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09-29-08 / 10:16 PM : Tutorial about KVO (cjed)
We can read at developpez.com a tutorial about the KVO (Key Value Observing) design pattern, that is integrated natively in Cocoa (and also in SproutCore). There isn't any close and as powerful or as transparent mechanism in Java, due to inherent limitations of the JVM compared with the Objective-C runtime.
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09-28-08 / 06:24 PM : iDrum and IR-909 for iPhone (cjed)
On the music area, we can find at the AppStore two new well designed applications (not free but cheap) : iDrum (4,99$) allows to create visually new ryhtmic patterns from provided loops and kits, and IR-909 (4,99 $ also) is a virtual drum box that features a Roland TR like step editing interface (it provides samples from TR-909, 808, 707 and 606, and two additional kits. A 2.0 version is being developed. A demo video is available at Youtube).
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09-28-08 / 06:16 PM : X-Plane 9.0.1 update for iPhone available (cjed)
The X-Plane 9.0.1 update for iPhone is now available at the AppStore. We can also download an update to BiiBall 3D (Lite and Full), that fixes bugs and enhances graphics and control, and grab a new version (1.3) of CubicMan Lite, that brings 5 additional levels to the existing 10 levels of that demo.
Finally Toy Bot Diaries (2,99 euros) seems an interesting game.
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09-28-08 / 12:32 AM : Another World 15th Anniversary Edition (cjed)
We could read at eurogamer.net an interview from Eric Chahi, about the release (one year ago) of a special version (remastered) of Another World, for the game's 15th anniversary. Graphics have been enhanced (HD resolution up to 2048 x 1536), with added details (including some atmospheric effects), however they keep the particularity that made its success. The original graphics resolution (320*200) wasn't suitable for display on recent displays. The sound also benefited from a remastering, and an audio CD is bundled : it includes musics from the original composer.

The game features an additional level that was also found on the PC version, and new save checkpoints have been added to avoid frustrating. A video (making-of) and conception notes are also included. The game works on PC only, but the required configuration is very small. So it could perhaps work through emulation, if the emulator supports DirectX 8.1 and provides 32Mb of VRAM. The game is edited by Micro Application and can be buyed at Rue du commerce (14,90 euros, boxed version).
Finally the site anotherworld.fr provides details about the game creation : videos, schemes, storyboad, screen captures and development hints. A demo version of the remastered edition is also available (22Mb), as well as the full version at download (priced 9,90 euros).
s
 3 comment
09-28-08 / 12:16 AM : IMG : Spore review (cjed)
InsideMacGames provides a review of Spore for mac. Graphics and sound are said to be perfect, as the gameplay. However the copy-protection system seems painful... and indeed unuseful. So they advice to buy the game (for example through a download at Gametree for 50$), and then to grab an unprotected version from torrent, until an update is released.
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09-28-08 / 12:06 AM : Omniweb 5.8 available / WebKit (cjed)
Omniweb 5.8 is available (15$). It now uses WebKit for rendering, and it still brings features lacking on Safari and other competitors. To remember, it was the only browser available on MacOSX mid 2000 (Public beta), indeed it was available on NextStep so the porting was in someway easy.

Besides Camino (whose new version based on Firefox 3 engine isn't yet availble) we could find Shiira, however its development status hasn't changed since January, 2008.
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09-27-08 / 11:46 PM : VLC 0.9.3 fixes slowness on PPC (cjed)
An 0.9.3 update to VLC is available. It notably fixes a slowness problem on PowerPC. More details can be found here.
Playing of MKV container files is however better with MPlayer-OSX-Extended (chapters management). Moreover it seems VLC cuts playing of these files towards the end.
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09-25-08 / 11:56 PM : Cappuccino is online : doc and tutorials (cjed)
Cappuccino has been in fact available since September, 4 ! The new site is very well done, and the documentation made during this summer huge and great : tutorials, new demos, discussions and news, classes reference.

The framework can be downloaded here. Developing is made in the browser code editor, and debugging is available through FIrefox Firebug plugin for example.

The development staff may be working about integrating Cappuccino with Interface Builder, but we can still find a recent project, nib2cib, that allows to convert an IB Nib archive into a Cib archive (that can be loaded by Cappuccino). During the conversion process, the class names prefix have to modifed (from NS to CP), the Nic archive format is different from the Nib one (because it has to be optimized for web download), and the coordinate system is flipped (Y origin at top) compared with classic Cocoa AppKit. The supported classes to create interfaces under IB are those for now : NSButton, NSControl, NSFont, NSObject (and NSCustomObject), NSResponder, NSSlider, NSSplitView, NSView (and NSCustomView) and NSWindow.

On the famous Theocacao site, the author and most readers agree that Cappuccino has been conceived with desktop applications programming in mind (that includes enterprise/B2B applications), in fact it is not intended to develop B2C sites (SproutCore is far more appropriate for these cases : for example Cappuccino doesn't directly manage hyperlinks, we have to use classic Cocoa AttributedString to call an url from a text control). Moreover it has to be confirmed if Cappuccino handles KVC/KVO like proutCore, but the developers may be working in it.

