The official journal of the Wellington Macintosh Society Inc Volume 31.08 – August 2014

Come to one of Apple Reports Third Quarter our meetings Record Sales of iPhone, Mac Wellington Monday, 25 August 7.10pm - 9.30pm Apple’s recently completed third fiscal quarter Subject: iTunes – (ending in June) produced revenue of US$37.4 Managing Devices billion and net profit of US$7.7 billion, up from US Kapiti $35.3 billion and US$6.9 billion in the Monday, 1 September 7.10pm - 9.30pm corresponding quarter last year. Subject: iTunes – Managing Devices A highlight of the results was a third quarter record iPad Group* for unit sales of the iPhone (35.2 million, up from 33.8 million last TBA year) and Mac (4.4 million, up from 3.8 million last year). Apple’s Help Desk* recent price reduction on the MacBook Air in particular appears to Lower Hutt have been popular. Saturday 13 September iMovie Course* TBA The picture wasn’t as rosy for the iPad: unit sales were 13.3 million, down from last year’s 14.6 million. This is the second quarter in a row See page 2 for more which has seen a decline in iPad sales. details of meetings *Please register by emailing [email protected] On the bright side, revenue continues to climb for the iTunes Store (including App Store), Software and Services.

Where to find us Unless otherwise indicated, all meetings are held at MacKenzie room of the conference centre at St John's church, corner of Dixon St and Willis St, Wellington. Kapiti meetings are held at the Kapiti Uniting Church, Raumati Road, Raumati.

The President Writes p2 Mac performance upgrades p7 INSIDE Thunderbolt Docks p4 Helpful Tip p7 Favourite Apps p6 Committee Contact Details p8

CAPITAL APPLE – AUGUST 2014!! ! ! ! ! ! PAGE 1 The president writes ...

The help desk is an opportunity to get assistance with any topic you would like to cover, assuming we can find a tutor who can help you. We can often arrange one on one tuition, but sometimes need to organise people into small groups if we have several people wanting to cover the same topics and not enough tutors to go around. Topics can range from basic use of the Macintosh David Empson or iPad through general technical assistance to [email protected] specific help with some advanced software. Registration is required, and space is limited so Hi folks. get your booking in early. To register, email Shane Gordine at Wellington Meeting [email protected]. Please include details about Our main meeting in Wellington will be held on what you would like help with, and let us know Monday 25 August, in the MacKenzie Room of the what computer or other devices you want to bring. conference centre at St John’s in the City, 129 Dixon St, Wellington, from 7.10pm. New Committee Member The meeting will start with a Q&A session for I’m pleased to report that we have gained a new those who have any technical issues. It would be committee member. Victor Diem volunteered to join appreciated if questions could be emailed in advance the committee, and has been appointed as of our to [email protected] so we can plan ahead. July meeting. We’re looking forward to his input to Following Q&A we will have a light supper then the give us some fresh ideas for the society. main topic. Tonight’s topic is “iTunes – Managing Devices”. We will look at many aspects of using iTunes, Apple and Product News particularly with an iPhone, iPod, iPad or Apple TV, and working with the iTunes Store and App Store. MacBook Pro updated Other aspects can be covered if time permits. Apple has released minor updates for the 13” and 15” MacBook Pro with Retina Display. All Kapiti Area Meeting configurations gain a CPU speed boost of 200 MHz The Kapiti meeting will start at 7.10 pm on (e.g. 13” models start at 2.6 GHz instead of 2.4 GHz). Monday 1 September, at the Kapiti Uniting Parish, All 13” models now have 8 GB of memory in 27 Raumati Rd. standard configurations (with a custom build option The topic of this meeting is the same as the for 16 GB), and all 15” models now have 16 GB. Wellington one: “iTunes – Managing Devices”. The high end 15” model (with larger solid state If you would like to receive e-mail drive and dedicated GPU) has dropped in price by announcements about upcoming Kapiti meetings, NZ$200: it now starts at $3499. please contact Hamish Turnbull In addition, Apple has reduced the NZ price of [email protected]. the old-style 13” MacBook Pro by $200, now starting at $1499. (This is the model with optical drive, hard Lower Hutt Help Desk drive and without a retina display.) The next help desk will be held at a member’s residence in Lower Hutt, from 1 pm to 4 pm on Old versions of Skype are no more Saturday 13 September. Full details will be supplied As warned recently, Microsoft has pulled the plug when your registration is confirmed. on older versions of Skype. This means older Macs are no longer able to use Skype at all. continued over page

