by Saundra (Sandy) Foderick, Editor | Sep 18, 2023 | Apple World User Group University, News & Events
By Tom Piper
This Apple World User Group University (AWUGU) online gathering of Apple user group leaders was held at 5:00pm CDST, on September 18, 2023, via Zoom. We had 31 participants for Apple Announcements & Streaming Services (see Zoom JPG image and PDF attendance list in shared AWUGU folder). The 73-minute video can be viewed at https://youtu.be/vehbOkQdKA4 (unlisted on YouTube).
This session opened with my welcome, plus a quick review of the meeting protocols. This was followed by an attempted 6-minute version of the Apple Announcements (available in the AWUGU shared folder) plus a series of shared information by many participants. Discussion continued with wide-ranging comments about streaming services.
Related to the topic of Apple Announcements and Streaming Services, numerous observations were shared and suggestions were provided by user group leaders with the following links in the Chat Room:
(more…)
by Saundra (Sandy) Foderick, Editor | Sep 12, 2023 | News & Events
Nicholas Pyers
This month we welcome Nicholas Pyers to the Apple User Group Advisory Board. Nicholas is known for his website AppleUsers.org, which is full of resources for user group leaders including: back issues of the AppleUsers Spotlight – a former digital magazine, his clever puzzles, an diverse range of Discs of the Month; and for being a long-time championship of all things Mac and Apple – having started his computing life in 1986 with an Apple II; and now has multiple Macs, iPhones, iPads and an Apple Watch. You may also know him from his award-winning articles in the AUSOM newsletter or from his many contributions to the international user group community — including having his Macros.NKP (automation of the Apple II version of AppleWorks) published in US publications.
Following on from a long tradition of providing in-person presentations to Australian and International Apple User Groups, in more recent years, Nicholas has been a regular presenter at the online Apple Worldwide User Group University.
In addition, Nicholas is known for his passion of cruising, with plans to see the world by cruising the seven seas. Despite his ‘protests’ of: “I have ZERO interest in trains or motorsports”, Nicholas is also the event co-ordinator of a full sized “hobby” railway in his adopted home town of Junee, NSW, Australia and the publicity officer for a local motorsport park. Professionally, he currently a grants writer working with not-for-profit community groups to raise funds for local projects and infrastructure.
Nicholas has recently accepted a position with the Apple User Group Advisory Board and will be bringing his talents to Board activities to help develop a Speakers Bureau that will assist user groups find presenters and topics for their meetings.
https://www.appleusers.org/
https://www.appleusers.org/dotm/
https://www.appleusers.org/magazine/
https://www.nicholaspyers.com/articles/macros-nkp-v9-0/
https://www.nicholaspyers.com/presentations/
https://www.peteshobbyrailway.club/
https://www.gw.org.au/
by Saundra (Sandy) Foderick, Editor | Sep 12, 2023 | News & Events
You may remember back in 2021 when Apple announced that by 2030, every single Apple product around the world would be carbon neutral, from design to manufacturing to shipping, usage, and recycling. And, over the last few years Apple has put their efforts toward that goal. Before the Wonderlust event, Apple had already been carbon neutral across all corporate operations and made incredible advances in recycling and and processes that benefit the environment. At the September 12 Wonderlust event, Apple announced their first fully carbon neutral product, the 2023 Apple Watch, silicon and leather-free watch straps, working with suppliers to ensure best practices, and more.
Check it out!
Apple and the environment
Apple unveils its first carbon neutral products
Apple advances supplier clean energy commitments
2030 Status | Mother Nature
by Saundra (Sandy) Foderick, Editor | Sep 12, 2023 | News & Events
Your members probably watched Apple’s Wonderlust event on Tuesday and want to learn more about the announcements. The good news is that Apple’s YouTube channel has a link to the resources you can use to create a great meeting. For example, there are links to a tour of iPhone 15, AirPods Pro with Adaptive Audio, the Wonderlust event, and so much more.
Check them out!
Shot on iPhone 15 Pro | Olivia Rodrigo “get him back!”
A Guided Tour of iPhone 15 & iPhone 15 Pro | Apple
Watch the Wonderlust Event
AirPods Pro | Adaptive Audio
by Saundra (Sandy) Foderick, Editor | Sep 12, 2023 | News & Events
The Apple User Group Connection Archives offer a fun look back at past announcements, products, and meetings. April 1991 brought one session of MacWorld Macintosh Jeopardy. Want to see contestants answer questions from categories that include “Guys Named Guys” and “Love That Jean-Louis”, and answers that include one of Woz’s earliest computers named for a beverage and the only animal in the standard Geneva font? Check out a tough competition starting around 1 hour and 30 minutes.
