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News & Opinion
Products & Services
Software
News & Opinion
Acer: Apple Products 'a Mutant Virus' that PCs Will
Eventually Cure
DigiTimes' Yen-Shyang Hwang and Joseph Tsai cite Acer's founder Stan
Shih, in a talk with reporters on September 8, commenting that Apple's
strong popularity is mainly due to its products such as the iPad and
iPhone. Shih compared these marquee Apple products to "mutant viruses"
- difficult to find a cure for in the short-term, but Shih believes PC
vendors will eventually find a way to isolate Apple and become
immune.
Hwang and Tsai say Shih pointed out that Apple deserves to be
respected, since it has a completely different strategy than other PC
brands, with Apple CEO Steve Jobs always looking for revolution, while
other PC brands evolve more conservatively and incrementally, which
Shih contends is a more solid evolution, arguing that based on
historical experience, a market that evolves naturally will always turn
out to be much stronger.
Shih observed that Apple has always looked down on Microsoft's
Windows for lacking creativity, but observed that Windows' open
platform has attracted the adoption of most PC brands, while Apple's PC
market has turned out to be limited. Shih also cites the 1980s the
competition between video tape formats, with the "open" VHS standard
winning out against Sony's technically superior but "closed" Betamax format.
Nevertheless, the DigiTimes reporters say that Shih still praised
Apple's creativity and innovation, especially its highly integrated
hardware and software and its completely established online application
store and believes its strategy should be a good example for PC brands
to learn from.
Convergence anyone?
Editor's note: Interesting tidbit - Sony invented both Betamax and
VHS, which was initially called Alpha. Sony abandoned Alpha as inferior
to Beta, then sold the Alpha technology to JVC. Both companies licensed
their videotape technologies, but JVC charged less, making it more
attractive to other manufacturers. Lower prices coupled with higher
capacity tapes helped VHS win the videotape format
wars despite Beta being technologically superior and beating VHS to
market by two years (by 1980, VHS had 70% of the market). Despite
Shih's claim, Beta was not a closed format, just one that was more
expensive to license.
Further, mutations are the raw materials of evolution, not
incremental changes such as faster CPU speeds, bigger hard drives, and
more memory. And while most mutations in the biological world are not
beneficial, those that are can provide huge survival and reproductive
benefits, sometimes leading to the extinction of the earlier, unmutated
strain. Interestingly, the PC world is full of slow, steady,
incremental change - for instance, it has been based on Intel x86
architecture for 30 years - while the Mac has changed CPU families
twice and completely overhauled it OS once in the past 20 years.
In other areas, just look at how the iPod nano has mutated from
music player to player with video camera and on to touch-based music
player without a camera. Apple takes risks, makes mistakes, learns from
them, and does not fear change. The PC mindset can't comprehend that.
dk
Link: 'Apple Products Are
a Mutant Virus, but PC Brands Will Eventually Find a Cure,' Says Acer
Founder (subscription required)
Next Generation Intel Core Processors Gain Stunning
Built-in Graphics
PR: Intel Corporation revealed several significant design
features for the company's 2011 2nd Generation Intel Core processor
family at the Intel Developer Forum. The new and enhanced features will
further extend Intel's chip performance and battery life leadership,
also adding a number of visually related features built right into the
chips.
Code named "Sandy Bridge", the chips will be based on Intel's
first new visibly smart microarchitecture produced on the company's
cutting-edge manufacturing factories (or fabs) at 32-nanometer (nm is a
billionth of a meter) process technology with second-generation high-k
metal gate transistors.
"The way people and businesses are using computers is evolving at an
explosive rate, fueling demand for an even more powerful and visually
appealing experience," said Dadi Perlmutter, executive vice president
and general manager of the Intel Architecture Group. "Our upcoming 2nd
Generation Intel Core processor family represents the biggest advance
in computing performance and capabilities over any previous generation.
In addition to offering these features inside Intel-based laptops, we
plan to scale these advances across our server data center and embedded
computing product portfolio."
The processor family will include a new "ring" architecture that
allows the built-in processor graphics engine to share resources such
as cache, or a memory reservoir, with the processor's core to increase
a device's computing and graphics performance while maintaining energy
efficiency.
The 2nd Generation Intel Core processor also includes an enhanced
version of Intel Turbo Boost Technology. This feature automatically
shifts or reallocates processor cores and processor graphics resources
to accelerate performance, tailoring a workload to give users an
immediate performance boost when needed.
