Snow Leopard | Next version of OS X named at WWDC

Steve Jobs announced in his keynote presentation what most folk had already guessed, that the next iteration of the OS is to be known as Snow Leopard. Make of that what you will (a sort of 0.5 version update?).

A new section on the Apple site has appeared here to tell us all more about what to expect in about a year’s time, when its due out.

One key change seems to be that the OS will take up much less room on our hard drives. This can only be a good thing, especially for those of us with the first-gen MacBooks and MacBook Pros. I am forever having to delete stuff just to keep enough space free to stop my Mac feeling like its running on treacle.

It seems that the decision to use a cut-down version of OS X on the Apple TV and the iPhone has led to some progress in this respect. I for one can’t wait.

Another key feature of course will be the integration of Microsoft Exchange Support… to be expected if the iPhone has it.

Enhance 64-bit support too is promised, with up to 16TB of RAM being supported. What wouldn’t one give to have a Mac pro with that amount of RAM, though it would no doubt cost the earth!

Improvements that are being touted include 53% faster Javascript in Safari, as well as enhanced multi-media performance and something called OpenCL (Open Compute Library). This will apparently tap into the increasing power of GPU’s and use some of this for other tasks rather than just screen re-drawing. This makes sense if you are not playing games or creating 3D graphics. Why let all that power go to waste when you are manipulating spreadsheets or 2d drawing programs.

All in all, a lot to look forward to and if it fulfills all that it promises, it will be light years ahead of Windows 7!

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Tags: SnowLeopard, OS X, OpenCL, GPU, 64-bit

QuickTime 7.5 released

QuickTime 7.5 [Free for Mac + PC]

QuickTime 7.5 improves application compatibility and addresses security issues.

This release is recommended for all QuickTime 7 users.

For detailed information on the security content of this update, visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n61798.

The update is available now via Apple Software Update or you can download it from the Apple site here for the UK. It was expected with the release of the iPhone 2.0 software. It has new playback controls, offers up t 24 channels of surround sound and uses the new H.264 video codec for much improved quality.

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Tags: QuickTime, Apple, H.264, Apple Software Update,

Beatmaker | Music creation studio on your iPhone and iTouch!

Intua has announced BeatMaker for the Apple iPhone and iTouch. Billed as music creation studio you can carry in your pocket, it certainly promises much. Here is a list of some of its features:

16 triggerable pads with polyphonic control

Automatic sample slicing on multiple pads

Edit pads individually
• Duration and tonal controls
• Reverse
• Gain
• Output selection (Dry, FX Bus1, FX Bus 2)
• Graphical sample bounds editor

Instant muting
• Muting individual pads makes your song breathing

Sample accurate Sequencer
• Pattern step sequencer
• Step velocity editor per pattern
• Song pattern sequencer
• On the fly live editing

2 FX Busses, each rack containing
• 3 Band EQ
• Synchronized Delay
• Bit Crusher

Live pattern recording
• Record grooves from pads to sequencer patterns

Browser
• Provided Sound Library
• Multiple purposes instruments
• Artist Kits
• Local Library
• Network share
• Load and save samples, kits and projectsSong Export

Song Export
• Export your songs to commonly used sample formats

Now I am no musician (though I do play a little guitar for my own amusement), so I am no expert on this sort of thing. I guess we will have to wait for its release and reviews in the music press.

As yet, there is no confirmation of its release date nor the price. Watch this space or keep an eye on their website

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Tags: Intua, BeatMaker, iPhone, iTouch, music, studio, software, Apple, samples, beatbox, loops, instrument, iPod

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3G iPhone tariffs revealed on O2 site

Following its announcement at the Apple WWDC yesterday, O2 have now revealed the tariffs on which you get the new iPhone for free and the price if you buy it on a Pay as You Go contract.

As promised, it is now cheaper to get the iPhone than previously. The minimum tariff is £45 pcm for an 18-month contract. For that you get the 8GB iPhone free. If you choose the £30 or £35 contract, then its £99. This is still a good deal when you consider that over an 18-month minimum contract it would cost you an extra £171 if you chose the £45 contract. So, for my money its worth paying £99 to save £171!

All tariffs include unlimited browsing on your iPhone, unlimited Wi-Fi access, visual voicemail and reduced roaming rates with the O2 International Traveller Service and are subject to a minimum term contract of 18 months.

Terms & Conditions:
Handset subject to availability. Connection subject to status, 18-month minimum term contract, credit check & direct debit. Data usage whilst roaming not included. Unlimited Wi-Fi is available at any of the 9,500 Wi-Fi hotspots from our partners The Cloud and BT Openzone available from 11 July 2008). Excessive usage policy and full terms apply.

A breakdown is shown below of each of the tariffs:

Pay Monthly Tariffs for iPhone

Choose from one of four Pay Monthly tariffs for iPhone.

Monthly Charge	£30	£35	£45	£75
Cost of 8GB iPhone	£99	£99	Free	Free
Cost of 16GB iPhone	£159	£159	£59	Free
Minutes	75	600	1200	3000
Texts	125	500	500	500
Unlimited Data & Wi-Fi	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Visual Voicemail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Reduced Roaming Rates	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Minimum contract length	18 months	18 months	18 months	18 months

Standard calls made in the UK outside of your allowance cost 20p per minute and UK text messages cost 12p each.

Add extra minutes or texts
You can also create your perfect iPhone bundle by adding Bolt Ons for use when you are in the UK or abroad. How about unlimited O2 to O2 calls or unlimited anytime texts for just £7.50 per month? Find out more

Using iPhone abroad
Downloading 1MB of data in an EU country will cost £3 and the same amount of data in a non EU country will cost £6. We recommend that if you love using your iPhone for surfing the internet/ checking your emails in the UK and want to use it frequently when you are abroad that you add one of our Data Abroad Bolt Ons. Find out more

There seems to be some special deals for existing customers, including those who own the earlier version and are still within contract. It looks like you can upgrade to the new iPhone if you sign a new 18-month contract without waiting to complete your existing one. The offer is available from 11 July until 11 October 2008. I suggest you register on the site your interest.

If you are an existing O2 customer but don’t have any iPhone, then they are saying there will be some incentive to upgrade but as yet no details are given, only the suggestion to register your interest. I have already done so we’ll see what happens. I’ll keep you posted.

With PAYG, they simply say you should register your interest. There are separate deals for corporate customers, with different deals for businesses with less than or more than 200 staff. Again, check the website for more info.

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Tags: iPhone, 3G, Apple, O2, tariffs, maonthly, PAYG, Pay as You Go, deals, upgrade, The Carphone Warehouse