appleJAC Users Group

President's Place

Wow, have the first five months of this year flown by! It’s nearly June and time for the annual appleJAC Group barbecue and picnic. We look forward to this time to meet and get to know each other on a different level. 

I want to thank Peggy and John Landwehr in advance for hosting this year’s event. Hopefully the rain will hold off until after the evening’s festivities, and we can go home dry, unless that is, you decide to go in the pool.

Oh yes, there is a pool, so if you choose to, you can bring a swimming suit and quench the exterior thirst. The club will provide the hot dogs and hamburgers. 

Doorprizes won at the previous May 1 appleJAC MUG meeting include:

• iTunes card.......................Zack Fletcher
• iKlick..............................Julie Smith
• Photoshop book.................. Larry Garvin
• USB hub............................Charlie Bland
• Designing Software for iPad.....Greg Perry
• MobileMe for Small Business.....Dr. Tom M.

This month, we will enjoy the Annual appleJAC MUG Picnic (see agenda below). Friends and family are all invited to attend (bring a beverage, side disk and lawn chair). This is an opportunity to relax at the poolside home of Peggy and John Landwehr, and enjoy food, fun and friends. RSVP is requested (if you haven’t already). Directions below to their house (east side of Jefferson City off Eastland Drive) show that they are easily accessible.

You bring something to drink and a side dish. We’ll dine with friends ... and I’m quite sure, we’ll have a ball.

Liquid-Armor: No Hassle Screen Protection

a review by Tom Piper

How do you protect the screen on your iPhone or iPad or iPod touch? I’ve used the plastic screen films for years, and struggled with proper alignment, difficult mounting, eliminating bubbles, and other problems. Now, I’ve discovered a better way.

LIQUID-ARMOR from Dynaflo is a remarkable Nano coating technology that shines and protects your portable device screen like nothing else I’ve seen. With one simple application of their unique anti-static and weather-resistant formula has produced a surface that repels dust and stains for up to 6 months.

With only a couple of squirts per application, I now have a scratch-resistant surface that features screen protection up to twice as strong as traditional screen protection film. LIQUID-ARMOR preserves touch screen sensitivity, sharpness and vividness producing a display which is anti-static and high gloss, as well as water spill-resistant and dirt repellent. This is a great solution to protect the glass of smartphones, tablets, LCD/LED screens on cameras, laptops, and TVs, and more. 

The kit includes a 10ml pump bottle plus two premium microfiber clothes made of 100% microfilament and polyhedron cross-section yam specifically designed for removal of residue and application of the liquid (spray on cloth, not on screen, to apply). It will not cause scratch or damage the surfaces, and is machine washable with PH-Neutral cleaning agent. 

Application is simple, quick and easy . . . clean the glass with the microfiber cloth (I used a liquid cleaner first, then the cloth), apply solution with pouch cloth (2 sprays for iPhone, 5 for iPad), stroke in one direction only, let sit overnight, buff surface with microfiber cloth 24 hours later (allows time to thoroughly bond with surface). The result is smooth and hard, with a great gloss finish. Although designed for glass, I’ve found this also protects the metal back of my iPad and Logitech Ultra-Thin keyboard (not a claim by the company). I also applied to the back of my iPhone 4S since it is glass. Dynaflo recommends reapplying another coat to surfaces every 4-6 months (there seems to be enough liquid here to last for several years for my devices).

I will report back again in 4 months on how these surfaces stand up under normal wear-and-tear conditions. Meanwhile, you can get your LIQUID-ARMOR kit at www.dynaflousa.com for $19.99 (previously $24.99). My initial impressions are very positive . . . this looks like a much better solution than the films I used to use, plus the iPad protection.

LENSPEN: Nifty Micro Lens Cleaner

a review by Tom Piper

Keeping my iPhone and iPad screens clean has always been an issue, until I found at Macworld two years ago the incredible SideKick by LensPen (www.lenspen.com). But, it didn’t clean the camera lens on either . . . until now.

LensPen MicroPro safely and effectively cleans micro-camera lenses. With its specially designed tip, it applies the LensPen compound to places its bigger brothers can't reach. The retractable brush removes dust and the patented LensPen compound outperforms all other cleaning systems. 

