Icon & Desktop News: by Dan

In an ongoing effort to make it easier for you to send us your Icons and Desktops, we've designed a new Browser Based Upload Page for the task. Just follow the easy to use instructions, and you'll find submitting your artwork is now a piece of cake!

• Bear, Buggie, Kitty, Owl and Unicorn return with an updated shiny look in Chrome Babies for OSX by Shanalyn Victor of Pixelgirlpresents.
  
  
• David Schloss of the IconYard presents a small set of OSX icons based on the popular animated flick Monsters Inc.
  
  
• Photoshop 6 and 7 present some exciting new opportunities for creativity with the addition of the Styles palette. Bob Osiin takes advantage of this new feature and displays the results in his new "10.2" desktop. This translucent Aqua style desktop will be just the thing to display when OS10-Jaguar is released, and comes in 1024x resolution.
  
  
• Melissa, also known as BigBrainGirl submits a nicely done piece titled "Pixelized". This is a desktop tribute to the extraordinary pixel sites on the web today. Comes in 1152x resolution.
  
  
• The hard core bone crunching heavy metal band Biohazard appears on this simple yet effective set of desktops made by Qzerty100. The download includes two variations on the theme, and both come in 1024x resolutions.
  
  
• Lisa Loeb makes beautiful music on this stylish celebrity desktop created by John Rose. This is the last desktop we have on hand from John after a very long run, (hint hint), and hope to see lots more of his handiwork coming down the pike. In the mean time, catch a wave over to John's Sketchbook, and check out the large volume of fine work he has posted there.
  
  
• The unknown, unnamed person who submitted this huge Aqua Series of desktops must have gotten so carried away with the project, that the read me file just got lost! None the less, this grouping includes 10 different free form backdrops in shades of Aqua Blue, and come in several different resolutions each.
  
  
• The Race by Will Ernst is simple desktop salute to the greatest little cars in the world. VW. 21 million of the original Beetle's, Bug's, Herbie's, Love Bug's, Pill Puss',Pedal Pusher's, Slug Bug's, Pregnant Rollerskate's, or whatever you call 'em, were sold. Download the image of this Cultural Icon of Independence, Love, Fun, and Passion in 1024x resolution.
  
  
• A few months back while on a trip to a friend's cabin in the mountains, Conrad photographed an interesting burl on the trunk of an aspen tree, and turned it into a very pleasing desktop picture. This one comes in 1280x resolution.
  
  
• "You are now going to become a Mac user.... "Put "iBall" by Marc Kuder up on your monitor, and casually invite your PC using friends to stare deeply into it. The hypnotic character of this desktop is bound to convert them from the "Evil Darkside", and comes in 1024x resolution.

News From Around the Web:

Blueskyheart announces the release of a new desktop picture titled "Scarab".

Tray's Trove updates 5-27-02 with eight new desktop designs.

Check out the New icons at Bombia Design. "Pitbull Pro Icons.

Desktop Federation updates with 5 new picts and a new photo from his dad, Swallows. New Flash Splash too. Have a look!

Live Pencil updates with new Wallpapers, Tickle me, Live Text for your emails and loads more of fun.

MacMonkies rolls in a Wednesday with 6 New Icon Sets and 6 New Desktops. On the Desktop menu are works from MacMonkies, Bob Spence, MAJArch Studios, Kara-Kelly.com, and EA Design. This week's Icon selections come from a variety of outstanding contributing artists. Another great edition is in store at MacMonkies.com!

Ethereal Creations updates with four new images in our New Releases and Guest Art sections.

DV Graphics has released a new icon set based on a set of drawings called "Sketches".

Widget has a new 'surprise' icon set out on Monday... plus, a new desktop every single day this week, as well as the regular news and rumors round-up. Go and check it out!

Mando would like to inform you that there is a new theme at mandolux.com named Fire and Flames.

Macalicious.net releases a set of Photoshop 7 replacement document icons, with basic instructions, for all 14 of the various formats (jpeg, gif, tiff, etc). They're for OS X only, unfortunately.

EA Design has once again updated with some new delights for you desktops should you feel the need. They each have released 3 -3D pieces and 3-2D pieces.

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

Complete Cable Management For The Home & Office.

Polling Place by Michael Coyle

So much for the digital revolution! About half of ResExcellence readers don't even have a camcorder. Slightly less than one-third own a DV camera. After sifting through the forum thread and emails I received, I became the proud owner of a Sony DCRTRV740.

This beauty has everything I require. While not as small as the Canon camcorders that many readers recommended, the Sony will play the past 15 years of 8MM analog tapes that have piled up. The analog input also allows it to accept any video signal.

