[MyAppleMenu] Jun 29, 2010

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** The Curious Case Of iPhone 4 <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703964104575334890014576442.html?mod=googlenews_wsj>
Martin Peers, Wall Street Journal

The real question has to be whether concerns about the antenna, combined with carrier congestion issues, will slow uptake of the iPhone among customers not yet converted to Apple worship.

**** HootSuite Social Media Dashboard Gets Major Upgrade <http://www.macworld.com/article/152337/2010/06/hootsuite_html5.html?lsrc=rss_main>
David Chartier, Macworld

Social media clients are almost a dime a dozen these days, but a surprising few of them are designed to help businesses tackle Twitter, Facebook, and the rest of the social Web. HootSuite is one of these chosen few, and it has recently undergone a major upgrade in the name of simplicity, compatibility, and speed.

**** Copy iPhone 4's iMovies To iPad <http://www.macworld.com/article/152358/2010/06/copy_imovies2ipad.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Christopher Breen, Macworld

As far as the iPad is concerned, the iPhone 4 (and earlier iPhones, for that matter) is just another camera.

**** iPhone 4: The Macworld Review <http://www.macworld.com/article/152350/2010/06/iphone4review.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Jason Snell, Macworld

The iPhone 4 is, in many ways, the best iPhone Apple has ever made. It’s faster than the 3GS, yes, but it’s the screen that is the biggest leap forward in quality. The new face-forward camera not only works well with FaceTime, but opens the door to all sorts of other videoconferencing possibilities in the future. And the rear-facing camera has taken a big step forward from the 3GS, offering quite high-quality stills and Flip-class HD video.

**** DocsPortal Puts Google Docs On Your iPad <http://www.macworld.com/article/152361/2010/06/docsportal.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Lex Friedman, Macworld

Kabuki Vision on Monday introduced DocsPortal 1.0 for iPad. The app integrates with your Google Docs account, letting you browse, search, and view all your documents therein—including word processing documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and other files you store with Google.

**** Reports: Issues With iPhone 4 And Car Stereos <http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/28/reports-issues-with-iphone-4-and-car-stereos/>
Dave Caolo, TUAW

A number of stereo units from Pioneer, JVC and others are giving a "device incompatible" message when connected to an iPhone running iOS 4. Note that the 3G and 3GS phones in question worked fine with these stereos when they were on iOS 3.1.3. Of course, the iPhone 4 only runs iOS 4, but since the older phones are also affected it seems likely that this is a software issue, not a hardware one.

**** Command-Tab To Minimized Windows <http://www.macworld.com/article/152366/2010/06/commandtabminimizedwindows.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Whitson Gordon, Macworld

**** Pulsar Update Lets You Pause And Play Back Satellite Radio <http://www.macworld.com/article/152367/2010/06/pulsar.html?lsrc=rss_main>
David Dahlquist, Macworld

With the version 2 update, you can pause live radio stations, and pick back up where you left off. You can also use a new Next Song command to skip songs you don't like, or jump backwards to catch something you might have missed, thanks to Pulsar’s enhanced buffering capabilities.

**** Amazon's Kindle App Adds Video, Audio Support <http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/28/amazons-kindle-app-adds-video-audio-support/>
Mike Schramm, TUAW

The Kindle app is seeing some good support from Amazon -- the most recent update not only enables the Retina Display on the iPhone 4, but adds both video and audio to the offerings in certain titles.

**** iPhone 4s Suffering From Buggy Proximity Sensors <http://www.macnn.com/articles/10/06/28/issue.blamed.on.software/>
MacNN

A number of iPhone 4 owners are experiencing problems with the device's proximity sensor, Apple's support forums reveal. The touchscreen may turn back on after very little movement, and even rapidly switch on and off.

**** Enterprise Users Get Tips On iPhone 4 Video Calls <http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/news/2265595/enterprise-users-tips-iphone>
David Neal, V3.co.uk

Apple has released guidance aimed at enterprises looking to use the iPhone 4 for internal video calls. The company recommends that enterprises open up a number of their network ports in order to take advantage of the phone's FaceTime feature.

**** What Is In Apple's New Privacy Policy? <http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/security/?p=3951>
Michael Kassner, Tech Republic

As you can see, there are many questions left unanswered. Yet, embedding advertisements in mobile phone applications is a game changer and not going away.

