[MyAppleMenu] Mar 13, 2010

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** How real? <http://mrgan.tumblr.com/post/441478284/how-real>
Neven Mrgan’s Tumbl

Until books are completely re-imagined as objects (and I’m not holding my breath) people will expect them to look like facing pages, double-sided, picked from a shelf. Five hundred years of tradition mandates this. We start there, and we go more elaborate (as books add video, interactivity, etc.) and less so (as no-longer-necessary conventions get dropped.)

**** My Morning Purchases <http://ihnatko.com/2010/03/12/my-morning-purchases/>
Andy Ihnatko's Celestial Waste of Bandwidth (BETA)

What did I actually get? Oh, the top-of-the-line model: The iPad 3G with 64 gigs of storage, due to ship a few weeks after the WiFi-only iPad.

**** Overdoing The Interface Metaphor <http://releasecandidateone.com/211:overdoing_the_interface_metaphor>
Chris Clark, Release Candidate One

It’s important to remember that despite Apple’s insistence that iPad apps have lush graphics evoking physical objects, there’s no license to be stupid about interaction. Good design is good whether your toolbar is leather-bound or a flat gray. Sexy graphics and animation are icing on the cake.

**** iPad Order Confirmation Promises “Exciting” In-Store Event <http://www.cultofmac.com/ipad-order-confirmation-promises-exciting-in-store-event/33330?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cultofmac%2FbFow+%28Cult+of+Mac%29>
Nicole Martinelli, Cult of Mac

**** An iPhoneographer's Six Favorite Apps <http://www.macworld.com/article/147046/2010/03/iphoneography_top_apps.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Heather Kelly, Macworld

There are 2,897 photography apps available in the App Store. Glyn Evans sorts through every new release—each faux-film-filter, cropping, and tilt-shift tool—so you don't have to.

**** Apple Dishes New iPad Details On 3G, iBooks, More <http://www.macworld.com/article/147051/2010/03/ipad_details.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Dan Moren, Macworld

Apple didn't just put the iPad up for pre-order this morning, it also added some new information on a handful of iPad features, such as 3G plans, iBooks, and more.

**** Apple Turns iPad Mute Button Into Screen Rotation Lock <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/03/12/apple_turns_ipad_mute_button_into_screen_rotation_lock.html>
AppleInsider

Apple revealed a minor tweak to the iPad hardware when preorders began Friday morning, with a button previously designated for audio muting changed to a "screen rotation lock."

**** Which iPad To Buy? Get The 32GB iPad With Wi-Fi + 3G. Here’s Why. <http://www.cultofmac.com/which-ipad-to-buy-get-the-32gb-ipad-with-wi-fi-3g-heres-why/33423?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cultofmac%2FbFow+%28Cult+of+Mac%29>
Leander Kahney, Cult of Mac

**** Apple COO Tim Cook Awarded $22 Million Bonus <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/03/12/apple_coo_tim_cook_awarded_22_million_bonus.html>
AppleInsider

Apple said Friday that Chief Operating Office Tim Cook was awarded nearly 22 million in stock- and cash-based compensation for his performance running the company during Steve Jobs' absence last year.

**** Solar Power Up Your iPhone <http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/12/solar-power-up-your-iphone/?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Eric A. Taub, New York Times

The Solar Surge, from NovoTek, uses the sun to charge an external supplemental battery enclosed in a case that surrounds the iPhone. According to the company, this is the first solar charging solution approved by Apple, and it works with the iPhone 3G and 3GS and the iPod Touch.

**** Nokia Seeks Dismissal Of Apple’s Antitrust Claims <http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-12/nokia-seeks-dismissal-of-apple-s-antitrust-claims-update1-.html>
Susan Decker, Bloomberg

Nokia Oyj, the world’s largest maker of mobile phones, asked a U.S. judge to throw out Apple Inc.’s claims that it is trying to monopolize the wireless technology market and seize access to iPhone technology.

Apple’s antitrust and breach of contract allegations are implausible and are “designed to divert attention away from free-riding off of Nokia’s intellectual property,” the Finnish company said yesterday in papers filed in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware.

**** Apple's Steve Jobs Can Demolish California Mansion <http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-12/apple-s-steve-jobs-can-demolish-california-mansion-update1-.html>
Karen Gullo and Joel Rosenblatt, Bloomberg

Apple Inc. chief executive officer Steve Jobs won approval to tear down a mansion south of San Francisco after a state court judge overruled objections by preservationists, a city official in Woodside, California, said.

