Comments on: Announcing CrystalClear Interface v. 1.8.12 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html I've been observing personal computing behavior for a long time, and now I have some things to say. Here are my two cents about computing, music, software, and related topics. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:44:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1.3 by: Leland http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-9489 Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:44:07 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-9489 Hi Michael, Yes, I've confirmed that Colloquy is an app that doesn't like CrystalClear Interface too much. As you suspect, it's some object that's released and then accessed again, but I haven't been able to figure out what causes it. In most apps I use, it never occurs, but in others it's a regular occurrence. One other I have trouble with is iCal. What I suggest, if you want to continue using CrystalClear, is to simply disable it in the apps that cause problems. I find that Colloquy runs fine with CCI set as disabled for it. To disable CCI in a particular app, open CCI's preference panel and click the checkbox at the top of the window. You may need to restart the app for the change to have full effect. In the upcoming version of CrystalClear Interface, the disabled state retains a limited amount of transparency and applies an alternative skin as well, so it's not just regular Aqua. Hi Michael,
Yes, I’ve confirmed that Colloquy is an app that doesn’t like CrystalClear Interface too much. As you suspect, it’s some object that’s released and then accessed again, but I haven’t been able to figure out what causes it. In most apps I use, it never occurs, but in others it’s a regular occurrence. One other I have trouble with is iCal.

What I suggest, if you want to continue using CrystalClear, is to simply disable it in the apps that cause problems. I find that Colloquy runs fine with CCI set as disabled for it. To disable CCI in a particular app, open CCI’s preference panel and click the checkbox at the top of the window. You may need to restart the app for the change to have full effect.

In the upcoming version of CrystalClear Interface, the disabled state retains a limited amount of transparency and applies an alternative skin as well, so it’s not just regular Aqua.

]]> by: Michael Tughan http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-9472 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 20:32:18 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-9472 Love the look, but I think the latest version (1.8.12) has memory issues. Maybe an object is being sent release too many times? Anyway, this happens multiple times a day, and is enough for me to stop using the InputManager for now. Hope that a crash log helps. <a href="http://michaelsprogramming.home.dyndns.org/Colloquy2008-02-18-152322_michaelmac.crash" rel="nofollow">Colloquy Crash Log</a> Love the look, but I think the latest version (1.8.12) has memory issues. Maybe an object is being sent release too many times? Anyway, this happens multiple times a day, and is enough for me to stop using the InputManager for now. Hope that a crash log helps.

Colloquy Crash Log

]]> by: Leland http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-9360 Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:02:32 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-9360 Sorry, it's been awhile since I stopped by to check comments. I'm hard at work on the next release... Aila, thanks for your comments! When you change settings in the CrystalClear Preferences window, most of the transparency settings affect only the application that's currently active (the one that's frontmost). The only ones that are global are the three "Default" buttons on the first tab. At this point, all the other settings are global... that is, if you turn off window animations, you turn them off for all applications. If you change the blending color, you change it for all applications. However, if you use the "Advanced" pane, you have a lot of control over transparency in individual applications and windows. Ryan, I'm sorry to hear of the problem you're having. In answer to earlier posters here, I've given all the ideas that I have. I can't replicate the problem on my own Macs, and without other clues I can't come up with any more solutions. If you have any ideas, after reading all of the above, please let me know and I'll check them out. Anggun... great! Thanks for letting me know! As for the Finder, yeah, that's right. Since the Finder still uses a Carbon framework, CrystalClear Interface won't theme it--same with iTunes, Photoshop, and other Carbon-based apps. I still haven't figured out how to get "under their skins", so to speak. :-) But I continue to work on it. Sorry, it’s been awhile since I stopped by to check comments. I’m hard at work on the next release…

Aila, thanks for your comments! When you change settings in the CrystalClear Preferences window, most of the transparency settings affect only the application that’s currently active (the one that’s frontmost). The only ones that are global are the three “Default” buttons on the first tab. At this point, all the other settings are global… that is, if you turn off window animations, you turn them off for all applications. If you change the blending color, you change it for all applications. However, if you use the “Advanced” pane, you have a lot of control over transparency in individual applications and windows.

Ryan, I’m sorry to hear of the problem you’re having. In answer to earlier posters here, I’ve given all the ideas that I have. I can’t replicate the problem on my own Macs, and without other clues I can’t come up with any more solutions. If you have any ideas, after reading all of the above, please let me know and I’ll check them out.

