Mike Perlman will demonstrate how you can network your iPhone, iPad and computer to the new MacMini Server.  It’s touted by Apple as inexpensive and easy as servers go, and it’s made to work with mobile devices. Use the MacMini Server to link to multiple cloud services for a small business or a family network.     http://www.apple.com/macmini/server/

May 27, 2010 Thursday 6  pm – 7:30 pm ING Direct Cafe Ali’i Room.  Directions are at hmaus.org/INGDirectCafe

Free, everyone welcome.

This is a shotgun presentation in which Gregg Kamei and Joan Matsukawa will demonstrate a number of possibilities for later exploration.   See how you can

• organize your photos in iPhoto events and albums, geotag and keyword them for easy retrieval, and use a free web photo service such as Google’s Picasa or HP’s Tabblo and Smilebox e-cards.
• edit them in iPhoto and in Picnik, a free web photo editing service, then
• share them in slide shows, galleries, albums and DVDs.

Then see how you can take movies with your iPhone and…

• send them to yourself or transfer them from your phone or digital camera by cable to your computer and iMovie
• organize clips in a project and
• edit the clips with titles, effects and music, then finally
• share the movies in  a MobileMe gallery, your iTunes library or to YouTube!

This is a LOT in one night but we intend to have fun with it.  Join us!  Handouts are at drop.io/hmaus_maclearn for download (no password needed).

Free and everyone welcome.

ING Direct Cafe is at 1958 Kalakaua Avenue. Ali’i Conference Room 2nd floor

Parking is in the rear or one block mauka on Niu Street. Come early and grab a bite to eat and drink and relax upstairs before we start.

Review by Frank Petrie

Product: Zagat ToGo
Author: Handmark, Inc. <mobile.zagat.com/iphone.htm>
Requirements: iPhone?, iPod Touch
App Price: $9.99
Test Rig: iPhone 3Gs

Food, food, glorious food. From the finest dining experience to the most satisfying of burgers, we all crave one type or another. And when that craving hits – where to go? What type? Chinese, Italian, Mediterranean? I don’t want to spend time debating the issue – I WANT TO EAT! How about just the local pub? I don’t care – I JUST WANT TO EAT!

“The most trusted guide to restaurants comes to the iPhone and WiFi iPod Touch with over 45 Guides of Restaurant Reviews and Ratings for *less than the price of 1 guide!*

Whether a cheap bite or a posh dinner, Zagat has shown the way for 30 years! Our Nightlife, Hotel and Shopping coverage also included where available.”

A getaway weekend all planned in seconds with only your fingertips? Let’s see.

THE JUICE

Zagat is a restaurant, travel and night life review guide started in 1979  by Tim and Nina Zagat as a way to collect and correlate the ratings of restaurants by diners. For their first guide, covering New York City, the Zagats surveyed their friends. Today, Zagats covers over 70 major metropolitan areas, but also has a very good handle on burbs like my South Jersey area.

You can choose from restaurants, nightlife and hotels (plus, occasionally shopping). After your experience at any of the listed establishments, you are asked to review your experience and rate such items as service, decor, promptness, etc. These reviews are then added to others of the establishment to give them an aggregate rating. Plus you can add any additional observations to your experience.

Additional functions are:

• You can use Zagat ToGo offline after syncing via Wi-Fi
• GPS: Find nearby restaurants automatically
• Recommendations: Our digital concierge tells you where to take Dates, Clients, Friends & more
• Advanced Search: Mix and Match by any criteria
• Top Rated Lists: “Best of” in your city like Best Buys, Best Burgers, Most Romantic & more.
• Reservations: Reserve tables instantly
• Sort: Filter by Food, Décor, Service or Cost!
• Email Reviews, Add To Contacts, & Full Photos
• 100% Complete: Every Zagat-Rated restaurant
• 100% Up To Date: New restaurants added M-F

THE PULP

As I had mentioned earlier, I put Zagat ToGo through its paces in my sleepy little hamlet. And I have to say that all of the reviews were spot on! Places were I had bad experiences were brought back to mind after reading of patrons suffering the very same nightmares, or conversely, any pleasantries that I had. I found the various ratings of decor and such to also to be extremely accurate.

