If you cannot read the information below, click here
Missing Manuals newsletter header
Link to Missing Manuals home Link to Missing Manuals library Link to Missing Manuals screencasts Nav bar background
Content divider
Photo of Peter Meyers

Monthly Memo

A note from the editor

By Peter Meyers, Missing Manuals managing editor

Let's face it, Macworld was a bit of a snoozefest. But fans of software starting with the letter "i" did get some good news: new versions of iLife and iWork. The '09 editions of these programs got just enough sprucing to make them upgrade-worthy. iPhoto sports a nifty face recognition tool that's smart enough to figure out whose face is in each picture (most of the time, anyway); iMovie's got an image stabilization tool that'll calm things like bumpy road shooting and shakey hand jitters; and Pages now comes with a full-screen editing mode (great for focusing on just the document you're working on) and a powerful outlining tool.

Best of all: we've got a full flight of books coming soon to accompany these new puppies. iMovie '09: The Missing Manual is first out of the gate, arriving in March, and iPhoto '09: The Missing Manual and iWork '09: The Missing Manual will follow soon after. We're also working on a special Rough Cuts edition of the iWork book, in which we post draft chapters covering each program (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) as they're finished. Drop me a line if you want more info when that material is ready -- we should start having some chapters ready next month.

Content divider

Webcast: Save Money. Save Time. Tax Prep with Quicken

By Peter McKie, editor, Missing Manuals

If you’re about to prepare your tax returns, you’ll like our live webcast: Save Money. Save Time. Tax Prep with Quicken. Personal finance expert and Quicken 2009: The Missing Manual author Bonnie Biafore shows you how to use Quicken to organize and access your tax information for 2008 and 2009 returns. And the first person to send an email to webcasts@missingmanuals.com will be registered for the event for free!

Join us this Thursday, January 29th at 5:30pm PT. Special offer: use the code TXPT4 to save 40% off the $19.99 price. Register now: http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/e/1208

Find out about all O'Reilly webcasts here: http://oreilly.com/webcasts/

Content divider

Wikipedia: The Missing Manual Migrates to Wikipedia!

As of today, the entire contents of Wikipedia: The Missing Manual by John Broughton is available for free online for editing and updating just like any other Wikipedia entry. Broughton, a registered editor at Wikipedia since 2005 with more than 20,000 edits under his belt, says he's looking forward to seeing what changes and improvements his fellow Wikipedians will make to his book. The book resides in the site's Help area. Take a look.

Content divider

Missing Manuals Now At Costco

Both iPhone: The Missing Manual by David Pogue and iPod: The Missing Manual by J.D. Biersdorfer and David Pogue are on sale for only $16.99 each at select Costco stores. Want to learn more about that new gadget you received for the holidays? Let our two best-selling New York Times authors help!

See if there's a store near you: http://is.gd/g0t1

Content divider

Insights from Macworld Expo

By J.D. Biersdorfer, author of iPod: The Missing Manual and columnist for the New York Times

J. D. BiersdorferEven though Apple said this was its last Macworld, I’ve found that if you get enough Mac people together in any place, they’re going to have a good time anyway. Many attendees that I talked to said they didn’t even care if Apple wasn’t going to do the Expo anymore, because they liked to see what the other companies and developers are showing off. When I wasn’t in the O’Reilly booth, I loved exploring the sheer amount of creative iPod and iPhone accessories on display around the Moscone Center. It really drives home the point that these are hugely popular products for everyone, not just the Mac faithful -- and that they’re not just tech gadgets, but part of everyday life.

Download Jude's new iPod audio tips here: http://missingmanuals.com/ipod_audio.csp

Content divider

Work on Stuff That Matters

Inspirational thoughts from O'Reilly Media founder and CEO, Tim O'Reilly

I spent a lot of last year urging people to work on stuff that matters. This led to many questions about what that "stuff" might be. I've been a bit reluctant to answer those questions, because the list is different for everyone. I thought I'd do better to start the new year with some ideas about how to think about this for yourself. Read more...

Content divider

Register Your Missing Manual

Don't forget to register your Missing Manual! It's quick, easy, and will save you money. Register any of your books today to receive special discounts and offers: https://epoch.oreilly.com/register/

Content divider

Let Us Hear From You!

GetSatisfaction icons

Got questions? Need more information? Do you fancy yourself a book reviewer and want to share your thoughts on the Missing Manual you just finished? Did you find an error in your Missing Manual? (Hard to believe, but it's been known to happen.)

Visit our feedback page to find links where you can find answers from the experts, share your opinions, and just plain reach out to fellow Missing Manual readers.

Content divider
Buy 2 Books, Get the 3rd FREE

Buy 2 Books, Get the 3rd Free!

Buy two books from oreilly.com and get the third free by using discount code OPC10 in our shopping cart. All orders over $29.95 qualify for free shipping within the US.