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Antivirus Program Described

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        "I use the free Avast antivirus (AV) program on both my Macs and Windows computers," Jim Hamm begins.   "I like it, and it is light on computer resources. In case you might an interest in Avast,  here is a comprehensive article about this AV program. The article happens to cover installation on a Windows computer, but the process is basically the same for a Mac.
        "Some might question whether an AV program is needed on a Mac. Rather than ponder this philosophical question, I just go ahead and use Avast. I see no downside to doing this, and a possibility of an upside."
        Read  this info and note the chart comparing Avast with seven other well-known antivirus programs.  And there's that word:  FREE. 
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Practical Privacy

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    "Here is an interesting article on browser privacy mode," remarks David Passell.  "A use that really stood out for me was the way to circumvent the NY times 10 article/month limit. I will have to try that since I used to get a lot of news from NY Times site before they began charging. Now I use the freely available BBC news site."  Look here. 
       If you're using Safari and have clicked Block Cookies Always, and are continually aggravated at the number of Cookies noted, you might see if Private Browsing works for you.

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Ideas and Shortcuts

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  Jim Hamm presented some helpful tips to the AMUG Senior SIG today, and shares these links with us. 

    more from Lifehacker:  http://lifehacker.com/tag/101
9) (item obsolete - admin)
10) 50 Best Mac Tips: http://www.techradar.com/
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Sharing Documents With Other Users

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        "This cannot be stressed enough,"  so naturally we listen up to what John Carter has to say.   "No matter what application you use to create a document, if you want to share that document with a non-Apple user, then you must save the document in a format that anyone can open. That format is either TXT, PDF, RTF or RTFD.
         "A TXT file (.txt) is a plain file and can be opened by anyone with a number of different applications. But this format cannot include many special fonts, any fancy formatting (tabs are allowed) or any images.
         "PDF is the Adobe Postscript Document format. The Mac uses Preview to view this format. Windows must use Adobe Reader. When you save or export a document in PDF format, what the other people see is exactly what you created the document as.
         "RTF is the Microsoft Rich Text Format. The Mac uses Preview to view this format. Windows can use Word, Wordpad, or Notepad to view this format. What the other people see most likely will NOT be exactly as you see it. Microsoft will substitute fonts and may even change some formatting. If images are embedded in the document, chances are they won’t be in the right place. There may be severe restrictions on formatting and image types that can be employed in an RTF format.
         "RTFD is similar to RTF and also allows some fancy formatting and some image types. When using TextEdit to create a document, this is the default format if certain fonts or images are included."
         But that's not all.  John goes on with more details.
         "However, if you use either NeoOffice, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice to create a document in the OpenDocument format (see this link for a description of OpenDocument format) and if the Windows user has either OpenOffice or LibreOffice, then whatever you create and save in the default format they will be able to open and it will appear to them exactly as you see it with only one possible side effect — fonts may be substituted if the user doesn’t have exactly the same font installed on his/her machine. This may not alter the appearance any, or slightly if at all.
         "In Windows and starting with MS Office 2007 using a free plugin called OpenXML/ODF Translator (available here) , a user could open an OpenDocument file, but the document may not survive formatting and some fonts may be substituted. Although MS Office attempted to comply with the OpenDocument standards, Microsoft still insisted on making some changes of their own.
         "If you do use NeoOffice, OpenOffice or LibreOffice to create an OpenDocument file and you want to share it with another Apple user, then he/she can open it with TextEdit. But not Pages, Numbers or Keynote because these Apple products don’t know anything about the OpenDocument standard.
      "Just so you know, the extensions for an OpenDocument file are as follows:
            Text = .odt
            Presentation = .odp
            Spreadsheet = .ods
    "The equivalent for MS Office (prior to 2007) is:
            Text = .doc
            Presentation = .ppt
            Spreadsheet = .pps
   "For a complete treatise on the new MS Office extensions, see this link.
    "The equivalent for Apple is:
            Text = .pages
            Presentation = .keynote
            Spreadsheet = .numbers
            "Before sharing a document with anyone, make sure that they have the right application to work with the document you want to share.
              "For the general differences in use between OpenOffice and MS Office, see this link. For John Carter’s presentation notes on the differences between .docx and .odt, see this link and open the PDF file “MS Word 2010 vs OpenOffice 3.0."

Backup? When? How?

        A query from Bobbie Pastor opened the conversation.  Ward Stanke advises, "Drives die. Western Digital is generally better than Seagate, Toshiba seems to be better than WD.

