Cool Stuff Found

Tim Cook Reminds Us Apple Is Making Earth Day Donations for Recycled Devices

Bryan Chaffin ·

Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted a reminder that his company is making Earth Day donations for every device handed in to the company’s recycle program. Apple announced earlier this week that it would donate to conservation efforts for devices turned in for recycling through April 30th. Earth Day 2018 is Sunday, April 22nd (i.e. this weekend).

TMO Deals

FRETX Smart Guitar Learning Device: $69.99

Bryan Chaffin ·

Check out FRETX, one of those devices I’d write up as Cool Stuff Found if I didn’t get to offer you a deal on it. This device slips onto the neck of your guitar and then lights up to show you where to put your fingers. It’s controlled by a smartphone app, and it’s $69.99 through us. The video below gives a good overview of how it works.

BBC Just Released 16,016 Sound Effects for Free
Cool Stuff Found

BBC Just Released 16,016 Sound Effects for Free

Jeff Gamet ·

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.

Podcast

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

Bryan Chaffin · · Add Comment

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.

TMO Deals

Nix Pro Color Sensor: $249

Bryan Chaffin ·

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.

Cool Stuff Found

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

Bryan Chaffin ·

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.