Dr. Drang:

On/off switches used to literally control the power that ran a device. Now, they often just send signals to the device—signals that mimic, after a fashion, the old, true power switch. Is there a switch on your Mac that cuts off its power? No.

Excellent article by Clay Shirky:

For the moment at least, the most promising experiment in user support means forgoing mass in favor of passion.

(Via Seth Godin.)

News to me is that some iPhone and iPad Home buttons become unresponsive. Both Marco and Khoi have had trouble with theirs. Marco tried a software recalibration which didn’t fix anything, but Khoi sprayed his Home button with WD-40 and it did fix it.

Never in a million years would I have thought to spray WD-40 on a gadget. Even after hearing Khoi’s testimony I still don’t know if I could bring myself to do it.

Speaking of Kickstarter, what strikes me as one of its primary benefits to someone kickstarting a project or product is not just in the ability to raise capital. Kickstarter is also a great way to simultaneously send your product to market.

In more conventional funding methods, once you’ve raised your capital funding you still have to get your product to market and hope you have success selling it. With Kickstarter, however, a successful campaign not only raises its needed capital but it also goes to market successfully at the same time.

I wonder how much of Instagram’s traffic is via Twitter and Facebook, as people publish their ‘Gram and auto-post a link to it on their other social network(s).

Great piece by Jeffrey Zeldman:

The first thing I got about the web was its ability to empower the maker.

From this context, the web hasn’t changed a bit over the past 15 years.

The first B&B Podcast episode of 2012. Ben and I kick off the new year by chatting about the latest iPod nanos and why Ben says they aren’t that great. We talk about blogging via the iPad and using an iPad as your only computer, and we round out the show with a few speculations on what the next iPad may be like.

This month’s sponsor, Verses, is doing a giveaway. Check out the show notes for the details.

My thanks to Carnegie Mellon University for sponsoring the RSS feed this week.

Carnegie Mellon University’s Master of Information Systems Management (MISM) degree with a Business Intelligence and Data Analytics (BIDA) concentration is developing an elite set of graduates cross-trained in business process analysis and skilled in predictive modeling, GIS mapping, analytical reporting, segmentation analysis, and data visualization.

Students in the MISM-BIDA program acquire the skills to integrate cutting edge information and analytic technology practices with applied business methods. The program features world-renowned faculty teaching a cohesive blend of data analytics, management, strategy, and IT courses. It is this unique mix that makes our graduates highly valued by corporate recruiters. Our MISM graduates have a ten-year track record of receiving highly competitive employment offers from financial service firms, consulting companies, technology agencies and start-up organizations.

Learn more at Carnegie Mellon Heinz College.

Creatiplicy, the podcast I used to co-host with Chris Bowler, has continued on with amazing excellence. This episode from a few weeks ago with Frank Chimero is just stellar. It’s especially worth a listen if you are a writer.

Until recently I didn’t realize there was any way to dismiss the roll-over banner notifications in iOS 5 other than to wait for them to roll away. You can swipe from right to left on the banner, or you can grab it, pull it down, and then fling it back up.