[MyAppleMenu] Mar 18, 2010

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Apple Stores Purging Screen Protection? <http://www.macworld.com/article/147130/2010/03/applebansscreenprotection.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Dan Frakes, Macworld

Among the most popular accessories for the iPhone, iPod, and MacBook lines are films and coverings designed to protect the screen from scratches; some products also fight glare and offer privacy protection. However, several vendors—who wish to remain anonymous to avoid conflict with Apple—have told Macworld that Apple will no longer sell such products, or any other products that adhere to Apple devices, in either the online Apple Store or Apple retail stores.

Multiple sources have told us that, because of the difficulty of applying such films and coverings without blemishes or air bubbles, these products are returned at a higher rate than many other products.

**** iPhone Devs Can Now Automate App Release Dates, Price Changes <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/03/17/iphone_devs_can_now_automate_app_release_dates_price_changes.html>
AppleInsider

Apple this week unlocked new tools that allow iPhone developers and publishers to pre-set the release date of their applications and schedule price changes.

**** Archiving iPhone SMS Messages <http://www.macworld.com/article/147152/2010/03/archive_sms_messages.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Christopher Breen, Macworld

Why yes, as a matter of fact, it is possible to archive your iPhone's SMS messages.

**** Apple's iMac Is Desktop Savior <http://www.thestreet.com/story/10705259/1/apples-imac-is-desktop-savior.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEFI>
James Rogers, TheStreet.com

Apple's iMac is fast emerging as the savior of the beleaguered desktop market, according to analyst firm Caris & Company.

"Believe it or not, we estimate Apple's iMac accounting for a full quarter of all desktop market growth in calendar year 2010," writes Caris analyst Robert Cihra, adding that this will help stem recent desktop declines.

**** The Differences Between iPad And iPhone Apps <http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/17/the-differences-between-ipad-and-iphone-apps/>
Mike Schramm, TUAW

**** HTC Says Confident Can Defend Against Apple Suit <http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62H0EA20100318?type=technologyNews>
Sinead Carew, Reuters

Cellphone developer HTC Corp said it is confident it can fight off a recent technology patent infringement lawsuit from iPhone maker Apple Inc and promised to issue a formal response in the next few weeks.

**** Apple's Ban On Screen Protectors Makes (Some) Sense <http://www.pcworld.com/article/191826/apples_ban_on_screen_protectors_makes_some_sense.html>
Sarah Jacobsson, PC World

While Apple's ban on screen protectors is kind of strange, it makes sense. As someone who has gone through my share of touchscreen devices (starting with my Verizon LG Dare), screen protectors are mostly just a waste of money--for both the consumer and the retailer. So perhaps Apple is just looking out for you, consumer--making sure you don't waste your money. Er . . . yeah.



The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Quantum Physics Used To Control Mechanical System <http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/03/mechanically-quantum/>
Brandon Keim, Wired News

By using a quantum device to control a mechanical object, researchers have linked the mind-bending laws of quantum physics to the tangible, everyday world.

**** How Smart Could I Make My Dumb Manhattan Apartment? <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/garden/18smart.html?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Joyce Wadler, New York Times

There have been lots of articles about smart homes, but few that apply to someone who lives in a 970-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment in New York City.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** Short Is Sweet When It Comes To Fiction <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2010/mar/17/short-fiction?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Robert Collins, The Guardian

What have On Chesil Beach, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and Don DeLillo's Point Omega got in common? Bewitching narratives concealing hidden depths? Check. Characters dealing with broken lives? Check. Authors performing at the peak of their prowess? Check. All read by me in a single week recently? Oh yes, check. How? Because they're all under 150 pages long.

**** Memory Lapse <http://www.thesmartset.com/article/article03171001.aspx>
Jessa Crispin, The Smart Set

Many people write about themselves. Few people actually should.

