MacValleyUG

01/16/2023

Hi, this is Tom, MacValley's blog editor.

I found a great notebook app for the Mac.

It's Growly Notes at Growlybird.com.

Check out Growlybird's other apps, too. Lots of games.

04/26/2020

I can access floppy disks from macOS Catalina. I have a floppy disk drive and some software to help the process along. I put all the details in the PDF. Tom Briant

06/19/2019

Here's the latest from our Apple Ambassador Fran Cohan. Deals just for us!

06/04/2019

My Apologies and Rationale for such a rude post.

Look, I regret the tone of what I wrote about WWDC 2019 tonight. I copy the style and tone of Bill Maher, which is not a good thing to do for a technical writer.

I did so because I do not believe you. need the latest and greatest hardware and software to produce great results. Microsoft pretty much worked out the design of the modern word processor, spreadsheet and presentation program by 1997. Since then, bug fixes and interface updates.

So by way of apology and to advance the conversation, let me offer some tips on how to keep your Mac and its users happy.

1. Backup the Mac. Backup, backup, BACKUP! If you only take away one thing, it's to get over to Frys/Staples/Best Buy/Office Depot/Office Max/Apple Store/Costco/Walmart/Sam's Club. Buy at least 1 USB External Hard Drive of at least 1 Terabyte of capacity.

Take it out of the packaging. Now connect the USB cable and plug it into the Mac. The Mac, if it's running above macOS 10.5, will guide you through setting up a backup drive and backup schedule.

LEAVE THE DRIVE CONNECTED TO THE MAC. You want to back up every hour. Let it do its thing.

There. That was easy. You just saved yourself hours of heartache if your Mac's hard drive or SSD crashes. And they do crash. I know from personal experience.

2. At least once a week, restart your Mac. Let it clear out the digital cruft to start with a fresh memory. Your Mac will run better for it.

3. Want to see if your Mac slowed down since you first got it? Well then, set up a second user account. Call it "Test Account". Don't install anything in it.

When you run from this account, you'll see how much your Mac has slowed down due to all the stuff you've added to it.

4. Hate your laptop's keyboard? Just find a USB keyboard you like, buy it and plug it into your Mac. This is something you can do to improve your Mac experience.

5. Won't stop drinking with a glass on the same table as your laptop? That's asking for trouble from an accident. Pop! Sizzle! Bye-bye $1200 Apple laptop.

To save yourself from admitting you're a klutz who just wasted $1200, do the following. When you get up this morning.

Get something to elevate your Mac above the spill zone. My ideas include several old college textbooks (an all-in-one Shakespeare is perfect).

A box from Box City or Box Brothers. Here in Los Angeles we have stores that sell a wide variety of cardboard boxes. Buy 1 or 2.

A flower pot. It's heavy enough to not slide away. It's waterproof. And you can find them in a large enough size to elevate your Mac laptop to the desired height.

A stack of magazines. You can adjust the height to exactly your preference.

If you really want to go fancy, get a laptop stand. Apple.com and Amazon.com have plenty to sell you.

Now get a wireless keyboard. I saw a nice keyboard and mouse combo for less than $25 at Costco.

OR get a waterproof keyboard and mouse. Search on-line for this item. You'll find waterproof keyboards used in dirty or infectious environments where they need daily cleaning.

These five tips should save you a lot of grief.

Tom Briant
Editor, MacValley Blog

06/04/2019

Apple News and Views 6-3-2019

Today was the start of WWDC 2019. We all look forward to the new software and maybe some new hardware, too.

Apple did not disappoint in terms of software, announcing 5 new version of its operating systems:

1. iOS for iPhone and HomePod and iPod Touch
2. The brand new iPadOS, split from iOS due to its larger screen.
3. tvOS for the AppleTV HD and 4K.
4. watchOS for the Apple Watch.
5. and last..macOS 10.15 "Catalina".

May I say, as a Southern Californian of at least 50 years, it's nice for Apple to show us some love. There's more to California than the northern mountains and eastern deserts. Beach, baby, beach!

iOS features a new dark mode.

iPadOS features the ability to use a USB mouse or Bluetooth Magic Trackpad. Look under Accessibility for this feature. It's unannounced. We tentatively step toward a touch screen computer from Apple and not just a tablet.

tvOS features multiple users and the ability to use Xbox and PS4 controllers.

watchOS has new stuff, too.

