smoke and mirrors
n. Marketing deceptions. The term is
mainstream in this general sense. Among hackers it's strongly
associated with bogus demos and crocked
benchmarks (see also
MIPS,
machoflops). "They claim their new box cranks 5
MIPS for under $5000, but didn't specify the instruction mix ---
sounds like smoke and mirrors to me." The phrase has been said to
derive from carnie slang for magic acts and `freak show' displays
that depend on `trompe l'oeil' effects, but also calls to mind
the fierce Aztec god Tezcatlipoca (lit. "Smoking Mirror") to whom
mass human sacrifices were regularly made. Upon hearing about a
rigged demo or yet another round of fantasy-based marketing
promises hackers often feel similarly disheartened.