I spent the Memorial Day weekend recording family events and mixed them with old footage in iMovie to make a little movie that should have Spielberg calling me any day...

Let's use the shortened week for a quirky Polling Place. I'm amazed when I'm out to lunch with friends or coworkers and a guy will open his wallet and it's packed with money. I seldom carry more than $20 on me, but it seems many people routinely carry hundreds! How about you? This Polling Place asks, "How much cash do you regularly carry?"

Tools of the Trade by Michael Coyle

Under this newest release, the menu option to "Get New Themes" points to a page giving you a choice of DeskMod or MozDev. At MozDev you can download the long missing SkyPilot (pictured below).

To follow up on my Hewlett Packard printing experience, Richard Law asks the following, "what driver are you using to get the iMac to see the printer with AppleTalk (I'm a new Mac user, and while most other things have been far easier than WinPC issues, this particular problem is defeating me at the moment!)"

Let me tell you what I think is happening. From a PC (or Virtual PC) you configure the Print Server with an IP address and install the correct driver into the print server. On the Mac you install the normal USB Chooser Extension print driver. When you run the HP Printer Utility, it 'connects' the Chooser Extension to the print server via AppleTalk. When you open the Chooser and select the HP960c driver, instead of a USB port you get an icon that implies network activity. Again, this is speculation and if anyone knows of a source for a better explanation, please send it.

David Lloyd wrote, "Regarding your mention about the disadvantage of your AppleScript solution for docking disks... there is a solution. You can write a script thus:

on reopen
tell application "Finder"
open startup disk
end tell
end reopen

...and save it as a "stay open application", which means that when you double click it once it has opened, it stays open and always responds to consequent double clicks.

It won't open your disk on the first double click to launch it, so it would be good to put this script into your login items pref pane, and leave it open. Or otherwise just modify the script to :

tell application "Finder"
open startup disk
end tell

on reopen
tell application "Finder"
open startup disk
end tell
end reopen

... ensuring that it will indeed open your disk on the first launch, albeit with the delay you describe."

User Contributed Splash Screens. by Michael Coyle

It's easier than ever to contribute using the new Browser Based Upload Page! If you contribute a file to any section of ResExcellence, you could win a PowerMax gift certificate worth $50 ! (How?)

• For the Classic version of iTunes, Andre Guay updated his Green & Gold skin.
  
  
• Eloy Duran's girlfriend is cute, and she welcomes you in this MacOS X Boot Panel.
  
  
• Reports of MacOS 9's death are greatly exageratted! Peter McHugh took this funny "Joy of Tech" cartoon and made it into a MOSS.
  
  
• The lovely Eva Herzigova is featured in this splash for Hotline from Conrad.
  
  
• A cool Boot Panel from Swen reminds a little of Quantum Foam.
  
  
• Brien Edick took one of the desktop patterns from MacOS 9 and made it into a nice set of Dock Background PDFs.
  
  
  

REALbasic News by Erick Tejkowski

This week in REALbasic news:

• DrawControl and Custom Icon
• LetsSee for OS X
• Office Constants
• Pigmy
• PodUtil 1.0b3

Support ResExcellence By Visiting Our Sponsors!

Today's News by Cletus™

The contest is now over. Due to the number of submissions to review, I have been told they may need a week to go through them all. I will list the winners as soon as I receive them.

Have you entered the Speed Download Contest yet? And why not? You have until Saturday 10 p.m. to do so. The developers are looking for that really creative/breakthrough idea that will make Speed Download an even more powerful download manager. Here is what you need to do. Download a copy, try it out, then send in your idea for improving the program and you are entered. Full details are on the contest page.

ChimerIcon is an AppleScript Studio application that allows you to change Chimera/Navigator's icons and splash screen. ChimerIcon comes bundled with a small set of icon themes. Themes that are created, either by you or downloaded, can be easily placed into one of two folders for use by ChimerIcon. Feel creative? Thought so! Why not send your talented creations to Mike.

Keyboard Maestro is the very useful hot-key application by ClaireWare Software and it has been updated! Version 1.1.0. features many significant changes. They also wanted it mentioned that the included item Program Switcher, which is used in Classic and by the same author, can now be used indefinitely for free. Cool! A partial listing can be found below of the changes to this version. If you want to review all the changes, the homepage also has a listing.

• Multi-Action Hot Keys are now included.
  
  
• Drag-and-Drop Editing of Hot Keys can now be handled in the hot key editor only.
  
  
• You can now activate the Screen Saver.
  
  
• A hot key can be assigned to Open/Close CD Tray
  
  
• Open File or Folder action is integrated with Default Folder X v1.5.
  
