TWO Events in May
Affinity
Creative Suite
for all levels
~ A Virtual Meeting ~
Affinity Designer-for creating concept art, print projects, logos, icons, UI designs, mock-ups and more (alternative app to Illustrator).
Affinity Photo-fastest, smoothest and most precise image editing software around, this essential app will revolutionize the way you work (alternative app to Photoshop).
Affinity Publisher-this next-generation publishing app gives you the power to combine your images, graphics and text to make beautiful layouts ready for publication (alternative app to InDesign), chosen by Apple as Mac App of the Year.
Avid iPhonographer and MacTechnics Secretary Keith McConnelly shows us some exciting, new workflows and techniques for creating your next creative masterpiece.
Mac questions of any kind are always welcome.
Saturday, May 15th, 2021
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
~ A Virtual Meeting ~
Sunday May 23rd, 2021
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
[details will be sent in separate email]
for meeting URL.
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Attend these Zoom events in the safety and comfort of
your own home.
Join the meeting using your desktop, laptop, iPhone or iPad.
An invitation and brief instructions about how to participate will be sent to those on our mailing list.
Be sure we have your contact information.
~~~~~~~~~~
AS ALWAYS:
Members, potential members and friends are welcome.
Come prepared to have some fun.
It should be interesting!
Bring your questions, ideas and experiences -
they are always welcome.
~~~~~~~~~~
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Topics for 2021:
Jan 16 - Open Mic, Q & A Troubleshooting - Zoom
Feb 20 - Demo Fair - Zoom
Feb 28 - Learning Session with Chris and Kevin - Pages - Zoom
March 20 - Luminar AI - Zoom
March 28 - Learning Session with Chris and Kevin - Numbers - Zoom
April 17 - Apple Business Model, Expanded Demos from Feb - Zoom
April 25 - Learning Session with Chris and Kevin - Keynote - Zoom
May 15 - Affinity Creative Suite - Zoom
May 23 - Learning Session with Chris and Kevin - Photos - Zoom
June 19 - Apple Pay; Apple Ecosystem - Zoom
July 17 - to be announced
iCloud
MacOS
iOS
Zoom
and more
What we've done in 2020:
Jan 18 Learn About Your Holiday Gifts - NEW Center - Cancelled
Feb 15 Demo Fair - NEW Center
March 21 Apple Showcase - AADL Westgate - Cancelled
April 25 WiFi and Mesh Networks - Zoom
May 16 Online Meeting Tools - Zoom
June 20 Online Meeting Tools-Part 2 - Zoom
July 18 Apple WWD Conference Review - Zoom
Aug 15 WordPress Websites 2.0 - Zoom
Sept 19 Photo Editing Software - Zoom
Oct 17 Apple Showcase - Zoom
Nov 21 Digital Video; Q & A Session - Zoom
Dec 19 Holiday Party - Zoom
What we've done in 2019:
Jan 19 Potpourri Apps & Fun Tips - AADL Westgate
Feb 16 Apple Showcase - NEW Center
March 16 Demo Fair - NEW Center
April 20 Privacy, Safe Surfing, Blocking Ads - NEW Center
May 18 Online Safety - Guest speaker - NEW Center
June 15 (Re)Acquaint Yourself with Preview - NEW Center
July 20 Build Your Own Website with WordPress - NEW Center
Aug 17 Cricut Maker and Mac - Guest Speaker - NEW Center
Sept 21 Virtual Private Networks - NEW Center
Oct 19 Apple Showcase - NEW Center
Nov 16 Macintosh Apple Potpourri - NEW Center
Dec 14 Holiday Party - NEW Center
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Another useful tip from our MacCoach...
How can you spot a tech support scam | FTC Consumer Information!
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/09/how-can-you-spot-tech-support-scam
... Nicholas
The MacTechnics Story
MacTechnics is an Ann Arbor Apple Computer Users Group. It is one of the largest & oldest Apple User Groups in Michigan and is comprised of all types of Apple product users from newbie novices to IT professionals. Formed in the Fall of 1984, MacTechnic’s mission is to expand computer literacy in an interesting, friendly, nonjudgemental, and entertaining way. MacTechnics accomplishes this by hosting monthly meetings with member directed presentations, member dialogue/Q&A, free technical support (software & hardware), and occasional workshops.
MacTechnics normally meets the 3rd Saturday of each month at the NEW Center Building, 1100 North Main Street, Ann Arbor. There is ample parking just outside the building. (All meetings are now held as Zoom meetings as the building is presently closed due to pandemic.)
