Today's News by Cletus™
FruitMenu 2.5.1 is available for download from Unsanity. This version adds several new features, and provides a few bug fixes.
Added an option to make Application menu appear as an icon instead of an applications name (Jaguar only).
- FruitMenu will no longer show preference panes in the preferences submenu (such as Ink or Bluetooth) that are not available .
- Added an option to show "Clear Menu" option for Recent Items menus.
- Fixed a bug with recent disk images mounting on desktop when viewing recent documents menu.
- Special folders like Desktop are no longer allowed to be moved via Move To command.
- Improved the appearance of "Recent Items" submenu.
Iconizer Pro 1.7.6 has been updated. It runs on the legacy Mac systems— 8.5 or higher. This is an application developed for generating a set of 32 bit (16 millions, full colors) icons from any picture.
You got it, TinkerTool 2.31 is out!. Unfortunately the one update is the disabling of certain controls when running Jaguar. It performs the best when run on Mac OS X 10.1. But they are working on it.
Dock Manager 1.7beta2 is out and provides "preliminary support for Mac OS X 10.2. This program allows for control of multiple Docks. With this version the name is changed to Dock Manager (from Dock Switcher). Something even cooler is that they added support for customizing the poofs in 10.2 and 10.1. Remember, ResExcellence has Poofs.....
Fell asleep and missed the DragThing notice on the home page concerning the status of the next release! Sorry! Plus James has a little poll running to gain some information. Stop by and provide some information for him.
A new feature called "Start at Login" is the main change in this version of DeskEffects version 1.5. DeskEffects is a preference pane that offers users access to foreground and background desktop screen effects and offers complete priority control.
I have been following the forums at Apple since I began running Mac OS X. Every now and then you run into something worthwhile. These two specific areas seems to be very worthwhile and the replies in them indicate that performing this exercise works. If your machine is running slow or you seem to have problems in certain applications or printing, run DiskUtility from the install disk. I did this last night and despite having done an Archive and Clean Install, found errors. Topic 1, and Topic 2.
I checked with Brian Hill as to whether the "clean-up" scripts still ran at something like 3 a.m. and whether you still needed to run MacJanitor if you do not have your computer running at this time. He assured me that the scripts still run at that time. He further assured me that MacJanitor 1.2 still works fine on 10.2. Thanks Brian.
Have a Press Release? Software or General News? Submit it here: Suggestions!
Calendar & Appointment Scheduler for Mac OS X
Tools of the Trade by Michael Coyle
There has GOT to be a better way to figure out this Quartz Extreme stuff! For some readers, Quartz Extreme Check X 1.1 reported they were accelerated, but the mouse cursor did not have the drop shadow. For others, the opposite was true. Does Apple provide any way for users to tell for certain if QE is enabled?
If you have the Developers Tools installed, look in the Applications folder for "OpenGL Info". Notice the screenshot below. Does the fact that this says "Hardware Accelerated" mean that it's Quartz Accelerated? I don't have the answer. Does anyone? Let me know.
New Section at ResExcellence: Boot Images!
Like most of us, Ryan Schmidt doesn't have enough free time. After devising a way to change the boot image in MacOS X 10.2 (what was once the Happy Mac Icon), Ryan had hoped to set up an archive for users to submit replacement Boot Images, but he was already too busy with other projects.
Since I have nothing but free time (HA!), ResExcellence has offered to host the Boot Image archive! To make life even easier, Ryan wrote an Applescript utility to make changing the Boot Image as easy as "Drag and Drop". I have tried the script several times and this is one-cool-new-way to customize you Mac! The rumor on the street is that the finishing touches are being put on an application to make the task even easier.
Visit the new archive, get the utility, download a replacement image, and get hacking!
For users of Classic MacOS, Ben Boldt has created a nice looking Appearance Theme called Moby. Grab it in the archive.
Still trying to backup and restore under 10.2...
Several readers let me know a new version of Carbon Copy Cloner has been released and it works in 10.2. (This is beta so be careful!). And Michael Watson wrote to say he is in the process of updating his PDF tutorial on command line techniques for backing up.
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?)
- If you like the band Oasis, take a look at these two Boot Panels from Beetle Matt. If you don't like Oasis, move along...
- In today's Boot Panel from John Rose, view one of his lovely pencil sketches called "Peeking".