This is a superb new tool in optical lens cleaning technology. It is also perfect for cleaning camera lenses, binocular lenses, small aperture spotting scopes and telescopes, eyepieces, and other optical items. It comes with a handy retractable dust removal brush and a special non-liquid cleaning element, designed to never dry out. It is always safe and very easy to use.

This small “pen” couldn’t be easier to use . . . just push out the brush with the slide button, whisk away any particles, retract the brush, remove the cap from the carbon-tip applicator, clean the lens, replace the cap, and you’re done. Its quick, its clean, its easy and its effective. I highly recommend this product.

The LensPen MicroPro (Model: NMCP-1) can be purchased for $14.95 at www.lenspen.com/micropro. If you want to keep your photos and videos crystal clear and not blurry, this is a great solution for you.

MIMOBOT Flash Drives: Cute Quality Memory-to-Go

a review by Tom Piper

I use USB flash drives to move music, movies, photos and much more from computer to computer, from me to friends and family, and from my active to my archived memory. At Macworld Expo I discovered an incredible collection of such storage devices which are fun, memorable, reliable and collectable.

Leading a revolution in the personalization of digital devices and data storage, MIMOBOT (pronounced “mee-mo-bot”) is the world’s original and premier brand of character-based USB flash memory drives. MIMOBOT takes the standard boring old flash drive and spins it on its head by combining our love of gadgets, designer toys, and all things pop-culture. MIMOBOT is a hi-tech piece of art and an expression of your tastes, interests, and personality which I really appreciate.

From themes like Star Wars, DC Comics, Hello Kitty and Transformers, to designers like tokidoki and FriendsWithYou, to their very own Core Series characters, and Design Challenge creations, Mimoco has you covered, whatever your passion may be. Scrolling through their broad array of designs is bound to put a smile on your face reflecting their novelty and whimsical spirit.

In addition to being the coolest flash drives you've ever seen, MIMOBOT drives are also incredibly functional and the best way to transport and store all your docs, pictures, tunes, and other personal data. They are compatible with Macs and PCs and hi-speed USB 2.0, and pre-loaded with Mimory and MimoDesk personalization suite of wallpapers, icons, screensavers, avatars, and more exclusive character-based content.

But, according to their website, to find out the real origin story of MIMOBOT flash drives, you have to be willing to travel way beyond the Milky Way to Planet Blõôh in Galaxy 4210. I found all of my answers at http://www.mimoco.com/mimobots where MIMOBOTS are available in 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB capacities ranging in price from $17.95 to $109.95.

I highly recommend this company and their products. Not only are the prices reasonable, but their USB flash drives will provide you excellent function and many smiles while you use them. I cherish my C-3PO, R2-D2 and Darth Vader Unmasked MIMOBOTs. and plan to expand my Star Wars collection, perhaps adding a Batman and Megatron for variety. Which ones would you like to get?

 

Stealth Mouse: the Smooth Alternative

a review by Tom Piper

Are you seeking a new mouse experience that is quiet and silky? Does it need to be light-weight and quick? I may have found the solution for you.

The Manhattan Stealth Touch Mouse is the first mouse that features all “touch” technology. That’s right, no buttons, no scroll wheel, just a touch-sensitive surface that recognizes preprogrammed fingertip movements. This extraordinary mouse can also be used as a presenter for Keynote, PowerPoint or PDF presentations using simple finger gestures which control back, forward, select, swiping and scrolling. You control everything with either a tap, swipe or slide of your fingertip with this petit cursor controller which is only 1.18” x 2.36” x 3.54” and 2.8 oz.

Using innovative Curve-Touch technology, the Stealth Mouse allows for wheel-free scrolling and fingertip control on the touch-sensitive surface. 2.4 GHz technology offers wireless freedom with effective range up to 10 m (33 ft.) and can be used as a normal mouse or a presenter. Auto power management helps extend battery life and on-board storage compartment protects USB receiver from loss and damage. It has a compact size and ambidextrous shape with low-friction base that smoothly glides over work surface. With Plug and Play installation, Windows and Mac compatibility, and a Lifetime Warranty, this is a cool choice as an alternative mouse.