  
• Fixed was a nasty crashing bug that occurred when selecting files
  
  

The next beta version of piPop is out— 2.0b7. They describe the program this way: piPop is a small utility for navigating files and folders in an easy and natural way under Mac OS. This release deals primarily with a bug fix in the new registration system. As with most beta releases, they would like your input in the program.

Nothing steady mind you, but an email here and there suggest that BatChmod is a very useful program to have available. Since it has just been updated, I thought i would take this oppertunity to mention it. Not familiar with the program? BatChmod allows you to change the file ownership, permissions and even empty the Trash. It is recommended that Mac OS X 10.1 be the system you are using.

Gideon Greenspan dropped a note about Drop Drawers X— 1.5.9b. With this release, Gideon hopes to have solved the long standing bug of restoring keyboard focus after expanding or clicking in floating drawers. Have I ever mentioned just how much i like this program?

I have been receiving many emails from users trying to get to software I mention that is hosted at Apple, only to find the bandwidth exceeded and the page temporarily down. It seems to be happening more and more often. While there is nothing I can do about the problem, a MacInTouch reader appears to have at least found out the reasons why...

Have a Press Release? Software or General News? Submit it here: Suggestions!

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Icon & Desktop News: by Dan

Icons - Desktops: We've got a good lineup here! How about (8) New Desktops, (2) New Icon Sets, and of course, updated "News From Around the Web". All on display for today's update.

Have a safe and Happy Holiday! See you all on Wednesday of next week.

In an ongoing effort to make it easier for you to send us your Icons and Desktops, we've designed a new Browser Based Upload Page for the task. Just follow the easy to use instructions, and you'll find submitting your artwork is now a piece of cake!

• David Schloss of Iconyard created an interesting approach to keeping track of all the comings and goings in the New York City Metro Subway System. David's Subway Icons contains 2 versions of each line's icon, a standard flat icon and a button icon. Each have the number as transparent (except for the stations that have black letters (anyone know why they do that?) and the buttons contain a drop shadow. The set also includes a Metro card icon both flat and as a button.
  
  
• Kreaxion tries his hand at icon making with a small set of Star Wars characters for OSX. This first ever effort includes 5 of the trilogies characters, and two bonus icons.
  
  
• Sandstorm is a brand new 3-D rendered desktop by Michale Addison of Macalodeon. Michael uses a large variety and range of software to achieve his effects, including Photoshop, Carrara, Bryce, Infini-D, Cinema 4D, Poser, Tree Pro, and Amorphium Pro. This striking image comes in 1024x resolution.
  
  
• Think gorgeous! Anywhere you put her, Tara Reid sure looks good. Especially in this nicely done backdrop created by Nate Penwell titled Think Tara. Comes in 1152x resolution.
  
  
• How many times have you wanted to throw your Mac out of a 3 story window, or drive over it with a bus when it wasn't behaving? How about getting yourself a Smack a Mac instead. Drop Marc Kuder a line and ask him where he got that lovable little punching bag featured in his desktop of the same name. This one is available in 1024x resolution, but go easy on it.
  
  
• Cry of Life by Bradford Wiles of Macmonkies speaks to the fact that in life, some just don't have the option to speak up. This subtle and colorful creation comes in 1024x and 800x resolutions.
  
  
• 15 year old Andrew Ohlmann got really sick of desktop pictures with all sorts of stuff flying around, making it hard to see the icons, so he started fooling around with Photoshop to see what he could do about it. The end result here is titled Eye have come for you and makes for a relatively unobtrusive desktop. Comes in 800x resolution only.
  
  
• The impending release of Apples latest revision to OSX titled Jaguar has sure sparked some interesting desktop images, as you can see with Project Jag, designed by Marc Kudder. This one comes in 1024x resolution.
  
  
• Nintendo GameCube "Biohazard" character Albert Wesker appears on this stylish backdrop made by Qzerty100. Comes in 1024x resolution.
  
  
• It's hard to say exactly what this desktop image titled Closer really is all about, but I suspect that its a tremendous magnification of something familiar in our world. Download this larger than life desktop by Insect540 in 1024x and 1600x resolutions and see if you can figure it out.

News From Around the Web:

Macalicious.net releases a set of Photoshop 7 replacement document icons, with basic instructions, for all 14 of the various formats (jpeg, gif, tiff, etc). They're for OS X only, unfortunately.

EA Design has once again updated with some new delights for you desktops should you feel the need. They each have released 3 -3D pieces and 3-2D pieces.

Mando would like to inform you that mandolux.com has issued 5 new desktops about the F-117 Nighthawk jet.

Ethereal Creations updates their New Releases and Guest Art section with four new desktop images. Stop in and make yourself at home!

