Pixelmator Pro teases Shortcuts support for Mac

From Pixelmator:

Now that WWDC has finished (much love, again, to the new virtual format!), we just wanted to share one very quick update with you: Pixelmator Pro will absolutely be getting Shortcuts support. And we’ll be doing our best to make sure that support is first-class – second to none.

My main use for Pixelmator is to quickly make batch edits on photos, and I do that on my 2018 iPad Pro instead of my 2015 MacBook Pro for one simple reason: speed. On my iPad, I can use Shortcuts paired with the Apple-designed chip, which leaves my intel MacBook Pro in the dust. Being able to move that workflow to the Mac with macOS Monterey and a M1 Mac should make this even better than my current solution

Automattic acquires Day One

From Paul Mayne at the Day One blog:

Today, I’m thrilled to announce that Day One is being acquired by Automattic Inc. This is incredibly exciting news. For the past 10 years since I started Day One, I’ve worked to not only create the best digital journaling experience in the world, but one that will last. By joining Automattic, I’m now more confident than ever that the preservation and longevity of Day One is sure. This acquisition will provide Day One access to the same technological, financial, and security benefits that WordPress.com, Tumblr, and other Automattic entities enjoy.

Exciting news for users of the best journaling app on Apple platforms. I’ve tried various types of paper journals of the past couple years, but nothing has stuck as well as writing in Day One on my Mac, iPhone, or iPad. Maybe the news that makes me most excited is a WordPress.com integration. I’d love to have my entire back catalog of posts like these stored in Day One, and it looks like I might finally be able to do so.

Former IndyCar driver Andre Ribeiro passes away at age 55

From RACER:

Former CART IndyCar Series driver Andre Ribiero has died after a fight with cancer.

Best known for delivering Honda’s first win in CART in 1995 at New Hampshire International Speedway, the Brazilian developed his skills at home and on the European open-wheel ladder before turning his attention to North America and the Indy Lights series.

Sad news for fans of 1990s IndyCar racing. Ribeiro is best remembered for a short stint at Penske at the end of his career in 1998, in addition to earning Honda’s first IndyCar victory in 1995.

SRX announces video game

From SRX:

SRX: The Game allows you to compete against some of the greatest champions in Motorsports history. Tony Stewart, Helio Castroneves, Bill Elliott, Tony Kanaan, Michael Waltrip, and many more await you. It’s short track racing against the BEST to ever do it! You’ll compete on 6 licensed tracks including Eldora Speedway, Knoxville Raceway, Lucas Oil Raceway, Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, Slinger Speedway, and Stafford Speedway.

What a pleasant surprise to read early on Friday morning. I’m bullish on the chances that SRX will have in the motorsports market and this is an impressive way to start. I’m particularly excited to race at Lucas Oil Raceway, formerly known as Indianapolis Raceway Park, which is home of my home tracks.

The game comes out on Friday, May 28 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Steam, and I’ll be downloading a copy as soon as possible.

Despite my positivity about this game, I can’t help but think about how SRX, which hasn’t run a race yet, has a dedicated console game, but IndyCar does not. C’mon, Mr. Penske. It’s time.

Hilary Swank to star in Janet Guthrie movie

From RACER:

Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank is set to play Janet Guthrie — the first woman to race in the Indianapolis 500 — in a new feature film based on Stephan Talty’s book Speed Girl.

Swank, who won Oscars for her performances in Boys Don’t Cry and Million Dollar Baby, and more recently starred in the Netflix limited series Away, will play Guthrie, the first woman to qualify at Indy 500, who also went on to race in the Daytona 500 as well.

Exciting news, but who will be playing Rolla Vollstedt? Seriously though, what Janet Guthrie accomplished at Indianapolis with limited experience was incredible. In 1978, she finished ninth in the Indianapolis 500, ahead of legends like Mario Andretti and Rick Mears.

As always, I’ll suggest the Dinner with Racers podcast, who interviewed Janet in 2016.

Bobby Unser passes away at age 87

From the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Unser, one of the most colorful, outspoken and popular drivers in the history of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” died Sunday, May 2 at his New Mexico home. He was 87.

Unser won the Indianapolis 500 in 1968, 1975 and 1981. He is one of just 10 drivers to win the “500” at least three times and is a member of numerous motorsports Halls of Fame, including induction into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 1990. Unser and Rick Mears are the only drivers to win the “500” in three different decades.

As good a race car driver as Bobby Unser was, he’ll likely being remembered for being a larger-than-life character. From years of bickering with broadcast partner Sam Posey to parts one and two of an episode of the excellent podcast Dinner with Racers, he found a way of becoming the motorsports community’s beloved, wacky uncle.

