Departments  

Home Page Info Manager UG Bookshelf Mac Shareware Win Shareware Submit Review Subscribe Submit Article Contact Apple News About UGN

Articles:  

for user group newsletters, computer users, and user groups
Use your browser's FIND command to search for content of interest.
 

Points of Interest:

Why User Groups? UG Bookshelf
 

The Morgue:

4th Quarter 2004 Recent Headlines
 

Go for it...

 

Support:

Design Bookshelf Photoshop 911 Photoshop FAQ Design & Graphics Web Design Opinion & Editorial Anti Spam Advocacy

User Group Network News Service brings news articles from around the world in brief, capsulized form for use in affiliate user group newslsetters. Submit news from your organization.

March 2005

• March 28: OS Enhancements & Utilities: This week's Shareware Manager includes apps that add utility to the OS... shadowClipboard - Clip Manager, Make Your Own Menus with MenuStrip, Witch 1.0b1 Shortcut to Open Windows, A Better Finder Attributes, Listen to your files with iSpeak It, Gooshie Fix-it / Repair (Demo), Meridian 2 super clock for Mac, Spark 2.0.1 Shortcuts Manager, Yasu 1.0.2 Optimizes OS X, iSnip 1.4 Snippet Manager, Super Get Info , Sync Buddy 2.0 Syncs to handhelds, e2Sync PE sync Entourage to .Mac, iCal and more. Have fun with these!
• Shareware: iTunes, iPod and the iLife: This week's Shareware Manager includes fun add-on apps for iLife including: a Recorder that saves iChats, Sound Bytes, Simple captions for iMovie, a PDA for your iPod, iSpeak It makes iPod talk, Synergy puts iTunes in your Menu, MusicMagic Mixer and more. Have fun with these!
• DreamCard, Revolution Plugins DreamCard and Revolution are two cross-platform programs that carry HyperCard into the realm of OS X. Although HyperCard still runs under Classic, these programs are for the serious HyperCard user. And, SoSmart Software has a whole collection of great plug-ins ready to go ...
• Get Gooey, get GooBall! Life as an intergalactic vagabond was a blast: warping from universe to universe, surfing the Milky Way Wave... that is until one wrong turn at Alpha Centauri slams you into an asteroid belt, forcing a crash landing in the desert on a little out of the way planet called "Earth." It's Ambrosia's latest game... GooBall
• New Image Resource Bill Latta has announced the launch of LattaSTOCK , his new image resource for creative professionals. It is designed to assist editors, image editors, art directors, art buyers, and web designers with images to visually empower their ideas and messages.
• Windows: Personal ImageManager Allume Systems intuitive image and photo manager with unique smart captions to add virtual captions to photos -- Personal ImageManager Makes It Easy To Email, Organize, Convert And Share Photos
• Shareware: Spring Cleaning! It's March, Easter is just around the corner, so spring is at our doorstep. Here's a dozen apps that may just come in handy for spring cleaning and tune-ups. Enjoy this week's download fun featuring: Home Tidying Up * GarageSale Mac Interface for eBay * MimMac Back-ups, clones * Family Bank: learn how bank accounts work * Name those Files! * WebHome content management and more!
• Wi-Fi Workshop in Dallas, Texas Complete the 4th annual 802.11 Wi-Fi Workshop and Conference in Dallas, Texas, April 22nd, 2005 to receive your BVS Installers Certification.
• It Pays to Read the End User License Agreement (EULA) PC Pitstop just paid $1,000 to Doug Heckman of Chico, California for doing a simple thing - reading a license agreement.
• Need Total Commander Equivalent For Mac Os X? LikeMac Group has released Disk Order 1.1, the latest version of a double-panel utility for managing files and folders on Macintosh.
• Musician Digital Portfolio (MDP) Arrives Virtual Music, digital services for professional musicians, has announced their new service called MDP (Musician Digital Portfolio) where musicians will be able to showcase their work
• Effective use of your online time The Internet is increasingly becoming a major time killer for many of us. Before you know it, you're rambling through the Internet aimlessly wasting your precious work time. Nowshade Kabir leads you through some great tips for effective use of your online time.
• Remove Rogue Spyware from Windows Rogue icons can plague the Windows user's desktop... try removing these but get an error - after removal they still reappear again and again. You're infected with spyware, adware, or other malware. Andrew Malek shares some tips for your protection.
• New Pages with Apple Pages Apple completes the iLife circle with iWork and the new Pages word processing layout program, but does it measure up to expectations? Let a DTP pro look and see.
• Photomontages in Photoshop This book of groundbreaking digital creations is more than a full-color feast for the eyes; it gives invaluable guidance through photomontage creation for Photoshop users
• XPlay Does the iPod shuffle The only software that enables iPod compatibility with Windows 98SE and Me, now works just as well with the iPod shuffle.
• Time Expense Tracking The Mac OS X time and expense tracking application, TimeCache just got a wide range of improvements -- including OS X's iCal and Address Book compatibility
• March 7: Something for everyone Something for everyone this week... something from every category. Games including Aki Mahjong Solitaire, BrickShooter, home users EchoMac amateur radio, Booxter 1.6, Kids GoGoGo, safely on the web, Beautiful, accurate timelines, Instant Messaging, Saft improves Safari, MemoryCell, Folder Brander, DropDMG, and more