- Francesco Ventimiglia has updated his NO LOGO Interarchy Interface.
- Here's a colorful boot panel featuring Max Payne by Jim Phillimore.
Click here to learn more about Toast 6 Titanium
Today's News by Cletus™
The winners of the Default Folder contest have been drawn. Once again the contest had a ton of entries. St. Clair Software and ResExcellence would like to thank all those who took the time to enter and send our congratulations to the winners below:
You may also be interested in the next release of Default Folder 1.6.2. This version is a maintenance release to address problems with Mac OS X 10.2 ("Jaguar") and to resolve compatibility issues with Print Center, QuicKeys, Project Builder, and DragStrip. This release also improves performance and addresses a number of other minor issues. All users of Default Folder X are encouraged to download and install this free update.
If you yearn to have a more unique Dock then what Apple provides, then you will want to give the newest version of Clear Dock a shot. With this newest release it is now possible to select the application triangles color and opacity to suit your config. There you go!
Usanity is not done there as they release updates to two key programs for any Mac OS X 10.2 users: Application Enhancer 1.1 and WindowShade X 2.1.1. Many enhancements and bug fixes are in both updates. For a full list you can stop by Unsanity and check out the specifics.
ClarusX v2 is a Mac OS X hack to replace the page setup dialog icons (aka "boring guy") found in Mac OS X with that classic Macintosh icon, Clarus the Dogcow. Version 2.0 adds a lovely installer and compatibility with Jaguar (10.2). I have mentioned this hack once before and everyone was happy with it.
Switcheroo v2.0 is a major revision of this Dock replacement program by Carson Baker. Not only comes the update, but this little tidbit of info from Carson: I thought the ResEx readers might like a feature that I added that allows you to stylize the main bar in 8 different Aqua "flavors". You can even create your own (if you know what you're doing). I bet they will like it Carson, thanks!
YazSoft have released the newest version of Speed Download. One of the many changes, yet the most important for many is the comptibility with Mac OS X.
TransparentDock 2.0.2 is an application that allows customization of the Mac OS X 10.2 dock. The transparency level of the dock is fully adjustable, from fully transparent to fully opaque, or somewhere in between.
DeskEffects 1.0 is a very popular preference pane that offers users access to foreground and background desktop screen effects and offers complete priority control. Check this one out!
DockFun! X 3.0.1 is the very popular program that allows you to have up to 10 different docks, with which you can organize not only your applications but also your main Folders and Documents.
Spring is a new desktop design that provides a forward thinking GUI. From the description on the page: (Jaguar support pending)
"The Spring Desktop is concept-centric, not file, folder, site, or brand-centric. It's designed for the way you naturally think. Imagine that you don't have to go to five different applications to communicate with the same person."
DockSwap 1.5.1 brings compatibility for Jaguar to this multiple Dock configuration program. This release also fixes a problem where the application would freeze when creating a new dock and adds an option to hide DockSwap's dock icon.
Daniel Kennett wrote to me asking if I would post a special offer to ResExcellence readers. He was so pleased with a previous contest he had participated with ResExcellence on and thought you may be interested in helping out with the next major revision of his Writer program. He writes:
"Writer (a word processor for Mac OS X and 9) is about to go into testing stages for its next major revision (3.0). I'd like to offer ResExcellence readers the chance to join the beta testing team. This will most probably be a forum based experience where people discuss bugs and feature requests for the test releases. Members accepted into the beta team will get credit in the programs about box, and a free license to Writer for life. If you want to apply, please send email to me with info about your system set-up and a little bit about yourself, and I'll get back to you."
Some people never throw anything away it seems. I have been reading some of the Apple forums posts concerning the Mail.app. I have also been reading some reviews about the program at various sites as well. Several refer to thousands of emails in their databases. One actually had 30,000 plus. Eh gads! Is this the norm? I used the Apple Script included in the program to total mine. I have 800. I was surprised I had that many. Once I delete the entries of the last contest 390, I will have 410. I even feel that is a bit much. If I deleted my folder of registrations for programs and sites etc, I would get it down another 150. I guess I just use the delete button more then most?
Have a Press Release? Software or General News? Submit it here: Suggestions!
