[MyAppleMenu] Nov 24, 2007

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Apple Retail Stores Revamp For Holidays <http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iJvIpQqpOpmhsXbv-OZLXrYn3QtAD8T3IM4G0>
by May Wong, Associated Press
Not a cash register is in sight. The electronics on display are all powered up and ready to use. Personal trainers, specialists and newly minted concierges in aqua blue shirts make the Apple Store feel part salon, part internet cafe &mdash; just without the espresso.
Over the past year, Apple Inc. has revamped its 201 stores, changing the layout, adding services and increasing its staffing. The "concierge" service that Apple launched last week is only the latest initiative designed to draw more visitors and bolster already record-breaking sales.

**** Forget MTV, Apple's iPod Ads Are The New Music-Star Makers <http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/23/MN4STFDOS.DTL>
by Chris Cadelago, San Francisco Chronicle

**** Why Microsoft's Zune Is Still Failing <http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2007/11/22/why-microsofts-zune-is-still-failing/>
by Daniel Eran Dilger, RoughlyDrafted Magazine
Microsoft still has a huge reserve of cash and revenues to throw at its battles. The problem for the company today is that its rivals now do, too.

**** 8GB Is Enough <http://playlistmag.com/weblogs/ipodblog/2007/11/iphone_vs_ipod/index.php?lsrc=mwrss>
by Jonathan Seff, Playlist
Although I wasn't planning to spend my days watching videos on my iPhone instead of watching the waves crash into the beach, the plane rides there and back would give me plenty of time to catch up on some unwatched TV show episodes and the like. So I decided to squeeze all I could into its relatively tiny 8GB.

**** Mail 3.0: No Longer Plays Sounds Through Alerts And Sound Effects Channel <http://www.betalogue.com/2007/11/19/mail-30-no-longer-plays-sounds-through-alerts-and-sound-effects-channel/>
by Pierre Igot, Betalogue
It really is frustrating when Apple's own engineers fail to be careful enough to follow the logic of their own operating system and make sure that they respect the design choices made by other Apple engineers before them.

The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Lost In The Post <http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10177106>
by The Economist
Prepare for governments to lose plenty of personal information about you.

**** I Want Control Of My Data <http://www.scripting.com/stories/2007/11/23/iWantControlOfMyData.html>
by Dave Winer, Scripting News
This is information I created. I want to keep a copy.

MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** No More Reading The Readers <http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-daum24nov24,0,3764276.column?track=rss>
by Meghan Daum, Los Angeles Times
Thanks to a new electronic device, it may become impossible to judge people by their (book) covers.

**** 'I Like Chicken McNuggets' <http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c0085956-9979-11dc-bb45-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1>
by Jan Moir, Financial Times
Chef Alain Ducasse on why he's fond of McDonald's, steamed tofu and serving raspberries in November.

**** Feast And Famine <http://www.economist.com/books/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10170431>
by The Economist
A history of British food.

SingaporeSurf
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**** Singapore Inches Toward Open Source <http://www.zdnetasia.com/insight/specialreports/0,39044853,62034345,00.htm>
by Isabelle Chan, ZDNet Asia
Although some companies and government agencies have embraced open source, the level of adoption in Singapore is still low by most counts, industry observers say.

**** World-Class Public Transport System, My Ass <http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2007/11/world-class-pub.html>
by mrbrown
If the Singapore public transport system is so stretched now, I can't wait when our population hits 6.5 million people.

**** Pulau Batu Puteh: An International Black Eye <http://klconfidential.blogspot.com/2007/11/occupied-as-i-was-with-matters-within.html>
by KL Confidential
I would personally be more reassured if our Malaysian representatives had not kindly decided to first put one foot, and then the other foot in our nation's mouth, landing us squarely on our internationally battered bums.

**** Singapore Wants To Redefine Status By Claiming Sovereignty On Island <http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=298235>
by Nor Faridah A. Rashid, Bernama
Malaysia reiterated its stand that it has no wish to change the status quo concerning the operations of the Horsburgh Lighthouse on Pulau Batu Puteh but it was Singapore which wanted to redefine its status on the island by claiming sovereignty not only over the island but also Middle Rocks and South Ledge, the International Court of Justice heard Friday.
See Also:
1979 Map Issued To Set Out Malaysia's Territorial Waters - Kadir <http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=298227>, by Nor Faridah A. Rashid, Bernama.
Judgement On Pedra Branca Expected By Next September <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/313481/1/.html>, by May Wong, Channel NewsAsia. Whatever the judges decide, Singapore and Malaysia are glad the issue has been brought to an international court.
ICJ Adjourns Pulau Batu Puteh Sovereignty Dispute Case <http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=298248>, by Nor Faridah A. Rashid, Bernama. The court did not speicfy when judgment would be delivered but on the average, it normally takes about six months to hand down the verdict.

**** VIP Wives Out Of The Shadows <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/313445/1/.html>
by Pauline D Loh, Today
Ms Ho's decision to be known as more than the PM's wife has certainly raised eyebrows. But then again, perhaps she is just a product of the times, where women no longer feel they have to apologise for pursuing separate lives from their politician-husbands.

**** A Pot Threatening To Boil Over <http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?file=/2007/11/24/columnists/insightdownsouth/19557079&sec=Insight%20Down%20South>
by Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
Cracks are already appearing between Singaporeans and the new settlers who have come as permanent residents, not just between different ethnic groups, but also within races.

**** AirAsia Can Reap Profit From Singapore-KL Route Within A Year <http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/11/24/business/19567878&sec=business>
by The Star

**** Bloggers' Meeting: 4Th Dec 2007 <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/11/24/bloggers-meeting-4th-dec-2007/>
by theonlinecitizen
There is a need for ordinary bloggers &mdash; and filmmakers who intend to put video material on the internet &mdash; to get together and organise a submission to the relevant bodies, putting across the perspective of practitioners.

**** Case Rebuts Stansfield's Complaints <http://www.todayonline.com/articles/223788.asp>
by Sheralyn Tay, Today

**** Singapore's Education System Works <http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_179897.html>
by Koo Tsai Kee, Straits Times
Singapore is a place where everybody can do well.
See Also:
Parents Gave Top PSLE Scorer A Head Start <http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_179972.html>, by Ho Ai Li, Straits Times.
Maths Formula GOes Wrong As A+B+C = D/E <http://tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,148610,00.html?>, by Cara van Miriah, New Paper. After only 8 in class of 20 pass maths, school says: Things could have been handled better.

**** Get Singapore Creative? Action Speaks Louder Than Words <http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_179987.html>
by John Rachmat, Straits Times
Singapore has to decide whether it wishes to join the 21st century, or whether it wishes to cling to 'traditional values'.
See Also:
Rapping Does Not A Cool Person Make <http://tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,148630,00.html?>, by Sylvia Toh Palk Choo, New Paper. Taxpayers want substance, not style.

**** Are Lower Train Fares Possible? Look To HK <http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_179989.html>
by Liew Kai Khiun, Straits Times

**** Temasek, A Reality Check <http://www.todayonline.com/articles/223787.asp>
by Adrian Tan, Today
Temasek's ongoing investment woes over its stakes in Indonesia's two biggest mobile telcos bring to mind some simple, eternal facts of corporate life.