[MyAppleMenu] Oct 15, 2009

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** UrbanSpoon Makes It Easier To 'Scope' Out Restaurants <http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=06224a9fa788a432cac0b76d6decd033>
Jenna Wortham, New York Times

UrbanSpoon, one of the most popular apps for the iPhone from Apple, is the latest to make use of augmented reality, a feature that superimposes data or information over the live feed from the phone’s camera.

**** Why Do Apple And Nike Support Climate Change Legislation? <http://www.bing.com:80/news/rssclick.aspx?redir=http%253a%252f%252fwww.usnews.com%252fmoney%252fblogs%252fcapital-commerce%252f2009%252f10%252f14%252fwhy-do-apple-and-nike-support-climate-change-legislation>
Matthew Bandyk, US News And World Report


>From the standpoint of a long-term branding strategy, it seems reasonable to me that Apple and Nike would each make the calculation that shoring up their reputation with green and "progressive" customers will help their sales more. That makes a lot more sense if you view climate change legislation as an inevitability.


**** Apple Renders iPhone Jailbreak Exploit Useless <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eweek.com%2Fc%2Fa%2FMidmarket%2FApple-Renders-iPhone-Jailbreak-Exploit-Useless-496026%2F&usg=AFQjCNH9qEFf7W-qrEixgNYdtDky9snw-A>
Nathan Eddy, eWeek

The Apple iPhone jailbreak exploit 24kPwn is no longer working after Apple updates its bootram file.

**** Why Mac Open Source Gets No Respect <http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=5008>
Dana Blankenhorn, ZDNet

For a system evolved from a BSD Unix the Mac OS does not get much respect from the open source community.

**** Surprise: Apple Sells To The Federal Government <http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/surprise_apple_sells_to_the_federal_government/>
John Martellaro, The Mac Observer

Apple's three biggest federal customers are NASA, the Department of Energy, and the National Institutes of Health.

**** Mac OS X "Performance" Update Prevents Hard-Drive Stalls <http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/10/14/downloads.available.for.leopard.and.snow.leopard/>
MacNN

Apple on Wednesday released performance updates for both its Leopard and Snow Leopard operating systems. The downloads address intermittent stalls caused by hard drives, an issue reported by a a small number of users.

**** Apple, Nike And The U.S. Chamber <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107204574469521188829810.html>
Wall Street Journal

If companies are going to dump the Chamber over a single dispute, then the overall influence of business in Washington is likely to decline. The Chamber's job isn't to favor one company's agenda over another but to stand broadly for free trade, low taxes and limited regulation—principles that help U.S. business as a whole.

**** Apple And The Lost Data Syndrome <http://www.technightowl.com/2009/10/apple-and-the-lost-data-syndrome/>
Gene Steinberg, TechNightOwl

**** Beyond iTunes: Streaming Music Services <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=d47a49bbd5deac2537065d5e4c159eb4>
Christopher Breen, Macworld

**** Mac Sales 'Defy All Logic,' Says Analyst <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.computerworld.com%2Fs%2Farticle%2F9139403%2FMac_sales_defy_all_logic_says_analyst%3FtaxonomyId%3D76&usg=AFQjCNG56IoY85AkOr_ad6h6xSLXpSvTcw>
Gregg Keizer, Computerworld

**** Review: Toon Boom Studio 5 <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=6c1a9c0b31cf6b502b32abe7b57be9df>
Dan Ablan, Macworld

At first glance, Toon Boom Studio 5 looks like a simple, almost kid-like program. But don’t be fooled. The new stop-motion feature, annotation layers, and new export functions make this not just a fun program to use, but one rich in sophisticated features that any creative artist would want as part of their digital toolset.

**** AT&T Bursts The iPhone Tethering Bubble; Not Until 2010 <http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/zdnet/Apple/~3/d59GE6Sr46g/>
Jason D. O'Grady, The Apple Core

**** Review: Logic Express 9 <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=b2f2f546cf5b70395509e0fbabc38498>
Christopher Breen, Macworld

Logic Express 9 is a tremendous value for musicians seeking a tool more powerful and musical than GarageBand. But with that power comes complexity. While Apple has done much to tame the beast that was Logic, some users will still find its advanced features confounding (and hard to locate). Work through the application’s challenges, however, and you’ll receive many harmonious rewards.

**** Switch Between App Windows In Different Spaces <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=ad8efcb1c20767d67608d2528a7755d7>
Rob Griffiths, Macworld

Here’s a really simple Spaces tip that works in both OS X 10.5 and 10.6. As best as I can tell, this isn’t documented anywhere in the help files. If you use windows from the same application in multiple Spaces (for instance, three Safari windows in three separate Spaces), switching between them can be done in a number of ways.

**** Curio 6.1 Gets Even More Creative And Productive <http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/15/curio-6-1-gets-even-more-creative-and-productive/>
Brett Terpstra, TUAW

**** Confused About iTunes Home Sharing? <http://www.pheedcontent.com/click.phdo?i=3085542f8c06649e410b58993e5e6214>
Ted Landau, The Mac Observer

**** Apple Allows In App Purchases For Free App Store Software <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/10/15/apple_allows_in_app_purchases_for_free_app_store_software.html>
AppleInsider

Apple has announced that developers who offer free App Store applications can now take advantage of in-app transactions -- a feature that was previously allowed only for paid software.

**** Apple Gets Best Spot In EU Browser Ballot Screen, Mozilla Says <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=1c19a907fcb0e965ddafa1e9a4e6b72e>
Gregg Keizer, Computerworld

Mozilla again slammed the browser “ballot screen” proposal that Microsoft’s made to European antitrust regulators, saying that the voting will be skewed Apple’s way because its Safari browser will be the first choice on the list.

Time to rename yourself as AAA Browser Company, eh?



The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Wi-Fi Alliance Announces Wi-Fi Direct Spec <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcworld.com%2Farticle%2F173695%2Fwifi_alliance_announces_wifi_direct_spec.html&usg=AFQjCNF204a55jGpfoNLY2dwCBRHYetaLg>
Jason Cross, PC World

The Wi-Fi Alliance, that governing body that argues for years about, eventually ratifies, and certifies official Wi-Fi specification, is about to make the peer-to-peer connected world a bit easier.

**** Libraries And Readers Wade Into Digital Lending <http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=b7b5723a628d4fa2631315e0b12286e0>
Motoko Rich, New York Times

Eager to attract digitally savvy patrons and capitalize on the growing popularity of electronic readers, public libraries across the country are expanding collections of books that reside on servers rather than shelves.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** Against Transparency <http://www.tnr.com/article/books-and-arts/against-transparency>
Lawrence Lessig, The New Republic

How could anyone be against transparency? Its virtues and its utilities seem so crushingly obvious. But I have increasingly come to worry that there is an error at the core of this unquestioned goodness. We are not thinking critically enough about where and when transparency works, and where and when it may lead to confusion, or to worse. And I fear that the inevitable success of this movement--if pursued alone, without any sensitivity to the full complexity of the idea of perfect openness--will inspire not reform, but disgust.

**** Ghost Writers <http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB10001424052970204488304574426921687042050.html>
Alexandra Alter, Wall Street Journal

A new wave of posthumous books by iconic authors is stirring debate over how publishers should handle fragmentary literary remains.

**** The Truth About Boys, Girls, Zombies, Vampires And Sex <http://feeds.guardian.co.uk/~r/theguardian/books/rss/~3/KElKu2lI_WU/zombies-vampires>
Charlie Higson, Guardian

Our current preoccupation with zombies and vampires is easy to explain. They're two sides of the same coin, addressing our fascination with sex, death and food. They're both undead, they both feed on us, they both pass on some kind of plague and they can both be killed with specialist techniques – a stake through the heart or a disembraining. But they seem to have become polarised. Vampires are the undead of choice for girls, and zombies for boys. Vampires are cool, aloof, beautiful, brooding creatures of the night. Typical moody teenage boys, basically. Zombies are dumb, brutal, ugly and mindlessly violent. Which makes them also like typical teenage boys, I suppose.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Haze Pact Should Be Ratified <http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_442274.html>
Amresh Gunasingham, Straits Times

Indonesia needs to ratify a seven-year-old regional haze agreement to prove its commitment in tackling climate change, a top United Nations official said at a conference in Singapore on Wednesday.

**** Inflation Not Expected To Be A Threat For Years Into Recovery <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/1011352/1/.html>
Desmond Wong, Channel NewsAsia

Inflation is unlikely to pose a threat to the budding global recovery as it is expected to remain low for at least the next few years. And so, some analysts said, interest rates will remain depressed across Western economies.

**** The Disappearing Wet Market <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/the-disappearing-wet-market/>
Tng Ying Hui, The Online Citizen

It is necessary to upgrade wet markets to improve hygiene, but to wipe it out from the face of Singapore portends means that we would lose something dear to our hearts, raising a generation further adrift from their roots.

**** New Information Minister Disappoints <http://geraldgiam.sg/2009/10/new-information-minister-disappoints/>
Gerald Giam

Contrary to what MICA accused Zahari of doing, I did not think the film gave any “distorted portrayal”. The entire film consisted of Zahari talking into the camera, with Martyn See occasionally asking questions in the background. There were no animations, slick edits, or emotional scenes. I can’t see how a testimony of one person talking about himself could be a “distorted portrayal”.

