projectle
Sep 20, 03:44 PM
Right off the bat, I have two final generation Powerbook G4s (one is mine, one is my son's) so I figured that it would be a good side by side test for the new video formats.
I went to iTunes and grabbed a copy of Grosse Pointe Blank and popped the DVD version in for a side by side test.
I have to say that the quality on the iTunes version was very great. There are portions of the video where the quality definitely look better than the DVD version played back through the Apple DVD Player and portions that without a doubt look significantly worse.
When it comes to Title Sequences (Credits and some text overlays in the begining), the DVD wins hands down as the edges get a very choppy on the iTunes version.
When it comes to your normal scenes where people are talking and not much is going on, the iTunes version seems to have the edge (less pixelized backgrounds, appears to have greater detail around edges of fairly stationary objects, etc.).
When it comes to high action sequences, it really is a toss up between the two as neither really look that great (substantial bluring around moving objects).
For the parts of the show that matter, I would say that h264 (iTunes) scales better on larger high resolution screens than MPEG2 (DVD).
I plan on grabbing some stills and editing them together at the seams to see if there really is a noticable difference or if my eyes are playing tricks on me, but that will have to wait for a couple days.
I went to iTunes and grabbed a copy of Grosse Pointe Blank and popped the DVD version in for a side by side test.
I have to say that the quality on the iTunes version was very great. There are portions of the video where the quality definitely look better than the DVD version played back through the Apple DVD Player and portions that without a doubt look significantly worse.
When it comes to Title Sequences (Credits and some text overlays in the begining), the DVD wins hands down as the edges get a very choppy on the iTunes version.
When it comes to your normal scenes where people are talking and not much is going on, the iTunes version seems to have the edge (less pixelized backgrounds, appears to have greater detail around edges of fairly stationary objects, etc.).
When it comes to high action sequences, it really is a toss up between the two as neither really look that great (substantial bluring around moving objects).
For the parts of the show that matter, I would say that h264 (iTunes) scales better on larger high resolution screens than MPEG2 (DVD).
I plan on grabbing some stills and editing them together at the seams to see if there really is a noticable difference or if my eyes are playing tricks on me, but that will have to wait for a couple days.
tsugaru
Mar 22, 04:03 PM
Is it necessary these days? Back in 1999 it was still difficult days to just get video going at a good rate. These days it isn't hard to get good graphics.
What would be the use of redundant graphics? It must be a very small wedge of the market.
Not everyone wants a GPU for graphics. Some want it for games. Some want it for CUDA/OpenCL. Some want it for future proofing (kind of an oxymoron with a Mac, but that's another story.)
Apple has been pushing the 'good enough' mantra on iOS users for a while now. Specs aren't the greatest, but it's good enough and the software does well. It doesn't always work that way in (real) computers. There are always customers who want/need a bit more.
And not redundant graphics. I had meant Apple should be doing the latest and greatest again regarding their GPUs, like they did way way way back when. I should have just typed it all out. I'm in a slight food induced coma now.
What would be the use of redundant graphics? It must be a very small wedge of the market.
Not everyone wants a GPU for graphics. Some want it for games. Some want it for CUDA/OpenCL. Some want it for future proofing (kind of an oxymoron with a Mac, but that's another story.)
Apple has been pushing the 'good enough' mantra on iOS users for a while now. Specs aren't the greatest, but it's good enough and the software does well. It doesn't always work that way in (real) computers. There are always customers who want/need a bit more.
And not redundant graphics. I had meant Apple should be doing the latest and greatest again regarding their GPUs, like they did way way way back when. I should have just typed it all out. I'm in a slight food induced coma now.
triceretops
May 3, 11:30 AM
Who has room for two external displays on a desk that already has a 27" iMac?!
I do. Probably have room for 3.:D
I do. Probably have room for 3.:D
Dagless
May 3, 11:00 AM
Gotta say, the option to get a touchpad instead of a mouse is a huge step forward. I was eyeing up one of those just for fun but the price turned me away (esp. after spending �400 on a Wacom). And since I already have a really good Razer mouse... it's win win! No second mouse to clutter up my drawer.
daneoni
Apr 25, 01:12 PM
Guessing it'll just be a lot thinner. Maybe SSD's or Flash storage instead of HD's. Perhaps we can kiss the Superdrive goodbye? Either way, curious to see what they have in store :) Bringing back the blackbook would be pretty cool too.
They already have that product...it's called the MacBook Air.
They already have that product...it's called the MacBook Air.
