2011

QR Codes

The question of whether people are using QR codes in their business was raised.

There was debate on what they were and how they are being used.

My personal view (stated on the evening)  is that their current application is gimmicky rather than real – and arguably ahead of being ‘ready for prime time’.

I have seen them used on business cards for easy sharing of contact information. Others have observed them in newspapers like Maui Time – but real returns as yet unknown.

I did share this URL on the evening as a truly CREATIVE application of using QR codes, but this is not to be taken as a business case – but does serve to demonstrate that such technology like this can be used in VERY interesting ways – and like so much is really limited by the imagination of the application of the use – rather than the technology.

For raw technology, this article popped into my sphere of interest just this morning. Enjoy.

Why QR Codes are failing.

To Quote Sean Cummings:

People will not adopt a technical solution that serves to replace a manual task, if that solution is less efficient than the manual task it replaces. How could we think that QR codes for marketing would work any better than CueCat? Did we not learn the first time?

To Quote John Gruber:

QR codes are built for machines, not humans.

By MAUS Administrator, ago

MAUS Meeting: October 19

Wednesday, October 19, 2011, 6:00 – 8:00 PM
At Maui College (Laulima Rm. 211)

Topic: Running your business on Apple products

Join us this month as members share how they run a business on their Apple products. We will discuss successes, setups, strategies and barriers. We will also briefly discuss the new iPhone 4S, iOS 5, iCloud and Steve Jobs. As always bring your Mac, iPad, iPhone, and other related Apple questions with you to the meeting.

By MAUS Administrator, ago

The iPhone 4S Unveiled

Today’s the day – and you just know the news media is going to be flooded very soon with this information ::

Apple’s new iPhone 4S doesn’t look all that different on the surface from the iPhone 4 it replaces. But the latest iPhone unveiled by Apple at a press event Tuesday promises an improved processor, new wireless system, and more powerful camera, along with voice control capabilities.

Click through to here for the full article

By MAUS Administrator, ago

Alternatives to Quicken for Mac

Our thanks to Dave Schlicher for presenting his views on alternatives to Quicken at our last User Group Meeting. The following is my summary of his talk – don’t hesitate to ping me if there are any errors or misunderstandings contained in the following.

Tried Three Products in Parallel

Caveat: Not an accountant – and not a tax expert. Also – does not own stock in any of the companies.

Why not Quicken ?

Quicken 2007 no longer will work under Lion – so the only alternative is Quicken Essentials – which will. BUT

Though it is easy to make the transition, it is not a good solution.

  • Intuit has not treated mac users very well
  • Quicken 1998 and 2002 have both been killed off before
  • The Quicken product on the Mac was always a poor second to windows machine
  • Quicken recommends changing format of data downloads – this ‘cannot’ be a good idea
  • What is the future for Quicken ? Unknown
  • All of this with the CEO sitting on the board of Apple
  • Investment tracking limited
  • Bill paying never imported
  • Data import only under Snow Leopard
  • If you put data into the product – will you be able to get it out ?
  • It is the ‘Roach hotel of data’. YOu can get data in – but to get it out VERY gnarly
  • CSV data files can be used – but complicated
  • Perl being used to clean up data – too hard
  • Proprietary format – but it is your finances we are talking about.
  • For as little it does and need for flexibility in moving data around – not recommended.

iBank and Moneywell

  •  are both well regarded programs
  • both handle budgeting
  • both offer iPhone apps
  • both free input and export

Trial in money dance – written in Java – so started away

iBank – igg software – 4.2.5 is latest version

  • Comprehensive number of account types
  • Auto downloads
  • Multiple currencies

Moneywell – 1.6.8

  • Overall more limited
  • V2 under dev for a year – and still not ready
  • In Moneywell, budgeting idea is integral to design

Importing data – both worked well though Moneywell a little bit better it handled reconciliation

  • IBank can’t change account type on the fly – Moneywell can

Transaction entry

  • Quicken good at entering data
  • Both iBank and Moneywell have failings

Reconciling

  • IBank not as easy

Budgeting

  • Money well makes it as easy as it possibly can be
  • But maybe so tied into budgeting that if you don’t use it, could be problematic

