[MyAppleMenu] Jul 20, 2011

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Sticker: DRILL HERE TO DESTROY HARD DRIVE <http://www.boingboing.net/2011/07/19/sticker-drill-here-t.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boingboing%2FiBag+%28Boing+Boing%29>
Cory Doctorow, Boing Boing

Of course, full-disk encryption is a little less messy and more reliable (though perhaps also a little less stylish and dramatic).

**** Update Migration Assistant Before Upgrading To Lion <http://tidbits.com/article/12350?rss>
Adam C. Engst, TidBITS

Although it’s unclear how prevalent this bug is (we haven’t run into migration problems during the testing of Joe Kissell’s “Take Control of Upgrading to Lion”) and Apple implies that it applies only to a new Mac running Lion, we still recommend getting this update via Software Update or the Apple Support Downloads page (where it’s a 714 KB download) before upgrading to Lion.

**** App Showdown: Flash Browsers <http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/app_showdown_flash_browsers>
J Keirn-Swanson, Mac Life

We found that both Skyfire and Puffin delivered up content that was previously off-limits to us and that there were great places where they didn't overlap. Skyfire knew its way around a pre-roll, but stumbled over anything other than video streams. Puffin could give us laggy video from anywhere at all as well as interactive Flash, but the results were less than stellar.

**** The iPad Is Now Bigger Than The Mac <http://www.businessinsider.com/the-ipad-is-now-apples-second-biggest-product-2011-7?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Falleyinsider%2Fsilicon_alley_insider+%28Silicon+Alley+Insider%29>
Matt Rosoff, Busienss Insider

**** Apple's Cook On iPad, Asia, Apple TV, And More <http://www.macworld.com/article/161226/2011/07/cook_speaks.html>
Macworld

Apple COO Tim Cook spoke to analysts after Apple's record financial results Tuesday. This is an edited transcript of his remarks.

**** Are You Listening, Steve Jobs? <http://birdabroad.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/are-you-listening-steve-jobs/>
BirdAbroad

You have already guessed the punchline, of course: this was a total Apple store ripoff. A beautiful ripoff – a brilliant one – the best ripoff store we had ever seen (and we see them every day). But some things were just not right: the stairs were poorly made. The walls hadn’t been painted properly.

**** Apple Notes 'Future Product Transition' In Analyst Call <http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-20080870-248/apple-notes-future-product-transition-in-analyst-call/?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=News-Apple>
Josh Lowensohn, CNET

While nobody outright asked Apple where the next iPhone was during the company's third-quarter earnings call this afternoon, in answering a question about its fourth-quarter earnings forecast, the company alluded to a "future product transition" happening sometime before the end of quarter, which ends in September.

**** Review: The All New Calvetica <http://brooksreview.net/2011/07/calvetica-4/>
Ben Brooks, The Brook Review

**** Adobe Releases Photoshop Elements 9 In The Mac App Store <http://www.macworld.com/article/161224/2011/07/pse9_macappstore.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Heather Kelly, Macworld

Adobe has released a pared down version of Photoshop Elements 9, its consumer-oriented photo editing software, on the Mac App Store. Available immediately, the Mac App Store version of the application costs $80 and includes all the same editing tools as the full version. However, unlike the full $100 version, it does not come bundled with the Adobe Elements Organizer application.

**** Lion Arrives In Mac App Store <http://www.macworld.com/article/161238/2011/07/lion_arrives.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Philip Michaels, Lex Friedman, Macworld

Mac OS X Lion arrived on the Mac App Store Wednesday morning. Apple’s online storefront for Mac software is the only place you can get the update now—though in August a $69 version on a USB drive will be available.

**** Apple Adds Core i5, Thunderbolt To MacBook Air <http://www.macworld.com/article/161200/2011/07/apple_announces_macbook_air_core_i5.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Jason Snell, Macworld

On Wednesday, simultaneous with the release of Mac OS X Lion, Apple announced the impending release of new MacBook Air models. The new editions of Apple’s lightweight 11- and 13-inch laptops have received a major boost in speed and connectivity: They're now powered by Intel Core i5 processors and feature the new Thunderbolt connectivity technology. Coming in at the same prices as the previous generation of MacBook Airs, these new models also sport backlit keyboards.

**** Apple Discontinues The $999 MacBook <http://www.macworld.com/article/161199/2011/07/apple_discontinues_macbook.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Jason Snell, Macworld

On Wednesday Apple marked the demise of the MacBook. No, not its entire line of laptops, which made up 70 percent of the Macs sold in the company’s just-completed third quarter. Getting the chop is the $999 white plastic MacBook, which has held down the low-cost end of Apple’s laptop line for years.

