:: TCMUG Newsletter Archive ::

Vol 4 Iss 10 October 2005
*October Meeting
*Web Site Links and News of Interest
*Hardware Spotlight - iPod Troubleshooting
*The MUG Center Store - Free Freight To Members
*OS X Tip of the Month - Activity Monitor
*Tip of the Month - Website Building Tips
*Mac Software Spotlight - UGN Shareware Manager
*TCMUG Membership Structure for 2005/2006 - JOIN TODAY!

========== OCTOBER MEETING ==========
The October meeting is being held on Saturday the 22nd from 2:00PM - 4:00PM.
We will be meeting at the Tuscarawas Carroll Harrison Educational Service Center on East High Avenue in New Philadelphia.

========== WEB SITE LINKS AND NEWS OF INTEREST ==========
TidBITS has released "Take Control of Your iPod: Beyond the Music"
If you own an iPod or are thinking about purchasing one, the latest Take Control ebook - Steve Sande's "Take Control of Your iPod: Beyond the Music" - will help you make the most of your iPod experience. Although this ebook covers the basics of plugging in a new iPod and transferring music to it, most of its 128 pages focus on all the other cool stuff you can do to help your expensive iPod earn its keep. Steve provides real-world advice about tasks like using your iPod as a read-only PDA for calendar events and contacts, off-loading photos to it from a digital camera, backing up your computer to an iPod, setting an iPod to put you to sleep at night and wake you in the morning, and even keeping it ready as an emergency boot drive. Leaving no stone unturned, he also looks at other unusual iPod uses, such as giving presentations from an iPod, reading or listening to text-based ebooks, recording classes or meetings, and installing Linux on an iPod. As a bonus for readers wanting to buy a new or used iPod, a detailed appendix helps sort out the members of the current iPod family and provides a complete timeline of iPod releases. Like all Take Control ebooks, "Take Control of Your iPod: Beyond the Music" comes with free minor updates that will keep it current with Apple's constant stream of iPod and iTunes announcements.
Book Details - "Take Control of Your iPod: Beyond the Music" by Steve Sande
http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/ipod-btm.html?14@@!pt=TRK-0025-TCMUG
PDF format, 128 pages, free 31-page sample available
Platforms covered: Mac OS X, Windows
Publication date: October 6, 2005
Price: $10
ISBN: 1-933671-01-7
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I'm pleased to announce that Mactracker 4 for Mac OS X is now available for download with versions for Windows and Mac OS 8.5 - 9.2.2 coming in the near future.
In addition to all the latest Apple hardware, the major new features include a rewritten search engine, Smart Categories (similar to Smart Playlists in iTunes), color labels, independent database updating, Unicode support for comments, a new category called "This Mac" which shows the current Mac, and the addition of Apple Hardware Test versions. A complete list of changes is included in the Read Me which is available from the help menu within Mactracker 4.
Mactracker provides detailed information on every Apple, Motorola, PowerComputing, and UMAX Mac OS computer ever made, including items such as processor speed, memory, optical drives, graphic cards, supported Mac OS versions, and expansion options. Also included is information on Apple mice, keyboards, displays, printers, scanners, digital cameras, iPod, AirPort Base Stations, Newtons, and Mac OS versions.
To download simply visit http://www.mactracker.ca or select "Check for Updates" within Mactracker.
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Earn money by participating in an online Bulletin Board Focus Group!
Digital Life Discoveries, a consumer market research company is looking for some people to participate in an exciting and fun research project. We want to find out more about those of you using GarageBand or creating -music podcasts. This is a fun and easy way to share your thoughts and experiences and see what others are saying, too. Your input will also influence product development in these markets.
The research will start on October 18th and be open through the 20th. Everything is done over the internet at your convenience. It would take about 2-3 hours over the course of 3 days and you can answer everything online. It's also a great way to learn from other participants in the group! You can earn $20 per day if you actively participate.
Please let us know if you're interested. You will be asked to fill out a quick survey to determine if you qualify for participation. Everyone who completes the qualifying questionnaire will be entered into a drawing for $100. Those who qualify will be contacted shortly.
Thank you!
Digital Life Discoveries, Inc.
Link to qualification page: http://www.swiftinteractive.com/digital_music.asp
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The new iPod, featuring a gorgeous 2.5-inch color screen, can display album artwork and photos, as well as play stunning video including music videos, video podcasts, home movies and television shows. The new iPod holds up to 15,000 songs, 25,000 photos or over 150 hours of video and is available in a 30GB model for $299 and a 60GB model for $399, with both models available in stunning white or black designs.
http://www.apple.com/ipod/
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Apple announced fourth quarter financial results, posting revenue of $3.68 billion and a net quarterly profit of $430 million, or $.50 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $2.35 billion and a net profit of $106 million, or $.13 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 28.1 percent, up from 27.0 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 40 percent of the quarter’s revenue.
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2005/oct/11results.html
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iTunes 6, the next generation of the world’s most popular music jukebox and online music store, lets fans purchase and download over 2,000 music videos and six short films from Academy Award-winning Pixar Animation Studios for just $1.99 each. Customers can also now purchase and download their favorite television shows from iTunes the day after they air on TV, watch them on their Mac or PC and Auto-Sync them onto the new iPod for viewing anywhere.
http://www.apple.com/itunes/
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User Group Discount on Exhibit Hall, Conference Packages and Accommodations for Macworld Conference & Expo
Macworld Conference & Expo has once again extended special user group pricing for Macworld Conference & Expo this coming January in San Francisco.
For a limited time, Macintosh User Group members can register for a free Exhibit Hall pass, or enjoy an even better value by taking 15% off the Combination Packages, Power Tools, MacIT, Users or Hands-on MacLabs conference packages. Both options represent a substantial savings, and are available to User Group members using the The MUG Center User Group Priority Code. That code is: H0701
Please note the deadlines for the user group discounts:
September 29, 2005 - November 4, 2005 - Free Exhibit Hall Pass
September 29, 2005 - December 9, 2005 - 15% discount on all Conference Packages
Please visit www.macworldexpo.com for conference package and pricing details.
NEW! User Group Hotel Offer
For a limited time* User Group members will be able to reserve a special rate $89 a night at the Hotel Britton. The hotel is 5 blocks from The Moscone Center and has complimentary Wi-Fi in guest rooms and the hotel lobby. They are across the street from the Best Western Americania.
To secure this exclusive MUG rate, user group members will need to use the User Group Priority/access Code when reserving on line at https:// resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_ei_new&eventID=23666 or mention that code when calling Macworld Conference & Expo's housing center: 866-704-6724. That code is: H0101
If you prefer to stay at another Macworld Conference & Expo hotel you do not need to enter an access code.
Valid on new registrations only. This offer may not be duplicated, redeemed for cash or used in conjunction with any other offer. All registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by and adult. Due to safety regulation, baby strollers/carriages will not be permitted in the Exhibit Hall.
*Rate availability is based on space limits.
For our complete coverage of Macworld Conference & Expo 2006, please visit:
http://www.mugcenter.com/macworld/sf2006

