AcmeNews

Vale Steve in Sydney

2011-10-13T14:13:00.001+11:00

People will say "I was doing xyz when heard Steve Jobs had died"

The question for me is, "where would I be now without Steve Jobs?"

A legend

At Sydney AppleStore

Vale Steve

2011-10-06T20:40:00.001+11:00

I saw Steve Jobs make two presentations - WWDC San Jose 2000 (OSX Beta) and MacWorld Expo 2004 (GarageBand)
The guy was the master of the presentation. Of course the audience knew what they wanted and he didn't fail to deliver. Rapturous applause.

I came to the world of Macintosh in 1986 and never strayed. It wasn't until probably 1993 that I even knew who Steve Jobs was. But since his glorious return in the late 90s I have followed his words. He inspired me to become a computer support person, he provided the means, all I had to do was support my users, help them use the amazing tools they'd been given. He was Apple.

But it's more than just a job, more than just a lifestyle. It's a philosophy as well, to be able to do what you want to do. The internet, sharing, communicating.

I will miss Steve - his will be HUGE shoes to fill.

Memorable quotes
Barack Obama
The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented.

Bill Gates
The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.
For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.

Larry Page (Google)
I am very, very sad to hear the news about Steve. He was a great man with incredible achievements and amazing brilliance. He always seemed to be able to say in very few words what you actually should have been thinking before you thought it. His focus on the user experience above all else has always been an inspiration to me. He was very kind to reach out to me as I became CEO of Google and spend time offering his advice and knowledge even though he was not at all well. My thoughts and Google’s are with his family and the whole Apple family.

Michael Bloomberg
Tonight, America lost a genius who will be remembered with Edison and Einstein, and whose ideas will shape the world for generations to come. Again and again over the last four decades, Steve Jobs saw the future and brought it to life long before most people could even see the horizon. And Steve’s passionate belief in the power of technology to transform the way we live brought us more than smart phones and iPads: it brought knowledge and power that is reshaping the face of civilization. In New York City’s government, everyone from street construction inspectors to NYPD detectives have harnessed Apple’s products to do their jobs more efficiently and intuitively. Tonight our City – a city that has always had such respect and admiration for creative genius – joins with people around the planet in remembering a great man and keeping Laurene and the rest of the Jobs family in our thoughts and prayers.

OSX 10.7 Lion

2011-09-14T08:38:00.001+10:00

After a hasty start Lion was installed and USB Repair disks created. All went quite smoothly. I would have preferred to wait until 10.7.1 but others jumped the gun, ran with 10.7.0 and support was expected.

The installation is a HUGE download and took some time to come down, over slow Australian ADSL bandwidth. But it did come down and following advice I was able to retrieve the download and reserve it so that, in the event of mishap, I wouldn't have to download it again. Luckily it all went smoothly on the two machines I installed.

What I like
Despite other opinions I do like the three-swipe left/right application switcher, and works well with the command-tab I so often use otherwise. Thankfully they aren't mutually-exclusive.

Swiping
The two-finger swipe scrolling is interesting but takes a little getting used-to, and we will. As do all the other gestures. Get over it.

Full Screen view
I think the Dock should be available when in full screen mode. Too many apps are just stretched to accommodate the feature and don't really use the feature properly. Time will tell. Bring back the Dock!

New Mail
It was a little bewildering at first and I would like the ability to discharge the preview pane - don't think it's possible. Now I have gotten used to it, I won't be using "Classic" Mail or setting those settings - this one is here to stay.

Mission Control
Last time I looked there were multiple versions of Mail (don't know why) and while it's cute and iOS-like, isn't that what the Dock's for? Maybe it's to Wow the switchers coming via iPhone...

Rosetta
Time marches on and Adobe accounts must be wringing their cash registers with glee! All those beautiful updates now required once and for all. Hopefully we'll get faster leaner software out of the process.

I have noticed that generally speed is improved, even on my stately 3 year old iMac. Thank goodness for 8gb RAM!!

More later

^. .^

Apple developments

2011-07-21T10:11:00.002+10:00

Lion has been released, available only via the MacApp store so you need OSX10.6.8 to download and install it.

Lion is the latest version of the Macintosh operating system - OSX 10.7 and features a revised Finder, features which are borrowed from the iOS (which is the operating system for iPads and iPhones), such as gestures and single window applications. iCloud coming soon for web-based services. MobileMe is on the way out.

Apple also released a new MacMini and MacBook Air (both faster and more), and dropped the standard MacBook.

More thoughts as they come to hand.

-
Visit to the AppleStore 21 July 2011

Mac OSX Lion [10.7] looks pretty good.

It seems quite smooth and I like the full screen applications feature.

All your usual applications are there, maybe slightly different.
Mail has a new look more in line with the iPad/iPhone paradigm
Safari looks pretty much the same
iTunes has a new version but I haven't found a difference yet.
Other apps like iPhoto and the iWork suite will probably get a up-tweak and/or revision for the new OSX but I'd think that won't be for a few months yet - let the new OSX get settled-in

Mission Control is an advance on Exposé and Spaces and the three fingered gesture on the Trackpad makes it very smooth to go from one application to the next. You can go from one app thru Mission Control to any open app, or available Space by sliding three fingers on the Trackpad. That will make trackpads the new accessory must-have. Each app gets its own Space, in OSX 10.4/5/6 parlance.

Launchpad is like a superDock across the whole screen, paged with a swipe - all your apps available right there, a la iPad/iPhone. Beautiful.

More critique coming.

WWDC 2011

2011-06-08T09:36:00.000+10:00

Well it's on again in San Francisco.

Announcements include

OSX 10.7 Lion, coming in July, but wait for version 10.7.1. Takes clues from the iOS. Full screen mode, more gestures, AutoSave, AirDrop casual file-sharing, improved Mail, new ways with the Finder
iCloud - save stuff to the web. Music, pictures, files synched across all your devices. And initially it will be free!
iOS5 features include utilisation of iCloud, improved Calendar, Mail, To-Dos, iBooks, iMessage [goodbye SMS ripoff!]. Sadly iPhone 3G misses out

iPad2 and iOS4.3 launched

2011-03-05T18:02:00.000+11:00

Well it's been a year, but now iPad2 is finally here. With two cameras and Facetime [video calls], groovy smart covers, thinner, faster processor, better battery, same prices as iPad1. Looks good.

Australia launch - 25 March. See you bright and early at the AppleStore. You bring the coffee, OK?

Also announced recently - iOS4.3 which will include

Home sharing, whereby you can stream music/movies/podcasts, from your computer to your iOS device [iPod, iPhone, iPad] over WiFi
customizable side switch - can be configured to stop screen rotation or mute sounds
on iPhone4 you can create a personal hotspot to share your 3g connection with your WiFi devices [wonder if the telcos will hobble that?]
faster Safari

Apple - The Beatles on iTunes

2010-11-17T09:42:00.000+11:00

Finally it is complete, well up to date anyway. The Beatles have arrived on iTunes

You heard them on vinyl, copied them onto cassettes, bought the whole collection again when the CDs came out, maybe transferred the CDs to your computer/iPod. Now you can download them directly via iTunes and have them on your computer again and iPhone and iPad too!

I'm waiting for the day when they are distributed once more but in a cochlear implant so I wont need no other devices. Might need a dongle as 'proof of payment' hanging out of the redundant ear'ole.

Vale John and George

http://www.apple.com/au/the-beatles/

October 20 announcements from Apple

2010-10-21T07:34:00.001+11:00

OSX 10.7 Lion
Shipping summer 2011 (winter in the antipodes)
MacAppStore a la iTunes store for iPod/Phone/Pads
New organization tools for the Finder

iLife 11
More tweaks in the latest update to iPhoto, iMovie and GarageBand..
They just keep looking better.

And FaceTime for the Mac
As a deaf person video calls are almost a necessity, so let's see how this works!

New MacBook Air
So thin, two sizes, 11 and 13. For people on the road
All flash drives, better battery life. Are there any moving parts left, other than the keyboard?
Pretty smart

http://www.apple.com

Mac OSX 10.7 coming soon?

2010-10-14T13:15:00.000+11:00

Apple have invited members of the media to a special event at AppleHQ in Cupertino, to be held on October 20. The invitation featured a lion's face behind the Apple logo. You may know that OSX 10.6 is code-named 'Snow Leopard'.
Stay tuned for more details as they arise, or after 20/10/10, whichever comes first...

New, new, new

2010-09-02T09:17:00.001+10:00

Apple have released new
iPod Touch - touchscreen, video camera with Facetime
iPod Nano - touchscreen
iPod Shuffle - back to the control pad style, an VoiceOver
All too gorgeous!

There's also new AppleTV - maybe this time. This one has HighDefinition movie capability. YouTube but that may have been there before. There's also AirPlay coming, which seems to indicate you can stream music and video from your iPhone, iPad and iPod too, as well as the computer.

To bring all this together theres new iTunes v10

Check em out at
http://www.apple.com.au

And
iOS4 will be updated soon and the update will include fixes for problems for iPhone 3Gs.
iTunes v10 will be driving all this stuff

Big New Releases

2010-07-28T11:14:00.000+10:00

On top of the iPhone4 launch on Friday 30 July, Apple are also releasing soon
revamped iMacs, the top of the range a Quad-core 2.8ghz 27"
So the range is now 21.5" and 27", two models each
3.06ghz, 3.2ghz and the 2.8ghz quad core.
http://www.apple.com/au/imac/

MacMini looks pretty good too.
2.4ghz with 320gb, and
2.66ghz with Snow Leopard server with 2 x 500gb drives
http://www.apple.com/au/macmini/

And
new MacPro coming in August will have 4, 6, 8 or 12 core processors!
Amazing
http://www.apple.com/au/macpro/

And
Magic Trackpad
Just as the Magic Mouse and Macbooks have the magic trackpad surface, now there is a standalone bluetooth [wireless] trackpad with that feature. And it matches the beautiful aluminium keyboard of course.
Unfortunately it requires OSX 10.6.4 or later. Will it be able to operate the iPad?
http://www.apple.com/au/magictrackpad/

Commenters

2010-06-15T10:12:00.001+10:00

Folks recently there has been a surge in "comments" posted to this blog. I say "comments" because they are thinly-disguised spam and porn link carriers.
So you know - this kind of message will never be posted, so spammers, save your energy and go bother someone else!
Waste of space!

- iP

iPhone4

2010-06-08T07:46:00.001+10:00

It's coming!

iPhone4 has been announced. With features like 2 cameras so you can videochat on the phone, true multitasking (whatever that is) which apparently doesn't affect performance, iBooks a la iPad, HD movies and LED flash. Can't see the opposition catching-up any time soon!

Features
http://www.apple.com/au/iphone/features.html

Now, if Apple could just do something about the crappy phone companies...

iPhone 3G and 3GS users haven't been forgotten yet
Version 4 of the iPhone system will feature folders, better Mail, multitasking [not 3G] and iBooks too. And you may be able to bluetooth-connect a keyboard!!
http://www.apple.com/au/iphone/softwareupdate.html

iPad 28 May

2010-05-28T12:16:00.001+10:00

What a fantastic device!

- iP

Five Years of YouTube

2010-05-25T09:33:00.001+10:00

Well I can hardly believe it's ONLY five years

Check the guest curators' selections!

http://www.youtube.com/user/FiveYear

A few Apple Dates

2010-05-25T09:31:00.001+10:00

28 May - iPad released in Sydney 8AM - SEE YOU THERE! King and George. You bring the coffee and a blanket!

7 June - 11 June - WWDC in San Francisco, always a big announcement. This year SJobs has said "You wont be disappointed" according to the iPhoneFreak blog

It's going to be a big week or so!

Fwd: photo books

2010-05-07T17:25:00.000+10:00

Here's some photobooks I have looked at.

Pricing really depends on what you're printing [number of pics and pages] and whether it's hardcover or other. I'd suggest NOT comb binding - falls apart too easily [I worked in the PG section in the faculty of Arts and theses bound [against the guidelines] this way always fell to pieces]

As well as the Apple scheme there's...

http://www.photobookaustralia.com.au/

Software to download and use, Mac compatible

http://www.snapfish.com.au/ [HP]

Doesn't appear to be any software to download, you upload to their service and do the edit online I suppose.

http://www.snapfish.com.au/snapfishau/helpphotobooks has more info

http://www.digitalprintaustralia.com/photobooks

Online composition

Momento

http://www.momento.com.au/

Design the book online

I saw one or two somewhere, which allowed you to create your book in Word, save it as a pdf and print from that. Looking again.

pdf printers

My Reflections

http://www.myreflections.com.au/

==================

| Don't bother with these

| http://www.xbook.com.au/

| Software - PC only

| Searched help for Macintosh - not found, give it the big X

| Albumworks - http://www.albumworks.com.au/

| Target - http://www.target.com.au/photobooks/

| No Mac software - their solution is "install Windows on your Mac and...". Grrrr

==================

You'll have to keep waiting

2010-05-07T17:22:00.000+10:00

Apple have announced that the iPad launch in countries other than the USoA will deb delayed until the end of May 2010 due to heavier than pedicured demand.

http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/apple-delays-ipad--release-20100415-sefz.html

Way of the Future? iView!

2010-03-31T12:04:00.000+11:00

With your iiNet account you get free [broadband traffic-wise] access to ABC iView, via iiNet’s ‘FreeZone’. Check the iView broadband tab - your connection will need to be fast enough

This means you can watch recent ABCTV shows on your computer. Sadly no recording. Recently they incorporated captions too for silent [or deaf-accessible] viewing. We’d had an extensive campaign for the access.

So give it a go. Go to the iView website and see what's available from ABC1 and ABC2 and other sources too.

This development leaves commercial channels for dead - no captions on their web programming and limited choice.

Now is the time!

2010-03-02T13:21:00.002+11:00

Still using OSX 10.3.9? As I may have warned, your software will be starting to leave you behind.

The latest chink in the armour
YouTube has announced that they won't be supporting browsers older than a certain age [which coincides with OSX 10.3.9]
[link]

Google [YouTube's parent company] has made a similar announcement

Software developers will only cover computers back to a certain period and considering that OSX 10.4 has been out about 5 years, I dare say they think enough is enough. There may be other software which is no longer compatible with OSX 10.3 and the only option will be to upgrade your machine. OK if you're just using email and Word, but other things and internet will get more and more difficult.

Poll Results

2010-02-16T18:55:00.000+11:00

According to the AcmeNews poll the new thing announced by Apple would be a new TV appliance [1 vote] or iSlate [1 vote]
Well it was the iSlate but named the iPad so good on whoever voted for iSlate

By the way everyone else - it's OK to vote. I don't know who you are and nobody else does either!

Windows Phone 7 Series

2010-02-16T18:51:00.000+11:00

Jeez they've been busy over at Redmond
Microsoft has released the Windows Phone 7 a competitor to the iPhone
Cant tell if it has Flash capability [apparently not yet] - you have to watch Flash videos to find out about the features!

Link

MS Office 2011 announced

2010-02-16T18:50:00.000+11:00

In line with MacWorld Expo, just concluded in San Francisco, Microsoft will release Office 2011 later this year.
The emphasis will be on compatibility and collaborate, and the new version features another iteration of the Ribbon, Visual Basic is back [missing from Office 2008] Entourage is replaced by Outlook for compatibility with proprietary email and calendaring systems. This should also simplify the process of moving Outlook email accounts from PCs to Macs [previously difficult].

Link

The Permissions Procedure when copying

2010-02-06T16:00:00.002+11:00

Once you have copied items thru the DropBox they may not act correctly [may not import to iTunes/iPhoto].
The permissions need to be corrected.
It's easier to do a folder of photos at once.
Select the folder - right click for "Get info" cmd-I Check if your username appears at the bottom in Permissions. Click the lock - enter your admin password.
If not, add + yourself and set Read and Write. If you are doing a folder set "Apply to Enclosed items". As a shortcut you may be able to do "Make *yourself* owner"

Macintosh everyday shortcuts

2010-01-28T14:54:00.000+11:00

Here's a list of shortcuts I do without thinking any more
Most programs
Cmd Q - Quit a program when you're finished
Cmd C, V, X - Copy | Paste | Cut respectively

Finder
Cmd-Shift-H go to Home folder
Cmd Tab - go to next program. While you have the buttons across the screen, you can also Hide cmdH and Quit cmdQ without going back into a program this way. Shift Tab goes backwards
Quickest way to shut down | restart | sleep is Control - ‘ejectCD’, then type enter | the letter ‘r’ | the letter ’s’ | escape to cancel
Force a Restart on the laptop [only] Command - Control - Power On button. Only do this when you’re completely locked up [rare]
You WILL lose unsaved changes

It's Here!! iPad not iSlate

2010-01-28T06:00:00.003+11:00

Finally the new device has been released and it is the iPad

http://www.apple.com/ipad/

It's like an A4 slab <1kg which you can use for email, web browsing, music and movies. Like a big iPod Touch.

You can get a keyboard/dock which gives you real writing ability rather than the thumbs or one finger of iPods and iPhones.

There'll be two versions - WiFi only first, then WiFi and 3G [data only] later, in April.
Also, video-out via composite cable like the iPhone. Doesn't look like you can directly connect a printer [good] and you can directly connect a camera [with an adaptor] to download pics from the camera

As a confirmed email and web nut I can see the beauty and desirability of the device. Pricing will determine its success, over a MacBook [no Australian prices yet].

What about eePC? No contest.

Want Free Apps?

2010-01-26T11:41:00.001+11:00

Check out
FreeAppAlert link
for apps [applications, programs] for your iPhone.
You may find the undiscovered gem - let us know!

Get ready for 27 January Pacific US time

2010-01-19T14:23:00.001+11:00

Will it be iSlate?

New iPhone/Mac/iPod

Something completely urn-rumoured?

Set your alarm [AEST time 28 January]

iLounge link

SMH link

Including links in email messages

2010-01-08T12:40:00.002+11:00

There's a few things to know
1 Simple and easiest
Get the address in its entirety from the webpage you wish to send, say
http://www.acmecomputer.com.au/
If you include the http part, most email programs can interpret that as a web page address, activate the link automatically and the viewer can click and progress to the page. You might not see it before despatch...

2 Manually make the address a link
In Mail [Edit menu - Add Link...] you can activate a link manually and it can be any piece of text
So Acme Link is activated and will take you to Acme Computer without much further ado.
Copy the address from your webbrowser [on clipboard]. Select the text in your mail message, go to Edit - Add Link... - OK
Presto. Complete message, send.

3 Make ugly addresses look better!
You can disguise an elongated or ridiculous looking weblink to something less scary
AcmeItaly link
Note that AcmeItaly is located in Livorno, in English: Leghorn, obviously named after FogHorn Leghorn

Also
4 Sending webpage addresses from Safari
In Safari
Navigate to desired page
Under File - Mail link to this page, creates an empty Mail message with the link ready to go
Complete message and send
You can also send contents but this puts the contents of the webpage into a mail window at the other end, may not display properly.
Firefox -> File - Send Link - does much the same thing

Home Video Conferencing

2010-01-06T17:07:00.002+11:00

Reported in the NYTimes

Soon it'll be possible to get a TV that you connect to your internet connection and it will connect to a webcam or have one built in.
So you can Skype to the folks over in Romania via the living room TV.
Panasonic and LG will announce the technology at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas [week of 6 January 2010].

Of course there will be more to come, web-browsing, flickr, weather reports. Who knows what else!?

link

It's Magic alright

2010-01-06T14:46:00.002+11:00

I've always been a bit 'thing' about wireless mouses and keyboards, after imperfect experience with bluetooth 'connections' with phones etc. The previous Apple Mighty Mouse wireless left me less-than enthused. During the recent Summer Solstice celebrations I happened upon a Magic Mouse [what do you give someone who doesn't need anything and already has enough gadgets?]
I have to say it is a very nice mouse. If a bit pricey [AUD$99, cheaper in the States]
It features the multi-touch business on the top surface, sort of like an iPhone but different. The scrolling up/down action is very smooth, one hardly has to move the mouse itself sometimes.
And you can configure it to have one or two buttons [you choose, I like two button].
But they have resigned the squeeze from the Mighty Mouse, just as i was getting used to it! They've also removed the 'press the scroll button' action, but i think that caused people more frustration than anything - I was forever turning it off for clients

link

YouTube - Most Popular videos in 2009

2009-12-17T22:26:00.001+11:00

The first new-style post
YouTube have announced their Most Popular videos in 2009, Australia and Global
Gee that Susan Boyle is popular!

Link

AcmeNews December 2009

2009-12-11T21:10:00.000+11:00

AcmeNews is changing I have decided to change the way AcmeNews works. Previously I have saved stories to tell until I had enough to post, but I find that many of those are out of date by the time I get around to doing it. So I'll be posting stories, tips whatever on the blog as they come to hand. So there'll be less rubbish in your email, from me at least! Here's the address - http://newsacme.blogspot.com Subscribe - it's easy! [Ask me]	Summer Solstice here again Once again thanx to my colleagues, friends and clients - some of you may even be all three! Without you Acme Computer would not be here and me neither!
	And I expect to be undergoing the operation for my 2nd cochlear implant in January, date to be determined
See you in the New Year!!

Concern
It seems that there's many stories on the web about iMacs with cracked screens, magic mouses that stop operating and various other peculiarities with the current recently-introduced models. When getting your new computer, consider extended warranty programs [AppleCare] - it might just save you a LOT of money!

I haven't actually seen any of these cracked screen iMacs and I have to wonder how much of these tales actually happen and in what proportion.

Tablet still coming
Also on the interweb [should that be intertubes?] there is renewed talk of an imminent, well March/April, release for the mysterious tablet. This would be something like a laptop with the screen on the outside and a virtual touch keyboard or maybe an oversized iPhone. Maybe it'd be a 10" iPhone! Imagine holding a laptop up to your head when the phone rang! Excellent!
Links
Newsweek
ComputerWorld
Wired [great picture]
There's a poll floating around somewhere to suggest a name [cant find it again] - iTab, iTablet, BigMac and BigPhone all gone already!

Tip of the moment
With all this lightning and outages at the moment and particularly over the coming festive season when tempers fray and arguments bloom, consider this when your connection goes pffft!

Deep breath
Think happy thoughts
Turn the modem [/router] off
Keep thinking happy thoughts - remember that last holiday in Fiji/Thailand/Surfers/Byron?
Now you can turn the modem [/router] back on
Try a web page
Now back to the relaxation...

See the archive for back issues - right hand panel. Search for specifics [at the top of this page]
Disclaimer can be viewed here

:< The Internet is our Friend >:

AcmeNews October 2009

2009-10-28T21:00:00.076+11:00

But Wait!

Before you charge into SnowLeopard - WAIT!!
From my viewing the postings, I'd expect fixes for Airport, Mail, Safari and the iLife suite.

Of course these could be people running who-knows-what other stuff
A recent posting of mine on facebook appears below
Older Office [v.X] works but not comfortably, cant print to pdfs

Studio MX 2004 [Dreamweaver, Fireworks etc] apps won't even open. Adobe not supporting anything older than CS2004! I've only had it three years or so!!

Crashes out of [recently updated] Safari, Firefox, iPhoto, iTunes, intermittently

Rosetta installed but a few little things missing, or just don't work any more.

Doesn't support AppleTalk so I had a little trouble with my HP2100tn, but found the solution via IP connection, AND it works in VMWare Fusion [PC mode] which I could never get to go before.

