The Mac Doctor

Mac classes - February '12

2012-01-31T20:13:00.002-07:00

One month down in the new year already, can you believe it? I know I sound like a broken record, but time sure flies when you're having fun... On to the class news:

 First, on Saturday, February 11th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will be revisiting the topic of Social Networking. In this class I will cover Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., etc. The emphasis will be on figuring out how to navigate these wild & crazy new social fads, especially (once again) as more and more changes happen on Facebook & now Google+ as well... At the same time, you'll learn how to maintain the privacy levels we all prefer. If there's interest, I will also cover the ways in which these tools can be put to use in marketing a business. Cost is $20.

 Then, on Saturday, February 18th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will again be offering my popular class on the iPhone, iPad & iPod Touch. Just in the last several months, the iPhone 4S has arrived on the scene (now available on three carriers: AT&T, Verizon andSprint), a major update to the operating system has come out ("iOS 5") with tons of great new features, and of course the popularity of the iPad 2 (not to mention the "iTouch") has shown no sign of slowing. Rumors of the arrival of the iPad 3 are beginning to crop up as well.

Whether you've had one of these game-changers for years, are just now jumping on the "iOS" bandwagon with a new iPhone 4S, or it's simply time for you to find out what the fuss is all about, this class will teach you everything you need to know about these amazing devices... I'll cover the pros and cons of AT&T vs Verizon, all the new features in iOS 5, as well as the secrets of managing what you put on your device via iTunes... I hope you can join us! Cost for this class is $20 as well.

***The above classes are held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary***

Then, don't forget...
 Lastly, the regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class takes place on the last Wednesday of every month, and this month that means it happens on Wednesday, February 29th from 5-7 p.m, again due to the holidays. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434(or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

There are six Macs in the computer lab, so only two of the eight attendees need their own laptops. This class is beginner-oriented, but we cover some different things every month; repeat attendees are encouraged (when there's room)!

Mac Classes - January '12

2012-01-01T23:10:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year! I trust you've all had a peaceful, relaxing first day of 2012... May this year bring you nothing but peace, joy, prosperity & light!

We're back to the regular schedule this month, so there will be two Saturday classes and the regular Library Overview class. On to the details:

 On Saturday, January 14th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will again be offering my popular iPhoto class. Come learn everything there is to know about Apple's amazing digital photo organization/editing program. it will be a great way for you to accomplish that new year's resolution to get your photo library under control, as well as learn how easy (and fun) the process can be! I will be covering both the latest version (iPhoto '11) as well as the previous ('09) version. Cost is $20.

 Then, on Saturday, January 28th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will be covering Apple's amazing Pages program. In this class you will learn how to master their formidable word-processing/page layout program, which just happens to be a good deal more user-friendly (and fun to use) than Microsoft Word! Cost is $20.

***The above classes are held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary***

Then, don't forget...

 The regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class, which takes place on the last Wednesday of the month. This month it will be Wednesday, January 25th from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

There are six Macs in the computer lab, so only two of the eight attendees need their own laptops. This class is beginner-oriented, but we cover some different things every month; repeat attendees are encouraged (when there's room)!

As always, let me know if there's something else you'd like me to consider covering in the Saturday sessions.

iPad, iPhone & iPod Touch Tips & Tricks...

2011-12-15T13:44:00.002-07:00

For those of you who may have missed my iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch class last Saturday, here are some resources to help you get the most out of your "iDevice".

Note: make sure to update your device to the latest version of the operating system, if you haven't already. To do that, connect the device to your computer, open iTunes (if it doesn't pop up automatically), and it should notify you that a new software update is available. Follow the prompts to proceed with the install. (Depending on the speed of your internet connection, the whole process could take an hour or more, so I recommend doing the process late at night or very early in the morning.)]

Now, on with the tips!

First, here's a few links to some catch-all articles that cover a lot of the little details found in "iOS 5":

http://safe.mn/3wYA
http://safe.mn/3wYB
http://safe.mn/3wYD

Way at the bottom of the second link above, they mention the keyboard short feature found in iOS 5. I meant to mention this, as it's really one of the most powerful features in the new OS. Here's a link to an article that covers that feature in even more detail: http://safe.mn/3wYU

Next, I mentioned a few apps; here's a fairly comprehensive list of many of my faves:
[The links below should take you to the app's page in the iTunes Store; you can read up on them and decide whether to install them or not. Most are free, but some cost between 99¢ and $20...]

Adobe Ideas
Adobe Ideas (for iPad)
Adobe Photoshop Express
AppAdvice (for finding out about new & popular apps, as well as a daily listing of apps on sale!)
Brushes - iPhone Edition (This has been used to create cover art for the New Yorker!)
Brushes - iPad Edition
Dragon Dictation
Dragon Go!
Dropbox (If you don't know about Dropbox for your computer, check it out! Amazing online-backup/cloud-storage tool! Combined with an iPad or iPhone, you can access your files anywhere...)
Evernote
GoodReader for iPhone
GoodReader for iPad
iMDb (Internet Movie Database)
Kindle (for reading Kindle ebooks on your iDevice; many can be found for free...)
My-Cast (weather)
Nebulous Notes (Awesome tool for writing on your iPhone or iPad)
Netflix
Overdrive Media Console (for accessing ebooks/audiobooks from some public libraries, like Montrose or Telluride)
Peaks (incredible "augmented reality" app that you have to see to believe!
Photosynth (amazing panoramic photo tool)
Quick Office Pro (for iPhone)
Quick Office Pro HD (for iPad)
Skype (for iPhone)
Skype (for iPad)
WeatherBug (for iPhone)
WeatherBug (for iPad)
White & Yellow Pages (a phone book for your iPhone/iPad! No need to mess with Google...)

Then, here's the article that covers the trick I mentioned about creating your own ringtones: http://safe.mn/3wYS

And lastly, for those of you with an iPhone 4S (or getting one soon?), this page covers a bunch of Siri-specific tips: http://safe.mn/3wYT

A Couple of Online Safety Tips...

2011-12-04T21:49:00.001-07:00

I'm a big believer in not living life in fear, but when we spend so much of our lives in this crazy online world these days, there's certainly a need to practice 'safe-surfing' practices... And since this e-world is evolving so quickly, there are always new things to be aware of. Not necessarily afraid of, but certainly aware of!

First, my friend Karla sent me an email recently warning of a new online scam involving something called "URL Shorteners". You can read the entire article over at Scambusters.org, but the gist of it is this:

URL shorteners are tools that were developed in recent years as URLs (Uniform Resource Locaters, aka web addresses) just kept getting more complicated and thus, longer. As you may have experienced, if you paste a long web address (URL) into an email, and it ends up flowing onto two lines, the entire URL might not work right anymore, as the part on the second line would often get removed from the part on the first line! Messy, messy, messy... Enter URL shorteners. Sites have sprung up all over, with names like tinyurl.com, bitly.com and goo.gl, among many others. I've been a big fan of shorteners for quite awhile now, for making nice short URLs in emails to clients (bitly being my current favorite). They've also gained popularity since they make it easy to post short URLs to services like Facebook and Twitter.

The problem, it seems, is that scammers are starting to use shorteners to direct people to malicious websites. According to the Scambusters.org site linked above, there are "three simple steps"one can take to avoiding URL shortener abuse:

1. Be wary of any link that appears to be the output of a URL shortener. Basically, if the address is very short, comes to you in an email or appears on a website yet doesn't use recognizable words, it has probably been shortened.

2. If you have any doubts about the origin, copy and paste the link into one of the URL lengthening sites. For a fuller list than the ones we've provided, just initiate a web search for the words "URL lengthener."

