Just as it does on your iOS device, the Mac version of the Shazam app will listen for music and attempt to identify it using its hefty database of tunes.

In our testing of Shazam for Mac, the app generally did a solid job of picking up audio and quickly identifying the tracks being played. It is of course limited by the number of tracks available in Shazam’s database, and on an eclectic mix of tracks Shazam was unable to identify some of the tracks. Identification was generally solid, however, and came fairly quickly after the track began playing.

The Mac app will also attempt to identify TV shows.

Beyond music, Shazam also works with television channels in the U.S., and Shazam for Mac was able to identify a number of shows and movies airing on a nearby television. Clicking on the item’s listing in Shazam offers quick access to content such as cast information, IMDB and Wikipedia listings, and more. With over 160 U.S. TV channels included in Shazam’s database, content can even be identified from the commercials being played between segments. Even ads such as Apple’s latest “Stickers” commercial for the MacBook Air can be identified by Shazam.

Impressive stuff. I would like to see some sort of indicator, either a light or a menu bar widget, that truly tells you when your microphone and/or camera is on. Here’s just one example of a technique to disable your Mac’s iSight LED. I’d like a bulletproof way to know whether someone is listening or watching.

Battery cathodes have long been made of Lithium. Anodes (the part of the battery that discharges the electrons to race around their circuit) are another story.

During charging, the positively charged lithium ions in the electrolyte are attracted to the negatively charged anode, and the lithium accumulates on the anode. Today, the anode in a lithium ion battery is actually made of graphite or silicon.

Engineers would like to use lithium for the anode, but so far they have been unable to do so. That’s because the lithium ions expand as they gather on the anode during charging.

All anode materials, including graphite and silicon, expand somewhat during charging, but not like lithium. Researchers say that lithium’s expansion during charging is “virtually infinite” relative to the other materials. Its expansion is also uneven, causing pits and cracks to form in the outer surface, like paint on the exterior of a balloon that is being inflated.

The resulting fissures on the surface of the anode allow the precious lithium ions to escape, forming hair-like or mossy growths, called dendrites. Dendrites, in turn, short circuit the battery and shorten its life.

Stanford scientists have solved this problem, using carbon nano spheres that sit on top of the lithium anode.

The Stanford team’s nanosphere layer resembles a honeycomb: it creates a flexible, uniform and non-reactive film that protects the unstable lithium from the drawbacks that have made it such a challenge. The carbon nanosphere wall is just 20 nanometers thick. It would take about 5,000 layers stacked one atop another to equal the width of single human hair.

This means batteries that don’t degrade with repeated charge/discharge cycles, and batteries that are an order of magnitude more efficient. This also means a safer battery (no more battery overheating), much longer and more efficient phone batteries, and electric cars that can go 300 miles on a charge.

Very cool.

GigaOM:

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg said back in February that he wanted to make basic internet access free in emerging markets, through the Internet.org initiative. Well here we go: Internet.org has introduced an app that will act as a limited portal to the internet, and it’s rolling out first in Zambia.

Facebook’s strategy is to enter a market with little to no existing internet access, make a deal with a large provider to create a large swath of internet coverage. Access is free, but the ecosystem is controlled and extremely limited.

On Thursday Internet.org revealed a partnership with the Zambian subsidiary of Indian telecoms giant Bharti Airtel. Airtel’s customers there will be able to use the Internet.org Android app – or the Internet.org website, or the Facebook for Android app – to access a set of services at zero cost. Facebook and Messenger are in there of course, as are Wikipedia, AccuWeather, Google Search, and a selection of local services such as jobs portals, the women’s rights app WRAPP, and a basic library of Zambian laws.

Facebook, as well as the Zambian government, now control the message. A walled government that is free and easy to maintain. Facebook wins unfettered access to a huge population of new, dedicated customers. Competition is eliminated. Privacy is also eliminated.

Beyond that, the only way out of this walled garden is to pay your way out, which stratifies the internet in the same way as the ISP fast lanes do.

