Brad W. Allen

Washington stepping up

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 19:27:14 -0600

“While no law or set of laws will end gun violence, it is clear that the American people want action. If even one child’s life can be saved, then we need to act.”

Yes.

Former Windows Head Steven Sinofsky is already Tweeting from iPhone

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 11:24:45 -0600

Former Windows Head Steven Sinofsky is already Tweeting from iPhone:

parislemon:

Thus continuing the trend of people loving the “dogfood” when they’re inside a company, and throwing it up when they’re out.

Most of the ones I notice (both with people I know and those in public) are former Microsoft employees. People leave and immediately switch to Macs, iPhones, iPads, Google Docs, Chrome, Android devices, etc.

What I never see is people leaving Apple and switching to other products — PCs, Android devices, Windows Phone, etc. I’m sure there are some out there, but for the most part ex-Apple employees seem to remain “loyal” to the brand. Read into that what you will.

From heading up the terrible Windows 8 and getting fired for it straight to using an iPhone. Sweet.

parislemon: meganwest: turnabout: wendy-strawberry: Burger...

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 19:35:53 -0600

parislemon:

meganwest:

turnabout:

wendy-strawberry:

Burger recipes by Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra.

always reblog.

Still the best.

Yep. Worth another reblog.

parislemon: blehmeng: Best iPhone wallpaper EVER (via...

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 05:56:53 -0600

parislemon:

blehmeng:

Best iPhone wallpaper EVER (via reddit)

Sadly, not iPhone 5-optimized. Still!

Update: Jeff Holliday has updated the image to be iPhone 5 ready. Lovely.

Update 2: Tony Nguyen has a slightly different take as well.

My new iPhone background.

Instagram clarifies again and changes ToS back

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 19:44:58 -0600

Instagram clarifies again and changes ToS back

Instagram would like to clarify a few things

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 20:02:38 -0600

Instagram would like to clarify a few things:

You know… before everyone leaves.

New Instagram Terms of Use

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 08:14:22 -0600

New Instagram Terms of Use:

The nasty little snippet that will cause me to delete my account:

To help us deliver interesting paid or sponsored content or promotions, you agree that a business or other entity may pay us to display your username, likeness, photos (along with any associated metadata), and/or actions you take, in connection with paid or sponsored content or promotions, without any compensation to you. If you are under the age of eighteen (18), or under any other applicable age of majority, you represent that at least one of your parents or legal guardians has also agreed to this provision (and the use of your name, likeness, username, and/or photos (along with any associated metadata)) on your behalf.

No thanks. :) Only way to opt out is by deleting your account. Works for me.

(via DF)

What the? You mean the Gmail address where you sent the...

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 13:12:39 -0600

What the? You mean the Gmail address where you sent the “What’s On” newsletter to begin with? Google, you know the “G” in Gmail means Google right? You of all companies should not have to ask me to type in my email address. Especially when unsubscribing from your newsletter from within your email system!

MG Siegler's Surface Review

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 09:13:02 -0600

MG Siegler's Surface Review:

The linked review is complimentary to my previous post. I wanted to provide a review that I thought my readers might find helpful and that would support my recommendation not to buy the Surface. Please, if you plan to spend several hundred dollars on a tablet and are considering a Surface, read MG’s review. Make sure you read past the title of his review too. The title makes it sound like it’s going to be a very biased post but as he says:

at the end of the day the fact remains that if I rip apart a product that’s actually good, that looks bad on me

I believe it’s a thorough and honest review and supports what I said:

I think it’s an unfinished product that tries to do too much and ends up confusing and frustrating users

Thoughts on the Microsoft Surface

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 08:15:38 -0600

I had a nice long post typed out and then just deleted it. I’ve read thousands and thousands of words written on the Surface so far and I see no reason to write the same stuff. When people ask me my thoughts on a product they really just want to know if I think they should buy it or not. My answer for the Surface is no, don’t bother. But I will give you a quick reason why.

From all the material I’ve read and the few minutes I’ve personally spent with a Surface I think it’s an unfinished product that tries to do too much and ends up confusing and frustrating users. If your idea of a tablet comes from the product that has defined what a tablet is (iPad) then I believe you’ll be disappointed with the Surface.

You know what though? They make return policies for a reason. Go buy a Surface and try it. My guess is the only line you’ll be standing in for a Surface is the return line.

My recommendation…

If you want a tablet, buy an iPad. If you don’t want an iPad, think about why you don’t want an iPad and then do some research, you’re probably wrong and an iPad would be great for you. If you’re absolutely sure an iPad is not for you, do not buy an Android tablet, buy a Microsoft Surface.

Developing Perspective: Git and Source Control

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 09:40:47 -0600

Developing Perspective: Git and Source Control:

I asked David Smith on Twitter if he’d do a podcast episode about Git and he did! He also linked to a great book called Pro Git that’s available online for free.

And this is why I’m no longer reading The Big Picture...

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 09:40:40 -0500

And this is why I’m no longer reading The Big Picture blog.

