Is iCloud going to use Windows Azure!?

In recent weeks, Mary-Jo Foley, a journalist specializing in Windows for ZDNet, has received several indications that Apple would use Windows Azure, the platform-as-service Microsoft. She was dismissed out of hand these rumors, but the assumption seems to be confirmed now iCloud was presented.

Sending an image IMessage causes authentication to servers Windows Azure. The study of communications network connected to IOS devices icloud indeed shows contacts with Windows Azure servers and Amazon AWS in addition to Apple's servers, as shown, for example Apple Infinite. GigaOM has sought advice from three experts from the cloud: if two do not think that such communications be sufficient evidence, the third draws an explanation of interest.

Apple already has data centers, used especially for MobileMe and updates of software. They are however not sufficient to properly distribute the content around the world: Apple relies on a distribution network (CDN), provided in particular by Akamai and Limelight. The contents are duplicated on thousands of servers around the globe to accelerate downloads. So according to this third expert, Apple would use a similar strategy to icloud: the data center of Maiden would host the master files, but copies are placed on servers Windows Azure (and Amazon AWS) as a cache.

In light of new observations of network traffic on an iPhone with iOS 5, Infinite Apple has another theory: Apple's servers would not be used to store files, but to manage the links between different files, scattered servers, Windows Azure and Amazon AWS, as close to their users.

In any case in detail, the use of external services for icloud is not surprising. While the data center of Maiden is the ninth largest in the world, but Microsoft up three data centers in the top 10: the Redmond Company has one of the largest accommodation capacity in the world, with a system, Windows Azure that has nothing to prove. Apple is pragmatic on the matter: she knows the world of data center is not his strength, and does in fact not a single Mac in the Maiden. Windows Azure is also a product that Steve Jobs knows well: his other company, Pixar, had worked in the cloud version of its rendering engine, system demonstration in the Microsoft cloud.

Firefox could lose the support of Ubuntu

The Linux world is much more complex than Windows or Mac OS, with a large number of distributions can be very different. If anyone who knew how to stand out, however, it is Ubuntu. The distribution is used by millions of people around the world and even if that system is far from the success of Apple's and Microsoft, its weight in the Linux world is enormous.

So when Mark Shuttleworth, CEO of Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, is in favor of abandoning Firefox as the default browser of its system in favor of Chrome, the information does unnoticed. The man is known for its radical choices and often disputed, such as a completely new interface (Unity) in Ubuntu 11.04. We also knew Mark Shuttleworth fan of Google products and think clearly to impose his views by putting forward the browser from search giant.

Nothing is done yet and the next version of Ubuntu numbered 11.10 and expected to fall still keep Firefox as default browser. Even following the 4.12 that should land in spring 2012, could still keep Firefox as the default choice, but it might be the last version.

For inexperienced users, this change would be insignificant because they can always install Firefox and make it the default browser. But for all new users attracted by the simplicity Ubuntu, it certainly means a change in browser. Firefox is not in great shape these days, here's some news that should not help the Mozilla browser, if it ever materializes.

Ripit available in discount rate!!!

If you have a large collection of DVDs and a large hard disk, Ripit is the ideal tool to store all those DVDs to the hard drive. This utility creates archives in ". DVD media" which are fully recognized by the DVD player for Mac OS X. Ripit interface is very simple and has few options: the whole DVD is imported; you can simply change its name. The application is also able to compress a DVD into a compatible version of IOS for example. Mac Update today offers the only 50% discount, $ 9.99 instead of $ 24.95.

iStat Menus prepares for the arrival of new Mac OS X Lion. The latest version of this utility that displays in the menu bar of Mac OS X more information about the Mac improves its compatibility with Mac OS X 10.7, but the publisher did not specify what's new.

Default Folder X overrides the windows open and save files in Mac OS X to add their many functions. This utility changes to the system; it was not compatible with Mac OS X Lion. This new version is beginning to be compatible with the new cat from Apple, even if there are many bugs and if the functions are all present. This version also adds some multi touch gestures, and fixes many bugs.

QuarkXPress 9 Part.III

The tool "Publisher history" (Story Editor) is to display the text of a page layout in an interface similar to that of a word processor. The text can be read in a different font and a body of the model without affecting the formatting of the layout. The text changes have a direct impact and are instantly reflected in the model. This tool will be useful if the text of the model is very small, rotated or distributed across multiple pages.

The tool "ImageGrid" function targeted for photographers and graphic designers. It helps to create a contact sheet with little difficulty. The tool can import a folder of images and automatically build a catalog with many options for page layout. Each image can be associated with its file name and be indicating its resolution and size. The number of pages will also be determined by the number of images and their size indicated in the setting box.
Leo: full screen mode unsuitable for multi-monitor configurations. During the presentation of Mac OS X Lion, Steve Jobs has placed great emphasis on the fact that many innovations were inspired by IOS. Full screen mode is the same illustration.

Many applications come with Mac OS X 10.7 use. This is the case among others Safari, Preview or Mail. In some cases, this new method is very convenient. We find this type of use that is sometimes the strength of the iPad (but also its weakness) is the possibility of being able to focus on a specific task.

Unfortunately, this method was not designed for configurations with multiple screens. When you activate this mode, the second monitor is useless. It is not possible for example to use another application on it. This is unfortunate, because there were better things to do.

This behavior with every version has not changed. And given the status of the system, it's a safe bet that the way it is managed by mode does not change its marketing.

Note finally that builds succeed, and Front Row is still not showing. Those who used the media center of Apple will have to be a reason...

QuarkXPress 9 Part.II

The tool "ShapeMaker" (below) allows the creation of forms from simple to more complicated. The mere wave of a block in a spiral or a complex polygon, all types of blocks are possible. The dialog box provides an overview of real-time convenient for viewing directly the development of the block in which all parameters are customizable.

Entire page could with earlier versions of XPress, but required the stunt (mode railway ...) and worked only from one document to another. This time, we can affect any part of the document or one or more pages within a single project. The dialog box lets you choose what to copy and the destination area. It will choose the options to complete the copy operation in the current layout, a new file in a new layout ... or by splitting into single pages or splitting the layouts in the project. Many options are comprehensive and indispensable.
"Linkster" is also a tool that can be described as obvious. It fills a gap in the options of linking text blocks. He knows indeed loose blocks and keeps the entire text without causing overflows. All the text of each block of a chain remains in the block after hairline. The dialog is very well designed and allows, for each option selected; understand the impact on the existing block chaining.

The "bullet style, numbering plan and" is it, any kind of structured document according to a precise indentation. Not necessarily very useful model releases, this function will be of great help in editing and everything that affects directly or indirectly to the book. It allows selecting and applying automatically to all the paragraphs style bullet or numbering via a drop down menu. Each style plan has nine levels of indentation. The dialog box allows you to finely manage all of the parameters of indentation.
(Cont.)