Gideon Greenspan has posted version 1.2.5 of Drop Drawers. Drop Drawers provides a sliding drawer that can hold a seemingly endless variety of "things." A true enhancement tool to be sure. Store text, clippings, URLs, aliases, folders, pictures, sounds, movies and really anything else you can think of. This version adds "system theme support for backgrounds and tab shapes (on OS 8.5 or later). This also makes Drop Drawers fully Kaleidoscope aware." Did I mention there is also a native Carbon application version for Mac OS X. Oh yeah, one more thing! Read the interview with Gideon.

Mihai Parparita from Mscape Software has updated Iconographer. Iconographer is a fully-featured 32-bit and Mac OS X compatible icon editor. This version update includes:

• Support for editing Mac OS X icons (128 x 128 size, .icns files)
• Completely revamped user interface featuring flexible floating palettes
• Support for an external editor
• Most settings (current color, tool, pattern, etc.) are preserved
across launches
• Many bug fixes and usability improvements.

Wade Cosgrove has released clipEdit 2.1.1. This fixes several bugs from the previous version. He writes: Bugs that were fixed include slowdowns when hundreds of fonts are active, slow text selection when a large group of text is selected, as well as several other minor problems. This version also improves overall speed due to internal changes.

Eradicator 1.5 by Scott Crick has been released. Eradicator 1.5 adds several customer-requested features including the ability to delete extremely large files, a "Select All" command and more!

Fire Imp Software has updated DesktopDemon to version 1.3. This applescript will memorize your desktop in it's entirety. What is new you ask? Well, "Launch on Startup" now collapses all open folder windows when restarting.

TaskMenuBar has gone to version 2.2.0. Use your menu bar more effectively for many operations such as launching and switching applications via this control panel. Changes include.

• "Printer" menu to select the default desktop printer.
• "Eject" menu to eject removable volumes.
• Folder menu item grouping.
• Can disable folder menu icons.

Looking for a Hi-Tech SoundJam skin? You will want to get Hi-TequeJam 1.0 at Desktopper dot net.

If there are any Software authors out there who's software appears in ResExcellence's Software Archive and you are working on a Mac OS X compatible version, please let me know! In fact, if anyone knows of Mac OS X compatible software in our Archive drop me a line. Thanks!

Submit Software News Suggestions!

---

Support ResExcellence By Visiting Our Sponsors!

---

9/12/00

Snapshot Gallery by Jeremy Hoesly

Fresh snapshots for Tuesday! Get ’em while they’re hot:

• Darth Maul is back again in this submission from Kevin Adams sporting a custom desktop picture and the B.T. K-Scheme.
  
  
• An Aqua desktop pattern and a customized Platinum Theme debut in this screenshot from Christiaan Briggs. OS X icons from Rob Cousins and Adams Carroll and the Jewel icons from Layne Karkruff are visible throughout the shot.
  
  
• Will Croft is back with another submission, this time touting Digital Blasphemy’s “Chamelea” desktop picture as well as a customized Platinum Theme. A custom built browser is showcased at left center, and a custom Speech Recognition program is featured in the lower right-hand corner! Impressive!
  
  
• This twin snapshot set from Phillip Devita sports RAILhead Design’s “XTop” desktop picture in conjunction with Ben Mackin’s Liquid Theme. With the magic of Title Free and Icon Builder, Phillip has managed to hide his desktop icons plus create an impressive fading effect with the 8-bit mask of these invisible 32-bit icons. SoundJam, overhauled with the converted Reintegration Audion face, is dishing out tunes in the upper left-hand corner.
  
  
• This submission from faithful contributor Nick Ditmore features a drop-dead awesome custom desktop picture coupled with the Ink K-Scheme. Audion, outfitted with the Mini FX face by Chaos Design is spitting out songs in the lower right. Icons from icons.cx, Icon Factory, and others are situated along the right edge.
  
  
• A modified version of the “XTop” desktop picture along with the MacQNX K-Scheme are shown off in this snapshot from Pabre Sinew. Audion, equipped with the F1 face, is kicking out soundwaves at left center. Icons from the Icon Factory are situated on both sides of the shot.
  
  

Show us your desktop! Take a look at the submission guidelines page for details!

9/13/00

This program cannot be run in DOS mode.

Well Duh!

---

Support ResExcellence By Visiting Our Sponsors!

