[MyAppleMenu] Feb 3, 2010

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Be Grateful For What's Not On The iPad <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=d0c9020130aabe31ae6e16f7105081ae>
Marco Tabini, Macworld

Just as when the iPhone was first announced, everyone is both extremely excited by the iPad's possibilities and disappointed by the lack of at least one feature that they were expecting it to have. In the case of at least two—handwriting recognition and a full-fledged version of OS X—I contend that Apple's move is a deliberate choice for the iPad's future.

**** Photoshop.com For iPhone, iPod Touch Adds New Features <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=64052d681c9b85b0005bc8609b7bcb15>
Nick Spence, Macworld UK

Version 1.1.021 adds a new sharpen tool, support for a variety of photo borders, and—for U.S. users of the app—playback of video hosted on Photoshop.com.

**** Apple's Blu-ray Fiasco: The iTunes Conflict <http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=5928&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+zdnet%2FApple+%28ZDNet+The+Apple+Core%29>
Jason D. O'Grady, ZDNet

Call me a conspiracy theorist, but Blu-Ray is on a collision course with iTunes and something's got to give.

**** Apple Releases iPhone Software 3.1.3 <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=b0acbc3d262f6dbaea295274cbbb076a>
Dan Moren, Macworld

Among the embarrassment of riches that iPhone OS 3.1.3 brings is better accuracy for the battery level on the iPhone 3GS, a problem where third-party programs would sometimes not launch, and a bug that could cause an application to crash when using the Japanese Kana keyboard.

**** Possibly Reduce iPhoto Launch Times <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=629e064f772252ca113f13d805db7974>
Rob Griffiths, Macworld

If iPhoto is slow to launch on your machine—as in taking over a minute to load, including visits from the spinning beach ball—here’s a possible fix that also happens to be a simple one.

**** Stanza Drops USB Syncing At Apple's Request <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=06ae485f713d8a6c94dcf8ecbe9314db>
Nicholas Bonsack, Macworld

The reason behind the feature's axing? As Apple's Michael Jurewitz has stated on Twitter, there is no public API for syncing via USB. In other words, there's no Apple-approved method for iPhone applications to sync with companion apps through a USB cable.

**** A Moveable Feast <http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=26ba3b00c76e936c5785a351142ec234>
Sara Dickerman, Slate Magazine

My iPhone is absolutely filthy, and not because it's clogged with frisky NSFW photos. The screen cover is coated with streaks of flour and butter and overlaid with a haze of anonymous kitchen grease. For the past couple of weeks, I've been trying to suss out whether the iPhone can earn a place in my kitchen. And just as any new pair of sneakers must one day be scuffed, I've had to let my shiny wireless pet get mussed.

**** Apple Kills USB Syncing For Apps, But Alternative Is Coming <http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2010/02/apple-kills-usb-syncing-for-apps-but-alternative-is-coming.ars>
Chris Foresman, Ars Technica

USB app syncing is coming to an end for iPhone users, but it may not be the end of the world. Apple recently asked Lexcycle to remove USB syncing capabilities from its popular e-book reading app Stanza, prompting the ire of many users. While loss of the feature is upsetting, the good news is that Apple has an alternative planned for a future iPhone OS update.

**** Apple, Others Named In Probe Of Human Rights In China <http://www.electronista.com/articles/10/02/02/investigation.led.by.us.senator/>
Electronista

Apple is just one of 30 US corporations that have been asked for info on their human rights practices in China, Reuters reports. The requests are the work of the assistant US Senate majority leader, Dick Durbin, who cites Google as a standard for how ...

**** Greenpeace Hitching Itself To Apple's Star? <http://db.tidbits.com/article/10974?rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tidbits_main+%28TidBITS%3A+Mac+News+for+the+Rest+of+Us%29>
Doug McLean, TidBITS

A fierce independence and commitment to envisioning the future has earned Apple its current celebrity. Greenpeace should take note, and allow its own hard work to become the sole spokesman for its cause.

**** Three Years Later, Apple TV Remains A Hobby <http://feeds.arstechnica.com/~r/arstechnica/apple/~3/Gt4JwcGZ-rE/three-years-later-apple-tv-remains-a-hobby.ars>
Jacqui Cheng, Ars Technica

Nearly three years after its introduction, the Apple TV remains a hobby in the eyes of Apple. This view was confirmed by CEO Steve Jobs during a post-iPad Town Hall meeting among employees, where he reiterated that the company still views the set-top box as experimental.

