EvangeList Digest Friday, March 6 1998 Volume 01 : Number 1115
In this issue:
PR- Mac4Sale.com Finishes 1st Month with a Bang Tidbit - Forbes Makes Some Interesting Mac vs. Wintel Market Comparisons ?? - Looking for a Mac-Friendly University ?? - Text Scanning/Reading Software for Vision-Impaired Person Tidbit - March at Insanely Great Mac $$ - SoftWindows 95 5.0 and RealPC $$ -- Mac the Scope Audio Input Calibrator and Buffer Tidbit - The RhapsodyOS Report #5 Followup - Summary of Replies, Surface Area Calculation
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Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 04:10:35 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: PR- Mac4Sale.com Finishes 1st Month with a Bang
This announcement is from:
Carl Powell, <carl@mac4sale.com>
Mac4sale.com <http://www.mac4sale.com/> has finished its first month online and it is a HUGE Success! Judging from the popularity and activity, Mac4Sale was definitely a concept whose time had come!
Take a look at these statistics for this first month:
o Over 180 different Sellers have listed items o Over 450 items now listed online o Over $180,000 (at selling price) listed in first month. o Over 31,500 page hits in the first month!! (ACTUAL PAGES, NOT GRAPHICS!) o Over 50,000 total hits in the first month! o A new Want2Buy section added mid-month w/over 35 new listings o THOUSANDS of $$$ in items already sold!!! o Every Item was Listed and/or sold for FREE!
Remember, Mac4Sale.com is ALL-MAC and is run with Filemaker Pro 4.0 on a Mac!
If you have items you'd like to sell or buy, be sure and visit the site and list your item. The more the merrier! And, since we're going so strong, we'll be keeping the listings FREE for the month of March as well!
NOTICE: If you or your company would like a great place to advertise, there are great spots available for advertising on Mac4Sale.com! See the site for details:
<http://www.mac4sale.com/>
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Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 04:10:32 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Tidbit - Forbes Makes Some Interesting Mac vs. Wintel Market Comparisons
This tidbit is from:
Steve Hilditch, <steve@hilditch-architect.com>
Robert Roblin, Adobe's Senior V.P. of Marketing, offers some interesting comments in a recent Forbes online article, located at:
He comments that "over 84% of Mac business products sold over the last 6 months got sold through catalogs or mail order; but for Windows business software, only about 15%". In explaining further differences between platforms and markets, he also notes that "anytime you install something new on the Windows platform you risk spending the next five or six hours trying to figure out what happened".
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Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 04:10:36 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: ?? - Looking for a Mac-Friendly University
This request is from:
Daniel J. Fox, <djfox@bigfoot.com>
I will be entering University in September, and I am looking for a school which is Mac-Friendly. I read the report on Mac in Higher Ed at MacCentral <http://www.maccentral.com> but there was little mention of Canadian schools, and none in Ontario (except Waterloo, and they are swinging the other way). I will probably be a student of computer science, but I have been unable to find a school which teaches things like C++ for Mac, and the Mac Toolbox (I think that's what it's called).
If you are a student, faculty, recent alumni, staff, (or whatever) at any Canadian University, and you have any info that would help me to make a decision, I would very much appreciate hearing from you. (I am also considering the U of Tennessee <@> Knoxville, Auburn and U of Texas <@> Austin, so any info on these will also be helpful)
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Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 04:10:52 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: ?? - Text Scanning/Reading Software for Vision-Impaired Person
This request is from:
Phillip Garrison, <pgarrison@pobox.com>
My landlady has impaired vision - she can read large print, but not the normal print found in books, etc. She has been using a Mac for years, using large fonts, and Outspoken and other utilities to read menus and documents out loud.
However, reading books, correspondence, etc. is a real pain and very slow, even with various magnifying devices.
She recently saw an integrated package on Windows that would: 1) read a page or pages from a scanner and insert them directly into a document 2) read the contents out loud while (this is the interesting part) scrolling the magnified text currently being read across the screen, so she could follow along while listening to the voice reading the text.
She would really like to have this capability - she found the combined speech generation/scrolling much more engaging and easy to focus on.
She really doesn't want to spend the $3000 for the Windows hardware/software system, and also really likes her Mac, and doesn't want to switch to Windows.
Does anyone know of a software package that either does both steps 1 and 2 above, or at least does 2?
If we can find software that just does the reading/scrolling, I'm sure we can hook up Visioneer or other scanning/OCR software to pull content from her scanner and insert it into documents. If anyone has comments on which scanning/OCR software to use, I'm interested in that as well. The ability to insert multiple pages into single document is a big plus (I know Visioneer does this).
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Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 04:10:38 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Tidbit - March at Insanely Great Mac
This tidbit is from:
Michael D Flaminio, <flaminio@insanely-great.com>
March is coming in like a lion at Insanely Great Mac, and we want to let you and your readers know what we're up to.
