By Graham K. Rogers

Opening Gambit:

Apple Stuff

Not only, but also. . . . Another series of rumours concerns the iPhone and new (supposed -- I will believe it when it arrives) iPad mini. A lot of stories at the end of last week had the new idea that the announcements for these products would be not one, but two separate events, which does actually make sense. One of those writing on this (there were many) was John Paczkowski on All Things Digital. AppleInsider also "confirms" this. Remember, the only people who really know are Apple.

Another rumour that I saw on AppleBitch late Sunday suggests that the iPod nano may be updated with a wifi capability. Is this the iPad mini?

A lot of people have gone for Apple's Retina display MacBook Pro computers but there seem to be some problems -- particularly burn-in and ghosting -- with displays that use LG panels, MacNN reports.

There is an interesting comment on Apple products by Horace Dediu who takes up a comment made by Tim Cook in 2010: "We can put all of our products on the table you're sitting at. Those products together sell $40 billion per year. No other company can make that claim. . . ."

Dediu examines the claim (which is true) and what has been added -- an iPad -- and points out that the same table-load of products now brought in $148 billion.

There are a lot of useful hits and tips that appear from time to, such as from OS X Hits. This week I found some useful information on the Launchpad which I do use, but in a limited way. Sandro Cuccia on The MacObserver, has some useful ideas on this and he does make the valid point that this sort of feature in OS X is not for the power user, but the new guys who just want an easier way to do things.

I have been continuing my look at System Preferences in OS X, 10.8, Mountain Lion, and since last week have added:

• System Preferences in OS X 10.8, Mountain Lion: Parental Controls
• System Preferences in OS X 10.8, Mountain Lion: Mouse
• System Preferences in OS X 10.8, Mountain Lion: Notifications

It was not until a Sunday evening reminder appeared (see Notifications) telling me to phone my mother that I realised that I had left a part unfinished, instead of "Close and Snooze", I had just written "xxx and Close". A corrected version was uploaded in double-quick time.

The articles were completed this time in a non-alphabetical order as I did not have access to a Magic Mouse. So I tried the shops to examine the preferences on a display machine; but all the iStudio stores are running Lion. Most have 10.7.4 but one was still on 10.7.3. This of course is not very helpful for potential customers: when they get a machine home it will not do what they thought it would (albeit I think Mountain Lion is an improvement).

I bought a Magic Mouse and asked why they only had Lion on the computers, pointing out that 10.8 was released a month ago and I have 10.8.1 on my computers. I had a sheepish grin in reply. This was not really fair on my part as a shop assistant is hardly privy to management decisions: and part of the decision process must involve the Apple office in Bangkok which supervises the iStudio (and iBeat) stores. And behind them is Singapore which sometimes forgets about Thailand.

But it goes deeper than a weakness in the retail outlets here, and I still get many complaints -- and not just from Bangkok users -- about the chronic lack of information concerning new products, such as the iPad.

I went outside after buying the mouse and bumped into a friend who had just bought an iPad for his son. He admitted he had no idea really, so they were at a booth -- one of several on the same floor as the iStudio -- where they were filling the iPad up with apps. The vendor charges a fee and then loads up the apps -- free and pay. Angry Birds Space was one of those mentioned but the friend (I met him coincidentally in a hospital near where I live the next day) had no idea that this was not the thing to do or that there was any other way to purchase apps.

I did point out that it could be done these days directly from the iPad and he would need to set up an account then work from there. There had been no information about this when he and the boy had bought the device. It is not isolated as I was discussing similar points with a Phuket user -- a long-time Mac owner -- whose wife had bought an iPad. He started the discussion about an iTunes account, but was cut off in mid-stream, by "This is easier" an argument here that is difficult to trump.

The iStudio shops are still expanding (the Pinklao one I visited is one of more than 20 run by the same concession holder) and so are these booths that are stealing from Apple and from developers. The booths meanwhile have some nice looking Macs that they use for downloading -- none of that shoddy PC stuff in some back room of Phantip Plaza -- but they are setting up the users for problems, like when it comes to update time.

My friend said that he was surprised at how it all just worked (I suppressed a smile) and he had never had technology like that before. I wonder with all the rubbish he has on there how long it will continue to work.

I was asked for phone number and details when I bought the Magic Mouse, but instead of writing it all out on a piece of paper, I put my business card on the counter, which has some basic details printed, but most are in a QR code on the card. On Monday morning there was an email from Comseven where I had bought the mouse. I expected some PR material: as well as the new iStudio, the old premises in Pinklao have been converted into a Banana IT store (these sell other computer brands and many accessories) which is also part of Comseven.

Instead of PR there was a bill for the Mighty Mouse all nicely set out, although the text commentary was in Thai. I later found the English was at the bottom of the email under the bill section: we are getting there.

There is an extended look at the Apple v Samsung cases on a separate Cassandra: Patent Wars - Interesting Decisions.

Half and Half

Other Matters

With Kodak fading, other companies have learned that they need to be flexible and come up with interesting new products. Fuji, which was a major competitor for Kodak in the film arena has some useful consumer cameras. Electronista has some comments and a leaked picture of a rumoured upcoming mirrorless camera that has a retro look.

Also in trouble is AutoDesk who develop a lot of design software as well as many interesting iOS apps. Emily Price on Mashable reports that after disappointing earnings the company has begun to lay off some 7% of its workforce: "That totals around 500 employees - including a number of 3D developers and several product managers."

A sad announcement this week came when it was announced that the first man to walk on the Moon, Neil Armstrong, had passed away at 82. I remember the July night in 1969 when it was all that was in the news. I was with some friends on Blackheath south London and we looked up at a beautiful Moon in a cloudless sky. Teenagers all, with certain liquid substances aboard, but the consensus of opinion that there was right now a man up there, was "Wow." RIP Neil Armstrong.

Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs.