[MyAppleMenu] Mar 16, 2011

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
====================================

**** Apple Handcuffs 'Open' Web Apps On iPhone Home Screen <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/15/apple_ios_throttles_web_apps_on_home_screen/>
Cade Metz, The Register

Apple's iOS mobile operating system runs web applications at significantly slower speeds when they're launched from the iPhone or iPad home screen in "full-screen mode" as opposed to in the Apple Safari browser, and at the same time, the operating system hampers the performance of these apps in other ways, according to tests from multiple developers and The Register.

It's unclear whether these are accidental bugs or issues consciously introduced by Apple. But the end result is that, at least in some ways, the iOS platform makes it harder for web apps to replace native applications distributed through the Apple App Store, where the company takes a 30 per cent cut of all applications sold. Whereas native apps can only run on Apple's operating system, web apps – built with standard web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript – can potentially run on any device.

**** Is Apple Intentionally Crippling Web Applications On iOS? <http://rc3.org/2011/03/15/is-apple-intentionally-crippling-web-applications-on-ios/>
Rafe Colburn, rc3.org

Sounds like a bug to me.

**** Apple Keeps Right On Approving Amazon And Netflix Updates Without In-App Purchases <http://techcrunch.com/2011/03/15/apple-kindle-netflix-in-app/>
MG Siegler, TechCrunch

**** Google’s Revamped iPhone App Now Worth Using; Could Be Better Still <http://techcrunch.com/2011/03/15/google-iphone-app/>
MG Siegler, TechCrunch

Google’s native iPhone app finally feels pretty native, rather than just feeling like their mobile website crammed into a native shell. And the swipe-activated filters, voice search, and Google Goggles all bring the native awesomeness. And the Push Notification options for Gmail and Calendar finally seem to be speedy enough to actually use.

**** Apple Delays Launch Of iPad 2 In Japan In Wake Of Earthquake Disaster <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/03/15/apple_delays_launch_of_ipad_2_in_japan_in_wake_of_earthquake_disaster.html>
AppleInsider

Though Japan was originally scheduled to be one of a number of countries where the iPad 2 will launch next week, Apple announced on Wednesday that it has delayed the launch while the country works to recover from the recent earthquake and tsunami disaster.

**** Time Out Free 1.5.7 <http://www.macworld.com/article/158563/2011/03/time_out_free.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Heather Kelly, Macworld

The utility reminds you to take regular breaks throughout the day so that you can stand up, stretch, walk around, rest your eyes, and give your brain a breather. And since it knows how stubborn you can be, Time Out forces you to take those breaks by washing out your entire screen—in the color of your choice—when it’s time.

**** Apple Stores Accepting Old iPad Donations For Teach For America <http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/03/apple-stores-accepting-old-ipad-donations-for-teach-for-america.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss>
Jacqui Cheng, Ars Technica

Do you own an original iPad that you no longer need (pfft, original iPads are so 2010), but have no plans to resell? Apple may have a solution for you: the company has begun promoting a new donation program that will put old iPads to good use through the Teach for America program.

**** Which Accessories Work With The iPad 2? <http://www.macworld.com/article/158568/2011/03/ipad_2_accessories_compatibility.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Dan Frakes, Macworld

**** Review: iRip <http://www.macnn.com/reviews/irip.html>
MacNN

The Little App Factory’s iRip saves you from losing all your files when your computer takes an unexpected vacation. If you lost your hard drive, you can move all your files off your iPod, iPhone, or iPad back into your machine.

**** RapidWeaver 5 WebPage Designer Review <http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/rapidweaver_5_webpage_designer_review>
Steve Paris, Mac Life

If you need to push your site beyond iWeb but don’t want to be forced to learn HTML and CSS coding, RapidWeaver 5 is a happy medium between ease of use and power.

**** Small And Mighty: A Review Of Apple's New 13" MacBook Pro <http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2011/03/13-i7-macbook-pro-review.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss>
Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica

**** iPad Cads Scalping Buyers <http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/ipad_cads_scalping_buyers_A2bbbo5OkXOYxWFdmktFxJ>
Lachlan Cartwright And Kate Sheehy, New York Post

A cutthroat Asian group has set its crosshairs on the flagship Apple store on Fifth Avenue at 59th -- scoring nearly every iPad 2 it can get its hands since the hot gizmo went on sale last week, to re-peddle at exorbitant prices here and in China.

**** FileMaker Updates Bento For Mac, iPhone, iPad <http://www.macworld.com/article/158582/2011/03/bento4.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Philip Michaels, Macworld

On Wednesday, FileMaker overhauled its Bento lineup, rolling out version 4 of the personal database for the Mac while updating the iPhone and iPad versions as well. New features in Bento 4 tackle everything from new ways to share data stored in the application to performance-boosting enhancements. The mobile editions pick up some new capabilities of their own, including automatic location fields, an integrated voice memo feature, and support for iCal tasks syncing.

