Ryan Mustard

ESPN is releasing a new tvOS app for the fourth-generation Apple TV that allows viewers to watch up to four live sporting events simultaneously.


The multicast feature means a sports fan could, for example, watch two NFL games, an MLB postseason game, and an NBA game on a Sunday in October all at once, with each stream taking up an equally-sized quadrant of the TV.

There are multiple viewing modes to select from, including one with a large stream on the left alongside three smaller streams on the right.

The idea isn't new—there's a similar two-stream feature in the MLB.TV app for Apple TV—but ESPN says its implementation offers up to four streams and has a streamlined user interface, according to Recode.


The new ESPN app should be rolling out as a free update on the tvOS App Store today in the United States.


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For some vehicles, when an iPhone is plugged into the car's USB port music playback begins automatically, and it always starts in alphabetical order at the top of the user's iTunes library. Because of this, many users will hear the same song, usually beginning with an "A," over and over again each time they plug their iPhone into their car. This week, a potential solution to that problem has been soaring up the iTunes charts in the form of a ten-minute silent song called "A a a a a Very Good Song" [Direct Link].

Created by Samir Mezrahi, the song allows users a full nine minutes and fifty-eight seconds to find the song they actually want to hear after connecting their iPhone to their car through USB. Mezrahi is charging $0.99 for each download of the music-less track, although Apple Music subscribers can simply add the song into their library for free.


A a a a a Very Good Song launched on iTunes on Wednesday, August 9, and as of the writing of this article it sits at #46 on iTunes' Top Songs chart. The song has climbed 21 spots in under a day, when Engadget reported that it was at #67 early on August 10. If it continues to climb, the song will surpass artists like Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar, and Miley Cyrus.

For any CarPlay users, or for those who connect to their vehicle through Bluetooth, the automatic iTunes playback phenomenon is not as much of an issue. For those who do face the problem, it's been discovered within a wide array of different brands and car systems. As one Redditor pointed out, for users who don't have an Apple Music subscription and who would prefer not to pay $0.99 for a ten-minute silent track, they can also make a silent recording of their own and add it to iTunes.


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IKEA's Trådfri smart lighting system is now officially compatible with HomeKit, Apple's smart home management platform.

The support was confirmed in IKEA's response to a question posted on its Facebook page this morning, after a customer noticed a change in the technical specifications on the company's Trådfri product page.


According to a thread in the Philips Hue developer support forum, IKEA's smart lighting is now also compatible with the Philips Hue Bridge, once the products' software has been manually updated.

Therefore, existing product owners need to ensure they have the latest firmware upgrade for their Trådfri devices to pair them with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, or the Philips Hue Bridge.

IKEA had promised HomeKit support for its affordable range of home lighting products back in May. The system was originally announced in late March, and includes LED bulbs, illuminated panels, a motion sensor kit, a gateway kit, and dimming lights.

(Thanks, Tom!)


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The Houston-area product isn’t concerned by competition.

The 17th birthday for Fort Bend Ridge Point tight end Mustapha Muhammad featured a televised announcement of his top five schools and the Texas Longhorns made the cut:

Along with home-state Texas, Muhammad is still considering Clemson, LSU, Michigan, and UCLA.

“I really like Texas because Austin is really special and I like what Coach Herman is doing with that program,” said Muhammad.

The inclusion of the Longhorns is something of a surprise due to the recent commitments of the No. 1 junior college tight end, Arizona Western’s Dominick Wood-Anderson, and Malcolm Epps.

However, multiple reports since the Tuesday commitment of Epps have indicated that even though there are two current pledges in the class, Herman and position coach Corby Meekins are still willing to take Muhammad.

And that decision makes sense — Muhammad is faster than Epps despite weighing nearly 20 more pounds, easing his projections to college football. Additionally, since Wood-Anderson could conceivably leave the Longhorns after one season, taking a tight end who will require less developmental time is easily defensible.

