[MyAppleMenu] Jun 7, 2012

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
====================================
**** Hands On: OmniPlan For iPad ****
<http://www.macstories.net/reviews/hands-on-omniplan-for-ipad/>
Don Southard, MacStories



**** Computer Security Doesn’t Have To Be A Binary State ****
<http://www.technovia.co.uk/2012/06/computer-security-doesnt-have-to-be-a-binary-state.html>
Ian Betteridge, Technovia


> But flip a hardware switch on the side, hidden behind a panel, and you have full access to everything. If you want to tinker, you can. But if you want a secure, safe machine you can have that, too.

You can't have a real safe machine if there <i>is</i> a switch. Once I know there is a switch, I'll start worry about every single switch.
Also, I'd bet that there are customers who will turn off GateKeeper (in OS X Mountain Lion) without realizing what that means.


**** MenuMate For OS X Puts An App's Menu Bar In Easy Reach ****
<http://www.macnews.com/2012/06/06/menumate-os-x-puts-apps-menu-bar-easy-reach>
Dennis Sellers, MacNews


> The software serves up a copy of an app's menu bar items right next to the cursor. You set a hot key combo to make the menu bar pop up (though you can't use the left or right keys).



**** How To Travel Using Only Your iPad ****
<http://www.informationweek.com/news/240001563>
Boonsri Dickinson, Informationweek



**** Managing Problems With Apple's MacBook Power Adapters ****
<http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-57448638-263/managing-problems-with-apples-macbook-power-adapters/>
Topher Kessler, CNET


> While often the easiest solution for a faulty power adapter is to replace it with a new one, before doing this there are some steps you can take that will ideally address the problem.



**** My Experience At The Apple Store ****
<http://www.chicagonow.com/ups-and-downs-of-a-yoga-mom/2012/06/my-experience-at-the-apple-store/>
Chicago Now


> It was a very high tech, futuristic and modern experience.  As for my computer, I'm still remembering the nuances and commands, back from my advertising days.  I'm pretty confident that I've gone Mac, and I'm never going back.



**** Adjust OS X’s Volume In Smaller Increments By Pressing Option+Shift ****
<http://lifehacker.com/5916372/adjust-os-xs-volume-in-smaller-increments-by-pressing-option%252Bshift>
Whitson Gordon, Lifehacker


> To adjust the volume in smaller increments, just hold Option+Shift and adjust the volume with the volume keys as normal. You should find that it jumps up and down in quarter notches instead. This also works for screen brightness, incidentally.



**** Decorating Moscone … And Crazy Predictions ****
<http://www.cocoanetics.com/2012/06/decorating-moscone-and-crazy-predictions/>
Cocoanetics



**** ‘Mac App Store Vs Buying Direct’ ****
<http://brooksreview.net/2012/06/mac-app-store-buying/>
Ben Brooks, The Brooks Review


> As Rentzsch lists, there are a few really strong reasons to buy from the Mac App Store — what he doesn’t say is that most of the reasons to buy direct don’t apply to the non-nerd population, which is most of the Mac user base.



**** MacUpdate June 2012 Bundle: 11 Mac Apps For $49.99 ****
<http://www.macstories.net/news/macupdate-june-2012-bundle-11-mac-apps-for-49-99/>
Chris Herbert, MacStories



**** Are We Using Geofencing Wrong? ****
<http://www.marco.org/2012/06/06/brooks-geofencing>
Marco Arment


> So even if an app creates a geofence with a precise location, it doesn’t really matter since the triggering mechanism is based on a far less accurate location service. And if the geofence radius is too small, these inaccuracies might often make it fail to fire.



**** Apple’s Hardware “Dilemma” ****
<http://counternotions.com/2012/06/06/hwdilemma/>
Counternotions


> Apple has the best hardware-software-service integration in the industry, bar none. So the fact that the new device wars are now actually fought not on hardware specs but on vertical integration accords Apple a unique advantage.

As others had said before, while competitors made hardware, Microsoft (and, now Google) made software, only Apple made computers.
Who else make computers? Amazon. So, watch out.


**** 7,073 Users Can Be Wrong ****
<http://rogueamoeba.com/utm/2012/06/06/7073-users-can-be-wrong/>
Rogue Amoeba


> We now know that Apple’s issue with Airfoil Speakers Touch was specifically related to its recently-added ability to receive audio directly from iOS devices and iTunes. This was not properly conveyed in our initial conversations prior to the removal of Airfoil Speakers Touch from the store, and Apple’s representatives apologized for the fact that the entire process was “poorly handled”.

> You may be asking why Apple would want to prevent users from having this functionality. Only Apple can provide a full answer here. We do know that Airfoil Speakers Touch’s ability to receive audio directly from iTunes and iOS enabled some users to forgo purchasing expensive AirPlay hardware, hardware which Apple licenses. It seems Apple has chosen to use their gatekeeper powers to simply prevent competition.



