universal binary
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Weird software: Lonesome Electric Chicken
I wish I had a more insightful or enlightening explanation for what the Lonesome Electric Chicken is, but I'm afraid there really isn't one. As its author, John Schilling, states on his site, it's a: "time and life wasting application that spews forth a gathering of quotations. That's it. Don't look any farther into it than that".Killer app? Or scourge of cyberspace? Either way, John has made the source code available with this Universal Binary app, and he is accepting donations for his most interesting work.[via Hawk Wings]
Pointing out the obvious regarding the MacBook and gaming
The MacBook will play many of your really old games at an acceptable level, but you can forget about playing any recently released intensive 3D games (i.e. the ones you want to play). That's the conclusion MacWorld has reached in its first look at the MacBook as a gaming machine. The article suggests maxing out the RAM in the machine if you want to play games: the writer saw a 50fps increase in Quake 3 Arena when he upgraded the machine from 512MB to 2GB. A nice finding for owners of MacBooks interested in a bit of retro gaming.However, lets get something straight here, the MacBook is not a gaming machine. It has an integrated graphics card. No computing hardware that lacks a dedicated graphics card should be even mentioned in the same sentence as "gaming." We understand that some Mac owners may need to be persuaded to overlook this machine's blatant Achilles heel but it isn't MacWorld's job to do this. The site is doing a disservice to its readers by pointing to the poor gaming performance of the MacBook and then suggesting that people "understand [the MacBook's] limitations" and go "buy an XBox360 or Playstation2 for [their] gaming needs." It's this sort of advice that gives Apple free reign to charge $149 for a paint job (um, can I have a graphics card instead?) and allows the mainstream media to say things like "Mac users aren't into games."[Via TUAW]
Open Fire, a free casual Mac game
BlueTorch Studios in partnership with BlueGill Flame have released the final version of Open Fire, a casual top down shooter similar to the Linux game Barrage. Open Fire, which has been created using Unity's game editing software, was the winner of Unity's Dashboard Widget Competition. Keeping with the theme of the game's widget beginnings, the developers plan to create a widget version of the game so that office workers can play while their boss isn't looking. Currently the game is available in both Universal Binary Mac and PC versions. One of the coolest features of the game is its online top ten leaderboard which you could, at the very least, consider a (weak) justification for spending so much time playing the damn thing! Must. reach. top. ten.
DivX 6.5 offers Universal Binary player, encoder
DivX has released what Macworld is calling their first official player for Mac OS X (though I could have sworn I've used DivX software in the past in a pinch). In case you aren't familiar: DivX is an independent video codec that has quite a strong following, and it isn't just for computers; many portable devices and even some DVD players support the DivX codec, offering a useful alternative to the sometimes difficult and clunky DVD burning standard.The company didn't short us on options either - this 6.5 Universal Binary release includes a stand-alone Converter application, as well as DivX 6 codec software for QuickTime so users can convert their video from within any QuickTime-compatible video software. A 15-day free trial of DivX 6.5 is available, at which point you must register for $19.99 to continue using the conversion software; the player, as always, remains free.
Apple releases Final Cut Express HD 3.5
Apple has released Final Cut Express HD 3.5, what they are calling "a significant upgrade" to their "software solution for video enthusiasts, schools and small businesses". It is now a Universal Binary, and amongst its new features is Dynamic RT for real-time playback of multi-streamed effects and multi-layered HDV. Also, all effects, transitions and motion parameters can now be keyframed and saved as favorites for use on other projects.A new version of Soundtrack included with Final Cut Express HD 3.5 includes "improved multi-track audio editing and recording tools with tracks, busses, outputs and real-time effects processing just like a professional recording studio". Apple has also improved recording of single and multiple takes for a better way to record and edit dialog and other kinds of performances.The version of LiveType included with Final Cut Express HD 3.5 has also been upgraded to version 2.1, including 70 new animated objects, 15 new textures and 60 new customizable preset effects for text and titles. With the new LiveFont technology, animated text styles can also now be scaled to any resolution - including HD - "with blazing rendering performance, especially on the new generation of Intel-based Macs". Hint hint.Final Cut Express HD 3.5 is available now through Apple's online store for $299 USD. Owners of earlier versions can upgrade for $99 USD.
