EvangeList Digest Monday, April 20 1998 Volume 01 : Number 1160
In this issue:
Job - Web Savvy Design Engineer (St. Paul, MN) Tidbit - MacCentral Collects Positive Apple Press Followup to Followup - Jared, Butcher of Song $$ - Free Newton Game Offer ?? - Mac Audio Automation Software $$ - Alpha Design Banner Discount ?? - Fully Integrated System for Electronic Storage and Retrieval of Documents PR - No Wonder Introduces Free Live Support ?? - Need Help Keeping Macs in Graphics/Production PR - InformINIT 8.1 Followup - Enhanced CD's PR - Troi TEXT Plug-in 1.0.1 for FileMaker 4.0
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We need an internet/intranet savvy design engineer in our St. Paul, MN office. We are primarily Mac-based, and hire out on a consulting/contract basis to do the web development bidding of others.
We haven't made the final decision to hire anyone yet, but probably will soon. If, after reading below, you are interested in the position then email a cover letter and your resume to: <mark@fasoffice.com>, or to either email in my sig at the end. Email only, please! I will keep your resume on file, and call/email likely candidates when we move forward on the hiring.
If you are not sure what a web design engineer is, here's how Taylor from HotWired plainly described it to me when talking about himself, "I'm not exactly a graphic designer, but I'm not exactly a total programming engineer either. I do both pretty well, though." That's basically what we're looking for, someone who can single-handedly develop a complete site with simple and effective graphics as well as minimal but effective coding.
A candidate for the position needs to live in the Minneapolis, St. Paul area. The position calls for working in small groups and individually to develop web sites for small and medium sized companies. The position will require working knowledge of:
- -PERL, C, Visual Basics, Linux, NT, and related areas
We're looking for someone who also: -can deal with clients and help sell site development -has at least 1 year commercially developing sites, OR - -is in school (or recently graduated) for a related field
This is an entirely new position, so the description is a bit rough right now, but if this sounds like something you're interested in, send your resume!
- ---------------------------------------- Mark Kedrowski Webmaster - Graphics Unlimited, Inc. Owner - Financial Advantage Software LLC <webmaster@graphicsunlimited.net> <mark@fasoffice.com>
Well, after the good news this Wednesday you'd think that you'd finally start hearing some positive press on Apple computer. You'd be correct, and MacCentral has done a bangup job of summing up the coverage at:
"Apple's making money, newspaper headlines are touting the accomplishment, and Steve Jobs is hailed as a hero."
"This about sums up the industry and media reaction to yesterday's announcement that Apple posted a $55 million profit for the second financial quarter of 1998. 'It's fantastic. Apple did what they say can't be done,' says Mark Gregory, president of SchoolComputer.com, a company that does sales and service for Apple Education in the Southeast.'They increased units, they increased profits, and lowered the price on their products. Those are the three things you're not supposed to be able to do together.'"
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Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 02:11:28 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Followup to Followup - Jared, Butcher of Song
This follow-up message is from:
Tim Jarrett, <tj@pop-list.cais.com>
Actually, Windows users have some parity on the Jared front. FreeVerse Software has released a Windows version of the original Jared. Windows users don't, however, have "A Very Jared Christmas" or "Jared Choir."
Also, not only is the Windows version of Jared, Butcher of Song just as annoying as the Mac version, it also multitasks very poorly, making everything on the Windows machine extremely slow. I can't decide whether this is a bug or a feature.
Best Tim __________________________ Digital Guy Sez:
"Jared Choir"?! Please, I haven't had dinner yet. ;-)
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Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 02:12:16 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: $$ - Free Newton Game Offer
Keyword: Newton
This special offer is from:
Scott Shwarts, <sshwarts@socrates.pensee.com>
As a way of thanking all those Newton users who have enjoyed all the products and technologies we developed for the Newton such as Newton books, BookMaker, Newton Press, the 2.0 outliner, etc. we've giving away the Jig! Strategy Game for the Newton for FREE.
To download your free copy go to: <http://www.unboxed.com/newton.html> and click on the Jig! banner or follow the Jig! link. All we ask is that you register your copy.
I freelance in broadcasting as a radio engineer. I have seen quite a few programs for providing broadcast audio automation for radio but they all exist on the wintel platform. I would love to find a program that can play back (at least one) of the popular audio formats (such as WAV, AIFF, MP3, etc) and can cross-fade (i.e, segue) between cuts. Logging and event scheduling would be nice, but the basic functionality would be more impostant at this time. I can get legacy Mac hardware that can handle most audio programs at a bargain and this would provide a wonderful solution for the non-commercial educational facilities I help out. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Alpha Design <http://www.alpha-design.com> is a web design firm which caters to small businesses and organizations.
If you need a banner completed for your site or your next ad campaign, or even an entire site developed, go to our website and check us out. You can also E-Mail <mailto:info@alpha-design.com>.
Animated banners for Evangelists this month are just $9.95, and are rendered within 3-5 days. Static banners are only $5.95. Offer ends 5/1/98.
