[MyAppleMenu] Feb 24, 2011

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** How To Restore Data Using MobileMe's Backup Utility <http://www.macworld.com/article/157397/2011/02/mobilemebackuprestore.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Roman Loyola, Macworld

Though you probably don’t want to primarily rely on the Backup software, if you have MobileMe, the software is available to you, and you can use it in addition to Time Machine and any other backup method, such as disk cloning or saving to a cloud service. Read more about what you can and can’t do with Backup.

**** FTC Says It Will Look Into Apple's Marketing Of In-app Purchases To Kids <http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/02/ftc-says-it-will-look-into-apples-marketing-of-in-app-purchases-to-kids.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss>
Jacqui Cheng, Ars Technica

The Federal Trade Commission will investigate Apple's marketing of iOS games with in-app purchases to children. The decision comes after a wave of complaints about kids running up huge bills on their parents' iTunes accounts. FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz acknowledged in a letter to US Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) that the FTC shares his concern over the phenomenon, saying the Commission would dig deeper into it.

"Companies shouldn’t be able to use Smurfs and snowflakes and zoos as online ATMs pulling money from the pockets of unsuspecting parents," Markey said in a statement accompanying his letter.

**** Export Outlook Calendar Events To iCal <http://www.macworld.com/article/158112/2011/02/export_outlook_ical.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Christopher Breen, Macworld

**** Sleepytime 1.1.2 <http://www.macworld.com/article/158075/2011/02/sleepytime.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Kirk McElhearn, Macworld

If you like to go to sleep or wake up to your favorite tunes, you’ll find it’s an excellent program to have.

**** Apple Shareholders Reject Proposal To Disclose Succession Plan <http://voices.allthingsd.com/20110223/apple-shareholders-reject-proposal-to-disclose-succession-plan/?mod=ATD_rss>
John Murrell, Wall Street Journal

**** Apple's North Carolina Data Center Coming Online This Spring <http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/02/apples-nc-data-center-coming-online-this-spring.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss>
Chris Foresman, Ars Technica

Apple revealed during its annual shareholders meeting on Wednesday that the huge data center it has been building in North Carolina will finally come online this spring. The data center, which at 500,000 square feet is five times the size of Apple's current Newark, California data center, will be used to support iTunes and MobileMe services.

**** Apple Releases Printer Updates For Xerox, HP, Epson <http://www.macworld.com/article/158129/2011/02/printer_drivers.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Philip Michaels, Macworld

**** FaceTime For Mac Now Available On The Mac App Store For $0.99 <http://appadvice.com/appnn/2011/02/facetime-mac-mac-app-store-099/>
Joe Wilcox, AppAdvice

The application brings HD video calling to “supported Macs,” and will come preinstalled on new MacBook Pro laptops.

**** Apple Revamps MacBook Pro Line, Adds Thunderbolt Port <http://www.macworld.com/article/158134/2011/02/mbp_update.html>
Dan Moren, Macworld

The new versions feature a new series of Intel processors, updated graphics cards, and a new connectivity standard dubbed Thunderbolt.

Co-developed with Intel (which calls the technology LightPeak), Thunderbolt has two bi-directional channels that can transfer data at up to 10Gbps each. The port supports a variety of difference protocols, including PCI Express, FireWire, USB, and Gigabit Ethernet, meaning you’ll be able to connect different devices (presumably, along with an adapter). In addition, it carries DisplayPort and works with existing adapters for HDMI, DVI, and VGA video formats. Apple expects Thunderbolt to adopted widely as a new standard for input and output.

**** Developer Preview Of Lion Arrives With More New Features <http://www.macworld.com/article/158135/2011/02/lion_developer_preview.html>
Lex Friedman, Macworld

Leading the new feature charge is AirDrop, which sounds like a Dropbox alternative. In press materials announcing the developer release, Apple describes AirDrop as “a remarkably simple way to copy files wirelessly from one Mac to another with no setup.”

