Snapshots by Jeremy Hoesly

Snapshots for Thursday have been unleashed:

• This OS X snapshot from Leon touts a desktop picture harvested from the built-in Beach screensaver. iTunes is serving up music in the center.
  
  
• Jose Maria submitted this snapshot bearing a desktop picture from MacDesktops along with Desktopper’s Grassik K-Scheme. Audion, outfitted with the OS X Player face, is shuffling music tracks along the right edge. Icons from Xicons propagate the desktop.
  
  
• Michael Rabe, ResExcellence’s resident theme artist, contributes this last snapshot of three this time showcasing his GlassBox Theme accompanied by the particularily cool matching “GlassBox” desktop picture. iTunes, tweaked with an alternate pattern, provides the background music in the upper left-hand corner.
  
  
• This OS X 4K78 snapshot from Paul Sahner sports the “Blue Tiles” desktop picture. iTunes spits out tunes and mesmorizing visualization patterns in the upper left-hand corner.
  
  
• EndEffect’s “Abuse” desktop picture and the Aqua Theme are showcased in this contribution from Jack Shedd. Icons from Icon Factory and Xicons abound.
  
  
• Cyboard Robotics’ “IOXNSUN” desktop picture and the Titanium Gold K-Scheme debut in this screenshot from Derek Zandt. Very awesome!

Show the Mac world how you’ve tamed and trained your desktop to your own liking. Read our submission guidelines and then fire away!

Support ResExcellence By Visiting Our Sponsors!

Tools of the Trade by Michael Coyle

Good News! A little birdie whispered in my ear that Phydeaux has updated the AIM 4.3 ad hack since AOL uses 3rd party ads now, and changed their methods.

Two Faced Mac has updated in the last week with four new desktops, a new Finder icon pict, and a Liquid Aqua iTunes Skin!

User Contributed Splash Screens: by Michael Coyle

• If you have had problems with xochi's L-Wand for Interarchy, he has updated it for more stability.
  
  
• Hot off the heals from the Academy Awards, MAJArch Studios sends a MOSS of Russel Crow as Maximus!
  
  
• It looks like the MacOS X Network icon, but if you look closely it's a new clock from Günther Klebinger.
  
  
• We have another pair of Boot and Login panels for MacOS X from Robert Marking. This set feature the G4 Tower.
  
  
• Bruce Rader created a nice Eudora splash of the lovely Ming-Na Wen.
  
  
• What the heck is up with, "All your base are belong to us"? Got me, but Luke Brannon created a MacOS X login replacement with the catch phrase.
  
  

Snapshots by Jeremy Hoesly

Support ResExcellence By Visiting Our Sponsors!

Icon & Desktop News: by Dan

Icons - Desktops: Now featuring one great new Icon Set and ( 8 ) brand new desktops. All this great stuff on display for today's update.

• "Faces Faces 2" Icons by Johannes Sacht is his second faces icon set dedicated to people who spend endless hours staring into a monitor, and just can´t leave their computers alone. This unique set of 10 characters will make a fun addition to your icon collection.
  
  
• We have the great good fortune to have a series of 3-D desktops for posting by Kris Kiss. The first of these professional grade backdrops on display is titled "TiBookBurning", and comes in 1152x resolution. His desktops can also be downloaded/viewed at www.chriskiss.com or more directly at www.art.chriskiss.com. Look for more right here in the next week.
  
  
• 'Dean Fusaro submits "Barnyard Fashion Show", another preview of one of his great desktop creations. You will find this fine backdrop amongst others on Dean's newly opened and "still under creation" website.
  
  
• Matthew Fusaro, and the 13 year old son of Dean Fusaro (the youngest of this artsy clan) submits his first ever desktop to the archives titled "Bullseye". His older brother and dad have been making desktops and he thought he would give it a shot. Comes in 800x resolution.
  
  
• "Dimentia", a 3-D desktop by Bradford J. Wiles is just plain cool. Enjoy this awe inspiring creation in 1024x and 832x resolutions.
  
  
• "Mirage" is another other worldly 3-D masterpiece by Bradford J. Wiles, and comes in 1024x and 832x resolutions.
  
  
• Steve Sobek generates an apocalyptic vision with his 3-D rendered "On Fire" desktop. This fiery scene comes in 1024x resolution.
  
  
• While rummaging around in my backlog of waiting to be posted desktops, "Just" Silver" by our good friend Xochi just stood up and screamed "post me post me". While not taking no for an answer, this stylish metallic backdrop comes to light in 1152x resolution.
  