I did find a few restaurants that no longer exist, but when you think of the sheer number of establishments that are covered in this app, that’s more than understandable.

THE RIND

Nada.

SUMMARY

If you’re just a couple looking for a good weekend out in a major city or just trying to pick from your local haunts, Zagat ToGo is worth every single penny. Doesn’t even rate a second thought. This is the kind of app that makes the iPhone indispensable.

In fact, it is too good in one way. It is not diet friendly.

RATING : 10 of 10

©2010 Frank Petrie

Review by Frank Petrie

Product: Speedback
Author: Skyworks Interactive, Inc. <www.skyworks.com/iphone/>
Requirements: iPhone, iPod Touch
Price: $0.99 (Limited Time Sale Price)
Test Rig: iPhone 3G/16GB

The Super Bowl has come and gone. I do have baseball beginning — my favorite sport. But what if I crave a little pigskin from time to time?

“Think YOU have what it takes to make first-string? Are you Pro-material? Could you be a Hall of Fame running back? Then suit up and hit the gridiron with SPEEDBACK.”

You know from past reviews how much I like Skyworks products. Will the string stay intact?

THE JUICE

You are the running back. But you have no blockers or front line to punch a hole for you. You have to find daylight by yourself. To accomplish it, you have three tools at your disposal.

First, you can pick from five different directions to run in. Of course, you change direction whenever you choose to avoid being tackled. Second, you can stiff arm your opponent. And finally, and probably the most fun, you can spin out of a tackle.

There are two modes of play, Classic Game and 2 Minute Drill. And you can either keep your scores to yourself or challenge others around the globe.

THE PULP

I have to be honest with you and say that when I launched Speedback for review, I wasn’t all that excited or interested.

But somehow, as with all their other games, Skyworks somehow managed to sink its hooks into me. I also found myself saying, “You can do much better than that!” with each play. And so the addiction began.

THE RIND

Nada.

SUMMARY

In the future, it would be neat if they could set up the game so that you could play against a friend who operates the defensive player. I’ve come to believe the secret in Skyworks’ games is that they lock you into playing against your own scores. You become your own opponent.

And even though this isn’t my favorite game of theirs (still can’t beat Arcade Hoops), I find myself going back to it. At this special price there is no reason that Speedback shouldn’t be in your gaming arsenal.

If I only could combine the spin with a stiff arm, I know that I could be a contender!

RATING : 7 of 10

©2010 Frank Petrie

Let’s look at the iPad features you already have with iPhone: Safari, Mail, Video, Photos, YouTube, iPod, iTunes, App Store, Maps, Notes, Calendar, Contacts, Home Screen, Spotlight Search.  Wow, seems pretty complete already doesn’t it?!

But, let me help you “upgrade” your current device to be just as fancy as the iPad, and all for under $50!

* E-reader Capability:

one of the biggest new features of the iPad is the ability to read books on your device, called “iBook”. Well, “Classics” app (free right now, usually .99 cents) has been around for a while for iPhone/iPod Touch and gives you the same kind of look/feel as the $500 iPad but on your smaller screen. Great app, get it now while it’s on sale!

* Excel, Powerpoint, Word Document Viewing and Editing:

iWorks on the iPad looks great, but costs $9/each and are “coming soon”. “Documents to Go” ($14.99)
– is available in the iTunes app store now, and waiting for you to give it a try. (I personally haven’t used it, so you’re on your own to review it.)

* Large 9.7″ screen:

OK, that’s kind of tricky to fix, but check out this accessory from Amazon — for only $29 you can now view your iPod Touch/iPhone with so much magnification it will be IN YOUR FACE without limiting your multi-touch ability! (Great for Grandma and Grandpa too!)

So you see, for under $50, your “yesterday’s” device is new again!

