| 6/30/00
Well rested, I return from the Great American West and file this short report. The Rockies? Not at all as desolate as I had imagined. The Grand Canyon? Impressive, but you have to drive to Flagstaff to find a decent beer. Moab, Utah? The family agrees this place is just right. Nestled in the Canyonland's valley on the shore of the Colorado River, this town proved to be a hidden gem, and with two micro-breweries, how could you go wrong?
Tip-o-the-Hat to Cletus and the gang for holding down the fort while I was away.
Throbbers?
ExitMusic has posted 6 new throbbers for Explorer 5. This brings the total to 13! Click the half eaten apple in their left sidebar to see the collection.
The prolific Patrick Kelleher has mailed in his check and is now the proud owner of Kelleher.com. Go get your fill of throbbers, regardless of browser preference. Patrick hints of new tools to be released that will add in the creation of these little spinning pictures.
Do you like to dabble in Smalltalk? Then John Robokos sent this tip for you:
I came across this very interesting app called Sqeak that has been ported to the Mac. Although it is not an OS, it is a Smalltalk virtual machine with a working web browser and server. If you have used VirtualPC or MachTen, this will remind you of that. Its free plus the source code is available too. This may be of interest to any Mac hackers, programmers, or Mac LinuxPPC users.
While I have no idea what to do with program, it is an interesting download. Launching it opens the virtual machine window where several demo programs await.
Welcome to Akios has something for everyone. Created to showcase the work of Akio Heishi, the site is loaded with schemes, desktops, splashes, and some beautiful Explorer Skins! Do yourself a favor and check this site out (after you're finished at ResEx of course!).
While I was on vacation sipping Ale, the lads at MacInstruct were busy cranking out tutorials. The most recent one explains the reading and creation of pdf files. Stop by the Tutorial page to catch up on their most recent offerings.
 Crushed Ice...
The British publishers of the oversized MacFORMAT have released issue number one of LinuxFORMAT. While pricey, most content is geared towards the entry level user. The current issue has a great article that finally allowed me to get Netatalk working.
The most recent release of Mac-on-Linux places a mounted disk image on the Mac desktop called MOL. Peter Handel informed me that adding "mount_mol_disk: false" to the /etc/molrc config file removed this drive. Zachery Bir adds that the image is stored in /usr/lib/mol/images/ where you can place any disk images you wish to have mounted under MOL.
User Contributed Splash Screens:
Click here to learn more about Toast 6 Titanium
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6/26/00
Calendar & Appointment Scheduler for Mac OS X
6/23/00
Click here to learn more about Toast 6 Titanium
Complete Cable Management For The Home & Office.
6/21/00
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Support ResExcellence By Visiting Our Sponsors!
6/19/00
Calendar & Appointment Scheduler for Mac OS X
6/16/00
I have updated from a little B&B in Ireland.
I have updated poolside in Hawaii.
I have updated from a hilltop in Wisconsin,
and a topless beach in Playa Del Carmen (that one was tough!).
For the next two weeks, the Coyle Family will be trekking to the rim of the Grand Canyon, and doggone it, I'm not updating my part of ResExcellence! I'm gonna stop and smell the roses (or cactus as the case may be).
Cletus, Ilona, and Jeremy will still be updating their sections, so be sure to stop by for all the goodies they have to offer!
 Because of my absence, I'm closing the Polling Place early, and why the heck not.
97.35% of ResExers have made the move up to Quicktime 4. That sets (yet another) new record lopsided record.
Linux Icebox: Custom Directory Listings Under KDE.
 Our recent coverage on Finder Window Pictures reminded Andrew B. Arthur of a cool trick for KDE that allows you to customize the KDE File Manager listing based on an html template. Just save the file as .kde.html and place it in the directory you wish to affect.
In addition to the standard html 4.0 commands, kfm includes addition codes that allow for the grouping of file types. For example, want to group all the gif's together? Place this in your html: <files name=*.gif> (Continued...)
Browser Wars! MacInstruct has published a new article, "Battle of the Browsers". Who will win...
User Contributed Splash Screens:
You can now upload your contributions to the ResExcellence ftp drop box, and let us know with an email.
Click here to learn more about Toast 6 Titanium
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6/14/00
The IE Skin Lab has been updated with a new AppleScript called Skin Viewer that lets you preview a skin before it's installed. The resource template have also been overhauled. Take a peek and make some skins!
