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11-29-07 / 10:41 PM : Audiowarrior Analogue Sythesizer (cjed)
Audiowarrior presents a vintage synths samples library for Kontakt, Analogue Sythesizer (99$). We can find here sounds made with 7 famous 60&70s synths : evolving Alien environments/soundscapes, effects (Rain & Thunder, The Grays, BladeRunner, RAIN, Deep Sea, Alien Locust, Ethereal Bog, Frogs of Plague), Searing Synth Leads, DEEP Shaking Bass patches, FX, Trippy Pads based on Juno, Oberheim, Moog, Prophet, Oscar, etc. No audio demo is provided.
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11-29-07 / 10:33 PM : Intel compilers/fin beta Bootcamp/iphone 3G (cjed)
Intel sells new versions of tis compilers optimized for Leopard, however Apple's ones included with XCode should be as good ?
Apple confirms the end of the Bootcamp beta program on Tiger for the year end (as it is integrated in Leopard).
Rumors speak about a 3G iPhone soon.
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11-28-07 / 10:38 PM : EastWest libraries with Kontakt/Leopard (cjed)
EasWest products work fine under Leopard if used from the standalone Kompakt player (the installation doesn't require any patch), however Kontakt 2 (and 3) fails loading these samples, saying the libraries aren't registered. EastWest reported that Native Instruments is aware of the problem and is working on it :
NI is still working on catching up with Leopard, there have been registration issues that they are aware of (as in the registration not being seen by Kontakt 2/3, but seen fine by our Kompakt player). They are working on a patch that should fix this shortly.
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11-28-07 / 10:32 PM : Nepro : Proto Rock expansion for M3 (cjed)
Kid Nepro presents a new expansion card for Korg M3, the Proto Rock. It includes 50 Mb of vintage synths samples (60$). Audio demos are available on the page.
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11-28-07 / 10:26 PM : Myst Online Uru Live : interview (cjed)
The site adventure gaming classic provides an interview of Mark Dobratz, producer/project manager at Cyan Worlds (worked on Myst V and Myst Online : Uru Live). He gives details on Uru Live parts that were taken back into Myst Online, and about events persistance in Ages per user.
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11-28-07 / 10:04 PM : Unreal Tournament 3 review (cjed)
Gamespy provides a review of UT3. It isn't a true revolution as was UT1 at his time (UT2 includes the two sequels, UT2003 and UT2004, that were based on the second generation engine). However the graphics are even better now, and the next episode (or mods) could be much interesting.
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11-27-07 / 08:13 PM : Kontakt 3 library : audio demos (cjed)
Native Instruments provides audio demos of its new Kontakt 3 huge samples library (33Go). Among them we find musics featuring great ethnic sounds (Duduk, Oud, Djembes, Shakuachi, Kora, etc.), powerful sax and brass ensembles, very interesting pads/atmospheres (was a weak point of Kontakt 2 library), vintages sounds, VSL instruments.
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11-27-07 / 08:02 PM : Java6 open source port on Leopard (cjed)
Landon Fuller provides on his blog a port of Java 6 on mac (Tiger and Leopard, but only for Intel machines), soylatte, based on a BSD port of the JDK1.6 ( Java Research License). Binaries (Java 6 Port: Developer Preview Release 2) can be downloaded from the Binary Access area of the page, in 32 bits version (10.4 et 10.5) and 64 bits (10.5). Interesting since Apple hasn't yet released Java 6 for Leopard (should notably work also on PowerPC).
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11-27-07 / 07:51 PM : Digital Lifestyle : mac channel (cjed)
The site Digital Lifestyle launched a video channel (streaming) dedicated to mac, 24 Hours Apple.
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11-26-07 / 10:18 PM : Tomb Raider Anniversary (cjed)
Ferral Interactive announces Tomb Raider Anniversary for mac (Intel only at start, Universal binary version through the end of the year). This game got positive reviews from PC magazines, and is based upon themes and locations from the first episode (that was out ten years ago), adding a modern rendering engine.
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11-25-07 / 10:06 PM : Wall.E trailer (cjed)
Apple provides the first trailer (dont HD) of Wall.E, the next animation film from Pixar/Disney. It will be out June, 2008 in US and is being made by the same director that did Nemo.
