So rumours of the Microsoft Courier Tablet are out and the iPad is coming in a month or two. Lot's of people saying the iPad is a luxury that no-one needs to have. A giant iPhone and nothing more. Well, Apple are still going to sell boat loads and these illustrations of the Microsoft Courier tablet and the Apple iPad show you why.

Courier leak: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmIgNfp-MdI

iPad Padnotes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6nDbE1CK3o

The Courier appeals more (if it indeed looks like this when launched) because it has two workable screens. I work on two screens at work and it increases my productivity. Likewise with the Courier you can do things on one screen whilst working on another. It also has stylus input which if you really want to write legibly you will need.

The iPad Padnotes app is equally as cool but I can't imagine trying to write accurately with my finger. If it allows a pen then I am sold. It is an early release which I am sure will be better on each release until it rivals the Courier software.

I recently returned a wifi router to Futureshop as it was useless and I needed to upgrade. In front of me in the line up was a nervous looking young man with a Sony eBook reader in his hand. As his turn came to approach the returns counter he asked for a refund and as the lady inspected the item he continually stuttered there was nothing wrong with it. This is a familiar sight to me and I recognise it as 'upgrade fever'. The hope that an item you recently purchased or were given can be returned in the hope you can buy the latest thing that got launched which makes your old 'cool gadget', uncool.

Immediately after as I walked to the Wifi Router section to find a worthy replacement I passed the young man again in the 'Apple' section of the store frantically pouring over the Apple website showing the iPad (released only that morning). He looked relaxed now as he had returned his Sony eBook reader and probably had sufficient funds to purchase the iPad when it launches in Canada.

In a surprising move, only surprising as everyone thought Apple would say no for sure, Spotify has been approved for use on the iPhone and is due to appear in the iTunes store very soon according to reports.

This is happy days for spotify and iPhone lovers. I have blogged about the goodness of Spotify before and with the looming purchase of my first iPhone soon the only thing holding be back from totally delight will be getting a big enough data allowance on my iPhone.

Apple are giving a preview of the new iPhone 3 software version on the 17th March. Sadly this is a preview, not a complete version and is Apples way of creating more interest from developers to get it moving along no doubt.

I wonder what new wonders this will bring. Rumours include Universal search which the Palm Pre is scheduled to include. With other rumours of the new iPhone out in June this could be an eventful few months.

I always like my Apples packaged.

I have been waiting for the new Mac Mini to launch for so long it's been like waiting for the bathroom after Dinner service on a Boeing 737 to Hong Kong. The Mac Mini is a personal favourite of mine from the Apple Mac computers family. Sadly it seems the new Mac Mini announced by Apple has not come out with anything very exciting.

You can read more on the new Mac Mini here.

Did this for someone and despite it being booooring it might be useful for someone else in the world.

How to syncronise a playlist with your iPod via iTunes from a CD you just imported. Sounds confusing when I write it like that but iTunes is forgiving.