Laptops and PCs powered by the 2nd Generation Intel Core processor
family are expected to be available early next year.
Intel's new processor graphics delivers enhanced visual features
focused on the areas where most users are computing today: HD video,
3-D, mainstream gaming, multitasking and online socializing and
multimedia.
To obtain and view video faster, Perlmutter demonstrated hardware
accelerated video editing using the architecture's dedicated silicon
for media processing, which allows users to quickly convert video to
other formats.
The 2011 chips also come with Intel Advanced Vector Extensions
(AVX). AVX delivers improved performance, rich functionality and the
ability to better manage, rearrange and sort data. A new 256-bit
instruction set accelerates floating point intensive applications such
as digital photo editing and content creation.
Intel also demonstrated a dual processor, next-generation Intel Xeon
processor server running Vidyo video conferencing software that
utilizes the 32 threads available on the system, and takes advantage of
the AES New Instructions set (AESNI). Next-generation Xeon™
processors for 2 socket servers and workstations run 8 cores and 16
threads per processor and are on schedule for production in the second
half of 2011.
Further Reading
WebKit Browsers Top HTML5 Benchmark
Fairer Platform says:
"When we last had a look at HTML5 support in the range of mainstream
browsers for the Mac, WebKit-based products dominated. Over a month
later, a lot of new and updated code has been pushed out and there's
even a revised 377 (vs. 315) point testing scale - who's benefited and
fallen in the standings?
"The report says the biggest movers this month have been Firefox 4
beta 5, which added 45 points to its score, followed by Google's Chrome
7 beta and Apple's WebKit which both posted strong incremental
improvements with the former earning enough to take the lead by a
nose."
Here are the scores (WebKit browsers in bold, Gecko/Mozilla browsers
in italic):
- Chrome 7 beta - 239 (222)
- WebKit 9/9 Build - 237 (227)
- Firefox 4 beta 5 - 235 (190)
- Chrome 6 - 233 (202)
- Firefox 4 beta 3 (last version to work well with PowerPC G4 and
G5 Macs, downloadable from furbism.com - Firefox 4
requires OS X 10.5 Leopard) - 219 as tested at LEM headquarters this
morning
- Opera 10.6.2 - 203 (159)
- Safari 5.0.2 - 220 (213)
- iCab 4.8 - 220 (213)
- Sunrise 2.1.5 - 220 (213)
- Firefox 3.6.9 - 145 (139)
- SeaMonkey 2.0.7 - 130 (126)
- Camino 2.0.4 - 49 (N/A)
Link: WebKit Browsers
(Still) Top HTML5 Benchmark
Link: HTML5 Test
Freeware All Stars: Best Mac Apps in 10
Categories
Mac AppStorm's Joshua Johnson says:
"Recently we posted an enormous roundup of 100 free Mac
applications. These types of articles are awesome for a quick overview
of everything that's available, but sometimes you just want to know
what the best free app is in a given genre.
"Today we'll answer this question by presenting our top picks for
free applications across various categories . . . we'll take
a look at the best of the best in free software and then give you the
chance to join the discussion and cast your vote."
Here's AppStorm's list of categories:
- Best Free Task Manager
- Best Free Clipboard Manager
- Best Free Launcher
- Best Free Quick File Sharing App
- Best Free Twitter Client
- Best Free Mail Alternative
- Best Free Dashboard Widget
- Best Free RSS Reader
- Best Free Text Editor
- Best Free Maintenance Utility
Editor's note: I have to admit I hadn't heard of some of these. I
agree with some of the choices; others not so much. However that's the
point of this sort of list. cm
Link: Mac Freeware
All-Stars: AppStorm's 10 Best in Category Picks
Using Nonstandard Optical Discs with Your Mac
MacFixIt's Topher Kessler says:
"Most optical discs are a standard 12cm in diameter, are round, and
besides some potential manufacturing incompatibilities with certain
optical drives, are expected to load and be recognized in most systems.
Despite this, some companies will distribute device drivers or other
content on mini or oddly shaped optical discs.
"While the novelty of nonstandard discs is fun, it does pose a
problem for many systems that cannot read them. While there is no
difference in the way the discs are read, the odd shapes will get them
stuck in many slot-loading drives seen in MacBooks, MacBook Pros, Mac
minis, and iMac systems...."
