[MyAppleMenu] Feb 22, 2011

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Windows Phone Marketplace Bans The GPL, And The App Store Should Too <http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2011/02/windows-phone-marketplace-bans-the-gpl-and-the-app-store-should-too.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss>
Peter Bright, Ars Technica

Apple should do the decent thing and ban GPL software, too. The company presently reaps rewards from allowing GPL-licensed software in the App Store, even though the company has no intention of complying with the terms of that license. Microsoft's stance may not be the pragmatic one. But it's the right one.

**** iPhone Notes App Comparison <http://www.leancrew.com/all-this/2011/02/iphone-notes-app-comparison/>
And Now It's All This

**** MindNode Review <http://www.macworld.com/appguide/app.html?id=305117#lsrc.rss_weblogs_ioscentral>
Glenn Fleishman, Macworld

MindNode from Markus Müller brings mind mapping to all iOS devices, letting you create maps with tap-and-type simplicity.

**** Back To The Future: The Game Review <http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/back_future_game_review>
Omaha Sternberg, Mac Life

The puzzles might seem too easy at times, and the content a little light, but the characters, story, and voice acting make up for it all.

**** In-App Purchases And The Smurfberry Affair <http://gigaom.com/apple/in-app-purchases-and-the-smurfberry-affair/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gigaomnetwork+%28GigaOM%3A+All+Channels%29>
Dave Greenbaum, GigaOM

Apple takes 30% of the revenue from an in-app purchase, but deserves at least 70% of the blame for this ongoing problem.

**** Apple Flunks A Test <http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a0c30680-3df5-11e0-99ac-00144feabdc0.html>
Financial Times

More than 69 per cent of companies in the S&P 500 have already adopted majority voting. So why should Apple, whose board includes a notable supporter of responsible governance in former vice-president Al Gore, say no?

**** Mac 101: Quick Navigation Of Browser Tabs <http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/21/mac-101-quick-navigation-of-browser-tabs/>
Kelly Guimont, TUAW

**** Subscriptions And The New In-App Purchase Requirement <http://www.marco.org/3437484678>
Marco Arment

The discussion shouldn’t be whether Apple can enforce this policy, but whether they should. And if you look at what this does to developer relations, big and small, it’s easier to argue that this is likely to result in more harm than good to the iOS platform.

**** Apple New Subscription Rules Now Upsetting Developers, Too <http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/02/apple-new-subscription-rules-now-upsetting-developers-too.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss>
Chris Foresman, Ars Technica

While some publishers have bemoaned Apple's new rules regarding subscription based content, certain developers are starting to feel the pinch as well. Arc90, developer of the Readability Web service, has taken Apple to task for rejecting Readability's native iOS client on the grounds that it doesn't abide by the new subscription rules. Keyone Productions, maker of TinyGrab, has also decided to not even finish developing its iOS app, claiming Apple's rules are so confounding that it is impossible for the company to make an "acceptable" app.

**** iPhone Versus iPhone: Ars Puts Verizon And AT&T To The Test <http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2011/02/iphone-versus-iphone-ars-puts-verizon-and-att-to-the-test.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss>
Jacqui Cheng, Ars Technica

**** Steve Jobs Email Suggests In-App Subscriptions Don't Apply To 'Software As A Service'? <http://www.macrumors.com/2011/02/21/steve-jobs-email-suggests-in-app-subscriptions-dont-apply-to-software-as-a-service/>
Arnold Kim, Macrumors

To this, Steve Jobs replied in his typically short and, unfortunately, somewhat vague response: "We created subscriptions for publishing apps, not SaaS apps."

**** The Art Of Printing In Bento <http://www.macworld.com/article/157624/2011/02/bentoprint.html#lsrc.rss_main>
William Porter, Macworld

Providing tips about printing in Bento may seem a bit impertinent. After all, unlike its big brother, FileMaker Pro, Bento isn't really designed for printing reports. It's built instead for storing and retrieving an individual user's data. If the tasks you are going to ask your database to perform require a lot of printing, you should consider using FileMaker Pro instead. But if Bento works great for you most of the time, and you want to know more about how to get the best printed output from it, then read on.

**** Field Testing The MacBook Air For Photographers <http://www.macworld.com/article/158047/2011/02/mbaforphotographers.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Derrick Story, Macworld

Over the course of six weeks I traveled by plane, cab, bus, and on foot with a 13-inch 2.13GHz MacBook Air in my camera backpack. I used it to edit photos, write articles, upload video, and manage my sites. The Air endured the same rigors of the road as my DSLR and backpack. And when the dust settled, I liked the Air more than ever.