MacMonkies rolls out a barrel full of desktop goodies for their latest update! Desktops include works from several contributors including newcomer Bob Spence. Icons feature nothin' but the best from Pixel Jerk, DV Graphics, Happicon, IHeartNY, and Eye9design! Get all the latest News and Fun at MacMonkies.com!

DV Graphics has posted part two of their OS X icon tutorial

Mirth Vault updates with a new desktop picture titled "Deception Agent".

Nick Loveday tells about a superb photo from NASA archives, featuring a striking bondi blue and aqua photo taken high above the earth.

Gridface has just published a new series of desktop pictures. "Cityscapes" contains four photos in a variety of sizes, including dark, wet alleys, and a brightly lit subway station.

Widget has got two new icon sets this week. Starting Monday, 'iMacs' will be available for download, stylized according the Aqua HI guidlines. Tommorow, PowerBook G3 owners will be able to get an icon of their computer. And to top it all off... a new desktop picture will be released every day this week! Can't be bad.

Live Pencil updates with new wallpapers, Icons, Live Text, email backgrounds and loads more of fun.

What used to be know as the LittleDarkRoom, is now dead and gone. AuntiePixel will now be championing the cause of those little middle-aged dots everywhere!

Longhair's Lair finally updates with some new desktops.

MacuserX has been updated with a new icon set : munchies!

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

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Support ResExcellence By Visiting Our Sponsors!

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05-23-02

Tools of the Trade

User Contributions

REALbasic

Tools of the Trade by Michael Coyle

The newest Netscape 7.0PR1 is out. While it runs fine on MacOS X, I couldn't get it to install in Classic. It would hang at the registration screen. If you want my opinion, don't waste your time with Netscape 7.0. Instead, try Mozilla 1.0 RC2. It uses the most up to date Gecko source code and doesn't have all the annoying marketing tie-ins of AOL/Netscape.

On a related note, the official Mozilla Theme Archive at XUL Planet will be moving to DeskMod.

In MacOS X, you can drag a hard disk icon to the dock and it appears in the section containing the trash. Wouldn't you like it towards the top as it has been IN EVERY OTHER VERSION of the MacOS?

So ask yourself, what kind of items can reside on the other side of the Dock? If you said, "Applications" give yourself a shiny dime.

Being a clever lad (with a rather high I.Q.), I deduced an AppleScript may do the trick!

Open the MacOS X Script Editor (Applications/Utilities) and take a look at the two scripts listed below.

The version on the left opens the Startup Disk, the one on the right opens the volume named "Blackbird". After entering the text into the Script Editor save the file as an application and check the "Never Show Startup Screen" option. Once the applet is saved, you can paste your favorite hard disk icon into the applet and drag it to the dock.

One drawback to this option is the fact that these are applications, so they have to launch. This takes about two dock bounces. If you drag a hard disk to the dock by the Trash, there is no delay to open it. It's a trade off between speed and location.

If you don't mind paying for a shareware solution, look into DockDisks, a Preference Pane that accomplishes the same thing, placing hard disks near the Finder icon in the dock.

The old Family Printer finally died last week. It was an original Epson 740 connected to an Axis Print server so it could be shared over a network. I looked into the possible replacements and selected an Hewlett Packard 960c DeskJet. With MacOS X, I felt Epson was a little slow to provide driver support, plus the business DeskJets seemed to be built a little better.

Once I decided on a printer, I needed an HP Print Server so I could share it on the home network. After scouring their website and talking with the salesman at CompUSA, we decided upon the 170X server. From all the documentation, it appeared to support Mac, Linux, and Windows.

It wasn't until after I purchased it that I realized Mac support was limited to PostScript Printers via Apple's LaserWriter print driver. The printer I had chosen was not Postscript.

After talking to an HP rep on the phone, it was determined I had two choices: return the printer and get a more expensive Postscript model, or return the print server and get a more expensive model that supported Appletalk. Neither option was very appealing, but getting the 300X Print Server was substantially cheaper.

With the new print server, I can now access the printer from Classic MacOS or MacOS X. The color output from the HP 960 looks much better than the old Epson 740 and the HP is very quiet. The one complaint I have against Hewlett Packard is that you cannot configure the print server without a Windows computer. Fortunately, VirtualPC will do the job.

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User Contributed Splash Screens. by Michael Coyle

It's easier than ever to contribute using the new Browser Based Upload Page! If you contribute a file to any section of ResExcellence, you could win a PowerMax gift certificate worth $50 ! (How?)

• Two sword fighting kittens are the topic of this MacOS X Boot Panel by Eloy Duran!
  
