Macintosh Performance Guide: What’s New

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W H AT ’ S N E WOS X Mavericks: Not Recommended AtPresent

Well, I spoke too soon (blog/2013/20131025_1-OSX-Mavericks.html).

Mavericks has all sorts of new bugs ranging from annoying to nasty to broken APIsto crashes. It is at least as bad a case of Apple Core Rot(index_topics.html#AppleCoreRot) as any prior release. I have not had time to writeup the numerous problems and probably won’t anytime soon due to a heavyworkload and travel plans.

Wait till 2014 to upgrade—it’s just not worth it.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 06, 2013Search: Mavericks (/search-ajax.html?q=Mavericks), virtual memory (/search-

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(blog/2013/20131027_1-2013MacPro-cost.html)

Keyboard and mouse sold separately

2013 Mac Pro: Keyboard and Mouse SoldSeparately

See discussion of the 2013 Mac Pro (blog/2013/20131022_2-brief-notes-on-new-2013MacPro.html) design and also price concerns (blog/2013/20131027_1-2013MacPro-cost.html).

How do you raisemargins?Advertise abait-and-switchprice, then chargefor items that areessential. Put itinto the fine print,and charge $100or more for the“optional”sold-separatelyitems. It’s only 11cents per day overa 3 year lifespanafter all.

That’s one way to look at it. The other way is that users win: the tiny percentage ofusers who don’t have a failed mouse (I buy 2-3 new ones every year) and do have aworking keyboard can save a little.

It’s our premium model. Do you want tires with that new car folks?

The existing Mac Pro ships with a keyboard and mouse; the 2013 Mac Pro makes thekeyboard and mouse “extras”. Which means $2999 really means $3099 or a littlemore.

Only the MacMini ships without keyboard and mouse (laptops have a keyboard and

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 05, 2013Search: Mac Pro (/search-ajax.html?q=Mac+Pro), 2013 Mac Pro (/search-

ajax.html?q=2013+Mac+Pro)

Macintosh Performance Guide: What’s New http://macperformanceguide.com/

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trackpad), and there is some reason for that (headless server applications). TakingApple’s side, maybe the 2013 Mac Pro qualifies for the same reasons. Maybe. Seemsdubious to me.

Well, at least Apple doesn’t charge extra for the power cord or the box it ships in. :;

Update: several readers pointed out one aspect: the keyboard and mouse are largerthan the computer and thus will not fit into the box. Also, those items are made inChina and the Mac Pro is made in the USA.

Mac Pro Discontinued, Stocks Selling Out

See discussion of the 2013 Mac Pro (blog/2013/20131022_2-brief-notes-on-new-2013MacPro.html) design and also price concerns (blog/2013/20131027_1-2013MacPro-cost.html).

The existing Mac Pro has been discontinued and stocks continue to sell out. For cost(blog/2013/20131027_1-2013MacPro-cost.html) and design reasons (/search-ajax.html?q=design%20reasons), some users prefer the existing model (2010Westmere (index_topics.html#MacProWestmere)).

Stocks are dwindling, with most models disappearing from my usual source, but asthis was written B&H Photo has the 6-core Mac Pro in stock(http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Apple+Mac+Pro&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=&BI=1498&KBID=2013). The12-core 2.4 GHz model is also available, and it can be upgraded to a 12-core 3.46GHZ (Mac-MacPro-upgrade.html) if necessary.

OWC has used Mac Pros (blog/2013/20131016_1-OWC-used-MacPro.html) fromtime to time and these can be an even better value: $879 for the 2.66 GHz 4-core2009 model is a workhorse at MacMini prices.

You can also check Amazon for Mac Pro (http://www.amazon.com/s/?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Apple%20Mac%20Pro&tag=httpwwwdiglco-20&link_code=wql&_encoding=UTF-8).

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 01, 2013Search: Mac Pro (/search-ajax.html?q=Mac+Pro), 2013 Mac Pro (/search-


Disabling Hourly Wake From Sleep byAirport Utility

I don’t use wireless networking on my Mac Pro, e.g., I don’t use Apple Airport.

Yet with Mavericks I am noticing that every hour the Mac Pro is waking from sleepfor a few minutes, including spinning up the hard drive. Sometimes I sleep lightlyand I can hear the computer, and I prefer a quiet night’s sleep, and it’s also a wasteof power and a spin up/down of the hard drives.

The Console log shows hourly wake-up times:

10/29/13 2:00:31.000 AM kernel[0]: AirPort_Brcm43xx::powerChange: System Wake - Full Wake/ Dark Wake / Maintenance wake



10/29/13 5:51:07.000 AM kernel[0]: AirPort_Brcm43xx::powerChange: System Wake - Full Wake/ Dark Wake / Maintenance wak




I’ll have to confirm success another night, but turning off Airport Utility preferences

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2013Search: Mavericks (/search-ajax.html?q=Mavericks)


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ought to prevent the hourly wakeup cycle.

Turn most Airport Utility preferences off to prevent hourly wake-up

Reader Brian suggests that the behavior might have to do with Wake on Demandnetwork access as per Apple’s technote (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3774?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US). Only testing can prove it out;whether one or both are needed. I’m not sure as yet which features are actuallycausing the above wakeup.

Uncheck “Wake for network access”

SuccessNot having time to diagnose the exact fix, I did two things:

Unchecked the boxes as shown in Airport Utility preferences.

Unchecked Wake for network access in Energy Saver.

Result: FIXED. Nor more wake-ups. It might be that one or the other does the job,and it might be that both are required— I haven’t taken the time to winnow it downas it doesn’t matter—I don’t need or want either behavior.

Josh P writes:

I’m still dealing with this mystery and its slowly sucking the life out of mybattery. Did anything you do seem to solve it?

MPG: Try the above. If that does not solve it, check the system logs (Console app)and in the morning, look for hourly log messages overnight for clues. As for batterylife, the wakeup is 1-2 minutes each hour, and this should have only very minorimpact, though perhaps on older systems and/or with a hard drive (vs SSD), it couldbe more of a factor.

Copying an Email Address Without theExtra Crufty Adornments(AddressesIncludeNameOnPasteboard)

OS X 9 Mavericks resets a preference which is a real bother: how an email address is

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013Search: Mavericks (/search-ajax.html?q=Mavericks)


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put onto the clipboard. It can be copied with extra adornments which are a realhassle if searching or various things I need email for (I have to do such things manytimes a day).

Fred Flintstone <[email protected]> # syntactic mess for various [email protected] # YES

The solution is to change a hidden system preference, see Mail Addresses AdornedWith Cruft (SnowLeopard-Hassles.html). For whatever reason, OS X 9 Maverickswhacks this preference.

To use the simple form, open Terminal, then enter:

defaults write com.apple.mail AddressesIncludeNameOnPasteboard -bool no

It’s now broken

Well, the above is SUPPOSED to work. But Apple Mail in OS X 10.9 Mavericks nowis entirely flaky: how and where the email is copied produces differing results:

Copying out of an editable field (say you’ve started a Reply or Forward) yieldsthe full (messy) form which then has to be edited down to just the email.

Copying out of an email To or CC field yields the email-only form.

This inattention to usability details (“small potatoes” bug) is oddly inconsistent withthe obsessive compulsive attention given to hardware details.

OS X Mavericks and Safari

The Safari web browser in OS X 9 Mavericks (index_topics.html#Mavericks)reportedly gets a makeover in how it runs internally. It is supposed to be faster, butat least with the stuff I do (large image series in javascript), it is running with somestrange pauses—it’s noticeably slower. Go figure.

Safari system lockup

Yesterday Safari locked up so badly that it could not be killed normally using theusual cmd-option-escape method, or Activity Monitor: Safari also disappeared fromthe application switcher list and neither Logout nor Restart would work. Seemslike this might be related to a change of using separate processes for browserwindows; someone did not do their homework on making this work properly whenSafari has a problem and needs to be killed.

I finally had to use 'ps -ef' in Terminal (http://diglloydtools.com/manual/command-line-syntax.html) to find the process ID and then 'sudo kill -9 <pid>'to kill Safari. Not exactly what most users would find palatable, but the onlyalternative was a hard power cycling of the entire computer (e.g. pull the plug).

I’ve never experienced such a severe hang problem in OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, soI’d say that Apple has some loose screws rattling around in OS X Mavericks.

Blank screen Safari

Safari also goes into “blank window mode”, meaning that no matter how manyrefreshes, the window stays blank (completely white). Opening a new window withthe same URL works fine. Loose screws.

Reader comments

Steve K writes:

I am having the exact same problems with Safari under 10.9 I was trying tocreate a shipping label using the FedEx website. Forget about it. Safari kepthanging. Went over to Google Chrome, no problem.

MPG: my guess is a multi-threading synchronization bug.

I am having the same problem: the FedEx.com site is unusable with Safari in OS XMavericks: rainbow beachballs and unresponsive browser.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013Search: Mavericks (/search-ajax.html?q=Mavericks)


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Cost and Value of 2013 Mac Pro

I’ve fleshed out the start of my review of the Apple 2013 Mac Pro(index_topics.html#MacPro2013).

As I looked into pricing (Apple shows only the base configuration), it looks to methat the “sweet spot” 6-core model is going to run close to $5000 with the 1TB PCIeflash option, and that’s before adequate memory (16GB is hugely inadequate for myneeds, I’ll be getting my memory at OWC (http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple/memory/?utm_source=diglloyd)). The 512GB PCIe flash should have a morepalatable price, but with only one slot the choice has to be made up-front (or replaceit later at additional cost).

Clearly the 2013 Mac Pro is going to be a very expensive machine whose total systemcost is likely to be in the $7K to $11K range for a fully configured machine withstorage, display, AppleCare, backup drives, etc. Factoring in the higher cost ofThunderbolt peripherals (no internal expansion), the costs add up quickly.

The current-model 6-core (blog/2013/20131022_3-MacPro-6-core.html) remainsvery attractive (and proven), and while I intend to test the new Mac Pro, the pricingmakes me flinch (I hope to borrow more than one model for testing). I ask a criticalquestion for myself and others: will the new model provide a worthwhile boost to myphotographic workflow—faster yes, but will it actually speed my work in a seriousway? In short, the value proposition remains unclear until I can actually test the2013 Mac Pro against my existing 12-core 3.33 GHz workstation (Reviews-MacProWestmere-TestConfig.html).

John M writes:

The value of the older machines is even better when one considers the upgradepath for the older models. For example, a used Mac Pro (2009) 2.66GHz 4-Corecan be purchased for ~ $900 at OWC (blog/2013/20131016_1-OWC-used-MacPro.html); By upgrading the firmware (not sure if OWC will do this, butthere are websites that show how), the 4,1 Mac essentially becomes a 5,1 Macwhich means the hardware upgrade to 6-core is now possible. For the DIYupgraders, a 6-core W3680 6-core 3.33GHz processor is ~ $600 and 32 GB ofmemory from OWC is ~ $400. As you often point out, there is no need toupgrade the video card for photography, so one can have the functionalequivalent of a new Mac Pro 6-core for ~ $1,900! In my case I found one oneBay with the 3.46 GHz W3690 6-core & 32 GB memory and got it on a lateSunday night auction for $1525. I can add a boot volume, scratch volume and asmall data volume using OWC Mercury Accelsior_E2 cards and still come outabout the same cost as a new “bare” 6-core 2010 version.

The soon to be released 2013 Mac Pro is an interesting machine from the visualdesign point of view (especially for those who don’t have the $$ to buy one J). Itseems to continue the trend that Apple has in creating laptop-like desktops. Afterall the iMacs, as nice as they are for many home users, are essentially laptopswith a big screen. The new Mac Pro is probably a good hardware engineeringcase study as it really does reduce the high-end desktop computer down to itsminimum form. It is of course made possible by the fact that Intel and others arecreating lower power consuming chips which therefore produce less heat. Andone may remember that the debate over whether a computer should be usermodifiable or tamper proof goes all the way back to the days of the first Applecomputer. My guess is that the target audiences for the new 2013 Mac Pro are(1) Industrial Design schools – as a case study not as a computer tool, and (2)large design firms who will have everyone connected to servers and therefore asmall form factor on-the-desk-top computer actually is a benefit. Clearly, smallbusinesses and the individual professional are better served by the old machinesor iMacs.

MPG: The existing 4-core mode is a deal that remains a very capable machine.

OWC does not update firmware updates or offer 6-core CPU conversion on top ofupdated firmware, but does offer other CPU upgrades (Mac-Upgrade-MacPro-CPU.html). It’s a question of being able to stand behind the work; and those hacksare probably OK, but best left to individual tinkerers.

The new Mac Pro is a very capable machine, but one could ponder the question: if

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013Search: Mac Pro (/search-ajax.html?q=Mac+Pro), 2013 Mac Pro (/search-



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the 2010 Westmere Mac Pro (blog/2013/index_topics.html#MacProWestmere)were given a refresh with the same CPUs and with USB3 and Thunderbolt, howmany people would opt for the new model?

Also worth noting is that the new model is a single-chip CPU; no dual CPU option,e.g., for really high-end use one might want a 16-core or 24-core Mac Pro (32 or 48virtual cores). That Apple has not done so leaves a slim hope for another beefiermodel.

Stephen K writes:

I, too, have waited an additional 18 months (since announcement) for thisMacPro upgrade, and now am seriously considering switching my desktopmachine to a Windows box.

My primary two apps--Lightroom and Photoshop--are essentially the sameregardless of platform. I can buy a high-end windows box with a desktop formfactor (rather than elegant trash can) from Falcon Northwest of Mainshift Gear(or others) with a custom configuration and high-end components. I'm reallywanting native USB3 and a faster processor. I don't need a super high-endgraphics card, and I certainly don't need two of them.

All the other machines in my household are Macs, so I don't bring up thispotential switch lightly. However, I'm most certainly giving it seriousconsideration. I'm currently running what was originally a 2009 MacPro--withits guts replaced via an OWC processor upgrade--now a 3.3 GHz Quad-coreincluding several SSDs and 24 GB of 1066 MHz memory. It's been myworkhorse for many years; however, there are obviously faster boxes out thereand I would like to take advantage of one sometime soon.

Lloyd, would you be willing to consult on an "MPG Windows Desktop" or is thattoo far from your comfort zone? What should one do?

MPG: Yes, I consult on building Windows PC systems (consulting.html). And whenthere is a need for a dedicated workstation running specific applications alternatechoices are viable for some, and mandatory for some on a cost basis.

While I cannot necessarily speak to specific graphics cards and other parts, theprinciples remain the same and I can speak to memory, RAID, CPU, backup strategyand so on just as well as with Macs.

Paul writes:

I saw your comments that you consult on windows computers. You may recallthat you helped me configure an HP Z820 worksation at the end of last year.

The performance is great, at a cost similar to the cost of the new Mac Pro.Thanks for your help!

However, I would caution your readers considering a Windows machine aboutthe abysmal quality control and service from HP. For about $8,000 I received amachine with multiple problems. After a number of on-site service calls fromincompetent pseudo-technicians, ending in totally destroying the machine whentrying to replace the mother board, after much time-consuming complaining Iwas able to get them to ship an entirely new computer, which has worked OK.But I want to pass on that experience to your readers.

MPG: That was a very nice PC 'config', and though one anecdote is risky to generalizefrom, if it happens to 'you' it feels pretty crummy. I can say I’ve had no problemswith any Mac Pro I’ve ever owned.

