8/30/99
 By a very small margin, readers like their documentation in pdf format followed by the good old SimpleText Read Me.
It's unfortunate that over the years, decent documentation has taken a back seat to the speed of a software's update cycle. Often developers are providing bug fixes to features that a user didn't even realize they had!
This weeks Polling Place asks, "Which online Messenger do you use?".
I happen to use AOL's Instant Messenger, mostly because my daughter does (and heaven knows I have to keep an eye on her!), but I was surprised at the number of alternatives, especially the two Java options.
Yahoo's Java Pager won't run without the browser, but it's still interesting to see the implementation, and it provides a viable option for Linux users. iChat's Java Pager is a true standalone java application. It's amazing to see how far Java has come at getting the User Interface up to par.
If you have problems printing to an HP Printer, stop by MacInstruct to read how to keep the ink flowing smoothly!
Another solution has been added to the Perl/Remote file problem. This one by Philip Gabbert from GPsMac tackles the problem in a different way.
Ilicon has released Sound Effects 3, a set of twenty System alert sounds.
labcerro spent the weekend scouring the web servers of Japan and reports back with this site, simply called StartupScreen. It's one of the best collections of StartupScreens I have yet to come across. You'll find yourself spending a lot of time there - even if you don't read Japanese!
Are you interested in buying a ResExcellence T-Shirt? Several of you have already inquired, but before I decide to gear-up for such a venture, I want to see if many readers are interested. At a tentative price of $15 (shipping included) in the continental US, drop me a line if you want to be the best dressed geek in your neighborhood.
If you use Fetch to handle your ftp needs, you may have noticed that while you can save a password in a Shortcut, you can't in a Bookmark. If you want to have a double-click icon to your site and skip the re-entering the password, open the Bookmark in ResEdit with Forker installed.
In the data fork, you'll see the URL of the Bookmark. To add the password, follow this format: username:password@site.com. For example:
Save the file and the next time you launch that bookmark, you won't be asked for a password.
"I don't think we're in User Contributions anymore Toto!" - Dorothy in Oz.
- No matter which piece of Apple hardware you own, this MOSS by Sean Terrill will have you covered.
- Mike Orticari made a cool looking Hotline splash screen.
- Two MOSS submitted by "The Apostate" give you four times the smile-power!
- While he may need therapy, it's hard to argue that this Netscape splash isn't interesting!
- Taylor created a slick looking MOSS called "Guilding Light".
- In cooperation with graphic designer Mr. Primadi, Anto submits an MOSS of Borobudur Temple.
VillageTronic Video Card For Only $99 at Smalldog.com!
8/27/99
The latest version of Mozilla has been released, and the new M9 is actually usable for a period of time . While it has a beautiful looking interface, does anyone know if the final release will be Apple Platinum?
The group hopes to have a feature frozen beta release by Halloween. If your curious of what the future can hold, download M9, load up ResExcellence, and resize the window. The browser dynamically redraws the window contents. No more flashing and time-wasting screen updates.
And what about Opera? The $35 browser recently updated it's MacOS stats slightly, but any type of release is still many months away. What I find interesting is that the progress bar graphics on their web page appear to be based on Mac screenshots. Grrrr....
I received several helpful suggestions on solving my little Perl Script problem. Special thanks to Colter Reed for what turned out to be the best solution for me. It you're interested, some comments and the Perl script are available for you to read.
Thanks again to everyone who sent suggestions. It's just another example of how ResExcellence it a product of its readers!
Here is another reason to participate in the Team ResExcellence rc5 challenge. It appears some knuckle-heads stole computers that were running the rc5 client. Unknown to them, the software kept crunching numbers and uploading blocks even after the culprits had the computers in their homes. The IP numbers led authorities to their whereabouts, and now the only cracking challenge these crooks worry about is getting out of jail!
As an exercise, Ben Lukens pulled out his Script Editor and whipped up this script:
This script will activate balloon help as if they were tooltips. If you pause your mouse over an item for a second, balloon help will turn on until you move your mouse again. It's actually pretty cool, and it's a heck of a lot more convenient than turning balloons on from the menu.
A couple of prerequisites though: You need Jon's Commands , which is included with MacOS 8.5, the IdleTime init, which is included with Instant Messenger and Netscape, and the Balloon Help osax, that's part of ACME Script Widgets.
