iStat Pro version 4.5 has just been released with some new features. According to iSlayer.com, these new features include:
* Updated network section with new details & controls for PPP/PPPoE connections
* Improved PPC temperature and fan support
* Improved Intel temperature support
* Improved S.M.A.R.T. drive temperature monitoring
* Fixed bugs with battery section and 10.5
* Clicking on a disc icon will now open the drive in finder
* New keyboard shortcuts (”g” - Update external IP, 1-8 - Change skin color)
* Added button to launch Activity Monitor
* Other various bug fixes
* Various UI tweaks
I originally found this software awhile back and was thrilled with all the data it provided me on my Macbook. It is free (which is always a big plus) and it has a huge feature list. It funs as a widget, allowing the user to see vast amounts of information in a moments notice. I would recommend it for anyone looking to keep an eye on their computer's stats.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
More on SSD
I thought I could elaborate a little more on the benefits of SSDs (I am a big fan, can you tell?). There are quite a few more benefits than I brought to light in a previous post, so let's go:
1) Power consumption. When you're on the go, battery life is critical. The last thing you want to see when in the middle of a project is a flashing "battery low" symbol. There are no moving parts to a solid state drive, so that electricity is conserved and while SSDs are not going to double your battery life, they do have the ability to add about 10% to 15%. This equates to about a half hour increase, depending on usage.
2) Failures. There is a very general rule that the more moving parts an object has, the higher the chance of failure will be. With a total count of moving parts equal to zero, SSDs are less prone to failure due to mechanical problems when compared to standard hard drives. As an added benefit to the lack of moving parts, SSDs can withstand an amazingly high accelerations in accidental falls.
3) Noise. Again, because there are no moving parts, there is nothing that has the ability to vibrate. Without vibration, there can be no sound (thank you, Physics 101). A lot of noise that a desktop generates is from the head of the hard drive moving back and forth to read/write data. With a SSD in place of the traditional hard drive, the only noise that a desktop computer would propagate would be the noise from its fans that keep the inside of the case cool.
I cannot stress how much I believe in the underlying technology in solid state media. If it were up to me, I would go out and buy a new "disk" for my desktop right now. The problem is that SSDs cost about $8/GB as compared to $0.25/GB for mechanical hard drives. Being a college student also doesn't help, but hey, maybe someday.
1) Power consumption. When you're on the go, battery life is critical. The last thing you want to see when in the middle of a project is a flashing "battery low" symbol. There are no moving parts to a solid state drive, so that electricity is conserved and while SSDs are not going to double your battery life, they do have the ability to add about 10% to 15%. This equates to about a half hour increase, depending on usage.
2) Failures. There is a very general rule that the more moving parts an object has, the higher the chance of failure will be. With a total count of moving parts equal to zero, SSDs are less prone to failure due to mechanical problems when compared to standard hard drives. As an added benefit to the lack of moving parts, SSDs can withstand an amazingly high accelerations in accidental falls.
3) Noise. Again, because there are no moving parts, there is nothing that has the ability to vibrate. Without vibration, there can be no sound (thank you, Physics 101). A lot of noise that a desktop generates is from the head of the hard drive moving back and forth to read/write data. With a SSD in place of the traditional hard drive, the only noise that a desktop computer would propagate would be the noise from its fans that keep the inside of the case cool.
I cannot stress how much I believe in the underlying technology in solid state media. If it were up to me, I would go out and buy a new "disk" for my desktop right now. The problem is that SSDs cost about $8/GB as compared to $0.25/GB for mechanical hard drives. Being a college student also doesn't help, but hey, maybe someday.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Macbook Pro with SSD
I have been toying around with the idea of a laptop with some solid state storage for quite some time now and recently I came across a video posted on YouTube of a hacked Macbook Pro with a 64 GB SSD swapped in. This got me thinking about an old research project I did on solid state media.
I like solid state media for two main reasons, although there are numerous others to supplement. My number one reason is the decreased read/write times. Normal hard drives can adequately open programs and perform required tasks with mediocre speed on a desktop machine. This is due to the fact that it is common to see drives that spin at about 7200 rpm. Now, step into the mobile world of computing and it is far more common to see disks that spin at 5400 rpm or less (the underlying reason being the greater power consumption) and you can see where having the new quad core processor or 4 gigabytes of RAM can get hung up.
