UGN Info Manager UGN Info Manager
First try the toll free number to the Direct Mail Association. (888) 567-8688. Tell them you want off all the mailing lists that they handle. Then you should send a post card to the DMA's "Mail Preference Service." On that card write your name and address and clearly state that you want to be removed from all mailing lists and sign it. This won't eliminate junk mail, but it should drastically reduce it. The mailing address is: Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, PO Box 282, Carmel NY 10512.
According to This Is True*, the DMA does have a way to do this online, so that YOU do the data entry for them, but they actually CHARGE for it.
The Mercury News printed this story saying that the Bay area has beaten out the Portland area to take over the number one spot. Of course, more and more of us are getting connected via Wi-Fi. I am looking forward to it myself. Read the story at: siliconvalley.com
Already the user group tours have been lined up. Office will be released the third week of May. It is possible to preorder now at the Apple Store online or at MacConnection, MacMall and MacZone. I am sure that there will be additional ones added as well. To check for more information and links to the resellers, or to see a flash demo giving the new features see: http://www.microsoft.com/mac/. Among them are Charting improvements in Excel, Smart buttons in Word & Excel and new templates and animation in PowerPoint. Check it out if you are an Office user. Read more...
Most of the attention has been on the fact that Google is giving us a gig of space for mail and that it is searching e-mails for content to allow it to ad appropriate advertising. But a European activist group called Privacy International is saying that it may violate European laws since it doesn't delete the e-mail when a user closes his/her account. Read more...
Fred mentioned this last week in a message to the InfoManager list, but it bears repeating. Apple has released updates to OS X 10.2 and OS X 10.3 to primarily fix security problems. So go to your Control Panel and update.
The Motley Fool web site is running the article with the above title. Saying that web sites, including iTunes are now charging a premium for some content. Apple has said that the iTunes store doesn't make money perhaps this is a way to do it. Although, the Wal-Mart option at $.88/song may make it difficult to do. Full story: Fool.com
The CBS Market Watch web site's Frank Barnako's Internet Daily newsletter ran this story about a person who actually has screen views. He said the service does not append advertisements to outgoing e-mail.
So therefore it concentrates on incoming. Thus spamming its own users. Nice features are 1 gigabyte of storage for e-mail, the use of labels and keywords for coding messages, and the ability to use Google's search technology on e-mail. The same article also mentions that Gmail has been trademarked in the UK and is used in 80 countries. So Google may have to rename it when it comes out of beta. (I couldn't find a copy of the newsletter on line. In fact, I couldn't even find the newsletter subscription area on the website, at least not for this particular one.) (See Screens)
Amazon announced a little while back that they would be indexing content of books. Google has taken it further with indexing of books and publications. Magazine content I prefixed by [MAGAZINE] while book content is prefixed by [BOOK]. To search Google Print content exclusively, add in url:print.google.com to the search. The search will try to eliminate duplicates. print.google.com
For environmental reasons, Intel Corp. plans to reduce the amount of lead in its microprocessors and chip sets by 95 percent starting this year. The move, announced last Wednesday, is targeted at reducing lead that is released into the environment after computers and other devices are tossed out. Sounds good to me. Apple has done some "greening" of its processes at one point, but I don't believe that Motorola or IBM has reduced the amount of lead in their chips. Although they are suppose to be using more aluminum over the last few years. Full story at: Washingtonpost.com
I got this one from Promo magazine. It is true. Baskin-Robbins will have their 5th annual free scoop night. So get away from you computer for one evening and dip into some good ice cream. Maybe even get a SIG together for it. ;-) Baskin-Robbins
This is amazing. I held on to Claris eMailer for longer than I should have because it actually automated the filing of AOL e-mail for me. Now, it has also quietly started allowing third party e-mail software to work with its system. TERRIFIC. Can IM be far behind? Read the full story with instructions on how to configure your e-mail client at: The Mac Night Owl
According to MaMug's Dan East, "This is the external antenna you need if you own a titanium Powerbook G4 and use Apple's AirPort and/or AirPort Extreme." Dan reviews the antenna this week saying: "You will astound and amaze your WiFi savvy friends when you get signal where they do not." UGN Articles
Did you ever play the TRON game? Critically Acclaimed Action game "TRON" will return to Mac computers next month, and you can get a sneak peek from MacPlay and Buena Vista. UGN News: TRON
