eXtensions: Macs in Bangkok - Information

Cassandra - Monday Review: It will soon be Friday

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:11:20 +0700

Difficulties with the 10.3.7 update. EULA for iBooks Author updated and eased. More on China: a more measured examination. Steve Jobs wanted users to love the iPhone: looks like he had the right idea. Tasteless Jobs copy with angel wings in Taiwan advertising. Tips on Numbers and the iPad keyboard. Patents news: Motorola wins and wants 2.25% from Apple. Facebook and Google hiring former Apple execs.. Myth Busters' Adam Savage on being strong-armed by credit card companies on RFID chips. Panasonic latest to blame Thai floods for part reason of its expected $10 billion losses. Beware the tablet.

Cassandra - Friday Review: The Weekend Arrives

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:26:50 +0700

Apple's update to OS X with Thai localisation (at last) and new digital camera support. Trump knee-jerks on Cook, Apple, Foxconn and US Jobs. Rush Limbaugh sees through the fog. Possible iPad event in March. New iPod nano with a camera. More on Apple TVs. Barnes & Noble muscle up against Amazon who are the real bad guys in the eBook market. Patents. A new CEO at Sony. A new loss of $1.2b at Sony (Thai floods caused that). Serious Sharp losses: will somebody buy the company? GOP support SOPA but ignore copyright. Slim monopoly overcharging in Mexico.

Nevercenter Release CameraBag Version 2

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:17:43 +0700

Nevercenter has just announced the release of Version 2 of its rather nice graphics software, CameraBag that is also on the iPhone.

Update to OS X: 10.7.3 Provides Thai Localisation

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:16:58 +0700

The most recent update to OS X, 10.7.3, has brought a welcome change to the language localisation for users in Thailand, and for the first time in OS X, Thai characters can be used not just as fonts, but for the full menu system. I installed the update a short while ago

Apple Releases 10.7.3 Update to OS X, Lion: Thai Support Added

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:51:21 +0700

Not unexpected was the news this morning that the release of version 10.7.3 of OS X 10.7, Lion was available via Software Update. There is, however, a slight boost for local users with the addition of Thai language support. Other compatibility issues with Microsoft files are addressed, as well as wifi-related problems. RAW support for more digital cameras is included.

Cassandra - Wednesday Review: The Week in Full Swing

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:51:21 +0700

Il tempo passa. Another month (and I must pay the web-hosting bill today). Allegedly, atrocities at Foxconn, but people are still lining up for jobs there. Apple Updates Final Cut Pro X. Is OS X becoming more and more like iOS? Apple's new stores exec comes from Dixons. Patent news. Sales of the iPhone to keep rising. Twitter and censorship and the humourless DHS.

Gagosian Gallery App: More Art for the Sake of it - Quarterly Update

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:09:54 +0700

When I checked the apps section for updates in iTunes on Sunday morning, I was pleased to see that the excellent (and free) app for the Gagosian Galleries was listed for one of its quarterly revisions. There were two reasons for my contentment: these regular updates provide some interesting new material that users like me would not otherwise be able to access easily; and I could resurrect the original review of this app which became unavailable when my other website died.

Cassandra - Monday Review: It will soon be Friday

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:33:44 +0700

Responses to the NYTimes article on Apple and Foxconn problems. Chinese commentators rather like what Apple is doing. Siri is not burning bits and bytes, we are. Madison Wisconsin to buy 1,400 iPads with Microsoft money. Patent wins for Apple in Germany and the US. Apple may be edging closer to Android but the Googlish platform is leading in the malware stakes. Major development as new RIM chief looks at other phones. In Singapore, an exploding iPhone that cannot be found and an iPhone app for the SMRT.

Foxconn, Apple and the New York Times

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:29:20 +0700

There was a pack mentality about some of the commentary that followed the New York Times report into problems in Chinese factories that produce the iPad and other Apple products, that supposedly Cupertino is responsible for. Let's suppose for a moment that is true as Apple indeed accepts a vicarious responsibility: if the company does wrong by its workers or its policies, Apple can apply pressure up to cancelling its orders.

Reflections in a Photograph: WaterMyPhoto for the iPhone - Now at Version 1.5

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:50:07 +0700

Among the updates that were waiting for me in iTunes earlier today was WaterMyPhoto. I had first looked at this interesting water-effects app in October 2011 just as the flooding reached the area in which I lived. The novelty effect of the app, soon became an unpleasant reality for me and many others. This does not reflect on the app in any way. WaterMyPhoto has now been updated, but as the original review was on AMITIAE and the site no longer exists, I am making that updated review available as part of the input for the latest version.

Updated Apps: iSomtow; and Panorama 360 Camera

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:59:59 +0700

It seems that currently, almost the moment I download an app or write about it, the app is updated. A couple of times of late I have looked at an app, and within a day or so there have been some important changes to the features. Two of the three apps that I was notified of earlier today were recently reviewed: iSomtow and Panorama 360 Camera.

Cassandra - Friday Review: The Weekend Arrives

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:31:34 +0700

More on the successful financial results from Apple. Chicken in the barrel syndrome: Apple is up and must be dragged down. iPhone sells more than all Android . . . ah, but the iPad lost share even with a 150% increase in sales. Rumours, including Apple TV again. Zynga called out on rip off of NimbleBit game. Large Nokia losses. Meddling with DTAC. Twitter can censor tweets for specific countries (but there may be a way round).

Pricing in Apple Online Stores in Thailand and the rest of the World

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:14:20 +0700

Earlier today, I was sent a link to an article on MacNews by a reader. This reports on the findings of Idealo.co.uk who compared prices on the Apple online stores round the world. This region has the best and the worst.

Fotopedia Heritage: Another Excellent Collection of Images

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:00:53 +0700

I took a break from iBooks, ebooks and iTunes U to examine a couple of apps that also use the best aspects of the iPads. Neither of the apps are new, but they have just appeared in the App Store listings here, bringing them to the attention of users who might not have seen them before. The first of these is in the same Fotopedia series that has already produced some excellent photographic output.

