Cjed Audio News 2008-07 cat111


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07-30-08 / 10:06 PM : Read pdfs offline on the iPhone (cjed)

To read pdfs on the iPhone we have to access the file url from Safari, or open an attached file to an email. With a jailbroken iPhone we can access to the iPhone file system through Ftp transfer (place file in /var/mobile/Media), and then open the file from Safari using an url scheme like file://path.

We can expect soon (when the AppStore will be highly profitable and when a files sign feature has been added to the OS) a firmware update that allows filesystem browse and transfer through USB. For now the limitation (that can be bypassed) prevents massive pirating of AppStore applications and games.

07-27-08 / 07:25 PM : Adsense : unlock the account (cjed)

Since some weeks the adsense banner displayed general interest announces instead of commercial ads, and I didn't understand well the logged message in the Adsense management interface. In fact I received a letter from Google, that included a verification code that has to be put through the interface. This is now required even below the 100$ payment stage (26$ for me in 3 years).

We can also in the account options choose the payment mean and devise. Finally we have to click on a link to send fiscal informations, but in fact it does nothing if we are outside US (no additional informations required, and nothing sent).

07-27-08 / 03:34 PM : iPhone3G / iPod 1 : audio quality (cjed)

We remember the lower audio quality problem with 6G classic iPods (use a Cirrus Logic DAC instead of the Wolfson from previous iPods - there is to note however that no other audio players or phones company provides better audio quality than Apple's devices). Good news, the l'iPhone3G still uses a Wolfson DAC, a newer model in fact, the WM6180C (replaces the Wolfson WM8758 from the first iPhone, whose quality was said to be average to bad, so even such a famous company can produce low cost chips that aren't of audiophile quality).

At iLounge forums we can read mixed reviews about the iPhone3G audio quality :

- The sound quality at reasonable volume levels, particularly in the bottom end is really poor. I started noticing soon after I purchased it that the bass was distorting noticeably, and when there was a lot of degradation of sound quality over a wide range of frequencies. I tested it with 3 pairs of headphones (cheap $10 Sony, decent $100 Sennheisers, and some high end Denon reference headphones). In all three tests the bottom end was muddy, indistinct and worst of all was noticeably distorting... the better the headphones you use with an iPhone, the more noticeable the problems are due to the more accurate.
- My iPhone 3G doesn't have any of the distortion you are talking about. Bass is crisp and clear on my AKG K27i headphones. In fact, I have to say that my iPhone actually sounds noticeably better than my old 30Gb 5G iPod.
- I'm really happy with the iPhone sound quality. My previous iPod, a monochrome 4g finally gave up the ghost a few months ago, but going by my ears' memory of it, the iPhone 3g sounds better
- The sound quality and volume of my new 3G beats the pants off any mobile phone I have ever used.

It is clear that Apple had to make cuts somewhere to reduce the iPhone3G price as they did. However, after some listening, despite the low output level provided with the AKG 240M headphone (very high impedance, 600 Ohms) that prevents a fair comparison, the iphone3G sound seems well balanced (homogenous, with detailed high end, percussive sound and very good - too much precise ? - spatialisation and wide audio field).
Using the same headphone with a first generation iPod (used a Wolfson WM8721 as we can see on that tab) with unlimited audio level, the low end seems much punchy (stronger kicks) but a bit muddy/less precise. However the spectral basis seems larger, with far more less holes, what leads to a warmer and stronger sound (the high end seems reduced, not as high than with the iPhone3G).
Globally the iPhone3G sound is more precise, lacking nothing technically (the iPod 1 seemed to enhance too much the bass frequencies, and sounded muddier), but the later provided a warmer and stronger sound. Such remarks about the iPhone audio quality remind what was said about the Cirrus Logic converters from 6G classic iPods, compared with the Wolfson DAC from previous iPods. So it is possible to produce a low cost audio DAC with great specifications, but without an audiophile sound (requires rounded and full frequencies, where low cost components lead to a thin sound).