Solid state media has no moving parts. Unlike traditional hard drives which have a platter of disks that rotate and a read/write head that needs to pivot to retrieve and store data, SSDs need only electricity to perform their required functions. Right now though, it is not very economical to purchase these SSDs, as their cost per GB is extremely high in comparison to their mechanical counterparts. As the cost continues to fall, I'm sure more manufacturers will take head and start implementing this technology into their products.
This subject interests me greatly and I am sure I will have many follow up posts to continue the discussion.
I like solid state media for two main reasons, although there are numerous others to supplement. My number one reason is the decreased read/write times. Normal hard drives can adequately open programs and perform required tasks with mediocre speed on a desktop machine. This is due to the fact that it is common to see drives that spin at about 7200 rpm. Now, step into the mobile world of computing and it is far more common to see disks that spin at 5400 rpm or less (the underlying reason being the greater power consumption) and you can see where having the new quad core processor or 4 gigabytes of RAM can get hung up.
Solid state media has no moving parts. Unlike traditional hard drives which have a platter of disks that rotate and a read/write head that needs to pivot to retrieve and store data, SSDs need only electricity to perform their required functions. Right now though, it is not very economical to purchase these SSDs, as their cost per GB is extremely high in comparison to their mechanical counterparts. As the cost continues to fall, I'm sure more manufacturers will take head and start implementing this technology into their products.
This subject interests me greatly and I am sure I will have many follow up posts to continue the discussion.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Problems with Vista: Zune Horror
Recently I broke down and convinced myself that I needed an mp3 player. Not that I wanted one, but that I needed one. Where I go to school, practically in the middle of nowhere, we have intercollegiate swim meet bus rides that can be more than three hours. Thats three hours where I am basically stuck on a bus with nothing to do except watch whatever movie that is chosen by someone else, so I decided I would be better off (much happier) if I could watch/listen to media that I chose. Enter the Microsoft ( ! ) Zune.
I found the Zune by chance on the daily deal site Woot.com. It was refurbished but came with a one year warranty for $85.00 shipped. I found it too hard to pass up, so I bought one. Turns out, I had placed my order after they had run out of stock so they forced (?) me to wait an extra day. After a few days went by, I was sent an email from their Customer Service department stating the details about what had happened and also that I would be receiving a complementary travel pack for the pain they had caused me. Lucky me, or so I thought at the time.
The first problem occurred when I placed the CD into my relatively new computer's disk drive. The software was out of date so it said I needed to install updates. Ok, no problem. So I clicked OK and the software began its task of retrieving a newer form of itself. Halfway through the install my CPU usage dropped and it did not seem as if anything was happening so I canceled the install and tried again. Same luck, the software came to a point and then quit again. I consulted a few online forums that said I should download the software directly from the Zune site, and like a good computer user I followed suit.
Again, no luck. The software completely downloads and then locks up. Upon further Googling, I find that there is an issue with Vista compatibility in the Zune's firmware. Big deal? No, but not too amusing.
I take the Zune over to a friend's dorm, update the firmware to the latest version (on Windows XP) and return, only to find that the Zune is still incompatible with Vista because the software will still not install. The computer will recognize the Zune and prompt for a download but even after I give it the go ahead, it locks up.
If a company is going to make an mp3 player to stand up to the all-mighty iPod, it better make sure it has the support needed to allow its use. The original Zune, the one I purchased, is not that old and my computer is essentially brand new. I understand Vista has its quirks but if it is incompatible with other Microsoft products, how does that make me want to stick with their brand name? I am willing to bet I could take (probably) any generation of iPod and plug it into a brand new Mac and have it work without fuss. If there were updates that needed to be installed, they would install after I tell them to. I do not think Microsoft is a bad company, they just need to get their game together and stamp out the little issues like this.
I found the Zune by chance on the daily deal site Woot.com. It was refurbished but came with a one year warranty for $85.00 shipped. I found it too hard to pass up, so I bought one. Turns out, I had placed my order after they had run out of stock so they forced (?) me to wait an extra day. After a few days went by, I was sent an email from their Customer Service department stating the details about what had happened and also that I would be receiving a complementary travel pack for the pain they had caused me. Lucky me, or so I thought at the time.