**** The “Black Art” Of Antenna Design <http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2010/06/28/the-black-art-of-antenna-design/?mod=rss_WSJBlog&mod=>
Yukari Iwatani Kane, Wall Street Journal

For most designers, there’s always a compromise that they have to strike between the look and feel of a product and its function. But Apple is a company that is renowned for its obsession with design, and designers like Mr. Rolston and Mr. Brunner believe that this was a case in which aesthetics may have won over function.

Still, neither designer believes that the problem is a huge one. “Is this really that big of an issue? I’m not convinced it is yet,” says Mr. Rolston.

**** Apple Mac Mini With Snow Leopard Server <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365699,00.asp>
Samara Lynn, PC Magazine

One of the most aesthetically beautiful business servers we've ever seen, this tiny, peppy machine makes for a quiet desktop server that's perfect for light-duty home and SMB server tasks.

**** Windows 8 Leaks Show Microsoft's Eyes On Apple <http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-20009078-56.html?part=rss&amp;subj=news&amp;tag=2547-1_3-0-20>
Ina Fried, CNET News

**** iAd Report: Apple's IOS 4 Will Reach iPad In November <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/06/28/iad_report_apples_ios_4_will_reach_ipad_in_november.html>
AppleInsider

A report outlining advertisers' plans for Apple's new iAd program indicates that the new interactive ads won't reach iPad users until iOS 4 becomes available for it in November.

**** Jobs: 'No Way To Be Sure' iPhone Minerals Are Conflict-free <http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/jobs-no-way-to-be-sure-iphone-minerals-are-conflict-free/7377?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+zdnet%2FApple+%28ZDNet+The+Apple+Core%29>
Jason D. O'Grady, ZDNet

"Until someone invents a way to chemically trace minerals from the source mine, it’s a very difficult problem."

**** How To Sync And Manage Notes With Gmail And IOS4 <http://appadvice.com/appnn/2010/06/sync-manage-notes-gmail/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AppAdvice+%28AppAdvice%29>
Scott Grizzle, App Advice

Ever since the first iPhone, there has been a “Notes” application. However, the ability to save and manage notes has always been fairly minimal. Now, with iOS4, Gmail users can easily manage their notes, even across multiple Gmail accounts.

**** A First Look At iPhone's iMovie <http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/rorycellanjones/2010/06/a_first_look_at_iphones_imovie.html>
Rory Cellan-Jones, BBC

Apple's latest gadget is a useful mobile video production device. Pity it's not so good at making phone calls.

**** iPhone 4 Review: Apple's Latest Is Much More Than An Upgrade <http://www.suntimes.com/technology/ihnatko/2444024,iphone4-ihnatko-review-apple-062810.article>
Andy Ihnatko, Chicago Sun-Times

If a quick glance at the iPhone 4’s new features inspires initial cynicism, spending five days immersed in the actual device makes another impression entirely. For the first time since 2007, I feel as though the device I’m carrying isn’t merely an improved iPhone, but a truly new one.

**** Apple Can No Longer Afford Clumsy Product Launches <http://www.marketwatch.com/story/apple-can-no-longer-afford-clumsy-product-launches-2010-06-29?reflink=MW_news_stmp>
Therese Poletti, MarketWatch

Apple Inc. may be able to line up customers around the block, but even the iconic technology company can no longer afford clumsy product launches in the hotly competitive smart phone field.

**** Foxconn To Shift Apple Gadgets Production <http://www.ft.com/cms/s/a35d498c-831a-11df-8b15-00144feabdc0.html>
Kathrin Hille, Financial Times

Foxconn is preparing to shift part of its production of Apple gadgets from Shenzhen to north and central China, amid a greater willingness from the US company to work with factories away from its long-time Chinese hub.

The move, aimed at containing costs, follows drastic wage hikes for large parts of the workforce of the Taiwanese-owned company, after a string of worker suicides and widening labour unrest.

**** Review: Photoshop Lightroom 3 <http://www.macworld.com/reviews/product/323402/review/photoshop_lightroom_3.html?expand=true&lsrc=rss_main>
Rick LePage, Macworld

The image-processing enhancements in Lightroom 3 are impressive, and only solidify the program’s position as one of the best tools for managing, editing, and publishing photos.



The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Internet Addresses To Accept Chinese Script <http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2010-06-28-chinese-internet-addresses_N.htm>
Associated Press

Chinese speakers will soon be able to tap out Internet addresses in their own language after the agency that runs Internet addresses says it will start accepting Chinese script for domain names.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** An Agnostic Manifesto <http://www.slate.com/id/2258484/?from=rss>
Ron Rosenbaum, Slate Magazine

I would not go so far as to argue that there's a "new agnosticism" on the rise. But I think it's time for a new agnosticism, one that takes on the New Atheists. Indeed agnostics see atheism as "a theism"—as much a faith-based creed as the most orthodox of the religious variety.

