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 a piece of cake!

• DSX Icons by David Escamilla were designed as companions Izawa's DSX theme for OSX. This striking set includes 24 device icons, and 16 folders in the signature black and yellow motif. Just in case anyone asks, these icons were released with permission from Izawa.
  
  
• Skinny Moo adds to our growing collection of Strong Bad Icons with another set of Homestar Runner Icons. Gathered from one of the funniest flash websites around the net, the download features eleven characters.
  
  
• Umbrella Corp 2.0 Icons by Tsuki features two cheerful umbrella icons. One is beveled for use as a button, and the other flat for general use.
  
  
• Keep it real! Things go better with this excellent "Coke" desktop by Corey R. Shaud in 1024x resolution.
  
  
• The kind folks over at Digikitten keep on sending us loads of great desktops to share with ResExcellence readers. By way of introduction, one of Digikitten's missions has been to provide a free place for digital artists to display their work without having to pony up for a server. Neonriver by Digikitten is the next awesome desktop we have the good fortune to post from this ongoing display, and is available in 1024x resolution.
  
  
• Grayson Hall sent us a collection of stylish looking creations titled Digital Res desktops. The first two from the series are titled Euro Digital and Red Digital, and come in 1280x resolution.
  
  
• I think you're going to like "Watery" by Bruce Hulvey. This whimsical 3-D creation was generated using Photoshop, Bryce and Cinema 4D, and displays at 1024x resolution.
  
  
• Yeah Right! Ambitious Lemon must be one of the luckiest guys on the planet to have this scene in his Backyard. This is the first photograph on display from a batch of tropical scenes he sent, and comes in 1638x resolution.
  
  
• Tired of complex desktop pictures or needing something easier on the eyes? If so, check out Brush Strokes by J. Woelich. Just a simple minimalist wallpaper he made one evening while messing around with Photoshop. This one Looks nice with the Snow.E 2 icons and any white theme, and is available in 1024x resolution.

News From Around the Web:

A new website has unofficially launched for all you Comic Book readers out there. www.comicdesktops.com features desktops of all the main comic publishing companies and even some small press ones. The site is still in progress with much more to come. Think of this as a sneak peek, it's gonna be huge. Icons and Chat/Buddy icons will be online soon as well.

New Icon set at Bombia Design: Some Valentine Icons

MacMonkies brings you 7 new selections for this week's Wednesday Desktop Edition. Three new artists have joined the Monkie Barrel including Rob Randtoul of Plasma Design, Grzegorz Przymus, and Bruce Hulvey. Add to that four more of your favorites and you have another great Edition at MacMonkies. Check 'em out!

Mando would like to inform you that http://www.mandolux.com has issued a new desktop titled Technosis: Pebbles. It is a picture of random shapes in a wonderful blue background.

Live Pencil updates with new live animals, animations, emoticons, and much more to make you smile.

A barrel full of black and white has turned up at the burntcanvasdesign studios, and so working as fast as he can alan has put up a whopping, 20 new photos for your visual delight. come on and come over, to bcd.

Timeoutofmind.com updates with three new desktops.

Panic & The Iconfactory are pleased to announced the immediate availability of CandyBar 1.5, the latest version of our Mac OS X system icon customization app.

Alisdair Jones updates with a 2nd set of OSX icons of Sci-Fi Craft of the 60's and 70's.

Double Helix is pleased to announce the release of three new Gallery images and two new additions to the Prints section of the site. They've also burned the midnight oil and created three comprehensive tutorials for Bryce scene arrangement, Photoshop cloth and Photoshop Hair. Stop in and enjoy their latest.

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

Calendar & Appointment Scheduler for Mac OS X

Tools of the Trade by Michael Coyle

As the new Powerbooks, iMacs and G4 Towers appear on store shelves, Seth McBean sent this important message:

"Make sure you add somewhere on your Boot Images page, a warning *NOT* to try using them with Jaguar 10.2.3 Build 6H28 that is shipping with the new Aluminum Powerbooks. The images as they are and the software that most would try to use them with namely, MacBoot and StartupSyringe, are not compatible with this particular build. I made the mistake of not heeding the wrong file size warning given by MacBoot and the Powerbook would not boot at all after modifying the BootX file, starting directly into OpenFirmware. What's worse is the restore disk only works on this model when you actually go in and select it as a startup device using the Software Restore app. So holding C on boot did nothing to help it boot from the DVD while the system was severely corrupted. Starting in target disk mode to another Mac was the only fix to restore the BootX file from a backup."