Once you have all that, just save the following as a stay-open application, and run it.
property ison : false
on idle
set theidle to machine environment "idle"
if ison then
if theidle < 10 then
set ison to false
pop balloons
end if
else
if theidle > 60 then
set ison to true
inflate balloons
end if
end if
return 1
end idle
Now, it is just an AppleScript, with isn't really suited for something like this. As such, the balloons don't turn on and off and smooth as one would like. Something more low level, like an extension, would probably do a much better job. Maybe this will inspire somebody. :)
Tooltips are a cool feature in KDE under Linux. I'd love to see something like it on the Mac. Unfortunately, not all developers bother to use Balloons. (An example of great Balloon Help in a non-Apple software package is Eudora Pro.)
After reading the hardware modification to add a glow to the logo on a Powerbook G3, Author Chadwick wondered about the possibility of wiring the LED so that it flashed when the computer was asleep! Hmm.... can you say Disco?
Several readers have asked for an edit to redirect desktop/window snapshots. Desktop Screenshots is a free utility to do just that, and it has been added to our Software Library.
Recent Icon Releases
Desktop Gremlins has added two new icon sets. Promise features pixels of a religious theme, and there is also a new set of icons for Orb drives.
 one-button mouse also has a new icon set of hats! Of course, the icon I most resemble doesn't even wear a covering o his golden dome!
Icon Icehouse created a lucky-13 icons of Hellraiser creatures.
In 1994, while walking in the forest, The Pseudoroom created half a dozen Blair Witch icons. One year later, the pixels were found...
Pseudoroom also has several new MacAmp skins.
After doing a Sherlock search for "Pokemon", my nine-year old son told me about 84 icons of the little buggers available from 1840 Software. Gotta catch 'em all!
Opps! The AIM patcher does remove the annoying AOL artwork from the latest version, but according to Lon Hutchinson, it also removes the Stock Ticker. Perhaps on his next swing through out part of the galaxy, the mysterious being know only as Phydeaux will beam me a new version...
"It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark... and we're wearing User Contributions." - The Blues Brothers
- In 1994, while walking in the forest, Mark Worster created five Blair Witch desktop pictures. One year later, the jpegs were found... (Sorry!)
- "Castles" is a nice looking About this Mac replacement by In Koo Kim.
- Not forgetting those of you with older hardware, Reaktor submitted colorful MOSS replacement for System 7.5.
- After reading the previous edit using Discolour to give your Zip a new color icon, John Baltutis sent a 3D replacement.
- Borobudur is a stone artwork MOSS by Anto. To complete the look, he supplies a desktop pattern.
- Proving his name is no reflection on his work, the CrapMaster has submitted a beautiful Netscape splash replacement featured Queen Amidala.
Register to Win an iPod at Smalldog.com
8/25/99
Several readers have emailed to spank me for not including printed materials in the Polling Place options in the week's question.
Unfortunately, the software won't let me add an option once the polling has begun. Please select Other if your preference is paper!
I'm sure that the reason I forgot to include the good old printed manual is that I can't remember the last piece of software I purchased that came with one worth reading! Probably Marathon. :)
This has absolutely nothing to do with resource editing: iMaul.
(Thanks to Andy Greig)
This also has nothing to do with resource editing: The good folks at Ambrosia Software will force their marketing director to eat real insects if any of their fall software releases are contain bugs!
"It's not a bug! It's a feature!!!!!! Please!!"
 labcerro tipped off ResExcellence about an extension called Notification Logger. It replaces the dreaded non-modal error box with a pleasant tiny one. My one complain is that it doesn't seem to patch all the modals.
Marmalade Moon is Catharina England's web site for displaying her award winning icons sets. There are sets for whimsy or work. My favorites: the 32 bit Zip disks.
Recently, we discussed adding icons to spruce-up your AppleScript dialogs. Evan Francois adds this comment:
One must be sure it's **their** script displaying the dialog. For example, if the display dialog statement falls within a tell application "Finder", end tell block, it won't work. In cases like that, be sure to nest the display dialog statement within a tell me, end tell pair.
The AOL Instant Messenger has been updated (again). Phydeaux's patcher for version 2.1.693 will still work if you manually cut and paste the supplied resources.
Public beta 3 of Drop Drawers is ready for you to try. The following major changes have been made :
- Auto-detection of URLs and email addresses.