When will Apple ditch Intel processors?

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 20:45:00 -0500

When will Apple ditch Intel processors?:

Anand Lal Shimpi - AnandTech:

The A6 is the first Apple SoC to use its own ARMv7 based processor design. The CPU core(s) aren’t based on a vanilla A9 or A15 design from ARM IP, but instead are something of Apple’s own creation.

So, when is Apple going to ditch Intel in its MacBooks and iMacs in favor of a chip they design themselves?

Their chips need to get a lot more powerful obviously but right now their chip performance is basically doubling every year. Seems like Moore’s law is at play here which means its only a matter of time before your next Mac comes with an Apple processor at its… core.

Yay for puns!

The Windows RT Demo

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 22:26:56 -0500

The Windows RT Demo:

parislemon:

Watch the video at the bottom of the post. Just look at The Verge’s Ross Miller try to use that thing. Now imagine a normal, everyday consumer using it. Yes, this is the *final* build of Windows RT.

I’m believing more and more that we’re watching a total fucking nightmare for Microsoft unfold before our eyes.

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Bam!

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:36:36 -0500

Bam!:

Apple Macbook Vinyl Decal Sticker - Ironman Triangle Chest

Man I so want an Iron Man version of this!

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:07:08 -0500

Man I so want an Iron Man version of this!

'Raiders of the Lost Ark' to Get Imax Rerelease - Hollywood Reporter

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 07:37:59 -0500

'Raiders of the Lost Ark' to Get Imax Rerelease - Hollywood Reporter:

I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am for this. One of my all-time favorite movies that I’ve never seen in a theater.

HP Is Just Fine With Microsoft’s Surface Tablet, Thank You

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 07:29:55 -0500

HP Is Just Fine With Microsoft’s Surface Tablet, Thank You:

parislemon:

John Paczkowski:

If Microsoft’s decision to enter the PC hardware market with its own Surface tablet has caused Hewlett-Packard any anxiety, the PC-maker isn’t letting on.

And their other choice is what exactly?

They can complain publicly and risk pissing off Microsoft and then keeping using Windows anyway because they have no other choice.

Or they can say all the right things publicly (while complaining privately) and then keep using Windows because they have no other choice.

HP had their chance to break free of the Windows prison with webOS and they blew it. They had a choice…

Microsoft Surface price rumors

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 07:21:43 -0500

I saw a couple links saying the price would be $199 but after reading the articles I really don’t see much meat here.

The first link I saw was one from Engadget. The title is “Microsoft Surface for Windows RT tablet coming October 26th for $199?” and they claim an “anonymous source” at Microsoft’s TechReady conference saw a session which detailed all the plans.

At the end of the Engadget article there’s a “more coverage” link to CNET that has Acer CEO JT Wang “pleading” that Microsoft not set the price at $199.

One more… The Register has an article too. They source both Engadget’s article and, instead of CNET, they use CNET’s source… which is where this all falls apart for me because the source is this Digitimes article. Sorry, but if the original source is Digitimes, I’m out. Not only that though, read the actual quote from JT Wang:

Wang noted that Microsoft is currently looking for solutions such as creating a price gap to minimize the negative impact on other vendors’ product lineups, and he believes if Microsoft launches Surface at a price of US$199, it would have a rather significant impact, but if it is priced at around US$499-599, the effects will be a lot smaller.

That to me reads like Wang is just saying “look, if they price it really low, we’re f’d, but if they price it a little higher, we can actually compete”. I didn’t read any “pleading with Microsoft” in there at all.

Granted, Wang saying $199 and the “anonymous” dude at TechReady saying $199 is a bit of a coincidence but, let’s think about that price for a second.

That is one low ass price for a 10 inch tablet with 32GB of storage and a fancy keyboard cover thingy. At that price it’s unlikely Microsoft would break even and more likely that they would actually lose money for each one sold.

Maybe that’s their strategy. Price it so low that if anyone wants a tablet, no matter what brand, shape or size they want, they’ll pick ours and thus they’ll get Windows and then be in our ecosystem and that’s what we want.

Not the first time a company has lost money on a product just to put asses in seats… I’ll believe it when I see it. For what it’s worth I’d bet on a $399 or $499 price. We’ll see.

gfxCardStatus - quickly change between video cards on your Mac

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 22:03:05 -0500

gfxCardStatus - quickly change between video cards on your Mac:

This is awesome for me because I have the first MacBook Pro that came with 2 video cards (Late 2008 with a lower power GeForce 9400m and a higher power 9600GT) and it’s the only model that doesn’t auto-switch on the fly based on what you’re doing. You have to manually change it in System Preferences and then log out and back in. That is a pain in the ass! gxfCardStatus lets you not only change graphics cards without having to go into System Preferences (it can live in your menu bar) but you don’t have to log in and out and you can set it to change cards based on your power state! So when I unplug the power cord it automatically switches to the 9400m and when I plug the cord back in it switches back to the 9600GT so I can hack and slash in Diablo 3 with buttery smooth frame rates.

You bet I’ll donate!