February 13, 2010 Meeting
The MLMUG meeting was called to order by Tony DiPiano at 9:05 a.m. Members either stayed for the Intermediate/Advanced (I/A) Special Interest Group (SIG) or moved on to attend the Newer Users or Multi-Media SIG meetings. In attendance were 62 members, 1 new member and 2 visitors.
Intermediate/Advanced SIG: Stan Horwitz & Ben Romney
Uninstalling
- Bill Achuff usually keeps previous versions of software until he is satisfied with the new version.
- To remove old applications: AppZapper is a general-purpose uninstaller.
- When installing an application, create a log file. The log gives you a roadmap to later uninstall. Be cautious if the computer has several accounts.
- Moe suggested that more information on the subject might be found in previous MLMUG newsletters
Back-up
- Mark says after installing from a disk image, he moves it to an external hard drive.
- There was some discussion of various backup methods, including backing up "in the cloud".
- Of the "in the cloud" back-ups, Carbonite is one of the best. It will store a file offsite for an inexpensive fee. Find it on the Internet and try it out.
- Leo Laporte (www.twit.tv) recommends it. The user might get a special price through him.
- Be aware that if you lost Internet access, you wouldn't be able to reach "the cloud".
CNN recommends Dropbox software www.dropbox.com.
- It was recommended to make use of an external drive.
- Ben said the rule of thumb is to have multiple back-ups and to use a mix of back-up methods.
- Tony has a website domain, and he back-ups to the storage space that it provides.
- You can store some files through AOL.
- Google apps reside "in the cloud".
- You can collaborate with others on files that are "in the cloud". Bill suggested that users contact their software supplier for assistance. If you are having trouble with a file, try to determine when the preference file was updated and delete it. Perhaps it had been created with a corrupted file.
- Ben said that when Bob Sager of Mac Union presented at MLMUG in September 2009, he offered a path to solving problems.
- Dave Hamilton went through steps to solving problems at a PMUG meeting, including a question on "cloud computing," and what type of security is offered. Anything can be hacked. People can subpoena information contained in emails. Moe suggests that you Google for more information.
File Sharing
- Stan explained that it is possible to share files between various users on various computers. He and Ben showed the steps that are required. You log in to an Administrator account and enable File Sharing using the Sharing System Preferences. File sharing needs to be enabled in the Services tab, and if you're using a firewall, enabled it there also.
- Once File Sharing is enabled, your 'guests' need to find your files. The demonstration continued as Ben and Stan accessed files on each other's computers.
- For more information and specific instructions, click on Help in the Finder menu and type in File Sharing.
Special Event — Dr. Mac Dinner
On May 7, a dinner with Bob "Dr. Mac" LeVitus will be held at the Bahama Breeze in King of Prussia. The cost is $28 payable in advance. Monies go to Bob Barton. Make your reservation online.
Mac Outfitters has donated a $250 gift certificate. Maria is selling raffle tickets in support of Dr. Mac's visit.
Vendor Liaison
Mark Bazrod said that there are reviews of various products in the newsletter. Members can request that Mark obtain products for MLMUG. If you write a review for the Newsletter on a product you get to keep the product.
Main Presentation
Computer Electronics Show (CES) review presented by member Bill Achuff. CES was held in Los Vegas in January 2010. CES showcases products that are coming to market.
Generally, electronic storage devices are getting physically smaller while increasing in storage capacity. TVs are getting larger and everything is getting faster.
Product Highlights
- A "toaster" in which you can drop a raw hard drive. You can stack a 2 1/2" drive. It also has a SATA drive slot and one for IDE. The product requires an electrical connection. A dual drive is about $39.
- Samsung showed 3D TVs and gorgeous LED TVs, and it will have its own app store.
* LG showed an ultra-slim LED TV and projector.
- Apple has no booth at CES, but its presence is felt, especially at the iLounge Pavilion. Next year the iLounge will be twice as big.
- Larger were TV screens, LCD screens, and the capacity of removable media cards.
- Smaller in size were digital cameras, keyboards, and external storage.
