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| SANTA FE MAC USER GROUP NEWSLETTER December 2005
GENERAL MEETING: Thursday, January 5th, 2006 • LOCATION: Santa Fe Community College: Jemez Room • To obtain a map to the meeting: http://www.santafemug.org/map/map.html TIME OF EVENTS: ..............................BEGINNERS SIG: 5:30 PM Hosted by Giuseppe Quinn will host the Beginners SIG. This SIG is for those members new to the world of Mac computers. He will answer all your questions and demonstrate tips/tricks. ................................ADVANCE SIG: 6:15 PM Hosted by Brett Goldberg, is designed for the more experienced user however, everyone is welcome. Here you will find the answers to those OS and hardware related questions. Note: *SIG stands for Special Interest Group .....................GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING: 7:00PM Reserved for general interest items concerning the SFMUG. ............………….. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
The good, the bad and the ugly...
Let one of the SFMUG Board members know and we'll help you tell your story to the group. ............………….......... RAFFLE Raffle items this month include several items relevant to the presentation on web design. First, we're offering "The Non-Designer's Collection" by Robin Williams and John Tollett, which includes three books and a t-shirt (a $60 value!); "MTIV: Process, Inspiration, and Practice for the New Media Designer" by Hillman Curtis (recommended by presenter Lynn Roylance, a $45 value); a Crucial Technologies Gizmo 256 MB USB Flash Drive (a $25 value); and a few other trinkets to pacify the crowd so we don't have so many losers! Any of these could be yours for a very inexpensive $2 raffle ticket, the proceeds going to support SFMUG so we can offer more cool raffle items. Ed. Of all the duties connected with the SFMUG, the raffle chairman is always under a lot of pressure to provide interesting gifts to be raffled. Steve Zappe works hard throughout each month to find worthwhile material for the raffle and we all appreciate his contribution. Your purchase of raffle tickets allows this organization to raise necessary funds in support of our outreach programs. _______________________________________________ THE GRAPHICS AND FINE ARTS SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP January 5, 2006 Presents Mr. Chris Zappe Chris will make a presentation on the ins, outs, meanings, and uses of 3 Dimension Applications to graphics and the fine-arts, both 2D and 3D. The Santa Fe Graphics and Fine Arts Special Interest Group meets in the Jemez Room of the Santa Fe Community College on the first Saturday of each month, from 10:00AM to Noon. Suggestions for programs or offers to present programs should be addressed to: Bob Everett __________________________________________________ ................................H O T - N E W S: Stay Tuned for Rob Barnes Photoshop Seminar, tentatively scheduled for March 11th 2006. * * * * * Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Solstice, Ju Dong, Happy Yalda, Happy Yule, Happy Saturnalia! * * * * * Apple posts free TV stuff on the iTunes Music Store. * * * * * Norton Anti-Virus makes Mac OS X less secure? Apple Macintosh users could be making themselves less secure by installing Symantec's flagship anti-virus application. * * * * * Apple posts Mac mini Big Ideas site: * * * * * Member Anita Sanders draws our attention to this iPod parody http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2710878676207885940&q=ipod+nano * * * * * Recent Apple Software Updates ................................MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS: !!!SFMUG - member Exclusive!!! As a way to save money for our Members, SFMUG President, Giuseppe Quinn, owner of RedQuyn ZOOM Productions and TFLEYBIAOOS(see above), has offered use of his company's Corporate Discount Webpage at MacMall/PCMall at <http://cap.pcmall.com/site/zoomproductions> When setting up your own account on the CAP site you will need the following information: username: zoomepp password: zoom123 AFTER logging in to the CAP site (with user name and password provided above),users will be prompted to set up their own individual account for their personal purchases.The advantage to this site is we accumulate group-buying power even though eachindividual has his or her own account. When shopping through this site you will getsome of the best web prices available and it's from a very reputable company. Also, if theprices you find are not the lowest you've seen, you can call the rep and he will match prices. The more we buy, the better the discounts get. Contributed by: Giuseppe. For further details visit <http://www.redquyn.com/capsite.html>or email Giuseppe at <mailto:zoom@redquyn.com>. _________________________________________________ ................................SITE(s) OF THE MONTH http://www.reuters.hu/card_dom/index_content.html __________________________________________________ ................................. Dot Mac News With a .Mac membership, you can enjoy secure text, audio, and video conversations via iChat. ................................Cool Podcasts: www.maccast.com www.photoshopuser.com www.macfixit.com You can subscribe to all the above Podcasts by visiting the links provided. Of course you may find these Podcasts on iTunes by selecting the "Podcast" genre and looking under the Technology icon. ................................FutureTech 2006: The Year of Free Wi-Fi The trend of free wireless Internet access in public places is growing, and that's not likely to change any time soon, according to a MarkeWatch report. Free Wi-Fi access has turned out to be a boon in drawing customers in to local businesses, and municipalities are jumping on board, too. Read more at http://www.macobserver.com/article/2005/12/23.13.shtml ................................Mac Security MacScan 2.0 for Mac OS X has been released. MacScan will find, isolate, and remove spyware, keystroke loggers, and trojan horses as well as detect whether remote administration applications have been installed on a computer. By scanning files received as e-mail attachments or downloaded from the web, MacScan can proactively protect computers from inadvertently accepting new spyware. MacScan's spyware definitions are constantly being updated, letting users keep pace with the hackers. ................................SPECIAL MUG OFFERS Coupon code for below offers are in the members section
You must be a current Apple user group member to qualify for these 1] - Pressure Drop: 10% off Monitor Stand/Combo Hub for Mac mini zStand is a stylish monitor stand that ingeniously incorporates a USB Normally $99.99 (US), Apple User Group members receive 10 percent off. Coupon code Order today. This U.S. only offer is valid through March 31, 2006. 2] - Intriguing Development: Holiday Discount on iRemember Digital scrapbooking on the Mac is here. iRemember allows you to Regularly $49.95 (US), iRemember's is reduced via this exclusive Apple Coupon code See what the buzz is about This holiday U.S. only offer is valid through December 31, 2005. 3] - Two-for-One: Best-Selling Roxio Products Get Toast 7 Titanium plus The Boom Box for one low price. As the For a limited time (while supplies last) Apple user group members can Visit. This U.S. only offer is valid through March 31, 2006. 4] - Quickertek: 20% Off Quickertek offers proven products to enhance your wireless Coupon code This U.S. only offer is valid through March 31, 2006. 5] - Ending Soon: Learning Lab and Make Magazine from O'Reilly User Group Members can receive a special 50% discount on Learning Lab -Linux/Unix System Administration Learning Lab Coupon code http://learninglab.oreilly.com/ Give the geek on your list a truly unique gift this holiday season: Receive a five dollar discount off the regular subscription rate. Pay full price and receive a free MAKE T-shirt. This worldwide offer is valid through December 31, 2005. 6] - The MUG Store: Great Deals on Mac Refurbs and More The MUG Store: Great Deals on Mac Refurbs and More There's plenty of time to shop at the Mug Store for your family, - Mac mini 1.42 with Combo drive: $439 As always, get 1 percent back on everything your membership purchases:
This U.S. only offer is valid through January 31, 2006. ___________ Here are a bunch of TidBITs Take Control Ebooks that have come out or been updated in the past 30 days. Details are provided below: (1) "Take Control of Digital TV" (1) TidBITS has released "Take Control of Digital TV" Although many of us know a fair amount about Macintosh hardware, delving into the world of digital television is a humbling experience - it involves a baffling array of buzzwords and acronyms, and that's before you get into deciding between direct view and projection TVs and trying to tease out the relevant differences between LCD, plasma, DLP, and CRT-based sets. If, like us, you're considering purchasing a digital TV this holiday season, or if you already own a digital TV but worry that it might not be positioned or adjusted properly for optimal viewing, you can find friendly guidance in the latest Take Control ebook, "Take Control of Digital TV." In this ebook, Seattle journalist and TV maven Clark Humphrey explains the jargon, compares all the different display technologies, and helps you find the right digital TV for your budget, living space, and media viewing habits. You'll also learn how to position a large-screen TV for optimal viewing, arrange and connect external speakers, adjust the display for the best possible image quality, and add extras such as a digital video recorder or video game console. Clark rounds out his advice with suggestions of where to find digital programming, a hand-picked list of Web resources, and an extensive glossary you can use to decipher otherwise-impenetrable spec sheets. Full details are available below, and you can place an order with the 10% MUG discount already applied via:
(2) TidBITS has released "Take Control of Switching to the Mac" There's little more frustrating than watching a friend or relative struggle with Windows when you know they'd be happier with a Mac. But as much as Apple produces great hardware and Mac OS X is easy to use, making the jump to the Mac is still a daunting proposition, what with finding comparable applications, moving data between machines, and learning the user interface differences. That's why we're particularly pleased to announce Scott Knaster's "Take Control of Switching to the Mac" - it's a great resource to give anyone considering a switch to the Mac or for helping you learn more about how to help others make the switch. (And yes, if you were wondering, it's alright with us if you buy it and give the PDF file to a friend, just as you would with a paper book.) Scott guides switchers through the process of making the decision to switch, choosing the right Mac model, setting up the Mac, choosing the appropriate Macintosh applications to replace common Windows programs, and moving data - documents, email, address books, and Web bookmarks - over to the Mac. Scott then teaches readers the basics of using a Mac from the perspective of someone who knows only Windows, starting with an explanation of user interface differences and moving on to lessons on how to use the Finder effectively, search with Spotlight, manage applications and windows, connect to network resources, download software updates, and more. A collection of five key Macintosh features and five useful tips help readers move beyond the basics and become more capable with their new Macs, and the ebook offers extra help for those who must still share documents with Windows users or run the occasional Windows application. In keeping with the practical nature of all Take Control titles, Scott includes essential troubleshooting advice in case problems appear, along with a glossary to help Windows users learn Macintosh terminology. Full details are available below, and you can place an order with the 10% MUG discount already applied via:
(3) TidBITS has released "Take Control of Podcasting on the Mac" If you're excited about the idea of creating your very own podcast but need help getting started or working efficiently, you can now hop on the podcasting bandwagon with the start-to-finish guidance in "Take Control of Podcasting on the Mac." Written by long-time podcaster Andy Williams Affleck, "Take Control of Podcasting on the Mac" leads you along the path to podcasting success from beginning to end. Andy starts by helping you think about your topic, format, and polish; assemble the best audio gear; and understand the pros and cons of recording in four popular programs - Audio Hijack Pro, GarageBand, Audacity, and SoundStudio. You'll find step-by-step directions for how to record in each of those programs, along with instructions on how to edit your recording by mixing in additional audio and eliminating any awkward bits. Andy also explains how (and why) to encode and tag your podcast file. Finally, he discusses how to choose a podcast publishing tool, offers essential advice about bandwidth costs, and gives you seven ways to promote your podcast. The link below includes the necessary coupon code for the 10% MUG discount. Book Details (4) TidBITS has released "Take Control of Mac OS X Backups" and "Take Control of Buying a Digital Camera" Is your data safe? What if your hard disk fails? Or a burglar ransacks your office? A backup is essential, but not all backups are created equal. You need a rock-solid backup strategy that ensures you can restore quickly and completely, no matter what catastrophe arises. In "Take Control of Mac OS X Backups," backup expert and best-selling author Joe Kissell gives you the straightforward advice you need to go beyond the false security of copying a few files to CD. Joe provides an at-a-glance comparison of different backup strategies (low-cost, easy, safest) that you can use to back up and restore your data effectively, and he teaches you how to protect all your data, including digital photos and video projects. You'll learn the pros and cons of each type of backup media, including hard disk, recordable disc, tape, and more; discover how to pick the best backup program for your needs; and find time-tested recommendations that help you set up, test, and maintain backups, complete with instructions on how to restore after a crash. Important lessons you'll learn along the way include the utility of having both a duplicate and an archive, the necessity of testing backups, and the importance of offsite backups. New in 1.2 - over 20 pages of step-by-step directions for Retrospect! Overwhelmed by choices when purchasing a digital camera? Turn to professional photographer Larry Chen for the practical advice you need to sort through the hundreds of digital cameras for sale. Rather than bury you with arcane technical details or a myriad camera models, this section edition of "Take Control of Buying a Digital Camera" first steps you through a process designed to help you determine how much you want to spend, what sort of pictures you're likely to take, and what aspects of using a camera are important to you. With that grounding, you're ready to learn about the different camera features, separated by those that are actually important and those that merely fill up feature checklists. The ebook even contains a camera comparison worksheet you can fill in while shopping. Additional sections give you pointers on how to read camera reviews (plus a list of the best review sites!), advice about evaluating picture quality, suggestions of where to buy your camera, the lowdown on accessories you might want, and tips on working with photos on your computer. The links below include the necessary coupon codes for the 50%-off holiday sale on "Take Control of Buying a Digital Camera" and the 10% MUG discount on "Take Control of Mac OS X Backups." Our cart can handle only one coupon per order, so if you want both ebooks, it's best to place two separate orders. Book Details "Take Control of Buying a Digital Camera" by Laurence Chen (Version 2.0) (5) TidBITS has released "Take Control of .Mac" If you want to get the most out of your .Mac subscription, you'll find all the help you need in "Take Control of .Mac," by Joe Kissell. In this 182-page ebook, Joe helps you get set up and provides a general orientation to .Mac. He then delves into the major .Mac services: Mail, iDisk, .Mac Sync, Backup, HomePage, and Groups. You'll learn the best ways to read email via the .Mac Web interface or in an email program, how to share files with others via an iDisk, and the ins and outs of synchronizing data between multiple Macs. Joe also provides real-world advice about techniques for protecting important data with Backup; creating a full-fledged Web site with photos and movies shared from within iPhoto and iMovie; and using .Mac Groups to establish private online areas for sharing messages, photos, calendars, and files with family, friends, or colleagues. Joe even shows how you can buy a .Mac membership or renewal for less than the usual $100-per-year price, and gives an overview of other services that offer different features or more disk space. The link below includes the necessary coupon code for the 10% MUG discount. Book Details __________________________________________________
To manage your subscription to either the Newsletter or the HelpDesk: http://santafemug.org/mailman/listinfo/newsletter_santafemug.org http://santafemug.org/mailman/listinfo/helpdesk_santafemug.org Email address corrections: Each month the newsletter is sent twice to about 350 recipients. The newsletter is mailed around the fifteenth and the end of the month. If you don't receive it, contact the SFMUG web site and notify us of your problem. If you change email addresses it is helpful to notify the group of the change so we can update the list. IMPORTANT NOTE If you would like to add, change or delete an address, send an E-mail to: <mailto:list@santafemug.org> Please include the following in the body of your email: Your name, Old email address, New email address, Effective date if necessary THIS IS YOUR NEWSLETTER Over 300 people read the SFMUG news so bookmark this page for meeting Information. <http://www.santafemug.org/meetinginfo/scheduled.html> The SFMUG E-mail service is a benefit of your SFMUG membership. If you are not currently a member we thank you for adding your name to the list and hope that you will stop by the Registration Desk at the next meeting and sign up. Send in your problems, announcements, questions, answers and latest tips and news. You can post items for sale purchase. Please submit Mac related items only. Know of a Job opening or looking for Work? Post it in the SFMUG e-mail Newsletter. In the Subject Line of your e-mail please begin the line with SFMUG. When you send an answer or solution to a member, please send a copy (cc:) so that your answer, solution, or "best guess", can then be shared with the other members. Disclaimer SFMUG members submit most of the content of this Newsletter. At times, the SFMUG will edit submissions to make them more readable and/or fit into the format of this e-mail. The SFMUG attempts to verify the information before posting a submission to the Newsletter. At times the Santa Fe Mac User Group may not be assured of the complete accuracy of the information as it is sometimes difficult or impossible to do so. At other times the submission is the opinion of the person that sent it in. The SFMUG attempts to maintain this Newsletter as an open forum for a group of many members with varied interest and opinions. Use caution and good common sense when submitting material. END SFMUG e-Newsletter GQ |
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