In my own family, we’ve seen Bobby several times, and his appearances on the public address at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway became a sort of intra-family meme. Even though we did—and certainly will continue to do—impersonations of him, they always came from a place of genuine appreciation. Bobby knew he was a card and relished living up to that reputation.

I’d recommend giving the obituary Robin Miller wrote for Racer a read. He knew Uncle Bobby well and put his legacy in context. This loss will take a while to fully comprehend.

Bill Whittington dies at age 71

From Racer.com:

The tumultuous life of Bill Whittington came to a fiery end Friday afternoon in a private airplane crash outside Winslow, Ariz.

Whittington, 71, and another passenger perished but details were still sketchy on Sunday as local officials and the National Transportation Safety Board have yet to officially confirm his death. Some of Whittington’s closest friends, however, are grieving after receiving private news of his passing.

Though he started the Indianapolis 500 and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Whittington’s will be remembered his participation in the “International Marijuana Smugglers Association” era of American sports car racing, alongside his brother Don, Randy Lanier, and John Paul, Sr. With his brother, Whittington owned Road Atlanta during the 1980s, and was rumored to land their drug smuggling planes on the backstretch. Despite the complicated legacy he leaves behind, I hate to see someone involved in one of motorsports’ most fascinating times meet their end.

Sebastian and Oliver Wheldon join Andretti Autosport development program

From Andretti Autosport on Twitter:

Really happy to welcome Sebastian & Oliver Wheldon to the #AllAndretti family as our newest, and youngest, development drivers!

Dan Wheldon was my favorite driver growing up, and to see his two sons form a relationship with the team where Dan broke through into IndyCar stardom warms my heart. I see so much of him in the faces of his boys, and I hope that they can make something over it in the sport if that’s what they want to do with their lives.

Thinking about Apple’s Spring Loaded Event

Because I was stuck in meetings during Apple’s “spring loaded” keynote, I devoured articles in my RSS feed once I got home to learn about what Apple announced today. After going over the Apple press’ initial impression of the event and reviewing the product pages, I feel like I have a good grasp on Apple’s new products.

iMac

I must admit that I’m a little underwhelmed by the new iMac. I think the new models are exceptionally pretty, though I’d prefer to see a little less chin, but I hoped to see the 27″ version updated in addition to the smaller model. I’m not in the model for a desktop computer, but if I were, I’d want the bigger one, and I think that a lot of creatives wouldn’t be able to use this as their main machine. I’m interested to see how bifurcating the iMac line will work moving forward, but I hope the splashes of color make it to the pro-focused market

iPad Pro

I have no need for a new iPad, as my 2018 iPad Pro is still just fine for my limited needs, but I am impressed with the new iPad Pro hardware. 16 GB of RAM on an iOS device seems incredible, as does Thunderbolt capability, but with the state of iPadOS as it stands, I have trouble thinking of how much good this does. I do, however, agree with Matthew Cassinelli in expecting a big WWDC for iPadOS. I’m hoping that this hardware is a precursor to new software functionality, such as external display report

Apple Tags

Out of all of Apple’s announcements today, this is the only one I am going to preorder. I don’t often lose things, but I’d like to put one on my keychain and in my messenger bag for a little extra piece of mind. Despite the potential utility of Air Tags, the Hermes accessories ended up being the punchline of the event with such an out of touch price tag.

Apple TV

I agreed with Jason Snell when he wrote his piece about the Apple TV hardware needing a big upgrade or price cut to be a worthwhile part of Apple’s line up. I use my Roku smart TV to watch my favorite Apple TV Plus shows, and for the most part, it’s fine. Despite that, when I move into a new place, I plan on getting the new Apple TV for my home theater setup. I’m intrigued by the new remote, and as an Apple One customer, I’d like to be able to play Apple Arcade games on a larger screen.

I’m pleased by what Apple announced today, and it makes me excited to see what the next few months have in store. I’m still holding out hope for a revised MacBook Pro to replace my 2015 model, but as a Mac fan, today was a step in the right direction.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum announces Rick Mears Exhibit

From the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum:

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum proudly announces the Sunday, May 2 opening of its new featured exhibit honoring one of the Indianapolis 500’s living legends: “Rocket Rick Mears presented by Racemaker Press.”

Mears earned a record-tying fourth Indianapolis 500 victory in 1991 – a race also remembered for his fierce duel with Michael Andretti in the waning laps, highlighted by the drivers’ making daring, dramatic outside passes for the lead. Mears’ likeness also is forever cast in sterling silver on the Borg-Warner Trophy for victories in 1979, 1984 and 1988.

I am a member of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and tend to go to museum about once a month or so. Even though I’ve been there probably hundreds of times in my life, I light up every time I walk into that building. Rick Mears is one driver that I was never able to see race in-person because he retired before I was born and I can’t wait to see this exhibit as soon as it opens next month.