Review: Fujifilm X 100

Devin Coldewey is a Seattle-based writer and photographer. He wrote for the TechCrunch network since 2007. Some posts, it would like you to read: the perils of externalization of knowledge | Generation I | Surveillant society | Select two | Frame war | Custom manifest | Our great sin his personal ????-coldewey.cc. ? Read More

Short version: unique and powerful camera prevents uneven attention to detail and inadequate system menu. For the camera, so strongly and effectively focus on back to basics heritage ugly menu slow focus and chintzy dials seems especially out of place. In this case, beauty really is only skin deep. With the exception of fabulous lens and sensor I must say.

Features:

12-megapixel APS-C sensor23mm F/2.0 Fujinon lens (~ 37 mm equivalent) advanced hybrid EVF/LCD optical rangefinderRetro styling and high quality buildMSRP: $ 1199

Pros:

Simply beautiful and strong as rangefinder hellHybrid incredibly coolGood image quality and low light performance and

Against:

Operation often frustratingManual accent is a simple awfulSlow and sometimes difficult autofocus

Full review:

I made no secret of my excitement about X 100. After playing around with it at CES earlier this year it was almost the only camera I'm seriously looking forward to. And finally, something to replace my aging Canon. The triumph of retro design and modern technology. And in a sense, that is. But while they certainly created a beautiful camera that can produce beautiful images, they were able to make the camera you want to use it.

Before we go any further, let me simply remind our readers that it's pretty late and clearly anecdotal review. For thorough testing and comparison of image quality I recommend DP Review coverage. It's only me to add my thoughts to the pile.

Something old, something new

There is no denying Fujifilm has crafted an amazing object. Too many cameras, especially compact, have a sense of high-tech chintziness, thin bits of metal, plastic, chippable and toylike set. Fujifilm has a camera that feels almost like a solid, as my old Canon film SLR from the beginning of the 70-ies. You have a retro look, of course, but it also has a feel for the most part.

I love the way the shutter and aperture ring offsets dials and feel. It is so nice to spinning-then again to choose something etched in stone without using the jog dial to tell part of the software to open a little more aperture. Shutter release button threaded, metal-joy press. Pancake lens and compact form factor to make things a little close for comfort if you have big hands, but hot hard to figure.

And hybrid viewfinder! What a result! Seeing that the overlay to the rangefinder for quick references, and then binding via the electronic viewfinder the High Res is magical. It works as advertised, it looks great and makes you want to show it. Here's how it looks; Sorry, image quality lenses up to putting my eyepiece limited my Compositional options.

Cool, isn't it? There is some difference in rangefinder and Viewfinder show, but this is the reality of Rangefinders. Knowing your design in the Rangefinder is something that takes time and the ability to instantly switch to the electronic Viewfinder is very convenient.

The other shoe

But then I started taking pictures.

The first thing I did was try to focus the camera on something on my desktop. Autofocus, image flashed and worked ... nothing was in the center of attention. I tried again and again. Apparently I had to switch to the macro for objects closer than 20 inches or so. And that's when I first used the d pad/dial. That cheap feeling a little piece of junk! His rocking everywhere, you have to hit it sort of your thumbnail and Center button to the microscopic. It was on camera, $ 1200?

All menu system gives me the same feeling of low quality. This interface more consumers in the professional camera. Information on the LCD and Viewfinder haphazard and poorly organized. Taking video means the switch-disk configuration for that crappy little d pad. Why not, say, the shutter speed dial, because this is the dial cannot be used in any case in video mode? If you should have a macro mode, why do I have to click and choose between on and off? If there are only two modes, why not just button to switch between them?! This is nothing that I couldn't get used to, but that's not what I want to get used.

And manual focus, one of the fun things in the "professional" camera, especially one with such a big, fast lens and HD video, useless. You have a nice (if narrow) ring with a smooth action, but in fact only change the focus in little spurts for about half a second of each other. Not only that, but I felt incredibly low sensitivity. I brought him on its minimum focus, which is pretty close (~ 4 inches) by using the Macro AF mode (accurate when you are in your range), and then use the manual focus ring for the President on the other side of the room in focus. Averaging about a quarter of a turn for the movement, it took me 16 spins to get President in focus! This three or four complete revolutions rings! Lens for my Canon comes from macro to infinity in a half-revolution.

