Five Links #5
You’re receiving this email because you subscribed at davesmyth.com. If you would prefer not to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe.
Absorbing
Five links for your inbox from this week.
1. Cory Doctorow on tracking
“So how is it that Google and Facebook and other ad-tech companies operate in Europe? Simple: they break the law.”
2. GIFs + prefers-reduced-motion
We recently needed to implement GIFs on a site. Simple enough, but if a user has reduced motion enabled on their computer, how do you stop the GIF from autoplaying? It doesn’t seem possible with a service Giphy (happy to be corrected), but this is a neat CSS + HTML trick if you’re embedding the GIF directly on your site.
3. brain.fm
Science-backed human-composed music to help you focus, relax and sleep. Sounds like a load of marketing bull, but I’ve genuinely found it helpful. Several people I know have reported unexpected deep-focus bouts after trying this, too. There’s a three-day trial and accompanying iOS app to boot.
4. Facebook quietly suspends podcasting + audio
Facebook announced various audio efforts last April during a hot market for podcasting and audio in general. But the company’s interest has waned, Bloomberg News reported last month, and it’s now focused on other initiatives, disappointing some providers.
Another example of how relying on platforms – whose desires seemingly sway with the wind – can leave businesses in the lurch. Anyone remember what happened when Facebook told everyone to pivot to video content? These folks do...
5. Mark Ellis Reviews
While looking at reviews of the Apple Mac Studio and Studio Display, I stumbled across lots of new-to-me YouTube channels, including Mark Ellis Reviews. This super-handy channel covers loads of tech product reviews from a practical angle.
I was recently in the market for some noise cancelling headphones and the channel has several relevant and genuinely useful comparisons. Would highly recommend checking it out before cross-checking shortlisted products against Mozilla’s Privacy Not Included.
Projects + other things
- Last week, I talked with Aaron Booth about how small businesses can avoid surveillance capitalism on Public Cloud for Public Good
- Scruples: we’re booking new projects from August.
- My Unoffice Hours are available every two weeks on Wednesdays. Next slot: June 1st.
If you enjoy this newsletter, please forward it to anyone you think might like to subscribe. If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe here.
And if you come across a link/app you think might be of interest to other people on this list, hit reply and let me know.
Until next time,
Dave