Austin L writes:

You recommend the current 6-core but what about 12-core? Local Fry’selectronics is doing great deals on 12-core machines.

Currently use a MBP 17”. All of our hd editing is done on Retinas and we will geta new Mac Pro when they come out.

However, I’m thinking about buying a current tower because we have a lot ofmoney invested in external FW800 storage. My concern is having machinesaround that can read those hard drives.

MPG: the 12-core 2.4 GHz is a fine machine for many purposes including sound and


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video processing, file server and other server purposes. As a fast Photoshop orLightroom and all-around system, the relatively slow clock speed is substantially lessresponsive for interactive work than a machine running at 2.8 or 3.2 or 3.33 GHz.

As for Firewire 800, Apple sells a $29 Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter.

Michael K writes:

I've been reading your comments on upgrades to older MacPros with interest. Ihave a mid 2009 Dual 2.66 Ghz, X5550 Xeons, and entertaining the idea ofupgrading to a single 6-core Xeon X5690 (for now). On Oct. 27th reader JohnM. mentioned that a firmware upgrade to the model 4,1 can bring it up to amodel 5,1 and the 6-core CPU.

Your 2011 upgrade pdate doesn't address the firmware issue so I'm wondering ifyou or your contacts have experience with this type of upgrade and if in yourmind it's worth pursuing?

MPG: I have no experience with the hack of flashing 2009 Mac Pro firmware to 2010status. This is not supported by Apple of course. This is a DIY / tinkerer thing thatcannot be supported by a vendor, but is up to end users to be comfortable with anddo on their own. Nor can I speak to the problems or lack thereof in making thisconversion, and there are risks in CPU swapping (damage or improper thermal pasteand so on)—best to be skilled in that area too. Here is a Mac Pro google search forfirmware updating (https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=upgrade+Mac+Pro+firmware&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#q=upgrade+Mac+Pro+firmware+4%2C1+to+5%2C1&rls=en) (not arecommendation of any kind).

(http://diglloydtools.com/)

diglloydTools

Minor Update for diglloydTools for OS XMavericks

See also Are Your Backup Drives StillFunctional? Are Your Files Subtly Damaged?(blog/2013/20131007_4_diglloydTools-verify.html).

OS X 9 Mavericks broke a low-level API whichcauses a failure in scanning volumes at the top level.A workaround has been put in, and the currentversion is now diglloydTools version 2.2.2.

Buy diglloydTools (http://diglloydtools.com/download.html).

Download page for existing users. (Software-License.html)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013Search: digl loydTools (/search-ajax.html?q=diglloydTools), Mavericks (/search-

ajax.html?q=Mavericks)

Comments on OS X Mavericks

I’ve been running OS X Mavericks for over a month on my MacBook Pro Retina(index_topics.html#MacBookProRetina2012) and while there are a few new bugs,the overall experience has been very good.

Now I have converted over my desktop computer, and that’s more of a risk than alaptop with one drive used for travel and miscellaneous (drivers, printing, etc). Butso far it has gone well, the main issues revolving around dual-display behavior(Mavericks-multi-screen.html)which has changed in Mavericks, and is still not wellconsidered or thought out.

I have no real concerns for mainstream users updating immediately, but my adviceto most professionals is to defer upgrading for 2-3 months, and let the first batch of

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013Search: Mavericks (/search-ajax.html?q=Mavericks), virtual memory (/search-

ajax.html?q=virtual+memory)


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bug fixes work themselves through, particularly things like printer drivers anddrivers for specialized hardware. There is no rush to upgrade, and if daily workflowdepends on specific devices or printers or similar, caution is advised as with anyrelease.

Update Nov 5, 2013: I spoke too soon. Mavericks has all sorts of bugs rangingfrom annoying to nasty to broken APIs to crashes. It is at least as bad a Core Rot(index_topics.html#AppleCoreRot) as any release. Wait till 2014 to upgrade—it’sjust not worth it.

Virtual memory / compressed memory

Compressed virtual memory is a BIG WIN (Mavericks-virtual-memory.html) forusers having Macs with not quite enough memory.

(Mavericks-virtual-memory.html)

Activity Monitor 'Memory' tab showing compressed memory

More

OS X 9 Mavericks issue pages (index_topics.html#Mavericks).

Multiple displays (Mavericks-multi-screen.html).

Hiding and showing the library folder. (Mavericks-Finder-Library-folder.html)

Window position issues (Mavericks-window-locations.html).

Printing

So far, casual printing use with a Canon PIXMA Pro-10 is working OK, with theusual caveat of insanely broken multi-dialog print setup, but that has been aconfusing mess for years.

Want the Existing 6-Core Mac Pro?

See discussion of the 2013 Mac Pro (blog/2013/20131022_2-brief-notes-on-new-2013MacPro.html).

B&H Photo has the 6-core Mac Pro in stock (http://diglloyd.com/gear-computers.html#top_picks) as I write this. See the buttons on my Mac gear page(http://diglloyd.com/gear-computers.html#top_picks), and thanks for clickingthose buttons to buy. Applecare at B&H is also a much better deal than at Apple.

What do you get for the same price? Six CPU cores at 3.33 GHz in the 2010 model,4+1 internal drive bays, PCIe slots, proven design. For the same price, the 2013model has 4 CPU cores at 3.7 GHz and a small internal SSD and no internalexpansions, but has fast GPUs (yawn for most tasks) and USB3 and Thunderbolt.Which one might prefer depends (consulting.html).

(http://diglloyd.com/gear-computers.html#top_picks)

Apple 6-core Mac Pro at B&H Photo still in stock

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013Search: Mac Pro (/search-ajax.html?q=Mac+Pro), 2013 Mac Pro (/search-


Brief Notes on new Apple MacBook ProTUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013


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I read the new specs quickly, but can’t find anything really all that interesting— briefnotes on the newly revised 13 and 15-inch MacBook Pros announced today:

13-inch model can now be configured with 16GB memory (at time of purchaseonly!), which makes it into a much more useful machine, though it is stilllimited to two CPU cores, which makes it sluggish for many photographytasks, such as Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.

15-inch model is a nice incremental update, but mostly a yawner, and it’s notclear that the new 2.6 GHz processor is even as fast as my existing 2.7 GHzprocessor.

PCIe flash storage is a good thing, but consider that if the prior model flashstorage was taking 10% of task time and the PCIe storage is twice as fast,you’re not going perceptually faster (e.g., 10 seconds of which 1 second is I/O,now 0.5 seconds = 9.5 seconds). There are always good exceptions, but ingeneral, the PCIe flash won’t show up as more than incrementally better overexisting flash storage for many uses.

The base config of 512GB flash storage is “about time”. PCIe flash upgrade to1TB for $500 is very reasonable in context, but not needed for the vastmajority of users. Oddly, the new 2013 Mac Pro (blog/2013/20131022_2-brief-notes-on-new-2013MacPro.html) starts at 256GB flash.

Bummer that MacBook Air still does not have a Retina display.

Claims of graphics performances are meaningless hype for all photographywork I do (http://diglloyd.com) (and I do a lot of it). However, the GPUspeed could show very substantial gains for video applications run on theMacBook Pro, and there can be specialized photography tasks that alsobenefit.

When empty words like “superfast” make an appearance(http://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/features-retina/), watch your wallet.

Long-lasting battery is a big plus for some users. Would that Apple providedcomparative figures for the exiting model.

Faster Wi-Fi is all good, but nothing beats wired internet for solid and reliableperformance.

Summary: perfectly fine incremental upgrades, but upgrading my existing 2.7 GHzMacBook Pro Retina (index_topics.html#MacBookProRetina2012) won’t offer anymeaningful gains for anything I do, at home or on the road. But if you don’t have aRetina model, this might be the time to get one.

Search: MacBook Pro (/search-ajax.html?q=MacBook+Pro)

Notes on the Apple 2013 Mac Pro

Search for previous coverage of the 2013 Mac Pro (/search-ajax.html?q=2013%20Mac%20Pro).

It would be nice if one could configure the new model to see pricing with variousoptions, even if it there is as yet no “Buy” button on the Apple web site.

Discussion follows below.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013Search: 2013 Mac Pro (/search-ajax.html?q=2013+Mac+Pro)


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(http://macperformanceguide.com/search-ajax.html?q=2013+Apple+Mac+Pro)

2013 Apple Mac Pro base pricing

CPU discussion — clock speed and CPU cores

General CPU notes; refer to the table below.

For many users, 4 CPU cores is plenty, but 6 cores is the sweet spot (bestprice/performance and faster GPUs come along too).

Faster CPU clock speed is a big plus for most all tasks, but the fastest speedscome with the fewest cores.

The 8 and 12 core models are really for video and specialty use and will beslower for mainstream stuff, due to the reduced clock speeds.

CPU Cores Clock Speed CacheMemory

MainstreamTask Speed*

Core-FriendlySpeed**

Comments

Higher is faster

4 3.7 GHz+37% / +5.7%

10 MB2.5MB/core

14.8 14.8 Fastest for general use due to highest clock speed, butcertain operations in programs like Adobe PhotoshopLightroom will be slower than with 6-core or 8-coreoptions—and others will be faster! It all depends.But is it much more than an iMac with only 4 cores?

6

~ 5.6 ±

3.5 GHz+30% / + 16%

12 MB2MB/core

14.0 18.9 A bit slower than the 4-core in clock speed, but the twoextra CPU cores are worth it for programs like AdobePhotoshop Lightroom. Most likely the best all-aroundsolution.

8

~6.5 ±

3.0 GHz+11%

25MB3.1MB/core

12.0 19.2 With a 14% drop in clock speed, the 8-core model is notlikely to outperform the 6-core model for most tasks, but ithas more cache memory and this might mitigate theclock speed losses. And it’s a good middle ground forworkflows which mix video with other tasks.

Still, Photoshop hardly ever uses even 4 cores forcommon tasks. The 8-core is really for video processingor other specialty tasks which can use all the cores.

12

~8.7 ±

2.7 GHz 30MB2.5MB/core

10.8 22.7 Appropriate only for video users, unless big changesaccrue, Photoshop and Lightroom and all productivitysoftware will run slowest on this machine.

* Ordinary Task Speed = expected speed with mainstream tasks which typicallyuse four CPU cores or fewer and rarely more except for brief spikes.

** Core-Friendly = Estimated real-world best-case performance taking intoaccount clock speed and CPU cores, application multi-threading efficiency,memory contention.

± Taking clock speed into account, the equivalent number of 3.7 GHz CPU cores(multiplier of # of cores times the clock speed). This does not take theinevitable multi-core overhead into account (hardware and software factor),which degrades performance as the number of CPU cores increases.

Memory

The four memory slots (not 8 or 12) are a stunning disappointment for this class ofallegedly pro-grade machine. And at least initially, it appears that 64GB will be thelimit (blog/2013/20131022_1-OWC-memory-for-2013MacPro.html), whereas the


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2010 Mac Pro can take 128GB with its 8 slots.

Faster GPUs

For most users, the “faster” GPUs are pointless—don’t be suckered into that one. Butfor specific tasks(s) within specific applications, there could be a difference. This getsinto “only actual and specific-task measured results are valid” territory.

On the flip side, the faster GPUs come with the 6-core model, which looks to be thesweet spot on all counts.

Internal PCIe flash storage

There is a single internal slot for PCIe flash storage, and yet the 256GB base flashstorage is miserly for this class of machine. Strange that the base flash storage in theMacBook pro is 512GB and yet one gets only half that in the Mac Pro.

While 256GB* is more than adequate as a boot drive for most uses and users, thereare other needs (big Photoshop files, working space for projects and AdobeLightroom catalogs, and so on).

Gven that there is no other internal expansion, it would be wise to go right to the 1TBoption.

* Traditionally Apple’s claims of capacity have been misleading in terms ofavailable usable capacity (Reviews-MacBookProFeb2011-Apple128SSD.html). It’snot a big difference, but if that pound of meat you bought at the store wasreally .977 pounds, would you consider that honest?

So 512GB might really mean 512GB of flash memory (who cares?) but only500.28GB capacity as with the MacBook pro. Internal implementation isirrelevent in real world capacity terms—I want to know how much space isthere available for use.

Summary

Separating the hype from reality for the performance of mainstream professionalreal-world tasks will have to wait until the new model ships (e.g., Photoshop withsmall/medium/big files (OptimizingPhotoshopCS6-Benchmarks.html), AdobeLightroom).

Given that I currently run a 2010 Mac Pro 3.33 GHz 12-core (Reviews-MacProWestmere-TestConfig.html) , the new models don’t seem all that compellingby the numbers, but nothing is ever as good as seeing real-world performance withone’s own workflow.

Reader comments

Richard J writes:

The New Mac Pro is a computer of two sides (to coin an old soccer phrase), onthe one side it is woefully under equipped with only 240gb and 12gb of ram andon the other side you have two expensive GPU's that are going to be overkill formost people. So buyers are going to have to spend more money to upgrade thememory but be forced to keep the expensive stuff they don't need.

I think this Mac Pro really shows just how much Apple has lost touch with theprofessional. They have compromised equipment for design and I wouldquestion any professional who would prefer to have a pretty trash can on hisdesk over functionality.

The Most angering thing is for a company that charges a premium for theircomputers, anyone should be able to walk into the store and say "this is theperfect computer for me". The Mac Pro is that for only a very select high endcrowd so the rest will either have to pony up or make do.

I didn't mean to turn this into a rant, more so just wanted to thank you forposting the older OWC mac pro options as I think this is the way I will go, evenif its not a perfect option. My concern now is that the deals on old Mac pros mayquickly go away as people start to race to get them before they are all gone. Ibetter make up my mind quickly.

DIGLLOYD: Who said it was pretty? It will look ratty once it gets dusty and maybe alittle scratched: try keeping a black-paint car clean.

That extra GPU does exactly nothing for mainstream photography work; I’d muchrather have had that side of the machine populated with eight more memory slots.


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But Apple is clearly targeting video professionals and hoping the photograpicprofessionals go along for the ride and believe the GPU hype (a faster GPU hasnever shown any advantage in my testing for mainstream photowork—actually a disadvantage along with more than a few OpenCL drawingproblems and glitches (http://diglloyd.com/blog/2012/20120713_6-Photoshop-CS6-GPU-sharpness.html)—in all the mainstream Photoshop work I do). Yes, therecan be specific tasks in specific programs that do benefit. But the gains become moredoubtful in asking whether dual GPUs are more than just a complete waste ofmotherboard real-estate for many if not most users.

Memory for the 2013 Mac Pro

I asked OWC about memory for the new 2013 Mac Pro (/search-ajax.html?q=2013%20Mac%20Pro). I was hoping to hear that 128GB would bepossible immediately, but at present this looks doubtful:

We already have 1866 MHz upgrade kits for up to 64GB in the new Mac Prolined up and ready.

Upgrades beyond 64GB will be dependent on specifics related to the Mac Proand/or memory device availability meeting Mac Pro 2013 model requirements.

While the Intel Xeon Processor and Chipset utilized in the new Mac Pro iscapable of addressing 128GB (actually well more than that), still remains to beseen what will be 'allowed' within Apple's implementation and EFI firmwarecontrol.

