appleJAC remains independent and reviews are done based on the author's own opinions (applejac.typepad.com/files/disclaimer.pdf)
appleJAC meeting-"Annual appleJAC Picnic" June 6 2023, at 6:00pm. This will be an in-person meeting at the Cole County Park Pavilion, 4301 County Park Road, Jefferson City, MO. There will NOT be an online video stream you can watch on our Facebook page (previous meeting videos are also available there).
Download TomPiper.JPG (34.5K)Download TomPiper.JPG (34.5K)"> Feel free to email your webmaster if you have ideas for improvements or changes to this website. Tom Piper
Since its introduction in 1968, the computer mouse has taken many shapes, sizes and forms, usually a two-dimensional device controlling a cursor on a screen. The evolution from joystick to wheels to balls, plus the addition of buttons and pads, led to the use of ultrasound, optical, inertia and gyroscopic sensors to enable three-dimensional interaction. The latest wireless devices have produced futuristic mice of advanced functionality.
At CES 2022, I first met the AirPoint Ring which is an invention that combines a ring-shaped finger wearable unit with advanced technology. This new device offers 3D navigation on top of the functionalities of a typical mouse, all controlled with my fingertips and hand motion. Thus, it makes for a versatile solution for presentations, gaming, 3D modeling while reducing the fatigue that many devices cause.
The AirPoint Ring includes a rechargeable AirPoint charger (with a 42” USB-A to USB-C cable) that allows me to charge my Ring by magnetically docking it in its own case (a full charge will operate the Ring for about 8 hours). It also includes three “shims” which can be inserted into the Ring to match fingers of many sizes. The Ring is small at 1.4” x 1.3” x 1.5” (1.7 oz), while the charger case is 2.5” x 2.6” x 2.7” (5.3 oz) in size. It will work on either the right or left hand (usually worn on the index finger).
For traditional 2D control, there is an LED optical sensor on the bottom, with two capacitive touchpads on both sides (for right and left click) plus a tactile button (switch) inside the bottom of the Ring (for dragging and scrolling). For 3D control, motion is detected by an integrated gyroscope and 3D accelerometer, and the back switches change modes allowing for deactivation on the fly (the mechanical on/off switch is underneath the Ring). A presentation mode also enables advancement (or reversing) of slides by rotation of the wrist up to 100 feet away the computer.
The unit is paired to my computer via Bluetooth 5.0. Once the free Magnima AirPoint app is downloaded, I can change setting tools that let me highlight the cursor with spotlight, magnifier and laser pointer. This application connects with the AirPoint Ring to bring out the additional device modes, adjusts the 3D motion sensitivity, shift right hand to left hand use, and updates the device when new features are introduced. The Ring and app work with macOS 10.10 or later, as well as Windows 10 or later.
Being a new concept in cursor control, I felt a little clumsy when the Ring was mounted on my finger, until I reread the detailed (but simple) instruction about setup, initial use and advanced features. It is important to relax the hand and keep it in a comfortable position. Typing while wearing the Ring was also a little unnerving until I realized how easy it is to temporarily “disconnect” cursor movement until needed. It was also fun to be able to magnify selectively, and to use spotlight to emphasis areas that I wanted to focus on.
To learn more about the AirPoint Ring, go to https://magnima.com/product/airpoint-ring/ where this device can be purchased for $149.99 (or $129.99 until 01/31/22). This is a wonderful alternative for controlling your cursor and presentations. Established in 2017, Magnima is a subsidiary of the Brothers of St. Patrick, an international Roman Catholic religious congregation engaged in providing quality education for underprivileged communities worldwide.
Over 40 years ago, solid state drives (SSDs) were implemented in semiconductor memory for early supercomputers. Since then, there have been huge advancements in SSD and Thunderbolt technology which have produced devices of incredible speed, size and sturdiness.
OWC Envoy Pro Elektron is a universal Thunderbolt3-certified bus-powered tiny-sized storage solution. Powered by a OWC Aura SSD advanced storage technology, it has incredible speed up to 1011MB/s real-world performance. At 0.5” x 2” x 3” and 3 ounces in size, with a detachable 27” Thunderbolt 3 cable (plus USB 3.2 Type-A adapter), this unit runs cool and quiet enclosed in a silver aluminum case (IP67 rated) that provides great data protection. It is so rugged that my data is protected by military-level drop toughness, plus being dust and water-proof.
As their website says, since the earliest days of mobile computing, there’s been a frequent user desire: “make it smaller, faster, lighter, and rugged.” This unit does all of this and handles my audio, video, photo, graphics, and gaming tasks in an incredibly small package. Because it is universally compatible, it can access and save files from my older machines, backup personal and business files, and do large format video editing. This powerful drive is built to deliver.
I can now use my one terabyte Envoy Pro Elektron as a super-fast boot and backup drive for my MacBook Air, plus a convenient volume for more storage, movies and a variety of other handy uses. I now use it with all 5 of my Macs, 4 iPad Pros, and a Chromebook. Most importantly, when plugged into my 16” MacBook Pro, data transfer runs faster than any other storage device that I use.
Since the earliest days of mobile computing, there’s been a common user desire mantra: “make it smaller, faster, lighter, and rugged.” Pocket-sized tiny and crushproof, the Envoy Pro Elektron puts massive-sized personal and work files in the palm of my hand while pushing USB-C’s bandwidth to the max (while still backwards compatible with USB-A connections) so I can edit and save wherever, whenever with virtually any of my devices.
In real-world terms, this unit already stores over 700 of my movies, but it could otherwise hold 200,000 photos, or 50,000 songs, or 4.3 million Pages documents, just to name a few examples of its capacity. And transfer speeds are done in minutes, not hours!
Obviously, this device is meant to be used for situations where spinning hard drives would quickly fail. Whether its large video files being transferred in extreme conditions, music productions being frequently edited, frequent relay of data from one technology to another, or cloning backups for Apple’s latest M1 computers, the Envoy Pro Elektron is the best choice for raw speed, functionality, compact-size and durability. This is a marvelous tool to support my technology needs.
To learn more about this enclosure, go to https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-envoy-pro-elektron where it can be purchased for $99 - $369 (240GB - 2.0TB) with a 3-Year OWC Limited Warranty. This is a powerful solution for storing and transmitting our precious data, video and power from a company with a history of quality and effective digital products.
