[MyAppleMenu] Jun 11, 2010

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** The Everywhere Else Machine <http://minimalmac.com/post/683822206/the-everywhere-else-machine>
Minimal Mac

What happens for me is that, after a few seconds of use, the device itself seems to disappear. Suddenly, I am holding whatever app I am using in my hands.

**** Safari 5 Tested: Chrome, Opera Still Have JavaScript Edge <http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2010/06/safari-5-tested-chrome-opera-still-have-javascript-edge.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss>
Chris Foresman, Ars Technica

Overall, Safari 5 is quite snappy, and does feel faster than Safari 4—especially on Windows. Though Safari's Nitro JavaScript engine may have a very slight raw performance advantage, the benchmarks we ran show that Apple and the WebKit team certainly have some areas where it can improve—both in JavaScript performance characteristics as well as optimizing performance for animation and other graphics rendering.

**** Chronos Releases iScrapbook 3 <http://www.macworld.com/article/151940/2010/06/iscrapbook_3.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Ramu Nagappan, Macworld

Chronos has released iScrapbook 3, a major upgrade to its digital scrapbooking software. The new version includes twenty new templates, font and cover flow previews, and faster page loading.

**** Reload Accidentally Closed Tabs In Safari 5 <http://www.macworld.com/article/151942/2010/06/safariopenclosedtab.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Dan Frakes, Macworld

If you accidentally close a tab you didn’t mean to close, just press Command+Z, the Mac’s standard keyboard shortcut for Undo. The “lost” tab is immediately restored.

**** Review: Team Fortress 2 <http://www.macworld.com/reviews/product/547701/review/team_fortress_2.html?expand=true&lsrc=rss_main>
Chris Holt, Macworld

**** Report: Apple's iAd Could Face Antitrust Investigation <http://www.macworld.com/article/151952/2010/06/iad_antitrust.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Agam Shah, Macworld

U.S. regulators are planning to investigate whether Apple is shutting out third parties such as Google and Microsoft in advertising the iPhone and iPad, according to a report published by the Financial Times on Thursday.

**** Apple's Safari 5 Takes Speed Prize On Mac, Windows <http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9177953/Apple_s_Safari_5_takes_speed_prize_on_Mac_Windows?source=rss_operatingsystems>
Gregg Keizer, Computerworld

Safari dethrowned the speed kings from Google and Opera Software to take the top spot in the time trials.

**** Adobe Officially Releases Flash Player 10.1 <http://www.macworld.com/article/151960/2010/06/flashplayer_101.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Serenity Caldwell, Macworld

**** Apple Releases iTunes Connect Mobile For Developers <http://www.macworld.com/article/151961/2010/06/itunes_connect_mobile.html?lsrc=rss_main>
David Chartier, Macworld

App Store developers who have been itching for a way to to keep an eye on their sales stats while on-the-go can finally rejoice. There is, at last, an (official) app for that.

**** Feature: WWDC Keynote WiFi Woes May Have Been Due To iPhone 4 Drivers <http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2010/06/wwdc-keynote-wifi-woes-may-have-been-due-to-iphone-4g-drivers.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss>
Glenn Fleishman, Ars Technica

After examining the video from the event and discussing it with two veteran WiFi gurus, it seems almost certain that the MiFi was only part of the problem. A flaw in the pre-release iPhone 4 iOS was clearly another element.

That's not to say that having hundreds of WiFi base stations doesn't cause trouble. In fact, the iPhone 4's putative driver problem likely arose from the multitude of network signals. But neither the ocean of signals nor the iPhone 4's performance can be looked at entirely in isolation.

**** Do The Feds Have A Case Against Apple? <http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-20007368-260.html>
Erica Ogg, CNET News

The question in these cases is always whether Apple has enough market power to force people to play by its rules. The federal government will be concerned about whether there will be a healthy market for ad networks outside of Apple's system and whether developers will be able to switch over to those ad networks easily enough to create competition between Apple's ad network and other ad networks.

**** Let's Declare A Moratorium On Browser Speed Claims <http://www.pcworld.com/article/198479/lets_declare_a_moratorium_on_browser_speed_claims.html?tk=hp_new>
Harry McCracken, Technologizer

Apple says Safari 5 is the world's fastest browser. Other folks disagree. Who's right? Everyone and no one.

