Brian Barrett

Apple’s Official iPhone 5 Camera Fix: Take a Different Picture

We’d seen previously how Apple customer support handled complaints about a weird purple lens flare that shows up on certain iPhone 5 camera shots. But the problem’s apparently become so widespread that the company has issued a general proclamation in its support pages. https://gizmodo.com/apple-acknowledges-iphone-5-camera-problem-says-youre-5947972 Yep. You’re holding it wrong. Apple’s explanation of the problem, and…

The Twitter CEO Paradox: Loves Jokes, Hates GIFs

Twitter is many things to many people; a boring logo, a social media dictator, a chance to keep up with the insane murmurings of former Professional Baseball Player Jose Canseco. It takes a gigantic tent to squeeze the entire Twitter circus under, and as the NY Times reports, its ringmaster sure is… funny? Dick Costolo…

The iPhone 5’s Impossible Design Comes at a Very Real Price

When you hold the iPhone 5 it feels, frankly, unreal. It’s lighter than it has any business being, it’s thinner, it’s smoother. Regardless of how you feel about Apple, its latest phone seems too good to be true. https://gizmodo.com/the-weirdest-thing-people-hate-about-the-iphone-5-5945662 Turns out, that’s because it is. And the thousands of workers charged with fulfilling that impossible…

The OED doesn’t know where cooties come from and would like your help finding out. [OED]

The Single Biggest Question About the iPad Mini

Like the iPhone 5 before it, the unannounced iPad Mini has—through leaks and logic—made itself essentially a known quantity. Let’s assume for a second that we know what it looks like, how big it is, and what guts will power it. It’s a safe assumption. https://gizmodo.com/iphone-5-the-complete-rumor-roundup-5930100 With just a few weeks until a rumored launch,…

Dying medium distributer Redbox is exploring new life as a ticket broker. The best part? A measly $1 surcharge. [WSJ]

YouTube Takedowns Just Got Slightly Less Absurd

YouTube’s automated copyright takedown system is nothing if not robust, often to the point of head-shaking ridiculousness. But even though the company’s trigger-happy Content ID isn’t going away any time soon, it’s at least getting a much-needed kick in the pants. https://gizmodo.com/nasas-official-mars-landing-video-got-taken-off-youtube-5932089 YouTube’s moves to improve its copyright violation detection technology doesn’t mean it’ll be…

Samsung Pulls the Trigger on iPhone 5 Patent Lawsuit

Details are scarce, but Reuters is reporting that Samsung has, in fact, submitted a complaint against the iPhone 5 and lumped it in with an existing lawsuit in California. Let the games… continue! Samsung telegraphed its punch earlier this month when it cited eight LTE patents it strongly suspected the iPhone 5 would infringe. Surprise!…

Like the GOP primary debates before them, the upcoming presidential debates will be streamed live on YouTube. Civics!

Foursquare and OpenTable have reached across the great wide Internet and partnered up on reservations. About time!

The Coffee Shop Isn’t Your Office Vol. 254: Don’t Complain. Ever.

We’ve been vocal before about how the coffee shop is not your office. But if you do happen to set up camp in one, you may absolutely never ever under any circumstances complain about the freaking music. https://gizmodo.com/coffee-shops-are-not-your-fucking-office-dickheads-5936954 Or anything, really. Seriously. [Twitter via Twitter]

The NY Post reports that Apple’s music-streaming Pandora ripoff has hit a snag; Sony wants more cash. No rush, guys! https://gizmodo.com/apple-might-be-trying-to-launch-its-own-pandora-knock-o-5941217

Google finally made Gmail iPhone 5 look ungoofy on the iPhone 5. Next up: Maps? Maybe? Please?

14 People Who Should Be Ashamed of Their Foursquare Mayorship

The wonderful thing about Foursquare is how important it can make you feel. You’re not just some shlub who only goes to the same three bars every month. You’re a mayor. But there are some places you’d maybe be better off not broadcasting your familiarity with. Like, say, these people have: Seriously, folks. Just because…

Apple Maps Works Great—If You Get Directions First

Trouble with Apple Maps? Being led down the wrong road, or worse, down roads that don’t even exist? Don’t worry! All you need are some good ol’ fashioned Apple Maps directions to set you straight. https://gizmodo.com/17-people-apple-maps-has-already-horribly-misled-5944897 It’s possible that this parody from Jest is a whole lot funnier if you haven’t upgraded to iOS 6…

20 Years of Scrollbars in One Glorious Image

There have been fat ones and thin ones and red ones and blue ones and ones that you likely never saw because seriously, who used a NeXTcube? But the one thing all scrollbars have in common: we don’t really need them any more. At least, not for what they were originally intended. When’s the last…

Facebook and Dropbox have extended their relationship to include file sharing within Groups, for you personable types.

The New Apple: It Doesn’t Just Work

Some people willingly overpay for half-baked features in obscure gadgets. These are the early adopters of the world, and they know full well that the things they buy will not work perfectly. Hiccups and glitches are just part of the contract, the accepted trade-off for being first. Apple’s customers are not these people—iPhones are the…

Good News: Apple Still Uses Google Maps Where It Matters Most

Apple’s new Maps may be a horror show, but at least they haven’t fully permeated your iOS existence. As one redditor discovered recently, iCloud.com still uses Google Maps when you use its Find My Phone feature. It’s a sweet oasis, in your time of greatest need. https://gizmodo.com/apples-new-3d-maps-are-an-apocalyptic-horror-show-5944672 There’s no good time to have your maps…

BB10 Adds So Many Features That So Few People Want

RIM CEO and possible Bond villain Thorstein Heins gave the world its best look at BlackBerry 10 today; while previous demos had focused on the camera and keyboard, this morning focused on even more everyday features. It looks like it does some things very well—and that they’re not the things you’d care about. Flow We’d…