Dorchester — Jul 12th 2011

John opened the meeting with 21 members present. Gordon, Maggie and Terry sent apologies.

The first presentation was by Mark, of the 'Show me' app for iPad.
He first loaded some photos onto the iPad using a card adapter, and then demonstrated how the app was used to
annotate and provide a verbal commentary on the photos, which resulted in a movie which could be emailed from within the app.
This was followed by a demo of three radio apps.
Tune in radio app gives a choice of radio stations
5-0 Radio - specialises in Police Radio
and Radio Box again provides a wide choice of international radio stations.
Still on the iPad App theme, Tom demonstrated the 'internet Speed Test' app (and confirmed our suspicions of the low speed of the Wireless connection available to the meeting).

He then went on to compare Airprint - Apple's app, free with iOS4.2, which allows iOS devices access to HP printers, with HP's ePrint, which is a 'paid for' app. He noted that Airprint requires a Firmware update to the iOS device, and there is a website to assist in setting it up.

Diana showed us the 'where's the path' website http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm
This is a very versatile aid for mapping, and planning routes.
There is a side by side map display, which allows identifying the same location on a pair of maps from different sources. These include satellite photography.
Routes can also be constructed with the mouse, their distances measured, and the ascents / descents along the routes displayed.

Q&A
John had a question about Ping. This is used to confirm a network link between computer and other devices in the network. It can be found in Utilities / network utilities / ping, and one just enters an IP address. The utility then tries to contact this, and the result is displayed.
There then ensued a very learned Lecture from Mick on DHCP, which it is impossible to convey the sense of without reproducing it in full.
A request for comparison of iChat vs Skype? iChat can talk to PCs, but PC needs non-Microsoft programme ie not MSN Messenger. Skype can call landlines, but iChat may have better sound quality.

After the Interval, Euan heralded the approach of Lion, price £20.99, expected on Thursday, covering the following aspects:
System requirements
What is discarded and why - power PC software, Lion is intel only, device drivers eg printer drivers - use 'about this mac' - software to identify which applications are still likely to work
keeping status quo (i.e. Snow Leopard active)
Backup existing HD, benefits of multiple partitions
RoaringApps website gives compatibility of various apps
and then Why upgrade to Lion?
There is much covering all of this on the web, and Euan distributed a compilation of this to all those interested.

JSR

Comments

Page 1
Page 1