  
• A beautiful Nebula graces this About this Mac replacement from Peter McHugh.
  
  
• YSD sends another cool MOSS. This features the rainbow Apple Logo on a grid.
  
  
• The traitor from The Matrix fires weapon in this Boot Panel from Jim Phillimore.
  
  
• The lovely eyes of Norika Fujiwara are on display in Conrad's Hotline splash.
  
  
  
  

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Track Your Time by Erick Tejkowski

Today we'll build a useful tool for tracking your time. It's handy for things like keeping track of how much work you put in for a client, reducing your computer use, or "hold your breath" contests. Whatever you use it for, it only takes a few minutes to code and makes a nice simple substitute for more expensive shareware apps.

(Continued...)

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05-22-02

News

Icons/Desktops

Today's News by Cletus™

A mid-week reminder of the contest we have in progress for Speed Download. This program is really kind of cool. It will make the most of your download capabilities. This is especially true if you are using a broadband connection. There is still plenty of time to enter, so stop by the contest page, read the guidelines and enter!

Mike Kornienko wrote in with news of the update to Pulldown Folders from Alchemy Labs. Pulldown Folders is a combination of a Contextual Menu plugin and Preference Pane, which will allow you to gain access much faster to your files. The familiar control-click (or right-click) brings up a contextual menu, which in turn will contain all the subfolders of the selected folder, and files in them. Fantastic!

• New options in Pulldown Folders allow you to achieve 20-50% speed improvement in menu building
  
  
• Directory caching engine speed improvements.
  
  
• Overall improvement with the program.
  
  

ResPloder 1.6.1 has been updated again to version 1.6.1. Mike showed you how to use this program for a previous Photoshop 7 splash screen edit. It is gaining popularity it appears with each update. This update includes the following:

• New "list resource types" AppleEvent gets a list of resource types for a file or exploded folder.
  
  
• New optional "resources" parameter on "explode" and "implode" AppleEvents let you specify which resources to include in an explosion or implosion.
  
  
• Even better handling of resource types with special characters. Also handles resource name collisions better (this happens when two resource names differ only by case).
  
  
• Fixed a bug with getting a resource without enough memory under OS 9.
  
  

Stick Software have updated Constrictor to 2.1 It is a screen snapshot utility. And we all know how a ResExcellence reader could make good use of this program! From the read me: It lets you position a frame and then snap the area inside, applying border effects and saving in a variety of formats. This update adds several pre and post screen capture options, as well as saving options for PDF and EPS.

Brian Bergstrand has updated his highly rated ChangeDesktop program to version 2.0.1. The program will randomly changes Desktop picture on up to eight different monitors from any number of folders. You do not have to have all images you select in one folder. This is a very nice feature. Brian is also looking for help with providing different language localizations for the program. Check the homepage for further information.

Industrie du sultan has updated Glidel to version 5.2.4 for Mac OS 7 or higher. This has always been a very popular system extension. Even now an update is worthwhile as it keeps getting better and better. In short it allows files to be dragged and dropped on items in the File or Apple Menus. Now this is cool.

Have a Press Release? Software or General News? Submit it here: Suggestions!

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Snapshots by Jeremy Hoesly

Wednesday’s snapshots are ready for public consumption:

• This contribution from Jared Fager touts a serene mountain lake desktop picture. Adium in the upper left monitors the instant messaging front, while Ircle at left center sits in on an Internet Relay Chat.
  
  
• A truly unusual desktop picture debuts in this submission from Christophe Pierard. A skinned iTunes is piping in the music in the upper right. Internet Explorer, skinned with one of Akio’s makeovers and bearing a Bob Dobbs throbber, is surfing along the bottom.
  
  
• Alain Pilon sends this snapshot sporting Matthew Crowley’s “Beatles” desktop picture. Icons from the IconZ collection lurk about the desktop.
  
  
• This screenshot from Andy Smith features a breathtaking Astronomy Picture of the Day of Stonehenge against a twilight sky. AquaMon provides the machine vitals visible on the desktop.

See just how easy it is to contribute to ResExcellence! Give our browser-based submission upload page a whirl.

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Icon & Desktop News: by Dan

Icons - Desktops: We've got a great lineup here! How about (8) New Desktops, (2) New Icon Sets, and of course, updated "News From Around the Web". All on display for today's update.

In an ongoing effort to make it easier for you to send us your Icons and Desktops, we've designed a new Browser Based Upload Page for the task. Just follow the easy to use instructions, and you'll find submitting your artwork is now a piece of cake!

• More art than icon, FraXtal Icons by FlaxCreations is a gorgeous set of 38 semi transparent buttons and spheres built for OSX. Try these against different colored backgrounds, as they will change in appearance accordingly.
  
