I stumbled on this awesome little project on Instagram from @Instructions (via IG’s “Videos You Might Like” feature). It’s a do-it-yourself charging holder for your iPhone made from stuff most of us have lying around. Pretty clever, I think. I’d love to hear from anyone who makes it themselves.
Watch Out SoundCloud, Apple Music Just Got Remixes
SoundCloud is taking it on the chin because one of its standout features, DJ song remixes, just came to Apple Music and Spotify. The first to hit Apple’s streaming music service is DJ Jazzy Jeff’s remix of Room in Here from Anderson .Paak, and as more remixes roll out music fans will have fewer reasons to use SoundCloud.
Keyboard Maestro: $19.99
Keyboard Maestro is one of our own Dr. Mac’s favorite Mac utilities, and we have a deal on it for you. With Keyboard Maestro, you can create macros and trigger them with keyboard shortcuts to help automate regular activities. You can get it through our deal for $19.99.
Amazon Offers Financing on Fire HD Tablets Starting at $89.99
Amazon rolled out financing for its line of Fire HD tablets this weeks, even on devices that retail for as little as US$89.99. The retailing giant is allowing qualifying customers to purchase a Fire HD8, Fire HD10, or Fire Kids Edition and pay for it over five payments.
Fujitsu Begins ScanSnap Fixes for macOS Sierra
Fujitsu announced a schedule for ScanSnap updates to correct issues in macOS Sierra. The company has been dealing with compatibility problems that threatened PDF content for Apple’s newest Mac operating system. Futjitsu pushed updates to some users on Thursday and unveiled a schedule for other devices later in October.
VC Confessions: Apple 'Outrageously Expensive,' Hasn't Facebook Heard of Friendster?
Writing for Fortune, Polina Marinova has gathered up confessions from venture capitalists who passed on companies that would become massive successes. It’s a fun read (via The Loop), but it’s also interesting. Included are comments about Apple. BVP partner Neill Brownstein called the company “outrageously expensive” before Apple went on to what was then the largest IPO in almost three decades. Another VC at BVP passed on Ebay, saying, “Stamps? Coins? Comic books? You’ve GOT to be kidding.” And yet another to Facebook cofounder Eduardo Saverin: “Kid, haven’t you heard of Friendster? Move on. It’s over!” Check out the full piece, because there are lots more.
Facebook Messenger vs Apple Messages Encryption: Which is Better?
Facebook’s Messenger private chat feature now supports end-to-end encryption, much like Apple’s own Messages app. That said, there are differences in how the two handle keeping our chats private.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-10-06: Samsung Buys Viv AI Platform
Say what? Samsung bought the Viv artificial intelligence platform designed by the creators of Siri. Bryan Chaffin and Dave Hamilton join Jeff Gamet to talk about how Samsung could use Viv, and what impact it will have on competing platforms. They also look at Facebook’s Secret Conversation encryption for Messenger chats.
ROME: Total War for iPad Priced at $9.99
Feral Interactive announced pricing for ROME: Total War Thursday. The popular PC and Mac real-time combat and turn-based economy and politics game is scheduled for an “autumn” release. It requires iPad Air or newer or iPad mini 2 or newer. It’s been rebuilt for iOS, including developing gesture-based controls to replace the mouse-driven controls of its desktop beginnings. Between Civ VI for Mac and ROME: TW on iPad, I’m going to have very little free-time. In any event, it’s going to be $9.99 on iPad, and I can’t wait to see how it plays.
macOS Sierra: Rearrange Your Menu Bar
If you’ve ever been frustrated by not being able to customize the Mac’s menu bar, then this Quick Tip‘s for you. Under macOS Sierra, that funny little omnipresent bar just got a lot more adjustable, and this article will tell you how!