Scout FM is a podcast radio service that streams a curated selection of podcasts and radio shows. Today the service is getting new features, including compatibility with Apple’s CarPlay. A cool new feature is called Commute Mode, which automatically finds shows for you that fit your commute time. Scout FM is a bit different than other podcast apps. You don’t subscribe and download podcasts. Instead it’s more similar to a traditional radio station. There are stations focused around categories like Daily News, Brain Food, and True Stories. You just pick a station and immediately start listening. App Store: Scout FM – Free
Smart Home Tech is the New Weapon in Domestic Abuse
Smart home technology may add convenience to our lives, but there’s a darker side, too. The New York Times explores how domestic abusers are using smarthome devices to control and gaslight their victims. Reports of smart home devices in domestic abuse cases has been on the rise over the past year, too. From the report:
One woman had turned on her air-conditioner, but said it then switched off without her touching it. Another said the code numbers of the digital lock at her front door changed every day and she could not figure out why. Still another told an abuse help line that she kept hearing the doorbell ring, but no one was there.
It’s a stark reminder that abusers will find a way to turn anything into a weapon against their victims.
Captain Kirk Has His Own Bourbon
If you’ve been thinking what you need in your life is Star Trek bourbon, you’re in luck because it’s available in your sector now. The James T. Kirk straight bourbon whiskey is Paramont-approved and made by Silver Screen Bottling Company. The whiskey is small batch from barrels aged between four and 12 years and is touted as “for the Star Trek fan and the serious bourbon fan alike.” You can pre-order a bottle now for delivery in October for US$59.99, which is $10 off the list price, or pick up a bottle at San Diego Comic Con. And drink responsibly because no one wants your starship to crash.
Elgato Renames to Eve, Focusing on Just Smarthome
Elgato is getting out of the gaming accessory business to focus on HomeKit smarthome technology and is changing its name to Eve Systems.
Sonos Beam: Wide Home Theater Sound for Your Living Room, Great Music Sound Anywhere
Sonos recently announced a new soundbar they call the Sonos Beam. I’ve had some time to test it and simply to use it, and this might be the most impressive speaker I’ve tested from Sonos yet, especially considering its US$399 price tag.
YouTube Mark Rober Has Been Working on VR with Apple's Self-Driving Car
Mr. Rober is known to his 3.4 million YouTube subscribers for his science-related videos, but starting in 2015, he went to work for Apple, apparently on a virtual reality project.
Two Keyboards at a Bar (and in Walks Touch Bar)
Check out this rather brilliant piece imagining Apple keyboards past and present drinking in a bar, when in walks that obnoxious fellow, Touch Bar (via Daring Fireball). It’s high-larious, spot on, and flawlessly executed. Here’s a taste:
APPLE EXTENDED II: Lonely times, man. Lonely times. First, it was scissors then butterflies. Do you want to know what I miss? Electric Alps switches. That was the dream, right?
MACBOOK PRO (nervous, staring at the bar, napkins in both hands): Did you clean up before I sat down? It looks clean, but…
APPLE EXTENDED II (interrupting): Kids today. They don’t appreciate the reliable, credible haptic feedback of a single healthy keystroke. It’s all hunt, peck, and swipe swipe swipe.
TOUCHBAR (arrives): Hey! Nobody told me we were going out to drinks ?. This is great! ?
There's a New Wi-Fi Standard Coming, and It's Much More Secure
The current W-iFi protocol we all use, WPA2, isn’t considered very secure these days. It badly needs to be upgraded. And that’s going to happen in late 2019 with WPA3. This article explains the problems with WPA2 and how WPA3 will fix them. Excerpt.“If you ask virtually any security person, they’ll say don’t use Wi-Fi, or if you do, immediately throw a VPN connection on top of it,” says Bob Rudis, chief data officer at security firm Rapid 7. “Now, Wi-Fi becomes something where we can say hey, if the place you’re going to uses WPA3 and your device uses WPA3, you can pretty much use Wi-Fi in that location.” That will change everything. The Wired article fills us in.
Amazon Brings Voice Controls to Alexa App on iOS
Users who have trained themselves on Alexa Skills can now use that same self-training on their iPhones and iPads to access the Alexa ecosystem.
Why We Won't Be Giving Up Our Mac's Keyboard Anytime Soon
AI agents are often identified as the next I/O device, supplanting our traditional keyboards. John thinks the keyboard will actually be around for a long time to come.