Welcome to My Blog
Report: U.S. to expand carry-on laptop & tablet ban to include all flights from Europe
Back in March, the United States government enacted a new policy that prohibited tablets and laptops from being carried in cabin baggage on flights to the United States from eight countries. Now, it appears that the policy may be expanded to include all flights from Europe to the United States…
Hackintosh: AMD or Nvidia for Final Cut Pro X? [Video]
If you’re looking to build a Hackintosh that can serve as a competent Windows gaming rig on the side, then a build powered by an Nvidia GPU is a good choice. In our most recent Hackintosh build, we paired an Intel i7 6700k with Nvidia’s fastest gaming GPU, the 1080 Ti.
The results weren’t all that surprising. Performance was good in a macOS environment even when using Nvidia’s beta web drivers. Performance was a lot better, though, in a Windows environment, where Pascal GPUs can really thrive.
If you’re interested in building a Hackintosh solely for video editing, however, then an Nvidia-powered GPU option might not be the best choice. Sure, Nvidia GPUs with their CUDA cores are generally superior for editing in an Adobe workflow, but if you’re building a Hackintosh machine solely for video editing, chances are you’re interested in running Final Cut Pro X.
Uber now allows you to save custom locations other than home and work
Rolling out today, Uber is making it easier for you to remember destinations other than your home and work addresses with Saved Places. Whether you visit a particular friend or relative’s house, restaurant, or even a park fairly often, it can get annoying trying to remember the exact address when hailing an Uber. Now, these saved locations can be saved as a shortcut…
Apple announces $1 billion expansion of Reno data center, new shipping warehouse
Earlier this week, it was reported that Apple was planning an expansion of its Reno data center, with the company awaiting city approval. Today, the Reno City Council officially approved Apple’s proposal for a $1 billion expansion…
Snap misses expectations with Q1 2017 earnings, reports loss of $2.2 billion
Back in February, Snapchat parent company Snap Inc filed for a $3 billion initial public offering and today, the company has reported its earnings for the first quarter of 2017. The numbers, as you can tell from the company’s stock plunge, were considerably less than initial Wall Street estimates…
Apple Music begins promoting exclusive content…as GIFs
Here’s what pros want from Apple’s new modular Mac Pro and display
Last time I asked the Hackintosh community what they want to see in Apple’s pre-announced modular Mac Pro to find out what could win back the pros that have abandoned Apple’s hardware. This time I’ve asked the pros– iOS and Mac developers, photographers, audio engineers, animators and more– what they want from the promise of a modular Mac for pros, along with the display Apple also announced it’s working on.
Google Search adds ‘Events’ view to find and filter nearby activities on iOS
Readdle launches PDF Expert 6 for iOS w/ new design & editing features
Readdle is out with a new version of its PDF Expert for iOS that includes a new design and editing features. PDF Expert 6 for iPhone and iPad features new editing capabilities, a streamlined design, improved cloud sync, password protection, and more. Check out the full release notes below:
First mobile PowerVR GPU w/ Furian VR/AR suitable for iPhones announced as Apple plans to drop Imagination
Imagination Technologies, the company behind the PowerVR GPU tech seen in Apple’s AX chips, has announced the first chip based off of its new Furian architecture. The PowerVR Series8XT GT8525 introduces significant enhancements in mobile graphic performance. The very type of performance that could find a home in future devices that have a focus on AR/VR requirements…
Apple tops Q1 2017 highest-selling smartphone list with iPhone 7
New data from Strategy Analytics shows that Apple’s iPhone 7 was the top-selling smartphone during the first quarter of 2017 despite a slight year-over-year drop in sales. While Apple doesn’t release iPhone sales by model, Strategy Analytics estimates that the iPhone 7 accounted for 6.1% of total smartphones shipped while the iPhone 7 Plus captured 4.9% of shipments.
9to5Toys Lunch Break: 15-inch MacBook Pro w/ Touch Bar $330 off, Powerbeats3 $130, iTunes $50 Gift Card $42, more
Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.
TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:
Take $330 off Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Pro w/ Touch Bar
Apple’s Touch Bar-enabled 13-inch 512GB MacBook Pro $299 off
Beats Powerbeats3 discounted to $130 in Flash Blue, Shock Yellow, more
iTunes $50 Gift Card from PayPal for $42.50 with email delivery
Apple’s 9.7-inch iPad Pro $100 off in all capacities/colors, starting at $500
Apple’s new 9.7-inch iPad 32GB in Silver, Gold or Space Gray $299 shipped (Tax NY/NJ only)
Apple Watch Series 1/2 $70 off in nearly every style, priced from $200
Amazon lowers its minimum free shipping threshold!
