[MyAppleMenu] Feb 18, 2005

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
==================================================
<http://www.myapplemenu.com/>
Mac news for Mac people

[News]

*** Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Apple
<http://www.macnn.com/articles/05/02/18/class.action.lawsuit/>
MacNN

A new class action lawsuit filed on Thursday against Apple alleges that the company has engaged in acts of unfair and unlawful business practi es, breach of contract, and misappropriation of trade secrets.

*** The Art Institute Of Fort Lauderdale: Welcome To The Real World
<http://www.apple.com/pro/design/art_institute/>
David Levy, Apple

"At the end of the day, the professionalism inspired by our Mac system means we can meet deadlines and turn projects around a lot faster and smoother than many agencies staffed by more experienced folks."

*** Apple Releases Common Criteria Tools 1.0
<http://www.macworld.com/news/2005/02/17/common/index.php?lsrc=mcrss-0205>
Jim Dalrymple, MacCentral

The tools are an "internationally approved set of security standards which provides a clear and reliable evaluation of the security capabilities of Information Technology products."

*** Fidelity Now Apple's Top Investor
<http://www.nwherald.com/BusinessSection/302996461746308.php>
Matthew Keenan and Connie Guglielmo, Bloomberg

Fidelity Investments, the world's largest mutual fund firm, now is APple's biggest shareholder.

*** iPoddy-Pooper Thugs Attacking Schoolkids
<http://nypost.com/news/regionalnews/40604.htm>
David Andreatta and Murray Weiss, New York Post

City students have become victims of a rash of vicious iPod muggins and a spike in larcenies at schools.

*** Apple Stock Split: What Does It Mean?
<http://www.macworld.com/news/2005/02/17/stock/index.php?lsrc=mcrss-0205>
Philip Michaels, MacCentral

"The more shares that are freely traded, the easier it is for big investors to get in and out of a stock."

[Opinion]

*** Switching To A Mac -- Ain't Ever Going Back
<http://news.com.com/Switching+to+a+Mac+aint+ever+going+back./2061-12_3-5581354.html?part=rss&tag=5575731>
Charles Cooper, CNET News.com

So it's goodbye protected mode. Shalom Ctrl-Alt-Delete. Auf weidersehen application registry. Meet me at autoexec.bat's silver anniversary party.

*** Delusional Mac Users Need Microsoft
<http://www.applematters.com/comments.php?id=284_0_1_0_C>
Chris Seibold, Apple Matters

While missteps seem to be the norm at Redmond lately they've got too much market presence to go down quickly.

[Review]

*** iDVD 5: DVD-Creation Program Sees Refinement
<http://www.macworld.com/2005/02/reviews/idvd5review/index.php?lsrc=mcrss-0205>
Jeff Carlson, Macworld

*** iMovie HD: Addition Of HD Editing Steals Limelight From Other Useful Improvements
<http://www.macworld.com/2005/02/reviews/imoviehdreview/index.php?lsrc=mcrss-0205>
Jeff Carlson, Macworld

This is the version that loyal iMovie users have been waiting for.

*** In Depth Review Of Apple's iPod Shuffle
<http://www.theplaceforitall.com/2005/02/in-depth-review-of-apples-ipod-shuffle.html>
Tech Info Blog

*** OS X Firewalls: Firewall Testing Explained
<http://www.macworld.com/2005/01/features/securityfeaturetestreport/index.php>
Mary Landesman, Macworld

*** Apple Mac Mini: Smaller, More Stylish -- And Cheaper Than A PC?
<http://www20.tomshardware.com/howto/20050216/apple-mac-mini-computer-01.html>
Tom's Hardware Guide

*** Monster Fair
<http://www.insidemacgames.com/reviews/view.php?ID=549>
Matthew Stoton, Inside Mac Games

Yet another jewel has been added to the crown of LittleWing who remains the king of pinball games.

*** A Podcast Of Your Own
<http://playlistmag.com/features/2005/02/podcasthow2/index.php?lsrc=mcrss-0205>
Michael Gowan, Playlist

Tools and techniques for making your voice heard.

[Sidetrack]

*** Rumor Today: New iPod Minis
Heng-Cheong Leong

My iPod mini is going obsolete real soon now, if reports by AppleInsider <http://www.appleinsider.com/news.php?id=887> is to be believed.

*** Rumor Today: And New iMacs Too?
Heng-Cheong Leong

AppleInsider <http://www.appleinsider.com/news.php?id=888>: Like the iPod mini, iMacs are suddenly reflecting wait times of 7-10 business days for direct orders from Apple online store.

*** Fears
Heng-Cheong Leong

I have no idea how a parent will feel <http://www.americanheartbreak.com/movabletype/archives/000165.html> if his 14-year-old daughter got caught shoplifting... and I'm so afraid I will 12 years later.