Conclusion

I don't want to do this in a litany of complaints. But I am disappointed in this Chamber. Can he ever lived up to my expectations? Of course, I think this is even with updated firmware still have a huge number of improvements, before this camera is a workable replacement for something like a DSLR or even really a reliable alternative to other ~ $ 1000 camera. X 100 is a unique and powerful device, but its weaknesses just make it too much of a chore to make it worth a recommendation. The camera is simply not ready for those who do not wish to compromise on how they shoot.

However, this is the first version of the camera, which has sold incredibly well and almost certainly will see real improvements in the next few years. This is a "visionary" of the first generation product, in fact, with all the pros and cons associated with this class of devices. If you are ready to fight the camera interface and doesn't mind dozens of quaint operational habits, X 100 is interesting and capable camera. But if you're looking for surveying experience is convenient and fast, look for other now.

Product page: Fujifilm X 100

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Review: Energizer Inductive charging Dual-Zone Pad

Jordan Crook studied English literature at the University of New York before entering the tech space. Prior to joining TechCrunch Crook dabbled in mobile marketing and mobile apps, as well as doing reviews for MobileBurn and MobileMarketer. Kruk, fascinated with the production of alternative sources of energy and greentech. It is currently a writer for CrunchGear. ? Read More

Short version: The Energizer Bunny in Inductive charging pad gets rid of the wires, looks good and just does receive a charge on the easier. Unfortunately the accessories needed for the use of charging pad makes your phone a fat and ugly.

Features:

Qi, charging technologyCompatible with iPhone 3 G/3GS and BlackBerry Curve 8900Dual-zone MSRP: MSRP $ 89.00single-zone: $ 54.99

Pros:

Qi: the universal standard for Inductive charging (read: your next phone will likely be supported, too) NO wires! (except one, which is embedded in the pad)USB port for charging additional

Cons.

Took a little longer to charge than wired podlinnostiMetod of fugly (at least my iPhone 3GS case) price not Super attractive, but qi is so largely forgiven

Long version:

Inductive charger, Energizer in top-notch charging accessory, no doubt. This was a piece of cake to get his unpacking and ready to roll, and it looks mighty good in my book shelf. As far as design goes, it's easy and very thin, and it's got a nice silver lining so background all black. Then again I get this feeling every time I set my phone on the pad that I'm somehow part of the future, but equipment is not really accept this. It's not particularly solid or an innovative design, and I could do without these massive symbols qi.

The case is its own beast, with its own pros and cons. Its main + 1 will be that your phone can toss on the playground and it charged automatically. But it's really just pro for the system as a whole. Cases, at least my iPhone case, added quite a bit of beef, the size of my phone. If I learned anything about the technology in my short life of 23-year-old, is that "thin and light" where the money is in, while the bulky and heavy "is a serious no-no. the past, it really does not provide any protection for your phone, despite the fact that she seems quite thick to stop a bullet. If you drop your phone while it is in the business, not only the risk through your phone, but can also mess things up. And then where would you?

All these three cases, iPhone 4, iPhone 3 G/3GS and BlackBerry Curve 8900 is worth $ 34.99.

The charging pad function LEDs charging areas to let you know that your phone actually connects to the device and get a charge. Dual-Zone charger even has an additional USB port at the rear to give our friends gadget packaging further charging option. Charger firm-Zone, which will launch later this year, has no additional USB port. It is also a free magnet inductive charger, this means that you don't have to worry about the exact place where you plop down your phone. Until it is in the right General vicinity, it will charge a fee.

Now talking about Qi: firstly, it is pronounced "Chi", a new universal standard for Inductive charging. Anything that requires 5 watts of power or less (phones, iPods, cameras) can work with the technology of qi, and it will be our primary method for Inductive charging forward. This means that you do not need new charger, when upgrading to a new phone. All you need is the proper accessory (unless of course your cool new phone especially Qi technology already, he could very well).

As for performance, it took me 3 hours, 23 minutes to get my phone using Energizer Inductive charging pad,. Wired connection it usually takes me an hour, maybe a little more, if it is completely dead. Obviously there is a big difference. Time is money, and nobody has three hours to wait for the phone to charge. My fear is that it takes so much time, owners of the Energizer Bunny, charging pads will resort to charging their phone through the night. It is also a serious no-no. giving your phone is connected to the host after it is fully charged only kills your battery, and I am sure that nobody needs additional problems with the battery life.

