The extra video memory(increased to 128 MB from 64 MB) is very significant in light of Quartz 2D Extreme
A huge number of common drawing operations fit this "upload, cache, and reference" mold. For example, nearly every user interface element in Mac OS X is a bitmap: buttons, checkboxes, window widgets, window background textures, etc. The first time these UI elements are drawn, the bitmap graphics are uploaded to the video card and cached in VRAM. All subsequent UI widget drawing commands can then execute as fast as possible, pulling bitmaps from the VRAM cache as needed.
Perhaps surprisingly, text is the other common example. The first time text is drawn at a particular size with a particular font, the characters shapes (glyphs) are read from the vector-based font definition and then rasterized into bitmaps at the specified size. These rasterized glyphs (bitmaps, really) are then uploaded to the video card and cached in VRAM. All subsequent text drawing using the same font and size can then simply issue small drawing commands ("draw a capital letter 'A'") without any further need to upload bitmaps. Since most text consists of relatively long sequences of glyphs in a few fonts and sizes, this is a big win in practice. Of course, ransom notes that use a different font and size for every single character might not benefit as much...but then, that really depends on how much VRAM you have, doesn't it?
Re:PVR didn't kill it
on
Voom No More
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· Score: 2, Insightful
Lack of PVR was definitely part of the problem. I'm an early HD adopter and didn't consider VOOM because of it. Not enough subscribers = paltry revenue.
I imagine that if I could somehow watch nothing but HiDef DVDs for a month, I would find it hard to go back to regular DVDs.
I'm already that way with standard def TV. I get 16 channels of High Def and find that it is now very rare for me to watch a standard def show. Having the DVR helped reduce my standard-def viewing as well as I've almost always got something recorded in High Def that I want to see.
1) Printing doesn't work. When I tried using OpenOffice I had to create a PDF, then print the PDF using an OS X application.
2) Fonts don't work well. Either I could see the font onscreen, but not on the paper; or I could see the font on the print out, but not on screen. A few fonts worked in both places, but it was a major hassle trying to figure out which ones.
Houston Real-Time Traffic Map. It reports on freeways as well as the tollroads. There's electronic signs along the roads informing you of traffic conditions ahead. You can view the signs online, first check the "Message Signs" option in the Map Control box on the lower left, the click a sign on the map to see what its currently displaying.
19.8Mbps is the max for ATSC, which uses MPEG2 compression. I bet DirecTV will use a newer compression standard. like MPEG4, which will generate the same picture quality from a smaller bit stream.
The tradeoff will of course be faster CPU requirements for the decoder.
ICE-Link takes the place of your external CD Changer and it operates like one. iPod starts when CD changer is selected on a supported factory or aftermarket radio, and paused when other source is selected. Track control from radio and steering wheel controls are provided.
Streaming itunes wirelessly is nice but you still need to go back to your computer to change a song. a quick google turned up iTunes Remote. There were many other hits, so check others if this X-10 option doesn't float your boat.
One thing missing from this device is a real optical out. The picture labels the audio port as analog AND digital. It's possible they are using an "enhanced" 1/8 plug like they do on my 3rd gen iPod's jack. The iPod can take a normal headphone with 3 connections(left, right, ground), while the remote control(plugs into the same jack and includes a pass-thru headphone jack) has 4 connections on it. You can see a picture of it here under the section titled Generation 3. It's possible Apple used the same concept with the Airport Express and the digital out has extra connectors on the 1/8 jack that carry the a digital audio signal elimating any need for analog to digital conversion.
Schwans delivers frozen foods. I've been using them ever since GroceryWorks went under and have been very pleased with their product quality.
One thing I really like is my food arrives frozen. The nearest grocery store to where I live is 10-15 minutes away and frozen foods tend to defrost a bit by the time I get home due to the hot Texas sun. Melted/refrozen ice cream from the grocery store isn't very good.
I "knew" Betamax was superior -- that was the received wisdom, even at the time - and maybe it was, in a lab. But I wasn't buying a lab test rig. In terms of "the whole product", VHS was clearly superior, so that's the way I went. Along with everybody else.
... VHS won because "the whole product" did what people wanted at a price they were willing to pay. And when people use the VHS v Beta analogy, they are not indicating a market failure but their own ignorance.
A man who wrote a prosecutor a letter boasting about killing a 16-year-old girl - thinking a court ruling prevented him from getting the death penalty - has been convicted of capital murder.
A jury on Wednesday found Paul Powell, 24, guilty of attempted rape and murder in the 1999 stabbing death of Stacie Reed.
Powell had been convicted in 2000, but the Virginia Supreme Court overturned the verdict, ruling he could not be executed because prosecutors lacked evidence that Powell tried to rape or rob the girl.
If you check the FAQ where you'll find this tasty tidbit.
Slashdot seems to be very U.S.-centric. Do you have any plans to be more international in your scope?
Slashdot is U.S.-centric. We readily admit this, and really don't see it as a problem. Slashdot is run by Americans, after all, and the vast majority of our readership is in the U.S. We're certainly not opposed to doing more international stories, but we don't have any formal plans for making that happen. All we can really tell you is that if you're outside the U.S. and you have news, submit it, and if it looks interesting, we'll post it.
