BBC Just Released 16,016 Sound Effects for Free

· · Cool Stuff Found

If you’re on the hunt for some quality sound effects for you projects, the BBC has your back. The organization has a website where you can download 16,016 of its sound effects ranging from birds chirping to machines and cars, nature sounds, people walking on specific surfaces, and more. You can search for sounds and listen to samples before downloading. They’re all free, but come with a catch: you can use them only for personal, educational, or research purposes. Check them out at the BBC Sound Effects website.

BBC Just Released 16,016 Sound Effects for Free

Cybersecurity Tech Accord, Cyberwar Is Now, Social Network Inertia - ACM 458

· · Apple Context Machine Podcast

Apple Context Machine Logo

In this episode, Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Gamet dissect the Cybersecurity Tech Accord, a pledge by 34 tech companies to do something vague and unlikely. The timing for the announcement is somewhat interesting because we are in the middle of an undeclared shadow cyberwar. They cap the show analyzing what it might take for any new social network to supplant Facebook.

Nix Pro Color Sensor: $249

· · TMO Deals

Nix Pro Color Sensor

We have a deal on the Nix Pro Color Sensor, a device that senses color and sends the data to your iPhone, iPad, or android device. The Nix Pro blocks out ambient light, can match to more than 38,000 paint colors, give you  CMYK, HEX, sRGB, CIELAB, LCH, and LRV codes, and more. It’s $249 through us, 28% off retail.

RememBear: TunnelBear Intros New Password Manager

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TunnelBear is expanding beyond VPN services and into password management with its new RememBear app. The app securely stores passwords, credit cards, and more in an AES256 encrypted database, plus it can generate strong passwords for you. The app is available for macOS, iOS, Windows, and Android with autofill extensions for Safari, Chrome, and Firefox. It’s free for use on one device, or US$36 a year for sycning with multiple devices, cloud backup, and priority support.

RememBear: TunnelBear Intros New Password Manager

Watch Intelligence Squared Net Neutrality Debate: Tom Wheeler, Mitchell Baker vs. Michael Katz, Nick Gillespie

· · Cool Stuff Found

Check out this Intelligence Squared debate on Net Neutrality. I love the Intelligence Squared show, which I listen to on KQED in the Bay Area. This episode hasn’t aired yet, but the video format is up on YouTube now. It features former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and Mozilla Chairwoman Mitchell Baker arguing for the motion “Preserve Net Neutrality.” Arguing against the motion is Michael Katz, former Chief Economist of the FCC and Nick Gillespie, editor of Reason magazine.  Here’s the interesting thing, but warning, because it contains spoilers. Those arguing against the motion—i.e. arguing to end Net Neutrality—won the debate. What that means is they shifted more opinions in the audience, who voted before and after the debate. But, those arguing to preserve Net Neutrality carried majority support before and after the debate. If you’ve been wanting to hear reasoned arguments on this topic, this is something you’ll want to watch or listen to. Mind you, those arguing against the motion are just plain wrong, but it’s a great discussion.

This AR App Gives You a Virtual Photo Studio

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Heads up iPhoneographers: this virtual photo studio lets you work with models, studio lights, and more. Each model is based on a real person, and you can place them into any scene you want, like a beach, studio, or desert. You can pose the model how you want, then use virtual lights and light modifiers to create your shot. Color corrections can be applied in real time, and you can change the direction of the sun and add weather like snow. The brains behind the app is Superba AR CEO Raffael Dickreuter, who has worked in the visual effects industry in Hollywood with movies like Iron Man and Avengers 2. The app is pricey though, costing US$10. App Store: Photo Studio – AR

This AR App Gives You a Virtual Photo Studio