• Edited by Heath Hewitt
• On the web: http://members.aol.com/ixist/apple.html

Welcome to the sixth release of the world's largest collection and premier archive of Apple easter eggs. 

This is a compilation of secrets stuffed inside of your Macintosh or Newton by Apple programmers and engineers.  Easter eggs include random jokes, credit screens, or games that are meant to give the creator a little fame, also adding a personal touch to the best computer on earth.  In here, you will find over 250 easter eggs clearly explained with as much background as is available.

The purpose of this file is to create a fresh appreciation for those who made your Macintosh, and to allow you to experience a limitless, fun new world inside your computer.  I hope you are entertained and finish reading this list with a different perspective about your computer.

I was told by an Apple employee that nobody at Apple is ever really involved in easter eggs.  Despite management's efforts, they still manage to sneak their way into released software.  For the most part, the names of the engineers who aided me with this file are withheld.  Apple does not record easter eggs or in any way endorse their existence.  To them, easter eggs don't exist.  This list is the only comprehensive record of Apple's easter eggs in existence.

Also, what you find in this list are not undocumented tricks. Undocumented tricks can be found in books such as Voodoo Mac and MacWorld MacSecrets.  Remember, easter eggs result in some sort of credit or unusual message.  They do not aid in the productivity of the software.

About This Release
Version 1.6 does not have many new eggs from 1.5 but has been greatly edited.  Version 1.5 was only released on the November MacAddict CD so many of you may have missed it.  

Version 1.6 has all of the eggs from previous versions and plenty more. All added eggs since version 1.5 have a blue Apple logo next to them () and eggs added since version 1.4 have a red Apple logo ().  You will also be happy to know this version is completely updated for System 8.0 and has every publically known MacOS8 egg since January, 1997.  If you are looking for just OS8 eggs, look for the red and blue Apples.  Quite a few of those are from the most recent System.  

Operating This File
To go from chapter to chapter, use the scrollbar at the bottom of this window.

THE CHALLENGE

I challenge anyone out there to find an egg I don't already have.  If you have any other Apple Computer eggs (or code names), please e-mail me at ixist@aol.com.

 
                          Click on the Apple for full details and instructions.  --»


NEWS & IMPORTANT NOTES…

The One And Only
There is no other collection like this.  On the inernet you will find many web sites that include Macintosh and PC easter eggs.  Some sites may claim to be the oldest or the largest.  I have been everywhere and seen all of the sites.  No web site has been up longer than mine or is larger than this list, even if it covers a broader range of operating systems and programs.  I thank everyone who has helped me expand this file in order to claim that record.

ResEdit and Gibberish
As you travel through this collection, you will find many references to "resources" and "I.D.'s".  Do not be scared off by the technical references.  The terms are all parts of ResEdit, a free program made my Apple that looks into the guts of your software.  ResEdit is very easy to master and can be found at Apple's software support site.  You can get the full address on my web site.

Version Numbers
The version numbers next to the program names tell you with what version an egg will definitely work.

Capitalization of "Easter"
I do not capitalize "easter" in "easter egg" for the following reason: Easter is the name of a holiday, and so it is justly capitalized.  An "Easter egg" is a part of that holiday, and so it too is capitalized.  However, easter eggs in this list do not relate to Easter.  "Easter egg" is a borrowed term that does not apply directly to the holiday, and so I do not feel the need to capitalize it.  Plus, I'm too lazy to hit the Shift key.

Excess Information
In this list, I explain what happens when you trigger an easter egg.  I am aware the element of surprise may be lost, but the majority of readers will only be able to access less than 150 out of the over 250 eggs available in this list.  If you do not want to spoil the suprise, quickly glance over the bold titles naming the programs that contain eggs.  Then, open the program and try to find the egg.

A Book By Pogue!
In April 1998, David Pogue, co-author of MacWorlds' MacSecrets, will be releasing a book about Macintosh easter eggs.  It is not supposed to be too long but will include some of the greatest easter eggs made by Apple and other companies.  So, if you are interested in easter eggs made by third-party software companies, I recommend you check his book out.  Just thought I would let you know.

Organization
Many easter eggs in this list are not restricted entirely to their chapters or programs or versions.  The "Recent Systems" chapter is a good example of this, where some of the eggs found in the resource of System 7.5 can probably also be found in System 7 or in other Apple extensions.   

The Apple Easter Egg Web Page
My web page is at http://members.aol.com/ixist/apple.html. It is a direct mirror of this collection.  In addition, early every file mentioned in this list is available at my site plus new eggs I find in between this release and the next one.

The Next Release
I do not know when it will be.  Probably a while from now.  Please be patient and keep sending the eggs!  If I feel I am unable to update this list again, I assure you I will pass the responsibility to somebody who has the time.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CHECK-OUT THE LAST CHAPTER…