[MyAppleMenu] Jul 13, 2009

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Year Two <http://furbo.org/2009/07/10/year-two/>
by Furbo.org

As developers, we have a tendency to look at things that are “wrong” and complain. It’s also important to look at what’s been improved in the past year: it gives me hope that we’ll eventually see some of the suggestions I make in this essay.

**** A Year Later, Apple's iPhone App Store The Hottest Gaming Platform On Earth <http://www.businessinsider.com/a-year-later-apples-iphone-app-store-the-hottest-gaming-platform-on-earth-2009-7>
by Dan Frommer, Business Insider

The challenges for iPhone gaming companies: Standing out in a field where there are tens of thousands of compentitors, and maximizing profits in a store where 99-cent apps tend to reign supreme.

**** The iPhone's App Side For Apple <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124744548539230507.html&usg=AFQjCNHqUVuU40Y6NsPUbdmZzvY0tKbS2g>
by Martin Peers, Wall Street Journal

If you believe Apple's advertising, there is an "app" for almost everything on the iPhone, except figuring out the value of all those applications to Apple.

**** Apple iPhone OS 3.0 Ninja Tips And Tricks <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http://www.informationweek.com/news/personal_tech/iphone/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=218400775&usg=AFQjCNFbiqnLhldqH4_Z8pXGjKi7mtqhGA>
by Mitch Wagner, InformationWeek

Get the most from your iPhone or iPod Touch with 3.0 firmware update with these tips for better Web browsing, app access, keyboard tricks, and the lowdown on free AT&T Wi-Fi access.

**** Review: Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 2009 Deluxe Edition <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=999a448e605137eaad2a1f3af5d923b2>
by Blair Hanley Frank, Macworld

While I certainly wouldn’t recommend Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 2009 Deluxe Edition to my six-year-old self, I would definitely suggest it to 10- or 11-year-olds, teenagers, and adults. Its beautiful interface, iTunes integration, spot-on lessons and engaging practice material are perfect for learning how to type. It isn’t perfect, but it certainly is an excellent choice.

**** Fixing iPhone 3.0 Battery Issues <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http://blogs.eweek.com/signaling_it/content001/mobile_devices/fixing_iphone_30_battery_issues.html&usg=AFQjCNGV37S-3L0i6Iqe0Jtiu0U_GP0Ltg>
by Andrew Gracia, eWeek

**** Analyst: Forget The Feds, Apple Is 'Doing Just Fine At Wrecking The Wireless Business' <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=20994&usg=AFQjCNE1auNAhLnH9C7ZW2kDUjxs65rNxA>
by Larry Dignan, ZDNet

Apple has taken any power that AT&T has. Sure, AT&T has an exclusive deal with Apple, but the iPhone maker owns the customer relationship and holds all the cards.

**** The No-worry Backup Plan <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=017833ffbe994b06ec5d343483be1f90>
by Rob Griffiths, Macworld

Backing up data isn’t a one-size-fits-all proposition—what works for you will depend on the types of data you want to protect and, more important, how worried you are about keeping that data safe. I’ve based these recommendations on what I think will bring most people peace of mind, but you know yourself—and your data—best. Use the guidelines to figure out your own plan, as you consider how much time and money you’re willing to spend, as well as how worried you are about losing files.

**** TwitVid Video Upload App Released For iPhone 3GS <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=c30ef2ba5b06fe3d357076b9ab2cd115>
by Peter Cohen, Macworld



The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Memristor Minds: The Future Of Artificial Intelligence <http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327151.600-memristor-minds-the-future-of-artificial-intelligence.html>
by Justin Mullins, New Scientist

Within the past couple of years, memristors have morphed from obscure jargon into one of the hottest properties in physics. They've not only been made, but their unique capabilities might revolutionise consumer electronics. More than that, though, along with completing the jigsaw of electronics, they might solve the puzzle of how nature makes that most delicate and powerful of computers - the brain.

**** Swiss Postal Service Is Moving Some Mail Online <http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=b458f21d7bc5facb19489c55013718b1>
by Ciara O'Rourke, New York Times

A program introduced by the Swiss Post in June allows subscribers to receive scans of their unopened envelopes by e-mail message and then decide which ones they want opened and scanned in their entirety, to be read online.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** 20,000 Nations Above the Sea <http://www.reason.com/news/show/133865.html>
by Brian Doherty, Reason

Is floating the last, best hope for liberty?

**** Enter Laughing <http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/07/20/090720fa_fact_colapinto>
by John Colapinto, New Yorker

Senator Franken’s long journey.

