HeyDingus
Zac Hall’s headline says it all, but don’t miss this spicy take near the end of his article:
Having someone who used to work at Apple be in charge of managing your Android Automative stack doesn’t really change the equation.
I feel like I need popcorn for keeping up with this.
Final Cut Pro & Logic Pro for iPad look so powerful. It’s a good day for iPad creators and enthusiasts! And it indicates a jam-packed WWDC keynote if even this didn’t make the cut. 👀
Two quick observations:
Here’s what others are thinking. I’ll add to this pile of intriguing insights as I see them.
Alternatively: Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro will be available on Apple’s XR headset on day one 👀 I wonder how much that plays into this…
Also, can I just say that it’s hilarious but also great that they’ll get an incredible, Grammy-nominated musician like Syd Tha Kid and have her lower third be
Syd
beat maker
Not a single marketing shot/screenshot of somebody using Final Cut Pro or Logic in Stage Manager mode… 👀
Final Cut and Logic on iPad isn’t just a win for iPad, it’s a win for the entire Apple app ecosystem.
Developers have proper incentive to make insanely great cross-platform apps now, and the future where you can pick up any device to solve the next step of your workflow is continuing to be built in front of us.
I don’t know if Final Cut has all the features from the Mac version but it sure looks like it has everything I need. https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro-for-ipad/
Rumors of a larger iPad screen size start to make a lot more sense in a world with Stage Manager, Final Cut Pro and Logic, huh?
Back to the topic of M1 requirement again; three of the iPad product lines Apple currently sells on their webstore are unable to run Final Cut Pro. That’s not a great way to do software. You can spend $1100 on a brand new iPad+Pencil+Keyboard combo today that will [presumably] not let you even install the FCP app. The iMovie codebase you can be sure this was forked from supports every iPad on iPadOS 16. Not the choices I would make 🤷♂️
I think I can honestly say I will never travel with a Mac again. The only reason I brought my Mac with me on trips is to edit. I still did my core work from my iPad cause cellular connection is huge.
The hotel I’m at wants to charge me $20 a day for WiFi and it’s slower than cellular.Also only carrying an iPad will make my backpack so much lighter. Between a laptop, iPad with Magic Keyboard, and camera gear that thing is freaking heavy. So I’m looking forward to taking something else out.
Mac users have had years of free updates to Logic and Final Cut Pro after paying once for each app. In fact, Logic Pro X will be a decade old in July, and Final Cut Pro X turns 12 next month. The price of Logic Pro for Mac today ($199.99) is the same as four years of subscribing to Logic Pro for iPad, and Final Cut Pro for Mac ($299.99) will equal six years of paying for the iPad version.
I think it’s possible that Apple could be previewing some of iOS 17’s upcoming pro camera mode features in Final Cut Pro for iPad. I imagine that the default camera app will retain its easy-to-use, simple interface but have the option to switch over to “pro camera mode” for those who desire more fine-grained control over both photo and video capture.
The moment I configured Ferrite to toggle playback on and off by using a two-finger tap gesture, my productivity soared. At an initial glance at video demonstrating these apps, I didn’t see any hint of such gestures. But if users have to reach up to the top left corner of one of these apps every time they want to pause or play a video, it will get old really fast. I hope Apple has embraced multi-touch gestures—and if they haven’t, I hope they get with the program soon.
The compatibility story with Final Cut Pro is less good. You can import Final Cut Pro projects into Final Cut on the Mac in order to take advantage of object tracking and other pro features. That last sentence contained numerous red flags—I hope you caught them.
One of the things that excites me so much about Apple’s Pro Apps on iPad is seeing the screen packed with UI — I am so tired of being given dumbed-down ‘baby’ versions of apps (see also: Photoshop for iPad). I know neither app will be at feature parity with the desktop, but it feels like they’re trying, not just ‘humoring’ iPad users they don’t really understand. iPad users don’t need to be humored, they need to be included. The form factor is scalable, up and down — your software should be too
If it’s any indication as to Apple’s wider thinking, neither brand-new Final Cut Pro nor Logic Pro support Stage Manager’s freeform window resizing, or even splitscreen multitasking, on iPad 👀
Sarah Jeong, with an incredible story for The Verge on what’s happening over on Bluesky, the newest Twitter-that’s-not-Twitter:
Yet even as the developers heroically sprinted to save Yglesias, the service was straining under something that would become known as “the hellthread” — an unending series of stringed replies fueled by auto-replying bot accounts and users who were incredibly amused by the prospect of jumping headfirst into a JSON error.
Participating in the hellthread would sign you up for an unspeakable number of notifications, and attempts to mute the thread for yourself were mostly futile since something about the AI accounts would unmute them anyway. Users tried to bait each other by tagging them in. (This, of course, meant they themselves were now in hell.) Delighted in part by seeing the CEO herself good-naturedly participate before publicly notifying her devs of what kind of bugs she was seeing, others began to post their nudes right into the hellthread until it was nothing but asses and errors.
