Netizens slam distasteful ad for social workers

The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), launched an ad campaign by its acting minister Mr Chan Chun Sing on 28 Feb, aimed at attracting people to join social work.

However, the choice of words used in the posters are slammed by several netizens for being distasteful. Some of the words used include "Hopeless", 'Abandoned", "Ruined, "Fully Destroyed".

Do you think they are distasteful?

Check out the Facebook page set up by MCYS for this campaign.

» Some netizens slam new ad for social workers | inSing.com

How to opt-out or block your images from Pinterest?

To opt-out or block your images on your website from Pinterest, simply add the following meta tag.

<meta name="pinterest" content="nopin" />

When a user tries to pin from your site, they will see this message:

"This site doesn't allow pinning to Pinterest. Please contact the owner with any questions. Thanks for visiting!"

Samsung Galaxy Beam

New Samsung Galaxy Beam with a projector feature in it looks cool.

Indexing video for Google

Google recommends following the schema.org standard. You may also visit this help page for developers.

Microsoft attacks Google using "Googlelighting" video

Microsoft posted a video on the YouTube - "Googlelighting", allegedly downsizing Google Apps as an alternative over Microsoft products. In the video, it warns users not to trust Google because since it has killed off several Google products like Buzz, Gears, Wave and so on, who knows they may one day kill Google Apps too.

This is not the first video Microsoft has produced to attack Google. Last year, Microsoft created a character called the "Gmail Man", acting as a postman who reads people's mails and does not care about privacy in a purpose to coming out with targeted ads. This is an attempt to convince businesses to choose Office 365 instead of Google Apps.

Why Ron Wayne left Apple?

Apple often forgotten co-founder, Ron Wayne, wrote on his Facebook the reason why he left Apple.

I quote:

Why I Left Apple Computer After Only 12 Days, In My Own Words
An Essay by Ronald G. Wayne

I didn’t separate myself from Apple because of any lack of enthusiasm for the concept of computer products. Aside from any immediate apprehension in regard to financial risks, I left because I didn’t feel that this new enterprise would be the working environment that I saw for myself, essentially for the rest of my days. I had every belief would be successful but I didn’t know when, what I’d have to give up or sacrifice to get there, or how long it would take to achieve that success.

In addition to my rather mundane daily activities during my time as an Apple Co-founder—a full time job at Atari working for Al Acorn and directly answerable to Nolan Bushnell as Atari’s International Field Service engineer—I was writing my treatise on the true nature of money, Insolence of Office.

At the time I was earning $22,000 a year—$88,000 a year in today’s money—we’ve had at least 400% inflation since that time. The Dow Jones had just broken a thousand points. Something Steve Jobs and I had discussed many times—Jobs had asked me if I had thought the Dow Jones would ever break a thousand points. I told him that it would break 1,000, then 5,000 thousand, and at some point in the future, 10,000 points. These types of conversations were typical of those Jobs and I would have over lunch at some of the local diners surrounding Los Gatos, during our time together at Atari.

To counter much that has been written in the press about me as of late, I didn't lose out on billions of dollars. That's a long stretch between 1976 and 2012. Apple went through a lot of hard times and many thought Apple would simply go out of business at various times in its maturity. I perhaps lost tens of millions of dollars. And quite honestly, between just you and me, it was character building.

If I had known it would make 300 people millionaires in only four years, I would have stayed those four years. And then I still would have walked away. Steve and Steve had their project. They wanted to change the world in their way. I wanted to change the world in my own.

My book Insolence of Office is the result of 40 years of research.

We’ve had a 2500% increase in inflation since the end of World War II. The $2,300—$800 and then later, another $1500—I received from Apple Inc. in 1976 would be roughly the same as $9,200 today. I’m sure you would agree with me that's not bad pay for only 12 days worth of work. However, that increase of inflation is something I predicted decades ago and the driving factors behind that inflation is something I discuss in great detail in my book.

I'm sure I've mentioned this to you before, as a belief that I truly hold (and I know this sounds arrogant as hell), but the writing and publication of Insolence is, in itself, enough to justify my existence on this planet.

