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Recent Articles

  • Machine Era Brass Pen

    It’s brass, not gold, and it’s really heavy.

    A few weeks back, I snagged a new pen from Massdrop to fit with all the brass things I’ve been adding to my collection. The Machine Era Brass Pen, which takes a Pilot G2 refill and weighs about 20-30lbs.

    I bought this pen to kick around on my desk, and my lovely coworkers refer to it as “Ben’s gold pen” which is charming — SINCE IT IS BRASS FOOLS. Anyways, I love brass for a few reasons: it patinas well, it is durable, and there’s some mystical anti-bacterial shit which goes on. All of which seems like it makes for a pretty great pen to have kicking around my desk.

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  • Bug Out Bag (video)

    See my bug out bag [post here](https://brooksreview.net/2017/02/i-mean-45-could-start-a-war-with-a-tweet/).

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  • Thinking About Shared iCloud Photo Libraries

    Good thoughts, I’d just take an option for everything to be in iCloud and not on device. Above and beyond the optimize storage option.

    Good thoughts, I’d just take an option for everything to be in iCloud and not on device. Above and beyond the optimize storage option.

  • The Disappearing Computer

    Walt Mossberg in his final weekly column: Microsoft is still trying to find a way to meld its formidable software and cloud expertise with a significant hardware business. The ad-based business models of Facebook and Google, now so dominant, could prove fickle. And Amazon has only had one really giant hardware hit — the Kindle…

    Walt Mossberg in his final weekly column:

    Microsoft is still trying to find a way to meld its formidable software and cloud expertise with a significant hardware business. The ad-based business models of Facebook and Google, now so dominant, could prove fickle. And Amazon has only had one really giant hardware hit — the Kindle — in its existence.

    The entire article is excellent and worth a read. But this passage is fantastic, the setup leading to that last line about Amazon is perfect. I had never thought about the Kindle in that context, but once I read that — it is so clearly true that it amazed me a bit in the realization.

  • 3 Reasons Why Second-Wave Tech Is Intensely Personal (Plus Incredibly Useful)

    Travis Katz: As technology’s second wave continues to mature, we will see more and more innovations that feel personal, customized to us and our habits; assistive, as they support better discernment and decision making; and convenient, easing our everyday lives with small but useful touches. Yep.

    Travis Katz:

    As technology’s second wave continues to mature, we will see more and more innovations that feel personal, customized to us and our habits; assistive, as they support better discernment and decision making; and convenient, easing our everyday lives with small but useful touches.

    Yep.

  • Hey, The iPad Just Got PC-Style Drag And Drop–But Not From Apple

    Jared Newman: With two Readdle apps running side by side, each one creates its own local HTTP server. When the user starts dragging a file, the two servers share data about the file type, its thumbnail image, and its position on the screen, coordinating the appearance as the file moves between the apps. When the…

    Jared Newman:

    With two Readdle apps running side by side, each one creates its own local HTTP server. When the user starts dragging a file, the two servers share data about the file type, its thumbnail image, and its position on the screen, coordinating the appearance as the file moves between the apps. When the user lifts her finger, the file transfers between the two servers.

    That’s one hell of a hack.

  • Hacking Fingerprint Readers with Master Prints

    Bruce Schneier: The work is theoretical at the moment, but they might be able to open about two-thirds of iPhones with these master prints. This is timely for me. I was actually considering turning off Touch ID on my iPhone. Not because of insecurity of it, but in wondering if that would help to curb…

    Bruce Schneier:

    The work is theoretical at the moment, but they might be able to open about two-thirds of iPhones with these master prints.

    This is timely for me. I was actually considering turning off Touch ID on my iPhone. Not because of insecurity of it, but in wondering if that would help to curb how much time I spend on the device when I am with my family.

    The premise being: if I have to focus on typing in a password longer than 8 characters, perhaps I will be less inclined to use my device at time when my attention should be elsewhere. This only bolsters that case to turn off Touch ID.

