2/28/00
 Reaffirming my faith in my fellow ResExcellence reader, Letterman trounced Leno in last week's poll. Was it the sympathy vote? Naw, Dave's just better! :)
If your Mac application freezes, you can often recover by invoking the built in debugger by typing Command-Power. In the debugger window, type G FINDER to attempt to return to the Finder, where you may be able to save your work in other applications. Sometimes it works... sometimes you crash anyway.
If you want to increase your chances of recovering, you can try Apple' s beefed -up debugger, Macsbug, with more commands and options for recovering from a hard crash. This week's Polling Place question asks, "Do you use Macsbug?"
Console Update: All is well in recording-land now that my new console is installed. Some final pictures and comments are here.
Victor Yee has written two Applescripts for you to download. The first returns an item to its initial location (the last location before the desktop). You can use the property except_items to define items you want left on the Desktop. The second changes the views of a folder and its contents.
MacInstruct has published a new tutorial. "How to Travel With Your Powerbook- Part 2". This time the topic is the Location Manager.
Nick Shanks has updated ResKnife, a developmental resource editor. This version has the following changes:
- added a windows menu
- opens 1-bit, 8-bit and 32-bit icons of 12, 16 and 32 pixel dimensions
- added crude navigation services support, still buggy, so disabled by default
- includes preliminary drag manager support
- enabled the sort button column headers (don't sort anything yet)
- converted to C++ (major headache!)
- used to play 'snd ' resources (before C++ conversion)
Good luck Nick! Keep those updates coming.
If you are in your favorite extension manager, and you click on an item and read the info, that information is stored in the CCI™ resource. Sebastien Lavoie wrote a ResEdit template you can download to help you edit this info.
Snapshots:
User Contributions:
- Unlike most of our Hotline replacement splashes, this one by Markus Magnuson takes the cool approach! :)
- Denis Goulet sends three more MOSS in his iMac series, and a Netscape compilation featuring the ladies of Anime!
- Jeremy Mates sent a Butterfly Throbber for iCab.
- Whether you have a G3 or G4, Guillaume has an About this Mac replacement for you.
- Peter McHugh created a Mini-MOSS with the look of Aqua.
- Zero Divide incorporates HAL into a Netscape splash screen!
- A brushed metal MOSS was created by Tan Hai Han.
- Mark Saunders has a nice looking splash screen for users of Outlook Express.
Happy Birthday to our icon goddess, Ilona Melis! Ilona was born on Leap Day, February 29th, which means her birthday comes along once every four years! While I would never reveal her age, you can count the number of her birthdays on both hands!
Stocking Stuffers from Kensington and Smalldog.com!
Software News 2-28-00Software News: – by Cletus™
I received several emails attempting to clarify why some feel that the new Netscape 4.72 does include the Platinum appearance. Although I remembered the reason after reading a couple of emails, I had forgotten. Kaleidoscope will correct the menus in Netscape. I would bet those who thought that Netscape had corrected the menus finally, will find they have Kaleidoscope running.
Jérome Foucher has put his pages back up on a new server. Wapp pro can now be found here. Wapp pro has also been updated along with the new site location. Changes include several bug fixes and a new feature to quickly send the frontmost window to the background with a single click. I have updated the links to all the respective software in the Archive.
Mac Things is releasing a new theme called Omega by Michael Rabe who runs Riverbed Software. From the preview on the page, it looks to be a dark theme. Give it a whirl and see what you think.
I was sent a notice of a new k-scheme by Maury McCowan and before I had a chance to post it there was an "emergency" update. Maury has released MacQNX 1.2. Over a thousand had been downloaded before the bug was found. It was in the utility windows when they're viewed very small, causing the widgets to become almost unusable. Please check your version and upgrade to the new one if required.
And while we are talking about Kaleidoscope & Schemes, you may want to check out the newly released ones at KSA. 11 new and 10 updated schemes grace their pages this week.
MOSR has a 15 page guide to the latest OSXDP3. These "showings" come and go so don't be surprised if the link eventually breaks.
Submit Software News Suggestions!
Icon/Desktop News 2-28-00
Icon &
Desktop News by Ilona
Two new sets arrived in our
Icon
Archive! Seven new pictures are
in the Desktop
Archive! Enjoy! And don't forget:
They are always open for your contributions!
If you don't know already, the result of
the 2000 Pixelpalooza Icon Design Contest has been posted at
Iconfactory.
What? You didn't win? Don't be sad, your icons were
recognized with great comments from the judges!
Congratulations to all the contestants!
So, let's see what is perfect this time
at Perfect
Yosemite. Oh, boy... the new
icons are sooo cute, so colorful and characteristic! We just
have to have them in our Icon Archive too, so please take a
peek here and visit Perfect
Yosemite later this afternoon
when the new icons will be released to the public! Thanks
for the lovely contribution!
Saffron
Graphics released Aliens, a
beautifully crafted icon set, some new art and a preview of
her great looking new scheme!
Epoch
Icons had a massive update
attack! Three great new icon sets and two new desktop
pictures! And we have one of each in our Archives! Thanks
for the contribution!
Arcade Saturdays is a huge icon set for
those hopeless nostalgics! Get them from MadScienceLaboratories!
A changed interface for better navigation
and four new desktop pictures at power/Mac!
Pink
Place opened a new section for
cursors and they're offering two at this time!
Wow! With these four new links, there are
over 700 icon links at Icon
Parade now! Sara is preparing a
redesign for Icon Parade and as such, she not only updated,
but also moved the ISC
- your ultimate icon search center to the new server, so be
prepared to update your bookmark!
Icon
Amazons has also updated with
Xenophile 2 icons!
Triball
Software released a new picture,
"Rainbow" and we also have it in our Desktop Archive. Thanks
for the contribution!
Shania Twain and Kathy Holmes have been
added to the Startup
Screen Galeria! You'll find them
in the "Women" section.
Underground
Lair has updated with many new
pictures! Two of them are also in our Desktop Archive.
Thanks for the contribution!
"Lebe_Die_Nacht"
- doesn't say much for me since I don't speak German, but
this is where you'll find some great looking desktop
pictures and startup screens! We also have two of them in
our Desktop Archive. Thanks for the
contributions!
Previously, I wondered if
iControl
would work under MacOS X. Iconfactory
confirms that iControl will work on the OS X!
What's new on your site? Icons?
Desktop pictures? Inform
us! We'll post it!
Register to Win an iPod at Smalldog.com
2/25/00
The big story is Aqua resources under MacOS X.. Is it a theme, or isn't it? A reader found some interesting resources in the following MacOS X DP3 file:
This file, Extras.rsrc contains ResEdit resources that look suspiciously like a Theme file's. (As seen in the image below).
This shows the many similarities between the Aqua Extras and a MacOS 9 Theme file. In fact, readers have said that the removal of the Extras file causes MacOS X to revert to a Platinum appearance.
It would be interesting to replace some Extras resources with some from a Theme file and see what the changes are. If you have MacOS X DP3, consider that your homework assignment for the weekend. :)
The Console Update: It's going well now. Friday will be spent testing the systems and training my brain muscle with the new routine. Final update and pictures on Monday...
Snapshots:
User Contributions:
Software News 2-25-00
Software News: – by Cletus ™
I had 21 readers respond about whether "Platinum Menus" are finally in Netscape 4.72. For that reason I can not post everyone's name. I thought I may get one or two responses. Amazingly everyone did not agree. Several were adamant that the menus have been fixed. Here are a few!
"Yea! It appears to have full Appearance (no pun intended) support! I'm glad they've stepped into the 21st century, or last year of the 20th, whichever it may be... :-)"
"It certainly appears as if Netscape uses the platinum menus ... "
"Of COURSE the Platinum menus aren't fixed!"
"Nope, still nice boring white"
"No, the menus are still white. Can't they get with the program? White menus are so OS 7.6-ish."
