Review: 808

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Apple Music subscribers got a treat this week when 808, a documentary on the Roland TR-808 Drum Machine, was made available on the service (viewable via iTunes). The Roland 808 started as a tool to accompany organ players but in the hands of early rap and dance music producers it became the sound responsible for launching myriad music movements during the past 30 years.

The documentary is narrated by Beats 1 DJ Zane Lowe  and features interviews with musical luminaries iike Afrikaa Bambataa (whose Planet Rock served as the blueprint for just what could be achieved with this tool turned instrument), The Beasti Boys, Rick Rubin, Fatboy Slim, New Order and a host of many others whose use of the 808 defined their careers, hit songs and various followers.

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J.J. Abrams to produce new show for HBO about space colonies

David Shankbone/Flickr

J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot Productions are at it again. He’s working on another show for HBO just hot on the heels of Westworld. This time the show will be called Glare and Abrams will also been an executive producer on the show. Details are scarce at the moment but the pilot is going to be written by Javier Gullón. He will also serve as an executive producer for the show. The episodes will be an hour long, too. But there is no word yet how many episodes there will be and when it will air.

Source: io9

You can’t play ‘Super Mario Run’ offline

If you’ve been waiting to play Super Mario Run no matter where you find yourself, there is going to be a limitation you’re going to have to live with. The new Super Mario game only works online. According to Mario creator and this game’s producer Shigeru Miyamoto, the game will always need an internet connection to play all its modes. Miyamoto cites security for the reason but also acknowledged that the reason is to help avoid piracy of the game. The game is expected to launch on December 15 for US$9.99 on iOS.

Source: Kotaku

Play the piano on the MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar with this app

A new app made by developer Graham Parks adds a bit of whimsy to the MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar. Called Touch Bar Piano, the app turns the MacBook Pro Touch Bar into a small touch-based piano. It’s completely polyphonic and offers 128 instruments for you to make music with. If you don’t have a MacBook Pro but want to play around with it, the app works with emulator Touché. You can download the app from his site.