Matt Birchler

Designer at NMI and YouTuber on…well, you know where

Public Key

npub13huwfylt3hm77wxk9js63k0y3p03u3xhj39z49hnkdcydvp0ph6sr573xv

NIP-05 Address

matt_at_isfeeling.social@mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsgm78yj04cmal08rtzegdgm8jgshc7gntegj32jmemxuzxkqhsmag8mjndp

Author Public Key

npub13huwfylt3hm77wxk9js63k0y3p03u3xhj39z49hnkdcydvp0ph6sr573xv

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Last Notes

2025-05-06 19:41:07

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@nprofile…6x7f As far as I know, they've had as many incidents of misusing card data as Apple, unless you've heard of more?

2025-05-02 22:33:54

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Actually, let's get even more unpopular…Chromium powers Electron, which is largely responsible for the fact Mac and Linux users have been able to use so much software over the past decade that never would have been built on their smaller platforms if everyone had to build 100% native apps from scratch.
I'm just saying!

2025-04-25 11:59:48

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@nprofile…dd7m Already implemented in dev 👌🏻
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/114/398/483/011/941/556/original/cc65e10bc9fdbb04.png

2025-04-19 19:00:44

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Of course, the benefits of running on much newer architecture means games will be able to have more flourishes and will likely look better than most PS4 games as well.

2025-04-19 18:59:32

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We won’t have exact specs likely until after lunch, but the rumors are this is a NVIDIA 30-series card, but with every single spec ramped way, way down.
I’d agree a 30-series card is somewhere between mid-range and still-really-good depending on the specific model, but same generation architecture doesn’t mean same performance.
It’s still gonna be great, but we’re talking more PS4 performance it sounds like.
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/114/366/163/641/085/228/original/aa8006208846bafe.mp4

2025-04-19 18:52:04

From this week’s Comfort Zone, Chris and I talk about a dev saying the Switch 2 is “similar to a midrange PC” which perked my ears up since a PS5 is already generally on par with an NVIDIA 2070 Super from 2019 in terms of graphics performance, and the Switch 2 ain’t pushing PS5 graphics.
🧵
https://castro.fm/episode/LBbHhQ
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/114/366/134/123/850/167/original/b23db4d9890cc03a.mp4

2025-04-13 17:59:39

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Update: or maybe phones will be tariffed after all? Who knows!
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/13/us/politics/trump-tariffs-china-chips-technology.html
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/114/331/954/241/256/752/original/17500bf11163c6e4.mp4

2025-04-13 13:07:04

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@nprofile…kv83 I think we need to see how this actually plays out for them. Does Shopify’s headcount drop significantly from now on? Or is this like the people who cut people for ChatGPT in 2023 and then rehired people because they grossly overestimated what it could do?

2025-04-12 19:07:31

Okay, so the goal of these tariffs also isn’t to bring iPhone or Mac manufacturing to America. Got it.
https://flipboard.social/@TechDesk/114326527004892240

2025-04-05 17:46:43

Fascinating* to see some conservative finance influencers go from “we need Americans to have more buying power to juice the economy” to “you didn’t even need that new iPhone, Switch 2, or all those groceries anyway, stop whining” on a dime.
*but not surprising

2025-04-04 21:14:40

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@nprofile…q8jv Oh man, that’s a goodie. No ultimate team, though. Shame 😝

2025-04-03 20:31:25

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@nprofile…y4vs I just struggle to understand how people have so much energy to be mad about things they were never going to get in the first place 😅

2025-04-03 19:33:52

I've seen more posts about how bad it is to charge for a tutorial "game" people were never going to play than about how effin' rad Donky Kong Bananza looks, and that's a crime.
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/114/275/698/834/761/913/original/a7368646d496d513.png

2025-03-28 20:41:29

Before you burn it down… https://birchtree.me/blog/before-you-burn-it-down/

2025-03-27 00:32:34

+ Why don't I post mock ups anymore? https://birchtree.me/blog/why-dont-i-post-mock-ups-anymore/

2025-03-26 23:58:40

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@nprofile…wheu Possibly! I wonder how much we're in "guns don't kill people, bullets kill people" territory, though.

2025-03-26 13:22:28

The tale of Narcissus https://birchtree.me/blog/the-tale-of-narcissus/

2025-03-20 17:50:27

Two videos in a week?! What is this, early ABC days? 😂
Here are my first impressions of Notion Mail, which is slowly rolling out in beta.
https://youtu.be/Ejv16m5iECw
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/114/196/022/940/776/333/original/bd1a7e34142c29d1.jpg

2025-03-16 23:38:01

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@nprofile…kv83 Did you have anyone in mind? I’m writing a blog post about this and am using Google as a good example of what I think should happen, but would like to compare to someone you think is happily misleading users.

