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Sep 00 Challenge 3D For Free Using the Mac's Standard Apps

Volume Number: 16 (2000)
Issue Number: 9
Column Tag: Programmer's Challenge

Programmer's Challenge

by Bob Boonstra, Westford, MA

Busy Beavers

Before we get to this month's Challenge, I have to confess being a little distracted. No, not because the annual holiday up at the lake is just a few days away, although I'll also confess that the prospect of a couple of weeks away from the Real Job is most appealing. No, the distraction is because UPS just delivered another addition to the family of computers at the Boonstra household. The most recent additions have been iMacs for the Junior members of the family, but this one is for Me. A new G4. No, not one of the new dual-processor models introduced by Apple at JavitsWorld. (Those of us in Boston cannot acknowledge use of the term MacWorld for anything on the Right Coast that doesn't happen in Bean Town.) Dual processors might mean something to those PhotoShop users among you, but they don't do much for the Rest of Us until Mac OS X comes along. No, the new addition is one of those now-obsolete single-processor G4-500 models that have (finally) dropped a little in price. As those of you who participate in the Challenge contests know, I've been limping along with an old 8500, enhanced over the years with a faster 604e, then a dual 604e upgrade (BeOS, oh BeOS, wherefore art thou BeOS?), and finally with a G3 board. Several readers have asked in the past about whether AltiVec technology could be used in the Challenge, but, sadly, I didn't have a G4 to use in the evaluation. A problem now rectified, or at least it will be once I complete the file transfers proceeding even as I write.

Now that you all know about my new toy, we can get on to the business at hand. This month's problem was suggested by F. C Kuechmann, who earns two Challenge points for the suggestion. Your Challenge this month is to create a Busy Beaver Turing Machine and write a program that simulates its execution.

The Busy Beaver problem was invented in the early 1960s by Tibor Rado of Ohio State University. He asked the following question about 2-symbol Turing machines: what is the largest number of 1s that a Turing machine with n states could write to a tape initially filled with 0s. That "busy beaver" number, or BB(n), has some interesting properties. For example, by reasoning about the Halting Problem, one can show that BB(n) grows faster than any computable sequence.

An internet search shows that the Busy Beaver problem continues to attract interest. Until 1985, the largest value for a 5-state busy beaver produced 501 1s. Then George Uhing found a 5-state machine that produced 1915 1s before halting. And in 1987, Heiner Marxen (and Jürgen Buntrock showed that BB(5) is at least 4098.

For reference, you can start with the following URLs: Marxen's page at <http://www.drb.insel.de/~heiner/BB/index.html>, and <http://grail.cba.csuohio.edu/~somos/bb.html>

The prototype for the code you should write is:

typedef unsigned long ulong;

typedef enum {kMoveLeft=-1,kHalt=0, kMoveRight=1} MoveDir;

typedef struct TMRule {   /* Turing Machine rule */
  ulong oldState;         /* this rule applies when the machine state is oldState */
  Boolean inputSymbol;   /*   and the current input symbol is inputSymbol */
  ulong newState;         /* set current state to newState when this rule fires */
  Boolean outputSymbol;   /* write outputSymbol to tape when this rule fires */
  char moveDirection;    /* kMoveLeft, kMoveRight, or kHalt */
} TMRule;

ulong /* return number of rules */ BusyBeaver5(
   TMRule theTMRules[],
      /* preallocated storage, return the rules for your BB machine */
);

Boolean /* return true for success */ RunTuringMachine(
   TMRule theTMRules[],
      /* preallocated storage, return the rules for your BB machine */
   ulong numberOfTMRules,
      /* the number of rules in theTMRules */
   ulong numBytesInHalfTape,
      /* half-size of the "infinite" Turing Machine tape */
   unsigned char *tmTape,
      /* pointer to preallocated Turing Machine tape storage */
      /* Each byte contains 8 tape symbols, each symbol is 0 or 1. */
      /* The tape extends from tmTape[-numBytesInHalfTape] to 
                                       tmTape[numBytesInHalfTape -1] */
      /* Tape position 0 is (tmTape[0] & 0x80), 
         tape position 1 is (tmTape[0] & 0x40) 
         tape position -1 is (tmTape[-1] & 0x01), etc. */
   ulong *numberOf1sGenerated,
      /* return the number of 1s placed on the tape */
   ulong *numberOfRulesExecuted
   /* return the number of rules executed when running BB, including the halt rule */
   
);

The first thing you need to do is to select the 5-state Busy Beaver Turing Machine that you will simulate in your RunTuringMachine routine. Since scoring is based on how busy your beaver is, that is, on how many 1s it produces on the simulated Turing Machine tape, you want to give some careful thought to this selection. This Turing Machine should returned by your BusyBeaver5 using the TMRule data structure. BusyBeaver5 may return a hard-coded Turing Machine; it does not need to identify the busy beaver at run time.

My test code will then provide the output of BusyBeaver5 to your RunTuringMachine routine, which should simulate the execution of the input Turing Machine. RunTuringMachine will be provided with a blank (zero-filled) tape tmTape that is 2*numBytesInHalfTape in size. The "read head" of the Turing Machine is initially positioned over position [0] of the tape. On exit, tmTape should contain the output of the Turing Machine being simulated. In addition, you should return in the appropriate output parameters the number of 1s on the output tape and the number of state transitions that occurred during your execution of the Turing Machine. RunTuringMachine should return TRUE if it was able to successfully execute the Turing Machine, and FALSE if it failed for some reason, such as running out of simulated tape. (It is not my intention to provide a simulated tape that is too short, but your code should fail gracefully if that happens during testing.)

RunTuringMachine must provide a general Turing Machine simulation, not dependent on the Busy Beaver problem or on the content of the initial input tape. I may choose to verify correctness of your RunTuringMachine code against other input besides that produced by BusyBeaver5.

The winner will be the solution that identifies the 5-state Busy Beaver generating the most 1s on the output tape. Among solutions with equal numbers of 1s, the solution that produces the output in the fewest number of Turing Machine steps will be the winner. And, for solutions that produce the same output in the same number of steps, the winner will be the solution that executes the Turing Machine in the least execution time. While my hope is that one of you might break new ground in the field of busy beaver research, my expectation is that the winning solution will be determined by the execution time criterion.

This will be a native PowerPC Challenge, using the CodeWarrior Pro 5 environment. Solutions may be coded in C, C++, or Pascal. As is our tradition for the September Column, we'll also allow solutions that are completely or partially coded in assembly language. And, yes, this time you can take advantage of the AltiVec features of the G4.

Three Months Ago Winner

Congratulations to Willeke Rieken (The Netherlands) for submitting the winning solution to the June Rub*k Rotation Programmer's Challenge. Readers may recall that the Rub*k Rotation Challenge required contestants to display an image of the famous puzzle and respond to commands to rotate the entire cube or individual cube faces. Scoring was based on correctness of the solution, in this case the smoothness of the displayed rotations, and on execution time.

