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Today's News by Cletus™ As always the small vacation was just too short. I did manage to get in some golf however, so it was enjoyable. While doing tonight's news I noticed that almost all launcher programs were updated! Extension Overload 5.9 is out. The list of changes is long, but I have listed a few highlights below. A full listing is available on the homepage. - Compatible with Mac OS 9.2!
- Now with definitions of 5100 extensions, control panels, CSM and CMM, up from 4900 previously.
- Better support for non English Mac OS.
- Added code to make memory management more robust. Now tries to quit gracefully if it runs out of memory.
- Added code to about box to show memory usage.
- Added code to fix a potential problem with ObjectSupportLib if a user has placed a folder there to do the fix themselves.
A-Dock 2.4 FC 2 has been released. This launcher/dock application for Mac OS X has the following changes: - Fixed some display problems when using the reverse order.
- Fixed some display problem of separators when the dock was in the vertical position.
- Ok, the new auto-hiding code brought more problems than it solved, so I'm back to the previous code.
ACTION GoMac 2.1 fixes a bug that has plagued users for a while— compatibility with Office 2001 programs. This has been fixed. Additional enhancements are listed below. - Added the ability to show an original file directly from any QuickLaunch item in the Task Bar
- Enhanced the ability to find Applications and Documents folders under Mac OS 9.x
- Added the ability to show an original file directly from any active application
- Added an option to automatically add active applications to the Start Menu
- Added compatibility with Apple DVD Player and iMovieª
- Added the ability to pre-cache icons when GoMac is hidden at boot time, leading to substantial speed improvements
- Added checking to ensure that GoMac will not load under Mac OS X Classic environment
piDock is a small utility for navigating files and folders in an easy and natural way under Mac OS. It is from piDog Software and is compatible with Mac OS 8.6 or higher with CarbonLib or Mac OS X 10.0 or higher. There are some major improvements in this release, including the ability to arrange the top level menu. Rename and Reveal in Finder contextual menus were also added. You can download it here. LaunchBar 3.0 for Mac OS X provides the user access to thousands of files in one of quickest ways possible. It also includes access to web-bookmarks, e-mail addresses and applications by typing in just a short abbreviation. Further, "The set of items and their corresponding abbreviations don't need to be configured manually. LaunchBar uses a very powerful, adaptive abbreviation search algorithm that allows you to enter any thinkable abbreviation of the searched item." Scheme News:  Dragon Tongue has readied another new Kaleidoscope Scheme for everyone. This is very different in design to previous schemes. The name of the new scheme is called: "DT•In the Groove". I have included an image to give you an idea.
Desktopper has also posted a new K-Scheme from Mai called Linegraphy 1.0. This scheme gives the impression of seeing double. At least this is what I saw!. :) Submit Software and General News Suggestions!
Tools of the Trade. by Michael Coyle
Yellow Dog Linux has a helpful page of HOW-TOs for users having trouble configuring XFree, printers, Airport, and more. A PPC/Linux book is also in the works, and YDL would like your opinion on porting graphics/video applications to PPC/Linux.
I installed YDL 2.0 on an old StarMax 3000 clone last weekend, and I'd like to find a way to use it as a supplemental server to ease the load on the main server. Maybe it can serve images of handle search queries. How do I do that? Can any readers point me in the right direction?
BTW, my wedding anniversary is April 14. That happens to be the last time the LinuxPPC ResExcellence server had a reboot - 127 days ago.
 ResExcellence is proud to be announced as the "Site of the Week" at the DogHouse. Hey, wait a minute, that's Michael Rabe's site and he's an editor here at ResExcellence! Mike, if you think this will get you a raise you'll have to make ResEx the "Site of the Year"!
How are your textures coming along for DragThing? Don't forget you can win a free copy of DragThing 4.1. Read the tutorial and send them in!
User Contributed Splash Screens. by Michael Coyle
Win a PowerMax gift certificate worth $50 by having the most popular contribution in the selected category! (How?)
- The bar has been raised again for the creation of iTunes skins thanks to the efforts of George Krueger. His golden Luminesti is the first to change the scrollbar track. The skin is made to look great with Don Fischer's World of Luminesti desktop picture.