I’ve used the Stealth Mouse now for two weeks as my only cursor controller. The light weight, quiet action, smooth texture, and soft gliding motion are very nice. It is shorter but thicker than my Magic Mouse, and with a much lighter “feel”. It took a lot of getting used to because of the need to double-tap to grab an icon or place the cursor, and vertical scrolling was jerky (there is no horizontal scrolling). The blue emblem light is cool, it works great as a free-hand slideshow control, and it works with almost any computer.

Learn more about the Manhattan Stealth Touch Mouse at manhattan.icintracom.com. It can be purchased for $69.95 at numerous outlets such as www.cyberguys.com. Are you ready for a new mouse?

Octa Flexible stand: a Whale of Tail

a review by Tom Piper

How do you hold you iPad in place? Placeholder, stand, easel, prop, other???

The Octa Vacuum Dock + Whale Tail provides a flexible iPad stand that adjusts to every typing and viewing angle. It is a sturdy support, even on soft or uneven surfaces which instantly transforms into an iPad handle. It is also compatible with every iPad model, as well as with most tablets, e-readers and netbooks.

The Vacuum Dock + WhaleTail invites you to rediscover your tablet, e-reader, netbook and more. It is a vacuum suction system rigorously engineered to give you the strongest and most reliable bond to your device, while offering a rubberized shape that floats in the palm of your hand. You pop off the cap to extend the dock, and with one easy step, click in the WhaleTail to offer the most versatile handle and stand solution available. 

Octa’s tablet accessories adapt to fit any situation. They are sleek enough to fit in your pocket and light enough to bring everywhere. As the perfect travel companion, the WhaleTail provides a handle as you walk down the jetway and a stand to prop on your tray table. You can use it while riding a crowded train or squeezing into a tiny cafe table. The TabletTail transitions from handle to stand without adjustment or reattachment.  

The TabletTail line provides interchangeable accessories for your tablet or e-reader. The Vacuum Dock + WhaleTail is the signature dock and tail components in the product suite. Docks provide different ways to mount your device, while tails allow you to hold them in many ways. Each tail is specifically engineered for a different need.

The Vacuum Dock will be compatible with Octa’s future tails (currently in development and planned for release throughout 2012). This unit is comfortable as it nestles in your palm while being lightweight, compact, and mobile, weighing less than six ounces.

It is available for $49.95 at http://www.octa.com/. The evolving set of accessories can also be found here. I found this holder-stand both unusual, delightful and surprisingly powerful as it attached to any smooth surface with just a few pumps of the vacuum. Its amazing the other uses you can find for this portable device around the house, like a temporary hanger or handle for other things. Pretty cool, and very long-lasting.

IRISnotes Executive 2.0: Cool Mobile Note Taker

a review by Tom Piper

Wouldn’t it be nice if handwriting recognition really worked just by using your paper and a pen? And, wouldn’t it be a plus if what I wrote could be saved to my computer?

IRISnotes Executive 2.0 mobile note taker for Mac has the answer as a product of I.R.I.S., who specializes in Intelligent Document Recognition (IDR), Enterprise Content Management (ECM) and Optimized IT Infrastructure (ICT). This innovative combination saves time and effort by transforming scribbled notes and sketches into editable text on a computer. 

This process is simple to use with a battery-powered pen where hand movements are transmitted to a receiver clipped at the top of an ordinary page of paper. The receiver, storing up to 100 pages of text, is then connected to the computer where the IRISnotes software converts handwriting into electronic text that can be saved, edited, emailed and shared. 

The software archives the handwritten text (retaining the writer's handwriting) and then processes the notes and exports them to TextEdit or, after a quick configuration, to standard word processing applications such as Pages, Word or the electronic mailbox. Furthermore, once the receiver is plugged into a computer, the pen can be set to mouse mode. Light and small in size, the digital receiver recharges automatically via a computer or other USB power supply.

IRISnotes Executive 2.0 for Mac can capture handwritten notes in up to 26 languages including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Arabic and Russian to name a few. It is compatible with all latest Mac operating systems, including Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Lion, as well as various Windows environments.