Conclusion: in the end what you win with this device is that you lose. You get the convenience of wire are free, but inconvenient three-hour wait to go from dead full battery. Is it really all depends on what you hate more: wires or expectations.

Energizer is to provide consumers with solutions to their portable power personal care needs and better than anyone else, and thus rewards all stakeholders: consumers, ...

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Review: Brite Strike durable flashlights

Devin Coldewey is a Seattle-based writer and photographer. He wrote for the TechCrunch network since 2007. Some posts, it would like you to read: the perils of externalization of knowledge | Generation I | Surveillant society | Select two | Frame war | User manifesto | Our great sin his personal site — coldewey. cc. ? Read More

I was sitting outside a coffee shop the other day when an old man sitting next to me and tried to bring a flashlight, which he bought in a Walgreens. It was a chintziest piece of garbage I've seen in a long time and I had to help him put together this thing that after some attempts finally emitted dimly. He wanted something to keep in your car, just in case. I do not believe that an unwanted device, but cheap, it may have been. Flashlights are something you want to buy once and for all, appreciate, this is why I would like to check in the line of waterproof EPLI is something I can recommend to your friends, perhaps the more traditional Maglite, or just another toy?

Fortunately, I can say that these little guys are certainly worth to recommend. I think I always want to retain the traditional 4 cell Maglite bulb around, but an emergency situation or a shower, Britestrike or something like that is a good bet to make.

EPLI and blue dot

I checked out two dimensions: "Executive" pen light and light tactical style "blue dot" middle class, intended for police and so on, attachment to pistols and rifles. Both of these bright Led lights, both have three modes of lighting (high, low and strobe), and both are waterproof.

The differences between them are in bulk, brightness, and of course price. EPLI is just over five inches long, slightly thicker than the pen and produces 160 lumens. Tactical is actually a bit shorter, but much wider and covers the crenelated template handle that makes it virtually impossible to discard, and also makes it an effective impact. It produces 210 lumens from two cells.

They created for themselves, which sounds silly at first, but most flashlights are required to keep them and turn the mode dial or turn off the Crown of the switch or focus. At Brite strike this is done by hitting the button on the end times, twice or three times. Bright, bright dim mode dim mode and strobe mode just gave me the blue spots in my eyes for several minutes. This is a very bright, when you're in its activities and is perfect for marking your location, get the attention of motorists from afar or blinking in the eyes of the puma or robber.

The two lanterns are extremely well-built. I really tried to injure them, but they resisted all my attempts to crack down, bending, and throwing. They also waterproof, their openings, closed with rubber rings. I'm not sure I'd trust EPLI in dive, but I wouldn't have any problems in getting these guys in the downpour, dragging them into puddles, or putting them on moist ground. Tactical is naturally more robust, with a thick ring and only one opening.

Both have a spooky white light LED, of course, which is not something that can be avoided. EPLI is cold light and a narrower focus, as you see above.

Opinion Of The

Stylish appearance EPLI makes it hard to add the nicest bedside table, desk or pen Cup. It provides a pretty insane amount of coverage for its size, and it will not break or short circuit if you put it down the stairs, or leave it on the ground, while you fix a flat in the dark. To be honest I would feel more comfortable if my friends and family will remain one of them around in their glove box or purse. It is capable, reliable, and I don't want it flashing in my eyes, if I was a robber. You can find it for $ 50 right now, which I think is a good price for serious device like this.

Tactical one can find fairly above the amount of approximately $ 125. It is much more than the Maglite. But this thing will survive the storm and a half and probably will last forever. It also has a nice little range of accessories. Want to make an investment you will not regret? This is likely to pay the price of a few years from now.

I spend so much time with cheap plastic gadgets that it was nice to get my hands on something that I don't think I could break if I want. Why didn't they build phones like this?

Product page: Brite-strike

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Review: Audyssey lower east side speakers

Devin Coldewey is a Seattle-based writer and photographer. He wrote for the TechCrunch network since 2007. Some posts, it would like you to read: the perils of externalization of knowledge | Generation I | Surveillant society | Select two | Frame war | User manifesto | Our great sin his personal site — coldewey. cc. ? Read More

Short version: a couple solid laptop or desktop speakers, a subtle, but warm and powerful, with subtle and attractive design. More attention to detail would justify their price, though.