- Electricity is in the air with this MacOS X Boot Panel created by Albert Atkinson.
- Yowzers! Hugh Grant is nuts for cheating on the lovely Elizabeth Hurley! She's featured in this MOSS and ATM combo from John Rose.
- Channy Loeum really, really, likes anime. If you do too, then check out this Eudora splash.
Get OS X plus free Ben + Jerry's at Smalldog.com
Snapshots by Jeremy Hoesly End the week in style with another set of snapshots: - A modified version of CRKT Sampson’s “K.I.S.S.” desktop picture and William Bart’s BBX Mercury Be K-Scheme debut in this submission from Deadfish. iTunes, retro-fitted with George Krueger’s Graphite skin, is taking music requests near the top.
- Adrian Jean contributes this OS X screenshot featuring Mac Axonz’s “Newwave” desktop picture. iTunes is kicking out soundwaves along the top, and icons from Mac Axonz and Icon Factory reside in the dock.
- Peter McHugh sends this snapshot touting a desktop picture from his “Extrapolations” series along with CRasH’s LUNA Theme. GraphicConverter, my graphics program of choice for keeping the Snapshot Archive humming, is shown off at center.
- Mac OS X meets X-Windows in this submission from William Stetler sporting a Digital Blasphemy desktop picture and the Unlined Grape Theme for MetamorphX. Both XFree86 for Darwin and XDarwin provide the environment needed to run Unix programs such as The Gimp graphics program and Enlightenment window manager.
What’s your Mac look like? Send a snapshot for all the Mac world to see.
Icon & Desktop News: by Dan  Icons - Desktops: We've got (8) great Desktops, more current News From Around the Web, and (1) cool new Icon Set for OSX to spiff up your desktop. All on display for today's update!
- "Nix OS Logos" for OSX, created by Pedro Fernández, is a collection of 18 different OS logos designed with the Nerd in mind. The set features icons for "alternative" systems such as Red Hat, BeOS and Yellow Dog.
- Talented 15 year old Nate Soria sends in "Classic 9", his second submission to the Resx Desktop Department. This one was designed for those who are not so quick to make the leap to Mac OSX, but still like that glassy Aqua look. Comes in 1280x resolution.
- Bradford J. Wiles of the newly opened MacMonkies submits another of his most excellent desktop creations titled "Gummy Worm". No, this isn't a virus, but it does make great eye candy for the desktop! Download this backdrop in either 800x or 1024x resolution. While you're at it, visit Brad's website for more great artwork and check out his most recent update.
- A "Pretty Girl" comments on the joys of Broadband in the 640 x 480 section of this clever and useful desktop resolution guide by John Rose. Comes in both 1152x and 1280x resolutions.
- Dumah submits three out of this world desktops for your enjoyment. "Dumah Desktops" features 3 different astronomical scenes in several resolutions.
- Christian Dye cobbles together a small desktop tribute to the "SOA" graf crew from Columbus, Ohio in 1280x resolution.
- Harvey Lubin of Agrapha Design submits "Aqua Mac Space", proving that you can be blue, and smile at the same time! This Apple-centric backdrop comes in 6 different resolutions.
- Yan Feng thinks Aqua’s all nice and good, but seeing that he's a proud owner of a Titanium Powerbook had to do something Titanium-esque... and "Ti Desktop" is the result. Comes in 1024x resolution.
- A fellow that only goes by the handle Etoloco sent a whole series of amazing 3-D desktops created using Bryce. The first of these must see to believe backdrops on display is titled " Spot 3", and comes in 1024x and 1280x resolutions.
News From Around the Web: Two new desktops available at MacMonkies: "ShadowMountain" and "Star Struck". Five new desktop pictures are available to download from The LittleDarkRoom. MacuserX has been updated with 7 new desktops and 3 new Icon sets, Scarface, Krugeur and Crouching Tiger. Macombine cleans up their site a little bit and has added three new desktops. DV Graphics has come back from a long vacation with the promise of some new desktops and icons. Check out http://www.iggly.com, a site with more than two hundred fine art desktop pictures. The artists have given permission to use them as desktop pictures every so often posts more fine art from young artists for all to enjoy.