February 2005

• MaMUG becomes The Apple Groups Team The Mid-Atlantic Apple & Macintosh User Groups Team (MaMUGs) will become The Apple Groups Team (TAGteam).
• Apple Updates iPod photo Lineup Apple has updated its iPod photo lineup by introducing a new slim 30GB model, holding up to 7,500 songs, for just $349 and a new 60GB model, holding up to 15,000 songs, for $449.
• Apple Unveils New $199 iPod mini The second generation iPod mini from $199 and up to 6GB feature up to 18 hours increased battery life, USB charging... still in four vibrant colors!
• Build an Apple 1 "Woz" Computer According to Wired Magazine, the Apple I is one of the hottest machines on the vintage computer market. There are now fewer than 50 systems still in circulation and collectors have paid as much as $50,000! This new book tells you how to build one for about 100 bucks! Features foreword by Steve Wozniak
• Take Control of GarageBand Take Control Books gives you the power to do truly great things with GarageBand! Two books take you from initial learning to professional recording studio output. Superb eBooks at UG discounts...
• Shareware Manager: DTP & Publishing This week, an assortment of visual production apps for desktop publishing, presentations, preparing your image files, Jif, JPG, and even publishing calendars, and GPS images. Includes: iPresent It, SmallImage, Camera RAW, ColorSafe, GPSPhotoLinker, iCalPublish , IconLab, InDesign Font, Toast, iSnip, Skype, SyBrowser, and more. Enjoy this week's download fun!
• MacFonts 1 and 2 from MacXware MaMug's Dan East takes a look at the font package from MacXware and mentions several other sources where you buy fonts if the world of free fonts isn't enough for you.
• AppleScript: The Missing Manual Pop quiz: what's a powerful but easy language for automating and programming your Mac that actually comes free with every Mac sold? Few people would get that question wrong, but fewer still have probably ever delved into AppleScripting. Those who do will find this missing manual a real help
• Home Networking Annoyances O'Reilly's "Annoyances" series continues with this great little helper with fast relief for the Headaches of Running a Home Network! In the UGN Bookshelf
• New SQL Delta Version 3.0 TASC has released SQL Delta version 3.0, a database tool that quickly analyses, compares as well as synchronizes structures and data. SQL Delta offers comprehensive, high-speed integration of data and structure comparison and synchronisation for SQL servers.
• OS Vanity, Utilities, Enhancements OS utilities and enhancememts top the charts this week with over a dozen cool apps: View your files in 3D-Space, Ram Disk Creator, iNotePad Classic NotePad, TopXNotes, MenuStrip, DockFun, Multiple Docks, IcoNVader Screen Saver, Peek-a-Boo, iTerminal, SideTrack, XPostFacto, Battorox, and a Better Finder Launcher and more
• Zonic in Shareware News... This story is all about three packages from Zonic that will make your Mac computing a little more enjoyable and productive. Chameleon is Zonic's innovative application for transforming digital photographs into works of art. SwapTop is Zonic's very cool desktop manager and image collection... BugReporter is a tool for improving customer feedback, and captures Mac OS X "Crash Logs"
• Books: Computer Annoyances What Annoys You? O'reilly's Annoyance Books may be the cure! See our comments on Mac Annoyances, PC Hardware Annoyances, Windows XP Annoyances, Excel Annoyances, Internet Annoyances and Home Networking Annoyances books from O'Reilly
• HyperEngine-AV Now Free HyperEngine-AV v. 1.5, is now a free to all to download, use and distribute software program. HyperEngine-AV is a comprehensive video editor offering a "trackless" workspace that allows the free manipulation of video, audio, stills, and text in an infinitely expandable window
• Remote Proofing and Collaboration cyan eProof allows users to proofread and correct in real time the original high-resolution production files in a standard web browser. eProof is the only remote proofing system, with which users can correct the original text ... PDF, Postscript, InDesign, Illustrator or Microsoft Word Documents.
• Apple PowerBooks Now Faster, Cheaper Apple has unveiled the fastest, most affordable PowerBook line ever, featuring PowerPC G4 processors running up to 1.67 GHz, faster hard drives and a faster 8X SuperDrive... here's the rundown on all the new models and features
• This Old Mouse: Mac Annoyances Fired up by the "Mac Annoyances" book from O'Reilly, Fred voices a few annoyances of his own -- and offers help for your annoyances
• Shareware: Home and Office Apps Barcoder, Blaze 2.5 text editor , CourseWizard 5.2, Creative Manager Pro 7.4.5 Project Management, Direct Mail 1.4.1 mailing-list management, Hardware Monitor and Temperature Monitor 2.4, iBiz Intuitive Time-Billing, Make forms with FormMate 1.2, NewsFan 1.7.0 RSS/Blog reader, PulpFiction 1.2 RSS/Atom feed reader, Scheduler reminders and more