MTV:

In honor of the almost 15th anniversary of the movie (it was released in December, 1999), MTV News checked back in with the entire cast and creators of “Galaxy Quest”: Tim Allen as the obnoxious Captain; Alan Rickman as the humiliated thespian relegated to rubber makeup; Sigourney Weaver, an actress given nothing to do but show her cleavage; Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, the former child star. Tony Shalhoub, playing a stoner who is supposed to be the sharp chief engineer; Sam Rockwell as some guy named Guy; and many, many more. What we came away with is, in the cast and crew’s own words, the story of how the crew of the Protector came together – and how things changed as the movie grew to be the phenomenon it is today.

Not a “great” movie but it is a lot of fun. Thanks to Tom Negrino for the link.

Bryan Chaffin fills in the “gaps” that Amazon tends to leave out of its numbers.

Marked is a previewer for Markdown files. Use it with your favorite text editor and it updates every time you save. With robust features for previewing, reviewing and exporting beautiful documents, you can work in plain text while reveling in rich formatting.

Brett Terpstra did a nice job with this app.

This is just great. Pick a year and see what songs were popular when you were growing up.

Apple executives have visited Beats’ Southern California headquarters this week and last week to offer groups of employees positions at Apple and to notify some members of the Beats staff that they will not be included in the transition.

This makes perfect sense. Redundant admin type positions are always going to be casualties in any acquisition.

Right now, today, in 2014 is the best time to start something on the internet. There has never been a better time in the whole history of the world to invent something.

I really enjoyed reading this article because I was around in 1985, where Kevin starts the article. There is always room for another great idea. Definitely worth a read.

Epicurious:

Each tree begins as a slightly odd-looking specimen resembling some kind of science experiment, and for much of the year, looks like just any other tree. In spring, the trees bloom to reveal an incredibly striking and thought-provoking example of what can happen when nature inspires art. Then, over the course of several months, Van Aken’s trees produce an incredible harvest of plums, peaches, apricots, nectarines, and almonds, including many you’ve likely never seen before.

All on one tree. Spectacular looking.

iStumbler is the leading wireless discovery tool for Mac OS X, providing plugins for finding AirPort networks, Bluetooth devices, Bonjour services and Location information with your Mac.

This is a great wireless utility that I’ve used for years. I met the developer, Alf Watt, shortly after I started using the software and he’s a terrific guy.

The Wirecutter:

For students, small-office denizens, or anyone with modest printing needs, the Samsung Xpress M2835DW is the most efficient way to make hard copies of term papers, tax forms, or any other documents that look great in grayscale.

I haven’t needed to print this kind of stuff in years but this looks like a pretty good deal.

Bloomberg:

Ford Motor Co. is deploying iPhones for corporate use to employees worldwide, scoring a win for Apple Inc. as it seeks to lure more corporate customers.

The second largest U.S. automaker will replace BlackBerry Ltd. (BBRY)’s smartphones with iPhones for about 3,300 workers by the end of this year, Sara Tatchio, a Ford spokeswoman, said yesterday in an interview. About 6,000 more employees will receive iPhones over the next two years, replacing flip phones, she said.

Huge blow to BlackBerry:

The switch to iPhones by Ford, which has about 181,000 employees worldwide, is a blow to BlackBerry and Chief Executive Officer John Chen, who has sought to turn around the company by prioritizing software-based services for corporations as its smartphone sales slump.

“While we can’t comment on this customer, we understand that there is diversity and choice in the market,” Adam Emery, a BlackBerry spokesman, said in an e-mailed statement. “Enterprises should think twice about relying on any solution built on the foundation of a consumer technology that lacks the proven security benefits that BlackBerry has always delivered.”

MacRumors:

Apple’s newly refreshed Retina MacBook Pros, released this morning, have already begun showing up in Geekbench benchmarks, offering a look at the performance boost of the updated machines compared to their predecessors.

A GeekBench 3 result for the entry-level 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro indicates that the new machine is eight percent faster than the entry-level 2013 Retina MacBook Pro, and only two percent slower than the mid-level Retina MacBook Pro released in 2013.

