Loving Litho and strung out on CandyBar
Panic Software's CandyBar has only been out for a few weeks, maybe a month, and I have to say I'm hooked. I love being able to give my System icons a new look. I have even moved my Leopard Dock from... [read more at MacMerc.com]
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Take a CandyBar 3 video tour
Filed under: Cool tools, Tips and tricks, Odds and ends, LeopardIf you've ever used CandyBar before, you probably already grabbed version 3 when it was released the other day. But just in case you haven't seen it in action, Ged put together this great screencast of just how easy it makes controlling the look of your icons and Dock. I especially love the icons inside the iContainers in Quick Look-- such a neat, useful touch that's only possible in Leopard.CandyBar, I think, is one of those apps that sounds like you'll never use it when you just read the text (because how often do you change your system icons, really), but once you see just how amazing it is, you can tell it's one of those reasons we're so proud to be Mac owners. I know, I sound like an infomercial, but look at that app! CandyBar 3 is available as a free 15-day/250-icon limit trial, or for the purchase price of $29.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Agua Leopard Folders... so refreshing
At the risk of becoming a Mac icon news site, I thought I'd let you know that the Iconfactory's David Lanham has expanded his crisp, clean Agua icon series with the release of Agua Leopard Folders. CandyBar users are going to love this system replacement set and how it improves the overall look of the Finder--especially when using Cover Flow. [read more at MacMerc.com]
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Hidden Gems In Leopard:Â OpenSnoop
I have a confession to make: I have not always been a Mac person. For the period of time between the retirement of System 9 and Panther (yes, it took Apple showing a real commitment to Unix for me to give them a shot again), I abandoned our fine operating system for greener pastures, well, green screen at least. Work drove me into Windows (as it has for about 90% of the workers out there) but my real outlet was anything Linux, BSD or Solaris-related. There was nary a distro that did not cross my hard drive (virtual or otherwise) and I was very happy programming, scripting and living life on the command line, with an occasional, lingering trip into X11 when necessary. OS X changed all that, since Apple managed to make Unix look very good while keeping all of the real power that lies beneath the GUI.Now, one may be able to argue the aesthetics of  Leopard (hey, Panic should be happy, it took Leopard to finally drive me into purchasing CandyBar), but none can dispute the gems that await those who dare to invoke the Terminal, and I'll be taking the opportunity over some of the coming posts to dwell on the nuggets that bear a deeper look. For those that are not as comfortable with the more textual side of their systems, I'll be making these trips as painless as possible (you may not need to delve into the Utilities folder to find the Terminal icon at all). The first stop is a little utility called opensnoop. Leopard ships with something called DTrace that gives developers and administrators the ability to take a peek at what all running code is doing in a flexible and dynamic way. Giving DTrace the coverage it deserves is beyond a simple blog post, but there are some smaller utilities - like opensnoop - that take advantage of the power of DTrace, but on a more targeted scale which are worthy of a minor exposition.The main purpose of the opensnoop utility is to provide a report of file opens as they occur. Curious as to what really happens when Safari opens a web page? Want to see what files are accessed from that latest program you downloaded? You can find the answers with opensnoop. If you can get to a terminal prompt, the simplest way to see what this utility does is to just type: sudo opensnoop Non-Terminal folks can just run the OpenSnoop.app application from the OpenSnoop App Archive (354KB ZIP file). (Either way, you'll be asked to enter your password since opensnoop requires higher-level privileges to run.) Output will look something like the following, though your listing contents should be very different: UID PID COMM FD PATH 501 286 SystemUIServer 17 /System/Library/CoreServices/Menu Extras/Spaces.menu/Contents/Resources/SpacesBackground.pdf 