EagerDragon
Sep 14, 07:42 PM
I'm hoping for a MBP. It'll be my first Mac. My son just started college and we were going to buy him a Mac Mini. Then I heard about new imacs coming and waited it out and I found that to be a better value than a mac mini. Well he just got it a week ago and it's great! Now I've decided to switch from Windows to Mac and will get a MBP but am waiting for the next generation. I was disappointed it didn't come last week but maybe the 24th. Isn't it unusual for Apple to have something like this on a Sunday? I hear so much about Tuesdays but as other's have said maybe the 19th. I've heard estimates of as late as January becuase of a meron shortage. I can't wait that long to switch to Mac! :)
Extemly likely it will be updated by end of the month at the latests. More than likely before 9/25. Not too worried about the numbers, Intel should have Apple in the prefered list and Apple not likely to expect to sell more than 1/2 mil of them, so they prob have plenty of chips. Likely it may have memry card reader, Meron, no latch, new gen chip for wireless (pre-n). Im not a Pro photographer, but anything that helps the photographer like better way to import or export photos and make life easier for them. All plus for you and me also. BTW welcome to the Family.
Extemly likely it will be updated by end of the month at the latests. More than likely before 9/25. Not too worried about the numbers, Intel should have Apple in the prefered list and Apple not likely to expect to sell more than 1/2 mil of them, so they prob have plenty of chips. Likely it may have memry card reader, Meron, no latch, new gen chip for wireless (pre-n). Im not a Pro photographer, but anything that helps the photographer like better way to import or export photos and make life easier for them. All plus for you and me also. BTW welcome to the Family.
1984
Sep 14, 04:51 AM
My wife busted her phone today, and called me for a recommendation. All she wants as a Mom is a phone with a long battery life and great reception.
She left the Cingular store with a crappy phone with a million features she will never use.
It's too bad the Motorola MOTOFONE (http://www.motorola.com/motoinfo/product/details.jsp?globalObjectId=164) isn't available yet. It would have been perfect. A phone where battery life, reception and ease of use are the main features? Finally some gets it.
She left the Cingular store with a crappy phone with a million features she will never use.
It's too bad the Motorola MOTOFONE (http://www.motorola.com/motoinfo/product/details.jsp?globalObjectId=164) isn't available yet. It would have been perfect. A phone where battery life, reception and ease of use are the main features? Finally some gets it.
Eidorian
Jul 19, 10:50 AM
Hmmm, it's a tough one. But I think the price vs. performance of Conroe being so much better than Merom will mean that Apple will try their best to cram one into the iMac. It would mean a more powerful computer that's cheaper for Apple to produce, and it is a desktop after all.
But you are right that the thermals of Conroe could be a problem. I'm not sure how much of a difference speed-step will make. Although it is the most power-efficient desktop chip out there, it consumes less power under load than Pentium D's at idle:
http://images.tomshardware.com/2006/07/14/power_conroe.png
And it runs much cooler than the chips in the Macbook and Macbook Pro in normal computer cases:
http://images.tomshardware.com/2006/07/14/game_over_core_2_duo_knocks_out_athlon_64/conroe_temp_min.gif
25 degrees celcius with speedstep...
http://images.tomshardware.com/2006/07/14/game_over_core_2_duo_knocks_out_athlon_64/x6800_temp_max.gif
And 45 degrees at max clockspeed. And that's the 75W Conroe, the 65W one should be slightly cooler. Now I know this isn't in the iMac case, but if the chips run that cool in desktops then hopefully they shouldn't run too much hotter in an iMac...Then all we're looking at is cranking up the current 180 watt power supply. I remember my iMac G5 2.0 GHz hitting 75-76º C at 100% load. The Rev. C iMac G5 was whisper quiet compared to my machine using the same 970FX chip. If Conroe doesn't break 45° C then it's not a thermal nightmare to put into the iMac. It's just a pain to power.
