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Thursday April 16, 1998
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News Index 1)Apple Share IP 6.0 Sneak Peek |
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Thursday April 16, 1998
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News Index 1)Apple Share IP 6.0 Sneak Peek |
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| Allegro PowerMac G3 Benchmarks |
We've finally obtained a set of benchmarks which show results of Allegro and MacOS 8.1 on a 266MHz Apple Power Macintosh MiniTower. We've spoken to several engineers about the extremely low FPU score for Allegro, and they suggest this will definitely not be the case come release time. While Allegro shows great improvements with 604 chips, G3's are another story. Final optimization will not take place until late beta versions of the software, so much may change.
Reality has also received notes which claim that Allegro is extremely far from a PowerPC native OS. Sources state the only the new features such as the updated Appearance manager and a few other components are written in full PPC code. Instead the majority of the system remains as it was in MacOS8.1, which would prove the similar results (below), correct. It's close to impossible that the Allegro engineers have rewritten even a substantial percentage of the MacOS in PPC native code, not to mention the whole 110 megs of source code which make up the MacOS. Lets be reasonable here.
A couple of well connected readers tell us that our statements above are indeed correct. They've also filled us in on the PPC native components of Allegro. Apparently, several components of the MacOS tool box have gone PPC, in the Allegro release. Including : the window, dialog, menu and event managers, and obviously many more.
Below are extensive tests. VM : Standing for Virtual Memory and ED : Standing for extensions disabled. Results prove to be quit interesting. All tests run with a 4096k of disk cache.
We'll work to obtain a set of benchmarks of Allegro on the 233 and possibly 300 MHz versions of the PowerMac G3. We'll also post some further updates on Allegro when time permits.
Finally, we welcome your benchmarks and test results. Further information on Allegro will be posted as it is received.For more information on alpha versions of Allegro, check out our Allegro Information Archive, which contains all our previous articles on Allegro, and tons of screen shots.
If you have any further information on this subject, please inform us.
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| WallStreet Photographs Exclusive! 04/10 |
A source who will remain anonymous for obvious reasons, recently got up-close and personal with a WallStreet PowerBook unit. In light of this fact, we have received actual photographs and close-ups of the genuine WallStreet model. Below are 11 new photographs of the WallStreet (excluding 'WallStreet Full', which has been posted previously), revealing everything from the top and bottom of the model, to its power supply.
WallStreet Images
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| Allegro Benchmarks & Tests 04/09 |
We've started to receive benchmarks on the Allegro builds. Below is our first installment of benchmarks from MacBench comparing MacOS 8.1 to Allegro. All tests in this report were performed on a 7600/120 MHz 604. You'll notice the absence of a graphics test from MacBench; our source claimed that the MacBench 4.0 graphics test would continually crash under Allegro on his 7600, therefore he was not able to obtain final results.
It's quite evident that Allegro is substantially faster.
Below are a series of test performed in both Allegro and MacOS 8.1. Drawing a large Finder Window that hasn't been cached, scrolling through a large un-cached Finder window, and launching Adobe Photoshop 4.0. In all test, Allegro had a slight edge.
Allegro Finder Tests
Test MacOS8.1 Allegro DrawWindow 3.17sec 2.12sec ScrollThrough 3.57sec 3.33sec Launch PS 4.0 22.51sec 17.5sec Below are the copy and deletion tests in both Allegro and MacOS. WOW! Those copy results are not a mistake. Allegro cuts copy time down to almost a third of the copy time in MacOS 8.1. Uh oh, Connectix has their work cut out for them...
Allegro Copy/Trash Tests
Test MacOS8.1 Allegro Copy 42 Meg Folder of Files 3.39 minutes 1:36 minutes Trash 42 Meg Folder of Files 13.7sec 10.63sec Program Switcher
We failed to mention in previous reports that Allegro has a built in program switcher, finally! Command - Tab switches between actively running applications, only without the use of a dialog (as in liteswitch,program switcher). It is unclear if the program switcher will stay as is. Currently the command-tab switcher actually switches into and then out of each application as it goes through the list. This can be a tremendous waste of time.
Finally, we welcome your benchmarks and test results. Further information on Allegro will be posted as it is received.For more information on alpha versions of Allegro, check out our Allegro Information Archive, which contains all our previous articles on Allegro, and tons of screen shots.
If you have any further information on this subject, please inform us.
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| Artemis Impressions 04/09 |
Readers have begun to write in with their impressions of the new, all-in-one Macintosh G3. Below we've posted one of the more interesting stories related to the new unit.
If you're interested, I got to try out the 2/9/98 Sacremento build of an Artemis Prototype at my school's Technology Fair yesterday.
