appleJAC Users Group

April 2023 appleJAC agenda

March appleJAC Presentations

 

The PDF of the March 7, 2023, meeting slideshow about Apple Mail by George Kopp can be viewed again by clicking on Apple Mail (best if viewed in Preview so all imbedded Internet links work).

The video of the first half of the meeting (reports, Q&A, and CES images) is available at (facebook.com/appleJAC.org/759661428728997); and for the second half (CES gadgets and discussion), click on facebook.com/appleJAC.org/201688105831691 (it may be necessary to click on the resulting image in order to hear the sound with picture).

The next appleJAC meeting will be April 4, 2023, about Apple Folders, Messages, and AirTags.

 

March 2023 appleJAC agenda

Xebec Tri-Screen: Expanding Productivity

a review by Tom Piper

When I got my first Apple ][ 48K computer, it was connected to a black-and-white tube-type television with a cassette recorder for long-term memory, from which I could load programs and save data. Viewing screens have come a long way in the 44 years since then, with great new innovations.

At CES 2023, I visited the Xebec exhibit which was demonstrating their new Tri-Screen 2 and other products. In another location I had already seen a single-screen attachment to a laptop, but here I was excited to find a setup with a 10” screen on both sides. Not only that, but they easily, quickly and securely clamped onto the laptop screen without magnets or adhesion.  

During my review, I tested this unit with my MacBook Air M2 which has a pair of USB-C ports and a 13” screen. The pair of 10” screens seemed small UNTIL I used it with a variety of different apps (more on this later). Because my laptop normally only supports one external monitor, I also acquired the Tri-Screen Adapter which activates the second screen, thus allowing one continuous desktop from left screen across the laptop to the right screen. I was surprised to find included a variety of cables and connectors to fit almost any computer configuration with two USB-C to USB-C, one USB-C extension, two HDMI to MiniHDMI, one USB-C 90° elbow, and two USB-A to USB-C adapters. Plenty of online instructions and videos are available online, as well as Tech Support and FAQ assistance. It seems like they have thought of everything!

The hookup initially seemed a little tedious and bulky with the extra adapter, but with practice and understanding of the two bottom-mounted USB-C ports and mini-HDMI port, all went very well. I really like the retractable screens and elastic strap across the back, which work together for a firm fit, and compact transport afterwards. Thankfully, it only takes a couple of minutes to setup. My only disappointment was that the extra ports could not accommodate a flash drive (the work-around is to use a separate dock, like the OWC Travel Dock which worked fine for me).

Actual use of the twin screens is a joy. Once mounted, a quick trip into the Mac System Settings and Displays mode allows me to Arrange the desktop layout properly, which more than doubles the viewing area of my computer. In order to improve the viewing angle, I also got their Airstand that adheres to the bottom of my MacBook Air, which elevates the keyboard to an angle of about 20 degrees, which eases neck and typing pressure (to match this angle and take pressure off the laptop hinge, the screen frame includes a foldout stand at the back). The designers of this unit were very thoughtful about making this setup comfortable and rewarding to use.

In addition to this great system, Xebex also has provided a very comfortable  compact Bluetooth mouse. It includes an innovative 4-way scroll wheel which allows me to move forward and back and sideways (also programmable in Settings). Other buttons include a Sensitivity Settings button on top (600, 800, 1200 dots per inch), two buttons on the left side (forward and back actions), and two switches on the bottom (on/off and Bluetooth). It is easily rechargeable (500 mAh battery) with an included short USB-C cable to USB-A power supply (not included). It is very small (1.4” x 3.9” x 2.5”) yet pleasingly comfortable in hand. 

Even more, Xebex also has a wonderful lightweight keyboard that is small (0.3” x 11.5”x 6.2”) and very handy (including a nifty cloth sleeve for safe transport). It is rechargeable (300 mAh battery) with an included short USB-C cable to USB-A power supply (not included). The tilt can be adjusted at multiple angles with the full-length kickstand on back. Its size and layout strongly resemble my MacBook Air with a few Mac and PC labeling distinctions, and the key touch is also very similar. In everyday use, this keyboard is comfortable and very portable (it also can be paired with my iPad Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max (a nice addition would have been buttons or switches to move among up to 4 devices).

