The convenience of Bluetooth headphones has stifled the hatred I had for the inherent lag it brings. Sure, it’s still not good enough for videos. But it is so freeing to not be roaming around with the source of music. Even laptops at times. I am listening to a lot more music.
Thoughts
I am reversing my judgement on Spotify, I just didn’t like the interface when it launched. I still don’t (though I have started liking the real part). But it is the desktop application that has sold me on the overall experience — plus hand-off to other devices is brilliant.
It is so easy to screw up one’s YouTube experience. Just watch something you aren’t interested in, but are because you need to just this moment. All it shows for days is things related to that, as if you have no other interests. Terrible recommendations engine.
Does anyone use the Brave browser? I always hear it is just like Chrome, without the ugly parts around privacy and security. That also the reason why I never tried it, I don’t like Chrome’s interface. But advantages mentioned in the comparisons are pretty strong, if true.
Today’s Apple event was the first one where I have no opinion on. They showed many services that can potentially be great one day. But that day is not anytime soon. And I won’t even be able to use some of them. Cynicism, though, will be pretty prevalent in the tech outlets.
With growing age, I have become too choosy about the type of movies/shows I watch. There was a time when I used to enjoy intense drama that would make me uncomfortable. Not any more. Applies to the books too. This has drastically limited my selection — mystery and humor.
When I had found Stoop, the newsletter app, I instantly became a big fan. But I have realized the issues kept piling up as I could hardly get a chance to scroll through them on the small mobile screen. So much potential, but it needs a desktop reader to be useful.
I’ve been using Spotify for a couple of weeks now. I still hate the interface — it’s barely usable. So difficult to browse around, find what you want. But it overcomes that need with its brilliant list of playlists. I can select one and just let it play what I want.
The emojis, they are tired now of being so important for all, but always captive to the smartphones. No longer they say 😑
PS: Also my sister needs a place on the Internet for her sketches now. Hmm.
The homepage design of almost all news publications look very similar these days — rows and columns of jumbled text. I am yet to come across a design that manages to clearly serve the important articles without too much of clutter around. Quantity ranks higher than quality.
I agree with Brad Frost’s suggestion to stay boring while desiging login forms. I have indeed dislike every example of don’ts he puts out — wish sense prevails soon.
TL;DR; create login forms that are simple, linkable, predictable, and play nicely with password managers.
How Focus Music Hacks Your Brain →
Different types of music affects your brain in different ways. If you’re trying to focus, there’s scientifically a specific rhythm you should listen to.
Dave Pell on Amazon buying Eero
So now Amazon can run your router, your home security camera (Blink), your doorbell (Ring), your TV (Fire), and listen to your every word via Alexa as you enjoy a nice dinner from Whole Foods. We recently learned that Jeff Bezos is good at protecting his own private parts. Who’s going to protect ours from him?
Amazon acquiring Eero is a nice reminder of the risk of the technology players getting too big. It becomes extremely difficult for any small players to survive — the limited set of 5 companies compete in every space. It’s bad for innovation, everyone works towards acquisition.
Also, we should look out for the repeating sponsors on podcasts — that looks to be the sure shot way to acquisition now. Many of the recent acquisitions have been a sponsors of some technology podcasts. I think advertising is no longer for the end customers.
Another fascinating video from CGP Grey on The Better Boarding Method Airlines Won’t Use. I’ve wondered about this every time I’m stuck in a boarding queue.
It’s always frustrating to know that to literally have done nothing would be faster than the something that is done.
It was discomforting to read Owen William’s account of his failed attempt to add his site to Google News. Not just because how aloof Google acted, but because of the patience Owen was showing towards their policies. I understand his desire to receive the crazy traffic Google might send to his site. But it is better to understand that Google’s interests and plans for the product just won’t match those of a smallish individual website.
These losing battles are always better to be avoided — it has been true since the early SEO days. Dave Winer words it really well in his response.
In Williams’ tale of woe, the Godfather is the open web, other news orgs, his readers, and the legal system is Google. We have to work together Owen. The web made all you do possible, you can’t go over its head to Google to get what you think you need.
Dear Internet, stop throwing more links to Eleventy at me now. It strains my resolve to not try another engine out there to build site with. I am satisfied with what I have got running — or so I have convinced myself. Don’t make it more difficult than it already is.
I tend to agree with John Gruber’s thoughts on “On Covering Webcams”
The problem isn’t your camera, it’s malware. Don’t install any software from unknown or sketchy sources, keep your OS up to date1, and you should be fine. And if you do have malware on your Mac, the webcam is likely the least of your problems.
Sure, you should be careful while you access the Internet. Or else some can indeed take control of your machine. But the words I highlighted matter — you should be careful while accessing any machine. Else, you will break the machine and it will eventually harm you.
I wonder how many people with iOS devices use any browser other than Safari. I can never convince myself to switch to any other browser — to be frank I never felt a need earlier when I was all in on Apple ecosystem. With recent switch to Windows, I have to reconsider.
A fascinating story of The First Lady of the Internet
A passing glance at this peculiar genealogy reveals how deeply these women’s faces and voices are integrated into technology, even as their names and thoughts and lives are so often ignored
Every now and then I am reminded of the fact that Opera browser still exists — why and how? There was a time when I enjoyed using Opera, especially on mobile — it looked the slickest in the flock. Ah, there was Flock too. These days, it’s a battle between just 3 players.
Foxcon’s entry to Wisconsin looks to have affected the town in tumultuous proportions as per a Bloomberg report. There was also a fascinating episode #132 of Reply All that covered this apparent disaster. It’s poignant to read how “progress” has marred the spirit of the town.
“Cleaning your room takes effort. Blurring your background on Skype does not.” This is a nifty addition to Skype - bokeh for video calls. And a very valid argument to put the iPhone X like a dot projector and infrared camera modules in laptops.
When someone publicises the intended motive behind their service as “to democratize audio and unlock the potential of human creativity”, we can guess they are ready for getting acquired. But then they sell out to a company that isn’t even servicing worldwide 🙄🤦🏽♂️
I always believed Anchor was strategically working towards an acquisition. I never thought they would sell out so early. So glad that I did not sign up while they were drumming up how they aim to take podcasting mainstream.