While Seth had problems with the new Powerbooks, I suspect all the new Apple computers with builds of MacOS X 10.2.3 newer than build 6G30 are likely to have the same problem. I put a notice on the Boot Image page, so be careful and heed the warning of MacBoot, unlike Seth! :-)

Update: Ryan Schmidt, the author of Startup Syringe writes, "Startup Syringe 1.0.7 (just posted) will install boot images properly on the new 12" and presumably 17" aluminum PowerBooks G4. It will not work on previous versions of Mac OS X. A completely-rewritten Startup Syringe is in the works, which will feature many enhancements, including the ability to patch the spinny lines in addition to the boot logo, function properly on beige G3s and other Old-World Macs, autotomatically work with new versions of OS X as they become available, and more."

Theme wizard Max Rudberg has updated his popular SmoothStripes seven new modifications. Max has also been working with Rene from Happicon to create iFix©2 which tweaks the look of iTunes and the Quicktime Player to match the new iMovie 3 style buttons.

iRoid discovered this cool tip for iMovie, "I noticed that the iMovie 2 sound effects were gone when I upgraded to version 3, so I browsed around and found them nested within iMovie's Package/Contents/Resources/Sound Effects. Inside the Sound Effects folder, create a subfolder and drop your cast away sounds into it. I then added two additional subfolders and dropped in my own personal effects collections.

Now when I open iMovie, my sounds are directly available by navigating to the audio panel, and then scrolling down to "iMovie Sound Effects." I have noticed no ill effects - excluding a second or two additional on launch.

Konfabu-Hack!

The release yesterday of Konfabulator means there are lots of new Widgets on my desktop! I like the Picture Frame.widget, but it displays every picture in your Home Pictures folder. I want to be a little more selective, so I created a subfolder in Pictures and called it Konfabulator. In here I'll store images to be displayed in the Picture Frame.widget.

Another thing I'd like to change is how quickly the images rotate. The default is 5 minutes. Here is how to make both these changes.

Widgets are placed in ~/Documents/Widgets. First, make a backup of the original widget. Find the Picture Frame.widget and Control-Click on it to show the package contents. Open the "Contents" folder.

Using a plain-text editor, open Picture Frame.kon and find the following line that begins:

var fileList = runCommand("find ~/" + picsFolder + " -iname '*.jpg'........

In my example, the new image folder is ~/Pictures/Konfabulator, so I made the following change to the start of the line:

var fileList = runCommand("find ~/Pictures/Konfabulator" + " -iname '*.jpg'........
(Note that I deleted a + picsFolder)

The time is listed in seconds. To change the image rotate rate look for:

<action trigger="onTimer" interval="300">

I would like them to change every minute, so I changed it to:

<action trigger="onTimer" interval="60">

Save the text document and launch the Picture Frame.widget with a double click to see the images in the new folder.

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?)

• "Drop Windows, not Bombs" is the message in this funny Boot P user_X_boot.shtml anel from joja.
  
  
• It's hip man. Check out this Bob Dylan and Patti Smith Interarchy Interface from Bernard Mckenna.
  
  
• A funky looking coyote is on display in this Boot Image from Gabhlan.
  
  
• "Smile, Mommy loves you!" in this cute baby Boot Panel from David Messick.
  
  

Click here to learn more about Toast 6 Titanium

Today's News by Cletus™

Is everyone ready for the first contest of 2003? I am sure you will be excited about this one since it involves a piece of software that is extremely popular right now. Kanzu Utilities has agreed to giveaway ten copies of their OS X interface enhancement software, iCan.
It's a trashcan for OS X which sits on the desktop. It's interactive - it appears empty when it's empty, and full when it's full, just like the one in OS 9. All the important details can be found on the contest page. Head over now and enter!

Rocket Launcher 1.3 has been released. Rocket Launcher is a simple application/file launcher that allows you to launch and switch between apps quickly.

iClock 1.0b8 is out. It is described as much more then a replacement/upgrade for the Apple menu clock. See the time in cities around the world at a glance. See the date and time at once in the menubar. Additional features are:

• Gives you a time zone calculator that finds the best time to connect up the people in as many time zones as you want.
  
  
• Gives an easily accessible, at a glance view of times/dates in as many parts of the world as you want.
  
  
• Gives the dial codes for countries around the world.
  12 or 24 hour time.
  
  
  

Turmites is a new screensaver that was released over the weekend. The product description is this: "It is a Turing Machine that operates in two dimensions. A Turing machine is a theoretical construct from computer science; it's a machine that reads and writes symbols from a tape according to very simple rules. The Turmites run around on your screen, using the screen as their "tape", and create interesting patterns in the process.

Everyones favorite program Folder Icon X has been bumped to version 1.4.3. This program allows even a novice to create great looking icons. Changes include:

• Added the "Copy Selected Icon" and "Paste To Item" command to Folder Icon X.plugin.
  
  
• Copy Selected Icon allows users to copy icons of selected items to the clipboard by using a contextual menu.
  
  
• Paste To Item allows users to paste a copied icon to the item on the desktop by using a contextual menu.
  
  
  

DockExtender 3.0 is now available from CodeTek Studios after a beta period. Reduce the number of items in the Dock by creating DockExtender Menus and filling them with items. Open just one item in the Dock and another menu pops up with the items you have placed there. Excellent. Lots and lots of changes to this version so you will want to stop by the homepage and check out the update.

multiDock X is yet another in a line of programs that allows multiple Docks under Mac OS X. This one progresses off the popular Dock Doubler. It allows and unlimited number of Docks. This version differs from the previous (1.2.1 released in April 2002) because it's rewritten from scratch and compiled with RealBasic version 4.5.2 to assure compatibility with Mac OS 10.2.x. They have also added a backup and restore feature for all the multiDock's files and you can now set some of the Dock settings.

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

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Tools of the Trade by Michael Coyle

If you have used Kaleidoscope under Classic MacOS, then you may have seen the name of Arlo Rose, once part of the interface design group at Apple. His pal Perry Clarke is a UNIX engineer who has seen the light and embraced MacOS X as the best desktop UNIX around. Arlo and Perry have teamed up to create Konfabulator.

What is it? Well, ummmm...

Konfabulator is like insulating foam that comes in a can and after it's sprayed swells up to 10 times its original size. No wait. Konfabulator is like a White Castle hamburger. No, no. I got it. Konfabulator is like that first kiss you got from your... DOG!!!

Konfabulator is so hard to explain because it's so many different things. Using Javascript and XML you can create Widgets to display all types of information. There are 10 default Widgets that install with the application: Airport signal strength, analog and digital clocks, battery, iTunes control, weather and more. There is even an archive of third party widgets available!

Download Konfabular and check it out for yourself. Then stop by ResExcellence tomorrow for our first "Konfabu-hack!".

"Egg on Their Face" Award

It's been a while since ResExcellence has to dusted off the old Egg, but the recent actions of The Powerbook Zone surely warrant it!

Friday, PBZone posted a link to some snapshots of internal Apple software. I never saw the pictures, so I can't even tell you what they were, but that's not the important part of the story. Apparently, they were just internal testing apps.

PBZone linked to the pictures. You can't fault them for that, but what they did next was excessive. Because the images were loose in a directory, PBZone dug around and discovered the owner of the website was an Apple employee. Not some big-wig, but just a student who worked in an Apple Store. PBZone went so far as to post a link to the guy's address and phone number. What was the point of that?

Of course Apple saw the pictures and fired the guy immediately. His name is Adam and he's the first to admit it was stupid to place the snapshots in an unprotected folder, but he wasn't expecting anyone to stumble upon them. These snapshots were part of a large collection of snaps Adam stored in his web directory. These particular snaps just happen to contain images of some inhouse test applications that Apple uses.

Was PBZone wrong to link to the images? Maybe not, though I wouldn't have done it without the site owners permission, but their excessive hunt for personal information was unnecessary and may have aided in Adam losing his job. I'm sure the webmaster of PBZone understands that while a lot of information on the net is public, there is no need to always shine a light on it!

Here is Adam's site with more information. He's also an excellent photographer. This is the folder which at one point contained the internal Apple software images. This folder still has some cool desktop snapshots in it.

Polling Place by Michael Coyle

Last week's Poll was a hot topic in the forum. I'm sure a reader named Josh believes that I should be the one receiving an "Egg on my Face" award!

The results were surprising close, but most readers agree with Apple's decision (Ha! What do they know!). I'm sure in a few years we'll look back at this and wonder what all the fuss was about, but right now, this transition is causing alot of grief for a lot of companies.

Years ago when network TV and radio stopped covering every shuttle launch, I knew humans had turned a corner and space travel was routine. Still, I promised myself I would do my best to stay on top of the shuttle and ISS. I try to visit NASA every week. Like all of you, I was upset at the loss of Columbia. One interesting comment from all the former astronauts who were interviewed was that given all the risk they would still go back to space in a heartbeat.

