[MyAppleMenu] Mar 26, 2010

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Apple Releases 3.0.2 Update For Aperture <http://www.macworld.com/article/150096/2010/03/apple_releases_302_update_for_aperture.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Nicholas Bonsack, Macworld

Aperture 3.0.2 does add one very significant new feature, buried at the very bottom of the release notes: iPad compatibility. This will allow users to import photos from the iPad into Aperture, and to sync photos in their Aperture library with the iPad. Beyond that, there is a wealth of fixes for general stability and issues.

**** Set A Different Background For Each Space <http://www.macworld.com/article/150067/2010/03/spacesdesktops.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Dan Frakes, Macworld

This system tweak, SpaceStation, is a clever combination of an OS X launch agent and a background process that updates your Desktop image whenever you switch spaces.

**** Five Lessons Apple Can Learn From Amazon <http://government.zdnet.com/?p=8271>
David Gewirtz, ZDNet

Does the iPad have the Kindle beat on a much more important factor: not alienating its customers?

**** Flipping For An 'iPhone Camcorder' <http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/flipping-for-an-iphone-camcorder/?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Bob Tedeschi, New York Times

**** Why You’ll Ask Apple For MORE DRM On Ebooks <http://appadvice.com/appnn/2010/03/apple-drm-ebooks/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AppAdvice+%28AppAdvice%29>
Michael Jeans, App Advice

And this is what you ultimately want: the ability to rent and to borrow ebooks. It’s nice to know that we will be getting NYT Best Sellers for $9.99. But how about the ability to rent them for $1.99 a week?

**** Apple Accidentally Reveals Approved iPad Games Including 'Plants Vs. Zombies HD' And 'Worms HD' <http://toucharcade.com/2010/03/25/apple-accidentally-reveals-approved-ipad-games-including-plants-vs-zombies-hd-and-worms-hd/>
Touch Arcade

It appears that several iPad specific version of games have already been approved by Apple and are inadvertently appearing in Apple's iTunes Web Interface.

**** Microsoft And Apple Should Follow Google Out Of China <http://www.daniweb.com/news/story270668.html#>
Ron Miller, DaniWeb

**** Apple’s iPad GeoRetardation – A Slap In The Face For Non-US Developers <http://thenextweb.com/au/2010/03/25/apple-ipad-georetardation-slap-face-nonus-developers/>
Kim Heras, The Next Web

Apple’s iPad georetardation policy, where the new device will be available in key markets outside of the US a month after the US drop date, is a slap in the face for the many developers outside of the US who have made the app store what it is.

**** Late Apple Director Was 'Disgusted' Jobs Didn't Reveal Health Issues <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/03/25/late_apple_director_was_disgusted_jobs_didnt_reveal_health_issues.html>
Katie Marsal, AppleInsider

Recently deceased Apple Board of Directors member Jerry York told The Wall Street Journal last year that he wished he had resigned after Apple co-founder Steve Jobs didn't publicly disclose his health issues.

**** Apple's iPhone, Safari On Mac Exploited At Annual Hacking Contest <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/03/25/apples_iphone_safari_on_mac_exploited_at_annual_hacking_contest.html>
AppleInsider

Virtually every major browser and operating system were targets at this week's "Pwn2Own" hacking contest, with Apple Safari, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer 8 vulnerabilities exploited, along with flaws in the iPhone OS.

**** Apple iPad Edition Of Wall Street Journal Could Cost $18 A Month <http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Horizons/2010/0325/Apple-iPad-edition-of-Wall-Street-Journal-could-cost-18-a-month>
Matthew Shaer, Christian Science Monitor

According to one report, the Wall Street Journal could charge $17.99 a month for access to an Apple iPad-friendly edition of the business broadsheet. Some bloggers say the price tag – no matter how high the quality of the iPad content – is too steep.

**** The iPad, Airport Security And You <http://gizmodo.com/5502254/the-ipad-airport-security-and-you?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gizmodo%2Ffull+%28Gizmodo%29>
Don Nguyen & Matt Buchanan, Gizmodo

Questions. The iPad raises a lot of them. Like, "What's gonna happen when I carry it through airport security? Will I get fingerbanged by the TSA?" So, we asked the TSA: What's the official iPad airport security policy Their response simultaneously says very little, and very much.

**** Magazines Use The iPad As Their New Barker <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704266504575141822475202814.html>
Shira Ovide and Suzanne Vranica, Wall Street Journal

A laundry list of open questions about Apple's iPad isn't keeping magazine publishers and advertisers from lining up for the launch of the tablet computer next week.

Magazine publishers see the device as crucial to their future as they scour for new ways to make money, with print advertising still under threat. Digital advertising has been a disappointment for many publishers, but with the iPad they feel they have a technology that best marries the splashy look and size of a full-page print ad with the cool interactive features of a digital ad—and the ability to count how many people saw it.

**** Snowtape Approval Denied By Apple <http://www.vemedio.com/blog/posts/134>
Vemedio

That‘s right! We did not violate any paragraph of the SDK, yet they forbid us distributing our app.

**** Osmos <http://www.insidemacgames.com/reviews/view.php?ID=1075>
Franklin Pride, Inside Mac Games

Overall, Osmos is an agreeable, addictive, and atmospheric game that pretty much anyone can pick up and play within minutes. It's not an overly innovative game in its own right, but it adds enough to make itself unique.

**** Apple COO Tim Cook Sells Stock Worth $68M <http://www.cultofmac.com/apple-coo-tim-cook-sells-stock-worth-68m/34943?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cultofmac%2FbFow+%28Cult+of+Mac%29>
Ed Sutherland, Cult of Mac



The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Start-up Hopes To Bridge Real, Virtual Worlds <http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20001151-264.html?part=rss&amp;subj=news&amp;tag=2547-1_3-0-20>
Stephen Shankland, CNET News

Project X attempts to overlay the free-wheeling style of Second Life over a model of the real world.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** Losing It <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/28/magazine/28fasttrack-t.html?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Dominique Browning, New York Times

With the closing of the magazine, my beloved family of colleagues was obliterated. And so was the structure of my life.