Features:

The custom drivers, and digital signal processing 3.5 mm optical digital inputs2-speaker setup, not requiredMSRP subwoofer: $ 200

Pros:

Stylish designSimple for installation and operationPretty great sound for a compact system

Against:

Volume knob on-switches feels cheapCan overestimate mid-lower level (though this may just be my settings) automatically disabling may irritate some

Full review:

When it comes to the PC speakers, go-to brands like Harman Kardon, Klipsch, Logitech, and so forth provide good, predictable performance. I saw these speakers announced some time ago and thought it would be nice to take a break from the usual suspects. I'm glad I did — the Audyssey in LES speakers not a knockout, or anything, but they were nice Goldilocks zone size, strength and loyalty.

The design is intended to evoke the lower east side of Manhattan. I'm not sure how or why, but you will see that around in speakers or not, at least you can agree that the design is simple, beautiful and understated, possibly to be simple. Speaker chassis, with its rubberized red stripe, a breathtaking unbroken stand, nicely done and more reliable speaker shaped. Stand, while sturdy and partially rubberized, doesn't seem to be considered.

On the right speaker you have a power led red/green, 3.5 mm headphone and volume, which is pressed to power the speakers on or off. Indicator with the taste of dim and olive shade, not traffic light green is often found on devices. I was not impressed by the quality of volume control: there is very little weight and lots of wiggle. And the volume level of the notch is so shallow as to be almost invisible most of the time.

They are 3.5 mm, and optical audio input on the back, and speakers to connect to a standard speaker. It would be nice to see something more significant as the connection method.

As you no doubt realized, this two-speaker setup, not 2.1. Usually two speaker systems are budget, given away with cheap laptops or connected directly to your iPod. LES speakers vary more speakers bookcase on your desk than anything. They all meals, with a decent amount of drivers; Audyssey asserts little speakers that cannot produce bass speaker cabinets, which create noise, distortion, or even poor sound quality in low volumes are all problems which are solved Audyssey smart speaker technology "and" we do not increase the bass and distort the sound, we actually improve the performance of the driver to give you deeper sounds. "they are not blowing your Windows, or something, but it's safe to saythey go far beyond the capabilities of your average two speaker installed.

I actually prefer them through the Logitech Z623s, I recently reviewed, which sounds great, except that I'm always worried about whether I have a sub at the appropriate level — and in any case, separate the lower channel of the kind of always bothered me very much, although it is really only a problem when the scattering between satellites and sub not well thought out. LES speakers have a nice level of response spectrum, and though you won't get great teeth bass, this is not the intention of such compact speakers.

Some experiments have led me to the discovery that these speakers sound better on a flat EQ, or something close to it. Depending on what you're listening, you can bump or scoop it a bit, but for the most part they produce even more warm sound that is easy to reach up into the ups and down low without distortion or drop off too much. If anything, I felt a little mid-low range has been exaggerated, taking over the rest of the sound during this or that part of the song, although I'm starting to think that this resonance problem with my table. In any case, I do not have the same issue with other speakers.

They get a lot of loud, although the sound is pretty focused and you will want to stay in the sweet spot, if you can. Movies and games sounded good.

One quirk, I would think twice about Audyssey — automatic shutdown. If you are not using speakers for some time, they turn off automatically. No problem, you think, saves a bit of energy. But they didn't turn back when you come back, and then click play. I know it's a small problem to click and turn them on, but I wish they would just have auto function as well.

I also think that HF and LF adjustment handle would not be inappropriate. I know you can EQ stuff, but it would be nice to do it on the back of the speaker, as well as to when they are in a less personalized audio.

Opinion Of The

For apartment life or use in, say, the Studio environment is an excellent choice. Or in the dorm room where space is at a premium and subtitles only irritate your neighbors. They taste, if not beautifully designed to sound good with a lot of energy and provide a simpler and perhaps more faithful sound environment than 2.1 installation. If you are confident enough to tweak your sound a bit, so it sends the right stuff, I'd say they are an excellent choice for personal audio. But I hope they feel a little more attention to the details of the user experience in the next version.

