that's optimized for low-bitrate steaming of audio and podcasts.
Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard is expected to hit the market sometime this summer with a near finalized version likely to make a public appearance at Apple's annual developers conference in about a month.
Meanwhile, Apple this weekend also equipped developers with Mac OS X 10.5.7 build 9J61, which corrected one more minor issue with the impending Leopard update.
Samsung rolls out new Google phone. Perdictions are good.
TechRadar recently reported that Samsung will be launching its first Android phone, the i7500, set to debut in the UK in Q3.
Here, we take an in-depth look at the latest Android phone to give you the run-down on what you can expect from Samsung's first effort at a Google phone, the Samsung i7500.
1. It's thinner
You could hardly call it a gripe, but when we spoke to Patrick Chomet, global director of terminals at Vodafone, he told us that the HTC Magic comes with a poorer camera and no 3.5mm headphone jack because the designers wanted to preserve the 14mm-thin frame of the handset.
Well, Samsung heard that and went 'Pschaw!' (or some other derisory sound) and shaved 2.1mm off the frame, down to 11.9mm. Not only that, but it managed to pack a better camera, flash and 3.5mm jack into the i7500, too. Take that, HTC.
2. It packs an OLED screen
Just two years ago most people wouldn't have a clue what OLED technology was; fast forward to 2009 and it's the new in-thing, especially in mobile phones.
Better battery life and thinner screens are always going to be winners for designers, but it's when you see an OLED on a phone, with clear-as-day pixels and superb colour depth that you really start to appreciate the benefits.
Samsung has a long history of being a forerunner in OLED development, and it's showing in its latest crop of mobile phones.
3. It uses a multi-directional accelerometer
We're not sure of the correct name for it, suffice to say that whichever way up you hold the phone, even upside down, the screen will re-orient itself to be the right way up. This means you can pick the phone up in any way you want and have a good look at the screen, without having to fumble around flipping it around (and probably dropping it).
Early videos hint that this is a little sensitive, giving a little shiver every time you change the angle, but it's likely this will be smoothed out by the time the i7500 hits the shops.
4. It's going to herald a summer of Android
Google's mobile baby has certainly taken a long time to get going, but now it has, things are swimming along. The HTC Magic was the first effort of 2009, and now we have the Samsung i7500 coming next month (although it's yet to be confirmed in the UK). Not only that, we've seen Huawei's effort that's supposed to be turning up, T-Mobile will be re-designing the G1 and HTC is likely to bring out its third Android phone in the Hero.
All in all, lovers of Android (and its hard to hate it once you play with it for a few minutes) will be spoilt for choice... maybe taking out that two year contract to have the HTC Magic is a bit of a long stint, eh?
5. It has a 3.5mm headphone jack
We brought it up when discussing the chassis earlier, but a 3.5mm headphone jack is the difference between a smartphone that can play songs and a proper media mobile, which is what the Open Handset Alliance is pushing Android mobiles to be.
It's not a bugbear when a top handset comes out without a headphone jack as we have to fiddle around with a separate adaptor, which leaves us looking like some audio-cabling monster from Doctor Who when walking around town.
And all this in an 11.9mm-thin frame... good work, Samsung.
Here, we take an in-depth look at the latest Android phone to give you the run-down on what you can expect from Samsung's first effort at a Google phone, the Samsung i7500.
1. It's thinner
You could hardly call it a gripe, but when we spoke to Patrick Chomet, global director of terminals at Vodafone, he told us that the HTC Magic comes with a poorer camera and no 3.5mm headphone jack because the designers wanted to preserve the 14mm-thin frame of the handset.
Well, Samsung heard that and went 'Pschaw!' (or some other derisory sound) and shaved 2.1mm off the frame, down to 11.9mm. Not only that, but it managed to pack a better camera, flash and 3.5mm jack into the i7500, too. Take that, HTC.
2. It packs an OLED screen
Just two years ago most people wouldn't have a clue what OLED technology was; fast forward to 2009 and it's the new in-thing, especially in mobile phones.