So - do your updates or at least be prepared before leaving 10.5 behind...

SnowLeopard is nicely fast, and what a gorgeous pussycat he is!

Security Updates Available for Adobe Reader and Acrobat
Adobe have issued a Security Bulletin about Adobe Reader and Acrobat
If you use these programs have a look at the update info at this site

What I did
A few weeks ago at Better Hearing Australia [where I do my lip-reading classes] I gave a little presentation to the massed audience [of about 20] which consisted of the pictures from my Europe 09 expedition.

I imported the images from the trip from my digital camera into my computer, using a program called iPhoto. [On a Mac]

Then I edited the keywords for the final sets. Once the sets were established I uploaded the sets and pictures to my web album.

They are available on Picasa in the various sets. [link]

The next export was different. I created a slide show from the images, no music, 5 second duration for each image and exported the entire set's slideshow as a quicktime movie, to a file on my desktop.

At this point I might have imported it to iMovie to add captions, titles and other stuff. But I didn't this time.

I imported the exported slideshow to iTunes and then converted it to iPhone friendly. The iPhone friendly version was then synchronised [sent to] with the iPhone and is available on the phone for viewing.

But how to show it to 20 people? Bit too close for comfort.

I have a cable which connects the iPhone to a TV. So, I could play the movie starting and stopping as appropriate, using the iPhone as a wired remote, and giving my commentary.

It all worked quite well!

Vale
Addams Family theme writer Vic Mizzy has died at 93
Addams Family, Green Acres, Petticoat Junction Beverly Hillbillies.
Even today I find myself humming all those themes. And Mr Ed!!
I always thought there was some thing in common with all of them, now I know.

Tip of the moment
Whether to turn off or not? How to maximise your laptop or iPhone battery's limited life
http://www.apple.com/batteries/

The archive has been replaced by this blog
Disclaimer can be viewed here

:< The Internet is our Friend >:

AcmeNews September 2009

2009-09-07T16:00:00.000+10:00

Acme Computer is open

OSX 10.6 SnowLeopard

Well OSX 10.6 is out.

It's like the previous operating system 10.5, sped up and streamlined

Read about it - http://www.apple.com/au/macosx/

Any machine you buy now will be able to run it, and should come with it, unless it's old stock.

Now I understand there's talk of a new machine, rumour is a tablet [closed laptop with the screen on the outside]

I think that's unlikely, Apple doesn't need a machine like that and while the iPhone is SO popular they won't want to detract from that market.

But it may mean iMacs with more memory and storage, and faster processors. So maybe the end of next week...

Sorry PowerPC mac owners this upgrade is Intel Macintoshes only...

Skype News
The latest version of Skype allows one to display your screen a la iChat.
More info once I have tested it, but this promises to bypass the "open ports" issues which have plagued iChat, for me at least.

The screen sharing feature is useful - say I needed to show you how to move this file to the Trash. OK that's an easy one but sometimes people don't get what I say...

Need skype? Get it at this link

Tips

Whether to turn off or not? How to maximise your laptop or iPhone battery life
http://www.apple.com/batteries/

iPhone photography
There's a new photographic movement - photos captured on iPhones. Apparently these been a HUGE surge in photos captured on iPhones and uploaded to Flickr. Of course it's just too easy, but have a look at this article anyway. Some of the photos are pretty fangmazing
http://db.tidbits.com/article/10289

Security notes
I have seen a few things about internet security over the past few weeks.

The biggest security hole for home users is passwords. Make sure you know what they are. Don't use 'no password', thankfully not easy to do now.

They should be

• not a dictionary word

• not something guessable by someone else

• at least six characters, comprising numbers, capital and lower case letters to be really

In the Finder, do Help [menu] - Mac Help and search "passwords" for more info.

By default the network you have set up is controlled by a firewall and your computers are behind that firewall when connected to you network.

And if it was wireless you'd be running WPA encryption, standard on newer Macs.

Unless you're running services that might attract malicious guests - web servers, email servers etc, you should be safe.

A lot of the updates Apple [and others] release are to do with security holes being covered in their software which is running on your computer. I'd recommend keeping on top of the Security updates - usually separate from the System updates.

Programs - anything Microsoft, browsers that connect to the internet in any way - Firefox, Skype

Rule of thumb - wait at least a week for any updates, for the bug fixes...

For example the OSX 10.6 update has been out for a little while. As a consumer you should wait for a week or even more while the 'early adopters' do the testing, and keep an eye on Apple's website and others. I like Tidbits <http://db.tidbits.com/> it's so up to date it's not funny. They have RSS and a mailing list too I think [no spam]. 10.6 seems to have had very few problems so far.

A lot of it is common sense

• With your laptop, when you're out and about, don't check your internet banking in public, or on an internet cafe shared computer

• Always log out of password controlled sessions wherever you are - closes the connection at the server end. Especially at internet cafes

• Internet banking - monitor your accounts even if you aren't making transactions. Alert the bank of anything suspicious. They want you to use internet banking [they don't want to employ staff] so any risk is very important - read your bank's security notices.

• Never reply to any email requesting personal details, particularly bank details. Only sign up for things you navigate to, not via an email link.

• Be on top of junk email, don't even store it
[SpamSieve is excellent - http://c-command.com/spamsieve/]
Every now and then go into 'training mode' and identify newer spam messages.

• Unsubscribe only from known email sources - you may be confirming your email address to the malicious spammer otherwise. Don't reply to them!

Luckily Macs have escaped most trouble because they don't have 80% of the market. But the day will come when some teenager will work out how to use the internet and a Macintosh to cause mayhem. Hopefully the operating system and Apple will be able to jump on it quickly to reduce the damage. I think we're pretty safe so far.

Windows 7 coming later this year
Apparently Microsoft will be bothering with Windows 7. Given the non-interest in Vista [am I the only one?] this one had better be pretty good - wonder which bits of OSX 10.6 they'll be incorporating this time 'round....
SMH article

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AcmeNews June 2009 [2]

2009-06-26T20:00:00.000+10:00

Acme Closing for a bit
Acme Computer will be closed from June 26 until August 5 2009 for another of those frequent-flyer reduction campaigns.
Note your diaries please

Snow Leopard [OSX 10.6] coming in September
Apple will release Snow Leopard in September. In the US it will cost $US29 and the Family Pack will cost $US49. There'll also be deals including OSX and iLife and/or iWork sets

It's going to be an Intel-only upgrade so if you have a G$ or G5 computer you're ging to miss out - you're being pushed to a new machine sooner now.

Apple is calling Snow Leopard as an "upgrade" for Leopard users, which explains the $29 price (previous versions of Mac OS X have retailed for $129).

RSSessees I like
We can't have you getting bored while I'm away so here's a bit of heavy reading for you to while away those empty non-Acme hours...

iPhoneFreak

iPhone News straight-up

feed://www.iphonefreak.com/feed

A New Mac Tip Every Day

Like the name suggests

feed://www.tips4mac.info/?feed=rss2

Zazz!

One product, usually a gadget, for one day, and often they don't last that long

feed://www.zazz.com.au/rss-products.xml

I Can Has Cheezburger

I laugh every day, often several times a day

feed://feeds.feedburner.com/ICanHasCheezburger

Apple Hot News

Serves a dual purpose

1 - Mac users can keep right up to date with developments

2 - PC users can see what they're missing out on! [well, you will persist...]

feed://images.apple.com/main/rss/hotnews/hotnews.rss

MacGems Weblog

From MacWorld, mini-programs, often free which fill the gaps the big software has no chance of filling.

feed://images.apple.com/main/rss/hotnews/hotnews.rss

Another online image editor - SumoPaint
This one is apparently quite Photoshop-like so be afraid but do have a go
http://www.sumopaint.com/web/

AddressBook, a quick couple
I've mentioned some of these before but somebody always needs reminding
The first line of defence is to get known non-spammers into your address book [the filter doesn't check those in the address book]. Update your address book and when you synchronise with your iPhone you'll have their details wherever you go...

Hooray for Stop-Motion
http://www.sorry-im-late.com/watch.html

New iPhone software is out

New iPhone model announced - the iPhone S
new software available since June 17
Cut/Copy/Paste between apps
Landscape keyboard now commonly available in more apps
MMS - pictures sent via SMS [depends on phone provider]
Spotlight searching on the phone
Voice memos - now built in, no other app required
Synchronise notes
More calendar features - fits into Exchange better
Internet tethering - use the phone as a modem for your computer to connect to the internet
Parental controls - now goes beyond "Get your hand off my iPhone!" [we need 'other adult' control!]
Whats missing?

More bluetooth connectivity
File sharing built-in

http://www.apple.com/iphone/

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AcmeNews June 2009

2009-06-02T09:00:00.008+10:00

Acme Closing for a bit
Acme Computer will be closed from June 26 until August 5 2009 for another of those frequent-flyer reduction campaigns.
Note your diaries please

iPhone changes coming?
Well the WWDC is almost upon us again and the BIG announcements will
be Snow Leopard [OSX 10.6] and iPhone v3

Expected iPhone updates might include
Faster processors
More storage [16gb and 32gb]
Better battery life
Magnetomoeter - for 3 axis compass directions leading on from the GPS
Turn-by-turn GPS [live directions]
Video capability - the camera is a still camera only in v2

The rumours [however un/likely]
Glowing Apple logo
Sleeker design
Different screen technology - OLED
Rubber tread backing [thats what 3rd-party cases are for]
FM transmitter

Speaking of the WWDC
Yep it's on again. June 8
The once a year, the big conference where the developers get together with Apple, confirm or otherwise disprove rumours and reveal the behind-the-scenes ministrations for upcoming developments. Stay tuned to the website...
[Link]

iPhone [and other] photography
Someone asked "How can I make my iPhone take better pictures?". It's all in the technique and the software. Check this site to see if there's something which might help the situation.
Tidbits is a great site for tips and Mac-oriented news [sorry PC users]
Need specific tips? Got a PC-centric help site to broadcast [No ads please]? Let me know and it might even make it to the AcmeNews

Vista on the way out [Yay!]
Microsoft have determined that Windows7, the successor to Windows Vista will be available in the latter part of 2009. There are apparently versions of the developer release out there for testing. Of course its release will mean that PC users will need to be aware of the limitations of their existing machine again before taking the plunge.
I should say I have Vista installed in the PC side of my Intel iMac. It performs better on my iMac than the standard installations on PCs I've seen out in SupportLand. They are few and far between - most PC people I've been in contact with are sticking to XP. Will Windows7 finally wrench them clear? let's see.

Starting this issue - Tips
One of the features of Blogger is it's use of labels - Keywords I can set to help you find stuff in this blog more easilyer. Looking for that tip about the Dock [again?] you can do a search for "Dock" and that will pull up all the Dock entries in the blog, but what if you were looking for all the "tips"? I'll assign keywords like "tips" and "travel" and "PC" for those articles with appropriate content. Then you can use those to look for what you're looking for.
I won't use news - because it isn't once I publish it and certainly not next month.
Look for "tips"

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AcmeNews May 2009

2009-05-09T09:00:00.001+10:00

New developments on the way
Apple keep hinting and announcing new tidbits, probably coming around the time of the WWDC [sold out!] in July 2009. Around that time there'll be the iPhone v3 release.
There have been 1 billion downloads from the iTunes Apps store - programs for iPhones, so get ready for more announcements in that arena. Come July all new Apps in the iTunes store must be v3 compatible
Rumours abound about
• Netbook [micro laptop] but these have been discounted as just rumours by Apple.
• new larger, or cheaper iPhones
• cheaper Macs

Tip - Spaces
This is a OSX10.5 only tip
You can organise your work-space on the Mac into various "spaces". It's like having different desktops and you can arrange them, say one for Mail and Web-stuff, another for music. And you can zoom back and forth.
Now what if you're in one space and the window you want is in the other?
Click on the title bar of the window you want and hold it, navigate to the other application with Command - Tab. When you see the original window you wanted you can let go of the mouse. Presto

iPhone
As some of you will know I reached the venerable age of 50 last year. Just in time to go completely deaf.
For the inauspicious occasion I was granted access to the greatest device ever invented [so far] Apple iPhone. I didn't take up the offer until I was able to use it well enough [deaf, don't forget]
Of course it's loaded up with extraneous doo-hikeys and others, but I can have email wherever Optus want to charge me for it [almost anywhere]. Or I can jump onto your WiFi network if you'll let me. I can also Chat, Skype and I have my iCalendar and Address Book I go. Thats gotta be good.
I can make notes, update blogs, check Twitters by Lance Armstrong, Bill, Clinton, Kevin Rudd and William Shatner. I can track my progress via the builtin in GPS and check Google Maps.
I can even play Solitaire - several different sorts!

It will be very interesting to see how Apple can improve on this device - but I'm sure they will, come July!

Anything you want
In the never-ending search for the truth and ins-and-outs of the computer world, I'm always on the lookout for tasty tidbits for my audience. Some of them even make it here!.
So if there's a subject you'd like covered which I may have overlooked [intentionally or otherwise] be in touch

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AcmeNews April 2009

2009-04-02T09:00:00.000+11:00

A little plug
Now that Sydney City Council has finished destroying Glebe Point Rd those business that are left can get back to, well, business
Take the 433 or 431 bus along the GPR to see the construction crews handiwork. Check out Glebe markets every Saturday. Call in and see the amazing artworks and the Glass Artists Gallery [and GIG gallery next door too], a sometime Acme client.
Links
GlassArtists Gallery - http://www.glebemarkets.com.au/
Glebe markets - http://www.glassartistsgallery.com.au/

New Macs
With the bailout from MacWorld expo it may have been expected that Apple would slow down on the new products - No! There's been a rush of releases since the beginning of the year, inlcuding...

iMacs - more RAM, HDs 24" for the same price as the previous 20"
Mac Pros with faster, more capable CPUs using the Nehalem processor.
Mac Mini - addresses previous criticisms and brought up to speed
MacBook Pro - had a small speed increase

Generally
Firewire 400 is on the way out, in favour of FW800
More USB
Larger hard drives across the range

New Airport base stations - provides dual-band [less interference
expected by avoiding the 2.4 ghz band]
Guest wireless access - internet only, no local shared machines

Apparently the newer machines are more for the same price in the States. In Australia however prices have risen by $200 in some cases. Why should this be so?

SMH comment - [link]

and
New Safari coming

Safari 4 beta

Apple has released Safari version 4. This is a public beta release meaning it's a testing version. Don't download it unless you want to try it out and be prepared for bombs and bugs.

That said

Looking around it it is quite good already. Has frozen on me a couple of times. It is a beta release.

Seems to load pages containing javascript quite quickly [30 times faster than Internet Explorer apparently]

The most striking feature is Top Sites which gives a mini-preview of your most visited sites, assuming they are the ones you want to visit.

This release also incorporates CoverFlow browsing to bookmarks - a la iTunes and Finder and other programs.

Check it out at

http://www.apple.com/safari/features.html

The future of Postcards? And what about other mail?
TapTap Cards
OK it's an American site and USA only at the moment but I think it's something which might have a door opening.
You log into a website, choose a picture, maybe one you already uploaded, add some words, pay the fee [US$1.99].
The card is printed in colour and posted with no further ado
[link]

Gets you thinking...

Misheard Lyrics

Yep - there's a website of misheard song lyrics
A fun website, now you can find out what the real words are but see others' interpretations too!
Excuse me, while I kiss this guy [link]

It had to happen
http://www.processaway.net/
Now there is software which allows merchants to accept credit card payments via the iPhone! If only the money-hungry banks weren't in Australia
Great little website too

Spend the Money in Australia
With the Federal Government's pocket-money handout to buy our way out of this recession we apparently also had to have [Thanx USA!] it occurred to me that it would be better to keep the money in
circulation in Straya for a while at least.
Do you bit for the economy by employing local Macintosh computer support, web-page authoring or Filemaker database creation. Your country will thank you for it [and me]
So think before you buy that new plasma [made in China], or iPodphone [made in China by an American company]!

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AcmeNews March 2009

2009-03-04T08:00:00.000+11:00

New Acme Website

A new website has now been devised and uploaded.

The new site, while you may not notice much difference, is a lot cleaner - cleaned-out a lot of accumulated rubbish.

There are new quick links, no pulling-down from menus - straight links.

The links page is faster loading [think of a link worthy of the Acme website?]

The contact page is a bit more streamlined behind the scenes. Unnecessary code has been shuffled-off.

In time I expect there'll be more features, but still within the less-is-more credo, and in line with the need for greater and more reliable communication.

Click the Acme logo above to have a look - Let me know what you think.

Pictures in Word
So you're doing an essay or letter and you want to put a picture into the text.
Get your pics together - jpegs or png or gif will cover most images. Edit them in iPhoto or Picasa or your camera's software.
You have your Word document ready - drag the image from its folder location onto the Word document, or do Insert [menu] - Picture, locate the file and click the OK or Insert button.
Double click the image to invoke the picture formatting dialog box - check the settings about size [scale it as required], layout and other options to do with the picture.
Also check the Drawing toolbar for more controls and tools to use [View menu - toolbars]

GreenGuru

It IS easy being green!

Handy hints for you office, and recycling

Computer on [asleep] or off overnight?

ABCTV - The Green Guru

http://www.abc.net.au/greenatwork/GreenGuru/

Fold a TShirt in 2 seconds
The Internet to the rescue again!
You've always wanted to know how to fold a TShirt in 2 seconds. Well I
did too!
http://www.videojug.com/
Everything from how to
• fold a TShirt
• make A Fried Egg Sandwich
• ride a bicycle
• pack a travel bag
• make The Perfect Lasagne
find what you've been looking for!

Antica Pizzeria "Da Michele" dal 1870
There is a heaven, a pizza flavoured heaven. It exists in Napoli [Naples], Italy. Now you know that I don't give endorsements so lets call this a recommendation, seeing as how they're not here to accept your cash purchase. In the 21st century, they have a website http://www.damichele.net/ and a Facebook group dedicated to their business.Now I have told you about the #1 pizza in the world I have to kill you, lest it be overrun.
Look them up next time you're in Napoli!

Attention deaf TV watchers
or do you know some who might benefit?
Maybe you don't know but, did you know that with the advent of digital TV comes better viewing possibilities? You can have captions [subtitles] on your TV for most programs. Yep, just like on SBS when there's a foreign-language program and you have an English translation
shown at the bottom of the screen, you can have an English display of what's said [and scenario hints]. Digital stations are supposed to have at least 80% of programming captioned. There were moves by Channel Nine Sydney to reduce [boo, hiss!] their captioned percentage as a cost-saving measure, but this decision has been reversed [yay!]

You'll need a Digital Set -top box or a digital tuner in your TV.
You'll need to have the digital tuner tuned to the relevant stations
On the set-top box remote there will be a button for TEXT [or check the manual]
Some tuners require you to enter the teletext code - 801 - keep it in mind.
Some things are captioned live - news, sport [why do they bother?].
Movies are generally CC Closed captioned - you can choose to have them or not
Media Access - link
Digital TV - Rollout link

Here's some generic sports commentary in case you need someone to
tell you the bleeding obvious about what you're watching

He/She/They is/are going really well today
The conditions are atrocious/excellent/difficult
The job's cut out for him/her/them
Yeah we gave 100% but triumphed in the end

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AcmeNews January 2009

2009-01-30T09:00:00.000+11:00

Temporary Closure
Acme Computer will be closed from
12 to 27 February 2009
Last Hurrah before University year

Macworld announcements
The Macworld extravaganza earlier in the month was Apple's last. They say they can contact their customers more directly and more effectively [ed: and with greater sales]. Also Steve Jobs didn't appear citing health and enzyme issues.

Here are the new products

New 17" MacBook Pro

New iLife 09

New iWork 09

iTunes now completely DRM free, new pricing

and
Is it possible?
Apple have posted a record quarterly profit in last quarter 2008.
The surge was attributed to record iPod sales [doesn't everyone [except me] have one yet?] - 22.73 million, up 3% from the final quarter 2007. They also sold 2.52 million Macintoshes up 9% on the previous year. The iPhone on sold 4.4 million not the projected 5 million! Buy the shares now if you can get them!

In case you iPhone users didn't already know

MacWorld iPhone pages

http://www.macworld.com/products/iphone.html

Apple's pages

http://www.apple.com/iphone/

I've seen a few FANTASTIC time-wasters.

One where you 'pop a ring-pull', then the screen fills up with beer, then tilt the iPhone, suitably placed and the level of the beer goes down as though you're drinking it!

There's another one - virtual bubble-wrap, where you poke the bubbles and they pop [so I'm told] one at a time. Therapy after a long day...

The 2008 Weblog Awards
The results should be in by the time you read this. Looking for an interesting blog to subscribe to [other than this one]? Why not have a look at these? They are the finalists in the 2008 awards. Some are newsy, some opinionated [you may or may not agree, if you even know what the hell they're talking about!]
Interesting. Check them out at
http://2008.weblogawards.org/
Is blogging the way of the future? Got something YOU need to say?

TeamViewer [Mac and PC]

I can control your computer from here.
There is software which allows me to do it.
Following on from VNC [Virtual Network Computing] and iChat Screen Sharing there is a program I can use to control your screen.

You need software called TeamViewer - I already have it. [link]
When you start a session it gives you a session unique ID and PIN.
We would be chatting via iChat or Skype and you could let me know the number and PIN and in a trice, I'm controlling your screen, from Leichhardt or Paris as long as the connection is fast enough.

You need MacOSX 10.4 or later.
Windows users, yes I can control them too need W98 or later
I'd recommend a broadband connection.

Need me to install it for you let me know next time you see me, or
install it yourself and let's have a go!

It Works!

Finally there's a reliable way to open those pesky docx documents!

When Microsoft [in their wisdom] released Office 2007 for PCs they neglected to provide a means to enable users to open those files with older versions of Office, or anything else for that matter!

The 'Open XML File Format Converter for Mac' is available and it seems to work OK.

It works as a standalone file converter or in conjunction with Office programs.

Web locations
Mac on Mactopia

[link]
PC Utilities on the Microsoft Download site
[link]

Although I haven't experienced it yet, there may instances when the converter converts but the result contains unexpected formatting, lost images. There may be times when you need to contact the author for a copy saved to your particular version of Word, Powerpoint or Excel.

Vale
Bob May, the fellow inside the robot in 'Lost in Space' has died. He was 69. The robot's voice was provided by Dick Tufeld who is apparently still living [Washington Post]

Captions reprieved
Thanx to any of you who might have rallied to the cause. Channel Nine have relented and reinstated some captioning into their programming.
Apparently it was to do with budget savings. So, if you want to save money pick on a minority group. Wrong minorty group to pick on. We may be deaf but we're vocal!!

It's a rumour but...
There's murmurings around that Apple is about to licence MacOSX, the operating system of Macintoshes to Psystar a rogue Mac-clone wannabe manufacturer. This would be great - it would spread the audience of the Operating System to the Windows world.
The poor buggers have had to endure Windows 98, 2000, Millenium, XP and Vista. It might mean a drop in price and OSX would be available on those machines. Me? I'd rather have a Macintosh any day than a crappy machine which doesn't work with this that or the other, for reasons unexplained.
I'm comfortable right here

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AcmeNews December 2008 - the end of the year is nigh!

2008-12-04T09:00:00.000+11:00

Captions under fire!

