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This is a great idea. I love Pandora’s service—whenever I play a station, I get hit after hit after hit. Brilliant service.

This is a very cool idea. I’m not sure how I feel about having it stuck to the fretboard or what residue might be left over, but this would allow you to make some cool sounds.

Taylor Swift:

Taylor Swift is giving her fans on Apple Music a special surprise this holiday, The 1989 World Tour LIVE. The 1989 World Tour LIVE was filmed in front of 76,000 fans at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Australia on November 28, 2015. The 1989 World Tour LIVE captures Taylor’s entire performance from Sydney with never seen footage filmed backstage and during rehearsals with surprise musical and special guests that appeared on The 1989 World Tour.

Beginning Sunday, December 20, The 1989 World Tour LIVE will be available in its entirety exclusively to Apple Music members around the world

I expect this to be the first of many such exclusives. Apple has a lot of clout and can make these kinds of deals very lucrative for artists.

C450 AMG posted an internal document from Mercedes detailing which models would feature Apple’s CarPlay technology for 2016. I’m a big Mercedes fan and can’t wait to try CarPlay at some point.

I’m not a big case user, but I do use a battery case, especially when I’m on the road. The need for battery far outweighs any other consideration when I’m away from home and Apple’s new Smart Battery Case fits that requirement. […]

Thanks to Marketcircle for sponsoring The Loop this week. Marketcircle has been developing Mac apps since 1999 that help small businesses do big things. Newly released is Daylite 6 with Cloud – manage your contacts, projects, to-dos, and schedule all in one app. Get the best of both worlds, a native app with the convenience of the cloud. Try it now on your Mac, iPhone & iPad, for yourself or with your team and take advantage of these great new features.

TidBITS:

I haven’t been able to determine why it’s happening, or if there’s anything to be done about it, and it’s certainly only a minor irritation. I’m technically proficient and relaxed about errors that don’t cause data loss, but I am concerned that inexplicable behavior like this could start to undermine an inexperienced user’s trust in iOS as a predictable, reliable system — Touch ID is in essence lying to the user through this error message. Technically there’s no real damage here, but psychologically, it’s a bad thing — it’s important for interfaces to communicate clearly, accurately, and reliably to build user trust.

I’ve been dealing with the same (minor) issues as Adam has for just as long. It seems to be very common. There’s no real concern (these issues aren’t deal breakers) but they certainly are annoying and frustrating when they occur for no apparent reason and have no apparent solution.

This week, Merlin and Jim talk haircuts, computer peripherals, and weird bands. Also, Merlin shares his obsession with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs song “Maps”.

Links:

• Accidental Tech Podcast: 146: Control + Money + Smallness
• Track Apple refurb deals with up to 40% discount | RefurbMe us
• Maps (Yeah Yeah Yeahs song) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps – YouTube
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Maps” [Acoustic][Sessions@AOL] – YouTube
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Maps” (iTunes Originals version)
• Ted Leo – Since U Been Gone / Maps – YouTube
• Conflict Catcher – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• Dream Theater – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• david lee roth running with the devil (vocals only) 1978 – YouTube
• Readdle
• Scott Weiland – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Walmart Pay’s QR code-based checkout process will involve opening the Walmart app, selecting Walmart Pay, activating the camera, scanning the code displayed at the register and waiting for the cashier to finish bagging your items. An electronic receipt will automatically be sent to the Walmart app.

Yeah, that’ll work.

Some great tips here from Brett Terpstra.

Mashable:

Apple’s first ever battery iPhone case has generated a range of reactions and emotions. Some people simply can’t get over the hump.

I caught up with Apple CEO Tim Cook, who was in town to participate in an Hour of Code event, to take his temperature on the $99 iPhone 6 and 6s case, with the noticeable battery pack hump on its back. We asked Cook if he is excited about the hump.

“You know, I probably wouldn’t call it ‘the hump,’” said Cook, who added he was aware of the comments surrounding the Smart Battery Case.

I find the Sturm und Drang over this case to be fascinating. I have no opinion about the design until I’ve seen it for myself but the amount of electronic ink spilled over this on both sides speaks to many things, not the least of which is Apple is under intense focus no matter what they do.

