Monthly Archives: November 2011

∞ Fender's Coldplay guitar giveaway

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As part of the contest, one lucky contestant will win a Fender American Vintage series ’72 Telecaster Thinline guitar swathed in a vivid Mylo Xyloto-themed custom graphic finish by noted graffiti artist Paris. Fender ’72 Tele Thinline guitars have long … Continued

∞ Annie Liebovitz recommends iPhone camera

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Daniel Eran Dilger: “I’m still learning how to use mine,” Liebovitz said, pulling her iPhone 4 out to take a picture of her host. “It’s great. It’s a pencil, it’s a pen, it’s a notebook. I can’t tell you how … Continued

∞ Google Music launches

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Google Music helps you spend more time listening to your collection and less time managing it. We automatically sync your entire music library—both purchases and uploads—across all your devices so you don’t have to worry about cables, file transfers or running out of storage space. We’ll keep your playlists in tact, too, so your “Chill” playlist is always your “Chill” playlist, whether you’re on your laptop, tablet or phone. You can even select the specific artists, albums and playlists you want to listen to when you’re offline.

So Google Music is called iCloud?

∞ CIA : Operation Ajax interactive graphic novel for iPad

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The complete edition of Operation Ajax, an interactive graphic novel that tells the true story of the first CIA-backed coup which toppled Iran’s democracy in 1953.The app includes a 210 page comic with full sound and animation, plus tons of bonus content including: 22 character dossiers, 9 historical newsreels, and 3 authentic declassified documents detailing the coup from within the agency.

It’s free for a limited time.

∞ Microsoft's Android patent squeeze

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Alan Shimel:

B&N claims that all of these are “trivial” and “insignificant” in terms of Android’s use. They claim Microsoft is using these patents for minor functionality to hold Android hostage. It is not just licensing fee’s either, though they claim is Microsoft is recieving anywere from $5 dollars to $15 dollars or more per copy of Android sold (which is equal to or more thanwhat they charge for Windows Mobile licenses). Barnes & Nobles claims that along with paying the blood money Microsoft demands, Microsoft also makes license holders sign an “oppressive” agreement which gives Microsoft say over future hardware and software configurations and innovations. This according to B&N is to ensure that they keep Android from advancing too far, too fast for Microsoft to keep up. That is in many ways worse than the licensing fees. Microsoft wants to control future Android development and innovation. Positively evil.

∞ National App Development Month

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Ian Robinson:

I was thinking recently that it would be useful to have a month to focus on doing an app from start to finish. I’ve dabbled with development for ages, without knuckling down and getting something done. I’ve decided to do it in December. Take 31 days and use my spare time to do an iPhone app that I want for myself. I floated the idea on Twitter and a few people seemed interested in doing something themselves. Of course I’m doing an iPhone app, but there is no reason that any other sort of app couldn’t be done. A Macintosh app, a Windows Phone 7 app, an Android app, a web app, or an app for whatever platform you like.

Great idea.

∞ Occupy Wall Street people, stop complaining

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Marcelo Somers:

Occupy Wall Street (and all the associated movements) completely defies what is amazing about today. I hate it because it’s sending young people every wrong message. Instead of inspiring the youth of today to create amazing things that add value to the world, it’s inspiring them to complain.Get out of the park and rethink the finance industry. Instead of protesting their ways, build something so great that society has to listen to what you’re doing, and take them down.

∞ The Insanely Great History of Apple

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The world’s most comprehensive mapping of Apple products, this print shows every computer released by Apple in the last thirty years, from the original Mac through the MacBook Air. Products are sorted according to type, including the connections between various … Continued

∞ The Happy List

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You really have to see this to appreciate it. Ellen tells an entire story of what made her happy using only photos. You can see and feel why each particular image made her feel the way she did.

Much more dramatic than writing 1,000 words explaining your week.

∞ Think you can hide, anonymous blogger?

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Andy Baio:

Nonetheless, I found his other blog in under a minute — a thoughtful site about technology and local politics, detailing his full name, employer, photo, and family information. He worked for the local government, and if exposed, his anonymous blog could have cost him his job.

Kind of amusing.

[Via Streakmachine]

∞ Upgrading tracks to iTunes Match

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Jason Snell at Macworld:

So you’ve bought iTunes Match, which gives you access to shiny new 256kbps AAC versions of your audio files. But by default your iTunes library is still packed with your old files. So how best to upgrade all of those old files, in place, to the new versions?

I tried this on a few songs last night and it worked flawlessly.

∞ Kindle Fire 'fails at almost everything'

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Peter Ha at The Daily: Like most convergence devices before it, the Kindle Fire doesn’t do anything exceptionally well (except for buying things via Amazon) but the price is right at $200. Buyer beware. Perhaps the rumors of this model … Continued

∞ Dell beats earnings, misses sales targets

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Brian Caulfield for Forbes:

Record sales to businesses helped Dell post stronger than expected third quarter earnings, even as the Round Rock, Texas-based company fell short of sales expectations Tuesday.

It’s cute that Dell’s still around.

∞ Steve Jobs wanted to replace carriers with an Apple network

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Nancy Gohring:

Stanton, chairman of venture capital firm Trilogy Partners, said he spent a fair amount of time with Jobs between 2005 and 2007. “He wanted to replace carriers,” Stanton said of Jobs, the Apple founder and CEO who died Oct. 5 after a battle with cancer. “He and I spent a lot of time talking about whether synthetically you could create a carrier using Wi-Fi spectrum. That was part of his vision.”

∞ Sir Jimmy Page?

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Gibson.com: A member of the British Parliament is moving to make guitar god Jimmy Page a knight, according to the NME. Conservative MP Louise Mensch is suggesting knighthood for the Led Zeppelin guitarist, announcing the news on her Twitter page: … Continued

∞ Jawbone UP

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Shawn Blanc does a great review: It is clear to me that the UP is not a workout tracker as much as it is a low-level activity monitor. Or, put another way, I’d say the UP is an easy-to-use tool … Continued

∞ Apple names Arthur D. Levinson Chairman of the Board

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Apple on Tuesday named Arthur D. Levinson as the Chairman of the Board.

Levinson has been a co-lead director of Apple’s board since 2005, has served on all three board committees— audit and finance, nominating and corporate governance, and compensation, according to Apple. Levinson will continue to serve on the audit committee, the company said.

∞ The man who made Siri

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Christian Zibreg for 9to5Mac: Dag Kittlaus, a 44-year-old from Norway, is living an American dream with his wife and three kids in a nice Chicago suburb. His life took a turn for the better following a special phone call from … Continued

∞ Scorecerer 5.6 for iPad

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Scorecerer 5.6 for iPad works seamlessly with any DAW, including Cubase, ProTools, Logic and MOTU Digital Performer. For solo musicians using a DAW sequencer to play backing tracks, for example, it’s easy to insert a program change into the Scorecerer … Continued

∞ Bogus

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Florian Mueller:

I’m starting to see a pattern. For any intellectual property issues facing Linux (or at least the most popular Linux derivative, Android), Linus Torvalds has a standard answer at hand: after admitting that he doesn’t know the facts, he claims that “this [whatever it may be] seems completely bogus.” Or, interchangeably, “totally bogus”.

Great article from Florian.

∞ SoundCloud integrates with Tabletop for iPad

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Tabletop is the first musical environment designed from the ground up exclusively for the iPad. The heart of Tabletop is a modular environment where you can mix and match different devices. Each device has its own uses, characteristics, personality — ranging from classics like drum pad samplers to touchscreen effects. Buy only the gear you need from an expanding catalog and share your creations quickly and easily on SoundCloud

I am really enjoying watching SoundCloud expand. They’re in Pro Tools 10 and countless other apps. It’s all about integration and they get that.

∞ Time lapse video of earth from space

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Time lapse sequences of photographs taken by Ron Garan, Satoshi Furukawa and the crew of expeditions 28 & 29 onboard the International Space Station from August to October, 2011, who to my knowledge shot these pictures at an altitude of around 350 km.