Media

“Where’s your DVD drive?”

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[VIDEO] Apple Fellow Guy Kawasaki interviewing Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer. This is full of hot takes and just plain fun to watch. Video embedded in main Loop post.

The experience of being grilled by Steve Jobs

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[VIDEO] Andy Miller, founder of Quattro Wireless, a mobile ad company that Apple acquired in 2010, describes his meeting with Steve Jobs to get Steve’s blessing on the acquisition.

This is just great. Video embedded in main Loop post.

Google’s parallel path to Apple Watch

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[VIDEO] Google blog:

The heart of Jacquard is the Jacquard Tag, a tiny computer built to make everyday items more helpful. We first used this on the sleeve of a jacket so that it could recognize the gestures of the person wearing it, and we built that same technology into the Cit-E backpack with Saint Laurent. Then, we collaborated with Adidas and EA on our GMR shoe insert, enabling its wearers to combine real-life play with the EA SPORTS FIFA mobile game.

Project Jacquard was announced back in 2015, and Google has touted it as a smart controller you can wear to control various devices.

I can’t help but see a parallel to Apple Watch. Apple pushed their remote control capabilities into the Apple Watch (think answering the phone, controlling music/podcasts, curating notifications, etc.), Google is going in a different direction, splintering the control into a sprinkling of Jacquard Tag embeds.

The newest of these is the just announced Konnect-I Backpack series:

Whether it’s touch or movement-based, the tag can interpret different inputs customized for the garments and gear we’ve collaborated with brands to create. And now we’re sharing that two new backpacks, developed with Samsonite, will integrate Jacquard technology. A fine addition to our collection, the Konnect-I Backpack comes in two styles: Slim ($199) and Standard ($219).

While they might look like regular backpacks, the left strap unlocks tons of capabilities. Using your Jacquard app, you can customize what gestures control which actions—for instance, you can program Jacquard to deliver call and text notifications, trigger a selfie, control your music or prompt Google Assistant to share the latest news. For an added level of interaction, the LED light on your left strap will light up according to the alerts you’ve set.

Will we see a similar device (the rumored AirTags) from Apple? If so, will AirTags parallel the Jacquard tag in functionality?

While you think about all this, here’s a commercial (video embedded in main Loop post) for the new Konnect-I backpack. So very odd.

Apple Original Films announces “Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You” documentary

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[VIDEO] Apple:

Bruce Springsteen fans around the world will get a behind-the-scenes look at the iconic artist’s creative process in the documentary feature film, “Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You,” from Apple Original Films, premiering Friday, October 23 exclusively on Apple TV+. The feature-length vérité documentary arrives the same day as Springsteen’s new album “Letter To You,” and features full performances from the E Street Band, in-studio footage, never-before-seen archival material, and a deeper look into “Letter To You” from Springsteen himself.

Continuing the Apple Original Films branding, this is a gift to Springsteen fans. I was raised just up highway 9 from Bruce’s old stomping grounds, required viewing for me, looking forward to this.

Trailer embedded in main Loop post.

Remembering Steve Jobs

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[VIDEO] Tim Hardwick, MacRumors:

Nine years ago today, Steve Jobs passed away from pancreatic cancer at the age of 56, one day after Apple executives introduced the iPhone 4s at a media event on the company’s Infinite Loop headquarters campus.

You can send an email to [email protected] to express your appreciation for Steve. The remembrances scroll on Apple’s official Steve Jobs appreciation page.

Here’s a video, embedded in the main Loop post, with lots of Steve. Brings tears to my eyes to think of what we’ve lost.

The amazing photography in Apple TV+ Tiny World

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[VIDEO] I recently bought a macro lens and I’m simply amazed at the worlds it opens up to me. It has also brought me a deeper appreciation of the gorgeous photography in the Apple TV+ series Tiny World, which debuted last Friday.

Watch the “behind the scenes” embedded in the main Loop post. Wonderful work.

Hands-on with watchOS 7 top features

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[VIDEO] Jeff Benjamin with a calm, thoughtful look through watchOS 7’s top features (video embedded in main Loop post). Most of these will work with a Series 4 Apple Watch and beyond.

Even if you’ve lived with watchOS 7 for a while now, I suspect there’s something here for you to learn.

Apple TV+ behind the series: Tehran

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[VIDEO] This is more of an extended trailer than a classic behind-the-scenes, worth watching in any case. Video embedded in main Loop post.

Tehran reminds me very strongly of the Showtime series Homeland, with a strong female lead, constantly in danger, using physical prowess and quick wits to outwit her opponents.

The show is available now, and on my short list.

Hands-on with the top 10 iOS 14 features for iPhone

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[VIDEO] You’ve likely heard of most of the features Jeff Benjamin is showing off, but the devil is in the details here, the subtleties of Jeff’s excellent, calming walkthrough. Video embedded in main Loop post.

Rene Ritchie and John Gruber dish on iOS 14

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[VIDEO] This was informative and a lot of fun. Two of my favorite Apple personalities together on screen.

Video embedded in main Loop post. Enjoy!