  
• Drivers Wanted! Car Icons by David Schloss features 28 fancy auto icons designed for OSX. The set starts with the sporty Ferrari-360 Spider, and ends with the VW Cabrio in six different colors.
  
  
• Human Study by Alan Sherwood of EA Design is a complex desktop layered with all sorts of hidden meaning. This thoughtful backdrop comes in 800x and 1024x resolutions.
  
  
• Believe it or not, Chevy trucks and Mac OSX do have one thing in common. They are both built Like a Rock. Test drive this "crash proof" desktop from FlaxCreations in 3 different resolutions.
  
  
• Casual Ki desktops by Jamie McCanless were inspired by a kimono pattern design from a 19th century Japanese painting instruction book. Not only are the lines gentle and graceful, they have a quiet strength, and make for a peaceful effect. This desktop comes in 3 different resolutions
  
  
• Marc Kuder submits a nicely done desktop composition titled "Aqua Falls". The name speaks for itself, and comes in 1024x resolution.
  
  
• Digital artist Keaner presents another of his great experimental desktops titled "Denise2". Featuring the oh so sultry if looks could kill Denise Richards once again, this one comes in 1024x resolution.
  
  
• Temptress Lucy Liu makes a provocative guest appearance on this new desktop composition by Nate Penwell. Comes in 1152x resolution.
  
  
• Quinn MacDonald presents a sample of some of the natural beauty found Nova Scotia Canada. These 4 photographs were taken in a small forested area in Wellington, Nova Scotia, and come in 1280x resolution.
  
  
• We've bundled together four of John-Michael Mulesa's cool looking Apple centric desktops for your downloading delight. This grouping features a highly textured look, and all come in 1024x resolution.

News From Around the Web:

Ethereal Creations updates with two images in their New Releases section and three images in their Guest Art section. They've also updated their Site News page and added another profile for guest artist Brenda McKeown under the About Us section. Drop by and have a look!

MacMonkies rolls out a barrel full of desktop goodies for their latest update! Desktops include works from several contributors including newcomer Bob Spence. Icons feature nothin' but the best from Pixel Jerk, DV Graphics, Happicon, IHeartNY, and Eye9design! Get all the latest News and Fun at MacMonkies.com!

DV Graphics has posted part two of their OS X icon tutorial

Mirth Vault updates with a new desktop picture titled "Deception Agent".

Mando would like to inform you that mandolux.com has issued a new desktop named 'Joyhood', representing a new addition to the Technosis/Anthraxis theme.

Nick Loveday tells about a superb photo from NASA archives, featuring a striking bondi blue and aqua photo taken high above the earth.

Gridface has just published a new series of desktop pictures. "Cityscapes" contains four photos in a variety of sizes, including dark, wet alleys, and a brightly lit subway station.

Widget has got two new icon sets this week. Starting Monday, 'iMacs' will be available for download, stylized according the Aqua HI guidlines. Tommorow, PowerBook G3 owners will be able to get an icon of their computer. And to top it all off... a new desktop picture will be released every day this week! Can't be bad.

Live Pencil updates with new wallpapers, Icons, Live Text, email backgrounds and loads more of fun.

What used to be know as the LittleDarkRoom, is now dead and gone. AuntiePixel will now be championing the cause of those little middle-aged dots everywhere!

Alan Sherwood and Ed Allen of EA Design have updated again with 10 new desktop pieces. A complete series of Apple styled Aqua desktops designed for just that reason.

Longhair's Lair finally updates with some new desktops.

MacuserX has been updated with a new icon set : munchies!

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

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Calendar & Appointment Scheduler for Mac OS X

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05-21-02

Tools of the Trade

User Contributions

REALbasic

Tools of the Trade by Michael Coyle

Are you lazy? Then this is your lucky day! Steff Koerner has created a patch for MacOS 9.x that applies several handy Command Keys for Finder Views.

If you wish to add command keys to other Finder menus, be sure to checkout this older, but still usefull previous tutorial.

Running Linux? Our own Dan Flax has converted a bunch of his Fractal icons to PNG format format for use in Linux. They're posted at KDE-Look, so go snag them!

Many readers, who have their own web sites, have emailed asking how I got that way-cool ResEdit icon in the location bar next to my site name. It's as simple as 1, 2, 3...

1. Use an icon tool to save your preferred icon in the Windows .ico format. I recommend Iconographer.
   
   
2. Name the icon favicon.ico and upload it to your server.
   
   
3. Add the following line of code within the <head> of your page's html:
   
   <link href="favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" rel="shortcut icon">

Sit back and enjoy looking at your new icon. If you don't have a web site to call your own, please feel free to stop back here and view mine.