Snapshots by Jeremy Hoesly
Come for your fill of snapshots:
- The “Faux Fur” and “Aqua Blue” desktop pictures become one in this anonymous screenshot. NeuralPad, a network utility, displays a splash screen with clashing olive green, an eye-catcher to be sure.
- An “Aqua Grey” desktop picture and Max Rudberg’s Brushed Theme are showcased in this contribution from Miles Cochran. MM Graphite icons replace system icons via CandyBar.
- John Hendron submits this screenshot sporting a custom “Mac Picasso” desktop picture handcrafted in Adobe Illustrator and polished in Photoshop. Macromedia Flash MX is in the midst of producing a flash movie in the upper left.
- Anime Wallpapers’ “Son Goku” desktop picture and the Aqua Jaguar Theme debut in this contribution from Jose Subiabre. Hein’s Hardware icons from MiXthePiX abound.
See just how easy it is to contribute to ResExcellence! Give our browser-based submission upload page a whirl.
Complete Cable Management For The Home & Office.
Polling Place by Michael Coyle 
Last week I covered the problems I had updating to 10.2, almost all of which were caused by backing up and restoring my hard disk with Retrospect. Many readers recommended Carbon Copy Cloner, but the newest version does not currently work with MacOS X 10.2
Michael Watson has written a 'must read' tutorial on backing up MacOS X and the problems involving volume size, permissions, and resource forks. He also introduces a new command line application called ditto [pdf file].
I have a new Firewire drive arriving next week and the first thing I'll attempt are some of these new backup strategies. I'll keep you posted on the results.
Regarding major system upgrades, the vast majority of readers have had no problems at all. "Props" to Apple for making the process so easy.
In the Coyle Household, I installed 10.2 on two additional Powerbooks: a G3/266 Wallstreet, and a G3/500 Pismo. Both went smooth as silk. In fact, for the first time the Wallstreet has working 802.11 networking thanks to an open source driver written by our buddy Benjamin Herrenschmidt.
A couple of years ago, if you wanted the best price on software or computer hardware you shopped online, but recently I have noticed the large 'brick-and-mortar' computer retailers are very competitively priced, and the cost of shipping versus sales tax is often very similar.
As a result, my buying habits have shifted again. The first place I look to make a purchase is from one of the fine sponsors of ResExcellence (duh, this is how my firewire drive was purchased!), next I look to traditional retailers like CompUSA, and finally as a last resort I'll grab a MacMall or MacWarehouse catalog. What about you? This week's Polling Place asks, "Where do you buy most of your computer stuff?"
Tools of the Trade by Michael Coyle
Quartz Extreme anyone? If you have updated to 10.2 you may be wondering if Quartz Extreme is enabled on your hardware. Quartz Extreme Check X 1.1 is a little utility that will confirm it, but maybe there is a simpler way. It seems if your computer does not support QE, then you never get to see the new drop-shadowed cursor as your default pointer.
More on ScreenSavers as desktop pictures...
After last week's posting of the terminal command to set a screensaver module as the desktop picture, readers recommended several new applications to make the process easier:
Greg Fiumara has updated his cool utility for changing application splash screens! Custom Splash Installer (CSI) now supports Opera 5.0b4, Toon Boom Studio 1, AppleWorks 6, and the Microsoft Office v.X office suite. These new apps are in addition to: Mozilla, Netscape, Internet Explorer, OmniWeb, Acrobat Reader 5 and Chimera.
Odds and Ends...
Paging Juan Rubio. Will Juan Rubio please report to the Customer Service at the front of the store. Hey Juan, you're the winner of this months $50.00 gift certificate from PowerMax! The problem is that none of your Desktop Snapshots contain an email address, so contact me ASAP to get your prize!
Is it just me, or do the icons of an alias seems to have a slight transparency that is missing on regular icons? It doesn't seem to matter what I make the alias from the icon appears a little faded. Let me know.
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?)
- Using the Quicktime brushed metal style that appears to be getting more prevalent in new Apple applications, Deggy created a Jaguar Boot panel.
- Since I don't use MSN, I'm not quite sure what gets changed in this skin by Paul van der noordaa, but I believe it turns Smileys into kangi characters.
- Stepping up to the plate with two new Boot Panels, John Rose features Marilyn Monroe and the Starship Enterprise.
- Also from the Star Trek universe, Ian Meyer created a Classic MOSS using the logo from the next Trek movie: Nemesis.
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