F r e e B a c k

                      ===============

Version 1.00e - 23.07.97, by Thorsten Lange, Hamburg, Germany

copyright 1997 Thorsten Lange and his licensors.

All rights reserved.



About FreeBack

--------------

FreeBack is just a very simple tool to be used as the backdrop application

with Newtons running OS2.0 or higher. It has been to designed to use only

minimal heap: approx. 1.1K of heap is used (standard apps often use more

than 10K)



Usign FreeBack as backdrop instead of a full-featured app has two

advantages

1.) Since the backdrop is always open it always occupies heap. FreeBack is

(nearly) the most simple Newton app possible consequently it uses only very

little heap. This results in significant increase of free heap.



2.) A backdrop app has to stick in the back. So there is no way to bring it

in front of other open apps (apart from closing all other apps - that's

wast the OS does when you try opening a backdrop app). With FreeBack as

backdrop there is no such handicaped application anymore.



To save as much heap as possible, I included only minimal functionallity

into FreeBack: It consists of a blank screen with an i-button which offers

a minimal help and about info. The main reason for including the i-button

is that you can use it in conjuction with i++ to launch packages, rotate

the screen, ...



BTW: Please visit my homepage for "http://www.antopia.com/thorsten" for new

versions of FreeBack, i++ and for other Newton stuff that I have written.





Installation

------------

Freeback is only usefull as a backdrop application. Therefore it has to be

installed into  internal memory using NCU, NBU or any other package

installer.



After installing FreeBack it will ask you if you want it to become the

backdrop. There is only very little use in selecting "no" since you

shouldn't open FreeBack from Extras because it has no close box.





Configuration

-------------

The app isn't configurable since every option has to be set at run-time

(=uses heap).





Deinstalling

------------

Before you can remove FreeBack you have to make any other application

backdrop.	Therefor select the new backdrop app in Extras and then tap on

"Make Backdrop" in the routing menu (envelope button). 



Note: For some built-in apps you have to select Memory Info in the i-menu

of Extras in order to make them backdrop because they don't show up in

Extras (this affects Extras and with OS2.0 also Names, Dates and Notes).





Known Errors/Limitations

------------------------

-Do not remove FreeBack (i.e. by downloading another version of FreeBack)

while it is backdrop. Select another app as backdrop, first.





Version history

---------------

V1.00

initial release





More Newton Stuff from Thorsten Lange

-------------------------------------

Check out my Homepage http://www.antopia.com/thorsten for the actual list

of my applications together with more information about them

(screenshots,...)





Copyright notice

----------------

FreeBack is copyright 1997 Thorsten Lange, Hamburg, Germany and his

licensors. All rights reserved.



This program is freeware. You can use it if you like and can pass it around

a slong as all docs are included.





Restrictions

------------

You may not decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble or otherwise reduce

the software to a human-perceivable form. You may not modify the software

or the documentation.





Disclaimer

----------

You expressly acknowledge and agree that use of FreeBack is at your sole

risk. The software and related documentation are provided "AS IS" and

without warranty of any kind.



I make no warranty of the performance of this program, expressed or

implied. In no event will I be held responsible for any damages or loss as

a result of using FreeBack. When this disclaimer does not apply, my

liability will be limited to the

amount paid for the product.





Famous last words ...

---------------------

Newton is a trademark of Newton, Inc., registered in the United States and

other countries.