For more on Ron Wayne, you may wish to read this interview by Engadget.

Google Docs for Android - Collaboration and Edit Possible Everywhere

Google Docs for Android adds collaborative editing on the move. On top of that, it is now possible to add rich text formatting like ordered and bulleted lists, colours, and simple text styling like bold, italic and underline.

Nice app, Nice ad, Nice music.

Download Google Docs for Android now from the Android Market.

» Collaborate and edit anywhere with the updated Google Docs for Android | Official Google Blog

Samsung Galaxy Note - Street Challenge Against iPhone

Microsoft Takes on iPhone, Android with "Windows Phone Street Challenge"

Google Drive coming soon?

Looks like Google Drive is approaching a reality soon.

Google is close to launching a cloud-storage service that will allow storing of files online so they can be retrieved in other Google services. The Google service, which is expected to launch in the coming weeks or months, will be free for most consumers and businesses.

» Google Near Launch of Cloud Storage Service | The Wall Street Journal

Jeremy Lin (林書豪) Facebook and Twitter page

If you have got not enough of NBA fast-rising star, Jeremy Lin ((林書豪), an American professional basketball player with the New York Knicks, do follow his Facebook page and Twitter profile.

Jeremy Lin's Facebook timeline-enabled page
https://www.facebook.com/lin7

Jeremy Lin's Twitter profile @JLin7
https://twitter.com/#!/jlin7

How to root Android devices?

A comprehensive compilation by LifeHacker on how to root Andorid devices.

HTC

• How to Root the HTC Desire
• How to Root the HTC Droid Incredible
• How to Root the HTC EVO 4G
• How to Root the HTC Inspire 4G
• How to Root the HTC Thunderbolt

Motorola

• How to Root the Motorola Atrix 4G
• How to Root the Motorola Droid X

Samsung

• How to Root the Samsung Galaxy Nexus
• How to Root the Samsung Galaxy S II
• How to Root the Samsung Nexus S

Office 2010: The Movie

地铁上色叔叔偷瞄低胸女

有点太明显了吧！但是想着想着，穿着暴露不是为了要吸引别人的注意吗？

Inside Apple production company Foxconn

ABC presenter Bill Weir has been granted exclusive access to a factory in China run by Foxconn, one of the biggest suppliers for software giant Apple.

Letter of apology from the TR Emeritus to PM Lee Hsien Loong

The apology

1. On or about 16 February 2012, we published on this website, TR Emeritus, an article entitled “PAP-government is full of ironies“ (the “Article”). The Article, and the comments in response to the Article, was available at http://www.tremeritus.com/2012/02/16/pap-government-is-full-­of-ironies/.

2. We recognise that the Article meant or was understood to mean that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had secured, or was instrumental in securing, the appointment of his wife, Mdm Ho Ching, as the Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited for nepotistic motives.

3. We admit and acknowledge that this allegation is false and completely without foundation. We unreservedly apologise to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for the distress and embarrassment caused to him by this allegation.

4. We have removed the Article and the comments in response to the Article and undertake not to make any further allegation to the same or similar effect.

» Letter of Apology to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong | TR Emeritus

Arab man beat 2 women over couple's kiss at Kota Kinabalu hotel

It was only a kiss, but an Arab visitor blew his top and attacked two women at a backpackers' lodge in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The outrage was caught on video and posted on YouTube immediately after the Feb 9 incident. After the rage, the man left in a taxi without paying his bill at the lodge.

» Arab flies into a rage over couple’s kiss at lodge | The Star Online

Remy Ong hit-and-run accident over a dog

Singaporean bowler Remy Ong is involved in a hit-and-run accident over a dog, resulting in the dog dead after over 20 minutes lying seriously injured along Changi area. The impact was great enough to dislodge Remy's car plate while he left the scene.

Source: MyCarForum

According the Remy himself, he did notice the dog but did not realise he had hit the dog at the time. What he heard was a slight sound, thinking it was just a brush with the dog's tail. He soon returned the scene having felt uneasy after which.

Under the Road Traffic Act, those involved in a hit-and-run accident could be fined up to S$3,000 or jailed up to a year. This applies even if the victim is an animal.

» Bowler Remy Ong causes uproar over hit-and-run incident involving dog | ChannelNewsAsia

Jeremy Lin VS Los Angeles Lakers

Michael Doyle patent on the "interactive web" serves to threaten world wide web

Michael Doyle patent on the "interactive web" serves to threaten world wide web and the world’s biggest Internet companies like Google and Yahho could end up owing the company billions. Doyle claims that he and two co-inventors came up with the interactive web at the University of California in 1993. They filed for the patent (viewable here) in 1994 and were awarded it in 1998.

An excerpt from the patent:

A system allowing a user of a browser program on a computer connected to an open distributed hypermedia system to access and execute an embedded program object. The program object is embedded into a hypermedia document much like data objects.

If Doyle were to win his case, the Internet may suffer a major setback and rewind a decade.

» Who Really Invented the Web? Texas Trial Questions Tim Berners-Lee [VIDEO] | Mashable

Microsoft launches new 'msnNOW' to show social trends

Microsoft, without a social network, has launched a new 'msnNOW' to show current social trends. msnNOW looks at the hottest trends from Facebook, Twitter, Bing and Breakingnews.com, returning what's trending.

Try msnNOW on web, Twitter, Facebook and mobile.

Google's doodle for Valentine's Day 2012

Angry Birds is now on Facebook

Popular Angry Bird game is now on Facebook. Check out the trailer for the Facebook version of the game below.

Start playing Angry Girds on Facebook here.

Jeremy Lin 林書豪 4th quarter highlights vs Raptors on 14 Feb 2012

Excellent individual play by Taiwanese descent Jeremy Lin, scoring 27 points — the sixth time he has had at least 20 — and had 11 assists that game.

Introducing Chrome for Android but for Android 4.0 only

Google Chrome is now available on the latest Android Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) devices. This mobile version will come with bookmark syncing and Incognito mode.

Kinda disappointed that it is only on Ice Cream Sandwich - for the 1% only.

Chrome is now available in Beta from Android Market, in selected countries (U.S., Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Australia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil) and languages for phones and tablets with Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich.

» Introducing Chrome for Android | Official Google Blog

M.I.A. flips the controversial middle finger during Madonna's Super Bowl half-time show

Madonna (Super Bowl XLVI) Peformance 2012, Halftime Show

Samsung Galaxy Note video ad

A video ad on the Samsung Galaxy Note for launch in the United States

You may also wish to read more on the 5.3 inch screen, 1280x800 resolution phone here.

Harris Bookstore closing down sale

The Harris Bookstore at the Great World City will be closed and its last day on 19 Feb 2012 after six years of operation. Reason for the closure is due to financial losses and rental increase exceeding 100%. Meanwhile, its sister brands, { prologue } ION and Harris Planerds at 313 Somerset are still around.

Harris will be having storewide 20% off from 4 to 19 February 2012.

Offline Google Docs for Android

Google Docs for Android has gone offline according to a Google+ post. Files include Google documents, Google presentations, Google spreadsheets, uploaded images, and files in formats such as .pdf, .doc, .xls and .ppt. Google Sites, Google drawings, Google forms, Fusion Tables and collections can't be made available offline.

There may be times when you don’t have an Internet connection on your Android device, but you still want access to a file you’ve saved in Google Docs. Now you can select any file in Google Docs to “make it available offline”. So regardless of whether you’re connected to the internet, you’re always connected to those files.

For more information on how to enable offline files on Google Docs, visit their Help Center.

Hands On With Microsoft Surface 2

Chinese Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Foursquare

Almost 500 million Chinese citizens are online and a quarter of all social network users in the world are Chinese. However, because government policies in the country block many western social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, a vibrant domestic ecosystem of similar online platforms has emerged.

So what are some of the copycats of such popular social media sites?

For Facebook in China, try renren.com (人人网) or kaixin001.com (开心网). For Twitter in China, try weibo.com (新浪微博). For YouTube in China, try youku.com (优酷). For Foursquare in China, try jiepang.com (街旁).

Source: G+ Site [via]

Disrespectful Action Pad video ad mocked Steve Jobs

Though there was no mention of Steve Jobs in a video ad promoting an Android tablet named Action Pad, the man in the video wore Jobs's trademark black turtleneck and jeans is obviously a "Steve Jobs". In the video, he says, "Thank God I get to play with other tablets".

In my own personal opinion, this video is disrespect to the late Steve Jobs.

Google rebuttal against Microsoft privacy claims as myths

In response to Microsoft's 'Putting people first' ad campaign that accuses Google's unifying privacy policy made taking control of one's own information to be more difficult, Google replied with a myth-busting blog post.

Straight lifting from the blog post,

Myth: In 2011, Google made $36 billion selling information about users like you. [Fairsearch - PDF]
Fact: Google does not sell, trade or rent personally identifiable user information. Advertisers can run ads on Google that are matched to search keywords, or use our services to show ads based on anonymous data, such as your location or the websites you’ve visited.

Myth: Google’s Privacy Policy changes make it harder for users to control their personal information. [Microsoft]
Fact: Our privacy controls have not changed. Period. Our users can: edit and delete their search history; edit and delete their YouTube viewing history; use many of our services signed in or out; use Google Dashboard and our Ads Preferences Manager to see what data we collect and manage the way it is used; and take advantage of our data liberation efforts if they want to remove information from our services.

Myth: Google is changing our Privacy Policy to make the data we collect more valuable to advertisers. [Microsoft]
Fact: The vast majority of the product personalization Google does is unrelated to ads—it’s about making our services better for users. Today a signed-in user can instantly add an appointment to their Calendar when a message in Gmail looks like it’s about a meeting, or read Google Docs within their email.

Myth: Google reads your email. [Microsoft]
Fact: No one reads your email but you. Like most major email providers, our computers scan messages to get rid of spam and malware, as well as show ads that are relevant to you.

Myth: Google Apps aren't safe, and aren't government-certified. [Microsoft]
Fact: Google's Apps are certified for government use because they are secure.

Myth: Google’s Privacy Policy changes jeopardize government information in Google Apps. [SafeGov.org]
Fact: Our new Privacy Policy does not change our contractual agreements, which have always superseded Google’s Privacy Policy for enterprise customers.

Myth: Microsoft’s approach to privacy is better than Google’s. [Microsoft]
Fact: We don’t make judgments about other people’s policies or controls. But our industry-leading Privacy Dashboard, Ads Preferences Manager and data liberation efforts enable you to understand and control the information we collect and how we use it—and we’ve simplified our privacy policy to make it easier to understand. Microsoft has no data liberation effort or Dashboard-like hub for users. Their privacy policy states that “information collected through one Microsoft service may be combined with information obtained through other Microsoft services.”

» Busting myths about our approach to privacy | Google Public Policy Blog

Microsoft offers alternatives against Google privacy concerns

Come Mar 1, 2012, Google will be unifying its current more than 70 privacy policies into one single privacy policy. This has prompted many including the European Union opposing against this move. Google's stand is to simplify the more than 60 different set of privacy policies, unifying them into one so it is easier to understand for users.

Taking momentum of public unhappiness against Google's move, Microsoft came out with a 'Putting people first' campaign, offering alternatives and telling public users Microsoft is treating customers better than Google.

'Putting people first' campaign

» Gone Google? Got Concerns? We Have Alternatives | The Official Microsoft Blog

President Obama Google+ Hangout with the Americans

You may also be interested in Google+ Campaign Hangout With Mitt Romney.

Firefox 10 comes with Web Developer Tool

Mozilla has released yet another version for Firefox again and this time round, it's Firefox 10. Since the release of Firefox 4 in March 2011, Mozilla has adopted a rapid release schedule similar to the cycle Google employs with its Chrome browser, releasing a new version of Firefox every six weeks, rather than every two to three years previously. Inclusive of version 4, this is Mozilla's number seventh major browser release in the past 10 months.

Apart from bug fixes, the new Firefox 10 comes with a Web Developer Tool, providing a lightweight, built-in option without installing Firebug.

Download latest Mozilla Firefox here.