Apple’s best = handicapped machine

Apple shows its disdain for needs of professionals (blog/2012/20120725_3-MacPro-80GB-memory-Photoshop-usage.html) by offering a Mac Pro with only four memoryslots; serious workstations should have eight or twelve memory slots. A Mac Pro isthe top of the line machine after all. From Apple’s marketing (http://www.apple.com/mac-pro/performance/):

You refuse to rest until it’s the best it can possibly be.

Four memory slots is the best it can possibly be? It is unbelievable really. How do Iedit my big Photoshop files (blog/2012/20120725_3-MacPro-80GB-memory-Photoshop-usage.html) without virtual memory paging even with 64GB of memory?What about huge data sets for scientific computing?

On that topic, how about not just a single internal PCIe SSD, but at least two? Theidea of “redefining 'best'” takes on a whole new meaning.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013Search: 2013 Mac Pro (/search-ajax.html?q=2013+Mac+Pro)


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(http://macperformanceguide.com/search-

ajax.html?q=2013+Apple+Mac+Pro)

2013 Apple Mac Pro

OWC Has Used 2.93 GHz 8-Core Mac Prosin Stock

(in stock as this was posted).

See all the available used Mac Pros at OWC (http://eshop.macsales.com/Search/SearchPromo.cfm?Ntk=Primary&Ns=P_ID%7c1&Ne=5000&N=100402&Ntt=UsedMac&utm_source=diglloyd-mpg). Availablity varies over time.

The 4-core 2.66 GHz and 8-core 2.93 GHz offer excellent value.

The 4-core 2.66 GHz is scarcely slower than Apple’s current 2.8 GHz.

The 2.93 GHz 8-core (http://eshop.macsales.com/Search/Search.cfm?Ntk=Primary&Ns=P_Popularity%7c1&Ne=8050&N=4294967254&Ntt=2.93GHz+8-core&utm_source=diglloyd-mpg) is a veryattractive option for anyone use software that makes use of multiple cores.This is the model I would choose for a multi-year workhorse.

The 2.26 GHz 8-core is a solid platform for video and sound processing (forPhotoshop and Lightroom and similar, stick to the faster clock speeds).

Mac Pros are workhorses generally good for years of solid use.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2013Search: Mac Pro (/search-ajax.html?q=Mac+Pro)


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(http://eshop.macsales.com/Search/SearchPromo.cfm?Ntk=Primary&Ns=P_ID%7c1&Ne=5000&N=100402&Ntt=UsedMac&utm_source=diglloyd-mpg)

Used Mac Pro at OWC

Settings Panel for iPhone

See also iPhone Viewing Tips for Presbyopia and Vision Issues (iPhone-HowTo-Viewing-Tips.html).

This screen surprised me today: I took the phone out of my pocket and there itwas—one of those iOS “land mines”.

Meaning that it appeared for no reason I could tell, meaning that my finger musthave touched the screen just-so as I grabbed the phone. Casual users are likely to beas surprised as I was, active users probably take it as a given and wonder what thediscussion is about!

But I figured out that it’s that little doohickey at bottom when the phone is in lockmode; swipe up and it appears (I don’t use a passcode, maybe it’s different in thatcase).

It turns out to be a handy screen and I’m glad it’s there, but what other usefulgoodies lie there in wait? Apple doesn’t seem to have an “intro” mode with theiPhone on the iPhone itself.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013Search: iPhone (/search-ajax.html?q=iPhone)


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iPhone 5s as I configure it

iPad Mini: Why is it Not a Phone Also?

The concept of a phone has gotten stale these days over in Apple land: Apple seemsto think that anything larger than 5 X 2 inches is an iPad, and anything smaller aniPhone (or iPod).

An iPod is a miniature iPad of sorts, and so is an iPhone. But why can’t smaller andlarger form factors be phones also, especially the larger form factors? There is nofundamental difference other than whether cellular support is included, and the iPadalready offers that support.

But why is a phone restricted this way? I’m not saying that I want to hold an iPad upto my ear like a phone, but with corded earbuds and BlueTooth headsets and a highquality built-in speaker phone and docking stations (e.g., home office), it’s odd not tolet an iPad also be a phone. The phone companies ought to love it: one more phoneto charge for. Ideally, easy to change call forwarding would offer a virtual phonenumber, so that the regular phone could be transparently routed to an iPadPhonewhen desired.

To carry that futhere—iPhones keep improving, but there is nothing really truly newfor years now. Reexamining the premises of what a phone is would make a lot ofsense, as well as its shape and functions (and why not a “retro” mode setting where itis only a phone?). The conclusion might be that the only real boundaries arepreconceived notions. There is definitely room for innovation in this market whichincludes size and shape and form factor, reduced feature set, and targeted usagescenarios. The current market is stagnant in its conceptual advances.

Maybe Apple is too busy designing spaceship-shaped buildings? Over-efforting for“public monument” buildings can sometimes presage decline for a company.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013Search: iPad (/search-ajax.html?q=iPad), iPhone (/search-ajax.html?q=iPhone)

Grip and Shock Damage Protection foriPhone 4/4s/5/5s, Color Choices in NuGardKXSUNDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2013Search: iPhone (/search-ajax.html?q=iPhone)


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A friend of mine is not computer-comfortable and I needed to help him comparecolors for a Nugard KX case (about $29 (http://eshop.macsales.com/search/NewerTech%20NuGuard%20KX/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg)) for his iPhone 5s,so I put together this graphic for him, then realized this might be handy for others.

I went with the white (“Trooper”) case for one simple reason: visibility. The hot pink“Rose” would do even better most likely. But I wanted the black front bezel to avoid abright border around the screen.

Read about my usage of the NewerTech NuGuard KX case for iPhone 4 or iPhone 5(Reviews-NewerTech-NuGardKX-iPhone-case.html).

Click for larger image of all color choices.

(images/NewerTech-NuGardKX-iPhone-case/NuGard-KX-iPhone-case-all-colors.html)

NewerTech NuGuard KX Case for Apple iPhone 4/4s/5/5s

There is no 'Free Lunch': Your Likeness andEndorsement by Google (or Facebook)

Everyone loves free stuff these days, but nothing comes without cost to someone*,directly or indirectly.

On the web, that has typically meant that to use a service, one has to put up withadvertisements which interfere with the experience to a greater or lesser degree, aswell as giving up some personal information, as well as being put on mailing lists,being tracked and targeted by advertisers, and so on. Most of this is straightforward,and it has become mainstream practice. It is well accepted as a means of fundingweb services**.

This exchange of value has suited the web pretty well, though it is not always wellliked: being tracked by cookies offends some. So if being tracked by cookies isobnoxious to you, what about having your likeness and comments and web presencebeing used to sell stuff, without your permission? More on that in a bit.

There is a new trend afoot which I’ll summarize as “get ’em hooked on our stuff, andwe’ll do whatever we want down the line” . This new trend violates accepted webprivacy norms: it exposes a person personally far beyond the original intent, possiblyexpropriates property (e.g. personal or professional images, writing of all sorts), andin general might place a person’s likeness and comments out of context to theirdesire or alongside products that are offensive to them (“your face here” on a tamponor hemorrhoid or drug addiction ad?).

The trend is to slip in new license terms slyly as a trial balloon: if theoutcry isn’t too severe, then the change is a success; after some time, thecompany can push the envelope further. In short, throw it on the walland see if it sticks.

You do have a electronic existential choice of sorts: abandon your favorite site thathas gone this route, perhaps with years of effort into it.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013Search: Privacy (/search-ajax.html?q=Privacy)


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Recently, Facebook introduced new terms to steal images uploaded to Facebook,including using your likeness. (http://diglloyd.com/blog/2013/20130905_4-FaceBook-and-photos.html)Ordinary users might shrug, but photographers usingFacebook should take that *very* seriously. Of course 'steal' is unfair in a legal sense,since the license agreement change in terms makes it all quite prim and proper. Asort of ex post facto license change.

Now the New York Times reports (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/12/technology/google-sets-plan-to-sell-users-endorsements.html?_r=0) that Google will soonexecute a similar change-of-license ploy [new Google terms of service(http://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/terms/update/)], not as ugly as theFacebook change, but with the same mindset in how customer information is to beused:

On Friday, Google announced an update to its terms of service that allows thecompany to include adult users’ names, photos and comments in ads shownacross the Web, based on ratings, reviews and posts they have made on GooglePlus and other Google services like YouTube.

When the new ad policy goes live Nov. 11, Google will be able to show what thecompany calls shared endorsements on Google sites and across the Web, on themore than two million sites in Google’s display advertising network, which areviewed by an estimated one billion people.

If a user follows a bakery on Google Plus or gives an album four stars on theGoogle Play music service, for instance, that person’s name, photo andendorsement could show up in ads for that bakery or album.

(http://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/terms/update/)

Google’s Oct 11, 2013 email notice on change to terms of service

This might not bother some people at all, and it might bother others a lot. ToGoogle’s credit, there is an “opt out” option (Facebook does NOT offer that option),as well as some means to restrict to your “circle”. But will that last?

Consider the implications of monitoring every service you use for the rest of yourlife for every change of terms, constantly having to opt out or lose your privacy ordata or images or whatever, for everything you posted for the last 5/10/20 years. It isnot a fair or reasonable approach in my view: opt-in is the ethical choice (“Don’t beevil” anyone?).

Once an accepted barrier or convention is discarded, a psychological resistanceevaporates to that “path”, and similar changes tend to accelerate: doesn’t a pettythief moves onto larger items sooner or later?


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Google’s approach to privacy thus is following the logical steps. Google is scanningyour email to target you with ads (http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/aug/14/google-gmail-users-privacy-email-lawsuit), so one has to wonderabout a serious lapse in ethics over in Mountain View (what else are they scanningfor, and for whom?), including a CEO who “declines to pass judgment(http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/13/eric-schmidt-google-nsa-surveillance)” on NSA spying. Extending a moral sanction is complicity, andespecially troubling for a person in a powerful position.

* I charge for my photography photography publications (http://diglloyd.com/catalog.html) work, there are no ads in them, and I never sell personalinformation or even collect more than the bare minimum, because I have a deeprespect for user privacy.

** This site uses ads for funding, but its mailing list is 100% opt-in, andthis site does not collect personal information.

iPhone 5s as I configure it

Switched to iPhone 5s from 4s

See also iPhone Viewing Tips for Presbyopia and Vision Issues (iPhone-HowTo-Viewing-Tips.html).

My iPhone 5s arrived today; it replaced my iPhone 4s.

One measure of the value of a new model is whether itdoes regular “stuff” better.

After a day of use including a good hour on the phone,and some modest poking around, I found that forregular things, it has nothing to offer over the iPhone4s for mundane tasks. Not a single thing I could pointto and say “better”.

I am not commenting here on the camera (notevaluated), or games (I don’t play games), LTE speed(not available in my area), or anything specific thatmight involve CPU speed or so on. I’m just asking if itdoes any routine task any better than the iPhone 4s.Nope, it doesn’t, not for me. Though *maybe* it willdrop calls less often but that is a wait and see thing overtime (and my main motivation for getting the 5s).

Update: the iPhone 5s proves more disappointing thanexpected: its reception is inferior to the iPhone 4s inthe mountains where I have traveled many times (4Gnetwork). It gives false signals too (showing it has thenetwork), but fails when I try to use it for internet. Thiswas the most important gain I hoped to see, andinstead it performs worse.

Dock and case don’t like each other

Apple doesn’t mention certain things: I ordered thedock for the iPhone 5s, and it’s nice— but it is uselesswith the case attached, and I don’t want to remove the case just to dock the phone,this makes it a useless accessory.

Disappointing to waste money; this should be spelled out at sales time especiallysince I ordered the case and dock together from Apple in the same order. No warninggiven.

Cases for the iPhone 5s

I ordered the Apple leather case and the NewerTech NuGuard KX Case (blog/2013/20130714_1-NewerTech-NuGardKX-iphone-case.html). Both are nice in their ownway, but I suspect the KX case will offer much better protection and last a lot longer.The Apple leather case is smooth in the hand and more elegant, but it probably won’tlook so nice after soaking up sweat in my cycling (http://windinmyface.com/index_topics.html) jersey pocket and getting the inevitable scuffs and dings (whichthe KX case shrugs off). Nor does the Apple case offer as solid a grip as the KX case.But it is quite nice otherwise.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2013Search: iPhone (/search-ajax.html?q=iPhone)


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iCloud

It took me 10 minutes to sign into iCloud—very hard for me to type those tiny keyswith my big fingers (relatively large hands), the password is hidden, and mixed caseand numbers are a visual challenge to verify (tiny letters, and no way to see amistake with bullets for every char).

Why does it have to be made so hard, so needlessly small? Rotating the phonedoesn’t offer a larger keyboard for password entry. It is very bad design, but geniusdesigners think fonts matter more than mundane usability issues (or vision issues(index_topics.html#iPhoneRelated)). The same kind of reasoning that brings us thetrashcan Mac Pro (/search-ajax.html?q=trashcan%20Mac%20Pro): pretty purity isthe priority, productivity is a party pooper.

How the NSA Compromises Systems(Firefox and Tor Too)

A fascinating read.

How the NSA Attacks Tor/Firefox Users With QUANTUM and FOXACID(https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2013/10/how_the_nsa_att.html)

...

The NSA creates "fingerprints" that detect HTTP requests from the Tor networkto particular servers. These fingerprints are loaded into NSA database systemslike XKeyscore, a bespoke collection and analysis tool that NSA boasts allows itsanalysts to see "almost everything" a target does on the Internet.

Using powerful data analysis tools with codenames such as Turbulence, Turmoiland Tumult, the NSA automatically sifts through the enormous amount ofInternet traffic that it sees, looking for Tor connections.

...

Tor is a well-designed and robust anonymity tool, and successfully attacking itis difficult. The NSA attacks we found individually target Tor users by exploitingvulnerabilities in their Firefox browsers, and not the Tor application directly.

...

To trick targets into visiting a FoxAcid server, the NSA relies on its secretpartnerships with US telecoms companies. As part of the Turmoil system, theNSA places secret servers, codenamed Quantum, at key places on the Internetbackbone. This placement ensures that they can react faster than other websitescan. By exploiting that speed difference, these servers can impersonate a visitedwebsite to the target before the legitimate website can respond, thereby trickingthe target's browser to visit a Foxacid server.

See also:

Silk Road Author Arrested Due to Bad Operational Security(https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2013/10/silk_road-au.html)

Why It's Important to Publish the NSA Programs (https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2013/10/why_its_importa.html)

Developments in Microphone Technology (https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2013/10/developments_in_2.html)

NSA Storing Internet Data, Social Networking Data, on Pretty MuchEverybody (https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2013/10/nsa_storing_int.html).

Surveillance is a serious issue, but as an immediate matter, I worry more about theincompetent system designs for ObamaCare (and the amorphous access controls bypoorly-vetted facilitators) compromising my personal info to hackers.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 08, 2013Search: security (/search-ajax.html?q=security)

Install the Driver for the OWC Mercury


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Accelsior PCIe SSD(OS X Cuts Power Prematurely to PCIe)

See also Caution When Upgrading to OS X Mavericks: Kernel Extensions (ATTO,Drobo) (blog/2013/20131007_1-Mavericks-kernel-extensions.html).

The OWC Mercury Accelsior PCIe SSD(index_topics.html#SSD_OWC_ACCELSIOR) requires that a driver(http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/index.cfm?page=/manuals/item/owcaccelsior.html) be installed to address an OS X power cut behavior* (seedetails further below). This blog post is a reminder of sorts.

