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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite really shines

TechHive:

The new Kindle Paperwhite is a dramatic update inside and out, one with fully redesigned software and an appealing integrated light that makes the Kindle more usable in any environment.

While I prefer the iPad, Amazon is doing a great job with the Kindle line. The reviews for the Kindle Paperwhite have all been quite complimentary. I’ve recommended various Kindles to any number of people who don’t need the full feature set or functionality of the iPad.

Studiometry [Sponsor]

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A look back at the CD

The compact disc player turned 30 today, and this retrospective offers a history lesson about the format and the medium.

Pixelmator

My thanks to Pixelmator for sponsoring The Loop’s RSS feed this week. Congratulations on your fifth birthday of making the best image editing software on the Mac.

Klingon Style

“Gangnam Style” is much better in the original Klingon.

AdSense killed from FeedBurner

AdSense for Feeds was designed to help publishers earn revenue from their content by placing ads on their RSS feeds. Starting October 2, we’ll begin to retire this feature—and on December 3 we’ll close it. Publishers can continue to use FeedBurner URLs powered by Google, so they won’t need to redirect subscribers to different URLs. For more information visit the AdSense Help Center.

Can FeedBurner’s death really be far off?

Marissa Mayer lays down the law at Yahoo

Mayer’s rule: If a new product can’t be shipped in six months, and if it doesn’t have a realistic shot of reaching 100 million users or generate $100 million toward the company’s top line, then Yahoo will no longer bother.

It’s no secret that I like Mayer and it’s because of things like this. Tell your employees what you want and expect them to meet those expectations.

30 geeky ways to spruce up your nerd pad


BuzzFeed:

Home decor for the inner nerd in all of us.

Come on, admit it. You’d like at least half of these in your own nerd pad, wouldn’t you? I love #2 but #6 would make me break the door down.

Amplified: If I Regret It, I Kill It

Jim Dalrymple and Dan Benjamin discuss the launch of the iPhone 5, its sale success, a redesigned Mac Pro, using an iPhone on the Verizon network, Corning’s relationship with Apple, WiFi issues with the iPhone 5, Billie Joe’s (of Green Day) breakdown at the IHeartRadio music festival, and buying the right amp.Sponsored by Igloo Software, Harvest (use code 5by5 for 50% off first month), Gazelle, and MailChimp.

Nook e-reader goes HD

Barnes & Noble is continuing its fight against Amazon with new versions of its Nook e-reader, including a model that’s about the same size as the iPad.

Google Maps adds Great Barrier Reef

Starting today, you can use Google Maps to find a sea turtle swimming among a school of fish, follow a manta ray and experience the reef at sunset—just as I did on my first dive in the Great Barrier Reef last year.

Nice.

The Ostrich Pillow lets you nap anywhere

OhGizmo!:

Admittedly, the thing is pretty awesome, if only because it’s so ridiculous looking. But it’s also sort of smart. It’s a pillow with an opening for your hands, and for your mouth and nose. Your eyes are covered and your head is cushioned whether you decide to plop your noggin down on your desk or sleep in the airplane.

I’ve always wanted a foolproof “Dork Detector” and, if you’re using/wearing this, there’s no doubt – you are an absolute dork!

Who better to lead America than a country already leading America?

The Globe and Mail:

“Who better to lead America than a country already leading America in so many ways?” is just the beginning of Canadian Brian Calvert’s case, made in a YouTube video, for why Americans should vote for Canada to run the U.S. this fall.A scrolling list of things Mr. Calvert argues Canadians do better include healthcare, human rights, and the employment rate – along with big foot sightings, lumberjack fashion and bear attacks.

Seriously, America. Why not let Canada govern you for a while? What’s the worse that could happen?

Drunkenomics 101: Playing a beer market

Wired:

Usually, the only math required at a bar is tip calculation. But a new algorithm-based program from Miami company Drink Exchange makes ordering cocktails much like playing the stock market.If a particular concoction is popular, the software automatically raises its price. Conversely, the less popular a drink, the less it costs. Bar promotions (such as a sudden “market crash,” when all prices fall) affect prices minute to minute. Television screens and LED tickers display the prices so patrons can follow along—and throw elbows to get their orders in.The system is currently set up in 25 watering holes, and there are plans to be in 300 by year’s end.

Seriously? Would you do this? I don’t want to work this hard just to get a drink.

Pixelmator turns 5

Congratulations to everyone at Pixelmator as they celebrate their fifth birthday and thanks for sponsoring The Loop.

djay updated: This is what an iPhone 5 update should be

Remember in my iPhone 5 review I said that developers would be doing more than just making their apps longer for the new screen size? This is a perfect example. When djay got updated they added functionality in that extra space.

MacTech Conference 2012

MacTech Conference is a 3-day, immersive, technical conference specifically designed for Apple developers, IT Pros, and Enterprise.

You can register on their Web site.

Poster designed to celebrate 10 years of the Apple Online Store

The design features 3,650 cursor icons to symbolically represent every day the store was live. Printed in 2 hits of black with mirror chrome ‘liquid foil’ printing. Designed at Apple, Inc.

This looks very cool, except the cursor is white (Windows), instead of black (Mac).

Verizon CFO: “Unlimited is just a word”

Mashable:

Verizon believes unlimited data plans are on their way out, the company’s CFO told investors at a Goldman Sachs conference on Friday.“The good news here though is the dilution is not as much as we expected,” said Fran Shammo, explaining how the company hasn’t seen much attrition after dropping its unlimited data plan in May.Shammo added that “Unlimited is just a word. It doesn’t mean anything…”

No – it doesn’t. Mostly because you cell phone providers have made it meaningless. You used it to sucker in customers and once you got your hooks into them, you removed or “redefined” the word to suit your needs – but not the needs of the customers.

So you’re right, it doesn’t mean anything – when weasels like you use it.

Google acknowledges Feedburner issues

Subscriber counts and stats have been missing for days for publishers. At least they acknowledge the issue. Feedburner’s biggest issue is being owned by Google.

25 dead presidents to follow on Twitter

Mashable:

Traditionally, people keep dead presidents in their hearts, history books and wallets. Here’s a new place to look for fallen leaders of the free world: your Twitter feed.

Twitter is great for keeping in touch with family and friends, chatting with people about the day’s events and now – you can converse with (fake) dead presidents.

PR Firewall

But lately things have changed. It’s been a long, gradual shift, though I can definitely see it more clearly in the past year. Startups are hiding (or being hidden) behind a great firewall, intended to protect them until they’re ready … Continued

Pixelmator

Now you can easily remove image imperfections or just about any image element you want, so your pictures look their absolute best.

That’s what I love about the Pixelmator guys. They keep making amazing software with features that everyone can use, not just the pros. Check out the video on their site to see the healing tool in action.

Many thanks to Pixelmator for sponsoring The Loop’s RSS feed this week.