We've got two new contests for March, one of which we're really excited about. Throughout March, we'll be giving away four copies of St. Clair Software's Default Folder. To kick off our Default Folder contest, I've posted a review of Default Folder 2.8. I take an in depth look at the features of Default Folder complete with screen shots.
In our second contest for March we'll give away a game of your choice. We plan to make this contest an on going feature and hope to expand it in the future. However for March we're just giving away one Mac game. People who enter, can choose between 20 of the hottest Mac games on the shelves.
To enter the game giveaway, just visit our contests page and fill out the entry form. In the beginning of April, we'll draw a name at random to win the game of their choice!
Finally, Insanely Great Mac is continuing to cover recent Newton events. We're looking for input in our latest poll which is about Apple's most recent decision. Our latest poll asks what do you think of Apple's decision to end Newton Development?
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 04:10:39 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: $$ - SoftWindows 95 5.0 and RealPC
This announcement is from:
<leigh.dworkin@isinc.i>
Insignia Solutions is extending its Macworld special pricing to all Evangelistas, just in case you didn't stop by our booth in San Francisco.
You can purchase SoftWindows 95 version 5.0 for $149 and RealPC for $49 until March 31, 1998 - a $50 savings on SoftWindows 95 and a $30 savings on RealPC.
SoftWindows 95 version 5.0 for Power Mac:
- - Runs all of your Windows 95 business applications and games - - Includes Windows 95 pre-installed - - Performance is up to 25% faster than version 4.0 - - Comes with full multimedia support - - Includes utilities for easy access to the Internet
RealPC:
- - Runs PC games shockingly fast - - Includes MS-DOS 6.22 pre-installed and ready to run - - Includes 15 3D action games - Comes with full multimedia support - - Includes Sound Blaster Pro and Sound Blaster 16 compatibility - - Provides joystick support - - Comes Windows-ready - - just add your own version of Windows
Call 1-800-848-7677 to place your order and remember to mention the special code "Evangelist".
For more information check out <http://www.insignia.com> and while you are there, check out our latest 3Dfx support for RealPC and SoftWindows 95 5.0, available as a free download from the Insignia web site.
Offer valid in the US and Canada only.
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Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 04:10:41 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: $$ -- Mac the Scope Audio Input Calibrator and Buffer
This special offer is from:
<swmark@channld.com>
On March 7, 1998, Channel D will begin shipping the Mac the Scope Calibrator and Buffer Amplifier Accessory.
This unit replaces our previous Buffer Amplifier Accessory, and now includes a 1 kHz calibrator output source, suitable for calibrating the Macintosh line-level sound input port sensitivity, in conjunction with Mac the Scope's Automatic Calibration feature.
With release of the new Buffer Amplifier Accessory, Channel D will begin shipping Mac the Scope 1.2.1, which is modified to support the new Calibrator output. Mac the Scope 1.2.1 also includes performance enhancements, including better cursor readout when automatic trace scaling is enabled. The upgrade also permits input calibration with Macintosh input gain settings other than the lowest setting, when using automatic calibration.
- - Mac the Scope turns a Macintosh with sound input/ - - output capability into a full-featured - - audio-frequency spectrum analyzer, oscilloscope, and - - signal source. Mac the Scope includes a two-channel, - - mini-plug to dual RCA-plug interface cable.
- - Mac the Scope is compatible with 68k Macs having - - sound input capability and a math coprocessor, - - in addition to all PowerPC machines. Only 4 MB - - free RAM needed; System 7.5.3 or later is required The Calibrator and Buffer Amplifier Accessory is intended for Mac the Scope users needing to probe high-impedance, circuit-board-level signals. However, the Calibrator feature also can be used by other Mac the Scope users, to calibrate audio signal input levels.
Mac the Scope retails for $299. The Calibrator and Buffer Amplifier Accessory retails for $139 ($99 for Mac the Scope users)
Evangelistas can obtain special pricing, good until March 20, 1998, by ordering directly from Channel D:
> Mac the Scope 1.2.1 Package, including Calibrator and Buffer Amplifier Accessory:
Part Number M201BC Retail $398
>> Evangelista Price $299
> Mac the Scope 1.2.1:
Part Number M201MS Retail $299
>> Evangelista Price $259
> Calibrator and Buffer Amplifier Accessory > (discount only for previous users of Mac the Scope):
Part Number M100BC Retail $99
>> Evangelista Price $79
IMPORTANT: This special offer will not be mentioned elsewhere. Please provide order code AE3098 to obtain the discount.
For more information, please visit <http://www.channld.com/software.html>.
Specifications for the Calibrator and Buffer Amplifier Accessory are available via links from <http://www.channld.com/software.html>>, or directly from <http://www.channld.com/buf2spc.html>.
