[MyAppleMenu] Dec 13, 2011

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Font Swap In iBooks <http://boingboing.net/2011/12/12/ibooks.html>
Glenn Fleishman, Boing Boing

At least in making these font trades in iBooks 1.5, Apple has somehow empowered some group within the company to make more appropriate decisions regarding type. If we're lucky, that power will spread further, and we can regain a richer typographic history in modern clothes.

**** Prevent Certain Accounts From Unlocking FileVault 2 <http://www.tuaw.com/2011/12/12/prevent-certain-accounts-from-unlocking-filevault-2/>
TJ Luoma, TUAW

**** iBooks 1.5 Refines The Reading Experience <http://tidbits.com/article/12675?rss>
Tonya Engst, TidBITS

With the release of version 1.5 of the iOS reading app iBooks, Apple has made a few welcome changes aimed at enhancing your reading experience. None are earthshaking (unless you need the white-text-on-black, as people with certain vision problems do), but if you are an iBooks user, the release is a good excuse to take a moment to learn more about iBooks. Let’s look at what’s new in iBooks 1.5, and make sure you know the nuances and special tricks.

**** Native TweetDeck For Mac A Breath Of Fresh Air <http://tidbits.com/article/12676?rss>
Mark H. Anbinder, TidBITS

**** iTunes 10.5.2 Addresses iTunes Match Problems <http://www.macworld.com/article/164211/2011/12/itunes_10_5_2_addresses_itunes_match_problems.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Jonathan Seff, Macworld

On Monday, Apple updated its iTunes software to 10.5.2, with unspecified fixes for problems with iTunes Match.

**** Apple Releases Thunderbolt Display Firmware Update <http://www.macworld.com/article/164212/2011/12/apple_releases_thunderbolt_display_firmware_update.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Alexandra Chang, Macworld

**** Apple Accessory Developer Conference Pushes AirPlay, Bluetooth <http://www.tuaw.com/2011/12/12/apple-accessory-developer-conference-pushes-airplay-bluetooth/>
Michael Rose, TUAW

**** A Rare Apple Compromise <http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052970204336104577094872512502942-lMyQjAxMTAxMDEwMjExNDIyWj.html#>
Emily Steel And Jessica E. Vascellaro, Wall Street Journal

Facing challenges winning over customers for its iAd mobile advertising service, Apple is softening its approach as it loses ground to Google Inc. in the fast-growing mobile-ad market.

Having originally asked marketers to commit to spend at least $1 million—an amount later dropped to $500,000—Apple is now discussing ad deals with a minimum commitment of just $400,000, according to a person familiar with the matter.

**** Hidden Lion Gesture Switches To Previous Space <http://www.macworld.com/article/164161/2011/12/hidden_lion_gesture_switches_to_previous_space.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Macworld

**** Magic At Their Fingertips <http://www.todayonline.com/TechandDigital/Digital/EDC111212-0000002/Magic-at-their-fingertips>
June Yang, Today

One disabled student went from being uninterested in drawing, to winning a card design competition. Others have learned better control of their behaviour and have improved their communications skills.

These remarkable changes were observed after just six months of a special pilot project conducted at Towner Gardens School (TGS), run by the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS), which caters to children with learning disabilities and developmental delays. 

At the heart of the program is a device that many of us are familiar with and use on a daily basis - Apple's iPad.

**** Modernizing An Email Client <http://www.macworld.com/article/164223/2011/12/modernizing_an_email_client.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Christopher Breen, Macworld

**** Microsoft Releases SkyDrive For iPhone <http://www.tuaw.com/2011/12/13/microsoft-releases-skydrive-for-iphone/>
Steven Sande, TUAW

Microsoft has just released an iPhone app for access to the free Microsoft SkyDrive cloud storage service. SkyDrive for iPhone (free) should make Windows users who have documents stored in the cloud happy.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** Inappropriate Dreams <http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/poem/2011/12/_inappropriate_dreams_by_brenda_shaughnessy.html>
Brenda Shaughnessy, Slate

**** Reality Effects <http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2011/12/19/111219crbo_books_wood?currentPage=all>
James Wood, New Yorker

John Jeremiah Sullivan’s essays.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Media Release: 400 Copies Of Singapore Sucks! Have Been Held From Entering Singapore <http://rachelzeng.wordpress.com/2011/12/12/media-release-400-copies-of-singapore-sucks-have-been-held-from-entering-singapore/>
Rachel Zeng's Blog

The organisers were not privy to the conversation between the book importer and MDA, but understand that the title has attracted MDA’s attention, and approval has not yet been granted to allow passage of the books into Singapore.

**** Make IDA's Free Wi-Fi Service Simpler To Access <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_744211.html>
Tan Kin Lian, Straits Times

**** Job Hopes 'Poorer' In First Quarter Of Next Year <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_744336.html>
Magdalen Ng, Straits Times

A new survey of Singapore employers has found that job prospects in the first three months of next year are looking sharply weaker as the economy slows.

**** ComfortDelGro Fare Hikes: Earnings Flat Or Lower, Say Cabbies <http://www.straitstimes.com/The-Big-Story/The-Big-Story-3/Story/STIStory_744333.html>
Royston Sim & Fiona Low, Straits Times

But they added that demand should return to normal once people get used to the new fares which the company said would help address a growth in taxi demand in the evening and on weekends.

**** The Man For The Job? <http://hardhitting-nobs.blogspot.com/2011/12/man-for-job.html>
Musings From The Lion City

The only reason I could come up with is that the PAP is having a hard time finding people to be its figurehead in Aljunied. If that is the case, then the choice of Lim Boon Heng would make sense. As he is retired, his standing would not be hurt if PAP failed to win back the GRC in the next GE and he is of a high enough standing that he could get things done. 

**** Speakers’ Corner: A Symbol For The Future <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/speakers’-corner-a-symbol-for-the-future/>
Benjamin Cheah, The Online Citizen

Speakers’ Corner is a symbol. It is a space specifically set aside for freedom of speech and assembly. In the future, it is extremely likely for activists to organise even more activities at Speakers’ Corner. Removing the ban on foreigners recognises what really happens at such assemblies. Abolishing the prohibition on religion would increase freedom of speech without compromising public order. If Singapore calls itself ‘a democratic society based on justice and equality’, this should be seen in Speakers’ Corner – or not at all.

**** Yahoo! Denies Copyright Infringement <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1171076/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

In the High Court on Tuesday, Yahoo! Southeast Asia said that copyright law does not protect facts and information.