[MyAppleMenu] Jul 27, 2009

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** iPhone: A Lifeline For Small Indian Software Firms <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.livemint.com%2F2009%2F07%2F27004917%2FIPhone-a-lifeline-for-small-I.html%3Fh%3DB&usg=AFQjCNFnqhnawQ1vfxAy7ZHN2dCDgQ8Eeg>
by Samanth Subramanian, Wall Street Journal

The iPhone’s applications or “apps” have held out a slim lifeline for small and mid-range software firms in India, at a time when other outsourced projects have succumbed to the slowdown.

**** Teen Devises Prayer App For iPhone <http://www.physorg.com/news167827048.html?FORM=ZZNR7>
by The Sacramento Bee

For eons, people have reached out to the Almighty with prayers and supplications. Soon they might be able to use their iPhones.

**** iPhone Maker In China Is Under Fire After A Suicide <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2009%2F07%2F27%2Ftechnology%2Fcompanies%2F27apple.html&usg=AFQjCNHntSjs7xqRgxB79UX40M__o4NBzw>
by New York Times

Reports of the apparent suicide have set off a firestorm of criticism of Foxconn’s treatment of Mr. Sun, labor conditions at its factories and the pressures Apple places on suppliers to abide by the culture of secrecy that surrounds its development of new products.

The case also underscores the challenges that global companies face in trying to safeguard their designs and intellectual property in the hotly contested smartphone market, particularly here in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, an electronics manufacturing center known for piracy and counterfeiting.

**** Promo Codes Again Allowed For 17+ Apps <http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/26/update-promo-codes-are-now-allowed-for-17-apps/>
by Michael Jones, TUAW

Over the past few days, we have received word from a number of developers stating that they are now able to request promo codes for their 17+ apps.

**** Apple Joins Forces With Record Labels <http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/28129982-7a18-11de-b86f-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1>
by Matthew Garrahan, Kenneth Li and Joseph Menn, Financial Times

Apple is working with the four largest record labels to stimulate digital sales of albums by bundling a new interactive booklet, sleeve notes and other interactive features with music downloads, in a move it hopes will change buying trends on its online iTunes store.

**** The iPod Is Dead. Long Live The iPod <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessweek.com%2Ftechnology%2Fcontent%2Fjul2009%2Ftc20090726_261031.htm&usg=AFQjCNGB69Q9Oud31BTsKUu7o6OJ5Cc1wg>
by Arik Hesseldahl, BusinessWeek

Traditional versions of the iconic device are a thing of the past, but future iterations will have a long and vibrant future.

**** Review: Plants Vs. Zombies Game <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=14422408c2aed2a6c4c712b5d3a54161>
by Chris Holt, Macworld

Not since Zombies Ate My Neighbors have I seen a deeper, longer, more challenging and memorable zombie game. It’s truly fun for all ages, and one of the most bizarrely comical games I’ve played in the last few years. Don’t let the cartoonish art or light-hearted atmosphere throw you off; this is one of the most clever and original strategy games out there.

**** Fix Printer Queue Glitches <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=dcc67c4dd8df9bb6c542ecb003e736c0>
by Ted Landau, Macworld

When your printer won't print, sometimes you'll try the basics of printer troubleshooting with no results. Whether your printer's Dock icon bounces endlessly or a message says you're stuck at "connecting," here's how to handle problems with your printer queue.

**** Apple iPhone Security Weaknesses Exposed On YouTube <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.informationweek.com%2Fnews%2FshowArticle.jhtml%3FarticleID%3D218600687&usg=AFQjCNFu7XyZqU0YKW4xxietU-Fbb3XY0A>
by Antone Gonsalves, InformationWeek

Deleted voice mail, e-mail, and other data on the iPhone 3GS is vulnerable to hackers, a security expert claims in two video tutorials.



The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** The Music Streams That Soothe An Industry <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/business/26stream.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss>
by Brad Stone, New York Times

After a decade of rampant digital piracy that has helped to gut album sales, a raft of new streaming music sites is making the experience of legally finding and listening to music just as seductive as downloading it free.

**** Start-Up Plans To Make Journalism Pirates Pay Up <http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=a205e372c69c827cf98a3f209a5e8b79>
by Saul Hansell, New York Times

A start-up called Attributor, based in Redwood City, Calif., is proposing an approach that is more carrot than stick. It has developed an automated way for newspapers to share in the advertising revenue from even the tiniest sites that copy their articles.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** My Heart Messed With My Head <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/fashion/26genb.html?ref=style>
by Michael Winerip, New York Times

The science gets better, but life remains inscrutable.

**** And That’s Not The Way It Is <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/opinion/26rich.html?ref=opinion>
by Frank Rich, New York Times

If he was the most trusted man in America, it wasn’t because he was a nice guy with an authoritative voice and a lived-in face. It wasn’t because he “loved a good story” or that he removed his glasses when a president died. It was because at a time of epic corruption in the most powerful precincts in Washington, Cronkite was not at the salons and not in the tank.

**** Dust <http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/poetry/2009/08/03/090803po_poem_williams>
by C. K. Williams, New Yorker

Face powder, gunpowder, talcum of anthrax,
shavings of steel, crematoria ash, chips
of crumbling poetry paper—all these in my lockbox,
and dust, tanks, tempests, temples of dust.