9to5Mac:

Apple Watch is at the top of many holiday wish lists this year and luckily for gift shoppers it’s received numerous discounts since Black Friday. In fact, Target and B&H are both offering significant Apple Watch promotions right now.

This morning Best Buy jumped into the fray with the best straight up Apple Watch deal we’ve ever seen: $100 off any Apple Watch Sport or Apple Watch model. More than 20 different watch configurations are eligible for this discount.

This looks to be the sweet spot for Apple Watch pricing. It’s also interesting that these deals are coming from the stores and not Apple. Will the lower price encourage you to buy an Apple Watch this holiday season?

As Apple Watch enters the critical holiday shopping season, it looks likely to get a sales boost from happy customers, almost two-thirds of whom are planning to give one as a gift, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed on Tuesday.

I’m not surprised. Apple Watch has changed my life and I’m sure other people are seeing the same thing.

Les Moonves, CEO of CBS, says that the company was in talks with Apple to be included in its still forthcoming cable-killing TV-subscription service — but that Apple has placed development of that service on hold.

I’m not sure what caused the company to put this hold. Perhaps they are making their services better before launching something so important. Whatever the reason, I’m really looking forward to it.

BGR:

One of the more interesting aspects of Apple’s legal battle with Samsung is that it gave us an unprecedented look behind the veil of secrecy that typically shrouds all aspects of Apple’s product development and day-to-day operations. Over the course of discovery, innumerable court filings, and a fascinating trial, the inner workings of Apple were brought to the forefront for the first time in history. From photographs of iPhone prototypes to how Apple conducts market research, Apple’s legal battles with Samsung provided tech enthusiasts with a treasure trove of previously top-secret information.

With Samsung now agreeing to pony up for damages, we thought it’d be a good time to take a step back, reminisce, and take a look at some of the more interesting nuggets of information the hard-fought patent dispute brought to light.

The downside to lawsuits is this kind of insider info can often be gleaned from court filings. Apple has to give up some of its secrets in order to go to court. I’ll be the first to admit I love this kind of stuff, especially about prototypes. To me, they are fascinating glimpses into “alternative Apple universes” and things that might have been.

I’ve been on a tear lately about Apple Music and how it doesn’t work properly. I know there are a lot of people that are very happy with the service, and I’m really happy for those people. However, there are … Continued

Medium:

This fall’s release of the new Anki Overdrive set feels a bit like the moment when James Bond’s quartermaster Q rolls out a go-go-gadget Aston Martin DB5 and says, with smug understatement, “I’ve added one or two rather special accessories…” The upgraded set, with reconfigurable tracks, might not look so different from the previous Anki Drive, or, for that matter, the Christmas present Elvis unwrapped in 1965. Inside the box, it’s still a set of little toy cars.

The innovation isn’t immediately obvious. Though the bluetooth relays that control the cars and the sophisticated infrared sensors that keep them on track are ingenious, the real action isn’t under the cars’ hoods, either: The genius is in the code. Like Tesla and Google’s self-driving car, Anki’s real leap forward is its software.

I was an early adopter of the original Anki Overdrive and really enjoyed it but ultimately returned it. But I still think it’s a very cool race car set if you have kids who are into them.

Go to Settings > General > Software Update to download the update. Apple says there are improvements to News app, Mail Drop for Mail and improvements to Apple Music.

It’s hard not to improve Apple Music considering how much of a piece of shit it is.

Apple released a new update for Apple Watch this morning. Go to the Watch app on your iPhone > General > Software Update to download and install the update.

Marketcircle has been developing Mac apps since 1999 that help small businesses do big things. Newly released is Daylite 6 with Cloud – manage your contacts, projects, to-dos, and schedule all in one app. Get the best of both worlds, a native app with the convenience of the cloud. Try it now on your Mac, iPhone & iPad, for yourself or with your team and take advantage of these great new features.

Dropbox:

We’re committed to making the transitions from these products as painless as possible. We’ve posted more information on the Carousel blog and the Mailbox blog, and we’ll be communicating details directly to users of both apps in the coming days. Mailbox will be shut down on February 26th, 2016, and Carousel will be shut down on March 31st, 2016.

To our Carousel and Mailbox users, thank you for embracing these products—and we’re sorry. It’s not easy to say goodbye to products we all love. But ultimately, we think this increased focus will help us create even better experiences for you in the months and years to come.