Superior Court Judge Marie Weiner in Redwood City, California, said in a March 8 ruling the mansion had been vacant since 2000 and “nothing had been done to stop the abandonment of this house,” which has led to animal infestation, vandalism, rot, mold and decay.

**** Pre-Orders Brisk For Apple's New iPad <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/12/AR2010031203974.html?wprss=rss_technology>
Paul Farhi, Washington Post

On Friday, the first day that buyers could pre-order the device (it arrives in stores next month), Apple racked up an estimated 91,000 sales in just the first six hours of availability, putting temporarily to rest the Internet's persistent "iPad fail" meme. Analysts predict the first-year sales could reach 5 million.



The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Windows Phone 7 And SkyDrive Could Be Awesome Together <http://news.cnet.com/8301-13526_3-10468023-27.html?part=rss&amp;subj=news&amp;tag=2547-1_3-0-20>
Matt Rosoff, CNET News

One of the interesting things about Windows Phone 7 is the way it integrates so many Microsoft services, including Bing search, Xbox Live, and the Zune Marketplace. But what about SkyDrive?



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** Does A Room Of One's Own Really Help You Write A Great Novel? <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2010/mar/12/room-of-ones-own-novel?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Matt Shoard, The Guardian

A writer's charity is offering a peaceful country haven to encourage novelists to write their masterpiece – but a dank basement in Lewisham is what they need.

**** Spelling Out The Wonders Of The London Word Festival <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2010/mar/12/london-word-festival?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Nancy Groves, The Guardian

Of course, the growth of literary festivals is a well-documented phenomenon, with more than 60 listed on the British Council website and 100-plus over at LiteraryFestivals.co.uk. But the London Word festival doesn't call itself a literature, books or even readers' event. Instead, it aims to be a celebration of words and a test of their limits "in performance".

**** In The Night Kitchen <http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/12/in-the-night-kitchen/?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Leanne Shapton, New York Times

The kitchen is a changed place in the wee hours, its clicks and hummings are louder, the pots and pans make a deafening clatter when I pull them out of the cupboard. But, as before, I am relaxed, my sense of smell is sharper. As I measure and weigh, I am more patient than during waking hours. I’ve always turned to flour and butter when I can’t sleep.

**** Take This Job And Write It <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/books/review/Schuessler-t.html?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Jennifer Schuessler, New York Times

Work has become central to most people’s self-conception. Why does fiction have so little to say about it?

**** 'Still Life: Adventures In Taxidermy,' By Melissa Milgrom <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/books/review/Watman-t.html?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Max Watman, New York Times

A journalist’s adventures in the world of taxidermy, where she observes the art of incising, skinning, sculpturing and reassembling.

**** Give The Funny Old Man Some Pie <http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-jillette12-2010mar12,0,7294106.story>
Penn Jillette, Los Angeles Times

I just turned 55 years old. This year my age and the last two digits of my birth year are the same. That happens only once in a lifetime.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Licence Fees To Sell Cigarettes Could Increase In Sept <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1043234/1/.html>
Ng Lian Cheong & Evelyn Choo, Channel NewsAsia

In an effort to discourage retailers from selling cigarettes, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) could increase retail licence fees for tobacco by September.

**** Changes In Rules For Pay-TV Services Could Help Improve Business Climate For SingTel, Starhub <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/1043263/1/.html>
Desmond Wong, Channel NewsAsia

The changes in rules for pay-TV services in Singapore could help improve the business climate for SingTel and StarHub. That's according to industry-watchers speaking to Channel NewsAsia.

**** COE: Another Solution That May Make More Money, But May Not Solve The Problem? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/03/coe-another-solution-that-may-make-more-money-but-may-not-solve-the-problem/>
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen

Normally, most countries have to spend money to solve a problem, but in Singapore, too often, the solution makes more money instead, and the problem never seems to go away!

**** Pushed To The Side(walk) <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100313-0000031/Pushed-to-the-side(walk)>
Richard Hartung, Today

Clutter-free sidewalks for pedestrians seem to be a disappearing sight in many parts of Singapore.

**** The Opposition On Electoral Changes <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100313-0000104/The-Opposition-on-electoral-changes>
Zul Othman, Today

Several opposition parties without a current presence in Parliament have expressed concern over some of the proposed rule changes on Internet elections advertising, which were tabled in Parliament on Thursday.

**** Singaporeans Dreaming <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/03/press-muse-singaporeans-dreaming/>
The Online Citizen

Selective vision, perhaps? That’s understandable. As far as the Straits Times are concerned, we’ve well on our way riding off into a glorious Gattaca-esque sunset and living meritocratically ever after.

