64bit Handbrake?

Benjamin SchollnickNo Comments

Accelerate Your Macintosh! News Page – 10/1/09: \”64-bit Builds of HandBrake – I\’m sure not news to many of you but forgot to post this earlier. A reader had replied to my comments on using Handbrake (std 32bit version) last week (in a post on first impressions of the 5G nano) with a link to http://handbrake.fr/snapshot.php that has 64-bit builds for Intel-based Macs. (As of today current release version is svn2845.)
I\’ve not used the 64bit version yet, but have been very pleased with quality/performance of the standard Handbrake (0.9.3) paired with (32bit) VLC 1.0.1/1.0.2 running under 10.5.8 on a Mac Pro here. (There\’s a 64bit VLC available also, as mentioned in the post on VLC 1.0.2 release.)
  \”

(See the Rest of the Story at Accelerate Your Macintosh! News Page – 10/1/09.)

What will happen if I install more RAM than specified in manual?

Benjamin SchollnickNo Comments

I just installed a new motherboard, MSI K9N Neo V3 with an Athlon X2 4400+. I bought a 2GB stick of RAM , with the intention of ordering 3 more when I have the extra money, for a total of 8GB. The problem is, in the manual for this board, it said that the maximum RAM is 4GB. So is there a chance it will work with more than 4?

The manufacturers manual is a snapshot in time, it only reflects what the manufacturer tested, when the manual was being written. They are rarely updated, unless a new version of the computer / motherboard / etc comes out.
Let\’s take the confusion out of the issue. What does Crucial or Kingston say about the memory capacity of the computer? You know, the people that manufacturer and sell memory for a living…Kingston & Crucial are willing to test with newer memory chipsets, etc. So if they say your model will accept more, then it should work.
I couldn\’t find the board on Crucial, but Kingston states:
Standard Memory: 0 MB (Removable)
Maximum Memory: 8 GB
Expansion: 4 Sockets
CPU & ChipSet: AMD Athlon 64 (AM2) Nvidia nForce 560 AMD Athlon 64 X2 (AM2) Nvidia nForce 560 AMD Sempron (AM2) Nvidia nForce 560
Bus Architecture: PCI; PCI Express; USB
Mfgr\’s System P/N\’s: N/A
Comments MODULES MUST BE ORDERED AND INSTALLED IN PAIRS for Dual Channel mode. Kingston offers \”K2\” Kit part numbers for Dual Channel mode.  If 4GB is installed, the recognized memory may be reduced to 3.5GB or less (depending on system configuration and memory allocation).
Maximum configurations require 64-bit operating system.  AMD Sempron processors support DDR2-533 and DDR2-667 memory only. DDR2-800 modules are not supported with this processor.
At 1066MHz, this system supports up to two single rank modules ONLY. DDR2-1066 is supported by AM2+ CPUs only.

First thoughts on the 2412U PowerLinc Modem from SmartHome

Benjamin Schollnick2 Comments

Folks, Here\’s the first thoughts on the 2412U…. (Please note, my first glance at the 2413U is here) The first issue to realize is that the 2412U is slightly more complex then the 2414U to use with Indigo.  Currently it requires a driver to be installed, before it can be used by Indigo…  I assume that this driver is included in the SmartHome Windows based software, but Indigo requires it to be downloaded and installed before use…  The driver is located at http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.HTM [1].
Once the driver is installed, you will see an extra option under Interface Type on the Indigo Preferences screen of \”PowerLinc Modem 2412U\”.  Then a serial port option named something similar to \”usbserial-A6004tjb\” will be available. Once the 2412U is online, it is impressively fast. I just had to change the security script to adjust for the new speed.  The chime option normally turns the chime on .25 seconds, that is normally fine for the Chime to go off, and then recycle.  Now with the 2412U, the chime didn\’t have enough time to even start before it was turned off.  I had to change the timing to half a second… So far, it\’s been a seamless experience.  I need to stress test it over the next couple of days, but overall I expect only a few minor changes may be needed.
At this point, if you are looking for a replacement 2414U, or just starting to Automate your home…  Don\’t buy the 2414U unless you absolutely need standalone / timer support.   Just keep in mind, the more you do with your automation setup, the more likely you are to have a setup that is too complex for standalone mode to support your environment.  For example, the Indigo Security script can\’t be used in Stand-alone mode.. Future support in Indigo for the Insteon Extended Messages, may even grant further speed increases, or access to newer Insteon features.  Only time will tell, but Perceptive Automation has mentioned that Indigo, in the future, will support the extended message features…. The one noticeable quirk is that I have seen a few of the following message:

PowerLinc Unexpected command 02 60 (flushing)

So far I have not noticed a negative effect on Indigo, but hopefully it is something that can be resolved easily. Pros:

  • Significantly faster transmission than the 2414U  (19.2K vs 4.8K)
  • Virtually a drop-in replacement for the 2414U
  • Insteon Extended Message Support

Cons:

  • On the Macintosh side, manual driver installation
  • The faster transmission speed may need some minor tweaking of AppleScripts
  • No built-in timer, so the computer needs to be active for operation
  • Slightly more expensive than the 2414U (2414U – $69, 2412U – $ 79
  • I have seen the Unexpected command 02 60 (flushing) issue, but so far I have not been able to find the cause..  I can\’t tell if it actually is flushing the buffer, or just a false error message. (Indigo has been updated regarding this issue..)

