While the masses are still gobbling up the iPhone 5 (and many are gaga over Apple’s new mini iPad), and reviews of iOS 6 have been generally positive, I find myself SO disappointed by one key feature of the latter that I have resolved NOT to upgrade from my iPhone 4S running iOS 5 until said feature gets a MAJOR overhaul. Can you guess which highly touted app flap I’ m fuming about?
Maps! In my opinion, an abomination. There, I said it. Had Apple released iOS 6 Maps as a beta (a partially finished product available only for sampling) but continued to allow use iOS 5 Maps, I could have tolerated the “imperfection.” Apple CEO Tim Cook’s explanation that Google’s refusal to allow Apple to license the vocal “turn by turn commands,” which so many GPS units offer, forced the Mothership to fly prematurely and his apology for the shoddy product (praised by some critics as bold and courageous) fail to mollify my misery; his suggestion that I download other apps (that work only in the US) doesn’t help.
Amazingly, plenty of folks insist that I’m over-reacting. Thrilled with iP5’s larger screen and quicker Internet connection speed, they also support Apple’s view that turn by turn directions trumps Maps’ other deficiencies. Choosing to use the app only in map view, they’re happy to have it dictate how to reach their destination….
My work entails a great deal of driving. The details my Google Maps app displays, together with experience and local knowledge, have taught me that routes suggested by an app are often not the best available. Turn by turn instructions, therefore, don’t help me much. Moreover, Street View helps me visualize my clients’ neighbourhood and often the exact address I’ll be visiting. In iOS 5, I have only to tap on a client’s address in my iPhone’s Contacts app to bring it up in Maps, then tap once more for Street View.
In iOS 6, Contacts is synced with a Maps app of clearly diminished quality, and Street View is gone, along with info about bus and Sky Train stops. Satellite views, compared with Google Maps, are dark and often of lower resolution. In some areas (Kelowna, for example), close-up satellite maps are black and white! The map view of my home in New Westminster shows that I live in a park, next to a provincial school that closed down years ago! More egregious flaws have been documented by hundreds of blogs and forums.
“Apple went out and partnered with the weakest players,” said Noam Bardin of Waze, a popular GPS traffic and navigation app. “[They’ve now come] out with the lowest, weakest data set ,and they’re competing against Google, which has the highest data set- with Apple maps, you’re literally not going to find things. And if you do have [accurate data], the route [shown] may not be optimal.” To protect himself from a lawsuit, we suspect, Bardin later backed off such strong language, “acknowledging” that he does not believe Apple’s maps will get you lost nor are they terrible…. But they are. And no one knows how long it may take Apple to get their app up to Google’s standard.
Yes, in the meantime, through Safari, we can still add Google Maps as a “pseudo app” to our iOS 6 ‘phones and ‘Pads, but clicking an address in Contacts will still bring up only Apple’s inferior product!
With press deadline too early for comment, please note that we’re keenly interested in Microsoft’s October launch of Windows 8 and its Surface tablet, as well as Apple’s mini iPad. More on them in December.

by Roxanne Griese

I to love change the look of a light fixture, or put a chandelier in unexpected places… Causing my husbands eyebrows to disappear into his hair line… Chuckles…

I bought a wrought iron light fixture at one of favorite haunts… The local thrift store:  This was an old fashioned heavy fixture; I remembered carrying it to the front of the store thinking, this is going to be hard to secure safely.

I’ll buy something then think about it for a day to two; I liked the heavy look of the fixture but wanted to add a softer touch!  First, I had to decide where I was going to hang the light. Not an easy task, I carried the heavy fixture around the house, holding it up high, as to visualize the light in the room.  I had to make a decision soon; my arms were shaking… I decided on the laundry room; who would not want a prettier laundry room?  I certainly spend quality time with Iona and Fiona… Yes, I named my washer and dryer they were just far too nice, not to give them names.  Hey, people name their cars why not washers and dryers.

I digress…. Back to the light fixture;  I sprayed painted the wrought iron a flat black, removing the plastic tubes covering the bulb housing, those I spray painted a glossy white, they had turned a not so lovely shade of yellow over time.  Now, off to visit the lighting experts, I needed new chandelier bulbs and shades that attached to the bulbs… I also needed expert advice, on how to hang a heavy light fixture safely.  I brought home my new lovely white shades and chandelier bulbs and advice; eager to start the process of installing…

My advice hire someone!  It took forever to make all the hardware improvements; then installing what now felt like 200lb light fixture.  All said and done, I love the wrought iron fixture in my laundry room!  Fiona and Iona are even lovelier under the new light, and my husbands eyebrows disappeared into his hairline again!