**** Using The Personal Hotspot On Your Verizon iPhone <http://www.macworld.com/article/158058/2011/02/personal_hotspot_verizon.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Glenn Fleishman, Macworld



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** A Romp Into Theories Of The Cradle Of Life <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/science/22origins.html?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Dennis Overbye, New York Times

Darwin speculated that life began in a warm pond on the primordial Earth. Lately other scientists have suggested that the magic joining of molecules that could go on replicating might have happened in an undersea hot spring, on another planet or inside an asteroid. Some astronomers wonder if it could be happening right now underneath the ice of Europa or in the methane seas of Titan.

**** Find The Moon Again <http://www.slate.com/id/2285769/?from=rss>
Joshua Weiner, Slate



SingaporeSurf
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**** No U-turn On Growth Policy, Says SM Goh <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_637552.html>
Kor Kian Beng & Elgin Toh, Straits Times

Senior minister Goh Chok Tong on Monday night said the Government is determined to push through its new growth strategy, which focuses on making workers and companies more productive. He acknowledged that companies used to relying on foreign workers will face difficulty.

**** Singapore Pork Barrel Budget <http://www.socialistfront.org/2011/02/singapore-pork-barrel-budget/>
Ng Teck Siong, Socialist Front

The voters must not forget that they have to pay back a greater amount after the General Election in the next 5 years. Singaporeans must ask themselves this question: When I receive this bony chicken drumstick and consume it, will I later need to return just only the chicken drumstick or will I be asked to return the whole fat chicken? The answer is very clear.

**** Budget 2011: Feeling You Can Get There By Working Hard <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/02/budget-2011-feeling-you-can-get-there-by-working-hard/>
Ravi Philemon, The Online Citizen

**** 三反对党认为 没解决外劳与住屋问题 <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/sp/sp110222_015.shtml>
联合早报

针对财政部长尚达曼上星期五发表的2011年度政府财政预算案，本地三个反对党都不约而同认为它没有很确切地解决民众所关注的外籍工人和住屋这两大政策的问题。

**** å´èµ„æ”¿ï¼šä¸ºå®žçŽ°å›½äººåå¹´åŽæ”¶å…¥å¢žä¸‰æˆç›®æ ‡ ç»æµŽè½¬åž‹ç»ä¸èƒ½å†è¿‡åº¦é å¤–åŠ³ <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/sp/sp110222_001.shtml>
周殊钦, 联合早报

å›½åŠ¡èµ„æ”¿å´ä½œæ ‹æŒ‡å‡ºï¼Œæˆ‘å›½è¿‡åŽ»æ›¾æŽ¨åŠ¨ç»æµŽçš„è½¬åž‹ï¼Œå´å› ä¸ºä¸€æ—¶æ— é¡»è¿«åˆ‡äº‰å–å¢žé•¿è€Œæ¾æ‡ˆä¸‹æ¥ã€‚ç„¶è€Œï¼Œæˆ‘å›½å·²å‘å±•åˆ°ä¸€ä¸ªå¿…é¡»ä½œå‡ºè‰°éš¾å†³å®šçš„é‡è¦å…³å¤´ï¼Œå› æ­¤è¿™æ¬¡ç»ä¸èƒ½èµ°å›žå¤´è·¯ã€‚

**** This Election….Reflections Of A Young Singaporean Living Abroad <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/02/this-election-reflections-of-a-young-singaporean-living-abroad-2/>
Kevin Wong, The Online Citizen

If the ruling party’s mantra is to demolish them, then surely the least we, the people can do is to help the opposition level the playing field by granting them a chance. No?

Having an alternate voice also provides the critical checks and balances, to challenge decisions as well as to ensure that group-think does not influence the way the government operates.

**** Malaysia’s “Balanced Growth” Better Than Singapore’s “Higher Growth”? (Part 2) <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/02/malaysias-“balanced-growth”-better-than-singapores-“higher-growth”-part-2/>
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen

In Malaysia, the lowest consultation cost at a public clinic is RM1, whereas in Singapore Polyclinics (public clinics), the lowest cost start from about S$10. Presumably, when Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965, the cost of medical treatment at public health providers were about the same. So, why is it that lower-income Singaporeans have to pay about 24 times now for the most common basic medical services?

