[MyAppleMenu] Mar 4, 2009
applesurf at myapplemenu.com
applesurf at myapplemenu.com
Wed Mar 4 18:59:00 EST 2009
MyAppleMenu
====================================
**** Apple Jump-Starts Nehalem Launch For Intel <http://www.macworld.com/article/139173/2009/03/nehalem.html?lsrc=rss_main>
by Agam Shah, IDG News Service
Intel hasn’t officially announced the launch of its Xeon quad-core chips featuring the Nehalem microarchitecture, but Apple has started taking orders for new Mac Pro workstations that are powered by Xeon 3500 and 5500 processors.
**** Apple Updates iLife '09 Support, iPhoto '09 <http://www.macworld.com/article/139171/2009/03/iphoto09.html?lsrc=rss_main>
by Jonathan Seff, Macworld
Apple says the update improves oversall stability and addresses minor issues with internet connectivity, keyword import, and slideshow export.
**** Apple's Desktop Refresh 'Underwhelming,' Says Analyst <http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9128863&source=rss_topic123>
by Gregg Keizer, Computerworld
Updates complete line, but Apple holds firm on entry prices for iMac, Mac mini.
**** Add-On Software Apps Make iPhone A Great Travel Partner <http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2009-03-02-iphone-travel-apps_N.htm?csp=34?sr=hotnews>
by Roger Yu, USA Today
Tech-savvy road warriors are enjoying a new era of handheld computing as more sophisticated smartphone software floods the market.
**** With A Straight Face, Apple Charges $200 For 1GB Of RAM, 200GB Of HD Space In New Mac Minis <http://i.gizmodo.com/5163499/with-a-straight-face-apple-charges-200-for-1gb-of-ram-200gb-of-hd-space-in-new-mac-minis>
by Adam Frucci, Gizmodo
Now I hate to sound like a broken record here, but am I the only one mystified by the new Mac Mini pricing? Who's dropping $200 more for the higher end model?
**** Ridiculous To Allow More Unsecured Personal Loans When Credit Card Debts And Delinquencies Are Ballooning <http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=2387>
by Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net
Given this alarming rise in indebtedness and delinquency, I seriously question the wisdom of MAS and the Law Ministry in allowing banks to offer more unsecured credit facilities to all and sundry in such uncertain times.
**** Apple's Safari Will Fall First At Hacker Contest, Past Winner Predicts <http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9128878&source=rss_topic123>
by Gregg Keizer, Computerworld
"It's an easy target," said Charlie Miller, the vulnerability researcher who last year walked off with a $10,000 cash prize for breaking into an Apple laptop just a few minutes into the contest.
**** Of Course The Mac Mini Is Relevant! <http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=3701>
by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, ZDNet
While I’m ready to admit that the Mac mini is an odd nichcy bit of kit that looks a lot like a biscuit tin, I’ve had one in the lab for about 16 months now and the ownership experience has been a flawless one. The Mac mini is a nice, quiet system that just works.
**** Who Buys A Mac Mini? <http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=3235>
by David Morgenstern, ZDNet
>From what I’ve seen in the past couple of years is that the growth segments are Mac and Linux geeks who are using these inexpensive Macs as servers, virtualization machines and colocation boxes.
**** AAC: Apple's Preferred Audio Codec <http://www.mcelhearn.com/?p=255>
by Kirk McElhearn, Kirville
It’s worth noting that AAC is here to stay; it’s not Apple’s audio format, and more and more devices and software are supporting it. So if you haven’t understood this whole point, and still think that AAC is “owned by Appleâ€, think again.
**** Apple Mac Vs. Windows: The Apple Premium Is Gone <http://www.usnews.com/blogs/daves-download/2009/3/3/apple-mac-vs-windows-the-apple-premium-is-gone.html?s_cid=rss:daves-download:apple-mac-vs-windows-the-apple-premium-is-gone>
by David LaGesse, U.S. News
The Mac premium has disappeared for now, at least among well-equipped consumer PCs, as Apple today revamped its desktop PC offerings.
**** Apple's iMac Price Cut: Is It Enough? <http://www.businessweek.com/technology/ByteOfTheApple/blog/archives/2009/03/apples_imac_pri.html?campaign_id=rss_blog_byteoftheapple>
by Peter Burrows, BusinessWeek
Apple can slash prices, or crank up the innovation. Unless there’s more to come from Apple, it doesn’t feel like it has achieved either with its desktop line.
