When GarageBand was introduced in 2004 it was amazing! Mac users could record up to 8 tracks at once, fix timing and pitch, view and edit in musical notation, and so much more. Who could have imagined the 2021 version? GarageBand v10.4.4 for macOS is a whole music creation studio right inside your Mac—with a complete sound library that includes software instruments, presets for guitar and voice, and virtual session drummers. Better yet, is runs on your current Mac and optimized for Apple silicon. But wait, there’s more: GarageBand v10.4.4 for macOS includes a new collection of instrument sounds and loops across a variety of genres, including from some of the world’s top producers.
Why not plan a meeting around GarageBand v10.4.4?
GarageBand for Mac – First Look (L544712A-en_US)
Ambassadors, November is a great month to check out ASW.
Written by Tom Piper, Past President of appleJAC User Group and Head of the Apple User Group Vendor team
One of the most valuable services provided by Apple User Groups to their members are the “question and answer” sessions. For the past 35 years of our existence, appleJAC has evolved through a variety of Q&A processes. This How-To session will describe each of the successful methods that we have used.
Nicholas Pyers of AppleUsers.org always has expert ideas on ways to make leading your group easier and more efficient. In this article he discusses media releases: basic guidelines, finding topics, generating media interest, identifying media opportunities and more. His article wraps up with a link to a helpful article on creating a media kit.Check it out
AWUGU: Sharing Between Groups
By Tom Piper
This Apple World User Group University online gathering of Apple user group leaders was held at 5:00pm CDST, on May 17, 2021, via Zoom. We had 30 participants who joined for the topic of “Sharing Between Groups”. The 63-minute video can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/CG5z7WTR9kY (unlisted on YouTube).
Your members may enjoy Today at Apple this week for live virtual sessions presented in American Sign Language and VoiceOver. Better yet, there are great short Apple Support videos walking users through the use of Live Listen and How to navigate iPad Pro with gestures.
Check them out:
How to Navigate iPad Pro with Gestures
Many groups changed their meeting location, day, or format in 2020-2921. As you might expect, the pandemic factored into meeting decisions, with some groups moving fully online due to loss of a regular meeting space, civic responsibilities, or need to socially isolate. Some groups have been meeting remotely for years, while others used the past year to master Zoom, FaceTime, and various remote streaming options.
A friend from the Tucson group wrote recently about how some groups may decide to stay online permanently. In fact, his group is currently seeing almost as many attendees for their online meetings as they saw when meeting in person.
We would appreciate your input in this very brief survey. Next month’s Bulletin will have the results.
Meeting Formats Survey – Apple User Groups 2021
(Thanks to Curt B. for this discussion – a lot of folk in the community are making plans and it will be interesting to hear their guidance.)
AWUGU: Everything Zoom
By Tom Piper
This Apple World User Group University online gathering of Apple user group leaders was held at 5:00pm CDST, on April 19, 2021, via Zoom. We had 22 participants who joined for the topic of “Everything Zoom” (see attached PDF images and attendance list). The 62-minute video can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/KlmFvfvbxF0 (unlisted on YouTube).
This session opened with my welcome, plus a quick overview of 36 Zoom apps that are currently available. Other Apple User Group Advisory Board (AUGAB) members were not available for this call.
The format for this meeting was an open discussion with many participants sharing their perspectives and suggestions about Zoom including Nicholas Pyers of AppleUser.org (Australia), Mike Kwasniak of Suffolk MUG (UK), Steve Welsh of Oregon MacPioneers Users, Chita Hunter of Naples MacFriends User Group, David Ginsberg of Suburban Chicago Users Group, Webb Sussma of Eugene Macintosh Users Group, Carol Fortlage of The Villages Apple User Group, Joan Newman of SouthWest Florida Apple Computer Knowledge Society, Dale Stephan of Mac-in-Awe Apple Users Group, George Rubin of Naples MacFriends User Group and others.
Tuesday’s Spring Loaded April 2021 Event brought amazing new products and one-of-a-kind features. Whether your members will want to know more about AppleTV 4k’s calibration system on iPhone (wow!), the cool Center Stage technology in the new M1 iPad Pros, the impossibly thin and high performing new iMacs, or more, ASW and Apple Support’s YouTube Channel have you covered.
ASW offers a wealth of resources about Tuesday’s announcements – here are just a few:
Better yet, if your members have not seen the keynote, Introducing the new iMac | Apple, or Mission Implausible | M1 chip | iPad Pro | Apple, you can watch it on Apple’s YouTube channel. (more…)
By Rick Ortiz
Apple users have for the most part been protected from many of the viruses and malware issues experienced on the PC. But with the popularity of Apple products over the past decade, those wanting to take advantage and compromise your computer use experience has grown. Most recently, applications, search engine hijacks and web browser plug-ins are the culprits of what many Mac users think are “viruses.” This has become a popular discussion topic at user group meetings. So to help user groups, we are providing group leaders with a meeting guide and how you can address and discuss this issue at your meetings. Click on read more below to continue.
I. Overview (more…)
Free Lessons for Apple User Groups from Dan’s Tutorials
