Meeting Notes - Sep 15, 2004

By: Mikio Moriyasu - Revised: 2006-10-05 devin


What's New by Mike Yocom

New Apple Software
iPhoto 4.0.3
Is software for organizing digital photos.

iPod Updater 2004-08-06
Is the latest software for iPods, including the iPod Mini and the Click Wheel iPod.

Security Update 2004-08-09
Is for Mac OS X 10.2.8 and 10.3.4.

Mac OS X 10.3.5
Is for Mac OS X 10.3.x Client and Server.

Pro Application Support 2.1
Is recommended for all users of Final Cut Pro, Cinema Tools, Compressor, LiveType, Soundtrack, and DVD Studio Pro.

Java Update 1.4.2 Update 1
Provides support for JDK 1.4.2_05, improved applet behavior in Safari, and increased stability of desktop Java applications.

iSync 1.5
Adds support for a number of new devices.

DVD Studio Pro 3.0.1
Provides Improved stability and compiling.

Compressor Update 1.2.1
Provides improved stability and Preview window performance.

Mac OS X Server Admin Tools
Is updated for versions of the Mac OS X Server 10.3 administration software.

AirPort 4.0.1 for Mac
Is recommended for all AirPort Express base stations.

AirPort Card Update 2004-08-31
Provides improved reliability in mixed 802.11b and 802.11g environments.

Xserve G5 Firmware Update 5.1.7f1
The main improvement is support for the Xserve G5 PCI Hardware RAID Card kit.

Security Update 2004-09-07 v1.1
Is for Mac OS X 10.2.8 Client and Server, 10.3.4 Client and Server, and 10.3.5 Client and Server. v1.1 fixes a problem with FTP.

Power Mac G5 Uniprocessor Firmware Update 5.1.5f1
Addresses an issue with single-CPU Power Mac G5s not being able to fully sleep.

Software Notes
BBEdit 8.0
Is a popular HTML and text editing tool. The new release has over a hundred new features including multiple documents in a single window.

Gimp-Print 5.0.0-beta2
Is a set of open-source Mac OS X printer drivers that enable a number of devices that are incompatible in stock configuration.

Samba 3.0.7
Is an open source software suite that provides seamless file and print services to SMB/CIFS clients.

Data Recycler X 1.3.2
Is a tool to recover files that have been deleted.

Hardware News
New iMac G5
  • 17" 1.6 GHz, 80GB hard drive, no optical drive - only available to education institutions; $1099 EDU
  • 17" 1.6 GHz, 80GB hard drive, Combo; $1299
  • 17" 1.8 GHz, 80GB hard drive, SuperDrive; $1499
  • 20" 1.8 GHz, 160GB hard drive, SuperDrive; $1,899
All feature: 3:1 front side ratio (533 MHz in the 1.6 GHz models, 600 MHz in the 1.8 GHz), 256MB PC3200 (400MHz) DDR SDRAM, up to 2GB of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra with 64MB DDR SDRAM, Serial ATA drives, 2 FireWire 400 ports, 3 USB 2.0 ports, VGA output, S-video and composite video output, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, headphone/optical digital audio output, audio line in.

New Apple iPods
  • 20GB model for $299 (Available Now)
  • 40GB model for $399 (Available Now)
Both features: touch-sensitive wheel with five push buttons; Up to 12 hours battery life; Shuffle Songs (a new command in the main menu which provides mixed track playing)

Mac OS X / Issues
MacFixIt reports a problem with copying and pasting large or complex groups of elements between applications in Office 2004. Large or heavily formatted Excel worksheets, large graphics, and similar do not copy, or copy incorrectly, from one application to the other. (Such as pasting the Excel worksheets into Word.) A workaround is to copy one element at a time, if possible, like copying the Excel worksheets one column at a time.

There are widespread reports of problems with Apple Cinema Displays having pink or magenta tinting on the edges of the screen. The problem appears to be so widespread that Amazon has stopped replacing defective units, and is offering full refunds instead.

The first Security Update 2004-09-07 broke rendering of some websites in Safari, as well as FTP connectivity. A changed identification string in Safari confusing OpenCube's Open Menu Pro, used by the sites in question to generate their pages, causes the rendering problem. OpenCube has released a patch, but if you need to access sites that haven't applied the patch, you can download the freeware Safari Enhancer, select Debug>User Agent and set IE 6.0 as the agent. The FTP problem is fixed by version 1.1 of the security update.

Problems with G5s that go back to sleep immediately after being woken back up have been reported. Workarounds include waiting for the machine to fully wake up before introducing any additional user input, resetting the PRAM, and possibly sending the G5 in for repair, as it may be caused by a faulty CPU.

General News
HP has begun selling re-branded iPods. Prices and capabilities remain identical to Apple's fourth-generation (Click Wheel) iPods.

Mike's entire presentation including a complete list of new Apple and third-party software since July, new Apple hardware releases, Apple retail news, and other Apple related topics can be found on the main Mac Managers web site at: http://www.macos.utah.edu or select from the options listed below:

[View Web Page] [Download PDF] [View Movie]

High Availability Media Streaming by Dave Adams

Despite the lack institutionalized support and an optimal delivery network, the demand for curricular streaming media continues to expand. Over the past 4 years, the Technology Assisted Curriculum Center, the primary support department for online learning, has worked to overcome these obstacles to provide diverse content to all audiences.

Overview - Past and current situation on campus, what others are doing, why TACC is doing this, what TAC is doing, how TACC is doing it.

