What would it take for Apple to ditch the Lightning port on iPhones? Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Gamet explore the possibilities, and Bryan ends up convincing himself to buy Apple’s not-shipping-yet AirPower charging pad. They also ask themselves what it would take for them to want Apple Watch Series 4, iPhone Xs, new iPad Pros, and new MacBooks. Their conclusion? It’s going to be an expensive fall.
Blackbird. No, Not SR-71. Uber-like Flight Sharing
You knew it had to happen. Think Uber, but with small, private aviation aircraft. Business Insider has a fairly extensive story. “You can book a seat on a plane, not a car, with flight sharing startup Blackbird.” Some seats are as low as US$50. (Image credit: Business Insider.)
Cocoatech's Path Finder 8 is a Great macOS Finder Replacement
Apple’s macOS Finder has evolved slowly over the years. It started simple, got faster and more refined, but never evolved dramatically. But Path Finder, now at version 8, has.
Spotify Student Bundle Expands to Include Showtime
The company announced today that students on this plan get Showtime, and the cost is still US$4.99/month.
Adjustable Laptop Stand for MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro: $32.99
We have a deal on an adjustable laptop stand for your MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro. But hey, it’s adjustable, so you could put a Chromebook or Windows laptop in it, too, if that’s your jam. We’re not judging*. It’s $32.99 through us.
*Yes we are.
macOS: How to Get Manual iCloud Sync Control
With macOS Sierra, Apple introduced Documents & Desktop syncing to iCloud. But sometimes it can be a pain in the arse to use.
Intel's Whiskey Lake Processors, AirPort Express and AirPlay 2 - TMO Daily Observations 2018-08-29
Kelly Guimont and John Martellaro join Jeff Gamet to look at Intel’s new Whiskey Lake and Amber Lake laptop processors, and to explain the new firmware update for the discontinued AirPort Express.
New Zealand has the World's First Digital Teacher
Auckland energy company Vector partnered with AI company Soul Machines to create a digital teacher called Will.
Will’s there to teach children about energy use. Students interact with Will — essentially just a face on a screen — via their desktop, tablet, or mobile device. He teaches them about different forms of renewable energy, such solar and wind. Will can then ask the students questions about what they’ve learned to ensure the lessons stick.
Thankfully it’s not teaching an entire curriculum, because education probably doesn’t need AI teachers. Maybe in developing countries, where lack of education/teachers is a problem. But in first-world countries, we should just pay human teachers better.
Get Instagram Verification and Two-Factor Authentication
You can now get Instagram verification inside the app and a new form of two-factor authentication. The social network is rolling out changes to its app.
Sonos Further Expands Wireless Speakers with New APIs, IFTTT Integration, and new Sonos Amp
Wireless speaker pioneers Sonos today announced the upcoming availability of their first-ever set of public APIs available to all Sonos speakers, as well as the Sonos Amp, a new piece of hardware aimed at allowing folks to use their own speakers within a Sonos system.