The fact that Willeke was the only person to submit an entry does not detract from his solution in the slightest, although it did significantly increase his chances of winning. (You can't win if you don't play!) Willeke elected to use QuickDraw3D to implement his solution, motivated by a desire to gain some experience with the QD3D API. His code creates 26 individual cubies (the center cubie is never visible) using the AddCubie routine. Although it might look like a lot of work to set up the cube, the effort pays off in the simplicity with which one can rotate the cube (RotateCube), turn a face of the cube (QuarterTurn), and draw the entire cube (DrawCube), regardless of orientation.

With only one entry, I'll omit the usual table describing the parameters of the solution, and simply observe that this victory vaults Willeke into 4th place in the overall Challenge standings. And remember, you can't win if you don't ...., oh, I'm repeating myself.

Top Contestants

Listed here are the Top Contestants for the Programmer's Challenge, including everyone who has accumulated 10 or more points during the past two years. The numbers below include points awarded over the 24 most recent contests, including points earned by this month's entrants.

Rank Name Points
1. Munter, Ernst 245
2. Saxton, Tom 126
3. Maurer, Sebastian 78
4. Rieken, Willeke 65
5. Boring, Randy 50
6. Shearer, Rob 47
7. Taylor, Jonathan 26
8. Brown, Pat 20
9. Heathcock, JG 16
10. Downs, Andrew 12
11. Jones, Dennis 12
12. Day, Mark 10
13. Duga, Brady 10
14. Fazekas, Miklos 10
15. Murphy, ACC 10
16. Selengut, Jared 10
17. Strout, Joe 10

There are three ways to earn points: (1) scoring in the top 5 of any Challenge, (2) being the first person to find a bug in a published winning solution or, (3) being the first person to suggest a Challenge that I use. The points you can win are:

1st place 20 points
2nd place 10 points
3rd place 7 points
4th place 4 points
5th place 2 points
finding bug 2 points
suggesting Challenge 2 points

Here is Willeke's winning Rub*k Rotation solution:

RubikRotation.c
Copyright © 2000
Willeke Rieken

/*
   draws (a simplified version of) Rubik's cube and animates
   rotations of the cube and of the faces of the cube.
   I'm using QD3D because I never used it and it seemed
   more fun than a diy method and drowning in sin and cos
   and I still think it is.
   
   the model object for the cube consists of 26 group objects
   for each cubie and a rotation object. the rotation object
   contains all previous rotations of the whole cube added together.
   each cubie object contains a box object and a rotation object.
   a cubie rotation object contains all previous rotations of the
   cubie that was caused by rotating a face of the cube.
   
   during rotation of the cube an extra rotation object is
   submitted. after the rotation the rotation object of the cube
   is adjusted.
   during rotation of a face an exta rotation object is added to
   every cubie in the face. after the rotation the extra rotation
   object is removed and the rotation object of the cubie is adjusted.
   
   references to the rotation object of the cube and to the cubie objects
   are kept in globals.
*/

#include <QD3D.h>
#include <QD3DDrawContext.h>
#include <QD3DRenderer.h>
#include <QD3DShader.h>
#include <QD3DCamera.h>
#include <QD3DLight.h>
#include <QD3DGeometry.h>
#include <QD3DGroup.h>
#include <QD3DMath.h>
#include <QD3DTransform.h>
#include <QD3DView.h>
#include <QD3DAcceleration.h>
#include <QD3DErrors.h>

#include "RubikRotation.h"

TQ3ViewObject   gView;   // the view for the scene
TQ3StyleObject   gInterpolation;
         // interpolation style used when rendering
TQ3StyleObject   gBackFacing;
         // whether to draw shapes that face away from the camera
TQ3StyleObject   gFillStyle;
         // whether drawn as solid filled object or decomposed to components
TQ3GroupObject   gCubeModel;   // the cube
TQ3GroupObject   gCubies[3][3][3];
         // the cubies
TQ3TransformObject   gCubeRotation;
         // cumulation of every rotation of the whole cube until now
TQ3TransformObject   gTempCubeRotation;
         // used during rotation of the cube
float   gStepSize;

static TQ3DrawContextObject MyNewDrawContext(CWindowPtr theWindow)
// create context
{
   TQ3DrawContextData   myDrawContextData;
   TQ3MacDrawContextData   myMacDrawContextData;
   TQ3ColorARGB   clearColor;
   TQ3DrawContextObject   myDrawContext ;
   
   //   Set the background color
   clearColor.a = 1.0;
   clearColor.r = 1.0;
   clearColor.g = 1.0;
   clearColor.b = 1.0;
   
   //   Fill in draw context data
   myDrawContextData.clearImageMethod = kQ3ClearMethodWithColor;
   myDrawContextData.clearImageColor = clearColor;
   myDrawContextData.paneState = kQ3False;
   myDrawContextData.maskState = kQ3False;
   myDrawContextData.doubleBufferState = kQ3True;
   myMacDrawContextData.drawContextData = myDrawContextData;
   myMacDrawContextData.window = theWindow;
   myMacDrawContextData.library = kQ3Mac2DLibraryNone;
   myMacDrawContextData.viewPort = 0;
   myMacDrawContextData.grafPort = 0;
   
   //   Create draw context
   myDrawContext = Q3MacDrawContext_New(&myMacDrawContextData) ;
   return myDrawContext ;
}

static TQ3CameraObject MyNewOrthographicCamera(CWindowPtr theWindow, short cubeWidth)
// create orthographic camera
{
   TQ3OrthographicCameraData   orthographicData;
   TQ3CameraObject   camera;
   TQ3Point3D   from = {0.0, 1.5, 7.0};
   TQ3Point3D   to = {0.0, 0.0, 0.0};
   TQ3Vector3D   up = {0.0, 1.0, 0.0};

   orthographicData.cameraData.placement.cameraLocation = from;
   orthographicData.cameraData.placement.pointOfInterest = to;
   orthographicData.cameraData.placement.upVector = up;
   orthographicData.cameraData.range.hither = 1.0;
   orthographicData.cameraData.range.yon = 1000.0;
   orthographicData.cameraData.viewPort.origin.x = -1.0;
   orthographicData.cameraData.viewPort.origin.y = 1.0;
   orthographicData.cameraData.viewPort.width = 2.0;
   orthographicData.cameraData.viewPort.height = 2.0;