Media Streaming Projects Across the University of Utah Campus
  • Eccles Library at the School of Medicine / Telehealth
  • Media Solutions / KUED - This is a "For Profit" entity all resources personnel no smaller projects or no funding no streaming in house
  • Marriott Library Multimedia Center - Currently in development, this project is designed to digitize VHS and DVD content and then make it available as video streams
  • College of Fine Arts - Is currently streaming audio selections for music history classes.
  • Sports/Gymnastics - Most of their work is done with QuickTime specific content. They provide multiple-angle video shots and instant replays of sporting events via web streaming
  • Center for High Performance Computing - Their focus is largely R & D of this technology
TACC
  • Primary Support Department for Online Learning - Over time, professors and TAs found out about the services offered by TACC
  • Software Training/ Instructional Design
  • Funding for development of fully online, for-credit courses - TACC did have some funding for application development
  • WebCT - Support/training for using WebCT
  • UOnline - Management infrastructure for fully online for credit courses
  • Everything Else - For example, an instructor has six video clips. The instructor doesn't want to have to fast forward, or switch tapes during or before class. TACC can put them on a CD for class use.
Instructor Needs
  • Digitization of streaming media clips normally displayed in class via VHS or DVD
  • Light editing and consolidation of multiple media sources
  • Re-purposing of obsolete formats and deteriorating media sources
  • Archiving and distribution of guest lectures, instructional demos, and student projects
Diverse Media/Diverse Audiences
  • Currently hosting over 400 hours of content
  • 30,100, 350 kbps kilobites per second
  • QuickTime, RealMedia, Windows Media
  • MP3, OGG Vorbis, MPEG 4, SMIL, projects
  • Public Health Education CEU videos to Native American Reservations - Extensive streaming of video of all durations in poor network conditions on old hardware
  • 3 hour, 15 way video conference class archives for College of Nursing
  • Narrated slide show presentation with embedded media
  • On locations live streaming and archiving of lectures, instructional demonstrations etc - Related to the media on demand committee.
Making it happen on a shoestring - 4.5 years ago, there were no resources allocated to any of this. TACC had the hardware but no guidelines, specific funding, or a "road map" for the future.

The details of TACC's solution

Acquisition
  • Analog sources via Sony, Canopus DV converters microphones, audio interfaces
  • Digital sources via various extraction, conversion utilities
Capture, editing and production with Final Cut Pro, iMovie, Microsoft Producer, Emagic Logic Audio, others

Conversion and exportation with Discreet Cleaner 6/XL, Apple iDVD, Producer, others

Acquisition, Production, Conversion - Hardware
  • Macintosh: Dual 2GHz G5, 733 MHz G4s, 450 MHz G4s
  • Windows: Dell Optiplex 2.4 GHz desktop (90% performance and 35% cost of 2x2 GHz g5
Storing and Serving
  • QuickTime: Open Darwin streaming server on Linux
  • Realmedia: RealServer Basic on Windows Server 2003
  • Windows Media: Windows Media Services nd Windows Server 2003
Asset Managements and delivery system (TACC's home grown solution)
  • Catalogue and organize media clips
  • Provide instructors/course builders with tools for integrating their media into existing course content
  • Powers the content delivery mechanisms (browser/plugin detection, copyright notification, client restriction, etc)
  • Provides interactive help to end users (players and plugins, connection speeds, etd)
Adaptable, customizable, integrated, and FREE!!!

Additional Information
The ideal solution for campus is to have a department that will take peoples' media and process it as well as provide training

There have been two attempts to create this solution, one has failed, the second has just started as the Video on Demand Committee

The goal is to create an environment where you can plug laptop into a port in a classroom and know that it will go to a server without having too contact IT people

Dave Adams' complete presentation is available for viewing at http://www.macos.utah.edu. You can also select from the options listed below

[Download PDF] [View Movie]

ULabMin by James Reynolds

ULabMin is a collection of scripts, modifications, tools, graphics, and more that the University of Utah's Student Computing Labs uses on their student, staff, faculty and special purpose Mac OS X computers.

James' presentation is based on ongoing work he is conducting for the Student Computing Labs Mac Support Group. His full presentation can be seen at http://www.macos.utah.edu. You can also select from the options listed below

[View Web Page] [Download PDF] [View Movie]

Other News

SCL News
O'Reilly Mac OS X Conference
Richard Glaser will be discussing "Mac OS X File System Maintenance with Radmind" as part of the System Administration Sessions.

James Reynolds will be discussing "Distributive Computing with Xgrid" also part of the System Administration Sessions.
Upcoming Events
macosxlabs.org Webcast - September
  • Subject: ADmitMac
  • Presenters: Paul W. Nelson, Michael Perbix.
  • Moderator: Matt Macinnis, Apple Computer
  • Click here for viewing instructions
Introducing the Power Mac G5
  • Location: CompUSA #264-Salt Lake City
    1830 South 389 West, Market Place Shopping Center,
    Salt Lake City, UT 84115
  • Date: October 7, 2004
  • Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM US Mountain
  • Registration Information: Click here
EDUCAUSE 2004
  • Location: Denver, Colorado
  • Date: October 19-22, 2004
  • Registration Information: Click here
  • Sessions Information: Click here
O'Reilly Mac OS X Conference
  • Location: Westin Santa Clara, Santa Clara CA
  • Date: October 25-28, 2004
  • Registration Information: Click here
  • Feature Presentations: Click here
  • Tutorials Information: Click here
  • Sessions Information: Click here
If there is a topic you would like to see discussed at a future Mac Managers Meeting, please let us know here.