Anggun… great! Thanks for letting me know! As for the Finder, yeah, that’s right. Since the Finder still uses a Carbon framework, CrystalClear Interface won’t theme it–same with iTunes, Photoshop, and other Carbon-based apps. I still haven’t figured out how to get “under their skins”, so to speak. :-) But I continue to work on it.

]]> by: Anggun http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-9344 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 21:06:39 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-9344 Hi ! great app &#38; cuztomization, i've tried Crystal clear since from previous version on tiger runs great! i've tried the new one yesterday, installed on Leopard 10.5.1 and its running, except the Finder Window is not transparent, it work on any other windows but its not working on Finder window?.. am i missing something? please advice.. thanks in Advance! Hi !

great app & cuztomization, i’ve tried Crystal clear since from previous version on tiger runs great!

i’ve tried the new one yesterday, installed on Leopard 10.5.1 and its running,
except the Finder Window is not transparent, it work on any other windows but its not working on Finder window?..

am i missing something? please advice..

thanks in Advance!

]]> by: ryan http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-9095 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:18:58 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-9095 Well I love this skin but cant get it to work for the life of me. Running 10.5.1 on my macbook and it just wont take. I have no idea where to enable this. I have tried installing multiple times and removing all of the files. Rebooted multiple times and it still has not worked. Any ideas? I really want to get this working. Well I love this skin but cant get it to work for the life of me. Running 10.5.1 on my macbook and it just wont take.

I have no idea where to enable this. I have tried installing multiple times and removing all of the files. Rebooted multiple times and it still has not worked. Any ideas? I really want to get this working.

]]> by: Aila http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-9047 Sat, 19 Jan 2008 18:03:56 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-9047 Hello! Love this theme, thank you so much for it! This might be a really stupid question though, but how do you customize the interface with different applications? The only place it shows up for me is in the Preferences pane, and then the only thing I can change the values on affect just that, Preferences. Am I missing something in my instalation? Thanks! Hello!

Love this theme, thank you so much for it! This might be a really stupid question though, but how do you customize the interface with different applications? The only place it shows up for me is in the Preferences pane, and then the only thing I can change the values on affect just that, Preferences. Am I missing something in my instalation?

Thanks!

]]> by: Triq http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8953 Fri, 11 Jan 2008 06:23:23 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8953 Tried both...still nothing and I don't know where to look for it or activate it??? And the elementary terminal stuff is useful...no worries thanks for the help and I am still looking forward to using it especially since shapeshifter still is unusable in Leopard. Tried both…still nothing and I don’t know where to look for it or activate it???
And the elementary terminal stuff is useful…no worries thanks for the help and I am still looking forward to using it especially since shapeshifter still is unusable in Leopard.

]]> by: Leland http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8932 Wed, 09 Jan 2008 20:12:13 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8932 Amalgam, Triq... I ran into the same problem today, and hopefully this solution will help you as it did me: Somehow, in deleting the CrystalClear folder from /Library/InputManagers, I had introduced a .DS_Store file which didn't have the required permissions for CrystalClear to function. Of course, you can't see .DS_Store files in the finder unless you have invisible files turned on. Also, the file may have been created (as mine was) across a network or FireWire connection, so it wasn't owned by me. Hopefully, you're comfortable with the Terminal, since this is the easiest way out of this one: <code> cd /Library/InputManagers/CrystalClear sudo rm .DS_Store </code> You'll have to enter your admin password after entering the sudo command, but if there's a .DS_Store file there, it will be deleted and you can try CCI again. If that doesn't do it, in Terminal once again type: <code> cd ~/Library/InputManagers ls -l </code> If you see a CrystalClear folder here, type <code>rm -R CrystalClear</code> to delete it. Beyond those two things, at the moment I'm out of ideas unless I get more information about the problem. Hope this helps! (And sorry if I'm being too elementary about the Terminal stuff... I've found it's better to be clear than to assume too much.) Amalgam, Triq… I ran into the same problem today, and hopefully this solution will help you as it did me: Somehow, in deleting the CrystalClear folder from /Library/InputManagers, I had introduced a .DS_Store file which didn’t have the required permissions for CrystalClear to function.

