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Topic: Tablets

Promise for 2012: Kinder, gentler tech coverage

Summary: My resolution for next year is provide kind, gentle coverage of the mobile tech space. Oh, who am I kidding?

James Kendrick

By for Mobile News |

I confess I can sometimes be hard on mobile tech companies. This stems from my passion for the genre, and the desire to see mobile tech ascend to levels as never before. From time to time I call companies out for doing things, well, stupidly. I am particularly harsh on those design choices that are frankly bizarre. No more, as I resolve to be offer kinder, gentler tech coverage in 2012.

Next year when I see things that formerly would make me see red, I will turn the other cheek and try to see it from the viewpoint of those who produced the aberration. No longer will I rant when a company puts a gadget's volume control on the back where you can't see it, even when they indent that and the power button so you can't even operate them by feel.

I will also look the other way when a company decides that volume controls are not even necessary, and to save a few bucks it eliminates them altogether. After all, they were thoughtful enough to bury them deeply in the software controls, so you can still change the volume as desired. It's not convenient, but it is obviously for the user's own good.

Nor will I rant about data caps on my phones and tablets, as I understand I must cut back to do my part to keep the data pipes free for others. I will gladly pay my share for capped service, and praise the carriers for allowing me to do my part to help the overall situation.

What am I kidding? This is one resolution that will never be kept. I cannot sit quietly while companies continue to do stupid things that fly in the face of their customers' wants and needs. I will not look the other way when injustices are being done in the mobile space, no matter the reasoning behind them.

Let me put you on notice big business -- if you cut corners to save a few bucks or to rush products to market, I will be there. If you overcharge for your product that is less than desirable for any reason, I will be there. I do promise to keep this resolution next year -- I will be in your face to make you build products that are worth my readers' time to consider. I will publicize your product's faults and shortcomings, just as I will praise the upside to them.

I will call them as I see them without fail or compromise. You have been warned.

Image credit: Flickr user turtlemom4bacon

Topic: Tablets

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15 comments
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  • RE: Promise for 2012: Kinder, gentler tech coverage

    Okay, more biased news in the new year! Check!
    slickjim
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Promise for 2012: Kinder, gentler tech coverage

      @Peter Perry You know, if you don't like/ trust my coverage then why do you keep coming back? Day after day, trashing me in the comments. I must be missing something.
      JamesKendrick
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Promise for 2012: Kinder, gentler tech coverage

        @JamesKendrick Probably because there's no author listed when you click the link. Lord knows I'd skip a bunch of sjvn articles if there were.
        Aerowind
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Promise for 2012: Kinder, gentler tech coverage

        @Aerowind

        Funny you should mention SJVN. I found his latest blog today quite informative and useful. "Wi-Fi Protected Setup is Busted"

        Perhaps even a blind squirrel finds an acorn occasionally, eh?
        kenosha77a
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Promise for 2012: Kinder, gentler tech coverage

        @Aerowind

        Seconded. Personally, I'd also skip most everything written by Zack Whittaker.
        eak2000
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Promise for 2012: Kinder, gentler tech coverage

        @Aerowind: "day after day" & "*more* biased news". The guy obviously knows who the author is.

        @JamesKendrick: the net is full of *cowardly* hecklers (ie trolls) who would never say something like that to your face. The guy's a loser and has nothing better to do with his time.
        theSmithHatesNeo
        Reply Vote

      • He does have a point...

        @JamesKendrick While I have a few issues with your posts (just a few... :) ) there are some writers here who I would love never to see again. But unfortunately ZDNet does TWO kind of evil things: <br><br>1. They don't put the byline or even the column title on posts on the front page... which means if you see a headline that sounds interesting, you find out it's by someone you've written off only once you're there and have started in on the post.<br><br>2. They post old articles mixed in with current articles without citing a date. This can be annoying - although sometimes it can be hilarious - like when one writer here wrote a huge, gushy 'why Apple is the bestest thing ever' post and ZDNet put up a post from 2009 (again, without byline or date) by him trashing people who are Apple fans...
        TheWerewolf
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Promise for 2012: Kinder, gentler tech coverage

        @JamesKendrick Well as a tech writer, I understand the irritation of the same person who clearly doesn't appreciate what you have to say constantly coming back just to be negative. On the flip side, as a reader, I often read articles even if it's by an author that has consistently angered me with their bias or ignorance simply because it's the first piece I find on a topic I'm interested in, which usually has links to sources but I read what they have to say anyway in hopes that they have something good to say.

        I had a problem here. I disagree on the indented controls. It's actually very handy for not accidentally hitting the power or volume button, in this case. I agree that data caps are just evil, corrupt, money-grubbing plans.
        xamountofwords
        Reply Vote

  • RE: Promise for 2012: Kinder, gentler tech coverage

    Data caps are terrible. If they want to shape my bandwidth and give me less during peak periods, fine. But capping it is a terrible idea.
    CobraA1
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Promise for 2012: Kinder, gentler tech coverage

    In 2012 please post more pictures of kittens. That softens the load on harsh articles.
    Loverock Davidson-
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Promise for 2012: Kinder, gentler tech coverage

    Jim, Really enjoy the personal insight that you give to a broad cross-section of mobile devices. Been following you since the days when you were using the HTC Advantage in your local coffee shops!
    dockehr
    Reply Vote

  • That's the spirit!

    Is 2011 the year when the general populace finally awoke to the exploitation of global corporations and Governments?
    johnfenjackson@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Promise for 2012: Kinder, gentler tech coverage

    I should have just gone straight to the last paragraph. I was relieved to get to the punchline. There are lots of sites that post videos of all the ports on a new device. But few like you that question why things are the way they are. I will remain your faithful reader in 2012!
    Taxman45
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Promise for 2012: Kinder, gentler tech coverage

    I applaud writers who can hold their own against manufacturers, as not many can claim to offer a hands-on, critical, honest, unbiased, expert opinion. I've never had issues giving the highest praise for products that won me over, regardless of whether I purchased said product for my own use or not.

    But I will also not hesitate to dish out harsh criticism where need be, regardless of whether I am reviewing a shoddy product/service or getting my point across regarding a certain topic. There are writers that publish BS, as there are writers that present the truth. Likewise, you can be a wimp and post flaming comments anonymously, or dig deep for a bigger set of balls and publish material on your own tech site. There will always be people, and businesses, out there that deserve a boot up their rear. Nobody wants to be treated like a sock puppet.

    Congratulations James! While I have not always agreed with your views, I'm glad to see your commitment to keeping the bulls-eye where it needs to be.
    lgpOnTheMove
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Promise for 2012: Kinder, gentler tech coverage

    Having just gone through the wrong side of the Nexus S ICS OTA fiasco and having experienced many other problems that should have been culled prior to a general release, I would like your advise on what to call this recurring issue. My usual favorite is gamma testing (of course, alpha testing include proof of concept, component testing, etc. and beta testing includes whole system testing, testing under various environments and conditions -- all prior to commercial release) for testing done by end users after commercial release. But recently I was introduced to the acronym PILOT (Production In Lieu Of Testing) which also has great appeal to me. What do you say, James Kendrick?
    krause4525
    Reply Vote
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