[MyAppleMenu] Apr 15, 2010

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Apple Updates MobileMe Backup To 3.2 <http://www.macworld.com/article/150606/2010/04/backup_32.html?lsrc=rss_main>
David Chartier, Macworld

Apple has updated Backup, one of the overlooked perks of MobileMe, to version 3.2. The update is about par for the course, including reliability improvements, but it introduces one interesting new feature apparently borrowed from Time Machine: automatically recycling old backups to conserve space.

**** iPad Keyboard Dock Or Bluetooth Keyboard? <http://www.macworld.com/article/150600/2010/04/ipadwhichkeyboard.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Dan Frakes, Macworld

Which should you choose, the iPad Keyboard Dock or a Bluetooth keyboard? It depends on how you plan to use an external keyboard. I've been using both options over the past week or so; here are some things to consider when making your decision.

**** CoverScout 3.3 Update Adds SongGenie 2 Integration <http://www.macworld.com/article/150616/2010/04/coverscout33.html?lsrc=rss_main>
David Dahlquist, Macworld

New in CoverScout 3.3 is integration with Equinux’s SongGenie 2, which analyzes your iTunes library, looking for untitled and misspelled tracks, as well as tracks without lyrics, and spruces them up by automatically correcting these issues.

**** Israel Says U.S. iPads Not Welcome For Now <http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20002491-17.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=News-Apple>
Don Reisinger, CNET News

The Communication Ministry's decision to ban iPads in Israel is mainly due to the limited testing it has been able to perform on the device. It has asked iDigital, Apple's Israel distributor, for details on how the iPad works. But until it's satisfied, U.S. iPads are not welcome within its borders.

**** Apple Releases Pair Of Firmware Updates For 27-inch iMacs <http://www.macworld.com/article/150634/2010/04/imac_firmware.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Dan Moren, Macworld

**** Apple Releases Leopard, Snow Leopard Security Update 2010-003 <http://www.macworld.com/article/150635/2010/04/security_2010_003.html?lsrc=rss_main>
David Chartier, Macworld

Security Update 2010-003 for Snow Leopard, Leopard Client, and Leopard Server fixes exactly one vulnerability: the potential execution of arbitrary code when viewing or even just downloading a document with a maliciously-crafted embedded font.

**** Server Admin Tools 10.6.3 Fixes Bugs, Enhances Features <http://www.macworld.com/article/150636/2010/04/serveradmintools_1063.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Marco Tabini, Macworld

Apple has released a new version of the tools that patches a number of bugs, as well as introducing the occasional bit of new functionality.

**** MagicPrefs Supercharges The Magic Mouse <http://www.macworld.com/reviews/product/464240/review/magicprefs_182.html?expand=true>
Dan Frakes, Macworld

If you’ve got a Magic Mouse and wish you could take better advantage of its technology, you owe it to yourself—and your mouse—to give MagicPrefs a try. Given that it’s free, what do you have to lose?

**** Psst, Hey, Want An iPad? Apple Fans Hit Gray Market <http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63D49P20100414>
Jim Finkle, Reuters

Apple Inc's decision to delay the sale of its iPad overseas may frustrate customers in Germany, France or Japan -- but it brightened the day of at least a few crafty fans closer to home.

So-called resellers, opportunists who scoop up hot products and sell them over the Web at inflated prices, have recently been charging premiums of more than $500 on sites like Craigslist or eBay for the iPad.

**** Steve Jobs: "Next Release Of Final Cut Studio Will Be Awesome" <http://macsoda.com/2010/04/13/steve-jobs-next-final-cut-studio-will-be-awesome/>
MacSoda

These days Mr. Jobs seems to be responding to everyone.

**** Apple Tells App Developers They “Haven’t Decided” On New Rules <http://venturebeat.com/2010/04/14/apple-ad-analytics/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Venturebeat+%28VentureBeat%29>
Paul Boutin, Venture Beat

The waiting is the hardest part: iPhone and iPad app developers are still trying to find out exactly what Apple means by changes to the wording of its developer contract that appear to ban important software functions widely used by app developers.

On the other hand, it’s become widely accepted as fact that going forward, Apple won’t allow Flash apps to be converted to iPhone / iPad apps — no way, no-how, no excuses.

**** Why The iPad Has Inspired Me To Give Up My Toaster, My Coffeemaker, My Pants <http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=143200>
Simon Dumenco, Advertising Age

Want to be a pathetic, passive, compliant consumer? There's an app for that.

