Coffitivity

by Christopher Paul on August 12, 2013

Coffitivity is a white noise app for the Mac and iOS with sounds you’d hear in a coffee shop. I know I tend to concentrate with noise or music in the background; I actually find Trance music works pretty well for me. But I have always enjoyed the idea of working in a coffee shop and found I’ve been just as productive (unless I’m on calls or meetings, of course).

For $2, the iOS app is definitely worth it if you need that kind of subconscious distraction. Like most sound apps, it’s a hefty download at ~83MB but since we’re all streaming our movies and music anyway, it shouldn’t be an issue.

via Curious Rat

Greatest Vines 2013

by Christopher Paul on August 11, 2013

UPDATE: Removed by copyright “trolls” who haven’t heard of fair use.

This made the rounds over the internet last week or the week before but I only got around to watching it now.

In its six second doses, Vine isn’t always the easiest to enjoy. It has it’s moments but I like the compilations a bit more. There’s a lot of comedy on there and I didn’t know Lamorne Morris was so active on it.

Every Second on the Internet

by Christopher Paul on August 9, 2013

Very cool visualization on how much activity takes place on the internet. So much happens in one second. And when you scroll down to the end, you’re reminded that ten years ago, almost all of the websites mentioned didn’t exist.

via Tim Karr

Washington Wants More of Apple

by Christopher Paul on August 5, 2013

John Gruber responding to this article from the WSJ:

Washington doesn’t want to see Apple fail; they want Apple to continue making massive profits. They just want a bigger slice of those juicy profits kicked back.

Other Agencies Clamor for Data NSA Collects

by Christopher Paul on August 4, 2013

The NY Times:

Agencies working to curb drug trafficking, cyberattacks, money laundering, counterfeiting and even copyright infringement complain that their attempts to exploit the security agency’s vast resources have often been turned down because their own investigations are not considered a high enough priority, current and former government officials say.

Just think of all the people who’d come knocking on your door because the NSA shared your data with some other agency. And don’t think the NSA won’t share this data at some point – it’s only a matter of time.