- Yet more arranging improvements.
- Finder icon caching.
- Optional single-click launching of aliases and URLs.
- Drawer-specific item display options.
Over 80 other minor fixes and improvements have also been made. These guys actually read their bug reports so download the program and try it out!
Either I'm way behind on my email,. or Scott Hadley is taking his time reading ResExcellence!
More than a year ago I asked if anyone knew when the RAM disk cursor was used. Scott says:
The RAM disk cursor gets used during shutdown when the system is saving the RAM disk to the HD for safe keeping. While it's doing this the "spider" cursor is used.
"The penalty for laughing in a courtroom is six months in jail; if it were not for this penalty, the jury would never hear the User Contributions."
-H. L. Mencken
- William Marler sent a 'frameless' MOSS. Use it with the appropriate desktop pattern and the MOSS appears to float in midair. It's magic!
- Six 32 bit large Apple icons in all your iMac colors were created by Shaun Parkison.
- Do you hate your job and boss? Then this Dilbert makeover by Fred Palumbo is just the thing to cheer you up at the office. A cool MOSS, ATM, and icon are in the set.
- Ripped from the pages of MAXIM magazine, this Netscape splash screen by Xrra will make you wish summer was just starting again (in the Northern Hemisphere!).
- Gary Satterfield created this Billy Zoom MOSS!
- Here's a full sized desktop picture by Bobby Kinstle featuring intergalactic scary-dude, Darth Maul.
Ilicon Graphic Design
8/23/99
 Special thanks to Cletus Waldman for holding down the fort while I was visiting Ireland.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to meet the author of FinderPop to pay my one pint shareware fee, but don't worry, it didn't go to waste.
 Last week's poll suggests that almost half of the world's population is derived from Ireland. While I understand the polling method was flawed, be careful not to criticize because when the day comes that we of Irish decent rule the world, we will remember those who were kind to us!
"Read the Manual" - this is the mantra of the computer world! But in what format do you like your documentation? This week's Polling Place wants your opinion.
 DeepSpace Technologies sells a black two-button ADB mouse originally made for NeXT computers. For $55, I bought one to try with my Powerbook.
Initially, it was to be used solely under LinuxPPC since many programs rely heavily on the extra mouse button, but it also worked great with the MacOS and FinderPop.
Under Linux, the mouse is supported by the most recent kernels. You will need to change the order of the buttons with the 'xmodmap' command. The following worked for me under KDE. I'm sure there is a more elegant way to do it, but I couldn't find it!
Using Kedit, create a text document with the following two lines:
Save it in the Auto Launch desktop folder and set the Properties to Executable. Log out and back in to test the shell script.
 Under the MacOS, download a handy little shareware control panel called "The Mouse2B". It allows you to assign a keystroke to a second mouse button. Set it to "Single Click/Control" and the second mouse button will bring up the Contextual Menus.
As an undocumented bonus for Powerbook users, if you have trackpad tapping enabled, a tap acts like a second mouse click to bring up the Contextual Menus!
The menus will appear a little faster it you disable the "Hands Free" option if you have FinderPop installed.
Devin Teske tipped off ResExcellence about a site called MacOS Secrets. They list little tidbits on using the built-in debugger commands.
Tom Fisher from the Allegro Theme Project offers this great tip for dialog boxes:
I was interested in your edit to change the window type of the PPP status window to stop it from taking over your computer (also see this edit), but wouldn't you rather have it theme compliant?
After following the steps to change the window type, create a new resource of type "dlgx". This is the MacOS 8.0+ extended dialog information. Change the ID to 2133 to match the PPP Status window. Open the empty resource and paste in the following:
00 00 00 00 00 0F
Then close and save. This will make the window background theme compliant. This will also work with other dialogs.
"I was recently on a tour of Latin America, and the only regret I have is that I didn't study my User Contributions harder in school so I could converse with those people." - Dan Quayle
- Here are four photos taken of Co. Mayo Ireland that I think work well as Desktop Pictures.
- Timothy Brister submited a StarWars splash screen for Adobe PageMaker featuring Boss Nass.
- The HAL 9000 is once again a popular topic among Mac users so Jorge Salas creatred this makeover package. it has a regular and Giant MOSS, desktop pattern and picture, and Startup Sounds.
