Links
Early this year, we posted the first screenshots and details of an early version of the Apple Watch Companion application for the iPhone. Now that the application is bundled into iOS 8.2, developer Hamza Sood has activated the Apple Watch Settings portion and has shared a view of screenshots. As can be seen in the full gallery below, the interface is dark black, like the Activity app for fitness revealed yesterday, and includes all of the functionality we detailed earlier. Some interesting new settings, however, were revealed today, such as one for assigning a left or right wrist to the Watch, Handoff support, Haptic Strength, and volume levels.
9to5Mac
Lots of great tidbits of information from these screenshots.
Permalink
One-quarter of respondents said they were interested in purchasing the Apple Watch, but 69 percent said they had no desire, and 6 percent said they were unsure.
Exclusive: Apple Watch not on shopping list for 69 percent of Americans: Reuters poll
Darn. It’s upsetting that 75% of respondents said they have no desire or that they are unsure about buying an Apple Watch. Wait. So 25% of people are interested even though they’ve never seen one in person? Guys! You’re reporting the wrong side of this statistic! Apple is gonna make bank on this!
Permalink
The decision on whether or not you should buy one is probably going to be one of the most personal device decisions you’ve made in some time. It’s personal, it’s fashionable and it’s functional—only you can determine the importance of those three things.
The Loop
Spot on. I doubt I’ll be getting one near launch, due to the cost, but I’ll be saving towards one very soon.
Permalink
This walkthrough is a detailed narration of what we see in Apple's Watch Craftsmanship videos. Of course, we only get to see a mere fraction of the process; I've tried to provide plausible explanations for the likely steps taking place between the processes shown on film, but these are assumptions and are included only to provide a more satisfying and complete narration.
Atomic Delights
I’ve been doing a lot of research on manufacturing over the last week for a personal project. Most of the information out there is ridiculously boring. This article came into my feeds last night. Not boring at all. I might be geeking out a bit.
Permalink

I don’t know much about Terry Pratchett and I don’t read much science fiction outside of comics, but this quote is great on many levels. While, yes, on a completely narrow level of Earth, we live within specific bubbles without realizing what is just outside of our small world, also on a spiritual level, in Christ we are awoken to the reality beyond reality. The shear size of our world, our existence, cannot be seen when we stumble around in the darkness, but when God puts His holy light in us, gives us the power to see in the darkness, we see more than we can imagine. Often times, this new sight allows us to see things we wish not to see— suffering, pain, sorrow, and anguish— that we don’t understand or know not how to fix, but it also allows us to see so much that we could have never imagined before— the perfection of creation, the joys of life, the victory in death of believers.
We are born in darkness, unable to see very far, unable to know very much. But in Christ our vision explodes as we start to see beyond and beyond the beyond.
Permalink
He may be Iron Man, but he’s got a heart of gold.
Permalink
By my count, Apple will be shipping 38 separate models of watches. There’s a gallery page at Apple’s site where you can page through all of the watches, and get the details on each specific model. You can also view the watches in the store, where you can find pricing info.
The Robservatory
Fascinating, isn’t it? Apple has more SKUs for this product than any other product in their store.
Permalink
In response to letters from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a group that clearly hasn’t read the Constitution that says we have a “freedom of religion,” a Texas Superintendent wrote the following:
Recently, I have been contacted by two concerned residents of White Oak ISD and legal counsel from the Freedom From Religion Foundation concerning the use of scripture in the “Thought for the Day” at the high school.
The residents were offended at the use of scripture, demanding that it be stopped and calling for disciplinary action against Mr. Noll. I am fully aware of the practice at the high school and will not pursue any action against our High School Principal or any other member of our faculty/staff concerning this issue.
The letter from the FFRF is not the first received by the district. They contacted us in the fall with concerns about the practices at our football games. I have responded in accordance with their stated concerns and we have moved on.
Let me be clear, this is an attempt to draw us into a contest of words for the sole purpose of giving the FFRF a large amount of free press/recognition that they and their very few members (1,200 in Texas) do not deserve. This group and others like it, are wanting us to provide them with negative quotes to use in the promotion of their agenda. We can and will make the adjustments needed to ensure our students experience a morally sound, positive character based education. There are a multitude of options to provide our students, faculty and staff the opportunity to express their First Amendment Rights as provided for in the United States Constitution. Let me also be clear that we have not (in my opinion) violated anyone’s rights and/or subjected anyone to undue stress. Bible studies and scriptures are allowed in schools. The requirement is that the material be presented in a neutral manner. It is my position that we met that standard with the morning announcements.
My recommended response to the FFRF is, “I’m sorry you feel that way. I will be praying for you and your staff daily.”
Finally, as a Christian Brother, it will not promote the values we hold so dear to assail those that disagree with the Gospel. We will state our case. We will make sure our rights are just as protected as anyone else that lives in this great country. We will continue to provide for all the needs of our students and we will do so while traveling the High Road. Don’t get drawn into a game of words that has no “winner”.
Please do not waste your time and effort on these few detractors.
KETK
Instead of pansying away like many schools have when threated in similar manners across our nation by the religious anti-religion group, this man stood his ground. Thank you, Superintendent Michael Gilbert. You make me want to move to Texas.
Permalink
HiRise for Apple Watch is designed, like HiRise for iPhone, with a stable, metal base that lets you interact with the screen on your watch while it’s charging. See alerts, reply to messages or check the time at a glance. This brushed metal stand is elevated and angled just right so you can see your Watch screen while lying in bed or glancing over at a countertop. A non-slip rubber base keeps HiRise in place.
Twelve South
Darn you, Twelve South. This is the must-have Apple Watch accessory.
Permalink
Rapper, tech entrepreneur, and human URL Will.i.am says the world will need new "codes and morals" to deal with the ethical implications of 3D-printed humans. "If you can print a liver or a kidney, god dang it, you're going to be able to print a whole freaking person," said the Black Eyed Peas founder in an interview with Dezeen. "Now we're getting into a whole new territory. Moses comes down with the 10 commandments and says 'Thou shalt not.' He didn't say shit about 3D printing. So new morals, new laws and new codes are going to have to be implemented."
The Verge
Wow.
Will.i.am says he believes that the technology to 3D print humans will be available in "our lifetime," adding: "I'm not saying I agree with it, I'm just saying what's fact based on plausible growth in technology and Moore's law."
Um. Not the same here. We’re talking about cells and tissue, which is infinitely more complex than any computer that we’ve ever built. We’re talking nerves, organs, vains, and much more that computer chips. 3D printing is pretty awesome, Will.i.am, but the likelihood of us printing humans, full humans, in our lifetime is slim to none. Now androids, yes. But we don’t even know what makes life, well, life at this point. What we will see is transplant organs printed, which we’re already seeing. Though, they don’t look like real hearts, real stomachs. No, they are mechanical. Which is fine, as they work. But this, just like normal transplants, creates no issues with the Mosaic laws.
There is no need to rewrite the 10 Commandments. No one pay attention to the crazy rapper with a weird name throwing out random, science-fictiony ideas and trying to usurp religious morality.
Permalink