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The Info Manager.

Info Manager for November 11, 2002: [*] Sprint PCS getting into Wi-Fi; [*] Mac OS among least prone to attack. (Duh!); [*] "iWON" Means You Lose?; [*] "Rules For Writing"*; [*] Typing on a computer 150 meters away; [*] Dell selling PCs at Costco; [*] Quickoffice for Mac; [*] Now Up-To-Date for Windows; [*] User Group Web sites; [*] Lord of the CDs?; [*] New PowerBooks and iBooks; [*] Switched ad parodies; [*] MacTipster; [*] Apple releases the SuperDrive update; [*] NisusWriter goes Cocoa; [*] Microsoft Preps Code for .Net: Mac; [*] Mac users out of town, out of luck; [*] Web site of the week: Recipes; [*] Quote of the week; [*] MUG selects interesting news items (11/11/2002)
Sprint PCS getting into Wi-Fi: ZDNet News reported on 10/31 that Sprint PCS is putting together a network of "hot spots" to take advantage of the popularity of Wi-Fi wireless networking. (Apple markets Wi-Fi under the name "Airport".) This way if you are a Sprint customer you will be able to sit down in Starbucks and connect without additional charges. Cool. Full story at:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-964118.html
Mac OS among least prone to attack. (Duh!): IDG News service meanwhile was reporting that the Mac OS was the least prone to attack and damage from malicious hackers, worms and viruses in 2002. Of course Windows was the worst. I hope this continues as we move to OS X, but I suspect that Apple's market share of vandals will increase as well. Although in this case, they appear to be talking about OS X as a version of Unix. Full story at:
http://www.idg.net/go.cgi?id=760082
"iWON" Means You Lose?: According to ABC News, the iWon.com web site trackers users even after they have removed themselves from the service. Full story at:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/TechTV/techtv_iwonspyware021023.html
"Rules For Writing"*: From Alex Lockhart, a regular reader of the Langa List, came across a rules for writing web site. Alex then did a search to find several more sites that had similar rules. Then collected them into a master list and put them on a web site. So for a mostly complete set of rules, see that site at:
http://alexlockhart.no-ip.org/
Typing on a neighbor's computer from 150 meters away: The Register (the Enquirer of the computer industry) is reporting about one person using his HP wireless keyboard and having his text appear on his neighbor's computer. Something to be aware of if you are using a wireless keyboard. Full story at:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/54/27971.html
Dell selling PCs at Costco: Now it appears that Dell is starting to return to the retail channel. They are setting up kiosks in Costco where customers can order computers direct from Dell. I wonder if that means you can order an iPod there as well. Full story from ZDNet News at:
http://zdnet.com.com/2110-1103-964373.html
Quickoffice for Mac: According to MacMinute.com, a version of QuickOffice for Palm OS 3.0 has now been released that will allow Mac users to connect and transfer files easily. See the Quickoffice web site for more info:
http://www.quickoffice.com/quickoffice/mac.html
Now Up-To-Date for Windows: PowerSoftware has announced Now Up-To-Date for Windows. This software that many Mac users love, will now go creoss platform and thus will help in sharing of calendars and contact files. There is a public beta at:
http://www.poweronsoftware.com/now/nudwpb.html
User Group Web sites: On tha AUGB mailing list, there has been a discussion about how many MUGs lost their web site once .Mac was switched to a pay account. Apple has offered user group in the US a free account. But that hasn't done anything for the great number of foreign groups out there. Dan Sailers of AACUG responed with: "I've followed with interest the on going discussions regarding Mugs having to redo their web sites due to the .Mac Changes. In the overall scheme of business it is important for Apple to address business costs and other issues that impact on continued delivery of innovation and great Apple products.
"For without great products there would not be a reason for us to exist as User Groups. Having acknowledged that important fact, it is also necessary to acknowledge that Apple sometimes seems to forget those who work the hardest to promote the brand.
"AACUG and UGN has offered to its members for several years free web hosting and a host of other benefits specificity for user groups and their members. Currently AACUG has a special offer for User Groups outside the US, as well as US user groups to address the ongoing problems being discussed here.
"For those who are interested you can go to the AACUG web site (link below) and request information. Simply enter a note in the comments section that you are requesting info on the special offer for user groups and you will receive a speedy reply."