3. Ensure your Internet security software is up-to-date. That way, if you do land on a malicious page, your software should alert you and block any attempts to upload malware.

Their best advice, however, is good general web-surfing advice: pay attention to the web address that shows up in the location bar at the top of your web browser when you're using the Internet! Use common sense to ensure that you're on the site you think you are... In other words, if you think you're on your Chase credit card website, make sure the first part of the address for the page you're about to enter your username and password on is actually 'chase.com', and not just something close, like 'cc.chase.com'. And if you're not sure, try starting over from a known-good link in your bookmarks (or something as simple as 'chase.com')!!

Read more at the Scambusters website, and get in touch if you still have questions.

UPDATE: I Just found this site, with a great round-up of the relative security of 11 popular URL shortening services. All of the ones I know and use didn't fare very well, so I'll be trying these two from now on: cli.gs & safe.mn (probably the latter)!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Secondly, I read an article at arstechnica.com today about a security researcher who did a bunch of research into Facebook's supposed privacy and security tools and found a method whereby "he could "friend" even allegedly more wary Facebook users in less than 24 hours." Even scarier, by taking advantage of Facebook's "Three Trusted Friends" password recovery feature, he found that "a hacker
can change both the password and the contact e-mail address for an account. The hacker could then use that hacked account for social engineering attacks on other accounts." Apparently, a Facebook spokesperson "told Ars Technica by email that Neto's approach is a clear violation of the company's policies, and that Facebook encourages users to report any account they think may be using a false name." Not exactly encouraging, from a security standpoint, eh??

At the very least, I urge any Facebook users reading this to disable the "Three Trusted Friends" feature, if you have it enabled.

I think the major lesson here (in both of these examples of online scams) is to be on your guard when surfing the Internet. Of course, there are lots of places where you probably don't have to be too wary, but unfortunately, Facebook doesn't appear to be one of them!!

Mac classes - December '11

2011-12-02T23:44:00.001-07:00

I don't know about you, but I can't believe it's December already. Where did the year go? It's finally looking like we might be getting some snow in the next few days; let's hope!!

On to the details about this month's Mac classes:

First off, due to the busy holiday season, I'm only going to offer one Saturday class, but it's a good one:

 Next Saturday, December 10th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will again be offering my popular class on the iPhone, iPad & iPod Touch. Just in the last couple of months, the iPhone 4S has arrived on the scene (now available on three carriers: AT&T, Verizon as well as Sprint), a major update to the operating system has come out ("iOS 5") with tons of great new features, and of course the popularity of the iPad 2 (not to mention the "iTouch") has shown no sign of slowing.

Whether you've had one of these game-changers for years, are just now jumping on the "iOS" wagon with a new iPhone 4S, or it's simply time for you to find out what the fuss is all about, this class will teach you everything you need to know about these amazing devices... I'll cover the pros and cons of AT&T vs Verizon, all the new features in iOS 5, as well as the reasons you might want to ask Santa for an iPhone 4S this year... I hope you can join us! Cost is $20.

***The above class is held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and is open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary***

Then, don't forget...

 Though the regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class usually takes place on the last Wednesday of the month, for this month I'm going to switch it to the third Wednesday of the month, December 21st from 5-7 p.m, again due to the holidays.These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

Quick reminder: Overview Class Wednesday evening

2011-11-28T23:55:00.001-07:00

The *FREE* Overview of Mac OS X class is Wednesday night at the Ridgway Library! I think I only have four seats left, so give me a call if you'd like to join us... 970-417-8434

It's a fun tour of all aspects of the Mac operating system, suitable for all levels of user (though primarily for the beginner). And did I mention that it's FREE? ;-)

Mac Classes - November '11

2011-11-06T23:22:00.002-07:00

Little did I know when I wrote my October newsletter that Steve Jobs was near death. I was so surprised by my strong emotional reaction to the news of his death, especially since I obviously never even met the man. Of course, his company has had quite an effect on the path of my life, so I suppose it's not that surprising... He certainly was an enigma: a master of innovation, a buddhist who came of age in the sixties yet could be extremely hard and inhumane. Most of all, a passionate leader who seemed to be able to predict the future (of technology anyway). It will be very interesting to see how Apple evolves without him!

On to the details about this month's Mac classes:

 First off, Saturday, November 12th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will again be offering my popular iPhoto class. Come learn everything there is to know about Apple's amazing digital photo organization/editing program. Start getting your photo library under control, and learn how easy (and fun) the process can be! Cost is $20.

 Then, on Saturday, November 19th, from 10 a.m. to noon, for the first time, I will be covering the broad topic of Email & Address Book management. After numerous requests over the last couple of months, I decided it's time to offer a class covering all the ins and outs of email and contact-management on a Mac. Ever wonder what the Bcc field is for, or how to make an email that looks colorful and professional instead of simple black-on-white text? Have you been frustrated by the complexity of creating Groups in your Address Book, and then struggled to send a message to a large group without having the message fail? This class will cover all that and more... Cost is also $20.

***The above classes are always held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary***

Then, don't forget, there's...

 The regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will take place on the last Wednesday of the month, November 30th from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

Mac Classes - October '11

2011-10-08T18:45:00.000-06:00

The big news this week is Apple's announcement tomorrow about their latest offering(s) in the iPhone lineup. I know I'll be tuned in to find out all the gory details...

Also, for those of you in neighboring communities, I'm currently researching options/venues for presenting more classes in your towns! Stay tuned...

Now for the lowdown on this month's Mac classes:

 First off, Saturday, October 15th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will again present a class on Apple's Pages program. Come learn how to master this formidable word-processing/page layout program, which is a good deal more user-friendly and fun to use than Microsoft Word! Cost is $20.

 Then, on Saturday, October 29th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will be revisiting the topic of Social Networking. In this class I will cover Facebook, Google+ Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., etc. The emphasis will be on figuring out how to navigate these wild & crazy new social fads, especially in light of all the recent changes on Facebook & the emergence of Google+ as a strong contender... At the same time, you'll learn how to maintain the privacy levels we all prefer. If there's interest, I will also cover the ways in which these tools can be put to use in marketing a business. Cost is also $20.

***The above classes are always held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary***

Then, don't forget, there's always...

 The regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will take place on the last Wednesday of the month, October 26th from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

There are six Macs in the computer lab, so only two of the eight attendees need their own laptops. This class is beginner-oriented, but we cover some different things every month; repeat attendees are encouraged (when there's room)!

As always, let me know if there's something else you'd like me to consider covering in the Saturday sessions.

Mac Classes - September '11

2011-09-02T22:30:00.000-06:00

Happy Labor Day weekend everyone! Even if it is still hot, fall is in the air, especially when that wind blows...

Mac class news for the month:

 For starters, Saturday, September 17th, from 10 a.m. to noon, (due to popular demand) I will again be covering the iPhoto program. Come learn all the ins & outs of Apple's amazing digital photo organization/editing program. This class carries a fee of $20.

 Then, on Saturday, September 24th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will be revisiting Apple's Keynote program. We've all seen the ubiquitous PowerPoint presentation done to death (almost literally)... Apple has taken their usual graphic-oriented approach to the concept and done it justice. Keynote makes it possible to make exciting, engaging presentations that stand out from the crowd. This class also carries a fee of $20.

***The above classes are always held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary***

Then, don't forget, there's...

 The regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will take place on the last Wednesday of the month, September 28th from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

As always, let me know if there's something else you'd like me to consider covering in the Saturday sessions.