**** CheatSheet Helps You Find And Remember Keyboard Shortcuts ****
<http://www.macworld.com/article/1167118/cheatsheet_helps_you_find_and_remember_keyboard_shortcuts.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Dan Frakes, Macworld






The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** China's Answer To The Apple Success Story? ****
<http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2012-06/07/content_15481134.htm>
Shen Jingting, China Daily


> Will any Chinese mobile phone company replicate Apple Inc's tremendous success? The answer from Lei Jun, chairman and chief executive officer of Xiaomi Corp, may be a big "Yes".






MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** On A Short Leash ****
<http://www.slate.com/articles/life/family/2008/06/on_a_short_leash.html>
Hanna Rosin and David Plotz, Slate


> Did you hear about that Buddhist couple who're never more than 15 feet apart? Well, we tried it.



**** A Man Who Won't Forget Ray Bradbury ****
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jun/06/ray-bradbury-neil-gaiman-appreciation>
Neil Gaiman, The Guardian


> Ray Bradbury was the kind of person who would give half a day to a kid who wanted to be a writer when he grew up.



**** Ray Bradbury And The Fever Of Inspiration ****
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/06/ray-bradbury-fever-inspiration>
Dan Gillmor, The Guardian


> In my early teens, I read Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes, a novel that combines fantasy and horror as two 13-year-old boys and one of their fathers confront evil, and prevail over it. I remember devouring the book in one sitting. It terrified and inspired me in equal measures. It changed me.






SingaporeSurf
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**** 'Sticker' Lady ****
<http://hri-kumar.blogspot.sg/2012/06/sticker-lady.html>
Hri Kumar


> But is not clear what the particular movement - to excuse the Sticker Lady from punishment - is saying.



**** If We Have To, Forgo The Growth ****
<http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC120607-0000173/If-our-economy-demands-more-than-we-can-accommodate,-forgo-the-growth>
Cindy Low Minyi, Today


> If our land cannot accommodate the bigger population that our economy demands, then forgo the growth. I would probably be a loser, but I think I would be a happy one.



**** Singapore’s $300M Gift To Yale? ****
<http://furrybrowndog.wordpress.com/2012/06/07/singapores-300m-gift-to-yale/>
Furry Brown Dog


> While there doesn’t appear to be any independent sources verifying Sleeper’s remarks, should it proves accurate, it’s troubling to Singaporeans that their hard-won reserves and investments would be turned over to the Yale endowment fund just for the purpose of getting them to set up campus. What’s worse is there has been no disclosure or discussion of such an agreement by the Singapore media. 



**** Singapore Not Among Entrepreneurs' Top Choices In Creating The Most Jobs ****
<http://sbr.com.sg/hr-education/news/singapore-not-among-entrepreneurs-top-choices-in-creating-most-jobs>
Singapore Business Review



**** æ–°åŠ å¡ä¸Žç¾Žå›½å„å–æ‰€éœ€ï¼šè¿ŽæŽ¥ç¾Žèˆ°å¹¶éžâ€œæŠ•é â€ ****
<http://news.ifeng.com/mil/4/detail_2012_06/07/15119093_0.shtml>
芦一江, 青年参考


> è®²æ±‚â€œå¤§å›½å¹³è¡¡â€çš„æ–°åŠ å¡äººï¼Œå…¶å®žå¹¶ä¸æœŸå¾…åŒºåŒºå‡ è‰˜ç¾Žå›½æˆ˜èˆ°ä¸ºè‡ªèº«ä¿é©¾æŠ¤èˆªï¼Œä»–ä»¬çœŸæ­£çœ‹é‡çš„ï¼Œæ˜¯å…¶ä¸­çš„è±¡å¾æ„ä¹‰å’Œç¾Žå›½çš„å½±å“åŠ›è€Œå·²ã€‚



**** Casino Ban To Extend To Another 15,000 Vulnerable S'poreans & PRs ****
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1206095/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia


> From July 2012, the third-party casino exclusion will be extended to 12,000 individuals who are receiving short to medium term ComCare assistance.

> NCPG Chairman Mr Lim Hock San said: "We are heartened to see the government taking measures to protect the financially vulnerable. On its part, NCPG will continue its efforts in creating greater awareness of problem gambling." 



**** Singapore Official Charged In Rare Corruption Case ****
<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303296604577450152007823124.html?mod=googlenews_wsj>
Shibani Mahtani, Wall Street Journal



**** Alex Au Wins Humanist Of The Year Award ****
<http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/06/alex-au-wins-humanist-of-the-year-award/>
Lim Say Liang, The Online Citizen



**** Have Mercy On “Sticker Lady!” ****
<http://gintai.wordpress.com/2012/06/07/have-mercy-on-sticker-lady/>
Gintai_昇泰


> If the authority wishes to get rid of such “acts of vandalism”, there is plentiful around us. They could start off with napping those locksmiths always sticking their name card stickers onto letter boxes, door bells and lifts which are public property. No matter how I remove those irritating stickers, they keep coming back. These are the so called irresponsible social menace recalcitrants that need a bigger stick to whack the daylight out of them! Really langgar!

