[MyAppleMenu] Oct 29, 2010

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
====================================

**** After iLife '11: Alternatives To iDVD And iWeb <http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/28/after-ilife-11-alternatives-to-idvd-and-iweb/>
Michael Grothaus, TUAW


>From a purely consumer standpoint, I don't think any of these apps offer the ease of use that Apple has so successfully built into iWeb and iDVD, but given that iDVD seems all but abandoned -- as should the MacBook optical drive be -- and the future is uncertain for iWeb, it's always nice to know you have some alternatives.


**** MacBook Air Review -- A Multimedia Master In A Tiny Package <http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2010/10/28/macbook-air-review/>
Brian Warmoth, MTV

HD video can be a real pleasure to watch on the the 13" Air's 1440 x 900 screen, though some streaming HD video sources (YouTube HD, CBS.com HD) produced less desirable, slightly rougher experiences — and it should come as no surprise that Flash doesn't come pre-installed for Safari. For most media, you'll feel like you're using a thinner MacBook rather than a netbook with a bigger monitor. It's not made for handling lots of memory-heavy video editing, but for playback and casual tinkering, it won't roll over.

**** Review: MacBook Air Stakes Its Claim <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/businesstechnology/8092359/Review-MacBook-Air-stakes-its-claim.html>
Telegraph

There’s no getting away from the fact that this is a pricey machine, but given its specs, its capabilities and its impress-your-clients looks, it’s still good value.

**** What’s Wrong With The New MacBook Air? <http://foliovision.com/2010/10/28/wrong-with-macbook-air>
Foliovision

In the end, there's no substitute for a single main machine.

**** On AppleCare <http://forkbombr.net/on-applecare/>
Stephen M. Hackett

In short, buy AppleCare. You don’t want to be caught without it. If you never need it, consider yourself lucky and move on. It’s as simple as that.

**** Review: Apple's Latest MacBook Air Does More Heavy Lifting <http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2010-10-28-baig28_ST_N.htm?csp=hf>
Edward C. Baig, USA Today

Air models are pleasing to look at and use, unlike most netbooks. The relevant question is not so much how Air measures up to rival ultraportables but if you'd want one instead of or in addition to an iPad.

**** AppleCare Has Paid For Itself <http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/28/applecare-has-paid-for-itself/>
TJ Luoma, TUAW

**** iPhone 4 Sold Out Within 10 Hours At China Online Apple Store <http://micgadget.com/9182/iphone-4-sold-out-within-10-hours-at-china-online-apple-store/>
M.I.C. Gadget

Apple’s new online store in China is not only the easiest way to shop online for Apple products, but also the best way for scalpers to get iPhone 4.

**** Ingram Micro Sees More Business Interest In iPads <http://www.reuters.com/article/idCNN2826968820101028?rpc=44>
Alex Dobuzinskis, Reuters

Greg Spierkel, chief executive of Ingram Micro, said Apple has preferred to sell the iPad to retailers but that the company is increasingly letting his firm sell it to businesses.

One significant use of tablets by businesses is by sales representatives in the field, he said.

**** MobileMe May Be Apple's Least "Green" Product, Packaging-Wise <http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/29/mobileme-may-be-apples-least-green-product-packaging-wise/>
Chris Rawson, TUAW

MobileMe's product packaging hasn't changed a bit in three years, other than the name on the front. The package still occupies the same footprint as the boxes for AppleCare, OS X Snow Leopard, and even an Airport Express -- all products which contain DVDs with installable software inside. Those products have a reason to be the size they are. MobileMe doesn't.

**** New MacBook Air: The Best Ever <http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9193899/New_MacBook_Air_The_best_ever?source=rss_news>
Paul Venezia, Computerworld

**** The Critics Are Losing The Apple Price Argument <http://www.technightowl.com/2010/10/the-critics-are-losing-the-apple-price-argument/>
Gene Steinberg, Tech Night Owl

**** Devonthink To Go Puts Your Knowledge In Your Pocket <http://www.macworld.com/article/155269/2010/10/devonthink_ipad.html?lsrc=rss_main>
David Chartier, Macworld

DevonThink To Go is a new travel edition of Devon Technologies’s popular document manager and information sifter, bringing its document organization and searching features to the iPad and iPhone. You can use it on its own to organize documents from other apps, create new notes, and search through it all.



The Tomorrow Weblog
====================================

**** Where Good Ideas Come From <http://www.technologyreview.com/web/26656/?ref=rss>
Technology Review

New search technologies can identify influential documents without relying on links.



MyAppleMenu Reader
====================================

**** When Did Halloween Get So Tawdry? <http://www.slate.com/id/2272751/>
Juliet Lapidos, Slate Magazine

In the 1970s.

**** Why Is Burma Holding An Election? <http://www.slate.com/id/2272642/>
Sebastian Strangio, Slate Magazine

The military junta has no intention of surrendering power.