In short, you need a Mac or PC with a tray-loading optical drive.
The slot-loading drives found in most recent Macs will not work with
oddly sized or shaped discs.
Link: Using Mini or
Other Nonstandard Optical Discs on Your Mac
Mac Evangelists: How Many Converts Have You
Made?
AppStorm's David Appleyard says:
"We're kicking off a new weekly poll today, getting our readers
opinion on a different topic each week. Hopefully this will give us all
a chance to talk about a relevant issue, share our thoughts, and
generally have a chat in the comments!
"Today I'm asking something fairly general - how many people have
you converted to the Mac platform? I've almost lost count of the number
of people I've tried to haggle and persuade into buying a Mac -
friends, family, colleagues - no-one is safe from my persistent
nagging!
"Do they all make the switch? Not everyone. But I reckon the number
of loyal switchers I've managed to convert made the jump into double
figures quite some time ago."
Link: Calling Mac
Evangelists!
Asetek to Release Liquid-cooled Core i7
Hackintosh
Tom's Hardware's Marcus Yam notes that Apple hasn't taken very
kindly to entrepreneurs making "Hackintosh" Mac clone computers and
then selling them - notably the erstwhile Psystar - but reports that a
company called Quo Computer is pressing ahead with a new, high-end Mac
Pro clone, the $3,765 maxQ2 with a Core i7-powered chassis by Asetek
Liquid Coolers. It is billed as able to run Mac OS X, Linux, and
Windows 7, but with a disclaimer attached to the Mac OS compatibility,
observing that the Asetek design's quiet operation and thermal headroom
for overclocking - thanks to its sealed liquid cooling loop - is
reliable, eliminates customer maintenance, and "is the type of elegance
Apple enthusiasts treasure," and with Asetek's Director of Marketing
Steve Branton cited by Yam saying "QUO's liquid cooled maxQ2 computers
enable Mac OS X enthusiasts to get the benefits of liquid cooling
in an extremely powerful computer without the effort of retrofitting
liquid cooling into an existing Mac Pro."
Link: Hackintosh Maker
to Release Liquid-cooled Core i7 Tower
Products & Services
Logitech Unveils New M570 Wireless Trackball
PR: Logitech has unveiled the new Logitech Wireless
Trackball M570 as an alternative to touchpads or traditional mice and
featuring the leave-in Logitech Unifying wireless USB receiver.
The M570 is heavily based on Logitech's old TrackMan Wheel trackball
design, which was available in both hard-wired and wireless versions.
You can read my full review here. It's most unique feature is that the
trackball is designed to be manipulated by the thumb rather than the
fore and middle fingers as is the case with conventional
trackballs.
"Based on overwhelming demand from our dedicated
trackball users, we're delighted to announce the introduction of a new
wireless trackball - the Logitech Wireless Trackball M570," says Rory
Dooley, senior vice president and general manager of Logitech's control
devices business unit. "Everything about our newest trackball is built
to improve the experience and give trackball enthusiasts the comfort
and control they deserve."
For those who haven't tried a trackball, one of the many benefits is
that it stays put - you don't have to move your arm to move your
cursor. Consequently, it's a great space saver if you have a small or
cluttered desk or work in other space-constrained environments and,
unlike a traditional mouse, you can keep your arm stationary. Plus, the
sculpted shape supports your hand comfortably all day long.
The Logitech Wireless Trackball M570 also delivers precise cursor
control wherever you want so hard tables, comfy sofas and lumpy beds
are all no problem. The laser tracking sensor uses the ball, rather
than a surface, to guide movement - so you can use it almost
anywhere.
Logitech's newest trackball also has a convenient scroll wheel
and convenient, easy-to-reach Back/Forward buttons.
Also enhancing convenience, the Wireless Trackball M570 uses the
tiny Logitech Unifying wireless receiver that stays in your laptop, so
there's no need to unplug it when you go mobile, and the advanced 2.4
GHz wireless means a robust connection with no dropouts from up to 30
feet away. Plus, you can easily add a compatible keyboard, number pad
or additional mouse using the same receiver so you don't fill up all
your USB ports. To reduce the hassle of changing batteries, you can go
for up to 18 months without replacing the M570's included AA battery -
and the convenient battery indicator ensures that you'll never be
caught off guard with a flat battery.
