Picture this: You can see an entire map of earth with all the time zones, where the sun is shining on earth now, clocks for many cities around the world, a moon calendar, sun calendar, and more, all within a self-contained app. The best part is, you can have it right now on your PowerPC Mac, whether you’re running Mac OS 9.1 or Mac OS X!
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This has to be one of the coolest pieces of abandonware I’ve run into for a while, I figured it’d be worth looking into this neat app. It’s like a self-contained widget, but in a window. This article reflects upon version 3.5.1, the last PPC version which is also freely available on their website.

While writing this Mac app highlight, I discovered a GPS can be hooked up via USB and the app GPSy, which could give potential GPS functionality! Gonna save that for part 2.
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Setting it up

System Requirements

• Verson 3.5.1: A PowerPC G3 or Intel Chip, Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger or Later.
  • Download: latesthourworld3.dmg_.zip (LEM Software Repository, 6 MB)
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• Version 2.5.2: Mac OS 9.1 or later, available on the Macintosh Garden.

On Your Mac

• 1. Once downloaded, drag-n’-drop the app into your Applications folder. Then Launch.

• 2. You will be greeted by a message if this app hasn’t been registered yet. Be sure your system time is set accurately, as this app will pull and show data based off the system clock.

• 3. Once the app is launched, you may now start to change things up.

App Settings

• 1. You may change the size of the display (on version 3.5.1) for 5 different settings.
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• 2. You may choose between a satellite image, a political image, or your own custom PICT file for the world map.

• 3. Zone markings can be changed by: Hours from UT or international dateline, or Letters A-Z.
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• 4. Night shading can be lightened or darkened.
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• 5. Latitude and longitude grids can be changed, turned on and off.
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Interchangeable View Modes

• There are 9 viewing modes which can be changed into, below the world map showing where the sun is on the earth: Analog Clocks, Digital Clocks, Sunrise/Sunset/Twilight, Phone Call coordinator, a sun calendar, a moon calendar, a sundial, and even a GPS view!

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Informational accuracy

From what I see, HourWorld seems mostly accurate regarding sunrise and sunset times. Times may be off by a minute, as the last update to this app’s data was between 2014-2017.

When it comes to Moonset and Moonrise times however, there is already an hour or so discrepancy. I would only rely on the information in this app after double-checking online, and certain functions fare better than others.
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Adding GPS functionality

So apparently there a range of GPS devices from back in the day which would work with this, and I had absolutely no idea! This is the type of unexpected, exciting stuff to stumble into when sweeping the web for PowerPC Mac apps. Imagine, adding a wholly functional (albeit outdated) GPS to your PowerPC Mac? Whether or not it works in 2025, stick around for part 2 of the article to find out.

• Download and install GPSy, a Mac GPS communications + GIS Mapping program. This will go hand in hand with the app HourWorld.
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• Recommended GPS units: An entire page is dedicated to this on the GPSy website, but I elected to pick a highly recommended one for $26 shipped: the Garmin eMap Deluxe with a charing and USB data cable.

In Conclusion

HourWorld provides a glimpse into daily local astronomical events, shines a light on where Sun is pointed at the earth, has GPS functionality, and provides useful info all without being a heavy-loaded web-based app. It can turn your decades-old PowerPC Mac into something even more interesting, more useful, and pleasant to look at.
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