Blog-ish
News, links & recommendations
Thanks to one of our listeners, we found out that there was an audio drop out in this week's episode of Keeping Up With The Joneses. We've since fixed it and re-uploaded the episode but if you want to listen to what you missed, here's the 30 second fix below (note the audio missing was only a few seconds, but I gave some context in this clip below).
I picked up my new iPhone 7 Plus today and found Apple had released a beta of the new Portrait feature. This takes advantage of the two cameras found on the plus model and with software does some fancy depth of field effects. I'm no photographer, but I love the effect. I'd imagine it will only get better as the software improves. Select an image to view if full-screen.
Lastly, the low light performance of the camera has vastly improved. I just grabbed this shot, through the mesh netting of a bouncy castle in the shade. It's one of my favorite of the day.
Really lastly, the wide color gamut of the new screen is breathtaking. You really have to see it to appreciate it. I didn't think I'd notice, but it's incredible.
It's Labor Day here in America; a national holiday. As such, we took the day off from podcasting but we'll have something for you later this week. Follow us on Twitter and we'll let you know when it's ready. If you're in America, enjoy your day off. The rest of the world? Enjoy your Monday!
If you've listened to this week's episode of Keeping Up With The Joneses you'll know we're taking the month of August and doing something called #wisdom31.
The idea behind this is simple. Every day we're going to read one chapter of the book Proverbs. Whatever day it is, that's the chapter number we'll read. 14th August? Read chapter 14. Then, anything that stands out to you as you read, share with others on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #wisdom31.
Before you dive in, we recommend watching these two excellent videos from our friends over at The Bible Project.
The results from our podcast listeners' survey are in! Like last year, around 100 people responded and shared their feedback on a variety of questions. Here's a summary of the responses.
Go America! Hello UK! And "other"? That would include visitors from Australia, Germany and Sweden!
More and more of you are moving to a podcast app but I finally solved the reason why some people still come and listen in browser. It's because you are at work and while you can't use your personal cell phone, you can use a web browser at work with headphones. Bravo!
It's kind of a no brainer that the podcast app on iOS would be the default, but if you haven't yet, try Overcast. (Read our mini review too).
Either way, thanks for tuning into our show each week!
This was one of the biggest surprises for us. Almost 50% of our listeners are listening because someone referred our podcast to them. Thanks kind hearted listeners! As an encouragement, if you are listening to an episode that is helping you, don't keep it to yourself, think who you can send our way!
This is obviously a hugely encouraging trend. 85% of you listen every week. Crazier still, of that 85%, the chart below gave us some good chuckles:
Again, about half of the people who listen every week claim to have a problem and have listened to every episode we've released, some more than once. Hardcore fans - we salute you!
Again, you are causing us to blush.
We're working on keeping it the same while tweaking bits to make the same parts better.
I'm worried this means that we have to be better at going to Facebook. If you have ideas of what you'd like us to do once we get there, we're all ears! And congrats to Keziah, not only on having an amazing name, but also winning the $100. Thanks to all those who sent in feedback, you're all winners in our eyes!
Stay with this video and you'll realize what's going on. Pretty amazing.
Back with Part 2 of her sonship talk, AJ shared at Grace Center this morning. (You can watch Part 1 here)
AJ shared part one of her teaching on sonship today at Grace Center.
Two days ago I stumbled upon Blackbox, a new game for your iPhone. It's unlike anything else I've played. With an equal mix of genius and exasperation it will appeal to those who love puzzles.
The game has a grid of dots. These dots then turn into lights (via different and often undisclosed methods). Those lights then need to be turned on. You interact with your phone in different ways to turn on those lights. You progress through the game by turning the lights on. As of this writing, I've managed to turn 46 lights on and can't turn anymore on. I know how to turn the next five on, but am currently unable to, I can see two more dots that need turned into lights but with all my mental strength I don't know how. All spare brain cycles are currently devoted to solving things like this. That's the magic of this game.
I'm having difficulty writing about, it in part because it's so unique, but also because anything I say about it will detract from the initial magic of playing with it. I'll say this, the first experience of the app is wonderful, and if you've got a slightly obsessive or competitive edge you'll play it non-stop but then you'll discover something frustrating that you'll come to appreciate: this isn't a game where you dictate how much you play. Rather, some of the levels dictate to you when you can play it. It's kind of torturous yet brilliant at the same time.
Couple that with simple, beautiful graphics and a highly engaged developer on Twitter and you'll find a wonderful game to lose yourself in. It's the most original game play since Threes and Monument Valley (both of which I love). Download it, play with it, infect your friends and look forward to exchanging messages back and forth with joy, delight, awe and frustration. Bravo Blackbox, bravo.
