[MyAppleMenu] Apr 8, 2002

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

myapplemenu : newsletter

=== top =============

Stunning SuperDrive Puts The Latest Apple iMac Over The Top (Hiawatha Bray, Boston Globe)
<http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/098/business/Stunning_SuperDrive_puts_the_latest_Apple_iMac_over_the_top+.shtml>
Anybody can hang a DVD burner onto a computer. But Apple's SuperDrive is truly built it, as integral a part of the computer as its keyboard, and almost as easy to use.

Drowning In Aqua (Peter Seebach, IBM developerWorks)
<http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/library/us-cranky15/?n-us-442>
Apple's new user interface, Aqua, reads like a checklist of things that the classic Macintosh interface got right, and everyone else got wrong. Aqua gets most of them wrong.

iPod: Music To Hackers' Ears (Leander Kahney, Wired News)
<http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,51586,00.html>
Apple's iPod is the hottest digital music player on the market. And thanks to a small army of hackers, it's being transformed into a general-purpose device that makes the Palm seem quaint.

=== news =============

Hot Java Revives Mac Programming (Peter Coffee, eWEEK)
<http://www.eweek.com/article/0,3658,s%3D1865%26a%3D25069,00.asp>
After years of being infamously unfriendly to casual programmers, the Macintosh has suddenly become the machine of choice for out-of-the-box programmability.

New Flat Panel iMac-Based Kiosk Debuts (Peter Cohen, MacCentral)
<http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/0204/08.termimac.php>
The new termimac IV has been designed to "close the gap" between info terminals and designer pieces.

Apple Sings The Praises Of DVD (Joe Wilcox, ZDNet)
<http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1103-877789.html>
Analysts expect Apple's early lead to vanish as PC manufacturers jump onto DVD recording.

Apple Leads DVD Burning (MacMinute)
<http://www.macminute.com/#020408-dvdway>
Apple is leading the industry in DVD burning, with nearly 500,000 SuperDrive-equipped Macs and more than 2 million pieces of blank Apple DVD-R media shipped.

FileMaker 5.5 Moves More Than 750,000 Copies (MacMinute)
<http://www.macminute.com/#020408-filemaker>
FileMaker 5.5 database software has sold more than 750,000 copies.

Laptops Going Home With Students (Tess Nacelewicz, Portland Press Herald)
<http://www.portland.com/news/state/020408laptops.shtml>
Now that the contentious debate over laptop funding appears settled, a new question is emerging: Should students be allowed to take their Apple iBooks home?

Apple Offers iPod Car-Stereo Kit (Macworld UK)
<http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/main_news.cfm?NewsID=4472>
The Dr Bott iPod Connection Kit will connect iPod to a car stereo, hi-fi system, radio cassette recorder, and a variety of other devices.

Adobe Enhancing FrameMaker Software (David Becker, CNET News.com)
<http://news.com.com/2100-1040-877456.html?tag=cd_mh>
Adobe Systems on Monday will announce the release of a new version of its FrameMaker publishing software, which continues the company's push into server programs.

Apple, Panasonic Team On Upcoming Products (MacMinute)
<http://www.macminute.com/#020407-pana>

=== opinions =============

What Do You Mean Calling The Cube Low-End? (Rodney O. Lain, Low End Mac)
<http://lowendmac.com/things/02/0408.html>
The Power Mac G4 Cube has my vote as the best Mac ever, and I hope that it will have a second chance on the market to prove it.

Does Apple Have The Magic Touch? (Erick Schonfeld, ZDNet)
<http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1107-877609.html>
I wish more consumer technology companies would be like Apple Computer.

=== reviews =============

10 Free POP3 Email Services (Charles W. Moore, Low End Mac)
<http://www.lowendmac.com/misc/02/0408.html>

The ALtiVec Difference (Craig Hunter, O'Reilly Network)
<http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/mac/2002/04/05/altivec.html>

Icewind Dale (Michael Philips, Inside Mac Games)
<http://www.insidemacgames.com/reviews/view.php?ID=245>
Icewind Dale is a must have for any RPG fan.

=== internet top news =============

Google's Toughest Search Is For A Business Model (Saul Hansell, New York Times)
<http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/08/technology/ebusiness/08GOOG.html>
Can Google create a business model even remotely as good as its technology?

=== internet news =============

New Version Of Apache Released - Again (Stephen Shankland, CNET News.com)
<http://news.com.com/2100-1001-878325.html>
The backers of Apache, one of the more important open-source software projects, have released version 2.0 for real-world use.

