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Today's News by Cletus™ The contest is now officially over. Thanks to those who entered. Please check back on Monday to see if you won.
Simple to enter, great prize to win and all for free! What? It is the contest we have going on at the moment. Memory Usage Getter is up for grabs. What a nice way to tell how your memory is being used. Familiar interface, like what you use to see in the legacy OS's. Enter today and up until Saturday evening and see if you win one of the five free registrations available.
Unsanity software has done it again. They never stop do they? From the description: Labels X adds file labeling features into Mac OS X. This means, you can apply various color tints to file icons, and sort the files by label. This gives you more freedom and options in organizing your files. Additionally, Labels X shares file label information with Mac OS 9, so no matter, where you label your files - you will see the labels in both Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X (file labeling is a built-in feature in Mac OS 9).
 Applies color tint labels to Finder icons;
- Adds "Label" column to Finder list view to sort files by label;
- Easy-to-use contextual menu to view and change labels for files;
- Simple preference pane with an ability to change label names and
colors;
- Only $7 with lifetime free upgrades.
The Clam has announced the release of Snatcher at version 1.0a6. Snatcher is an easy to use, screenshot program for Mac OS X. Snatcher can save in five different formats, with various options. It is freeware. Changes to this version include: Aquafied nicer icon, progressive JPEG support, PNG support and JPEG compression is fixed.
Gilles Berkovitch has updated his terrific system extension Glidel to 5.2.7, that extends the Finder's drag-and-drop abilities within System 7 and beyond. You can select any icon currently visible, either on your Desktop or in an open folder, and drag it to the correct place. The right selected menu item differentiation, and the necessity to restart your computer to take advantage of this new version has changed.
Dock Switcher allows you to add multiple Docks to your system. The new version is 1.82. The included list of changes in the PR is: - More support for 10.2.
- Changed the name back to Dock Switcher
- Added support for customizing the poofs in 10.2 and 10.1, and for customizing the icons of the Finder and Trash in 10.2 that are displayed in the dock
- Added Dock Save which gives users the ability to turn off dock saving.
I needed to change back. It is odd! Coyle finally changed to the new Apple programs, and I had to move away from them after about two months of use. The whole thing is a headache. After trying iCal since its release and Mail since Jaguar came out, I am returning to Entourage until certain features are fixed or work around explained. I like the two programs, but they are coming up short for my particular needs. I am not railing the applications mind you. I know they are in their infancy. I have done everything I can to read about, fix or work around the problems I have. The features I want/need changed are: iCal reminders to work, more control over fonts/colors— too hard to read. In Mail, more control over sending attachments, removing attachments and database size.
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Click here to learn more about Toast 6 Titanium
Tools of the Trade by Michael Coyle Everyone but Microsoft knows that competition is a great thing. It brings out the best in a persons character. If you have been paying any attention to the utilities that can change your MacOS X cursors, you've seen that the creators of Blobber and Beachball are both working hard to make their Cursor changing utility the best. Hats off to both of them! Last posting, Blobber was updated; today we have a new version of Beachball. Improvements are: - Easy-to-use interface, with a setup assistant for flexible backup options with no hassle.
- Built-in error checking - your system files will never be altered unless the patch occurs without error.
- Uses the system authentication manager for total security.
- Easily extensible - just drop new cursors into /Library/Cursors
or choose "Import Cursors..." from the File menu, and grab a whole folder full at once. - Inline animated previews, so you know exactly how your cursor will look.
- Conforms to Apple Human Interface guidelines.
- Requires only a logout to take effect, not a full restart.