WARNING: New phishing scam on the loose...

2011-08-29T21:00:00.000-06:00

More things to be wary of I'm afraid...

A client sent this to me over the weekend. He fell for it, and had to go through the hassle of changing passwords and canceling credit cards, etc...

It's just another "phishing" scam, but one that is directly targeted at Mac users who may have been following the news about Apple's upcoming iCloud service that will replace MobileMe sometime this fall. Even if you don't have a MobileMe account right now, you could be a target for the scam, as iCloud will work for anyone with an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

If you'll notice, the "From" field says 'MobileMe Team', but the email address is '@iCLOUD.com', instead of 'apple.com'. Subtle things like that are what one should keep their eyes peeled for when trying to discern an email's legitimacy. Of course, the basic rule still applies: NEVER assume an email asking you to log in to a secure website is legitimate. Instead, go to that site using a known-good web address (i.e. apple.com, chasebank.com or wellsfargo.com), and look around for anything related to the email's claim. Better yet, call the company's 800 number...

Here's the original message client received:

Feel free to contact me if you have questions about this. Now back to your regularly scheduled programing!

Mac Classes - August '11

2011-08-01T18:30:00.000-06:00

Happy Colorado Day everyone! I trust you're enjoying the 135th anniversary of Colorado's statehood (not to mention all this rain we've been having!)...

Mac class news for the month:

 First off, Saturday, August 13th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will be presenting a class on the iPhone, iPad & the iPod Touch. Now that the iPhone has finally come to Verizon and the iPad has gotten so popular, more and more of you might have one or the other (or an 'iTouch'), or maybe it's simply time for you to find out what the fuss is all about! Either way, this class will teach you everything you need to know about these amazing devices... Cost is $20.

 Then, on Saturday, August 27th, from 10 a.m. to noon, for the first time, I will be covering iMovie. Since most point-and-shoot cameras (and even the newest digital SLR models) take video these days, I figured it was high time I covered Apple's powerful video editing software. If you'd like to learn how to make your own Oscar contenders, this class is for you! Cost is also $20.

***The above classes are always held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary***

Then, don't forget, there's...

 The regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will take place on the last Wednesday of the month, August 31st from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

Mac Classes - July '11

2011-07-05T23:08:00.003-06:00

Here's hoping everyone had a wonderful Independence Day weekend! I'm back to a full slate of classes for the month, and a little late getting this out, so let's get right to it...

Mac class news for the month:

 For starters, Saturday, July 16th, from 10 a.m. to noon, (due to continuing requests) I will again be covering the iPhoto program. Come learn all the ins & outs of Apple's amazing digital photo organization/editing program. This class carries a fee of $20.

 Then, on Saturday, July 30th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will be revisiting the topic of Social Networking. In this class I will cover Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., etc. The emphasis will be on figuring out how to navigate these wild & crazy new social fads, and at the same time maintain the privacy levels we all prefer. If there's interest, I will also cover the ways in which these tools can be put to use in marketing a business. This class also carries a fee of $20.

***The above classes are always held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary***

Then, don't forget, there's...

 The regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will take place on the last Wednesday of the month, July 27th from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

Mac Classes - June '11

2011-06-06T23:44:00.004-06:00

Happy June everyone! Summer is finally here!!

I'm a bit late on the class newsletter this month, mainly due to lots of competing demands on my time right now. As a result, I'm not going to be able to offer two Saturday classes this month. Hopefully things will settle down in July!

Mac class news for the month:

 This month only, I'm able to offer just one focused class: Saturday, June 25th, from 10 a.m. to noon, (due to popular demand) I will be revisiting Apple's Pages program. Come learn how to master Apple's word-processing/page layout program. This class carries a fee of $20.

***The above classes are always held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary***

Then, don't forget, there's...

 The regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will take place on the last Wednesday of the month, June 29th from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

There are six Macs in the computer lab, so only two of the eight attendees need their own laptops. This class is beginner-oriented, but we cover some different things every month; repeat attendees are encouraged (when there's room)!

UPDATE Serious Mac "malware" threat evolves...

2011-05-28T15:26:00.002-06:00

I have just been alerted to the existence of a new variant of the malware I told everyone about in my previous email... It's called "Mac Guard", and the bad news is that it doesn't even need an administrator password to install! The good news is, of course, that if you followed my advice about unchecking the 'Open "safe" flies..." box in Safari's preferences, you should still be protected. To read more about this latest threat, follow this link:

http://bit.ly/m9hTMs

In the unfortunate event you get bitten by this new variant, follow the instructions below to rid yourself of the threat.

Good luck,

John

Serious Mac "malware" threat...

2011-05-19T15:05:00.001-06:00

I want to let everyone know about a threat to Mac users that has recently cropped up, and is starting to hit the news sites as well. So far, there are at least three variants: "MAC Defender", "Mac Protector" and "Mac Security". The threat is being reported as a virus, but technically, it's not. The more accurate term for it is "scareware", as it's simply designed to scare users into thinking they've been infected with a virus. It's devious and nasty in its techniques, but the (sort of) good news (sort of) is that it poses no threat to the data on your computer. If someone falls for it completely, however, they could end up compromising a credit card, so don't take this lightly. For details, read on...

The threat starts when you stumble onto a 'poisoned' website, and a pop-up window of some sort will appear that says your computer has been found to be virus-infected. The secret of the threat is that a bit of javascript code on the website has already initiated a download, and in a very short time (if your computer is configured as most are by default [see below[*]), you'll be presented with an installer window, which asks for your administrator password in order to proceed. If you're really paying attention, you'll decline that request, and the threat will be averted. But, if you go ahead and enter your password (as most of us probably would, thinking the threat is real and worrying about the consequences), the threat really takes off...

The next step in the nastiness is that you'll be presented with a fake anti-virus program interface, and it will proclaim to have found one or more viruses on your system. [This is a good time to interject that there still are no known true viruses out there that can attack Mac OS X.] For the few folks that I've spoken to that have experience the issue, the next step is what finally triggers a "wait a minute" moment... The 'program' then asks for you to enter your credit card info to be charged something like $60 to fully install the 'program' and thus rid yourself of the virus(es). Fortunately, all the folks I've spoken to have been sufficiently wary of blindly giving out any sort of private info, especially credit card/bank account numbers. DON'T DO IT!

Of course, at this point, the nastiness escalates. The fake program has been installed in such a way that it has no apparent way to be quit it, as well as having added itself to your login items (remember, you gave it your admin password?), so will start up automatically every time you restart your computer. To top it all off, if you don't pay up, it will automatically open your browser to some awful porn sites on a random basis, in an attempt to further scare you into paying up... Ugh.

Hopefully this email, and other news stories you may have already seen or been alerted to, will serve to keep you from falling prey to the hoax. If, on the other hand, you've been bitten, and need to know how to eliminate the nastiness, here's how to do it:

1) First off, as I said above, please don't be scared into actually giving them a credit card number! If you already did, call your CC company right away and alert them to the charge and cancel the card immediately;

2) The only way to delete the program (whichever version is installed: MAC Defender, Mac Protector or Mac Security), is to do the following:

• Go into your Applications folder, locate the Utilities folder, find the Activity Monitor program and open it (you can also try clicking this link);

• Once in Activity Monitor, find the pop-up-menu at the top of the window that says "My Processes" and change that to "All Processes";

• Find the name of your nemesis in the list of processes, select it, and click "Quit Process", then click "Force Quit";

• Quit Activity Monitor, go back to your Applications folder and find the offending program; move it to the Trash (being careful not to double-click it!), and then empty the Trash.

