:: TCMUG Newsletter Archive ::

Vol 7 Iss 3 March 2008
*March Meeting
*TCMUG Membership Structure for 2008 - JOIN TODAY! Just $20.
*Web Site Links and News of Interest
*Freeware Spotlight - Think Free Office Suite
*OS X Tip of the Month - Manual Keychain Editing
*Tip of the Month - Leopard power tips
*Mac Software Spotlight - Tax Software
*Mac Hardware Spotlight - Future Sonics
*The MUG Center Store

========== MARCH MEETING ==========
Saturday, March 15th 2:00-4:00PM - This meeting we will be having two presentations, one on scanning basics and one on the new and easy to use personal database software, Bento.
We will also be covering three freeware and shareware software titles, the latest industry news, a report from the blogs, a Q & A session and of course looking at our top three web site resources. See you there!!
We will be meeting at the Tuscarawas Carroll Harrison Educational Service Center on East High Avenue in New Philadelphia. Click here http://www.tchesc.org/portal/ for directions.
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========== TCMUG MEMBERSHIP FOR 2008 - TIME TO JOIN! ==========
We continue to work very hard to make it an exciting year for all local Mac users. We currently have a small dues structure. Membership in the TCMUG will cost $20.00 annually for a regular membership and will include a monthly newsletter, a special "members only" section of the web site, monthly meetings, a lending library, discounts on software, hardware and books and much, much more! You can visit our web site to get all of the features and benefits at http://www.tcmug.org/aboutus.html
We are offering three membership levels for 2008. There will be a regular membership at $20 per year and we will have student membership (K-12 & College) at $15 per year and a senior citizen (60+ years old) at $15 per year. All levels of membership will enjoy the benefits of belonging to the TCMUG.
Please contact any of the officers if you would have any questions regarding membership and the associated dues. http://www.tcmug.org/contactus.html
We have an online membership form that you are able to download. You can download the form at: http://www.tcmug.org/tcmug_memberapp.pdf

========== WEB SITE LINKS AND NEWS OF INTEREST ==========
VersionTracker Mobile 2.3 Released
Built for Blackberry and Windows Mobile devices and brought to you by VersionTracker and FreeRange, VersionTracker Mobile is a free service that brings the latest software updates, news and product reviews from VersionTracker.com to your mobile phone or PDA with concise, RSS-style summaries.
Get VersionTracker Mobile now:
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/28246
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Dear Fellow Macintosh User,
Finally a source for Mac Repair Parts and Support.
I am pleased to announce that, after much customer feedback, our website has been opened to the general Macintosh public.
I welcome you to visit and see the service parts that we offer. Although the website is still growing, many more parts are just a phone call or email away.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call. MUG Discounts Are Available.
Mark Tenneson
Mac Parts USA
Phone: 1-877-MAC-GUYS
Email: sales@macpartsusa.com
Web: http://www.macpartsusa.com
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Macworld Total Leopard Superguide - Get Up to Speed with Mac OS X 10.5!