  Stroll down memory lane with "Cherry Poptart" by Patrick Sanders. An adult comic icon from the 70's... expresses her interest in a certain computer in 1024x resolution.

News From Around the Web:

The Devil's Desktop has been updated with 6 new desktops and 1 new icon set "Batman".

Little Dark Room, has undergone a major redesign. Icons and desktop pictures are still available to download, and there's also a new section under development.

'Dean's Desktops updates with 5 new desktops.

Dragon Tongue has released another of his unique 'Separator' icon sets. This one is called 'slots and rivets".

In the last month Johannes has reworked his homepage and did some new icons and desktop pictures.

'David van Wert has 2 pieces of art by Frank Lloyd Wright for desktop use. Available in The Gift Shop.

'Hansworks Design has posted a new desktop picture named, =B3Monitor=B2.

Jason Maki notes that he is still in the process of redesigning his site, and would appreciate keeping the comments coming. They are very helpful and if you do not get a response right away it isn't because he's ignoring them.

Brycetopia has been updated with two new movies, two new images, and more. Stop by and check it out!

It's time to spin the old update wheel at Rampant Mac, two new desktops this time around. Look for "Different Twist" in our new desktops section as well.

Steve Sobek updates his site over the weekend with two new desktops.

Kadir brings us this new item : For those bent on converting the look of their PC into a Mac, check out "Transmac", a program that transform Mac icons to PC format. <editor's note - I sure would like to know if this program works, and any experiences with it. >

Melissa of MAJArch Studios finally gets a moment to update her site. Take a look at the new postings.

'BREDSTIK Entertainment updates with 3 New Animations, One new Icon Set for the Mac, Three new desktop pictures, new comics and a whole lot more.

So what's up WWW? Icons? Desktop pictures? News? Inform us! We'll post it!

Visit the Mac Experts!

3/27/01

iGranite - in the Archive now!

Sunday I picked up my copy of Mac OS X to see once and for all if themes have a future. Good news! Themes can be made for MacOS X. Currently one is being made based on the look of the classic theme "Pastel Blue" with any luck it should be released soon.

(MC - There is a post in our forum that discusses the rumor of theme support in the next MacOS X update.)

Talking about classic themes iGranite has been added to the Theme Archive. This Thursday iGrape well be added as well.

See ya on the flip flop!

If you have a theme you wish to add to the Archive, drop me an email.

Today's News by Cletus™

Greg Landweber was extremely pleased with the suggestions he received as part of the Greg's Bundle Giveaway. Not being able to decide on just one suggestion, he opted to give out two prizes. The winners are listed below along with their suggestions for an upcoming release of Power Windows:

Owen Anderson, who suggested implementing pseudo-transparency like Gnome offers under Linux. Instead of attempting real transparency, you merge the background of your windows with the desktop background.

Elbert Wall, who suggested animating the window collapsing to work like a real spring loaded window shade. Several other people suggested animated or fading windowshades, but Elbert took it a step further and suggested that the window title bar flip over while playing a "fwhip fwhip fwhip" sound. It's cool but useless ideas like this that make Power Windows so much fun!

Greg also wanted me to mention that he will be extending the Special Half Price Bundle! a few more days for those who may have been holding off in hopes of winning the contest. Thanks Greg!

Now on with this weeks giveaway. This one is big, really big! Power On Software has agreed to giveaway 12 copies of their award winning software— Rewind (download only). This is over a $1000.00 giveaway event.

But that is not all. ALL ENTRIES will receive a one-time invitation to join the PowerOn e-newsletter and provided a discount offer on at least one of their products. So there are no losers!

There will be three chances throughout the week for you to enter— and you must enter each time. Full details are provided on the Rewind Contest page.

I mentioned on Friday that Akio had been using two addresses for his site. The (www.macAkio.com) will no longer work. It also appears that many people, including myself, discovered this at the same time as I have been getting a steady stream of emails about this. Akio requests everyone to bookmark: http://homepage.mac.com/Akio. This is the one and only link that will work.

Apple has posted several Scripts that will make importing your messages into Mail in Mac OS X a whole lot easier. The results appear to vary. I could not get the Entourage Script to work. I tried multiple times and received errors. This happened in both Mac OS X and Mac OS 9.1. Others report success. Your mileage may vary. I made it about half a block. I ended up creating mailboxes and importing hundreds of messages manually. Considering that I am unable to connect using DHCP regularly with Mac OS X and then Mail doesn't work when it is connected, I consider the effort a labor of love and learning.

