UGN Info Manager UGN Info Manager
Netopia Inc. has announced that the 8.6 version of Tibuktu Pro for Windows and Mac that allows users to remotely connect via the Internet and integrates Skype in the product. So, while collaborating, they can not only work on and see each other's screen, they can also discuss what is going on. Read more at: Netopia, Inc. , and Read more...
Last Tuesday Apple announced two new products. The first was the iPod Hi-Fi, "the stereo for the new century." It is powered by two handmade 80-mm wide-range cones and one 130-mm woofer. It is compatible with all Dock-connecting iPods, and there is an auxillary input for use with other portable audio players. Price starts at USD $349.
Secondly, Apple also announced the Intel Core Duo Mac mini with a 1.66GHz dual-core processor and integrated Intel graphics. The Intel Core Duo Mac mini is available starting at USD$799, while a 1.5GHz Intel Core Solo Mac mini starts at USD$599. www.user-groups.net/apple/
I don't know about you, but I have been inside a lot of Macs over the years, and I wish they would go back to the accessibility of the 6100 series PowerMacs. Meanwhile, guides like this will be very useful.
Perhaps the most telling of the instructions is to test it out before putting the cover back on. See the guide at: www.applefritter.com
According to an article on BBC, Microsoft is to announce its new Origami product at Cebit this week. Cebit takes place each year in Hanover, Germany. It is expected to be a paperback book size device with a touch screen that uses Windows for Tablet computers as its OS. It is thought to sell for less than $1000 and besides the touchscreen, have wi-fi built-in. See the BBC story
Apparently, there are at least six websites that allow you to control the phone number that appears on someone's Caller-ID display when you call them. Recently, the FCC has begun an investigation to see who is using this ability to assume a fake ID. The FCC has demanded the business records of the companies, including the names of their customers. ... see the full story...
Now it is possible to create PDF files on line. Since PDF is Mac's native language, it isn't a big deal for us, but this is a big deal for PC users. This web site will take .doc (Word), .PPT (Powerpoint), .RTF (Rich Text Format), .XLS (Excel) and several other formats and turn them into PDF. It will do the same for a lot of image formats. Read more...
This blogger, talks about some more well known programs, then says what really needs to be promoted. They include:
1. Inquisitor. Inquisitor adds live search to Safari. ...
2. Saft. Saft is another Safari enhancement that adds the function of many of the most popular Firefox extensions to Safari. ...
3. Flip4Mac is an extension that allows you to view unprotected Windows Media Player content within Quicktime. ...
4. AppleJack. If you're lucky you'll never have to use Applejack. ... hides in the bowels of your machine and gives you simple non-techie access to most of OS X's built in maintenance routines...
5. Growl is a utility that gives you translucent status messages from background applications. Basically it will tell you when downloads are done, what song is playing, etc without you having to move from your work.
6. Chax ...
7. ... Soundstream is a screensaver that responds to the ambient noise in the room. ...
8. Witch lets you jump from window to window easily without touching your mouse.
9. Sbook is a little notepad with smarts.
10. Delicious Library lets you scan your book, cd, and dvd barcodes to look up info about the media (title, cover, etc) and stores it all in an easy to use database.
Read the full story at: www.mexicanpictures.com
As part of the announcement last week, an updated version of the Front Row media-management software. The software will be updated for the machines that already have the ability. One of the new features is the ability to stream content from other Macs on the network. See Macworld article.
This web site has a lot of simple instructions to help you do more with your PC. Included are such subjects as networking your PCs or even networking your Mac and your PC. www.HomePCNetwork.com
UGN salutes the Tulsa Microsoft Windows User Group from Tulsa, Oklahoma! This group of Tulsa area professionals meet monthly to talk about Microsoft's products and learn from wach other's experiences. All areas of maintaining software are discussed and topics are based on member input.
Tim Vander Kooi, President, leads this software specific focus group with meetings, newsletter and special programs. The group meets at OakTree Software the third Tuesday of the month, and PC users from around Tulsa, including the Broken Arrow, Bixbie, Owasso, Catoosa, Sand Springs, and Sapulpa areas are welcome, no dues are required. www.tmwug.org
our call for help last week brought numerous response, this of particular interest we'll pass along to you: [Quote]
> Here is a link to a2Central and an appropriate item in their product listing. They are probably one of the few orgtanizations that have a license to legally distribute Apple System software! There is still an active Apple II community. They even meet for nearly a week in the Kansas City Area every summer. The group is getting smaller each year but they are a dedicated group. If your reader is really interested in getting his/her Apple IIe running well he should get in contact with this group and maybe see if there is a member in their area. They do some amazing things with old computers! Check out www.a2central.com to join the community. I live in Santa Clara CA have your reader contact me if they happen to be in my area. Although I primarily use Macintosh I still have an apartment full of old Apple II stuff, and I still use a few of the machines for dedicated tasks like label printing on a daily basis. [End Quote] Thanks to D. Nichols for the help! Apple II help
We had a call for help from a reader who wanted to subscribe and participate with the Mac-L discussion list. Unfortunately Mac-L blocks html encoded email, and she didn't know that AOL was covertly encoding all her email. In an attempt to help, we spent some time digging into AOL's help system and finally chatted with a tech supervisor who confessed that the new version(s) of AOL software that run under OS X are set to html encoding which cannot be turned off.