**** Textbook Firms Ink E-Deals For iPad <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703338504575041630390346178.html?mod=WSJ_Small%20Business_IndustryNews>
Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg and Yukari Kane, Wall Street Journal

Major textbook publishers have struck deals with software company ScrollMotion Inc. to adapt their textbooks for the electronic page, as the industry embraces a hope that digital devices such as Apple Inc.'s iPad will transform the classroom.

**** The Smart Mac: iTunes, iPhoto & Aperture <http://theappleblog.com/2010/02/02/the-smart-mac-itunes-iphoto-aperture/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheAppleBlog+%28TheAppleBlog%29>
Chris Ryan, The Apple Blog

The beauty of “smart” file management, of course, is once you have defined the frameworks for the album, folder or playlist, new content will automatically fall in place if it meets your rules.

**** From MSFT Evangelist To Mac Enthusiast - The Other Side Of The Road <http://dondodge.typepad.com/the_next_big_thing/2010/02/from-msft-evangelist-to-mac-enthusiast-the-other-side-of-the-road.html>
Don Dodge On The Next Big Thing

For five years I was a Microsoft evangelist to the startup and venture capital community. That ended a couple months ago. I am now a Developer Advocate at Google and I love it. After years of defending Microsoft against the Apple fanatics I decided to go to the other side of the road to see for myself.

**** Apple Enjoys The Fruits Of its Labor <http://www.binarypulse.com/blog/index.php/2010/02/apple-enjoys-the-fruits-of-its-labor/>
Ones And Zeros

**** Why Maps Is Missing From Apple Singapore's iPad Page <http://www.imerlion.com/2010/02/why-maps-is-missing-from-apple.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheSingaporeIphoneGuide+%28The+Singapore+iPhone+Guide%29>
iMerlion

I've been given to understand that Maps is missing from Apple Singapore's iPad features page because there are issues with promoting Google Maps in Singapore. What are those issues? Your guess is as good as mine.

**** Researcher Warns Of Privacy Risks From Rogue iPhone Apps <http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-10446402-245.html?part=rss&amp;subj=news&amp;tag=2547-1_3-0-20>
Elinor Mills, CNET News

Lax security screening at Apple's App Store and a design flaw are putting iPhone users at risk of downloading malicious apps that could steal data and spy on them, a Swiss researcher warns.

**** Apple’s Science Fiction Dream <http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apples_science_fiction_dream/>
John Martellaro, The Mac Observer

Like the science fiction theme of making a clean break, politically and spatially, from the institutions of Earth, Apple would like nothing more than to, once again, make a solid leap forward with a new generation of iPads and other tablet devices. However, this time Apple will be protected by patents rather than mere copyrights. In addition, development will be fueled by custom, proprietary hardware, thanks to PA Semi, and leveraged from the modern underpinnings of Mac OS X so carefully crafted over the last decade.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** A Woman’s Undying Gift To Science <http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=898cf3e9e3fddb29704fbedb4afa3108>
Dwight Garner, New York Times

A thorny and provocative book about cancer, racism, scientific ethics and crippling poverty, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” also floods over you like a narrative dam break, as if someone had managed to distill and purify the more addictive qualities of “Erin Brockovich,” “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” and “The Andromeda Strain.” More than 10 years in the making, it feels like the book Ms. Skloot was born to write. It signals the arrival of a raw but quite real talent.

**** Fearless <http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=f73401c790facdb4c2e2820239e29f7d>
Olivia Judson, New York Times

How did the animals of the Galapagos get so tame and fearless?

**** Who Stole Our Reading Time? <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2010/feb/02/who-stole-reading-time?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Alan Bissett, The Guardian

Time for serious reading appears to be getting more and more pinched – and that's a loss to more than literature.



SingaporeSurf
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**** The Curious Case Of Block 29 <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/02/the-curious-case-of-block-29/>
Andrew Loh / Joshua Chiang, The Online Citizen

It is thus puzzling to us that the three blocks, which have been classified as “SERS completed” on the HDB website, apparently were never demolished, as Ms Kee claimed all SERS block would be; and that the residents of blocks 31 and 33 are apparently still living there even though “a completed SERS site is one where all SERS residents have vacated their sold flats”, according to the definition given on the HDB website.