I installed Mac OS X on Saturday. I guess you could say I re-installed it as it still says 4K78. My two main problems are that I can not print, and I have extreme problems connecting to the internet. I find the new system exciting in an odd kind of way. It basically runs alright on my iBook SE, and Classic is tolerable. I think it is important to have patience with all of this. I can repeatedly obtain a Kernal Panic error [not my picture] by unplugging my USB Zip drive. Although I believe it is actually the 4 port USB hub I am using.

Desktop Resetter has been quickly updated to 2.6.1, to fix a bug that would crash or quit the program when using the settings control. It is recommended you download this version to fix that problem.

GraphicConverter 4.0.5 was posted on Saturday, GraphicConverter should be standard issue on everyones computer. A ton of new features and fixes accompany this release. There is also a Carbon download option if you are running Mac OS X.

MacFixIt and MacNN are both issuing warnings before updating your computer using the just released Apple Firmware update 4.1.7 or 4.1.8. Caution should be used if you are running non-factory installed Ram. This is being monitored by both sites, and you should check there for the most current information. If you have replaced all Ram with third party Ram, your computer may refuse to boot. MacFixIt offered this over the weekend, which is worth repeating here:

• [3/24]Warning! As we first reported late last night, a number of readers report that after installing the new firmware the computer no longer recognizes some RAM. Early reports suggest it may be related to RAM that was not factory-installed.
  
  
• [3/24]We have been flooded with messages about installed RAM disappearing and about machines that refused to boot altogether. We believe that the new firmware is less tolerant of RAM performance, and RAM that may have performed just fine previously is instantly reclassified as unusable.
  
  
• [3/25]: Michael Myers writes: "I believe there is a way. My G4 came with a CD entitled Apple Hardware Test. I ran this and it said my RAM failed (it is 3rd party but had been functioning normally). I removed the RAM module and restarted and it passed the test. Then I re-seated the 'defective' RAM and ran the hardware test again. This time it passed with the 3rd party RAM in place. I installed the firmware upgrade without problems. Go figure."

Screen Catcher 2.3.3 is a maintenance release for this screen capture utility. We announced an update to this last Friday. The website reports the following concerning this quick update:

While a recent revision of Screen Catcher delivered improved compatibility with Kensington MouseWorks 5.6, it introduced problems for users of earlier versions of MouseWorks. Screen Catcher 2.3.3 corrects those problems, and has been tested successfully with both current and past versions of Kensington's software.

Submit Software and General News Suggestions!

---

Calendar & Appointment Scheduler for Mac OS X

---

Polling Place by Michael Coyle

Half of ResEx readers carry a PDA. A surprising number to me! 38% use a Palm or Visor, followed by 7% of hard core Newton users! :)

The PalmOS clearly dominates the market with Mac users. I wonder how many Palm purchases hurt the sale of Apple Powerbook. Did you pass on a book for a Palm? Let me know.

If you are under 18 years old, it's likely you've never seen a turntable. It took almost a decade for audio CD's to totally replace vinyl LP's at "Record Stores". After walking into Blockbuster today, I suspect DVD will replace VCR tapes much more rapidly. In the Coyle Family, our DVD Player is also a Playstation 2 (or my Powerbook in a pinch).

This week's Polling Place asks, "Do you have a DVD player?"

Tools of the Trade by Michael Coyle

Ilene Hoffman has assemble an amazing number of MacOS X and Related TILs and Links. If you have a tech problem, going here may actually be faster than searching Apple's site.

Will wonders never cease. Apple has posted a page soliciting desktop snapshots! Titled MacOS My Way, it allows readers to submit a snapshot with some comments. While the pictures are not as large as the ones posted on ResExcellence, if I didn't know better I might think Apple was encouraging users to customize the UI.

As an added treat, Apple has even provided a link to ResExcellence (Someone call my Mom and let her know her little boy has made the big time).

Fontosaurus Text has updated again with two new fonts, Insecurity Guard (grunge) and Vehement (art deco). Also included in this update is a new desktop wallpaper called "Seeth".

Layne Karkruff from Blue Sky Heart Graphics has single handedly inspired dozens of Mac artists with his schemes, desktops, and icons. Now he has upped the ante again with the release of this Audion skin, Epiphany.

