We discussed a variety of topics, but the conversation kicked off with our growing disgust with the un-customer centric approach of social networks.
Microsoft Silverlight shattered
Silverlight.net now redirects to a page on MSDN. Some but not all of the content has been migrated to MSDN, but Microsoft has not bothered to redirect the URLs, so most of the links out there to resources and discussions on Silverlight will dump you to the aforementioned generic page.
That’s one way to end a technology.
An interview with Slash’s guitar tech
Great interview.
Jessica Alba ditches Windows Phone for an iPhone
She helped Microsoft plug Windows Phone 8 when it was released just over a month ago. She must have dumped that thing like a hot potato as soon as she got off the stage.
Draw-It, Push-It: A Pictionary-style game for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV
What a great looking game. It uses iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, AirPlay and it’s good for the whole family. It doesn’t get much better than that.
WordPress or MODX?
A good article for those considering a CMS tool. I’ve thought for a while now that WordPress is getting too big to be a simple blogging tool. I’ve been wondering about the benefits of Movable Type, a tool that I used many years ago. After all, MT does power Daring Fireball and Kottke.org.
Redesigning Notification Center
Alex Saretzky took a shot at redesigning the Notification Center for Mac and iOS. I really like some of his ideas. Tip: Click on the iPhone to play the movie and click on the links to see animations of his ideas.
Doxie Mobile Scanners – Starting at $149 [Sponsor]
Go paperless with Doxie – the tiny and beautifully designed mobile scanner for Mac & iPad. Doxie scans your paper: simply, automatically, and with no computer required. To scan, just push the button and insert your sheet. Doxie scans anywhere with a simple, elegant design that starts at just $149.
Readers of The Loop get free U.S. shipping and Guaranteed Christmas Delivery for all orders placed through December 19th.
Now available: the cordless Doxie One for just $149, and the rechargeable Doxie Go for just $199.
Apple’s new Causeway Bay, Hong Kong retail store
Eric Slivka:
The new store will cover three levels and has been reported to encompass approximately 20,000 square feet of space, with the facade including 30-foot tall glass windows currently covered by the curtain graphics. Playing upon the large facade, Apple’s tagline for the premiere is “An opening you simply can’t miss.”
Wow.
Skeuomorphism showcase in iPad interface design
I love the detail that goes into these designs. The shadows and buttons — just great.
Zakk Wylde and Andreas Kisser perform Red House
I love Zakk’s playing.
Photo filters and iPhone photography
Michael Lopp has a great article on using photo filters and what to look for when taking a photo with your iPhone.
Australian police warn tourists not to use iOS 6 Maps
Mildura Police are urging motorists to be careful when relying on the mapping system on the Apple i-phones operating on the iOS 6 system after a number of motorists were directed off the beaten track in recent weeks.
Local Police have been called to assist distressed motorists who have become stranded within the Murray-Sunset National Park after following directions on their Apple i-phone.
My parents are heading to Australia on vacation in January for more than a month. They will be driving around the country, but I’ll have to recommend they purchase a different mapping system. This is just terrible.
Order one iPad, get five
Alexa’s boyfriend got an iPad for Christmas from his mother. Well, that’s not quite true. His mother ordered one iPad, and had it shipped to him. What arrived on their doorstep was a very large and heavy box that was big enough to hold five iPads. Because it did.
Thanks Best Buy.
More on “the Steve Jobs patent”
Matt Macari for The Verge:
The internet was abuzz yesterday with reports that Apple’s infamous “bounce-back” patent, US 7,469,381, was “tentatively invalidated” by the US Patent Office. That’s one of the patents Samsung was found to infringe, and any action by the USPTO will have major consequences. Unfortunately, all those reports were extremely premature —patents can’t be “tentatively invalid,” just like people can’t be “tentatively dead.”
Great explanation of what’s going on and the process involved.
Angus Young interview
Angus is such a great blues guitar player.
Twitter photo filters
The goal is to release the camera filters in an application update in time for the holiday season, these sources say.
I’d rather see Twitter release the grip on developer’s balls.
Apple, Google partner to buy Kodak patents
The two companies, competing for dominance of the smartphone market, have partnered after leading two separate groups this summer to buy some of Kodak’s 1,100 imaging patents, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the process is private.
US patent office declares key Apple patent invalid
This week, the USPTO issued a first Office action rejecting all 20 claims of U.S. Patent No. 7,479,949 on a “touch screen device, method, and graphical user interface for determining commands by applying heuristics”, which has been referred to by many people, including Apple’s own lawyers, as “the Steve Jobs patent”.
This isn’t a final decision, but it’s certainly an important one for Apple.
Anytune
I’d like to thank Anytune for sponsoring this week’s RSS feed on The Loop. I’ve tried this app myself and really like it.
Musicians of all kinds use Anytune to learn, transcribe and practice their favorite songs!
Check out Jim’s guitar stylings in a rare solo version of a theme that fans of The Loop should recognize. Something unexpected happened when tuning the track that hints at the source of Jim’s power… You’ll have to watch the video on this page to find out what it might be.
Music Practice Perfected.
The iPhone lock screen counterpoint
Jonathan Sutter has written up a counterpoint to Brent Caswell’s article that I linked to earlier this week.
Mapping Apple’s retail expansion
A great article by Graham Spencer that looks at Apple’s retail strategy around the world.
Bold Poker for iOS
This looks fantastic. The app replaces the deck of cards and deals to the player’s iPhones.
Horrible headlines
These will make you laugh.
Apple rejects app for showing iTunes 11 notifications
Mac developer Sherief Farouk has a Mac app called Listening To that shows what song is playing using Mountain Lion’s notification system. It’s a cool and useful app, but Apple doesn’t seem to agree.
Tim Cook’s full interview with NBC
Brian Williams interviewing Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Behind the scenes: Twitterrific 5
Twitterrific developer Craig Hockenberry posted an interesting behind the scenes look at the app.
Pixelmator setback
The guys at Pixelmator posted an explanation to users of Macs with NVIDIA GeForce graphics card drivers. Apparently there is a problem with the drivers that causing the application to crash.
Pixelmator is a great app run buy equally great people.
Netflix CEO comments lead to civil action by SEC
Netflix Inc said securities regulators plan to take action against the company because of a Facebook post by Chief Executive Reed Hastings that violated public disclosure rules, even as Hastings dismissed the contention in a public letter to shareholders on Thursday.
Stupid of the CEO.
Another TSA agent caught stealing iPads
TSA baggage screener Sean Henry, 32, was arrested on Tuesday after a sting operation conducted jointly by the TSA and the Port Authority Police Department caught Henry leaving the airport with two iPads that had been planted as part of the sting, as well as numerous other electronics devices he had allegedly stolen from passengers. Just as in a recent ABC News investigation of thefts by TSA agents, the sting used the iPads’ own tracking capabilities to follow the stolen tablets’ movements.
I’m glad they’re getting caught.