[MyAppleMenu] Jul 15, 2009

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** iTunes Store Adopts 'Digital 45' Concept <http://feeds.macnn.com/click.phdo?i=d56ffcd3a961290af62ec8dd1c322edd>
by MacNN

Meant to echo the record single releases popular at the beginning of rock and roll, the format groups together two related songs together for less than their standard cost.

**** Easy Visualization With Daisy Disk <http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/14/easy-visualization-with-daisy-disk/>
by Megan Lavey, TUAW

**** First Look: Radio Gaga <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=36106e038d560019f9bcf76d2b77d088>
by Christopher Breen, Macworld

By now you’re surely aware that the Internet is a popular way to listen to radio—terrestrial and, of course, Internet-based. You may also be aware that in addition to being able to listen to these audio streams from a Web page and within iTunes’ Radio entry, there are applications designed for listening to and recording them. GagaFactory’s recently released Radio Gaga is just such an application.

**** Fool! You Fell Victim To One Of The Classic Blunders! Never Negotiate With Steve Jobs… <http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090714/moffett-note/>
by John Paczkowski, Wall Street Journal

Apple is doing to the wireless industry what it did to the recording industry beginning back in 2001: Stealing its customer relationships.

**** How A Year With The iPhone Changed My Life <http://www.businessinsider.com/how-a-year-with-the-iphone-changed-my-life-2009-7>
by Dan Frommer, Business Insider

The biggest difference between the iPhone and previous mobile devices I've owned is the sheer amount of time I spend using it: At least a few hours a day, Monday through Sunday.

**** Seeking Fame In Apple's Sea Of Apps <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124761263919341941.html?FORM=ZZNR7>
by Yukari Iwatani Kane, Wall Street Journal

Apple Inc.'s App Store has spawned a cottage industry of software developers trying to profit from games and other applications that people can download onto their iPhones.

But with more than 65,000 free and paid applications in the online store, success has hinged on an app's ability to stand out. So developers are increasingly coming up with various strategies to make a splash, employing everything from temporary discounts to guerilla marketing tactics.

**** Apple’s 1.5 Billion Apps And Why You Should Care <http://www.loopinsight.com/2009/07/14/apples-1-5-billion-apps-and-why-you-should-care/>
by Jim Dalrymple, The Loop

What this means in the broader scope of things is that Apple took on an entrenched cell phone industry and completely changed it with its hardware and software. It also revolutionized the way apps are bought and sold.

**** 1 Billion Of Apple's App Downloads May Be Bogus <http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=4397>
by Jason D. O'Grady, ZDNet

For starters, I’m pretty sure that Apple counts every download in that 1.5 billion number. Updates and re-installs included. How many times have you updated your apps or restored your iPhone? What about handset upgrades? Time to download a few more apps. Again. If I’m wrong, Apple needs disclose its “download” accounting methodology.

Actually, the biggest question is: can any other mobile phone maker even cook up such a large number?

**** AT&T's iPhone Subsidy Could Hurt Carrier's Finances, Analysts Say <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135530/AT_T_s_iPhone_subsidy_could_hurt_carrier_s_finances_analysts_say&usg=AFQjCNEg4Uuf7CLDSPN_-d0MYBqkRWKfNw>
by Matt Hamblen, Computerworld

The iPhone subsidy AT&T pays for each device totals about $300 and is expected by some analysts to take a toll on the carrier's quarterly finances when they're reported next week.

While the short-term hit of subsidizing the price of the iPhone could be significant, two analysts today said the exclusive contract with Apple Inc. to sell the iPhone in the U.S. is still a good deal for AT&T. The reason: AT&T can attract new customers who pay at least $70 a month in subscription fees over the life of a two-year contract.

**** Should Apple Employees Read The Mac Websites? <http://www.pheedcontent.com/click.phdo?i=e66a33951f6a8f7c5e667241ad23be1f>
by John Martellaro, The Mac Observer

Apple's senior executives like to believe that there is no value is reading the Mac and iPhone related Websites, and they tell their staff that. After all, Apple employees are too busy to dabble in rumors and speculation. So it's just a time waster. Or is it?

**** Choosy Helps Those With Browser Commitment Phobia <http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/14/choosy-helps-those-with-browser-commitment-phobia/>
by TJ Luoma, TUAW

Are you the type of person who just can't settle down? Do you find your needs just can't be met by any one of the multiple options available to you? Can you even remember how many different browsers you've been with? If that sounds like you, you should be glad to hear that Choosy has left beta. 

**** Inside iPhone 3.0's Remote Wipe Feature <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=a13aa1db41eca5e292f7d40e3044848f>
by Dan Frakes, Macworld



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** The Grass Is Greener <http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/016/724potfn.asp>
by Tom Perrotta , Weekly Standard

Wimbledon's lawns are once again tennis's premier surface.

