SnagIT 2020 Released!

 

 

 

Snagit 2020 – Quick, Powerful Screen-Capture, Capture Editing Software

Have you guys ever wondered what software I use to create my quick captures of my screen? The shorter ones, that include arrows, pointers, that capture still images and video of my screen, that allows me to quickly point out what’s important in my capture, and allows me to share it quickly to my YouTube channel, or to the Adobe Community pages?

Well, that software is Techsmith’s Snagit. And the 2020 version has been released!

Snagit is more than just a screenshot tool. It enables better visual content, by providing quick tools and screenshot/capture editing power. Customize and edit every screenshot or video (or convert videos to animated GIF’s) with ease, power and performance.

To check out the power of Snagit, visit here!

Here’s what’s new in Snagit 2020:

  • Snagit 2020 introduces two new creation tools and enterprise outputs to Slack and Box – With over 15 sharing outputs Snagit makes it even easier to share content at work
  • Create from templates: Use pre-made layouts to create visual documentation, tutorials, and training materials.
  • Create video from images: Talk and draw over a series of screenshots to create a quick “how-to” video or GIF
  • TechSmith Assets for Snagit: Create even better-looking instructional content with an annual subscription to TechSmith Assets for Snagit. A paid subscription gets you access to thousands of stamps, photos, and templates.

Get ALL of that functionality for $49.95 USD

Snagit is one app I can’t do without. I hope you find it just as helpful as I do!

WARNING About Apple iOS 13 Release

image courtesy of Pexels.com

So, I was all set to upgrade my iPhone 8 to the newly released iOS13. I’d backed up my phone and cleaned up what I could.

Before any update or upgrade, I usually do a last-minute check to see how others are doing with it (WISH I’d done that with Safari 13, but hadn’t even noticed it’d been released!) And, I’m SO GLAD I checked today!

According to many articles, including Forbes Magazine, this major iOS is a dud, despite the GLOWING pre-release reviews! This article even quotes one developer as describing the iCloud synchronization (KEY for almost every Apple Device User) as a “clusterfuck”!

I had been looking forward to this, but I’m SO grateful I read about it first.

I know some of you don’t know how to turn off the Automatic Update feature. There are a few ways to accomplish this, depending on what you’re updating:

  1. Go to the Settings App, Choose General, Select Software Update, and at the bottom or your screen, turn Automatic Updates to “Off”. If your software is already downloaded, you may (depending on your device) delete the download from that screen, or
  2. In the Settings App, select iPhone Storage. There, you’ll see a list of what’s installed (and how much space it takes). Many devices will show the download there, and if you select it, you can Delete it. AND
  3. From the Settings App. Scroll to find “iTunes & App Stores”, and turn off Automatic downloads for Updates (and anything else you want to control, personally).

I hope this can save you the headache of having to deal with a messed up system, likely messed up Contacts and Calendaring, and awaiting the pushed up update until a few days from now.

 

BACKUP!!!!!!

As all of my clients and students know, I’m a stickler for telling everyone to BACKUP their data – regularly – automatically, and in multiple places. Personally, I use 2 local backups (one is a clone of my data and a separate for my hard drive – AND I use MacOS’s Time Machine). But I also keep an offsite secure backup in the cloud. I live in earthquake country – and nothing would stink worse than if my hardware was all broken and my data irretrievable (of course, there’s always DriveSavers, but despite my discount, it’s quite expensive). Also, if you guys ever DO need a discount from DriveSavers, please use Discount code DS16297.

For my offsite backup, I’ve been using Backblaze for YEARS. Their uploads are unobtrusive, their security is raged as VERY GOOD, and their prices are extremely  reasonable. They’ve also recently increased the speed of their ability to download files, and added the ability to choose specific files (instead of folders) to restore when necessary.

Many of my clients have been using Crashplan’s Home backup option. Well… they’ve stopped taking new subscriptions, and they’re shutting down the Home version of their options as of October, 2018.

Backblaze is VERY interested in picking up this business – and since I do appreciate their service – AND their support when I needed it, I’m writing this post to recommend them. Take a look at their options. AND, if you do like their offerings, and use my referral link, we both get a free month of service!

Referral link: https://secure.backblaze.com/r/01c089

As I said, your data is irreplaceable. Have you noticed that when you create something, and work on it until it’s right, that you can never really duplicate it again, if you need to? It’s never quite the same? Backup is the only  option, and as for Cloud Backup, I recommend BackBlaze!

 

Having Problems with SPAM Calendar Entries on MacOS and IOS Calendars?

Lately, many of is with Macs and iDevices are finding unsolicited invitations to random events (usually SPAM sales) in our calendars. Needless to say, people have been feeling less than happy about this garbage, and it seems there’s been no way to remove these without hitting “decline” (which lets spammers know they’ve hit a valid spam location).

Although there currently appears to be no way to stop this spam, CNET has come up with some ways to remove them from your calendar without alerting spammers that you exist – and a method of ensuring these don’t get into your calendar in the future.

Check out this article at:
http://download.cnet.com/blog/download-blog/block-apple-calendar-spam-ios-macos/?ttag=e415&ftag=TREf2961de&tag=nl.e415&s_cid=e415&ttag=e415&ftag=TREf2961de

Adapters you need for the New MacBook Pro – SAVE UP!