**** Lion: The Complete Macworld Review <http://www.macworld.com/article/161026/2011/07/osx_lion_review.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Jason Snell, Macworld

After a long period of relative stability on the Mac, Lion is a shock to the system. It's a radical revision, motivated in part by the vast influx of new Mac users coming to the platform from iOS, that makes the Mac a friendlier computer. Veteran Mac users who don’t like those changes can turn many of them off, or just opt not to use them.

**** OS X Lion <http://shawnblanc.net/2011/07/lion-review/>
Shawn Blanc

There are some big things in Lion that stand out as the hallmark features — such as Launchpad and Mission Control — but these are not so much features as they are usability enhancements. And to me, that is what Lion is all about: enhancements.

**** Time For The Big Cat <http://brooksreview.net/2011/07/big-cat/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheBrooksReview+%28The+Brooks+Review%29>
Ben Brooks, The Brook Review

With Lion we begin to see a subtle obfuscation of the file system and a move toward skeuomorphic design for certain apps — yuck. This represents exactly what Lion is: a nudge forward that pushes what seem to be subtle changes, which are in fact a rethinking how computers should be used.

Not a nudge in the sense that this is an entirely new OS, but a nudge in the sense that this is an OS built for today’s computer users. In stark contrast to what we are used to: systems built for people that want, or know, how to use the system.

Yet it is the same old Mac OS X that were all very used to.

**** Apple Brings Thunderbolt To Its 27-inch Display <http://www.macworld.com/article/161241/2011/07/apple_27_inch_thunderbolt_display.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Dan Moren, Macworld

In addition to bringing Thunderbolt to the MacBook Air and to the Mac mini, lightning has struck one of Apple’s other products: its 27-inch display. On Wednesday, the company updated its monitor to bring support for the new high-speed connection, as well as a couple other new features—including a new name: the Apple Thunderbolt Display. Unfortunately, if you’re looking to buy one or upgrade it’s going to cost you some money and some time.

**** Mac OS X 10.7 Lion: The Ars Technica Review <http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2011/07/mac-os-x-10-7.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss>
John Siracusa, Ars Technica

Though the Lion name suggests the end of something, the content of the operating system itself clearly marks the start of a new journey. Seemingly emboldened by the success of iOS, Apple has taken a hatchet to decades of conventional wisdom about desktop operating systems.

**** Mac OS X Lion: A Screenshot Gallery <http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/07/mac-os-x-lion-a-visual-introduction.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss>
Chris Foresman, Ars Technica

Apple's latest update to Mac OS X includes a variety of visual changes—some functional, some purely decorative. While you can debate the utility of "skeuomorphic interfaces" while reading our lengthy and in-depth review of Lion, we thought we'd post a more visual tour of Lion.

**** Apple Releases Safari 5.1 For Mac OS X Snow Leopard And Windows <http://www.macrumors.com/2011/07/20/apple-releases-safari-5-1-for-mac-os-x-snow-leopard-and-windows/>
Eric Slivka, MacRumors

As part of OS X Lion released today, Apple includes Safari 5.1, an updated version of the company's Internet browser that supports a number of improvements, some of which are tied into Lion's new capabilities. But Apple has also pushed out Safari 5.1 for Mac OS X Snow Leopard and Windows, bringing some of the enhancements that don't rely on Lion to those platforms.

**** New Mac Minis Add Thunderbolt, Lose Optical Drive <http://www.macworld.com/article/161242/2011/07/mac_mini.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Philip Michaels, Macworld

The MacBook Air line wasn’t the only Mac hardware to get a Thunderbolt-inspired makeover Wednesday. Apple also added a Thunderbolt port to its Mac mini desktop, which sports new processors and discrete graphics as well.

**** The MacBook Is Dead. Long Live The (New) MacBook Air. <http://techcrunch.com/2011/07/20/updated-macbook-air/>
MG Siegler, TechCrunch

I’ve had the chance to use one of the new systems for the past few days, and it screams. Even the people who thought I was crazy last year to replace my MacBook Pro with the Air may have second thoughts now. Apple is saying the updated devices offer roughly twice the performance of their predecessors in various regular use cases (technically, the 11-inch models should be about 2.5 times faster, while the 13-inch models should be just under 2 times faster). All I know is what I see — it’s really fast and it handles OS X Lion extremely well.