- In Koo Kim offers a poetic splash screen for Netscape. And Jose Luis submitted one featuring the young lady from "The Matrix".
VillageTronic Video Card For Only $99 at Smalldog.com!
8/19/99
Devin Teske describes how to enhancing your AppleScripts using ResEdit to add icons to dialog boxes :
- Using ResEdit, open the AppleScript program you made.
- Create a new 'cicn' resource.
- Draw or paste a new color or B&W icon, and a mask for it.
- Now choose the new icon resource and press Command-I.
- Type a four or five digit number in the 'ID' box.
Remeber the number. Whenever you want to use that icon, use that number. The icon will not be visible in the Script Editor. Only in the Finder after you save it to disk and run it from there.
A better way to reference the icon is to set up a property within your script (property iconName : iconNumber) with a name of choice and the number you gave it. For Example :
Then you can reference the icon with that name (in this case, myLogo). Then you can reference the icon like this :
The icon won't be displayed when run in the Script Editor. You have to save it and run it as an application from the Finder.
(Added to the Sloppy AppleScript Archive)
The next thing ya know, I'll be writing my autobiography! But in the meantime, here's a little essay relating the world wide web to the early days of radio.
"Though we travel the world over to find a User Contribution, we must carry it with us or we find it not."-Ralph Waldo Emerson
- More great MOSS submissions from Peter Morris. There are two for Metal Slug, and two for Tekken3.
 Emmett McQuinn got tired of the spinning watch and created this Apple replacement cursor.
- Peter McHugh sent three sifferent sized MOSS replacements featuring the HiTech display from "Starship. In addition to the mini-MOSS, there is a Giant and a REALLY BIG Giant!
- Timothy Brister created a two piece splach replacement to convert Photoshop to Darth-Photoshop. The package includes PICTs for the splash and text elements.
Stocking Stuffers from Kensington and Smalldog.com!
8/17/99
A vastly impoved Software Section is unveiled today on ResExcellence! Thanks to the efforts of Cletus Waldman, there's more to see, the descriptions are better, and if the software was integral to a Previous Edit, links will be provided.
Often I receive emails asking how I got started in resouce editing and wondering why I started ResExcellence. Here's a short article I wrote for a BritishUser Group magazine.
"I took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the User Contributions."-Robert Frost
- Peter Morris sent three very funny campy MOSS submissions in the style of 1950's advertising.
- It hot down here! Chris Donovan critiques the largest online provider with a replacement splash called AOHELL 4.0.
- HAL9000, StarWars, SouthPark, and Biblical references are covered in four new MOSS screens by Justin Neitzey. Visit his web site if you would like to see some matching desktop pictures and Kaleidoscope schemes.
- How to score points with your girlfriend: Create a StartupScreen featuring your sweetheart and send it to ResExcellence. To make sure he posts it, include three cool looking Alien StartupScreens.
- Based on his previous Eudora Splash, Quan Nguyen created two new splashes for Netscape - one white, one blue.
Register to Win an iPod at Smalldog.com
8/13/99
I have always felt guilty about using FinderPop without paying the pint-ware fee. So today I board a jet for Shannon, Ireland and begin my search for Turly.
OK, I'm kidding. It's my Grandfathers 95th birthday. My mother and a niece flew to Ireland last week and I'll be meeting them and other relatives for a week of birthday cake and Stout!
Because of my departure, ResExcellence will be updated on Tuesday and Thursday.
 Wow! 47% of ResExcellence readers have changed their browser font settings. That's much higher than I expected. As a webmaster, that means I have even more to consider when laying out ResExcellence.
Because I will be out of town, the Instant Messenger Poll is pushed back, probably two weeks.
Here in the US, they say everyone is a little Irish on St. Patrick's Day! They also say Ireland's biggest export is its people! This week as I roam the peat bogs of Mayo, the Polling Place will ask, "Are you of Irish heritage?". :)
On the topic of browser cookies, Michael McGuire offers this cookie blocking technique:
Go into the Netscape folder in your Systems Preferences folder and replace the file "MagicCookie" with a folder named "MagicCookie".
Since files can not replace folders (or folders files) you can leave "Accept all cookies" on and yet no cookie will be swapped between you and the web.
