My good friend Patrice and I talked a little bit of tech today after I was finally available for our podcast! Hopefully next week, I won’t interrupt her as much and will have the lower thirds constructed and implemented. Slowly improve and keep a steady cadence is one way to achieve success!
When on guard duty…
2024-10 Hardware and Software Setup
Here is an update to my current setup (some have respective links to Amazon that help defray some of the hosting costs and get me more funding to purchase cool, new gear) for October. If you all have any questions about the items below, please feel free to reach out and I can provide my feedback and also create some content to share.
The changes plus the detailed hardware list are below:
Added:
- Coffee Maker - Fellow Aiden
- Cell Service - Added T-Mobile
- Emulator - Retroid Pocket 4 Pro
- Social Media - Bluesky
- Mind-Mapping Software - Mind Node
- Charger - Anker MagSafe Compatible MagGo UFO 3-in-1 Charger
- Universal Text Application - Obsidian
Removed:
- Microphone - Elgato Wave Neo
- Daily Use Backpack - Pakt Travel Backpack
- Steam Deck Dock - UGREEN Steam Deck Dock
- 1TB OLED Steam Deck - OLED Steam Deck
- Analogue Pocket - Analogue Pocket
- Coffee Maker - Technivorm Moccamaster KGVB Select
macOS Applications
- Task Manager - Things + Reminders
- Text Editor - BBEdit
- Terminal App - Terminal.app - I decided to go with the lightweight terminal application that comes stock with all macOS devices.
- Automation App - Hazel
- Online Backup Service - Backblaze
- Backup Application - Carbon Copy Cloner
iOS/iPadOS Applications
- Podcast App - Castro
- Camera App - Halide
- Video Recording App - Kino - From the same folks who released Halide, Kino gives you fine-tuned controls over video.
- Object Scanning App - Scan Thing
- Document Scanning App - Simple Scan
iOS/iPadOS/macOS Applications
- Password Manager - Bitwarden
- Package Tracking App - Parcel
- Calendar App - Calendar.app
- Recipe Manager - Mela
- RSS Reader - The New Reeder
- Read Later Application - Goodlink
- Email Application - Mail.app
- Note-Taking App - Tot
- Mastodon Application - Ivory
- Social Media - Threads
- Social Media - Bluesky
- Mind-Mapping Software - Mind Node
- Universal Text Application - Obsidian
Hardware
- Keyboard - HHKB Studio
- Dock - OWC Thunderbolt Pro Dock
- Laptop - 14" MacBook Pro
- Physical Scanner - Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1300
- 3D Printer - Creality K1C
- Watch - Apple Watch Ultra
- Phone - iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Inkjet Printer - Epson 4850
- iPhone Battery Pack - Anker MagSafe Battery Pack + Stand
- Charger - Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Charging Stand
- Charger - Anker MagSafe Compatible MagGo UFO 3-in-1 Charger
- Automation - Elgato Stream Deck Neo
- Lighting - Elgato Key Light Neo
- Game Capture - Elgato Game Capture Neo
- Webcam with Smarts - Obsbot Tiny 2
Audio Hardware
- Microphone - Rode Podcaster White
Gaming
- Board Game - Unsettled Board Game
- Emulator - Retroid Pocket 4 Pro
- Emulator - Anbernic 405v
- Gaming with Friends - Helldivers 2
- Open World RPG (PC) - Elden Ring
- Universal Controller - 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller
Storage/Bags
- Daily Use/Travel Backpack - Peak Design Travel Backpack
- Camera Backpack - Shimoda Explore V2 35
- Tech Pouch - Peak Design Tech Pouch
Stationary
- Pen - Tactile Turn Pens
Kitchen/Cooking
- Indoor Grill - Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill
- Pressure Cooker - Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker
- Convection Oven - Ninja Foodi Convection Oven
- Coffee Maker - Fellow Aiden
- Coffee Grinder - Baratza Fortè AP Coffee Grinder
MISC
- Car Error Code Scan Tool - BlueDrive OBDII Scan Tool
- Hosting Service - Hetzner
- Universal Remote - Sofabaton Remote
- Cell Service - US Mobile and T-Mobile - US Mobile is now just being used for my iPads. The family and I have moved back to T-Mobile as the seamless integration of international roaming and pricing was too good to give up.