OWC includes the driver for the Accelsior (http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/index.cfm?page=/manuals/item/owcaccelsior.html) card as shipped and calls it outvisually in the packaging (images/MercuryAccelsior-PCIe-SSD/AccelsiorQS.html),but one could forget to install it either at initial install or when installing a freshsystem. For example, if you’re testing out Mavericks as a fresh system install, installthe driver for the the Accelsior PCIe SSD. Ditto for any fresh system install.

If the Accelsior PCIe SSD is used in the OWC Mercury Helios case (Reviews-OWC-Mercury-Helios.html), then a driver is not needed. As per OWC:

Note: Driver ensures proper power-down of Accelsior during sleep, restart, andshutdown actions that may otherwise not occur in the Mac Pro with PCIeconnected drive volumes. This driver does not affect or interact with otherdrivers, software applications, hardware devices, etc.

This driver is not required for use of Accelsior in Thunderbolt to PCIe Expansionchassis (such as OWC Helios). No driver is required for use of Accelsior forWindows or Linux operating systems.

(http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/index.cfm?page=/manuals/item/owcaccelsior.html)

How to check if the Accelsior driver is installed:About This Mac => More Info => System Report

* The OWC driver for the Accelsior PCIe SSD (http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/index.cfm?page=/manuals/item/owcaccelsior.html) addresses abehavior (bug) introduced in OS X in which power is cut off prematurely toPCIe cards. This premature power cut-off bug was introduced in an OS Xrelease a good time after I first tested and reported on the Accelsior.

The driver for the Accelsior PCIe SSD inserts a sub-second delay, giving thePCIe card time to finish its business (pending writes). Under MicrosoftWindows on the same machine, no driver is needed (because the OS does nothave this bug).

The power cut issue would apply to any PCIe card that needs time to dohousekeeping before the power is cut, e.g. a hardware RAID card or other PCIeSSD.

Upgrading to the E2

Separately and not related to the above, MPG recommends upgrading to theAccelsior E2 version (Reviews-SSD-OWC-Mercury-Accelsior-E2-upgrading.html) togain a new chipset and dual eSATA ports. This is a module swap onto a replacement

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 08, 2013Search: Accelsior (/search-ajax.html?q=Accelsior), Helios (/search-ajax.html?q=Helios), PCIe

(/search-ajax.html?q=PCIe)


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(bare) card.

(Reviews-SSD-OWC-Mercury-Accelsior-E2-upgrading.html)

OWC Mercury Accelsior E2 PCIe SSD (with flash modules), and prior Accelsior (without flash modules)


diglloydTools

Are Your Backup Drives Still Functional?Are Your Files Subtly Damaged?

diglloydTools (http://diglloydtools.com) includesIntegrityChecker (http://diglloydtools.com/integritychecker.html), which can verify fileintegrity (http://diglloydtools.com/manual/integritychecker-verify.html) at any later date*whether on a hard drive, SSD, DVD, BluRay ornetwork volume.

The verification does require that the files have beenpreviously hashed (http://diglloydtools.com/manual/integritychecker-update.html)*, but oncedone this allows verification at any time on anymedia.

IntegrityChecker is a workhorse tool that Ideveloped to ensure the integrity of own data. Backup is not enough by itself if thedrive is developing marginal or bad sectors; you cannot necessarily know if the filesare intact or not. And in the case of a restore, it’s really nice to know that the files areintact; simply being able to copy them is no proof that the contents are undamaged.

Thus it is good backup hygiene (index_topics.html#Backup) to run IntegrityChecker'verify' on your backup drives every 4-6 months, to make sure that new issues havenot developed. Especially with cloning, files that are unchanged are not rewritten,and it is possible for files to go bad as the drive media is not always 100% reliable**.

* A hidden “.ic” file is stored in each folder containing SHA-1 hashes of allfiles in that folder. Moving or copying or backing-up a folder thus naturallycarries along these file hashes.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2013Search: digl loydTools (/search-ajax.html?q=diglloydTools)


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** An erase and re-backup cycle is advised once a year in order to writefresh copies onto hard drives, just in case there are weak sectors involved;rewriting refreshes things magnetically. For the same reasons, discard drivesafter 4 years or so; it’s not worth it.

Sometimes it’s subtle and that is where IntegrityChecker is valuable.

See also:

How to Safely Transfer Data or Verify Backups (blog/2013/20130712_1-DataValidation--howto.html)

Example of Verifying Data Integrity (blog/2013/20130407_1-checking-data-integrity-drive-swap.html).

How to Automate DiskUtility Verification of Mounted Volumes (blog/2013/20130629_1-automating-volume-verification.html).

Drives go bad for no obvious reason

Sometimes drive failure is not subtle (preferred): I just trash-canned four 2TBWestern Digital RE3 enterprise-grade drives—all of them had gone bad for no reasonI could discern. And those are the enterprise grade drives, which are allegedly better.

Steve D writes:

1) Do you recommend Integrity Checker update - verify on a Time Machinebackup volume?

2) Do you recommend Integrity Checker on /System?

Many thanks for your great software!

MPG:

On (1), since TM backs up all files including the ".ic" file, yes the Time Machinebackup volume can be scanned like any other file system. It is worthwhile as a sanitycheck if you suspect problems on the TM backup volume. However, scanning theentire volume will take 'forever' due to the way Time Machine stores its snapshots;you’ll want to selectively do 'ic verify' only on the 'Latest' folder.

It is a good idea to erase the Time Machine volume every six months* or so to savespace (do you need the last 23 copies of a frequently edited file?). By erasing the TMdrive, you force a new snapshot which rewrites all files and eliminates all history.

Keep other backups especially clone backups (Mac-HowToClone-backup.html), andbring these up to date before erasing the TM volume. TM is best used for short termprotection (Mac-TimeMachine-optimizing.html), not a first-level backup since it issubject to physical risks the same as the computer (Backup-Risks.html).

On (2), IntegrityChecker can be used on the system volume at the command lineusing 'sudo', but in general this is best used for system transfer (do 'ic clean' after an'ic verify'). The issue is that various application bundles can report as modified dueto the ".ic" file. The cleanest approach is to make a disk image clone, then useIntegrityChecker on that disk image, which of course presumes no errors on thevolume containing that disk image. So the only sure way is to

Fast iMac or Mac Pro?

Chris K writes:

I'm in the market for a new desktop Mac. I'm trying to decide between a fully-loaded Haswell iMac or new Mac Pro. At this point I use Lightroom for 90%+ ofmy photo work, and only open Photoshop when I need to do critical sharpeningor do something that requires layers. I don't do video or play games.

Seems like the iMac might be sufficient for my needs? In either case, I'll need anexternal JBOD or RAID enclosure for storage. Not sure the faster processor anddual graphics card of the Mac Pro will warrant the (likely) much higher price—especially when RAM is considered.

MPG: It’s a good topic, but lacking solid info on the new Mac Pro (particularly price

MONDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2013Search: 2013 Mac Pro (/search-ajax.html?q=2013+Mac+Pro), iMac (/search-ajax.html?q=iMac)


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and CPU speed, etc), cannot really be analyzed properly. The new Mac Pro is really avideo-centric machine.

Valid also is the question of new Mac Pro vs existing Mac Pro. From what I’mhearing the new model will offer a marginal improvement in performance(blog/2013/20130929_1-MacPro-new-or-current.html) while adding extra costs andmess in every other way. And this will take time to evolve, though by mid-2014things should sort out reasonably well on price and range of products.

Also to note is that the MacMini is a perfectly fine machine for some uses.

Haswell iMacSee New iMac with PCIe Flash Storage (blog/2013/20130924_2-2013-iMac-with-PCIe-flash.html).

Get one at B&H Photo (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ns=p_PRICE_2%7C0&Ntt=Haswell%20iMac%22&N=0&srtclk=sort&BI=1498&KBID=2013) and get 32GB memoryfor it from OWC (blog/2013/20130924_2-2013-iMac-with-PCIe-flash.html).

iMac display

My perspective is that of a professional photographer. The iMac screen is anegative for my photographic work (http://diglloyd.com):

The iMac display cannot be truly calibrated (video card “stretching” in 8 bitsdoesn’t qualify as real calibration and can’t touch the 12 bits internally of thewide-gamut NEC displays (http://diglloyd.com/articles/Recommended/displayNEC-PA302W.html)).

Nor can the iMac screen be color tracked over time or calibrated to specifictargets. So I have zero interest in the screen portion; it’s just an annoying“must buy” extra cost; a headless iMac would be far more attractive.

And unless you’re wearing a black shirt in a black room, glare is a perceptualdistraction with the iMac screen.

Were I to use an iMac, I’d use its screen as a 2nd display, with the wide-gamut NECPA302W or PA272W (http://diglloyd.com/articles/Recommended/displayNEC-PA302W.html) as the primary. That is a quite reasonable approach, since adual-screen setup is much more efficient with Lightroom.

iMac in general

CPU speed is excellent for most jobs, and should be superb for generalLightroom and Photoshop work. But not for jobs that can use 6 or 12 coreswell, e.g., marginal for video transcoding or similar(index_topics.html#MacProWestmere).

32GB memory limit is a non-starter for me; 64GB is the absolute minimumthat I actually need, with 80GB necessary to avoid VM paging (blog/2013/2012/20120725_3-MacPro-80GB-memory-Photoshop-usage.html). Mostusers do not have that requirement of course.

The number of ports can be dealt with, but is far from ideal (2 Thunderboltand 4 USB3 is bare bones).

Once you have main drives, SSDs, backup drives, Time Machine drive, thewhole cable mess is there. I vastly prefer having four (five) internal bays andPCIe slots in a Mac Pro. But the new Mac Pro forces the same issues. I thinkboth are 'fail' for longer term use as workhorse system, due to the pile of stuff,each of which is likely to have a higher failure rate than having most of thatinside a Mac Pro.

There are other issues. Anyone making an investment in a high-end system mightconsider my consulting services (consulting.html), where we can discuss specificoperational needs. Because the right answer varies. So the answer on iMac is yes orno, depending. For many people, that means yes. But it’s also true that the iMac isoverkill for most people; I suspect that many are sold simply because it is all-in-oneand attractive. It is not really intended as a serious workstation.

What I'd like to see is a super-sized Mac Mini (4X larger in volume), essentially aheadless iMac (fast 4-core CPU and 32GB memory), but with twice the USB3 and TBports and one internal full size drive bay.

So I guess Apple thinks that's a Mac Pro but without any internal storage (unlike theMacMini which has two bays). But the new Mac Pro price will probably be 5X or 8Xthe MacMini, leaving a huge price gap served only by the iMac with its built-inscreen. It’s an odd thing to have only inadequate or overkill or compromise


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solutions. The missing iLink. The iJustWantToGetItDoneWithoutTheFluffMac.


diglloydTools

OS X Mavericks and diglloydTools

diglloydTools (http://diglloydtools.com) is workingon OS X Mavericks GM—apparently no changes orupdate needed, but only brief testing done so far.See the previous notes on code signing and systempermissions (blog/2011/20110724_1_OSXLion--diglloydTools.html).

What does diglloydTools do?

Among other things, see How to Safely TransferData or Verify Backups (blog/2013/20130712_1-DataValidation--howto.html) as well as Example ofVerifying Data Integrity (blog/2013/20130407_1-checking-data-integrity-drive-swap.html).

Related topic, see How to Automate DiskUtilityVerification of Mounted Volumes (blog/2013/20130629_1-automating-volume-verification.html).

MONDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2013Search: digl loydTools (/search-ajax.html?q=diglloydTools), Mavericks (/search-

ajax.html?q=Mavericks)

Caution When Upgrading to OS XMavericks: Kernel Extensions (ATTO,Drobo)

A note of caution for anyone with specialized storage: new security model features inOS X Mavericks (due out very soon) disable some kernel extensions.

While I don’t use them any more, both ATTO and Drobo kernel extensions weredeemed “incompatible” by OS X Mavericks.

Sorry I don’t have the version numbers and I don’t know if newer versions areacceptable to OS X Mavericks.

Update: ATTO now has Mavericks updates(http://attotechnologyinc.createsend5.com/t/ViewEmail/y/7FCDA39C060F19F7/4697D4D88883D5B0F6A1C87C670A6B9F).

Note for OWC Mercury Accelsior PCIe SSD

See also Install the Driver for the OWC Mercury Accelsior PCIe SSD (OS X CutsPower Prematurely to PCIe). (blog/2013/20131008_1-Accelsior-driver.html)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2013Search: driver (/search-ajax.html?q=driver)

OWC Releases Firmware Update For ItsMercury SATA SSDs

I’ve been testing this firmware update for some weeks now, and it has been rocksolid in my Mac Pro (three OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 6G SSDs(index_topics.html#SSD_OWC_6G) in a RAID stripe (Storage-RAID.html) alongwith my usual Accelsior PCIe SSD (blog/2013/20130729_1-Accelsior.html) cards).

The update can be done with a USB memory stick or CD (a preloaded USB memorystick is available for $5.99 (http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/SSDFWUSB521/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg)).

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 06, 2013Search: firmware (/search-ajax.html?q=firmware), Accelsior (/search-ajax.html?q=Accelsior), SSD

(/search-ajax.html?q=SSD)


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More info on the SSD firmware updater in the OWC blog (http://blog.macsales.com/20391-owc-releases-firmware-update-for-industry-leading-ssd-line/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg) or go directly to the OWC SSD firmware update page(http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/OWC/SSD/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg).

Update: there is now a step-by-step firmware update video(http://blog.macsales.com/20513-step-by-step-video-assists-with-firmware-installation?utm_source=digloyd-mpg).

Be sure to backup your data first (index_topics.html#Backup).

(http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/OWC/SSD/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg)

Paul S writes:

Just a heads up that may be helpful to your readers (and OWC). Theinstructions aren't super clear for non-technical folks.

OWC instructs: "Restore image to 1GB or greater USB Flash drive (formattedMaster Boot Record and FAT) or burn image to CD using Apple Disk Utility.Apple Support Article"

"Master Boot Record" is not an option when one tries to format the USB stickbut after speaking with OWC it is the same thing as "ExFAT". I only had luckwith formatting to FAT. A bit counter-intuitive to not to simply format the USBdrive as a Mac disk.

Perhaps you could put a note in your blog to make sure people format their USBflash sticks as FAT. After that the update went smooth.

OWC responds:


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ExFAT and FAT are most definitely not the same thing....and we specify in theinstructions to use FAT and MBR.

Click Options and select Master Boot Record and then select Format:MS-DOS (FAT).

(http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/OWC/SSD/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg)

Best Alarm Sound on iOS 7

It has been a long day so maybe I can be forgiven for such a serious post.

Best alarm sound on iOS 7: “By the Seaside”.

Just has a catchy feel that reminds me of the day-in-day-out life of being a parent:gyrate out of bed and do it all over again.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 03, 2013Search: iPhone (/search-ajax.html?q=iPhone), iPad (/search-ajax.html?q=iPad)

Security Breach at Adobe for 2.9 MILLIONCustomers

See prior blog posts on Adobe Creative Cloud (/search-ajax.html?q=Adobe%20Creative%20Cloud).

Adobe Systems has announced a major security breach of it systems(http://blogs.adobe.com/conversations/2013/10/important-customer-security-announcement.html). Customer data was compromised, and source code also(http://blogs.adobe.com/asset/2013/10/illegal-access-to-adobe-source-code.html).