2025-03-16 23:36:01

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@nprofile…2cwh This is what I’m talking about 👌✨

2025-03-16 23:22:01

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@nprofile…kv83 Yeah, and it's not really unexpected, right? People have so many misconceptions about how computers and software work, so it's not really surprising they have misconceptions here too (especially when this stuff *feel* like magic sometimes). It's really on the software providers to make these misconceptions not a problem. Give people an empty search box and they'll put everything they want in there, apparently.

2025-03-16 21:08:42

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And I’m not even talking accuracy, I’m talking people asking a model that was trained 12 months ago and has no web search functionality about what time the next week’s F1 race is and get annoyed when it can’t answer right. I’ve seen others use Claude to try and get the current weather.
Obviously they fail in those cases, but many expect them to know, and this is a problem companies need to solve.

2025-03-16 21:03:33

I admire Kevin’s confidence here, and I would count myself as a savvy LLM user who understands what they’re usful for and what they’re not, but I’m not convinced everyone is that savvy.
https://castro.fm/episode/tcr7wq
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/114/174/132/329/677/472/original/ed3dcf130f2f701a.mp4

2025-03-16 16:59:27

👀👀👀
https://activitypub.ghost.org/.ghost/activitypub/note/edb54ea7-4b90-49cf-bba9-770cfb96a356

2025-03-07 13:51:18

It’s new Hamilton Leithauser album day! https://music.apple.com/us/album/this-side-of-the-island/1781187698

2025-02-21 23:10:31

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@nprofile…kv83 @nprofile…4057 I mean they could do something like what they’ve done with the EU changes, right? Argue they don’t need to comply. Find ways to technically comply while still keeping as much as they can. Run a PR campaign about how much they disagree with the UK. They’ve shown they can make a fuss when they want to, they didn’t seem to want to here 🤷‍♂️

2025-02-11 22:20:39

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@nprofile…q329 Do you mean like when you write a review, save it, and then write another one, you want the text sizes to be the same as before?
Would it be beneficial to have a settings page for default font sizes?

2025-02-07 02:17:09

New review format in the next Quick Reviews update ✨
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/113/960/197/129/862/558/original/b6a603e7fee72497.jpeg
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/113/960/197/497/683/253/original/752310229ccff414.jpeg
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/113/960/197/845/143/935/original/72a44d10810f91b7.jpeg
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/113/960/198/189/743/723/original/3f1621b335d7fbad.jpeg

2025-02-07 00:32:50

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@nprofile…kv83 That's defendable for sure, but it does put them in a position where they need to "approve" apps they don't like.
It is interesting though, as far as I know (I'm not exactly looking lol) there's no energy to make porn apps on the Mac, and even if there was, it wouldn't be a story since Apple wouldn't be involved in it getting "approved" to run on the platform.
Honestly, happy to have a lower stakes controversy to talk about 😂

2025-02-07 00:17:31

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@nprofile…kv83 Yeah, but their policy is for their store, right? Totally reasonable for them to have that rule in their store, but they demanded to be involved in the release process for apps not in their store too, so now they have an email that AltStore can point to and go "you did technically say you approve it".
Again, AltStore is definitely being snarky here, and I think they're being a bit risky here, but it's a dumb situation all around IMO.

2025-02-06 23:02:20

Apple jumps in the hot tub https://birchtree.me/blog/apple-jumps-in-the-hot-tub/

2025-01-24 13:48:54

My god, me too!
Pineapple can taste great on pizza.
A t-shirt is a perfect travel case for a Vision Pro.
The Synology Photos icon is orange.
https://social.lol/@keenan/113883404113337915

2025-01-17 20:00:23

The Vision Pro makes Touch ID more appealing https://birchtree.me/blog/the-vision-pro-makes-touch-id-more-appealing/

2025-01-17 18:47:18

I think it’s very funny that the attempt to get people off a Chinese-owned social network has propelled a Chinese app that people can’t even read the UI of to jump to the top of the App Store.
Daont worry though, #2 on the list is another app from TikTok 😅
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/113/845/183/058/574/146/original/a4720b962fe35447.jpeg

2025-01-02 18:25:05

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Turns out most people took off til Monday, so I have zero meetings today and only time for focused work. What a dream!

2024-12-29 19:36:32

The new year starts on December 27, not January 1.
👆 things I know aren't "true" but I believe anyway.

2024-12-29 15:07:16

Squid Game the tv show: Jesus this is all so fucking awful and we hope makes you think about society, class, and human nature
Squid Game everywhere else: those games are so fun, wouldn’t it be great if we did it all for real?!

