EvangeList Digest Tuesday, June 2 1998 Volume 01 : Number 1200
In this issue:
Tidbit - PS4bench - Cross-Platform Photoshop Benchmark PR - More, Free Discover 4D Seminars Dates Added PR - New Releases from Infinity Solutions Tidbit & ?? - PowerBooks Get Good Write up in SE Asia ?? - Videoconferencing Job - Macintosh Programmer (Los Angeles Area) Tidbit - Turning The Mac Into The Ultimate Corporate Client PR - "I Don't Do Manuals" CD-ROM for HyperStudio PR - DockZone 1.0.6 Update Tidbit - Gistics ROI Report Online Tidbit - 10 y/o Has Her Own Mac Based Business... PR - Apple at Apple Corps. of Dallas 6/20 PR - Tracer 1.0 Morphing Animator for Quicktime Movies
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A new Cross Platform Photoshop Benchmark is now available.
After seeing a few of these action benchmarks floating around, I decided to put together a comprehensive photoshop action benchmark.
My intentions are to create a benchmark that will reliably indicate the performance advantages of operating system, memory system, and processor for photoshop users. By posting the results, photoshop users will be able to determine which systems are best for them and whether or not upgrades are warranted as new hardware becomes available. For more information, visit:
<http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Cafe/4363>
The benchmark is currently designed for use with Photoshop v4.0.
Please note that my approach is a bit different than the actions you may have seen floating around. Those of you that are familiar with timing in photoshop should have no trouble going through the action. Those of you that are unfamiliar with actions entirely, may need to play with it a bit. In order to keep video card performance from influencing the results, the refresh time will not be included in the results. Feel free to submit any questions, comments or suggestions to me.
Also, the action works flawlessly, but is still in "beta" form. Some user interface issues may need to be worked through. Again, you comments and suggestions are welcome.
If you're not familiar with the award winning 4th Dimension development environment, you have a unique opportunity to learn about this industry proven technology. Attend one of the free seminars listed below. We look forward to introducing you to the hottest development tool on the market.
Call 1-800-881-3466 today to reserve a spot or Use one of links that follow, and visit our web site for more information.
June 8, 1998 - Chicago, IL <http://www.acius.com/Pages/GUI/ACI_US/English/News/OnTour.html#Discover 4D3>
June 15, 1998 - New York, NY <http://www.acius.com/Pages/GUI/ACI_US/English/News/OnTour.html#Discover 4D4>
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Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 12:14:16 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: PR - New Releases from Infinity Solutions
This announcement is from:
Mike Solomon, <mas63@cornell.edu>
Infinity Solutions is a Mac shareware development house committed to exploiting the virtues of the Mac.
We have just released CGI Assimilator 1.4, a code library for use with Metrowerks CodeWarrior which allows Unix/NT CGI scripts to be ported to the Mac effortlessly. It allows CGI's to be written quickly and easily for use with web servers like WebSTAR, 4D Web Server, Quid Pro Quo, NetPresentz and others. Version 1.4 offers compatability with the lastest release of CodeWarrior and offers increased speed and high load reliability.
In addition, we have also released public beta versions of our new backup utility, Onyx and our address book utility, Black Book. Both products are designed to be fast, simple and reliable.
For more information, please visit our new web site at:
<http://infinitysolutions.ml.org/www/>
Thanks!
Mike Solomon
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Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 12:14:15 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit & ?? - PowerBooks Get Good Write up in SE Asia
Martin Stephens, <martins@loxinfo.co.th>
An article in the May 15 - 17 issue of the Asia Magazine (distributed alternate Sundays in English language news papers throughout South East Asia, with a claimed readership of 791,000) has an article on notebook computers.
The PowerBook 3400c 240 gets a mention as a mid price best buy along with several Windoze machines. They will cover high end laptops in their June 5 - 7 issue. There is also a good article on the FBI deciding to go exclusively with G3 PowerBooks. Reasons stated for the decision include:-
Ability to run several different OS environments, even at the same time. Robust UNIX development with Tenon. Hot-swappable drive bay. Good battery life.
Acceptable unit heat (the IBM ThinkPad was too hot to use on a lap for long periods. :-)
Which proves what we all knew - Apple Macs are the coolest computers out there. ;-)
If I can slip in a quick plea for help at the end here... Does anyone else use Macs in the offshore oil industry? Do you know of commercial or shareware software for oilfield engineering calculations, geological strip logs or wireline log analysis? If I could find some information on this I know I can convert some very frustrated Windoze users.
If you can help, please email me at <martins@loxinfo.co.th>. I'll post a summary if anything turns up.
Thanks in advance.
Martin Stephens Loei Thailand
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Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 12:14:15 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: ?? - Videoconferencing
This request is from:
Chris Smith, <chris@astro.lsa.umich.edu>
The recent posting by "jonro" about videoconferencing on the Mac finally motivated me to write the query I've been planning to write to Evangelistas for a long time now.
