TMO Background Mode Interview with Author, Photographer and Pilot Maria Langer

· · The Mac Observer's Background Mode Podcast

Maria Langer on Background Mode.

Maria Langer is legendary for the 85 books she’s written about computers from 1991 to 2012. That was merely the middle part of her career. Maria started her career with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Hofstra University. After a few stints as a financial analyst and auditor, she decided to dump the 9-to-5 grind and delved into writing computer books. Basically, if you wanted to learn anything about computers in those days, you read her stuff. Around 2011, that came to an end, and so, inspired by a childhood ride, she started helicopter pilot lessons. Today, she owns her own helicopter and tour business, working out of both Arizona and Washington. Maria and I are both aviation enthusiasts, geeked out about aircraft in our chat, and Maria tells some interesting stories about flying choppers.

Bob LeVitus Doesn't Want You Buying the Paperback of Working Smarter for Mac Users

· · Cool Stuff Found

So my old friend Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus made a paperback version of Working Smarter for Mac Users, but he doesn’t want you to buy it. Weird, right? He has his reasons, though, and he made a video (with some cheesy help from yours truly) explaining why. Check it out. And if you haven’t already checked out Working Smarter for Mac Users, you should. I edited this book, and it’s amazeballs. It’s chock full of both Mac productivity tips and Dr. Mac’s techniques for overcoming procrastination. But unlike other productivity systems I’ve read, Bob’s focus is less about “do these things” than it is, “here are different things to try, and here’s how to think about them so you can pick what works for you.” It’s on Amazon ($19.99 Kindle, $29.99 Paperback), iBooks ($19.99), or direct from Bob (where’s a coupon code at the bottom of the page). In the meanwhile, enjoy Bob’s video!

Siri Co-stars in New Ad with Dwayne Johnson

· · Cool Stuff Found

Dwayne Johnson is one of the hardest working actors in Hollywood, but that didn’t stop him from partnering with Apple on an epic commercial featuring the iPhone voice assistant Siri. The nearly four minute spot takes The Rock and Siri on an epic journey he calls the “biggest, coolest, craziest, dopest, most over the top, funnest” movie ever. The spot is called The Rock X Siri: Dominate the Day and you can watch it on Apple’s YouTube channel now. Ironically, asking Siri to show you the movie only brings up a list of Dwayne Johnson flicks.