CAPITAL APPLE – AUGUST 2014!! ! ! ! ! ! PAGE 2 SinceThe president writes The president writes my email alert a couple of weeks ago, the When...... Apple released iOS 6 about two years ago, situation has changed: Microsoft have relented the corresponding iTunes update dropped support slightly and have reinstated support for OS X 10.5.8 for OS X 10.5 (Leopard). (Leopard) on Macs with Intel processors, but they The timing is right for the next release of iTunes to didn’t go as far as reinstating support for Macs with drop support for OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard). PowerPC processors. Mac users running Snow Leopard must not rush For OS X 10.5.8 or later on an Intel Mac, you can into upgrading to iOS 8 on their iPhone, iPad or iPod get the correct version of Skype by visiting http:// Touch, because it is likely that doing so will render it skype.com and following the Downloads link. It impossible to sync that device with your Mac. It is works out which version of OS X you are running. not possible to reinstall an older version of iOS, so if If you are running an older (unsupported) version you have updated your device, the only way to of Skype, its built-in update mechanism will offer to reinstate the ability to sync with your Mac will be to download the correct version for your operating upgrade the Mac to OS X 10.7 (Lion) or later, or system, or at least a new enough version which will replace your Mac with a newer model. work (which may then want to update again). At Since new iOS devices come with the latest present, the supported versions of Skype for each OS version, this will also mean Snow Leopard cannot X version are as follows: sync with new iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch models. OS X 10.5 (Leopard): Skype 6.3.0.604. At a minimum, wait until after the iOS 8 launch OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard): Skype 6.15.0.334. day so you can confirm whether or not the new OS X 10.7 (Lion): Skype 6.15.0.334. iTunes version will work on Snow Leopard. OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion): Skype 6.15.0.334. OS X 10.9 (Mavericks): Skype 6.19.0.442 (or later). Later OS X versions I don’t expect any compatibility problems Next iPhone and iOS 8 coming soon between the iTunes update, iOS 8, and OS X 10.7 The rumour mill is pointing to September 9 (Lion) or later. (September 10 NZ time) as the likely date for Apple’s Looking ahead, it is harder to predict how long media event announcing the next iPhone models Apple will continue to support OS X 10.7 and later and the launch of iOS 8. The date should be versions, because they were released more confirmed a week earlier, when Apple sends out frequently than the preceding few versions. media invitations. I’m hopeful that Apple will continue the pattern If that date turns out to be correct, the usual of supporting each OS X version with security and timing for iPhones being available in the first group Safari updates for about four years after that of countries (including the US) would be Friday version was introduced. That would mean OS X 10.7 September 19. Apple has been accelerating the gets security updates until mid to late 2015, after international roll-out in recent years, and it is which one version would be dropped each year. possible that they will be available in New Zealand It is possible that Apple will stick to a “three sooner than was the case with previous models. versions at once” pattern, in which case OS X 10.7 If the pattern holds, iOS 8 should be released for will get its final security and Safari updates about existing iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch models around the time OS X 10.10 is released (this October). If September 17 or 18 (NZ time). Apple decides this based on usage levels, then Web It is most likely that other upcoming new statistics point to this being likely, since OS X 10.7 is products (including new iPads and OS X 10.10 used on fewer Macs than OS X 10.6, 10.8 or 10.9. Yosemite) will be announced in a separate media Apple generally supports older OS X versions in event in October. iTunes for a year longer than security/Safari updates. iTunes compatibility warning for OS X 10.6 The release of iOS 8 will also see the release of a That’s all, folks! new version of iTunes for Mac and Windows. The David Empson new version of iTunes will be required to sync with or manage devices running iOS 8. To contact me, email [email protected], or you can ring me at home (976 9755).

