[20060112] January 12, 2006 – MacWorld Expo

Date       - January 12, 2006
Start Time - 18:10
Attendance - 36

Questions and Answers
=====================

Q. How do I go from mp4 to mp3? I want to play CD in car.
A. iTunes -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Importing -> Import Using
-- Change to MP3 Encoder.
-- You can now select songs in iTunes and do iTunes -> Advanced -> Convert to MP3...
-- mp4 extension is used for AAC files.

Q. iTunes library of 30 GB. Updated iTunes. All songs now unselected (checkbox).
How to re-check all songs?
A. Don't know.

Q. Use regular headset with Blue Tooth?
A. There are devices that will do that. Blue Tooth audio adapter. Check Fry's.

[...Firefox question...]

Q. Microsoft Word. Toolbar not showing up.
A. Choose View -> Toolbars -> [specific toolbar]
-- For default toolbars:
++++ View -> Toolbars -> Customize...
++++ Check toolbars and save in Normal

Q. Firefox. Saves passwords. How to turn it on/off?
A. Firefox preferences. Privacy settings. There should be a checkbox.
Q. What for sites I said "Never ask"?
A. (Mozilla) Tools -> Password Manager -> Manage Stored Passwords
-- Passwords Never Saved tab. Delete the appropriate entries.
-- Firefox will have something similar.

Q. Firefox. Google search. Type-ahead completiion. Can I delete certain entries?
A. No. You can clear that cache but not individual entries.

Q. PowerBook screen gets static.
A. Probable hinge problem.
-- Diagnosis is usually $90-$100 (Apple Store, CompUSA)
-- TechRestore
-- CJS in Berkeley
-- PowerBooks 4+ years old with hardware problems usually cost more to repair
than to replace.

Q. Want to buy electronic keyboard (for music). What to look for?
A. USB.
-- Controller keyboard: doesn't make any sounds. It's just an input device.
-- Other keyboards have CPUs to record on them.
-- Synthesizers: keyboards that produce their own sounds.
-- Weighted keyboard: has feedback, better playing experience.
-- mAudio has a weighted, 4-octave keyboard for $100
-- Record MIDI into GarageBand and you can make a CD out of that.
-- GarageBand: export to iTunes.

Q. Record stuff. iTunes won't play it back.
A. Try GarageBand to do recording since it's integrated with iTunes.
Q. How do you input sound?
A. Some Macs have built-in audio-in (e.g. PowerBooks).
-- Griffin iMic: converts audio microphone to USB.
-- mAudio, DigiDesign (mBox, $500): for high quality (professional) recordings

Q. How do I use GarageBand in iMovie
A. Import option. In Media Browser the audio files should show up.
-- GarageBand 3 can play iMovies while you record so it's easier to sync.

Q. Pro Tools projects. Can they be imported to Intel Macs?
A. In theory yes.

Q. iTunes. Downloaded videos. Want to delete them.
A. Try deleting the videos from the Library view, under TV Shows or Movies.

Q. Bought microphone for Performa, will it work on current Macs?
A. PlainTalk microphone. Those were specially made and won't work.

Q. Want to use multiple users with Mac OS X. Console login?
A. You can do this but that's an advanced topic.

Q. Safari. Online shopping. Want to save receipt web page.
A. Safari -> File -> Print -> PDF -> Save as PDF... -> save in a folder

Q. Skype with PowerBook? Do I need a microphone?
A. PowerBook's built-in microphone should be good enough.

Q. iTunes. Convert AAC to Apple Lossless Codec (ALC)? Does that work?
A. Yes but you don't get anything better.
-- Useful if you want to work with the audio in GarageBand.

Q. Blue Tooth support stereo headphones?
A. Yes.

Q. iTunes. Record audio from the web. Won't play in iTunes.
A. You probably tried to save a stream so the file is only an address and
won't play in iTunes.
-- Audio Hijack (Rogue Amoeba $30) or Wiretap to record any sounds that play on your Macintosh.