The nicely boxed setup comes complete with the pen, receiver, retractable USB cable, metal carrying case, several installation disks and various instructions. My initial installation was delayed because of limited Mac software, but this was immediately fixed by contacting the company who helped me download the right stuff. Thereafter, operation was deceptively simple, and the results were surprisingly accurate, in spite of my less-than-elegant handwriting. This device really works well.

This cool note taker is available from http://www.irislink.com/irisnotes for $149. Like all of the IRIS products that I have, this is a quality product. Patience is advised to order to learn how to use it properly and get the best results.

Avantree Connectivity: Durable Functionality

a review by Tom Piper

With my vast variety of gadgets and gizmos, I am always looking for a more convenient and reliable way of connecting my many devices to my Macs and iOS devices. I’m on a quest to get shorter cables and more versatile bluetooth connectivity.

Avantronics (www.avantree.com) has come to my rescue with some really cool and handy devices that improve my portability and functionality. They have a hugh collection of products to choose from (over 4 dozen from their 29-page catalog). I choice two items that are very useful to me.

The Avantalk BTTC-200 Bluetooth Audio Transceiver can both transmit and receive at the flip of switch. It handles stereo HD quality audio with a standard 3.5mm audio jack, providing plug-and-play with no additional software required. This clean design is very simple to use and allows your audio devices to send or receive stereo audio via Bluetooth wireless up to 30 feet away. It can turn my iPod, iPhone, iPad, TV, Bose and other amplified speaker systems into Bluetooth enabled audio devices. This includes sound from Bluetooth A2DP enabled mobile phones and all other A2DP enabled audio devices.

After charging it for the first couple hours with the included USB cable, I plugged the transceiver into my Apple iPod 4G nano (on wristband), turned the switch to transmit mode, and paired it to my Avantalk Jogger bluetooth headphones (pairing each to the other was simple without any codes or hesitation). The sound was crisp and clear, reliable up to over 30 feet away. After that, I plugged the transceiver into several other audio sources via the 1/8” standard cable (also included) with excellent results. Then, I switched it to receive mode, plugged the unit into my over-the-ear Pro Koss headphones, paired it to my iPhone 4S, and listened to great music with accurate depth and separation. It worked the same when I plugged the transceiver into my Bose surround-sound system . . . wonderful sound, simple one-button operation (on/off, pairing), plus the TX/RX switch.

Avantree has just released a clever HandiSync keychain compact charge-and-sync folding cable USB-to-30pin iOS connector that I have attached to my iPad bag to always make sure I have a cable to  or charge it or my iPhone when on the go. It is small at only 1.5” x 2” x 0.3”, and easy to carry, and compact to store (there is also a USB-to-USBmicro available in the same size). This is smaller than the Scosche, and has a nice rubberized feel to it. I highly recommend this unit too.

The price of these units is $9.99 for the Avantree HandiSync Cable, and $49.99 for the Avantalk Bluetooth Audio Transceiver at http://www.avantalk.com/onlinestore/b2c.php?cid=3. The full Avantree online store will be available soon at (http://www.avantree.com/onlinestore/).

 

iStopMotion: Neat Animation on the iPad

a review by Tom Piper

Okay, Walt Disney I’m not, but I’ve always been fascinated by how the original cartoons were put together as illustrated by flipping through a set of drawings, each one of which is changed slightly in order to convey motion. Then, I remember seeing stick figures and clay objects in motion as captured by still-frame photography, again making minor changes from frame to frame. Talk about your painstaking process . . . 

iStopMotion from Boinx Software Ltd. has simplified the process so as to “Tell your story, one frame at a time.” If you want to animate something for a minimum investment, this is the answer. No need to hunt for talented actors, or build a stage or even write a script. A bit of clay or a toy can be the star of your animated masterpiece. You can watch your family member(s) tap their creative potential and be amazed at what they create. iStopMotion for iPad is also ideal for use in the classroom and in all disciplines, honing creativity, problem-solving and communication skills in students of all ages.

As their website describes, a movie is actually a sequence of photos paraded before your eyes at high speed, usually at about 25 frames per second. Things seem to move because of small differences from one picture to the next. Early film makers invented stop motion animation (also known as stop action animation or claymation) to create a giant gorilla climbing up the Empire State Building. The gorilla puppet would be moved a tiny bit in between taking images, coming to life when the images were played back as a movie. With iStopMotion for iPad you can now easily create your own masterpiece at home.