 10 Minute Review: Contour Shuttle Pro. by Michael Coyle
As an old time audio engineer, I was raised reel-rocking tape machines to hear the sound and select an edit point. More than ten years ago I moved to a Digital Audio Workstation - the AMS Audiofile, which has incredibly accurate audio scrubbing. It is the way this feature is implemented in ProTools that has kept me from moving to the Digidesign editing system. The problem is that a mouse or trackball doesn't have the correct tactile feel to accurately scrub audio. This is why I was excited to try the Contour ShuttlePRO ($99 at Smalldog). While it's easy to confuse this input device with a trackball, nothing could be further from the truth. The ShuttlePRO does not replace a mouse, it augments it. In the center of the low profile silver pad is a rubber coated jog wheel which snaps back to the center position by default. Within the rubber job wheel is a free spinning control wheel. Additionally, there are 13 buttons which can be programmed to access just about any keystroke. The caps to the keys can be popped off and identifying labels placed underneath. After downloading the newest drivers from the Contour web site, I launched the ShuttlePRO Control panel to see the various options. The driver is application aware and comes with dozens of premade templates for a variety of applications. There are several ProTools configuration files and it took me awhile to realize that if there are multiple config sets, the first one is always loaded. I guess it you want to use ProTools settings #2, you would have to rename or delete set #1. Click for a full size image in new window.  | The settings files have commonsense default assignments, but if you wish they are easily modified. By reprogramming the keys and placing the ShuttlePRO on the left of my keyboard while leaving the mouse on the right, I was able to quickly edit voice tracks without touching the ASCII keyboard. The tactile response of the jog wheel is excellent. For the first time I feel scrubbing is worth the price of admission under ProTools. Using the interior wheel for nudging is intuitive and increases my editing speed even more. The ShuttlePRO works great in iMovie, iTunes, and the Quicktime Player. In general, any multimedia application where you would normally click and drag to a position would benefit from ShuttlePRO. Using it with the Classic version of iMovie makes it feel like you're controlling a real video tape machine. I imagine the ShuttlePRO will also add value to Final Cut Pro and Logic Audio. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the ShuttlePRO driver and MacOS X. Even after carefully disabling any applications that may also scan for key presses (Screensavers, Keyboard Maestro, etc...), the Shuttle PRO is never as smooth under X as it is under MacOS 9. Since ProTools has not yet been released for MacOS X, I tested iMovie, Quicktime Player, and scrolled web pages in Mozilla. Under X, the ShuttlePRO was jittery. The behavior was similar to filling the keyboard buffer with Left-Arrow keys, then typing Right-Arrow keys, but the cursor continues left until the keyboard buffer is empty. The ShuttlePRO lagged behind. Contour has a User Forum where I have requested help with this problem, but I haven't received a solution yet. Updated drivers should someday make using this controller as pleasurable in MacOS X as it is in Classic. Pros: Allows tape machine-like shuttle scrolling in multimedia applications. Thirteen programmable keys mean less trips to the ASCII keyboard. It's easy to create and edit controller sets. Cons: Controller not nearly as usable under MacOS X. Needs a driver update. While you can have multiple config sets for an application, only the first one in the list is used.
ResEx regular Robert Percival has discovered that multiple icon sizes on the desktop is a feature that has returned with MacOS X 10.2. The Previous Edit as listed on ResExcellence broke with the update to 10.1.5, but in this forum post, Robert outlines the procedure to reactivate it under 10.2. Not sure what I'm talking about? Take a look at this snapshot.
Looking for a quick way to keep prying eyes off your MAC? Lucas Peyatt noticed that in the Keychain.app (Applications/Utilities) there is a MenuExtra that allows you to lock the screen and keychain. New Boot Images in the Archive... - For all the Pirates from Silicon Valley, Tim Nugent sends a Jolly Roger image.
- Volsoc sends his version of the Sad Mac icon, this time on a grey background.
- Another frown! Ravedog sent a frowning Finder icon image he has titled, "UnHappy Mac."
- Geltab sent the Radioactive logo that graces fallout shelters across the country.
- A cute monkey is featured in this image from Dumbo.
- Cherie Benoit's image features Kero-chan from CLAMP’s excellent “Cardcaptor Sakura” series.
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?) - The Mac Tach Speed boot panel was created by Barnaby Johnson Fry.
- Timmie sent a boot panel featuring Ed from the anime series Cowboy Bebop.
- And two more anime boot panels, this time from Dragon Ball Z were sent by Stefan Nielsen!
- Space Invaders iTunes skin, Better Aqua, has been tweaked and updated form iTunes 3.
Complete Cable Management For The Home & Office.
