Sources tell 9to5Mac that Apple will abandon Google’s mapping back-end in the next major iteration of iOS, replacing it with a brand-new mapping application powered by Apple technology. We’ve independently confirmed that this is indeed the case. Sources describe the new Maps app as a forthcoming tentpole feature of iOS that will, in the words of one, “blow your head off.” I’m not quite sure what that means, and the source in question declined to elaborate, but it’s likely a reference to the photorealistic 3-D mapping tech Apple acquired when it purchased C3 Technologies.
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How to Send Pocket Items to Pinboard
I’ve used Pinboard as my “catch-all” on the Internet for some time now. It collects links I tweet, blog posts, and things I save to Instapaper. With a pro account, I know I can always see these pages, even if the originals go away.
(I view Pinboard as my personal weapon against link rot.)
Recently, I’ve been playing with Pocket, as research for a review pitting it against the king when it comes to reading later.
Team Viticci
My friend Viticci (over at MacStories) has cancer. It blows. Show your support by shaving your head and showing the world you’re proud to have such a nerdy Internet pal.
Not man enough to shave your head? Any old photo will do, but know you’ll be judged by the rest of us.
More on the Icon Bronco
I’ve linked to the Icon Bronco before, but this video over at Devour is worth a look, too.
‘Not A Number’
Apple Released OS X Lion 10.7.4
Shawn’s Selling Shirts
I bought mine yesterday; you should buy yours today.
Why I Run Ads
There’s been a lot of talk about advertising on independent websites this week, so I thought I’d outline my thoughts on the subject.
I run two types of advertising here on 512 Pixels.
The first is a sidebar ad, provided by the Fusion Ad network. The income generated from this ad covers my monthly hosting fee almost exactly. With this ad alone, 512 Pixels would almost break even most months.
Secondly, I run “RSS Sponsorship” ads, through The Syndicate. These ads show up as “linked list” posts on the site and in the RSS feed.
Ars Turns 7.0
‘You Shouldn’t Be Mac Rumors’
This week on the 512 Podcast, Myke and I discuss Instacast 2.0, cancer, depression and social media vacations. And then I bought a t-shirt in the middle of recording the show.
Flipboard for Android Leaked
At the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S III, one unexpected inclusion was the Flipboard app — supposedly exclusive to the handset for the first few months. However, despite the fact that the Galaxy S III hasn’t even been released yet, the Flipboard APK has been posted to the xda-developers forums, allowing any handset to grab the social newsreader. We grabbed the app and loaded it onto an HTC One X, where it runs totally smoothly, and it’s worth noting that xda’s forum members say it runs just as well on older handsets like the original Galaxy S.
More on Ads
I’d argue it’s not working at all, as evidenced by the race to the bottom nature of advertising revenues, the exploration of pay-wall systems in big publishers to help pad advertising revenue (because ad revenue isn’t enough), the fact that more than a few blogs I know need the extra money from members to make writing work full-time, and the overall on-the-verge-of-bankruptcy nature of most news publications.
No, I don’t think advertising works any longer as the sole revenue stream.