Anything Under The Sun

A week ago, a harrowing hostage drama unfolded in a prominent location in the Philippines. A bus, primarily carrying tourists, mostly Hong Kong nationals, was commandeered by a retired policeman seeking justice for his dismissal from duty, allegedly due to a crime he was convicted of. He implored the Philippine ombudsman to review his case, appealing for the reinstatement of his duty and the restoration of his benefits and grants as a law enforcer. Regrettably, the situation did not conclude positively, as the hostage taker, along with most of the victims inside the bus, tragically lost their lives. The question arises: who bears responsibility for the failure to rescue the victims? Some attribute it to the mass media's coverage, providing the culprit access to information that should have been withheld from him as he took control of the bus. Others point to the strategy employed by law enforcement, resulting in the failure to safeguard the victims and the inability to keep the hostage taker calm during negotiations. Regardless of the causative factors, what has transpired is irreversible. This incident has cast a shadow over the Philippines, eliciting unfavorable impressions from neighboring countries, particularly Hong Kong. It's essential to recognize this as an isolated case, with the actions of the perpetrator not reflecting the entirety of the Philippine citizenry. Unfortunately, despite clear explanations, influencing the opinions and sentiments of individuals is beyond our control. While acknowledging potential lapses leading to the tragic conclusion of the hostage situation, it is our hope that this incident won't foster lasting animosity among Hong Kong citizens towards their counterparts in the Philippines. May healing touch all those affected by the pain and sorrow. May this incident serve as a poignant lesson for everyone involved.

Many iPhone enthusiasts were captivated by the recent public release of the new OS for iPhone. Packed with a multitasking feature, various enhancements, and complimentary apps, this latest offering elicited awe from devoted users. However, the unveiling of iPhone OS 4.0 also brought forth some challenges. Disputes arose not only due to the absence of Flash support but also the lack of FM radio functionality. Another notable absence is GPS navigation support. Users are required to install third-party applications for photo-editing, adding an extra step to enjoy such tasks. While the Apple CEO proudly promotes the multitasking feature of the new OS, a drawback surfaces: it is incompatible with older versions such as iPhone 2G and 3G. Additionally, the email experience may be less than optimal as the new OS lacks support for file attachments. In every technological advancement, flaws can be found. What other challenges might the newly released OS of iPhone 4.0 present? Let the consumers be the judge.

Recently, Apple announced the launch of its latest operating system for iPhones, named iPhone OS 4. As the newest iteration, expectations naturally run high compared to its predecessors. Reports suggest that the new OS enhances app performance, allowing them to run more efficiently. A notable pride of this update is its multitasking feature. However, despite the advancements in the iPhone OS, users should temper their expectations regarding Flash applications, as they are not supported. Could this be considered a potential flaw in the development of the new OS? A clear statement in section 3.3.1 of the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement sheds light on this matter: Applications may only use Documented APIs in the manner prescribed by Apple and must not use or call any private APIs. Applications must be originally written in Objective-C, C, C++, or JavaScript as executed by the iPhone OS WebKit engine, and only code written in C, C++, and Objective-C may compile and directly link against the Documented APIs (e.g., Applications that link to Documented APIs through an intermediary translation or compatibility layer or tool are prohibited). If this is indeed the case, it is reasonable not to anticipate Flash support in Apple's newly released OS—iPhone OS 4.