Since I was an eight year old drawing pictures of Saturn V rockets, I have wanted to travel in space. Even now, after the loss of two shuttles, I'd still love to hitch a ride on a Russian capsule (assuming I had twenty million dollars!). What about you? This week's Polling Place asks, "If you got the chance would you go up in the shuttle?"

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Icon & Desktop News: by Dan

Icons - Desktops: Yo! We've got another great selection of icons and desktops to feed your need for desktop decoration. Starting off with (6) New Desktops, (3) New Icon Sets, and of course, updated "News From Around the Web". Take your time going, and hurry back!

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 a piece of cake!

• For your gentlemanly enjoyment, Giles Booth sends us four Giles Girlie Icons for OSX, featuring Gillian Anderson, Milla Jovovitch, Sarah Michelle Geller and Jennifer Aniston.
  
  
• Iconizer releases another set of twenty five handsome looking Smart Aqua Folders to give your desktop a special touch of class. This grouping includes animal themes, desktops patterns, flavors, and greyscale folders
  
  
• William Lindsey Cochran submits a new set of Drops of Jupiter Icons for OSX. Bill writes: "It doesn't take much imagination to see the letter I and the letter O as the numerals 1 and 0. Put ‘em together and you have the name of a new OS that’s out of this world. (Since it’s so lonely out there in space, I gave this little moon some companions)."
  
  
• Here's a message of hope for all Mac users. Dream by GCARCASS is a super cute little Classic composition, available in 1152x resolution.
  
  
• The kind folks over at Digikitten keep on sending us loads of great desktops to share with ResExcellence readers. By way of introduction, one of Digikitten's missions has been to provide a free place for digital artists to display their work without having to pony up for a server. Kurt by Simonok is the next awesome desktop we have the good fortune to post from this ongoing display, and is available in 1024x resolution.
  
  
• CreativeGuru takes one of the default appearance tiles which comes bundled with OSX, and created an entire set of Candy Tile desktops in nine different flavors. These are available in 1280x resolution.
  
  
• Beautiful Japanese model Tomoka Kurotami appears in GCARCASS's stylish JGirl desktop. Comes in 1024x resolution.
  
  Popular actress Laura Prepon makes a star studded appearance in this three picture collection of nicely done desktops by Carl Grasso. These are available in 1024x resolution each.
  
  
• Mannequins 2 was taken at Slought Networks in Philadelphia (http://slought.net). The transparent plastic models were featured in a movie by curator Aaron Levy. This shot is part of the "Liberty City" gallery at the Museum of Modern Grosett . Comes in 1280x resolution.

News From Around the Web:

Live Pencil updates with new live animals, animations, emoticons, and much more to make you smile.

Bombia Design updates with Flavor System 2 (Toffee) iContainer.

A barrel full of black and white has turned up at the burntcanvasdesign studios, and so working as fast as he can alan has put up a whopping, 20 new photos for your visual delight. come on and come over, to bcd.

Timeoutofmind.com updates with three new desktops.

Mando would like to inform you that http://www.mandolux.com has issued a new Lincoln 2k2 desktop set titled Fr6. The desktop is available in both full and letterbox formats.

Panic & The Iconfactory are pleased to announced the immediate availability of CandyBar 1.5, the latest version of our Mac OS X system icon customization app.

Alisdair Jones updates with a 2nd set of OSX icons of Sci-Fi Craft of the 60's and 70's.

Double Helix is pleased to announce the release of three new Gallery images and two new additions to the Prints section of the site. They've also burned the midnight oil and created three comprehensive tutorials for Bryce scene arrangement, Photoshop cloth and Photoshop Hair. Stop in and enjoy their latest.

MacMonkies serves up 4 new icon sets just in time for your weekend fun. This week's eye pleasers come from their latest contributor Steve Sharp, as well as some great GUI work from Scott Chitwood, AGRAPHA Icons, and mac.axonz.com. Your eyes will be plenty pleased with this fine set of four at MacMonkies.com. Check 'em out!

Pixelpalooza 2003 Officially Begins - The Iconfactory is pleased to announce the commencement of the 7th installment of Pixelpalooza, their annual icon design contest. Every year they invite the Macintosh icon design community to pull out all the stops and send us their pixelated creations. Last year's event drew over 140 entries from all over the world and was unquestionably our most successful contest to date.

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

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Complete Cable Management For The Home & Office.

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