- In this issue: November 24, 2003
- [*] Today is the day!
- [*] Alert: Can the CAN SPAM Act
- [*] Apple /// Legacy on DVD
- [*] OLED Screens
- [*] Apple's new products
- [*] Panther doesn't like FireWire
- [*] Surviving Panther
- [*] Roadside Attractions*
- [*] Wal-Mart Laptops?
- [*] Apple receives PC Magazine Award
- [*] Man Arrested Over 'Spam Rage'
- [*] Free Money Lesson CD
- [*] UGU San Francisco
- [*] MacWorld Guides and Lounge Volunteers
- [*] AppleCare for iPod
- [*] Celestia: where no man has gone before
- [*] Free Database for Nonprofits
- [*] Soap Box: No cybercrime, no hunger
- [*] Quotes: Davis, Freeman
- Today is the day!
- Yes, today is the first day that cell phone users can switch companies and still keep their old phone number. In many cases, they can even switch from land line to cell and keep the number too. Of course, this is limited to the major metro areas, but it is a step in the right direction. Just a word of caution though, just as it is dangerous to get 1.0 of anything in the computer world, it will probably be best to wait a few weeks and let the companies get the switching process straight. Let someone else be the pioneer.
Each wireless company has information on their web sites. Go to the web site of the one you want to pick. They can handle getting you canceled on the other company. Just remember, you must complete your contract first or you risk paying penalties.
- Alert: Can the CAN SPAM Act
- As we said before, we cannot rely on Congress to offer any real help against spam. The "Can Spam" act says that big companies CAN SPAM you.
After extensive research, and work with Senator George Allen, and Congressman Robert Goodlatte, AACUG's anti-spam advocate Fred Showker warned against Burns-Wyden and promoted rather the "RID" spam bill (1422). Unfortunately, there just wasn't any help from the user group community. As you read in a previous edition, the U.S. Senate passed S.877, the Burns-Wyden CAN SPAM Act.
While some parts of the bill may have a chance, its main effect would be to legitimize most kinds of spam that aren't actively deceptive or fraudulent. What's worse, Burns-Wyden provides no private right of action for recipients of spam to get recourse against spammers, and it overrides any stronger state laws such as the new Virginia and California laws -- in other words: you personally can't do anything about getting spam.
For these reasons AACUG, and the User Group Network, along with several other anti-spam organizations strongly opposes the bill in its current form.
Call your Rep, ask for the legislative assistant, explain that you're calling about the CAN SPAM act, S.877, quickly explain:
* it would make the spam problem worse, permitting many kinds of spam,
* it doesn't have good enforcement,
* it doesn't let states enforce their own stronger laws, and
* it takes away your private right of action.
Tell them to vote against it phone number, see the directory at Clerk.House.Gov
- Apple /// Legacy on DVD
- Thanks to Washington Apple Pi, one of the world's largest user groups (Apple), fans and collectors of Apple's first production computer, the Apple ///, now have access to a two-set DVD that includes all ten chapters of "How To Use Your Apple /// In Ten Easy Lessons" and some great extras like a video based on a December, 1988 interview with Apple and Macintosh veteran Andy Hertzfeld about the famous Apple /// running horses display. The 2 DVD set costs $30.00 plus postage and handling and is available by calling the WAP office at (301)-984-0300 or ordering online through Washington Pi web site.
- OLED Screens
- Mike Snider in Forbes is saying that OLED screens are coming much sooner than expected and that some products are actually being shown to dealers. This is similar to the screen Tom Cruise gestured to in the Minority Report. These screens could eventually make it possible to print newspapers on a screen you would fold up and put in your pocket. Or even have a video on a packaged food product that shows you how to prepare it.Really sounds exciting.
- Apple's new products
- I'm sure that you all know by now that Apple introduced a 1.8 GHz G5 tower and a 20 inch iMac last week. They really sound sweet. Wouldn't mind having either one. Oh Santa, please!
* Apple's dual-processor 1.8GHz Power Mac G5
This one operates at 1.8GHz. The new system features dual independent 900MHz front-side buses, 512MB of 400MHz 128-bit DDR SDRAM, a 160GB Serial ATA 7200RPM hard disk drive and an AGP 8x Pro graphics slot populated with an Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 Ultra video card with 64MB DDR SDRAM. It costs $2,499US -- only $100 more than the 1.8GHz system it replaces.
* Apple unveils 20-inch iMac
Apple on Tuesday also unveiled its latest consumer desktop machine, the 20-inch flat panel iMac with 1680-by-1050 resolution. The new systems feature a 1.25GHz G4 PowerPC processor, 256MB of fast 333 MHz DDR SDRAM, a 7200 rpm 80GB Ultra ATA/100 hard disk drive, NVIDIA's GeForce FX 5200 Ultra graphics processor with 64MB of DDR video memory, two FireWire 400 and three high-speed USB 2.0 ports, support for 54Mbps AirPort Extreme 802.11g wireless networking, and optional built-in Bluetooth. ... 20-inch iMac
- Panther doesn't like FireWire
- Awesome products aside, an ever growing segment of the Mac community is refusing to go with Panther until the FireWire data loss bug is resolved. One UGN reader we spoke to yesterday says: "Yes, I've got it -- in the box -- I bought it." However when asked about the upgrade: "Heck no. I've got too much data on that FireWire drive. Can't risk losing it!"
