[MyAppleMenu] Feb 4, 2010

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Nehalem Mac Pro Systems Suffer Audio-based Performance Issues <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/02/03/nehalem_mac_pro_systems_suffer_audio_based_performance_issues.html>
AppleInsider

The latest Mac Pro models with Nehalem-based Intel Xeon processors reportedly suffer a 20 percent performance hit when playing audio in Mac OS X, users have reported.

**** FontExplorer X Pro 2.5 <http://db.tidbits.com/article/10981?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

**** Skype Sheds Light On 3G Calling, iPad <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=fe1d5a939be904e368b9c89d0d530da3>
Marco Tabini, Macworld

Today's blog post provides a little more information on what's holding back the release of an updated app: the company says it's working on methods to provide the highest voice quality possible by using wideband audio—a technology used in telephony that extends the frequency of sounds transmitted across a connection, thus providing clearer audio signals.

**** Thank Heaven For Apple's (Upward) Pricing Pressure <http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-10446693-16.html?part=rss&amp;subj=news&amp;tag=2547-1_3-0-20>
Matt Asay, CNET News

Pricing creates perceived value, something that Apple does exceptionally well and open source does exceptionally poorly.

**** Senator Questions Apple Human Rights Practices In China <http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/senator_questions_apple_human_rights_practices_in_china/>
Jeff Gamet, The Mac Observer

**** A Fight Over Freedom At Apple’s Core <http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fcabc720-10fb-11df-9a9e-00144feab49a.html>
Jonathan Zittrain, Financial Times

Mr Jobs ushered in the personal computer era and now he is trying to usher it out. We should focus on preserving our freedoms, even as the devices we acquire become more attractive and easier to use.

**** Here's Why I Will Purchase An iPad <http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2010/02/heres_why_i_wil.html;jsessionid=YKEBHOYRTUK5RQE1GHOSKHWATMY32JVN>
Allen Stern, InformationWeek

**** 10 Ways Real Estate Agents Could Use The Apple iPad <http://www.business2.com.au/2010/02/10-ways-real-estate-agents-could-use-the-apple-ipad/>
Greg Vincent, Business2

**** Apple's iTunes Preview Now Offers Browser-based App Store Access <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/02/04/itunes_preview_now_allows_browser_based_app_store_access.html>
AppleInsider

Apple this week expanded its browser-based iTunes Preview, now allowing users to view information on software within the App Store without ever launching iTunes.

**** AT&T Gives Green Light To Sling TV Over 3G <http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=3bd919301ff9cd9b3090be3094e66a83>
Brad Stone, New York Times

AT&T announced Thursday morning that it will now allow the SlingPlayer iPhone app to stream live over its 3G network.

**** Arm Chief Hints Over iPad Technology <http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/feb/02/ipad-arm-chip>
Richard Wray, The Guardian

The chief executive of Arm has given the strongest hint yet that the company's technology is inside Apple's iPad.

**** Buh-Bye, Wireless Guys <http://www.newsweek.com/id/233010?from=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+newsweek%2FTechnologyScience+%28UPDATED+-+Newsweek+-+Technology+%26+Science%29>
Daniel Lyons, Newsweek

How Silicon Valley conquered the carriers.



The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Microsoft’s Creative Destruction <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/04/opinion/04brass.html?sudsredirect=true>
Dick Brass, New York Times

Microsoft has become a clumsy, uncompetitive innovator.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** Does <i>Harper</i>'s Make Sense As A Magazine Anymore? <http://www.thebigmoney.com/blogs/goodnight-gutenberg/2010/02/01/does-harpers-make-sense-magazine-anymore>
Marion Maneker, Slate Magazine

One of the problems facing little magazines in this day and age is that bloggers have replaced them. A smart, impassioned blogger is the Phillip Rahv of our day.

**** Why Is Braille Dying? <http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2010/02/03/why_is_braille_dying_open2010/index.html>
Stephen Towey and Helen Cota, Salon

In an age of audiobooks, only 10 percent of blind kids learn Braille. But listening isn't the same as reading.

**** Rules Worth Following, For Everyone’s Sake <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/health/02brod.html?sudsredirect=true>
Jane E. Brody, New York Times

In the more than four decades that I have been reading and writing about the findings of nutritional science, I have come across nothing more intelligent, sensible and simple to follow than the 64 principles outlined in a slender, easy-to-digest new book called “Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual,” by Michael Pollan.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Romanian Diplomat Silviu Ionescu Officially Accused For The Incident At Singapore <http://english.hotnews.ro/stiri-regional_europe-6869723-romanian-diplomat-silviu-ionescu-officially-accused-for-the-incident-singapore.htm>
HotNews.ro

Prosecutors started a penal investigation in the case involving Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu, Romania's business attache in Singapore. Ionescu was expatriated after his involvement in an accident which killed a person and injured another two. According to judicial sources quoted by the Romanian news agency Mediafax, Ionescu was called by prosecutors and notified about the accusations against him.

**** HDB’s Inflexible Policies Will Result In More Homeless S’poreans <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/02/hdbs-inflexible-policies-creating-more-homeless-sporeans/>
Andrew Loh / Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen

To put it briefly, the HDB needs to update its policies, rules and regulations to better address the many different situations which home owners face. Having a one-size-fits-all set of policies may instead contribute to the growing number of homeless people – a number which has doubled over the last year. And this, even by any stretch of Mr Mah’s imagination, cannot be “good for the country.”

**** Opposition Parties Weigh In <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100204-0000136/Opposition-parties-weigh-in>
Teo Xuanwei, Today

Several opposition parties have responded to the Economic Strategies Committee's (ESC) report and in general, they felt the recommendations were a thrust in the right direction - though more could be done.

**** The Main Problem With The ESC Report. <http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2010/02/main-problem-with-esc-report.html>
Diary of A Singaporean Mind

By focussing on growth rather than the economic well being of Singaporeans, the biggest economic challenges faced by ordinary Singaporeans may go unsolved in the coming decade.

**** Imagining Singapore Without PAP: Why Not? <http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=3818>
Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net

To accept the notion that it has to be the PAP managing our CPF pension scheme, our foreign talent policies, and our housing policies is to accept the idea that regardless of how flawed those policies currently are, we have to continue accepting the status quo and that no one else can manage them better than the PAP.

**** Having More Single Seats Will Help The PAP <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_486083.html>
Jason Wong, Straits Times

**** World Bank Asks Bangladesh To Follow Singapore In ICT <http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-45879020100203>
Serajul Islam Quadir, Reuters

The World Bank asked Bangladesh on Wednesday to follow experiences and practices of Singapore in information and communication technology (ICT) to achieve its vision for a digital country by 2021.

**** Singapore Considers Shifting Port Operations To New Port Premises <http://www.dredgingtoday.com/2010/02/03/singapore-considers-shifting-port-operations-to-new-port-premises/>
Dredging Today

Singaporean port sources were sceptical that the move would indeed be accomplished. “Merging three terminals is a massive undertaking. Whether it is implemented remains to be seen,” a source told Baird Maritime.

**** Big Pore And Small Pore Of Singapore <http://timesofmylife.wordpress.com/2010/02/04/big-pore-and-small-pore-of-singapore/>
Times Of My Life

“Big Pore and Small Pore of Singapore”, don’t quite make sense but if I will to say it in Chinese â€œæ–°åŠ å¡çš„å¤§å¡, 小坡” and “going down town” in Chinese or Cantonese “下坡 or 落坡” – it means a lot to the older generation.

**** 进赌场没付百元入门费 公民永久居民可罚千元 <http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp100204_003.shtml>
联合早报

在赌场管制法令下，我国公民或永久居民如果被发现在没有缴付100元入门费就潜入赌场，一旦被定罪，将面对高达1000元的罚款。

**** SERS Flats To Be Rented Out To Foreigners Again – This Time In Bedok <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/02/sers-flats-to-be-rented-out-to-foreigners-again-this-time-in-bedok/>
Andrew Loh / Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen

Why is it that HDB flats are being rented to these non-citizens, when needy Singaporeans have to wait up to years to get a rental flat?

**** Singapore Aborts Flight Show After Safety Breached <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/2/4/worldupdates/2010-02-04T193010Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-459130-1&sec=Worldupdates>
Nopporn Wong-Anan, Reuters

Singapore aborted a flight display at its international airshow on Thursday after a South Korean pilot steered his jet too close to spectators, witnesses and the show organiser said.