The more we can work together, the better for all the MUGs. While I have seen other Mac sites that have offered free web sites for MUGs, they are not as likely to be around several years from now and do not have the history of supporting MUGs that UGN has. So go for it.
http://www.aacug.org/contact.html
Lord of the CDs?: From TUMS (Tulsa Users of Macintosh) BBS "Being a big Lord of the Rings fan, and a Microsoft-detester, I found this to be hilarious:
http://www.terrasoftsolutions.com/realworld/storytime/seeing_eye.shtml
New PowerBooks and iBooks: I am not going to reproduce the specs here. The low end iBook now sales for $999 and the high end TiBook now has a built-in SuperDrive and sells for $2999.
Get all the details at: http://www.apple.com/powerbook/ and http://www.apple.com/ibook/
Press releases are posted at: http://www.aacug.org/MUG/apple/
Switched ad parodies: Just as the "Think Different" advertisements caused some parodies a few years ago. ("Think Funny" for Darma & Gregg). TechTV has created ads that mimic Apple's Switch campaign. They are not that terrific, but are somewhat funny. See them at:
http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/aboutus/story/0,24330,3403577,00.html
MacTipster: Here is a recent tip from MacTipster: "If you're using Mac OS X and are in need of more hard drive space but already tossed everything that you can think of consider deleting your language files. By default Mac OS X includes dozens of language files that can take up 100's of megabytes of hard disk space. To remove your language files download a program called Delocalizer. This freeware program scans your hard disk for language files and then subsequently lets you delete the unwanted ones. You can download Delocalizer at http://software.bombich.com."
To see more Mac tips go to:
http://www.MacTipster.com
Apple releases the SuperDrive update: As mentioned earlier in this column, the new 4x DVD media can play havoc on your SuperDrive. So Apple now has released the update. For details and the update go to:
http://www.apple.com/hardware/superdrive/
NisusWriter goes Cocoa: Remy Davison of Insanely Great Mac is telling us about a "sneak peak" of the NisusWriter for OS X. It is being written completely in Cocoa. It will include all the features of the current 6.5 version with additional new features. You can read the full story at insanely-great.com
Nisus has long been a supporter of user groups and as a viable alternative to MS Word, it deserves our support as well. So if you want to make suggestion as to new features, e-mail them at: nwxfeedback@nisus.com
Get that peak at:
http://www.nisus.com/products/NisusWriter/SneakPeek/
Microsoft Preps Code for .Net: Mac: Remy is also saying that MS is looking at adding OSX support to it .Net project. Still not sure why we want to go there, but MS seems to want us. Full story at:
http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=1246
Mac users out of town, out of luck: Here's a great story about two Mac user groupers on the road 3,000 miles from home, getting a surprise helping hand from another user grouper! From Rick Curran from CMUG in Myrtle Beach SC.
Read the full story... http://www.aacug.org/MUG/2002/rescued.html
MUG News favorites: November 11, 2002: AACUG's Mug News selects interesting items from the world online... Hey Mac, Can You Burn a DVD? * No Fish Tale: Swimming in Macs * Japan's Growing Mac 'Mod' Squad * 'Modders' Can't Leave Macs Alone * All Aboard! (But No PCs Allowed) * Suing Spammers for a Good Cause * When Everything Was Spam to ISP * Feds Vow to Tighten Net Security * Prada's Smart Tags Too Clever? * Blog to Court: Check Your Facts * Telemarketing, Evil: One in Same? * Bringing Mountain of Art to World
http://www.aacug.org/MUG/
Web site of the week: Recipes: Need to find a recipe for a fabulous new dish? Here is a site that appears to be the most comprehensive I have found. There are 223 recipes under Sourdough bread. Check it out at:
http://www.recipesource.com/
Quote for the Week:: "In life there are efforts and results,
and the strength of the effort
is measured by the result."
- Anonymous
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
1st Monday Vendor of the Month; (VOM)
2nd Monday "InfoManager's Humble Opinion (IMHO);
3rd Monday TBA (What would you like to see?)
4th Monday: User Group Tips. (Send them in)
5th Monday: Nothing extra - my day of rest. ;-)
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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