Month: December 2015

Apple by Joe WilcoxDec 17, 201511:40 am

Apple’s Two Vulcan Problem

Back in April 2013, when Forbes ran a commentary asserting it was time for Tim Cook to go, I forcefully responded that “Apple needs a COO, not new CEO“. The day has arrived, with the company announcing this morning that Jeff Williams fills the vacant chief operating officer position. Eh, that’s not what I had in mind, and Apple investors should question the wisdom of the appointment, too.

I mean no slight towards Mr. Williams, who looks more the adequately competent to handle the job. Like Cook, when COO, Williams is a manufacturing and logistics leader—excellent credentials to manage day-to-day operations over the world’s wealthiest tech company as measured by market cap and quarterly net income. The problem: Cook and Williams are questionable pairing, because their backgrounds and skillsets are too much alike. You got an electron circling another electron in the atom’s nucleus.

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 17, 20157:08 am

Flickr a Day 351: ‘Venus and the Moon’

The eclectic photostream of Bill Dickinson is nothing short of charming. You don’t know what to expect next—and wouldn’t want to. He shot self-titled “Venus and the Moon” on Dec. 7, 2015, using Nikon D810 and 150-600mm […]

Gear by Joe WilcoxDec 16, 201510:46 pm

Pixel C Out-of-the-Box Impressions

Google’s first tablet arrived yesterday, and my review is forthcoming. I expected to have a wow reaction, but felt more meh. Some of that comes from my satisfaction using the smaller Nexus 9, which also runs Android 6 Marshmallow. Interestingly, my emotional quotient is considerably higher 24 hours later. This tablet could easily be a frequent companion. (Note: I typically rattle off thoughts about new devices here before posting full-on reviews to my work tech news site).

The search-and-information giant unexpectedly unveiled the Pixel C on September 29th. Sales started December 8th. Specs: 10.2-inch LTPS LCD touchscreen, 2560 x 1800 resolution, 308 pixels per inch, 500-nit brightness; nVidia Tegra X1 processor with Maxwell graphics; 3GB RAM; 32GB ($449) or 64GB ($599) storage; 8-megapixel rear and 2MP front cameras; four microphones; two speakers (sideways of screen in portrait mode on the bezel); USB Type-C port; WiFi AC; Bluetooth 4.1; accelerometer; compass; gyroscope; ambient-light, half-effect, and proximity sensors; Android 6. Enclosure is anodized aluminum that measures 242 x 179 x 7 mm and weighs 517 grams.

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 16, 20156:48 am

Flickr a Day 350: ‘Heart-Shaped Box’

We wrap three days focused on the Foveon sensor with Sigma’s original professional compact—the DP1. I owned the camera, which requires finesse for its clunky controls, slow response, and noisy low-light photos. But color, contrast, […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 15, 20157:18 am

Flickr a Day 349: ‘I’m a Little Photographer’

Sigma compacts are lean on extras, including video capture, and they demand patience—taking time to thoughtfully compose each shot. They can be point-and-shoots, but they aren’t meant to be. Rather, in competent hands, they produce spectacular IQ (e.g. image quality).

Ben Keough is spot on in his review of the Sigma DP3 Merrill, which Jay Hsu used to capture our selection: “The software deficiencies are all variations on a single theme: If a feature doesn’t help you take an unadulterated still image, the DP3 doesn’t have it. No picture effects, no scene modes, no panoramas, no collages, no dynamic range compensation, and no HDR capture”. The camera is no frills and slow to focus. Oh, but the IQ!

Gear by Joe WilcoxDec 14, 201511:18 am

Six Headphones for Christmas

As Christmas comes closer, it’s time to think about rewarding your ears, or someone else’s, with exceptional audio experience—headphones that I would ask Santa to bring for myself or deliver to another. If big, booming bass is your thing, read no further. Buy Beats, Sony, or another brand boasting barreling lows that shake your skull as well as eardrums.

My picks deliver broader audio range, each with warmer mids and highs and amazing detail, depending somewhat on the source of your content. Highly compressed AAC or MP3 tracks lack lots, but these cans will get a little more fidelity from them. CD or lossless source might change how you listen to music forever.

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 14, 20158:20 am

Flickr a Day 348: ‘Building Building’

We begin the first of three days ode to the Foveon sensor, which produces a distinct and unmistakable color signature. Inside Sigma compacts, with their fixed prime lenses, the result: Super sharp photos that are […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 13, 20158:37 pm

Flickr a Day 347: ‘Choiseul Fisherman, St Lucia’

The worst of the worst of the worst of the best—picking a single pic from the photostream of Heather Buckley is more challenging than all the other tough cases combined. I could choose any and […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 13, 20158:00 pm

Bob’s Bike

My father-in-law turned 94 this week. He still lives independently, and we help by being close-by (in an apartment on the next block). He doesn’t get around as easily as he used to; cane is […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 12, 20157:34 am

Flickr a Day 346: ‘The Death of Me’

Whoa, here’s a composite that you don’t want to experience in this life or the next. Sam Breach shot self-titled “The Death of Me” on March 23, 2013, using Canon EOS 5D Mark III and EF […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxDec 11, 20156:38 am

Flickr a Day 345: ‘Beautiful Living Doll’

Forget science fiction fantasies about suddenly stopping the present, or traveling back to the past. Some street photographers are masters of time. They capture a moment, preserve it, and expose within magnificent drama. Thus describes […]

Gear by Joe WilcoxDec 10, 20151:00 pm

Google’s Sharing Spirit of the Season

Ho. Ho. Ho. Google gives early Christmas presents this holiday, by focusing on ways that families (or roomies) can better share that which is contextually precious: music, photos, online, payments, and videos. But Big G also trails Apple, which already offers its customers many of the same benefits.

Fresh today: Google Photos Shared Albums, which applies collaborative concepts that Apps users should find familiar. “People receiving the shared album can join to add their own photos and videos, and also get notifications when new pics are added”, according to the official announcement. “You can even save photos and videos from a shared album to your Google Photos library, so that you can hold onto them even if you weren’t the one holding the camera”.