**** Some Singaporeans Are Real Bastards. <http://singaporeanskeptic.blogspot.com/2010/03/some-singaporeans-are-real-bastards.html>
Singaporean Skeptic

Watching the way Singaporeans treat their maids made me think that some Singaporeans are real bastards. Even the maid agency is crazy.

**** HDB To Repossess 3 Flats <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_501673.html>
Yeo Shang Long, Straits Times

In a clear warning to those who sublet their flats illegally, the Housing Board (HDB) has moved to take back three apartments linked to a real estate agent who owns five private properties.

**** Licence To Fish <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_501677.html>
Grace Chua, Straits Times

Leisure anglers may soon have to pay for a licence before they can drop their line and bait into Singapore waters.

**** Netizens Can Self-regulate <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_501680.html>
Jeremy Au Yong, Straits Times

The internet community's reaction to the hoax by former Singaporean lawyer Gopalan Nair last weekend has been a good example of how it can self-regulate.

Acting minister for information, communications and the arts Lui Tuck Yew yesterday praised local netizens for being sceptical about the blog post claiming that minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew had suffered a heart attack.

**** Singapore, The Misunderstood Child <http://silenteloquence.suryaonline.org/2010/03/12/singapore-the-misunderstood-child/>
Silent Eloquence

The next time someone talks to me about Singapore, I just wish they would talk about not just the concrete buildings or the super clean streets or the democracy that doesn’t seem to be, but something less superficial.

**** Singapore Bling: Is The City-State Ready To Party? <http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/asia/singapore-bling-is-the-citystate-ready-to-party-1920194.html>
Simon Calder, Independent

If you can create a gambler's paradise amid the Mojave Desert, the thinking goes, you can create a casino amid a straitlaced state. Move over, Vegas; viva Sentosa.

**** Who Do You Think You Are? <http://www.myapplemenu.com/singapore/2010/03/13/IM030037/>
Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu

Yay! MDA have effectively banned exclusivity in the pay television market. I can now watch whatever I want on whichever operator I choose.

Not really.

Why? SingTel cannot sign any contract with the content owner that forbid StarHub from showing the same content.

I own the content. I have the leverage. I decide how I want my content to be shown.

But it's the law, man. You want to do business here, you have to obey our laws.

Fine. I'll structured my licensing fees such that the first operator, if it so chooses to pay a larger fee, will get -- let's just call it first-comer-privilege -- a promise from me that the licensing fee for subsequent operators will be so expensive that no second operator will be able to pay and carry my content.

Oooh ooh ooh, loophole. MDA can simply 'fine-tune' the law that forbids content owner from charging different prices and different terms to different pay TV operators.

You do realize that this will effectively wipe out any new entrants and small players in the pay-TV market, right?

So be it. You can't dictate the terms, you powerful content-owner, if you want to do business here in Singapore.

Fine. I'll just treat the entire Singapore's pay television market as one operator since it doesn't matter who I talk to anymore, and I'll just raise my prices to take account into that. I'll treat all pricing negotiation effectively as though you are licensing my content exclusively.

You can't do that! We'll just not pay for your content. You'll lose our market.

Fine. You are just a tiny red dot with a tiny population. I'll rather have my lawyers spent their negotiation time with the Chinese government.

We'll grow our population by importing foreign talents so that you can't ignore us. 6.5 billion? 10 billion? 20 billion? No problem!

Have you heard of the internet? We'll start selling our content exclusively on the internet. You want to be first country in the world to ban my website? And I'll charge whatever I want, without any middleman in your country to get any part of my revenue.

...

Honestly, from where I am sitting, this whole pay-tv content-sharing policy from MDA looks drafted by a bunch of technocrats with no real-world experience, and no real vision on where the whole market is going. And when SingTel realizes it can't use exclusivity as a loss-leader, consumers will have to continue to pay hefty prices for entertainment from big name content owners.

**** 教育部降低华文B门槛 学生欢迎学者反应不一 <http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp100313_029.shtml>
林诗慧 萧洁盈, 联合早报

教育部降低选修华文B的门槛，受访学生大都表示欢迎，一些学者则对这调整有所保留。

**** PAP Nervous About New Media, Introduces "Guidelines" <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/3486-pap-nervous-about-new-media-introdcues-qguidelinesq>
John Tan, Singapore Democrat Party

The proposed changes to the election rules announced in Parliament yesterday are just another ploy by the PAP to instill fear in the people. As far as the Internet is concerned, citizens should be free to campaign for whichever party and candidate they choose.