UPDATE Oct 29, 2013: the security breach was MASSIVE, affecting 38 millioncustomers (http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/29/adobe-cyberattack-idUSL1N0IJ26I20131029). You might fairly ask why Adobe would ask for date ofbirth as a requirement for Adobe Cloud, a point I commented on months before this

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 03, 2013Search: security (/search-ajax.html?q=security)


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security breach (blog/2013/20130508_1-Adobe-birth-date.html), noting “patentlyoffensive... and why promote identity theft?”. But that ought to be obvious—just notto Adobe.

The source code breach is more subtle and pernicious; it could allow (for example), ahacker to build a perfect copy but with a Trojan Horse (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_horse_(computing)) back door built-in and copy protection removed.Never download “free” software that you know is not free.

Isn’t it upsetting that Adobe asks for your date of birth (blog/2013/20130508_1-Adobe-birth-date.html)? Which is very helpful for identity theft. Was the date ofbirth encrypted or was it compromised in full?

It’s hardly an Adobe specific issue, as I discuss in So You Actually Trust YourSensitive Data to Apple’s iCloud ? (blog/2013/20130331_1-Apple-security.html).

(blog/2013/20130508_1-Adobe-

birth-date.html)

Adobe Creative Cloud demands date of birth as the very first question


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Cyber attacks are one of the unfortunate realities of doing business today. Giventhe profile and widespread use of many of our products, Adobe has attractedincreasing attention from cyber attackers. Very recently, Adobe’s security teamdiscovered sophisticated attacks on our network, involving the illegal access ofcustomer information as well as source code for numerous Adobe products. Webelieve these attacks may be related.

Our investigation currently indicates that the attackers accessed Adobecustomer IDs and encrypted passwords on our systems. We also believe theattackers removed from our systems certain information relating to 2.9 millionAdobe customers, including customer names, encrypted credit or debit cardnumbers, expiration dates, and other information relating to customer orders.At this time, we do not believe the attackers removed decrypted credit or debitcard numbers from our systems. We deeply regret that this incident occurred.We’re working diligently internally, as well as with external partners and lawenforcement, to address the incident. We’re taking the following steps:

As a precaution, we are resetting relevant customer passwords to helpprevent unauthorized access to Adobe ID accounts. If your user ID andpassword were involved, you will receive an email notification from uswith information on how to change your password. We also recommendthat you change your passwords on any website where you may haveused the same user ID and password.

We are in the process of notifying customers whose credit or debit cardinformation we believe to be involved in the incident. If your informationwas involved, you will receive a notification letter from us with additionalinformation on steps you can take to help protect yourself againstpotential misuse of personal information about you. Adobe is also offeringcustomers, whose credit or debit card information was involved, theoption of enrolling in a one-year complimentary credit monitoringmembership where available.

We have notified the banks processing customer payments for Adobe, sothat they can work with the payment card companies and card-issuingbanks to help protect customers’ accounts.

We have contacted federal law enforcement and are assisting in theirinvestigation.

MPG: Joy. So to protect myself I can sign up for a service which also will want somesensitive information and probably auto-bill me next year.

If I were a hacker, an email that looks like this would be a juicy thing to send a fewmillion of right about now, containing a fake URL to click on: never, NEVER click onlinks found in an email. That password link has to be typed in by hand (good), butthe “please click here” thing is not a good idea.

Adobe followup email to security breach


28 of 62 11/6/13 3:03 PM

Voting With Your Wallet

In this day and age there are the warehouse outfits, and then there are companiesthat provide support and service, and that design and assemble products here in theUSA*. Both serve essential purposes, both are appropriate in proper context, andeither can execute well or poorly.

Which and who to choose depends on what you need and the value added and that isa personal decision. But “voting with your wallet” for the vendors you’d like to seearound next year and for years to come can and ought to be a conscious effort, thusserving both parties. Whatever the decision on whatever basis matters to you (andonly you), it is by making a conscious choice that that the value is realized. This isyour Wallet Vote.

* Being American, I naturally say “USA”, but one should read this as a moregeneral statement, and in no case am I suggesting sacrificing quality forproduct origin or that everything can and should be done natively. Butspeaking as an American, one might ponder the implications of huge companieslike Apple farming out nearly all production overseas, which to me is anegative every time I buy an Apple product, mitigated in part by beingdesigned here in the USA. Some changes are afoot (new Mac Pro), a trend Ihope to see take root.

Acting for long term value

It is not easy building a small business over many years with a high growth rate; thiscan only happen by executing well on many fronts (including support and service(http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/)), and sticking to a long term vision. Andso I congratulate OWC (http://eshop.macsales.com/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg) ontheir efforts and success over the years.

OTHER WORLD COMPUTING HITS KEY MILESTONE: 25 YEARS OF GROWTHPLUS INNOVATIVE UPGRADES AND ENHANCEMENTS FOR THE APPLEUNIVERSE (http://eshop.macsales.com/NewsRoom/Framework.cfm?page=PR/10-03-2013-owc_25_years.html)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 03, 2013

Making an Old Dog of a Laptop Run Like aNew One: Wow!

Just today—

I had my youngest daughter using a dated 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook (thewhite plastic model). While it has 4GB of memory, it was running so incrediblyslowly that it was pretty awful to use even for mail and web browsing (poorkid!)—then the battery died completely.

So it would not even run unless plugged in, and if the cord were detached, instantsystem shutdown and loss of any work. Not terribly usable.

So the question arose: did I really want to spend $1000 on a new (refurbished)MacBook Pro (definitely not), or could this old “dog” be made to run faster?

I wasn’t sure, but I went ahead and ordered a NewerTech replacement battery fromOWC for $89 (http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/BAP13MBW56RS/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg). This fixed the battery problem, but the MacBook stillran like molasses in a Wisconsin winter on the side of a snowmobile engine cover.

Battery OK, but still slow, SSD?

Next, I dug out a several-years-old old 80GB Intel SSD on the theory that the speedproblem was due to the hard drive (based on observations using Activity Monitor(Mac-MonitoringTips.html)). Mind you this old SSD is far from current technologyperformance, but it was sitting around pretty useless and I wanted to see if it wouldaddress the speed issue (without spending any money).

Had I not had this old (otherwise useless) aged SSD, the about $119 OWC 120GBMercury Electra 3G SSD (http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/internal_storage/SSD/Mercury_Electra_3G_Solid_State/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg) would havebeen the “go to” candidate, and quite a bit faster too.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 03, 2013Search: SSD (/search-ajax.html?q=SSD), MacBook Pro (/search-ajax.html?q=MacBook+Pro)


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WAY faster

So in went the old SSD and guess what? Things that were taking 20 or 30 secondswere now taking 1-2 seconds: this old MacBook dog felt like a hyperactive youngpuppy. Heck, even *I* found it perfectly usable for web browsing and mail andiPhoto. My daughter now has a perfectly fast and good laptop, and I saved a ton ofmoney.

The lesson here is that old and apparently too slow to be usable computers might infact run perfectly fine with an SSD (and 4GB or so of memory(http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade/?utm-source=diglloyd-mpg)).

Any of the OWC Mercury Electra SSDs (http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/internal_storage/SSD/Mercury_Electra_3G_Solid_State/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg) are an excellent choice (choose capacity based onactual space usage). The about $119 OWC 120GB Mercury Electra 3G SSD(http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/internal_storage/SSD/Mercury_Electra_3G_Solid_State/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg) shouldrejuvenate any old and seemingly defunct MacBook or any Mac.

(http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/internal_storage

/SSD/Mercury_Electra_3G_Solid_State/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg)

OWC Mercury Electra 3G SSD

Prices Drop a Little:Toshiba 3TB Hard Drives + OWC MercuryAccelsior PCie SSD

Fast and inexpensive storage

See the recent notes on hard drive warranties (blog/2013/20130930_1-hard-drive-warranty.html).

OWC has the very fast Toshiba HGST 3TB hard drive (Storage-Drive-Toshiba-HGST-3TB.html) for $129 (http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Toshiba/DT01ACA300/?APC=READERSPC&utm_source=diglloyd-mpg).

While my capacity needs are better served by 4TB drives (Storage-Drive-Hitachi-7K4000-4TB.html), the 3TB ones are very fast and a much better deal on a dollars-per-gigabyte basis.

Fast PCIe SSD

Prices on the OWC Mercury Accelsior PCIe SSD(index_topics.html#SSD_OWC_ACCELSIOR) (what I use for my work every daysince it arrived) have also dropped slightly, to $447.50 for the 240GB model and$699 for the 480GB model (http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/PCIe/OWC/Mercury_Accelsior/Buy_Now?APC=READERSPC&utm_source=diglloyd-mpg).

The Accelsior can be used directly in the Mac Pro, or with any Thunderbolt Macby installing it in the Mercury Helios case (Reviews-OWC-Mercury-Helios.html).

See also How to Speed Up Adobe Photoshop Lightroom (blog/2013/20130218_2-

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 02, 2013Search: SSD (/search-ajax.html?q=SSD), Accelsior (/search-ajax.html?q=Accelsior), Toshiba

(/search-ajax.html?q=Toshiba)


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howto-speedup-Lightroom.html) and Faster Workflow, Faster Lightroom, FasterPhotoshop? (blog/2013/20130729_1-Accelsior.html) and Huge Photoshop FilesNeed a Fast Working Drive (blog/2013/20130119_1-big-files-need-big-speed.html).

(index_topics.html#SSD_OWC_ACCELSIOR)

OWC Mercury Accelsior PCIe SSD for Mac Pro or any Mac with Thunderbolt (with Helios case)

Off topic: Insurance Goes Insane

If you buy your own health care as I do, be sure to scrutinize any 2014 proposal fromyour health insurer. Don’t assume!

In summary, the proposal I received from Blue of California:

Doubles the premium to nearly $19,000 per year for a plan that is so awful,it’s really only for emergency room visits and similar.

Raises the deductibles substantially.

Raises the annual out of pocket maximums substantially.

Raises costs after deductible to 40% from $0.

Observe that it’s not just twice the price, it’s far lower benefits. Well, essentially zerobenefits as a practical matter. If that’s affordable, I’d hate to see expensive healthcare. And this is for the purgatory plan one step above the don’t-even-think-about-getting-sick plan. I’m not talking here about the “silver” or “gold” or “platinum”plans. Hell, those are “heaven” plans I can’t even contemplate.

It gets uglier for small business. Like many small businesses I am anS-corporation, and health care premiums my S-Corp pays are taxable as income onmy personal return. Which means the earnings needed to pay for it are far higher,meaning $19,000 really means at least $30,000 in earnings if not more (Californiaand federal income taxes). Very affordable for successful attorneys I suppose. By theway, employees working for big companies are not taxed on health care premiumspaid on their behalf, a gross inequity for the self employed.

If the goal is to break the family’s budget, the Affordable Care Act has succeededbrilliantly with me and my family. I make just enough to pay my bills—but too muchto get the juicy tax credits. Funny thing is, I don’t see how plans like this one helpanyone with routine medical care (the $4500 deductible is far too high for mostAmericans, and then there’s the 40% hit on top of that even after it’s met).

I’ve already inquired with a health insurance broker about an alternate plan: itseems that I might be able to get the premium down to “only” an 80% increase overlast year. With the CoveredCA.com California exchange site(https://www.coveredca.com), the cheapest Bronze plan for my family comes with a85% hike in price and very high deductible. As if cutting off three fingers is betterthan cutting off four fingers.

As a “worst case” concern: that 40% after-deductible whack is limited to the $6350per individual cap, or so one might assume. Otherwise, it would mean personalbankruptcy for any serious visit to the hospital or emergency room. But I wish itwere spelled out: if I get hit by a bus, and exit the hospital alive (or dead) with a

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2013


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$200K hospital bill, am I liable for $6350 or $80,000? I’d assume it’s $6350, but Iwish this were made explicit.

Red annotations below call out key points. The scan is of the flyer receivedfrom Blue of California.

Blue of California proposed 2014 medical plan

OS X 10.8.5 and OWC Mercury AccelsiorPCIe SSD Issue (Kernel Panic from Sleep)

Late in the game Apple made some kind of change in OS X 10.8.5 that affects someMac Pro systems with the OWC Mercury Accelsior PCIe SSD(index_topics.html#SSD_OWC_ACCELSIOR).

I updated to 10.8.5 right away; I run dual Accelsior E2 cards in my mainworkstation, I sleep it every night and multiple times during the day—no issues. Ihave a 3rd Accelsior in a 6-core Mac Pro—no issues. So I have nothing to report frommy own experience.

But my cards are the new 'E2' version (blog/2013/20130406_2-OWC-Mercury-Accelsior-E2-upgrade.html), so that appears to explain the problem free operation(newer firmware).

Here is the information I have on the issue, direct from OWC.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013Search: SSD (/search-ajax.html?q=SSD), Accelsior (/search-ajax.html?q=Accelsior), PCIe

(/search-ajax.html?q=PCIe)


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9/25/2013 update

re Accelsior PCIe SSD cards with 'MARVELL Raid VD 0' SystemProfiler reported identity.

Limited to Accelsior cards shipped prior to 8/15/2012 at the latest and that canbe identified in About This Mac / Apple System Profiler:with:Accelsior PCIe SSD cards with 'MARVELL Raid VD 0' under SATA devices.if it reports Accelsior, then your card is not affected by this 10.8.5 bug.

Current recommendations are to either return to 10.8.4 OS revision or disablesleep. No other issue outside of wake from sleep occurs and this issue isunrelated to our Accelsior driver.

It is attributable to what we have reported as a bug to Apple specific to how the10.8.5 interacts with a specific Marvell SATA controller chipset firmwarerevision (affects any product using that controller).

We anticipate a solution in the near future that will be applicable in the fieldwith no requirement to send the card in.

MPG: see also this discussion thread: Kernel panics after upgrading to OS 10.8.5 #1(https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5307826?start=30&tstart=0) and Kernelpanics after upgrading to OS 10.8.5 #2 (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5307826?start=30&tstart=0).

Reader Comment: Hard Drive Warranty

Russell F writes:

Nothing lasts forever, especially hard drives, backups a must.

My recent experience is with a WD Enterprise 3TB hard drive (advertised as a5yr warranty), price premium to go along with it. I purchased it from Neweggin 02/2013 and it has failed, I contacted WD and I put my SN in the (check onwarranty) and there is no warranty on this drive. I called WD and they said it isan OEM drive and Newegg should not be selling these to the public, and they areonly for OEM builders like HP or Dell etc…

So I call Newegg and they say WD is trying to wiggle out of the warranty. Ihave 4 other WD Enterprise drives and have had zero issues.

So I ask, when you buy your hard drives whom do you buy from? How do youknow you will be buying a drive with a warranty etc ….

MPG: Buy from companies that stand behind what they sell. Value is much morethan saving five bucks here and there from a shovel and ship warehouse.

I buy my drives from OWC (http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/3.5-SerialATA/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg). OWC also has a 90-day DOAreplacement guarantee (http://macperformanceguide.com/RecommendedVendor.html). That to me says a lot about their committment towhat they sell.

As for hard drive warranties, typically you get a refurbished drive after 6-8 weeks ofdowntime—totally useless for any RAID (Storage-RAID.html) setup or evennon-RAID: who can wait that long for a replacement? Always have a spare on handwhen using RAID so you can get right back into working order.

