Think, Thought, Imagine: Daily tech, media & more (1/19/16)
Quick News (read the headlines and you’re done)
New York's First Public Wi-Fi Hubs Are Now Live [reminder: NY is turning old phone booths into free wi-fi stations] – The Verge
Alexa Can Now Read Kindle Books Aloud From An Amazon Echo For Free [relatively small feature, but continued progress for Amazon’s “trojan horse”] - ZDNet
Google Tests App Download Shortcut in Search App [why care: Google is doing a lot of other stuff (i.e. becoming a new company called Alphabet), but search is still their core] - WSJ
Netflix Added 5.6 Million New Subscribers In The Fourth Quarter [passed 75 million users worldwide – added 4 million internationally and 1.6 domestic – shares went (way) up] - TechCrunch
After Investing In Lyft, General Motors Buys Up Failed Ride-Sharing Service Sidecar [the app had already shutdown, but they’re getting the tech and some employees – why interesting: GM is going strong on the car-sharing notion (and they’re not alone)] – The Verge
WhatsApp, the Internet Messenger, to Become Free [they had been charging $1 a year (after the first year) – will start “experimenting,” as they’ve promised no ads in the past and still do – reminder: Facebook bought WhatsApp in 2014 for $19 billion] – NY Times
Please Explain (someone's gotta do it)
Amazon Reveals Details About Its Crazy Drone Delivery Program [they interview the head of the program and get at what drones they’ll use (custom built ones) issues with apartment complexes (working on it) and more] - Yahoo
Verizon Launches Its Own Sponsored Data Program [i.e. companies can pay to have their content pass through without counting against a user’s data allowance – partners are limited to start – T-Mobile has their BingeOn program which is similar, but have a lot more partners (think Netflix etc.) – there are critics who claim this defies net neutrality] – The Verge
Great Reads (why settle for good?)
Gillian Jacobs: Learning How to Act Like Myself [the Community and upcoming Netflix show Love actor penned a personal essay for Lena Dunham’s (and partner’s) female focused twice weekly e-mail (and now site)] – Lenny Letter
Look, Listen (and um, learn)
Watch: Grimes - Kill V. Maim
Listen: Anderson Paak – Malibu [full album – note: language]
Listen: Kanye West – No More Parties in L.A. feat. Kendrick Lamar [note: language]
Culture (more)
Japanese Professionals Put on Full-Body Lycra Suits to Escape Pressure of Everyday Life [fascinating. humans rule] – oddity central
Industry"ish" (we're so Hollywood)
Ted Sarandos Says NBC Was “Remarkably Inaccurate” About Netflix Ratings [he said he said, apparently] - tubefilter
Area Satirical Publication The Onion Sold To Univision (Seriously) [seemingly largely to help target “the young people” and partner with Fusion, the Univision network focused on, yes, young people] - NPR
Google Trends
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Sarah Palin – endorsed Donald Trump for president because of course she did
Jazz Fest 2016 – lineup announced – check it out
Weather DC – some snow a-comin
Nadal – lost in the first round of the Australian Open (tennis people)
Dolly Parton – turned 70 today
Top YouTube Videos
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