"Thanks for the mdef fix .... those old style menus are ghastly."
TriVectus software has released a new beta version of Launch Key 3.0b2. "Launch Key will do everything from launch all your Internet applications with one keystroke, to typing out an entire business letter, to taking those pesky three character file name extensions off of files you've downloaded."
While Ben Mackin continues to settle the Aqua Theme conundrum, he has set up a message board of sorts to talk about his existing Aqua theme. The theme is still not available however.
XAppeal.org has released another batch of Aqua screen shots.
Themes.org has posted five new themes that you can check out via some screenshots.
Have a nice weekend everyone!
Submit Software News Suggestions!
Icon/Desktop News 2-25-00
Icon &
Desktop News by Ilona
Two new set arrived in our
Icon
Archive! Four new pictures and
two Startup Screens are in the Desktop
Archive! Enjoy! And don't forget:
They are always open for your contributions!
Please take another look at the fixed
iCab icon preview! Last time, just before I updated the Icon
Archive I must have ate some "oops" for dinner, which took
my brain function away. So, instead of making preview of the
new contributed iCab icons, I actually made the preview of
the original iCab icons!!! Oh well, I don't use iCab (I
probably tried it once since there is an expired demo
version of it somewhere on my HD), therefore making such
mistakes is somewhat understandable but having an "oops"
attack is a better excuse!
All of you who wanted the TinyStars of
the Titanic characters can get it at SMD's
Web now! Also, get the Anya
system set in either folder icon format or in
iControl
pack. We have Anya in our Icon Archive. Thanks for the
contribution!
LisaLisaBoBisa is the new icon set form
Etherbrian.
It could be easily called a "colorYourMac" set because these
B&W icons are made the way that you would take your
color pencil and color them! Especially the iMac
icons.They're just like the good B&W images in a
coloring book. Etherbrian also released a new font named
Bitsy! Cute name, cute font.
Game pad, memory card, console...
everything's Dreamcast at PseudoRoom!
How about some server icons in Spiffy
style? - asks Icon.CX
and provides them!
Ronnlun.com
has released a Lilliputian system set called Micro System,
in iControl pack!
Dr. Green got loose in IconIcon's
computer and produced some evil robot icons in his spare
time. IconIcon
lets you see the set under the name GreenBots!
World
of Kaos has released two "lost
and found" icons and he's promising a great set for the next
update of the "Superman The Animated Series", which will
have a special guest star iconist appearance too.
Two new desktop pictures has been
released today at Intergalactic
Desktops! And if I'm not mistaken
the site has been redesigned too.
Todd's
Web Thing has some desktop
pictures, featuring shots from the recently released trailer
for X-Men The Movie, which is coming out this
summer!
I promised to look into Iconfactory's
latest software, iControl.
Well, if it will also work on OS X, this will be the best
$19 that you can spend for a customization utility! You will
never have the fear again of messing something up to change
the system icons. This little wonder product will do it for
you the easiest possible way!
What's new on your site? Icons?
Desktop pictures? Inform
us! We'll post it!
VillageTronic Video Card For Only $99 at Smalldog.com!
2/23/00
The Logic 2 from Neve
 |
Whew! Installing a new console makes loading Windows 2000 look like a piece of cake! We planned for months to make this installation go smoothly, and just about everything has gone wrong. Why is it the mere act of moving of a console 40 feet causes it to fail upon the next boot?
My new board will be an all digital AMS-Neve Logic 2. What you are seeing on the left is really a control surface, almost like a computer keyboard. No audio signals actually pass through the console. They are all routed through high quality AD/DA convertors. All the mixing of sounds and setting of levels is really no more than manipulating ones and zeros.
Now that's a PowerPC!
|
This is the rack of computing power associated with the console. Forty-eight convertors take the analog input signals and instantly convert them to better-than-CD quality data. This data is stored on twin 9 Gig hard disks, and routed through the console where it can be equalized, compressed, reverb, and spit back out - all in realtime!
While the console has only 24 physical faders, there are three additional layers of virtual depth for a total of 96 audio channels! (Can you tell I'm excited!)
Wednesday will be spent interfacing the new equipment with the old, Thursday will be for last minute fixes, and Friday will be testing, testing, testing...
All this audio processing power will enable me to produced richer sounding commercials that will envelope your aural senses, prompting you to jump in the car and rush to your nearest McDonalds for an Extra Value Meal. :)
Greg Pare sent this Applescript that opens Netscape to several search engine submission forms. While Greg knows that there are programs to do this, this one is free and it might spawn some new ideas for readers!
tell application "Netscape Communicator"
make new document
GetURL "http://www.altavista.com/cgi-bin/query?pg=addurl"
make new document
GetURL "http://www.webcrawler.com/info/add_url/"
make new document
GetURL "http://www.lycos.com/addasite.html"
make new document
GetURL "http://hotbot.com/addurl.asp"
make new document
GetURL "http://www.google.com/addurl.html"
make new document
GetURL "http://www.go.com/AddUrl?&pg=SubmitUrl.html"
make new document
GetURL "http://www.excite.com/info/add_url"
make new document
GetURL "http://www.directhit.com/util/addurl.html"
activate
end tell
A tip-o-the-hat to Toren Valimir who's I/OS X Graphite is the "Scheme of the Week". A quick parusal of the ResEx Snapshot Gallery will show that my contributors like it too!
Snapshots:
User Contributions:
- We have two more Anime Netscape splash screens from Denis Goulet. These feature Asuka and Rei.
- Peter McHugh sent an icon/splash screen makeover pack for ICQ.
- Also for ICQ, Justin Reese sent a replace sound resource to get rid of the elephant, car horn, or whatever you want!
- Tim Horton sent more About this Mac replacement featuring scenes from The Matrix. These two feature Morpheus and Neo.
Software News 2-23-00
Software News: – by Cletus (I do by-lines)
While the Aqua Themes are still off the air, it was by no means the only theme available. Mac Things and Doghouse On Line are proud to announce the release of "The GlassWorks" theme series. This looks to be a very interesting set of themes. At the time of writing this, only the previews were available so I haven't tried them out myself, but they are scheduled to be up today.
DouWère Software has updated Date Viewer. Version 1.3 adds a new plug-in giving the week and day of year. This version also adds a new feature to make the DateViewer window disappear when a screensaver is running. I made the changes to the archive.
Jerome Foucher, author of Wapp pro and DeskTray, wrote in to say that he is having trouble with his web pages. Apparently Geocities/Yahoo has deleted all the pages and without warning. He writes: "I expect to have everything back to another host (a real one this time) before the end of this week." As soon as he lets me know the new URL I will let you all know.
iCab 1.9a has been released. New in this Preview release (which expires in June) is : An option for GetURL events (either open in top window or in new window), bug fix in reloading images, better JavaScript support (but still not finished), bugfixes in Plug-ins support and more.
Speaking of Browsers, a new version of Netscape has also been released, 4.72. If someone tries this new version, please let me know if the non - Platinum menus are fixed — yet. If not remember to follow these instructions to get your menus into the Platinum theme. Also remember the vast amount of other edits available for Netscape and Communicator available here.
Submit Software News Suggestions!
Icon/Desktop News 2-23-00
Icon &
Desktop News by Ilona
One new set arrived in our
Icon
Archive! Three new pictures and a
big pack of desktop pattern set are in the Desktop
Archive! Enjoy! And don't forget:
They are always open for your contributions!
Sometime today Iconfactory
releases Proximity-J a kind of sequel of their popular
Yosemite folder icons! Also, today at 3PM ET the voting
booth for People's Choice Award of Pixelpalooza will close.
If you haven't voted yet, this is your last chance to do it
before the deadline.
Calle's
Custom Icons has finally released
his Pixelpalooza entry set and he is promising many more to
come in the same style this last set has been
made.
PixelPress
is offering you the miniature Stonehenge with this new set
of icons, Pixelhenge!