Cassandra - Wednesday Review: The Week in Full Swing

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:45:43 +0700

Apple rumours. More on iBooks, eBooks, EULA and iTunes U. Virgin remembers a Steve Jobs quote: Stay hungry, stay foolish. On a plane? Apple's Q1 report today: Income was a stunning $46.33 billion. Western Digital makes a profit. Don't like Facebook Timeline: bad luck. All user will have this wonderful feature soon. All those who remain that is.

S.P Somtow: Thai Composer, Conductor and Polymath: there is an App for it - iSomtow

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:16:22 +0700

Over the weekend the Thai artist -- writer, composer, conductor -- S.P. Somtow made an appeal via his blog and Facebook pages, asking people to help the Siam Philharmonic Orchestra. After a rather successful London tour that was rather expensive, he is asking for support so that he could carry on with the promise to the late HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana that one day Thailand's musicians would be able to play all of the Mahler symphonies. . . .

It was probably not a coincidence to see on Monday morning on an App Store Twitter feed that there was an entry for an app called iSomtow.

Cassandra - Monday Review: It will soon be Friday

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:20:35 +0700

Apple and jobs. Apple and workers. Hon Hai chairman calls workers Animals. Feedback from the Education event. Apple, publishers and Amazon. Kindle orders down 50%: 20% of Kindle Fire tablets delivered by Santa remain unused. Patent news, good, bad and excellent. Someone steals your Mac and your iPhone: so sue Apple. Frustration initially, but my wifi is up and working at the new condo. S.P. Somtow needs some help.

iBooks and eBooks: Comments and Ideas on Apple's iBookstore Advances

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:45:05 +0700

Apple announced new initiatives and applications last Thursday at an education-centered even in New York. One of the tools -- iBooks Author -- brought several commentators out, but the even itself caused many to examine how technology and education can sometimes be uneasy partners. Some are also uneasy with Apple's involvement seeing that what was done for music will be done to textbooks. Perhaps that is not such a bad thing after all.

Apple Q1 2012 Conference Call

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:46:20 +0700

Apple has released information concerning the announcement of its First Quarter 2012 Financial Results which are to be made available on Tuesday 24 January 2012, at 5PM Pacific Time (0800 Thai time).

An Examination of Apple's iBooks Author

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:46:26 +0700

Part of Apple's Education event in New York this week was the introduction of an application specifically created for making ebooks: iBooks Author. While there are a number of programs that will do the task of creating an ebook, most have some drawbacks. This new application will make it easier for those who are already engaged in education output should they want their work to be available to a wide audience. There are some drawbacks, but the process itself has been streamlined.

Cassandra - Friday Review: The Weekend Arrives

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:22:16 +0700

Apple bringing in the textbook writers this time: maybe they can make a better job of it. First look at iBooks Author: Wow. Sony losses. Google lower than expected (but still a 27% increase -- love those Wall Street analysts). Microsoft reports profits down a fraction from last year. Kodak files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Former security companies McAfee and Symantec (broken, hacked and stolen code).

The Apple Education Event: iBooks, iBooks Author and iTunes U

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:41:21 +0700

On Thursday evening, I sat through feeds of the Apple event in New York. I concentrated mainly on the feed from The Loop but had to switch to CNET's feed halfway through.

No one really knew what to expect at this Education event at the Guggenheim Museum there, but there had been much speculation (as ever): some of it fairly close.

Watermarking of Images on iOS Devices: iWatermark - Review and Updates

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:23:29 +0700

There are a number of ways to watermark images. With Aperture this can be done by adding image data from another file. However, I used software specifically for the purpose, called iWatermark from Script Software, now called Plum Amazing. There were several ways to set this up with several styles of watermark. Users also had access to all of the installed fonts, so a rather specific style could be created. Although styles included finishes of gold and silver, black and white, I preferred the embossed look. Depending on the content it was possible to place the watermark anywhere on the picture. This and a newer Pro version have seen several improvements and additions.

I downloaded an iPhone and iPad version of iWatermark some while back. . . .

Cedar Holdings (Temasek) to Sell 200 Million Shin Corp Shares

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:59:29 +0700

A report that appeared overnight in the Straits Times (Reuters) informs us that Cedar Holdings, a unit of Temasek Holdings is selling 6.2% of its sometimes controversial stake in Shin Corp.

Big Prizes from DTAC: Buy a Phone, Win a Car

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:43:47 +0700

In an English language press release available today, Total Access Communication PLC (DTAC) is reporting that its Chief Customer Officer, Chaiyod Chirabowornkul, with Vice Managing Director of TG Cellular World Co. Ltd., Siri Tawornsapanan, presided over the distribution of prizes to winners in the "Buy a Phone, Win a Car" campaign.

Modernisation of Teaching Delivery: Apple's Ebook Event

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:58:04 +0700

Apart from a worldwide shortage of hard disks, one of the results of the flooding in central Thailand at the end of last year, was the stark realisation that it could happen again. While the subject had been discussed (and shelved) many times before, the possibility of a shutdown lasting several weeks is prompting the university I work at urgently to re-examine its teaching delivery methods. Rumours concerning Apple's ebooks initiative suggest this may be timely.

WhatsApp Messenger Updated: Now Available Again.

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:08:29 +0700

Although it was apparently withdrawn from the iTunes app store a few days ago, WhatsApp Messenger has reappeared with an update to version 2.6.9.