Channel nine in its wisdom has decided to reduce the percentage of its programs which are being captioned. To a hearing-disabled person this is out-and-out discrimination, not to mention inconvenient.
OK the shows are not necessarily ones I watch but you might and any of the 1-in-6 Australians who are hearing-impaired might too. If they can decide to just reduce captioned programming from 80% to 56% who's to say they won't reduce it to 30 or 20%, then scrap it as 'too expensive'.
NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

Campaigns are underway by

Media Access Australia [link]
and

Deafness Forum of Australia [link]

Should you wish to make your opinion felt, check the websites above.

A letter you can send to Channel nine has been prepared - all you have to do is print it, fill in your details and send it. [Get a copy]

You can also contact the Minister for BCDE - [link]

It all comes together
You may be wondering what wondrous technologies are at work, to produce this wonderful blog. Wonder no more. Here's a bit of shameless self-promotion.

These are the tools I use to put these pages together

Blogger

This is where it all comes together.

I have a few different blogs - another one is "Curse of Silence", my experience of cochlearisation.

I write the text you read on the pages, make links to other pages, links to photos and movies and documents. It really enables anyone in the world to have their say, no matter how trivial.

The images and movies and Calendar don't live within the blog - they are outside and brought in by "embedding" them using hyperlinks.

Macs or PCs [Firefox works better for editing]

Picasa

The images you see on the pages are stored at Picasa. It's a web photo album. I took the photographs with my digital camera [or I could scan photographs, or have photographs saved to a CD]. Once I had the images, they were uploaded [saved] to the Picasa web album.

PC users can download the Picasa program, which works like iPhoto, here.

Google Docs

When you complete one of the polls or use the 'Contact me directly' page you're filling in a row in a shared spreadsheet or database, in Google Docs [link]. It works just like an Excel spreadsheet, except it's on the web and accessible for your comments directly from the blog page. The system also sends me an email when you send me an entry.

In a different application the spreadsheet might also be shared so that the results we collected would be available as-is, or registered users may have editing privileges as well.

Calendar

I keep a Calendar of my up-coming appointments. One part of it I've devoted to the cochlear process - if you're interested, why not share it with you? That's what I've done. I've shared the cochlear calendar with you via the blog page by including some code which says "put the upcoming events in to this blog-page" All I had to do was copy/paste it. The Calendar now appears and it's updated without me having to do anything, dynamically - it's always up-to-date. [link]
I also keep my work appointments - when I'm about to visit you - in iCal linked to Google Calendar.

Find all these web-based programs via the Google page located in your web-browser.
http://www.google.com.au

Companion programs

iPhoto

Included with every Mac since 2000-ish. Allows to to download images from the camera and basically edit them. Then upload them directly to Picasa [or Facebook, make websites etc]

iMovie

Included with every Mac since 2000-ish. Get raw footage from the camera, import it to iMovie.

Add titles, and captions [laborious, especially if you're hearing isn't 100%!].

Export to the desktop in this that or the other format.

Makes it very easy if time-consuming.

Now the shameless promotion part.

Got a project like this needs doing?

Need to know how to get the pics of your camera and onto the WWWeb?

Contact me [email best at the moment - phone coming soon!] and lets talk computers.

Tip of the time period
Accented Characters
Need to type the word café the right way?
Going to München in the near future?

You'll need these characters - these should work in most programs
Adobe cheatsheet
http://www.adobe.com/type/pdfs/characcessmac.pdf
Doesn't appear to be one for PCs, so

PC users
See this page from Penn State
http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/international/accents/codeint.html

New Millenium Bug
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_2038_problem
There's a new Millennium bug on the horizon.
Like the much-heralded 2000 Millennium bug the Y2K38 problem will occur because of peculiarities in the way time is interpreted in computers.
Y2K was an issue because when clocks tick over from [two-digit] year 1999 to 2000, does that mean 2000, or 1900?
Confusion reigned!
Y2K38 will be a problem for a similar but more technical reason - the binary representation of the time 03:14:07 on 19 January 2038 will tick over and start the binary [1s and 0s] range of numbers again.
Of course it is 30 years away so there is time to work out a system which won't be thwarted by this range of numbers.
Who knows? In 2038 will we even need time?
I'll be 80 and relaxing in my Arabian Nights style city-state surrounded by adoring subjects living in harmony. There will be no work and cyber-everything will be the way to do anything. Global warming will have been tackled, solar energy nationalised and there'll be energy and wealth for all. Ahhh utopia!

By Women for Women

Here's a website which caters primarily for women. Information about most things you're living right now. Men can have a look too!!

Just about all aspects of everyday life are covered from Career to Travel, Computers to Sports and many matters in between. An excellent site, why would you buy a crappy 'Womens magazine' ever again!?

<http://www.bellaonline.com/>

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AcmeNews November 2008

2008-11-01T08:05:00.000+11:00

If the world could vote
http://www.iftheworldcouldvote.com/results
And why should we not? They say that "if America farts we all rush for the window" so why shouldn't we have a say in the running of that paragon of the so-called free world?
Interesting result in Macedonia, and the 100%ers. Maybe they only have one computer in Reunion...

Stay Connected

That time of the year is oozing into the background again.

Travelling with a laptop? Ready to go? Get your address book organised, or make sure you can access your webmail before you go.

Backup. Before you go.

Rationalise the images and iTunes collection

Need to stay in touch with those left at home?

Activate your Skype or iChat/AIM accounts and have a go before you [ahem] go. Work it out!

That way you can be in touch anywhere in the world!

Before you go, know how to connect with a wireless network, and take a 2m ethernet cable as well!

Addresses

Gmail [need another email address?]

AIM [use your AIM account for iChat] Macs use iChat, PCs, get the AIM client

Skype [voice, video and text]

Webmail - check your ISPs website on how to connect

[Know your passwords!]

Livestation
Watch TV from all over the world

There's gotta be something on!
Works well with one proviso - no captions for us hearing-impaired folks
Then again, I watch Malta TV with the sound down
http://www.livestation.com/

PC World - The 100 Best Products of 2008
It's not over yet!! Interestingly, 2008 has two months to run in my book. Could Steve Jobs have another shock announcement up his sleeve?
Actually this was compiled in May 08, so maybe it should be titled 'Best Products of 2007'
Interestingly Windows XP is #4 but Vista doesn't appear until..., hey wait a minute. It's not on the list! The Forum complains that PC World shows bias to MacOSX [10.5 is at #17]. But this is PC World, not MacWorld. Is that bias?
[Link]
Other notable inclusions
10 - Wikipedia [excellent, the way the interWeb should be]
15 - Scrabulous, now Lexulous [worthy]
25 - Google Maps [Street View] [intrusive but great]
41 - Google GMail [favourite of this blog]

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AcmeNews October 2008

2008-10-18T07:00:00.000+11:00

Acme Closing temporarily
You may know about my deafness, due to havoc wreaked in the course of cancer treatment. More about that in the Carcinoma diary [link].
Anyway, I am to be fitted with a Cochlear Implant to hopefully get some hearing function back. More about that in "Curse of Silence", the blog. Keep an eye on that for the latest.
Acme computer will be closed for business for an short while, at least three weeks.
This may be the last News for a little while, or there may be a flood as boredom sets-in and I'm scouring the InterWeb for tidbits for you, my loyal audience.

Whats coming next?
OK everybody has an iPod and a laptop and they're also starting to
get iPhones which come with 3G net access. What if [like me] you don't want to carry around all this paraphernalia?

NetBook
It's a little computer for those who need something on the go.
The big brother of the iPhone.
Asus have a Windows one - EeePC. Other manufacturers are releasing
them as well.
There are some which have been hacked to run OSX. [link]
Wired article re NetBooks [link]

Email tragics [like me, but I HAVE to now, and chat], interWeb browserers, like me.
We need it and we need it everywhere.

Will Apple come up with one?
They have the knowledge, they have the technology, but they have the iPhone.
They would be waiting for everyone to "must have" those before making the "must have" NetBook. Maybe they'll resurrect the name iBook for this form of machine.

Problems
Telcos love us. Because we need the access everywhere we need 3G everywhere, WiFi jus isn't everywhere. Telcos love us because they love CHARGING us. Think iPhone premium pricing.
Batteries need to last longer than an hour or two. Powerpoints don't grow on trees apparently.

New Macbooks - Comparison Chart

New Macbooks have been released, with a whole new look. The 17" seems to be missing-out at this time, but stay tuned to the website

http://www.apple.com/mac/whichmacbook/compare.html

Urban Dictionary

You'll need this

http://www.urbandictionary.com/

In the unrelenting search for useless information, one comes across many terms not in general usage. The Urban Dictionary fits a part of that bill, if just for a different slant on things. It's an interesting window on the evolution of the English language and keeps me giggling for hours!

Google Phone

Well it's here

http://www.t-mobileg1.com/

It's a competitor to the iPhone. It's cheaper [not available in Straya]. Has a similar vertical/horizontal orientation and minimal buttons. Looks like it's a touch-sensitive screen. And the screen swings away to display a QWERTY keyboard and it synchronises with all the Google services. But it looks daggy. The iPhone is at least polished.

Meebo
http://www.meebo.com/

OK You're out-and-about and you think "I must contact Acme Computer forthwith!" But John can't answer the phone and email or iChat are the best forms of communication.

Now you can use your chat program where you can get onto any computer - iChat/AIM, Yahoo!, ICQ, GoogleTalk, MSN [yuk], all the big ones. Surprisingly not Skype.

Check it out, send me a message instantly...

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AcmeNews - September 2008

2008-09-19T06:00:00.001+10:00

It's on again!!

International Talk like a Pirate Day
is 19 September. TODAY [if you're reading this on 19 September]

More here!

Some WebSites

Here's some websites you might appreciate

LifeHacker
It's part blog, part trivia, part news with tips thrown in. And there's an Australian flavoured version!
LifeHacker

Instructables
DIY you didn't even know you needed to know!
• Perfect bacon every time
• Develop your own film
• How to knit a tea cosy
Instructables

DayTipper
Tips to help you live your life
DayTipper

Need to build your typing speed and accuracy?
You need practice to do that so have fun doing it with TypeRacer
TypeRacer

Scrabulous
Previously mentioned in these pages.
Now that Scrabulous on FaceBook is no more, return to the original.
There might even be an Acme tournament in coming months.
Best get practising... [prefers Firefox]
Scrabulous

Truth is definitely stranger than fiction

Boing Boing

Scam o Rama: The Lads from Lagos
The tables have turned. someone has worked out a way to scam the scammers in the infamous Nigerian email scamathon.
http://www.scamorama.com/

You'll need this!
Virtual Bubblewrap - the original, providing bubble popping fun since 1996
http://www.virtual-bubblewrap.com/

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AcmeNews August 2008

2008-08-14T09:00:00.001+10:00

Been a while, lots to report
Many of you will know that on 31 July 2008 my hearing ceased to function naturally.
This due to the effects of treatment for cancer in 2002.
It's a wait and see situation, Cochlear Implants have been mentioned as a last resort. Assessment soon.
Want to keep up to date with developments?
Visit the new blog "Curse of Silence"

Adding insult to injury I have turned 50. The event happened in Luang Prabang, Laos, a World Heritage town on the mighty Mekong. At least I had a bit of hearing then!

AcmeNews on Technorati
[link]

Notoriety at last

ADSL2 advice

Your ISP may have recently been touting the benefits of they're brilliant new fast service ADSL 2/2+ or some variation.

It's a new standard form of the ADSL protocol - broadband internet over phone lines.

You may already be using ADSL and you may even be connected to ADSL2.

Recently I had cause to update a modem for a client [standard issue Siemens 4200]. The ISP had said it was compatible. But when we changed to a modem which was certified compliant ADSL2 the speed difference was not only noticeable, it was considerable. I wouldn't have thought it would make that much difference.

So, here's the advice. Still using a modem supplied say 3/4/5 years ago by your ISP. Maybe you've changed ISP since then too.

Check what form of ADSL you're on. If it's ADSL2 consider an upgrade. It may be worth it

Google Maps Street View

You may have seen the controversy recently about invasion of privacy in GoogleMaps.

This is a new feature of Google Maps where you [if the street has been photographed] can zoom in [just so far] to a particular location and see the the surrounding area. There's some guy standing outside my house [not me]!

The streets are photographed with cameras mounted on top of cars, a series of photos taken [would have to be millions] and the results mapped and made available on the WWWeb. Some of the photos are a bit drab - conditions on the day may not have been ideal.

A few of note [links should open in your browser at the location]

Chinatown Gate San Francisco link -

See the orange man? - click him for StreetView [Can't see him? Click the StreetView button at the top of the map] Drag him onto a blue-outlined street.

You might need to swing around, it might be behind you. Click and drag on the image. You can also drag the orange man to a particular location

Your place - enter your address in the GoogleMaps search field [top left]

Uncompleted AppleStore [link]

On the Golden Gate Bridge [link]

Bar Italia Leichhardt [link]

don't forget the StreetView button if you just get the map, no pictures!

Not all locations have been done, but a fair part of Sydney and San Francisco, just a bit of Paris and Melbourne

http://maps.google.com/

Vale
Isaac Hayes - very influential black musician. Sometime Chef from SouthPark, but we won't hold that against him!

AppleStore open
And what a great night that was too! The queue for the opening stretched around the block into York St, to Market. 1000s of people, free TShirts were had by all. Now if they'd ALL buy Macs the world would be a better place! And I'd be gainfully-employed!!
Corner King and George St Sydney, the Store is open. Go in check your webmail [they want you to], play with an iPhone, muck around with an iPod. They also provide free Genius Bar [ask any question, I have] and training. Fantastic! I can't resist calling in whenever I'm in town. Very accommodating and friendly. Like [what I imagine] going round to a friends place.

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EXTRA AcmeNews June 2008[2]

2008-06-10T08:00:00.003+10:00

WWDC announcements

More: on the MacWorld Website

As anticipated there were several BIG announcements at WWDC

• OSX 10.6 to be code-named 'Snow Leopard'

• Steve Jobs showcased many interesting applications developed in iPhone SDK for iPhone 2.0

• iPhone includes support for MSOffice docs and Apple Pages, Numbers and Keynote too!

• MobileMe -replaces .Mac with Exchange-like services for "the rest of us" [mail, calendar, centralised contacts etc] and Photo library too

••3G iPhone announced

• GPS available on the iPhone

• Available in 70 countries from July 11, only two major countries omitted - Russia and China

• New prices - iPhone 3G will be $US199 for 8GB, 16GB - $US299

More recent announcements
iPhone will be released in Australia July 11

http://www.apple.com/au/iphone/

AppleStore opening confirmed for 19 June

Vale
"Say Goodnight Dick"
Dick Martin, of Dan Rowan and Dick Martin, Rowan and Martin's Laugh-in has died.

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AcmeNews June 2008

2008-06-01T09:00:00.001+10:00

Commemoration
Folks, in order to appropriately commemorate my semi-century on this third rock from this sun, I'll be absent from 20 June to 25 July for a jaunt round SEAsia. Angkor Wat [what?!], Luang Prabang and hopefully other culturally-interesting [but not too loud] spots. There may be a travel picture web page on Flickr for those interested [anyone?].
Links Angkor and Luang Prabang
So note your diary -> 20 June - 25 July

10.5 and iChat

An exciting new prospect - Have a new Mac, bought since about October 2007?

You have a program called iChat installed as a matter of course. [link]

The latest version of iChat allows you to give access to another user of the latest iChat control of your screen.

Think about it

You're in Office and you think "I know John told me about tabs but I can't for the life of me work it out!"

Wouldn't it be good if I could take you thru it again, over the internet, right there on your own screen?

Or just get you going again by doing something to start you off.

What do you need for this marvel?

• You'll need OSX 10.5 and iChat.

• You need to set up an iChat account [free, once only] at this location, look for "Get a screen name" at the top right

• Our broadband connection needs to be fast enough [yours and mine]

Once we're connected we can have text chats, voice calls, the control thing and I can also present images and documents to you! So I could prepare a presentation and provide it first-hand to you over the 'net. And files can be copied easily too, avoiding email. I could prepare an invoice and deliver it to your downloads folder directly. That'd be good!

It all only happens if you allow it.

Tips for Word documents
With every new version of Word there's a period where there's a LOT of discussion about file formats, bugs and how to avoid them. Here's a list of tips
• When you receive a document from another platform Mac <->Windows, don't just work on the original as it was sent to you, re-save it in your native format.
• Avoid using fast-save [known in some circles as "fast corrupt"]
• Do the updates, maybe they've fixed the bugs that are bugging you [maybe not]
• Don't forget your backup - before proceeding in the newer version, work on a copy

iPhone rumours

Here's a few iPhone rumours from around the traps

Potential launch date for the 3G version - 9 June to coincide with WWDC in San Francisco. Leaked versions of Steve Jobs WWDC keynote indicate that the 3G version will be available in every market as soon as it is launched [and distributed] worldwide.
With this next version of the iPhone there may be different colours [black, white and silver] available but the 16gb model may only be available in silver.

When released in Australia [perhaps to coincide with the AppleStore openings in Sydney, possibly 19 June] the carriers may be Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.

Unlocked iPhones on the Australian market are available for all carriers except the '3' network

All ties-in nicely really

Another rumour

Could it be!?

There's a rumour that the new flagship AppleStore on the corner of King and George Sts Sydney will open on the 19th of June
Keep it under your hat...

Sydney Film Festival coming soon
Yep the greatest cinematic event of the Sydney calendar is on again. Tickets on sale from Monday 12 May and this year an international competition.
Join me for films you will never see again. First time releases from around the World, obscure independent film-makers, documentaries about corners of the World you don't even know existed, animations, classics.
Maybe see you there!

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AcmeNews - May 2008

2008-05-07T09:00:00.003+10:00

This just in

iGoogle themes

In a world first you can now have a Reg Mombasa theme for your iGoogle space.

iGoogle is like the home page for your Google stuff - set up RSS readers, get news weather and all those other things.

Other artists' work is available too - Ken Done, Jeff Koons, Philippe Starck, Rolf Harris.

Check it out at http://www.google.com/ig - you'll need a Google account but you have that already, haven't you?

Word Tip

Apple - Pro - Tips - Editing Word Files — Without Word
[link]

Since Microsoft, in their wisdom, changed the file format for Word documents in Office 2007 it has not been possible to read/save Word 2007/8 documents with older versions of Word. There is a beta converter but I've found that to be risky at best. Perhaps this tip has a chance of success. Feedback appreciated!

This is Good

iBand on YouTube

Music played on iPhones [link]

YouTube - Parodia iBand - Internet is greater than life

And the parodies!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLRLr1P_cNk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYTVtQVK8zI

The iBand website [link]

They snuck one in

New iMac announced. The usual more for less, just as beautiful.

[link]

Vale

The King is Dead

Eric, King of Almora St passed to permanent slumber on 1 April 2008.

He is sorely missed.

Long live the King!

The Joy of Tech

http://www.joyoftech.com/

Have a cynical computer-oriented laugh! Isn't that the best kind?!

For example, In a poll entitled "What will the 22nd century be like?" the overwhelming response from the readers came back

"Whales and dolphins will pay good money to see baby seals club us to death, ... there's no protests, as humans are so fugly."

Check it out!

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AcmeNews April 2008

2008-04-01T09:00:00.001+11:00

Welcome New Members

OSX 10.5 New Stuff
RSS in Mail

Mac OSX 10.5 users can now opt to have RSSes appear in their Mail in the RSS section

Do File - Add RSS Feeds, you can opt for a search of your Safari bookmarks for feeds or navigate to the feed address, copy the address and paste into the field when you "specify a custom feed URL"

This is better than the Safari method because you had to monitor the feed in Safari [not that you ever did!]. When there's a new issue it automagically appears in the RSS feeds menu

You need never miss an issue of AcmeNews again. Fantastic!

I also like Front Row, Screen-Sharing, the new-improved File-Sharing. Spaces - how do I live without that?!
PC Users - even more reason to ditch your dog-machine!

Picasa and Mac/PC synchronicity
You have a colleague on a PC and they're using Picasa for their image cataloguing. You're using iPhoto of course.
You can collaborate and send files to the same Picasa album.
In the PC you use the built-in Picasa uploader.
There's an uploading tool for the Mac located at
http://www.google.com/mac.html
[and you'll need the username and password too]

Interesting Stats

Quoting ChangeWave [link]

"Better than four-in-five Apple buyers (81%) say they are Very Satisfied with Leopard - an exceptionally high rating for a new operating system. This compares to 53% and 51% for Windows XP, and just 27% and 15% respectively for the Microsoft Vista systems."

Bear in mind that XP isn't the current operating system for PCs. If I were to gloat - I'd have to say that Vista is actually a failure from the consumer point of view. From what little I've seen of Vista, the home version is bewildering and the Pro versions not much better. I'd be recommending any PC colleagues NOT to update. Vista has been out for a year or so.

Let's see that again [satisfaction]
Leopard OSX 10.5	81%
XP Pro	53%
XP Home	51%
Vista Pro	27%
Vista Home	15%

[something wrong there?!]

Airport Express updated
Apple have updated the little Airport Express base Station to the incoming standard 802.11n for increased range and speed. Unfortunately it includes 10/100mbps ethernet speed rather than gigabit ethernet, which would have been nice, not that many people would notice in Australia with our slow broadband.
And for the first time ever you can download the Airport utility updater for configuring the base stations. Hooray - no more digging for disks!
Airport Express is $129 in Australia.

Should Mac users run antivirus software? Discussion on the ever-popular question by Rich Mogull, TidBits [link]
See what you think. Then see how clunky Norton AntiVirus is.

My opinion
If you're worried about it and/or you exchange files with Windows
users, do. And keep it up to date. Absolutely.
Then again do Mac users want/need to be the protector of Windows
users. Why can't they keep their own anti-virus software up to date?
They should.

Don't give your details, by phone or email In America there's a new scam whereby you receive a call from someone purporting to represent the Inland Revenue Service. To receive the tax refund courtesy of the 'economic stimulus package' recently passed by Congress. You just need to tell the caller your bank account number.
Some scammers even said if the victim didn't hand over their details they would become ineligible to receive the bonus.
See some more - What's New in IRS Scams?

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AcmeNews March 2008

2008-03-11T09:00:00.003+11:00

Apple iPhone Event
There was a media get-together on 7 March to announce that Apple is freeing-up the software development for the iPhone. This means there will be greater connectivity between the iPhone [no release date in Australia as per yet [maybe in time for the AppleStore launch?!]] and other internet services. Email and calendar via Outlook Exchange [yuk], AIM and other softwares.
More

In related news...
Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple has expressed disappointment that the iPhone isn't 3G capable - using a wireless network technology. [more]

Printing from iPhoto in Australia

Starting with iLife 08 Apple has finally enabled the printing facility in Australia

http://www.apple.com/au/ilife/iphoto/printproducts.html

So now you can create photo prints, calendars, book s and cards directly from iPhoto without having to export, place into a layout program, copy that to a flash disk take it to the printery, argue with them and then get back something other than what you wanted! Easy.
You'll need to have an Apple account with 1-click processing enabled, but the process will take you thru setting that up.

