A SSD as a Photoshop Swap Drive

A SSD as a Photoshop Swap Drive

Hereafter is a report from Clément:
I just installed an OCZ SSD Vertex of 30 GB to be used as my Photoshop swap drive on my Mac Pro (I boot from an Intel SSD 80 GB). HEreafter is the result: 

Such performance level is quite astonishing for a entry level SSD available for around 120 Euro. However, the 3.5" adaptors provided by OCZ are not compatible with the HD tray of the Mac Pro.

NEC backs out of PCs beyond Japan
NEC this weekend said that it would quit selling PCs outside of its native Japan. The departure takes effect in July and follows similar plans for Africa, Europe and the Middle East announced last month. NEC is making the withdrawals following a predicted $2.96 billion loss for the past fiscal year and after it was concerned that cutting 20,000 jobs worldwide would not completely address its con...



Quark's XML Author 3.0 adds support, improvements
Quark has announced XML Author 3, the latest version of its XML authoring tool that enables users to create XML content within Microsoft Word. Standing as a core component of Quark Dynamic Publishing software, the application provides both creation and editing tools for making XML content. Features in the update add support for Microsoft Word 2007 and Windows Vista, toolbar improvements, and new i...



While Waiting for the Radeon HD4890... Flash a PC Version!?

When Apple announce a new graphic cards compatible with its new Mac Pro models, it is always a good news for Mac users. However, it is often a balance feeling, and the new Radeon HD4970 released with the new Mac Pro is a perfect example:

• 512 MB of VRAM instead of the current default 1 GB on most high-end PC models
• Almost proprietary mini-DisplayPort  mini-display
• Mac Pro 1.1 can not use this new Radeon 
• Price: around 315 €!
• Availability 4 to 5 weeks!

following first report of successful flashing procedure of a PC Radeon HD4870 with the Mac ROM, we have decided to make our own test. We have chosen a Gainward HD4870 Golden Sample with 1 GB VRAM :

• 1024 MB of VRAM 
• DVI-D, VGA, DisplayPort and HDMI ports!
• 2 BIOS: 1 normal BIOS normal, and 1 "Turbo" BIOS "turbo" corresponding to an overlocked version. One can simply swap from one BIOS to the other via a switch in the back of the card. This feature is quite useful as in case of failure of the flashing procedure, one still has a working BIOS
• An improved cooling system, as the default one of the Mac Edition blow the hot air inside the Mac...
• Currently available!
• Price: around 220 € !

The Perfect MacBook Mini: Leak, Concept, or Fake?
I don't know what this is and I don't care. It may be a MacBook Mini concept. Or a crazy leak. Or just a perfect fake. Whatever it is, it's beautiful. I want one badly.

Briefly: iMac discount coupons to expire
Just a heads up for those readers who may be scouting out the lowest possible net price on one of Apple's new iMac models introduced earlier this month.

Equinux integrates SongGenie, CoverScout in update
Equinux has launched updates to both its SongGenie and CoverScout applications, and furthered their integration. SongGenie 1.1 adds the ability to apply all identified track information at once, instead of having to work on individual tracks, and features both a new mode that enables the program to try and identify and analyze track information automatically, and a function for people who keep mus...



Two Legal Actions against Apple in Australia

Apple is currently facing two legal actions in Australia:

• The first one is linked to the Mac Pro trademark. Apple filed a worldwide trademark protection for naming its Pro desktop hardware. However, a company is also using this name as for its business activity: Macpro Computers since 1983, however it did not filed it as a trademark at that time, but it is intending to do it now. So, the local justice will have to decide which companies holds the right for the Mac Pro trademark in Australia.
• The second one is related to a story originating from 2005 and the business death of an Australian Mac reseller, Buzzle. The legal officer dealing with the bankruptcy process reported that Apple kept shipping hardware to Buzzle whereas its business life was already so damaged that it was almost impossible to save it. In other words, Apple was actively contributing so should now drop its claims for 57 millions AUD bills. The judge will give its decision on April 27th.

Who Needs Radio When You're a Podcast Superstar?
Sitting inside his palatial Hollywood Hills mansion, Adam Carolla and his talk show host pal Jimmy Kimmel chat candidly -- in a frenetic, almost stream-of-consciousness way -- about pornography, Siegfried and Roy, the modeling industry, gay rodeos and the children's book "Where the Wild Things Are." The former hosts of Comedy Central's "The Man Show" are comfortably slouched on brown leather chairs inside Carolla's office upstairs, where a pink box overflowing with childrens' toys sits in the corner.

