Notes from 13-Sep-2015 SIG-Computing Meeting

Thank you for the great discussion today! Notes from the meeting are below:

Windows 7/8.1/10 – possible excess telemetry, automatic downloads of Windows 10 even without accepting a reservation​

Mac OS X “El Capitan” out September 30, needed to close security hole​

Follow-up on Drones – check out Lily at https://www.lily.camera/

APCUG VTC16 presentation handouts at http://apcug2.org/apcug-2015-summer-virtual-tech-conference-vtc16/​

Linux Mint 17.2 released since last meeting. Stability/cleanup release. See http://www.linuxmint.com/​

As weather changes, some of us are winterizing summer cottages. Good article on water sensors at: http://www.howtogeek.com/227980/how-to-protect-your-home-from-water-damage-with-smart-home-sensors/

Please keep the discussion going! semcoug@yahoogroups.com will reach all of us!

Best,

Jeff

September 13, 2015 – SIG-Computing: Using Your Smartphone for Everything, SIG-Linux: Introduction to Scribus

smartphone

SIG-Computing
Topic: Using Your Smartphone for Everything:

Bill James, VP of Operations, Computer Club of Oklahoma City & APCUG Advisor, Region 8, will present via webinar some uses of smartphones.

The smartphone is no longer just a portable computer in your pocket. It has become the remote control for your life. Want to flip off the living room lights, unlock your front door or get a reading of your blood pressure? All of this can be done through mobile apps that work with accessories embedded with sensors or an Internet connection.

For several years, technology companies have promised the dream of the connected home, the connected body and the connected car. Those connections have proved illusory. But in the last year app-powered accessories have provided the mechanism to actually make the connections. That is partly because smartphones have become the device people never put down. But it is also because wireless sensors have become smaller, cheaper and ubiquitous.

This presentation will look at some of the Apps that are available on smartphones that allow you to work, play and really use your smartphone for virtually everything. Although the Android phone will be the primary instrument used in this presentation, the concepts can be applied to both Apple and Android products.

Bill James, VP of Operations, Computer Club of Oklahoma City & APCUG Advisor, Region 8, first became involved in a PC User’s Group in 1992 when he joined the Oklahoma PC User’s Group now known as the Computer Club of Oklahoma City (CCOKC) to learn more about the computer he purchased. He has been a member of the clubs’ Board of Directors since 1998. Bill was elected President of the CCOKC in 2000 and served two terms. He is currently on the club’s Board of Directors, serves as VP of Operations and newsletter editor, and frequently gives presentations on new software to his club. Bill attended his first APCUG Fall Conference in 2003. He is a past APCUG Region 6 Advisor (KY, IL, IN, MI) and Treasurer and served on the APCUG Board of Directors from 2006 to 2009. Bill currently is serving as the APCUG Region 8 Advisor (AR, KS, LA, MO, OK, TX). If Bill isn’t working with technology, you’ll find him driving his Mustang; he is the Vice President and Parade Coordinator for the Oklahoma Mustang Club. He is also an active member of Toastmasters International Club #627. Bill is also a current member of the Board of Directors for North Care Center, a private non-profit behavioral and social services facility located in Oklahoma City. He retired from the Federal Aviation Administration as a Supply Systems Analyst for the FAA Logistics Center in Oklahoma City, OK in 2007 where he worked for 38 years.

Also: Questions and Answers.
When: Sunday, September 13, 2015 at 1:30 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

scribus_splash

SIG-Linux
Topic: Introduction to Scribus:

SIG-Linux Chairman Brian Brodsky will begin, what will probably become, an ongoing set of presentations of Scribus. Scribus is an open source and freely distributed desktop publishing program. It is available in many platforms including Linux, FreeBSD, PC-BSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Solaris, OpenIndiana, Debian GNU/Hurd, Mac OS X, OS/2 Warp 4, eComStation, Haiku and Windows. All are welcome.

When: Sunday, September 13, 2015 at 4:00 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

Free Wi-Fi available.

September 19, 2015 – SIG-Programming: Python

snake-312561_1280

Topic: Python:

We are learning Python using the book “Learning Python” by Mark Lutz. It is an O’Reilly book http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920028154.do, but can also be purchased at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Python-5th-Mark-Lutz/dp/1449355730/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416007152&sr=1-1&pebp=11416007164251.

We are to read Chapter 12, “if Tests and Syntax Rules” for the next meeting. If you have any questions contact Richard Jackson (see below). All are welcome to come.

Where: Richard Jackson’s home. Call Richard Jackson at 248-546-3694 for directions.

When: Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 2:00 P.M.

August 15, 2015 – SIG-Programming: Python

snake-312561_1280

Topic: Python:

We are learning Python using the book “Learning Python” by Mark Lutz. It is an O’Reilly book O’Reilly: _Learning Python_, but can also be purchased at Amazon: _Learning Python_.
We are to read Chapter 11, “Assignments, Expressions, and Prints” for the next meeting. If you have any questions contact Richard Jackson (see below). All are welcome to come.

Where: Richard Jackson’s home. Call Richard Jackson at 248-546-3694 for directions.

When: Saturday, August 15, 2015 at 2:00 P.M.

August 9, 2015 – SIG-Computing: Microsoft Windows 10, SIG-Linux: Bombono DVD

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SIG-Computing
Topic: Microsoft Windows 10:

SIG-Computing Chairman Jeff Marraccini will discuss Microsoft’s Windows 10 and demonstrate the Windows 10 release as of our meeting date. Windows 10 will be available for download on or shortly after July 29, 2015. SEMCO Members and guests will have an opportunity to see Windows 10 in action and to discuss the pre-upgrade backup process, when, and how to upgrade. We will also discuss when it is best to just backup files and start over, particularly if you would like to jump from a hard drive to a solid state disk (SSD) at the time of the upgrade.

Microsoft is providing the Windows 10 upgrade for free for most users for the first year, as long as you have a valid Windows 7 or higher license!

Jeff has been with Altair Engineering for 18 years in various IT roles. He currently manages a world-wide team taking care of computing, network, and related services for 2,300 staff across more than 40 sites. His team manages many computing clusters based on Linux distributions and Windows Server along with several storage back-ends. Jeff resides in Troy, Michigan and his LinkedIn site is http://jeffmarraccini.com/.

Also: Questions and Answers.
When: Sunday, August 9, 2015 at 1:30 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

Logo

SIG-Linux
Topic: Bombono DVD:

SIG-Linux Chairman Brian Brodsky will lead a presentation on Bombono DVD. Bombono DVD is a free open-source DVD authoring program. It is easy to use and has a nice clean GUI (Gtk). All are welcome.

When: Sunday, August 9, 2015 at 4:00 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

Free Wi-Fi available.

July 18, 2015 – SIG-Programming: Python

snake-312561_1280

Topic: Python:

We are learning Python using the book “Learning Python” by Mark Lutz. It is an O’Reilly book _Learning Python_, but can also be purchased at Amazon Amazon: _Learning Python_.

We are to read Chapter 10, “Introducing Python Statements” for the next meeting. If you have any questions contact Richard Jackson (see below). All are welcome to come.

Where: Richard Jackson’s home. Call Richard Jackson at 248-546-3694 for directions.

When: Saturday, July 18, 2015 at 2:00 P.M.

July 12, 2015 – Drones, SIG-Linux: Kdenlive

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Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

SIG-Computing
Topic: Drones

Harry C. Arnold will speak on drones and the technology surrounding them, how much do they cost, what you can do with them, are they legal, and more.

Harry Arnold is the Detroit Drone User Group MeetUp group Organizer. He is the owner of Detroit Drone a company that offers affordable aerial photography. The company web site is http://www.detroitdrone.com.

Also: Questions and Answers.
When: Sunday, July 12, 2015 at 1:30 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

SIG-Linux
Topic: Kdenlive:

SIG-Linux Chairman Brian Brodsky will lead a presentation on Kdenlive. Kdenlive is a free and open-source video editor for GNU/Linux and FreeBSD. All are welcome.

When: Sunday, July 12, 2015 at 4:00 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

Free Wi-Fi available.

June 20, 2015 – SIG-Programming: Python

Topic: Python:

We are learning Python using the book “Learning Python” by Mark Lutz. It is an O’Reilly book http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920028154.do, but can also be purchased at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Python-5th-Mark-Lutz/dp/1449355730/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416007152&sr=1-1&pebp=11416007164251.

We are to read Chapter 9., “Tuples, Files, and Everything Else” for the next meeting. If you have any questions contact Richard Jackson (see below). All are welcome to come.

Where: Richard Jackson’s home. Call Richard Jackson at 248-546-3694 for directions.

When: Saturday, June 20, 2015 at 2:00 P.M.

June 14, 2015 – Inkscape and Xara Designer Pro X10, SIG-Linux: What’s New in Kubuntu 15.04

Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

SIG-Computing
Topic: Inkscape and Xara Designer Pro X10

SEMCO Member Leo Madejczyk will demonstrate and compare two vector graphic programs, Inkscape and Xara Designer Pro X10. The web site for Designer Pro X10 says “In one completely integrated and consistent interface it provides all the tools for a range of graphic design tasks that would normally require three or more separate ‘suite’ programs: illustration, photo editing, advanced page layout, web graphics, websites and more.” Inkscape on the other hand is a free, open-source vector graphics editor similar to Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, Freehand, or Xara X.

Also: Questions and Answers.
When: Sunday, June 14, 2015 at 1:30 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

SIG-Linux
Topic: What’s New in Kubuntu 15.04:

SIG-Linux Chairman Brian Brodsky will demonstrate some of the new features in Kubuntu 15.04. The most notable change is that it now uses the Plasma 5 desktop. All are welcome.

When: Sunday, June 14, 2015 at 4:00 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

Free Wi-Fi available.