**** One Reason Why Humans Are Special And Unique: We Masturbate. A Lot. <http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=one-reason-why-humans-are-special-a-2010-06-22>
Jesse Bering, Scientific American

Nevertheless by all available accounts, and by contrast with human beings, masturbation to completion is an exceedingly rare phenomenon in other species with capable hands very much like our own. As anybody who has ever been to the zoo knows, there's no question that other primates play with their genitalia; the point is that these diddling episodes so seldom lead to an intentional orgasm.

**** Going To Zero <http://www.slate.com/id/2258515/?from=rss>
Peter Balakian, Slate Magazine



SingaporeSurf
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**** KTMB Land Deal: Did S'pore Threaten Najib With Altantuya? <http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/politics/barisan-nasional/7361-ktmb-land-deal-did-spore-threaten-najib-with-altantuya>
Free Malaysia Today

Was Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak “coerced” by Singapore’s secret service into agreeing to the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) land swap deal? This was the question posed by PKR supreme council member Badrul Hisham Shahrin today.

He believes that Singapore’s secret service may have used photographs of murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu with Najib to threaten the premier into sealing a lopsided deal over the KTMB Tanjung Pagar issue.

**** Channel Newsasia Makes A Meal Of A Vulnerable Species Of Fish <http://www.greenkampong.com/green_reporter/channel-newsasia-makes-a-meal-of-a-vulnerable-species-of-fish/>
Green Kampong

Our very own Channel Newsasia ignores the fact that the Giant Garoupa or Queensland Grouper was put on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2006, and instead celebrates the story of a restaurateur who bought one this week and is selling it to customers at $20 per 200g.

**** No Ma, It's Not Your Fault. <http://feedmetothefish.blogspot.com/2010/06/no-ma-its-not-your-fault.html>
Feed Me To The Fish

No Sir, let's not blame others for our own screw ups.

**** So Why Are Singapore Roads Still Congested? <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC100629-0000050/So-why-are-Singapore-roads-still-congested?>
Kwan Jin Yao, Today

After years of paying toll charges at gantry after gantry, Singaporeans have a right to know if their payments have genuinely improved road and driving conditions.

**** SMRT Reply Does Not Address Commuters' Concerns <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_546933.html>
Chia Ser Huei, Straits Times

The question Ms Saw should reflect on is whether the situation is acceptable regardless of train load figures. If commuters keep pleading that SMRT's train load figures do not reflect that inconvenience to commuters, we should find a solution to the problem together.

**** å†™ç»™æ–°åŠ å¡è­¦ç½²å…¨ä½“è­¦å‘˜çš„ä¸€å°å…¬å¼€ä¿¡ <http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/10/6/28/n2950618.htm>
大纪元

æ–°åŠ å¡æ”¿åºœè¿™æ ·åˆ©ä»¤æ™ºæ˜çš„æ— ç†æ™ºè¡Œä¸ºå®žåœ¨ä»¤äººæ‹…å¿§ä¸Žç—›å¿ƒï¼Œå› ä¸ºè¿™æ ·çš„äº‹ä»¶å…¶å®žæ²¡æœ‰èµ¢å®¶ï¼Œè€ŒçœŸæ­£æŸæ¯çš„æ˜¯æ–°åŠ å¡çš„æ•´ä½“å‰é€”ä¸Žåˆ©ç›Šï¼

**** Discrimination Of Overweight Staff In Singapore Hospitals <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/06/discrimination-of-overweight-staff-in-singapore-hospitals/>
Ravi Philemon, The Online Citizen

It is simply not true that everyone who is overweight has poor lifestyle habits.

**** Singapore Swing <http://kekepana.com/blog/2010/06/28/singapore-swing/>
Business Beyond the Reef

Normally, in any kind of diplomatic fracas, informal communication continues between the two sides.  This is absolutely essential if the countries involved are to be able to have “what if” discussions.  “What if” my side takes this action, or your does that – so surprises are kept to a minimum and mutually acceptable solutions have a chance of being developed.  Singapore shut this off.  The Embassy could find no one to talk to in the Foreign Ministry, the judicial system, or any other part of the Singapore Government.  Word had obviously gone out from on high not to talk to the Americans.  This likely led to Singapore’s seemingly honest surprise that the White House was angered when Fay’s caning sentence was reduced by only two strokes.  Singapore’s foreign policy objective had been achieved when President Clinton asked for clemency, but keeping the four strokes just rubbed it in and kept Singapore under a cloud during the remainder of the Clinton Administration.