2024 September Setup
Here is an update to my current setup (some have respective links to Amazon that help defray some of the hosting costs and get me more funding to purchase cool, new gear) for September. Hopefully, by the end of the month, my Fellow Aiden will have arrived!
The changes plus the detailed hardware list are below:
Added:
- Handheld Emulator - RG Cube
- Travel Microphone - Rode NT-USB Mini
- Handheld Gaming - Nintendo Switch OLED
- Mechanical Pencil - Studio Neat Mark Three
Removed:
- Steam Deck Dock - UGREEN Steam Deck Dock
- 1TB OLED Steam Deck - OLED Steam Deck
- Analogue Pocket - Analogue Pocket
macOS Applications
- Task Manager - Things + Reminders
- Text Editor - BBEdit
- Terminal App - Terminal.app - I decided to go with the lightweight terminal application that comes stock with all macOS devices.
- Automation App - Hazel
- Online Backup Service - Backblaze
- Backup Application - Carbon Copy Cloner
iOS/iPadOS Applications
- Podcast App - Castro
- Camera App - Halide
- Video Recording App - Kino
- Object Scanning App - Scan Thing
- Document Scanning App - Simple Scan
iOS/iPadOS/macOS Applications
- Password Manager - Bitwarden
- Package Tracking App - Parcel
- Calendar App - Calendar.app
- Recipe Manager - Mela
- RSS Reader - Reeder connected to FreshRSS.
- Read Later Application - Goodlink
- Email Application - Mail.app
- Note-Taking App - Tot
- Mastodon Application - Ivory
- Social Media - Threads
Hardware
- Keyboard - HHKB Studio
- Dock - OWC Thunderbolt Pro Dock
- Laptop - 14" MacBook Pro
- Physical Scanner - Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1300
- 3D Printer - Creality K1C
- Watch - Apple Watch Ultra
- Phone - iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Inkjet Printer - Epson 4850
- iPhone Battery Pack - Anker MagSafe Battery Pack + Stand
- Charger - Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Charging Stand
- Automation - Elgato Stream Deck Neo
- Lighting - Elgato Key Light Neo
- Game Capture - Elgato Game Capture Neo
- Webcam with Smarts - Obsbot Tiny 2
Audio Hardware
- Microphone - Elgato Wave Neo
- Microphone - Rode Podcaster White
- Travel Microphone - Rode NT-USB Mini
Gaming
- Board Game - Unsettled Board Game
- Anbernic 405v - Anbernic 405v
- Handheld Emulator - Anbernic RG Cube
- Gaming with Friends - Helldivers 2
- Open World RPG (PC) - Elden Ring
- Universal Controller - 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller
- Handheld Gaming - Nintendo Switch OLED
Storage/Bags
- Daily Use Backpack - Pakt Travel Backpack
- Travel Backpack - Peak Design Travel Backpack
- Camera Backpack - Shimoda Explore V2 35
- Tech Pouch - Peak Design Tech Pouch
Stationary
- Pen - Tactile Turn Pens
- Mechanical Pencil - Studio Neat Mark Three
Kitchen/Cooking
- Indoor Grill - Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill
- Pressure Cooker - Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker
- Convection Oven - Ninja Foodi Convection Oven
- Coffee Maker - Technivorm Moccamaster KGVB Select
- Baratza Fortè AP Coffee Grinder (with Ceramic Burrs) - Baratza Fortè AP Coffee Grinder
MISC
- Car Error Code Scan Tool - BlueDrive OBDII Scan Tool
- Hosting Service - Hetzner
- Universal Remote - Sofabaton Remote
- Cell Service - US Mobile
2024 August Setup
Here is an update to my current setup (some have respective links to Amazon that help defray some of the hosting costs and get me more funding to purchase cool, new gear) for August.