After all, Texas has discovered in recent seasons that the tight end position is one that is difficult to fill, so as long as there is room on the scholarship chart, there’s no reason to turn away high-level prospects like Muhammad.

However, the pending difficulty is competing with Michigan, which is widely regarded as the current favorite in holding all 23 of his 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions.

So Herman and Meekins clearly have some work to do to convince Muhammad to become the third tight end in the 2018 Longhorns recruiting class.

The 6’4, 235-pounder is ranked as the No. 111 prospect nationally, the No. 5 tight end, and the No. 14 player in Texas, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

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Leonardo da Vinci was an avid taker of notes. Over the course of his working life, he filled thousands of pages with drawings, sketches, equations, and his distinctive mirrored handwriting. The British Library has one of Leonardo’s notebooks and has digitized and put all 570 pages of it online. It’s interesting to see all of the spare geometric line drawings and then every once in awhile there’s this wonderfully rendered 3D-shaded tiny masterpiece in the margin when more detail was required. (via open culture)

Tags: art   Leonardo da Vinci   science

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I hadn’t really given this any thought, but now that I’ve seen this comic, I realize this is very much true for me as well. The reliability of Wi-Fi dropped beneath that of cellular a few years ago.

This impossible M.C. Escher-esque cube broke my brain a little bit. And you might get some ASMR tingles when the cube snaps back into place right at the end. Mmmmmm.

Tags: M.C. Escher   optical illusions   video

He’s doing a great job explaining his philosophies.

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Oliver Babish makes videos showing how to prepare dishes from movies and TV shows…like the carbonara from Master of None, the strudel from Inglourious Basterds, and Pulp Fiction’s Big Kahuna Burger. For this installment, Babish makes a number of notable cocktails from movies, including the White Russian from The Big Lebowski, the French 75 from Casablanca, and James Bond’s Vesper Martini.

Maybe I was a little tired this morning when I watched this, but the joke at 1:30 caught me off guard and I laughed like an idiot.

Tags: cocktails   food   how to   Oliver Babish   video

Jean-Louis Gassée:

Let’s see if we can bring these unimaginable quantities into a manipulable picture.

During the most recent Xmas quarter, Apple sold slightly fewer than 80 million iPhones, about 900,000 a day. Obligingly, a day has 86,400 seconds, so we round up to 90,000 to get a production yield of ten iPhones per second.

But producing a phone isn’t instantaneous, it isn’t like the click of the shutter in a high-speed camera. Let’s assume that it takes about 15 minutes (rounded up to 1,000 seconds) to assemble a single iPhone. How many parallel production pipes need to accumulate ten phones a second? 1,000 divided by 1/10 equals… 10,000! Ten thousand parallel pipes in order to output ten phones per second.

We can juggle the numbers, but it’s still difficult to comprehend the scale and complexity of the iPhone production machine, to build a reliable mental representation.

Did the unimaginable iPhone production process change Apple? With numbers so large, how could it not?

I find it very hard to comprehend the scope of the iPhone’s scale.

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David Robinson, writing for Stack Overflow:

There were 28,657 survey respondents who provided an answer to tabs versus spaces and who considered themselves a professional developer (as opposed to a student or former programmer). Within this group, 40.7% use tabs and 41.8% use spaces (with 17.5% using both). Of them, 12,426 also provided their salary.

Analyzing the data leads us to an interesting conclusion. Coders who use spaces for indentation make more money than ones who use tabs, even if they have the same amount of experience.

As a devout user of tabs, I find this hard to believe. Jiminy. This is like finding out that people who move their lips while they read make more money.

Peter Bright’s reaction:

Developers who use tabs to indent their code, developers who fight for truth and justice and all that is good in the world, those developers have a median salary of $43,750.

But developers who use spaces to indent their code, developers who side with evil and probably spend all day kicking kittens and punching puppies? Their median salary is $59,140.