Version 2.0.2 of SubRosaSoft's CipherDisk includes enhanced self-maintenance feature and support of four major languages. UGN News Article
The User Group Network salutes the Great Inland Sea Mac Computer Group from Manhattan Kansas. This group just keeps getting better and better! From the original APPLE ][ - //e users group nearly twenty years ago, through the introduction of Macintosh, and the later addition of Intel machines this community group has something for everyone -- Mac, Windows and Linux! GIS is a full service group featuring meetings, newsletter, programs and special interest groups. Friday nights the guidance committee meets at Bob's Diner a local coffee spot. Ralph Wasmer, Outreach Ambassador puts out a remarkable newsletter -- emailed weekly from Friday Night Coffee -- that you should definitely check out! Great Inland Sea Mac
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is requesting tips about flaws in the nation's technological infrastructure, and a new law guarantees that the information will be protected from public disclosure. The Protect Critical Infrastructure Information (PCII) Program allows companies to alert the federal government about security-sensitive flaws in its products without fear that the information will get into the hands of hackers, customers, or competitors. (Thanks to Ralph Wasmer, GIS Newsletter) CT.com.com
FileXaminer is the File/Folder information utility for Mac OS X that allows you to modify file and folder attributes that the Finder cannot (Type/Creator Info, UNIX permissions, etc.) FileXaminer is powerful and easy to use - making it the best "Get Info" application for Mac OS X. For many operations it eliminates the need to use Terminal -- making the changing of attributes on files/folders a breeze. FileXaminer 2.0 FileXaminer
How much do you understand about what you can download and use in the classroom, or business? Do you know what fair use is? Find out the issues, ethics and procedures EDU-cyberpg.com
This topic has come up quite often in user group circles, and in today's world of ever increasing software complexity, training has become a pressing issue. Our group regularly loans any of the books sent in for reviews. We've accumulated the entire "HOT" collection from Lynda Weinman, which have grown beyond Photoshop and now even includes Jaguar and Panther training. We also have a number of DVD training resources also for loan. But these are loans. What about charging to 'rent' these resources?
Recently Pamala Mielnicki of Tackyshirt who said they probably wouldn't appreciate renting the DVD tutorials on OS X -- however really didn't have policy in place. (These are four hours of training with Andy Ihnatko, Bob LeVitus, John Welch, and Shawn King on DVD for $39.95, and they're very good.)
Joe Ferguson, The Rest of Us UG, recently commented on their group renting MacAcademy training CDs. (MacAcademy prices vary, starting at around $39.95 for 2 hours of video on CD.) It would seem they had become nervous about their program since they began meeting in a high profile Apple Store. Their board of directors contacted MacAcademy who indicated they would not have an issue with TROU renting out their CDs. But this is probably unusual. Ferguson comments:
"This is good because we have over $2000 invested in the CDs that were approved over the years. For MUGs considering renting training CDs the cost is high even with the upgrade discounts. The fact though is that the renals of the CDs is dismal and we will most likely never come close to recouping our expenses."
TROU plans to continue renting and selling off the CDs that are outdated and apply the cash towards other endeavors. Joe Ferguson is Vice President External of the "The Rest Of Us" user group http://www.trou.org/
According to Chuck Joiner, his group, the Hershey Apple Corps handles the library a bit differently -- indicating that the group gives all the materials to their local library where they meet. This shifts the responsibility of managing and tracking books, CDs, DVDs and tapes away from the group and into the more capable hands of the library. While each item has a "donated by" sticker promoting the group, the program does not generate revenue. Joiner adds: "It has built a respectable Mac resource for the community."
Generally speaking private organizations should be able to safely "loan" resources to members and, in turn, accept modest "donations" to help offset the costs. However, beware that the group should exercise caution when considering the purchase of training materials as a source of revenue. As TROU found out, the product may not rent out as expected. Also consider that the "revision" cycle in today's world has gotten shorter and shorter. Those expensive resources could be obsolete is less than a year.
Thanks to Joe (http://www.trou.org/) and Chuck.
Fred
"Diligence is the Mother of Good-Luck"
- Benjamin Franklin
"If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway."
- Mother Teresa
* From This Is True (http://www.thisistrue.com)
** May require free registration
*** From ResearchBuzz.com, subscription instructions are available at: http://www.researchbuzz.com/
Have a great week...
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