Better battery life and thinner screens are always going to be winners for designers, but it's when you see an OLED on a phone, with clear-as-day pixels and superb colour depth that you really start to appreciate the benefits.
Samsung has a long history of being a forerunner in OLED development, and it's showing in its latest crop of mobile phones.
3. It uses a multi-directional accelerometer
We're not sure of the correct name for it, suffice to say that whichever way up you hold the phone, even upside down, the screen will re-orient itself to be the right way up. This means you can pick the phone up in any way you want and have a good look at the screen, without having to fumble around flipping it around (and probably dropping it).
Early videos hint that this is a little sensitive, giving a little shiver every time you change the angle, but it's likely this will be smoothed out by the time the i7500 hits the shops.
4. It's going to herald a summer of Android
Google's mobile baby has certainly taken a long time to get going, but now it has, things are swimming along. The HTC Magic was the first effort of 2009, and now we have the Samsung i7500 coming next month (although it's yet to be confirmed in the UK). Not only that, we've seen Huawei's effort that's supposed to be turning up, T-Mobile will be re-designing the G1 and HTC is likely to bring out its third Android phone in the Hero.
All in all, lovers of Android (and its hard to hate it once you play with it for a few minutes) will be spoilt for choice... maybe taking out that two year contract to have the HTC Magic is a bit of a long stint, eh?
5. It has a 3.5mm headphone jack
We brought it up when discussing the chassis earlier, but a 3.5mm headphone jack is the difference between a smartphone that can play songs and a proper media mobile, which is what the Open Handset Alliance is pushing Android mobiles to be.
It's not a bugbear when a top handset comes out without a headphone jack as we have to fiddle around with a separate adaptor, which leaves us looking like some audio-cabling monster from Doctor Who when walking around town.
And all this in an 11.9mm-thin frame... good work, Samsung.
Option F for FAIL
There are so many things wrong with this story. First we have a drunk driver, a teenaged drunk driver. Then add that the girl wasn’t licensed to drive and was operating a unregistered and uninsured car. Yeah, kinda bad but then throw in the fact that this particular teenager just happened to be a young mother who was breastfeeding her child while driving drunk. Oh, and that she almost crashed into a police car. Mother of the year award? Not so much.
According to the Daily Mail, a 19-year-old woman was breastfeeding her five-month-old baby after leaving a local bar in Alice Spring, Australia. She was forced to pull over after she almost collided with a police car. The mom was so intoxicated; she couldn’t even provide a breathalyzer test. She was arrested and was charged with “failing to provide a breath sample, driving while disqualified in an unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle, failing to give way, and driving with an unrestrained child.” The baby is now, thankfully, in the custody of the girl’s family.
So what’s the worst offense? A) Drunk driving B) Driving with an unrestrained baby C) Driving an unregistered and uninsured car D) almost crashing into a cop car E) breastfeeding a baby with booze filled milk Or F) All of the above?
According to the Daily Mail, a 19-year-old woman was breastfeeding her five-month-old baby after leaving a local bar in Alice Spring, Australia. She was forced to pull over after she almost collided with a police car. The mom was so intoxicated; she couldn’t even provide a breathalyzer test. She was arrested and was charged with “failing to provide a breath sample, driving while disqualified in an unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle, failing to give way, and driving with an unrestrained child.” The baby is now, thankfully, in the custody of the girl’s family.
So what’s the worst offense? A) Drunk driving B) Driving with an unrestrained baby C) Driving an unregistered and uninsured car D) almost crashing into a cop car E) breastfeeding a baby with booze filled milk Or F) All of the above?
Watch what you say online...IT'S THE LAW!
A recently introduced cyberbullying bill could land us all in jail—that is, if you have ever used an electronic medium to troll someone. HR 1966, the Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act, is named after the high-profile "MySpace suicide" victim Megan Meier. It's meant to prevent people from using the Internet to "coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person." However, as with many bills of this nature, the murky language and vague standards leave much open to interpretation, which has caused critics to call it the Censorship Act instead.
