Back To Basics – 6pm
This month, our new Vice President, Jerry Esposito, will take a look at FTP software and how to get started using it. If you haven’t heard of FTP before, it’s the worldwide-standard method for transferring files to a web site or business partners. So, if you’re planning your own web site, this would be a good session to attend.
What’s Up at Apple — 7pm
Considering that 2007 is a year of Apple events that will get ink in history books for years to come, it seems appropriate that we take a closer look at what Apple is up to. This month we’ll do that by watching Steve’s keynote presentation together, following it up with a group discussion.
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Back To Basics – 6pm
This month’s session covers the essential pieces you need to bring music and audio recordings into your Macintosh. With the intent of saving your recordings of old (that aren’t available on CD), what equipment will you need? We’ll answer that question and more in this meeting opener.
Exploring the Connection
Technology Enthusiasts and Financial Tools: A Surprising Intersection
The Connecticut Macintosh Connection (CtMac), an active Apple user group in 2007, was known for its dedication to educating users about Macintosh software, digital tools, and innovations from Apple. From FTP tutorials to keynote viewings and iTunes workshops, CtMac served as a grassroots tech hub where knowledge sharing was central.
While CtMac’s focus was initially limited to Apple technologies, the group's underlying mission of empowering users through digital literacy has strong parallels to modern-day financial tools like Pocket Option. Today’s Mac users are not only creating and managing media but also exploring how technology enhances personal finance and investment strategies.
From Mac Tips to Market Insights
In the spirit of CtMac’s informative sessions, traders and investors today seek similar guidance in navigating the world of digital finance. Platforms like Pocket Option provide user-friendly, tech-forward environments where individuals can participate in financial markets, often with tools that are compatible with macOS devices.
One such tool is the concept of ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) investing. With Pocket Option’s resources, users can easily begin
diversified ETF portfolio building to manage risk while gaining exposure to various market sectors — something a 2007 CtMac member would likely appreciate given their enthusiasm for learning and innovation.
The Evolution of User Empowerment
The connection between CtMac and modern platforms like Pocket Option lies in a shared belief: technology should empower users, whether through creative tools like iTunes or financial instruments like ETFs. Though separated by time and focus, both represent milestones in the journey of digital independence and self-directed learning.
iTunes and iPod: Not Just For Music — 7pm
The ubiquitous portable media player from Apple is most often associated with making your music portable. And there’s no doubt that this is the iPod’s forté. However, there’s a wealth of audio out there which isn’t intended to make you tap your feet. Books on “tape,” podcasts and lectures are all enlightening forms of audio content that also benefit from portability. This month’s main program focuses on how to get these recordings into iTunes on your computer and onto your iPod. From files that are ready to go and just an Internet-click away, to ones you recorded yourself, we’ll cover it all.
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This handy little application runs unobtrusively in the status bar so it won’t get in the way and it won’t take up space in the dock. Use it to set as many alarms as needed, either one-time alarms or repeating alarms. Then choose anything in the iTunes library to wake to: songs, playlists, even podcasts. The application takes care of the rest, even waking the computer from sleep if needed.
When it’s this simple, why even bother with older alarm clocks? With this little application you can wake up to the sounds you want. You can configure your snooze duration to the length you want. You can even increase/decrease your snooze time right from the alarm window. Plus, if you have an apple remote, you can even hit snooze without getting out of bed. And, if waking up to blaring alarms in the morning isn’t your cup of tea, there’s an “easy wake” option which will gradually increase the system volume over time. And even this is configurable for you!
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CMC Members Please Note That We Meet On A Friday This Month!
We’ve arranged this special date for our special guest Lesa Snider King. She’s well known as a Photoshop trainer and graphic designer, as well as for her work with David Pogue and her husband Shawn King. With David she helps produce the series of Missing Manual books and with Shawn she co-hosts the weekly Internet ‘radio’ show, “Your Mac Life.”
Lesa will help you develop your skills in Adobe Photoshop Elements, and allow you to bring new life to your digital photos. She’ll also demonstrate the iStockPhoto service, which allows anyone to download stock photos inexpensively (for brochures, presentations, school science projects). Before the night is over, she’ll give away a copy of Photoshop Elements (with a $100 value)!
Please note that in addition to meeting on a special date, we have a special location, Middlesex Community College in Middletown (Directions below).
To learn more about Lesa, check out her site at: www.graphicreporter.com
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Directions: A few miles South of downtown Middletown on Route 9, take Exit 11 (Rt. 155, Randolph Road). At the end of the ramp (for both N. & S. bound) turn right onto Randolph Road. Continue to the traffic light at the top of the hill & turn left onto Saybrook Road. Go a quarter of a mile & turn right onto Reservoir Road. Travel past the stop sign & then take the first right onto Training Hill Road. Your first left will lead into the MxCC Campus parking area. Our meeting will be held in CHAPMAN HALL, the large modern building at the entrance to the college. Park and enter Chapman Hall and go to the second floor. Our meeting will be in the large Multi-Purpose Rooms located just past the elevators.
