Less than a week ago Apple opened Mac OS X APIs that allow developers to access low level hardware to accelerate their software. Adobe responded to that announcement saying they would utilize these APIs to use the Mac’s graphics hardware to accelerate Flash, and just six days later they have released the first preview with their hardware accelerated ‘Gala’ release.
The current list of supported GPUs include: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, GeForce 320M or GeForce GT 330M. This covers the whole line of unibody MacBook Pros that feature discrete graphics. The iMac situation is a less straightforward due to Apple’s mix of NVIDIA and ATI GPUs used in their all-in-one. This leaves some users with even relatively recent Mac hardware unable to utilize hardware acceleration, so hopefully this list of supported GPUs will expand.
Adobe also announced that this functionality will be available as a standard feature in Flash Player 10.1. In their post announcing the Gala preview Adobe said, “The preview release of Flash Player Gala is based on Flash Player 10.1, which will ship the first half of this year and is now available as a release candidate.”
With Apple and Adobe’s belabored relationship in recent months, this is a surprising, yet welcome development.
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Apple announced on Wednesday that this year’s World Wide Developers Conference will take place in San Francisco from June 7 to 11.
Held annually in the summer by Apple, the conference targets iPhone and Mac developers to work in over 100 technical sessions and hands-on labs with Apple engineers. More than 1,000 Apple engineers will be available on deck at the Moscone West Center for instruction and tutorial. This years conference will center on five key tracks:
- Application Frameworks: Implementing Local and Push Notifications; Future Proofing Your App; Understanding Foundation; What’s New in Foundation for iPhone OS 4; Advanced Cocoa® Text Tips and Tricks; API Design for Cocoa and Cocoa Touch®; Advanced Gesture Recognition; Integrating Ads with iAd; Building a Server-driven Personalized User Experience; Using Core Location in iPhone OS 4; and Calendar Integration with Event Kit.
- Internet & Web: Delivering Audio and Video Using Web Standards; Getting the Most Out of Safari® Integrated Developer Tools; Using HTML5 Local Data Storage; Adding Touch and Gesture Detection to Webpages on iPhone OS; and Creating Info Graphics with Standard Web Technologies.
- Graphics & Media: OpenGL ES Tuning & Optimization; OpenGL ES Shading & Advanced Rendering; OpenGL ES Overview for iPhone OS; OpenGL for Mac OS X; Game Design and Development for iPhone OS; Introduction to Game Center; Setting Up Games on Game Center; Game Center Techniques; Core Animation in Practice; Discovering AV Foundation; Editing Media with AV Foundation; and Advances in HTTP Live Streaming.
- Developer Tools: Developer Tools Overview; Designing Apps with Interface Builder; Working Effectively with Objective-C® on iPhone OS; Mastering Core Data; Advanced Objective-C and Garbage Collection Techniques; Advanced Performance Analysis with Instruments; Mastering Xcode for iPhone Development; and Adopting Multitasking on iPhone OS.
- Core OS: Network Apps for iPhone OS; Core OS Networking; Creating Secure Apps; Developing Apps that Work with iPhone OS Accessories; I/O Kit Device Drivers for Mac OS X; and Simplifying Networking Using Bonjour®.
This months earlier preview of iPhone OS 4 brought multitasking, folders, iBooks, Game Center, iAds, and more to the platform.
Apple historically details the next version of Mac OS X at WWDC, though it is not yet clear if v10.7 will make an appearance this year as the company has been intently focused on its iPhone OS for the iPad and iPhone. For the first time since its creation, the Apple Design Awards will only be awarded to iPhone and iPad apps (5 each).
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According to the Opera Desktop Team blog, Opera 10.52 for Windows and Mac is officially out the door. However, the big story here is the Mac version, which has seen a complete re-design both on the outside and inside. The Linux version is not yet available.
Just 11 days after the release of the second beta, Opera has put the final touches on the Mac version of its web browser. According to their press release, Opera is calling 10.52 the “world’s fastest browser for Mac.” Equipped with a completely new JavaScript engine, called Carakan, Opera 10.52 for Mac brings users multitouch trackpad support, Growl, HTML5 functionality, and a new Cocoa based interface.
CNet notes that the browser is compatible with older versions of Mac computers. This is something that competing browsers have been steering clear of. Even old school PowerPC machines can run Opera 10.52. You can view the changelog here.
Visit the Opera website to download Opera 10.52 for Mac.
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