The changes plus the detailed hardware list are below:
Added:
Removed:
macOS Applications
- Task Manager - Things + Reminders
- Text Editor - BBEdit
- Terminal App - Terminal.app - I decided to go with the lightweight terminal application that comes stock with all macOS devices.
- Automation App - Hazel
- Online Backup Service - Backblaze
- Backup Application - Carbon Copy Cloner
iOS/iPadOS Applications
- Podcast App - Castro
- Camera App - Halide
- Video Recording App - Kino - From the same folks who released Halide, Kino gives you fine-tuned controls over video.
- Object Scanning App - Scan Thing
- Document Scanning App - Simple Scan
iOS/iPadOS/macOS Applications
- Password Manager - Bitwarden
- Package Tracking App - Parcel
- Calendar App - Calendar.app
- Recipe Manager - Mela
- RSS Reader - Reeder connected to FreshRSS.
- Read Later Application - Goodlink
- Email Application - Mail.app
- Note-Taking App - Tot
- Mastodon Application - Ivory
- Social Media - Threads
Hardware
- Keyboard - HHKB Studio
- Dock - OWC Thunderbolt Pro Dock
- Laptop - 14" MacBook Pro
- Physical Scanner - Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1300
- 3D Printer - Creality K1C
- Watch - Apple Watch Ultra
- Phone - iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Inkjet Printer - Epson 4850
- iPhone Battery Pack - Anker MagSafe Battery Pack + Stand
- Charger - Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Charging Stand
- Automation - Elgato Stream Deck Neo
- Lighting - Elgato Key Light Neo
- Game Capture - Elgato Game Capture Neo
- Webcam with Smarts - Obsbot Tiny 2
Audio Hardware
- Microphone - Elgato Wave Neo
- Microphone - Rode Podcaster White
Gaming
- Board Game - Unsettled Board Game
- Steam Deck Dock - UGREEN Steam Deck Dock
- 1TB OLED Steam Deck - OLED Steam Deck
- Analogue Pocket - Analogue Pocket
- Anbernic 405v - Anbernic 405v
- Gaming with Friends - Helldivers 2
- Open World RPG (PC) - Elden Ring
- Universal Controller - 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller
Storage/Bags
- Daily Use Backpack - Pakt Travel Backpack
- Travel Backpack - Peak Design Travel Backpack
- Camera Backpack - Shimoda Explore V2 35
- Tech Pouch - Peak Design Tech Pouch
Stationary
- Pen - Tactile Turn Pens
Kitchen/Cooking
- Indoor Grill - Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill
- Pressure Cooker - Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker
- Convection Oven - Ninja Foodi Convection Oven
- Coffee Maker - Technivorm Moccamaster KGVB Select
- Baratza Fortè AP Coffee Grinder (with Ceramic Burrs) - Baratza Fortè AP Coffee Grinder
MISC
- Car Error Code Scan Tool - BlueDrive OBDII Scan Tool
- Hosting Service - Hetzner
- Universal Remote - Sofabaton Remote
- Cell Service - US Mobile - Being able to move between ATT, T-Mobile, and Verizon is very helpful when I travel for work and a specific carrier is stronger than the other.
Reclaim Your Focus: A Simple Trick to Stop Disruptive App Review Requests
Are you tired of those pesky review prompts popping up every time you update an app? I get it - they can be incredibly disruptive when you're trying to use your device. While app reviews are valuable for developers and users alike, constantly being asked to rate apps can quickly become annoying. Fortunately, there's a simple way to put an end to these interruptions once and for all.
Let's walk through the process of disabling those bothersome review requests on your iOS device:
Accessing Your Settings
First things first, you'll need to open up your device's Settings app. There are a couple of ways to do this:
- Locate the Settings icon on your home screen and tap it.
- Use the Spotlight search feature by swiping down on your home screen and typing "Settings" in the search bar.
