[MyAppleMenu] Jun 28, 2012

applesurf at myapplemenu.com applesurf at myapplemenu.com
Thu Jun 28 18:59:00 EDT 2012

MyAppleMenu
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**** Wiping Away Your Siri "Fingerprint" ****
<http://www.technologyreview.com/news/428053/wiping-away-your-siri-fingerprint/>
David Talbot, Technology Review


> Trudy Muller, an Apple spokeswoman, confirmed that voice recordings are stored when users ask a spoken question like "What's the weather now?" "This data is only used for Siri's operation and to help Siri improve its understanding and recognition," she said. Muller added that the company takes privacy "very seriously," noting that questions and responses that Siri sends over the Internet are encrypted, and that recordings of your voice are not linked to other information Apple has generated about you. (Siri does upload your contact list, location, and list of stored songs, though, to help it respond to your requests.)



**** Apple Store Workers Of America, Unite! ****
<http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/06/apple-store-workers-of-america-unite/258970/>
Jordan Weissmann, The Atlantic


> There are certainly worse fates than working at an Apple Store. The company offers decent benefits, including health coverage and a 401K, and looks good on a resume. But so long as there are enough aspiring “specialists” or “geniuses” lining up for their chance to don a blue Apple t-shirt, no worker has much say over what they make or how they’re treated.

> That’s fundamentally unfair. But it’s also common these days. Corporate profit margins are at an all time high in the U.S., while wages as a percentage of GDP are at an all-time low. Companies know they can pay workers less because they’re desperate to hold onto their jobs.



**** Ask Ars: Why Did Apple Have To Ditch Google To Add Turn-by-turn Nav? ****
<http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/06/ask-ars-why-did-apple-have-to-ditch-google-to-add-turn-by-turn-nav/>
Jacqui Cheng, Ars Technica


> The most obvious answer to the question lies in the Google Maps API's terms of service itself. Google may offer most of its juicy data to developers for their third-party apps (including Apple), but it does place some restrictions on what kind of applications are allowed to be built using Google's API. And in particular, Google restricts those making apps from its APIs from offering real-time navigation or route guidance in their own apps.



**** Apple’s Podcast App – A UI Breakdown And Comparison ****
<http://theindustry.cc/2012/06/26/apples-podcast-app-a-ui-breakdown-and-comparison/>
Chris Armstrong, The Industry


> Whilst I find the spinning tape deck whimsical and fun, there is no denying that the controls are difficult to hit. The Airplay icon, for example, is easy to miss — the tap target is extremely small.



**** Thoughts On Apple's Podcast App ****
<http://zerodistraction.com/thoughts-on-apples-podcast-app>
Alex Knight


> The early 2000s called, and they want their archaic method of synchronizing data amongst many devices back.



**** (Poorly) Supporting Legacy Devices ****
<http://brooksreview.net/2012/06/legacy/>
Ben Brooks, The Brooks Review


> I am scared at what iOS 6 might bring for 3GS woes and I really do think Apple should abandon devices faster (for the user’s sanity) if they aren’t going to make sure that these new updates work just as well on the legacy devices.



**** Presenting With The iPad ****
<http://www.macworld.com/article/1151359/ipadkeynote.html>
Joe Kissell, Macworld


> You can give impressive presentations from your iPad‚ and perhaps even leave your laptop behind‚ if you prepare well and know what to expect. It's even easier to take to the podium with newer technologies like AirPlay mirroring and the latest version of Keynote for iOS. Here are tips for moving presentations onto your iPad and delivering them live.



**** How To Use An External Microphone With A MacBook Air ****
<http://www.macworld.com/article/1167452/external_mic_macbook_air.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Christopher Breen, Macworld



**** Kensington Unveils Security Devices For iPad, iPhone, Macs ****
<http://www.macworld.com/article/1167458/kensington_unveils_security_devices_for_ipad_iphone_macs.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Joel Mathis, Macworld






The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Will The Americans With Disabilities Act Tear A Hole In Internet Law? ****
<http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/06/will-the-americans-with-disabilities-act-tear-a-hole-in-internet-law/>
Eric Goldman, Ars Technica



**** With Sights Dead Set On The Living Room, Google Debuts A Streaming Media Device ****
<http://allthingsd.com/20120627/with-sights-dead-set-on-the-living-room-google-debuts-a-streaming-media-device/>
Mike Isaac, All Things D



**** An App Keeps Spies Away From Your iPhone ****
<http://www.technologyreview.com/news/428344/an-app-keeps-spies-away-from-your-iphone/>
Tom Simonite, Technology Review


> A cryptography pioneer offers a simple way to fight electronic surveillance.






MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** The History Of The Remote Control: Why Are They So Awful? ****
<http://www.slate.com/articles/life/design/2012/06/the_history_of_the_remote_control_why_are_they_so_awful_.html>
Daniel Engber, Slate


> Maybe that’s the future of remote control: We started out with too many buttons and we’ll end up with too few.



**** Across The Country, The Menu Expands ****
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/27/dining/across-us-expanding-menus-and-improved-food.html>
Mark Bittman, New York Times


> There are times it seems as if progress in America’s food landscape is measured in the tiniest increments and among the tiniest part of the population. But after a recent cross-country trip, I can share three encouraging observations.



**** One One-Hundredth Of A Second Faster: Building Better Olympic Athletes ****
<http://www.wired.com/playbook/2012/06/ff_superhumans/all/>
Mark McClusky, Wired


> When it comes to this summer’s Games in London, she’s leaving nothing to chance.

> Jones is attended by 22 scientists and technicians, paid for by Red Bull, her sponsor. It is her seventh training session with the team, and today they’ve arrayed 40 motion-capture cameras along the track. She’s also being monitored by a system called Optojump, which measures the exact location and duration of Jones’ contact with the rubberized surface on every step and after every hurdle. And a high-speed Phantom Flex camera rigged next to the track can zoom alongside Jones and film her at 1,500 frames a second. The Red Bull team calibrates the equipment while Jones warms up.






SingaporeSurf
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**** Awaiting GCT's Answer ****
<http://singapore-lighthouse.blogspot.sg/2012/06/awaiting-gcts-answer.html>
Singapore Social And Political Thoughts



**** Govt To Review Policies To Support Citizens In Getting Married, Having Babies ****
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1210436/1/.html>
Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia



**** Raising Productivity Will Not Result In Higher Incomes – What Have We Been Taken For? ****
<http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/06/raising-productivity-will-not-result-in-higher-incomes-what-have-we-been-taken-for/>
Roy Ngerng, The Online Citizen



**** Singapore Watching Our Political Happenings ****
<http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnist/singapore-watching-our-political-happenings-1.99029>
Rita Sim, New Straits Times


> The Singapore government has always been perceived as using censorship and intimidation to maintain tight control on its people, who live with the unspoken knowledge that dissent can bring unpleasant reprisals.

> Although the repeal of Malaysia's ISA does not directly affect Singapore, it is the symbolism that will hurt Singapore the most.



**** Of Singapore And Malaysia ****
<http://meandpolitics.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/of-singapore-and-malaysia/>
Politics As I See It


> So, to the three ladies of the Singapore High Commission, wouldn’t it have been less controversial and much more fun to go window shopping instead?



**** Malaysia To End Taxi Slavery, What About Singapore? ****
<http://politicalwritings.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/malaysia-to-end-taxi-slavery-what-about-singapore/>
Political Writings


> I believe drivers should have the choice of owning their own taxis instead of being hirers for life. It gives them a sense of safety and security to own their own asset, and may put them in a stronger bargaining position vis a vis corporates. For those who can afford it, a taxi can be an asset they can will to their children or sell when they retire, as the case may be.

There are simply too much regulations and service-standard requirements in the taxi industry, in my opinion.


**** SPH Error Over STOMP Picture: All Eyes On SMRT's Next Move ****
<http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120628-0000068/SPH-error-over-STOMP-picture--All-eyes-on-SMRTs-next-move>
Tan Weizhen, Today


> Three days after Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) apologised to SMRT over a fabricated report about one of its trains moving off with its doors open, the public transport operator has remained tight-lipped with the media, refusing to say whether it has accepted the apology or not.

How about banning the distribution of My Paper and Today newspapers in MRT stations? :)


**** Apple Launches Long-awaited Singapore iTunes Store ****
<http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_815919.html>
Sherwin Loh & Trevor Tan, Straits Times


> Apple finally rolled out its long-awaited iTunes online store in Singapore on Wednesday but the availability of R21 movie titles for sale and rent - albeit for a short time - also caused a stir.

> Pay-TV and video retailers here are currently not allowed to screen or sell R21 titles.

Isn't it time for MDA (and Singapore) to move forward, and stop this silly R(A)/R21 fiasco? Doesn't everybody already know how to get their hands on these movies?


**** 为何要用“法律途径”限制父母异地养老？ ****
<http://www.zaobao.com.sg/yl/jl120628_002.shtml>
周全生, 联合早报


> 目前本地养老院的收费相对于邻国的同行要来得昂贵，即使政府有相当数目的津贴，价格还是挺高的。他们逼于无奈，只好忍受一些不便，把老人家送进邻国的养老院。对于这一群双工族，政府如果也动用法律手段来阻止他们把父母送到邻国或异地养老，于情于理都不能令人心服。







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