Many readers have emailed to say the link to the AIM Ad remover patch (hosted on another site) no longer works. Sorry, the author of that patch has anonymous so there is really nothing I can do.

Melissa has added 6 new sites to the ResEx Links page. Maybe there's one you've never seen before!

More MacOS X Tips

Nathan emailed to say, "Hey, I don't know if you are aware, but in MacOS X you can name icons with just a space, making it look as if there is no title just like with title free."

Matt Cooper has noticed a problem with sound under MacOS X:

I own a slot-loading DVD iMac that has a built-in "Spatializer 3D Sound" system. In OS 9.1 the Sound control panel would allow me to turn this feature on or off. Mac OS X does not allow this setting to be configured.

If I boot from OS 9.1, I can disable it. Unfortunately, OS X always reverts to enabling it. I spoke with an Apple Support technician and he had me try zapping my parameter RAM--which did not solve the problem. He also said that the Spatializer 3D Sound is not implemented in OS X so the hardware default is being used--turning it on.

Two workarounds do exist: mute your computer, or always boot with OS 9.1 and never use OS X. Obviously these are not practical solutions.

Using the 3D sound for long periods of time (such as listening to music or watching videos) causes headaches and makes using the Mac an irritating experience. Hopefully Apple will resolve this issue in a Software Update but the technician gave no indication that this issue would be addressed anytime soon."

Check the Forums!

One of the many hot topics in the ResEx forum deals with moving the Dock the bottom off to a side or even the top of the screen. A helpful reader posted a link to a fix on MacFixIt that involves changing one word in a text file to activate the proper menu item! Other solutions posted in the forum explain has to set the Views options globally. One problem without a solution (yet) is how to paste new icons onto the hard disks. I noticed this myself when using DragThing 4.0 under MacOS X. I can try to paste the icon into the Inspector window, but is won't appear in the Finder (or DragThing). Oddly enough, if I boot into Mac Classic Mac, the new icon is visible!

User Contributed Splash Screens: by Michael Coyle

• Just in time for MacOS X, Robert Marking put together some replacement Boot and Login Panels featuring the indigo iMac.
  
  
• Here is a nice bondi makeover for iTunes by George Krueger.
  
  
• If you liked the Explorer splash from Samuel Thurber, today we have a matching Outlook Express splash!
  
  
• Yowzers! Somorjai sent an America Online splash featuring Ashly Judd in a bath tub. (Don't worry Mom, there are lots of bubbles!).
  
  
• Here are two more MOSS from Tom Haller that display works of art. If you would like Giant MOSS versions from his collection, stop by his web site where he will post a new one every month. He has lots of other goodies there too!
  
  

Snapshots by Jeremy Hoesly

Monday’s shipment of snapshots has just come into port:

• This contribution from Zac Capps features a modified version of Maury McCown’s “XTop II” desktop picture in conjunction with the AquaX III Graphite K-Scheme, also by Maury McCown. iTunes, equipped with an alternate pattern, is tickling the eardrums in the lower right.
  
  
• Cody submitted this snapshot sporting the “Quantum Foam” desktop picture coupled with Maury McCown’s AquaX III K-Scheme. iTunes, overhauled with an alternative pattern, is dishing out tunes in the lower left-hand corner. A smattering of icons from Xicons, icons.cx, Icon Factory, and Mandolux abounds.
  
  
• This screenshot from Mark Huot is centered around an interesting memory reporting anomaly. So it’s only off by a few orders of magnitude.
  
  
• Michael Rabe, our own Theme Archive master, contributed this screenshot touting his Gamma Theme with a matching “Gamma” desktop picture. iTunes, retro-fitted with an alternate pattern, is shuffling music tracks in the upper left-hand corner.
  
  
• A custom “Lei Fang” desktop picture and Peter Harte’s Aqua II+ K-Scheme debut in this submission from Benjamin Rivers. iTunes is cranking out songs in the upper left-hand corner.
  
  
• A custom desktop picture named “The Net” and Yoshihiro Kondo’s Another Sugar Plate V K-Scheme are showcased in this contribution from Juan Verduzco. SoundJam is kicking out soundwaves in the lower left-hand corner, and Juan himself can be seen in a Photoshop window at center.

Show the Mac world how you’ve tamed and trained your desktop to your own liking. Read our submission guidelines and then fire away!