HR 1966 was introduced in April by US Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and it's supported by 14 other members of Congress. According to the text, individuals who bully others via any electronic means could face fines, two years in prison, or both. This, of course, could include those nasty text messages you sent to your ex on Saturday night, the questionable e-mail you sent to your brother, or those forum posts you made in which you called for someone who liked the new Star Trek movie to jump off a building.
The bill largely flew under the radar until fairly recently (thanks to NetworkWorld for the heads-up) but criticism has been building. The language in the bill is so vague, it could be interpreted to apply to practically any situation, including blog posts critical of public officials.
UCLA Law Professor Eugene Volokh went into detail on his blog, suggesting that numerous everyday situations could render regular citizens felons if their behavior is considered "severe" enough. "I try to coerce a politician into voting a particular way, by repeatedly blogging (using a hostile tone) about what a hypocrite/campaign promise breaker/fool/etc. he would be if he voted the other way. I am transmitting in interstate commerce a communication with the intent to coerce using electronic means (a blog) 'to support severe, repeated, and hostile behavior'— unless, of course, my statements aren't seen as 'severe,' a term that is entirely undefined and unclear," Volokh wrote.
Still, Sanchez insists that the bill isn't meant to dampen free speech online. "Congress has no interest in censoring speech and it will not do so if it passes this bill," Sanchez wrote on the Huffington Post. "Put simply, this legislation would be used as a tool for a judge and jury to determine whether there is significant evidence to prove that a person 'cyberbullied' another. That is: did they have the required intent, did they use electronic means of communication, and was the communication severe, hostile, and repeated. So—bloggers, emailers, texters, spiteful exes, and those who have blogged against this bill have no fear—your words are still protected under the same American values."
Although Sanchez seems to think there's no possibility for abuse with this bill, we all know what the road to hell is paved with. Despite her reassurance that it won't be used to censor Internet communications, there's no way to predict how judges would interpret such a law. One thing we do know is that cyberbullying cases have picked up since Missouri passed its own law following Megan Meier's death—if HR 1966 makes it past the House Committee on the Judiciary and into the books, we could see a serious uptick in those types of cases.
HR 1966 was introduced in April by US Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and it's supported by 14 other members of Congress. According to the text, individuals who bully others via any electronic means could face fines, two years in prison, or both. This, of course, could include those nasty text messages you sent to your ex on Saturday night, the questionable e-mail you sent to your brother, or those forum posts you made in which you called for someone who liked the new Star Trek movie to jump off a building.
The bill largely flew under the radar until fairly recently (thanks to NetworkWorld for the heads-up) but criticism has been building. The language in the bill is so vague, it could be interpreted to apply to practically any situation, including blog posts critical of public officials.
UCLA Law Professor Eugene Volokh went into detail on his blog, suggesting that numerous everyday situations could render regular citizens felons if their behavior is considered "severe" enough. "I try to coerce a politician into voting a particular way, by repeatedly blogging (using a hostile tone) about what a hypocrite/campaign promise breaker/fool/etc. he would be if he voted the other way. I am transmitting in interstate commerce a communication with the intent to coerce using electronic means (a blog) 'to support severe, repeated, and hostile behavior'— unless, of course, my statements aren't seen as 'severe,' a term that is entirely undefined and unclear," Volokh wrote.
Still, Sanchez insists that the bill isn't meant to dampen free speech online. "Congress has no interest in censoring speech and it will not do so if it passes this bill," Sanchez wrote on the Huffington Post. "Put simply, this legislation would be used as a tool for a judge and jury to determine whether there is significant evidence to prove that a person 'cyberbullied' another. That is: did they have the required intent, did they use electronic means of communication, and was the communication severe, hostile, and repeated. So—bloggers, emailers, texters, spiteful exes, and those who have blogged against this bill have no fear—your words are still protected under the same American values."
Although Sanchez seems to think there's no possibility for abuse with this bill, we all know what the road to hell is paved with. Despite her reassurance that it won't be used to censor Internet communications, there's no way to predict how judges would interpret such a law. One thing we do know is that cyberbullying cases have picked up since Missouri passed its own law following Megan Meier's death—if HR 1966 makes it past the House Committee on the Judiciary and into the books, we could see a serious uptick in those types of cases.
