[MyAppleMenu] Oct 1, 2007

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Mac Installed Base Hits 6.6% In September <http://blogs.business2.com/apple/2007/10/mac-installed-b.html>
by Philip Elmer-DeWitt, Business 2.0

**** Music Video 'iTunes-Killer' Takes A Bow <http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipod-itunes/news/index.cfm?RSS&NewsID=19250>
by Jonny Evans, Macworld UK
iTunes has new competition in the UK in the form of a DRM-free and cross-platform music video download service, which launched today.

**** Apple Warns Of Boot Cam Expiration <http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/10/01/boot.camp.expiring/>
by MacNN
Apple has begun warning users that its beta Boot Camp software for running WIndows on an Intel-based Mac will expire at the end of October.

**** TV Networks Discover Life Without iTunes <http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2007/10/nbc_itunes>
by Hugh Hart, Wired
As TV networks hype their new fall lineups online, iTunes could wind up getting left in the dust.
See Also:
Competitors To iTunes Are Gearing Up <http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/09/competitors_to_itunes_are_gear.php>, by Daisy Whitney, Television Week. The balance of power has begun to tilt away from Apple. That's because networks have proven in the last year that consumers will watch ad-supported shows for free, both on network web sites and other portals.

**** The Unsung Heroes Who Move Products Forward <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/technology/30ping.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin>
by G. Pascal Zachary, New York Times
At first blush, the iPhone from Apple, the new microprocessor family from Intel and the ubiquitous Google search engine have nothing in common. One is a gadget, one is an electronic part and one is a service.
Yet all of these products &mdash; much acclaimed for their creativity &mdash; depend on obscure process innovations that, while highly complex and lacking glamour, are an essential part of testablishing a winning edge in commercial electronics. Indeed, the success of Apple, Intel, Google and scores of other technology companies has as much or more to do with their process innovations as the products that inspire loyalty among fans and admiration from foes.

**** Apple's Update Strategy Is Risky <http://www.emergentchaos.com/archives/2007/10/apples_update_strategy_is_1.html>
by Emergent Chaos
If Apple wants to shoot themselves in the foot, that's their business. What they're doing is splattering other people.

**** Darth Apple And The iPhone: The Dark Side Revealed? <http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/000301.html>
by Lauren Weinstein
What's really going on is something that goes far beynd Apple. Technology companies are rapidly extending their complicated intellectual property agreements into the consumer devices taht we buy and depend upon. In essense, we're more and more really renting these products, not actually buying them, since legally there are all sorts of restrictions on what we can do with these modern wonders, and often ways that they can be turned into useless junk by their makers if we don't play by their rules.

**** Apple Posts iPhone Human Interface Guidelines <http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2007/09/30/apple-posts-iphone-human-interface-guidelines>
by David Chariter, Ars Technica
A new iPhone Human Interface Guidelines document from Apple offers developers in-depth documentation on the iPhone's UI, how to design for it, and how to handle content passed through various technologies.

**** Apple's iPhone Is The Best Thing To Happen To The American Smartphone Industry <http://www.intomobile.com/2007/09/30/apples-iphone-is-the-best-thing-to-happen-to-the-american-smartphone-industry.html>
by Intomobile.com

**** Learning From Bill Gates &amp; Steve Jobs <http://www.presentationzen.com/presentationzen/2007/09/steve-bill-redu.html>
by Presentation Zen
The difference is that Steve's slides flow smoothly with his talk. Bill's slides aren't really necessary; they are more of an ornament or a decoration off to the side.

**** Unbricked iPhones Now Fully Working, Calls Included <http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/iphone/unbricked-iphones-now-fully-working-calls-included-305253.php>
by Gizmodo

The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Adobe Making Online Document Services Play <http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/09/30/Adobe-making-online-document-services-play-with-buzzflash-and-share_1.html>
by Paul Krill, InfoWorld
Adobe has acquired Virtual Ubiquity and its online word processor, Buzzword, and has unveiled its Share file-sharing service.

