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Snapshot Gallery by Jeremy Hoesly

Friday has arrived at last! Pick up a helping of snapshots to tide you over for the weekend:

• Oz Alfert submitted this snapshot sporting a Historic Wings desktop picture and the Aquacid K-Scheme. Audion, outfitted with the Quick Strip face, is dishing out tunes in the upper left-hand corner. Icons from the Thanksgiving K-Scheme, OS X, and icons.cx’s Spiffy Apps collection are managed via iControl.
  
  
• Timo Andres contributed this submission. Macast Lite, equipped with the custom Thaskin skin, is pumping out soundwaves in the lower right. The custom Glass Ball icons line the right edge.
  
  
• This dual-monitor snapshot from Jeff Garczewski features two custom desktop pictures tied together with the Bluemama K-Scheme. Audion, overhauled with Chaos Design’s Old School G3 face, is taking music requests in the lower right-hand corner of the second screen. Custom icons are featured throughout.
  
  
• A custom desktop picture and the Estaño K-Scheme debut in this contribution from Michael Gargas. QuickTime 5 Preview is playing an in-your-face movie.
  
  

Have a masterpiece in your hot, little hands that you want to show off? Visit our submission guidelines page for more info.

While the world hangs in the balance waiting to find out exactly who really IS the president of the United States, why not take a break from all the nail biting and reduce your stress by creating some politically correct (or incorrect) artwork and icons for the ResExcellence Archive and send them on in. It would be a great service to your country and your fellow readers as well.

Icon and Desktop Archives: For those of you who just can't get enough, we have more work from the infamous " SoulRockaNasty Nene", as well as five other excellent desktop pics and one very interesting icon set for you to enjoy!

• More funkadelic fun from" SoulRocka Nasty Nene". Check out this recent desktop picture titled "AuNatural"1024x resolution only.
  
  
• An obvious fan of the hit movie "the Matrik" Andrew Vanata submits his own desktop version entitled "Follow the Apple". 1280x resolution only.
  
  
• Luc has been hard at work again, and sends us two unique desktop pics for the archives. First off is his "Tragedy for you", featuring a most unusual and erie metallic background, and second is "Transmission", a metal crunching backdrop with left handed docks. Both come in 800x resolution.
  
  
• The final set of desktops for the day come from B.C. Dawson, also know as Sprialsong. "Purple for real" and "Healing Pentagram" push the desktop out into new mystical realms. Visit her website for information on her works.
  
  
• Drew Hamlin, developer of ThrobberEdit did some poking around with the new GraphicConverter 4.0 a few days ago and created a 128x128 icon based on the one in the splash screen (for all you OS X users). He also found an interesting hidden 32-bit icon. Here are his findings, which include the following:
  -The 128x128 icon (also sized to whatever you have specified), works with OS9 as well, although the 32x32 icon looks not-so-great on white, it does look okay on the desktop.
  - The icon and mask from the resource fork that the 128x128 icon was built from.
  - A preview of the 128x128 icon in full glory.
  - The "Hidden" 32-bit icon from the GraphicConverter icon resource.
  - GraphicConverter's current icon (so you can see the difference).
  
  

News From Around the Web:

Tom writes in to let us know that Fox TV's "The Dark Angel" Website has some hi-tech desktop pictures available from the computers on the show! The "Eyes Only Informant" shots have an altered MacOS on display. A number of different pics and resolutions for download.

Andreas of Lindkvist updates with a November Calendar and a December version on it's way to being available on Dec.1. The shareware Font section is now open again, and there is an old/new font called "Leftside" which is free to download for any personal use.

One more time: Pixelpalooza 2001 Begins Dec. 1st ! The web's premiere source for freeware Mac icons, The Iconfactory is proud to announce that its 5th annual icon design contest, Pixelpalooza is poised to begin Friday, December 1st, 2000.

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

A little known Finder Window trick is to hold the Option key while navigating your way deeper into a series of folders. By holding Option, the previous window closes, so when you're finished instead of eight Finder Windows cluttering your desktop, there will be only one.

But what if you're unsure of your destination and reluctant to close the windows behind you? This simple script by Victor Yee will clean up your desktop, leaving only the most forward window open. Download and give it a spin. Place it in your Apple Menu for launching .

After seeing our earlier script to delete the folder, "Cleanup At Startup", Twist modified it to also trash the hidden "Temporary Items" folder. (Download the Applet). This script gives a clear useage of conditional if loops, my favorite because they're so easy to read.

Complete Cable Management For The Home & Office.