Since fused disposition modeling (FDM) was first developed in 1988, additive manufacturing using plastic extrusion has come a long way. After the first FDM patent expired in 2009, many companies developed a wide variety of what became known as 3D printers using plastic filament. At the 2019 Consumer Electronic Show (CES), over 50 companies displayed their versions of 3D printers using plastic, metal, ceramic, resin, food and other components. One of the top products shown was from a Chinese company, Shenzhen Yuejiang Technology Co. Ltd., which prints in multiple colors.
The newly-introduced modular color-mixing 3D printer DOBOT MOOZ-3 features a delta structure and high-printing efficiency. Equipped with a three-color print head with three extruders, I can easily create mixed color printing artworks via the controller extruding through one nozzle. By setting different feeding speed and printing time of the three differently-colored raw filaments many different patterns are possible. It is very versatile with two schemes of color-mixing in CMY color mode to 3D print the desirable color patterns.
When the 25-pound box first arrived, I found all the pieces and parts to be well-packed and very well-described. Assembly took me about four hours of careful construction, following the excellent instructions (although I wish they were printed bigger). The initial setup requires a 3-point leveling procedure which is actually very easy to do since it is mostly automated using a single sheet of paper. This is followed by the mandatory Z-axis motion control setting, which was also very easy to do. Once the machine is “leveled”, the three spools of colored filament must be inserted into the extruder motors and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene, or teflon) pipes so that they reach the heated nozzles (this was a little challenging because the strong springs on the motor gears, but this is good to make a continuous feed for the print nozzle).
Once activated, the easy-to-use controller and app provided rich printing color patterns making the MOOZ-3 suitable for most beginners, do-it-yourselfers, educators and artists. The two printing modes, including color-switch and color-blending, generate different colors of my creationusing CMY (cyan, magenta, yellow) which blend together perfectly through one nozzle into layers of my selection or switch seamlessly for faster and finer results. The filament is deposited onto a removable magnetic glass heated-bed platform that improves the flatness and stickiness of my prints (it also comes with a sticker to protect the glass bed from any potential damages).
Creating specifically for color-mixing 3D printing, the MOOZ-3 shows very high efficiency and incredible fidelity. By using a 0.4mm nozzle, it provides me with detailed and gorgeous results. The 3-in/1-out color mix print head not only gives a rich mixture of color combination of the printing objects, but also brings forth high efficiency and ultra-fast printing speeds. Different colors blend together perfectly so that I can create multi-color objects without encountering any trouble. Click on this link to view the unit in action:
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Since I was new 3D printer, I had many questions for DOBOT representatives, who responded to my emails quickly and effectively. There were some issues with how to connect my 15” MacBook Pro to the MOOZ-3 unit, but they repeatedly helped me register the necessary settings in the Ultimaker Cura 3.1 software. I quickly learned that it was far more effective to download models from a variety of free or low-cost sources in STL, OBJ or AMF formats, which are then “sliced” by the Cura software, then saved as Gcode files onto the flash drive. Using the flash drive relieved my computer from needing to be continuously connected during the print process, which can often take from two to 11 hours, dependingon the size and complexity of the print model.
The print models which I’ve downloaded to my computer from DOBOT representatives have produced colorful and delightful vases, figurines and other objects. These were transferred to a flash drive, which is then inserted into the MOOZ-3, which is equipped with a microcomputer touch screen controller that I used to start the creating process. After setting my color mix and layer dimensions, another screen allows me to select which model I want to print, and one touch begins the process.
Over the past two months of experience, I have printed 25 models (see picture below), with only three partial failures due to adhesion detachments from the base during printing. This problem has been fixed by cleaning the base after each print, then using applying Elmer’s purple washable glue stick before each print cycle. This is a simple and inexpensive technique at assures successful prints every time. I am so pleased with resulting prints which have excellent resolution (fine detail) and minimal filament removal when finished.
If the machine crashes or I have a power outage, the state of the current print job (SD card model only) will be saved to a file on the SD card, the firmware will present an option to Resume the interrupted print job. Another interesting feature of the DOBOT MOOZ-3 allows me to wirelessly send files from my iPhone XS Max (its also compatible with other mobile phones) to the 3D printer with no cable needed, sparing me the trouble of wire setting or computer connection.
Below are some of the key specifications for the MOOZ-3 3D printer and attachments:
Overall Dimensions printer: 11.5” x 12.5” x 12.1”
Adapter Input 100-240V~50/60Hz, 1.8A max
Adapter Output 12V~6.5A
Main Material aircraft-grade aluminum
Operation Panel 3.5” diagonal LCD touch pad
Nozzle Diameter 0.0236”
Layer Resolution 0.002”~0.012”
Nozzle Temperature 500°F Max
Heated bed Temperature 212°F Max (at 68F ambient temperature)
Forming Size 3.9” x 3.9”
Applicable Materials 0.067” PLA, ABS
Printing Speed 0.39”~3.94”/sec
Operating Temperature 32~104°F
The DOBOT MOOZ-3 is one of the most innovative and dependable plastic extrusion 3D printers on the market. To learn more, to to https://www.dobot.cc/products/mooz-3-overview.html where it can be purchased for $599.00 (USD). DOBOT also has a variety of other units including the Magician (robotic arm), the Tranformable Metallic 3D Printer (3D printing, laser engraving and CNC carving), the MOOZ-1/2 (single/double arm 3D printers) and other products described at https://www.dobot.cc. This is a great company with a very promising future!!!
We won’t beat around the bush. Either you need to run Windows apps on your Mac or you don’t. Either you’re involved enough to be testing pre-release versions of macOS 10.12 Sierra in a virtual machine or you’re not. If not, no worries, but check out Take Control of Preview, which reveals oodles of hidden capabilities in the ultimate everymac app.
If you do need Windows apps, want to test Sierra without devoting a Mac to it, or wish to play around with Android, Chromium OS, or any one of the 57 flavors of Linux, the solution is Parallels Desktop, the first virtualization app for the Mac when it debuted 10 years ago. This week marked the release of Parallels Desktop 12, which is optimized for Sierra, boasts performance enhancements, and provides a collection of handy single-purpose utilities in the Parallels Toolbox. To help you make the most of it, we have the 170-page Take Control of Parallels Desktop 12 for you, which is only $10.50 after the 30% MUG discount.
