PAST MEETINGS

July 21, 2014 - Hammondsport Mac Users Group

ATTENDING : Tom B, Larry T, Dottie E, Al J.

TOPIC : HOW TO (questions and answers)

Q - On my iMac, I have been using Fusion to run a version of WIndows OS in order to use an older app which was Windows-only. Lately it seems to run very sluggishly. How can I speed it up?

A - You might try maxing out the RAM on your iMac, if it isn't already using the max. Check your RAM status by clicking on the black Apple and then 'About this Mac'. Your current RAM (Memory) total will be listed. Next go to the website EveryMac.com to find the specs for your specific mac. Find your exact model and then click the Maximum Ram heading. Then follow that with a trip to OWC to check the price of RAM for your iMac. Another app to run Windows on a Mac is Parallels.

Q - How do I clean out all the unwanted photos from my iPhoto application - there are too many folders and images to keep track of and iPhoto seems to run very slowly with the Spinning ball a lot. Everything has been backed up a couple times to external drives.

A - Rather than discard a lot of photos (and possibly lose something of value), try creating a new User Account on your mac, thus starting out with a 'clean slate' and fresh launch of iPhoto. In fact you can create a specific user account for different photographic purposes if you shoot a lot of pictures (one for weddings, one for family, one for vacations). To set up a new account go to System Preferences (under the Black Apple), click on Accounts> Unlock the Padlock with your Admin name and Password> click the + under the current account icons > fill in the 'Full Name' box (a single word is fine for new account name) - then click 'create account'. You don't really need a password at this point. Log out of your curent account (go to black Apple>Logout). Then log in with your new account.

Q - How can I write text directly on top of an image?

A - The easiest way is to use Preview. Open an image (JPG, PNG, etc) - then go to Preview>Tools>Annotate>Add text - click on the image to insert Text box and then type away. Use 'save as' to preserve original image (see example)

Q - How can I use an old USB Wacom Tablet with my MacBook Pro to write direct notes for a projector view?

A - Go to eBay and search for a used Wacom Tablet and pen* (this model works well) - plug it into the USB slot and open any paint application such as PaintBrush, Pixelmator or Photoshop.

*Many Wacom pens are compatible with more than one tablet - see Wacom Pen/Tablet Compatibility Chart

DEMO

Write direct notes on your Mac using a Wacom tablet and pen stylus with any word processor such as TextEdit, Pages, etc. Another feature that is available when you plug in a tablet device is the System Preference 'Ink' . This allows you to write freehand on any word processing document and the letters will be transformed into TEXT in the document. See how here.

More 'How To' tutorials can be found here on the H'port MUG website.

APPS

PaintBrush - is a simple paint program for Mac OS X, reminiscent of Microsoft Paint and Apple’s own now-defunct MacPaint. It provides users with a means to make simple images quickly, something that has been noticeably absent from the Mac for years. PaintBrush works well with a Wacom Tablet and pen to write projectable notes for group work.

Pixelmator - is an inexpensive app with features akin to Photoshop. Download latest version 3.1 for Mavericks - get a free 30-day Trial or buy for $29.99 at the Mac App Store - older versions of Pixelmator available at FileHorse - use version 2.2 for Snow Leopard.

IN THE NEWS

Is The Internet Making Us Stupid? - insightful article by Charles Moore regarding the impact of information overload on our ability to stay focused on a task.

Paralyzed man first to move hand by power of thought - A young American paralyzed in a swimming accident has become the first patient to move his hand using the power of thought after doctors inserted a microchip into his brain.

Hammondsport Mac Users Group - Hammondsport, NY 14840 - www.hportmug.com