This week we're saving the music industry! Special guests Liam Broza (BitScoop) and Matty Ochmanek (LVRT) are here to help. Questions/comments/whatevers? Call/text 509-AWKWARD or visit awkward.email!

Links for this episode:

• LVRTMatty's upcoming platform
• How to Start Your Own PodcastPatrick Allen's updated guide, since Adam's is old.
• Apple Updates GarageBand With New Instruments and Sounds to Celebrate Chinese MusicApple today announced a major update to its GarageBand music creation software for Mac and iOS, adding a wide range of Chinese instruments that are designed to celebrate the "rich history of Chinese music." Today's update also includes "extensive Chinese language localization."
• AWS IoT ButtonThe AWS IoT Button is a programmable button based on the Amazon Dash Button hardware. This simple Wi-Fi device is easy to configure and designed for developers to get started with AWS IoT, AWS Lambda, Amazon DynamoDB, Amazon SNS, and many other Amazon Web Services without writing device-specific code.
• Apple's $1 Billion Investment in Didi Chuxing Aligned With Electric Vehicle PlansApple announced yesterday that it has invested $1 billion in Chinese ride-sharing service Didi Chuxing, but CEO Tim Cook refused to elaborate on the reasoning behind the move, beyond saying that it will help the company better understand the Chinese market and "deliver a strong return" on its invested capital over the long term.
• Fitbit Continues to Outpace Apple Watch in Broader Wearables MarketThe latest data from market research firm IDC reveals that the Apple Watch remained the most popular smartwatch in the first quarter, with an estimated 1.5 million sales and 46 percent market share through the first three months of 2016. Meanwhile, basic wearables unsurprisingly continue to outpace smartwatches.
• Evernote Adds Google Drive Integration to Easily Add Files to NotesEvernote and Google are getting friendlier today. Now, you can add and search for Google Drive files right from Evernote.
• Google targets HTML5 default for Chrome instead of Flash in Q4 2016Google has outlined a plan to push HTML5 by default in Chrome, instead of Flash. In Q4 2016, the company plans to only serve Flash by default for the top 10 domains that still depend on the plugin. Chrome will display the HTML5 experience if it’s available, but if Flash is required, the user will be asked whether Flash can be allowed to run or not.
• wants-to-create-an-emoji-of-you.html" class="link">Facebook Wants To Create An Emoji Of YouA recent patent awarded to Facebook on May 3 outlines a process for users to reprogram simple emoticons into pictures of themselves as emoji. If people can represent emojis with their own face, it could open up walls of texts and pictures into a more personalized and intimate dialogue.
• Despite FCC Rules, Linksys Will Keep Its Routers Open and Let You Hack ThemBack in 2015, the FCC introduced new guidelines that looked like a threat to anyone wanting to hack and install open firmwares on their routers. They backed off, but a lot of manufacturers are still locking their devices down, just in case. Linksys, the company just announced, isn’t one of them.
• itunes-12-4-screenshots-show-slightly-redesigned-interface-improved-navigation.html" class="link">Leaked iTunes 12.4 Screenshots Show Slightly Redesigned Interface with Improved NavigationEarlier this year, Apple’s Eddy Cue had promised that the Cupertino company is working on a slight redesign for iTunes to make Apple Music easier to use. The update was supposed to be a part of the OS X 10.11.4 update from Apple, but that never happened, as the update was seemingly delayed by Apple. Now, a source of MacRumors has shared some screenshots of iTunes 12.4 that gives us a look at the slightly redesigned interface.

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