| Turns All Year CD-ROM Technical Information
This section contains some basic technical information regarding the hardware and software required to run Turns All Year CD-ROM on a personal computer. The CD-ROM was designed with simplicity in mind and should have no problems running on a modern computer with modern internet browser software, and it should run with few problems, if any, on considerably older computers. If you do have a problem with a feature of Turns All Year CD-ROM, please take a look at the help, tips, and FAQ pages in this section.
- Computer operating system requirements:
Turns All Year CD-ROM should run on any modern computer operating system that can run a modern internet browser. It has been tested (details) on a variety of Macintosh and Windows operating system versions and found to function properly. The CD-ROM can be installed on your computer's hard drive to improve its performance and make bookmarking pages more convenient.
- Internet browser requirements:
Turns All Year CD-ROM is designed to be viewed using an internet browser, such as Firefox, Internet Explorer, Netscape, Safari, etc. The CD-ROM contains an HTML-based web site, and no software other than that which is routinely included with modern internet browsers is required. Only the very oldest internet browsers still in use might have trouble running the javascripts for the search and slideshow features on the CD-ROM. Information about browser and operating system compatibility is provided below.
- Operating system/internet browser compatibility:
It is not practical to test Turns All Year CD-ROM on every possible computer operating system+internet browser combination. The technology behind the CD-ROM's presentation has been kept simple, however, so most modern internet browsers work just fine. In general, the older the internet browser, the more likely that CD-ROM features like search and slideshows will not work, but even with significantly older browsers few problems have been found. The CD-ROM has been tested for functionality on the combinations of operating system versions and internet browser versions listed below. Operating system+browser combinations close to those tested would be expected to behave in the same way as the tested combinations.
An "OK" designation signifies that Turns All Year CD-ROM operates as expected, with exceptions noted. A "NOT OK" designation signifies that there are significant problems and the combination is not recommended.
- Mac OS 10.4.9:
- Camino 1.0: OK
- Firefox 2.0: OK
- iCab 3.0: OK
- Internet Explorer 5.2.3: OK
- Netscape 7.2: OK
- Opera 9.2: OK
- Safari 2.0: OK except search*
- Mac OS 10.3.9:
- Camino 1.0: OK
- Firefox 1.5: OK
- Internet Explorer 5.2.3: OK
- Mozilla 1.7: OK
- Netscape 7.2: OK
- Opera 8.5 - 9.1: OK
- Safari 1.3: OK except search*
- Mac OS 9.2:
- iCab 2.97: OK
- Internet Explorer 5.1.7: OK
- Internet Explorer 4.0: NOT OK
- Mozilla 1.2: OK
- Netscape 4.8 - 7.0: OK
- Opera 6.0: NOT OK
| - Windows Vista (home, premium, enterprise):
- Internet Explorer 7.0: OK
- Windows XP (home, pro):
- Firefox 2.0: OK
- Internet Explorer 6.0 - 7.0: OK
- Windows 2000:
- Internet Explorer 6.0: OK
- Windows 98:
- Firefox 1.0: OK
- Internet Explorer 6.0: OK
- Windows NT:
- Firefox 1.8: OK
- Internet Explorer 6.0: OK
| | *Safari note: In testing on Mac OS 10.3.x and 10.4.x, the search feature does not work using Safari browser, running either from the CD-ROM or from an installed copy. All searches return zero results and "undefined" in the search box. A workaround is simply to use a different browser (there are several good alternatives). |
- Internet browser settings:
There are some internet browser settings which can adversely affect the operation of Turns All Year CD-ROM. In particular, if javascript or cookies are disabled in your browser's settings, then slideshows (help) and search (help) will not work properly. If you find that slideshows or search do not work for you, please check your browser's settings. The specific way to access a browser's settings varies between different browsers and operating systems.
Examples of how to access an internet browser's settings via its menu tree:
- For javascript:
- In Windows using Internet Explorer 6.x or 7.x: Tools>>Internet Options>>Security>>Internet>>Custom Level>>"Active Scripting=>Enable";
- In Windows using Firefox 2.x: Tools>>Options>>Content>>"Enable Javascript";
- In Mac OS 10 using various browsers, these settings are usually accessed by: (Browser Name)>>Preferences>>"Security" or "Content" or "Web Content (scripting)".
- For cookies:
- In Windows using Internet Explorer 6.x or 7.x: Tools>>Internet Options>>Privacy>>"Advanced";
- In Windows using Firefox 2.x: Tools>>Options>>Privacy>>"Cookies";
- In Mac OS 10 using various browsers, these settings are usually accessed by: (Browser Name)>>Preferences>>"Security" or "Privacy" or "Cookies".