Biggie, Nicki, Snoop, Wu-Tang, Biz Markie, Lil Kim, Public Enemy, Missy Elliott. In a video featuring 150+ songs from more than 100 artists, The Hood Internet has distilled 40 years of hip hop into a tight 4-minute video.

It’s not a chronological history of hip hop. It’s rappers from different eras finishing each other’s rhymes over intersecting beats, all woven together to make one song.

I just watched that three times in a row. Lots more Hood Internet in the archives…their last remix was a retrospective of the past 10 years of hip hop and indie music.

Tags: music   remix   The Hood Internet   video

The iOS Camera app will finally be able to recognize QR codes within iOS 11, as was discovered yesterday during the developer-focused beta launch of Apple's new mobile operating system. On current iterations of iOS, users have to find and download a third-party QR code scanning application if they wish to use their iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to scan a code.

When iOS 11 launches in the fall, the Camera app will natively provide a QR scanning function to all users. Some beta users have taken to Twitter to share a glimpse of the feature in action, and it appears expectedly straightforward: open the Camera app, point the iOS device at a QR code, and tap on the drop-down notification to act upon it.

A few examples of iOS 11 QR code scanning via @daytonlowell and @theronster

The QR code reader in iOS 11 knows when it’s a WiFi network and offers to join. pic.twitter.com/pCHwGi1abF

— Dayton Lowell (@daytonlowell) June 5, 2017

Some examples that have been shared include joining a Wi-Fi network, adding someone to your contacts, and -- presumably -- any other scanning opportunities currently offered by QR code technology. The feature is turned on by default, but can be toggled on/off within the Camera section of the Settings app.

Check out the MacRumors iOS 11 tidbits post for more information about what can be found in the newest version of iOS.


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Have you ever wanted to see John C. Reilly play Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver? How about Ewan McGregor as Forrest Gump? Kevin Spacey as Dirty Harry? Zach Galifianakis playing Robin Williams’ character in Good Will Hunting? In this video, Ross Marquand does impressions of celebrity actors playing famous roles in movies they weren’t actually in. Though very brief, my favorite was Keanu Reeves as Jerry Maguire. Here are some more quick impressions by Marquand.

Tags: remix   Ross Marquand   video

With the offseason fully upon us after Texas’ revenue sports teams went a combined 16-29 (in the immortal words of John Oliver: Cool.), I thought it would be fun to revive BWG’s long-dormant “Better Know a Fringe Sport” series.

But (A) I don’t technically possess technical knowledge of fringe sports, (2) discussing distilled spirits seems way more fun, and (iii) it’s always enjoyable to discuss subjects in which Jeff Haley’s neuralink-esque brain will put both you and me to shame.

Also, as I’m on my last finger of Angel’s Envy, I’m trying to restock my bourbon shelf.

So I’ve got two open questions for the Barkers at large.

(1) How do you describe your preferred Bourbon flavor profile?

For example, I’m firmly from the Ron Swanson Pyramid of Greatness School when it comes to scotch. To explain why Lagavulin 16 is the greatest mead on earth, I find it exceptionally helpful to point folks to the Diageo-sponsored flavor map below.

But I’ve never found a proper parallel for bourbon. When prompted, I’ll usually say it’s “sweeter” than scotch, and for flavor variation, that it’s “spicy” instead of “peaty.”

What say you?

https://www.malts.com/en-gb/home/

(2) Suggest away.

I’m just now deep-diving into bourbon and haven’t thoroughly researched my bourbon preferences as much as I have scotch, and actively seeking suggestions.

25 year old me liked Maker’s over Jack, then switched to Buffalo Trace as my well of choice.

More recently, my preference is the spicy kick / high-rye content. Think Four Roses Single Barrel. But I’ve been sliding down my scale to mellower, “sweeter” stuff - the aforementioned Angel’s Envy and Willett Pot Still are two I’ll back.

Give me another bottle to pour.

Cheers.

Friday Labs today announced the long-awaited launch of its Friday Lock, which was originally introduced in 2015 as part of an Indiegogo campaign for the "world's most advanced smart lock."

When the lock was first conceived, HomeKit-compatibility wasn't mentioned as a feature, but the release version of the device supports Apple's smart home system.


According to Friday Labs, the Friday Lock is the world's "smallest and most stylish" retrofit lock, and the only lock to offer Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and HomeKit in a single product.

The Friday Lock is slender, unassuming, and available in a range of finishes to match different decors, including brass, bronze, copper, gun metal, nickel satin, porcelain, and silver. According to the lock's creators, it was designed not to shout "I'm a very intelligent object on your door," so it doesn't feature a screen, lights, or other features that would make it stand out.

"We're delighted to announce Friday Lock's availability today. Friday Labs is a design-driven company - our goal is to provide users with secure, connected products that encompass functional design and feel good to use, said Marcus Tempte, CEO of Friday Labs. He continued, "We've created a beautiful lock with changeable shells made from die cast metal with gorgeous finishes to make doors fit naturally in with the rest of the house or any room."

Siri commands or an iPhone with the Home app can be used to control the Friday Lock, thanks to its HomeKit integration. There's a remote key system that allows one-time entry to let in guests, using a text message for activation. For family members, there's also an option for unlimited access, and a geofencing system detects when an iPhone is near, automatically unlocking the door.

A Friday Universal Baseplate is used to mount the Friday Lock to any door, with no locksmith required for installation, and there's also a Door Adapter Plate to ensure a solid fit even on doors that need longer tailpieces. A rechargeable battery is included, which lasts approximately three months before needing to be recharged via an included USB charger.

The Friday Lock can be pre-ordered from the Friday Labs website in the United States, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland starting today. The lock is priced at $249 and pre-orders will ship out in three to four weeks.


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A duo called Palette-Swap Ninja has produced a mashup of Star Wars and the entirety of the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album. Each song on the album is paired chronologically with a scene from the movie:

Princess Leia’s Stolen Death Star Plans (Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band)
Luke Is In The Desert (Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds)
Being From The Spaceport Of Mos Eisley (Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite!)

The effort here is amazing, particularly when this whole thing is going to get yanked at some point soon — it’s a race between Disney and Sony for quickest takedown notice. The whole video playlist is here and you can download the full album on their website or stream it on Soundcloud. (thx, tim)

Tags: movies   music   remix   Star Wars   The Beatles   video

Huffy is hilarious.

Scipio already talked a bit about the spring game here but I hadn’t actually seen this video, which is pretty great.

Watching Colt McCoy evincing a rivalry with the Cowboys was a little like nails on Nobis’ chalk board but understandable given who pays him.

It keeps being said but this regime really gets it and seems to take their organization to manic OCD levels.

Make sure you get to the Michael Huff 40 yard dash race. That dude has always been hilarious.

Hurry back, football.

The typically zero-sum game of spring practice produced a movement up the too-early rankings for the ‘Horns.

Good performances by the first-team Texas Longhorns offense and defense in the annual Orange-White game apparently increased the stock of head coach Tom Herman’s program, at least according to ESPN’s post-spring top 25.

Ranked No. 25 following the national championship game, the ‘Horns moved up two spots coming out of spring practice.

The improvement of the defense, which harassed back-up quarterback Sam Ehlinger throughout the scrimmage, was a likely reason — Mark Schlabach cited it as an area of concern in January, but did note that there were 10 potential returning starters.

Here’s his take now:

Outlook: New Texas coach Tom Herman spent the spring tearing down -- literally and figuratively -- what has been an underachieving program the past few seasons. From the locker room to recruiting, Herman hasn't been shy about putting his stamp on the program in a big way. On the field, Herman declined to name a starting quarterback, but Shane Buechele appears to be the clear leader, after throwing for 369 yards with three touchdowns in the spring game. Injuries hampered the Longhorns' search for D'Onta Foreman's replacement this spring, and tight end Andrew Beck broke his foot during offseason workouts.