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11-25-07 / 09:44 PM : MOTU MachFive 2 review (cjed)
Audiofanzine provides a review of Motu MachFive 2, the new version of MOTU virtual sampler. It brings a new 32 Gb samples library (4DVDs), that includes among other a superb acoustic grand piano, a special version of VSL (orchestra instruments, church organ and choirs), and surround sounds. The audio engine manages samples up to 24 bits/192Khz, the UI is well designed, the resources usage is very low and the audio formats import is great (transparent). It is priced 449$.
Some audio examples are provided towards the end of the article. We can read details about included samples here.
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11-24-07 / 11:26 PM : Church lead theme (cjed)
This song is based on a simple organ theme (Colossus's Church Organ), with two solo violas and strings ensemble (SO Gold XP), and added percussions (Altered beat from K2 and ethnic drums from Colossus) :
CHLead

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11-23-07 / 11:25 PM : Leopard : no more Classic (cjed)
As stated by Apple, Leopard doesn't include the Classic environment anymore, on both Intel and PowerPC macs. Then we have to boot on OS9 (for macs up to MDD G4 MDD included) or to use SheepShaver, that in fact makes native calls on PowerPC machines (G5 included). On Intel macs it emulates a G4 with Altivec (but without MMU) and offers 1/8 of the Intel processor frequency relative performance.
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11-23-07 / 10:32 PM : Kurzweil VA-1 offered for a PC3X (cjed)
Kurzweil includes for free the VA-1 (virtual analog) extension for each PC3X buyed, this offer ends this december, 31 (599$ value). The PC3X is priced 3000$.
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11-22-07 / 10:49 PM : AudioWarrior Wurly Theatre Organ/B3/Church (cjed)
AudioWarrior presents WURLY THEATRE ORGAN, B3, + CHURCH ORGAN, a sample library for Kontakt 2 that brings 3 instuments : the Wurly Theatre Organ, a B3 organ and a Church Organ (Notre Dame style). It is priced 49$. An audio demo is available.
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11-22-07 / 09:55 PM : X-Plane 9.0.0 beta 2 (cjed)
A new version of X-Plane, 9.0.0 beta 2, can be downloaded here. It is an installer that grabs the data through internet (demo mode if no licence). The full version (based on beta 1 - can be upgraded thereafter) is sold 79$. It includes new World scenery (70 Go on 8 dual layer DVDs) with 20% more elevation details compared with those from X-Plane 8, and adds new textures, buildings, forests, and reflective water.
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11-21-07 / 10:33 PM : Marathon 2 on Xbox 360 (cjed)
The site Gamasutra provides an interview of Freeverse, a well known mac games editor (and mainly fan of mac), that recently managed to port Marathon 2 :Durandal on Xbox. The original rendering engine used Quickdraw API (2D), without any equivalent on DirectX (or OpenGL), fixed point integer optimizations, and also assembly code (68k and PowerPC) for textures mapping.

The rendering engine was so rewritten in DirectX, that allows to achieve higher resolutions. The sprites have been revamped, with also more variations. Time management (determinates gameplay) had to be reworked as the framerate changes from 30fps to 60fps. The open source project Aleph One, that uses OpenGL and that has been famous since first versions of MacOSX, was a great help.

On MacOSX we can yet use since some months Marathon : Resurrection 2, a project of the same type, that is packaged as an Unreal Tournament 1 mode (for version 436 under classic or the preview 3 for OSX).
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11-20-07 / 11:17 PM : Roland R-09 review (cjed)
Audiofanzine provides a full review of Roland R-09, a portable recorder that was out more than a year ago. At a same price we can get a Zoom H4, that brings pro open inputs (XLR), and more effects (amp simulation, etc.). The Roland R-09 is however very thin.
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11-18-07 / 10:27 PM : Kontakt 2 on Leopard (cjed)
The Kontakt 2 update 2.2.3 installation requires a new (second) authorization, through the new NI Service Center, downloadable here). Then we cannot simply copy a Tiger Kontakt 2.2.3 to Leopard, as only one authorization would be asked in the Service Center (however when launching Kontakt 2 it will ask for the second authorization, that cannot be done). It should work with previous Kontakt 2 versions that don't ask a second authorization.
