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  XSWEEKLY Shell Related News 24.03.01 - 30.03.01
 -------------------------------------------------

	Well, after I took off close to a month again to get myself
worked out, I am back.  Sorry again about the downtime but things
in my life are getting a bit jumbled together and I needed some time
to clear my head and my plate to again work on XSW.  Hopefully I 
won't have to have many more breaks in the publication but with a 
new child on the way, you never know.

	It seems that a lot of people are still confused about Raptor,
and what it means for the future of LiteStep.  I myself was a bit
confuggled about it at first, but have since talked to Message and
realized what a boon it will be to LiteStep and the entire shell
community as a whole if it works out correctly.

	All shells need the same basic set underlying code to work.
Things such as task management, systray handling, etc.. all need to
be in every shell for it to be complete.  What Raptor does is make
this available to all shells.  It has nothing to do with the way
that a shell is presented, only what it needs to run.  Raptor will
also provide a scripting engine for any shell that uses it.  To bring
it to a simple level, think of Raptor as XWindows for linux, and the
shells as Window Managers.  Each Window Manager has its own interface,
look, feel, etc.. while using xwin to provide it with its basic needs.
Same deal here.

	So don't worry, LiteStep isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
It is only getting better and better.

- demigod

 .................................................
               -= Shell Specific =-
 .................................................

  ------------------
 [ Top News Stories ]
  ------------------

- A Brief Word On Raptor (11:18 26.03 na)

	I just got done talking with Message about Raptor and I was
	pretty well mistaken as to what it was all about. Raptor will
	be nothing more than a kernel for handling the dirty work
	that all shells have to handle. Task management, the system
	tray, etc... while also giving a given shell the ability to
	run scripting though it. Each shell will retain its own set
	of API and continue to act and function as normal, though a
	module coder or even a themer can opt out to use Raptor
	specific commands. In no way what so ever is LiteStep going
	away!  As a matter of fact, using the Raptor kernel, LiteStep
	should overcome its limitation of no scripting and become a
	lot more stable in the process. I would like to publicly
	thank Message for taking some time to talk with me about the
	developments of Raptor in regards to the future of LiteStep.

	url - http://raptor.cybersnot.com
	(source: http://www.ls2k.org)

                           +-------<*>-------+

- XSWeekly In Japanese ~ philsci (11:43 26.03 na)

	Yup, thats right, XSWeekly in Japanese.  Well, not ALL of
	XSWeekly, just my rants.  Takayuki Kawamoto, web master of
	the Interface Workshop, is now translating my weekly rants
	into Japanese.  This is a great step for me as I am now
	having my voice heard multinational.  Check it out even
	if you don't read Japanese.
	
	url - http://www.interq.or.jp/jupiter/philsci/iw-html-xsw/
	e-mail - philsci@jupiter.interq.or.jp
	(source: philsci via e-mail)

                           +-------<*>-------+

- LiteStep.net Is Back ~ cccp (12:59 29.03 ls)

	Yay, ls.net is back online!  So are all of the subdomain,
	including the ones previously hosted on ls.org.

	url - http://www.litestep.net
	e-mail - cccp@litestep.net
	(source: cccp via irc)

  ---------
 [ Modules ]
  ---------

- dwarf 20010320 ~ TrOgI (10:35 26.03 ls)

	Dwarf is a module that will allow you to run any wharf mod
	on your desk top.
	
	New in this version:
	
	- Added !DwarfCloseFolder internal bang command. Can only be
	  used by a dwarf tile in a folder/subfolder to cause the
	  folder to close.
	
	url - http://desktopsource.mindjunction.com
	e-mail - crouson@inreach.com
	(source: http://floach.pimpin.net)

                           +-------<*>-------+

- WharfX 0.81 TrOgI (10:52 26.03 ls)

	WharfX is a more robust wharf module.  It allows for any size
	wharf tiles, multiple wharfs, etc...
	