   // calculate view plane, size of the cube is 3.0 in QD3Points
   orthographicData.left = -1.5 * 
         ((float)(theWindow->portRect.right - 
                     theWindow->portRect.left)) / 
               (float)(cubeWidth + 1);
  orthographicData.top = orthographicData.left;
  orthographicData.right = -orthographicData.left;
  orthographicData.bottom = orthographicData.right;

   camera = Q3OrthographicCamera_New(&orthographicData);
   return camera;
}

static TQ3CameraObject MyNewViewPlaneCamera(CWindowPtr theWindow, short cubeWidth)
{
// create perspective camera
   TQ3ViewPlaneCameraData   viewPlaneData;
   TQ3CameraObject   camera;
   TQ3Point3D   from = {0.0, 0.0, 7.0};
   TQ3Point3D   to = {0.0, 0.0, 1.5};
   TQ3Vector3D   up = {0.0, 1.0, 0.0};

   viewPlaneData.cameraData.placement.cameraLocation = from;
   viewPlaneData.cameraData.placement.pointOfInterest = to;
   viewPlaneData.cameraData.placement.upVector = up;
   viewPlaneData.cameraData.range.hither = 1.0;
   viewPlaneData.cameraData.range.yon = 1000.0;
   viewPlaneData.cameraData.viewPort.origin.x = -1.0;
   viewPlaneData.cameraData.viewPort.origin.y = 1.0;
   viewPlaneData.cameraData.viewPort.width = 2.0;
   viewPlaneData.cameraData.viewPort.height = 2.0;

   // calculate view plane, size of the cube is 3.0 in QD3Points
   viewPlaneData.viewPlane = 5.5;
  viewPlaneData.halfWidthAtViewPlane = 1.5 * 
         ((float)(theWindow->portRect.right - 
                     theWindow->portRect.left)) / 
               (float)(cubeWidth + 1);
  viewPlaneData.halfHeightAtViewPlane = 
         viewPlaneData.halfWidthAtViewPlane;
  viewPlaneData.centerXOnViewPlane = 0.0;
  viewPlaneData.centerYOnViewPlane = 0.0;

   camera = Q3ViewPlaneCamera_New(&viewPlaneData);
   return camera;
}

static TQ3GroupObject MyNewAmbientOnlyLights()
{
   TQ3GroupObject   myLightList;
   TQ3LightData   myLightData;
   TQ3LightObject   myAmbientLight;
   TQ3ColorRGB   whiteLight = {1.0, 1.0, 1.0};
   
   //   Set up light data for ambient light.
   myLightData.isOn = kQ3True;
   myLightData.color = whiteLight;
   
   //   Create ambient light.
   myLightData.brightness = 1.0;
   myAmbientLight = Q3AmbientLight_New(&myLightData);

   //   Create light group and add each of the lights into the group.
   myLightList = Q3LightGroup_New();
   Q3Group_AddObject(myLightList, myAmbientLight);
   Q3Object_Dispose(myAmbientLight) ;
   return myLightList;
}

static TQ3GroupObject MyNewLights()
{
   TQ3GroupObject   myLightList;
   TQ3LightData   myLightData;
   TQ3PointLightData   myPointLightData;
   TQ3DirectionalLightData   myDirectionalLightData;
   TQ3LightObject   myAmbientLight, myPointLight, myFillLight;
   TQ3Point3D   pointLocation = {-10.0, 0.0, 10.0};
   TQ3Vector3D   fillDirection = {10.0, 0.0, 10.0};
   TQ3ColorRGB   whiteLight = {1.0, 1.0, 1.0};
   
   //   Set up light data for ambient light.
   //   This light data will be used for point and fill light also.
   myLightData.isOn = kQ3True;
   myLightData.color = whiteLight;
   
   //   Create ambient light.
   myLightData.brightness = 0.25;
   myAmbientLight = Q3AmbientLight_New(&myLightData);
   
   //   Create point light.
   myLightData.brightness = 1.0;
   myPointLightData.lightData = myLightData;
   myPointLightData.castsShadows = kQ3False;
   myPointLightData.attenuation = kQ3AttenuationTypeNone;
   myPointLightData.location = pointLocation;
   myPointLight = Q3PointLight_New(&myPointLightData);

   //   Create fill light.
   myLightData.brightness = 0.2;
   myDirectionalLightData.lightData = myLightData;
   myDirectionalLightData.castsShadows = kQ3False;
   myDirectionalLightData.direction = fillDirection;
   myFillLight = Q3DirectionalLight_New(&myDirectionalLightData);

   //   Create light group and add each of the lights into the group.
   myLightList = Q3LightGroup_New();
   Q3Group_AddObject(myLightList, myAmbientLight);
   Q3Group_AddObject(myLightList, myPointLight);
   Q3Group_AddObject(myLightList, myFillLight);

   Q3Object_Dispose(myAmbientLight);
   Q3Object_Dispose(myPointLight);
   Q3Object_Dispose(myFillLight);

   return myLightList;
}

static TQ3ViewObject MyNewView(CWindowPtr theWindow, short cubeWidth)
{
   TQ3ViewObject   myView;
   TQ3DrawContextObject   myDrawContext;
   TQ3RendererObject   myRenderer;
   TQ3CameraObject   myCamera;
   TQ3GroupObject   myLights;
   
   myView = Q3View_New();
   
   //   Create and set draw context.
   myDrawContext = MyNewDrawContext(theWindow);
   Q3View_SetDrawContext(myView, myDrawContext);
   Q3Object_Dispose(myDrawContext) ;
   
   //   Create and set renderer.
   // use the interactive software renderer
   myRenderer = 
      Q3Renderer_NewFromType(kQ3RendererTypeInteractive);
   Q3View_SetRenderer(myView, myRenderer);
   // these two lines set us up to use the best possible renderer,
   // including  hardware if it is installed.
   Q3InteractiveRenderer_SetDoubleBufferBypass(myRenderer, 
         kQ3True);                  
   Q3InteractiveRenderer_SetPreferences(myRenderer, 
         kQAVendor_BestChoice, 0);
   /* for software renderer, without hardware accelleration, replace with:
   Q3InteractiveRenderer_SetPreferences(myRenderer, kQAVendor_Apple, 
         kQAEngine_AppleSW);
   */
   Q3Object_Dispose(myRenderer);
   
   //   Create and set camera.
   myCamera = MyNewViewPlaneCamera(theWindow, cubeWidth);
   /* for an orthographic camera, replace with:
   myCamera = MyNewOrthographicCamera(theWindow, cubeWidth);
   */
   Q3View_SetCamera(myView, myCamera);
   Q3Object_Dispose(myCamera) ;
   
   //   Create and set lights.
   myLights = MyNewAmbientOnlyLights();
   /* for better looking lights, replace with:
   myLights = MyNewLights();
   */
   Q3View_SetLightGroup(myView, myLights);
   Q3Object_Dispose(myLights);

   return myView;
}

static void DrawCube()
{   
   TQ3ViewStatus   myStatus;
   Q3View_StartRendering(gView);
   do
   {
      Q3Style_Submit(gInterpolation, gView);
      Q3Style_Submit(gBackFacing, gView);
      Q3Style_Submit(gFillStyle, gView);
      if (gTempCubeRotation)
         Q3Transform_Submit(gTempCubeRotation, gView);
      Q3DisplayGroup_Submit(gCubeModel, gView);
      myStatus = Q3View_EndRendering(gView);
   } while (myStatus == kQ3ViewStatusRetraverse);
}

static void AddCubie(TQ3GroupObject theGroup, long theX, long theY, long theZ,
                  TQ3ColorRGB *theLeftColor, TQ3ColorRGB *theRightColor, TQ3ColorRGB *theFrontColor,
                  TQ3ColorRGB *theBackColor, TQ3ColorRGB *theTopColor, TQ3ColorRGB *theBottomColor)
{
   TQ3GeometryObject   myBox;
   TQ3BoxData   myBoxData;
   TQ3SetObject   faces[6];
   TQ3GroupObject   aCubie;
   TQ3TransformObject   aTransformation;
   TQ3Matrix4x4   aMatrix;
   short   face;