Another new feature called Versions promises to automatically save successive versions of a document as that document is created, which Apple says will make it easier to revert to previous versions of a file. That feature seemingly dovetails nicely with AutoSave, which automatically saves documents as you work.

**** Developer Preview Of Lion Arrives With More New Features <http://www.macworld.com/article/158135/2011/02/lion_developer_preview.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Lex Friedman, Macworld

Registered Mac Developer Program members can get Lion directly from the Mac App Store. The final version of Lion will be available to everyone this summer, according to Apple.

**** Thunderbolt: Apple And Intel's New Interconnect <http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/24/thunderbolt-apple-and-intels-new-interconnect/>
Michael Rose, TUAW

**** Lion Server To Be Included With Core Mac OS X Lion <http://www.loopinsight.com/2011/02/24/lion-server-to-be-included-with-core-mac-os-x-lion/>
Peter Cohen, The Loop

Features of the new Lion Server include easier Mac server setup, providing local and remote administration for users and groups, push notifications, Time Machine backups, Virtual Private Network (VPN) settings, and more.

**** Apple Discontinues Sale Of MobileMe Retail Boxes As Overhaul Looms <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/02/24/apple_discontinues_sale_of_mobileme_retail_boxes_as_overhaul_looms.html>
Sam Oliver, AppleInsider

Apple on Thursday removed the $99 MobileMe product from its online store and notified resellers that it has discontinued the retail box for its cloud-based syncing product, suggesting the company is prepared to launch a rumored overhaul of the service.

**** Hands-on With FaceTime For Mac <http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20035979-1.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=News-Apple>
Dan Ackerman, CNET



The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Why Voice Will Rule The Road <http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/editors/26429/?ref=rss>
Erica Naone, Technology Review

Cars may provide the ideal platform for speech recognition technology.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** The New Virology <http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/02/22/the_new_virology?page=full>
David E. Hoffman, Foreign Policy

Largely unseen by the world, two dangerous germs homed in on their targets in the spring and early summer of 2009. One was made by man to infect computers. The other was made by nature, and could infect man.

**** The Stutterer <http://www.slate.com/id/2285533/>
Nathan Heller, Slate

How he makes his voice heard.

**** When Capital Letters Are More Than Just A Matter Of Taste <http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mind-your-language/2011/feb/24/mind-your-language-cornish-pasties>
David Marsh, The Guardian

If they come from Cornwall, they must be Cornish pasties. But do they go with champagne?



SingaporeSurf
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**** Reform Party Exodus: Two Opposing Views <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/02/reform-party-exodus-two-opposing-views/>
Andrew Loh And Joshua Chiang, The Online Citizen

On hindsight, perhaps one should not be surprised by this. The opposition has a history of such self-destructive splits.

**** Reform Party Aftermath: Opposition Must Stay United <http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=5948>
Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net

To their good credit, Tony and Hazel have managed to remain calm and objective in rebutting their former leader. Unlike Mr Jeyaretnam, they have displayed the good sense not to become personal or vindictive, but to focus on the facts and avoid getting sidetracked into emotional rhetoric.

The rest of the opposition must do likewise. This is the time to remain focussed on the fight against the PAP and not be drawn into conflict. This is a time for unity and solidarity, not personal ego.

**** The Policy Of Give And Take <http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=5953>
Wong Wee Nam, Sgpolitics.net

The “goodies” are merely a temporary measure to assuage unhappiness without addressing the fundamental problem in our society. It is like a salve to sooth a pain without curing the disease.

There is nothing in the Budget to indicate that the benefits of economic growth are going to be widely distributed and shared fairly among all classes of the population. There is nothing in it to show that the government is going to assume a greater moral duty in the governing.

**** HDB Should Provide Forecast Of BTO Project Launches <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110224-0000176/HDB-should-provide-forecast-of-BTO-project-launches>
Ong Dai Lin, Today

Instead of imposing harsher penalties on couples looking for a dream home, perhaps the Housing and Development Board (HDB) can do more to help these couples make better decisions on their flat application and at the same time tackle the current waiting time for a Built-to-Order (BTO) flat that has flat-buyers complaining. 

