[VIDEO] MTV used to be a really big deal. When it first started, it was a real game changer. And here’s the very beginning (video embedded in main Loop post), with that historic countdown and segue into “Video Killed the Radio Star”.
Just like the original Macintosh was a pirate movement against the establishment, this earliest MTV flew its own pirate flag. This first two hours started on August 1, 1981.
Enjoy.
[VIDEO] Obviously not about Epic, but this short clip (under a minute) fits the current situation eerily well. Video embedded in main Loop post.
[VIDEO] This is a great video from Jeff Benjamin, 9to5Mac, all about the nano-textured glass offered as a $500 upgrade to Apple’s 2020 iMac.
Watch the whole video (embedded in the main Loop post), but pay specific attention at about 1:28 in, where you see the direct comparison between regular and nano-textured glass, when it comes to reflection. If that matters to you, at least $500 worth, get the nano-textured glass. And be sure to clean it with the provided cloth.
[VIDEO] This is Donna Summer and Danzig, mashed together so seamlessly. My brain is exploding, but in a good way. Video embedded in main Loop post.
[VIDEO] I find this ad amazing, a sign of how much energy Apple can put into a promo. A wild collision of styles, reminiscent of the early days of MTV. Video embedded in main Loop post.
[VIDEO] 16 million views and counting. Video embedded in main Loop post.
[VIDEO] The movie is called On the Rocks, and is a reunion of sorts, bringing Bill Murray and Sofia Coppola back together. Coppola won the Best Original Screenplay for 2003’s Lost in Translation (one of my favorite movies) with nominations for Coppola as Best Director and Bill Murray as Best Actor.
On the Rocks was once again written and directed by Coppola. Coming to theaters (maybe?) and Apple TV+ in October. The trailer is embedded in the main Loop post.
[VIDEO] The first of these ads (video embedded in main Loop post) highlights Apple TV+ comedies, including Mythic Quest (my favorite Apple TV+ show) and the brand new Ted Lasso (will watch this week, talk about with Jim on this week’s Dalrymple Report).
The second ad is more of the same, but without the comedy focus.
It’s amazing how rich the list of available shows is, especially when you consider that this all started with Apple Music’s Planet of the Apps, and that the service is less than 10 months old.
[VIDEO] First things first, credit where credit is due, I lifted this straight from this Daring Fireball post.
That said, this video (embedded in main Loop post) really is remarkable. I love this format, lets you see the meticulous shot recreation. For example, about 40 seconds in, watch how well Lydia matches the footfalls of the original. Exquisite.
And if you’ve never seen the original, carve out some time this weekend to watch. It is currently streaming on HBO Max.
Nice find, Gruber.
[VIDEO] This Apple IIe product video is a real slice of history. The whole thing is worth watching, but the highlight is at 3:23, Steve Jobs as you’ve likely never seen him before.
Nice find from Justin Miller. Video embedded in main Loop post.
[VIDEO] Microsoft’s Windows blog:
Today, as we look ahead to the next wave of mobile productivity and creativity, we see that same opportunity to create something new with Surface Duo – not to reinvent the phone, but to inspire people to rethink how they want to use the device in their pocket.
I’m intrigued. I like the form factor, though it is about 20% wider than the iPhone 11 Pro Max, so it stretches the concept of a pocketable device. The Surface Duo is 93.3mm wide (3.67″) and the iPhone 11 Pro Max is 77.8mm wide (3.06″)
Not sure why, but this design appeals to me much more than the Samsung Galaxy Fold, feels more stable somehow, the design somehow sleeker.
To see this for yourself, check out the video embedded in the main Loop post. Will Apple follow one of these paths to create an iPhone/iPad hybrid? If so, will it be a true foldable? A hinged device like the new Surface Duo? Or something entirely new?
[VIDEO] As I mentioned yesterday, today is Woz’s 70th birthday. Follow the headline link for the details on tonight’s live event.
In the meantime, check out this official birthday song (video embedded in main Loop post) written by “song a day” songwriter extraordinaire Jonathan Mann. Excellent video.
Happy Birthday, Woz!
Almost every single building surrounding the harbor is gone.
And don’t miss the slide bar in the middle of the page. Slid all the way to the left. Astonishing. Terrible.