January 2005

• Shareware: Living the iLife: music, video - This week iView Media Management, Audiocorder recording, iTunes2Web, iDive digital video management, iStabilize, iDrum Beatbox, SimpleMovieX Editor, Rondo Midi files, SubtleStatus 1.1, Voice Dictaphone... and more! Enjoy this week's download fun!
• iClip among Top Ten iClip, productivity software for Mac OS X, has been named one of the top 10 Mac products of 2004 by Macsimum News -- store, organize, and access snippets of information without having to save them as entire documents.
• Analog to Digital Video Transferring your VHS tapes into high quality digital duplicates is now easy with Director's Cut! iDive enables Director's Cut users to capture and organise footage from analogue video sources...
• Google Hacks Second Edition To keep up with Google's extended reach, the new edition of "Google Hacks" by Tara Calishain and Rael Dornfest has been updated and expanded to cover Google's new services and capabilities.
• LightMachine Photo Corrections LightMachine is a Photoshop plugin for performing all kinds of light adjustments in photos, combining shadow/highlight, virtual lighting and color-based correction tools
• NAMM notebook MaMug's Dan East goes to NAMM and files this report on what's new and what's happening in the music biz
• Veenix: Font Tools Veenix: Font Tools - a set of twenty easy-to-use Macintosh OS X font and design tools for graphic designers, web designers, illustrators, typesetters or anyone who uses fonts on a Mac.
• Final Cut Express HD Final Cut Express HD is a major upgrade of Apple's advanced video editing application for video enthusiasts, students and aspiring filmmakers
• Auto Leaders Boast iPod Integration in 2005 Apple has teamed up with Mercedes-Benz USA, Volvo, Nissan, Alfa Romeo and Ferrari to deliver iPod integration with their car stereo systems in 2005
• New Year (Financial) Resolutions There could not be a better time to mull over the changes needed in our life style than at the beginning of a New Year. Nowshade Kabir shares ways to improve your financial picture during 2005
• BittyDock Microdrive Access Now you can connect even the smallest 1.8" Toshiba and Hitachi Drives and 1.0" Microdrives to your Mac through Bus-Powered USB - with WiebeTech's smallest DriveDock product
• Readers loving the new MacTech MacTech celebrates its 20th anniversary with a great new design, a greatly expanded page count and a greatly expanded page count with even more great "How To" articles
• January 24: DTP, Photos, Graphics apps for the visual arts including: Cheetah3D 2.0 lean, fast 3D modeller, Juicer Extracts Images , FlexoStep Flexographic Step-N-Repeat, Thumbnails with ThumbBorker, Image Interlacer for images, Neat Image cleans up digital photos, ImageConverter , Easy Batch Photo processing, Veenix: Design, Type Tools 2.3 and others!
• iWork... Create, Present, Publish Apple's new iWork '05, productivity software is designed to take advantage of both Mac OS X and iLife '05 to help users easily create, present and publish professional-looking documents and presentations.
• Most Affordable Mac Ever Just two-inches tall and weighing only 2.9 pounds, Mac mini redefines design for the sub-$1,000 desktop computer -- ideal desktop computer for anyone looking to get started with Mac OS X, iPod, iTunes and features like iLife '05.