**** Foreign Worker Levy Changes <http://www.mom.gov.sg/newsroom/Pages/PressReleasesDetail.aspx?listid=349>
Ministry Of Manpower, Singapore Government

**** Singapore To Strengthen Currency At April Review, Survey Shows <http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-21/singapore-to-strengthen-currency-at-april-review-survey-shows.html>
Patricia Lui, Bloomberg

Singapore will decide to strengthen its currency at its April policy review to curb inflation after the economy grew at a record pace in 2010, according to a Bloomberg News survey.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore will revalue the local dollar against its trade-weighted basket or let it appreciate faster, according to 11 of 13 economists polled by Bloomberg News. Five said a one-off revaluation was most likely, three forecast quicker gains and three were unsure of the method. Only two predicted no change to the central bank’s current policy of “modest and gradual appreciation.”

**** SM Goh Weighs In On The 2011 Budget <http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2011/02/sm-goh-weighs-in-on-the-2011-budget.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+mrbrown+%28mrbrown%29>
mrbrown

I think SM Goh needn't worry. Singaporeans are probably going to hang on to their Growth Dividends. We know at some point that money will have to go back to gahmen in some form or another.

**** Sorry Tale Of Local Professors In Singapore <http://tankinlian.blogspot.com/2011/02/sorry-tale-of-local-professions-in.html>
Tan Kin Lian

**** Judiciary Crushes Free Speech Yet Again <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/4624-judiciary-crushes-free-speech-yet-again>
Singapore Democratic Party

**** Chinese Workers Appeal To Apple Over Health Worries <http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/22/us-apple-wintek-idUSTRE71L1CC20110222>
Royston Chan, Reuters

Chinese workers at a factory making touch screens on contract for Apple have urged the U.S. company to help address their grievances over a chemical poisoning they said could still harm their health.

Wintek, the Taiwanese company that owns the factory in east China's Suzhou industrial park, has said it used hexyl hydride, also called n-hexane, from May 2008 to August 2009, but stopped after discovering it was making workers ill. Wintek said it had used the chemical, which evaporates faster than alcohol, to speed up production of touch screens for Apple products. It has since gone back to using alcohol.

**** A Bird’s-eye View Of The Budget — Addendum 2 <http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/a-birds-eye-view-of-the-budget-addendum-2/>
Yawning Bread

Let me ask now: Is it possible that my middle- and high-income readers are only all too aware that greater budgetary equity for the less well-off can only mean higher taxes, and/or a more progressive overall tax slope, and this background awareness prompts readers to rush forward to say “But we suffered too!” rather than “Yeah, we should do more for the less well-off”?

**** Singapore Bourse Shouldn't Raise ASX Offer, TSE Warns <http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/22/tse-sgx-idUSTOE71L04820110222?feedType=RSS&feedName=mergersNews>
Tim Kelly, Reuters

The Singapore Exchange should not raise its already generous offer to buy Australian bourse operator ASX because that would bring unnaceptable dilution for its shareholders, said the chief executive of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, which owns a 5 percent stake in the Singapore bourse.

**** Is Singapore Justice Blind? <http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/is-singapore-justice-blind/>
Yawning Bread

**** Certification Of Registers Of Electors, 2011 <http://www.elections.gov.sg/pressrelease/RE2011/2011-02-22%20-%20Certification%20of%20RE.pdf>
Elections Department, Singapore Government

The Registers of Electors for all 23 electoral divisions have been certified on 22 February 2011. There are 2,350,257 names of electors listed in the Registers.

(Note: Link goes to a PDF document.)

**** Rising Costs Continue To Be A Concern After Budget 2011 <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_637648.html>
Straits Times

The issue of inflation and rising costs continued to be a major issue, with a number sharing their concerns on whether the cash pay-outs would be sufficient to cover increasing costs such as medical care and childcare services.

**** Singapore To Enforce Hague Convention On Child Abduction <http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=565583>
Bernama

The convention aims to protect children from the harmful effects of abduction and retention across international boundaries when the child is taken away by a parent to another jurisdiction without the consent of the other parent.

**** 'Impossible To Stop M'sians From Visiting Casinos' <http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=57893>
The Sun

Johor Tourism Malaysia director Mohammad Isa Abdul Halim said although their action resulted in the outflow of the Malaysian currency into another country, it was difficult stop Malaysians from visiting the casinos.

"What we can do is to advise our people that visiting and gambling at the casinos there would have an impact on the country's economy due to the money outflow," he told reporters at a Tourism Ministry luncheon with the media, here, today.

**** Don’t Stigmatize People Who Choose To Be Single <http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=5944>
Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net

The Government has the responsibility to care for all citizens, whether or not they are married with family. Remaining single is not necessarily a whim in today’s context, but is often a choice borne out of necessity. It is also a very personal decision that our conservative Asian society must gradually learn to respect.