Gizmodo
There's a story in Wired about your favorite gadget blog. It's a feature and as you can see, on top of the writing the photography is bad ass.
Joe Pugliese, the same guy who shot El Jobso minutes after his iPhone announcement, shot me, Adrian and Chris in my apartment. I love this place, but as you can see in the not too different from real life shot, it makes for cramped conditions and I'm moving today. Ya, I'm still packing too, because someone broke the embargo on the Dash GPS and Wilson and I had to hustle to get a review together. Anyhow, I am digressing like mad because I've been up 20 hours so far, and the day is not close to being over.
This piece is kind of strange and meta because before I worked at Giz, I worked at Wired, where I was low man on the totem pole. I really learned a lot from the 15 or so senior editors there, but I didn't ever get to do any real work. So to be honored in the pages of my still favorite magazine, well, I never thought I'd see the day. Some people were concerned about bias, but I'm pretty sure they got both the praise and hits in pretty square.
For instance, there is such heavy emphasis on the admittedly interesting and bizarre CES prank. Meanwhile, there isn't one mention of the Gates interview. First time the guy admitted on record that Vista was not so good. I mean, come on, thats's interesting. And ok, Blu-ray coverage at Giz was second to none, but of course, that's too boring to mention. All we get described as is juvenile. Well there's a reason why I insist on Gizmodo being lighthearted, and it makes a lot of sense. First of all, we don't write about cancer. This is not a serious topic, even if the work is taken seriously. If you can't enjoy yourself writing about what are essentially man toys, well, I feel like that is utter lack of perspective on life.
Secondly, there's that great William Gibson quote hanging over the wall at Wired—"The future is here, its just unevenly distributed." That may be the case when it comes to purchasing technology or having access to it, but when it comes to media, especially free media, there's no reason to keep technology in the hands and minds of only the nerds or the rich. So we write for the common people. There are plenty of Giz readers that aren't hardcore geeks but love technology. I'm happy to dress up the tech in humor to get the point to more people, and the let the medicine go down smoother. Not everyone gets that.
(BTW, this is why I love Pogue videos. Funny thing, in the story, the man who sings songs about TiVo is quoted in the story as saying that gadget bloggers have to figure out what they want to be when we grow up. For me, when I grow up, I want to do exactly what Pogue does, but I am not musically gifted. I wouldn't call that growing up, though, Dave. I'd call it staying young. A good thing.)
On the other hand, Dan Lyons, Fake Steve, who is like some sort of Giz big brother at this point, totally gets what we do. Or he flatters me with his faith. Either way, I trust in his insight, so to be understood by him and misunderstood by so many others, well, I'd rather have Dan on my side than a bunch of commentards. (Not you guys, the guys we already banned and other twits in the press.)
But I'm nit picking. I don't think anyone can call the story anything but fair, generous and fun. And again, I'm pretty flattered and grateful anyone would think to write a feature on our little corner of the internet, let alone my favorite magazine where all my old mentors work.
OK, I gotta pack. Moving van is here in 3 hours and I have like a dozen boxes to go.
Did I mention I'm going on vacation next week, too? Can't come soon enough. I need to recharge the batteries!
Rambling is a late phase of exhaustion. [Wired]
Comments
Is that Lipstick Jungle I see on your TiVo? Wired secretly hates you.
The chinese dude looks like [gizmodo.com]
Awesome. Congrats, Blam and all.
Good luck with the move.
P.S.: That "juvenile" humor is a big part of what makes Giz a better read than the competition. Keep it up.
@ProSeven:
you've been here for at least 2 months and still don't know the chinaman's name?
Congrats. Blam, you should write an article about going form zero to hero.
Gizmodo is the Neverland of the internet......no not that one.
I don't get why things have to be done professionally and dull when they can be done with humor and style. That's the business mentality though.
Funny, I have a picture of me, you, and Dave Choi somewhere in my photos that looks almost exactly like that pic. Dave's holding a real guitar in the photo, though, and there's a white guy sitting on the floor. =)
@Joseph: I'd only be qualified to write the zero to zero + 20 pounds story.
@discounteggroll: Hahahaah, I never write anymore! Of course no one knows my name.
Kickin socks BLam.
And congrats on the coverage. This really is one of the most consistently fun sites around; you all deserve it.
well done you deserve the Kudos.... and the sense of humor is something that adds the extra ho ho ho
(- sorry ha ha ha)
The coverage in Wired just means that others are starting to see what we have known all along, Giz is a fun and informative site. Giz may go for the lighthearted aspect, but plenty of the threads are serious and I have not seen any subject that is Taboo here. I love the fact they dont cover just SERIOUS gadgets, that they cover the odd and fun, and plain old stupid ones too.