But you are right that the thermals of Conroe could be a problem. I'm not sure how much of a difference speed-step will make. Although it is the most power-efficient desktop chip out there, it consumes less power under load than Pentium D's at idle:
http://images.tomshardware.com/2006/07/14/power_conroe.png
And it runs much cooler than the chips in the Macbook and Macbook Pro in normal computer cases:
http://images.tomshardware.com/2006/07/14/game_over_core_2_duo_knocks_out_athlon_64/conroe_temp_min.gif
25 degrees celcius with speedstep...
http://images.tomshardware.com/2006/07/14/game_over_core_2_duo_knocks_out_athlon_64/x6800_temp_max.gif
And 45 degrees at max clockspeed. And that's the 75W Conroe, the 65W one should be slightly cooler. Now I know this isn't in the iMac case, but if the chips run that cool in desktops then hopefully they shouldn't run too much hotter in an iMac...Then all we're looking at is cranking up the current 180 watt power supply. I remember my iMac G5 2.0 GHz hitting 75-76º C at 100% load. The Rev. C iMac G5 was whisper quiet compared to my machine using the same 970FX chip. If Conroe doesn't break 45° C then it's not a thermal nightmare to put into the iMac. It's just a pain to power.
ucfgrad93
Apr 25, 01:08 AM
The simple fact is that I should not have to obey a 70mph speed limit if I don't want to. Why would I even bother driving a car that can hit 186mph (with the speed governor removed, with the governor top speed is 155mph) at 70 mph? A Ford Fiesta can hit those speeds, what's the point of fast cars if you're going to follow the speed limit in them?
Once again you provide further evidence that you do not belong in the driver's seat of a tricycle much less a car.
Once again you provide further evidence that you do not belong in the driver's seat of a tricycle much less a car.
Phil A.
Aug 23, 07:07 PM
Don't 90% or more of the MP3 players on the market also infringe this patent (including the forthcoming Zune). By making this payout Apple have given Creative the means to fight other companies (such as Microsoft, Sandisk, etc) which could tie them up for years and possibly even delay the launch of Zune. Meanwhile, Apple have their nice license agreement and can continue unabated...
hulugu
Apr 20, 04:54 PM
Sure is. A hypothetical I like to propose:
Considering that the discrepancies between "rich" and "poor" as far as voting goes are far over blown (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/24/even-more-on-income-and-voting/) (Rich DO vote liberal and poor DO vote conservative) with the top third of white income earners STILL voting liberal, despite their high incomes and the ever-pervasive myth that rich people vote republican.
If this top third of income earners, instead of trying to legislate their charities through democratic votes and the force of law, simply put 50%, 60%, 70%, hell, 90% of their incomes towards charity rather than owning a home, owning multiple vehicles, owning boats, "traveling", shopping at Lunds or Kowalskis, etc, the poverty problem would be fixed, or at the very least, helped significantly without forcing ANYBODY to do ANYTHING.
But then again, these people would rather force everyone to pony up the dough rather than take a hit to their lifestyles.
Charity is a beautiful thing, but forced charity?
What programs do you consider to be 'forced charity?'
Considering that the discrepancies between "rich" and "poor" as far as voting goes are far over blown (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/24/even-more-on-income-and-voting/) (Rich DO vote liberal and poor DO vote conservative) with the top third of white income earners STILL voting liberal, despite their high incomes and the ever-pervasive myth that rich people vote republican.
If this top third of income earners, instead of trying to legislate their charities through democratic votes and the force of law, simply put 50%, 60%, 70%, hell, 90% of their incomes towards charity rather than owning a home, owning multiple vehicles, owning boats, "traveling", shopping at Lunds or Kowalskis, etc, the poverty problem would be fixed, or at the very least, helped significantly without forcing ANYBODY to do ANYTHING.
But then again, these people would rather force everyone to pony up the dough rather than take a hit to their lifestyles.
Charity is a beautiful thing, but forced charity?
What programs do you consider to be 'forced charity?'
ezekielrage_99
Sep 10, 08:31 PM
I wondering how many people are now going to put off buying a Mac Pro and wait for a faster Kentsfield :confused:
The Mac Pros a fast as it is now, Kentsfield would smash the previous benchmarks but a fair margin.
The Mac Pros a fast as it is now, Kentsfield would smash the previous benchmarks but a fair margin.
toddybody
Apr 22, 12:49 PM
I think the big advantage to this downgrade will be buying clearance and refurbished Nvidia-based MBAs for 25% discounts... Unless Apple somehow fits a standard voltage SB CPU in the 13" MBA, I think most will be better off with C2D and Nvidia 320m at discounts.
Thats what I'm thinking...hoping to grab a 13 at ~1000/1100 on Amazon.
Thats what I'm thinking...hoping to grab a 13 at ~1000/1100 on Amazon.
weitzner
Oct 27, 08:09 PM
When the day comes that holographic screens make it to the market...maybe the green lust will be satiated and all will be well..unless the projector for holograms is a candy-coated ball of lead, powered by the liver of an infant.
well what else CLOULD it be?
well what else CLOULD it be?
jt2110
Sep 5, 04:11 AM
Don't all wireless devices have to be approved by the FCC?
