Think, Thought, Imagine: Daily tech, media & more (2/8/16)
Quick News (read the headlines and you’re done)
Verizon Said to Enlist AOL CEO Armstrong to Explore Yahoo Deal – Bloomberg
StubHub Will Soon Start Selling Tickets Directly [starting with Philadelphia 76’ers – up until now StubHub has only sold second market tix] – The Verge
CBS Says Super Bowl 50 Broke Streaming Records With 3.96 Million Unique Viewers [context: 1.3 million watched last year via NBC’s stream – also, CBS allowed for more avenues (e.g. Apple TV)] - TechCrunch
Wired Is Launching an Ad-Free Website to Appease Ad Blockers [$3.99 for four week subscription with no ads – will block users with ad-blockers installed – reminder: Apple allowed ad blocking in the mobile version of Safari] – Bloomberg
Hey Seattle! Amazon’s Treasure Truck Is Now Rolling [it’s basically a roaming deal truck – one item each day, and yet another play towards physical and "right now," both seeming priorities for Amazon. Side note: money maker or branding tool?] - recode
Please Explain (someone's gotta do it)
Facebook Loses a Battle in India Over Its Free Basics Program [Facebook has been focusing on getting “internet access” to those that don’t have it readily, but some claim it’s unfair because it only allows for a few services (e.g. a light version of Facebook) – file it under the “net neutrality” debates] – NY Times
“Free Basics offers people no-fee access to a text-only mobile version of the Facebook social network, as well as to certain news, health, job and other services. Facebook describes the program as a way to introduce the poor and the technologically unskilled to the potential of the Internet.”
Google Pushes Further Into Virtual Reality With New Headset [set to launch later this year] – Financial Times
“The new headset will be a successor to Cardboard. the cheap-and-cheerful mobile VR viewer that Google launched in 2014, and feature better sensors, lenses and a more solid plastic casing, said people familiar with its plans. The smartphone-based device will be similar to the Gear VR, a collaboration between Samsung and Oculus that went on sale to consumers late last year.”
Look, Listen (and um, learn?)
Listen: Missy Elliott - Pep Rally [second “comeback” track]
Watch: Beyoncé - Formation (Dirty) [for the two of you who haven’t seen it]
Listen: Star Wars Officially Sanctions Rick Rubin-Produced Dance Album [he partnered with likes of Baauer, Flying Lotus, Royksopp – side note: premiered on Apple Music’s Zane Lowe Beats 1 show – check out Rubin’s NR-G7, it’s pretty bangin] – ars technica
Culture (more)
Cockroaches: Indestructible, and Instructive to Robot Makers [yup, “ew gross!” but also, “oh, fascinating…” – why interesting: another example of how humans are learning, and creating from, the natural world] – NY Times
“The insects might even offer a new model for robots that crawl through rubble to look for survivors or gather information after disasters”
NASA Will Return to the Moon in Preparation for Human Mars Mission [essentially an update on NASA’s program targeting humans going to Mars – it’s not too science”y” if you’re worried] - Observer
“The Orion was designed as an exploration-class vehicle to take Astronauts farther than any person has ever travelled and will be the spacecraft that eventually propels humans to the red planet.”
Industry (we're so Hollywood)
Judge Officially Confirms Relativity's Reorganization Plan [been lots of drama, but looks like Relativity will be back and releasing films soon] - THR
Google Trends
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Chipotle – closed for part of today for employees to be addressed about recent health issues - also gave away free burritos via a text program [but don’t try, you’re already too late]
New Hampshire primary – tomorrow
Derek Fisher – fired as head coach of New York Knicks
NYC Weather – some slushy snow comin’
Daniel Bryan – WWE wrestler reportedly retired
Top YouTube Videos
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Watch: Our Pick — Bern Your Enthusiasm - SNL
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