501 218 Finder 11 /.vol/234881026/571978 501 286 SystemUIServer 17 /System/Library/CoreServices/Menu Extras/Spaces.menu/Contents/Resources/SpacesBackground.pdf 501 286 SystemUIServer 17 /System/Library/CoreServices/Menu Extras/Spaces.menu/Contents/Resources/SpacesBackground.pdf 0 110 WindowServer 4 /var/log/windowserver.log 0 110 WindowServer 4 /var/log/windowserver.log 501 286 SystemUIServer 17 /System/Library/CoreServices/Menu Extras/Spaces.menu/Contents/Resources/SpacesBackground.pdf For each line: UID is the numerical ID of the owner of program that has the file opened. PID is the process ID of the program that has the file open COMM is the actual name of the process (this is something we care about) FD is the numerical file descriptor (ID) of the file being accessed PATH is the full OS X path to the file being accessed (this is also something we care about) The sample output is what occurred when I switched to/from Spaces 1 & 3. Just that simple case shows how interesting opensnoop can be since we see that the SystemUIServer and WindowServer were both invoked when I worked just a little bit with Spaces and that SpacesBackground.pdf was loaded from one of the Spaces app bundles. While this is useful in-and-of itself, we can use opensnoop for more targeted and detailed inspection. The following command: sudo opensnoop -avgn Safari (Non-Terminal users can run the SnoopSafari.app from the archive) Produces the following output when I tell it to go to google.com: TIME STRTIME UID PID FD ERR PATH ARGS 8071248908 2008 Jan 10 21:33:13 501 1153 17 0 /Users/bob/Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari/Cache.db-journal Safari 8071249029 2008 Jan 10 21:33:13 501 1153 18 0 /Users/bob/Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari Safari 8071249636 2008 Jan 10 21:33:13 501 1153 24 0 /var/tmp/etilqs_rjFUOz2TEh7AaoG Safari 8075981916 2008 Jan 10 21:33:18 501 1153 18 0 /Users/bob/Library/Caches/Metadata/Safari/History/.tracked filenames.plist Safari 8075982865 2008 Jan 10 21:33:18 501 1153 18 0 /Users/bob/Library/Caches/Metadata/Safari/History/http:%2F%2Fgoogle.com%2F.webhistory Safari 8075983663 2008 Jan 10 21:33:18 501 1153 18 0 /Users/bob/Library/Caches/Metadata/Safari/History/http:%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F.webhistory Safari 8075984521 2008 Jan 10 21:33:18 501 1153 18 0 /Users/bob/Library/Caches/Metadata/Safari/History/.tracked filenames.plist Safari 8075980917 2008 Jan 10 21:33:18 501 1153 18 0 /.vol/234881026/713654 Safari 8077969298 2008 Jan 10 21:33:19 501 1153 18 0 /Users/bob/Library/Safari/.dat0481.441 Safari 8077966383 2008 Jan 10 21:33:19 501 1153 18 0 /Users/bob/Library/Safari/.dat0481.440 Safari 8080982146 2008 Jan 10 21:33:23 501 1153 18 0 /Users/bob/Library/Safari/lock/.dat0481.442 Safari 8080983115 2008 Jan 10 21:33:23 501 1153 18 0 /Users/bob/Library/Safari/lock/details.plist Safari 8081191826 2008 Jan 10 21:33:23 501 1153 18 0 /Users/bob/Library/Safari/lock/details.plist Safari 8081192743 2008 Jan 10 21:33:23 501 1153 18 0 /Users/bob/Library/Safari/lock Safari 8081193635 2008 Jan 10 21:33:23 501 1153 18 0 /Users/bob/Library/Safari/.de0481.443 Safari The extra fields are the Unix-coded time, the translated timestamp, the error code (if any) and the file being accessed. This is a more verbose listing, but we will not see any file data from application other than Safari. You can substitute “Adium” or “Finder”, etc for “Safari” on the command line and I've included SnoopAdium.app, SnoopFinder.app and SnoopFirefox.app within the archive. Hopefully, you are beginning to see the power of this small utility.While there are many options for you to explore within opensnoop, one of the more interesting ones is the “-x” flag, which only displays the failed opens (I've included SnoopFailed.app in the archive as well). It's always good to peek at what applications are looking for but cannot find, especially if you are having trouble with your system or a particular application.I'm working on a more generic GUI front-end to opensnoop and will let you know when I have something worth sharing. These apps were all built with the extremely useful Platypus tool (which is in my developer folder once again post-Leopard install). If there's a particular “snoop” app you'd like me to whip up, drop a note in the comments and I'll do my best to crank'em out (I'll post the other apps either on my .Mac iDisk or my personal site).