Access to server-side services seem to have to be managed through JSON (we can call javascript code from Objective-J code, the same as for C or C++ from Objective-C).

Finally the Cappuccino developers can't do anything about accessibility features for now, they have to wait for the future versions of browsers (provide entry points to system features).

Cappuccino consists of 15000 lines of javascript code for the implementation of AppKit classes, and 5000 lines of code for the FoundationKit port (there is also some CoreAnimation implementation). The whole frameworks are said to weight only 100Kb if compressed (have to be downloaded before application execution, the same as for GWT).
It is possible to extend (subclass) the Cappuccino Objective-J classes, as we can read in this example at lethain.com (extends CPTextField class to handle hyperlinks/url calls).

Beside the very useful comments on the Theocacao article (that have been resumed in the previous paragraphs), we can read some reactions at Ajaxian.
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09-25-08 / 11:09 PM : Cocoa MVC/.NET, CoreAnimation tutorials (cjed)
The famous CIMGF (Cocoa Is My Girlfriend), still very interesting and funny, demonstrates in a concrete example what is true MVC programming thanks to Cocoa, compared with oldish OOP with .NET framework (and many other). The author also responds to programmers from Windows world, that don't seem to understand the advanced concepts behind Cocoa.
Finally he presents two great new tutorials about CoreAnimation : associate CoreAnimation with a Quartz Composer layer, and rendering QuickTime movies in a CoreAnimation OpenGL layer.
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09-25-08 / 10:47 PM : Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X third edition (cjed)
The third edition of Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X by Aaron Hillegass has been in fact available since May. We can find it at 35 euros (49$ in US) on Amazon (free shipping)... or at 51 euros at Eyrolles (also in shop).
This new edition covers Tiger and Leopard, and adds these themes : Xcode 3, Objective-C 2, garbage collector, Core Data and CoreAnimation.
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09-25-08 / 10:31 PM : MPlayer OSX Extended 1.0 : ext6 (cjed)
MPlayer OSX Extended is an unofficial version of MPlayer OSX GUI. The new 1.0 ext6 version brings support for MKV chapters (VLC lacks that feature), and the software is said to handle more video formats than the later. Subtitles management is very strong and the preferences settings look greater compared with VLC (brought however many improvements in the latest version). From comments, MPlayer OSX Extended may experience some bugs while forcing aspect ratio.
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09-25-08 / 12:13 AM : Java update for Leopard and Tiger (cjed)
Apple released Java updates for Leopard (Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 2 delivers improved reliability and compatibility for Java SE 6, J2SE 5.0 and J2SE 1.4.2 on Mac OS X 10.5.4 and later) and Tiger (Java for Mac OS X 10.4, Release 7, updates J2SE 5.0 to version 1.5.0_16 and Java 1.4 to version 1.4.2_18.).
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09-24-08 / 11:42 PM : HTC G1 Android : very deceiving (cjed)
Critizisms arise from everywhere about the new Android mobile prototype from HTC, the G1 : uninspired design, a navigating interface that reminds the Nintendo DS one or Windows 3.1, an horrible user interface that lacks consistency (widgets shapes and colors, fonts, etc.), lack of attention to details, no video player (only a Youtube application), no storage space for music (only available through SD card), no multitouch management (only single touch), mini-USB format for the headphones output ! Navigating in web pages (zooming, scrolling) is a pain compared with using an iPhone, due to the lack of multitouch support on the G1)... so there is still the keyboard... very unuseful and unusable (the right part of the phone makes typing very difficult), and it doubles the thickness of the device (yet not that thin).

Finally it appears more like a Google services promoting platform than a really usefull micro computer for users.

Gizmodo : Android and T-Mobile G1's Five Most Obnoxious Flaws

Following the Chrome (beta) release, Google fails again delivering (presenting) an elegant creation.
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09-23-08 / 10:42 PM : Chris Hein Horns Vol. 1.5 - Solo Instruments (cjed)
More than 3 years after the first edition, Best Service presents Chris Hein Horns Vol. 1.5 - Solo Instruments, whose patches have been completely re-programmed for Kontakt 2 (player). We find new controls (Key-Switch Presets, Hot-Keys, Key-Vibrato and Real-Vibrato , Legato- and Glide-Mode, Growl-Control, Air-Control, Keys-Control, Spit-Control, Dirty-Notes, Breath Release-Trigger), DSP effects and 21 convolution reverbs, 20 velocity levels and 38 different playing techniques. A G5 or Intel mac is required this time.
It is priced 360$ and audio demos are available.
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09-23-08 / 10:14 PM : X-Plane 9.0.1 update for iPhone / FAQ / History (cjed)
From the new page about X-plane 9 on iPhone (see the recent review), we learn that a 9.0.1 update is due soon (was indeed developed in 3 days and is in approval stage). It brings 25% frame-rate improvement (what is huge), and some enhancements : higher-contrasted interface, calibration screen to set vertical or horizontal neutral angles (allows to play more easily while on bed), reorganized interface screens, and automatic power and flaps triggering when in final approach.

