There's been chatter, if not mild uproar, on the interwebz lately about Amazon pulling the plug on downloading your "purchased" Kindle books. At first, I dismissed it because I have only ever read on my Kindles, buying books from the Kindle Store; nothing would change for me. Nevertheless, this news may lead to the Biggest Change Ever. It has caused me to seriously consider switching eReaders from Kindle to Kobo.
By default, social media is “opt-in.” But by the way our culture lives, it seems the opposite is true; you must join social media to be relevant or “in the know.” But as Gen Z-er Gabriela advocates, opting out of social media is a valid option. In fact, for some, it may be the only viable choice.
Fellow blogger, Brandon, recently posted on his journal a personal dilemma that is, I think, common, “Too Many Hobbies, and Not Enough Time.” Well, it’s safe to say he’s not alone in that sentiment; I feel likewise. And he hits an insightful mark too, pinpointing a key (first-world) problem. It isn’t so much a lack of time but something else.
Apple has announced its newest smartphone, the iPhone 16e, which replaces the old iPhone SE 3rd Gen. in its lineup. At $399 and finally $429, the SE was the “budget” iPhone that let you into Apple’s walled-garden without breaking the bank. But at $599, the 16e kicks your budget in the groin and says, “Get an Android.”
These days, most people manage their huge photo library with the default app on their phone: Google Photos on Android or iCloud Photos on iPhone. I did likewise, until recently. I took back control of my pictures, trying out Lightroom alternatives: Darktable and Digikam. I almost settled on the latter. But I ended up going with Adobe programs after all: Bridge and Photoshop Elements with Adobe Camera Raw. You might call it something like, "Lightroom Elements."
True wireless earbuds are a modern marvel of audio freedom. But they come at a monetary and usability cost. My blue JBL Tune 230NC buds are overall great, and they only set me back $50 on sale when I bought them. About a year later, though, they started glitching — ugh. It has worn me down over time. And recently, I was turned onto good ol' fashioned wired earbuds. So I decided to give'em a go. To sweeten the new wired setup, they come in vivid orange — yes! Do low-tech earphones sound like a smart upgrade?
As one who can't seem to not switch between gadgets, I enjoyed a recent long post from another switcher. It's someone who identified as “iPad-only” for many years but ended up back on the Mac.
Once upon a time, I used Lightroom. It was awesome. But that was before the Adobe cloud rained down the subscription model - thunderbolts, lightning, very frightening. Now there are alternatives that I'm checking out because I migrated my photo library from Google Photos (the cloud) to my laptop (local drive). The two photo apps in focus are Darktable and Digikam. The cherry on top: not only are they subscription-free, they're just plain free!
Well it’s Groundhog Day…again…and I’m enjoying my annual re-watch of one of my all-time favorite movies, Groundhog Day. In the spirit of the film and its repetition, I’m re-blogging my Groundhog Day post from previous years below. Enjoy.