EvangeList Digest Tuesday, September 29 1998 Volume 01 : Number 1285
In this issue:
Tidbit - This Week'S Farr Site Is Entitled "Fired Up!" Tidbit - Mac ODBC Post Explained Tidbit - New On Low End Mac Tidbit - MacOS Daily Announces Contest Winners Job - Graphic Designer -- Production Artist (Santa Ana, CA) PR - Teach! Pro 1.0.1 Released Followup - iMac Infrared $$ - Software & Hardware Tracker 3.1.1 PR - Enigmatic Movements 1.5 Released Tidbit - Cutting-Edge Dance Floor Video PR - "A Better Finder Rename" version 1.2 available
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This week's Farr Site is entitled "Fired Up!" and features iMac Verdict, Flying with Weights (and Advertising), and Goosed from Stirring the Big Pot. Author gives iMac, Apple, AirBus, and Denver Airport the attention they deserve: take cover and read at own risk!
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Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1998 11:45:02 -0700 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - Mac ODBC Post Explained
This tidbit is from:
JASON KULAS, <JKULAS@bcbsct.com>
What is ODBC?
Regarding the 9/17 post on Mac ODBC...ODBC (Open DataBase Connectivity) is a cross-platform "standard" Microsoft rolled-out some years back. The idea was to make it easier for various productivity apps (anything from a db-type package to a spreadsheet) to talk to various types of data storage formats, and to make it easier for developers to write apps that talk to whatever type of data engine was appropriate for the job at hand (i.e.--keep using your fave development environment/language, use any data engine you needed, ODBC could make the connection work for you). Instead of your spreadsheet needing code for how to deal w/ xbase formats vs Oracle vs MS Access vs...or the developer having to find an API package in his chosen language that implements access to a particular data format...now everyone could just work to ODBC and let ODBC handle the particular flavor of data engine being used. ODBC has successfully driven out some products designed to mediate between an app and a "foreign" db format, but, despite the fact that ODBC can be very slow in some situations vs "native" db connectivity, it has enabled a variety of products to talk to any of a variety of db formats with some "ease", though initially configuring & installing ODBC drivers can sometimes be a problem.
At its simplest level, the way it works is that the app (say a spreadsheet) knows how to utilize data from a database by "talking" in the language of ODBC...it makes ODBC API calls. Then depending upon what type of database it needs to talk to an ODBC driver must be present that can translate from generic ODBC requests to the specific steps required to do the action on the particular data format being used. By supporting ODBC, rather than say just Oracle, the spreadsheet app now can work with any data engine that can work with ODBC.
What does the Augsoft product do?
What the product mentioned <http://www.augsoft.com/router/> does is give you a "client" app that can run on your Mac alongside your main app (a productivity app like Office or something you've custom coded). The main app can make ODBC calls to work with data in a database. The client will transmit those calls up to a server program on an NT server. That server program has ODBC drivers that let it talk to whatever db necessary, then return the result back to the Mac.
Why is it good for Mac users?
The value of this product is that it can let ANY ODBC-aware Mac apps (such as Hypercard, Office, FileMaker, Code Warrior, Visual Cafe, PowerObjects, MacPERL, 4D, MPW, OMNIS 7, Tcl/Tk, etc) talk to ANY ODBC-aware data engines that aren't available on the Mac platform and not supported by any other Mac-based ODBC solution (like MS Access, which is fairly popular, despite being a so-so product). Also, being server based, as ODBC drivers change (& you can end up needing an unwieldy number of them), instead of having to update lots of individual computers that drivers installed on them you can update just the server & lower your maintenance costs.
So if you're required to work with some db standard you don't have to ditch your Mac if you can use the ODBC route to get your work done.
Disclaimer: I don't work for Augsoft, I don't think highly of ODBC, & I love my Mac (which lives at home)
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Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1998 11:45:07 -0700 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - New On Low End Mac
Apple's Extended Keyboard was the best. Today's Apple keyboard leaves a bit to be desired. Just when you thought nobody made 'em like Apple used to, hear about the keyboard tested in the workplace and found to match Apple's old quality.