• iPod shuffle Smaller and lighter than a pack of gum, the new iPod shuffle is a breakthrough digital music player based on iPod's legendary shuffle feature -- starting at just $99. (also see Dan East's review in the Library)
• Apple Announces iLife '05 Apple has announced iLife '05, the must-have upgrade to Apple's award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications, featuring major new versions of iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and GarageBand and including the latest version of iTunes.
• Toolbars, Desktop Search and Mac Users Courtney Heard shows you everything you can do with your Toolbar or Desktop search of choice, you can do with the software that comes built-in on your Mac!
• iPod shufffle from Apple MaMug's Dan East says : "iFashion, iBling, I like it!" in this first review of the new iPod shufffle from Apple
• Flip4Mac Windows Media on Mac The Flip4Mac Export Component is the first product to provide encoding in Microsoft Windows Media 9 Series SD and HD on the Macintosh.
• This Chameleon Stands Out This photo editor plug-in offers beautiful results for users with very little experience with photo editing software, since this tool does not require precise selection of objects.
• ShutterBug 1.0 for Mac OS X From the makers of ImageWell, XtraLean Software introduces ShutterBug, a refreshing approach to web album creation and updating content on the fly. .. Clean, Powerful Approach to Web Album Creation
• 60-Seconds: TEN Years Later, still lonely Is your web information up to date? Are you lost and lonely out there along the internet highway? Fred revisits a ten-year old article looking for answers to the question... has anything really changed? 60 Second Window #171
• Silence on the Wire This first book by Michal Zalewski unravels the mystery behind many security and privacy dangers -- the author is long known and respected in the hacking and security communities...
• Sophisticated Circuits Updates Sophisticated Circuits has released three new Macintosh software updates: PowerKey 4.3, Kick-off! 1.7, and iDo Script Scheduler 1.6. Power management for your appliances...
• Picture Address Book 6.0 Picture Address Book 6.0, telephone and address application, is now fully integrated with Internet, Mac OS X and Mac Classic.
• Business Card Composer BeLight Software has released Business Card Composer 3.0, a new version of this do-it-yourself business card tool, to be released in January, 2005. The package is a complete boxed solution containing the software, 2 CDs with 23.000 clipart images
• iGetter Download Manager iGetter is a full featured download manager and accelerator -- a nice replacement for your browser's download manager.
• Shareware Manager: Business MORE business apps for 2005, including StevePerfect 6 Word Processor & More, Graphing Calculator is Back!, iUnit Converts Measurement Units, TaskTime Time Billing, Synchronize your Mobile Phone and Entourage, Synchronize FileMaker and SQL on Web, GRASS GIS System, EvoBarcode iSight Barcoding, Troi File Plug-in, Redlien Account Executive, and more! Enjoy this week's download fun!