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User Contributed Splash Screens. by Michael Coyle

It's easier than ever to contribute using the new Browser Based Upload Page! If you contribute a file to any section of ResExcellence, you could win a PowerMax gift certificate worth $50 ! (How?)

• Direct from Sweden, Max Rudberg sent his most recent MacOS X theme to ResEx. Titled Milk, this light white makeover includes a nice icon set too!
  
  
• Clint Jendyk sent a humorous "MacOS X Rocks" Boot Panel that I think he is featured in.
  
  
• For Mozilla, Bill Hughes sent a cool Mozilla throbber. It's based on the Classic MacOS progress bar, only this one spins in a circle.
  
  
• Also for Mozilla, voodoosand send a nice looking splash screen. Like many of us, he is tired of the 'dragon' look.
  
  
• Tonight, the temperature in Chicago will get below 36 degrees, so I can't say I'm in the mood for the Springtime Boot Panel by Conrad. Maybe by the weekend... :)
  
  
  

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REALbasic News by Erick Tejkowski

This week in REALbasic news:

• Carbon Declare Library
• Close your Eyelid
• REALdbSync and REALdbBrowser
• MovieWorks Plugin
• Drag Promise

(Continued...)

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Click here to learn more about Toast 6 Titanium

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05-20-02

News

Polling Place

Icons/Desktops

Today's News by Cletus™

ResExcellence and YazSoft are teaming up this week for another great contest— Speed Download Giveaway. Speed Download is an extremely fast and powerful download manager for your Macintosh. Packed with a clean Macintosh interface and tons of essential features, such as segmented downloading, resumeable downloads, scheduling, scripting, and much more. Stop over and enter the contest!

Matthew Hunt wrote in to let all ResExer's know about a new AppleScript program called Chimera Chameleon that has been developed to make quick and easy changes to the buttons on the web browser Chimera. It has 17 different color sets available for download and comes with 6 already included. More will be available for download in the future.

What Mac OS would be complete without the "eyes" that follow your mouse around program? MacEyesX 1.0 is just such a solution if you want to, have to or need to have this type of interaction with your Mac.

If you are in the mood to try out some new screensavers, The Macsurfshop has posted three new iFlava screensavers for Mac OS X: Fruit Float, Face Float, and iMac Spin. They feature various Mac objects floating around the screen. Very well done.

If you prefer a CMM to launch applications or open folders, then try the new version of Launch Items X 1.1.1. This popular program adds the ability to add selected items to the Favorites folder in this update.

Another nice launching program, is piPop. piPop will open a menu by moving your mouse to the left hand side of the screen, by clicking and holding a folder in the Finder, or by holding down the control and option keys while clicking in the Finder to access the contents of a folder. The limit with the last option is that it functions in Mac OS X only. You can modify the activation behavior of piPop through the preference window.

PopChar X 1.0.1 is available for Mac OS X. This very popular program shows all possible alternative characters for a particular font. They are working on a solution for a reported bug that caused "Start at Login" option to clear the list of login items for some users in the initial release. They write: The option has been disabled in version 1.0.1 until we find a general solution. Until then, we recommend that you manually add PopChar X to your list of startup items.

Dockprefs 1.4 allows quick access to the preference panes via a "Dockling." New modifier keys addition and a few bug fixes round out the changes in this version.

Marc Moini wanted me to pass along some information for those of you that have young children. He has developed a game—A-N-I-M-A-L-S: The game uses the computer to make words, letters and some of the rules for combining them in meaningful ways come alive. Hundreds of photographs of animals and everyday objects are supposed to keep young users coming back for many play sessions.

Have a Press Release? Software or General News? Submit it here: Suggestions!

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Polling Place by Michael Coyle

A little more than two-thirds of readers have LCD displays. I imagine many of them are connected to portables.

Somewhere along the line with recent MacOS updates, there was a subtle change in the ColorSync profiles. They use to show you a rainbow chart with a triangular area selected to represent the colors that could be reproduced by the monitor, but those have been eliminated. In these charts, it was apparent that LCD displays did not measure up to CRT.

Now that Apple only makes LCD displays, the charts have disappeared. Good think I'm not a cynic or I might believe the two events were related.

Typical color charts from older ColorSync profiles.

As part of the digital-hub concept, Apple has made it very easy to edit digital video. As long as I have owned a computer, I have looked forward to the day when I could create home movies. All I need now is DV Camcorder, but which one? I'm looking for the least expensive DV Camcorder that has an analog video input so I can also use it as a convertor for older tapes. Of course, it must also have a Firewire port so it will work with iMovie!

