Think, Thought, Imagine: Daily tech, media & more (2/4/16)
Quick News (read the headlines and you’re done)
Twitter Is Testing A New Gif Button On Its Mobile App [GIFs’ role in communication only keeps growing] – The Verge
NFL Streaming Rights: Apple, Google, Amazon, Verizon Are In the Mix [CBS and NBC already have broadcast rights] - Variety
Snapchat Runs Its First App-Install Ad, and It's for Mobile Game Cookie Jam [why interesting: app install ads have done very well for Facebook and others] - AdWeek
Mark Zuckerberg Wants Facebook To Have 5 Billion Users By 2030 [reminder: 1.5 billion now – this is why FB is keen on getting internet to more remote areas] – The Verge
First Look: Unreal Engine Will Soon Let You Build VR inside VR [Epic’s Unreal is one of the most popular game engines, so this should allow for a lot of new development] – Road to VR
Apple Launching New Broken Iphone Upgrade, Screen Protector Installation Programs [because butterfingers – why interesting: shows how Apple wants to continue to create a more direct relationship with customers] – 9 to 5 Mac
‘Serial’ Producers Put Season 2 on Hold to Dive Back Into Adnan Syed’s Case [Syed was subject of Season 1 - why interesting: it shows how podcasts are changing and the possibilities of “real time” vs these static pre-timed episodes that most of us see podcasts as] - Observer
Amazon's Echo Can Now Play Music Directly From Spotify [you could just connect via Bluetooth before, since it’s essentially a souped up Bluetooth speaker, but this is direct integration such that you can just ask – big get for the platform (and interesting since Spotify competes with Amazon Prime Music)] - engadget
Please Explain (someone's gotta do it)
New York Times Co. Announces Newsroomwide Strategy Review [they’re seeing growth in digital revenues, but apparently not enough – key quote below] – NY Times
“He added that some areas of the newsroom, including those focused on multimedia and international coverage, could grow.”
Deal Shows Investors Are Willing to Make a Blind Bet on Uber [there’s a fund investing in Uber where the investors don’t get financial understanding of Uber’s business – i.e. there is still massive hype around Uber such that people are willing to bank on idea alone] – NY Times
Look, Listen (and um, learn?)
Watch: A GoPro Camera Attached To a Toddler Captures a Kid’s-Eye View of a Game of Hide & Seek [because GoPro’s don’t have to be for 1080’s only (and it’s adorable)] – Laughing Squid
Culture (more)
Playboy Puts On (Some) Clothes for Newly Redesigned Issue [their first issue without (full) nudity and also noteworthy is that they reportedly didn’t retouch the models – also, its cover is in a Snapchat style] – NY Times
“Paradoxical as it may sound, Playboy has undergone major cosmetic surgery and emerged from the operating room looking more natural.”
Industry (we're so Hollywood)
Lionsgate "Intends to Explore" Starz Deal [i.e. they may merge, but still early] - THR
Netflix Orders Comedy Based on Sophia Amoruso Best-Seller '#Girlboss' to Series [why interesting: NastyGal, the company Amoruso runs, has been one of the more interesting tech companies to come about in recent years due to its quick growth and pushing of “fast fashion” – note: but they just let go of 10% of their staff today] - THR
Google Trends
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Dave Mirra – BMX star dies in apparent suicide
Maurice White – Founder of Earth, Wind & Fire dies at 74
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Watch: Our Pick — The Bud Light Party: Super Bowl Commercial 2016
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