[MyAppleMenu] Nov 5, 2009

applesurf at myapplemenu.com applesurf at myapplemenu.com
Thu Nov 5 18:59:00 EST 2009

MyAppleMenu
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**** iMac (Late 2009) Benchmarks <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=7ab91d791c91433084cbab83897c0783>
James Galbraith, Macworld

**** App Store Size: Comparisons And Challenges <http://db.tidbits.com/article/10716>
Adam C. Engst, TidBITS

I don't see Apple letting the App Store collapse under its own weight, but with all these other app stores coming online and gaining momentum, Apple needs to solve these problems sooner rather than later.

**** Apple's 100000 Point Lead <http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/11/04/apples-100000-point-lead/>
John Biggs, CrunchGear

Apple’s refusal to expand its product line has finally paid off. By creating a regimented army of drone devices to run its marketplace they’ve ensured absolute compatibility at the cost of, potentially, consumer choice.

**** Apple's Magic Mouse Is Simple, Beautiful, Functional <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.baltimoresun.com%2Fbusiness%2Fsns-200911040805mctnewsservbc-cpt-compute-mct25455%2C0%2C4000041.story&usg=AFQjCNGF3l7Z4oqx0MSShg1Bl6u4e747ow>
MCT News Service

Typically, simplicity comes with less functionality. But Apple seems to keep breaking that rule and the Magic Mouse is definitely another rule-breaker. If your Mac meets the minimum requirements, you're going to want this mouse.

**** Reference Tracker 1.5 Adds Improvements, Bug Fixes <http://feeds.macnn.com/click.phdo?i=ed2f0979aaacd0cca73d36081060198d>
MacNN

The software enables users to track all citations and references within essays or books, while creating a reference list that can be accessed whenever necessary. The latest version features improved accuracy for the formatted reference list importer.

**** Mac Game: Art Project Or Malware? <http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-10391185-245.html>
Elinor Mills, CNET News

As part of his Master of Fine Arts thesis project, Zach Gage wrote a game to run on Macintosh computers that resembles Space Invaders but with a digital roulette twist--for every alien space ship the player destroys a random file on the computer is deleted.

**** Fix Snow Leopard's Screen Sharing Black Screen Bug <http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/tidbits_main/~3/CIfjsq4jzgY/10717>
Glenn Fleishman, TidBITS

The advice - from Anonymous - is to change the Screen Sharing program's mode setting to 32 bits.

**** Apple’s New Remote Is A Riddle, Wrapped In A Mystery, Inside An Enigma <http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/04/apples-new-remote-is-a-riddle-wrapped-in-a-mystery-inside-an-enigma/>
MG Siegler, TechCrunch

I really don’t understand Apple’s thinking with these remotes. It would seem that they’re clearly inching towards products with less buttons and more touch elements, but this new remote is the opposite of that.

**** Five Classic Apple Marketing Tactics That Lock You In <http://www.thestandard.com/news/2009/11/04/five-classic-apple-marketing-tactics-lock-you>
Dan Tynan, PC World

The bottom line: Apple makes great products, but its marketing practices limit your choices and cost you more money.

**** Does Apple Really Build What You Want? <http://www.technightowl.com/2009/11/does-apple-really-build-what-you-want/>
Tech Night Owl

Apple’s logic is that they aren’t going to build a product unless they can sell enough copies to make it profitable. That means that you won’t get a non-glossy iMac unless demand is extremely high. There will probably never be a mid-priced expandable desktop without an integrated display simply because the market is moving towards notebooks.

**** It's Apple's World, We Just Click In It <http://infoworld.com/d/adventures-in-it/its-apples-world-we-just-click-in-it-913>
InfoWorld

People can't get enough of Apple's aura of cool. But a bit more humility would make the company easier to live with.

