[MyAppleMenu] Nov 23, 2010

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Ambrosia Releases WireTap Anywhere 2.0 <http://www.macworld.com/article/155912/2010/11/wiretap_anywhere2.html?lsrc=rss_main>
David Chartier, Macworld

New in WireTap Anywhere 2.0 is more fine-grained control over routing audio. You can create virtual input devices and assign them any number of audio channels, plus combine audio channels from both software and hardware devices into any arrangement you want. In addition, you can tweak per-channel audio levels both before and after you mix them, then preview the mix before you begin recording.

**** Apple: App Store Has 40,000 Native iPad Apps <http://appadvice.com/appnn/2010/11/apple-app-store-houses-40000-native-ipad-apps/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AppAdvice+%28AppAdvice%29>
Joe White, AppAdvice

**** Nexaira Wi-Fi Router Shares iPhone’s Tethered Connection <http://db.tidbits.com/article/11768?rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tidbits_main+%28TidBITS%3A+Mac+News+for+the+Rest+of+Us%29>
Glenn Fleishman, TidBITS

As sold through 3Gstore with a particular firmware update, the router can create a mobile hotspot from an iPhone using USB-based tethering.

**** Treat Warnings As Broken Windows <http://inessential.com/2010/11/22/treat_warnings_as_broken_windows>
Brent Simmons, Inessential

I used to think sometimes: “Hey, I’m a professional of many years. I know what I’m doing. I can break this rule because I know for sure it will be fine.”

I don’t allow that thought anymore. Instead, now I think: “Hey, I’m a professional of many years. I know what I’m doing. I’m wise enough to use every tool at my disposal to make sure my code is correct.”

**** iWork Suite Gains iOS 4.2 Support On iPad <http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/22/iwork-for-ipad-updates-with-ios-4-2-support/>
Michael Gray, TUAW

Multitasking in 4.2 will already be familiar to many iPhone users. When you switch away from one of the iWork applications, the iPad will save the state of your work in iWork. When you come back to that application later, you'll be able to resume right where you left off.

**** Review: Snagit For Mac, An Infographics/screen Capture Tool <http://it-enquirer.com/2010/11/22/review-snagit-mac-infographics/>
IT-Enquirer

**** Migrating To A New Mac <http://www.macworld.com/article/155845/2010/11/migrate_new_mac.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Christopher Breen, Macworld

**** BusyCal 1.5 Adds New MobileMe Calendar Support <http://www.macworld.com/article/155892/2010/11/busycal_15.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Joel Mathis, Macworld

The update adds MobileMe Calendar syncing to the program’s existing range of services, which already includes syncing with iOS devices and Google Calendar. In addition, the software features including To-Do lists that display within the calendar, customizable calendar views, live weather feeds, sticky notes, and other offerings not available in Apple’s iCal software.

**** Free: The Best Mac FTP File Transfer App <http://mac360.com/index.php/mac360/comments/free-the-best-mac-ftp-file-transfer-app/>
Ron McElfresh, Mac360

**** AirPrint Works As Far As It Goes <http://www.macworld.com/article/155633/2010/11/airprint.html>
James Galbraith, Macworld

While you can get most anything from your iOS device to a printer, it can be a clunky, time consuming hassle. That explains why AirPrint was the one of the most anticipated features of iOS 4.2, the new operating system for Apple's mobile devices. At launch, however, AirPrint is so limited as to be of little use to most people.

**** What’s New For The iPad In iOS 4.2.1 <http://db.tidbits.com/article/11715?rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tidbits_main+%28TidBITS%3A+Mac+News+for+the+Rest+of+Us%29>
TidBITS

For those of us with an iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 4, it has been torture to switch back and forth between one of those devices an an iPad with iOS 3.2, the version it shipped with. We miss fast-app switching, folders, background audio, the unified mailbox, and other features that seemed invaluable the minute they became available. It has felt like a long wait for the iPad to get its due at last—so long that determining what’s new between iOS 3.x.x on the iPad and iOS 4.2.1 took some research. Here’s our list of the highlights.