Cool if it works for you, but even ResExcellence uses cookies to police the Polling Place, so I'm of the opinion cookies are not bad. Remember, most of you believed ResEdit was bad before there was ResExcellence. :)
The world's smallest webserver is the size of a match head! This is the future. I want this in my watch, my alarm clock, my cell phone, and my dashboard. (Thanks Slashdot)
Regarding the previous edit to add color to Zip drive icons, Joe Spinelli sent this helpful tip:
If you use the iomega driver provided with the Mac OS, the icons are in black and white. However, if you update to the IomegaWare 1.1.3 available on many sites, including Iomagas, the diver extension supports color. However, to utilize this you must format all existing zip disks that were formatted with the Mac OS supplied driver.
As Joe states, you need to reformat your Zips to get the new icon, and you must reformat using the "Tools" application. You will still get the black and white icon if you erase the disk using the Finder menu command.
Why is this? It seems the driver still has one bit icons, but the Tools Application copies an invisible colored icon file in to the Zips that it freshly formats!
The next logical step is to change the boring color icon that "Tools" sticks on the Zip disk! (Continued...)
"It's a sad and stupid thing to have to proclaim yourself a User Contribution just to be a decent man." - David Harris
- Akeem Willians submitted a nice set of 3D Hotline replacement icons. To see more of his creations, stop by the Creative Box.
- Once again, William Marler has created a great looking, MOSS. This one has hints of Sonata and OS X.
- Brian PePalo offers his third set of 3D folder icons. This set of 22 covers many applications and extensions.
- Reaktor sent a pair of MOSS named BillOS and MacOS 7.5. His web page contains more splashes and MOSS!
Ilicon Graphic Design
8/11/99
The ultimate Gooey tool, Kaleidoscope has been updated to version 2.2. My favorite scheme at this moment: Catacombe!
It's hard to believe it's the work of only one person, but Ilicon has posted a massive update today. In addition to a Snood icon set and almost four dozen desktop patterns, you can get your hands on 8 new cursor sets (each set has fixed and animated cursors.).
While I like chocolate chip cookies, some of you don't like cookies at all, especially in your browser! Rob Kennedy wrote two KeyQuencer macros you can download that toggle cookies on/off in Communicator 4.6. They are named with the <MOSS extension for use with OtherMenu. Feel free to rename them if you want.
I leave my cookies on all the time, but I ran these macros because they look so cool when executing.
You may have heard me rave about KeyQuencer in the past, but let me say again that it's the one "can't do without" utility on my computer.
Download the shareware version and be sure to visit the Macro and Extension Gallery. Maybe you'll notice how many of those contributors also submit to User Contributions!
When my wife turned on her Newton this morning, she was treated to a total eclipse of the Sun!
Rampant Mac is Scott Chitwood's web site for stashing all his nifty artwork. Some of the selections you'll recognize as User Contributions, but there's plenty of new stuff to make it worth the trip.
MP3 Comments and Musings. Starting with Mark Shera:
Your point about DAT and minidisks is well taken. However, they're singularly media. What makes mp3 significant is that it's also format. And all you really need to store and play mp3's is a hard disk and a player. Which means that mp3's are downloadable. (And then, if you wish, transferable to something more portable) Now, I know you know all of this, but what you may not know is that, for the first time in the history of recording, artists can bypass the record companies, and offer their wares directly to the consumer via the net. It's already being done. Such a thing was not only unfathomable but impossible before mp3. There's a quiet revolution going on that's getting louder. And the big companies are doing some serious cage rattling. Mp3 is much more than the latest curiosity, not just because of what it is and does, but because of how it makes its way to the crazed, music-addicted masses.
Bobby Kinstle looks at it from a different technical standpoint:
The problem with digital media is that it's too difficult for vendors to resist using lossy compression. MiniDisc, MP3, DVD, USSB, DirecTV, primestar, Digital Cable, HDTV, and every digital cell phone codec all make use of lossy compression schemes. In every case we have companies playing on the public's misconceptions that Digital = Good. The only thing digital really means is that you can transmit and reproduce a signal with near perfect clarity. If you put a crappy signal in, you'll get a perfect crappy signal out. In fact, none of these standards have the quality of a truly digital format like CD or LD, and sometimes not even that of a really good analog format. My analog cell phone, while it gets static now and then, has far greater frequency response than any digital cell phone I've used. Plus I get higher data rates over my phone than others.