**** Confirmed: Some Web Apps Not Seeing iOS 4.3 JavaScript Speedup <http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/03/confirmed-some-web-apps-not-seeing-ios-43-javascript-speedup.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss>
Chris Foresman, Ars Technica

Apple is aware of the issues, which are currently filed as bugs. But according to Matt Asay, who is vice president of business development for mobile Web framework maker Strobe, Apple supposedly has no plans to fix them. Instead, they are marked "not to be fixed by exec order," suggesting that a higher up at Apple is preventing engineers from fixing the problems.

**** Moving Data From An Ancient Laptop <http://www.macworld.com/article/158598/2011/03/oldpowerbook2imac.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Christopher Breen, Macworld

**** iMovie Review <http://www.macworld.com/appguide/app.html?id=560282#lsrc.rss_main>
Jeff Carlson, Macworld

Apple's iMovie for iOS 1.2 is a friendly, easy-to-use app for the iPad 2 and the iPhone 4 and fourth-generation iPod touch. It makes great use of the iPad 2’s large screen, lets you add portions of clips to the timeline, gives you five audio tracks along with multiple background audio clips, while its Precision Editor aids in editing cut points. This new version reinforces the value of an app that was already fun to use and capable enough to turn casual video clips into movies you want to share far and wide.



MyAppleMenu Reader
====================================

**** My Astounding And Yet Not At All Unusual Day In Culture <http://www.theawl.com/2011/03/my-astounding-and-yet-not-at-all-unusual-day-in-culture>
David Orr, The Awl

6:30 p.m.: Realize that I am still a bit drunk.

**** What To Expect: X-Ray Vision, Doubled Life Spans And Lots Of Robots <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/books/physics-of-the-future-by-michio-kaku-review.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss>
Dwight Garner, New York Times

“Dull” and “charmless” are awfully harsh words to apply to Michio Kaku’s “Physics of the Future,” a book that examines, with exhaustive pluck, what life might be like at the end of the current century. But they’re the first words that popped into my mouth when a stranger asked me, in a coffee shop, “How’s the book?”

**** The Mission At A Restaurant Where The Obamas Dine: Remain Calm. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/15/AR2011031504559.html?nav=rss_artsandliving/foodanddining>
David Hagedorn, Washington Post

As a former chef-restaurateur, I always wondered what must go on in Washington restaurants when the Obamas come calling. Not just from the usual angles - What did they eat? Where did they sit? How did they tip? - but from an operations standpoint.

**** Miracle Above Manhattan <http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/04/ny-high-line/goldberger-text>
Paul Goldberger, Photograph By Diane Cook And Len Jenshel, National Geographic Magazine

Almost a decade after the Giuliani administration tried to tear the High Line down, it has been turned into one of the most innovative and inviting public spaces in New York City and perhaps the entire country.

**** What The Luddites Really Fought Against <http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/What-the-Luddites-Really-Fought-Against.html>
Richard Conniff, Smithsonian Magazine

The label now has many meanings, but when the group protested 200 years ago, technology wasn't really the enemy.

**** A Talent For Sloth <http://www.laphamsquarterly.org/essays/a-talent-for-sloth.php?page=all>
Philip Connors, Laphams Quarterly

The essentials of my current line of work—anonymity, discretion, watchfulness—are not so different from those demanded of a copyeditor. The lookout life fell into my lap, no effort required. It came to me, in fact, while I was on vacation one summer—seemed like one long vacation itself. I had two days to decide if I wanted the job. I surveyed my past and saw only blind striving; I played out my future and saw an abyss: day after day the guillotine of an evening deadline stretching into the murky distance. How could I refuse such a sweet summer sinecure? That, at its essence, is the story of my talent for sloth. I tried it for the first time in my life. I liked it. The plague of Midwestern Catholic guilt on my conscience notwithstanding, I often feel I could work my mountain as long as I walk upright on earth.



SingaporeSurf
====================================

**** GIA Says Travel Insurance Don't Cover Nuke Disasters <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1116688/1/.html>
Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia

The General Insurance Association of Singapore has said that travel insurance policies here do not cover fallouts from nuclear disasters. The cover excludes any loss, damage, illness directly or indirectly arising from the existence or escape of nuclear, ionizing radiation as well as contamination by radioactivity from nuclear fuel.

**** Higher Salary Thresholds For Foreign Talent "No Big Impact" <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1116723/1/.html>
Saifulbahri Ismail, Channel NewsAsia

The recent move by the Manpower Ministry (MOM) to raise the salary thresholds for foreign professionals and skilled workers may do little to quell demand for these workers. Companies Channel NewsAsia spoke to said they are already paying much higher.

**** Heartland Conversations With Mr Mo <http://yawshinleong.blogspot.com/2011/03/heartland-conversations-with-mr-mo.html>
Yaw Shin Leong

**** SDP Has Published Programme Of Alternative Policies <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC110316-0000426/SDP-has-published-programme-of-alternative-policies>
Chee Soon Juan, Today

Mr Sabnani is described as a "veteran journalist and media adviser" in the tagline to his article. Given his experience and expertise in commenting on opposition politics, it is hard to believe that he would not know that the SDP had in fact published an entire programme of alternative policies. 

