10.5.7 and Display refresh rates

I’ve written previously about the setup of my HTPC and LCD TV, and this included setting the HThackintosh to the optimal resolution and refresh rate. Since then I’ve commented on the occasional small jumps in the picture, and after investigation I’ve put this down to differences in media frame rate and display refresh rate. Much HD content is 24 frames per second, which doesn’t go smoothly into 50 or 60 frame per second display refresh.

There are many threads in the Plex forums about using software such as DisplayConfigX to create custom display modes for refresh rate. There are also warnings that Plex has issues with display refresh rate and media frame rate being the same, resulting in audio sync loss. Auto switching display refresh rate to media frame rate is on the todo list for Plex, so hopefully the issues can be fixed.

iPhone 3GS jailbreak tested

The iPhone Dev Team have commented in recent blog posts that although they have a working 3GS jailbreak, they are planning to wait for the 3.1 update to be issued before releasing it. Without getting into the politics of the situation, hacker George Hotz has decided to release a beta jailbreak app without waiting for the next software update. Please remember this is a beta release so may do horrible things to your shiny new iPhone. I took the risk since I’m a daring blogger (or an idiot, never quite sure which)

iPod Touch 1st Gen to iPhone 3GS

For the past (almost) two years I have used my iPod Touch every day as a web browser. email client, PDA, eBook reader and even a music and video player. It’s been reliable, flexible and even better once jailbroken. As a computer user who’s experiences started with a one kilobyte ZX81 29 years ago I have never ceased to be amazed at what such a small package could do. Even after all this time I still turn it sideways and wonder how so much power can fit in such a thin case. Just like most of the iPod’s that came before it, the Touch will be remembered as a design classic.

The one thing I have missed all this time was a permanent net connection. The iPhone is an expensive proposition in the UK but I finally succumbed on Tuesday and visited the Apple store at Lakeside Thurrock intent on a 32Gb 3GS. I had initially been contemplating a pay as you go contract for an eye watering £540. This initially sounded a good deal, you put £10 a month credit on the phone and get 500 free minutes. Unfortunately these free minutes are only to other O2 phones and landlines, so it’s not quite as good as it initially sounded.

HThackintosh Remote Part 2

In part 1 I looked at using a Logitech Harmony, Manta TR1 IR receiver and software to control my HTPC, which also happens to be a hackintosh. The conclusion was that this method has some drawbacks, with cost and amount of setup required being the main ones. Trying to use a remote on a hackintosh makes the endeavour even harder as many genuine Macs have a built in IR receiver eliminating one of the steps I had to take.

The second approach listed previously is to adapt an Xbox DVD remote for use with Plex. I have several of these remotes in use with my XBMC Xbox’s which are gradually being retired as I go HD. Plex is a development of the XBMC software so already has good support for the Xbox remote, so I went into the second trial hopeful.

Snow Leopard videos

Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard has been marketed so far as a refinement of the existing 10.5 Leopard operating system, offering a smaller footprint and increased performance as opposed to lots of new features. That doesn’t mean there are no visible changes for the end user, as many components have seen additions and improvements in existing features. The video’s below show some of the improved interface elements in Snow Leopard.

The enhanced Dock ‘Stacks’ feature of Snow Leopard

Snow Leopard 10A394 released to developers

Apple has issued an update to developers for its 10.6 Snow Leopard operating system through Software Update. The 10A394 update offers ‘general operating system fixes for stability, compatibility and security’. Included in this version is the Dock Expose feature demonstrated at the recent WWDC, allowing a view of all an applications open windows by clicking and holding briefly the dock icon. The screenshot above shows Dock Expose in action, screenshots of the update below.

iPod Touch 1st Gen with V3 software

The new V3 iPhone/iPod software from Apple offers a lot of improvements and additions, unfortunately the amount of these changes decreases the further back the family tree you go. Probably the least blessed by the V3 update is the first generation iPod Touch, the model I use. I’ve been looking through the software I use on my iPod for a couple of days to find what’s new, so here’s a list of the changes you get for your £5.99/$9.99

Search Found to the left of the home screen, this offers similar functionality to the Mac’s Spotlight, searching most of the device’s built in applications. Icons for each application on the left identify where the match is so this is a very fast way of finding what you want. It’s also customisable from Settings>General>Home, as shown below. The home button can be assigned an action, and apps you don’t want to include can be deselected. It’s even possible to drag the apps around to change the order of the search results.

iPhoto/iPod import problem

I’ve been working my way through the iPod V3 firmware looking for new features, and got to the point where I wanted to copy the screenshots across into iPhoto. The problem was iPhoto gave an unrecognised file format error every time I tried copying the PNG files, and would show the iPod as docked even when it was disconnected.

A quick web search led to a page at the Apple support forums, and some advice to unmount the device in Image Capture. It’s not immediately obvious how to do this, so for anyone with the same problem here’s a few simple steps to the fix.

PwnageTool 3 released

Following hot on the heels of Apple’s firmware 3 for iPhone and iPod Touch is the release of PwnageTool 3 to jailbreak some of those devices. Available for Mac only at the moment, this software is capable of jailbreaking the iPhone 2G and first generation iPod Touch, as well as unlocking the iPhone 2G for any network. Support for later devices will follow soon with QuickPwn.

It’s worth mentioning that PwnageTool wiped my iPod Touch when I used it, where upgrading to firmware 3 using iTunes will leave the content on the iPod. This meant a long sync after using PwnageTool to replace all the music/video/photo’s. Not a problem, just remember to sync your iPhone/iPod using iTunes before upgrading to firmware 3 or using PwnageTool to create a custom firmware.

As ever, thanks to the iPhone Dev Team for their continued hard work bringing us the option to jailbreak and unlock our iDevices. Below is a video walkthrough, click on Read the rest of this entry for a screenshot gallery.

iPhone/iPod software 3.0 released

Apple has today released the V3 software for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Available through iTunes as a free (iPhone) or paid (iPod Touch) update, much has been written of the new features so I won’t repeat it here. My own 1st Gen iPod Touch is currently updating so there will be some update screenshots and V3 screengrabs added soon.

Update Not much new in the update process, I’m currently working through the new features to see what works on the iPod Touch 1st gen.