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You’re the fact checker now

Even if we didn’t find ourselves in these challenging times for accuracy in the media, this is still good advice.

Daylite: Get organized. Get more done. [Sponsor]

Want to make 2017 the year you get organized and more productive? Get more done with Daylite, the business productivity app for Mac, iPhone & iPad.

Daylite organizes you and your team’s contacts, tasks, calendars, emails, notes, projects, and new business opportunities – in one app.

Small businesses that use Daylite feel more organized, save time, and accomplish more. Remember every detail about a client. Track projects and sales. Share tasks. Search for anything.

Daylite also supports Multitasking on iPad so you can work in Daylite and another app at the same time.

Try Daylite free for 30 days!

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It’s official, Apple joins the partnership for AI

Apple has joined the Partnership on AI as a founding member. The company has been involved and collaborating with the Partnership since before it was first announced and is thrilled to formalize its membership alongside Amazon, Facebook, Google/DeepMind, IBM, and Microsoft.

Now Anyone Can Create Interactive Native iOS and HTML Content with Ingage

Thanks to Ingage for sponsoring The Loop this week.

A new iPad app called Ingage hit the App Store this week that lets anyone easily create and share interactive presentations, portfolios, real estate listings, product catalogs and more, without needing a designer or developer.

Simply drag and drop photos and videos into Ingage’s interactive page templates to bring your content to life. Videos become touchable product 360s, virtual walkthroughs or time lapse demonstrations. Images are layered with pop-up hotspots or scrubbable before and afters.

While you build on an iPad, the software automatically creates a responsive HTML webpage of your interactive presentation that can be viewed by anyone, on any device. Sharing is done with just a tap with an instantly formatted text message, email or social media post. Any changes to your content are instantly reflected anywhere it’s been shared.

The app is free to download from the App Store, where you can currently find it featured on the homepage under “New Apps We Love.”

Click here to download Ingage.

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A deep dive into HandBrake and Video Transcoding

A friend of mine used to be the “encoding Guy” at Apple back in the early days of the iTunes store. He described encoding as “a Black Art. You don’t have to kill a goat at midnight under a full moon to get it right but it helps”. Griffiths does a good job at explaining what happens when you encode, why it happens and what to expect, quality and file size wise.

HR 8799 star with four exoplanets

With all the political insanity going on, I really appreciate these kinds of stories that take me out of the day to day crap we’re going through. The images of theses planets circling HR 8799 is increadible.

Parking difficulty indicator in Google Maps

Factoring in time for parking can make or break a night out, let alone making it to that big meeting on time. So in 25 metro areas throughout the U.S., we’ve introduced a new parking difficulty icon in Google Maps for Android that’ll give you a heads up on what kind of parking crunch to prepare for when you’re on the go.

That’s helpful.

Apple’s Swift ranks No. 2 in Upwork’s Q4 2016 Skills Index

Upwork, the world’s largest freelancing website, today released its latest quarterly index of the hottest skills in the U.S. freelance job market. The Upwork Skills Index ranks the marketplace’s 20 fastest-growing skills being hired for among freelancers — now 35 percent of the U.S. workforce.

The 20 fastest-growing freelance skills in Q4 2016 all experienced more than 100 percent year-over-year growth with the top 10 experiencing more than 200 percent year-over-year growth.

New Ingage App Makes iPads Valuable for Business [Sponsor]

A new app for the iPad just launched that allows anyone to easily create and share interactive presentations, portfolios, real estate listings, product catalogs and more, without needing a designer or developer. It was built by digital publishing pioneer Scrollmotion to help anyone create a stronger connection with customers by using content that really stands out.

Simply drag and drop photos and videos into Ingage’s interactive page templates to bring your content to life. It’s really that easy to create a touchable video called a “scrollmotion,” or use two pictures to create an awesome before-and-after effect with a slider.

When you want to share your presentation with the world, you can do so via text message, email or social media. Ingage automatically creates a responsive HTML webpage of your interactive presentation that can be viewed by anyone, on any device. And when you need to update your presentation, it automatically pushes everywhere it’s being shared. Your content is always up-to-date.

Download the app for free to try it out.

Introducing Ingage from ScrollMotion on Vimeo.

Dropcam co-founder joins Apple

An Apple spokesperson confirmed that Duffy has been hired by Apple, but didn’t share details on his role at the company.

As I said before: people come, people go.

Apple partners with NV Energy for solar energy in Nevada

NV Energy and Apple announced today they have reached an agreement to build 200 megawatts of additional solar energy in Nevada by early 2019. The projects will support Apple’s renewable energy needs for its Reno data center.

We always talk about Apple products, but the company’s commitment to renewable resources is commendable.

Les Paul or Stratocaster?

It’s an age old question for guitarists. My answer is that it depends on what sound you’re looking for, and what feels good in your hands.

7 new Charvel Custom Shop guitars

The Charvel Custom Shop unveiled some magnificent beauties during the 2017 NAMM Show in Anaheim, Calif. Here’s a look at 7 by Master Builder “Red” Dave Nichols.

Charvel to me is one of the most classic metal guitars ever made. I would love to have the first one on the list.

Apple sues Qualcomm in Beijing

Apple Inc filed a lawsuit against Qualcomm Inc in Beijing, alleging the chip supplier abused its clout in the chip industry and seeking 1 billion yuan ($145.32 million) in damages, Beijing’s Intellectual Property Court said in a statement on Wednesday.

Apple also filed a second lawsuit against Qualcomm which accused it of failing to live up to promises made to license “standard essential patents” broadly and inexpensively.

Apple isn’t messing around with Qualcomm.

Pixelmator for iOS: 80% off at only $0.99

I love Pixelmator and this is such a great deal, I tried buying it before I realized I already own it. No word on when this deal is up so grab it while you can.

Apple explains the new App Reviews API for developers

With the release of macOS Sierra and iOS betas on Tuesday, Apple also released a new tool for developers, allowing them to respond to reviews on the Mac and iOS App Stores. But the API goes deeper than just giving developers a process to respond to reviews, it also makes it easier for customers to leave reviews, Apple told me this morning when we talked about the new feature.

Oscar nominations 2017: the complete list

I know all the arguments (many of them valid) against the Oscars but I still like the pomp and circumstance of the show and the discussions about the movies.

U.S. trade commission to probe Nokia complaint against Apple

The U.S. International Trade Commission said on Tuesday it will investigate a complaint by Nokia Technologies alleging that Apple Inc has imported smart phones, tablet computers and other electronics that infringe upon its patents.

It’s important to note that they haven’t even made a decision on the merits of the case yet.