Cassandra - Wednesday Review: The Week in Full Swing

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:48:49 +0700

Anticipation about Apple's Thursday Education event, and the rumours. Long knives at Apple? Comments by Woz and others on Android. Waterproofing for phones: Liquipel being courted by Apple and Samsung. Samsung not guarding, but building a hen house for Apple. Nissan self-repairing iPhone cases. Facebook IPO for May: announcement today perhaps. I have eased into the new condo, but as yet have no internet line: coming soon. My new iPhone speaker (courtesy of Geek Sugar) giving a cereal improvement. Jerry Yang resigns from Yahoo!

Wedding and Portrait Photography Excellence at Annual Gallery Elite Awards Event

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:24:31 +0700

We read in a Kodak press release that the 26th Annual Gallery Elite Awards had taken place on Monday evening evening at Imaging USA (I-USA), the annual conference and trade show of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) in New Orleans, where the judges were Helen Yancy, Dennis Craft and Rich Newell.

The Electrolux Social, Mobile Workforce Using IBM Software

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:40:33 +0700

Many people are expanding their use of social networking outside of the simply social side of the concept. . . .

Electrolux, with a presence in some 60 countries, including Thailand uses such systems widely.

Cassandra - Monday Review: It will soon be Friday

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:29:15 +0700

A weekend of Apple embarrassments: China crowd problems; patent decisions; New York Philharmonic. Apple and suppliers. Why Mike Elgan is wrong on Apple's intent to control the book market. Does Apple own all the patents on Siri? The White House and SOPA: comment by Tim O'Reilly. I move into a new condo and wifi cannot reach my floor: I have Plan B and Plan C.

Apple Supplier Responsibility and List of Apple Suppliers

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 10:08:28 +0700

Apple is committed to the highest standards of social responsibility across its worldwide supply chain, the corporation announces on its Social Responsibility page on the Apple website. The page focuses on Human Rights, Worker Health and Safety, and Environmental Impact. There are also items on Auditing and Education and Development plus links to downloads of specific reports.

DTAC Waives Charges for Southern Service Incident (8 January): Sets aside 40 million Baht

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:44:05 +0700

In an English language press release dated 13 January, DTAC has announced that customers who were affected by an incident on 8 January this year will be compensated with a 48-hour waiver of service from 12 noon 7 January to 12 noon 9 January this year.

Updates to Apps: Fotopedia Wild Friends and Motor Sport

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:22:57 +0700

This week a couple of the more significant apps that I like to use on my iPad were updated: Fotopedia Wild Friends, and Motor Sport.

Genius Scan - PDF Scanner: Aptly Named App with some Excellent Output - Updated (version 2.3.1)

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:22:43 +0700

I have found a useful free app, Genius Scan - PDF Scanner, which does a surprisingly good job and it has a couple of nice surprises built in. It has now been updated

Cassandra - Friday Review: The Weekend Arrives

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:36:35 +0700

Apple's education event next week at the Guggenheim in New York. Apple back up to number 3: other PC makers are suffering from poor sales and hard disk shortages. iPhone launch in China: crowd problems again. Singapore carriers to sell iPhone without a camera. New technology coming in the iPad 3. Tim Cook's stock options. Microsoft fading. The iPhone owner who stopped the New York Philharmonic. 300 Foxconn workers in emotional blackmail attempt. And of course there are rumours. . . .

Several iOS App Updates Available: glmps, NASA, MacHash News, British Airways, Keymote, Social GPS and Color Uncovered

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:54:04 +0700

We have had a few updates reported to iOS apps in the last day or so. . . .

Cassandra - Wednesday Review: The Week in Full Swing

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:41:19 +0700

Lots of CES and cloning of Apple by others: comments by Apple columnists. Apple rumours and new product changes. Tim Cook gets about $400 million in Apple shares. Ballmer does his least memorable (and last) CES keynote: outshone by the Twitter chorus. IBM news of a new processor fabrication in New York.

Automatic Panorama Photography on an iPhone: Pano 360 Camera

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:38:54 +0700

I rather like the idea of panorama photography, although for this to be done well, we need good equipment and first-rate software. The best results come from professionals who have the skills, time and resources for the task. . . .

I have now found a useful panorama app that takes the alignment concept a stage further and as soon as the iPhone is in the optimum position for the next part of the image, the photograph is taken automatically.

Xerox Appoints Carol Zierhoffer Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:10:25 +0700

In a press release, Xerox Corporation announced the appointment of a new Chief Information Officer, Carol Zierhoffer who has also been elected a vice president of the corporation. She replaces John McDermott as CIO who is now head of strategy and business process architecture for Xerox's technology business.

The Release of the iPhone: Moscone Center, 9 January - 5 Years Ago

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:35:57 +0700

I can remember exactly where I was 5 years ago today. Along with a few thousand others, I had waited outside the Moscone Center in San Francisco in the cold and rain while the organisers were deciding to let the press attendees in. A couple of hours later, there was a mad rush as the doors to the auditorium opened and those with more experience of such events grabbed the best seats.

Cassandra - Monday Review: It Will Soon be Friday

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:14:36 +0700

CES this week at Las Vegas so lots of announcements on the web. News on iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad 3 and the (probably untrue) rumour of the iPad 4. Other Apple rumours. An iPad survives a 30,000 metre drop (with video). Macminicolo and its server farm of 1,000 Mac minis including a 7 year veteran G4. An Apple patent for an ionic wind generator cooling system (I didn't know either). Low profits for HTC. Low profits for Motorola, but it is Apple's fault, so that's alright. Microsoft tries to copy Apple for its baggage-laden Windows 8. Is the theme at CES copy Apple at any cost?

An Enhanced Glimpse Into Our Lives: Video plus Stills with GLMPS

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:38:08 +0700

I do not fully understand the reason for the success of some social networking sites; nor the way that some people share the most private details online with others. . . .

I usually, therefore, avoid apps that seek to add another format (or site) to the limited social networking I do now, but a look at the free app glmps which shares photographic output in an unusual way, at least piqued my interest enough for a download.