Q. Any enterpreneur that wants to support a non-profit?
A. Apple Store: Works on a Mac program to showcase software.
-- They can do a presentation to raise profile of their program.

Q. With MacBook Pro are current PowerBooks obsolete?
A. No. Apple makes computers to last. Your PowerBook will remain useful for
several years.

Q. Upgrade older PowerBook?
A. Processor upgrade iffy. Hard drive upgrades good iead.

ebMUG Introduction
==================

Main         - http://www.ebmug.org/
Mailing List - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebmug/

Special Interest Groups
-- Programmer's - http://www.screenlight.com/BMDG/devsig.html
++++ Mel's Diner, Kittredge and Shattuck, Berkeley
-- Database and Network - Glenn Bookout 
++++ Grand Lake Neighborhood Center, 530 Lake Park Avenue, Oakland

News
-- Web site under construction (again).
-- New ebMUG CD #5 - bring a blank CD with case and trade.
-- Tonight: MacWorld Expo, Presentation by President of Beijing Mac Users Group
-- Next Month: Mark/Space - Sync Mac and hand held devices

Main Presentation: MacWorld Expo
================================

iPod and iTunes. First keynote in 4 years with no new iPods.
-- Apple iPod remote and FM tuner. Requires dock connector (i.e. no shuffle)

Mac OS X 10.4.4
-- New widgets
-- Extra speed and security

iLife '06
-- Half of the keynote
-- iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iDVD, and now iWeb
-- iWeb: get your content out to a web page
-- GarageBand: simpler interface, easier to use
-- iMovie: can have multiple movies open at once
-- More integration between iLife applications

iWork '06
-- Nothing new enough for more than a couple of minutes of the keynote.
-- Keynote: slide transitions are cool!

iMacs with Intel Duo Core processor
-- Identical on the outside.
-- Runs cooler and faster.
-- Monitor spanning. Add another monitor for a bigger desktop.

Roz Ho, Macintosh Business Unit
-- Commitment to produce Microsoft Office for Macintosh for 5 years.
-- Truth is that Microsoft Office of Mac is a profit maker.
-- Sync services. Sync from Entourage to Address Book, iCal, Palm Pilots, etc.

Q. Dual booting?
A. Not supported. Probably won't work because XP doesn't support EFI
(Extensible Firmware Interface).

MacBook Pro
-- 15" PowerBook. Weighs slightly less, screen is slightly larger.
-- Shipping in February.

What Software Will Run on Intel Macs?
-- Mac OS X (Cocoa, Carbon) will run in Rosetta
-- No Classic environment, Mac OS 9 and earlier applications will not run

Q. Future of Firewire?
A. Rumor: there will be no Firewire in future iBooks. Only for Pro machines.
-- But will be able to boot from USB2 drives.

MacWorld Expo Live Keynote Coverage
-- http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/01/10/livekeynote/index.php

Main Presentation: Beijing Macintosh Users Group
================================================

David Feng, President Beijing MUG

Founded 2002 in Beijing
First meeting: 7 people from 7 countries
-- China, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Australia, USA, Canada

Lots of pictures.
Apple in niche markets: Video, DTV publishing
Ads in Beijing same as in US. Not enough explaining what an iPod is.
-- ads are too abstract for culture
Macs are too expensive for locals. Ex-patriots have lots of money.
-- Typical income 500 Yuen per month, iPod costs 1000 Yuen.
iPod: 10% market share in China.
-- prices are about same as in US (with conversion rate and import taxes)
Macintosh: 0.1 to 1% market share.

Currently: 250 official members, 3000 online members
Population of Beijing and suburbs: 14 million

Raffle
======

1. O'Reilly T-shirt
2. iPod Xpert T-shirt
3. Another T-shirt
4. iPod and iTunes, The Missing Manual (book)
5. iPod and iTunes Hacks (book)
6. Scrapbook making software

End Time - 20:20