What Was That I Said About the Meeting?

Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. PYB directly to:

Results of Apple’s Recent Announcement

Posted in Meetings | Comments Off on What Was That I Said About the Meeting?

Tech Check!


The September General meeting is coming up!

As we did last month, we’re meeting on Zoom and all you need is your computer or device, and the Zoom app. If you’re planning to attend on your device, download Zoom from the respective app store. If your computer is your choice, download the Zoom client.

The meeting itself will be from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, as usual (Monday, 18 September). However, since Zoom can be a bit obtuse at times, Chris Keller will be hosting Tech Check before the meeting, starting at 6:30 pm. He’ll be answering questions, offering advice, and doing his best to make sure everybody has a grand time!

Presuming you have Zoom downloaded, PYBT: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7266439791?pwd=eE9nNVJpSTRzMkIvcVU5ZXlzZUF4UT09. You’ll also need the following bits of data:

Meeting ID: 726 643 9791
Password: 377070

When you arrive, you’ll be in the waiting room; Chris will open the door to the meeting room from there.

Posted in Meetings, Tips | Tagged | Comments Off on Tech Check!

Zooming, (Re)Joining, Drawing

Zooming
We are, once again, meeting on Zoom. It’s worked pretty well so far, best we can tell (if you attended, or tried to, and didn’t have a good time, please let us know).

If you’ve not been with us recently, or you’re planning to use another device, you’ll need to re/download the Zoom app.

On the iOS side of the house, you can use an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch that has iOS 8.0 or later. To download the client from the App Store, PYBT: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/zoom-cloud-meetings/id546505307.

On the Android side of the house, PYBT: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=us.zoom.videomeetings. And that’s all I know about that. If anyone has suggestions or corrections, by all means, let me know!

On the Mac and Windows (and Unix/Linux?) side of the house, proceed directly to the Zoom Download Center, https://zoom.us/download#client_4meeting, and click the Download button.

When meeting time comes, PYBT (on your preferred machine): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7266439791?pwd=eE9nNVJpSTRzMkIvcVU5ZXlzZUF4UT09.

In case you get asked (you shouldn’t, but you know how that goes, some days…), here are the login credentials:
Meeting ID: 726 643 9791
Password: 377070

(Re)Joining and the Drawing
As you may have noticed in the meeting post, the drawing is back! We’ll be using the same ticket-drawing routine as we did in person, but the payment method will be a little different.

We’ll be using Apple Pay now. You’ll be sending funds to our intrepid treasurer, Mo! (as it used to be said, Go see Mo!), and they’ll make their way to the group from there.

If you’re on an Android phone, or don’t use Apple Pay for whatever reason, you can use Google Pay or Zelle.

Ticket prices have not changed: $1.00 for one, or $5.00 for six.

And yes, if you are joining us, or re-upping your membership, Go see Mo!! Dues are still $30.00 for the year.

To get ready to make payments on your iOS device, there are two steps: Set up Apple Cash and learn how to send money with Apple Pay:

Set up Apple Cash: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207886.

Send money with Apple Pay: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207875. The number to which you’ll be sending the payment will be made available at the meeting.

Stay tuned for Google Pay and Zelle recommendations.

Depending on the source of the prizes, they may be physical, they may be electronic. If electronic, give/e-mail Mo! the e-mail address you’d like the info to be sent. If physical, we can either mail it or deliver it; you choose and, again, get the preferred address to Mo!

Posted in Meetings, Tips | Comments Off on Zooming, (Re)Joining, Drawing

Had You Heard?

From the Wall Street Journal:

Sure, Apple’s new iPhone 15 features have improved designs and cameras, but the tech company’s switch from the Lightning to USB-C port is the biggest iPhone news to affect consumers in years. All of its new models, including the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, have USB-C ports. WSJ’s Joanna Stern breaks down everything you need to know about the update, including why Apple did this in the first place.

PYBT for the full report: iPhone 15 First Look: Why Apple’s New USB-C Port Is a Huge Deal. It’s a YouTube video, so have your device’s volume set accordingly.

Thanks to Andrew Zima for the tip.

Posted in Apple | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Had You Heard?

Did You Know?

Apple issued an emergency warning to update to iOS 16.6.1 or iPadOS 16.6.1 right away.

Jessica Guynn, at USA TODAY, reports:

Do you own an iPhone or an iPad? Update your Apple devices now.

Apple issued an emergency warning to update to iOS 16.6.1 or iPadOS 16.6.1 right away.

The update fixes security vulnerabilities  that Apple says could be used to attack iPhones and iPads.

Here’s the whole story: Do you own an iPhone or an iPad? Update your Apple devices right now.

Posted in Apple | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Did You Know?

September 18th General Meeting

Results of Apple’s Recent Announcement

Once again, it’s time for Apple’s usual seasonal announcement(s). We’re hoping for some excitement, and we’ll be glad to pass it all along. Join us!

Apps & Traps – Our essential monthly feature on interesting new products and services for iOS and OS X, brought to you by Dave Whitby.

Apple News & Updates

Q&A

Our rewarding Monthly Prize Drawing.

Be on the lookout, on the Web site, for the Zooming, (Re)Joining, Drawing post, which will have the all gory details on how the drawing (among other things) should work.

The meeting will be conducted on Zoom. The gory details have arrived: Tech Check!

The Meeting after the Meeting is back with us. Hang on in Zoom, after the General meeting, and chat with everyone!

Posted in Meetings | Comments Off on September 18th General Meeting

Google and Your Info

Your personal info: there’s lots of it, it’s in a lot of places, and there are a lot of ways for folks to access it. Fun, eh?

You wanna know what’s out there? Wanna get some control over it? Take a look here, on The Mercury News: Google simplifies controlling information about you.

From the author, Larry Magid:

Have you ever searched for your personal information on Google?  You might be shocked by what you find. I’m not just talking about your name – just about everyone Googles themselves from time to time. But you might also find your home address, phone number, email address, names of family members and other personal information that you might not want out there.

Pretty scary. Get with it and get that stuff tidied up!

Posted in General | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Google and Your Info

Were You at the Meeting Last Night?

If you weren’t, we had more fun than you! 

The Meeting after the Meeting featured Catalina -> Big Sur update, Thunderbird display issues, who makes Apple monitors?, and headphone jack on a MacBook Pro not working.

Posted in General | Comments Off on Were You at the Meeting Last Night?

Upcoming Meeting Dates

As I’m sure y’all have heard by now, the Pasadena Library is closed, possibly forever. Never fear, we are continuing to hold general meetings. As of now, they will follow our long-standing schedule, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. on the third Monday of the month.

We will be conducting the meetings on-line, using Zoom. The Zoom client is available for Mac and Windows (via your browser) and iOS and Android (on their respective stores). PYBT to download the client for your computer: Zoom client.

The meeting link and password will be posted closer to meeting time in the Zooming, (Re)Joining, Drawing post. Keep your eyes peeled.

The Meeting after the Meeting is also virtual (for now). We stick around in the Zoom chat room after the General meeting and have at it!

September 2023 18th third Monday
October 2023 16th third Monday
November 2023 20th third Monday
December 2023 18th third Monday
January 2024 15th third Monday
February 2024 19th third Monday

Posted in Meetings | Comments Off on Upcoming Meeting Dates

Backup, Backup, Backup

if you don’t, odds are you’ll be awfully regretful at some point.

From Larry Magid’s article on The Merc:

Losing everything on your computer may not be tragic, but it can be pretty devastating, especially if it includes important records and documents, precious photos and other cherished digital keepsakes.  Fortunately, there are easy and relatively inexpensive ways to back everything up.

He continues with lots of advice; it’s well-written quite understandable, and quite easy to implement. PYBT: Backing up is not hard to do.

Posted in General | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Backup, Backup, Backup