Category: Journalism

The results of The Verge’s reader poll on ad blockers is rather amusing.

Also, I tried reading this but then my head exploded.

I’ve been thinking a lot about ad blockers, and while my feelings are conflicted, I will say this: I’m glad that my sidebar ad is such a small percentage of my income — compared to the native advertising on this site and in my podcasts — that if you block it, it won’t make a big difference in my checkbook each month. I wouldn’t want to be a tech publication built on display ads with a poll running like The Verge’s.

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Federico Viticci:

In many cultures, the number “10” evokes a sense of growth and accomplishment, a complete circle that starts anew, both similar and different from what came before. In Apple’s case, the company has a sweet spot for the 10 numerology: Mac OS was reborn under the X banner, and it gained a second life once another 10 was in sight.

What happens before a dramatic change is particularly interesting to observe. With the major milestone of iOS 10 on track for next year, what does iOS 9 say about Apple’s relationship with its mobile OS today?

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My good friend Federico Viticci has just announced something pretty great:

Since 2009, MacStories has delivered quality articles for the Apple community with a focus on depth, accuracy, and personal stories. We’ve written thousands of detailed app reviews. We’ve covered news with facts and opinions. We’ve shared stories on how technology is changing our lives.

Now, we’re ready for the next step. Today, I’m thrilled to introduce Club MacStories.

Club MacStories isn’t a paywall; it is a way to support Ticci and his team and gain access to extra content. I know they’ve been working on this for a long time, and I think they’ve nailed what a membership model should look like. I signed up instantly.

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Jason Snell:

It’s a big week this week. In many ways, the biggest week on the Apple calendar, with the annual fall iPhone event scheduled for Wednesday.

For me it’s a milestone in a few other ways, too. This week marks a year since I left IDG, and it’s also week 52 of the existence of this site. Next week will be the first anniversary of Six Colors.

Jason is working on ways for “readers the ability to support the site,” which is great. I can’t wait to pitch in to help support one of my favorite sites.

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Sydney Ember at The New York Times, with some big news in the tech journalism world:

ReCode, the news website led by the veteran journalists Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher, is being acquired by Vox Media, a deal that reflects the turmoil among digital organizations focused on covering the tech industry.

The all-stock deal, financial terms of which were not disclosed, would give ReCode access to a wider audience, something it has struggled to build since Mr. Mossberg and Ms. Swisher split off from The Wall Street Journal about a year and a half ago. Both plan to stay with ReCode after the merger.

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This morning, news broke that Verizon is purchasing AOL. Here’s Peter Kafka:

Earlier this year, AOL CEO Tim Armstrong said there was no truth to reports that he was selling his company to Verizon. It’s a different story now: The telco is buying the Internet publisher and subscription service for $4.4 billion.

Verizon, which will pay $50 a share for AOL, says the deal will help its “wireless video and OTT (over-the-top video) strategy.” Verizon says the transaction should close this summer.

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Apple has updated its guidelines for marketing App Store apps. There are some real gems concerning Apple Watch:

• Always use the name Apple Watch in singular form. Do not use plural form. Do not make Apple Watch possessive. Never say Apple Watches or Apple Watch’s. Modifiers such as model, device, or collection can be plural or possessive.
• Do not use the article the before Apple Watch.
• When referring to Apple Watch collections, use the terms Apple Watch collection, Apple Watch Sport collection, and Apple Watch Edition collection. After the first mention of a collection in copy, subsequent references can say simply Sport collection or Edition collection.
• Custom photography and video of Apple Watch are not permitted.

Apple Watch is awkward to talk about, much less write about. Apple’s removal of articles before their product names isn’t anything new, but the whole collection business is a new world of hurt.

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In a post titled “My Work Here is Done:”

So, I’m doing to focus on my family and friends, drop the demands of writing and get back to what it was before—just fun. I won’t be writing new stories, but will attempt to keep up with some of the list-type material on this Web site for reference.

I’ll miss Gary’s insight into Apple, as well as his obsessive love of detail. Over the years, we have traded emails several times, and he’s always been very kind and very helpful. Best of luck, friend.

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A shocking, tragic loss not only for his family and The New York Times, but for us all.

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The Verge’s Micah Singleton:

There goes another one. AOL is shutting down The Unofficial Apple Weblog, better known as TUAW, sources familiar with the situation tell The Verge. The company — which is also shutting down its gaming site Joystiq — is in the midst of a major reorganization, and is cutting back on media properties it deems as underperforming. TUAW’s run comes to an end on February 2nd.

AOL is spiraling, and there are about to be another round of Apple writers on the job market because of it. I’ve got friends caught up in this. Sad day.

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Once a year, I’m reminded how glad I am that I didn’t study broadcast journalism in school.

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There’s a lot of chatter today about the end of Serial, the podcast from This American Life that has followed the story of Adnan Syed, who is in prison after being found guilty for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee.

SPOILERS BELOW. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Today’s episode didn’t end the way some people wanted. Adnan is still in prison, and the world is still unsure of his guilt.

Serial ends with lots of open questions; there’s no clear next step, no immediate benefit to Adnan for taking part in the story. Serial may have unpacked his case — his very life — but it didn’t put things back together in a way that has much closure for the audience.

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