Apple has a new patent application dealing with wireless charging, and Jeff Butts and Bryan Chaffin join guest-host Dave Hamilton to discuss what that might mean. They also talk about Apple executive Jimmy Iovine’s efforts to bring Hollywood into Apple Music.
MarginNote Pro for Mac: $24.99
We have a deal on a Mac app called MarginNote Pro. It’s a, «reading tool for students, teachers, researchers, lawyers, or just the naturally curious.» It allows users to take notes, make mind maps, review flashcards, and more. Check the deal listing for more. It’s $24.99 through us.
Epic Facebook Rant, CAPTCHA Complaints, and Apple Store Hangouts - ACM 408
Bryan and Jeff go on an epic rant about Facebook and its attitude about humanity and our very lives. They also talk about problems they’ve been seeing with CAPTCHA systems, and ask whether or not Apple can make its retail locations places where people hang out.
iPads, Robots and the Future of Tablet Computing - TMO Daily Observations 2017-04-26
Future iPads are going to be designed in part based on changes in society, according to TMO’s own John Martellaro. John, along with Kelly Guimont join Jeff Gamet look at what’s coming for the iPad, and whether or not it’s evolving fast enough.
BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter: $34.99
We have a deal on the BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter. It’s a power strip that comes with adapters for EU, UK, US, and AU outlets, and it has USB ports, too. Amazon has it for $42.99, but our deal is even better: $34.99.
Macintosh Original Andy Hertzfeld to Keynote Vintage Computer Festival April 29th
Andy Hertzfeld from Steve Jobs’s original Macintosh team will be presenting a keynote address at Vintage Computer Festival Southeast 5.0 in Roswell, Georgia. The event takes place on April 29th and 30th, and Mr. Hertzfeld will be speaking on April 29th. This event is dedicated to vintage computers and includes booths, consignments, hands-on activities, exhibits, concessions, and speakers. In addition to Mr. Hertzfeld, Tandy executive Don French will be offering his own keynote presentation. Andy Hertzfeld left Apple in 1984, and in the years since he cofounded Radius (1986), General Magic (1990) and Eazel (via Wikipedia). He also took a lead role in the creation of Google+. Admission for the event is $10 for one day and $15 for two days. Kids 17 and under get in free with a parent or guardian, and students get in free with an ID. The pic below is of Steve Wozniak and Andy Hertzfeld from back in the day.
Alphabet's Waymo Offers 'Early Riders' Driverless Rides in Phoenix
Alphabet’s driverless car company—Waymo—announced an «Early Rider» program for its driverless cars. The company has invited the general public to apply to be part of the program, saying «We’re searching for early riders in parts of the Phoenix metropolitan area, including Chandler, Tempe, Mesa and Gilbert. Come join us in making it safer and easier for everyone to get around!» The feel-good video below features a family that participated in small-scale tests, and Waymo said it would accept a «limited number» of additional participants in the expanded program. Alphabet CEO Larry Page has been an enthusiastic pursuer of driverless car technology since before Google, and Waymo’s goal is to launch a ride-hailing service based on its driverless platform. Apple, Didi, Uber, and a variety of other tech companies are all invested in a similar vision. Waymo’s testing in Arizona is a sharp reminder that a driverless future is marching inexorably closer. You can apply at Waymo’s site.
Uber iPhone Tracking, Carpool Karaoke Delay - TMO Daily Observations 2017-04-25
Uber tried to pull one over on Apple by tracking iPhones in violation of App Store guidelines. Jeff Butts and Bryan Chaffin dive into what Uber did with Jeff Gamet, plus they share their thoughts on Apple postponing Carpool Karaoke’s premiere again.
1 Year Subscription to Instaread: $24.99
We have a deal on a 1-year subscription to Instaread. This service offers condensed digests of books on The New York Times Best Seller List. It’s half off through our deal, $24.99.
ecobee4 HomeKit Smart Thermostat Teased Ahead of May 5 Unveiling
Smart thermostat maker ecobee is teasing its upcoming ecobee4, which is set to debut on May 3rd. The new model is rumored to include a built-in microphone and speaker with Amazon Alexa voice control built-in. ecobee4 will reportedly have a sleeker, yet familiar, design and the separate room sensors are said to be silver instead of white. The company also lowered the ecobee3 price ahead of next week’s announcement from US$249 to $199. That’s a pretty sweet deal for a full-features smart thermostat that’s also HomeKit compatible. If you want to follow along with ecobee’s announcements next Wednesday you’ll need to head over to the company’s Facebook page.