This week's Polling Place question asks, "What type of camcorder do you have?"

If you select DV and would like to recommend it for me to purchase, please follow up in this forum tread. Thanks!

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Icon & Desktop News: by Dan

Icons - Desktops: We've got a great lineup here! How about (8) New Desktops, (2) New Icon Sets, and of course, updated "News From Around the Web". All on display for today's update.

In an ongoing effort to make it easier for you to send us your Icons and Desktops, we've designed a new Browser Based Upload Page for the task. Just follow the easy to use instructions, and you'll find submitting your artwork is now a piece of cake!

• Apple history buffs and Mac collectors will certainly want to have this set of Macs through the ages icons for OSX by Jeremy Burnic. The set starts with it's humble beginnings in 1984, and ends with the Performa 6360.
  
  
• Not willing to stand in long lines to see the release of Star Wars Episode II? Well then, console yourself for the moment by downloading this set of Star Wars Icons made by the IconYard. The set includes 7 of the characters found in the movie, coming in two different sizes each.
  
  
• Art imitates life in Clockintosh by Marc Kuder, or is it the other way around? Anyhow, this "timeless" desktop comes in four different resolutions.
  
  
• When you twist and turn objects enough in a reflected atmosphere, just about anything can happen. Thus "AlienEyze", another fine desktops creation by Bradford Wiles of MacMonkies. Comes in 800x and 1024x resolutions.
  
  
• American Beatles by Melisa of MAJArch Studios was inspired by her recent attendance at Paul McCartney's Driving USA 2002 concert. The desktop was created from images found in the concert program. She reports that the show was so great, that she had to prolong the memory of it by making something with Paul on it that she could view every day. These are available in 1280x and 1024x resolutions.
  
  
• Will Ernst thought that the original poster Apple made for the introduction of the New Color iMac's would look nice as a desktop, but even better with the addition of his own splash of color and other enhancements Comes in a delicious 1024x resolution.
  
  
• Check out "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Sarah Geller in this bad hair day desktop by digital artist Keaner. Comes in 1024x resolution.
  
  
• Together with a classic Apple logo, some pinstripes and a couple of popular slogans, Conrad presents two more Apple-Retro desktops for your enjoyment. Both are available in 1024x and 1280x resolutions.
  
  
• I would have to guess that most peoples experience with OSX has not been quite as tranquil as this pastoral Experience OSX desktop by Kevin appears to be. This one comes in 6 different resolutions.
  
  
• Marc Kuder has a knack for turning the darndest things into desktops. Blast desktops features 3 different rocket like thingys to cruise across your monitor. All come in 1024x resolution.

News From Around the Web:

Nick Loveday tells about a superb photo from NASA archives, featuring a striking bondi blue and aqua photo taken high above the earth.

Gridface has just published a new series of desktop pictures. "Cityscapes" contains four photos in a variety of sizes, including dark, wet alleys, and a brightly lit subway station.

Mando would like to inform you that mandolux.com has issued it's 2000th desktop – a vector-based desktop named ‘Elsa’s Shadow.’Kudos to Mando!

Widget has got two new icon sets this week. Starting Monday, 'iMacs' will be available for download, stylized according the Aqua HI guidlines. Tommorow, PowerBook G3 owners will be able to get an icon of their computer. And to top it all off... a new desktop picture will be released every day this week! Can't be bad.

Live Pencil updates with new wallpapers, Icons, Live Text, email backgrounds and loads more of fun.

What used to be know as the LittleDarkRoom, is now dead and gone. AuntiePixel will now be championing the cause of those little middle-aged dots everywhere!

Alan Sherwood and Ed Allen of EA Design have updated again with 10 new desktop pieces. A complete series of Apple styled Aqua desktops designed for just that reason.

Longhair's Lair finally updates with some new desktops.

Ethereal Creations updates with one new image in our New Releases section and two new images in our Guest Art section. We are also pleased to feature the works of Michael Skaggs as our new contributing guest artist. Stop by and give his new images a look!

MacuserX has been updated with a new icon set : munchies!

In MacMonkies latest edition, you'll find 7 new Desktops and 5 new Icon sets. Desktop artists include Neil Roberts, Todd Darland, Ed Allen, MacMonkies, and the most recent contributor - Hunter Peddicord. Icon
selections include work from DV-Graphics' Paul Sahner, Eye9design's Patrick O'Kelly, Pixel Jerk's Sam Krueger, Dan of Flax Creations, and Matthew Bice of IHeartNY! Take a "click" trip to MacMonkies for all the latest in News, GUI, and Fun!

DV Graphics has released a new icon set named "Aqua Extreme" as well as a tutorial on how to create one of the icons in the set.

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

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