Quick Tip: A local hardware store is an excellent place for advice, and it is free.  When spray painting tubes, slide the tubes over a piece of dowel this makes is easier to turn to paint and dry.

Roxanne Griese is an Artist

Decorating and organizing are her passions, to see more articles and artwork visit
www.artbyroxanne.ca

By Roxanne Griese

Creative Living  Tips & Tricks

By Roxanne Griese

Love magazines, place them in decorative boxes with lids, then stack the boxes by a favorite chair. The organized magazines are now at your finger tips and the boxes create an instant side table.

As we age, the ability of our immune systems to combat infection weakens.  This means that seniors are more susceptible to getting the flu and this is nothing to shrug off, given that 90% of flu-related deaths and more than half of flu-related hospitalizations occur in people over the age of 65.  A flu infection could also lead to more serious illnesses such as pneumonia, which may be fatal.  There is absolutely no doubt that the best defense against the flu is an annual flu shot.  The local flu vaccine consists of remnants of the flu virus that can trigger your immunity to make biochemical troops in preparation for exposure to an actual flu viral attack.  This way, the body can respond much more quickly upon exposure and thus halt the flu in its tracks ASAP.

If the flu shot sounds so amazing, why doesn’t everyone just get one?  Good question…  Any healthy individual over 65 is considered at high risk and should go get a flu shot.  It is easily accessible at Cloverdale Pharmasave, where trained and certified pharmacists can provide the vaccination via drop-in or by appointment.  There are a few misconceptions out there, though.  Yes, some preparations contain a mercury-derivative called “thimerosal” used as a preservative.  However, thimerosal’s metabolite, “ethyl-mercury” is considered by government agency data to be generally safer than “methyl-mercury”.  (Methyl-mercury is the “mercury” that people speak of when they refer to heavy-metal poisoning.)  Also, it is untrue that you will get sick or contract the flu from a vaccine; the latter is impossible since there are no active flu viruses in a proper vaccine.  Some people fear a link between repeated vaccinations and dementia or heart disease, but there is no solid data to support this.

Overall good health habits can really help prevent the flu, too.  This can be as simple as making sure you wash your hands often (especially before meals), avoiding touching your eyes, nose, mouth, covering your sneeze with a tissue, or avoiding crowds and close contact with sick people.  Getting enough rest on a regular basis and maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine will be of additional benefit.  It is also recommended that you refrain from going out until 24 hours after disappearance of a fever (except for going to seek medical attention or for necessities).

There is good and bad news if you dread the traditional needle.  There is a nasal flu vaccine called “Flumist”, which is similar in efficacy to the traditional vaccine, but is not recommended for people over 50 years of age.  “Intanza” is an “intradermal” vaccine designed to work with a much smaller needle to deposit a smaller volume (0.1mL vs traditional 0.5mL) of the vaccine into your skin (rather than the muscle).   “Intanza 15µg” is the version that is safe for those 60+ years of age, and offers similar efficacy as the traditional flu vaccine.

Furthermore, many people supplement with homeopathic and natural remedies around the time of their flu shots because they can help minimize the side-effects of a vaccine and/or boost their effectiveness.  Sulphur, Thymuline 9CH, Influenzinum (current strains), and Esberitox are all used frequently and supplementation should be discussed with a health professional that is knowledgeable in the area.  Contrary to what some may think, over-the-counter “flu” preparations such as “Tylenol Cold and Flu” are useless in preventing a flu infection; they are only potentially useful in relieving associated symptoms.

As with so many decisions, it is important to weigh the benefits against the risks.  In many cases, the benefits of getting an annual flu shot outweigh the risks.  Talk to your doctor or pharmacist and become familiar with the symptoms of the flu and to help assess whether a flu vaccine is the smart choice for you this year.

(Christine and Fred Cheng are a sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique family-owned and operated Pharmasave in Cloverdale, BC.  They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use.  They would love to hear from you! 604-576-2888; www.cloverdalepharmasave.com. Of course, before you begin any activity program or try any OTC supplementation, check with your physician and pharmacist.)