Bottom line: in spite of the millions AOL spends in promoting their "anti spam" system, most users are unaware that their mail actually provides an environment conducive to spam and stealth email. Users who would like to participate in lists and other services which block encoded mail are forced to find another email provider or use Mac-L's archaic web-based interface.
The Mac-L list is one of the better discussion lists for beginner Mac users. See the Mac-L list
Now, if the previous story doesn't raise some eye-brows, then read the information pertaining to AOL's coming tax to charge outside senders to send email to AOL users. To me it reads like AOL has decided it's too expensive to fight spam -- can't fight'em, then join'em. So rather than fighting, they'll get a piece of the action charging the spammers to deliver the mail to AOL users...
Here's the story according to www.dearaol.com: [and we quote:]
The AFL-CIO, EFF, freepress, and many, many others are taking a stand with an open letter to AOL asking them re-consider this decision.What's This About? In February 2006, AOL announced that it would accept payment for incoming emails. For these certified emails, it would skip its usual anti-spam filters and guarantee delivery for cash. Our coalition believes that the free passage of email between Internet users is a vital part of what makes the Internet work. When ISPs demand a cut of "pay-to-send" email, they're raising tollbooths on the open Net, interfering with the passage of data by demanding protection money at the gates of their customers' computers. [End Quote] www.dearaol.com
Interesting how two of the biggest ISPs in the world preach "anti-spam" but continue to operate "spam-friendly" web sites.
A huge amount of spam crosses through the Comcast system -- either sent by Comcast users, or by other spammers using open proxies on Comcast customer's unsecured Windows or Unix machines. Evidently, so many SpamCop complaints were going to Comcast, they started blocking SpamCop mail. Last week, Comcast bounced all email coming from the SpamCop email system. So, this not only stopped SpamCop reports, but caused bounces for people who forward their email to Comcast from a SpamCop account. Fortunately for Comcast users, they got it straightened out quickly.
This offers some chuckles for anyone thinking about suing spammers or telemarketers. It's actually a sad statement of our judicial system but interesting reading just the same. www.judgejokes.com
Safe Netting magnate Joe Showker shares reflections from the iSafe America Training for Internet Safety last week in Richmond, VA. iSafe is the largest curricular organization teaching internet safety in the US.
1. Myspace.com is now getting more hits than Google! They are releasing their own record label! This is not going away.
2. ALL pictures posted on myspace.com are no longer property of the user. News Corporation - a Rupert Murdock company purchased myspace for 588 million... THEY own those pictures (and ALL content) and can do anything including market them!
3. Bill passed our Virginia legislature: The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall issue guidelines to school divisions regarding instructional programs related to Internet Safety.
TRANSLATE: Internet safety instruction is mandated in Virginia Public Schools.
4. CyberBullying and Harassment is becoming the number one issue with net use at home that conveys to school Safety issues.
5. Gaming continues to be a huge impact on adolescent behavior. Mods (changing the actual program in a game) are increasingly popular with violent acts like killing a policeman gaining the user top points in the game.
6. Privacy and personal information farming is the single biggest threat to all of us. ANYTHING posted on the net leaves a "digital footprint" much like a fingerprint that can show up years later in archives. Kids simply do not understand how serious it is, but criminals and predators do... and are having a field day!
7. Young students' guiltless justification for behavior and online risk taking: "If it's so bad, then how come I can do it". We need to understand the mindset of the youthful net user. The REAL digital divide is the difference between how kids use the net (entertainment/social) and adults (information gathering/financial).
Thanks to Joe Showker for sending this in. Joe is ITRT-Instructional Technology Resource Teacher for Rockingham County Schools in Virginia. www.isafe.org
"Parties who want milk should not seat themselves on a stool in the middle of the field in hope that the cow will back up to them." -
Elbert Hubbard
"Age is not a particularly interesting subject. Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough."
- Groucho Marx
"Tradition is what you resort to when you don't have the time or the money to do it right."
- Kurt Herbert Alder
"Our greatest responsibility is to be good ancestors."
- Jonas Salk
Have a great week... (See last week)
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