:-)

The Tomorrow Weblog
==================================================
<http://www.myapplemenu.com/tomorrow/>
Emerging Technologies. Innovative Applications. New Economy

[News]

*** House Looks At Ways To Speed Digital TV
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32891-2005Feb17.html?nav=rss_technology>
Genaro C. Armas, Associated Press

*** China Making Great Leap Forward In Tech
<http://news.com.com/China+making+great+leap+forward+in+tech/2100-7341_3-5581568.html?part=rss&tag=5575731>
Richard Shim, CNET News.com

China's growth into a nation that leads in the use of broadband technology, and the changing role of its manufacturing companies from just assemblers to designers, were among the trends analysts discussed at a conference Thursday.

*** Fewer Pink Slips For Techies
<http://news.com.com/Fewer+pink+slips+for+techies/2100-1022_3-5580852.html?part=rss&tag=5575731>
Ed Frauenheim, CNET News.com

Large-scale layoffs, prevalent in the technology industry since the dot-com implosion, are scaling back.

[Internet]

*** New York Times Co. Buys About.com
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32793-2005Feb17.html?nav=rss_technology>
Associated Press

[Linux]

*** Linux Is Linux, Right?
<http://blog.informationweek.com/002264.html>
Larry Greenemeier, InformationWeek

MyAppleMenu Reader
==================================================
<http://www.myapplemenu.com/reader/>
The other things in life

[World]

*** Chinese Sweatshops, Manhattan-Style
<http://slate.msn.com/id/2113689/fr/rss/>
Henry Blodget, Slate

Why your clothes are made in China.

SingaporeSurf
==================================================
<http://www.myapplemenu.com/singapore/>
Life in the city

[Budget]

*** Government Makes CPF Changes To Encourage Saving For Retirement
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/133187/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

*** Baby Bonus Scheme To Be Enhanced, Maid Levy Cut By $50 From April 1
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/133180/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

*** Ministries Except Mindef To Cut Budgets By 3 Percent
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/133206/1/.html>
Joanne Leow, Channel NewsAsia

The government must do more with less, says Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his budget presentation on Friday.

*** Government Announces Top-Ups To Help Singaporeans Cope With Changes
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/133176/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

The government has announced top-ups to the Edusave, Medisave, Medifund and CPF Special and Retirement accounts to help Singaporeans cope with changes.

*** Government Announces More Measures To Help Small Businesses
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/133168/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

*** PM Lee Cuts Personal Income Taxes To Bolster Competitiveness
<http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/sub/latest/story/0,4574,145842,00.html?>
Business Times

*** Top Personal Tax Rate Cut To 20% By YA07
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sub/latest/story/0,5562,301439,00.html?>
Kelvin Lee, Straits Times

The tax rate for individual Singapore residents will be lowered from 22% to 21% in the year of assessment (YA) 2006, and then from 21% to 20% in 2007.

*** Singapore Erases Budget Deficit A Year Before Target, Lee Says
<http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=avrN8OzqVdNM&refer=asia>
Bloomberg

Singapore's government erased its budget deficit a year earlier than expected as the fastest economic growth in four years boosted tax revenue and ministries cut spending, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said today.

[News]

*** More Vacant State Land For Sporting And Recreational Activities
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/133175/1/.html>
Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia

Some sign boards on vacant state land will have their "Keep Out" signs changed to "Enter At Your Own Risk."

*** Government Moves To End HDB Cash-Back Deals
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sub/latest/story/0,5562,301445,00.html?>
Goh Chin Lian, Straits Times

To curb the practice of falsely infalting the price of a flat to get a bigger loan, buyers will have to appoint a private valuer assigend by the Housing Board.

*** Singapore May Adjust Currency Strategy, Says Bank
<http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Markets/GB18Ag04.html>
Christina Soon, Hong Kong Standard

Singapore's central bank may drop its policy of favoring a "modest and gradual appreciation" in the Singapore dollar because rising foreign-exchange reserves suggest it has been buying the United States currency, Bank of America said.

*** Singapore To Have Third Main Language
<http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12292224-23109,00.html>
News.com.au

Singapore is planning ways to increase the number of non-Malay citizens who can speak Bahasa as a way of building links with Indonesia and Malaysia.

*** Premanent PIN For Tax E-Filing
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sub/singapore/story/0,5562,301370,00.html?>
Straits Times

MyAppleMenu Shuffle
==================================================
<http://www.myapplemenu.com/podcast/>
Life is random. More tunes, less talk.

[Tunes]

*** Misery Is A Butterfly
<http://www.beggars.com/us/blonderedhead/index.html>
Blonde Redhead, Misery Is A Butterfly
<http://static3.state51.co.uk/cissme.com//bgroup-us/dl/4ad/blond/cad2409cd-05.mp3>