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From: hodas@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Josh Hodas)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: BlackBox INIT
Message-ID: <15954@netnews.upenn.edu>
Date: 26 Oct 89 14:47:46 GMT
References: <1261@orbit.UUCP> <1503@esquire.UUCP>
Sender: news@netnews.upenn.edu
Reply-To: hodas@eniac.seas.upenn.edu.UUCP (Josh Hodas)
Organization: University of Pennsylvania
Lines: 42

I have been using Black Box for about 3 weeks, with a fair amount of
success, but it is true that it does have some problems.  These
problems are being addressed however.  I have the ok to say this much
about a new version currently in testing:

Black Box's name will be changed in the next release.

The Screen saver will be smarter about interuptions, and will have
user designated sleep and awake areas.

The icon dock can be lowered out of the way (either part way or all the
way) much as NeXT's can be.  The uncovered space is returned to the 
available desktop. (I am impressed with how smoothly this works, it feels
just right.)

Documents can be linked to apps.

Screen drawing problems with multiple monitors are totally fixed (yeah!!,
I just got the Samsung display from Software that fits, and this was a 
big enough problem for me to give up on Black box till I started testing
the new version)


So, the message is, keep your eye out for the new version.  I really think
that Black Box adds significant functionality to the mac.  Andrew is a hell
of a programmer.  Granted, some of his stuff has had some problems, but what
can you expect when treading on the low level stuff.  Besides, he is 
very serious about tracking and solving any bugs reported to him.

I wish I could claim to have been as original and talented a programmer when 
I was an undergrad.

Josh

-------------------------

Josh Hodas    (hodas@eniac.seas.upenn.edu)
4223 Pine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

(215) 222-7112   (home)
(215) 898-5423   (school office)