In the FAQ the author states he plans to add two additional airplanes (and without needing more ram) in a free update, but there isn’t any mention about new textures or landscape. The game is said to use close to the whole iPhone RAM, the cause of crashes when the memory is fragmented (so the device has to be rebooted and no other application should be launched before) - the other reason being some corrupted download (fixed by re-synch the iPhone through iTunes).

There is still to explain how a 6Mb size game can eat all the iPhone memory… in fact the iPhone RAM (rumored to be 128Mb) is used mainly by OSX and the phone call functions, so there is only 20-30Mb memory left for applications and games. The iPhone GPU is said to use 11Mb from the main memory for video, so there couldn’t be more than 10Mb used for textures… then X-Plane would have to unload textures for loading new ones when entering new areas.

The site fingergaming.com reports that iPhone version of X-Plane took 14 days of development (conversion) initially, and then additional 7 days for optimizing and bug fixes (after a reject from Apple). It was then submitted September, 8, and Apple validated it and added it online just three days later.
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09-22-08 / 11:54 PM : MacAlly mCase-2P case for iPhone 3G review (cjed)
We could find this weekend (in an mac office instead of the Apple Expo) the MacAlly mCase-2P for iPhone 3G at a special price (19,90 euros). It is finally bundled with a thin protection film, that is surrounded by two supporting plastic parts that have to be removed for application : remove the part stated before application, align the inner thin film side with the upper border of the iPhone glass, then apply it with pressing with the iPhone cleaning (on the side titled after application) from top to down, in order to avoid remaining air bubbles. There are however some remaining bubbles in above the upper mic, and around the Home button. A new try can be made by removing the thin film in these corners but it isn't perfect.

The inner case in synthetic leather is hard in fact, far more than expected. The two parts are stuck together with visible glue, so it isn't smooth and could lead to think it can damage the iPhone borders. The lower parts aren't stuck, in order to insert the iPhone, but we have to put it hard the first times (ok later), what isn't very confident. Moreover the iPhone has to be turned off because it triggers the controls (volume, etc.). Hopefully the hard inner case doesn't seem to damage the iPhone (contrary to the the Griffin Elan Form as reported here, there, on that forum and at the US Apple Store).

The opening for headphones isn't that wide, so the AKG 240 plug cannot be inserted fully (ok with the Apple bundled headphones and most of non pro ones). Furthermore the opening for Home button is a bit too small, as the case covers some of its lower part. However the iPhone feels great in hand with that case. Finally the screen bright doesn't seem to suffer from the invisible shield, and it is easily cleaned.
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09-22-08 / 10:53 PM : iPhone X-Plane 9 review (cjed)
X-Plane 9 graphics on iPhone didn't look that great at first, especially when flying close (reminds in someway Playstation 1 coarse texturing - some large squares), but it is ok for farther landscapes (use mipmapping). Finally from some height it looks convincing (far more better than a Playstation 1 game, but less good than mac games like FA/18 Korea, Fly or X-Plane). The sky looks great from below, but it isn't volumetric (only one or two pixels wide, and few details from above, so the transition is somewhat abrupt), and there isn't really clouds (were really outstanding in Fly 1 & II games).

Camera views are stunning, they remind those found in mac X-Plane or Fly versions. We can even change the camera angle through touch, and zoom in/out using two fingers ! The control through accelerometer is perfect, the best experience on the iPhone, and there isn't any slowdown in framerate. Sometimes when changing the day of time while on fly the controls stop responding, and the game has to be exited and relaunched (switch the time at start then). The interface and settings are well designed, all are intuitive.

We expect more maps and landscape textures to load (and perhaps higher res ones) from future updates, along with other airports and some "missions" to follow. The additional maps and textures could be downloaded from Wifi into main memory to reduce the size used on the iPhone (only 6Mb however for now, so there is space left). There is still to see if Laminar Research will sell aditionnal scenery (should then be priced one or two $ max to remain acceptable) besides required updates. For now this looks more a demo, but still amazing.
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09-20-08 / 12:04 AM : The iPhone Developer Program Story (cjed)
At hackszine.com we can discover a feedback on the iPhone Developer Program submission process. There are many steps involved, and testing on a real iPhone isn't possible before acceptance by Apple, so the development has to start using the iPhone simulator. However, from comments it seems that the procedure for developing to other platforms (games consoles or other mobiles devices) - validating and agreement by the console maker (Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, etc.) and distribution - is far more painfull and long.
Without counting that the gains sharing is very interesting for creators delivering on the AppStore (70% of gains for the whole process, and Apple takes care of all aspects).
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09-19-08 / 11:48 PM : SquirrelFish Extreme : 4x faster than Safari 3.1 (cjed)
A new bench at WebKit.org presents performances of SquirrelFish Extreme, that is said to be at least two times faster than the previously announced SquirrelFish javascript engine some months ago (brougth a high performance bytecode interpreter), the later still being two times faster than Safari 3.1 javascript engine (WebKit 3.1). These enhancements come from 4 new technics : bytecode optimizations, polymorphic inline caching, a lightweight “context threaded” JIT compiler, and a new regular expression engine that uses our JIT infrastructure.
Considering the javascript engine speed will be a bit lower when integrated into the browser, Safari 4 should be at least 3 times faster than actual Safari 3.1 for javascript (still 3 times faster than Safari 3.0's WebKit 3.0 engine for this task).
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09-17-08 / 10:57 PM : iPhone Starwars Unleashed, X-Plane 9, BiiBall 3D (cjed)
Following this week release of Starwars The Force Unleashed on the AppStore (9,99$, comments are goods but some seem to have been deceived due to huge expectations, however the result seems ok overal), today was released X-Plane 9, an iPhone targeted version (only one landscape but we can modify the wheather conditions, 6Mb only, 9,99$). First comments say it is really great, and the controls work very fine. There will probably be an update (through wifi) to add maps and textures. The game is however said to crash after some minutes playing, so a fix update should be available soon (the game's developer was used to be very quick on it). We can watch a stunning video at macworld or Youtube (many camera views, with the angle being modified through touch, zoom using two fingers as for photos editing). AppleInsider provides a short review.

