PowerMate
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Griffin updates its PowerMate and StudioConnect hardware for 2014
If you think that the best part about making music is twiddling the knobs, then Griffin's CES announcements will be right up your alley. You see, the company is updating both its StudioConnect portable iPad studio and the PowerMate jog dial for movie and music editors. The StudioConnect HD now features a pair of XLR inputs, USB and five-pin MIDI support, dedicated monitor controls and can handle both 30-pin and Lightning-based iPads. The PowerMate Bluetooth, unsurprisingly, breaks free from the tyranny of cables, offering iMovie and GarageBand users the chance to cycle through files without the need of a mouse. Naturally, the clickable wheel is also highly customizable, enabling you to craft a wide variety of utilities that can use the hardware. The StudioConnect HD will, a little annoyingly, not arrive until the fall, where it'll set you back $200, while the PowerMate will be here in the summer, priced up at $60.
NEC launches PowerMate P4000 and P6000 all-in-ones
We've noticed a pattern with NEC -- compact, minimalist computer designs with low-end to run-of-the-mill specs. There's nothing wrong with having a specialty, and NEC Asia Pacific is sticking with what it knows with the PowerMate P4000 and P6000 all-in-ones. The P4000 is a light worker (to put it perhaps too kindly), with a 1.9GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor, 1GB of RAM, 250GB of hard disk space, an NVIDIA GeForce 9100M G integrated graphics chip, and a 16-inch display at 1366 x 768. We'd go instead for the P6000 (pictured above), which is actually competitive with similarly priced all-in-ones like the Gateway One. It's got a 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, twice the storage and memory of its lesser sibling, integrated NVIDIA GeForce 9300, and a roomier 19-inch, 1440 x 900 display. Both systems are due for release in Asia next week, the P4000 at S$1,899 ($1,270) and the P6000 at S$2,499 ($1,675). The latter is clearly the better deal, but they're both expensive compared to bulkier alternatives -- desk space is at a premium these days. Pic of the P4000 after the break.[Via PCLaunches]
Griffin releases Proxi beta
Earlier today, Griffin technology released a public beta of Proxi, their latest piece of software for Mac OS X. By using "triggers" and "tasks," Proxi will let you automate complicated routines, much like Automator or QuicKeys. There are included triggers for many of Griffin's products, of course, like the PowerMate, AirClick and AirShark, but Proxi doesn't limit you to Griffin hardware; iTunes, iChat, Mail, Skype and more are all fodder for Proxi.You can share "blueprints" (think "workflows") that you've created with other users. Check out the Proxi wiki for more information on that. I've only played around with the beta briefly, but it looks like fun. It's simple enough to allow non-programmers to create satisfying and useful routines.The final version will be out in May, and will be free. No specific system requirements were given.
Griffin Updates PowerMate Driver to v1.6.4
I've had my PowerMate for quite awhile and it remains one of the coolest accessories attached to my Mac. It's not quite as spiffy as Hubzilla, who provides me with extra firewire ports, but I use my PowerMate often for volume control while watching TV on my Mac (via a Miglia capture card) or when I'm listening to iTunes. The problem is that since I upgraded my main Mac to Tiger, my PowerMate hasn't been working very reliably. Sometimes it just isn't recognized by the OS and I'm forced to reboot to make it be recognized again. Other times, it drops off after waking from sleep. I love my PowerMate, but it hasn't been as useful to me since my Tiger upgrade.Today, however, there's hope. Griffin has released an updated driver for the PowerMate which provides better integration with the iLife application suite, GarageBand, and Microsoft Office applications, and also brings universal binary support for Intel Macs. Here's hope that the new driver will help with the problems I've been having. I'll install later tonight and update this post when or if the problem recurs or vanishes.
