This software may be re-posted as long as this file is included.
What is MandelTV?
MandelTV is simply the fastest high-resolution color Macintosh Mandelbrot generator there is. MandelTV's speed is due not only to accessing the floating point co-processor directly, but also to an innovative Mandelbrot optimization algorithm developed by Abbott Systems.
If you enjoy MandelTV you will be interested to know that the full source code of MandelTV is available for only $99.95. You get complete source code for the user interface, the Mandelbrot algorithm, plus the special optimization algorithm which gives MandelTV its speed. All code is in Think C 4.0, except the Mandelbrot algorithm, which is implemented in optimized 68000/68881 assembler. And all code comes with support from our engineers! You can use it as a teaching or research tool, or as the basis for your own products. Or convert it to run on other computers!
To order by phone: call 800-552-9157 or 914-747-3116. To order by fax: send your order to fax# 914-747-9115, just give us your name, address, tel# and visa or m/c# with exp date. To order by mail: mail your order, with payment or credit card# to: Abbott Systems Inc., 62 Mountain Rd., Pleasantville, NY 10570.
Required System Configuration:
MandelTV requires a Macintosh with Color QuickDraw in ROM and a floating point co-processor. As of this writing this includes the Mac II, IIx, IIcx, IIci, IIfx, SE30. MandelTV will work on the Mac IIsi and the LC as long as an FPU is installed.
Recommended System Configuration:
8-bit (256 color) video is definitely recommended. 32-Bit QuickDraw (the disk version or the ROM version) is also recommended (but not required). MandelTV works fine with 24-bit (millions of colors) video boards. MandelTV also uses a fair amount of memory, so a 2 megabyte system is recommended. Also, be aware that the larger the MandelTV window is, the more memory is required.
How To Install:
MandelTV is a desk accessory and should be installed by using Font/DA Mover. See the Font/DA Mover documentation for installation.
How To Use it:
The easiest way to use this description of the MandelTV window is to select MandelTV from the Apple menu and look at the window as you read this.
When MandelTV first opens, it draws the Mandelbrot set in its "Home" position so that the whole set may be viewed. To zoom in on a part of the set, use the mouse to drag select an area to magnify. Letting go of the mouse will cause the MandelTV to recalculate the set at the new magnification. If, while you are dragging the mouse, you wish to cancel the magnification, hold down the option key and release on the mouse button.
MandelTV uses a custom window. Starting from the upper-left corner it is as follows:
Close box: This works just like the standard Apple close box.
Menu box: When this box is clicked in, the MandelTV menu drops down. This menu is described below.
Minimize Box: When this box is clicked in, the MandelTV window will shrink down to its iconic state. To return it to normal size, click the Minimize box again.
Zoom Box: This works just like the standard Apple zoom box. If there is not enough memory to zoom the window, MandelTV will tell you.
MandelTV uses "Icon Buttons" for it's various functions. Starting from the "Stop Calculating" button (the one that looks like a stop sign) and moving across:
Stop Calculating: Stops or pauses the calculation of the current image.
Resume Calculating: Begins a new calculation or the resumes the old calculation.
Rainbow Palette: Sets the current color palette to a smooth rainbow ramp.
Rainbow Dark/Light Palette: Sets the current color palette to a rainbow ramp with dark and light stripes.
Black and White Palette: Sets the current palette to all black and white. Use this on a black and white monitor.
Random Palette: Set the current color palette to a random assortment of colors.
Animate Away From Center: Animates the current color palette outward from the center (color table animation is discussed below). This option will be grayed out if animation is not possible.
Animate Towards Center: Animates the current color palette toward the center. This option will be grayed out if animation is not possible.
On the bottom row we have:
Number Of Iterations Control: This controls how detailed the Mandelbrot set is. The higher the number, the more detailed (and the slower) it is. The lower the number, the less detailed (and the faster) it is. The up and down arrows may be used to raise and lower this number or a number can be typed in as well.
Saved View Controls: MandelTV can save up to 20 of your favorite views of the Mandelbrot set and can recall them for you. The way this works is: Get to a favorite part of the set by using the mouse to zoom in on the set manually. When you are at a place that you would like to save, click the View Save Button (the one that looks like a box with a cross in it). The Mandelbrot view area will invert 3 times to show that the save has occurred. Name the view by typing in a name in the View Name area. To recall the view: Use the up and down arrows to get to the name of the view you would like to see and press the Show View button (the one that looks like a box with concentric boxes inside of it) and your saved view will begin calculating. This button will be grayed out if no view has been saved yet at that position. The saved views also store the iteration count and the color palette for your view.
MandelTV has a grow box in the lower right hand corner to allow resizing of the window. If there is not enough memory to grow the window, MandelTV will tell you.
The MandelTV Menu contains the following:
About MandelTV: Shows the credits.
Home: Resets the coordinates of the Mandelbrot set so that the whole set may be viewed.
Go Back: Allows you to retrace your steps to an earlier view.
Save As PICT: Will save the current view of the set as a PICT file.
Page Setup: Standard Apple Page Setup.
Print: Prints the current view of the set.
Reset Default Colors: Certain Mac applications don't like having the system palette changed and may not reset the proper palette when MandelTV exits. Checking this option forces MandelTV to reset the default system colors when it goes away.
Animation Black Out: With this option checked the color table animation (see below) will black out the entire screen except for the animation. This is so no screen images will burn into the monitor if the animation is left on for a couple of days.
Background calculate: With this option checked, MandelTV will take small pauses during re-calculation to let the system have some time. This option does slow down re-calculation slightly. With this option off, MandelTV takes over the Mac until the current view is done calculating.
Color Table Animation:
Color table animation uses the video hardware to rotate the colors in the current color palette instantly. Because this option requires a fair number of colors to look good, color table animation is only supported when the monitor is in 8-bit (256 color) mode. Color table animation is not supported when the monitor is in 16-bit or 32-bit true color modes. In order to speed up or slow down the rate of the animation, use the up and down arrow keys. To end the animation, either click the "Stop Calculating" button (described above) or type a period with the command key held down. If you are using the "Animation Black Out" option, hitting any key or clicking the mouse anywhere will end the animation.