**** Ars Goes Hands-on With AirPlay On iOS 4.2 And Apple TV <http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2010/11/ars-goes-hands-on-with-airplay-on-ios-42-and-apple-tv.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss>
Jacqui Cheng, Ars Technica

Basically, you can have "apps" on your Apple TV without actually installing apps—your iOS apps can stay on your phone or iPad, and you can stream that content to the big screen.

The catch here is that AirPlay support varies on a per-app basis, and not all apps will have support.

**** iOS 4.2 Update Wipe Out Your iPhone Music? Try This. <http://techcrunch.com/2010/11/22/ios-42-bug/>
MG Siegler, TechCrunch

**** Safari On iOS 4.2: Accelerometer, WebSockets, SVG, AJAX2 & Better HTML5 Support <http://www.mobilexweb.com/blog/safari-ios-accelerometer-websockets-html5>
Mobile Web Programming

Today, iOS 4.2 appears as a free update for every iPhone, iPod or iPad device. This release provides some major changes on HTML5 and W3C future standards support, like WebSockets and Accelerometer support, new events, print support, new JavaScript data-types and better SVG support.

**** Apple Exec Phil Schiller Now Active On Twitter — And Instagram Too! <http://techcrunch.com/2010/11/22/phil-schiller-twitter-instagram/>
MG Siegler, TechCrunch

Two years ago, Apple executive Phil Schiller apparently signed up for Twitter and started tweeting. But he didn’t tweet often, and few people followed him, probably assuming it was a fake account. But if Twitter’s verification process is to be believed, the account is real. And further, Schiller has gotten a lot more active in recent weeks on the service. And he’s active on the hot photo sharing app Instagram too!

**** Understanding AirPlay In Apple’s iOS 4.2 <http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/22/understanding-airplay-in-apples-ios-4-2/>
Sam Grobart, New York Times

Apple’s AirPlay is a very simple, elegantly executed workaround to the larger problem of the fractured world of digital media, and the conflicting interests and alliances that prevent all of our purchased content to be viewed on any device, at any time.

**** Video Support For AirPlay Isn’t Everywhere In iOS 4.2 <http://daringfireball.net/2010/11/airplay_limits>
John Gruber, Daring Fireball

AirPlay is the killer feature for Apple TV. But perhaps we’d better keep that in the future tense for now: it’s going to be the killer feature for Apple TV. After installing today’s various software updates for iOS devices, the only apps I’ve seen where AirPlay works for video are the built-in iPod app (a.k.a. “Video” on the iPad and iPod Touch) and YouTube. In other apps, AirPlay is audio-only.

**** Hide Application Data Folders <http://www.macworld.com/article/155899/2010/11/hideapplicationfolders.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Whitson Gordon, Macworld

**** Hacking Smartphones With Ease <http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/rorycellanjones/2010/11/iphone_cracking_wifi.html>
Rory Cellan-Jones, BBC

Many of us carry almost every detail of our lives on our phones - so how secure are we from those who might want to know what we're saying and doing on the move? We know how insecure the voicemail of some famous folk turned out to be a few years back; surely today's sophisticated smartphones are much less vulnerable?

**** Use Dropbox To Backup A Few Folders Every Day <http://www.tuaw.com/2010/11/23/use-dropbox-to-backup-a-few-folders-every-day/>
Victor Agreda, Jr., TUAW

**** iOS 4.2 Includes Massive Security Update <http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9197839/iOS_4.2_includes_massive_security_update?source=rss_operatingsystems>
Tony Bradley, Computerworld

The iPhone and iPad are both now protected against more than 80 vulnerabilities -- many with critical security implications -- that most users were not even aware existed two days ago.



