tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91849127024725491572011-07-08T10:31:48.577-07:00Shenandoah University Mac User GroupProf. G.noreply@blogger.comBlogger281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-54444982229991230512009-09-25T09:29:00.000-07:002009-09-25T09:29:58.744-07:00

As you may have heard, this is my final semester at SU. I'm hoping to leave the MUG blog in capable hands -- but whose? Wanted: one or more reliable authors, to take charge of the SU MUG blog. Soon.

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-26580769596737170212009-09-25T09:23:00.000-07:002009-09-25T09:23:10.277-07:00

For a good (read "amusing") time, go to Settings on your iPhone. Under Safari, turn on the Developer > Debug tool. This turns on the iPhone's error-checking/reporting system when using the Safari browser. Now for the fun. Log in to Blackboard. Errors galore! And yet it still works ... Neat, eh?

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-10928773404566688412009-08-23T16:42:00.000-07:002009-08-23T16:53:44.895-07:00

Use the buttons below to step through the Prezi presentation.

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-66629253135126429742009-08-20T19:49:00.000-07:002009-08-20T19:53:27.573-07:00

For this semester, I let myself be convinced to use Blackboard for more things. Wait. I don't already use Bb for all its bells and whistles? No. I use Bb when I must, but have issues with both uptime and usability. I generally use PBwiki.com for wikis, YouTube for videos, Blogger for blogging and my own Web space for public content. Did I mention Gmail? Outsourced services rock on uptime.

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-53596748703980059002009-08-12T18:56:00.000-07:002009-08-12T18:56:07.997-07:00

What happened to the MUG blog?Lots of folks asked that question recently. When SU switched its website to the new (for us) Red Dot content management system, the old www.su.edu server went away -- and took our blog with it. Now, we're back, in the safe embrace of Google's Blogger/Blogspot. Welcome to Fall '09!

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-422276961067228192009-06-08T13:21:00.000-07:002009-06-15T09:08:32.157-07:00

As expected, Apple debuted its latest iPhone, the 3G S, and its latest iPhone/iPod touch OS 3.0 today. As usual, they seem worth every dollar, even if some features (cut/copy/paste, for example) should have been here long ago. One oddity: the iPhone now supports tethering to allow wireless Internet connectivity from a laptop or other PC, but AT&T won't allow it. Go AT&T. More as issues pop up

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-5242789552671567852009-05-31T17:49:00.000-07:002009-05-31T17:49:03.173-07:00

A tip of the hat to the folks at SU Institutional Computing, who have enabled Web surfers to reach the SU website without the triple-w prefix. Woo hoo!

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-70785831396386519782009-05-29T06:50:00.000-07:002009-05-29T06:51:26.722-07:00

I know this isn't strictly a Mac issue, but Amazon has just added an online feature to the Kindle that will make it easier to use for everyone -- even Mac users. The Kindle already has an in-text highlighting feature, but pulling highlighted notes into research documents has always meant plugging the Kindle into a computer's USB port and pulling a .txt file. Cumbersome, if only slightly. Now,

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-17202784165792130792009-05-27T20:15:00.000-07:002009-05-27T20:15:39.209-07:00

In case you're wondering, IMAP is still the way to go, to connect a Mac (as opposed to an iPhone or iPod Touch) with SU's email servers. Off-campus connectivity with Exchange doesn't work, so unless you plan for your Mac to remain on-campus 24/7, you'll set up your Mail.app email as IMAP instead of Exchange. The linked ad, BTW, shows Apple's promise to deliver full Exchange compatibility with

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-17008167020721208162009-05-18T20:02:00.000-07:002009-05-18T20:02:18.047-07:00

Worth tweeting -- worth blogging. TechRepublic explains what brought them back to the iPhone: apps. Business-oriented apps.

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-55767824099634389932009-05-18T09:38:00.000-07:002009-05-18T09:38:07.012-07:00

Question: Would it be helpful for me to publicize the old "Podcast Hotline" phone number, or is text feedback enough? Background: When I teach classes via podcast, I make a "Podcast Hotline" number available. It's a voicemail-only number for students to leave questions on. I often integrate the voice content into the podcasts, or, in this case, into the blog. What do you think?

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-1647118389122768112009-05-17T17:34:00.000-07:002009-05-17T17:34:55.785-07:00

The Blackboard iPhone/iPod Touch app has been out for a few weeks. Yay. While I think it has some value for students, I'm going to "associate myself" (as they say in Congress) with "Autumm Caines" comment on Chronicle.com. It's comment #6, BTW. Perhaps v2.0 will have teacher-friendly features. Perhaps. In the mean time, I'm sure there are other apps to spend our time with. Trip Cubby,

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-67202634849808590622009-05-17T17:22:00.000-07:002009-05-17T17:22:59.429-07:00

We've heard from admin that SU has plans for customized apps. What they are has been a secret. What do you think? What apps would make your life better at SU? Profs? Students? Staff? The floor is open.

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-68836725425680409652009-05-17T15:00:00.000-07:002009-05-17T15:00:30.304-07:00

From the iMLearning website: Starting in the fall of 2009, Shenandoah University will launch a new environmentally friendly integrated mobile learning program, iMLearning, to provide students and faculty with the tools to enhance student learning and engagement.Prof. G. is not a member of the iMLearning leadership team, but is happy to help through this MUG blog. Let's just remember that for

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-49279847085218598002009-05-06T16:51:00.000-07:002009-05-06T16:51:36.341-07:00

Podagogy has a brief review of the Griffin iTalk, comparing it favorably with the Bias iProRecorder. I'm downloading the free app right now.

