A couple weeks ago we updated you on the evolution of Christopher Breen’s Breen’s Bungalow into the Macworld Video podcast.

Chris and Macworld asked us to remind you that the newest edition is available now. If you liked Breen’s Bungalow, you’ll love the latest edition to the Macworld stable of Mac industry coverage.

This edition deals with something that everyone can identify with: the need to deal with email spam. Chris discusses filtering techniques, third-party utilities that will help cut down on the spam assault and some “Don’ts” when addressing spam.

Tell your user group about the change to the Bungalow and encourage them to subscribe to the new show. You can also show the video at your group’s meeting and use it as the basis for discussion or additional demos of the products Chris identifies.

Chris talked about the change, and what it meant for Mac User Groups in MacNotables #725.

There’s a change in the wind for the very popular Breen’s Bungalow, the video series that Macworld Senior Editor Christopher Breen and Macworld magazine have made available to Mac User Groups.

We’re happy to report that Chris’ efforts have not gone unnoticed, and that the Bungalow has now officially morphed into the Macworld Video podcast. That means that your group no longer has to wait for the special release or worry about coordinating it with your meeting schedule. You’ll now be able to enjoy it as soon as it becomes available by subscribing to it on iTunes.

Recent editions of Macworld Video include two Apple TV editions, a special on the coolest software from Macworld Conference & Expo and more.

You can hear Chris talk about the evolution of the Bungalow into Macworld Video, along with his newest responsibility as the host of the Macworld Podcast (audio) and the ins and outs of podcast production on MacNotables #725.

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Tropical Software’s James Lee is coming to New York in May for a three-night mini Mac User Group Tour.

Jim will be showing off TopXNotes and TopXNotes iPod on three consecutive days at three different New York area MUGs:

• May 10 - MetroMac
• May 11 - Long Island Macintosh User Group
• May 12 - Macintosh Association of Central New Jersey

While Jim would obviously like to live up to his position in the Top MUG Presenters for both 2005 and 2006 by presenting to Mac User Groups everywhere, that just isn’t possible, so Jim recently did the next best thing, sending CDs of one of his user group presentations to MUGs in North Carolina, Michigan, Indiana, Arkansas…even to New Zealand.

Keep watching the MUG Event Calendar to see where Jim will turn up next, and if you are interested in getting a copy of his presentations, contact him directly or email us here at The MUG Center and we’ll pass the request along.

The O’Reilly User Group Program has published the April edition of their “User Group Program News.” Items in this month’s edition include:

• A new O’Reilly blog that will include user group activities
• Notification that the O’Reilly User Group wiki now requires a user name and password due to wikispam. Instructions on how to add your group’s information are included.
• Book review information
• O’Reilly authors as speakers
• A call for Slashdot reviewers
• A free book for web banner placement offer
• and more.

Also on the O’Reilly schedule for the folks in the Bay Area in California is the Ignite Expo, to be held on Sunday, April 15. The event will feature sixteen speakers, each getting 5 minutes to speak and only twenty slides to support them (and those automatically transition every fifteen seconds).
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The world of personal computing is constantly changing, and that means user groups are also constantly changing..or at least they should be. We’ve seen many groups enthusiastically and successfully adapt to new technology, new socialization options and new structure models. We’ve also seen many groups struggle with those issues and more, missing opportunities for benefit, interaction and fun.

There have been lots of discussions but not enough specific action to help groups accomplish the evolution necessary to survive and thrive in today’s environment. That’s why The MUG Center is starting a new regular feature: Take Your Group to 2.0.

Each week for the next year (yes, year), we’ll be providing you and your group a tip on how to improve and put you in the User Groups 2.0, best of class category. Many of the pieces to the puzzle are simple. Some will be repeats, yet we see many groups who don’t do them. If you’re already doing them, that’s great: you’re ahead of the game. If not, we believe most of them will be easy to implement, especially if you are truly interested in moving your group forward.

“Taking Your Group to 2.0″ will include best practices, ideas about what you have been doing, what you should be doing and more, all in bite-sized pieces that are more likely to be implemented than if we just published one big list that looks overwhelming. We want to help you get and keep you in the mindset of advancing your group.

We’ll start the list with a very simple one: Publish your group’s next meeting date and topic on the front page of your web site.

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As part of his User Group University keynote presentation, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak discussed the challenges of creating ringtones for his cell phone. Eddy Nivens of the Charlotte Apple Computer Club provided some information during the discussion, and has generously provided us with a tutorial on the subject.

Need a topic for your next meeting? Teach your members how to stop paying those exorbitant ringtone fees and convert their favorite tracks for use on their cell phones by downloading the package of screenshots and the instructions. If you do, be sure to credit Eddy and his work.

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The MUG Center’s Leadership Library has been updated with links to the presentations from the eighth User Group University, held in conjunction with Macworld Expo 2007.

The half-day event featured sessions that both entertained and informed attendees. Highlights included:

• a keynote presentation by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak

• a “Dream Team” panel discussion that featured Macworld Senior Editor Christopher Breen, TidBITS and Take Control chief Adam Engst and Houston Chronicle tech columnist Bob LeVitus

• a forward-looking session by MacGroup-Detroit president Terry White

All five UGU sessions have been added to the most complete listing of Mac User Group resources on the web.
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Macworld Conference & Expo is the year’s biggest Mac event and deserves extensive coverage. That’s why MacVoices delivered a total of fifty-three shows focusing on the people, companies and events that made this year’s show something extra-special.

Looking for a way to help share the depth of information from Macworld with your group? MacVoices’ coverage included the Road to Macworld 2007 series, four Daily Wrap-Up Panel Discussions, several shows featuring the presentations from the Adobe User Group & Professional Association Breakfast, and an extensive set of interviews recorded live on the show floor.

MacVoices also hosted a special event, MacVoices at Expo featuring Pandora, where we talked with some of the key players from the online music service, Pandora, as well as some of the Bay area’s music celebrities and some very special Mac Pandora fans.

You don’t just have to listen either. You can see some of the MacVoices’ sights by visiting the MacVoices at Expo Photo Set on Flickr.

Use our complete listing of Macworld 2007 shows to easily find your favorites.

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The new edition of Christopher Breen’s “Breen’s Bungalow” is now available for Mac User Groups as a resource for their meetings and membership CDs and DVDs.

In this edition, Chris shows off ways to enhance your web browsing by customizing your browser. Whether it is enabling hidden options in Safari or adding plug-ins to Firefox, Chris will help you get more from your online time.

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A new edition of Christopher Breen’s Mac 911 column has been posted to The MUG Center’s Newsletter Content email list.

This month, Chris talks about Mail filters, Dashboard widgets, Microsoft Office Test Drive and AppleWorks and the Intel Mac, along with a reader tip on Smart Playlists.

Make sure your group’s content manager (web master, newsletter editor or both) are subscribed to the list so they can receive and share this terrific resource with your group, courtesy of Chris, Macworld magazine and The MUG Center.