The Brooks Review

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Leica Sofort 2June 13, 2024
Grand Seiko SBGX261February 23, 2023
Casio Duro MDV-106 Re-ReviewDecember 15, 2022

Recent Articles

  • Web Analytics

    Many responses I have received about my recent post over app analytics has been surrounding the use of web analytics on this site. Simply put: I’ve never liked them, but have found them necessary. I do find them different than app analytics. As you come here to consume what I have written, not to pen…

    Many responses I have received about my recent post over app analytics has been surrounding the use of web analytics on this site. Simply put: I’ve never liked them, but have found them necessary.

    I do find them different than app analytics. As you come here to consume what I have written, not to pen your own works. My problem is when I want to pen my own work, and someone wants to put analytics on that app I use to do my own work. I don’t like that.

    Further, it’s pretty easy to block the analytics on this site. However, I have taken the liberty of pairing it down to only Mint, which is housed on my server.

  • A Simple Guide to Buying Shit for People You Hate Buying For

    We all have those people in our lives which seem impossible to buy for. I have a great many of them, so here’s some go to items (here’s hoping they don’t read this, ha) I am using this year. Tech Person The Photive 6-port USB Charger: I love mine. I personally go with the 6-port…

    We all have those people in our lives which seem impossible to buy for. I have a great many of them, so here’s some go to items (here’s hoping they don’t read this, ha) I am using this year.

    Tech Person

    The Photive 6-port USB Charger: I love mine. I personally go with the 6-port model over the 5-port for two reasons. First the 6-port gives you double the wattage for charging, which will be helpful if you want to charge more iPads at full clip. Second, the 6-port model doesn’t have silly labels on the USB ports.

    Cord management things: CableDrop, GearTie (love these), Cablebox.

    Gardener, and or Grandmother

    Kokedama thing. Good people, and a great product.

    No Clue

    What if? Book

    Now I know book, and version 2.

    Drinker

    Neat ice kit.

    Now, have a good day.

  • 8 Reasons to Love the New Workflow App for iOS

    Such a fantastic app.

    Such a fantastic app.

  • For Sale: X-E2 and Lenses

    Selling my X-E2, and Fuji 35mm f/1.4, and 27mm f/2.8 lenses. It’s all up for grabs, let me know if you are interested. Here are the details: Fujifilm X-E2 (silver): It’s near perfect. There is a light scratch at the top of the camera on the left hand side, and some wear on the silver…

    Selling my X-E2, and Fuji 35mm f/1.4, and 27mm f/2.8 lenses. It’s all up for grabs, let me know if you are interested. Here are the details:

    • Fujifilm X-E2 (silver): It’s near perfect. There is a light scratch at the top of the camera on the left hand side, and some wear on the silver paint on the bottom left hand side. $545.00 plus shipping.
    • Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4: Mint condition, perfect lens with hood and bag. $400 plus shipping.
    • Fujifilm 27mm f/2.8 (silver): Perfect condition, with lens bag. $280.00 plus shipping.

    Each item comes with original box. U.S. only, sorry everyone else. Email me if you are interested, I am happy to provide pictures, etc.

  • PODCAST: Weekly Briefly for Holiday Photography

    If you’ve missed me on a podcast, I joined Shawn Blanc on his to talk cameras and photography. How to shoot the holidays, and what to buy.

    If you’ve missed me on a podcast, I joined Shawn Blanc on his to talk cameras and photography. How to shoot the holidays, and what to buy.

  • PDF Office

    Interesting new app from Readdle called PDF Office. This sits alongside PDF Expert 5. I haven’t had much time with the app, but two things that are very interesting to me: This is a subscription based app, $4/mo or $39/yr. (PDF Expert users get a year free if you get the app, well, now.) Creating…

    Interesting new app from Readdle called PDF Office. This sits alongside PDF Expert 5. I haven’t had much time with the app, but two things that are very interesting to me:

    1. This is a subscription based app, $4/mo or $39/yr. (PDF Expert users get a year free if you get the app, well, now.)
    2. Creating PDFs. I’ve tried making a lot of PDF forms before, but nothing was as easy as what this app is doing — perfect use case for the iPad.

    I’ll have a review of it once I’ve played with it more.

  • Holiday Wallpaper

    A little holiday wallpaper for you. Download full sized image here.

    A little holiday wallpaper for you.

    Download full sized image here.

  • How To Be Nice

    Marc Hemeon: Polite gestures are easy to do and make a real difference in the happiness of others. Nice list, mostly just be aware of what’s going on. Let people in when they try to jam way ahead on merges, just realize that you really don’t care. I love letting people cut in lines if…

    Marc Hemeon:

    Polite gestures are easy to do and make a real difference in the happiness of others.

    Nice list, mostly just be aware of what’s going on. Let people in when they try to jam way ahead on merges, just realize that you really don’t care. I love letting people cut in lines if they are buying way less than I am.

  • How to Make a Hit App

    Smart video from Dave Wiskus on what your idea is worth.

    Smart video from Dave Wiskus on what your idea is worth.

  • The Tom Bihn Parental Unit

    Meet the best diaper bag I’ve ever found.