Of course, you can’t see .DS_Store files in the finder unless you have invisible files turned on. Also, the file may have been created (as mine was) across a network or FireWire connection, so it wasn’t owned by me. Hopefully, you’re comfortable with the Terminal, since this is the easiest way out of this one:


cd /Library/InputManagers/CrystalClear
sudo rm .DS_Store

You’ll have to enter your admin password after entering the sudo command, but if there’s a .DS_Store file there, it will be deleted and you can try CCI again.

If that doesn’t do it, in Terminal once again type:


cd ~/Library/InputManagers
ls -l

If you see a CrystalClear folder here, type rm -R CrystalClear to delete it.

Beyond those two things, at the moment I’m out of ideas unless I get more information about the problem. Hope this helps! (And sorry if I’m being too elementary about the Terminal stuff… I’ve found it’s better to be clear than to assume too much.)

]]> by: Triq http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8926 Wed, 09 Jan 2008 02:06:45 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8926 I am in the same boat.... anxious to try it , but nothing happens. running Leopard 10.5.1 as well. I am in the same boat…. anxious to try it , but nothing happens. running Leopard 10.5.1 as well.

]]> by: Amalgam http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8890 Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:46:25 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8890 I am the admin, and have emptied my previous attempts to install out of InputManagers each time I've tried a reinstall. But no dice. I am the admin, and have emptied my previous attempts to install out of InputManagers each time I’ve tried a reinstall. But no dice.

]]> by: Leland http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8884 Fri, 04 Jan 2008 02:52:58 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8884 Amalgam, what happens after you install CCI? For example, suppose you run the installer and then launch Safari. (Close Safari first if it's already running.) Is Safari's toolbar the usual opaque gradient? If so, you may not have permission to install CCI on your computer. (Are you an Admin user?) Or, you may have previously tried installing CCI in your home library. Look in [your username]/Library/InputManagers to see if there's a CrystalClear folder there. If so, delete it and try installing again. P.S. No, you don't need Application Enhancer to run CrystalClear Interface. Amalgam, what happens after you install CCI? For example, suppose you run the installer and then launch Safari. (Close Safari first if it’s already running.) Is Safari’s toolbar the usual opaque gradient? If so, you may not have permission to install CCI on your computer. (Are you an Admin user?) Or, you may have previously tried installing CCI in your home library. Look in [your username]/Library/InputManagers to see if there’s a CrystalClear folder there. If so, delete it and try installing again.

P.S. No, you don’t need Application Enhancer to run CrystalClear Interface.

]]> by: Amalgam http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8880 Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:30:12 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8880 Great work...however, I am still unable to get it to work on my machine, even with the latest update. I'm running Leopard 10.5.1 on a Santa Rosa MacBook Pro. Any suggestions? Application Enhancer does not need to be installed for the Interface, right? Great work…however, I am still unable to get it to work on my machine, even with the latest update. I’m running Leopard 10.5.1 on a Santa Rosa MacBook Pro. Any suggestions? Application Enhancer does not need to be installed for the Interface, right?

]]> by: Leland http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8756 Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:58:30 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8756 Hi ishtob, It may be that you need to reinstall it... I'm not sure, but that's the first thing I'd try. Also be sure you're using the most recent build, which you can download from the link above (version 1.8.1). Hi ishtob,
It may be that you need to reinstall it… I’m not sure, but that’s the first thing I’d try. Also be sure you’re using the most recent build, which you can download from the link above (version 1.8.1).

]]> by: ishtob http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8740 Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:41:51 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8740 I love the crystalclear theme! awesome idea and great work!. problem now is after i upgraded to the leopard 10.5.1, Nothing is wokring. anyone care to point me in the right way to get the CCI to work? I love the crystalclear theme! awesome idea and great work!. problem now is after i upgraded to the leopard 10.5.1, Nothing is wokring. anyone care to point me in the right way to get the CCI to work?

]]> by: graphicstyle http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8674 Mon, 24 Dec 2007 07:39:36 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8674 Ok thanks for your help. I might try CocoaBits but I have a feeling the lag might be too much for my machine, But you never know! Hopefully Unsanity will be able to release a version of ShapeShifter that is compatible with Leopard in the near future (If thats possible I dont know). Anyways thanks again and keep up the good work! All the best Ok thanks for your help. I might try CocoaBits but I have a feeling the lag might be too much for my machine, But you never know! Hopefully Unsanity will be able to release a version of ShapeShifter that is compatible with Leopard in the near future (If thats possible I dont know). Anyways thanks again and keep up the good work! All the best

