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

  • Siegler on: ‘Facebook Messenger, SMS and iMessage’

    MG Siegler responded to [my post this morning](https://brooksreview.net/2011/08/sms/) about my feelings on Facebook Messenger and iMessage. The main question here is what happens to SMS when iMessage reaches 100% adoption. The answer: probably nothing. Meaning unless iMessage is open to be able for use on every device, then SMS is a more open, and thus…

    MG Siegler responded to [my post this morning](https://brooksreview.net/2011/08/sms/) about my feelings on Facebook Messenger and iMessage. The main question here is what happens to SMS when iMessage reaches 100% adoption. The answer: probably nothing.

    Meaning unless iMessage is open to be able for use on every device, then SMS is a more open, and thus likely, a more popular solution. The Facebook Messenger approach is to create a standalone app that *is* on every major platform and use the massive user base to make the app popular.

    Two completely different approaches with Facebook Messenger having the potential to have the most impact on the SMS industry.

  • Dressing Well

    George Hobica: >But everything else being equal (same frequent flier status, etc.), when a flight is oversold in economy and the airline needs to upgrade someone, are they going to choose the passenger in the tank top or the one wearing the nice dress or suit? You already know the answer, (but as always, it…

    George Hobica:

    >But everything else being equal (same frequent flier status, etc.), when a flight is oversold in economy and the airline needs to upgrade someone, are they going to choose the passenger in the tank top or the one wearing the nice dress or suit? You already know the answer, (but as always, it doesn’t hurt to be extra nice to any staff you should encounter).

    **Pro tip**: Dressing well gets you better service almost anywhere you go (restaurants, not the DMV, meetings, flying, travel). I don’t wear suits when I fly, but I also don’t wear PJ’s — I make sure to wear a nice looking outfit by today’s standards and by the standards of my age group (often slacks or nicer-than-jeans pants with a button down shirt).

    You would be amazed at what better service you get when you put care into your outward appearance, even if you stop short of wearing a suit. Yes dressier clothes may not be as comfortable, but planes are uncomfortable anyways. Just remember: wearing a suit and sitting in first-class will always be more comfortable than your PJ’s in the sardine seat section.

  • MacBook Air SSD Benchmarks: 2010 vs 2010

    [An interesting test comparison between MacBook Airs with and without FileVault turned on](http://thepracticeofcode.com/post/8681712620/macbook-air-ssd-benchmarks-2010-vs-2011-vs-lion) has been making the rounds. I was ready to publish a link to this post, but then I decided to run the FileVault ‘on’ test with my MacBook Air. Here’s where my numbers fall in comparison to the linked posts: Machine: 2010…

    [An interesting test comparison between MacBook Airs with and without FileVault turned on](http://thepracticeofcode.com/post/8681712620/macbook-air-ssd-benchmarks-2010-vs-2011-vs-lion) has been making the rounds. I was ready to publish a link to this post, but then I decided to run the FileVault ‘on’ test with my MacBook Air. Here’s where my numbers fall in comparison to the linked posts:

    Machine: 2010 FV (Jay’s) 2010 FV (Ben’s)
    Sequential
    Uncached Write 4K 120.4 MB/sec 167.14 MB/sec
    Uncached Write 256K 75.9 MB/sec 92.07 MB/sec
    Uncached Read 4K 12.7 MB/sec 12.86 MB/sec
    Uncached Read 256K 90.9 MB/sec 98.2 MB/sec
    Random
    Uncached Write 4K 46.0 MB/sec 45.76 MB/sec
    Uncached Write 256K 72.4 MB/sec 84.54 MB/sec
    Uncached Read 4K 6.7 MB/sec 9.36 MB/sec
    Uncached Read 256K 66.2 MB/sec 82.34 MB/sec

    So my machine performs better in most tests — what needs to be noted is that the machine specs are vastly different. Jay is using an 11.6″ Air with the 1.6 Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM and the 128GB Toshiba SSD. I am using a 13″ MacBook Air with a 2.13 Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM and the 256GB Toshiba SSD. I am not sure if it is the processor, SSD size or the possible difference in free space on the drive accounting for the difference (or all of the above) — but there *is* a difference. Even with the performance difference I still don’t notice it.