By Chris Millikan

While our riverboat cruises onward, we disembark at Linz, Austria and daytrip into the southwest Czech Republic. Within 11/2 scenic hours, we’re sauntering into fabled Cesky Krumlov.

Our guide Daniel leads us along a brick walkway into a small park and through a massive multi-arched city gate. Crossing a wooden bridge over the meandering Vltava River, we behold this small, storybook town. Other visitors float by on flat-bottomed rafts. Daniel grins, “That’s one way to visit…but strolling is the best way to see this World Heritage site!” Pointing upward, he notes, “In 1253, the Lords of Krumlov built their castle up there!” With its wondrous tower displaying delicate pinks and yellows, Cesky’s castle shares the high promontory above the river with gothic-spired St.Vitus Church. Daniel adds, “Though begun early in the1400’s, that magnificent church wasn’t completed until the 19th.”

Cesky’s exudes enchantment along her winding narrow cobblestone streets. Yellow, green and blue old-world townhouses, inns and shops rise around us…just some of 300 preserved buildings. Medieval crests, images of prominent burghers and mosaic figures decorate pastel walls. Crisp red and white trims some windows, others display intricate geometric patterns.

Surrounded by quaint hotels and bustling outdoor cafes, we survey the lively central square from a comfy bench. The Virgin Mary tops the fountain towering behind us, where lion heads spout water; sculpted saints and guardian angels decorate its six sides.

Off this square, the Regional Museum houses 34,000 objects, including a model showing a 19th-century Cesky, Bohemian antiques and archeological finds from this region. The Museum of Architecture and Craft exhibits building designs and construction techniques from the Middle Ages to today.

In a nearby centuries-old hotel, all eagerly gather for traditional Czech lunches.  Surrounded by medieval wall tapestries, we join shipmates around a wood table. Bright sunshine streams into the dining room through high windows framed with burgundy velvet drapes.

While sipping robust Czech beer and savouring bowls of garlicky potato soup, waiters enthrall us with tales of their president staying here. Even Prince Charles and Camilla holiday in these gracious surroundings. After lingering over plates heaped with savoury paprika chicken and roasted potatoes, we’re back in the lobby. Poking our faces through cutout holes, we pose for zany photos from behind plywood mockups…seeming to be dressed in royal garb!

Our group disperses for afternoon explorations. My hubby and I head for the castle, the Republic’s second largest to Prague’s Hradcany. Trudging up the winding street, we pass through a carriage portal and into a shaded courtyard amid the castle complex of forty gothic, renaissance and baroque buildings. Rising above us, the 55-meter tower boasts four archaic bells dating from the early 1400’s to 1700’s.  Some visitors pay small fees and climb to see its 16th-century mural gallery…and ultra-magnificent panoramas.

Continuing through a stone passageway, we arrive on a sunlit terrace. From vantage points along the crowded wall, we view the multi-coloured tower high above us and marvel at this perfect postcard of red-peaked roofs set amid green rolling hills.

Our walk continues upward into the royal park founded in the 17th-century. A high wall surrounds eleven hectares of lush terraced lawns.  Inside, peaceful pathways lead us past colorful flowerbeds, huge ornate urns, statuary of playful gods and a massive white marble fountain.

Settled back inside the coach, Daniel piques further imaginings, “Cesky transforms into a 16th-century setting for a mid-June festival. For three days there are concerts and glittering dances; parading nobles, knights and jugglers roam through the streets.”

Reboarding our riverboat in Passau, we bring treasured memories of our ramble through medieval Cesky Krumlov.

For Information on 

European river cruise itineraries: www.scenictours.com

By Ursula Maxwell-Lewis

Surrey International Writers’ Conference kicks off on October 19 to celebrate 20 successful years of service to writers, poets, and playwrites.  Seattle author Robert Dugoni inspired this year’s theme with his rousing 2011 closing keynote battle cry. “Today we write!”

The popular conference was the brain-child of Surrey author, Ed Griffin. Griffin suggested the idea at a Surrey coffee shop writers’ group meeting in 1993. Armed with a small group of volunteers and no money, the group approached the Surrey Continuing Education Department.

