[MyAppleMenu] Oct 17, 2011

applesurf at myapplemenu.com applesurf at myapplemenu.com
Mon Oct 17 18:59:00 EDT 2011

MyAppleMenu
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**** Why So Siri-ous? <http://techcrunch.com/2011/10/16/iphone-siri/>
MG Siegler, TechCrunch

The simplest answer is one that has played out time and time again over the past several years: Apple did it right.

**** Apple's iPhone Luring People To Ditch Rival Phones <http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/14/us-apple-users-idUSTRE79D68V20111014>
Kate Holton And Poornima Gupta, Reuters

Apple Inc's latest iPhone looks set to become its bestselling device ever, and one reason appears to be disenchantment with rival smartphones.

**** Luminaries Pay Tribute To Steve Jobs At Stanford Service <http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_19127962>
Peter Delevett, San Jose Mercury News

Friends of Jobs contacted prior to the proceedings were loathe to comment about the event -- either due to the extraordinary security measures or simply because it was a day for the technology industry to mourn its own.

**** Are Smartphones Becoming Smart Alecks? <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204774604576631271813770508.html?mod=e2tw>
Geoffrey A. Fowler, Wall Street Journal

The creators of Siri put "deep thought" into the personality of their software, says Norman Winarsky, a co-founder of the company that was bought by Apple for $200 million in 2010. Siri was born out of an artificial intelligence project at SRI International, a research institute.

Siri has two distinct systems at its heart. One listens and translates what customers are saying, the other interprets the meaning behind the request and responds. It's in that last part where the sass comes in.

**** In Defence Of Objective-C <http://splinter.com.au/in-defence-of-objective-c>
Chris Hulbert

An unashamed apologist’s perspective on the loveliest language i’ve worked with.

**** How iOS 5 Will Affect Developers - And You <http://tidbits.com/article/12560?rss>
Matt Neuburg, TidBITS

To me, iOS 5 (from the programmer’s point of view) is a natural development, based largely on Apple’s own observation of the ways in which programmers have pushed at the boundaries of what the framework was readily permitting them to do; it’s an evolution, a coherent growth, gently expanding the programmer’s range of abilities while continuing to respect the conventions that have made iOS such a hotbed of great apps.

**** iCloud Transition Off To A Rocky Start For MobileMe, Family Users <http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/10/icloud-transition-bringing-apple-id-headaches-for-some-users.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss>
Chris Foresman, Ars Technica

Aside from Apple's servers being overloaded with MobileMe account transitions, some are having issues reconciling Apple's assumption that every user has a unique Apple ID and that every Apple ID is used for just one person.

**** iPhone 4S First Weekend Sales Top Four Million <http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2011/10/17iPhone-4S-First-Weekend-Sales-Top-Four-Million.html?utm_source=loopinsight.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+loopinsight%2FKqJb+%28The+Loop%29>
Apple

Apple® today announced it has sold over four million of its new iPhone® 4S, just three days after its launch on October 14. In addition, more than 25 million customers are already using iOS 5, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, in the first five days of its release, and more than 20 million customers have signed up for iCloud®, a breakthrough set of free cloud services that automatically and wirelessly store your content in iCloud and push it to all your devices.

**** Instapaper 4.0 Available: Completely Redesigned iPad UI, New Features, Search Subscription <http://www.macstories.net/news/instapaper-4-0-available-completely-redesigned-ipad-ui-new-features-search-subscription/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+macstoriesnet+%28MacStories%29>
Federico Viticci, MacStories

Instapaper 4.0 deserved a proper look at all its new features, as it’s a major update that clearly shows how Marco Arment — who’s working on Instapaper full-time — really believes in Instapaper as the better way to read articles on the web. Everything is better in Instapaper 4.0: design, speed, social features, footnotes and dictionary definitions. Instapaper 4.0 improves on almost every aspect of the previous iPad version, while retaining the same basic concept that made the iPhone app great.

**** How To Replace A Color In A Photo <http://www.macworld.com/article/161780/2011/10/how_to_replace_a_color_in_a_photo.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Dave Johnson, PCWorld

**** Learning To Work With Auto Save <http://www.macworld.com/article/163057/2011/10/learning_to_work_with_auto_save.html>
David Sparks, Macworld



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** Notes From A Dragon Mom <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/opinion/sunday/notes-from-a-dragon-mom.html?_r=1&src=tp>
Emily Rapp, New York Times

My son, Ronan, looks at me and raises one eyebrow. His eyes are bright and focused. Ronan means “little seal” in Irish and it suits him.