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Candybar 3.1.2 is ready to go
Filed under: SoftwareThe developers at Panic have released CandyBar version 3.1.2. If you're unfamiliar, CandyBar 3 is a super simple and fun way to customize Mac OS X's icons and dock (Leopard required). Version 3 introduced some very cool features - like Pixadex integration - that make this killer app even cooler.Changes to version 3.1.2 include: Importing Pixadex libraries on first launch is more reliable Application and volume icons update more reliably in the Finder Fixed a potential problem with generic file icons There's more, of course, and you can read the change log here. CandyBar 3.1.2 is a free upgrade for registered users for version 3.x (a single license will cost you $29US).Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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CandyBar 3Â Review
No sooner do I write about how I miss CandyBar then lo and behold it appears! CandyBar 3 was released today, available at Panic. It's $29 for a license, and there's a free 14 day trial if you want to take it for a spin first. A discount is available to registered users of either Pixadex 2 or CandyBar 2. Leopard only. The new version is slick. Along with the usual icon swapping capabilities, there are two new features in CandyBar 3 - the ability to customize the dock, and direct integration of Pixadex. There are a number of new icon sets released at the IconFactory at the same time, all including dock mods. The dock to the right is from the icon set that comes preloaded, Float. It's a fairly clean set, although I'm personally really liking the look of the dock in Amora. The understated black and red there is quite nice. As a useful touch, the icons and the dock can be changed independently. CandyBar 3 also allows you to change system icons that it previously couldn't, a nice feature given the number of strangely-bland system icons in Leopard. Another nice feature is what seems to be the integration of QuickLook - a menu accessible by control-clicking on the icon thumbnails shows the 'IconLook' view, a comparison of the different sizes from 16×16 to 512×512 in a very QuickLook-like transparent black window. A nicely visible blue halo indicates icons that have changed from the default in the set. The biggest benefit, though, is the combination of Pixadex and CandyBar, especially for people (like me) who tend to pick and choose single icons on top of a theme - this integration makes picking an icon as easy as choosing a song in iTunes. One click imports icons loose on your hard drive, although the trial version can only manage 250 loose icons. You can view, change, and use icons from this library as easily as those from iContainers. As before, you can also save your various choices as an iContainer for use later or on other machines. Previously, I'd not been a particular fan of CandyBar, preferring the freeware LiteIcon (also recently updated for Leopard, but without dock-mod capabilities) and the not-free ShapeShifter. Still, Panic seems to have used the time before this release to make CandyBar 3 much more than just a compatibility update, with the new features making it an improvement over the solutions I'd tried in the past.