The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Shopping Via Text Message <http://www.technologyreview.com/business/26468/>
Tom Simonite, Technology Review

In much of the world, shopping online involves browsing e-commerce sites or typing what you want to buy into a search engine. In countries where Internet-connected computers are a rarity, a Seattle-based startup called Slimtrader hopes to offer Internet shopping via text message instead.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** It’s All Your Fault <http://www.newenglishreview.org/custpage.cfm/frm/71383/sec_id/71383>
Theodore Dalrymple, New English Review

No man is so much a determinist that he fails to place moral blame upon his parents; and such was I. It never really occurred to me, I can honestly say not for a second in all those years, that my poor late mother had experienced hardships in her life a thousand times harder to contend with than my own, and that therefore, if anyone were to be excused, it was she. Resentment is fundamentally egotistical.

**** Reinventing The Book <http://nymag.com/arts/books/features/69635/>
Boris Kachka, New York Magazine

Imagine a book—in this case the 1934 novel The Street of Crocodiles, a surrealistic set of linked stories by the Polish Holocaust victim Bruno Schulz—whose pages have been cut out to form a latticework of words. The result is a new, much shorter story and a paper sculpture, a remarkable piece of inert, unclickable technology: the anti-Kindle.

**** Let's Face The Music And Dance <http://www.slate.com/id/2275724/>
J. Allyn Rosser, Slate



SingaporeSurf
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**** Singapore Vandalizes Right To Religious Freedom <http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/46321/>
Stephen Farmer, Epoch Times

**** Singapore Casino Revenue Remains A Gamble <http://www.speakwithoutinterruption.com/site/2010/11/singapore-casino-revenue-remains-a-gamble/>
Muhammad Cohen, Speak Without Interruption

Fallout from Singapore’s suppression and its “we’ll tell you what we want, when we want” approach spreads far and wide. Casinos, the latest big thing in Singapore, don’t escape.

**** Introduce Specific Laws Against Child Porn <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_606222.html>
Trina Liang-Lin, United Nations Development Fund For Women, Straits Times

Although Singapore has instituted laws against pornography under the Undesirable Publications Act, there is yet no law in Singapore which specifically addresses the illegality of child pornography. By instituting well-defined child pornography laws under the Children and Young Persons Act, greater awareness of the issue of violence against children and young adults would be generated.

**** Hospitals Don't Make Pizzas <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC101123-0000036/Hospitals-dont-make-pizzas>
Khoo Ai Leng, Today

We must be realistic in acknowledging that as the Singapore population continues to age and increase, demand will grow proportionately, something we should be gracious in accommodating. Besides, there are evident efforts to boost the number of healthcare options available to Singaporeans, such as the recent opening of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and the future Jurong General Hospital.

**** ’1,000 Foreigners Invested S$1.5 Billion To Be S’pore PRs’ <http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/11/23/1000-foreigners-invested-s1-5-billion-to-be-spore-prs/>
Yahoo!

These investors come mostly from North-East Asia and South-East Asia and they have either poured money into an approved investment fund or directly in a business in Singapore.

Close to 100 have invested directly in businesses ranging from engineering, R&D, shipping, asset management and services and trading, thereby creating some 1,500 jobs.

**** LTA Reviewing How Service In Taxi Industry Can Be Further Improved <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1094938/1/.html>
Vimita Mohandas, Channel NewsAsia

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is reviewing how service in the taxi industry can be further improved and will announce the improvements by early next year.

**** No To "Prescriptive" Spa Regulations <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC101123-0000009/No-to-prescriptive-spa-regulations>
Neo Chai Chin, Today

On whether spa operators should be barred from offering packages lasting over six months - as suggested by Ms Lee - Mr Lim said "imposing prescriptive regulations can restrict business flexibility, reduce consumer choice, and potentially lead to higher costs for consumers". 

**** DPM Teo On Rules For Civil Servants Who Visit Gaming Places <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1094927/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

Deputy prime minister Teo Chee Hean has said all civil servants are expected to conduct themselves "in a manner which upholds the integrity of the Public Service and public confidence in it".