All in all, this combination of screens and accessories is a great tribute to quality engineering and functionality the Xebex masterminds instilled into these products. Whether at home, office or travel, they will enhance productivity and enjoyment for any laptop user. I even found that I could attach one of the screens to my 12.9” iPad Pro using the adapter or a dock.

To learn more about the Xebec Tri-Screen system, go to https://www.thexebec.com/ where the The Tri-Screen 2 is available for $499, the Airstand for $29, the Mouse for $79, and the Keyboard for $99. Many thanks to Alex Levine, Samantha Whitford and Catherine Hague for introducing me these fine products, as well as Sam and Sawyer for excellent followup after CES to assure that everything was working as planned. Not only do they have great products, but also exceptional service.

 

Rolling Square cables: Durable Flexible Versatility

a review by Tom Piper

Cable connections for my electronic devices take me back to my early Apple ][ and Mac days when serial, ADB and FireWire were the standard wires used to connect various peripherals. Today, the latest advances are based on Lightning, microUSB, USB-A, USB-C and Thunderbolt. 

At CES 2023, I revisited the Rolling Square exhibit which was demonstrating some of their most innovative products, including inCharge XL cables where their slogan is: “The ultra fast Swiss army knife of cables”. I found that these are the only cables that I need for home, office and travel because they feature 2 Inputs and 3 Outputs, for a total of 6 different connections. 

InCharge® XL throughput allows Ultra Fast Charging up to 100W and Apple's Fast Charging up to 27W, supporting both charging and data transfer, which allows me to quickly transfer my data at speeds up to 480Mbit. These cables even allow an android phone and many tablets to become a power source I can use when standard charging ports are not nearby (only available using USB-C phone as input), such as charging my Apple Watch from my 12.9”  iPad Pro.

Each cable features metal housing and N52 Magnets for the ends, plus 200 braided copper wires in a TPU and nylon-reinforced cable using aramid fiber in black, yellow or white colors. To fit different needs, 1’, 6.5’ and 10’ lengths are available. For the longer cables, a silicone pouch, magnetic desk support and eco-friendly packaging is included. The result makes for a very strong yet flexible connection to my MacBooks, iPads, hard drives, SSD drives and much more.

To learn more about the Rolling Square cables, go to https://rollingsquare.com where the 1’ version is available for $29.00, the 6.5’ version for $35.00, and the 10’ model for $39.00. In addition to these excellent cables, Rolling Square also produces quality chargers, device mounts, cases and other innovative devices. Kudos to the company PR & Influencer Marketing Manager Laura Ragazzi in Switzerland for introducing me to this terrific collection of innovative and highly-useful products.

 

Cell Gel Mounts: Incredible Nano-Suction Grip

a review by Tom Piper

For many years, we have relied on sticky adhesive tapes and glues to temporarily mount our valuable devices on various surfaces, only to leave behind damaged areas and residue. Major technological advances have produced much more practical and useful bonding materials using some interesting old principles.

At CES 2023, I discovered CellGelMounts which uses nano-suction technology (tiny suction cups that stick to non-porous surfaces by vacuum) on various reusable mounts. Their slogan is “MOUNT.IT.ANYWHERE — the new way to temporarily mount your handheld device to most surfaces, then move and reuse as often as you want!” Truly innovative concept based on some ancient principles of adherence.

The first item to catch my attention was the Reusable Phone Mounting Brackets which are cleverly designed to allow me to conveniently place my iPhone 14 Pro Max on my bathroom mirror right above the radio. Its easy to see, the built-in sound holes project music outward for easy listening, and everything is dry and out of the way (unless my wife puts her iPhone 13 Pro Max in it first). These L-shaped mounts are simple to install, but can be removed with a slow twist (no residue left behind), and used again elsewhere (they even come in a plastic storage case for storage or transport). If some “stickiness” is lost, I can just wash and air dry to restore adhesion strength.

Next in the exhibit was a 6-pack of Strong Hold Hooks, each of which has a metal swivel wire hook attached to a 2.75” x 2.75” adhesive flexible plastic patch. Since it can be attached to glass, tile, wood, metal, plaster or almost any flat surface, the potential uses indoor and outdoors, bath and shower, coat and towels, lights and decorations, and so much more. I use mine around the office for hanging cables, headphones, CES bags and even tethered walking sticks. These hooks are incredibly strong and versatile, but can still be removed with a slow peel and reused multiple times in many places.

