June 2007 - Posts

Update for Intel Core CPUs out for Windows users. *Updated*

Looks like Microsoft released an update (with very minimal information!) for those with a Core processor from Intel. This micro-code update fixes something, but I cant find out what. From The Register article:
We learned that the affected CPUs are the Core 2 Duo E4000/E6000, Core 2 Quad Q6600, Core 2 Xtreme X6800, XC6700 and XC6800. In the mobile world, the Core 2 Duo T5000 and T7000 need to visit Microsoft's site, while server guys will want to use motherboard BIOSes if they do not rely on Microsoft Windows operating systems. The affected servers are Xeon 3000, 3200, 5100 and 5300s - or just about every model from second generation of Core marchitecture, Oddly enough, Yonah - 32-bit Core Duo processor - isn't among the affected cores.
So there you have it! As with most microcode updates, everythings very hush hush but updates to correct whatever flaw its fixing were released earlier in the year by Lenovo and other manufacturers. MSFT's just picking up the slack for those who didnt release an update in the interim.

UPDATE 29/06:
The Register has published an article regarding this issue. Well worth a read:-) Covers a discussion by Theo de Raadt of OpenBSD fame about the possible multiple vulnerabilities the processors are susceptible based on Erata published by Intel which have no workaround at the OS level.
"Part of exploitability is being able to crash a machine reliably," he said. "We're trying to build reliable systems on an unreliable framework."
posted Friday, June 29, 2007 7:37 AM by Thushan Fernando with 0 Comments

Safari on Windows, Just another browser to add to the test suite.

If you think that having Safari running on Windows will reduce the need to run Safari on the Mac think again! We just had an issue that would render fine on Safari on Mac but faulter on Safari on Windows. Sure its Beta but I dont think we can safely assume that if it works in Safari-On-Win that its going to work on Mac (and vice versa).

*sigh* adds a new test case scenario to our test suite.

And for god sakes Apple, stop freaking using your OSeX UI in a Windows environment - this is WINDOWS, atleast offer the option to use native themes/look-and-feel for those of us who dont find your UI usable.

I think Apple just rushed out a pre-Alpha build of Safari JIT for WWDC, I've got constant crashing, heavy memory foot print (one such incident involved the browser at 729Mb - which in FF would take alteast a good days worth of use to reach!) and some strange issue with text not appearing on web pages.

posted Thursday, June 14, 2007 3:02 AM by Thushan Fernando with 0 Comments

Safari on Windows... I want my Pinwheel!

So Apple released Safari for Windows, w00t w00t! (sorry i tried hard to pee my pants but i've got nothing)

Boasting insane performance (page rendering @ 2.14 seconds vs 3.67 on Firefox or the woeful 4.63 on IE7 and the utter disastrous 6.22 for the worlds fastest browser, Opera!).

With claims like 'Safari is the fastest web browser on any platform.' and :

you know i'm going to take a look at it!

So i went ahead and downloaded the beta (Safari only, i use QuickTimeAlternative - unfortunately it looks like Apple got angry at the people using it and barfed - HAHA!). Install it and see what you think.

My impression. ROFLMAO. I'd like to see where they pulled those rendering times from (ok on second thoughts maybe not!). Looks like they've ported the entire Mac environment (see exported functions for CoreFoundation.dll, CoreGraphics.dll). They even use the 'POSIX Threads for Windows32 Library' (pthreadVC.dll).

While they've emulated everything (from the annoying titlebars, woeful attempts at doing menus, Mac themed form elements and that annoying resize chevron on the bottom right corner) they forgot the Pinwheel! I want my Pinwheel of DEATH damnit! (oh yeah please, if it BSoD's dont go blaming Microsoft!) There's something strange about the text-rendering compared to firefox/IE.

Whats more - I'm a dual-monitor junky - you may find that moving a Safari window to the other (secondary) monitor and attempting to maximise it will actually cause it to minimize. WTF? the only way to bring it back is to move that window to the original monitor and resize it. Oh yes, its beta too, so maybe they'll fix all these things before release? *cough*

Its good to know/be-reminded about what your missing out on once in a while by not using a Mac. 1. Blazing Performance, 2. Elegant UI, & 12. Security. Well i had my laugh for the day.
posted Tuesday, June 12, 2007 6:38 AM by Thushan Fernando with 5 Comments

Microsoft PhotoSynth

Out of Microsoft Research, Microsoft Live PhotoSynth, an insanely cool research product. See the official website for more information or try the demo(5.5Mb).

I'm speechless. WOW. *pees pants*.
posted Thursday, June 07, 2007 3:39 AM by Thushan Fernando with 5 Comments