---

Software News: by Cletus™

Alexander wrote in to recommend a new piece of software you can try out called IconParty. It is still in the pre-release phase. It is a painting tool that supports System 256 colors and an icon editor. It can load PICT, PNG images, custom icons (folder / file) and resource files. It can save in PICT, PNG, GIF(mi-GIF), Macintosh icons (folder) and Windows™ icons. To expand the download archive you will need MacLHA which is available through a link on the page. Direct download link here.

Vincent Jalby released a beta version of iNotePad. It is meant as a replacement for Apple's Notepad. He is asking for input on this new piece of software. A screenshot of the iNotepad is posted here.

Clean-Install Assistant 1.5 by Marc Moini was released today. He writes: Version 1.5, released today, allows moving files from Mac OS 9.0.4 to a newer Mac OS version, or to/from 9.0.4 and previous versions. It is now able to identify the version number of the System Folder it is working on, to recognize Apple files from other versions as additions.

A while back Dan Flax —check out his site — mentioned this piece of software to me. I can't remember if I mentioned it then or not. But when I got a notice about it being updated, I thought I would list it now. The software is called MindControl. The description is from the homepage and goes like this: MindControl basically puts all of your favorite applications, recent documents, desktop items, URLS, and even AppleScripts and servers on your network right at your fingertips. Just hit Command + Tilde, and a simple gray bar menu appears across the bottom of your screen.

SpeedApp from Stefano Ghielmi has gone to version 1.0.2. This application launcher, which is listed in our Archive lists the following changes and fixes.

• It is now possible to quit SpeedApp after running an application by pressing the command key instead to select the check box in the preferences window.
• It is now possible to switch to memory panel when getting the infos by pressing the command key instead to select the check box in the preferences window.
• Corrected some visual bug in the main window.
• Corrected the shareware trial countdown time code. Now the trial time really ends after 15 days.

Michael Rabe dropped me a note listing some of the recent changes at Doghouse Online concerning the themes archive. Updates to the theme "Candy" include fixes for a small bug, addition of icons and a desktop picture that coordinates better with the theme.

Additionally he writes: I have also released the previews for all four of the NEW Glassworks Themes. (Indigo, Ruby, Sage, and Snow) they all in the beta testing phase right now if all goes well they should be out soon.

Submit Software News Suggestions!

---

Snapshot Gallery by Jeremy Hoesly

You’ve made it to the midweek. Get a jump-start with today’s snapshot lineup:

• A William Bart inspired custom desktop picture is featured in this screenshot by Beedut. Audion, overhauled with the F1 face by Paul Johnson and Ric Zito, is taking music requests in the lower right. A collection of icons by Tobais Tørnblom, Igarashi Susumu, and Hide Itoh are also visible.
  
  
• This submission from Clayton gives us another peer into Mac OS X DP4. SoundJam serves up the music in the upper left-hand corner.
  
  
• The “Northern Lights” desktop picture in this submission by faithful contributor Will Croft is shown off along with the IZA Shock Absorber Spirit K-Scheme. Audion, equipped with the ETOLS face by Scott Denowh, is kicking out soundwaves in the center.
  
  
• This snapshot from Ellard sports the “Beef Steak Dinner 3” desktop pattern from Propoganda’s eleventh volume combined with the Grafito 32000 K-Scheme. SoundJam, retooled with the converted Stereo WinAmp skin, is dishing out tunes in the upper left-hand corner.
  
  
• A custom desktop picture and the Silencio K-Scheme debut in this contribution from Gavin Laurie. Audion dishes out the tunes in the lower right.
  
  
• David Zuhoski submitted this snapshot touting the “Space Dust” desktop picture from Visual Paradox in conjunction with the Hi-Tech Theme. Icons from Icon Factory, ResExcellence, and others are showcased throughout the shot.
  
  

Show us your desktop! Take a look at the submission guidelines page for details!

---

---

9/14/00

Snapshot Gallery by Jeremy Hoesly

Here’s Thursday’s serving of snapshots:

• The “Quantum Foam” desktop picture and Kei Kinoshita’s Estaño K-Scheme debut in this snapshot from André Behrens. Audion, equipped with the Reintegration Graphite face is tickling the eardrums in the upper left-hand corner. A smorgesbord of icons mostly from icons.cx and ResExcellence’s own Icon Archive, are scattered throughout.
  
  
• Leelee Sobieski is shown off in a custom desktop picture featured in this submission from Nick Ditmore along with the BlueMama K-Scheme by Albie Wong. Audion, outfitted with his Audion X face, is providing the music at right center. Icons from icons.cx, Icon Factory, and others are also showcased.
  
