News Archive for: Tuesday Feb. 12th, 2008
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More Feedback on OS X 10.5.2/Leopard Graphics Update 1.0
I've updated the page of Feedback on 10.5.2/Leopard Graphics Update 1.0. The page includes links to downloads, related Apple docs, general feedback, benefits seen by a PCI USB 2.0 (Belkin) card owner, notes from two 30in Cinema Display/ATI X800/X850 card owners that still have some issues, notes on an Linotype FontExplorer X 1.2.2 problems (and link to v1.2.3 w/fix), benefits seen by a WoW user and a Lightwave 3D v9.3 user, before/after CineBench R10 results comparison from a 3.2GHz Mac Pro (2008)...) For the record I've seen no problems so far with these updates on my AL iMac (not updated the G5 tower yet, but saved a copy of the Combo update and Graphics updater downloads for it.)
The page has a separate section with 2008 Mac Pro owner reports. Unfortunately so far those that had the Graphics corruption/freeze problems, etc., have said these updates did not help, although some w/o those problems noted some benefits.
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Apple TV 2.0 Update released, notes on update, new AppleTV docs
Saw a note at Apple that the Apple TV update for iTunes movie rentals (and more) has been released. (Note: the refurb Apple TV 160GB I have is unmodified, no hacks/mods, etc.) The update took about 15min to download here (1.5 DSL/shared wireless network). After the download completed and I selected to 'update now' (not later) the screen flickered on/off a few times but finally showed the progress bar (first of several - I'm guessing boot rom updates as well as others - perhaps graphics and drive or network adapter?) ... it took several minutes to completely fill in the first time and then cleared the progress bar and did another update/fill-in. Then the Apple TV appeared to restart (LED blinking yellow still) and a 3rd progress bar appeared/filled in. Then the Apple TV reset again (LED still blinking yellow), Apple logo appeared again then screen went black again/Apple logo appeared again (LED white/normal this time) and finally it started up normally... (with light show).
The v2.0 root level screen has new look to the top-level menu structure (white outlined flatter looking interface than before). I selected "Settings" > "General" and the Software version shown is v2.0. Looking under "iTunes Store" item showed my Apple TV was set to "France" so I changed that to United States. (That menu has a "sign in" option also, but haven't done that yet.)
1080P Mode Support Added: I didn't notice it at first, but with v2.0 now there's a 1080P resolution option. (Previously 720P was max (progressive) - although 1080i was an option also.) I had picked up a 1080P (1920x1080) 42in LCD TV for $798 at a "black friday" sale last year and now have the Apple TV set to 1080P.
There's some new menu/submenu options of course, such as under Photos now there's "Flickr" and ".Mac" and under Movies there's more options now: "Top Movies", "Genres" "All HD" (as in "High Def"), "Search", "Trailers" and "My Movies" (local content) and similar changes (less HD) under "TV Shows", including a "TV Networks" item. I prefered the look of the original top-level menu but that's just a nit. I've not dug into everything yet but wanted to post some initial notes/observations.
I also noticed some new Apple TV sync options in iTunes (in the main screen seen when you select your Apple TV in iTunes) Here's a clip:
new Apple TV sync options

Here's Apple's list of changes in Apple TV v2.0:

  • In the US, rent movies from the iTunes Store in Standard Definition, and stunning High Definition with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound directly from Apple TV.
  • Buy TV Shows, music and music videos on Apple TV. These will automatically sync back to your computer.
  • Browse and enjoy the iTunes Store podcast directory of over one hundred thousand video and audio podcasts.
  • View photos from .Mac and Flickr galleries.
  • Play your iTunes content on the audio system connected to your Apple TV via AirTunes.