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11/16/00

Snapshot Gallery by Jeremy Hoesly

Satisify your snapshot cravings with Thursday’s installment:

• Back with another snapshot, Edimilson Rodrigues Braz touts Blue Sky Heart’s “DC Serpent” desktop picture and William Bart’s Ultrasleek Designer Sharkskin K-Scheme. Audion, equipped with the AlienEgg face by Donovan, is serving up music in the lower left. Icons from Perfect Yosemite are also present.
  
  
• Harvey Lubin attempts to make the new OS X Public Beta as user friendly as possible in this snapshot containing a custom desktop picture. Classic Menu returns the Apple menu to its rightful place on the left, while ShowDrives displays all mounted disks on the desktop as previous versions of the Mac OS have. Several 128x128 custom icons are prominently displayed on the right edge.
  
  
• This awesome screenshot from Neo sports the custom “Power” desktop picture along with Akio’s BIG Indigo K-Scheme. Audion, retro-fitted with the BIG Indigo face also by Akio, is dishing out tunes in the lower right. Icons from icon.cx’s Spiffy Apps collection in combination with some custom ones propogate the desktop.
  
  
• The lines between OS X and the Classic OS 9 environment are blurred in this submission from William. Via AppleScript, he’s able to start Classic and quit the Desktop process, allowing him to then run both classic and carbon applications.
  
  

Have a masterpiece in your hot, little hands that you want to show off? Visit our submission guidelines page for more info.

Today's News by Michael

MacOS X logged into Linux using VNCThing.

If you've been reading ResExcellence for awhile then you qualify as a nerd, but just how nerdy are you? Today's MacNerds has an article on making simple games in REALBasic!

The Theminator has been updated! It includes the following bug fixes: Should work with OS 8.6 and higher, No more FontManager--FMGetFontFamilyFromName problem, Fixed up alpha channel bugs, and much more.

Mafoo has closed his old site powermac.uk. For the time being, you can find his themes and icons (including the elusive LCD theme) at this site. Mafoo also sent this picture of a modified login screen to demonstrate what can be accomplished by editing nib files in MacOS X.

Akio has updated his site with a new MacOS X BootPanel and Login Panel to match his new Indigo X Theme.

Talk about an identity crisis! Marco Wessel sent a link to this Gents page where he lists his 269 email addresses! It's a cool page, but another good reason for yo to check it out is because he has a ton of his snapshots showing his Linux desktop.

Netscape 6 Final is out. (or is it Netscape 6 is finally out?). I have been using it all day without a crash. The only page I've seen that it doesn't render correctly is the ResEx User Forum. Ouch!

For the life of me, I can't get the additional themes installed. I believe what is suppose to happen is this: Go to Netscape's Theme Plaza and click the "Install Theme" This should download the theme file and run a javascript to install it. Nothing happens when I click it. Suggestions?

Software News: by Cletus™

The venerable application SoundApp was updated by Norman Franke to version 2.7.3. How can something this good continue to be free? Amazingly it has and continues to be the one application I can count on to open anything "sound connected." If you have yet to try this, then now is the time as this version adds the following features:

• Released both PPC and 68K versions.

• Fixed a problem converting MP3s to QuickTime movies.

• Fixed a problem that would cause SoundApp to crash when closing the parent play list of a QuickTime file currently being played.

If you still have reservations, then give Jeremy's article on SpeedApp a read and I am sure you will be convinced.

Michael Rabe writes in to announce a couple of new updates to MacThings. First is the release of version 2.0 of the Blackhawk theme. Second will be the preview releases of two new themes. Y4K (Y3K SE) and Beta. You can get a glimpse Beta below.

Macintosh Explorer 1.7 has been released at Rage Software. "Macintosh Explorer helps you easily navigate your hard drives and find what you are looking for in a fast and easy environment." In most reviews of this product that I have seen, and from comments sent in from ResExcellence readers, this program has previously been in a love hate relationship with its users.

This version includes so many enhancements I can only list a few of the more important ones: Huge speed increases while listing files (up to 50%-80%), all new style buttons which are more appearance savvy, load faster and require less memory, and the program now supports 32 bit icons. A few of the bug fixes include:

• Sorting by date now works correctly.

• Fixed a bug which caused some users to get Type 3 errors upon launch.

• Contextual Menus now appear correctly when holding down the control key and clicking and when right clicking with a two button mouse.

• Fixed a bug that made the Explorer window disabled when moving, copying, emptying the trash, and duplicating files or folders.

• Fixed a bug which didn't allow you to paste a file or folder if Macintosh Explorer was pointing to a file.

• Corrected a bug with the black line appearing incorrectly while resizing the file lists.