**** Apple Releases Lion-Related Software Updates: Java, Server Admin Tools, Windows Migration Assistant <http://www.macrumors.com/2011/07/20/apple-releases-lion-related-software-updates/>
Eric Slivka, MacRumors

**** White MacBook Not Dead Yet: Still Available For Educational Institutions <http://www.macrumors.com/2011/07/20/white-macbook-not-dead-yet-still-available-for-educational-institutions/>
Eric Slivka, MacRumors

**** Apple Kills More Boxed Software In Favor Of App Store <http://www.macrumors.com/2011/07/20/apple-kills-more-boxed-software-in-favor-of-app-store/>
Jordan Golson, MacRumors

**** Apple Updates Existing iWork Suite For OS X Lion <http://www.macrumors.com/2011/07/20/apple-updates-existing-iwork-suite-for-os-x-lion/>
Eric Slivka, MacRumors

**** Installing Lion: Our Complete Guide <http://www.macworld.com/article/161064/2011/07/installing_lion_complete_guide.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Dan Frakes, Macworld

We've installed Lion more times than we can count, on a variety of Mac models, in order to put together a guide that we hope will make the transition painless for you. In the articles below, we cover the requirements for running the next big cat; the things you should do to get your Mac ready; and the purchase and download processes. We walk you through the actual installation; recommend some post-install tasks; discuss some upgrade challenges; and help you decide if a "clean install" is for you. We've also got instructions for creating a bootable Lion installer disc or drive, as well as for installing Lion over Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5), provided you have the appropriate license to do so. Finally, we've got a hands-on look at Lion's new recovery mode.

**** Our Favorite Hidden Features In Mac OS X Lion <http://tidbits.com/article/12320?rss>
TidBITS

**** Xcode 4.1 Free On App Store For Lion Only <http://www.macrumors.com/2011/07/20/xcode-4-1-free-on-app-store-for-lion-only/>
Jordan Golson, MacRumors

**** Dealing With Lion’s Hidden Library <http://tidbits.com/article/12306?rss>
Adam C. Engst, TidBITS

So, a plea to Mac developers — please keep your application support files in ~/Library even though it’s hidden, and if it’s important that users be able to access those folders, provide an interface within your application.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** Iced Coffee And Tea: (Not) Taking The Heat <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/20/dining/cold-brewing-coffee-and-tea-the-curious-cook.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss>
Harold McGee, New York Times

Iced coffees and teas should be some of summer’s simplest pleasures, especially when we just steep them in cold tap water, with no kitchen heat and next to no effort. But if you make even a desultory search for advice on cold brewing, you may find yourself mopping your brow deciding how, and even whether, to proceed.

**** Realpolitik In A Fantasy World <http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/07/18/realpolitik_in_a_fantasy_world?page=full>
Alyssa Rosenberg, Foreign Policy

It turns out that, apart from the dragons and giant magical wolves, the Westeros of Martin's novels is a familiar place: The challenges of international relations are pretty much the same whether you're an American president or a feudal king; whether your national debt is due to the Chinese government or to a mystically powerful foreign bank that employs professional assassins; whether your unsavory trading partners are oil cartels or slavers; and whether your enemies are motivated by a fundamentalist interpretation of Islam or by a priestess who sees the future in sacrificial fires.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Singapore Still Closed Shop <http://www.smh.com.au/business/singapore-still-closed-shop-20110719-1hn10.html>
Matt O'sullivan, Sydney Morning Herald

Qantas hopes of basing a premium airline in Singapore will hinge on the Australian government allowing Singapore Airlines to fly the Australia-US route, the boss of long-haul airline AirAsia X says.

Azran Osman-Rani said Australia would need to relax access to the air-route from Australia before the Singapore authorities allowed Qantas to set up a premium airline in the city-state.

**** Revisiting The Decision To Privatise Our Power Stations. <http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2011/07/revisiting-decision-to-privatise-our.html>
Diary Of A Singapore Mind

The competition in the electricity market has not materialised and our strategic national assets are now in the hands of foreigners who bought them from Temasek during the Financial Crisis. 

**** A Clarifying Tale Of Two Politicians From The Legal Sector <http://thinkhappiness.blogspot.com/2011/07/clarifying-tale-of-two-politicans-from.html>
Think Happiness

However, what I cannot accept is that it took him a good ten days to respond with his position. I also cannot accept that, when he did so, he shared what he recollected rather than what was actually shared. If it was going to take so long to make available a response, he should have made available a transcript of what he said.

It is heartening to know that the dominant leadership’s deliberate disenfranchisement of the alternative media is now a thing of the past but it would appear that the leadership in power has miles to go in its handling of adverse publicity in the alternative media.

**** Coping With NS: Wrong To Place Onus On Parents <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_692495.html>
Pang Thiam Chuah, Straits Times

Even if these commanders and fellow soldiers know the newly enlisted recruits for only a short period, the SAF should have a system in place to help identify recruits who show signs of being unable to cope.

That an intelligent boy from Raffles Institution, who was medically but not physically fit for combat, decided to swim across a choppy shipping channel suggests an inability to comprehend the situation he was in, much less cope with it.

It was also a desperate plea for help.