  • Facebook Messenger, SMS and iMessage

    Yesterday Facebook launched its new Facebook Messenger app for iOS that is a text messaging like alternative. In response to this launch [MG Siegler stated](http://techcrunch.com/2011/08/09/suck-it-sms/): >But the service that should be perhaps more worried about Messenger is the still-unlaunched iMessage. I read his post last night and liked it on Instapaper. Now this morning I…

    Yesterday Facebook launched its new Facebook Messenger app for iOS that is a text messaging like alternative. In response to this launch [MG Siegler stated](http://techcrunch.com/2011/08/09/suck-it-sms/):

    >But the service that should be perhaps more worried about Messenger is the still-unlaunched iMessage.

    I read his post last night and liked it on Instapaper. Now this morning I had to remove that like and in thinking about it further I completely disagree with the notion that this service is a threat to iMessage.

    Siegler lays out these reasons why Facebook Messenger is better:

    – iMessage is tied to email addresses (phone numbers on iPhones only) whereas Facebook is tied to, well, Facebook.
    – iMessage and SMS look the same and reside in the same app.
    – Facebook Messenger will handle group messaging better.
    – Messenger will likely add video features.
    – Messenger will be cross platform technology where iMessage will be trapped in iOS. The biggest component of this is working on Facebook.com.

    Siegler makes a bunch of true statements, but the biggest reason — the biggest advantage — that iMessage will have is that it *is* seamless.

    With Facebook Messenger you need to do the following:

    1. Be a Facebook user (there are lots, not a big hurdle).
    2. Download and install the Facebook Messenger app (easy on iOS, but Android?).
    3. Learn how to use the app.
    4. Remember to use that app over text messages.

    It’s 2-3 that are going to cause the problems because it is a not a seamless process — the user much actively be choosing Messenger over anything else. Certainly it will get used, but not as much as iMessage when it launches.

    The reason being is best shown with how you use iMessage:

    – Open Messages app (the one you already know how to use and is pre-installed).
    – Pick contact to send a message to.
    – Send message.

    If the contact is using iOS 5 on an iPhone then you just sent an iMessage. There was no switch to flip or separate app to use. Yes, sending between email addresses can be cumbersome with people who have several email addresses — but so is figuring out which email address to send an email to with such people.

    The problem right now is that a bunch of developer/power users are using iMessage and everyone of those users has multiple email addresses. This is not the case with the average user and that is the segment that makes these things take off like wildfire.

    iMessage may lose with the younger crowd that is Facebook obsessed, but for all those corporate types — the adults that loathe Facebook or don’t “get” Facebook — well they *will* be using iMessage without even knowing it.

    That kind of seamless integration is how you push through change, not with standalone apps. Facebook Messenger may succeed, but it’s not going to hurt iMessage.

  • Microsoft Video from MGXFY12

    If this was what Microsoft’s advertising department was airing on TV — well things would be going a lot better for them. Update: Looks like they pulled the video, can’t seem to find that same video elsewhere.

    If this was what Microsoft’s advertising department was airing on TV — well things would be going a lot better for them.

    Update: Looks like they pulled the video, can’t seem to find that same video elsewhere.

  • Lion Adoption Rates

    Kris on the Omni Group blog: >As you can see from the following OmniGraphSketcher file, the percentage of Omni customers using Lion within the first 10 days of its release is nearly the same as those who began using Leopard within the first 100 days of its release. That’s pretty impressive adoption.

    Kris on the Omni Group blog:
    >As you can see from the following OmniGraphSketcher file, the percentage of Omni customers using Lion within the first 10 days of its release is nearly the same as those who began using Leopard within the first 100 days of its release.

    That’s pretty impressive adoption.

  • “Unlimited” T-Mobile Plans

    Last night, in what can only be described as a rare event, I was listening to the radio. There was an ad that came on for T-Mobile’s heavily advertised “unlimited” everything plans. For those not aware of these plans T-Mobile touts that for $49.99 a month you get unlimited: talk, text, data. Now on the…

    Last night, in what can only be described as a rare event, I was listening to the radio. There was an ad that came on for T-Mobile’s heavily advertised “unlimited” everything plans. For those not aware of these plans T-Mobile touts that for $49.99 a month you get unlimited: talk, text, data.

    Now on the radio I actually heard the fast talker when he was speaking the asterisk material. What I heard him say: “After 2GB of data at full speed, unlimited data is available at 2G speeds.”

    Umm, what?

    So I visited the T-Mobile website and saw [this](http://deals.t-mobile.com/unlimited-family-plans):

    There’s the 2GB cap on the unlimited data, but let’s find out more. Now clicking to get more details yields this text:

    >Unlimited data: Up to 2 GB of high-speed data (for capable devices), then reduced speeds after that. If you use up your high-speed data, we will automatically reduce your speeds for the rest of your billing cycle—so you can still connect without overages.

    How nice for you not to cut me off when I use up all of my “unlimited” data. So I get the same crappy 2GB cap that I get with AT&T, but instead of letting me just run up overage charges — well T-Mobile automatically makes a slow connection, even slower.

    But how slow?

    For that we must read the seriously fine text:

    >For unlimited data plans, full speeds available up to monthly data allotment; after allotment used, speeds slowed to up to 2G speeds for remainder of billing cycle.

    Technically speaking the original non-3G iPhone was considered to run at 2.75G speeds (EDGE). What’s 2G — is it even useable?

    2G is actually the old TDMA network that T-Mobile has, the best I can tell the top speeds on it are [right around 9.6 kbps](http://www.arcelect.com/2G-3G_Cellular_Wireless.htm). Honestly that can’t be right because such a speed wouldn’t even be useable. My guess is that they actually mean either GPRS (115kbps) or EDGE (384kbps). Either way that is a huge hit from the [minimum 1.8Megabit/s speed](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-Speed_Downlink_Packet_Access) you get over 3G.

    Doesn’t matter really, what matters is that this “Unlimited Plan” is hardly *unlimited*.

  • Quote of the Day: MG Siegler

    “After decade of being bitter rivals, Apple and Microsoft now seem to have aligned interests. But you don’t have to wonder what’s going on, it’s very apparent: they both hate Google.” — MG Siegler

    “After decade of being bitter rivals, Apple and Microsoft now seem to have aligned interests. But you don’t have to wonder what’s going on, it’s very apparent: they both hate Google.”

  • How 50 Big Companies Got Their Names

    Number thirty-six is a *little* off from an accuracy of the name relating to products standpoint.

    Number thirty-six is a *little* off from an accuracy of the name relating to products standpoint.

  • Redesigning the Browser Window

    This is a pretty interesting concept and exactly what I am talking about with fullscreen apps. Fullscreen apps shouldn’t just be blown up versions of themselves — they should be creating an immersive experience for fullscreen users that actually changes the way the app works.

    This is a pretty interesting concept and exactly what I am talking about with fullscreen apps. Fullscreen apps shouldn’t just be blown up versions of themselves — they should be creating an immersive experience for fullscreen users that actually changes the way the app works.

  • Tablet Returns

    Seth Clifford on tablet returns: >That doesn’t seem to be happening with iPads, because I think people’s expectations are set accordingly when they buy them. These are not full computing devices; they’re not built to be – and yet when you watch the commercials, what do you hear? The “full” internet. Flash. Do it all.…

    Seth Clifford on tablet returns:
    >That doesn’t seem to be happening with iPads, because I think people’s expectations are set accordingly when they buy them. These are not full computing devices; they’re not built to be – and yet when you watch the commercials, what do you hear? The “full” internet. Flash. Do it all. Why wouldn’t people be disappointed when they can’t actually replace a computer with a device that promised they could?

    I think that’s a very astute observation. Apple sets the expectations (unapologetically) with all of it’s devices — they set those expectations pretty low. Every other tablet maker seems to advertise their devices as an all encompassing computer.

    It’s not that these computers aren’t all encompassing, but that they don’t do the all encompassing features as easily as a “regular” laptop is.

    [via DF]

  • Let’s Substitute iTunes Passwords for Passcodes on iOS

    Any TestFlight user will tell you that one of the greatest parts is that you can install apps without a dialog popping up asking you for a password. In fact entering my iTunes password every time I want to buy or update an app causes two problems: 1. User annoyance. 2. Weaker passwords. My password…

    Any TestFlight user will tell you that one of the greatest parts is that you can install apps without a dialog popping up asking you for a password. In fact entering my iTunes password every time I want to buy or update an app causes two problems:

    1. User annoyance.
    2. Weaker passwords.

    My password is weaker because I typing long complex passwords causes two problems other:

    1. I forget them.
    2. They aren’t very easy/fast to type on iOS.

    This problem is compounded when you have a device passcode set to immediately (as I do), then you go to update apps and have to type another password.

    My proposal: if a user has a passcode set to activate no longer than 15 minutes of inactivity (I believe this is the current memory of the App Store for password-less purchases) then allow the user to turn on a feature where you can buy anything password-less once the device has been unlocked with the passcode.