> Why didn’t the police go after them instead? In short, let reason and compassion guide those in authority to mete out justice in an appropriate and fair manner. ‘Sticker lady’ deserves a second chance.



**** New Window Cleaning Rule Is A Half Measure ****
<http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_807826.html>
Lee Hin Peng, Straits Times


> As a high-rise dweller myself, I do not see any problem in accepting a regime of cleaning these exteriors only once or twice a year, by trained personnel engaged to do so.



**** Don't Group PRs With Citizens ****
<http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_807820.html>
Kelvin Lee, Straits Times


> Grouping permanent residents with Singaporeans gives an inaccurate picture of matters affecting citizens.



**** In Response To Dr Vivian’s Statement That Those Who Speak Against Immigrants Will Turn Against Minorities ****
<http://temasektimes.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/in-response-to-dr-vivians-statement-that-those-who-speak-against-immigrants-will-turn-against-minorities/>
Hanz Yeo, The Temasek Times


> We know who our fellow Singaporeans are and we love each other, be it Singaporean Chinese, Malays or Indians. Anti-immigrant sentiments are sentiments of nationalism, saying it’s racism is plain stupid.



**** A Forgotten Past – The Prisoners Of Conscience ****
<http://remembersingapore.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/the-prisoners-of-conscience/>
Remember Singapore



**** Not Too Small For Comfort ****
<http://www.todayonline.com/CommentaryandAnalysis/Commentary/EDC120607-0000017/Not-too-small-for-comfort>
Conrad Raj, Today


> And do we really want further government intervention in curbing the number of shoebox units? Let the market decide. If the yields from these apartments are not good enough, people will stop purchasing them and developers will stop building more. Why should they want to cater to a non-existent market?

Willing buyers, willing sellers. This situation is much more humane than legally being chased out of your home just because all your neighbors are greedy to sell.


**** Singaporean Street Artist Arrested For Vandalism ****
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kirsten-han/singaporean-street-artist_b_1568753.html>
Kirsten Han, Huffington Post


> Although SKL0 is still under investigation and no charges have yet been laid, the fact that she has been arrested at all has angered many who see it as a stifling of artistic expression, and hypocrisy on the side of a government that has often spoken of promoting arts and culture.



**** The Media: PAP’s Political Tool? ****
<http://politicalwritings.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/the-media-paps-political-tool/>
Political Writings


> Media control is not about the petty little pieces the papers put out on WP’s leadership issues or their unflattering pictures of Png. When the PAP uses the media as a political tool, we get complete news blackouts, a total lack of questioning, straight unedited Govt press releases published as “news”, and suppression of coverage of certain political parties and individuals.



**** Respecting And Remembering Dr Lim Hock Siew ****
<http://feedmetothefish.blogspot.sg/2012/06/respecting-and-remembering-dr-lim-hock.html>
Feed Me To The Fish



**** Install Ad Boards In Lifts To Defray LUP Costs ****
<http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC120607-0000062/Install-ad-boards-in-lifts-to-defray-LUP-costs>
Chin Kee THou, Today


> Town councils should give it serious thought, not only to collect revenue but also to get rid of the nuisance of littering, if advertisers, likely to be property agents but not solely, dispense with the distribution of flyers to ply their trade.

And how much do you think it cost to distribute flyers into mailboxes, and how many years of advertisement revenue you'd need to recoup the cost of upgrading?


**** MINDEF's Statement On Sailor Seems Unfair ****
<http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC120607-0000073/MINDEFs-statement-on-sailor-seems-unfair>
Derek Low, Today


> Based on the report, Lieutenant Benedict Ang is not pleading guilty to the charges (of indecency). It is common sense that he is innocent until found guilty.

> However, MINDEF, or rather, the SAF, suspended him from duty and suggested its readiness to inflict punishment on him. Its statement is unfair and casts aspersions on an outstanding officer.



**** How Crowded Is The Bus Today? ****
<http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120607-0000074/How-crowded-is-the-bus-today?>
Sumita Sreedharan, Today


> Tapping on the fare system to obtain the number of people boarding and alighting at each stop, the LTA will convey the information using three coloured bands: Green for seats available, amber of standing space and red for crowded. "The aim is to obtain feedback on its usefulness and suggestions for improvement," said an LTA spokesperson.

I have, what I believe, a better suggestion: just throw out all these data to the public. Some third-party developers will be able to bring us apps that are far more innovative and useful than what LTA, SMRT and SBS combined can think up.