While HDB applicants might turn down the invitation to select a flat due to a number of reasons, such as not being offered a choice flat, perhaps providing an earlier forecast of coming BTO projects can help young couples make more informed choices and reduce the rate of rejection.

**** Elect Them <http://singaporelifetimes.blogspot.com/2011/02/elect-them.html>
Singapore Life & Times

To those who still say that the budget could have been better for the man in the street, I say, get real. Opposition for the sake of opposition is way past its used-by date.

**** What Values Characterize Singapore? <http://tankinlian.blogspot.com/2011/02/view-posted-in-my-blog-in-our-pap-led.html>
Tan Kin Lian's Blog

We are indeed strangers in our land, for we do not recognize the values, the people, the facade of a place we were once proud or at least not deigned to call our home. 

**** The Importance Of Good Press Releases <http://benjamincheah.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/the-importance-of-good-press-releases/>
Benjamin Cheah, Thinker, Writer, Magus, Man

The most important tool of leadership is communication: the ability to communicate intent, purpose, and messages clearly. The failure to resolve this issue suggests poor communication ability – more so for the RP than for Tan and Poa, given Jeyaretnam’s press release.

**** Machines With No Souls <http://singaporedesk.blogspot.com/2011/02/machines-with-no-souls.html>
Singapore Notes

Which makes one wonder if Lee Kuan Yew actually shed tears at the 1965 press conference about the separation from Malaysia. Or was it because, to paraphrase Mark Zuckerberg's assessment of the Winkervoss' motives, "for the first time in their lives, things didn't work out the way they were supposed to for them"?

**** How About This, Mr Gan KY? <http://kaffein-nated.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-about-this-mr-gan-ky.html>
Kaffein-nated

**** Singapore Needs To Sort Out Its Rules On Gay Movie Scenes <http://www.cnngo.com/singapore/life/tell-me-about-it/elaine-ee-meyers-logic-behind-singapores-limited-release-kids-are-al>
Elaine Ee-Meyers, CNNGo

Given our society’s inability to accept mainstream same-sex unions, maybe the people who stand by this belief should make up their minds. If same-sex couples here (and in many other places) can’t do what most of the ‘normal’ human race desires –- get married, raise children, leave their legacy for future generations -– then they should, at least, be allowed to play.

**** 请聆听领养老金退休公务员的心声 <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/yl/yl110224_006.shtml>
周全生, 联合早报

问题是，他们按月领取的养老金（Monthly Pension）是永久不变的，直到离开人间为止。它并没有随着生活指数的上升而作出调整。领养老金的前公务员，只能应物价上涨而调整自己的生活水平，节食省用过日子。

**** Think Out Of The Box To Solve Social Issues As Well <http://www.raviphilemon.net/2011/02/think-out-of-box-to-solve-social-issues.html>
Ravi Philemon

**** At The Movies: Singapore Is My Home <http://talesacrossthesea.net/singblog/?p=1250>
Lara's Singapore Blog

In a way it’s heartening that the propaganda arm of the government is so ham-fisted; their ineptness shows a much less cynical approach to manipulating the national mood than Goebbels, which we must all agree is a good thing.

**** Of Gods And Animals <http://singaporedesk.blogspot.com/2011/02/of-gods-and-animals.html>
Singapore Notes

But when the government opened the floodgates for IT staff from India, finance executives from the West, and academics from China (with barely passable command of the English language), all in the name of economic growth, congeniality became limited in supply. 

**** Target White-Collar Foreigners Instead <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_637789.html>
Cheong Tuck Kuan, Straits Times

We have relied too long on the rationale that because MNCs create jobs, let them hire whoever they wish as long as Singapore gains corporate tax revenue and is able to leverage on MNCs outsourcing advantages to local small and medium-sized enterprises.