]]> by: Leland http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8673 Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:39:01 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8673 Hi graphicstyle... thanks! It's definitely a work-in-progress. :-) If you're using Tiger, you certainly can run CCI in your own account rather than from the system level. In Leopard, it's not possible as far as I know. Applications like CCI can only run from the system-level Library now, as part of an effort by Apple to make the system even more secure. The only method of circumventing this that I know of is through CocoaBits' InputManagersManager software (there's a link to it in the article I wrote last month on the topic of InputManagers, etc.) Only problem with that is that (a) you still have to install the IMM plugin at the system level and (b) apps like CCI have to first be passed through IMM before reaching their target. This just slows everything down too much IMHO. But IMM is very cool in that you can then manage your InputManager plugins easily, without having to install them in the system library. I use it for Inquisitor, for example, and it's so lightweight that the lag is unnoticeable. Hi graphicstyle… thanks! It’s definitely a work-in-progress. :-) If you’re using Tiger, you certainly can run CCI in your own account rather than from the system level. In Leopard, it’s not possible as far as I know. Applications like CCI can only run from the system-level Library now, as part of an effort by Apple to make the system even more secure. The only method of circumventing this that I know of is through CocoaBits’ InputManagersManager software (there’s a link to it in the article I wrote last month on the topic of InputManagers, etc.) Only problem with that is that (a) you still have to install the IMM plugin at the system level and (b) apps like CCI have to first be passed through IMM before reaching their target. This just slows everything down too much IMHO. But IMM is very cool in that you can then manage your InputManager plugins easily, without having to install them in the system library. I use it for Inquisitor, for example, and it’s so lightweight that the lag is unnoticeable.

]]> by: graphicstyle http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8653 Sun, 23 Dec 2007 12:39:03 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8653 First of all great work! I was just wondering if it is possible to use CCI in a single user account. If not would it be a possible feature in a later version? First of all great work! I was just wondering if it is possible to use CCI in a single user account. If not would it be a possible feature in a later version?

]]> by: Leland http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8580 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:58:37 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8580 Steve, I'm a lot more certain that I'll have a release tomorrow or Friday than I was the last time I spoke about it. I actually did have that preference fix done, but I felt compelled to track down some of the performance bottlenecks (particularly on Leopard). I think I've done some good in that regard, so I'll be putting out v. 1.8.1 in a day or two. Jose, if you're still on Tiger, be sure you've updated to the latest release of ShapeShifter, which I think fixed that problem... If you're on Leopard, it's not just Safari. I haven't had any luck cracking the menu/menubar code. Probably because, as I've come to understand, that code is all part of the older Carbon framework, not the Cocoa framework. Cheers, Leland Steve, I’m a lot more certain that I’ll have a release tomorrow or Friday than I was the last time I spoke about it. I actually did have that preference fix done, but I felt compelled to track down some of the performance bottlenecks (particularly on Leopard). I think I’ve done some good in that regard, so I’ll be putting out v. 1.8.1 in a day or two.

Jose, if you’re still on Tiger, be sure you’ve updated to the latest release of ShapeShifter, which I think fixed that problem… If you’re on Leopard, it’s not just Safari. I haven’t had any luck cracking the menu/menubar code. Probably because, as I’ve come to understand, that code is all part of the older Carbon framework, not the Cocoa framework.

Cheers,
Leland

]]> by: Steve http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8487 Sat, 15 Dec 2007 19:17:21 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8487 <i>"hope to have an update this weekend that’ll let you turn the “shine/glare/highlight” off if you like"</i> Oh you meant <i>this</i> weekend! Silly me, I thought you were referring to <i>last</i> weekend! LOL Well Leland, just know that there are some of us out here looking forward to your beauty, <i>whenever</i> you get the time. -Steve “hope to have an update this weekend that’ll let you turn the “shine/glare/highlight” off if you like”

Oh you meant this weekend! Silly me, I thought you were referring to last weekend! LOL

Well Leland, just know that there are some of us out here looking forward to your beauty, whenever you get the time.

-Steve

]]> by: Jose AF Miranda http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8462 Fri, 14 Dec 2007 03:03:54 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2008/01/crystalclear-interface-the-transparent-experiment-resumes.html#comment-8462 Leland, at first my congratulations: great work! At now, the complain: menu bar still don't work in Safari, any idea? Leland, at first my congratulations: great work!
At now, the complain: menu bar still don’t work in Safari, any idea?

]]>