Archive for the ‘Recent Developments’ Category

The Kachemacs Alaska T-shirts are finished! If you are interested, they are $12 for a short sleeve and $14 for a long sleeve. Bring your money to the next meeting if you want one. They were screened locally by The Sweat Shop, and they did a great job.

I did. The lines at AT&T (otherwise known as iQueues) in some areas lasted a week. Thanks to my husband who did most of the waiting while I was at work, I have a shiny white iPhone. It did take all morning, even in Homer.

I haven’t had a cell phone in years. Until now, I have carried an old school Palm with my personal information in it. It’s been interesting changing over all my data and habits.

One piece of information I have always carried with me includes a “In case of emergency” contact. Everyone should have this information, on a wallet card, on speed dial, etc. The problem with the iPhone is that it stores SO much information, any wise user will have the lock with passcode activated. Without access to the address book or speed dial, a rescuer will not be able to contact the next of kin using this method.

I called upon the expertise of Microsoft. We know they are very familiar with “fatal errors.” I figured if I am ever involved in a “fatal error” involving my earthly body, I should want the best of help. Besides, nothing screams “EMERGENCY!” like a good ol’ blue screen.

I took a screenshot of my PC server’s icon in Coverflow on my Mac, then doctored it with the necessary text. I then loaded it on my phone as wallpaper. If anyone picks up my phone, this image (without the number smudged out) will show on my locked iPhone screen. My husband can then be contacted.

This will also work on the chance that my phone is lost. If an honest individual finds it, that person can call my husband and make arrangements to return the phone.

I am attaching a link to the template on the group iDisk (instructions) to this post so that the Kachemacs can use it on their iPhones by entering their information accordingly. GraphicConverter is great for applying text to photos.

I know this is kind of late notice, but VMWare is running a “switch to Fusion” contest. So, I decided this would be the perfect opportunity for me to figure out how to make a video in iMovie. Besides, the grand prize is a MacBook Air! I grabbed my friend Dax who heads up the Comedy Weakly group I participate in. We set up a makeshift stage in my living room, shot some footage, edited in iMovie, and posted on YouTube. I never did anything like that before, and I’m by no means a videotographer now but it was great to try something new.

So check it out and vote! Maybe even post one of your own.

We received this message from through the blog and I’m giving the Kachemacs an opportunity to check it out.

Hi,

I’m the producer of TheDigitalLifestyle.tv an online video network of Apple news, rumors, and lifestyle. I wanted to let Kachemacs know about the channel, not only because of the general Apple relevance, but also because we’re always looking for more programming from other Apple users. So if you, or anyone you know might be interested in contributing videos, please let me know.

Thanks, and I hope to hear from you soon.

~Ryan Ritchey
Producer
www.TheDigitalLifestyle.tv

We had a great turnout in the library today! We had great chemistry, with just enough people of varying skill levels. All new users got attention they needed, and some of us veterans had a chance to help people out and make their Macs work for them, not against them.
The attendees were generous with their wallets and I am pleased to announce that we will be able to register our domain name. This is important if we want to continue using the kachemacs.com name. We need to make it ours. Thanks to all who came.

Congratulations to Jeanne, who won a copy of YummySoup!, a recipe management program donated by Hungry Seacow Software. Bon appetit!

Hooray!

Red Sweater Software has given us a copy of MarsEdit2 to use for posting to our group blog. MarsEdit2 is an editor for many popular blogs which enables the user to compose posts while offline in an easy to use format. This is my first post using the software, and I’m finding it MUCH easier than doing it in Camino.

This is making me very happy. Thanks, Red Sweater!

I remember a lot of our discussion at the last meeting involved viruses and antivirus software. I’d like to point the Kachemacs to an article I found on TidBITS concerning antivirus on the Mac. It’s a bit technical, but has some good info. Some discussion follows in this thread. You can see for yourself what the geeks say. It’s an ongoing debate, with no clear cut and dried answer. I personally do run antivirus (Intego), but just started again after several years of not running it (since OS9 and classic when I used Norton, about 2002). I do it for my Windows using friends. I get a lot of ridiculous jokes and whatnot from a couple relatives who have PCs in and out of the shop because they “don’t work.” That’s a big red flag. I also got my primary Yahoo e-mail account banned a few years ago by Yahoo because some Windows user had my address in their address book and got a PC worm virus which replicated my e-mail delivering virus to countless recipients. Not my fault, but it happened. Kind of hurt my feelings.

This may be fodder for an in-depth discussion in a future meeting.

This just in…Roxio is offering a discount on Popcorn 3 until April 15 for Mac User Group members only.  It’s $10 off, or $39.99.  It can be picked up in their online store, and the coupon code is UGpopsave10.  Popcorn 3 is a utility that converts and burns video files into formats compatible with your playback devices (TV, TiVo, iPod. DVD, etc.)

I’ve been in Anchorage this weekend, and was so fortunate as to be present for the AAUG (Anchorage Users Group) workshops.  In the morning we had the beginners’ workshop, and in the afternoon was iPhoto (intermediate).

I would highly recommend this resource for anyone who spends time in Anchorage.  The group meets on the second Wednesday of the month in Anchorage, and they have workshops the following Saturday.  I maintain membership in the group, and I would suggest the Kachemacs consider joining.  A big city group has a lot to offer.  The yearly fee is $40, and you get access to workshops, dot mac groups, newsletter, review materials, lending library, and the community that their club offers for sharing and support.

Check out their website for more information on joining.  You can do it right there on the site.

I also found out the Alaska Mac Store in Anchorage has free workshops on Fridays midday and evenings.  I’ve not attended, but perhaps a Kachemac could do so on their next trip and report here.

Take advantage of your resources, Kachemacs!

For any user with a dot mac account, iLife is $30 off, but only until 02/25.  Jump on it if you have dot mac.  We don’t usually see these kinds of deals.  Too bad I finally bought it full price last month, but you all can get in on it if you’ve been holding out.

If you were planning on getting iLife ‘08 anyhow, and have been thinking of getting a dot mac account as well this is a great chance to net a savings of $30, so do it!