**** Microsoft Office Heads To The Web <http://www.news.com/Microsoft-Office-heads-to-the-Web/2100-1012_3-6210696.html?part=rss&tag=2547-1_3-0-20&subj=news>
by Ina Fried, CNET News.com
In another clear sign that Microsoft sees the threat posed by its traditional business moving online, the company is readying a rival to Google's Documents and Spreadsheets.

**** Ready Or (Mostly) Not: Here Comes More Contactless Payment Devices <http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070930-ready-or-mostly-not-here-come-more-contactless-payment-devices.html>
by Joel Hruska, Ars Technica

MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** The Politics Of Confidence <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/01/opinion/01cohen.html?ex=1348891200&en=0b96165d0d81bbcb&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss>
by Roger Cohen, New York Times
The unpopularity of George W. Bush has led many to believe global America-hating will ebb once he leaves office on Jan 20, 2009. That's a dangerous assumption.

**** Married Love <http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/features/2007/10/08/071008fi_fiction_hadley>
by Tessa Hadley, New Yorker

**** We Paved Paradise <http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/10/01/parking/index_np.html?source=rss>
by Katharine Mieszkowski, Salon
So why can't we find any place to park? Because parking is one of the biggest boondoggles &mdash; and environmental disasters &mdash; in our country.

**** What Ails The Short Story? <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/books/review/King2-t.html?em&ex=1191297600&en=31912528dacbd8bc&ei=5087%0A>
by Stephen King, New York Times
The American short story is alive and well.
Do you like the sound of that? Me too. I only wish it were actually true.

**** Is Great Happiness Too Much Of A Good Thing? <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/30/AR2007093000632.html?nav=rss_nation/science>
by Shankar Vedantam, Washington Post
A hidden price of being happier on average is that you put your short-term contentment at risk, because being happy raises your expectations about being happy. Whe good things happen, they don't count for much because they are what you expect. When bad things happen, you temporarily feel terrible, because you've gotten used to being happy.

**** Why Publishing Book Reviews Makes Sense <http://www.philly.com/inquirer/magazine/20070930_Why_publishing_book_reviews_makes_sense.html>
by Carlin Romano, Philadelphia Inquirer
So few book reivews, so many books. No, it hasn't started appearing on T-shirts yet, but wait.

SingaporeSurf
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**** Adults Banned In Botanic Gardens <http://magnezium.blogspot.com/2007/10/adults-banned-in-botanic-gardens.html>
by Musings
I couldn't understand how I, a 7%-GST-paying citizen, could be denied access to this public park that is maintained on public funds.

**** Singapore Dollar Rises To Fresh 10-Year High As MAS Seen Keeping Onetary Stance <http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/10/01/afx4171383.html>
by Thomson Financial
The Singapore dollar rose to a fresh 10-year high of 1.4764 against the US dollar on expectations that the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) will maintain the gradual and modest appreciation of the currency.

**** Consolidation Of Thoughts On CPF Changes <http://aaron-ng.info/blog/consolidation-of-thoughts-on-cpf-changes.html>
by Aaron Ng, Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
The crux of the issue is that the government is forcing those who do not live beyond 85 (which is probably the majority) to pay for those who eventually do. I am of the opinion that this is a grossly irresponsible act of conduct by our government.

**** Batam Radio Station Cited For Programs <http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20071001.A05&irec=4>
by Fadli, Jakarta Post
The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission in Riau Islands province has criticized a number of radio stations in Batam for selling airtime to religious groups from Singapore, allowing them to broadcast religious programs in foreign langauges.
The commission's provincial chairman, Hendriyanto, said the programs targeted Singapore listeners as the city state does not allow radio programs with religious content.

**** Singapore Home Prices Rise To Decade-High In Q3 <http://beta.malaysia.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20071001/tap-property-singapore-c3bb44c.html>
by Reuters
Singapore private home prices climbed 8 percent between July and September to their highest level in a decade, but the government said there was plenty of supply, with about 46 percent of new homes in development unsold.
See Also:
HDB Resale Prices Up By 6.5% In Q3: HDB's Flash Estimate <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/303184/1/.html>, by Channel NewsAsia.