        "Here's a blog post from Backblaze that talks about their experiences with consumer grade hard drives (like you or I would buy from Costco or Best Buy)."
        And Ward concludes with, "Backblaze runs a profitable cloud storage service using theses drives and has accumulated quite a bit of data concerning reliability, primarily on Seagate, WD and some on Toshiba."  

Explaining Mechanical Keyboards

        Mechanical keyboards, what is that?  Here comes Jim Hamm to explain, "Learning all about mechanical keyboards is something you've probably not given much thought to -- or quite possibly don't even care to know. However, if you're open to learning something new, take a read on this article. I found it interesting, gained some new knowledge, and now wonder how will I use it? How does one tell, for example, when buying a new computer, which type of keyboard does it have? 
        "You (and I) probably don't even care. You'll just try it out and find out how it feels. Each keyboard on my various computers feels different, and I certainly like some better than others.  Read on if this topic might be of some interest." And, thanks to Jim for his input. 

Have You Seen a 3-D Printer?

        "3D Printers! Wonderful technology! The PC club had a short presentation on this last month. They didn’t cover much," and this starts John Carter on an interesting discussion.  

        "There’s no way I would bother with this yet. The cost of the 'ink' (plastic) is still quite high and what ones needs to be able to do in order to create their own 3D model of something is way beyond my pay grade. In order to purchase a 3D model of something, I’m sure the cost would also be quite high." 
        Now, there's some costs to consider.  John explains, "If one cartridge prints 14 objects and each cartridge costs $50, that’s $3.57 per object. You can go to the Dollar store and get the same thing for $1 (if they have it). But what if there’s only enough plastic in one new cartridge to print one complicated object? Now we’re talking big bucks!
        "But wait! I remember the time when a new computer and printer combo cost me around $3,000! And all I wanted to do was print a few photos (at a cost of nearly $2 each).
        "But wait! I paid more than that for my old 17” laptop!
        "Argh! Even all my telescopes, cameras, and observatory combined cost thousands of dollars more!"
        So, is that all John has to say?  "Okay, maybe I’ll get one. It will make a good conversation piece on my coffee table.
        "Someday I’ll get tired of making plastic goodies no bigger than 5.25 cu. in. and only in one color and want to make something bigger, like a large vase or a set of china, or maybe I’ll want something in metal. Wait a minute! I can print one of those stainless steel forks that I lost! And I need another sharp knife! How about a new diamond tip drill bit? Maybe even a whole new drill? In full color, too, please.
        "I think I’ll wait until they figure out how to fabricate food at low cost in a 3D printer. That will be something worthwhile. Yum! One banana split coming up! Don’t laugh! It’s coming!"
        The website that started this conversation is here.  Take a look and see what you think of this invention  http://www.hammacher.com/Product/82332?promo=search
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Got a Smart Phone?

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        A handy emailed daily tip from Here's the Thing recently has given tips for people with "smart phones."  A query to Jim Hamm brought us this reply, "Yes, I get this, and it has some useful tips. You could post a link to this in the blog and suggest to people they might take a look at it."
        And, not leaving well enough alone, Jim goes on, "So, you just have a dumb phone? That reminds me of the old adage that smart phones are for smart people, and dumb phones are for..........(grin)...Just teasing you."  And here's the link to the smart phone posts. 

Appreciating YOU

        We appreciate having interesting, helpful PMUG meetings.  And we appreciate YOU coming.  
        See what Jim Hamm has to say:  "This is an open letter to PMUG members, and I have some questions for you. How long have you been a member of PMUG? How many meetings have you attended, where someone else stood up and shared some knowledge with you? How many tips have you sent to be published in the PMUG newsletter. How many officer positions in PMUG have you volunteered for? How many presentations have you given?
        "If the answer to these questions is none, PMUG needs your help. 
        "The President and Vice President are not planning to run for office again, and we need volunteers for these positions, and to give some presentations. Yes, I'm talking about you, one who hasn't contributed in the past. Remember, the meetings and presentations don't just spontaneously happen -- someone has to work and make them happen."

        Now, Jim illustrates this,  "Here's an analogy. Let's say your neighborhood has a potluck, pitch-in, dinner every month. You faithfully show up, enjoy the food and camaraderie, but never contribute any food. 

        "Would you do that? I don't think so. The same with PMUG. It's nice to come to the meetings and hear what someone else has prepared for you. But it's also nice for you to chip in now and then also. 

