TITLE

Uberbench 1.5: The Definitive GUI System for the Amiga Computer

NOTE: I have decided to include ALL of the UberBench system in one
complete archive. In this way it will be possible for end users to have
access to all of the features contained in the package without having to
track down the various archives.

UPGRADE INFORMATION:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an update from version 1.2 of Uberbench. It includes more icons
that adhere to the design standards I have set for the overall package, as well
as icons which I have recently designed that provide for a more consistent
look and feel. I have altered the orginal design somewhat in this update,
but I think the results are impressive.

The package no longer contains boot pictures with included scripts for use with
Syspic 4.0. It also doesn't conatin backdrop images. If you want these, you
will have to send in the shareware fee.

As I recieved only *three* replies concerning the previous verion of UberBench,
I can only conclude that either people don't know about the package or
aren't smart enough to tell a decent GUI system from other less advanced
packages available. If things don't improve, I will consider this my last
update.

AUTHOR

W.G. Bailey
10200 Brown Ridge
Morehead, KY 40351
United States

Tel.: 1-606-780-0583
eMail: gregb@connectup.com
IRC: praxis_



LEGAL INFORMATION 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


This software is provided as-is, without warranty of any kind, either expressed or 
implied. In no event will the author be liable for direct, indirect, incidental or consequen-
tial damages or data loss resulting from the use or application of this software. The en-
tire risk as to the results and performance of this software is assumed by the user.
Furthermore, the contents of the archive cannot be altered in any way, although the
archive itself can be transmitted electronically via BBS systems or the Internet.
Any inclusion in PD collections is prohibited without the consent of the author, and
the contents of this archive may not be transmitted via any Microsoft network.
By installing this software, the end user is assumed to have entered into a tacit
agreement with the author of this software to abide by those rules stipulated above.



DESCRIPTION

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UberBench is full-featured and professional GUI system for the Amiga, featuring 
icons, seamless backdrops and  boot pictures. Uberbench is the ONLY Amiga GUI 
package that has been created that can make your Amiga look as good as the Macin-
tosh or PC running Windows 95! Please take a look at the included screen grabs of the Uberbench
system to see what UberBench can do for you.




INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As many Amiga users have expressed a dislike for the Amiga's current GUI, as 
well as other solutions that are currently available, such as MagicWb and NewIcons, I 
decided to create my own GUi system for the Amiga. I have, over the course of a few 
years, attempted to create a series of icons, boot pictures ,backdrops, and palettes that 
adhere to industry standards: Icons, for instance, are close to the same size on other 
platforms (32X32 pixels), the color palette is varied, and the backdrops are seamless 
and of professional quality. You can preview UberBench by double clicking on the 
"Uberbench.IFF" icon in the Uberbench root directory. The se-
lected picture will then be loaded and displayed on your system using MultiView.

The name for this project -- as some of you have no doubt gathered -- is a pun on
Nietzsche's famous Ubermensch or "Overman." As I enjoy reading and studying phi-
losophy texts, I thought it would be fun to name the project after the famous 
philosopher's ideal for the future of humanity. :-)




RELEASE NOTES AND AVAILABILITY
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have decided to release this version of the software under the concept of Share-
ware; end users are obligated to send either $20.00 U.S. dollars in payment if Uber-
Bench is used for more than a trial period of 30 days. If you can't afford to send the 
shareware fee, I would appreciate some sort of a gift as payment: You could send, for 
instance, computer hardware or software (particularly software that you have created), 
books on philosophy or political philosophy, or music CDs. The address to send your 
contribution to is listed at the beginning of this text. I have worked a
long time on this project (over two years), and I think I deserve whatever
it is you can afford to send.

No matter if you love or hate UberBench, I would appreciate getting some mail from you 
regarding the program. My e-mail address is listed at the beginning of this text.:)




SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
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Any Amiga that is capable of displaying 16-32 colors at high-resolution is required to 
run UberBench. This can be an AGA Amiga, such as the A1200 or A4000, or an Amiga 
equipped with a graphics card. It is possible to run Uberbench using 16 colors on older ECS
machines; Uberbench is also usable on an A1200 with expansion 
memory, although an accelerator is always to be desired for optimum performance.

NOTE: I have noticed that on some A1200 machines running a 800X600 display, that 
the Alice chip can get overheated and cause the Amiga's display to get trashed after a 
few hour's use. An easy solution to this problem is to buy a 1" microcomputer fan, con-
nect it to the A1200's disk drive for power, and place it directly over the Alice chip. The 
pinouts for the power connection are as follows:

                                        disk drive power connector------>   [ -   -   -   -  ]
                                                                                                                      ^  ^
                         connect 1" fan to the two leads at the right --------------- ^   ^



NOTE: I am NOT responsible if you blow up your computer! You have been warned!



