Hello All
Here are my Notes for the Photo Group Session of 06/14/2020

TOPIC: Animals; please share images of fauna that walk the earth, fly the skies or swim the seas
The meeting took place via Zoom

Ralph Sutter began the meeting by reviewing the links posted on the web site at https://slobytes.org/digital/links.html
Ralph then shared photos of animals seen around his house and at Santa Margarita Lake.  Sutter used two programs to display his images; Photodex Proshow Producer and DaVinci Resolve.  Photodex ceased to exist on 01/31/2020 but their software still works with the exception of their on-line resources.  Ralph found the freeware program, DaVinci Resolve to be a very sophisticated video editor whose features equal or surpass those of Adobe Premiere.

Doug DePue showed the elephant seals of Piedras Blancas.  They were photographed long before that stretch of Highway 101 offered dedicated viewing areas and vehicle parking lots.

Alan Raul used Adobe Spark and other Adobe products to create photo collages of some of his four-legged friends.

Bob Styerwalt documented Bath Day for his puppy, adding images of backyard birds and bees.

Kaye Raul showed painted cow statues, livestock and wildlife found near the Madonna Inn and the Avila Barn as well as photos of her dog shedding snow drifts of hair.

Stanford Brown captured still images of bison, elephant seals, domesticated fishing cormorants, bears, deer and sundry other wild animals photographed around the world.

Connie Sutter pressed into service stuffed animals and hand puppets from her days as a classroom teacher, finishing off with a shot of her new and very lively puppy.

John Waller shared images of seals in Morro Bay, deer in Yosemite, many animals of the Santa Barbara Zoo and others roaming Hearst Ranch.

NEXT MEETING: Sunday, July 12th, 2020@ 2:00 pm
The topic is Artistic Growth; Learn a new skill for use inside or outside the camera and present it to the group.
The meeting will take place via Zoom

A Zoom invitation will be e-mailed to Photo Group members shortly before the meeting.
The meeting schedule for the remainder of 2020 is as follows
   August 9th
   September 13th
   October 11th
   November 8th
   December 13th

Ralph Sutter

Hello All,
I purchased a Raspberry Pi computer recently.
Here are the specs
•   Raspberry Pi 4 Model B with 1.5GHz 64-bit quad-core ARMv8 CPU
GB RAM
•   CanaKit 3.5A USB-C Power Supply
•   Premium White Case Set of 3 Aluminum Heat Sinks
•   CanaKit Fan
•   Official Raspberry Pi Keyboard and Mouse
•   Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable (6-foot cable)
•   SanDisk 32GB Class 10 MicroSD Card, USB Card Reader Dongle
•   CanaKit Quick-Start Guide
And
64 GB Capacity
•   High-Speed Class 10
•   Pre-loaded with NOOBS -- Just plug and play!
•   Includes MicroSD to SD Card Converter

More at https://www.canakit.com/raspberry-pi-4-complete-starter-kit.html

I also bought a monitor that I mounted to a VESA articulating arm.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NNXH2SS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I’m not sure what I’ll do with my third Raspberry Pi but I’m curious to see the vast improvements in the 4th generation. 
Supposedly, there is a 64 bit version in the works too.  See https://techxplore.com/news/2020-06-raspberry-unveils-8gb-pi-bit.html

Additional Links
Set up raspberry pi  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpJCAafw2qE&feature=emb_rel_end
Set up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzojwG7OB7c -Setup for server


Amazon links (affiliate): CanaKit Raspberry Pi Starter Kit: https://geni.us/jrNeh

FreeNove Ultimate Starter Kit: https://geni.us/KuCDQqK

MagPi (PDF download is free - otherwise you have to subscribe): https://magpi.raspberrypi.org/

Getting Started Guide FULL INSTRUCTIONS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpJCAafw2qE

Ralph Sutter

Hello All,
I recently downloaded the non-linear video editor, DaVinci Resolve.
I wanted to explore the capabilities of the free version versus Adobe Premiere Elements ( $69.99)
The interface, while different than Premiere Elements, is straightforward though very detailed.
DaVinci Resolve is a far more capable than Microsoft Movie Maker (no longer available), a worthy replacement for Adobe Premiere Elements (as well as Adobe Premiere)

Navigate to the links below for more information.