• Restart your computer, just to be sure you've cleaned it out...

3) Whew, it's gone! *One last step. For protection in the future, assuming you're using Safari as your default browser, go into Safari's preferences, and under the General tab, uncheck the box at the bottom there that's labeled "Open "safe" files after downloading". If there's anything we've learned from this whole ordeal, it's that it just isn't possible to let a program make assumptions about what a "safe" file is anymore!!

As always, if you have any trouble understanding any of this, or figuring out how to rid yourself of the threat, please feel free to give me a call. I'll do my best to help!

Of course, a big question that arises out of all of this is this: "Is it time to buy & install some sort of Anti-virus software on my Mac??" Here's my take (and it's also that of several online "experts"): I really don't think so. Of the many programs available for the Mac right now, only one would've detected the problem at the outset if you'd had it installed. That's mostly because it's not a true virus, as I explained earlier. I've always said that this type of threat was what all computer users would have to be most vigilant about in the future, because it's the easiest way to gain access to someone's computer. In short, the Trojans were very clever all those hundreds of years ago, and hackers are still benefitting from that knowledge! Instead of the relying on AV software, I still believe that the best investment to protect yourself from ALL types of computer problems (software/hardware malfunction as well as 'malware') is to have a robust backup system. If you're running a business from your computer, it should be a strongly redundant system as well!

Still, for those of you who would still like the peace of mind that comes from running some sort of anti-virus software, here are a few good products to explore:

http://www.sophos.com/en-us/products/endpoint/anti-virus/support.aspx

http://www.intego.com/virusbarrier/

http://macscan.securemac.com/

Just make sure you've got a good backup as well!

Also, if you'd like to read up in more detail about this threat, here are a few links:

http://bit.ly/krYwxj

http://bit.ly/iim2PM

http://aol.it/l3XKew

Mac Classes - May '11

2011-05-01T21:41:00.003-06:00

May Day is upon us, and it's still cloudy and cold!?! My patience for the arrival of warm weather wears thin... I know, before long we'll all be complaining about the heat!

Mac class news for the month:

 For starters, Saturday, May 14th, from 10 a.m. to noon, (due to ongoing demand) I will be covering iPhoto again. Come learn all the ins & outs of Apple's amazing digital photo organization/editing program. This class carries a fee of $20.

 Then, on Saturday, May 28th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will be covering Apple's Keynote program. We've all seen the ubiquitous PowerPoint presentation done to death (almost literally)... Apple has taken their usual graphic-oriented approach to the concept and done it justice. Keynote makes it possible to make exciting, engaging presentations that stand out from the crowd. This class also carries a fee of $20.

***The above classes are always held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary***

Then, don't forget, there's...

 The regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will take place on the last Wednesday of the month, May 25th from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

There are six Macs in the computer lab, so only two of the eight attendees need their own laptops. This class is beginner-oriented, but we cover some different things every month; repeat attendees are encouraged (when there's room)!

As always, let me know if there's something else you'd like me to consider covering in the Saturday sessions.

The Difference Between HTTP and HTTPS

2011-04-15T10:09:00.008-06:00

I received an email from Ed Walker recently, containing info I thought worth sharing [I've edited it a bit for clarity]:

First, many people are unaware of the main difference between http:// and https://. It's all about keeping you secure! HTTP stands for Hyper Text Transport Protocol, which is just a fancy way of saying it's a protocol (a language, in a manner of speaking) for information to be passed back and forth between web servers and clients. The important thing is the letter S which makes the difference between HTTP and HTTPS.

The S (big surprise) stands for "Secure". If you visit a website or webpage, and look at the address in the web browser, it will likely begin with the following: http://. This means that the website is talking to your browser using the regular 'unsecure' language. In other words, it is possible for someone to "eavesdrop" on your computer's conversation with the website. If you fill out a form on the website, someone might see the information you send to that site.

This is why you never ever enter your credit card number in an http website! But if the web address begins with https://, that basically means your computer is talking to the website in a secure code that no one can eavesdrop on. This is also known as an "encrypted" connection.

You understand why this is so important, right?

If a website ever asks you to enter your credit card information (or any other personal information for that matter), you should automatically look to see if the web address begins with https://.

If it doesn't, NEVER enter sensitive information like a credit card, Social Security number, etc. This includes usernames/passwords for sensitive sites like banks and credit card accounts. One of the reasons I like Gmail so much is that it allows for a secure connection when simply logging in to your account. This can prevent someone from gaining access to your email account when browsing on a public wifi network!

Of course, feel free to pass this on (You may save someone a lot of grief)!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Mac Classes - April '11

2011-04-03T22:28:00.002-06:00

Happy April everyone! I can't believe it, it's snowing, again! Sheesh...

Since last month's request-based class schedule was marginally successful, I'm going back to picking the topics (keeping everyone's recent input in mind though). For a slightly different (but fun) approach, I've decided to do a sort of "Office Suite smackdown":

 For starters, Saturday, April 16th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will be covering Apple's Numbers vs Microsoft Excel. Come learn the differences between Apple's and Microsoft's approach to the spreadsheet program. This class carries a fee of $20.

 Then, on Saturday, April 30th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will be covering Apple's Pages vs Microsoft Word. Come learn the differences between Apple's and Microsoft's approach to word processing. This class also carries a fee of $20.

***The above classes are always held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary***

Then, don't forget, there's...

 The regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will take place on the last Wednesday of the month, April 27th from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

There are six Macs in the computer lab, so only two of the eight attendees need their own laptops. This class is beginner-oriented, but we cover some different things every month; repeat attendees are encouraged (when there's room)!

Mac Classes - March '11

2011-03-07T00:00:00.003-07:00

Following my new approach of polling for preferred class topics this last week, here's the way it shook out:

 For starters, Saturday, March 12th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will be covering iPhoto. Come learn all about Apple's powerful digital image cataloging & editing software. We'll primarily cover the iLife '09 version, but I'll touch on the '08 and '11 versions as well. This class carries a fee of $20.

 Then, on Saturday, March 26th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will be covering iWeb. If you've been wondering what it would take to build yourself a snazzy looking new website, this class is for you! Helpful topics to read up on before the class would be domain names and web hosting, but are not required. This class also carries a fee of $20.

**¡Bonus!**  Since it was almost a tie between it & iWeb, I'd like to offer a

Social Networking class on Saturday, March 19th, but only if there's still enough interest. Please let me know ASAP if you're interested, since I may have to cancel if not enough people can commit. It would again run from 10 a.m. to noon, and cover Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., etc... It would also carry a fee of $20. It's gonna be a busy month!

***The above classes are always held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary***

Then, don't forget, there's...

 The regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will take place on the last Wednesday of the month, February 23rd from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

There are six Macs in the computer lab, so only two of the eight attendees need their own laptops. This class is beginner-oriented, but we cover some different things every month; repeat attendees are encouraged (when there's room)!

Mac Classes - February '11

2011-02-01T20:59:00.001-07:00

Happy February everyone! Brrrr, it sure is cold out there! It's nice to finally get a decent snowfall though, eh?...

Mac class news for the month:

First, the Saturday classes:

 For starters, Saturday, February 12th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will again be offering another local Q&A session! This session costs $15, but is a full two-hours of help and advice!! In the event there aren't enough questions to fill the two hours, I will offer a variety of tips and tricks for doing common tasks on your Mac! Please come and help make it successful...