**** MacSpeech Dictate Adds Surport For Bluetooth Headset <http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/570/f/7332/s/6ee8aa7/l/0L0Smacworld0O0Cdigitallifestyle0Cnews0Cindex0Bcfm0DRSS0GNewsID0F27647/story01.htm>
Macworld UK

MacSpeech 1.5.6 adds a new dictation preferences pane that allows the Auto Cache Document feature to be enabled or disabled for TextEdit and Microsoft Word. The update also adds "exclusive support" for the Plantronics Calisto Bluetooth Headset. which allows freedom of movement during dictation.

**** Review: Studio One Pro 1.0.1 <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=92c7b8191e2e6205c35f1c3ec2b52deb>
John Brandon, Macworld

For those who never buy a 1.0 product, just on principle, now might be the time to break the rule. Studio One Pro 1.0.1 has an arguably more appealing interface than Logic Studio, the one-screen approach is easy to use, yet really powerful, and the app is a solid and stable performer. Plus, the musical results are impressive. I own Logic Studio, but I plan to record more songs with Studio One.



The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Software Listens For Hints Of Depression <http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/23856/>
Jennifer Chu, MIT Technology Review

While most speech recognition software concentrates on turning words and phrases into text, Pentland's group is developing algorithms that analyze subtle cues in speech to determine whether someone is feeling awkward, anxious, disconnected or depressed.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** License To Wonder <http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=b4f1ba6a938a32914e24d5167d19caec>
Olivia Judson, New York Times

There are plenty of (probably) apocryphal tales about what inspired a great discovery, from Archimedes in his bathtub, to Newton and his apple. But there are also many well-documented accounts of inspiration — or lack of it — in the history of science.

**** Firing Bullets Of Data At Cozy Anti-Science <http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=0e53e33e5de67250ddc7a01be68b01e3>
Janet Maslin, New York Times

The term “denialism,” used by Mr. Specter as an all-purpose, pop-sci buzzword, is defined by him as what happens “when an entire segment of society, often struggling with the trauma of change, turns away from reality in favor of a more comfortable lie.”

In this hotly argued yet data-filled diatribe, Mr. Specter skips past some of the easiest realms of science baiting (i.e., evolution) to address more current issues, from the ethical questions raised by genome research to the furiously fought debate over the safety of childhood vaccinations.

**** The Secrets Of A Family Recipe <http://food.theatlantic.com/abroad/the-secrets-of-a-family-recipe.php>
Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan, The Atlantic

The first time my grandmother was hospitalized for the mysterious pains that would lead to her death, she had an important thing on her mind.

Summoning my Uncle Soo Kiat to the bedside of her Singapore hospital, she said, "I've made the chili paste for otah," referring to a creamy and spicy fish paste wrapped in banana leaves that was one of her many signature dishes. "The fish has been bought; the otah must be made."

**** Promises, Promises <http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/56082/>
Stuart Blackman, The Scientist

Of course, scientists have a strong incentive to make bold predictions—namely, to obtain funding, influence, and high-profile publications. But while few will be disappointed when worst-case forecasts fail to materialize, unfulfilled predictions—of which we’re seeing more and more—can be a blow for patients, policy makers, and for the reputation of science itself.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Govt Will Continue To Invest Heavily In Sports, Says DPM Wong <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1015975/1/.html>
Low Lin Fhoong, Channel NewsAsia

Deputy prime minister Wong Kan Seng said the government will continue to invest heavily in sports, as evidenced by the Sports Hub, which is due to be constructed at the Kallang waterfront.

The government is actually talking about sports entertainment, I guess.

**** S'pore Top Choice Of Migrants <http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_450358.html>
Lin Zhaowei, Straits Times

Singapore is a top immigration hot spot, according to a global survey conducted by Gallup. If it were to take in all adults who wish to settle in the country, its adult population of 3.6 million would jump to 13 million, said the survey released this week.

