Linked List: February 28, 2013

Thursday, 28 February 2013

Did You Know Apple Pre-Announced Its iPad Sales? ★

Matthew Panzarino:

That’s great. Only one problem: Apple never announced any such plans of any sort. I’m sure that Apple planned to sell a certain amount of both models, but it never reveals those estimates publicly. In fact, it has become even more conservative in its forecast reporting in an endeavor to halt projection inflation.

DisplaySearch estimated those numbers from what it saw as a shift in a specific split of component orders. In fact, these estimates based on a single component (TFT LCDs).

Much of the news media is afflicted with a collective mental disorder in which any estimate (read: guess), if it comes from someone whose job title is “analyst”, somehow becomes a fact.

Calculator Construction Set ★

Randomly thought of this anecdote from Andy Hertzfeld’s amazing Folklore.org today. Such a great story. (If you’ve never read Folklore.org, prepare to lose a few hours. Or, better yet, buy the book.)

CGI Audrey Hepburn Stars in Candy Bar Commercial ★

Technically impressive, but how can you write about this without mentioning how revolting the entire concept is? What is wrong with the heirs to Hepburn’s estate that they’d sell her out like this? Audrey Hepburn was one of the great talents in cinema history, and they’ve turned her into Ronald McDonald, an animated cartoon peddling junk food.

Groupon Shitcans CEO ★

Groupon CEO Andrew Mason, in a letter to employees:

After four and a half intense and wonderful years as CEO of Groupon, I’ve decided that I’d like to spend more time with my family. Just kidding — I was fired today. If you’re wondering why… you haven’t been paying attention. From controversial metrics in our S1 to our material weakness to two quarters of missing our own expectations and a stock price that’s hovering around one quarter of our listing price, the events of the last year and a half speak for themselves. As CEO, I am accountable.

Crummy CEO, but not a bullshitter.

The Fate of Google Glass ★

Joel Hladecek:

Wearing Google Glass made users feel like they didn’t have to connect with the actual humans around them. “I’m elsewhere — even though I appear to be staring right at you.” Frankly the people who wore Google Glass were afraid of the people around them. And Glass gave them a strange transparent hiding place. A self-centered context for suffering through normal moments of uncomfortable close proximity. Does it matter that everyone around you is more uncomfortable for it?

At least with a hand-held phone there was no charade. The very presence of the device in hand, head down, was a clear flag alerting bystanders to the momentary disconnect. “At the moment, I’m not paying attention to you.”

Strident, but I don’t think he’s far off the mark.

U.K. Judge Who Ruled Against Apple Now Hired by Samsung ★

“Lack of integrity”, indeed.