Review: Sound Devices 722 Digital Audio Recorder
10 March 2008 07:02 EST
Youngmoo Kim
By Youngmoo Kim and Patrick Richardson
Review
We were very excited to field test the Sound Devices 722 Portable, High-Resolution Audio Recorder, which the company bills as “the ultimate DAT upgrade”. Although Sound Devices markets the 722 towards professional recording engineers as well as documentary and electronic news gathering (ENG) production, our tests focused primarily on its performance in music recording in both studio and live settings. For those of us who remember (fondly) the Tascam DA-P1 portable DAT field recorder, the 722 is a littler smaller, a lot more flexible, and just as pricey.
Click on the headline link for the entire review...
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1394 Trade Association Announces 3.2 Gigabit Per Second Firewire Spec
17 December 2007 12:34 EST
Chris Barylick
And now, something from the "It'll be cool when it finds its way to a notebook" category...
The 1394 Trade Association the S3200, a new specification for the Firewire data transfer interface that essentially quadruples the maximum speed to 3.2 gigabits per second.
According to Macworld News, the new standard, which is expected to be ratified in February, will be built on the existing IEEE 1394b (a.k.a "Firewire 800") standard and use the same kinds of cables and connectors as current Firewire 800 products as well as the same arbitration, data and service protocols. Representatives from the 1394 Trade Association have expressed hope that this will lead to a fast uptake to the new standard from various FireWire vendors since adoption expenses will be somewhat minimized.
The S3200 interface will allow FireWire peripherals to draw electrical power from the interface. S3200-based peripherals will also be backwards-compatible with FireWire 800 and FireWire 400 interface products.
Click the jump for the full story...
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iMac LCD Issue Becoming Prevalent
09 November 2007 08:34 EST
Chris Barylick
Reader Enrique Diazruanova sent this along:
My name is Enrique Diazruanova and I have been a loyal user of Apple´s products for a long time until now, that I have been awfully disappointed at Apple´s lack of interest and commitment to their clients since they bluntly refuse to acknowledge a very serious and disturbing hardware problem. By now, I am sure that you must be very aware of the problem that has been afflicting hundreds of users for more than two years. It is about the PowerBooks and the color vertical lines that appear on their monitors. Now, I would like to redirect your attention to a different version of the PowerBook G4 17″ LCD issue :
This is a "new" version of the same problem which is now popping rather quickly on the iMacs from the G5 to the Intels and it seems that the common denominator is the size of the screen: 17 inches. There are two important threads on the Apple forums and a "Sign Petition" web page which unfortunately Apple does NOT allow to post on their forums, therefore blocking it effectively from the affected users sight!!!.
We users wonder if Apple thinks that just by ignoring us all the problem is going to dissapear by itself.
I am including some very enlightening links and I (we) hope that you spread the word:
-Bridget Ryle´s blog
-Wiki Site
-Online Petition
-Apprle Forum Discussion - Lines on Display
-Apple Forum Discussion - Purple Lines on My iMac Screen
If you've seen something similar or have a story from your end, let us know in the comments or forums.
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Some Seagate SATA Drives May Lead to Data Loss in MacBook, MacBook Pro and Mac Mini Units
06 November 2007 08:45 EST
Chris Barylick
As cool as your MacBook, MacBook Pro or Mac mini might be, there might be some problems down the road. According to Techworld, UK firm Retrodata has encountered "many dozens" of failures involving Seagate Technology's 2.5" notebook drives.
In test cases, "The read/write heads are detaching from the arm and plowing deep gouges into the magnetic platter," said Retrodata Managing Director Duncan Clarke. "The damage is mostly on the inner tracks, but some scratches are on the outer track -- Track 0 -- and once that happens, the drive is normally beyond repair."
So far, the problem has arisen in models loaded with firmware version 7.01 and tagged with model numbers including ST96812AS and ST98823AS. Users can locate the firmware revision for their hard drives by going to Mac OS X's System Profiler program, looking under Serial ATA and checking for the revision number.
