XEarth for Mac displays shaded images of the Earth. It is based on the UNIX version of XEarth by Kirk Lauritz Johnson. I hesitate to call this a port, because I have worked a lot on converting it to the Mac and giving it new features. Still, it is freeware, and you are encouraged to copy is as long as you distribute it in its original package.
Requirements
XEarth for Mac requires a Macintosh with a FPU. That is either a Power Macintosh or an "old" Macintosh with atleast an 68020 processor and a FPU. However, an experimental non-FPU version can be downloaded from my XEarth for Mac WWW-page (see below for URL). Atleast system 7.0 or higher is required (it has only been tested with 7.5 so it may not work on older systems)
Installation instructions
XEarth for Mac consists of two parts which are both fat binaries; a system extension called XEarth INIT and the application called XEarth for Mac. The system extension is used by XEarth for Mac to draw in the Finder desktop. If you want XEarth to draw in the Finder desktop install this system extension by dragging it onto the active system folder. Important! If you have used previous versions of XEarth for Mac remove the file called “XEarth preferences” in the preferences folder.
Obtaining the source code
As of version 1.0.2, source code for XEarth for Mac will be be available on my XEarth for Mac WWW-page (see below for URL).
Version history
12/9 1996:
Version 1.0.2 released.
All known and reproduceable bugs fixed. I had to remove support (added in version 1.0.1) for Finder desktop drawing on multiple monitors because of an obscure bug. However, Finder desktop drawing doesn't work on pre 7.1.3 systems.
Can now export images to make a movie.
Balloon help added.
A preferences option controls if the setup window automatically appears when a new Earth window is opened.
Reminds user to save any changes in the setup when the window is closed or the application is qutting.
A preferences option controls if the fixed viewing position should default to the map setting.
The popup-menus in the setup dialog are sorted.
12/7 1996:
Version 1.0.1 released.
The XEarth engine has been optimized and is now 15-20 % faster.
Bugs fixed: fixed a bug which could cause random crashes. Open setup dialog now works. Finder desktop drawing should work with multiple monitors. Works correctly when the computer is waken up from sleep.
Features added: Can render in bitmaps flatter than 32 bits. Can now multitask properly. Optionally uses cities from the Map Control Panel.
Known bugs: Finder desktop drawing does not work on System 7.1
24/6 1996:
Version 1.0 released. Another complete rewrite from scratch (sigh). Changes from XEarth 1.0 UNIX now incorporated. The application should be a bit faster, especially the PowerPC-version. Finder Desktop drawing implemented.
3/10 1995:
Version 0.92 released. The program is fat, it now runs on a Power Macintosh and a Macintosh with a FPU-processor. All time is now entered/displayed in UTC. Some bugs were fixed. Save/Open setup was implemented. The error handling is a bit smarter. The program is rewritten in C++, and adding new features should be much easier.
27/4 1995:
Initial release as version 0.9.
Future ideas
better handling of errors
a nice window-manager
make it Applescriptable
exporting of QuickTime movies
a floating window which graphically controls some of the settings.
Author's address
Send comments, bug reports or whatever you like to my email address:
d2linjo@dtek.chalmers.se
Visit the XEarth for Mac page on WWW at http://www.dtek.chalmers.se/~d2linjo/mac_xearth.html
Kirk Lauritz Johnson's e-mail address is tuna@cs.colorado.edu
Refer to the "XEarth for Mac instructions" document for instructions on how to use XEarth for Mac.