  • An Interview with Manton Reece

    From Twitter alternatives, open web, blogging, to bags and iPads.

    (The following interview took place over Slack DMs on 5/22/17. Light editing for clarity and spelling was done, mostly on my side.)

    Ben: Manton, thanks for taking the time today to chat. Before we get going, could you give me a little bio on who you are — for those two readers who aren’t aware of you just yet?

    Manton: Sure, I’m a long-time Mac developer — from the 1990s when Apple was doomed — but these days I mostly do iOS and web development. A couple years ago I quit my regular job to work on my indie software company Riverfold Software full time, where I’ve shipped a few Mac and iOS apps, as well as web services like the Tweet Marker API. My latest project is Micro.blog.

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  • The BMW 850CSi Was Magic

    This is a great video about exactly what the title says: a magic car. My dad has an 850CSi, and it is amazing to drive. Everything about that car, it’s just fantastic. It’s no E39, but it’s the kind of car an E39 driver chooses when his kids are all grown up.

    This is a great video about exactly what the title says: a magic car. My dad has an 850CSi, and it is amazing to drive. Everything about that car, it’s just fantastic.

    It’s no E39, but it’s the kind of car an E39 driver chooses when his kids are all grown up.

  • The Arcido Faroe

    Wait, this one is within reach of everyone’s budget and it’s really quite good.

    Editor’s note: Arcido provided me with this bag at no charge the purposes of this review.

    Some time ago I was contact by Arcido, I have reviewed a travel bag of theirs previously and left it with rather mixed feelings. A good bag? Yes. A great bag? Not for most people. I don’t have that bag anymore, but my recollection of it is threefold: it was heavy, it was large, and the material was awesome.

    I remember wishing it was lighter, and it was smaller. So Arcido reached out to me and asked me to check out their new bag, the Faroe. They told me they listened to what people were saying, and created this bag with much of that feedback in mind.

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  • Instagram is the most harmful social network for your mental health—but YouTube has a positive effect, a new report says

    Marc Bain: The problems centered more on forgetting that what we see isn’t always reality, and the RSPH offered some recommendations based on its findings. For one, fashion brands, celebrities, and others should consider disclosing when their photos have been manipulated. It also suggested that social networks give users a pop-up warning if they exceed…

    Marc Bain:

    The problems centered more on forgetting that what we see isn’t always reality, and the RSPH offered some recommendations based on its findings. For one, fashion brands, celebrities, and others should consider disclosing when their photos have been manipulated. It also suggested that social networks give users a pop-up warning if they exceed a certain time spent logged on. Social platforms might even identify users with possible mental-health issues based on their usage and send a discreet message on where to get help.

    Oh yeah, I bet people will love having a social network tell them they might have a possible mental health issue. I mean, get real.

  • iPad Productivity Report — 5/22/17

    Let’s talk about task management apps, and the awesomeness of Things 3.

    This week I want to talk about task management apps — [something I used to cover in depth](https://brooksreview.net/2010/08/omnifocus-v-things-mac-ipad-iphone/) at the outset of this site, but which has only been of passing interest to me of late. What is spurring this is Things 3 ([iPad](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/things-3-for-ipad/id904244226?mt=8&uo=4&at=1l3v36d), [iPhone](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/things-3/id904237743?mt=8&uo=4&at=1l3v36d), [Mac](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/things-3/id904280696?mt=12&uo=4&at=1l3v36d)), which is made by a company I loathe, but I mostly certainly bought and am using. ((It’s a complicated relationship.)) I can’t and won’t speak to the long term impacts of this tool, as it simply has not been enough time — but there is one thing we can talk about: design.

