People want to roll. Well, really, people want to hover. OK, people really want to fly. Like, for reals. But people really want to roll while they wait for the floaty-flying options. Here in the Bay Area, you can’t walk down the street without tripping over a rentable electric scooter, and non-hovering hoverboards were all the rage until everyone learned that they sucked. Segway, the original self-balancing people mover company, is looking to take this trend further with e-Skates. More specifically, the company introduced the Segway Drift W1 line of e-Skates. These are essentially self-balancing wheels you strap to your feet. Only you don’t strap them on, you just sort of stand on them and go. I can’t imagine what could go wrong. Dean Kamen hasn’t been involved with Segway since 2010, but the company’s technology is still awesome, and these might just be the bee’s knees. They haven’t shipped yet, but TechCrunch reported they’ll be priced at $399.
Bryan Chaffin
Bryan Chaffin is the cofounder of The Mac Observer and currently serves as Afternoon Editor. He has contributed to MacAddict and MacFormat magazines, and co-authored the last two updates of iPad and iPad Pro for Dummies with Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus and Ed Baig. You can find out more about Bryan at his personal site, GeekTells, or find his Twitter link below.
Articles by Bryan Chaffin
PowerItUp 2-in-1 USB Car Adapter and Power Bank: $16.99
We have a deal on the PowerItUp 2-in-1 USB Car Adapter and Power Bank. It plugs into your auxiliary power outlet on your car (i.e. your cigarette lighter) with a USB charging port (2.1 amp) for your devices. It also has a 3,000mAh portable battery built right into it, with a fuze for overcharge and over-current protection. It’s $16.99 through our deal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxyuSPDUKKE
Apple Releases Software Fix for MacBook Pro (2018) Thermal Throttling, Apologizes for Bug
Apple released a software update and apology for what it called a bug that resulted in the much-ballyhooed thermal throttling issue in its new MacBook Pro 2018 models.
Review: AirVinyl's Leather AirPod Case Offers Snug and Satisfying Protection
Bryan Chaffin has been testing AirVinyl’s Leather AirPod Case for weeks, and says it offers a snug fit, satisfying motion, and solid protection.
Facebook 'Experimenting' with Low Earth Orbit Satellites for Internet Access
Facebook is “experimenting” with some LEO (low Earth orbit) satellites to connect the huge part of the world that remains without Internet access. After all, there are more than three billion products out there waiting to be sold, and Facebook wants to be the company that taps into all that merchandise those people. Wired did the footwork on this story, tracking down emails between the FCC and a lawyer representing Facebook through subsidiaries, but Facebook owned up to it when directly asked by the magazine. When I said “experimenting,” though, it really is an experiment. Facebook has been looking for ways to get the rest of the world connected for many years. Past experiments have included both a geosynchronous satellite (that blew up) and solar-powered gliders that didn’t work out. A network of up to thousands of LEO satellites, however, could do it.
VPN Unlimited 3-Year Subscription: $25.50
We have a deal on a three year subscription to VPN Unlimited. The service features unlimited bandwidth, servers in more than 70 locations and 24/7 support. They support a wide variety of languages, and it works on Mac, iOS, Android, Linus, and Windows. A 3 year subscription is $29.99 through us, and coupon code DIGITALWEEK15 at checkout brings it down to $25.50.
Laurene Powell Jobs's 'The Atlantic' Magazine Goes on Hiring Spree
Laurene Powell Jobs invested some of her immense fortune in The Atlantic magazine in 2017. If you’ve been wondering what she’s been up to since, Politico (via Philip Elmer-DeWitt) reported a major expansion of The Atlantic’s political coverage, including 10 new job openings. From Politico:
The Atlantic is posting 10 new jobs today, including three White House reporters and two Pentagon reporters. There are also new openings to cover the State Department, intelligence, immigration and politics. The Washington hiring spree is part of a broader expansion announced in February under new majority owner Laurene Powell Jobs and Atlantic Media chairman David Bradley.
IK Multimedia Ships UNO Synth: Analog Synth with Triggers, Pads, Presets
IK Multimedia shipped UNO Synth, a monophonic synth with triggers, pads, presets, and analog sound. Designed by Italian boutique synthesizer maker Soundmachines and IK’s synth guru Erik Norlander, this baby comes with “100 presets and an easy-to-play keyboard with selectable scales and an arpeggiator.” Announced in May for US$/€199.99, it’s available now. You can read more in our original coverage, watch the movie below, or check it out on IK Multimedia’s site.
USB Wall Charger with Hidden Camera: $49.99
Here’s an interesting device called the LizaCam USB Wall Plug. It’s a wall charger—and looks like one with a USB port—but it also has a hidden camera and a motion sensor. It will alert you when it detects motion and record HD video to an SD card—not the cloud. You can access that video from your smartphone, too. It ships to the U.S., and is $49.99 through us.