**** Young PAP Member Guises Human Rights As Western Imperialism And Praises Chinese Communist Premier <http://seelanpalay.blogspot.com/2009/10/young-pap-member-guises-human-rights-as.html>
Seelan Palay

**** More Cases In And Around S'pore ... <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC091015-0000106/More-cases-in-and-around-Spore-,,,>
Zul Othman, Today

Even though sea pirates are stepping up their activities in the straits of Malacca and Singapore, this "is a modest concern", according to Australia's Inspector of Transport Security. This is because the governments of Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia have done well in keeping the number of piracy cases low, Mr Mick Palmer told reporters at a press conference on the sidelines of Interpol's 78th general assembly held here yesterday.

**** Singapore - The Last Bastion Of Irrational Exuberance? <http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/7XLWRNy5VjI/singapore-last-bastion-of-irrational.html>
Imran Ahmed, The Grand Moofti Speaks

Will someone please educate Singapore's private bankers about the lessons learnt from the global banking crisis? 

**** Innovative Asia Fights A Downturn <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2009%2F10%2F15%2Farts%2F15iht-rcartsale.html&usg=AFQjCNFkyz2GnsvIaiA3p8LIoqtp5jOnVg>
Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop, New York Times

Times may be hard in the contemporary art market, but Asian auction houses are fighting the downturn with energy and innovation. Far from pulling back, new players are joining the fray.

**** æ„Ÿå—æ–°åŠ å¡çš„æ¸©é¦¨ç»†èŠ‚ <http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4b8673600100fftx.html>
è‹¹æžœæ ‘0416

åœ¨æ–°åŠ å¡åœç•™6天后刚刚回来。脑海里挥之不去的不是这个城市街头的繁华和建筑物的高大壮观，而是那些细致入微的温馨细节。

**** æ–°åŠ å¡çš„ç§»æ°‘æ”¿ç­– <http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4a3aeaea0100fkpa.html>
新墨客 澳洲新生活

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**** Singapore Retail Sales Post Smallest Decline In Eight Months <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bloomberg.com%2Fapps%2Fnews%3Fpid%3D20601080%26sid%3DaMj.i..O0moM&usg=AFQjCNE8HOhdkKk9CMK03sxdD6MZlV_rWA>
Shamim Adam, Bloomberg

Singapore’s retail sales dropped the least in eight months in August as the city state’s economic recovery spurred an improvement in spending at supermarkets and department stores.

**** Singapore's OCBC Buys ING's Asian Private Banking Business <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/1011486/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

Singapore's Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp (OCBC) Thursday announced the purchase of Dutch lender ING's Asian private banking business for 1.46 billion US dollars.

**** PTC Saw Improvements In Public Bus Operators' Quality Standards <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1011495/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

The Public Transport Council (PTC) said both SBS Transit and SMRT Buses have complied with the standards on service provision and scheduled trips operated. 

**** Self-styled Mediums Thrive In Modern Singapore <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhostednews%2Fafp%2Farticle%2FALeqM5gzSE67Cy81-P1oXy75xd2qBkcz5w&usg=AFQjCNGvRHJC__Ym5fA2SbCuTYQ1d0pksg>
Philip Lim, AFP

In affluent and technologically advanced Singapore, belief in spirituality persists and traditional religious practices are considered essential to good luck and prosperity, whether it involves health, love, a job or the lottery.

**** WP Rebuts Ministry’s Reply On Lift Upgrading <http://www.wp.sg/wordpress/2009/10/wp-rebuts-ministrys-reply-on-lift-upgrading/>
Sylvia Lim, The Workers' Party of Singapore

**** Bus Operators Fined Again <http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_442546.html>
Maria Almenoar, Straits Times

SBS Transit was fined $500 - less than its fine of $4,500 in the last review - for having overcrowded buses on five occasions.

SMRT was also fined $200 - up from its $100 in the last review - for not meeting the scheduled headway standards on one occasion and having over crowded buses on another.

**** Corporatization Of Wet Markets.... <http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2009/10/corporatization-of-wet-markets.html>
Diary of A Singaporean Mind

While corporatization very often is beneficial because it introduces economy of scale and efficiency, in many cases it merely converts income of small scale independent businesses into profits of large corporations without benefit to the consumers.

**** Former ISD Chief Requests A Correction In “Men In White” Book <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1011624/1/.html>
Neo Chai Chin, Channel NewsAsia

Former Internal Security Department (ISD) chief Yoong Siew Wah has requested a correction with regards to an "unflattering mention" of him in the book "Men In White", which chronicles the untold stories of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP). The book's publisher, the Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) has agreed to the request.

**** No More Pay Cuts At 60 <http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_442900.html>
Sue-Ann Chia, Straits Times

It is time to review the practice, said labour chief Lim Swee Say, because most companies have moved away from a seniority-based wage system where salaries are determined more by length of service rather than performance.