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| 04-29-09 / 06:40 PM : iPhone Terminator Salvation / iFPS (cjed) |
| While first reviews of Assassin's Creed are very good at the AppStore, we can watch a trailer of the upcoming Terminator Salvation, that seems finally very well done. A new multiplayer FPS, iFPS, is available at the AppStore (3,99$). From this video it seems far more smoother than Cube (wasn't really playable), and allows 3G connection besides Wifi (a Wifi connection is however stillr equired to host a game). We are also waiting for LiveFire, developed by Rolando's makers. |
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| 04-29-09 / 06:18 PM : iPhone Saucelifter 1.1 / Rolando 1.3 (cjed) |
| A 1.1 update to Saucelifter is available at the AppStore. It brings the following enhancements : Real-time Day/night cycle New enemy superguns Persistent initials for easier high-score entry Additional tilt sensitivity level Manual high-score table view (touch "Saucelifter!" title) Various visual and audio enhancements Improved menu behavior We can also download a 1.3 update to Rolando, that again brings two new additional levels. |
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| 04-28-09 / 11:55 PM : Marble Madness in 3 mn (cjed) |
| While we still expect Marble Madness on iPhone (there was a Marble Madness 3D for basic phones) we can watch a video from an expert that completed the game in about 3 mn. Having reached the end of the latest level on Atari, the trick used in the video to avoid the required pass has to be verified (you normally had to go through each moving platform). We can also discover videos (here and there) of Marble Man, that was considered as Marble Madness II, but that didn't make its way to computers (moreover the levels seem less original). |
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| 04-27-09 / 01:20 PM : iPhone Nintaii / Myst subtmitted (cjed) |
| Nintaii game (that inspired the famous CubiMan) is available at the AppStore (0,99$ for now). It includes 100 levels (5 in the Lite version). Myst was submitted a week ago and should appear in the following hours (or in a few days). We can watch a new video here. |
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| 04-27-09 / 01:06 PM : iPhone : Worms / WoW (cjed) |
| A video of Worms for iPhone is available (very close to the PS3 version). We could also access to a WoW video (full game, that runs through a virtualization system, Vollee client). |
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| 04-24-09 / 01:41 AM : AppStore : 1 billion (cjed) |
| The AppStore reached one billion downloads some hours ago (the download rate was up logically in the last hours). Meanwhile the game Assassin's Creed from Gameloft appeared (it seems using the same engine as Hero of Sparta). Through first reviews it provides very good graphics, controls and framerate (and reminds in someway Prince of Persia), however the gaming interest seems a bit lower. We can expect a price decrease (the game is priced initially 9,99$). |
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| 04-23-09 / 07:12 PM : Kontakt 3.5 beta available (cjed) |
| A beta version of Kontakt 3.5 is available for Kontakt 3 users (the final version will be available before July). It brings many new features and fixes : New and improved features: -Compatibility with Windows Vista 64 (XP 64 tbd) -64-bit memory addressing for Mac OS X and Windows Vista 64 -New DFD engine with drastically reduced memory footprint -Optimized sampling engine with substantial performance increase -Advanced multiprocessor support -New browser feature for Kontakt Player libraries -Direct MIDI Learn for all sliders and knobs, including performance views -Improved automapping -Bypass button for effect slots -Aftertouch interpretation added to KSP -New "Engine Restart" button -Custom wallpapers for library boxes -Play cursor for Beat Maschine mode in Wave Editor -Pro Tools compatibility under Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard -Localized info pane in six languages Fixes: -Several fixes and stability improvements |
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| 04-23-09 / 07:06 PM : Sibelius soundsets for Eastwest SO (cjed) |
| Specific sound sets for Sibelius allowing use of Eastwest instruments are available here (for now SO Kontakt and PLAY versions, and Goliath). |
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| 04-23-09 / 06:35 PM : PLAY softwares : instruments & samples updates (cjed) |
| New updates (samples and/or instruments updates) are available for PLAY based softwares. Among these we can find an Instrument Update 1.0.4 for MOR, and an Instrument Update 1.0.6 for VOP. The MOR new instruments patchs are supposed to ignore the samples that present clicks (and use instead the same samples as the half lower or upper note, transposed). There is still to check the result to see if a samples update will be required (such huge update was suggested recently). |