I never used either product in part because of this. I’ve been around long enough to see dozens, if not hundreds, of services come and go. I rarely rely on new services (but I often test them out) simply because, to paraphrase Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, “Products come and go so quickly around here.” I may be too old and jaded but I think my time is too valuable to constantly be flitting from one new service to another, only to have the owner shut it down, sometimes with very little advance notice.

Calgary Sun:

Jordy Stallard brought down the bears.

Calgary Hitmen fans had to be patient, holding their bears until the 2:41 mark of the second period when Stallard triggered the avalanche of stuffed animals at the 21st annual Petro-Canada Teddy Bear Toss on Sunday afternoon at the Saddledome.

I think I write about this story every year. I do it because it seems like fun event for a good cause and the video is always wonderful.

Star Wars is a virus.

io9:

For one year, Mork and Mindy was arguably the most successful science fiction TV show ever made. The comedy about an alien and his human best friend turned Robin Williams into a global sensation. How did this miracle happen, and why didn’t it last? To find out, I talked to the people who made the show.

I don’t think I can name another TV show from my youth that was more of a must-see than Mork and Mindy. To this kid, the show was funny and different and Robin Williams was a force of nature, even within the confines of a situation comedy. Plus, I had a huge crush on Pam Dawber.

This week, the boys cover reading, writing, and Don Henley.

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Links:

• The Hold Steady – “Stuck Between Stations” – YouTube
• The Hold Steady – Boys and Girls in America
• The Hold Steady – Almost Killed Me (2004)
• The Hold Steady – “Most People Are DJs”
• The Hold Steady – “Your Little Hoodrat Friend” – YouTube
• The Hold Steady – Most People are DJs – YouTube
• They Might Be Giants – How Can I Sing Like a Girl – YouTube
• King Crimson – Three of a Perfect Pair -live-(1984) – YouTube
• Alive II – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• Articles by Philip Michaels | Macworld
• Philip Michaels | Twitter
• The Great Shark Hunt: Strange Tales from a Strange Time: Hunter S. Thompson: 9780743250450: Amazon.com: Books
• Amazon.com: On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction (9780060891541): William Zinsser: Books
• On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft: Stephen King: 9781439156810: Amazon.com: Books
• Refurbished and Clearance iPod, iPad & Mac Products – Apple
• this is how you remind me of someday – YouTube
• The Last Resort (Eagles song) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• 20 Feet From Stardom
• History of the Eagles – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks to Igloo Software for sponsoring The Loop this week.

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.

I’d set the tree on fire to cook this up.

The first-ever character-branded PANTONE Color inspired by Illumination Entertainment’s Minions.

Cool.

Tony Zhou:

Before Edgar Wright and Wes Anderson, before Chuck Jones and Jackie Chan, there was Buster Keaton, one of the founding fathers of visual comedy. And nearly 100 years after he first appeared onscreen, we’re still learning from him. Today, i’d like to talk about the artistry (and the thinking) behind his gags.

I discovered Keaton as a kid and loved his comedy. But it wasn’t until adulthood I realized just what level of genius I was watching. His stunts are, to this day, still incredible and many of them are unrepeatable. As an aside, if you’re a film buff, Tony Zhou’s “Every Frame a Painting” Youtube page has some great videos dissecting why we love what we love about movies.

The Hollywood Reporter:

Attendees at any of Chappelle’s 13 sold-out Thalia Hall performances will be greeted by staffers handing out gray smartphone sleeves, available in three sizes. They are then instructed to place their phones inside the sleeves and fasten them, at which point they are welcome to carry them inside the venue.

As soon as they enter the “no-phone zone,” however, the pouches will have locked shut, preventing anyone from firing off so much as a winking emoji. Need to make a call or send an email? No problem. Simply leave the designated zone (and head, say, to the lobby bar), and, as you move past several strategically placed stations, the pouches can now magically be unlocked.

This is an interesting use of technology to defeat technology. In a broad sense, I’m all for it and can see this being extended to many other events. I was at a concert a few months ago and could barely see the artist because of all the smartphone screens being held up, recording the music. It’s incredibly annoying. I get the idea that attendees want to “capture the moment” but people have taken it way beyond that impulse.