UGN Info Manager UGN Info Manager
Last week I heard that Microsoft had sued a teenage web developer for having a web site named mikerowsoft.com. He reported was holding out for a $10K payoff from MS. However after hearing from the lawyers, he decided to settle for an Xbox, some certification training and a subscription to Microsoft's developer forum and a trip with his parents to Microsoft headquarters to attend a tech festival. Guess he was able to take advantage of his name on that one.
See Windows Network magazine and the settlement at:
Electronics giant Philips Electronics has revealed new paper-like computer displays made almost entirely of plastic that are both flexible and low-cost and potentially revolutionary. Flexible displays not only could replace bulky computer monitors and rigid flat screens, but also supplant paper in books, newspapers and elsewhere in print. Read the full article at:Forbes
Some Mac users were not able to use OS X on their early G3 machines as they had expected. They filed a law suit and that suit has now been settled. The story was carried by Mac Central
Time magazine's issue for this week has an article about Instant Messaging now being the target of spammers. According to the article Yahoo is reporting that 2% of all IMs sent on its messenger service are spim, which is the new word for spam sent via instant messaging. Guess the spam filters are starting to have an effect. Now we got a new worry. Full story at: Time.com
The New York Times reported this story. Gates said that within two years spam e-mail will be gone. He was speaking at the World Economic Forum. There are three methods that Microsoft is going to use to rid us of spam. The first two would involve having computers reply automatically to any e-mail not on an improved list making a request that only a human could handle. The third method to happen later is to charge a fee to strangers. That fee could be waived by the receiver, but not likely to happen if the e-mail is spam.
I hope he is correct, I could stand to get rid of about 40 messages a day on my work PC and about 20 on my home Mac. Just don't know how he is going to track those sending spam. After seeing the story at the NY Times, I did a search and found it again at new.com.au.
To all of our delight, Dutch police have raided 23 apartments and arrested 52 people in one of the largest busts of suspected Nigerian e-mail hucksters. The detainees' identities are not released, but police believe most were, in fact, Nigerian. Hot Wired
A Google program helps non-profit organizations. The Google Grants service allows charities and the like to put up public service announcements using Google's AdSense program when the advertising spot can't be filled. Publishers who use Google's listing have the option of filling in the spot with the public service announcement or their own ad. Sounds interesting, doesn't it. This story came from Internet News, but they were quoting a Hoovers report.
Our friend over at Tourbus.com starts off with a statement I am not sure I agree with he says: "If you keep your email software updated, you CANNOT get a virus just by opening or reading your email." I once believed this whole heartedly, but with current Visual Basic for Applications spam, I am no longer sure it is true. The rest of his recommendations would be hard to dispute. Read the full article at: The Tour Bus
This story comes from St. Louis via the Register. The author talks about having an FBI agent come and talk to his class. (The FBI called him). He makes the point that such a presentation could be good for any MUG. So read the article and then see about calling your local office. Story at: The Register
Effective last Wednesday, January 28th, Apple will cover the repairs under their Repair Extension Program. It only covers iBooks made between May 2002 and April 2003. So if yours falls in that time frame, get over to Apple.com and check out the serial numbers that are covered. (iBook screen issues are covered.) Get the details at:Apple.com
By now you have seen the Pepsi commercials on the Super Bowl and perhaps even won some tunes. But if you missed them, there is a web site where you can view all five of them: Future Studios
Victoria Maciulski of the Conejo Ventura Mac User Group (CVMUG) has posted a few reviews and an article AUGD mailing list. Victoria would be welcome to post them here with our collection of reviews, but in the meantime you can find them here or go through the archives at http://www.apple.com/usergroups.