Today's News by Cletus™ Remember that we have a great giveaway going on right now. Memory Usage Getter provides the information you need to know about your memory in a familiar format. Entry into the contest is very simple. Download a copy of the program and look for the answer to the question asked on the contest page. Simple as that!
 piPop X 2.1b1 is available from piDog Software. piPop is described as a "menu based utility to help make your workflow smoother. Place shortcuts to all your most commonly used folders in piPop's root menu and access volumes and running applications via a simple and very customizeable interface. Navigation is made easy with sliding hierarchical menus." This update provides multiple updates and bug fixes. The utility requires 10.1 or higher.
The highly rated and very popular Iconizer Pro has been updated. With this program you can create 32 bit icons based on pictures. Iconizer Pro 1.6 or later can accept the composite RGB layer data from Adobe Photoshop directly. Requires Mac OS 8.6 or later. If you want to use this under Mac OS X, it is recommended you use the export feature of Folder Icon X, Icon Calculator or Icon Exporter Plug-in. These software items allow you to export 32-bit 128x128 pixels Mac OS X icons.
Launch Items X gets better and better with each update. Since it allows you to open files and folders via a contextual menu, it is right there when needed. This release fixes a couple of bugs. One was fixed in the Browse Volumes Setting. Another was a serious bug which corrupted the icon-loading engine when some files or folders were missing. Additionally, the Open Document module can now open the document packages, and the Launch Items module can ask the application to manipulate folders properly.
Classic Spy 2.1.2 provides a Menu extra to control Classic Environment. This release allows full compatibility with the Mac OS X 10.2 system release.
Speed Download gets some more updates that make it "seemless" with all Mac browsers. Additionally, keyboard shortcuts have been added to make manipulation in the download queue easier. The interface has been reorganized for a better look on various lower resolutions. The list goes on. For a full list of changes stop by here.
Random Thoughts! It is an odd thing when the internet service is down for a while. I become bummed and sad. Get a life Cletus....! I don't mind when it is taken down for service at 5 in the morning. I do mind when it is at a time when I want to get some work done. Two years ago it bothered me less than it does now. I don't think we realize how much we have come to rely on having access. It is similar to when the power goes off. Of course this varies among users, based on their type of work and surfing habits or needs. Besides the obvious need I have for the work I do for ResExcellence, I spend four of five days off the college campus at a hospital. Except for the odd phone call, most of my communication is via the internet. I currently am in communications with people in California, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin for multiple college related projects. All with deadlines. All ongoing, and yes, even over the weekend. Throw in another California contact for this weeks contest and being offline for most of the past weekend hurts. So has the internet become too important?
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Tools of the Trade by Michael Coyle Two new Appearance Themes for MacOS X 10.2 have been added to the ResExcellence Archive, both feature non-standard window shapes. Power 1.0 is another fine creation from Swizcore, and I may be wrong, but I think Rhodium Edge 2 is the first MacOS X theme from dazzla.
Chapel Hill is a new X theme from Angles Spit. This theme is a green variation of the default Aqua, so while it's nice looking, I won't be adding to the archive, but you can snag it here.
If you want to test out a new beta theme switcher, Chameleon-0.9.5 boasts that it's the first Cocoa switcher for MacOS X. This beta expires next week, so give it quick spin. I must admit that after I installed and set my default theme containing folder, I couldn't see any of my themes.
 Blobber 2.1 is out! In addition to Wait Cursors, the update now offers support for Pointer Cursors, and contains several new and updated Blobs.
Cody has created a ResCompare patch to remove the banners from the newest version of AOL's Instant Messenger.
The Astronomy Picture of the Day posted a great looking nebula photo that is large enough to use as a quality desktop picture.
Animated Icons in MacOS X 10.2. The release of MacOS X 10.2 offered animated folder icons. It seems everyone has been looking for them and trying to learn how they are created. Unfortunately, in 10.2, there is only one default icon that is animated and it's the generic folder icon. Drag a file onto any generic folder and hold it on top, don't let it go into the folder. You will see the folder snap open as if to receive your offering. There is only one program that I know of to create animated icons - Resorcerer 2.4 X. If you study the image above you will notice Resorcerer offers several buttons for the various states of an icon. The generic folder toggles between the Normal and OpenDrop states. I wouldn't be surprised if the next releases of most icon editing programs provide the ability to create these multi-state icons. Until then, start thinking of clever ways to exploit these icon states in your next icon set for ResExcellence!
