NEWSLETTER

Volume 13, Issue 7 September, 2014

President: George Stosur, x6885 Membership: Dorothy Blakeslee x5667 Editor: Jean Young, x5599 Treasurer: William Hook, x6559

Computer Club Website and calendar: www.amvresidents.org/computerclub.html

President’s Message

The New Computer School Year 2014-2015 and the Classes Offered By George Stosur

Did you know that your AMV Computer Club will be celebrating its 25th year of existence in 2015? Or that the JCA SeniorTech Training Center at Rosborough had recently celebrated its 10th anniversary? Or, that the Training Center offers a variety of computer classes on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday mornings with all teaching and coaching done by volunteers?

Eight computer classes are offered, September through December 2014. You can see a good description of each class on page 7 of the JCA brochure which is available in the Smithey Computer Lab at Rosborough. Registration form for the classes is on page 19 of said brochure. For your convenience, the abbreviated table shows the title of the classes, dates, times and fees.

AMV Computer Club

If you just bought a computer or a smart phone (which is just a very small computer), you owe it to yourself to check out the opportunity. You will not find a better location, better price (further discount is offered to Asbury residents) and a better teacher. None of these attributes are exaggerated.

These days, life is downright hard without computers. Most people already use computers for paying bills, purchasing merchandise, buying airline tickets at the best price, getting instant advice on medical problems, watching movies, video conferencing on with children and many, many more. And the truth is that it really is not hard to do all this -- you just have to invest a little time to get friendly with your machine.

The last issue of Village Life (July/August, 2014) carries an interesting article on one of the AMV residents who was introduced to computers after her retirement at 65. Many of you know her. Now 92, Jean Young of the Villas, freely admits that she could not live without a computer. This must read article was written by Jeanne North and was reprinted with permission of Linda Aber, Director of Communications. Hal Gaut took the photo:

OLDER FOLKS ENJOY A COMPUTER TOO

As I turn 92, I reflect on my ongoing interest in the computer. I never used one in my career but when I retired at 65 I thought it might be interesting to look into this new concept. So we bought our first computer—a 20 MB hard

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AMV Computer Club drive Compaq with a DOS system and the sales representative told us we would never need anything more. And we all know what has happened.

We set up the computer in a small room off the bedroom and my husband used it, really never giving me an opportunity to use it very often. He said he would reserve time for me to use it—12 midnight to 6 a.m. Well, one evening at midnight I started to use the computer, only to have my husband tell me he could not sleep as I made too much noise. So next day I went out and bought a second computer—a .

Of course we soon outgrew the 20 MB computers and so we needed to get new ones with more memory and a large hard drive. Right now, my new computer has one terabyte of storage on it. I keep all the programs and virus protection up to date.

So you ask, “What can you do on it that is so interesting?” Well, just about anything you can think of. I enjoy many programs and spend a great deal of time using it. I will give you a list:

I have SKYPE on the computer and so am able to talk with my family and friends. It is such a good way to visit and see the people you are talking with. My grandsons wander in and out of the room and I can visit with them too when I am talking with my son and his family. How much better than merely talking with them on the telephone and, besides, it is a free service. Do you have friends or family in far-off countries? You can SKYPE them too.

I keep my calendar and address book on it and check the weather daily. I recently bought airline tickets online and will be able to check in automatically 24-hours before takeoff. I am able to send greeting cards to anyone who has a computer. For a small annual fee I can send hundreds ~ 3 ~

AMV Computer Club of cards for any occasion—birthdays and anniversaries, Christmas, and for any holiday or celebration.

I subscribe (free) to a jigsaw puzzle program and receive a new puzzle to solve each day. And also a new Sudoku puzzle comes to me daily. I also have a Mahjong game on the computer which is fun to play.

If I have a question about any medication or medical procedure or anything else, I can find the answer by using the Google program. And I can order prescriptions from my mail order program and have them paid for with an arrangement I have with the mail order house. And I can print out driving directions for any place I would like to go to.

I keep an inventory and journal of all my needlework (my special hobby.) As a stamp collector I have a program to keep track of my collection. I keep all my photos in albums on the computer. And I also keep track of all my financial matters there.

Genealogy is another hobby of mine and I have two computer programs to help me keep track of that information. And I can print up a family tree to use at our family reunions. My husband’s family asked me many years ago for an up-to-date list of all the members of the family with their addresses, birthdays, anniversaries (over 60 entries now and four pages long) and each October I send the new one to each one using e-mail so that they can have updated information to use in sending holiday greetings. And I send each one a letter at that time with an update of happenings in each of their families which helps keep the family together.

I can shop for clothing and books or anything else I want or need and have it shipped directly to my address—usually with no shipping charges or tax. And you can arrange with your bank to safely pay your bills, thereby saving you the cost of a stamp and perhaps having your payment lost if you mail it. A bill from Asbury? Just ask your bank to pay it after you have reviewed it for accuracy, and you can tell the bank electronically when you want them to pay it. No charge for that service.