MacOS daily Announces Winners to iMac Commercial Contest
The winner and runner up for the iMac Commercials held back in August have finally been decided on and both videos are now available for viewing at MacOS daily.
<http://www.macosdaily.com>
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Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1998 11:44:56 -0700 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Job - Graphic Designer -- Production Artist (Santa Ana, CA)
This job announcement is from:
Allan Der, <ader@deltanet.com>
Full time career opportunity: 2 Positions available Graphic Designer/Artist
Santa Ana, California Growing MAC based full service creative and production company. Clients include ASICS Tiger Corporation, Prudential, Mazda, Toyota, Airwalk ... Web site: <http://users.deltanet.com/~style>
Title: Graphic Designer/Production Artist. Reports to Creative Director and Production Manager
Resonsiblities: Responsible for the conceptual design and production of graphics for promotional materials retail package, presentations and the internet.
Qualifications: Degree in Graphic Design or equivalent of professional experience. Expert knowledge of Photoshop, Illustrator, and Quark.
Proven creative skills relating to packaging, internet uses, offset printed materials. Strong typography, composition, color and layout skills.
Responsibilities:
1. Design and execute graphics for all types of printed including: packaging, sales collateral materials and, presentations
2. Obtain information and approvals related to assigned projects from senior management. Interpret changes of direction resulting thereof. Coordinate completion dates to conform with development and production deadlines.
4. Prepare files for high resolution output and reproduction and sending of files to imagesetters.
5. Create comps of work for review by management.
6. Review and approve mechanical art, separations and press proofs with the Creative Manager.
If you are qualified, please Email, FAX or Mail resume to:
Style Craft Attn.: Human Resources Dept. 2201 South Standard Ave. Santa Ana, CA 92707
Email: <style@deltanet.com>
Fax: 714-751-4905
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Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1998 11:45:06 -0700 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: PR - Teach! Pro 1.0.1 Released
This announcement is from:
Acrux Software, <info@acruxsoft.com>
Acrux Software, the provider of Macintosh educational software and courseware, today announced the release of Teach! Pro v1.0.1: a Mac-only multimedia authoring tool of particular interest for the education community.
Version 1.0.1 implements improved memory-management and stability, together with several minor bug-fixes and improvements. Several new or improved sample projects, stationery and templates are also included. A free updater from version 1.0 is available from this FTP address:
Teach! brings simple but powerful multimedia authoring facilities to a wide audience of users and designers, but especially to teachers and school students. The secret of its power lies in its innovative authoring environment. No programming, scripting or icon flows - just a simple, intuitive point-and-click visual interface.
With Teach!, creating projects is as much fun as running them! But don't take our word for it! Download the 30-day fully-functional trialware package from either of these FTP addresses:
and try it yourself. The trialware package can be turned into a standard single-user program license via a safe instant Internet or telephone purchase - no further downloads are required!
Teach! Pro v1.0.1 single user version is available now directly from Acrux Software and through several US distributors. Network version will be released in October. See our Web site <http://www.acruxsoft.com> for more details.
When purchased electronically, the price of a single user license is just $49.
The suggested retail price for a single-user license supplied on CD is $79 (or $99 with a printed manual).
There are special deals for educational users, including a very competitive educational site license (valid for up to 30 school + 30 home computers).
I posted a short item on iMac infrared to Evangelist 1275 September 15. This is a follow-up to several e-mail requests for additional information on that interesting topic.
The Apple Tech Info library contains at least two articles generally describing the capabilities of infrared-enabled Macs. These are Article ID 58012, dated 8/13/98 and modified 8/24/98, and Article ID 20928, dated 2/6/97 and updated 8/24/98.
The big picture is that not all infrared-enabled Macs are created equal. Powerbook 190, 5300 and 1400 models are infrared-enabled, but not irDA (Infrared Data Association) compliant. They "speak" irTalk. The infrared implementation used in these PowerBook computers is designed to share information with other infrared-equipped PowerBook computers and the Farallon Air Dock (a wireless LocalTalk filesharing solution). The Apple IR File Exchange transfer rate is 230.4kbs, the same as LocalTalk.
