Worst pitch of the month: Barley & Britches chinos and poor first impressions

Every time you hear about a new business venture these days, chances are it trails back to Kickstarter.

The crowd-sourcing fundraising platform certainly hosts a few gems waiting to to be unearthed. But there's a lot of clutter that venture capitalists and potential fans have to sift through first.

As with any online community virtually handing out carte blanche to anyone with an idea (bad or good), there are your requisite oddballs.

And then there are just the daily humdrum projects that are about as tame and unprovocative as a pair of khaki pants.

-----Original Message-----

From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Monday, November 25, 2013 7:45 AM
To: David Chernicoff
Subject: Story Idea: Do pants really make the man on a first date? (Five Nines: The Next Gen Datacenter)

David --

I'm writing to suggest a fun, story idea for Five Nines: The Next Gen Datacenter based on timely survey data: "What are your pants communicating about you on a first date?"

I'm a publicist for Barley & Britches and their Everyday Chinos.

Do women actually judge you on a first date based on the pants that you wear to the bar or the restaurant?  To answer this question, we conducted a survey representative of 1,300 respondents.

Some interesting findings on men and their "first date pants" include:

* If you want women to think you're rich, responsible and a perfect long term partner, wear khaki colored pants.

* If you want to seem like a wild, adventurous, offbeat, or creative date, wear colorful pants like dark red or bright blue - but you also run the risk of being seen like just a hookup.

* If you want ladies to think you like the finer things in life, wear dark but still colorful pants - such as dark purple.

* Wearing green pants will communicate that you're a world traveler - but that you also may live with your parents.

To make dating fashion easier, Sim has created The EveryDay Chino, a premium pant that fits your lifestyle and wallet at $38, comes in 5 great colors, and is delivered straight from the manufacturer.

The Chinos are live on Kickstarter now and the page is available here:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1022959772/1168026880?token=fb5b62a8

VIDEO: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1022959772/1168026880?token=fb5b62a8

I can help arrange an interview on this topic with Sim Gulati about how to make the best first impression with your pants on the first date. He is available for , email and phone or Skype interviews this week (November 25-29).

If you're interested in a guest blog post from Sim, let me know as well.

Best,
[REDACTED]

As David remarked sarcastically to me via email, this is "clearly a datacenter-oriented pitch."

To start, the PR flack who wrote this pitch made the rather desperate (and ultimately unsuccessful) attempt to try to connect the product he was pitching (pants) to David's area of coverage (datacenters).

Clearly, there is no connection to be made here.

Both the product and the survey advertised in the memo are completely irrelevant to David's beat and ZDNet overall for that matter. It's just one of many more examples we receive on a daily basis in which these senders obviously don't know, understand, or even care about the audience.

I'm not really sure how to even begin to answer the question proposed in the subject line ("What are your pants communicating about you on a first date?"), but I can attest that pitches like these make very poor first impressions.

iOS 7.0.4 on iPhone 5: Impressions & Performance

Earlier today, Apple released a brand new iOS 7 update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users dubbed iOS 7.0.4. The update follows in the footsteps of iOS 7, iOS 7.0.1, iOS 7.0.2 and the iOS 7.0.3 update that rolled out at the end of October and it promises to fixes and enhancements for Apple’s iOS 7 users. Here, we take a look at our first impressions of the iOS 7.0.4 update on iPhone 5.

Back in September, Apple rolled out the iOS 7 update, an update that offered some massive changes to Apple’s mobile operating system and, for the first time, delivered a brand new look is and was, vastly different from previous iOS updates. Since then, Apple has delivered several new iOS updates in an attempt to iron out the software and squash any remaining bugs. And as many iPhone and iPad owners have learned, there are bugs lurking inside iOS 7.

Ever since the arrival of iOS 7, we’ve been hearing about issues residing inside of Apple’s new software. Those complaints really started to pick up steam after the iOS 7.0.2 and iOS 7.0.3 updates and culminated in the pleas for an iOS 7.0.4 or iOS 7.1 update from Apple to help alleviate the issues that apparently still plague iOS 7 users around the globe.