A collection of videos from yesterday’s Apple event

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[VIDEO] Here’s a set of videos (embedded in the main Loop post) that made an appearance in yesterday’s event.

My favorite (and it truly is hard to choose) is the second one, with that voiceover who goes everywhere (even outer space) trying to find things the new Apple Watch doesn’t already do.

Apple event video

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[VIDEO] In case you missed it, here’s the video of yesterday’s Apple event, embedded in the main Loop post.

At the very least, jump to about 7:30 in and catch that fly through and the great comic timing of Craig Federighi. What’s that in his hands? An iPad Pro? The new iPad Air? I’m choosing to believe it’s the latter.

Apple TV+ TinyWorld trailer

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Watch the trailer, embedded in the main Loop post. This looks great to me.

Narrated by Paul Rudd, Tiny World drops October 2nd.

Deep fake: All Star by Smashmouth

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[VIDEO] Another sign that deep fakes are becoming easier to create and creeping in on the mainstream.

While some of these lip-fakes are particularly obvious, some blend well into their background.

It’s becoming harder and harder to trust what you see and read. Video embedded in main Loop post.

Another video walkthrough of Apple Marina Bay Sands, this one with a traditional Apple welcome

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[VIDEO] Yesterday, we posted a video walkthrough of Apple Marina Bay Sands.

This one (video embedded in main Loop post) is a bit different, with a traditional clapping Apple welcome, and some beautiful shots of the giant louvered blinds at work.

Can’t help but think how proud Steve would be of the latest and greatest Apple Stores. Bucket list.

Dave Grohl, I’m 10 years old and I challenge you to a drum-off!

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[VIDEO] This is just a great story. It starts with the video embedded in the main Loop post, then takes off from there. For the whole sequence, including all of Dave Grohl’s response videos, follow the headline link.

I love every bit of this.

Side note: That first Dave Grohl video is on Facebook and is what prompted this tweet, a showcase of how Apple/Catalina/Safari is protecting me from Facebook ad tracking.

Steve Jobs lost interview from 1990

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[VIDEO] Worth your time. Some fascinating insights, especially if you think about the evolution in remote work we’re seeing right now. Video embedded in main Loop post.

Opening title that got Apple TV+ an Emmy nomination

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[VIDEO] This is just one of 18 Emmy nods, true, and a minor one at that, but worth a look, especially if you’ve never watched The Morning Show. Video embedded in main Loop post.

That song is Nemesis by Benjamin Clementine. Catchy. Very Apple.

The Emmy Awards are on September 20th, less than two weeks away. 18 nods, and Apple TV+ has been in business about 10 months. Not bad for a newbie.

Apple’s new, uncomfortably spot-on Privacy, Over Sharing ad

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[VIDEO] Some things shouldn’t be shared. iPhone helps keep it that way.

This ad nails that concept. Right to the heart of the value of privacy.

Tagline is: Privacy. That’s iPhone.

With that privacy Apple logo padlock animation at the end that’s become part of Apple’s privacy brand.

Video embedded in main Loop post.

The Graphing Calculator story

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[VIDEO] This is one of my all-time favorite Apple anecdotes. It’s a long listen (video embedded in main Loop post, the audio is the important part), but so worth your time. I’d suggest saving the link, then pop in your AirPods and listen to the whole thing (it’s a bit less than an hour) the next time you exercise or cook or do chores. And you’ve got a weekend coming up.

My favorite part is the bit about the badges. You’ll know it when you get there. Enjoy!

Apple TV+ shares “Tehran” thriller trailer

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[VIDEO] This looks great (video embedded in main Loop post). Surprised it’s a series and not a movie. I can definitely see the short term plot playout, wondering what the long story will be. Cat and mouse all the way?

No matter, I’m in. Starts September 25th.

Home made HomePod stand

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[VIDEO] This is a pretty cool project, something you can do if you have access to a 3D printer. Ideally, I’d add in a jack so you could plug the HomePod into the stand.

Take a look (video embedded in the main Loop post). There’s a bit of handwaving to get from that stud sensor to a spec for the 3D printer. That part seems like magic/impossible, so I’m guessing that the part was hand-designed, the stud sensor was purely for show. Please prove me wrong.

That aside, I kind of like the result. Not too difficult a project.

Side note, I’d love to see an app for the iPad Pro that would make use of LIDAR to actually do this scanning, feed a spec to the 3D printer.

“Long Way Up” Apple TV+ trailer

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[VIDEO] Long Way Up follows Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman as they attempt to make their way from the bottom of South America, by electric motorcycles, all the way up the coast, through South and Central America, up through Mexico and, eventually, landing in Los Angeles.

Watch the trailer, embedded in the main Loop post. This looks interesting.

Long Way Up drops on September 18th.

Apple Marina Bay Sands pre-opening walk-around

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[VIDEO] One of the big questions raised about the new Apple Marina Bay Sands Apple Store was how you got inside. After all, it’s a big sphere, sitting there on the water. And most images of the store just show one side of it, looking impregnable.

Watch the video embedded in the main Loop post and you’ll get a much better sense of things.