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| 04-23-09 / 05:50 PM : Symphonic Choirs : Voice of Apocalypse expansion (cjed) |
New videos tutorials about SC are also available. |
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| 04-23-09 / 05:30 PM : Eastwest Composer Collection : customize (cjed) |
| To make the choice of Composer Collection elements even easier (was proposed as various configuration packs previously), Eastwest now allows to choose each of 7 included products (the recent Silk isn't available however) : then we can replace each base element (if we still own it or want another product instead) with Fab Four, Ministry of Rock, Gypsy, SO Platinum or SO Platinum Plus (total price is updated accordingly if the new product is priced higher). The base version, priced 1495$, is half the price of the included 7 products (if they were buyed separately). The base EWQL Piano Gold (16 bits and only one mic position - that is 55 Gb against 263 Gb in the full version - the later is however more resources demanding) cannot be replaced with the full verison, however it is stated in EWQL Piano Gold product page that it can be upgraded to the full version (for the price difference, about 100$). However for now it seems only a crossgrade (from another piano library to EWQL Pianos) is listed. |
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| 04-23-09 / 12:16 AM : iPhone : Randgrid synth / iShred (cjed) |
 Following noise.io, or the more recent technoBox, we can discover Randgrid (6,99$), a new synthesizer for iPhone that brings a very powerfull sound (close to ImpOscar). It provides two virtual analog monophonic synths (substractive synthesis, with two oscillators per instrument) and 14 drum samples, effects (stereo delay, distorsion) and a step sequencer.To complement it we can watch stunning videos of iShred (4,99$ for the full version, 0,99$ for the Lite version), whose sound somewhat seems better than pro guitar samples and effects applications priced one hundred times more, and whose usability seems great. |
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| 04-22-09 / 06:11 PM : Power Toppler for iPhone : Nebulus clone (cjed) |
 Power Toppler is a clone of the famous Nebulus (Atari ST/Amiga) for iPhone. It offers 16 levels (8 in the original game) and the character is a robot (was a frog). Graphics are presented as enhanced, however from provided images they seem less attractive than in the original game (the music was also great). It seems however interesting from first reviews, and the touch control scheme is said to work well with the original (particular) control system of the character (does not move - the tower rotates as he moves towards or backwards). The game is available at the AppStore for 1,99$.We could still get Zebulon on OSX, another (free) clone of Nebulus. |
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| 04-22-09 / 05:53 PM : Wikango for iPhone free (cjed) |
| Wikango is a GPS/alert (radars, etc.) application fo iPhone, that uses a huge informations database (it is refreshed using data from other users connected to internet). It can be downloaded for free on the AppStore. |
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| 04-22-09 / 05:44 PM : iPhone : Otto Matic available/Rolando 1.2 update (cjed) |
| The iPhone version of Otto Matic is available at the AppStore (4,99$). We can see screenshots on the Pangea Software's site. We can also download a 1.2 update to Rolando (brings 2 new levels). Finally EA's Need for Speed Racer, that was delayed months, is said to be released very soon. |
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| 04-22-09 / 05:23 PM : Google O3D : 3D framework with javascript APIs (cjed) |
 Google presents O3D, a 3D framework that provides javascript APIs (works inside a browser plugin). The OSX verison requires an Intel mac. The plugin accesses to the graphics card acceleration through OpenGL or DirectX. An utility allows importing of external 3D models from Collada, SketchUp, 3ds Max and Maya.We can watch a stunning video and launch demos (require the plugin to be installed). |
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| 04-22-09 / 02:16 AM : CP2JavaWS 0.5 release : full digest and state support (cjed) |