[VIDEO] First things first, from Damien Chazelle’s Wikipedia page:
Damien Sayre Chazelle (born January 19, 1985) is a French-American film director, producer, and screenwriter.[3] He is best known for his films Whiplash (2014), La La Land (2016), and First Man (2018). For La La Land, he received several accolades, including the Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Director; making him the youngest person to win either award at age 32.
I’d love to hear the backstory on how Apple brought Chazelle to this project. No matter, fire this up on your iPhone, it’s a great experience. Can’t help but wonder if we’ll someday see a director’s cut of a movie designed for your phone. An excellent experiment.
The movie is embedded in the main Loop. And embedded just below the movie is a behind-the-scenes, Chazelle talking about the project and shooting vertically.
[VIDEO] This is a pretty solid walkthrough of how 5G will come to iPhone users (video embedded in main Loop post). Especially useful is the explainer on the differences between FR2 (the super high speed branch of 5G) and FR1 (the flavor that will roll out to the vast majority of users, those not in spitting distance of the 5G towers).
Lots of lingo, but worth your time. 5G is coming.
[VIDEO] This video, embedded in the main Loop post, is a great summary of Tim Cook’s appearance at yesterday’s congressional antitrust hearing. It combines his opening remarks, plus some back and forth with questioners.
Deadline:
When Apple TV+ hit The Morning Show had its Season 2 production stopped by COVID-19, no one rested on their laurels. According to Emmy nominee Mark Duplass, who played beleaguered producer Chip Black, the show is in rewrites to reflect the current global situation—something they also did in Season 1 as a response to #MeToo.
Follow the headline link to read the short interview with Duplass.
Some shows have returned to very cautious production, but most are taking the approach of The Morning Show and using this time for rewrites. I suspect when Hollywood does get the all clear to return to full scale production, we’re going to see a boom in creativity, some informed by the learning that comes along with all the remote collaboration, and some based simply on the massive amount of uninterrupted writing time.
Found this on Twitter this morning. Astonishing.
From Steven Soderbergh’s writeup:
I want you to watch this movie and think only about staging, how the shots are built and laid out, what the rules of movement are, what the cutting patterns are. See if you can reproduce the thought process that resulted in these choices by asking yourself: why was each shot—whether short or long—held for that exact length of time and placed in that order?
And:
I’ve removed all sound and color from the film, apart from a score designed to aid you in your quest to just study the visual staging aspect. Wait, WHAT? HOW COULD YOU DO THIS? Well, I’m not saying I’m like, ALLOWED to do this, I’m just saying this is what I do when I try to learn about staging, and this filmmaker forgot more about staging by the time he made his first feature than I know to this day.
Follow the link, watch the movie. That soundtrack is “In Mootion” by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Fascinating how beautiful this film is, even with the loss of color, dialog, and that amazing score.
Was this used by permission? And, if not, how has it escaped a takedown all these years?
Apple:
Apple TV+ and Oprah Winfrey today announced “The Oprah Conversation,” a new series that will continue to explore impactful and relevant topics with fascinating thought leaders from all over the world. “The Oprah Conversation” will debut on Apple TV+ on Thursday, July 30.
And:
Filmed remotely and incorporating audience engagement, Oprah will lead timely and intimate discussions with today’s foremost newsmakers, thought leaders, and masters of their craft.
“Incorporating audience engagement.” — I wonder what that means.
First, there’s the question of audience. Surely this can’t be a typical, filmed before a studio audience thing.
And what will the engagement consist of? Will the audience be online, and have the ability to ask questions, a la Inside the Actors Studio?
I’m intrigued.
[VIDEO] Put in the time and you can learn just about anything. You can learn how to program, learn how to play soccer, learn a new language, learn how to play a musical instrument.
And in COVID times, we’ve got the rare opportunity to lock in, get that focused practice and learning time every single day, no excuses.
This video (embedded in the main Loop post) shows the power of dedication. Skip through it, if you like, or watch the slow evolution. Congratulation, Rachel. You have accomplished something amazing.
[VIDEO] There was a discussion flying around Twitter yesterday about the term Jiggle Mode and when it was introduced. Someone on Reddit showed up with this video (embedded in main Loop post), where Steve Jobs is introducing the concept of folders in iOS 4.2.
