Linked List: July 25, 2013

Thursday, 25 July 2013

Google Cancels Netflix ‘Three Months Free’ Deal for Chromecast 

Get your shit together, Google.

The Irrelevance of Microsoft 

Benedict Evans:

The practical effect of this is that Microsoft’s share of connected devices sales (in effect, PCs plus iOS and Android) has collapsed from over 90% in 2009 to under a quarter today.

It’s been a busy six years.

Chromecast Catches 

Casey Johnston, writing for Ars Technica:

Google’s latest device lets you stream directly to your TV from other devices.

That’s what I assumed yesterday as well, but I’m pretty sure now that’s not the case. Chromecast only streams video from the web; it has nothing like AirPlay. You can’t send video from your phone to Chromecast.

Other than price, I can’t see why anyone wouldn’t just buy an Apple TV instead. And even price-wise, it’s not like Apple TV is expensive.

Update: And even if price is that much of a factor, why not buy a Roku for $50? I just don’t get why anyone would want this.

97-Year-Old Man Who Makes Art Using Microsoft Paint From Windows 95 

Cool story. (I’ve always found it curious that Apple doesn’t include a Paint-like super-simple image editor with Mac OS X.)