2024-12-27 18:14:33

Over the past week I've replayed Portal and Portal 2. It's only made me more convinced they're some of the best games ever made.
Now I'm going through the fan-made Portal Revolution (from this year) and these guys *also* made something special.
It almost feels unfair how great this series is 😅

2024-12-23 03:11:15

I’m happy to report that Monument Valley 3 is spectacular. They’ve still got that magic and it’s an absolute delight.
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/113/699/942/466/416/886/original/012b632d6717b711.png
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/113/699/943/765/732/057/original/54f6e93bdbcbc9ec.png
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/113/699/944/183/357/343/original/4dcafe13cbb6b844.png
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/113/699/944/615/159/128/original/bd7e7e2ea937ea9c.png

2024-12-17 21:53:26

2 weeks to go and I don't think I'll have to eat that AirPod https://birchtree.me/blog/2-weeks-to-go-and-i-dont-think-ill-have-to-eat-that-airpod/

2024-12-13 20:53:26

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I have flown even closer to the sun…it's very pixelated here 😅
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/113/647/495/988/179/189/original/c38bd1298e4bf483.png

2024-12-13 20:42:32

I have used macOS at 240Hz and it is glorious!
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/113/647/453/613/163/301/original/c956c551c0d110a8.png

2024-11-21 21:43:28

Here's a clip from today's Comfort Zone where I talk about why the first rush of millions to a new social network is always a freaking blast.
The question becomes how things go after that. Threads was hella fun until it became a drag. Bluesky has the juice now, so we'll see if it can buck the trend.
https://youtu.be/3SsxcWHWDpE
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/113/523/113/795/921/493/original/22fd1089eb111610.mp4

2024-11-16 19:51:21

Me and the bud on a lazy weekend
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/113/494/371/773/586/346/original/a55ac02c6bb95c94.jpeg

2024-10-21 19:20:56

I'm always delighted to see how people use software in unexpected ways. There's someone at work who isn't a designer, but they do software mock ups sometimes, and they swear by one piece of software to do this…
PowerPoint
Obviously this isn't ideal, but they're so fast and flexible with it that it totally suits their needs. It's really something to see.

2024-09-14 18:22:45

I’ve spent 36 hours over the last 3 days to see how much more battery Chrome uses than Safari on the Mac.
Is it true? Is an outdated fact?
More people should do more testing, but my findings are not what I expected.
https://birchtree.me/blog/everyone-says-chrome-devastates-mac-battery-life-but-does-it-i-tested-for-36-hours-to-find-out/

2024-08-31 20:06:29

I will eat an AirPod if this robot is in people’s homes, making it a major year for robotics, one year from now 😂
https://www.threads.net/@rpn/post/C_TkcBfNJm9/?xmt=AQGzhXVmZ1i47-svQS5wXOJ--uqN-jjQrV3KnozLKi2SHA

2024-08-24 21:57:00

Ding ding ding!
1. Clarity is more important than simplicity.
2. The “normal users are too stupid to understand XYZ” trope is boring and so, so wrong. https://mastodon.social/@lapcatsoftware/113017507680359069

2024-06-24 22:29:42

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@npub1eee…e209 I’m over here taking photos of my computer like a BARBARIAN!

2024-06-24 20:56:35

In macOS Squoia beta 2 this god-forsaken pop up appears every single time I take a screenshot.
Bonus, it is unresponsive for about 1 minute before I can dismiss it.
About to wipe this drive and get off the beta because this is atrocious.
(Not complaining at Apple for bugs in a dev beta, just PSAing to anyone who is wondering how “safe” the beta is)
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/112/673/592/814/609/109/original/a9fc29eab5d89499.jpeg

2024-06-14 02:56:23

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@npub1eee…e209 I was only able to watch the first 40 minutes or so live, but it was really good, and really compelling to watch in immersive video. Can’t wait for the rest.

2024-05-24 12:40:23

I’ve defended Goolge search for years, but their AI answers suck so hard https://birchtree.me/blog/ive-defended-goolge-search-for-years-but-their-ai-answers-suck-so-hard/

2024-05-15 10:43:27

Goooood morning ☕️
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/112/444/689/590/200/005/original/df11071efaeae3dc.jpeg

2024-04-22 11:52:46

#Threads reminds you after 30 days of sharing to the fediverse that you’re doing it and gives the option to go turn it off if you don’t want it anymore.
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/112/314/729/067/727/560/original/462daf13718c65a5.png

2024-03-15 21:39:46

Sanity checking myself: does anyone else feel like the (US) punditry anger directed at the EU for forcing Apple to let devs sell things easily from a website and to ask users what default browser they want to use, is way more intense than any of the concessions (app censorship, 🇹🇼 flag vanishing, iCloud data moved to state-controlled data centers, etc.) they've made for China over the years?
My memory is the vibe for China stuff is always, “it's not good, but what can you do, it's the law 🤷‍♂️”

2024-03-13 16:12:42

I'm still quite struck by how poorly the Twitter->X brand change has gone. I don't know anyone in real life who calls it X, and nearly a year later no news org would dare refer to a "post on X" it's always "X (formerly Twitter).