Purchase your copy today - http://mwnl.macworld.com/t/2378225/96477537/1097120/0/
Now Macworld's team of experts take you inside Apple's latest operating system, Mac OS X 10.5, to help you master important new features, discover hidden tricks, and work around glitches - all to make sure you have the best Leopard experience possible.
* Learn how to upgrade the smart way
* Take an in-depth look at Leopard's new features
* Use Spotlight's advanced search powers to find files fast
* Unlock the secrets of Leopard's file-sharing and
screen-sharing powers
* Protect your data with Time Machine, Leopard's automated
backup program
* Quickly recover from crashes, freezes, and other annoying
OS problems
http://mwnl.macworld.com/t/2378225/96477537/1097120/0/
CHOOSE FROM THESE THREE CONVENIENT FORMATS:
Buy it in PDF Form
For $12.95 and get immediate access to the entire book!
(Download size: 3.5 MB.)
http://mwnl.macworld.com/t/2378225/96477537/1097122/0/
Order a Printed Book
A lavish, full-size, full-color book on high- quality paper
for just $24.99.
http://mwnl.macworld.com/t/2378225/96477537/1097120/0/
Get it on CD-ROM
For only $15 and you'll always have a back up.
http://mwnl.macworld.com/t/2378225/96477537/1097120/0/
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Welcome to the March issue of About This Particular Macintosh!
The staff of ATPM (About This Particular Macintosh) is pleased to announce the release of issue 14.03 for March 2008.
Read it Online: http://www.atpm.com/14.03/
Download Links:
Offline Webzine - http://www.atpm.com/Back/downloads/ATPM-1403-web.dmg
PDF (print-optimized) http://www.atpm.com/Back/pdf/ATPM-1403-print.pdf
Warm up to each issue of _ATPM_ with a brief welcome and a spin of what's been going on that could affect your personal computing experience. This month's topics: iPhones reach Ireland, the iPhone SDK, a president for Apple, iTunes sells more music than Best Buy, and product sales cycles.
http://www.atpm.com/14.03/welcome.shtml
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Welcome to Mac Hints & Tips
This Hints & Tips monthly newsletter/column is a collection of tips culled from newsletters of Macintosh User Groups throughout the world, as well as many other sources including Mac-related magazines, books, and websites.
Subjects include Adobe's Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, GoLive, and Acrobat; Apple's Operating Systems, Mail, Safari, iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand; Microsoft's Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Internet Explorer; Macromedia's Dreamweaver, Flash, and FreeHand; plus many, many more!
http://www.mac-hints-tips.com/
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Apple Introduces New MacBook and MacBook Pro Models
Multi-Touch Trackpad Comes to MacBook Pro
CUPERTINO, California—February 26, 2008—Apple® today updated its popular MacBook® and MacBook Pro notebook lines with the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors, larger hard drives and 2GB of memory standard in most models. In addition, MacBook Pro includes the latest NVIDIA graphics processors, now with up to 512MB of video memory, and Apple’s innovative Multi-Touch™ trackpad, first introduced in MacBook Air™. All Mac® notebooks include a built-in iSight® video camera for video conferencing on-the-go*, Apple’s MagSafe® Power Adapter that safely disconnects when under strain and built-in 802.11n wireless networking for up to five times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g.**
The new MacBook Pro features the latest Intel Core 2 Duo technology with up to a 2.6 GHz processor with 6MB of shared L2 cache; up to 4GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory and up to a 300GB hard drive, plus NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics with up to 512MB of video memory. Every MacBook Pro now includes a trackpad with Multi-Touch gesture support for pinch, rotate and swipe, making it more intuitive than ever to zoom and rotate photos in iPhoto® or Aperture™ 2 or browse web pages in Safari™; an illuminated keyboard that makes it ideal for dimly lit environments such as airplanes, studios or conference halls and a built-in ambient light sensor, which automatically adjusts the brightness of the keys as well as the brightness of the display for optimal visibility.
Featuring a gorgeous 13-inch glossy widescreen display, and with prices still starting at just $1,099, the new MacBook lineup comes in three models and includes faster processors and larger hard drives across the line; sleek white 2.1 GHz and 2.4 GHz models with 120GB or 160GB 5400 rpm hard drives and a stunning black 2.4 GHz model with a massive 250GB 5400 rpm hard drive, previously only available as an option. The 2.4 GHz MacBook models ship with 2GB of memory standard, expandable up to 4GB across the line.
http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/
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Online reseller, Amazon.com, is now shipping Apple Mac OS X Version 10.5 - Leopard. Order yours today.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/B000FK88JK/theworlofkapn
Of course, we also recommend supporting your local Apple Authorized Reseller or your favorite authorized Apple dealer locally.
If you buy Leopard you may just need the new Leopard Pocket Guide - Take the Leap--Put a Leopard in Your Pocket Today
No matter how much Mac experience you have, Mac OS X Leopard requires that you get reacquainted. There's a new look, a Quick Look, something called Stacks, a Time Machine, Spaces, and more. So what do Mac aficionados need to get to know Leopard? A clear and concise resource illuminating how best to use and unleash the operating system's powerful new features.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0596529813/theworlofkapn
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========== FREEWARE SPOTLIGHT - THINK FREE OFFICE ==========
ThinkFree Online beta lets you:
- store 1GB of documents for free
- create, view, and edit Microsoft Office compatible files over the web
- collaborate using group editing and file sharing
- publish documents to our ThinkFree Docs, your web pages, blogs, or Internet applications
- quickly search from published or private files for the exact file you need
SEARCH, SHARE, & PUBLISH
Use ThinkFree Docs together with your ThinkFree Online account to share documents with anyone around the world. ThinkFree Docs is an online community of publishers who share a variety of documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
ThinkFree® is the leader in next-generation office productivity solutions for platform independent, anytime, anywhere-computing. ThinkFree usability extends beyond PCs and is perfect for Internet-connected devices, including thin client and mobile computing platforms.
The award-winning ThinkFree Office is a Microsoft® Office compatible application suite comprised of word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation graphics software-all usable online and off.
ThinkFree Office can automatically install and upgrade over the Web with features such as Internet-based file sharing and storage, as well as end-to-end security. Built for cross-platform functionality, ThinkFree Office is compatible with Windows, Macintosh, Unix and Linux systems.
http://www.thinkfree.com/

