[MyAppleMenu] Feb 2, 2012

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Understanding Japanese App Store Withholding ****
<http://david-smith.org/blog/2012/02/01/understanding-japanese-app-store-withholding/>
David Smith


> After a back and forth Twitter discussion yesterday with David Barnard about how Japanese tax withholding works in the the App Store I figured I’d write a quick post to clarify how it works. I am neither an accountant nor a lawyer, so it is a good idea to contact one of those before making any major decisions on this topic. This is also written entirely from a US perspective. I have no idea how things work around the world.



**** Steve Jobs Didn’t Believe In Macs For Business. But Here They Are ****
<http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2012/02/mokafive-steve-jobs/>
Caleb Garling, Wired


> When Dale Fuller was trying to resuscitate Apple’s PowerBook division in the late 1990s, he didn’t see eye-to-eye with Steve Jobs. Fuller saw all those PC makers selling Windows laptops to big businesses, and as he struggled to inject new life into Apple’s moribund PowerBook division, he wanted to do the same. But Jobs said no.

> Fifteen years after he left Apple, Dale Fuller still thinks Macs are good for business. His new company, MokaFive, carries the tagline: “Finally, Apple for the Enterprise.” But the world has changed, and his efforts to push Apple machines onto businesses are no longer at odds with the Jobsian vision — or least, not entirely.



**** Simplify Is An All-In-One Desktop Controller For iTunes, Spotify, And Rdio ****
<http://lifehacker.com/5881452/simplify-is-an-all+in+one-desktop-controller-for-itunes-spotify-and-rdio>
Whitson Gordon, Lifehacker


> The app is pretty simple; like other mini-players, it shows the current playing track and album art on your desktop. You can play, pause, and skip by clicking on the mini-player, but it also has a number of customizable shortcuts that affect all three players. You also have a few different sizes and looks to choose from, so it blends in nicely with your desktop and the way you listen to music.



**** Screen Magnification Options In OS X Lion ****
<http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-57369886-263/screen-magnification-options-in-os-x-lion/>
Topher Kessler, CNET


> When performing tasks like surfing the Web, browsing through images, or even reading text on screen there may be instances where you need to examine or demonstrate a detail that is relatively small or otherwise difficult to see.



**** Mac OS X 10.7.3 Fixes Bugs, Improves Lion Server ****
<http://tidbits.com/article/12764?rss>
Adam C. Engst, TidBITS


> The 10.7.3 update would seem to be a much bigger deal for those using Lion Server, to judge from the release notes for Mac OS X Lion Server 10.7.3 Update.



**** Apple Releases OS X 10.7.3 ****
<http://www.macstories.net/news/apple-releases-os-x-10-7-3/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+macstoriesnet+%28MacStories%29>
Federico Viticci, MacStories


> This new version of Lion includes “general operating system fixes” and support for more languages; 10.7.3 also addresses compatibility issues with Windows file sharing and directory services.



**** AirPort Utility 6.0 Adds iCloud Support But Removes Many Features ****
<http://tidbits.com/article/12760>
Glenn Fleishman, TidBITS


> Instead of telling you how every last feature now works in version 6.0, let me walk you through things I know everyone will like, elements many will hate, and some particular callouts for network administrators who are already turning amber in distress.



**** Is The iPad The New Cookbook? ****
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/01/is-ipad-the-new-cookbook>
Laura Barnett, The Guardian


> So how practical is it to use recipes on cookery apps? Can a phone or iPad cope with the splatters of the kitchen? And how do you scroll to the next stage of a recipe when your hands are covered in flour or lemon juice or potato peelings?

According to one of the comments, there are apps that uses the light sensor to detect you waving your hands to advance a page. No touching of iPhone or iPad is needed.


**** Updates For Snow Leopard Security, Remote Desktop Now Available ****
<http://www.macworld.com/article/165166/2012/02/updates_for_snow_leopard_security_remote_desktop_now_available.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Lex Friedman, Macworld


> In addition to releasing Mac OS X 10.7.3 on Wednesday, Apple also pushed out two other software updates: a security update for Snow Leopard and an update to Apple Remote Desktop.



**** Creating Freeze Frames In iMovie '11 ****
<http://www.macworld.com/article/165158/2012/02/creating_freeze_frames_in_imovie_11.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Christopher Breen, Macworld


> If you want to add a freeze frame from content in your iMovie library, move the cursor to the point in the clip where you’d like the frame and Control (right) click. From the contextual menu choose Add Still Frame to Project.



**** Macworld Expo Is Dead, Long Live Macworld | iWorld ****
<http://www.macworld.com/article/165144/2012/02/expo_dead_iworld_lives.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Christopher Breen, Macworld


> It’s now a show as much about doing as having—and one that’s available to everyone, not just those whose companies can foot the bill for a pricey conference package. As such, it has the potential to attract not only those interested in accessorizing and enhancing their Apple gear, but also people who want to dive into areas where Apple technology excels—the arts, media, communication, and productivity.



