My buddy Thomas Brand has put together a nice set of links to celebrate the 18th birthday of the Newton MessagePad 2000.
I owned a 2000 for several years in college, complete with Wi-Fi card, keyboard and carrying case. It synced contacts, calendars and more with my PowerBook G4 via an ADB/USB adaptor. I could send and receive email, take class notes and more all on the little green machine.
We’ve got some limited-run tshirts for the podcast up on Teespring. If you want to help support Connected directly, now’s the chance.
The current batch of Field Notes is one of my favorites in a long time. I can’t wait to finish out the Pitch Black that is in my pocket and crack one of these open.
This week’s show is a fun one:
Stephen, Myke and Federico talk about some Italian history, TeleText’s current state in Sweden and then answer listener questions.
These awesome sponsors made it all possible:
Mark Gurman:
Apple is pushing for retail employees to initiate conversations that build trust, enabling the employee to serve as a valued fashion advisor during the purchase process, similarly to how traditional watches are sold. Apple Watch sales training programs will take place for Apple retail staff over the course of the next two weeks, teaching entirely new sales techniques to encourage iPhone upgrades, assist with gifting, and guide customers in watch and strap choices.
Joe Caiati, writing for The Sweet Setup:
We wouldn’t consider the OS X app launcher space a crowded one, but there are enough options out there that could make oneself think twice about clicking the download button. After numerous keystrokes and much reflective deliberation, we think that Alfred is the favorite launcher for Mac OS X.
Joe Rossignol at MacRumors:
A new Apple wireless keyboard featuring backlight keys and a power button has been spotted on the Apple Online Store in Czech Republic and Hungary, with an identical Arabic version appearing on the U.S. storefront. The graphic render shows controls for adjusting the brightness of the backlight added to the F5 and F6 keys, as found on current MacBook models, while the eject key for CDs has been replaced with a power button.
For far too long, email has been the main medium for communication at work. While email isn’t going away, team communication platforms like HipChat are allowing for more collaborative and productive communication experiences between co-workers.
HipChat combines every communication method you’d ever need—IM, group chat, screen sharing, file sharing, link sharing, video and voice calling—into a single solution. Working remotely, working across time zones, and working with the person right next to you becomes infinitely simpler and more efficient.
Apple’s desktop line is far simpler than its notebook one, but there are still many considerations to make before purchasing something like a Mac mini or iMac. The company sells far more laptops than desktops, but for many companies, schools and stay-at-home workers, a desktop can make a lot more sense.
Apple’s smallest desktop machine, the Mac mini, is often heralded by the company as the perfect machine for a first-time Mac owner — it’s designed to be able to drop in to an existing setup of screen, keyboard and mouse and just go.
Good Morning America has a behind-the-scenes look at Apple’s health lab:
Apple engineers, managers and developers have been secretly volunteering for the past year in this state-of-the-art lab to participate in rowing, running, yoga and many more fitness activities in order to collect data for the Apple Watch’s inner workings.
I love the hands-on, throw-people-at-the-problem approach used by Apple in this case:
I know it’s just a concept, but this Jeep is doing something warm and tingly to my insides.
When I listen to this show, I am given a completely different point of view to my own, about old and new games, and it really helps me think differently and challenge myself.
We are already lucky enough to have Brianna Wu as part of our great group of hosts on Relay FM, and we are so excited to now welcome Georgia Dow, Maddy Myers and Steve Lubitz as well.