Creative Box has updated with a new icon set named "The Cubes", has released an updated version of Volunteer, 1.3.8. and a new desktop picture titled "Quicksilver2" The new GUI Department at MacMonkies will be opening early next month! Check back soon for additional details. For now, take a look at the new selections and news update at MacMonkies! Mando Gomez wants to let you know that there are 12 new desktops at http://www.mandolux.com. These new desktops are about a new dimension on cans (as in a Pepsi can). Also, these desktops are descendants of the Tetra Series. Dome-O-Rama releases Pocono's Plaid & Catskills Madras (Patterns) - 52 colors in TWO sets! Blueskyheart has a desktop picture, titled "Crucible" with icons included. Let your desktop bloom with a new set of icons for Mac OS X and Windows XP- from Marmalade Moon. It's update time again at Rampant Mac, that means new GUI Goodies for everyone! Woohoo! So what's up WWW? Icons? Desktop pictures? News? Inform us! We'll post it!
Support ResExcellence by Visiting our Sponsors!
REALbasic Tutorial - AIM Mate by Erick Tejkowski If you're an avid user of AOL Instant Messenger, you may often find yourself retyping some of the same messages and phrases daily. Poor typing skills don't improve the situation. What's an AIM geek to do? This week we'll create a simple REALbasic application, named AIM Mate, that can help alleviate some of the more mundane typing tasks of working with Instant Messenger. Our AIM Mate project will display a list of commonly used phrases and sentences as well as a list of buddies. With the click of a button, you will be able to send any text to whomever you wish. You'll never have to type "LOL" or "BRB" again! (Continued...)
iCloud Grape - in the Archive now!
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Theme News by Michael Rabe
Today we continue the Classic iCloud series with the release of iCloud Grape. If you have a Grape iMac or if you just like grapes then this theme is for you. You will be able to download it, along with other Mac themes in the Theme Archive
Next week make sure you stop by for another "Theme First" from your friends at ResExcellence. I'll have more news about it next Tuesday. Believe me, you are not going to want to miss this :-)
See ya on the flip flop!
If you have a theme you wish to add to the Archive, drop me an email.
Today's News by Michael Coyle
Cletus is taking the day off and I'm using the opportunity to sneak in a contest. Why let him have all the fun! James Thomson, the author of DragThing, needs the help of ResExcellence readers.
It's Texturific! The next version of DragThing, due out within a few weeks, will support background textures. The effect is outstanding! Do you think you're talented enough to make a great seamless texture? Then maybe James will include in the release version of DragThing - and you'll win a free registered copy!
Here's the fine print. Four ResExcellence may readers will have their textures included with DragThing and receive a free registration for this excellent utility. James has created a tutorial with more details on the textures. Email him your textures and if he selects it, you'll receive a registration and the fame and accolades of your peers. Contest ends at midnight Friday, August 24th. More details are on the tutorial page. Let's show James what great artists ResEx readers are! Good Luck.
 Tools of the Trade. by Michael Coyle
KMAA Productions has been at it again!
Chainsaw in hand, he has performed a hardware mod on his Pismo Powerbook. He changed the color of the throbbing Sleep LED and increased the brightness of the Apple logo on the back of the screen. But wait, that's not all! He gave the screen logo a rainbow Apple glow. Read how.
The best place for PPC/Linux information is the Email List Archive at Linuxppc.org. It just got a face lift with a new search engine that helps you get solutions even faster. In fact, it can often solve your Xserver questions under Darwin. (XFree is XFree!)
There have been several virtual psychologist programs that attempt to mimic a real person. My daughter tipped me off to the most recent incarnation that resides in AOL's Instant Messenger. The user name is SmarterChild, and not only will he/she engage in lively chat, but also provide news, weather, and sports. Add SmarterChild to your buddy list and send an IM.
MacOS X VM Swapfile Benchmark Results by Andy Moraitis
Over the last 10 weeks I have received a number of e-mails regarding the perceived performance and speed gains associated with performing the swapfile hack posted to ResExcellence on June 1st. I have also received a number of questions and requests for actual real-world benchmarks to compare before and after performance. Credit is given to other contributors where necessary and the greatest possible effort was made to glean the most scientific results and present them in a logical format. (Continued...)
