[MyAppleMenu] May 28, 2010

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Japan's iPad Frenzy Signals A Sea Change <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703630304575269921800507634.html#articleTabs%3Darticle>
Daisuke Wakabayashi, Wall Street Journal

The debut of Apple Inc.'s iPad tablet computer in Japan is generating a level of hype and excitement rarely seen these days for a new electronics product in this gadget-loving nation, underscoring the paucity of buzz-worthy, homegrown devices.

**** Review: MacBook/2.4GHz (Mid 2010) <http://www.macworld.com/reviews/product/524758/review/macbook24ghz_mid_2010.html?expand=true&lsrc=rss_main>
James Galbraith, Macworld

With its faster processor, improved graphics and longer battery life, the MacBook makes an attractive option for budget conscious laptop shoppers. Performance-wise, the MacBook isn’t different from the 13-inch 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro—the extra $200 for the MacBook Pro buys more RAM, a FireWire 800 port, an SD card slot, an an aluminum case.

**** Review: Half-Life 2 <http://www.macworld.com/reviews/product/530393/review/halflife_2.html?expand=true&lsrc=rss_main>
Chris Holt, Macworld

Depending on your perspective, Half-Life 2 is either the most epic and ambitious title Valve has ever done, or the most bloated and unfocused. But even with its missteps, there’s a reason why Half-Life 2 appears on virtually every “best games of all time” list. It pushes the FPS genre in new and ambitious directions—the gravity gun, the physics engine, the visuals, the story, the AI, are all innovations that would carry other games.

**** Apple’s Secret Weapon: Consumer Education <http://www.macworld.com/article/151606/2010/05/gartenberg_ipad.html>
Michael Gartenberg, Macworld

The key to Apple’s success is that the company often takes the time to explain things to the consumer that no other vendor bothers to do. By keeping a laser focus on key features and introducing them one at a time over a period of years, Apple taught and evangelized everything the consumer needed to know to understand the iPad from day one. Without that foundation, it’s not likely the product would have been nearly the success it has been.

**** Barnes & Noble Releases eReader App For iPad <http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/27/barnes-and-noble-releases-ereader-app-for-ipad/>
Dave Caolo, TUAW

**** Apple Files For WebKit Browser Trademark <http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20006129-264.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=News-Apple>
Stephen Shankland, CNET News

**** Apple Accused Of Trademark Infringement Over Use Of iAd Name <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/05/27/apple_accused_of_trademark_infringement_over_use_of_iad_name.html>
AppleInsider

A new lawsuit filed in California takes aim at Apple's forthcoming iAd mobile ad network, alleging that the name is in violation of a registered trademark and will deceive consumers.

**** iBookstore Now Allows Individuals To Submit Their E-books <http://www.macworld.com/article/151614/2010/05/ibookstore_selfpublished.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Dan Moren, Macworld

Self-publishing has long been a venue for those who have been unable to publish their books through other means, but the addition of self-published titles to the iBookstore removes even more of the barrier to entry for aspiring writers. For one thing, it legitimizes their endeavors by putting their books on equal footing with titles from the major publishers.

**** Apple iPad Frenzy Spreads Abroad; Supply Issues Loom <http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE64R0DZ20100528?type=marketsNews>
Nobuhiro Kubo and Jens Hack, Reuters

Diehard fans mobbed Apple Inc stores in Asia and Europe as the iPad tablet computer went on sale outside the United States for the first time on Friday.

**** Apple iPad Outshines Mona Lisa As Global Sales Start <http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aiNNltM_5SDw>
Jonathan Browning and Matthew Campbell, Bloomberg

In the basement of Paris’s Louvre museum, the early line for Apple Inc.’s iPad far surpassed that for entry to see the Mona Lisa.

**** Slap For Apple <http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/slap_for_apple_PZ065AMiQOkAEn3lVNOX9O>
Claire Atkinson, New York Post

Sources said several large media companies, including Time Warner and NBC Universal, told Apple they won't retool their extensive video libraries to accommodate the iPad, arguing that such a reformatting would be expensive and not worth it because Flash dominates the web.

In addition, one media executive pointed out that Apple's ability to dictate terms to the media giants will be weakened further by Google TV, a software product that enables viewers to watch online video on their big-screen TVs.

**** Apple iPad: Will It Lead A Reading Revolution? <http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/may/28/apple-ipad-launch-publishing?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Stephen Page, The Guardian

The iPad's arrival is unlikely in itself to create a revolution in ebook sales but, like Amazon's Kindle electronic reader before, it will accelerate the reading universe that's coming. That's great news for readers. It should also be good news for writers, as these are genuinely new ways for their work to be discovered, paid for and read. But what about publishers?

**** Four Out Of Ten iPhones Sold To Business Users <http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20100527/four-out-of-ten-iphones-sold-to-business-users/?mod=ATD_rss>
John Paczkowski, Wall Street Journal

Who was it, again, who said Apple’s iPhone “doesn’t appeal to business because it doesn’t have a keyboard”?

Because the device clearly does appeal to business. In fact, quite a few of the iPhones sold today are purchased by business users, according to Ron Spears, chief of AT&T’s (T) Business Solutions unit.