Product page: Audyssey lower east side speakers

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Review: Audi A7 transformer in disguise

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Matt is currently working as a writer for CrunchGear. Matt Burns is a family man first and attempts to be a freelance writer second. Born and raised in the heart of the automotive world, only cars eclipse his love of gadgets. He previously wrote for Engadget and EngadgetHD before moving into the party house that is CrunchGear. He learned the... ? Learn More

The Audi A7 is different. The executive five-door fastback sits nearly atop Audi’s lineup, starting out at $59k with my tester wearing $80k on its window sticker. Excluding limited run sports models, a fully decked-out A7 is the third most expensive car Audi sells, placing only lower than the massive A8 sedan and R8 supercar. Still, even looking like a modern and practical station wagon, the A7 is a niche car but perhaps one with a broad appeal.

The 310HP 3.0 TFSI supercharged V6 screams within the engine compartment yet the A7's full-size stature prevents it from achieving true sports sedan status. The 2+2 seating configuration doesn’t make for the best people mover. Even the rear fifth door seems to suggest that the A7 has plenty of room for cargo, but it doesn’t; the trunk’s effective storage space is actually rather small. This identity crisis is further supported by the sheer number of creature comforts and available technology packages. The A7's big brother, the stately A8, is Audi’s flagship and the A7 is not going to challenge that title. Yet the A7, despite the strange downsides, might actually become the most memorable Audi from this current generation and define the brand for years to come.

It’s clear from the moment you sit in the driver’s seat that the A7 is all about technology. Audi threw nearly everything in the sedan. It’s loaded with the best the company has to offer through an accessible and functional interface. This system, centered around a rotating knob, is a staple in the current Audi lineup. A power user-retractable center mounted 7-inch screen handles most tasks, with another screen embedded in the dash cluster providing the driver with additional controls and functions.

Neither of the screens are touchscreen, yet four soft buttons surrounding the rotating knob allow additional controls as dictated by the selected screen. A small touchpad does provide for some fun tricks, though. When in radio mode, six numbers glow indicating favorite stations while navigation destinations can be inputted by writing them out with a finger. It’s clever.

Audi’s MMI is among the top infotainment systems currently on the market. The system is clean, organized and best of all, lacking in drama. For example, Ford’s MyFord Touch system has a huge “Wow” factor but almost an equally huge learning curve. That’s not the case with Audi’s MMI. You sit down, put your hands on the controls, and go, “This is nice.”

The best part of the A7's infotainment system is, strangely, not the main screen but rather the LCD in between the speedo and tach. This sort of screen has been a staple throughout VW’s brands for years; what makes the screen found in the A6, A7, and A8 different is the size. It’s not a small squarish screen but rather a large LCD that curves around both gauges in an attractive and natural way.

This screen is exactly like the one found in the A6 and A8, and can control most media, telephone and navigation functions. There’s also an enhanced trip computer, fuel efficiency gauge, and compass. A steering wheel mounted scroll wheel and two-way navigation button makes flipping through the tabs and menus a non-issue. This simple control scheme sets it apart from competitors.

The A7 boosts several other tricks not normally associated with OEM infotainment systems. An Nvidia GPU provides unparalleled smoothness to the UI. Audi uses Google Earth for the navigation and it’s not a gimmick. Zooming in and out is a breeze, done with just a twist of that central knob, while the touchpad interface handles the destination input. A constant data connection through an embedded cellular modem provides the data stream and updated info. (There’s a SIM card slot right in the dash) That same data connection can be turned into a hotspot within the vehicle, permanently removing road trips as a way to escape Facebook.

T-Mobile is the data source of choice and Audi dealers supply and install the SIM card upon vehicle delivery. It’s up to the car’s owner to pay the bill but they’re not tied down to T-Mobile — any SIM card tied to a data plan will work. This connection allows for more than just Google Earth. Through the my.audiusa.com portal, owners can send destinations to the vehicle’s nav system and update address books. The data connection also feeds weather, gas price info and weather info right to the car.

My tester was fitted with the $5,900 Bang & Olufsen option. Turn the car on and twin tweeters proudly rise out of the dash. Owners can pop in a CD and the system impresses with crisp highs and solid lows throughout a full soundstage — just don’t turn on SiriusXM and brag about how much the system cost. The expensive audio system actually disappoints when the source material is anything but the best. SiriusXM is weak and flat while HD Radio has a sort of crackle — and forget about FM. Car manufacturers have lately turned to bespoke audio companies for their expertise and branding. The B&O system in this Audi is more about the latter. Listen to a lot of Eagles CDs? Opt for it. Everyone else should save their cash.