Might we get a preview of this device?
I'm suprised nobody has mentioned this.
Might we get a preview of this device?
I'm suprised nobody has mentioned this.
dazzer21
Sep 5, 06:47 AM
So what sort of picture and sound quality can we expect from these movie downloads (wireless or otherwise)? Also, as a download, just how big are these files going to be? I wouldn't want to be on the other side of a "your hard disk is now full" prompt 10Mb from the end of a 2Gb download (that's an extreme example - I hope!)
Eidorian
Sep 9, 11:33 AM
Wanna bet that Napa64 is 100% identical to ordinary Napa, apart from the fact that the CPU is Merom, instead of Yonah? Since Napa is a platform, just chaning the CPU to something else would mean that the platform has been refreshed.I'm a little skeptical about Napa64 as well. I did read the previous links and articles on it. Why make Merom backwards compatible with Yonah?
http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/09/09/preview_kentsfield_processor/
Tom's Hardware benchmarks Intel's first quad-core "Kentsfield"
Culver City (CA) - Intel's first quad-core processor "Kentsfield" has found its way into the Tom's Hardware test lab. Several weeks before Intel will provide evaluation processors to the press, Tom's Hardware was able to obtain a qualification sample: The quad-core was sent through the entire test parcours and showed impressive performance.Nice information there. I wanted a little heads up on Kentsfield. Still, isn't it dual Conroe's with separate cache and then over the front side bus?
http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/09/09/preview_kentsfield_processor/
Tom's Hardware benchmarks Intel's first quad-core "Kentsfield"
Culver City (CA) - Intel's first quad-core processor "Kentsfield" has found its way into the Tom's Hardware test lab. Several weeks before Intel will provide evaluation processors to the press, Tom's Hardware was able to obtain a qualification sample: The quad-core was sent through the entire test parcours and showed impressive performance.Nice information there. I wanted a little heads up on Kentsfield. Still, isn't it dual Conroe's with separate cache and then over the front side bus?
Ha ze
Oct 13, 01:39 AM
Not sure if it's already been pointed out, but GAP is also releasing a Red line of clothes tomorrow to support AIDS in Africa. I wonder if Oprah will be visiting various retail stores supporting the Red thing tomorrow.
I really want the Red SLVR phone, but it's not sold here.
-Matt
Here in Chicago, The Gap and The Apple store are a block from each other on Michigan Ave. where they taped. I also believe they went across the street to the newly opened Motorola Store to the new stuff there.
I am sure this has been said but I wanted to get my post in...
Looks cool, just hope the $10 donation does not mean it will cost more. Red is not THAT great.
No, it'll be the same 199 cause another $10 and whoa... way over price for charity
I really want the Red SLVR phone, but it's not sold here.
-Matt
Here in Chicago, The Gap and The Apple store are a block from each other on Michigan Ave. where they taped. I also believe they went across the street to the newly opened Motorola Store to the new stuff there.
I am sure this has been said but I wanted to get my post in...
Looks cool, just hope the $10 donation does not mean it will cost more. Red is not THAT great.
No, it'll be the same 199 cause another $10 and whoa... way over price for charity
AidenShaw
Mar 23, 11:15 PM
wait till they see the price of the new tb drives people will choke...
$49 for a TB drive
$49 for a TB drive
Micrll
Aug 28, 12:56 PM
I just want them to bump up the Macbook so then I can go ahead and buy my fist Mac. I just want to buy it when its the most current.
MovieCutter
Sep 5, 04:33 PM
I'm going to venture a guess and say we'll see something named the iPod Showtime or Showtime as a product name.
guzhogi
Aug 23, 06:26 PM
I hope this means that Creative would port its Soundblaster X-Fi to Macs. I'm sure this would help bring game developers, too.
Westyfield2
Apr 22, 11:24 AM
As my first post to macrumors, I just purchased a 13" refurb 30 min ago. Oh well, still good technology. I can finally sell my 2007 macbook.
Enjoy it, I love my 13" :cool:.
Enjoy it, I love my 13" :cool:.
craigsharp@spym
Sep 14, 08:54 AM
iPhone.org is a hoax, i think. I'm not sure, but it is kinda funny that Apple owns mammals.org? why in the heck does apple own that domain name? Kinda lookin forward to seeing the the all new Apple Mammal, It's a robot that looks and feels human, can think and even reproduces the same way a human does. LOL Oh and it can play the new movies too.