Newsletter to Members
December 2008
Next Meeting – our last for 2008:
Monday 1 December 6.30pm
(NB: NO meetings January)
Join us for our special end of year/Christmas meeting and help us to celebrate our 30th ANNIVERSARY – our club was formed back in November 1978, the oldest Apple User Group in Australia!
Guest Presenter: Nicholas Pyers <nicholaspyers.com> – "30 years of Apple and AUG Sydney".
Prizes for December:
- a NEW 8GB iPOD NANO (Product RED™) valued at $199
- Adobe Photoshop CS4 'Classroom in a Book', a new release valued at $79 (courtesy of Peachpit Press)
- 4GB USB Thumb drives, iTunes Cards, recordable CD/DVD media
- one of 4 tickets in the AUSOM MacBook Pro Raffle
- plus lots of Apple-branded merchandise – and more – everyone wins!
Room 327 Theatrette, Robert Webster Bldng,
UNSW, Anzac Parade, Kensington
New Disc-of-the-Month offerings
Festive Fun Vol II DVD
Over 4GB of Festive Fun for all ages. Includes Christmas-themed templates for cards & gift tags, clip art, fonts, music and activities. Normally $15 for non-members, AMUG Sydney members pay only $10 for this massive collection. Available at the December meeting. More info (PDF 288K).
Ideas for using the Festive Fun II DVD
AUSOM's iWork SIG Co-ordinator, Pam Doughty (she is also their newsletter Editor) created a short promo movie she played at their November iWork SIG highlighting how people can use the material found on Festive Fun II to create Personalised Colouring Books for children; Place Mats and Photo Cubes. You can watch the QuckTime movie here from our AMUG site.
This smaller version of the original full-screen movie is optimised for web-delivery and automatically selects the best playback for your computer and connection speed.
Artist's Palette CD
In addition to our "Festive Fun" DVD, we also have a regular new Disc-of-the Month, "Artists' Palette" available to members at the December meeting for just $5. "Artist's Palette" CD is a collection of tools for budding and professional Artists, Graphic Designers and Photographers. More info (2-page PDF 134K).
Our Disc-of-the-Month software compilation CDs are on sale at meetings for just $5 each. For more info and order form, log in to members area. Watch for more exciting news about new Disc-of-the-Month offerings in 2009, thanks to Nicholas Pyers and Australian Macworld.
News from Apple
There IS none just now! But watch for new announcements at Macworld Expo, San Francisco. Keynote: January 5, 2009.
News from the Net
Take Control ebooks
Install & configure Windows on your Mac with new
“Take Control of VMware Fusion 2”
Modern Intel-based Macs have numerous options for running Windows, but for people accustomed to Mac OS X, installing and configuring Windows is easier said than done. Whether it involves dealing with drivers, sharing files between Windows and Mac OS X, or determining optimal RAM settings, Joe Kissell's new Take Control of VMware Fusion 2 provides Mac users with real-world advice on the best ways to install and use Windows via the popular virtualization software VMware Fusion 2. To learn more, read on, or check out the book's Web page at this link (which includes the MUG member discount of 10% off the US$10 price): Buy Take Control of VMware Fusion 2.
The 130-page ebook, which was brought to life via a collaboration between TidBITS Publishing and VMware, starts with a look at basic concepts and then jumps into the action with steps for installing Windows for use in VMware Fusion in these scenarios:
- When installing a new copy of Windows XP or Windows Vista
- From an already-installed copy of Windows under Boot Camp, VMware Fusion 1.x, Parallels Desktop, Virtual PC, or an actual PC
- From a slipstream disc that contains Windows plus service packs, updates, drivers, and settings
- On the MacBook Air, which lacks an internal optical drive
- With Mac OS X Server as a guest operating system
- For running a virtual appliance that encapsulates both an operating system and a ready-to-run application
After installation, Joe turns his attention to working with Windows in a VMware Fusion virtual machine, explaining key details like how to remap mouse buttons, simulate missing keys, configure keyboard shortcuts, switch display modes, and work with external devices. Other important topics covered include:
- Pros and cons of different ways of using Boot Camp and Fusion.
- Thorough explanations of how to configure the options in Fusion's Settings window to get the most out of the software.
- Real-world advice for smart ways to make Windows and Mac environments simultaneously available on the same computer.
- Comparisons of options for sharing files between your Windows and Mac environments.
- Important details on keeping your copy of Windows secure, backed up, and updated.
- The basics of working with Fusion from the command line for advanced users.
The ebook also includes a coupon for 10% off VMware Fusion 2, a US$8 saving.
