[MyAppleMenu] Jul 20, 2010

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Surviving Success <http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/1321/surviving-success>
Daniel Jalkut, Red Sweater Blog

Now that Apple is on top again, Jobs seems to be losing that knack for inspiring fans. He’s turning into a sore winner.

**** Bad Connection: Inside The iPhone Network Meltdown <http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/07/ff_att_fail/all/1>
Fred Vogelstein, Wired

Almost as soon as the first iPhone was introduced in 2007, the carrier realized it might run short of bandwidth. Within just a few months, the first wave of iPhone customers was already sucking down about 15 times more data than the average smartphone customer and 50 percent more than AT&T had itself projected.

**** Apple Shipping iPad To Nine More Countries On July 23 <http://www.macworld.com/article/152775/2010/07/ipad_international.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Dan Moren, Macworld

**** Remote Access: OS X's Built-in Tools <http://www.macworld.com/article/152616/2010/07/remoteaccessosx.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Glenn Fleishman, Macworld

Paired with Back to My Mac, though, Screen Sharing becomes much more powerful—as long as the machines you want to connect with are all under you or your family’s personal control. That’s because Back to My Mac requires a MobileMe account, and each computer you want to use must be logged into the same account.

**** White iPhones Delayed By Paint Issues <http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/19/white-iphones-delayed-by-paint-issues/>
Victor Agreda, Jr., TUAW

**** Mysterious New Bluetooth Apple Product Given FCC Approval <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/07/19/mysterious_new_bluetooth_apple_product_given_fcc_approval.html>
AppleInsider

An unnamed new Bluetooth-equipped Apple product, first submitted to the Federal Communications Commission for review last October, was granted regulatory approval this week.

On page 45 of the FCC documents, the device is referred to as a "Bluetooth Trackpad" created by Apple.

**** Is The Mac Facing A 'Walled Garden' Future? <http://lowendmac.com/misc/10mr/mac-walled-garden.html>
Charles Moore, Low End Mac

**** iTunes 9.2.1 Arrives In Software Update -- Many Fixes, New Features <http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/19/itunes-9-2-1-arrives-in-software-update-many-fixes-new-featu/>
Steven Sande, TUAW

According to the update, the new version disables older versions of incompatible third-party plugins, addresses minor issues, with dragging and dropping items, addresses a performance issue when doing a first sync to some devices, addresses an issue upgrading to iOS 4 on an iPhone or iPod touch with encrypted backups, and fixes some stability and performance issues.

**** Apple Responds To Query About Privacy Policy Changes <http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-20010948-260.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20>
Erica Ogg, CNET

Apple reiterated in a letter published Monday that it does not share location information with outside parties without a customer's permission. If customers agree to use location-based applications, like Foursquare or Twitter or iAds, location information is collected by Apple in a way that does not identify the user.

**** Fallout From The iPhone 4 Press Conference <http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/19/apple-iphone-4-press-conference-fallout/?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Nick Bilton, New York Times

**** Apple Shares Fall; Rivals Respond On "Antennagate" <http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1920044520100719>
Gabriel Madway, Reuters

Apple Inc's attempt to smooth over a controversy surrounding its iPhone 4 failed to impress investors, as the computer maker's shares stumbled on a day when technology stocks rose.

**** High Ground Maneuver <http://dilbert.com/blog/entry/high_ground_maneuver/>
Scott Adams, Dilbert.com Blog

If Jobs had not changed the context from the iPhone 4 in particular to all smartphones in general, I could make you a hilarious comic strip about a product so poorly made that it won't work if it comes in contact with a human hand. But as soon as the context is changed to "all smartphones have problems," the humor opportunity is gone. Nothing kills humor like a general and boring truth. 

