Info Manager

Info Manager for April 14, 2003

[*]   Comic

[*]   NAB Announcements

[*]   Windows iPod changed to Mac iPod

[*]   Tired of juggling between iTunes, QuickTime, and iPhoto

[*]   "How the MacIntel Will Change the Market"

[*]   Better Mac Living Through Bluetooth

[*]   Freeware: Diff'nPatch for Mac OS 9 X

[*]   Shareware: Image in a Hurry for iPhoto

[*]   OS X 10.2.5

[*]   Mac to run Windows faster than a PC?

[*]   Want to get your Mac onto MS Net?

[*]   Boost AirPort Reception 50% or More!

[*]   USB Barcode Reader comes to the Mac

[*]   iScooper for Mac OS X

[*]   The PandaWare DiskWrangler

[*]   PC Mall Gov to Sell Apple Products on GSA Schedule

[*]   Target and Dell drop iPod

[*]   LA Times says Apple to buy Universal Music

[*]   Dial your phone from Filemaker Pro

[*]   Quotes of the week: Bradstreet, Emerson
 

Comic

It is always interesting for me to come across a new comic. This one is called PVP. According to Cameron who mentioned it on one of my mailing lists: "In case you're wondering, for those that don't read this comic, the guy with Sunglasses is a Mac user, the kid is an avid PC gamer, and the pudgy guy is something like an editor for a PC magazine. (they all work @ the same place).
      If you want the history on it, you may want to read a few days back, but I thought that this was great. Especially since MS didn't mange to come up with anything better to do with something like this than to run Games..."
See a Mac specific one at:
http://www.pvponline.com/archive.php3?archive=20030403

NAB Announcements

If you want to catch-up on the video announcements Apple made at NAB last week, here is the place to go:
http://www.apple.com/hotnews/

Windows iPod changed to Mac iPod

Since Target is having a clearance sale on their iPods, this might be a cheap way to pick up one for your Mac. One way is to download the updater for Mac OS X at: http://www.apple.com/ipod/download/
      Then run it on the Windows iPod. Also I have been told that VersionTracker.com has a number of utilities listed to do the conversion. Here's the link:
http://www.apple.com/ipod/download/

Tired of juggling between iTunes, QuickTime, and iPhoto

Electric Butterfly releases Stimulus 3 for Mac OS 9 Electric Butterfly Stimulus 3 is your solution! Enjoy your personal collection of images, video clips, digital music, Audio CDs and iPod audio with one integrated media browser! Full story:
http://www.aacug.org/MUG/2003/stimulus.html

"How the MacIntel Will Change the Market"

Once again John Dvorak does what he does best. Namely stir up the pot. His column with the above title talks about putting Macs on Intel processors. It ain't going to happen, but it makes entertaining reading. See it at:
http://www.pcmag.com/

Better Mac Living Through Bluetooth

That is the title of an article from Forbes. This one talks about a Bluetooth enable phone created by John Salling for syncing with Macs. Read the full story at:
http://www.forbes.com/2003/04/08/cx_ah_0408tentech.html

Freeware: Diff'nPatch for Mac OS 9 X

graphic user interface Unix patch utilities Bernard Desgraupes has released his new Diff'nPatch 1.2, a freeware application implementing the diff and patch Unix utilities with a nice graphic user interface. It is a Carbon application which can run on both OS9 and OSX.
http://www.aacug.org/MUG/shareware/diffnpatch.html

Shareware: Image in a Hurry for iPhoto

... blazing fast access to large photo collections browse thumbnails and select images for export, resizing and re-compressing-- plus perform all the selection and setup without even picking up the mouse. Great shareware from James Sentman
Full story:
http://www.aacug.org/MUG/shareware/imageinhurry.html

OS X 10.2.5

This update is now available. Check with Software update for the download or order a CD from the Apple online store $20. Reportedly there is a number of functional and reliability improvements.
Let us know what you think.
http://www.macnn.com/news/19081

Mac to run Windows faster than a PC?

A story on OSCast.com seems to indicate that will be the case with a new version of RealPC due from FWB within 30 days. Apparently this is part of an agreement with Connectix prior to their sale to Microsoft. An interesting story, includes HINTS that a new processor might be coming from Apple.
Read it at:
http://www.oscast.com/stories/storyReader$278

Want to get your Mac onto MS Net?