**** The Singapore Government – Worth Its Weight In Gold? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/02/the-singapore-government-%e2%80%93-worth-its-weight-in-gold/>
Wakka Kong and Simeon Ang, The Online Citizen

For some time now, the Americans have been criticizing about the excesses of Wall Street and the resulting use of Main Street to shore up the country’s economy. Putting this in context with the Singaporean society, it is time for the excesses of the government to be checked by the man on Main Street. It is time the government of Singapore realises that they are only in power on the premise that they govern for the people and not for themselves.

**** Firms Say Foreign Worker Levy Rise May Hurt Bottom Line <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1034849/1/.html>
Joanne Chan, Channel NewsAsia

The Economic Strategies Committee (ESC) has recommended that foreign worker levies be raised in a bid to move Singapore away from its dependence on foreigners. But industries reliant on a strong foreign workforce say their bottom line will be hurt.

**** Singapore Home Prices To Lag Behind Hong Kong On Building Boom <http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aSLPPVEmDUDQ>
Joyce Koh and Regina Tan, Bloomberg

Singapore’s luxury-home prices won’t match Hong Kong’s because an increase in building ahead of two casino projects in the city-state will see nine times the number of new apartments going up over the next three years than in Hong Kong, according to real estate broker Savills Plc. Singapore’s high-end home prices rose 4 percent in 2009, while Chinese buyers fueled a 45 percent jump in Hong Kong, Savills said.

**** US Nominee Wants Greater Openness In Singapore <http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100202/wl_asia_afp/usdiplomacysingaporerights>
AFP

The nominee to be the US ambassador to Singapore said Tuesday he would encourage the government to allow greater openness, including more space for opposition parties.

"I intend, if confirmed, to use public diplomacy to work towards greater press freedoms, greater freedom of assembly and ultimately more political space for opposition parties in Singapore," he said.

**** What’s Missing From Economic Strategies Committee Report <http://geraldgiam.sg/2010/02/whats-missing-from-economic-strategies-committee-report/>
Gerald Giam

Singapore cannot continue to depend so heavily on manufacturing exports and foreign MNCs to power our economy, when many MNCs are making plans to relocate to cheaper locations. We need to develop new engines of growth that are sustainable and benefit ordinary Singaporeans, not just foreigners and rich elites.

**** Different MP, Same Experience <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_485528.html>
Sunny Wee, Straits Times

The person at the registration desk promised to pass my letter to the MP. However, almost a year has passed and I have not received any response.

**** Library In Serangoon In 2011 <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_485814.html>
Straits Times

The National Library Board on Wednesday announced that the new Serangoon Public Library will be located at nex, the biggest mall in the North East of Singapore, right in the heart of Serangoon.

**** Raising The Foreign Worker Levy Is A Blunt Move <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/02/raising-the-foreign-worker-levy-is-a-blunt-move/>
Ng E-Jay, The Online Citizen

Raising the foreign worker levy is a blunt move that is will likely only penalize businesses that hire foreign workers but will not improve the lot of low income Singapore workers whose wages have remained stagnant for the past decade.

**** Singaporeans For Democracy Gazetted As Political Association <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1035061/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

The Registry of Political Donations has gazetted the society, Singaporeans For Democracy (SFD), as a Political Association under the Political Donations Act with immediate effect. The registry said the SFD's goals are in line with the objective to safeguard the integrity of Singapore's political process.

**** A False Necessity: Singapore’s Maid Trade <http://www.thefword.org.uk/blog/2010/02/a_false_necessi>
Jolene Tan, The F Word

Much of this racist abusiveness and dehumanisation is closely related to Singaporeans’ fear and anxiety over the country’s post-colonial survival.

**** Will Singapore Resorts Pay Off For Casino Operators? <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/04/business/global/04casino.html>
Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop, New York Times

As Singapore gets ready to open its first casinos, there is little doubt that the controversial decision it made five years ago to allow gambling is going to pay economic dividends for the city-state. But whether the operators of the two giant resorts will be reaping jackpots anytime soon remains the big question.

With noncasino revenues expected to account for only 20 percent of the resorts’ earnings, both companies will need to generate significant gaming business to recoup their investments.

**** Singapore On The Torrens <http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/singapore-on-the-torrens/story-e6frg71x-1225826513810>
The Australian

South Australian politicians are increasingly taking Singapore rather than Westminster as their model by resorting to legal action where political redress would be more appropriate.