But NOW...for the new star of the show. macOS 10.15 and the new Mac Pro aka "MacZilla". At least that's what I'm calling it.

You've heard the stories about a Project Marzipan that would allow iOS apps to run unaltered on your Mac? Well, we finally learn the truth. Marzipan is fantasy, BUT Catalyst is hot, juicy fact! Catalyst is the new addition to Xcode allowing developers to hasten the development of native Mac apps
from iOS code.

The Mac App Store has been quiet compared to the hopping iOS App Store. People love the iOS App Store. They spend all kinds of money on it.

Meanwhile, they pass by the Mac App Store and say "Maybe it's got an upgrade for me? But not that cool new game I have on my iPad." Not any more. Project Catalyst, free with the upcoming version of Xcode, allows the developer to develop the same app for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

Now that's for developers. When Catalina arrives with iOS 13, they will combine to give you "Sidecar". This feature enables you to use a recent model iPad as a second display for your recent Mac.

Now I've already read that this will kill the aftermarket for similar apps such as Duet Display. I don't think so. Sidecar requires you to have a Mac running 10.15 and an iPad running iOS 13. For those of us running "vintage" equipment, Duet Display does the same trick with Macs running 10.9+, Windows computers running Windows 7 on up, and iPads and iPhones running iOS 7. That's still quite a healthy market where Apple won't compete.

Now onto "MacZilla". this is the smoking beast of a Mac Pro that starts with a 8 core Xeon, 256 Gb SSD, and 32 Gb of memory.

At an outward glance, it resembles the old "cheese grater" Mac Pros. But this works differently. Twist the latch on top, lift off the case in one pass, and you've got access to the inside to add stuff. More memory, more SSD storage, more Thunderbolt 3 ports, more PCI-e expansion boards. More, more, and more.

How much does it cost? As with yachts and Lamborghinis, if you have to ask...this isn't for you. It starts out at $5,999. The price only goes up. You better ask your tax accountant first if you can deduct this.

Now you'll want the best possible monitor. Apple has one for you. A 32" 6K $5,000 monitor. If you want a stand, that costs an additional $999. Like I said, this isn't for the consumer market. This is for those who create stuff for the consumer market. With starship battles, giant robots, huge dinosaurs and monsters...the stuff that makes media fun to watch.

Now for the last topic...the death of iTunes. iTunes suffered from cyberbloat. Apple kept adding functions to it until the poor app would choke. Now Apple will split it into 3 separate apps for Music, Podcasts and Apple TV and movies.

And, oh yes, Apple TV is coming! With original programming, the stars you love, and loads more. It's coming to every conceivable Apple screen. iPad, iPhone, Mac, Apple TV.

Will we see Tim Cook at the Emmys? The Oscars? The Razzies?

Comments welcome, especially from people who knows what they're talking about.

Tom Briant
Editor, MacValley Blog

05/28/2019

https://www.lifewire.com/fix-spod-spinning-pinwheel-of-death-2260811?utm_campaign=computersl&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cn_nl&utm_content=16993673&utm_term=bouncex15

Fix a SPOD (Spinning Pinwheel of Death), the multicolored pinwheel cursor that indicates your Mac is waiting on a process to finish.

04/04/2016

http://macvalley.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-best-tips-from-professional.html

An online Apple Users Group serving Los Angeles San Fernando Valley. Founded 1985.

12/25/2015

http://lifehacker.com/5870892/set-up-and-get-to-know-your-new-tech-gifts

03/16/2014

oh...thanks Christopher!

03/26/2013

MacValley Membership Refund

To All Paid-up MacValley Members:

If your membership is still up to date, you have a $25 refund coming. To get your check in the mail, please email MacValley Treasurer Shirley Ulling at:



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Thanks,

Cristael

10/20/2012

Latest blog post covers how to change your log-in picture. Want a recent shot of yourself from your Web cam? this is how to do ithttp://www.macvalley.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-change-your-login-photo-to-one.html

A Registered Apple Users Group serving Los Angeles San Fernando Valley. Founded 1985.

10/05/2012

MacValley's November 7th presentation will be Arnold Woodworth - More About Twitter. A fascinating subject!