The Logitech Wireless Trackball M570 is expected to be available in
the US, Canada, and Europe in September for a suggested retail price of
$59.99 ($69.99 in Canada).
Link: Logitech M570
Wireless Trackball
Further Reading
NewerTech Guardian MAXimus mini Bus-Powered
Portable RAID Storage Solution
PR: Newer Technology, Inc. (NewerTech), has expanded its
award-winning storage solution line with the new Guardian MAXimus mini
bus-powered portable hardware RAID storage solution for live activity
backup/data redundancy of critical data. Featuring hardware RAID-1
redundancy for a MAXProtect mirrored copy of data or RAID-0 for
MAXPerform speed and a Quad Interface of FireWire 800/400, USB 2.0,
& eSATA connections, the Guardian MAXimus mini offers Mac and PC
users Plug and Play storage capacity up to 1.5 TB and data transfer
speeds up to 300 MB/s.
The NewerTech Guardian MAXimus mini is available immediately in six
preconfigured hard drive and Solid State Drive (SSD) models with up to
1.5 TB of storage capacity starting at $249.99 MSRP from NewerTech's
exclusive distributor, Other World Computing (OWC), as well as through
the retail channel.
Live Activity Backup for Maximum Data Protection
Guardian MAXimus mini comes factory set as a RAID-1 Plug And Play
live activity data redundant/backup solution for financial records,
medical files, business projects - any critical data that consumer and
professional users simply cannot risk losing. Always guarding against
data loss and costly system downtime, the Guardian MAXimus mini
MAXProtect mode writes the same information in real-time to two
separate 2.5" SATA drives, each offering up to 750 GB of storage
capacity, for a mirrored copy.
MAXPerform for High Speed Data Transfers
For Mac and PC users seeking ultimate performance over redundancy,
Guardian MAXimus mini can be easily switched via the front panel LCD
screen menu to the RAID-0 MAXPerform mode for up to 1.5 TB of high
speed storage.
MAXimum Flexibility & Portability
Guardian MAXimus mini provides maximum data protection with minimal
use of desktop space thanks to a shock resistant, compact 5.2" x 3.5" x
2.1" footprint. And if a mobile storage sentinel is needed, Guardian
MAXimus mini offers maximum portability with a 1.50 pound weight and
bus powered, fanless operation.
MAXimum Compatibility
With a Quad Interface of two FireWire 800, one FireWire 400, one USB
2.0, and one eSATA ports and all connecting cables included, Guardian
MAXimus mini doesn't require any complicated setup and is ready for
Plug and Play use with legacy Macs, the latest 2010 Mac models, as well
as PCs. It provides data transfer speeds up to 300 MB/s and can be
moved between different systems utilizing its supported interfaces with
complete interoperability for maximum data backup performance and
flexibility.
The new Guardian MAXimus mini upholds the award-winning, expert
reviewed reputation established over the last three years by the
desktop sized namesake model, said Grant Dahlke, Brand Manager, Newer
Technology Inc. With its lightweight, bus powered design, the new
Guardian MAXimus mini is the ideal solution for in-the-field creative
professionals requiring highly portable, highly reliable, and high
performance data backup and storage.
Guardian MAXimus mini Features
- Up to 1.5 TB of storage capacity via two paired 2.5" SATA
drives
- Up to 16 MB of drive cache (8 MB per drive)
- Selectable MAXProtect RAID-1 or MAXPerform RAID-0 modes
- 2 FireWire 800 9 pin ports
- 1 USB 2.0 "B" port - backwards compatible with USB 1.1
- 1 eSATA port
- High quality interface connecting cables
- Front panel LCD display for system status
- Brushed aluminum, impact resistant, heat dissipating, super quiet
fanless enclosure
- RoHS certified
- Lightweight, (1.50 lb. with drives) compact, 5.2 3(D) x 3.5 3(W) x
2.1 3(H) and bus powered for portable use
- External US/International 2 Amp UL listed power adapter
- 3 year solution warranty
- Includes $200 retail value utility software bundle consisting of
Prosoft Engineering Data Backup 3, NovaStor NovaBACKUP, Intech
SpeedTools Utilities™, and Carbon Copy Cloner.
