[MyAppleMenu] Oct 27, 2010

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Apple Imac 27-Inch Review <http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/reviews/?reviewID=3245819>
Neil Bennett, Digital Arts

**** Apple iLife 11 Review <http://www.pocket-lint.com/review/5093/apple-ilife-iphoto-imovie-garageband>
Pocket Lint

iLife 11 sees a handful of incremental rather than revolutionary updates and new features that will tease you into upgrading rather than making it a must. iPhoto seems to have had the lion's share of them too, although some of the new features in iMovie are just as helpful.

**** Apple Mac Pro (Mid 2010) <http://www.zdnet.co.uk/reviews/workstations/2010/10/26/apple-mac-pro-mid-2010-40090552/?>
Charles McLellan, ZDNet UK

The 2010 Mac Pro is a very fine workstation-class desktop. Its stylish and practical design is little changed from previous versions for a good reason: it works.

**** Apple's New Goal: The Computer As Appliance <http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,2027526,00.html>
Harry McCracken, Time

**** Apple: No White iPhones ‘Til Spring <http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20101026/apple-no-white-iphones-til-spring/?mod=tweet>
John Paczkowski, Wall Street Journal

The company tells me that the device wont hit the market until next year. Said a company spokesperson, “We’re sorry to disappoint customers waiting for the white iPhone yet again, but we’ve decided to delay its release until this Spring.”

**** Put Your Mac On A Diet With CleanMyMac <http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/26/put-your-mac-on-a-diet-with-cleanmymac/>
David Winograd, TUAW

CleanMyMac by Macpaw software is an amazing bit of Mac utility software that has one purpose in life: to streamline your hard drive by getting rid of all the extraneous stuff that you probably don't know is there and almost certainly don't need.

**** BBEdit 9.6 Brings HTML5 Support <http://www.macworld.com/article/155205/2010/10/bbedit_96.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Jeff Porten, Macworld

New features in the update include syntax recognition for HTML5 entities, allowing for improved performance when working with the latest Web markup.

**** Re: Where Gruber Thinks The Macbook Air Fits In <http://brooksreview.net/2010/10/mba-fits/>
Ben Brooks, The Brooks Review

There is certainly a large contingent of Mac users that have an overwhelming amount of data storage needs, but if you fall in that group than I doubt that even a 500GB 2 hard drive will suffice for you. So let’s go ahead and just throw out the ‘needing more storage space’ arguments against the MacBook Air, most people can and will figure out how to deal with that if it is even an issue for them, even then I don’t think it is an issue for the average user.

**** Apple Launches Online Store, App Store In China <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/10/26/apple_launches_online_store_app_store_in_china.html>
Josh Ong, AppleInsider

**** Apple Accused Of Copyright Infringement <http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8113948>
Ninemsn

Proview Technology Co, Ltd, which is based in the southern city of Shenzhen, registered the iPad trademark in January 2000 and still owns the rights to its use in China, the Beijing News said, citing government archives.

**** 13-Inch MacBook Air Is A Surprisingly Powerful And Portable Pro Replacement [Review] <http://www.cultofmac.com/13-inch-macbook-air-is-a-surprisingly-powerful-and-portable-pro-replacement-review/65814>
David W. Martin, Cult Of Mac

**** Office 2011: Excel FAQ <http://www.macworld.com/article/155113/2010/10/excel2011faq.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Dan Miller, Macworld

**** Apple's 2010 MacBook Air (11 & 13 inch) Thoroughly Reviewed <http://www.anandtech.com/show/3991/apples-2010-macbook-air-11-13inch-reviewed>
Anand Lal Shimpi & Vivek Gowri, Anandtech

**** MacBook Air: Steady On… <http://ihnatko.com/2010/10/27/macbook-air-steady-on/>
Andy Ihnatko's Celestial Waste of Bandwidth (BETA)

There are two different kinds of notebook users out there. Some people need a notebook that’s just as capable as a desktop. Others are more consumer-oriented; they have simpler needs that don’t go far beyond the Web, Email, Office, and basic photo and video editing and sharing.

Neither Air is a great answer for either user.