**** Over 400 Visit Burmese Embassy To Sign Petition <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/10/01/toc-report-over-400-visit-burmese-embassy-to-sign-petition/>
by Andrew Loh, theonlinecitizen

**** Singapore Governments Adds To Myanmar Oppression <http://www.singaporedemocrat.org/articleburmaprotest4.html>
by Singapore Democratic Party
"Recently, Myanmar national working and shopping in Peninsula Plaza had complained of plain clothed police entering their shops and even stopping them from surfing the net or viewing the blogs that cover ongoing events in Myanmar. In another incident, a youth wearing 'Stop the Bloodshed' T-shirt was asked to remove it on the spot."

**** My New Ride II: Specialized Hardrock Comp Disc 2006 <http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2007/10/my-new-ride-ii-.html>
by mrbrown
I just want safer roads to ride on. Not half-baked ideas like the Tampines pavement cycling trial.

**** Two Years Of India-Singapore CECA <http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Foreign_Trade/Two_years_of_India-Singapore_CECA/articleshow/2417480.cms>
by The Economic Times
When India entered into the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with Singapore two years ago, it had hoped that the agreement would pave wamy for professionals from its second-line colleges and institutions also to enter and set up shop in the city-state, but those hopes are now somewhat dashed.

**** Old New <http://tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,143481,00.html?>
by Alvin Chiang, New Paper
Fewer army stores, more fashion shops at Beach Road army market as NSmen turn to cyberstores.

**** Ginger &amp; Spice Singapore Restaurant <http://www.smh.com.au/news/restaurant-reviews/ginger-amp-spice-singapore-restaurant/2007/10/01/1191090984613.html>
by Helen Greenwood, Sydney Morning Herald
Hard-core lovers of hawker food swear Ginger &amp; Spice Singapore Restaurant is one of the best places in Sydney to sample street cuisine.

**** Are Myanmar Protestors Breaking Singapore Laws? <http://urbanrant.blogspot.com/2007/10/are-myanmar-protestors-breaking.html>
by Urbanrant
Is the gentle suppression of the citizenry protest any more desirable than a bloody violent one (like that happening in Myanmar)?

**** Why Have Recycling Bins If They're Not Used Properly? <http://www.todayonline.com/articles/214287.asp>
by Ong Lip Sing, Today

**** Blood On Our Hands <http://www.insanepoly.com/blog/?p=380>
by Insane Polygons

**** PM Lee: Asean Fully Behind UN Myanmar Mission <http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_162941.html>
by Lelie Lopez, Straits Times
Prime minister Lee Hsien Loong has written to Myanmar junta chief Than Shwe to put Asean's weight firmly behind the mission by United Nations envoy Ibrahim Gambari.

**** Height Limit Of 0.9M For Kids To Travel Free: Why Penalise Kids Because Of Genetics? <http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Online%2BStory/STIStory_162241.html>
by Sonny Lim Keng Guan, Straits Times
Huge costs are not incurred to change the existing hardware in the MRT and LRT systems to enable this &mdash; simply issue special passes to children who are above 0.9m but below primary school-going age.

**** Transfer Rebate On Public Transport Due For Review <http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_162858.html>
by Desmond Koh, Straits Times

**** Chee Stages Protest Against Myanmar, Singapore <http://www.todayonline.com/articles/214322.asp>
by Today
Dr Chee Soon Juan and several members of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) staged a protest outside the Myanmar embassy yesterday.
They were asking members of the public to sign petition letters not only against the Myanmar government, but also the Singapore government.

**** NTUC's Mums And Dads Get A Special Treat On Children's Day <http://www.todayonline.com/articles/214302.asp>
by Today
An extra three months no-pay maternity leave, the option to switch from full-time to part-time work, flexi-hours and even subsidies to help pay for childcare and family holidays. These were among a slew of initiatives announced by Singapore's labour movement to celebrate Children's Day today and to help retain woring parents, particularly mothers.