As I recently wrote, “I’m on Twitter with a very narrow use case. I use it to market my blog and posts. I follow app developers of apps that I use to keep up with the latest information about their apps. And last for breaking news. That’s it!” One of the app developers that I … Continue reading How to follow a Mastodon account with RSS
How secure is Mastodon as a Twitter replacement?
If you’re considering setting up a Mastodon account or already have you’re going to want to take a few minutes to read Dan Goodin’s article about the security of Mastodon and Mastodon instances. This substantial increase raises important questions about the security of this new platform, and for good reason. Unlike the centralized model of … Continue reading How secure is Mastodon as a Twitter replacement?
ChatGPT, what the fuck is it?
This last week I kept seeing news articles about ChatGPT in my RSS feed. Yesterday I decided it must be something big to get that much press so I checked it out. So I ask ChatGPT: write a 200 word explanation for how ChatGPT works and here's the result: ChatGPT is a natural language processing … Continue reading ChatGPT, what the fuck is it?
How to show File Extensions on iPad and iPhone
Back in May 2021, I wrote that I had one wish for iPadOS 15 “I would like to see the Files app become a true Finder equivalent. I want the ability to view a file’s extension and to be able to change it.” Well, we didn't get file extensions in iPadOS 15 but we did … Continue reading How to show File Extensions on iPad and iPhone
Apple Weather is no Dark Sky
Before Apple Weather transitioning to WeatherKit, I used both Apple Weather and Dark Sky. I used Apple Weather for long range 10-day forecasts because the Weather Channel (Apple’s weather source) is the most accurate for my area. I used Dark Sky for its hyper-local weather that offered accurate next-hour precipitation warnings, notifications for snow accumulation, … Continue reading Apple Weather is no Dark Sky
🔗 What is the iPad?
Dan Moren: The iPad isn't a big iPhone or a touch-screen Mac-so what is it? When the iPad came out, it felt like a burgeoning third revolution, but a decade-on much of that potential has been squandered. None of this is to say that the iPad hasn’t been a success, but that it hasn’t been … Continue reading 🔗 What is the iPad?
RSS – Reading
Scott Gilbertson, Wired Whether you are sick of social media, want to get away from endless notifications, or just want to read all your news all in one spot, an RSS reader can help. RSS stands for “really simple syndication.” It's a protocol that allows an RSS reader to talk to your favorite websites and … Continue reading RSS – Reading
Launching and Hiding Apps in macOS with Hotkeys
Joe Buhlig, The Sweet Setup What I’m proposing is this: you should set up keyboard hotkeys that allow you to navigate from app to app. […] First, the keyboard is a superior input device to the mouse. It has more keys (most of the time) and it’s much quicker to move your fingers from key … Continue reading Launching and Hiding Apps in macOS with Hotkeys
iCreep
Kev Quirk Back in 2018 I decided I was ditching Android for an iPhone. Since then my Apple devices have continued to grow. Have I become a fanboy? I recently bought my seventh Apple device to add to my ever growing collection of iStuff. Here’s what I currently own: This reminds me of my iCreep … Continue reading iCreep
ForecastAdvisor
ForecastAdvisor will show you the accuracy of the major weather forecasters, including Accuweather, AerisWeather, Foreca, the National Weather Service, Open Weatherman, The Weather Channel, Weather Underground, Wetter, World Weather Online, and Weather News. We also provide links to your city's weather forecast from all the other weather forecasters, so you can compare for yourself. The … Continue reading ForecastAdvisor
A few quick thoughts on iOS 16
I don't usually install a new OS on day one but with iOS 16 I did. I was excited about the changes to Mail, Reminders, and Notes. Mail I was looking forward to Remind Me in iOS 16 Mail. It's there but disappointing. Emails with reminders stay in the inbox instead of going to a … Continue reading A few quick thoughts on iOS 16
A couple of thoughts on the Netflix ad-supported plan
The Guardian, Netflix to launch cheaper ad-supported subscription tier in November Netflix will reportedly launch a cheaper ad-supported tier for its streaming platform at the start of November as the company tries to stem the loss of more than 1 million subscribers in 2022. […] According to reports, Netflix’s service will launch in the US, … Continue reading A couple of thoughts on the Netflix ad-supported plan
Ads on your iPhone
Apple, the Ad Critic, Now Embraces Ads New York Times Plus, Apple’s campaign to crack down on existing ad methods and sell its own ads opens the company to criticism that it’s acting hypocritical. Yes, it does. but the company wants more ways to earn income to keep growing as sales of smartphones stagnate. Bloomberg … Continue reading Ads on your iPhone
Everything Apple announced yesterday in 11 minutes
This is for you if you missed Apple’s Far Out event yesterday. MacRumors Apple today held its annual iPhone-centric event, debuting the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Apple also introduced the new Apple Watch Series 8 models, a revamped version of the Apple Watch SE, the Apple … Continue reading Everything Apple announced yesterday in 11 minutes
iPhone 14 or iOS 16? What gets me most excited
Lee Peterson: Do you look forward to hardware or software? I’m more interested in iOS 16 than iPhone 14. Yes, I’m curious to see what gets released and depending on the camera upgrades I might be tempted to get one but for me messing around with iOS and apps in much more interesting. This is … Continue reading iPhone 14 or iOS 16? What gets me most excited
My thoughts on the Fed’s rate increases
As the Federal Reserve continues to raise the federal funds rate, to slow inflation, Americans are feeling the effects: Savers benefit from higher yields, but borrowers pay more. Trump’s pressure on the Fed in 2019, to keep Rates at Zero ‘Or Less’ during his presidency, to stimulate the economy, was no laughing matter for me … Continue reading My thoughts on the Fed’s rate increases
Managing streaming tv services
Years ago when we cut the cable cord there were only a few streaming services to choose from. At the time we subscribed to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Sling. Fast forward to today and an overwhelming number of streaming services are available. Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, Paramount+, Disney+, Apple TV+, … Continue reading Managing streaming tv services
Update – What’s up at ldstephens blog
I wanted to let everyone know about some changes to the blog. At the beginning of this year because of some issues with changes at WordPress.com that made publishing frustrating, I was giving serious consideration to stopping blogging. So I took 45 days off to see how I would feel at the end of the … Continue reading Update – What’s up at ldstephens blog
How to import Reminders todos into Things 3 without deleting the todos in Reminders
A few months back I switched from Things to Apple’s Reminders for my todos. Last week I switched back to Things. In the process of switching, I had one issue. Things import deletes all the todos in Reminders. I didn’t want to delete the todos in Reminders because I want to run both apps in … Continue reading How to import Reminders todos into Things 3 without deleting the todos in Reminders
The backbone of my Mac – Alfred 5
There is one app that is the backbone for everything that I do on my Mac. That app is Alfred! Most folks refer to Alfred as a launcher, but it is so much more. I use it for text expansion, finding files, launching apps, clipboard history, and more. No bullshit, this is the app that … Continue reading The backbone of my Mac – Alfred 5
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