Use iNaturalist to Identify Flora and Fauna

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I’ve used iNaturalist for a couple years and think it’s a great tool. Two features that help the app stand out from competitors are 1: The machine learning it uses. Once you take a picture, it can automatically suggest what species you’re looking at. 2: With every photo you upload and tag with location and other metadata, you’re contributing to real science. iNaturalist shares data with scientific data repositories like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

The app is a joint initiative between The California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society and works sort of like a Shazam for Nature in that it lets you snap a shot of something you come across and instantly get an answer for what that planet, animal, or bug might be.

Augmented Reality, Practical Robots, and Modern Cabling, with John Kheit - ACM 505

· · Apple Context Machine Podcast

Apple Context Machine Logo

Bryan Chaffin and John Kheit don their futurist caps and look for the killer app in Augmented Reality. Spoiler: they have different ideas on what form it might take. They also explore the near-term future of practical robots, starting with today’s vacuumbots. They cap the show looking at the slow pace of progress when it comes to modern cabling. Let’s get that Cat 8 and 40 GB/s throughput!

The Mixvibes DJ Software Bundle: $49

· · TMO Deals

The Mixvibes DJ Software Bundle

We have a deal on the Mixvibes DJ Software Bundle. This package includes three apps for Mac (and Windows) aimed at DJs: Cross DJ, Remixvideo, and Remixlive. Together, they can help DJs mix music, mix videos, and create beats and loops. This bundle is $49 through us.

Beto O'Rourke and the Cult of the Dead Cow

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Beto O’Rourke is a Democratic candidate for the 2020 presidential race. In a recent interview he revealed he was part of the Cult of the Dead Cow, the oldest hacking group in the U.S.

The hugely influential Cult of the Dead Cow, jokingly named after an abandoned Texas slaughterhouse, is notorious for releasing tools that allowed ordinary people to hack computers running Microsoft’s Windows. It’s also known for inventing the word “hacktivism” to describe human-rights-driven security work.

Watch 2019 March Madness on Apple Devices

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Roger Fingas put together a brief guide to watching the 2019 March Madness tournament on your Apple devices.

For college basketball fans, the NCAA’s March Madness tournament is nigh — 2019’s games run March 19 through Apr. 8. Here’s how to follow along on an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV if you’re not watching on cable or satellite.

Snapchat Gaming Platform to Launch Next Month

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Reports suggest that a Snapchat gaming platform will launch next month, which is currently codenamed Project Cognac.

The new games initiative will be unveiled at Snap’s first-ever summit for content and developer partners in Los Angeles on April 4, the person said, adding that video initiatives like more original shows will also be announced. An invitation to the event that was seen by Cheddar includes the tagline, “Less talk. More play.” — a nod to the gaming platform.

Everyone seems to be trying to conquer gaming now. Facebook, Apple, Google, and now Snap.

Qualcomm Owes Apple $1 Billion Rebate Payment

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A federal judge recently ruled that Qualcomm owes Apple almost US$1B in patent royalty rebate payments.

Judge Gonzalo Curiel of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on Thursday ruled that Qualcomm, the world’s biggest supplier of mobile phone chips, was obligated to pay nearly $1 billion in rebate payments to Apple, which for years used Qualcomm’s modem chips to connect iPhones to wireless data networks.

Facebook and YouTube Remove Footage of New Zealand Mosque Terror Attacks

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Both Facebook and YouTube moved to delete footage of the terror attack in Christchurch, New Zealand, that resulted in the deaths of 49 Muslim worshipers in 2 mosques on Friday. Parts of the attack were live-streamed over the two platforms. CNET reported that Facebook had removed unverified footage and praise for the shooting. YouTube made a similar commitment in a tweet from its official twitter account.

Facebook told CNET it had removed the unverified footage and was also pulling down “praise or support” posts for the shootings. “New Zealand Police alerted us to a video on Facebook shortly after the livestream commenced and we removed both the shooter’s Facebook account and the video,” said Mia Garlick, a Facebook representative in New Zealand. “We’re also removing any praise or support for the crime and the shooter or shooters as soon as we’re aware. We will continue working directly with New Zealand Police as their response and investigation continues.

New Tesla Model Y Unveiled

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Tesla unveiled its latest vehicle Friday, the Model Y. The Verge reported that CEO Elon Musk bragged that despite being SUV-like, the vehicle “will ride like a sports car.” It will be available in the fall of 2020, with prices starting at $47,000.

“It has the functionality of an SUV, but it will ride like a sports car,” Musk said. “So this thing will be really tight on corners.” The $47,000 long range Model Y will come first in the fall of 2020, and will have a range of 300 miles, Musk said. Tesla will also sell an all-wheel-drive dual motor version for $51,000, and a performance version for $60,000— both of which will also be available in fall 2020. The cheaper, standard range version with a range of 230 miles won’t be available until 2021, Musk said, and will sell for $39,000.