10 Free POP3 Email Services (Charles W. Moore, Low End Mac)
<http://www.lowendmac.com/misc/02/0408.html>

Web Surfers Brace For Pop-Up Downloads (Stefanie Olsen, CNET News.com)
<http://news.com.com/2100-1023-877568.html>
Web surfers who thought online advertisement were becoming increasing obtrusive may be dismayed about a new tactic: pop-up downloads.

=== wintel top news =============

Next Big Film Distributor: Microsoft? (Associated Press)
<http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/industry/04/08/microsoft.movies.ap/index.html>
Microsoft is moving forward with its efforts to court entertainment industry companies as it tries to move into yet another new market -- movie and television distribution.

New Win-NT, 2K, XP Security Holes (Thomas C Greene, The Register)
<http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/24743.html>
MS not worried - but maybe you should be.

=== wintel news =============

Microsoft Still Baffled By UNIX (Adam Barr, osOpinion)
<http://www.osopinion.com/perl/story/17154.html>
The flap over the Microsoft-Unisys "We Have the Way Out" web site has overshadowed flaws inherent in the ad campaign itself.

Microsoft Brings Developers Deepder Into Its .NET (Matt Berger, InfoWorld)
<http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/industry/04/08/ms.developer.conference.idg/index.html>
An annual gathering this week for developers who build applications for Windows will provide the chance for a closer look at a set of recently launched development tools designed to further Microsoft's wide reaching .NET initiative.

MS Gets Leaked Win2K USB 2.0 Drivers Pulled, Cites DMCA (John Lettice, The Register)
<http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/24749.html>

Microsoft Revamps Spec For Web Searches (Wylie Wong, CNET News.com)
<http://news.com.com/2100-1001-877704.html>
Microsoft is revising a data access specification that will allow companies to more easily search daabases on the Web.

Microsoft Hails Halo Success (Ananova)
<http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_562347.html?menu=news.technology>
Microsoft says it has sold a million copies of Halo, making it the fastest selling next generation console game in US and Cananda.

Microsoft Programmers Focus On Secure Software (John Markoff, New York Times)
<http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/08/technology/ebusiness/08SOFT.html>
Stung by a chorus of critics who said that its software code was increasingly buggy and vulnerable to attack, Microsoft began sending its programmers to a special course in writing secure software.

The Best Way To Kill MS Messenger (Thomas C Greene, The Register)
<http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/24746.html>
Check out this little script.

Finally, Someone Complains About Microsoft (Anthony Doesburg, Computerworld New Zealand)
<http://www.idgnet.co.nz/webhome.nsf/UNID/1C54639D067E6CFACC256B90001977C5!opendocument>
An echo of the US government's case against Microsoft is being heard in New Zealand with the filing of a complaint against the company last week with the Commerce Commission.

What Microsoft's Reorg Means To You And Me (David Berlind, ZDNet)
<http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2860277,00.html>
With the possible exception of the Xbox, Microsoft hasn't found any real traction in these consumer markets. So maybe Belluzo's departure signals a return to the drawing board on the consumer front.

MS Office For Linux? Nope, Not Quite -- But Close! (David Coursey, ZDNet)
<http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2860311,00.html>
CrossOver Office seems to be a viable alternative for Linux devotees -- and Windows users who want to make the OS switch.

=== linux news =============

MS Office For Linux? Nope, Not Quite -- But Close! (David Coursey, ZDNet)
<http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2860311,00.html>
CrossOver Office seems to be a viable alternative for Linux devotees -- and Windows users who want to make the OS switch.

=== reader : tech =============

Mastering Memory (Benedict Carey, Los Angeles Times)
<http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-040802mem.story>
It's normal to grow more forgetful as we age, but research suggests that the brain can stay surprisingly retentive if it's kept stimulated.

Games People Play On Computers (Steven Johnson, New York Times)
<http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/06/opinion/06JOHN.html>
Despite gaming's enormous popularity, most media coverage of computer games has focused on their reputation for gruesome violence.

Handhelds Of Tomorrow (Claire Tristram, Technology Review)
<http://www.techreview.com/articles/tristram0402.asp>
Think thumb keyboards and protable hard drives -- not the overhyped notions of cell phone Web browsers and "pen-based computing."

=== reader : life =============

Raging Mom (Dayna Macy, Salon)
<http://www.salon.com/mwt/mothers/2002/04/08/mother_rage/index.html>
How do we deal with the ugly furies of motherhood?