**** The Neverending Battle Of Apple Vs. Georgetown Continues <http://www.mediabistro.com/unbeige/urbanity/the_neverending_battle_of_apple_vs_georgetown_continues_110122.asp>
by Unbeige
After four rejections over the past two years, Apple is apparently hoping the fifth time is the charm, as they've already turned in the latest proposal for their retail store in the Georgetown area of Washington D.C., after their aforementioned fourth rejection by one of the neighborhood standards boards back in mid-January.
**** Six Things You Need To Know About Apple's New Desktops <http://www.pcworld.com/article/160648/six_things_you_need_to_know_about_apples_new_desktops.html>
by Nick Mediati, PC World
There are a few things to be aware of before you go out and plunk down money on a new Mac.
**** Three Nightmares When Managing Macs <http://www.cio.com/article/482929/Three_Nightmares_When_Managing_Macs>
by Tom Kaneshige, CIO
Even as Apple readies new computers, companies continue to face daunting challenges supporting popular MacBooks, iMacs and Mac Pros.
**** Apple's $1000 RAM Upgrade For iMacs Better Come With Free Diamonds <http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/03/03/apples-1000-ram-upgrade-for-imacs-better-come-with-free-diamonds/>
by Devin Coldewey, CrunchGear
The problem is just that the iMac’s board only has room for 2 DIMMs. 4GB DDR3 1066MHz costs at least a couple hundy a stick. If Apple had allowed iMacs the space to have 4 DIMMs, they could sell 4×2GB DIMMs instead of 2×4GB, saving probably around $700.
**** As Mobile Future Looms, Apple Milks iMac Margins <http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10187192-37.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20>
by Tom Krazit, CNET
The reality is that regardless of price, desktop computers have fallen out of favor with the public, and Apple's pitch for the new iMacs—with a heavy emphasis on old-fashioned speeds and feeds—suggests that it no longer views the iMac as a product that is driving its growth, said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis for NPD.
**** Mac Mini Margins, Not So Mini <http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/techbeat/archives/2009/03/mac_mini_margin.html?campaign_id=rss_blog_techbeat>
by Stephen Wildstrom, BusinessWeek
**** The Fastest-Growing Category In The iTunes App Store: Book <http://radar.oreilly.com/2009/03/books-is-the-fastest-growing-category-in-the-itunes-app-store.html>
by Ben Lorica, O'Reilly Radar
**** Apple Gets Greener - And It's Not About Money! <http://www.macnightowl.com/2009/03/apple-gets-greener-and-its-not-about-money/>
by Gene Steinberg, MacNightOwl
**** Amazon Unveils Kindle Application For iPhone <http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5izyWQSe2NDMadNq3YCn5o0bGMszAD96N0NQ80>
by Rachel Metz, Associated Press
In a bid to increase its slice of the e-book market, the Seattle-based online retailer plans to roll out a free program Wednesday that brings several of the Kindle's functions to the iPod and iPhone's smaller screen.
The application does not connect to the Kindle store, however, so users must access the Web browser on their iPhone, iPod or computer to buy the content.
**** iPhone Apps That Foretell The Future <http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=mobile_and_wireless&articleId=9128426&taxonomyId=15&intsrc=kc_feat>
by Michael DeAgonia, Computerworld
With an eye on what's out there now in the App Store — and what that inventory indicates about what could be coming next — I've sorted through thousands of programs to pick a few apps that indicate the direction we could see the iPhone and other future mobile devices take.
**** Benchmarks: 17-Inch Unibody MacBook Pro 2.66GHz <http://www.macworld.com/article/139139/2009/03/unibody_17_inch_macbook_pro.html?lsrc=rss_main>
by James Galbraith, Macworld
**** Adobe Updates Lightroom, Camera Raw <http://www.macworld.com/article/139183/2009/03/lightroom.html?lsrc=rss_main>
by Jim Darlymple, Macworld
**** Are The New Apple iMacs A Better Deal Than Dell And HP Can Offer? <http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=3707>
by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, ZDNet
If Apple had done this a year or so ago, it might have been big news, but doing it now, in a market where desktops are tanking I really don’t think it’s that much of a big deal.
**** Tap Tap Revenge 2 For iPhone Out With New Features, Music <http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2009/03/tap-tap-revenge-2-released-with-new-features-music.ars>
by Justin Berka, Ars Technica
The game includes a new look, new music, and a number of new features. Best of all, the application is still free.
**** Avoiding Mac Buyer's Remorse <http://www.macworld.com/article/139180/2009/03/my_mac_pro_is_still_great.html?lsrc=rss_main>
by Scott McNulty, Macworld
Here’s a dirty little secret about computer buying, Mac or PC: as soon as you unbox your brand new computer, it's out of date.
