Is Apple’s Spell Wearing Off?By JENNA WORTHAMGizmodo’s unmasking of the fourth-generation iPhone has set off a maelstrom of activity around the Web: conspiracy theories are running rampant and scores of sideline observers, like myself, are riveted by the events unfolding on their screens.And why wouldn’t it? The debacle is arguably one of the most jaw-dropping flubs for Apple, a company long known for maintaining an impenetrable veil of secrecy. The misplacement of a top-secret prototype by an Apple employee signals the first time in recent memory that the meticulous control Apple and Steve Jobs have over the company’s audience has slipped out of their grasp.But perhaps what is surprising is the utter delight and occasional vitriol permeating the reactions around the Web.“What’s great is that Apple can’t do anything about it now,” wrote Nabeel Ahmed on Gizmodo’s Facebook page.“A blow against the ridiculous secrecy of their product launches and the stress it must cause their employees,” wrote another of Gizmodo’s fans on Facebook, James Spearman. A commenter in Seattle, using the screen name mike97, added “HA ha hA Ha Apple!” to the lengthy thread on the New York Times Bits blog piece about the episode.The near-giddy response to Apple’s misstep, which may result in one or more people losing their jobs and countless nights of peaceful sleep for Apple marketers, may point to a broader shift in the public attitude toward the company and its covert tactics.As more details are revealed about the company’s practices — like the tightening constraints on the applications allowed in its online app store and requiring developers granted early access to develop applications for the iPad to work in windowless rooms — does the sheen fade?   

  A fifth of European Union will be Muslim by 2050  Britain, Spain and Holland will have an even higher proportion of Muslims in a shorter amount of time, an investigation by The Telegraph shows.   By Adrian Michaels


Last year, five per cent of the total population of the 27 EU countries was Muslim. But rising levels of immigration from Muslim countries and low birth rates among Europe's indigenous population mean that, by 2050, the figure will be 20 per cent, according to forecasts. Data gathered from various sources indicate that Britain, Spain and Holland will have an even higher proportion of Muslims in a shorter amount of time.   Related Articles We need policies for integrating Europe's immigrants Muslim Europe: the demographic time bomb The UK, which currently has 20 million fewer people than Germany, is also projected to be the EU's most populous country by 2060, with 77 million people. The findings have led to allegations that policy-makers are failing to confront the widespread challenges of the "demographic time bomb". Experts say that there has been a lack of debate on how the population changes will affect areas of life from education and housing to foreign policy and pensions. Although some polls have pointed to a lack of radicalisation in the Muslim community, little attention is being given to the integration of migrants, it is claimed, with fears of social unrest in years to come.      

 Jesse James apologises to Sandra Bullock over affair reports   Jesse James, the husband of Oscar winning actress Sandra Bullock, has apologised to her and begged for forgiveness amid tabloid reports that he had an affair with a heavily tattooed model. Read Article   

  The demise of the dollarRobert Fisk: Arab states have launched secret moves with China, Russia and France to stop using the US currency for oil trading.Econoblog: The markets have spoken on the future of the dollar