- USB 3 is coming. This is a faster bus than the current USB 2. You'll see this updated interface in various products, including external storage devices.
- Smart phones are getting smaller and will be faster with the new 4G connection.
- 3D Television: a survey predicts 3.4 million 3D TV sets will be sold in the US in 2011. In 2010, approximately 20 of the 170 movies released will be made in 3D.
- ESPN, Sony, IMAX and Discovery plan a 24-hour 3D channel in 2011. To view 3D you need special glasses, which cost about $200.
- Myvu Personal Media Viewers can be used with iPods.
- Wireless Display-hooks up without wires. Intel processor similar to Apple TV. You can share your media wirelessly throughout your network.
- Sling Touch Control 100 — A component of the sling media system.
- TV Technology: LCD, LED, AMOLED/OLED, Plasma, 3D and 4K.
- Skype TV: Almost every major TV manufacturer announced the inclusion of H Skype video calling into their new web — connected TV.
- LCD Technology: TN, HTN, STN, FSTN, COG, IPS (more expensive than TN), H-IPS* Sony (A gamer would want TN.)
- ATI Radeon HD 5870 can drive gaming devices.
- 6% of Netflix players use Blu-ray.
- 3M MPro 120 Pocket Projector (a projector about the size of your palm).
- Projectors small enough to put on your keychain are coming. Some have a "zoom" feature.
- Crucial Real SSD C300 (versions of flash drives, can do SATA 3).
- Still cameras: megazoom point-and-shoots, 3D, small cameras with removable lenses and video.
- Transfer Jet and Wi-Fi Direct: With a card you can transfer a photo to your computer as you take it. This feature will now be built into the camera
- HD video
- 6" long zoom lens to attach to the iPhone.
- Polaroid's PoGo: It's a camera and it's a printer. Today's digital equivalent of the old Polaroid. You snap the photo and it prints it out using ZINK technology.
- Wintec's Filemate (compact flash cards up to 128 GB).
- SDXC SD cards could be used for video.
- Eye-Fi Pro X2 memory card is smaller than a dime.
- Video Cameras: Canon VIXIA HV 40 and Panasonic's concept 3D Full HD Camera, which is capable of making 3D movies.
- Intel's Core i3, i5, and i7 processors.
- Google's Nexus One phone.
- MagicJack allows you to make phone calls via the Internet.
- Microsoft's HTC HD2 (Windows phone).
- PureEnergy High Powered Charging Pad (induction).
- Sony's TriK iPod Dock Speaker.
- PureEnergy Portable Rechargeable pad.
- ioSafe: inexpensive fireproof and waterproof storage device with drives built-in.
Neat Stuff
- A headset that sits in front of your ear.
- A motion detecting device hooked to TV (to save energy when no one is watching).
- Inductive charging — charge your devices, i.e. phone, etc, wirelessly.
- Keepon by Beatbots is designed for working with an autistic child who has difficulty with over stimulation. Presently it is for use in a controlled environment.
- Yurtopia Yurbuds: Take a digital image of your ear, upload the image to Yurtopia, and they will make a custom earbud for a comfortable and perfect fit for your ear.
- a mouse LED projector.
- doorknobs that recognize your fingerprints.
- Snapz Pro X can record anything on your computer screen, saving it as a Quicktime movie or screen shot.
- Netflix wants to move into video streaming.
- www.woot.com is an online sale company. The have great sales which last only one day so you have to check the site regularly.
Author's note: You can access PDFs and audio of the Main Presentation. See the MLMUG website, MLMUG.org to find 4 links.
WebNote: Here are the links:
— Meeting photos
— Slides of Bill's presentation:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
— Bill's 360 Links to CES items
— Audio MP3s (4.3, 4.7, 2.8 MB) of Bill's talk:
Part 1
Part2
Part 3
— Steve Evans' video of Bill's talk
(Click on the MLMUG link at the top of the page)
Adjournment:
After the free raffle, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 12:15 p.m..
— Jim Berray
MLMUG Recording Secretary
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