Kerry Raport spanks me with:
Minidisk is not...and never was...intended as an alternative to CD. Sony developed the minidisc format in order to replace audio cassettes. In this respect, they have somewhat succeeded. Although, MD is not very prominent among general consumers, it does appeal to the pro audio field and has lately been creeping into the limelight. Best Buy now carries a range of MD players and recorders at a much more reasonable price than what was available, say, a year ago.
Anyway, this is all kinda FYI. It just irks me a bit when people say that Minidisc is a failure because it hasn't overshadowed the CD, since it was never intended to do so.
And finally Lucas Everett adds:
If I were asked if MP3s were the future I'd say no. I think the future
does deal with digital audio, but not compressed digital audio. As storage devices get faster, smaller, and cheaper, there should be a good future in digital players. I have a mini-disk player and love it. I download MP3s and then decode them using MPecker Drop Decoder 1.6.3. Once decoded I plug in my computer to my mini-disk player and record the file. All you need to do this is an adapter that has RCA on one end and a small headphone jack on the other. This works great for me. I'll never buy a MP3 player, unless it does become the thing of the future.
As a sound engineer by trade, I am particularly interested in future release formats of audio, but this is ResExcellence, not MP3.com, so this will be the last said on the topic.
OK everyone. I'll be sure to include GerryICQ in next week's poll. You can stop emailed me now! :)
"Retirement at sixty-five is ridiculous. When I was sixty-five I still had User Contributions." - George Burns
- Justin Yeoman has a Blair Witch kit consisting of a desktop patter, desktop picture, and MOSS. You can also download a Blair Witch ScreenSaver from dIGITAL dISCIPLES. (ResExcellence would like to offer its condolences to the families of these three brave teenagers. What? It never really happened?? Oh. Nevermind.)
- In Koo Kim offers a spooky MOSS that implores you "not to be afraid".
- Ethan sent this cursor extension that changes the boring black and white index finder to a colorful replacement. Ethan also sent a PICT resource to replace the ARA Connect icon.
- Alex Tanner likes Dr. Suess. Alex likes him a lot. He made a MOSS screen of the cat. See the Cat? See the Cat in the hat? Alex likes icons. He also made a Cat in the Hat icon. It is included with the MOSS. See Alex's icon. See Alex's MOSS. Go Alex go.
- Based upon the cover art for the Beborn Beton MCD "Another World", Kerry Raport created this beautiful Eudora splash screen.
Shorten the Retry Delay for busy servers in the ftp client "Transmit"
Mariel Longinger of the Macintosh Desktop Picture Collection sent this tip for Transmit to shorten the retry delay for busy servers. Normally the range is from 5 to 60 seconds. This little edit shortens it to one. (Continued...)
VillageTronic Video Card For Only $99 at Smalldog.com!
8/8/99
 The optimistic readers of ResExcellence think MP3's are the next big thing! I'm not so sure. There have been several audio formats that were perceived as the format to allow freedom and knock the overpriced CD from its perch. Digital Audio Tape (DATs) and MiniDisks both failed in their attempt. Only time will tell if I'll have to eat these words.
As I stroll around the office and see the different browser displays, I'm amazed at the font choices that people make. I have always left mine set on default - Times 12 and Courier 10. Are you like me? This week's Polling Place asks, "Do you use the default font setting in your browser?".
If you sent me an email or submission over the weekend, and I didn't replay, please send it again. Email weirdness may have lost some messages.
OSA Menu 1.2b11 seems to have a little trouble handling AppleScript Clipboard commands using either "set clipboard to" or "clip" from Akua. I had no trouble with version 1.1 running 'Very Compatible".
Mark A. Thalman adds:
With all the todo about putting commonly used strings on the clipboard, why not just use CopyPaste? It supplies 100 clipboards. All of them can be accessed through a maximum of about 5 keystrokes. It works in all of the applications I use and if it doesn't one can override and use the standard clipboard easily.
If you visit Vulture Visions, you'll see many interesting things, but be sure you don't miss the page of about 100 seamless textures for your desktop!
Those of you with Internet Explorer will soon have relief from the load.cgi download problem. In the interim, you can unstuff the load.cgi file; it's the correct download, just a funky name.
MacAddict print magazine has an interesting browser face-off in this month's issue where Netscape squeaks by Explorer.
