Academic research and the dark web

Written by

This is a fascinating story. Academics do the research for free, but they have to buy back their papers through expensive subscriptions from publishers. Enter the dark web.

Lawyers consider suing Apple over “error 53” on iPhone

Written by

It’s no surprise that lawyers are considering suing Apple, but this is an interesting case.

People who have iPhones running iOS 9 sometimes see “Error 53” when trying to restore the phone through Apple’s iTunes software after being prompted to connect the device to a computer. The error, which prevents the user from using the device, seems to occur on the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, and iPhone 6S Plus after their Touch ID sensors are repaired by unapproved retailers.

I can understand Apple’s reasoning, but perhaps they should have been more proactive in letting people know before they updated.

Super Bowl halftime show marred by functioning sound system

Written by

The Onion:

Disappointing the thousands of fans in attendance as well as an estimated 100 million viewers watching at home, the Super Bowl 50 halftime show was marred Sunday by the stadium’s functioning sound system, sources confirmed. “Right from the beginning, the sound was working normally, and unfortunately, I could clearly hear the singing,” said 29-year-old spectator Joe Kessler.

Priceless.

The Dalrymple Report with Merlin Mann: Settle Down

Written by

This week, Jim and Merlin talk about Apple’s software struggles and their wish list for Apple Watch updates.

Also, some fun #heytdr, including listener questions about iOS text editors and easy songs to learn on guitar.

Subscribe to this podcast

Brought to you by:

Casper: An obsessively engineered mattress at a shockingly fair price. Use code ENTERSANDMAN to save $50 on any mattress purchase.

Igloo Software: What if you could get 5% of your day back? [Sponsor]

Written by

What if you could get 5% of your day back? What would you do?

You already have enough work to do today and shouldn’t have to waste time looking for the things you need to do your job.

Igloo makes it easy to find what you need, when you need it. And it’s not just for locating your traditional intranet stuff like HR policies and expense forms. It also helps you find experts, talk about problems and share content with your team. So stop digging through your inbox for that file from 3 months back and give yourself the tools you need to do your best work.

Try it yourself or send your IT guy to investigate Igloo, an intranet you’ll actually like.

ExpanDrive: The Network Drive for Cloud Storage

Written by

Thanks to ExpanDrive for sponsoring The Loop this week.

Native access to cloud storage without sync?

ExpanDrive is a virtual drive that connects to cloud storage services such as Dropbox, Google, Box, OneDrive, Amazon, SFTP and more. Access and manage files within Finder or edit them using your favorite apps like Photoshop or Sublime Text.

Save 20% today using the coupon LOOP20.

Finding new music with Apple Music

Written by

I’ve been very vocal about the problems I’ve had with Apple Music since it was released, but the service has improved quite a bit over the last couple of months, so I should be just as vocal about that. One of the more significant improvements I’ve found is with Apple’s built-in radio stations. In fact, it’s changed how I listen to music. […]

BBEdit 11.5

Written by

BBEdit is the leading professional HTML and text editor for the Macintosh. Specifically crafted in response to the needs of Web authors and software developers, this award-winning product provides an abundance of high-performance features for editing, searching, and manipulation of text. An intelligent interface provides easy access to BBEdit’s best-of-class features, including grep pattern matching, search and replace across multiple files, project definition tools, function navigation and syntax coloring for numerous source code languages, code folding, FTP and SFTP open and save, AppleScript, Mac OS X Unix scripting support, text and code completion, and of course a complete set of robust HTML markup tools.

I’ve been using BBEdit for 20 years—I love this app.

Universal Audio’s Marshall JMP 2203 amplifier plug-in

Written by

Introduced in 1975, the Marshall JMP 2203 amplifier ushered in a new era of Marshall rock dominance. The JMP 2203 — which became the JCM800 in 1981 — offered varying degrees of intense, modern-sounding crunch and bold clean tones. Over the ensuing decades, the 2203 became a go-to for artists ranging from Jeff Beck and Andy Summers, to Tom Morello, Judas Priest, Slayer, and the Pixies’ Joey Santiago.

This was announced at NAMM and released today. You know I’m downloading this classic amp. There are pictures and video of the amp in action at Universal Audio’s Web site.

The Dalrymple Report with Merlin Mann: Rat on a Stick

Written by

Jim and Merlin talk about the highlights from NAMM, Sherlocking, and the blues.

Subscribe to this podcast

Sponsors

Brought to you by Braintree. The Dalrymple Report listeners get their first $50,000 in transactions fee-free.

links

ExpanDrive: The Network Drive for Cloud Storage

Written by

Thanks to ExpanDrive for sponsoring The Loop this week.

Native access to cloud storage without sync?

ExpanDrive is a virtual drive that connects to cloud storage services such as Dropbox, Google, Box, OneDrive, Amazon, SFTP and more. Access and manage files within Finder or edit them using your favorite apps like Photoshop or Sublime Text.

Save 20% today using the coupon LOOP20.

Apple’s voluntary recall of certain AC wall plug adapters & world travel adapter kits

Written by

Apple today announced a voluntary recall of AC wall plug adapters designed for use in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Continental Europe, New Zealand and South Korea. In very rare cases, affected Apple two-prong wall plug adapters may break and create a risk of electrical shock if touched. These wall plug adapters shipped with Mac® and certain iOS devices between 2003 and 2015 and were also included in the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit. Apple is aware of 12 incidents worldwide. […]

Twitter close to hiring Natalie Kerris

Written by

Kerris is well known in Silicon Valley for her job as one of the top public relations and communications staffers at Apple. She was in the running for the top job at the tech giant, which went to Steve Dowling, after the departure of Katie Cotton.