The local Apple representatives resposible for selling macs to the majority of schools in Hawaii brought in the prototype to demonstrate the power and ease that Macintosh carries with it. And let me tell you, this machine Rocks! Powered by 266mhz PPC 750 w/64MB Ram and a 4Gb HD, Virtual PC 2.0 flew on it! MS Word 97 opened in about 3-5 seconds. Windows 95 ran pretty well with the GUI response a bit laggy but fast enough to impress people.
What I really liked was the built in video out options which allowed for plug and play video on a TV via S-Video or RCA jacks out of the box! It was a bit hard to find the controls, the Apple reps played a game with us to see if we could find it... It is a control strip plugin that controls the output of video. The new monitor control panel controls are pretty good with options that would normally be controlled by controls on the monitor itself. (sorry for the redundancy)
Performance was stellar as the finder (MacOS 8.1 w some weirdo hack 1.1 in the about this computer box) response was quick and fast with the new G3 at the helm.
The reaction to people who came by to look at it was amazing. Too bad its only available through edu. Personally, I think we got about a dozen people to consider this machine with about half of them already planning on buying it some way though the educational channels. The features just blew them away and it was almost like magic to see the twinkle in their eyes as we impressed them with the video out features, fast processor speed, option to run Windows under VPC, and most importantly, the low price. When we mentioned the $1500-1800 price point, their eyes immediately lit up. The reaction was, "All that for only 1700 bucks? WOW!" Think about it, where on the wintel side can you get a fast PII with video in/out out of the box that's plug n'play along with the world's easiest to use OS with multiplatform support(via Virtual PC)?
Apple needs to unleash this machine upon consumers. This is the machine people have been looking for. Everything about it is awesome, the performance, the design and the loaded features. This is the machine apple really needs to show the wintel world that they're not playing nice anymore. If Apple ever lacked a low cost machine, this is IT! And its not hobbled and parylised in performance/expandibility like their wintel kin. This is high performance at low cost with simply awesome features that one can find on the higher end G3 models.Hopefully Apple will make the Artemis available to the public, in time, as they did with the eMate. There is obviously a demand for such a product. What do you think Apple?
We always welcome impressions of new Apple hardware, and pre-released Apple hardware.
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| Mac Diablo - Almost... 04/09 |
Over the past week, several readers have noted that Blizzard has released a Golden Master (GM) of the 3-D role playing game to manufacturing for duplication and shipment. V.I.P. copies of the game should be released to the press beginning next week and the game should hit retail stores in about 10 days, according to Blizzard.
This release comes a full year after the PC version. For Blizzard's sake, we really hope the demand is still there, but it will never be as great as it would have been a year ago.
In better gaming news, 'Unreal' ads have started to appear in MacWorld. 'Coming soon'.
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| Allegro Specifics Report 04/06 |
Below is our latest installment of late-breaking information on Allegro. We'll have to refrain from posting any further images of Allegro at this time, in order to ease the pain of several individuals working closely with the Allegro project. Previous reports and images from last week can be seen in our Allegro Information Archive. We'll have some final information on Thursday, possibly bench marks as well.
PPP Access
The remote access control strip module (CSM) allows for one click connections. Using the CSM in conjunction with Open Transport 2.0 to connect, will allow connections to take place in the background, without the silly dialog that appears in the current version of the MacOS. You can now do 'other things' while you connect.
The new 'Remote Access' control panel, which replaces the current PPP control panel, has an option to fold down to smaller connection dialog if you choose to use this means of connecting to the net, rather than using the CSM.
An 'Internet' Folder has been added to the Apple menu with the following options: Browse the Internet, Connect/Disconnect, Connect To, Internet Setup Assistant, and Mail.
An SNMP Admin application has also been placed within the Apple Menu.
Appearance
The appearance control panel has undergone some major work. All tabs are now functional. The 'Themes' tab contains preset appearance configurations using a specific appearance file. In other words, selecting a theme, rather than one of the three appearance files (Apple Platinum, Hi-Tech, Gizmo) will implement the appearance file, highlight color, desktop background,font, sound set, and so forth, all at once.
The desktop pictures control panel has now been integrated within the appearance control panel. Desktop pictures and patterns are now enclosed within the 'Desktop' tab of the appearance CDEV.
