iphone
2 Flagships, 2 Budget Phones, and a Real Camera Walk Into…oops…Take the Same Picture
Last night I gushed a little about how wonderful the camera on our phones have become in recent years. The phone I have in my pocket these days is either an iPhone 8 Plus or a Google Pixel 2, both of which are widely considered to be best in class, but I wanted to put
goodie
Apple’s Neon Tokyo Wallpapers
It’s been a whole day since my last wallpapers and Apple was good enough to make some artwork I could much more easily turn into wallpapers. This really cool neon Apple logo from their announcement of a new Tokyo Apple Store really fit the bill.
As always, 5K desktop and 4K mobile, and you
podcast
The BirchTree Podcast #62: Paying for Time or for a Result
Today I discuss why I like doing my freelance jobs for a flat rate and not by the hour. People have many differing opinions here, and different work may call for different payment methods, but for me, this has always seemed better.
Subscribe to The BirchTree Podcast here.
Game
There are Almost 400 Games Available on Nintendo Switch
Wow, that’s a lot of games! By my math, the PS4 had 181 games on it in the first 13 months on the market, which makes the Switch number look even more impressive.
Apple is Starting to Build their Own Displays
Inside Apple's Secret Plan to Develop and Build its Own Screens - Bloomberg
Controlling MicroLED technology would help Apple stand out in a maturing smartphone market and outgun rivals like Samsung that have been able to tout superior screens. Ray Soneira, who runs screen tester DisplayMate Technologies, says bringing the design in-house is
goodie
WWDC18 Wallpapers for Your Mac or PC
As a follow up to my WWDC18 wallpapers for smartphones, here are a couple dark variants for desktops. These are at 5K resolution, so they should look good everywhere you can throw them.
Download the Zip here and enjoy!
Why Rotating Task Managers Regularly Can Make You More Productive
I find myself switching between different task management apps all the time, and I would bet that most people reading this article are in the same boat. We try one app, fall in love with it, and then inevitably get pulled to something else in a few months. It’s a cycle that feels unhealthy,
watch
A Non-Techie Problem with the Apple Watch
My wife got her first Apple Watch last month, and I naturally ask her once in a while how she likes it. She likes it overall, but one thing that bothers her has nothing to do with the software or even the hardware of the watch itself. No, it’s the watch bands.
She has
podcast
A Final Bonus Podcast: The iPhone 7 Plus: Power and Damn, What a Camera!
The iPhone 7 Plus may have looked similar to the 2 generations of iPhones that came before it, but the tech inside was really something else, and it stands in my memory as the best iPhone upgrade in recent years (besides the X, of course).
Subscribe to The BirchTree Podcast here.
podcast
Bonus Podcast: A Ridiculously Good iPad
The 10.5" iPad Pro is a marvelous computer, and is just so damn good. It's the best iPad I think Apple has ever released, and in some ways the best personal computer they've ever made.
Subscribe to The BirchTree Podcast here.
podcast
Bonus Podcast: The Apple Watch Series 3 Was Finally "Enough"
The Apple Watch hit what I would consider the threshold where it was finally "good enough" for almost everyone. It's fast and new wireless capabilities made it more independent from your iPhone. It's a great product, and one that I'm happy to be wearing on my wrist
goodie
WWDC18 iPhone Wallpapers
Update: See the desktop versions of these wallpapers here.
Apple threw me a bit of a curveball this year when they announced WWDC 2018 this week. As I did in 2015, 2016, and 2017, I had every intention of making wallpapers this year as well. It tends to be one of my more popular posts
podcast
Bonus Podcast #2: The iPhone X Changed the Conversation
In another bonus BirchTree Podcast episode, I explore why the iPhone X is among the best products Apple has released in the past few years.
Subscribe to The BirchTree Podcast here.
podcast
Bonus Podcast: AirPods are Apple's Best Hardware Release in Years
In a bonus episode of The BirchTree Podcast, I gush for 5 minutes about the AirPods and why they're my favorite Apple hardware release in the last couple years.
Subscribe to The BirchTree Podcast here.
homepod
One Month with HomePod: What If My Ears Can’t Hear Retina?
After a month1 with the HomePod, I felt it was about time to share some general thoughts I have on Apple’s newest hardware. I reviewed the HomePod after about a week with it, and was mostly positive about it. HomePod sounds great and has some nice music features, but some of its software shortcomings
podcast
The BirchTree Podcast #56: Opportunity Cost
When I was 21 I didn't have to grapple with opportunity cost. If anyone wanted me to do anything, I'd do it. 10 years later I have found myself in a different place and I have to weigh the pros and cons of everything I choose to do, because doing one
A Quick BirchTree Update
You may have noticed output as been a little slower than usual around here and I just wanted to assure everyone that all is well on the BirchTree front. My professional responsibilities have grown significantly in the past few weeks and I simply haven’t had the time to commit to the site that I
Android
Designing for the Notch on Notch-less Phones
The Android P developer preview is here, and as any good tech blogger with a Google phone would, I installed it on my Pixel 2. One of the notable features of Android P is native support for the new “notched” world we live in. In the post iPhone X world, manufacturers have a green light