Media

The size of space

Written by

This is a pretty cool web site. If you are on a computer, use the arrow keys to navigate, else swipe left to move along.

This reminds me of the Eames Lounge Chair. Why? The iconic chair was but one of the amazing projects created by Charles and Ray Eames. They also created the film Powers of Ten, which is remarkably similar to the headline-linked web site.

You can watch the movie here. I saw this film when I was a kid, and it changed my way of thinking about things, gave me a sense of perspective, of scale.

Phil Schiller, one-on-one for the new 16″ MacBook Pro

Written by

[VIDEO] It’s not quite the same as Phil on stage, heard live around the world but, for me, this is the next best thing.

Jonathan Morrison, one-on-one with Phil Schiller, talking about the newest shiny. Video embedded in main Loop post.

Rene Ritchie: 16″ MacBook Pro video review

Written by

[VIDEO] As you’d expect, there’s been a huge wave of reviews of the new 16″ MacBook Pro, including these write-ups from John Gruber and Marco Arment (I do prefer Marco’s tweet headline), both worth reading.

But don’t miss Rene Ritchie’s video take on the new MacBook Pro (video embedded in main Loop post). As you’d expect from Rene, it’s chock full of detail and, best of all (at least to me), lots of side-by-side shots of the old and the new, so you can really see the difference, at least the surface difference, between the two machines.

And one detail that struck me was the 100W battery being the largest battery you are allowed to take on a plane, at least without special permission. Sounds like we’re at peak battery.

Disney+, Apple TV, and the glory that is The Mandalorian

Written by

Disney+ had a rough day yesterday. Lots of technical glitches, completely broken and inconsistent search, made a terrible first impression.

But things did get better. By nightfall, Disney did tame their gremlins and the overall experience was smooth as glass. Solid recovery. This morning, every technical complaint I had was addressed.

As to the integration with Apple’s TV app, depends on where you view it.

On my iOS device or on Apple TV, I did have to jump through a small hoop of connecting Disney+ to Apple TV and logging in to Disney+. On Apple TV, the login allowed me to launch the Disney+ app on my iPhone, tap Allow, and I was in. Easy peasy.

And once I started watching shows, they immediately appeared on the TV app’s Up Next list. Not quite as good as Disney+ or Netflix being native to the TV app, but definitely the next best thing.

As to the Mac experience, the chasm between the TV app and the browser Disney+ experience is pretty wide. Want to watch Frozen in the Mac’s TV app? You’ll need to rent it. Oddly, the TV app seems to pick up on the trending of all the Disney+ movies and shows, but click on them and you get the normal rent option. If I’m missing some way to connect Disney+ to TV on the Mac, please ping me so I can update this info.

As to Disney+ content, there certainly is a lot to love if you are into either Disney, Marvel, Pixar, or Star Wars. Those are the major tentpoles. As is, Apple TV+ definitely comes up short, with its relatively small catalog. That said, Apple TV+ already feels fresher to me, less dependent on nostalgia.

With one notable exception: The glory that is The Mandalorian. Wow do I love that show.

To me, The Mandalorian is like seeing Star Wars through fresh eyes. Beautifully shot, stunning really. Terrific writing, with the comic moments that really warmed me to the original Star Wars trilogy. As I’ve said before, if you have the slightest Star Wars bone in your body, you’ll love The Mandalorian.

Some rock with electric drill, guitar, and oven door

Written by

[VIDEO] This is from a few years ago, but it made its way around the internet over the weekend, thought you’d enjoy. The video is embedded in the main Loop post. I love the timing of all of this, especially that end cut. Well done.

[H/T Storm Garelli]

Apple shares featurette: Creating the world of SEE

Written by

[VIDEO] Of the major new Apple TV+ releases, I saved SEE for last. I wanted the context of the other shows, a sense of the quality level, the production values, before I dove into the world of SEE.

SEE is incredibly immersive. No Apple product placement, no stressors of modern life. Watch the featurette (embedded in the main Loop post) to get a sense of how this world, supposedly built by a people who have gone blind, was created. Very interesting.

Anyone know why the title is all caps? “SEE”, vs. “See”?

Apple shares trailer for Apple TV+ film “Hala”

Written by

[VIDEO] Apple:

Seventeen-year-old Pakistani American teenager Hala (Geraldine Viswanathan) struggles to balance desire with her familial, cultural and religious obligations. As she comes into her own, she grapples with a secret that threatens to unravel her family. Written and directed by Minhal Baig and executive produced by Jada Pinkett Smith, ”Hala” was an official selection of the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.

The film looks beautifully shot, the trailer (embedded in main Loop post) lays out the framework of a coming of age story, cultural conflict. The key will be in the resolution. This hits Apple TV+ on December 6th. Will watch.

Apple’s Halloween Messages support message

Written by

[VIDEO] The content is useful, if not already well known. But the tone of this video (embedded in main Loop post) is just spot on and, in my opinion, worth watching all the way to the end. Great music, great voiceover.

Apple posts two more Apple TV+ clips, big day is tomorrow

Written by

[VIDEO] Both videos are embedded in the main Loop post. The first one, from the show Servant, is just a mood snippet, very short.

The second is an introduction to the world and characters of See. What I find most intriguing about See is that they are building a world, just as they built a world for Game of Thrones. I’m more inclined to forgive sloppy writing or plot point holes in the early days if the world being built is immersive enough.

Tomorrow is the big day.

First take on AirPods Pro in the wild

Written by

[VIDEO] MKBHD unboxes his brand new AirPods Pro, offers up his impressions after one day of use. Video embedded in main Loop post.