**** Meatloaf <http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/poetry/2009/07/20/090720po_poem_hall>
by Donald Hall, New Yorker

**** My Aunts <http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/poetry/2009/07/20/090720po_poem_orourke>
by Meghan O’Rourke, New Yorker

**** Rat Beach <http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/features/2009/07/20/090720fi_fiction_styron>
by William Styron, New Yorker



SingaporeSurf
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**** Fifty Years Of Lee Kuan Yew <http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rana/~3/vgQhGYHc7ys/fifty-years-of-lee-kuan-yew.html>
by Blowin' In The Wind

It's telling that a Malaysian and not a Singapore newspaper noted Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew completed 50 years in office, becoming the world's longest surviving national leader, on June 5.

**** Abortion And Comprehensive Sexuality Education <http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=3398>
by Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net

Don’t these misconceptions demonstrate clearly the need for Comprehensive Sexuality Education?

**** Seller Beware <http://www.todayonline.com/Columns/Mondayblues/EDC090713-0000029/Seller-beware>
by Conrad Raj, Today

The Iras should clearly define what a trader is, and not leave everyone guessing.

**** Quality Time With Kids At Last, Thanks To H1N1 Scare <http://tnp.sg/columnists/story/0,4136,207629,00.html?>
by New Paper

WHAT a father could not achieve for almost a decade, the H1N1 virus did in just one visit.

**** Singapore Likely To Have Emerged From Recession <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http://business.watoday.com.au/business/singapore-likely-to-have-emerged-from-recession-20090713-dhv8.html&usg=AFQjCNGX4cVtsxgsiIpy4ZgCGYtCYUr-xg>
by Bloomberg

Singapore's economy probably expanded for the first time in five quarters as a rebound in manufacturing helped the Southeast Asian nation emerge from its worst recession since independence in 1965.

Gross domestic product rose an annualized 13.4 per cent last quarter from the previous three months, after shrinking 14.6 per cent between January and March, according to the median estimate of 12 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. The trade ministry will release the data at 8am tomorrow.

**** Service Jobs: Ready For A Quota Cut? <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC090713-0000064/Service-jobs--Ready-for-a-quota-cut?>
by Leong Wee Keat, Today

With services primed as the long-term driver of the Singapore economy, and more job opportunities opening up in this sector relative to others - is this the perfect time to consider trimming back on the foreign-worker quota?

**** "I Am Curious All The Time" <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC090713-0000077/Online-Only---I-am-curious-all-the-time>
by Calvin Cheng, Today

Talk is cheap -- this letter is even cheaper.

**** KL-Singapore Link: Are We On The Right Track? <http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/19KLS/Article/index_html>
by Moaz Yusuf Ahmad, New Straits Times

We do not deserve a high-speed rail service if we cannot even get buses and taxis to operate properly.

Short-sighted.

**** MOE Surpasses Recruitment Target Of 3,000 Teachers <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/442065/1/.html>
by S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia

At half time in June, the education ministry has already surpassed its annual target of recruiting 3,000 teachers this year. 

Speaking at the National Institute of Education's teachers' investiture on Monday, education minister Ng Eng Hen assured that although the ministry has stepped up hiring, it has also continued to be rigorous in selecting teachers and educators.

**** That Young PAP Membership: Still Questions Unanswered <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC090713-0000155/Online-Only---That-Young-PAP-membership--Still-questions-unanswered>
by Li Wenfeng, Today

**** I Would Have Been More Hard-Hitting With Calvin Cheng <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC090713-0000154/Online-Only---I-would-have-been-more-hard-hitting-with-Calvin-Cheng>
by Sunny Goh, Today

**** I Would Never Doubt Mr Balji's Judgement <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC090713-0000175/Online-Only---I-would-never-doubt-Mr-Baljis-judgement>
by Lau Chong Han, Today

How can Mr. Cheng be curious, and yet "non-active" for two years, and then suddenly felt that he got the "calling" to serve as a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP)?

**** 'Huge Buffer' Of Wealth <http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_402612.html>
by Fiona Chan, Straits Times

If the current recession seems less painful than previous downturns, part of the reason could be that Singaporeans are richer this time around.

**** The Truth About Jobs, Jobs, Jobs.... <http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2009/07/truth-about-jobs-jobs-jobs.html>
by Diary of A Singaporean Mind

Next time someone tells you things are better in Singapore because unemployment rate (among residents) is low remember that is only half the story.

**** Potong Pasir & Hougang Now Eligible For Lift Upgrading Programme <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/442132/1/.html>
by Desmond Wong, Channel NewsAsia

For the first time, opposition-held Potong Pasir and Hougang will be eligible for the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) for 65 precincts islandwide. Senior minister of state for national development Grace Fu revealed this to the media on Monday at a Home Improvement Programme (HIP) event.

**** Grace Fu Fa-La-La-La Upgra-da Dumba Dee Doo Dah <http://thinkingbetterthinkingmeta.blogspot.com/2009/07/grace-fu-fa-la-la-la-upgra-da-dumba-dee.html>
by Sam Ho, Sam's thoughts

That's politics I guess. So dirty, like the used sanitary pad and multiple cigarette buds that pepper my air-conditioner compressor.