**** Managing A Smarter Singapore Landscape <http://mhisham.org/?p=927>
Moving Higher In Souped-up Heuristically Agon Moment

I realise that we have a vibrant society who contributes actively, to discuss the topics of traffic management, water management & conservation and healthcare system in Singapore.

**** Sand For Bridge? <http://sakmongkol.blogspot.com/2010/06/sand-for-bridge.html>
Sakmongkol AK47

Singapore on the other hand does everything with a winning mentality. If it can exact the harshest terms even from a traditional friend, it’s done in the name of business. It’s unlikely that Singapore is willing to agree with Malaysia if it doesn't acquire some valuable assets and concessions.  It’s always bottom line reasoning. Nothing personal.

**** Citizens Perceive Govt As Unresponsive Online <http://www.zdnetasia.com/citizens-perceive-govt-as-unresponsive-online-62201047.htm>
Liau Yun Qing, ZDNet Asia

**** An Open Letter to SMRT CEO <http://www.nowhere.per.sg/?p=1483>
The Lycan Times

**** It Takes A Crooked Man To Build A Crooked Bridge <http://malaysiaflipflop.blogspot.com/2010/06/it-takes-crooked-man-to-build-crooked.html>
Malaysia Flip Flop

Go ahead and build a crooked bridge to watch Singapore grow in abundance.

**** Are We Looking At Another Billion Dollar Losses? <http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/06/28/are-we-looking-at-another-billion-dollar-losses/>
The Temasek Review

We may be seeing another bubble about to burst caused by China’s real estate and infrastructure growth propped up by massive borrowings from China’s local banks.

Singapore’s GLC bank and SWF have invested heavily in China’s finance/banking and real estate industries. Our ruling elite’s blind pursuit for GDP growth, so that they can have high bonuses and increased salaries, may have put the local citizens’ hard-earned money (in the form of taxes and bank deposits) at risk.

**** Sewage Helps Singapore Shake Off Water Shackles <http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/world/06/29/10/sewage-helps-singapore-shake-water-shackles>
AFP

But with Singapore steadily approaching self-sufficiency and exporting technology to recycle sewage into drinking water, there is a growing sense of confidence that it is less vulnerable to Malaysian water pressure.

Technology has played a vital role in Singapore's dramatic success in turning a weakness into an opportunity to not only become self-sufficient in water but make billions exporting the technology as well.

**** More Signs Of Slowdown In Singapore Property Market <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/1066438/1/.html>
Mok Fei Fei, Channel NewsAsia

**** The Understandably Xenophobic Mob <http://chemgen.wordpress.com/2010/06/29/the-understandably-xenophobic-mob/>
Chemical Generation Singapore

Ironically, Sinha by his whining about HDB rental income being so low and missing the big picture that he at least has a second property, is more Singaporean than people think.

**** Singapore Airlines Said To Plan S$500 Million Sale Of Bonds <http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-29/singapore-airlines-said-to-plan-s-500-million-sale-of-bonds.html>
Katrina Nicholas, Bloomberg

**** SDP Calls On Govt To Sign Landmine Ban Treaty <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/3857-sdp-calls-on-govt-to-sign-landmine-ban-treaty>
Gandhi Ambalam, Singapore Democrat Party

What is disturbing is Singapore’s role in the manufacture of landmines. According to the International Convention to Ban Landmines (ICBL), Singapore has been identified among a dozen countries as a manufacturer of land mines. Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK), a government-linked company, remains the only company in Singapore that manufactures landmines. STK was formally known as Singapore Technologies.

**** Million-dollar Salaries But Monumental Screw-ups <http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=4159>
See Leong Kit, Sgpolitics.net

If the people can do everything by themselves, the government would have made itself redundant and deserved to be voted out of public office.

**** Singapore Can't Become Energy-Independent, Lee Says <http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-29/singapore-can-t-become-energy-independent-lee-says-update1-.html>
Shamim Adam, Bloomberg

Singapore won’t be able to become energy-independent because of its lack of natural resources, said Lee Kuan Yew, the country’s minister mentor.

The country can tap solar energy as a source of power, while wind and nuclear energy aren’t options, Lee said at a conference in the city state today. Neighboring countries may raise the price of gas sold to Singapore even though a contract is in place, he said.