**** Login Items Are Exactly That <http://www.macworld.com/article/139196/2009/03/loginitemsjustthat.html?lsrc=rss_main>
by Christopher Breen, Macworld
If you’d like particular documents to open at startup, click the Login Items tab and drag those documents into the list.
**** Observations, Complaints, Quibbles, And Suggestions Regarding The Safari 4 Public Beta Released One Week Ago, Roughly In Order Of Importance <http://daringfireball.net/2009/03/safari_4_public_beta>
by John Gruber, Daring Fireball
Safari started life in 2003 as a fast browser, at least by the then-low standards of Mac OS X web browsing, and it has gotten nothing but faster since.
**** iDracula - Undead Awakening 1.0 For iPhone <http://www.macworld.com/article/139199/2009/03/idracula.html?lsrc=rss_main>
by Chris Barylick, Macworld
iDracula is one of the most fun games I’ve had a chance to play on the iPhone and almost can’t be put down. The title stands on par with anything offered for the Nintendo DS or Sony PSP, has incredible room to grow into something even better with a few updates and the inclusion of Wi-Fi-based co-op multiplayer gameplay and I can’t wait to see what happens in the future.
**** The Mac Mini: Apple's Red-Headed Stepchild <http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2009/03/the-mac-mini-ap.html>
by Brian X. Chen, Wired
Apple's shabby treatment of the device still leaves plenty of questions unanswered.
**** Apple: Sales Layoffs Story Not True <http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-sales-layoffs-story-not-true-2009-3>
by Dan Frommer, Silicon Alley Insider
An Apple (AAPL) spokesman says Gawker's report that 50 salespeople were laid off yesterday is not true.
**** China Unicom Confirms iPhone Talks With Apple <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/03/04/china_unicom_confirms_iphone_talks_with_apple.html>
by Sam Oliver, AppleInsider
Bolstering reports from last month, the chairman of China Unicom has confirmed negotiations with Apple to bring the iPhone 3G to China, but so far there's no indication that a deal is close to fruition.
**** Hero Of Sparta For iPhone <http://www.macworld.com/article/139201/2009/03/heroofsparta.html?lsrc=rss_main>
by Chris Holt, Macworld
While the plot is clichéd, the soundtrack is thin, and the combat can’t compare to higher-end console games, Hero of Sparta is one of the most entertaining and well-developed games I’ve seen for the iPhone.
The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Asus Launches Eee PC 1008HA Ultra-Thin Netbook <http://www.liliputing.com/2009/03/asus-launches-eee-pc-1008ha-ultra-thin-netbook.html>
by Liliputing
**** Socialtext Adds Twitter-Like "Signals" And A Desktop AIR App <http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/03/socialtext-adds-twitter-like-signals-and-a-desktop-air-app/>
by Erick Schonfeld, TechCrunch
In yet another sign that this will be the year of the activity stream, Socialtext is adding a Twitter-like message stream to its enterprise wiki/workspace service.
**** ZillionTV, The Next Generation Of Video On Demand <http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/03/zilliontv-the-n.html>
by Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times
MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** The Unfinished <http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/03/09/090309fa_fact_max?currentPage=all>
by D. T. Max, The New Yorker
David Foster Wallace’s struggle to surpass “Infinite Jest.â€
**** Read Me A Story, Mr. Roboto <http://www.slate.com/id/2212800/?from=rss>
by Farhad Manjoo, Slate
Why computer voices still don't sound human.
**** Turning To Cube Steak, And Back To Childhood <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/04/dining/04steak.html?ref=style>
by Kim Severson, New York Times
I am in love with the cube steak.
There. It’s out. My madeleine is a piece of round steak mechanically mashed into submission.
**** Too Many Kiddie Cooks Spoil The Broth <http://www.slate.com/id/2212816/?from=rss>
by Regina Schrambling, Slate
Why the child foodie movement has got to go.
SingaporeSurf
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**** Government Wiretapping Opposition? MHA Must Respond To State Department <http://geraldgiam.sg/2009/03/govt-wiretapping-opposition-mha-must-respond-to-state-dept/>
by Gerald Giam
Imagine if Internal Security Department (ISD) officers — who are civil servants — are monitoring opposition party conversations and emails, and are reporting all their election strategies to the Prime Minister! I sure hope this is not happening, because I think the ISD and the PAP will lose every remaining shred of credibility if they do revolting things like that. If they don’t, then the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) should come out and strongly rebut this accusation by the US and state clearly that nothing of this sort happens in Singapore.
