Linked List: April 27, 2016

Wednesday, 27 April 2016

Twitter’s Ad Problem 

Peter Kafka, writing for Recode:

And to be very clear: Twitter now has an ad problem because of its user problem. It doesn’t have enough scale to compete with Facebook and Google.

For a while, this didn’t matter, because Twitter and its ad boss, Adam Bain, had done a very good job of courting big brand advertisers and the ad agencies that spend their money. They got them to take a flier on Twitter. But Twitter isn’t novel anymore, and brands and agencies who want to play with a new shiny object can go to Snapchat. […]

Twitter’s answer to all of this is the same answer that everyone else on the web has: We’ll fix it with video.

Ugh.

Japanese Magazine Publishes Purported Schematics of Next iPhone, Showing Smart Connector 

Juli Clover, writing for MacRumors:

Schematics featuring the dual-camera 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus or “Pro” that’s set to launch in the fall of 2016 have been published in the June issue of Japanese magazine MacFan, reiterating many of the design details that have been previously rumored for the device. […]

Also depicted in the schematic is the dual camera setup that’s rumored for the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus, a Smart Connector, and the absence of a headphone jack. Apple is planning to remove the headphone jack in its 2016 devices, with headphones instead connecting via Lightning or Bluetooth. Though some rumors have suggested the iPhone 7 will include stereo speakers, the design drawing features a single speaker.

I’ve ignored the rumors about a Smart Connector on the next iPhone until now. But now there’s enough smoke for me to wonder about it. If it’s true, what would it be used for? The iPad Pro Smart Connectors seem perfectly suited to the purpose of attaching keyboards. Is that what this is for on the iPhone? Maybe a magnetic charger, similar to (but incompatible with) that of the Apple Watch? I’m stumped on this one.

Anyone?

Update: Best ideas so far:

  • A battery case that uses this connector could be thinner and simpler (no “chin”). The problem I see with this idea is that they’d have to announce the battery cases along with the new iPhones, which would open Apple to accusations that the built-in batteries are too small and “need” $80 battery cases. I think the quiet November debut of the iPhone 6S Smart Battery Case was planned. But maybe now that they’ve broken the ice on first-party battery cases, it’s not a marketing problem to introduce better ones?

  • If the new iPhone charges via this magnetic connector, it would allow you to charge the device while using the Lightning port for your headphones. Or vice-versa: maybe we’ll see Smart Connector headphones?

  • Cases with camera peripherals, like external microphones and lenses? Or a waterproof “camera case”?

Yankees Manager Joe Girardi Wants MLB to Ban the Shift 

Andrew Marchand, writing for ESPN:

If New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi were the commissioner of baseball, he says he would ban the shift.

“It is an illegal defense, like basketball,” said Girardi, referring to defensive three seconds in the NBA. “Guard your man, guard your spot. If I were commissioner, they would be illegal.”

I like Girardi a lot — he’s a good manager, and a smart guy (he has an industrial engineering degree from Northwestern). But this is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard him say.

The rules have never said where the fielders need to stand, and infield shifts date back to the 1870s. Beating the shift is simple: Hit ’em where they ain’t.

Yours Truly on This Week’s Episode of The Dalrymple Report 

Fun show. We talked about the iPhone SE, new iPad Pro, and Apple Watch.