**** The One Button Mystique ****
<http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2012/02/the-one-button-mystique.html>
Jeff Atwood, Coding Horror


> I've gotten to the point where I dread using the home button on my iPhone because it Makes Me Think. And I get it wrong a significant percentage of the time. This isn't the way it's supposed to be.



**** How Apple Does Ebook Widgets Right ****
<http://blog.booki.sh/blog/post/a-favour-from-goliath/>
Joseph Pearson, Booki.sh


> That’s the first reason we’re thrilled about the widget-microformat approach iBooks is taking — we can build to the spirit of the functionality, rather than just mimic the functionality. We can parse the intention of a microformat — it’s impossible to parse the intention of a chunk of JavaScript. We’re not forced to build an iBooks clone, which work would hold no attraction for us.

Yes, sometimes I do wish Javascript (in web pages) was never invented.





The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Why Viewers Could Soon Control Super Bowl Ads ****
<http://www.technologyreview.com/web/39590/?ref=rss>
David Talbot, Technology Review


> Discussion of television shows and ads on social media is surging.



**** Computing Belongs To The Young ****
<http://www.infoworld.com/t/it-jobs/computing-belongs-the-young-185438>
InfoWorld


> The job kept me busy because there were a large number of requests that could not be handled remotely. I spent a great deal of time traveling between buildings every day. The tech issues were varied, and encounters with end users ranged from the frustrating to the humorous. But some of the more memorable ones included hearing a student's viewpoint about technology, which could be very different from an adult's. Here are a few that I think of time to time that exemplify those generational differences.






MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** That Vague, Crepuscular Time When Youth Has Passed: What Is It? ****
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/02/books/in-our-prime-the-invention-of-middle-age-by-patricia-cohen.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss>
Gail Sheehy, New York Times


> If middle age is truly the prime of life, as posited by Patricia Cohen, the author of “In Our Prime,” then why do so many Americans go to such lengths to deny they belong to that club? When Ms. Cohen was doing her research, she tells us, the first question her subjects nervously asked was “When is middle age?”






SingaporeSurf
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**** Conversations On Mandatory Death Penalty Must Be Based On Facts ****
<http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/02/conversations-on-mandatory-death-penalty-must-be-based-on-facts/>
Ravi Philemon, The Online Citizen


> If we look at the other countries mentioned in the report, Singapore stands with very few modern developed countries, in not setting aside or relaxing the mandatory death penalty.



**** We Must Move Up The Value Chain Rather Than Give Up On Manufacturing. ****
<http://sonofadud.com/2012/02/02/we-must-move-up-the-value-chain-rather-than-give-up-on-manufacturing/>
Kenneth Jeyaretnam, Reinventing The Rice Bowl


> The inescapable conclusion is that we do not need this absurd over dependence on foreign labour to create prosperity for Singaporeans. We should not give up on manufacturing either, just ensure that we move up the value chain.



**** New Batch Of Nominated Members Of Parliament Unveiled ****
<http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120202-0000156/New-batch-of-Nominated-Members-of-Parliament-unveiled>
Today


> After considering 47 names for appointment as Nominated Members of Parliament across sectors, the Special Select Committee has revealed the nine who made the cut. 

See Also: <a href="http://www.parliament.gov.sg/sites/default/files/Press%20Release%20on%20the%20Nominated%20Members%20of%20Parliament.pdf">Nominated Members Of Parliament</a>, by Office of the Clerk of Parliament.


**** Singapore's Gains Look Fragile ****
<http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/NB03Ae01.html>
Robert M Cutler, Asia Times



**** Launch Of Stories Teachers Tell ****
<http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2012/02/launch-of-stories-teachers-tell.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+singapore-education%2Fpress+%28Press+Releases%29>
Ministry Of Education, Singapore Government


> Primary school students can now look forward to reading stories written by Singapore teachers in class from 2013. Twelve stories, selected from 200 entries in the first story-writing competition, Stories Teachers Tell, will be available in two compilations (for 7-9 year olds and 10-14 year olds) and will be launched by Minister for Education, Mr Heng Swee Keat today.



**** Mandatory For Caterers To Time-stamp All Buffet And Packed Meals By mid-Feb ****
<http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120202-0000124/Mandatory-for-caterers-to-time-stamp-all-buffet-and-packed-meals-by-mid-Feb>
Today


> The National Environment Agency (NEA) recommends that cooked food placed between 5°C and 60°C be consumed within four hours, as bacteria may multiply rapidly and produce sufficient toxins to cause food poisoning when food is stored at these temperatures. 

> From Feb 15, caterers will be required to display the time-stamp sign prominently, and the NEA will take action against those who do not time-stamp their food, or who falsify or provide misleading information. The time-stamp should indicate when the food is cooked or ready to be eaten, and when to consume it by.