**** The Valetudinarian <http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/features/2009/08/03/090803fi_fiction_ferris>
by Joshua Ferris, New Yorker

**** Money Talks <http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/poetry/2009/08/03/090803po_poem_armantrout>
by Rae Armantrout, New Yorker



SingaporeSurf
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**** Ssshhh! Don't Say "SDP" <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/2594-ssshhh-dont-say-qsdpq>
by Singapore Democrats

It is important that Singaporeans know the truth. The Singapore Democrats are not only alive and well, but leading the way on the Internet. We cannot let the media cover up this fact.

**** Should Foreign Activists Fund Singapore Civil Groups? <http://tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,208836,00.html?>
by Ho Lian-Yi, New Paper

Allegations flew online that the Swede may have offered funding, a claim both men denied. Eventually, ex-NMP Siew Kum Hong made a police report. Why the online fuss?

**** A Nation Of Friends <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC090727-0000046/A-nation-of-friends>
by Neo Chai Chin, Today

Singapore's multi-religious, multi-racial and secular society is "not a weakness, but a strength", said deputy prime minister Teo Chee Hean yesterday at a community event organised by the chairmen of 69 mosques here.

**** If HK Can Pressure Banks To Pay Lehman Victims, Why Can't MAS? <http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_408388.html>
by David Goh, Straits Times

I am surprised that our industry watchdog, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), is not as efficient and influential as Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission and Hong Kong Monetary Authority in getting banks there to compensate all investors who lost money on structured products, notes or minibonds linked to Lehman Brothers.

**** Anthony Yeo – Bashed For Speaking Up <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/07/anthony-yeo-bashed-for-speaking-up/>
by The Online Citizen

**** Casino Hotel Eyes Biggest Trade Shows <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbiz.thestar.com.my%2Fnews%2Fstory.asp%3Ffile%3D%2F2009%2F7%2F27%2Fbusiness%2F4390484%26sec%3Dbusiness&usg=AFQjCNFfjF0M0JVEGJWT64uEFF66egRyCA>
by Jagdev Singh Sidhu, Malaysia Star

Marina Bay Sands, the US$5.5bil integrated resort in Singapore, is expected to see its meeting, incentive, convention and exhibitions (MICE) business run at capacity in three to five years after the resort opens its doors early next year.

**** Ditching Buses For Planes <http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_408566.html>
by Karamjit Kaur and Nicholas Yong, Straits Times


>From just one destination and 56 to-and-fro flights a week, Jetstar Asia, Tiger Airways, AirAsia and Firefly (a subsidiary of MAS) now operate more than 450 flights between Singapore and nine points in Malaysia: KL, Subang, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Langkawi, Penang, Ipoh, Kuala Terengganu and Kuantan.


**** More Graduates = Higher HDB Prices? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/07/more-graduates-higher-hdb-prices/>
by Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen

Historically, HDB and private property prices have more or less moved in close tandem with each other, most of the time. So, why are they moving in opposite direction now? Well, the answer may lie in an altogether seemingly unrelated statistic – the number of graduates.

**** More People Work From Home <http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_408550.html>
by Kate Lim, Straits Times

The practice has become increasingly popular as firms start to explore alternative work arrangements beyond the typical 9-to-5 office day, according to human resource experts.

**** Singapore's Medical Care - Is It Your "Daiji" (Problem) ?? <http://whomovedmysingaporecheese.blogspot.com/2009/07/singapores-medical-care-is-it-your.html>
by Who Moved My Singapore Cheese?

**** Parliament To Sit On Aug 18 <http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_408645.html>
by Straits Times

**** Asean's Burmese Diplomacy Has Failed <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fcommentisfree%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Faung-san-suu-kyi-burma-asean&usg=AFQjCNETjelEx1a3kLv3zmoD0_F2jy26pQ>
by Guardian

Up to now, the junta has survived thanks to support from China and Russia in the UN security council, and the cynical scramble for Burma's rich natural resources which has united India, Thailand and Singapore with China and Russia. Suu Kyi will continue to languish behind bars (or under house arrest) as long as pressure on the generals is constantly deflected by the competing greed of these nations.

**** Population Demographics And The Property Market <http://mrwangsaysso.blogspot.com/2009/07/population-demographics-and-property.html>
by Mr Wang Says So

**** S'pore Developers Create Open Source Buzz <http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/software/0,39044164,62056390,00.htm?FORM=ZZNR7>
by Victoria Ho, ZDNet Asia

Development in the mobile arena is particularly hot at the moment, among both individuals and software houses, according to Linux user groups in Singapore.

**** Pedestrian Crossing Between ION Orchard, Wheelock Place To Be Closed <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/445017/1/.html>
by Channel NewsAsia

To ease traffic congestion, the pedestrian crossing will be closed. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said vehicles turning to and from Paterson Road and Orchard Road can also look forward to an additional turning time of at least 45 seconds. 

Shoppers will have to use an underground link to cross Paterson Road. But for wheelchair users, this will be a challenge.

**** “Even In The Cyberage, Some Things Don’t Change” <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/07/%e2%80%9ceven-in-the-cyberage-some-things-don%e2%80%99t-change%e2%80%9d/>
by Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen

With such assurances by the prime minister and the home affairs minister, one must wonder why there are now five closed-circuit televisions (CCTV) at Hong Lim Park. Coming on the heels of the recent spate of new rules such as the amendments to the Films Act and the introduction of a new Public Order Act, Singaporeans are wondering if political space is being curbed, instead of being opened up, which was what the prime minister had promised.