So ESPN didn’t ding Texas too badly for not getting a look at Chris Warren III in the spring game or for the lack of depth at tight end.

But it does seem that sophomore quarterback Shane Buechele’s improvement, which included better pocket presence and overall understanding of when the pull the ball down and run, played a role in the upward trajectory.

Texas moved past Pittsburgh and Washington State in the rankings, both programs that lost more contributors to exhausted eligibility — running back James Conners and quarterback Nathan Peterman are both gone from the Panthers, while the Cougars lost three wide receivers, including the top two in school history.

Given the amount of returning talent in Austin, the Longhorns have some definite upside above the current rankings, especially if Herman and his staff can better maximize the talent on hand, in addition to leveraging the team’s increased experience.

However, the top of the Big 12 may be better this season — Oklahoma State ranks No. 6, Oklahoma ranks No. 8, and Kansas State and West Virginia both rank ahead of Texas, as well.

Maybe this will be a fun football season. One can only hope.

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Just days after flipping Oklahoma commit Cameron Rising, Tom Herman and his staff have landed heavy Sooner lean Ron Tatum.

An uneventful string of bad recruiting luck continues for Bob Stoops and his staff, as they were forced to watch Tom Herman swoop in and land another key, Oklahoma native on Wednesday afternoon as Putnam City strong-side defensive end Ron Tatum announced his commitment to the Texas Longhorns.

Along with Oklahoma, Tatum also listed Alabama, TCU and Georgia as his finalists on Monday.

By most accounts, Oklahoma was the overwhelming favorite in Tatum’s recruitment, essentially from the very beginning. While there was reason for cautious optimism in Austin, Texas was, at best, considered to be a distant second throughout. After flipping Sooners quarterback pledge Cameron Rising on Saturday, though, the Texas staff’s ability to come in and land yet another key Oklahoma target isn’t as surprising as it may have been at this point last week.

After all, Tatum did say if there was a program that could lure him from the home-state favorites, it was Texas. Today, the Longhorns did just that.

Bear in mind, though, that despite today’s pledge to Texas, Tatum has made it clear that he’s not completely shutting his recruitment down and will continue to take visits, so Oklahoma is certainly still in the mix here.

As for now, Tatum becomes the sixth member of Herman’s 2018 class and the third pledge in the last five days, as three-star offensive tackle Reese Moore committed on Sunday after Texas flipped Rising. Tatum is also now the second-highest ranked member of the Longhorns’ class, trailing just Justin Watkins, who ranks No. 41 overall. He joins four-star quarterback Casey Thompson as Oklahoma natives that have sided with the Longhorns this cycle.

A 6’4.5, 269-pound talent, Tatum ranks as the nation’s No. 122 player, No. 5 strong-side defensive end and the No. 4 player in Oklahoma, per 247Sports Composite.

If you’re like me from three minutes ago and you’ve never seen this video but want to laugh really hard, push play on this little number. You can safely skip ahead to about 0:33…that’s when the action starts.

P.S. Yo Kenji! Why does the gnocchi do that?! (via @essl)

Update: I have not gotten an answer from Kenji yet (to be fair, he just became a father), but the consensus on Twitter is gnocchi and popcorn share some similarities. I will let John Vermylen, who is a Stanford PhD and also runs the pasta company Zerega, explain:

Hydrated starch on gnocchi exterior gelatinizes with temp, forming impervious barrier. Temp builds up inside. Water tries to boil as temp rises, but can’t turn to steam due to barrier. So pressure builds up, which pushes against wall of gnocchi. Eventually high pressure forces crack in that wall, which leads to pressure drop and instant flash off of high temp water to steam.

There’s an opportunity here to make crispy popcorn gnocchi…which brave chef will take up the challenge?

Tags: food   funny   how to   John Vermylen   video

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