Resources for Apple User Group Presentations and Newsletters

ecamm BT-1: World’s First Bluetooth Webcam

The iSight video “tube” camera was a terrific FireWire-tethered tool to capture images, and the built-in iSight camera in new Mac laptops and monitors is an excellent resource, but both have limitations of distance and direction. Wouldn’t it be great to have a wireless A/V device you can use almost anywhere?

Announced at Macworld Expo 2009 as “Best of Show”, and released for purchase in June, the very new BT-1 from ecamm is the wireless solution for which we’ve been waiting.

Read the review from the appleJAC Macintosh Users Group.

iPhone Hacks book review

The iPhone is an amazing portable computer. It features capabilities that twenty years ago would have been something out of the pages of science fiction. Instant communications access with anyone in the world, the ability to seamlessly access the corpus of human knowledge that is the Internet, and of course, an ability to be entertained by music, video and games limited only by your imagination.

Almost.

The iPhone, as shipped by Apple, is a wonderful device for 95% of its users. But Apple locks iPhone users into a gilded cage. The cage is sumptuously decorated, but it is still a jail cell.

Read the review from the Lawrence Apple Users Group.

Pogo Stylus

The iPhone, as many people know, is an absolute masterpiece of form and function. However, all these functions are useless if you can’t actually touch your phone. Dirty or gloved hands render the iPhone completely useless. The Pogo stylus bridges that gap, allowing you to use a stylus to control your iPhone.

Read the review from the Lawrence Apple Users Group.

Radius Atomic Bass Black Aluminum Earphones for iPhone

These headphones rock!

As many iPhone users know, the earbuds Apple includes with the iPhone are functional, but they don’t exactly have the greatest sound fidelity. Hundreds of different earphones are on the market, some costing more than the iPhone itself. Even these high end units do not have the ability to act as a hands free mic for the iPhone. Few things are more annoying then having to unplug your headphones when receiving an incoming call while jamming away on your iPhone.

Read the review from the Lawrence Apple Users Group.

MAXPower: Adding Wireless Access with Ease

What do you do to add wireless capability to your computer if it didn’t come with the right parts? It can be as easy as a USB plug-in dongle.

Newer Technology has produced the NewerTech MAXPower 802.11 g/b Wireless USB 2.0 Stick Adapter for just this purpose. The package comes with an installer CD that puts the right enabling software on PC or Mac laptops or desktop computers. You can then plug in this dongle, and have access to the Internet up to 300 feet away (line-of-sight).

Read the review from the appleJAC Macintosh Users Group.

NewerTech: The Right Tools for Mac Entry

Being a gadget guy, the right tools for the job make the work simpler and more effective. This is particularly true in the electronic world where various screwdriver types and sizes are vital to success, not to mention levers and grabbers (tech terms all).

At Macworld I found an excellent 11-piece computer tool kit this is just perfect for the majority of small repair work I do, such as replacement of the hard drive in laptop computers. This kit includes Torx T6, T8, & T10; Phillips PH00 & PH2; Straight 1.8 mm & 3.0 mm; tweezers; hemostat (scissor clamp); two plastic pry tools (spudgers); and a rugged, zippered, woven nylon carrying case.

Read the review from the appleJAC Macintosh Users Group.

MacScan: Security at Your Fingertips

"The iBotnet, a ‘Trojan horse’ program, has appeared in pirated copies of Apple's productivity suite iWork '09 that circulate on peer-to-peer file-sharing networks,” the New York-based Post Chronicle reported. Since only a few thousand Macs were infected with iBotnet, we probably have little to worry about now, but this could be a sign of many more to come since hackers are testing Apple’s security parameters more and more. How do we defend ourselves against such impending attacks, or even current “Spyware”?

I’ve started using a new program from SecureMac called “MacScan”, and am very pleased with the results. My program runs automatically everyday at noon (you set the schedule), and immediately let’s me know what it finds that might be troublesome.

Read the review from the appleJAC Macintosh Users Group.

macProVideo: Video-Assisted Software Learning

Get really interested in a new program, but don’t want to read a book, or Help menu in order to learn how to use it. Video instruction can be an excellent answer for many of us.

I am particularly impressed by Nonlinear Educating Inc., and its Founder and Publisher, Martin Sitter. Several years ago I ran a vendor discount offer about their macProVideo line of products, and had an opportunity to use several of the videos first-hand. This month I even did an interview with Martin for the Apple User Group Market Podcast (available at http://web.mac.com/ugab/). They used to provide these tutorials on DVDs, but discontinued this on Earth Day 2009, and are doing their part to protect the environment by providing only download services.

