Oh man, never knew you guys did a version of istat that sits on menu bar too. I always just thought you only did the widget app for dashboard.
Going to be grabbing this one tonight for my new MBP. Nice work guys!
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New MacBook Air Improves H.264 Playback, Reduces Heat
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Oh man, never knew you guys did a version of istat that sits on menu bar too. I always just thought you only did the widget app for dashboard.
Going to be grabbing this one tonight for my new MBP. Nice work guys!
No, but I've heard of "Blu-ray"
And, by the way, Blu-ray uses AVC (H.264), VC-1 (WMV) and MPEG-2 codecs. It's not only AVC.
"House of Flying Daggers" - MPEG-2 (http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?id=33)
"Harry Potter 1-5 Set" - VC-1 (http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?id=1128)
"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" - MPEG-4 AVC (http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?id=1136)
I may be wrong, but on the decoding side all of these various MPEG-4 standards are interoperable, right? So while they are all encoded differently, they are decoded in the same way. So I wonder - is there any hardware acceleration for these other MPEG-4 codecs? Have they tested? Of course, I may be completely off the mark here...
Oh man, never knew you guys did a version of istat that sits on menu bar too. I always just thought you only did the widget app for dashboard.
Going to be grabbing this one tonight for my new MBP. Nice work guys!
I suppose it only accelerates h.264 files. And only if you play them with Quicktime (iTunes and Front Row use Quicktime, too). In earlier threads, people stated the acceleration does not work with Perian installed because Perian overrides the h.264 decoding routines. Maybe the Perian guys will make an update so you can choose to use Quicktime decoding for compatible files.
I wonder if it accelerates x264 though. It's a neat codec with many options, and it's free.
In one sense I absolutely agree. I have not used FW in 4-5 years. 90% of what is out there is USB. since Apple took away FW, it would have been nice to have 3-4 USB ports, but anyway..... As for the opticle drive, well I use my heavily. I guess if I had to resort to an external that would be ok, but I never fully trusted an external after owning a few and kept having underwrite errors. Only recently I started trusting them again when my Dell was giving my problems (before it died) and I needed to burn DVD's and did not have my mac yet....
man all these new features, faster machines, less heat. kinda makes me wish I did not buy my white plastic one in April, but I got sick of waiting (waited almost a year for the rumored macbook). also got sick of waiting for the dock and I keep reading the ones by Bookendz fail quickly, so I got me a 7-port USB hub, external monitor and built my own (kinda, since most apple docks are nothing more than port replicators). Works well for me. Not glamorous, and a lot of cables; but it works.
I think in a year or so, waiting till after Snow Leopard comes out, and we hear all the "first release rumblings" then maybe they will have all the rev A issues fixed and I can upgrade to a macbook pro (maybe since there really is not too much difference between a regular macbook and a pro anymore - just a higher CPU option, larger drive oiption, oh and that FW thing I don't use). Not sure I could still justify the price of a pro unless they do something really dramatic over the regular macbook.....
iStat menus:
http://islayer.com/apps/istatmenus/
If you like to have the console outputs (or any text file) decorate your desktop, GeekTool is fun:
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/17621
Why not advertise it...
Even if it is only for the h.264 files and only with Quicktime, I still don't understand why they wouldn't brag about this feature? Maybe because they are embarrassed because others have had it for so long? Or because it is just for the h.264? Those would both be flimsy reasons not to advertise this
Even if it is only for the h.264 files and only with Quicktime, I still don't understand why they wouldn't brag about this feature? Maybe because they are embarrassed because others have had it for so long? Or because it is just for the h.264? Those would both be flimsy reasons not to advertise this
My bet is that it's a full-blown feature for release in Snow Leopard. It was included in the new builds of 10.5.5 for testing or evaluation purposes (or perhaps just 'cause they can), but they'll release more widespread support in 10.6
Just a guess...
Well yes I would imagine that this would be a feature on 10.6. Hopefully the rest of us will get this in 10.5.6
Does this help video playback using VLC? I know VLC has its own decoding engine, but colorspace conversion is a big part of the CPU load when playing back video, and if the GPU is doing that now it's going to make things better, though probably not AS better as using Quicktime...
Just to chime in then, I have the 1st Gen MBA SSD and it works a champ.
Although the new one does look rather tasty (licks lips...)
Doubt it. GPU acceleration is done on an application level through libraries, drivers, and what not.
Thanks for the info. I am thinking about buying a MBA for light travel use and the occasional secondary use without too much compromise in terms of power...do you think v2 is more than enough for this?
Or is there still a compelling case for the new MB? Thanks again!
Absolutely correct. Last week I tried to fix a friend's MB with TDM and it simply DIDN'T work because the HD was dead...so even if I got to see the FW icon on the dead computer, NOTHING showed up on my iMac.
Therefore, unless you are talking about relatively simple problems with your startup disk, TDM is NOT the only straightforward way for fixing most issues with the machines; you have the alternatives that have already been talked about.
10 degrees is "Huge"
10 degrees doesn't sound like a lot but on my 1st gen MBP, using SMC fan control I can crank up the fan and cool the reported CPU temp by 10 degrees.