**** The Great University Escapade <http://singaporedesk.blogspot.com/2011/07/great-university-escapade.html>
Singapore Notes

Tan said the Government should "continue to monitor carefully the proportion of foreign students in our educational institutions to ensure that the proportion matches the present and future needs of the country, and that Singaporeans are the main beneficiaries of our education policy." We don't know if his sentiments shared are that of an aspiring  presidential candidate or that of the establishment. We do know that some bright sparks may not be bothered to wait to find out.

**** The Yearly Rush For Popular Primary Schools <http://yeejj.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/rush-for-popular-primary-schools/>
Yee Jenn Jong

We complain about Singapore’s education system being stressful but we are unable to let go of an overdependence on using performance at high-stake examinations as the sole measure of success.

**** 吕德耀回应舆论：两公交公司近半盈利并非来自车资 <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/sp/sp110720_001.shtml>
司徒晓昕, 联合早报

交通部长吕德耀昨晚在面簿针对最近的舆论作出回应。他说，经过查询后发现近两年来，SMRT企业45%的经营利润和新捷运（SBS Transit）50%的经营利润来自于租金和广告收入，而非车费。

**** 小一报名情况 义工人数太多　学额不够分？家长义工担心“白做” <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/sp/sp110720_007.shtml>
王珏琪, 联合早报

å®¶é•¿ä¹‰å·¥ç”³è¯‰å­¦æ ¡å½•å–å¤ªå¤šå®¶é•¿ä¹‰å·¥ï¼Œä¸å°‘å®¶é•¿ä¹‰å·¥ä¸ºå­¦æ ¡æœåŠ¡è¶…è¿‡40个小时，在小一报名2B阶段却失望而归。

**** Singaporean First? Yes! First To Pay And Pay. <http://javertworld.blogspot.com/2011/07/singaporean-first-yes-first-to-pay-and.html>
Javert World

Cut the crap about Singaporean being first, to the PAP we are just a digit, a profit making object and we and all the foreigners are here to pay their million dollars salaries.

**** Ex-Teacher: Discrimination Of S’poreans Starts From Secondary School <http://www.temasekreview.com/2011/07/19/ex-teacher-discrimination-of-sporeans-starts-from-secondary-school/>
The Temasek Review

The amount of resources given to these “scholars” by Singapore government are astronomical – fully paid education, fully paid accommodation, fully paid return ticket once a year to go back home for holidays and monthly allowance. On top of that, these “scholars” are given additional academic help which are not extended to the our local students.

**** 结霜桥跳蚤市场大缩水 范围将减半 摊贩摆摊先到先得 <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/sp/sp110720_002.shtml>
陈锦柏, 联合早报

受滨海市区线双溪路地铁站建设工程的影响，惹兰勿刹附近双溪路（也称结霜桥）跳蚤市场供摊贩摆卖的范围将减少一半，所有约240摊位将挤在剩余可供营业的半个摆卖区，各个摆货摊位也将受限于环境局划定的范围，不可任意摆放。

**** Murdoch: UK Should Emulate Singapore’s Million Dollar Ministerial Wage <http://www.cnbc.com/id/43817883>
Deepanshu Bagchee, CNBC

Murdoch said that Singapore's model of paying politicians millions of dollars had created a cleaner and more transparent government and one that Britain should emulate.

Murdoch said it was "ridiculous" that parliamentarians were reduced to claiming fake expenses in order to make up for their income.

**** Transport Minister Addresses Fare Increase Concerns <http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/transport-minister-addresses-fare-increase-concerns-165055312.html>
Fann Sim, Yahoo!

Besides the fare increases, the minister revealed that he was also paying close attention to the Quality of Service (QOS) delivered by the two operators.

Describing the current QOS standards for buses as not sufficiently stringent, he revealed that the Ministry of Transport and the Land Transport Authority are in the midst of a study on how to tighten this.

**** A Response To Transport Minister On Public Transport System In Singapore <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/07/a-response-to-transport-minister-on-public-transport-system-in-singapore/>
Yong SK, The Online Citizen

**** Growing Up A Criminal <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/your-letters/4904-growing-up-a-criminal>
Singapore Democratic Party

My efforts to relinquish my Singaporean citizenship was denied because I had to face my punishment for committing a crime against Singapore, and until I resolve the fines and penalties and duties being born a male child in Singapore, I could not relinquish my citizenship unless I turn up for National Service (NS).

It cannot be that a nation binds native born persons this way and render them with less rights than foreign workers who can buy homes and raise children here while holding a foreign passport. There is a population of males who left the country and who are now barred simply because of NS. I am one of them.

**** Temasek Loses 74% Of Pakistani Investment <http://atans1.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/temasek-loses-74-of-pakistani-investment/>
Thoughts Of A Cynical Investor

**** Where Is The New Normal In Singapore Politics? <http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/where-normal-singapore-politics-101710523.html>
P N Balji, Yahoo!