EazyDraw 2.0 - illustration and drawing for Mac OS X
EazyDraw dubs itself as a "balanced vector drawing application," and from browsing its feature list, that sounds just about right. It looks like it has a nice array of illustration tools and abilities including some CAD-related features like wall and window tools, as well as drawing on a grid. EazyDraw can even import and edit old school files from Claris Draw, Mac Draw II and Mac Draw Pro.EazyDraw is a Universal Binary, and a demo is available. Licensing the app, however, is a little strange: a full download license can be had for $95 (CD in the mail is $115), but you can also purchase a nine month license for a mere $20. Take that as you will, but if you've been looking for a solid and feature-rich illustration app, EazyDraw probably has you covered.
Quake II X goes Universal
Thanks to an independent developer, Quake II has perhaps become the oldest game to have been updated as a Universal Binary on Mac OS X. In order to use this software to play Quake II, you will still need a full copy of the game to grab some of the core game files, and I think the full source from id Software themselves (scroll down about two thirds of the way) might do the trick. While the source code there is listed as a PC version, I think the core game files you need to use this UB enabler for Mac OS X will work just fine. If anyone else knows better, feel free to sound off and list a link, if you could be so kind.Either way, it sounds like setting up this software is pretty simple, and in no time you too could be fragging aliens circa 1997!
Real Player goes universal
Real Player 10.1 has been made available, and it's a universal binary! Hooray, now I can stare at "Buffering..." without relying on Rosetta! Forgive me if I rate this one a big "yawn."Real Player 10.1 requires Mac OS 10.3.9 or later.[Via Cult of Mac]
Stuffit 10.1 finally goes Universal, loses installer
Allume Systems has finally cranked out a (beta) Universal Binary of their 'hate it but gotta have it lying around' free Stuffit Expander. It seems they were going for bonus points with this release, as they removed some of the 'hate it' factor by finally doing away with an installer; it is now a DnD .app from a mounted disk image.This version is also localized into Japanese, French and German, and is available from either VersionTracker or Stuffit.com, though as of this writing that page still says the latest release is 10.0.
Universal Binary Shake 4.1 to be Released in May
Macworld UK is reporting today that a universal binary of Shake 4.1--Apple's professional compositing and rendering software--will be released in May. This is another sign that we'll likely see Intel-powered towers sooner rather than later, perhaps even as early as June.
Sims 2 goes Universal, Apple posts University trailer
These must've slipped past our radar, but last week Aspyr Media gave Universal Binary powers to The Sims 2. A patch has been released that will update any previous version to 1.0 Rev D. Along with UB support in this patch is also a list of fixes that I found over at Inside Mac Games, like zooming with the Mighty Mouse scroll ball and fixing a crash when running the game on 10.4 with some NVIDIA video cards. You can grab the update at Macgamefiles.com.Also on the Sims 2 topic is a trailer Apple posted for University, a new pack that brings the college years to your Sims characters complete with a college town, partying and the obligatory pranks. The Sims 2 University Expansion Pack can be had at the Apple Store.