Navigating to the App Store Settings
Once you're in the Settings app, follow these steps:
- Scroll down until you find "App Store" in the list of options.
- Tap on "App Store" to access its specific settings.
Turning Off In-App Ratings and Reviews
Now, here's where the magic happens:
- Look for the option labeled "In-App Ratings & Reviews."
- You'll see a toggle switch next to this option.
- If the switch is green (on), tap it to turn it off.
And just like that, you've successfully disabled those pesky review prompts! From now on, you won't be interrupted by requests to rate or review apps after updates or during regular use.
Why This Matters
By turning off these prompts, you're reclaiming valuable time and attention. We all know how precious our focus can be, especially when using our devices for important tasks or simply trying to enjoy our favorite apps without interruption.
A Gentle Reminder
While it's great to eliminate unwanted distractions, it's worth remembering the value of app reviews. If you genuinely enjoy an app and find it useful, consider taking a moment to leave a review on your own terms. Your feedback can help other users discover great apps and provide valuable insights to developers.
The Power of Choice
What's fantastic about this feature is that it puts you in control. You decide when and if you want to leave reviews, rather than having prompts dictate those moments for you. It's all about creating a more seamless and enjoyable user experience on your iOS device.
By following these simple steps, you've taken a small but significant step towards a more personalized and interruption-free mobile experience. Now you can focus on what really matters - using and enjoying your apps without those pesky review prompts getting in the way.
Remember, technology should work for us, not the other way around. Taking control of these small details can make a big difference in how we interact with our devices daily. So go ahead, disable those prompts, and enjoy your newfound peace of mind!
Anbernic RG Cube Unboxing
Below is a quickly captured video of my RG Cube unboxing:
2024 July Setup
Here is an update to my current setup (some have respective links to Amazon that help defray some of the hosting costs and get me more funding to purchase cool, new gear to review) for July.
The changes plus the detailed hardware list are below:
Added:
- Terminal.app
- Creality K1C
- Obsbot Tiny 2
- Kino
- Elden Ring
- Tot
- Added Audio section
Removed:
- Prompt 3
- Ankermake M5
- Drafts
macOS Applications
- Task Manager - Things + Reminders
- Text Editor - BBEdit
- Terminal App - Terminal.app - I decided to go with the lightweight terminal application that comes stock with all macOS devices.
- Automation App - Hazel
- Online Backup Service - Backblaze
- Backup Application - Carbon Copy Cloner
iOS/iPadOS Applications
- Podcast App - Castro
- Camera App - Halide
- Video Recording App - Kino - From the same folks who released Halide, Kino gives you fine-tuned controls over video capture.
- Object Scanning App - Scan Thing
- Document Scanning App - Simple Scan
iOS/iPadOS/macOS Applications
- Password Manager - 1Password
- Package Tracking App - Parcel
- Calendar App - Calendar.app
- Recipe Manager - Mela
- RSS Reader - Reeder connected to FreshRSS.
- Read Later Application - Goodlink
- Email Application - Mail.app
- Note-Taking App - Tot
- Mastodon Application - Ivory
- Social Media - Threads
Hardware
- Keyboard - HHKB Studio
- Dock - OWC Thunderbolt Pro Dock
- Laptop - 14" MacBook Pro
- Physical Scanner - Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1300
- 3D Printer - Creality K1C - I retired my AnkerMake M5 and picked up a Creality K1C, on sale, as the third-party software/upgrade support and supported filaments were superior. So far, this printer has been an all-around improvement to my 3D printing right out of the box.
- Watch - Apple Watch Ultra
- Phone - iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Inkjet Printer - Epson 4850
- iPhone Battery Pack - Anker MagSafe Battery Pack + Stand
- Charger - Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Charging Stand
- Automation - Elgato Stream Deck Neo
- Lighting - Elgato Key Light Neo
- Game Capture - Elgato Game Capture Neo
- Webcam with Smarts - Obsbot Tiny 2
Audio Hardware
- Microphone - Elgato Wave Neo
- Microphone - Rode Podcaster White
Gaming
- Board Game - Unsettled Board Game
- Steam Deck Dock - UGREEN Steam Deck Dock
- 1TB OLED Steam Deck - OLED Steam Deck
- Analogue Pocket - Analogue Pocket
- Anbernic 405v - Anbernic 405v
- Gaming with Friends - Helldivers 2
- Open World RPG (PC) - Elden Ring - With the release of the expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, I have jumped back into Elden Ring.