See how many questions you can answer:
User Group Connection April 1991
by Saundra (Sandy) Foderick, Editor | Sep 11, 2023 | News & Events
Groups have had a positive response to accessibility as a meeting topic. Apple’s Accessibility home page says that the true value of a technology is not measured by how powerful it is, but by how much it empowers the user, and every Apple product contains amazing and empowering accessibility features right out of the box. From being able to take a perfect group selfie without being able to see the screen, to VoiceOver, display accommodations, Live Listen, closed captioning that displays far more than text, LED iPhone notifications, Switch Control, customized gestures, AssistiveTouch, Guided Access, typing feedback, text-to-speech, fitness algorithms for wheelchair users, and more, there are features to make every user’s tasks easier.
Dave Mara, Senior Systems Engineer for Apple, accomplished artist, and user group favorite recently posted an accessibility link with some great tips regarding ways to check if movies and TV shows have accessibility features in the Apple TV app, including audio descriptions, closed captions, and subtitles for folk who may be deaf or hard of hearing. Your members can check from their iPhone or iPad, smart TV or streaming device, Mac, AppleTV, or PC in the iTunes Store, and there are some great tips for how to turn the features on and off as well.
This could make for a great quick preso at your next user group meeting.
Check if movies and TV shows have accessibility features in the Apple TV app
https://www.apple.com/accessibility/
Accessibility Support
by Saundra (Sandy) Foderick, Editor | Sep 11, 2023 | News & Events
Are your members interested in what’s new with iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma? Apple recently released documents listing key new features for iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma. These docs could make for an interesting and informative meeting.
Check ’em out:
New Features in Sonoma
New Features in iOS 17
Thanks to Steve Welsh, founder and President of the Oregon MacPioneers User Group, and past member of Apple’s User Group Advisory Board, for this tip!
by Saundra (Sandy) Foderick, Editor | Sep 10, 2023 | News & Events
For more than 30 years one of the wonderful benefits of belonging to the Portland Macintosh Users Group (PMUG) has been the opportunity to attend the group’s MacCamp sessions. Better yet, the 2023 Fall MacCamp is right around the corner: MacCamp is coming October 20-22. From enjoying the beauty of Oral Hull Park near Sandy Oregon, to great food, to fun networking experiences, to multiple training sessions and more, each camp holds a place in the hearts of those who attend. Is your group looking for a novel idea to build community and share knowledge? Check out PMUG’s MacCamp, and, while you are there learn about their popular PMUG Clinics (now via Zoom).
Visit PMUG.
http://www.pmug.org/
Learn more about MacCamp.
Fall 2023 MacCamp
by Saundra (Sandy) Foderick, Editor | Sep 9, 2023 | News & Events
This Apple World User Group University (AWUGU) online gathering of Apple user group leaders was held at 5:00pm CDST, on August 21, 2023, via Zoom. We had 26 participants for Program Process (see JPG image and PDF attendance list in shared folder described below). The 74-minute video can be viewed at https://youtu.be/VoN5C_fGclE (unlisted on YouTube).
This session opened with my welcome, plus a quick review of the meeting protocols. This was followed by a series of shared information by all participants. Discussion continued with experiences shared by all attendees.
Related to the topic of Program Process, numerous opinions were shared and suggestions were provided by user group leaders with the following links in the Chat Room:
Due to the very interesting and extensive Nostalgia sharing, it was decided that “Apple Announcements & Streaming Services” would be held over to the September 18, 2023, at 5:00pm Central Daylight Saving Time (all current AWUGU registrants will receive an invitation to all future meetings).
To become a participant, any interested Apple User Group leader must first register with the AWUGU Coordinator by emailing their name, location, and user group name and web link to macquest@mac.com.
Registration must be received by September 16 in order to receive a Zoom Meeting invitation.
by Saundra (Sandy) Foderick, Editor | Sep 7, 2023 | News & Events
Your members may have participated in a study using the Apple Research app. They may be using the Health App on their iPads now. But, did you know there is more to the story? Apple has research and new features that promote user health in many ways. For example, in June Apple introduced new features in iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and watchOS 10 that promote mental health and vision health, and so much more. (more…)