Updates to Grid Lens, Big Lens, Super 8 and Other Apps

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 11:16:35 +0700

I have a large collection of photography apps for the iPhone. Although many of them work on the iPad, they are not as effective there: the medium is for a larger display and suits magazines especially; and the camera is not as good as the iPhone 4S I now run. Two recent apps that shot to the top of my favourite pile were Grid Lens and Big Lens, both of which are among those that have received updates this weekend.

Motor Sport App Updated for Newsstand but Not Getting off the Starting Grid

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:36:17 +0700

A couple of months ago, I was pleased to see that one of my favourite UK magazines, Motor Sport, was being made available as an app for the iPad. I reviewed the free September issue and looked forward to the arrival of the first paid issue, which was for February. Like a lot of UK publishers, Motor Sport has a strange cover date pattern with the February issue being available at the beginning of January, but actually coming on sale in the shops (where they have it) on the last day of the previous month. As a result I was actually waiting for the February 2012 issue on the last day of 2011. . . .

Zykloid Updates Posterino: Now Version 2.5.3

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 18:30:28 +0700

We have just been informed by Zykloid software, via Twitter, that their excellent Posterino has been updated to version 2.5.3 with the a number of changes and fixes.

Susan Kare Icons: Selected Work from 1983 - 2011

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:12:48 +0700

My first real use of a computer was in 1985: a PC with twin floppy-disk drives, running MSDOS 2.4. . . .

One of the professors in the English Department was a book a year man. To help him with the complete writing and preparation of his next work, he acquired a Macintosh.

While at his house one day, I was able to try this out . . . What I did notice was that instead of having to type a command (and remember those I needed), the Macintosh used icons to represent functions and tasks. These were the work of Susan Kare

Cassandra - Friday Review: The Weekend Arrives

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:07:45 +0700

Lunar New Year deals at Apple Store. Not a brilliant few days for Apple with patents problems, an app released that wasn't ready, a Final Cut defection and an earthy comment on app quality. Apple and the Premier League: maybe not. Apple onto iOS app piracy. Comet in UK allegedly pirates MS disks in the best interests of customers. Vinton Cerf on the Internet as a tool for Human Rights. Updates, ideas, comments and other news.

Bronson Watermarker for PDF Documents: Security and Control in Distribution

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:34:57 +0700

The PDF is a common form of circulating information in many circles (not just government departments). It usually cannot be altered, unlike other document formats. Digital watermarking, however, can only be effected by using expensive software. We are used to the idea of watermarking images, particularly those that go online, but the PDF watermark needs a different approach.

Kodak Q4 Results to be Announced 26 January 2012

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:34:19 +0700

Kodak has released details of its upcoming Q4 2011 financial results announcements and the conference call arrangements.

IBM to Acquire Green Hat: Leveraging Cloud Computing Technologies

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:44:28 +0700

IBM has announced that as part of its continuing expansion into cloud technologies, it has acquired Green Hat, a company with major offices in the UK and in Delaware.

iPhone 4S Arrives in China and 21 Other Countries on January 13

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:01:10 +0700

Apple has just announced in a press release that the iPhone 4S is to be released in China and in another 21 countries on 13 January this year.

Hitachi Adds Two Mac-Friendly Drives to its G-Technology Solutions

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:52:27 +0700

With the recent flood-related shortages of hard disks from companies with operations in Thailand, it is interesting to read the news from Hitachi who are announcing prior to the CES in Las Vegas that it is releasing two hard drives in its G-Technology, G-Drive series. In a press release, the company is clearly aiming the two drives -- the G-Technology G-DRIVE mobile and G-DRIVE mobile USB -- at Mac users.

Kodak Continued Listing Standards Notice from NYSE

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:36:45 +0700

The once great photography company, Kodak, has seen its value diminish in recent years as consumers moved from film to digital cameras and some are expecting that sooner or later the company will be broken up, especially as it holds a valuable portfolio of patents related in the main to digital imaging.

Cassandra - Wednesday Review: The Week in Full Swing

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 07:40:16 +0700

Apple Oddities with an app released in error. Special Apple Event in New York. Staff and union problems at an Apple retail store. Rumours: MacPro, MacBook Pro. No passport? Use an iPad. Samsung pulls Apple ad (with Apple girl) from YouTube and S. Korea. Some odd and some useful Tweets. And the most used operating system worldwide is. . . XP? BlackBerry PlayBook 16GB is now $299. BlackBerry PlayBook 32GB is now $299. BlackBerry PlayBook 64GB is now $299. Eh?

Apple Retail Outlets in the Other Bangkok

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:39:42 +0700

Several years ago I was disturbed by the comment of a senior politician of the coalition that was in power at that time, when he was asked about an extension to the suburban railway system to the western edge of Bangkok. "There's only factory workers out there" he was reported as saying; and the system expansion was delayed again. Apart from being flat wrong as there is a huge population as well as many schools and universities, why should the large population of workers that migrate from the provinces to work in the city be denied modern facilities?

That answer may explain why for many years there were no Apple retail outlets on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya river. As residents discovered in the recent flooding, many people sort of forgot about the millions under water in Thonburi.

A Curious App apparently from Apple: GameStore

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:55 +0700

We have just seen in the list of Apple apps in the App Store here (Thailand) a new utility with the name GameStore. The app is priced at $0.99 and in its simple iTunes App Store description tells us "This application allows you to buy different things from within the app." A single screen shot below shows a Products list (with the word Proucts [sic] shown above and the figure 37 in brackets beside it.

Japanese Traditional Art Gallery for iPad Lite

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:43:28 +0700

In the 1970s, I went to a book sale in Tavistock, in Britain's West Country where I picked up a charming little print that looked as if it might have been Chinese. To this day, I still do not know. In an attempt to find out, I began reading, but got sidetracked into Japanese Art and then woodblock prints (ukiyo-e). I eventually picked up a couple of these prints: one at a Christies' auction (most exciting); and another at a shop specialising in all manner of Japanese art -- pictures, swords, Samurai armour -- in Bloomsbury, near the British Library in London.