Apple shares new Privacy on iPhone ad

Written by

[VIDEO] I love this ad. Beautifully filmed, with no mention of Apple or iPhone until the close.

The message is powerfully crafted and presented. Well done. Watch it. Embedded in main Loop post.

All the Apple Support videos

Written by

You know those videos that Apple posts showing “How to share your ETA in Maps”, or “How to use your iPad as a second display with Sidecar”?

Apple has a searchable YouTube channel with all of these videos. So if you come across one in, say, a Twitter ad, and want to share it, follow the headline link and track it down.

The channel goes back about a year.

Selena Gomez shoots new music video entirely on iPhone 11 Pro

Written by

[VIDEO] Sure, this is great marketing, a win-win for Apple and Selena Gomez, but it also stands on its own. Yet another example of how far Apple’s iPhone camera efforts have come (video embedded in main Loop post).

Filming a movie, or a review, or an ad on an iPhone is no longer a compromise. It’s a cost effective solution.

Apple TV+ drops new Dickinson trailer

Written by

[VIDEO] This dropped last week, but I somehow missed it in all my posting windows, thought it was worth sharing. The video is embedded in the main Loop post.

Of all the new Apple TV+ shows, this one is the most puzzling to me, yet intriguing nonetheless. It’s easy to imagine the pitch meetings for all the other Apple TV+ shows I’ve encountered. This one is different.

It’s a show about a poet. A period piece. And it’s a comedy.

Here’s the premise from the Wikipedia page:

Dickinson takes place “during Emily Dickinson’s era with a modern sensibility and tone. It takes viewers into the world of Emily, audaciously exploring the constraints of society, gender, and family from the perspective of a budding writer who doesn’t fit in to her own time through her imaginative point of view. Dickinson is Emily’s coming-of-age story – one woman’s fight to get her voice heard.”

I am very much looking forward to watching this.

Burning a CD with your Apple Watch

Written by

[VIDEO] You are not misreading that headline. The video (embedded in the main Loop post) is another in Niles Mitchell’s excellent “Will it Work” series, where he attaches random gear to his iPhone.

In this one, Niles uses his Apple Watch to try to burn a CD. Will it work?

MIT Media Lab’s Guitar Machine, mixing AI and robots with an electric guitar

Written by

[VIDEO] From MIT, a fascinating device that puts artificial intelligence in the hands of any guitarist.

To get a sense of what this is about, watch the two videos embedded in the main Loop post. The first gives you a sense of the mechanics of MIT’s Guitar Machine, and the second puts Guitar Machine in the hands of some traditional guitarists.

Read the linked article for more detail on how all this works. I would absolutely love to play with one of these.

Apple drops “Rayman Mini” Apple Arcade trailer

Written by

[VIDEO] Apple Arcade continues to kill it. The free trials are starting to end. Wondering how many of those early Apple Arcade adopters are going to stick with it. Not sure how we’ll know. The trailer is embedded in the main Loop post.

Everything coming to Disney+, from Snow White to The Mandalorian

Written by

[VIDEO] Got some time? Cause this official video (embedded in main Loop post) from Disney weighs in at about 3 hours, 17 minutes.

Not sure they ever expected anyone to watch it, as much as they wanted to make a point about their back catalog. They’ve also been tweeting every single title in a seemingly never ending stream of tweets from their official Disney+ Twitter account.

Of all the up-and-coming streaming services, Disney+ seems the biggest no-brainer, the most bang for the buck, especially if you grew up with the Disney Channel.

Steve Jobs, internal Apple meeting, introducing Think Different campaign

Written by

[VIDEO] This was posted back in 2017, was filmed just a few weeks into Steve’s return to Apple back in 1997.

It reentered the conversation again because of comments about Apple’s core values Steve made at about 6:17 in.

The reemergence came, at least in part, due to Steve’s statement about core values and a perceived disconnect with Apple’s decisions on banning the HKLive app.

I found the whole video riveting. It’s 15 minutes long. If you’ve got a taste for Apple’s history, worth watching the whole thing. The video is embedded in the main Loop post.

Apple drops “Truth Be Told” trailer

Written by

[VIDEO] Pretty impressive cast, including Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer and Emmy winner Aaron Paul. I’ll definitely check this one out. Truth be Told comes to Apple TV+ on December 6th. Video embedded in main Loop post.

[VIDEO] Hands on with macOS Catalina

Written by

[VIDEO] Jeff Benjamin walks you through all the big changes that come with macOS Catalina. Excellent work.

If you’re impatient, the content starts at :57 in. And if you don’t care about Catalyst, jump to 2:40 and start right off with Sidecar. Video embedded in main Loop post.

Apple posts Oceanhorn 2 Apple Arcade trailer

Written by

[VIDEO] This is a surprisingly long trailer (embedded in main Loop post), filled with detail. I can guess why Apple did this.

Some (if not most) Apple Arcade games have relatively simple stories to tell. Frogger is a well known game mechanic. Stay alive, pick up stuff. Gorgeous, but relatively simple.

Same with many other Apple Arcade games. Oceanhorn 2 is a much bigger game, with more game mechanics to master and a much larger story to tell. It’s beautifully built, well balanced, and a lot of fun. The trailer does it justice.

On my short list of best Apple Arcade games.

Apple shares another M. Night Shyamalan “Servant” clip

Written by

[VIDEO] This is just so creepy. Here’s hoping it’s sublime. Apple TV+ drops November 1, Servant release is currently set for November 28. Very much looking forward to this.

If you haven’t seen the first two Servant clips, here are links to Jericho and Cricket.

This clip, embedded in the main Loop post) is called Solitude.