Artificial
Intelligence makes sure to get
the desktop pictures of your choice. Today they have eight
new ones for many different tastes!
Introducing Steve's
Free Desktop Pictures with seven
new creations for your desktop joy!
Three new desktop pictures and a new
Pixhell episode waiting for you at Waferbaby!
AquaOS from Creative
Box has been the desktop picture
of the week at MacOSZone!
What's new on your site? Icons?
Desktop pictures? Inform
us! We'll post it!
Stocking Stuffers from Kensington and Smalldog.com!
2/21/00
 Poor Launcher. Nobody loves it anymore. Less than 10% of you regularly use the it! While I don't either, I do make sure it's configured on any computer I setup for a friend.
I have always felt that there are two kinds of people in the world. No, not Mac versus Wintel, but an even more divisive topic: Letterman versus Leno! Five weeks after heart bypass surgery, Dave returns to the air this Monday. Obviously, it was unfortunate that Dave was away from the show during the critical "sweeps" ratings period, but guess what - reruns and the "backstage" shows trounced Leno in the ratings! <snicker, snicker>. This week's unbiased Polling Place question asks, "Letterman or Leno?"
Out with the old...
 |
I apologize in advance for what will be a week of light postings on my part. My recording studio is receiving a new console and the installation will monopolize most of my time. Don't fret though, Ilona, Cletus, and Jeremy will still be here updating their sections!
The current board, show on the right, is an eight year old Sony MXP-3036 analog console. While it has served me well through thousands of sessions, the technology is rather outdated.
It will take an entire week to disconnect the old board, rework the wiring, install the new console, and test the hundreds of connections.
Do I cut the red wire, or the blue!
 |
This photo on the left shows the complexity of wiring the console to all the other equipment in the facility. It doesn't normally look this messy; the wires have been pulled out of their housing and disconnected in preparation for the new board.
I will be documenting the process with my digital camera and if possible, I'll post more pictures as the process unfolds. If you have any curious questions, send them.
Sebastien Lavoie has updated his web page with some goodies for you.
"Seb's Colors WIND!" is a makeover of the dialog editor in ResEdit. You get more colors and more fun!
My "Seb's AppleScan color Kit!" is new to my site too. I am probably the only being still using an AppleScan, but it may be useful for someone.
And finally my "Icons for the Resedit picker" have been updated since the first time I send it to you.
Sebastien's Netscape Splash screen is also listed below.
Macinstruct has posted a new tutorial on the ins and outs of the Desktop Database, and rebuilding the Desktop.
Snapshots:
User Contributions:
- Fam Chee Cheng sent a nice looking MOSS with an Aqua look.
- Tim Horton created two About this Mac replacements for MacOS 9 featuring scenes from The Martix.
- Two new MOSS submissions have been posted by Denis Goulet: a watery sideways smilin' Mac, and one like an X-Ray.
- A Netscape splash screen featuring Star Trek was sent by Zero Divide.
- Sébastien Lavoie sent a Netscape splash with a Cow!
Happy birthday to Cletus who turned 84 today. Way to go old man!
Software News 2-21-00
Software News: – by Cletus 36
I had a nice quiet weekend off from work. I hope you all enjoyed the weekend too. Now on with the news.
I don't feel too bad that I missed this one since it appears some other sites are just announcing it also. Glidel was updated on January 31, 2000. It adds compatibility with a favorite of mine — Wapp Pro. However it is not compatible with BeHierarchic 4.1.1. Stick with an earlier version of BeHierarchic to be on the safe side. I have updated the Archive and other improvements can be found on the Glidel homepage.
The very popular TaskMenuBar was updated to allow for more customization of the position, spacing, sorting order and appearances of the icons. Additionally you can now suppress displaying certain types of applications, such as control panels and it is made compatible with Apple's appearance themes and Kaleidoscope. Unfortunately the program currently is not compatible with Glidel! Read our archive for more info on this control panel.
Speaking of Kaleidoscope — they have updated the archive with 13 new (ugh!! why that number I will never know) and 2 updated schemes. Good Luck!
ControlStripOutlet has posted another in it's series of CSM "Spotlights". This week they are featuring several of the CSM's from the Pooh's Strip's collection. Pop on over for a good read.
And no one played Synthesizer!
Submit Software News Suggestions!
Icon/Desktop News 2-21-00
Icon &
Desktop News by Ilona
One new and one updated set is in our
Icon
Archive! Eight(!) new pictures
are in the Desktop
Archive! Enjoy! And don't forget:
They are always open for your contributions!
Look at an iMac, iBook, G4, and PowerBook
from a new angle, mastered by Dave Brasgalla at the
Iconfactory!
Epoch
Icons released Solid Metal, and
Cyberian Deluxe icon sets, plus Ensigma EOS desktop pictures
and a new font! We have one of the pictures in our Desktop
Archive. Thanks for the contribution!
Icon
Amazons has grown with a new icon
set called Chinese Zodiac!
Pink
Palace has started an Icon
Webring and released the Xenophile Vol. 2 icon
set!
PixelBase
updated with LEGO icons!
Pixilate
Design has changed the URL and
has been updated and renewed!
Icon
Parade has eight new icon links
for you to visit! Among them Ar's Iconfactory which is a
lovely site with adorable icons of many things, but mostly
about your fury friend - the cat.
Rampant
Mac released 13 new gorgeous
desktop pictures! We have two of them in our Desktop
Archive. Thanks for the contribution!
B'Web
Online has desktop pictures,
StartupScreens and more stuff you can use!
Julien's
Page updated with a PowerBook G3
picture, a G4 desktop picture and StartupScreen! We have one
of the pictures in our Archive. Thanks for the
contribution.
Aldie's
Site has a new picture called
Contrast. We also have it in our Desktop Archive. Thanks for
the contribution!
OmegaDawn Desktops has changed their name
to Backdrops
and they already have a new desktop picture. We also have it
in our Desktop Archive. Thanks for the
contribution!
I want to introduce you to
Triball
Software where you can find
desktop pictures and games. We have some of their great
pictures in our Desktop Archive!
What's new on your site? Icons?
Desktop pictures? Inform
us! We'll post it!
Ilicon Graphic Design
2/18/00
Woo-Hoo! Propaganda has released a new volume of my favorite desktop tiles! Rebirth contains 56 tiles, so go get them! The archive is a Linux tar file, but Stuffit Expander 5 will decompress it.
Xappeal has some information about John Carmack (of Quake fame) and his creation of an X server for Darwin. Geez, will I have to repartition again!
They also have images from MacOS X DP3 (Aqua).
Gaming Outside the Box
He's not talkin' Quake III or Unreal, but Jeremy Hoesly's article provides a quick view of simple games enhanced by network gameplay. (Continued...)
This simple Applescript submitted by Bill Ferriot will close all but the active Finder window:
Snapshots:
User Contributions:
- Andy Sohoza sent me an email stating that he had inadvertently sent the wrong Bjork splash screen for Netscape, and could I replace it with this new one. But Andy, people like the first one so let's post them both! :)
- Denis Goulet submitted a set of three iMac colored MOSS, and another with a child-like appearance.
- Denis also created a Netscape splash featuring the Anime cartoon character Shinjieva.
- Graham Brown put together a nice looking Remote Access Makeover in the style of Aqua.
- Long time contributor Scott Chitwood (from Rampant Mac) created this MOSS just for ResExcellence. The Bubble effect is very cool.
Software News 2-18-00
Software News: – by Cletus ™
St. Clair Software has updated their open/save dialog enhancer Default Folder. This release provides several bug fixes and enhancements which include: Clicking on a greyed-out filename in a Navigation Services "Save As" dialog box now copies the name into the edit field for use as the new file name, errors which occurred when running Default Folder in limited user mode under Mac OS 9 have been fixed and Default Folder no longer allows users to supply folder and file names which include a ':' or exceed the maximum 31 character limit of the Mac OS, among others fixes. I have updated the archive.