 Then, on Saturday, February 26th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will again be covering iTunes & your iPod/iPad/iPhone. If you would like to learn more about Apple's preeminent digital media program, or simply want to find out what all the iPhone/iPad fuss is about, this class is for you. From playlists to podcasts, audiobooks to "apps"; attend this class to learn all the ins and outs of this run-away twenty-first century phenomenon. This class carries a fee of $20.

***The above classes are always held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary***

Then...

 The regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will take place on the last Wednesday of the month, February 23rd from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

There are six Macs in the computer lab, so only two of the eight attendees need their own laptops. This class is beginner-oriented, but we cover some different things every month; repeat attendees are encouraged (when there's room)!

Mac Classes - January '11

2011-01-01T23:00:00.004-07:00

Happy New Year everyone! May 2011 bring you much joy, peace and prosperity!

Mac class news for the month:

It's after the holidays, so we're back to a full schedule... First, the Saturday classes:

 For starters, Saturday, January 15th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will be covering Apple's iWork suite: Pages, Numbers and Keynote. This trio of programs is the competition for Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The focus will be on Pages, since word processing is the most common task for the majority of users, but I will give a good overview of the other two programs as well. This class carries a fee of $20.

 Then, on Saturday, January 29th, from 10 a.m. to noon, back by popular demand, I will once again be covering iPhoto. Come learn all the ins and outs of how to manage your digital photo library... As a bonus, I'll cover the new features in the latest version of the program: iPhoto '11! This class also carries a fee of $20.

***The above classes are always held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary***

Then...

 This month, the regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will again take place on the last Wednesday of the month, Wednesday, January 26th from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

There are six Macs in the computer lab, so only two of the eight attendees need their own laptops. This class is beginner-oriented, but we cover some different things every month; repeat attendees are encouraged (when there's room)!

Mac Classes - December '10

2010-12-07T22:24:00.003-07:00

Happy Holidays everyone. I'm obviously getting a late start on the month myself...

With all that's on my plate this month, I'm taking a break from my usual full class schedule. I'm sure that most of you have a lot going on as well; I'm hoping you'll understand.

Starting in January, look for more classes, and possibly a new format for the free Library class as well.

I hope you have a great holiday season, full of warmth and good cheer!

Mac class news for the month:

Just the one this time around:

 This month, the regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will again take place on the last Wednesday of the month, Wednesday, December 28th from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

There are six Macs in the computer lab, so only two of the eight attendees need their own laptops. This class is beginner-oriented, but we cover some different things every month; repeat attendees are encouraged (when there's room)!

Mac Classes - November '10

2010-11-01T21:15:00.006-06:00

Happy Halloween everyone. I hope all the little ghosts and goblins put a smile on your face tonight...

Mac class news for the month:

First, the Saturday classes:

 For starters, Saturday, November 13th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will again be offering another local Q&A session! This session costs $10, but is a full two-hours of assistance!! In the event there aren't enough questions to fill the two hours, I will offer a variety of tips and tricks for doing common tasks on your Mac! Please come and help make it successful...

 Then, on Saturday, November 27th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will once again be covering Microsoft Word. Come learn all the ins and outs of the worlds' most ubiquitous (and complicated!) word-processing program... This class carries a fee of $20.

☆ The above classes are always held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary ☆

Then...

 This month, the regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will again take place on the last Wednesday of the month, Wednesday, November 24th from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

There are six Macs in the computer lab, so only two of the eight attendees need their own laptops. This class is beginner-oriented, but we cover some different things every month; repeat attendees are encouraged (when there's room)!

As always, let me know if there's something else you'd like me to consider covering in the Saturday sessions.

How to Correctly Import Audiobook CDs into iTunes

2010-10-24T21:40:00.002-06:00

At a Black Canyon Mac User Group meeting in Montrose about 10 days ago, I was asked if there were any tricks to importing audiobook CDs. In fact, there are quite a few tricks to optimally import audiobooks, so I'll go into the process in detail in this post. Don't worry, though it appears to be a pretty fussy process, believe me, it's not that bad when you get into it, and it pays big dividends:

• Your audiobooks will show up as audiobooks in iTunes, and not as music tracks;
• You'll be able to return to a book that you've only partly finished, and it will remember where you left off!
• Snippets of your audiobooks will no longer pop up when you're shuffling your music...

I'll start with an Alexander McCall Smith audiobook called the "Unbearable Lightness of Scones". The book is on a total of 12 CDs. To begin, you insert the first CD and wait for the nice people at Gracenote to automatically populate the data on the book (Artist, Title, Trackname, etc). Here's how it looks:

The first thing you want to do, to save space in importing 12 CDs worth of data, is to change the import settings. Click on the button labeled "Import Settings..." in the lower right corner of the screen. Where it initially says "iTunes Plus", click and change that setting to "Spoken Podcast". When done, it should look like this:

Next, you'll want to make sure the tracks are sorted by the track number (by clicking on the column heading above the track numbers), and then select all the tracks in the CD. Then, under the Advanced menu, choose "Join CD Tracks":

When you're done with that process, the listing should look like this:

Then, simply click the "Import CD" button in the bottom right corner of the screen. When done, eject that CD, and follow the same procedure to import the rest of the CDs in your audiobook. For me, importing all 12 CDs took about an hour...

Once all the CDs have been imported, bring up the listing of imported "tracks", one per CD, sorted by track. If you need to, use the Get Info command to rename your tracks for consistency (and possibly to get them in the right order. [In some cases it might just be easier to use the View Options command in the View menu to show the Date Added column. Then, just view your tracks by reverse Date Added.] However you do it, here's how it should look:

Now, lastly, you want to select all the 'tracks' and then choose "Get Info" from the File menu. Switch to the Option tab, and make sure your checkboxes look like this:

In order, the above settings...

1) ensure the audiobook files show up under Books, instead of Music;

2) enable the ability to remember to your place in a book that you haven't finished; and

3) make sure that your audiobook files won't be played when you're shuffling your music library.

I hope this post makes the persnickety process of properly importing audiobooks less confusing!!

Mac Classes - October 2010

2010-10-02T22:44:00.005-06:00

Wow, October already... I know I sound like a broken record, but where the heck does the time go?? Out the window, that's for sure.

Mac class news for the month:

First, the Saturday classes:

 For starters, Saturday, October 9th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will be offering another local Q&A session! I hope to make this a regular monthly feature; so please come and help make it successful (only two people showed up for the first one last month)! This session costs $10, but is a full two-hours of assistance!! In the event there aren't enough questions to fill the two hours, I will offer a variety of tips and tricks for doing common tasks on your Mac!

 Then, on Saturday, October 23rd, from 10 a.m. to noon, due to popular demand, I will once again be covering iPhoto. Come learn all the ins and outs of how to manage your digital photo library... This class carries a fee of $20.

❖ The above classes are always held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary ❖

Then...

 This month, the regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will again take place on the last Wednesday of the month, Wednesday, October 27th from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

There are six Macs in the computer lab, so only two of the eight attendees need their own laptops. This class is beginner-oriented, but we cover some different things every month; repeat attendees are encouraged (when there's room)!

As always, let me know if there's something else you'd like me to consider covering in the Saturday sessions.

Mac classes - September '10

2010-08-29T16:27:00.006-06:00

September arrives this week; where the heck did our summer go?? Sheesh!

Mac class news for the month:

First, the Saturday classes:

 For starters, Saturday, September 11th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will be offering my first local Q&A session! I hope to make this a regular monthly feature, with date and time to be determined by popular demand. This session will only cost $10, but will be a full two-hour session offering assistance with anything and everything you might want help figuring out on your computer! In the event there aren't enough questions to fill the two hours, I will fill in with a variety of tips and tricks for doing common tasks on your Mac!