| A new 0.5 version of CP2JavaWS bridge is available at Sourceforge. It includes the following new features : - full digest authentication (rfc2617) support (tested on Safari and Firefox), with automatic retrigger of original connection. Besides digest parameters settings (nonce life, realm, etc.), the authentication filter allows to set list of services that require (or not) authentication (using includes and excludes). Authentication occurs only once (for the first service that requires it). Note : only works with sameDomain (when using JSONP digest authentication could happen, but there is no mean to check response status nor retrieve response headers - see security considerations) - session/state management : JSESSIONID cookie is automatically retrieved once authentication challenge ends (Authentication-info response header with Ok code) and added to following requests (had to be coded for Safari - Firefox handles it natively). Note : only works with sameDomain (when using JSONP, for security reason the server isn't allowed to set a cookie to the client, as it originates from another domain). - a new Habilitation fillter has been added : it allows (through a custom habilitation service) to set access rules for services, depending on the user, remote service and method called (these rules apply after authentication check). - sameDomain setting moved from remoteService to endPoint (the same for all services of a web app). - the packaged cp2javaws-filter.jar now includes the right files (sources files were ok however). |
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| 04-20-09 / 01:28 AM : iPhone: iShred LE (cjed) |
 A Lite version of iShred, iShred LE is available at the AppStore (0,99$). Compared with the full version (4,99$) it allows only one effect per song (4 simultaneous in the full version), doesn't allow live recording (and limits memory to 8 songs) nor songs export to Wav (but it can export the songs to the full version, that includes this feature). |
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| 04-20-09 / 01:25 AM : iPhone: Saucelifter / Iron Sight /7 Days (cjed) |
 Following the interesting Saucelifter (1,99$), we can discover at the AppStore Iron Sight (0,99$), and soon 7 Days Apocalypse.
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| 04-20-09 / 12:57 AM : Mac mini : power and heat / idle mode (cjed) |
| Apple provides guides about macs environmental performances. We learn that the new Mac mini uses 45 percent less power (only 13W) when idle (that isn't sleep - that uses only 1,5W - but fully awake machine without any active application other than system daemon tasks). The previous version required 23W in idle mode, and the original version with 1,25Ghz G4 used 32W in that mode. The max power is 110W (was the same in older CoreDuo versions, and 85W on the single G4 with Radeon 9200), for a 2 Ghz Core2 Duo and Nvidia 9400M. Heat dissipation in idle mode is also down (2,5 times less than with the first G4 model, and close to 2 times less than with the previous CoreDuo model). However max heat dissipation in full charge is the same (was a bit higher when switching from a single G4 to a CoreDuo). New MacPro also made progress in idle mode, however they can require up to 300W in full charge (that is in fact considering 8 cores, many fans and a high end graphic card). |
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| 04-18-09 / 02:00 AM : DivX7 for Intel macs (cjed) |
 DivX 7 is available for Mac (however only for Intel macs, contrary to version 6). This extension for QuickTime only adds support for .mkv container format (as H264 and AAC codecs have been available in QT for a long time). |
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| 04-16-09 / 11:27 PM : CP2JavaWS 0.4 released (cjed) |
| A new version of CP2JavaWS, 0.4, is available at Sourceforge. It includes the following new features : - Decoding and encoding now support cycles/references. Existing objects's references are replaced with a path ($ref:<pathFromRootObject>) when encoding to JSON. The path follows EL/BeanUtils rules : someKey.anotherKey, someKey[0](key).anotherKey, [index], (key), someKey(key)[1](key2).anotherKey, etc. When decoding, references/paths are replaced with the previously decoded objects. A new CPPropertyUtils class allows to get/set these nestedProperties on the cllient side, in the same way as Java's commons BeanUtils (the two frameworks manage nested dictionaries and arrays, and multiple dimensions arrays). You have to use at least commons beanutils 1.8. - CPJSONAware categories aren't required anymore. Automatic decoding/encoding of ivars (used when custom objects do not implement CPCoding) has been merged in to CP2JSCoder and CP2JSDecoder. Implementing CPCoding allows to set different JSON keys than ivars name (can then match Java's objects attributes names if they differ from CP objects's ones). - fixed a problem with dates DST. |
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| 04-15-09 / 11:32 PM : Rolando 2 site (cjed) |
| A site on Rolando 2 opened. The game is due this summer. New free levels for the first Rolando will be provided for the weeks before release. |
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| 04-15-09 / 11:21 PM : Office 2008 Trial (cjed) |
| A trial version of Office 2008 is available (fully fonctional for 30 days). The download weights more than 500 Mb. Office 2008 is universal binary and is faster on Intel mac than Office 2004, while it is slower than Office 2004 on PowerPC (except for graphic tests). |
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| 04-15-09 / 12:13 AM : Fatar Numa Nano : portable 88 keys (cjed) |
| Studiologic (Fatar) presented the Numa Nano, a lite (and portable) version of Numa master keyboard (10 kg instead of 26 kg, reduced dimensions - but still 88 keys). The price hasn't been announced yet. |
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| 04-10-09 / 11:04 PM : Myst for iPhone available soon (cjed) |
| While a video of the iPhone's Myst version is appearing at Youtube (is removed shortly thereafter) we learn that this version is reaching completion and will be available soon at the AppStore. Images are said to have been rendered again in 32 bits (original ones used dithering, the optimized palette contained only a hundred of indexed colors), an automatic-zoom would be included, and interaction with elements uses touch control (for example activation of switchs in the main island), as well as switch of view. Finally the download size is said to be huge due to the high number of media files (weigthed about 500 Mb in the original game - not 32 bits but images resolution was still higher than iPhone screen's one). The price isn't known yet. |
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| 04-09-09 / 12:30 AM : Nexuiz 2.5 available (cjed) |
 A new version of Nexuiz (2.5) is available. Among many new features we note : completely rewritten client/server code, new Race game mode, NetRadiant maps editor, enhanced visual effects (particles, lightmaps), new maps and sounds, new menus, etc. |
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| 04-09-09 / 12:13 AM : NI AUDIO KONTROL 1 offer : free software (cjed) |
 Native Instrument now bundles with the AUDIO KONTROL 1 hardware interface (299$) a free software (full version, 229$ value), among MASSIVE, FM8, ABSYNTH 4, and PRO-53. Some lite versions of other softwares are also included : GUITAR RIG 3 LE, TRAKTOR 3 LE, et CUBASE LE 4. |
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| 04-08-09 / 11:09 PM : Google AppEngine : free Java hosting (cjed) |
 Google added support for Java in its free AppEngine hosting platform. Among additional services provided is BigTable database, that is optimized for scalability. Use of the datastore (BigTable is accessed through the DataNucleus Access Platform open source framework), is really easy (complies with JDO spec - also supports JPA).To deploy a war we have to add an appengine-web.xml file into the WEB-INF (that file contains the required application id, and some other optional parameters). Google also provides an Eclipse SDK, that brings a GWT project wizard, and server test (simulates the AppEngine, including the services and the datastore) ! Details for uploading a war can be found here. Scalability features of the solution are great, for the database and static files. See also : If you elect to use the free appspot.com domain name, the full URL for the application will be http://application-id.appspot.com/. You can also purchase a top-level domain name for your app, or use one that you have already registered. There is no way to delete an application in App Engine. You can register up to 10 application IDs per Google account. If you do not want to use one of your allotted application IDs for the tutorial, you can just read this section, and refer to it later when you are ready to upload your first application. It is stated that the offer is for now restricted to some users, however I did success registering my first application id using my Google account (a verification process of account through sms is required). We can then now easily host a Cappuccino application : client part in the war's web root (index.html entry point, Cappuccino application's .js file that has been optimized through press tool, objective-j.js file), services code (Java classes), Spring jars and configuration, CP2JavaWS jars and configuration. Download of application's js files can be optimized (can use separate servers, others than the main server that serves dynamic resources -servlets/jsp) if they are marked as static in the application configuration file (via exclude/include parameters). By default JSP files and resources residing in the WEB-INF folder are considered dynamic. |
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| 04-07-09 / 11:43 PM : Introversion Multiwinia/Subversion (cjed) |
 In an interview of Introversion, we learn that Multiwinia didn't get the expected success. The game editor also speaks about his new upcoming game, Subversion, whose universe is entirerly generated mathematically (as was done in old Atari's Cpt Blood using fractals ...), and about a new strategy to promote games : pirate version released online on various channels, including an activation system that allows to restrict the game once the promoting campain is satisfying.We can see videos of Subversion generation process here and there. |