Mr Teo said: "Civil servants are prohibited from gambling during work hours and on official premises. They are also required to inform their respective Permanent Secretaries immediately if they are financially embarrassed or served with bankruptcy proceedings. In addition, all officers are required to make an annual declaration of indebtedness or non-indebtedness."

**** Was Flat Being Watched, Ask MPs <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_606370.html>
Jeremy Au Yong, Straits Times

The work of Singapore's security forces came under scrutiny yesterday from MPs as they wondered how terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari was able to evade detection while spending the night at the home of an elder brother.

**** Lipstick Jungle: Why We Might Have Helped Mas Selamat Escape <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/11/lipstick-jungle-why-we-might-have-helped-mas-selamat-escape/>
Muhammad Hydar, The Online Citizen

I for one, am disappointed in finding out that all MSK needed to thwart an island-wide manhunt was lipstick and a head scarf.

In order to curb more public speculation and prevent a possible decline in trust towards our security agencies, I urge Mr Shanmugan and the relevant authorities to disclose more information on the current investigation of Mas Selamat’s escape.

**** Bus Overcharging, Profits, ERP: A Triple Whammy? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/11/bus-overcharging-profits-erp-a-triple-whammy/>
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen

Can you imagine the millions of man hours wasted by commuters trying to navigate the refund “maze”.

**** Mas Selamat Was Hiding In His Brother’s House <http://blog.dk.sg/2010/11/23/mas-selamat-was-hiding-in-his-brothers-house/>
Dee Kay Dot As Gee

All these while we thought that Mas Selamat was hiding in the forest. Or maybe his friend or supporter’s house which the police doesn’t know. It’s shocking to discover that he hid in his brother’s house. Even more shocking was that the police only interviewed his brother on the 3rd March. That’s 5 days after Mas Selamat escaped from detention.

Mr Wong, what exactly was your ministry doing back then?

**** Flier Case: SDP Leaders Appeal <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_606383.html>
Straits Times

Three leaders of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) have appealed to the High Court against their convictions and sentences for distributing fliers without a permit four years ago.

**** Singapore Finance Minister: More Property Curbs If Needed <http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201011221947dowjonesdjonline000313&title=singapore-finance-ministermore-property-curbs-if-needed>
Dow Jones

Singapore finance minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said the government will introduce more measures to cool the property market if prices rise too quickly. Tharman said that while the government's three rounds of cooling measures since September 2009 have had "some calming effect" on the market, there is still a need to remain vigilant against excessive capital inflows.

**** Inflation Set To Rise <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_606379.html>
Aaron Low, Straits Times

This warning was given by senior minister of state for trade and industry S. Iswaran yesterday when he said that inflation in Singapore is set to rise, fuelled partly by higher food prices as bad weather ravages harvests in many countries.

The other inflation-causing agent is Singapore's booming economy, which is set to grow by an exceptional 15 per cent this year.

**** SLA Fraud Caused By Human Failure <http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/11/23/human-failure-cause-of-sla-fraud/>
Alicia Wong, Yahoo!

Human failure was the cause of the alleged case of fraud at the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), which saw two former executives charged with cheating the statutory board of S$12.18 million, two ministers told Parliament on Monday.

**** Shocking Intelligence Failure And Shocking Transparency <http://chemgen.wordpress.com/2010/11/23/shocking-intelligence-failure-and-shocking-transparency/>
Chemical Generation Singapore

Instead of sweeping the news of the arrest of those who abetted in Mas Selamat’s escape using the ISA and blanketing the news, the authorities actually went to town with it. The Asmon family were tried in court when the regime could have cunningly charged them under the ISA to cover up the mess. Since the milestone White Paper on JI terrorism early this decade to the recent COI on Mas Selamat’s escape, we can only hope that the authorities’ transparency on their ups and downs is here for the long term. That is the silver lining in the latest twist on the fugitive’s escape drama.