(To be precise, Parallels Desktop 12 was released to those upgrading from a previous version and to Parallels subscribers; it will become available to new customers on August 23rd.)
In Take Control of Parallels Desktop 12, virtualization expert Joe Kissell explains how beginners can set up a virtual machine to run Windows or another operating system, share files with a virtual machine, and switch smoothly between virtualized apps and Mac apps. But it’s not all about beginners!
For those who are familiar with virtualization in general and with previous versions of Parallels in particular, Joe explores the many preferences and settings you can tweak for specific situations, to increase performance, and to enhance security. He also offers tips and directions for connecting peripherals to your virtual machine and covers snapshots, backups, malware prevention, troubleshooting, and more!
While it’s easy to throw around titles like “virtualization expert,” Joe really does qualify as such. Back in 2006, when Apple first released Macs based on Intel processors along with Boot Camp, Joe was first off the line with Take Control of Running Windows on a Mac, a popular title that evolved over five editions. He also wrote two editions of a Take Control book about Parallels Desktop competitor VMware Fusion, whose future has been unclear since the Fusion team was hit by layoffs in January.
Created in collaboration with the Parallels team for technical accuracy and to target the topics that generate the most support calls, Take Control of Parallels Desktop 12 focuses on Parallels Desktop Standard and Pro editions, and, where appropriate, includes details about Parallels Desktop Lite and Parallels Desktop Business Edition.
Thanks for supporting Take Control and our authors!
cheers… -Adam and Tonya Engst, Take Control publishers
Save 30% on all Take Control titles with your MUG discount!
Computer maintenance, like auto servicing, is a very important part of Macintosh security and performance. The favorite mantra among techies is “backup, Backup, BACKUP”! Many companies claim great utilities, but only a few live up to the high standards needed to meet this expectation, and protect our technology investments.
Data Backup Pro from Prosoft allows me to backup, restore, clone, and synchronize all of my very important files with minimal time and effort. I may be a seasoned professional, but this software even offers new computer users just the right amount of power, flexibility, and ease-of-use to help us backup our Mac and protect our valuable files.
This powerful utility includes an auto-notification tool that sends me an email or text message to inform me of any important status updates throughout the backup process. All I have to do is select a backup type (Clone, Simple Copy, Versioned, Synchronize, or Full/Incremental), select source and destination (either may be files, folders, volumes, RAIDS or drives), and run my backup to commence the process.
To be specific, a Clone is an exact bootable duplicate of the original in a new location (usually a separate hard drive). A Simple Copy is a basic backup of my Mac drive that includes some hidden information such that only the files that have been changed will be backed up later. A Versioned backup is very similar except the old deleted file versions will be stored inside a hidden area (similar to Time Machine, files from any backup date can be selected and restored). A Synchronize backup method merges the contents of two drives or folders, then places the complete set of data into both the source and the destination.
But, that’s not all. A very unique process is the Full backup which makes a complete copy all of the files and folders present in the source. When it is completed, the destination will contain additional folder names “Full-Date” which will contain all of the files and folders that were selected to copy. An Incremental backup is used with the Full backup to make a copy of the files which have been changed and created since the last Full or Incremental backup to create additional folders called “incremental-date”. Unlike Simple, Clone, and Versioned backups, Full/Incremental Backups do not overwrite any preexisting files present in the destination drive/folder.
Instead of starting my backup immediately, I can choose to schedule the backup to happen anytime in the future. The Schedule tab displays all scheduled backup events for the backup, and allows me to schedule backup sets in a variety of ways including selected dates/time/data, reoccurring internals, specific events (drive mounting, system powering on), and specific days of the week. A delightful new addition is when it provides notifications when backups are complete through the Data Backup application, through the Mac OS X notification center, and by email/SMS (text message).
The Data Backup Pro Dashboard view supplies me with performance information while my backup is running. It also shows all scheduled events and the history for all backups, synchronizes and restores in one place. The informative graph shows the number of files scanned per second, the number of files copied per second, and the number of bytes copied per second. I can even scroll back to the beginning of the backup, and zoom in or out on the graph. An overview of the backup includes information such as the number of files selected, the number copied, maximum and current rates and the start time of the backup.
For more information about Data Backup Pro, go to prosofteng.com/databackup, and purchase for only $49.99. This is just one of a great family of Prosoft products which also includes Data Rescue, Drive Genius, Picture Rescue and CleanExit. I have used Prosoft software for many years, and find these utilities to be reliable, resourceful and reasonable . . . they never disappoint!
Composing and editing text has been a fundamental computer tool since I got my first Apple ][ in 1979. The evolution of this software has been awesome with all of the advances and powerful tools now available, including from a real veteran.
Nisus Writer Pro 2.1.4 feels like home with support for Mac OS X autosave, document versioning, and iCloud. These tools are right wherever you want them, while I can customize which palettes are seen and when. I can also assign any keyboard shortcut to any menu, and add any menu to the toolbar, which mean I’m in control. This is a tool that can fit the needs of anyone from a burgeoning college student to a serious book writer.
As I commenced the review of this legacy word processor, I am reminded that it was first introduced in 1989. At that time, Nisus Writer was the first word processor for Macintosh which was able to handle multiple type systems within one document, e.g. Arabic, Hebrew, Japanese, etc., thanks to WorldScript. In the last 27 years, this software has ramped up through a number of iterations, now resulting in the powerful Express and Pro editions.
To familiarize myself with its opportunities and features, I downloaded the 553-page PDF version of the Nisus Writer Pro User Guide. This exhaustive resource immediately illustrated the incredible power and versatility of this tool, and helped me to understand why it is known to be as simple to use as Apple’s Pages, but more feature-rich and elegant than Microsoft’s Word. Quite honestly, it was a humbling realization!
After going through all the features, then looking to see what others said, I could see that I couldn’t do better than reviews written by the incredibly-talented Joe Kissell (macworld.com/nisus-writer), and inspirational Abram K-J (abramkj.com/nisus-writer) with a nice tip-of-the-hat to my state’s Kansas City Royals. Even more improvements and features have been added, but they have captured the flavor and aroma that I admire in this great product.