Sources close to the story have warned that they would need to see several hundred or even several thousand drives with this problem to validate whether this is a design flaw. A seagate spokesperson interviewed commented that "This matter has only just come to our attention, and Seagate is looking into it."
Apple has refused to comment at this time.
If you've seen this problem on your end or have two cents to throw in on the issue, let us know in the comments or forums.
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Top Three Notebook Drives Duke It Out
20 July 2007 10:00 EST
Chris Barylick
The guys over at Bare Feats have ran a full comparison between the Western Digital Scorpio 250 gigabyte 5,400 rpm drive, the Seagate Momentus 7200 160 gigabyte 7,200 rpm drive and the Hitachi Travelstar 7K200 200 gigabyte 7,200 rpm drive.
The full rundown is available here and if you're interested in upgrading your MacBook or MacBook Pro's SATA hard drive, take a look.
If you've come across a killer hard drive or have thoughts or opinions on this, let us know in the forums.
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Recent Apple Patent Filing Describes Backlit Touchpads and Click-Wheels
18 July 2007 11:46 EST
Chris Barylick
A recent Apple patent filing submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office published earlier this month discusses the concept of illuminated touchpads and click-wheels as a means of providing constant visual feedback.
According to AppleInsider, which pointed out the 34-page filing, Apple cited that visual stimuli could be used to both alert the user via feedback to a touch event as well as be used in low light conditions.
The patent filing also stated that such devices could change intensity or color based on motion characteristics or pressure. Visual characteristics could also be used to highlight events, especially before and after an event occurred.
Click the jump for the full story...
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Myvu "Solo" Now Available Through Web Site
11 July 2007 07:43 EST
Chris Barylick
In other news, one of the cooler accessories for the iPod just became more accessible. The Myvu, an eyewear system that attaches to the iPod and simulates a 27" video screen being viewed from about six feet away, is being introduced in a more affordable "solo" edition.
According to Macworld News, the Myvu solo retails for US$199.95 and arrives without the power pack and premium travel case found with its "fully loaded edition" cousin. The Myvu solo edition includes the eyeglasses, in-ear noise-reducing earbuds, inline audio and picture controller and microfiber protective sleeve and lens cloth.
Myvu has states that the "solo" edition is now available from its web site (which still lists it as "coming soon") and is available through the Apple Store and ZoomSystems-based automated retail systems found in airports and Macy's department stores.
If you've tried the Myvu system and have comments about it, get it off your chest in the forums.
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Reports Surface of Santa Rosa-Based MacBook Pro Overheating
21 June 2007 11:30 EST
Chris Barylick
Your Santa Rosa-based MacBook Pro just arrived in the mail. And after showing it to your spouse, kids, pets and co-workers, you settle down to work with it.
If it feels a bit too warm, that might be Apple's contribution.
A report over on Engadget is citing how dozens of users on MacRumors and Apple discussion threads are mentioning that their newly-acquired MacBook Pros are running hot.
An intrepid reader pulled his laptop apart only to find about 40 times too much thermal paste having been applied to the logic board. Other readers have echoed similar complaints and offered similar logic board pictures.
A recent firmware update issued by Apple seems to have helped somewhat, but no official comment as to the issue has been released.
If you've seen this problem on your new MacBook Pro or have a solution, idea or workaround, let us know.
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Matias Now Selling USB 2.0 Keyboard
10 January 2007 12:07 EST
Chris Barylick
Canadian hardware firm Matias has released a keyboard with two USB 2.0 ports built into it as opposed to the standard USB 1.1 ports generally included with a keyboard.
The keyboard ships in both black and white, is compatible with both Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X and is available throughout retail electronics stores as well as online for $29.95.
If you have any comments or feedback about this, let us know.
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MWSF07: Other World Computing, Atrionix, Debut ModBook at Expo
09 January 2007 07:59 EST
Chris Barylick
San Francisco -- Axiotron and Other World Computing have unveiled the long-anticipated ModBook, the first Macintosh laptop modified to use a tablet interface.
The unit, which was created by Axiotron and is being distributed within the U.S. by Other World Computing is tentatively priced at $2,279 and ships as a do-it-yourself kit that adds a true pen input, 13.3" widescreen LCD and optional Global Positioning System within a toughened satin chrome-plated magnesium casing.