The net effect: my hands no longer sweat when I'm typing.
To me that is significant
10 degrees doesn't sound like a lot but on my 1st gen MBP, using SMC fan control I can crank up the fan and cool the reported CPU temp by 10 degrees.
The net effect: my hands no longer sweat when I'm typing.
To me that is significant
The new MBA has a much better screen and keyboard than the MB. It is the same quality of screen and keyboard as the MBP.
Even though they look alike they are not the same. Black levels on the MBA / MBP displays are much better than the MB. Do a comparison with a dark picture on each screen and then look at the screen from off center (Big Difference). The MB keyboard feels mushy compared to the MBP and MBA.
Then of course there is the weight and size difference. The only advantage a MB has is an optical drive and cost. If you can live with out the optical and don't mind paying a little more, the MBA v2 is a lot better lightweight portable.
About Firewire: I have heard that there may be a way to get HDMI out from the new display port connection. Apparently it is bi-directional and supports speeds up to 10 Gb. If that is true, and Apple provides the proper access software, you might be able to replace a lot of FW capabilities through the display port connection. Many have complained that FW was the the only way to get video out to pro HD cameras but many new pro HD cameras also output HDMI.
VC-1 is WMV, it's not MPEG-4. MPEG-2 is obviously not MPEG-4 - it's the same codec/file format used on DVD (but with a profile that is 1080p, an extension to the MPEG-2 standard).
Only AVC is MPEG-4.
VC-1/WMV and MPEG-2 are hardware accelerated on Windows with most cards and current integrated graphics.
Thanks Biker...I don't care about FW or optical disk for the MBA, so I tend to agree with you that it's a sensible choice for my needs, even if the cost is a bit higher...it's the best ultraportable on the market anyway.
I am gonna think some more about it, but will probably go the way of the MBA in the near future...
"sensible for you" != "best"
One can make a strong argument that the MacBookCube Air isn't even an "ultraportable" - it's thin but large.
Most of the buyers would consider that an ultraportable would have a 12" screen at the largest, not a 13.3" screeen with a wide bezel.
I think that Apple used to sell a laptop in that category
After spending a lot of time on my 9" netbook (now running Windows 7, by the way) even the 12" PowerBook seems large.
I'm happy that it's good for you, but it's only the "thinnest laptop that runs OSX", not the "best ultraportable" unless you put some crazy constraints on what "ultraportable" means.
One can make a strong argument that the MacBook
Most of the buyers would consider that an ultraportable would have a 12" screen at the largest, not a 13.3" screeen with a wide bezel.
I think that Apple used to sell a laptop in that category
After spending a lot of time on my 9" netbook (now running Windows 7, by the way) even the 12" PowerBook seems large.
I'm happy that it's good for you, but it's only the "thinnest laptop that runs OSX", not the "best ultraportable" unless you put some crazy constraints on what "ultraportable" means.
One can make a strong argument that the MacBookCubeAir isn't even an "ultraportable" - it's thin but large.
Most of the buyers would consider that an ultraportable would have a 12" screen at the largest, not a 13.3" screeen with a wide bezel.
I think that Apple used to sell a laptop in that category
After spending a lot of time on my 9" netbook (now running Windows 7, by the way) even the 12" PowerBook seems large.
I'm happy that it's good for you, but it's only the "thinnest laptop that runs OSX", not the "best ultraportable" unless you put some crazy constraints on what "ultraportable" means.
It's by any sensible definition an ultraportable, and yes, it's the best offer in the market today, especially for its relation between thinness, weight and "big laptop" features like a full-sized backlit keyboard and best-in-class screen.
The mention to "Cube" shows again that you know little about the targeted market and reach of the MBA...it's doing very well on the market, even if it's obviously NOT supposed to cater to those buying MBs or MBPs.
As for the vaporware "Windows 7" on a 9" screen, don't even start with it, please...it's like squinting to work with your bare hands and no microscope on a deadly virus...
And before spitting your anti-Apple diatribes, you could check the comments below on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/review/produc...cm_cr_acr_txt?_encoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
p.s.: not to mention that, if you exclude the whole category of CHEAPO netbooks from the bestsellers list, you will find the MBA in a rather good position par rapport to its relatively high price.
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So, including "footprint" in the definition of an ultraportable is not sensible? If footprint is not part of the definition, then we could have a 17" ultraportable - which would be absurd.
Hardly "vaporware" - go find the torrent and download and install it. It should even multi-boot with OSX on your Intel Apple.
http://news.cnet.com/2300-1016_3-6247501-3.html?tag=mncol
..on a 9" screen, don't even start with it, please...it's like squinting to work with your bare hands and no microscope on a deadly virus...
A comment like that shows that "you know little about the targeted market", as someone wrote here very recently.
A netbook isn't for you, that's fine. You want a large, full-screened laptop but are willing to omit the optical and ports to make it thin and light. For others, the footprint is important. C'est la vie.
Wow, tone down the drama. It's an "anti-Apple diatribe" to point out that the MBA has a large footprint, which makes many question calling it an "ultraportable"?
LOL - "if you exclude the bestsellers, the MBA is doing well"