If you don't want to read American Centric information, then stop reading an American Centric Site
This reminds me of the Amiga Mod scene in the late 80's. The PC users(who constantly bashed the Amiga as a toy) were trying to dictate to the Amiga users to use the DOS constrained 8.3 naming convention when creating the Amiga mods.
The network also received recognition for providing the "Best DTV Sporting Event" for its HD broadcast of the 2001 Superbowl.
Last year FOX had it in their sorry SDTV "high resolution" format. Supposedly the same quality as a DVD, but the Superbowl's image quality last year didn't even come close. They used interlaced cameras and converted it to progressive, so there was a lot of interlace "noise" in the progressive signal. The only benefit was the 16:9. See FOX Turns Chicken On HDTV for more info
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I'd have been able to make it out of Houston during the Rita Exodus.
I'm sure you have lots of fun hosting Superbowl parties with 20+ people crowded around your 22" monitor.
how many times have we heard about Dell and AMD?
Dell's just posturing to get better discounts from Microsoft.
Lack of PVR was definitely part of the problem. I'm an early HD adopter and didn't consider VOOM because of it. Not enough subscribers = paltry revenue.
no more trick or treating in the dark.
1) Printing doesn't work. When I tried using OpenOffice I had to create a PDF, then print the PDF using an OS X application.
2) Fonts don't work well. Either I could see the font onscreen, but not on the paper; or I could see the font on the print out, but not on screen. A few fonts worked in both places, but it was a major hassle trying to figure out which ones.
Due to those issues I opted to use NeoOffice/J.
Houston Real-Time Traffic Map. It reports on freeways as well as the tollroads. There's electronic signs along the roads informing you of traffic conditions ahead. You can view the signs online, first check the "Message Signs" option in the Map Control box on the lower left, the click a sign on the map to see what its currently displaying.
19.8Mbps is the max for ATSC, which uses MPEG2 compression. I bet DirecTV will use a newer compression standard. like MPEG4, which will generate the same picture quality from a smaller bit stream.
The tradeoff will of course be faster CPU requirements for the decoder.
Blu-Ray is one of the formats in the upcoming HD-DVD battle, and Sony is a major backer for this format.
Sony's building a facility to produce Blu-Ray disks. This falls in line with what I've read about them planning to release Blu-Ray HD-DVDs in 2005.
Having the PS3 support Blu-Ray HD-DVDs could very well effect the acceptance of Blu-Ray as the HD-DVD standard.
Notorious spammer X wanted, Dead or Alive
Streaming itunes wirelessly is nice but you still need to go back to your computer to change a song.
a quick google turned up iTunes Remote. There were many other hits, so check others if this X-10 option doesn't float your boat.
One thing missing from this device is a real optical out.
The picture labels the audio port as analog AND digital. It's possible they are using an "enhanced" 1/8 plug like they do on my 3rd gen iPod's jack. The iPod can take a normal headphone with 3 connections(left, right, ground), while the remote control(plugs into the same jack and includes a pass-thru headphone jack) has 4 connections on it. You can see a picture of it here under the section titled Generation 3. It's possible Apple used the same concept with the Airport Express and the digital out has extra connectors on the 1/8 jack that carry the a digital audio signal elimating any need for analog to digital conversion.
Schwans delivers frozen foods. I've been using them ever since GroceryWorks went under and have been very pleased with their product quality.
One thing I really like is my food arrives frozen. The nearest grocery store to where I live is 10-15 minutes away and frozen foods tend to defrost a bit by the time I get home due to the hot Texas sun. Melted/refrozen ice cream from the grocery store isn't very good.
A number of adult titles existed, initially from Mystique, then from Playaround
I have Robotech Battlecry which supports it.
A quick glance at the High Definition Game Database and I see 15 games that people have confirmed have 480p support.
You probably have the link, but I suspect others might find it useful.
I get 3 months of usage on my MP2100.
Energizer Lithium AA Photo Batteries Model Number L91BP-4
keep that money in Houston, don't send it off to Redmond...
Boastful killer shows the court who's stupid
This reminds me of the Amiga Mod scene in the late 80's. The PC users(who constantly bashed the Amiga as a toy) were trying to dictate to the Amiga users to use the DOS constrained 8.3 naming convention when creating the Amiga mods.
I was replying to Brad's comment of since 480p is 4x3, not 16x9. FOX could hardly have their few widescreen shows if 480p didn't support 16:9.
The Superbowl will once again be in HDTV this year. Here's ABC Sport's press release about it.
CBS had it in HDTV in 2001 - from here Last year FOX had it in their sorry SDTV "high resolution" format. Supposedly the same quality as a DVD, but the Superbowl's image quality last year didn't even come close. They used interlaced cameras and converted it to progressive, so there was a lot of interlace "noise" in the progressive signal. The only benefit was the 16:9. See FOX Turns Chicken On HDTV for more info