The following is information about specific browser settings which can adversely affect the operation of Turns All Year CD-ROM:
- javascript settings: two features of the CD-ROM require that javascript be enabled in the browser you are using: slideshows and searching the ski trip photo galleries. Both features will fail to function if javascript is not enabled. In addition, some slideshow features will not work properly if the "advanced" javascript settings do not allow for changes in browser windows (both "allow scripts to raise or lower windows" and "allow scripts to move or resize existing windows" should be enabled).
- cookie settings: the search and slideshow features also require that cookies be enabled (allowed) in the browser you are using. Searching will fail if cookies are not enabled, and some slideshow features won't work in this case.
- pop up blocker settings: aggressive pop up blocker settings may prevent some pages, such as slideshows, that are supposed to open in a new window from doing so.
- new window settings: some browsers allow the user to choose to have links that are supposed to open in a new window open in a new tab instead. In this case, links in Turns All Year CD-ROM that say "opens in new window" may open in a new tab.
- Computer virus checks:
Turns All Year CD-ROM was scanned for viruses and other potentially malicious software using Norton Internet Security 2007 (Windows) and ClamXav (Macintosh), using the latest definitions. Both software reported zero problems found.
- Computer monitor calibration:
One of the biggest difficulties for the electronic publishing of photographs is the fact that computer monitors are not standardized for brightness, contrast, or color balance. That is, the defaults for these settings are often not optimal for the best viewing of photos, and in addition the settings can be changed by the user. Thus, a photograph which appears perfectly balanced for these parameters on one monitor can appear out of balance on a different monitor. All of the photographs on Turns All Year CD-ROM have been balanced on a well calibrated monitor. If, in general, the photographs on the CD-ROM do not appear balanced on your monitor (too dark or light, too much or not enough contrast), please read this section because your monitor might benefit from some simple adjustments of its brightness and contrast settings. Please be aware that some of the photographs will never look great; for example, those taken in overcast, winter shade, or otherwise low-contrast conditions.
If the photographs on Turns All Year CD-ROM generally look good, then your monitor is probably adjusted well enough. If not, then a quick check of your monitor's ability to distinguish grayscale tones close to true black and close to true white can provide information about some simple adjustments you can make to your monitor's brightness and contrast settings to improve your CD-ROM viewing experience (and you may find that other web sites look better, too).
This monitor calibration grayscale (opens in a new window) contains a series of grayscale tones ranging in small steps from true black to true white. If your monitor is well adjusted for brightness and contrast, you will be able to distinguish each of the tones as distinct from each other on both the black and white ends of the grayscale. If you can't distinguish each of the steps in tone on the black or white ends, then your monitor could benefit from some adjustment of brightness and contrast.
Important: If you decide to adjust your monitor, it is a good practice to write down the existing brightness and contrast settings before making any changes. If you do this you can always return the settings to their previous values.
Most computer monitors have front panel buttons which allow one to adjust the brightness and contrast settings:- The symbol for contrast usually looks like a half-moon.
- The symbol for brightness usually looks like a child's depiction of the sun: a circle surrounded by short rays.
For simple monitor calibration, many people recommend that the contrast level (half-moon symbol) be set at its maximum (or just below if that is too bright). Then, while viewing the monitor calibration grayscale, the brightness level (sun symbol) can be adjusted up or down, with the goal of being able to distinguish tones that are slightly lighter or darker than true black and true white (at the ends of the grayscale). The black end is typically the most problematic, so as you adjust the brightness setting watch for the point where the darkest grayscale tones are just distinguishable from true black and from each other.
Simple adjustments can make a big improvement in your viewing experience if your monitor is not already well adjusted for brightness and contrast. Many additional monitor calibration resources are readily available on the Internet. A web search for "monitor calibration" should return many useful results. In addition, a number of links to useful resources are provided below (please note that all links will open in a new window, that these are links to external pages, that access to the pages requires an internet connection, and that the pages may move or disappear over time):
- Computer monitor resolution (pixel size) requirements:
The optimal monitor resolution for viewing Turns All Year CD-ROM is 1024x768 pixels or larger. The web site on the CD-ROM is designed for a minimum computer monitor resolution of 800x600 pixels (typical of a 15 inch CRT monitor). Most of the CD-ROM pages fit within 800x600 pixels, but a few features, such as the photos in the Wallpapers section, will not.
- Computer monitor color depth requirements:
Color depth refers to how many different colors a computer monitor can produce. Modern computer operating systems can typically run a monitor at millions of colors, and this is the optimal setting for viewing the photos on the CD-ROM. Lower color depth settings (thousands, hundreds) will produce graininess and off colors in the photos, so if the photos have this appearance please check the monitor color depth setting in your computer's operating system and adjust if needed.
|
|
