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17 Sep 2021 - Podcast #761 - (20:31)
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Affinity Photo, Affinity Designer, and Affinity Publisher from British software publisher Serif continue to get better. Significant performance improvements are delivered with version 1.10 of the tightly integrated applications.
Photo, Designer, and Publisher are sold separately but are fully integrated when installed. Moving from one application to the other is easy -- for example, when the user is working on a publication and needs to modify a digital image with Photo or to change a graphic with Designer.
Affinity's photographic, design, and publishing apps are ideal for those who can't (or don't want to) pay $50 per month for Adobe's Creative Cloud applications. Adobe includes video, audio, and other applications that aren't included in Affinity's suite, so if you need access to those capabilities, Adobe's applications are a good bargain..
The current applications are based on more than 30 years of experience with applications such as PagePlus, DrawPlus, and PhotoPlus. Those applications were discontinued in 2016 and are no longer sold or updated.
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Affinity Photo >>>
The Affinity applications have been attractive in part because of their modest prices: $55 each for perpetual licenses. One license is needed for each computer the software is installed on, and versions are available for both Windows and MacOS computers. Users of earlier version 1 Affinity applications can upgrade to version 1.10 without cost, and a 10-day free trial is offered for those who want to try the Affinity applications.
<<< Affinity Designer
The primary improvements include better memory management in Affinity Publisher, an enhanced rendering engine in Affinity Designer, and more efficient use of layers in Affinity Photo. A considerable amount of work has been done on all of the applications to improve responsiveness. The photo application makes better use of the graphics processing unit (GPU), processes raw files faster, includes better lens corrections for some lenses, and supports some new camera raw formats.
Affinity Publisher >>>
Publisher users will see better performance with long documents and documents with multiple layers. Designer handles placed images better and, as with Publisher, it is more nimble when working with multi-layered documents. It appears that each of the three applications share a great deal of core code, which means that improvements made in one location affect all of the applications. It also means that developers can update the code base more efficiently and that users will see standard responses across all three applications.
Memory management was a primary area of focus for Publisher. Code was completely rewritten so that documents load faster and can be manipulated more easily. According to Serif, even files with thousands of pages load quickly.
Serif says the updated apps represent the biggest performance update ever, and updates benefit all users, regardless of whether they're working on MacOS, Windows, or IPadOS. More details about the update are on the Affinity website.
The primary use for each application is indicated by its name:
Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher are good valuesThe applications from Serif can't compete with Adobe's Creative Cloud for those who need the additional website design, audio, video, and interface design tools Adobe provides. But those whose needs are limited to design work, photo manipulation, and publication design may find that these applications are good choices.
Additional details are available on the Serif website.
The cat rating scale ranges from 0 cats (worst) to
5 cats (best).
Last week I described the process of finally locating a problem that caused my primary computer to power off abruptly and without warning. The final conclusion was that the CPU was exceeding thermal junction maximum (TJmax) and, instead of throttling back, the CPU was simply halting. That was most of the story, but (as usual) there's more.
The computer had been running hot. By that I mean that I saw daily maximum readings of 94°C to 97°C, and the computer's maximum thermal junction specification was 100°C. Normal operating temperatures hovered around 75°C to 85°C, and that's too hot for sustained operation. When the computer was idle, the temperature rolled back to the 65°C to 75°C range.
A well-designed computer should stay under 70°C most of the time. Temperatures in the 70°C to 80°C range are a cause for concern for anyone who's not intentionally "overclocking" the CPU. Overclocking refers to the process of running the CPU faster than its operational design speed. Anyone who does this should understand that faster operation also means faster failure. If you see temperatures in this range and the computer hasn't been overclocked, check air vents to make sure they're not blocked with cat or dog fuzz and make sure that all of the computer's fans are operating properly.
If the computer is operating in the 80°C to 90°C range, you're heading for premature system failure. Notebook computers that are used to play resource-intensive games can run in the low 80s while the game is active, but exceeding 85°C is a strong danger sign. And any computer that exceeds 90°C regularly has a serious problem that needs to be fixed soon.