User Contributed Splash Screens. by Michael Coyle
Win a PowerMax gift certificate worth $50 by having the most popular contribution in the selected category! (How?)
- Justin Brimm is into the grunge look. He sent two faces for the MacOS X Clock that look like rusted old metal. Pretty cool.
- A beautiful MOSS and About this Mac set from Albert Atkinson feature the Earth as seen from space.
- "Armor" is the name of Harry Harrison's iTunes Skin. It's all metal and rivets.
- More for anime lovers! Channy Loeum sends a MOSS, ATM, and Netscape splash of the lovely Asuka.
Ilicon Graphic Design
Snapshots by Jeremy Hoesly Get your midweek snapshot boost: - Blue Sky Heart’s “Relik” desktop picture and Albie Wong’s ByCrom! K-Scheme debut in this screenshot from Eduardo Alvarado. Audion is kicking out soundwaves in the upper right, while iTunes is churning out selections in the lower right.
- This snapshot from Mando Gomez touts the as yet unreleased “Technosis” desktop picture. iTunes is cranking out music at center, and icons from Icon Factory and Xicons among others share the spotlight.
- Jesper Møller-Fink sends this contribution featuring a custom “iBook Heaven” desktop picture. QuickTime Player is playing a music video in the center.
- William Stetler returns with this OS X contribution sporting a desktop picture extracted from OS X’s Beach screensaver combined with the Grape Unlined Theme for MetamorphX. iTunes is dishing out songs in the upper right. Icons from Icon Factory are scattered throughout.
What’s your Mac look like? Send a snapshot for all the Mac world to see.
Icon & Desktop News: by Dan  Icons - Desktops: We've got (7) great Desktops, more current News From Around the Web, and (1) cool new Icon Set for OSX to decorate your desktop. All on display for today's update!
- 'Flax Creations continues the quest to create the perfect set of folder Icons for OSX with "Atmospheres". This current release features 10 different 128 x 128 glassy spheres containing different atmospheric conditions like moon rises and sunsets.
- George Krueger submits "Industrial Desktops", companions to his Industrial iTunes skin and an A-Dock skin featured in the Resx Archives. This Techno backdrop comes in 800x and 1024x resolutions and in two different variations.
- Bradford J. Wiles of the newly opened MacMonkies submits another of his most excellent desktop creations titled "Panic". Download this stylish backdrop in either 800x or 1024x resolution. While you're at it, visit Brad's website for more great artwork and check out his most recent update.
- John Rose takes up where he left off awhile ago with his Celebrity Series of Desktops. "Sandra Desktop" and "Sandra Aqua" feature the gorgeous Sandra Bullock both displaying in stunning 1280x resolution.
- Peter Mac starts with a simple pattern and explores the endless possibilities with his "Cracked Extrapolations" series of desktops. The download includes 5 variations on the theme in 1024x resolution.
- Attention all "Quake III" fans! Will Croft has cobbled together two different very cool backdrops to feed the need, both coming in 1024x resolution.
- Harvey Lubin of Agrapha Design submits "AquaX Space", the place in Space where X marks the spot. This Apple-centric backdrop comes in 6 different resolutions.
News From Around the Web: DV Graphics has come back from a long vacation with the promise of some new desktops and icons. Check out http:// www.iggly.com, a site with more than two hundred fine art desktop pictures. The artists have given permission to use them as desktop pictures every so often posts more fine art from young artists for all to enjoy.
Creative Box has updated with a new icon set named "The Cubes", has released an updated version of Volunteer, 1.3.8. and a new desktop picture titled "Quicksilver2" The new GUI Department at MacMonkies will be opening early next month! Check back soon for additional details. For now, take a look at the new selections and news update at MacMonkies! Mando Gomez wants to let you know that there are 12 new desktops at http://www.mandolux.com. These new desktops are about a new dimension on cans (as in a Pepsi can). Also, these desktops are descendants of the Tetra Series. Dome-O-Rama releases Pocono's Plaid & Catskills Madras (Patterns) - 52 colors in TWO sets! Blueskyheart has a desktop picture, titled "Crucible" with icons included. Let your desktop bloom with a new set of icons for Mac OS X and Windows XP- from Marmalade Moon. It's update time again at Rampant Mac, that means new GUI Goodies for everyone! Woohoo! John's Sketch Pad has (finally!) added some new desktop pictures. Macuserx.com has been updated with 3 new icon sets, five new desktops and 1 Printable Calender.
