Office Memo: IcePick Metamorphasis

Bill Anderson

ExIS abandons 3.0 rev of icepick

KPMG•ExIS, the developer of the view resource editor, IcePick, has sold the source code to Apple. This certainly surprised the hell out of MADA, which has been the exclusive distributor of the tool. ExIS has indicated that they will continue to support the current version (1.1), which supports only the MacApp 2 view resource format. Apple plans to use the IcePick source code in a new ViewEdit replacement for MacApp 3.

As we go to press, ExIS has indicated that they feel they have no liability to those people who purchased IcePick with the understanding that it would be rev'd for MacApp 3. Our attorney is reviewing the situation and we may press for a remedy through the court. In the meantime, MADA is pursuing two other related items:

• Apple has indicated a willingness to do a pre-release of the new ViewEdit, based on the IcePick source code, exclusively to original purchasers of IcePick. Apple acted in good faith in purchasing the source code, and was unaware of any potential legal problems, vis-a-vis MADA and ExIS.
• MADA is negotiating with Nick Nallick to publish and distribute AdLib, which is described alternately as a "view resource editor on steroids" and "nearly a complete interface builder." Nick's demo of AdLib at the MADA/Bamada meeting in May got rave reviews from those attending. AdLib fully supports MacApp 3.

Stay tuned for more information in the July issue of FrameWorks.

MADA PREPARES TO MOVE

About the time you get this issue of FrameWorks, the MADA office will be in the process of setting up shop in new quarters in Cupertino, California. After four plus years in Everett, Washington, MADA will finally join the folks in Silicon Valley.

Unfortunately, as we go to press, we still do not have the address or phone numbers for the new office. We will mail notification cards to all MADA members as soon as this information is available. In the meantime, once the office has moved, calls to the old Everett phone numbers will give you a recorded message with the new phone numbers for California.

PACKING UP; MOVING ON

Chuck [Sohnly, MADA Office Manager] and I will help set up the new office in Cupertino, and will work with the new staff in getting things up and running. At the end of June, Chuck and I will leave MADA and return to Everett. Chuck is retiring (having already retired early from the University of Washington), and I will be starting my own business.

Though I will be working on the July issue of FrameWorks, that issue will be highlighting the new Association Manager (about to be selected as we go to press). So I'll take the opportunity here to say "goodbye." It has been a marvelous four years, and I'll miss the organization and the people a great deal. In particular, I'd like to thank my colleague and friend Chuck Sohnly for having made my job so much easier-he will be tough to replace. Also, Arvid and Bev Jedlicka, who have contributed extraordinary amounts of volunteer time to make this Association a success, and have been good friends as well. And Carl Nelson, MADA founder, who first hired me to work for the fledgling association. Tom Chavez, Harvey Alcabes and Steve Burbeck of Apple, who supported MADA, even when their own management sometimes didn't. And to a host of other folks whom I've had the pleasure of working with while Manager. I wish MADA and all involved the best of success in the years ahead. n