On the free games side was put online BiiBall 3D Lite, a game where a ball evolves in a 3D environment, that reminds in someway MarbleMadness. The realization seems great (very stunning graphics and easy and usable controls). We can watch a video here. So it is probably the best (free) game available for now. The full version, BiiBall 3D, is also listed on the AppStore (priced 2,39 euros), but the difference between the two versions (number of available levels) isn't stated.

Finally Pangea Software lowered its Billy Frontier game price, now 2,99 euros.
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09-17-08 / 12:21 AM : Spectrasonics Omnisphere available (cjed)
As expected Spectrasonics released Omnisphere yesterday, priced 499$. The description page brings new details : 40Gb of samples (includes, besides the new samples from psychoacoustic sound design, the original samples from Atmosphere, and also a best of from Spectrasonics samples libraries), 8 multitimbral parts, a new audio engine that covers all kinds of synthesis (subtractive, FM, granular, waveshaping), up to 10 oscillators per patch (can be of synth type or be samples), 6 LFOs per patch, 32 effects racks (up to 12 effects per patch).

A new video presents the software interface. A G5 or Intel mac at 2Ghz is required (also 2Gb of ram and 50Gb of disk space).
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09-17-08 / 12:00 AM : MacOSX 10.5.5 update / maintenance scripts (cjed)
Among enhancements brought by the MacOSX 10.5.5 update released yesterday, we can read : Includes extensive graphics enhancements.
It is also recommended to launch manually the maintenance scripts, as they are scheduled at a time when the mac is probably off (3:15 am for daily and weekly scripts, and 5:30 am for monthly script). Instead using a frontend tool like Onyx, we can simply put these commands into the terminal (they are just wrapped by Onyx) : sudo periodic daily|weekly|monthly. We can also find out in that article the command that displays the last execution date of these maintenance scripts.
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09-15-08 / 09:45 PM : NeoOffice 2.5.2 available / NeoOffice 3 (cjed)
A new version of NeoOffice, the 2.5.2, is available. It is presented as two times faster than OpenOffice.org 3.0 (that is being ported to Cocoa) for slideshows.
Finally NeoOffice 3 is announced for mid January, 2009 (beta in mid November, for subscribers).
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09-15-08 / 09:40 PM : VLC 0.9.2 available (cjed)
A new version of VLC, the 0.9.2, is available here. It is stated as a major revision, the latest having being released in late 2006 (0.8.6). We can read the new features list on their wiki :
For video playback, new protocols, new codecs, new demuxers and many bug-fixes have been added to support more formats... better decoding and better performance.
For audio playback, cover art and metadata support (and editing) have been vastly enhanced. It can play audio when the playback speed is changed.
For the developers, libVLC has been simplified and improved, many bindings for many languages were added and there is a new Mac OS X Framework.


The (very) detailed release note is available here.
The extended image controls allow many settings, including gamma and saturation (good for fixing movies like Starwars remastered editions, whose colors are too much saturated). Moreover the preferences panel has been completely rewritten.
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09-14-08 / 06:26 PM : Roland RD GX / Fantom G / Motif XS review (cjed)
The Salon de la musique 2008 (Paris) also allowed us to check new Roland, Yamaha and Kurzweil : the Roland RD-300GX provides - at only 1450$, a good keyboard and great piano sounds (the same samples set as with the older RD700-SX - that is the same two pianos). The converters seem great and the sound is much more powerful than the SRX11 Complete Piano put in XV5050.
The new RD700-GX provides a third piano (besides the previous two pianos) with a piano panel setting modelisation, and a far more better keyboard (PHA II Ivory Feel with escaping). At 2200$ it will be a good choice for those who don't own an XV or Fantom, as it provides two SRX slots, besides including the new SuperNATURAL electric piano, a better touch, an arpeggiator, XLR outputs, and probably even greater converters.