Gadget Software replied back to my question about the similarities between their program Magic Power Menu and AutoMenus Pro. In short — they have picked up where AutoMenus Pro has left off since AutoMenus Pro is no long being updated.
Submit Software News Suggestions!
Icon/Desktop News 2-18-00
Icon &
Desktop News by Ilona
One new OS X set in our Icon
Archive! Five new pictures are in
the Desktop
Archive! Enjoy! And don't forget:
They are always open for your contributions!
When you visit Etherbrian
and see a new image on the front page, you will know there
is some new stuff inside! This time they have seven new
desktop pictures and two new little icon sets. We have one
of them in our Icon Archive. Thanks for the
contribution!
The
Snaky Reports has delicious
Autumn Sweets icons for you!
You might know this or you might not, I
just noticed that Dark
Eagle has a new design! This site
provides lots of system replacement icons in a "ready to
change" format, and desktop pictures.
I have found a huge icon set NixIcons
v2.2 at InfoMac
!
Almost everybody is making some Aqua
related interface goodies... Well I made one too, it's
called Aqua Parody! And it is paired with another picture,
New Wave. Look for them at IliCon.
Aqua Parody has been also placed in our Desktop
Archive.
What's new on your site? Icons?
Desktop pictures? Inform
us! We'll post it!
Register to Win an iPod at Smalldog.com
2/16/00
Two readers have answered my request for a solution to the ninety-second log out delay. Once I test the solutions, I'll put together a tutorial and post it.
One last post regarding Finder color Labels. Paul Gobble has found an excellent way to use Labels in conjunction with Applescript:
Here is another great use for labels. Since they can be checked and set via Applescript, they make a great pointer. I've written a script that automates the printing of my digital photographs to my Kadak DS 8650 dye-sub printer, so I can send entire folders full of images to print. I have the printer script label the file bright orange once the file has been printed. This way, if the printer crashes or jams (which happens alot) and takes the script down with it, I can just resend the entire folder of images to print. The script will automatically skip the files that have been labeled bright orange.
I've also written a little script that counts the number of bright-orange-labeled files in a folder, so I can get an idea of how much longer I will have to wait for my prints. All in all, I find them very handy.
Maybe if you politely email him, he will share the scripts with you.
Modify the MultiUser Login Screen
 If you manage a school network, or the LAN at your Company, you may like the way this little edit allows you customize the look of MacOS 9's MultiUser Login screen. In this example, I'll show you how I configured the screen for my Company.
At the end of the tutorial is an Aqua replacement made by Sean Hennessy for you to download. (Continued...)
Ryan Colley sent these quick little Applescripts for SoundJam to turn the volume up and down from the Finder. There are also scripts to Mute or Open SoundJam. Use these scripts in conjunction with either iDo Script Scheduler, OSA Menu, or the Keyboard Control Panel on some versions of 8.6 and on OS 9.0.
User Contributions:
- This MOSS by Onar Vikingstad shows a G3, its guts wide open!
- Andy Sohoza likes the music of Bjork. So he made a Netscape splash proclaiming his loyalty!
- Now this is funny. Ra made a cool looking MOSS (with desktop pattern) my carving on some cardboard!
- Alex McHugh created a Eudora splash featuring some transparencies. In fact, the download contains tips on making your own transparency effects.
- I don't know who she is, but she's a cartoon and Graham Brown submitted a MOSS of her standing on a bear skin!
- This Anime splash for Netscape by Denis Goulet features Kaoru.
- This MacOS 9 Login screen Makeover by Sean Hennessy is featured in today's ResExcellence edit.
Software News 2-16-00
Software News: – by Cletus I've switched to Univers
I continue to receive mail about Magic Power Menu. Many have sent to me about the striking resemblance to AutoMenus Pro. However, I have been unable to reach the web page. I have an e-mail into Gadget Software about this. When I hear back I will let everyone know.
I did receive an e-mail from them concerning the problem with Control Strip Modules not working properly mentioned by several of you. I imagine the fact they mention the "full version" means that the options are not available in the demo mode. Read below:
"Yes. Tell them, in the full version, go in "Options", and unchecked "Sticky popups" and "Dismiss automatically". We are aware of the bug and are searching a better solution." — Gadget Software
Mscape Software has updated Iconographer again to fix a problem with window activation. It stand at version 1.1.1 and is in our archive.
Here is one we haven't seen in a long while. Westcode Software has released a batch of new modules for their OneClick application. More add-ons are always available here.
Macintosh News Network noted the opening of a new site containing all known Apple Data Detectors called (ironically) Apple Data Detector Depot. There is a lot of really cool things posted. Give it a look.
Five new themes have been posted at Themes.org. Two screenshots posted at KDE.org.
Submit Software News Suggestions!
Icon/Desktop News 2-16-00
Icon &
Desktop News by Ilona
A ResEdit makeover set has arrived in our
Icon
Archive! Five new pictures are in
the Desktop
Archive! Enjoy! And don't forget:
They are always open for your contributions!
IronDevil
went B&W with his new icon set, Faces!
PixelPress
released Music Studio icons and a lovable cursor,
Panda!
DreaMax
has Dreamcast icons and desktop picture for you!
PseudoRoom
's design remained basically the
same, but it has been improved! Justin really knows how and
where to inject some collagen to give the site a real
facelift. The new looking site doesn't have new icons, but
they are in progress and we wait impatiently to see
them!
Creative
Box has updated with a desktop
picture called "Placid" and another picture, "Faster" is the
desktop picture of the week at MacOSZone!
What's new on your site? Icons?
Desktop pictures? Inform
us! We'll post it!
Ilicon Graphic Design
2/14/00
 Like me, 38% of you never use Labels for coloring icons. Several readers wrote in to ask what Labels were! Maybe Apple needs to advertise their value to users. One handy use for Labels was sent by James Huffman:
I'm surprised people don't use them more. The one REALLY good thing I use them for is as a quick way of figuring out what extensions have been loaded recently. Before I install a new piece of software, I change all the icons in the extensions folder to some bizarre custom color. That way, when there is a conflict, I have to spend less time with Conflict Catcher, trying to figure out which extension is the culprit.
This week, the Polling Place would like your opinion on the following question, "Do you use Apple's Launcher?". If you're not familiar with the Launcher, read Jeremy Hoesly's recent article.
 Well aren't we special! About.com was nice enough to recognize ResExcellence as one of the Best of the Net".
As ResExcellence becomes one of the old timers in the Macintosh web neighborhood, these welcomed bits of recognition are few and far between, so thanks again for the tip-o-the-hat!
MacInstruct has published the next chapter of "The University of HyperCard: Chapter II". This article covers a lot of ground, so if you've been thinking of learning HyperCard, start reading before you fall behind the rest of the class!
I'm looking for the solution to a ResEdit modification. Under MutipleUsers in MacOS 9, when you log out, the 90 second delay dialog appears. I want to shorten that to one second. The first person to send me the correct edit gets a free ResExcellence t-shirt!
You have to think about this one a little...
Snapshots:
User Contributions:
If you are a contributor to ResExcellence, you may have noticed the download counters sometime have a mind of their own. I have reworked the cgi script to hopefully fix the problem. If you notice them acting up again on new submissions, please let me know.
- Having forsaken all sleep, Denis Goulet is on a pace to set a world record for MOSS creation. Here are two more of his Anime submissions!
- Adam Betts sent a Hotline splash screen that will look good with a dark themed desktop.
- Apple didn't give us much to work with, that's why it's amazing to see all the permutations that are created with just a few Aqua elements. Bernhard Feurstein created this MOSS with matching About this Mac replacement.
- Zero Divide created a Netscape splash - as viewed from under water!
- Peter McHugh submitted a new package of three MOSS replacements. Check them out, then mix and match.
Software News 2-14-00
Software News: – by Cletus — Updated at 6:30am
I received many positive reports of Magic Power Menu mentioned last time. Peter Milford and Mike Pflepsen were two of several to write in. Both report success with Mac OS 9. Peter noticed some occasional quirks that may have been fixed with the release of v.1.5 over the weekend. The page indicates that Version 1.5 improves the interface, fixes a few bugs and adds some new functions. I have added it to the SW Archive. It is recommended that everyone upgrades to the new version.
Just in: Mike Pflepsen dropped me a line to say he suspects he is having trouble accessing the items in his control strip with the Magic Poser Menu control panel installed. Let me know if others have noticed this.
Peter Christopher Staecker wrote me to recommend I mention the new beta of iCab as an alternative browser. I have been playing with it and must say it is fast. The homepage lists the improvements and limitations with this version. There is an expiration date of June 2000. I Consider it wonderful that it runs at around 1900k of Ram.
Kaleidoscope Scheme Archive has posted 13 new and 4 updated schemes for your downloading pleasure.
Jinsan has updated his Aquacid scheme for Kaleidoscope.
Submit Software News Suggestions!
Icon/Desktop News 2-14-00
Icon &
Desktop News by Ilona
We have a charming little set (also a
Pixelpalooza entry set) in our Icon
Archive! And lots of new
pictures, among them a full screen startup screen arrived in
the Desktop
Archive! Enjoy! And don't forget:
They are always open for your contributions!
Perfect
Yosemite updates with system
icons in every flavor! You can download them either as
folder icons or as an iPack, either individually or in
whole! Oh, and you might want to update your bookmark too,
because Perfect Yosemite has a new URL for its own
domain!
Epoch
Icons released Nokia Magix icons,
a new desktop picture, and has an old friend Lauri back
again!
Chemicon
released his Pixelpalooza entry set, Face System, a charming
system replacement set with expressions.
Jen's
Page has a new home! Take a visit
and get the some new animal icons, kaleidoscope schemes, and
other fun stuff!
Are you hungry? Visit Studio
Mouse, they have great food
icons!
Icon
Parade has added ten new links
for a total of 698(!) icon links to visit! Also
ISC
(IconSearchCenter) has been updated too!
PixelPress
has a new Aqua cursor! I like to see more flavor from this
tiny beauty, don't you?
Two beautifully crafted Glass Hearts have
been released for your Valentines desktop at
Blue
Sky Heart Graphics! Be careful
not to brake them!
Tonimagination
is another lovely site where you can find great desktop
pictures! We received two for our Desktop Archive and will
have more for our following updates. Thanks for the
contribution!
Brycetopia
released three new images for your desktop. They are
focusing on a movie for the next three months, so when they
come back with regular updates, they will show you something
wonderful!
Three new pictures have been released at
Pland!
Look for them in the "media" section.
ATPM
is pleased to announce the tenth edition of their Desktop
Pictures series! This set includes such classics as
"Macspotting," "Mac Wars," "Reservoir Macs," "The Mac Witch
Project," and much more.
What's new on your site? Icons?
Desktop pictures? Inform
us! We'll post it!
VillageTronic Video Card For Only $99 at Smalldog.com!
2/11/00
Houston, We have a problem...
A couple of posts in the User's Forum refer to problems with appearance and printing once the Appleloosa font was installed. (The font is part of InterfaceLift's Aqua Theme).
I installed the font as a System font using this Previous Edit, and it's working perfectly for me in all my applications, but a little caution is advised even though the problem is easily remedied by removing the font.
 The iturk web site has posted two more Speech Characters.
Victoria is featured in this picture (I always wondered what
she looked like!). The other one has an Egyptian flair and is named Sphinx.
Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall, ninety-nine bottles of beer.
You take one down and pass it around,
Ninety-eight bottles of beer on the wall...
Patrick Kelleher has an iMac throbber for Explorer on his iTools web site!
Snapshots:
The quality of the Snapshots we have been receiving is great, but please don't feel obligated to feature resExcellence on your browser! :)
User Contributions:
- Rick Roe submitted a new Hotline Splash screen. This one is "Red Aqua" version.
- Denis Goulet created a Netscape splash featuring the anime Asuka.
- An Aqua splash for Explorer was made by Jeff Smykil.
- Duane Miller took our good friend, Smilin' Mac, and puffed him up a little for this new MOSS.
- Will this count for biology homework? ZeroDivide submitted an anatomically correct skull throbber for Netscape.
Software News 2-11-00
Software News: – by CletusWhen we last left Ben Mackin...
The Aqua Theme by Ben Mackin continues to improve. After almost 20,000+ downloads the most current version as of this writing is v1.0.2. Here is the run down of changes and plans.
"Scrollbars are working 100%, Icons are working now — Thanks Matteo. The menu bar is done, Check Boxes/Radio buttons are working, Edit Text wells, pop-up menus, document windows and drawer/pop-up windows are done. Things to Do: Work on Tabs, utility windows need a collapse box (and repositioned widgets) and disabled widgets in document windows would be cool."
Everyday Software has updated clipEdit to version 2.0.2. This version is a Re-release of the 2.0.1 version that fixed a bug that caused a NIL Object Exception when saving new text clippings. The Archive is updated.
This could be cool if it ends up working as it says. Gadget Software (hey — I use Gadget!) has released Magic Power Menu (Control Panel image). I have not had a chance to try this but it appears to be a takeoff with enhancements on NoFlet (Teflon). It will add many useful options to improve menus, like: "change the cursor when you pass the mouse on the menu, setup a sound when you open and/or select a menu, etc." Please let me know if you like this and I will add it to the archives.
MscapeSoftware has updated Iconographer by adding a floating colors palette, revamping the browser, adding Anti-aliasing support and several other enhancements and many bug fixes. The SW Archive reflects the changed version.
Iconfactory has also updated its iControl program, fixing a bug some users of Mac OS 8.5 and OS 8.5.1 were having. An "error -2581" when attempting to use the program may pop up.
Submit Software News Suggestions!
Icon/Desktop News 2-11-00
Icon &
Desktop News by Ilona
Two new sets posted in the
Icon
Archive! And again, seven(!) new
pictures arrived in the Desktop
Archive! Enjoy! And don't forget:
They are always open for your contributions!
Icon.CX
always has something for you. Anne's funky little circles
are back, this time with some Aqua-inspired glassy effects.
Rick's application-replacement sets, Spiffy Apps III, is now
also available! If that wasn't enough, you'll find several
Aqua replacement splash screens on their goodies
page.
InterfaceLift
updated with Spartacus Volume 4, a handsome Copland style
icon set!
Maurym.com
showing a multiply personality syndrome... Twenty little
cute faces looking at you from his newest icon set. What's
its name? Ah, Little Faces!
Ronlun.com
released Shoes, an icon set with all kind of shoes! And as
promised, we continue posting his desktop pictures in our
Desktop Archive. Today we're showcasing two. Thanks for the
contribution!
Albie updated Kaleidoskoope2
with his Pixelpalooza entry set in an iControl
pack!
The Master of Icon Machine, one of the
real icon editors for 32 bit icons, has made his
Pixelpalooza entry set available at UncommonPlace!
Thirteen Amazons are getting into a
romantic mood... among them a new member who contributed to
the new group set, Valentines. Get it from Icon
Amazons!
Cricket
Bow Design has released another
G4 Desk picture and an adorable Sleepy Fish. And we have
them both. The fish is still sleepy... Well, I take it as a
compliment - it must feel right at home in our Desktop
Archive if it's still so sleepy. Thanks for the
contribution!
Flax
Creations has two new desktop
pictures and we have them both in our Desktop Archive!
Thanks for the contribution!
Saffron
Graphics updated with Alien Light
desktop picture!
What's new on your site? Icons?
Desktop pictures? Inform
us! We'll post it!
Register to Win an iPod at Smalldog.com
2/9/00
Many readers wrote to "enlighten" me about the web pages from iTools. Many enlightened me with a baseball bat!