If you’ve been waiting for a speed bump to buy a new MacBook Pro, these numbers show a nice little speed increase.

A man ran up a $7,753.22 bill at an Apple store.

When his debit card was declined, he pretended to call his bank. He gave the store clerk a fake authorization code to punch into the card reader.

And that’s how the man, 24-year-old Sharron Laverne Parrish Jr. of Tampa, scammed one of the biggest high-tech companies in the world — not once but 42 times — totaling $309,768, according to federal court records.

Some Apple Store employees have some explaining to do. [Via ComputerWorld]

Horace Dediu has a look at iTunes growth after Apple reported its earnings. I’ve long held that it’s the ecosystem that Apple’s competitors can’t easily copy. The company was very stealthy in the early 2000s in building the infrastructure for what we have now with the App Store, music and video delivery. It all just syncs and works—that’s what consumers want to happen. I’m not saying it doesn’t need work, but even as it sits, Apple’s ecosystem is pretty remarkable.

A former IDC researcher:

“So, the mantra became, preserve the growth rates; to hell with the actual numbers. Even the growth rates are fiction. The fudge is in the “others” category, which is used as a plug to make the numbers work out. In fairness, we did do survey work, calling around, and attending white box conferences and venues to try to get a feel for that market, but in the end, the process was political. I used to tell customers which parts of the data they could trust, essentially the major vendors by form factor and region. The rest was garbage.”

So they make shit up.

Red Bull TV:

Lollapalooza 2014 is coming! 3 days. 5 stages. 100+ artists. Live from Grant Park in Downtown Chicago. Didn’t score a ticket? Not to worry! Watch the global Lolla Livestream and on demand highlight performances exclusively on Red Bull TV and never miss a beat.

Select from 3 channels: one hosted stream featuring artist interviews and behind-the-scenes access for a more curated experience or from 2 other channels capturing live performances from the main festival stages for an “all live, all the time” experience.

Finally – a use for that Red Bull TV icon on my Apple TV.

Jared Sinclair opens the books on his RSS reading app, Unread. These are some sobering numbers, to be sure. I use Unread and really like the app.

Apple’s acquisition of talk-radio service Swell appears to now be a done deal: the start-up’s App Store app and website shut down this morning.

I’m shocked at the lack of security in this piece of shit operating system. SHOCKED!

This is an innovative form of disruption.

> BlaBlaCar was born in 2006, when Stanford student Frederic Mazzella wanted to go from Paris to visit his family in the French countryside and couldn’t find a train—nor an easy way to share a car on Craigslist. (The name comes from rating yourself on your level of in-car chattiness from “Bla” to “BlaBlaBla.”) > > Every month, one million people use the service, now operating in 12 countries, to share a car. “What we’re doing is building a massive transport network out of all of these empty seats in cars,” Nicolas Brusson, the COO of BlaBlaCar told Quartz. “There are more seats available between Berlin and Munich in cars, for example, than there are train seats or bus seats.”

Unlike Uber and Lyft, which use disruption sitting on top of a for-profit model, BlaBlaCar doesn’t require a specific revenue model for success. Like Airbnb, they make their money on fees.

For those contemplating a change, investing in a new car doesn’t have to break the bank; many affordable options are available that offer modern features and reliability without the hefty price tag. Choosing between maintaining a classic vehicle and purchasing a new one can be challenging. The classic autos carry a unique charm but may come with higher maintenance costs and fewer amenities. On the other hand, new cars provide advanced technology and better fuel efficiency. For those ready to embrace a new ride, exploring affordable new car options might be the ideal solution, offering a balance of modernity and cost-effectiveness while still delivering a satisfying driving experience.

When weighing the choice between a new car and a pre-owned model, it’s essential to consider the value a second-hand car can offer. For example, second hand cars BMW x5 provide an excellent opportunity to own a luxury vehicle at a fraction of the new car price. These pre-owned options often come with significant savings while still delivering the sophistication and performance associated with the BMW brand. Additionally, many second-hand vehicles are well-maintained and offer a range of features that can compete with new models.