**** Framing Our Political Discussions With Ignorance And Morality <http://kentridgecommon.com/?p=8509>
Koh Choon Hwee, Kent Ridge Common

**** S’pore Inc: What Is BG Yeo Trying To Tell Us? <http://atans1.wordpress.com/2010/11/23/spore-inc-what-is-bg-yeo-trying-to-tell-us/>
Thoughts of a Cynical Investor

My understanding of what he is saying in the underlined last sentence: In Singapore, the civil service only superficially resembles the British model where the civil service is politically neutral. Here the service is not politically neutral. To understand how the  Singapore civil service works, we must understand how the Chinese bureaucracy that served the Chinese emperors functioned. To under the imperial bureaucracy, we must understand Chinese history and culture. 

**** MOE Teachers: Just A Number Filler? <http://kentridgecommon.com/?p=8492>
Christopher Ong, Kent Ridge Common

To push graduates into teaching subjects they are not keen in, just to fill up the deficit in certain teaching subjects, short changes not only these fresh graduates but our children, the very future of country.

**** Oct Inflation Hits 3.5% <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_606430.html>
Straits Times

Consumer prices in Singapore climbed by 3.5 per cent in October, from a year ago due to higher costs of transport, housing, food and recreation, according to figures released by the Department of Trade on Tuesday.

The higher inflation rate was partly driven up by the cost of transport, which rose by 9.5 per cent on year because of higher car and petrol prices. Housing cost also moved up by 3.5 per cent, owing to higher accommodation costs and electricity tariffs, while food items cost 1.7 per cent more, arising from dearer prepared meals, vegetables, rice and other cereals, fresh seafood as well as dairy products and eggs.

**** Support The Green Corridor In Singapore <http://oliveventures.com.sg/act/2010/11/23/support-the-green-corridor-in-singapore/>
Act By Olive Ventures

Although the Singapore Government has not publicised any plans for the 173.7 hectares of land that spans the entire breadth of the island, the question of what to do with it will naturally arise. One proposal, which was submitted by Nature Society (Singapore) on the 21st of October 2010, is  to Keep the Railway Lands as a Continuous Green Corridor.

**** Mix-up Due To Lapses, Error <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_606440.html>
Straits Times

lapses in procedure and human error led to the IVF mix-up at Thomson Fertility Centre, said health minister Khaw Boon Wan in Parliament on Tuesday.

The incident has hurt the reputation of the Thomson Medical Centre's (TMC) IVF Centre and indirectly affected Singapore's reputation as a regional medical hub, he said, when replying to a question from Ang Mo Kio GRC Lam Pin Min.

**** MOE Likely To Fire Mas Selamat's Niece <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1095094/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

The niece of terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari, who is in jail for her role in his escape, will be facing disciplinary proceedings by the Ministry of Education (MOE). 

MOE said in a statement that it will initiate the proceedings against Nur Aini Asmom, who is a Malay language teacher, with a view to dismiss her from service.

**** The Unjust Detention Mess Of Selamat Kastari, Part 2: Relatives Go To Jail! <http://dlzj.wordpress.com/2010/11/23/the-unjust-detention-mess-of-selamat-kastari-part-2-relatives-go-to-jail/>
Icarus Flew Too High

It seems that Mas Selamat’s relatives committed a “crime” of holding and helping a “terrorist” who was never even given a fair trial to prove his innocence. So it goes on the PAP controlled media. But we seem to be forgetting how the PAP’s has muddled the laws which govern our society, so much so that when relatives of an escaped detainee under an unjust act try to help him or her, they get punished severely and unjustly too. That just comes across as sheer madness in a 21st Century world.

**** MSK Saga - What We Need Now <http://simplygab.blogspot.com/2010/11/msk-saga-what-we-need-now.html>
Simply Gab