Photoshop CS3 Extended + Mac Pro 8-core

Radial Blur applied to 40″ x 60″ image (16-bit) at 300ppi resolution.
It would appear all 8 processors are being used.

I’m happy.

 

Just found MythTV frontend for OSX – all variants

Looks like somebody was able to pull it off.
Collectivity has posted three builds (and additional works-in-progress) for running MythTV front end using his Intel-based MacBook Pro laptop.
It will still interface with the Lunux-baed backend.

NOTE: Pleas make sure you click through the few pages in his blog to be sure you’ve got the latest build. I posted what i think it the latest build below.

Versions are:

• MacOSXintel for 0.20
• MacOSXPPC for 0.20
• MacOSXUniversal for 0.20

I’m not posting the direct links to the downloads. Please visit his site to be sure you read the caveats and make sure you have the latest build.
One obvious request is for the Intel hardware – turn on the vector optimized video output. Otherwise it won’t work.

On the page I have linked to: Those builds only work with Protocol 30. They don’t work with Protocol 31.
Here is a posted fix for the MacIntels to run with Protocol 31.

Of course, i just tried it and I’m not having much luck getting it to go without hanging in OS X 10.4.8 on my dual G4.
Take my comments with a grain of salt. I don’t have my Linux box working completely since the re-start. i just wanted to see how far i could get on the Mac.

—————————————————————–
sources: collectivity.goof.com via Lunapark via Google search for Installing MythTV on Fedora Core 6 without using ATrpms.

 

Saft – probably the best Safari extension

If you don’t know about Saft, you should.
It’s $12.00 (USD) and it’s a steal. Don’t take my word for it.
Go and download it yourself to try it out for free.

It’s strictly for Apple’s Safari web browser.

Saft is a Safari plugin to add features like draggable tabs, full-screen browsing, searchable bookmarks and history, URL shortcuts, kiosk mode and more.

Saft is so well-developed that Safari has incorporated some of its ideas into the updates of Safari.
In my opinion, after tinkering with the demo, it brings Safari closer to the cool things you can do with Mozilla extensions created for Firefox.

As the screen grab shows, I like the shortcuts section.
Although Quicksilver currently takes care of those clerical navigation issues, I’m willing to give Saft a fair shot.

You should check it out, too.

 

Installing the Bling Bling On My Parent’s New 20″ iMac

I never thought I’d see the day that my parents would beat me to the punch on high technology, but they’re won round 6a.
They also won round 1, 2, and 3.

Round 1 – They had the first DishNetwork / DirecTV
Round 2 – They had the first HDTV
Round 3 – They had the first Automobile GPS (I paid for 25% of it, though)

I beat them in a few spots.

Round 4 – I had the first Satellite Radio (Sirius).
Round 5 – I had the first broadband internet
Round 6 – I had the first mac

But they retaliated with the golden purchase:
They currently own the fastest computer in the family.

So, now that I’ve convinced them about the virtues of the mac and the requisite OS X, it’s time to load them up with cool stuff.
The next few posts in this blog will be my repository for what I’ve done to set them up with the niftiest software that I think they will enjoy.
Sit back and let me do all the work.

————–
First, their combined interests are:

• heavy equipment
• auctions
• antiques
• cooking
• financial management
• sewing
• medical
• drafting
• photos of kids
• video
• music
• music production
• stuff they don’t know about but heard about

In my next few posts, I shall attempt to compile some software to meet their needs along with software they don’t have a clue that exists.

 

Salon Management Software – OS X

No. Neither did I.

However we’re both wrong. They DO make software for this. it ranges from $695 to $2895 so it’s serious stuff.

Let STX help you with cash drawer, receipts, gift cards, appointment booking, payroll, client tracking, inventory management, sales evaluations and more. STX is the simplest computer management system to learn and use – saving you thousands in training and support costs. You can now see STX in action at many of the 100 Apple Store locations across the country. Just call us to find out dates and times for the live seminar at a store near you.

The software looks very well laid out.
They won an Apple Design Award, at some point.
Looks like Apple knew they were there.

Go figure.

 

AppleSeed – Apple Software Customer Seeding

AppleSeed is a program set up within Apple Inc. where customers are invited to test pre-released software for Apple.
You complete a profile, sign a confidentiality agreement, and wait to see if you are selected.
Then you have to provide feedback by reporting bugs, filling out questionnaires, etc.

Don’t take this lightly. I beta test several large commercial software packages (you’ve heard of them, I promise) and this type of thing is not for everybody.

Also, it seems it’s geared towards development teams. It’s also limited to premier and select members.

 

On Apple, Inc.

Now they’ve really done it.
Apple has done the unthinkable – and I don’t mean that in a good way.

Apple’s omission of the word ‘mac’ during the Steve Jobs’ keynote address, along with the company removing ‘computer’ from its name signals the end of my 20 year interest and infatuation with macintosh.

There’s really one reason why I go this far.
Apple’s focus is no longer on mac. Have they passed the torch to PCs? It would certainly seem so. They’ve moved their machines over to Intel processors, opened up to Windows (Boot Camp). Yeah, there’s Leopard coming down the pipe – but for what? The iPhone? The iTV?

I can’t decide if I like Mr. Jobs. My gut tells me he’s nothing but a 21st Century snake oil peddler. My eyes show me that he usually delivers some interesting things. However, backward compatibility doesn’t seem to be one of his strong points.

He doesn’t think twice about leaving folks holding the short end of the rope in the name of progress. Remember ADB, SCSI, etc.? You don’t know the headaches and added expense that each of those omissions caused a bunch of companies for months on end.

Nevertheless, the developments over the past few days have soured me to Apple for the short term. The question of whether or not they intend to keep macs a prime priority has been answered. This sends a signal to all mac users that Apple’s focus is away from us.

They’ll probably keep putting out computers to pay for development of iPhone v2, iTv V2, etc. in much the same way a crack whore does unspeakable acts to pay for her addiction.

I am ready and waiting on a dual quad core mac. My dual 867 G4 is long in the tooth. Will Apple even fool with it? As we all know, the bottleneck is now in the memory bandwidth. The processors are gasping for memory.

I’m not so sure I want a mac any more. If the focus of Apple is not on developing cutting-edge computers, then why should I unload $5000 on their b-stock products? I dumped my Apple stock some time ago. I have no stake in the success or failure of Apple, Inc. I certainly have a stake in Apple’s computers.

Have we reached the end of the line of computer development for the time being? Does Steve Jobs see it? I think we’re stuck waiting for the memory bandwidth to catch up. Perhaps he’s biding his time while that aspect gets ironed out?

I don’t think so.

My plans for a mac purchase have taken a 180-degree turn since the keynote, and reading subsequent analysis on a host of sites.

Maybe I’m one of only a handful of people who have lost faith in Apple’s ability to create cutting edge computers for high end users. You know, professionals. The people who are willing to unload $5000, $10,000 on computers every few years.

I’m so ticked off right now I have to stop typing. My blood pressure must be rising.

powered by performancing firefox