It is really impressive how easy it was to just start writing. With the handy retractable tool sidebar, I was able to quickly drop in new tables and shapes with a mere click, then modify color, size, outline and more without searching for tools. I can also choose moveable tool palettes or drop-down tool menus -- versatile control everywhere I look, placed in common-sense locations for easy and quick access. It is so convenient to have spell and thesaurus tools immediately available.
I could go on-and-on for many more paragraphs, but you can learn more at nisus.com/pro. The website has very unique context-specific tool and feature descriptions that make learning fun. You can try-before-you-buy with a 15-day trial.
The regular price for Nisus Writer Pro is $79.00 (US). Using the Apple user group coupon code below gives members 25% off, making the price only $59.25. Get Writer Pro at nisus.com/store and use the discount coupon code “MUG”. This is a limited-time worldwide offer valid through July 31, 2016, for a wonderful and rewarding product.
Hard disk drives (HDD) have been around for almost 60 years with 2.5” versions introduced for laptop computers 27 years ago. Yet, it was only 7 years ago that their capacity reached one terabyte, which has just now been quadrupled by an innovative company.
Samsung HDD, a division of Seagate Technology, recently announced their 4TB M3 Portable (and the P3 Portable) external hard drives, which are the first 4TB USB-powered single-drive solutions to come in 2.5” cases in the world.
According to Dave Klenske, director of product line management at Samsung HDD: “Previously only attainable in desktop or bulky multi-drive internal designs, we can now achieve a 4TB capacity in a compact drive thanks to the latest Samsung HDD technology. By going to a single drive solution, we can power the drive through just a USB connection while fitting it into a case that is only a 1/10 of an inch thicker than our 2TB drive. They are the perfect lightweight drives for notebook computer owners who need to access media collections too large to fit on traditional internal storage options.”
The 4TB Samsung M3 Portable Portable drive measures 0.8” x 3.3” x 4.7”, weighs only 8.3 ounces, and operates at USB 3.0 speeds without requiring any external power supplies. This Spinpoint M10P 4TB hard drive (the mechanism inside the case) enables this innovation with the highest aerial density (800GB for each of its internal disks on one spindle) in the world. According to another Samsung HDD source, with consumer demand for external storage capacity continuing to grow, the M3 (and P3) 4TB answers the increasing appetite for storage and are positioned to lead future capacity needs from the mobile market.”
Spinning at 5400rpm, and equipped with 128MB of cache, this is the first HDD to use SMR (Shingled Magnetic Recording) technology by Seagate. This means that tracks overlap one another, like shingles on a roof, allowing more data to be written to the same space. As new data is written, the drive tracks are trimmed, or shingled. Because the reader element on the drive head is smaller than the writer, all data can still be read off the trimmed track without compromise to data integrity or reliability.
Upon receipt of the unit, I found that it was boxed with the drive, USB 3.0 cable and Quick Start Guide . . . it was immediately ready with plug-and-play. It came fully partitioned and NTFS-formatted for Windows using the included Samsung Drive Manager which supports auto backup, file/folder security, drive lock, drive diagnostic, partition setup, and power settings. Also included for Macintosh use, “NTFS for Mac Driver” software (once installed on the user’s Mac) allows for full and speedy read and write functions to all data.
For my purposes, I wanted this to be a bootable backup for both my MacBook Pro 15” retina 500GB SSD with external 1TB Thunderbolt drive plus my iMac 27” retina with internal 3TB hybrid drive. I reformatted the drive as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and partitioned it into three parts (0.5TB, 1TB, 2.5TB) to reflect the volume sizes to be archived. Using Carbon Copy Cloner, I then created three separate backups of my boot drives and data drive, which could then be updated weekly on a scheduled increment basis. At a transfer rate of 4.8Gb/s using SuperSpeed USB 3.0, it took several hours to create this package of bootable clones, but the result is a wonderful duplicate of all my MacOS and iOS digital files (remember, my iPads and iPhones are backup to my computers). What a great resource!
To learn more about the Samsung HDD 4TB M3 and P3 Portables with their 3-year limited warranty, go to seagate.com/samsung-hdd. To purchase the M3 (durable black diamond design) for $189.99, go to play-asia.com/samsung-m3 (initially available as a global product sold in Latin America, Asia, Europe). To purchase the P3 (thin compact grey smooth design) for $179.99, go to newegg.com/samsung-p3 (US market).
Seagate creates space for the human experience by innovating how data is stored, shared and used (learn more at seagate.com). I have a variety of Seagate hard disk drives, and have been very pleased with their quality, dependability and value. This is a wonderful new addition to the Seagate HDD family.
The use of hard disk drives (HDD) has come a long way since their introduction by Reynold Johnson in 1956 (IBM 350 Disk File with 50 platters [each 24” diameter], 1200 rpm, 3.75MB capacity, 29” x 60” x 68” cabinet, over 1 ton weight, 1970 patent). By 1980, the size was down to 3.5”, by 1988 reduced to 2.5”, and by 2004 0.85” (from Toshiba, used in the iPod Classic). The first 1TB drive came out in 2007 (Hitachi), and today they are up to 10TB (Western Digital). The RAID (redundant array of independent disks) concept using multiple hard drives to improve capacity, performance and reliability dates back to patents in 1977 and 1986, laying the foundation for today’s powerhouse units.
The OWC ThunderBay 4 mini is a RAID 5 Edition with 4.0TB of storage in a 4-bay (using 1TB HDD in each bay) external drive connected with dual Thunderbolt 2 ports. This configuration results in performance and data redundancy using the first and only software RAID 5 technology developed for the Mac. It is optimized for 2.5" drives and perfect for SSDs which delivers outstanding performance and reliability for the most demanding applications, such as workflows involving 4K/2K/uncompressed HD, and multi-stream SD video.
The OWC ThunderBay 4 mini is preconfigured in RAID 5 for optimal data redundancy which features sustained performance of up to 1010MBs read and 908MBs write speeds. This mode has 75% faster rebuild times than hardware RAID. Such blazing speed and rock-solid reliability is designed for the power user.
With RAID 5, the four drives inside the ThunderBay 4 mini are merged for increased capacity and tremendous performance gains over a single drive. Special redundancy data, called "parity information," is also stored across the drives, allowing my data to remain completely safe so I can maintain my mission critical workflows worry-free.