Support

  • Excellent for both
  • How To videos and documents are good

Conclusion

  • Both are a real change
  • Neither an exact fit – but both will work
  • Entered the trial with a bias for Moneywell
  • But with usage gravitated to iBank
  • Moneywell v 2 will be Lion only – WHEN it is available

Another review to compare the two

Moneywell Web Site

iBank Web Site

 

 

By MAUS Administrator, ago

The Towson Hack: The mystery of vanishing iTunes

MY thanks to John Hardin for flagging this one. I hadn’t heard of this hack before I read the article. It SEEMS to center round starting with a gift card – and then exploiting a loop hole that connects your iTunes account back to your iTunes account.

IN other words – if like me you don’t have a credit in iTunes – you are fine (I THINK) …. but would love confirmation of that from someone that knows !!

Flagging it now for your information and if you have any additional info / experience of it = let us know.

The latest story can be read here : The Towson Hack: The Mystery of vanishing iTunes credit.

By MAUS Administrator, ago

More Highlights from AUGD

As I have said before, our friends at ‘User Group Central’ – Lynn Wegley, InfoManager, with coeditor Fred Showker  send out a very detailed summary of info and links that are sometimes INCREDIBLY relevant, and ALWAYS good stuff.

With their permission – restated here ::

Copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved. Affiliate User Groups are granted permission to reprint the InfoManager column or excerpts thereof so long as proper credit is given, and a clearly stated web URL link to: http://www.UGNN.com

What I consider the relevant highlights to our group

02 Phishing & Malware Update: 1109-04
Couple of surprises this week …
David Pogue looks at unsubscribing from spam, and those nasty
‘pump-n-dump’ schemes are back! But that’s not all…
* David Pogue: the *Never Unsubscribe* Rule for Spam
* Protect Yourself From the Threat of Mobile Malware
* Comeback of Malicious Pump-and-Dump Campaigns
* New Analysis: Who Do You Trust? (2 Parts)
* Morto worm surprises again
* Serious gaps in security
* BBB warns of email scam
* Antivirus on a Mac . . . and more

http://www.ugnn.com/2011/09/1109-04_phishing/
——————————————————
03 Quick, easy photo enhancement
Photo Sense is an easy photo enhancement software for
Mac OS and iOS. It is designed to make photographs more
attractive quickly and easily, without spending a lot of
time and money on learning, purchasing, and using
professional photo manipulation software.

http://www.ugnn.com/2011/09/quick-easy-photo-enhancement/
——————————————————
04 Fully Automated Time Tracking
Timing is a unique new time tracking application for OS
X. In contrast to classic time tracking applications, Timing
doesn’t require users to manually operate timers. Instead,
users’ activities like editing documents, surfing the web,
and playing games are tracked automatically and can be
easily reviewed at a later time.

http://www.ugnn.com/2011/09/fully-automated-time-tracking/
——————————————————
06 Camera PRO + XCOLOR
Camera PRO + XCOLOR for iPhone 4 and iPad 2 1.0. aims to
create a revolution in Photography applications for iPad 2
and iPhone 4, turning your iPad 2 and iPhone 4 to real
XCOLOR photo camera. You can take photos from app camera and
attach different effects to photos. Turn on the power of
your iPad 2 and iPhone 4 to new level.

http://www.ugnn.com/2011/09/camera-pro-xcolor/
——————————————————
07 Fraud: It’s not a small world
An Internet fraud scam uncovered in Bozeman Montana in
2009 reached victims as far afield as Florida and Texas …
which goes to show : ‘It’s Not a Small World’ when it comes
to the internet.

http://www.ugnn.com/2011/09/fbi_fraud_study/
——————————————————
09 Camera FX for iPad 2 and iPhone 4
Now you can replace your existing standard iPad 2 camera
application with our Camera FX application with many new
features and functions that standard camera does not have.
Camera FX is advanced powerful photo editing application for
you iPad 2/iPhone 4 and your photos and images. You can take
photos with our application or load existing from you iPad
2/iPhone 4 and then edit its from app and attach different
effects!

http://www.ugnn.com/2011/09/camera-fx-for-ipad-2-and-iphone-4/

By MAUS Administrator, ago