" SoftRAID 3.02 v. Apple RAID
Some test results here:
http://www.squeezeanickel.com/arvsr/arvsr.html

Conclusions: only marginal differences in read/writes in a single channel scsi setting.
Adam L. "

Softraid's website also has a page titled SoftRaid 3 vs Apple's RAID which compares features of the two.

• Compatible with Mac OS X 10.3 Panther.
• Japanese localization by Akira Ikeda.
• French localization by Bernard Rey.
• Misc fixes and speed improvements.

" Reindeer Graphics, Inc., developers of Optipix and Fovea Pro, have released a new free plug-in, Wide Histogram, for Photoshop 5.x, 6, 7, and CS on Mac OS 9.2.x, X 10.2, 10.3 and Windows 98 or better.
Reindeer Graphics(R) Wide Histogram is a tool for exploring the detail in the histogram of a 16-bit image that cannot be shown in Photoshop. The plug-in can display the histogram in three widths that give between 2x and 4x the resolution of the histogram palette in Photoshop. The plug-in provides eight different modes for the histogram display, including RGB, red channel, green channel, blue channel, "colors", hue, saturation, and luminance. The plug-in includes a PDF file documenting installation and usage. Reindeer Graphics(tm) Wide Histogram can be downloaded from the Reindeer Graphics website www.reindeergraphics.com
Wide Histogram is a free component of Optipix, a suite of Photoshop(R) compatible plug-ins, includes tools for correcting common problems in digital images. The Optipix package works on both 8 and 16 bit images and includes tools for automatically improving contrast, image averaging, blending bracketed exposures, enhancing edge detail, sub-pixel nudging, and color-safe sharpening. Optipix 2.0 retails for US$149.95. "

They also have other free plug-ins for Photoshop at http://www.reindeergraphics.com/free.shtml.

" The Apple Remote Desktop Client version 1.2.4 update delivers improvements to security, performance, and reliability of the Apple Remote Desktop 1.2 client software running on Mac OS X versions 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3. For more information on this update, please refer to http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n107670 "

" Here's screenshots of Halo with various degrees of FSAA goodness (none, 6x multisample, and 4x supersample). I'll add more screenshots as I try and find more interesting locales. I'm using 640x480 mainly to make the FSAA more obvious. I might take some others at higher resolutions.
The best way to view the differences would be to download the images, opening them up in your favorite image viewer, double the size, then switch between them.
http://homepage.mac.com/a2daj/PhotoAlbum15.html
-a2daj "

A reader quickly replied to this post saying that Halo FSAA has some issues with Radeon cards (not sure about Nvidia models) and is not recommended to be enabled until an update to address that is released. I've not run Halo w/FSAA yet, but as I mentioned in the Halo timedemo page earlier today - even on a Dual G5 2GHz w/9800 Pro card at 1024x768 (no FSAA) with high quality settings, over time performance slowed to a crawl near the end of the first level. (Not had time to play the game further yet, but the start of the 2nd level seemed to clear that up. But it may reappear as the level plays out.)
Maybe 10.3.2 will have updated drivers. (rumors say 10.3.2's Nvidia drivers may fix the GF4MX problem in older G4 towers running 10.3/10.3.1.)

"ToySight features a dozen interactive games and toys for one or two players. Instead of using a joystick, mouse, or keyboard, players maneuver themselves in front of an iSight or other FireWire camera to control the action. The players are superimposed onto the game screen, and must use arm and hand motions to play the games.
The ToySight demo requires a computer running Mac OS X, as well as a camera that uses the FireWire serial bus, such as Apple's iSight. The demo is limited to one game mode, FreeFall, one toy, the Laser Harp, and a tutorial to help new users learn how to play. The demo can be downloaded at:
http://download.freeverse.com/index.php?game=toysight&platform=osx. The (full version) software will be available at Apple resellers and at the Freeverse Store at a suggested retail price of US $34.95. More information about ToySight is available at www.toysight.com/.

