LAPUG
Once again, Apple has chosen the morning after our monthly meeting to make new product announcements. So, we won't be able to review the presentation in detail but we can speculate on what will be coming out based on reports in the Apple industry. 

So come on by and we'll let you know what YOU will NEED to know about the new software and how it will affect your devices. Note that macOS Catalina (soon to be released) will require all of your apps to be current, 64-bit versions so that might affect you since some of your older applications may not work after the upgrade. Come on by and we'll let you know how to find out in advance so you don't have any surprises after you upgrade.
 
And, of course, we'll go over some other current events in the macOS world as well as review some cool Mac & iOS apps and leave some time for Q&A.
Direct download: LAPUG_20190909.mp3
Category:User Group Meeting -- posted at: 9:14am PDT

There were so many great topics to talk about last month from Ben's list that we didn't get a chance to cover all of them. We'll continue with a flood of info based on questions LAPUG members have submitted and we'll also cover some of the latest info going on in the Apple world. Of course, come prepared with new topics you would like us to discuss and we'll fit those in, too! macOS Catalina, iOS 13, iPadOS 13, watch OS 6 and tvOS 13 are just around the corner as we have more info that you'll need to know before upgrading!

And, of course, we'll go over some other current events in the macOS world as well as review some cool Mac & iOS apps and leave some time for Q&A.

Direct download: LAPUG_Monthly_Meeting_August_2019.mp3
Category:User Group Meeting -- posted at: 12:42pm PDT

Our content this month is drawn from your questions and requests. We will look at:
 
1. Mail application choices for macOS and iOS

2. Death of Bento, other options

3. Photo organization for iOS

4. Maintenance Tools on macOS
Malwarebytes
TechTool
Intego Net Barrier & Virus Barrier
Disk Warrior
EtreCheck
Little Snitch
Apple Disk Utility

5. Digital payment systems (such as Venmo, CashApp, AppleCash, ApplePay and the new Apple credit card) and cryptocurrencies. There are now dozens (perhaps even hundreds) of them, and even the social media companies (such as Facebook) are developing their own.

6. AppleTV and its various apps. (We talk a lot about iOS and OS X apps, but rarely about TV apps. Here’s a list: https://www.imore.com/best-apple-tv-apps

7. Apple’s recently announced tvOS

8. AirPods vs Powerbeat Pros

9. How to choose the right external display for you and your needs
 
And, of course, we'll leave some time for Q&A.

 

Direct download: LAPUG_Monthly_Meeting_July_2019.mp3
Category:User Group Meeting -- posted at: 12:30pm PDT

Do you know about some of the hidden and less obvious features in macOS?  Some features have been around for years and some are relatively newer but, in both cases, there are some powerful gems that aren't talked about that much that can really help you be more productive on your Mac. This month, we'll expose many of these and teach you how to become more of a Mac expert than you ever thought possible. Make sure to take notes on these as there will be many!
 
And, of course, we'll go over some other current events in the macOS world as well as review some cool Mac & iOS apps and leave some time for Q&A.
Direct download: LAPUG_Monthly_Meeting_March_2019.mp3
Category:User Group Meeting -- posted at: 12:43pm PDT

Photography on iOS has completely changed the game in the photo world. The phrase "the best camera is the one you have with you" takes on a completely different meaning when your iPhone's camera is always within arm's reach. Not only will we go over all the ins and outs of using the Camera app, but we'll also review getting images in and out of your iOS devices from other sources (digital cameras, SD cards, web sites, etc.). In addition to all that, we'll also review several other camera applications that go way beyond what Apple provides that allow you tweak your settings (aperture, shutter speed, ISO, filters, etc.) like you would with a more traditional camera.  This will help make your iPhone or iPad a true digital darkroom.

Direct download: LAPUG_Monthly_Meeting_Feb_2019.mp3
Category:User Group Meeting -- posted at: 5:44pm PDT

New iPhones and new Apple Watch! We'll have the run down on all the new stuff. And, to make things better for all of us, macOS Mojave, iOS 12, watchOS 5 and tvOS 12 are all out. We'll have devices that are running all of them and we'll demo it all and review all the new features.  This is one of the big events of the year for LAPUG so you won't want to miss it!
 
And, of course, we'll go over some other current events in the macOS world as well as review some cool Mac & iOS apps and leave some time for Q&A.
Direct download: 01_LAPUG_Monthly_Meeting_October_2018.mp3
Category:User Group Meeting -- posted at: 8:21am PDT

The new MacBook Pros have been released! If you’ve been following the saga involving Intel’s latest processors, Coffee Lake, you’ll know that Apple hasn’t had any mobile products using these CPUs — until now! The cool thing is not only are they faster but Apple has included a quad-core processor (i7) for 13” MacBook Pro models and, for the first time, a six-core processor (i9) for 15” models. Along with these upgrades, Apple has doubled the maximum storage available to 2 TB in the 13” and 4 TB (!) in the 15”.  Of course, you’ll pay for the privilege and an i9 with 4 TB in a 15” model will set you back nearly $7,000!!   We’ll have both 13” and 15” models on had to talk about and demo. We’ll also talk about some Thunderbolt 3 accessories that are very cool.

We suspect that many of you still haven’t gotten on the new USB-C bus (pun intended) and there’s a lot to talk about when it comes to understanding the differences between the USB-A, B, C standards as well as the USB 1, 2, 3 and 3.1 standards — not to mention mini USB and micro USB. We’ll clear up all that confusion for you.

Direct download: LAPUG_Monthly_Meeting_20180813__2.mp3
Category:User Group Meeting -- posted at: 4:52pm PDT

This month, we'll review some iOS apps you know are there but you may not use to their fullest -- or at all. We'll review and go in-depth into Wallet, Files, Maps, Messages, News, Podcasts, Voice Memos, Compass, and more. Of course, there are some third-party apps that duplicate many of these features and we'll talk about some of them, too. 
 
Also, you may have heard that Apple has moved several features from macOS Server into the macOS itself for all users to take advantage of. We'll review those features and you'll see what you can enable with just a few clicks to make your home computers and network so much more efficient and secure.
 
And, of course, we'll go over some other current events in the macOS world as well as review some cool Mac & iOS apps and leave some time for Q&A.
Direct download: LAPUG_Monthly_Meeting_July_2018.mp3
Category:User Group Meeting -- posted at: 7:15am PDT

The Engineers in Cupertino have been busy and Developers are now busy writing and rewriting apps to take advantage of the new features announced in macOS 14 Mojave, iOS 12, watchOS 5 and tvOS 12.
 
We will discuss what was announced, perhaps take a look at some early beta features just generally roll around in all the new sweet code! Bring your questions and ideas and we’ll discuss.
Direct download: LAPUG_Monthly_Meeting_June_2018.mp3
Category:User Group Meeting -- posted at: 1:20pm PDT

The days of packing toiletries and clothing and being on your way are gone. Today’s travel brings concerns for security and convenience that never existed before, including the ever-present need for power! How do you prepare, what do you have to bring with you and how can we best advise clients with simple preparations and tools that ease the burden of carrying everything you absolutely need to have with you? A recent discussion with Ben, Pat, Garry and Phil yielded some concrete recommendations and tools that make travel a little more secure and comfortable. Come share yours!
 
And, of course, we'll go over some other current events in the macOS world as well as review some cool Mac & iOS apps and leave some time for Q&A.
Direct download: LAPUG_Monthly_Meeting_May_2018.mp3
Category:User Group Meeting -- posted at: 1:58pm PDT