Top Websites Are Part of Bad Password Security Problem
We talked about password security during Thursday’s TDO, including the need for people to unique passwords at every website and a password manager (I love 1Password) to keep track of them. Another thing we mentioned was how baffling it is when a website forces us to use bad passwords. Timing is everything, because a University of Plymouth study found that top websites are a big part of the problem when it comes to password security practices. Here’s a quote from the study taken from TechCrunch‘s excellent writeup on the subject.
It is somewhat disappointing to find that the overall story in 2018 remains largely similar to that of 2007. In the intervening years, much has been written about the failings of passwords and the ways in which we use them, yet little is done to encourage or oblige us to follow the right path.
Check out the Apple Music Ed Sheeran Documentary Trailer
Apple Music has an Ed Sheeran documentary coming on August 28th. Mr. Sheeran is one of the biggest stars in music today, and this documentary focuses on the creation and recording of his newest album, ÷ (Apple Music link for ÷ Deluxe). I love behind-the-scenes documentaries for album creation, and this one looks to be good, including concert footage.
This $100 Fake iPhone X Has a Pretend Notch and Is Riddled with Backdoors
It looks just like an iPhone X, from the lack of a Home button to the faked notch to the (crappy, blurry) lens array on the back.
Disconnect VPN 1-Year Premium Subscription: $14
We have a deal on Disconnect, a VPN service that specializes in tracker blocking and encrypting your data. Our deal is for a one year subscription for $14, and it’s good for use on up to three devices. There are longer subscriptions available on the deal, page, too.
Apple Interface Consistency, Storage Permutations, Walmart Streaming Video - ACM 471
In this age of different devices and platforms, Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Gamet talk about the lack of consistency in Apple’s interfaces compared to the days when “Apple” meant “Mac.” They also go over some listener feedback (read criticism) about their rant last week on Apple’s storage pricing for new MacBook Pro models. Lastly, they discuss whether not Walmart can make a go in the streaming video market, and how that might actually work.
Syncwire UNBREAKcable, MFi-Certified Lightning Cable: $10.99
Check out the Syncwire UNBREAKcable, an MFi-Certified Lightning cable bend-tested for 30,000 charging cycles. It features a TPE jacket exterior and tinplate wrapped inner wires. And it’s $10.99 through our deal.
$100 iTunes Card for $85 from Ebay
As deals on iTunes cards have become rarer, this is one of the best offers out there. [Update: Link to the deal added!]
Ginger Page Premium 1-Year Subscription: $29.99
We have a deal on a 1 year subscription to Ginger Page Premium, a writing platform that aims to help you write better. Ginger Page can read your sentences back to you, has its own grammar checker, can help you explore different ways to phrase your text, and more. There’s an iOS app, and on the Mac it will work in Safari. A 1 year subscription is $29.99 through us, with longer subscriptions available on the deal page.
Apple Seeds tvOS 12 Developer Beta 4
tvOS 12 includes new features like Dolby Atmos audio support, the ability to auto-fill passwords from user’s iPhones, and Zero Sign-on for cable TV services. Zero Sign-on lets Apple TV detect which cable service you have and automatically sign in and download apps for available channels.
Apple Seeds macOS Mojave Developer Beta 4, Supports 2018 MacBook Pro Models
The biggest known change is support for the new 2018 MacBook Pro models that shipped last week.
Apple Leadership Page Gets Memoji Makeover for World Emoji Day
Apple redid its executive profiles using the upcoming Memoji feature in iOS 12 for iPhone X (and new iPhone models to be announced this fall), all as part of its World Emoji Day celebration/blitz.
Organize Your Apple Accessories with BentoStack: $42.95
Check out the BentoStack, an organizer for your Apple accessories. Borrowing its design from a Japanese bento box, BentoStack fits everything just so. It includes four adjustable compartment dividers and two 2 silicone straps, and it’s $42.95 through our deal.
Apple Celebrates World Emoji Day with Animated Look at Hair Options in iOS 12
The company showed off new animals, foods, and characters, as well as this great animated look at new hair options for emojis.
Pay What You Want for the Complete UI/UX Design Tutorial Lifetime Bundle
We have a new pay-what-you-want deal called the Complete UI/UX Design Lifetime Bundle, a comprehensive collection of design-related training courses. Photoshop, design, UI and UX, web design, and more are covered in eight different training courses. Pay what you want, even a penny, and you’ll get Photoshop, InDesign, And Illustrator 101. Beat the average price, which is currently $8.87, and you’ll get all eight courses. Beat the current Leader’s price, and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a Super NES Classic.
Apple Music's Carpool Karaoke Snags Shortform Emmy Nomination, Up Against SNL, Daily Show, Tonight Show
Apple Music snagged an Emmy nomination in the shortform variety series category for its adaptation of Carpool Karaoke.