    Back in May of 2012 I posted about how I was using my Smart Alec bag from Tom Bihn as a diaper bag. There wasn’t much to the setup, and so I seem to always receive emails from people wanting to copy that bag setup. Truth be told I stopped using that setup when my wife bought herself a Kate Spade diaper bag.

    Now I personally hate that diaper bag, but she liked it and she carried it most of the time — so I didn’t really have a choice in the matter. Additionally, a backpack as a diaper bag can be rather annoying at times.

    (more…)

  • It’s Been Cold Here

    The weather keeps jumping down below 30° here, and that’s not normal. Especially not for this time of year. I saw a nice frosty field on my way into work. I snapped a few shots before I froze.

    The weather keeps jumping down below 30° here, and that’s not normal. Especially not for this time of year. I saw a nice frosty field on my way into work. I snapped a few shots before I froze.

  • Mean People Fail

    Paul Graham: It struck me recently how few of the most successful people I know are mean. There are exceptions, but remarkably few.

    Paul Graham:

    It struck me recently how few of the most successful people I know are mean. There are exceptions, but remarkably few.

  • Nobuya

    Serena Ngai: Nobuya had mastered his craft, and his passion for his life’s work was admirable. Could this be translated to this bubble of technology we live in? Technology is ever changing and it’s easy to get caught up in new trends and tools. But is it realistic for us to keep up with them?

    Serena Ngai:

    Nobuya had mastered his craft, and his passion for his life’s work was admirable. Could this be translated to this bubble of technology we live in? Technology is ever changing and it’s easy to get caught up in new trends and tools. But is it realistic for us to keep up with them?

  • Canopy for iOS

    This is how Amazon really should look.

    This is how Amazon really should look.

  • How to Transfer Digital Assets Upon One’s Unexpected Passing

    Really interesting post from Matt Henderson on how he is dealing with passing on his digital information if/when he passes. This is something that I have always wondered about. Two really interesting services he found.

    Really interesting post from Matt Henderson on how he is dealing with passing on his digital information if/when he passes. This is something that I have always wondered about. Two really interesting services he found.

  • GORUCK Sale

    My favorite GORUCK bag, the GR1, is on sale. Which is very rare. Many of their other bags are on sale as well and I’m really having to show restraint.

    My favorite GORUCK bag, the GR1, is on sale. Which is very rare. Many of their other bags are on sale as well and I’m really having to show restraint.

  • Some Notes on Twitter’s App Download Tracking

    Nik Fletcher has a good look at Twitter’s latest stunt. What’s most concerning to me is that they always wait for holidays to slip out this ‘news’. That’s shady no matter how you spin it. I’ve deleted all of their apps from my devices.

    Nik Fletcher has a good look at Twitter’s latest stunt. What’s most concerning to me is that they always wait for holidays to slip out this ‘news’. That’s shady no matter how you spin it.

    I’ve deleted all of their apps from my devices.

  • Beginning Minimalism

    Dave Paola on owning less: For that, I recommend starting small and taking baby steps: keep an open box somewhere in your house or apartment, and whenever you come across something that you haven’t touched in awhile, put it in the box. At the end of every month, casually look through the box and ask…

    Dave Paola on owning less:

    For that, I recommend starting small and taking baby steps: keep an open box somewhere in your house or apartment, and whenever you come across something that you haven’t touched in awhile, put it in the box. At the end of every month, casually look through the box and ask yourself if you really need any of the stuff.

    I constantly try to do this, but I’ve mostly failed at this point.

  • Winding down my Twitter apps

    Manton Reece is winding down his Twitter apps at the end of the year. This kind of stuff is bad for Twitter. Not opening up the search of all tweets to third-parties was not a shocking move, but it’s just another move to close down access to Twitter. I am actually amazed third party Twitter…

    Manton Reece is winding down his Twitter apps at the end of the year. This kind of stuff is bad for Twitter. Not opening up the search of all tweets to third-parties was not a shocking move, but it’s just another move to close down access to Twitter.

    I am actually amazed third party Twitter clients are still allowed.

  • Read Receipts

    Are really, really nice and you should have them enabled. Here’s why, in short, you should stop being paranoid and turn on read receipts: It’s kind. I bet you love it when your buddies have it turned on, why not do the same? You love it because then you know they got, and saw your…

    Are really, really nice and you should have them enabled.

    Here’s why, in short, you should stop being paranoid and turn on read receipts:

    1. It’s kind. I bet you love it when your buddies have it turned on, why not do the same? You love it because then you know they got, and saw your message. You also know when you pester them for an answer, and when they just haven’t checked their phones. ((Thanks Alex for reminding me of this.))
    2. It can save you time when you are talking with someone. You know that I loathe the ‘thanks’ emails, this is a similar situation. “Ok, see you in ten.” That’s one of those statements where a needed response is vague. Typically I would say “Yep”. But with read receipts I can just read the message and know that the other person knows I saw the message, and now I don’t have to type anything and that person got instant feedback — if I didn’t agree I would respond.

    The only reason you don’t have them on is because you want to delay your response, or “hide”. Get over it. Or just unlock your phone and pull down notification center — that will allow you to read messages without sending the read receipt.

    So, go enable them.