Someone finally tests Adobe apps on Rosetta vs. PPC
Bare Feats has been busy with their Mac OS X vs XP tests earlier today and now this. From what I can tell, they are probably the first site to post some benchmarks of non-Intel native Adobe apps, specifically Photoshop CS2 and After Effects 7.0. Check out the machines they used, and note the equality of RAM: MacBook Pro CD/2.0 -- Apple Intel MacBook Pro with 2.0GHz Core Duo and 2GB of memory PowerMac G5/2.0 -- Apple Dual Single-Core G5/2.0GHz Power Mac with 2GB of memory PowerBook G4/1.67 -- Apple PowerBook G4/1.67GHz with 2GB of memory Not surprisingly, the PowerMac swept the floor with the MacBook Pro, but to my delight: the PowerBook didn't perform that much better. In fact, in the After Effects render test, the MacBook actually beat out the PowerBook.The SP (Single Processor) Actions test is where you can really see the performance void of Rosetta apps on the MacBook Pro, as the PowerMac and PowerBook clearly are going home with the prom queen.Still, I'm glad to see that the MacBook Pro will perform more or less like my PowerBook G4 when running these pro apps, especially since I'm living in After Effects these days. Unfortunately, I now must curse Bare Feats for ever performing these tests, as they got my 'hmm, maybe I could upgrade' gears grinding again. Thanks guys.
Dragthing updated to version 5.6.4
Dragthing, the popular utility by TLA systems, has been updated to version 5.6.4. Dragthing can be used as an alternative to Mac OS X's dock, with more features. In fact, it allows you create several docks that you can organize and arrange as you wish, and access via the tabbed interface or user-defined hotkeys. It's very useful, and I loved it in the Mac OS 9 days.Version 5.6.4 fixes several bugs, including: An issue with Intel Macs incorrectly displaying the number of unread messages on application icons A problem on Intel Macs with the highlighting of running applications Issues with moving dock files containing text clippings between Intel and PowerPC Macs Version 5.6.4 requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later, is universal and a free upgrade for registered users. A single license of Dragthing will cost you $29US.
Create universal games with Unity
Unity is the game development platform for the Mac that really does make the job of building games (and Dashboard widgets) kind of fun. Today, Unity announces the availability of version 1.2.2, which will allow you to make sure that all of your projects are universal binaries. So go out and build the next best thing, and then run it on your Mactel.Unity requires Mac OS X 10.3 or later, and features two pricing options: $250US for the "indie" edition, and $1,000US for the Pro version.Incidentally, we posted our interview with Unity's David Helgason back in October.[Via MacNN]
Final Cut Pro Studio v5.1 Universal Binary Released
During the MWSF keynote address, Jobs said that Apple's goal was to have all its professional applications ported to universal binaries by the end of March of this year. Logic Pro was the first to be ported a few weeks back and today, Apple has released a crossgrade to a universal binary version of Final Cut Pro Studio 5.1, which is arguably the most important of the professional applications. The crossgrade to universal costs $49 (or $99. Both prices are listed and there's no clear indicator which is correct or whether it's $49 for FCP and $99 for the studio suite). Ah, that's just me being confused and not reading the site well-enough. The crossgrade is $49 for current FCS 5.x owners, where as the upgrade is $99 for FCP standalone owners, and $199 to upgrade for almost everyone else.
Roundup: what you are (or will be) doing with Windows on your Mac
While I'm sure the results will come as no surprise, I still wanted to do a roundup of our TUAW reader survey: What will you do with Windows on your Mac, as there were some interesting comments outside of the norm. Obviously, most of you are planning on using Windows solely to play games (which says something in and of itself about the utility of Windows), but I was more interested by the other uses you had in store, which include: AutoCAD/3D design .NET programming web development, testing IE sites those workplace-specific apps that simply don't have OS X counterparts - yet One commenter, Yaknowho, also brought up the idea of using Windows on a Mac to run some of the larger apps that haven't gone Universal yet, like Photoshop. I actually just touched on this topic over at The Unofficial Photoshop Weblog, where I found a few tests that show the MacBook Pro (ironically) not only runs Windows faster than most Core Duo PC notebooks, it also runs Photoshop - under Windows - faster than the competition as well.We live in a strange world when a Mac can run Windows faster than machines designed to run Windows.