" Hey - check this out - on HardMac tonight
http://www.conf.co.jp/new_folder/making/cube_1.html
(japanese site, many pages show the creation step-by-step of a very cool IMHO G5-like Cube case.)
:>) I WANT to do this to one of mine!!
-Jamie "

Ditto - although some may not like the G5 case design, I'd love to have one of these for my Cube.

" Hi Mike, As promised last week, I'm sending you a short list of the most important stuff that was published on IT-Enquirer. (his past mails on these were either filtered as spam or lost in the overloaded inbox here-Mike)
1. A review in 6 parts on Shake 3
2. Photoshop CS review
3. Miglia videoconverter review
4. New section on prepress and production
5. Swift 3D v3 review
6. BRU backup review
BUT the MOST important addition yesterday: the new version of the Mac OS X manual (Panther). Two chapters ready, subscription-based to decide if I have enough people interested to go further with this as it takes a lot of hard work. Plan to include the server as well if interest is high enough. Two first chapters (+60 pages) are downloadable from the home page: http://www.it-enquirer.com/
Erik "

• Giga Designs G4/800 (no L3) in (gigabit enet) G4/AGP (rated 10)
• Giga Designs G4/1.4GHz in (sawtooth) G4/AGP (rated 10)
• Powerlogix Dual G4 1.2GHz in (digital audio) G4/AGP (rated 1)
  (My reviews of G4 and G3 upgrades w/apps/game tests, install info, etc. are linked here. OC/CPU module articles are on the Systems page.)

(Warning - Overclocking may not be reliable and could lead to hardware failure or corrupted data.) You can find the full reports by searching the database selecting the indicated Mac model and upgrade card brand/type. If you've upgraded the CPU on your Mac, please post an entry in the database. Search the database for entries from most every upgradable Mac model *before* you buy. (Searchable by mac model/upgrade brand). For detailed reviews with performance tests and install tips, see the CPU Upgrades page.)

Combo DVD+CDR Drives:
• Expansion Bay Liteon LSC-24082k (24x24x24x + 8x DVD-ROM) in Powerbook G3 2000 (OS X) (using modified burn support plugin)
  
  DVD+RW Drives:
• Firewire Sony DRU110A used w/Single G4 DDR (OS X 10.3) (assuming no iTunes burn support, noted using Toast)
  
  Hard Drives:
• IDE Hitachi Travelstar 7K60 60GB in iBook 2002 (OS X 10.3)
• IDE Hitachi Travelstar 5K80 80GB in iBook 2001 (OS X 10.3)
• IDE Hitachi 40GB in iBook 2001 (OS X 10.3) (strange notes about incompatibility but I think the assumptions are incorrect on pin/settings)
• IDE Seagate ST3120026A 120GB in G4/AGP (OS X)
  (Illustrated guide to adding a 2nd HD here in B&W G3 rev2 and G4 towers up to the QuickSilver models.
  IDE articles page RAID section has an illustrated guide for adding 2 more drives in the side bays.)
• IDE Toshiba MK6022GAX 60GB in Powerbook G4 (OS X 10.3)
  (PowerBook G4 15in. LCD illustrated Hard Drive install guide here
  Alum. PB G4 15in take-apart guide here.
  Powerbook G4 12in LCD illustrated Hard Drive install guide here)
• IDE Western Digital WD740 (Raptor) in Apple G5 Tower (OS X 10.3)

You can find full owner reports (latest shown first) by searching the database by drive/brand/interface/mac models (the latest reports are shown first in searches). For guides to installing CD/CDRW/DVD drives or Hard drives in many mac models, see the IDE Articles page. The Firewire articles page also has guides on case kits, installing drives, etc.
If you've added a IDE, SCSI, Firewire or USB hard drive, CDRW, tape drive, etc. make sure you add a report to the database. (If you post an updated entry - make sure you use the same name, etc. as you did before so I can find your past entry. Thanks.)
(Incomplete entries are deleted. Do not post questions in the database, it's for drive reports not questions on what drive to buy - for that try searching the database for reports from owners of your mac model on the drive type/brand/interface, etc. you're interested in.)

• 1 year ago today
• 2 years ago today
• 3 years ago today