You may be wondering if allowing your $300 device in the hands of a three-year old is the wisest of moves. And, this I often wonder myself, as I watch my son shaking my iPhone rather violently to get the iGlowStick to light up — a definite fear of seeing your phone sail across the room removes some of the thrills for the parents. However, for the kids, they love it!

Here are some really fun apps for kids that build on an original post I wrote some time back: “Kid-friendly iPhone and iPod Touch“. I added “EV” for “Education Value” (how educational it is) and “PV” for Play Value (how interactive and fun it is). As any parent with active kids will tell you, getting 10 minute breaks that keep your son or daughter entertained, can make a huge difference. It’s wonderful if the app is educational too, but at least it has to have good, clean fun.

Educational:

Tickle Tap Apps have a series of very gentle learning apps for your toddler. CountCaddy ($1.99)
is a cat that helps kids with counting, while Field Flier ($1.99) is more free-form; allowing your child to help the birdy explore his surroundings while learning verbs. Both are well done, calming, and good for younger children (under 4). (Good support from the company also.) EV= high, PV = good

EliasABC and EliasZoo (was free, now $1.99 each) — simple, clean graphic and easy movement to help toddlers learn either ABCs or animal sounds. EV = high, PV = good

FeedMe (free) — Living in Hawaii, you know how important other languages are. Feedme is available in different languages, including Japanese. Interactive and educational, my son really enjoyed playing it with his mom. EV = good, PV = good

Number Fun Time (free) — fun app for kids to learn numbers. “Where is number four?” EV = good, PV = good

iWriteWords (lite/free, $1.99) — very good way to help kids learn how to write and spell words. Colorful, entertaining, and encouraging. Well worth $2 to watch your child learning how to write letters on his own! EV = high, PV = high

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox ($.99) — A funny, happy monkey teaches kids colors, counting, letters and more. My son really likes this one; very interactive and educational, plus he gets “stickers” for completing sections correctly. EV = high, PV = high

Pre-K Safari (lite/free, .99) – kids learn about the animals in the Serengeti while studying ABCs. EV = high, PV = good

Fun:

iGlowStick (free/pro $.99) — this is just a lot of fun, pull the two corners of the stick to break it, then shake it, and watch it glow or animate. Fire, snow, bats, and more are included in the pro version. My son loves showing this one off to others. EV = questionable, PV = high

Cybertoy – Transformers ($1.99) –
for transformer fans — for $2 your child can convert these virtual robots into cars or trucks, have them dance to music, or shoot lasers. EV = none/nada, PV = good

Lego Photo (free) — not sure if this is for kids or geeky parents, but we both like it. Take photos and have them “lego-ized”. EV = low, PV = good

SpongeBob Tickler Lite (free) — poke or stretch him and SpongeBob will make funny sounds. Bit annoying to parents, entertaining for kids. EV = none, PV = high

TalkingCarl (.99) — much like the above SpongeBob — poke and stretch Carl for funny sounds. Plus, he’ll repeat what your child says in a funny voice. EV = none, PV = high

JumbaluZoo (free) — mix and match colorful animal characters. EV = low, PV = good

Having a couple of these on your iPhone or iPod Touch can mean turning “wait time” into “play time”. And, even if you don’t have kids, pulling one of these out for your nephew or niece can mean you might actually be able to finish a sentence with them around.

If you’re interested in learning about other cool iPhone apps, either for kids for adults, let HMAUS know; (members can sign in and add comments, or, just contact us). We could even provide a MacLearn on the iPhone to demo some of these, if interested.

Related posts by author:

• Kid-friendly iPhone and iPod Touch: Tips on setting up your iPhone or iPod Touch for your child
• Zen Apps for iPhone/iPod Touch: Apps to help you keep your cool and release some stress

Marie Albu, a graphics arts student in SF, presents a slew of ways to connect to your computers and mobile devices using MobileMe.  It’s not just for Macs either!  Bring your iPhone, iPod, laptop and your MobileMe login information or download and install a free trial before you come.  She’ll help you get started then show you a bunch of cool things you can do with it!  ING Direct Cafe Orange Interactive room.  10-12 noon. Free! No registration necessary.