Earlier I stated that iTools only allowed you to use templates. It turns out that any web pages that are in your iDisk's Sites folder will be accessible from homepage.mac.com. If you have a page names index.html, it will become the default.
I stand corrected, put away those baseball bats! My iTools homepage now contains the Coyle Family Site.
 Even though I had downloaded the Aqua Theme from InterfaceLift, Matthew Ruben pointed out a little gem that was tucked away in the archive. He noticed that Appleoosa is probably an early version of Lucida Grande demibold from Copland. It's very similar to the font featured in the OS X Aqua snapshots at Apple.
The excellent 32 bit icon tool, Iconographer has been updated to version 1.1. This new release includes the following new features:
- A versatile floating colors palette.
- Revamped icon browser for easy use of files with multiple icon resources.
- Anti-aliasing support.
- A Windows menu.
- Improved Windows icon support.
- All three open commands have been combined into one.
- Many bug fixes and usability tweaks.
- Now available in three languages: English, Japanese, and French.
Adding Feedback Characters to Speech Recognition
This is without a doubt, the silliest edit you may ever see at ResExcellence. It all started when Stephen Galpin submitted four replacement characters for Apple's Speech Recognition software (download them on the edit page). That's when I decided to create a Mini-Me. I enjoyed it, and maybe you will too. (Continued...)
Wade passed along some info on a patcher for the Keyboard Control Panel:
Keyboard Patcher patches the Keyboard control panel so you may use the function keys to launch apps no matter what Mac you are using! I've got a G3 333 (beige) and it works great. I remembered you had a brief discussion about doing such a hack previously, so I thought you might like to know about the patch.
I tried this on my Powerbook, and unfortunately, it didn't work for me. Still no function keys, but maybe you'll have better luck.
 Sean Hennessy put together a very cool makeover package for Netscape. There are nine sets of button bar replacement icons in every Mac color imaginable. Also notice the Aqua ppat behind the icons.
The kit also includes instructions and helper apps to assign Sherlock as the Search application, and script for mail and news helpers. AND it also contains a modified PPob to remove the word Netscape: from the title bar! Download it!
Snapshots:
Four new pictures, all different, but all beautiful...
User Contributions:
Aqua, Aqua, Aqua! That's the one thing all this contributions have in common, and that they look great!
- Three MOSS submissions, all featuring Aqua, but all nicely different, from Joe Daniels, Mike Orticari, and Fam Chee Cheng.
- A theme compliant makeover kit for Remote Access by Buddy.
- An Aqua splash for Internet Explorer by Rick Roe.
Software News 2-9-00
Software News: – by Cletus
So the Aqua theme makes it through its debut without being pulled by Apple. Is anyone surprised? I guess I am not. My feeling is that Apple may be looking at it as a way to get people a bit use to it. I could be wrong. Still I wonder how many people at Apple have downloaded the theme!? :)
In any case the customizing goes on as the SilkyAqua? Scheme has been updated. I can not read what is updated on the page, but it is updated.
YourHead has released version 2.5 of aClock. No mention is made of what is updated, but we will assume it is something for the better.
ControlStripOutlet has a new CSM in the Spotlight called Minuet. They also have surpassed the 40,000 hit mark and have some drifting hearts so drop by.
Bob Friede wrote in to let us know that MagicCookie Monster by Dr. Jon's Software will perform much the same function as Cookie Cutter. Both are freeware and will help you manage your cookie files in Netscape. A note on the pages says that it "supports Netscape's multiple User Profiles (but not MacOS 9's "Multiple Users" at this time)." It is at beta 9.
NoFinderZoom 9 has been updated to version 1.0.1. This version simply adds an icon to the extension.
Themes.org has posted 5 new screenshots.
Submit Software News Suggestions!
Icon/Desktop News 2-9-00
Icon &
Desktop News by Ilona
One new sets posted in the
Icon
Archive! And seven(!) new
pictures arrived in the Desktop
Archive! Enjoy! And don't forget:
They are always open for your contributions!
Maurym.com
has released his Pixelpalooza system replacement entry set,
plus another one in the same style, but with alphabet!
Elegant, well made, 32 bit icons, great for any desktop.
Maurym has also made some changes, like putting up new
highlights of his own updates as well as other interface
related site updates.
LustRazor's
Pixelpalooza entry set, Pod is now in our Icon Archive.
Thanks for the contribution!
And, another Palooza set has been
released at World
of Kaos, a system set based on
the new(?) look of the G5.
One-Button
Mouse has also released his
Palooza entry set, Ico-Noir!
PixelPress
has a temporary facelift and offers new cursors for
you!
The site Camphor
Tree was obviously inspired by
the lovely character Totoro. You can find icons, desktop
pictures, stories and other stuff, all about
Totoro!
Etherbrian
has two sparkling new fonts and a good news: there will be
new icons and desktop pictures soon!
Aldie's
Site released a Jennifer Lopez
desktop picture, and we also have it in our Desktop Archive.
Thanks for the contribution!
One of my favorite sites,
Cricket
Bow Design has released a G4 Desk
picture! We also have it in our Desktop Archive. Thanks for
the contribution!
Ronlun.com
is a very impressive site with all kinds of interesting
stuff and desktop pictures. The newest one is Girl and we
also have it in our Desktop Archive. Other great
contributions will follow soon. Thanks!
Flax
Creations has four new pictures,
among them some that guys will love! We have the less
sexually attractive one in our Desktop Archive. Thanks for
the contribution!
One
Graphics' "Glassy Iconz
Appearance Pack" has been separated the icons and desktop
pictures for those of you who would like to download only
one! In Addition to the icons, we also have the picture in
our Desktop Archive. Thanks for the contribution!
The voting booth for Pixelpalooza's
"People's Choice Award" opened
officially today! Get over there and vote for your favorite
set! Good luck to all the Pixelpalooza
contestants!
What's new on your site? Icons?
Desktop pictures? Inform
us! We'll post it!
Ilicon Graphic Design
2/7/00
 Other than the recent misstep with their Terms of Service, Apple appears to have a winner on their hands with iTools. Though the service is only a few months old, most readers are using it in some way. My family all have their required mac.com email addreses, and several of us use iDisks. The web page is lame though. Why do we have to use their templates?
Sometimes, a new feature from Apple is immediately accepted, some take longer. Are some never used and forgotten? This week, the Polling Place asks, "Do you use Icon Labels?"
Ilicon has received a beautiful new update! In honor of the Grand Reopening, Ilona has released some GUI items for the Linux community! System Penguins is a set of 60 icons in 32x32 and 16x16 sizes. In the Snapshot section you can see a picture of them along with one of Ilicon's matching desktop pictures.
Don't worry, she didn't forget MaOS users! ToddleToddle is an expanded set of 79 System Replacement Icons.
 Long time contributor Donald Tipton sent this surprisingly simple Applescript for you to download, that does something way-cool. It adds a Trash icon to the Application Switcher. Drag an icon on to the icon, and it is moved to the trash.
This behavior emulates a NeXT/Linux dock function.
-- remove the "--" from the beginning of the following lines to make the
-- Application Switcher appear similar to the row of minimized icons in OpenStep
--tell application "Application Switcher"
-- run
-- set visible of palette to true
-- set frame visible of palette to false
-- set button ordering of palette to alphabetical
-- set names visible of palette to false
-- set icon size of palette to large
-- set orientation of palette to horizontal
-- set anchor point of palette to upper left
-- set position of palette to lower left
--end tell
on open (thefiles)
tell application "Finder"
delete thefiles
end tell
end open
(Added to the Sloppy Applescript Archive)
MacInstruct has published a new tutorial. "How to Troubleshoot Crashes and
Freezes".
If you're looking for cool fonts, or want to request a custom creation, RAILhead has a new pricing structure. New fonts are now only $10.00 (from $20.00), and custom fonts are now $20.00 (from $30.00). They still have lots of free stuff too!
