Yearly Archives: 2015

The Dalrymple Report with Merlin Mann: That’s Not Very Canadian of You

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This week, Merlin and Jim talk haircuts, computer peripherals, and weird bands. Also, Merlin shares his obsession with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs song “Maps”.

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Walmart Pay

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Walmart Pay’s QR code-based checkout process will involve opening the Walmart app, selecting Walmart Pay, activating the camera, scanning the code displayed at the register and waiting for the cashier to finish bagging your items. An electronic receipt will automatically be sent to the Walmart app.

Yeah, that’ll work.

The subscription wars are here

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Before the great TV disruption, the cable companies owned that $150 a month we all paid to feed our TV habits, the whole thing. Now other folks have figured out how to get their own little piece of that pie.

BuzzFeed News interview with Eddy Cue

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John Paczkowski, writing for BuzzFeed News, had the chance to interview Eddy Cue, Apple’s Senior VP of Internet Software and Services.

Really interesting.

Apple TV – The Future of Television

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Wasn’t too long ago that folks were calling Apple TV a failure, a device largely ignored by Apple.

No question about it now, Apple is all in on Apple TV. This ad feels like a mission statement. The name says it all: Apple TV – The Future of Television.

Tim Cook is over discussing the ‘hump’ on the new iPhone Smart Battery Case

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Mashable:

Apple’s first ever battery iPhone case has generated a range of reactions and emotions. Some people simply can’t get over the hump.

I caught up with Apple CEO Tim Cook, who was in town to participate in an Hour of Code event, to take his temperature on the $99 iPhone 6 and 6s case, with the noticeable battery pack hump on its back. We asked Cook if he is excited about the hump.

“You know, I probably wouldn’t call it ‘the hump,’” said Cook, who added he was aware of the comments surrounding the Smart Battery Case.

I find the Sturm und Drang over this case to be fascinating. I have no opinion about the design until I’ve seen it for myself but the amount of electronic ink spilled over this on both sides speaks to many things, not the least of which is Apple is under intense focus no matter what they do.

Best Buy makes a splash with the lowest Apple Watch prices ever, deals start at just $249

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9to5Mac:

Apple Watch is at the top of many holiday wish lists this year and luckily for gift shoppers it’s received numerous discounts since Black Friday. In fact, Target and B&H are both offering significant Apple Watch promotions right now.

This morning Best Buy jumped into the fray with the best straight up Apple Watch deal we’ve ever seen: $100 off any Apple Watch Sport or Apple Watch model. More than 20 different watch configurations are eligible for this discount.

This looks to be the sweet spot for Apple Watch pricing. It’s also interesting that these deals are coming from the stores and not Apple. Will the lower price encourage you to buy an Apple Watch this holiday season?

Apple Watch under the Christmas tree

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As Apple Watch enters the critical holiday shopping season, it looks likely to get a sales boost from happy customers, almost two-thirds of whom are planning to give one as a gift, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed on Tuesday.

I’m not surprised. Apple Watch has changed my life and I’m sure other people are seeing the same thing.

Apple’s plans for TV subscription service on hold

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Les Moonves, CEO of CBS, says that the company was in talks with Apple to be included in its still forthcoming cable-killing TV-subscription service — but that Apple has placed development of that service on hold.

I’m not sure what caused the company to put this hold. Perhaps they are making their services better before launching something so important. Whatever the reason, I’m really looking forward to it.

Apple’s secrets: how Apple’s legal fight with Samsung revealed a gold mine of top-secret information

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BGR:

One of the more interesting aspects of Apple’s legal battle with Samsung is that it gave us an unprecedented look behind the veil of secrecy that typically shrouds all aspects of Apple’s product development and day-to-day operations. Over the course of discovery, innumerable court filings, and a fascinating trial, the inner workings of Apple were brought to the forefront for the first time in history. From photographs of iPhone prototypes to how Apple conducts market research, Apple’s legal battles with Samsung provided tech enthusiasts with a treasure trove of previously top-secret information.

With Samsung now agreeing to pony up for damages, we thought it’d be a good time to take a step back, reminisce, and take a look at some of the more interesting nuggets of information the hard-fought patent dispute brought to light.

The downside to lawsuits is this kind of insider info can often be gleaned from court filings. Apple has to give up some of its secrets in order to go to court. I’ll be the first to admit I love this kind of stuff, especially about prototypes. To me, they are fascinating glimpses into “alternative Apple universes” and things that might have been.

Someone try this with Apple Music on Apple TV

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I’ve been on a tear lately about Apple Music and how it doesn’t work properly. I know there are a lot of people that are very happy with the service, and I’m really happy for those people. However, there are … Continued

The new king of toys

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Medium:

This fall’s release of the new Anki Overdrive set feels a bit like the moment when James Bond’s quartermaster Q rolls out a go-go-gadget Aston Martin DB5 and says, with smug understatement, “I’ve added one or two rather special accessories…” The upgraded set, with reconfigurable tracks, might not look so different from the previous Anki Drive, or, for that matter, the Christmas present Elvis unwrapped in 1965. Inside the box, it’s still a set of little toy cars.

The innovation isn’t immediately obvious. Though the bluetooth relays that control the cars and the sophisticated infrared sensors that keep them on track are ingenious, the real action isn’t under the cars’ hoods, either: The genius is in the code. Like Tesla and Google’s self-driving car, Anki’s real leap forward is its software.

I was an early adopter of the original Anki Overdrive and really enjoyed it but ultimately returned it. But I still think it’s a very cool race car set if you have kids who are into them.

Apple releases iOS 9.2 with fixes for shitty Apple Music

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Go to Settings > General > Software Update to download the update. Apple says there are improvements to News app, Mail Drop for Mail and improvements to Apple Music.

It’s hard not to improve Apple Music considering how much of a piece of shit it is.

Apple releases watchOS 2.1

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Apple released a new update for Apple Watch this morning. Go to the Watch app on your iPhone > General > Software Update to download and install the update.