Adobe engineer explains delay in Adobe universal binaries
Adobe has taken some heat for delaying universal binary versions of Photoshop and other Creative Suite software until the next scheduled release of those apps. If you're interested in a view of this controversy from the trenches, take a look at this post by Photoshop engineer Scott Byer. Byer starts out: "'But, c'mon', I hear people saying, 'Steve said it was just a recompile!' Or, 'Back during the PowerPC transition, you guys released a patch?'Well, this time is different. And I really wish it weren't. But let me tell you how..." He goes on to explain why Adobe can't perform the same kind of midcycle shortcut for the Intel platform that it could for the PowerPC. His explanation is worth a read. This kind of communication from the trenches is a very good thing IMHO.
Close brackets and braces easily with AutoPairs
If you're the type that spends the day staring at a display and typing code, we'd bet you'd appreciate any utility that will make the process easier. Check out AutoPairs. It's a Mac OS X preference pane that closes your brackets, braces and quotes for you. Type a left bracket, for instance, and a right bracket and left arrow appear. Pretty spiffy, especially when you consider that BBEdit doesn't do this out of the box.Note that, since AutoPairs is a preference pane plug-in, it won't work under Rosetta, though the developer promises that a universal version is in the works. AutoPairs requires Panther or better and is free.[Via ...on a long piece of string]
Chart of Universal Binary Mac games, get your Intel on
The new Intel Core Duo iMac features an ATI Radeon X1600 with up to 256MB of RAM; it ain't Quad SLI but it makes for a pretty nice gaming machine... if only there was some easy way to figure out what games ran properly on the new architecture. Enter MacRumors' handy chart of Universal Binary games (for those not in the know, a Universal Binary is "an executable file that runs natively on both PowerPC and x86 (Intel)-based Macintosh computers.")The chart lists the Universal Binary status of many Mac games as: Yes, No, or Announced. For those that don't have a Universal Binary, they list the performance under Rosetta, the emulation layer that allows x86 Macs to still run PowerPC code, with some games achieving impressive results regardless--Medal of Honor: Allied Assault hits 20-70 fps under emulation!Sure, there aren't a lot of Mac gamers, but for the ones that do exist (all 5 of you! ROFL! There, I got it out of the way, eliminating the need for platform wars in the comments), the switch to Intel promises faster systems and a closer code base to their PC counterparts. [Via TUAW]
Universal binary status of Adobe applications
Adobe Photoshop Product Manager John Nack had this to say about the Universal Binary status of Adobe applications in an interview with Inside Mac Radio at Flash Forward 2006 this week. As you've probably heard, with the exception of the public beta of Adobe Lightroom, Adobe apps are not yet Universal. You can read more excerpts from the interview at The Unofficial Photoshop Weblog, or listen to the interview on the March 2, 2006 episode of Inside Mac Radio [ iTMS link ].Nack:"We recognize that to really address the way the market's been changing around digital photography it wasn't going to be good enough to just keep doing incremental additions to our existing code. What we really need is to start with a fresh slate. So in the case of Lightroom, because they did that, it's been a lot quicker for them to move to Mactel. With some of the more mature apps, like Photoshop, Illustrator, it's a really big project, and there's a lot of work to move the code from Code Warrior over into Xcode, get that compiling, and then get that compiling on Mactel. So it's something where it's a long process. I wish we could do it faster. But Apple's been really great in supporting that. There've been Apple folks on site all the time over at Adobe answering questions, bouncing ideas back and forth. . . Both companies really want to see this happen, just like users do. We'll have it out as soon as we can, with the obvious qualifier that we want to right. We don't want to just rush it out there and have it not work well. So it'll take some time, but we're definitely working closely on it.As we work with Apple we want to make sure that our applications keep evolving and taking really good advantage of all the new innovations they've got. They came out with the dual processor, dual core G5's. They're making some really great changes around the graphics architecture, like with the new MacBook--much faster memory systems with their GPU. And so I think that this evolution will help us stay really current and take good advantage of that. And of course every time a new system comes out one of the key benchmarks is how fast does it run Photoshop. And so it's in everybody's interest to make sure that our apps really shine on the new boxes."
