The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Editorial Ash Nallawalla ash@melbpc.org.au |
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In case you haven't already discovered Stan Johnstone's handy collation of Melb PC's history (mostly through the Presidential pages and Editorials), please visit http://www.melbpc.org.au/pcupdate/history.htm. Thanks Stan!
ACT! 7.0
The popular contact management software ACT! has been updated in a big way. Version 7.0 now features a relational database rather than the previous flat-file methodology. Another biggie is the ability to associate companies with the individuals. This was a shortcoming in ACT! 6.0 and I had marked it down when I did a comparative review for APC magazine in late 2002. The program can handle up to 50,000 contacts and the Workgroups edition can handle 100,000. I hope to review it in an upcoming issue.
Cool Technologies
Recently, I had the chance to view some innovative new products at the IT Journo Forum in NSW. A Greek company named Unibrain makes some interesting FireWire-based products. Its local distributor CamCom launched a palm-held device called iZak. It is reminiscent of the Apple iPod but is no relation. Available in 40 GB and 80 GB flavours, it stores most multimedia files - DVD, DivX, MPEG-4, MP3, still images and so on. You connect it to a TV screen to view the files, say when you are visiting relatives and want to show them 1 million of your best photographs, play 20,000 MP3s, 15 DVDs and so on. Visit www.unibrain.com/home for details.
Destiny Wireless has a digital pen targeted at companies whose people have to fill out paper forms while on the road and where the data is required as quickly as possible. For example, a travelling salesperson can fill out an order form on specially printed paper and the pen will transfer the data through Bluetooth to a GPRS-equipped mobile phone and thence to the company's computer. The pen can also capture handwriting and illustrations, so court reporters, for example, could send sketches or reports while the court was still in session. Visit www.destinywireless.co.uk for details.
IBM showed the Vocera Communications Badge, a hands-free, voice recognition device that replaces multiple, discrete devices such as a mobile phone and a pager. It uses 802.11b WiFi to reach a central server that runs Windows 2000. Ican makes and receives telephone calls and text messages. See www.vocera.com.
The Editors
Back in September 2000 I wrote in the Editorial the following words, which bear repeating, because new members are not aware of the situation and long-time members might have forgotten:
"I would like to explain how this magazine is structured, as there is some understandable confusion, judging from some letters that are sent to us. The group is the publisher. I am the honorary Editor but I only look after this page and product reviews. Major Keary is the honorary Book Reviews Editor. He looks after book reviews and writes some feature articles. Stan Johnstone maintains our online edition.
"Gary Taig is the Features Editor and he is the Producer under a contractual arrangement; he determines the overall content. Gary is also the Production Manager and looks after every aspect of production including advertising, typesetting, printing and delivery."
Please use the address pcupdate@melbpc.org.au to write to Gary and me; this includes all submissions for publication. We cannot emphasise enough that we need more writers, so if you are interested, please contact us. A style guide is available on the PC Update Web page, as is an author release form.
The above has been the case since late 1999 and has worked well for us ever since. As the contractor responsible, Gary has to deliver a magazine to members for a fixed price, eleven times a year, rain or shine, whatever it costs him. My unpaid task is easier - if I don't have reviewers willing to write, you see fewer product reviews, but Gary still has to deliver 64 pages. As you will see on the cover, this magazine won the top APCUG award for large groups last year.
A draft contract was circulated but never finalised, which is not ideal, but previous committees and this one have not considered it a major issue. Gary is also an Honorary Life Member of this group and was previously involved with the magazine for many years as a volunteer and has served as Secretary and a Committee member. We all agree that this issue needs to be revisited soon and we will do so.
Alternative Communications
We have been toying with the idea of a Web-based forum for some weeks and have plans for updating the Group's Web site next year. Our Founder Lloyd Borrett has agreed to help us with such initiatives. In a volunteer organisation, we rely on members to come forth and do their bit for the "users helping users" part of our motto. This includes participating in our online forums, which are presently in the form of newsgroups. Since a few members have had difficulty in finding them, we are paying more attention to delivering a Web-based alternative.
Reprinted from the November 2004 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
