[MyAppleMenu] Nov 2, 2010

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** 11-Inch MacBook Air Review: A Tiny Miracle <http://gizmodo.com/5678421/11+inch-macbook-air-review-a-tiny-miracle>
Matt Buchanan, Gizmodo

The 11-inch Air might be the first computer you can seriously take with you everywhere and almost never regret leaving your beefier machine at home. The pain of dropping a thousand dollars won't last for very long, either.

**** Akvis Magnifier 4.0 Introduces New Image Reducing Algorithm <http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/akvis_magnifier_4.0_introduces_new_image_reducing_algorithm/>
Dennis Sellers, Macsimum News

Akvis Software has released Akvis Magnifier 4.0, an update of the tool for increasing image resolution for Mac OS X and Windows. Version 4.0 4.0 introduces an advanced algorithm for reducing images.

**** The Race To Dominate The Smartphone Market <http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/01/apple-and-google-excel-in-u-s-smartphone-growth/?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Nick Bilton, New York Times

**** Time’s Ripe For Apple Execs To Enjoy The Fruits Of Their Labor <http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20101101/tk-2/?mod=ATD_rss>
John Paczkowski, Wall Street Journal

With Apple’s shares trading near all-time highs, a few of the company’s top lieutenants are cashing in some of their equity for big paydays.

**** Apple's New Air Notebook Is A Traveler's Dream <http://www.sddt.com/Commentary/article.cfm?Commentary_ID=140&SourceCode=20101101tbc>
Phil Baker, San Diego Daily Transcript

So after two weeks with the Air, much of it on the road, my conclusion is that the new Air is that computer we've been searching for, the perfect solution for the business traveler. Its lighter weight and smaller size has allowed me to leave my heavy wheeled briefcase at home and carry a much smaller shoulder bag. That's real progress for the business traveler.

**** Gogadget To Sync Non-Apple Media Players, Others <http://www.macnn.com/articles/10/11/01/palm.garmin.psp.now...more.coming.soon/>
MacNN

GoGadget is a new program for Mac from third-party sync experts Mark/Space that promises to allow iTunes and iPhoto syncing with almost any third-party media player through a simple, intuitive interface. The program will sync photos, music, video, documents and even ringtones from your Mac to the third-party device simply using the USB cable, limited only by what the device is capable of playing or displaying.

**** Living With Apple’s 11.6″ MacBook Air <http://technologizer.com/2010/11/01/macbook-air/>
Harry McCracken, Technologizer

This Air proves that it’s possible for a personal computer to be a breeze to tote around without any crippling compromises. It’s not for everyone, but I suspect the folks who like it–who haven’t had a Mac aimed at them until now–will really like it.

**** Apple Posts New Ad: The Ipad Is Electric <http://www.macgasm.net/2010/11/01/apple-posts-ad-ipad-electric/>
Macgasm

Apple’s new ad says the iPad is Electric, and continues along the same lines as the previous commercials, showing off applications one after another.

**** Sophos Unveils Free Antivirus Software For The Mac <http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20021424-245.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=News-Apple>
Elinor Mills, CNET

Sophos unveiled free antivirus software today that Macintosh users can install to detect and block malware that targets computers running the Mac operating system. Sophos Anti-Virus Home Edition for Mac also detects malware written for Windows that Mac users can spread via USB drives and e-mail, Chet Wisniewski, a senior security advisor at Sophos, told CNET.

**** Use Automator To Simplify Printing Tasks <http://www.macworld.com/article/154981/2010/11/autoprint.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Craig Arko, Macworld

One of the more repetitive tasks you can do on a computer is prepare items for printing. We're going to look at a few ways Automator can help out with these to get you started.

**** Apple Drops Price Of Mac Mini Internationally <http://www.macrumors.com/2010/11/02/apple-drops-price-of-mac-mini-internationally/>
Arnold Kim, MacRumors

**** Podcaster (Formerly RSS Player Podcast Client) <http://www.macworld.com/appguide/app.html?id=565792&lsrc=rss_main>
Joel Mathis, Macworld

It’s often tough to justify purchasing a paid app that duplicates many of the features in a free offering, but Podcaster—a $1 app from Alex Sokirynsky—is so much better than the iPhone’s native iTunes app that the cost is worth it.

**** Apple Ipad's Rivals Can't Hang On Pricing <http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/apple-ipads-rivals-cant-hang-on-pricing/41163>
Larry Dignan, ZDNet

When Apple CEO Steve Jobs launched the iPad it wasn’t clear how aggressively these newfangled devices were priced. Now we know because Android tablets and other rival tablets can’t hang on pricing.

**** Outlook 2011 Tips That Owe A Debt To Entourage <http://www.macworld.com/article/155089/2010/11/outlookgem.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Nathan Alderman, Macworld

Despite the redesign, Microsoft made sure to retain many of the bonuses and shortcuts that made Entourage a power user tool. Here are some favorites you might have missed.