By October, a 1-day Saturday mini=conference was planned at Johnson Heights Secondary School. With a few workshops selected and Vancouver Sun columnist, Denny Boyd, as keynote speaker the little conference was ready to roll.  Attendees were delighted. They wanted more of the same.  Encouraged, the group made the giant decision to move to the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford.  Additional days were gradually added, SiWC’s reputation consistently grew, and 1-day Master Class workshops were added on pre-conference Thursdays.

Today, Canadian, American and British writers flock to Surrey to connect with editors, agents and publishers.  SiWC is now an independent non-profit society with sponsors like the City of Surrey,  the Arts Council of Surrey and the Surrey Board of Trade.

Best-selling authors Diana Gabaldon, Jack Whyte, and Anne Perry are among the regular workshop presenters and speakers. Others have included Bernard Cornwell, Anita Rau Bedami and Jean Auel.

Avid readers drop in to the “Book Fair” on Friday evening to have books autographed and chat with favourite authors.  This part of the conference is free and open to the public.

A Trade Show throughout the event features authors, or related writing services promoting books and writing-related products. Chapters sets up a mobile bookstore with a wealth of writing related books and popular titles. It’s a good time to shop for Christmas gifts.

But – what if you’re not a writer…yet?  What if you’ve contemplated writing your family story, sharing your own saga, or have the germ of an idea for a Young Adult thriller? SiWC is the place to explore the possibilities. With a one-day pass to whet your writing appetite (although folks invariably regret not taking the whole conference pass), the deceptively casual conference surreptitiously connects all genres. Full details can be found at www.SiWC.ca

Equally popular is the venerable Vancouver Writer’s Fest taking place October 16 to 21. Extensive events, readings and lectures take place around the city as well as on Granville Island.  This vibrant, cosmopolitan event attracts readers and writers. This year Margaret Atwood, Jian Ghomeshi, and Martin Amis are included in their extensive list of authors reading at the event. For the full schedule go to www.writersfest.bc.ca

If reading and writing are your passions, bookmark the cities of Surrey and Vancouver this October.

Ursula Maxwell-Lewis can be reached on Twitter @YouTravel, or by email at utravel.ca

COMPUTER CHAT September 2012

by Keith Richardson

Summer started slowly but has turned out pretty well, n’est-ce pas? The heat and Olympics actually drove a few people indoors for a while!

After a slow June, the new clients side of our business picked up considerably in July and August as many of you took the plunge and acquired a new Mac or one of the “old stock.” Many London Drugs managers reported that their discounted old stock moved slower than in past roll-outs, a sign, perhaps, that folks had been lusting for the latest Mac-hines. Local Mac only resellers seem to have similar over abundance of stale stock. (Of course, it’s never really stale, is it?)

Unfortunately, until late August, many “new” Macs, due to the length of the commercial supply chain, did not arrive installed with Apple’s newest OS, Mountain Lion (10.8). The free upgrade, moreover, is a time-consuming and somewhat nerve-wracking experience for many people as it needs to be done over the Internet through Apple’s App Store. If you don’t have a high speed connection, I’d almost say don’t even think about it. Even on high speed, from the moment you begin the download until ML is up and running you’re looking at over 2 hours. If, God forbid, you’re still using High Speed Lite (Lite with a silent “t”), it will take much longer. We were well over an hour with Broadband 50.

As well, prior to accessing any of Apple’s online stores (iTunes store, App store, iBook store, etc.), you have to have an Apple ID. Then, as you’re ready to download Mountain Lion, the App Store may appear to want a current credit card number. It turns out that if you know the procedure, you can obtain free software from the App Store without a credit card. Check out http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2534 and click on Creating an account on a computer. 

July and August 2012 Mac purchasers don’t need to provide a credit card. But navigating through all the “special circumstances” at play here may leave you wanting help in following all the directions.

The good news is that, for most, the transition to Mountain Lion has gone very smoothly. 3 million downloads in the first four days of its release. “Surprisingly good” app compatibility according to TechCrunch reviewer MG Siegler. Which doesn’t mean that ALL your old apps, especially if you’re upgrading from Snow Leopard (OS 10.6.8), are going to work on ML. If you’re an old hand with Macs but have never really figured out your computer’s tech side, we recommend you consult someone who knows about these things….

How different is ML? Significantly divergent from Snow Leopard. Even Lion users will find several brand new features (sometimes a bit hidden—ain’t that the Apple way?) as well as noticeable changes (enhancements?) to familiar apps like the renamed Address Book, now renamed Contacts (as on the iPad and iPhone), and simpler to use. Also, kudos for Notifications, Safari 6, and iCloud.

Notifications resides in the upper right corner of our Desktop menu bar. When you receive a new email, or an event reminder is issued, you receive an unobtrusive notification that you can act on or not as you see fit.

Safari 6 increasing imitates its competition, notably Firefox and Chrome browsers, yet retains its unique features—Reader, built-in dictionary, and even easier setup editing. The biggest difference is the combined search and address box. Tabs utilization is also better in our opinion. One thing missing, at first, is the add a bookmark button (+), but it can be added by customizing the toolbar—which we advocate in any case. We also like being able to swipe between web pages both on a trackpad and even the Magic Mouse.

We also like the improvements in Preview, notably the Markup option, a significant improvement over the old Annotate button. Several features that were previously separated have been rolled into Edit. Click it and you get a whole raft of tools. Some tools are still only accessible under the Preview menus (Adjust colour and size, for example. It would be nice to have them as buttons on the Toolbar, too.)

As has been the case for years, however, it’s a puzzle to us why so many Preview’s best features are not “turned on” “out of the box.” You’ll need to right click on the title bar, select Customize Toolbar to add these tools: expanded zoom box (3 buttons instead of 2), Zoom to Fit, Scale, Inspector, and possibly others.

All in all, however, we continue to be impressed by just how well designed and useful Preview is. Sadly, it appears that Most Mac users have never closely looked at the app’s “extra bells and whistles.”

We’ve also played briefly with the new Dictation/Speech preference. Competent typists used to “thinking in type” are unlikely to switch to Dictation. Competent speakers, however, may love it. Just be sure to choose the input language that fits your voice. If, instead of US English (apparently there’s a Canadian English option “coming soon,” eh?), you converse in UK or Australian English, don’t say “period” to mark the end of a sentence. Say, “Full stop.” Otherwise you’ll see not a “.” but the word “period.” As with all dictation programs, there’s plenty of hilarity when the computer misinterprets your speech, grammar, or meaning. Not yet a home run.

On the other hand, we love the improved text to speech feature. We asked “Tessa” and “Karen” to read this column back to us and loved their delightful South African and Australian accents so much that we almost forgot to listen to the content. Hope we haven’t left too many typos in this report!

Postscript: One small thing, noted by one reviewer as a change she wants to see reversed. It’s no longer so easy to accidentally remove an app from the Dock by clicking and dragging it up. Many of our clients in the past were plagued by this issue. Now, you have to be more deliberate; you can still drag it up—a bit higher than before, hold it there for a couple of seconds and then watch it “poof” if you like, but you’re less likely to do this accidentally.

Don’t forget to check out the Macseniors website: http://macseniors.ca.

by Roxanne Griese

Create your own oasis, maybe you have downsized, or retired and wow who knew you needed some private time. Finding a space of your own can be tricky, here are some ideas to help carve out some personal space.

Floating furniture in a room creates an illusion of a larger space, creating an intimate conversation area. It also opens up corners to create a quite spot, to place a comfortable chair and side table; inviting you to curl up with a good book. A floor lamp placed behind the chair provides ample lighting and ambience to a forgotten corner.

A small console table and chair tucked along a wall, behind a piece of floating furniture. Complete with a decorative lamp, this is a perfect spot for a lap top or to sit and write a note.

Closets are a fantastic place to find your personal space. By removing the doors, one can create a simple and efficient office. Considering painting the inside of the closet space an inviting hue, one that complements the room. With the measurements in hand; find a stylish, ready made desk, consider using a usual chair for the desk; I suggest shopping your home… A dining chair may just be the ticket.

Adding understated shelving, with wicker baskets over the desk keeps office essentials close at hand and out of sight. Hang personalized pictures, in matching frames on the side walls, a desk lamp completes your personal office nook.

I realize most closets do not have an electrical outlet, call a local electrician to have an outlet installed. A small price to pay for your personal space.

Stay tuned… continuing to love your space.