Sync Smarter with the new
"Take Control of Syncing Data in Leopard"
If you have more than one Mac, or if you tote around an iPhone, iPod, BlackBerry, Palm, or mobile phone, you may need help when syncing data from one device to another. Our latest ebook, the 147-page "Take Control of Syncing Data in Leopard" by Michael Cohen, takes the stress and confusion out of syncing and is available for US$9 via this MUG member discount link (normally US$10): Buy 'Take Control of Syncing Data in Leopard'.
Alternatively, you can save 20% if you order one or more related titles from the Special Discount collection in the left margin of that page.
With clear directions and a humorous touch, Take Control of Syncing Data in Leopard explains how to sync data from a Mac running Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard with other Macs, iPhones, iPods, mobile phones, and various PDAs. Whether you want to sync phone numbers between your Mac and your mobile phone, share calendars and keychains between Macs, or move only new podcast episodes to a small iPod, syncing expert Michael Cohen has the answers. You'll learn what software and gear you need and the best ways to move your data between different devices. The ebook also explains how syncing works under the hood and provides troubleshooting advice in case your sync engine throws a rod.
Types of sync data covered include:
- Calendar items stored in iCal, Entourage, and Google
- Contacts stored in Address Book, Entourage, Yahoo, and Google
- Data on Exchange servers
- Dock items and Dashboard widgets
- Apple Mail account settings, Safari bookmarks, and application preferences
- Apple Mail and Entourage notes
- Keychains (user names and passwords)
- Items from software that uses Leopard's Sync Services, including NetNewsWire and Yojimbo
- Audio, video, photos, and associated metadata from iTunes
Types of devices discussed include:
- Macs, with detailed coverage of MobileMe and overviews of popular third-party options
- iPhone and iPod touch, via MobileMe or iTunes
- Old and new iPods via iTunes, with details on whether and how to use a USB or FireWire connection
- The Apple TV via iTunes
- Mobile phones, smartphones, BlackBerries, and Palm OS PDAs.
Connection technologies and software examined include:
- Bluetooth, USB, FireWire, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet
- MobileMe, iTunes, iSync, IMAP (IMAP discussion is limited to Apple Mail)
- Third-party products from BusyMac, Mark/Space, PocketMac, and Spanning Sync
The ebook also includes a coupon for 50% off any syncing product from PocketMac.
TidBITS Watchlist: Notable Software Updates
Compiled by Doug McLean
- Firefox 3.0.4 from Mozilla (Free update, 17.2 MB)
- iLife Support 8.3.1 for OS X 10.4.11 Tiger (Free, 11.7 MB)
- NeoOffice 2.2.5 Patch 3 (Free update, 5.5 MB)
- Adobe Camera Raw 5.2 (Free update, 40.8 MB)
- Safari 3.2.1 for Leopard (Free update, 39 MB)
- Safari 3.2.1 for Tiger (Free update, 25.7 MB)
- DiscLabel 5.4 (US$35.95 new, free update, 12.7 MB)
- iTunes 8.0.2 (Free update, 57 MB)
- Pro Apps Updates 2008-004 (Free update, 149 MB)
- Compatibility Update for QuickTime 7.5.5 (Free, 2.8 MB)
- MacBook/MacBook Pro Trackpad Firmware Update 1.0 (Free, 923 KB).
iPhone users: Who do want to call? Just tell Vocalia!
How many contacts are listed in your iPhone address book? Your relatives, friends, colleagues, neighbours, or even your favorite restaurant... Finding quickly the one you need can be difficult and boring. But these days are over thanks to Creaceed, whose latest application is an English speech recognition tool for the iPhone. Its name? Vocalia.
Vocalia's key features
- It runs entirely on your iPhone
- No private information sent to some unknown and far away servers
- No additional work required from you to record your contacts' names
- No "Tap to speak".
More info: www.creaceed.com/vocalia/
Where do you get it? $9.99 from the App Store. Or use this direct link to download the app into iTunes.
Create your perfect island paradise with My Tribe!
Grubby Games is pleased to announce "My Tribe", an island simulation game with near infinite replayability! Shipwrecked on a beautiful tropical island, your brave little tribespeople must build a new home. With your guidance, the tribe will uncover mysterious secrets, research new technologies, and construct massive wonders. Come back often to feed your tribe, clothe them, and look after the babies and children!
Customize your tribespeople by designing new clothes for them, plan the layout of your village using 14 different buildings, and beautify the landscape by planting flowers and trees!
Your little tribespeople await your helping hand! Visit www.grubbygames.com to download your free demo of My Tribe.
Saturday Workshop
One-on-one Mac Help from AMUG Committee members in a friendly, sharing environment.
Saturday December 6, commencing 10am. Room 136C (Computer Lab), Ground Floor, Webster Building, UNSW Kensington. NB: No meetings in January.
Bring your own Notebook or use one of the Uni's iMacs.
Enquiries and bookings, phone Rob on 9387 2069 or email sydamug@mac.com
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