But let’s be real, it wasn’t always frenemies uniting. We all had some some damned hard days in the crucible of that kind of competition, as Wired touched on, and I know I certainly had my fair share of lapses in judgment (like a boycott Gizmodo site, which I let myself get talked into by a particularly hateful former writer). Of course, it went both ways, too. Gizmodo and a lot of other sites were pulling shenanigans day in and out, with the traded barbs pushing everyone harder, thinning out mistakes which could turn into ammunition. The results were obviously felt as gadget sites got better, faster, and more accurate, but it’s a little funny, because that stuff all seemed so very serious then. Looking at it now, the storied rivalry retired, it’s almost kind of cute.

There was a line to be drawn, too, and to me that line was where real damage could be done. In fact, this May that line drew itself right in my inbox when a disgruntled former Gizmodo editor pinged me offering a tidy bounty: the full “back catalog of classified Gizmodo emails, some discussing Engadget,” as well as “access to Gizmodo’s tips account [that'd be where you could get all of Gizmodo's scoops, or even turn over their tipsters to the companies they're leaking about]” and the “master list of Gizmodo online sources, which is a great aid.” Without hesitation, I turned this person (and any data that could be made use of) over to Brian and owner of Gizmodo / Gawker Media, Nick Denton, for them to deal with as they saw fit.

Of course, Engadget (for whom I still write and advise) and Gizmodo wage on, trying to out-scoop each other every day of the week. There’s no doubt in my mind that Brian was an adversary so worthy I had to make him an ally — but he’s also a good friend, and someone who knew exactly all the kinds of crap we pulled with each other. But I think ultimately we’ve both spent enough time doing this stuff to know that tearing things down won’t ever be as productive or positive as what comes next: where we unite and build.

It’s been a year since we hung up our mics at Engadget, but we’re finally back with our new gadget podcast, gdgt weekly! The first episode’s already up, so head over to gdgt to grab it / subscribe. Oh, there’s another bit, too.

We’re also announcing our first two advisors to gdgt, two good friends of mine: Josh Topolsky, editor of Engadget, and Brian Lam, editorial director of Gizmodo. Yeah, I know, just blew your mind: people from Engadget and Gizmodo collaborating on something. Together. Of course, the reality isn’t all that weird when you think about things.

It may not have shone through in the various articles trumping up the Engadget / Gizmodo rivalry, but believe it or not, Brian Lam and I are actually pals outside of work — have been for years. In fact, a side story neither of us ever told publicly was that I actually tried to hire Brian when he was on his way out of Wired, just before Gawker snagged him for Giz. I pitched hard, but in the end, as he put it recently, “It wouldn’t have been as much of a challenge.” Of course, he was totally right — he accepted the greater challenge and put Gizmodo back on the map.

Josh, of course, is one of the most brilliant people I’ve ever met — someone with a natural eye for content and gadget world, who I’m totally proud to have take over as Engadget’s editor in chief. So maybe it’s time to look at this space a little more holistically; or, as Brian said, get some Voltron action going on.

I don’t actually find it strange that I wasn’t quoted, either. I’m more prone to discuss the competition from all sides (CNET, Wired, even BoingBoing, etc., not just Giz) and that just doesn’t really fare well when you’re trying to do a Pepsi and Coke story. The landscape looks a little different when you’re not clamoring to the top. But the story does get one thing right in that Brian and I are good friends and have immense respect for one another — and no one has ever had to “press” me to admit as much.

P.S. -And no, we didn’t pose together for that photo, although I have no doubts that Brian could kick my ass in real life! Also, I’m taller.