**** Icons In iMovie And iPhoto 11 <http://shapeof.com/archives/2010/10/icons_in_imove_and_iphoto_11.html>
The Shape Of Everything



The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Robotic Limbs That Plug Into The Brain <http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/26622/?ref=rss>
Emily Singer, Technology Review

Scientists are testing whether brain signals can control sophisticated prosthetic arms.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** "The Gun": How Automatic Weapons Changed The Way We Kill <http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2010/10/26/ak47_the_gun/index.html>
Matt Zoller Seitz, Salon

A new book explains how AK-47s, M16s and other guns reinvented slaughter -- and their gruesome effect on the body.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Robb Cautions Against Early ASX Talk <http://www.smh.com.au/business/robb-cautions-against-early-asx-talk-20101027-172qn.html>
AAP

**** Nourishing The People <http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=4358>
Wong Wee Nam, Sgpolitics.net

**** Worrying times ahead for Law class of 2011? <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC101027-0000053/Worrying-times-ahead-for-Law-class-of-2011?>
Robin Chee, Today

The current situation has caused some law students to be extremely disillusioned and question the wisdom of heeding the call to major in law a couple of years ago, based on the presentation that there was a severe shortage of lawyers, which reasonably suggested it would not be difficult to obtain a job in Singapore upon graduation. 

**** Singapore-Australia Exchange Deal Could Dent HK <http://www.smh.com.au/business/world-business/singaporeaustralia-exchange-deal-could-dent-hk-20101027-172n0.html>
AFP

The head of Hong Kong's stock exchange said on Tuesday that a planned multi-billion dollar merger of the Singapore and Australian stock exchanges could dent the city's new listings business.

**** 'It's About Quality, Not Cost' <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_595571.html>
Rachel Chang, Straits Times

THE outcry by Tampines North residents over standards of cleanliness in their housing estates has led labour chief Lim Swee Say to take issue with the way town councils award contracts. He said their complaints proved the labour movement's tenet of emphasising quality over cost.

**** Australia's Singapore Panic <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304287204575575562327890300.html?mod=googlenews_wsj>
Wall Street Journal

Political grandstanding against this deal is by far the greater danger. Australia's economy is thriving due to the global commodities boom but more broadly thanks to the opening of the economy to competition and investment undertaken by a succession of governments in the last 25 years. But the economy will only thrive so long as Canberra stays true to the free-market principles that have spurred its growth. One of the most important is openness to foreign investment.

**** Inflation To Rise <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_595859.html>
Hannah Koh, Straits Times

Domestic inflation is set to increase, bolstered by higher labour costs, rising food prices and private road transport prices, said the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in its latest Macroeconomic Review, released on Wednesday.

**** Singapore Says Capital Flows Into Asian Economies Pose Risks <http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-27/singapore-says-capital-flows-into-asian-economies-pose-risks.html>
Shamim Adam, Bloomberg

“Inflationary pressures remain significant in Asia,” the central bank said. “Large capital inflows into the region have continued to fuel activities and prices in the asset markets, which could also pose a risk to the inflation outlook.”

**** Globalisation – A Bane Or Boon For Singaporeans? <http://www.transitioning.org/2010/10/27/globalisation-a-bane-or-boon-for-singaporeans/>
Gilbert Goh, Transitioning.sg

Many experienced matured PMETs looked lost and as there is no real leadership shown by the government, they resorted to driving cabs or sign up to be property/insurance agents to make ends meet. Under employment is most prevalent among this group of matured PMETs.

**** Has Zaqy Mohamad Forgotten What MM Lee And PM Lee Said About Malays? <http://singaporedino.blogspot.com/2010/10/has-zaqy-mohamad-forgotten-what-mm-lee.html>
Singapore Dino

These are all verbatim statements made by PAP leaders, two of them this year, questioning Malay loyalty, humanitarianism and even culture.

**** That $8 Bill For Surgical Bypass In Singapore <http://singaporedesk.blogspot.com/2010/10/that-8-bill-for-surgical-bypass-in.html>
Singapore Notes

Whatever his noble intentions, be it attracting more foreigners, making a sales pitch for MediShield, promoting the medical tourist business, or plain electioneering plug for the wonderful job the MIW is doing for the country, you can't escape the fact that Khaw's claim amounts to false advertising.

**** HDB Should Return To 'Cost-Based' Pricing <http://news.asiaone.com/News/Mailbox/Story/A1Story20101027-244332.html>
See Leong Kit, My Paper

HDB's "market-based" pricing approach is the root cause of the continual rise in the prices of new and resale flats, which is detrimental to flat buyers.

Why is HDB not doing the right thing, as a not-for-profit, low-cost public-housing developer, by pricing new flats on a cost-based, break-even basis, passing on to Singaporeans the economy-of-scale cost savings from its huge developments?

**** Singapore Exchange's Bocker Faces Revolt On Australian Takeover <http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-26/singapore-exchange-chief-bocker-facing-revolt-over-takeover-in-australia.html>
Jonathan Burgos, Bloomberg

Magnus Bocker, who stitched together eight European stock exchanges and sold them in a bidding war, is running into a wall with shareholders and politicians over his plan to acquire Australia’s main bourse.

Singapore Exchange Ltd. posted its worst two-day drop in two years after chief executive officer Bocker unveiled an $8 billion takeover of ASX Ltd. this week. Australian Green party leader Bob Brown said he won’t support the bid and Tokyo Stock Exchange Group Inc., with a 5 percent stake in its Singapore rival, warned it will be saddled with losses.

**** Preventing Suicide Among Singaporeans <http://newasiarepublic.com/?p=21329>
Kelvin Teo, New Asia Republic

**** Xenophobia, Incompetence And Foreign Investment Wars <http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/10/27/xenophobia-incompetence-and-other-tales-from-the-foreign-investment-wars/>
Bernard Keane and Glenn Dyer, Crikey

In short, the parties have taken regulatory requirements and political reality for granted, and are now likely to pay the penalty.

**** We Took The Train From Singapore (Tanjong Pagar Railway Station) To Johor (JB) <http://sengkangbabies.blogspot.com/2010/10/we-took-train-from-tanjong-pagar.html>
Boys.Girl

We can hear the whistle, and we boarded the 0845 train.

**** Press Statement From The Prime Minister On Changes To Cabinet And Other Appointments <http://www.news.gov.sg/public/sgpc/en/media_releases/agencies/micacsd/press_release/P-20101027-3.html?AuthKey=384a6310-56d1-d24c-8c29-5368bbee19a3>
Singapore Government

The prime minister will make several changes to Cabinet and other appointments, effective from 1 Nov 2010.

**** Most People Happy To Be Competent, Not Exceptional, Says Finance Minister <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1089679/1/.html>
Alvina Soh, Channel NewsAsia

One big challenge for Singapore is its people as they are not pushing themselves enough to be exceptional, says finance minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

**** Ordinary Folks Hurting From High Cost Of Living <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/4284-ordinary-folks-hurting-from-high-cost-of-living>
Singapore Democrat Party

**** Singapore's Orchard Road To Be Raised After Floods <http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5heCUMdzhTWEBtGH5paZgbc-P1E_g?docId=CNG.79d189625fbe5d327f74a5a6e4542730.3a1>
AFP

Parts of Singapore's famous shopping thoroughfare Orchard Road will be raised to prevent a repeat of the flash floods that hit the area in June, a city services official said.

**** Fewer Foreigners Wanted In Singapore <http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/LJ28Ae01.html>
Megawati Wijaya, Asia Times

**** Home Affairs Minister Steps Down Amid Sweeping Cabinet Changes <http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/10/27/wong-kang-seng-steps-down-as-home-affairs-min-amid-sweeping-cabinet-changes/>
Faris, Yahoo!

**** S’pore Lawyer In Hot Soup After Angry Tirade At Journalists <http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/10/27/spore-lawyer-in-hot-soup-after-angry-tirade-at-journalists/>
Faris, Yahoo!

**** Singapore's New Weapon Against Dissent <http://asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2783&Itemid=164>
Paul Karl Lukacs, Asia Sentinel

In the end, the publishers of the website are probably correct in stating that the agenda of the government is to identify the site's editors so that they can be investigated and discredited. And trademark and other intellectual property claims are the newest, superficially legalistic methods the PAP will use to protect its hegemony and the privileges of its leaders.

**** SGX-ASX Merger Must Be "Positive Sum Gain": Foreign Minister Yeo <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/1089738/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

Singapore's foreign minister George Yeo said the proposed merger of the Singapore and Australian stock exchanges has to be a positive sum gain. Otherwise, he does not see the two entities and the shareholders on both sides agreeing to it.

Also, from the viewpoint of the regulators, both governments through the regulators must see it to be in their own separate national interest.