Click here for presentation details.

Parking info at  http://www.hmaus.org/meetings-workshops/maclearn/

If you have a MobileMe account please bring your current user name and password and be sure your account is up-to-date.

If you already have MobileMe and have not yet set it up, bring it in its original box with the activation code.

If you do not have MobileMe, you can download and activate a free 60-day trial from the Apple website before the workshop and we will walk you through setting it up.

Marie Albu

If you have an iPhone, iPod Touch, iPhoto, iCal, Addressbook or MS 
Outlook, you will be interested in this talk. If you have none of
the above, you STILL should come to see what’s possible. Special guest Marie Albu, a graphics arts student from San Francisco, will present multiple ways you can connect the many pieces of your life woven into your day. Log an appointment on your Mac, Windows machine, 
iPhone or iPod Touch calendar.  It immediately and magically syncs to the iCal calendars on your home or work Mac, MacBook, and Windows laptop as soon as you turn them on.  The same happens for addresses and contact information. Out in the field and need to check files? You can 
upload them to your iDisk and view it from anywhere with a Mac, 
iPhone, or iPod Touch.

How? Through MobileMe from Apple! Marie will explain how you can do all kinds of things with Mobile Me besides upload picture galleries and web pages, store and share documents. 
And Marie is an HMAUS Board member’s daughter! Need I say more? You must join us!  ING Direct Cafe 1958 Kalakaua Avenue, parking available.  Click for directions.

Have a light lunch and stay for our 12:30 – 2:30 offering on using your camera.  Registration and small fee with priority to members for that one. Stay tuned for more.

A review by Frank Petrie

Product: Goaaal!
Author: Skyworks Interactive, Inc. <www.skyworks.com>
Requirements: iPhone, iPod Touch
Price: $1.99
Test Rig: iPhone 3G/16GB

Once again I’m writing a review of a Skyworks game. But this time it’s not an arcade game. It’s a soccer shoot out.

“In Goaaal!, you’ll use all your flicking kicking skills to score as many shots as you can. In Progressive Mode, every bonus target you hit will earn you a free kick – do well enough and earn badges. In Arcade Mode, shoot five goals in a row and you’ll be ‘on fire’ and every goal will reward you with another kick. Beware: the goalie gets progressively better as you improve!”

I’m addicted to their arcade games. But will I be as drawn in by Goaaal! ??

THE JUICE

As in all of Skyworks’ games, you can put spin on the ball. If you’re good enough (which I am not) I imagine that you can mix up enough shots to keep the goalie on his virtual toes (a band that I played in during the 70s). There’s nothing to do to set up other than entering your name, decide whether or not you want to submit your scores to the global pool and practice.

THE PULP

Yes, the goalie does learn your moves, but very slowly. But there are other ways to score points (bulls-eyes in the back of the net, balls ‘on fire’, etc.) to make up for the goalies slow learning curve.

As always, you can customize the music by selecting from three different tracks.

THE RIND

Nada.

SUMMARY

Skyworks has set the benchmark for arcade games. I’m addicted to them. But for whatever reason, even though this game is every bit as well built and full featured as the other games that I’ve played, I didn’t develop the same addiction.

But then again, that’s just me. Give it a go.

RATING : 8 of 10

©2009 Frank Petrie

In other words, you can write up your ideas from work, edit them in the car, tweak it some on your friend’s browser, and have it complete to print out when you get home! You can tag your ideas, like Yojimbo, to make it easy to organize and find. Evernote will even search within your PHOTOS for text to add as tags!

So, let’s say you want to write a journal of your life and work on it wherever you go. Or, a blog article (yep, this one was an Evernote). Or, you find a cool product on the web — take a screen shot and save it for later. Or, for researchers, it’s perfect for keeping track of those “finds”!

Sounds good so far, right?! Well for FREE, it is good! But for $5/month you can also sync any type of FILE, not just photos, pdfs, and text with the free account. Wow! You could even skip Dropbox if you upgrade!

Evernote is a great way to keep your thoughts in sync: a notepad in the clouds…