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  • Twitter Buys Posterous, Well the Posterous Team

    From the Twitter blog: >Posterous Spaces will remain up and running without disruption. We’ll give users ample notice if we make any changes to the service. For users who would like to back up their content or move to another service, we’ll share clear instructions for doing so in the coming weeks. Translation: this *is*…

    From the Twitter blog:
    >Posterous Spaces will remain up and running without disruption. We’ll give users ample notice if we make any changes to the service. For users who would like to back up their content or move to another service, we’ll share clear instructions for doing so in the coming weeks.

    Translation: this *is* your notice.

  • Quote of the Day: Jonathan Ive

    “A product has to be genuinely better. This requires real discipline, and that’s what drives us — a sincere, genuine appetite to do something that is better.” — Jonathan Ive

    “A product has to be genuinely better. This requires real discipline, and that’s what drives us — a sincere, genuine appetite to do something that is better.”
  • AT&T 4G LTE Coming Soon to Twelve New Markets

    In case you got [duped into buying an AT&T iPad](https://brooksreview.net/2012/03/marketing-bullshit/) because you thought they had ‘real’ 4G in your area, you may get LTE yet.

    In case you got [duped into buying an AT&T iPad](https://brooksreview.net/2012/03/marketing-bullshit/) because you thought they had ‘real’ 4G in your area, you may get LTE yet.

  • TextExpander [Sponsor]

    Do you type the same things again and again? TextExpander will save you time and keystrokes. Just assign short abbreviations to your frequently-used snippets of text and TextExpander does the work for you. You can also use one of the included snippet libraries for HTML, CSS, autocorrection, accented words and URL shorteners. Try it out…

    Do you type the same things again and again? TextExpander will save you time and keystrokes.

    Just assign short abbreviations to your frequently-used snippets of text and TextExpander does the work for you. You can also use one of the included snippet libraries for HTML, CSS, autocorrection, accented words and URL shorteners.

    Try it out – there’s a free demo at [Smile Software](http://click.syndicateads.net/2012/03/TextExpander/brooksreview.html). And you can get 20% off TextExpander through March 31. 2012. Use the coupon code SYN0312 in the [Smile store](http://sites.fastspring.com/smile/product/te?coupon=SYN0312).

  • ‘Amazon’s Brilliant Plan to Pay You Crazy Money for Your iPad 2’

    Actually, it is a pretty good plan.

    Actually, it is a pretty good plan.

  • Gowalla Shuts Down

    Can’t say I am surprised to hear that.

    Can’t say I am surprised to hear that.

  • You Can Sign-up, But You Can Never Leave

    [On March 6th I wrote](https://brooksreview.net/2012/03/explanations/): >Right now — I don’t want anything to do with Readability. I am, however, going to let things cool down before making a final decision. [Later that same day John Gruber linked to that post and said](http://daringfireball.net/linked/2012/03/06/brooks-readability): >Like Brooks, I’ve never been comfortable with the way they collect money on…

    [On March 6th I wrote](https://brooksreview.net/2012/03/explanations/):

    >Right now — I don’t want anything to do with Readability. I am, however, going to let things cool down before making a final decision.

    [Later that same day John Gruber linked to that post and said](http://daringfireball.net/linked/2012/03/06/brooks-readability):

    >Like Brooks, I’ve never been comfortable with the way they collect money on behalf of publishers. And their app is nowhere near as good as Instapaper.

    Once Gruber posted that I started to get a flood of comments from friends. The common theme was: “I agree with you.”

    I didn’t want to make a decision that day, but as I read more and more about Readability it made me sick.

    Rich Ziade of Readability reached out on Twitter asking me to ask him any questions. I took him up on it and sent this email to him:

    As of this writing I still haven’t heard back, but I also used the contact link in the help section to request that https://brooksreview.net be blocked from Readability and that my publisher account be deleted — you see unlike a user account there is no `cancel account` link.

    Again, as of this writing, I still have not heard back and https://brooksreview.net is still not blocked, my publisher account is also still active.

    [Readability states](http://help.readability.com/customer/portal/articles/267462-how-can-i-opt-out-of-readability-view-):

    >If you don’t want your website content to be available in Readability view, you can exclude your content from being processed by contacting us directly. We’re always happy to help.

    Except I asked them to do this five days ago and not only has it not happened, but they seem to just be ignoring the request.

    That seems awfully shady.

    Update: Chris Dary of Arc90 responded to me on Twitter and got me opted-out. Thanks to him for that.

  • ‘Read It Later vs. Instapaper vs. Readability’

    Christine Chan does a nice job breaking down all three read-it-later services. What I don’t quite get is this tidbit from her article about Instapaper: >While it does the basics fine, I will admit, the typography and overall design of the app currently does not have the “polish” that everyone sees in Readability. There’s actually…

    Christine Chan does a nice job breaking down all three read-it-later services. What I don’t quite get is this tidbit from her article about Instapaper:

    >While it does the basics fine, I will admit, the typography and overall design of the app currently does not have the “polish” that everyone sees in Readability.

    There’s actually a lot of “polish” in Instapaper. Instapaper just doesn’t have custom fonts, but that doesn’t mean the fonts that it has are bad — they just aren’t new and shiny. Personally I think Readability did a really nice job designing their app, but it’s got a long way to go to match the usability of Instapaper.

  • The B&B Podcast #51: That’s How I Know It’s a Telemarketer

    This week Shawn and I talk about iPad stuff, retina Macs, battery life, the design tweaks I made to this site and all the confusion with AT&T 4G. Side note: We are now on 5by5, having joined the ranks of some very impressive nerds. I want to thank Dan for all the work he did…

    This week Shawn and I talk about iPad stuff, retina Macs, battery life, the design tweaks I made to this site and all the confusion with AT&T 4G.

    Side note: We are now on 5by5, having joined the ranks of some very impressive nerds. I want to thank Dan for all the work he did moving the podcast over so that it doesn’t hinder any of the listeners.

  • New iPad’s Most Revolutionary Feature Is Its Battery

    Adrian Kingsley-Hughes: >Between the release of the iPad 2 last year and the announcement of the new iPad yesterday, Apple has nearly doubled the capacity of the battery, taking it from 25Wh to a massive 42Wh. Measured in milliamps this boosts the battery from 6944 mAh to a monstrous 11,666 mAh. I can’t wait for…

    Adrian Kingsley-Hughes:
    >Between the release of the iPad 2 last year and the announcement of the new iPad yesterday, Apple has nearly doubled the capacity of the battery, taking it from 25Wh to a massive 42Wh. Measured in milliamps this boosts the battery from 6944 mAh to a monstrous 11,666 mAh.

    I can’t wait for those efficiency gains to spill over in laptops and the iPhone — that should be great.

  • iPad vs. MacBook Air and iMac

    Horace Dediu: >The only value that a desktop of 2008 has over a new iPad is the size of the screen and a larger hard drive. That is pretty amazing.

    Horace Dediu:
    >The only value that a desktop of 2008 has over a new iPad is the size of the screen and a larger hard drive.

    That is pretty amazing.

  • iA Writer for iPhone

    iA Writer is now out for the iPhone (universal app) and it looks fantastic. I do most all my long form writing in Writer — love it.

    iA Writer is now out for the iPhone (universal app) and it looks fantastic. I do most all my long form writing in Writer — love it.

  • Instapaper Placebo

    Classic and well done. [via Marco Arment]

    Classic and well done.

  • ‘Forget LTE — the Real iPad Wireless Story Is Bluetooth’

    Kevin C. Tofel points out that the iPad will now sport Bluetooth 4.0, which is a very nice upgrade. He lists out the reasons why it is great, including extra battery management. Here’s hoping that Apple adds this to all its devices, especially the keyboard and mouse — because man do they churn through batteries.

    Kevin C. Tofel points out that the iPad will now sport Bluetooth 4.0, which is a very nice upgrade. He lists out the reasons why it is great, including extra battery management. Here’s hoping that Apple adds this to all its devices, especially the keyboard and mouse — because man do they churn through batteries.

  • iPhoto for iPad Edit Buttons

    Dave Caolo is also stumbling with iPhoto for iOS: >None of them are labeled and I don’t know what they do. Tapping the icons on the left only deepens the confusion. I hear ya Dave, I hear ya.

    Dave Caolo is also stumbling with iPhoto for iOS:

    >None of them are labeled and I don’t know what they do. Tapping the icons on the left only deepens the confusion.

    I hear ya Dave, I hear ya.

  • ‘Mobile Hotspot Included in Verizon’s iPad 4G LTE Data Plan’

    K. T. Bradford has more info on Verizon tethering with the iPad: >However, a Verizon Wireless spokesperson informed me that for tablets (including the new iPad), the mobile hotspot feature is included in the data plan’s price. iPad owners won’t have to pay extra to activate mobile hotspot, even with the 1GB plan. Nice, still…

    K. T. Bradford has more info on Verizon tethering with the iPad:
    >However, a Verizon Wireless spokesperson informed me that for tablets (including the new iPad), the mobile hotspot feature is included in the data plan’s price. iPad owners won’t have to pay extra to activate mobile hotspot, even with the 1GB plan.

    Nice, still waiting word from AT&T…

  • AT&T and Verizon Confirm: No Personal Hotspots on New iPad

    Bryan M. Wolfe: >According to the report, AT&T and Verizon, through Twitter posts, both indicated the hotspot feature won’t be available, at least not when the new tablet is launched March 16. This, of course, is regrettable given that these are the only two US carriers offering LTE plans for the iDevice. I am shocked,…

    Bryan M. Wolfe:
    >According to the report, AT&T and Verizon, through Twitter posts, both indicated the hotspot feature won’t be available, at least not when the new tablet is launched March 16. This, of course, is regrettable given that these are the only two US carriers offering LTE plans for the iDevice.

    I am shocked, *shocked*, I tell you. Also, who wants to bet that Verizon enables it before AT&T? ((Another reason I chose Verizon this time around.))

  • Shawn Blanc’s Membership Drive

    Also, on the subject of my pal Shawn, he is running a membership drive this week. There are some great prizes, but more importantly [diapers are expensive](http://shawnblanc.net/2012/02/noah-blanc/) so go sign up.

    Also, on the subject of my pal Shawn, he is running a membership drive this week. There are some great prizes, but more importantly [diapers are expensive](http://shawnblanc.net/2012/02/noah-blanc/) so go sign up.

  • How Big Will Retina Display Magazines Be?

    Shawn Blanc: >What is Condé Nast going to do with their magazine apps? Their current issues (which use images even for text) are going to look horrible on the Retina display and if they start making their files 4x bigger then the downloads will get even more ridiculous — growing into the ballpark of an…

    Shawn Blanc:
    >What is Condé Nast going to do with their magazine apps? Their current issues (which use images even for text) are going to look horrible on the Retina display and if they start making their files 4x bigger then the downloads will get even more ridiculous — growing into the ballpark of an 800 MB file. At that size, after few back issues of The New Yorker and Wired and your iPad’s storage will be maxed out.

    First, isn’t it just 2x bigger on the iPad? But Shawn makes a great point here: the decision of magazines publishers to use crappy image only tools for text is going to show how short-sighted of a decision it was on March 16th 2012. Here’s hoping magazines pull their collective heads our of their collective asses and use better tools.

    Update: About the 4x versus 2x debate. It’s 4x the pixels, but my thought is that is misleading because you are basically just doubling the size. Looks like I am wrong, or at least in the minority on this thinking though. Oh well.

    Update 2: Yeah, I am wrong about the sizes. Not the first time. Carry on, nothing to see here.