**** Reading And The Web: Texts Without Context <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/21/books/21mash.html?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Michiko Kakutani, New York Times

How the Internet and mash-up culture change everything we know about reading.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Do We Not Have Room For Remorse, Repentence And Conversion? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/03/do-we-not-have-room-for-remorse-repentence-and-conversion/>
Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen

Lawyers have said so. The Law Society has said so. The international community has said so. (Most countries do not have or have abolished the MDP, including almost all Asian countries.) Even judges have implicitly express reservations about it.

So, why isn’t the government taking heed?

**** Oh What A Tangle Web ... <http://menmoney.blogspot.com/2010/03/oh-what-tangle-web.html>
All About Money

This is what I call shooting Singaporeans in the foot!

**** It's Finally Open -- First look (And Ride) At Universal Studios Singapore <http://www.cnngo.com/singapore/play/public-launch-universal-studios-singapore-712213>
mr brown, CNNGo

**** Sovereign Wealth Funds Open Up Books <http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2e16d720-31ed-11df-a8d1-00144feabdc0.html>
Robin Wigglesworth, Andrew England and Simeon Kerr, Financial Times

**** HDB's Flawed Policy Direction <http://singaporealternatives.blogspot.com/2010/03/hdbs-flawed-direction.html>
Goh Meng Seng, Singapore Alternatives

To bang on Mr. Mah's policy direction on High HDB price for Future Retirement Financing is a very dangerous move. There are so many variables to take care of. There are just too many unrealistic assumptions made but possible scenarios arising from the aging population not taken care of. His plan that aims to solve one problem, will eventually create more problems for Singaporeans and future government.

**** Can Building Plan Be Changed After Vote? <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_503191.html>
Wee Eng Leong, Straits Times

As far as residents are concerned, their votes on the lift upgrading should be honoured. Can the HDB unilaterally change the building plan which the residents had voted on?

**** Club Should Accept Only National Servicemen <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_503368.html>
Yeo Eng Huat, Straits Times

Opening up corporate membership means NSRCC members may not be able to enjoy the facilities to the full extent, and is certainly not aligned with the club's mission of providing premier facilities to national servicemen in recognition of their contributions.

**** 徐博士错过解释的机会 <http://www.zaobao.com/yl/yl100318_005.shtml>
æž—å† é›„, 联合早报

我觉得，徐博士如能对游君伸出民主之手，把对游君的指责和猜疑，转换成对游君的真诚的握手言谢，我想对民主党改进和媒体关系以及和选民关系都是很有利的。

**** NSAs To Register As Charities <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_503479.html>
Jonathan Wong, Straits Times

THE Singapore Sports Council (SSC) has instructed all National Sports Associations (NSAs) to register themselves as charity organisations by year end or risk getting their funds frozen.

**** Broad Definitions Make For Bad Laws <http://callantham.org/blog/2010/3/18/broad-definitions-make-for-bad-laws.html>
Callan Tham, Trapper's Swamp

Only by taking it to the extremes can the inanity of this interpretation be clearly brought to light. But this expansive take on the law also signifies how unwilling the PAP government is to let go of their opponents even after they have been set free by a court of law, instead choosing to appeal and hoping to set the precedent that would allow them to selectively enforce a broad and vague law to their political advantage.

**** ERP Is For Regulating Traffic Flow, Not Promising You A Smooth Ride <http://www.myapplemenu.com/singapore/2010/03/18/IM030049/>
Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu

If one examines closely, the ERP system in Singapore is for regulating vehicle traffic on the roads, and not, as described by this blogger [http://rogerpoh.wordpress.com/2010/03/18/lta-be-fair-over-erp/], a promise from LTA that the roads will be free from traffic jam.

In fact, one can argue that if there is a traffic accident on a particular road, the ERP for that road should be immediately raised to a much higher rate so that there will be less vehicles willing to travel through this particular road.

**** $2 Billion In PAP Town Councils’ Sinking Funds But Need To Increase Charges? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/03/2-billion-in-pap-town-councils%e2%80%99-sinking-funds-but-need-to-increase-charges/>
Leong Sze Hian / Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen