[MyAppleMenu] Mar 8, 2012

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
====================================
**** New In iTunes 10.6: Auto-Conversion Of Music Files To Bit Rates Other Than 128 ****
<http://www.mcelhearn.com/2012/03/08/new-in-itunes-10-6-auto-conversion-of-music-files-to-bit-rates-other-than-128/>
Kirk McElhearn, Kirkville


> This will certainly please those who have iTunes libraries with music in lossless format, who didn’t want to downsample their music to 128 kbps.



**** U.S. Warns Apple, Publishers ****
<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203961204577267831767489216.html?mod=djemalertTECH>
Thomas Catan and Jeffery A. Trachtenberg, Wall Street Journal


> The Justice Department has warned Apple Inc. and five of the biggest U.S. publishers that it plans to sue them for allegedly colluding to raise the price of electronic books, according to people familiar with the matter.

> As Apple prepared to introduce its first iPad, the late Steve Jobs, then its chief executive, suggested moving to an "agency model," under which the publishers would set the price of the book and Apple would take a 30% cut. Apple also stipulated that publishers couldn't let rival retailers sell the same book at a lower price.



**** iPhoto For iOS Review ****
<http://www.macstories.net/reviews/iphoto-for-ios-review/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+macstoriesnet+%28MacStories%29>
Federico Viticci, MacStories


> There’s no denying that iPhoto is an impressive piece of engineering; maybe less from a design standpoint, but that’s a personal preference. Still, there are issues that need to be mentioned, and some underlying limitations of the app (and iOS) that Apple will have to address someday. If we have a single Camera Roll, why can’t Apple’s two apps treat it as an actual single Camera Roll? If Apple makes both apps, why can’t they share the same design and navigation languages, without utilizing different sidebars and grid views that will have users confused and disoriented? Why can’t Apple be consistent in its use of taps, tap & holds, and button labels, so we can all get along in merry UX celebration?



**** Eyeballing The iPad 3 Retina Display ****
<http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2012/03/07/eyeballing-the-ipad-3-retinal-display/>
Phil Plait, Discover Magazine


> If you do happen to have perfect eyes, under ideal circumstances you’ll probably be able to see the pixellation in the screen, but it won’t be that big a deal, I’d wager — and if you hold the iPad 3 about 18 inches from your face, the pixels are too small to see in any case. So, for the majority of people, the claim of a "retina display" is probably accurate.



**** What LTE Means For Apple And The Wireless Industry ****
<http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/07/lte-appl/>
Brian X. Chen, New York Times


> The complicated issue with LTE is that the network technology is available on different spectrum bands on networks around the world. That means to offer the iPad on more LTE networks worldwide, it will have to manufacture multiple models to be compatible with each different band — a splintering effect that the company has been trying to avoid with iPads and iPhones.



**** Quickly Jump Between System Preference Panes On OS X ****
<http://lifehacker.com/5891377/quickly-jump-between-system-preference-panes-on-os-x>
Whitson Gordon, Lifehacker



**** Hands-on And Questions Answered: Third-gen iPad, Third-gen Apple TV ****
<http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2012/03/hands-on-and-questions-answered-third-gen-ipad-third-gen-apple-tv.ars>
Jacqui Cheng, Ars Technica


> Apple's tech specs page claims the third-generation iPad is 1.44 pounds (1.46 for WiFi+4G), while the iPad 2 was 1.33 pounds. This is again a relatively minor difference, but it's certainly noticeable if you're used to handling an iPad 2. (The original iPad weighed 1.5 pounds, so the third-gen device is close-but-not-quite the same weight as the original.)



**** Apple Releases iBooks 2.1 And New Find My iPhone ****
<http://www.tuaw.com/2012/03/07/apple-releases-ibooks-2-1-and-new-find-my-iphone/>
Mel Martin, TUAW



**** iOS 5.1 Adds A 4G Indicator For AT&T Customers ****
<http://www.tuaw.com/2012/03/07/ios-5-1-adds-a-4g-indicator-for-atandt-customers/>
Kelly Hodgkins, TUAW


> When the iPhone 4S was released, AT&T said it was pushing Apple to make this change on the iPhone 4S and it appears the company made good on this promise.



**** A Few Minutes With The New iPad ****
<http://www.loopinsight.com/2012/03/07/a-few-minutes-with-the-new-ipad/>
Jim Dalrymple, The Loop


> It’s impossible to put into words just how good the Retina display is on the iPad. It’s not just images that look sharper, it’s text too. Reading a Web site or an iBook on the iPad’s display is incredible. Even the home screen on the iPad is crisper and sharper than I expected.



**** Which New iPad Should I Get? ****
<http://www.marco.org/2012/03/07/which-ipad-3-should-i-get>
Marco Arment


> Good luck.



