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News Items from 10/24/2001: |
| "GamePad Companion" Software for OS X 10.1: |
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A reader post in the forums noted using Carvware "GamePad Companion" utility with his MacAlly iShock with Tony Hawk for OS X. Their web page says:
"Use your game controllers with Mac OS X games that don't have built in support for them! Download the latest demo version of GamePad Companion, or purchase your own copy today. GamePad Companion allows you to use HID compatible devices (gamepads, joysticks, etc..) with Mac OS X version 10.1."
You can download a demo version to try. The full version costs $15.
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| Drive in Apple's iPod Lists for the Same Price as the iPod: |
When I saw the size and 5GB capacity of the Apple iPod, I assumed it used the same drive that was the base of the Smartdisk 5GB "firefly" firewire drive which I saw at MWNY in July. The drive used in both is the Toshiba 1.8" (PCcard size) 5GB model. I did not realize how expensive that drive is however. It costs much more than the standard notebook 2.5" drives used in Creative Jukebox and other brands of hard drive based MP3 players. (The "Nomad C" 6GB Jukebox model now lists for $219.)
After a reader's comments noted the Toshiba 5GB drive alone sells for $399 (list), I did some checking last night. Toshiba's original press release noted the 5GB drive would list for $499, but their where to buy page price as of last night was $399 for the MK5002MPL (5GB) model. That's the same price as the iPod sells for (which has the drive, battery, firewire interface, stainless case, LCD screen, etc.).
iGo, a dealer of notebook accessories as of yesterday had a price of $299 for 2GB Toshiba 1.8" PCCard drive.
Granted we all wish the iPod was lower in price, but considering what the current 5GB drive alone sells for, $399 doesn't seem out of line. (Large volume OEM pricing for the drive of course is much less than the retail price.)
Creative's Audigy sound card box notes that they are planning a Firewire port Nomad in the future, but the Nomad uses a much lower cost 2.5" notebook drive, which makes the player larger than the iPod (and less expensive to make). It also will not have the integration with iTunes that the iPod has. (I still hope the price of the iPod comes down in the future.)
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| PPCchecker Author Comments on 7440/7450 CPU Reporting: |
| Yesterday's news had a PowerBook G4/667 owner's results with PPCchecker noting it was reported as having a 7450 rev 2.1 CPU. Michiro Isobe, author of PPCchecker wrote in reply to that post:
"
Dear Mike,
I read today's news page. I will comment about the result on PPC Checker.
If the revision of CPU core is not changed, the processor ID of 7440 may be the same to 7450.
I speculate that the different between 7440 and 7450 is a package only.
Best Regards,
Michiro Isobe
P.S.
Thank you for your previous info on new PID. However, I don't have any other info about it and cannot verify new revision. On the other hand, some your readers reported the new PowerLogix G3 cards uses Motorola's MPC755A."
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| Dashboard Free Performance Measurement Utility for OS X 10.1: |
"
Pepsan & Associates, Inc. is pleased to announce another free utility for Mac OS X users.
Dashboard provides an extensive readout of system performance data for Mac
OS X. Areas monitored include CPU load metrics, memory statistics, network
bandwidth, and disk I/O operations. Feel your system has bogged down? Run
Dashboard and check at a glance for problems such as excessive virtual
memory paging, high network activity, lack of free memory, runaway processes
and more.
Dashboard also provides a trend graph of any selected metric so you can see
at a glance if a metric is degrading over time. A CPU meter graphically
indicates how busy the system is as well. Heck, sometimes it's just fun to
watch the dial spin! When space is tight and you want to minimize
Dashboard's window size you can switch it to a text-only mode which removes
the CPU meter and metric graph.
The manual that comes with Dashboard provides an introduction to the
performance metrics and some advice on how to interpret the data. Please
take a look at the manual for usage tips and to see how to get the most out
of Dashboard.
Dashboard is available at http://www.pepsan.com/dashboard/ and requires
Mac OS X 10.1 or later.