For the most part as I write my updates at night for ResExcellence, my Mac is cranking out the tunes. I am rocking! Unfortunately, my home office is next to the family room and I have to turn it down when my wife wishes to hear the TV. :( Sometimes however I am in a more subdued mood. I want the background noise but I don't want it to be distracting. I have only played briefly with this, but Forest may be what I am looking for. You have several pre-made sound files to choose from: Garden World, Night World and Storm World. John Monemi, author writes: Forest will play relaxing nature sounds, like if you walked in a forest!

Submit Software News Suggestions!

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Snapshot Gallery by Jeremy Hoesly

Wednesday’s batch of snapshots has arrived:

• Roberlan Borges is back with another Windows screenshot, this time touting a custom desktop picture and the Drawing Board WindowBlinds skin. Icons from Iconstreet are also present.
  
  
• This contribution from Edimilson Rodrigues Braz features Saffron Graphics’ “Alien Sea” desktop picture and William Bart’s UltraSleek Designer Bronze K-Scheme. Audion, overhauled with the Bck-Code face, is serving up tunes in the lower left. Icons in the shot were obtained from icons.cx and Blue Sky Heart.
  
  
• A desktop picture from Phong along with the AquaX II K-Scheme debut in this screenshot from Isaac Marchionna. SoundJam, outfitted with the OSX Music Player skin, is sitting in as digital DJ in the upper left-hand corner. Some Aqua icons and Smoothicons are also showcased.
  
  
• The “Black Marketeer of World War III” desktop picture and Galactica K-Scheme debut in this snapshot from Sara. Audion, retooled with Scott Raleigh’s Oxygen face, is kicking out soundwaves in the lower left. Icons from the Thunder Ball scheme are managed via iControl.
  
  

Have a masterpiece in your hot, little hands that you want to show off? Visit our submission guidelines page for more info.

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Icon & Desktop News by Dan

Just a gentle reminder here from your Editor. As much as I would like to claim having psychic powers, please remember to include your name and a read me file with your submissions . It makes it awful hard to give the credit where credit is due without them. Thanks!

Icon and Desktop Archives: Today lineup includes " SoulRockaNasty Nene" showing off some of his most recent work, as well as more excellent icon and desktop picture sets for you to enjoy!

• Andre S sends us his fish eye view of the U.C.C. Hitbasement ala Star Trek. 1440x
  
  
• Check out this screenshot from Andrew Vanata of Halo, Bungie's up and coming new game. 1280x
  
  
• Frank shares the beautiful Misaki Kanada with us. 1024x
  
  
• Renaissance Design submits Rendesk, a futuristic backdrop in two resolutions. Visit the website for more excellent works.
  
  
• Our second Christmas card of the season sent by Rob Hunter, Sinatra Holiday Card features old blue eyes himself in 800x resolution.
  
  
• More fun from" SoulRocka Nasty Nene". Check out this new two picture set including Macintosh Loungin' and Digital VIBErations OS-X . Both come in 1024x.
  
  
• Gunther Klebinger of Macwater adds to his "Water Docks" collection with four new flavors. 1024x
  
  
• Rene of Happicon submits his latest system icon set entitled Happy Drives. Made for OSX. Visit his site for more icons to go along with these.
  

News From Around the Web:

maCombine reports they have two new desktops at their site.

The Devil's Desktop has ben updated with 2 new icon sets, 3 new desktops, a new font and a downloadable Monitor buddy.

In case you missed this: Pixelpalooza 2001 Begins Dec. 1st ! The web's premiere source for freeware Mac icons, The Iconfactory is proud to announce that its 5th annual icon design contest, Pixelpalooza is poised to begin Friday, December 1st, 2000.

Colheres does it again with a new icon set by Ana. "Cute Pets" has gotta be a hit.

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

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Applescript/Scripting by Michael

Many utiity applications have been released to handle the problem of invisible temp files not being deleted correctly. If you're the kind of person who likes to "roll your own" solutions, SlackJaw sent this little Applescript to delete the items in the "Cleanup at Startup" folder. It uses a scripting addition called "File Visibility " (included). After you download the package, be sure to replace his hard disk's name (eight) with yours.

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Calendar & Appointment Scheduler for Mac OS X

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11/14/00

Snapshot Gallery by Jeremy Hoesly

Come get your Tuesday snapshots:

• This OS X Beta screenshot from AlgaeScraper sports the “Fall Country Road” desktop picture. Audion, retro-fitted with the Horse Dreams face by Chris Fayette and Jonah Poe, is dishing out tunes in the center. The Transformers icons are from icons.cx.
  
  
• Roberlan Borges sent in this Windows contribution featuring a custom desktop picture and the Hi-Tech WindowBlinds skin. Toolbar functions similarily to DragThing, and Sidebar mimics the Control Strip.
  
