Hatchet Job
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 4:31 pm
I know, I know, some of you are going to point out a very negative "review" of the Newton+, written by Jamie Wilkins, just published.
I have filed a complaint with the editors, which I copy here:
To the editors:
The review of the Newton + just published is out-of date, factually incorrect, and grossly misleading. I know, because I was the person referred to in the review.
I met Jamie in April of 2014, at the offices of Future Publishing in England. I have sent an email to Jamie, which I copy here:
"Jamie:
I just saw your Newton+ review.
It’s unfortunate that you did not tell your readers that I visited you in April, 2014, over 16 months ago.
It’s unfortunate you did not tell your readers that the Newton+ you received and tested in the spring of 2014 is no longer manufactured. We introduced the Newton 5 at Eurobike 2014, with a completely new user interface and experience, updated software, new features, and a big improvement in simplicity.
It’s unfortunate that you did not tell your readers that we are being used successfully this year by several top continental pro teams, who have tested the Newton 5 directly in real life conditions against some of the models you praise.
It’s unfortunate that you claim, with authority, that rain jackets, wheels, helmets, etc. cause accuracy problems. This is utter nonsense, both from a physics point of view and from a practical view, too.
It’s unfortunate you didn't get the price right.
It is unfortunate and misleading that you did not tell your readers and editors that you waited 16 months to publish your review.
But most of all, it’s unfortunate that you did not have the courtesy of contacting me, nearly 14 months after our last communication, to offer me the opportunity to update you on product changes, and to help you with factual errors.
The only thing more frustrating than the allegedly poor “tech” in our product is the reality of out-of-date, poorly informed, factually incorrect and grossly unprofessional reviews like this one.
John Hamann
CEO
Velocomp"
Interestingly, after I sent the email to Jamie, it bounced. He apparently no longer works for Future Publishing. Perhaps he pulled his rubbish review out of the rejections pile of his former employer.
I have filed a complaint with the editors, which I copy here:
To the editors:
The review of the Newton + just published is out-of date, factually incorrect, and grossly misleading. I know, because I was the person referred to in the review.
I met Jamie in April of 2014, at the offices of Future Publishing in England. I have sent an email to Jamie, which I copy here:
"Jamie:
I just saw your Newton+ review.
It’s unfortunate that you did not tell your readers that I visited you in April, 2014, over 16 months ago.
It’s unfortunate you did not tell your readers that the Newton+ you received and tested in the spring of 2014 is no longer manufactured. We introduced the Newton 5 at Eurobike 2014, with a completely new user interface and experience, updated software, new features, and a big improvement in simplicity.
It’s unfortunate that you did not tell your readers that we are being used successfully this year by several top continental pro teams, who have tested the Newton 5 directly in real life conditions against some of the models you praise.
It’s unfortunate that you claim, with authority, that rain jackets, wheels, helmets, etc. cause accuracy problems. This is utter nonsense, both from a physics point of view and from a practical view, too.
It’s unfortunate you didn't get the price right.
It is unfortunate and misleading that you did not tell your readers and editors that you waited 16 months to publish your review.
But most of all, it’s unfortunate that you did not have the courtesy of contacting me, nearly 14 months after our last communication, to offer me the opportunity to update you on product changes, and to help you with factual errors.
The only thing more frustrating than the allegedly poor “tech” in our product is the reality of out-of-date, poorly informed, factually incorrect and grossly unprofessional reviews like this one.
John Hamann
CEO
Velocomp"
Interestingly, after I sent the email to Jamie, it bounced. He apparently no longer works for Future Publishing. Perhaps he pulled his rubbish review out of the rejections pile of his former employer.