For comments or questions regarding main presentations at our monthly meetings, please email: main-presentation@ausom.net.au

ipad-osx-basics@ausom.net.au

This SIG is largely focussed on the use of the iPad2 with operating system iOS5. In addition part of the session is often devoted to Lion operating system and issues relating to Snow Leopard are also dealt with.

I normally work to a prepared presentation but questions are always welcome from the floor. Notes of the prepared SIG are provided to those already on my list and to those who give me their name and email address on the day.

digital-video@ausom.net.au

Convener Chris McQuillen. The focus of this SIG is Digital Movie Making. There are sessions demonstrating how to edit using iMovie 11 as well as video capturing techniques.

Guest presenters demonstrate specific facets of movie making or simply share their expertise or experience There are bring and Show days in which members share their film projects.

At the end of the year this SIG presents the best of our movies to AUSOM at the December Digital Film Festival. Each year we make at least one movie to feature specifically at this annual festival.
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movie-editing@ausom.net.au

The focus of this SIG is editing raw footage in the Final Cut Express and also the new Final Cut Pro X. This extends movie making beyond the limits of iMovie

It is learning by doing. The SIG members bring their own MacBooks or iMacs and work in tandem with the SIG leader through the features of Final Cut. The object is to have members proficient and confident with Final Cut products and projects
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photography@ausom.net.au

The Photography SIG aims to cover a wide variety of topics concerning digital still photography. The target audience is the range from 'family snapper' to 'traveller' and 'photo enthusiast', and topics cover photo-taking, organizing/cataloguing, manipulating, printing and sharing. Principal applications addressed are Apple's iPhoto and Aperture, while occasional sorties are made into others such as Photoshop and shareware utilities.
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iwork@ausom.net.au

This SIG aims to introduce the Apple applications that will in time replace AppleWorks, and which for many users have already replaced MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The SIG mainly focuses on iWork for the Mac. Basic principles and differences from the 'traditional' applications will be the primary focus. Tips and techniques which may be of benefit for other applications will also be investigated.
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dragon-dictate@ausom.net.au

This SIG is about using Dragon Dictate, the Voice to Text application that runs on Intel Macs using OS X 10.6.0 or later, and MacSpeech Scribe. Come along and see how Dictate may be able to help you make better use of your Mac.
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ipod-itunes@ausom.net.au

While it is quite possible to gain a great deal from iTunes without using iPods, the reverse does not apply, as iTunes is needed to load audio and video content onto an iPod.

This SIG aims to demonstrate how to use iTunes to get the most out of iPods, as well as keeping up with the various technological improvements that are progressively made to iPods and iTunes.
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genealogy@ausom.net.au

The Genealogy Special Interest Group combines those two wonderful pastimes of Macintosh computers and Genealogy. We look at how to both research and record your family history using your Mac. Reunion for Mac is proving to be the most popular genealogical software for Mac users and time is spent exploring the features of this program. Items on the list include:

• What records are available and from where?
• Use of the Internet in genealogical research.
• Storage of information.
• Charts
• Scanning and including photographs on the family tree.

Entering your tree into a computer program.
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garageband@ausom.net.au

The GarageBand SIG commenced in 2007 following requests by interested members, some of whom were trained musicians; others were movie makers wanting to make original soundtracks to their Movies. Some needed to develop their skills in podcasting for their careers and the remainder were curious to explore the number of musical options made possible by GarageBand.

The strength of this SIG is the diversity of members and their willingness to share their skills. The monthly sessions are based on Workshops where members are encouraged to be active participants. Individuals demonstrate their particular interest be it construction of compositions, making of enhanced podcasts, making of soundtracks to accompany their individual Movies or importing sound from connected musical instruments and the voice to be edited in GarageBand.

What has become clear to GB users is that an understanding of iMovie, iTunes and iPhoto can enrich the many possibilities available in GarageBand. Regular email contact with the group is kept by the Coordinator of the SIG during the month as GB matters of interest become available.
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iphone@ausom.net.au

 This SIG is about the use of the Apple iPhone. We talk about the use of the standard Apple installed applications, the Settings available under the Settings menu, what they mean, how to use them and how to connect to a Wireless Network etc.

We also talk about all the Applications that are available from the Apple App Store, both free and paid, we talk about syncing your iPhone to your Mac using iTunes, all the options that are available about how you can sync some or all of your Photo's, Address Book, Music, Videos etc.