MacID for iOS: unlock your Mac using iPhone or Apple Watch, now just $1
- Krashlander for iOS hits lowest price in over a year: $1
- Block Fortress titles for iOS hit lowest price in years: $1 ea
- App Store Free App of the Week: Zip-Zap iOS puzzler goes free (Reg. up to $2)
- Brothers A Tale of Two Sons for iOS drops to just $3
Review: LeEco Super4 4K Ultra HDTVs look great, but aren’t without troubles
10 reasons why the Panasonic Lumix GH5 might be my next camera [Video]
9to5Rewards: Waterfield Designs’ popular Bolt Briefcase [Giveaway]
MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:
Anker iPhone Accessory sale from $4: Cases, Lightning Cables, Speakers, more!
Daily Deals: HP OfficeJet All-In-One Printer w/ AirPrint $40, Miroir Element DLP Projector $125, more
- WD 4TB My Passport Hard Drive w/ $25 Best Buy Gift Card $118, more
- At $4, this Apple Watch Case is a sporty complement to your Nike band
- Poweradd Pilot X7 20,000mAh Battery Power Bank from $16.50
- LEGO Architecture Louvre Kit drops to Amazon all-time low at $42, more
- Today’s Best iOS & Mac Game/App Deals: Kero Blaster, Sudoku+, MacID, more
- Today’s Best Game Deals: Nier Automata from $36, LEGO Star Wars + MGS V $28, more
- Smartphone Accessories: Aukey LED Desk Lamp with USB Charging Port $32, more
- LG 8,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner $175 (Reg. $227)
- Get 2TB of Cloud Storage with Degoo Premium Lifetime Plan: $60
- Hoover Carpet Cleaner SteamVac hits Amazon all-time low at $70
- Jewelry for Mom up to 40% off today only at Amazon, starting at $5
- Sperry extra 30% off sale discounts our favorite shoes, clothes and more
NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:
Otterbox unveils new rugged Venture coolers and Elevation tumblers
Parrot intros new prosumer drones focused on commercial features
Framed Tweets turns anyone’s Twitter speak into a work of art
- AOC’s newest 16-inch 1080P IPS USB-powered displays ultra-thin and portable
- Como Audio’s new speakers take on Sonos with multi-room audio playback
- H&M’s Vacation Shop has all of the Summer Must-Haves
- Beyerdynamic teases Xelento wireless earphones with high-end aluminum design
- Mokase turns your iPhone or Android into an on-the-go coffeemaker
- SNOOZ brings white noise machine into the 21st Century with iPhone control
- Harman’s Echo competitor features Cortana virtual assistant and Skype calling
- Fender releases new Mustang GT iOS/Android-connected amps [Video]
- Degreeº is an in-ear thermometer for kids that beams continuous stats to your iPhone
- Weber’s Summit Charcoal Series hits with mouthwatering features, big price tag
- Reigning Champs x adidas release French Terry Collaboration
- AirBuddy is the “smallest and lightest” diving gear on the market
- Momo smart hub sports facial recognition and works with Hue, Nest, more
- GE Sol smart lamp coming this fall with HomeKit and Alexa support
- Aero is the portable eBike that folds in 3 seconds, has a 45 mile range
- Battle Bay for iOS/Android from the makers of Angry Birds available now
- Loewe bild 9 OLED 4K UHDTV combines mid-century design, high-end tech
- Tregren T-series is the “true” smart garden for your kitchen
- Target launches World of Inspiration Collection in time for Summer
- Acer’s newest 32-inch 4K display is definitely built for professionals
- DJI sees new competitors: Bolt Drone w/ VR hits Kickstarter under $175
- Monoprice unveils Strata Home: affordable Sous Vide cookers, robo vacs and more
- Dreamscreen adds reactive backlighting to your 4K TV and home theater setup
- Zara’s New Beach and Picnic Collection is full of color
MORE DEALS STILL LIVE:
Bose SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones II $229 (Reg. $279)
Blue Raspberry USB Microphone for Mac/PC/iOS $160 (Reg. $200)
Amazon Echo Show is now available for pre-order, save $100 off a two-pack
Microsoft releases Visual Studio 2017 for Mac following preview
Microsoft has officially released Visual Studio for Mac following an extended preview period for developers. The release corresponds with the kick off of Microsoft’s Build 2017 developer conference this week.
Purported ‘2017’ iPhone leak hints at Ion-X back glass
The iPhone 8 has been rumored to have a front and back glass design for a while, and now new images have surfaced the may show the glass used on the rear casing for a ‘2017’ iPhone. If the leak is accurate, the glass material could be the same as some Apple Watch models.
Latest Kantar data shows why India is so important to Apple’s future growth
India may be a small market for Apple right now, but the latest Kantar data shows why the company is placing such an emphasis on the country. While worldwide smartphone growth is just 3%, smartphone penetration in India grew by 16% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2017.
