Welcome to My Blog
Nintendo says new ‘Fire Emblem Heroes’ game coming to iPhone and iPad ‘soon’
Following the release of Super Mario Run earlier this year, Nintendo today announced its next mobile game for iOS. After previously teasing it, the company today made Fire Emblem Heroes official and revealed the game will come to iPhone and iPad “soon.”
Filed under: Apple
Suspect lawsuit aims to force Apple to block texting while driving… Should it? [Poll]
A new class action lawsuit in California is going after Apple, claiming that the company has had technology to prevent texting and driving but has failed to implement it. The lawsuit alleges that, in refusing to implement a lockout system to prevent texting while driving, Apple is putting profits ahead of user safety…
Filed under: Apple
Hands-on: Turbo charge your MacBook Pro graphics performance with the Akitio Node eGPU over Thunderbolt 3 [Video]
The 2016 MacBook Pro has endured criticism for its lack of I/O ports, but what that it does have — two or four Thunderbolt 3 ports based on your configuration — have lots of potential. For example, it’s now possible to connect an external GPU (eGPU) box via Thunderbolt 3 and tap into the power offered by a full-sized graphics card.
In this hands-on post, we’re going to showcase how to power the 13-inch 2016 MacBook Pro with an eGPU using Sapphire’s AMD RX 480. The RX 480 is modestly-priced GPU with a decent amount of power that’s good enough for 1080p gaming. The connection is made possible by means of the Akitio Node — an external GPU box with an embedded 400W power supply, and enough room inside for a full sized card like the RX 480.
The nice folks at Akitio provided us with an early unit for testing with macOS. Unlike Akitio’s other Thunderbolt 3-enabled enclosures, the Node features the newer Texas Instruments TI83 controller and is immediately recognized in macOS. While that makes for one less hurdle to clear, there are still lots of factors to consider before taking the eGPU plunge.
As you’ll see in this post, the setup takes some effort to get right, but it’s fairly simple to get working if you follow the steps correctly. If you’re a Mac gamer or video editor, then the benefits are very apparent, especially if you’re using a MacBook Pro with an integrated Intel Iris GPU like the 13-inch 2016 model. Have a look at our full hands-on video walkthrough for our step-by-step guide through the setup process. more…
Filed under: Apple
Swift creator Chris Lattner talks developer tools and career after recent jump from Apple to Tesla
Swift creator and ex-head of Apple developer tools Chris Lattner is a special guest on this week’s episode of the Accidental Tech Podcast, following the announcement that he is leaving the company to join Tesla as a VP of the Autopilot self-driving features.
Lattner talks about his general career at Apple, from compiler manager to senior director, the invention of Swift language and how it was brought up from within Apple to become its new premier development language, debuting at WWDC in Swift 1.0. The interview gives some insight into how new projects at Apple are made and managed …
Filed under: Apple
IK Multimedia updates line of iOS/Mac recording devices w/ new iRig Pro I/O interface & Acoustic Stage pre-amp
From 9to5Toys.com
While you’re likely too busy with today’s Logic Pro X update at the moment, we are getting some new iOS/Mac gear from IK today:
IK Multimedia is well known for its lineup of great sounding and affordable recoding interfaces for iOS and Mac. Whether its the iRig HD 2 for guitar players or the iRig Pro Duo for producers and songwriters, the company has just about every kind of musician, podcaster and music maker covered at a reasonable price point. And now, straight out of NAMM 2017, IK is announcing the brand new all-in-one iRig Pro I/O for iPhone, iPad and Mac. As its name suggests, just about every type of connectivity option your typical musician would need at home or on the road is present here.
Filed under: Apple
Trump says Tim Cook has ‘eyes open’ on US-assembled iPhones, Apple wants to do ‘something major’
In a new interview with Axios, President-elect Donald Trump shared his latest expectations on Apple bringing iPhone production stateside as he has previously demanded. Although there is much speculation about the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of such a move, Trump believes Apple CEO Tim Cook would like to pursue something big related to Apple’s U.S. manufacturing…
Filed under: Apple
Sketchy supply chain rumor claims Apple Pencil 2 launching alongside new iPad Pro models this year
While rumors about refreshed iPads have been surfacing for months now, there has been no evidence that an Apple Pencil 2 is being planned for this year. A single sketchy rumor making the rounds on Chinese social media, however, claims the Apple Pencil 2 will launch alongside new iPads this year.
