 |
News Archive for Tuesday June 30, 2009 Goto Current News Page
Macs | CPU Upgrades | Video | Storage | Audio | Apps/OS/Networking | FAQ | Write Me
|
| VirtualBox 3.0.0 released (freeware VM) |
Christian sent a FYI that VirtualBox 3.0.0 was released today (freeware VM for OS X, Windows, Linux hosts). See the Changelog for a long list of v3.0.0 chgs/fixes but here's the major new features added:
- Guest SMP with up to 32 virtual CPUs (VT-x and AMD-V only; see chapter 3.7.2.2 of the user manual)
- Windows guests: ability to use Direct3D 8/9 applications / games (experimental; see chapter 4.8 of the user manual)
- Support for OpenGL 2.0 for Windows, Linux and Solaris guests
I've added the above to the previous page here of Mac owner reports on VirtualBox (v2.x) and welcome feedback on v3.0.0 - including from those that had problems with previous versions. |
| Return to Accelerate Your Mac! | Top |
|
| Apple posts iPhoto 8.0.4 Update |
| Also appears in software update, but I prefer to use the download updaters.
"About iPhoto 8.0.4 Update (102MB)
This update addresses a rarely encountered issue involving photos imported into a previous version that could affect overall stability, and corrects references to a few points of interest and location names that were labelled incorrectly.
The update is recommended for all users of iPhoto '09.
For detailed information on this update, please visit this website:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2797 (Doc titled "iPhoto '09 may quit unexpectedly after updating to iPhoto 8.0.3"
"
|
| Return to Accelerate Your Mac! | Top |
|
| The Sims 3 problems w/GTX 285 Drivers (the blame game) |
The Sims 3 problems w/GTX 285 Drivers (the blame game) - Since the Sims 3 shipped for the Mac, owners of the EVGA GTX 285 have noted problems (freezes/hangs) trying to run the game. (Here's a thread in the sims 3 forum on the subject, but there are others all over the net - the windows version runs fine w/nvidia's windows drivers.) Several frustrated owners of the 285/OS X Sims have posted it's become a blame game - EA blaming the drivers (no details I've seen on why the Sims and not other games affected), and disputes on who should fix this (Nvidia or Apple - although the 2F16 driver update was done by Nvidia as far as I know, instead of the normal wait for inclusion in an OS X version update from Apple).
If anyone has found a fix/workaround for The Sims 3/GTX 285 drivers issue let me know. (It appears to be a common issue but if you've not seen the problem, send a note also.) Also note if you're using a 2009 or 2008 Mac Pro and if you see any errors when trying to view Apple system profiler's PCI card info.
BTW - I don't own the game but last week I posted a link to an EA page on The Sims 3 v1.2.7 patch (the only Mac specific change listed was "This update deals with some issues on Mac systems that can crash the game while connecting to AFP servers"). I wasn't sure if that patch would help but wrote a reader to ask - it doesn't he said:
"
I'd already updated the Sims 3 to Version 1.2.7.2 (latest) via the Launcher before the EVGA 285 arrived. (2008 Mac Pro dual 2.8GHz.) Launcher grabs any new updates before the game runs so none of the graphics intensive hard work is rendered at Launcher stage.
EA seems to be placing Mac users way down the list as we still don't have a properly rendered game. Jaggies with no anti-aliasing and no external light source (sun light). It makes Sims 3 look very poor on a Mac.
Regards, Neal"
I also asked Neil if he'd had any problems with Apple System Profiler reporting (see my earlier comments below - no issues with that on a 2009 Mac Pro, but some have reported this.) He replied if he checks under PCI devices (2008 Mac Pro) he sees an error - "There was an error while gathering PCI card information" - but he later replied he's seen the same thing with other PCIe cards, including his 8800GT. (Appears correctly under Graphics/Displays listing however.)
On a 2009 Mac Pro here the GTX 285 is listed/reported OK under both PCI devices as well as Graphics/Displays.
FYI - Swapping in a previous Nvidia card (8800GT, GT120) doesn't help as they're also using the updated extensions from the GTX 285 install - but if you have a Time Machine backup (from before the GTX 285 driver install) reportedly you an get the game working (w/8800GT or GT120) by restoring all
drivers from a TM backup (restoring nvidia extensions from System/Library/Extensions from TM backup).
One other thing - in some of the posts on this problem (OS X Sims 3/GTX 285) I saw a comment from someone saying after the GTX 285 driver install they could not use Apple System Profiler to save a report to send to EVGA (asking if others saw the same problem/had any problems viewing PCI info on the card in ASP, etc.). I do not have this problem (2009 Mac Pro/GTX 285/2F16 drivers installed). [See update above - a 2008 Mac Pro owner said he's also seen an ASP reporting error for PCI devices, but it was also seen with his 8800GT card.]
And speaking of drivers - still waiting for the OS X ATI driver update to resolve the problem w/3D in Fusion 2 after the OS X 10.5.7 update. (It's beginning to look like we'll have to wait for OS X 10.5.8.) |
| Return to Accelerate Your Mac! | Top |
|
| Firefox 3.5 released |
Mozilla's home page now lists the official (non-RC) release of FireFox 3.5 which they note as "more than twice as fast as FF 3.0x" in sunspider javascript tests (on a WinXP machine). See their release notes for more info. Firefox's 3.0x in-app update check can be used to upgrade (it also seems to check for compatible plugins/addons), but unfortunately didn't preserve my previously open browser windows on restart. I reopened a few in FF 3.5, made sure that option was still selected in the prefs and quit/restarted - it didn't open them again (only the homepage). I really liked that feature - I tested on another Mac (also running 10.5.7) using a download updater and same thing - does not reopen windows/tabs from previous session.
FYI - After togging the Prefs setting for this, it now seems to be working. |
| Return to Accelerate Your Mac! | Top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
OWC XLR8 SPECIALS!
(site sponsor)
= 3.5in HARD DRIVES =
1TB and 2TB HDs.
2TB 7200rpm $179
= 2.5 in & SSD HDs =
SSD Drives, Notebook Hard Drives and DIY drive/case kit bundles
= MEMORY =
2009 Mac Pro kits, 2008-2006 Mac Pro FBDIMM kits, Upgrades for MacBooks/MacBook Pros/iMacs/Mac Minis!
Also ram for G5, G4 and G3 Macs from under $30!
= OPTICAL DRIVES =
Internal and External Superdrives/Blu-Ray drives.
= VIDEO CARDS/LCDs/TV =
GTX 285 for Mac Pro, Radeon 3870s, LCD Displays, TV tuners and more.
= SOFTWARE =
Prosoft Drive Genius 2 (under $60), Drive Genius 2 + Data Rescue 2 bundle w/big discounts.
= WIRELESS =
802.11N/g/b adapters from under $20!
= CPU UPGRADES =
G4 7448 and G3 1GHz upgrades
XLR8YourMac.com T-Shirts
Support this site!
FasterMac.net
Internet Access
Get Screened
Mac Model Articles
CPU Upgrade Articles
Video/Card Articles
Storage Articles
Search Mac
Drive Upgrades/Compatibility Database
Search the CPU Upgrade Database
Freq. Asked Questions
|  |