**** Review: Pixelmator 1.6 <http://digitalapplejuice.com/review-pixelmator-1-6/>
Michael N. Roach, Digital Appel Juice

**** Apple Donates MacPaint Source Code To Computer History Museum <http://www.businessweek.com/technology/ByteOfTheApple/blog/archives/2010/07/apple_donates_macpaint_source_code_to_computer_history_museum.html>
Arik Hesseldahl, BusinessWeek

One of the earliest bits of software that made the original Macintosh computer so interesting to use and unusual for its time was a drawing program called MacPaint.

Released in 1984 with the Mac, it is fondly remembered not only by those who used it, but also by computer scientists for numerous first-of-a-kind innovations. Those who spend a lot of time using Adobe Photoshop constantly use such features as the lasso tool for selecting non-rectangular shapes, and the paint bucket for filling closed areas with a pattern, and later, color. Both first appeared in MacPaint. The program was unique at the time for its ability to create graphics that could then be used in other applications.

**** Steve Jobs Sparks Non-Denial Denials <http://www.forbes.com/2010/07/19/rim-blackberry-samsung-technology-apple.html?feed=rss_home>
Lee Gomes, Forbes

It may not have been the most gracious thing for Apple to have said, but so far, it hasn't been contradicted.

**** Get Your Feet Wet With Automator <http://www.mactalk.com.au/2010/07/20/get-your-feet-wet-with-automator-2/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+mactalknews+%28MacTalk+Australia+-+News%29>
MacTalk

Automator is one of Mac OS X’s unsung heroes. Allowing you to automate an impressive list of functions – both those built into Mac OS and those added in by third party developers – it’s a visual way of creating script-like custom operations without the need for any programming knowledge or experience. Most go on unaware of its existence in their Applications folder for the longest time, but there are many good reasons to get to know the little guy.

**** FileMaker Unveils FileMaker Go App For iPhone, iPad <http://www.macworld.com/article/152799/2010/07/filemakergo.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Philip Michaels, Macworld

On Tuesday, FileMaker will roll out two mobile versions of its database application for iPhone and iPad users. And while you won’t be able to create databases on those devices with FileMaker Go, you will be able to work remotely with FileMaker Pro databases on your mobile device, viewing, editing, and searching information from wherever you are.

**** Apple Chief Should Consider Korean Customers <http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/07/20/2010072001128.html>
Jung Sun-mi, The Chosun Ilbo

**** Apple Releases iBooks 1.1.1 <http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/20/apple-releases-ibooks-1-1-1/>
Michael Grothaus, TUAW



The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Passwords That Are Simple--and Safe <http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/25826/?ref=rss>
Simson Garfinkel, Technology Review

Instead of enforcing complex passwords, as many organizations do, the new scheme makes sure than no more than a few users can have the same password, which has a similar overall effect on security. Further research from Microsoft also reveals why only some organizations insist on very complex passwords.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** Adventures In Very Recent Evolution <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/20/science/20adapt.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss>
Nicholas Wade, New York Times

Many have assumed that humans ceased to evolve in the distant past, perhaps when people first learned to protect themselves against cold, famine and other harsh agents of natural selection. But in the last few years, biologists peering into the human genome sequences now available from around the world have found increasing evidence of natural selection at work in the last few thousand years, leading many to assume that human evolution is still in progress.

**** Numberplay: Rare Coincidences Are Very Common! <http://wordplay.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/19/numberplay-rare-coincidences-are-very-common/?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Pradeep Mutalik, New York Times

“Wow!” “Amazing!” “Unbelievable!” “What are the chances of that?” Most, if not all of you, have uttered words like this at some time in your life. The paradoxical title of today’s Numberplay, then, is true: rare coincidences are really common.

**** Printing Money <http://www.thesmartset.com/article/article07191001.aspx>
Greg Beato, The Smart Set

The web has created a culture of hyper-connoisseurship, with passionate enthusiasts forever in pursuit of the hardest to source, the most authentic, the original artifact. Designer one-offs like San Francisco Panorama and the Monocle Mediterraneo will set new newspaper acolytes on a path of exploration discovery, and the eventual appropriation of genuine heritage brands, forgotten by time but still quietly plying their in various quaint backwaters of the U.S. infosphere.

