Apple published a new iPhone 7 Plus video to its YouTube channel on Monday. The spot shows a barber shop using iPhone 7 Plus’s Portrait Mode camera to promote its business. It’s a charming pitch directly demonstrating a practical way for someone to use the feature in their business. The imagery is compelling and the message is accessible. The soundtrack is  «Fantastic Man» by William Onyeabor, an artist who recorded in the ’70s and early ’80s.
TMO Background Mode Interview with Astrophysicist Dr. Kelly Holley-Bockelmann
Dr. Kelly Holley-Bockelmann is an Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Vanderbilt University. Her research specialty is black holes and gravitational waves. For as long as she can remember, she wanted to be an astrophysicist. In our interview she tells the story about, as a teenager, lying in a field under dark Montana skies and gazing at the Milky Way (the edge of our galaxy). She wondered about all those stars and planets and whether there were other civilizations out there looking up at their own starry skies. It was transformative. Today, she uses a Mac and supercomputers to study how black holes generate ripples in the fabric of spacetime and deepen our astronomical understanding and perspective. Kelly, her students and associates are also devoted Mac users, and she tells me why.
The Day the Music Died, Hello Alexa Calling - TMO Daily Observations 2017-05-15
The internet is up in arms over the news that MP3 patent licensing has come to an end. Dave Hamilton and Jeff Butts join Jeff Gamet to explain why that’s not the end of the work, or even something to worry about. They also explain why people may be overreacting to the ability to use Alexa Calling to contact anyone who enables the service.
Charge & Sync Dock: $19.99
We have a deal for you today on the Charge & Sync Dock. This simple, S-shaped dock is designed to hold any Lightning iPhone. It features anti-slide TPU on the bottom, and it’s priced at $19.99 through us.
Guardians of the Geek Galaxy – Mac Geek Gab Podcast 657
Ever wondered how to share iCloud contact groups amongst family and team members? Ever have to mix iOS, Android, and macOS? Ever wonder what AppTranslocation folders are? How about the best thing to put in your walls before you close them up? John F. Braun and Dave Hamilton have your answers to all of this and more.
Visual Timeline of Apple I Auction Prices Since 1976 to Now
The folks at LiveAuctioneers put together a (self-serving, but who cares because it’s fun) visual timeline of Apple I auction prices. It spans from the device’s 1976 introduction to the introduction of the Apple ][ (I’m not sure why that’s included, but again, cool), through three recent auctions in 2012, 2013, and 2014. There’s a few Apple I auctions missing—and the company’s focus was to illustrate increasing prices—but it does show how desirable these primitive computers are. The whole thing was made to promote a May 20th auction for what auction house Team Breker has called the «best preserved» Apple I to date.
The Dangers of Voice Assistants in Our Homes - TMO Daily Observations 2017-05-12
Apple, Amazon, and Google want voice assistants to be a bigger part of our lives. Jeff Butts and John Martellaro join Jeff Gamet to look at the social and privacy implications as voice assistant appliances become more deeply intertwined in our lives.
Aerix Black Talon 2.0 Micro FPV Beginner Racing Drone: $99.99
What’s better than having your own drone? Having your own racing drone. Obviously. We have a deal for you on just that, the Aerix Black Talon 2.0, a beginner’s racing drone. It features a wde angle lens on a 720P HD camera with a live video stream, a 6-axis flight control system, and more. It’s $99.99 through us.
iTunes for Windows Is Coming to Microsoft's Windows Store
Microsoft announced that iTunes for Windows will be coming to the Windows Store, according to TechCrunch:
Here is a surprise: at its Build developer conference, Microsoft today announced that Apple’s iTunes will come to the Windows Store by the end of the year. The iTunes app will have full iPhone support and users will essentially get the same iTunes experience from the Windows Store app that the existing Windows app currently offers.
There are two points of significance: one is that Microsoft announced this, not Apple. The second is that this is the only way Windows 10 S users can get iTunes for Windows. That makes a Windows Store version a must-have for iPhone owners with Surface Laptops running that flavor of Windows.
This Maglev Globe Floats: $39.99
It’s a floating globe. On your desk. It floats! No, no! It levitates magnetically! This is far, far too cool, hey? The 3-inch globe floats in its C-shape frame using the power of magnets, and it’s $39.99 through us.