**** Review: Macbook Air 13-inch <http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/11/02/review-macbook-air-13-inch/>
John Biggs, CrunchGear

Users are all different and if you have the cash and the impetus to buy a very slim MacBook, then you should look into the Air. Otherwise, steer clear.

**** Is Apple Prepared To Sue Sesame Street? <http://www.minyanville.com/dailyfeed/is-apple-prepared-to-sue/?camp=syndication&medium=portals&from=yahoo>
Minyanville

The world-famous puppetville have spoofed Apple products and its recently trademarked phrase "There's an app for that." In fact, the entire segment is centered around the line.

**** Two New Anti-Virus Apps Debut For The Mac <http://www.macworld.com/article/155389/2010/11/mac_antivirus_sophos_eset.html?lsrc=rss_main>
David Chartier, Macworld

The flames of impending Mac insecurity are once again getting fanned, as Sophos and ESET are the latest security software companies to pitch new products for the Mac.

**** Sequenzetto 1.0.1 <http://www.macworld.com/reviews/product/714775/review/sequenzetto_101.html?expand=true&lsrc=rss_main>
Dan Frakes, Macworld

**** 15 Secrets Of iMovie ’11 <http://db.tidbits.com/article/11712?rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tidbits_main+%28TidBITS%3A+Mac+News+for+the+Rest+of+Us%29>
Jeff Carlson, TidBITS

**** AppleCare Protection Plans Can Now Be Transferred <http://appadvice.com/appnn/2010/11/applecare-protection-plans-transferred/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AppAdvice+%28AppAdvice%29>
Bryan Wolfe, AppAdvice

Now, customers are able to transfer a plan from one device to another. But, there is a catch: the policy only covers plans purchased within the last 30 days.



The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Software Helps Websites Predict Users' Tastes <http://www.technologyreview.com/web/26664/?ref=rss>
Erica Naone, Technology Review

E-commerce websites have only a brief window of opportunity to win a customer's attention and money. Many sites use personalization to appeal to particular customers, but this normally means making recommendations based on a person's purchase history. A startup called Baynote, based in San Jose, California, has developed software that automatically reorganizes a website based on much more information, including how users behave after they arrive.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** Meals On Wheels <http://www.slate.com/id/2272476/>
Nina Shen Rastogi, Slate

Should I buy my lunch from a food truck or a restaurant?

**** Two Poems <http://www.slate.com/id/2273284/>
Jane Hirshfield, Slate



SingaporeSurf
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**** A Singapore Sling <http://www.hindustantimes.com/A-Singapore-sling/Article1-620857.aspx>
K. Anji Reddy, Hindustan Times

Though a votary of the Indian model of democracy, I cannot but agree with Lee on two fundamental premises. What is a Nation-State if it cannot provide its people clean drinking water, sanitation, quality education, healthcare and a decent house? Also, shouldn't these be provided under the principles of affordability rather than as freebies?

**** How We Fund Our SWFs <http://atans1.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/how-we-fund-our-swfs/>
Thoughts Of A Cynical Investor

As about 43% of the working population  don’t pay income tax, and VAT and other taxes are relatively low: one way the surpluses are generated is by a government being thrifty (government’s view) or mean (view of many netizens).

**** New Election, Same Old Non-Choices <http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/new-election-same-old-non-choices/>
Yawning Bread

**** 大选是政纲的公平竞选 <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/yl/yl101102_003.shtml>
杨松坚, 联合早报

各反对党虽然相对势单力薄，但也希望他们不应只关注选区的人员分配，如何在较有把握的选区竞选，更期待各反对党尽早亮出他们的竞选政纲和应对策略。虽然反对党人数不多，竞选者亦多不为居民所熟悉，但是广大选民所关注的是，他们能否推举出可为人民所信服的优秀参选者，提出明确的治国安民政纲、确实可行的社区发展规划和鲜明的竞选策略。

**** 两非政府组织提报告 肯定我国维护人权有贡献 <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/sp/sp101102_025.shtml>
联合早报

æ–°åŠ å¡å›½é™…äº‹åŠ¡å­¦ä¼šï¼ˆSingapore Institute of International Affairs, 简称SIIA）和思考中心（Think Centreï¼‰åœ¨æ˜¨å¤©å‘å‡ºçš„æ–‡å‘Šä¸­ï¼Œéƒ½å»ºè®®æ”¿åºœæˆç«‹ä¸€æ‰€å…¨å›½äººæƒä¸­å¿ƒæˆ–å­¦é™¢ï¼Œä»¥å­•è‚²ä¸€æ‰¹ç ”ç©¶æœ¬åœ°äººæƒæƒ…å†µçš„å­¦è€…åŠä¸“å®¶ã€‚

**** Singapore Fights Filth With Fire <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/11/2/nation/7345992&sec=nation>
The Star

Singapore, which has a problem of land scarcity, started building incinerators 40 years ago – and has not regretted it since.

**** Can People Afford To Retire? <http://tankinlian.blogspot.com/2010/11/can-people-afford-to-retire.html>
Tan Kin Lian

The retirees in Singapore face the same problem of rising life expectancy and high cost of living - there is inadequate savings in the fund for their retirement. So, people in Singapore will have to continue working longer anyway as they cannot afford to retire.

**** Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew Well, Intends To Travel - Son <http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-52613820101102>
David Schlesinger and Raju Gopalakrishnan, Reuters

Lee Kuan Yew, the founder of modern Singapore, is frail but well, and intends to start travelling again, his son, prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, said on Tuesday. "He is well, he is frailer than before but his mind is still all there and he has been travelling and I think he intends to travel again."

**** Singapore Fund Moves To Dispel Row On ASX <http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-business/singapore-fund-moves-to-dispel-row-on-asx-20101102-17bx6.html>
AFP

Temasek, which owns a 23.45 per cent stake in the Singapore exchange, said it was not involved in the running of the bourse operator, in a letter to Australian media posted on the company's website and dated October 31.

It follows a fierce political backlash in Australia after the Singapore Exchange announced last week an $US8.2 billion ($A8.31 billion) takeover bid for its Sydney counterpart.

**** 95% Of Students Say They Are Proud To Be Singaporean: Survey <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1090896/1/.html>
Sharon See, Channel NewsAsia

The education minister and second minister for defence, Ng Eng Hen said he is upbeat about Singapore youth and their sense of belonging to their country. He said two National Education surveys on students conducted in 2008 and 2010 showed that over 95 per cent were proud to be Singaporeans. 

Similar surveys on National Servicemen have also consistently shown that a majority feel they belong here and would defend Singapore should it come under threat.

**** Left Hand Dunno What Right Hand Is Doing? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/11/left-hand-dunno-what-right-hand-is-doing/>
The Online Citizen

**** Singapore Needs U.S./China To Solve Issues <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/11/2/worldupdates/2010-11-02T142541Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-526151-1&sec=Worldupdates>
David Schlesinger, Reuters

Singapore needs the United States and China to work out their differences to ensure prosperity, its prime minister said on Tuesday.

Singapore, with one of the highest per capita incomes in Asia, has interlinked trade and financial relations with both powers, and feels the tensions keenly.

**** Nuclear Power Plant In S'pore Not Likely For Next 10-20 Years: Expert <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1090911/1/.html>
Joanne Chan, Channel NewsAsia

"We're talking about a process here that's decades, not years, if you think about how long it takes to develop these technologies, and ultimately deploy them. I think the watch will go on for probably another 5 or 10 years or longer, before one actually makes a decision," said Peter Schwartz, chairman of Global Business Network.

**** My Home Is In Singapore.... Or Not? <http://jhlovesjh.blogspot.com/2010/11/my-home-is-in-singapore-or-not.html>
Simplicity

The Singapore that I used to know changes so fast that I don't know if I still know her.

**** The Power Of Empty Space <http://meredithstrategy.wordpress.com/2010/11/01/the-power-of-empty-space/>
Meredith

Now, as the purpose for the office is under challenge, as well, it seems appropriate to reconsider the base of the urban building.

**** Press Muse – The Numbers Tell No Story <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/11/press-muse-the-numbers-tell-no-story/>
The Online Citizen

So faithfully have Channel NewsAsia and the Straits Times bought into the government’s nationalist narrative, jumping in to fight the troubling fires set last week by a Mr Lim Zi Rui and SM Goh, and perishing the scandalous thought that Singapore’s youth are less than patriotically inspired.

**** MBS Rapped For Casino 'Entry To Exit' Incident <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC101103-0000072/MBS-rapped-for-casino-entry-to-exit-incident>
Teo Xuanwei, Today

The Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) has issued a warning to Marina Bay Sands (MBS) over an incident in May during which 15 diners walked through its casino without paying the $100 levy.

Responding to MediaCorp's queries, a CRA spokesperson said the diners had entered the casino "for the purpose of exiting the premises and did not pay the entry levy". "This could have been avoided if MBS had properly and promptly informed the diners of available alternative exit routes," she added.

**** The Mood Of A Nation <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC101103-0000048/The-mood-of-a-nation>
P N Balji, Today

The single biggest topic of angst is the rising number of foreigners. 

The people I speak to are not against immigration per say. A friend told me the other day: "I have many foreigners who have become friends. Most times, I enjoy their company. But what I am against is the unchecked entry of these people into Singapore and how they have made our trains so crowded, our roads so congested, our houses so expensive to buy."