So many jaw-dropping moments in this piece, you’ve really just got to go read the whole thing. None of it makes me want to set up shop on Bluesky. I’m very happy with my stable, friendly, calm, and also Fediverse-compatible home on Micro.blog, thank you very much.
When things settle down and Bluesky opens up publicly, I may consider cross-posting there if it does indeed reach a critical mass and it’s where non-nerds end up. But it just doesn’t sound very appealing yet, despite their best efforts with the exclusive invitation system.
I noticed this evening while perusing the App Store — yes, some of us still do that from time-to-time; usually after manually initializing app updates, which is also weird, I know — that Warner Bros. Discovery is featured for the pre-order of their upcoming Max app. Using the pre-order mechanism is a smart move to get more word out ahead of the confusing merger/name-change/whatsit. Although, it’s not clear to me why they don’t instead update the existing HBO Max app to whatever new functionality is needed for Max, swap the app name, and call it a day. Seems like that would be more seamless for customers.
Reading through the App Store story, this bit caught my attention:
How to get it. Pre-order the Max app now to have it download to your device when the app launches May 23. If you already have an HBO Max subscription, it’ll automatically transfer to Max, along with all of your profiles and watch history. No action needed!
I figured it would be table stakes that logging in to the Max app with my HBO Max account would bring along profiles and watch history, but I’m curious about how the subscription transfer will work. I’m subscribed via an in-app subscription to HBO Max, and I wasn’t aware that those subscriptions could be moved or shared between different apps. Is this a special case in which Apple has intervened?
Perhaps it is a standard feature, since I suppose that’s how Microsoft has their Microsoft 365 subscription work between the various Office apps like Word and PowerPoint. And Flexibits allows you to subscribe to Flexibits Premium with an in-app through either Cardhop or Fantastical, unlocking functionality for both apps.
But I still wonder what will happen when I eventually delete the old HBO Max app. Will it offer to cancel the subscription I initiated through it? I know that happens when you delete other apps with an active subscription. Or will it be smart enough to know there’s another app installed that relies on it? And suppose I did cancel the subscription. Will the Max app effectively communicate the problem and provide a resolution itself? Or will I be steered toward Max.com (boy, that must have been an expensive domain!) to subscribe so that Warner Bros. Discovery can avoid Apple’s cut of the in-app purchase?
I have so many questions that I’m giddy about doing some testing on launch day! But the fear of disrupting the flow of entertainment to my household makes a strong counterargument. We’ll see what’s more compelling when it all shakes out come May 23rd.
A weekly list of interesting things I found on the internet, posted on Sundays. Sometimes themed, often not.
1️⃣ I want this app to exist. [🔗 @yo.dababymemes // instagram.com] (Archived here)
2️⃣ Jason Snell’s got a good tip for hiding things, like article comments, from webpages if you don’t want to see them. I also loved his cheeky rule for hiding the Yankees logo on Daring Fireball when they’re in the playoffs. 😂 [🔗 Jason Snell // sixcolors.com]
3️⃣ Without the NYT branding, I would have guessed that these promos were for Wikipedia. Engaging ad spots, though. [🔗 kottke.org]
4️⃣ The LoveFrom Serif typeface has that special something that draws you in, for sure. [🔗 Mark Wilson // fastcompany.com]
5️⃣ A member of The Decemberists had ChatGPT write a Decemberists song, with chord progressions, and then recorded it. It’s…not half bad, but also not half good. [🔗 Colin Meloy // colinmeloy.substack.com]
6️⃣ Can bad people make good art? This excellent articles helped me consider that perhaps the premise is flawed. [🔗 Charles McGrath // nytimes.com]
7️⃣ It’s been a bit like watching a game of Pong to keep up with Jeff Perry’s internet home saga, but you owe it to yourself to check out his latest site. It’s like playing with a fidget toy to navigate around! (Be quick about it though; I can’t guarantee it won’t change again!) [🔗 jeffperry.me]
Thanks for reading 7 Things. If you enjoyed these links or have something neat to share, please let me know.
John Gruber, with a short reminder about his twice weekly, 15-minute hard stop, paid subscriber podcast with Ben Thompson:
We’re now in our fourth year, and we’ve had remarkably little churn — people who subscribe to Dithering tend to stay subscribed, which warms my heart. It’s a fun show and everyone loves the enforced brevity and regularity.
Dithering is one of just three podcasts that are marked as ‘priority’ in my Overcast playlists. Meaning they jump to the top of the queue as soon as they’re published. I do, indeed, love the “enforced brevity and regularity”. Ben and John’s friendly debates often bring a smile to my face.
But what I really wanted to say in response to John’s post tonight is “Wow!” I can’t believe I’ve been listening to the show for four years already. I still think of Dithering as the new podcast on the block.