Allegro will ship with three themes, and three sound sets. Enabling theme sound sets in the 'Effects' tab of the appearance CDEV will instruct the system to play the appropriate sounds for clicking on icons, pulling down a menu, scrolling through a menu, selecting a menu option, re-sizing a window, moving a window, checking a check box, clicking a radio button, and so forth. Window shades now have new sounds. Option clicking to window shade all windows on the screen now only plays one sound, rather than a continuous set of sounds like in 8.X. ( I like the old way, personally). All sounds are in Stereo! Sounds that take place on the left of the screen are heard through the left speaker, those on the right, the right speaker. And those in the center are heard through both speakers.
Font smoothing is pretty much complete. Colored text with font smoothing is now properly displayed.
All appearance files have had major work done to them, lots of improvements. Menu's still don't use the proper look, in all applications. The Hi-Tech theme window borders still have some work that needs to be done on them as well. All theme files now have custom icon sets.
Navigation Services
Navigation Services have been implemented within the Allegro System Software. The dialogs have been slightly altered. A new option within the File menu, entitled 'Add to Favorites', will add a selected item to the favorites menu of the Navigation Services Dialog.
Finder
Get info windows now have the 'Label' menu incorporated within the window. A menu placed at the top of each Get Info window contains two options: General Info and Sharing Info, for file sharing information. You can now edit the name of files from the Get Info window.
Get info windows for alias files now contain a button to display the original file within the Finder. Alias icons now contain a small alias graphic in the upper right hand corner of the icon. Locked files have a small pad lock graphic in the upper right hand corner of the icon.
Window title's within the Finder now contain icon proxies, which act as a proxy to the original item. You can drag and drop these as if they were the actual file. The icon proxies also appear on tabbed windows.
Columns in the list view can be re-sized by placing the cursor over the crease of the column dividers, then clicking and dragging. An option in the views menu entitled 'Reset Column Positions', will reset the columns to their correct widths.
Performance
Allegro's performance is fantastic. Especially on the web and in the Finder. Icon previews have been reduced in size for quicker window draw and redraw. The combination of Open Transport 2.0, and Allegro's nearly all PowerPC code provides for a pleasant experience on the web. Pages download faster, and load smoother.
Application launch time seems to be even faster, once again. Allegro's boot time is still rather slow, on the other hand.
Allegro is also very stable, for an alpha. Though, by no means can you compare it to the stability of the Bride of Buster alpha versions, as that was an update to the MacOS rather than a revision.
The Bad
In a very upsetting piece of news, Allegro installs Microsoft Outlook Express on default, instead of Claris Emailer Lite. This may be the dirt on top of the coffin for Claris Emailer. Very upsetting to say the least. Just how far does this Apple/Microsoft alliance go?
Of course Internet Explorer is the default browser, sigh.
For more information on alpha versions of Allegro, check out our Allegro Information Archive, which contains all our previous articles on Allegro, and tons of screen shots.If you have any further information on this subject, please inform us.
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| This Week's Apple News 04/06 |
Steve's Keynote at the NAB
-Steve Jobs keynote at the National Association of Broadcasters Convention '98 can be viewed via Microsoft Netshow (scary).
Adobe Photoshop 5.0
-Adobe Photoshop 5.0 is in beta 6 of its beta phase. A GM is expected some time soon.
Adobe eyes FireWorks
-Adobe plans to give Macromedia a run for its money by introducing an application, right now believed to be called 'Image Ready', to compete with FireWorks.
Bill Gates in Brussels
"Brussels police department, how may I assist you?"
"Uh.. yes.. I just got hit in the face with a cream pie."
"Okay, sir. Have you called the Brussels police department before?"
"No"
"Well, let me get a little information about you for our records. Your name?"
"Bill Gates"
"Country?"
"The USA"
"Native language?"
"English"
"Okay, sir. Your police department ID number is BP31415927. Please use this number the next time you call. Now, you say you were hit in the face with a pie?"
"Yes, I was just about to meet with the Belgian Prime Minister. One person distracted me while another hit me with a cream pie."
"We've had other customers report that they were hit in the face with a custard pie. Are you sure it was a cream pie?"
"Well, I have white stuff all over my face and I don't see any custard, so I really don't think it was a custard pie."
"Have you visited the Prime Minister before?"
"Yes."
"Were you hit in the face with a pie then?"
"No..."
"Hmm... have you visited any other Prime Ministers in the past month?"
"Yes."
"Any pies then?"
"No."
"Okay, well.. let's try something. Go outside the building and come in again. I'll wait."
"Just a minute..." <several minutes pass> "Okay, I'm back."
"Did you get hit by another pie?"
"Of course not."
"Well sir, I don't know what could have caused the first pie, but it looks like things are working fine now. I'll make a note of the problem, though. If it happens again, please note the exact details of the situation and call us again. Thank you for calling the Brussels Police Department. <click>"
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