**** A Nobody's Guide To The Oscars <http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/mar/25/neil-gaiman-oscars-coraline?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Neil Gaiman, The Guardian

You know you're not going to win. You're seated in second-class. You've trodden on someone's dress.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Mega-Churches ....Mega-Finances... <http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2010/03/mega-churches-mega-finances.html>
Diary of A Singaporean Mind

These days it is impractical to expect religious leaders to live in modest homes and take public transport and honour a vow of poverty so they can give out more to those who are poor and sick knowing that what is important are the treasures that await them in heaven...we should, however, have the same level of transparency, accountability and regulation as big business enterprises because some of these mega-churches operate like businesses.

**** Singapore Outplays The International Media Again <http://us.asiancorrespondent.com/the-asia-file/singapore-outplays-the-international-media-again>
Ben Bland, Asian Correspondent

The canny Lees know more than anyone else when they must lose the short-term public relations battle in order to win the long-term war for control of the international media.

**** Open Letter To Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong <http://www.rsf.org/Open-letter-to-Prime-Minister-Lee,36832.html>
Jean-François Julliard, Reporters Without Borders

Reporters Without Borders condemns the judicial harassment which you and your father have practiced for years in order to prevent foreign news media from taking too close an interest in how you run your country. It does serious and lasting harm to press freedom in Singapore.

We regret that you, the members of your government and your father keep citing the need to guarantee Singapore’s stability as grounds for controlling the media and maintaining its draconian laws. Countries that show the most respect for press freedom, such as Finland and Norway, are peaceful and prosperous democracies. Freedom of expression is not a source of political unrest. Quite the contrary.

**** It's Allowed, But ... <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC100326-0000057/Its-allowed,-but-,,,>
Chan Wai San, National Environment Agency, Today

It is a common practice for casinos in many countries to put in place house rules to designate smoking and non-smoking areas. Hence this similar practice was adopted as part of the operating environment for IRs in Singapore.

**** A Vision For An Egalitarian Economy <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/3534-a-vision-for-an-egalitarian-economy->
Singapore Democrat Party

While the PAP stubbornly clings on to its antiquated policy of helping the elite rich get richer but sticking its "spurs" into the sides of workers to make us work "cheaper, better and faster",  the SDP's alternative vision is to create an economic system that benefits all Singaporeans, one that makes our society more egalitarian by tapping on the people's innovative best.

**** Bid Rejected Again <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_506802.html>
Irene Tham, Straits Times

Local telcos SingTel and StarHub still cannot meet the asking price for rights to broadcast the 2010 World Cup. The Straits Times understands that the latest joint bid by the telcos was rejected recently by Fifa.

**** More Voice For Civil Servants <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100326-0000118/More-voice-for-civil-servants>
Alicia Wong, Today

Give lower-level civil servants more leeway to represent their agency or ministry in communicating with the public. This was a suggestion by acting minister for information, communications and the arts Lui Tuck Yew had for some 250 government officials yesterday at the inaugural Mica-CSC (Civil Service College) Public Communications Conference.

**** 移民与关卡局： 政府没有完全切断新公民申请年迈父母来新 <http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp100326_017.shtml>
谢燕燕, 联合早报

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**** 'Shares Not Held By Church' <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_506814.html>
Yen Feng & Melissa Sim, Straits Times

The statement, in response to The Straits Times' queries, said its shares in the downtown commercial property were not held by the church itself, but by a separate 'special-purpose investment holding company' it wholly owned.

The CHC statement gave no details of the investment company, but said it had acquired 'an indirect minority stake' in the holding company of Suntec Convention Centre. CHC had previously described the stake as 'substantial' and 'significant'.

**** Why We Should Go Ahead With The Walkover Ban <http://kentridgecommon.com/?p=6661>
Christopher Ong, Kent Ridge Commons

The default position that should be first assumed is that the political nominees do not have the support of the constituents, and thus the need for a democratic process of voting to alter this default position.

**** Teo Ho Pin Must Speak Up On Sheng Siong Rent Hike <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/3535-teo-ho-pin-must-speak-up-on-sheng-siong-rent-hike>
Singapore Democrat Party

Is the PAP MP burying his head in the sand in the hope that the controversy will just blow away? Doesn't he know that the shocking rental hike of 30 percent is going to affect both stallholders and consumers in a drastic way? Does he even care at all?

**** Singapore Feb Visitor Arrivals Surge As Casino Opens <http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE62P09I20100326>
Nopporn Wong-Anan, Reuters

Visitor arrivals in Singapore rose 24 percent in February from a year earlier to reach 857,000, the highest ever for the month as the city-state's first casino opened to lure tourists during the Lunar New Year holiday.

**** Singapore Industrial Output Grows A Third Month On Electronics <http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-26/singapore-industrial-output-grows-a-third-month-on-electronics.html>
Stephanie Phang, Bloomberg

Singapore’s industrial production increased for a third straight month as rising exports of electronics and pharmaceuticals spurred output, bolstering economic growth.

**** Universal Studios Singapore Coaster Rolls To A Halt <http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE62P03920100326>
Nopporn Wong-Anan, Reuters

Universal Studios Singapore has shut down the world's tallest duelling rollercoaster, and a major attraction, because of a technical problem, a mere week after the theme park opened. The glitch at the rollercoaster, the flagship attraction of the new Universal Studios park, was found during daily pre-opening testing on Thursday.