Another item in this interesting exhibit was the Reusable Mount, designed specifically to used for phone pop grips, ring grips, action cameras and other devices which have small handles. This mount works great with my GoPro Hero 9 whenever I need a fixed location for video and photos. It easy to quickly attached, then twist and remove for a different location (it also comes with a small plastic case to store and transport in my backpack). The adhesion pad is only 2” x 2”, yet strong enough to hold even my iPad, if I want to temporarily mount it on a wall (need to be careful on some surfaces where paint might be removed). As their slogan says: “Mount.Remove.Repeat”. 

Much to my surprise, they also had a Magnetic Charging Stand which is sturdy enough to support a phone, tablet or other screen device. This aluminum stand is double-jointed for base and back tilting, as well as 8 notches and 5 holes for the included 6-foot woven charging cable with removable Lightening and USB-C magnetic tips (works with my iPhone 14 Pro Max and 12.9” iPad Pro). The base also includes 2 pads of adhesive for more secure mounting on flat surfaces, easily removable with a slow twist. As with all of their adhesives, if they become contaminated, these pads can be washed and air dried to restored their adhesion.

To learn more about the Cell Gel Mounts, go to https://cellgelmounts.com where set of phone mounts is available for $11.99, the 6-pack of strong holds for $6,00, the pop mount for $10.99, and the charging stand on sale for $24.99 (free shipping on all orders too). Kudos to the company president Jason Truda in Virginia for designing and marketing this terrific collection of innovative and highly-useful products.

 

February appleJAC presentations

The PDF of the February 7, 2023, meeting slideshow (including the Apple announcements, CES slideshow and CES gadget demonstrations) can be viewed again by clicking on CES 2023 appleJAC pres (best if viewed in Preview so all imbedded Internet links work).

The video of the first half of the meeting (reports, Q&A, and CES images) is available at (facebook.com/appleJAC.org/020723Avideo); and for the second half (CES gadgets and discussion), click on (facebook.com/appleJAC.org/020723Bvideo) (it may be necessary to click on the resulting image in order to hear the sound with picture).

The next appleJAC meeting will be March 7, 2023, about Apple Mail Management.

 

Upcoming appleJAC meetings

from Tom Piper, 2022 aJ President

Thank you to our officers this past year for their great service, and great appreciation to all who attended our monthly meetings, both in person and streaming on Facebook. Its been a great year of education and entertainment, plus networking among our members.

Next year promises to be filled with talented presenters and great topics including:

• February 7: CES Report & Demos
• March 7: Apple Mail Management
• April 7: Apple Folders, Messages and AirTags
• May 2: Managing Your Photos
• June 6: Annual Picnic
• July 11: Questions & Answers
• August 1: Apple Device Maintenance
• September 5: Shortcuts & Notes
• October 3: New Apple Operating Systems
• November 7: 15 Gadgets in 60 Minutes
• December 5: Annual Meeting

Due to the closeness of the holidays and probable inclement weather, the appleJAC Board decided to postpone the regular January 3 meeting to February 7 for everyone's recovery and safety. The agenda for this next meeting is attached.

 

December 2022 appleJAC Presentations

The overall PDF of the December meeting slideshow (including the Apple announcements and gadget images) can be viewed again by clicking on aJ slideshow 12-06-22 (best if viewed in Preview so all imbedded Internet links work).

The video of the first half of the meeting (reports, Apple & Me, gadget) is available at appleJAC.org/videos/823731572018525 plus Peggy's video about her scanner at youtu.be/1NmpKhnhWZQ; and for the second half (gadgets and Annual Meeting), click on appleJAC.org/videos/1107871396592475 plus the Joe's slides about his gadgets at Tips & Gadgets (it may be necessary to click on the resulting image in order to hear the sound with picture).

At the Annual Business Meeting, the following people were elected:

• President:            Peggy Landwehr    Members-at-Large:
• Vice-President:   George Kopp          Todd McCluskey
• Secretary:             Joe Mertzlufft         Julie Smith
• Treasurer:            Sue Snell                  Alice Kopp          
• Webmaster:         Tom Piper                Greg Breuer
•                                                                  Ann Lane
•                                                                  Mark Snell

The next appleJAC meeting will be February 7, 2023 (January 3 is postposed since it is so close to the holidays).