**** Foreign Cooks Shouldn't Be Required To Have A Degree To Work Here <http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Online%2BStory/STIStory_450265.html>
Jonathan Siow, Straits Times

Since June 1, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has tightened its criteria for foreigners who apply for employment passes. For example, a foreign cook now needs to have a degree to qualify for the S-Pass. Would any cook go for a degree?

**** What's Really Rotten In The City-State Of Singapore? <http://econlog.econlib.org/archives/2009/11/whats_really_ro.html>
Bryan Caplan, EconLib

Bottom line: Singapore's critics have plenty of genuine grievances to denounce. (And under Singaporean law, it's legal to do so - just don't get personal!) So why do the critics keep complaining about "lack of democracy" when the real story is that most Singaporeans persistently prefer the PAP to the opposition?

**** 新加坡为什么总和中国过不去？ <http://military.china.com/zh_cn/critical3/27/20091105/15690988.html>
潘宏斌, 中华网

中国的和平发展难道真的威胁到新加坡和世界的安全了吗？

**** GST Is Unnecessary For Singapore <http://tankinlian.blogspot.com/2009/11/gst-is-unsuitable-for-singapore.html>
Tan Kin Lian

**** Lee's Ill Advice Only Spreads Mistrust <http://opinion.globaltimes.cn/observer/2009-11/482373.html>
Wu Meng, Global Times

In times lacking mutual trust, an influential politician like Lee should be focusing on building mutual trust instead of spreading mistrust.

**** 7 Good Reasons Why Public Transport Ridership Is Dropping <http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/11/05/7-good-reasons-why-public-transport-ridership-is-dropping/>
Ronald Chan, The Temasek Review

**** HDB’s $2 Billion Dollar Deficit – More Questions Than Answers <http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/11/05/hdb%e2%80%99s-2-billion-dollar-deficit-%e2%80%93-more-questions-than-answers/>
Damon Yeo, The Temasek Review

Reading through financial statements had left this writer with more questions than answers. There is no question on the integrity and truthfulness of the numbers as presented publicly, but more explanation and disclosure are required before anyone can examine the state of HDB finances critically.

**** Expedite Traffic Flow At CIQ <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthestar.com.my%2Fnews%2Fstory.asp%3Ffile%3D%2F2009%2F11%2F5%2Ffocus%2F5046062%26sec%3Dfocus&usg=AFQjCNF_da28OXuKaiC3x1bDjAKEKT_KyA>
Roger Poh, The Star

With Malaysia’s anxieties about attracting investments to the Iskandar Development Region and boosting tourist arrivals from Singapore, the removal of unnecessary hassles and faster clearance of traffic at the Sultan Iskandar Customs and Immigration Quarantine Complex in Johor Baru should be the concern of the relevant authorities.

**** Opening Of New MRT Stations Still Depends On Nearby Developments <http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_450421.html>
Phua Hooi Boon, Ministry of Transport, Straits Times

What we will do is open stations when there are sufficient developments around a station. As rail lines and their stations are built to cater to both near- and long-term needs, there will be areas along the rail line where development plans are to be realised only in the long term.

**** The Booboo Of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew <http://singaporerecalcitrant.blogspot.com/2009/11/booboo-of-minister-mentor-lee-kuan-yew.html>
Singapore Recalcitrant

Do Singapore taxpayers really believe that the annual remuneration of three million dollars MM Lee receives is a fair charge on them? To all intents and purposes the office of minister mentor appears to be a sinecure. What he does is to jet around to spout his whimsical ideas upon gullible audiences around the world, which not surprisingly included such discerning world leaders like President Barack Obama. And occasionally he made a booboo out of it.

**** Stop Comparing Singapore With Third World Countries <http://geraldgiam.sg/2009/11/stop-comparing-singapore-with-third-world-countries/>
Gerald Giam

It never ceases to amaze me the kind of examples some people will use to drive home their point that the PAP is the one and only party capable of leading Singapore forever and ever.

