SMMUG Event

Apple has had another banner year with the release of the iPad, the iPhone 4, and, oh yea, they released some improvements to the Apple software and the Macintosh computers too.

The iPad made a dramatic debut in April of this year.  As expected, a number of our club members purchased an iPad in April.  So, we got to wondering, "What are they using their iPad for?  What do they like about their iPad?  What does the iPad not do that they wish it would?  How does it compare to the Kindle?" 

And the day after the December SMMUG meeting, you'll still have three weeks to buy an iPad for your significant other for Christmas!  Meetings are FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, and are held at 1514 N. Hancock Ave. in Colorado Springs.

Come join us the first Thursday of September for pizza and networking.  Ask anybody any question.  We may have a brief panel of experts.  This will be a welcome back from summer, and "so glad it is cooler outside" party.  The yearly pizza party is becoming a happy annual tradition.  And did I mention the pizza is free to members and guests?  Hope to see you there.

Also, we will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of SMMUG.  Mark G. says he thinks he can come up with a cake.   Hmmm - pizza and cake.  Life is good!

At 12:00 noon, Mike Marus will host the normal open ended Q&A on all things related to Mac OS X. Have an iPhone? Want to create ringtones for it? Come to the OS X SIG and learn how to use the music on your Mac to make your own ringtones. Bring your questions and/or any tips and tricks you have found helpful in your use of Mac OS X.

The 10:00 AM Saturday Mac Users SIG Agenda will feature the normal emphasis on all things related to digital photography. Art Post has loaned us a DVD that provides a wide range of tips on digital photography. It will be used as a focal point of our discussion of why good photographers select their own camera settings rather than relying on the automatic settings of their cameras. Bring your questions, tips and tricks and samples of your work or favorite tools used in digital photography.

Come get plugged in so you can use iChat and/or Skype to video chat with your children, grand children, or friends.  Bring your laptop, and right at the meeting, after a brief briefing, we'll help you get either or both working on your Mac.  Be sure and obtain an AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)  account or an Apple MobileMe account before this August 5th Meeting.   Presented by our own Jeff Jensen and Ralph Woodard - the same guys that have brought you live iChats from Austin Texas to Paris France.

Our meetings are always the first Thursday of the month at the Senior Center auditorium, 1514 N. Hancock Ave., Colorado Springs. Meetings are FREE and open to the public.

Self publishing is the latest "thing" in book publishing. With it, everyone can be an author. Digital presses and offerings from Blurb, SMugMug, iPhoto, MyPublisher, and many more have made it possible for anyone to publish a book. But how do you make it profitable as a self publisher? Come see.

Professional photographer Bob Smith will present his new book "Antarctica - Land of Ice" and how he self published it and is marketing the book. Bob will give a slide presentation of his images from the book and relate his photographic experiences from Antarctica, both in 2009 and this past January, 2010. Bob is an accomplished photographer with image credits ranging from National Geographic to the Nikon product catalog, Elevated Living, Conservation Society, and others. Bob previously was the Apple rep for Colorado.

Bob recently spent two years working with Thomas D Mangelsen, one of the most successful wildlife photographers in the world. Bob will have books available for signing at the end of the meeting. Check Bob's photography out at elkmeadowimages.com.

Our meetings are always the first Thursday of the month at the Senior Center auditorium, 1514 N. Hancock Ave., Colorado Springs. Meetings are FREE and open to the public.

   What is Fresh Ink? A new Colorado Springs social network? A way to publish items in the Gazette? Come find out as Travis Duncan briefs us on how to use our Macs to access and interact with Fresh Ink. Our meetings are always the first Thursday of the month at the Senior Center auditorium, 1514 N. Hancock Ave., Colorado Springs. Meetings are FREE and open to the public.