BeView Screens is a (small) collection of Startupscreens that complement the BeView system extension.
This package contains:
- a 'Read Me' file
- a 'StartupScreens' folder: 2 startupscreens & 1 ResEdit resource.
This package complements BeViewXtras which is also available at the Info-Mac archives. It contains the latest Be Icons and Hand Pointer system extensions.
How do I use the StartupScreens?
Firstly, rename the StartupScreen you want to use. It must be called "StartupScreen". It can be dropped into your System folder. The next time you restart your Mac it'll appear.
The StartupScreens folder contains 2 Startupscreens which are very similar. StartupScreen #1 is the plainest of the two. StartupScreen #2 is 640x480 pixels, with the graphic sitting in a BeView window on a blue background. The StartupScreens folder also contains a system resource of the graphic which can be pasted into your System file (to permanently replace the standard Mac Startupscreen).
Be manafactures computers called a BeBox™ and an entirely new operating system called the BeOS™ . Some of the features of a BeBox include 2 or more PowerPC™ chips; and more input/output (IO) ports than usual, including a multipurpose GeekPort™. The BeBox provides the hardware foundation for an operating system called the BeOS. Some of the features of the BeOS are a new interface, symmetric multiprocessing (2 or more PowerPC chips working together to process the same tasks) and pre-emptive multitasking (where the OS does several things at once - don't confuse this with the slower 'cooperative multitasking' used in the System 7.x and in Windows 3.1).
Visit the Be web site at <http://www.be.com/> to find out more. While your there, check out the mailing lists on offer. The regular Newsletter offerred on the BeInfo mailing list is excellent. Goto <http://www.be.com/aboutbe.mailinglists.html>.
Be announced in August 1996 that they would be releasing the BeOS for Macintosh. A pre-release version of the BeOS for Macintosh was demonstrated at MacWorld Boston in August 1996 using PowerComputing clones. A commercial version of the BeOS for Macintosh is expected in the first quarter of 1997.
The BeOS and it's icons
The BeBox icons can be used as Mac hard drive icons. However, this won't result in a truly authentic BeOS desktop. This is because the BeOS uses an icon to represent it's Box (this is the 'BeBox (DR8) icon' in the the 'Be™ Icons' folder). On a real BeBox, the BeBox icon contains further icons representing hard drives, CD drives, floppy drives or whatever's inside the Box. Printers and other devices are graphically represented, but are shown at the same level as the BeBox icon. This gives users a graphical representation of what's internal or external to their BeBox. Contrast this with your Mac - there is no icon for your box. Hard drives, printers, etc are all represented graphically, but they do not indicate their physical location.
How did I create these Xtras?
I didn't actually create any of these resources. So I'm not claiming ownership, copyright or any fee. The StartupScreen graphic was created by Mark H. Delfs of DelfsGrafix. (Thanks for the cool image, Mark). Check out Mark's resume at <http://www.geocities.com/soho/3806 or the DelfsGrafix page at <http://members.aol.com/delfsgrafx>.
Ideas for future versions
If you have any Be related Startupscreens, desktop patterns, sounds, Quicktime, etc that you'd like to see in the package, email them to me at the address below or send me an URL.
The legal stuff
I claim no fee or payment for "BeView Xtras". The copyright and ownership for each item that comprises "BeView Xtras" remains with its author. I make no warranties, either express or implied, regarding the fitness of "BeView Xtras" for any purpose. Use "BeView Xtras" at your own risk. I claim no liability for data loss or any other problem(s) caused directly or indirectly by "BeView Xtras".
Icons and Graphics Copyright 1996 Be, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Be, BeOS, the Be logo, BeBox and GeekPort are trademarks of Be, Inc. All rights reserved.
All other trademarks belong to their respective owners. All rights reserved.