**** We’ve Got The Beat (Markers) <http://www.macworld.com/article/150920/2010/05/imoviebeat.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Jeff Carlson, Macworld

iMovie ’09 is ideally suited for creating short movies, but Apple included a feature that appeals specifically to people who want to make music videos: beat markers.

**** Apple And The Myth Of Market Cap <http://www.ctoedge.com/content/apple-and-myth-market-cap>
Wayne Rash, CTO Edge

**** Attorney: Apple Vulnerable To Lawsuit <http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2010/05/28/Attorney-Apple-vulnerable-to-lawsuit/UPI-19301275052641/>
UPI.com



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** A Dealer And His Galaxy Of Art Stars In 'Leo And His Circle" <http://www.latimes.com/features/books/la-ca-leo-castelli-20100523,0,2247825.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+features%2Fbooks+%28Los+Angeles+Times+-+Books%29>
Mark Lamster, Los Angeles Times

The ascension of New York gallerist Jeffrey Deitch to the Museum of Contemporary Art's helm has occasioned considerable art-world hand-wringing as to the collapsing space between the market and the museum. Of course, these two zones have really never been separate.

**** Ashes To Ashes: The Latter-Day Ruin Of Pompeii <http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/2010/04/ashes-to-ashes-the-latter-day-ruin-of-pompeii/>
Peter Popham, Prospect

Pompeii, the best-preserved Roman town in the world, still attracts millions of visitors. But its appalling state is a disgrace to Italy, Unesco and European civilisation.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Training Incidents Ought To Be Reported Promptly <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC100528-0000056/Training-incidents-ought-to-be-reported-promptly>
David Boey, Today

We must remember that many fathers of today's Third-Generation SAF soldiers served NS during the 1970s and 1980s, at a time when rumours of training deaths were rampant. 

Tardy defence media management will only promote the longevity of urban myths of cover-ups.

**** A National Identity Issue <http://nabbedd.wordpress.com/2010/05/27/502/>
It's All About Amelioration

A national identity is created by memories that spur patriotism. An engaged citizen who is given freedom to contribute in shaping its country’s growth and given a listening ear  will no doubt create binding ties with the country, filled with memories to cherish.

**** How PAP Policies Affect Malay Singaporeans <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/the-party/young-democrats/3691-how-pap-policies-affected-malay-singaporeans>
Warren Masilamony, Singapore Democrat Party

Though there is little evidence to show that the PAP Government holds malicious intent towards Malays, the idea of unfairness is not far-fetched.

**** MINDEF’s Culture Of Secrecy <http://geraldgiam.sg/2010/05/mindefs-culture-of-secrecy/>
Gerald Giam

It’s bad enough that they took two months to report the first incident, but why couldn’t they report the second incident without being asked?

**** Mindef Replies: We Should Have Issued A Statement <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC100528-0000098/Mindef-replies--We-should-have-issued-a-statement>
Darius Lim, Ministry of Defence, Today

Mindef informs the public whenever there is a serious incident, or where the incident is likely to be of public interest. Given the nature of this incident, Mindef should have issued a media statement when it occurred.

I disagree. Mindef is not the right party to determine whether the incident is of public interest.

**** KTMB Land Not Developed Due To Restrictions - Ong <http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=501416>
Bernama

Transport minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said today the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) land in Singapore has not been developed previously due land use restrictions.

"I think I need to explain this because of the various issues raised in the media and blogs. It may be because they are not clear about the restrictions," he told reporters prior to chairing the weekly cabinet meeting at the ministry Wednesday. He said the land could only be developed for railway matters.

**** Even The Canals At East Coast And Singapore Expo Are Polluted By Oil Now <http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/this_urban_jungle/382156/Even+the+canals+at+East+Coast+are+polluted+by+oil+now.html>
STOMP

**** Oil Spill Spreads To Chek Jawa & Changi Beach <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1059580/1/.html>
Joanne Chan, Channel NewsAsia

The oil spill caused by the collision of two vessels at sea on Tuesday has spread to Chek Jawa, a wetland off Changi Point. Clean up operations are still underway at East Coast Park, amid concerns on the damage on coastal wildlife.

**** 救失业 é©¬è§è¦åˆ˜å¿†å¦‚èµ´æ–°åŠ å¡å–ç» <http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2010-05-28/101017576542s.shtml>
台海网

**** In Desperation And Fear, They Censor <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/3769-in-desperation-and-fear-they-censor>
Singapore Democrat Party

Why is the PAP so afraid of what the ex-detainee has to say?

**** The Issue Of NS For Singaporean Men <http://singapore-lighthouse.blogspot.com/2010/05/issue-of-ns-for-singaporean-men.html>
Phare Anderson, Singapore Social and Political Thoughts

My friend who was in the human resource company was telling me that there were PRs from Malaysia who was in Singapore since young and yet need not serve NS. I was told that one of the parent, usually the mothers are Singaporean. Their kids are just PR and they need not serve NS.

**** Tee Keat: Decision On Tanjung Pagar Not A Hurried One <http://www.thesundaily.com/article.cfm?id=47293>
Giam Say Khoon, The Sun

Transport minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said the decision to vacate the Tanjong Pagar train station in Singapore was not a hurried one as claimed by the opposition. "Such accusation is baseless. As far as I know, we did not handle the issue in a hurried manner,” Ong told reporters at a Wesak Day celebration here today.