Ronald Guest
Pepsan & Associates, Inc." |
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| TDK PR on New 32X CDRW Burners and Portable FW 24/10/40 Model: |
Businesswire has a press release on TDK's new line of VeloCD burners with up to 32x write speeds (the fastest CDR to date) The 32x internal IDE drive is scheduled to be available in December. External 32x models with Firewire or USB 2.0 interfaces were listed as due in Feb/March 2002. (You can register at TDK's 32x Velocd web page to be notified when the new models are available at retail.)
The press release also announced a 1 lb. portable firewire 24x/10x/40x model due in December. The only 24x/10x/40x Firewire drive I found there was this one that includes Toast 5 for Macs as well as PC software and has a notification form also. (But the photos on that page show a larger drive than the dimensions mentioned for the FE-241040X portable 24x Firewire model mentioned in the press release)
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| CDRW/CD/DVD/Hard Drive Compatibility Database Updates: |
| The Drive Compatibility searchable database had 18 new reports added this morning. The database includes reports on Combo DVD-CDRW, CDROMs, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, CDRW, Hard Drives and Removables (tape drive, ORB, ZIP, MO drives, etc.) in all interface types (IDE, IDE RAID cards, Firewire, SCSI, adapters). Current total 5,183 reports. Here's a list of the reports added this morning. [Entries after midnight are added the following day.]
IDE CDRW Reports:
- Acer 16/10/40 in G4/AGP (OS 9.2) [Updated report]
(noted after applying the 4.2.8 firmware update the drive is
bootable now and has no more stuttering audio problem)
- Matshita UJDA 330 in iBook (OS X)
(comments include installation notes)
- Sony 1611-82E 16/10/40 in Dual G4 (OS 9.2)
(comments included notes on OS X also)
- TDK VeloCD 12/10/32 in G4/AGP (OS 9.2)
Firewire CDRW Drive Reports:
- CD Revo 24x10x40x used w/G4/AGP 2001 (OS 9.2)
(listed under "other brands")
- Lacie U&I EXT SE2100 16/10/40 used w/B&W G3 (OS 9.1)
- Lacie U&I EXT SE2100 16/10/40 used w/G4 AGP (OS 9.1)
- Lacie U&I 24/10/40 used w/G4 AGP (OS 9.1)
- Lite-On 16/10/40 (Formac retail box) used w/iBook 2001 (OS 9.2)
(includes comments on OS X 10.1 also)
- Que 16/10/40 used w/PowerBook G3 2000 (OS 9.2)
(some problems noted)
- Yamaha CRW2100IX 16/10/40 used w/PowerBook G4 (OS 9.1)
SCSI CDRW Drive Reports:
- Lacie 16x10x40 used w/7100 (OS 8.6)
(problems noted)
DVD-ROM Drive Reports:
- IDE Toshiba SD-M1502 (16x/48x) in G4 AGP (OS 9.2)
- Firewire (IDE drive in ADS Pyro FW case) Toshiba SD-M1502 (16X/48X) used w/G4 AGP (OS 9.2)
(noted Toast 5 install allowed drive to be used by OS 9's DVD Player v.2.7)
CD-ROM Drive Reports:
- IDE Asus cd-s 400 40x in G4/AGP (OS 9.2)
(listed under "other brands")
IDE Hard Drive Reports:
- IBM DJSA-220000 20GB in PowerBook G3 Wallstreet2 (OS 9.2)
(powerup problems noted)
- Maxtor 60GB (Quantum Fireball Plus AS) in G4/AGP (OS 9.2)
- Western Digital WD800BB 80GB in iMac (OS X)
(problems noted)
Firewire Hard Drive Reports:
- Lacie 60GB used w/G4 AGP (OS 9.2)
You can find full owner reports 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.]
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| CPU Upgrades Owner Reports Database Updated: |
| The Rate Your CPU Upgrade database has been updated with 4 new reports this morning. (total to date: 6,342). [Entires after midnight are posted the next newsday morning.]
- Powerlogix G3/375 in 7300/200 (rated 8)
- Powerlogix G3/350 in 8500/180 (rated 10)
- B&W G3/350 OC report
- G4/733 Digital Audio OC report
(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.)
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