Mac OS X | Desktop Enhancements | Themes | StarfishX

StarfishX - 2.0

Generates unique desktop patterns

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(File Size: 433k)

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All Time:	(4.8)
This Version:	(4.3)
Current Version:	2.0
Release Date:	2003-07-06
License:	Freeware
Downloads (this version):	5,675
Downloads (all versions):	13,477

Information Related to Version:

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Product Description:

StarfishX is a Mac OS X-native application which generates cool desktop patterns. It is based on Mars Saxman's Starfish pattern generation engine. The following are a few of the highlights of StarfishX:

Mac OS X native cocoa application.
Altivec-enabled and multi-threaded to take full advantage of today's dual (and single) processor G4 PowerMacs. (There is also a version of Starfish X which will run on a G3 Macintosh, although it's much slower).
Support for multiple monitors (you can generate a different pattern for each monitor connected to your computer).
Support for both TIFF and JPEG image files.
Option to quit StarfishX when all patterns have been generated. (Perfect for use as a startup item!)
Keeps track of recently-created patterns so you can go back to that really cool pattern StarfishX created yesterday.

What's new in this version:

Brand new pattern generating engine! Many, many thanks to Mars Saxman for writing and sharing this amazing new engine. The Starfish 2.0 engine has about four times the number of individual generators as the Starfish 1.x generator, so it will generate some very different (and VERY cool) patterns. This new generator is also Altivec-ready, so it's screamin' fast on a G4 machine.
New interface on the main window. You can make the window much smaller now. The controls which were formerly on the "Pattern" and "Advanced" tabs (along with the New Pattern button) are now in a drawer on the left of the main window, while the "Recent" controls are now in a drawer on the right. The settings formerly in the "Control" tab have been moved to the Preferences dialog.
StarfishX now comes as two separate downloads. One for G4 and higher machines, and one for G3 machines. This is so that G4 users can realize a 15% performance improvement over an all-in-one version of StarfishX.
Copy now works with the currently selected recent pattern. Now you can copy and paste patterns into other programs!
Double-clicking on a recent pattern will install that pattern on the main display (same as typing Command-1).
Because the new generator does not generate seamless patterns by default, the Arrange option "Tile" has been changed to "Tile (seamless)" and a "Tile (not seamless)" options has also been added. If you are generating anything other than a full-screen pattern, these two settings will control whether or not the pattern created is seamless or not. (Full-screen patterns are never seamless, since they won't tiled).
You can now drag and drop from the recent list into other applications, in addition to using Edit/Copy to copy the selected pattern to the clipboard. By default, dragging to the Finder will make an alias to the original file, but you can hold down the option key to cause the file to be copied to the drag location.
Preferences are now organized in tabs, somewhat similar to the tabs used on the main window in the 1.x version.
Added a JPEG quality slider to the Advanced tab in the Preferences sheet. You probably won't want to use anything less than 80% for your desktop.
TIFF patterns now use LZW compression (lossless) to reduce disk space usage.
Added drag & drop reordering to the Edit Palettes lists.
You can now drag from the recent pictures list to the "Next seed:" field, as well as the "Size:" and "Palette:" popups. Doing so will attempt to set the drag target to the value used for the recent pattern you are dragging.
You can now start continuous pattern generation by holding the option key while pressing the New Pattern button. You can also skip the current pattern and immediately start generating a new pattern by holding down the option key and pressing the Stop button. Note that this feature works for single and continuous pattern generation. The title of the New Pattern/Stop button will change appropriately when you press/release the option key.
Because of the above change, the shortcut key for the "Create Until Recent Cache Full" has been changed from Command-Shift-N to Command-Option-N. This item will now become "Skip Current Pattern" (with shortcut key of Command-Option-.) when a pattern is being generated and has the same effect as clicking the Stop button while holding the option key.
The recent pattern information (including the thumbnails) are now stored in a file at "~/Library/Caches/StarfishX Recent Patterns Cache". If you delete this file, you will cause StarfishX to forget about all recent patterns.
Preferences are now stored in the org.mscott.starfishx.plist file in ~/Library/Preferences. Old preferences should be automatically migrated from ~/Library/Preferences/StarfishX.plist.
Added new palettes, "Savannah", "Storm", and "Atlantis". Thanks to S. Rooks!
Added French localization. Many thanks to Bwass for the translation!

Operating System Requirements:

This product is designed to run on the following operating systems:

Mac OS X 10.2

Additional Requirements:

Mac OS X 10.2 or higher

Feedback Summary:

This Version:
Overall Rating:	(4.3)	Features:	(4.1)	Support:	(4.4)
Ease of Use:	(4.8)	Quality / Stability:	(4.6)	Price:	(5.0)

Key to Types of Feedback:

Reviews Reviews Troubleshooting Usage Tips Developer Notes Commentary Featured Reviews

This program is… - Version: 1.5, 4/2/2003 08:16PM PST

MacCanadian

the coolest way better then the boring ones that came with my computer, The creating your own pallet was an awsome surprise as I was really happy with it before, had a problem and had it resolved by the programmer really fast I'm impressed!!!

MacAction, please contact… - Version: 1.5, 4/2/2003 12:57PM PST

StarfishX Scott

me at starfishx@mscott.org so I can investigate what happened on your iMac. Thx.

Sadly, my iMac… - Version: 1.5, 4/2/2003 10:15AM PST

MacAction

is not as big a fan of Starfish as I am. "You need to restart your computer..." :o( It worked just long enough for me to decide I like 159422652. Is there a website for sharing favourite seeds?