One definition of the word "utility" is the quality or property of being useful. In fact, the archaic word "utile" was synonymous with "useful." This edition of 'Warehouse features four utilities that I've found truly useful.
But hey, that's just my opinion, and opinions are like noses: everybody's got one. If you'd like to share your nose, I mean, opinion with the rest of us, why not write a Mini-Review of one of these products? Surf to http://mini-reviews.applewizards.net/ and download the Mini-Review kit, then contact our editor about doing the review (use the form on the website). It's that simple!
 
Zen In Its Simplicity
 
JustaCalendar
It's not a Personal Information Manager. It's not an addressbook. It's not a storehouse for memoranda. It's JustaCalendar by Apple Wizard Jeff Frey. JustaCalendar (v.1.0.1, July '99, 572 K) is just a calendar. Here's what Jeff says about the program: "One day as I was sitting at my computer, I needed to look up what day the 20th of March fell on this year. That's when I noticed I didn't have a program that simply showed me a calendar. No fancy date book features or to-do lists attached, just a plain calendar. So, to fill that need I wrote JustaCalendar."
JustaCalendar is guiltware/freeware (if you wish, you can send Jeff a buck or two). A click on the above icon will take you to http://warehouse.applewizards.net/justacalendar.shtml .
 
Pot O' Gold
 
Rainbow Painter
Rainbow Painter by Addiction Interactive is a new (and very reasonably priced) painting and photo retouching program for PowerPC Macs. Among its many features, this image editing software supports up to 8 image layers with alpha channels and a mask layer. It utilizes a non-standard (and very colorful) interface with a "studio" metaphor.
Although I found the interface unwieldy at first, Rainbow Painter (v.1.2.0, July '99, 254 K) is nice and small compared to other graphics applications, and the shareware fee is just $12. Click that rainbow icon to be taken to http://www.addiction.se/Rainbow.html .
 
Where Was I?
 
URLstory
I'm sure we've all experienced the frustration of trying to return to some obscure web page days or weeks or months after the original visit. You didn't bookmark it, you didn't write down the address, and the major search engines have no listing for the site. Even Sherlock can't help you now.
URLstory by Mothrasoft, (v.1.5, July '99, 412 K) is an application which adds a history feature to Netscape Navigator and Communicator. A similar feature is already built into Internet Explorer, but you can use this without the taint of Microsoftian evil. Launching URLstory when you launch your browser guarantees you a searchable record of every site you visit, and it can be configured to exclude sites you visit frequently. This non-nagging $5 shareware is a boon to absent-minded surfers like me. To go to http://www.mothra.net/mothrasoft/ , just click the icon. Make history!
 
…At Least I'll Get My Washing Done
 
Substitute
Lastly, we come to an app I think of as "The Mother of All Utilities." Substitute by Rocco Moliterno performs a whole host of useful functions, including:
• Remove extra code from FAT applications, and scan disks for FAT binaries
• Rebuild the desktop
• Change the depth of the monitor
• Adjust the sound volume
• Convert files via QuickTime™
• Gather detailed information about files, folders, and disks
• Compact the System Heap as well as the free System memory
• Show all installed fonts
• Shutdown or restart your Mac
Substitute (v.1.7.8, July '99, 371 K) enhances and extends many functions of the Finder (hence the name). This is a lot of utility for a mere $10 shareware. Just click on the icon to go to http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Network/7162/substitute.html . Accept no substitutes!
 
As an antidote to this month's utilitarian bent, next month will feature four programs with no practical application whatsoever. Join us then for "Useless!"
