[MyAppleMenu] May 19, 2010

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Who Controls The Web? <http://qblog.aaronsw.com/post/608079646/who-controls-the-web>
Raw Meat

No, the question isn’t whether Apple gets to control the World Wide Web. The question is whether Adobe gets to.

**** Why The iPad Is The First Real Computer <http://www.macworld.com/article/151305/2010/05/ipad_johnson.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Joel Johnson, Macworld

I don’t have a pundit’s drunken courage to say that this first iPad is going to be a smash hit. But I don’t think it puts me too far out on a limb to say that we might look back on it in a few decades and say, “Hey, that was the first real computer.”

**** Essential Utilities: Text Expanders <http://www.macworld.com/article/151287/2010/05/textexpansionutilities.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Rob Griffiths, Macworld

Whatever kind of work you do on your Mac, it probably requires thousands of keystrokes a day. That’s why every Mac user should install some kind of text-expansion utility.

**** Patents Patents Patents, Litigation Litigation Litigation, More More More <http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/10/05/287998/patents-patents-patents-litigation-litigation-litigation-more->
Chris Versace, Benzinga

**** Apple iMac 27-inch (Core I7) <http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2363844,00.asp>
Joel Santo Domingo, ExtremeTech

The Apple iMac 27-inch (Core i7) is an excellent multimedia-oriented all-in-one desktop, particularly for people that actually create media instead of just viewing it.

**** Use Timed Access To Lock Out IDevices From Wi-Fi <http://www.macworld.com/article/151310/2010/05/timedaccess_ipad_iphone.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Glenn Fleishman, Macworld

Worried that your teen or tween is spending all night wired to the iPod touch or iPad? Glenn Fleishman walks you through a way to set timed access in a manner that sticks if you're using an Apple Wi-Fi base station on your network.

**** When Steve Says "No" We Hear "Maybe." Here's Why. <http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/18/when-jobs-says-no-we-hear-maybe-heres-why/>
Erica Sadun, TUAW

Jobs has said "no" (and "nope") before. Sure, we at TUAW love Uncle Steve, but when Jobs says "no," we're not always sure that he really, really means it.

**** Acqualia Releases Soulver 2, Makes Math Simple <http://www.macworld.com/article/151331/2010/05/soulver_2.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Serenity Caldwell, Macworld

Both math geeks and duds can rejoice: Acqualia Sofware has released Soulver 2, the next version of its unique calculation software.

**** First Look: MobileMe Mail Beta <http://www.macworld.com/article/151334/2010/05/firstlook_mobileme_webmail.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Dan Moren, Macworld

Overall, the beta version clearly signifies a major shift in design: instead of an interface based on Apple’s Mail client for Mac OS X we get one that’s styled after the iPhone and iPad Mail apps.

**** 10 Reasons Why Apple Should Fear iPhone, Mac Cannibalization <http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/10-Reasons-Why-Apple-Should-Fear-iPhone-Mac-Cannibalization-579024/>
Don Reisinger, eWeek

**** Jokey Mirror App For iPhone Upsets Customers <http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/05/iphone-mirror-app/>
Brian X. Chen, Wired

Along with questionable App Store rejections, Apple occasionally makes peculiar approvals. Take for example the app Mirror, which is nothing short of a black screen with a frame.

**** 苹果公司产品链的最低端为什么是中国？ <http://www.zaobao.com/yl/tx100519_001.shtml>
钟布, 联合早报

ä»Žè¿™æ¬¾è‹¹æžœæ–°äº§å“çš„äº§ä¸šé“¾å¯ä»¥çœ‹åˆ°ï¼Œè‹¹æžœå‡­å€Ÿè‡ªå·±çš„åŽŸåˆ›è®¾è®¡æ‹¿èµ°äº†åˆ©æ¶¦çš„æœ€å¤§å¤´ï¼ŒéŸ©å›½å…¬å¸å‡­å€Ÿå…¶æŽŒæ¡çš„æŠ€æœ¯ä¹ŸèŽ·å¾—äº†å¯è§‚åˆ©æ¶¦ï¼Œå°æ¹¾å…¬å¸æ‹¿åŽ»çš„åªæ˜¯å°å¤´ï¼Œè€Œä¸­å›½å·¥äººå¾—åˆ°åªæ˜¯å¾®ä¸è¶³é“çš„å°åˆ©ã€‚ä¸éš¾å‘çŽ°ï¼Œè¿™ä¸ªäº§ä¸šé“¾ä¸Šæ‹¥æœ‰åŽŸåˆ›æŠ€æœ¯å’Œä¸“åˆ©è¶Šå¤šï¼ŒèŽ·å–çš„åˆ©æ¶¦ä¹Ÿè¶Šé«˜ã€‚è‹¹æžœå…¬å¸å’Œå°æ¹¾äººå¼€çš„åŠ å·¥åŽ‚çš„åˆ©æ¶¦å·®é¢é«˜è¾¾20多倍，更不知比中国工人的那点微薄收入多了多少倍。更糟的是，这些产品从中国运往美国销售后还要把贸易逆差的棍子打在中国身上。中国工人拿到那点微不足道的辛苦钱后，计算中美贸易额时，中国要承担向美国出口了每台278美元的货物的名声。