    This would eliminate the first two problems listed above:

    1. Buying/updating apps would be less annoying (fringe benefit: you sell more apps).
    2. I could make super secure iTunes passwords knowing that I wouldn’t need them to do every little update in the App Store or to buy $1.99 song.

    Just a thought…

  • The iShine

    Devir Kahan on the Apple-applied icon gloss in iOS (he dubs: iShine): >In my opinion, this Apple shine on all apps looks nothing short of terrible. It makes icons appear bubble-like and juvenile. By far and away the best icons are the ones without this annoying shine. When I finished reading this I thought for…

    Devir Kahan on the Apple-applied icon gloss in iOS (he dubs: iShine):
    >In my opinion, this Apple shine on all apps looks nothing short of terrible. It makes icons appear bubble-like and juvenile. By far and away the best icons are the ones without this annoying shine.

    When I finished reading this I thought for sure that he was wrong. I headed to my iPhone and searched for just one example of a good looking App icon that left the Apple shine in place — I failed to find one.

  • FileVault Tests on a 13″ MacBook Air

    Federico Viticci testing his new MacBook Air 13″ with and without FileVault: >My Geekbench results (run with the latest version of the app available, at 64-bit, with system daemons-only running in the background) report two points more to the test performed when FileVault was turned on. He also ran some nice “real world” tests and…

    Federico Viticci testing his new MacBook Air 13″ with and without FileVault:
    >My Geekbench results (run with the latest version of the app available, at 64-bit, with system daemons-only running in the background) report two points more to the test performed when FileVault was turned on.

    He also ran some nice “real world” tests and his conclusion is similar to mine: you don’t notice any performance difference. Here’s my advice with FileVault: turn it on and leave it on until you think to yourself “this computer is so slow that I need a new one.” Until you reach such a point there is no reason to have it off, that added security (including the upcoming remote wipe) is killer.

  • Myhrvold: Just Getting Started

    Dave Winer: >Also Myrvold has raised $5 billion and has only made $2 billion so far in settlements and judgements. His VCs no doubt expect a 10x return or greater. You can do the math. He’s got to extract at least another $48 billion. He’s just getting started. That ultimately has to chill the investment…

    Dave Winer:
    >Also Myrvold has raised $5 billion and has only made $2 billion so far in settlements and judgements. His VCs no doubt expect a 10x return or greater. You can do the math. He’s got to extract at least another $48 billion. He’s just getting started. That ultimately has to chill the investment environment in tech.

    *Fun*.

  • [SPONSOR] Hunter Research and Technology: Theodolite

    Theodolite is a multifunction augmented reality viewfinder for iOS devices that combines a rangefinder, inclinometer, compass, GPS, map, and geo-tag zoom camera into one indispensable app. Available for iPhone, iPad 2, and iPod Touch 4. Read more about Theodolite and check out other iOS and Mac apps by Hunter Research and Technology.

    Theodolite is a multifunction augmented reality viewfinder for iOS devices that combines a rangefinder, inclinometer, compass, GPS, map, and geo-tag zoom camera into one indispensable app. Available for iPhone, iPad 2, and iPod Touch 4. Read more about Theodolite and check out other iOS and Mac apps by Hunter Research and Technology.

  • Quick Look Gestures in Finder Let You Navigate Like a Pro

    Some more great gesture tricks — this time when you are using Quick Look. On another note: looks like I need to switch to a Magic trackpad at my office now too.

    Some more great gesture tricks — this time when you are using Quick Look. On another note: looks like I need to switch to a Magic trackpad at my office now too.

  • Fullscreen Safari Trick [Lion]

    This is a great trick when you use Safari in fullscreen mode (and it makes Safari in fullscreen mode a lot more useable). ((Note: this is the same trick that I told Shawn about on our latest [podcast](http://thebbpodcast.com/2011/08/episode-21-in-ear-monitors/).))

    This is a great trick when you use Safari in fullscreen mode (and it makes Safari in fullscreen mode a lot more useable). ((Note: this is the same trick that I told Shawn about on our latest [podcast](http://thebbpodcast.com/2011/08/episode-21-in-ear-monitors/).))

  • Drance FTW

    Wonder why so many hated “that” post by Google? Matt Drance sums it up perfectly.

    Wonder why so many hated “that” post by Google? Matt Drance sums it up perfectly.

  • Entitled

    John Gruber: >Google seems to feel entitled to copy whatever it wants. Which is exactly why I am souring on Google as a company.

    John Gruber:
    >Google seems to feel entitled to copy whatever it wants.

    Which is exactly why I am souring on Google as a company.