Category: News

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Running Windows XP on an Intel Macintosh (aka. “Macintel”)

WinMac

You can now run Windows XP on a Macintel. The solution was found with the contest that started it all 3 months ago. It ended with two individuals calling themselves “blanka” and “narf2006” winning the final jackpot of USD13,854.00.

The full instructions can be found at the Contest site’s How To page.

[Update – 2006.03.23] there is also an excellent video steping through the instructions at UneasySilence

There is also a new instruction where one can create the Windows XP On Macintosh Boot CD on a Macintosh without using a computer that runs Windows.

In this experiment I used an Intel iMac to create the Boot CD.

If you are going to follow my foot steps, there are much details in the Fink install that may not be obvious from following the instructions. The currently tested version of Fink on the Intel Mac is 0.24.12, and the “mkisofs” package is not available in the “stable” branch of the Fink install.

At the moment I am still investigating the “mkisofs” issue. One possibility is that the “mkisofs” package is in the “unstable” branch of the Fink release. If this is the case we must modify the “/sw/etc/fink.conf” file so that “unstable/main” and “unstable/crypto” in the TREE parameter. This will get Fink to look in the “unstable” tree for package’s source.

If you do not have a Windows XP Pro SP2 install CD but just a regular Windows XP Pro install CD, then you will need to create what Microsoft calls a “Slipstream” CD.

When the above are completed we can go back to the OnMac instructions and create the Windows XP On Macintosh Boot CD.

My first attempt to create the Boot CD failed. When attempting to use the created CD to begin the Windows XP installation, the system claims that the CD is not a valid El-Torito formated disk. II plan to try again, and when I have more information, I will announce it here. Please stay tune.

Note: Please remember that downloading the instructions and associate files is legal, but the jury is still out as to whether modifying the Windows XP install CD is legal, so be careful of the Microsoft police.

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Finding songs by humming

Ever went into a record store not knowing the name, artist or title of a song you looking for, and decided to hum to the store staff expecting them to know what song you’re looking for?

Well, the students at New York University may have a solution for record stores around the world.

They have created a system that allow one to hum into a microphone, the computer records it, analyse and extracts the melody and rhythm characteristics, then compares it to its database returning a ranked list of possible songs.

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Disney Taking Over Pixar

Today Disney board members announced and approved the purchase of Pixar in a 7.4 billion deal.

The majority owner of Pixar, Steve Jobs, will become a board member of Disney, plus he will be the largest share holder of Disney.

For those who do not know, Pixar and Disney had a 7 movies deal started with “Toy Story” in 1995 that was about to expire with the upcoming movie “Cars”. Which had already grossed more than USD3.2 billion worldwide and yet to flop. Where as both Disney and Dreamworks have not met the epectations for their respective movies at the box office.

So who is taking over who here. With John Lasseter, Creative Director of Pixar, becoming the Creative Officer for both companies animation studios and overseeing design for new attractions at Disney theme parks, and Steve Jobs being the largest share holder of Disney. Is Pixar taking over Disney from within?

Will Steve Jobs now have a conflict of interest, being the person in charge of a media distribution channel, iTunes Music Store, and influencer of Disney?

Will the Mouse company start to use more Macintosh at its theme parks?

BTW: did I mention that the Macintosh was realeased on this day 22 years ago? Plus I was born on this day.

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Apple’s “One More Thing…” Announcement

OneMoreThing

At this very moment (October 12, 2005, 10:00am PDT) in California Theater, San Jose, California, USA, Apple is making their “One more thing…” announcement to the members of the press.

In the past week everyone had been speculating what Apple will announce at this event. These included:

  1. video iPod
  2. radio feature on a 5th generation iPod®
  3. new revamped PowerBook
  4. even a “tablet Macintosh”

So what Apple will actually announce will have to wait until Apple finish its event.