FYI - here's some new and some recently updated Apple TV related docs:

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Mac MS Office 2004 11.4.0 Update, Prosoft Drive Genius 2
(Don't use Mac Office 2004, but thanks to "Hawk Innovations" for the heads-up)

" Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.4.0 Update
"This update fixes a vulnerability that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer's memory with malicious code.
Released: Tuesday, February 12, 2008"


Also got a PR email from Prosoft Engineering that they've released Drive Genius 2 they say includes "Improvements to speed and overall performance as well as full support for Mac OS 10.5 (Leopard)" List price is $99; a $59 upgrade for previous v1.x users.
FYI - a reader sent a note about the upgrade:

"Mike, Just a heads up. Read your PR post and ProsoftEngineering seems to be having some issues (working on them) with their database of serials and the email link for the downloadable DVD is still old. Just off the phone with their "very helpful" sales and things should be fixed soon (still needed to call in and I had record of old serial (begins with letters) and forgot newer one of 1.5.x).
Otherwise, they are shipping me out the new one. Woot! Thanks again for the tip!
-Ed S."
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eSATA Expresscard user reports OS X 10.5.2 solved previous problems
(from a reader mail today - added to the 10.5.2 and to the Express34 card pages also)

"Hi, Mike. I just wanted to report that 10.5.2 apparently fixed completely the infamous expresscard/eSATA hard drive issues that were widely reported since Leopard came out. This is using the existing SI3112 1.1.9 drivers from Silicon Image (which I re-installed after the update) on my MBP 2.0 Ghz.

I am using the Apiotek expresscard/34 solution, but they all use the same chipset (other brands/models require that you use a vendor-provided driver and will fail with the "generic" SI drivers). (FYI - Most all are as mentioned before, but the exception I think is the Firmtek eSATA card. And the Apiotek eSATA card has some of the most favorable feedback here in the past, as well as costing much less than many others)
My WD MyBook Premium ES drive (eSATA/USB2) was one of the affected drivers that would not work with Leopard, as it was the case with "combo" eSATA/USB drivers. It works perfectly now, including Time Machine back-ups (which wouldn't even start before). I had been using it with USB2 since Leopard broke expresscard/eSATA.
I've been meaning to write to you to say that the problems were strictly Leopard-related. Now that it's fixed, expresscard/eSATA is a solid combination.
(He later wrote in reply to some eSATA Expresscard users (including the last eSATA expresscard/10.5.1 report here) that hadn't mentioned a problem - although many have in the past here, even before Leopard was released. But then there's a lot of variables (case/bridges, etc.).-Mike )
... I'm afraid It was more complicated than that. The expresscard/eSATA problems were narrowed to drives with a dual USB/eSATA chipset. "eSATA only drives" were working well. Some expresscard vendors found themselves in a tech support nightmare and said in their web sites that these USB/eSATA dual interface drives have a non-compliant chipset. In any case, compliant or not, they are working well again with 10.5.2.
Best, Adolfo R.
Argentina"

Hopefully others that had problems with their eSATA expresscard setup also finds the update helps. If you're using Leopard with a MacBook Pro and eSATA Expresscard, let me know if the update helps with any problems you've had. Thanks.

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Apple releases Aperture 2 (now $199) and Aperture 2 related docs
From Apple's news page this morning:
" Apple Releases Aperture 2
Apple today introduced Aperture 2, the next major release of its groundbreaking photo editing and management software. Featuring an improved interface, faster browsing, and enhanced image processing, Aperture 2 delivers more than 100 new features that make it faster, easier to use, and more powerful than ever. Thanks to its new low price of $199, anyone can easily organize, edit, and publish photos like a pro. Owners of previous versions of the software can upgrade to Aperture 2 for just $99"

Here's a list of Aperture 2 related kbase docs I spotted also:

While on the subject of Aperture, Apple has updated their previous doc on Aperture: Set Time Machine to exclude Aperture library from automatic backups (to avoid corruption of database if Aperture running during TM backup or restore) with a note 10.5.2 resolves this.

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Apple posts iLife Support 8.2
Stewart sent a heads-up Apple has released iLife Support 8.2:

" About iLife Support 8.2
This update supports system software components shared by all iLife '08 applications to improve their stability and performance. (Mac OS X 10.4.9 or later) "
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Recent Articles and Reviews
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