Realities of E-Mail

http://hydra.nac.uci.edu/indiv/franklin/doc/email.html
A few handy tips and guidelines for using email

ScreenSharing in Mac OSX 10.5
One day when we all have computers on the same level it will be possible to have an internet chat. And you'll invite me to see your screen, displaying a problem you're having. I'll then be able to take control and hopefully fix the problem. While we're chatting!
The software which enables this?
Virtual Network Computing of which iChat is part of the Apple version - part of the Mac OSX [more info]
For Windows users there's VNC software and we can chat, but is it integrated and will I know what you're talking about? I have used RealVNC with some success [link]

Want to give it a go? Let me know!

I have touched a Macbook Air

And yes it was thin. Actually it seemed more solid than I would have thought - don't know how solid it should have felt but there you go. The person who showed it to me [Hi S!] commented on the lack of an optical drive [CD/DVD] but hopefully Apple's Remote Install software will cover the bases. I think it will prove popular with those who need an email, internet and writing machine on the road. Even so I think Apple should still have a 13" Macbook with ethernet and firewire and DVD as well as the Air and that would cover everybody, including me!

Hey ex-PC users, check out this stuff
http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/

When you buy your Mac, you'll have plenty of help along the way [Acme Computer of course] and Apple assists as well...

Foodie Stuff

Here's a few sites picked up ion my travels round the Internet. Some links have been corrected after incorrectly published elsewhere [they certainly need Acme help]

Food Safari
It's a great SBS show with a different nationality of cooking every week, with Maeve O'Meara
Miss a recipe? It might be included on the site. Makes great web viewing anyway.
http://www.sbs.com.au/foodsafari/

Gourmet Safaris - Maeve's food-oriented tours site
http://www.gourmetsafaris.com.au/

Another food tour site
SushiWong - interesting pics, once you get past the slow Flash animation
http://www.sushiwong.com/

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BUMPER 40th ISSUE AcmeNews February 2008

2008-02-07T09:00:00.002+11:00

	Acme Computer Macintosh support in the InnerWest web * database * training
ph	(+61 2) 9550 0523
mobile	(+61) [0]41925088
web	http://www.acmecomputer.com.au
email	ac.me@acmecomputer.com.au

First things first
You know when you try to print and you reselect the printer and it just won't print.
Or something won't open. Or even can't connect to webpages.
First thing to do - Restart your computer. This simple procedure can fix many just basic problems. It might be enough to flush memory or reset network settings or remember that there IS a printer sitting over there [also check the print queue isn't stopped/paused]

Restart
Turns the computer off then on again
Mac - under the Apple menu, pull down to Restart…
PC - Go to the Start menu, select "Turn off computer", select restart when you get the dialog box.

Shutdown
Turns the computer right off and it stays off until you press the power ON button
Mac - under the Apple menu, pull down to Shut Down…
PC - Go to the Start menu, select "Turn off computer", select ShutDown when you get the dialog box.

More
Make sure you have saved all documents you want to before starting with these commands. Be in control of saving.
If you are completely frozen, you may have no option than to "power-cycle" the computer [turn off and on again]. When all else fails you may even have to pull the plug out, then restart.

Microsoft offers US$46 billion for Yahoo! In its unending battle for dominance Microsoft is apparently in the market for Yahoo, offering about $50billion Australian. The purchase would be aimed at Google [referred to often in these articles] to try to claw back some of Microsoft's lost ground.
Stay tuned!

The List In Saturday's SMH there is a little booklet called "the List"
Any there are regular reviews of blogs, links to websites.
You might find something interesting there.
No tips though

VOIP more Some of you will know that I'm getting a bit deaf to put it mildly. I hope I'm able to function well enough to continue interacting with my faithful clients [Thanx again]. This is why I sometimes have to call you back. Maybe some of this might help our hearing-impaired friends.

Say you can't hear very well on the phone any more. Even with the "Inductive Loop" on. You could use a headset, if that helps. But what if you also have an account with an ISP and included in that account is VOIP and you want to use it thru your computer. Skype works fine [link] and it's free Skype-to-Skype but maybe your ISP is cheaper or even free for all calls! Local calls at least. Also bear in mind that using a softphone requires that the computer is on and the software running in order to receive calls.

These programs are called softphones - software phones. They connect through your ISP using I use mine thru a Logitech headset with microphone.

Over the coming months I'll be testing several softwares for using VOIP thru the computer. My ISP offers VOIP as part of my account, minimal cost. I've set up X-Lite first but I'll also be looking at other software as it comes to hand. On the agenda in no particular order
X-Lite by Counterpath [link]
WengoPhone [link]
SJPhone [link]
All these softwares have both Mac and PC versions

Glossary [who makes these up?]
ISP - Internet Service Provider
VOIP - Voice Over Internet Protocol
SIP - Session Initiation Protocol
Inductive Loop [also Induction Loop, telecoil] - technology which allows direct electromagnetic signal transfer to hearing aids, like wireless for hearing aids. Not available in mobile phones. [Wikipedia link]

Important backups
Of course you're backing up regularly.
What should you back up?
Generally you can always reinstall, or download new versions or
installed software - You have the original disks, don't you.
The contents of your Home folder [Mac] is basically all of YOUR
stuff. This is another reason not to keep things in the top level of
your Hard Drive. Windows is slightly different but the intention is
the same [My Documents]
You could make a clone of your Home folder with Carbon Copy Cloner on
the Mac [donation requested]. There's a few utilities in the Windows
world [Norton ghost]
OSX 10.5 has Time Machine but you can't have too many backups and
this assumes that you're able to get to your account on a distressed
machine.

So - Home folder contains your Documents, iTunes library, iPhoto
library, Mail, Address Book files. All your stuff. That's what you
backup. Burn it to a DVD, or parts of it to multiple CDs. Or get
yourself an external Hard Drive and save your Home folder to there.

iTunes and iTunes U

iTunes, the power behind the iPod. It's more than a music player, you can listen to the radio, download podcasts, watch videos. You can view the videos on your computer or iPod and when you get really good, burn them to a DVD and watch them on your TV/DVD player. And there's also Apple TV [link] which acts as a kind of conduit from the internet [iTunes] to your home TV.

Further to the podcast idea there is iTunes U.
A bunch of american institutions have posted content on the iTunes library, from where iPod users might buy music tracks.
There's hundreds of channels and includes documentaries, lectures, lots of stuff and not all computer-related
• Stanford University
• WGBH [a public broadcaster] with a whole lot of teacher resources
• interviews with various authors on WETA [a public broadcaster]
• news, in a kind of online magazine format from a multitude of sources

What will you need?
Broadband is mandatory, but most of you have that. Dial up users. Come on!
Macs have come with iTunes for a long time now. PCs - download it from here - You might also need Quicktime

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AcmeNews January 2008 [MacWorld Expo Special Issue]

2008-01-16T10:00:00.002+11:00

SF Macworld Expo
The circus that is for Mac users, the gathering of the clans, the World Cup, the Olympics.
Steve jobs presents that Keynote address at the Moscone Center just behind Market St, a couple of hundred metres to Chinatown or Union Square. He always gives a report about how great Apple has gone this year, the brilliant success of the iPhone [yes please] the new iPods [no thanx, I'm deaf]. He'll unveil with some ceremony Apple's newest offerings.
What will they be? There is always SOME speculation about what the new products will be. Could be updated laptops, newer iPhones. Could be.
Sometimes it is something that the mac congregation just is not expecting. And that makes the announcements even greater. Often he finishes with "Oh and one more thing..." for the Wow! finish. [ref Casablanca]

New products announced include

* The MacBook Air, the world's thinnest notebook
This looks beautiful, so thin - 2gb RAM 80gb Hard drive, optional 64gb solid state drive, iSight camera built-in
No CD/DVD drive, no firewire, no ethernet or analog modem, USB2 only. It relies heavily on a wireless connection.

* Time Capsule - a wireless hard drive designed to compliment Leopard's Time Machine software
It's Network Attached Storage - a base station with ethernet so you could attach it to your network and share with non-wired computers too. And share printers too [depends on the printer, probably won't share all features on an MFC].

* The iPhone update
Web applications are now available on the iPhone, yet to be even released in Straya. It'll be well-and-truly polished by the time we get it! 600 web apps ready to go now...

* The iPod touch software update
The line between iPhone and iPod blurs even more - new applications for iPod Touch include updated web browsing via Safari, email using Mail and various widgets with maps, notes. I'd have to think there'll be more and more widgets on the way.

* The AppleTV update
AppleTV is like iTunes for television. You can download content from the internet or prepare it on your computer, then connect to the AppleTV and show video podcasts, your home movies, YouTube or other internet footage. In High Definition.
In the States where they have hot-and-cold running broadband they'll be able to rent videos directly to the AppleTV, via iTunes. I can't see this device catching on here until the standard of broadband is raised to eequivalent speeds. Even so an amazing technology.

* iTunes movie rentals
Once again in the States, AppleTV allows you to download hired videos directly to the AppleTV. Just as you buy iTunes music you can hire Hollywood movies this way. From the demo it looks pretty instantaneous - I'd have to think it won't be in Straya until the broadband situation comes to the 21st century.

Released earlier

Those sneaky fellows at Apple released a new machine before MacWorld Expo.

It's a new Mac Pro with 8 cores of Intel-charged processor. Amazing! Should get thru the emailing in half the time!!

You can read all the technical bumpf at http://www.apple.com/au/macpro/ [I don't know either]

Not released
A 3G version of the iPhone - it still relies on the slower GSM network, just like we have in Straya.

Steve Jobs' other announcements

OSX 10.5 Leopard sold 5 000 000 copies in the first 3 months.
MS Office 2008 has been released
iTunes has sold 4 000 000 000 songs [4 billion!]

More Junk Mail
In your email program, the panel next to the list of messages is the structure of your email accounts - Mailboxes.
See the one called "Junk" - that's where messages that have been deemed junk go. There may be others [that you want to keep] in there. Open that mailbox and locate the messages you want to retrieve. If you can select them all at once, good, otherwise select each one in turn, and then do Message [menu] - Mark as - not Junk Mail and drag them back to your main Mail mailbox.
To ensure that they aren't marked as Junk, add the correspondents to your address book. One of the first rules the computer uses when determining Junk status is if you know the person - they are in your address book.
Adding them to your address book [and keep it up to date] helps keep the known recognised. Periodically go thru your Junk folder to rescue those who shouldn't be there, but you can also empty the Junk folder by doing Mailbox [menu] - Empty Junk Mail. Then it's "so long, sucker" to those damned unwanted messages...

Acme Facebook entity

You may be a member of Facebook [worth a look, I think it's better for non-teens than MySpace]

Now you can wear your Acme Client badge with pride - drop by sometime and say hi [become a fan [not my term]]

Not too much there yet but I'll be adding stuff as time passes - there's already links to this blog

Feel free to invite me as a friend if you're feelin' friendly.

http://www.facebook.com/

Welcome New Members
Hi Folks
There seems to have been a surge in new members as of about the end of November. You can't all be that bored could you?!

Thanx for coming - tell your friends.
And - W E L C O M E.

Rest assured your email address [if you joined the mailing list - feel free] is safe with me. I don't remember them and they are NOT given to anyone for anything for any amount of money. The day that happens I'll be on the plane to parts unknown.

You don't not know this but this blog has members all the way from 20s to their late 80s - a very wide user base [note - personal details aren't divulged either]. I hope you're all getting something out of it - anything you particularly want to see here let me know.
Anyone interested in recipes or movie reviews [my version of course]? Bear in mind that "How do I write a novel which will be a best seller?" or "iMovie - how can I make a complete movie with subtitles" probably won't be appearing here anytime soon.

But "more keyboard commands" or "Mac Trick of the Month" are definite possibilities.

Email on Holidays

Ahhh the long hot days of Summer, or if you're in Sydney, the cool wet days of Summer!
Thoughts turn to "how do I get my email while I'm here in Zanzibar?".

Most ISPs [Internet Service Providers, but that's another story] provide a web-based option for accessing your email when you're not at your usual computer. Give it a go at home, before you head off to Bermuda, or Dapto. You'll need your username and password. Your username is often your complete email address and the password will be the one which operates your ISP account, which you will have a record of, somewhere.

OK [also before you head off] it's worth getting your usual correspondents into your web-based address book. Look for "contacts" or "address book". Add them - remember, no spaces and no dot or space on the end.

Another idea - create a folder in your web mail called zanzi07 or similar where you can put mail you want to keep. Delete anything you no longer want, or spam, to keep your web INBOX uncluttered. It will load faster too. Then when you come back you can move those kept messages back from holiday07 to your [web] INBOX and they'll then be retrieved to your usual computer INBOX when you check your mail. You'll keep the messages you wanted to keep on your usual machine.

It's as simple as that. If you're an email nut [like some people you know] you'll never be out of touch. If you don't want to be.

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Late Final Extra - AcmeNews December 2007 [2]

2007-12-18T09:00:00.000+11:00

Acme Standard Greeting
Well another year passes.
We're all at least another year older.
This year we've had Vista, FaceBook, OSX Leopard, new machines.

To all subscribers: Thanx for subscribing, your feedback has been invaluable.
I hope you do have a Summer/Winter Solstice, nice Xmas, Hanukah or whatever festival you'll be celebrating this time around.
See you all via the internet lens next year!

Tips

The tips sites are starting to fill up with OSX 10.5 tips. Tiger users shouldn't despair tho - just make sure you know what the tip refers to.

This one is universal since 10.4.3
Useful information
Need to start your Mac to find out the serial number? It's located in System Profiler which requires a bit of digging anyway. An easier way; when starting up and you're in the login window, click your Mac name and you'll cycle thru various bits of info including version of OSX you are running [I may ask you one day], the computer time, the serial number, your IP address [169.xxx.xxx.xxx is not good]. Have a look next time you login. Some of this info is also available in the 'About this Mac' panel [in the Apple menu] - click your computer's name.

Sites of the season
Around this time of year when you have oodles of time on your hands while the family slugs it out over Xmas dinner you'll need some light entertainment to tide you over.

My current Favourites
YouTube [you need broadband]
Check out the Ventures "Hawaii 5-0", "Pipeline" and "Wipe Out" here [watch the drummer - incredible]
Some of you know I'm a cat-person and YouTube fills the video-void nicely.
There's Nora, the piano-playing cat and plenty of feline friends doing their pussycat best, on camera
Talking cats aplenty [try this]

Of course with the Xmas snaps, you'll need to get them onto Flickr or FaceBook or Picasa WebAlbum, but use picnik to fix 'em up while you're there! You could even be uploading pics from your mobile phone!
Need some photo hints? Try the Acme Photo tipsheet [pdf] - let's see some good Xmas pics. There has to be such a thing!

So you're fired-up with the Ventures now, need to see how the surf is before heading down for a few tubes?
CoastalWatch has a multitude of webcams trained on the beaches. [Choose your resolution, Flash or Java work nicely]Some even operate at night for the diehards, although North Bondi was focussed on some meeting-room when I popped-by!

More Music on YouTube Classical Gas
Mason Williams
Tommy Emmanuel

Stairway to Heaven
Look for the kid [in several parts] - incredible!
Peo Kindgren is pretty good too.
What an amazing piece, and there's lessons too.

How about Donald Trump and Megan Mullally from Will and Grace singing "Green Acres"?
You got it!

Other Acmes on the Web
Acme Computer is part of a worldwide pseudo-network of like-minded individuals and companies striving for the absolute pinnacle of service business in all its forms. There is a website, needless to say, located at http://www.acme.com/
It's not all just dehydrated boulders and giant rubber bands y'know!

It's on again
Macworld Expo January 14-18 Moscone Center San Francisco California [link]
The world's greatest MacFest.
What will be announced this time around?
Rumours include more upgraded machines,
including an ultrathin laptop [MacBook nano?],
• Flash-based drives
• Home server
• new iPhone [already!?]
• probably newer, bigger iPods

Keep an eye on it. Tune into Apple on about Jan 15 6pm for any new releases

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AcmeNews December 2007

2007-12-06T09:00:00.002+11:00

Dear readers
Sorry I missed November - I had a batch of election-related links ready for you but got caught up. Anyway you should by now know how that all turned out.

OSX 10.5.1 is out
As expected the update was released within about a month of the new OS [operating system]

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306907

This will be of interest to those who have recently bought a new Mac - noone I know has taken the upgrade plunge.

Features
The new Finder is the standout for me - stacks looks like an interesting way to organise your stuff, another iteration for the Dock
Check it out - http://www.apple.com/au/macosx/features/

Blogs
George Skarbek's blog George is the SMH resident PC HelpDesk guy. Mac users can apply some of his advice too. [Or they can snigger to themselves about how ridiculously pernickety PCs are]. Check out his book too
http://www.skarbek.com.au/

Crikey.com
Want a different view on the election and matters governmental and business? Check Crikey.com
http://www.crikey.com.au/Election-2007.html
Makes very interesting reading

Can't empty the Trash?

One day you'll put a file into the Trash and when you go to "Empty Trash" you won't be able to.
Here's a few to try...

Is the error something like "can't empty Trash because {XFile} is in use"? - Try restarting and emptying again.

Is it because {XFile} is locked? - Retrieve it from the Trash and unlock it
[Mac - Apple I, click the unlock checkbox, Windows - Right click the file, Properties, FileAttributes: there should be no ticks in the checkboxes]

XFile is unlocked and still won't be deleted? Retrieve it from the Trash into a new folder, then try deleting the Folder containing the XFile.
Keeping the file in the folder, try making a dummy file with the same name and format as the XFile - drag it into the same folder, see if it is replaced automatically [you may be asked for permission - yes!]

Still no-go? There are other things to do but they're a little tricky to go into here - call me!

Set Starting Web Page in your Browsers
Out of the box, Safari goes to the Apple website, to a page which is slow on our "super fast" Australian ADSL.
You can set it to anything you like, Google, your blog [don't you have one yet?!], FaceBook, anywhere. Each browser does it differently and separately to the others. Here's a little list.
Navigate to the page you want so you know the link works and you don't need to type it again. Copy it from the Address Bar.
Then go to
Safari - Safari menu - Preferences - General tab. If you're on the right page click the button "Set to Current Page"
Firefox - Firefox menu - Preferences - Main tab. Click the "Use Current Page" button
SeaMonkey - SeaMonkey menu - Preferences - In the left pane of the dialog box, select Navigator and in the right pane, click the "Use Current Page" button
Netscape and Mozilla - use the SeaMonkey scheme
Internet Explorer [you still using that?, or PC users] - Navigate to the page you want and copy the address - Go to the Explorer menu. In the dialog box, click on Web browser, browser display. In the right pane paste the address into the Home Page "Address" field
In all cases, click Save or OK to complete the change.

Get ready for {n}

There's a new wireless networking standard coming - it's been coming for a couple of years already and is now set for November 2008. The code number is currently 802.11n. It is anticipated that it will allow wireless networking at 74 - 248mbps, with greater range and reliability.
The previous standards were 802.11b and 802.11g which operated at [max] 11mbps and 54mbps respectively. Most wireless routers I see are 802.11g standard with the 802.11n version coming on now.

New Macs and PCs should have the new standard available, or available via firmware upgrade [software you upload to the mechanism].

Want to know more - <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11>

Every Child gets a Computer
Well Kevin Rudd is now the PM. What's this about kids getting a computer each? Go to the source for the info.[Link]
The problem I can see here in NSW at least - draconian and stupid web and email access by the DET for a start. I think they should get in league with Google and work out the access, email [spam] and data storage before they start. Why reinvent the wheel?

Scanning and Photoshop

Here's some scanning pages which look OK

http://www.scantips.com/

and Photoshop

http://www.photoshop101.com/

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AcmeNews October 2007 [2]

2007-10-30T09:00:00.000+11:00

OSX10.5 - Leopard
Apple released Mac OS X 10.5 -- also known as Leopard -- on October 26. The software will cost $A158 for a single user and $A249 for a family pack that can be installed on up to five computers in one household. Upgrade? Depends on your computer - if you're on a recent G5 or Intel Mac, wait for 10.5.1 or so. Everyone else - how recent is your computer? Got enough RAM?
http://www.apple.com/au/

WebCal
Keeping your diary/calendar on a computer?
In MacLand we use iCal or Entourage, PC users might use Outlook or some other program.
On the web you might use Google Calendar [Google account required].
If you did, you could share the Calendar with other like-minded folks or your family or friends.

Once you have set it up in Google Calendar [and you can have multiple calendars] you can have colleagues subscribe to the file[s]. They won't be able to alter or update the calendar, yet [maybe with the future webcal format, coming soon] but they can see the updates you allow them to see, upcoming events, birthdays etc. And it's accessible in a web browser to you [and them, secure access] anywhere in the world.

Tip of the Month
This one ranks up there with "put that icon back in the Dock". [link]
How do I get my MSWord toolbars back - they were there before

It's easy to close the toolbar - the close button is right there [top left]. Where you might expect the close document button to be. So you click the wrong on and *boom* no more toolbars.

Word has toolbars to perform tasks, arranged in groups like formatting and drawing as well as the standard toolbar contining buttons for open/save/new and the format painter. Of course you could also use the various menu item or keyboard commands but this gives you another option. For formatting specifically there's also the formatting palette, also easily closable.
So to reinstate them go to the View menu - Toolbars and select the one you want to make available [or to hide]. The formatting Palette has its own entry in the View menu.
Have a go - set the toolbars to be the way you want them, have the tools you use most frequently available in their toolbars. Get rid of those you don't use - save clutter and desktop space.

Facebook more

What an online community Facebook is becoming - you can join groups to do with upcoming elections in South Pacific Asian nations, express yourself about your favourite movies [and knowledge about them], show off your latest travel snaps, join up with friends/other from primary/high/university/school/prison/mental institution, play games, examine pictures of others' dog/cat/ferret/boy/girlfriend, support your local IT guy, so much to do!
It can also be a place where you keep in touch with members of your bikie gang, art class, wheelchair arm-wrestling association [you'll have to initiate that one]. Friends who think by moving overseas they might be rid of you - you can now stay in touch easily.
And [best part] you can easily avoid those you DON'T want to see, the ex-husband/wife/landlord - you choose who you correspond with, or not.
Check it out http://www.facebook.com

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AcmeNews October 2007

2007-10-11T09:00:00.000+10:00

Working with Text
Formating text
Sometimes the most obvious commands get overlooked. Remember these?
Cmd = Apple for Macintoshes, PCs use the Control key
Cmd - B for bold

Cmd - U underline

Cmd - I italic

Control - for PCs

When creating longer texty documents...

Get the text in first, then apply formats. Styles can come later.
This way you format the document less and more consistently.
• Check early on that you are on the correct paper size [A4 in Australia]
• Work out the tabs so that columns line up as they should

Handy software

Send SMS from your computer via your Bluetooth Phone
You may not be able to synchronise your address book and phone via bluetooth but perhaps you can do something else with the connection - send SMSes.
OSX 10.4 uses little programs called widgets. There are several of them for connecting your computer to your phone via bluetooth and sending SMSes. Address Book can do it but only if your phone is recognised.
One I like - emitSMS by Anders Borum [it's donationware] - check it out
Setup was very easy - recognised my phone immediately, and brought in details from my existing address book [no more mistyped numbers]
• More widgets - keep an eye on the Apple widget page here

PC content
OK PC users here's your big chance. Do you have a handy little free piece of software to recommend. let me know and it can be included in the next Acme News [or the one after that] You know how to contact me.