In recent days, we saw iOS 7.0.4 and iOS 7.1 make appearances in our server logs, a sign that something was close. However, we didn’t know if the next update would be iOS 7.0.4 or iOS 7.1. As it turns out, it’s iOS 7.0.4, a small, incremental bug fix update that advertises a fix for one specific issues, a problem with calls being made over FaceTime.

Apple says that the update, which landed earlier today, has other enhancements and fixes on board but it provided no specifics. As many iDevice owners know, iOS updates typically bring bug fixes but can also bring bugs of their own. This leads many owners to hold off on installing the software on day one.

In an effort to provide feedback, we wanted to share our own impressions of the performance of the iOS 7.0.4 update for the iPhone 5 and offer advice on how iPhone owners might want to proceed.

One thing that always concerns people about iOS updates, likely thanks to past horror stories in iOS release days, is whether the installation process is a smooth one. For the most part, incremental iOS updates have been relatively painless and I can’t remember the last time that Apple’s servers were slammed on a non-major iOS release.

iOS 7.0.4 does not break this pattern. Instead of a chaotic release, the download and installation process here was extremely painless. The update appeared ready to download in the device’s settings and I was able to get the 17MB file downloaded and installed in about 10 minutes or so. I didn’t have any issues OTA but for those that do encounter any, iTunes is also an option and one that typically works.

The other thing that I typically get asked about when it comes to incremental iOS updates is about performance. These smaller iOS updates usually don’t bring any surprises or big time features, iCloud Keychain in iOS 7.0.3 was an exception, so it’s more about how the software handles with the hardware. So let’s take a look at how the iOS 7.0.4 experience has been thus far.

I’ve mentioned, numerous times, that I’ve been dealing with UI lag with iOS 7 on my iPad 3. I haven’t, however, seen any UI issues, lag or otherwise, with my iPhone 5. Of course, I’ve heard about a number of them, including missing text, multitasking not showing cards and more, but I guess I’ve been lucky.

In iOS 7.0.4, my luck hasn’t changed. I haven’t run into any lag issues with the software and things appear to be opening up and closing like they normally do. Scrolling and touch gestures are working properly as well.

So far, so good when it comes to iOS 7.0.4 battery life. While I can’t speak to whether it has improved or gotten slightly worse, I can say that over the past few hours, I haven’t experienced any abnormal battery train that tanks my battery when I browse the web, talk on the phone or check my email. Everything appears to be stable, at least thus far.

These types of issues typically manifest themselves in the days after a release, not on the day of a release, so I could run into some problems over the next week or so. I wouldn’t count on it though. I’ve had pretty good luck with battery life on my iPhone 5 and I get the feeling that iOS 7.0.4 doesn’t have a widespread battery drain bug on board.

And yes, I have been switching back and forth between Wi-Fi and 4G LTE for the past few hours in an attempt to gauge whether one is acting abnormally or not. So far, it has been business as usual.

As we’ve pointed out, numerous numerous times, iPhone owners have been experiencing bugs in iOS 7.0.3, iOS 7.0.2, and iOS 7. There’s no getting around it, there are issues. I’ve been sent hundreds of screenshots and unless these iPhone owners have a hidden agenda or a ton of time on their hands, I sincerely doubt that they are lying.

That doesn’t mean that I am experiencing the same bugs though. In fact, my experience with iOS 7 has been relatively stress free. I did run into the iMessage issue after installing iOS 7.0.2, but that bug hasn’t returned since the arrival of iOS 7.0.3 last month.

Thus far, nothing is jumping out at me in iOS 7.0.3. That’s not to say that iOS 7.0.4 doesn’t have bugs, it is to say that I am not seeing any on my iPhone 5. Bugs often don’t show themselves until a few days after a release, I didn’t notice the iMessage issue on day one, so I could potentially run into some problems later on. However, it seems like iOS 7.0.4 is pretty stable.

I still am having issues with FaceTime Audio wherein sound is choppy when on Wi-Fi. At this point though, it may just be my router rather than a problem on Apple’s end. I never experienced the dropped calls that iOS 7.0.4 supposedly fixed.

I’ve been using Wi-Fi and 4G LTE all day and I can say that my connections on a Belkin router and AT&T’s 4G LTE network are as good as they were inside iOS 7.0.3. Nothing has changed and both connections still provide me with a solid data speeds. Keep in mind, I’ve never seen the grayed out Wi-Fi issue that iOS users have been seeing since the introduction of iOS 6.