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-27012441506436640292009-03-26T11:12:00.000-07:002009-03-26T11:12:22.756-07:00

Problem solved -- but I did it the hard way. I deleted the mail.app plist in the library folder. The down side was losing my e-mail settings. Perhaps its just me again, but I can never seem to find the settings on the SU site and I think it's hidden from Google behind our passworded CMS, so no joy there. So, problem solved, but not in a way I'd recommend to anyone.

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-70922578071652051272009-03-26T07:27:00.000-07:002009-03-26T07:27:51.648-07:00

For at least the past week, I've been having trouble with Mail.app and SU's e-mail service. I can't seem to delete any e-mail. Here's an example of an error message: The message “3-on-3 Tournament Deadline Approaching!” could not be moved to the mailbox “(null)”The folks at IC don't seem to think there's a problem at their end. Is anyone else having issues, or is it just me?

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-86293977923769941242009-02-15T14:40:00.000-08:002009-02-15T14:55:08.172-08:00

Our colleague Tom Shaw has put together this video, demonstrating how to add audio to assessments in Blackboard v8.Tom is extremely nice to have put this together on his own time to help the community and is very generous with the credit. For that, I am grateful.Thanks, Tom.

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-80340623693511087532009-02-15T08:31:00.000-08:002009-02-15T08:31:59.864-08:00

The Sun has an article on the "Not a Laptop Program" in this week's issue. Y'know, PDF school newspapers don't make life any easier for bloggers. There's no easy way to deep link to an interior article. Something to think about...

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-61246933661997672762009-02-15T08:27:00.000-08:002009-02-15T08:27:15.460-08:00

From Macworld: Shenandoah University has chosen Apple’s environmentally-friendly MacBook computer and the iPod touch as the foundation for its new mobile learning program. University officials said Apple’s commitment to the environment was crucial in its decision.The article is a fine bit of PR -- single-sourced (Journalism students beware!), and mostly accurate -- but hey, positive press is

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-35781655987914101582009-02-11T18:44:00.000-08:002009-02-11T18:46:48.841-08:00

I was surprised at how many of the tips in Marc Saltzman's article (short as the list was) that I didn't know.Worth a read-through.

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-14320140663899150182009-02-10T08:54:00.001-08:002009-02-10T23:52:52.821-08:00

A colleague approached me this week with a question about Blackboard (currently v8.0.307.0) and assessments. He's a music prof and wants to put music in his quizzes and tests. One can imagine questions along the lines of "Which of the following selections is Hip Hop?" followed by three or four audio selections. Bb currently lacks an easy way to add audio (or video) to questions, even with the

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-78066150830671620672008-08-16T17:40:00.000-07:002008-08-16T17:59:39.595-07:00

Hello SU Mac users! The new semester is almost upon us. Enough about that! This post is about Apple's new MobileMe service, a successor to .Mac. Feel free to try the 60-day free trial, but I'm not yet a fan (my quick take). So -- also feel free to save your money. Reviews (some more positive than my own) ZDNet OurView (Not nearly as negative as it could have been) PC Magazine (Way too

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-19660806370438150232008-01-17T21:57:00.000-08:002008-01-17T23:18:49.134-08:00

Apple has a new ad out. If you've ever received something in interoffice mail, you may tear-up -- or giggle. Either way, it's worth checking out.I'm personally jazzed by a new iPhone feature -- added via software update. My Google maps now have a location button, which approximates my location -- something like a GPS. It drops a "pin" (a digital map pin) on my approximate location, which I

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-54735226003592154972008-01-17T21:54:00.000-08:002008-01-17T21:55:03.184-08:00

Hello SU MUG!Welcome back -- to the cold and snowy days of the Spring '08 semester.I was wondering if you'd like to try a Tuesday or Thursday lunch meeting in the next week or two. We could use a topic. What are folks interested in talking about? Pages? Final Cut? iMovie (old or new)?I should mention that I would be happy (very happy!) to defer to others for the meat of a meeting. Perhaps

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-20834868225801547952007-12-17T17:57:00.000-08:002007-12-17T18:07:09.271-08:00

Well, that was fun. Our second meeting was small, but effective, I think.Most of our time was spent chatting about Keynote, Apple's PowerPoint killer. Quicktime integration is golden, but I don't think the audio recorder is 100% functional yet.Of course, I did manage a little cheat the other day. I used iMovie and Keynote to edit a sweet 720p effected video. Good stuff. Now I need to try it

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-4838769815635262372007-11-25T08:31:00.000-08:002007-11-25T08:49:19.369-08:00

It may come as a surprise to see a new Mac User Group blog published via Blogger, as opposed to iWeb. So, why make that choice?First, let me say that iWeb is, like most Apple apps, fairly gorgeous. However, even in v2.0 (iWeb '08), publishing to an FTP site isn't as easy as it should be. The trades are uniform in their suspicion that this is Apple's way of "encouraging" us to subscribe to .Mac

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9184912702472549157.post-34030774394172800912007-11-24T22:46:00.000-08:002007-11-24T22:50:04.638-08:00

Check it out. We have a website. Scroll down a bit and you'll find that our new page now holds an embedded Google calendar. Please feel free to click on the iCal-like icon to subscribe via iCal, or click on one of the Google links to subscribe via Google calendar.The site is obviously in a "beta" state. It's new and I prioritized getting a calendar and blog up, ASAP. Suggestions and free

Prof. G.noreply@blogger.com1