Not all the technology is about fun and games. The A7 has an optional night vision mode that turns the secondary display within the dash cluster into an infrared scope. The view is rather limited, and I found, at least during the warm week in August I had the A7, it didn’t pick up animals or even humans. This makes the function teeters on the edge of being a novelty but could potentially be helpful when the air outside is cooler.

The A7 also packs a standard assortment of next-gen collision detection tools and safety features: multifunction heads-up display, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, front and rear radar sensors, back-up cam, and a rather annoying blinking light that flashes on the dash and HUD when you tailgate someone even at low speeds. The top of the line Prestige model, which I had as a tester, even features adaptive headlights that pivot 15 degrees when turning. Most of the safety features are found within the A7's $5,800 Innovative Package; I can’t imagine the car without any of these. In fact, I daresay that these functions are the second part of the A7's draw but not the primary.

Audi vehicles sell because they are awesome driving machines. The A7 wears the Audi badge with honor, and does it credit. It’s a fantastic experience, but one marred ever-so-slightly because of its aforementioned confusion. The 3.0 TFSI provides more than enough juice for the A7 to sprint to 60 MPH in a spirited 5.4 seconds. The 8-speed Triptronic is smooth and efficient as the A7 is rated at 18 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway. I bested the EPA’s numbers and saw 29 mpg during a 350 mile trip to Lake Michigan.

The A7 is a blast to drive and should provide enough thrills for most. It’s a proper sports sedan masquerading as a fastback. The Quattro all-wheel drive system helps the A7 hug the road while a self-deploying rear spoiler rises out of the fifth door for some additional helpful downforce at speeds over 80 mph. The A7 shares a wheelbase length with the A6 and is just 1.1-inch longer overall. In fact the less-expensive A6 measures up almost better than the A7 with slightly more rear seat head and leg room. Plus it has a rear center seat. The A7 is, in a sense, an executive long wheelbase sports hatchback. (get that?)

You see, upon first inspection, the A7 fits the old adage of jack of all trades, master of none. It seems like its sports car ambitions are limited by the fastback sedan design. It looks much longer than the A7 feels. It’s also not a proper sedan as it only seats four; the rear middle seat is a plastic console. The luggage compartment is technically large as the rear plastic decks attached to the fifth door are removable. But when they’re attracted allowing for use of he rear window, the space is a just a deep, but short compartment.

But none of those traits are potential deal-breakers. They combine to give the A7 a honestly unique feel. The A7, especially when considering its high-tech cabin, is a car built for a new type of buyer that wants something radically different, which the A7 achieves in the most subtle, but effective ways. It’s easy on fuel, a blast to drive, and loaded with accessible technology. I was, in the end, pleased.

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Meet Phabricator, a review of witty code built inside Facebook

Alexia Tsotsis currently works at TechCrunch as a writer. She is also a blogger who attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. She majored in writing and art, moved to New York shortly after the end of the work in the entertainment industry and media. After four years of his life in New York and to attend courses in New York. ? Read More

While Priestley Evan said launches its greatest achievement photo fax for TechCrunch in 2009, many members of the community launch a Phabricator – a set of open-source energy developer that Priestley and other built while inside Facebook and that he intends to take as a hobby while he was looking for something else to do after leaving the social network earlier this year. Instead, coding tool workflow took off.

Phabricator seems to have gotten some pick up among small startups (more than 500 engineers using it daily), mainly because of its speed, usefulness and simple Facebook reminds interface developed by Priestley. It doesn't hurt that his copy, also written by Priestley, is a sort of snarky and hilarious.

I mean, I'm not a coder, but even I think that's kind of cool Phabricator, mostly from creative writing as ' Facebook engineers rave about Phabricator, calling him with glowing terms as "good" and "mandatory" ' on the introduction page, the fact that you can close the task "out of spite" and small details like the word "submit" button was switched out in favor of "clowncopterize."  Love.

Priestley tells me that startups as Asana, Quora, MemSQL, Mixtent and SnapGuide are currently using the product as part of their development process, involving Facebook more and more of his code on Phabricator. SnapGuide co-founder Steve Krulewitz actually registered the domain name Clowncopterize.com in tribute to the service (just click on it, you won't regret it).