- Universal Controller - 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller
Storage/Bags
- Daily Use Backpack - Pakt Travel Backpack
- Travel Backpack - Peak Design Travel Backpack
- Camera Backpack - Shimoda Explore V2 35
- Tech Pouch - Peak Design Tech Pouch
Stationary
- Pen - Tactile Turn Pens
Kitchen/Cooking
- Indoor Grill - Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill
- Pressure Cooker - Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker
- Convection Oven - Ninja Foodi Convection Oven
- Coffee Maker - Technivorm Moccamaster KGVB Select
- Baratza Fortè AP Coffee Grinder (with Ceramic Burrs) - Baratza Fortè AP Coffee Grinder
MISC
- Car Error Code Scan Tool - BlueDrive OBDII Scan Tool
- Hosting Service - Hetzner
- Universal Remote - Sofabaton Remote
2024 June Setup
Here is an update of my current setup (some have respective links to Amazon that help defray some of the hosting costs and get me more funding to purchase cool, new gear) for June. I also utilized an AI generated featured image as a lot of changes for the next month will be tied to things like Perplexity and ChatGPT (we can also not forget the Apple WWDC lion in the room with the keynote happening on the 10th of June):
The changes plus the detailed hardware list are below:
Added:
- Anbernic 405v
- Rode Podcaster White
- Helldivers 2
- Added storage and bag section
- 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller
- Added Kitchen/Cooking section
- Baratza Fortè AP Coffee Grinder
Removed:
- HP Color LaserJet Pro M254dw - This device has finally been retired as the Epson Inkjet printer was more reliable in my family's daily use. It has had a long life and was a great purchase in 2020.
macOS Applications
- Task Manager - Things + Reminders
- Text Editor - BBEdit
- Terminal App - Prompt 3
- Automation App - Hazel
- Online Backup Service - Backblaze
- Backup Application - Carbon Copy Cloner
iOS/iPadOS Applications
- Podcast App - Castro - I am testing Pocket Casts, too, as it seems stable and I can configure it to function similarly to Castro.
- Camera App - Halide
- Object Scanning App - Scan Thing
- Document Scanning App - Simple Scan
iOS/iPadOS/macOS Applications
- Password Manager - 1Password
- Package Tracking App - Parcel
- Calendar App - Calendar.app
- Recipe Manager - Mela
- RSS Reader - Reeder connected to FreshRSS.
- Read Later Application - Goodlink
- Email Application - Mail.app
- Note-Taking App - Drafts - If a more complex workflow is needed for the note I took, it resides in drafts.
- Mastodon Application - Ivory
- Social Media - Threads
Hardware
- Keyboard - HHKB Studio
- Dock - OWC Thunderbolt Pro Dock
- Universal Remote - Sofabaton Remote
- Laptop - 14" MacBook Pro
- Physical Scanner - Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1300
- 3D Printer - Ankermake M5
- Watch - Apple Watch Ultra
- Phone - iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Inkjet Printer - Epson 4850
- iPhone Battery Pack - Anker MagSafe Battery Pack + Stand
- Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Charging Stand
- Automation - Elgato Stream Deck Neo
- Microphone - Elgato Wave Neo
- Microphone - Rode Podcaster White
- Lighting - Elgato Key Light Neo
- Game Capture - Elgato Game Capture Neo
Gaming
- Board Game - Unsettled Board Game
- Steam Deck Dock - UGREEN Steam Deck Dock
- 1TB OLED Steam Deck - OLED Steam Deck
- Analogue Pocket - Analogue Pocket
- Anbernic 405v - Anbernic 405v
- Gaming with Friends - Helldivers 2
- Universal Controller - 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller - This controller feels great in hand and isn't too expensive for all the functionality gained from it.