Another solution is to reinstall Kontakt 2.0 from the original CD (the original installer works on Leopard, without having to be patched !), to authorize this version through the NI Service Center, then to apply the 2.2.3 update (the update installer must be patched thanks to the patch available on the same page), and finally to authorize the update using the Service Center.
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11-17-07 / 05:35 PM : Echo Audio MIA 1.6.1 driver : Leopard compliant (cjed)
The latest version (1.6.1) of Echo Audio MIA driver is compatible with Leopard. Under Tiger and MDD G4 we had to stay with the 1.3 version (for Panther), as recent versions of the driver deactivated the MIA audio outputs (despite the vu-metters being active). Moreover recent versions of the driver fix a bug with Apple DVD Player where video experienced pauses (the bug was yet present in the 1.3 version of the driver).
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11-17-07 / 05:30 PM : NI : installers patch for Leopard (cjed)
Native Instruments provides a patch for its products installers, that allows to install these on Leopard. Thas is here (Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Installer Patch). We can also found Native Instruments Service Center 1.2.3.2 for Mac OS X (below in the download page, NI Service Center), that is required for recent upgrades (authorization).
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11-17-07 / 12:15 AM : Reason 4 review (cjed)
Audiofanzine propvides a full review of Reason 4. They liked the new Thor synthesis module and the new sequencer.
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11-17-07 / 12:13 AM : Online music : nothing for creators (cjed)
In this article about online music sales, we discover the tiny percentage gained by artists. At this level you will better continue with free music distribution (creative commons licence) instead of accepting ridiculous and insulting fees.
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11-16-07 / 12:05 AM : Leopard G4 performance / Tiger (cjed)
Here is the results of comparative tests of Leopard and Tiger through Xbench on a 1,25 Ghz MDD G4 (base Radeon 9000 Pro) :
We see a slight performance hit on processor tests (notably on altivec tests, 50% less) on Leopard, a slight hit in thread tests (with a single core, should be compensated in machines that use multiple cores), UI performances two times worse (but here is room to improve it as last Tiger versions showed 3 three times better results than the first Tiger release). On the other hand memory performance is better and Quartz engine has been optimized, notably in text rendering (3 times faster, and that was previously a slowdown factor in windows content resizing). OpenGL and disk performances are equal.s
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11-15-07 / 11:59 PM : Firefox 3 screenshots (cjed)
Lifehacker site presents first screenshots of Firefox 3 running on Leopard.
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11-15-07 / 11:53 PM : Final Cut Express 4 (cjed)
Apple presented Final Cut Express 4, wich price dropped from 299 to 199$. It brings support for HD video camera that use AVCHD format, DVD, memory and hard disk storage (previously only digital tape storage). Demo videos are available.
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11-15-07 / 11:49 PM : Updates : 10.4.11 et 10.5.1 (cjed)
Apple provides through automatic softwares update Mac OSX 10.4.11 and 10.5.1. That is here for the Leopard update bugs fixes.
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11-14-07 / 12:29 AM : Vienna Ensemble (cjed)
VSL presents Vienna Ensemble, a new host (and mixing) application for Vienna Symphonic Library collections. This host is available as RTAS or AU plugin. Moreover hosts can be launched as standalone applications, and many times, and so communicate through Midi, to expand the samples library size (2,4 Gb samples per host).
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11-14-07 / 12:14 AM : Need for Speed: Carbon review (cjed)
Applelinks provides a review of Need for Speed: Carbon d'Electronic Arts. They found it great.
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11-14-07 / 12:12 AM : FileMaker Bento / Office 2008 tour (cjed)
Macworld provides a review of Bento, the new database application from FileMaker, Inc, made for Leopard (demo version available). On another side Microsoft BU gives an interactive tour of Office 2008 for mac.
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11-13-07 / 12:00 AM : Unreal Tournament 3 preview (cjed)
IGN.com provides a preview of Unreal Tournament 3.
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11-12-07 / 11:54 PM : 112dB Morgana : vintage virtual sampler (cjed)
The editor 112dB presents Morgana, a new virtual sampler aimed at recreating the musicallity of vintages samplers (their defects). Some audio demos can be downloaded. It is priced 169 euros.