Among his most beloved user features are Maniphest, the bug tracker/task management, tracker and source code browser. The entire suite also includes a differential code review tool that allows developers to easily provide feedback to each other through a command line tool called arc when they check in code using Git or subversion, Phriction wiki tool that brings together more and more with Maniphest and many other products, all designed and described in the Phabricator his unique voice.

When asked, is there any other product out there as Phabricator (lame question I know, but it's my job), Priestley said, "it's kind of difficult because of how many other things. It simply brings together a wide range of tools and integrates their tightly-as a rule, you need to install many different pieces of software to get the same features and different parts of the need not to talk to each other easily and well. "

Priestley said that future plans for Phabricator in "pretty furry" and focuses on the construction of the new features and fixing things. "We'll see where it goes from there," he mused, going to say that he is considering some sort of things from the point of view of the SaaS monetization potential. I don't know if this is a joke.

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Review: Barrel Widge

Happy international day of beer! I just finished celebrating 10 gallons of smoked beer, stout, and I'm looking forward to a draught of blonde ale from my kegerator later today. I have been homebrewing for nearly two years, and it is fun, practical hobby. Diversity is the name of the game, both in terms of beer styles for production but also in terms of the methods used for the production of beer: extract, partial puree, whole grains, a single infusion, decoction, boiling in the package, 1 gallon, 5 gallon, 10 gallons — you get the idea. Hobby facilitates the acquisition of a huge amount of equipment for each of these different methods. The latest addition to my hobby zymurgy is widge barrel.

Like most homebrewers I began bottling beer produced I. Although this allows you to easily share my work with friends and colleagues, I find it tedious, time-consuming process. When I bought my first keg, I promised that I would never pour beer again! Kaegi so much easier, much faster than filling. But it is not without problems.

I'm not especially careful Brewer — I'm in it for the product, process, so many of my brews ended up with a fair bit of precipitation. Even after racking for secondary, many of my beer had a large amount of sediment at the bottom. This sludge winds up being completely out of the first glass or two I removed from the keg.

This is because the kegs dip tubes, which the entire length of the barrel, pulling up in your beer glass. First pull or two will grab slime, which fell to the bottom and after the beer must be clean and delicious. Some homebrewers to avoid this problem by cutting their dip tube an inch or so shorter than usual, so that they sit above the sludge.

Barrel widge, on the other hand, floats to the top of your beer, ensure that your first pull clean and refreshing! He gives a length of flexible tubing and widge always rest at the top of the beer in your keg regardless of how many are left. It also includes a filter to ensure that any flotsam in the beer does not make it into your glass.

The only Kink using widge barrel is that you need to get a dip length of the pipeline for your keg. Replace the standard dip dip tube with the length of the pipeline, connect the flexible tubing and finally connect widge barrel. Fill out and inflate your keg as normal, and you're done!

In order to really check widge barrel, I intentionally dirty beer brewed and ensures that a lot of pipes was transferred from the brew kettle in the bucket of the primary fermentation. I missed the process of secondary fermentation. When I filled out the barrel, I made sure to get a good bit of sludge from the bottom of the segment in the keg.

Despite my best efforts to cause barrel widge did something he should have done. Beer, which I refuse to be clean and clear glass from the first till the last! All the garbage, I purposely placed in the barrel remains at the bottom and not pulled up by widge.

Another use of barrel widge would use corny keg as a vessel of the secondary fermentation, and the use of widge barrel to ensure that only good clean beer gets transferred to the secondary in the keg. I haven't tried it yet, but it's definitely what I intend to try.

If you're a really good Brewer, who carefully filtered beer and makes clean sludge-free beer, you probably don't need drum widge. If you are a Brewer like me, barrel widge helps ensure that the beer is possible at all times!

United Kingdom brewing is currently the only distributor of United States barrel widge, what I found. Feel free to share in the comments if you find another source.

I learned about widge barrels through homebrew believes, and I urge all homebrewers follow this website (or related Twitter account). Thank you Anthony for Buckeye drink to get me the gas tube drop length, I need it so quickly. If you are cooking in Central Ohio, you should talk to Anthony.

Product page: Barrel Widge

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