**** 林瑞生：别当成大选预算案 <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/sp/sp110224_012.shtml>
孙伟伦 李熙爱, 联合早报

在昨天财政部长尚达曼与工运领袖之间的财政预算对话会上，林瑞生反问在场的观众：“如果我国经济在2010年没有显著的增长，预算案怎能够在下届大选之前派发32亿元？”

**** 选前报道 他们将挑战单选区？ <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/sp/sp110224_006.shtml>
傅丽云 魏瑜嶙, 联合早报

单选区是兵家必争之地，执政的人民行动党又将派出哪些候选人单挑？

**** New PAP Faces Gear Up For Media Debut <http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2011/02/24/new-pap-faces-gear-up-for-media-debut/>
Angela Lim, Yahoo!

The People’s Action Party (PAP) is gearing up for the general elections by training its potential candidates for their debut media appearance.

**** Rush Hour Squeeze Increases On MRT Trains <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_638367.html>
Straits Times

**** Govt Accepts Electorial Boundaries Review Committee Report <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1112730/1/.html>
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia

There will now be 12 single member constituencies, two four-member GRCs, 11 five-member GRCs and two six-member GRCs.

**** Parliamentary Elections Act (Chapter 218): Parliamentary Elections (Names And Polling Districts Of Electoral Divisions) Notification 2011 <http://www.elections.gov.sg/gazette/G_RE2011/Names%20and%20Polling%20Districts%20of%20Electoral%20Divisions.pdf#zoom=100>
Elections Department, Singapore Government

This Notification may be cited as the Parliamentary Elections (Names and Polling Districts of Electoral Divisions) Notification 2011 and shall come into operation 24th February 2011.

(Note: Link goes to PDF document.)

**** GE: Amy Khor Ready For New SMC <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1112770/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

MP for Hong Kah Group Representation Constituency (GRC) Amy Khor said she is ready to stand in the newly announced Hong Kah North Single Member Constituency (SMC). She added that decision ultimately lies with the People's Action Party on the candidate to field.

**** GE: SDA To Contest Punggol East, Sengkang West SMCs <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1112774/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

The Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) has expressed interest in contesting the Punggol East and Sengkang West single member constituencies (SMCs). It will also field a team in the 6-member Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, said Secretary-General Desmond Lim.

When asked if SDA will back Lina Chiam if she runs in Potong Pasir, Mr Lim would only say that the decision lies with the Executive Council.

**** GE: Reform Party To Contest 2 GRCs, 3 SMCs <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1112778/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

The two GRCs it wants to contest are West Coast and Chua Chu Kang, and the three SMCs are Pioneer, Hong Kah North and Radin Mas.

**** GE: How Many Voters Does Each GRC Get? <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1112777/1/.html>
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia

The Electoral Boundaries Review committee in its report said it has decided to work on a range of 20,000 to 36,000 voters per MP, with a 30 per cent variation as in past practice.

Under the new composition, the biggest Group Representation Constituency (GRC) will be the Pasir-Ris Punggol GRC, with 204,845 electors, followed by the five-member Sembawang GRC which has 202,820 electors.

**** GE: Ho Peng Kee Feels Tinge Of Sadness <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1112782/1/.html>
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia

Senior minister of state for home affairs and MP for Nee Soon East, Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, has said he feels a tinge of sadness that Nee Soon East will now be part of a larger Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency (GRC).

**** Give At Least Three Weeks For Campaigning <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/4633-sdp-give-at-least-three-weeks-for-campaigning>
Singapore Democratic Party

Now that the electoral boundaries have been announced, the Singapore Democrats call on Mr Lee Hsien Loong to announce the Polling Day early in advance and give at least a three-week campaign period. Already the minimum of nine days to campaign has been shortened by the Cooling Off Day. Anything else will show that the leader of the PAP is afraid of facing the electorate over the issues.

In addition the period between the dissolution of Parliament and Nomination Day should be at least eight days.