I want to stop here, before the dreadful hitch: my son is 18 months old and will likely die before his third birthday. Ronan was born with Tay-Sachs, a rare genetic disorder. He is slowly regressing into a vegetative state. He’ll become paralyzed, experience seizures, lose all of his senses before he dies. There is no treatment and no cure.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Provide Commuters With Accurate, Timely Information <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_724081.html>
Low Shien Ang, Straits Times

**** Ease Overcrowding To Prevent Train Molestations <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_724009.html>
Sonia Tan, Straits Times

Overcrowded trains can create ample opportunities for molestation and pickpocketing, among other social problems. It also makes travelling on trains challenging and unsafe for the young, the elderly, and disabled or pregnant commuters.

Train operators should focus their efforts on managing overcrowding by, for example, increasing the frequency of trains, and managing the number of people allowed to board during peak hours.

**** Political Engagement In Singapore: Perfunctory Grassroots Activities Not The Way Forward <http://guanyinmiao.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/political-engagement-in-singapore-perfunctory-grassroots-activities-not-the-way-forward/>
Guanyinmiao's Musings

Meaningful interactions and insights can be gathered through well-intentioned focus group discussions, or online workgroups designed to tackle recommendations surrounding specific challenges. It will be an uphill task for the PAP to regain its street credibility and to diversify its antiquated means of communication, but the results will be well-worth the effort.

**** Is Centrism The Way To Go In Local Politics? <http://newasiarepublic.com/?p=34012>
Chan Jia Hui, New Asia Republic

An odd 20% plus result from hardcore opposition votes isn’t going to get a party anywhere other than being a mere competition presence. It will be a political entity with centrist tendencies that will appeal to the middle ground.

**** Singapore’s First World Problems: Quality Of Life And Social Security <http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2011/10/singapores-first-world-problems-quality.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FZobK+%28The+Grand+Moofti+Speaks%29>
The Grand Moofti Speaks

Singapore's transition to a developed state is virtually complete. Modern Singapore's problems reflect the country's newly found developed status. The challenges now relate to 'quality of life' issues and constructing a sensible social safety net.

**** Internet Regulation: Dark Clouds Loom Over "Light Touch" Approach <http://journalism.sg/2011/10/17/internet-regulation-dark-clouds-loom-over-light-touch-approach/>
Cherian George, Journalism.sg

The law ministry says, "Amongst others, the proliferation of new media has brought about new challenges to the rule of law. MinLaw will review legislation to deal with harmful and unlawful online conduct." Some changes are probably warranted and overdue. In particular, ordinary citizens have inadequate privacy protection in an age of highly intrusive and omnipresent digital media. Children are also inadequately protected.

But at issue is whether the intended legislation is instead directed at protecting the government from criticism. This depends on what the government considers "harmful".

**** Singapore Exports Unexpectedly Decline <http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-17/singapore-september-exports-unexpectedly-drop-as-electronics-demand-slumps.html>
Shamim Adam And Sarina Yoo, Bloomberg

Singapore’s exports unexpectedly fell in September as weakening expansion in the world’s biggest economies eroded demand for electronics and petrochemicals.

Singapore lowered its growth forecast for 2011 last week and said the island’s expansion may slow further next year as the European debt crisis and a faltering U.S. recovery damp demand for goods made in Asia. China’s exports rose the least in seven months in September, while South Korean shipments climbed at the slowest pace in three months.

**** Making Connections Towards A Better Economic Future <http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?col=madeinchina&file=/2011/10/17/columnists/madeinchina/9710177&sec=Made%20In%20China>
Chow How Ban, The Star

**** LTA To Shorten ERP Operating Hours <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1159851/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that from Wednesday, evening ERP operating hours for gantries along the northbound Central Expressway and Singapore River Line (southbound) will be refined following a review.

**** 书店难抵时代洪流？ <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/sp/sp111017_014.shtml>
陈秋华, 联合早报

Borders走了，本地品牌叶壹堂明年租约到期后的去留仍是个问号。大牌老字号书店相继关门，许多我们叫不出名字的小书店，也在时代的洪流下无声无息地被淘汰，令人不胜唏嘘。

**** 专卖大专学府工具书 金文泰书店月底结束营业 <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/sp/sp111017_013.shtml>
陈秋华, 联合早报

住在金文泰，或是毕业自新加坡国立大学的学生及西部一带的工院生，对金文泰书店应该不会感到陌生，它就位于金文泰中心，是本地少数专为大专学府的学生提供工具书的书店，但随着学生对教科书的依赖日渐减少，这家营业了35年的老牌书店，也即将在本月29日结束营业，走入历史。

**** The Credibility Gap <http://www.publichouse.sg/categories/topstory/item/154-the-credibility-gap>
Publichouse.sg

Despite its harping on the need to close the income gap and reach out to citizens, few believe that it would do more than what it perceives to be the minimum to stave off criticism.

**** Two SMRT Lines Hit By Delays <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC111017-0000248/Two-SMRT-lines-hit-by-delays>
Today

Today deputy digital media editor Peter Yeo, who was on the southbound train at about 10.40am, said it took him 45 minutes to get from Yishun to Bishan MRT station - a journey of four stops which would normally have taken about 15 minutes. The delay was put down to a "train fault at Ang Mo Kio", he said.

On the Circle Line, a few commuters called the MediaCorp hotline from as early as 9am, complaining about delays in the train service.

**** Listening <http://hardhitting-nobs.blogspot.com/2011/10/listening.html>
Musings From The Lion City

For many years now, the PAP had parachuted candidates into safe seats and let them win on the backs of their grassroots movement. That can no longer be counted on.

**** Deputy Speakers Of Parliament Elected <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1159893/1/.html>
Hetty Musfirah, Channel NewsAsia

**** Silencing The People Will Not Stop Resentment From Growing <http://www.yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/5005-silencing-the-people-will-not-stop-resentment-from-growing->
Singapore Democratic Party

The police warning obviously worked. The PAP can congratulate itself on the victory. It has won another round, successfully denying the people from exercising their right to peaceful assembly yet again.

But let us be clear about one thing: the PAP may be able to stop Singaporeans from protesting, but it cannot stop the resentment and the anger from building up against the greed and inequality that has taken root in this country.

**** Sylvia Lim’s Speech (Debate On President’s Address) <http://wp.sg/2011/10/sylvia-lims-speech-debate-on-presidents-address/>
The Workers' Party

Our founding elected leaders believe that happiness is important to be included in our national pledge. Let us continue to put these beliefs to action. We have been achieving progress and prosperity; let’s give happiness the rightful place in our pledge for this Parliament – “so as to achieve HAPPINESS, prosperity and progress for our nation”.

**** Bills Introduced In Parliament <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1159947/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

**** ‘Demand For Foreign Workers In S’pore Likely Permanent’ <http://sg.news.yahoo.com/‘demand-for-foreign-workers-in-s’pore-likely-permanent’.html>
Ewen Boey, Yahoo!

**** Relook Presidential Election Processes, Urges MP <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1159925/1/.html>
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia

A Member of Parliament for Chua Chu Kang GRC and senior counsel, Alvin Yeo, has urged the government to relook at the Presidential Election processes before the next polls due in 2017.

He felt the government of the day should review the situation and consider if greater clarity, whether to make the group of potential candidates narrower or wider, should be introduced. Mr Yeo also asked if criteria should be introduced to require a candidate not to have been a member of a political party for a minimum period of years.

**** MPs Express Concerns About Public Housing <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1159958/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

**** Hair <http://piaroh.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/hair/>
Words Of The Cze

**** Wall Street Versus Main Street: Singaporeans Are Facing The Same Problems <http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=7189>
Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net

Just because the majority of people of the civilized world enjoy the freedom of peaceful assembly but we do not, does not make the issues any less real for Singaporeans. The denial of peaceful assembly only serves to sweep the issues under the carpet where they will ferment until the government cannot control or contain them anymore.

**** Can Circle Line Facilities Cope With The Numbers? <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC111017-0000451/Can-Circle-Line-facilities-cope-with-the-numbers?>
Chua Kim Choo, Today

The shock came when I alighted at Bishan station, along with what seemed like most of the passengers, and discovered that the passage connecting the Circle Line to the North-South line was too narrow for the masses.

**** PA Should Reach Out Across Political Divide As Well <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/10/pa-should-reach-out-across-political-divide-as-well/>
Terry Xu, The Online Citizen




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