The Fantom G provides stunning evolving/sequenced pads sounds (even better than the ones in the V-Synth GT), and the demoed ARX-01 Super Natural Drums expansion sounded great (much more realistic and powerful than virtual drum softwares).
The new Yamaha Motif XS bring some really interesting sounds (basse, drums, great saxophones and solo violins, very realistic and expressive) and also stunning arpeggiator programs : guitar riffs that cover all the styles. However the XS is still much more expensive than the new Korg M50.
Finally the new Kurzweil (PC3/PC3X and SP2X) were somewhat deceiving (a bit muddy sound, short samples, despite a good low end power).

Globally the electric guitar sounds found on these workstations aren't so much greater than the ones found on the old XV with COSM effects (shipped in 2000). The orchestral sounds can't catch up with dedicated samples libraries (the patchs found on the syhths are full and expressive, but they lack realism in the high end an provide very few articulations). Only Motif XS solo vilolins are really convincing. On the ethnic area the synths have made great progress : the sounds are very expressive and much more various (Ehru, etc.) - notably on the XS and M50. s
 3 comment
09-14-08 / 04:37 PM : Korg M50 preview (cjed)
We could discover (and try) during the Salon de la musique (Paris) the new Korg workstation, the M50 (derived from the M3), that is just at the time it was officially announced by Korg. It is indeed a true revolution in price/quality ratio (the huge buzz generated on internet can confirm that fact) : at only 1400$ (61 keys models) it brings an incredible keyboard (semi-weighted synth keys for 61 or 73 keys models) that allows easily to trigger all the velocities (also the lowest), a very good design and elegant materials (panel texture, buttons, joystick), a large and really convincing touch screen (very readable, elegant and not too flashy nor colorful), an arpeggiator and even a sequencer !

We learn that it is bundled with a sound editor for Mac (universal binary) and Windows (USB connection), and that the M50 can even read patchs from the M3 through converting (it uses the same EDS sound engine). Finally the M50 can be used as an external instrument plugin from most sequencers !

The main limitation is about polyphony : it is restricted (less powerful processor) to 40 notes with programs using two oscillators (and even less if stereo samples are used) or 80 notes with one oscillator per patch (respectively 60 and 120 notes of polyphony on the M3). It offers however 16 parts (multitimbral), as with the M3. In fact Korg removed all M3 features but the essential from the M50 : no sampling, no extension slots (EXB-RADIAS extension for the M3, that brings Multi Modeling Technology, and also three EX-USB-PCM samples libraries, that add 256Mb of samples in the sampler memory extension), only one audio output (many and optical on the M3 - that also adds a Firewire connector) - however the M50 sound can be retrieved digitally by using it as an external instrument plugin. The EDS audio engine is said to be the same as with the M3 : 256Mb rom samples (1,077 Multisamples and 1,609 Drum Samples) and 170 effects types (same routing settings as with the M3).

While playing, the M50 sounded very full, crisp in the high end and powerful in the low end (so the converters seem great for that price), it was comparable with the M3 (the later however seemed to provide more subtile variations for some sounds, like church organ patchs). The dynamic is great, revealed by the stunning synth keyboard precision (really nice feeling). The included piano sound is very similar to the one in the older Fantom X, the evolving pads are great (somewhat inspired from Roland ones), the acoustic and electric bass are outstanding, the drums are very good (but a bit restricted in sampling frequency), and the new analog strings are great. Finally the arpeggio programs are stunning. Audio demos are available at Korg site.

The 88 keys model (RH3: Real Weighted Hammer Action 3 keyboard with 4-zone graded action response) is announced at a price around 2000$, that is 1000$ less than the average 88 notes workstations (it has to be confirmed, as it could be the 73 keys model price).

So the M50 is in some way the new pragmatic and affordable workstation (as was the Roland D20 in late 80s), without any true limitation. s
 2 comment
09-14-08 / 03:45 PM : PwnageTool for iPhone firmware 2.1 (cjed)
The iPhone Dev Team published a new version of their famous PwnageTool and QuickPwn tools, that now allow to jailbreak iPhones updated to firmware 2.1.
We can read a detailed tutorial here.
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09-14-08 / 01:50 PM : About the iPhoneOS 2.1 update (cjed)
The iPhone 2.1 firmware, available since Friday, brings many enhancements : better management of signal power for 3G connection, faster user interface in some applications, better battery duration, and dramatic improvements in synchronisation time with iTunes (ten times faster at least, one or two minutes for a dozen of applications, that is USB transfer time plus a little added time).
The bug about virtual volume slider touch control seems to happen less frequently.
The update brings some fixes in core systems components security : mDNSResponder, TCP protocol management and WebKit.

The bug about the second password leading to the favorite page has been fixed, but now it is possible to call every number when the phone is locked with that password. Some say it is a feature, that can also be found on other phones, but it would better have been a choice put in general settings.
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09-13-08 / 02:49 PM : Audio engine : realtime, latency, best practices (cjed)
This thread at OSdir gives very useful advices on programming a realtime audio engine, in order to avoid contention/lock from calls to low priority threads (GUI funcitons, etc.), that can lead to latency problems :
Most developers seems to do so, they are just too lazy to think about the constraints that real time programming imposes. They believe they can make full use of the operating system, call any system calls they like, C++ constructors, malloc()s etc, accesss to mutexes locked by low priority GUI threads and then after wonder why their application does not work with low latencies or why there are sporadic dropouts they cannot get rid of.