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  • Facebook’s Ability to Target “Insecure” Teens Could Prompt Backlash

    Could? Doubtful. Nitasha Tiku should know that too, as she wrote: Five years ago, Facebook conducted a mass experiment in manipulating emotions on nearly 700,000 unsuspecting users. The company tweaked News Feeds to show random users more positive or negative content, to see if it made those users happy or sad. Because even after they…

    Could? Doubtful. Nitasha Tiku should know that too, as she wrote:

    Five years ago, Facebook conducted a mass experiment in manipulating emotions on nearly 700,000 unsuspecting users. The company tweaked News Feeds to show random users more positive or negative content, to see if it made those users happy or sad.

    Because even after they published those findings, even after they said “gee, we didn’t think people would mind being manipulated” even then, no one cared. Why will they now?

  • Do You Need a Headlamp?

    Anthony Sculimbrene on headlamps versus flashlights: In my life, where working in the dark is uncommon and night hikes are rare, I don’t need one everyday, but when I do have work outside, the headlamp is tremendously helpful. I might only use it six times a year, but those six times are when something bad…

    Anthony Sculimbrene on headlamps versus flashlights:

    In my life, where working in the dark is uncommon and night hikes are rare, I don’t need one everyday, but when I do have work outside, the headlamp is tremendously helpful. I might only use it six times a year, but those six times are when something bad has happened and I don’t want to mess around.

    Fully agree. But I think for general hiking and camping the Wizard Pro from Armytek is all you need. Works as both, made well, awesome. Also a headlamp for peeing at night when camping is a must.

  • iOS 11: iPad Wishes and Oh God Please No, Not That

    Taking a look at the bigger points in the iOS 11 concept video from MacStories.

    I’ve been mulling over Federico’s excellently well made iOS 11 concept video, and I wanted to reflect on some thoughts from a few of his larger ideas.

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  • WHY I DELETED MY INSTAGRAM

    Eric Kim: I am pretty sure that all photographers would benefit by deleting their Instagram. We would spend more time analyzing our own opinion of our own photos, rather than caring what others think of our photos Great reasons. I only came back to Instagram to support my wife, but I really am not a…

    Eric Kim:

    I am pretty sure that all photographers would benefit by deleting their Instagram. We would spend more time analyzing our own opinion of our own photos, rather than caring what others think of our photos

    Great reasons. I only came back to Instagram to support my wife, but I really am not a huge fan of the service.

    (Via CJ Chilvers)

  • IBM Goes Non-Remote

    Some good thoughts from Mullenweg on IBM’s withdrawal from remote work. It really is a shame when this happens, remote work is such a better work life balance — it’s hard for me to imagine anyone wanting to go back to an office after working from home.

    Some good thoughts from Mullenweg on IBM’s withdrawal from remote work. It really is a shame when this happens, remote work is such a better work life balance — it’s hard for me to imagine anyone wanting to go back to an office after working from home.

  • A Fresh New Look

    A few notes on my new design, look at that archive page for sure.

    Yesterday afternoon, I pushed live a new theme for the site which I had been working on for the past few months. Most of the design elements were realized over the course of just a week or so, but I always sit with a new design for a few months as a way of trying it on. What I want to know is simple: after a few months, which one do I like looking at better?

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  • Google’s Perfect Future Will Always Be Just Around The Corner

    David Pierce: And you realize I/O felt less like a Jobsian product reveal and more like a TED talk: good ideas, educated guesses, and impressive research, but precious little practical application. The same could be said for last year’s event, too. Remember that awesome Google Home launch video? You’re still waiting for many of the…

    David Pierce:

    And you realize I/O felt less like a Jobsian product reveal and more like a TED talk: good ideas, educated guesses, and impressive research, but precious little practical application. The same could be said for last year’s event, too. Remember that awesome Google Home launch video? You’re still waiting for many of the things it promised. It was a vision for a product, not a product.

    (Via Om Malik)

  • Home Network Tips

    Just you know, in case you need a project.

    I have two things I want to share with you about home networking — and for this I mean WiFi, because I don’t know who wastes their time running Ethernet anymore.

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