Acme Services
You already know that Acme can install your new machine and software, set up your network [ISP connection], do updates and troubleshoot most problems.
By reading this you're aware of Mailing List management by Acme. Acme also provides training in most of the usual software - others require you to do a course.
Web page creation and media production for web sites and publication.
And mentoring for your project.
Well you can add online polling to that list. Do you have 50 people in your anarchic cell and need their response about who the new leader should be? Perhaps you can't sleep at night because you don't know what the Mothers' Group favourite restaurants are [that sounds familiar]. Who will be the next CEO of Telstra [as if it makes a difference]?
Poll them - get them to spill the beans on their leanings.

Vale
Winifred Durie, famed viola player with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and former Acme client has died.

Facebook

They call it social networking. It is a place on the WWWeb where you can meet like-minded people, join groups of them in fact. You can find people who use Macintoshes, go to movies, who live in Sydney. You can say your piece, or not. You can share files, your picasa or flickr photo library and your opinions. It's like your entire life online if you want it to be. Use it to keep in touch with that relative who lives on the
French Riviera now, or the painting class members. Wherever they are
It's part of the Web 2.0 "revolution". There's a lot of silliness - "If this group Reaches 150,000 members I will name my son Batman" for example.
Best thing about it - it's not ALL teenagers complaining about "she's such an emo" and you can ignore them anyway!
Have a look at http://www.facebook.com

Deafness and Skype
Some of you will have noticed that this year there has been a marked decline in my hearing ability.
Thanx for putting up with it. Let me tell you it's a pain from my side too. [Not just the side ;-)]

Here's a couple of pointers

If you ring me and you go thru to voice-mail please leave a message - It means I'm either on a job, or not in a situation that I'll be any use to you on the phone. I'll give you call back as soon as conditions allow - might be as quick as a minute if all I have to do is get the headset on [for Skype]. After hours is after hours.
Skype is a service whereby you can make calls thru your computer via the internet. It is free [other than internet charges] Skype to Skype. With this in mind I'm going to try to be available on Skype every day M-F between 4 and 5pm. And probably other times too.
If you want me to set you up with Skype let me know next time I'm at your place. It's free to join and it's like when you signed up for a free email account. You might want to use a headset [I have to] and remember those relatives in Spain - if they had it too, you could speak to them free [other than internet charges].
Let me know if you want my Skype name so we can establish contact. Dial up connections don't hack it I'm afraid [ADSL or cable only]

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AcmeNews September 2007

2007-09-15T09:00:00.000+10:00

Recent
Fave Restaurant poll
competition

The winner is
GN of Rozelle
for her entry for 'Tagine'

Consideration of the winning entry was made even harder by the fact that it was one of two [only] entries.
Come on now!
The judges decision is final and we'll have none of that 'I didn't know' or 'I'm getting it together now' business.
Next time around [;-}] I'll be expecting something like "We wanted something exotic. The lamb was as succulent as the day it was born. The sauce an amalgam of flavours, from the fertile crescent, infused with an unrecognisable sweetness that left the party watering at the mouth for the next course" Less factual, more anecdotal.

Anyway good on GN - prize on the way! All have a go with Tagine, see what you think...

Name: Tagine
Location: 679 Darling Street, Rozelle
Style: Middle Eastern
Fave dish: Lamb tagine
This is an egyptian restaurant. (Tagine is pronounced 'tag-in' there, unlike moroccan 'tajeen'). It is friendly, good value, and has nice white cloth napkins. Up-market decor, mid-range prices, excellent unusual cooking. You can usually get out for $35 a head having had a pleasant evening. I think it is a 36 seat place.

New iPods

Following the release of the iPhone Apple have announced updates to the range of iPods.
iPod Touch is like the iPhone without the phone but is the first iPod with wireless networking and a web browser builtin. Navigation is via the finger interface.
The iPod classic and iPod nano retain the wheel interface. The nano now has video capability
iPod shuffle holds 1gb of data and sports a new range of colours
Classic comes with 80gb or 160gb flash drive
Nano comes with 4gb or 8gb flash drive
Touch comes with 8gb or 16gb flash drive
http://www.apple.com/au/itunes/

International Talk like a Pirate Day

It's on again!!
Yes
International Talk like a Pirate Day is on the 19th of September
[link] Mark your diaries, you lily-livered friends of mermaids!!
Get yer parrot ready and your peglegs washed and ironed!
Arrrrgggghhh!!

Blog of the month

Here's a blog that covers a very diverse range of how-tos
http://www.askdavetaylor.com/
Some technical, others obvious Mac and PC!

MacSchools
There is a group resisting the conversion to PCs within government run schools, based in Melbourne. Heaps of centralised resources, even for the non-School user.
Check out their website
http://www.macschools.net/

Vale
Ralph Alpher, an original 'Big Bang' theorist died August 12

Thailand Musings
Some of you will know that I was recently in Thailand. What a difference since my first visit in 1980!
Traffic works, pollution less throat-wrenching. But there's too many tourists - Khao San Rd didn't exist then and islands in the South were little backwaters where you could pretend "the World" didn't exist.
While the beauty of the islands is still there, you do have to ignore the drunken yobbos [am I getting old?!] and the pollution which is associated with 21st century tourism.
Still, it is a great country, with great experiences, waiting. See some pics...
[link]

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AcmeNews August 2007

2007-08-01T09:00:00.000+10:00

Acme Computer closing
Folks
Acme Computer will be closing for a short hiatus [no hernia jokes, I had the ultrasound] for the period 10 - 27 August 2007. See you after that, when Spring has sprung!

Competition
To keep you occupied during the hiatus I've devised a competition [Link].

Let the list know about your favourite restaurant, in 250 words more-or-less.
Competition closes 31 August 2007 midnight AEST

[Link]. There's a prize!
Let's see what the results provide...

Newbie site
A newbie is a person new to computers, or it might be a PC user, new to Macintoshes. There's a site recently established which you might keep an eye on for tips, news and other assorted computeralia. Hey just like good ol' AcmeNews!!
The other site is MyFirstMac.com [link]

Check it out!

Careful when deleting

Recently there've been a few instances where, in the normal course of tidying up, iPhoto libraries have been removed and email has been lost.

Backing up means making a copy of things before they go awry and hopefully recovering from the disaster by reinstating the lost files.

But you also need disk space, so make your backups of older items on to CD, or an external hard drive. Delete the older stuff from your hard drive ONLY when you know it is safe to do so

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AcmeNews July 2007

2007-07-20T09:00:00.000+10:00

Apple Design Awards
Apple design awards were announced at the WWDC
http://developer.apple.com/wwdc/ada/

Coda
http://www.panic.com/coda/
One window web development
Seems it'll do just about everything to do with web design
And the price is pretty good too!

Sandvox
http://www.karelia.com/

Picturesque 1.0
Image manipulation
http://www.acqualia.com/picturesque/

Pathway
Presents Wikipedia as a graphical network
http://pathway.screenager.be/about-pathway/

Papers 1.0
Organise your collection of scientific papers
http://mekentosj.com/papers/

iPhone released

The Apple iPhone was released in the US in early July. Seems it was very popular with people camping-out and crowds swarming at AppleStores across the States.
To me - looks beautiful, seems like it has great features - internet everywhere, mail anywhere using a variety of network protocols, ipod, diary and telephone[!]. The phone companies here must be rubbing their hands with glee. I can only think the plan you'd sign-up to here will be crippling or out of reach of most people. No release date has been set for Australia.
Have a look at http://www.apple.com/iphone/ [not the Australian Apple site]

Fantastic How-tos
You come to AcmeNews for those special instructions you've been dying to find out. And it's not just computers!
For years you've been wondering how to do it and now you'll know. Admittedly the one in the example is a thin one but with time, patience and right technique you'll strike fear into unsuspecting phonebooks from here to the Black Stump!!

How to tear a phonebook in half
[link]

The site is Instructables!
http://www.instructables.com/

And what about the good ol' origami water bomb? [link]
Plenty more exciting how-tos!!

Powerline network

Tired of wires everywhere between the internet connection at the front of the house and your office upstairs. Too far afield for wireless? There's another technology called Powerline which uses the wires in the electrical wiring of your house as a network for computers. Sounds amazing and dangerous but it apparently works!

Like a network hub/router/wireless access point you connect it to your broadband router and then you plug the powerline adaptor in - you'll also need another powerline adaptor at the computer end and you can have multiple adaptors throughout the house. Probably a good idea to check that your house is wired correctly with no crossed wires before you start this. You'll still need a router and modem, just gives you the expandibility.
It's a little more expensive than wired connections but how much is convenience worth?

Check Netgear and DLink websites
Netgear [link]
DLink [link]

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AcmeNews June 2007

2007-06-18T09:00:00.000+10:00

Warning to Older Players

Be careful what you sign-up for - I've heard of a couple instances now where people have been cajoled into transferring their phone/internet account to another provider and then the fallout is difficult to get out from under. The opportunists apparently target older people, thinking that they are easy targets.

Perhaps it'd be best not to sign anything but to accept [with thanks] the literature but still do your shop-around. Ask me, ask other subscribers, check the web.

Here's an impartial site [link] - use the tools to work out a transfer, or see what compares with your current ISP's plan

Happy Shopping!

Wild Weather
We've had a bit of wild weather recently. It may sometimes play havoc upon your internet connection.Here's a few tips [again]

Lightning
This is the enemy of phone lines and networks. I don't know about cable broadband but there may well be issues. Unplug things connected to the phone line to be safe - powering off may not be enough if the lightning comes along the phone line. A strike may wipe out modems, routers, hubs etc. You may not notice it or the equipment may be blown to smithereens [but I've never seen this]. Technical terminology - "My modem was fried by that thunderstorm last night"

Brownouts
This is when the equipment is OK but the connection doesn't work - needs to be re-established.
First thing to try
- Turn everything off.
- Then turn on the modem
- Wait five minutes for the connection to be re-established
- Turn on your router, hubs and/or wireless equipment
- Wait a further minute or so
- Try a web page on the computer

No-go?
You know who to call...!

Photo Tips

OK You've got the digital camera fired up but there's still an amount of skill involved
There's so much info out there it isn't funny!
Here's some tips and tip sites
Kodak
Link
Check the TopTen - a good start

O'Reilly
Link
Another Top Ten

Didn't I say the Internet was our friend?

Sydney Film Festival

One highlight of the 2007 Festival for me, was "The Maltese Falcon" part of a John Huston retrospective.
As the introducer mentioned - "…you can see the parts of that movie in so many movies made since." It is a true classic.
Stars such as Humphrey Bogart, Sidney Greenstreet [his first ever film!] and Peter Lorre.

Great lines such as
"When you're slapped, you'll take it and like it." Bogart to Lorre
"You're good. You're very good." Bogart to Astor
"The stuff that dreams are made of." Bogart, closing line
[IMDB link]

Two other films of note
All in this Tea
A documentary about an American tea importer, David Lee Hoffman, who goes to China to source artisan teas, at their source. [Link]

Forever
A fantastic film, directed by Heddy Honigmann from the Netherlands captures the spirit of Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris.
[IMDB link]

Speaking of Paris
Been to Père Lachaise?
Have a look at the fantastic website!
http://www.pere-lachaise.com/
And another guide page
What's on, in english
Paris Voice
http://www.parisvoice.com/

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AcmeNews May 2007 [2]

2007-05-15T15:13:00.001+10:00

More Security

Folks
Further to the "don't give your bank details" item last AcmeNews, are there any web-sites you suspect have defrauded you? Maybe gathered your credit card details without your knowledge or permission? They should of course be reported to the bank [financial institution], but anecdotal evidence may save someone the trouble before it happens. Let me know and I can post the details to the list.

I have now heard of two instances of people who have signed up or had their credit card debited without their permission and the only recourse is to cancel the credit card. Inconvenient and costly!

Microsoft has updated Office
The update fixes security holes and unexpected file-openings quitting in Excel, Entourage and Powerpoint
[Article]
Pick it up via autoUpdate

WebCams

What is a webcam?
It's a camera which is attached to a webpage so you can view the latest picture from wherever the camera is in the world

Longest-lasting lightbulb
This lightbulb has been alight since 1901 and still going!
http://www.centennialbulb.org/

Some of you may know that I have some friends who travelled to New York [USA]. They SMSed me when in position and I snapped their pics on the TimesSq webcam! If that isn't the internet at its finest I don't know what it is!
http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/

Looking for them
Do a Google search on webcam and whatever country or city. Maybe you'll find one that your friend in Sapporo can go and stand in front of and you can see them!!
It is easy to set them up too. All you need is a recent computer, computer camera and somewhere to store the results. Wow!

Other Mailing Lists

here's a few mailing lists I like. Got any you like - let me know.

Lonely Planet Comet
OK they want to sell books but the travel nut [me] will want to peruse the articles, check out the ThornTree and dream of that next fantastic trip to parts unknown...
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

MacWorld Newsletters
Some of the content for AcmeNews comes from here
http://www.macworld.com/info/newsletter/subscribe/index.php
Hints, MacNews, developments etc

Most newspapers and media outlets have periodical mailing lists

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AcmeNews May 2007

2007-05-01T09:00:00.000+10:00

Acme Computer under Fire

Folks

Malicious spammers are on the offensive.

Using a scam called Spoofing, using an acmecomputer address the buggers have bombarded unsuspecting email users in my name.

How do I know?
I receive hundreds of responses to the junk mail. Address unknown, "Jim Smith is on holidays". The spammers are probably sending 1000s of messages to legitimate address - I only see the duds.

What should you do?
Your email address is safe with me. It is not distributed anywhere. Unfortunately there's not much anyone can do against these scams. You could set a filter in your email - make sure I'm in your address book, and send any mail not addresses from "ac.me" or "john.couani" but sent from an acmecomputer address, to the Trash. Or mark it as junk mail and let your system take care of it.

Mac users in Mail could set up a SmartMailbox to only show messages from AcmeComputer which are from legitimate addresses, the rest treated as spam.

Leopard delayed
Apple has announced that the release of OSX 10.5 Leopard will be delayed until October 2007.
http://www.apple.com/macosx/leopard/

More of everything
Apple have announced a [wait for it] 8-core MacPro. This is like having eight computer processors within the one computer. It's rated at 3mHz. You can have three video cards to which you could connect two monitors [yes 3 x 2 = 6]. Ram - you can install up to 16Gb and have up to 3 terabytes of hard drive, and two Superdrives. They say "überconfigurable" I say that's pretty fast email!

Recycling tips

From Google
"Empty tissue boxes can provide easy and handy storage for plastic grocery bags"
Don't forget to exclude air from the bag - start at the bottom and scrunch. You'll fit more in the box

Saving files
All too often I hear yelps about "I saved the file but can't find it"

It's worth setting up folders to save your files. If you create them before you have to save them then you'll know where your files should be. Maybe in your "Documents" folder within your home folder. Make one for Business, another for Bank, Home, Friends. Within these folders you could make another folder for 2007, another for pre-2007.

Put an alias/shortcut for the Documents folder on the Desktop so you can get there easily without digging down through the hierarchy. [Mac users, add the folder to the Dock, next to the Trash]

When you save the document for the first time, get into the habit of saving it straight to its final resting place. Having 100 files on the desktop means they'll be on top of each other and perilously close to the Trash.

Name files sensibly - "new letter April" doesn't mean anything. The date is attached automatically when you create the document. At least name the document for the addressee, or save it to the folder that you've created for regular correspondents. Be systematic about it so that next year you can find that letter to Rupert Murdoch accepting the offer of $50 000.

Security on the Internet

We all know about junk mail reduction. What about interacting with your bank and other facilities online?

The banks want you to use online banking and have set up system to cover themselves from litigation. Use the security available.

Also

Know your userID and password. Write it down somewhere, but get used to remembering them
Don't tell anyone what they are
Set the bank's "secret question" and your answer so that they are things you don't even need to think about
Know what you're signing up for - don't give everyone your MasterCard number, just cause they ask for it. Make sure you're not signing up for the download of the month every month until 2025

Banks do NOT contact you to verify your details via email. Do not reply to those messages which purport to be from the banks, yours or otherwise.

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AcmeNews April 2007

2007-04-03T10:00:00.000+10:00

Vale
Jim Fung, businessman and martial artist, exponent of wing chun has died from nasopharyngeal carcinoma which is apparently "...peculiar to Chinese" [smh link]

The Sydney Film Festival
is coming up [8 - 24 June 2007]
http://www.sydneyfilmfestival.org/
Come and see those films you'll never see again. Fantastic films from all over the World. You'll believe that countries in Africa, France, and Germany make movies. Believe it or not! Australian movies as well, commercial or not.

Organise your Bookmarks
Too many bookmarks? The list has too many duplicates?
[Bookmarks are called favorites in IE]

Try these

The controls to organise your bookmarks are located in the Bookmarks [favorites] menu in Firefox, Safari and IE.
Look for "Organize bookmarks" or "Show all bookmarks".
You will be presented with a window containing a list of all your bookmarks. They'll be organised in a folder hierarchy.
Make new folders to cover subjects [go to the bookmarks menu], like all your shopping links, search pages, all your Google bits 'n' pieces. Give the folders realistic names so you can find the contents. Drag individual bookmarks into the folders. Using control key combinations you could drag multiple bookmarks to the same place.
While you're there, tidy up the names. Some web pages put very long names on bookmarks - change "BBC NEWS | News Front Page" to "BBC news".
Also you can re-order the bookmarks. Put those you use most at the top.
Discard duplicate bookmarks or create duplicates if you need them. One for BBC news in "News" another for "Sport"

News

Fun with Words
http://www.fun-with-words.com/

Anagram Servers

http://www.mbhs.edu/~bconnell/cgi-bin/anagram.cgi
http://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/sammy/anagram.html
http://wordsmith.org/anagram/

Online Scrabble at Scrabulous
Join for free
http://www.scrabulous.com/
See you there!

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AcmeNews March 2007

2007-03-22T10:00:00.000+11:00

Nora, the piano-playing cat
This will cheer you up
http://www.ravenswingstudio.com/docs/cats.html
Careful it's a link to video - might use a bit of bandwidth

Screenshots
You may have seen my screenshots when I've been replying to your email, explaining something etc. It's built-in to MacOSX and Windows has a similar feature [not saying any more]

Macintosh
To snap the whole screen, do Apple-Shift-3. Careful with this - I don't want to see your messy desktop after downloading a large unnecessary file!

To just take a selection, do Apple-Shift-4. Then draw a box around the area you want to capture. This is better for telling me about "that silly box that comes up with, oh I can't remember..."

Either of these commands make a file on the desktop which you can insert in documents, email around the world etc

The tricky bits
You can also do Apple-Control-Shift 3 or 4 and you'll capture a full or partial screen [respectively] but it will be in memory, not a file on the Desktop.

Also, you can do Apple-Shift 4 then press the spacebar in order to capture the current active menu, desktop icon or the menubar. This will save a file on the desktop.

Add the control key to this last one and you add the screenshot to the clipboard [memory]

Helpful programs
SnapzPro - Ambrosia software
Facilitates screenshots and so much more! Movies, stills, file formats
http://www.ambrosiasw.com/

Windows
In the Windows keyboard there is PrtScn - print screen. It takes the whole window and saves it in memory. Paste that into a Paint document to save it. You can edit off the bits you don't want.
There's also Alt-PrtScn which will capture the current window, to the clipboard.
Try ScreenShot Captor for more functionality. Looks Good
http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Mouser/screenshotcaptor/index.html

Don't forget to donate to support the developer

Saving and Filing
We all know we need to "save early, save often" when working on documents. Here's a few other tips.

Make sure you know where you're saving your new documents.
Macs have the Home folder and Documents within. Windows has My Documents.
And you can make new folders within the Documents folder. Some programs save to Documents by default, but check the dialog box before you hit Save/OK

As soon as you open a new document make a point to save [and name] it. In a logical place, with a logical title. "Letter March" doesn't mean much when you're looking for the letter you wrote to the Prime Minister when the brown paper package arrived.
In the Documents folder you could have another folder called "PMLetters". The document might be called "Brown Paper". The creation date is attached as soon as you save it.

Distinctive titles make finding documents a lot easier. You might have 200 "letter"s but how many "brown"s would you have?

If you're downloading receipts from Internet banking or shopping make a folder for them too - "Receipts2007".

And what about making an alias/shortcut to the folder on the Desktop for easy access? Or Macs can add the folder to the Dock. Locate the folder, drag it to the Dock, adjacent to the Trash.

Don't save everything on the Desktop. You'll quickly be drowning in
your own correspondence. There's only enough icon space for 30-40 documents comfortably. It can get to a point where files are building up on top of each other. Also - it's too easy to drop something in the Trash, and quickly lost.

Some programs keep a running memory, in case you don't save and you type out 10 pages quickly. Say the program unexpectedly froze, normally you'd return to the point at which you last saved. With the running memory you might just recover a bit more, hopefully right up to where the crash occurred.

Now what if you've saved and you don't like the material since the last save? Or you tried something in the last paragraph and it just don't work? Or the photo you've been manipulating isn't fitting the plan. Use the "return to last save" trick [or if you haven't saved anything, back to the last time the file was opened]. Close the document [File - Close] and DON'T save changes. Next time you open the file, the changes you weren't happy with won't be there.

Some programs also have a revert command which takes you back to the last time the document was saved. This handy command is becoming less common however.

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AcmeNews February 2007

2007-02-23T17:00:00.000+11:00

Vista Released
Well it's out and there's been little yelling and screaming.
Lots of different versions [isn't two enough?]
[Link]

Features

Builtin backup [but you're doing that manually already ;-)]
More security
Flip - allows you to scan open windows animatedly, looks good
Instant Search - looks good.
IE7 - gets tabbed browsing finally, more security, better printing web-pages, anti-phishing [websites that collect your data] filters

Vista Home basic seems pretty basic and Home Premium doesn't get the "advanced" network tools either. I think the "Business" version or "Ultimate" are the ones most people should get. Especially if file-sharing or internet browsing

Interestingly there's also "Vista Starter" for the third world, Australia not included.

With the less-featured versions, most of the gaps should be filled with excellent free or shareware software available for download.

Office 2007 as well. Interesting features in Office include

the Ribbon - command organisation. Previously commands [File, Save, Print for example] were crammed into menus. OK you could edit the menus but who ever did [except to lose toolbars]? The ribbon introduces the contextual menu to the toolbar, so you only see table-oriented commands when in a table etc. And it's tabbed so you can
the Button - A start menu for your documents. Looks like it replaces the File menu, and what to do with documents
Live Preview - shows the change you may be about to apply, simply by rolling over the icon in the Ribbon
Print to pdf - now you can print to a pdf straight from Office applications

8 different versions - check this [link] to see the various packages inclusions. Access, Publisher, Accounting - I wonder about compatibility

Well it's a huge leap. Five years in the making. I can't see XP users rushing to move over, especially if they need a new machine to do it. How does it compare with MacOSX?
I'll see if I can get something together in weeks/months to come.

Buyers Be Aware
There's been a spate of incorrect purchasing in the last couple of months. So when you rush in to grab the latest bargain, step back for a minute. Ask the shop assistant - is this gizmo compatible with my computer [Mac Users]? As I've always said "It pays to shop around" but it also pays to be informed.