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11-11-07 / 11:54 PM : Leopard : install and first shot (cjed)
Leopard install is very quick and easy as usual. To install it from a single layer DVD, the AsianLanguageSupport package must be present in the packages folder (not a resources packages, but a required component that manages the particularities of these languages). The Disk Utility must be used to create the sparse images, 8 Gb for the copy of the original image (to make it writable in order to remove dev Tools, printer drivers packages and additional languages packages), and 4,4 Gb for the bootable image (uncheck destination erase). XRay can be used to make the System folder visible (contains the packages). When cloning a disk image into a destination image, the destination has to be set by drag&dropping the mounted destination disk image (white icon) from the Disk Utility left pane (volumes/images list).

Once installed and started into Leopard, Spotlight automatically starts indexing (mds process), and can grab more than 30 percent of the CPU. Then genie effect can be very slow. Through the Spotlight preferences (tab confidentiality) we can exclude external hard drives from indexing. However the main drive indexing can take 30mn. Finally to activate the root user, the new utility Directories Utility has to be used (unlock the changes, then go to the Edit menu, define the root user). TimeMachine is easily set on/off (choice at the end of the Leopard install) through the new Preference, and automatically finds the external drive, and the partition with most space.
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11-11-07 / 11:45 PM : Macworld : Logic Studio 8 review (cjed)
Following Audiofanzine, Macworld provides a review of Logic Studio 8 (and Logic Express 8). They also found the revamped interface very powerful , among the new features and the price cut.
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11-09-07 / 11:31 PM : Atmosphere & Trilogy wrapper for Intel (cjed)
Spectrasonics provides at download a wrapper for Atmosphere and Trilogy under Intel macs. The solution consists of two parts, a host that wraps the original PowerPC plugin (and that runs under Rosetta), and a native AU/VST plugin on the sequencer that communicates with the host (sends Midi commands and receives audio data). There is to see performances (why was an UB port so difficult ?).
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11-09-07 / 11:16 PM : Lexicon PCM96 (cjed)
Lexicon presented a new reverb unit, the PCM96. It brings firewire streaming through firewire (use as an external unit from a mac), new reverbs (including Room and Hall), the return of Concert Hall, an OLED screen, etc. The announced price is 2700$.
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11-09-07 / 11:02 PM : AF : review of Logic 8 (cjed)
Audiofanzine provides a full review of Logic 8 (only, other softwares of the Logic Studio 8 suite aren't considered). To resume it is a very positive review, except the graphical card requirements. The redrawing is ways slower than in Logic 7, so an old G4 could face some problems. Moreover the SoundDiver patches editor isn't included yet.
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11-08-07 / 12:26 AM : GMedia Virtual String Machine available (cjed)
GMedia Virtual String Machine, announced during the last Winter NAMM, is now out. New audio demos are available.
Moreover GMedia provides for free at download new sounds banks for impOSCar.
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11-08-07 / 12:17 AM : Pirates of the Caribbean Online : demo (cjed)
Apple provides a presentation of the new game Pirates of the Caribbean Online, announced last february. A demo can be downloaded from the Apple site page (or directly here), a user account has to be created (free account for the demo). The game is compatible with G4 or Intel macs.
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11-08-07 / 12:12 AM : Destineer Studio : UnrealEngine 3 licence (cjed)
Game editor Destineer Studio acquired a licence from Epic to use Unreal Engine 3, for a not yet unveiled project.
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11-08-07 / 12:09 AM : Firefox 3 first beta soon (cjed)
The first Firefox 3 beta for OSX is expected soon. This version will be closer to the Apple UI guidelines.
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11-08-07 / 12:06 AM : Leopard : 10.5.1 update seeded to dev (cjed)
Apple has seeded to developers the first Leopard update, 10.5.1 (9B13).
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11-06-07 / 11:11 PM : Enemy Territory: Quake Wars soon (cjed)
ID Software's Enemy Territory: Quake Wars has reached alpha status, and is expected on mac this december. The game uses a modified version of the Doom 3 engine, and the MegaTexture technology.
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11-06-07 / 11:04 PM : Spaces and new Spotlight review (cjed)
Macnn continues his Leopard review, this time on Spaces and the new Spotlight.
