FractalWorks 0.5.4 released

[Duncan C]

I just posted the latest version of FractalWorks, a high performance fractal renderer for Macintosh.

Previous links were bad. Sorry about that.

You will find a large collection of sample images generated with FractalWorks, along with a link to the download page, by clicking here.

FractalWorks requires OS 10.4 or later, and works best on multiple processor machines, especially G5 and Intel based Macs.

I have a good sized gallery of images which you can view by clicking here.



Duncan C

[Duncan C]

I updated this post. The previous link was bad.

I have also updated the software several times since making the original post.


Duncan C

[Sockratease]

Too bad it wont run on OS9...

I never upgraded.

Make it backwards-compatible, and I'd love to give it a try!

I have a Power Mac G4 with dual (500 MHz?) Processors if that helps.

But it does not get much use these days...

[Duncan C]

Too bad it wont run on OS9...

I never upgraded.

Make it backwards-compatible, and I'd love to give it a try!

I have a Power Mac G4 with dual (500 MHz?) Processors if that helps.

But it does not get much use these days...
[/quote

Sockratease,

OS 9 is getting quite long in the tooth these days. OS X was a huge improvement over OS X, and I'm heavily invested in OS X only technology. There is a development framework, Carbon, that lets you create applications for both, but I did not use it.

I would compare OS X to OS 9 the same way Windows 95 was to Windows 3.1, only the changes were even more fundamental. Do yourself a favor and updgrade, at least to "Tiger" (OS 10.4.) It's a pleasure to use, and runs quite well on G4 machines. It's also ROCK solid.

Sorry about that.


Duncan
 

[Sockratease]

I don't know...

I am of the belief that No computer is ever outdated.

They may lose the ability to run modern programs, but all will always be good for their original purposes.

I used a Tandy 1,000 as my only computer for over 20 years, and only upgraded this century. It got me through college (recently).  I still use the Daisy Wheel Printer it came with.  Made my Lab Reports look like I actually typed them!

I still use my Apple II-C and I even break out the TI-90 every once in a while for nostalgia.  That uses a cassette tape for storing data, and a normal television for a monitor!!  But it plays a good game of chess.

I made my first computer graphics on that and recorded right to a VCR - it took computers over 30 years to return to that feature!  Most still don't do that.

So I'll keep all my old stuff, and upgrade when I can afford it.  A new mac is just too expensive.  And I was told by the mac folks that it would be silly to just upgrade the operating system in my old one.

But...  OS9 is NOT that old!  For it to be left behind so completely just because something better came along strikes me as wrong.  Possibly a shadow of that elitism that windows users accuse mac folks of possessing.

Now...  where's my flint and stone?  Gotta go light the stove and cook breakfast!

[lycium]

i was going to comment on some of those dubious assertions until...

Now...  where's my flint and stone?  Gotta go light the stove and cook breakfast!

WOMAN! BRING ME MY SPEAR!

i'm going out to get dinner.

[Sockratease]

i was going to comment on some of those dubious assertions until...

Now...  where's my flint and stone?  Gotta go light the stove and cook breakfast!

WOMAN! BRING ME MY SPEAR!

i'm going out to get dinner.

Nothing dubious in those comments!

I happen to Like old technology. The assertion that it is all still fine for it's original purposes is 100% True. I really do use all that stuff still.

Newer stuff being available does nothing to make older stuff useless.  It just can't do what today's stuffs can.

I was kidding about the flint and stone, but I still use a rotary telephone, and do not own a touch-tone model.  Or a cell phone.  And I get by just fine.

Technology is just too expensive to keep up with!

[lycium]

I made my first computer graphics on that and recorded right to a VCR - it took computers over 30 years to return to that feature!  Most still don't do that.

most graphics cards have had tv out for a loooooong time. not that it's used, because we burn dvds with far higher quality, and these days 1920x1080 video onto blu-ray

i do agree about hardware being fine for its original purpose of course... but this is only true to a limited extent; for example it's all fine and dandy to use a 286 for word processing, until you have to send your ms word 1.0 document to someone else.

[Sockratease]

Guess who just traded some old comic books for a new mac book?

I'll give you a hint...

He just downloaded FractalWorks 0.5.4!

Now... where are those other mac fractal generators?

I know there are a few hiding around here...

[cKleinhuis]

you should try out the mac programms made by gandreas 
http://www.gandreas.com/

[lycium]

agreed, i think quadrium | flame is the most advanced fractal rendering system available (so far ) and it's mac-only software.

clearly i need to take mac users into account in developing my next-gen rendering system!

[Sockratease]

agreed, i think quadrium | flame is the most advanced fractal rendering system available (so far ) and it's mac-only software.

That's a shame, as I just poured all my resources into a computer, I wont be able to actually BUY any software for quite a while.

Quadrium is more than $9.99 - so I am not allowed to buy it.  Thus, I shall have to pass on the demo, until I have the option of buying it should I like it.

I use Fractals in some semi-commercial work, and refuse to generate an image I can't use if it inspires me!

That is why I don't use Ultra Fractal or any program that does not give Full Rights to images generated, even with a demo version.

Sorry, G - That Old Hippy Mentality of mine keeps me from trying your wonderful software...

[gandreas]

agreed, i think quadrium | flame is the most advanced fractal rendering system available (so far ) and it's mac-only software.

Thanks, though I'd have to qualify that as quadrium | flame being the most advanced "attractor" style rendering system (i.e., IFS flame fractals, strange attractors, other applications of the "chaos game").  With, of course, quadrium | prime being the most advanced "escape" style render (and quadrium2 covering the more generic "procedural art" category).

[cKleinhuis]

@gandres will there be windows ports ? that would be nice  :

[lycium]

With, of course, quadrium | prime being the most advanced "escape" style render (and quadrium2 covering the more generic "procedural art" category).

i was with you until that point have you seen david makin's ultrafractal formulae?