**** Cyclists Face A Steep Climb In Singapore ****
<http://blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2012/02/02/cyclists-face-a-steep-climb-in-singapore/>
Matthew Allen, Wall Street Journal


> One reason for the dearth of cyclists is that Singapore’s hot and humid climate makes pedaling a sweaty pursuit. Cyclists also complain of a lack of secure parking spaces, high rates of bicycle theft and restrictions on taking foldable bikes onto buses and trains.

> However, proponents of cycling point to another set of problems they believe can and should be addressed: The overall lack of infrastructure for cyclists on Singapore’s roads, and the bad attitudes of other road users, many of whom don’t acknowledge cyclists’ right to be there in the first place.



**** Driven The Wrong Way ****
<http://quidestveritas.blogspot.com/2012/02/driven-wrong-way.html>
Off-Duty Ed


> Our society believes in getting it right the first time, and since it was already done right once by someone else, let's just keep doing the same thing over and over again, 'cause then we can't go wrong. Yes, I'm looking at you with a baleful eye, so-called "Best Practices".

Coasting on past success? Justifying your current salary based on your past success, and not what you are going to achieve?


**** Sg PM Lee Hsien Loong: Being Poor In Singapore Is Better Than Being Poor Elsewhere ****
<http://www.according2ed.com/2012/02/sg-pm-lee-hsien-loong-being-poor-in.html>
a2ed.com


> Before kicking up a fuss about such statements, i would direct the people to think about how they’ve exhibited enough stupidity for their leaders to not shy from making such statements. 



**** Some Further Thoughts For Min(Education) ****
<http://ayummysliceoflife.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/some-further-thoughts-for-mineducation/>
A Yummy Slice Of Life


> The acid test (or rather, my test) to evaluate our political leadership is two-fold: (1) Can they exhibit some out of the box thinking and perspective, instead of simplify old issues at face value? (2) Is your rhetoric congruent with the policies that you impose? Talk is cheap. Exhibit some <i>real</i> leadership by demonstrating concrete action.

So far, everything that the PAP government has done since the General Election are reactions. We haven't seen any real leadership yet.


**** Singapore Faces Shortage Of Bus Drivers: PTC ****
<http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_762117.html>
Straits Times


> Unless transport operators can attract more recruits, they may not be able to put enough buses on the roads, said PTC chairman Gerard Ee. 'Finding enough bus captains is a challenge,' he added.

Maybe we need to benchmark bus driver salaries to the top 1000 taxi driver's earnings?


**** When Was The Last Time You Had A Good Look At Your PUB Bill?	 ****
<http://www.yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/5122-when-was-the-last-time-you-had-a-good-look-at-your-pub-bill>
Singaore Democratic Party


> So the next time you receive your SP Services bill, take a good look at it and see how much you are contributing in taxes – and to the welfare of your Minister.



**** Bloggers Risk Legal Action Over Hoaxes About SAF ****
<http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120202-0000072/Bloggers-risk-legal-action-over-hoaxes-about-SAF>
Sumita Sreedharan, Today



**** Singapore January Manufacturing PMI 48.7 Vs 49.5 In December ****
<http://www.nasdaq.com/article/singapore-january-manufacturing-pmi-487-vs-495-in-december-20120201-00677>
Gaurav Raghuvanshi, Dow Jones


> Singapore's manufacturing sector contracted for a seventh straight month in January as demand for the country's exports weakened amid a sputtering global economy.



**** Pasir Ris Sidewalk Good For Cyclists, Not For Pedestrians ****
<http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_761883.html>
Chue Choon Wai, Straits Times


> The authorities should give more thought to pedestrians. I still can't understand the logic of making pedestrians give up their walkway for the sake of cyclists.



**** Chiam Issues Personal Statement To Refute Claims ****
<http://www.publichouse.sg/categories/topstory/item/441-chiam-issues-personal-statement-to-refute-claims>
Chiam See Tong, SPP, Publichouse.sg


> But the baton should only be passed when the right leaders are in place. To be sure of the capability and aptitude of the next leader, they have to work with our grassroots and volunteers. They have to show commitment to attending our walkabouts and other party activities. They have to showcase their policymaking capabilities through the policy working group.



**** What’s wrong with these Woodlands residents? ****
<http://www.publichouse.sg/categories/topstory/item/442-what’s-wrong-with-these-woodlands-residents?>
Andrew Loh, Publichouse.sg


> As with the Serangoon Gardens episode, the government should stand firm and not be held to ransom by residents whose only consideration is how much they will be able to make out of their flats.



**** Ministeria​l Pay Report Draws On Sound Principles ****
<http://trulysingapore.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/ministeria%E2%80%8Bl-pay-report-draws-on-sound-principles/>
Yours Truly Singapore


> First, we price the job at top 1,000 salaries because we say we want top 1,000 people. Once we employ someone into that position, we then say that since he has the top 1,000 job, he deserves top 1,000 salaries. It’s a circular argument. Salary justifies salary which is no justification at all.