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"Converting Your Analog Music (vinyl records and tape cassette recordings) to Digital CDs and DVDs”
Our general meeting presentation on Monday, April 19 covered the topic "Converting Your Analog Music (vinyl records and tape cassette recordings) to Digital CDs and DVDs” by Gary Caldwell.
Gary covered how to use a free software program named Audacity 1.2.6. This program can also improve the quality of the old recordings. Audacity is a freeware classic that has been used and improved by audio practitioners for years.
If you would like to download the PowerPoint slideshow click here: Audacity Presentation.ppt
If you would like to download the handout click here: Digital Sound Pass-Out.pdf
The Magic of Mail Merge
The October 19th, 2009 General Meeting presented The Magic of Mail Merge which covered preparing personally addressed letters to be sent to a group of people and labels for addressing the envelopes used to mail the letters. The process was demonstrated using Open Office, Microsoft Word 2007, Word 2003 and Works. A black and white version of the slides is available by clicking: Mail Merge.pdf . For the outline view of the presentation, go to: Mail Merge Outline.pdf . Both documents contain links (underlined) to direct your browser to the named internet web page and give step by step directions.
The Wonderful World of Google
The club meeting on April 20, 2009 featured a presentation by George McKinney demonstrating many of the features and programs available at Google.com . Google has expanded to include a vast reservoir of important information and techniques. The handout is available by clicking on: Google: A Quick Guide 2009.pdf and the PowerPoint slides used are available, four to a page by clicking on: Google 2009 Presentation.pptx. It's worth making some extra effort to obtain skill in using Google.
Skype for Free or Economical Communications
Skype was the main item on the program for November 17, 2008. Skype provides computer to computer communications, both voice and video, for free. A small web camera and microphone (usually one unit) that connects to the computer via USB, are required. Calls can also be made, computer to land line or wireless phone anywhere in the world at modest cost. In the demonstration, video calls were made to Iceland and Alaska. Details and a download are available at: Skype.com.
A copy of the presentation slides is at: Oakmont
PC Users Group Skype New.pdf .
The least expensive camera and mike combination Jack Frantz was able to find was for $13.99 with free shipping. Go to:http://3btech.net/lawe22wmi64r.html. The specifications read OK but I have not tested it. I have purchased from this company and was entirely satisfied.
CrossLoop to Make Getting Help Easier
At the November 17, 2008 General Meeting a handy little program to permit a helper to access the computer of a person requesting help, from a remote location, was demonstrated. The program was written up in The Wall Street Journal in both the print and online editions. A video describing use and obtaining a download are available at: CrossLoop.com . The program can be used by Club Volunteer Helpers to get a look at the problem and possibly effect a solution without having to go to the home of the person needing help. The person being helped can monitor and help in the solution.
BullZip PDF Printer
When we transmit a document, the recipient is required to have a program which will open the document and the font/s used, if the document is to look the same as the original. This can be severely limiting for something like a party invitation done in a flowing script like font. The answer is to use the PDF - Portable Document Format - originally pioneered by Adobe. Most computers have Adobe Acrobat Reader.
To make a PDF document to be read by you or others, you need a
PDF generator. The Adobe program to do this costs $300 and more.
However, there are many freeware programs to generate PDFs which
are quite adequate for home or small business. One of the best
of the freeware group is the BullZip PDF Printer. It installs
a virtual printer alongside of your regular printer/s and PDFs
are generated by printing the document using the PDF printer.
Step by step instructions and the download link are given in: Bull Zip PDF Printer Web.pdf. Further information about the program is also provided.
Internet Explorer 7
Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) is a free download from Microsoft for Windows XP. At our last “Talk Session” the installation of IE7 was discussed. It was noted that in IE7 the menu bar (the top line of text in IE6 which displays: File, Edit, View, Favorites etc.) is no longer present in IE7. It was pointed out, subsequent to the meeting, by our Vice President Gordon Ramsey, that while this is true it is quite possible to bring the menu back. All one needs to do is go over the to the right hand portion of the taskbar and click on Tools. The drop down menu for Tools includes an item for Menu bar. Clicking this brings back the good old menu bar.
Google Pack - An Astounding Group of Free Programs
Google Pack offers an array of programs. They are available for download at http://pack.google.com
Clicking on this site gives a survey of any of the Google Pack programs already installed and permits selection of any additional programs desired. The download includes Google Updater which installs the selected items and provides future updates.
To learn more about the individual programs, click http://pack.google.com/intl/en/learn_more_frameset.html In the left column you can select the program of interest. After selection, the right frame gives several options including a product tour. After finishing one to your satisfaction, you can go to another through some sixteen separate programs. Some are Google’s own while others are third party programs. They are always free – no trial versions or spyware.
The ones of most interest to your author are:
Picasa |
Spyware Doctor Starter Edition |
Google Earth |
Skype |
Firefox with Google Toolbar |
Star Office 8 |
Star Office is the star of the lineup. It is sold by Sun Microsystems as a competitor to Microsoft Office and sells for $70.00. The difference between the Google Free version and the direct sale item is telephone support.
I have tried out Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents in both directions, saving Star Office documents in Microsoft format and opening them in the corresponding Microsoft program and vice versa, and did not detect any difference. If your version of Office is old or you do not have Microsoft Office, Star Office is highly recommended.
Windows Movie Maker
The General Meeting program for January demonstrated how to make a movie using Windows Movie Maker (WMM). A step by step procedure for performing the steps demonstrated and some additional material is available for download by clicking WMM Course.pdf . Download to your desktop and the document will open using Adobe Reader.