These advices are probably to compare with the statements about the reliability of the Logic audio engine.
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09-13-08 / 01:25 PM : MOR latency problem / crackle on PPC fixed (cjed)
Since version 1.0.083 of PLAY, performances of Ministry of Rock are far more better on PowerPC (G4 1,25 Ghz), thanks to some optimizing in the audio engine (better use of CPU resources) : the drum kits do not produce anymore CPU peaks, and the Telecaster Lead also benefits from the engine performance enhancements made by EastWest. The user interface is less demanding (in particular the vu-meters). The reverb still produces core audio overload after a few seconds, still randomly as with the previous versions (doesn't seem to be completely tied with CPU power, perhaps more likely to a latency problem... that is a bit more complex). However it is acceptable from a G4, as the reverb algorithm is outstanding (and so very complex).

The main problem, audio crackles (and clicks on some samples) with Telecaster patchs (Lead and Chords), had to be fixed by two other means :

- first I received from EastWest support team (that I thank) new Telecaster Instruments patchs (that is mapping, not samples), that fixed the clicks problem on the notes I reported (some alternate samples from D#3, E3 et E4 on Telecaster Lead, etc.). In fact they simply excluded the wrong samples from the mapping, using samples from upper (or lower) half tone. A new MOR Instruments update (including these files) is planned, but there is still to know if it will only include Instruments patchs, or also new samples files (was the case for the first MOR update, that included new samples, and weighted 700Mb). However it would probably require new recordings (if clicks cannot be removed easily) and would then cost a lot (and would require the same recording conditions, not easy).

- secondly, after many new try, I noted that the persistant crackles that appear randomly (on various notes) when playing many notes simultaneously weren't defects on alternate samples, but were more likely due to a latency problem. The CPU load wasn't very high so I remembered what I reported in the soundsonline forums. I finally noticed that setting the sampling rate (playback) frequency to 48Khz or higher fixed completely the crackles problem (only appears at 44,1Khz). That is using the same audio buffer length (512 samples), in Tiger or Leopard, in standalone or AU mode. In a host such as Logic, the playback frequency can be set through the File->Project settings->audio menu (Options button in standalone PLAY).

As explained here and at Apple support page about latency under Logic, setting the frequency higher leads to a lower latency (duration). In fact the audio buffer length (in samples count) remains the same, but each samples is shorter (in duration) due to the higher playback frequency rate. We could also read an interesting article at Sound on Sound stating that the audio buffer length isn't the sole parameter to consider in the latency management. Setting the frequency higher puts more load to the CPU, but not that much from 44,1 to 48Khz, and the better latency achieved seems to have fixed the crackles problem in MOR (that is with the Echo MIA audio card and its current core audio driver version).
These tests tend to confirm that the MOR DVDs weren't defective.
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09-11-08 / 10:58 PM : 2500 news / 80 free songs (cjed)
This news is the 2500th since the site opened January, 2005 ! The database weights 1Mb in gzip format (3Mb if uncompressed). Many new songs are being worked (90 try songs made with Ethno World 4 that have to be developed, and finalized or near complete songs made using MOR and String Essentials 2), however they probably won't be released online for free (there are yet the 80 released songs at musique-libre these 3 years, that is about 12% of the whole songs I have composed for 20 years). A private access through the QuickTime streaming server could be provided.

Online songs, copyrighted at SNAC, will remain available under creative commons nc&nd 2.5 licence, however I eventually will end using these for commercial purpose (at CD quality, 16 bits linear), once finalized.

Finally I noticed in recent movies or TV shows soundtracks some similarities with my composing (themes, playing, sensibility), something perhaps to put on the widening of composers origins (more and more engineers, and cheaper home music production systems based on computers).
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09-11-08 / 10:09 PM : Best Service Xsample Chamber Ensemble (cjed)
Soundsonline presents Xsample Chamber Ensemble from Best Service. This library (based on the Kontakt Player 2) provides 9 Gb samples of orchestral solo instruments : Solo Strings (Violin, Viola, Violoncello, Doublebass), Woodwinds 1 (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon), Woodwinds 2 (Piccolo, English Horn, Bassclarinet, Contrabassoon), Woodwinds 3 (Bassflute, Oboe d’amore, Bassethorn), Harp & Keys (Concert Harp, Steinway B, Celesta, Spinet, Clavichord, Toy Piano), Mallets (Marimbaphone, Xylophone, Vibraphone, Glockenspiel, Crotales) as well as many percussions (ran cassa, sidedrum, cymbals, cymbals bowed, cymbals muted, tam-tam, triangle, tambourine, claves, woodblocks, castanets, bar chimes, wind chimes, tom-toms, watergongs, rattle, scraper, steel plates, small anvil, hand bell, tibet bowl, maracas, cabasa, rainmaker, hi hat, bongos, conga, diatonic steeldrum, “frog”, horn, trainpipe, “bird”, metronom, kazoo, lotosflute, jew's harps, kalimba, friction drums, talk drum).