Are you a G3 gamer in a G4 world? The latest tutorial from MacInstruct shows you how to speed up your games.
Charles Stricklin has created a new template for ResEdit. I have never had a need to edit an open resource, but according to Apple, having them in your program make your application compatible with the Translation Manager. Charles adds:
Every new application should have an 'open' resource. Let's put it this way: if your app has a 'kind' resource, it'll have an 'open' resource as well. In a nutshell, it's a programmer thing. :)
Check out the rest of the templates in our Resource archive and se if there is anything there to spark an idea!
File Transmogrifier sounds like a new Pokemon, but Michael Watson has created something entirely different!
After finding myself doing a lot of ResEditing to change type and creator codes, I decided to hop into the Script Editor to see if I might whip up a quick AppleScript utility to change type/creator codes of files to whatever I tell it, not just a fixed type.
Well, it turned into something not even I could contain! Behold, File Transmogrifier! A type/creator editor with options! In AppleScript! Neat-o! It can be found free of monetary charge, I might add!
User Contributed Splash Screens:
You can now upload your contributions to the ResExcellence ftp drop box, and let us know with an email.
- brenda von ahsen does it again with another nice MOSS and ATM set in here beautiful glassy style.
- Built form a collage of lick-and-stick stamps, Keith Shipman submitted this Eudora splash.
- Balitaranto created this MOSS and matching desktop pattern that will look great together.
- A very nice looking Netscape splash was created by Alan Janes. Today's is Teal. Stop back Friday for red.
- A subtle Aqua gradient graces this MOSS by Joonyoung Suk jsuk.
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6/12/00
 In the most lopsided poll in the history of ResExcellence, 84% of readers want AppleWorks to translate MS Office documents. I must too naive to understand the complexities, but it seems to me the creating quality Microsoft Office translators for AppleWorks would bring Apple out from under Microsoft's thumb. Someday when I'm a billionaire, I'll understand these things.
In the Snapshot section, instead of an animated GIF at 256 colors, Jeremy is experimenting with Quicktime transitions for certain previews. These previews only work under recent versions of Quicktime, so to help him out, please take a moment to answer this week's Polling Place question, "Which version of Quicktime do you have installed?".
Mac users have been teased for some time with promises of a new browser from Opera. Macuarium was given special access to an alpha build and files this report.
Something new is cooking at MacInstruct. Every Monday, you can have your questions answered in "Ask MacInstruct". This week's selections cover:
- Connecting to the internet in Mexico
- Where to find the Aqua theme
- Problems resulting from zapping the PRAM
Macthings has posted new Finder Pictures. If you have an iMac or iBook, snap one of these for your Finder window.
Holy Mac has posted on interesting column comparing the processor speeds of the PPC and Intel chips. Do we have a problem?
User Contributed Splash Screens:
Calendar & Appointment Scheduler for Mac OS X
Click here to learn more about Toast 6 Titanium
6/9/00
More tips on getting Adaptec's Toast to work with unsupported drives. This one is from Benjamin Davies:
Following up Teg Bains' Adaptec Jam tip, I too have a CD burner which is incompatible with Jam but operated fine using Toast. In my case it was a Teac model, and there do not seem to be any separate drivers available for it as there are for the Yamaha.
To use my burner with Jam I opened the TPLG resource of Toast and looked through each individual resource until I found the one which matched my drive (each resource has the model it relates to in it). I then copied that resource into Jam's TPLG resource (keeping the same resource ID number). Jam now works perfectly with my drive although I can't guarantee that this will work for every drive.
Ben Lewis created some nice looking throbbers for Explorer 5, but like an Easter Egg, it appears you may have to hunt for them.
Go to my website and just click on the second bean down from the left, and it's the final icon along the top of the page.
Setting Mime Types Under KDE
Mac users are lucky to be spoiled by the invisible Desktop database. It stores information on the applications on your computer, and the files that they are able to open. If you want to override those settings, or add custom application/file associates, you can do it under the Internet Control Panel.
Unfortunately, setting these associations, or mime types, are a little more difficult in Linux.
In this example, I want plain text documents to be opened by NEdit instead of the default Kedit. (Continued...)
User Contributed Splash Screens:
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James Thomson, the author of DragThing, needs the help of ResExcellence readers! The next version of his excellent docking program will be scheme and theme savvy. He is requesting that readers send him the names of some favorites, especially those that have fancy designed tabs, along with a download URL, so he can test them with the latest DragThing beta.