This unit will expand production capabilities for industry-leading creative platforms like Final Cut X, Avid Pro Tools, and Adobe Lightroom with this incredibly fast and portable storage solution. ThunderBay 4 mini RAID 5 Edition is preconfigured in RAID 5 and supports RAID 0, 1, 4, and 1+0 arrays to achieve the optimal balance of storage, performance, and data-redundancy any workflow demands.
OWC unlocks the incredible performance and flexibility of ThunderBay by pairing the drives with a robust software RAID solution. Powered by the SoftRAID engine, ThunderBay 4 mini RAID 5 Edition delivers advanced RAID modes, real-time health monitoring with email notifications, and best-in-class rebuild speeds. Unlike traditional software RAID solutions, SoftRAID's revolutionary volume optimization allows me to quickly configure my drive for specific workflows. Now, you can experience the absolute best performance whether recording audio, editing 4K video, or creating a multimedia server.
I can take full advantage of this flexibility to easily build and reconfigure complex RAID arrays, or connect multiple ThunderBays to create even larger RAIDs with up to 16 drives for optimal performance and redundancy. Now, users can enjoy robust RAID options with near enterprise-grade storage and performance for a fraction of the cost. Each ThunderBay undergoes OWC's regimented multi-hour drive "burn-in" to ensure that the end user experiences the amazing performance right out the box.
This durable, heat-dissipating, aluminum unibody shell features a "flow-thru" vented design coupled with a 60mm whisper-quiet fan. ThunderBay's drive isolating design reduces sonic resonance, and is aided by rugged, vibration-absorbing, non-skid feet. The dual Thunderbolt 2 ports let me connect any display that my computer can support, including 4K displays.
ThunderBay comes with an OWC one-meter certified Thunderbolt cable (other lengths from 0.5 to 30 meters are available separately). I’m primarily using this unit through my OWC Thunderbolt 2 Dock for Time Machine backups from my MacBook Pro 15” retina. This computer is vital to my daily operations, and its important to me to have an up-to-date, fast and reliable archiving of my internal SSD (for applications) and external Thunderbolt hard drive (for data). Performance is flawless while its operations are essentially invisible.
The OWC ThunderBay 4 mini is available for $2,299 at macsales.com/thunderbay. OWC provides award-winning US-based support for both the ThunderBay 4 drive and SoftRAID software which included with the purchase. Also included is a 3-Year OWC Solution Limited Warranty, quick 48-Hour Warranty Service, and 1-Year Level-1 Data Recovery Service.
This is yet another of OWC’s wonderful array of technology products which feature quality, reliability and value. They now also have special Apple user group deals and discounts available for us at macsales.com/AUGdiscounts.
I’ve been an Apple computer user since 1979 (Apple ][ 48K), and have enjoyed the MacOS and iOS ever since. But, from time to time, I need to see or use something in the Windows world, so a virtual machine (VM) on my Mac is a very good solution.
I believe Parallels 10 is the easiest, fastest, and most powerful solution for running Windows on Mac without rebooting. According to the company, this has been the number ONE choice of Mac users for over 8 years, with over 5 million copies sold. It is fully optimized and enhanced for OS X Yosemite. With the latest version, we now use cool features like “click to call” with iPhone, send with iMessage, and more from Windows apps.
For “switchers” from PC to Mac, Parallels makes it easy to get all of their files, applications, browser bookmarks and more from the PC to the Mac just by following the Wizards. with support for 16vCPUs and 64 GB of RAM, this VM will run even the most demanding applications with ease. It can use Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, Access and 100s of other applications not available on the Mac, including the new Windows 10.
I like how Parallels will adapt itself while setting up my Windows virtual machine, automatically tuning for what I’ll use it for the most such as productivity applications, design, development or games. For me, even more importantly, its not just for Windows because it will run a wide array of operating systems including OS X Snow Leopard (allowing access to AppleWorks and other legacy software), Windows 8.1 & 7, Linux and Google Chrome.
This versatility means I have many computers in my one powerful Mac. I can stay in the Mac environment while launching Windows apps from the Dock, and using OS X gestures in Windows apps, plus copy & paste and drag & drop between Mac and Windows (and other operating systems).
There have been numerous improvements in Parallels 10 (I’m currently using 10.2.2) including iCloud Drive Support allowing me to “Save As” to iCloud Drive in Microsoft Office to DropBox, Google Drive and more. I can “right click” on a phone number in Outlook or Internet Explorer to place a call with my iPhone, or “right click” on selected text and select “Share with iMessage” which will send it with iMessage (if the recipient isn’t using iMessage, it will send via SMS using my iPhone).
Remarkably, with all of its features, the battery on my MacBook Pro 15” retina is still extended by up to 30%. Windows documents now open 48% faster, while VM use 10% less Mac memory. One amazing click and Parallels will automatically set my virtual machine settings for optimal performance based on what I do most. My virtual disk is even automatically compacted while I work, so it takes only as much space on my hard disk as it really needs.
There are many other “cross over” techniques, such as when I install Windows apps, Parallels automatically adds them to the Mac Launchpad. I don’t have to remain exclusively in the PC environment in order to be productive, but also take advantage of Mac controls. Moving files and information between operating systems has never been easier. There is much more that I could review, but suffice to say that I am very pleased with the power, versatility, ease-of-use and efficiency of this VM.
For more information, go to parallels.com where Parallels 10 be purchased for $79.99 ($49.99 to upgrade from earlier version). You can even try free for 14 days before you buy, to see why this is the leading Virtual Machine on the market today. There are others that are free, but none measure up to this power and Mac interconnection.
backup ... Backup ... BACKUP ... How often have we preached this commandment to our clients, friends and Apple user group members? This is vitally important, but accidents, fires, corrupted drives and other dilemmas still cause us to lose data on our precious hard drives. To prevent this, we need reliable tech tools to help keep our devices healthy.
Drive Genius 4 is one of the best tech tools available to help speed up, clean up and protect my Mac computer. The award-winning and improved DrivePulse feature alerts me to hard drive issues before they become major problems. It has an enhanced and simplified interface to run tools simultaneously on multiple drives, while being optimized for OS X Yosemite, with top features like Defrag and DriveSlim which help keep my Mac running fast. Noy only that, the all-new BootWell tool lets me create a special bootable secondary drive to Defrag or Repair my main hard drive. I can also personalize and organize my Mac’s folder and drive icons with IconGenius. This is many-tools-in-one vital to electronic health.
