BusinessInsider has a piece on the Carpool Karaoke series Apple is working on for Apple Music. According to Ben Winston, co-founder of series producer Fulwell 73 Productions, the show is going to open up guest spots to celebrities who aren’t musicians. He also said the deal came together because of Jimmy Iovine, and that CBS will limit Carpool Karaoke‘s exposure on The Late Late Show with James Corden to keep it fresh. Carpool Karaoke could be a breakout hit for Apple. For context, the episode featuring Adele (below) has 124.6 million views on YouTube. Mr. Corden is executive producer of the Apple Music spinoff, but won’t be hosting it. There’s more in the full BI piece.
MOS Pack Backpack Charges Multiple Devices with One Plug
Here’s something cool for techies on the go, especially the back-to-school crowd. It’s called MOS Pack, a backpack with a built-in portable charging station for all your gadgets. It has pockets for iPhones (or other smartphones), iPads, your passport, and a spot for a water bottle. On the charging side, the MOS pack doesn’t have a built-in battery—which you’d have to lug around—but instead has a charging station that distributes power to all your gadgets from one plug. Inside it has a cable management system you feed to each gadget in each pockets, and you’re charging everything without having to pull them out. I thought it quite clever at $99.
FresheTech Splash Tunes Bluetooth Shower Speaker: $19.99
Check out the FresheTech Splash Tunes Bluetooth Shower Speaker. The name tells you what it is, but if you look at the image you’ll see a suction cup you can use to stick it to a mirror or even the wall in your shower. It has a nine-hour battery life, and you recharge via an included microUSB cable. You can get it through our deal for $19.99.
Apple Might Destroy the EU
It looks like the European Commission (EC) will rule against Apple and Ireland’s tax arrangement. If the European Union (EU) bullies Ireland (via the EC or other proxy) and basically rules that Ireland doesn’t have the sovereign right to set its own tax rates, there is some chance it could be a wedge issue that pushes Ireland to decide to leave the European Union.
Fitbit Aims at Apple Watch Crowd with Charge 2, Flex 2 Fitness Trackers
Fitbit is aiming to draw in potential Apple Watch buyers with its just announced Charge 2 and Flex 2 fitness trackers. Now Fitbit users can track their cardio fitness level, link to their smartphone GPS, swap wrist bands, and more.
TMO Background Mode: Interview with Omni Group Software Engineer Liz Marley
Liz Marley is a software engineer for the Omni Group. Early in life, there never was a time when Liz didn’t have computers. At age four, she started with her dad’s Apple IIGS, and she was encouraged to use it freely. Later, she majored in Computer Science at Harvey Mudd college and soon thereafter landed a job as a software tester. Over the years, her career has taken a series of interesting twists. From software coding to testing to being a product manager and then back to coding. In fact, her work with App Camp For Girls led her to a remarkable career decision and turn of events at the Omni Group. This is must listening for everyone interested in computer programming as a career.
Apple Media Event Officially Set for Sept 7
Apple has been expected to host a special media event on Wednesday, September 7th, and now it’s confirmed because invitations are arriving in the media’s in boxes. The company isn’t saying what it’ll announce, but the smart money is on new iPhones.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-08-29: Apple Watch 2 Battery, Microsoft's Smart Surface Pro 4 Ad
New photos show what looks like the battery for the Apple Watch 2, and it seems to support John Martellaro’s premise that the next model won’t be any thinner. Today John and Bryan Chaffin join Jeff Gamet for a little gloating at Bryan’s expense because he’s been championing a thinner Apple Watch 2. They also look at Microsoft’s latest Surface Pro 4 ad and dive into why slamming the MacBook Air was a smart move.
Bigger Apple Watch 2 Battery Doesn't Mean Longer Life
The Apple Watch 2 may pack a bigger battery, assuming a new photo is legit. If so, that could mean longer battery life for Apple’s second generation smartwatch, but it could be powering new features instead.
Philips Adds Motion Sensor to its Smart Home Lineup
Philips is adding a motion sensor to its Hue smart bulb product line that’ll turn on your lights when you walk into a room. The Hue Motion Sensor runs on two AAA batteries so you can place it anywhere that works for you, can pair with specific light control scenes for day and night, has adjustable sensitivity, and is smart enough to leave the lights off when it’s still light out. The Hue Motion Sensor will be available in October for US$39.95.