---

Click here to learn more about Toast 6 Titanium

---

Icon & Desktop News: by Dan

Hope the postman or UPS guy was good to you all, and brought your shiny new copy of Mac OS X on schedule over the weekend. So now that you have it, of course you will want some appropriate desktops to go with it. Need some OS X icons? Head on over to the Iconfactory's OS X Fest which begins today. They will be releasing a new OS X savvy icon set every day of this week, all made by the talented staff of the factory.

Icons - Desktops: Sorry to say the Icon stocks are still way down in bearish territory like the Stock Market, but I hope to make that up to you with a whopping (8) brand new desktops instead. All this great stuff on display for today's update.

• "Revenge" is the second of several nicely done desktops created by Garry K. Williams of the Williams Studio. If you are having a lousy day and are about to go postal, then this backdrop is for you. Comes in 1152x resolution.
  
  
• "Reach 4 It " by Jason Maki is an elegant and lofty 3-D rendered desktop you will be sure to enjoy in 1280x resolution. Visit Jason's newly designed site for more excellent artwork.
  
  
• Scott Chitwood of Rampant Mac departs for the moment from his 3-D desktop making with a "Different Twist". Download this tastefully done "think different" desktop from Scott's site in multiple resolutions.
  
  
• 'Dean Fusaro submits another of his great desktop creations "Colorsplash". You will find this backdrop amongst others on Dean's newly opened and "still under creation" website.
  
  
• Fifteen year old Jay Fusaro, Dean's son, submits another desktop called "peanutbutter and jelly". After his dad inspired him to do the first, it now had become just fun. Let's keep an eye on this budding digital artist, and look for more of his work in the future.
  
  
• "Desperado" desktop by Dreamstatic was obviously inspired by Desperado, the movie. Antonio Banderas did a wonderful job in this remake of El Mariachi. If you haven't seen this film run, don't walk, to your nearest Blockbuster Video store and rent it today! In the meantime this handsome backdrop is available for download in three different resolutions.
  
  
• The roving Aussie Photographer Peter Mac submits some "Weird Scenes" for your enjoyment. Gleaned from a 30 year old high speed extachrome 35 mm slide, this strange shot of the photographer's reflection in a chrome tap handle on a rainwater tank in Warwick, comes in 1024x resolution and three variations.
  
  
• 'Steve Sobek pushes the envelope of perception with his latest 3-D creation "Overeasy". You might wish to resist the temptation to stand on your head or turn your monitor upside down when you view this desktop. Comes in 1024x resolution.

News From Around the Web:

Jason Maki notes that he is still in the process of redesigning his site, and would appreciate keeping the comments coming. They are very helpful and if you do not get a response right away it isn't because he's ignoring them.

Brycetopia has been updated with two new movies, two new images, and more. Stop by and check it out!

It's time to spin the old update wheel at Rampant Mac, two new desktops this time around. Look for "Different Twist" in our new desktops section as well.

Steve Sobek updates his site over the weekend with two new desktops.

Kadir brings us this new item : For those bent on converting the look of their PC into a Mac, check out "Transmac", a program that transform Mac icons to PC format. <editor's note - I sure would like to know if this program works, and any experiences with it. >

Melissa of MAJArch Studios finally gets a moment to update her site. Take a look at the new postings.

'BREDSTIK Entertainment updates with 3 New Animations, One new Icon Set for the Mac, Three new desktop pictures, new comics and a whole lot more.

The Devil's Desktop has been updated with 6 new desktop pictures and one new OSX icon set SUNFLOWERS!.

Jeff Welsh announces the grand opening of his new website up at http://xmac.50megs.com.

Hansworks Design has posted 3 new desktop pictures, Infinity X2 and two other remixes
of the original. Look for a new site design as well.

Mando Gomez of Mandolux wants to inform you that he has just issued 16 new desktops in the continuation of the Mac OS X desktop theme - The X Series - now with "Kabrix."

George Krueger has posted some desktop pictures on his site at: http://pw1.netcom.com/~geokrueg

Blueskyheart announces a new desktop picture release titled "LongPlayer".

There are three new desktops today at Epoch Icons. Now featuring: Excess (desktop), Flourish (desktop) and Ultraviolet Flora (desktop).

So what's up WWW? Icons? Desktop pictures? News? Inform us! We'll post it!

---

---

Calendar & Appointment Scheduler for Mac OS X

---

Previous News Page...

You can now upload your contributions (include a READ ME) to the ResExcellence
ftp drop box, and let us know with an email. Be sure to read the Submission Policy