The Birchtree Podcast

There is a reason I keep going back to OmniFocus.

How am I annoyed by Windows on a daily basis? Let me count the ways ;)

This week is a case study in how this impacts the Apple Pencil charging situation, which some have called bad design. I disagree, and I only do so after working out the implications of making other choices. There are complications with ever product decision, and the challenge is in picking the path that makes the best compromises. https://birchtree.me/blog/apple-pencil-charging-is-good-design/

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.

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 it and how it fits into my very specific workflow. Drafts on the App Store: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/app/drafts-quick-capture/id905337691?mt=8&at=10l8rH Tim Nahumck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nahumck

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's not important. Quite the opposite, actually. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/05/what-alexa-taught-my-father/556874/

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. https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/15/17239548/firefox-chrome-safari-competition

Quick episode today where I gush about the latest Zelda adventure.

I love the Magic Keyboard, and I actually really like the new MacBook keyboards too. These keyboards are not factually great, but they're great for me.

I spent less than a week back on Android full time and it was just more trouble than it was worth. I'm a little harsh on Android in the episode, so maybe skip today if you're a die-hard Android fan, but I had to be honest.

The AirPods and Pixel Buds have features I wish they'd steal from each other.

I've found myself very happy with and impressed with the Calendar app for iOS recently. There are few apps that I have made such a full 180 on and it's a good illustration on how software is deeply subjective and how a change in circumstance can totally change your opinion on things.

It's all about the camera, the feel, and the speed.

I'm a few days into Android again, and it really struck me already how little passion I feel for this platform. The types of experiences that make me really appreciate iOS and macOS just aren't here. There are some surface-level customizations that are nice, but the third party (and even first party Google) apps are just so lifeless.

I moved my SIM card back to the Pixel 2 yesterday and I'm going to try and do a full month on Android. There's not intention of writing anything specific about the differences between iOS and Android this time, so I am curious to see if using Android in a non-critical mindset changes how I feel about it. I don't think it will, but I feel like I need to give it a fair shake again.

I audited the tools I'm using to collect user data on BirchTree and have made some decisions on how to trim down what I'm collecting so that even the most privacy-oriented person feels comfortable browsing my site. DuckDuckGo gives my site a B rating, which is pretty good, but I want to do a little better.

Watch The Verge's video that inspired this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm\_zQP9JIJI

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.

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).

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.