If this story is true, Google are putting off bringing a native Google Maps app to the iPhone, until they’ve integrated the Google Earth 3D stuff in it, to match Apple’s 3D maps.

I just don’t get why the 3D stuff is useful on a map? Google Earth is great, and it’s fun to explore cities by flying around, but turn-by-turn and navigation features (like public transport schedules) are the killer features for maps. Google Maps already has street-view. Use that as the differentiator from Apple.

It’s all just rumours, anyway. But I thought I’d share my thoughts.

 χ 

This is an amazing story. It’s terrifying, but the compassion is amazing. What an ordeal to go through!

 χ 

Interesting list.

 χ 

Insights like this are really interesting. Although don’t make you feel happier about your favourite bike that got stolen.

 χ 

Most of the smartphone boom has been powered by ARM’s processor architectures (whoo! UK based company!).

Apple have been acquiring processor architecture talent and deals with ARM, which is just starting to really pay off with the iPhone 5. This is one of the edges Apple has over other smartphone makers.

And I think processor architecture is super interesting. When you look at a computer, it starts off pretty simple. (e.g. hit keys and letters appear on the screen) As you look at it deeper, it gets more and more complex, until you get to the processor. This is where the complexity starts to unravel, and you discover simple logic circuits doing simple things.

 χ 

This is an article about them from 1997, about their origins.

Daft Punk have a reputation for being difficult that would shame Dave Clarke. They won’t have their photograph taken unless their faces are obscured. They ooze a bored hauteur onstage, barely moving, never smiling. They stormed out of a press conference at the prestigious Transmusicalles festival when someone asked them a “stupid” question. They sat in attitude-laden silence on the Heavenly Social tour bus, while the Chemicals and co got wasted and auctioned off pills. Another magazine described them as “surly”. Their press officer tells me their last interviewer gave up and went home after 20 minutes of blank stares and monosyllabic answers.

Eventually, they settle on clown masks with protuberant red noses. They look at each other… and burst out laughing.

 χ