Kicked out of Nirvana and Soundgarden and then became a member of the Army Special Forces

Jason Everman has the unique distinction of being the guy who was kicked out of Nirvana and Soundgarden, two rock bands that would sell roughly 100 million records combined. At 26, he wasn’t just Pete Best, the guy the Beatles left behind. He was Pete Best twice.

Then again, he wasn’t remotely. What Everman did afterward put him far outside the category of rock’n’roll footnote. He became an elite member of the U.S. Army Special Forces, one of those bearded guys riding around on horseback in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban.

What a great, but crazy story.

The Loop Magazine free article: Designing Apps for Everyone

Charles Perry wrote an article for Issue 5 of The Loop Magazine about the importance of accessibility in apps. This is an important subject, so I wanted to make it free for everyone to read on the Web.

You can also preview the other articles on The Web site too. The entire issue can be downloaded for iPhone and iPad from the App Store with a free 7-day trial.

The Loop Magazine Issue 5

In this issue, Bryan Irace looks at how iOS apps could share data in ways that would make the experience much better for users; Seamus Bellamy talks to real-life sideshow performers; Nathan Snelgrove imagines the possibilities beyond the touch interface; Charles Perry talks about the importance of accessibility in apps; and Dave Mark helps you get started in developing apps for iOS and Mac.

You can download The Loop Magazine from the App Store and start your free 7-day trial.

Amplified: The Eliminator

Jim and Dan discuss the closing of Google Reader, page views and the role of advertisement on websites versus RSS readers, listener trust, the logic behind curating your RSS feeds, a guitar fit for a son of a beard, and more.

Sponsored by Host Gator (use code DANSENTME for 30% off), Hover (use code DANSENTME for 10% off), and Mail Chimp.

Prince of Persia on iOS July 25

Continue the age old saga of a wanderer who was born a Prince! The wanderer returns, in search of his unknown past on a journey to redefine his future. Prince of Persia The Shadow and The Flame is a pick up and play, smooth adaptation of an epic classic easy to handle but challenging to master. Play as the Prince who must battle the odds again to save his Princess and kingdom on a journey that will pave the path to his origins.

Android “master key” leaves 99% of devices vulnerable

The Bluebox Security research team – Bluebox Labs – recently discovered a vulnerability in Android’s security model that allows a hacker to modify APK code without breaking an application’s cryptographic signature, to turn any legitimate application into a malicious Trojan, completely unnoticed by the app store, the phone, or the end user.

Malware, adware and now a master key. The security trifecta.

Samsung acquires Boxee

An earlier report by The Marker, an Israeli Web site, said that Samsung purchased the start-up for $30 million. In a statement, a Samsung spokeswoman would confirm only that Samsung had acquired some employees and assets of Boxee but did not disclose how much it had paid.

Oh well.

A Steve Ballmerism

Steve Ballmer:

How many of us have gone to a meeting with somebody who brought a tablet and then when it comes time to actually take notes, writes them down on pencil and paper. Or can’t get at the spreadsheet…or try to use it in terminal emulator mode…or take [a long time] to set up and turn their tablet into something that approximates a PC.”

Steve, let me be clear: shit like that doesn’t happen with people that have an iPad. If you see it happen, maybe it’s because they are using a Surface.

Bold Poker 2.0 for iOS

Bold Poker replaces your deck of cards and delivers a classy, meticulously designed experience that looks and feels pro. Forget about taking turns shuffling and let Bold Poker be your professional dealer.

This is such a great idea and really well done.

Boston University sues Apple

Boston University wants a ban on the sale of a wide variety of Apple products and the company’s profits from the last few years — all because of a patent filed for in 1995.

Skyhook: Google bad mouthed us to Apple

In its court filings, Skyhook claims that “Having apparently disparaged Skyhook’s technology to Apple, Google proceeded to then launch the same Wi-Fi based location technology by infringing Skyhook’s patents.

That can’t be true, that would be evil and Google’s not evil. Right?

Apple hires former Yves Saint Laurent CEO

“We’re thrilled to welcome Paul Deneve to Apple,” spokeswoman Kristin Huguet said. “He’ll be working on special projects as a vice president reporting directly to Tim Cook.”

Special projects, eh.

“Steve Jobs schools” in the Netherlands

This August, 11 so-called “Steve Jobs schools” will open in the Netherlands, serving 1,000 students primarily through educational apps on Apple’s iPad, replacing everything from books to blackboards.

It will be interesting to see how this goes. If teachers, parents and students are behind the project, then it should work out fine, but it will mean changes and acceptance from all three groups.

Uh oh Motorola

In June of 2013, I made an interesting discovery about the Android phone (a Motorola Droid X2) which I was using at the time: it was silently sending a considerable amount of sensitive information to Motorola, and to compound the problem, a great deal of it was over an unencrypted HTTP channel.

Scroll down and take a look at the information Motorola is gathering about its users.

[Via Ben Brooks]

Recording a bass amp

This is the way I do it. There is no substitute for putting a mic on an amp—mixing in a DI can also add something to the song.

CSS typography

Small roundup on CSS features that will enhance your web typography.

Appsfire [Sponsor]

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