[MyAppleMenu] Apr 30, 2010

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** AT&T Posts iPad 3G Data Information <http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/29/atandt-posts-ipad-3g-data-information/>
Dave Caolo, TUAW

**** Adobe CEO Reponds To Steve's Flash Rant <http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/29/adobe-ceo-reponds-to-steves-flash-rant/>
Dave Caolo, TUAW

In response to Steve's assertion that "...Flash is the number one reason Macs crash," Narayen said that, if Adobe does crash a Mac, it's probably got something "to do with the Apple operating system."

**** Mac Gems: iKey 2.4.4 <http://www.macworld.com/reviews/product/501800/review/ikey_244.html?expand=true&lsrc=rss_main>
Christopher Breen, Macworld

iKey is a good macro utility and the most affordable one available to Mac users. Its set of commands is reasonably complete and its option to trigger macros from menus and palettes is welcome. For those on a budget who need a basic-to-intermediate macro application, iKey is a good fit. If you’re looking for more advanced options, Keyboard Maestro or QuicKeys are better choices.

**** Mac Gems: Keyboard Maestro 4.2 <http://www.macworld.com/reviews/product/501801/review/keyboard_maestro_42.html?expand=true&lsrc=rss_main>
Christopher Breen, Macworld

Keyboard Maestro is a fine macro utility offered at a reasonable price. If you don’t need the extra power offered by QuicKeys—specifically, decision actions and Web actions—and seek an easier-to-use tool, Keyboard Maestro is a solid option.

**** Apple Releases Aperture 3.0.3 <http://www.macworld.com/article/150946/2010/04/apertureupdate303.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Heather Kelly, Macworld

Areas mentioned in Apple's release notes include improvements for working with Faces, tracking with GPS in Places, duplicating Smart Albums, and applying adjustments such as Chromatic Aberration.

**** Apple V. Adobe: Something Just Doesn't Add Up <http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/195313/apple_v_adobe_something_just_doesnt_add_up.html>
Tony Bradley, PC World

So, Apple doesn't want to allow Flash as a development platform because it doesn't want the advancement and innovation of the iPhone or iPad platforms to be at the mercy of Adobe. That seems fairly reasonable, but it doesn't fully explain why Apple took the extra--seemingly petty--measure of banning iPhone and iPad apps that are ported from Flash.

**** Adobe Ships Creative Suite 5 With 64-bit Support For Mac <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/04/30/adobe_ships_creative_suite_5_with_64_bit_support_for_mac.html>
AppleInsider

Adobe on Friday announced that its anticipated Creative Suite 5 product family is now available, with more than 250 new features and, for the first time ever, native 64-bit support for Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects.

**** Apple-owned Lala Music Service To Close, Offer iTunes Credit <http://www.macworld.com/article/150954/2010/04/lala_shut_down.html?lsrc=rss_main>
David Chartier, Macworld

Acquired by Apple in December 2009, streaming "music locker in the cloud" service Lala announced that it will shut down next month, but it leaves its users with a lovely parting gift.

**** Review: Photoshop CS5 And CS5 Extended <http://www.macworld.com/reviews/product/464051/review/photoshop_cs5.html?expand=true&lsrc=rss_main>
Lesa Snider, Macworld

If you work in advertising or graphic design, the new Content-Aware Fill and the improved Refine Edge dialog are worth the upgrade price, not to mention the hundreds of enhancements that will make your editing life easier. If you never work in 3D, you can get away with the standard version of the program and save $300. That said, the extended version makes more sense because it includes extra goodies such as the option to load several images into a Photoshop document automatically (File ->Scripts ->Load Files into Stack), more powerful video editing, animation control, and more.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** Richard Dawkins' Classic Still Has The Power To Open Our Eyes <http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/apr/30/richard-dawkins-blind-watchmaker?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Tim Radford, The Guardian

One sometimes forgets, given his recent combative secular humanism, just how warm and lyrical Richard Dawkins can be. This is a patient, often beautiful book from 1986 that begins in a generous mood and sustains its generosity to the end. It takes its title from a famous sentence in William Paley's Natural Theology (1802), which Dawkins calls "a book that I greatly admire..."



SingaporeSurf
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**** The Roar Of An Asian Tiger: On Singapore's Rapid Growth <http://seekingalpha.com/article/201736-the-roar-of-an-asian-tiger-on-singapores-rapid-growth>
Brian Rezny, Seeking Alpha

Isn’t it risky for an economy to grow that quickly? The short answer: possibly. Blockbuster growth can lead to inflation (and pricing bubbles). But it's not just about how quickly an economy grows, it’s how the government handles it.

**** Come On, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, What’s The Real Story? <http://tauhuayboy.wordpress.com/2010/04/30/come-on-dr-vivian-balakrishnan-whats-the-real-story/>
Want Some Tau Huay?