**** 华人国家“新加坡”与华人“李光耀” <http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_507143650100fr8n.html>
煮鹿中原·N的博客

然而，李光耀不仅仅是华人，而且是“华人国家”新加坡总理李显龙的父亲、新加坡的前总理，由此可见，李光耀的言论不仅仅是个人言论，而是“国家新加坡”的国家观点。读者们必须明白，“华人国家新加坡”与“国家新加坡”没有区别，都有自己的国家利益。

**** What Will The Economic Recovery Mean For Singaporeans? <http://www.theedgesingapore.com/blog-heads/manu-bhaskaran/9238-manu-bhaskaran-what-will-the-economic-recovery-mean-for-singaporeans.html>
Manu Bhaskaran, The Edge

In short, while wages may not rise as much as in the good years, household balance sheets are likely to remain strong. This augurs well for Singaporeans next year.

**** New Fund For Care Services <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_450583.html>
Theresa Tan, Straits Times

A new $1 million fund to support initiatives that improve the lives of the elderly, disabled and their care-givers has been set up.

**** 李光耀为何触动了中国人的敏感神经？ <http://blog.ifeng.com/article/3416199.html>
丁咚的公共空間

值得注意的是，李光耀的这一观点并非心血来潮的即兴发挥、而是他对亚洲事务的一贯主张，从担任总理的时候起，李光耀就一直主张要维持东亚的稳定，“必须保持日美中三方的平衡”。此次演讲也是基于这一理念展开的。同时，这一观点也并非李光耀的个人观点，而是代表了新加坡政府的态度，就在昨天，新加坡总理李显龙在一个新闻发布会上表示，尽管中印崛起，但美国在亚洲扮演“必不可少”的角色，并应该成为任何新的地区组织的一员。希望美国能深化参与本地区事务。“我们相信美国在亚洲许多领域扮演不可缺少的角色--经济、政治、战略和安全。”

**** 新加坡媒体集体为李光耀辩护 中国网民拒绝接受 <http://world.huanqiu.com/roll/2009-11/623013.html>
李秋恒, 环球网

新加坡内阁资政李光耀日前提醒美国应参与亚洲事务，以制衡中国的军事和经济力量，引起中国网民的愤怒。新加坡媒体随后发文，称中国媒体曲解李光耀言论，国内也有专家表示，李光耀讲话具有“合理性”。但环球网的调查显示，逾七成受访者拒绝新加坡媒体的辩护，近六成受访者对亚洲国家平衡中国崛起的做法表示不理解。

**** 9 In 10 S'pore Workers Prefer To Work For Ethical Firms: Survey <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1016176/1/.html>
Lin Jiamei, Channel NewsAsia

Ninety-one per cent of Singapore workers said that they are more likely to work for an organisation that is ethically and socially responsible, according to a survey by Kelly Services.

**** The 3 Tiers Of Censorship In Singapore <http://singaporerebel.blogspot.com/2009/11/3-tiers-of-censorship-in-singapore.html>
Martyn See, Only "Objective" And "Factual" Political Films Please, We're Singaporeans

The Singapore government adopts a one step forward, two steps back approach in calibrating space for political expression.

**** Exploring Johor Bahru <http://www.mysinchew.com/node/31096>
Lim Mun Fah, Sin Chew Daily

When the ties have been loosened, is Johor Bahru really nothing more than just a place for eating, drinking and playing for Singaporeans?

**** 应该理解新加坡的焦虑 <http://zlmy7077.blog.sohu.com/135923303.html>
明言

我们根本没必要指责李光耀的立场，这不仅是李光耀的焦虑、新加坡的焦虑，也是整个东南亚各国的焦虑，小国的生存之道不是像中国这样的大国所能理解和领受的，对小国来说，如果能平衡并周旋于大国之间最好，实在不行，只有依附与之结盟，以寻求保护。

**** Sentosa Resort To Open By Jan <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_450785.html>
Bernama




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