Connected #284: stevensmerch.com⇢

This week on Connected:

Federico makes a change, Stephen buys a domain and Myke cancels a future live show, pending Apple’s decision on WWDC.

My thanks to our sponsors:

  • Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code CONNECTED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
  • Boll & Branch: The Softest Organic Sheets & Luxury Bedding. Save $50. Try them for 30 days in a risk free trial.
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512 Pixels Shirts and Stickers: It’s hip to be...⇢

Sometimes coming up with merchandise ideas is hard; other times, the idea comes to you while just walking around the grocery store.

That’s what happened this time, and after some extensive market research that included sending mockups to some friends over iMessage, I am excited to share the new 512 Pixels shirt, available in a bunch of colors, which you can see at the bottom of this post.

The shirt is available for preorder for just 14 days, and even if there isn’t a WWDC this year, you’ll look great this summer in one of them.

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The iPod is Alive and Well, To Some⇢

Melanie Ehrenkranz at OneZero:

Manuel Mantecon, who goes by Pichi, has several boxes stacked in his bathroom filled with iPod parts. When it’s time to fix one up for a customer, he takes the boxes down, including one shaped like a sewing kit that he refers to as his “iPod toolbox,” and refurbishes used iPods out of his bathroom in North Carolina. He works out of his bathroom because it’s a lot of moving parts, and he tends to leave a bit of a mess. “I know it sounds a little crazy, but it keeps everything out of sight,” Pichi said.

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Google I/O Cancelled for 2020

Frederic Lardinois, writing at TechCrunch:

After Facebook canceled its F8 developer conference and Google itself moved its Cloud Next event in April to a digital-only conference, it doesn’t come as a huge surprise that Google is canceling its I/O developer conference in Mountain View for 2020 as well. The company has sent an email to attendees informing them of the cancellation. The event was originally scheduled to run from May 12 to 14, but because of concerns around the coronavirus, it is now canceling the show.

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Sponsor: Sundial — Solar & Lunar Times and Alerts⇢

Sundial provides a one-of-a-kind display of the sun and moon rise/set cycle over the 24-hour day. Essential solar and lunar data is reported, such as sunset time, moonrise time, and days to the next full and new moon.

With the extremely configurable alert system, you can set up notifications around 24 solar and lunar events including dawn, sunrise, solar noon, sunset, dusk, moonrise, full moon, new moon, and equinoxes/solstices.

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MPU #525: Workflows with David Wain⇢

This week on MPU:

Writer and director David Wain returns to the show to share how his creative process has changed over the years, and walks Stephen and David through the steps of making a show like Medical Police.

My thanks to our sponsors:

  • Boll & Branch: The Softest Organic Sheets & Luxury Bedding. Save $50. Try them for 30 days in a risk free trial.
  • Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code MPU at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
  • 1Password: Have you ever forgotten a password? You don’t have to worry about that anymore.
  • The Omni Group: We’re passionate about productivity for Mac, iPhone and iPad.

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TextExpander, from Smile⇢

My thanks to TextExpander from Smile for sponsoring 512 Pixels this week.

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Flashback #2: The Microsoft Zune⇢

On the second episode of our new podcast Flashback, Quinn Nelson and I dig into everyone’s favorite brown MP3 player:

In the 2000s, the iPod was a true juggernaut, simply dominating the portable music player market. Microsoft wanted a piece of the pie, and launched the Zune 30, which eventually spread into a line of both hardware products and software services. However, it barely made a dent in Apple’s commanding lead. This episode, Quinn and Stephen look into why the folks from Seattle failed so hard at taking on the iPod.

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