Be aware of your computer's current specifications. You should at least know what its model, operating system version and installed RAM is/are. When you're about to plonk down $500 for the new whatsit, check the box. Mac users - look for the MacOS symbol [you see it every time you start your Mac]

Examples

iMac G4 with MacOSX 10.3.9 and 768mb RAM
Dell Optiplex GX1 with Windows XP Home and 1gb RAM

The box the new device comes in should specify what the minimum requirements are for the device. This goes for software too, particularly the RAM and hard drive space. Software today uses a lot of both, but it has to be on the right computer.

Maybe you need to upgrade the Operating System [OS] before you can use the new device. What may work for new PCs may well not work for Macs, new or old. Especially old. Maybe you need to up the RAM in order to run the program. Does your machine fit the bill?

Do your homework - if you're going out to buy a piece of equipment use our friend the Internet. Go to the manufacturer's website, usually http://www.xxxx.com - where xxxx is the name of the manufacturer. They may not have an Australian site. Check with your friends [or me] what they have, whether they're happy [or not]. Apple users can check they're local Apple Store, PC users Harvey Norman or others. But don't necessarily believe the teenager behind the till - he wants to sell you something.

Shop around. It'll save you heartache further down the track, before I have to say, "I can't get it to work"

More Free Software [Mac and PC]

Online software
There's a move to using software that resides on the WWWeb. Someone has dubbed it Office 2.0. You can store documents on the web too, either privately, or shared with others. In earlier issues I mentioned Google's "Docs and Spreadsheets" [link - you'll need an account] where you can write Word and Excel documents and save to and fro. Say you wrote less then 10 Word documents a year. Does that justify $200+ for MS Office? Maybe these offer alternatives...

Central listing
http://itredux.com/office-20/database/

Google Mail is Open to All

Need a second [or third, fourth or fifth] email address?
You can get your very own GMail account now, without me inviting you! I can still invite you if you need to kickstart the process.
GMail gives you the ability to send and receive email anywhere via the WWWeb [Firefox, Safari, IE] or your usual POP [Mail, Entourage, Outlook] interface, or both!

And there's good spam filtering, mega-storage [giga even!] and it's FREE!

Dates for your Calendar

These come from the Sydney Observatory - a great little website. No fuss.
http://www.sydneyobservatory.com.au/
And they have a blog too [all the best services do]

• Total eclipse of the Moon
28 August 2007
This is when the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon. The Moon is full and will probably be a smoky colour during the totality period.

HotSpot: Sydney

• Transit of Venus
6 June 2012
Remember from School how Capt Cook went to Tahiti to witness the transit of Venus and then continued on via New Zealand to officially locate Australia for the Europeans? Well it's happening again on 6/6/2012. One of the reasons he did so was that they could calculate the distance from Earth to the Sun. Don't ask me how.

HotSpot: visible in Sydney, but Tahiti would be nice too

• Total eclipse of the Sun
14 November 2012
In 2012 there'll be a total eclipse of the Sun [don't look at it directly]

HotSpot: Cairns

• 22 July 2028 there'll be another total eclipse of the Sun in Sydney

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AcmeNews January 2007 [2]

2007-01-25T09:00:00.000+11:00

Acme closing
Folks
Acme Computer will be closed for ten days
9 - 18 February

Winner announced
Congratulations to KM of Balmoral for his winning entry in the recent Digital Camera poll [Nov 2006]. Readers should stay tuned for more exciting competitions in upcoming issues!

More Free Software [Mac and PC]

Mozilla Foundation software
Looking for more programs to try out? All these have Mac AND PC versions, so if you use one on your work computer you can also have it one your home computer.
You may have heard about Firefox [now up to version 2]. Gives you another browser to try when Internet explorer won't replace Safari. Always good to have an option.
[IE hasn't been updated on the Mac for six years or so]
As I've previously mentioned I like the extensibility of Firefox - the ability to add plugins which give you more functions, or a different look.

SeaMonkey
has apparently replaced Mozilla as the main browser | email | webeditor suite of programs. Also extensible. More about that later after I've tried it out

Thunderbird
A mail client program which can handles POP and IMAP with aplomb. If I wasn't already covered with Mail and Entourage this is a pretty nice program. Just nice.

Sunbird
Allows you to keep your calendar and subscribe to internet-based calendars. Much the same way iCal does in the Mac world. Again plain and simple, the way it should be. And apparently it ties-in well with Thunderbird too.

Link [http://www.mozilla.org/]

Comet C/2006 P1 McNaught
It was visible for a few days around the 16th January 2007, just after sunset. Amazing little glob of light, so far away. As bright or brighter than Venus [you shoulda seen us...!], only visible after the Sun got out of the way.
To think it won't be back for a million years [or so], way after humanity has gone the way of all dust.
Amazing!
See my site - http://acmepc.dynalias.net/comet/ [pics by noted photographer, KTok]

Vale

Yvonne de Carlo - To me, Lily Munster
Iwao Takamoto - Creator of Muttley and ScoobyDoo [judging from his canine proclivity I think he had a hand with Astro [Ry rove roo Reorge!] too]

Who qualifies for an AcmeNews Vale listing?

People who, in my estimation, made a difference, for good and niceness, not evil or selfishness [there goes 90% of celebrities]. Somebody you may have heard of, but maybe not. Major celebrities, probably not - too much attention already. They have to have enough fame [or infamy] otherwise they're irrelevant or I wouldn't know about them anyway...

James Brown was too much of a celebrity already, to qualify.
Gerald Ford - politician [1 negative mark], did he do any good? Really? And you already knew he died...

Even More Games
OK Mac OSX 10.4 users have at their disposal Dashboard, and widgets
As of 22 January there were [wait for it] 298 game-related widgets available on the Apple dashboard website, most free!
http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/

While you're there check out the other addictive widgets!

PC Users
I understand that in the PC world the program with more users than any other programs in the known Universe is...
[wait]
Not Microsoft Word

Not Internet Explorer, but...

Solitaire!! And - You already have it!

One game I was addicted to back in 2002/3 ;-) was
JewelToy http://www.aegidian.org/jeweltoy/index.html
Like Tetris, apparently a clone of Bejeweled, it's easy but intoxicating - really gets you in. [I couldn't find a PC version]

Also at that time I'd play online Scrabble - but the owner closed it down for some reason. I remember one time I was playing with a guy in Germany - I commented on how well he handled English, to which he replied "I'm American". So what the heck I said "Anyway you can scrabble English really well, even so"

Careful
Searching for "free games" on the WWWeb brought up a lot of porn sites. The other problem is the amount of lists of games, which lead to more and more lists. Don't want lists, want games

Lego Digital Designer
http://ldd.lego.com/
This looks fantastic! Mac and PC versions. I'm getting it! [Don't tell the kids]

Most of this stuff is shareware - if you use and keep the program, pay the fee the developer requests [some don't, others request a postcard]

Got a free game favourite? Let's hear it!

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AcmeNews January 2007

2007-01-11T17:42:00.000+11:00

MacWorld Expo 2007
New products announced, no new standard computers this time around

iPhone
After much rumour Apple have announced their iPod/Phone/PDA/Camera/PhotoAlbum device called iPhone. Looks to me like you drive it almost entirely by fingertip [I'd hope you could also use a stylus]. Of course you synchronise everything with media stored on your computer. The specs mention that its operating system is OSX - it has a nice OSX feel to it. There are so many features built into this thing, I won't bore you here - http://www.apple.com/iphone/

Next problem - will the internet features be available here? And no price mentioned on the site that I could see.
Late News
Apple is being sued for the use of the name "iPhone" - stay tuned

[Apple]TV
Yes not iTV but [Apple]TV - I can't find how to type the character
Apple, so I'll call it aTV. This device allows you to synchronise with your computer - where you've downloaded all those movies and music using iTunes, and images from iPhoto - via aTV. It's a one trick computer with a 40gb hard drive. It handles media only, no web, email or word processing. Connect it up to your TV to watch all those videos etc. Looks like it supports PAL and high definition so I suppose it's usable in Australia.
http://www.apple.com/au/appletv/

New Wireless Standard Base Station
There's a new standard on the way - 802.11n - which is not yet ratified but Apple are releasing a new base station which will accommodate the new standard. [Most people I know have Netgear or DLink and they already have that standard available] No word on Airport Express and the new speed, but this new base station uses design cues from the Mac Mini and aTV for a new "mini appliance look"
http://www.apple.com/au/airportextreme/

BlogList
Here's some blogs I like
You can subscribe as you wish, in the usual way

The Policeman's Blog
http://coppersblog.blogspot.com
The Bill in real time

MacWorld Gems
http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/macgems/
Little programs can make a BIG difference and many are free too.

Firefox Add-ons
You may be using Firefox, preferred by some as their #1 browser of choice. I like its extensibility - you can add add-ons [plugins] to extend functions in Firefox.

Here's a few I like [Mac and PC]

Firefox has a search panel at top left. Beyond the standard set you can add Wikipedia, Lonely Planet. Go to the Search panel and click and hold down on the Google icon, select "Manage Search Engines..." Then click the link for "Get more search engines" to go to the search engine page. OK they're a bit USA-centric but there you go. Click to download and install [automatic - follow the prompts]

When I'm composing this mailing/blog/webpage I use a Firefox plugin called Performancing which links in automatically to my blogspot blog, where I finally format the blog and from there it's a copy-and-paste for mailing list and webpage archive. Try it if you need to maintain a blog.

Google Notebook
I make notes along the way for the Mailing List, useful bits'n'pieces and this add-on saves them directly to my Google Notebook. Need to be on the internet with a Google account.

GMail Space
allows you to upload files to your GMail account for access from anywhere...

Google Toolbar
Gives you even more functionality and access to all that Google stuff you've signed-up for [Sorry about the broken reecord]

McAfee SiteAdvisor
Checks whether a site is "safe" with various tests relating to spam, address collection and viruses. It installs a panel in the status bar - green indicates a "good" site

•• Adding add-ons | plugins
In Firefox go to the Tools menu - Add-ons. The Add-ons management window will appear showing currently-installed add-ons. Lower right corner - "Get extensions" to bring up the Firefox Add-ons page. There are useful tools, colour schemes, tools, so much stuff!

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Late Final Extra AcmeNews December 2006 [2]

2006-12-21T01:00:00.000+11:00

One more issue before the festive season kicks in.

More Games links
While away those lonely Xmas hours

Online Sudoku
http://vanhegan.net/sudoku/

Solitaire
http://www.goodsol.com/online/freecell.html

No-go with these addresses?
Try these with Internet Explorer if your usual browser don't work [copy the address, go to IE, paste the address into the field] or a different browser to your usual one

Bridge
http://www.bridgebase.com/
http://www.greatbridgelinks.com/gblMAC/
http://www.bridgeclublive.com/ [may be a pay site]
[pay site] http://www.okbridge.com/

If you download software make sure it's appropriate for your machine. Programs can be specifically for Macs, PCs, toasters

Requests
Yes I know, I don't do enough stuff for PCs. A lot of the tips are cross-cultural and the links are universal. But the subject matter leans toward the Mac platform. I know, I'll try to up the content.

So let me know what I can cover - if it's something that is relevant to everyone, well-and-good, even if it isn't.

Be a bit specific - more links [links about what?], how-tos [how to do what?]

I won't be presenting anything like "Creating the Hollywood blockbuster in iMovie, from camera on to singing contracts". There isn't enough space, for one thing.

It Pays to Shop Around
With that time of the year upon us, thoughts turn to shopping...

Links [here's some I use]
AppleStore online
http://store.apple.com/133-622/WebObjects/australiastore/

Vital peripherals
http://www.vitalsupplies.com.au/index.jsp

Streetwise
http://www.streetwise.com.au/

Harris Technology
http://www.ht.com.au

If you're attached to the University of Sydney, check the folks at UniFirst [behind the Sports Centre in Darlington]

Check a couple to see what price you can get. Often suppliers don't carry the same stock so it's a bit hard. Depending what it is, Acme can sometimes match the big boys. Possible brands include

Network equipment and wireless
• Netgear, DLink

Hard drives, DVD burners
• LaCie

• Printers
Brother, Canon and some others

Don't forget freight and GST
Of course with anything needs installing, contact me. Or even for buying advice - is this the right program? Am I doing the right thing? I'll do my best

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AcmeNews December 2006

2006-12-10T09:00:00.000+11:00

End of Another Year

Folks

I don't want to offend anyone by wishing them an inappropriate religious greeting, so I usually offer an end of year "Thank You for Your Support in 2006" with something thrown in about the summer solstice, the origin of all the festivities and a natural astronomical interest of mine. If only the full moon would fall that day too it'd all be festive enough for me.

Anyway - Thank You for Your Support in 2006. All my best wishes for 2007.

Tips

OK I've had a request for more tips so here goes

The Dock
OK you probably know how to add/remove items from the Dock. Did you know you can put folders to the right of the line, and also that control-clicking and holding down on the icon gives you a contextual menu of the folder's contents? Go straight to x document without navigating down thru the folders.

The Dock can be on the bottom [default] but it could also be on the left or right side of the screen too. Check the Dock menu item under the blue Apple.

Organisation of your files
While it's none of my business, I do see a terrible lot of messy desktops. OK people keep their current stuff there and put it away from time-to-time [me too]. Often one file ends up on top of another because it gets too jam-packed. So, a couple of strategies...

View menu - Show View Options. See what suits - I like snap to grid. Keeps things arranged by the invisible grid so it's easier to see this file that file.

Need larger icons? You can set that too

One I don't like is "Keep arranged by". When you drop something on the desktop it instantly jumps to its place in the order, not where you put it. Easy to lose something momentarily.

What about creating a folder in Home - Documents for "December 2006 docs". You could also place an alias for this folder on the desktop, easily accessible from save/open dialog boxes. If you also add it to the Dock you get a contextual menu which allows you to open x document instantly.

In OSX 10.4 you also have the sidebar you can add the folder to. These three different ways allow access to buried folders - makes access easy.

Many programs use the folder Home - Documents as the default save location. If you have lost a file [it's not where you think it is], look there.

Multiple users
What if you have more than one person using a computer? How do you stop Geraldine's email getting mixed-up with Brian's? Set up multiple user accounts for each person. This way each user has their email, documents, bookmarks in their own space. They can make their own mess and not affect each other. All protected by a password.

There needs to be at least one administrator per machine. That person [or their password anyway] enables the administration of the computer - settings, software updates, access etc

The administrator can also create accounts for children or visitors which have less access - they can't install software, use certain programs [maybe you want to lock young Josephine out of MSN Messenger], change settings.

And with Fast User Switching more than one person can be logged-in at a time and you can switch back-and-forth.

Check blue Apple - System Preferences - Accounts

Icons
You can easily change the icons which are attached to documents. The internet is a goldmine of freebies of course and some are works of art, in miniature. Try IconFactory for cartoon characters, alternate systems, japanese ornaments. Too many to choose from. There's even software to replace your whole set of system icons.

Iconfactory - http://iconfactory.com/

Icons may be delivered in zip archives - double-click to de-archive them, a new folder will appear on your desktop

Installing - Once you have the icon you like do this

Click once on the icon to select it
Do File menu - Get info
Small icon in the top-left corner - click it once
Do Edit menu - Copy
Select the item you wish to apply the new icon to [click it once]
Do 'Get info'
Small icon in the top-left corner - click it once
Do Edit menu - Paste
Close all the 'Get info' windows
The icon should now be applied to your file/folder

Wireless everywhere
It was announced that the NSW State government was considering introducing a free wireless broadband internet system in the Sydney CBD. That means anyone with a [say] laptop with a wireless card could connect free anywhere in the CBD. [SMH 29/11/06 - link]

I've often thought "wouldn't it be a good idea if those in a block of flats shared broadband" - one broadband account covered by monthly subscriptions for the whole up-to 64 flats. Why don't the ISPs offer this? They make too much on an individual basis, of course. In the article mentioned, doubt was cast by Telstra and UnWired mouthpieces alike.

It could be so easily-done but I can see it will be un-done by the telcos, to protect their profit. Free wireless has been offered by some civic-minded individuals for some time, and unknowingly by others, not too security-minded.

End of Year - Get yer Backup!

Now what kind of Computer Guy would I be if I didn't remind you all to back-up your stuff before you drink too much and erase your hard drive! End of year is a good time to do it, the drinking AND the backing-up, I mean.
So get to it - get those CD burners a'burnin. [There's a song in there somewhere]

Acme closing for the Solstice Festival
22 December to 2 January

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AcmeNews November 2006

2006-11-29T00:01:00.000+11:00

Global Warming and Climate Change
There's been a bit of discussion recently, but it seems that the notion of Global Warming has now been generally accepted, even in the US, the other developed-world non-signatory of the Kyoto Protocol

Here's a few links

What is it?
Here's Wikipedia's link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming
Good and technical, but too difficult, info
Wikipedia's Kyoto Protocol pages are pretty comprehensive [too much info]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocol

US EPA
General info
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/
What you can do
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/
It seems that it has been such a long time since I've been recycling bath/sink water with the drought, glass and paper whenever possible. What else can I do?

Did you know the Australian Government has a Greenhouse office? Neither did I!
http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/local/
A lot of the info is post-1998 so they've been on-the-job for a while.

More discussion from NewScientist magazine
[link]
More too much info!

Digital Cameras
Well it's that time again when you're thinking "What can I get myself for the gift-buying festival?"
Some of us will be thinking "digital cameras"
But which one? What's all this megapixel stuff?

Do you have a camera that you'd recommend buying? Or not?
Now just about every person I've met with a digital camera has a different camera to every other person - different vintages of camera, changes in technology, how photographically-minded they are. Too many factors.

So, to poll the audience, here's a few questions
[Results will be published in a later issue, anonymously]
Are you happy with your digital camera? [1, not happy to 5, ecstatic]
What brand | model | megapixel rating? [Facts please]
How difficult to use is it? [1, what the... to 5, I'm a Pro!]
What feature[s] is missing that you wish you had? [List please]
Would you buy it again or if not, what other? [Y|N, brand]

If you don't have a digital camera what would you buy if you were about to buy one? [Facts please]

How to join in the fun...
Copy the section between "Are you happy..." down to "Would you..." or
"If you don't have..."
Make a new email message
Paste the text you copied into the message
Answer the questions by replacing the text
Send the completed entry to acme@iinet.net.au
[you can copy and paste this address onto your message, and as always your email will not be used for any other purpose as a result of this poll]
There may be a special prize for the neatest | most entertaining response.
Assuming I get ANY responses! So come on!!

Here's a sample entry to get the ball rolling [from a friend]
Are you happy with your digital camera? [3 moderate]

What brand | model | megapixel rating? [Olympus 710 7mega]

How difficult to use is it? [3 not easy]

What feature[s] is missing that you wish you had? [Easier controls, less camera interference, less lag]

Would you buy it again or if not, what other? [N, Sony 10 megapixel just out and cheaper!! grrr]

Windows update
Microsoft's latest tribute to the Macintosh, the Vista operating system will be available from January 30 2007 [it's a Tuesday] after a two-year delay. PC Users will need a PC with a 1Ghz processor, 1Gb of RAM and 40Gb hard drive space to run the Operating System.
Check out the Microsoft website at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/
The next version of OSX for Macintosh [Leopard] is expected mid-2007 [probably to coincide with the Apple Developers Conference in July]

MacWorld Expo approaching
Well it looks like Apple is pushing ahead! What are they going to have left for MacWorld Expo in January ?! The new MacBooks have Intel Core Duo chips [across the whole range now], so what's next...

Passwords
In the normal course of my business the biggest single problem clients have is their admin password.
In MacOSX, since the beginning when you
establish a new computer you MUST enter a password, except for one possibility - you can set the password to " " [nothing, funny - I can't type no thing] for the initial user. Only that user and only when you establish the setup for the first time. You can't reset it to " "
Often you need the admin password in order to install software, set System Preferences, check email, that kind of thing.
So anyway, every MacOSX computer has at least the first admin password set.
But what happens is - the client asks me to install software or reset email or something which requires the password. Up comes the dialog box, I ask for the password and then a look of shock and panic.
Don't get me wrong - I don't CARE what your password is, I have my own to try to remember. I won't remember your password.

So, as part of your end-of-year backup regime [get copies of important docs onto CDs for archiving], how about making a list of your passwords? Write them down somewhere off the computer [back of your address book?] DON'T keep your bank account number and PIN together, be particularly secretive about them. Make sure you know what the correct password is for each item, and record it.

admin password for your computer
internet connection
email accounts [may be the same as internet connection]
online accounts [flickr, google, yahoo]
wireless network [SSID name and password]
file-sharing

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AcmeNews October 2006 [2]

2006-10-31T23:29:00.000+11:00

More new Macs, but...
Apple have released new MacBook Pros, now with Intel core 2 duo chips and more RAM [igb minimum] and larger hard drives [120gb minimum]. More everything!

Urgent update
There is an urgent update for all MacBook and MacBook Pro computers. It corrects a problem where the computer shuts itself down without warning. A firmware update has been released and is available at the Apple website. Applies to macBook users Mac OS X 10.4.7 and later.

I have seen the future of supermarkets.
You may have heard of the Maleny QLD residents attempting to oust a major supermarket from their town [the supermarket was built adjacent to platypus habitat, after unsuccessful resistance from locals]
SMH 13/10/2006 [link]

When I was recently in the US I happened upon Trader Joe's supermarkets [this is not really a plug - to my knowledge TJ's sadly doesn't exist in Australia]. [link]

This lead me to think that there is hope for those of us who shop at supermarkets. The stock in Trader Joe's was not inclusive of all that junk found in your everyday Coles and Woolies. It was good food, mostly "organic" or pesticide-free or both, and reasonably fresh. And the goods were no more expensive than similar goods found in the mainstream supermarkets. The push for healthier foods is on.

Also, I found a level of service not seen in Australia for many years. Of the ten or so checkouts in the supermarket, ALL were in operation - didn't matter what time I went there. Maximum throughput. What's your experience in Coles/Woolies, where the less than minimum checkouts are open? How long is the wait, at any time of the day?
And the checkout clerk expertly packed the goods. And they were packed in sturdy paper bags!
Prices were the same or less than here.

Now this leads me to ask these questions
• If supermarkets are making billions of dollars of profit, why aren't they employing more people, and getting the checkout throughput Trader Joe's has?
• If they are committed to the environment why aren't we getting paper bags? Given that billions of paper bags [or boxes] could replace billions of plastic bags, economics of scale doesn't compute and we pay for it anyway, at the checkout
• Are we paying for service we aren't getting?

Disclaimers of infamy
Here's a disclaimer which I find amusing. The name/contact details of the guilty parties have been obliterated to avoid public ridicule. Frankly if sending email is going to cause so much paranoia, surely it' d be better to use paper mail!?

*****************************************************************
This email, including any attachments sent with it, is
confidential and for the sole use of the intended recipient(s).
This confidentiality is not waived or lost, if you receive it and
you are not the intended recipient(s), or if it is transmitted/
received in error.

Any unauthorised use, alteration, disclosure, distribution or
review of this email is strictly prohibited. The information
contained in this email, including any attachment sent with
it, may be subject to a statutory duty of confidentiality if it
relates to [obliterated] matters.

If you are not the intended recipient(s), or if you have
received this email in error, you are asked to immediately
notify the sender by telephone collect on Australia
[obliterated] or by return email. You should also
delete this email, and any copies, from your computer
system network and destroy any hard copies produced.

If not an intended recipient of this email, you must not copy,
distribute or take any action(s) that relies on it; any form of
disclosure, modification, distribution and/or publication of this
email is also prohibited.