— Updated 09/28/2009

  • I missed documenting the Unexpected Command error
  • FootNote 1 – Jay Martin has indicated that the link from Indigo to the FTDI web site, actually links to a web page on the Perceptive Automation web site, and that page redirects you to the current location of the FTDI drivers.  I didn\’t see this behavior in Indigo, presumably since I had already loaded the drivers.  So I haven\’t seen that redirect in action…

— Updated 11/12/2009

  • Tweaked page layout slightly, and added the links for Amazon referral

The 2412U is available from MacHomeStore, and from Amazon.com. (I purchased mine through MacHomeStore….)

— Updated 12/22/2009

  • My first glance at the 2413U is here… So far I recommend the 2413U over the 2412U.

Don\’t Ask The Wall Street Journal How To Wean Your Kids Off Reading Science Fiction [Books]

Benjamin SchollnickNo Comments

IO9, just provided me with a good chuckle…

Somebody wrote to the Wall Street Journal\’s book advice column to ask how you go about convincing your 13-year-old nephew to stop reading science fiction. Thank goodness the WSJ\’s in-house book nerd was smart enough to say: You don\’t.

Be glad that when you were a teenager, you didn\’t have an aunt like the person who wrote to the Journal\’s \’Book Lover\’ column to ask this question:

My 13-year-old nephew is a voracious reader, but he tends to limit his reading to science fiction. He recently read \’Brave New World,\’ because he thought it was sci-fi. Any suggestions on how to expand his horizons to include other genres?

A 13 Year old voluntarily reading Huxley…? In the words of the MiddleMan… My Little Pony!!! How dare he consider Huxley, quick give him some Maxim, or GQ, or some Spandex wearing Superheroes!
Sorry, I just don\’t want to admit that I haven\’t read Brave New World…. (Don\’t tell anyone you\’ll ruin my reputation) But more seriously, as IO9 suggests don\’t try to prevent him from reading Science Fiction or Science Fantasy, read David Weber, Asimov, Heinlein, Eric Flint, and other quality Science Fiction authors.
Banning books never works, if you don\’t like Science Fiction, and think he should be reading Historicals, offer up Eric Flints \”1632 series\”.

(View the rest of the article at Don\’t Ask The Wall Street Journal How To Wean Your Kids Off Reading Science Fiction [Books])

At&T to Roll Out MMS Today

Benjamin SchollnickNo Comments

AT&T will today begin rolling about MMS for iPhone customers in the U.S., the patch which will enable the service will be available from iTunes and will allow iPhone users to begin sending and receiving photos and videos.

The rollout will begin late on Friday morning, Pacific time.

MMS Update: We know you’ve been eager for this service so we wanted to offer a quick update on the launch plans for MMS on Friday, Sept. 25. Late morning, Pacific Time, on Friday, the new carrier settings update enabling MMS should be live and ready to download through iTunes. We’ll provide the steps and all of the details you need right here at that time.

Additional reports earlier this week suggest that AT&T is nervous about the launch of MMS having done some preliminary testing the carrier is said to have suffered strain on servers and infrastructure.

EZFlora Stops Responding

Benjamin SchollnickNo Comments

The EZFlora products, for those that are unfamiliar with them, is a Insteon based sprinkler/irrigation controller.  Connect your valves to the zone terminal block, and you now can control it via insteon.
But an EZFlora firmware update (v2.4) seemed to have a bug in it, eventually the EZFlora units would lock up, and you would have to unplug the device to reset it it.
Matt (Indigo\’s programmer) has just announced that they believe there is now a solution….

The problem only seems to occur after Indigo turns on the \”broadcast valve changes\” option in the EZFlora for firmware versions 2.4 to 2.6. SimpleHomeNet.com now has firmware 2.7 which does not have the problem.

What does that mean for you?  You can upgrade to Indigo v4.1, when it has been released, a tentative projection indicates Sept 28, 2009…
1) Keep their current version but upgrade to the final (non-Beta) version of Indigo 4.1. Doing so will cause Indigo to not use the Broadcast Valve changes option for Firmwares between v2.4 – v2.6.  See the link above for some more details.
2) Contact SimpleHomeNet and see what their instructions are for swapping the unit or getting the firmware updated to 2.7.
via Perceptive Automation :: View topic – EZFlora Stops Responding.