**** 3 Innovation Lessons From Apple's Continued Success <http://www.businessinsider.com/3-keys-to-apples-innovation-success-2010-5>
Bianca Male, The Business Insider

One 'revolutionary' product alone won't keep you at the top of the list of the most successful companies in the world. A major key to Apple's continued success is its ability to keep pushing the boundaries of innovation.

**** How IWork.com Can Beat Google Docs At Its Own Game <http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/how-iworkcom-can-beat-google-docs-at-its-own-game/6934?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+zdnet%2FApple+%28ZDNet+The+Apple+Core%29>
Jason D. O'Grady, ZDNet

Here’s one way that Apple can beat Google at its own game: by improving iWork.com and making it more functional that Google docs. Notice that I didn’t say better, I said more functional.

**** OS X 10.5, 10.6 Get Java Updates <http://www.macworld.com/article/151342/2010/05/javaupdates.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Philip Michaels, Macworld

Both updates promise, in Apple’s words, “improved compatibility, security, and reliability.”

**** 10 Things Steve Jobs' E-Mails Tell Us About Apple's Strategy <http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/10-Things-Steve-Jobs-EMails-Tell-Us-About-Apples-Strategy-752240/>
Don Reisinger, eWeek

**** Apple Proves That The Trademark Office Needs To Be Overhauled <http://www.inquisitr.com/73118/apple-proves-that-the-trademark-office-needs-to-be-overhauled/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Inquisitr+%28Inquisitr%3A+All%29>
The Inquisitr

Can anyone please explain to me why the United States Patent and Trademark Office granted a trademark to Apple for a computer store?

**** I Want Choice, But Only If I Agree With Your Choice <http://www.thomas-fitzgerald.net/2010/05/19/i-want-choice-but-only-if-i-agree-with-your-choice/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ThomasFitzgeraldnet+%28thomas+fitzgerald.net%29>
Thomas Fitzgerald

People are arguing for choice. They don’t want you to have choice, they want their choice. There’s a big difference.

**** iPod Touch A Teaching Tool For Grade 1 Class <http://sync.sympatico.ca/News/ContentPosting_CBC?newsitemid=ottawa-ipod-touch&feedname=CBC-TECH-SCIENCE-V3&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True>
CBC News

While some teachers might see devices like the iPod Touch as an unwelcome classroom distraction, staff at the Elmwood School view them as a potential learning tool.

**** iPhone 'one Of The World's Best Inventions' <http://sify.com/news/iphone-one-of-the-world-s-best-inventions-news-international-kftlacdggdc.html>
Sify

iPhone has made it to the list of the 'Most Important Inventions Of All Time'. The cell phone, ranked eighth in the list, ahead of both space travel and the combustion engine.

**** Review: Fireworks CS5 <http://www.macworld.com/reviews/product/520671/review/fireworks_cs5.html?expand=true&lsrc=rss_main>
Pariah S. Burke, Macworld

**** Get Ready For Second-wave iPad Apps <http://www.macworld.com/article/151308/2010/05/ipad_wave_ihnatko.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Andy Ihnatko, Macworld

The bigger problem with the evolution of iPad software will be in developing the core philosophy. What is an iPad app? What sort of statement is the user making when he or she leaves the house with the intention of prosecuting the day’s goals with an iPad instead of a notebook?

**** Aperture 3: A Good Option For Photo Enthusiasts <http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20004712-264.html?part=rss&amp;subj=news&amp;tag=2547-1_3-0-20>
Stephen Shankland, CNET News



The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Anybots QB Robot Is A Telepresence For The 21st Century <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2363866,00.asp>
Lance Ulanoff, PC Magazine

That robot standing over your shoulder is not waiting to grab you by the ears and tear you asunder. In fact, in Anybots' vision, its new QB mobile telepresence robot is simply checking in. To be fair, the robot isn't checking anything at all. It's your telecommuting boss, hundreds of miles away, who's checking up on you through QB.