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| 04-07-09 / 11:32 PM : iPhone : Zen Bounds Lite / Glyder (cjed) |
| At the AppStore we can find a Lite version of the famous Zen Bounds puzzle game. We also note Glyder, a new adventure 3D game whose ambiance can remind WoW (it is priced 1,99$). |
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| 04-07-09 / 11:24 PM : Bench : MacPro/iMacs/mac mini and games (cjed) |
| Macworld propvides a bench of new MacPro, iMacs and mac mini in games. The mac mini offers a good framerate in Quake 4 and CoD 4 (40 fps at 1024*768). |
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| 04-07-09 / 11:16 PM : ITMS : 256kb without DRM on the whole catalog (cjed) |
| The whole ITMS catalog is now encoded in AAC 256 kbits/s (without DRMs). As expected, most popular songs are priced higher, whereas albums keep their 9,99$ price. However, as audio CD prices are close, we could expect lossless encoding. The new iTunes 8.1.1 allows HD movies rentals. |
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| 04-06-09 / 10:46 PM : VLC 0.9.9a available (cjed) |
| A new version of VLC, 0.9.9a, is available (also on PowerPC). It brings support for Real Video 3 and 4 formats. |
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| 04-06-09 / 02:36 AM : CP2JavaWS 0.32 : CPCoding protocol support (cjed) |
| A new 0.32 version of CP2JavaWS is available at Sourceforge : Encoding and decoding of client objects now also supports CPCoding, through new CP2JSEncoder/CP2JSDecoder. These coder provide transparent backward compatibility with previous versions of CP2JavaWS that were based on the CPJSONAware protocol : - if no CPCoding implementation is found on custom objects, it uses instead the old toJSObject/objectWithJSObject methods from CPJSONAware categories. - Furthermore it does the switch at each node level ! That is for custom objects we can etiher implement CPCoding protocol's methods (if the serialization requires particular work, for example to exclude some attributes or choose arbitrary JSON keys - different from ivar names), or benefit from the automatic encoding of objects provided by the CPJSONAware categories (then custom objects have to import CPObject_CPJSONAware.j, and JSON keys will match exactly ivar names). |
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| 04-03-09 / 10:41 PM : EastWest PLAY Composer Collection / surprise (cjed) |
| While Eastwest presented during the MusikMesse the PLAY version (64 bits) of its Complete Composers Collection (includes SO Play Gold - 16 bits -, SC PLay, Goliath, RA Play, StormDrum 2, EWQL Pianos Gold Play - 16 bits and only one mic position, 55Gb instead of 263Gb -, and VOP, at about 1200 euros), soundsonline site announces something new for April, 10 : at forums some think it could be the release of PLAY 2 or Forbidden Planet (however they have been announced months ago). |
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| 04-03-09 / 10:27 PM : Roland FG Connects : content for Fantom G (cjed) |
| Roland opened a new section on its site, that provides content download for Fantom G : over 600 new rhythm patterns, 14 new rhythm kits, over 100 new chord memories, 96 new RPS phrases, new edits of the most popular arpeggio phrases. |
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| 04-03-09 / 10:10 PM : Apple stock is up again (cjed) |
| While new features of Snow Leopard on the UI front are ermerging (Apple kept them secret as long as possible in order to avoid Windows 7 copying these), and next iPhone (and probably a tablet mac) will fix the remaining issues (notably the digital camera sensor), Apple's stock is up again, at a high rate. Or the reason could be that the market is dynamic thanks to upcoming purchase of Sun by IBM (however there is still to know how the future of ZFS - used in Snow Leopard - will be managed). |
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| 04-02-09 / 12:17 AM : AKAI Miniak analog mini synth (cjed) |
| During MusikMesse AKAI presented the Miniak, a mini virtual analog synth : 8 voices of polyphony, 8 parts (that is one note per part if using all), 3 oscillators per voice (with continuous variable waveshaping - varies from a waveform to another -, ring modulator, noise generator, linear and exponential FM), realtime and step sequencer, arpeggiator, drum machine, 2 various and complex multimode filters, 3 envelops, 2 LFOs, reverbs, delays and vocoder, 37 keys and microphone (the same as with Korg mini but the keys are full size and semi-weighted), 600 presets. |
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| 04-02-09 / 12:04 AM : iPhone OS 3.0 beta 2 (cjed) |
| A second beta of the iPhone OS 3.0 is said to be available for iPhone Developer Program members. It includes the Push feature (with better performance) and adds two additional applications pages. |
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