   // create a rotation object, it doesn't rotate yet
   // but it will be adjusted after rotating the face
   aCubie = Q3DisplayGroup_New();
   Q3Matrix4x4_SetIdentity(&aMatrix);
   aTransformation = Q3MatrixTransform_New(&aMatrix);
   Q3Group_AddObject(aCubie, aTransformation);
   Q3Object_Dispose(aTransformation);
   
   // create the box itself
   myBoxData.faceAttributeSet = faces;
   myBoxData.boxAttributeSet = nil;
   myBoxData.faceAttributeSet[0] = Q3AttributeSet_New();
   Q3AttributeSet_Add(myBoxData.faceAttributeSet[0], 
         kQ3AttributeTypeDiffuseColor, theLeftColor);
   myBoxData.faceAttributeSet[1] = Q3AttributeSet_New();
   Q3AttributeSet_Add(myBoxData.faceAttributeSet[1], 
         kQ3AttributeTypeDiffuseColor, theRightColor);
   myBoxData.faceAttributeSet[2] = Q3AttributeSet_New();
   Q3AttributeSet_Add(myBoxData.faceAttributeSet[2], 
         kQ3AttributeTypeDiffuseColor, theFrontColor);
   myBoxData.faceAttributeSet[3] = Q3AttributeSet_New();
   Q3AttributeSet_Add(myBoxData.faceAttributeSet[3], 
         kQ3AttributeTypeDiffuseColor, theBackColor);
   myBoxData.faceAttributeSet[4] = Q3AttributeSet_New();
   Q3AttributeSet_Add(myBoxData.faceAttributeSet[4], 
         kQ3AttributeTypeDiffuseColor, theTopColor);
   myBoxData.faceAttributeSet[5] = Q3AttributeSet_New();
   Q3AttributeSet_Add(myBoxData.faceAttributeSet[5], 
         kQ3AttributeTypeDiffuseColor, theBottomColor);
   Q3Point3D_Set(&myBoxData.origin, -1.5 + theX, 0.5 - theY, 
         0.5 - theZ);
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&myBoxData.orientation, 0, 1, 0);
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&myBoxData.majorAxis, 0, 0, 1);   
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&myBoxData.minorAxis, 1, 0, 0);   
   myBox = Q3Box_New(&myBoxData);
   for (face = 0; face < 6; face++)
      if (myBoxData.faceAttributeSet[face] != 0)
         Q3Object_Dispose(myBoxData.faceAttributeSet[face]);
   Q3Group_AddObject(aCubie, myBox);
   Q3Object_Dispose(myBox);
   Q3Group_AddObject(theGroup, aCubie);
   gCubies[theX][theY][theZ] = aCubie;
}

static TQ3GroupObject MyNewModel(const RGBColor cubeColors[6],   
         const short cubieColors[6][3][3])
{
   TQ3GroupObject   myGroup = 0;
   TQ3ShaderObject   myIlluminationShader ;
   TQ3Matrix4x4   aMatrix;
   TQ3ColorRGB   Q3CubeColors[6];
   TQ3ColorRGB   aGray = {0.25, 0.25, 0.25};
   long   face;
      
   // convert RGBColor to TQ3ColorRGB
   for (face = 0; face < 6; face++)
   {
Q3CubeColors[face].r = (float)cubeColors[face].red / 0xffff;
Q3CubeColors[face].g = (float)cubeColors[face].green / 0xffff;
Q3CubeColors[face].b = (float)cubeColors[face].blue / 0xffff;
   }
   // Create a group for the complete model.
   if ((myGroup = Q3DisplayGroup_New()) != 0)
   {
      // Define a shading type for the group
      // and add the shader to the group
      myIlluminationShader = Q3NULLIllumination_New();
      /* for a better looking cube, replace with
      myIlluminationShader = Q3LambertIllumination_New();
      or
      myIlluminationShader = Q3PhongIllumination_New();
      */
      Q3Group_AddObject(myGroup, myIlluminationShader);
      Q3Object_Dispose(myIlluminationShader);   

   // create a rotation object, it doesn't rotate yet
   // but it will be adjusted after rotating the cube
      Q3Matrix4x4_SetIdentity(&aMatrix);
      gCubeRotation = Q3MatrixTransform_New(&aMatrix);
      Q3Group_AddObject(myGroup, gCubeRotation);
      
      // add boxes for the cubies
         // left top front
      AddCubie(myGroup, 0, 0, 0,
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kLeft][2][0]], &aGray, 
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kFront][0][0]],
         &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kUp][0][2]], &aGray);
         // middle top front
      AddCubie(myGroup, 1, 0, 0,
      &aGray, &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kFront][1][0]],
         &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kUp][1][2]], &aGray);
         // right top front
      AddCubie(myGroup, 2, 0, 0,
               &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kRight][0][0]], 
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kFront][2][0]],
         &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kUp][2][2]], &aGray);

         // left top middle
      AddCubie(myGroup, 0, 0, 1,
      &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kLeft][1][0]], &aGray, &aGray,
         &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kUp][0][1]], &aGray);
         // middle top middle
      AddCubie(myGroup, 1, 0, 1,
               &aGray, &aGray, &aGray,
         &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kUp][1][1]], &aGray);
         // right top middle
      AddCubie(myGroup, 2, 0, 1,
      &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kRight][1][0]], &aGray,
         &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kUp][2][1]], &aGray);

         // left top back
      AddCubie(myGroup, 0, 0, 2,
      &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kLeft][0][0]], &aGray, &aGray,
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kBack][2][0]], 
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kUp][0][0]], &aGray);
         // middle top back
      AddCubie(myGroup, 1, 0, 2,
               &aGray, &aGray, &aGray,
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kBack][1][0]], 
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kUp][1][0]], &aGray);
         // right top back
      AddCubie(myGroup, 2, 0, 2,
      &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kRight][2][0]], &aGray,
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kBack][0][0]], 
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kUp][2][0]], &aGray);

         // left middle front
      AddCubie(myGroup, 0, 1, 0,
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kLeft][2][1]], &aGray, 
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kFront][0][1]],
               &aGray, &aGray, &aGray);
         // middle middle front
      AddCubie(myGroup, 1, 1, 0,
      &aGray, &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kFront][1][1]],
               &aGray, &aGray, &aGray);
         // right middle front
      AddCubie(myGroup, 2, 1, 0,
               &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kRight][0][1]], 
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kFront][2][1]],
               &aGray, &aGray, &aGray);