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CandyBar 3 available now
Filed under: Software, Software Update, LeopardThis is going to sound sad, but the one application that I have missed the most in upgrading to Leopard is CandyBar 2. I've always been something of a customization addict, and being able to take advantage of some of the beautiful icons that artists have made over the years to make OS X look its best is something I can easily spend hours doing, productivity be damned Fortunately for me, Panic (the guys behind Transmit and Coda) have just released the Leopard-only CandyBar 3, meaning I can now resume wasting time making my desktop look its prettiest. CandyBar 3 adds more than just Leopard compatibility - it is a pretty substantial program overhaul. Not only can system icons be changed, the dock can be now be customized too (free Icon and Dock sets available from the geniuses at Iconfactory). Additionally, Panic and Iconfactory have merged the CandyBar and the Pixadex (kind of like iTunes for your icon sets) applications together, providing icon management and customization in one package, instead of two.From the CandyBar 3 release notes: Integrated CandyBar together with Pixadex with an entirely new interface Added large (512 x 512) icon support Leopard dock customization Additional system icons Quick Look integration More reliable system icon restoration, and much more The program can be downloaded for a 15-day/250-icon limit trial here. The program is $29 for new users. Owners of either CandyBar 2 or Pixadex 2 can upgrade for $24. Owners of both Pixadex and CandyBar 2 can upgrade for $19. Any user who bought CandyBar 2 or Pixadex 2 after October 1, 2007 qualifies for a free upgrade.Now, if we can only get a Leopard-version of Shapeshifter out - I can totally optimize my interface!Thanks, SebastianPermalink | Email this | Comments
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Candy Bar 3 Features Preview
Some of you may or may not be aware that the founders of Panic Cabel and Steven F, both have their own personal blogs. Recently Cabel, while updating us all about the compatibility states of all of Panic's apps with Leopard, let slip a few of the future features of the upcoming CandyBar 3. First the bad news: CandyBar 2, does not and will not launch in Leopard due to a “well designed security system”, however 3.0 is coming . CandyBar 2 will be discontinued after CandyBar 3 is released, which will be Leopard only. So what are some of these new features then? Well the big one is that 3.0 will allow customization of the Leopard dock. There is no clue as to what extent you can play around, but I would imagine it will be a great way to customize the appearance of your new Leopard desktop. Other future features include: support for Leopard's new, enormous, 512px x 512px icon size and “significantly more robust icon restoration”. We can expect 3.0 to be with us before the end of November. candybar, panic
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Arcade Daze icons updated and expanded for Leopard and CandyBar
The Iconfactory's Gedeon Maheux has poured his heart, soul and a pants-load of Chuck E Cheese game tokens into updating his Arcade Daze icon set to the mega pixel proportions of Leopard's Cover Flow.... [read more at MacMerc.com]
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The just released CandyBar 3 gets updated to 3.1
Is there anything wrong with a developer updating their software so soon after launch? Of course not. It's much worse for them to withhold a valuable update from their users, I think. This update... [read more at MacMerc.com]
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UI Customization in Leopard
As you might have guessed from my past articles here, I tend to heavily customize the appearance of OS X on any machines I use regularly. Looking at my desktop, I see no default icons, my dock isn't much better, and every time I use someone else's machine, I'm generally surprised by the candy-colored dots springing out of the top of my windows. Then I upgraded to Leopard. To my faint surprise, most of my icons were gone. Some, fortunately, stuck around - the sea serpent body parts that I use for drive icons, notably - but others, including the complete replacement of the system icons (David Lanham's Agua set; see my previous posts for a link) had gone. My utter loathing of the boring, front-on, barely-embossed Leopard default folders began. The candy buttons were back, too. The new install ate ShapeShifter and Samui. As if that weren't enough, I keep my dock on the left, meaning I'm left out of all the fun of customizing my dock; the dark-glass theme completely overrides any modifications made, even if they show up when the dock is at the bottom of the screen. The Leopard-default replacements aren't particularly good, either, failing usual interface guidelines in terms of color, shape, and aesthetic rules. For example, take the icon for the music folder. On the left, Leopard's default; on the right, a Tiger-style music folder. Note how the rich green of the music note really makes the purpose of the folder pop. Look, too, at the difference in shape - the off-center cant and the overrun of the default folder shape by the note make the music folder stand out from any other folder. Why, if the point of different icons for different purposes is to make finding what you want easier and quicker, would anyone choose icons that look all the same? To my dismay, there doesn't seem to be any solutions for this. Pixadex's website doesn't mention Leopard at all. CandyBar is incompatible with Leopard. So is ClearDock, ShapeShifter, FruitMenu, WindowShade…. all the Unsanity apps, in fact. Is the fate of all the customization apps Apple's way of telling users to leave the UI alone? I certainly hope not. That said, though, does anyone know of any solutions to this, short of changing each and every icon manually? For that matter, what about all the UI elements - the toolbars, the buttons - that can't be changed through the Get Info pane?