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Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 04:10:49 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Tidbit - The RhapsodyOS Report #5
This tidbit is from:
Jason Caron, <jason@rhapsodyos.com>
I'm writing to inform you that I have posted #5 of The RhapsodyOS Report. (March 1 1998)
You can find it at:
<http://www.RhapsodyOS.com/report/index.html>
The RhapsodyOS Report is a free weekly summary of Apple Computer's Rhapsody Operating System news, software releases, rumors, Internet resources and related topics compiled by Raven Zachary with support provided by RhapsodyOS.com.
Thanks for your time,
Jason Caron <jason@rhapsodyos.com> <http://www.RhapsodyOS.com>
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Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 04:10:42 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Followup - Summary of Replies, Surface Area Calculation
This follow-up message is from:
Steffen Servay stefservay@aol.com
In the Evangelist Digest #1076, I asked if anybody knew of a way to easily measure the surface area of items. Almost immediately the replies started coming in. I started to thank everyone one by one as the messages came in but soon fell behind due to the sheer number of responses. So for those I haven't thanked personally for taking the time and interest to answer me, please take this as my very grateful thank you.
This was an excellent opportunity to witness the power, intelligence and scope of helpful and dedicated Mac users. In addition to the precise replies, I received quotes, poems and histories from a worldwide cross section of doctors, engineers, regular folks, students, programmers, even Steve Wozniak ! This really lightened up the boring subject of surface area calculation.
What follows below is a resume of solutions I received, in order of popularity (the most recommended at the top). I have not tried any yet, as I wanted to get my summary back to you ASAP since many asked me for the list of solutions received. I apologise for the length of this posting (9 pages) but I couldn't see how to edit further down from the original 75 pages !!!
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FINDING THE SURFACE AREA OF ITEMS
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NIH-Image, a fully scriptable public-domain image-analysis program, will do what you want. It uses photoshop plug-ins or if you have a Mac with video-in, it will read images from a video camera.
NIH-Image can be used to measure area, mean, centroid, perimeter, etc. of user defined regions of interest. It also performs automated particle analysis and provides tools for measuring path lengths and angles. Spatial calibration is supported to provide real world area and length measurements. Density calibration can be done against radiation or optical density standards using user specified units. Results can be printed, exported to text files, or copied to the Clipboard.
You can get a copy plus manual in MsWord format <http://rsb.info.nih.gov/nih-image/>
After scanning the item, analyze the area of the resultant image using NIH Image (freeware). Macros that come with NIH Image facilitate this. This gives you the cross-section of the scanned piece. The data can be saved to a text file and imported into a database or spreadsheet for the remaining calculations. If the piece is symmetrical or nearly so, the problem then reduces to calculating the surface of revolution by segmenting the cross-section and summing (integrating) the contributions of each segment to the surface. If the piece is irregular, approximations for each type of item could probably be developed. The idea would be to use calculus to compute the surface of a particular type of piece from various measurements and then use that calculation with some scaling factor that would be applied to a similar piece the next time an estimate is needed.
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Use the Mac CAD Program called Mini CAD 7.0 (www.deihlgraphsoft.com). $595 Mail order. It is very easy to import scanned pict images and then trace the shape at full scale in Mini CAD. Once you have the shape getting its area is a simple operation. You can subtract areas by clipping the polygon to remove holes etc. It might automatically send the surface area to Filemaker Pro using Apple Events...
Enclosed areas are automatically calculated. It has an excellent Object info palette that instantly calculates the 2D surface area of just about any 2D object. MiniCAD7 has built-in spreadsheet and database capability that are compatible with Excel and FileMaker. It is also extensively configurable and programmable so that it could be setup to support this type of function minimizing the complexity. The package could be very useful for product design as well.
It's a very easy application to learn as CAD apps go though. They have a 2D version called BluePrint, which may be the cheapest option.
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The drawing program 'Canvas' had this feature in version 3. You could get it to tell you the surface area of a drawn object, and would even take into account the scale of the drawing.
I suspect it would not work on a scanned object, so you might have to trace the scan that you took, but that shouldn't be to much trouble.
I think last week I saw an Evangelist note about free trial downloads of the new Canvas 5 from Denebas web site.
Canvas 5 will calculate the area and perimeter of any object, so what you can do is scan in the object, autotrace the resulting bitmap to turn it into object(s), and get info about them. The autotrace will pick up holes in the middle, but the area calculator doesn't seem to work right with groups of objects, so you need to ungroup the autotrace and pick up the info on the object as a whole and each of the holes separately, then subtract.
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MacMath Pro from Diamond Software may be what you need. It's $20 shareware.
