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Many of these tips have been collected from MacAddict, Mac OS 8 Easter Eggs and Ogrady or submitted by MacOmelet Visitors, I also found discovered many of them myself.

A means it is a really original egg
A means it requires ResEdit or a similar program

Secret Tricks:

About the Mac OS 8.5 Team (8.5)
Color Picker
Control Strip CP
Relative Dates

Secret About Boxes:

Apple Applet Runner
Application Switcher
Desktop Pictures CP
DragNet LE
Finder
Users & Groups CP

Secret Resources:

Info on Resources and ResEdit

Apple Data Detectors
Apple Guide Extension
Apple IR File Exchange Extension
Apple Remote Access
Apple Remote Access Client
AppleShare Extension
Color Picker Extension
Desktop Pictures CP
Location Manager(8.5)
PowerBook File Assistant
Quicktime Extension
Script Editor
System (8.5)

Secret Tricks:

In the Finder, hold down command, control, option, and shift and go to the Apple menu, there will be an item called "About the Mac OS 8.5 Team". It will show you a slide show of credits and enlarged icons. This egg has been around in the pre-release versions of OS 8 since 8.0 and some reminants existed in the system file, but 8.5 is the first time that a final system version includes it.

Go to the color picker. Hold the shift key and select the crayon picker. The names of the colors have been replaced by some credits and frases, along with about 20 "Color Picker 2.1"s. I doubt Josh Meth appreciates being associated with the "Mildew." This egg is gone in 8.1, I don't see why.

Here's another: If you set the date on your computer ahead a few years a few of the crayon's are dulled. Contributed by Mat Rice New Info: Starting January first of 1998 the obsidian crayon is dulled, I guess each year a crayon dulls. Also, it seems that there are two crayons named tangerine, I wonder if this has any meaning. Contributed by Andree It seems that this egg is also gone in Mac OS 8.1. I don't know why they would remove it. This is one of the most creative eggs I've ever seen.

Option click on the "current hot key" field in the control strip control panel for a message in the title bar. (no longer works in 8.5)

One of the new cool features of Mac OS 8 is how files and folders are dated in the list views. Now they mention that that the file was created at a certain time "Today" or "Yesterday". Anything older than that gets simple dates. But you have to give it to those engineers. If you change your date to tomorrow's date, create a new folder or file, and then change the date back to today's date, you'll see the date for the item you created listed as "Tomorrow"!!!! TOO COOL!!!!! - Chris Waldrip

Secret About Boxes:

Hold the command key in the Apple Applet Runner to get a extra about box with a bunch of credits.

Drag the text "secret about box" into the application switcher's window to get a hidden about box.

Name a picture "Secret About Box", then drag it into the Desktop Pictures control panel's "virtual desktop". You will see a secret picture that displays the names of the creators of the control panel. I have no way to conferm this but the picture might be of the "Goofus in Flight" that is mentioned all over the resources of the CP. (no longer works in 8.5)

In DragNet(an address book program) if you hold down option when you go to "About DragNet", you get load up your gun and get to take target practice. Watch out for the names to the right though, if you hit them the police come after you.

Everyone knows that if you hold option when you go to About this Computer... it gives you a nice picture of the Silicon Valley (now in color). I bet you didn't know that Mac OS 8 acknowledges that and even gives it a Balloon Help entry. "Displays a dialog box listing the authors of the Finder." Now there is also a balloon help entry for an easter egg called "About the User Experiance Team...", it was supposedly similar to "About the Finder...", there have been reports that this egg was in some of the pre-release version of OS 8, but it never made it to the final. There may still be some way to activate it. If you know anything about it, mail me: Bergerdg@aol.com

Make a new user in the Users and Groups control panel, name it "Secret About Box", you will get a slide show of the names of the makers. (no longer works in 8.5)

Secret Resources:

ResEdit Info:

The following eggs require ResEdit. ResEdit is a programer's tool for changing certain parts of their software. These parts called "resources" can be pictures, icons, words, menus, and lots of other stuff that would otherwise be hidden. Although ResEdit is a great tool for searching for easter eggs, it is not for beginners, and can cause severe damage to software causing them not to work correctly anymore. Always work with a backup of your software, and never change anything that you don't know the function of. I've included most of the interesting resources so you don't even have to touch ResEdit if you don't want to.

Apple Data Detectors control panel: Icl8 ID 133 is a dog, and Ics8 ID 133 is the international sign for no. I wonder what they mean


Apple Guide Extension: TEXT ID 120 is a nice little poem:
"As the Lighthouse keeper climbed the stairs,
the keeper knew that future generations
benefit from today's work."

Apple IR File Exchange: STR# ID 630 is a list of the creators.

Remote Access: Look at some of the icl8s.

Remote Access Client: STR# ID 2300 is list of credits.

Appleshare extension: STR# ID -2003 number 5 is "Oh, most heinous!" Sounds like a Bill and Ted fan to me.

Color Picker: STR IDs -5755 though -5735:
-5755 We have lingered...
-5751 in the chambers of the sea
-5746 by sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
-5742 'til human voices wake us
-5735 and we drown.
(no longer works in 8.5)

Desktop Pictures Control Panel: STR# ID 4005 string number 6 is "This balloon string is no longer needed, so I'll use it to say Hi Mom."

Location Manger (OS 8.5): The SND is a kitty(Tabitha). Also, the PICT is dance steps.

PowerBook File Assistant: STR# ID 42 is a list of names. Also hold option when you go to "About the Powerbook File Assistant", there's a little message.

Quicktime Extension: STR ID -19117 from the Quicktime extension is "Decompresses images compressed using Sean's secret recipe". STR# -19102 is a long list of names. Open up the Quicktime extension (This one is also in Quicktime PowerPlug). Look at the ICON resources:


Script Editor: CURS ID 130 is a little smiley face.

System (OS 8.5): STR ID -20755 is "This is the Crystal Ball video Digtalizer", and ID -16398 is "No battery reserve power remains... Good Night."