On the other hand, the iMac and Powerbook 3400 are irDA compliant. That means that, in principle, they can converse with any other irDA compliant device. In practice, though, what is supported in the hardware may not be supported in software. For example, PowerBook 3400 computers have the hardware necessary to communicate with the IrDA compliant Apple eMate 300 and the Newton MessagePad 2000. At this time Apple does not have a software solution to communicate with the Newton 2000 and eMate 300 through IrDA. As my original article stated, though, it is easy to build a quick wireless short-range Ethernet network using infrared between a Powerbook 3400 and an iMac.
Powerbook 3400s also have the option to switch to the IRTalk protocol by using the Infrared Control Panel. PowerBook 3400 computers can therefore communicate with other IRTalk-capable devices (such as 190, 5300 and 1400 PowerBooks) using the IRTalk protocol, but not the more standard irDA.
To answer the question I was asked by several people ("Exactly how did you enable infrared communication between the 3400 and the iMac?"), the answer is that I diddled the infrared control panel on each so that both computers were set to support irDA. Then I used the AppleTalk control panel and TCP/IP control panels to set both machines up to communicate using Ethernet, and I assigned Class C addresses on the same network to the two Macs (192.168.100.100 and 192.168.100.101). I assigned the default Class C subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.
I also had to enable file sharing using the Sharing Setup control panel and Users & Groups on the iMac, which I set up as a "server." Then, once the iMac's Infrared control panel told me that infrared communication was occurring. I ran the Chooser on the Powerbook 3400. The iMac routinely appeared in the list of Appleshare resources and I selected it in the usual manner, mounting its icon on the desktop. From the point that I selected the Powerbook's Chooser, all these procedures should be very familiar to any networked-Mac user.
As I mentioned to my correspondents, the iMac I worked with has gone home to its owner and I do not own one yet. My recollection is that the 3400 Powerbook version of the Infrared control panel enabled switching between irTalk and irDA from a pop-up menu, but the iMac version of the infrared control panel supports irDA only. My recollection may be wrong.
Jim Upchurch, MCSE, MCP+ Internet Director, Information Services Advanced Technology Group Auburn University at Montgomery (334) 215-2434 / Pager (334) 409-6154
Software & Hardware Tracker, a CNET/Download.com "Premiere" and "Top Pick" and a BizProWeb "Pick of the day", is a collection of FileMaker Pro 3.0/4.0 (Macintosh version) relational databases designed to let you easily manage information about all your computer products. Relying on the Internet Config system under both FileMaker Pro 3 and 4, Software & Hardware Tracker is perfectly integrated with your other Internet software. It also keeps track of all your contact information for software and hardware developers, distributors and places of purchase, turning it into a powerful contact and Internet bookmark manager.
Version 3 is a complete rewrite of the Software & Hardware Tracker program, offering a better and simpler interface while improving on its already impressive and powerful set of features.
New in 3.1.1: - - Corrected a problem with the Product Tracker "Print Record" script. - - Corrected a problem with the demo expiration script. - - Updated the demo records.
Software & Hardware Tracker is shareware and a special registration offer is available to Evangelist subscribers:
Evangelistas can register Software & Hardware Tracker LITE for only $12, Software & Hardware Tracker for $20 and Software & Hardware Tracker PRO for $40, which is 20% off the regular prices.
To take advantage of this offer, use the following online registration forms:
IMPORTANT NOTE: DO NOT use the regular online registration forms for DXoft products, or you won't be able to enjoy your discount.
As soon as Kagi processes your payment, you'll receive an email message with your registration information.
Thanks for supporting the shareware system.
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Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1998 11:44:57 -0700 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: PR - Enigmatic Movements 1.5 Released
This announcement is from:
Jochen De Schepper, <jochen.deschepper@student.kuleuven.ac.be>
Lord Jochen from Swordlord today announced the release of Enigmatic Movements 1.5, his new puzzle game for the Mac.
The object of Enigmatic Movements is to move the colored tiles until each row or column has the same color. You can choose the boardsize between 4x4 (piece of cake) and 10x10 (very difficult). Once you get the hang of it, it's very easy to complete the board, but the real challenge is to do this in the least number of moves possible ! The game also keeps statistics of 10 different players, allows you to choose between different sets of tiles, plays background music from the Music folder, and lets you choose the background color...