This toolchest helps me speed up, clean up and protect my Mac. Since it's release in 2004, Drive Genius has been the industry leader for Mac hard drive tools. Prosoft also offers The Drive Genius 4 BootWell Drive (High Speed, USB 3.0, 16GB Drive - additional charge) which has been created and individually tested to work perfectly with the Drive Genius 4 software or users can supply their own media, which is what I did. I keep a high-speed JetDrive SD card continually inserted with all this necessary software on it.
The Speed Test tool is a great feature to measure the raw performance of my hard drives where I can get instant test results and compare to newer drives. With Large File Search, I find very large files that are taking up space on my hard drive. This could be a large video file that came preloaded on my Mac or some funny email attachment someone sent me. To get rid of other unneeded files, I use Find Duplicates which locates duplicate files and replaces those duplicates with an alias. It is powered by the award-winning technology of DriveSlim.
The Clone feature lets me quickly and efficiently clone a drive (any in-use drive), which emphasizes our backup mantra. But, for continual protection, the award-winning DrivePulse feature monitors the health of my hard drives to alert me to potential issues (errors, fragmentations, bad blocks) before they become a major problem.
I frequently am frustrated when trying to shut down my Mac, but it gives me the message that my drive is still in use. To bypass this problem, I use Active Files to take the guesswork out of this and show me which application that is using the file. For the fun of it (and some utility), IconGenius provides me with an array of several collections of custom-designed icons for me to organize and customize my drive and folder icons.
When I’m ready to sell or donate a hard drive or computer, I use the Secure Erase feature which will permanently shred the contents on a drive making the files unrecoverable. This way, all of my personal data will be permanently and securely erased. It gives me the option to erase the contents of just a volume or the entire hard drive.
As if that is not enough, Drive Genius 4 has full capabilities to Repair or Rebuild the hard drive directory, as well as Repair Permissions. I can run extensive Physical Tests and Consistency Checks for drive corruption and hardware issues to troubleshoot my Mac hard drives when I need to. In fact, this just helped me diagnose a 3-month-old drive that didn’t want to update it’s clone status (DrivePulse reported the corrupted files to me, and advised replacement of the hard drive).
For only $99.00 per computer, anyone can purchase and download this valuable protection package from prosofteng.com/products/drive_genius.php (a site license is available for $299.00). Older versions of Drive Genius can upgrade for only $49.00. This is a terrific product from a great company, well worth the investment.
“The best camera is the one that’s with you!” . . . an amazingly true statement which well describes my ever-present iPhone 5S. It’s certainly convenient, but isn’t always steady or sturdy, often begging for a stand or holder. I’ve acquired numerous tripods, iPhone holders, extendable poles, lenses cases and more, but have now found a great device that solves many issues.
The Grip&Shoot wirelessly controls my iPhone with just one hand, which in turn reduces shaky videos and extended fatigue. With the free GRIP&SHOOT App and this attachable handle, I have gained comfort and support through full one-handed control of the camera's operation. I squeeze the trigger to capture a photo (or Start/Stop a video), and use the +/- buttons to zoom in and out on my subject. It feels natural to hold, and easy to handle (even turning itself off when done).
It’s so simple to use and easy to set up in minutes. I just insert my iPhone into the case (buttons first), which is made out of a ballistic grade polycarbonate and features a locking shoe built into its side for convenient and secure attachment to the Bluetooth Smart Grip. Next, I download and install on my iPhone the free GRIP&SHOOT camera app from the iTunes App Store. After tapping any button to pair the Bluetooth functions (or wake up the link), I’m ready to capture perfect pictures and video.
Simple, direct and effective, this combination works very well because it was designed with photographers in mind. From its ergonomic handle to the removable tripod stand, the GRIP&SHOOT system has everything I need to shoot photos and video like a pro. I can use it as initially assembled, or I can detach the removable stand on the bottom, attach it to the Shooter Case, mount it on a tripod or extender pole, and shoot remotely with the Smart Grip (including zooming). Or, if I would rather use my Glif, FastCap or Joby Micro Stand, I can detach the Grip Adapter on the bottom of the Smart Grip, attach it to the alternate holder, then mount it on the Smart Grip. The versatility is great, and easy to adapt to a variety of shooting situations.
The entire system includes two Shooter Cases (iPhone 5/5S & 4/4S), Bluetooth Smart Grip, Grip Adapter, leather carrying pouch (a well-designed asset) and wrist lanyard. The whole setup is available for $99.95 in black or white from http://www.gripandshoot.com. Other accessories are also available, such as a spare grip adapter, or (coming soon) a cold shoe adapter and JawZ adaptor (to grip any size phone, with or without case). Interestingly, they developed this product with an open API so developers could also use the Bluetooth buttons for game, utilities and other apps (including Android devices).
If the iPhone is your best camera, you deserve a tool to make photography and videos easier to do with results that are more pleasing to view. I recommend the Grip&Shoot as a great shooting device, just as it improved my collection. As an aside, it is also amazing how many people have stopped me to ask about this unique device, captivated by how well it works.
Holiday and most of our pictures are precious, and the corruption of these files can be disastrous. Whether from my still camera, or movie camera, a fast and effective recovery tool is a must — Stellar has a great package that does it all.
Stellar Phoenix Mac Photo Recovery v6 is a complete do-it-yourself retrieval software that recovers photos, images, songs, movies, and other multimedia files deleted or lost due to corruption or formatting of hard drives, memory cards, or other external storage. This powerful multi-functional tool can do all of the following:
Mac Photo Recovery: Recover any deleted or lost image from the Mac supported media; the supported image file types include PSD PSP, INDD, JP2, PCT, PNG, GIF, TIFF, BMP, Tiff, JPEG, CR2, CRW, DNG, MRW, ORF, MOS, ERF, NRW, NEF, PEF, X3F, Sr2, SRF, ARW, RAF and RAW.
Support for High-Capacity Drives: This competent photo recovery tool empowers me to recover all your lost assets from larger capacity hard drives that are becoming commonplace in the storage industry; the software supports hard drives with capacities over 2TB.