Japanese Art on the iPad: Hokusai HD and Hiroshige HD

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:42:48 +0700

I have had an interest in Japanese Art going back to the mid-1970s and a few days ago I downloaded an interesting free app named Japanese Traditional Art Gallery for iPad Lite. I reviewed this then and noted that the icon for the App used the well known Great Wave off Kanagawa by the artist Hukusai. While looking through the iTunes App Store, I saw another app using an identical icon.

Mount Fuji Through Japanese Eyes

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:42:03 +0700

According to a traditional Japanese belief, the "first dream" (hatsu yume) a person has on the night of January 2 is supposed to predict that person's fortune for the coming year.

Cassandra - Monday Review: It will soon be Friday

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:56:10 +0700

The first Cassandra column of the new year. Rumours (of course): iPad, iPhone and the A6. Copies of Apples, copies of Apple ads, and copies of Steve Jobs. Kaspersky says the malware writers are the same: or maybe they are copying. Steve gives IBM the bird. Apples, Apricots, BlackBerrys and now the Raspberry. Ron Paul objects to SOPA we think. Fading Kodak loses 3 directors in a week: where; how? NUS (Singapore) is given $30 million. Hundreds caught for using phones while driving (in Singapore).

Raspberry Pi: Credit Card-sized computer for Education Solutions

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 22:55:56 +0700

We know about Apple (of course) but the first computer I used in the UK when I returned from study in the US, was an Apricot. We have the BlackBerry of course (at least for how); but now we are about to have the Raspberry: an interesting computing device that has been under development in the UK for a while.

Siam Notes: A Quick New Year Visit

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:56:31 +0700

More to get out of the house that anything, after the excesses of the night before (when I discovered that pomelo juice makes an acceptable if unusual substitute for Indian tonic water in gin) I had a quick after-lunch wander round the Siam area.

Siam Discovery itself was relatively quiet in the early afternoon and the iStudio store was almost deserted at times: a stark comparison with a few days before.

Another Glance Back and Another Look Forward - 00:01, 1.1.12 this Side of the World

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:16:02 +0700

Like a lot of people who write online (or in the press for that matter), I wondered about writing an end of year comment or review. There was after all, a lot to look back on. I also thought about including some smart quote (it was the best of times, it was the worst of times; this was their finest hour), but nothing really works without sounding trite. One of my writing teachers back in 1986 said be simple, be direct. With the amount of waffle we have to put up with online, that remains good advice.

2011 started with a low point. . . .

A Poster App for iOS Devices: Phoster

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:06:08 +0700

I enjoy using graphics programs that help me with output. On the desktop of my Mac I have had a lot of enjoyment from Camerabag, which is like the iPhone app of the same name, as well as some of the applications that apply effects like Comic Life which has long been on my Macs. This is now also on my iPad. An application that has a lot of use is Posterino. While there is no iPhone or iPad app from Zykloid, I recently found a poster-making app called Phoster that has this purpose, although output is nowhere near the quality of Posterino. In comparing the power of the two devices -- Mac and iPhone -- this is hardly surprising; and forgivable.

Grid Lens: An iPhone App for Multi-Image Output in a Matrix

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:05:19 +0700

It is not often that testing a new app can produce a spontaneous laugh, but that was what happened when trying out Grid Lens, a new app from Bucket Labs. This is is so nicely put together -- with some unusual interfacing -- that a user might miss the wider value of such software.

Cassandra - Friday Review: The Weekend Arrives.

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:03:54 +0700

April Fool, South America style. Android activations reach 3.7 million over Xmas, but Apple activations are reported as 1.6 million higher. Apple TV rumours. Apple Archives at Stamford U. The iPad in government (not in Asia of course); the iPad for Orangutans; and new iPads.

Essential Elements for Electronic Devices: Rare Earths and Chinese Control

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:18:19 +0700

When the term, Rare Earth, began to appear in the news towards the end of 2010, I wondered what the significance of it was. I was reminded slightly of Fuller's Earth, which had been dug out of the ground not far from my home in the UK. It is a substance used in cloth finishing, but has a range of other valuable uses. So do Rare Earths.

Fotopedia Wild Friends: A Superb Collection of European Wildlife Images

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:47:30 +0700

I have looked at three previous apps for the iPad from Fotopedia: on Burma, and on North Korea (both topical right now) and on Japan. In all three reviews I have written, which I am putting online again, the app is secondary to the content: the beautiful photographs that even oppressive regimes can do nothing about. This week a third app came into my collection: Wild Friends. This free app is available for the iPhone, iPod touch and the iPad.

Fotopedia Apps: Dreams of Burma; Images of North Korea; and Fotopedia Japan

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:46:55 +0700

In June and July of 2011 I reviewed two apps from Fotopedia: a collaborative photo encyclopedia and online community. Later, in November, a third app -- on Japan -- was issued. With the closing of the AMITIAE site these items are no longer available there. As I am reviewing another app from the same developer, I am making the updated texts and some images from those earlier reviews available here.

Cassandra - Wednesday Review: The Week in Full Swing.

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 07:40:07 +0700

Apple production growing. Redesigned iPad 3 coming soon. Acer coming to its senses? Not just yet. Microsoft and RIM criticised. Gambling is illegal in the state of mind I'm in. Warranties in Italy: Apple fined $1.2 million. No iPhones or BlackBerry devices in Argentina: it's the economy, stupid. Apple care for the iPhone in Thailand: forget it. Thailand off the radar again: thanks a bunch, Modahaus, for nothing.

A Synthesizer in Your Pocket: Animoog for the iPhone

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:11:53 +0700

A few weeks ago I looked at the arrival of a Moog Synthesizer app for the iPad: Animoog. My updated review of that is online. The app allows a user with limited resources to create electronic music fairly easily. Of course it helps if one has a musical background, but even the process of discovery can be revealing.