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AMV Computer Club

As the Editor of the Asbury Computer Club News, I use my word processor to produce the monthly newsletter for your enjoyment. And, of course, write letters and reports, and keep track of all my medical expenses and trips.

I can use my computer to send items to my printer for copying and faxing and the printer will also print photos and copy things I might want to keep in a file or give to someone.

There are many more things I can do on my computer but you can see that the computer can be used for things other than sending and receiving e- mails or playing solitaire.

A computer can give you many hours of pleasure, no matter your age. I recently had a neighbor who, at 104, was still using her computer daily. The Asbury Smithey Center is available in the Rosborough Center for your use if you don’t have your own personal computer and you can get help from a consultant there if you have a problem with your computer. And there are classes taught there to help you learn. Try it—you’ll like it!

(My comment -- isn't this a wonderfully inspiring story!)

Monthly Computer Club Meeting

Date: September 10, 2014

Time: 7:15 pm in the Rosborough Theater

7:15 Q&A: Our usual question and answer session. Bring your question and someone probably will be able to give you an answer.

7:30 Program: Speaker: Jim Clark, Consultant and Instructor, Asbury Apple Corps.

Subject: The new iOS8 for Apple Mobile Products (making them even more attractive to Windows users).

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AMV Computer Club

Apple has succeeded with its Mobile products because of their elegant product designs and compelling functionality. Now, with the introduction of their new iOS8 operating system, Apple is enhancing the core function of mobile products (iPhone 6) and adding opportunities for the vital 3rd party developers of applications (Apps) by introducing hundreds of new tools, so developers can create even more innovative and useful applications. Jim will cover some of the wonderful new features that are to be introduced, such as:  More photo storage - never run out of space for your pictures.  New and Smarter Keyboard - predictive typing and more keyboard choices.  More flexible messaging - send videos and audio files in messages.  Family Sharing- share purchased books, apps, and music with our family.  Better iCloud storage and retrieval - store any file type and open them on any computer.  Health Kit. A new platform for managing the health of individuals and sharing conditions in real time with doctors

Newsletter Articles Windows – Change is in the Air! By Robert Nisbet

After the “Big Boo-Boo” in October 2012 that was , is completely rethinking the Windows User Interface. Not everyone appreciated being forced to initially confront the totally new and foreign “Start screen” whether they wanted to use it or not. Already we have seen two significant Windows 8 revisions – Windows 8.1 in 2013 and Windows 8.1 Update One in 2014. Both of these have brought the focus back to desktop-style computing for mouse and keyboard users, while still retaining the original Start screen with its Modern apps as more of a background tool. Windows 8.1 Update One boots directly to the desktop and displays familiar right-click menus on the Start screen. In addition to operating ~ 6 ~

AMV Computer Club system changes, Microsoft “cleaned house” internally. All the Windows 8 leading players, including the former CEO, have departed the company. A new team, under CEO , is in place now.

Coming soon The next major version of Windows –codenamed Threshold – is currently under development. It is widely expected to become Windows 9 or another name, but definitely not Windows 8.2. It’s time to put Windows 8 in the rearview mirror. Whatever Threshold becomes is scheduled for release in the spring of 2015, so it’s not far away. It will include updates across all Windows platforms – desktop/laptop, tablet, and smartphone. Reliable “word on the street” from sources in-the-know is that even more significant changes are in store for desktop users in the next Windows version.

Changing “colors” Gone is the “one user interface fits all devices” mentality of the original Windows 8. The next Windows will become something of a chameleon operating system, changing “colors” depending on the device where it is installed. Straight tablet and smartphone users still will see the tile-based Start screen look. Users of touchscreen devices that have dual personalities, such as the Microsoft Pro 3 “tablet” (see Figure 1) with its laptop-style keyboard built into the cover, will have primary focus on the desktop when a keyboard is present and access to the Start screen- style interface when used as a touch-based tablet. The 3 and many other “convertible” devices run full versions of Windows 8.1, while straight tablets run a solely Start screen and touch-based version called Windows RT 8.1. Smartphones use a similar version called Windows Phone 8.1.

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AMV Computer Club

Figure 1: Microsoft tablet/laptop Desktop changes Traditional desktop computer users will see a much different version of “Windows 9” than they are seeing in Windows 8.1. At long last, a Start menu is returning, following on the heels of the return of the Start button in Windows 8.1. The Threshold Start menu will be different from the Windows XP or Windows 7 version, but will offer several of the same options. Tiles for Windows Modern apps (those that now run on the Start screen) can reside on the Start menu, as they now can on the Taskbar. Figure 2 is a very preliminary look at what the “Windows 9” desktop with Start screen might look like. Threshold still is in the “Alpha” stage of development, so things likely will change by final release.