CAPITAL APPLE – AUGUST 2014!! ! ! ! ! ! PAGE 3 The president writes Mac Thunderbolt Docks:... Belkin Versus the Clones

by Julio Ojeda-Zapata The Thunderbolt docks I tested using a MacBook Air are attractive and reasonably unobtrusive — and For many of us, I might paraphrase Wallis therefore handy desk units — but I would not Simpson’s saying as “You can never be too rich, too characterize any as particularly portable, especially thin, or have too many ports.” As such, using a port- since you’d also have to lug around a bulky power poor Apple portable can be a pain in the posterior. brick. MacBook Air users have it particularly bad with I tested a Belkin version that is a bit of a beast but just one Thunderbolt port (compared to two on very elegant and versatile, along with an assortment MacBook Pro models) and no HDMI port (there’s of smaller Thunderbolt docks that are essentially the one on the MacBook Pro with Retina Display). No same as each other. That is because the vendors are Macintosh laptop has more than two USB ports. An working off one hardware design and adding minor Ethernet port? Don’t be a silly. variations. A number of other dock-like Thunderbolt Thunderbolt docks are a solution to this problem. devices are available, too. This is all great given how They turn one Thunderbolt port into two, and add a maddeningly sparse the selection of Thunderbolt variety of other ports such as USB, Ethernet, and peripherals used to be. audio. This greatly increases your expansion One important note: All the docks I tested are capability, with the option to charge and sync iOS based on the original Thunderbolt spec, so devices via the USB ports, hook up speakers and Thunderbolt 2 devices plugged into the peripherals microphones, make networking fast and reliable via will perform at only Thunderbolt 1 speeds. a physical connection, add storage and external Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock – This large, displays, and so on. but elegantly designed, gadget offers a trio of USB 3.0 ports, a FireWire 800 port, a gigabit Ethernet port, a headphone port, and a microphone port along with two Thunderbolt ports. At US$200, or $100 off its original price, it’s a bargain, too.

If you need to attach FireWire 800 storage devices to a new Mac, this is the dock for you, given that only the Mac mini and the 13-inch MacBook Pro (without Retina Display) still include FireWire 800 ports, and those are likely to disappear soon. The FireWire port in the Thunderbolt Express Dock worked well for me, as did all the other ports. Expansion options do not end there. Thunderbolt With no HDMI port, my main external-display is designed for daisy-chaining up to six devices per option is Mini DisplayPort, which coexists with port, making it possible to string together multiple Thunderbolt (a Thunderbolt port is also a Mini Thunderbolt devices (assuming all but the last in the DisplayPort port, but not the other way around). I chain also have dual Thunderbolt ports). At one found a DisplayPort monitor, and used one of its full- point I went nuts and daisy-chained three size DisplayPort ports and a DisplayPort-to-Mini Thunderbolt docks together. It totally works. DisplayPort cable for connecting to the dock. continued over page

CAPITAL APPLE – AUGUST 2014!! ! ! ! ! ! PAGE 4 Thunderbolt docks can be used with external displays, just as if these were connected directly to the Macs. The Belkin dock, however, lacks one common means for linking up a display: HDMI. An alternative technology, DisplayPort, is supported. DisplayPort connections occur in one of two ways, via full-size DisplayPort ports (like the ones found on my monitor) or smaller Mini DisplayPort variations. As it happens, the Thunderbolt ports on the Belkin dock and all other Thunderbolt ports double as Mini DisplayPort ports. So, to hook my monitor to the dock, I scrounged up a DisplayPort- to-Mini DisplayPort cable, with the big end going into the display, and the smaller prong plugging into the dock. This arrangement worked fine, but revealed a problem: I couldn’t use my display and an external drive at the same time, since I had only one free Thunderbolt port on the dock for either, and no second Thunderbolt port on the drive for daisy chaining purposes. To use one of the drives, I had to unplug the display. That was annoying, but not the end of the world. The Belkin dock has a clever design. All ports are located on one of the device’s long sides, and you One of the dock makers cleared this up for me: can point that part away from you to reduce visual “The docks are all based on the same Intel reference clutter (which is soothing for this OCD sufferer). design,” he said. You can then feed only the cords you need through These docks are: CalDigit’s Thunderbolt Station, a rubber-sheathed canal cut into the dock bottom, Elgato’s Thunderbolt Dock, and StarTech’s and out a single orifice in the front. Thunderbolt Docking Station. The docks each have three USB 3.0 ports, a gigabit Ethernet port, a headphone port, and a microphone port, along with those two Thunderbolt ports, but no FireWire 800 ports. Predictably, there was little difference in how the docks worked. As with the Belkin dock, I could plug my MacBook Air into one Thunderbolt port on each dock, with the DisplayPort monitor connected to the other.

Attack of the Clones – When I stacked a bunch of For the rest of this article, see other Thunderbolt docks, I noticed something weird: Cosmetic touches aside, the gizmos are http://tidbits.com/article/14908 identical. They have all the same ports in all the same locations, and their power supplies are even compatible. What was going on here? Reprinted courtesy of TidBITS

CAPITAL APPLE – AUGUST 2014!! ! ! ! ! ! PAGE 5 Favourite Apps by Andrew McPherson A selection of apps worth getting on the App Store

MacFamilyTree 7 This is notable for allowing a planetarium view in Previous meetings have had real time, without clouds or cold winter nights, as members express a wish for well as allowing travel at hyperspace speed to other good genealogy software on the stellar systems, clear marking of constellations and Mac. Now that MacFamilyTree an easy search tool for navigation to objects of 7 is on the App Store it seems interest. there is one less need to use Redshift - Astronomy requires OS X 10.6.6 or later. Windows. As it is on the App Store, it can be bought cheaply when iTunes cards are discounted, as it is currently Sid Meier’s Railroads! $64.99 after being on special at launch. A demo Modern successor to Railroad version is available from the Synium Software web Tycoon (1990), and able to do site (the demo can’t save or print but is otherwise multiplayer in 10.8 or later, this fully functional). MacFamilyTree 7 requires OS X game allows you to build an 10.7.5 or later. An iOS version (MobileFamilyTree 7) empire of trains across 16 maps is also available for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. and 7 scenarios, as well as the Mac app store only feature of I recommend this program to anyone interested in the Terrain Editor for custom genealogy because it is so comprehensive in it’s maps, which on its own is worth the price, as you features, particularly the variety of charts available. can mockup model railroads, or duplicate your friend’s layouts. OmniOutliner Pro Next time I visit Ngahape model railways, I’ll be A business program for able to help plan the next layout feature. creating, organising and Sid Meier’s Railroads costs $30.99 or later and collecting information elegantly requires OS X 10.7.5 or later. with a more structured take than business versions of Microsoft Office, and greater compatibility. Has a great deal What is App Store? of AppleScript support for automation, allows custom export plug-ins and has great note taking The Mac App Store was added with audio recording. as a new feature in Mac OS X Currently $124.99 on the Mac App Store for the Pro 10.6.6 (Snow Leopard). It is version, $64.99 for the standard version. OS X 10.9 or included on all Macs as an later is required. An iPad version (OmniOutliner 2) is application called “App Store” also available. which normally appears on the Dock, or should be in your Applications folder. Redshift - Astronomy To make purchases or get free software, you will Previously went to stellar need to set up an account, which can be done in heights on the iPad, now on App Store. You can pay for apps using a credit the Mac App Store for $23.99 card, or iTunes or App Store gift cards, which (plus $10.99 for a feature pack with 2.5 million stars, 10,000 are available from many retail outlets. planets).

CAPITAL APPLE – AUGUST 2014!! ! ! ! ! ! PAGE 6 A few options for improving performance of older Macs

by Andrew McPherson and David Empson transfer at the full rated speed of the drive mechanism, so it is as fast as having another internal 1. Upgrade the memory to the highest amount drive. supported by your Mac. 2. Replace the hard disk drive (HDD) with a solid Resources state drive (SSD). (With some iMac and Mac A helpful application for identifying potential mini models it is possible to install a second hardware upgrades is MacTracker, which is free and internal drive.) is available from http://www.mactracker.ca. It is a 3. If your Mac is a 2011 or later model, you can add database of every Mac model ever made. an external Thunderbolt drive. MacTracker has a “This Mac” section which saves you the trouble of having to look up your model Maximising memory will improve performance identifier in System Profiler/Information. greatly, regardless of which OS X version you use. Once you have identified what hardware When OS X doesn’t have enough memory, it uses upgrades are possible, you may like to talk to one of the HDD or SSD for slower virtual memory. our more experienced members for advice and to find good sources for the components. Using a solid state drive (SSD) instead of a HDD For details about how to install hardware will increase speed of your mac significantly. I have upgrades, a useful web site is http://ifixit.com found that using a SSD as the system drive in my which has detailed information for most Mac mid 2011 iMac has resulted in startups of 4 seconds, models. You can use this site to judge whether the instead of 45 seconds on the original HDD. installation may be within your capabilities, or As 1 terabyte SSDs now cost about $700, it’s easy whether you might need help from someone with to get desktop Macs running as fast as MacBook more experience. Airs, without trading away space. For most older Mac models, memory upgrades are relatively easy to install, as long you know how Thunderbolt drives are slowly becoming more to safely handle electronic components. affordable, and are ideal as high performance HDD or SSD installation varies in difficulty: quite backup drives, or for additional storage which needs easy for MacBooks, middling for MacBook Pros, not to be as fast as possible for uses like video editing. easy for iMacs. The main benefit of Thunderbolt drives are that they