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Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 02:11:50 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: ?? - Fully Integrated System for Electronic Storage and Retrieval of Documents
This request is from:
Keith Propp, <ProppK@jntf.osd.mil>
I am now involved in my second project with an offshoot looking at solutions to the electronic storage and retrieval of documents. Unfortunately, as usual, it is another military program which has standardized on the Wintel platform. I am unaware of Mac-based solutions because of the focus, but I am curious about what is being done on the Mac side and presently do not have time to do a full search myself since the subject is not my usual thing. Here are the requirements, cost aside:
1) A system for rapid scanning, OCR-ing, and storage of document pages as images (BW or grey scale) and text. 2) Indexing software which maintains the link between text and image pages. 3) Search and retrieval software which supports 'fuzzy searches' since we do not want to correct all the OCR mistakes. Each search must be able to link to the actual image of the pages when desired. 4) Ability to publish the entire schmere along with a search engine and reader on CD-ROMs. 5) Ability to hyperlink the documents.
Now I know all these capabilities are available separately for the Mac platform, but are there any integrated systems available? Also, what are the best components (hardware and software)? A simple Wintel example is the system from ZyLab using Caere products and their own indexer and searcher, but it is only available for Wintel.
The push into this area is great. I know of many businesses (especially military) who are looking to reduce their document storage space while maintaining accessibility. I believe the Mac platform would become the platform-of-choice (POC) if more customers were aware of the possibilities.
I will compile and list the response in a later posting if you send them to <kep@mail1.ittssc.com>.
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Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 02:10:39 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: PR - No Wonder Introduces Free Live Support
This announcement is from:
Scott William, <scottw@nowonder.com>
Today, No Wonder a free Internet based technical resource site announces the addition of a LIVE FORUM to facilitate on the spot technical support. The live forum is an IRC based chat room users can gather to help out each other, 24 hours a day.
Scott William, Founder of No Wonder said, "Adding live support had always been an idea we played around with, but never finalized a solution to make it happen. Today we made it happen, and we will develop it out as the need increases." The live forum will not be staffed by the volunteer staff members during the introduction of this new service. "We will be looking for volunteers to staff the live forum making No Wonder the only interactive nondenominational technical support site on the Internet."
Additionally, No Wonder recently teamed up with ZD-NET to provide search capabilities of all No Wonder Q&A's along with ZD-NET's massive online database. "It was a resource we were unable to do ourself being volunteer based, and teaming up with ZD-NET was a winner solution." commented William.
Coming in the weeks ahead, No Wonder is expanding content offerings and support options. Included in the site wide upgrade is an Interactive Personal Support System which allows users to have more power over the questions they ask.
No Wonder has been providing free technical support to the online community since December, 1996. Staffed by over 300 volunteers in 12 countries from around the world.
No Wonder! <http://www.nowonder.com>
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Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 02:13:25 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: ?? - Need Help Keeping Macs in Graphics/Production
This request is from:
Andre Boey, <BoeyA@ORVIS.com>
I'm a catalog production manager in a mostly-PC company. My all-Mac graphics/production department is in danger of being forced to give up our Macs in favor of the company standard. My department director is scheduled to present his case for Macs to MIS and upper management next week. I've already given him a bulging folder full of facts and figures, studies, surveys, testimonials and opinions on why the graphic arts/prepress industry is still overwhelmingly Mac.
This morning, he came to me with a few more specific requests:
1. He wants to see a list of computer industry publications produced on Macs--not so much like Publish, X-Ray, Adobe, Macworld, DPX, Print, DTP Journal, etc. but more of those PC-oriented ones like PC Week, PCWorld, PC Computing, Windows Sources, Family PC, etc. I seem to recall seeing such a list a while ago but haven't been able to find it.
2. He says that rumor has it Intel's original bunny commercials and ads were all produced on Macs. Does anyone have confirmation of this? I don't mean just verbal or hearsay but actual printed reference or a URL.
3. Our MIS department claims that finding Mac support help (hardware, software, networking) is near impossible in our location. Apparently they have been searching for a part/full-time Mac administrator for some time without success to work at our corp. HQ here in southern Vermont. Is anyone interested? Or know of any employment/temp agencies that might have qualified candidates?
Thanks for the help. Time is of the essence, but I'm sure the EvangeList will come through. Please send responses directly to me: <boeya@orvis.com>.
A new version of InformINIT is now available! What's more, InformINIT and Casady & Greene are teaming up to present a very special offer for registered users!
If you've ever wondered what all of those control panels, extensions, and other System-related files in your System Folder are for, InformINIT is for you!
InformINIT is an application which provides information on a mind-boggling number of System Folder files: control panels, extensions, system folder contents, and more -- from both Apple and third-party developers. Information includes file descriptions, who needs what, version numbers, RAM consumption, and helpful tips (even a few "secrets"). Where appropriate, files are organized into "groups" that are mainly used together. Live URLs to information sources on the Web are provided for files that require extensive discussion.
But InformINIT is not just "INITs" -- it contains sections on installing the latest system software, files which don't take up system RAM, items found loose in the System Folder, startup file management utilities, PRAM, and the Modern Memory Manager. It also contains a primer on System software for beginners, and a thorough discussion of the new HFS Plus file format by Eric Belsley of the Mac Resource Page. It also provides links to some of the best Mac info sites on the Web.