  
• Faithful contributor Casey D’Andrea submitted this snapshots touting a desktop picture from Tazl in conjunction with Maury McCown’s MacQNX K-Scheme. Audion, equipped with the OSX Music Player face, is kicking out the soundwaves in the center. Icons from Perfect Yosemite are situated along the sides.
  
  
• Winston demonstrates that not even Windows is safe from the 128x128 icon craze. Mac addicts stuck with PCs at work have yet another way to exert some Mac influence.
  
  

Have a masterpiece in your hot, little hands that you want to show off? Visit our submission guidelines page for more info.

11/13/00

Today's News by Michael

Several years ago, at a Netter's Dinner at MacWorld SF, organizer Jon Pugh asked for a show of hands and not everyone even had an email address! Now, the vast majority of us have more than one, over half have more than 4.

That's a lot of spam!

One of my email addresses is the "Sacrificial Lamb". I use it whenever I fill out an online form to protect my real address from unwanted spam. A reader emailed to say he over 49! How would you keep track of those?

The day is coming soon when we will all subscribe to an MP3 download service (assuming you want to live within the law). While a payment scheme is up in the air, this week's Polling Place asks, "How much would you pay to legally download an MP3?"

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Let talk about Marathon/Aleph One. Forrest Cameranesi from Bungie.org sent these comments. With Fusion Pistol against my head, I post them under fear for my life (where's that purple charging terminal"?)

No doubt you'll get a lot of mail like this from rabid Marathon fans, but just in case, I thought I'd point out a few points:

(1) Bungie released the source to Marathon 2, not Infinity. We had to add Infinity compatibility ourselves.

(2) Aleph One was not ported to MacOS - it was MacOS code to begin with! It had to be ported to Windows, Linux, and everywhere else, from the Mac code base. This is why there are terminal graphics problems - because they are stored in PICT (QuickTime data) resources in the resource fork, which only Mac HFS and HFS+ file systems support. I suspect that there may be other problems with advanced Aleph maps which use the Marathon Markup Language (an XML variant), as they are stored in TEXT resources.

I believe Loren and the other coders have worked out alternatives to these methods for the other platforms (support for JPEG and x-platform images, storing things outside the resource fork, etc), but most of the maps you'll find were designed with the original Infinity for Mac in mind, and may be problematic running in an updated version of an earlier engine with added-in compatibility, ported to a platform it was never originally designed for.

I spent the weekend exploring the Aleph One and Marathon Open Source sites and it's amazing to see the level of development on these projects. Many familiar names from years ago are still involved, creating artwork, maps, or maintaining the sites. (Yes, you Claude).

In fact, today a new version of Aleph One for MacOS has been released. So if you snagged a copy after Friday's mention, go grab this new one. There is even one for MacOS X.

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pkelleher.com has updated their site! Stop by to see the batch of new Throbbers they've posted.

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User Contributed Splash Screens:

Is it because you are creating desktop pictures and icons for Dan? Is it because you're too busy playing with your MacOS X Beta? Whatever the reason, the number of User Contributions is way down. If you've been thinking about creating a submission, now is the time!

• A Login Panel replacement was created by Paul Sahner. It features the "Think different" poem over an Aqua Blue Apple.
  
  
• brenda von ahsen's latest colored MOSS is Indigo
  

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Software News: by Cletus™ ^{Can you say Themes!!!}

SearchWare Solutions have posted version 1.6 of Eradicator. Eradicator will search for and allow removal of unwanted items in the "Temporary Items" folder and the "Cleanup at Startup" folder. The addition of the Cleanup at Startup folder provides a fix for users of the recently released Photoshop 6, where files apparently are not purged at startup.

MacFixIt has been following this problem, if you are not aware of it. Additional enhancements and fixes for this release include: "fixes for a rare problem where Eradicator would delete the incorrect file. Aliases are also now treated as regular files, rather than resolving to their original files."

The Graphite theme went over so well for Akio, he has worked fast and furious this entire past weekend to be able to release another for you today. BIG X Indigo slides into your Mac OS X resources to give you this kind of appearance! This is gonna be so cool! The page also links to Neo's site where there is another variation called the "Tangerine OS X Theme." You can get to this by clicking on the OS X link at the top of Neo's page.

Just in case you missed my update to the Software News on Friday evening, I added an image of Akio's Graphite OS X theme also. This will help give you an idea of how it looks if you are tentative about trying it out. There is also a forum thread started about Akio's themes as well. Keep an eye out for any suggestions or problems, they could be answered here.