**** For iPhones, Unauthorized Repair Shops Flourish <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/technology/personaltech/15basics.html?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Jenna Wortham, New York Times

With Apple having sold 50 million iPhones, it was perhaps inevitable that a cottage industry of iPhone repair shops would spring up.

**** Apple's New Developer Agreement Unlevels The IAd Playing Field <http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/04/with-new-developer-agreement-apple-unlevels-the-iad-playing-field/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Index+3+%28Top+Stories+2%29%29>
Eliot Van Buskirk, Wired News

“Yes, we still allow developers or other advertising companies to serve ads within their apps,” Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller told Wired.com. However, section 3.3.9 of Apple’s new developers’ agreement appears to hobble non-Apple advertising networks, even though the company will allow them onto its devices.

**** Will The iPad Replace The Air? <http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-18438_7-20002470-82.html?part=rss&amp;subj=news&amp;tag=2547-1_3-0-20>
David Carnoy, CNET News

"The iPad does everything the Air does," she went, "so there isn't much of a reason for the Air to continue." The opinion was clearly hers, not Apple's, but she spoke with such conviction I felt it must be based in some sort of fact--or perhaps she was just hanging around too many geniuses at the Genius Bar downstairs.

**** What Apple Needs To Learn About Selling Books <http://www.salon.com/books/laura_miller/2010/04/14/metadata/index.html>
Laura Miller, Salon

Without decent metadata, iBooks is even more annoying than the App Store.

**** iPad Casts Shadow On MacBook <http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-20002562-64.html?part=rss&amp;subj=news&amp;tag=2547-1_3-0-20>
Brooke Crothers, CNET News

**** Real-world iPad Annoyances: A Timeline <http://news.cnet.com/8301-19882_3-20002550-250.html?part=rss&amp;subj=news&amp;tag=2547-1_3-0-20>
Rafe Needleman, CNET News

I've been adapting to the iPad's niggles for two weeks and I will continue to. It's a fun and beautiful device, and it is actually useful both at work and at home. Although my affection for this device is tempered by the expanding list of annoyances, I'm hanging on to it in the hope, which I think is reasonable, that most of these issues will get fixed. That's the price you pay for drinking the Kool-Aid. I mean, being an early adopter.

**** iPhone OS 4.0 <http://ignorethecode.net/blog/2010/04/15/iphone_os_4_0/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+IgnoreTheCode+%28ignore+the+code%29>
Lukas Mathis, Ignore The Code

**** Don’t Play The Tray <http://mrgan.tumblr.com/post/523599332/dont-play-the-tray>
Neven Mrgan’s Tumbl

iPhone OS 4.0 has multitasking. This is not the multitasking you’re used to. The sooner you accept this, the better.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** What's In A Woman's Last Name? <http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/2010/04/14/women_last_name/index.html>
Tracy Clark-Flory, Salon

Change your surname after marriage and you just might be seen as a walking female stereotype.

**** "Sex And The City's" Friendship Fairy Tale <http://www.salon.com/life/broadsheet/2010/04/14/sex_and_the_city_unattainable_friendships/index.html>
Elissa Strauss, Salon

The truth is, despite the warnings of much of the chick lit and chick flicks from the last decade, finding love and marriage turned out to be not so hard. Instead, it was the perfect girlfriend, or girlfriends, that has been so elusive.

**** In L.A., Pizza Goes Global <http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-pizza-20100415,0,2584515.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Ffeatures%2Ffood+%28L.A.+Times+-+Food+%26+Dining%29>
Miles Clements, Los Angeles Times

It may boast an Italian heritage, but pizza is now claimed by South Americans and South Asians alike, not to mention Croats, Israelis and Armenians.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Revaluation Boosts Singapore Dollar <http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/836e3e1c-47a4-11df-a4a6-00144feab49a.html>
Peter Garnham, Financial Times

The Singapore dollar climbed to a 20-month high on Wednesday after the Monetary Authority of Singapore tightened monetary policy by revaluing its currency following its semi-annual policy meeting. Analysts said the revaluation was understandable in light of figures released on Wednesday that showed Singapore’s gross domestic product rose at a record annualised rate of 32.1 per cent in the first quarter.

**** Lessons From Singapore <http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/lessonssingapore/391963/>
Wei Gu, Business Standard

Singapore might just be a dot on the map, but it has long been viewed as a leader in economic policy by other Asian countries, including China. That's why investors took so much notice when the city-state revalued its currency by about 1.3 percent.