Mac Digital Media Recovery: Use this Macintosh Digital Media Recovery Software to recover all my lost photos and multimedia files from any Mac supported Internal or External storage device; the list of supported storage devices include memory cards, digital cameras, iPods, USB storage devices, Flash Cards, Mini Disks, Zip Disks and Mac operating system based hard drives.
Video Recovery for Mac: I can preview all of my lost/deleted/inaccessible video files and retrieve them back, keeping their visual quality as original; the supported video file types that I can recover include ASF, MP4, MOV, AVI, M4V, MPEG, 3GP, OGM, DV, MKV, 3G2, DIVX, M4B, ASX, VOB, MTS, MOI and WMV.
Audio File Recovery: I can recover my lost/deleted music collections or any other audio file; the supported audio file types include MP3, RPS, AU, MIDI, OGG, WAV, AIFF, WMA, M4P, RM, RA and M4A.
Recover various Camera brands: I can recover my lost photos and videos from any leading Digital Camera brand; the supported camera brands include Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax, Kodak, Minolta, Sigma, Olympus, Fujifilm, Polaroid, Epson, Yashica, Samsung, Panasonic, Mamiya, and more.
Option to Add File Headers: The software gives me the flexibility to customize the recovery process according to my specific needs; I can add more unique file types to the list of supported file types by setting the desired preferences in the software (this can be done by simply dragging the sample files to the software drop section or uploading the same on to the software).
Enhanced File Listing Options: The software easily groups the recovered files into their respective categories and displays them in three unique styles: 'Cover Flow View', 'Thumbnail View', and 'List View’; I can access any of these views according to my convenience.
Deleted File Recovery Tree View: If I wish to preview or recover only the deleted pictures from my Mac, there is a Deleted File list, in addition to ‘Classic’ and ‘File’ list view; the software will pick the deleted folders and the files inside, and I can select them for recovery.
Preview & Recovery of HD MOV Files: Stellar Photo Recovery now scans, previews, and recovers of HD MOV multimedia files, which are used by many high definition digital cameras, camcorders, and movie cameras; with supports for this kind of file type, the software now offers more advantages to us as users.
Optimized, User-friendly Interface with Resize Option: This advanced photo recovery tool incorporates an intuitive interface that provides user-friendly environment similar to a Mac desktop; further, I can increase or decrease the size of the application window to suit my needs.
Preview of Scanned Photos: It provides the preview of the photos simultaneously, while scanning the drive for the seemingly lost images; the software recovers all the photos, which I can see during the preview process.
Create Images: I can create an image of the attached storage media, so that I can restore my precious photos and other multimedia files, if the device gets damaged or becomes inaccessible.
Automatic Update Wizard: This wizard of the software automatically runs in the back-ground and checks for any latest available update; on receiving any update, it prompts me to download and install the same.
Using this software is easy and straight-forward once it has been installed. The initial screen (see right) allows me to either immediately start the recovery of a volume (after which it provides a list of all volumes connected to it from which I select the corrupted title), create image (make a digital replica of the corrupted volume before working on it), or Resume Recovery (in case my earlier recovery effort was interrupted). Other tasks like software registration, website visitation, or product information can be accessed in the upper left corner. The results can then be saved to a different selectable volume.
All I can think of this week is Macworld/iWorld 2013, an incredible return to everything Apple, filled with the joy and excitment of using some of the finest computer, phone, music, slate and entertainment products in the world! To mingle among over 20,000 devoted users who are visiting over 300 exhibitors and sponsors, watching some of the greatest minds and educators in the industry, is truly an amazing and fulfilling experience. I will bring back many of the products, visions and sounds from that event to share with you at our next Feb. 5 meeting.
Our last meeting was the introduction of our new format where we first handle product announcements, share tips and tricks, and answer member questions and concerns, before the break, followed by a focused presentation by one presentor after we've snacked and talked with our friends. George Kopp showed us many Tips About Mountain Lion which were really interesting, to which I added a few about iOS 6. Door prize winners included:
13" zippered case Charlie Bland
appleJAC microfiber cleaner Ron Hansen
appleJAC microfiber cleaner Dan Walsh
appleJAC microfiber cleaner Julie Smith
appleJAC microfiber cleaner Bill Webb
This was also the introduction of our beautiful new 135" diagonal pull-down projection screen skillfully mounted into the drop-ceiling by Immaculate Conception School maintenance staff and volunteers (appleJAC received a wonderful letter of thanks from Principal Jill Struemph). This was also the maiden voyage of our new Media Cabinet (designed and built by Joe Mertzlufft and me) which integrates our new video projector and sound system to minimize setup and breakdown time and effort. These improvements, along with the new divided audience seating that brings everyone closer to the presenter and screen, will make our meetings even better.
We were also pleased to welcome JC Holmes, the owner of a new Columbia-based company which creates custom iPad "book cases" from well-maintained recycled books. See the review and special discount offer in separate article below.
Bring your family and friends to our next Feb. 5 meeting to share the excitement of new products and enhancements to Mac and iDevices. In addition to you, we welcome visitors and new members to all of our meetings. I look forward to seeing you soon . . .
Disappointed when you play music, a movie or podcast only to have the sound muted by your folded-back cover, or whatever the iPad is laying on? Wouldn’t it be great if you could redirect to sound toward you?
The SoundJaw is a device that greatly enhances and boosts the sound of your iPad. Developed specifically for iPad 2 (compatible with the new 2012 iPad), you can now enjoy a movie in the car, a loud room, outside, and all the other places you usually find it hard to hear. This unit is guaranteed to not only revolutionize your iPad, but also the market for accessories in general.
The idea behind the SoundJaw is so simple, but makes all the difference for listening. It increase both the decibels and the quality of the music to which you listen. This results in a crisper sound that doesn't get lost to the world behind the iPad. More information is available at www.soundjaw.com/.
This little jewel is easy to mount, and does make a real difference in sound redirection. I only wish it was constructed of a thinner material so the back-cover could fit over it more comfortably. I’ve been using mine since I got it at Macworld | iWorld last January.
You can buy a SoundJaw in black, white, or purple for $12.99 at www.tinylightbulbs.com/all-products/soundjaw.html. Free domestic shipping, as well as discounted international shipping, on orders of 2 or more.