Although [obliterated] takes all reasonable steps to
ensure this email does not contain malicious software,
[obliterated] does not accept responsibility for the
consequences if any person's computer inadvertently suffers
any disruption to services, loss of information, harm or is
infected with a virus, other malicious computer programme or
code that may occur as a consequence of receiving this
email.

Unless stated otherwise, this email represents only the views
of the sender and not the views of [obliterated].

Correction from the last AcmeNews
Google bought YouTube for $1.65 billion, that equals only about $2.2 billion Australian banana dollars!!

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Acme Computer Reopens -95500523- October 2006

2006-10-15T15:30:00.000+10:00

Acme Computer has reopened for business
Acme Computer is back from the Californ-i-a jaunt and ready for action.

Tips
Lost a password?
Try this [MacOSX users]...
Go to Applications - Utilities and open KeyChain Access
See if you can locate the item | location you need the password for [some items' passwords aren't saved here] If you can, double-click the list entry and in the resulting dialog box, check "Show password".
You'll need to be logged-in, with the master user password to see other passwords, but they should appear so long as "(passwords not saved)" isn't noted on the entry.

Receipts and Confirmations [Macs and PCs*]
When online banking and shopping, you often have the option to print a record or receipt at the end of the session. Instead of printing the receipt onto a piece of paper, create a folder in your Documents folder, called say "Receipts".
Now when you want to save a receipt, don't commit it to paper [you can do it later, if ever] but save it as a pdf.
With the receipt info on-screen, do File - Print. Don't click the "Print" button, but click the "PDF" button instead.
Select "Save as PDF" and set the dialog box to save the resulting file into your "Receipts" folder [mentioned above]
*PC users should try CutePDF to use this functionality [free] If you ever need to print it - you can, from the pdf.

Recycling
Got old stuff and don't know where to put it?
Printer cartridges http://recyclingnearyou.com.au/cartridges.html
Mobile phones http://www.mobilemuster.com.au
Still loking for a reliable, cheap way to get rid of monitors and CPUs...

Hot Sites
You may have heard about YouTube and/or MySpace.
YouTube
Allows anyone to post digital movies on the internet for all the world to see. It can be as easy as take some footage with your digital camera, edit or process it as you like [iMovie for Macs] then upload the finished file to YouTube so that anyone can see your handywork. The only cost involved is the massive amount of broadband traffic. You'll need to register to post or view. It was recently acquired by Google for over 1 billion dollars. Not bad for a website showing your birthday movie! http://www.youtube.com/

MySpace
Is kind of media central, where you can view video, have [more] email, chat, games and more. And there's an Australian version. Be prepared for ads galore tho'. Looks to me to be aimed at the "younger community" I prefer the Google tools, and more of them! Have a look for yourself!
http://au.myspace.com/

AcmeNews September 2006

2006-09-15T08:00:00.000+10:00

Acme
Computer
is closed between
15 September 2006
and
12 October 2006

Have they done it again?
Writely [http://www.writely.com/] is an online Word Processor published by Google. It allows you to create and store Word Processing documents online. It's a little bit slow, going thru a web-browser etc but it's fine for those times when you just don't have the normal computer to hand. You can upload and download documents in various formats too!

Can't connect?
Having trouble with your ADSL or Cable connection? Try these

• Make sure everything is plugged-in. Cables have a habit of unplugging themselves. Make sure both ends are plugged-in snugly
• Turn off the computer and modem. Then in this order, turn on the modem - wait for the status lights to settle down, then turn on the computer

No lights? Check power and connections on the modem
Lights but no connection? Try going to a webpage out of your ordinary set [to avoid page caching] - http://www.dell.com or similar.

Still no-go? ADSL - any new phones/faxes/answering machines plugged into the line? They need line filters.
Cable - check those cables again - no filters required

Windows on a Mac
You may have heard that some new Intel Macintoshes can run Windows and use Windows programs.
The software the new machines use to do this is called BootCamp - it allows a Mac to "boot" or startup as a Windows computer.
You can also use software called Parallels Desktop for Mac to run Windows "in a Window" as well as OSX, on some Macs. OF course, why you'd want to do this remains a mystery to everyone except those whose software isn't represented in the Macintosh world. Don't get me started about which is the better Operating System.
Anyway be careful if you are considering using BootCamp - there are several limitations.
1. BootCamp is beta software. This means you're doing the product testing for Apple. Leave it to the geeky experts and wait for a finished product. PLEASE.
2. What can you do in Windows that you can't do on a Macintosh? Do you really want to? Really?
3. Some things will NOT work. Apple modem for one, other USB devices, iSight cameras.
4. You need to have a compatible Intel Mac, OSX 10.4.6+, Windows XP [Pro please] and Windows versions of the programs you want to use. Parallels apparently uses older version of Windows but why would you?
5. As its name implies you have to Boot [startup] in OSX or Windows with BootCamp - This also means your OSX documents aren't available in the Windows side - you need to copy documents elsewhere then copy them back when you want to use them on the other side.

The future - What does this mean?
So Macs can boot using Windows. Apple has said that they don't intend for MacOSX to be available on any platform other than the Macintosh. This may well be the case - Apple is in the hardware as well as the OS business, so it's OK for someone else to buy a Mac and run Windows on it but it may not happen the other way. Interesting.

Online whiteboard in your browser
This is brilliant
http://www.imaginationcubed.com/
You can invite a friend [instant chat requires AOL IM or iChat, or use email] to draw a diagram online.

So you could say [drawing rough map]
"Here's Darling St, go down here"
and your friend might say, "But where's the milk bar?" and then you say "Here, I'll circle it"

New 24" iMac
yeah this looks good
Dual core Intel processor, up to 3gb RAM, 24 inch display
Warrants serious consideration if you're looking at the MacPro...
http://www.apple.com/au/imac/

AcmeNews August 2006 [2]

2006-08-31T08:00:00.000+10:00

Acme Computer is closing from

15 September 2006

12 October 2006

Tip of the month [Mac]
Lost Mail or another icon from the Dock? You can restore them [or add new icons] easily...

Structure of the Dock
By default the Dock appears along the bottom of the screen. There is a little line. The Trash and Documents and Folders live on the right side. Applications live on the left side. Control click on the little line to set features of the Dock.

Locate the original item
Applications live in the folder "Applications" which is inside the Hard Drive, usually located at the top right of your Desktop. Use the "Go" menu in the menubar to go straight there.

Adding to the Dock
Find the application icon you wish to add and drag it straight to the Dock - don't let go on the way!
The icon should stay there until you remove it again.

Recent Items method
If it was there a minute ago you could also go to the "Blue Apple" menu - Recent items. The application's name should be in the list. Select it to open the program. When the program starts the icon will appear in the Dock. Control click on the icon and select "Keep in Dock" and the icon will remain until you remove it, even when you quit the program.

Note re my style
When I say something "lives in the Application folder" I'm being anthropomorphic. Yes, computer software isn't actually alive. I need you to suspend disbelief for a minute so I can illustrate the point. You're also not actually dragging anything to the Dock - the interface is a con-job. But humans being as we are, how else would we do anything?

It's coming up, on September 19. Be there! Arrrrgh!!
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html

Widgets of the Week/Month
Apple Dashboard
OK all you OSX10.4 users [and Yahoo Widget users {WinXP or later}].
Do you have a widget you can't live without? Let's hear about it!

Here's a few I like
Blogger widget [link]
This blog is partially created using this fantastic little tool. Final proofing in Blogger itself.

Apple's clock widget - I keep track of times elsewhere, just so I know
Apple's Weather widget. Yes I need to know whether it's raining in San Francisco. Doesn't everyone?

EasyEnvelopes
Print an envelope from AddressBook anytime easy! [link]

MoonPhase - it's my goddess and I can see the current phase anytime.

A Switchers Tale
Graeme Philipson on his transition from PC to Mac user
[link]

The archive is located here
Disclaimer can be viewed here

AcmeNews August 2006

2006-08-10T09:00:00.000+10:00

WWDC Announcements
MacPro
After much speculation the new MacPro was announced at WWDC in San Francisco. Looks bigger and faster and fatter than any Mac I've seen!
http://www.apple.com/macpro/

The next version of OSX - Leopard was previewed too. Soon you'll be able to have your Mail backgrounds, Spotlight will be improved, Backups as part of the OS, more organisation with iCal [calendar-sharing beefed-up] and Spaces [create a Space for each project], and iChat becomes a collaborative working tool.
http://www.apple.com/macosx/leopard/

There were also new Apple Intel-based servers released and server software previewed.
It seems the new OS will be able to run on a G3. I'm finding OSX Tiger 10.4 a bit slow on a G4, so I'd be hesitant to install on a G3.
[OS - Operating System]

About Presentations
I have seen a few of these in my time. Here are a few guidelines to consider

• Have complete notes to accompany the presentation. They can be printed or you could produce pdfs that your audience could download from your website or receive via email [watch the size].
• Create the notes first, then the presentation to present clear ideas and don't rewrite the notes when creating the slides. Keep the set so they match.
• Don't try to have the entire set of notes in the presentation. It should be highlights, a summary or particular points from the notes. It is boring and difficult for the audience.
• Watch your image size. If you're importing images >1mb they are too big. Edit them before you bring them into your slides. iPhoto can do that.
• Keep the animations and transitions under control - just because you can doesn't mean you should. And fonts don't use every font in your collection

There's so much stuff on the web re Powerpoint but check these
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/it/slides/ [excellent]
http://www.hesston.edu/ACADEMIC/lrc/fits/POWERPNT/PPTguidelines/index.htm [good]

Backing-up
We all know how important it is to back up important files. Here's a few suggestions to make it easier.
• CDs and DVDs - there are write-once [CDR, DVDR] but there are also re-writable disks. They aren't dynamically reusable, meaning you can't alter what's on the disk like you do on a floppy disk, but you can erase the disk and start again. CDs hold about 700mb of data, DVDs about 4.7gb of data.
• Use a USB flash drive to take a copy of files you change frequently. They are so cheap and handy - 32mb to 2gb now! Careful putting your only copy on them though - they are easy to lose. [Anyone find my little gold USB drive, please return it!] So it's more a short-term backup.
You might update your MYOB file every day - put a copy on your flash disk every day or so [MYOB automatically compresses the file as you backup]
• Got a separate idle computer on your network? Put it to work! Set up file-sharing and copy the important files there at least weekly. The nr2 computer doesn't need to be on all the time, just when you want to copy.

Erasing a CDRW or DVDRW
In the Macintosh world you can burn these disks directly in the Finder, and from inside other programs as well [iTunes, iPhoto etc] But erasing them is not obvious.
From the "Go" menu, go to Utilities, and in the Utilties folder locate and open "Disk Utility".
Insert the disk to be erased - it should appear on the left panel, select it.
In the right panel click the "Erase" tab at the top.
In the large area on the right you will see the "Erase" button and depending on the disk, other options.
WARNING - Clicking the Erase button will destroy all data on the disk.
If you wish to proceed, click the button, read the warnings and ultimately you'll end up with a fresh disk ready for re-use.
Quit Disk Utility.

Programs like Toast offer an erase function in their meu options.

Things of the DayThese are all RSSesses so you can bookmark them and get them regularly, in your browser
Quote of the Day
http://www.brainyquote.com/link/quotebr.rss

Funny Quote of the Day
http://www.brainyquote.com/link/quotefu.rss

Word of the Day
http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/wotd.rss

About today
http://z.about.com/6/nl/rss/todaysl.xml

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AcmeNews July 2006 [2]

2006-06-26T16:02:00.000+10:00

Acme is closing
15 September to 12 October
Need Acme service?
Get in soon!

Vale
John Hinde has died aged 92. Mr Hinde was for many years the ABC's resident film reviewer.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200607/s1678928.htm

Google Labs
This is turning into a bit of monotony, but the Google folks have done it again. [I can hardly believe it!!]
First Mail, then Google Earth, then Calendar, then Blogger.
Now...
With Google Labs you can try out the software of tomorrow.
[Ask me if you need a Google account - a member needs to "invite" you to join GMail. That will give you access to everything]

Now - Google Labs
Spreadsheets [free]
Yep - goodbye Excel, this web-based program allows you to construct, save online, share, up/download and generally use spreadsheets within your web-browser! It has a huge set of functions [more than I'd ever use]

Notebook [free]
Works as an extension for Firefox only [Mac OSX and PC], so make sure you have the latest version. With Notebook you can make notes re stuff you find on the web, keep the URLs [web addresses] for later use. I can see that as I'm looking for stuff for my dear clients this tool will be invaluable. When I'm collecting the very interesting/amusing/useful info for Acme News I can assemble it there, ready to be sent via the mailing list and thence to the blog. WOW! And it could possibly be the end of Word Processors as we know them!

Google Page Creator [free]
Well now you can create simple web-pages right in your browser, right on the web.
Here's a test page created using the Page Creator. It works quite nicely and certainly fine for starting webpages

Of course with any of these web-based servcies you'll have to sign a set of conditions absolving Google from liability. You should always consider that anything you put on the web is in the Public Domain and liable to scrutiny by all and sundry. So don't put your collection of usernames and passwords on your webpage. The unscrupulous among us will gladly clean out your bank accounts with your unwitting assistance if you let them. That said, just be careful.

Links
Internet Slang Translator
http://www.noslang.com/
Now if there was a teenager slang translator, that'd be useful!

Flight Comfort
Some good tips
http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Comfortable-on-a-Long-Airplane-Trip

New use for all that "printed on one side" waste paper!
Free Daily Sudoku Puzzle by email. It doesn't appear to have generated any spam mail. I've been subscribed for a month. Use the other side of that already printed paper
Sign up at
http://freedailysudoku.net/
You can choose level and other personal preferences...

Feedback please
Do you find this mailing list/blog useful?
Is the content too easy/difficult/stupid?
How's the language - do you understand a word I'm saying?
Tone - Is it too flippant/serious/bland/boring?

The archive is located here
Disclaimer can be viewed here

AcmeNews July 2006

2006-06-26T15:38:00.000+10:00

AcmeNews is changing

Blog-on
The times they are a'changin' and it's onward to the future for the Mailing List.
Acme News will soon change to a slightly different format. Well, not really change but add to its oh-so 20th century format. It will still be delivered as a mailing list message via email, but it will also be available as a blog with an RSS feed.
"There are those words again, but what does that mean to me?" I hear you ask.
Probably not much, but it does mean you can view it another way and have searchable access to the archive on a faster server than my webserver. That'll give me free space for more silly websites!

Once it's up and running [about the time you read this], have a look. Let me know what you think. I expect that there will be a space for my valued subscribers to share their opinions. Then there'll be no excuse!

Blog - A weblog, a way to keep a journal on the internet for all subscribers.
RSS - The headlines, or digest of a web-page
These and other terms were covered in the mailing of November 2005

How does the Mailing List work?
It all starts with me collecting links, hearing news, attending shows - anything computer-wise.
I collect appropriate links [thanx contributors!], stuff that I think will inform, entertain or divert my audience. All the links are visited - I don't just pick up an address and say "Yeah!", it must go somewhere, not purely an ad for something for sale.
Once I have something "worthy" of distribution I compose an html page so that formatting and the Acme logo appear, not unlike a mini webpage, in your email. This is the reason for irregular postings - content, time required and inclination/laziness.
There's also a text-only version for those who use that kind of email [but webpage links aren't activated - they must copy/paste to get to a linked web address]. I don't know who you are, so I do it as a matter of course.

The YMLP link process creates the text-only version by stripping out the html with minor revisions.
YMLP - Your Mailing List Provider
http://www.ymlp.com

You [and people like you] have subscribed to the list by entering your email address either on the Acme website or at YMLP itself. In this way your address is added to the mailing list database. You can also un-subscribe yourself by using the same process.
I send it to myself so I can see what you see and to check that it all works.

So, the file containing the mailing list message is uploaded to the YMLP server and set for delivery, now or sometime in the future. And the text-only version prepared at the same time. Both versions are sent in the one mailing.

You may have seen references to the archive. It currently resides on my webserver and I have kept it up-to-date with every issue. Easy to do with the html version of the newsletter. That will change slightly in the near future and the archive will become a blog. [YMLP also archives the sent issues]

That means another version of the mailing list text - it's not a straight copy & paste, there are slight differences between the YMLP | webserver | blog versions . Keeps it interesting and looks better.

Also there will be an automatic RSS feed [xml actually] so you'll be able to see, with Safari or other RSS aggregators, when it is updated, or navigate thru the archive etc. Brilliant.

The blog address will be [Yes you're already here!!]
http://www.newsacme.blogspot.com/

More New Macs
Apple have released new laptops to replace the iBook, called MacBook. You can now have 13" screen with a black case or a white case with these new Intel Core Duo chip machines. MacMini has also been released as an Intel chip Macintosh.
They updated the MacBook Pro [formerly PowerBook] with Intel chips earlier this year. That leaves the tower format computer as the last to be converted to Intel technology.
Speculation in the Mac World suggests that Apple is waiting for software from Adobe and Microsoft before the tower is converted but WWDC is looming [September in San Francisco]. Steve Jobs [Apple CEO] likes to make a big announcement at those shows, so maybe that will be due.
There's also speculation of a replacement for the eMac which disappeared from the radar last year. Maybe in time for the new american school year [in September - there's that month again]
They'll need to think of a name other than "Intel Core Duo replacement for the G5" and they've done PowerMac - referred to the powerPC chip. It has been reported that the term "MacPro" has been trademarked in New Zealand and the US. So maybe that'll be it - the tower Macintosh with an Intel chip in September. Let's see...

A step in the War on Spam
The ACMA [Australian Communications and Media Authority] have introduced a system called SpamMATTERS. And there is a feature called the Spam Button for PC-utilising Outlook and Outlook Express users. It can be installed by downloading an add-in from the ACMA site, then reporting spam as you receive it.
Mac users don't get the software, but must register and report manually.
The button is also available on BigPond webmail and maybe other ISP sites as well. [Mac and PC]

Since joining up to this scheme I've sent maybe a hundred spam messages on their merry way. A little bit of extra effort but actually quite satisfying [if it works]. I'm not quite up to the point of yelling "Die Infidel Spammer!" as I press the send button, yet. Which raises a question - Can't they come up with anything beyond $$$$$ or enlargement or those wacky Nigerian scamsters? When will they give up?

More - http://www.acma.gov.au/interforms/spam/spammatters.htm

Links
CIA Factbook
Want to know anything about anywhere in the world
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/as.html
The spooks already do!

At last! Recognition
The Acme Products catalogue
http://home.nc.rr.com/tuco/looney/acme/acme.html
[copyright 1997-2005 by GP Markham]

and the good ol' Other Acmes
http://www.acme.com/other_acmes.html

Looking for something, anything, and yet, nothing?
http://del.icio.us/
Incredible time-wasting. I love it!

Film Festival Picks
Well it's over for another year. I didn't go to everything but here's what I liked...
[no particular order]
Balanda - making of Ten Canoes
The Big Match - World Cup seen thru the eyes of three different cultures
Adam's Apples - Oh those Danish
Abduction, the Megumi Yokota Story - chilling
God on my Side - the religious right broadcasters of America
Waiting - Poor Palestinians
Kanyini - Aboriginal insight
Friday or Another Day - Robinson Crusoe retold
C.R.A.Z.Y - Just your typical dysfunctional Canadian family

Vale
Billy Preston, the sometime "fifth Beatle" has died aged 59
http://www.billypreston.net/

The archive is located here
Disclaimer can be viewed here
*NEW* Blog can be viewed here

:<: The Internet is our Friend :>:

AcmeNews June 2006

2006-06-01T09:00:00.000+10:00

1 June 2006
Who listens to the radio?
That's what I'd like to know...
In the February news there was info about podcasting.

There's a little confusion about a couple of different things here.
Strictly, podcasting relates to downloading programs from the
internet for use on your iPod. For those of us too mature to use that
technology and preferring our programming "live" or at least freshly
broadcast[ed], there's "audio streaming" Radio stations will
broadcast what's currently on-air and/or a selection of programs
previously broadcast.

For this you'll need RealPlayer and/or Windows Media Player [I prefer
WMP]. Your Radio Station may also allow iTunes to tune in.
All the various players will allow you to listen to radio from
anywhere in the world, if set up correctly.
A broadband connection seems to be required now, although I did have
streaming audio working on my dialup connection in 2002.
Watch your internet traffic if you're on a
"downloads-per-month" account.

Install whatever software is specified by the broadcaster.
Info will be available on the broadcaster's website
ABC - http://www.abc.net.au/streaming/

Once you have the software installed correctly you need to locate the
link to the program using your web-browser This may be as simple as
• go to ABC
• go to the currently-playing list
• click "listen using Windows Media Player" [or Real Player]
If the software is installed correctly a separate player window
should open which will say that a connection is being negotiated
[buffering means that the stream is being downloaded in advance so
that a lag is compensated for]
In the player window there will be controls for
Stop | Play | FF | Rewind. For streaming audio, stop and play are the
only active controls you have, besides volume.

Also
Once you start exploring, you'll find audio streams which give you
the link only.

What to do with them?
http://www.abc.net.au/sydney/702stream.asx
copy the link [no spaces]
open WMP
do File [menu] - open URL, paste the link address
http://www.abc.net.au/streaming/newsradio.ram
open Real Audio
do File - open Location, paste

iTunes
check Shoutcast for station lists, worldwide
http://www.shoutcast.com/
iTunes uses "pls" files
http://www.shoutcast.com/sbin/shoutcast-playlist.pls?rn=1637&file=filename.pls
Download the file to your desktop, double-click it [or drag it onto
the iTunes icon]. iTunes should open, save the music stream list item
[in Library] to your radio playlist.

Links
Shoutcast
http://www.shoutcast.com/
LiveRadio
http://www.live-radio.net/info.shtml
Radio-Locator
http://www.radio-locator.com/
Windows Media Guide
http://windowsmedia.com/mediaguide/Radio
Free World Radio
[takes a little setting up, doesn't like Safari, but music you won't
hear anywhere else]
http://freeworldradio.com/

Find something eclectic or really good? Let me know so I can tell the
group!
-------------------------
They've done it again!
Those clever people at Google have done it again.Not only fantastic
free email, but now [fanfare]
Google Calendar
[end fanfare]

Now why is this something I'm bothering to mention?
Well, you can keep your calendar [diary, bookings] on Google, then
access it from anywhere in the world. And share it with others. There
are three different levels of access
• no access
• everyone sees everything
• specific people see busy/free info

Who would use it?
• Someone who runs a B&B could use it to say "Rooms available
June 6th" or "no rooms available July 8th"
• An administrator with several colleagues could organise
meetings and post the agendas on a website associated with the
calendar
• People like me who need to make appointments out on
the road. When I get back to Acme HQ, I synchronise and there's the
appointments all together. Brilliant!