**** Transport Woes In Singapore..... <http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2010/04/transport-woes-in-singapore.html>
Diary of A Singaporean Mind

**** Al Jazeera English Taken Off Air — Whose Loss Is It? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/04/al-jazeera-english-taken-off-air-whose-loss-is-it/>
Chan Tau Chou, The Online Citizen

If nobody can provide a better reason for dropping AJE, it will only fuel speculation that the move was politically motivated.

**** PAP Just As Confrontational, Replies Chee <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_514734.html>
Chee Soon Juan, Singapore Democratic Party, Straits Times

Yes, Mr Tan is right, let us not get bogged down by whether it is Western or Asian style of politics. Let us go with what works for Singapore and our future.

Right now, the PAP system of authoritarianism and top-down control looks decidedly obsolete for our future needs. It is time for change.

**** More Doctors, Greater Satisfaction <http://mohsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/04/more-doctors-greater-satisfaction.html>
Khaw Boon Wan

**** Singapore PM: Strong GDP Growth Won't Continue Indefinitely - Report <http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100414-714612.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines>
Sam Holmes, Dow Jones

Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said the island-state's robust economic growth is unlikely to continue indefinitely and that the government will introduce more measures to curb speculation in the housing market if needed, The Business Times reported Thursday.

**** Labour Movement Calls For CPF Contribution Rate To Be Restored <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1050251/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

Singapore's labour movement has called for a restoration of the employer's CPF contribution rate in the wake of the strong rebound of the Singapore economy in the first quarter of this year.

**** Nice Book Keeping. <http://singaporeanskeptic.blogspot.com/2010/04/nice-book-keeping.html>
Singaporean Skeptic

**** Reality Check For Opposition Unity <http://newasiarepublic.com/?p=17353>
Donaldson Tan, New Asia Republic

**** Singapore's Growth Signals Recovery In Asia <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303695604575182750953064196.html?mod=WSJ_World_MIDDLENews>
Alex Frangos, Wall Street Journal

Singapore, a bellwether of the world's fastest-growing economic region, tightened monetary policy after reporting its swiftest expansion on record, in the latest sign that Asia is recovering far more rapidly than the West.

**** Straits Times Censors Chee's Reply About Foreign Workers And HDB Prices <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/3617-straits-times-censors-chees-reply-about-foreign-workers-and-hdb-prices>
Singapore Democrat Party

Dr Chee's vesrions was "Yes, let's go with a system that works for Singapore". But the editor changed it to "PAP Just As Confrontational, Replies Chee" 

This does not reflect what Dr Chee is saying which is that how can exercising one's constitutional rights be considered confrontational? The way that the Straits Times entitled the reply was that Dr Chee was admitting that he, too, is confrontational. The spin is so underhanded.

**** MFA Spokesman's Comments In Response To Media Queries On The Romanian Ministry Of Justice Statement Of 9 April 2010 On The Issue Of Diplomatic Immunity <http://app.mfa.gov.sg/2006/press/view_press_email.asp?post_id=5953>
Singapore Government

Singapore has officially informed the Romanian government by a Third Person Note (TPN) to its Embassy in Singapore that the position on diplomatic immunities is explained in Article 39.2 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. As Dr Ionescu was recalled by his government on 5 January 2010 and is no longer serving as the Charge d'Affaires of the Romanian Embassy in Singapore, his immunity for acts performed outside of his function as a diplomat would have lapsed as provided for by Article 39.2. 

It is clear from the findings of the Coroner's Inquiry that the acts for which Dr Ionescu has been charged were not pursuant to his official functions. Dr Ionescu was using the Embassy vehicle in his private capacity and for his private purposes. As such, with effect from Dr Ionescu's recall, he no longer enjoys diplomatic immunity for the acts in question. Therefore, there was no need for a waiver of diplomatic immunity by Romania and no need for Singapore to seek a waiver.

**** Telcos Asked To Provide Information To MDA Regarding Exclusive Content Deals <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1050369/1/.html>
Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia

Singapore's rival Pay-TV operators have been asked to provide authorities with relevant information on whether there was last-minute exclusive deals signed before new rules requiring telcos to share exclusive content kicked in last month.

Eileen Ang, head (Competition & Market Access), Media Development Authority said: "It’s concerned about reports that operators SingTel and StarHub have rushed into locking up exclusive content before the effective date of the cross-carriage measure".