The first problem occurred when I placed the CD into my relatively new computer's disk drive. The software was out of date so it said I needed to install updates. Ok, no problem. So I clicked OK and the software began its task of retrieving a newer form of itself. Halfway through the install my CPU usage dropped and it did not seem as if anything was happening so I canceled the install and tried again. Same luck, the software came to a point and then quit again. I consulted a few online forums that said I should download the software directly from the Zune site, and like a good computer user I followed suit.
Again, no luck. The software completely downloads and then locks up. Upon further Googling, I find that there is an issue with Vista compatibility in the Zune's firmware. Big deal? No, but not too amusing.
I take the Zune over to a friend's dorm, update the firmware to the latest version (on Windows XP) and return, only to find that the Zune is still incompatible with Vista because the software will still not install. The computer will recognize the Zune and prompt for a download but even after I give it the go ahead, it locks up.
If a company is going to make an mp3 player to stand up to the all-mighty iPod, it better make sure it has the support needed to allow its use. The original Zune, the one I purchased, is not that old and my computer is essentially brand new. I understand Vista has its quirks but if it is incompatible with other Microsoft products, how does that make me want to stick with their brand name? I am willing to bet I could take (probably) any generation of iPod and plug it into a brand new Mac and have it work without fuss. If there were updates that needed to be installed, they would install after I tell them to. I do not think Microsoft is a bad company, they just need to get their game together and stamp out the little issues like this.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
MacTheRipper
One of my favorite pieces of software for the Mac OS is MacTheRipper. This free DVD ripping (extracting) tool not only allows for full feature extracts (rips with full menu usability, etc.), but will also find and remove any kind of region code or copy protection with ease. Oh, and did I mention you can fast forward through almost every part of a movie? No more FBI warnings for everyone!
What does this mean for the end user? You can now make back up copies of all of your movies to other disks for damage protection. I know on more than one occasion I have found a DVD lying around and thought to myself "Hey, I haven't seen this in awhile, maybe I'll watch this later." only to throw it in a DVD player and have it skip when the action seems to be getting good. (Why is it hard-copy media always acts up like this during the good parts? Who cares if it starts skipping during the credits...)
Thinking about it, hard copies may not be the thing you can enjoy most about this software. Remember, I said that you can rip the DVD media directly to your hard drive. If you have a laptop computer, or even a descent sized personal media player (read: iPod), you have the ability to take the the DVD with you where ever you go in full digital form.
There are two downfalls to MacTheRipper which, although I regard them as small and rather insignificant, others may find to be sticking points. The first is that the raw extraction files are HUGE. If you are going to rip a full length DVD with everything included on the disk, you can expect the files to consume in between six and seven GIGABYTES. On a desktop, this probably is not too much of a problem due to the massive storage capabilities of 3.5" drives but throw in a laptop as the primary target and you will be out of space in no time. Any descent desktop will come with at least 400-500 gigabytes and expansion capabilities but if you are looking to back up every DVD you own in full quality, you can plan on spending some extra cash on storage. An external hard drive for a laptop would be a necessity.
The second downfall is that MacTheRipper (currently) does not have the ability to re-encode the files it extracts into other formats. This feature would be useful if you plan on playing the video at a lower resolution (iPod, Zune) and would also greatly reduce the size of the files. I can routinely shrink a 6 gigabyte file down to about a half gig for playback on a Zune.
All in all, MacTheRipper is a definite download. It's free, it works great, and it can save you some time and money if you ruin an original DVD disk. MacTheRipper HD anyone?
What does this mean for the end user? You can now make back up copies of all of your movies to other disks for damage protection. I know on more than one occasion I have found a DVD lying around and thought to myself "Hey, I haven't seen this in awhile, maybe I'll watch this later." only to throw it in a DVD player and have it skip when the action seems to be getting good. (Why is it hard-copy media always acts up like this during the good parts? Who cares if it starts skipping during the credits...)
Thinking about it, hard copies may not be the thing you can enjoy most about this software. Remember, I said that you can rip the DVD media directly to your hard drive. If you have a laptop computer, or even a descent sized personal media player (read: iPod), you have the ability to take the the DVD with you where ever you go in full digital form.