ADmitMac from Thursby Software is the key ADmitMac, a new Mac OS X v10.2.x software solution allows Macintosh computers to participate in Microsoft networks. Sign up to beta test the product
Full story:
http://www.aacug.org/MUG/2003/admitmac.html

Boost AirPort Reception 50% or More!

Two New Antennas from QuickerTek QuickerTek has just announced two new antennas that boost wireless connectivity up to 50% for all [APPL] Apple PowerBook Titanium G4 users and PowerBook G3 'Pismo' portables with Airport cards.
Full story:
http://www.aacug.org/MUG/2003/quickertek.html

USB Barcode Reader comes to the Mac

Easy Barcode Reader USB for Mac OS This hot new desktop USB barcode scanner is designed for home and office use. Extensive customization options -- make this the one for Mac users.
Full story:
http://www.aacug.org/MUG/2003/barcode.html

iScooper for Mac OS X

Browse, batch media downloading application automatically download and browse batches of pictures much faster and much more conveniently than they can with conventional web browsers -- download full photo websites, then view off-line from the built in slideshow utility!
Full story:
http://www.aacug.org/MUG/2003/iscooper.html

The PandaWare DiskWrangler

File Launching and Browsing Keyboard Control a new file launching and browsing application for Mac OS X -- special introductory price through May 31.
Full story:
http://www.aacug.org/MUG/2003/diskwrangler.html

PC Mall Gov to Sell Apple Products on GSA Schedule

This is big news. Apple has had trouble getting the Federal government to purchase Macs for several years now. With PC Mall Gov taking over the business, that could change.
Full story at:
http://biz.yahoo.com/

Target and Dell drop iPod

As I mentioned above, Target is dropping iPods as is Dell, according to Nick dePlume, at Think Secret. This is over a contract that Apple wanted resellers to sign that forced them into arbitration over any disputes.
Full story at:
http://www.thinksecret.com/news/targetdell.html

AP says Apple to buy Universal Music

An article on the AP News Wire says that Apple is to pay $6 Billion for the firm. That would make Apple a true competitor to the Beatles company. Wonder how that will set with that law suit settlement. An interesting read, The Times is not a rumor monger and they do say that the negotiations are on going. So it isn't a done deal. While this could be a great deal for Universal, this would be the first time that Apple has expanded outside of the high tech arena.
WIRED has the most 'readable' version of the story at:
http://www.wired.com/news/

Dial your phone from Filemaker Pro

Automated Workflows has rolled out their new "Dial Phone From FileMaker" AppleScript
     In Mac OS 9, FileMaker Pro databases could be configured to dial a phone number through the use of an internal script. However, this feature is not yet available in the OS X version of FileMaker. "Dial Phone From FileMaker" is an external AppleScript application designed to provide the ability to extract a phone number from a field in a FileMaker Pro database, and then dial that number using Internet Connect.
Visit Automated Workflows' web site at:
http://www.automatedworkflows.com/

Quotes of the week: Bradstreet, Emerson

"Not only is there a right to be happy, there is a duty to be happy. So much sadness exists in the world that we are all under obligation to contribute as much joy as lies within our powers." - John Sutherland Bonnell "If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."
      - Anne Bradstreet

"Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires...courage."
      - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Send in your favorite quotes to:
http://www.user-groups.net/InfoManager/INFO.html

pau

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Also see: MUG NEWS bursts from the AACUG Mac User Guide (MUG)

Note: Features schedule

The InfoManager invites user groups to use his column in full or in pieces in their newsletter. Or add a link to their web site. He would appreciate word that you are doing so however and if you can, please send a pdf version of the newsletter for his perusal. Or provide him with a link. The address is InfoManager@user-groups.net. You can also use that address for feed back.
Note: Features schedule
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Of course I could make adjustments to this schedule as I see fit and will take suggestions. Have a great week! Note: In light of the new AACUG MUG tabloid publication, I may be changing the above schedule. Please send me your input.
Pau

The Info Manager is a veteran of the UGN (AOL User Groups Forum) and User Group Network. He's been a supporter and volunteer on many, many UGNet and User Group Academy projects. As a long time user group member, he's served as volunteer from Honolulu to Boston and many points in between. Currently working with the Apple Corp of Dallas, the Dallas Mac Pack, Cowtown MUG of Ft. Worth and TUMS (the Tulsa Users of Macintosh Society) doing newsletter articles and the monthly CD-ROM Update. Post a lead Info Manager should follow up on.

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