========== HARDWARE SPOTLIGHT - iPOD TROUBLESHOOTING ==========
Troubleshooting Your iPod - Common cures for an ailing iPod By Christopher Breen
Delightful a device as the iPod may be, there are times when it won't cooperate. Here are the symptoms and cures for the iPod's most common problems:
Symptom: The iPod won't start up.
Cure 1: Check the hold switch to be sure that it's not on. Even if it appears to be off, flick it back and forth a couple of times. If you have a remote control plugged into it, be sure that its hold switch is off as well.
Get the complete troubleshooting guide at:
http://playlistmag.com/help/2004/09/trubipod/index.php

========== MUG CENTER STORE ==========
Is there something the MUG store can do to help your group?
Just let us know. Our Tuscarawas County Mac Users Group gets 1 percent back on everything members purchase, so we encourage our members to buy from the MUG store where you can get everything from software to new computers for your club for FREE.
The MUG store has free freight to members, RAM rebates, aggressive pricing on new (and reconditioned) Macs and the largest selection of pre-owned Macs on the planet.
July 1, 2005 to November 30, 2005 - User ID: / Password: - See the TCMUG members web site
Place your orders at http://www.applemugstore.com

========== OS X TIP OF THE MONTH - ACTIVITY MONITOR ==========
What Is Activity Monitor (or How to Take Your Mac's Pulse) by Giles Turnbull
Activity Monitor is a GUI application included with Mac OS X. It provides graphical representations of your computer's CPU, system memory, disk activity, disk usage, and network processes. This little utility is easy to overlook, but it can help you manage your memory and processing power when running lots of applications. If you prefer to work in the text-only Terminal application instead, you can view much of this information by using the top command.
http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2005/10/04/activity-monitor.html

========== TIP OF THE MONTH - WEBSITE TIPS ==========
Helpful hints for building a website.
1) Keep graphics files small.
Cyberspace has the unique distinction of being the first medium where you can actually bore your readers by being too exciting.
2) Keep text files small.
Text files rarely need to be longer than 10K. Instead, they should be broken into logical chunks and linked. If a home page doesn't load quickly, visitors can lose interest and jump elsewhere.
3) Design for easy reading.
Don't trade readability for style. Make your backgrounds as light as possible (white or pastels-just make sure they use "Web-safe" nondithered colors).
4) Use "ALT" tags on graphics.
ALT text appears before the graphic does, or in place of the graphic for users who have turned graphics off for speed. If you don't use ALT text, then users may just see a bunch of boxes with no explanation of what they are.
5) Include contact information on every page!
Web readers often want or need to contact the people who created and run the Web sites-often to ask you more information about your products or services.
6) Keep your site fresh.
Unlike printed matter, a Web site is not a one-time project-it's an on-going one. Be prepared to update your site, at least once a month, adding new information, discarding anything out-of-date.
7) Be generous.
The Web is no place for skimpy "capsule" information. The more detail you provide, the more of a service you offer, and the more reason you give people to visit your site.
8) Be backward compatible.
Using cutting edge technology can exclude readers. Many, if not most users, will be at least one generation behind, so don't shut them out.
9) Test your site as visitors will see it.
Connect to it at 56.6 to see how fast it really is-too many sites are shown-off in-house, directly from the hard disk. This hides performance errors and gives viewers an unrealistic experience.
Read Entire Article at http://www.efuse.com/Design/top_10_do_s_and_don_ts.html

==========MAC SOFTWARE SPOTLIGHT - UGN SHAREWARE ==========
Shareware Manager from the User Group Network looks at Shareware & Freeware applications such as NewsMac Pro, chartConstructor, PatternMaker, Chameleon, MacMemoriesManager, JunkMatcher, Rondo MIDI player, SimpleMovieX, FTP Suite, SafariSnapShotter, Feeder, Sinbad and more...
Check it all out at http://www.user-groups.net/shareware/0510-17_SW.html

========== TCMUG MEMBERSHIP FOR 2005/2006 - TIME TO JOIN! ==========
We are working very hard to make it another 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 2005. 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

========== 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