I had two small faults with the article: they don't take OutLook Express' RAM requirement into consideration for the memory footprint of the browsers, they don't mention the lack of a news reader in Explorer.
Regular ResExcellence contributor Ethan has an in-depth interview with the icon artist Ikthusian.
IconsPLUS has released their Classic Comedy Screen Legends icon set paying homage to the silver screen comedy legends: Charlie Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy, Abbott & Costello, The Three Stooges and The Marx Brothers. Imagine the Stooges icons with a new Stooge MOSS!
While he has managed to avoid detection by the SETI@home project, the mysterious being known as phydeaux (because his real name is not pronounceable in our form of speech) submitted a new patch for the version of AOL Instant Messenger that ships with Netscape Communicator.
"He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a User Contribution forever."-Chinese Proverb
Which reminds me. Next week I would like to take a poll on which instant messaging program people are using. Since I may not know all the offerings available, please drop me a line if you are using something other than AIM and ICQ. Thanks!
Stocking Stuffers from Kensington and Smalldog.com!
8/6/99
Labcerro found an English translation page for DeskTopOpColour. It states the author is working on the new version.
MacInfo.de has an excellent collection of benchmarks. Specifically, there's a detailed section on ROAM. (Thanks Lon Hutchison)
Elliot Robinson created three Sherlock plug-ins for use with distributed.net! Search the entire site, search for teams, or even specific email addresses.
Want to use the clipboard in an AppleScript? You don't have to use Akua Sweets as I did. Robert Sternberger states the simpler way:
Users of MacOS 8.5 or later (may even include MacOS 8.0) don't need to use Akua Sweets to add text to the clipboard. Apple's Standard Additions OSAX includes the "set the clipboard to" command. For example:
set the clipboard to "Insert your text here."
Using Leonard Rosenthol's "OSA Menu" makes it extremely easy to store your frequently used clipboard scripts.
Philip was exploring the resources of the new Quicktime 4 Player:
I was looking at the new QT Player window, and suddenly it hit me that I could open up the QuickTime player window in ResEdit and change the pattern. When I looked at the ppat's I couldn't find the brushed silver pattern, so I opened the PICT resources. And there it was, number 1024 was the brushed silver pattern, at 64x64 pixels. If you really hated the new window, I guess you could make it plain gray, but I decided to pop in the MacOS 8.5 CD and open the file "Old Desktop Patterns" in the CD Extra's folder. I tried pasting in a colorful pattern, but this didn't completely work, as the QT Player makes the patterns grayscale and darker on the right then the left. The cool pattern was still there, but it was grayscale. I have about 5 different hacked QT Player windows right now at my site.
My chest is all puffed up like a proud father. My thirteen year old daughter has discovered the fine art of resource editing. Of course her favorite site is ResExcellence!
So far, she has replaced the Apple Menu icon, the trash can, and Netscape's throbber. Then is was off to the Allegro Themes Project to grab new themes.
"Opportunities are usually disguised as User Contributions, so most people don't recognize them." -Anne Landers
- There is another Remote Access makeover from Jean-Jacques Cortes. This one adds the platinum look, and an icon. Jean-Jacques also sent an AlienOS ATM replacement featuring the recently released Apple UFO!
- Toren Valimir submitted a MOSS and icon set to match his "Untitled" Kaleidoscope Scheme.
- Patrick Kelleher made a MOSS that sports the Quicktime 4 look. Instead of "Welcome to Macintosh", you get a Play button!
- Gauvin Romain created six new Netscape splashes. Being the eternal optimist, Gauvin includes splashes for the unreleased Communicator 5.
- Karl Goerges is a fan of AOL 4.0 and sent this splash screen replacement.
- Netscrape Nevergetter is a plash screen for Netscape from Peter McHugh.
- Brian DePalo wanted to update the volume control slider in the Control Strip, so he made this Quicktime 4-ish replacement and included instructions.
 After posting the edit to change the black and white icon for iomega drives, a long forgotten neuron fired and I remembered a little extension called Discolour that changed the old black and white floppy icon to a colorful replacement. Could it be modified to work for the Zip icon? (Continued...)
Register to Win an iPod at Smalldog.com
8/4/99
Just like when the clock struck twelve and Cinderella's carriage turned back into a pumpkin, all over the world, ugly white text boxes started appearing on Macintosh desktops as the month turned to August and "DeskTopOpColour" quit working. Hopefully, the author is close to releasing the final version. If his Japanese web site says otherwise, could someone please let me know!