It is priced 715$ and audio demos are available. A 2Ghz G4 (doesn't existe... so a dual 1Ghz G4) is required.
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09-11-08 / 09:44 PM : Puremagnetik Blip : Atari 2600 samples (cjed)
Puremagnetik added a new samples collection at their download subscription service, Blip. It includes 100Mb of samples (Kontakt, Logic EXS and Live formats) from the Atari 2600 ! An audio demo is available.
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09-10-08 / 10:41 PM : Apple : September, 9 keynote video (cjed)
The Apple's September, 9 keynote video featuring Steve Jobs is now available here (also in HD format). We can watch a demo of Need For Speed Undercover for iPhone, an EA game expected this November.
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09-09-08 / 11:09 PM : Roland free Workshop Booklets (cjed)
Roland provides free PDFs, the Workshop Booklets, that are tutorials on various use themes of their instruments. About Fantom G are available Workshop 01 : The Fantom-G Possibilities, Workshop 02: Power User Control and Workshop 03: Power User Control 2: The Pads.
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09-09-08 / 11:04 PM : New iPods / iTunes 8 (cjed)
As expected Apple updated its iPod Touch, iPod nano (new original and good looking colors) and iPod Classic (120Gb). We can also download iTunes 8 (includes the famous new visualizer) and the 2.1 iPod Touch firmware (the iPhone 2.1 firmware is expected this Friday), and finally QuickTime 7.5.5.
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09-07-08 / 12:29 AM : iTunes 8 / Magnetosphere visualizer (cjed)
Rumors about iTunes 8 state that it should include a new visualizer, based on Magnetosphere.
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09-07-08 / 12:26 AM : iPhone Dev toolchain on Linux & Windows (cjed)
At Google Code we can find a long tutorial about how to install iPhone dev tools on Linux or Windows (what is called the iPhone Dev toolchain).
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09-07-08 / 12:19 AM : DF Mod level 7 / Escape Yavin IV mod (cjed)
The new blog about DF mod (Dark Forces mod for JKA) has been updated and announces that the level Detention Center has been completely reworked. Recently they added level 7 (Ramses Hed Docking Port), besides the previous 6 completed levels from the third demo.
Meanwhile we can look at an interesting Single player mod for Jedi Academy, Escape: Yavin IV - The Lost Maps (300 Mb), that includes 38 levels (26 playable and 12 cinematics).
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09-06-08 / 11:51 PM : Quake3 on iPhone / ioquake3 stereoscopic view (cjed)
A port of Quake 3 on iPhone was presented some months ago (see the video at shacknews). This version uses the accelerometer to manage movements and is built upon the code from Io Quake3 project (open sourced Quake 3 since 2005). Details on how to compile ioQuake3 on MacOSX are available here. Moreover the engine now supports stereoscopic view.
Among amazing Quake 3 mods (World of Padman, Simpsons, Caleb from Blood) we can try Re-Volt, that can run on iPhone.
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09-04-08 / 10:52 PM : Cjed on Wordpress (cjed)
The new Cjed Audio blog (hosted at wordpress.com) opened. It offers a selection of featured articles and news from this main website (in english only). It consists in a test of Wordpress.org CMS system, and for now the feeling is very positive (great and powerful administration interface, plugins - limited in the free hosting interface -, high productivity). We can even find an iPhone application that allows blog management and direct upload of photos taken with the device (see there) ! Finally referencing seems very good.
First added articles were copy-pasted from the main website (takes care of attributed String, for example urls/links), because the limited free hosted wordpress doesn't allow RSS import (only LiveJournal, so it would require a transform through an XSL sheet). The XML export function is however available.
The Wordpress php CMS can indeed be installed on a site hosted at Free.fr, with some restriction in urlrewriting, that won't be perfect (on the main website the lack of mod_rewrite was worked around by using the page not found error redirection). Finally, these first days showed a quick indexing of the new blog, so perhaps keeping this new one at wordpress.com is better for now.
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09-04-08 / 10:18 PM : Sims creator interview / Spore / iPhone (cjed)
The site pocketgamer provides an interview of the creator of Sims game, where he talks about the upcoming Spore (on iPhone), and on the promises of a revolution in games market due to iPhone's power.
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09-04-08 / 10:10 PM : VirtualBox 2.0 : 64 bits, native interface (cjed)
A new 2.0 version of VirtualBox, the free virtualization system from Sun (allows to run multiple systems on an Intel computer) is available. Among new features are the support for 64 bits VMs, better networking performances, and a native interface under OSX.
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09-04-08 / 09:45 PM : Google Chrome : deceiving (cjed)
Despite the buzz and success (the first day at least) around Chrome, a new browser from Google based upon Apple's WebKit (as for Safari), we have to admit it is really deceiving : Chrome brings a brand new optimized Javascript engine, but Apple will unveil the same in the upcoming Safari 4 (it won't be a beta... and Apple still has years of experience of web browser development now), Chrome features set is very limited (no exlcusive one, all are available in other browsers, and Chrome bookmarks management is very poor), the user interface is minimalist and not elegant nor innovating as expected with Google (their weakest point compared with Apple). Finally the per tab process management (and process viewer tool) and better use of memory can't be presented as revolutionnary features : a good browser (well multithreaded and with good memory management) is possible, and in that area Safari always did better than Firefox.
About Chrome integration with Google Gears, the competitors have to respond, but Apple has best chances to provide great accessibility features (access to system components that are normally hidden from browsers, for security concerns) through QuickTimeX (see also the 280 slides demo, that doesn't require disk access to save documents).

