[MyAppleMenu] Jan 30, 2011

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** The Power Of The Platform At Apple <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/business/30unbox.html?_r=1>
Steve Lohr, New York Times

The more people buy iPhones and iPads, the more software developers and media companies want to write applications for them, as various as games and digital magazines. And consumers are more likely to buy iPhones and iPads when more entertainment and information applications are available on them. The combination of hardware, software and services is what corporate executives, economists and analysts call a platform. Successful technology platforms sustain and reinforce growth. And this self-reinforcing cycle is known as a network effect. It helps the platform owner and raises a barrier to competitors.

**** Why App Developers Are Celebrating The iPad <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2376903,00.asp>
Mark Hachman, PC Magazine

A year on, the Apple iPad is unquestionably a success story for Apple. And for app developers who jumped on the bandwagon, the early support has paid off, several said in interviews at the Macworld show here.

**** Macbook Air 11-inch And 13-inch <http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2011/01/30/2003494763>
David Chen, Taipei Times

**** Physics Puzzler 'Cover Orange' Is Clever And A Good Bit Of Fun <http://toucharcade.com/2011/01/29/physics-puzzler-cover-orange-is-clever-and-a-good-bit-of-fun/>
Blake Patterson, TouchArcade

**** "Ihnatko Almanac" Books To Explore Apple Tech <http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/01/que-launches-ihnatko-almanac-books-to-explore-apple-technology.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss>
Chris Foresman, Ars Technica

**** Evernote Helps You Get Organized <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/29/AR2011012903749.html?wprss=rss_technology>
Hayley Tsukayama, Washington Post

Once you figure out the main subject areas of your life (kids, work, a big project or apartment listings), Evernote becomes an indispensable tool.

**** Simian: Mac OS X Package Deployment Via App Engine <http://google-opensource.blogspot.com/2011/01/simian-mac-os-x-package-deployment-via.html>
Google

**** Finnish Regulator Calls For iPhone Refun <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/01/28/finland_iphone/>
Bill Ray, The Register

Finnish iPhone users unhappy at the inability of the handset to operate below zero are entitled to their money back, even if the limitation appears in the small print.

The clarification comes from the Finland's Consumer Agency, as reported by Finnish news agency YLE.fi, in response to numerous questions from concerned Finns who are unhappy that their shiny Apple toys won't promise to work again until the spring, at best. So unless the shop specifically stated the zero-degree operational limit, then the regulator reckons iPhone-purchasing Finns are entitled to their money back.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** In Nevada, The Viewing Has Begun From The Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge <http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/travel/30journeys-hoover-dam.html?ref=travel>
Henry Fountain, New York Times

“You know you’re getting into your late 30s when you come here to see a bridge and Las Vegas is secondary,” Mr. Jepsen said.

The Hoover Dam bypass bridge is not just any bridge, however.

**** Wintergirls By Laurie Halse Anderson – Review <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jan/30/wintergirls-laurie-halse-anderson-review?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Melvin Burgess, The Guardian

There is a great deal of dross written in teenage fiction, nearly all of which seems to end up on my desk. But from time to time, you come across a book that reminds you just why this is such an exciting – and exacting – field.

**** Nobody Gets Out Of Here Alive <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704590704576092611642661534.html?mod=WSJ_Books_LS_Books_5>
Joseph Epstein, Wall Street Journal

You can deny the inevitable but not defy it—still there are a few compensations to growing old.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Serious In Singapore <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/opinion/30friedman.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss>
Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times

America never would or should copy Singapore’s less-than-free politics. But Singapore has something to teach us about “attitude” — about taking governing seriously and thinking strategically.

**** The Man And His Thoughts <http://mysingaporenews.blogspot.com/2011/01/man-and-his-thoughts.html>
Chua Chin Leng, My Singapore News

The Hard Truths was nothing about anti this group or that group. The intent is there for those who want to understand and appreciate it. For those who chose to deride the book and feel offended, it is all a matter of interpretation and looking at things from their own little corner and interests.

**** Life In Singapore - Utopia Or Dystopia <http://sg-quitters.blogspot.com/2011/01/life-in-singapore-utopia-or-dystopia.html>
Wing Lee Cheong, Sg.Quitters

For majority of population, life is tough having to work 12 hours a day for both husbands and wives to pay off the mortgages for their 99 years lease HDB homes and 10 years lease cars, pay for children tuition and make ends meet. If Singapore is a fun city, most of them are simply too busy to feel happy or enjoy the luxuries of life. Singapore’s workforce has the reputation of having the longest working hours a day in the world.

**** MM Lee, Why Such Remarks? <http://rjbanters.blogspot.com/2011/01/mm-lee-why-such-remarks.html>
RJ Banters

So I wonder, where is this "distinct and separate" which MM Lee spoke of? What exactly is the problem? If you speak of no integration between Malay/Muslims and the others, there's greater evidence of tolerance and acceptance nowadays. Look around. You will see.

**** Record Investments = Negative Wage Growth? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/01/record-investments-negative-wage-growth/>
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen

I hope that the correlation between record investments and negative median wage growth in the record year of 2008, was just a once-off fluke event, with no causal relationship. Because, if high investments often come coupled with negative median wage growth, then maybe we should re-examine out economic growth strategies. What’s the point of attracting more and more investments, if Singaporean workers do not benefit by way of higher wages?

**** Floods Returning To Singapore <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_630026.html>
Straits Times

Readers of The Straits Times Online have been sending in reports of flooding, which seem mostly concentrated in the eastern part of Singapore.

**** The Singapore Factor X 2 <http://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetalking/2011/01/28/the-singapore-factor-x-2/>
Ben Sandilands, Crikey

In that strategic sense, this is where Jetstar is of immense importance to Qantas. Singapore Airlines may well have Qantas by the throat, but Jetstar has its tormentor by the gonads.

**** Dr M: Malaysia’s Growth Slower, But More Balanced Than Singapore <http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/dr-m-malaysias-growth-slower-but-more-balanced-than-singapore/>
Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider

Tun Dr Mahathir admitted today that Malaysia’s growth was slower compared with Singapore’s, but claimed it was because Putrajaya made sure people from all races had a slice of the country’s economic pie.

Dr Mahathir said that in contrast, the island state did not take any steps to ensure that there was a “balance of wealth” between people of all races, leaving minority races such as the Malays trailing behind the Chinese in terms of wealth.

**** Flash Floods In Several Areas <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1107854/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

Thee areas included Airport Boulevard, Changi Village, the slip road near Tampines Avenue 12, the TPE slip road near the Punggol exit, and Ang Mo Kio Ave 5, leading to Buangkok Green industrial Park.

**** 2 Opposition Parties May Form Alliance <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1107860/1/.html>
Ng Jing Yng, Channel NewsAsia

Representatives of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) and the chairman of the Socialist Front (SF) made their rounds in the estate on Sunday morning.

Speaking to reporters after the walkabout at Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, SF chairman Ng Teck Siong confirmed that both parties were discussing a coalition at the upcoming elections but added that nothing had been confirmed yet.

**** Put It In Perspective? No Thanks – A Letter To Dr Yaacob Ibrahim <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/01/put-it-in-perspective-no-thanks-a-letter-to-dr-yaacob-ibrahim/>
Joshua Chiang, The Online Citizen

Frankly, I’ve had quite enough of ‘perspectives’. I would very much prefer that the government own up to its boo-boos for a change. Now that’s a hard truth I hope you can swallow.

**** Muslims Have Helped Strengthen Integration: PM <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_630050.html>
Zakir Hussain, Straits Times

The Muslim community in Singapore has made great efforts to integrate with other communities, and help make Singapore one of the most harmonious and successful multi-religious societies in the world, prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday.

Reporters asked him for his response to remarks on Muslims and Islam by minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew, made in his new book, Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going. PM Lee noted that his own perspective on the subject was 'not quite the same' as MM's.

**** Mr Lee Kuan Yew Is Racist? <http://knoxious.com/593/mr-lee-kuan-yew-is-racist/>
Knoxious

How can he say such things and not offend the Muslim Community here in Singapore?

**** Don't Eat Shark's Fin, Urges Group <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1107862/1/.html>
Esther Ng, Channel NewsAsia

A local marine conservation group, Project: FIN, has launched a campaign on social networking site Facebook, asking to people to change their profile picture to one which says: Celebrate Chinese New Year with no shark fin soup.

**** Workers' Party Members Launch Books <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1107873/1/.html>
Ng Jing Yng, Channel NewsAsia

At the launch, Mr Yaw shared that his book aimed to reach out to the Chinese-speaking population while Mr Giam said his book was for both the young and old to provoke their thoughts on issues such as the local education and healthcare policies.

**** NSP Press Statement: We Are Singaporeans United As One Irrespective Of Politics Religion Or Culture <http://singaporealternatives.blogspot.com/2011/01/nsp-press-statement-we-are-singaporeans.html>
Goh Meng Seng, National Solidarity Party

We believe that most Singaporeans are moderates in every race and religion. We believe that they share our core values as well as frustration at PAP’s aggressive FT policy which caused problems on jobs, housing, transport and healthcare. 

We would want to urge the PAP to focus on these problems instead of sidetracking into sensitive racial issues so as to divide, distract and to ensure its political dominance.