Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.1 or later
OS X wouldn’t be complete if code-gifted tweakers didn’t hack into it and present you with something cooler, different, more efficient, or just plain fun. Such is the case with Application Enhancer (APE)—a system that allows you to plug in third-party modules to enhance or refine certain behaviors of your apps. Check out the Dock Detox module (on this disc) if you’re sick of watching your app icons bounce around in the Dock, or ClearDock (on the disc) to have your Docked apps appear to float on your desktop. And if you miss OS 9’s Appearance Sounds, install Xounds (also on this disc) to hear your soundsets once again. Check out Unsanity’s Web site for more ultra-cool modules.
ASM 2.1b4—Shareware
Frank Vercruesse, frank@vercruesse.de, http://asm.vercruesse.de/
Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.1 or later
Do you lurk in the Mac OS X jungle but find yourself missing some of the features found only in prior versions of the OS? If one of your fond memories involves the now absent application switcher menu, listen up. ASM (aka Application Switcher Menu) is a small, handy utility that adds a System-wide switcher menu, listing all of your open apps, to the right side of the OS X menu bar. Hooray!
Brushed 3.1—Freeware
Max Rudberg, http://homepage.mac.com/max_08/
Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.2-10.2.8, ThemeChanger, Metallifizer
Change the look of your OS X windows, menus, menubar, controls, and more with this brushed metal theme. This theme package also includes icons, desktop pictures, and Dock skins to complete your matching desk set.
Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.1 or later
Looking to do a little desktop makeover? This waaay cool app makes it easy to swap out OS X icons, including toolbar and system icons, and even the Finder and Trash. It features an easy-to-use, drag-and-drop interface, and comes with a few preset icons that makes it easy to change the “Home” icon from an iMac to whatever Mac you have.
Classic Platinum 1.2.4—Freeware
Max Rudberg, http://homepage.mac.com/max_08/
Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.2-10.2.8, ThemeChanger
Change the look of your OS X windows, menus, menubar, controls, and more with this Mac OS 9-like Platinum appearance theme. This theme package also includes icons and desktop pictures to complete your matching desk set.
Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.1 or later, Application Enhancer 1.2 or later
Like interface tweaks? You’ve no doubt read about how to turn the Dock’s background transparent using the Terminal, but if Darwin leaves you shaking in your sneakers, this nifty little haxie will do the job for you—pain-free. ClearDock not only allows you to remove the Dock background, you can opt to leave it where it is and alter the color instead.
Default Folder X 1.9f1—Shareware
St. Clair Software, support@stclairsoft.com, http://www.stclairsoft.com/
Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.1.2 or later
This handy program lets you to designate specific folders to open automatically when you are saving or opening a file, which can be helpful if you store documents in a variety of places.
Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.1.3 or later
Navigating through a sea of folders to get to your apps can get pretty tiring if you’ve got a slew of sandwiched folders. Rather than throw all of your icons in your already cluttered Dock, this nifty app allows you to organize items on the Dock for easy access via custom menus and hotkeys. Total customization lets you put things away but still where you can easily get to them.
Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.1 or later
Be sure that you pee first before watching this screen saver. Fluid is a realtime, fluid-dynamics model and rendering engine that creates a flowing liquid effect on your screen. Using OpenGL, the app displays imagery that can be controlled (via preferences) to change colors, rendering styles, resolution, and more.
Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.1 or later
Just like going to a fancy restaurant, you don’t always have to order what’s printed on the menu—especially if you install this little OS X hack. FruitMenu lets you customize OS X menus, including contextual ones, the way you want. Add folders and files to menus; assign hot keys to files, folders, or tasks; access your user System Preferences from a submenu; open any file in an app of your choice from a contextual menu; set your desktop pic in a click; and a whole lot more.
Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.1 or later
Bring back colored folders and files to your Mac desktop with this cool tool. If you miss being able to flag pertinent icons with a color scheme, Labels X brings this function to the OS X desktop. Plus, any file or folder you label in OS X will carry its coloring over to OS 9, too.
Mac OS XP 2.1—Freeware
Max Rudberg, http://homepage.mac.com/max_08/
Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.2-10.2.8, ThemeChanger
Change the look of your OS X windows, menus, menubar, controls, and more with this port of Windows XP’s Luna, Silver, and Homestead appearances. This theme package also includes icons, desktop pictures, and Dock skins to complete your matching desk set.
Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.2 or later
Like or don’t like the brushed metal appearance in Safari, QuickTime, iTunes, and other OS X apps? This cool little haxie allows you to add or remove the brushed metal appearance from your Cocoa apps.
QuicKeys X2 2.0.1—Demo
CE Software, Voice 515-221-1801, CE_Support@cesoft.com, http://www.cesoft.com/
Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.2.3 or later
This keyboard shortcut application lets you record system-wide or application-specific keystrokes that can be recalled with a simple keyboard shortcut to help banish all those repetitive actions you do on your Mac every day.
SS Power Metal 1.0—Freeware
Swizcore Studio, http://swizcore.com/SS/
Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X
Change the look of your OS X interface with this cool metal (not brushed!) appearance theme pack. Power Metal changes the look of your Finder windows, menus, menubar, controls, buttons, and more.
SS SimpleX—Freeware
Swizcore Studio, http://swizcore.com/SS/
Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X
Change the look of your OS X interface with this cool blue and white appearance theme pack. SimpleX changes the look of your Finder windows, menus, menubar, controls, buttons, and more.
Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.2 or later
WindowShade X brings back the ability to double-click the title bar and minimize it to a tiny strip—a feature Apple rudely cut out when it moved to Mac OS X.