Roxanne Griese is an Artist

Decorating and organizing are her passions, to see more articles and artwork visit
www.artbyroxanne.ca

By Ursula Maxwell-Lewis

“Edinburgh’s got the bills, and Glasgow’s got the cash!”  Clearly I’d struck a nerve by asking the elderly Scot his opinion of Edinburgh City Council’s decision to re-introduce trams to the ancient city centre.  From the original £375million estimate taxpayers fear the project will exceed £1billion by 2014. Standing on the grand Missoni Hotel steps the unvarnished, no-holds-barred, local opinion of civic politics was refreshing…and colourful.

Regretfully tearing myself away from my informant, I clambered aboard the idling Insight Vacations coach. Dreaded road works aside, Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Yacht Britannia, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and other charms of the great city, remained intact and beckoning.

“Scenic Britain”, the new Insight Vacations seven-day whirlwind glimpse of England, Scotland, and Wales, was to be my introduction to a new senior experience – touring by coach.

Edinburgh was the only two-night stop on the itinerary, and I was taking full advantage of all that was offered.

A kilted city guide conducted a well-versed tour of Edinburgh Castle. The tiny St.Margaret’s Chapel tucked into the battlements, Mons Meg (the strictly business canon), and the 15th century Honours of Scotland (the Scottish regalia and Scottish Crown Jewels) intrigued our group of Australians, Canadians, Asians and Americans. Insight is noted for small groups, large coaches with extra leg room, and well-appointed, centrally located, hotels. Edinburgh’s  Missoni is within easy walking distance of the castle, and that intriguing plethora of stolid stone historic buildings and cashmere and kilt shops, the Royal Mile.

Earlier in the week, we had left central London and explored Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon Avon home flanked by gardens dotted with poppies, and spent a brilliantly sunny afternoon exploring The Shambles, a rabbit warren of shops in the shadow of  York Cathedral. Here, the importance of noting coach number and departure time and location were demonstrated when a fellow traveler vanished. Our worried Tour Director,`John Brackenridge, delayed as long as possible before enlisting the aid of the local constabulary. During dinner at the Majestic (a rambling Victorian hotel with a delightfully informative local receptionist), our missing mate was, to John’s relief, returned none the worse for wear.

I’d like to have explored more of North Yorkshire, but Durham with its UNESCO World Heritage cathedral and castle was next on our list. Well worth exploring, Durham is hilly, and rambling. Since 1832 the castle has housed Durham University.

Gretna Green (less touristy during my parent’s honeymoon there in 1940), was included in our swing through Scotland, plus all-too-brief samples of Wales via Conwy and Carnarvon, we wheeled back south through the Lake District to Liverpool. Investing £13 to join local tour guide and big time Beatles fan, Sylvia O’Malley, for a visit to the Cavern Club was worth every penny.

Stonehenge, plus a brief visit to the spa town of Bath, rounded out our tour.

Although a good introduction to coach travel, we covered a lot of ground with a worthwhile selection of highlights. Interesting to note, my travelling companions were all doing back-to-back coach trips either to Europe, or over to Ireland.

Ursula Maxwell-Lewis was a guest of Insight Vacations and Visit Britain. She can be reached at utravel@shaw.ca or on Twitter @YouTravel. “My Little Welsh Home” video  http://goo.gl/05yDI

by Keith Richardson

Summer started slowly but has turned out pretty well, n’est-ce pas? The heat and Olympics actually drove a few people indoors for a while!

After a slow June, the new clients side of our business picked up considerably in July and August as many of you took the plunge and acquired a new Mac or one of the “old stock.” Many London Drugs managers reported that their discounted old stock moved slower than in past roll-outs, a sign, perhaps, that folks had been lusting for the latest Mac-hines. Local Mac only resellers seem to have similar over abundance of stale stock. (Of course, it’s never really stale, is it?)

Unfortunately, until late August, many “new” Macs, due to the length of the commercial supply chain, did not arrive installed with Apple’s newest OS, Mountain Lion (10.8). The free upgrade, moreover, is a time-consuming and somewhat nerve-wracking experience for many people as it needs to be done over the Internet through Apple’s App Store. If you don’t have a high speed connection, I’d almost say don’t even think about it. Even on high speed, from the moment you begin the download until ML is up and running you’re looking at over 2 hours. If, God forbid, you’re still using High Speed Lite (Lite with a silent “t”), it will take much longer. We were well over an hour with Broadband 50.