**** Words <http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2010/jul/15/words/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nybooks+%28The+New+York+Review+of+Books%29>
Tony Judt, The New York Review of Books

I was raised on words. They tumbled off the kitchen table onto the floor where I sat: grandfather, uncles, and refugees flung Russian, Polish, Yiddish, French, and what passed for English at one another in a competitive cascade of assertion and interrogation. Sententious flotsam from the Edwardian-era Socialist Party of Great Britain hung around our kitchen promoting the True Cause. I spent long, happy hours listening to Central European autodidacts arguing deep into the night: Marxismus, Zionismus, Socialismus. Talking, it seemed to me, was the point of adult existence. I have never lost that sense.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Govt Does Not Target Specific Population Size: DPM Wong <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1070272/1/.html>
Sona Remesh, Channel NewsAsia

The government does not target a specific population size. Instead, it seeks to achieve a sustainable population size to grow the economy and develop a more vibrant society.

Mr Wong said the government recognises that the proportion of foreign workers in the workforce cannot increase indefinitely, due to physical and social limits.

**** Longer-term Approach Needed To Improve Overall Capacity Of MRT System: Lim <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1070302/1/.html>
Sona Remesh, Channel NewsAsia

**** Sylvia Lim Grills Home Affairs, Environment Ministers <http://geraldgiam.sg/2010/07/sylvia-lim-grills-home-affairs-environment-ministers/>
Gerald Giam

**** Debris 'Worsened' Flood, But Didn't Cause It: PUB <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100720-0000078/Debris-worsened-flood,-but-didnt-cause-it--PUB>
Leong Wee Keat, Today

After blaming a blocked culvert along Stamford Canal for the flood at Orchard Road on June 16, national water agency PUB now says, after completing investigations, that the debris only "worsened" the flood but did not cause it.

**** No Policy Disallowing Photos <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_555568.html>
Kimberly Spykerman, Straits Times

There is no ministry policy that prohibits the taking of flood pictures, Minister for environment and water resources Yaacob Ibrahim told Parliament on Monday.

**** How To Explain Singapore’s Growth Despite Lack Of Stimulus? <http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2010/07/19/how-to-explain-singapores-growth-despite-lack-of-stimulus/>
Philip Greenspun

**** Singapore - Bondage Of A Nation - Tying Democracy Up In Knots <http://zoneasia.blogspot.com/2010/07/singapore-bondage-of-nation-tying.html>
The Asia Zone

It is astonishing that a nation like Singapore, so developed, so educated, could condone this ridiculous action. Is the People’s Action Party (PAP) so frightened these days that a foreign critic must fear setting foot on the island? Do they believe that constructive criticism can be publicly stopped in this fashion? The PAP seems to be suffering from a great deal of paranoia lately.

**** Singapore Must Release British Author Of Death Penalty Book <http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/singapore-must-release-british-author-death-penalty-book-2010-07-19>
Amnesty International

“Singapore uses criminal defamation laws to silence critics of government policies,” said Donna Guest, Asia Pacific Deputy Director at Amnesty International.  “The Singapore government should release Shadrake at once.”

“If Singapore aspires to be a global media city, it needs to respect global human rights standards for freedom of expression,” said Donna Guest. “Singapore should get rid of both its criminal defamation laws and the death penalty.”

Criminal defamation in Singapore carries a sentence of up to two years in prison and uncapped fines. This has had a chilling effect on freedom of speech. According to Amnesty International, peaceful criticism of government policies must never be the subject of criminal proceedings.

**** British Author Of Book On Hangings Posts Bail In Singapore <http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iZli30kLUGbNNHk92cN6WainQGiQ>
Philip Lim, AFP

Alan Shadrake, a 75-year-old freelance journalist, told AFP at a police complex that he was freed after a local activist posted bail of 10,000 Singapore dollars (47,000 pounds) for him.