**** Apple Increases Over-the-Air App Store Downloads From 20 MB To 50 MB ****
<http://www.macstories.net/news/apple-increases-over-the-air-app-store-downloads-from-20-mb-to-50-mb/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+macstoriesnet+%28MacStories%29>
Chris Herbert, MacStories



**** Apple Releases Configurator App For Mac To Mass Configure And Deploy iOS Devices ****
<http://www.macrumors.com/2012/03/07/apple-releases-configurator-app-for-mac-to-mass-configure-and-deploy-ios-devices/>
Arnold Kim, MacRumors



**** iOS 5.1 Available, You Can Finally Delete Photos In Photo Stream ****
<http://www.tuaw.com/2012/03/07/ios-5-1-available-you-can-finally-delete-photos-in-photo-stream/>
Victor Agreda, Jr., TUAW



**** Netflix Now Offering 1080P Streaming On New Apple TV With Direct iTunes Store Account Billing ****
<http://www.macrumors.com/2012/03/07/netflix-now-offering-1080p-streaming-on-new-apple-tv-with-direct-itunes-store-account-billing/>
Jordan Golson, MacRumors


> Netflix has announced that it will support 1080p streaming on the new Apple TV. In addition, users will be able to sign up and pay for Netflix service on both the second and third-generation Apple TV models, using their iTunes Store account. 



**** iPad 2 Remains In Lineup With $399 Price Point ****
<http://www.tuaw.com/2012/03/07/ipad-2-remains-in-lineup-with-399-price-point/>
Megan Lavey-Heaton, TUAW



**** Apple Unveils New iPad ****
<http://www.macworld.com/article/165713/2012/03/apple_unveils_new_ipad.html>
Lex Friedman, Macworld


> Apple on Wednesday unveiled a new iPad, the third edition of its wildly successful multitouch tablet. The new tablet sports a Retina display, a vastly improved camera, the new A5X processor, the high-speed mobile broadband technology LTE, and voice dictation support. Rather than give the iPad a new name like iPad 3 or iPad HD, Apple appears to be calling the new iPad simply “iPad” or the third-generation iPad.



**** Apple Unveils New Apple TV With 1080P Support, Updated UI ****
<http://www.macworld.com/article/165723/2012/03/apple_unveils_new_apple_tv_with_1080p_support_updated_ui.html>
Jonathan Seff, Macworld


> Apple unveiled a new Apple TV model on Wednesday, with support for 1080p video and a new user interface, at a special event in San Francisco.



**** iPhoto For iOS Arrives On The App Store ****
<http://www.macworld.com/article/165729/2012/03/iphoto_for_ios_arrives_on_the_app_store.html>
Philip Michaels, Macworld


> During Wednesday’s press event, Apple senior vice president of worldwide product marketing Phil Schiller pitched iPhoto as the next step after the Camera and Photos apps that come included with the iPad. While those offerings let you capture and view photos, respectively, the mobile version of iPhoto offers more browsing and editing capabilities.



**** Apple Updates iMovie, GarageBand, iWork For iOS ****
<http://www.macworld.com/article/165730/2012/03/apple_updates_imovie_garageband_iwork_for_ios.html>
Serenity Caldwell, Macworld



**** iTunes 10.6 Adds 1080P Support, iTunes Match Improvements ****
<http://www.macworld.com/article/165732/2012/03/itunes_10_6_adds_1080p_support_itunes_match_improvements.html>
Jonathan Seff, Macworld






The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** The Five Technologies That Will Transform Homes Of The Future ****
<http://arstechnica.com/business/the-networked-society/2012/03/the-five-technologies-that-will-transform-homes-of-the-future.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss>
Casey Johnston, Ars Technica


> We've been sold on such technological visions for years, but they always seem to be "three to five years" out. The tech we do get never seems to work quite as seamlessly as the futurists suggest. And yet we're still making remarkable technical progress; networking in general, and the Internet in particular, have only begun to transform our homes. Here are five basic technologies that will soon prove crucial to our networked lives—and none are mere fantasies. The core technologies exist; shipping products exist. They just need to make it into more homes before the effects are truly felt.






MyAppleMenu Reader
====================================
**** Book Club Erotica ****
<http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2012/03/the_new_smutty_novel_fifty_shade_of_grey_.single.html>
Hanna Rosin, Slate


> The particular genius of E.L. James is mixing the red room of whips and cable ties with the safer territory of emoticons and job applications and brotherly affirmations such as, “It’s fine.”






SingaporeSurf
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**** Help Resolve Contradict​ion ****
<http://trulysingapore.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/help-resolve-contradict%E2%80%8Bion/>
Yours Truly Singapore



**** ST Kinetics Gets Prohibition Order From India's OFB ****
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/1187767/1/.html>
Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia



**** About 2% Of Primary-level S'poreans Exempted From Compulsory Education ****
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1187776/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia


> About half of these children have special educational needs. Others are either enrolled in private schools or are home-schooled. 



