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08-31-09 / 11:08 PM : Studiologic VMK 188 Plus vs Yamaha KX8 (cjed)
Priced the same as Yamaha KX8, the new version (gray metal) of Fatar/Studiologic VMK 188 Plus seems to provide (from most reviews) a more evolved action (Fatar TP40GH), while the KX8 only features a standard Graded Hammer (high end Yamaha digital pianos use the third generation, GH3). From a user review, the Yamaha KX8 touch is very lighter and its keys looking and texture aren't as nice (fingers tend to slip from the black keys). The Studiologic VMK 188 Plus action is also said to be more pleasant than with the old SL880. The Fatar weights 20 kg vs 15 for the KX8 (the later is made of plastic only).

A video is available here. We can find the VMK 188 Plus at 479 euros. A problem has been reported on a unit (where white keys response wasn't homogeneous), however the overall quality seems better than with previous models. A 76 notes version (VMK 176, 18 kg) is also available.

One of the most acclaimed master keyboard was the Roland A-80, that was released in 1989 and weighted 30 kg ! (was priced more than 1500$). We can watch a video here, featuring a nice song that uses piano samples from Reason.
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08-31-09 / 10:30 PM : Architecte 3D on mac (cjed)
Architecte 3D software, previously PC only, is now available on mac (99,95 euros). The user interface seems better than the one from free (Sketch Up, etc.) softwares made with Java.
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08-31-09 / 10:25 PM : Apple : Special Event on September, 9 (cjed)
Apple is rumored to have sent invitations to select press for a Special Event held September, 9, and centered around iPods (that may gain video recording feature as on the iPhone 3GS) and iTunes 9 (expected Bluray management and social networks features).
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08-30-09 / 07:21 PM : Snow Leopard : new Finder and security (cjed)
Many very positive articles about Snow Leopard emerged in the online Press these last days (and are referenced at Apple site), among those the NY Times one. We discover here some less known new features :
Icons can now be 512 pixels (several inches) square, turning any desktop window into a light table for photos. You can page through a PDF document or watch a movie right on a file’s icon. (see this video).

You can now record your screen activity as a movie — fantastic for tutorials. (video here).

When you rename an icon on an alphabetically sorted desktop, it visibly slides into its new alphabetic position so you can see where it went. (typical example of Core Animation implicit animation mode).

About security, the XProtect component do not just ask confirmation when opening a downloaded application for the first time : it now also maintains a list of known trojans (two at this time), and displays a warning message if we click on a package that contains one of these. However it only works if the image/package has been downloaded with a software that sets the com.apple.quarantine extended property (see details at Sophos site). Then this protection isn't yet available for content downloaded using BitTorrent, or for files accessed through an USB key or network sharing.s
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08-30-09 / 06:52 PM : Logic Studio 9 review (cjed)
A review of Logic 9 Studio is available at Macworld. Moreover it seems more and more likely that the Express version doesn't include Space Designer and Delay Designer (and only provides a limited version of Multipressor), nor supports surround, nor includes EVP88, EVB3, EVD6 and Sculpture instruments.
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08-29-09 / 11:50 PM : MJ Style (September, 30, 2009) (cjed)
The MJ Style album includes 10 exclusive songs from Master 6 (1996) and two remix versions (2004). The release name reflects the main song in the album. Samples are provided through the Zimbalam player below, that also displays a link to the album page at iTunes Music Store (priced 9,99$, separate songs also available for purchase).




On mac, the Flash version used by the plugin seems to produce some artifacts at some samples start (ok on PC), however they play fine at iTunes Music Store.

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08-29-09 / 01:14 AM : Best Service TITAN demo (cjed)
A demo of Best Service TITAN is provided here (326 Mb). It includes 12 multi-samples (5500 in the full version), and the player works in an unlimited mode (can import external samples - up to 24).
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08-28-09 / 11:29 PM : CP2JavaWS 0.9 : new tableView header & sorting (cjed)
A new 0.9 version of CP2JavaWS is available :

- slight changes to the master/detail view, that is now fully compatible with the new CPTableView (that has been merged in the master branch). Compatibility with the older 0.71 version remains.

- now automatically adds an image background for the tableView columns's headers when creating a master/detail view.