Donnie Fischer of White Fire Ministries, is assembling an entire 3D island world called "Luminesti" and the first 14 images (rendered at dawn) are now available! Mac.axonz.com is sporting a slick new face lift! Now easier to use, more features, better organized, faster and did we mention cooler!!! Come check it out! So what's up WWW? Icons? Desktop pictures? News? Inform us! We'll post it!
Support ResExcellence by Visiting our Sponsors!
REALbasic News by Erick Tejkowski - As summer winds down, REALbasic 3.5 winds up
- Create stylish grids in a jiffy
- New RB University tutorial
- Database tools
- Build your own web browser with RB!
Find this and more in today's REALbasic News. (Continued...)
Today's News by Cletus™ Thanks to all that entered the StickyBrain Contest. You can find the winners listed below. The winners will be notified by Chronos in the next couple days with their registration numbers. - Robert Evans
- Kent Sutherland
- Yoshimura Takahiro
Bernhard Baehr has posted version 1.0 of Memory Monitor. It is a little Mac OS X application that displays the memory usage in its Dock icon. Sinilar to how CPU Monitor displays the CPU usage. "It is published under the GNU General Public License, and the source code is included in the download." Scheme News: There was indeed a very nice update that took place at the Kaleidoscope Scheme Archive on Friday. One of the biggest in recent memory. 11 new and 8 updated schemes. If you have not yet checked them out, stop over and download some new schemes. RAILhead also posted an updated scheme on Friday that is pretty cool. Elite 2.0 is available for download under the Scheme section.  I will be taking Wednesday off and will return Friday.
Submit Software and General News Suggestions!
 Polling Place. by Michael Coyle
On multiuser systems, only 15% of readers routinely log in as root. It's surprising that number isn't higher since running MacOS X as root really isn't any different than how Mac users run MacOS 9, you user can change any aspect of the system. Oddly enough, I log into Linux as root, but MacOS X as a user. Go figure.
Have you tried to rip a recently purchased audio CD only to find there were errors and it couldn't be done? Maybe you have run into the recording industry's latest attempt to stop you from copying your music? SafeAudio deliberately distorts the data on a CD causing read errors when you try to rip it. You can't tell if the CD you bought is protected. There are no labels. Have you purchased a SafeAudio CD? Can iTunes still rip it? Let me know.
This week's Polling Place asks, "Is the recording industry right to copy protect audio CDs?"
Tools of the Trade. by Michael Coyle
Twisted Technology debuts a new site design as well as a new Audion Face designed by Toren Valimir and Twist. They will also be updating everyday this week in celebration of the new design.
Fontosaurus Text has just made another huge update. They have released three new fonts
- Backlash, a handwriting font
- Brainwave, a pseudo-art-deco font
- Whiplash, a remix of Arial Black
Also in this update is the new desktop picture entitled, "Empire of the Gun".
 Add a Quit Finder option to the Dock
When not working on DNA sequencing, Professor Ibson shares small tidbits he has discovered while researching MacOS X.
Today, he will show you how to add a Quit option the Finder from the Dock. While not confirmed, it's likely that this will speed up the execution of other running applications since precious CPU cycles won't be wasted on a backgrounded Finder. For example, when running XFree86 on a virtual desktop, you can quit the Finder and still have access to the Dock and XDarwin. (Continuied...)
User Contributed Splash Screens. by Michael Coyle
Win a PowerMax gift certificate worth $50 by having the most popular contribution in the selected category! (How?)
- John Bernardi sent his version of the Pirate Smiling Mac MOSS.
- In his next splash series, Channy Loeum features the anime character Asuka. Start by downloading this AIM splash.
- A funny boot panel for MacOS X was sent by Alex Popek. Take a look at the X-rating for MacOS X!
- W. Gavin Robb sent another of his very cool Giant Titan MOSS creations.
EZQuest 100GB FireWire hard drive only $399 at Smalldog.com
Snapshots by Jeremy Hoesly Monday’s snapshots are ready for public consumption: - This custom “iBug” desktop picture and Maury McCown’s AquaX III Graphite K-Scheme debut in this screenshot from Al. Icon Factory’s World of Aqua 2 collection is also on display.