December 2004

• InfoManager for December 20, 2004 This week's Info includes: AOL * 'Woot!' * Video * Microsoft Anti-Spyware * New California Law * Apple financials * Road Runner * Shareware Manager: Business, Home & School * Macworld Editors' Choice * Apple OS X Update * More Battery Power for iPods * Free myCumulus * This Old Mouse: Got gadgets? * MacWorld Expo Events * 200 Million iTunes * DropDMG Disk Images * Onward to the new year... and more
• Shareware Manager: Business, Home & School - Getting ready for the new year with business, home and school programs including: Quicken 2005 for Mac * Convert Powerpoint: iPresent * Stock Investment Guide 1.5.6 * TaskTime 3.2 Billing Time Tracker * Office 1.5.1 - GNOME Office * TimeClock Professional 5.0 * FileWrangler file renaming utility * MenuCalendarClock /calendar * RAM-based PDF viewer * SimpleKeys macro program * Sticky Windows 1.0.1 browsing experience for the Desktop and more
• Best Books for computer users ... Here are all the books we feel are the best books for user group members and computer users at large... we have new titles and reviews in almost every topic area from Mac OS, to Business, DTP, Design, to Multimedia and the iLife. So many, we had to include a special 'jumplist'
• 200 Million iTunes Songs Downloaded Music fans have purchased and downloaded more than 200 million songs from the iTunes Music Store.
• Easy Mac OS X Disk Images DropDMG is the easiest way to create Mac OS X disk images.
• "Mind Hacks" Authors Tom Stafford and Matt Webb delve into your brain
• Mac Annoyances "Mac Annoyances" is a handy book providing solutions to scores of common problems faced by Mac owners -
• G5 WOWs PeeCee Business Users Mac Evangelist Joe Showker takes the G5 iMac to a business conference of PC users -- who agree that Mac is a lot more than "pretty pictures and cutsy sounds..."
• Take Control of Buying a Digital Camera New Take Control book from TidBits
• Shareware Manager: Games, iPods Games, iPod and iLife top this week's Shareware Manager!
• Revisiting the Epson 2200 if you are looking for outstanding prodessional grade output, this is your printer
• Mac Gift Guide Fred reviews gifts for Mac users including Ford Racing, LensavRz, OmniCleanz, GarageKey, MIDI Keyboard, PodSleevz, Missing Sync, iKey and others.
• Revolution in the Valley The Insanely Great Story of How the Mac was Made "Revolution in the Valley"
• Adam Engst Letter to User Groups Take Control of Mac OS X Backups
• Apple 15" Powerbook 1.5Ghz Dan shares a look at the new Apple PowerBooks
• Canadians Get iTunes Music Store Apple has launched its revolutionary iTunes Music Store in Canada, giving music fans in Canada the same innovative features and breakthrough price of $.99 CDN per song that have made iTunes the number one online music service in the world.
• iPod Boombox Portable Stylish iPod Boombox is the perfect way to add fun to any gathering...
• Audio Hijack Audio Hijack is the perfect tool to record any audio on your computer
• This Old Mouse: Laptop vs. Desktop: Fred replies to concerns from readers and a few questions following his article about his new G4 Powerbook