There are reports that Norton AntiVirus 6 beta undoes some ResExcellence edits. Specifically, the Powerbook edit to change the Enter key into a Command key. If you're going to run the beta, you may want to copy and lock the System suitcase, Finder, and System Resources.
 Christophe Baron was one of 46 contributors to ResExcellence last month.
Fortunately for him, his name was randomly chosen in the monthly drawing to appreciate the work of those who have added to the site!
Christophe, send me your address and shirt size because you're going to be fashionably dressed in a ResExcellence pocket t-shirt!
And now, a word from our sponsors...
You may have noticed the new big blue banner on the side of the page (how could you miss it!). If you missed the announcement, The MacAddict Network is now The MacDaily Network. Check out the web site; it's greatly improved.
As a member of the network, ResExcellence and MacDaily have pulled together some great sponsors who support the Mac community. For software, hardware and Cool Deals, Mac-O-Rama has outstanding prices. For books and CD's, the button will take you to Amazon.com, and if you're lucky enough to have a DVD player, DVD Express can get you the latest releases.
ResExcellence serves over 13Gigs of data and 1.3 million hits every month using two servers. It wouldn't be possible to keep up with the expenses without the support of our sponsors. So the next time you need a game or maybe a good book to read, consider visiting ResExcellence and purchasing through the MacDaily banner!
Bobby MacBain tipped us off to a few more Themes that are available for download from the Allegro Themes Project. While all are not completely finished, one in particular is interesting. QLike is a theme based on the new Quicktime 4 look. Better get it before Apple's lawyers do! :)
"Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of User Contributions." -Albert Einstein
- Quan Nguyen submits his "Live and Die for Mac" MOSS replacement.
- Mathieu Poirier liked Ridge Racer so much, he featured it in his MOSS.
- Peter McHugh created a nonstandard sized Watch MOSS based on the artwork of Barbara Feinstein.
- Anto has sent two MOSS screens: AzulDark and CarvingMetal. In addition, he sends a clean looking Explorer Splash.
- This is the third volume of replacement icons by Philip Dokas. Today's sets are for ResEdit and SimpleText.
- Donald Tipton has been assimilated. You can download about a dozen Borg icons he created while in the "Collective".
 Change the default black and white icons for Zip drives. This is one of those "Good News - Bad News" edits. The good news is that you can change the default icon on your Zip and Jazz drives. The bad news is.... (Continued...)
Ilicon Graphic Design
8/2/99
 90% of ResExcellence readers give a "Thumbs Up" to the new iBook. You're a more generous crowd than I am! Though I must admit, my daughter is screaming to sell her PB3400 to buy one.
They're featured on the cover of Wired Magazine, the source of buzz in the IPO world, and have the Recording Institute of America as nervous as an expectant father in month number nine!
MP3's are the hot topic at the water cooler. Personally, my involvement with the format is zero. Even with an ISDN line, I don't have the patience to download my favorite band, but maybe I'm wrong and my CD's will sit in a crate next to my LP's in the attic. This week's Polling Place asks you to, "Rate the future of the MP3 format".
Every team has their star player - the Cardinals have McGwire, the Bulls had Jordan, and Team ResExcellence has John Gruver!
At 8000 blocks per day. what's this star player's secret? John is the network manager for the School of Media Arts & Design at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, and has three labs full of Macs at his disposal.
When the students aren't using them, here are the machines crunching for ResExcellence:
- 20 G3/266
- 1 B/W G3 400
- 15 PowerTower Pro 200
- 3 7100/66
The odds are roughly 1 in 1000 that ResExcellence will find the key, and if we do, the ResExcellence share will go to Charity!
The character after the word clip is a "soft return" generated with Option-Return
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At the urging of my lovely wife, who is always looking for a way to save a few keystrokes, I came up with a way to place commonly used text in the clipboard.
The example on the right uses the clip command from Akua Sweets scripting addition. Once you download the file, drag it onto the System Folder and it will be deposited in the Scripting Additions folder.
A folder called "Copy to Clipboard" can be placed in the Apple Menu containing any text you wish to have at your finger tips.
(Added to the Sloppy AppleScript Archive)
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