PandoCalendar 5.6b1 for Mac OS X is available for download at Panda Systems. This freeware Macintosh application places a small customizable calendar on your desktop.

Michael Rabe wrote in to let all the ResExcellence readers know that things are continuing to happen at MacThings. He is posting 12 new previews tonight. GlassWorks Series v4.0 makes up the majority of the posting, and a new theme called "Win 98" rounds out the preview update. All are expected to be released in the very near future. Stay tuned...

Angelo Scicolone has released IconCleaner. This freeware application is a cleaning utility of sorts for icons. "Simply drag a folder over the IconCleaner window and it will erase all custom icons inside that folder." Simple and quick. I have not tried this out myself. If anyone else has, and they feel it works well, let me know and I will add it to the Icon SW Archive.

element k Journals has posted a very interesting article you may wish to read if you use Photoshop and have a scanner. It talks about incorporating a subtle texture in order to transform simple graphics into unique creations. The article is entitled: "Adding Natural Textures to Graphics." It is part of the Inside Photoshop series.

I missed an update a while back to wClock for OS X which is now at version 1.8. It is available through our Mac OS X Software Archive.

Submit Software News Suggestions!

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Click here to learn more about Toast 6 Titanium

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Snapshot Gallery by Jeremy Hoesly

Start off your week right with a serving of snapshots:

• This OS X Beta snapshot from James Davie sports the NeXT OS appearance hack. The AddressBook application is visible towards the front.
  
  
• José Morales sent in this belated Halloween submission touting the custom “Vampiress” desktop picture coupled with the Hi-Tech Theme. Audion, outfitted with the Oxygen face, is dishing out the music in the upper right-hand corner. Mozco’s Organs icon collection is featured as well.
  
  
• Another OS X Beta snapshot arrives, this time from Mickaël Noyon. The dock has been modified to display blue triangles for active programs.
  
  
• Another belated Halloween contribution saunters into the Snapshot Archive, this time from Trevor Pressman featuring Visual Paradox’s “Bone Dance” desktop picture. The Gorts and Be OS icons are also used.
  
  

Have a masterpiece in your hot, little hands that you want to show off? Visit our submission guidelines page for more info.

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Icon & Desktop News by Dan

I thought you might be interested in knowing that ResExcellence is visited on average by tens of thousands of people per month. Many of you checking in several times a week to see what's up here. Considering those humbling statistics, it's a good bet that your Icons, Desktops and News items are getting way more exposure than you may have ever imagined. Please keep sending your submissions to post, I guarantee they are getting noticed.

Icon and Desktop Archives: More work today from the pop artist "Nasty Nene", some excellent icon sets and desktop pics. Enjoy!

• Luc sends us "Bull", a nicely done brushed metal backdrop in 800x resolution.
  
  
• Another in the series by Frank, "Frank Himself" dares to be different. 1024x.
  
  
• Jason Maki out does himself again with "Glass OSX Lime". Visit his website for more fruity flavors.
  
  
• Jacob Simpson sends us "Sydney Metal", starring the voluptuous Sydney Savage of Danger Girl Commix on a metallic background. Two variations in 1024X.
  
  
• Our first Christmas card of the season sent by Jimmy Hilario, "Venite adoremus" (O Come let us adore him, Christ the Lord). Original painting comes from an altar backdrop.
  
  
• Last but not least in the desktop department is more fun from " SoulRocka Nasty Nene". Check out "We Rock" in 1024x.
  
  
• Scott Chittwood of Rampant Mac has released his very first set of 32 bit icons, "Glass Iconoci". For 8.5 and above.
  
  
• Bob Friede once again has updated his ResEdit-required icon replacement set for the recently released Graphic Converter 4.0.
  
  
• "GameToons" by MD Amico is a 32-bit icon set, originally made for supernintendo roms.

News From Around the Web:

Tray's Trove updates with nine new desktop pictures.

Epoch Icons finally updates with a desktop pic featuring high resolution artwork from the upcoming film, Final Fantasy.

There has been a site redesign at Exitmusic, a resource for explorer 5 throbbers and desktop pictures, as well as a whole other whack of funky stuff.

Renaissance Design lets us know that they just put up a new desktop on their newly designed website.

Late Breaking News: Pixelpalooza 2001 Begins Dec. 1st ! The web's premiere source for freeware Mac icons, The Iconfactory is proud to announce that its 5th annual icon design contest, Pixelpalooza is poised to begin Friday, December 1st, 2000.

ReNe from Happicon announces he has finally finished the new look of his iconpage and a new iconset entitled HappyDrives.

Live Pencil updates with 4 collections of icons (48 in total),4 new Wallpapers and 4 new animations.

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

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