If you have an iPhone, or are considering purchasing one, come along and learn from us, and we may also learn from you, all the things that an iPhone can do.
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retirees-others@ausom.net.au

This group is aimed at anyone who has an interest in Macs, at any level of expertise, and who is free on the second Wednesday morning of the month. We are an informal group and newcomers to the Mac are very welcome. The presentation topics vary from interesting new products to actually using common applications or a session where the more knowledgable members answer questions from the floor. The meeting usually hosts two speakers and during the coffee break there are always other members ready to discuss problems or just engage in chit-chat, not necessarily computer-oriented.See the Next Meetings page for this month's topics and location details.

amg@ausom.net.au

If you live anywhere on, or near, the Mornington Peninsula, or are taking a holiday down this way, then this is the Apple User Group for you. Our friendly AUSOM Members have diverse interests and varying levels of computer expertise. In 2013 we'll show you how to get started with Apple's Creative programs and how to manage your Mac and iDevice Operating Systems. A variety of informative topics are presented at meetings and experienced members are on hand to answer your questions. All Mac and Apple Device users welcome — this includes beginners, novices and switchers. Further detail, location, schedule.
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everything-ipad@ausom.net.au

This SIG is a joint venture between AUSOM and the Melbourne PC Users' Group. It is held at the Melb. PC premises in Moorabbin on the third Wednesday of each month (except January).

The emphasis is on the Apple iPad and iPhone, and helping people understand the iOS environment.
Membership badges must be worn. Entry is free of charge.
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interactive-books@ausom.net.au

Come on a journey with me and learn how to create interactive books for viewing on an iPad. If you have a story waiting to be told, or information you want to share, then joining this SIG will be a good place to start. Maybe you simply want to find out how interactive books work, or you just want to enjoy being creative. Whatever! We'll have fun learning and creating our SIG workbooks together.

FirstClass Membership will enable you to fully participate in the SIG which is also intended for AUSOM members who can't normally get to the Saturday Meetings. Do you live in Country Victoria, Interstate, or further afield? If so you are welcome to join us — it will be more fun with you around.
Full details await you at: FirstClass > SIG Notes > Interactive Books.
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everything-apple@ausom.net.au

This SIG is a joint venture between AUSOM and the Melbourne PC Users' Group. It is held at the Melb. PC premises in Moorabbin on the second Tuesday of each month (except January).

The emphasis is on Apple iDevices (iPod, iPhone, iPad, AppleTV, Time Capsule Airport Extreme) and helping people understand the Mac environment.
Membership badges must be worn. Entry is free of charge.
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nags@ausom.net.au

The special interest of this group is the issues, concerns and experiences conveyed by participants themselves: members are encouraged to discuss / ask questions about any computer related subject at a beginners level. While our aim is to clarify and expand on themes we encounter, we also aspire to keep the discussion as uncomplicated and non-technical as possible. Members are also encouraged to contact me privately to follow up specific matters. No notes are provided from this SIG.

Many issues raised within this group are resolved immediately, either by other members, by searching MacHelp on our computers or by using the internet. Increasingly, many solutions are quickly and easily found via the internet and we spend some time each session exploring how to best take advantage of this incredible resource. Members who raise more difficult or technical issues are usually directed to advanced SIGs or 'gurus' in the club.
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photoshop@ausom.net.au

In this SIG we explore Photoshop programs, ranging from Photoshop Elements through the various incarnations of Photoshop itself (versions 5 to 7, and now CS).

Click for information about ths month's Photoshop Challenge.

Are you interested in improving your digital photos; restoring old photos; or exploring the myriad of options available to develop text and graphics, combine elements of several photos, and apply filters that produce “works of art”? Join us as we workshop examples of these techniques.
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osx-intermediate@ausom.net.au

Ready to go beyond the basics? Come along to OS X Intermediate and learn how to get more control over your Mac, and maybe how to do things that you didn't know were possible. Recent topics have included taming Flash web content, security, AppleScript, the Growl notification system, calendar sharing, cleaning up your Mac, and the Leopard firewall.

Is there something you particularly want to learn about? Attendees are welcome to request topics for future sessions. Or maybe you have expertise in a particular area that you can share.
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automation@ausom.net.au

SIG description to be provided shortly.

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internet-plus@ausom.net.au

The aim of this SIG is to utilise the internet for whatever the user wants, eg, accessing RSS feeds; ordering photos online via Apple's iPhoto application or anything else related to the internet.

The SIG co-ordinator says that if the internet is used by any other application, then that becomes relevant to the SIG, as is implied by the use of the word Plus in the SIG name.
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fmp@ausom.net.au

This SIG is dedicated to the operation of FileMaker Pro itself. We deal with: menu items; the basics of creating, maintaining and using files; what script steps are for; what functions are for; value lists; defining fields; operation of ScriptMaker. Attendees should bring their simple problems to this meeting on a laptop or CD.
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programmers@ausom.net.au

In the true tradition of programmers everywhere, this SIG keeps its doings pretty well hidden from the rest of us, but it's rumoured that current interests include both Mac and iPhone programming. Interestingly, this SIG has historically produced a number of authors of well-known shareware and later commercial software. So bring along your propeller cap and join them in exploring new languages and the new OS.
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