As well, prior to accessing any of Apple’s online stores (iTunes store, App store, iBook store, etc.), you have to have an Apple ID. Then, as you’re ready to download Mountain Lion, the App Store may appear to want a current credit card number. It turns out that if you know the procedure, you can obtain free software from the App Store without a credit card. Check out http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2534 and click on Creating an account on a computer. 

July and August 2012 Mac purchasers don’t need to provide a credit card. But navigating through all the “special circumstances” at play here may leave you wanting help in following all the directions.

The good news is that, for most, the transition to Mountain Lion has gone very smoothly. 3 million downloads in the first four days of its release. “Surprisingly good” app compatibility according to TechCrunch reviewer MG Siegler. Which doesn’t mean that ALL your old apps, especially if you’re upgrading from Snow Leopard (OS 10.6.8), are going to work on ML. If you’re an old hand with Macs but have never really figured out your computer’s tech side, we recommend you consult someone who knows about these things….

How different is ML? Significantly divergent from Snow Leopard. Even Lion users will find several brand new features (sometimes a bit hidden—ain’t that the Apple way?) as well as noticeable changes (enhancements?) to familiar apps like the renamed Address Book, now renamed Contacts (as on the iPad and iPhone), and simpler to use. Also, kudos for Notifications, Safari 6, and iCloud.

Notifications resides in the upper right corner of our Desktop menu bar. When you receive a new email, or an event reminder is issued, you receive an unobtrusive notification that you can act on or not as you see fit.

Safari 6 increasing imitates its competition, notably Firefox and Chrome browsers, yet retains its unique features—Reader, built-in dictionary, and even easier setup editing. The biggest difference is the combined search and address box. Tabs utilization is also better in our opinion. One thing missing, at first, is the add a bookmark button (+), but it can be added by customizing the toolbar—which we advocate in any case. We also like being able to swipe between web pages both on a trackpad and even the Magic Mouse.

We also like the improvements in Preview, notably the Markup option, a significant improvement over the old Annotate button. Several features that were previously separated have been rolled into Edit. Click it and you get a whole raft of tools. Some tools are still only accessible under the Preview menus (Adjust colour and size, for example. It would be nice to have them as buttons on the Toolbar, too.)

As has been the case for years, however, it’s a puzzle to us why so many Preview’s best features are not “turned on” “out of the box.” You’ll need to right click on the title bar, select Customize Toolbar to add these tools: expanded zoom box (3 buttons instead of 2), Zoom to Fit, Scale, Inspector, and possibly others.

All in all, however, we continue to be impressed by just how well designed and useful Preview is. Sadly, it appears that Most Mac users have never closely looked at the app’s “extra bells and whistles.”

We’ve also played briefly with the new Dictation/Speech preference. Competent typists used to “thinking in type” are unlikely to switch to Dictation. Competent speakers, however, may love it. Just be sure to choose the input language that fits your voice. If, instead of US English (apparently there’s a Canadian English option “coming soon,” eh?), you converse in UK or Australian English, don’t say “period” to mark the end of a sentence. Say, “Full stop.” Otherwise you’ll see not a “.” but the word “period.” As with all dictation programs, there’s plenty of hilarity when the computer misinterprets your speech, grammar, or meaning. Not yet a home run.

On the other hand, we love the improved text to speech feature. We asked “Tessa” and “Karen” to read this column back to us and loved their delightful South African and Australian accents so much that we almost forgot to listen to the content. Hope we haven’t left too many typos in this report!

Postscript: One small thing, noted by one reviewer as a change she wants to see reversed. It’s no longer so easy to accidentally remove an app from the Dock by clicking and dragging it up. Many of our clients in the past were plagued by this issue. Now, you have to be more deliberate; you can still drag it up—a bit higher than before, hold it there for a couple of seconds and then watch it “poof” if you like, but you’re less likely to do this accidentally.

Don’t forget to check out the Macseniors website: http://macseniors.ca.

COMPUTER CHAT

by Keith Richardson

As we head into the back-to-school season, many of us, long removed from school daze, look around for tech benefits aimed at younger generations but which we can take advantage of, too. It’s a good time to consider selling (or bestowing) the old laptop to someone needing it for school research and reports.

And, of course, availing ourselves of that frisky new machine we so deserve! Look for specials not only from the major distributors (Apple, Sony, and now, Samsung stores), but our local London Drugs and neighbourhood computer stores. Old stock on sale is still “new stock” for those with the right attitude; the money saved will buy a few precious peripherals.