MacCentral's David Leishman points out that Apple has acknowledged a FireWire bug that damages data on external FireWire 800 drives and has announced it will address security warnings regarding Mac OS X Jaguar. For some reason, Apple's promises just don't seem to give us a lot of confidence. FileVault problems continue Apple's OS woes
- Surviving Panther
- Our good friend Adam Engst (famous TidBits creator) has an excellent new series of inexpensive electronic books to help lessen the risk and impact of upgrading to Panther. He gathers other well-known Mac authors to explain how you can "Take Control of Upgrading to Panther" and "Take Control of Customizing Panther."
- Roadside Attractions*
- You know, those unusual things you pass as you drive down the highway. Particularly if you get off the Interstate. Here is a web site dedicated to those fun and offbeat items. See it at: Roadside America
- Wal-Mart Laptops?
- I have been told that the Taiwan Economic News is reporting that Wal-mart will sell house-branded notebooks next year. Several manufacturers are bidding on the 100K unit order. WOW!! This should lower prices on the low end even further. This is suppose to be a 15" Intel/AMD system that will sell for less than $800.
* Sorry, but this one is not available on the Internet as far as I can find. If you run across it, let me know. let me know.
- Apple receives PC Magazine Award
- Apple received its award for the technical excellence of its G5 towers. "The G5 performed significantly better than any previous MacÑand equaled or bettered the performance of Intel-platform machinesÑon our all-important graphics and content creation tests. As a 64-bit operating system and applications emerge, users will enjoy the dual 1-GHz front-side buses and rapid access to up to 8 gigabytes of RAM. The G5 is an important step forward in desktop computer technology and a vital cornerstone of Apple's future." This was the 20th Annual presentation and if I recall correctly not the first time Apple has been selected. PC Magazine.
- Man Arrested Over 'Spam Rage'
- Friday's "culture" section of Wired reported on a Silicon Valley computer programmer who has been arrested for threatening to torture, kill and send a 'package full of Anthrax spores' to employees of the company he blames for bombarding his computer with spam promising to enlarge his you-know-what. 'Spam Rage'
- Free Money Lesson CD
- The Department of the Treasury Bureau of Engraving and Printing is giving away free money... well, actually they're offering a free money lesson interactive CD and poster for educators. It also includes information about the newly designed bills. Money Factory
- UGU San Francisco
- Well, you have missed the early bird deadline, which was last Friday. But you can still enroll in the 2004 UGU San Francisco program to be held at the Argent Hotel on January 5th, 2004. Besides the normal workshops, seminars, vendor reception and networking with other group leaders this year you will receive a CD of material from presenters and vendors. (Isn't it about time?)
Current registration is $54.05 and that registration ends on December 23rd. Some of the session topics will be:
* Volunteers and Communities
* Revitalizing a Board
* Attracting Youthful Members
* Sprucing Up Your Website and Getting it Found With a Search Engine
* Planning Programs Up to a Year in Advance
* Working with PC Users and Enticing Them to Join Your Group
* OS X 10.3 Panther Make reservations now.
- MacWorld Guides and Lounge Volunteers
- Sandy Foderick is organizing these activities. I personally miss the days when we could also volunteer to help out at the Apple booth, but being a Guide would be a terrific experience and I know staffing the volunteer area is also terrific. A great way to get to know other leaders and vendors from around the world. I don't know if Sandy wants her e-mail posted where it can be picked up by spiders, especially since it isn't posted on the UGAB area of Apple's User group site. Therefore, if you are interested, I will let you know where to send your volunteer just ask
- AppleCare for iPod
- Apple has made AppleCare available for the iPod. However, its $59 price tag seems a little steep to me -- but then that's what one InfoManager reader originally said before her $700 Cinema display died a month out of warranty. Get the details from Apple.
- Celestia: where no man has gone before
- Celestia for Mac and Windows is a free real-time space simulation that lets you experience our universe in three dimensions. Unlike most planetarium software, Celestia doesn't confine you to the surface of the Earth. You can travel throughout the solar system, to any of over 100,000 stars, or even beyond the galaxy. All travel in Celestia is seamless; the exponential zoom feature lets you explore space across a huge range of scales, from galaxy clusters down to spacecraft only a few meters across. A 'point-and-goto' interface makes it simple to navigate through the universe to the object you want to visit. See: Shatters dot net.
- Free Database for Nonprofits
- FileMaker recently published a new website and released a new stand-alone application, FileMaker Donations, designed just for non-profit organizations -- download at filemaker.com
- Soap Box: No cybercrime, no hunger
- An OS X user was recently overheard saying: "I don't have to worry about cyber crime, I'm using a Mac." Sad to say many user group officers and members feel anti-spam and internet safety education is a waste of time. The nearly nonexistent level of interest in the AACUG's Advocacy project on cybercrime proves the point. They would probably also say: "There's no world hunger, I just ate." But while dreaming away in a dumb stupor of perceived security, and filtered complacency, the threat remains real and continues to grow.
Thursday's security channels buzzed with the results of an international crackdown on perpetrators of credit card fraud and other cybercriminals. Authorities say they found 125,000 victims who lost more than $100 million in Internet scams. Many of which could have been user group members -- and could have prevented through local education.Here's the full story
- Quotes: Davis, Freeman
- "Don't be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so."
- Bette Davis
"Look for the good in everybody, starting with yourself."
- Marie T. Freeman * Recommended by ResearchBuzz.com
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Lynn Wegley 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.
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November 24, 2003: