2013 was the first time in many years that Microsoft didn’t host the opening keynote for the Consumer Electronics Show here in Las Vegas. Instead, the show went to Qualcomm and its CEO, Dr. Paul Jacobs. We weren’t quite sure what to expect beyond a new series of processors, but what we got was weirder than anything we’ve seen in all of our collective years attending CES. While Chris Ziegler translated the surreal experiences into a liveblog and I took photos of the craziest moments, the rest of the Verge staff took to Twitter to react to the event. You can relive the insanity right here.
Do yourself a favor and read this piece on last night’s CES 2013 opening keynote from the folks at Qualcomm. They’ve also got video of the whole Qualcomm presentation; a bizarre, Rolls Royce infused event which prompted Verge editor-in-chief Josh Topolsky to say that “reality is jumping the shark.”
Panasonic targets photographers with 20-inch 4K Windows 8 tablet (hands-on)
Normally reserved for TVs, this tablet is targeted at photographers, designers, and architects.
“Almost ready to go! Let me throw my gigantic tablet in my bag! Gah, it doesn’t fit!”
Facebook is continuing to fine-tune and adapt its Messenger mobile apps (iOS/Android), today pushing live updates which include a potentially disruptive feature: voice messages. The iOS and Android Messenger apps (which will be available later today) have been outfitted with a new option alongside the photo and camera buttons, offering a ‘Record’ toggle that can be pushed and held to record voice messages. (via Facebook launches voice in iOS and Android Messenger apps, tests VoIP calling in Canada - The Next Web)
I’m gonna spam you all with the most annoying voice messages.
And I’ll repeat: if you provide value to people, they’ll pay for it.
Awesome.
Whether this is the way to go for the industry at large, you have to admit this is awesome promotion for TinyPass, which I bet you most people didn’t know about until today. Only issue I can see? Sully has a staff, and he needs more than just six figures to pay their salaries. It it was just him, this would be solid, though.
This is exactly why it’s so hard to disrupt the industry perhaps most in need of disruption. I still think wireless options will ultimately be more viable, and the way this happens. And make no mistake, it will happen.
You know, if Google and Apple were still friends, they could combine their giant coffers and make it happen—and reap the rewards. Unfortunately, pipe dreams don’t happen.
Twitter’s photo filters now available for Android and iOS apps
Called it. Vaguely-related side note: Google-owned Snapseed is awesome.
We started a Web site, but NBC refused to let us put the address on any of our ads because they didn’t want people to know the Internet existed. They were worried about losing viewers to it.
Judd Apatow in The Oral History of Freaks and Geeks. 1999 ruled. (via amandalynferri)
Sums up the entertainment industry pretty well. (via parislemon)
In a way, they were right (ratings as a whole are down, people aren’t watching TV as much), but in another way, this was so shortsighted.
Apple to manufacture Mac line in the US
NBC News: In an interview with Brian Williams airing tonight on “Rock Center,” Apple CEO Tim Cook says one of the existing Mac lines will be manufactured exclusively in the US next year.Cook says he believes it’s important to bring more jobs to the US. “We’ve been working for years on doing more and more in the US,” he says.
Photo credit: NBC News
There have been rumblings that the new iMac was being manufactured in the U.S., but now we have confirmation that at least something is U.S.-produced.
First iPad-only newspaper ‘The Daily’ shutting down on December 15th
:( A real heartbreaker. As you guys might know, some of SFB’s staff worked for The Daily until a recent round of layoffs. (I also did a piece for the publication a while back.) Peter, who you might know as BrooklynMutt, also worked on it. They also ran one of the best big-media Tumblrs. It was a great publication with solid design and a forward-looking approach — a real trailblazer. Its death is all-around sad. — Ernie @ SFB
I’m moving back to New York in a few days. Unlike past...
OMG. I got so...
In this week’s Newsweek, a little...
Tumblr this morning. [h/t anne]
#@#$%!.tumblr.com
Here’s a hidden feature that shipped in...
Watch: PCB gets a visual shout out on GMA’s Yahoo/Tumblr...
Final issue of Nintendo Power’s cover returns to magazine’s roots
Awwww
Now you’re fading with power. Pretty sure I still have this issue somewhere.
Pretty soon you’ll be able to print your 3D projects at the local Staples.
A new service called “Staples Easy 3D” will allow customers to upload their designs to Staples’ website, then pick up the printed objects at their local office supply megastore, or have them shipped to their home or business — not unlike the photo- and document-printing service the company already offers.
The project was announced today at Euromold 2012 by 3-D printer manufacturer Mcor Technologies, who is partnering with Staples to provide its new Iris printers for the service.
An interesting decision, though one we suspect will work out for the company based on the increasing popularity of 3D printing thanks to companies like MakerBot Industries. Between this and the introduction of more Dunder Mifflin office supplies, we think we might be spending a little more time at this particular office supply chain in the future.
Apple Inc. (AAPL) has fired the manager responsible for its troubled mapping software, seeking to win back the trust of users disappointed after the program debuted in September, according to people familiar with the move.
Richard Williamson, who oversaw the mapping team, was pushed out by Senior Vice President Eddy Cue, said the people, who asked not to be named because the information wasn’t yet public. Cue, who took over last month as part of a management shakeup, is seeking advice from outside mapping-technology experts and prodding digital maps providerTomTom NV (TOM2) to fix landmark and navigation data it shares with Apple.
Given the public reaction to Apple’s in-house Maps app, we can’t say we’re entirely surprised by this announcement, though we sort of expected Williamson to be shown the door weeks ago if it was going to happen. The decision was apparently made by new Senior Vice President Eddy Cue following last month’s Apple executive shuffle. Of course, many people probably think the entire situation is being blown out of proportion. What say you, dear reader?E
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