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Graphic Viewer in RealBasic is another little freeware program that provides basic image viewing and editing capabilities as well as file convesion and slide show features. 
Graphic Viewer Features:
Grpahic Viewer seems to be a good little graphics utility as far as it goes, but image manipulation capabilities are limited, and if you're looking for a freeware OS X alternative to Lemke Software's excellent $35.00 GraphicConverter or one of the commercial software graphics programs to do basic image viewing and editing, you should also check out the much more powerful Toyviewer, which I reviewed in Odysssey 397.
New in this version of Graphic Viewer:
System requirements:
Graphic Viewer is freeware
For more information, visit:
Re: One User's Migration to Mac OSX A Testimony To Frustration SS X Odyssey Mr. Chase's problems Workspaces, etc Saving state on logout (and other issues) From Jonathan Boyd Hi Charles, can't believe how long the Odyssey has been going now. Lost track of the number of useful tips I've picked up here and software recommendations I've taken, so even though the majority of this email has a somewhat negative tone, it's very much a thumbs up overall for the Odyssey :^) Finding out about the wonders of Windowshade 3 and minimising in place has been my latest joyful discovery and I can't wait to show it off when I get back to uni. Was amazed to see that when you minimise games running in windows, you can still see things moving around. The window isn't just a small snapshot, but rather a full blown window, drawn miniaturised. Amazing. Anyway, on to David Chilstrom's letter. Appealing as the idea of saving state on logout/reboot is, it actually wouldn't be feasible in the various scenarios suggested. Saving the state of the system would require saving the current contents of memory, which would be dependent on the versions of the OS and applications running. If you were restarting due to upgrades, then the version of the OS and/ore applications would be changing, so restoring the system with an old version of the OS/apps in memory would be a recipe for disaster. Similarly, if you were to save the state, then log out to clear up memory a bit, you'd revert to the previous memory state on logging back in. Also, memory leaks can only be cleared by quitting the offending program and losing its current state. Going back to the saved state would simply restore the leak! The only real benefit of saving the state is to save time on booting up after a normal, successful shut down, after no upgrading which would normally require a restart. Given the stability of X and the wonders of sleep mode, this really isn't required, though it would possibly be useful for those people who turn their computers off overnight, or if there was a thunderstorm looming. What you (and David) want really, is a system where each application allows you to save a record of which documents are open and where their windows are on screen. I don't think this is something that could easily be implemented on the OS level, but rather would have to be implemented on an application by application basis, so it's not really Apple's responsibility. On an unrelated note, I saw F Chase making a rather snide remark about Software Update not having the OS updated to version 10.2.6 automatically. Software Update can be set to check manually or automatically (daily, weekly or monthly) for updates when there is a connection available. this is possible through a very straightforward, easily accessible preference pane. You can then choose what you want downloaded and installed for you. Mr Chase appears to want Software Update to connect to the Internet by itself every day to check for updates and download them all without any input from the user. This is bad for a great many reasons. If you are on dialup, you want to keep control of when your computer connects. Downloads can be large, so the user will most definitely want to decide when and which to download. Automatic updates can be a bad thing as this is a potential security risk and you could end up with buggy software - witness the 10.2.4 battery debacle. Imagine for a moment the thought of Microsoft connecting to your computer without your consent and uploading whatever it felt like onto it. Scary, huh? Well some of their licenses actually give them the right to do this. I don't think Apple should be able to do that either. As for the printer problem, well X is relatively recent so of course there are going to be issues getting drivers for things for the first couple of years. That is a rapidly vanishing problem. In fact, it is 9 that is going to face a driver crisis as people stop making products that function with. Using 9 is merely putting off the inevitable and leaving less time to adjust to the future. One final gripe - the continued posturing about dual-booting. Support has to be written into the OS for each machine it gets installed on. While doing this for the iMac, AlBooks and last series of G4 towers wouldn't have been an engineering challenge, it still would have required resources that Apple could no doubt put to better use on the G5, possible 15" AlBook and whatever revisions of the iBook line are no doubt on their way. There are only so many people working for Apple and they need to work towards creating the future, not preserving the past. -- Jonathan Boyd
Hi Jonathan;
Gald you enjoy the Odyssey.
Your points about save to state are well-taken. I'm not a programmer, and I guess we can always dream. I appreciate your caveats about clearing memory, et al., and no doubt you're right, but we can always dream. ;-)
I do agree with your about automatic downloads, the concept of which I recoil in horror from. I never use software update, as on a 26,400 bps dialup connection it's just too cumbersome. However, even if I were on broadband I would still keep SWU disables. I like to have hands-on control over such matters. The 10.2.4 fiasco is a good case in point (although that version worked fine on my Pismo).