Stay tune…

[Update: 01:35] – from MacRumors on Site

  • New thinner iMac® with built-in iSight
    • FrontRowRemote


  • New Apple application called “PhotoBooth”
  • New Apple media software called “Front Row” with an infrared remote. Having only 6 buttons to control all the video functions compared to the various versions of Microsoft Media Center’s 40+ buttons remotes
    • FrontRowRemote
  • New 5th generation iPod® Video 30GB/60GB with 2.5in TFT display displaying 320×240 pixels and realtime decoding of MPEG4 and H.264 video. Both the “5G iPod® Video 30GB/60GB” are 31% thinner than the current “iPod® Color Display 20GB” priced at USD299 and USD399 respectively
  • New iTunes® 6

So it looks like Apple is definitely getting into Digital Media Center in a way, and began to sell Music Videos on iTunes® Music Store (iTMS).

[Update: 01:59] – from iLounge on Site

  • Alleged photos of the new “5G iPod® Video 30GB”

[Update: 02:00] – from MacRumors on Site

  • TV shows will be available for purchase at USD1.99 each episode. So far ABC, Disney and Pixar are on board to sell their content. Making “Desperate Housewives”, “Lost” and more available
  • All videos purchased from iTMS will have Digital Rights Management (DRM) software built in.

[Update: 02:01] – from Apple
Here are the details of today’s announcement in the form of an Apple press releases:

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First Car to be Made in Hong Kong

MyCar Yellow

This is a joint venture between Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Design, InnoVech and the world famous designer Giugiaro of Italy have designed a “car”. Or to be exact a motorcycle with 4 wheels and a hard shell.

It is targeted at youngsters between the age of 14 – 18 and may be driven without the normal vehicle license. At the moment the target geographic launch will be Europe.

InnoVech is responsible for the manufacture of this vehicle and is considering building a new factory in Hong Kong to perform the final assembly and quality control of the vehicle.

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OS X 86 available for retail… in Bangkok

OSX86

The fact that retailers in Bangkok can openly display pirated software (although made up to look very authentic), is a perfect example of why education is greatly needed in Asia regarding piracy and its effect down the food chain.

For those who knows me, they know I am not typically vocal about piracy, but in this case it is despicable for these individuals (both the retailer and pirates; they may be both of the same) to capitalize on work of the OpenSource community.

Yes, I do not condone the actions of the individuals participating in the OSX86 Project, but at least those people are not trying to make money out of their collective efforts. They are instead volunteering their time and skills to produce something in demand by the public. As Apple has mentioned before, people are not buying Macintosh just for the OS, it is the revolution design and usability of the Macintosh that people are also buying.

These pirates in Bangkok are simply selling someone else’s work. That’s almost like charging for medical services provided by Médecins Sans Frontières. I guess that’s the basic definition of Piracy!

So, in Steve Jobs’ words, should “all pirates burn in hell”?

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Katrina Themed Virus Attack Hits the Net

Hurricane Katrina

WARNING! to the few friends who are still using Windows based computers.

I just can’t believe there are people out there who would take advantage of the caring and sharing nature of human-beings for their own enjoyments.

There is a series of emails out there disguised as Hurricane Katrina relieve or information about the disaster. In actual fact they are spreading dangerous virus onto your computer (running Windows operating system with Microsoft Internet Explorer browser).

Please only use reputable sites for donations (International Red Cross, etc.) and information (CNN, etc.) about the disaster.

Or do what many have already done, switch to an Apple Macintosh computer and rid the thought of virus forever.

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Philips to demo roll-up display at IFA

This Philips technology is exactly the type of device shown in the motion picture “Red Planet“. Remember the electronic roll-up map that the characters use to check their location after they crash on the Red planet?

It is not surprising that motion picture props designers spend so much time researching the technologies demonstrated in the movies, just to add a sense of believability to the movies that they are designing for. While at the same time the designers also offer the audience a bit of imagination for the future by extending these technologies to the edge of realism and practical use.

Similarly in the movie “Minority Report” Tom Cruise was moving objects around on the screen just by waving his hands in front of the screen using gestures.

Here are some photos of the Philips device from Engadget.

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