	New in this version:
	
	- Moved back to b0.71's code since b0.8 wasn't working for
	  most people.
	- Added all the functionality from b0.8.
	- WharfAllTitles now defaults to no background color.
	- Added WharfTitleAlignment setting.
	- Added WharfTitlePadding setting.

	url - http://desktopsource.mindjunction.com
	e-mail - crouson@inreach.com
	(source: http://floach.pimpin.net)

                           +-------<*>-------+

- SharpTray 0.23 ~ Malx (15:18 26.03 se)

	SharpTray is the plugin for SharpE that handles all the
	systray functions.
	
	New in this version:
	
	- Ability to switch between OnTop.
	- Hide unwanted icons.
	
	url - http://www.sharpe-shell.com/
	e-mail - malx@techie.com
	(source: http://www.sharpe-shell.com/

  -----------
 [ Web Sites ]
  -----------

- Shellfront.org Opens ~ rootrider (11:55 26.03 na)

	rootriders new site, shellfront.org, is up and he is making
	posts.  I'm not too sure that this will be the final look
	of the site, but to me, it looks pretty good as is.  Stop
	on by there and show your support.
	
	url - http://www.shellfront.org
	(source: http://www.ls2k.org)

                           +-------<*>-------+

- SharpE's New Web Addy ~ lowspirit (13:15 26.03 se)

	SharpE finally has its own domain.  Same look, new address.
	Update your bookmarks and news grabbers now!
	
	url - http://www.sharpe-shell.com/
	e-mail - lowspirit@sharpe-shell.com
	(source: http://www.sharpe-shell.com/)

                           +-------<*>-------+

- LiteStep Dev's Site Is Up (13:07 29.03 ls)

	The LS Dev's now have their own site.  It's the same layout
	from when they were hosted on ls.net, but now they have their
	own domain.  Check here for all official updates and releases.
	
	url - http://www.lsdev.org
	(source: #litestep topic)

  ----------
 [ Programs ]
  ----------

- Scope 1.0 PR2 ~ Fahim (16:01 26.03 na)

	Scope is a lightweight browser based on the IE engine.  It 
	is a MDI that will show pages in either the Mozilla or IE
	engine.  Great alternative to the overweight, bulky, bloat
	ware browsers out there.  And the best, its free!!
	
	url - http://cyberian.tripod.com
	e-mail - fahimf@email.com
	(source: http://cyberian.tripod.com)

  ------
 [ Misc ]
  ------

- New LS IE Throbber ~ Mountaineer (13:08 29.03 ls)

	Another throbber is out for IE, this time created by
	Mountaineer.  Jalist describes it as a color-type throbbie
	thing.  Look's interesting to me.
	
	url - http://www.ls2k.org
	e-mail - mountaineer@riverland.net.au
	(source: http://www.ls2k.org)

  ---------------
 [ Latest Builds ]
  ---------------

- LiteStep
     o 24.6 build 010201
     o http://builds.litestep.net/builds/ls-0246-dev-20010102.zip

- geOShell
     o 4.6.5a
     o http://news.geoshell.com/Plugins/Download/geoshellr465a.zip

- PureLS
     o 031701
     o http://www.purels.org/binaries/01-03-27r.zip

 .................................................
            -= Beyond the Specifics =-
 .................................................

  -------------
 [ Interesting ]
  -------------

- William Gibson Reads Neromancer

  Blatenly ripped this from Shell Extension City.  This is a 6hr
  set of mp3's of William Gibson reading Neromancer word for word.
  If you poke around the site, there is some other great stuff to 
  be had also.
  
  url - http://www.8op.com/gibson/en/neuroaudio.html

  ----------
 [ Programs ]
  ----------

- Scope PR2

  Scope just keeps getting better and better.  Fahim, ex-LS Dev/DS
  Dev, is hammering away at making Scope the next best browser out
  there.  This is a free, tiny,  browser that works off the IE engine
  but can incorporate the mozilla base too.  Not only that but it
  support MDI ala Opera.  Get this now!
  
  url - http://cyberian.tripod.com

....................................

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