As for NewEgg, I gave up on rotten eggs years ago after a stinky experience. I won’ttouch them ever again as they add zero value to what they are selling. I don’t want tospend my money encouraging such modes of operation. We all vote with our moneyevery time we buy something.

OWC’s comment, from OWC Larry

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013Search: 2013 Mac Pro (/search-ajax.html?q=2013+Mac+Pro), Mac Pro (/search-

ajax.html?q=Mac+Pro), Thunderbolt (/search-ajax.html?q=Thunderbolt), USB3 (/search-

ajax.html?q=USB3), PCIe (/search-ajax.html?q=PCIe), SSD (/search-ajax.html?q=SSD)


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Quoted from an email response to my inquiry on this matter.

Fake processors or OEM drives can be blended into inventory in some internetsituations. We don't buy like that or ever blend integration drives (with noenduser factory warranty) into our normal sale stock.

Any warranty we advertise, we stand behind.

The last major hiccup we had was in 2012 with some Seagate drives... they hadgone down to that 1yr warranty... after 7/2/2012 - they went back up to a 2yr. Adistributor misrepresented or just mis-tracked it and a mix of some of theproduct we got the beginning of August shipment was 1yr product instead of 2year. When we figured it out - we dealt with the authorized ST distributor andset up policy to cover any customer encountering warranty issue after the 1yr.

Bottom line is that if we say it has X year warranty - we're covering that. Beenlike that forever. There are limits to what we can do in some cases... we soldXLR8 upgrades way back when... but when they folded, we took on and coveredwarranty to customers who bought from us for up to 1 year total from originalOWC sale date to customer + 30 days within XLR8's shutdown for any withinwarranty.

We try to go above and beyond to do the right thing.... in all circumstances.

2013 Apple Mac Pro: Faster than theCurrent Model?

See 2013 Apple Mac Pro: CPU Choices Predictions (blog/2013/20130611_3-new-MacPro-CPU-choice.html) as well as a bunch of stuff on the new 2013 Mac Pro(/search-ajax.html?q=2013%20Mac%20Pro).

How fast will the new Mac Pro be? As background—

My workhorse Mac Pro for three years now is a 12-core 3.33 GHz model, speciallyupgraded by OWC (Mac-Upgrade-MacPro-CPU.html). CPU speeds up to 3.46 GHzare possible for a 12-core.

Make a fast Mac Pro purr when configured as a robust MPG Pro Workstation(http://mpgproworkstation.com).

Unsure? Consult with me (consulting.html) for your own specific needs, whichhas value regardless of which Mac Pro or other Mac you might use.

CPU speed

First, a point of fact: 3.46 GHz is 13% faster than 3.06 GHz, 3.06 GHz being Apple’sfastest current Mac Pro offering. Apple simply does not offer the 3.33 GHz and 3.46GHz CPU speeds.

For the 2013 Mac Pro, we can expect Apple to make its “faster” claims relative to amodel that is at best 13% slower than is possible right now. And 8.8% slower thanthe 12-core Mac Pro that I’ve been running for three years now. Those numbersshould be held in mind when reviewing any speed claims from Apple.

Over at MacRumors.com has appeared a new post Apple's New 8-Core Mac ProShows Up in Benchmarks (http://www.macrumors.com/2013/09/27/apples-new-8-core-mac-pro-shows-up-in-benchmarks/). If true, shows yawn-inspiringperformance for the new Mac Pro relative to what is possible right now today withthe current model.

So one can fairly ask for giggles: what if performance were even 20% better? Is itstill worth losing all the expansion options built-in for the current Mac Pro? Yes forsome users and definitely not for others.

If one does not need the expansion capabilities, other Macs already haveThunderbolt and USB3 and fast CPUs. The whole idea with a Mac Pro is to havemore, more, more (memory, drives, expansion).

Elegance internally or a pile of boxes and rat’s nest of cables?

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2013Search: 2013 Mac Pro (/search-ajax.html?q=2013+Mac+Pro), Mac Pro (/search-

ajax.html?q=Mac+Pro), Thunderbolt (/search-ajax.html?q=Thunderbolt), USB3 (/search-

ajax.html?q=USB3), PCIe (/search-ajax.html?q=PCIe), SSD (/search-ajax.html?q=SSD)


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Losing 5 internal drive bays, losing relatively inexpensive memory exansion to 48GBor 64GB or 128GB, losing three PCIe slots, losing the internal optical drive, andadding the associated rat’s nest of pile of cables and boxes (blog/2013/20130702_1-new-MacPro-vs-old-image.html) should give pause to anyone considering a MacPro.

I don’t expect to see the new 2013 Mac Pro show up until January 2014. So anyonewhose work is being affected now might consider the value of waiting versus gettinga proven machine now (consulting (consulting.html) is one route). The particularsare what matter, not general assertions by anyone (or me).

All a new Mac Pro needs is a current motherboard with Thunderbolt and USB3 andSATA 6Gbps, keeping all the internal expansion options. Problem solved, low R&Dcosts, and advanced users like me can make an easy and clean transition. But that isnot what’s coming.

A Mac Pro is not a MacMini and it’s not an iMac, but Apple seems to think that’s allit is, because even a MacMini is more upgradeable internally. The 2013 Mac Prodesign approach is a big turn off: usable and practical are what I want in aworkhorse machine. Not a trashcan with a rat’s nest of nine or nineteen cablesplugged into it and between each other.

I would be somewhat mollified if Apple were to offer an expansion chassis similar tothe current Mac Pro that allowed plugging in hard drives and SSDs and with eightUSB ports and eSATA (for compatibility). But Thunderbolt 2 (/search-ajax.html?q=Thunderbolt%202) would likely be a bottleneck, unless perhaps all fourports were cabled to it. And it seems to be a non-solution for specialty video cardswhich require high bandwidth.

Form before function might be one early warning sign of the long term decline ofApple. It’s not just the Mac Pro. All great companies eventually decline, victims oftheir own hubris sooner or later, and a failure to Serve their users. I see Apple onthat path. The 2013 Mac Pro is just one manifestation which follows ill-conceivedchanges with no substantive improvements in OS X(index_topics.html#AppleCoreRot), and the stick in the eye to Final Cut Pro users(/blog.20120216_2-iOS-ification) which forced them away from Apple. And manyother things that most won’t notice, but are like small lesions here and there.


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(http://macperformanceguide.com/search-ajax.html?q=2013+Apple+Mac+Pro)

2013 Apple Mac Pro

Apple iOS 7: iPhone Accessibility /Legibility Tips

I’ve collected several accessibility and legibility tips for Apple iOS 7 (iPhone)(iPhone-HowTo-Viewing-Tips.html).

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2013Search: iPhone (/search-ajax.html?q=iPhone), iOS (/search-ajax.html?q=iOS)


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(iPhone-HowTo-Viewing-Tips.html)

(iPhone-HowTo-Viewing-Tips.html)

Various settings for iOS 7

My home screen shows my sophisticated use of the iPhone: mainly a phone,dabbling in mail and messaging, a few crappy pictures (http://diglloyd.com), and away to remind myself when that burger or steak on the grill is done.


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(iPhone-HowTo-Viewing-Tips.html) (iPhone-HowTo-Viewing-Tips.html)

Home screen

iPhone 5s vs Nokia Lumia 1020 CameraPhones

I discuss the relative image quality of iPhone 5s and Nokia Lumia 1020 cameras(http://diglloyd.com/blog/2013/20130924_2-iPhone5s-vs-NokiaLumia1020.html)over at my photography site diglloyd.com.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2013Search: iPhone (/search-ajax.html?q=iPhone), oversampling (/search-ajax.html?q=oversampling)

New iMac with PCIe Flash Storage

Apple today quietly announced (http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2013/09/24Apple-Updates-iMac.html) an updated iMac featuring hyper-fast PCIe flashbased storage.

Hits

The upgrades are welcome, particularly the PCIe flash storage.

The iMac now has PCIe-based flash memory instead of the prior SATA-basedflash. Which means 2X to 4X the drive performance, assuming Appleconfigures a high speed module that can deliver.

Faster graphics (which means of zero significance for most uses and users).

Misses

Same intransigence as before in not offering a separate PCIe SSD flashmodule and hard drive combination (the Fusion option is a measly 128GBflash and still has no 4TB drive option, so neither performance nor capacitycan be optimized, fine for everday use, unappealing for serious use).

Same inadequate number of Thunderbolt ports (2) and USB 3 ports (4). Thesefill up fast, especially USB 3 ports.

Recommendations

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2013Search: iMac (/search-ajax.html?q=iMac), PCIe (/search-ajax.html?q=PCIe), SSD (/search-

ajax.html?q=SSD)


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(http://blog.macsales.com/20235-owcs-latest-upgrade-for-new-apple-2013-imac-

27-expands-memory-to-32gb-offering-significant-savings-over-stock-apple-configurations?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg)

(http://blog.macsales.com/20235-owcs-latest-upgrade-for-new-apple-2013-imac-27-expands-

memory-to-32gb-offering-significant-savings-over-stock-apple-configurations?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg)

Note: For high performance users, opt for the faster Intel Core i7 CPU along with the1TB PCIe flash storage so that you can optimize your Photoshop or Lightroom orsimilar workflow.

OWC has big savings over the Apple memory options for the 2013 iMac (memory issuper easy to install in the iMac).

MPG recommends the OWC 32GB upgrade kit for iMac (http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/1600DDR3S32S/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg), but there are also 16GB, 24GB and 32GB memory kitsfor the late 2013 iMac (http://blog.macsales.com/20235-owcs-latest-upgrade-for-new-apple-2013-imac-27-expands-memory-to-32gb-offering-significant-savings-over-stock-apple-configurations?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg).

Press release

Useful portions.


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September 24, 2013 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apple® today updated iMac® withfourth generation Intel quad-core processors, new graphics, next generationWi-Fi and faster PCIe flash storage options.

The updated iMac brings the latest technology to the stunningly thin design andgorgeous display of the world’s leading all-in-one desktop.

...

The high-end 21.5-inch model and both 27-inch models feature quad-core IntelCore i5 processors up to 3.4 GHz and NVIDIA GeForce 700 series graphics withtwice the video memory and up to 40 percent faster performance than theprevious generation.* Customers looking for the ultimate in performance canupgrade to quad-core Intel Core i7 processors up to 3.5 GHz and NVIDIAGeForce GTX 780M series graphics with up to 4GB of video memory.

iMac now supports next generation 802.11ac Wi-Fi. When connected to an802.11ac base station, iMac delivers wireless performance that is up to threetimes faster than the previous generation.

The updated iMac now features support for PCIe-based flash storage that makesFusion Drive and all-flash storage options up to 50 percent faster than theprevious generation.* The popular Fusion Drive option combines the largestorage capacity of a hard drive with the high performance of flash to delivershorter boot times and faster access to apps and files. Customers can configuretheir iMac with a 1TB or 3TB Fusion Drive, and all-flash storage options arenow available in configurations up to 1TB.

iMac comes standard with 8GB of memory and a 1TB hard drive, and customerscan choose to configure their iMac with up to 32GB of memory and up to a 3TBhard drive. iMac also comes with two Thunderbolt and four USB 3.0 ports forconnecting to external storage and other high performance peripherals.

(http://blog.macsales.com/20235-owcs-latest-upgrade-for-new-apple-2013-imac-27-expands-memory-to-32gb-offering-significant-savings-over-stock-apple-configurations?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg)

Apple iCloud: Broken by Design

iCloud (formerly me.com) has been broken for years in so many ways. But it’scurrently so broken as to be unusable and I don’t know how to fix it.

Consider what happens if one turns on iCloud syncing for Safari bookmarks. Thedialog presents itself. The answer is “no, I want to WIPE OUT what’s on iCloud withwhat is on this machine”. But that is not a choice.

The message is highly misleading: it uploads and downloads, merging both ways,which means a huge mess on the local computer. Continues below...

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2013Search: iCloud (/search-ajax.html?q=iCloud)


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The Apple iCloud “Make a Huge Mess?” dialog

The merge process makes a huge mess:

Safari bookmarks in iCloud appears to be a vast trash bin of everybookmark I’ve ever created. And there is no apparent way to clean upthe mess.

If Cancel is chosen, then nothing happens. If Merge is chosen, then the followingoccur:

The local bookmarks are retained, but mangled and merged in with thedetritus from iCloud.

A regurgitated hairball of every bookmark that I’ve ever created is carpet-bombed onto my local machine.

Apple’s default bookmarks (which I’ve deleted locally) are inserted for goodmeasure.

Duplicates are created in many cases, and some bookmarks are damaged bychanges to the URL that clearly belonged to other bookmarks.

There is no “replace iCloud with local Safari bookmarks” option.

It’s immensely frustrating. Is it really real? Who can dream up something thisconvoluted?

It’s not just my computer; I’ve spent hours helping a friend several times. As soon assyncing is enabled, the same mess happens, destroying the whole organizationalstructure.

So I figure: “let me go to iCloud.com and look for a Safari bookmarks thing, deletethe hairball mess and then maybe it will work?” But there is no such managementtool anywhere I can find anywhere in iCloud.

On another computer, I deleted all bookmarks, thinking maybe if I merged I’d get asnapshot of the hairball. I then did Merge several times with nothing showingup—zero bookmarks. So apparently one gets hairball or nothing.

Anywhere out there who knows how to manage the iCloud hairball—let me know(http://diglloyd.com/contact.html).


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Where can I un-hairball my Safari bookmarks?

Reader comments

Delete and pray

Many readers wrote to suggest that I follow a procedure consisting of essentially thefollowing:

Save off a copy of bookmarks via the Export Bookmarks command in Safari ona Mac.

1.

Delete all bookmarks on all Macs and phones (easier said than done onphones, best to “Replace All” in iTunes).

2.

Import bookmarks previously saved on one computer.3.

Enable syncing on all computers.4.

Pray like hell.5.

This sometimes works. For example, my laptop has no bookmarks now for the last 12hours. Wonderful.

Furthermore, the same issues just pop up again: I delete or rearrange bookmarks onmy main computer, and then all the deleted and rearranged stuff pops up from theother Macs and makes a huge mess. I can’t go through this pain for 4 Macs and threeiPhones over and over.

Martin D writes:


42 of 62 11/6/13 3:03 PM

iCloud is indeed broken by design. It is also opaque, disconcerting, and fromtime to time, disastrous. And sometimes it “just works” as advertised.

Your post suggests to me you expect it to work like iTools/.Mac/MobileMe/iSyncsyncing. It does not. iCloud has nothing whatsoever to do with those priorservices. It's a completely different model.

iCloud appears to be a relatively “dumb” service in the sense it’s little more thana file syncing system; data sync is accomplished through it by way of a fewconventions, client-side APIs and a lot of misery on the part the part of thehapless developer. The theoretical advantage to iCloud’s dumbness is a certainkind of robustness on the server side. The all-too-practical disadvantage of theapproach is the absence of robustness on the client side.

One of the biggest problems with iCloud is its highly variable—and sometimesjaw-dropping—latency. I've seen it take as long as 25 minutes to propagate achange. Latency is particularly a problem when a client service is first broughton line. Sometimes it simply fails to get going on its own without a kick (reboots,etc.). Consequently, you can have everything enabled correctly on the client, butprecisely zero data is flowing. I've found that deliberate patience is a crucialpart of troubleshooting iCloud services. I've had to reboot multiple times andwait as long as 90 minutes (!) to jumpstart syncing with certain applications.