For the full article as well as a picture gallery of the mobbed unveiling, check out the jump...
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Apple Exceeds Delivery Expectations
02 November 2006 03:01 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
I received this email today:
I already received the iPod Shuffle v2 I ordered for my wife. Ordered in September, selected free shipping during checkout, shipped from China on Monday, and it was handed to me at 10 am this morning. Haven't been able to use it yet, but dannnnnnnng is it cool to look at!
It echoes what I've heard from many of you and even my own experience.
My MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo was ordered via Apple's online store and I selected the faster "2-3 Business Days (after shipping)" option for an extra US$18. Apple's online order status page (which I highly recommend) told me that it was shipping on 31 October and was slated to arrive on 02 November.
I was extremely surprised when the FedEx tracking page changed on 31 October. My MBP had traveled from Shanghai to Anchorage to Indianapolis on the 30th, then from Indianapolis to Philadelphia to New Jersey on the 31st. I was very excited when I read that my new MBP was "On FedEx vehicle for delivery" yesterday, when I wasn't expecting it until a full two days later!
Sure enough it arrived yesterday and I haven't slept much since. Obviously, your mileage may vary and not everyone is going to receive their order two days early. Apple's overly conservative shipping estimates are another example of their commitment to under-promise and over-deliver and they deserve credit for it.
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Apple Requires a "Direct Signature" for all Hardware
02 November 2006 03:01 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
Apple offers a new delivery option when ordering from their online store. After your order is processed an option is available to "pre-sign" for your shipment. The only problem is that FedEx won't accept a such a form to leave your package.
It works like this: after you place the order, you can click on a link on Apple's order status page to "Pre-sign for this shipment." It takes you to a page that instructs you to accept the terms and conditions outlined below. You are then be presented with a Shipment Release Authorization form which you must print, sign and attach to your door prior to delivery.
Terms and Conditions I understand that Apple requires signatures acknowledging receipt of delivered goods. By signing the Shipment Release Authorization form, I hereby authorize Apple's carrier to leave my package at the address I have specified for delivery when placing my order. I understand that, in so doing, I assume the risk of any loss, theft, or destruction, and release Apple and its carriers from all liability that may result from, leaving the package where I have indicated on the Shipment Release Authorization form.
The problem is that FedEx considers a Shipment Release Authorization form an "indirect signature" because a live human did not sign for the package at the time of delivery. According to two FedEx representatives that I spoke to Apple specifically requires a "direct signature" for all their packages, no exceptions. So Apple appears to be sending mixed messages, telling FedEx that they require a direct signature but telling customers that they'll accept an indirect signature.
Shippers of valuable hardware need to protect themselves from fraud, especially in light of the recent theft-in-transit scams that are plaguing technology companies.
It's worth noting the discrepancy in signature policies in case you're waiting for a special delivery from Apple.
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Mac Pro Unboxing
11 August 2006 12:01 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
Mac Pro unboxed and taken apart. Ahhh, computer porn...
PowerMax: Mac Pro taken apart!
technorati tags:MacPro, Takeapart, Unboxing
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WWDC: Apple Drops Monitor Prices
08 August 2006 09:26 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
When Apple added the new Intel Mac Pro and Xserve to their online store after yesterday's WWDC keynote address they also quietly dropped the prices on their flat-panel Cinema Displays:
Apple Cinema Display 30-inch - US$1,999 (was US$2,999)
Apple Cinema Display 23-inch - US$999 (was US$1,299)
Apple Cinema Display 20-inch - US$699 (was US$799)
In addition to the price drop, Apple also silently bumped the brightness on the two smaller models:
ACD 30-inch - remains at 400 cd/m2 brightness
ACD 23-inch - 400 cd/m2 brightness (up from 270 cd/m2)
ACD 20-inch - 300 cd/m2 brightness (up from 250 cd/m2)
...and the contrast ratios:
ACD 30-inch - remains at 700:1 contrast ratio
ACD 23-inch - 700:1 contrast ratio (up from 400:1)
ACD 20-inch - 700:1 contrast ratio (up from 400:1)
Back in May 2006 I purchased a Dell 2405FPW 24-inch display for US$760 after comparing it to the Apple Cinema Display 23-inch.