Download Link - DaVinci Resolve (free) and DaVinci Resolve Studio (One time payment of $299.00)
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/

DaVinci Resolve vs DaVinci Resolve Studio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNiNvMFgCyE

DaVinci Resolve vs Adobe Premiere Pro
https://motionarray.com/learn/premiere-pro/davinci-resolve-vs-premiere-pro/

Another take; DaVinci Resolve Studio vs Adobe Premiere Pro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5nJ4RMy8mU
                                                                                                         
DaVinci Resolve 16: Crash Course for Beginners | Basics Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-GzbvmTMn8

Ralph Sutter

Hello All,
I recently used two programs for file management.
I used Duplicate Cleaner Pro to remove duplicate files from my Photo and Video libraries.  When I attempted to copy images from my iPhone X to my Windows 10 desktop, the process failed repeatedly.  When I retried copying files, I ended up with numerous duplicates and nowhere near a complete set of images.
I was only able to copy the 30GB of images by connecting the USB cable from my iPhone to my MacBook Pro laptop.
I searched for a way to find and eliminate duplicate images on my Windows 10 desktop, trying both free and trial software before settling on Duplicate Cleaner Pro.  The trial version limited the number of duplicates that I could identify so I purchased the $29.95 program (discount coupon available).  Learn more at https://www.digitalvolcano.co.uk/dcpro.html
While there are many programs available, both free and paid, to find duplicate files, I found Duplicate Cleaner Pro to be the most comprehensive with the best designed interface.

The second program that I used is Syncback Free.  As the name indicates, this software is free for personal use.  I maintain the SLO Bytes Repository, an archive of information relating to the SLO Bytes PC Users Group, a computer club.  The archives include the SLO Bytes web site for which I am the web master.  Since I create and upload content from multiple computers, I wanted to make sure that my local backup of the web site was complete, regardless of where the content was created.
To synchronize the data between sources, I used the freeware program, Syncback Free.  Learn more at https://www.2brightsparks.com/welcome/backup/freeware.html

Ralph Sutter

Hello All,
Here is the link to Bill James' presentation, Getting to Know Windows 10 from an Insiders' Point of View.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-p-uju19Sw
It was delivered via Zoom on 05/12/2020.
Ralph Sutter

Hello All,
What follows is a re-post of an e-mail that I received from Judy Taylour of SLO Bytes' parent organization, APCUG
Ralph Sutter

APCUG is pleased to announce that we will be having online workshops during the summer and fall.

Getting to Know Windows from An Insiders Point of View

The second Wednesday of the month at:
9 am PT
 
May 13, 2020
June 10, 2020
July 8, 2020
August 12, 2020
 
Moderator: Bill James, APCUG Advisor, Region 8
 
The four 2-hour workshops will be on how to get the best out of Windows 10. There will be how-tos, hands-on demos, and discussion with ample time for Q&A.
 
Week 1
What’s new with Windows 10, the 2004 Spring feature update.
Have you customized your Start menu, Taskbar, and Notifications? What are those  Hidden Icons? How can I immediately get back to my Desktop? Can you easily see your mouse pointer? How about the Display text size? We’ll also take a look at the powerful Search options.
 
Week 2
Settings
We’ll explore the many options you can change to make your computer more secure. Do you know how much Ram you have? What version of Windows? What about the Security & Update area, do you take a look at every once in a while?
Do you check your custom settings after the spring and fall Feature update?
 
Week 3
File Explorer
Back-in-the-day, Bill Gates told us to think of our hard drive as a file cabinet and to organize our files. File Explorer is our handy file cabinet. We’ll dig into File Explorer to see how it can help us with our daily life with our computer. Have you added the helpful checkbox?
 
Week 4
Edge
It’s now a Chromium-based browser. It brings a lot of new features to the table. We will explore all of them and find out if it is the best browser. We’ll also learn how to earn $$ by using Bing.
 
We will use the same Zoom password encrypted meeting URL for each workshop. You will receive the URL after you have registered by completing this form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehQt_aRFj8YItG4tWFPVSzv4byHbcFRIqTtF8ssX_vuoFu3Q/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1

Judy will be the contact point for these workshops and will be available to assist you in connecting to the Zoom sessions.

The registration list will be used to identify everyone in the Waiting Room before being admitted to the session.
 
The next series of workshops will be on Home Automation for Seniors – same time, same place on:
September 9, 2020
October 14, 2020
November 11, 2020
December 9, 2020     

Week 1 - Why do I need it?
Week 2 - Where do I start?
Week 3 - Lights, doorbells, locks, and cameras
Week 4 - Doing It Myself vs Having It Done
 
We will begin by explaining why home automation is important to Seniors. What products are on the market, costs, security, and some real-world testimonials. In the second week, we will talk about how to go about planning your home automation project and best practices. In the third week, we will talk about applications using lights, doorbells, locks, and cameras. Lastly, we will talk about the benefits of making it a DIY project or having a professional install.

Hello All,
This is a re-posting of a notice that I received from Judy Taylour of SLO Bytes' parent organization, APCUG
Ralph Sutter

VIRTUAL TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE (VTC)
Saturday, May 2
10:00 – 1:00 PT
 
APCUG's Virtual Technology Conferences are FREE!