What you are looking for is image processing software. Instead of a scanner, one typically uses a CCD camera on a light table (like a back lit table for viewing slides) to acquire images. National Instruments (512) 795-8248 has everything you will need to make this work (and/or can tell you where to get it) from the interface board to the software.
You can implement this project yourself, or have an integrator do it for you. Nat. Inst. can help you there too. Their equipment is the best and is priced accordingly, but as far as I know, they are one of the few people who support the Mac.
Keyence Corp, (510) 225-1550, makes a comparatively cheap vision system (approx. $5-7k) that can measure part area as well. It is a standalone system and is very reliable. We have been using it for a year with no failures.
Area Properties 3.2. This program is a bit crude, but it works. The program can be found at the usual shareware sites.
It will calculate and measure the following properties of any object you load from a PICT or PNT document; (Objects can also be imported from the Clipboard.)
CROSS SECTIONAL AREA, TOTAL SURFACE AREA, TOTAL PERIMETER, MOMENT OF INERTIA about the centroidal axis & any axis, RADIUS OF GYRATION, VOLUME, WEIGHT, MEASURE HEIGHT & WIDTH, PROVIDES RULER TO OBTAIN LENGTH MEASUREMENTS, WILL COLLAPSE OBJECT ON BOTH X & Y AXIS, COUNTS TOTAL OBJECT PIXELS The object itself and the UNITS, DEPTH, SCALE & MATERIAL are user inputs. They can be made the defaults with the Preferences... menu item. SCALE is defined as actual object size divided by screen size. (If actual object width is 12 inches and screen image width of object is 1 inch, the SCALE = 12.) The results can be saved to disk as a PIC file.
coded by: William Weiss 2500 Ptarmigan Dr.#1 Walnut Creek, CA. 94595 USA email address: <WWeissTuna@AOL.com>
Comments and suggestions are always welcomed. If you use this code a lot, please make a donation to your favorite charity, Thanks
Ashlar Vellum 3d. (see their web site www.ashlar.com)
This software I use is a high-end CAD package capable of 2D or 3D drawings. A cost effective alternative is this software "Drawing Board" which is 2D only (this is also available from Ashlar. It should also determine surface area per your requirements as you stated.
These software packages are available in both Macintosh and Windoze.
Check out www.immerse.com. It's the web site of Immersion Corporation. They make 3D digitizing tools that can be used to digitize 3-D objects. You may be able to use their software to calculate total surface area after digitizing an object and creating a mesh.
This calculates things besides areas, and it's really only accurate for flat surfaces, but it'll get you started. I think the price is right. You may have a problem with scale--if your parts are small the results won't be as accurate because the resolution isn't so good.. You can scale your scans, then figure the area and reduce the calculated area by square of the scale factor if you need to.
If the objects are solid, you might consider a variation of Archimedes' "Eureka!" solution.
Drop the object into a known volume of water and observe the volume displaced by the object. Use a little trig to calculate the surface area of a sphere whose volume is that of the amount of displaced water. I imagine a calculated field in Filemaker could handle it.
Perhaps a non-computer approach may fit to a reasonable degree of accuracy. My suggestion is more like a laboratory procedure, and it will require an accurate and precise laboratory scale (in a steady and draft-free environment), a heating plate, a thermometer and a tank of light motor oil. Weigh one of the objects to be plated and note the weight. Dip the object in the oil that has been heated to a temperature of your choosing. ( The point is to always use the _same_ temperature!) Allow all loose drippage to drain (perhaps based on a standard time of drainage), and then weigh the object again.
The difference in the two weights will represent the oil that remains on the object. This will be proportional to the surface area, unless the object is highly porous and acts more like a sponge.
Once you have some experience with different shapes, you should be able to make a correlation between the oil weight and the surface area.
I suggested oil rather than water, because water evaporates, and it does not wet all metals well.
This would take a little development, but I bet that with practice, you will be able to get results within five percent accuracy.
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The pieces that you manufacture are 3D CAD Files in a program like MicroStation, that can then be automatically linked into a FileMaker Pro Database. You may want to call Bentley Systems, Inc. (1-800-BENTLEY) to see if they have some sort of solution for you.
I recall (from when I was a botanist) that the guys in the plant physiology lab had a small piece of apparatus into which you could feed leaves and the surface area was calculated. It only worked for flat items (the leaves went in between two rollers then the surface area was measured with a digital output). It would not work for 3D items.
Contact the plant physiology section of the Botany Department of your local university. They may know of a local supplier of them for you to check out if this would be suitable or what other of this type of gear they sell.
Surveying books have formulas to determine the area of any irregularly shaped object. It uses the coordinates of each of the vertices of the surface to determine the area.
All it would require would be for the object to be placed on a grid, the operator would record the coordinates of each of the vertices into FM, and FM would calculate the area.
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End of EvangeList Digest V1 #1115 *********************************
