Fall 2010: Boot Picker Updated

I recently updated boot picker on all of our dual-boot iMacs and MacBook Pros to 2.1.2.

I was also sure to brandish the bootpicker with our most recent Desktop Wallpaper (I jokingly call OS-Slate)...

OS-Slate - Fall 2010 Desktop Background

The boot-picker will have new titles (to fit the more modernized look & feel of the machine) despite the older operating systems. (10.5.8 & XPSP3).... some will have 10.6.3 & XPSP3 while our experimental machines will have 10.6.3 & Win7.... I haven't determined where these will sit yet... but I will let you know.

AutoUpdate Removal(s):

Doble Image
MacOSX---

Disabled Auto-Update for the following Products:
Adobe Reader 9.3.2
Adobe Flash Player 10
CyberDuck  3.2.1 (4923)

OK'd through initial set-up of iTunes 9.1.1

NOTICE:
If you see any areas where Auto-Update is still enabled on ANY product, please report it immediately to ut@lesley.edu (ATTN: labs & classrooms)
Thanks

--Richard

June - Week #1

Today, I am working on updating the software on the Doble computer images.
This "Master" will be applied to all classrooms & lab spaces in the Doble building (DOBL-309, DOBL-413, DOBL-415, DOBL-INFOCOMMONS, and the 24-hour Mollye Lichter Block Computer lab.
And will be ready for FALL 2010

For today:
MacOS---
+OpenXML File Format Converter 1.1.4
+FireFox 3.6.3
+CoolIris 1.11.6
+Safari 4.0.5
+Adobe CS3 Update(s) -- Various programs affected*
+Microsoft 2008 Update 12.2.4
+Bluetooth Firmware Update
+Adobe Updater
+Apple Software Update

Ran ONYX cleaner---
Verified Startup Volume - Check
Fixed Disk Permissions - Check
Cleaned Caches - Check

 =================

Windows XPSP3---
+FireFox 3.6.3
+Uninstall +ReInstall BootCamp 3.0
+Symantec Endpoint Protection
+Windows Update (Various Security Updates & Fixes)
+Installed FlashPlayer 10+configured
+Picasa 3.6
+Sketchup 7.1
 

Known Issues--- Doble InfoCommons

So here in the Labs & Classrooms Office, we are looking to improve the conditions of the computer labs here on Lesley campuses.

We are hoping to address each and every one of these issues, so please let us know if there are any more we need to keep on our radar.  *ALSO, we will be posting updates via this blog or twitter as soon as those issues are resolved:


Area -->  Operating System -->  Software Involved -->  Issue:

• Doble InfoCommons
  Windows XP SP3
  Epson Scan Utility
  Epson Scan Utility won't start (or scanners are not installed)
  
• Doble InfoCommons
  Windows XP SP3
  Sound won't play through headphones (or sound bleeds through mute)

Google Products Updated - Fall 2010

So we have a small assortment of Google brand products installed on our workstation(s):

Sketchup 7.1
Earth 5 & Earth Plugin for Firefox
Picasa 3.6

We have disabled the desktop application and updates.
*if you notice the desktop app and/or updates for google running on ANY of our lab machines, please let us know!

Love the Smell of New MacBookPros

13" MacBook Pros for Check-Out!

Coming SOON!

And it only really pertains to staff and faculty (sorry, students)...
We will be offering 13" MacBook Pros for loaners *for presentations, classroom instruction, & guest speakers, etc. to replace the IBM ThinkPads & Apple G4 Laptops that we used to check-out.....
These new machines will be dual-boot (with SnowLeopard (MacOSX 10.6.x) and Windows XP SP3)... and will contain the basic presentation software, media codecs, and SMART board Notebook software.

We have finalized the deployment images and are testing them now...

I'm really not at liberty to say more, but expect them to be "reservable" starting the Fall 2010.

***And for students, sorry... i didn't mean to get your hopes up.
The Academic Computing Department at the Art Institute of Boston offers Laptops for Checkout.
AND, you can use one of many computers in our labs.

SMART *and others

Today, I gave a training/product Demo of the Whiteboard in UNIV-3-087 (the "math lab")*

*It's interesting.. this space is known as the "Math Lab"... because of the extra bits of hardware in it:  it contains a SMART board, and a document camera.... FANCY.

I digress.

I was basically showing some folks from the Reading Recovery program the most basic features of the "Begs-to-be-touched" board and screen capturing.  They had asked me before during a conference where an outside guest came-in to show-off her curricular materials.

We currently possess 2x SMART-brand smart-boards (UNIV-2-141 & UNIV-3-087) and a PolyVision Interactive Whiteboard* (UNIV-2-078) which I can get into later.. *ugh.

To make a long-story short:
Running an interactive SMART board, you will need 3 things:

1. a Mac or PC (either will do, the requirements vary,....)
2. SMART Notebook software  --- Note:  you can probably download it from this site as a "trial.".. But if you are a Faculty or Staff, you will get access to our Lesley University license... which includes upgrades FOR LIFE. ^_^.
3. a USB Cable.

The rest is up to calibration and finding a way to make materials "interactive".... *good luck with that.

The eLearning & Instructional Support (eLIS) department would be a good place to start.

At any rate...

Cheers.

Useful links:

http://smarttech.com/