Directions to our meeting locations can be found by using the Google map provided on the MacTechnics Home page. www.mactechnics.org
Registration begins at about 9:00 AM ; Special Interest Groups (SIGs) begin shortly thereafter, running through 10:30 AM. The Main Meeting presentation normally begins at about 11:00 AM, and may run through 1:00 PM.
It is advisable to check the website each month, prior to the meeting, as there are occasional changes to the meeting time or place.
Attendance is flexible and attendees are welcome to attend all or any part of the meeting.
All meetings are open to the public and anyone may attend meetings without joining, but benefits listed below are available to members only.
Membership Benefits
- Our website, www.mactechnics.org, with news, events and conferences of interest to members of the Apple community. (Our website is in the process of being redesigned – watch for exciting design changes and even more interesting information to become available in the future.)
- Special Interest Groups, available to all members, meet from 9:30 - 11:00 AM the day of the main meeting.
- Retail books offered at discounts due to user group purchasing.
- User Group discounts on Software and Hardware.
- Participation in raffles, sharing information, knowledge and experiences with other MacTechnics Members.
Membership Type
- New & Renewal Membership (1 year - $50)
- Student Membership (1 year - $25 with copy of current student ID card)
- Family Membership UPGRADE (1 year - $15.00 extra card with Regular or Student Membership)
If you're a MacTechnics member, and haven't registered for the Members Only area yet, click here and register. Your registration will be approved within 24 hours. :-)
MacTechnics is inviting you to an online Zoom meeting 11am - 1:00pm Saturday 03/20/2021.
Join MacTechnics March 20th Zoom Meeting using link below:
https://msu.zoom.us/j/2066563978?pwd=NXhhMy9JQVAyS3VGUExmMzNxK2Fvdz09
Meeting ID: 206 656 3978
Passcode: mactechnic
Building Updates and COVID-19
We are continuing to monitor COVID-19 updates from the state and the county. Conference rooms open for meetings following safety protocols and capacity restrictions (max. 15 people in North-South rooms). Masks required at all times in the building. Social distancing observed as much as possible. We thank you all for your collaboration to ensure we maintain a safe and healthy environment.
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Coming Up
~~~~~~~~~
Two Topics in June
Apple Pay
and
Apple Ecosystem
"What can you do with Apple Pay?" Apple Pay is a mobile payment and digital wallet service by Apple Inc. that allows users to make payments in person, in iOS apps, and on the web using Safari. It is supported on the iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac. It works with any merchant that accepts contactless payments. Nicholas de Paul, the Ann Arbor community's MacCoach, leads group exploration of our questions.
"Apple Ecosystem" by Tony Crawford, TVAUG (The Villages Apple User Group) advisory board and instructor. Together we'll view and discuss recording.
Mac questions of any kind are always welcome.
Helpful reference links distributed at zoom session.
June 19th - 11am to 1pm
Video Conference
All Meetings and events take place
on Zoom for the rest of this year.
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MacTechnics News
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Our website is being redesigned.
A soft launch will happen in about a week.
~~~~~~~
Security Updates
Watch this space for information
about cybersecurity and
how to keep your information safe.
~~~
November 2019
Thank you, Kathy, for this article.
Link to article:
1. “Avoiding Tech Support Scams” July 16, 2018
Here is the Federal Trade Commission's article on dealing with fraudulent tech repair scams. This may be of interest since a member brought this up at a recent meeting. Link to the article:
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/07/avoiding-tech-support-scams
~~~
2. “Warn Your Friends Aboout Tech Support Scam:” July 27, 2918
Another nice, short article about dealing with tech support scams.
Link to the article:
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/07/warn-your-friends-about-tech-support-scams
~~~
3. Try to Stop Scam Phone Calls
At the July 21st meeting of MacTechnics, there was discussion about the frustration of trying to stop scam phone calls. It’s areal eye-opener about how the phone scam industry works! There are two free, fun podcasts about fighting back as a "victim" of a phone scammer - select both Episode #102 Long Distance Part I, and Episode #103 Long Distance Part II.
How to Listen:
*Subscribe (it’s free!) in your favorite podcast app, (such as iTunes Podcasts)
*Or, go to the following website:
https://www.gimletmedia.com/reply-all/long-distance#episode-playerhttps://www.gimletmedia.com/reply-all/long-distance#episode-player
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What is iPhoneography?
New Member Gallery
MacTechnics Holiday Party Potluck 2015
MacTechnics Christmas Holiday Party Potluck 2016