In the alternative, if you want to watch a flower bloom or the fog clearing from the Missouri River twin bridges, you need a lot of time and patience or you can watch a time lapse movie. If you play back a sequence of images at a higher frame rate than you captured them, slow things seem to speed up. This technique also helps to discover patterns like how clouds form which happen too slowly in real time to notice. iStopMotion for iPad can be set to capture frames automatically at a given time interval. It also allows you to control camera exposure and focus, helping you to easily create fascinating time lapse movies.

It is important to have a solid steadfast mount for your iPad, like a tripod. Their website shows a variety of devices that will solve this issue. My first animation was purposely simple using the iPad’s own folded case as the stand to capture “The Journey of the Paperclip” across my computer keyboard. The built-in grid and last-frame shadow are valuable assets to help guide the action, along with other frame adjustments to gauge the speed of replay. Its also nice to be able to save it to my photo collection, or DropBox or Youtube.

Learn more about iStopMotion at http://boinx.com/istopmotion/ipad/. It is available on the App Store for $9.99. There is also a free iStopMotion Remote Camera app available for both the iPhone and iPad 2. It is easy to be the Director and Producer of your next animated treasure (hmmmm, wonder if Pixar needs some help?).

 

UNIEA Cases: More Great Ways to Protect Your iPad3

a review by Tom Piper

I love gadgets and the cases they go in, but finding good quality with high functionality (foldable stands) at a reasonable cost is always a challenge. Over the years I have found a handful of companies that I can trust to provide products that meet this criteria.

Uniea is a company who has consistently shipped bags and cases of excellent quality, plenty of room to store things, outstanding padding to protect my treasures, and prices that are very reasonable. I recently tested two iPad cases that I really like.

For years, UNIEA has continued to refine and innovate its successful U-Suit Premium line of cases for a wide range of popular mobile devices. Now, the unique design of the U-Suit Folio Premium (SKU number: usufp-ipad3-brown) comes to the iPad 3. UNIEA starts with fine leather materials to craft a classy, protective case that offers a wide range of features that meet the rigorous demands put on a tablet. The U-Suit Folio Premium’s slim, custom designed profile, precision cut-outs for the new iPad 3 camera lenses, and protective inner shell give you all the functionality and protection you need, while the leather appointments and color options in white, brown, and grey will appeal to your senses. The most exciting new feature is this 4-pane fold-up folio cover that doubles as an adjustable stand which rivals the functionality of Apple’s new Smart Cover and adds extra stability for your iPad 3 for only $49.95.

The UNIEA Rebelution Skidboard iPad folio case (SKU number: Rebel-scf-ipad3-black) puts a minimalist, durable case around your iPad for stylish protection against a daily routine that moves at break-neck speed. ABS plastic and muted nylon lends an understated look, while the rounded, reinforced edges and secure fastener keeps the folio cover securely in place. The folio adds an unmatched level of protection to your iPad’s screen, and doubles as a versatile folding stand so that you can put your iPad in the most ergonomic position for typing, watching videos, and more. And for as tough as the Skidboard is on the outside, a soft, velvet style interior lining won’t ever scratch your iPad. Custom cut-outs give you access to the dock, buttons, and camera sensor while providing maximum coverage and protection at a cost of $44.95.

I have been rotating my iPad between these two cases for the past few weeks and find great advantage to both of them. The leather U-Suit Folio is my favorite with its great leather look and feel, and adjustable stand. Yet, the Rebelution Skidboard is light and has a nice protective hardshell back. Its hard to go wrong with either. 

These and many other great cases and bags can be found at http://www.uniea.com/iPad-case/The-New-iPad-case/279.aspx. Numerous other cases, some specifically for the new iPad, and related products at great values can be found at http://www.uniea.com/.

PDF2Office for iWork v2.0: Converting to Editable Text+

a review by Tom Piper

Two years ago I reviewed version 1.0 of this terrific program (see http://applejac.typepad.com), and declared that “I fully endorse this product without hesitation”. Well, it just got better!