There are two downfalls to MacTheRipper which, although I regard them as small and rather insignificant, others may find to be sticking points. The first is that the raw extraction files are HUGE. If you are going to rip a full length DVD with everything included on the disk, you can expect the files to consume in between six and seven GIGABYTES. On a desktop, this probably is not too much of a problem due to the massive storage capabilities of 3.5" drives but throw in a laptop as the primary target and you will be out of space in no time. Any descent desktop will come with at least 400-500 gigabytes and expansion capabilities but if you are looking to back up every DVD you own in full quality, you can plan on spending some extra cash on storage. An external hard drive for a laptop would be a necessity.
The second downfall is that MacTheRipper (currently) does not have the ability to re-encode the files it extracts into other formats. This feature would be useful if you plan on playing the video at a lower resolution (iPod, Zune) and would also greatly reduce the size of the files. I can routinely shrink a 6 gigabyte file down to about a half gig for playback on a Zune.
All in all, MacTheRipper is a definite download. It's free, it works great, and it can save you some time and money if you ruin an original DVD disk. MacTheRipper HD anyone?
Google Adsense
So I finally figured out how to link my Google Adsense account to my blog yesterday after about two hours of fussing with some HTML code. Turns out, the site where I had found the HTML information was out of date and all I need to do was add a simple layout element in the editor...
Anyways, I decided to link my Adsense account with the blog for the sole purpose of helping to pay for the hardware and software I do my reviews on. Hardware (especially that from Apple) can be quite expensive and once you factor in all the extras (such as a wireless keyboard, mouse, etc.) you can end up with a rather hefty investment on your hands. A hefty investment that is difficult to come by as a full time student.
I decided to keep it simple, only placing the small bar under the top title and a small rectangle under my information (which I probably need to update...) to the right. I am not sure how much revenue it can generate for me, but being in college, any little bit helps. Cheers!
Anyways, I decided to link my Adsense account with the blog for the sole purpose of helping to pay for the hardware and software I do my reviews on. Hardware (especially that from Apple) can be quite expensive and once you factor in all the extras (such as a wireless keyboard, mouse, etc.) you can end up with a rather hefty investment on your hands. A hefty investment that is difficult to come by as a full time student.
I decided to keep it simple, only placing the small bar under the top title and a small rectangle under my information (which I probably need to update...) to the right. I am not sure how much revenue it can generate for me, but being in college, any little bit helps. Cheers!
Monday, December 10, 2007
I'm Back!
It has been quite some time since I last did a review and I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. Though I don't have the Mac hardware I once did, I will still be able to do the reviews, testing out new hardware and software thanks to a kind friend.
I plan on posting at least once a day, but I will still be limited time-wise due to the demands of college. Speaking of college, I'm off to work on a Programming Assignment. Bon Voyage!
I plan on posting at least once a day, but I will still be limited time-wise due to the demands of college. Speaking of college, I'm off to work on a Programming Assignment. Bon Voyage!
Monday, May 21, 2007
iPhone
So i have been thinking about saving for the rather costly iPhone for awhile now and I think I've finally come to the decision that I will give it a try when it comes out this summer. I absolutely love my Macbook and the ability to sync with my email, address book, calendar, etc. is just wonderful. This is not to say that the iPhone is a disappointment in some ways, most notably for me:
All in all, I think in the end I will be happy with my new piece of hardware. I like the implementation of the touchscreen as opposed to the thumb keyboard that comes on other phones. So far my Mac hardware has proven to be far superior to my other PC components, and I look to the iPhone to continue this trend.
Apple's iPhone
- High price (US $499 for the 4 Gig? No worries, I thought the same about the Macbook, but I love it.)
- Operates on a slower network (No 3G support)
- Storage is way below that of a regular iPod ( Not too bad, considering I don't need 20,000 songs on my phone.)
- Only available to Cingular customers (I currently have Verizon and am very happy with service.)
All in all, I think in the end I will be happy with my new piece of hardware. I like the implementation of the touchscreen as opposed to the thumb keyboard that comes on other phones. So far my Mac hardware has proven to be far superior to my other PC components, and I look to the iPhone to continue this trend.