Enter Mission Control, Dashboard, Exposé, or Spaces Temporarily Hold down F3, F4, F9, F10, F11, or F12 (or whatever you've set for the Mission Control, Exposé, Dashboard and Spaces keyboard shortcuts) for a few seconds, and then release the key to enter and leave the appropriate mode without having to press the key again. This is particularly useful for Dashboard, in which you can check the contents of a widget and then return to your work with only a single key press.

Sleep (and Lock) Your Screen When you are walking away from your computer, it's fairly common practice to start your screen saver and lock your screen. But did you know that there is a built-in keyboard shortcut in OS X to sleep the screen? Press Control-Shift-Eject (Control-Shift-Power on MacBook Pro with Retina Display or MacBook Air) and your monitor sleeps without engaging the screen saver.

Reprinted courtesy of TidBITS http://tidbits.com

CAPITAL APPLE – AUGUST 2014!! ! ! ! ! ! PAGE 7 PO Box 6642, Marion Square, Wellington, New Zealand

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Court cases Business Matters •Mac Users Since 1983 Tribunal cases •Member of MacLaw Property Law Capital Video Productions specialises in High Employment Contracts Definition audio-visual communications material including DVD’s, High-Definition Criminal Taxation Video or other media for the corporate Traffic JOHN DEAN Insolvency sector. Family Law LAW OFFICE Family Trusts We create product, service or company promotional videos, training or Wills & Estates Resource Law information videos all aimed at Negotiations & ADR Commercial Law assisting your company or organisation achieve its business objectives. Tel: 04-472-9369 7/114 Lambton Quay Capital Video Productions P.O. Box 10-107 • Fax: 04-473-0784 PO Box 659 Wellington New Zealand E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 04-902 1360 Wellington, New Zealand Email: [email protected] Web: www.capitalvideo.co.nz LAWLINE 0900-5-8887

The Wellington Macintosh Society Incorporated is a non-profit editor or the Wellington Macintosh Society Inc. Copyright of trade- organisation formed in April 1984 with the following objectives: marks and trade names used remains with the owners at all times. • To exchange and disseminate information among the members Advertising rates: $35 full page, $20 half-page (members); $50 full concerning the computer arts and sciences. page, $35 half-page (non-members). For details, contact the editor. • To publish books, newsletters, magazines and periodicals for the benefit and education of members and the public. Home phone • To conduct and sponsor seminars, lectures and courses relating to Patron Steve Wozniak the computer arts and sciences. President David Empson 976 9755 • To provide technical assistance to members of the group. Vice President Shane Gordine N/A • To seek privileges and discounts for members. Secretary Andrew McPherson 971 1914 Subscriptions: $30 a year from date of joining. Treasurer Peter Kirby 478 5386 Website: http://www.welmac.org.nz Journal editor Graeme Moffatt 905 6321 Email: [email protected] (email addresses for committee Information Officer Graeme Moffatt 905 6321 members are available on the website) Membership Secretary Shane Gordine N/A Committee Joseph Booth 526 5141 Please contact the information officer for all enquiries regarding Graeme Moffatt 905 6321 meetings and other activities. Membership enquiries should be Rogan Maxwell 566 0867 directed to the membership secretary. Victor Diem N/A TheCAPITAL views expressed APPLE in this – journal AUGUST are not necessarily 2014!! those of the ! ! ! ! ! PAGE 8