Link: NewerTech Guardian
MAXimus mini
Wheels Away Enhances iMac Carrier Case
PR: The iMac as a portable computer? Well, sort of, and
there is precedent. If you've been in the Mac orbit for long enough,
you may recall that the original compact Macs back in the '80s were
available with a carrying case, and I remember even seeing a photo of
someone packing his iMac, encased, on a bicycle, perhaps on the way to
a meeting of his local MUG.
Now out-of-business Canadian computer case maker Willow Design
also offered a carrying case for teardrop iMac back in the early
'90s.
Now Wayzata, Minnesota based McGovern Photography, owned by Mary
McGovern, has brought the iMac carry case concept forward with its new
Wheels Away carriers for the current aluminum and glass 21.5", 24" and
27" iMac computers, has enhanced their 27" product by adding a
detachable shoulder strap and making the interior sleeves larger. The
iMac carriers are waterproof, durable, lightweight, silver, and
stylishly sleek. Wheels Away has a 30 day warranty. The products can be
purchased online at wheelsaway.com. Custom requests are handled by
phone or email.
"The popularity of these products is phenomenal," says Mary
McGovern. "We have sold products all over the United States and in
other countries. Our customers are graphic artists, musicians,
photographers, and web designers to name a few."
The iMac Carrying case was invented by Mary because she was
frustrated with trying to lug her 21.5" iMac around when she went to
the Apple Store for classes. She wanted something functional, yet
classy so she designed the case for its aesthetic appeal as well as for
its functional durability. Apparently there are a lot of other people
who had the same frustration as Mary as her product continues to sell
across a wide range of demographics.
The carrying case weighs less than 9 lb., the wheels and
handles are detachable and the waterproof case is very durable. There
is plenty of high quality foam padding to protect the computer as well
as the keyboard and accessories.
Features:
- Weight: 9.5 lb.
- Dimensions: 6" deep by 22" wide by 19" high (21.5")
- Color: Silver
- Wheels/handles are detachable
- Waterproof
- One outside utility pocket
- Two foam sleeves on inside (for keyboard and accessories)
- Made of durable textured fabric
- Foam padding on all sides
The iMac Carriers are available online and can be purchased using
PayPal. For more information about this product you can go to the
company's website or call 612-991-3383 or 612-819-6445.
Link: Wheels Away iMac Carrier
Case
Software
VMware Offers Competitive Upgrade from Parallels
Desktop for Mac for $9.99
PR: VMware, Inc. has announced a new $9.99 VMware Fusion
Upgrade Program for users of any version of Parallels Desktop for
Mac.
For a limited time, users can make the switch to VMware Fusion - the
best way to run Windows on the Mac - for only $9.99, a $30 cost saving
from the usual VMware Fusion upgrade and a $40 cost savings from
upgrading to Parallels Desktop 6. More information on the VMware Fusion
Upgrade Program can be found online.
"We're excited to offer the Mac community - including both VMware
and Parallels customers - the ability to upgrade to VMware Fusion 3 for
only $9.99," says Pat Lee, director, Personal Desktop Products for
VMware. "Most new features now available in Parallels Desktop 6 have
already been in use by VMware Fusion customers since last year.
Parallels customers now have an easy upgrade path to the most reliable
and proven way to run Windows on a Mac."
VMware Fusion has been widely adopted by users ranging from
consumers to Fortune 500 enterprises and government organizations as it
delivers the stability, performance and ease-of-use users have come to
expect from the global leader in virtualization.
For a limited time, eligible users of any version of Parallels
Desktop for Mac and users of VMware Fusion 1 or VMware Fusion 2 can
also purchase the discounted upgrade.
For new users of Windows on Mac software, VMware Fusion 3 is
available at http://www.vmware.com/fusion,
the Apple Online Store, Apple retail stores, Amazon.com, and other authorized
resellers. The suggested retail price of $79.99 includes all of the
software needed to switch from a PC to a Mac.
Link: VMware Fusion 3 Upgrade from
Parallels Desktop for Mac
Desktop Mac Deals
For deals on current and discontinued 'Books, see our 13" MacBook and MacBook Pro,
MacBook Air, 13" MacBook Pro, 15" MacBook Pro, 17" MacBook Pro, 12" PowerBook G4, 15" PowerBook G4, 17" PowerBook G4, titanium PowerBook G4,
iBook G4, PowerBook G3, and iBook G3 deals.
We also track iPad,
iPhone, iPod touch, iPod classic, iPod nano, and iPod shuffle deals.