Last week, I described running the notebook computer with the case open, which gives me a third screen and better top ventillation, and also placing the computer on a bracket that raises it about five inches above the desk. Both of these changes work to improve circulation.
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The Open Hardware Monitor showed improved readings after I made those changes: (A) The hottest of the four cores hit a maximum of 95°C, which is still too hot but it's better than 97°C. The average temperatures of the four cores ranged from 62°C to 64°C. But those maximums still bothered me, so I tried making some other changes and (B) the hottest core (still core #1) has consistently been around 77°C, well within the comfort range, and the average temperatures range from 55°C to 59°C. That's a huge change!
These readings, based on a full day of normal use, are much better, and the computer has stopped shutting down instantly.
So perhaps you're wondering what magic changes I made. I have to confess that I found no documentation that suggests what I did would solve an overheating problem, and these results apply to one single computer. I believe that the results will be repeatable, but I have no proof.
Power management tools are buried in the old-style Control Panel, not in the newer Settings. That's where I went to make the changes. To get there, press the Windows key and type "control". One of the options should be Control Panel. Choose it and type "power" in the search box, then choose edit a power plan and click Change advanced power settings in the next dialog box. This will open another dialog box. Scroll down to Processor power management and click the plus sign to display the three associated options. Click each of the plus signs to expand Minimum processor state, System cooling policy, and Maximum processor state. Here's where things become a bit less than intuitive.
As I was preparing this article, I thought "Celsius" every time I wrote "°C", but when I recorded the podcast, I always said "centigrade". Why? The terms are synonymous, but Celsius is currently the preferred term.
Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius invented the thermometer that set the freezing point of water at 0° (32°F) and the boiling point of water at 100° (212°F). In the 1950s, the General Conference of Weights and Measures recommended using Celsius instead of centigrade. Recommendations like that can take decades to become standard usage.
So "centigrade" was still in use when I was in high school and college. Although I know that Celsius is now the preferred term, my brain hasn't fully internalized the change.
Each of the three items has two sub options if the computer has a battery, one for plugged in and another for on battery. With the exception of the minimum power setting, the values will probably be the same.
The computer is running well now, with virtually unnoticeable changes in performance. After running the computer with these settings for a few weeks, I may experiment with returning maximum processor state to 100% and edging the minimum processor state up a bit from 75%. The objective will be to keep maximum temperatures at or below about 85°C and the average temperatures no greater than 60°C.
CPUs in desktop computers usually have fans that pull heat away. Notebook computers have metal components that are used to transfer heat. In either case, the CPU has a thermal paste between the CPU and whatever device is being used to pull heat away. The thermal paste can dry out and become less effective, and users can replace it. Amazon sells Arctic Silver thermal paste for about $7. Replacing the paste is easy enough if you have easy access to the CPU.
The process involves removing whatever is above the CPU to pull heat away from it, cleaning the top of the CPU and the bottom of the connected device with isopropyl alcohol, applying the paste, re-seating the fan or other device, and then putting the computer back together. Desktop systems usually offer easy access to the CPU. Notebook computers will be more complex. Getting to the CPU on my primary computer would involve removing the back cover, removing the keyboard, and disassembling more of the computer than I was willing to do.
The steps I took by providing better ventilation and modifying the power settings have been sufficient for me to consider the problem solved for now. Depending on the long-term results, this may be continued. Or not.
Useless fun fact: Minus 40°F is the same as minus 40°C. The scales have to cross somewhere, and that's where.
Single lens reflex (SLR) cameras began to catch on with serious photographers in the 1960s because they were small and light, and because the photographer was able to compose an image by seeing exactly what the film would capture. Cameras have become smaller in the past 50 years and today's digital SLRs are seen as too big, too bulky, and too heavy.
But serious photographers still want something that is more adjustable than the camera in their phone. Micro four-thirds cameras and a variety of other "mirrorless" cameras are filling the gap. They're called mirrorless because, well, they don't have mirrors. SLR cameras are big and bulky because there's a mirror behind the lens. The mirror flips up when the camera takes a picture, but directs light from the lens to a viewing plate on top of the camera. A five-sided pentaprism flips the image vertically and horizontally for the photographer's convenience.
