If your members watched the livestream of last week’s 2023 Worldwide Developer’s Conference (WWDC) they were probably amazed by the Apple Vision Pro, a spatial computer you control with your eyes, hands, and voice to interact with digital content in a way that feels like you are physically present in an immersive environment. Wow!
Want to offer your members a first look at Apple Vision Pro? Check out these resources:
Have your members mentioned the new privacy features from Apple? Along with major updates to Safari’s Private Browsing, Communication Safety, and more, there are new features that are amazing. Sensitive Content Warning; Link Tracking Protection in Messages, Mail, and Safari private browsing; password and passkeys updates; Lockdown Mode; Check In, and Name Drop are just a few of the components of Apple’s commitment to user privacy.
Members have questions about how they can protect their privacy and control their information, and providing them with the information they need can make for a great meeting topic.
Check out 2021’s A Day in the Life of Your Data to understand why App Tracking Transparency matters. (more…)
This Apple World User Group University (AWUGU) online gathering of Apple user group leaders was held at 5:00pm CDST, on May 15, 2023, via Zoom. We had 38 participants for AUG Speaker Bureau (see JPG image and PDF attendance list in the AWUGU shared folder). The 73-minute video can be viewed at https://youtu.be/YRl2IojuZ80 (unlisted on YouTube).
This session opened with my welcome, plus a quick review of the meeting protocols. This was followed by a wide-ranging open discussion about the previous 1Password presentation plus speaker and ChatGPT experiences by many.
Need a timely meeting topic?
Your members may be newly interested in ways to clean their devices, and Apple has the answer. Be sure to check out Apple Support’s How to clean your Apple products page. From using safe products to the right techniques, your members can learn how to clean and disinfect notebooks, desktops, iOS devices, peripherals, accessories, cases, and more.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204172
Ambassadors, April is a great time to use Apple Support articles.
Want to take a look at the early days of Apple User Groups? The Apple Wiki has a collection of early Apple User Group Connection videos. This month’s link offers a young Wozniak, a look at MIDI when it was a new technology, and a reminder that even in the beginning Apple was at the forefront of assistive technologies. From a discussion of new technologies to award winning student projects and more, the videos truly are a fun blast from the past.
See what the User Group Connection was doing in 1987:
Looking for a quick meeting presentation that provides new tips for real-world use of your members’ iPhones? For learning how your iPhone can recognize specific sounds, to removing duplicate photos and more, You can be sure that each member will leave your meeting with at least one technique that they will actually use.
You and your members may have noticed a set of quiet announcements on January 17th: Apple released the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros featuring M2 Pro and M2 Max. Fast? Amazingly so. But wait, of course there’s more: a new Mac mini, supercharged by M2 and the all-new M2 Pro.
If you are interested in talking with your members about the announcements, there’s video and supporting documentation that could make for a great meeting.
Your members may have seen the recent news stories about AirTag users finding their “lost” luggage during the wide-spread airline issues that were a part of 2022 holiday travel. So, why not use a future meeting to review what AirTags can offer and how to make the most of their functionality?
Looking for a fun meeting idea? Most people enjoy singing along to their favorite music in the car or shower, but Apple Music Sing brings a clever twist to engaging with your favorite songs using your iPhone, iPad, or new Apple TV 4K, with real-time lyrics and adjustable vocals, you can sing lead, backup, or even duets. Your members can even sing along.
Apple Music Sing will be available by the end of December, just in time for a January 2023 meeting.
Check it out.
Have your members asked about Freeform, the new free Apple app that helps users see, share, and collaborate on an infinite virtual whiteboard? Released on December 13, Apple includes the free app with the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. It can even be used while you are on a FaceTime call.
Freeform could make for a fun and interactive meeting activity.
Check it out!
Apple Support on YouTube – How to Use Freeform
Apple Press Release About Freeform
