Since I started writing this column, several shareware authors have asked me to take a look at their 'wares. I have not only enjoyed these correspondences for their own sake, but I've discovered some great programs that I might not have found otherwise. So, to all Mac shareware authors: send an email describing your software to brian@applewizards.net and see what develops!
 
Whole Lotto Love
 
Lotto Tracker II
Would you like to win the lottery? Sure, we all would. (Uh-oh, I'm starting to channel Sally Struthers again. Ahem.)
Lotto Tracker II attempts to predict winning lottery numbers based on a statistical analysis of past results. Additionally, LTII will convert names or words into numerical values.
With its sleek interface and intuitive controls, Lotto Tracker II is a pleasure to use even if it doesn't help you hit the jackpot. And, as they say about New York State's lottery, "Hey, you never know."
Gordon Gonsalves' Lotto Tracker II (v.1.0, Dec '97, 2328K) is $40 shareware. Visit http://www.ggonsalves.com/lotto.html and tell him the Apple Wizards shareware guy sent you!
See below for your chance to win a free registered copy of Lotto Trakcer II!
 
Magickal Mystery Tour
 
Scroll Magick
Here's another one of those insanely great ideas that makes you say "Doh! Why didn't I think of that?"
Scroll Magick by Eden Sherry (v.1.0.1, Dec '97, 134K) will forever change how you navigate your Mac. It's a control panel with two main options. Hover Scroll (my favorite) lets you scroll by moving the cursor near the edge of a window. With Grab Scroll, you can grab onto the contents of a window and pull in the direction you want to go. Those who suffer from Repetitive Stress Injuries (see the RSI feature article in the July 1997 issue of Apple Wizards) will particularly appreciate Hover Scroll, as scrolling is done by gesture rather than by clicking and holding.
This $10 shareware comes from
http://www.edenware.com/scrollmagick.html . Be kind to yourself and download it immediately.
 
That Blowed Up Real Good!
 
PC Demo
That's "demo" as in "demolition." In this fiendishly-fun multimedia extravaganza, you get to destroy several IBM-compatible computers. You can trash a Compaq Presario, IBM Aptiva, Dell Latitude or Sony PCV-240. Your implements of destruction include a shotgun, a missile, 240 whopping volts, and a microwave.
 
Here's the Presario
being shotgunned:
If this sounds childish and stupid to you...well, it is! But it's also incredibly cathartic and it gives me a guilty giggle every time.
PC Demo by Mountain Ridge Software (v.1.5, Dec '97, 2.2 MB) is freeware, available from http://www.mrdataworks.com/pcdemo.htm .
 
The 'Warehouse Trivia Contest
Beginning this month, we'll be giving away free registrations for some of the items featured in 'Warehouse. Five lucky winners will each receive a copy of Gordon Gonsalves' terrific Lotto Tracker II, a $40 value! Don't miss your chance to hit the jackpot!
To enter, send an email containing your answers to brian@applewizards.net with "Contest" in the subject line.
The 5 Apple Wizards Questions for March 1998
1) Starting with geography: in what California city was Apple founded? Hint: it wasn't Cupertino.
2) Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak aside, who else helped to found Apple?
3) Who was the originator of the Macintosh project? Hint: it wasn't Steve Jobs.
4) What key do you hold down while selecting the first item under the Apple Menu to see the picture of mountains and learn about the Finder?
5) And finally: is Bill Gates evil, or just misguided?
Some answers have been verified using fellow staffer Owen Linzmayer's The Mac Bathroom Reader at http://www.netcom.com/~owenink/bathroom.html . Thanks, Owen!
 
Join us again next month for our very special April Fool's edition of 'Warehouse, as we celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the founding of Apple Computer, Inc. See you then!