**** Bless Me Father, For I Have Sinned <http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/07/bless_me_father_for_i_have_sin.html>
by Roger Ebert's Journal

I have no way of knowing Robert McNamara's thoughts in his final days. He might have reflected on his agreement to speak openly to Errol Morris in the extraordinary documentary "The Fog of War." His reflections are almost without precedent among modern statesmen and those involved in waging war. Remembered as the architect of the war in Vietnam, he doesn't quite apologize for not having done more to end that war--although he clearly wishes he had. His purpose in the film is to speak of his philosophy of life, to add depth to history's one-dimensional portrait. Don't we all want to do that?

**** The Gyro’s History Unfolds <http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=de0ac52dddf120ebe2057feeaf9fe567>
by David Segal, New York Times

Kronos is the perfect place to pose a couple of questions that seem as if they should have been answered many hurried lunches ago: What are gyros anyway, and who made them a ubiquitous feature of Greek menus across the United States?

**** It's Hot! It's Sexy! It's ... Marriage! <http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2009/07/15/traister_marriage/index.html>
by Aaron Traister, Salon

Am I the only person who actually enjoys being hitched these days?

**** What a Phony <http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/slate/~3/JaIdRpPQbTk/>
by Juliet Lapidos, Slate Magazine

I read the banned Catcher in the Rye "sequel" so you don't have to.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Defending What's (Y)ours! National Service And The Forest Of Hokkien Vaginae <http://thinkingbetterthinkingmeta.blogspot.com/2009/07/defending-whats-yours-national-service.html>
by Sam Ho, Sam's thoughts

What the fuck? Cursing is part of life, and definitely army life.

**** Critically-ill H1N1 Patient Home <http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_403077.html>
by Jessica Jaganathan and Maria Almenoar, Straits Times

**** Water Conservation Tax Hard To Swallow <http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Online%2BStory/STIStory_403096.html>
by Paul Chan, Straits Times

Is it logical or reasonable for Singaporeans to pay over four times the recovery cost of drinking water - a basic human need?

**** Curating The Oceans: The Future Of Singapore’s Past <http://idlethink.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/curating-the-oceans-the-future-of-singapores-past/>
by Rachel Leow, A Historian’s Craft

**** Economists: Jump In Singapore’s GDP One-Off <http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/7/15/business/4320152&sec=business>
by Fintan Ng, The Star

Singapore may have seen some stabilisation in economic numbers following a big jump in its second-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) by 20.4% on an annualised basis, but it will not be sustainable as the country’s economy is still reliant on exports.

**** IRAS Is Not Dancing Until The Music Stops <http://singaporeenbloc.blogspot.com/2009/07/iras-is-not-dancing-until-music-stops.html>
by En Bloc Block Blog

**** Will We Ever See Another Politician Like President Ong? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/07/will-we-ever-see-another-politician-like-president-ong/>
by Jason Lee, The Online Citizen

**** May Retail Sales Fall 10.3% <http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_403428.html>
by Straits Times

Singapore retail sales continued to decline in Mayas recession-weary shoppers stayed away from big-ticket items such as cars and jewellery, and fewer tourists came visiting.

**** Film-makers Lose Travel Grant <http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_403529.html>
by Straits Times

The Media Development Authority (MDA) has removed a travel grant for film-makers, an apparently sudden move that has rallied directors who say its abolition could stunt artistic growth.

**** Singapore Air Says June Load Factor At 67.6 Pct <http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSSGC00120820090715?FORM=ZZNR5>
by Reuters

**** Singapore's MDA Rapped Over Conflict Of Interest <http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/business/0,39044229,62056086,00.htm?FORM=ZZNR9>
by Victoria Ho, ZDNet Asia

In 2007, the MDA committed S$500 million (US$343 million) to start a research program for interactive digital media (IDM) projects. The MDA also hands out grants of up to S$50,000 (US$34,388) to IDM startups recommended by MDA-appointed mentors.

This has come under fire by the Auditor-General's Office (AGO), because four startups receiving grants were founded and co-owned by mentors, in spite of the scheme's guideline spelling out that startups set up and owned by mentors are ineligible for the funding.

**** Two More Patients In Intensive Care After Contracting H1N1 <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/442559/1/.html>
by Channel NewsAsia

**** Outright Fines For Commuters Caught Eating And Drinking In MRT Trains, Stations <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/442568/1/.html>
by Channel NewsAsia

It will be outright fines from now on for those caught eating and drinking in MRT trains and stations, as train operator SMRT said it will no longer issue warnings to offenders.

**** No More Measures Needed <http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_403583.html>
by Alvin Foo and Fiona Chan, Straits Times

The Singapore economy has stabilised and there is no need for further stimulus measures currently, said trade and industry minister Lim Hng Kiang on Wednesday.