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AMV Computer Club

Figure 2: Preliminary Threshold desktop with possible Start menu Other possibilities Among other changes probable in “Windows 9” (for those familiar with Windows 8.1) are Modern apps that run within traditional desktop windows, rather than switching out to the Start screen to run, when the computer is used in the “desktop” mode. So, there still will be Modern apps for desktop use and some sort of screen to access and manage them. It may be the current Windows 8.1 All apps screen or some version of a Start screen.

Additionally, the “beloved” (not really) Charms bar will disappear from the desktop view. It is unclear currently how those functions necessary to Modern app use and system customization will be handled. Some users will benefit from the anticipated addition of virtual desktops. These are familiar to iMac users, but foreign to Windows users. With virtual desktops, you can set up two or more full-screen desktop views with, say, your word processor and associated applications on one, your web browser on another, and useful Modern apps on a third. You can switch among the various desktop “views” with a Taskbar button (unclear) or a keyboard shortcut.

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AMV Computer Club

Finally, there are rumors that Microsoft’s (female) speech input- based digital may be added to the desktop. (No, it’s not the return of Office’s Clippy or for you old-timers, thank God.) Currently, the Apple -like digital assistant only is available on Windows Phone 8.1. (You may have seen the Microsoft TV commercials comparing the capabilities of the two “ladies.”) You can ask Cortana for information or to give you a reminder and Cortana will provide a response both on the screen and with synthetic speech. Of course, desktop users will have to have some type of microphone installed to use Cortana.

The “new” Microsoft What this means is that Microsoft finally has realized that the desktop is not going away any time soon. While “mobile first” and “cloud first” are the Microsoft’s strategies for the future, it is not going to happen overnight. The new mantra of the Microsoft CEO is “productivity” and not software or devices. Many of us still do our productivity work on the desktop, so it is returning to center stage for mouse/keyboard users. This should provide more enticement for the one quarter (yes, that many!) of Windows users who are still sticking to the now defunct Windows XP operating system to get a new computer and to switch to a modern supported and secure operating system.

Free? Maybe What will “Windows 9” cost? That is a 64 dollar question at this stage. A lot of talk is that it will (and should) be a free upgrade for Windows 8 (yes, some still are sticking to the original), Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 users. At the least, it should be pretty darn cheap if Microsoft hopes to regain a customer base using the latest Windows version. Windows XP (and Windows Vista) users will need new hardware, which in itself is a good thing. Computer hardware has exponentially improved since the Windows XP days and is ridiculously inexpensive.

More to follow When the “Beta” version of the software is released for public trial in the fall (possibly September), I will install it on my laptop and check out the features further. I will report further on what Windows users can expect in ~ 10 ~

AMV Computer Club the spring at that time. Stay tuned. The current Windows 8.1 JCA SeniorTech classes will switch to “Windows 9” after the formal release. Anyone currently running Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 – and any of you remaining Windows XP holdouts out there – definitely should upgrade to the new version next year.

  A reminder Check your antivirus protection and be sure it is up to date. Just because you bought a new computer a year or more ago with a virus protection program on it does not mean that your virus protection is still doing its job. Most antivirus applications that come with new computers are of the 90-day trial variety, unless you bought an annual or longer subscription with the computer. The trial versions stop receiving updates when the period ends. If you just ignore the “nag” messages that pop-up, you are without protection.

  Computer Tidbits

The Garamond font In the last issue of the Newsletter we discussed the Times New Roman font. This month we will discuss the Garamond font. It is a standard font that comes with Windows. A version called Apple Garamond comes with Apple computers. The Windows version looks like this in 16 point type: The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.

Garamond is the name given to a group of classic, old-style serif typefaces named after the punch-cutter Claude Garamond (also spelled as Garamond, Latinized as garamondus) (c. 1480-1561). Many of the Garamond faces are more closely related to the work of a later punch- cutter, Jean Jannon. A direct relationship between Garamond’s letterforms and contemporary type can be found in the Roman versions of the typefaces Adobe Garamond, Granjon, Sabon, and Stempel Garamond.

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AMV Computer Club

Garamond is considered to be among the most legible and readable serif typefaces for use in “offline” printing applications. It has also been noted as using much less ink than Times New Roman at similar size.

Passwords It has happened again! Google, Facebook, Yahoo and other accounts have been hacked. Our consultant, Bob Nisbet, has told us many times that we should change our passwords from time to time – and to make sure they are secure-type passwords.

All users should change their passwords and their security questions for each site frequently. It has been said that every 90 days is advisable.

Comptoon Corner

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AMV Computer Club

Smithey Center Consultant Hours

Bob Nisbet Thursday: 1-3 pm 301-963-5674

Club Related Email Contacts

President George Stosur georgestosur@.com

Membership Dorothy Blakeslee [email protected]

Newsletter Editor Jean Young [email protected]

Apple Corps Jeanne North [email protected]

Club Consultant Bob Nisbet [email protected]

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