If you’ve found Messages awkward, Glenn Fleishman’s new “Take Control of Messages in Mountain Lion” ebook has the explanations you need to make Messages work for you.

Apple earned $8.2 billion on revenues of $36 billion for the most recent fiscal quarter, which prompted analysts to figure out why the company performed so ‘poorly’ compared to their predictions, and why the iPad mini is priced starting at $329.

While Apple focused much of its media event on the new iPad mini, the company also took time to introduce three new Macs, including a redesigned iMac, a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display, and a speed-bumped Mac mini. Adam Engst has all the details.

A technology that started out as the audio-only AirTunes in 2004 and transmogrified into AirPlay in 2010 has now been enhanced in Mountain Lion to enable us to mirror our Mac screens to AirPlay-savvy devices like the Apple TV. Read on to find out what else you can do with it, and to learn how to recover the commands formerly on the Display menu bar menu.

Apple Mail on both Mac OS X and iOS can tell you immediately when you have new mail, but the two versions do so using very different systems. Michael Cohen explains how each works.

Small update with four targeted fixes not addressed in the original release of OS X 10.8.2. (Free, 26.65 MB)

Small update fixes two issues not addressed in the original release of Mac OS X 10.7.5. (Free, 2 MB)

Updates the Server Admin and System Image Utility to add NetBoot/NetInstall model filters for the latest MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models. (Free, 195.67 MB)

Adds DHCP management capability from within the Server app, plus addresses several issues with migrating from previous versions. ($19.99 new, free update, 136 MB)

The big news in OS X 10.8.2 is that, by default, Save As now works the way you expect.

Patches a number of security vulnerabilities — recommended for all Snow Leopard users, though there’s no reason to update instantly. (Free, 257/276 MB)

Provides fixes for a variety of commonly used services. (Free update, 1.22 to 1.99 GB)

Firmware updates that tackle issues found on 2012 models, plus an update that adds the Power Nap feature to MacBook Air models from late 2010. (Free, 658 KB to 4.97 MB)

Apple’s promise to integrate Facebook with OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion was fulfilled with the release of the 10.8.2 update. Find out how to get it working and learn what it does.

Adds the Gatekeeper security feature to Lion, along with a smattering of other fixes. (Free update, 894 MB to 1.91 GB)

Amongst many other added features and tweaks, Mountain Lion’s second major revision receives fixes for shortening URLs in Notification Center tweets and viewing iMessages on your Mac sent to your phone number.

After finding himself unable to get updates via the App Store app, Adam Engst changed his DNS servers and everything suddenly started working.

Adds compatibility for for iOS 6 running on compatible iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models, plus support for new iPod nano and iPod shuffle models. (Free update, 157.33 MB)

Notifications are one of Mountain Lion’s most compelling new features, but they can become overwhelming. Kirk McElhearn looks at how to set up notifications, and how to keep them from becoming a headache.

Maintenance update fixes an issue with starting up older operating systems on Ivy Bridge-based Macs. ($49.99/99.99 new, 15.1 MB)