User group Newsletter Editors: Utilize this content in your newsletter -- PLEASE ... reference The User Group Network _ / _ UG Network Channel _ / _ NEWS_/ _ The Rumor Manager is looking for your rumors and tidbits... give him a post! ...or subscribe... see subscription notes below MacWorld Expo Notes: Part 2 **** PC News Just a note. I have had a few people ask why I don't have more information on rumors and events happening out side of the Mac arena. The answer is, I am a Mac user and while I try to include events happening out side of that, I can't find all the news by myself. If you have something interesting, submit it to me at the address below or to the rumors mailing list. This is a second column being submitted this week, as I had promised a part 2 on my MacWorld attendance and hadn't gotten to it. There has been just too much happening in the computer world. So some of the other announcements at Expo: **** MWUGWUMP Room It was good to see a room for user groups to get rest and talk to each other. But since it was made available at the last minute and no one was schedule to provide activities or refreshments to the troops, it really didn't get used as in the past. Perhaps UGN or Apple User Group people could provide us with some activities there. There was one event held, which was the Apple UG feedback session. I felt that Diane got lots of feedback from the people who attended, but there really should have been more. (Total of less than 20 with only about 10 at any given time). Still, it was nice of IDG to provide it for us. **** BeatWare BeatWare was introducing a new Web graphic program called e-Picture. It really looked like it could give the big boys some competition by providing creation and animation of banners and buttons integrated into the general design activities. Their idea of giving out drum sticks as a souvenir of their booth was a very cost effective reminder. **** Casady & Greene C&G provided a whole selection of software. They had their traditional booth, with software for sale in "travel packs". At the user group breakfast, they gave a way a copy of Speed Start. One of the few utility programs offered at the show that would still work on my Centris. Although, I suspect that the improvement in startup speed would be even more obvious on a G3. My improvement seemed to be about 20%. Of course they had a selection of games and Conflict Catcher for sale in the booth. **** Ambrosia I was really surprised to see Ambrosia Software at the show. I know that being a shareware company, they don't have much of a marketing budget. But then, how could one of the best game companies be ignored in the gaming pavilion. I had already seen demos of their new games, so didn't hang around them, but keep your eye on ambrosiasw.com. They have some great stuff coming. Unfortunately, I am going to have to upgrade to play them. **** MacHome Journal When I first saw MacHome Journal, I thought it was nothing but press releases and who needs it. Then gradually over the years it because a good magazine for the beginner users. Then once Mac Addict got started with a CD every month, MHJ thought that was a good idea and started a version with CD. That seemed to help give it a broader focus and perhaps even start to give MacAddict some competition. But lately, even though their cover price is still $8 an issue and their subscription rate is equal to MacAddict they have started not including a CD with each issue. They are saying that it is impossible to provide a high quality CD with each issue and won't do it if it isn't of high quality. My question to them would be, then how does MacAddict and the British magazines do it? (Even MacWorld UK does a monthly CD. It seems you can't compete in Britain without a CD attached to your computer magaine). I personally have quit recommending MHJ to the new user. Instead MacAddict is my favorite for all levels. Perhaps someone should think about filling the new user market. **** WordPerfect As mentioned in the previous MacWorld report, Corel is now offering WordPerfect 3.5 Enhancement Pack for free. It is now available at: http://www.corel.com/products/macintosh/wpmac35/newdownload **** CD-R Octave was showing off duplicators that started at a quite reasonable $649. It did not require a computer to do the duplication. ... Cedar Technologies on the other haad had a true CD-R Publisher. I had a 50-Disc input and output capacity tray. Came with a SCSI interface and had two drive bays. By using a "robotic arm", the blank CDs are placed into the tray and the finshed one is removed and placed into the printer where the label is printed directly on the disk. It really looked cool and I would love to have one. My notes do not include the price, but I do remember it was outside my feeble bank account. **** AQUENT Partner The company formerly known as MacTemps had a booth and has changed its focus to acting as a clearing house for contract personnel. They would appear to have all levels of competitence available and if you are looking for work as a contractor or if you need one, then they would appear to be the Mac company to contact. www.AquentPartners.com **** Netbarrier Intego showed off a security product called Netbarrier. This is a subject that will be getting more and more attention now that more and more individuals are getting connections to the web that are open 24/7. (ADSL and Cable modems primarily.) It provides a personal firewall and keeps data and computers safe from prying outsiders. **** CompuCable Had several interesting products. Two different iDocks. The original iDock adds two serial/Geo, one parallel and 3 USB ports to the iMac via a swivel base. The iDock II has the same ports plus floppy drive, an ADB port and an additional USB port. The other product they had that looked interesting was the gDock. The gDock fits between the handles of the G3 and adds two serial and 4 USB ports. It also comes with a built-in converter for adding a Zip or Super Disk Drive. They had a few other products for adding old products to the USB port they are at www.compucable.com **** ORB The ORB was on display and seemed to be everything that it has been cracked up to be. It will however be interesting to get reports of reliability. It still amazes me that we got so little information on problems with Jaz cartridges. Hopefully feed back on the ORB will be better. Please let me know what you think of your ORB. (rumormangr@aol.com) **** Aladdin Was showing off their newest Spring Cleaning, Sundial and their newest acquisition MacTicker. Sundail, while not new, this was the first time I saw it in action. It is a screen saver that changes according to the time of day. Something for the digital screen that you have hanging on your wall for decoration. ... One of my biggest complaints with Spring Cleaning was that it was too easy for a new user to discard needed files. Version 3.0 has added a Restore function. So perhaps this will help correct the problem. I still feel that Spring Cleaning is a hard sell for older users. **** iPostage Recently there have been a number of news stories about the first two companies allowed to sell postage stamps over the internet. At the show, Neopost was showing a printer that could be used on the Mac to print postage. It requires a PowerPC based Mac with either serial or USB ports and Internet access. The cost is $17.95 per month with a 12 month contract. That gets you the printer, $50 in postage, labels and a digital scale. Sounds like it could be a nice product for use in a small to medium size business. It would be cost effective to use in most homes. **** iLiner It is interesting that Symantec has released More to be downloaded from the Internet. But Casady & Green has a new product for doing outlining called iLiner. The brief look I got at it, makes it look like an updated More. It will even use QuickTime 4.0's streaming capabilities. **** Casady & Green Were also showing off their hottest new product SoundJam MP and an older product update to work with newer Mac operating systems, SpellCatcher 8. SoundJam MP works with all sound formats, but most importantly works with MP3. C&G has special user group pricing at their own user group store: <wwww.casadyg.com/stores/ug> Check it out. **** Meeting Rooms Something I will have to be on the outlook for next year was the "on the floor" meeting room. I wondered why I didn't see MacAddict on the floor. (The magazine was being distributed near the entrance). They were actually in a meeting room. So it wasn't easy to get to for those uninitiated in the ways of the Javits Center. Guess I will know better next year. pau Subscribe to Rumors@lists.user-groups.net DIGEST VERSION: rumors-digest@lists.user-groups.net (recommended) rumors-on@lists.user-groups.net The Rumor 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. UG Network Channel _ / _ NEWS _ / _ UG Library _ / _ UG Bookshelf To Advertise or become a sponsor -- Contact Jennifer -- Press Releases for publication -- should be directed to: UGNN News Desk at: News-Editor@user-groups.net. 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