Filed under: Apple
Apple launches Logic Pro X 10.3 w/ customizable Touch Bar, GarageBand/iCloud syncing, refreshed UI & top requested pro features
Apple is today releasing a new version of its Logic Pro X audio production suite and it’s a big one. Not only does version 10.3 introduce Touch Bar support for MacBook Pro in a way that might be the most ambitious yet— they are fully customizable and go well beyond what Garageband has— the update also includes a refreshed user interface and many top requested features by pros.
Filed under: Apple
Apple releases GarageBand 2.2 for iOS w/ Alchemy synth, FX pane, refreshed design, Logic integration & more
Alongside an update for Logic Pro X today to version 10.3, GarageBand for iOS is also getting an update that introduces Logic integration, a refreshed design, and a handful of new features.
Perhaps most notably, version 2.2 of GarageBand for iPhone and iPad introduces a mobile version of the Alchemy virtual synth that it picked up through its Camel Audio acquisition and first integrated into Logic last summer.
Filed under: Apple
9to5Toys Lunch Break: Pioneer CarPlay Display $300, WD 1TB Portable Hard Drive $40, Polaroid mini iPhone printer $102, 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:
Upgrade your ride with CarPlay and Pioneer’s iPhone-connected 6.2-inch display: from $275 shipped (Reg. $400)
Daily Deals: WD My Passport USB 3.0 1TB External Portable Hard Drive $40, Beats EP Over-Ear Headphones $65, more
Print photos from your iOS/Android device on-the-go w/ the mini ZIP Polaroid mobile printer for $102 shipped (Reg. $130)
Grab Apple’s latest 13-inch 512GB MacBook Pro w/ Touch Bar in both colors for $1,800 shipped (Reg. $1,999)
Best Buy offers the latest 13-inch 256GB MacBook Air for as little as $975 shipped (Reg. $1,199)
You can get a brand new Apple laptop today for less than $800 shipped: current gen 13-inch MacBook Air $200 off
Save an extra $25 off $100+ at Best Buy w/ Visa Checkout: Powerbeats3 $129, Fitbit Charge 2 $105, more
The Apple Award-winning Smart Alarm Clock for iOS goes free for the very first time (Reg. $2)
- App Store Free App of the Week: Busy Shapes goes free for the very first time (Reg. $3)
Best Console Game Releases in January: Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Yakuza 0, Gravity Rush 2, Kingdom Hearts, more
Review: does this Nike+ look-alike Apple Watch Band live up to the hype? Exclusive discount and more inside…
MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:
Improve your home theater: The Bose Solo 15 Series II TV Sound System is on sale at Amazon for $319 shipped (Reg. $380+)
- DJI’s Phantom 4 Quadcopter is on sale as a certified refurb w/ warranty for $735 (Orig. $1,400)
- Smartphone Accessories: Aukey 29W Dual-port USB-C/A Wall Charger $18 Prime shipped, more
- Games/Apps: BADLAND 2 $2, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon $26, iOS freebies, more
- This Philips Norelco Shaver comes w/ a charging stand, pouch, trimmer and more for just $60
- Amazon 1-Day Activewear/Basics Apparel sale: 10-Pack Hanes Socks $10, much more
MORE DEALS STILL LIVE:
Samsung Gear IconX Cord-free Fitness AirPod competitor w/ 4GB internal storage $130 or $105 w/ Visa Checkout (Orig. $200)
Save on Caseology’s latest iPhone 7/6/s/Plus and Galaxy S7 cases w/ these exclusive promo codes, from $7 Prime shipped
Dock, charge and play music from your iPhone: AmazonBasics Lightning Clock Radio for $37.50 Prime shipped (all-time low)
Filed under: Apple
iPhone 8 could introduce new facial recognition feature, analyst predicts
Facial and gesture recognition could be some of the flagship features of Apple’s new iPhone 8 expected later this year, according to one analyst. Cowen’s Timothy Arcuri (via Business Insider) believes the next iPhone will gain a new front-facing sensor that will be used for these features.
Filed under: Apple
Apple adds QZSS support, the Japanese GPS, to iPhone 7/7 Plus tech specs
Apple has updated its website for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus in Japan to add support for Quasi Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), a Japanese satellite positioning system that could improve location features for users in the region versus traditional GPS (via Macotakara.jp).
