Linked List: July 31, 2013

Wednesday, 31 July 2013

Phone to Chromecast App for Android ★

Neat idea, works like AirPlay. But so why isn’t something like this built-in?

Chinese Scalpers Booking Up All Genius Bar Appointments and Then Selling Online ★

Ben Lovejoy, 9to5Mac:

Appointments sell for 10- yuan ($1.60-6.40) in a country where the average monthly salary is equivalent to $580. A Beijing Morning News reporter found there were no appointments available on the Apple site for iPhone, iPad or iPod. They contacted one of the advertisers asking for an appointment the next day and were offered a choice of two local stores and two time slots. The reporter was sent login details for the booking by instant messenger, and was then able to access the booking on the Apple site to change the details to their own.

What the shit?

TSA Misconduct on the Rise ★

CNN:

And the stories of its failures spread faster than a speeding jetliner: TSA officers stealing money from luggage, taking bribes from drug dealers, sleeping on the job.

So it shouldn’t come as any surprise that a new Government Accountability Office report, citing a 26% increase in misconduct among TSA employees between 2010 and 2012, is striking a nerve with some travelers who’ve had to endure the shoeless, beltless shuffle on the trip through security.

Shut them down.

How to Report iMessage Spam to Apple ★

They’re not interested in SMS spam, though. But, starting with iOS 7, you’ll be able to block numbers from texting and calling you. (Via MacStories.)

Microsoft Surface Revenue So Far: $853 Million ★

Todd Bishop:

In other words, Microsoft spent more to advertise Windows 8 and Surface than it made in Surface revenue.

That’s just revenue, not profit.