The Dell 2405FPW has 24 inches of viewable screen area, inputs for S-Video, Composite, Component, DVI & VGA connections, four USB 2.0 ports, 500 cd/m2 brightness and 1000:1 contrast. The Apple monitor has 23 inches viewable, two USB, two FireWire 400 ports, 270 cd/m2 brightness and 400:1 contrast.
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160GB MacBook Drives get Perpendicular (Updated)
11 July 2006 08:47 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
MCE is now selling 160GB (5400RPM) SATA hard drives for the MacBook, MBP and Mac mini for US$299. Previously the largest shipping notebook SATA drive was 120GB. In January MCE announced 160GB hard drives for PowerBooks but those drives are Ultra ATA/100 and won't work in Apple's newest iron. So if your MacBook's hard drive is already full, image that bad boy and upgrade to the new 160GB drives. I recommend picking up a pair so that you can have a hot spare at home.
UPDATE: Suprisingly its not Seagate Momentus 5400.3 mechanism (although they've had a 160GB PATA version out for some time now.) The drive that MCE is selling is a Hitachi Travelstar 5K160 mechanism - they're first perpendicular recording (PMR) hard drive.
Click through for the whole PR...
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15,000 Songs on your Credenza
01 May 2006 08:36 EST
iPods are great little sound machines, with the emphasis on little and they pack enough power to drive a pair of earbuds for hours and hours. If you don't need portable, you can get a lot more bang far a lot less buck. Whether you use an all Apple solution or even a PC, older computers make cheap digital jukeboxes and iTunes is free. Keep in mind that most PCs used for computing tasks are attached to some seriously lo-fi speakers. This is not what I am talking about. I have cobbled together a number digital jukeboxes, many on the cheap.
My first digital music box came pre-configured. You see, I still have my Twentieth Anniversary Mac and it was designed to play music. The Bose sound system is decent, considering the size limitations of the small drivers in the TAM head unit. The fan in my TAM always runs because of a G3 upgrade, I only have a 20GB laptop drive in it and the version of Quicktime running on OS 9 does not support Apple's Fair Play. But, with it's built in remote control, CD drive and iTunes, it makes for an elegant integrated music system.
Read More...
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Airport Express: When Blinking Green Means Stop
21 April 2006 10:15 EST
PowerPage Contributor
Airport Express is a great product. Lots of us use it to set up wireless networks, play music and print. It's easy to set up and works well -- until it dies. When mine did, I did the usual. I looked on line, I checked all the wires, I called Apple support. They were helpful, but I was out of luck. My waranty had expired. I looked on Apple's discussion forums and this seems very common. Shouldn't Apple fix what appears to be a design problem?
Is this still happening with new Aiport Expresses?
Contributed by: Peter
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FireWire Evolution Redux
26 January 2006 09:00 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
Contributed by: James Wiebe, CEO, WiebeTech LLC
15 months ago, I wrote a white paper which was entitled, 'FireWire Evolution'. The paper contained a lot of information on the history of FireWire, and delved deeply into the marketing path which Apple had taken with FireWire 800.
I probably was a little too careful in my analysis; I tried not to ruffle feathers needlessly at Apple. In any case, it's dangerous to predict the future.
This time, I am throwing caution to the wind and I will be a little more emphatic. If you are making storage decisions based on rollouts of FireWire 800 technology, your purchasing priorities are sadly out of order. Apple was the only champion of FireWire 800; a task it seemed to take reluctantly. Now, Apple is making marketplace moves that are absolving itself of FireWire 800.
One of the keen underlying technology themes at MacWorld 2006 is that Apple has begun to remove FireWire 800 from its product lineup. It was removed unceremoniously from the MacBook Pro, and I'm betting that it will soon be gone from the entire Macintosh product lineup, most specifically the desktop lineup.