And there's more
You can synch it with iCal [and thence your Palm or mobile phone] or
Outlook [but not Outlook Express or Entourage, yet]
Edit it anywhere with a web-browser
See the digest via XML feed

So how much does this cost I hear you say? Once you have your
$1000+computer and your internet connection [say $500 p.a.] it's
absolutely free! You need to be a member of Google [free]. Let me
know if you want to get a GoogleMail subscriber. As a Google Mail
member I can invite others to join...
-------------------------
Before You Call Acme Computer
These may seem like the bleeding obvious but they still come up. In
this day and age!
• Is everything plugged-in as it should be? The dog | cat |
child might have knocked out the cable. Bad Rover | Puss | [enter
child name]!
• Both ends? Yes it might be plugged-in to the back of the
computer,what about the power point | printer | other device?
• Power on?
• Passwords - Caps Lock on? [You might be TYPING IN CAPITALS
unknowingly]
•• Do you know your username | password? [I don't]

If You Can
• Note any recent error messages [write them down]
• What were you doing when the problem occurred? Was that
different to usual?
• Recent installations | new equipment
• Can you duplicate the problem or was it a one-off?
-------------------------

AcmeNews May 2006

2006-05-11T09:00:00.000+10:00

11 May 2006
Reminders
• Backing-up
Copy your important files to another place - CDs, Yahoo, Google Mail
• Email addresses
Address Book getting clogged? Update the addresses you're
keeping,delete those you don't need any more
• Update AntiVirus
Keep your Norton or other antiVirus up-to-date. The horrid files may
not affect Mac users but protect your PC-using friends and stamp out
the beast!
• Software updates
Keep your machine buzzing along nicely - apply bug fixes and
updates[or contact Acme and let me know what you need]
-------------------------
Sydney Film Festival
Yep it's on again at the State Theatre, Sydney's No1 site for Film
Festivals. The dates: 9-25 June. Ahh the biting cold of Market St and
the warm soup fresh from the Thermos. Oh the seats of the Mezzanine
[Drool]. And the films ain't half bad either. But don't start me on
the audience!
http://www.sydneyfilmfestival.org/
See something you'll never see again. Don't get me started about film
distribution in Australia either!! Grrr!
-------------------------
Sending documents Windows <-> Macintosh
OK you finally have your shiny new document ready to go. You're going
to email it. Will the person on the other end be able to use/open/read
it?
Everyone appears to be using MSWord these days don't they? Some are
using still Word 97/98 but you should be able to open their docs, and
they yours.
One trick - attach the suffix ".doc" deliberately to the end of the
title of your Word documents. This may be enough for your
correspondent to realise that it IS a Word document and be able to
open it.
OR
Documents can also be "printed" as pdfs [part of the OS for Macs, PCs
can use CutePDF] and distributed that way. Pdfs are Adobe Acrobat
documents, a pretty much universal format. In this way your
correspondent can open an [say] AppleWorks document without having
AppleWorks installed.
Mac users can also use Preview to open pdfs.
Check the October archive for more suffixes
for more suffix info.
-------------------------
Online Chat Session
Now, You've probably been wondering, "What is this thing called
Chat?" and why are all the teenagers locked away in their rooms for
hours on end? Can you believe it they're chatting to each other! [I
can't believe it] They can't chat to you because you're "too boring".
Well they've had that all to themselves for too long. Of course you
probably haven't set it up because there's no-one to chat with. Well
now there is. Lil ol' me.

Let's have a session
Mac users - use iChat or MSN
PC users - use MSN

Setup
You probably have the software already.
Mac - Check the Applications folder for iChat
PC - Have a look at Start -> MSN Messenger

If you don't have either go to
Mac - http://www.microsoft.com/mac/ [OS9 no longer supported]
PC - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/
look for MSN and/or Messenger
Download and install the software, appropriate to your machine and
System. You'll also need to create an account and both programs
should take you thru that setup. You'll need your username and
password.
Accounts [use these links]
• iChat - AOL ( http://www.aim.com/ ) [look for Create an
online identity] or use your .Mac setup if you have that
• MSN - Passport ( https://accountservices.passport.net/ )uses
your existing email address as your login [sign up for an account].
Hotmail users can use their Hotmail login as the existing account
name

•• When setting-up or starting for the first time you
might want to disable "connect automatically at startup" or similar.
This means you decide when you use the program. Or if you missed it,
the setting will be in Preferences.

In order to Chat we'll need to add each other to our Buddy List
[iChat]or Contact List [MSN].
• iChat
click the + in the Buddy List, then New Person
Mine is an AIM account [not .Mac] and my username is jcouani. Add me.
• MSN
click the "Add" button and search on my email address
"john.couani@acmecomputer.com.au"

The idea is the same, add someone to your list then type messages
back and forth. You can also send images and files.

So now, you've worked thru
Downloading the software,
Installing it,
Creating an account,
Adding me to your buddy list

Let's Chat
When: Friday 19 May 2pm to 4pm
Where: The internet
GET READY!!

What else?
You know your brother, stuck over there in Barcelona. If he had one
of these accounts and a computer you could have a real-time chat
whenever you're both online at the same time, catch up on the latest
happenings on the Ramblas. Or what about that daughter of yours
studying at Harvard? Or the teenager upstairs?
-------------------------

AcmeNews Disclaimer

2006-05-01T18:00:00.000+10:00

April 2006
About Acme Computer
Located in the inner-west of Sydney
Servicing the Sydney metropolitan area
Acme Computer offers the following services

Computer setup (Macintosh only)
Internet Assistance and Training
Computer and Application Training
WebPage design and Maintenance
FileMaker Pro database design and maintenance
Acme Computer ABN – 46 224 098 848
Make cheques payable to “Acme Computer”
Acme is not registered to collect GST

Disclaimer
No sponsorship is given or taken from any site mentioned on this website. I include them for your entertainment or information.

Opinions expressed are my own and should not be taken as the sole opinion when making a purchase. Shop around.

All brands, registered trademarks or trading names are included solely for information and this does NOT constitute a recommendation to purchase.

If any site causes you undue offence please advise me and approriate warnings will be attached, or the links removed from the archive.

I can't guarantee that any site won't harvest your email address, so use them with caution - enter your email address carefully. DO NOT enter it on any website if you are not prepared to filter unwanted email from mailing lists. Treat every request for your email address as if you are signing up for junk mail.

:<: The Internet is our Friend :>:

Acme Computer
http://www.acmecomputer.com.au

AcmeNews April 2006

2006-04-24T09:00:00.000+10:00

24 April 2006
Why not tell that person who uses computers about this list?

Lego Stop-Frame Animation
[warning: large files to download]
Here's an interesting site. You might have seen it mentioned in the
SMH the other week. It's an old kind of movie-making updated for the
21st century, using computers that is.

Brickfilms
http://www.brickfilms.com/
in which people use Lego blocks to create stop motion animation. The
take one image per motion/gesture of the subjects and bring the lego
characters to life.

Small Sample 1.8mb
One A Space Odyssey
http://www.archive.org/download/oneaspaceodyssey/oneaspaceodyssey320.mov
Quicktime format

Viewers
You may require a different viewer in order to view the movies.
Windows Media Player - wmv files
Real Player - rm or ram files
Quicktime [standard on most PCs and all Macs] - mov files
mpg files can be played on Quicktime and Windows Media players

My preference?
1. Quicktime
2. Windows Media
3. Real
Generally I have to update Real EVERY time I want to use it. I don't
like that.
-------------------------
VOIP
[Voice Over Internet Protocol]
Broadband users - know someone overseas/interstate who also has a
computer and a broadband [cable or ADSL] connection to the internet?
You can have a cheap, real-time conversation with them, complete with
text.
It's getting easier.

There are several services available now. Freshtel have Firefly but
that is PC only. Skype is available to Mac and PC users! If both of
you join Skype you can talk is free, once you've paid for your
computer,internet connection and internet traffic. [Watch your
download traffic- it can get away from you]
You can also call conventional telephone numbers, but you need to
establish credit. I hear it's pretty cheap nonetheless.

What do you need?
• Broadband connection [sorry, dialling-up people]
• The Skype software click here ( http://www.skype.com/ )
• A Skype account [free]
• Microphone or Headset with microphone [or you can yell at the
screen Mac-users]. Get a USB one. I like the Logitech - $70 or so.
• You can also get special VOIP handsets which plug into
your USB port
-------------------------
Navigating in your windows, Mac and PC
OK so you know your files are kept in folders and that the folders
contain icons representing your documents. That isn't the only view
available however.
You can view the contents of your folders in List view. And the list
can be arranged in several ways.

Once you're viewing as a list you can then sort the list instantly by
name or date.

Macs [Finder]
Select View [menu]- by List to go to List mode
To sort, click the title of the column you wish to sort on, say Date
or Name. Click again to reverse the order.

PCs [Desktop]
When you're in a window, select
View - List
Arrange, by Icons, Date etc
You can get a column view by clicking the Views button in the
toolbar.Then click the column title to sort by that column. In
Windows folders come first.

You can also sort by
Size [looking for the largest document?] and
Kind [get all the Word documents together] and other criteria.

Why is this handy?
Maybe you have a folder with 200 files in it, viewing by icon. You
were working on a document yesterday and now can't remember the name
of it.
Sort by date, have the latest files at the top [or bottom] and the
file will be the first in the list [or nearby].

Or, you're uploading your latest updated web pages so you need to
upload the files altered after the 23rd of February.
Sort by date - select the files whose save date is after 23/02 upload
those only.

One more...
You can navigate within a folder to a file easily by typing the name
of the file, if you know the name.
For "ZagrebLetter" you might type "Z-A-G" and hey presto there it
is. Of course if you have "ZagrebLetter01" to "ZagrebLetter05" find
one,then sort by Name in List view and all the ZagrebLetters will be
together and you can select the one you want...
-------------------------

AcmeNews March 2006

2006-03-21T09:00:00.000+11:00

21 March 2006
Sydney Airport Pickups
Here's a tip to avoid the ridiculous parking fees at Sydney
Airport[domestic and international]

Picker-upper
Make sure your mobile phone is charged-up and ON.
Confirm flight is on-time.
Drive to the airport to arrive about 10 mins [domestic] 20
mins[international] after the flight arrives.
Park somewhere adjacent to Sydney Airport - Mascot
[domestic],Arncliffe [international].
Wait for the call [OK I'm ready].
Proceed to the designated meeting point.

Arriver
Disembark from the plane and proceed to baggage collection.
Collect your bags.
Turn on mobile phone or use a public telephone in the terminal.
Call your picker-upper on their mobile telephone and say "OK I'm
ready". Go outside to the designated spot, say Departures drop-off.
Your Picker-upper will be there directly.

Arrivals info
International Click here
Domestic Click here
-------------------------
WARNING! WARNING!
There are malicious emails circulating.
They purport to be from your bank or some other financial
institution.You've probably had one or more in your email -
suggesting that you update your details, here's a handy link to our
website.

STOP

Banks DO NOT operate this way.They don't approach you to update your
details via email and weblink.Do not click the link in the email - it
is a false webpage, designed to collect your bank username and
password.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?
Someone has created a website containing webpages linked to a
database which collects your bank data should you enter it. Then they
use the data to access your account.
OR
If you send email with your personal bank data, they just collect it
and log on as you later. Thank you very much.

WHAT TO DO
* Keep an eye on your accounts. Log in at least once a week.Report
any unusual transactions. Make the bank work for you.
* Never give your internet banking password to anyone,and change it
regularly.
* If you need to change your password, log on and change it
yourself.
* Memorise it. If you need to write it down keep it in a secure place
until you memorise it, then destroy the record.
* Make sure you complete the security check questions on your bank's
internet banking site - those questions identify you to the bank
should you be locked-out, or forget your password.
* Register for phone-banking as well, to cover all the bases.
* Delete rogue emails - stop them from circulating.

PASSWORDS
Passwords work best when they are unintelligible. That said, you can
remember your car registration number. Don't use that, but what about
a variation? One car I owned was GWO905, so I might use gw090S,
"gee""double-you" "zero" "nine" "zero" "ess"
It's kind of the way those oh-so witty personalised number plates
work- substituting numbers for letters. 5 - S, 2 - Z, Oh for zero
etc.
Or what about your favourite place in the world. I have used various
european cities with a number stuck in it, or replacing a letter or
two. Easy to remember, and the number can be something significant
too.
So many people use the name of their dog | cat | alpaca as their
password. That's OK but disguise it, use the letter substitute device
to make it untelligible to all but yourself. You can remember it but
it's difficult to guess.
-------------------------
PC Users [sorry Mac users]
Free home AntiVirus software
[warning - not tested]
AVG Anti-Virus
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1
-------------------------
Vale
Dana Reeve, a non-smoker and life-partner of Christopher Reeve has
died of lung cancer on
6 August 2006. According to Dr James Mulshine from Rush University
Medical Centre in Chicago "10 to 15 per cent of people who develop
lung cancer are thought to be non-smokers," and "It was said that she
had,in the course of being an entertainer, spent a lot of time in
pubs, in nightclubs, in which there is a lot of cigarette smoke."
Ms Reeve was 44.
-------------------------

AcmeNews February 2006 [2]

2006-02-28T09:00:00.000+11:00

28 February 2006
-------------------------
WELCOME NEW SUBSCRIBERS
-------------------------

Malware
Malware has been sighted in MacOSX. Viruses, worms, trojan horses and
even spam are all forms of malware.

There are apparently two culprits
Oompa-Loompa or OSX/Oomp-A or OSX/Leap-A
includes a file called latestpics.tgz, purporting to show pics of the
next version of MacOSX. When you open the file it attempts to send
itself via iChat and damages applications on your computer.
Delete the email and attachment

Inqtana-A
affects OSX10.3 users and OSX10.4.1 users. Installing the Apple
Security Update 2005-006 or updating to a later version of OSX will
counter this minimal threat. The virus uses Bluetooth to spread
itself,until 24 February 2006.

Why the virus authors do it remains a mystery. Updates for NAV and
other anti-virus programs have been released. In the case of
Inqtana-A the security breach was fixed with a system update.

Symantec's site re these viruses
http://www.symantec.com/outbreak/macoutbreak.html
-------------------------
Not an endorsement, but entertaining
In my travels around Sydney, NSW, Byron and Darwin I have come across
these brightly-painted vans. All from Wicked Camper. They're all
decked-out and have groovy paintings in that graffiti-driven and
witty style. Have a look at the pictures page. They are definitely
wicked!

http://www.wickedcampers.com.au/
-------------------------
Links
When flying out of Sydney it pays to shop around. Here's a few online
travel agents
[no endorsements as usual, no preferences either]

Flight Centre
http://www.flightcentre.com.au/
I think this is actually the same site as studentflights.com.au so I
won't mention them both

Last Minute .com
http://www.au.lastminute.com/

STA
http://www.statravel.com.au/

Zuji
http://www.zuji.com.au/

WebJet
http://www.webjet.com.au/
and the airlines too
Sometimes they have as good/bad a price as anywhere!

QANTAS
http://www.qantas.com.au/
good frequent flyers pages now, been a long time coming...

Air New Zealand
http://www.airnz.com.au/

VirginBlue
http://www.virginblue.com.au/

JetStar
http://www.jetstar.com.au/

OzJet
http://www.ozjet.com.au/

Rex
http://www.rex.com.au/

With any of these, make sure you're booking what you intended and
that you give them your contact details. With the volatile
money-making circumstances of transport they're liable to change
flights on you! And don't forget the travel insurance...
-------------------------
Podcasting
careful - Here comes a huuuuge pandora's box
What is it?
Following on from iPods and digital music distribution, create a
soundbite and allow it to be downloaded from the internet. It can
then be uploaded to an iPod or played on a computer.
It can be a recording of someone reading a book [audiobook] or a
piece of unpublished music. Or something that someone thinks is
artistic/marketable/interesting/important enough to transmit.
The file sizes are quite large [40 minutes - 15mb or so] but it
depends on the duration and quality of the recording. And often
they're updated regularly. Because of the file-size broadband is
required [or you'll be there all night].

Why?
You might miss something on the radio. Listen to that book you've
been meaning to read, while travelling to work, or Tahiti. Now you
can download the file, put it on your iPod or burn it to a CD and
play in the car. Your car player needs to be able to recognise mp3s.

How do I...?
Play
Download a file from an internet site. It will be in mp3 format [or
another format]. You may need a subscription if the outputs are
regular, or to pay to download the podcast files. Or they may be
completely free of obligation. Use iTunes to import and play the
files you have downloaded.
Create
You need a music-input-capable computer [most of them] and a program
which will record the sound. A USB microphone and headset is ideal.
Software - In the Mac world there is GarageBand. PC users should
check the Podcasting News site [link below]. There is so much
software I'll be having more articles in the near future, once I work
through the mass!

Where?
Try starting at ABC online
http://www.abc.net.au/services/podcasting/
SBS podcasting
http://www20.sbs.com.au/podcasting/

More info
Podcast.net
http://www.podcast.net/
More info from wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting
Podcasting News
http://www.podcastingnews.com/
-------------------------

AcmeNews February 2006

2006-02-01T09:00:00.000+11:00

1 February 2006
About Acme Computer
Located in the inner-west of Sydney
Servicing the Sydney metropolitan area

Acme Computer offers the following services
* Computer setup (Macintosh only)
* Internet Assistance and Training
* Computer and Application Training
* WebPage design and Maintenance
* FileMaker Pro database design and maintenance
Acme Computer ABN - 46 224 098 848
Make cheques payable to "Acme Computer"
Acme is not registered to collect GST
-------------------------
WELCOME NEW SUBSCRIBERS
-
What else can I do on the Internet?
By now you'd know that you can do email [and send and receive
files],Internet banking, shopping, blogging, look up information [and
sometimes find it] but what else is there?
• What about manage your frequent flyer points? It is possible
to monitor how many points you're amassing on your credit card,
transfer them to your frequent flyer account then redeem them for
flights! Or redeem them elsewhere for holidays, video cameras, gifts,
you get the idea. Contact your relevant bank/credit card to see what's
available.

• Blogging can be more than "Today I went to the shop" - It
could be"Johnnie's Shopping adventure!(R)" complete with a map of the
route taken, price-lists, pictures of the items bought, then pictures
of Johnny using the items. Wow! And what about that recent overseas
shopping trip!? The relatives in Uzbekistan can't wait to see those
shots!

• Mailing Lists - everyone's bane, junk mail, applied to good
purposes!Do you have an organisation? Maybe your artists' group, Long
Bay Gaol old-boys, or the people from school. A list can be set-up so
that management is minimal. There is one "manager" and content needs
to be created but even if it's just "we're all still here", a message
can be sent regularly. Or not so regularly in the case of this mailing
list!
-------------------------
Google searching
The trick is to be broad enough to retrieve what you want, but
succinct enough to weed-out the extras
There are ways to better search the Google search engine. Here's a
few tips [Try them]

• Careful with "the" and "a". Include them if it's part of a
string like "Jabba the Hutt". Including them may increase the hits
unnecessarily

• Use " " [quotation marks] around your search terms to narrow
the search. A search for acme computer will look for all instances
of"acme" and "computer" as well as "acme computer"
1.7M results versus 39,000 - a much narrower search
Consider "commonwealth" and "bank" vs "commonwealth bank"

• Try other parts of the Google search
You'll notice at the top of the Google page more links
Web
Images
Groups
News
Froogle[US only]
Local[US only]
more
• Groups contains UseNet instances of your search criteria
[Hmmm "acme computer" appears in alt.sex.spanking - what is the rest
of the Acme world playing at?!]
• News didn't contain an Acme link [thank goodness] but you can
search Google for news items from around the world, search for "george
bush"to see how low his approval rating is this week
• Froogle is a US shopping site
• Local [US Google] will display satellite images and maps of
anywhere in the world. Amazing!
• more>> will take you to other parts of the Google
site.Dictionaries, translators, too much stuff! Some things work with
PCs only, not Macs and some are only relative to the US

• Advanced Search
You can use the advanced search features to narrow your search
* search for all the words - acme computer [no quotation marks]
* date - updated in the last six months
* in domain [only] - acmecomputer.com.au

will return five pages in my website and not 26,000,000!

Google - http://www.google.com
Australian version - http://www.google.com.au
-------------------------

Links
Cats in Sinks - for all your cat and bathroom needs
http://www.catsinsinks.com/
Yes More Sudoku links
Web Sudoku
http://www.websudoku.com/
Good ol' Daily Sudoku
http://www.dailysudoku.co.uk/sudoku/index.shtml
Sudoku
http://www.sudoku.com/
Everyday sudoku
http://www.everydaysudoku.com/
MiniClip
http://www.miniclip.com/sudoku/sudoku.htm
Sample Problem of Sudoku
http://www.puzzle.jp/letsplay/play_sudoku-e.html
Sudoku Online
http://www.sudoku.org.uk/
-------------------------
Before You Call Acme Computer
These may seem like the bleeding obvious but they still come up. In
this day and age!
• Is everything plugged-in as it should be? The dog | cat |
child might have knocked out the cable. Bad Rover | Puss | [enter
child name]!
• Both ends? Yes it might be plugged-in to the back of the
computer,what about the power point | printer | other device?
• Power on?
• Passwords - Caps Lock on? [You might be TYPING IN CAPITALS
unknowingly]
• Do you know your username | password? [I don't]

If You Can
• Note any recent error messages [write them down]
• What were you doing when the problem occurred? Was that
different to usual?
• Recent installations | new equipment
• Can you duplicate the problem or was it a one-off?
-------------------------

AcmeNews

Vale Steve in Sydney

Vale Steve

OSX 10.7 Lion

Apple developments

WWDC 2011

iPad2 and iOS4.3 launched

Apple - The Beatles on iTunes

October 20 announcements from Apple

Mac OSX 10.7 coming soon?

New, new, new

Big New Releases

Commenters

iPhone4

iPad 28 May

Five Years of YouTube

A few Apple Dates

Fwd: photo books

You'll have to keep waiting

Way of the Future? iView!

Now is the time!

Poll Results

Windows Phone 7 Series

MS Office 2011 announced

The Permissions Procedure when copying

Macintosh everyday shortcuts

It's Here!! iPad not iSlate

Want Free Apps?

Get ready for 27 January Pacific US time

Including links in email messages

Home Video Conferencing

It's Magic alright

YouTube - Most Popular videos in 2009

AcmeNews December 2009

AcmeNews October 2009

AcmeNews September 2009

AcmeNews June 2009 [2]

AcmeNews June 2009

AcmeNews May 2009

AcmeNews April 2009

AcmeNews March 2009

AcmeNews January 2009

AcmeNews December 2008 - the end of the year is nigh!

AcmeNews November 2008

AcmeNews October 2008

AcmeNews - September 2008

AcmeNews August 2008

**EXTRA** AcmeNews June 2008[2]

AcmeNews June 2008

AcmeNews - May 2008

AcmeNews April 2008

AcmeNews March 2008

BUMPER 40th ISSUE AcmeNews February 2008

AcmeNews January 2008 [MacWorld Expo Special Issue]

Late Final Extra - AcmeNews December 2007 [2]

AcmeNews December 2007

AcmeNews October 2007 [2]

AcmeNews October 2007

AcmeNews September 2007

AcmeNews August 2007

AcmeNews July 2007

AcmeNews June 2007

AcmeNews May 2007 [2]

AcmeNews May 2007

AcmeNews April 2007

AcmeNews March 2007

AcmeNews February 2007

AcmeNews January 2007 [2]

AcmeNews January 2007

Late Final Extra AcmeNews December 2006 [2]

AcmeNews December 2006

AcmeNews November 2006

AcmeNews October 2006 [2]

Acme Computer Reopens -95500523- October 2006

AcmeNews September 2006

AcmeNews August 2006 [2]

AcmeNews August 2006

AcmeNews July 2006 [2]

AcmeNews July 2006

AcmeNews June 2006

EXTRA AcmeNews June 2008[2]