Snapshots:
User Contributions:
- Steven Galpin once again impresses us with a series of contributions featuring Anime. View a Hotline Splash screen, and one for Internet Explorer.
- Patrick Wheeler put together a nice MOSS based on the OS X Aqua Pill.
- Rick Roe, from IconsCX, sent spinning Volkswagen Beetle as an iCab Throbber!
- Jean-Jacques Cortes submitted ATM and MOSS replacements featuring "Lord of the Rings". The downloads are also available in French.
Software News 2-07-00
Software News: – by Cletus™
Ben Mackin has released a brand new Theme called Aqua. This theme is based on the screenshots freely available on Apple's website, and was developed to try and maintain a high resemblance to that of Aqua. Beta testers of this theme report that "this Aqua theme is not only very usable, but has a great likeness to the original." Furthermore, using a benchmarking tool he developed — ThemeBench — he has found Aqua to be nearly as fast as the default Apple Platinum appearance. For more information and to download Aqua Theme v1.0 go here.
InterfaceLift has updated their Aqua Scheme for Kaleidoscope. I received several emails about the link I had provided previously for the scheme being broke. A note on their homepage indicates that they recently had a server move and were in fact down for several days. They are back now however.
StimpSoft™ Inc. has released an update to EmptyTempFolder 1.6.3. This version "fixes a spelling error, and selecting multiple files then hitting trash actually deletes all the unused files." Please note that a previous version 1.6.2 was released two days ago so check your version number to make sure you have the latest.
ClaireWare Software has updated Program Switcher™ which provides the ability to switch between running applications via the keyboard. This isn't in the archive but can be added if you feel it is worthwhile.
Beta Testing is ongoing for Sleeper 3.2.1b7 by St. Clair Software. Many people have found Sleeper a perfect solution for Apple's Energy Saver control panels failure to wake from sleep mode at times. This beta version will allow "Sleeper to recognize the hard disk in new PowerMac G4's, "slot-loading" iMacs, and in some RAID configurations. It also corrects reliability problems when Sleeper's password feature is used on servers running AppleShare IP 6.3."
I've finally finished adding the Software Jeremy mentioned in his Freeware Gems article. MeMapper, Inquisitor and Reaper are all in their respective archives now.
Submit Software News Suggestions.
Icon/Desktop News 2-7-00
Icon &
Desktop News by Ilona
Four new sets arrived in the
Icon
Archive! And three new pictures
in the Desktop
Archive! Enjoy! And don't forget:
They are always open for your contributions!
Finally, I finished the new
IliCon
design and I also have some lovely new icons and some
desktop pictures for you. These were contributed in the
ResEx Icon Archive too and I already thanked myself for the
contribution! <grin>
Epoch
Icons went through a massive
change. The new look is celebrated with a new desktop
picture. Soon they will move back all the stuff they used to
have to this new page. By the way, if I'm right, the URL has
also changed!
PixelAddict
released "My Desktop", the third icon set in this series,
which is also his Pixelpalooza
entry set. PixelAddict will be closing soon and rejoining
Epoch Icons.
Icon
Icehouse has also released his
Pixelpalooza
entry set, a Copland style Public Restrooms!
Makibubby
released "Sexi Girls" for your desktop! Well, I don't know
if they are every men's dream but they are fun!
Icon
Parade updated with ten new links
to their existing 600 icon links (has anyone said that icons
are not popular?), and their February highlight is Valentine
icons!
Food, food, lots of food! Someone is
cooking at Icon
Amazons!
Funky icons for your Macintosh at
Maniac
Icons! Nostalgic Monsters, Skulls
Cybernetics, Bugs, and more!
IconHood
has Boll icons! Though they are just simple round objects,
they look great in 32 bit! I also liked the ingenious
solution for the list view.
Silver
Dragon released beautiful little
icon animations!
Hell's
Half Acre also has an animated
icon, "Tutankhamen" in QT movie and as normal folder
icons!
SMD's
Web released Egyptian System
icons and they will take you to an OldCity with a new
desktop picture!
Twisted
Technology announced the release
of its new Hotline/inkSpot! UserIcon List.
The Top Five of the Month is up at
IconCow!
Take a look and see who is the winner and what the judges
have said.
One
Graphics has started making
interface related goodies. Their first release "Glassy Iconz
Appearance Pack" contains a good looking appetizer of their
soon to be released "Aqua style" system set. There is also
desktop picture and "About this Macintosh" splash screens.
We also have the icon set in our Icon Archive. Thanks for
the contribution!
Introducing PlastiMac, a great looking
desktop picture at Blue
Sky Heart Graphics!
Voting has begun at Iconfactory!
Good luck all the Pixelpalooza contestants!
What's new on your site? Icons?
Desktop pictures? Inform
us! We'll post it!
VillageTronic Video Card For Only $99 at Smalldog.com!
2/4/00
Attention: If you happen to be the Director of the CIA, and have Top Secret information on your home personal computer, you can surf this site secure with the knowledge that when a nosey co-worker peeks at your hard disk, ResExcellence is not a site that will be considered "Hi Risk"!
Well this should help clear 50% of the posts from the User's Forum. NoFinderZoom has been updated for compatibility with MacOS 9!
Overseas correspondent, Philip Gabbert, filed this report regarding Temporary Folders:
FinderPOP will allow you to view the contents of the folder, and if you have to hot keys turned on, you can press 'G' and click on the Temporary Items Folder to trash it yourself.
Some time ago, Tim Mityok made "Appearance Menu" to switch themes (collections of Appearance, Sound, Color settings) from the Menu Bar, but to be honest, he was a little under whelmed by the responses to the utility.
With the recent resurgence of themes, Tim was wondering whether or not a "Theme" utility such as Appearance Menu should be moved forward, or is it simply not needed/required in the Mac community?
Take a look at his program and drop him a line with your feelings. If you're a satisfied user of Appearance Menu, you had better pay your $5 shareware fee, or I'll come over there and spank you!
Rams sent ResExcellence this helpful Applescript for you to download:
 It registers and unregisters protocols for Netscape. I know there's already something like this in the sloppy script archive, but I got tired of popping open script editor every time I changed versions of navigator or communicator. So if your tired of looking for creator codes or just can't decide on your favorite newswatcher, this should help. If you're not using a script menu, you'll need to save it as a script application. If you just run it in script editor, it won't remember the protocols you set (and thus, won't be able to unregister things).
 Ice -The Fast, Speedy, Window Manager
If you are running Linux as a server, you'll get the most performance if you run in command line mode, but let's be honest, that's no fun! The Ice Window Manager was designed from the ground up for speed and a small memory footprint.
Here are easy installation instructions, and a snapshot of my Linux desktop running Ice 1.0. (Continued...)
User Contributions:
- Steven Galpin submitted another Anime splash screen, this one is for Outlook Express.
- This Jim Morrison Think Different MOSS was sent by Enio Rigolin.
- Doug Polk from Macalicious, submitted this tangerine MacOS 9 About this Mac replacement.
- If you have AirPort, and if you have Earthlink, and if you have Internet Explorer 5, then does Jeff Smykil have a splash screen for you! :)
.
Software News 2-04-00
Software News: – by Cletus ™
I must have listed almost all the Theme sites out there since only one person wrote in to add to the site list. About fifteen of you wrote in to thank me for listing them however — You are welcome.
 iControl was officially released jointly yesterday by the Iconfactory and Polymorph Software Development. This long awaited Application makes changing the icons system wide a breeze — including the Trash can. Additionally it allows for terrific integration with IconDropper.
St. Clair Software has released a beta version of Default Folder. This version allows for clicking on a greyed-out filename in a Navigation Services "Save As" dialog box, which will then copy the name into the edit field for use as the new file name. Several other bug fixes and features have been added with this beta release. I have added a link to the beta page in the SW Archive.