Why did he not inform readers of this? Do they not deserve to get an accurate picture of the opposition especially in the considerations that he deems important?

**** æœŸæœ›æ¥å±Šå¤§é€‰å¤šäº§ç”Ÿå‡ ä½å°šè¾¾æ›¼ <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/yl/yl110316_001.shtml>
何家良, 联合早报

**** Keep Electoral Horse-trading A Private Affair <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/03/keep-electoral-horse-trading-a-private-affair/>
Ng E-Jay, The Online Citizen

Electoral horse-trading should be kept as private as possible because the mainstream media might drum up apparent disagreements or conflicts, which would reflect negatively on the opposition as a whole.

In times of intense negotiations, participants must take it upon themselves to observe certain decorum. All parties involved must be able retain faith and trust in one another even as they battle it out at the negotiating table. Once you unilaterally go public with certain facts, feelings or sentiments, you put that faith and trust at risk.

**** All Quiet On The Labour Front? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/03/all-quiet-on-the-labour-front/>
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen

**** SM Goh: Flip-flop? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/03/sm-goh-flip-flop/>
The Online Citizen

**** Letter To ST: MM Lee’s ‘Apology’ Sends Mixed, Ambiguous Signals <http://catherinelim.sg/2011/03/15/letter-to-st-mm-lees-apology-sends-mixed-ambiguous-signals/>
Catherine Lim

Singaporeans like myself, who admire MM for the boldness of his convictions even if we disagree with them, would have preferred to see him maintain his unique role of telling hard truths and taking responsibility for them, rather than give the impression of taking a position so at odds with his strong personality and forthright style.

**** Are Temasek And GIC Really Better Investors Than Singaporeans? <http://furrybrowndog.wordpress.com/2009/05/31/are-temasek-and-gic-really-better-investors-than-singaporeans/>
Furry Brown Dog

**** Persistent Public Transport Congestion: Nagging Questions And Uncertainties <http://guanyinmiao.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/persistent-public-transport-congestion-nagging-questions-and-uncertainties/>
Guanyinmiao's Musings

**** Coveting Singapore's Public Housing System <http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2011-03-15-Singapore-public-housing.htm>
Kathy Chu, USA Today

The island nation houses more than 80% of its residents in public housing. It's building eco-friendly apartment buildings that have green roofs and that use recycled water. Instead of renting the public housing units, Singaporeans can also become quasi-homeowners, buying 99-year leases on the properties that they can later sell at market prices.

But as the economy here has recovered from the 2008 recession, public housing prices have skyrocketed. High prices are making it hard for some of the very residents for whom Singapore's public housing was intended to buy a flat on the resale market.

**** $800 For Us, Millions For Themselves <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/4667-800-for-us-millions-for-themselves>
John Tan, Singapore Democratic Party

Given this range, it is reasonable to assume that the average wage of a cabinet minister is about $3 million. Multiply it by 21 ministers in the cabinet and we are paying $63 million for the ministerial salaries.

This is 5.5% of the nation’s entire growth dividend.

In the meantime we get the crumbs that fall from their table while they feast.

**** Is There A Racist In The Room? <http://singaporedesk.blogspot.com/2011/03/is-there-racist-in-room.html>
Singapore Notes

**** When You Should Vote PAP <http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/when-you-should-vote-pap/>
Yawning Bread

For my gay, lesbian and transgender readers, and others for whom equality, non-discrimination and human rights are important, I have dug up the speeches made in parliament during the 2007 debate on Section 377A of the Penal Code. Thirteen People’s Action Party (PAP) backbenches spoke on the subject and this post will give you a gist of the positions they took. They were not uniformly anti-gay; three of them took a stand for repeal.

**** Decision On Nuclear Energy Will Take "A Long Time": MTI <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1116899/1/.html>
Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia

Safety is one of the key considerations in a current pre-feasibility study on nuclear energy, and it will be "a long time" before any decision is made, said Singapore's trade and industry ministry.

**** Are Singapore’s Electoral Practices Legal? <http://newasiarepublic.com/?p=25563>
Min Cheong, New Asia Republic

**** Chee's Reply Misses My Point <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC110316-0001270/Chees-reply-misses-my-point>
Mano Sabnani, Today

I did not say the Opposition parties do not have coherent policies. My emphasis was that the policies need to be affordable and deliverable.

**** Closed-door PAP Meeting Yesterday Sign Of Imminent GE? <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110317-0000415/Closed-door-PAP-meeting-yesterday-sign-of-imminent-GE?>
S Ramesh, Today

In a sign that the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) is gearing up for an imminent General Election, almost 100 activists and party helpers held a closed-door meeting yesterday at Downtown East in Pasir Ris.