*** What is the best videoconferencing hardware and software available for the Mac?
I'm moving out of the country, and would like to actually SEE my family once in a while. My father has a Mac, and my sisters have PCs (I haven't worked on them hard enough!), so the best solution should be cross-platform.
Some of the specific sub-questions I have are..
- - what is the minimal Mac needed? - - what is the minimal net connection speed needed?
Thanks in advance! I'll post a summary of the results after I work my way through the responses.
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Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 12:14:16 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Job - Macintosh Programmer (Los Angeles Area)
This job announcement is from:
Kristine Sato, <KSato@education.com>
Knowledge Adventure, a leader in children's educational software, is looking for a Macintosh programmer for systems work. The successful candidate will be enhancing the animation and audio features in addition to developing new technologies for our multimedia engine. 4++ years experience with Mac compilers, debuggers, profilers, and Mac Toolbox. Mail or FAX resume to:
HR/Mac Programmer, 19840 Pioneer Ave. Torrance, CA 90503
FAX 310-793-0601; Voice > 310-793-0600 x1864; or email Bob Dietz at <bdietz@education.com>.
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Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 12:14:17 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - Turning The Mac Into The Ultimate Corporate Client
This tidbit is from:
Applelinks.com, <webmaster@applelinks.com>
In order to sell to the corporate world, Apple needs to deliver a machine that makes sense to corporate users. This week Paul Shields will take a look at the key functions and features that need to be added to the Mac OS in order to make it the ultimate corporate client.
The URL is: <http://applelinks.pair.com/editorials/corpclient.shtml>
Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 12:14:18 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: PR - "I Don't Do Manuals" CD-ROM for HyperStudio
This announcement is from:
Chris Carey, <careyc@ocps.k12.fl.us>
Have you ever been trying to finish up a HyperStudio project and wanted to add a new feature you know is there but can't find it? Have you ever been working in the middle of the night or on the weekend and there is no one to call for help?
The "New" I don't do manuals guide to HyperStudio CD-ROM is for you. The new "nomanuals" is updated for 3.1 HyperStudio on both theMacintosh and that other platform. The CD-ROM includes over 100 movies embedded in HyperStudio stacks explaining all the basic HyperStudio functions. It also includes tips on special topics including:
A tutorial showing how to create QuickTime virtual reality objects for HyperStudio projects; Netpage New Button Action links to interesting HyperStudio related Web sites; Templates for rolling credits in school news programs; An alphabetical hypertext linked menu of all the individual movies by multiple subject headings; A Dazzle menu containing links to tips and tricks on how to perform a variety of tasks in HyperStudio; A menu by menu section. Just click on a menu item and you will get a movie showing you how to use the feature selected.
The "New" I don't do manuals guide to HyperStudio can be purchased from the HyperStudio Network at <http://www.hsnetwork.com> $25
For more information contact <EdStudio@aol.com> Educational Design Studio, Inc. is a non-profit group that helps teachers bring to publication ideas they have that might help educate others.
Chris Carey, Multimedia Teacher Instructional Technology Services Orange County Public Schools 445 West Amelia Street ELC 5 Orlando, FL 32801 <careyc@ocps.k12.fl.us>
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Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 12:14:17 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: PR - DockZone 1.0.6 Update
This announcement is from:
Harry Alloul, <objectivesw@kagi.com>
Objective Software announces the maintenance release of DockZone 1.0.6.
* Version 1.0.6 (98/05/24)
- - added the possibility to change the bevel size for the Dock border (from 1 to 6 pixels), - - added the possibility to choose between 3 types of background for the Dock: either full color, or utility pattern (i.e. the pattern used for instance by the Find File application), or gradient (wow, you should see that!) - - this last feature is only available when your screen displays color in 24 bits.
DockZone delimits an area on the right side of your main screen, where the volumes and the trash are usually located, giving your Desktop a BeOS or Rhapsody look. The control panel lets you customize the dock colors and its width.
Support: <mailto:objectivesw@kagi.com> Author: Harry Alloul Price: $10 (shareware, see docs for more info) Register: <http://order.kagi.com/?HL&S> Info: <http://www.planete.net/~objectiv/>
Have Fun!
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Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 12:14:18 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - Gistics ROI Report Online
Keyword: Advocacy, Why Macs Are Better
This tidbit is from:
Jan Borchers, <jan@tk.uni-linz.ac.at>
If you need facts 'n' figures to fight for the Mac:
The often-quoted Return-On-Investment report from Gistics is freely available as stuffed PDF at <http://borchers.informatik.uni-ulm.de/>. For the EvangeList, I checked back with Michael Moon, GISTICS president, who encouraged me to, "by all means, distribute it far and wide" - so here we go!