I puzzled with Dr Balakrishnan flip-flop comments. On one hand, he claims the Government is more than willing to help anyone in need, but on the other hand, he refuses to find out why a couple, who can afford a flat, choose to live out on the streets.

**** Al Jazeera's Defence 'Illogical': MCYS <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100430-0000125/Al-Jazeeras-defence-illogical--MCYS>
Today

When contacted, Dr Bala-krishnan's press secretary, Ms Ho Moon Shin, dismissed Al Jazeera's claims as "illogical". Despite the profits from the sales, she pointed out that the couple continued to receive financial and social assistance from the Government and voluntary welfare organisations.

**** Can There Be A Level Playing Field? <http://singaporerecalcitrant.blogspot.com/2010/04/can-there-be-level-playing-field.html>
Singapore Recalcitrant

The PAP leaders are doing all these as they are concerned about reports of favourable ground situation in favour of the opposition in a general election. They will try with everything in their power to prevent the opposition from making inroads into their political dominance.

**** I Wasn't Criticising S'pore <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_520751.html>
Jeremy Au Yong, Straits Times

Mr David Adelman, on his first day on the job as United States Ambassador to Singapore, spent much of his first meeting with the Singapore media mending fences. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, he stressed repeatedly that his earlier remarks - on how he would use public diplomacy to promote political freedom in Singapore - were not an attempt to interfere in local politics.

**** Singapore For Singaporeans <http://nabbedd.wordpress.com/2010/04/30/singapore-for-singaporeans>
It's All About Amelioration

If the government can push Singapore’s resources to the max, when it comes to building a prosperous first class economy, surely then, we as Singaporeans can push the government for a first class society.

**** Why Oh Why Can't We Have A Better Press Corps? <http://callantham.org/blog/2010/4/30/why-oh-why-cant-we-have-a-better-press-corps.html>
Callan Tham, Trapper's Swamp

No questions were asked by these establishment journalists. All they did was publish Dr Balakrishnan's response verbatim, without any verification. This isn't journalism, this is stenography.

**** Questions Abound With President Nathan's Literary Debut <http://www.cnngo.com/singapore/shop/mrbrown-all-presidents-seamen-834868>
mrbrown, CNNGo

This, of course, sent Singaporeans into a nationwide collective giggle.

**** Singapore Leverages Its Liquid Smarts <http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_19/b4177015133803.htm>
Frederik Balfour, BusinessWeek

Singapore's expertise in treating water has wooed researchers and is helping build an important new export industry.

**** ç›´æ’­æƒè¿Ÿè¿Ÿæ— æ³•æ•²å®š 球迷转向宽带网络电视 准备“偷偷”观赏世杯赛 <http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp100430_003.shtml>
赵倩玉, 联合早报

æœ¬åœ°ç”µä¿¡å…¬å¸è¿Ÿè¿Ÿæ— æ³•ä¸Žå›½é™…è¶³è”ï¼ˆFIFA）敲定世界杯转播权，许多球迷转向黑市购买宽带网络电视解世界杯之瘾。

**** TOC’s Response (Part Two) – A “Tidy Sum”? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/04/tocs-response-part-two-a-tidy-sum/>
The Online Citizen

The ‘findings’ cited by the Minister are not false. They are, however, a selective choice, stripped of their context and grossly misrepresenting a complicated situation. It creates an impression that Eddie and Samiah are sitting on a large fortune, when the reality is very different. Although the financial aid received from various organisations and their current incomes assist in subsidizing daily expenses, they do not allow them to buy a resale or rent a flat in the open market.

This article, while focused on ‘setting the record straight’ on Samiah and Eddie’s situations, is not just about this one couple. TOC ran stories about a number of families who were sleeping in parks because they had no access to a comfortable roof over their heads. Each of those stories were equally complicated, mired with sad tales of mishaps, ill-health and financial woe. Through our reports, we hoped the state would step in and review its policies, that the relevant authorities would be woken up from their stupor and seek ways to remedy an alarming situation. The Minister, despite public proclamations of concern and assurances of assistance, has chosen instead to pick on one homeless couple and publicly discredit them, instead of taking the opportunity to address a serious issue in Parliament with gravity and depth.

**** Singapore Sex Education: It's Not Just About Sex <http://thinkingbetterthinkingmeta.blogspot.com/2010/04/singapore-sex-education-its-not-just.html>
Sam Ho, Sam's thoughts

**** No Bling, No Buzz In Singapore <http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/LE01Ae01.html>
Muhammad Cohen, Asia Times

The city-state's rules on junkets run counter to its tax regime. Singapore's government appears to be working at cross purposes, encouraging VIPs with one hand while waving them away with the other. That stance is particularly bewildering because Singapore wants to be known as the Switzerland of Asia, a safe haven for wealth, and hasn't been fussy in the past about accepting funds from foreign businesspeople and government officials with less than perfect pedigrees.