Jump to about 18:32 for the Jiggle Mode mention.
Interesting also is the introduction of the ill-fated Ping. And the unusual “One More Thing…” at about 50:23.
UPDATE: Steve does introduce jiggling in this keynote (about 16:35 in), though he doesn’t (as far as I can tell) use the term Jiggle Mode.
[VIDEO] This group has recreated a number of official macOS wallpapers over the years, using a drone. This year, with Big Sur, a drone wouldn’t quite cut it.
A little bit of the story, in their own words:
My friends and I had one choice, we had to get a helicopter to fly us over Big Sur. After talking to an aerial photographer, we got connected with a pilot, who funny enough was the same pilot that helped Apple take the photo (shoutout Chris from Specialized Helicopters — he was amazing!!)
The problem was Apple’s photo was taken in the winter. And since it’s summer, that means that the sun will rise differently and at a different time. Moreover, June is known for coastal fog, so it was up to chance whether or not we would get a clear day.
The video (embedded in the main Loop post) does a great job telling the story, with a live shot of them actually watching Craig Federighi do the big reveal.
[VIDEO] Nothing particularly newsworthy here, I just love the look of this video. In part, I’m sure, because we’ve got a bunch of anime/manga fans in the house.
Take a look. Video embedded in main Loop post.
[VIDEO] Apple wrapped up today’s slew of climate change, carbon neutral pursuit news with a beautiful little branding video (embedded in the main Loop post).
Just the right pitch. For the children.
[VIDEO] Two videos (embedded in main Loop post) pulled together by YouTube user Pomamitia (via iDownloadBlog).
Are the Big Sur sounds improvements? Makes me wonder what drove these replacements.
[VIDEO] Apple posted these two videos (embedded in main Loop post) over the weekend, both highlighting the artistic possibilities of the Mac.
The first shows off photographer Tyler Mitchell:
“What can I do with the sweaters I’ve worn on my back.” Tyler Mitchell takes us to his place in Bed-Stuy, as he works on a new portrait series using only elements from his own bedroom. Remote cameras were set up in the fashion photographer’s apartment, capturing his creative process as he shot and edited the series over a 24 hour period. Digging through references, compiling a mood board, capturing the images, scanning them into his MacBook, and editing the selects in Photoshop. Putting the final touches on the portraits just before midnight.
Fascinating to watch the process unfold, all taking place in an apartment with some amazing light, and right off the train tracks. I spent my youngest years living in Queens, right around the corner from the el. Those trains really struck a chord. Beautiful video.
And next up is musician James Blake, putting his MacBook and Logic Pro X through their paces:
“It feels like a dream that I’m sort of walking through and I’m able to affect what happens in it.” James Blake lets us inside his brain as he writes the new song “ASK FOR MORE.” Remote cameras were set up in the GRAMMY® Award winner’s home studio, capturing his entire creative process as he worked on writing, recording and editing the song over a 24 hour period. From time spent crafting a melody at his piano, to looping and pitching the melody and adding layers, instruments and vocals in Logic Pro X on his MacBook, to editing it into a finished song. Completing the track just after 1am.
Enjoy!
[VIDEO] The fun starts about 45 seconds in. Obviously, this is edited, not a real-time screen recording, but the conceit is really well done. Full screen. Video embedded in main Loop post.
[VIDEO] This is just a great watch, Rene Ritchie presents a master class on Apple’s history with Arm and what it means today. If you have any interest in the Mac’s path to Apple silicon, this is incredibly informative and not too jargony. Video embedded in main Loop post.
[VIDEO] Terrific take on the iOS 14 beta, bike elevation data, and the benefits that came to wheelchair users. I’m hoping the Apple Maps and Accessibility team gets a look at this video (video embedded in main Loop post), both for the bravo moment, as well as for the suggestions made for future releases.
[VIDEO] This bit of video (embedded in the main Loop post) surfaced on Reddit this morning. In it, Steve Jobs, Tim Cook, and Phil Schiller took some questions about Apple’s adoption of Intel chips.
Fascinating to see younger versions of Tim and Phil, and always great to see Steve Jobs in action, this time in an ad hoc forum.