I won’t bore you with all of the applications on my phone but I will say this. I haven’t run into any major issues with any of the applications on my device. I’ve literally gone into each app, one by one, to test it too. Troublemakers like Chrome and Facebook are functioning fine, as are Twitter, Instagram and Spotify. Apple’s stock applications seem to be functioning well too.

I’ve only been using iOS 7.0.4 for a few hours but during those few hours, I haven’t run into anything catastrophic. Everything, including battery life, appears to be stable. So at this point, it’s hard for me not to recommend installing this, considering it has the potential to fix some of the issues that users have been experiencing. with iOS.

One group that may want to hold off on upgrading are those that are looking to jailbreak. The developers behind the jailbreak have told users to exercise caution and patience but from here, it doesn’t appear as though upgrading to iOS 7.0.4 is going to kill off the ability to jailbreak iOS 7. In fact, the coast looks clear.

Those that are skeptical, hold off for a few days. We’ll keep you posted on any issues that we might run into between now and the next iOS 7 update, an update that should be iOS 7.1.

Acer C720 Chromebook first impressions: Fast and cheap

(Image: James Kendrick/ZDNet)

Acer is not a stranger to the Chromebook world and the new C720 is looking to outperform the rest of the pack. The decision to use an Intel Celeron with Haswell technology was a sound one by Acer based on our hands-on testing. The Acer C720 Chromebook is the fastest model we've tested with the exception of the $1,200 Pixel by Google.

(Image: James Kendrick/ZDNet)

What makes the presence of the Haswell Celeron so unusual is that Acer is able to use it while keeping the price of the C720 at $249.99. That makes this Chromebook an outstanding value given the performance compared to the ARM and Atom Chromebooks on the market.

Hardware specs as reviewed:

CPU: Intel® Celeron® Processor 2955U, (1.4GHz, 2MB L3 Cache) OS: Chrome OS Memory: 4GB Storage: 16GB Display: 11.6-inch, 1366x768, anti-glare Camera: front webcam (1280x720) Connectivity: Wi-fi a/b/g/n Ports/slots: USB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, SD slot Battery: 3,950 mAh, 8.5 hours Thickness: 0.75in Weight: 2.76lbs

The Acer C720 Chromebook is constructed of plastic as befitting its low price. It doesn't feel like it's poorly constructed but there is no doubt it's made of plastic.

(Image: James Kendrick/ZDNet)

The keyboard facilitates fast typing and the keys have the right amount of travel when pressed. It is a standard Chrome OS keyboard with all of the expected Chrome control keys on the top row.

The trackpad works very well but is smaller than those found on other Chromebooks. This is no doubt to keep the C720 size as small as possible, but a slightly larger trackpad would be appreciated.

(Image: James Kendrick/ZDNet)

On the left side of the C720 is the power jack, HDMI port, USB port, and an the audio in/out jack. The right side has a lock slot, USB port, and SD slot. There are two blue and orange LED indicators on the front of the Chromebook that indicates power and charging status.

(Image: James Kendrick/ZDNet)

Acer claims 8.5 hours on a charge and this seems to be accurate. The use of the Celeron is a good choice by Acer due to the low power requirements which yields good battery life.

The C720 is a fast performer due to this processor. The Samsung Series 5 550 Chromebook that's been out for a while is a fast performer due to its last generation Celeron, and the Acer C720 Chromebook is much faster with the Haswell version. Both of those Chromebooks have 4GB of system memory so its a valid comparison of the Haswell processor. It's worth noting that the Samsung Series 5 550 Chromebook is currently selling for $500.

Using the Celeron in the C720 allows Acer to include 4GB of system memory, and this means better multi-tasking than other Chromebooks with only 2GB. In our testing the C720 Chromebook was able to handle lots of open tabs at once with no page refreshing when returning to earlier visited tabs as is common with models with only 2GB.

Of the many Chromebooks tested, the Acer is easily the fastest with the exception of the Chromebook Pixel. The Pixel costs over $1,000 more than the Acer so that's to be expected.