MacInstruct has a new article on the new high-tech pirates of the world! "Black Beard & Captain Kidd! - No Kidding!" discusses the problems faced by Mac users and their Shareware and Commercial Software.
The Outlook Express Sound Set Central web site has moved! Eric Barzeski announces the release of an update to Expressions, the free program that lets you create and modify sound sets for Microsoft's emailer.
Make an Alert Dialog Box Movable (modal)
Today's ResEdit modification was submitted by Brian DePalo from Icon Plaza. It takes the non-modal alert dialogs from an application, and makes them Theme compliant and moveable. (Continued...)
 We haven't seen one of these all year! Isaac Copeland created a new clock for your desktop!
Reminiscent of the Orbit Clock/Desktop combination from Blue Sky Heart Graphics, this new clock/desktop combo is called Alchemy.
Issac said he has several other combos. if readers would like to see them, drop him a line.
User Contributed Splash Screens:
You can now upload your contributions to the ResExcellence ftp drop box, and let us know with an email.
- Jeffrey Chung created a Natalie Portman MOSS. I'm not talking "dorky-dressed Queen Amadala" Portman. He made a "Looks like a goddess/I'm having a mid-life crisis" Natlie Portman.
- Here's another in the Aqua series of splash screens from Lars Mikkelsen. This one is for Explorer 5.
- Our first splash for Anarchie, an ftp client, , was submitted by Keith Shipman. It features Trinity from The Matrix.
- Andy Sohoza created this crimson splash screen for Netscape.
- Regular ResEx contributor, Scott Chitwood, created this cool looking cubic Mac MOSS.
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Calendar & Appointment Scheduler for Mac OS X
 More than two-thirds of ResEx readers want Apple to move to a multi-button mouse. Coincidentally, AppleInsider posted an article about a rumored new mouse from Apple that supports multiple 'buttons' by tilting the mouse.
Lee Joramo weighs in with this sensibly written rebuttal:
I am strongly against Apple shipping multi-button mice.
When you asked, how many mouse buttons I have, I said 4. Every button and chord is programmed for special task (Typically, I use either a Kensington ThinkingMouse, or Turbomouse trackball.)
However, a single button is MUCH easier for the average user. If you have ever worked in technical support or consulting for Windows users, you know that this is true. Windows presents even the entry level user with a multitude of choices. Have you ever had to talk a Window's user through a complex configuration over the phone? "Left double-click the folder icon, now Right single-click the program icon. When the menu comes up Left single-click the word 'Properties' ". Of course, only then do you find out that their Kind Hearted Nephew changed the Mouse Control Panel settings to reverse the mouse button mappings to make things easier for their LEFT-handed aunt.
I believe that the Mac OS user interface "scales" very nicely from Total Computer Newbie (who is trying to understand point-and-click ) up to Joe Super Poweruser (who loves their 4 button mice, AppleScripts, KeyQuencer shortcuts, ResEdits and other ResExcellence type tweaks).
For the average user, more buttons just mean more confusing choices. For us PowerUser's a multi-button mouse is a cheap add-on.
For this week's Polling Place, I dusted off one of my Pet-Peeves for airing in public. After reading this article on the difficulty in running a Microsoft free office, it seemes the largest obstacle has been translating the proprietary Microsoft document formats.
I think Apple should have provided Macintosh users with translators for Office documents. This is the reason I will not update to AppleWorks 6. Oh sure, the latest update provides support for RTF documents, and if integrates better with the DataViz translators, but I want to be able to directly import Office documents without having to purchase an additional set of translators like DataViz.
If you don't you believe it's possible to do so at a reasonable cost, here are some successful examples: Corel WordPerfect (a mainstay in the legal profession) handles Office files wonderfully. The only Linux program I ever purchased was ApplixWare. This $99 office suite also translates Microsoft Office documents. And finally, the soon to be released KOffice from KDE (Linux) will also translate MS Office - and it's free!
So why hasn't Apple added MS Office translators to AppleWorks? I imagine the greatest reason is the same one that caught the attention of the Justice Department, but what do you think? Should AppleWorks have MS Office translators?
