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March 24, 2014 - Hammondsport Mac Users Group ATTENDING : Tom B, Nancy D, Jerry L, Bob S, Nancy B, Carl H, Judy H, Ed M, Gene N, Al J and Maureen J. TOPIC: MACS and CAMS
NEWS FLASH: Frosty the Snowman caught in grocery store vegetable section rummaging through carrots, picking his nose.
CAMS We looked at various cameras that could be used with Macs, including the built-in iSight, external USB plug-in models and also a couple special purpose cams. Demos of Mac apps such as QuickTime and PhotoBooth were given as well as some other inexpensive video capture software.
iSight Cam (built-in) - use with QuickTime, FaceTime, PhotoBooth, Skype - TIP: if you don't like a camera pointed in your face all the time, put a sticky note over it (the camera). In our 'selfie' society, we seem to have a lot of i-Phones, i-Macs, i-Photo, dot.me, @me and i-me-mine devices. i-DEA: would this T-shirt design sell?
USB Digital Cam - point-and-shoot - plug into USB port to off-load images via drag-and-drop or import into iPhoto - delete unwanted photos in the camera by dragging them to the trash - be sure to empty the trash before unmounting your camera.
USB Webcam - MacAlly IceCam2 ($13) works fine if your Mac doesn't have a camera or you wish to have more flexibility on angles - OSX 10.4 to 10.8 - see full specs - see a similar MegaCam at OWC ($28)
USB Wire Cam - w/ variable LED lights - works on Mac with no driver - just plug and use with Quicktime or PhotoBooth - $25-30 eBay, Amazon, Sears --- Waterproof so that you can inspect area under water, gaps and holes. This inspection camera has many applications including HVAC inspection, vent pipe, plugged drains, machine equipment, engine, cable routing, cast mould, automotive / boat / aircraft and general household inspections. Jerry even suggested it might be used for doing a certain unpleasant procedure on yourself. He was met with a few groans. Although with enough cable, drivebys might be possible as well.
Moultrie Wildlife Cam - motion activated - infrared - SD card fits MacPro SD slot - uses 6 C batteries - $90 Amazon - see other Moultrie game cams • Temperature, moon phase, time, date, and camera ID on every
photo
DEMOS
DEMO - Gene showed us how to use a webcam securely mounted on a short mic stand with boom to project closeups of fly-tying techniques.
DEMO - Tom showed the features of an inexpensive software called iGlasses that supplements Mac video apps such as QuickTime with many additonal control parameters - OSX 10.6 or higher - Free trial/ buy $19.95
DEMO - Tom used a free app called Gawker to make a short time-lapse video of the group (we could watch ourselves age for a minute - frightening). Gawker is a free application for Mac OS X that creates time-lapse movies using a webcam. Images from your camera can be shared, allowing other users to record your image stream. Streams can also be combined to create a time-lapse movie with up to four locations side-by-side - can set time lapse as low as 1 frame each second- playback single frame by issuing KB arrows - requires OSX 10.6 or higher - download 2.2mb
DEMO - wirelessly network two or more Macs to share a common camera (such as a remote security setup) - this was very easy and inexpensive as well - see how
SOFTWARE
iStopMotion 3 - software for stop-motion animation - great fun for young kids - another creative use of macs and cams - see supported cameras - ($49)
SECURITY
FBI
Can Secretly Turn on Your Webcam (without the light) - article
at Digital Trends
HiddenApp - Anti-Theft software for your Mac, iPad and iPhone - when your device goes missing, HiddenApp will show you where it is and who has it - 10-day free trial or $15/yr 1 device, $30-3 devices - records images via iSight cam (NO GREEN LIGHT!!!) GPS location, networking details, Keylogs, computer processes, screenshots of websites visited, traceroutes - great article at AppStormMac blog how to setup hiddenapp and how it works
TIPS
TIP : add an 'EJECT' shortcut to the Desktop Menu - - - go to System > Library > Core Services > Menu Extras - - - double-click on item you wish to add - - - to remove the shortcut, hold down Command and drag it off menu to poof
TIP : eject a stubborn CD or DVD by restarting and then hold down left mouse click when Mac chimes
TIP : eject a disc image by first selecting it and then pressing keys
Com+E
Hammondsport Mac Users Group - Hammondsport, NY 14840 - www.hportmug.com
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First meeting of 'Spring'
but snow is still in the air. 
