[MyAppleMenu] Oct 4, 2010

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** iPhone User Privacy At Risk From Apps That Transmit Personal Info <http://feeds.arstechnica.com/~r/arstechnica/apple/~3/dKqMD-JAd6c/iphone-user-privacy-at-risk-from-apps-that-transmit-personal-info.ars>
Jacqui Cheng, Ars Technica

The user data collected by some iOS apps can be correlated to real-world identities, posing a privacy risk to iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad users. According to research from Bucknell University, a majority of iOS apps transmit user data back to their own servers. But because some store more info than others—and in some cases, in plaintext—it can be easily pieced together to reveal more about individual users than they bargained for.

**** iPhone Applications & Privacy Issues: An Analysis Of Application Transmission Of iPhone Unique Device Identifiers (Udids) <http://www.pskl.us/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/iPhone-Applications-Privacy-Issues.pdf>
Eric Smith

Every Apple iPhone shipped since its introduction in 2007 contains a unique, software-visible serial number -- the Unique Device Identifier, or UDID. Apple provided this functionaly to allow application developers to uniquely identify the iPhone being used for purposes such as storing application preferences or video game high scores. While the UDID does facilitate the process of collecting and storing certain types of data, it also creates a tempting opportunity for use as a tracking agent or to correlate with other personally-identifiable information in unintended ways. In this paper, we investigate where and how UDIDs are being shared, with whom, and how the UDIDs are being used.

(Note: Link goes to a PDF document.)

**** Apple TV (2010) Review <http://www.tipb.com/2010/10/03/apple-tv-2010-review/>
Rene Ritchie, TiPb

Apple TV (2010) isn’t a leap forward, it isn’t even a step. It’s a shuffle to the side. But that shuffle cuts one heck of an angle and positions Apple’s hobby to perhaps finally break through into something more. A lot will depend on the next 12 months, how much Apple pushes it and how fast content fills out. A lot also depends on those myopic Hollywood studies who still haven’t gotten on board with volume pricing (much less subscription services, which would be killer).

**** Ars Reviews The Apple Tv 2.0: Little, Black, Different <http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2010/10/ars-reviews-the-apple-tv-20.ars>
Jacqui Cheng, Ars Technica

**** Apple TV Not Juicy Enough <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013066858_brier04.html?prmid=related_stories_section>
Brier Dudley, Seattle Times

Compared with the growing pile of gadgets that already connect TVs to the Internet, the Apple TV is fairly limited. It's the smallest and most stylish of the bunch, but like with a high-heeled shoe, you'll trade some capabilities for those looks.

**** China’s Unicom’s Apple Strategy Sours <http://english.caing.com/2010-09-24/100183796.html>
Wang Shanshan, Caixin

Plans to sell USIM cards for 3G service for iPad froze September 1, disappointing many consumers as well as the market, which had expected a fast track for the telecom's 3G. Now, as Chinese consumers queue in Apple stores for iPads with WiFi, not 3G, the telecom operator is being forced to reassess its position.

A spokesman for China Unicom said the company had received no advance information about Apple's decision to sell iPads independently. As a result, he said rather bluntly, "some actions taken by Apple Inc. are making things awkward for China Unicom." The spokesman added that "preparations for the sale of the Unicom version of the iPad are still in process, and it's not likely to be launched in the near future."

**** The Potential Of MobileMe <http://shawnblanc.net/2010/10/mobileme-potential/>
Shawn Blanc

In many ways Dropbox and Google are driving the iOS / OS X relationship more than MobileMe is. While MobileMe is syncing my contacts and calendars, Dropbox is syncing my most-dear files: the projects, articles, and notes I’m interacting with every day. What are iWork.com and MobileMe for if not for the sharing and syncing of everything between our Macintoshes, iPhones, and iPads in sync?

**** Apple Begins Selling iPad Direct Through Amazon, Target <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/10/04/apple_begins_selling_ipad_direct_through_amazon_target.html>
AppleInsider

**** Hacked Old Mac Makes A Useful Tablet <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=58c3b67f248a6c933c9b12a3007b773c>
Elizabeth Fish, PC World

Who needs an iPad when you have a broken MacBook? Matt at Enigma Penguin decided that he would recycle his old laptop and turn it into a tablet.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** Jonathan Franzen's Freedom Has Been Pulped. MORE HEADLINE TO GO HERE <http://feeds.guardian.co.uk/~r/theguardian/books/rss/~3/3GbgocYDOQk/charlie-brooker-jonathan-franzen-book-pulped>
Charlie Brooker, The Guardian

There's nothing like the lonely horror of realising you've made a really massive cock-up.

**** Later <http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2010/10/11/101011crbo_books_surowiecki>
James Surowiecki, New Yorker

What does procrastination tell us about ourselves?

**** "At Home": The Weird History Of The Houses We Live In <http://www.salon.com/books/laura_miller/2010/10/03/at_home/index.html>
Laura Miller, Salon

Bill Bryson delivers an irresistible grab bag of vermin-infested wigs and double-barreled privies.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Singapore: Then And Now <http://www.cnngo.com/singapore/life/then-and-now-266369>
Lester V. Ledesma, CNNGo

**** Remnants Of Old Singapore <http://www.cnngo.com/singapore/visit/remnants-old-singapore-501354>
Lester V. Ledesma, CNNGo

While the rest of Singapore hangs out at the mall, these three places have eluded the wrecking ball of modernity.

**** 3.3% Inflation Due To Population Increase? <http://furrybrowndog.wordpress.com/2010/10/03/3-3-inflation-due-to-population-increase/>
Furry Brown Dog

**** 10 Reasons Not To Sleep In Singapore <http://www.cnngo.com/singapore/play/late-night-hangouts-singapore-are-uniquely-singaporean-210094>
Loke Shi Ying , CNNGo

Tape your eyes open, chew some coffee and get down to these Singapore nightspots.

**** Concern Over Health Of Singapore's Lee <http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101004/wl_asia_afp/singaporepoliticslee>
AFP

Singaporeans paid tribute on Monday to the late wife of founding leader Lee Kuan Yew amid growing concern over the elder statesman's own health.

**** Is The Ministry Of Information, Communications And The Arts (Mica) Relishing In The Comforts Of Conservatism? <http://guanyinmiao.wordpress.com/2010/10/04/is-the-ministry-of-information-communications-and-the-arts-mica-relishing-in-the-comforts-of-conservatism/>
Guanyinmiao's Musings

Even as MICA has hinted its intent to move progressively forward, moving towards “co-regulation and classification”, it should have considered more aspects, and done more to provide greater depth and details in its response to the CRC recommendations.  

**** 51 More Buildings In S'pore To Be Conserved <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1085025/1/.html>
Sara Gross, Channel NewsAsia

National development minister Mah Bow Tan has said an additional 51 buildings and two structures at Jalan Besar, which include the 50-year-old Lee Clan Association, will be conserved.