Kerris retired from Apple, but she would be a great addition to Twitter if they can get her.

Apple reports $18.4 billion profit for first quarter

Written by

Apple on Tuesday announced record quarterly revenue of $75.9 billion and record quarterly net income of $18.4 billion.

“Our team delivered Apple’s biggest quarter ever, thanks to the world’s most innovative products and all-time record sales of iPhone, Apple Watch and Apple TV,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “The growth of our Services business accelerated during the quarter to produce record results, and our installed base recently crossed a major milestone of one billion active devices.”

Microsoft Surface tablets malfunction during NFL game

Written by

During the first half of the AFC title game in Denver, the Patriots’ Microsoft Surface tablets stopped working. According to CBS Sports sideline reporter Evan Washburn, “Patriots coaches did not have access” to the tablets during the Broncos’ second scoring drive. At the time, Washburn reported that some, but not all of them, were working.

Shocking.

Top Twitter executives leave company

Written by

Four senior Twitter executives are leaving the media company, CEO Jack Dorsey tweeted late Sunday night, the biggest leadership changes since Dorsey returned as chief executive as he struggles to revive the company’s growth.

I’m not sure what’s next for Twitter, but they’ve lost their way in recent years.

The Dalrymple Report with Merlin Mann: Complex and Loud

Written by

This week, Jim and Merlin are joined by special guest, Ira Cary Blanco to talk about Ira’s work with Samson Technologies, including some great tips on choosing a microphone—as well as diving into how Ira uses technology to train for Ironman Triathlons.

The boys also run through the big updates to GarageBand for iOS and the amazing new Music Memos app.

Plus, the usual assortment of #heytdr and some great recommendations.

Subscribe to this podcast

Sponsor:

Brought to you by Braintree. The Dalrymple Report listeners get their first $50,000 in transactions fee-free.

The Concert 88 for electronic news gathering

Written by

The Concert 88 Camera system features the camera mountable CR88V Micro Wireless Receiver with a removable shoe mount adapter, as well as a belt clip for strap mounting. For maximum convenience, the CR88V offers 12 hours of battery life from a single removable rechargeable lithium ion battery (two included). A battery level indicator lets you know when to swap in the backup. The receiver also offers a 1/8″ headphone monitor output with dedicated level control.

I’m heading over to see this later today, but it looks like a cool product if you’re doing reporting on the go.

Samson’s Z Series headphones

Written by

Across the board, the Z Series Headphones feature lightweight components with a low-profile, over-ear fit and a stylish look. The entire line features ample cushioning for maximum comfort, highlighted by the genuine lambskin ear pads on the Z55 and Z45 models. Sonically, the headphones achieve wide, yet balanced and detailed sound fields ideal for critical studio monitoring. Their closed-back design provides effective sound isolation for recording by limiting unwanted background noise and signal bleed.

I used these during the last Dalrymple Report podcast and loved them. The sound was crisp and clear, and they were really comfortable.

Yamaha Montage replaces Motif synthesizers

Written by

For more than 40 years, Yamaha has developed industry-leading synthesizers, from the revolutionary DX7 in the 1980s to the renowned Motif series – one of the best-selling synthesizers of all time. Now, Yamaha raises the bar again with Montage. Montage, available in 61-, 76- and 88-key configurations, features the Motion Control Synthesizer Engine, a powerful and intuitive way to interact with and control sound.

I never thought I’d see Motif get replaced, but Yamaha did quite a job with the Montage. This is an impressive synth.

Yamaha’s Revstar electric guitars

Written by

Inspired by raw power and performance, Revstar’s sound is as unique and bold as its aesthetic. Working to evoke a visceral, unbridled power and an individual, organic tone that is made possible only by considering every detail, Yamaha’s engineers chose materials carefully and designed custom pickups to make sure Revstar sounds as stunning as it looks.

I had a demo of these guitars today and I must say, I was impressed. They have a presence in look and feel that many guitars are missing these days. They aren’t heavy, but they are solid when you play them. I wouldn’t hesitate adding one of these to my collection.

TF Mixer series

Written by

With the TouchFlow Operation interface optimized for touch panel control, experienced engineers as well as newcomers to the field will find it easier than ever to achieve the ideal mix. Recallable D-PRE™ preamplifiers support sound quality that will satisfy the most discerning professional ears, while advanced live recording features and seamless operation with high-performance I/O racks give these compact digital mixers capabilities that make them outstanding choices for a wide range of applications. Experience the intuitive control and creative freedom that a truly evolved digital console can provide.

Yamaha made these mixers as foolproof as possible. They have a touchscreen display and a ton of presets preconfigured for each instrument in the band. You can also use an iPad to configure settings away from the mixer, so you can go onstage or anywhere in the room and check your sound. If I was going to buy a mixer today, I’d take a serious look at the TF series.

Steinberg releases the UR22mkII audio interface

Written by

Record and compose music in studio quality on your laptop or iPad with the UR22mkII. With outstanding audio and build quality for its price class, the UR22mkII combines choice components with advanced connectivity and flexible I/O options to offer a full-on mobile production platform.

I love what Yamaha does with their new interfaces, making them compatible with iOS and Mac. I had a look at this today and it was impressive.