 Then, on Saturday, September 25th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will once again be covering iPods, iPhones, iPads & iTunes. Now including coverage of the amazing new iPad, this class will give you everything you need to know to manage your music, movies, TV shows, podcasts and everything else that you could possibly want to put on one of Apple's ingenious devices, as well as how to sync it with your desktop Mac through iTunes. This class
carries a fee of $20.
❖ The above classes are always held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary ❖

Then...

 This month, the regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will again take place on the last Wednesday of the month, Wednesday, September 29th from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

As always, let me know if there's something else you'd like me to consider covering in the Saturday sessions.

Mac classes - August '10

2010-08-02T16:23:00.003-06:00

August is upon us; and starting out very rainy, eh? I sure love how green everything is...

Mac class news for the month:

 Since it seems to be so popular, I'm once again offering my iPhoto class later this month. It will be held Saturday, Aug. 21st, from 10-noon in the small meeting room at Ridgway's Town Hall. If you've been wanting to learn all the ins and outs of Apple's popular digital image management program, your next chance is here! This class carries a fee of $20 for the two-hour session.

 Also this month, the regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will take place on Wednesday, August 25th from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

Also, I'm thinking of offering a regular (monthly) casual "Q&A" type meeting this fall/winter, so please let me know if you would be interested in that. I think it could be a lot of fun, and I would imagine it only costing $5-$10 per session.

Mac classes - June '10

2010-06-02T15:36:00.003-06:00

Due to family vacation plans, as well as a crammed schedule leading up to the vacation, I'm afraid I only have time for the overview class this month. I hope to be back in the saddle with more fun stuff in July and August!

For you Ouray folks, I plan to start doing a regular Ouray class in the fall as well. Hopefully every month, but at least every other month.

The details:

 This month, the regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will take place on Wednesday, June 16th from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

Also, if anyone is interested in a regular casual "Q&A" type meeting, please let me know. I think it could be a lot of fun, and I would imagine only charging $5-$10 for something like this.

Mac classes - May '10

2010-04-30T09:39:00.000-06:00

May arrives tomorrow, and wouldn't you know, I can simply repeat my comment from last month: "Maybe it'll stop snowing one of these days, eh?!"

Mac class news for the month:

First, the program-specific classes:

 For starters, next Saturday, May 8th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will be covering Pages, Apple's word processing program. If you would like to learn more about Apple's competition for Microsoft Word, this class is for you. Like all of their programs, it's a visual tour de force, and powerful to boot.

 Then, on Saturday, May 22nd, from 10 a.m. to noon, back by popular demand, I'll be covering iPhoto. If you've been wanting to learn all the ins and outs of Apple's popular digital image management program, your next chance is here!

These classes are always held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and carry a fee of $20 for the two-hour session.

Both of the above classes are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary...

Then...

 This month, the regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will again take place on the last Wednesday of the month, Wednesday, May 26th from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

Also, for June, July and August, the dates for the above "Overview" class will bounce around a bit, due to a busy summer travel schedule! I'll keep you posted.

Let me know if there's something else you'd like me to consider covering in these Saturday sessions.

I hope to see you at a class sometime soon!

iWeb class - April 24th, 2010

2010-04-26T20:45:00.002-06:00

I feel like my first-ever iWeb class went well this past Saturday, despite my fear that it might simply be too much to try and cover in two hours. I wanted to make sure that I didn't give short shrift to the larger background topics of custom domains, hosting, and how to publish. Towards that end. here are a few links to things I discussed that could help you on your way:

• First, the link to GoDaddy that gets you $6.99/year .com domains:

GoDaddy - Official Site

• Next, I shared some ways to get both MobileMe and iLife '09 for less than Apple charges ($99 and $79, respectively):

- MobileMe at Amazon

- MobileMe at eBay

- iLife '09 at Amazon

- iLife '09 at eBay

• Next, here's the link to Apple's excellent tutorials on most of iWeb's various features:

Apple.com: Find Out How, iWeb '09

• Lastly (though this is quite a bit more complicated than most everything else we discussed) here is a link to PayPal's instructions for setting up a "buy now" button on your site for selling things:

PayPal demo of 'shopping cart'-type transactions

Page with HTML code for the actual "Buy Now" button

As always, please feel free to call or email me with questions that may arise as you explore this amazing program in more detail!

April Mac classes

2010-04-05T20:00:00.001-06:00

Happy April everyone! Maybe it'll stop snowing one of these days, eh?!

Mac class news for the month:

 This month, the regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will again take place on the last Wednesday of the month, Wednesday, April 28th from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

Now, for the focused, program-specific classes:

 First, next Saturday, April 10th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will again be covering iTunes & your iPod/iPhone. It will be held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall. If you would like to learn more about Apple's preeminent music & video program, or simply want to find out what all the iPhone (not to mention iPad!) fuss is about, this class is for you. From playlists to podcasts, audiobooks to "apps"; attend this class to learn how to gain control of this run-away twenty-first century phenomenon.

I apologize for the short notice on this class...

 Then, on Saturday, April 24th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I'll be covering iWeb, Apple's incredibly powerful web-design program. If you've been thinking of starting a web page, and want to use perhaps the easiest program to do it, then this class is for you!

These classes are always held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and carry a fee of $20 for the two-hour session.

Both of these classes are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary...

Let me know if there's something else you'd like me to consider covering in these Saturday sessions.

Thanks very much, and I hope to see you at a class sometime soon!

Are you backed up?

2010-03-12T15:57:00.004-07:00

Just a quick post to remind everyone of the importance of BACKUPS! Toward that end, I put together state-of-the-art backup hard drives from the highest-rated bare hard drives which I put in a slick external enclosure that includes four connection options (USB2, FireWire400, FireWire800, and eSATA). The latest iteration are 640GB in size, and I sell them for $150 [image above]. FYI, this price is my cost for the parts, plus about a miniscule amount for my time putting everything together.

I also have just a couple portable (not needing an external power supply) hard drives for you road warriors out there. Call for details on these models...

If you're interested in getting one of these, please email or give me a call (970-417-8434). Don't let yourself get caught without a backup!

BCMUG meeting presentation; March 11th, 2010

2010-03-12T15:29:00.004-07:00

I presented the topic of password management at our local Mac User Group last night. Here are a bunch of links to things we covered:

• To download a stand-alone version of the Apple's built-in "Password Assistant" tool, visit CodePoetry.

• Next, a link to the website for my preferred password management program, 1Password.

• Here are a scant handful of links to sites discussing the difference between 'passwords' and 'passphrases', in the interest of giving folks a new take of the painful task of creating secure logins:

- First, the Wikipedia entry on the topic.

- Next, an interesting semi-random blog post...

- From the folks who created 1Password, another blog post, in a similar vein.

- Lastly, another blog post, this one describing a unique technique for "Creating and Remembering Complex Passwords"

Oh, almost forgot... Here's a link to the site that provides very enlightening information about the relative strength of passwords, depending on length and variation in characters. This site is where I gleaned my recommendation that a secure password should be at least 8 characters long, and always contain at least one capital letter, one punctuation character (!@#$%^&*()[]?<>) and one number.

I hope everyone who attended the presentation got something out of it; it's a pretty dry subject, but a critical one more than ever!

Until next time, here's to safe secure browsing!

Mac classes - March '10

2010-03-01T21:38:00.001-07:00

March is here; Spring can't be far off! Hooray!

Mac class news for the month:

 This month, the regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will again take place on the last Wednesday of the month, Wednesday, March 31st from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

There are six Macs in the computer lab, so only two of the eight attendees need their own laptops. This class is beginner-oriented, but we cover some different things every month; repeat attendees are encouraged (when there's room)!