- Chris Chinnici submits this OS X contribution sporting an OS X-included desktop picture. Ircle is managing three IRC chats along the top, and icons from Xicons line the edges.
- This snapshot from Maren Oz touts a “Che Guevara” desktop picture. iTunes, overhauled with George Krueger’s Graphite skin, is cranking out music in the lower right.
- Mandolux’s “Apple Flow” desktop picture and Daisuke Yamashita’s Titanium 7 K-Scheme are showcased in this submission from Sean, a church light director who does website development on the side. iTunes is kicking out soundwaves along the bottom, and selections from Xicons hug the right edge.
What’s your Mac look like? Send a snapshot for all the Mac world to see.
Icon & Desktop News: by Dan Icons - Desktops: We've got (9) great Desktops, more current News From Around the Web, and (1) cool new Icon Set to decorate your desktop. All on display for today's update! - Sharon Alvarez salutes Jhonen Vasquez, creator of Johnny the Homicidal Maniac with her "JTHM Icons". Fans will enjoy this set of 13 different folder icons.
- "Where?" by Ted Pearson Jr. is a simple yet cool backdrop in 1024x resolution. Visit Ted's Site for more desktop creations
- Bradford J. Wiles of the newly opened MacMonkies submits another of his most excellent 3-D desktops titled "Stargate". Download it here in either 800x or 1024x resolution. While you're at it, visit Brad's website for more great artwork and check out his most recent update.
- John Rose takes up where he left off awhile ago with his Celebrity Series of Desktops. The first of many to come is titled "Bombshells", featuring classic glamour queens Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth and Marilyn Monroe, all in 1280x resolution.
- While playing around with Photoshop, Ark came up with a playful composition titled "Desktop Swirls". Comes in 1024x resolution.
- Sporslown sends us his first submission ever titled "Eyes in Space". This surreal desktop based off one of William Bart's creations comes in 1024x resolution.
- Harvey Lubin of Agrapha Design submits "X Please", a desktop with a mission that asks the question; Windows XP? Why not have the "real thing" with the cool, refreshing aqua taste. This Pro-Apple backdrop comes in 6 different resolutions.
- Autumn Star sends us the slightly bizarre "scream for me child" desktop, a Bryce and Photoshop generated backdrop that comes in 1024x resolution.
- Thomas Gianardi submits two very interesting abstract compositions for your viewing pleasure. "Bed+Fire" and "Bjork+Balls" both come in 1152x resolution.
News From Around the Web: Dome-O-Rama releases Pocono's Plaid & Catskills Madras (Patterns) - 52 colors in TWO sets! Stop by MacMonkies this week for a new helping of 3-D desktops and Network News -- ripe and ready for consumption! Blueskyheart has a desktop picture, titled "Crucible" with icons included. Let your desktop bloom with a new set of icons for Mac OS X and Windows XP- from Marmalade Moon. It's update time again at Rampant Mac, that means new GUI Goodies for everyone! Woohoo! John's Sketch Pad has (finally!) added some new desktop pictures. Macuserx.com has been updated with 3 new icon sets, five new desktops and 1 Printable Calender.
Donnie Fischer of White Fire Ministries, is assembling an entire 3D island world called "Luminesti" and the first 14 images (rendered at dawn) are now available! Mando Gomez wants know that there are 8 new desktops at http://www.mandolux.com. This is a continuation of the next generation of desktops at mandolux.com, Tetra, representing a new dimension on the idea of 3D picture on a desktop. Mac.axonz.com is sporting a slick new face lift! Now easier to use, more features, better organized, faster and did we mention cooler!!! Come check it out! Mikkel Madsen opens the doors to Mmicons.com, where you will find over1.000 cool mac icons only for Mac OS X. Yoshihiro Kondo of Chillyday announces the release of a new icon set and 6 desktop pictures. So what's up WWW? Icons? Desktop pictures? News? Inform us! We'll post it!
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You can now upload your contributions (include a READ ME) to the ResExcellence
ftp drop box, and let us know with an email. Be sure to read the Submission Policy
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