New mirrorless cameras are much smaller and lighter than SLRs because they omit the mirror and the pentaprism. One example is the Sony ZV-E10, which is priced at about $800, has an APS-C sensor (the same size found in many SLRs), and weighs less than a pound. Compare this to a Canon 80D, for example, which is considerably larger, has an APS-C sensor, weighs about two pounds, and sells for around $1200.
This is not a review of the Sony ZV-E10, nor is it a recommendation. I own a Canon 80D and like it, so it's certainly not a condemnation of the Canon camera, either. I'm just using the Sony camera as an example of what people like in that kind of camera.
The camera is small, light, able to take interchangeable lenses, and supports up to 4K video capture. It has a view screen on the back, but no electronic viewfinder. Some cameras offer an add-on viewfinder for several hundred dollars more, so be sure to choose a model that has either a built-in viewfinder or an add-on viewfinder if this is important for you. View-screens can be difficult to use in bright sunlight.
An interval shooting mode is included for time-lapse videos. Intervals can be selected between 1–60 seconds for recording up to 9999 sequential frames. The included 16–50mm lens is the equivalent of a 24–75mm zoom lens on a full-frame 35mm camera. Although this camera would be suitable for still photos, it appears that Sony has designed it primarily for those who create video blogs.
There's a huge array of mirrorless cameras, such as the ones you'll find on B&H Photo's website. Prices range from a few hundred dollars to thousands. TechByter does not receive funding in any way from B&H Photo.
That's not a score from some oddball game. Microsoft says Windows 11 will be released on 5 October, so those whose computers can run the new version of the operating system and who also want to have it will be able to obtain it. I've been running Windows 11 on a tablet computer for a while and it's the only computer that will have Windows 11 for the immediate future because the primary computer isn't eligible.
The Microsoft Blog shows some of the computers that will run Windows 11. "We’ve worked closely with our OEM and retail partners to bring you powerful Windows 10 PCs today, that will take you into the future with Windows 11."
The upgrade to Windows 11 will be free. As with previous big updates, Microsoft will push it out to users in a phased manner. Newly purchased computers that came with Windows 10 will be upgraded first. Microsoft says the upgrade will then "roll out over time to in-market devices based on intelligence models that consider hardware eligibility, reliability metrics, age of device, and other factors that impact the upgrade experience."
The phased process will continue through mid-2022. If your Windows 10 PC is eligible for the upgrade, you can open Settings > Update to find out approximately when you'll be offers the update. Windows 10 will continue to be supported through 2025.
I am a huge fan of ebooks most of the time, at least for pleasure reading. But I prefer printed copies for service manuals and technical documentation because it's easier and faster to move around in a paper book.
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Two in three people say that reading is one of their favorite pastimes and a printed book is still preferred over an e-reader or handheld device. The survey of 2000 Americans by online bookstore SecondSale.com shows that even tech lovers shared that taking a break from their devices has helped them sleep better (59%) and feel more relaxed (48%).
There's no question that printed books offer some advantages over ebooks. Survey respondents said:
I was attending Corel World in Boston on Tuesday, 11 September 2001. The conference continued: We were all there and couldn't leave, so what else could we do. Logan Airport was still closed when the conference ended and it appeared that it would not be open for the Saturday morning return flight. American Airlines re-booked me on a flight from Manchester, New Hampshire, to LaGuardia. I would change planes for the flight to Columbus there. Fortunately, Logan re-opened on Saturday, so American Airlines was able to get me back on the original flight.
After arriving at the airport at noon for a 4pm flight, I noticed that most flights were leaving at least 90 minutes late, but some were 3 or 4 hours late. I wrote "One small group, it had been an all-day affair. They had arrived at 5 when Logan opened. Their early flight to Dallas had been cancelled. For reasons unknown, they weren't allowed on a mid-afternoon flight. The late-afternoon flight had been moved back from 4pm to 6pm."
The dozen or so passengers on my flight were allowed to board the plane at 5pm and it took off an hour later.