“So, where do you get that background image you always use?”
From Polaus on deviantART.
Hello, Twitter!
Two days ago, I joined a social network called Twitter. It functions through small (140 characters or less) status updates called “tweets” that you post about what you are currently doing. Think of it like Facebook status updates. Check me out at twitter.com/erikturnquist and become a follower! Join Now!
AT-AT
I recently stumbled upon this photo. Here’s a link to the author’s site. 
Firefox 3 RC1
Go and download the future of internet browsing here.
Building a Successful Startup
David Heinemeier Hansson, the creator of the Ruby on Rails web development framework, gives an interesting talk about how to create a realistic startup through his experiences at 37 Signals and other projects. This was filmed during Startup School 2008. His main point is that not everyone should set their startup’s goal as becoming a billion dollar company, in fact, most people can enjoy their life more and be successful by creating a million dollar company with a couple thousand dedicated users. He also gives great advice about to how to be a more efficient software developer.
Wave
This is an original Photoshop creation I did a year ago. My inspiration came from this photo. I originally found it on Digg when someone posted it as a comment. It is of a world famous surfing spot called Teahupo’o near Tahiti. The immense waves are caused by a shallow reef break near the island. In 2000, Laird Hamiliton rode what some call the “heaviest” wave ever ridden and in 2003 Malik Joyeux rode one of the largest waves. Enjoy!
PsyStar, a hoax?
Apparently, after my last post, someone from Gizmodo investigated the company and discovered that they might be phony. According to the Miami Chamber of commerce and the Better Business Bureau, PsyStar does not exist! When visiting their supposed addresses the first was a residential address, and the second, a packaging company called USA Koen Pack. Aren’t web rumors wonderful?
Open Computer
Recently announced, the Open Computer and OpenPro Computer by PsyStar comes with Apple’s Leopard pre-installed. What is amazing is that they offer this functionality for as low as $400.
This is accomplished by using the same x86 architecture that the majority of computers run on today, but faking the EFI firmware so that Leopard thinks that it is running on genuine Apple hardware. Interesting. Basically this group as achieved what the hackers at OSx86 have been trying to do all along.
The base model, the Open Computer has a 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 Processor, 2GB of DDR2 667 memory, Integrated Intel GMA 950 Graphics, 20x DVD+/-R SATA drive that is Lightscribe-capable, 4 rear USB Ports and comes in white or black.
Furthermore, a former Apple patent lawyer thinks Apple may not be able to do anything about it (Wired).
“Basically, when people go to a store or download software, they have a license with Apple to use this patented software on their computer. But breach of contract is one of the weakest forms of legal disputes” - Raj Abhyanker (Wired)
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out; whether the reliability and robustness of Apple’s Mac line can compete against inexpensive third-party options.
Blog++
Welcome all to the new, updated version of my blog! I decided to move from my own blogging engine in Ruby on Rails to WordPress simply because I never had enough time to add additional features that I wanted to.
My current plan is to post more often, but have less detail in each post. This will hopefully keep things from becoming stagnant as the have been, and allow me to post at least once per day.
New Mac Pro
Wow. The Mac Pro legacy continues. At the default configuration, which starts at $2,799 it includes the following:
- Two 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon (8-core)
- 2GB (2 x 1GB) of RAM
- 320GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
- ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT 256MB (Two dual-link DVI)
- One 16x SuperDrive
- Two independent 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet (RJ-45) interfaces
- Bluetooth 2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) up to 3Mb/s
- One PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot
- Two PCI Express x4 slots
- Two FireWire 800 ports, two FireWire 400 ports, five USB 2.0 ports
The Mac Pro includes Intel’s newest Penryn 45nm Quad-Core Xeon processors, which can be upgraded to 3.2 GHz. Main memory can be expanded to 32 GB (which I believe did not change from the last model) and it supports and internal hard drive expansion of up to 4 TB. Apple claims that this is the “fastest Mac ever” and that it delivers “up to twice the performance of its predecessor”. Also more good news, it is available today!
Personally, I am excited about the raw power that this machine has, from the graphics it includes to the new Intel chipset, it is amazing what is packed in the new Mac Pro. Other highlights include the shear expandability, and five USB ports (I have run out on my laptop), and excellent design of the machine. I would have liked to see integrated Blue-Ray or HD-DVD (even though this is not likely) support. There were several rumors that this might occur and I really thought that the next upgrade would include this.