- added support for sorting to the tableView (the logic was still available in the CPTableViewDelegate and remote generic DAO service, however the new CPTableView does not yet implement sortDescriptors creation and change notification) : a CP2JavaWS category has been added to CPTableHeaderView, in order to manage mouse click in the the header view, and then set the current sort descriptor and send the sortDescriptorsDidChange notification to the tableView's delegate.
Note : the header background does not reflect yet the sort order (no arrow).

The online demo has been updated.
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08-26-09 / 01:52 AM : J-34 before MJ Style (cjed)
Starting September, 30, MJ Style album (1996) will be released on all (worldwide) ITMS (and exclusively).
The registration process through Zimbalam is very comprehensive : producer name besides artist/band name (members can be listed), name of composer(s) and author(s) for each song (instrumental checkbox provided if author not relevant), detailed choice of stores (and areas), special indication/remix available besides song name, sample start position, choice of pricing policy (Front, back, etc.) and targeted release date. The site (user personnal space) is really great (clear, with Ajax contextual help and verifying, very fast upload with progress bar).
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08-26-09 / 01:28 AM : Native Instruments : Scarbee PRE-BASS (cjed)
Native Instruments presents SCARBEE PRE-BASS, a 2,9 Gb samples bass library (Fender Precision bass) based on Scarbee Blue Bass. The Kontakt Player 3.5 engine provides automatic switch of articulation (mutes, harmonics, hammer-ons, pull-offs, grace notes) depending on the playing. Audio demos are available. It is priced 89$.
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08-24-09 / 05:51 PM : Snow Leopard will ship August, 28 (cjed)
The AppleStore did close for some hours and just reopened : MacOSX 10.6 Snow Leopard release date is confirmed, it will ship starting August, 28, that is some weeks ahead of expectations !
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08-24-09 / 02:52 PM : CP2JavaWS : exponential grow (cjed)
Since the full version of Direct2CP mode (and the online demo hosted on AppEngine), the number of downloads of CP2JavaWS at Sourceforge has been growing exponentially (still 85 for the first three weeks of August).
We can see the whole statistics page of the project since its launch early January.
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08-23-09 / 01:08 AM : Logic Express 9 available (cjed)
Logic Express 9 is available (24h shipping delay in US store).
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08-22-09 / 12:03 AM : Sonoma WireWorks InstantDrummer (cjed)
Sonoma WireWorks presents InstantDrummer for iPhone (at the introductory price of 0,99$). This software includes 130Mb of drum loops (43 loops) with adjustable tempo, intensity and ambience, and 11 variations. A sequencer allows to assemble steps, and the result can be exported through Wifi. Mastering effects (EQ and compressor) are included. A video is available.
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08-21-09 / 12:06 AM : iPhone 3GS : Full HD video out (cjed)
The iPhone 3GS may be capable of playing full HD videos (1920*1080p), despite being restricted (by software) to 640*480 (same with previous models). The iPhone 3G can handle decoding of 480p (854*480, exactly the resolution of my old projector), and output it through a component cable (49$, provides 480p from an iPod touch 2, but 480i - interlaced - on iPhone 3G).
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08-20-09 / 11:42 PM : iPhone Gangstar / Pac Man Remix (cjed)
The very expected Gangstar : West Coast Hustle game (inspired from GTA) is available at the AppStore (6,99$). First reviews are mixed, however the game seems more interesting the more we play it.
We can also find Pac Man Remix (5,99 $).
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08-20-09 / 12:13 AM : Maps for JKO/JKA / reviews (cjed)
To follow on Bespin, here is a map for Dark Forces, Return to Bespin: Reclaiming Cloud City. We can also find interesting single player maps for JKO and JKA on this site :
Hoth: Imperial Base V3.0
Syndicate: Initiation
Deception
JumpSpace (Tron universe, close to Tron 2 game)
Colosseum 1.0
Dash Rendar Resurgence
Project Lighthouse
Ladder

We can find some other in this thread at lucasforums.com.