         // left middle middle
      AddCubie(myGroup, 0, 1, 1,
      &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kLeft][1][1]], &aGray, &aGray,
               &aGray, &aGray, &aGray);
         // middle middle middle
      /* invisible
      AddCubie(myGroup, 1, 1, 1,
               &aGray, &aGray, &aGray,
               &aGray, &aGray, &aGray);
      */
         // right middle middle
      AddCubie(myGroup, 2, 1, 1,
      &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kRight][1][1]], &aGray,
               &aGray, &aGray, &aGray);

         // left middle back
      AddCubie(myGroup, 0, 1, 2,
      &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kLeft][0][1]], &aGray, &aGray,
      &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kBack][2][1]], &aGray, &aGray);
         // middle middle back
      AddCubie(myGroup, 1, 1, 2,
               &aGray, &aGray, &aGray,
      &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kBack][1][1]], &aGray, &aGray);
         // right middle back
      AddCubie(myGroup, 2, 1, 2,
      &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kRight][2][1]], &aGray,
      &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kBack][0][1]], &aGray, &aGray);

         // left bottom front
      AddCubie(myGroup, 0, 2, 0,
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kLeft][2][2]], &aGray, 
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kFront][0][2]],
      &aGray, &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kDown][0][0]]);
         // middle bottom front
      AddCubie(myGroup, 1, 2, 0,
      &aGray, &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kFront][1][2]],
      &aGray, &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kDown][1][0]]);
         // right bottom front
      AddCubie(myGroup, 2, 2, 0,
               &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kRight][0][2]], 
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kFront][2][2]],
      &aGray, &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kDown][2][0]]);

         // left bottom middle
      AddCubie(myGroup, 0, 2, 1,
      &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kLeft][1][2]], &aGray, &aGray,
      &aGray, &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kDown][0][1]]);
         // middle bottom middle
      AddCubie(myGroup, 1, 2, 1,
               &aGray, &aGray, &aGray,
      &aGray, &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kDown][1][1]]);
         // right bottom middle
      AddCubie(myGroup, 2, 2, 1,
      &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kRight][1][2]], &aGray,
      &aGray, &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kDown][2][1]]);

         // left bottom back
      AddCubie(myGroup, 0, 2, 2,
      &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kLeft][0][2]], &aGray, &aGray,
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kBack][2][2]], &aGray, 
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kDown][0][2]]);
         // middle bottom back
      AddCubie(myGroup, 1, 2, 2,
               &aGray, &aGray, &aGray,
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kBack][1][2]], &aGray, 
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kDown][1][2]]);
         // right bottom back
      AddCubie(myGroup, 2, 2, 2,
      &aGray, &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kRight][2][2]], &aGray,
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kBack][0][2]], &aGray, 
               &Q3CubeColors[cubieColors[kDown][2][2]]);

   }
   return myGroup;
}

void InitCube(
  CWindowPtr cubeWindow,         
  const RGBColor cubeColors[6],   
  const short cubieColors[6][3][3], 
  short cubeWidth,  
  short stepSize    
) {
   long   x, y, z;

   for (x = 0; x < 3; x++)
      for (y = 0; y < 3; y++)
         for (z = 0; z < 3; z++)
            gCubies[x][y][z] = 0;

   SetPort((GrafPtr)cubeWindow);

   gStepSize = stepSize;
   gTempCubeRotation = 0;
   gCubeRotation = 0;
   
   Q3Initialize();

   // sets up the 3d data for the scene
   // Create view for QuickDraw 3D.
   gView = MyNewView(cubeWindow, cubeWidth);

   // the main display group:
   gCubeModel = MyNewModel(cubeColors, cubieColors);

   // the drawing styles:
   gInterpolation = 
         Q3InterpolationStyle_New(kQ3InterpolationStyleNone);
   gBackFacing = Q3BackfacingStyle_New(kQ3BackfacingStyleRemove);
   gFillStyle = Q3FillStyle_New(kQ3FillStyleFilled);

   DrawCube();      
}

void QuarterTurn(
  CubeFace face,
  TurnDirection direction
) {
   long   i, x, y, z;
   long   aFirstX, aLastX, aFirstY, aLastY, aFirstZ, aLastZ;
   TQ3Matrix4x4   aCubieMatrix, aRotationMatrix;
   TQ3RotateAboutAxisTransformData   aRotationdata;
   TQ3TransformObject   aFaceRotation;
   TQ3GroupPosition   aPos;
   TQ3GroupObject   aCubie;
   long   stepsToTurn;

   aFirstX = 0;
   aLastX = 3;
   aFirstY = 0;
   aLastY = 3;
   aFirstZ = 0;
   aLastZ = 3;

   // create a rotation object
   switch(face)
   {
      case kFront:
      {
         if (direction == kClockwise)
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&aRotationdata.orientation, 0.0, 0.0, -1.0);
         else
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&aRotationdata.orientation, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0);
         aLastZ = 1;
         break;
      }
      case kBack:
      {
         if (direction == kClockwise)
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&aRotationdata.orientation, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0);
         else
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&aRotationdata.orientation, 0.0, 0.0, -1.0);
         aFirstZ = 2;
         break;
      }
      case kLeft:
      {
         if (direction == kClockwise)
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&aRotationdata.orientation, 1.0, 0.0, 0.0);
         else
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&aRotationdata.orientation, -1.0, 0.0, 0.0);
         aLastX = 1;
         break;
      }
      case kRight:
      {
   if (direction == kClockwise)
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&aRotationdata.orientation, -1.0, 0.0, 0.0);
         else
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&aRotationdata.orientation, 1.0, 0.0, 0.0);
         aFirstX = 2;
         break;
      }
      case kUp:
      {
         if (direction == kClockwise)
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&aRotationdata.orientation, 0.0, -1.0, 0.0);
         else
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&aRotationdata.orientation, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0);
         aLastY = 1;
         break;
      }
      case kDown:
      {
         if (direction == kClockwise)
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&aRotationdata.orientation, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0);
         else
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&aRotationdata.orientation, 0.0, -1.0, 0.0);
         aFirstY = 2;
         break;
      }
   }
   Q3Point3D_Set(&aRotationdata.origin, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0);
   aRotationdata.radians = 0.0;
   
   aFaceRotation = Q3RotateAboutAxisTransform_New(&aRotationdata);
   // add the rotation object to each cubie in the face
   for (x = aFirstX; x < aLastX; x++)
      for (y = aFirstY; y < aLastY; y++)
         for (z = aFirstZ; z < aLastZ; z++)
         {
            Q3Group_GetFirstPosition(gCubies[x][y][z], &aPos);
            Q3Group_AddObjectBefore(gCubies[x][y][z], aPos, 
                  aFaceRotation);
         }
   // draw and adjust the angle
   stepsToTurn = gStepSize / 4;
   for (i = 1; i < stepsToTurn; i++)
   {
      Q3RotateAboutAxisTransform_SetAngle(aFaceRotation, 
               (2.0 * kQ3Pi * i / gStepSize));
      DrawCube();
   }
   