**** Feds Laid Foundation For Apple/Google Mobile Ad Feud <http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/06/feds-laid-foundation-for-applegoogle-mobile-ad-feud/>
Eliot Van Buskirk, Wired

Apple’s position isn’t as crazy as it might sound.

**** Review: Air Display Turns iPad Into Pricy Secondary Display <http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2010/06/review-air-display-makes-ipad-into-pricey-secondary-display.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss>
Jeff Smykil, Ars Technica

At $9.99, Air Display is a bit more expensive than many iPad applications, but if you have a legitimate need and reasonable expectations, it’s worth the money.

**** Is The New Apple Ruthless At Its Core? <http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-0611-apple-20100611,0,7457203.story>
Los Angeles Times

Although federal antitrust officials are reportedly looking into Apple's effort to bar rival advertising networks, it's hard to see how the company's tactics violate the law. Simply put, the iPhone doesn't dominate the smartphone market. The more important question is how consumers will react to the emerging picture of Apple.

**** Let’s Get Serious: Safari Reader Is Not The Death Of Media <http://gigaom.com/2010/06/10/lets-get-serious-safari-reader-is-not-the-death-of-media/>
Mathew Ingram, GigaOM

As for the new feature being a surreptitious attempt to push content companies to develop apps, that seems a little Machiavellian, even for Apple — especially since only a fraction of readers are ever going to use the Reader feature.

**** Design For Readability First <http://www.webmonkey.com/2010/06/design-for-readability-first/>
Scott Gilbertson, Webmonkey

The message of Reader (and tools of its ilk) isn’t that the online publishing model is doomed, but that it desperately needs a reboot to get rid of all the junk that’s clogging up the whole point of the system: connecting readers with the information they want.

**** How Steve Jobs Beats Presentation Panic <http://www.macworld.com/article/151903/2010/06/stevejobs_presentations.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Thomas Wailgum, CIO.com

What Jobs did next, according to Carmine Gallo, author of The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs, was vintage Jobs (and a model for how presenters should deal with stage crises): He did not panic.

**** Putting Photos On The iPad, No PC Required <http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/putting-photos-on-the-ipad-no-pc-required/?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Rik Fairlie, New York Times

The Camera Connection kit is an easy way to import photos to the iPad to share when you’re on the road and off the computer. The iPad just can’t hold up its end of the deal by letting you rename folders and view photo data.

**** Today Is The Day To Sell A Used iPhone <http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/today-is-the-day-to-sell-a-used-iphone/?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Rik Fairlie, New York Times

Gazelle, a site that pays for used electronics and tech products, says Friday is the day you’ll get the most money for an old iPhone. That’s today.



The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Aviary Introduces Free Online Music Software <http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/aviary-introduces-free-online-music-software/?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Nick Bilton, New York Times

Aviary’s software allows musicians and students to create music and podcasts online.

**** 3-D Without The Glasses <http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/25524/?ref=rss&a=f>
Kate Greene, Technology Review

A new type of display from Microsoft produces multiple images and tracks the viewers' eyes.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** A Modest Proposal: A King And Queen For America <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/opinion/10kristof.html>
Nicholas D. Kristof, New York Times

If we can just get over George III, our new constitutional monarchs could serve as National Hand-Holders, Morale-Boosters-in-Chief and Founts of American Indignation.

Our king and queen could spend days traipsing along tar-ball-infested beaches, while bathing oil-soaked pelicans and thrusting strong chins defiantly at BP rigs.

**** Does Legalizing Gay Marriage Mean Fabulous Gay Weddings? <http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/39021/does-legalizing-gay-marriage-mean-fabulous-gay-weddings-marriage-equality>
Amanda Hess, Washington City Paper

One way of looking at it: Marriage equality ought to mean that same-sex couples get the same right as heterosexual lovebirds when it comes to overpaying for flowers, stressing out about hors d’oeuvres, and second-guessing the DJ’s choice of music.



SingaporeSurf
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**** It’s Not About Ranking, Stupid <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/06/it’s-not-about-ranking-stupid/>
Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen

Is it a coincidence that the two lowest-scoring wards are opposition-run ones and the two best-scoring are helmed by the PM and the MM?