 

appleJAC on the Radio

KWOS Open Air Saturday with Hal Dulle at 8:00am on December 3, 2022, hosted an interview with appleJAC President Tom Piper. The topic was technology with lots of discussion about iPhones and Apple-related products, along with electric cars and predictions of future technology.

In order to listen to this 46-minute session (advertisements removed), just click on:

Open Air Saturday 12-03-22

Any observations, reactions or comments may be sent to Tom at macquest@mac.com.

 

December 2022 agenda

appleJAC members and prospectives:

We are so pleased to once again present a wide variety of gadgets this year, and they are REALLY interesting (see attached agenda).

This is also our Annual Meeting when we invite members to become officers for 2023 to help keep our topics interesting and educational . . . nominations are OPEN, and volunteers are needed!

See you at the meeting,

Tom

aJ President

November 2022 appleJAC Presentations

     

The overall PDF of the November meeting slideshow (including the Apple announcements and macOS 13 Ventura video) can be viewed again by clicking on aJ slideshow 11-01-22 (best if viewed in Preview so all imbedded Internet links work). A PDF of George's presentation about iPadOS 16 can be viewed by clicking: iPadOS 16 for appleJACs.

The video of the first half of the meeting (reports, Apple & Me, Q&A iPadOS 16) is available at appleJAC.org/videos/792369391856544; for the second half (macOS 13 Ventura), click on appleJAC.org/videos/687551596407546 (it may be necessary to click on the resulting image in order to hear the sound with picture).

 

November 2022

Meeting Agenda

 

October 2022 appleJAC Meeting presentations

The overall PDF of the October 4 meeting slideshow can be viewed again by clicking on aJ slideshow 10-04-22 (best if viewed in Preview so all imbedded Internet links work). A PDF of George's presentation about iOS 16 can be viewed by clicking: iOS 16 Features.

The video of the first half of the meeting (reports, Apple & Me, iOS 16 and Q&A) is available at appleJAC.org/videos/639861711074135; for the second half (iOS 16, watchOS 9 and tvOS 16), click on appleJAC.org/videos/491672219335865/ (it may be necessary to click on the resulting image in order to hear the sound with picture).

 

appleJAC--October 2022 Meeting Agenda

September 2022 appleJAC Presentations

   

The overall PDF of the September 6 meeting slideshow (including slides about the Keychain presentation) can be viewed again by clicking on aJ slideshow 09-06-22 (best if viewed in Preview so all imbedded Internet links work).

The PDF slideshow of the first half of the meeting (reports, travel devices and Q&A) is available at appleJAC.org/videos/434704015143799; for the second half, click on appleJAC.org/videos/476990594035120 (it may be necessary to click on the resulting image in order to hear the sound with picture).

 

September 2022 Agenda

August 2022 appleJAC presentations

The overall PDF of the August 2 meeting slideshow (including slides about the Keychain presentation) can be viewed again by clicking on August 2022 appleJAC Meeting (best if viewed in Preview so all imbedded Internet links work). Joe's presentation about Tips & Tricks can be seen at appleJAC tips August 2022.

The PDF slideshow of the first half of the meeting (reports, travel devices and Q&A) is available at appleJAC.org/videos/781358103141136; for the second half, click on appleJAC.org/videos/1204150777108990 (it may be necessary to click on the resulting image in order to hear the sound with picture).

 

August 2022 Agenda

appleJAC July 2022 Presentations

The overall PDF of the July 5 meeting slideshow (including slides about the Bluetooth presentation) can be viewed again by clicking on aJ slideshow 07-05-22 (best if viewed in Preview so all imbedded Internet links work). Joe's presentation about W-Fi (and AirDrop) can be seen at appleJAC WiFi 2022.

The PDF slideshow of the first half of the meeting (reports, travel devices and Q&A) is available at appleJAC.org/video#1/07-05-22; for the second half, click on appleJAC.org/video#2/07-05-22 (it may be necessary to click on the resulting image in order to hear the sound with picture).

An unannounced extra is a list of product review website from many Apple user groups can be downloaded at AUG Product Reviews.