  
• This contribution from J. Guzman sports a marble-like desktop picture with Maury McCown’s MacQNX K-Scheme. Audion, retro-fitted with what looks like a modified version of the Blade face, is dishing out tunes in the lower left.
  
  
• Patrick Kelleher submitted this snapshot featuring “TheCentre” desktop picture and Neutech Theme. SoundJam configured with the Bubble Life Audion face, is sitting in as digital DJ in the lower right. Various icons, including a few from ResExcellence’s Icon Archive, are also visible.
  
  
• The Matrix returns in this submission from Mark Rice touting the “Matrix” desktop picture and Windows 98 K-Scheme. A bit gutsy, but interesting.
  
  
• Tim Wojtulewicz contributed this screenshot sporting the “Gundam 2” desktop picture from DeskMod and Toren Valimir’s I/OS X Graphite K-Scheme. Audion retooled with the Reintegration face, is kicking out soundwaves in the upper left-hand corner.
  
  

Show us your desktop! Take a look at the submission guidelines page for details!

---

9/11/00

I can't express my amazement at the fact that over 80% of ResEx readers use font smoothing. It always makes me feel like I need glasses! I was talking this over with Cletus and Jeremy, both of whom use it, and one possible reason I don't like it may be because I have an LCD display. Maybe the sharpness of the LCD pixels don't lend them selves to aliasing as well as a CRT. Opinions?

Another recent discussion I had with our resident artist Ilona Melis revolved around fonts. Unless it's something unusual, I stay away from Type 1, preferring TrueType fonts under both Mac and Linux. She readily uses both. What about you? This week's Polling Place asks, "What kind of fonts do you usually use?".

---

ResExcellence is very proud to announce that it is the official home of the Interarchy Wand Archive. It seems that while readers were creating Wands for posting here, more were piling up at the headquarters of Interarchy. Thanks to a new symbiotic relationship, the folks at Interarchy forwarded their backlog for posting at ResExcellence. Today's offering contains four new Wands.

---

The ResExcellence Hosts file has received an update. About half a dozen popular Mac sites have been added.

---

This is usually Ilona's department, but I received late word that Mike Davidson updated his "Mac File Library" with tons of new transparent desktop pictures for Mac OS 8.5 or later.

---

The boys at Holy Mac got their hands on a review copy of Office 2001 and filed this report. On another note, there is a humorous article about sex and your Sims.

---

MacInstruct has added a new set of Dear Mac questions:

How to open media files.
How to turn older Macs into fishtanks!
How to turn your modem's sound down (but not off).
How to change your default browser.
Where to find support for Internet Explorer.
How to delete favorites in Internet Explorer.
How to delete Explorer, long live Netscape! (ok, I admit I added that one.)

---

User Contributed Splash Screens:

• To coincide with the opening of the Wand Archive, Mark Leslie submitted a replacement splash screen for Interarchy featuring the Danger Girls.
  
  
• Jan Mast's MOSS featuring his girlfriend reminded me of those warm and fuzzy feelings I had as a young man in love with my college sweetheart - then she dumped me like a ton of bricks. Hey Jan, way to score some points! Be sure to email the URL to the future in-laws.
  
  
• I have know idea who the featured young lady is, but Erik Fritz sent in three items under the heading PETA, and we're not talking about protecting animals:
  • Giant PETA MOSS
  • Explorer splash
  • MS Word Splash
    
    
• Another series of About this Mac replacements was created by Alex Kleiner. This group features more Mac hardware, including Powerbooks.
  
  
• Dale Critchley created a cool splash for Acrobat featuring an X-Men character.
  
  
• Simple in its design, yet humorous, this Giant MOSS by Steven Kelly is called "Walls or Windows". His homepage has some nice looking desktops featuring pin-up art from the 40's and 50's.
  
  
• Making a political statement, Frédéric Rossoni submitted this Netscape splash featuring the Russian President!

---

Icon & Desktop News by Ilona

Icon Archive: One new set!

Miguel D'Amico beautified some BeOS icons to 32bits in his "Be Stylish" set.

Desktop Archive: Six new pictures!

• The beauty on this desktop picture "With Love" is Jan Mast's girlfriend, as an excellent example that it is not necessary to search for models and actress to have a lovely face on your the desktop.
  
  
• Casio's "Reflection" is an interesting expression.
  
  
• The "Rainbow", made by Frank, is somewhat unusual from those we usually see in the sky.
  