Stop flipping the sync services on and off. Turn on the ones you want and leavethem on. Give the system time to stabilize. If you're left with a mess in yourbookmarks, that's probably a tragically accurate representation of what's inyour iCloud bucket. The key is that you're seeing the exact same mess on all thedevices you want in sync. Once you're seeing that consistency—and ONLY onceyou’re seeing that consistency—choose one device and start cleaning up themess. Periodically, check the other devices to verify that your cleanup actionsare propagating. Remember that changes may sync immediately or may takemany minutes to propagate.

MPG: I’ve been through this (with patience) many times. I’ve had everything perfectat my friend’s house on three of his Macs (he is not a savvy user so I help him), andthen he calls me 3 days later to say it’s all screwed up again.

Apple iOS 7: Type Weight and Size ImpairsUsability, Presbyopia and Vision Issues

As age advances to 40's and older, presbyopia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyopia) (difficulty focusing at close range) becomes an increasinglyserious impediment, making small type harder and harder to read, especially in dimlighting where pupil size reduces visual acuity. Type that is small and thin is evenworse for vision.

The presbyopia challenge is exacerbated by having strongly nearsighted vision thathas been corrected with contact lenses and/or with eye modification such as LASIK:both of these things make close-range vision worse.

iOS 7 makes changes that do not work well for the eyesight challenges faced byanyone in their mid 40's on up: a choice of very thin typography along withhaphazard support for type sizing on top of design changes that make it even harder.

In particular, the new thin-font typography is generally harder to read for me thanthe older more substantial type used in previous version of iOS.

The adulatory discussion tends to take on abstract claims of being “cleaner” andmore “elegant”, but these discussions conveniently omit the realities of vision formany older users. The idea that something is more elegant when it diminishesusablity reflects flawed premises as to the merit function.

The Dynamic Type feature in iOS 7

iO7 has a dynamic type feature which is supposed to enlarge the type for readability,accessible through the Settings => General area*.

Problem is, it applies piecemeal, even to Apple apps.

* Why several important features are buried under General with unimportant

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2013Search: iPhone (/search-ajax.html?q=iPhone)


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(Reviews-NewerTech-NuGardKX-iPhone-case.html)

Preferences for type size (Dynamic Type)Apple iOS 7

featuresat the toplevel isanother

questionable design judgment in iOS that suggests a failure to really thinkthrough the details of matters in the interface for usability. For thatmatter, the whole Settings area is a growing kitchen sink mess that needs atotal rethink.

When Dynamic Type works

The good news is that this feature actually works and is very helpful in some areas,such as phone contacts as shown below, where the type has been sized-up as shownabove.

I can read this type under most any conditions, including the most difficultchallenge, dim lighting*, or through dirty sunglasses, or similar. I’d rather see moreentries at once, but this works for me well enough.

* In dim lighting the pupils are of large diameter and just like a camera(http://diglloyd.com), there is less depth of field, and thus less tolerancefor focusing variance.


Apple iOS7 contacts list with enlarged type as per above settingMUCH larger than on an actual iPhone

Degraded view of Safari bookmarks

The bad news and worse news is that the former highly usable list view forbookmarks has been transformed into an icon view instead, which wastes spacewhile simultaneously degrading readability by using tiny type. The icons are purely a


44 of 62 11/6/13 3:03 PM


Apple iOS7 Safari bookmarksMUCH larger than on an actual iPhone

waste of space, when that space could be used for legibility, as in iOS 6.

In dimlight I canfocus onthis type ata distancebetween20 inchesand 21inches andthat’sabout it.It’s astrain nomatterwhat.

So whatApple hasdone is toreduce ahighlyusable listview withhighcontrast highly readable type to a space-wasting iconized view with thin small typethat is difficult to read. Go figure.

The changes show a lack of attention to detail and are consistent with changes in OSX*, where the utility of a proven design is discarded for the sake of just doingsomething different (index_topics.html#AppleCoreRot) (Think Different?). It is nota promising trend.

Good design does not lock out users in a fundamental way. My same iPhone 4srunning iOS 7 is harder to read in most places than with iOS 6 because of the newtypography. One exception: the Stocks app uses a very nice white-on-black approach—highly readable.

TIP: making the screen brighter improves legibility by making the pupilcontract (and also degrades vision adapted to dim or dark conditions).Change the brightness in Settings => General => Wallpapers &Brightness.

* An emphasis on eye candy at the expense of really thinking hard aboutusability: making core functionality work 100% reliably and intuitively, notarbitrarily disrupting established practices (even my kids are turned off byome parts of iOS 7). Apple iOS 7 has gone well down the path of land mines(behavior that comes out of nowhere) and non-obvious functionality. Unlesssubstantial benefits accrue to a change, there should be high inertia inexisting well understood user interface behaviors.

Actual physical size

On the actual iPhone, the image is 76mm high (as measured with a ruler).

I measured and sized the images on my 30-inch display (http://diglloyd.com/articles/Recommended/displayNEC-PA302W.html) on my Mac Pro. The imagesbelow are 76mm high on that 30-inch display (again, measured with a ruler). Theyare exactly the same physical size as on my iPhone: pretty darn small type for thoselabels on the Safari bookmarks.


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76mm high image, as on the iPhone; note the tiny type sizeApple iOS7 Safari bookmarks

Grip and Shock Damage Protection foriPhone 5/5s

With my iPhone 5s on order (to replace a well used iPhone 4s), I wanted to enjoy thesame shock protection as with the 4s, so I just ordered the NuGard KX case(http://eshop.macsales.com/search/NewerTech%20NuGuard%20KX/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg) for it. I also ordered a spare Lightning connector cablefor it (see below). Since my 5s won’t arrive for 2 weeks or so, I opted for the freeshipping.

Read about my usage of the NewerTech NuGuard KX case for iPhone 4 or iPhone 5(Reviews-NewerTech-NuGardKX-iPhone-case.html).



MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2013Search: iPhone (/search-ajax.html?q=iPhone)


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NewerTech NuGuard KX Case for Apple iPhone 4/5/5s

Click for larger image of all color choices.

(images/NewerTech-NuGardKX-iPhone-case/NuGard-KX-iPhone-case-all-colors.html)


ioSafe N2 NAS: Cloning Speed vs OtherSolutions

See the full review of the ioSafe N2 Fireproof and Waterproof Dual-Drive NAS(index_topics.html#ioSafe).

Click the graph to read more about cloning speed.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2013Search: NAS (/search-ajax.html?q=NAS)


47 of 62 11/6/13 3:03 PM

(Reviews-ioSafeN2-cloning-performance.html)

Cloning time in minutes to clone 245GB as a disk image various solutions

OWC DataDoubler Kit for Mac Mini: 2 X 1.5TB Internally With 9.5mm Drives

Want 3TB in your Mac Mini (2 X 1.5TB hard drives)? Or an internal SSD and 1.5TBhard drive?

The OWC DataDoubler kit for the MacMini (http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIYIMM11D2/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg) does the job, and now that 9.5mmhigh-capacity hard drives (http://eshop.macsales.com/Search/Search.cfm?Ntk=Primary&Ns=P_Popularity%7C1&Ne=5000&N=6892&Ntt=SATA+2.5&utm_source=diglloyd-mpg) are available* (12.5mm was too thick),two of them can fit inside the MacMini case, meaning that up to 3TB can be installedinternally. Configure as a RAID-1 mirror or a RAID-0 stripe (Storage-RAID.html) oras two separate volumes.

* For example, the HGST Travelstar 5K1500 (http://eshop.macsales.com/item/HGST/0J28001S2/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg).

(http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIYIMM11D2/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg)

OWC DataDoubler for Mac Mini

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2013Search: SSD (/search-ajax.html?q=SSD), HDD (/search-ajax.html?q=HDD), DataDoubler (/search-

ajax.html?q=DataDoubler)


48 of 62 11/6/13 3:03 PM

September 17, 2013: Other World Computing (OWC®), the world’s leadingdestination for cutting-edge and easy-to-install Mac and PC upgrades andaccessories, has just launched an upgraded OWC “Data Doubler” Kit(http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIYIMM11D2/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg), which can now add a new 1.5TB drive, and iscompatible with 2011 and later Mac® minis. These kits can be purchased standalone, starting at $27.99 or specially discounted bundled pricing from ouronline store.

What it does: this DIY kit enables Mac mini owners to add a second internalhard drive and install up to two drives for up to 3.0TB of storage, or add ahigh-performance solid-state drive (SSD) to complement (or fully replace) theexisting internal factory drive.

Why it’s cool: this kit is ideal for Mac mini owners who are running out ofstorage space or want to improve performance with an OWC SSD. It lets youadd a second 9.5mm or smaller 2.5" SATA hard drive(http://eshop.macsales.com/Search/Search.cfm?Ntk=Primary&Ns=P_Popularity%7C1&Ne=5000&N=6892&Ntt=SATA+2.5&utm_source=diglloyd-mpg) or solid-state drive (http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg) (sold separately). Adding one ofthese drives to an internal bay also takes advantage of higher speeds andincreased performance of the Mac mini internal storage connections. With thiskit, users can enjoy almost instantaneous booting and application launchesalong with an incredible boost to overall system and application performance.

What it costs: The OWC Data Doubler Kit for 2011 and later Mac mini modelsis available for immediate ordering at the special discounted price of $32.99direct from our online store (http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIYIMM11D2/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg). A Data Doubler kit without toolsis also available for $27.99.

Although OWC highly recommends its Mercury Extreme Pro 6G SSDs for the6.0Gb/s SATA-equipped 2011 to current Apple mini, this DIY kit is fullycompatible with all 9.5mm or smaller 2.5" Serial ATA SSDs, including thelargest capacity in the 3G speed class, the OWC Mercury Electra 960GB SSD.

What it includes:

All drive-mounting components (custom flex cable, screws, andgrommets)

All necessary tools

Installation guide

Step-by-step online installation video

Or, customers can use our Apple Mac mini Installation Service and haveOWC

“Do It For You”

ioSafe N2: A Cornucopia of Functionality

See the full review of the ioSafe N2 Fireproof and Waterproof Dual-Drive NAS(index_topics.html#ioSafe).

A NAS can do more than function as a backup. It can be a mail server, git or svnserver, photo or video or iTunes or internet server, WIKI, Time Machine backupdevice and so on.

MPG has not tested these services, but these capabilities might be of interest inmaking a choice on a NAS which is more than file sharing and/or backup.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2013Search: NAS (/search-ajax.html?q=NAS)


49 of 62 11/6/13 3:03 PM

(Reviews-ioSafeN2-overview.html)

ioSafe N2 Package Manager optional plugin services

New 2013 Mac Pro: When?

It’s almost as if the new 2013 Apple Mac Pro (/search-ajax.html?q=2013%20Apple%20Mac%20Pro) has ceased to exist before existing;radio silence. I suppose we’re in uncharted territory: normally Apple does notpre-announce products at all, but since that rule was broken it seems reasonable tohave some kind of update at least as a professional courtesy for those consideringnew versus old. After all, some customers have real work to do, and want more thana candy colored iPhone to play with.

The sneak peak at the 2013 Apple Mac Pro (http://www.apple.com/mac-pro/) is stillthere on the Apple site as “coming later this year”. Surely as we approach OctoberApple could be a little more specific: does that mean Dec 31st?

It’s a guess, but my suspicion is that the new trashcan look won’t actually bedelivered to customers until January 2014. The holdup might be the Thunderbolt 2chipset (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/09/12/thunderbolt_2_coming_for_christmas_says_intel/).

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013Search: 2013 Mac Pro (/search-ajax.html?q=2013+Mac+Pro)


50 of 62 11/6/13 3:03 PM

(http://macperformanceguide.com/search-

ajax.html?q=2013+Apple+Mac+Pro)

2013 Apple Mac Pro

ioSafe N2 Fireproof and WaterproofDual-Drive NAS

The first part of my review of the ioSafe N2 Fireproof and Waterproof Dual-DriveNAS is now posted (index_topics.html#ioSafe) (six pages).

I like the ioSafe N2—it’s very well built and it fits a need of mine: remotable anddurable and with up to 2 X 4TB storage. I’ve stuck it in my semi-attached garage andI’m working with it in various ways. Other updates to follow over the next week ortwo.

Particularly impressive: the unit is whisper quiet. I mean nearly inaudible and I’mone picky guy about noise. Probably because the drives are inside the surroundingthick insulating material.

My main wish: it would be cool (or hot) if one could direct attach it via USB3 orThunderbolt instead of using it strictly as a NAS. Pun intended.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013Search: NAS (/search-ajax.html?q=NAS)


51 of 62 11/6/13 3:03 PM

(Reviews-ioSafeN2-overview.html)

ioSafe N2 Fireproof and Waterproof Dual-Drive NAS

Don H writes:


52 of 62 11/6/13 3:03 PM

A number of years ago I took some steps to create a fire-proof data storageproduct, originally based on a cylindrical container of DVD-Rs and later asimilarly-sized 'can' with hard disks inside. Either unit could be inserted into acustom fire-proof tube that one could bury in the ground, or their garage floor,or wherever it made sense. The product name was to be 'Tube Vault' and I madea number of trips to China and elsewhere to source fabrication.

Long story short - things intervened and I couldn't take the financial risk tocapitalize the whole affair.

Since then, I've always kept a casual eye on similar solutions, and the ioSafelooks like a worthy product. As you point out, however, it cannot be directlyattached, which limits its usefulness as fast production storage. Perhaps theymight add that as an option in the future.

A different approach that I've considered is to use something like the PromiseThunderbolt RAID*, but locate a mirror backup unit in a secure place separatedfrom the main computer. Conceivably one could buy a used fireproof safe ofsufficient interior volume and drill a hole in the side to pass a water-sealedconduit through. (Safes can indeed be drilled, but it just takes longer than thetypical thief is willing to hang around for.) In the event of a fire the wires wouldobviously melt, but the disks would shut down in their latest state and thebackup should survive provided the safe itself didn't get too hot. One might alsouse lower-RPM drives to reduce heat buildup inside the safe during normaloperation. (The latest WD Red drives look good for this application.)

This is where the long Corning Thunderbolt cables come in; they would allowthe backup unit to be physically distant from the main storage. Of course thedistance is dependent on the owner's property layout (apartment dwellerswould be out of luck), but anyone with a 1/4 acre or more should be able to getsufficient distance such that the backup could be away from a main dwellingfire. Assuming the entire property isn't leveled by something truly catastrophic,this setup should address most people's needs who don't normally use off-sitebackups. (For truly critical work off-site means geographically separated asappropriate.)

I'm always glad to see products like the ioSafe come to market, as they serve animmediate need and remove a lot of the hassles associated with fireproofbackups. For the smaller percentage or people who are willing to roll their own,however, I favor the idea of a larger general-purpose fireproof enclosure thatthen allows one to use any storage device available, including non-NAS units.But moving heavy safes around is obviously not for the faint of heart or spine.

MPG: good points.

Corning Optical Thunderbolt CablesCertified by Intel

Corning has received certification for its optical Thunderbolt cables, which offerlengths of 10 meters or longer. According to Corning, the cables are compatible withThunderbolt 2.

Why does this matter?

Smaller and lighter and presumably greater signal integrity.

High quality cables are an integral component to the infrastructure needed totake Thunderbolt mainstream for everything from consumer to high-endprofessional configurations.