I'm offering two other classes every month through May. I've settled on the second and fourth Saturday morning of each month.

 On Saturday, March 13th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will be covering that venerable behemoth of word-processing programs: Microsoft Word. There will undoubtably be something for everyone in this class!

 On Saturday, March 27th, from 10 a.m. to noon, due to popular demand, I'll be revisiting iPhoto. If you've missed it in the past, or simply want to refresh your skills, then I hope this is a timely class for you!

These classes are always held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and carry a fee of $20 for the two-hour session.

Both of these classes are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary...

Let me know if there's something else you'd like me to consider covering in these Saturday sessions.

Social Networking Class - February 27th 2010

2010-02-27T11:53:00.003-07:00

Links from yesterday's Social Networking class:

• New York Times article that covers the latest Facebook privacy setting changes, and how to change them...

• Facebook page that explains the new homepage view...

• Twitter.com, where you can set up your new account (or not)...

• Twitip.com, a great site I found that gives you tons of great tips on using Twitter...

• Blogger.com, the site where you can set up a blogspot blog like this one...

• BloggerBuster.com, where I found definitive instructions for inserting Google maps into your blog (and which is even better than how I did my original maps to the class locations on the right...)

That last one is not a trivial set of instructions, but I'm confident that you'll do just fine figuring it out as you get more confident using your Mac. If, however, you go a little cross-eyed trying to figure it out, just drop me and email or give me a call, and I'll help you figure it out...

Blogging on the iPhone!

2010-02-24T07:58:00.002-07:00

Check out my new blog:

http://jiclark.net/iphone/

It is entirely created & managed from my favorite mobile device!

- Posted from my iPhone

Internet/e-mail class

2010-02-13T16:00:00.009-07:00

From the "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Internet & E-mail" class that I did this morning, here are a few links:

• First, for the Safari "plug-in", Glims, that I was using which gives you auto-save/restore of last session's windows and tabs, auto-closing Downloads windows (and much more), look here:

MacHangout.com

• Second, for the Google search tips blog entry that I used to demonstrate all the cool custom search tricks you can use with Google, look here:

Google Search Tips (Ultimate Google Guide)

...and for the downloadable cheat-sheet put out by Google themselves:

Google Tips & Tricks.pdf

• Lastly, for a ton of tutorials from Apple dealing with how to get the most out of their built-in Mail program, look here:

Find Out How: Mail Basics

If you have questions or run into problems, don't hesitate to let me know, I'll see what I can do to help!

I'll post more links to helpful info as I come across it...

Mac classes - February '10

2010-02-01T17:00:00.007-07:00

February is here already? Boy, does time keep flying by; seems like it's faster every month...

Mac class news for the month:

 This month, the regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class will again take place on the last Wednesday of the month, Wednesday, February 24th from 5-7 p.m. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 (or drop me an email) if you'd like to attend. (Be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

There are six Macs in the computer lab, so only two of the eight attendees need their own laptops. This class is beginner-oriented, but we cover some different things every month; repeat attendees are encouraged (when there's room)!

I'm offering two other classes every month through May. I've settled on the second and fourth Saturday morning of each month.

 On Saturday, February 13th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will be covering the two main things most of us do on our computers: everything you've always wanted to know about E-mail & the Internet. There will definitely be something for everyone in this session!

 Then, on Saturday, February 27th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will be covering the ins and outs of "Social Networking". If you've been wondering what all the fuss is about Facebook, Twitter, Blogging and the like, then this is the class for you!

These classes are always held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall, and carry a fee of $20 for the two-hour session.

Both of these classes are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary...

Mac classes - January '10

2010-01-01T17:00:00.003-07:00

Happy New Year everyone! I trust you all had a warm and happy holiday season.

Mac class news for the month:

This month, the regular FREE "Overview of Mac OS X" class returns to our regular schedule of the last Wednesday of the month, from 5-7 p.m. This month's class will take place on Wednesday, January 27th. These overview classes are held in the computer lab at the Ridgway Library. There are only eight seats available, and this year the Library has asked that I handle the sign ups, so give me a call at 970-417-8434 if you'd like to attend (and be aware that first-timers take priority over anyone who has taken the class before, but there are often openings for repeaters).

There are six Macs in the computer lab, so only two of the eight attendees need their own laptops. This class is beginner-oriented, but we cover some different things every month; repeat attendees are encouraged (when there's room)!

I'm offering two other classes this month. [And I'm going to start offering the "focused" classes on Saturdays, to allow for more folks to attend.] So, on Saturday, January 16th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will be covering iPhoto. This class will be held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall.

Also, on Saturday, January 30th, from 10 a.m. to noon, I will be covering iTunes and your iPod/iPhone. This class will also be held in the small meeting room at Ridgway Town Hall.

Both of these classes are open to drop-ins, with no sign-up necessary...

"Disc" vs. "Disk"?

2009-10-24T11:46:00.003-06:00

Who knew? Apple actually has a Knowledge Base article that addresses the distinction:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2300

For those too lazy (or busy) to go and read it, the difference essentially boils down to this: "disc" refers to optical meda such as CD's and DVD's, and "disk" refers to magnetic media such as floppies and the hard drive in your computer...

If you're wondering how widespread that distinction is held, I checked, and Wikipedia concurs (in the technological realm anyway).

You learn something new every day, if you're open to it...

Long time no blog...

2009-10-22T00:16:00.007-06:00

Greetings fellow Mac-enthusiasts!

I'm amazed that it's been almost a year since I last posted a blog update... Just goes to show you how busy I've been! Anyway, I plan to make time for some new updates in the near future. I have quite a few interesting tidbits saved up to post, and the short, dark days of winter are upon us, so I should be able to find more time to post. [Yeah, riiiiigght; I hear some of you saying...] ;-)

Just for a teaser, I'd like to share a link to a site I stumbled onto not too long ago

. It's one of the most comprehensive repositories of keyboard shortcuts I've ever seen. This guy not only documents all the usual tried-and-true favorites, he's also gathered all of the most obscure and rarely seen shortcuts, many of which can be indispensible when you find yourself in a bind... So, here is Dan Rodney's:

List of Mac OS X Keyboard Shortcuts & Keystrokes

...here's an example from his site; a Guide to the Mac's Menu Symbols:

He's really done an amazing job there... Enjoy. And don't forget to check out the rest of his site. Dan is quite an accomplished guy, with lots of talents to share. Now that I think about it, maybe I'll try and look him up when we go to NYC at Thanksgiving to visit our daughters (who're both in college there now...)!

That's it for now, until next time, happy computing...

Yasu (Yet Another System Utility): a user guide

2008-11-20T22:53:00.009-07:00

Yasu is my preferred tool for system maintenance and cleanup. You can read more about the technical details behind everything that it does on the author's website (follow the link in my list of Recommended Software at right). When you first open the software, you're presented with a confusing conglomeration of checkboxes. Above is a screenshot of how I recommend you configure the software before telling it to proceed.

iTunes Class Outline & Links; August 28th, 2008

2008-08-28T15:06:00.000-06:00

[How far we get depends on time and student's level of expertise.]

Introduction

General concept of iTunes
Digital audio formats: compressed (“lossy”) vs. uncompressed (“lossless”)

Lossy: MP3, AAC, WMA(Microsoft Windows format)
Lossless: AIFF, WAV, “Ogg Vorbis”, etc.

The iTunes interface

Preferences
Interface components

Source list
Main window
- Progress bar features, “Quick links”
View Options, etc.