No, I don't have a secret line of communication with Steve, and I have absolutely no Apple engineers whispering in my ear. And I have no axe to grind with my own product line, because we do sell lots of FireWire 800 drive enclosures and docks every day. We also have some customers who are married to FireWire 800 technology for the right reasons and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.
FireWire 800 was the right technology at the right time, but badly marred by marketing mistakes at the time it was launched. It had a viable upgrade path to even faster versions (none of which has ever happened).
So where to from here? Here's my thoughts as to where Apple should go...
Read More....
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Overnight HDD Upgrade for your 'Book
23 January 2006 07:57 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
TechRestore, Inc. (a PowerPage sponsor) is now offering 160GB overnight hard drive upgrades for PowerBooks, iBooks and PC notebooks.
The service includes overnight pickup of your notebook from any location in the continental U.S., installation of the new 160GB drive, data transfer and return overnight shipping for US$490. Your old hard drive is returned so you'll have a backup of your data.
The same service for other drives costs:
- 120GB (5400RPM) US$330
- 100GB (5400RPM) US$280
- 100GB (7200RPM) US$400
As an option you can have your old hard drive installed in a portable case for US$20. All upgrades are covered by a 1-year warranty from TechRestore and a 5-year warranty on the hard drive from the manufacturer.
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Sonnet 1.2GHz TiBook Processor Upgrade
17 January 2006 11:59 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
Sonnet Technologies has announced a processor upgrade service for PowerBook G4 550 MHz and 667 MHz (Titanium) models. The upgrade features a Freescale 7457 G4 processor running at 1.2 GHz with 512K L2 cache (twice the original processor's) running at full processor speed.
Until now, all of Sonnet's processor upgrades have been standalone products created for DIY installation, and offer users a simply fast way to accelerate their Macs. Due to the complexity of replacing these PowerBook CPUs, Sonnet opted to start the PowerBook G4 TiBook upgrade service and take over the installation task. The service includes the purchase of the upgrade, and full installation and testing of the upgraded computer by highly trained technicians.The TiBook upgrade service creates a path for PowerBook G4 owners to obtain faster clock speed and higher performance. The end result is maximum performance gains and 100% compatibility with existing hardware, RAM, and software--qualities that you have come to expect from a Sonnet upgrade.
The PowerBook G4 TiBook upgrade costs US$499.95 plus tax (where applicable) and shipping. More information about the PowerBook G4 TiBook Upgrade service is available on the Sonnet Web site.
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MCE Offers 160GB PowerBook HDD Upgrade
17 January 2006 11:16 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
MCE Technologies, LLC (MCE) is now selling a 160GB 5400 RPM hard drive for the PowerBook, iBook and Mac mini. The MCE MobileStor 160GB/5400RPM drive (US$399) is the highest capacity 2.5-inch drive available for these machines and includes an 8MB cache buffer.
The drive's engineers have developed a method of standing data bits on end within the disks platters as opposed to the previous method of hard disk data recording which was to lay the bits down horizontally, parallel to the platter. Since the platter's depth is now used to store bits vertically through the platter, more bits can be packed into the platter... hence the higher capacity.In addition, because a slightly thicker recording layer is used the risk of thermal decay is decreased and this greatly enhances reliability in demanding high temperature and rugged operating environments. The MCE MobileStor 160GB PowerBook hard drive has sustained data transfer rates of up to 44MB per second with burst transfer rates of up to 100MB per second. The drive is also designed with an 8MB read and write cache buffer. This allows the drive to anticipate what data will be requested next by the PowerBook and the drive will pre-load this data into its cache buffer.
If the PowerBook requests this pre-loaded data then the drive responds immediately, transmitting the data from its super-fast cache buffer, eliminating completely the latency involved in having to search for the data on its disk. The larger the cache, the greater chance the data will already be pre-loaded. Since most drives include only a 2MB buffer, the MobileStor 160GB's 8MB buffer gives it a further performance advantage.
The mechanism is a Momentus 5400.3 from Seagate Technology LLC with an Ultra ATA/100 interface, so it won't work in the new MacBook Pro. A second version with a faster Serial ATA interface will be available later this year according to Seagate.