Moog Music Inc, have just released their Animoog for iPhone app for an introductory $0.99. The regular price is reported as $9.99. The arrival of this app moves the creation of such electronic musical adventures to an even smaller platform.

Phishing Emails from "Apple Billing Information" -- Link to MacObserver Article

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:27:16 +0700

Apple users (and others of course) are once again warned to be on guard for the arrival of phishing emails that always sound all too real.

ACDSee: Digital Asset Manager for the Mac

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:46:27 +0700

One of the applications that I would often see on my students' PC computers was a graphics program with the catchy name of ACDSee. This was so widespread that it looked to me, from the rose-tinted world of OS X, that this must be the de facto leader in photography sorting software, much like iPhoto is on the Mac.

DTAC Single Fun and Double Joy: Campaigns for Smartphone Users - Cash-back up to 20% and 10-month zero interest

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:30:51 +0700

With their Single Fun & Double Joy campaign, Thai carrier DTAC has announced a new package for marketing smartphones with tablets that extends to 16 February 2012.

Seiko Epson to pay Nokia $80 Million Settlement in LCD Antitrust Case

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:21:47 +0700

Seiko Epson Corporation has announced that it has agreed to settle a lawsuit that was filed against it by Nokia, concerning liquid crystal displays (LCD). The litigation, in courts in the United States and the United Kingdom, had alleged violations of antitrust and competition laws.

Cassandra - Monday Review: It Will Soon be Friday

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 07:11:53 +0700

You would think it would be a bit quiet this week with the US and half of Europe shut down for the season. SOPA has livened things up slightly. Lots coming soon, we wager once January gets going. iPad and iPhone comments. SOPA and GoDaddy. News on music, downloads and purchasing: or not in this area. DTAC's mea culpa (or should that be nostra culpa)?

Seasons Greetings from eXtensions

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 08:31:43 +0700

This being Thailand, rather than snow or sleigh bells, we were awoken by the sounds of an Esaan band at the nearby temple as they warmed up for a monk's ordination today.

A happy Xmas to all who happen by these pages.

HP Printer Security update for LaserJets

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 09:45:17 +0700

HP (Hewlett Packard) have just announced that it has made available an update for its LaserJet printers that will remove a security threat that could allow unauthorised access to some of these printers.

Wish you Were Here: Postcards on the Run, for the iPhone

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:26:06 +0700

It has been sad to watch the contractions that the world's post offices have seen in the last few years. As services have become less reliable, electronic communication has taken over, but some services use a combination of modern messaging and traditional deliveries.

Cassandra - Friday Review: The Weekend Arrives

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:42:10 +0700

Steve Jobs' Grammy Award. iCloud development. An iPhone 4S joins my armoury. Lion update coming. Microsoft didn't jump, it was pushed out of CES we hear. Caveat Emptor: RIM. RIAA sites pirating music. S$350,000 data bill for careless SingTel who visited Taiwan.

Quality HealthCare of Hong Kong and Macau to use IBM Cloud and Analytics

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:54:40 +0700

IBM is building a cloud system for healthcare providers in Hong Kong and Macau by consolidating 100 servers used by some 600 the medical centers of Quality Health Care in the two locations to 8 IBM System x3650 servers.

Key Commands on a Mac (3): More Startup keys and Suggestions for Use

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:55:18 +0700

I split the startup section into two parts because of the complex nature of some commands here. A long text is also harder to read and users may miss something important. In this part I outline keys that may be used at startup for some deeper maintenance, including work at the Unix command line. Back up essential data before considering using them. If in doubt, don't. A pause, or asking someone who does know may be better approaches. Links to other sections are at the end of this article.

Key Commands on a Mac (2): Startup keys and Some Suggestions for Their Use

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:54:48 +0700

In this second part (of three) of an examination of keystrokes on a Mac, I outline some keys that may be used at startup. These are essentially all related to maintenance or trouble-shooting. Users should back up their essential data before considering using them and should apply basic safety rules, starting with, If in doubt, don't. A pause, or asking someone who does know may save you from a potential disaster. Links to other sections are at the end of this article

Key Commands on a Mac (3): More Startup keys and Suggestions for Use

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:54:15 +0700

One of the features of the first Macs was the mouse. It was dismissed by some as a device that no one would ever use. Evidence would suggest that this opinion was wrong. Paradoxically, most experienced users of Macs will resort to the keyboard for more efficient working. Key commands are far faster once learned. The 3 parts of this extended item on key commands have been rewritten based on the texts originally used on the AMITIAE site which is now gone.

Microsoft Tag App: Not a Bad Job (but some oddities from Redmond)

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:07:44 +0700

It is not often that I praise Microsoft, so it may be worth taking note on this rare occasion. I did praise Redmond once before: for the same Tag app that used a proprietary form of tagging which was an interesting alternative to the more widely used bar codes and QR codes. But there is a sting in the tail. . . .

Cassandra - Wednesday review: The Week in Full Swing

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:23:26 +0700

Xmas malware for some, but there may be an iPhone 4S in my stocking. Apple patent successes and failures; sales failures and successes (it depends on who you read, where they borrowed the ideas from and how many hits they want to garner). Sale of Anobit finalised. Apple and the 7" tablet that some are convinced about (I think this is not going to happen). RIM on the edge: now valued less than Apple's App Store. Google in antitrust enquiry on search. SingTel have LTE up and running.

SingTel Commercial LTE Mobile Broadband Service

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:18:05 +0700

Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) is reporting that it is launching its Broadband on Mobile Prestige 75 service: a commercial inception of its LTE (Long Term Evolution) mobile broadband service for S$69.90 a month.

