Couldn’t make it to Paris for last week’s Apple Expo? Chuck Joiner’s Macintosh User Group (MUG) Center currently features a gallery of shots snapped by Apple Regional Liaison team member Alain Pougeoise both before the show opened and after the iMac G5 was revealed. The MUG Center also notes this week that Mac User Group Singapore is giving an iPod to the member who designs the best new Web site for the group; Wellington MUG has opened registration for the New Zealand Digital Solutions Expo being held Sept. 24-25, complete with the second annual MovieFest; and Apple Mac Users Society of Melbourne member Nicholas Pyers will be giving away Macintosh crossword puzzles to interested MUGs on a regular basis.
You can find more information on the MUG Center Web site, where you can also listen to Joiner’s latest user Group Report, which features an interview with Charles Edge, leader of a new user group called Apple Network Managers Association, and offers an in-depth look at the ways Apple supports MUGs.
Joiner also notes this week that many MUGs are gearing up to hold meetings after the summer hiatus. Upcoming get-togethers include: Sept. 8: Apple’s Dave Marra at North Jersey MUG; a profile of such utilities as You Control and Text Wrangler at Club Mac of Hampton; networking options at WhatMUG; a presentation of the iMac G5 at Australia’s Club Mac and an overview of Apple’s Remote Desktop at Apple Network Managers Association.
On Sept. 9: a screening of Savannah MUG’s first televised appearance (the group has also revamped its Web site); a look at iMovie at Southern Maine Apple Users Group; a presentation of Microsoft’s Office for Mac 2004 at ApplePickers MUG; a discussion of graphics editing and audio books at MacApple Users of San Antonio; iLife ’04 tips at Leisure World MUG; “keeping lean and mean” with the best utilities at East Bay MUG; and Photoshop tips and tricks at The Digital Design Group. On Sept. 10: how to buy and sell on eBay at Atlantic City Area MUG; digital photography at Long Island MUG; and “How to Survive BYU with a Mac” at Brigham Young University MUG.
Over the weekend, Sept. 10 will see “Exploring Digital Video” at MainLine MUG; a networking and communications overview at Mac-In-Awe MUG; a look at the 20/20 plug-in for Photoshop at Las Vegas MUG; “Band in a Box” at Macintosh Association of Central New Jersey; and a presentation of EasyDraw (billed as “MacDraw on steroids”) at The Northwest of Us. Finally, MacGroup Detroit will discuss page layout with Adobe InDesign CS on Sept. 11.
Looking ahead, MacBUS will feature Lisa Rysinger of VIDE Productions Inc. at its Sept. 28 meeting. She will present topics pulled from her new book “Exploring Digital Video,” answer questions and participate in a book raffle and signing. MacBUS focuses on the business and professional side of Macintosh use.
Macintosh User Groups interested in seeing their events listed on MacCentral are welcome to send us their news. We post roundups of MUG events and gatherings each week.
If you’re wondering what user group events are happening in your area, visit the MUG Center’s online calendar. Apple also hosts a user group site where you can look for a MUG near you or find out how to start your own group.