Registration closes @ 11:30 PM ET on May 1
•   Attend using your computer, tablet or phone with the Zoom.us app.
•   Download the app for the device you will be using at:
https://zoom.us/download
 
Test your mic and speakers at: https://zoom.us/test
•   Sessions are 50 minutes with time for Q&A
•   Register once via Eventbrite;
•   You do not need an Eventbrite account to attend the conference
•   You do not need a Zoom account to attend the VTC
•   Before the event, you will receive an email with directions and links for attending Tracks 1, 2 and 3. The links are encrypted, please do not share them with anyone.
•   Day of conference, after connecting via Zoom, it is very helpful if you sign into each presentation you attend via the Chat Box; first and last name you used to register at Eventbrite.
•   Why? If all of the questions aren’t answered during the session, the rest of the answers will be sent to you. Or, there might be a handout.
Register at Eventbrite; https://apcug2.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2cbe3397fb80bd3345cfd3e8f&id=960bdf965e&e=de35115502
 More information at:  https://www.apcug2.org

Questions: Contact virtualconferences@apcug.org
 
TRACK 1
10:00 AM PT
Let's Go Shopping
Ron Brown, Program Chair, Silvercom Computer & Technology Club
Ron will discuss shopping apps that your favorite grocery store uses and show some interesting things you can do with the Walmart software. Navigating the Amazon Eco System with Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh, Deals of the Day, and Amazon Prime Day can be challenging. Ron will cover how to pay on-line, return items, and get your warranties. 

1100 AM PT
Audible
Hewie Poplock, APCUG Rep, Central Florida Computer Society & Sarasota Technology User Group; Chromebook Evangelist
Many people, especially seniors, are finding more free time while confined to their homes. One technology that is not often considered is audiobooks. Reading becomes more difficult as we age. Listening to someone read has become very accessible. There are many ways to get professionally read books for free, inexpensively, or by subscription. Hewie will give a brief background and then provide ways to find thousands of audiobooks. He will also provide a few sample excerpts of books to illustrate the quality of audiobooks.
 
Track 2
10:00 AM PT
A hearing revolution with healthable devices
Dr. Rachele Orsini, Au.D, Central Florida Field Representative
Starkey Hearing Technologies
Today’s technology is more advanced than ever before with artificial intelligence and sensors leading the way and changing lives in many areas including healthcare. Hearing technology has always been an effective and proven solution for individuals with hearing loss but what if we could do more with an ear worn device? At Starkey we are the first and only manufacturer with a life changing healthable device that incorporates Artificial Intelligence and Sensors that do more than just improve hearing.
We have started a hearing revolution with healthable devices that do more for us….they go beyond the traditional hearing aid. Did you ever think that your hearing device would track your physical movements, provide you with a daily brain engagement score, detect a fall and send alerts, answer to voice commands, translate 27 languages in real time and much, much more. This session will highlight who is Starkey and why you should rethink your hearing healthcare with a healthable.

11:00 AM PT
Digitize old album photos into Google Photos and Chromecast to TV
Chris and Jim Guld, Geeks On Tour
Is technology passing you by? Jim and Chris are here to help. Their presentation will show us how to digitize our old album photos into Google Photos and Chromecast them to our TV. Sounds like a great project while we are staying safer in place.

TRACK 3
12:00 PM PT
What's happening with your group while everyone is staying safer in place? Let's share what we are doing with our groups? Meeting via Zoom or another online app? Streaming via Facebook or YouTube? Members are afraid of anything online. Over-thinking how to start having meetings via Zoom? Let's help each other through this crisis and, at the end, still have members who want to attend meetings.

Hello All,

I wrote the following tutorial explaining how one can change the order in which the outstanding freeware image editor, Irfanview, displays images

Irfanview is a powerful free image viewer and much more.

I use it as my default program to open image files.

With Irfanview as my default image viewer, when I click on an image, for example a .jpg file, Irfanview opens the file.

If I want to see the file full screen, I press the Enter key.  The image now covers the entire screen

To display the next image in a file, I press the Right Arrow key.  To go back, I press the Left Arrow key.

To exit full screen display, I press the ESC key

To configure the order in which Irfanview displays images, go to the File Tab of Irfanview and click on Thumbnails

This will open the Irfanview Thumbnails window

In the Irfanview Thumbnails window, click on Options then Sort Thumbnails

This will present the following options
Sort by
    Name
   Date
   EXIF Date (date taken)
   File Size
   File Extension
   Image Width
   Image Height
   Image DPI
   Image Megapixels
   Portrait/Landscape
   No Sort
Choose the desired option and then hide or close Irfanview Thumbnails

When you return to Irfanview (not Irfanview Thumbnails) and press the Right or Left arrow key, the next image will appear according to the sorting choice you made in Irfanview Thumbnails

Ralph Sutter