  
• "Airbus" is by Mando Gomez from Mandolux, where you can also find new "Campaign 2000" desktop pictures, now with "Bush/Cheney". The site by the way has has a new domain, so you may want to update your bookmark.
  
  
• "Dangerous Waters" is from Akio who keeps placing pretty comic book characters into great looking desktop pictures.
  
  
• Scott Chitwood sent a giant patterned "Sapphire" to the Desktop Archive (one of his 9 new desktop pictures).
  
  

Thanks to everyone! Enjoy! And don't forget: The Archives are always open for your contributions!

LivePencil has two new icon sets, and though the subjects are not funny at all, still you just have to laugh!

A new icon set and many new desktop pictures are waiting for you at Tray's Trove.

My friend Carrie has quickly become one of my favorite makers of cute icons. Her newly released "Mood Swings" is a lovely set, guarantied to make you laugh when you use them on your desktop. Get them from Pixelplush.

IconMuseo hasn't posted new icons this time, but it has a great site makeover. Tatsuya thought of those who don't use the Flash plug-in, so there are both versions available.

Matt came back from a long vacation, and the first thing he did was prepare his next update with two new icon sets: "The Dirty Deity 2" and "Y-Men". There is a new section as well, opening with four new desktop pictures. All the new goodies will be available sometime today at Matt's Matrix.

Though it's called "Flash Iterate" it has nothing to do with the browser plug-in, but it sure sounds cool, so does the look since it's the newest Desktop Console at Blue Sky Heart Graphics.

Three new desktop pictures with Earthy colors, thought one of them is named "Mars Dreams", can be found at Saffron Graphics.

PC Weenies announces prize giveaways for the 8th Cartoon Caption Contest. Give it a try!

What's new on your site? Icons? Desktop pictures? Inform us! We'll post it!

---

Calendar & Appointment Scheduler for Mac OS X

---

Software News: by Cletus™

On Firday I received a PR notice of AuoMenus Pro 4.0 from someone calling themeselves Michael Conrad. Shortly after and throughout the weekend I received ResExcellence reader support for the product. I even added it to the Archive as support was overwhelming. Eventually the praises turned to complaints from many of the same readers. Next the homepage "Night Light Software" disappeared. When I tried to track it down through Version Tracker I came upon this under the "User Rating" section from the real Michael Conrad. I have deleted the archive entry.

So why mention this at all? Well if you happened to download the software it can obviously cause problems for your system. I feel you should be aware of this. So I guess instead of recommending this software I am recommending you not use it.

I may just start requiring some form of proof when I get PR notices from now on! Something along the lines of a DNA report perhaps! :)

Akio's posted some "Aqua-ish" schemes on Friday and now has posted some nice looking Internet Explorer Skins. For the Skins you will want to check under the "Other" page.

Submit Software News Suggestions!

---

Snapshot Gallery by Jeremy Hoesly

It’s Monday again. Start off the week with a helping of snapshots:

• Akio is back with this snapshot sporting the custom “Bio-Blade” desktop picture and Aquafine Graphite K-Scheme. Audion, retro-fitted with the Blade face and modified to match the desktop colors, dishes out the music in the lower right. The Danger Girl icons as well as other custom icons are scattered throughout the shot.
  
  
• Rene Almanza’s “Skull” desktop picture in combination with Akio’s Aquafine Graphite K-Scheme debut in this screenshot by long-time contributor Alberto Chávez. Audion, retooled with the Maya face, is taking requests in the upper left-hand corner.
  
  
• A desktop picture from Anime Wallpapers is featured in this submission from Mike Chen along with Akio’s Aquafine K-Scheme. SoundJam, outfitted with the Elmo skin is pushing out soundwaves at bottom center. Icons from icons.cx line the right edge.
  
  
• A custom desktop picture and Albie Wong’s Electric Monk K-Scheme make an appearance in this snapshot from Nick Ditmore. Audion, decked out with the F1 face by Paul Johnson and Ric Zito, is serving up music at lower center. Icons from icons.cx, Icon Factory, and others are also featured.
  
  
• This contribution from Martus touts an “Alfred Hitchcock” desktop picture in conjunction with the Dark Platinum Theme. The dark and simple desktop picture mimics his philosophy in movies.
  
  
• Regular contributor Mike Orticari is back with another submission, this time featuring a custom desktop picture and the Paper Lite Theme. Audion, configured with the X Fusion face, is sitting in as digital DJ in the upper left-hand corner.
  
  

Show us your desktop! Take a look at the submission guidelines page for details!

---

Click here to learn more about Toast 6 Titanium

---

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