For the PenPals project this month, I’ll be corresponding with José Muñoz. You’ll be able to follow along with the Letters project here and on his site at josemunozmatos.com
Here’s a brief look at my first letter to José, as summarized by ChatGPT:
Jarrod initiates a letter to José, expressing gratitude for participating in a letter exchange project inspired by Jason Becker. Having exchanged emails briefly in the past, Jarrod is eager to learn more about Jose through these public messages. Jarrod provides a glimpse into his life, describing his transition from Michigan to upstate New York, his role as an outdoor recreation professional, and his blog’s focus on diverse interests. He shares recent events, including a vacation to the Outer Banks and the passing of his aunt, reflecting on life’s poignant moments. Jarrod ends the letter with thoughts on housework and Ed Sheeran’s new album, inviting José to share his own experiences and interests.
If you’d like to be a penpal for this project, please reach out! I’d love to get you on the schedule.
It’s time to try something new! I’ve been inspired by Jason Becker’s Letters project this year. Each month, he’s been emailing back and forth with someone he’s met on the internet. It’s been fascinating to see these, usually private, letters in public. It’s kind of like getting to see friendships blossom before my very eyes.
Right from the start, I was intrigued by Jason’s project since I’ve always thought of blogging, more or less, as just emails sent to the world. Well, now I’m kicking off my own version of the Letters project and I’ll literally be publishing emails to the web. And you — yes, you! — could be part of it. More on that below.
Here’s how it’ll work: Each week, I’ll write or respond to an email from an internet acquaintance. I’ll publish the conversation as it stands each week, referencing the previous message. And we’ll chat back and forth like that for a whole month. Again, you should check out Jason’s posts so far for examples.
Here’s where you come in, Dear Reader. If you think you’d like to be part of this project, please get in touch! Feel free to provide a short introduction or a link to your home on the internet, and let me know which month or two you’re available (let’s leave the good stuff for the actual letters 😉). There will be no pressure on topics, just whatever’s on your mind. Here are some general guidelines that I’m also borrowing (with permission) from Jason Becker:
- The person I’m corresponding with will write the first letter.
- I will respond during the same week. They do not have to write again until the next week.
- Each letter will be at least 250 words.
- I will post the correspondent’s letter followed by my response on my blog. If they have a blog, they can do the same and I will gladly link to them.
I’m thrilled to announce that José Muñoz has agreed to be my first correspondent. I’ll be kicking that one off with the first letter and we’ll be chatting throughout May. You’ll be able to follow along between his site and mine. But that leaves all future months wide open (see here). I’d love to get to know you, what makes you tick, your hopes and dreams, or just what’s going on in your neck of the woods.
It’ll be fun, I promise. Just let me know if you want to be a part of it. 😄✉️
A weekly list of interesting things I found on the internet, posted on Sundays. Sometimes themed, often not.
1️⃣ Resolution.
2️⃣ Independence.
3️⃣ Forgiveness.
4️⃣ Empathy.
5️⃣ Passion.
6️⃣ Balance.
7️⃣ Understanding.
I will miss her.
Thanks for reading 7 Things. If you enjoyed these links or have something neat to share, please let me know.
A weekly list of interesting things I found on the internet, posted on Sundays. Sometimes themed, often not.
1️⃣ Defining clips in human history that are in the public domain, but not available in the public realm. License from organizations that own them, strung together into a short film, and released to the public. [▶️ Richard Misek // vimeo.com] (Via kottke.org)
2️⃣ Matt Birchler released an enlightening video showing off how ChatGPT helped him make improvement to his Quick Reviews web app code with ease just by asking natural language questions. [▶️ A Better Computer // youtube.com]
3️⃣ Matt also released version 2.0 of his handy Quick Reviews web app this week. It’s an easy-to-use tool to create, well, quick reviews of media that also look great! Version 2.0 brings an image export option, keyboard shortcuts, and more flexibility for getting poster images in. [🔗 Matt Birchler // birchtree.me]
4️⃣ Perhaps the best article I read all week. I kept wanting to quote the whole thing, so you might as well just go and read the entire piece about how even an investor in Snap thinks all social media is destined to fail. And why they think social media is anything but social these days. [🔗 Ellis Hamburger // theverge.com]
5️⃣ Congrats to BasicAppleGuy who just celebrated three years of running his (hugely inspirational) site. [🔗 basicappleguy.com]
6️⃣ The rule changes for Major League Baseball this season appear to already be making marked improvements to the game for both players and fans. [🔗 Matthew Cullen // newsletters.nytimes.com] (Via @matt@isfeeling.social)
7️⃣ Watching some do their thing really, really well is something that gives me the most joy in life. Their complete mastery — no matter the subject or skill, really — enthralls me. For example, this exquisitely intimate video of Ed Sheeran performing I Don’t Care, acoustic and solo, at Abbey Road in 2019. An instant classic. [▶️ Ed Sheeran // youtube.com]
Thanks for reading 7 Things. If you enjoyed these links or have something neat to share, please let me know.