November 2004

• Shareware: Images & Audio Images and audio with Duotones, PhotoStickies, printing, RSS, and more
• If Monks Had Macs new edition of classic If Monks had Macs CD-ROM just released
• MSN search engine: How good is it? Nowshade Kabir reviews the MSN search engine
• Marathon RePorter USB/FW/Audio port snake Just plug in without the need to perform any Yoga maneuvers
• Macintosh Explorer 4.2 adds spring loading tabs Macintosh Explorer brings the hierarchical navigation style of Windows Explorer to the Mac.
• 2,000 Free Computer Tips Help Remove Spyware, Increase Productivity, Save Time
• Fan Books for the Holidays... The Perfect Companions for Your iBook, iPod, PowerBook, Treo, or Xbox - five New Fan Books
• Smart Home Hacks Smart Home Hacks by Gordon Meyer - Beyond Mere Automation
• Browsing the Browsers MaMug's Dan East reviews the available browsers for Mac OS X
• Five Tons of electronic equipment disposed! Here's the follow-up report from Keith Mueller, Show Manager for the Southern California MacFair 2004
• Software Manager: OS Enhancements Finder aids, info organizers, note takers and a lot more
• This Old Mouse: The G4 Aluminum PowerBook: Fred is having to learn some new manners. He's discovering lots of things he likes about his new G4 Powerbook -- along with some things he really likes about his Wall Street! Battery time, heat and damage control.
• DesktopCollage "Not something I found to be useful, but my kids love it"
• MUG Bookshelf: iPod Fans, Hacking Games just in time for the holidays... Hacking Games and iPod Fans
• Hook that iPod to Windows! Mediafour has announced an update to XPlay 2
• PC-Mac-Net FileShare share files easily and securely between Windows and Macintosh
• Get some shades for your iPod iSkin Inc. Launches "Shades" - Superior Protection for Your Screen
• SW: Home, iLife and Online Fun something for everyone from home users to online mavins
• Devon Updates Software DEVONtechnologies Ltd. updates its notetaking application DEVONnote, the webcam and picture viewer PhotoStickies, and the free thumbnail generator ThumbsUp.
• Call for Papers: Linux Expo ... The USC, Simi/Conejo, and UCLA Linux User Groups are proud to present the third annual Southern California Linux Expo
• SW: Business & ProfessionalsThis week we look at some new shareware for business and professional users including a new RSS reader to different Task/Time trackers, an invoicer and an ecommerce solution. We also see a media asset management add-on for FileMaker, a database viewer, and a pretty cool "visual thinking" outlining application.
• Real World Web Services - What are the technologies that are actually in use, and how can developers incorporate them into their own applications?
• Windows to Linux Migration Toolkit - "Windows to Linux Migration Toolkit", by David Allen, contains all the tools, information, and guidance needed to migrate to Linux
• Modding Mac OS X: Extreme Makeovers For Your Mac - Unleash Your Inner Mac Geek
O'Reilly MUG gathering Dan East reports on the O'Reilly MUG gathering
• How to search your Computer How to search your PC with Google Desktop - Nowshade Kabir
• Business Card Composer "One really well thought out, useful and effective card creation tool"
• Shareware Manager: Photos, Alarms and More! This week's Shareware Manager looks at Photo Albums, prints from iPhoto, BodyPainting; and some new personal productivity updates in Alarms, examining your files, and the clipboard. Mariner is here with new stuff and we end with your garage sale on eBay!
• Apple Introduces iPod Photo iPod Photo lets you take your entire music and photo library with you wherever you go.
• Mac OS X Innovators Contest managing editor Derrick Story announces this year's winners at the O'Reilly Mac OS X Conference
• GarageBand, iTunes, iPod, iLife The experts like Bob LeVitus, Tony Bove and Cheryl Rhodes present articles on GarageBand, iTunes, iPod, and iLife
• Recycle your old computers Southern California MacFair 2004
• New Games from Ambrosia New Games from Ambrosia Darwinia & EV Nova games

See Fourth Quarter, 2004 Directory

See July / August Content Directory

See May/June Content Directory

See April Content Directory

See March Content Directory

See February/January Content Directory

--- end ---

UGN Site Destinations:

• Return to: the top of this page, or
• The UGN INDEX for this department
• Exit to: the User Group Network front page
• Contact: The Editor, Webmaster or Membership Director

Copyright, Credits & Sponsors:

PLEASE READ the detail notices at the bottom of each review. Some reviews are pre-released for publication in your user group newsletter. Others require contact with the author for permissions and credits. ALL articles submitted are the sole property of the author, and abide by printed copyright information included in the "Credits" area of the review pages. Please abide by these rulings.
~
The User Group Network is a member of: The Association of Apple Computer Users & Groups, the MUG News, and is sponsored in part by: The Design & Publishing Center, The News Serve Network, and the Designers' Bookshelf. The User Group Network is the first, and the original user group network for computer users everywhere including, Apple, Mac-Pro, User Group Organization to support Macintosh, IBM PC, Microsoft, Compaq, Amiga, BE/OS, Linux, UNIX, and other leading computer platforms. Hosting services are provided by The Graphic Design Network to serve the computing community. For information about the UGNetwork, to get involved or have your own groups' home page located at user-groups.net, please contact us. Copyright 1994 through present. This site is maintained in the community interest by The Graphic Design Network c/o Showker Graphic Arts & Design, Harrisonburg, VA, in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, 22801, established in 1972.