Finally we can get maps for Starwars Battlefront at starwarsbattlefront.filefront.com : Bespin: Escape (FINAL) and Rhen Var: Dirty Ice.
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08-19-09 / 11:59 PM : Quake Live available (cjed)
Quake Live is available on OSX. It requires installing a plugin, that is Intel only. The subscription is free.
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08-17-09 / 10:58 PM : Bespin 0.4 : collaborative development (cjed)
From Ajaxian's founder and lead columnist Dion (is also the Director of Mozilla's Developer Tools Lab) we learn that Bespin 0.4 brings collaborative work feature. I wonder whether we will find such Google Wave's like option in Atlas (finally the Cappuccino team went at Google IO). However, besides work on bindings, there isn't any clue about something else.
I have a very ambitious idea on this for Atlas (or for another online editor), and I wouldn't be suprised that 280North team reached the same one (that I won't reveal publicly that time).
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08-17-09 / 10:38 PM : iPhone NESynth (cjed)
NESynth for iPhone is a virtual instrument that reproduces waveforms from the 8 bits console : three pulse wave form, virtual triangle wave form, and white noise supporting two modes. The ptichbend is controlled by the accelerometer. An arppegiator is included, and a P2P (collaborative) mode is provided. It also includes a few (effects) samples. Videos are available. It is priced 1,99$.
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08-17-09 / 10:29 PM : TomTom for iPhone available (cjed)
TomTom application for iPhone is available, also in France and Europe versions, priced (and sized) the same as Navigon. The price of the bundle including support and external GPS has to be announced.
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08-17-09 / 10:23 PM : iPhone : Doom Resurrection special price (cjed)
This weekend we could get Saucelifter and iFPS for free at the AppStore (now respectively 0,99 and 1,99$). There is still DropShip (free) and Doom Resurrection (special price, 2,99$).
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08-13-09 / 12:33 AM : Duke Nukem 3D on iPhone (cjed)
Duke Nukem 3D is finally available on iPhone (2,99$). First reviews are mixed : graphics and smothness are said to be good, however the control scheme is reported as difficult and buggy (an update is planned), really far from the great controls management in Wolfenstein or Terminator Salvation. We can then expect a stationary price (contrary to the announced launch day special price). A video is available here.
We can also find a walkthrough of the full game, completed in just 5 minutes (the video is very pixellated - probably aimed at -, and is from the PC version) !
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08-13-09 / 12:13 AM : Snow Leopard reaches Golden Master (cjed)
While elements about a new Apple product announcement are growing (the latest being a recent secret ad spot filming), Snow Leopard did reach Golden Master. Moreover this version might not having being released to developpers, that is Apple could keep some surprise stuff, besides the expected benchs and comparative performances with Windows. A late September shipping date is then likely.
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08-12-09 / 11:48 PM : Apple eWorld : social online services back in 1995 (cjed)
While iTunes 9 is rumored to include social services, we can look back at eWorld, a social online services solution released by Apple in 1995 (I remember having it available with all system and magazines CDs, but wasn't interested at that time as I didn't have internet connection on the Mac LC475 - was better as a Midi sequencer and for playing Dark Forces) ! The eWorld application presented each service as a building, and was more a community city. It also included a dedicated browser (that was before the Opendoc enabled Cyberdog browser). In fact all started in 1985, with AppleLink, the first online service using a GUI !
We can even get a look at eWorld through this recreation (fake, uses DOM) of System 7 desktop and eWorld applications : just click on the eWorld application icon, and when the dialog displays click on the connect button (not a real one, just a DOM element - all other controls do not work). It shows launch images (fake connection) and then opens the eWorld village window. Really cool !
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08-08-09 / 01:16 AM : SampleModeling The Sax Brothers (cjed)
SampleModeling presented The Sax Brothers, a bundle that includes 3 saxophone libraries : Mr. Sax A (Alto) and Mr. Sax B (baritone), based on new samples and Kontakt 3.5 scripts, and Mr. Sax T (Tenor). They are considered the most realistic saxophone samples. Audio demos are available and the library works on a G4 MDD. It is priced 239 euros.
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08-08-09 / 01:04 AM : Kontakt Factory Selection/Evolve Mutations (cjed)
Besides the 270 Mb samples (7 instruments) provided with the installation of Kontakt Player 3, we can download for free the KONTAKT FACTORY SELECTION, that includes 48 additional patchs (600 Mb).
Finally, among libraries now available on sale online we can discover Evolve Mutations, that features 275 patchs (2 Gb) in 4 categories : Tonality & FX, Strings & Transitions, Percussive Kits et Rhythmic Suites. It is priced 119$.
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08-07-09 / 04:49 PM : Article about CP2JavaWS 0.85 at TheServerSide (cjed)
The article introducing the new 0.85 version of CP2JavaWS is now online at theserverside.com.
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08-06-09 / 12:28 AM : Logic 9 Amp Designer / Pedalboard review (cjed)
A first review of Logic 9's Amp Designer and Pedalboard is available at Logic Users Group site.
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08-05-09 / 11:48 PM : Native Instruments : Kontakt Player 3.5 free (cjed)
NI provides Kontakt Player 3.5 for free at download (375 Mb). It is based on the Kontakt 3.5 engine (that was released recently) and even offers the full editing features for 30mn sessions. In the Player mode we still keep the Library Browser feature (introduced in Kontakt 3), that allows to browse and combine in one place libraries in Kontakt format, the new convolution based effects, and a better management for libraries that were based on the old Intakt (better slice management - was problematic in Kontakt 2) and Kompakt.
Finally we can expand the libraries by buying new content through download. A 650Mb demo library, KONTAKT FACTORY SELECTION, is available for free (brings sounds from the full Kontakt 3.5 library).