Today we learn that the initial Chrome end user licence (EULA) had to be fixed because it allowed Google to use all content published through their browser ! Moreover Chrome is plagged with huge security holes, due to the fact that it uses a deprecated version of Apple's Webkit.
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09-03-08 / 11:44 PM : Au Coeur de Lascaux for OSX (cjed)
Coladiagames announced Au Coeur de Lascaux, an adventure/puzzles game alla Myst (or Atlantis) that brings a full recreation of the cave (360° viewspan). A G5 or Intel mac is required however (could have probalby worked on a G4...). It is planned for an October release, and a demo video is available.
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09-03-08 / 11:29 PM : Orange : 3G speed enhanced but not for all (cjed)
While Orange announced that iPhone special subscriptions (including Origami special edition) will be now provide full 3G+ speed (meaning Origami Star and First subscriptions won't benefit from this enhancement), the subject isn't closed (see this online petition). However Orange might progressively open 3G+ speed for other subscriptions after September, 15 (they have to, in order to fullfill their contract - the 3G+ speed is listed for Origami Star). Then they are probably completing their infrastructure scaling tests, and probably want to gain time and limit speed peaks for now.

If the speed isn't enhanced for Origami Star and First by the month end, users will have to continue pressure. But as SFR is also jumping into iPhone subscription market, there probably won't be any need to.
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09-02-08 / 10:59 PM : Kore 2 Software Edition/ELECTRONIC EXPERIENCE (cjed)
NI presents Kore 2 Software Edition (without audio and remote control interface), priced 229$. It includes 500 sounds.
They also introduced a new library extension, KORE ELECTRONIC EXPERIENCE, that is a selection of sounds from many Kore Soundpacks, and that is also priced 229$. It includes 800 synth sounds (from FM8 TRANSIENT ATTACKS, MASSIVE EXPANSION VOL. 1, BEST OF ABSYNTH and BEST OF REAKTOR VOL. 1 soundpacks), 150 effects (from DEEP TRANSFORMATIONS), and 8 electronic drumkits (from SYNTHETIC DRUMS RELOADED). Audio demos are available.
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09-02-08 / 10:42 PM : 8 millions iPhone sold since early 2008 (cjed)
Apple sold 8 millions iPhones since early 2008 (2,4 millions of first generation iPhone and 5,6 millions of iPhone 3G - in a bit more than a month for the later).
A news from engadget reveals that a Special Event is planned this September, 9, where new ipods will be announced, also iTunes 8 with a new subscription system to the music catalog.
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09-01-08 / 11:07 PM : iTouchMidi : iPhone as a Wifi Midi controller (cjed)
iTouchMidi provides a Midi software suite for iPhone, in fact applications that allow to transform the iPhone into a Midi controller, through wifi ! The iTouchMidi OSX application (downloadable here for free) has to be installed on the mac where reside the sequencers (the managed audio/Midi softwares are Ableton Live, Garageband, Logic Pro and Express, Pro Tools, Digital Performer, Cubase, Finale, and Sibelius), and the iTM MidiLab application has to be installed on the iPhone (downloadable from the AppStore for free). This is a limited version of the full software suite applications : iTM Keys, iTM Matrix, iTM XYPad, iTM MCU.
It however provides a great selection of control features : Button Matrix (4X4, 8X8) with Midi Feedback, Midi keyboard (C-2 -> C8) with pitchbend, XY Pad, sending CC 18 & 19 with spring switches.
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09-01-08 / 10:44 PM : iSquirt & DVD to iPhone converter tools (cjed)
To convert with the best quality and the best speed videos to iPhone format, we can use two free tools : iSquirt (manages .mov .mp4 .avi .dv .mpg .vob .3gp .asf .wmv .flv .m4v, divx and xvid input formats, and converts to mpeg4 or H264. It doesn't allow DVD riping), and Mac DVD to iPhone converter (free version available, it can directly convert a DVD by choosing the tracks to process, and takes care of the riping - 40 minutes for a 2h movie -, outputing iPhone targeted mpeg4 or H264).
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09-01-08 / 10:30 PM : iControlPad : Joy Pod for iPhone (cjed)
TouchArcade.com provides pictures of what looks like a Joy Pod for iPhone made by Belkin, the iControlPad. We could also see related news here and there.
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