A SSD as a Photoshop Swap Drive

Hereafter is a report from Clément:
I just installed an OCZ SSD Vertex of 30 GB to be used as my Photoshop swap drive on my Mac Pro (I boot from an Intel SSD 80 GB). HEreafter is the result: 

Such performance level is quite astonishing for a entry level SSD available for around 120 Euro. However, the 3.5" adaptors provided by OCZ are not compatible with the HD tray of the Mac Pro.

NEC backs out of PCs beyond Japan
NEC this weekend said that it would quit selling PCs outside of its native Japan. The departure takes effect in July and follows similar plans for Africa, Europe and the Middle East announced last month. NEC is making the withdrawals following a predicted $2.96 billion loss for the past fiscal year and after it was concerned that cutting 20,000 jobs worldwide would not completely address its con...



Quark's XML Author 3.0 adds support, improvements
Quark has announced XML Author 3, the latest version of its XML authoring tool that enables users to create XML content within Microsoft Word. Standing as a core component of Quark Dynamic Publishing software, the application provides both creation and editing tools for making XML content. Features in the update add support for Microsoft Word 2007 and Windows Vista, toolbar improvements, and new i...



While Waiting for the Radeon HD4890... Flash a PC Version!?

When Apple announce a new graphic cards compatible with its new Mac Pro models, it is always a good news for Mac users. However, it is often a balance feeling, and the new Radeon HD4970 released with the new Mac Pro is a perfect example:

• 512 MB of VRAM instead of the current default 1 GB on most high-end PC models
• Almost proprietary mini-DisplayPort  mini-display
• Mac Pro 1.1 can not use this new Radeon 
• Price: around 315 €!
• Availability 4 to 5 weeks!

following first report of successful flashing procedure of a PC Radeon HD4870 with the Mac ROM, we have decided to make our own test. We have chosen a Gainward HD4870 Golden Sample with 1 GB VRAM :

• 1024 MB of VRAM 
• DVI-D, VGA, DisplayPort and HDMI ports!
• 2 BIOS: 1 normal BIOS normal, and 1 "Turbo" BIOS "turbo" corresponding to an overlocked version. One can simply swap from one BIOS to the other via a switch in the back of the card. This feature is quite useful as in case of failure of the flashing procedure, one still has a working BIOS
• An improved cooling system, as the default one of the Mac Edition blow the hot air inside the Mac...
• Currently available!
• Price: around 220 € !

The Perfect MacBook Mini: Leak, Concept, or Fake?
I don't know what this is and I don't care. It may be a MacBook Mini concept. Or a crazy leak. Or just a perfect fake. Whatever it is, it's beautiful. I want one badly.

Briefly: iMac discount coupons to expire
Just a heads up for those readers who may be scouting out the lowest possible net price on one of Apple's new iMac models introduced earlier this month.

Equinux integrates SongGenie, CoverScout in update
Equinux has launched updates to both its SongGenie and CoverScout applications, and furthered their integration. SongGenie 1.1 adds the ability to apply all identified track information at once, instead of having to work on individual tracks, and features both a new mode that enables the program to try and identify and analyze track information automatically, and a function for people who keep mus...



Two Legal Actions against Apple in Australia

Apple is currently facing two legal actions in Australia:

• The first one is linked to the Mac Pro trademark. Apple filed a worldwide trademark protection for naming its Pro desktop hardware. However, a company is also using this name as for its business activity: Macpro Computers since 1983, however it did not filed it as a trademark at that time, but it is intending to do it now. So, the local justice will have to decide which companies holds the right for the Mac Pro trademark in Australia.
• The second one is related to a story originating from 2005 and the business death of an Australian Mac reseller, Buzzle. The legal officer dealing with the bankruptcy process reported that Apple kept shipping hardware to Buzzle whereas its business life was already so damaged that it was almost impossible to save it. In other words, Apple was actively contributing so should now drop its claims for 57 millions AUD bills. The judge will give its decision on April 27th.

Who Needs Radio When You're a Podcast Superstar?
Sitting inside his palatial Hollywood Hills mansion, Adam Carolla and his talk show host pal Jimmy Kimmel chat candidly -- in a frenetic, almost stream-of-consciousness way -- about pornography, Siegfried and Roy, the modeling industry, gay rodeos and the children's book "Where the Wild Things Are." The former hosts of Comedy Central's "The Man Show" are comfortably slouched on brown leather chairs inside Carolla's office upstairs, where a pink box overflowing with childrens' toys sits in the corner.