Directions and Map to MxCC
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CMC Meeting, 7:00 PM
Not everyone realizes that there is a wealth of software available for Macs. Perhaps that’s because the great majority of it is not available in stores — it’s online! Internet-based distribution of software gives you immediate access to applications that can do anything you can think of. This month we’ll share with you some of the best software for Mac that is either inexpensive or free. Joe Arcuri will present a wealth of applications and utilities for you to explore and try out. They are all hand-picked by CMC board members for their unique abilities and value for money.
Back To Basics, 6:00 PM
We know it can be confusing to download software and find yourself with files on your desktop that you’re not sure what to do with. They may have names ending with things like “sit”, “zip”, or “dmg” and you find yourself thinking “Well, now what?” Our Back To Basics session at 6:00, with Don Dickey, will answer that question. You’ll find out exactly what these files are, how to access their contents, and how to properly install the software you download.
Come join us at the UConn Medical Center.
A few of Joe’s Favorite Freebies!
The March Presentation was the tip of the iceberg on available free software for our Macs. For those that are interested in getting those apps below is the outline of the presentation. Please feel free to send in your ideas and suggestions for any software we may have missed.
Enjoy,
Joe
Continue to read it all… Read more…
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The 2006 annual CMC auction is now closed, it was scheduled on Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at the UConn Health Center in Farmington.
Two words describe this event best-GREAT DEALS! If you’re looking for the perfect item or perfect gift at the perfect price, you’ll find it at the CMC auction! Dozens of items are up for auction: software, hardware, accessories, peripherals, books, clothing-you name it! This is our annual and only fund raising event that sponsors our programs and activities for the coming year. Please mark your calendars.
Our resident auctioneer, to be announced, will start the bidding at 7pm. You can arrive any time after 6:30 and look at the many items up for auction. Non-members and guests are welcome however a 10% surcharge will be applied or they can join CMC that evening.
There will be no Back to Basics this month
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Item # Vendor Desc Street Price Opening Price
67 Bare Bones Software BBEdit 8.5 Software (boxed CD, # ZM2KE) 125.00 31.00
68 Focal Press Book: Photoshop CS2: essential skills w/CD by Mark Galer and Philip Andrews 33.00 8.00
69 Focal Press Book: Digital Camera Techniques by Jon Tarrant 30.00 7.00
27 Microsoft Microsoft Office:mac 2004 Standard Edition Software (cert #131) 400.00 100.00
28 Microsoft Microsoft Office:mac 2004 Standard Edition Software (cert #330) 400.00 100.00
30 Circus Ponies Circus Ponies NoteBook Software (boxed) 50.00 12.00
31 Allume Systems Spring Cleaning 8 Software (boxed) 50.00 12.00
32 Allume Systems Spring Cleaning 8 Software (flat) 50.00 12.00
33 Allume Systems CheckIt System Performance Suite Software (boxed) 100.00 25.00
34 Allume Systems Aquazone Seven Seas Deluxe Software (boxed) 25.00 8.00
35 Allume Systems Aquazone Seven Seas Deluxe Software (flat) 25.00 8.00
36 Allume Systems StuffIt Deluxe 11 Software (boxed) 80.00 20.00
37 Allume Systems StuffIt Deluxe 11 Software (flat) 80.00 20.00
48 adobe Smart Styles CS Software for InDesign v.3.0.1 150.00 25.00
39 Allume Systems Aquazone Bass Edition Software (boxed) 20.00 5.00
40 Allume Systems Aquazone Bass Edition Software (flat) 20.00 5.00
41 Allume Systems/Smith Micro Internet Cleanup 4 Software (boxed) 30.00 7.00
42 Allume Systems/Smith Micro Internet Cleanup 4 Software (flat) 30.00 7.00
43 Jack Bass Lithium Ion Battery - Canon NB-1LH equivalent 25.00 8.00
44 Jack Bass Lithium Ion Battery - Canon NB-1LH equivalent 25.00 8.00
46 SmileOnMyMac SmileOnMyMac Productivity Bundle Software 184.00 46.00
47 Design Tools Monthly (https://www.design-tools.com) Design Tools Monthly Newsletter 1-Year Subcription 100.00 25.00
64 Wiley Publications Book: The Mac OS X Tiger Book by Andy Ihnatko 25.00 6.00
58 MacSpeech MacSpeech Package: iListen Software w/USB Headset 150.00 38.00
59 O’Reilly Press Book: Digital Photography Expert Techniques 2ed by Ken Milburn 45.00 11.00
65 Focal Press Book: The Focal Easy Guide to Final Cut Express by Rick Young 21.00 5.00
60 O’Reilly Press Book: Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Tiger Ed. by David Pogue 30.00 8.00
66 Bare Bones Software BBEdit 8.5 Software (boxed CD, # 5HEFC) 125.00 31.00
63 Apple Apple iLife ‘06 Software Suite 79.00 20.00
72 Avondale Media/Peachpit Press Book: The Macintosh iLife ‘05 by Jim Heid 35.00 9.00
70 Bare Bones Software Yojimbo Software (ESD, #TBGRS) 39.00 10.00
71 Bare Bones Software Yojimbo Software (ESD, #3KQZY) 39.00 10.00
76 0.00 0.00
77 Apple (donated by member Don Dickey) Apple Mac OSX Tiger Upgrade DVD for Panther Systems 59.00 15.00
78 Apple (donated by member George Maciel) Apple Mac OSX Tiger Drop-In Kit for eMac (only) 79.00 20.00
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The Connecticut Macintosh Connection is a users’ group for owners and users of Apple Macintosh computers. The CMC is dedicated to helping its members get the most from their Macs. Monthly meetings provide the opportunity to meet and network with fellow Mac owners, as well as demonstrations of popular Mac products. The newsletter arrives eleven times per year packed with information and news related to the Mac world.
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OSX Planet
Able to generate live images of the earth as well as other planets
Click here for the DOM
Ok, this is absolutely not needed. I don’t need this, you don’t need this. But boy is this neat. And Free.
Remember the spinning earth you used to have on your desktop?
Well they updated it.
It is now dynamic. It shows the storms, the clouds, the earthquakes. It updates every 5 minutes. It is a plaything for the big kids.
You can also use ancient times, or other planets. Including Pluto, if you are a diehard like me, and are not willing to give Pluto up as a planet, just because a bunch of scientists told you to.
Put the image quality on low, so as not to use up processor speed. It still looks great. Pick your favorite cities. Have a ball.
LOL
OSXplanet is a cocoa program that is based on the popular program, xplanet (by Hari Nair). It is able to generate live images of the earth as well as other planets in the solar system with additional informations such as the current clouds, storms, satellites, volcanos, earthquakes and times and locations of cities. By Gabriel Otte.
What’s new in this version:
* Multi-Monitor Support has been added.
* Complete Rewrite of the program.
* Universal Binary.
* OSXplanet now has presets.
* New interface with toolbar.
* Cloud maps now update without problems.
* Now there are both high and low quality maps of the Earth.
* The origin coordinates can now be set to an active city.
* Changes to preferences are now saved “on-the-go.”
* Live, Dynamic preview.
* Preview is now integrated into the General Tab.
* Many of the memory leaks have been removed.
* Interface is now much more responsive.
* Interface is now “smart.” (Many options are set automatically depending on other options.)
* The cities interface has been touched up.
* The “Export…” button under the Cities Tab has been removed.
* Added the ability to Enable/Disable the download of Visuals Data.
* Added the ability to view Storm Paths.
* Magnitude Threshold Interface has had a touch-up.
* The Other Tab has had a touch-up.
* The ability to set desktop to the “OSXplanet Background” on quit has been added.
* Manual Check For Updates has been added to the Preferences.
* Smaller, Sleeker Splash Screen.
* The colors for city labels can now be chosen using the default Color Picker.
* OSXplanet now runs with low priority (aka nice).
* OSXplanet no longer supports Mac OS X 10.2.8 and earlier.
* The Cities List is now alphabetized.
* Volcanos are now rendered more nicely.
Product Requirements:
* Mac OS X 10.3.9 or higher
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How To Run Windows OS On A Mac. The Mac platform is all about providing an alternative to the Microsoft Windows empire and many of us can get by in life just fine without that “P.C.” operating system. But others of us find it a necessary evil, in order to operate in the world of business, or even to play the diverse range of PC game titles. This month we’ll demonstrate the two methods available for installing and using Windows on an Intel-based Macintosh. For those who might feel dirty after this presentation, handi-wipes will be available at the door.
Come join us at the UConn Medical Center.
Back to Basics this month we’ll look at using Disk Utility and what it’s good for. Most people don’t use this utility very much, but when you do need it, you’ll definitely want to know what you’re doing. We’ll discuss how it works, how it can benefit you, and when you should be using it. Next time you buy a new flash drive, new hard drive, or want to dupe a disc filled with data, you’ll be happy you attended this session.
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