Apple's iPhone
Sunday, May 20, 2007
2 new GB of RAM for the Macbook
So my 2 gigs of RAM from Newegg came in the other day and I immediately went about disassembling the Macbook in order to get to the actual RAM housing. First, you have to use some kind of coin or rounded object (I used one of those smashed pennies that you get from a theme park) to turn a dial on the lower portion of the Macbook's case to pop open the battery bay. After removing the battery, there is an extremely thin metal "bar" that has three tiny, and I mean TINY screws that you must remove to get to the RAM inside. (I tried to use a little screwdriver from a glasses repairing kit, but I could not get enough grip on the small handle to budge them.) The actual RAM is easy to remove and install, as there is a small lever for each slot (2) that pushes that RAM out. Pressing the new RAM into place scared me a little bit, as I had to push a little harder than I would like to get the pieces into place, but the reassembly was not very difficult (with the right screwdriver) and I was up and running in no time.
After I booted up the system I went to "About This Mac" to make sure the RAM was being recognized and thankfully, it was. I had seen a video on YouTube of a Macbook starting all of the applications in its Dock at once and I wanted to try. Here is the list of all the programs that I began to execute as a test for the new RAM:
After I booted up the system I went to "About This Mac" to make sure the RAM was being recognized and thankfully, it was. I had seen a video on YouTube of a Macbook starting all of the applications in its Dock at once and I wanted to try. Here is the list of all the programs that I began to execute as a test for the new RAM:
- Apple Mail
- Xcode
- Google Earth
- iChat
- ITunes
- FireFox
- Address book
- iPhoto
- iMovie HD
- iDVD
- Garageband
- iWeb
- iCal
- System Preferences
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Entourage
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- DVD Player
- MacTheRipper
- Burn
- SpeedTools Utilities
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Great bag for Apple Macbook
So I just wanted to elaborate a little more for those who have been following my YouTube video postings. The bag from Booq is not just good, it's great! I have had the bag for a few months now and this is by far the best bag for computer equipment that I have ever owned, hands down. It has pockets for CDs, documents, and of course the iPod. It eve has rubberized slits that allow for a pass through of the headphone cable so that you can listen to your music without worrying about whether your headphone cable will get snagged on a zipper.
When you look at the actual computer compartment, you'll notice thick foam padding that surrounds your investment, providing complete protection from shocks and minor drops. Your laptop fits snug inside and does not slide around. Also, there does not appear to be any way for the inside to accidentally scratch your laptop's casing, which is pretty nice when you consider all the time and money you have invested into your technology.
The front flap is magnetized and it is not some weak magnet that may allow your bag to flap open when you are walking or even jogging to that appointment you may be late for. Inside the flap, there are two other pockets that are presumably made for a cell/smart phone, and some disks, like a few DVD's or some music CD's. Also, there are three pen holders conviently located here, which have come in handy in situations where I need a pen to quickly jot something down. Remember: The frontal flap is magnetized so a quick pull will give you access to the inner contents.
I really do enjoy using this bag, and there always seems to be a pocket that I stumble across every now and then that comes in handy at just the right time. Booq solidly designed this bag and I look forward to seeing how long it will last. For now, it does its job and then some, which is always nice to find in a new purchase.
When you look at the actual computer compartment, you'll notice thick foam padding that surrounds your investment, providing complete protection from shocks and minor drops. Your laptop fits snug inside and does not slide around. Also, there does not appear to be any way for the inside to accidentally scratch your laptop's casing, which is pretty nice when you consider all the time and money you have invested into your technology.
The front flap is magnetized and it is not some weak magnet that may allow your bag to flap open when you are walking or even jogging to that appointment you may be late for. Inside the flap, there are two other pockets that are presumably made for a cell/smart phone, and some disks, like a few DVD's or some music CD's. Also, there are three pen holders conviently located here, which have come in handy in situations where I need a pen to quickly jot something down. Remember: The frontal flap is magnetized so a quick pull will give you access to the inner contents.
I really do enjoy using this bag, and there always seems to be a pocket that I stumble across every now and then that comes in handy at just the right time. Booq solidly designed this bag and I look forward to seeing how long it will last. For now, it does its job and then some, which is always nice to find in a new purchase.
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