I have added Prestissimo to the Archive following several requests and the fact that I myself use this. Truth be told — I thought it was there already. oops! If you don't know about this piece of software, it is a control panel that will allow full customization of your Apple Task bar added in Mac OS 8.5 and subsequent releases.
AutoPurge™ has added another feature to its version 2.1 update. "Pressing the "D" key while AutoPurge™ is running will turn on/off the ability to automatically delete the files instead of moving them to a folder in the Trash." Read more about this software in the archive.
Navi iRae has been updated to version 1.7 which brings compatibility to Mac OS 9's multi-user aspect of the operating system.
Themes.org has redone their homepage making it easier (I think) to navigate. They have also fixed the update links to the screenshot section. Have a look at the new screenshots they have posted, they look really cool. In fact most of the other sections have been updated with screenshots also.
Last time I announced an update to DeskTray. There was a problem with it corrupting the preferences file. It was updated again to repair this bug. Anyone using this program should download this new updated version.
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Icon/Desktop News 2-4-00
Icon &
Desktop News by Ilona
Two new sets were added to the
Icon
Archive! You can give Netscape a
facelift with this newly contributed replacement set, or
replace your system icons with another new set of icons
(which is also a Pixelpalooza entry set!). Get them both
from our Icon Archive! We have three new pictures in the
Desktop
Archive, among them are one
transparent, and our first Valentine's Day contribution!
Enjoy! And don't forget: They are always open for your
contributions!
PixelPress
released 3D-licious, a 32-bit Copland-style icon
collection!
SharkTab LE is a nicely improved version
of a previous system icon set. Get it from Creative
Box!
What a new father is doing if he happens
to be an iconist? Making icons about Baby Stuff - of course!
Who is the proud father? Gary at IconHQ!
As you already know (see Software News
above), iControl -- the new system-icon customization
utility from the Iconfactory
-- was released yesterday. Along with it, Perfect
Yosemite 3 made its debut in all
the color flavors.
IconIcon
shows you its happy face with this new HappyGoLucky system
set!
Mafoo from power/Mac,
who recently released the "Dimple Appearance Theme", has let
us know that he is looking for requests for his next set of
icon, due out sometime in mid-February. Send him a message
through the feedback form on his web page!
You can see stars without going outside!
No, it's not because you get hit on your head, it's because
I/O
Unlimited Media has offering you
Stars desktop pictures in its new art section!
After opening the 3D Gallery,
Rampant
Mac started to experiment with
Bryce 4, and it resulted in a new desktop picture! We also
have it in our Desktop Archive! Thanks for the precious
contribution!
What's new on your site? Icons?
Desktop pictures? Inform
us! We'll post it!
Stocking Stuffers from Kensington and Smalldog.com!
2/2/00
Jeremy Hoesly updated his Smiley ResEdit template to work with the latest AOL Instant Messenger. Version 3.5.897 now supports Smileys that contain four characters. Want to learn more? See this previous edit.
Vic Wertz sent this little Applescript ditty...
I massively modified the script by Rams, originally posted on 1/26, so that it moves items from Temporary Items directly into the Trash. If you save this as an app and place it in the Startup or Shutdown Items folder, you need not ever worry about the Temporary Items folder again.
set x to "Macintosh HD:Temporary Items:"
-- Change "Macintosh HD" to match the name of your startup disk.
tell application "Finder"
if (count of (list folder x)) < 1 then return
repeat with i in list folder x
move alias (x & i) to trash
end repeat
end tell
(Added to the increasingly Sloppy Applescript Archive)
Power a Control-Click Away
With the introduction of Mac OS 8, Apple added support for special context-sensitive popup menus known as contextual menus. While this feature has been available to computer users since the release of Windows 95, Apple didn’t deem it of any value until recently. The ability to invoke a menu of commands specifically tailored for selected content could prove to be an invaluable productivity tool for any user. (Continued...)
This site was built on resources, but when you have a few thousand ResExcellence web site images on you drive, all those little custom icons and preview PICT images eat up a ton of space!
Resource Remover will quickly go through an entire folder and remove all those resources, leaving the data fork intact, and returning to you hard disk space (in my case, over 10Meg!)
The man who knows a deal when he sees one, Bobby McBrains, has posted a tutorial on how a simple ResEdit modification can allow you to run MacOS 9 on unsupported upgraded PPC machines. In fact, he has OS 9 running on his Powerbook 540 w/PPC card!
Snapshots:
User Contributions:
- An Aqua-X MOSS was submitted by Patric Lee.
- Do you use palm Desktop Software? Kevin Hessel created a nice looking replacement splash for you.
- Ben sent a slightly blue modified MOSS for OS 9.
- Stephen Galpin loves Anime, and you'll see that reflected in his creations which I will be posting over the next several days. Enjoy this splash screen for Internet Explorer.
Software News 2-02-00
Software News: – by Cletus Lets Talk Themes Updated 12pm another Theme site
After receiving several emails about where you can download Cookie Cutter, since the homepage is in German, I uploaded a copy to our servers for easier download. You can now get it here.
Everyday Software has released clipEdit 2.0.1. Primarily a bug fix release, it fixes a bug that would "cause the last font to be selected when selecting a font from the fonts menu, a bug that would prevent the "Save As..." function from working correctly. And lastly when renaming a clipping the current clipping title now shows up in the renaming window." The Archive reflects the update.
DeskTray has been bumped up to version 1.2. The list now behaves like in the Finder. It allows multiple selection, and to open an item, you have to double-click on an item. Also added was scrolling during Drag & Drop as well as several other changes and additions.
KSA has updated with 15 new and 10 updated Schemes.
Symantec and Network Associates have released updates for their Virus software NAV and Virex.
Lets talk "Themes" for a moment. I personally prefer Themes to Schemes if I use anything at all. Several new themes have been released and is it me or are they making a big resurgence? In any case there are several new ones for you to check out.
Riverbed Software has released the long awaited iMac flavored "PaperBox Series." The World of Mac Themes also lists the PaperBox Series for downloading. PaperBox is five individual themes based on the colors of the iMacs.
Mafoo writes in to let me know his site — power/MAC —has released "Dimple" which is a really cool Theme for Mac. I personally am using this one at the moment and really like it.
Jon Avery left me know about another site that has Themes called MacOS Themes. I had not seen this site before. It is fairly comprehensive and includes some harder to get themes. Thanks.
Here are places where I go to check on themes. If anyone knows of more places let me know and I will add to the list.
Phrozen.org 
Allegro Themes Project
McMac.com (click on Themes)
Mac In Trash
MacOS Themes
Riverbed Software
The World of Mac Themes
MacThing's World of Mac
power/MAC Themes
Submit Software News Suggestions!
Icon/Desktop News 2-2-00
Icon &
Desktop News by Ilona
Three new sets arrived in our
Icon
Archive! And two new pictures in
the Desktop
Archive! Enjoy! And don't forget:
They are always open for your contributions!
"Terok Nor" is Anne's new icon set from
Icon.CX.
They also have three new Copland-inspired desktop pictures,
and the new goodies page has Aqua-style replacement splash
screens for Hotline and Internet Explorer! The good people
at Icon.CX. also sent us two great sets to our Icon Archive.
Thanks for the contribution!
From Sci-Fi to Women, there is something
for everyone in The
Startup Screen
Galeria!
Lindkvist
is ready to show you the February Calender! Go get
it!
Rampant
Mac has new startup screens,
patterns and a desktop picture! They also opened a bright
new section for 3D images with eight gorgeous desktop
pictures, MOSS, and patterns.
IronDevil
has updated with two lovely desktop pictures!
Ra's
Page has a new Flash Interface
and a new section has opened called MOSS, showing even more
of the talented works from Ra!
What's new on your site? Icons?
Desktop pictures? Inform
us! We'll post it!
Register to Win an iPod at Smalldog.com
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