2008 06 03 Minutes of Mactalk Meeting.

Minutes of "MacTalk Hunter" General  Meeting:
Tuesday 3rd June 2008

Business arising:
   • AGM will be held before the next (July) meeting
   • Membership now due for all members.
   • Motion: "Members who have joined in the last 3 months
    have already paid for the 08 - 09 MacTalk year."
    Moved: Jim Bell. Seconded: Rosemary Lovell. Carried
   • Badges good but better if printed a lighter shade of blue.
   • Membership Card template tabled.
   • CD of the month delivered .. 13 sold so far
    ($130 income for the club!)
   • "Turn your Mac into a server." tabled ... see Paul Sutcliffe.
    Turn your old Mac into a backup server  ----
    ( http://www.macworld.com/article/46352/2005/08/
    oldmacnewtricks1.html )
    How to Turn Your Mac Into an FTP Server
    ( http://www.macinstruct.com/node/152 )
    How to Turn Your Mac Into a Web Server
    ( http://www.macinstruct.com/node/112 )
Apple Update:
   • News coming about  iPhone ...
    not sure nothing official yet.
    Optus, ( http://www.optusiphone.com.au/home.aspx )
    Vodafone, ( http://store.vodafone.com.au/iphone/?s_kwcid
    =iphone%20vodafone|1650977355 )
     "iPhone in Australia", (http://www.iphoneinaustralia.com/)
    {good rumor wrap up}
   • Mac OS X 10.5.3 Update released May 28th 420Mb
    (Needs 10.5.2)
   • Mac OS X 10.5.3 Combo Update is 536Mb (Needs 10.5)
    (Suggestion: in future someone should bring stand alone
    updates to the meeting for the "bandwidth challenged")
   • 10.4.11 security update issued ...
    Power PC version , Intel version
      "05/28/2008 Security Update 2008-003
    is recommended for all users."

Main Talk:
    David Morrison: VOIP; (Voice Over Internet Protocol)
       (  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VOIP )
    Introduction:
   • 40 years ago exchanges were digitised ..
    this overcame signal degradation over distance.
   • Then came the internet ... digital packets of 250 bytes sent
    ... called packet switching
   • VIOP is digitised voice packets sent over the internet
   • Can be much cheaper
    (25 - 50% cheaper to mobile phones and international)
   • VOIP needs at least 512k download speed
    but is better at1500k.
   • Drawbacks include "artifacts", echo, "break up"
    or dropped words.
   •In a blackout (power failure) voip probably won't work.
    Terry Wellard noted that exchanges gave good backup
    systems but it's not clear that they back up data transfer.
    (Check with Telstra)
   How is it done:
   •Skype ( http://www.skype.com/intl/en/welcomeback/ )
    ( On Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype )
    Skype is free for computer to computer
   •Skype Out ( http://www.skype.com/intl/en/features/)
    Skype Out allows you to SMS as well as call and be
    called from a mobile or a land line.
   •SIP ( Session Initiation Protocol ) calls - free for internal,
    10 -18 cents nationwide
    (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Session_Initiation_Protocol)
    You will need a SIP Phone provider
    (here is an example listing)
    (http://www.voipproviderslist.com/country/voip-australia/
      voip-providers-australia/)
   •Analog Telephone Adapter or a VOIP ADSL router
    (Wikipedia) (Some Reviews)
    Examples include "Engin" box or the
    "Billion ADSL VOIP Router",
    this service will need a VOIP provider on top of your
    ADSL provider.
    The analog box (eg Engin) is tied to a provider
    but is portable, it works from any ADSL network
    connection. A good option is to use this setup
    with a chordless phone. Example providers are:
    MyNetPhone (https://www.mynetfone.com.au/)
    from 12c/call to 250 calls $19.95
    iiNet (http://www.iinet.net.au/products/voip/rates.html)
    $9.95/mth 15c/call
   •Skype vs iChat ... similar except you can't dial out.
   •David demonstrated using a mobile phone as a modem and
    used it to make a voip call. The quality was outstanding!
   •Demo of X-Lite Soft Phone - (it crashed ...)
    (http://www.counterpath.com)
   •Headphone quality is importand and a
    USB headphone works best
    $65 USB Headset. $60 - $80 for a USB phone.
   •VOIP Phone Number: this is a special number and
    can be set up as a local number anywhere in the world.
    ie. overseas relations able to make a local call
    to you in Australia!
General Business
   •General business was mostly further discussion of
    VOIP and ADSL.
   •Possible topics for the future --
    Compression Technology, ISP Plans.
Meeting Close 7:30