However, I flinch not from my contention that Apple jumped the gun on terminating dual booting with the G4s, although Jonathan's point about the DDR RAM issue below holds water, so to speak.
The testimony of F. Chase's customer posted here yesterday speaks for itself, and I can't see how Apple gains from antagonizing a substantial proportion of its heretofore loyal user base. At the very least, it should be made abundantly clear prior to sale that certain Mac models cannot boot into OS 9, and that some legacy programs and peripherals will not work with OS X.
Charles Re: One User's Migration to Mac OSX A Testimony To Frustration From Jonathan Tyzack Hi Charles, Re:
There is a very simple explanation - the iMac, the AlBooks and MDD G4's all use(d) modified motherboards to allow use of DDR RAM. So, much in the same way as it is unreasonable for Apple to update OS 9 to run on G5's, it is unreasonable to expect them to waste time, effort and man-hours getting OS 9 to run on what are effectively new mobo architectures. In response to the growing pains with the OS X migration, I think it is fair of me to say (based on bitter experience with my G85 all-in-one printer and the HP Colour LaserJet 4550 we have at work) that HP seem completely incapable of producing anything remotely like half-decent drivers for OS X (or the Classic environment) and "legacy" printers. The single best thing Apple did with Jaguar was adopt the CUPS architecture... doesn't help for Classic, but does wonders for HP printers in OS X when you install the open source developed drivers.
Cheers,
HI Jonathan;
OK. Uncle. The DDR RAM issue, which I hadn't thought of before in this context, may indeed constitute that "compelling enough reason."
Thanks for pointing that out and for the printer info.
Charles
From Joseph Marceny Dear Charles, The other night I had a dream. It went thus: I was in a log cabin in northern Quebec (not Nova Scotia), being used by the Hudson Bay company in 1842 as a trading post. I went into the back room where there was a Scottish bookkeeper named Angus Moore sitting there with eyeshades, rolled-up sleeves held with elastic bands and a very conservative scowl on his face. He kept shouting at me: "We will never abandon OS 9! - We will try OS X in 1852!" One of your relatives? From someone who really enjoys your writing, Joseph
Hi Joseph;
You need to cut down on the spice in those bedtime snacks! ;-)
Anyhoooo..... I haven't used OS 9 for production work for nearly half a year, and not full time for nearly twice that long. I do use OS 8.6 every day on my PowerBook 1400 though.
Still, I like to have OS 9 there, and I run Classic Mode continuously.
Glad you enjoy my scribbling.
Charles
From Joseph Ballo
Perhaps the problem is that Mr Chase should not have clients. Someone who purports to be so technically adroit so as to actually SELL his services to people ought to have a level of understanding about what he is selling so as to not be an embarrassment in print when he writes about it. In NO way shape or form is the Classic environment an emulation. The programs run in native ppc mode. All Classic is, as well you know, is simply a 'guest' OS running as a UNIX process on the underlying Darwin core. Have Mr Chase stand up in class and write on the blackboard, "Classic is NOT an emulation. Classic is ... ..." until he runs out of room. I have an acquaintance who was, at one time, an Apple VAR who, because of an unfortunate combination of laziness, obtuseness and sheer plain cusedness has retired from his business because OS X is not 'good enough' for his clients. When he was complaining about the last of support for 'high-end' printers in OS X I asked him about support under CUPS. "What is CUPS", Ron asked. End of conversation. He didn't know and he didn't care and he didn't care that he didn't know. He has since bought a Dell and goes about badmouthing Apple and spouting nonsense. "Surfing is MUCH faster" on a PC, etc etc. drjoe
Hi Dr. Joe;
You are technically correct, but referring to Classic Mode as "emulation" a very common terminological error. Just run a Google search for Classic Mode + emulation and you'll see what I mean. EG:
Charles
From Geoff Saulnier Even better is a piece of software that I cannot recommend highly enough:
CodeTek's Virtual Desktop - see it at
Enjoy!
Thanks for the report, Geoff. I've been meaning to check that one out.
Charles
The OS X Odyssey archives may be accessed here: Note: Letters to Moore's Mailbag may or may not be published at the editor's discretion. Correspondents' email addresses will NOT be published unless the correspondent specifically requests publication. Letters may be edited for length and/or context. Opinions expressed in postings to Moore's MailBag are those of the respective correspondents and not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Editor and/or Applelinks management. If you would prefer that your message not appear in Moore's Mailbag, we would still like to hear from you. Just clearly mark your message "NOT FOR PUBLICATION," and it will not be published. CM
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