@Curves: Well I think another point of differentiation is that there's so much crap out there, and we try to avoid covering most of that. Who really cares about a random phone?
Very 60s/70s rockstar kinda photo but with the instruments of the future. Cool as hell.
Man fuck the other tech blogs! Yeah they're informative and all, but Giz just keeps it fun. You don't have to stoned-faced serious all day. Just stoned! No, but seriously, keep up the good job guys and don't let those pencil pushing writing geeks get to you. Good luck on your move!
Is that what it really looks like when you guys are working? You can tell who the BMOC is (sitting in the only chair in the apartment).
@liquidsoapdispenser: Yes the faithful master of the giz, but of course!
They've definitely got the soft light on you guys ... lol
Congrats.
You need to start using your fireplace to burn things that suck......Burnzmodo!
You're doing training on Rockband? I don't believe it.
Great article, and found something that I was always curious about from it:
"Gawker Media pays writers based on the number of pageviews their posts receive. Lam is exempt from the arrangement."
So, I guess if I want to support the writers, I need to actually start clicking their articles rather than just reading the summaries on the main page.
Congrats Gizmodo!
I'm just a big commenty commenter but I've liked this place from the first time I visited.
(Sure I was a clueless retard at first, but NOW I'm a clueless retard with a bloody great STAR!)
I haven't always agreed with everything you folks do, but that's natural and expected with humans and technology.
Overall your Blog's take on technology and techno-stuff is entertaining, informative, witty, and many other heretofore unmentioned, yet positive adjectives.
Speaking of Adjectives... :D
+ Watch video
Oh and by the way, you guys are the blog version of the band I always wanted to be on tour with.
fantastic work! Blam, your 'thinker' pose is very thought provoking. Also, I think you could've crammed a few more gadgets into the photo, no? Perhaps a Tesla coil going crazy in the background?
Print is dead. At least, it is in my life. All of my news, gadgets and otherwise, comes from the web these days. There's a plethora of information, it's free and it's on demand! If WIRED chalks giz up as being juvenile, I can only imagine that it's because they see you as competition.
Anyhow, doesn't much matter to me. Just one more article in an overpriced magazine that I'll never read.
Great photo. I'm gonna make sure to get a copy of the magazine. :D
Very cool article. Reminds me of the search engine war. I would reference Engadget as the Yahoo (the initially bigger base but seriously flawed mechanics) and Gizmodo as the Google (the rebels who do it differently and take risks with only a 'don't be evil' reservation).
I've been following you guys since Jan 03. I guess nothing else needs to be said since I'm obviously still checking the site.
gizmodo... f*ck yea
Grats on the write up for sure. But you guys shoulda had coheed and cambria with expert highlighted for true badassery. But I agree, if this blog weren't light hearted my comments would seem rather out of place. But once again grats to the whole Giz team and good luck on the move. Now then, back to my corner to hide out and dream of the day I too will get a star beside my name.
Also with that last comment I have to say one more thing. Fuck Yeah Seaking!
Is there a socks only rule at Giz HQ? Or does Denton take your shoes so you can't leave the house?
I have that same IKEA cabinet, only in white!
How amused I am by the little things...
man that photo makes me want to grow up like him some day. LOOK AT AL THOSE GADGETS!
Did you guys pay for them or were they given free buy sponsors and people wanting you to test them?
HEY! I stayed at the Imperial Palace 2 weeks ago! Did you enjoy the Dealertainers? They stole all my money =o(
Giz up!
Congrats Brian, and congratulations to all at Giz; where I can come to get my Lego fix, my fruit bashing (Ahem....) Star Wars fix and all of my tech gadget news all while getting a laugh or 2.
Thanks again, and congrats Giz!
@kevman90: The photographer just brought all the gadgets/furniture in for the shoot. They actually sit around on camping chairs in an apartment full of pizza boxes.
I love how those Wired photographers can make anybody look cool.
Just kidding, btw, you guys rock.
I love that Engadget is run by a Moby poseur.
That pic is kinda boring for a bunch of 'juveniles.' You should have told the photographer, "Ok, I'm gonna German Suplex Chris, then Adrian is gonna hit him with the guitar. Ready?"
Nice post, congrats on the writeup! Is Adrian Trini??
Right on Giz. Bout time you got your due. And THANK THE INTERNET GODS you're lighthearted and a lil dirty. You guys drill to the point without all the long winded bullshit. I agree with Fake Steve, Wired is just full of them selves. YAWN.
Your perspective is spot on Blam. I love tech, but there a lot more in life. And I don't think you guys are predominantly juvenille at all. You cover a wide gamut from artistic gadgets to dirty tech.
GL with the move man.
@tyskkvinna: hey Brian - why don't you publish a competitor to Wired?
I'd read it.