**** The Coming Of Light At Marina Bay ****
<http://thelongnwindingroad.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/the-coming-of-light-at-marina-bay/>
The Long And Winding Road



**** Government Mulling Over New University Model ****
<http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_775307.html>
Tessa Wong, Straits Times


> There is scope for Singapore to develop a new university model - one that is teaching-focused and practice-oriented with close industry ties, said minister of state for education Lawrence Wong in Parliament on Thursday.



**** MRT Train Service At Pasir Ris Delayed Twice, SMRT Apologises ****
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1187751/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia


> Train service at Pasir Ris MRT station was delayed twice during morning peak hours on Thursday due to signalling faults on the track near the station.



**** Internal Inquiry On 2 Expats Who Jumped Bail ****
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1187736/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia


> An internal inquiry is ongoing to examine if there were lapses or negligence in the case of two foreigners who absconded while on bail. Deputy prime minister Teo Chee Hean said the inquiry will be completed next month.



**** Parts Of North-South MRT Line Will Have Rail Support Replaced ****
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1187734/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia



**** Foreign Workers Will Not Be Barred From Casinos: Chan Chun Sing ****
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1187731/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia


> [Acting minister for community development, youth and sports Chan Chun Sing] said the entry fee was introduced to protect locals, and any change would affect current contractual agreements with the two casino operators.



**** “Singaporeans No Enough” ? ****
<http://www.myapplemenu.comhttps://www.facebook.com/VoteWongKanSeng/posts/345598752148266>
Wong Kan Seng, Facebook


> In short, the combination of expanded public infrastructure and spending in social spending, slowing foreigner intake and Singapore’s low fertility rate will exacerbate our tight labour market as a serious bottleneck in our economy and in our delivery of services.



**** Blanco Court Prawn Noodles: Singapore's Prawn Noodle Patriach ****
<http://ieatishootipost.sg/2012/03/blanco-court-prawn-noodles-singapores.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ieatishootipost+%28ieatishootipost%29>
Ieatishootipost



**** Affordable Health Care On The Rise ****
<http://singaporedesk.blogspot.com/2012/03/affordable-health-care-on-rise.html>
Singapore Notes



**** Traditional Media Does Not Necessarily Advance Public Discourse And Civil Rights ****
<http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/03/traditional-media-does-not-necessarily-advance-public-discourse-and-civil-rights/>
Howard Lee, The Online Citizen


> The truth is that we will never be able to regulate online media the way we would traditional media. Yet if we take a long hard look at how ready traditional media has been in forwarding the interests of the people, and compare it against what online media has to offer, when still mostly unbridled, and we begin to wonder why we bother to begin with.



**** Singapore Healthcare Plan Riddled With Financial Kinks ****
<http://sbr.com.sg/healthcare/news/singapore-healthcare-plan-riddled-financial-kinks>
Singapore Business Review



**** Explain The Lower Payouts Of New CPF Life Plans ****
<http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_775059.html>
Leong Sze Hian, Straits Times


> The most popular plan gave higher payouts than the MSS, so how is it possible that feedback from CPF members led to the crafting of just two plans, both of which pay less than the MSS?



**** Protect CPF Savings From Inflation ****
<http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_775061.html>
Michael Dee, Straits Times


> Without inflation indexing, CPF members seem to have no means to maintain purchasing power over the long haul should inflation continue or escalate rapidly. Perhaps returns in CPF retirement accounts should be set at a minimum real yield to factor in inflation.

> Many countries offer inflation-protected notes and bonds, so this is a mainstream practice.



**** Firefly Passengers To Pay More Due To Budget Terminal Closure ****
<http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120308-0000066/Firefly-passengers-to-pay-more-due-to-Budget-Terminal-closure>
Today


> The carrier will operate out of T2 from Sept 25. From tomorrow, passengers who buy tickets out of Singapore starting Sept 25 will pay total passenger charges of $28.



**** Disappointed At Responses To Weekly Rest Day ****
<http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC120308-0000031/Disappointed-at-responses-to-weekly-rest-day>
Hernieyati Mamat, Today


> What kind of values do we hope to impart to our children if we cannot even dispense with convenience for one day a week to give our helpers the fundamental right to rest?

> I am aghast at the "me, me, me" mentality of those who think that inconvenience is an insurmountable problem. Should we not be grateful that helpers make our lives more manageable six days of the week?



**** Budget "Cutted" For Reservists! ****
<http://pratapolitics.blogspot.com/2012/03/budget-cutted-for-reservists.html>
Prata Politics



**** 860K For Assisting The Review Committee? ****
<http://article14.blogspot.com/2012/03/860k-for-assisting-review-committee.html>
Article 14


> Why was there a need to get an external consultancy to provide assistance? Wasn't the Salaries Review Committee itself possessed with sufficient skills for the job? If they were not sufficiently skilled, why not appoint persons to the committee that had the necessary skills? 



**** $860,000.00 Joke Is On Us! ****
<http://feedmetothefish.blogspot.com/2012/03/86000000-joke-is-on-us.html>
Feed Me To The Fish


> The elite government has to change its apathy for empathy.