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EVDO Cards for the ExpressCard/34 Slot
16 January 2006 12:36 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
With the announcement of the MacBook Pro a lot of people are wondering what they're going to do with their EVDO PC cards. The Verizon PC5220 is one of the more popular EVDO PC cards and some have speculated that the U132 adapter would work in a pinch.
According to sources the Verizon PC5220 will work in the U132, but only with Windows. There are currently no Mac OS drivers for the U132 adapter and no established plan or timeline for them. The U132 will not be shipping until next month but it is available for pre-order now.
Luckily the MacBook Pro isn't the first notebook to use the ExpressCard/34 slot. The following PC notebooks also ship with an ExpressCard/34 slot:
- Dell Inspiron 1300
- Dell Inspiron B130
- Dell Inspiron B120
- LifeBook N3511
- Toshiba Terca M3
- ThinkPad T32 (supports both PCMCIA & ExpressCard)
- Acer TravelMate 8204WLMi
EVDOInfo.com has posted a page tracking developments on EVDO cards for the new ExpressCard/34 slot.
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New PowerBooks! New PowerBooks! Oh and PowerMacs too...
19 October 2005 09:45 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
Apple used a press event in New York today to announce some new hardware and software. The event was held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan on the eve of PhotoPlus Expo, a large photography trade show. The new announcements included new PowerBook G4s, PowerMac G5s and a new professional post production photo application called Aperture. Specifications are as follows:
PowerBook G4 (15-inch)
- 1.67MHz
- 1440 x 960 pixel display, providing 26 percent more resolution
- DVI output with dual link for Apple 30" Cinema display support
- 512MB PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM @ 333MHz, expandable to 2GB
- 80GB Ultra ATA/100 (5400 RPM) hard drive w/Sudden Motion Sensor
- 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support
- 22% greater battery life (an extra hour of run time)
- US$1,999 (down from US$2,299)
PowerBook G4 (17-inch)
- 1.67MHz
- 1680 x 1050 pixel display, providing 26 percent more resolution (The same resolution as Apple 20" Cinema Display.)
- DVI output with dual link for Apple 30" Cinema display support
- 512MB PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM @ 333MHz, expandable to 2GB
- 120GB Ultra ATA/100 (5400 RPM) hard drive w/Sudden Motion Sensor
- 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support
- 22% greater battery life (an extra hour of run time)
- US$2,499 (down from US$2,699)
The new 15 and 17-inch PowerBooks are available with 100 and 120GB (5400RPM) hard drives and up to 2GB of SDRAM as built-to-order options.
The PowerBook 12-inch (1.5GHz) remains the same but is available with a 100GB/5400RPM hard drive and up to 1.25GB of RAM as built-to-order options. US$1,499 (down from US$1,699). All three PowerBook models had their prices lowered by $200.
Apple also announced new PowerMacs G5s today with dual-core processors. Click through for all the specs...
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The Apple Core: The Mac minis silent upgrade
06 October 2005 12:43 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
It appears that Apple has quietly released an upgrade to the Mac mini - and they're not fessing up to it. Rather than do it with their usual press release and updated product page Apple's quietly rolling out the zippier 1.5GHz minis in the 1.42GHz packaging. Read more...
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Sirius Previews s50 Portable Satellite Radio
29 September 2005 01:23 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
The new Sirius s50 portable satellite radio looks like a very cool little gadget. the Sirius Web site is vague on the details but I'm sure we'll hear more as the release date approaches. Here's the quick skinny from their Web site:
- Save up to 50 hours of your favorite programming by simply pressing the (heart shape) button. Or save individual songs and programs, then sort and replay by artist, title or genre.
- Use the Media Dial, or simply turn/tilt your S50 to pause, rewind and fast-forward.
- Bring your own MP3 or WMA library (when docked to PC) via USB cable
- Combine audio files to make customized playlist.
- Game Alerts - Prompts when your favorite teams are playing
- Sports Ticker - Get up to the minute score updates of your favorite teams without changing the channel
- 30 channel presets
- One touch JUMP to access traffic and weather reports for your city or use to tune to your favorite SIRIUS channel
- 6 hours battery life in portable mode