**** No Passport For You In 10 Years <http://tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,194598,00.html?>
by Arul John, New Paper
Lawyer A P Thirumurthy said Judge Liew's order was in accordance with the sentencing guidelines for Tan's offences, but the Controller of Immigration has the authority to impose more restrictions because of his passport offence.
I'm a bit surprised to learn that, according to ICA, "issuance of passports to Singaporeans is a privilege" and not a right. Something doesn't seem right.
**** Open Letter To Dr Teo Ho Pin About Northwest CDC Staff Getting 8 Months Bonus In 2008 <http://wayangparty.com/?p=5864>
by Eugene Yeo, The Wayang Party Club
I am writing to you express my concern over rumors circulating in cyberspace lately about Northwest CDC staff getting 8 months bonus including AWS in 2008. May I know what justify their 7 month bonuses (if the allegations were true) during such tough times when Singapore’s economy is mired in recession and is poised to contract between 5% and 8% this year ?
**** å¿«é¤åº—爆å‘套é¤å‰Šä»·æˆ˜ <http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp090304_508.shtml>
by 林佩碧, è”åˆæ—©æŠ¥
å…¨çƒç»æµŽä¸æ™¯ï¼Œå¯¼è‡´æœ¬åœ°æ¶ˆè´¹è€…çš„è…°å¸¦ç´§ç¼©ï¼Œå¥½å‡ å®¶å¿«é¤åº—集团和é¤åŽ…最近ä¸çº¦è€ŒåŒæŽ€èµ·å¥—é¤å‰Šä»·æˆ˜ï¼Œå¤§æ‰“ç»æµŽå®žæƒ 牌，希望å¸å¼•æ¶ˆè´¹è€…上门。
**** 交è¦æ‹†é™¤CTE侦速摄åƒæœº <http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp090304_507.shtml>
by å´æ·‘è´¤, è”åˆæ—©æŠ¥
这个用了大约20å¹´çš„ä¾¦é€Ÿæœºï¼Œè¿‘å‡ å¹´è¢«å…¬ä¼—å’Œæ±½è½¦ç½‘æ°‘è®¤ä¸ºæ˜¯æ—©ä¸Šç¹å¿™æ—¶é—´æœå¸‚区和å‚晚ç¹å¿™æ—¶é—´å¾€åŒ—行驶的交通阻塞罪é祸首。
**** 地é“环线系统车资　å¯èƒ½é‡‡ç”¨ä¸œåŒ—线“高优â€æ”¶è´¹ <http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp090304_504.shtml>
by æŽé™ä»ª, è”åˆæ—©æŠ¥
å³å°†åœ¨ä¸‰ä¸ªæœˆåŽå±€éƒ¨é€šè½¦çš„地é“环线系统的车资，å¯èƒ½é«˜äºŽçŽ°æœ‰çš„å—北和东西线列车收费，它预料会采用类似东北线列车的“高优â€ï¼ˆpremium）车资结构。
**** Asian Budget Airlines Launch Price War <http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-business/asian-budget-airlines-launch-price-war-20090304-8ocy.html>
by AFP
Asian low-cost airlines are offering dirt-cheap tickets to perk up travel during the summer holidays amid the global economic downturn.
**** Sands Singapore Resort On Track For December Open <http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/03/04/business/AS-Singapore-Las-Vegas-Sands.php>
by The Associated Press
Las Vegas Sands Corp., which suspended construction last year at two sites in Macau, said Wednesday it's on schedule to open a $5.4 billion Singapore casino resort in December. The casino operator said most of the 2,500-room Marina Bay Sands will be ready by the end of the year. It will be Singapore's first casino.
**** Parliament Sits On Mar 23 <http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_345810.html>
by Straits Times
**** GIC Assets Off 25 Pct, "Too Early" Buying Into Banks <http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSLKY20090304>
by Kevin Lim and Neil Chatterjee, Reuters
The portfolio of Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC has fallen about 25 percent from its peak, partly because it was too hasty buying into toxic asset-hit global banks, the city-state's most influential minister said.
Lee Kuan Yew said in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday that the asset managers of the Government of Singapore Investment Corp (GIC) had pared equity holdings before the crisis from about 60 percent of the portfolio to 45-50 percent.
**** æ–°åŠ å¡â€§ç¾Žåœ‹2å ±ç« ä¸ç´„而åŒå ±å°Žâ€§â€œæ–°åŠ å¡å¤œç”Ÿæ´»æ›´ç²¾å½©â€ <http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/104767?tid=2>
by æ˜Ÿæ´²æ—¥å ±
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**** No Purpose In Having Early Elections, Says MM Lee <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/413084/1/.html>
by Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
Minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew said on Wednesday he does not see any purpose in having elections before 2011.
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