        "The intent of this note is not to embarrass you or rile you up. Its intent is to get you to volunteer. If you haven't contributed to PMUG in the past, now is the time to step up. We need volunteers who care and want to see PMUG continue."   
        So, let Jim's logic sink in, then email your ideas to PMUG. Click on About Us, and contact one of our officers.  We do appreciate YOU. 

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Instead of CarPlay

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        Quick to reply, John Carter explains his view of CarPlay that Prez Art Gorski described yesterday. He jests, "Hah! Nothing new to me. Everything that CarPlay does I can already do with my iPhone (or iPad) and a bluetooth headset.

        "On a recent trip to California, I kept in constant touch with Jackie using Messages. Siri recorded my messages to Jackie and then read back any new message from Jackie. (It wasn’t always perfect.) I listened to music or podcasts when I wasn’t messaging. With the iPhone attached to the windshield, I was always up to date with directions to my destination. I could even hazard watching a video. And of course, the only real drawback was when I was out of touch of a tower when driving through mountains, but that didn’t stop me from listening to music."
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Here Comes CarPlay

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        Prez Art Gorski is the first in PMUG to bring this alert, "Apple just announced iOS integration with various brands of automobiles. It’s called CarPlay, and basically it lets you use Siri, Apple Maps, Messages, and other iOS services on the screen in your car. Of course, you need a wireless data connection for most of this to work, otherwise you’ll experience CarPlay Tunnel Syndrome."
        Here's Apple's announcement.  Look at all the nifty features, then scroll down to see the car models where CarPlay will be available in 2014 , and then the list of future models from “these committed partners.”    http://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/ 

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Net Neutrality in the News

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        Net Neutrality is in the news. David Passell forwards a letter from Public Citizen, see it here and RootsAction, here. 
        Do a Google search for that term and you’ve got a lot of sites to scan.  On the first page that comes up go to the left side and decide what time frame you’d like:  Any Time, Past 24 hours, Past week, Past month, or Past year.  Keep informed so you can take action. 

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Mail in Mavericks and iOS 7: How To

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Having trouble or confusions with Apple Mail in Mavericks?  John Carter to the rescue.    "Lots has changed from previous versions, particularly for Gmail users, and although Apple has restored some functionality in 10.9.1 and the just-released 10.9.2, there's nothing like a healthy dose of expert advice to put you back in control of your email.         "To help with that, email expert Joe Kissell has revisited the topic in 'Take Control of Apple Mail.' This new ebook, which covers both Mail for Mavericks and iOS 7, provides 175 pages of essential setup, usage, and troubleshooting advice, whether you use Gmail, iCloud, Exchange, or IMAP — or more than one. The book normally costs $15, but the 30% MUG discount drops that to $10.50. Learn more about the book and purchase via the coupon-loaded  link.   Want to know more?  "Along the way, Joe explains core concepts like special IMAP mailboxes and email archiving, reveals Mail's hidden interface elements, and offers tips on customizing Mail to your preferences (including the best power-user plugins for Mail on the Mac). You'll also learn how to find that message in the haystack, figure out how digital signatures and encryption work in Mail, and uncover solutions to numerous common problems. Perhaps most important, Joe shares his strategy for avoiding email overload; the article where he first introduced it won American Business Media’s Neal Award for Best How-To Article.

        "When Apple released 10.9.2 Mavericks earlier this week, we were within minutes of uploading the completed ebook files to our server. Once Joe realized that 10.9.2 had made significant changes to Mail, he dropped everything in order to research the changes and update the manuscript. Editing occurred overnight, and we produced the ebook anew in the morning, making this not only the most comprehensive book about Apple Mail, but also the most up to date!"  
        And there's 30% off Take Control's other ebooks:  Take Control of Apple TV, Take Control of Your Passwords,  Take Control of CrashPlan Backups,  Take Control of 1Password
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Anti-Virus App Does Its Job

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       "I opened my mail this morning and Sophos (my only Anti-Virus app on my Mac) presented me with this notice: 

        So John Carter has now gotten everyone's attention!  (You do remember to click to enlarge the pasted graphics.)  Read on, "I opened the Quarantine manager.

Then I clicked on the link for the threat to see the details.  Not to worry, it only infects a Windows machine.   But anyway, I let Sophos clean it up:

And here's the happy conclusion from John,  "Having Sophos check my email for viruses and threats does help me avoid opening suspicious email, even if the threat can’t hurt my Mac."
        Note on this page  that Sophos is FREE,  and it's for Mac OS X 10.6 or later.  Their website also has a forum for discussions.