Purchase intention also shows great prospects for Apple …
Design student imagines really cool new approach to discovery within Apple Music
A design student whose work was praised by Apple as the company turned him down for an internship decided to take the feedback to heart. When Apple told Northwestern Uni student Jason Yuan they wanted to see more growth and training, he decided to work on this by redesigning the iOS Apple Music app.
The project began with qualitative research – talking to users in depth about their approach to music and their experience of the app – and led to what proved to be a key insight …
Is Interactive Video the Next Big Thing? 3 Creative Examples from Brands
It’s hardly a revelation to say that online video content is phenomenally popular. Millions of words have been written on the subject, and millions more will no doubt follow.
But one of the great things about marketers is that we’re always looking for what’s next. We know that it’s not enough to rest on our laurels, or rely on things that have worked in the past.
And when it comes to what’s next for video — I believe something is happening that we should all be feeling extremely excited about. Because, quite simply, it could enable us all to take video marketing to the next level all over again.
Is Interactive Video the Next Big Thing?
Limited Limitations
Some fairly obvious characteristics have made video the web’s most engaging media type when compared to text, images and combinations thereof. It’s the perfect blend of audio and visual elements, drilled down into bite-sized chunks that appeal to the modern viewers’ desire for immediate understanding.
But that’s not to say it’s quite the perfect storytelling device. It’s close, but falls down in one simple area: when it comes to interacting with video content, users have only really been able to play, pause, rewind and fast-forward.
Interactive video changes that. In a nutshell, this emerging technology combines video content with user input — allowing viewers to take a wide range of actions while watching video content.
They can click areas of the screen to define their own journey, answer questions, complete forms, buy products, download content and more — often without leaving the player window.
Interactive Video In Action
That’s a pretty broad definition and maybe not the easiest concept to visualize — so let’s take a look at some real-world examples.
We created the below example to explain the general idea behind interactive video and demonstrate a few possible use cases:
4 Interactive Video Examples from Brands
Now that we have a general understanding of what interactive video is and what it’s capable of, let’s take a look at some examples used by real brands.
1) Warner Bros | Focus
Ever seen the 2015 movie Focus starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie? The guys at Warner Bros rolled out a clever interactive video campaign to build awareness pre-release.
In the movie, Will Smith plays a con-artist — and the video lets the viewer make their own choices to see whether they have what it takes to pull off the perfect con.
Give it a shot and ask yourself: which would you be more likely to share with a friend? This gamified experience, or a traditional movie trailer?
2) UK Resuscitation Council | Lifesaver
The next example was produced by the UK Resuscitation Council as an impactful way to educate viewers about safe, effective CPR. These are skills that we all hope we never need, but they could make the difference between life and death. It’s reported that CPR can double the chances of survival in cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Take a look at the video and just consider how much more impactful this campaign might be than a pamphlet or even a simple, linear instructional video. As the old proverb goes: “Tell me and I’ll forget, show me and I might remember, involve me and I’ll understand.”
Involving the viewer in the process of actually performing CPR in this way is much more visceral — and it certainly imprinted the basics of CPR on my own mind, in a way that I can’t imagine would be possible with other media types.
3) Deloitte | Will You Fit Into Deloitte?
Another, more business-focused example would be this gamified recruitment experience for Deloitte. Broadly speaking, the campaign aims to educate potential recruits about the Deloitte culture while allowing the viewer to evaluate their own suitability to work within that culture.
Recruitment videos can be a little dry and boring, so this is a nice way to infuse things with a little fun without going too far off-message.
Looking Ahead for Interactive Video
Like all new technology, interactive video might have started as a sort of “fringe” technology that seemed slightly intimidating, inaccessible and, most importantly, unaffordable. Now, that’s slowly changing. Costs are falling, businesses are getting inspired and the technology is increasingly available and accessible, even for SME’s and startups.
With all that said, adoption is far from widespread. Wyzowls state of video marketing survey 2017 suggests that, even among committed video marketers, adoption of interactive video is around the 24% mark. What’s interesting, though, is that 92% of those who’ve tried it, reported that they’ve found interactive video to be an effective tool for their business.
There are lots of exciting things happening in the world of video marketing — short-form, 360 and even VR — but interactive video might just be the most exciting of all. We can’t wait to see more brands serving up unique, interactive experiences to their customers as we all find out more about its potential for success.
EU planning a new law addressing ‘unfair contractual clauses’ following Spotify’s complaint against Apple
The European Union is planning a new law to address what it describes as ‘unfair contractual clauses’ following a complaint by Spotify, Deezer and others.
While Apple was not specifically named in the complaint, Spotify considers it unfair that Apple takes a 15% cut of in-app subscription purchases, arguing that this makes it less competitive against Apple Music …