The information contained in InformINIT is organized in a way that is more like a book than a database. You can read it from start to finish, or you can use the search feature as an index, so finding that mysterious INIT is a breeze. It is a self-contained application, so it does not need any other software, and can be used whenever you want, wherever you want. Use InformINIT to satisfy your curiosity about unidentified files, to help you cut down on all the spurious extensions that you don't really need, and to generally improve the performance of your Mac.
There have been many imitations of, and efforts similar to, InformINIT, but it remains THE reference for System Folder information. Even Apple's own technical support staff uses it and recommends it to customers!
System requirements: InformINIT will run on all Mac OS computers except for those with 68000 processors. It requires 1.5 MB of free RAM, and less than 1MB of hard drive space.
NOW FOR THE SPECIAL OFFER:
InformINIT has long been THE reference for System software. But once you know what each file does, how do you manage them all? Users of InformINIT know that within it I have compiled an objective review of the different startup file management utilities, and that Conflict Catcher emerged as the clear winner. It allows you to manage control panels, extensions, fonts, etc., just like other utilities, but it can also test your Mac when it is misbehaving, allowing you to track down the cause of pesky crashes, frustrating freezes and strange behavior! It is the cream of the crop of startup file management utilities. But don't just take my word for it -- Conflict Catcher is a 1998 Eddy Award winner, and has been awarded MacWorld 5-Stars, MacWeek 4.5 Diamonds, MacUser 5-Mice, and 1997 and 1998 MacWorld Best of Show.
Together, InformINIT and Conflict Catcher offer the most comprehensive way to identify, understand, and manage your startup files and System software. Between now and May 31, 1998, registered users of InformINIT (both existing registered users and those who register before May 1st) can get the award-winning Conflict Catcher 4 from Casady & Greene for the special price of $39.95! With a suggested retail of $99.95, and a "street" price of $64.95, that's a savings of $25-$60! This is a great opportunity for everyone who has ever been confused and confounded by the myriad pieces of System software on their Mac or Mac clone.
You can download the latest version of InformINIT from the InformINIT web site:
<http://cafe.AmbrosiaSW.com/DEF/InformINIT.html>
You can take advantage of the special offer on Conflict Catcher at:
I work for a major record company that manufactures and markets CD's of our recording artists. I have noticed several posts about enhanced CD's and that it seems that people are "discovering" the extra material that can be played on a computer, specifically the Macintosh.
I am happy to say that a majority of the new CD's that are being released now, at least from my company, are enhanced with either Video clips, bio information on the artist, interactive multimedia, and/or direct web site browser files. Enhanced CD's have been made for the past couple of years or so and are now becoming a standard depending on the artist and the amount of space that is available on the CD. I am also happy to say that all of these will work on a Macintosh and use QuickTime technology.
So, with this in mind, the next time you buy a CD of your favorite artist, pop it in your CD Drive. You might be pleasantly surprised! __________________________ Digital Guy Sez:
Hey Greg (and any other recording industry powerhouses that this might wander to :) how about a sticker or something that can be slapped on the cellophane to let people know about the "enhanced" status of a CD? Just a crazy suggestion. :-)
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Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 02:12:49 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: PR - Troi TEXT Plug-in 1.0.1 for FileMaker 4.0
This announcement is from:
Peter Baanen, Troi Automatisering, <peter@troi.nl>
Troi Automatisering announces the release of Troi Text Plug-in 1.0.1, for FileMaker Pro 4.0 both on Macintosh and Windows.
This cross-platform FileMaker Pro 4.0 plug-in adds SumText functionality to FileMaker Pro 4.0. With this you can create a dynamic field, that concatenates all the text from a field in a related file. Every time records get added or deleted to the related file the SumText is automatically updated. It is the text equivalent of the Sum() function for numbers.
New functions - ------------- This final release also adds ANDText and XORText, which returns all the lines that are the same, respectively different in 2 Text fields.
Peter Baanen, company president, states "Since the beta version we've improved documentation and also added an example for a conditional popup. As a bonus we've added two great functions. You should see this".
Downloading - ----------- A fully functional version of Troi Text Plug-in 1.0.1 is available for downloading at Troi's Web site at: <http://www.troi.com/>. On the site there is a Macintosh (.hqx) or a windows version (.zip) of the package. Each package contains BOTH the Macintosh version as well as the windows version of the plug-in. Only the compression and (text)formatting is different. Everyone using the beta should switch to this 1.0.1 version, as it fixes a bug (on mac and windows) that in some cases can cause FMP eventually to run out of memory.
Troi TEXT Plug-in is available as try-before-you-buy software. A single user licence costs $ 15 (Site license: $ 100). A special cross platform developers license is available at $ 80.
About Troi Automatisering - ------------------------- Troi Automatisering is developer of databases, plug-ins and utilities such as ProMaker Utils, an utility to paste complete scripts into FileMaker Pro. For more information, visit our Web site at: <http://www.troi.com/>.
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End of EvangeList Digest V1 #1160 *********************************