If you’re looking at a Mac computer, wait until your store can supply you with a Mountain Lion machine—available this month. Apple online is offering three-month no-interest financing that is nearly impossible for its “resellers” to match.

On the other hand, if you’re thinking of an iPad, hang tight until rumours of a smaller, cheaper “iPad mini” are either confirmed or proven false. We’re betting on the former and anticipating that it will have been announced before you receive this column…. Or, perhaps you’re planning to get Amazon’s Kindle Fire (you’ll have to buy it in the US; Amazon still hasn’t seen fit to unleash it on us Canucks! or a Nexus 7 (Android system) made by Google. Both of these are smaller than the 9 inch iPad and hoping to carve a niche for people who find the latter just a little too big to fit into a purse or briefcase, but more than the four inch screen of a smart phone. Hence, the virtual certainly that Apple will enter the fray with a 7-incher of its own.

According to the New York Times, “The most credible challenge right now to the iPad appears to be Google’s Nexus 7, an Android device that costs CDN$209 and is of the company’s own design. With a seven-inch screen, the Nexus 7 has already won enthusiastic reviews for its software and battery life — and, of course, its size and price.”

If you’re looking to purchase a Windows 8 computer or tablet (yes, the same OS runs on both), you’ll have to wait until sometime in October. Died-in-the-wool Microsoft fans hoping to scoop up a new Microsoft/Asus “Surface” tablet may have to wait a bit longer. There has been much discussion about Microsoft’s decision to foray into controlling both software and hardware (at least in the Surface) while continuing to license the new OS to other PC makers. Some Mac fanatics have disparaged the Surface as a “state of the vapour tablet.”

If you’re a PC owner switching to Mac, take some time to analyze how Apple’s comprehensive, integrated system links their computers, tablets, and phones. I’m always a bit surprised to see folks with Macs still using Hotmail in Firefox, an Android smart phone, and photo software downloaded as part of their printer software instead of Apple products that all talk to each other and work together. I understand that some folks prefer to run MS Office on their Macs (I do) and use Outlook (I don’t) instead of Apple Mail and Address Book/Contacts.

However, when you add an iPad or iPhone to your mix of devices, it makes so much more sense to have an Apple email (dot-me) account, and to sync your contacts and bookmarks on both machines via iCloud.

Firefox 13, which in the past six months has evolved through six iterations (!) has improved considerably in its security and speed, is still, for many Mac users NOT as appropriate to use as Safari 5.1.7 with its Reader function, ease in editing set up and bookmarks, and integration with Apple’s dictionary. Yes, we can find fault with the individual products, but the way they work together is marvellous. Safari also runs on PCs, faster in some cases on Windows 7 machines than it does on some Macs!

For those thinking of upgrading their Macs from Snow Leopard (OS 10.6.8) to Mountain Lion (OS 10.8) for only $20, make sure your hardware and apps are ML compatible and properly prepared. For example, if you are still running PowerPC apps on your SL system, you won’t be able to after upgrading either to Lion or Mountain Lion.

For more comprehensive guidance, check out MacWorld online: “Get your Mac ready for Mountain Lion.” (http://www.macworld.com/article/1167629/get_your_mac_ready_for_mountain_lion.html)

While most folks upgrading to Mountain Lion will want to do so over the existing OS, some of us would be better off, after backing up all of our existing data and apps, to do a “clean install.” Go to It’s All Tech for this tutorial: http://itsalltech.com/2012/07/16/how-to-clean-install-os-x-mountain-lion/ .

MacSeniors also suggests delaying upgrading until OS 10.8.1 comes out and takes care of the bugs that will inevitably pester early adopters…. The first update is usually very significant and arrives often within a month of the newOS release.

On the other hand, if you’re buying a new machine, you need to be thoughtful about what apps you import from your earlier system. For an App Compatibility Table that is constantly being updated, check out http://roaringapps.com/apps:table .

The changes we’re seeing in mid 2012 are going to look like nothing compared with what we’ll see over the next two to five years: smartphones and tablets that we have intelligent conversation with, or control by tactile pressure; flexible, foldable, displays; pico projectors that cast small 3-D images of our Skype buddies on a wall, devices that can only be turned on by recognizing their owner’s face and/or voice or retina. Our brains will be boggled as never before! Or so we’re being led to believe….