   // set the angle to 90° and adjust the rotation of each cubie
   Q3RotateAboutAxisTransform_SetAngle(aFaceRotation, 
               (kQ3Pi / 2.0));
   Q3Transform_GetMatrix(aFaceRotation, &aRotationMatrix);
   if (aFaceRotation)
      Q3Object_Dispose(aFaceRotation);
   for (x = aFirstX; x < aLastX; x++)
      for (y = aFirstY; y < aLastY; y++)
         for (z = aFirstZ; z < aLastZ; z++)
         {
            Q3Group_GetFirstPosition(gCubies[x][y][z], &aPos);
         aFaceRotation = Q3Group_RemovePosition(gCubies[x][y][z], 
                  aPos);
            if (aFaceRotation)
               Q3Object_Dispose(aFaceRotation);
            Q3Group_GetFirstPositionOfType(gCubies[x][y][z], 
                  kQ3TransformTypeMatrix, &aPos);
            Q3Group_GetPositionObject(gCubies[x][y][z], aPos, 
                  &aFaceRotation);
            if (aFaceRotation)
            {
            Q3MatrixTransform_Get(aFaceRotation, &aCubieMatrix);
         Q3Matrix4x4_Multiply(&aCubieMatrix, &aRotationMatrix, 
                  &aCubieMatrix);
            Q3MatrixTransform_Set(aFaceRotation, &aCubieMatrix);
               Q3Object_Dispose(aFaceRotation);
            }
         }
   DrawCube();

   // rotate cubies in gCubies
   switch(face)
   {
      case kFront:
      {
         if (direction == kClockwise)
         {
            aCubie                = gCubies[0][0][0];
            gCubies[0][0][0] = gCubies[0][2][0];
            gCubies[0][2][0] = gCubies[2][2][0];
            gCubies[2][2][0] = gCubies[2][0][0];
            gCubies[2][0][0] = aCubie;
            aCubie                = gCubies[1][0][0];
            gCubies[1][0][0] = gCubies[0][1][0];
            gCubies[0][1][0] = gCubies[1][2][0];
            gCubies[1][2][0] = gCubies[2][1][0];
            gCubies[2][1][0] = aCubie;
         }
         else
         {
            aCubie                = gCubies[0][2][0];
            gCubies[0][2][0] = gCubies[0][0][0];
            gCubies[0][0][0] = gCubies[2][0][0];
            gCubies[2][0][0] = gCubies[2][2][0];
            gCubies[2][2][0] = aCubie;
            aCubie                = gCubies[1][2][0];
            gCubies[1][2][0] = gCubies[0][1][0];
            gCubies[0][1][0] = gCubies[1][0][0];
            gCubies[1][0][0] = gCubies[2][1][0];
            gCubies[2][1][0] = aCubie;
         }
         break;
      }
      case kBack:
      {
         if (direction == kClockwise)
         {
            aCubie                = gCubies[0][2][2];
            gCubies[0][2][2] = gCubies[0][0][2];
            gCubies[0][0][2] = gCubies[2][0][2];
            gCubies[2][0][2] = gCubies[2][2][2];
            gCubies[2][2][2] = aCubie;
            aCubie                = gCubies[1][2][2];
            gCubies[1][2][2] = gCubies[0][1][2];
            gCubies[0][1][2] = gCubies[1][0][2];
            gCubies[1][0][2] = gCubies[2][1][2];
            gCubies[2][1][2] = aCubie;
         }
         else
         {
            aCubie                = gCubies[0][0][2];
            gCubies[0][0][2] = gCubies[0][2][2];
            gCubies[0][2][2] = gCubies[2][2][2];
            gCubies[2][2][2] = gCubies[2][0][2];
            gCubies[2][0][2] = aCubie;
            aCubie                = gCubies[1][0][2];
            gCubies[1][0][2] = gCubies[0][1][2];
            gCubies[0][1][2] = gCubies[1][2][2];
            gCubies[1][2][2] = gCubies[2][1][2];
            gCubies[2][1][2] = aCubie;
         }
         break;
      }
      case kLeft:
      {
         if (direction == kClockwise)
         {
            aCubie                = gCubies[0][0][2];
            gCubies[0][0][2] = gCubies[0][2][2];
            gCubies[0][2][2] = gCubies[0][2][0];
            gCubies[0][2][0] = gCubies[0][0][0];
            gCubies[0][0][0] = aCubie;
            aCubie                = gCubies[0][0][1];
            gCubies[0][0][1] = gCubies[0][1][2];
            gCubies[0][1][2] = gCubies[0][2][1];
            gCubies[0][2][1] = gCubies[0][1][0];
            gCubies[0][1][0] = aCubie;
         }
         else
         {
            aCubie                = gCubies[0][2][2];
            gCubies[0][2][2] = gCubies[0][0][2];
            gCubies[0][0][2] = gCubies[0][0][0];
            gCubies[0][0][0] = gCubies[0][2][0];
            gCubies[0][2][0] = aCubie;
            aCubie                = gCubies[0][2][1];
            gCubies[0][2][1] = gCubies[0][1][2];
            gCubies[0][1][2] = gCubies[0][0][1];
            gCubies[0][0][1] = gCubies[0][1][0];
            gCubies[0][1][0] = aCubie;
         }
         break;
      }
      case kRight:
      {
         if (direction == kClockwise)
         {
            aCubie                = gCubies[2][2][2];
            gCubies[2][2][2] = gCubies[2][0][2];
            gCubies[2][0][2] = gCubies[2][0][0];
            gCubies[2][0][0] = gCubies[2][2][0];
            gCubies[2][2][0] = aCubie;
            aCubie                = gCubies[2][2][1];
            gCubies[2][2][1] = gCubies[2][1][2];
            gCubies[2][1][2] = gCubies[2][0][1];
            gCubies[2][0][1] = gCubies[2][1][0];
            gCubies[2][1][0] = aCubie;
         }
         else
         {
            aCubie                = gCubies[2][0][2];
            gCubies[2][0][2] = gCubies[2][2][2];
            gCubies[2][2][2] = gCubies[2][2][0];
            gCubies[2][2][0] = gCubies[2][0][0];
            gCubies[2][0][0] = aCubie;
            aCubie                = gCubies[2][0][1];
            gCubies[2][0][1] = gCubies[2][1][2];
            gCubies[2][1][2] = gCubies[2][2][1];
            gCubies[2][2][1] = gCubies[2][1][0];
            gCubies[2][1][0] = aCubie;
         }
         break;
      }
      case kUp:
      {
         if (direction == kClockwise)
         {
            aCubie                = gCubies[0][0][2];
            gCubies[0][0][2] = gCubies[0][0][0];
            gCubies[0][0][0] = gCubies[2][0][0];
            gCubies[2][0][0] = gCubies[2][0][2];
            gCubies[2][0][2] = aCubie;
            aCubie                = gCubies[1][0][2];
            gCubies[1][0][2] = gCubies[0][0][1];
            gCubies[0][0][1] = gCubies[1][0][0];
            gCubies[1][0][0] = gCubies[2][0][1];
            gCubies[2][0][1] = aCubie;
         }
         else
         {
            aCubie                = gCubies[2][0][2];
            gCubies[2][0][2] = gCubies[2][0][0];
            gCubies[2][0][0] = gCubies[0][0][0];
            gCubies[0][0][0] = gCubies[0][0][2];
            gCubies[0][0][2] = aCubie;
            aCubie                = gCubies[1][0][2];
            gCubies[1][0][2] = gCubies[2][0][1];
            gCubies[2][0][1] = gCubies[1][0][0];
            gCubies[1][0][0] = gCubies[0][0][1];
            gCubies[0][0][1] = aCubie;
         }
         break;
      }
      case kDown:
      {
         if (direction == kClockwise)
         {
            aCubie                = gCubies[2][2][2];
            gCubies[2][2][2] = gCubies[2][2][0];
            gCubies[2][2][0] = gCubies[0][2][0];
            gCubies[0][2][0] = gCubies[0][2][2];
            gCubies[0][2][2] = aCubie;
            aCubie                = gCubies[1][2][2];
            gCubies[1][2][2] = gCubies[2][2][1];
            gCubies[2][2][1] = gCubies[1][2][0];
            gCubies[1][2][0] = gCubies[0][2][1];
            gCubies[0][2][1] = aCubie;
         }
         else
         {
            aCubie                = gCubies[0][2][2];
            gCubies[0][2][2] = gCubies[0][2][0];
            gCubies[0][2][0] = gCubies[2][2][0];
            gCubies[2][2][0] = gCubies[2][2][2];
            gCubies[2][2][2] = aCubie;
            aCubie                = gCubies[1][2][2];
            gCubies[1][2][2] = gCubies[0][2][1];
            gCubies[0][2][1] = gCubies[1][2][0];
            gCubies[1][2][0] = gCubies[2][2][1];
            gCubies[2][2][1] = aCubie;
         }
         break;
      }
   }
}