What's new in version 1.5?
- - the Challenge Mode : you're challenged to complete a certain board in under a maximum number of moves. If you succeed, you get points and a new (harder) challenge...
- - background music : you can put any MOD, MADH, XM or S3M music file (or alias) in the Music folder, and listen to them during the game. There are 2 musics included!
- - there are now 2 ways of moving the tiles: - - dragging them, like in version 1.0, and - - clicking on a tile to grab it, then move it and click again to release it
- - lots of improvements, like faster drawing to make the game more responsive on slower macs
Enigmatic Movements is US$15 shareware. Users can register on-line or with the Kagi Register application.
Requirements: Enigmatic Movements should run on any Mac or compatible (68K and PowerPC native) with system 7.0 or better. Minimum RAM requirement is 1MB, preferred is 1800KB, when you're screen is set to millions of colors...
Enigmatic Movements 1.5 is now available for download at <http://www.swordlord.ch/enigmatic>, and very soon on all major Mac shareware ftp sites.
Contact information:
Jochen De Schepper <lordjochen@swordlord.ch> Support & Press Contact <lordjochen@swordlord.ch> World Wide Web <http://www.swordlord.ch/enigmatic>
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Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1998 11:45:08 -0700 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - Cutting-Edge Dance Floor Video
This tidbit is from:
Kit Pierce, <kitto@mac-addict.com>
You might like this little tidbit: Some friends of mine hosted a theme party this weekend at their house. It was a '54' party patterned after the new Mike Meyers film filled with faux drugs, real debauchery, and wall-to-wall polyester. The decor was simulated leather furniture, laser lights, and cage dancers. The mood was made nearly complete with a real live disco ball with gelled flashlights aimed at it from different points in the room. Many people worked many hours to make the simulation complete, but something was missing.
There was a television in the dance room which was going to stay off, but I decided to do something with it, so I hooked up a VCR/TV to a friend's new AV G3, turned video mirroring on, recorded 6 hours of some the more psychadelic screensavers he had installed, and put my brand new house video in the VCR downstairs and let the TV pulse away to the funky disco beat. It was that easy.
I got so many compliments on my cool video display during that party... "You did that? How did you do that?" My response:"Oh, it was nothing. I just used my Mac."
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Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1998 07:02:51 -0700 From: Guy Kawasaki <Kawasaki@garage.com> Subject: PR - "A Better Finder Rename" version 1.2 available
This announcement is from:
<reiff@comp.lancs.ac>
A BETTER FINDER RENAME
"A Better Finder Rename" is a contextual menu plugin for the Macintosh Finder which allows users to quickly rename multiple files. "A Better Finder Rename" is ideally suited for Macintosh webmasters, users who need to transfer files from or to Windows or Unix, as well as for all other Macintosh users who deal with large numbers of files.
Feature list:
* interactive/ automatic modes * numbered list creation (e.g. image1, image2, etc.) * replace anywhere in the file name * replace at the beginning of the file name * replace at the end of the file name * add at the beginning of the file name * add at the end of the file name * convert to uppercase * convert to lowercase * convert to Proper Case * reformat number (e.g. File1 -> File001) * remove characters at the beginning of the file name * remove characters at the end of the file name * examples for each mode * fully integrated with the Macintosh Finder
For more information, as well as a demonstration of ABFR, please visit:
http://www.publicspace.net/ABetterFinderRename/
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NEW IN THIS VERSION:
* creation of numbered file lists (e.g. image1, image2, image3, image4, etc. )
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SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
A PowerMacintosh with MacOS 8 or later.
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PRICING INFORMATION
US$10 for a single user license US$25 for a site license US$50 for a world-wide license
___
ABOUT FRANK REIFF SHAREWARE
Frank Reiff is a researcher at the University of Lancaster in the United Kingdom. He is also the author of the popular "PublicSpace" Macintosh groupware system and the "A Better Finder Select" Finder enhancement.
For more information on PublicSpace please visit
<http://www.publicspace.net/>
For more information on "A Better Finder Select" please visit
<http://www.publicspace.net/ABetterFinderSelect/>
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End of EvangeList Digest V1 #1285 *********************************