Since I don't use the Control Strip, I shouldn't have been surprised when my mailbox filled up with comments on last week's post. Jonathan Signor was first:
In your 6/2 edition, Andrew Alexander whipped up an Applescript to quit and re-launch the Control Strip to see changes with new modules. As of OS 8.5 (and perhaps earlier), this is not necessary. Simply expand the Strip and drag-and-drop the module onto the strip. The mod gets loaded immediately, without a restart. To remove a mod without a restart, expand the strip, hold down "Option", click and hold, release "Option" (or the mod just gets copied) and drag the mod anywhere you like. Viola, it's gone. This was a welcome addition to the OS! Plus, the OS handles for you the moving of the mods to and from the Control Strip Items folder in the System Folder.
Victor Yee has a nice collection of Applescripts on his site for your pleasure. He has also written a script called "bookmarks->html" for Tex-Edit Plus that was submitted to Doug Adams at the "Official Applescripts for TE+ Archives". Users of Netscape 4.x. should find it useful Take a look and see what you think.
User Contributed Splash Screens:
You can now upload your contributions to the ResExcellence ftp drop box, and let us know with an email.
- In a "first of its kind" submission, Emanuel Kühnel created a Liquid Decor for Palm Desktop. The file also contains a duplicate with a different creator code that allows it to work with the older Claris Organizer.
- Terry Duncan sent this flaring Apple throbber for use with both Netscape and Explorer.
- Victoria Secret model, Daniela Pestova looked so angelic to Rodney Douglass, he created a MOSS replacement featuring her.
- The WWF comes to ResEx with this Scorpion splash screen for Explorer made by Brad Gosse.
- As seen with a spotlight, Lars Mikkelsen sent this Netscape 4.7 splash in the style of Netscape 6.
- Andy Melchers created an About this Mac replacement in pretty blue OS X. The archive includes a bonus version for lovers of UnReal.
- "Think Aqua" is the message in this MOSS by Adam Bukowinski.
Click here to learn more about Toast 6 Titanium
Complete Cable Management For The Home & Office.
6/2/00
While we certainly don't claim to be a gossip/rumor site, the other morning a little birdie whispered this in our ear...
 I saw your note on ResExcellence about Jens' legal run-in with Apple over Stickies.
FYI, this is similar to what happened to Arlo Rose over his Mekong interface design. Like Jens, Arlo was working on Mekong as his own private project, done entirely on his own time and on his own equipment, but when Arlo implemented Mekong as a Kaleidoscope scheme, Apple claimed that it belonged to them. However, the differences here are that Arlo was no longer working at Apple at the time, Apple never had any intention of releasing Mekong themselves, and Arlo did not get a nice bonus like Jens did.
One of Arlo's current projects is heading up the user interface team at Eazel. Started by several of the early Macintosh programmers, Eazel will work with Gnome to make the Linux desktop as easy to use as a Mac. The plan is to make money supporting the interface. (but if it's as easy to use as a Mac, how do you make money supporting it? :)
Dan from AppleWizards sent a couple of links to some cool Japanese GUI sites. The font collections are particularly cool: Maniacker's Designs and Fontage.
If you add or subtract modules to Apple's Control Strip and don't want to restart to see the effect, Andrew Alexander whipped up this simple Applescript.
I installed a new control strip module today (aren't they great?) However, I had quite a few applications open in the Finder, and so I didn't really want to restart just to add a new module. So, I figured that since the control strip is just a background application, It could be told to quit and start via AppleScript. I composed the following, and it worked perfectly!
tell application "Control Strip Extension"
quit
activate
end tell
Lindsay Dubb's Keyquencer Page lists several extensions to the handy macro program: a way to run KeyQuencer macros from OneClick, and UEDA Ryohei's InfoFloater application which adds floating palettes and popup menus to KeyQuencer.
The Mac Surf Shop has just ported its popular MacOS Spin 2k and Apple Spin 2k screen savers into some very awesome web browser throbbers! These new throbbers support all major modern web browsers (Internet Explorer 5, Netscape 4.x, Netscape 6pr, iCab, & Mozilla) and they are packaged with some very simple installation instructions!
Ice Cubes in that Soda?
My favorite Linux battery monitoring program has been updated. Development version Pmudmon 0.5 has been posted. Please send feedback to the developer. If this version checks out ok, if will become the final release 1.0.
Mac-on-Linux is rapidly moving again! A flurry of updates over the past few days have added sound capabilities and fixed several pesky bugs.
There was something I was suppose to tell you, but I can't remember. Memory, that's it! MacInstruct has published a new tutorial called, "Memory Basics"
User Contributed Splash Screens:
You can now upload your contributions to the ResExcellence ftp drop box, and let us know with an email.