With lengths of 10 meters and longer, it becomes possible to location noisyand/or bulky equipment well away from a work area and/or in a morephysically protected or secure area.

It is possible that Thunderbolt could evolve as a networking solution, withspeed ten times faster than the current 1Gbps ethernet and most likely cheaperthan 10 Gbps ethernet, which has still not caught on.

This first point is especially interesting given the total lack of internal storage on the2013 Mac Pro (/search-ajax.html?q=2013%20Mac%20Pro) (due out late 2013).

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013Search: Thunderbolt (/search-ajax.html?q=Thunderbolt)


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Corning optical Thunderbolt cable

CORNING, N.Y., September 11, 2013 -- CorningIncorporated (NYSE:GLW) today announced at the IntelDeveloper Forum (IDF) in San Francisco, that its opticalcables have been Thunderbolt certified by IntelCorporation. Thunderbolt™ Optical Cables by Corningare the first all-optical fiber cables for the Thunderboltcommunity.

Compatible with both Intel’s Thunderbolt andThunderbolt 2 computer and peripheral connectivityprotocols, Thunderbolt Optical Cables by Corning havesuccessfully undergone a rigorous certification processthat ensures they provide users with an optimalexperience. In the coming weeks, Corning will makeavailable varying lengths starting at 10 meters.

Thunderbolt Optical Cables by Corning are designedspecifically for Thunderbolt technology and allow usersto easily manage the demands of today’shigh-bandwidth applications. The electrically isolated,noise-reducing cables are up to 50 percent smaller indiameter and 80 percent lighter than comparablecopper Thunderbolt cables.

“Based on Intel’s Thunderbolt protocol, Corning isproviding a fast, innovative cabling solution designedfor data-intensive connectivity,” said Bernhard Deutsch,vice president, Product Line Management, OpticalConnectivity Solutions, Corning Telecommunications.“Thunderbolt Optical Cables by Corning empower usersto quickly access and move data between devices atdistances copper cables cannot.”

“Thunderbolt transforms the way users connect devicesto their PCs, dramatically increasing data transferrates,” said Jason Ziller, director, ThunderboltMarketing, Intel Corporation. “Corning has built uponits proven innovation track record to develop a keyaddition to the Thunderbolt ecosystem. Corning’s newoptical fiber cables should help accelerate Thunderboltadoption by enabling faster media capture, editing, andbackup at distances beyond 10 meters.”

Thunderbolt Optical Cables by Corning will be availablein the coming months through distributors, selectresellers, and online. Details on how to purchase thecables can be found on the “Where To Buy” section of the Optical Cables byCorning website, www.OpticalCablesByCorning.com(http://www.OpticalCablesByCorning.com).

Additionally, IDF attendees will be able to view live demonstrations related tothe speed, flexibility and durability of Thunderbolt Optical Cables by Corning.These demonstrations can be seen at the Optical Cables by Corning booth #180,the Intel Advanced Technology Zone and in the IDF Thunderbolt community.Thunderbolt is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or othercountries.


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Corning optical Thunderbolt cable


diglloydTools

OS X Mavericks and diglloydTools

diglloydTools (http://diglloydtools.com) is testedand working on OS X Mavericks—no changes orupdate needed. See the previous notes on codesigning and system permissions (blog/2011/20110724_1_OSXLion--diglloydTools.html).

What does diglloydTools do?

Among other things, see How to Safely TransferData or Verify Backups (blog/2013/20130712_1-DataValidation--howto.html) as well as Example ofVerifying Data Integrity (blog/2013/20130407_1-checking-data-integrity-drive-swap.html).

Related topic, see How to Automate DiskUtilityVerification of Mounted Volumes (blog/2013/20130629_1-automating-volume-verification.html).

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 07, 2013Search: digl loydTools (/search-ajax.html?q=diglloydTools)

NEC PA302W LED-Backlit 30-Inch WideGamut Display

I take a first look at the new NEC PA302W LED-Backlit 30-Inch Wide GamutDisplay (http://diglloyd.com/articles/Recommended/displayNEC-PA302W.html),which should be available for sale this month. I’ve been using it for the past 4-5 daysand I like the PA302W a lot already; the screen is both sharper and smoother andthe color gamut is even wider than the NEC PA301W (http://diglloyd.com/articles/Recommended/displayNEC30.html) which I have used for several years.

Get the PA302W with color calibration (http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NEC/PA302WBKSV/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg) or PA302W display only

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 04, 2013Search: wide gamut (/search-ajax.html?q=wide+gamut)


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(http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NEC/PA302WBK/?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg)at OWC.

(http://diglloyd.com/articles/Recommended/displayNEC-PA302W.html)

NEC PA302W LED-Backlit 30-Inch Wide Gamut Display


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(http://diglloyd.com/articles/Recommended/displayNEC-PA302W.html)

NEC PA302W color gamut extends far beyond Adobe RGB for reds and blues

Adam S writes:

I don't see any difference when I switch between the images having variouscolorspaces using your fruit example (http://diglloyd.com/dap.Workflow/workflow-colorspace-fruit.html).

I'm using a Late 2011 MacBoook Pro 15", calibrated with a Spyder 3. Is thebuilt-in LCD so atrocious that the colorspaces look the same? That doesn't seemright.

DIGLLOYD: calibration can’t make a display show colors it is incapable of makingany more than someone who is color blind can see color with corrective glasses: thecapability is not there. Take an extreme example: a monochrome (no color) displaycan be calibrated. But it cannot display color, calibration or not.

Human vision is also a factor. The ability to discriminate color ranges from severecolor blindness to vision that can detect the finest nuances. Based on tests for colordiscrimination where I generally have scored near perfect, I know I have unusuallygood color vision. Not the best, but unusually good.

See the (publicly available) examples on the Web Browser Display of Image Color(Color Space) (http://diglloyd.com/free.guides-howto/howto-color-rendition.html)page.

Note also that “calibrating” a display with an add-on-later “puck” is almost nevertrue calibration; the process in effect modifies the 8-bit video signal in an attempt tosend values to the display (modifed) that then match known values (much likeconverting an image between color spaces). The result is generally modest qualityoften with banding and other issues (I did this for years and gave up because of themediocre to bad results, the built-in profile was better overall). True calibration aswith the NEC PA302W actually alters the display behavior internally in hi-bitresolution without warping the video signal (14-bit internal LUTs for NEC). This is avastly higher quality approach. With the display in a known (calibrated) state, thedisplay profile then has very little work to do; the video signal need hardly be alteredwhen sent to the display.

Most laptops of 2012 and earlier have an especially restricted color gamut in the redsand magentas and blue (a huge section of that plot above is chopped off). Also, theolder Apple Cinema displays were truly awful in that regard, being incapable of morethan a wimpy orange-red. The 2012/2013 Apple MacBook Pro Retina(http://macperformanceguide.com/mbpRetina2012-retina-relative-sizes.html) is farbetter than prior laptops, and perhaps some of the newer non-Retina models are too.

Press release

As per NECDisplay.com (http://www.necdisplay.com/press-release/nec-display-introduces-new-30-inch-color-accurate-/621).


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NEC DISPLAY INTRODUCES NEW 30-INCH COLOR ACCURATEMULTISYNC PA SERIES DISPLAY WITH GB-R LED BACKLIGHT

CHICAGO - September 6, 2013

Outstanding Color with Reduced Power Consumption

NEC Display Solutions of America, a leading provider of commercial LCDdisplay and projector solutions, announced today the 30-inch MultiSync®PA302W color accurate display and color critical PA302W display solution withSpectraViewII™ calibration software and sensor. The models come in bothwhite and black cabinets, which have been redesigned and are now 34 percentslimmer than previous models.

Built using a cutting edge GB-R LED backlight, the PA302W provides a widercolor gamut and more color control than a conventional white LED backlightand consumes 44 percent less power than comparable CCFL backlights. Thedisplay can be seen in Booth No. 4238 at Print 13, a graphics communicationsindustry event running September 8-12 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

The MultiSync PA302W monitor is designed with a fully ergonomic stand foradded comfort during use. It also features a 2560 x 1600 resolution and 10-bitwide color gamut AH-IPS LCD panel that provides the accurate, vibrant colorsprofessionals require.

In addition, the MultiSync PA302W display showcases the time-saving featurescommon to the MultiSync PA Series displays, including the ability to load ICCprofiles to emulate custom color spaces and easily match image prints.

“The PA302W gives graphic designers, pre-press operators, photographers,video editors and other professionals a greater color gamut and even bettercolor control,” said Art Marshall, Product Manager of Professional and MedicalDesktop Monitors at NEC Display Solutions. “In addition, users can now updatethe factory calibration using an external sensor when they have SpectraViewII.”

Meanwhile, the free MultiProfiler software (http://necdisplay.com/multiprofiler), exclusive to the MultiSync P & PA Series, provides easy-to-usecontrol over most display settings, including print matching with Picture Modepresets as well as Picture in Picture (PIP) and Picture by Picture (PBP) windowconfiguration. MultiProfiler also allows users to manage the monitor’s USB huband enables keyboard shortcuts for changing inputs and Picture Modes.MultiProfiler can also use ICC profiles to offer MultiSync PA302W users an easyway to match prints.

The MultiSync PA302W and PA302W-SV include the following features:

10-bit active matrix AH-IPS panel with GB-R backlight and no-sparkle,antiglare coating

2560 x 1600 resolution

340 cd/m² brightness and 1000:1 contrast ratio at 44 percent less powerthan CCFL

Near perfect (99.3 percent) coverage of Adobe RGB and 100 percent ofsRGB color space

Internal 14-bit programmable 3D lookup table (LUT)

Comprehensive input panel, including DisplayPort, mini-DisplayPort,HDMI and DVI-D

Built-in USB hub (2 up, 3 down) with DisplaySync Pro to control twocomputers with only one keyboard and mouse

4-way ergonomic stand (150mm height-adjust with locking base, tilt,swivel and pivot) with quick-release capability

AmbiBright™ ambient light sensor, which automatically adjusts thedisplays’ brightness based on external lighting conditions

SpectraViewII Color Calibration Solution, which includes software andcolorimeter to provide automated monitor matching and calibration foraccurate, consistent and repeatable color performance (included withPA302W-BK-SV (http://necdisplay.com/p/pa302w-bk-sv) andPA302W-SV (http://necdisplay.com/p/pa302w-sv))

Optional accessories, which include a Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPortcable (PA-MDP-CABL) (http://necdisplay.com/p/pa-mdp-cabl) forconnecting devices using Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt technology,display hood (HDPA30-2) (http://necdisplay.com/p/hdpa30-2),


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SpectraViewII software (SVIISOFT (http://necdisplay.com/p/sviisoft)),NEC custom colorimeter (MDSVSENSOR3 (http://necdisplay.com/p/mdsvsensor3)), complete SpectraViewII Color Calibration Solution(SVII-PRO-KIT (http://necdisplay.com/p/svii-pro-kit)) and 2W USBsound bar (SOUNDBARPRO (http://necdisplay.com/p/soundbarpro))

The MultiSync PA302W-BK and PA302W-BK-SV (in black), andMultiSync PA302W and PA302W-SV (in white) ship with a 4-year limitedparts and labor warranty, and will be available in September 2013 at anestimated street price of $2,399, $2,649, $2,399 and $2,649(http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ns=p_PRICE_2%7C0&Ntt=NEC%20PA302W&N=0&srtclk=sort&BI=1498&KBID=2013),respectively.

OWC Offering Used Mac Pros: 4-core and8-core Systems as low as $879 / $1149

See all the available used Mac Pros at OWC (http://eshop.macsales.com/Search/SearchPromo.cfm?Ntk=Primary&Ns=P_ID%7c1&Ne=5000&N=100402&Ntt=UsedMac&utm_source=diglloyd-mpg). Availablity varies over time.

The 4-core 2.66 GHz and 8-core 2.93 GHz look particularly interesting.

The 4-core 2.66 GHz is scarcely slower than Apple’s current 2.8 GHz.

The 2.93 GHz 8-core is a very attractive option for anyone use software thatmakes use of multiple cores.

The 2.26 GHz 8-core is a solid platform for video and sound processing (forPhotoshop and Lightroom and similar, stick to the faster clock speeds).

Mac Pros are workhorses generally good for years of solid use.

(http://eshop.macsales.com/Search/SearchPromo.cfm?Ntk=Primary&Ns=P_ID%7c1&Ne=5000&N=100402&Ntt=UsedMac&utm_source=diglloyd-mpg)

Used Mac Pro at OWC

TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013


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Thunderbolt and eSATA Combo

I came across this interesting combination of Thunderbolt and eSATA(http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Thunderbolt/Elite_eSATA?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg) bundle. Essentially it is a bridgingsolution for users sharing newer and older Macs, or those who will move to the new2013 Mac Pro (/search-ajax.html?q=2013%20Mac%20Pro).

Mac Pro users might consider it for current use, setting aside the LaCie Thunderboltto eSATA adapter for a future Mac Pro that lacks eSATA.

Current Thunderbolt-equipped Mac users might consider it in order to use a provenenclosure that can be moved between a current Mac Pro (eSATA) and a Thunderboltequipped Mac: the Thunderbolt Mac keeps the LaCie adapter connected, and thedual-drive Mercury Elite Pro can move between it and the Mac Pro.

NOTE: most TB to eSATA solutions do not support Port Multiplication (/search-ajax.html?q=Port%20Multiplication).

(http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Thunderbolt/Elite_eSATA?utm_source=diglloyd-mpg)

Thunderbolt with SSDs and eSATA for the Big Stuff

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2013Search: 2013 Mac Pro (/search-ajax.html?q=2013+Mac+Pro), Thunderbolt (/search-

ajax.html?q=Thunderbolt)

Newer Technology 'NuGuard KX Mini'Drop-Protection Case for Apple iPad Mini

I previously reported on my satisfaction with the OWC KX case (blog/2013/20130714_1-NewerTech-NuGardKX-iphone-case.html) for iPhone, which I nowrely on every day because it works (protection and much better for hand grip).

The new KX Mini case for the Apple iPad (http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/IPDMKXDK/?&utm_source-diglloyd-mpg) is the same idea,adding protection against drops and bumps, though I suppose a direct hit on thefront glass on a sharp edge would be Bad. Watch this video of an iPad Mini tumbling

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 2013


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See older news (blog/index.html)

down hard stairs (http://videos.macsales.com/Video/nuguard_kx/kx_ipad_mini_drop_long.MOV).

The metal shell of the Apple iPhone and iPad is elegant to the eye but not so easy tohold onto without inadvertant drops. So I especially like having this kind of case onmy iPhone when cycling (/wind.), but even the iPad is prone to slipping off a lap orsimilar.

(http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/IPDMKXDK/?&utm_source-diglloyd-mpg)

Newer Technology NuGuard KX for iPad mini


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(http://eshop.macsales.com

/shop/SSD/OWC/Mercury_Extreme_Pro_6G/?utm_source=diglloyd&utm_medium=banner_728x90&utm_campaign=pro6gssd)Outstanding 6G SSD Performance!

diglloyd Home Page (http://diglloyd.com) | Terms of Use (http://diglloyd.com/site-terms-of-use.html) | Copyright © 2008-2013 diglloyd Inc, all rights reserved. |Contact (http://diglloyd.com/contact.html) | Newsletter + Alerts (http://diglloyd.com/mailinglist-signup.html)


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Documents

Macintosh Performance Guide: What’s New