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iStat Pro 3.3 widget brings temp and fan readings for Intel Macs and more
The feature-packed iStat Pro Dashboard widget is a reigning favorite here at TUAW, and its recent v3.3 update has heralded some handy new features. First, it now includes (though prompts you to install upon first run) a new module that can read the temperature and fan speeds of Intel Macs. That's right - SpeedIt-be-gone. The other nice enhancement is an active AirPort signal quality meter - the AirPort icon in iStat Pro's network section will now dynamically display a quality meter based on the network you're connected to. Of course, for the record, other bugs and "various minor improvements" made this new version, and it's available either by running the widget (it auto-checks for updates by default), or by heading over to iSlayer.com.
TUAW Tip: How to tell if an application is a Universal Binary
You want to figure out if an application is Universal, but you're not sure how to do it? There is a very simple easy way to find out. Simply select the icon of the application you're curious about and either right click and select 'Get Info' or hit Command + i. Either one will get you to the info window about the application you selected.Look under 'General' and you'll see 'Kind: Application.' Next to that (assuming you're running OS X 10.4) you'll see either 'Universal,' 'Intel,' or 'PowerPC.' This lets you know on what Macs this application will run natively on: Universal runs on either PowerPC or Intel Macs. Intel only runs on Intel Macs (no matter what). PowerPC runs natively on PowerPC Macs (odd, huh?) but the application will, most likely, run on Intel Macs in Rosetta, Tiger's emulation layer. Some applications, such as Microsoft's Virtual PC, will not run on Intel Macs at all. Finally, another tip for all you folks out there that are using Universal apps on Intel Macs that use plugins which aren't Universal. Assuming you still have the Info window open you should see this 'Open using Rosetta' check box (pictured to the left). This forces a Universal apps to use its PowerPC native codebase (in Rosetta) thereby letting you use your older plugins. Note that this option is only available for Universal applications.
FileMaker ships Universal binaries
Filemaker, today, released FileMaker Pro 8.5, FileMaker Pro 8.5 Advanced, FileMaker Server 8.0v4 and FileMaker Server 8.0v4 Advanced as Universal Binaries. Now, I know most people don't get too excited about database software, however, Filemaker claims that FileMaker Server is 116% faster on Intel Macs as compared to PowerPC Macs while the desktop client is a mere 91% faster.Besides those incredible speed increases Filemaker added a few new features, chiefly among them something called 'Live Web Data on Demand.' This allows you to save live webpages to your database, and I think that's pretty cool.
Remote Buddy
Now that most Macs come with a remote, don't you wish you could do a little bit more with it? Now you can, thanks to Remote Buddy. This hand little application lets you control a number of items on your Mac through the magic of Behaviours, which are plugins for Remote Buddy.Check out their website for a cool video showing off some of the features. There is a 30 day demo available, while a full version will cost € 9,99 (usually € 14,99 but there is a sale if you buy before version 1.0 is released).
Intel Mac Temperature Database
Everyone is worried about the heat issues with the new Intel Macs (mostly the portables, but I bet someone out there thinks their iMac gets a little too hot). Now you can compare your MacBook, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, or iMac's temperature to other people's machines thanks to the Intel Mac Temperature Database.Obsessing over your machines internal temperature has never been easier![via MacDevCenter]
CoreDuoTemp
Your new MacBook Pro runs a little hot, but how hot is it? CoreDuoTemp can tell you how hot your CPU is, as well as let you know CPU usages, and frequency. All of this for free? Well, donations are accepted.Sorry PowerPC folks, this one is Intel Mac only.
Apple KB Article: Boot Camp doesn't work with multiple partitions
The first thing I do when I get a new Mac (or a new PC for that matter) is wipe out the hard drive, make two partitions, and do a fresh install on one of the partitions. I then store all my data on the other partition, just in case I ever need to reinstall the OS (is this a fool proof way to back up your data? Not by a long shot, since your data and the OS might be on different partitions but those partitions are still sitting on the same disk).Why am I talking about this? Because it would seem that people like me are left out in the cold with Boot Camp, since Boot Camp requires an Intel Mac with a single partition to work its magic. This makes sense since Boot Camp uses different partitioning magic, but it is still worth noting.
Apple's official Mac gaming solution: Windows
Tired of the long wait for the few games that do get ported to Mac OS X? Tired of waiting for that one favorite game to get upgraded to Universal so you can play it on your Intel Mac? Tired of playing an unaccelerated Half-Life 2 on the hacked together, unsupported version of Windows XP you managed to get running on your Mac? This morning, Apple announced an official solution: use Windows, with (almost) full hardware support. "Boot Camp lets you install Windows XP without moving your Mac data, though you will need to bring your own copy to the table, as Apple Computer does not sell or support Microsoft Windows." The download includes a driver CD with Windows XP compatible drivers for the ATi graphics chips, Intel's integrated graphics chips, ethernet, audio, WiFi, Bluetooth, and more. The only unsupported items are iSight, the Apple remote, Apple's USB modem, and the MacBook Pro's backlit keyboard. While this is great news for would be hardcore Mac gamers, whose choices have been limited by market pressures for years, it also raises doubts about the continued economic viability of porting games from Windows to Mac OS. Will companies continue to invest the resources in providing a seamless Mac experience for gamers, or expect them to pony up for XP and dual boot their boxes?[Via TUAW]