Storage/Bags
- Daily Use Backpack - Pakt Travel Backpack
- Travel Backpack - Peak Design Travel Backpack
- Camera Backpack - Shimoda Explore V2 35
- Tech Pouch - Peak Design Tech Pouch
Stationary
- Pen - Tactile Turn Pens
Kitchen/Cooking
- Indoor Grill - Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill
- Pressure Cooker - Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker
- Convection Oven - Ninja Foodi Convection Oven
- Coffee Maker - Technivorm Moccamaster KGVB Select
- Baratza Fortè AP Coffee Grinder (with Ceramic Burrs) - Baratza Fortè AP Coffee Grinder
MISC
- Car Error Code Scan Tool - BlueDrive OBDII Scan Tool
- Hosting Service - Hetzner
2024 May Setup
Here is an update of my current setup (some have respective links to Amazon, that help defray some of the hosting costs and get me more play money to purchase cool, new gear) for May.
The change list is below:
- Removed
- Fujifilm X-H2s
- Added
- Hetzner Hosting
- Elgato Key Light Neo
- Elgato Wave Neo
- Elgato Stream Deck Neo
macOS Applications
- Task Manager - Things + Reminders - I am using Reminders for shared family tasks and Things is now part of my workflow thanks to this guide: https://productivewithapurpose.com/2019/05/21/the-fu-master-productivity-checklist-using-things3/.
- Text Editor - BBEdit
- Terminal App - Prompt 3
- Automation App - Hazel
- Online Backup Service - Backblaze
- Backup Application - Carbon Copy Cloner
iOS/iPadOS Applications
- Podcast App - Castro - Testing Pocket Casts to see if it is a possible alternative (I still am a lifetime member from way back when it was a one-time purchase application).
- Camera App - Halide
- Scanning App - Scan Thing
- Document Scanning App - Simple Scan
iOS/iPadOS/macOS Applications
- Password Manager - 1Password
- Package Tracking App - Parcel
- Calendar App - Calendar.app
- Recipe Manager - Mela
- RSS Reader - Reeder connected to FreshRSS.
- Read Later Application - Goodlink
- Email Application - Mail.app
- Note-Taking App - Drafts - If a more complex workflow is needed for the note I took, it resides in drafts.
- Mastodon Application - Ivory
- Social Media - Threads
Hardware
- Keyboard - HHKB Studio
- Dock - OWC Thunderbolt Pro Dock
- Universal Remote - Sofabaton Remote
- Laptop - 14" MacBook Pro
- Physical Scanner - Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1300
- Daily Use Backpack - Pakt Travel Backpack
- Travel Backpack - Peak Design Travel Backpack
- Camera Backpack - Shimoda Explore V2 35
- Tech Pouch - Peak Design Tech Pouch
- 3D Printer - Ankermake M5
- Watch - Apple Watch Ultra
- Phone - iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Laser Printer - HP Color LaserJet Pro M254dw
- Inkjet Printer - Epson 4850
- iPhone Battery Pack - Anker MagSafe Battery Pack + Stand
- Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Charging Stand
- Automation - Elgato Stream Deck Neo
- Microphone - Elgato Wave Neo
- Lighting - Elgato Key Light Neo
- Video Capture - Elgato Game Capture Neo
Gaming
- Board Game - Unsettled Board Game
- Steam Deck Dock - UGREEN Steam Deck Dock
- 1TB OLED Steam Deck - OLED Steam Deck
- Analogue Pocket - Analogue Pocket
Stationary
- Pen - Tactile Turn Pens
MISC
- Indoor Grill - Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill
- Pressure Cooker - Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker
- Convection Oven - Ninja Foodi Convection Oven
- Coffee Maker - Technivorm Moccamaster KGVB Select
- Car Error Code Scan Tool - BlueDrive OBDII Scan Tool
- Hosting Service - Hetzner