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========== OS X TIP OF THE MONTH - KEYCHAIN EDITING ==========
Manual Keychain Editing By Christopher Breen mailto:mac911@macworld.com
Mac 911 Tip of the Week
Reader Brenda Rather, in a message entitled "I Have Shot Myself in the Foot," writes: "I was searching through some Macintosh forums and saw someone's advice to go to a so-and-so folder and throw away a file that held some of my passwords to workaround a problem. So I did and now each time I log in to Entourage, I have to re-enter passwords for all four of my accounts. How can I re-enter these passwords permanently so that I don't have to do that anymore."
If you find that enabling the Add to Keychain option is doing you no good, you might first try repairing your keychain. To do so, launch Keychain Access (found at /Applications/Utilities), choose Keychain First Aid from the Keychain Access menu, enter your user name and administrator's password in the window that appears, enable the Verify option, and then click the Start button. If any red entries appear indicating there's a problem with some of your keychain items, enable the Repair option and click Start again.
If that doesn't do the trick, you can manually add keychain items. You do that by choosing File - New Password Item. In the sheet that appears you'll see three blank fields. In the first one enter the IMAP, POP, or SMTP address for your first account. So, for example, if you're constantly prompted for a password for your receiving (POP) email account, you'd enter something like: pop://pop.example.com or imap://imap.gmail.com.
In the next field you enter the account name you use with your e-mail client--brather@example.com, for instance. Finally, in the last field enter the password for this account. Click Add and the item is added to your keychain. Repeat for your other accounts. With luck, Entourage will stop the nagging.
If even that won't work, you can always start over. If you do, you'll have to enter all your passwords again -- not only for your e-mail accounts but all other passwords including those for websites that were once stored in your keychain. (Are you getting the idea that this is a court-of-last-resort solution and best avoided if possible?) The way to start over is to open Keychain Access' Preferences and click the Reset My Keychain button. This creates a new, empty keychain.
For more troubleshooting tips and advice, visit
http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/mac911.html?lsrc=mwweek
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========== TIP OF THE MONTH - LEOPARD POWER TIPS ==========
Leopard power tips - 8 tricks from the readers of MacOSXHints.com
Here's a sampling of Leopard-themed hints provided by the readers of http://www.MacOSXHints.com.
http://www.macworld.com/article/131985/2008/02/2503geekfactor.html?lsrc=mwweek
Faster Screen Sharing
Power up Screen Sharing
Quickly clear Stacks
Monitor your CPU cores
View plists in Quick Look
Secret Screen Savers
Clean up the ‘Open With’ menu
Speed up Folder Actions

========== MAC SOFTWARE SPOTLIGHT - TAX SOFTWARE ==========
Intuit TurboTax and H&R Block TaxCut - Macworld Review
With the perennial chore of preparing your income tax returns looming, it’s time to decide whether to go with a pro or roll your own return. If you opt for the latter, you shouldn’t proceed without tax-preparation software at the ready. H&R Block’s TaxCut (http://www.taxcut.com/) and Intuit’s TurboTax (http://turbotax.intuit.com)each provide the up-to-date tax expertise and number crunching that you’ll need to minimize your tax due or maximize your refund.
http://www.macworld.com/article/132338/2008/03/taxprep_desktop.html?lsrc=mwweek
Buy Turbo Tax now at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/B000W3RSGE/theworlofkapn
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========== MAC HARDWARE SPOTLIGHT -FUTURE SONICS ==========
FUTURE SONICS: Believe Your Ears at 20 Percent Off
........................
Upgrade your iPod, iPhone, MacBook or any digital media player with Atrio Series professional earphones. Your products will sound their best with Future Sonics' own miniature dynamic speakers. Their signature sound offers BIGGER SOUND at lower volume without extended bass boost or any enhancements.
Regularly priced at $199.00, pay just $159.20 for online orders, a 20 percent discount, plus an audio satisfaction guarantee.
Coupon Code for Model m5 (onyx black) or m8 (cobalt blue): TCMUG Members Web Site
Get more information or place your order.
http://www.futuresonics.com/usergroups
Limit five per household.
This worldwide offer is valid through July 31, 2008.
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========== MUG CENTER STORE ==========
The MUG Store: A Resource for Old and New
The MUG Store offers great specials and blowouts your members should scour through every month. It's like an online garage sale on Mac odds and ends with extra special offers and deals!
The MUG Store's consultants are available to talk about the latest and greatest Apple products, including all the great products introduced at the Macworld Expo. Be sure to give the store a try. With one percent of member purchases credited to your organization, everyone wins!
Is there something the MUG store can do to help your group?
Through June 30th - User ID: / Password: - See the TCMUG members web site
Place your orders at http://www.applemugstore.com
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========== SUBMITTING INFORMATION ==========
Have a software tidbit to share, a Mac related web site to suggest or a news piece to submit? Email me with all the information at kwarrene@mac.com
To unsubscribe from this newsletter: Reply to this email with the subject line of REMOVE.
Forward this message to all of your family, friends and associates so that they can join the TCMUG and receive the monthly newsletter. Get all of the details at http://www.tcmug.org/aboutus.html
If you have any comments or suggestions please feel free to contact any of the officers at http://www.tcmug.org/contactus.html