We still cannot have in-person meetings at the library. So we will use Zoom.
Date: Monday March 24, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM ET You can join the Zoom meeting starting at 7:20.
Join Zoom Meeting
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Although Zoom works in many browsers we STRONGLY recommend using the dedicated app on your device with the largest screen for the best experience.
You do NOT need a Zoom account to join a meeting!
If you need instructions, go here: https://mugoo.com/index.php/Main/UsingZOOM
Agenda:
0 - Group chin-wag during log on 7:20 - 7:30
1 - News and Views - Members' new tech arrivals 7:30 - 7:40
2 - "Slo-Mo" & "No-Mo" ...
- using Slo-Mo video on the iPhone
- No-Mo frustration when you digitize photo
albums using Photomyne with Laurence Head 7:40 - 8:15
3- Apple Intelligence and other AI options group discussion 8:15 - 9:00
Unfortunately, no after meeting wings or desserts at the Royal Oak, but feel free to prepare your own snacks and share them with us on screen!
Did you miss a meeting?
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Don't forget the Ottawa Public Library!
Even though we are unable to meet in person at the library, the OPL still offers a wealth of services you can access online. Go to https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en
0 - Group chin-wag during log on
Ross shared a recent unfortunate experience of breaking his foot after falling into a telephone service pit (!) while walking in the woods. He will be another week in the "boot." It appears there may be some compensation from the phone company.
1 - News and Views - Members' new tech arrivals
Marc mentioned his recent upgrade to an Anker 200-watt Gallium nitride charger, which can charge two laptops at full power or six devices simultaneously https://www.anker.com/products/a2683-anker-prime-charger-200w-6-ports-gan?variant=43856909074582 He replaced several chargers with just this one. It's secure, very compact, and supports both Power Delivery 3 and USB C. It also works well as a travel charger.
Keith discussed his upgrade to Carbon Copy Cloner version 7, which now allows for separate backups of both his iPhone and Mac. It can essentially do everything that Time Machine does, but with more features and flexibility https://bombich.com
In our meeting, we reminisced about the history of MUGOO, which dates back to 1986. We discussed the early days, including bi-monthly newsletters, the transition from Postscript to True Type fonts, and the introduction of Quark and Pagemaker. Prior to the Centrepoint Library meeting venue, we used to gather at the Sir Robert Borden Cafeteria and prior to that at Up and Running on Churchill, then at the Merivale store. Marc has the original 1987 letters of incorporation and will mail these to Wally. NCMC/MUGOO is one of the oldest continually running Apple User Groups (Sydney Australia has had theirs since 1984). Some of our current members have been part of MUGOO since its inception.
To complete our walk down Memory Lane, you can view the April 1995 NCMC Update issue edited by LeRoy Lees and Steve Lawrenson ... 30 years ago! https://mugoo.com/bigfiles/2025_03_24_NCMC_Update_April_1995.pdf
2 - "Slo-Mo" - with Laurence Head
Laurence had logged into Zoom using a Safari window and was initially unable to share his screen. There may be some browser settings that would rectify this, but in the end it was easier to log out of the Safari window and use the Zoom app. Laurence was then able to share his screen successfully, allowing the group to view his desktop.
Laurence presented a series of slow-motion videos captured on various iPhone models, demonstrating the evolution of this feature since the iPhone 6. He explained that Apple's slow-motion video typically includes one second of normal speed at the beginning and end, with the middle portion slowed down. He showcased different examples, including water droplets creating bubbles and a wasp on a chair cushion, highlighting how slow-motion can reveal interesting details in nature. He also discussed the technical improvements in frame rates and resolution across iPhone generations, noting that the latest models offer 4K Dolby Vision at 120 frames per second. Recognize that such stunning high res videos require significant storage space, roughly 1 GB per minute.
Laurence also showed us other iPhone slo-mo examples, including a dog barking, waterfalls in Iceland, and pouring a carbonated soda drink. The group discussed the creative possibilities and limitations of slow-motion photography, including its impact on perceived scale and distance.
3 - Photomyne "No-Mo" frustration when you digitize photos - with Laurence Head
Laurence then presented the Photomyne photo scanner app https://photomyne.com/get-photomyne which he discovered through an Instagram ad. This was last presented at MUGOO by LeRoy in March 2017. For reference, that presentation deck has been included below. The app allows users to quickly digitize analog photographs using their smartphone camera, saving time compared to traditional scanning methods. It can capture multiple photos in a single shot, automatically crop and enhance them, and allows users to add metadata like dates, locations, and people's names. It's great for scanning old album pages and works best if the plastic overaly is first peeled back. Laurence mentioned that the app cost him $79 Canadian for two years of use which includes cloud backup. With a tripod, it's possible to process 400 images in an hour. LeRoy mentioned his recent experience of accessing old photos through the app, even after his membership had expired.
Laurence also shared a colourized and sharpened version of an old black and white photograph featuring his grandmother (Nana) and her mother in Toronto from the 1930s. He explained how he used Google Lens to identify the location and discussed the app's colourization process.
Lawrence mentioned his preferred method for digitizing slides using a mirrorless camera setup, which he finds effective despite being initially fiddly to set up. Ross suggested photographing slides on a light table using an iPhone, which Lawrence agreed to try. The group discussed other challenges with digitizing old photographs, including dealing with glare and dust.
Keith inquired about what to do with unused Kodak Carousel slide trays, and the group suggested selling them on Kijiji or eBay.
Gillian wrapped up the meeting, thanking Lawrence for his presentation and postponing the discussion on AI to a future meeting.