FEATURES
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o  Industry standard icon sizes (32X32 pixels)

o  Varied and colorful color palette in 16 or 32 colors

o  Professional look and feel

o  Consistent and contemporary GUI design

o  Twenty seamless backdrop images, which form a small part of another project
   I have completed (Black Seam seamless textures for Lightwave and Imagine).
   Be sure to check out the shareware version of Black Seam textures!

o  A complete set of Amiga system and appplication icons.

o  Ten boot pictures for use with Syspic or your favorite boot picture utility.

o  Syspic compatable boot pictures with Syspic 4.0 scripts


INSTALLATION
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Uberbench uses a program called NoFillNoDraw which allow the use of border-
less icons. You will need this program installed in order to use the borderless icons in-
cluded with UberBench. The latest version of MCP (Master Control Program) has this feature 
built-in, so you can also use this program if you wish.

To install UberBench, simply copy the icons over to your Amiga's boot drive. A
800X600 Workbench display is recommended for the best quality, although lower reso-
lutions will also work. Be sure to set your Workbench Screenmode preferences to the 
appropriate resolution (800X600 Super72: Super-High res Laced if your monitor sup-
ports it), and the proper color depth, which is either 16 or 32 colors. In the C: directory
of the archive are the proper IFF palettes for use with UberBench. I have also included a 
small program called shovecolors which can be used to set the palette for Workbench in startup 
(this program is not my own work and is the copyright of the author). Simply copy the 
files in the UberBench C: directory to your C: directory and add the following line to your
user-startup:

NOTE: If anyone is interested in writing and installer installation script
*please* get in touch with me.

shovecolors c:Uberpalette.32 

or shovecolors c:Uberpalette.16

Also included is a preferences file for TxSetPalette - an excellent utility for setting 
the Amiga's Workbench palette. It is contained in the prefs/env-archive/ directory and 
will be read automatically when TxSetPalette is run.



FONTS
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If you are interested in reproducing the look of the UberBench.IFF graphic, it is 
necessary that you use the XHelvetica font size 13 for the Workbench icon text and the 
Workbench screen text. This font works well with an 800X600 display, and although it is 
not included in this archive due to copyright reasons, I suggest that you use it if at all 
possible. Also, if you want to use the light blue backdrop image - as displayed in the 
UberBench.IFF image- instead of the other backdrops supplied with the archive, it can 
be found in the backdrops directory under the filename "Workbench_Backdrop." A white 
*window* backdrop is also provided under the filename "Window_Backdrop."

I have included another font called "Chicago" which can be used with Uberbench. 
This font is actually easier to read than XHelvetica; it's also free!




THE REGISTERED VERSION
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There are a number of seamless backdrop images that are included with Uber-
Bench (the full version). These reside in the "Startup/Backdrops/Seamless" drawer and should be used if 
a more sophisticated Workbench backdrop is desired. The backdrop images are 4-16 
colors and should work well with displays of 32-256 colors. More of the seamless back-
drops will be available at a later date.  Single color backdrop images can be found in the 
"Startup/Backdrops/Single_color" directory. You can view the seamless backdrops by  
simply entering the "Startup/Backdrops/Seamless" directory and clicking on the icon. 
The selected boot picture will be loaded using MultiView.

Boot images are also included! These should be used with Syspic or other picture 
viewers that allow the use of a picture during startup. Boot images can be found in the 
"Startup/BootPics" directory. These are scaled down version of some of my own art 
work. You can view them by simply entering the "Startup/Bootpics" directory and clicking 
on the icon. The selected boot picture will be loaded using MultiView.




RECOMMENDED UTILITIES
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   I recommend the use of CGWbPattern (or Cybergraphics Workbench Pattern) for 
use with the supplied backdrop images. This program allows the use of seamless tex-
tures without interfering with the Workbench palette. All of these tools will make UberBench 
much more enjoyable. Other shareware and freeware utilities that I recommend include:

TXSetPalette - Handy utility for setting Workbench palettes
CGWBPattern - Replacement for WBPattern
Syspic - an absolutely wonderful boot picture displayer!
MCP - the mother of all Workbench utilities.



THE FUTURE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


As I haven't recieved any feedback from the Amiga community, I am
considering dropping this project in favor of more important endeavors.
I admit to being somewhat shocked; I think everyone is in agreement
that most of the shareware GUI systems aren't very professional.
As I said before, I can only conclude that most people don't know about the
work that I have done or simply don't care. If the latter is the case, I
can only hope that VisCorp or Phase5 have enough sense to hire someone
with talent to rework the Amiga's GUI. I have done my bit, and I can only
hope that more people will be forthcoming in support of the project.
Shareware fees aren't as important to me as the knowledge that there are a
number of people out there who appreciate my contribution.


Best wishes,

W.G. Bailey


