» The Uber debacle
Susie Ochs sums up the situation with Uber and suggests deleting the Uber app. I never had it installed,
» WatchKit
Start making your apps for that thing that isn’t out yet but will be.
The Visual Guide to Minecraft
They say to write what you know, so I wrote a book about Minecraft. Well, part of a book about Minecraft. Saying you know all of Minecraft is pretty presumptuous.
The Visual Guide to Minecraft by James H. Clark, Cori Dusmann and me is a straightforward, easy-to-digest instruction manual that covers everything from beginning Minecraft — how to get and install the game and survive your first day — to advanced topics like redstone, multiplayer, mods and more. This book has over 200 pages of tips, hints and tricks and early reviews have been nothing but positive (these are actual quotes):
“Wow!” said two of my son’s friends who I gave free copies of the book to.
“Excuse me! I loved that book you co-wrote!” raved a kid whose name I don’t know who goes to my son’s school and must have looked at one of the copies I gave my son’s friends.
Admittedly, those are the only reviews I’ve heard so far, but… pretty good, right? I’m thinking this book would make a great holiday present for kids or adults looking to figure out what the heck this thing is their kids are playing for hours. Unless you don’t love your family or something. I mean, I guess that’s possible. I’ve heard it happens. Sad, really.
Peachpit, the publisher, has a great deal on the book: $21.59 buys you the hardcopy version as well as the ebook in EPUB, MOBI, and PDF formats. It’s also available on Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble and Apple iBooks.
If you feel like you don’t need the whole book, each section also comes separately in ebook form. My section is Getting Started With Minecraft. What does it cover? How to get started… with Minecraft. Spoiler alert. The others are the Minecraft Mini-Encyclopedia, Fantastic Minecraft Structural Designs, Farms, and Furnishings and Minecraft Redstone Essentials and Must-Do Projects (those are the Peachpit links but they’re also available on Kindle, B&N and iBooks).
If you haven’t played Minecraft, it’s a great game for kids and adults and this book is a terrific introduction for all ages.
The Visual Guide to Minecraft by James H. Clark, Cori Dusmann and John Moltz.
» ‘Not cool? Diehards abandon Google Glass’
Reuters:
While Glass may find some specialized, even lucrative, uses in the workplace, its prospects of becoming a consumer hit in the near future are slim, many developers say.
I guess there’s only so much face punching you can take. I think Glass has many terrific applications. I just don’t think social is one of them and if you can’t be up with people while wearing it, it’s not going to catch on.
» The Talk Show #100: People are gay all the time
John Gruber and I talk about my new co-authored book on Minecraft, fun with old Macs, word processing applications, Tim Cook’s announcement that he’s gay and more.
» The Rebound #9: Hey Alexa
Dan Moren, Lex Friedman and I talk about problems with Messages, the latest vulnerabilities, net neutrality and how we’re all getting Amazon Echoes for every room in our homes.
» Turning This Car Around #39: Minions Don’t Have [redacted]
On this episode of America’s most something dadcast, Lex talks about his vacation and we look ahead to the holidays.
» ‘Apple Now Offering Apple Rewards Visa’
Josh Centers at TidBITS:
With the Apple Rewards card, you’ll earn 3 points for every dollar spent at any of Apple’s physical and online stores, 2 points at restaurants, and 1 point on all other purchases. After you’ve earned 2,500 points, you can redeem them for a $25 Apple Store gift card (the default) or a $25 iTunes gift card.
I had an Apple rewards card issued from Citibank back in the 1990s. That program was killed when Steve Jobs returned. So, yeah, I’m saying Steve Jobs would never have issued an Apple rewards credit card.
» Space Age
New game from Neven Mrgan and Matt Comi. Looks like a lot of fun.
It was released last night so along with the new levels for Monument Valley I spent six dollars on games yesterday. How ever can I afford this lavish lifestyle, you ask? I’m a freelance writer, baby.
(Seriously, apparently some people were complaining about the $1.99 charge for the extra levels to probably the most beautiful iOS game ever. I paid for them and finished them yesterday and if there were another extra 8 levels for $4, I’d drop it in a heartbeat. You need to pay for things. You need to reward people for good work.)
» Brr!
It’s cold in the Seattle-Tacoma area today and Jeff Carlson discovered Siri has an amusing reaction:
Siri just made a “brr” sound when I asked about the temperature. Not “burr,” but the vibration you make with both lips. Fascinating.
I captured it for your listening enjoyment.