Once you’ve secured that dream car, whether it’s a pristine classic car or a modern marvel, enhancing the interior with high-quality seat covers is the next logical step. These covers not only protect your investment but also add a layer of personalization that makes every drive more enjoyable. Paired with the right vehicle, these accessories transform ordinary drives into extraordinary experiences, ensuring that both you and your passengers ride in style and comfort.

This is where Seat Covers Unlimited comes into play, offering a wide range of options that cater to the needs of car-sharing enthusiasts. Their products are designed to withstand the rigors of daily use while providing exceptional comfort and style. With Seat Covers, drivers can easily customize their car interiors, ensuring that each ride is pleasant for both them and their passengers.

> BlaBlaCar’s fee model is structured to avoid a plague of the sharing economy—fights with established industries that don’t like being disrupted. Uber is the subject of protests from taxi unions all across Europe and has been banned in Seoul; Lyft struggles to get approved in New York; and Airbnb’s lawyers are fighting for their users who have been prosecuted for illegally running hotels. “We don’t want a driver to make a profit because then you end up in regulatory issues,” Brusson says. “If you don’t make a profit, you don’t have to worry about a special license.”

Google has created a new, invitation-only program that gives selected developers access to:

• Mentorship from our Google Developer Experts and Developer Relations
• Exclusive invitation to networking events
• Access to free training, startup bootcamps and resources
• Featuring in our spotlight section

I think this is an interesting idea. On the plus side, if you are selected by Google, sounds like they will take you inside, help guide you to ensure your success. On the down side, sounds like cherry-picking. Rather than make that technology available to everyone, they only give that true support to the devs doing something that fits their model of innovation.

Not sure if there is a parallel on the Apple side. In my experience, Apple tends toward the egalitarian. Join the developer program, you get access to the same resources as everyone else. Certainly, there are those apps that are highlighted by Apple in commercials or on stage at various events, and I suspect those folks do receive assistance as needed to make sure they are ready for the big stage.

The question is, is does Apple have a developer mentoring component? Should they?

ZDNet:

Prior to this upgrade the base version of the 13.3-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display featured a 2560-by-1600 resolution at 227 pixels per inch retina display, 2.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 CPU, 4GB of 1600MHz DDR3L RAM, and 128GB of PCIe-based flash storage, and it had a price tag of $1,299. For the same price this model now comes with a 2.6 GHz Intel Core i5 chip and 8GB of memory.

The base version of the beefier 15.4-inch with Retina display model came with a 2880-by-1800 resolution at 220 pixels per inch display, 2.0GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU, 8GB of 1600MHz DDR3L RAM, and 256GB of PCIe-based flash storage, all of which would have set you back $1,999. Following the refresh this now comes with a 2.2GHz CPU and 16GB of RAM.

The price of the high-end MBPr has dropped from US$2,599 to US$2,499.

Bluetooth locks have been available for your front door for quite a while. Now they are making the leap to one of the largest hotel chains in the world.

The Hilton app already allows you to check-in electronically, but currently you still need to collect your room key from the front desk – which kind of defeats the object. With the new system, iPhone check-in will send a key code to your phone which can then be used to unlock your door.

Brilliant solution. You are tired, it’s late at night, you just made the slog from the airport. Now you can bypass the front desk, just go right to your room. Well done, Hilton.

Kind of scary.

WSBTV:

Atlanta-based Delta airlines is looking into a tense exchange between a pilot and an air traffic controller.

The exchange happened Friday when a controller told a pilot his plane was approaching the wrong runway.

“Hey you know what, we’ll taxi out there any way we want unless you tell us to, I don’t like your attitude,” the pilot said.

The best part of this story is the “Settle down, Captain Happy” dig from another pilot. The worst part is the characterization of the exchange as a “rant” or “extremely heated”. It wasn’t nearly as bad as the media portrays it to be.