void RotateCube(
  CubeAxis axis,
  TurnDirection direction,  
  short stepsToTurn
) {
   TQ3RotateAboutAxisTransformData aRotationdata;
   TQ3Matrix4x4   aCubeRotationMatrix, aTempMatrix;
   long i;
   
   // create a rotation object
   switch (axis)
   {
      case kFrontBack:
      {
         if (direction == kClockwise)
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&aRotationdata.orientation, 0.0, 0.0, -1.0);
         else
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&aRotationdata.orientation, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0);
         break;
      }
      case kLeftRight:
      {
         if (direction == kClockwise)
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&aRotationdata.orientation, 1.0, 0.0, 0.0);
         else
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&aRotationdata.orientation, -1.0, 0.0, 0.0);
         break;
      }
      case kUpDown:
      {
         if (direction == kClockwise)
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&aRotationdata.orientation, 0.0, -1.0, 0.0);
         else
   Q3Vector3D_Set(&aRotationdata.orientation, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0);
         break;
      }
   }
   Q3Point3D_Set(&aRotationdata.origin, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0);
   aRotationdata.radians = 0.0;
   // the cube has been rotated, rotate the orientation of the rotation
   Q3MatrixTransform_Get(gCubeRotation, &aCubeRotationMatrix);
   Q3Vector3D_Transform(&aRotationdata.orientation, 
         &aCubeRotationMatrix, &aRotationdata.orientation);
   gTempCubeRotation = 
         Q3RotateAboutAxisTransform_New(&aRotationdata);
   // draw and adjust the angle
   for (i = 1; i < stepsToTurn; i++)
   {
      Q3RotateAboutAxisTransform_SetAngle(gTempCubeRotation, 
            (2.0 * kQ3Pi * i / gStepSize));
      DrawCube();
   }
   // set the angle to 90° and adjust the rotation object of the cube
   Q3RotateAboutAxisTransform_SetAngle(gTempCubeRotation, 
            (2.0 * kQ3Pi * stepsToTurn / gStepSize));
   Q3Transform_GetMatrix(gTempCubeRotation, &aTempMatrix);
   Q3MatrixTransform_Get(gCubeRotation, &aCubeRotationMatrix);
   Q3Matrix4x4_Multiply(&aCubeRotationMatrix, &aTempMatrix, 
            &aCubeRotationMatrix);
   Q3MatrixTransform_Set(gCubeRotation, &aCubeRotationMatrix);
   // don't need gTempCubeRotation anymore, dispose it
   if (gTempCubeRotation)
      Q3Object_Dispose(gTempCubeRotation);
   gTempCubeRotation = 0;
   DrawCube();
}

void TermCube(void) {
   long   x, y, z;

   Q3Object_Dispose(gView);
   Q3Object_Dispose(gCubeModel);   // object in the scene being modelled
   Q3Object_Dispose(gCubeRotation);
   for (x = 0; x < 3; x++)
      for (y = 0; y < 3; y++)
         for (z = 0; z < 3; z++)
         {
            if (gCubies[x][y][z])
               Q3Object_Dispose(gCubies[x][y][z]);            // object in the scene being modelled
         }
Q3Object_Dispose(gInterpolation);   // interpolation style used when rendering
   Q3Object_Dispose(gBackFacing);
         // whether to draw shapes that face away from the camera
   Q3Object_Dispose(gFillStyle);   
         // whether drawn as solid filled object or decomposed to components
   Q3Exit();
}
 

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Dropbox 193.4.5594 - Cloud backup and sy...
Dropbox is a file hosting service that provides cloud storage, file synchronization, personal cloud, and client software. It is a modern workspace that allows you to get to all of your files, manage... Read more
Google Chrome 122.0.6261.57 - Modern and...
Google Chrome is a Web browser by Google, created to be a modern platform for Web pages and applications. It utilizes very fast loading of Web pages and has a V8 engine, which is a custom built... Read more
Skype 8.113.0.210 - Voice-over-internet...
Skype is a telecommunications app that provides HD video calls, instant messaging, calling to any phone number or landline, and Skype for Business for productive cooperation on the projects. This... Read more
Tor Browser 13.0.10 - Anonymize Web brow...
Using Tor Browser you can protect yourself against tracking, surveillance, and censorship. Tor was originally designed, implemented, and deployed as a third-generation onion-routing project of the U.... Read more
Deeper 3.0.4 - Enable hidden features in...
Deeper is a personalization utility for macOS which allows you to enable and disable the hidden functions of the Finder, Dock, QuickTime, Safari, iTunes, login window, Spotlight, and many of Apple's... Read more
OnyX 4.5.5 - Maintenance and optimizatio...
OnyX is a multifunction utility that you can use to verify the startup disk and the structure of its system files, to run miscellaneous maintenance and cleaning tasks, to configure parameters in the... Read more
Hopper Disassembler 5.14.1 - Binary disa...
Hopper Disassembler is a binary disassembler, decompiler, and debugger for 32- and 64-bit executables. It will let you disassemble any binary you want, and provide you all the information about its... Read more

