Info Manager for July 15, 2002

[*]  New Apple Soho store welcomes MUGs 7.21;   [*]  Bridge the Digital Divide Using Video CDs;   [*]  Microsoft posts IE updates;   [*]  Cheap non-Apple PowerPC machines reappear.;   [*]  xTunes;   [*]  EBay Will Buy PayPal ;   [*]  Apple Macs at risk from rogue software updates?;   [*]  Art Director's Toolkit upgrades;   [*]  Rumors;   [*]  Top 10 iPhoto Tips;   [*]  New from Casady & Green;   [*]  Mug Web Site of the Week:;   [*]  Quotes: Goldwyn, Rice, Beckett;   [*]  Pass along the fun from Macworld;  
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New Apple Soho store welcomes MUGs 7.21

Just after I sent out last week's column, Garr Reynolds sent out word that the Apple Soho Store, which is being opened during MacWorld Expo would host a private night with area MUGs, their families and Apple Consultants Network members on July 21st from 7-9 PM.
     This should be a good chance for MUGs and ACN people to get to know each other. If you are in the area, check it out because as a special offer for this evening only, there is have a special gift with the purchase of $250 or more, and the first 200 people through the doors get a gift as well. For directions to the store see: http://www.apple.com/retail/soho

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Bridge the Digital Divide Using Video CDs

Phil Shapiro, a long time Washington Apple Pi activist has an article on line about using inexpensive video cds to provide educational material to people who otherwise couldn't afford it.
It could be a technique that MUGs could do. His article is at: http://www.his.com/pshapiro/videocds.html

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Microsoft posts IE updates

MS has posted new versions of Internet Explorer to its web site for both Classic (v5.1.5) and OS X (v5.2.1). Read about them: insanely-great.com
And upgrade at: http://www.microsoft.com/mac/DOWNLOAD/IE/ie515.asp or
www.microsoft.com/mac/DOWNLOAD/IE/ie521.asp

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Cheap non-Apple PowerPC machines reappear.

According to Ron Carlson of Insanely Great Mac, you can now buy a G3 600 MHz tower for under $600.
     He tells of a Slashdot reader who claims to have successfully installed MacOS 9.2 on an Amiga using MacOnLinux software. (www.maconlinux.com/) The Amiga One is built by Eyetech of England. Let us know what you think. Full story at: http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=614

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xTunes

Speaking of Linux, xTunes will allow you to hook up an iPod to Linux machines. So perhaps we will have great flexibility in the future instead of being increasingly dominated by Microsoft. Full story at: http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=615

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EBay Will Buy PayPal

I finally get my PayPal account setup so that I can receive cash and they get purchased by eBay. (For only $1.5 billion in stock).
     PayPal has long been one of the best ways to pay for items on eBay (on the Internet for that matter). So I think this is a positive step. I know that Apple Corp of Dallas is one user group that take dues via Paypal. Are there any others? Full story at: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news

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Apple Macs at risk from rogue software updates?

According to a ZDNet story, full instructions are available on the Internet for how to fool Apple's SoftwareUpdate feature and install a backdoor on any Mac running OS X.
     I hate to spread bad news, but if this is true we have one more reason to turn off automatic updates.
     [Note: the AACUG advocacy project has uncovered some insidious things that can be done to your Mac via automatic updates and full time DSL connections. More on this later.] Full story at http://news.zdnet.co.uk/

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Art Director's Toolkit upgrades

I got word this week from Code Line, that they have upgraded their "Art Directors Toolkit" to incorporate PANTONEš Colors. Art Directors Toolkit incorporates several utilities custom made for graphic designers and creatives. It is available for both OS 9 and OS X. Full details on Cond-Line's web site at: http://www.code-line.com/

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Rumors

Maybe there aren't enough rumors on the Mac part of the web this past week. Most of which will be proven incorrect this week. So if you would like to generate some of your own, use the rumor generator at: http://www.lowendmac.com/

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Top 10 iPhoto Tips

Shawn King at YourMacLife.com pointed out this story on O'Reilly's website. The first 5 or so tips really concern digital photography in general. But who's counting? See it at: http://www.macdevcenter.com/

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New from Casady & Green

iData is being releaed from C&G. They have develop InfoGenie into a new product with a new name. One of its outstanding features is the ability to collect email form OE, Netscape and Eudora in one place. Of course, its search engine remains the fastest on the planet. Full story at: www.casadyg.com or http://www.insanely-great.com/

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Mug Web Site of the Week:

Corvallis Macintosh Users Group (CMUG) of Corvallis, OR This group of about 400 members needs very little introduction to anyone who has been around the Mac user group community for any time. Most of us first noticed it because of its newsletter, "The Mouse Droppings" with its terrific hints and tips column. Many people feel that the newsletter is worth the annual dues and they have many out of state members. It also is responsible for the annual "You Don't Know Mac" trivia event that brings together MUGs from across the state.
     The surprise I got by reading their web site is that they are an ISP. Of course, that isn't included in the dues, but it is a great way to serve the community. http://www.cmug.org/

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Quotes: Goldwyn, Rice, Beckett

"Let's have some new clichŽs."
     - Samuel Goldwyn

"It's never too late to have a happy childhood"
      Johnny Rice

"Life get's boring if you stay within the limits of what you already know"
      Joy Edwards-Beckett
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Pass along the fun from Macworld

Have fun at Expo and be sure to tell us all about it!
      From any computer connected to the web, you can go to our InfoManager input screen and pass along news from Macworld. I, in turn, will post it to the InfoManager discussion list.
go to:
http://www.user-groups.net/InfoManager/INFO.html

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News and Info you can use...

The Info Manager invites user groups to use his column in full or in pieces in their newsletter. 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 just provide him with the link. Use this address: Infomanager@user-groups.net or... our online Information form

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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