Newsletter to Members
December 2006
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| December Meeting Hello AMUG members, Just a reminder that our 'Christmas' meeting – our last for this year – is on this Monday 4th December at 6:30pm. The usual venue, usual format, but with a bit of extra time for special refreshments and Christmas cheer (soft of course). December Raffle main prize: A 160 GB Seagate Barracuda Combo Firewire/USB hard drive with 2 Firewire ports one USB port, in an external HD enclosure. Valued at $150. On behalf of your committee, we hope to see everybody there, and we wish you and your family a safe and happy Christmas. Regards Ken Driver |
Q&A from past AMUG Meetings
Topics raised in the Q&A session at our monthly meetings are summarised on our web site for members’ easy reference, covering every meeting from March through November 2006. Links at the top of each Q&A page jump to other Q&A months.
Remember, you can use the Google Site Search facility on any of these Q&A pages, so you can search by topic or keyword. This functionality also searches the entire site, including PDFs of past issues of ‘Applecations’.
You can view Q&A pages by clicking the Q&A text link at the top of our home page.
Apple News
Apple Updates Firmware for Intel-based Macs
From Jeff Carlson, TidBITS #856/20-Nov-06:
Apple has released firmware updates for its line of Intel-based Macs, addressing Boot Camp, start up, and wake-from-sleep issues. Be sure to follow the directions (worth printing out) when applying the updates; instructions for creating a Firmware Restoration CD are also available. The updates affect ALL Intel-based Mac models, and are available via Software Update or by direct download from the Apple Downloads page. Available updates are:
- MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.2 (2.7 MB)
- iMac EFI Firmware Update 1.1 (6.1 MB)
- MacBook EFI Firmware Update 1.0 (1.6 MB)
- Mac mini EFI Firmware Update 1.1 (1.6 MB)
- Mac Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.1 (1.6 MB).
For installation instructions see Apple Knowledge Base Document 303364.
MacBook Gains Core 2 Duo Processor
Extract from TidBITS#855/13-Nov-06 by Adam C. Engst
In November Apple announced a processor upgrade for its MacBook laptops that replaces the Intel Core Duo processor with the faster Core 2 Duo processor. Apple claims that the processor change provides the new MacBooks with up to 25 percent greater performance than their predecessors. The same three models are still available: a white 1.83 GHz MacBook for $1,749, and differently configured 2.0 GHz models in white ($2,099) and black ($2,399). The other changes – only in the 2.0 GHz models – are a doubling of the default RAM configuration to 1 GB and the addition of a double-layer SuperDrive. It's also now possible to order a MacBook with up to 200 GB of hard disk storage, though the 200 GB drive is a slower 4200 RPM drive, whereas all the other drives spin at 5400 RPM. The new MacBooks are available immediately.
MacBook Pro gets a wrap from PC Mag
Meanwhile, a review by Cisco Cheng on PCMag.com states that "the new [15-inch] Core 2 Duo-equipped MacBook Pro has earned [PCMag's] Editors' Choice award in the mainstream laptop arena." Offering "the performance and features of the best laptops on the market," the MacBook Pro provides the "fastest Core 2 Duo processor available." It earns "terrific performance scores." "Now has a FireWire 800 port and can burn dual-layer DVDs" And it's the "best-looking laptop on the market," says the reviewer.
Share your Digital Life
Up to 22 January 2007, buy any Mac and the .Mac Retail Box or .Mac Family Pack Retail Box and save A$40 off RRP on a .Mac annual membership. .Mac extends your iLife experience to the Internet and lets you share photos, movies, podcasts, blogs, and more with friends and family in a single click.
Mac OS X Tip: Record Directly to QuickTime Pro
Make an instant QuickTime movie by recording from your video camera straight into QuickTime Pro. Note: you have to upgrade from the standard QuickTime to QuickTime Pro to have access to this feature.
News from the Net
Quark loosens up its licensing laws
Design heavyweight Quark makes an attractive promise to its QuarkXPress customers – one license, one product, any platform.
Competing head-on with Adobe InDesign to regain lost market share among pro graphic designers, Quark has introduced platform-independent licenses for its flagship software program, meaning a single licence will ensure a copy will work on both MAC and PC.
Individual QuarkXPress users can now double-activate one license on different platforms at no additional cost, and customers can use the same QuarkXPress 7 license on both the Windows and Mac OS. In addition, previous versions of QuarkXPress can run under the same license when users are upgrading to QuarkXPress 7.
Beginners Mac Workshop
Learn Mac OS X basics in a friendly, informative environment. Presented by AMUG Sydney.
Saturday 9th December 10am-2pm.
Room 136C (Computer Lab), Ground Floor, Webster Building, UNSW Kensington.
- One Mac per person
- No questions too silly
- Use one of the Uni's eMacs or bring your own Notebook
- Get Apple's latest Software Updates on CD, without the big downloads
- Free for AMUG members
To book, phone Rob on 9387 2069 or email sydamug@mac.com
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