Today's News by Cletus™ ^{Cletus person of ResExcellence reporting!}

The textSOAP Contest is now over. Check back next week for the results.

Despite the holiday coming up, ResExcellence will still be running the textSOAP contest the rest of the week, This means you still have plenty of time to come up with some ideas to make this product an even better piece of software. It is not often you have the chance to win free registrations by coming up with ideas for software. Give it a shot, you will not be disappointed with textSOAP.

Clean-Install Assistant 1.5.2 will help you move items to a newly-installed system folder. Version 1.5.2 allows moving files from Mac OS 9.2.1 to a newer Mac OS version, or to/from 9.2.1 and previous versions.

ICQ CSM 1.1 by Mikawares is a Control Strip to launch/switch to ICQ. This version provides compatibility with ICQ version 2.8x.

SpeedApp gets updated to version 2.2. This version provides the following: a new Keyboard shortcut configuration option, (available only for Mac OS 9 and newer), which allows the user to choose their favorite FKey shortcut by using the Finder instead of using the SpeedApp INIT. It is now possible to set SpeedApp to hide (instead of quit) when launching an application. Applications of the type "APPD" (such as Key Caps) are now treated as "APPL" and they are listed in the main list. Desk accessories "dfil" are now listed also. Additionally, they can be excluded by a new preference window option.

PrefsOverload 3.5PR1 is a great tool for managing the Preferences folder. This version provides compatibility for Mac 8.6 through Mac OS X.

PTH Consulting has released the following three products for Mac OS X.

• PTHClock 1.6 is a menu bar clock and calendar
  
• PTHPasteboard 1.1 is a pasteboard buffer to store up to 20 items on the clipboard
  
• PTHVolume 1.3 provides a Menu bar volume controller It does not appear in the dock
  
  

ChangeDesktop 1.1 will change the Desktop picture at specified intervals. This update offers the following: Lots of functionality enhancements to ChangeDesktopPreferences. Fixed some bugs and implemented a new caching algorithm in ChangeDesktop.

HexEditor 1.3.1 is the latest version of this Hexadecimal file viewer/editor. This update adds Japanese and French localizations. Designed for Mac OS X 10.1.

I finally found the reason the icons jump to the left about two inches from the right side of the screen when the Dock is placed on the right. This had been driving me nuts. I found it in this AppleCare Knowledge Base: Document 106587 on Apple's web site.

• Topic: "Mac OS X 10.1.1 prevents desktop icons from being placed underneath or against the Dock. The reserved area depends on the size and location of the Dock."
• Symptom: "Items cannot be placed under or against the Dock. Doing so results in the item(s) being relocated to a location other than that expected."
• Solution: "This is a feature of Mac OS X 10.1.1. The reserved area corresponds to the size and location of the Dock. You can move or resize the Dock to change the reserved area. You can adjust the Dock in System Preferences. For the most consistent experience, do not place items near the Dock."

Excuse me Apple, but a "feature" — that is ridiculous! You just reduced my iBook screen down to 10 inches unless I want to close windows constantly to get to the icons in the middle of my screen. Not only that, they jump to different positions at will. If I place the Dock at the bottom, they jump upward. The only way it is a feature is if you have a 22 inch monitor and vow to never use two inches on whatever side the Dock is on. Of all the "features" they could have added!? They finally allow you to place the Dock along the sides and then render 2 inches of space from the Dock reserved. I have included a full (800x600) screen shot showing the space lost by this feature. Perhaps you like this feature. If you don't like it, this Feedback link will allow you to voice your opinion.

Note: The icons will actually jump away from the Dock no matter where the Dock is placed. Bottom, Right side or Left side of screen. It appears to be more noticable to people when they place the Dock on the Right.

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