New Boot Images in the Archive... - Are you a rock climber? The Hand is based on artwork by Dirk Mol, converted to a BootX image by Adwin Timmer.
- "They Bring Good Things to...your Mac!". This is the GE Logo from Jason Munson.
- Hexley sure is a popular character! Here he is again in a version from JollyRoger.
- Aww, isn't this Tasty Heart image from Eddie soooo cute? Slip it on your loved one's iMac.
- Sky O'Mara took another fine icon from Hein Mevissen and made a boot image. This time it's an Aqua Happy Mac.
- Noliv sends a new version of the HAL eye.
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?) - Looking like blue neon on a black background, this Boot Panel from Lyons is great if you are running a dark theme.
- A very cool makeover for the Clock.app was created by Jeff Bowden. There are replacement faces for both analog and digital displays.
- After the recent Polling Place regarding toys in the workplace, I placed a tub of legos in my studio. Maybe I'll put this Lego Boot Panel from Jonathan on the Client computer!
- Long neglected, isn't it about time you replaced the startup splash in Apple's DVD player? Look at this one from Matthew Harrington.
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Today's News by Cletus™  Ellipsis Productions and ResExcellence are teaming up for a giveaway. A great utility— Memory Usage Getter is up for grabs. One nice feature in memory management that was lost in the transition to Mac OS X was the ability to see the memory usage of applications at a glance. In the Classic Mac OS, a user could simply choose "About this Macintosh..." from the Apple menu, and a list of all open applications and their memory usage would be neatly displayed. Sure, you can use Terminal and the command line "top" to get information. It is still confusing. Readers will know I dislike this route. Now there is a way around using terminal...
Iconverter is tool originally developed to handle the creation of ICNS files from anything dropped on it. It has now evolved to handle other resources. Not only can it handle icns, it also support the formats of gif, jpg, png, bmp and tiff exporting. Additionally it will batch convert these formats. Supports drag and drop through finder and main window. You get to chose the output directory. Give it a try and see if it suits your needs.
I have mentioned this before and now it rides in at version 2.0. UptimeInMenuBar provides you with information about how long it has been since your last restart. This release adds a preference panel to the System Preferences application to set UptimeInMenuBar options. It also adds the shortcut "Cmd-Shift-Click" on menu bar to quit UptimeInMenuBar.
Cryptonic Technologies has posted the next version of AutoHide which will allow you to hide applications after you switch out of them.
Youpi Key 1.7.3 allows you to use the keyboard and or shortcuts to perform certain actions. Version 1.7.3 adds compatibility with Mac OS X 10.2. One other feature added is the ability to access the Youpi Key menu in a contextual menu, at the location of the pointer, with a keyboard equivalent (Preferences). It also corrects a bug preventing shortcuts of the types "Simulate keyboard", "Simulate key" and "Simulate mouse" to run with keyboard equivalents that are just a function key.
A little short today, compounded by continued internet service outages. If you even see this, rest assured I was lucky to get it uploaded. Hopefully things will be back to normal soon.
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 Polling Place by Michael Coyle It seems just a few of us are having really terrible time with wireless phone service. I don't see how that can be since all I see on a daily basis is people yelling into their phones, "Yeah, you're breaking up. I'll call you back." Surprisingly, one third of ResEx readers still do not have a wireless phone. I don't mean that as an insult (Luddite slackers), but generally you would expect savvy computer users to carry a cell phone (get with the program!). i Don't know how iT happened but i'VE managed to get hooked on Apple's iApps. Last week, after more than half a decade, I shelved Eudora and moved to Apple's Mail.app. Recently installed on my computer are iCal, iSync, and the Address Book now contains all my phone records. Even though many of these applications are 1.0 releases, the integration is outstanding. And when other applications, like FaxSTF X, also use the Address Book for data it makes like much easier. What about you? This week's Polling Place asks, "How many Apple iApps do you regularly use?" Here's a partial list to help jog your memory: iTunes, iCal, iSync, Mail.app, Address Book, Backup, iPhoto, iMovie, and iChat.
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