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Zenless Zone Zero opens entries for its...
miHoYo, aka HoYoverse, has become such a big name in mobile gaming that it's hard to believe that arguably their flagship title, Genshin Impact, is only three and a half years old. Now, they continue the road to the next title in their world, with... | Read more »
Live, Playdate, Live! – The TouchArcade...
In this week’s episode of The TouchArcade Show we kick things off by talking about all the games I splurged on during the recent Playdate Catalog one-year anniversary sale, including the new Lucas Pope jam Mars After Midnight. We haven’t played any... | Read more »
TouchArcade Game of the Week: ‘Vroomies’
So here’s a thing: Vroomies from developer Alex Taber aka Unordered Games is the Game of the Week! Except… Vroomies came out an entire month ago. It wasn’t on my radar until this week, which is why I included it in our weekly new games round-up, but... | Read more »
SwitchArcade Round-Up: ‘MLB The Show 24’...
Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for March 15th, 2024. We’re closing out the week with a bunch of new games, with Sony’s baseball franchise MLB The Show up to bat yet again. There are several other interesting games to... | Read more »
Steam Deck Weekly: WWE 2K24 and Summerho...
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. The busy season has begun with games we’ve been looking forward to playing including Dragon’s Dogma 2, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition, and also console exclusives like Rise of the... | Read more »
Steam Spring Sale 2024 – The 10 Best Ste...
The Steam Spring Sale 2024 began last night, and while it isn’t as big of a deal as say the Steam Winter Sale, you may as well take advantage of it to save money on some games you were planning to buy. I obviously recommend checking out your own... | Read more »
New ‘SaGa Emerald Beyond’ Gameplay Showc...
Last month, Square Enix posted a Let’s Play video featuring SaGa Localization Director Neil Broadley who showcased the worlds, companions, and more from the upcoming and highly-anticipated RPG SaGa Emerald Beyond. | Read more »
Choose Your Side in the Latest ‘Marvel S...
Last month, Marvel Snap (Free) held its very first “imbalance" event in honor of Valentine’s Day. For a limited time, certain well-known couples were given special boosts when conditions were right. It must have gone over well, because we’ve got a... | Read more »
Warframe welcomes the arrival of a new s...
As a Warframe player one of the best things about it launching on iOS, despite it being arguably the best way to play the game if you have a controller, is that I can now be paid to talk about it. To whit, we are gearing up to receive the first... | Read more »
Apple Arcade Weekly Round-Up: Updates an...
Following the new releases earlier in the month and April 2024’s games being revealed by Apple, this week has seen some notable game updates and events go live for Apple Arcade. What The Golf? has an April Fool’s Day celebration event going live “... | Read more »

Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

Apple Education is offering $100 discounts on...
If you’re a student, teacher, or staff member at any educational institution, you can use your .edu email address when ordering at Apple Education to take $100 off the price of a new M3 MacBook Air.... Read more
Apple Watch Ultra 2 with Blood Oxygen feature...
Best Buy is offering Apple Watch Ultra 2 models for $50 off MSRP on their online store this week. Sale prices available for online orders only, in-store prices may vary. Order online, and choose... Read more
New promo at Sams Club: Apple HomePods for $2...
Sams Club has Apple HomePods on sale for $259 through March 31, 2024. Their price is $40 off Apple’s MSRP, and both Space Gray and White colors are available. Sale price is for online orders only, in... Read more
Get Apple’s 2nd generation Apple Pencil for $...
Apple’s Pencil (2nd generation) works with the 12″ iPad Pro (3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th generation), 11″ iPad Pro (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation), iPad Air (4th and 5th generation), and iPad mini (... Read more
10th generation Apple iPads on sale for $100...
Best Buy has Apple’s 10th-generation WiFi iPads back on sale for $100 off MSRP on their online store, starting at only $349. With the discount, Best Buy’s prices are the lowest currently available... Read more
iPad Airs on sale again starting at $449 on B...
Best Buy has 10.9″ M1 WiFi iPad Airs on record-low sale prices again for $150 off Apple’s MSRP, starting at $449. Sale prices for online orders only, in-store price may vary. Order online, and choose... Read more
Best Buy is blowing out clearance 13-inch M1...
Best Buy is blowing out clearance Apple 13″ M1 MacBook Airs this weekend for only $649.99, or $350 off Apple’s original MSRP. Sale prices for online orders only, in-store prices may vary. Order... Read more
Low price alert! You can now get a 13-inch M1...
Walmart has, for the first time, begun offering new Apple MacBooks for sale on their online store, albeit clearance previous-generation models. They now have the 13″ M1 MacBook Air (8GB RAM, 256GB... Read more
Best Apple MacBook deal this weekend: Get the...
Apple has 13″ M2 MacBook Airs available for only $849 today in their Certified Refurbished store. These are the cheapest M2-powered MacBooks for sale at Apple. Apple’s one-year warranty is included,... Read more
New 15-inch M3 MacBook Air (Midnight) on sale...
Amazon has the new 15″ M3 MacBook Air (8GB RAM/256GB SSD/Midnight) in stock and on sale today for $1249.99 including free shipping. Their price is $50 off MSRP, and it’s the lowest price currently... Read more

Jobs Board

Early Preschool Teacher - Glenda Drive/ *Appl...
Early Preschool Teacher - Glenda Drive/ Apple ValleyTeacher Share by Email Share on LinkedIn Share on Twitter Read more
Senior Software Engineer - *Apple* Fundamen...
…center of Microsoft's efforts to empower our users to do more. The Apple Fundamentals team focused on defining and improving the end-to-end developer experience in Read more
Relationship Banker *Apple* Valley Main - W...
…Alcohol Policy to learn more. **Company:** WELLS FARGO BANK **Req Number:** R-350696 **Updated:** Mon Mar 11 00:00:00 UTC 2024 **Location:** APPLE VALLEY,California Read more
Medical Assistant - Surgical Oncology- *Apple...
Medical Assistant - Surgical Oncology- Apple Hill WellSpan Medical Group, York, PA | Nursing | Nursing Support | FTE: 1 | Regular | Tracking Code: 200555 Apply Now Read more
Early Preschool Teacher - Glenda Drive/ *Appl...
Early Preschool Teacher - Glenda Drive/ Apple ValleyTeacher Share by Email Share on LinkedIn Share on Twitter Read more
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