(Image: James Kendrick/ZDNet)

The 11.6-inch display is just the right size for a portable system and it is an anti-glare screen. It is the standard resolution of 1366x768, which may be an issue for some. In our testing it is a decent screen, not the brightest but sufficient.

The Acer C720 Chromebook will be available shortly from Acer, Best Buy, and Amazon with a list price of $249.99. It's worth noting that this price is less than that of most tablets, an exceptional deal for a laptop.

Buyers of the Acer C720 Chromebook get 12 sessions of Gogo in-flight wi-fi access included along with 100GB of free storage on Google Drive, further enhancing the deal.

Pros:

Cheap

Faster than most Chromebooks

4GB memory

Battery life

Fast charging (1.5 hours from 10 percent to fully charged, less than 3 hours when completely drained)

Cons:

Plastic construction

Small trackpad

Additional Chromebook coverage: 

iOS 7: first impressions of the Metro-ized iOS

Can I say that I like iOS 7 without having rotten tomatoes thrown at me? Probably not, so I'll don a raincoat and a laboratory face shield and say, "I like iOS 7". Even if you like iOS 7 too, you're not going to like the reason that I like it. I like it because it looks and acts like Windows 8. There, I said it. It looks and acts like Windows 8. So what? There's nothing wrong with it looking and acting like Windows 8. I think it's a good thing.

I can hear the knuckle-cracking and drink pouring already, while you prepare yourself to assault me with anti-Windows 8 rhetoric but, if you're honest with yourself, you'll admit that I'm right.

All iOS versions before 7 seemed a bit heavy. This one feels lighter, faster, and more mobile device compatible. Don't get me wrong, iOS is a cool operating system even at its clunkiest but 7 is smooth. iOS 7 is Metro for the Apple crowd. 

And I'll bet you a thousand Rupees that the next Mac OS comes out looking very similar to Windows 8 and iOS 7. Since Apple uses big cats for its OS X versions and the new look and feel is very similar to Metro, I'd like to call it MeOwS MiX. 

My favorite thing about iOS 7 is the way you kill apps, by just tossing them away out the top of your phone. No more hold, shake, and kill. I always thought that was a little weird. I'm happier now. In fact, the way you kill apps is vaguely (OK, blatantly) like tossing out YouTube videos that you're through watching. Have you noticed that?

I like that I can swipe through my open apps and then tap to bring it to focus. That part feels very Android-esque to me. But, in general, the whole iOS 7 experience feels very Windows 8.

My middle son and daughter both agree with me about the whole Windows 8 thing too.

"iOS 7 is Metro for the Apple crowd."

In fact, my son came home from school and said, "I've been enjoying iOS 7 today." To which I responded, "Did you notice how much like Windows 8 it is?" "Yes", was his immediate response, "Yes, it is". My daughter chimed in with, "Hey, yeah, it is like Windows 8".

So, it isn't just me and I feel totally justified in making that assertion.

Oh, and the fact that someone has already discovered a security flaw convinces me that iOS 7 is very similar to Windows 8. I won't go so far as to say that iOS 7 is based on Metro or aims to be a better Metro; I just think it bears noticing that they are similar.

Even if you don't agree and think that I'm coming out of left field, it's OK. You and I are both enjoying iOS 7 for what it is: a new iOS version. And that's fun, don't you think?

Does the Control Center make you think Charms Bar?

I like the Control Center. It's something that's been sadly missing from iOS from the beginning. We needed quick access to those things without all the swiping, wiping, and tapping through a bunch of stuff to enter Airplane mode, to turn on/off WiFi, to enable/disable Bluetooth, or to change brightness.

And I really love having the flashlight and stopwatch right there. Talk about handy. The calculator is another much used item for me. I'm always fumbling around looking for that thing when I need it at the grocery store or at home for calculating the cryptic way school grades are delivered to me. What does 33/46 mean to me without a calculator?

 I'm happy with iOS 7 and if you have an iPhone, iPad, or, iPod that's supported and iOS 7 capable, go for it. It doesn't take long to upgrade and I think you'll love the "new" look and feel. Heck, at its worst, it could make you embrace Windows 8 and Metro. Thanks Apple. I'm sure Microsoft is smiling today too.

Related Stories: