The complete map to Earth’s deepest cave

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Just thinking about the process of making my way down this map both scared me and filled me with wonder. I would love the chance to dive this cave. At least virtually.

Building the next Pixar

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This is not quite what you think. This is not about building an animation studio, but about using the techniques that Pixar leveraged into their great success to produce your own great success.

Microsoft selling Office 365 within iPad apps, Apple getting 30 percent cut

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While one of the big holdups for Office for iPad was getting the software just right, another was Apple’s policy that apps that sell things — including subscriptions — use Apple’s in-app purchase mechanism and hand over 30 percent of that revenue to Apple.

This had been a big sticking point historically, so it was one of the key question marks looming over this launch.

Indeed, Microsoft does offer Office 365 subscriptions within the just-released Word for iPad and the other Office apps and, yes, it is paying the 30 percent cut, Apple confirmed to Re/code. Microsoft declined to comment on the matter.

Wonder if that was the real sticking point that kept iPad versions of Office in the can? Maybe the previous regime refused to budge, newer thinking prevailed? Just a thought.

Do it for Denmark

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[VIDEO] Denmark’s campaign to get their folks to make new kids!

Which college, and which major, will make you the richest

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If you are going to invest huge money in a college education, it seems reasonable to at least consider the financial benefits of that education over the long haul. The surprise winner in all this? Harvey Mudd College.

Interesting read. Take it all with a grain of salt.

Satya Nadella and the iPad Office rollout video

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Follow the headline link to watch Satya Nadella discuss Microsoft’s cloud and mobile strategy and, more importantly, watch the rollout of Microsoft Office for iPad.

I have to say, I find Nadella likable. Certainly more likable than that last guy.

Apple offers “Refund for In-App Purchases made by a minor”

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Apple sent an email today to its iTunes account holders who have made in-app purchases. The email gave account holders the chance to ask for a refund for any and all in app purchases made by a minor.

I think this is beyond fair. The text of the email is in the post.

Political move? Russians shelve iPads

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Journalists spotted that ministers at a cabinet meeting were no longer using Apple tablets, and minister Nikolai Nikiforov confirmed the changeover “took place not so long ago.”

He said the ministers’ new Samsungs were “specially protected devices that can be used to work with confidential information.”

Something smells fishy here.

Nikiforov denied that Russia was clamping down on US technology in response to Western sanctions imposed over its takeover of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula.

Ah, that was it. Walks like a duck, quacks like a duck. Political bullshit is what it is.

Neurosurgeons successfully implant 3D printed skull

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This is absolutely fantastic.

A 22-year-old woman from the Netherlands who suffers from a chronic bone disorder — which has increased the thickness of her skull from 1.5cm to 5cm, causing reduced eyesight and severe headaches — has had the top section of her skull removed and replaced with a 3D printed implant.

How fortunate is this woman that 3D printing technology was available to her surgical team. I can’t get over how cool this is.

Apple patents iPad smart cover with built-in gesture aware keyboard

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On March 27, 2014, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals an all-new iPad smart cover configuration that includes a keyboard panel. One of the aspects of this design which differentiates itself from Microsoft’s Surface tablet cover is that Apple’s keyboard has been uniquely designed to double as a multi-touch gesture keyboard eliminating the need for a touchpad.

I like the premise, the idea that you can gesture on the surface of the keyboard itself.

A big fat zero

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When you invest in a Kickstarter, you are helping a company get their legs, giving them the money they need to achieve stability with zero risk. The risk is foisted onto those initial investors. Is that a fair trade?

Why Minecraft creator canceled port to Oculus VR in response to Facebook purchase

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Yesterday, we posted about Facebook buying virtual reality company Oculus VR. Before that deal, Minecraft was exploring a deal to bring a version of the incredibly popular gaming environment to Oculus. But once the Facebook deal was announced, Markus Persson, Minecraft creator, tweeted this:

We were in talks about maybe bringing a version of Minecraft to Oculus. I just cancelled that deal. Facebook creeps me out.

Remember the Million Dollar home page? It still exists

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The million dollar home page was conceived back in 2005 by a student in Wiltshire, England as a way to pay for his education. The idea was, create a single web page, 1,000 by 1,000 pixels, then sell each pixel on the page for $1 each. The hope was, the page would go viral and bring value to the advertising embedded in the page. Read the post for an update on where things stand today.

Interesting social experiment, and an interesting read.