**** Google Opens Door For Third-party Gmail Apps <http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20005356-264.html?part=rss&amp;subj=news&amp;tag=2547-1_3-0-20>
Stephen Shankland, CNET News



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** An Urban Farming Pioneer Sows His Own Legacy <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/19/dining/19farm.html?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Tracie McMillan, New York Times

John Ameroso didn’t hoe the rows of vegetables that help feed the Bronx at the Padre Plaza Success Garden in the borough’s Mott Haven section. He didn’t pick any tomatoes from the vines at the Brooklyn Rescue Mission’s farm. And he didn’t turn the composting bins that kept East New York Farms! fertile ground for collards, cilantro and chard.

But he’s responsible for all of it, along with the rest of more than 18 tons of produce grown in city lots for market last year.

**** Bavarian Village Divided Over Updates To World-Famous Passion Play <http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,694970,00.html>
Katja Thimm, Spiegel

For almost 400 years, the residents of the Bavarian village of Oberammergau have performed their world-famous Passion Play, a reenactment of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. But the play's avant-garde director, who is determined to erase traces of anti-Semitism from the piece, has left locals at odds over how to reconcile modern Christianity and tradition.

**** Strangers On A Train <http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2010/may/18/strangers-on-a-train/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nybooks+%28The+New+York+Review+of+Books%29>
Charles Simic, The New York Review of Books

Everyone who walks the busy streets of a city takes imaginary snapshots. For all I know, my face glimpsed in a crowd years ago may live on in someone’s memory the same way that the face of some stranger lives on in mine. Of course, out of the hundreds of people we may happen to see in a day, we become fully aware of only a select few, and often not even that many if we have too much on our minds. Then it happens.

**** A New Clue To Explain Existence <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/science/space/18cosmos.html?src=tptw>
Dennis Overbye, New York Times

In a mathematically perfect universe, we would be less than dead; we would never have existed. According to the basic precepts of Einsteinian relativity and quantum mechanics, equal amounts of matter and antimatter should have been created in the Big Bang and then immediately annihilated each other in a blaze of lethal energy, leaving a big fat goose egg with which to make stars, galaxies and us. And yet we exist, and physicists (among others) would dearly like to know why.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Singapore Is Still Out Of Step On Its Death Penalty Policy <http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2010/may/18/singapore-death-penalty-drug-dealer>
Patrick Gallahue and Rick Lines, The Guardian

It has to be mentioned that the death penalty for drugs is a violation of international law no matter how infrequently it is carried out. There are numerous treaties and international guidelines that restrict the use of the death penalty and it has long been established by United Nations political bodies that drug offences should not be made capital crimes.

**** Are Singapore Workers Losing Out In Wages? <http://business.asiaone.com/Business/News/Office/Story/A1Story20100517-216611.html>
Sue-Ann Chia, Straits Times

For years, companies have creamed off a larger share of economic gains - larger than those in other developed countries or industrialising economies in Asia.

As a result, workers get a slice of Singapore's gross domestic product (GDP) that is considered unusually small compared with their counterparts' share in those countries.

**** Farewell To Wet Markets? Farewell To Provision Shops? <http://guanyinmiao.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/farewell-to-wet-markets-farewell-to-provision-shops/>
Guanyinmiao's Musings

The wheels of development must turn; yet, wherever possible, let us progress without losing too much of our valuable heritage and memories.

**** $70m In Entry Levies Collected From Casino Operators <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100519-0000098/$70m-in-entry-levies-collected-from-casino-operators>
Today

As of May 10, the two casino operators had collected about $70 million in entry levies. Revealing this yesterday, minister for community development, youth and sports Vivian Balakrishnan said it would be "premature to draw conclusions" from such data on casino patronage and its "attendant social impact", as it was still early days yet in their operations.

**** Unwise Warning <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_528374.html>
Toh Cheng Seong, Straits Times

It would not be wise for content providers to bypass an audience with one of the highest GDP per capita incomes in the world.

Wishful thinking. There are many "content" that is already bypassing Singapore simply because the market is not big enough.

**** TV Debates Good For S'pore <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_528378.html>
Liu Hongwan, Straits Times

During an election, it is important that Singaporeans make an informed choice, and that we are exposed as much as possible to the viewpoints of all the involved parties so as to make such a choice.

