Dorchester — Mar 10th 2009

There was a good attendance at this meeting - 20 people, including two new members, so the meeting started with mutual introductions. John then introduced the first speaker - himself, and proceeded to demonstrate the capabilities of Photoshop Elements 6, which does much of what the Adobe Photoshop can do, but in a more user friendly way, and at a fraction of the price. We saw how photographs and graphics can be manipulated and edited, and how the programme's built-in library of formats can be used to produce photo montages, with a very flexible layout, and also postcards.

Tom then explained about the problem of low broadband speed, and how this can be measured using a tool provided by thinkbroadband.com (formerly ADSLguide.org.uk). One can then compare the speeds which different providers achieve. and contribute to a national database which collects and publishes the data. During the discussion, mention was made of the BT iPlate device which some people have found to be able to improve domestic broadband speeds using phone sockets other than the Master socket, by cutting out interference.

In the Q&A session. problems were discussed relating to USB hubs, changing photo names in iPhoto, and Mick explained how he had been able to repair an aged LaserWriter where the quality of the printed image had deteriorated, by purchasing and downloading a repair manual on the Web.

He then gave the concluding presentation, on how to manage e-mail using Apple's Mail programme, with some assistance from AppleScript. The mail was sorted into different folders according to sender, and his replies could also be sorted into the same folders, and differentiated by using a different font colour to designate sent mail.

SR

Comments

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Steve Ryder said…

Mick used Andreas Aamman's Apple Scripts - see http://homepage.mac.com/aamann/

Also, just to correct - it was Michael who had the LaserWriter comment, and he used the site http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/kits/Apple/K63
He comments "As you will see the site addresses other printer problems too. I found the
instructions very clear and easily followed - but took the precaution of
lining up envelopes (11 in all) to store the screws from each component
part, so that I didn't muddle them. And a magnetised screwdriver is a must!"
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