A new Nintendo Direct revealed fresh games today, coming in the near or not-too-distant future. And for the first time, I saw some software that tempts me to buy a Switch 2. At least one compelling title is exclusive to the Big N’s hardware. So…will I resist; how long? Yes. I will resist and enjoy the great games (and devices) I already have.
Today’s devotional can easily be summed up with one verse,
“Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.” — Proverbs 16:18
WWDC26 keynote summary — three parts: Overall platform refinements, Trust/Safety, AI. Nice, mostly minor, refinements. Better ScreenTime for kids. New Siri is better. Overall impression: “Meh.” Is all this AI really worth it? I’ll likely post more in the near future.
My tech stack is in flux, trying to settle… Now leaning into local-first computing with a mix of some cloud stuff… Consolidating my files/data at the local folder level… Aiming for simplicity, ubiquity, and digital agency, autonomy, sovereignty…
Apple’s annual developer conference is once again about to happen. It always kicks off with a keynote presentation that aims to reveal exciting new software developments for Apple’s platforms. Anticipation in the tech sector this year seems muted. Apple Intelligence will basically re-launch, following its lackluster 2024 roll-out. There’s not much else it seems, other than refining previous updates, features, and underlying code. As for me, I’m not really looking forward to or hoping for much from Apple this year. But at the same time, I’d not be surprised if Apple revealed something that surprises and delights me.
Recently I wrote an entire blog post and streamed YouTube via phone hotspot on a six-years-old Chromebook with 4GB RAM and a Pentium chip. And it was fine. Everything worked without a hitch. It was easy too. #whatsenough
I thought I was out; Apple pulled me back in.
At the start of this year, my previous iPad and MacBook were gone. Cross-platform and third-party apps had decoupled me from Apple; I was using my HP Victus gaming laptop — a PC. But my iPhone remained (and was upgraded). And…so…I re-embraced the whole Apple ecosystem. I would settle all-in (I’ve tried!), yet despite my sincere intentions, something always breaks me out of Apple’s walled-garden (at least for a season).
For months, I was enjoying my iPad as my eReader and half-planned to get rid of my Kindle Paperwhite (decluttering). I also preferred the Apple Books app over the Kindle app on iPhone and iPad. But as usual (back-and-forth tinkering) I dusted off my Kindle and started a new eBook with it — a far better reading experience. Of course I’m (a broken record) back to Kindle; it’s so good.
Per Google Gemini:
“Google hasn't killed Blogger because it costs them almost nothing to run, serves as a massive pillar for their core advertising business, and acts as a structural anchor for the broader web”
I’ve been using my iPad setup full-time for over three months, so I figure now’s about time to review it. The newness and novelty have worn off and there’s been enough time to find its weaknesses. Is the base iPad (from 2025 with the A16 chip) good enough? I will channel Dieter Bohn from past iPad reviews at The Verge:
It is an iPad.
It is good.
It is often on sale for $299.
Lately, I’ve been going on walks and bike rides at a local trailway along Cedar Creek. It’s lovely. Today’s weather was excellent. I got a 4-mile walk at lunchtime today. Here are a few photos I took from the concrete trail trek.
Bloggers type. A lot. Now you know. A good keyboard is vital. The Typecase Edge is a great keyboard case for iPad that’s much like Apple’s Magic Keyboard. But here’s the kicker: it has a magically low price. For real.
I realized today that switching my email service has been easier than usual not only because I’m taking an organic approach rather than a systematic one but because I have no social media accounts to change. No more: Reddit, Discord, Twitch, Facebook, Bluesky, Mastodon, Instagram, Threads, Whatsapp. Less to manage. Simpler to live.
So, there’s a new laptop out there (coming this Fall) called Googlebook. It’s like a Chromebook, based partly on ChromeOS, retaining the full desktop Chrome browser with webapps. But it’s also:
Nicer — more premium hardware (and specs?) than a Chromebook Plus
Smarter — Gemini (Google Intelligence) is deeply integrated
Better — it has a traditional desktop environment like Mac or Windows
More Android-y — The OS is also based on Android, so Android apps run natively (not emulated)
I’m trying to decide what I think about a Googlebook, but there’s little info about it so far. Let’s say I’m cautiously optimistic.
On Friday, I rode my bike for almost 20 miles (over 12 in a single ride, over 7 in another), the most yet in a day. I rode over 8 miles Thursday night too. So Saturday, I took a needed break. Today? Maybe I’ll ride more… It’s been great fun and exercise and time with the family.
Today's devotional can be summed up in one verse:
"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” — Psalm 19:1
God's grandeur and glory are clearly visible. May God give us eyes to look and see it.
“[God’s] invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made...” — Romans 1:20