A 1,8 Ghz G5 or Intel is stated as minimum requirement (on OSX 10.4 or 10.5), but finally it works fine on a G4. However on that configuration only two convolution reverbs are provided (the whole were available in Kontakt 2, despite many leaded to latency problem/distorted sound).

Note : the Kontakt 2 library isn't listed in found libraries, and adding it manually through Add Library button does not work (No Library Found message).
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08-05-09 / 12:00 AM : WebGL / Canvas 3D / GPU accelerated (cjed)
Khronos announced that its WebGL technology (see the project's page at sourceforge) will be publicly available during the first part of 2010, and without royalties. This framework implements OpenGL ES 2.0 (that is a subset of the full OpenGL APIs) through recent versions of the Canvas element (2D context for now), and allows manipulation/description of scenes in Javascript.

We can read on that blog detailed thoughts about Canvas 3D (and notably the difficulty to provide Javascript counterparts of the OpenGL APIs, the later being closely tied to some C language conventions). We can also watch a presentation from Google about HTML5 new features, and among these a part dedicated to the Canvas element.

As we can see in that Canvas version of Castle Wolfenstein, performances are still good, and we expect first results from work on GPU acceleration (not available yet in 2D Canvas), that will require new developments in browsers / some hooks (in the same way WebKit still proceeded since iPhone WebKit launch - and now with latest WebKit nigthly builds for MacOSX Leopard -, to allow hardware acceleration of CSS Effects - 3D transforms, transitions).

To remember, Canvas (2D) is being used in Cappuccino as the foundation to the Objective-J implementation of Quartz 2D rendering engine (and VML is used on IE).

As I said recently, Flash has been facing strong competition for one year from all actors of the Web, in all areas, and this new 3D framework (that won't require any aditionnal plugin contrary to Google's O3D solution) will contribute to Adobe's container demise.
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08-04-09 / 09:56 PM : CP2JavaWS at Dion's Twitter (cjed)
Many Thanks to Dion Almaer from Ajaxian.com for having posted a message at his Twitter about the new version and demo of CP2JavaWS !
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08-03-09 / 11:15 PM : NI Essential Bass Kore soundpack (cjed)
NI presents Kore Essential Bass, a soundpack that includes 200 bass sounds : 141 synth basses, 39 Sampled Analog Basses, 15 Electric Basses (by Scarbee and Pettinhouse), 5 Upright Basses (by NI). It is available through download (1,25Gb) for 79$.
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08-02-09 / 02:44 AM : CP2JavaWS 0.85 : master/detail view completed (cjed)
A new version of CP2JavaWS is available. It completes the master/detail view (Direct2CP) :

- added automatic support for creation/insert (add button) and delete in generic detail view, with full state management.

- added management for business key(s) in master and detail views, besides technical one. Moreover the business key can be multiple (composite). The detail view allows to set these key elements at creation time (once). If using a technical key, it is set by the database (sequence, identity, etc.) and retrieved/displayed back in the detail view after creation.

- added support for combo lists and radio buttons : through codes/labels descriptors we can associate codes/labels pairs with an attribute (its detail view field). That collection can be setted in the client side or retrieved using a specified remote service (useful for long lists read from a database, and for localization).

- added the innovative DatePicker component from Randall Luecke (RCL concepts) as date field editing (requires some provided images resources).

- master and detail views can use the generic DAO service (typically for services backed by a relational database) or custom ones (read elements, read one element, update, insert, delete) if using a specific datastore or connector.
The master/detail view provides then 4 modes : generic detail view with generic DAO service or custom service, or custom detail view with generic DAO service or custom service.

- the HTTP requests sender now behaves as expected when using synchronous requests : the result is returned (does not use anymore a delegate and handlers).
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