Techconnect.com has an article that lists all the various adapters necessary to use your peripherals (wired printers, external hard drives, monitors, iDevice connectors, etc.) with the new Thunderbolt 3 technology. Granted, Thunderbolt 3‘s power is amazing – can push up to 100W of power, the data transfer speed is 40Gbps, it can run two 4K monitors, and power tons of devices at once. But this power comes at a cost. Firstly – the only connective technology with which it’s directly compatible is USB-C. If you have ANY older devices, you’ll need to shell out more money for new adapters to suit your varying peripherals.

So, be ready – if you’re preparing to dish out between $2,400-$3400 on a new MacBook Pro – remember to build a few hundred more into your budget if you want to work with all your previous devices.

MacBook Pro Thunderbold 3 Adapter Guide (techconnect.com)

Transmission BitTorrent client was found distributing Malware

Just a warning! People using the Transmission BitTorrent client software may have given hackers access to their computers. According to a MacWorld.com article, People who downloaded a new version of Transmission this past Sunday and Monday (August 28th and 19th, 2016) may have installed the affected software, capable of spreading malware through your system.

If you may be affected, please read the article at: http://bit.ly/2c2Akkc

Will Parallels Prove Themselves Thieves? Answer – They’re Trustworthy!

UPDATE!
You should be informed – I heard back from Parallels today – SAME day I requested their flexibility – and they DID do the right thing! As I’ve been a loyal customer for many years, they honored my purchase, and offered me a new license key for the new version of the software! They ARE trustworthy!

As you all know, I believe in offering both praise an condemnation when appropriate. I praise Parallels today, for doing what’s right!

——————————————

Many of you have seen me teach using Parallels to emulate the Windows environment on my Mac. Overall, I’ve found it to be the most reliable, user friendly emulation software among all the alternatives.

I’d delayed my purchase of their version 11, because I had no need of it until I upgraded my Virtual Machine to Windows 10. That was July 28th. Yesterday, Parallels announced the release of their Version 12. Oddly, their “free upgrade” for recent purchases section only allows free upgrades for software registered between August 1st (25 days prior to the release) and October 30th (when people won’t be able to buy the old version, anyway).

I’ve contacted them about the 2 day discrepancy – almost NO software company declines to offer free upgrades for purchases less than 30 days.

I’ve touted Parallels’ virtues to many of my students and clients over the years. I have my request to extend the free upgrade date on escalation. I’ll keep you updated on the outcome, as I’d never again suggest this software to anybody, if they choose to enforce their unreasonable and draconian rules in this situation.

Really Interesting and Informative Typography Article

As almost all of my students know, I’m a bit of a type geek. So, imagine how fulfilled my inner geek feels, when I find blog post about Typefaces, Type Structure, Type families, Type anatomy, and Type Classification, the use of Type in Paragraphs, Typographic Terms like kerning and spacing, Page Layout and Type, and so much more!

Although this article is written with a focus on software development, the article is about DESIGN. Knowing what you’re using, and why. As I always say “in design, you can always break the rules, but first you have to know what the rules are!”

I seriously recommend this article to all my design students, my motion graphics students, my still image students, and anyone else who feels that Type is more than just a way to make a word show up.

http://www.imaginarycloud.com/blog/a-typography-workshop/?ref=webdesignernews.com

NY Post Reports That B&H Photo is Unfair to Minority Workers

As a hobbyist photographer, and a professional computer technician and software teacher, I’ve used this company for years. Even did the “pilgrimage” to visit them, last time I was in NY. I was so excited to see the actual PLACE.

This store is very popular online, for computer equipment, photography equipment, video equipment and assorted other, related paraphernalia.

I’m EXTREMELY angered and disappointed to read this about them. I will do my best to find and use good competitor companies to fulfill my needs in the future.

This pains me.
http://nypost.com/2016/02/25/bh-forced-hispanic-workers-to-use-separate-bathroom-feds/

 

Unlimited Cloud Backup – $50/year

It happened. My backup hard drive used for my daily backup died. It was one of those 4TB MyBooks, that is made up of a RAID of 2, 2TB disks. On that SAME day, I had to teach an online class, which often somehow screws up my Time Machine (which takes ages to fix, but is doable, and got done). BUT, I still felt my data was safe in the event of a serious problem because I’d just renewed my subscription (I’d gotten an initial free 3 month trial) for BackBlaze. I figured that having ALL my other work data on the cloud for only $50/year wasn’t a bad idea – and indeed it wasn’t!

BackBlaze doesn’t back up my operating system, applications or parts of my user folder, but I have several other terabytes of data that sits on my startup and other connected drives. I live in earthquake country and my office electrical is… let’s say… overloaded. I was given a gift of a new 4TB multi-interface replacement backup drive so I can have my local backup again (nice gift, right?)- AND I ALWAYS HAVE A SEPARATE LOCAL CLONED BACKUP OF MY STARTUP DRIVE – but for $50 I had peace of mind – and that’s a great thing!

Check them out at www.BackBlaze.com.