The study examined 10000+ media-producing firms in 1997. Some findings:
- - A Mac-using creative professional produces $26,441 more annual revenue and $14,488 more net profit than a comparable Windows user.
- -> Mac-based studios achieve payback on a new platform in 4.59 months. (NT: 12.58 months.)
- -> Deployment of Macintosh technology constitutes a fiduciary responsibility. (I like that one!)
- - Per year, a Mac user spends 234 more hours authoring/working (while the Windows user is "futzing around with Soviet technology", as Michael put it at his Milia'98 presentation in Cannes recently... :-)
This is the full 40-page report as PDF, including even an FAQ for questions like "What happens if a studio replaces Macs with Wintel platforms?"
This is excellent ammunition. Go EvangeListas!
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Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 12:14:16 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - 10 y/o Has Her Own Mac Based Business...
Keyword: Advocacy, Why Macs Are Better
This tidbit is from:
Jackie J. Cecil, <cecilj@www.valuu.net>
Her friends, community, and media call my daughter Alex "Mac" because of her Mac's. She started printing colored return address labels and business cards when she was 7 y/o. Her most favorite client is "Enos" of "The Dukes of Hazard".
She quickly enlisted her friends and schoolmates as salespeople supplying them with order sheets and copies of the graphics she offered. She goes to school with a plenty of quarters to pay the commissions for all "prepaid" orders. She charges $2/sheet of 30 labels and pays a 50 cents commission. She prints for the teachers too.
The PC world might be hard pressed to match this and the fact that she is developing, www.AlexMac.com, a "Young Entrepreneurs' Web Community" and a local attorney has donated his services to help her form a non-profit organization to address enviromental issues and political reform. She thinks it's pretty important to have a planet left to live on. She is asking for names for the non-profit. "Camelot" is her favorite so far.
So far she has: CBS News, WCTV-6, Tallahassee,Fl. NBC News, WALB-10, Albany, Ga. Warner Bros.'s "The Internet Connection Show" Frontpage of "The Valdosta Daily Times" Women of the Past,Present, & Future on <http://www.GirlTech.Com> <http://www.girltech.com/HTMLworksheets/GW_sistory6.html#anchor2147357> "Featured Guest" on MacMom's <http://MacMom.Com/meetguests.htm> Hawaii: <http://MacMouse.Com/Alex>
Now, this is "Thinking Different" ! __________________________ Digital Guy Sez:
Sheesh, this kid's already got more exposure than I have. Kudos! :-)
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Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 02:06:15 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: PR - Apple at Apple Corps. of Dallas 6/20
This announcement is from:
Joy Tinch <joy_tinch@acd.org>
The Apple Corps. of Dallas is very pleased to be celebrating *20 years* of providing ongoing support to Apple ][ and Macintosh users! The 20th Anniversary of this User Group is scheduled for Sat., June 20th, 1998. Please join us at the InfoMart in Dallas,TX [A map is available on our web page, or directions provided via email if you need them.] in the Auditorium at 10am.
Apple Computer is bringing it's Road Show to help us celebrate. It's sure to be a party! We have requested that Apple bring an iMac to show. They have not "promised" to, but have said they will certainly try. Here's hoping...! If you're in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area you should make the effort to come see for yourself.
The Apple Corps. of Dallas provides month-round computing support via it's BBS and "Will Work for Food" volunteers. Monthly meetings also feature Special Interest Groups [suspended for June because of this celebration]. Please check us out on the Web at <http://www.acd.org>. Or call our "hot line" at DFWmetro 817-355-0797.
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Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 02:06:17 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: PR - Tracer 1.0 Morphing Animator for Quicktime Movies
Keyword: Market by market, Multimedia
This announcement is from:
Andrew Pritchard, <andy.pritchard@lineone.net>
Mac first, Mac Only Software.
I'm wondering whether there are any Evangelists who like to be early adopters of my new Animation/Morphing Software for Quicktime Animation Development. Press Release as follows:
Tracer 1.0
Speed development of QuickTime Animation using Tracer from Etchelon Software
Trace key frames from existing pictures or movies. Morph the frame to provide in-betweening. Output the frames and overlay onto backgrounds to create animated QuickTime movies. Produce overlays onto existing Quicktime Movies.
Develop animation quickly.
Useful for presentations, games, computer based training, education, ebooks, multi-media in general.
Features: Variety of drawing tools. Outline graphic or filled shape animation. Drag and drop morph sequencing. Animated Introduction.
Its easy to use: "After 5 minutes, I morphed a triangle to a square, all without reading any documentation"
Registration fee is $15 (Twenty US dollars) (or 10 UK sterling). Easy payment through via Kagi.
Technical support and queries to: <etchelon@kagi.com> Software tested on MacOS 7.5.5, 8.0 and 8.1. Suitable for 68nnnn and PowerPC. It should run on any System 7 Colour Mac.
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End of EvangeList Digest V1 #1200 *********************************