SingaporeSurf
====================================

**** Leave It To Grassroots <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_596698.html>
Thomas See, Straits Times

**** Excellence Or Perfection? <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC101029-0000060/Excellence-or-perfection?>
Tan Qin Shan, Bertrand, Today

Excellence is about being the best that you can be, not attaining some artificial standard of perfection.

There is no place for complacency, and telling that to Singaporeans would be like preaching to the converted, and insinuating that we do otherwise would be an insult, especially to those who are excellent in their own way.

**** PAP Cabinet Reshuffle: A Demotion Or Promotion For Wong Kan Seng? <http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=4365>
Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net

As co-ordinating minister for national security, Mr Wong will have a much more focussed, and possibly even more important role to play, as compared to the broader role as home affairs minister. But given Mr Wong’s track record as home affairs minister, is he really up for the task?

**** Remembering SQ006: 10 Years On <http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/10/29/remembering-sq006-10-years-on/>
Ion Danker, Yahoo!


>From “surviving to winning” – that’s how former Singapore Airlines (SIA) pilot Cyrano Latiff describes how he’s turned his life around since surviving Singapore’s worst-ever aircraft disaster.


**** Nuclear Energy An Option For Singapore, Say Experts <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC101029-0000088/Nuclear-energy-an-option-for-Singapore,-say-experts>
Ong Dai Lin, Today

Noting that Malaysia has decided to build it's first nuclear power plant by 2021, Sembcorp Industries executive vice-president Ng Meng Poh said nuclear energy "is inevitable". The question, he said, is how to create a robust system for Singapore. 

**** Better Pay Just An Excuse <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC101029-0000066/Better-pay-just-an-excuse>
Mustafa Shafawi, Today

SHRI said it's believed that high turnover persists in certain organisations because they have an atmosphere in which employees look for reasons to leave, and money is just a convenient and sometimes compelling justification.

**** Cheaper, Better, Faster Till 70 And Beyond? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/10/cheaper-better-faster-till-70-and-beyond/>
Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen

The basis for urging Singaporeans to work longer – and introducing legislation to coerce the people to do so – is that Singaporeans do not have enough to retire early.

Yet, it seems no one has noticed the big fat white elephant in the room – where have all of Singaporeans’ money gone to?

**** Sing Dollar Will Continue To Hit Record Highs Against Us Dollar: Analysts <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/1089988/1/.html>
Mok Fei Fei, Channel NewsAsia

The Sing dollar may appreciate as the US Federal Reserve is expected to launch a second round of quantitative easing, known as QE2, to stimulate the tepid US economy. 

**** More Ex-Detainees Speak Out : Political Violence And The Abuse Of The Isa In Singapore <http://singaporerebel.blogspot.com/2010/10/more-ex-detainees-speak-out-political.html>
Martyn See Tong Ming, Only "Objective" And "Factual" Political Films Please, We're Singaporeans

**** Vegan Fast Food Hits Singapore <http://davidreport.com/blog/201010/vegan-fast-food-hits-singapore/>
Kristina Dryza, David Report

Fast food has a bad rap and vegan food is seen as tasteless and boring but Veganburg a new restaurant in Singapore is changing these perceptions.

**** Unemployment Rate Falls In Singapore <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1090073/1/.html>
Mustafa Shafawi, Channel NewsAsia

Singapore's unemployment rate has fallen further. At the end of September, it was 2.1 per cent, down from 2.2 per cent in June.

The Manpower Ministry (MOM) said among the resident labour force, the unemployment rate was 3.1 per cent, also down by 0.1 percentage point.

**** Australia Opposition: ASX Decision In Govt Hands <http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE69S02Y20101029>
Michael Smith and Michael Perry, Reuters

Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey reiterated he was worried a takeover could jeopardise Australia's aspirations to become a regional financial hub, but added the ultimate decision on changing ASX ownership limits rested with the Australian government and upper house Senate.

**** The Changi Village That I Loved <http://thelongnwindingroad.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/the-changi-village-that-i-loved/>
The Long And Winding Road

It would probably be hard to visualise how Changi Village might once have been without the photographs that exist, and what we do see of the remake of the village that (if we ignore the weekend crowds), still offers an escape from the concrete jungle that Singapore has become, bears little resemblance to that old laid back village.

**** Singapore: Why Innovate In Utopia? <http://techcrunch.com/2010/10/28/singapore-why-innovate-in-utopia-2/>
Sarah Lacy, TechCrunch

Singapore has one big challenge: How to create a country of entrepreneurial problem solvers and hackers when there’s no chaos, total practicality and a culture of obediently going-with-the-flow.

**** 与公民结婚不会自动获得居留权 <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/yl/yl101029_010.shtml>
è°¢æƒ å¿ï¼Œç§»æ°‘ä¸Žå…³å¡å±€, 联合早报

åŒæ–°åŠ å¡å…¬æ°‘ç»“å©šå¹¶ä¸ä¼šè‡ªåŠ¨è®©å¤–å›½äººå¯ä»¥åœ¨æ–°åŠ å¡é•¿æœŸå±…ç•™ï¼Œæ¯ä¸€ä»½é•¿æœŸå±…ç•™çš„ç”³è¯·éƒ½éœ€è¦æŒ‰ä¸ªåˆ«æƒ…å†µè¿›è¡Œä»”ç»†è¯„ä¼°ã€‚

**** Food For Thought: The Lowest Denominator <http://kaffein-nated.blogspot.com/2010/10/food-for-thought-lowest-denominator.html>
Kaffein-Nated

Aren't we doing injustice to them because they had to let opportunities go in order to support their siblings and parents back then?

**** I Did Not Have A $8 Bypass But Can Vote For Me? <http://feedmetothefish.blogspot.com/2010/10/i-did-not-have-8-bypass-but-can-vote.html>
Feed Me To The Fish

**** Singapore Employers Boost Payrolls, Pulling Unemployment Rate Down To 2.1% <http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-29/singapore-employers-boost-payrolls-pulling-unemployment-rate-down-to-2-1-.html>
Shamim Adam, Bloomberg

Singapore’s services industry is still expanding even after weakening overseas demand for manufactured goods caused the economy to contract last quarter. The city’s two casino resorts run by Genting Singapore Plc and Las Vegas Sands Corp. have attracted millions to its gaming centers, helping boost spending at malls and restaurants.

**** æ–°åŠ å¡æ¥¼å¸‚çƒ­åº¦ä½åˆ—å…¨çƒç¬¬ä¸€çš„å¯ç¤º <http://pinglun.eastday.com/p/20101029/u1a5518210.html>
杨羽, 东方网

**** Singapore NGO Calls For Electoral Reform <http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=539416>
Bernama

Singaporeans For Democracy (SFD), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), today submitted a report to the United Nations (UN) Universal Periodic Review on the need to have electoral reforms here.

In its submission, SFD recommended the establishment of an independent election commission, the abolition of the Group Representation Constituencies (GRC) system because its implementation had resulted in low voter participation, and bringing Singapore's electoral system in line with international best practices.

**** Court Of The Lion Kings <http://www.smh.com.au/business/court-of-the-lion-kings-20101029-177fu.html>
Eric Ellis, Sydney Morning Herald

Singapore doesn't do independents, Mr Oakeshott. Indeed, it would be aghast at - and quite likely arrest - anyone compelled to spend 17 minutes publicly justifying democracy and why it matters. The mere notion is abhorrent to Singapore's very ethos, its effortless merging of Mammon and political muscle into a formidable moneymaking machine known as Singapore Inc.

Singapore doesn't really do Parliament, either. It has one, where hand-picked loyalists occasionally convene in a brutal modernist edifice to rubber-stamp edicts from above.

Conflicts of interest? Not in Singapore, where independent thinking complicates and slows its real business, which is business. Real power at every critical institution in this rich, urgent little place gathers efficiently and pyramidically, peaking at one of the most powerful families in the world, the Lees. And their power prints are everywhere, even at the Singapore Stock Exchange.

**** VIP Check-In For Dead Singaporeans <http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hg0hirn33QKaNzsQbqD0Y5upQF-Q?docId=CNG.bce52d27432dbbd81c047be70a9f1f57.411>
Philip Lim, AFP

Funerals are normally sombre affairs but at the Nirvana Memorial Garden in Singapore mourners could be forgiven for thinking they had strayed into a luxury hotel with a mystical Asian theme.

**** Online Shoppers Take Advantage Of Strong Sing Dollar <http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/10/29/savvy-online-shoppers-take-advantage-of-strong-sing-dollar/>
Alicia Wong, Yahoo!

In what seems to be a perfect example of true Singaporean bargain-hunting spirit, an increasing number of people are jumping on the online shopping bandwagon to take advantage of the strengthening Singapore dollar. Online shopping concierges and internet payment providers report an increase in buying activity from Singapore.

**** An Inevitabile Exchange Consolidation <http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/an-inevitabile-exchange-consolidation/story-e6frg9if-1225944883904>
Mike Aitken, The Australian

**** Opposition Unite For GE <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_596946.html>
Andrea Ong, Straits Times

Two leaders of the newly formed Socialist Front (SF) who left their former parties after personal differences say they are willing to cooperate for the sake of opposition unity at the next General Election.

**** Upcoming GE Must Produce Singapore's Next PM: SM Goh <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1090247/1/.html>
Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia

**** Latest Political Party Socialist Front Reveals Vision To Media <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1090231/1/.html>
Ong Dai Lin, Channel NewsAsia

Registered in May, the party's secretary-general, lawyer Chia Ti Lik, said he planned to further the rights of Singaporeans and establish a socialist government. The other objectives of the party include encouraging ownership and active participation of Singaporeans in the country's affairs.