The Loop

2.1 million people streamed the Super Bowl

Jim Dalrymple — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:02:54 +0000

That’s a lot of people.

The wrong specs

Jim Dalrymple — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:47:04 +0000

Ben Brooks talking about an article written by Tim Moynihan:

I don’t give a damn about this camera, but I think it offers an interesting glimpse at the market. That is: consumers are looking at the wrong specs. Traditionally in this segment it was all about megapixels, but now it seems to be all about: optical zoom and Wi-Fi. Both are horrible features to care about, let alone to base a decision on.

Ben’s right. Consumers tend to focus on specs far too often when making a decision, but when you focus on the wrong specs, you can’t possibly make an informed choice. Things like Wi-Fi are just part of what you expect to be there — those are features you say “oh, and it has Wi-Fi, right?” when you are ready to buy. That’s after you’ve already investigated all of the important things.

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∞ Some more products for Samsung Galaxy Note users

Jim Dalrymple — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:21:16 +0000

Since Samsung decided to go retro and include a stylus with its newest products, I thought I’d be nice and hunt down a few other products Galaxy Note users may be interested in. [...]

Gannett FAQ for journalists receiving iPhones

Shawn King — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:18:15 +0000

Jim Romenesko:

This FAQ for Gannett journalists receiving iPhones was distributed today at the chain’s papers.

Q: I like my non- iPhone device. Can I just stay with that?

A: If the company owns the device, the answer is no. iPhone is the only device that can do all the things we want you to be able to do. Also, iPhone is the only device for which we have training, support and unlimited data lined up.

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Final Cut Pro X named PCMag’s Editor’s Choice

Jim Dalrymple — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:35:47 +0000

PCMag:

Apple has built a completely new, faster, cleaner, and more intuitive digital video editing package. While some professionals are still kicking and screaming about the changes it brings, we predict they’ll eventually be won over by Final Cut Pro X’s significant speed and usability advances. Meanwhile, prosumer video enthusiasts get a less daunting upgrade path to a pro-level Mac editor.

FCPX has come a long way.

[Via AI]

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∞ Corel completes Roxio acquisition

Peter Cohen — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:38:47 +0000

Corel Corp. announced Tuesday that it has completed the acquisition of Roxio from Rovi. The two companies initially announced the transition in January. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Roxio is a maker of media conversion software for Mac OS X and Windows. The company’s portfolio includes the popular Toast software, which enables Mac users to burn audio and video CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray Discs.

Shawn Cadeau, Senior Vice President,

∞ David Lee Roth interviews Alex and Eddie Van Halen

Jim Dalrymple — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:50:31 +0000

Great stuff. [...]

Judge refuses to shut down market for used MP3s

Shawn King — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:44:32 +0000

Wired Threat Level:

A one-of-a-kind website enabling the online sale of pre-owned digital-music files got a legal boost late Monday when a federal judge refused to shutter it at the request of Capitol Records.

The brief ruling by U.S. District Judge Richard Sullivan of New York did not clearly outline the reason for the decision. But in a transcript of a court proceeding Monday, he said that Capitol is likely to prevail at trial.

“Used MP3s”? Sounds shaky at best…

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In lockup, man couldn’t remember phone numbers

Shawn King — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:36:50 +0000

LA Weekly:

Like many people, Petrick had come to rely on his cellphone. He wasn’t as good as he used to be about memorizing phone numbers. Excitedly, he recalled one person’s cell number and dialed it.

His elation, however, quickly turned to anxious frustration as the automated voice told Petrick that he could not place a collect call to a cellular phone. He could only call out to a land line. Trouble was, he hadn’t memorized any land-line numbers.

“I realized right away that

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∞ The way the rest of us see the Galaxy Note

Jim Dalrymple — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:26:48 +0000

Good editing job by Patrick Crowley. [...]

∞ Picture: Galaxy Note next to iPhone 4S

Jim Dalrymple — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:00:58 +0000

Samsung includes a stylus with its newest smartphones, what’s it going to include with this beast, a wagon to carry it in?

Thanks to @abdophoto for sending the photo of Leo Laporte holding the devices.

Apple had the best Super Bowl ad of all

Jim Dalrymple — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:40:25 +0000

Jim Cramer talking about how all of the football players pulled out their iPhones to capture the moments at the end of the game.

But what matters to me is that when everyone else is paying $3 million per commercial, Apple paid nothing and easily had the best ad of all.

[Via DF]

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Image content slider in CSS3

Jim Dalrymple — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:28:54 +0000

This is so cool.

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∞ Apps create 466,000 jobs in the U.S. since 2008

Jim Dalrymple — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:26:46 +0000

How important are apps in this new economy? According to new research from TechNet apps have created 466,000 jobs since 2008. [...]

Chrome available for 1% of Android users

Jim Dalrymple — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:01:09 +0000

Chris Ziegler posted a good look at Chrome for Android on The Verge.

MG Siegler brings up a good point:

Second, it’s only compatible with Ice Cream Sandwich which is currently on — wait for it — 1% of Android devices.

So congrats to those 1%, I guess.

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∞ Picture: Samsung’s secret design weapon

Jim Dalrymple — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:41:12 +0000

No wonder they can copy Apple’s products so fast.

Apple claimed 80% of mobile profit in Q4

Jim Dalrymple — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:31:07 +0000

BGR:

Impressive data points from Apple’s record-setting holiday quarter continue to trickle out, and new estimates suggest that the company accounted for a staggering share of mobile profits in the fourth quarter of 2011. Morgan Keegan analyst Tavis McCourt wrote in a research note on Tuesday that Apple took in approximately 50% of all mobile industry revenues last quarter. Even more impressive, the analyst says Apple’s high-margin iPhone lineup accounted for more than 80% of all mobile phone profits. Read on for more.

How can this be if Android is winning?

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Honeywell vs. Nest: ‘this is about killing the competition’

Peter Cohen — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:13:04 +0000

Matt Burns at TechCrunch examine’s Honeywell’s patents, which it says Nest Labs is infringing upon with its learning thermostat.

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Motorola wants 2.25% of all iPhone, iPad sales

Jim Dalrymple — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:03:16 +0000

Phil Goldstein:

A royalty fee of 2.25 percent would have cost Apple more than $1 billion in 2011 iPhone sales alone.

If you can’t make a decent product yourself, sue someone that does.

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NERF Lazer Tag guns coming to your iPhone, iPod touch

Peter Cohen — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:55:17 +0000

NERF is resurrecting Lazer Tag this summer with an iOS twist.

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