Speaking later to reporters after his release, a haggard-looking Shadrake said he had hardly slept "since they dragged me out of bed" the morning after launching his book in a private function.

**** iPad arrives this Friday in Singapore <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/1070364/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

Both the Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi+3G versions of the iPad will be on sale at Apple Authorized Resellers at a suggested retail price of between S$728 for the Wi-Fi 16GB model, and S$1028 for the top end 64GB Wi-Fi.

**** Singapore Feels Internet Sting <http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/opinion/comment/8082-singapore-feels-internet-sting>
Maxwell Coopers, Free Malaysia Today

As how the arrests and jailing of those posting racist rants in the recent past showed, the latest arrest and detention will almost certainly be hotly debated in parliament and measures maybe necessary to filter out subversive literature from cyberspace.  

Yet there is no denying the shock the arrests have entailed.  A cabinet minister has even asked the families to turn in their family members if they suspect something is indeed amiss.

**** Call For The Release Of Detained British Journalist <http://en.rsf.org/singapore-call-for-the-release-of-detained-19-07-2010,37975.html>
Reporters Without Borders

“To hold the 75-year-old author of an investigative book who is in fragile health for nearly two days and at a secret location, is shocking and totally disproportionate”, the worldwide press freedom organisation said.

“We urge the interior minister and deputy prime minister Kan Seng Wong to order the immediate release of Alan Shadrake and the dropping of charges against him. The death penalty should be freely debated and by whomsoever in Singapore as anywhere else. Alan Shadrake has no business being in a police cell”, the organisation added.

**** Do Not Understand Singapore's Foreign Workforce Stragegy <http://hongjun.blogspot.com/2010/07/do-not-understand-singapores-foreign.html>
Loh Hon Chun

**** Our Police State Is Fraying At The Edges <http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=4207>
Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net

Recent events have shown unequivocally that not only has the PAP Government run the country as a police state, but also that the authorities are now getting panicky and desperate to the point that they are fumbling and making glaring mistakes.

**** Response By Minister For The Environment And Water Resources Dr Yaacob Ibrahim In Parliament On Flash Floods <http://www.gov.sg/government/web/content/govsg/classic/news/news-20100719-response+by+minister+for+the+environment+and+water+resources+dr+yaacob+ibrahim+in+parliament+on+flash+floods>
Singapore Government

**** Comments By Ministry Of Home Affairs Spokesman, 20 July 2010 <http://app4.mha.gov.sg/news_details.aspx?nid=MTc3Ng%3d%3d-DZZE9%2fyNLQU%3d>
Singapore Government

Shadrake is now under investigation for criminal defamation. He is also the subject of contempt of court proceedings initiated by the Attorney-General's Chambers. His anti-death penalty views are not the issue in these investigations; it is his violation of the laws of Singapore which are.

 Anyone, Singaporean or otherwise, who breaks the law regardless of the cause he touts, will be taken to task. Shadrake is no exception - he cannot expect to commit offences and then assume that he will be exempted from being held accountable under the law.

**** 国会报道 史丹福水道要扩建不易 两旁建筑须采防水措施 <http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp100720_015.shtml>
何惜薇　周殊钦　吴淑贤　王阳发　胡洁梅　林诗慧, 联合早报

由于史丹福水道两旁都是建筑物，要扩建并不容易，公用事业局表示在成立跨部门小组合力检讨提升史丹福水道排水量的同时，也吁请建筑物业主在这段期间采取防水措施，如建设防水墙或闸门。

**** 3G Spectrum Auction By Oct <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_555308.html>
Straits Times

The government will go ahead with a proposed auction of unused frequency, over the objections of the three telcos.

The additional spectrum up for grabs was originally put up for auction in 2001, together with three other lots bought up by SingTel, StarHub, and M1. But there was no taker for this last lot, which has languished unused since.