Oh, for the dog days of summer. They seem so wonderful until the thermostat stays above 100 for 5 days in a row! Yuck!! We can only be thankful for air conditioning, and lots of new Apple and Mac stuff to talk about.
The big story this month is MacOS X Lion. Lion is the 8th version of Mac OS X and looks like it will be the shape of things to come from Apple. Lion integrates much of the interface built in iOS for the iPhone and iPad into the Macintosh user experience. Everything from Launchpad to the use of swiping gestures is now incorporated into the computer operating system we know and love. There is lots new to talk about here so appleJAC will be hosting a Mac OS X Lion demo at our regularly scheduled meeting in September. Plan to kick off the fall with a look into Lion.
Lion not only brings us new interface, it also leads us to the new method for software delivery that Apple has in it’s plans. A few years back, Apple introduced the MacBook Air without a DVD drive, and we all thought that was crazy. Everyone needs a DVD drive to install software and play movies. Fast forward to today, and we see ourselves downloading a new version of the operating system and getting movies over the Internet from NetFlix. No DVDs need apply for this gig; it is an online-only world.
Now we see the latest MacBook Air with a fast processor. This time just as fast as a MacBook Pro for all practical sense. And now the Mac Mini looses it’s DVD drive. Get ready folks, my next prediction: DVDs are going the way of the floppy. Some will cry and some will refuse to go, but expect a Mac in your future to be DVD-less.
The other real story in line is the elimination of Rosetta from Lion. Rosetta was an emulation layer that allowed older software written for a PowerPC processor to run on Intel-based Macs. Apple contracted this software from IBM (who sold it the PowerPC processors), but the PowerPC has run it’s course, and even IBM is moving on. SO must Apple. For about 5 years it maintained this emulation to allow software developers time to bring their products forward into natively running on Intel. Unfortunately, some developers did not listen.
But, the vast majority of software you have issues with in Lion falls into two categories:
Software that has been sunset – this is software the developer chose to end development on; this may be because it was replaced with a new product or it may be the developer just did not want to continue it’s development
Software that has an upgrade - some of these are as simple as downloading a new version, but many, if not most, of them will be products that have a fee for the upgrade; users may not have been aware of this upgrade or chose not to pay; either way, these products will not run in Lion without the upgrade.
It is funny to watch the complaints on the Internet about these two types of software. Some people believe that, if they purchase a product it should work forever. Others chastise Apple for not maintaining this emulation for 5 more years. Either way, these PowerPC applications join the Mac OS 9 applications that have been orphaned by new technology.
The key thing for a user here is to be sure the applications you need will run before updating to Lion. If you do the update, and the files need to be exported, you may have just lost all those files to the old ‘bit bucket’ in the sky. Don’t let this happen to you. Remember, while Lion adds a lot to the user experience on the Mac, it is NOT a required upgrade. If what you have works for you, then you can still keep using it. Just don’t expect the world to stay behind with you.
The other big story this month is the August appleJAC meeting. This year we are going back to the Yanis Coffee Zone on August 2 at 7:00 pm for a evening of iOS applications. Bring your iOS device (iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad) and learn about great applications for these devices. Just like the last time, the proprietor of the Coffee Zone will be there keeping the coffee on for you to order your favorite coffee drinks and great sweets.
I hope you can make it this month. Be sure to bring your iOS-using friends too. You don’t need to be a member to come see all the fun.
iPad accessories are a necessity for the enjoyment of your investment. Good sound, solid platforms, protective covers, and portable presentation ability is important to all of us.
iMate provides a series of innovative and affordable supplemental devices to enhance the utility and enjoyment of our iPads (and iPhones) including:
KEYDEX iPad Stand and Speaker ($44.99):
Versatile design
Position iPad both vertically or horizontally on stand
Recline iPad against the slip-proof cylindrical speakers
Stylish 1.5 watt speakers provide surround sound
Compact size and design to fit onto any desk space
Protective silicon case to protect your iPad
Dimensions: 4.0” x 10.3” x 2.2”, 0.66 lbs
Materials: ABS plastic and aluminum
This stand will work with either the original iPad or the iPad2 (the silicon back cover with the speaker stand does not work with the Apple front cover). The quality of the speakers was much better than expected, but the AC power supply restricted placement (I was able to substitute a rechargeable USB battery to use it for more portability).
KEYDEX iPad Stand ($16.99):
iPad can be operated on the stand
Easy assemble without any tools
Smooth stand edge and slip-proof rubbers
Set iPad vertically and horizontally
Quick disassemble for space saving travel
Dimensions: 7.1” x 6.3” x 4.3”, 6.70 oz
Materials: ABS stand and steel frame
This stand will work with either the original iPad or the iPad2, and proved to be surprisingly lightweight and durable.
This protective case was made for the original iPad, but an iPad 2 would fit into it. The zippered sleeve is made of neoprene and should sustain a lot of use, while also being somewhat weather-proof. The steel wire stands use rubber feet to reduce skidding.
While the protective stand would be okay for a lot of travel, speaker stand is my favorite because it holds the iPad firmly and produces excellent sound. All of these are available at either http://www.keydex.com.tw or http://imateweb.com, along with a huge number of other items from AC adapters to cables to iPhone accessories to much more. Some very interesting and innovative ways to expand the utility your portable devices.
One thing that has been a problem for a long time is finding a way to change an incorrectly typed short name for your user logon. Here is a trick I saw in MacLife magazine......
The only works in MacOS 10.5. Start by going to System Preferences: Accounts. Click on the lock icon near the lower left and type your password to be able to make changes. Next control-click on the user name and a selection opens called Advanced Options. Select that option and see the dialog box below.
There are only two things you dare change and they must both match. First, change the "Short Name" to the new name you want to use. Then in the field "Home Directory", change the part of the name after "/Users/" to match the short name you used.
A couple of warnings. Only do this if you have a complet backup of the user folder. My recommendation would be to use a Short Name that contains no spaces.
Automator, in conjunction with AppleScript opens doors for you that will simply amaze you.
This tutorial shows you how to create an action for the Automator application using AppleScript as the implementation language. You are going to learn how to create an action by actually developing one. The tutorial assumes that you are familiar with AppleScript, but otherwise has no other prerequisites. It is helpful, however, if you have some experience with AppleScript Studio.
This comes to us from Apple's developer web site so the content is of an advanced nature.