In short, a vague set of numbers put forth as “objective” assessment runs contrary to Ms Fu’s aim of providing residents with “the facts that will help them engage better with their town councils on estate management issues.”

**** Lawyer Urges Malaysian Government To Intervene In Death Row Case <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/06/lawyer-urges-malaysian-government-to-intervene-in-death-row-case/>
Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen

At the press conference, Mr Ravi laid out his reasons why he is asking for the Malaysian government to intervene. He cited two incidences which he feels warrant the authorities in Malaysia to bring the case to the International Court of Justice.

**** Lee Kuan Yew Rewrites Sri Lankan <i>History</i>! <http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2010/06/10/lee-kuan-yew-rewrites-sri-lankan-history/>
Ananda De Costa, Lankaweb

Lee Kuan Yew’s latest’s comments on Sri Lanka are outrageous, racist and inaccurate by any standard.

**** Singapore, Is It Safe Anymore For Anyone? <http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/06/10/singapore-is-it-safe-anymore/>
Gilbert Goh, The Temasek Review

**** KFC Protest Failed In Singapore <http://living-vegan.blogspot.com/2010/06/kfc-protest-failed-in-singapore.html>
Living Vegan

**** Why Singapore Is A Millionaire Magnet <http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/singapore-is-a-millionaire-magnet/19511143/>
Nikhil Hutheesing, DailyFinance

According to a recent report from Boston Consulting Group, Singapore has the greatest proportion of millionaire households in the world. A first blush, that may sound surprising for the "no gum chewing allowed" country. But dig a little deeper, and it becomes clear that not only has Singapore's economy been resilient during times of economic trouble, but the country has also taken significant steps to become a great place to work -- and live.

**** Singapore, In U-Turn On Bank Secrecy, Seeks Tax Deal With US <http://www.sharesinv.com/articles/2010/06/10/singapore-u-turn-bank-secrecy-seeks-tax-deal-us/>
Dow Jones

Singapore, which for years promoted itself as a bastion of bank secrecy, is now pushing to portray an image of transparency after U.S. moves to clamp down on tax evasion.

**** TCMR Numbers Show Many Residents In S&CC Arrears <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/06/tcmr-numbers-show-many-residents-in-scc-arrears/>
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen

This information should be made transparent and broken down, so that residents can discern for

themselves the real differences between town councils, instead of a summary report from the Ministry of National Development, which itself throws up more questions about the report’s objectivity.

**** 申请延长售酒时间被拒 é©³èˆ¹ç å¤´é…’å»Šä¸šè€…è¦ä¸Šè¯‰ <http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp100611_005.shtml>
联合早报

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**** Singapore, Malaysia Lead Recovery In Global Millionaires' Ranks <http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-10/singapore-malaysia-lead-recovery-in-global-millionaires-ranks.html>
Alexis Leondis and Joyce Koh, Bloomberg

Singapore and Malaysia led a recovery of global wealth to pre-crisis levels as the number of millionaires grew by about 14 percent in 2009, the Boston Consulting Group said.

**** Dumb And Dumber <http://purelibre.blogspot.com/2010/06/dumb-and-dumber.html>
Pure Libre

SMRT president Mdm Saw Phaik Hua’s comment that the security breach showed why it was vital that the public should maintain vigilance at all times. In case she didn’t realize it, the train wasn’t vandalized while it was in service; it was vandalized while parked in Changi Depot, which is scarcely a public place.

**** Railing For A Special Green Corridor In Singapore <http://www.greenkampong.com/design/railing-for-a-special-green-corridor-in-singapore/>
Kelly Wu, Green Kampong

Development doesn’t have to wipe out all traces of history and can still give nature some room to flourish, right?

**** PAP Has The Cheek To Condemn Potong Pasir <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/3809-pap-has-the-cheek-to-condemn-potong-pasir>
Singapore Democrat Party

What the opposition wants to see is a society that is more compassionate and more egalitarian where the people benefit from the system rather than one where the Government engorges its coffers and then use the money to publish inane reports ranking town councils.

**** Pay First, Maintenance Later <http://singaporedesk.blogspot.com/2010/06/pay-first-maintenance-later.html>
Singapore Notes

The rub is this: their low grades have to do with collecting of arrears in S&CC (service and conservancy charges). Penalised for being sympathetic to the financial pain of the residents in their ward.