**** We're Paying More Now <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC100720-0000114/Were-paying-more-now>
Jason Tan, Benny Tan, Phua Kok Hee, Wen Zheng Tay, Koh Yao Ming, Allan Tan, Tan Hui Min, Ong Beng Geok, Ian Loh, Beatrice Law, Danam Raphel, May Ong, Today

**** A Tale Of Two Singapores <http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?file=/2010/7/20/columnists/ceritalah/6693571&sec=ceritalah>
Karim Raslan, The Star

While no one is accusing the city state of fostering poverty, there’s clearly a growing polarisation between the haves cruising around in their Lexus limousines and patronising expensive marble-lined hotels and the have-nots tucked away in their Housing Development Board (HDB) flats.

The latter’s feelings of deprivation and disenchantment has been made worse by a gnawing sense that foreigners are the main beneficiaries of Singapore’s prosperity.

**** Did He Obstruct Justice Or Did He Not? <http://kentridgecommon.com/?p=7226>
Lester Lim, Kent Ridge Common

Two versions of the story have since emerged.

**** Standing Up For Freedom Of Expression <http://singaporedesk.blogspot.com/2010/07/standing-up-for-freedom-of-expression.html>
Singapore Notes

**** Massive Flood Cockup Exposes Cracks In The Political System <http://utwt.blogspot.com/2010/07/massive-flood-cockup-exposes-fractures.html>
Under The WIllow Tree

**** New Guidelines On Limited, Non-exclusive Use Of Commercial Spaces For Religious Activities <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1070383/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

Under the guidelines, sites zoned for "Commercial" use in URA's Master Plan are intended for commercial activities should serve as secular spaces for all.  Religious activities should be conducted at sites zoned "Place of Worship". 

While religious activities are generally not allowed in commercial buildings, URA said it is prepared to exercise some flexibility.

**** 20% Of Taxi Fares Surcharges <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_555677.html>
Lai Han-Wei, Straits Times

**** Lui Tuck Yew Drags Feet On SDP Newspaper Licence Renewal <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/3861-lui-tuck-yew-drags-feet-on-sdp-newspaper-licence-renewal>
Singapore Democrat Party

The Singapore Democrats submitted our application for the renewal on 21 Apr 10 and was told the process would take about two to three weeks to process. Even a new application for a publication permit would, according to the Media Development Authority's (MDA) telephone recording, take only three to four weeks. Our application has already taken three months.

When contacted MDA Customer Service Officer, Ms Toh Siew Kuan, informed us that she had done everything to facilitate the process of our application. She indicated that the application is with Minister Lui and that there is nothing else she can do.

**** HDB Flats Not Meant To Be Used As Source Of Funds: Mah <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1070440/1/.html>
Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid, Channel NewsAsia

**** Shadrake Faces Heavy Silencing Hand <http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/shadrake-faces-heavy-silencing-hand/>
Yawning Bread

What therefore is unclear is whose reputation has been damaged that the State so keenly feels about? On the surface, it would be the MDA since it was they who lodged the police report, but as far as I can recall, Shadrake did not even mention the MDA in his book. So what standing does the MDA have to lodge such a complaint?

How can it be that a police report of defamation is made without any specifics as to whose reputation has allegedly been injured and by what item of speech? Saying it’s the book is too broad a brush; it has some 200 pages.

Latest reports are that Shadrake was held nearly 40 hours before he got bail, during which he was intensively interrogated. Were the police on a fishing expedition trying to catch him on something? So, is this whole thing yet another example of intimidation again?

**** Venue Operators Unaffected By New Rules On Commercial Spaces For Religious Use <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1070493/1/.html>
May Wong, Channel NewsAsia

Business operators generally see no impact from a set of new guidelines that stipulate the amount of commercial space allowed for religious activities. Many say their operations are already in compliance.