News Archive for: Tuesday April 29, 2008 (later added items first)
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Apple posts Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 1
(Updated - Apple later added it's for 64-bit Intel-based Macs only)
Fred sent a heads up this is available via software update (appears in SU here on Core2Duo AL iMac w/10.5.2). Here's the info from the download page:

"About Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 1
This Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 1 adds Java SE 6 version 1.6.0_05 to your Mac. This update does not replace the existing installation of J2SE 5.0 or change the default version of Java
Learn more about this update at: About Java for Mac OS X 10.5
(Doc title is actually "Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 1 adds support for Java SE 6".
Note also that doc says "This release is for 64-bit Intel-based Macs only and cannot run on PowerPC-based or 32-bit Intel-based Macs".-Mike
)

System requirements: Mac OS X 10.5.2 or later
(they later updated the D/L doc to also note)
64-bit Intel-based Macintosh"

If you find this fixes or breaks anything, let me know the details.

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Rumor of Combo Mac/PC Edition Radeon HD 3870 in works
(UPDATE: In June this card was released - see our Review of ATI Radeon HD 3870 Mac & PC Edition.)
(original post from April 29th follows)
I normally don't comment on rumors and nothing official from ATI yet, but I've gotten word there's a Mac/PC (dual boot) Radeon HD 3870 PCIe card in the works, hopefully available at retail channels by the end of May. The card will be PCIe 2.0 but backward compatible with PCIe 1.0 slots. Here's a summary of the info I have on it:

  • 512MB of DDR4 vram (256-bit wide I assume)
  • Supports 1st gen and 2008 Mac Pros
  • Dual boot Windows/OS X (OS X 10.5.2 or later)
  • Crossfire supported when booted to Windows
  • Mac OS perf. said to be similar to Mac 8800GT (but remains to be seen)

With the Mac 8800GT priced at $279, IMHO the Mac/PC 3870 will have to be priced at or below that card. (And every day that passes means more potential lost Mac Pro owner sales now that there's versions of the Mac 8800GT for both 1st Gen and 2008 Mac Pros.) Again no official ATI info on this mac/pc model currently, although they have (PC/windows focused) pages on the ATI Radeon HD 3000 series.

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Status update on M-Audio Revolution 5.1 Drivers for Leopard
Last month I posted comments from M-Audio support that they were working on OS X Leopard drivers for the Revolution 5.1 PCI audio card, hoping to have a release by the end of the month which didn't happen. A reader w/5.1 card (thanks Eugenio) sent a recent reply from M-audio support on the current status:

"We are working on Leopard drivers for Revolution 5.1 and they are currently in final testing. We hope to launch them shortly but I don't have a date yet. Sorry I can't be more specific."

I also wrote to ask about driver updates for the Revolution 7.1 audio card.
(There's previous pages here with owner reports on the Revolution 5.1 and Revolution 7.1 PCI audio cards.)

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Mac CPU Upgrade Reports Database Updated
The Rate Your CPU Upgrade database has been updated with 2 more reports this morning. Total to date: 10,347. Here's a summary of the latest addition (search database by upgrade brand, mac model, etc. for a complete list/comments of all user reports on matching criteria - latest reports first).

  • Fastmac Dual G4 1.4GHz (set to 1.33GHz) in (QS 2001) G4/AGP tower (rated 8)
    (includes test comparisons vs previous single 1.33GHz upgrade.)
  • Sonnet G4 Dual 1.6GHz (7447A - Encore/MDX) in Mirror Drive Door tower (rated 8)

    (Full reviews of G4 and G3 upgrades compared to stock CPUs, including real world apps/game tests, install info, etc. are linked at the G4 upgrade reviews and G3 upgrade reviews pages. OC/CPU module articles are on the Systems page.)

If you've upgraded the CPU on your Mac, send a review with your experience (performance/stability/installation, etc.), Mac Model/Upgrade brand info and overall rating (1= worst to 10=best). If you can, please run some tests with the original CPU vs the upgrade (for example time some tests with your favorite app, game, etc. - see full reviews here for example tests with common apps/games/benchmarks.)

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Other News/Articles, Software Updates
(later added items first)

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Recent Articles and Reviews
Listing/links to recent articles and reviews you may have missed.
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