Google launches first TV ad.
Chrome launched last September in a direct bid to lure users away from Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. Google has famously avoided traditional marketing routes in the past, however it is now desperate to promote Chrome.
Since the initial burst of publicity, Chrome has failed to provide serious competition to rival browsers, such as Internet Explorer or Mozilla’s Firefox.
Chrome is used by just 1.4% of internet users compared to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, used by 66% of users, according to Net Applications market share statistics. Mozilla’s Firefox comes in second place, as the browser choice of 22% of web users and Apple’s Safari program comes in third, with 8%.
On the official Google blog, the company explained that the video was originally made by a team from Google Japan as a YouTube clip, but had proved so effective, that it had decided to take it onto traditional TV.
“We designed a Google TV Ads campaign which we hope will raise awareness of our browser, and also help us better understand how television can supplement our other online media campaigns,” said Mike Steib, director, Google TV Ads.
The Google TV Ads system allows Google to act as a broker to sell advertising time on the US TV networks. By using its to book its own TV ad, it is thought the company is trying to promote the service – which has enjoyed limited success since launch two years ago.
Since the initial burst of publicity, Chrome has failed to provide serious competition to rival browsers, such as Internet Explorer or Mozilla’s Firefox.
Chrome is used by just 1.4% of internet users compared to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, used by 66% of users, according to Net Applications market share statistics. Mozilla’s Firefox comes in second place, as the browser choice of 22% of web users and Apple’s Safari program comes in third, with 8%.
On the official Google blog, the company explained that the video was originally made by a team from Google Japan as a YouTube clip, but had proved so effective, that it had decided to take it onto traditional TV.
“We designed a Google TV Ads campaign which we hope will raise awareness of our browser, and also help us better understand how television can supplement our other online media campaigns,” said Mike Steib, director, Google TV Ads.
The Google TV Ads system allows Google to act as a broker to sell advertising time on the US TV networks. By using its to book its own TV ad, it is thought the company is trying to promote the service – which has enjoyed limited success since launch two years ago.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
The OS ho-down
It's been a bit since I posted, life has kept me busy, but now I am somewhat relaxed. Here is the latest out of the shit talker. Enjoy!
--------------------------------------
The operating system ho-down
Story: David Mihalcin Jr.
E-mail’s: Comments/wannabe critics – ch33sesn1p3r@gmail.com
Story suggestions: neggy@punkass.com
With the flop that is Windows Vista. Ya ya I know, you’re gonna put up your flags and get bent out of shape cause I’m talking about Vista. Get the hell over it.
From looking at early versions of Windows 7 (Milestone 1) it looked an awful lot like Vista. Which I consider a bad thing. Now here on my work pc, I use Vista. But for gaming, I use my girlfriends XP machine. My point being is, Vista is bad. I have tried using a MAC, and it just seemed awkward to me, but not a bad OS at all. I actually did do a few articles on the MAC And God forbid Chris Pirillo doesn’t throw a brick at me, But I feel the Mac is not enough for me at this time anyway. The experience may be different for those on Leopard. I have only used up to 10.4.6 Tiger. This was also on a G4-400MHZ machine with 1GB of ram. That could very well have something to do with it. Back to Microsoft. XP over Vista any day, but I got a free copy of Ultimate, so I’m gonna use it.
Windows 7 on the other hand is amazing. I used the Beta for a bit and plan on downloading the Release candidate sometime down the road. But Windows 7 may be a very good option for user’s of XP and a MUST for users of Vista.
Next in our roundup is Linux. I got a few words for Linux. Not user friendly. And do not tell me that Ubuntu is user friendly. It’s debian made pretty. I have heard user’s say they had to at least use Google once to fix a problem in Linux that they knew how to do in Windows, Mac, and hell….even the Amiga OS. Linux is not the future in my opinion…unless it becomes much more user friendly.
What about alternatives..? Ya what about those?
I have a couple.