India Expansion by IBM Continues: New Office Opening in Visakhapatnam, South East India

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:57:19 +0700

In a press release IBM has announced that as part of its continuing and planned expansion in India and South Aisa, it is opening a branch office in Visakhapatnam, South East India. 2011 has seen IBM open 6 new offices within the country, and the company plans to have some 40 offices in India and South Asia within the next 2 years.

Scams for Xmas and the New Year

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:49:17 +0700

Just in case you are not aware of the potential for scams, spams, phishing and other attempts to get you to part with your passwords, credit card details, logins and cash at this festive time of the year, we have two extra warnings concerning emails directed at Mac users, one of which may affect users of Mobile Me.

Transfire Release New App to Eliminate Language Barriers in the Social Network

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:15:52 +0700

I have been using the app, Transfire, on my iPhone since late February this year and find it particularly useful when I need to translate content between languages (in my case English and Thai) when I am on the go. David Greenberg from Transfire has issued a press release on the app and its availability -- free for a limited time. The main contents of the press release are reproduced here. . . .

Moverio BT-100 Mobile Viewer from Epson: Personal Visual Content

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:48:05 +0700

Epson has announced the Moverio BT-100: a head-mounted display (HMD) offering wearers a chance to enjoy big-screen entertainment. The further a user stares into the distance, the larger the image looks: a viewer staring at a point 20 meters away sees the equivalent of a 320-inch display. It weighs only 240 grams.

An A to Z of System Preferences in OS X 10.7, Lion

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:08:20 +0700

System Preferences saw several changes with the update to OS X 10.7, Lion. While certain of the panels had additions and some had major changes, some kept the same interface. There were one or two losses, such as QuickTime. Some of the preferences have been renamed, such as Accounts which is now Users & Groups. It is a bit thin to call this an A - Z as really we only have B - U.

Summarizing Text on the Mac

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:31:55 +0700

The Mac . . . has a summarising feature although these days it is fairly well hidden. Apple actually employs someone to develop the software for this and improve the algorithms to try and make it more accurate. It used to be found in one of the menus of the under-rated Text Edit application, but when I went looking to compare output with Summly, I was unable to find it.

Cassandra - Monday Review: It Will Soon be Friday

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 06:52:35 +0700

Apple likely to have blow-out quarter and some Wall Street analysts want their share of the cake. Sales of iPads keep rising, so everyone hates the iPad (everyone except the users). Walter Isaacson to take 2 bites of the cherry. Zynga IPO not as stimulating as their games. Samsung backs off one patent, adds four more. British Telecom sues Google over 6 patents. Microsoft and Novell may need a rematch. Seagate and WD cutting some warranties from 5 years to 1 year. You can't give them away: thieves steal 5,000 BlackBerry PlayBooks in Indiana ironically heading for Canada. A Siri clone for Thailand?

A Worthy Addition to Photo Apps on the App Store: Pixlr-o-matic from Autodesk - Now Updated

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:52:31 +0700

About the hardest thing about Pixlr-o-Matic is the pronunciation. The rest is not only plain-sailing but there was such a rightness about this that as I was going through my first look at the app, I whispered to myself, "Oh, wow. . . ." That does not happen much these days.

Moog Sythesizer for the iPad: Animoog

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:20:34 +0700

This item first appeared on my AMITIAE site on 21 October 2011. As that site is now non-operational, I am making some of the more interesting or useful articles available on eXtensions. The text has been amended and includes information on an update to Animoog.

In the late 60s and early 70s there was a rush of electronic music and the Moog synthesizer was the de facto leader at that time. It was used on so many recordings made around that period -- sometimes over-used -- that it became synonymous with the electronic music that appeared a bit later . . . .

I have been playing with a Moog synthesizer on my iPad all day: Animoog.

Kodak Solutions at All In Print China 2011

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:27:27 +0700

At the All In Print Show currently running in Shanghai, China (14 - 17 December) at the International Expo Center, Kodak are reporting some considerable success with their highlighting of their range of solutions for printing, packaging, and publishing professionals.

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson: An Intersection of Time, Location and Cultures

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:11:54 +0700

When I first heard that Steve Jobs was allowing Walter Isaacson apparently-unlimited access his life and those around him, it was a signal that a line was being drawn. As we now know, it was part of the preparation for his demise that spurred Jobs on to this step and in typical fashion he chose Isaacson carefully.

Five Camera Apps for the iPhone: Medium Format, 6 x 6, 6 x 7; Finger Focus (Blur effects); My Sketch; and OSnap!

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:33:45 +0700

I try very hard to resist new photo apps for the iPhone, but once in a while, something comes along that is intriguing enough for me to have a look. I recently downloaded an app with the basic, but descriptive name, 6 x 7. When looking at the specifications of 6 x 7 on the iTunes app store, I saw that the developer, Michael Hardaker, had other apps available, including 6 x 6. Also reviewed here are Finger Focus, My Sketch and OSnap!

All of these comments were previously on the AMITIAE site. With this no longer running, I am now making them available on eXtensions

Updates to some Useful Apps: Pinball HD, The New Yorker, Skype et al

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:18:04 +0700

Most mornings I check to see whether any apps have been updated and are available for download. There are several this morning that I find rather interesting: Pinball HD, New Yorker, Skype, TransFire XP and the Dictionary.com Dictionary and Thesaurus.

Singapore too Restrictive for an Apple to Emerge - Woz

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:47:15 +0700

In a comment that is sure to have some reaction from those who know better, Steve Wozniak, Apple's co-founder has said in an interview with the BBC that Apple could never have happened in Singapore -- where long hair was once banned -- with its restrictive approach to its citizenry and everything else.

Cassandra: Friday Review - The Weekend Arrives

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:25:56 +0700

Apple's investments in Israel. Cupertino is one of the top 10 places to work at (#10). Is iChat finally getting into bed with MSN? This week, there's an awful lot of Apple in Brazil. Plus the iPhone 4S in Thailand (+pic). OK to use iPads on flights for pilots but not for passengers. Apple is going to fail real soon according to the gnomes of Taiwan. Microsoft hypocrisy. Kindle Fire security problems. New HP logo mooted: 6 slash marks is all it takes. Copyright, Straits Times, facts, information and Yahoo! BlackBerry 10 delayed.

A Useful Effects App for the iPhone: Vintage Camera

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:00:18 +0700

What has made the iPhone such a useful device for me is not just the camera, but the photographic apps that make use of the feature. Instead of having to waste so much time, as we might with a desktop application (at least in the past) to apply filters, jiggle with contrast and brightness, then sharpen, an app can do all of this in micro-seconds. . . .

Vintage Cam, as the name suggests, has a specific range of effects that can be applied in order that the photographs may look like those of days past. While there is a certain nostalgia, being able to provide a different way of looking at a standard scene is refreshing and many such images can be seen on sites like Facebook these days. Even in photography, the medium is the message.

What Can I Do? My Mac is Running Slow: (2) The Hard Disk

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:47:11 +0700

A problem that afflicts many Mac owners after a few months is that the disk becomes full. The time will vary depending on the user and the type of activity that the computer is used for, but bit by bit, the space is eaten up. As OSX needs a fair amount of space to swap data, create temporary files and create caches and logs, once we get to around 80% full, some slowness may appear.

What Can I Do? My Mac is Running Slow: (2) The Hard Disk

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:46:16 +0700

If I receive an email from users with the idea that their Macs are running slow, "What can I do?", I am tempted to offer tea and sympathy. There are so many potential causes that a little more detail is useful before I can come up with a maybe answer.

olloclip Quick-connect Lens Kit: Macro, Fish-eye and Wide-angle Lenses for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:28:18 +0700

Most of the time I like to experiment with some of the software photography apps that are available for iOS users. I recently took delivery of a 3-in-one lens kit for the iPhone: the olloclip, with macro, fisheye and wide-angle lenses. As with many things concerning technology, this needs some compromise, but initial results are fairly pleasing.
This article first appeared on 27 October 2011 on the former AMITIAE site and has been amended.

UK's Motor Sport Magazine now Available as an iPad app

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:12:32 +0700

During the late 1960s and the 1970s one of my must-reads every month was Motor Sport, edited then by William Boddy (WB) who only recently passed away, with major contributions by Denis Jenkinson (DSJ) who was also the co-driver to Stirling Moss (and created the rolling map as a navigation tool) when he won the Mille Miglia in 1955. . . .

I wrote to the editor some months ago over something I had read and wondered in my email about an iPad edition. All things are under consideration, I was told, but. . . .

Opening Comments

That "but" must have been a wait and see. Motor Sport has joined the ranks of publications available on the app store. Like many apps from the publishing industry this is free, but the content will be by subscription. The information in the iTunes store page for the app tells us that it "will be free to all our print subscribers in the future".

Cassandra - Wednesday Review: the Week in Full Swing

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 07:25:11 +0700

Apple updates, rumours, speculation, and some problems. Apple buys Israeli company Anobit: specialist in memory solutions. Siri for the iPhone may become Siri for the Mac (and everything else). New apps unavailable here. iTunes store for Brazil and all of Latin America. FBI using carrier IQ data. Police apologise for treatment of 15-year old photographer: compensation too. Sony buying its way out of trouble. Hard disk shortages will get worse early 2012. Does the Higgs boson exist?

Images of 2011 Bangkok Flood: AMITIAE Site Information Update

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:15:27 +0700

Over the weekend, the website I have been using for the last few months had some problems with the domain name after a miscommunication had me pay the bill late. Instead of coming back online, the site and the hosting service were unavailable owing, I am told, to a crashed hard disk. . . .

As part of a retrieval process, I thought it useful to provide some of the images of Bangkok flooding 2011 I had earlier put online. They are available (thumbnails and larger images) over two pages -- some 69 images -- with no editorial comment on the eXtensions site.

Sony Acquisitions in 2011 May not help it in any Quest to Best Apple

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:32:29 +0700

Analysts are not convinced that Sony Chairman, Howard Stringer is pursuing the right strategy in the company's fight to rival Apple: a battle it may have lost a long time ago according to a report on the Bloomberg site by Naoko Fujimura.

HP Announces Departure of Michael J, Holston

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:15:39 +0700

In a press release, HP have announced that executive vice president and general counsel Michael J, Holston is to leave HP to "pursue other opportunities."

Update to iTunes (10.5.2) and Thunderbolt Displays (1.1)

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:28:03 +0700

We see in Software Update this morning that Apple has released a new version of iTunes (10.5.2). The update, we are told, includes several improvements for iTunes Match and fixes an audio distortion problem when playing or importing certain CDs.

Another Useful Photography App for the iPhone: Big Lens

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:21:20 +0700

One of the problems that many photographers face, is focus. With a digital image, there is much flexibility in the ways that we may manipulate any photograph to prepare for final output.

Cassandra - Monday Review: It will Soon be Friday

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:41:59 +0700

Apple in a patent Purgatory. Cupertino sued in illegal search for missing iPhone 4S. Comments on the iPad. Your kids will love a Kindle Fire for Xmas: no parental controls. Rumour: Ballmer out, Gates in at Microsoft. HP gives away another family jewel. Local iPhone 4S pricing. Flooding fallout: problems at AMITIAE -- a move back to eXtensions.

Cassandra: Friday Review - The Weekend Arrives

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:00:21 +0700

As a side-effect of the flooding, the domain for AMITIAE was not renewed so I am putting this on my other site (I hope temporarily). Aperture updated. Apple rumours: new products. The EU first, now the US Justice Dept looks at publishers, Apple and books. Some silliness on Siri. Notes on the iPad and some new iOS apps. Editing Wikipedia and a lobbyists scandal in the UK. S[edition]: a way to buy digital art.