GREAT NEWS!
GIZ ROCKS!
... we all KNEW that!
WTF took THEM so long?!
/congrats to BLameister, staff who continually surprise with endless stream of stimulating stuff to consider, and every commenter who shares their own insightful, funny, stupid and delusional take, adding often entertaining significance to largely meaningless, shiny, temporal shit. KEEP ON IT!
Love ya all!
Wired forgot to quote from Brians original job interview.
" A career? I've thought about this quite a bit sir and I would have to say considering what's waiting out there for me, I don't want to sell anything, buy anything or process anything as a career. I dont want to sell anything bought or processed or buy anything sold or processed or repair anything sold, bought or processed as a career. I dont want to do that. My father's in the army. He wants me to join, but I can't work for that corporation, so what I've been doing lately is kick-boxing, which is a new sport...as far as career longevity, I don't really know. I cant figure it all out tonight, sir, so I'm just gonna hang with your daughter."
Thanks Gizmodo for keeping me entertained, you are my favorite portal on the web.
You guys need a bigger place. It looks cramped in there.
I just read this yesterday when I got the new issue. Congrats! The photography effing rocked as you said, too. The one of BLam in a hoodie was bad-ass.
Great story. Stay at Sahara, though, in the Tangiers Tower. The rooms are pretty decent, and there's next to no traffic on the monorail headed that way from LVCC, since it's just the Hilton and the Sahara.
I think the picture is really funny. Perhaps not in the way you guys had hoped.
Congrats. I guess I didn't realize just how much work you guys actually do to get the story first until reading this. Also, I really doubt Engadget had 187.5 posts per day during CES.
@TVGenius: It's so far from the strip though. I walked out there in a vain chance to find an In-N-Out Burger (I'm from, PA, so they don't have them here), and it was a ghost town. Sure the monorail's quick, but i'd rather just walk outside and be there.
Wired = Tired or Expired :-)
they just HAD to do an article on you to stay relevant.
man. the fucking life. thats how i think my apartment looks on the weekend, minus the dual tv's and the rad chair.
but, alas, i am at work 8-5 during the week in south carolina where the next person to hack his iphone is at least 20 miles away.
im in the process of interviewing for a position in seattle. anybody have any suggestions where a 23 year old geek that is a package designer should live?
I subscribe to Wired and yeah they can be pretentious at times but they were pretty correct about the facts. However, I think they skewed them a bit. In my eye, Giz redefines the image of professionalism in a medium that prides itself on redefining markets (advertising, news, retail). The Wired article portrayed that transformation as a negative. I can't remember reading anywhere that said Giz is trying to be the Times or the WSJ. Engadget on the other had??? They can uphold the status quo all they want. And laughing when I read news, even serious news, is a way to keep me interested. I imagine the psychological profile of a prototypical Giz reader as most likely a he, single, adolescent in mind, employed full time, loves his toys and is a curious thinker always questioning the world around him… and then making fun of it. So, what's wrong with that Wired? I agree if you can't have fun with your profession, you need a new profession. Lam, I put you up there with Trey Parker & Matt Stone and Steven Colbert & Jon Stewart… guys who created a niche instead of filling one.
Congrats. My favorite tech blog gets kudos, so it's all thumbs up on this end.
Now stick it in the faces of all those whiny turds that still can't let go of tubgirl!
On ther other hand, you guys need to get PAID! Buy some shoes! lol
"dear gizmodo, i heart you. never change. "
thats a recreation of my first love letter, names and places changed ofcourse.
i think you've got a wonderful approach as a basis for this blog, to keep it funny and interesting. i'm in no way related to the technology industry, infact im in investment banker and have never done a technology deal and just love this blog simply because im a fan of gadgets, and of humour. while a good reason for me visiting there is to keep up with new toys, a good 25% atleast is your approach to writing articles which i find hilarious. after a litle while, how much can you really say about a gadget, it has a screen, good screen, buttons, wifi, blah, and its this infusion of the specific writing style which makes it awesome, and its pleasantly surprising you've managehd to maintain a somewaht homogenous base for writing articles even though you have plenty of different writers.
As for once in a while digressing form your main topic, i.e. technology, i don't in any way mind that. instead of visiting 5 different blogs, i can come to giz for all my content.
great job, keep it up, don't fall into the trap of sticking to conventions that some self-proclaimed industry veteran has established. after-all, the news is not purely a function of writing a certain way, but mainly a means to disseminating information and knowledge to the widest audience possible. (with a certain bias once in a while :) )
@N@tedog: someone spending 20 hours to get a pic of a TV isn't doing it for fun alone. Unless the Brain Lamp isn't actually switched on??!!
way to go guys, you deserve any kudos you get and much more, keep up the good work and spread the loooooove