Filed under: Apple
Apple Music gains CBS Sports Radio for 24/7 streaming through dedicated channel for members
Malwarebytes discovers new ‘Fruitfly’ malware running antiquated code on macOS
The team over at Malwarebytes has recently discovered what they’re calling “the first Mac malware of 2017”. The Fruitfly malware has been using antiquated code to help it run undetected for quite some time on macOS systems. It has reportedly been used in targeted attacks at biomedical research institutions.
Filed under: Apple
Review: Prynt, the fun instant printer for the iPhone that brings Live Photos to life
Life can be remarkably circular at times. Back in the day, people used Polaroid instant cameras to take a photo and then get an instant print. These days, we all have a camera in our pocket that allows us to instantly view our photos on a bright, hi-res screen – but people do sometimes still want instant prints, leading to the creation of Polaroid-style instant printers.
Polaroid make their mobile printer, the ZIP, at around $130. This is a thermal printer, meaning there’s no ink to worry about, printing instead onto special Zink paper. The Prynt uses the same technology and paper, but with an added twist: when using the app, people can view your prints as Live Photos …
Filed under: Apple
Apple Pay expands to over a dozen more banks and credit unions around the US
Apple Pay is now available from over a dozen more banks and credit unions around the United States as part of the latest expansion wave. Apple’s mobile payment service launched just over two years ago with hundreds of additional regional banks and credit unions added every few weeks. You can find the latest banks added below:
Filed under: Apple
What Does it Take to Build a Successful Sales and Marketing Team?
Building a successful sales team depends as much on the people you hire as it does on nurturing a cohesive and productive relationship between sales and marketing.
Working side by side, the sales and marketing teams represent the growth engine that will propel your business forward.
However, getting both of these entities on the same page is just as big a challenge today as ever. Let’s delve into 4 of the best ways to get marketing and sales to work together.
1) Onboarding Team Culture
It starts with the right people… and hasn’t it always?
Having said this, building a successful team does not develop overnight. While every potential employee carries his or her own unique set of strengths and weaknesses, both sales and marketing teams should consist of members with varying degrees of integrity, loyalty, creativity, ambition, and tenacity.
A foundation of these shared values goes a long way in creating a happy and productive organizational culture.
2) Sharing is Caring
The sharing of resources is critical for both sales and marketing teams to function cohesively. Follow these three principals to prioritize sharing between the two teams.
- All of your company’s relevant marketing communications, such as presentations, brochures, and mailers – which have been carefully written to effectively describe your product, need to be easily accessible by the sales team on a shared drive.
- Every content marketing campaign should be coordinated with the sales team so that all sales members can be adequately knowledgeable on the main talking points and other relevant details of the promotion. This can be accomplished by creating a shared Google calendar that can be edited and easily referenced by both teams.
- The sales team needs to play a role in the content creation process. Given that they are constantly updated on the needs of prospective customers, the sales team is a useful resource for the marketing department, and should regularly give their input during weekly brainstorming sessions— or on a shared Google document.
3) Let’s Get Together
By scheduling regular bi-weekly meetings, sales and marketing teams can build an effective exchange of ideas and cooperation. These meetings will go a long way in terms of getting everyone on the same page. In addition to brainstorming on new ideas, a regular meeting gives both teams the opportunity to share important KPIs related to lead generation, conversion optimization, and market analysis. In addition, attending industry events and conferences together and coordinating fun company outings will also go a long way in developing rapport between the two teams while outside of the office.
4) Listen Up
While strong marketing analytics are imperative to the success of any marketing campaign, the marketing team must also have an intimate understanding of who their audience is.
There is no better way of gaining this understanding than by listening to sales calls. Marketers will gain new ideas for content creation and develop a more personal narrative for their content that is more in touch with the actual needs of prospective clients. Additionally, they will learn which techniques are most effective for the sales team, offering valuable insight into which selling points connect the most with the target audience.
To learn more about what it takes to build a successful sales and marketing team, join us for our upcoming webinar, “What Does it Take to Grow a Predictable Marketing and Sales Organization?”, hosted by Penguin Strategies and featuring VP Global Partner Program & Strategy at HubSpot, David McNeil.