podcast
Podcast #79: What I Value Most in a Task Manager
There is a reason I keep going back to OmniFocus.
Subscribe to The BirchTree Podcast here.
Blog
podcast
Podcast #78: A Straight Up Windows 10 Rant
How am I annoyed by Windows on a daily basis? Let me count the ways ;)
Subscribe to The BirchTree Podcast here.
Links
The Real Problem with Apple’s iCloud Storage Options (hint, it’s not price)
The thing about iCloud storage | Beardy Guy Musings
Enough. If I can afford a $400 or $600 or $1,000 iOS device that also requires fees for monthly internet and apps to be useful, I can also afford a monthly .99 or 2.99 a month for added iCloud.
When we buy our wash machines
podcast
Podcast #77: Ideas are Always Better Than Reality
It's always easier to look at an existing situation and suggest something that's better. This is in no small part because ideas (especially if they fit in a tweet) don't have to concern themselves with the trade offs that things do when they're actually implemented in the
review
Drafts 5 on Apple Watch Review
The latest update to Drafts has put the app not only back on my home screen, and not only back in my iPhone dock, but also on my Apple Watch face. While I have seen some great reviews out there for the app itself, I have not seen anyone really look at the Apple Watch
Apple Pencil Charging is Good Design (so Let’s Look at the Alternatives)
The Apple Pencil is great, but one element that gets a lot of criticism is the way you charge this thing. Yes, it looks a tad goofy, but damn it all if this isn’t a really convenient way to charge.
When you think about how you charge most other computer accessories, it just makes
Links
For the Umpteenth Time, Google Swears They’ve Fixed Messaging
Exclusive: Chat is Google’s next big fix for Android’s messaging mess - The Verge
The worse news is that carriers aren’t fond of strong encryption and don’t have a great history of pushing back against government demands for information.
”RCS continues to be a carrier-owned service, so legal intercept and other
Links
Hey Siri, What do People Like Least About the iPhone?
Ben Bajarin and crew published this study of iPhone X users and how satisfied they are with their latest’s phone. This graph they created is eye opening.
You should read the whole thing to see all the results, but this chart really sums it up pretty well. Fortunately, it also lines up pretty well
Links
Factory Resets are a Terrible Fix
You should never have to reset any software, so why do we need to reset our phones? - Android Central
Phone running badly? Factory reset it to fix things.
Pardon my interrobang moment, but that's ridiculous. Not that it's bad advice because it can often fix things, but it's a
Links
#OpenWeb
#OpenWeb is a new website from Michael Rockwell, and I think it’s a really great resource. The site essentially amounts to a collection of indie, solo bloggers who focus on Apple. You can either go to the site and check out links there, you can download the OPML file which will subscribe you to
podcast
Podcast #76: 3 Ways I'm Stepping Ever So Slightly Outside my Comfort Zone
I'm experimenting with computer platforms, media, and content creation mediums, all in the interest of challenging my own assumptions about who I have decided I am. These are not life-changing differences, but they are small steps to challenge some decisions I made many years ago.
Subscribe to The BirchTree Podcast here.
meta
Why I Love Link Blogging
More often than not, I write articles for this site after reading something someone else wrote. I browse the web for articles and tweets that I find interesting, and the ones that make me think are very often the ones that inspire me to write something myself.
This leads to a funny situation as a
podcast
Podcast #75: Drafts 5 Micro-Review
Drafts 5 will be releasing today and it's a great update! I am not going to post a full review of the app because I'm far too casual of a user to provide much insight into it, but I had to take a few minutes and talk about why I love
podcast
Podcast #74: Expanding Your View Outside Yourself
It's easy to tell the world what you think is important, or what you see and good and bad. It's much harder to step outside yourself and understand, or even argue for, the opinions and world views of others. But just because it's hard doesn't mean it&
podcast
Podcast #73: Try Another Browser, It Won't Hurt
So many people just seem to use Chrome these days, and odds are you are too. I'd seriously recommend trying something like Safari, Firefox, Vivaldi, or Opera.
Vlad Savov on The Verge
Subscribe to The BirchTree Podcast here.
Links
Voice Interfaces like Alexa and Siri are a Revolution for the Visually Impaired
Alexa Is a Revelation for the Blind - The Atlantic
Maybe he doesn’t know how to interact with a machine pretending to be human—especially after he missed the evolution of personal computing because of his disability. Watching him try to use the Echo made me realize just how much technology forms the basis of
watch
The Case for Custom Apple Watch Faces
https://twitter.com/mattbirchler/status/985305561729261568
The Apple Watch is not in trouble by any means, but it’s going down a slightly dubious path. Every few months there’s some sort of story about a popular app removing its Apple Watch app. It’s greeted by some as more evidence that the Apple Watch
homepod
If Apple Never Makes a Cheaper HomePod, it Would be a Major Break from History
In 2001, the iPod was released at $399. Just 9 months later the second ten iPod came out, pushing the original model to $299. By 2003, the 3rd gen iPod started at $299 as well. In 2004, the iPod mini released at $199.
In 2007, the Apple TV launched at $299. The next version (3