A console. If you’re a gamer, get a console. It’s far smarter to buy a console then it is a PC. Plus many pc games are available for the consoles of today and they support the keyboard and mouse.
If you’re on a PC, OSX is an option on your PC…but not exactly legal.
Really though. If someone tells you I won’t buy a Mac because it has no games. Then you DO NOT need a Mac. And if you’re buying a Mac just for pc gaming in bootcamp, slap yourself with a pig bladder for making a stupid move.
If you buy a Windows PC to run OSX, Pray it works. OSX is not 100% compatible with all PC hardware. Do research. If you run Linux at all and are just starting out, uninstall it now and use Windows. It’s painful, but it’s easier.
So what do I suggest?
PC – Gaming, Office, E-mail, General purpose.
MAC- WoW =/ , E-mail, General purpose, somewhat open, office, it has MS office.
Linux- Hacking, Must for people who are control freaks, Ideal for OCD folks.
DOS (yes I said it, I still use it!) – Quick and easy (like someone’s mother.) I call Dos easy and straightforward. Someone is gonna say so is Linux. And I say nay nay, Linux has too many commands and switches.
For now however, I am done gloating.
--------------------------------------
The operating system ho-down
Story: David Mihalcin Jr.
E-mail’s: Comments/wannabe critics – ch33sesn1p3r@gmail.com
Story suggestions: neggy@punkass.com
With the flop that is Windows Vista. Ya ya I know, you’re gonna put up your flags and get bent out of shape cause I’m talking about Vista. Get the hell over it.
From looking at early versions of Windows 7 (Milestone 1) it looked an awful lot like Vista. Which I consider a bad thing. Now here on my work pc, I use Vista. But for gaming, I use my girlfriends XP machine. My point being is, Vista is bad. I have tried using a MAC, and it just seemed awkward to me, but not a bad OS at all. I actually did do a few articles on the MAC And God forbid Chris Pirillo doesn’t throw a brick at me, But I feel the Mac is not enough for me at this time anyway. The experience may be different for those on Leopard. I have only used up to 10.4.6 Tiger. This was also on a G4-400MHZ machine with 1GB of ram. That could very well have something to do with it. Back to Microsoft. XP over Vista any day, but I got a free copy of Ultimate, so I’m gonna use it.
Windows 7 on the other hand is amazing. I used the Beta for a bit and plan on downloading the Release candidate sometime down the road. But Windows 7 may be a very good option for user’s of XP and a MUST for users of Vista.
Next in our roundup is Linux. I got a few words for Linux. Not user friendly. And do not tell me that Ubuntu is user friendly. It’s debian made pretty. I have heard user’s say they had to at least use Google once to fix a problem in Linux that they knew how to do in Windows, Mac, and hell….even the Amiga OS. Linux is not the future in my opinion…unless it becomes much more user friendly.
What about alternatives..? Ya what about those?
I have a couple.
A console. If you’re a gamer, get a console. It’s far smarter to buy a console then it is a PC. Plus many pc games are available for the consoles of today and they support the keyboard and mouse.
If you’re on a PC, OSX is an option on your PC…but not exactly legal.
Really though. If someone tells you I won’t buy a Mac because it has no games. Then you DO NOT need a Mac. And if you’re buying a Mac just for pc gaming in bootcamp, slap yourself with a pig bladder for making a stupid move.
If you buy a Windows PC to run OSX, Pray it works. OSX is not 100% compatible with all PC hardware. Do research. If you run Linux at all and are just starting out, uninstall it now and use Windows. It’s painful, but it’s easier.
So what do I suggest?
PC – Gaming, Office, E-mail, General purpose.
MAC- WoW =/ , E-mail, General purpose, somewhat open, office, it has MS office.
Linux- Hacking, Must for people who are control freaks, Ideal for OCD folks.
DOS (yes I said it, I still use it!) – Quick and easy (like someone’s mother.) I call Dos easy and straightforward. Someone is gonna say so is Linux. And I say nay nay, Linux has too many commands and switches.
For now however, I am done gloating.
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