In this 400th episode of Apple Context Machine, John Kheit joins Bryan Chaffin to discuss rumors of iPhone 8 and Samsung Galaxy S8, Apple manufacturing, Tim Cook’s claim that Apple cares about pro users and creative pros in particular, the company’s supposed pipeline, and $AAPL’s record high valuation. Oh…and Nickleback.
Apollo 11 Space Capsule Goes on a New Mission
NASA’s Apollo 11 space capsule «Columbia» took astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins to lunar orbit and safely back home in July 1969. The fiftieth anniversary of that trip is coming up soon, so the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum is going to put the 13,600 pound capsule on display in four major U.S. cities starting late this year and continuing into 2019. This article at NPR has the story, the cities and the dates. (Image credit: Smithsonian.)
Working Smarter for Mac Users Preview with Bob "Dr Mac" LeVitus - TMO Daily Observations 2017-03-01
Working Smarter for Mac Users is the latest book from Bob «Dr. Mac» LeVitus, so he’s joining Jeff Gamet to give us a preview before it launches this Friday. Bob also shares a couple tips to help improve your Mac productivity.
Cling Bling Window Solar Charger: $27.99
Check out the Cling Bling Window Solar Charger. It’s a portable battery that sticks to window and recharges itself with solar power. How cool is that? The battery’s capacity is 1,800mAh, and it’s about 6-inches square. It’s available in black or green, and they’re $27.99 each, which is 68% off retail.
Apple and the Future of the iPhone's Lightning Port - TMO Daily Observations 2017-02-28
The iPhone’s Lightning port may be a thing of the past, or at least that’s what one report claims. Bryan Chaffin and John Martellaro join Jeff Gamet to talk about the future of the Lightning port, plus they share their thoughts on what Apple Watch Steve Jobs would’ve worn.
Build-On Brick Mug: $19.99
Pssst! Don’t tell Jeff Gamet about today’s deal, at least not until you get your own. He’s likely to buy them all, otherwise. It’s the Build-On Brick Mug. This LEGO-compatible mug has pegs and holes that fit the iconic brick design. And lookit! You can put bricks on your coffee mug! That’s way too cool for school, in my book. It comes with the mug and 16 bricks, but feel free to mix and match your own. The Build-On Brick Mug is made from a food grade BPA-free plastic, and it’s $19.99 through us.
Apple, Ron Johnson, J.C. Penney and the Future
Ron Johnson was the Apple VP of retail sales, and sales were booming. Then, in 2011, he took the offer to be the CEO of J.C. Penney. He tried to bring the modern concepts he learned at Apple to JCP, but «people there were entrenched and resist[ed] him.» He was let go in 2013. Now, J.C. Penney is going to close 140 stores. Did Mr. Johnson push JCP too hard, too fast? Can the company ever commit the resources it needs to go toe-to-toe with modern online retailers? Will JCP survive? It’s all in Particle Debris page 2.
TMO Background Mode: Interview with CNET Senior Editor & TV Reviewer David Katzmaier
David Katzmaier is a CNET Senior Editor and TV reviewer, something he’s been doing for most of his career. He started at a small review website in New York and, later, a friend went to CNET and brought David on board where he’s been since about 2000. David is an expert on TV technology, and so we delved into the Retina effect, generic High Dynamic Range (HDR), Dolby Vision, 10-bit color, TV brightness levels, color gamuts, Hybrid Log Gamma, edge lighting (with light guides) vs. local dimming, the pros and cons of OLED vs. LCD, H.265 compression, 120 Hz refresh sample and hold, 4K streaming standards and the best time of year to buy a new TV. Phew! If you’re into UHD/TV tech, you’ll love this grand tour of today’s state-of the-art.
Why Apple Might Discontinue the Mac Pro - TMO Daily Observations 2017-02-27
Apple’s Mac Pro has gone nearly four years without an update, leave plenty of people wondering if its a dead product. John Martellaro and Bryan Chaffin join Jeff Gamet to talk about the reasons why Apple might considering discontinuing the Mac Pro, although Bryan questions if that would be a smart move.
FRESHeBUDS Air Bluetooth 4.1 Earbuds
The FRESHeBUDS Pro Magnetic Bluetooth Earbuds have been updated to Bluetooth 4.1. They’re water and sweat resistant, and automatically pair to your phone when pulled apart so you don’t have to go through any setup. They fully charge in 90 minutes, and offer up to 10 hours of playback. In addition to improved Bluetooth, this new version is $5 less, at $24.95.
