I am an unashamed Treckie, and have (like most) been looking forward to a new TV series to add to the films. Discovery has been in the making for quite a while, including a 9 month delayed launch for “quality reasons”. According to a Fox News report the launch date has been confirmed as Sept. 24 on CBS. A Sunday schedule will follow for a total of 15 announced episodes. Be still my beating heart!
Category: Culture
Reddit: Finally growing up?
For those that followed the 8Chan to 4Chan to Reddit debacle will know that Reddit has long struggled to achieve a good working relationship with it’s wide user base and how fundamental these users are against any and all changes in the experience. Shutting down Alt right sections, the normal issues with non PC content and petty crime hidden in /r, /x and so on. Now they have completed a USD 200 Mil seeding, and are looking at how to grow into a functioning commercial Company. Alphr has an extensive interview with the current Reddit CEO Steve Huffman on what to expect. Should be fun based on the previous attempts to implement changes. Hints of looking and feeling more like Facebook will give current users the shivers I am sure.
Brexit: The impact on London House Prices
An article on Bloomberg shows the Brexit impacts on the housing prices in London. to quote the article “In 2015, for example, 10,000 homes would be sold in a typical month. In London’s desirable borough of Islington, just 87 sales have been recorded so far in May, compared with 139 in May 2016 or 259 in two years before that”. Some of this can be attributed to the overpriced market, but there is no doubt that Brexit has had an impact.
Ernest Cline: Ready Player One
As the pending new Spielberg movie based on Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One is rapidly approaching launch I picked up my copy of the book to re-read and see if I can remember why I liked the book so much. I remember lying on a beach and reading it in one session, and loving the whole thing.
It is a more PC take on the core of Cyperpunk, as originally crafted by William Gibson. A dysfunctional world ruled over by a corrupt company (IOI in Player One) with only a virtual reality world as an escape. This time there is a way out, the creator and owner of the virtual world dies and lays down a 3 part riddle / challenge with the ownership of the company as the prize to the winner. Continue reading “Ernest Cline: Ready Player One”
“168 million will watch connected TV in the US this year”
eMakerter analyst Paul Verna has had a look at this years trends and volumes in the connected TV space in the US. He highlights the impact of a higher than expected sales figures, and also looks at the current HW clients and their prospects. Apple TV in particular is given a dim future, again highlighting the price combined with very little exclusive content being offered by Apple.
The Codex Arundel now online and free
The British Library has digitized a collection of loose pages of notes written and drawn by Leonard da Vinci to make a notebook which is known as The Codex Arundel. The loose thoughts and ideas from a master. Remember his habit of writing in left mirror (the wrong way). Also all in Latin, but even without knowing the language it is a fascinating thing to explore.
The Netsuke Hybrid Vessel Bead (Western tech meets Eastern Design)
Kris Bathgate has made a modern take on an ancient Japanese carpentry tradition Netsuke into the 21st century by designing and making a fully functional Steel version. Satisfactory steam punk approach, wonderful outcome. Limited edition sale of 50 pieces starts on Kris’s blog from 28 July.