Workflow

Importing

Encoding options
CDDB (to get Album/Track info automatically)

Viewing/organizing

Playlists/Smart Playlists
Folders

Genres/ratings/comments
Sharing(?)

iTunes Store

Buying/downloading music
“ / “ TV shows & Movies
Podcasts!

iPods

Setup
Syncing

Music (& Video for some iPods)
Photos/contacts/calendars

Links

Video/audio tutorials on iTunes (and Garageband) at Apple's site:

http://www.apple.com/findouthow/music/

Alternative online music sites:

http://emusic.com/

[if you end up signing up for an account with eMusic, would you mind giving me credit as a referral? I think you might need me to send you an invite to do that, so just let me know. Thanks!]

Great site for all music-related information:

http://allmusic.com/

Have fun!

iPhoto class; May (and June) '08

2008-06-16T22:30:00.000-06:00

I hope you all enjoyed the class(es)! Here are a few resources for exploring more aspects of digital photography, cameras, etc.

First off, some links:

http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/
- Apple's excellent set of tutorials for all their iLife'08 programs: iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, iWeb & iDVD.

http://www.apple.com/support/ilife/tutorials/
- Same as above, only for the previous version, iLife'06.

http://photo.net/
- An excellent all-around resource for digital photographers (heck, for *all* photographers!)

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/
- another excellent all-around resource. Tons of tutorials and how-tos!

Digital camera review/info sites:
http://www.dpreview.com/ - (my favorite)
http://www.steves-digicams.com/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/
http://www.robgalbraith.com/
http://www.fredmiranda.com/

Now that you've got a tool-belt full of sites to use to further your knowledge about everything digital-imaging related, it's time you get out there and start shooting some pictures! And remember, the more you take, the better your odds of getting that once-in-a-lifetime keeper! But also remember to be ruthless when first importing a new batch of photos into iPhoto. There is no better time to delete those images that just aren't up to snuff, and it will make the chore of managing your images so much easier as time goes on...

Have fun!

Microsoft Word class (better late than never!)

2008-06-16T22:03:00.000-06:00

So, I'm only about three months late here; what can I say... I had the best of intentions!

Links to resources related to Microsoft Word, and entire Office suite:

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/default.mspx
- Microsoft's "Mactopia" page; Mac-specific resources for their Office software. Check out the "Help and How-To" link at the top of the page, then the Featured Course, and Featured How-To... One downside to this resource is that it's almost exlusively geared towards the latest version of Office for the Mac, Office 2008. It doesn't mean you won't find helpful tips that apply to earlier versions, but you just might have to dig a bit, or be willing to experiment in earlier versions...

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/templates.mspx
- The templates page for Office 2004 (an example of what you can find if you dig a bit at the site linked above). A whole bunch of handy templates for specific purposes that you can use in Office 2004. And who knows, but most of 'em would probably work in the older version ("Office Vx") as well...

http://www.creativetechs.com/iq/create_letterhead_templates_in_ms_word.html
-"Create letterhead templates in Word", from CreativeTechs.com. A handy tutorial for figuring out how to make creative graphic letterheads in Word. It will teach you a lot about using the Header tool as well. [Subscribe to the CreativeTech weekly Tips newsletter as well, it's a fun graphic-design related resource.]

http://word.mvps.org/mac/Resources.html
-"Word:mac"; a "Microsoft Most Valuable Professional" site containing tons of helpful resources. I'm surprised it's not been updated with info on Office 2008 as of yet, but since most of us probably don't have it yet either, maybe that's a good thing!

These are just a few things offered as jumping off points. I hope they help. Let me know if you end up needing more direction, or have specific questions.

Have fun!

Monthly "Overview of Mac OS X" class

2008-03-20T17:31:00.000-06:00

This class takes place the Third Thursday of Every Month,
at the Ridgway Library, behind the Town Hall in Ridgway

Mac OS X Class Outline

[How far we get depends on time and student's level of expertise.]

Introduction

General overview of computer hardware:

RAM (memory)
Hard disk
Processor
Optical drives, etc.
Mouse vs. trackball; one-button vs. two-button

Understanding where your files are:

Folder hierarchies
Understanding the “Open/Save dialog box”
General “getting around the system” tips, etc.

Overview of Internet-specific software programs:

Internet Browsers; usage & tips:

Safari, Firefox, Camino, etc.
Learning to “google”
Tabbed browsing
Internet safety/security

General email usage & tips:

Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Entourage, etc.
Quoting, forwards, etc.
“To”, “CC” and “BCC” fields, and how to use them

Other possible topics, depending on time and student's interests:

Backing up your data
Digital music, iTunes, and iPod/other digital music players
How to shop for a new computer
Other stuff as needed?

Helpful links

Great sites for general OS X info:
"http://www.macosxhints.com/"
"http://www.osxfaq.com/"
"http://diveintoosx.org/"
"http://macosx.com/"

Top-notch source for real help books:
"http://www.missingmanuals.com/"

Excellent Mac-oriented electronic books:
"http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/"
[coupon code for 10% off of any of their e-books: CPN31208MUG]

Troubleshooting sites:
"http://www.macintouch.com/"
"http://www.macattorney.com/panther.html"
"http://www.macfixitforums.com/"
"http://forums.macosxhints.com/"

Computer shopping sites:
"http://dealmac.com/"
"http://dealram.com/"
"http://dealcam.com/"
"http://dealcoupon.com/"
"http://www.pricegrabber.com/"
"http://www.bestwebbuys.com/"

My favorite sites for buying hardware:
"http://www.newegg.com/"
“http://www.chiefvalue.com/"
“http://www.zipzoomfly.com/"

Great overall site for reviews of both products and retailers:
"http://www.resellerratings.com/"

Apple Support docs

2008-02-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

Resources from Apple's Knowledge Base that might be of use to someone having trouble syncing their cell phone or something:

Resetting SyncServices in 10.4.x
Resetting SyncServices in 10.5.x

The Mac Doctor

Mac classes - February '12

Mac Classes - January '12

iPad, iPhone & iPod Touch Tips & Tricks...

A Couple of Online Safety Tips...

Mac classes - December '11

Quick reminder: Overview Class Wednesday evening

Mac Classes - November '11

Mac Classes - October '11

Mac Classes - September '11

WARNING: New phishing scam on the loose...

Mac Classes - August '11

Mac Classes - July '11

Mac Classes - June '11

***UPDATE*** Serious Mac "malware" threat evolves...

Serious Mac "malware" threat...

Mac Classes - May '11

The Difference Between HTTP and HTTPS

Mac Classes - April '11

Mac Classes - March '11

Mac Classes - February '11

Mac Classes - January '11

Mac Classes - December '10

Mac Classes - November '10

How to Correctly Import Audiobook CDs into iTunes

Mac Classes - October 2010

Mac classes - September '10

Mac classes - August '10

Mac classes - June '10

Mac classes - May '10

iWeb class - April 24th, 2010

April Mac classes

Are you backed up?

BCMUG meeting presentation; March 11th, 2010

Mac classes - March '10

Social Networking Class - February 27th 2010

Blogging on the iPhone!

Internet/e-mail class

Mac classes - February '10

Mac classes - January '10

"Disc" vs. "Disk"?

Long time no blog...

Yasu (Yet Another System Utility): a user guide

iTunes Class Outline & Links; August 28th, 2008

iPhoto class; May (and June) '08

Microsoft Word class (better late than never!)

Monthly "Overview of Mac OS X" class

Apple Support docs

UPDATE Serious Mac "malware" threat evolves...