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11-06-07 / 10:59 PM : Google Open Handset Alliance / Apple tabletPC (cjed)
Google announced its new open source platform - Android - for mobile development, that includes a system (based on Linux), Google services and a SDK. Meanwhile rumors about an Apple tablet PC are back.
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11-06-07 / 10:55 PM : New Macbook : 10% faster (cjed)
The site Primate Labs notes a 10 percent increase in global performances of new MacBook fitted with Santa Rosa architecture (thanks to the new 800 Mhz bus), and notably (and logically) in memory access (that is besides a more than twice speed increase in graphical area thanks to the new GMAX3100 chipset).
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11-05-07 / 11:47 PM : Clavia Nord Wave available (cjed)
The new Clavia synthesizer, the Nord Wave, announced during the last musikmesse, is now available. Among the technical specifications we noticed two multitimbral parts, 2 oscillators (Triangle, Square, Saw - with sync -, 62 wavetables, 2-operator FM, Noise, up to 99 Sampled Instruments - user defined -, up to 99 Sampled Instruments - user define-), 6 types of single or multimode filters, 189Mb Flash memory (180Mb for user samples). The polyphony is unknown for now. Three audio samples are provided.
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11-05-07 / 11:12 PM : Tone 2 Gladiator (cjed)
Tone 2 presented Gladiator, a synthesis plugin targeted as being revolutionnary, that brings 18 oscillators per voice, more than 30000 waveforms, most of known synthesis (HCM - new synthesis -, FM, AM, PWM, sync, phase modulation, Vocoder sounds, waveshaping, distortion, supersaw, additive sounds, resynthesis sounds, phase distortion sounds, sample playback), filters, arpeggiator, etc.
The product is in betatesting stage and will be released in early december. There is no demo available yet.
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11-05-07 / 11:04 PM : Eve Online available on mac (cjed)
The strategy game Eve Online, yet available on PC, will ship this november, 6 on mac. It will be provided as a free download, and a 14 days trial will be opened (for further play the 14,95$ monthly fees will apply). The port has been done through Transgaming Cider, so the game will only work on Intel macs.
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11-02-07 / 04:13 PM : NI : installation softwares not Leopard compliant (cjed)
Native Instruments advices its customers to do an Upgrade install to Leopard instead of a full clean install. In fact some NI products installers (notably the Kontkat 2 installer) can't run under Leopard, that is the softwares can't be reinstalled. Leopard compatible versions of these installers will be available november/december.
Moreover some NI softwares can experience bugs wile displaying some confirmation dialogs. The new Kontkat 3 version is however free of all of these problems.
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11-02-07 / 03:33 PM : Roland : Leopard compliant drivers (cjed)
Roland announced that most of its products (audio and midi interfaces, USB master keyboards) are fully compatible with Leopard. That is here for drivers compatibility list per model.
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11-01-07 / 02:44 PM : Starwars Force Unleashed (cjed)
While kotf (Knight of the Force) is expected in the next hours (was announced for october, 31), we can watch trailers of the next LucasArts game, Starwars Force Unleashed.
(also there and here).
It uses two new animation technologies, Digital Molecular Matter, by Pixelux Entertainment, and euphoria by NaturalMotion Ltd. The result is really a revolution compared with previous games, as did the first Jedi Knight in his time. The game is expected spring, 2008.
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11-01-07 / 02:34 PM : Zero-G Classic Disco (cjed)
Soundsonline presents Classic Disco from Zero-G. This library includes 1,6 Gb 24 bits samples (Disco&Funk) : 35 construction kits, piano&epiano loops, bass&guitar loops, vocals, percussion loops). Audio demos are availble. It is priced 160$.
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11-01-07 / 02:29 PM : PLAY for Symphonic Orchestra (cjed)
EastWest gives a first shot on PLAY for Symphonic Orchestra, through its newsletter sent to customers. The product upgdrade towards PLAY will cost 99$ (150$ to keep the Kontakt 2 alive), it will be free for recent purchases however. A PLAY update (for products based on it) is available here.
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11-01-07 / 02:21 PM : New MacBook : GMA3100 (cjed)
Apple updated the MacBook (see technical details on the US Apple Store). They now onboard the famous Intel GMAX3100, that finally allows recent games to be played.
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11-01-07 / 02:12 PM : Time Machine review (cjed)
Macnn provides a full review of Time Machine.
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