* The include: Adobe InDesign cs;
* BOOK REVIEW: DVD Studio Pro 2 (Apple Pro Training Series)
* BOOK REVIEW - Adobe Photoshop cs Down & Dirty Tricks
* BOOK REVIEW - The Glitterguru on Photoshop: From Concept to Cool
* BOOK REVIEW - Adobe Illustrator cs Classroom in a Book
* Article - Mac OS X Maintenance
* BOOK REVIEW - Final Cut Pro 4 for Mac OS X: Visual QuickPro Guide
* If you can't find it, let me know and I will get it for you.CVMUG
Why is it that MUG leaders seem to think that the only necessary publicity for their group is a newsletter and the group's web site? Sometimes, the newsletter is only published on the web site. I am all for saving expenses, but the majority of members will not go to a web site on a regular basis. Thus "push" technology MUST be used. During the week before the meeting, they should get at minimum an e-mail telling them that the event is happening, including a description of what is going to happen. I have even seen post cards that just said "come to our meeting at: location on: date". Sorry, but even long term members need more of a reason to get in the car and drive to a meeting. So, tell them that Terry White of Adobe and MacGroup Detroit will be appearing and showing the latest in 'cs' software. InDesign cs, Illustrator cs, etc. Spell it out and be excited about it. This is BIG news and a GREAT presentation.
But publicity also needs time to soak in. Most newspapers, radio stations and even TV stations do public event calendars and announcements. Most, however will not run your meeting notice the first time it is sent. They want a history showing that you are consistent. They also need TIME to insert it. This usually means a 30+ day notice. I know the local Computer Currents requires that the announcement must be sent to them by the 1st of the month prior to the meeting. That means that in January, notice of the March meeting must be submitted. This requires planning. This is especially true, if the group doesn't meet at the same location every time or on the same day of the month. So get with your program director and help him/her get multiple programs listed.
It also helps to have a theme for a few meetings a year. And of course have a back up plan in case one of your vendors decides that the meeting he/she said they would be at two months ago doesn't fit in with current plans.
But the main thing is plan!! And then after the meeting do an analysis of what worked and what didn't. The meetings will continue to improve, word will get out and membership will grow. And all this really doesn't take as much time as the actual meeting. Go for it!!
In this InfoWorld story, Tom Yager talks about running Unix on a Windows computer. Using, guess what - Yep you got it, Virtual PC. It also involves something called Services for Unix (v. 3.5) that Microsoft released on 3.5. It is a free download for Windows users. Sounds like MS if finding ways to use Virtual PC that doesn't include the Mac at all. Full story at: Info World
This newly updated plug-in lets you manipulate your files and folders and use file and folder information directly from your FileMaker Pro databases.
a collection of 10 Photoshop-compatible plugins for performing useful photo manipulations and effects including Sepia, Histograms, Transparency and others ... Photo Free
This fun interactive snowboarding game isn't just for kids -- select riders and design your terrain for fun in the powderSlope Rider
The Targus 'ultra mini' is one small mouse -- about the size of an import car key, with scroll wheel and two buttons ... did we like it?
from King Kong to Puppetoons and Mr. Bill, you can now create your own Stop Motion Animation (a/k/a Claymation) movies with iStopMotion
spam filtering software for Apple Mail, Emailer, Entourage, Eudora 5.2, Mailsmith and PowerMail - Bayesian spam filtering for higher accuracy, fewer false positives ... SpamSieve
Daniel East reports from the National Association of Music Merchants conference held in Anaheim, California. What was hot? GarageBand at NAMM
"A sure way for one to lift himself up is by helping to lift someone else."
- Booker T. Washington
"The highest reward for a man's toil is not what he gets for it but what he becomes by it."
- John Ruskin
"Do something every day that you don't want to do; this is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain."
- Mark Twain
"Without change, something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken."
- Frank Herbert
"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort."
- Herm Albright
"A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug."
- Patricia Neal
Have a great week...
User Group Network Affiliates may reprint articles as long as full credit and a link to this web site: http://www.user-groups.net/info/ provided. Other Non-profit or non-commercial publications should contact us. The UGNN cannot guarantee accuracy or timeliness of articles beyond the date of publication. All URLs, links and email addresses are accurate as of date of publication. Clicking links in articles older than 30 days may result in a broken link. If you encounter a broken link, please let us know.
Return to: the top of this page, or the INDEX for this department
Exit to: The User Group Network front page
Contact: The Editor, Webmaster or Membership Director