My Life For Poetry (Michael Kinsley, Washington Post)
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11141-2002Apr7.html>
Friends of the Earth and friends cannot avoid moral responsibility for wrecking people's lives, as they attempt to do, by calling for a "moratorium" on therapeutic cloning rather than an outright ban.

Footprints Of Greatness On Your Turf (Frank Conroy, New York Times)
<http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/08/books/08CONR.html>
Most writers are aware, or become aware, that writing is a curious business, involving odd currents running every which way under the surface.

'60 Minutes' And Its Icon Plan For Shift In Generations (Jim Rutenberg, New York Times)
<http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/08/business/media/08MIKE.html>
The withdrawal of Mr. Wallace, the face of the program since it began, effectively begins a slow and deliberate change of leadership at "60 Minutes" -- the first in its 34-year history.

=== reader : expressions =============

Take These Mottoes, Please (David Martin, Los Angeles Times)
<http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-000025055apr08.story?coll=la%2Dnews%2Dcomment%2Dopinions>
When it comes to state mottoes, it's time for a change. Some are old. Some are boring. Some are even in Latin.

=== singapore top news =============

Tap-And-Go Fare Card System Starts Saturday (Karamjit Kaur, Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/primenews/story/0,1870,113101,00.html?>
After a two-week delay, caused by a software glitch, the green light has been given for the launch of the ez-link smart card.

=== singapore news =============

Government Will Ensure No 'Severe Impact' On HDB Owners (Business Times Singapore)
<http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,2276,41289,00.html?>
The government will have to make sure those who have bought HDB flats will not be 'severely impacted' by possible changes to the use of CPF savings, said Minister for National Develoment Mah Bow Tan.

Debates In The House Just For show, So Why Bother (Seto Hann Hoi, Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/forum/story/0,1870,113124,00.html?>
Do not let the interests of the nation be subservient to the interests of a political party.

Does Singapore Really Need More Babies? (George Wong Seow Choon, Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/forum/story/0,1870,113040,00.html?>
Whhy do we need a large population?

More Protection Of Privacy Needed (Kelvin Tan, Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/forum/story/0,1870,113116,00.html?>
I am appalled that personal data was offered without the express consent of th eperson whose data was used for what was essentially a direct marketing campaign.

Flavour Of The Year - Again (Tee Hun Ching, Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/life/story/0,1870,113027,00.html?>
Two culinary talents here win summit's excellence awards for second year running in a field of 51 contestants.

HDB Starts Pulling Out The Stops To Woo Buyers (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/primenews/story/0,1870,113095,00.html?>
With 13,700 flats still unsold, walk-in buyers can view show flats, take a bus tour and make a booking on the spot.

'Singapore Was Ready To Go to War' (Shahrum Sayuthi, New Straits Times)
<http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/National/20020408080055/Article/>
"Maybe [Lee Kwan Yew] was just joking, but the point is that the water supply from Johor is very important to them."

The Media's Not A Diplomat (Rozi Ali, New Straits Times)
<http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/Columns/20020408081444/Article/>
Singapore seems to expect our journalists to come from obscure rags that are openly patronised by the Department of Information.

Are You Addicted To Sex? (Reuters)
<http://www.reuters.co.uk/news_article.jhtml;jsessionid=REHJPX2WUX0QECRBAEZSFFAKEEATIIWD?type=topnews&StoryID=784024>
In strait-laced Singapore the government is providing its citizens with a website designed to let them find out if their desires have become compulsive.

SMRT Launches 'Keep Left' Scheme Islandwide (Channel NewsAsia)
<http://sg.news.yahoo.com/020408/5/singapore4682.html>
SMRT has launched the "Keep Left" scheme islandwide for commuters taking the escalators at train stations after their resounding approval.

Characteristics Of Some Districts To Be Preserved (Lydia Lim, Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/breakingnews/story/0,1895,113009,00.html?>
Small hubs of activity that have a distinct character will be kept and enhanced under a new "identity plan" announced by National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan on Monday.

Consider Protest, Singapore Told (The Star)
<http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2002/4/8/nation/pksing&sec=nation>
The works carried in waters around Pulau Tekong and Pulau Ubin by Singapore were not only narrowing the shipping routes but also affecting marine life and the livelihood of Malaysian fishermen.

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MyAppleMenu is edited by Heng-Cheong Leong. MyAppleMenu is not affiliated with Apple Computer, Inc., or any other companies in any manner. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, Power Macintosh, iMac, iBook, iPod, and PowerBook are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. All other brands or product names are trademarks of their registered holders. Copyright (C) 1996-2002 Heng-Cheong Leong. All rights reserved.