PDF2Office for iWork v2.0, which is a 64-bit Mac OS X application, now contains over 50 new features and enhancements. One major new element of PDF2Office for iWork v2.0 is the capability to convert PDF documents to the Numbers format. Additionally, PDF2Office for iWork v2.0 batch converts PDFs to the iWork formats with a single-click.

As illustrated on their website, this program can convert PDF files into editable Numbers, Keynote and Pages files by recreating the intended construction and layout of the document, forming paragraphs, applying styles, regrouping independent graphicelements, extracting images, and creating tables, all automatically without any manual intervention.

PDF2Office for iWork v2.0 also allows you to recover, reuse and re-source the contents stored in PDF files making it available for use in within the entire iWork family of products. It goes even further with a new Format with the iOS that option optimizes the resulting files for viewing/editing on the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. 

In my tests, I converted a 46-page complex PDF document with text, graphics, spreadsheets and images to an editable Pages file in 3 seconds flat! In a separate test, I converted a 17-page 32-column spreadsheet PDF (created in Excel) to a fully editable Numbers file in 2:47 minutes (this included a combination of numbers and data), in columns and rows to reflect the original. Then I converted a 48-slide PowerPoint presentation that had been saved as a PDF to a Keynote file in 8:17 minutes (this had many layers of images and text) with each slide able to be ungrouped into its individual components. This is one powerful program with excellent results. As shown in the graphic at right, the controls are simple to use, and the settings are powerful.

PDF2Office for iWork v2.0 is available as a trial download to test before you buy (http://www.recosoft.com/trial-software) along with Mac and Windows versions of PDF2Office Personal and Professional. You can purchase PDF2Office for iWork v2.0 licenses in variations including Single user: $59, Family pack: $79, SOHO: $99, and upgrades from version 1.0 for Single: $29.99 and Family: $39.99 from http://www.recosoft.com/store/mac. System requirements are Mac OS X 10.5.8 and higher with an Intel-based Mac capable of running 64-bit applications.

Recosoft Corporation is the developer of PDF2Office, the de-facto PDF-to-Excel, PDF-to-Word, PDF-to-PowerPoint conversion utility and other incredible conversion utilities. It is a leader in designing and delivering PDF converters and file conversion software solutions enhancing workflow automation and productivity. For more information, visit http://www.recosoft.com.

IRISCompressor: Optimizing PDF files and more

a review by Tom Piper

I work with a lot of PDF files, and am repeatedly needing to either OCR (optical character recognize), convert to a different format, or reduce the size of a file. Apple Preview does some of this, Adobe Acrobat does more, but I need one dependable Mac app that does it all.

IRISCompressor is now my first choice to quickly manipulate file formats. Based on I.R.I.S.’ Intelligent High-Quality Compression technology, it is designed to convert a standard document image (color or black & white uncompressed formats, JPEG, JPEG 2000, PNG, TIFF, image PDF, and others) into a new color or black & white PDF document of much smaller size (down to as little as 5% of the original size) which is fully compliant with any PDF viewer. 

I can save money by reducing storage space and save bandwidth while sharing documents on the Internet. IRISCompressor creates color PDF files up to 20 times smaller than the original image size. It creates searchable PDF files without altering text resolution and legibility. I simply right-click on an image or PDF file, select the output location and I’m done, with my file instantly processed and compressed. I can even process up to 25 documents at the same time.

Not only that, but I can edit or retrieve information using keyword searches, indexing and full text searches. The advances editing tools help me merge, organize, deskew or rotate documents and images. (The merge can bring up to 25 documents or images into a single compressed PDF document). My only disappointment is that it cannot handle more than 25 pages at one time in processing PDF documents.

I have been a user of I.R.I.S. products for many years. From their excellent Readiris software to their incredible range of pen, card, and mobile scanners, this company has excelled in quality and performance. I highly recommend these items.

IRISCompressor is available at the Mac App Store for $89.99, and works great with Snow Leopard 10.6.6+ and Lion 10.7.x. I.R.I.S. has many other fine hardware and software products available available at www.irislink.com.

MacApps for May 1 appleJAC Meeting