Read the review from the appleJAC Macintosh Users Group

Haptique Case: Adding Protection with Style

You’ve invested a lot of money and commitment in your MacBook, so you want it to be well-protected everywhere you go. And, you want to look good, perhaps even make a statement about your cherished investment. An attractive case may be just what you are looking for.

The new Uniea Haptique hardcase for the MacBook Aluminum 13” unibody offers complete protection for your new notebook while maintaining easy and convenient access to all ports and full functionality of the display. Its size is 230W x 30H x 330D (mm), weight is 13.7 oz (390 grams), and comes in a variety of colors including white, black, pink, blue, green and orange.

Read the review from the appleJAC Macintosh Users Group.

MacPadd: Innovative Control

“Mouse pad (also mouse•pad): a piece of rigid or slightly resilient material on which a computer mouse is moved.” thanks to Dashboard Dictionary! I have found a new concept in mouse pads which sets this product apart from the many others I’ve used.

Let’s put this topic into context (as described by HandStands). “Who would've even thought of using a mouse pad in the 1970's? Its really not surprising when you think nobody even knew what a mouse was until 1984. It all began with Xerox's legendary PARC (Palo Alto Research Center) where the vision of the mouse first came to light. Later, Apple Computer later took it to the masses when the revolutionary Macintosh was introduced. Microsoft eventually picked up on it with Windows, and we now have a world full of mice . . .”

The story goes on (www.handstands.com/articles/history-mouse-pad.php) about the evolution of the mouse pad from fabric-topped-rubber to memory foam to plastic to leather to ergonomic to gaming to wrist-rest and many more with logos, pictures and such. BUT, have you ever seen or used one made from metal? 

Read the review from the appleJAC Macintosh Users Group.

Software Review: Stellar Phoenix Macintosh

It is said that there are two types of hard drives: those that have failed and those that are going to fail. It is simple math: your hard drive will fail, it’s just a matter of time. Obviously good backups are your first line of defense. Your second line of defense is a data recovery program like Stellar Phoenix. I reviewed their 1.0 product a few years back and the program was extremely rough around the edges and not ready for the general public. The 3.0 version of the software is a welcome revision, but the program still isn’t a truly “Mac friendly” product, often using unix-style prompts rather then standard Mac dialog boxes. The program retails for $129 and has a 30 day money back guarantee.

Read the review from the Lawrence Apple Users Group.

Software Review: Executive Sync

At one point in history, the word “executive” tended to stand for some type of higher-end product, or a product with special features that separated it from the merely ordinary. Unfortunately, today, when we hear “executive” we think of corruption, bribes, and incompetence. Executive Sync tends to use the newer, less appealing meaning of the word. However at $29.99, it won’t wipe out your 401(k) unlike those other “Executives.”

Executive Sync promises to sync files “to servers running Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, and more” as well as “keep your work or personal files up-to-date between home, office, and on the road.” It does…but not really.

Read the review from the Lawrence Apple Users Group.

MacSpeech Dictate: Seeing What You’re Saying

When the original Mac 128KB was released in 1984, you heard this new computer speak to us. Haven’t you since wanted to be able control the Mac by voice, and have it transcribe what you are saying? I have a great voice recognition program now; but first, a brief history of such software for the Mac.

Read the review from the appleJAC Macintosh Users Group.

Tweakers: A Lot of Sound in a Little Package

Whenever I travel, at least three iPods and an iPhone go with me for audio and visual education and entertainment. Several sets of earphones accompany me, but I would also prefer a set of speakers for my room. A delightful and colorful unit caught my attention at Macworld that were exactly what I needed.

The Tweakers Mini-Boom Speakers from Grandmax are known as Pull-n-Play because of their cute and very functional retractable connecting cords.

Read the review from the appleJAC Macintosh Users Group.

Graphic Secrets for MUGs: Printing Borderless Photos in Photoshop and Elements

A UGAB Feature Article by Lesa Snider King

Resizing your images to print borderless can be an exercise in frustration. Unless you know the trick, you'll end up with a nasty white border. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to do it quickly and painlessly in both Photoshop Elements and Photoshop CS. The best part is that both programs will figure the resolution for you automatically!

Read the article here.

Bio: Lesa Snider King is the author of "Photoshop CS4: The Missing Manual" (O'Reilly), chief evangelist of iStockphoto.com, and founder of GraphicReporter.com. She's a proud member of DACS, NCMUG, and WAP. You can catch her graphic tips live each Wednesday night on YourMacLifeShow.com.