**** Mohd Affendy’s Response To The <i>Ang Pao</i> Incident <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/02/mohd-affendy’s-response-to-the-ang-pao-incident/>
The Online Citizen

I wish to state that said ang pao was meant to help my family and me financially. Indeed Tony had done the same during the 2010 Chinese New Year celebrations.

I know Tony to be a kind hearted and generous man who has always been concerned for the welfare of others. He has never, during our time together in the CEC, tried to influence my voting prerogatives in any way.

**** GE: MP Michael Palmer Looking Forward To Punggol East SMC Contest <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1112807/1/.html>
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia

Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC's Member of Parliament, Michael Palmer, whose division has now been carved out as the Punggol East single member constituency (SMC), is looking forward to contesting it in the next General Election.

He said if he wins, the division would be run together with the main GRC, just like how Yio Chu Kang SMC and Ang Mo Kio GRC have been working together.

**** YOG ‘Burn’ Case Closed <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/02/yog-%E2%80%98burn%E2%80%99-case-closed/>
Deborah Choo, The Online Citizen

The Online Citizen has learnt that the police will not be pressing charges against Project Executive Abdul Malik Mohammed Ghazali, who was arrested last year for making comments that ‘incited violence’.

On the 18 of August 2010, Malik, 27, posted on the pages of the Facebook group, ‘I hate the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Organising Committee’, that it was time to ‘burn Vivian Balakrishnan and the PAP’. He also wrote: ‘Rally together and vote them out.’

**** GE: Lee Yi Shyan Ready For Coming GE <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1112819/1/.html>
Sharon See, Channel NewsAsia

Minister of state for trade and industry and manpower Lee Yi Shyan said the changes to the boundaries are reasonable as they are drawn based on population changes. Mr Lee noted that he has not seen any opposition activity in Joo Chiat, currently helmed by MP Chan Soo Sen.

**** GE: The Birth Of Whampoa SMC <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1112820/1/.html>
Dylan Loh, Channel NewsAsia

The new Whampoa Single Member Constituency (SMC) is carved out of the current Jalan Besar and Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs), said MP for Jalan Besar GRC Heng Chee How.

Mr Heng, who looks after the Whampoa Division, told Channel NewsAsia that how his existing five-member GRC team will be deployed in the next General Election is up to the People's Action Party.

**** Opposition Parties, MPs React To Boundaries Report <http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2011/02/24/opposition-parties-mps-react-to-boundaries-report/>
Alicia Wong, Yahoo!

“Overall, we believe there is gerrymandering in the ruling party’s favour,” said WP’s Ms Lim. The party noted, Hong Kah and Jalan Besar GRCs which will be dissolved are helmed by Ministers ( Mr Yeo Cheow Tong and Dr Lee Boon Yang respectively) who have stepped down from the Cabinet and plan to retire.

Ms Lim said, “seven polling districts close to Hougang SMC (block 600+ Hougang Ave 8), where WP has significant support, has been carved out and given to Ang Mo Kio GRC (and) six new precincts in Marine Parade GRC (Bedok North) have been carved into Aljunied GRC.” “As the number of electors under the new Aljunied GRC is not significantly different from those under Aljunied GRC in the last GE, one has to ask – why the changes?” she questioned.

**** GE: Lina Chiam To Stand As Candidate In Potong Pasir <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1112837/1/.html>
Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid, Channel NewsAsia

Mrs Lina Chiam, wife of Opposition MP Mr Chiam See Tong said she will stand as a candidate in Potong Pasir SMC.

"I will be running in Potong Pasir and you said the boundaries have not changed at all. Well that is good news for me as well because I have been working with my husband for the past 27 years when he was elected at MP and I have been helping him and I think that I would know the constituency quite well," said Mrs Chiam.

**** GE: PAP, Opposition Gear Up For Action <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1112840/1/.html>
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia

**** Opposition Parties Study Electoral Boundaries Report And Lay Stakes <http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=5963>
Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net