The ipod 1 from 2001 was priced 500$ initially, that is the same as now iPhone3G. The later is 3 times thinner whereas it includes ten times more components (cellphone chips, GPS, Wifi, etc.). The ipod 1 featured a minimalistic user interface (but very efficient), and only included a hard disk and the DAC (besides the main processor). So it was more obvious (and wise in an economic manner) to put a great audio converter in such an audio player. This is however something to moderate, considering the high integration level reached these days for electronic chips, and the iPhone3G production scale, nothing to compare with the first iPod production numbers (was the first audio player of that generation, and only worked with mac).

07-26-08 / 11:15 PM : iPhone final SDK / firmware 2.1 beta (cjed)

While the iPhone SDK has been available in final version since some days (with a great new 200 pages documentation), informations about firmware 2.1 (expected September) have emerged : support for cust&paste, new localization APIs (direction and velocity). Meanwhile the 2.0.1 firmware (mainly bug fixes) should ne released in early August.

07-26-08 / 10:53 PM : Cases and covers for iPhone3G (cjed)

Any iPhone owner couldn't stand a streak on the touchscreen... despite the screen being announced as very strong. Most people have fear when discovering the Apple logo during the iPhone startup (it isn't a streak nor a bug) !

There are many accessories to protect the iPhone : protection covers/films (see this cet article about Proporta, or Exim SPUC, or ZAGG invisibleSHIELD, or Power Support Anti-Glare).
We also find on the AppleStore many cases : Belkin (transparent acrylique), Contour Flick, Gear4 IceBox Pro, Belkin silicone case.

07-26-08 / 10:07 PM : iPhone3G volume control : bug ? (cjed)

At certain time, the iPhone3G virtual volume slider (in iPod mode) stops working (does not respond anymore to touch) when at full right (max volume). Then it can't scroll back to left... it works again after many try (using the physical volume button to lower it a bit helps). Sometime we have juste to press a bit below the slider axe, but other times it doesn't help. So the touch management software for the volume control seems to work a bit randomly, as if it felt to sleep after some idle time. The problem doesn't occur at the left end.
In other modes (virtual keyboard, grid icones) the lower right area seems working well, so it should be a software bug only, or it might be a feature that prevent unwanted volume change (such as an automatic hold mode), but why only at the right end ? (this position is only used with high impedance headphones, like the AKG 240M - 600 Ohms).

Hopefully, thanks to this tip we can drag the virtual volume slider from another part of the touchscreen.

UPDATE : after having tried the tip I discovered that you just have to move the finger a bit above the slider cursor (after the initial pressure) before moving it back to left (as a curve path to unlock it). Then it works all the time, so perhaps it is intended to work that way. However the problem doesn't appear in the upper right nor on the left side.

07-26-08 / 09:30 PM : Details on Orange Origami Star subscriptions (cjed)

Here are important precisions about the Orange Origami Star subscriptions : SMS are free and unlimited the evening and weekend, but are priced 13 cents daytime. Moreover, emails sent or received through Mail app (except webmails) are all priced 9 cents/kb of data uploaded or downloaded (no 10Mb included data, this option is only available with Origami First subscriptions). Finally there isn't access to Orange Wifi hotspots. However internet access is free and unlimited (included Youtube).
About Visual Voice Mail (not included, only for iPhone subscriptions), it is selective (direct) access to vocal messages (without having to listen to all of them), nothing to do with video conferencing, that isn't available with the iPhone (only still camera).

07-26-08 / 12:28 PM : Freebox v4 compliance test / wifi card (cjed)

As it becomes more problematic since owning the iPhone not being able to make the Wifi work with the Freebox v4 (fitted with the Free WPCB-115G Wifi PCMCIA card), I made new search as some users also faced this problem (their Wifi card also worked on another Freebox, but not theirs).

On that site we can look up at a compatibility table between Wifi cards (among those Free cards) and the various Freebox versions. We can identify the freebox version through this table, comparing the freebox MAC adresse value with those listed (are of type 00:07:CB:xx:yy:zz).

Then I launched OSX Network utility, and under tab Netstat I displayed routing table informations. In the Gateway column I found an adresse starting with 0:7:cb:f:yy:zz. Then I have only one hexa number, f, so it is the xx part start, and the end part is empty. It corresponds to 15 value, so my freebox version is v4B (also printed on the back - ADSL04 -, so base V4, but this information isn't as reliable). The V4B version is listed as incompatible with my Free WPCB-115G wifi card (this is a 802.11g card - 54Mbps -, only compatible with V4C and V4R, because V4 and V4B have slower PCMCIA interface, 16 bits) !

07-24-08 / 11:56 PM : New MacPro in 6 months (cjed)

Apple should unveil new MacPro in January, 2009, fitted with new Intel Nehalem processors. These notably use an ultra-fast interconnection bus, that reminds the one found in old G5s. It seems they will include SSE4.2, and not the more expected AVX.

07-24-08 / 11:45 PM : iPhone and 3G networks (cjed)

About the 3G+ network stability problem encountered by some people with the iPhone3G, Apple might release a firmware update in August, that would fix it (in the meantime Orange may be working on tuning its network). The 500Mb/month limit is likely to be changed to 1Gb, and iPhone subscriptions pricing should evolve.
Forums also deal with Mail2web, that allows to use Mail.app without having messages being counted (10Mb limit with Origami subscriptions).

07-22-08 / 11:04 PM : Apple : record results and upcoming products (cjed)

Apple presented record results for the last quarter, and is expected to unveil revolutionnary new products in late 2008. Some mentioned a MacBook Touch for October (a tablet mac).

07-20-08 / 04:58 PM : SIM contacts import on iPhone (cjed)

The site ituto.fr provides a tutorial about importing contacts from a SIM card onto an iPhone v1. It isn't required anymore since the iPhone3G and the 2.0 firmware (adds this feature).

07-20-08 / 03:36 PM : iPhone / Orange : internet & subscription switch (cjed)

Swith to french mode to read my iPhone3G transition experience and problem with internet facuration by Orange while the subscription transition. For now i've removed the SIM card and I use the iPhone as an ipod + wifi (and later GPS), games and development (iPhone SDK) test.s

07-16-08 / 11:56 PM : Star Wars: Force Unleashed for iPhone (cjed)

LucasArts announced that Star Wars: Force Unleashed is being ported to iPhone by THQ Wireless, and that it will be available the same day as the console version (September, 16). It is a slightly scaled down version, but it is still really 3D (OpenGL ES) : the view point (camera) is still (static) for each scene, but the environment and models (animated) are true 3D as in the console version.
The actions are made by describing gestures using the touchscreen (sabers swing paths or force effects to targets), as with KHOTOR, and the gameplay has been revised so that it isn't overcomed as a limitation. We can discover a stunning video (8mn).
Then the progress potential (in terms of quality) for iPhone games (compared with the first games - some of whose are really stunning) is great, and games editors commitment is a real success.

07-16-08 / 11:36 PM : Prices and subscriptions for iPhone 3G (cjed)

The iPhone 3G will be available tomorrow through mobile replacement plan (PCM) for 2400 Orange points (I discovered I have 2450 now after 2 years and a half of subscription), priced 199 euros (8 Gb model). We may keep our current subscription, however it doesn't seem useful (no internet service and no mail with a 2h classic subscription at 32 euros).
Indeed it is better to switch to an Origami star 1h+1h subscription (32 euros/month, 1h full time + 1h from 8pm to 8am and weekend) or Origami star 2h+2h (38 euros/month). These subscriptions offer unlimited internet (maps, meteo, youtube, streaming of radios and video), unlimited sms (8pm to 8am and weekend, or 0,13 cents/sms), mail (limited to 10Mb/month - higher price beyond, but webmails like Gmail are unlimited), 500Mb data transfer limit per month (suspended until next month beyond).

07-14-08 / 11:52 PM : New 3G iPhone : 1 million in three days (cjed)

From Friday (iPhone3G shipment in 21 pays) to Sunday, one million units were sold, while this number was reached after 74 days for the first iPhone (was limited to US initially). We can read a first review at Gizmodo.
A new games portal site for iPhone has been opened, Touch Arcade.

07-14-08 / 10:49 PM : Monolith & fireworks (cjed)

Here is a song made exactly 2 years ago :
HarpMonolithYear.mp3

07-10-08 / 11:26 PM : iPhone firmware 2. / AppStore online (cjed)

Apple released the iPhone firmware 2.0 (installation is done through iTunes 7.7), and the AppStore can be reached here. Among audio applications, only Pianist and Drummer from MooCowMusic seem really valuable, and rightly priced (5,99$ and 4,99$ respectively). On the games area, besides Super Monkey Ball, Enigmo and Cro-Mag rally, we can find Moto Racer. Other stuff is like returning back to Oric and MO5 ages technically... so we can expect far more better soon.

07-08-08 / 11:38 PM : Intel : laptops CPU at 25W max (cjed)

Intel plans to lower the acceptable typical power consumption for laptops processors, down to 25W (from 35W today). The Centrino 2 platform will bring Core 2 Duo processors that meet this requirement, and that range from 2,26 to 2,53 Ghz, and provide a 1,066MHz bus and DDR3 memory.
The G4 (MPC7455) used up to 35W starting from 1Ghz, and Intel should unveil soon ultra low power processors (ATOM platform), that only use 5W power and that are even more powerful.

07-04-08 / 12:21 AM : Quartz2D animation : QuartzComposer / Python (cjed)

The site idrankthekoolaid provides an article that shows how to easily create an OSX screensaver using QuartzComposer only. The animation definition is made by graphically assembling modules, transformers and generators (LFO, etc.) to modify the shapes and paths (see also a tutorial on ADC site).
We can also look at an ArsTechnica article about using Quartz2D from Python, and the NodeBox application, that allows to create complex Quartz2D animations using Python language.

Finally we can find Pycairo, a binding to use the graphical Cairo framework (multi-plateform, is based on Quartz on the OSX version) from Python.

07-03-08 / 11:34 PM : QuickTime scripting from javascript (cjed)

At digitalmedia.oreilly.com we can read an article that shows how to control QuickTime sequences from javascript. We can also discover a demo of Orao, a QuickTime medias video player made using QuickTime javascript scripting functions, that provides these features :
Clean fast forward, Fast rewind, Jog Shuttle, Frame by frame step forward and backward, Direct access to any frame, Precise information about the currently displayed frame, Precise information about the amount of already downloaded data (in progressive download), Selection control (constraint the navigation within the video), read of any format, Encrypted cache, no easy way to pirate the video, even in progressive download.
This solution is sold by Opsomai company, and is used notably by the INA.
At the vrarchitect.ne blog the writer exlains why QuickTime is better than Flash, and that Flash isn't used in any VOD.

Finally, on ADC site about QuickTime scripting from javascript, we learn that the other way (call javascript from a mov container) still existed but was removed starting QuickTime 7.1.5 verison due to security concerns.

07-03-08 / 12:19 AM : Akkord Resort on Youtube (cjed)

Akkord Resort is now also available at Youtube. The sound is mono (converted to mono through the Youtube reencoding process, the tricks - on PC - to keep stereo sound don't work anymore). The similarity (fortuitous) with the famous song Gate 22 from Pascale Picard seems then a bit more obvious.

07-01-08 / 12:33 AM : OSX : 10.5.4 update (cjed)

A 10.5.4 update to Leopard is available. The details can be found here, there doesn't seem to be major fixes.

07-01-08 / 12:26 AM : ZDNet overclocking tool for MacPro (cjed)

ZDNet provides a tool to overclock the MacPro. On the latest revision a restart allows for the system to take into account the new clock and to display the right informations.