- Melissa Jenoff created a MOSS based on the work of Michelangelo. Ilona has listed a matching desktop picture in her section below.
- I like Brad Gosse, but I hate that Taco Bell Chihuahua that he used in his latest splash screen for Netscape!
- Featuring two little cartoon characters that I have never seen before, Rick Rice created this splash screen for Outlook Express 5.
- Derek Gordon submitted another variation of his Aqua makeover for Extension Strip, a Control Strip replacement.
- To simplify rebuilding his desktop in a most thorough way, Rick Bargerhuff created this Applescript that makes the two Desktop files visible, moves them to the Trash, and Restarts the computer. Maybe you'll like it too.
- Today I start posting a series of Aqua splash screens by Lars Mikkelsen. This first one is for Netscape!
Support ResExcellence By Visiting Our Sponsors!
Support ResExcellence By Visiting Our Sponsors!
6/2/00
While we certainly don't claim to be a gossip/rumor site, the other morning a little birdie whispered this in our ear...
I saw your note on ResExcellence about Jens' legal run-in with Apple over Stickies.
FYI, this is similar to what happened to Arlo Rose over his Mekong interface design. Like Jens, Arlo was working on Mekong as his own private project, done entirely on his own time and on his own equipment, but when Arlo implemented Mekong as a Kaleidoscope scheme, Apple claimed that it belonged to them. However, the differences here are that Arlo was no longer working at Apple at the time, Apple never had any intention of releasing Mekong themselves, and Arlo did not get a nice bonus like Jens did.
One of Arlo's current projects is heading up the user interface team at Eazel. Started by several of the early Macintosh programmers, Eazel will work with Gnome to make the Linux desktop as easy to use as a Mac. The plan is to make money supporting the interface. (but if it's as easy to use as a Mac, how do you make mony supporting it? :)
Dan from AppleWizards sent a couple of links to some cool Japanese GUI sites. The font collections are particularly cool: Maniacker's Designs and Fontage.
If you add or subtract modules to Apple's Control Strip and don't want to restart to see the effect, Andrew Alexander whipped up this simple Applescript.
I installed a new control strip module today (aren't they great?) However, I had quite a few applications open in the Finder, and so I didn't really want to restart just to add a new module. So, I figured that since the control strip is just a background application, It could be told to quit and start via AppleScript. I composed the following, and it worked perfectly!
tell application "Control Strip Extension"
quit
activate
end tell
Lindsay Dubb's Keyquencer Page lists several extensions to the handy macro program: a way to run KeyQuencer macros from OneClick, and UEDA Ryohei's InfoFloater application which adds floating palettes and popup menus to KeyQuencer.
The Mac Surf Shop has just ported its popular MacOS Spin 2k and Apple Spin 2k screen savers into some very awesome web browser throbbers! These new throbbers support all major modern web browsers (Internet Explorer 5, Netscape 4.x, Netscape 6pr, iCab, & Mozilla) and they are packaged with some very simple installation instructions!
Ice Cubes in that Soda?
My favorite Linux battery monitoring program has been updated. Development version Pmudmon 0.5 has been posted. Please send feedback to the developer. If this version checks out ok, if will become the final release 1.0.
Mac-on-Linux is rapidly moving again! A flurry of updates over the past few days have added sound capabilities and fixed several pesky bugs.
There was something I was suppose to tell you, but I can't remember. Memory, that's it! MacInstruct has published a new tutorial called, "Memory Basics"
User Contributed Splash Screens:
You can now upload your contributions to the ResExcellence ftp drop box, and let us know with an email.
- Melissa Jenoff created a MOSS based on the work of Michelangelo. Ilona has listed a matching desktop picture in her section below.
- I like Brad Gosse, but I hate that Taco Bell Chihuahua that he used in his latest splash screen for Netscape!
- Featuring two little cartoon characters that I have never seen before, Rick Rice created this splash screen for Outlook Express 5.
- Derek Gordon submitted another variation of his Aqua makeover for Extension Strip, a Control Strip replacement.
- To simplify rebuilding his desktop in a most thorough way, Rick Bargerhuff created this Applescript that makes the two Desktop files visible, moves them to the Trash, and Restarts the computer. Maybe you'll like it too.
- Today I start posting a series of Aqua splash screens by Lars Mikkelsen. This first one is for Netscape!
Click here to learn more about Toast 6 Titanium
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