**** The PAP System Works? Then Why Are So Many Leaving? <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/3730-the-pap-system-works-then-why-are-so-many-leaving>
Singapore Democrat Party

Below are the first two of the six replies by Dr Chee that the Straits Times has refused to publish. Read and see for yourselves the real reason why the newspaper censored the letters.

**** 政府将落实母语　“保底不封顶”愿景 <http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp100519_016.shtml>
周殊钦 陈能端 林慧慧 吴淑贤 龚慧婷, 联合早报

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教育部长兼国防部第二部长黄永宏医生昨天在国会上回应议员针对母语教育政策的提问时，重申母语教育改革的迫切性。他指出，教育部这次成立检讨委员会是为了及时应对本地母语环境的改变，并非为了迎合一部分民众不愿孩子下苦功掌握母语的诉求。

**** Can A Drunk's Confession Count? <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_528495.html>
Straits Times

If a drunk person confesses to a crime, should his confession be admitted as evidence in court?

Lawyer-MPs who spoke up on the proposed Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) yesterday thought not, and expressed discomfort that an explanatory note in the code indicated otherwise.

Police should never make short-cuts, and the police themselves should come out and say that they don't need this law to make their life easier.

**** MDA Clarifies Cross-Carriage Rules <http://www.worldscreen.com/articles/display/25581>
Mansha Daswani, WorldScreen.com

The MDA said today that the cross-carriage mandate "will allow one retailer to leverage on another retailer's platform to widen the distribution of the former’s channels."

There is a different between "allow one retailer... to widen the distribution" and "force one retailer... to widen the distribution." Did MDA change its position?

**** Casino Business Is Community Business <http://blogs.abc.net.au/victoria/2010/05/casino-business-is-community-business.html>
Louise Ray, ABC

Does the opening of a new casino necessarily mean that rates of gambling in a community increase?

**** Singapore Population Growth <http://gigomole.blogspot.com/2010/05/singapore-population-growth.html>
The Gigamole Diaries

**** Peranakans Are Half-Caste? <http://mhisham.org/?p=828>
Moving Higher In Souped-up Heuristically Agon Moment

I was alerted to the statement, “The word Peranakan refers to a half-caste in Malay …” made in our local website, the recently changed theme from Uniquely Singapore to Your Singapore – http://www.yoursingapore.com. It has raised the ire of the Peranakan community.

**** è·³è¿œé€‰æ‰‹è¢«æ‹’â€œå»¶åŽæœå½¹â€ã€€å¼ å¿—è´¤ï¼šå› æ²¡æœ‰ç‰¹åˆ«ç†ç”± <http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp100519_024.shtml>
联合早报

**** 数议员呼吁 应对警方初始调查工作设下时限 <http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp100519_022.shtml>
联合早报

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**** Manufacturing Will Continue To Be Integral In Singapore's Next Growth Phase <http://www.news.gov.sg/public/sgpc/en/media_releases/agencies/mti/speech/S-20100518-2.html>
Teo Chee Hean, Singapore Government

Looking ahead, even as we recover from the economic downturn, preparations are being made to set the stage for Singapore’s next phase of growth. As recommended by the Economic Strategies Committee, our aim is to retain a globally competitive manufacturing sector which will form between 20 and 25 per cent of the economy. Our approach will be multi-pronged. First, we will deepen our manufacturing capabilities in existing and new areas. This includes capturing value in spaces between manufacturing and services. Second, we will foster productivity driven manufacturing growth. Finally, we will further the expansion of our manufacturing industries into overseas markets.

**** Irony Of Tiger Airways <http://boo-n-bouquet.blogspot.com/2010/05/irony-of-tiger-airways.html>
Pern Yew, Boo-n-Bouquet

What I find ironical is this: while the complaints appear to be piling up, Tiger's financial performance in the last one year has turned the corner.

**** The Quitter Quits Singapore <http://blog.dk.sg/2010/05/19/the-quitter-quits-singapore/>
Dee Kay Dot As Gee

Most of the sport talents who we bought over thru this scheme is here for the money. Their heart is with the money, not Singapore.

Can we say this about our ministers and MPs, who, according to our government, will not do this job if they are not paid handsomely? :-)

**** No Due Process Please, We're Singaporean <http://callantham.org/blog/2010/5/19/no-due-process-please-were-singaporean.html>
Callan Tham, Trapper's Swamp

**** Impossible To Determine If Fewer Foreigners Were Accepted <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/05/impossible-to-determine-if-fewer-foreigners-were-accepted/>
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen