August 26, 2006 Meeting

Web design

NEW COMPUTERS AND EQUIPMENT

Sheryl described the new Mac Pro computer, which completes Apple's recently-introduced range of Intel chip computers. Some details:

Dual-Core Intel Xeon processor, running at speeds of up to 3GHz
customisable configurations - you have a choice of build-to-order options of cards, memory, drives and other features.

Sheryl also gave an indication of accessories which have recently dropped considerably in price Ð items such as memory cards (for cameras) and flash-keys (also known as flash-drives or pen drives) are now reduced in price, due to competitive production; eg MagnumMac are advertising the SanDisk Mini for $NZ50.99+GST (see their on-line catalogue at http://www.magnummac.co.nz:

An exception to these price reductions are Sony Memory Sticks, which are made specifically for Sony cameras, and are not interchangeable with items of other brands.

Incidentally, if you want to buy a prezzy for someone who already has everything else - what about a USB Swiss Army Knife! Check out the Victorinox website:
http://www.swissarmy.com/multitools
Not cheap, though - the model illustrated (1 GB) costs about$NZ150.

WINTER SNOW PHOTO COMPETITION

Members voted on their favourite photos from a selection posted on our AMUG website. The winning photos in each sections were:

BEST LANDSCAPE: 'Sheep' by Norman Early

BEST NIGHT SHOT: 'Geraldine by Night' by Tony Climo

MOST APPEALING: 'Our Favourite Bellbird in Snow' by Hugh Hunter (1st)

'Jack Helping to Clear the Path' by Chelley Leov (Highly Commended)

Thank you Lea for suggesting and arranging this contest, and for posting the entries on our website.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Some computing queries discussed, and suggested solutions, included:

CONNECTING TO A TV

How do I connect my Mac Mini computer to play through a TV?

You need to use a DVI-to-Video adapter which connects to your Mac Mini DVI port, as illustrated:

Other computers have various adapters (eg iBooks need a Video Adapter Kit). Check with your computer's manual to find which one you need, or visit TotallyMac.com's website http://www.nz.totallymac.com and search for adapter.

RECALL OF LAPTOP BATTERIES

Apple have recently indicated that some laptop batteries may be dangerous. How do I know if mine is one of them?

Go to the Apple website and click on the Support button. You will find details of which iBook G4 and Powerbook G4 batteries are affected, together with details of what to do to get a replacement.

Also on the Support page are details of Apple's Repair Program for G5 iMacs, some of which may develop video (screen display) or power problems: Apple is offering free repair until the computer is 2 years old (no guarantee of what happens after that! Apple's stance is unusual, considering it is a known issue).

SESSIONS

MacBASICS: WATERMARKS

Sheryl presented a session on how to produce background watermarks on documents, and showed some trial pieces she had produced using a combination of settings in various applications. Some older printer software included watermark options, but this is not necessarily the case with all printers. Sheryl experiences problems when she had inserted a graphic as a pale object in the background behind text, which appeared OK onscreen, as when printed out the graphics sometimes appeared in full colour instead of showing the desired 'washed out' watermark effect. This may be caused by combinations of printer settings.

Pages enables you to place objects (text, graphics, logos, etc) on a Master Page which sets the format and background for all other pages within the revelant section or document. In AppleWorks you can do the same, but only within Drawing documents Ð in Word Processing you can place background objects, but you would have to do so for each page separately, not once for all pages.

Microsoft Office 2004 Word application gives a comprehensive Watermark facility. The Insert/Watermark menu gives various options:

EXPORTING IMAGES FROM iPHOTO

Tony showed how to customise photos which are being sent from iPhoto to other applications or for other purposes, including e-mailing:

Dragging to the Desktop:

This places a full-sized copies of the selected image files on the desktop. If you have retitled the image (either in the Library or in an Album, be aware that the copy will be labelled with the original filename (NB. If you want to refer back to the original filename of a retitled image, got to Photo/Get Info menu), complete with the appropriate extension.

Exporting via the File/Export Menu:

This enables you to send copies of the selected images to your chosen destination (desktop, folder, disk, etc), and also gives you options regarding format, size and name Ð unlike when dragging, are able to keep the titles with images you have renamed (by selecting the Use Title option). Be aware that if you are sending image files to a non-Mac user, you will need to check the Use Extension box (see below) so that the extension (eg. .jpg) will be added in order for their PC to know how to handle it:

If you export to QuickTime (by clicking on the QuickTime button in the Export Photos window) you are able to export a series of images in the form of an instant QuickTime movie, which presents a times slide show complete with dissolve transitions and background music.

Exporting to E-Mail:

Notes:

Tell iPhoto which e-mail application you wish to use by going to the iPhoto Preferences/General pane and selecting your e-mail program.
You cannot select and album to be exported from iPhoto - you have to select the photos within the album.

Many people make the mistake of e-mailing full-sized copies of images, when smaller compressed versions would do Ð not everyone is on a Broadband Internet connection! Before sending it is advisable to consider what the recipient is likely to do with the images - if they are only to be viewed on-screen, then a small image size is usually sufficient (eg. about 60KB, instead of the original 1MB file-size). However, if the recipient is going to print the images, then you must send full-sized copies if they are to get good printing results - even a large image which looks good on-screen (at 72 pixels per inch) will not print out well.

If you want to send a large quantity of thumbnail-type (small picture/small filesize) images, then iPhoto already contains them Ð if you know where to find them. They're in your Pictures folder in the iPhoto Library folder Ð the actual location depends on the version of iPhoto you have: in iPhoto 6 they're in the Data/Year/Roll No. folder, and most are about 20KB. DO NOT MOVE these files if you wish to use them as iPhoto will not appreciate it; make copies of them instead.

REUNION 8

Russell introduced members to Reunion 8, a genealogy program for Macs which is easy to use and incorporates a number of useful features for tracking your family tree. It is highly rated in reviews, and Russell has found it most useful and user-friendly. The website of Leister Productions, Reunion's developer, describes the application:

Reunion helps you to document, store, and display information about your family -- your ancestors, descendants, cousins, etc. It records names, dates, places, facts, plenty of notes, sources of information, pictures, sounds, and videos. It shows family relationships in an elegant, graphic form -- people and families are linked in an easy-to-understand fashion.

Reunion makes it easy to publish your family tree information -- even if you want to share it on the Web. You can automatically create common genealogy reports, charts, and forms, as well as birthday calendars, mailing lists, questionnaires, indexes, and other lists. Reunion even calculates relationships, ages, life expectancies, and statistics.

Reunion also creates large, high-resolution, graphic charts allowing complete on-screen editing of boxes, lines, fonts, and colors. Wall charts are one of its specialties.

Obtainable online ($US99) from: http://www.leisterpro.com

I CAN ANIMATE

Tony demonstrated some results obtained by children who have made classroom use of the I Can Animate application. This program enables the user to connect a digital video camera to a computer and control it via the computer to take a series of still images of an object which is being moved slightly between each shot. The series is then played as an 'animated' movie which may be exported to iMovie for editing (adding audio, titles, transitions, etc) or sent straight to QuickTime for saving as a QT movie. The application's interface is very similar to that of iMovie, with panels for images, clips and timelines:

Some may remember a session several years ago (in October 2004) in which the process for animations was demonstrated. The I Can Animate software is a considerable improvement over the applications available then, as the image capture and sequencing all takes place in the same application, instead of having to use several different apps to perform the same task.

I Can Animate requires MacOS 10.3>, and QuickTime 6.2>.

To download a demo, visit: http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/icananimate.html (for a 412K demo copy) or http://www.kudlian.net/ (to purchase - approx $US49.95, or for a full demo copy with saving disabled).

SPEAKERS for MACS

Ricky demonstrated the considerable capabilities of his add-on speakers, which convert an iBook's usually humble audio output (through its built-in speakers) into an impressive home stereo-quality blast, with sufficient reverberation (Ricky says) to get his house vibrating! Fine if all the family share the same musical tastes at the same time!

Regards to all....

Secretary: Tony Climo, Aoraki MacIntosh Users Group