Provides clearer, more personable, and better written instructions than usual for making sense of Mac OS 9, from such basics as using menus and reducing window clutter to more advanced topics such as learning how to connect Macs together and the Mac OS 9's self-updating software feature. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

AppleScript in a Nutshell is the first complete reference to AppleScript, the popular programming language that gives both power users and sophisticated enterprise customers the important ability to automate repetitive tasks and customize applications. As the Macintosh continues to expand and solidify its base in the multimedia and publishing industries, AppleScript is the tool of choice on this platform for creating sophisticated time- and money-saving workflow applications (applets). These applets automate the processing and management of digital video, imaging, print, and web-based material. AppleScript is also gaining a foothold in scientific programming, as technical organizations adopt G4 CPU-based systems for advanced computing and scientific analysis. Finally, "power users" and script novices will find that AppleScript is a great everyday Mac programming tool, similar to Perl on Windows NT or Unix.In this well-organized and concise reference, AppleScript programmers will find: Detailed coverage of AppleScript Version 1.4 and beyond on Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X. Complete descriptions of AppleScript language features, such as data types, flow-control statements, functions, object-oriented features (script objects and libraries), and other syntactical elements. Descriptions and hundreds of code samples on programming the various "scriptable" system components, such as the Finder, File Sharing, File Exchange, Network scripting, Web scripting, Apple System Profiler, the ColorSync program, and the numerous powerful language extensions called "osax" or scripting additions.Most other AppleScript books are hopelessly out of date. AppleScript in a Nutshell covers the latest updates and improvements with practical, easy to understand tips, including: Using AppleScript as a tool for distributed computing, an exciting development that Apple Computer calls "program linking over IP." Programmers can now do distributed computing with Macs over TCP/IP networks, including controlling remote applications with AppleScript and calling AppleScript methods on code libraries that are located on other machines. Using the Sherlock find application to automate web and network searching. Insights on scripting new Apple technologies such as Apple Data Detectors, Folder Actions, Keychain Access, and Apple Verifier.AppleScript in a Nutshell is a high-end handbook at a low-end price--an essential desktop reference that puts the full power of this user-friendly programming language into every AppleScript user's hands.

The Macintosh challenged games to be more than child’s play and quick reflexes. It made human–computer interaction friendly, inviting, and intuitive. Mac gaming led to much that is now taken for granted by PC gamers and spawned some of the biggest franchises in video game history. It allowed anyone to create games and playful software with ease, and gave indie developers a home for their products. It welcomed strange ideas and encouraged experimentation. It fostered passionate and creative communities who inspired and challenged developers to do better and to follow the Mac mantra ‘think different’. Drawing on archive material and interviews with key figures from the era – and featuring new material from Craig Fryar, Apple’s first Mac games evangelist and the co-creator of hit game Spectre – The Secret History of Mac Gaming is the story of those communities and the game developers who survived and thrived in an ecosystem that was serially ignored by the outside world. It’s a book about people who followed their hearts first and market trends second, showing how clever, quirky, and downright wonderful video games could be.

This guide to using the Mac 9.1 operating system is for both beginners and intermediate users. Concise commentary and a visual format teach important concepts. Readers can turn to a page featuring the desired skill, and begin to learn immediately. Packed with step-by-step instructions, illustrations and loads of tips, this guide can be used by beginners as a tutorial, while current Mac users can use it to get up to speed with the latest OS release.

Provides information to quickly improve and customize a Mac computer, enable undocumented Mac OS X features, automate tedious tasks, handle media, and troubleshoot disk issues.

Following the common-sense O'Reilly style, Mac OS X in a Nutshell ruts through the hype and gives readers practical details they can use every day. Everything you need to know about Mac OS X has been systematically documented in this book. Mac OS X in a Nutshell offers a complete overview of Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar), from its Aqua interface right down to its BSD Unix core. This book familiarizes readers with the Finder and the Dock, System Preferences, file management, system and network administration issues, and more. Later chapters include coverage of the Terminal and how to configure a DAMP (Darwin, Apache, MySQL, Pert/PHP/Python) web-publishing system. In Mac OS X in a Nutshell, you'll find : • Detailed information on virtually every command and utility available on Mac OS X Jaguar • The most complete and thorough coverage of Mac OS X's Unix commands you'll find anywhere • Detailed advice and documentation on system configuration, with extensive coverage of the System Preferences and use of the Finder and Dock • An overview of basic system and network administration features, including coverage of NetInfo and Directory Services • Hundreds of tips, tricks, and clever ways to do familiar and not-so-familiar tasks • Instructions on installing the X Window System and how to build and run BSD Unix applications • An overview of Mac OS X's Unix text editors, including vi and Emacs • An overview of CVS, the concurrent version system • Information on shell syntax and variables for Mac OS X's default user shell, tcsh Each command and option in the book's Unix Command Reference has been painstakingly tested and checked against Jaguar-even the manpages that ship with Mac OS X can't compete in accuracy. Mac OS X in a Nutshell is the most comprehensive quick reference on the market and is a must for any serious Mac user.

Learn the basics of wireless computing, from the reasons why you'd want to go wireless in the first place, to setting up your wireless network or accessing wireless services on the road. Mac OS X Unwired is a one-stop wireless information source for technically savvy Mac OS X users. Whether you're considering wireless as a supplement or alternative to cable and DSL, or using wireless to network computers in your home or office, this book will show you the full-spectrum view of wireless capabilities of Mac OS X, and how to take advantage of them.