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SPHEREXP NEWSLETTER ISSUE #1
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Hello, and welcome to the first issue of the SphereXP newsletter. This won't be a weekly,
be-weekly or monthly thing, but I'll send it when there's some news on the project. Also
keep checking the page for all the latest news. Anyone of you out there can contribute
with your experiences, remarks. Just write to: spherexpnewsletter@hamar.sk


With the first issue of the newsletter comes a new release of the SphereXP. The new
version is numbered 0.76.67. There are tons of changes. Some visible and some not. All
the info on what was done can be found on my development log page -> www.hamar.sk/sphere/devlog.htm.
Which is updated pretty often. So if you wanna know what I'm currently working on, please go there.
It should become sort of my weblog.


Some of the most significant changes:
-windows installer package - no more install this, install that :)
-new openGL library (Tao - thanks to Randy Ridge)
-the app is more stable and less greedy on resources
-the app can be finally configured
-object transparency support
-lots of fixes !!!
-better desktop import
-and much more


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The most frequent questions:
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Q: I don't know how to install SphereXP. Please help!
A: The installation of the last version was a pain in the a.. :)
   Now there is a normal installation. Just download it, run it and follow the instructions.

Q: I get the error "The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000135). Click on OK to
   terminate the application" What's wrong?
A: THIS MEANS YOU DID NOT INSTALL Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 !!!!

Q: I get the error "Application could not start (unhandled exceptions...)" What's wrong?
A: this should be fixed. there were several bugs (windows laguage versions, ...)

Q: I have an ATI card. Why doesn't it work? (flickering, ...)
A: It should be working now :)

Q: I cannot really navigate in the Sphere. Why that?
A: Please check the little manual which is also included in the newsletter.
   If that doesn't help than myabe you have a Logitech mouse. These mice
   had problems with the app. You can do 2 things. 1) in the driver settings
   change from "Universal scroll" to "Normal middle button 2) you can
   now reconfigure the way you controll the sphere in the sphere properties (press space)

Q: Why does it take so much memory?
A: I'm working on that. There has been a of things done. Now you can reduce the memory
   consumption by reducing the texture quality in the config.

Q: The app is slow. But I still wanna use it. What can I do?
A: You can turn of the background in the config (Sphere on/off), turn of the navigation
   (the little wireframe sphere in the right bottom corner) or reduce the quality of
   textures. Please keep in mind that this is a 3D graphic application. It is almost
   unusable without a 3d graphics accelerator.

Q: What kind of hardware is the SphereXP being developed on?
A: My little notebook consists of:
   Pentium 4M (1.8GHz)
   512 MB RAM
   Nvidia Geforce2Go graphic card


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HOW TO CONTROL THE SPHERE:
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The default config:

1) You simply drag & drop objects in the environment with the left mouse button. You can move selected objects
forwards and backwards with the right mouse button .
2) You can rotate your view by pressing the scroll and moving the mouse.
3) you move your viewport backwards & forwards by moving the scroll.
4) You run and switch applications to working mode by double-clicking them.
5) YOU CAN CONFIGURE THE APP BY PRESSING SPACE or using the context menu


*note that all this can be changed using the config.


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THE SPHEREXP WEBPAGE
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250 000 visitors!!!, thousands of e-mails.
Thank you all for your interest. Keep on supporting the project, so we can make it really work.
You might still encounter some problem downloading the app. I'm working on fixing this issue.
I will set up some mirrors soon.

Keep on checking the page. There will be lots of new stuff comming. User galleries, wallpapers,...
Don't forget that if you have any problems try to check the SphereXP Forum
at www.hamar.sk/sphere/forum


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SPECIAL THANKS
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Special thanks goes to:

1) Randy Ridge - the creator of Tao libraries
2) Martina Blahova
3) Martin Pernecky
4) and all of you for your responses, suggestions, ...


I have much more things to write. I'll keep it for later.


Dusan Hamar