2024-01-16 13:08:32

Made a big change in Fantastical today. I'm feeling more international than ever, although it really is breaking my brain a bit after growing up with weeks starting on Sundays.
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/111/765/780/181/989/439/original/b9572fd41637a350.mp4

2023-12-02 00:33:18

I think the “demise of Google search results” is one of these things that is completely lost on me. Yes, there are more sponsored spots at the top of the results and the UI is more cluttered than I’d like, but I find what I’m looking for like 99% of the time right on the first page of results 🤷🏻‍♂️
Not denying people have issues, I just have not experienced this at all. https://mastodon.social/@danluu/111506788692079608

2023-11-19 22:37:02

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@npub1utv…87lr My wife says thank you 😂

2023-11-06 12:23:06

I test my wife more than anyone else, and iOS has nicely put her as the very first person in the share sheet for like 10 years (or whenever this feature was added).
A month or so ago she disappeared and I have to manually message her as if she were a random person. It shouldn’t be that big a deal, but it’s genuinely the most annoying bug I can recall in recent memory. 🫠
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/111/363/580/385/416/935/original/895b6e447579ce41.jpeg

2023-09-22 12:25:25

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@npub1sdu…w074 Yeah, or reviews that say 10x is objectively better than 5x because…number bigger 🤷🏻‍♂️
I am hopeful that Apple’s new tricks for the in between zoom levels 2x and 5x really good.

2023-09-19 15:09:05

I think about this every year 😏
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/111/092/442/030/333/293/original/3a041033271515ab.png

2023-09-15 21:32:18

I am officially ready for my tiny baby phone next week.
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/111/071/298/832/751/927/original/e5664e5454815de6.jpg

2023-09-13 23:01:54

The iPhone USB-C “controversies” have already begun, but this one isn’t what you expected https://birchtree.me/blog/the-iphone-usb-c-controversies-have-already-begun/

2023-09-13 21:13:05

I am the 2% 🎉
https://mastodon.social/@caseyliss/111053651964917242

2023-09-11 23:40:20

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@npub1qw5…037m I don’t think I understand a word in this post besides “Mastodon” 😂

2023-09-11 20:50:20

:kirby: New video! :kirby:
A quick review of Keychron's cheapest keyboard.
https://youtu.be/BeJPhIyRTiM
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/111/048/485/527/243/153/original/02d01e55ac7a0b39.jpeg

2023-09-11 18:06:19

I tried to use Apple's Calendar app, but I ran back to Fantastical https://birchtree.me/blog/i-tried-to-use-apples-calendar-app-but-i-ran-back-to-fantastical/

2023-09-07 11:49:35

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@npub1sdu…w074 @npub1n42…g9yp It’s wild. I just make videos about apps and I get comments like “turned off the video as soon as he mentioned it was a subscription”
I’m like, did you? You stuck around to comment, dude 😝

2023-09-03 22:39:30

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@npub1ke3…xcva It’s wild how quickly your sense of size changes, right?! The Max felt comical at first, but just a could days later anything smaller felt minute.

2023-09-03 15:58:28

Hot take that will ruin my mentions for the rest of the day…I think the bigger iPhones are better ergonomically *for me* than the iPhone mini.
Less eye strain on the bigger screen, larger touch targets, and since they are more often two-handed devices, I get much less finger pain using my Max than I did trying to contort my hand to use the mini in one hand.

2023-08-31 12:03:13

For those who like video games, OpenCritic is a nice alternative to MetaCritic, and its killer feature IMO is that it’s the best way to find out when review embargos lift for new games.
For example, Starfield reviews should drop in 4 hours 😁 https://opencritic.com/game/14907/starfield

2023-08-31 11:58:25

Due to time constraints, I couldn’t get a review done in time, but I will that Obscura 4 from @npub1sdu…w074 is a great camera app.
I personally have mine set to take 48MP JPEG shots at a 5:4 aspect ratio, and with the A1 filter automatically applied.
https://mastodon.macstories.net/@viticci/110984069417347262

2023-08-30 21:33:37

Today's #photography vibe: crunchy
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/110/980/702/042/070/471/original/09d1544870a54ac4.jpeg
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/110/980/702/260/761/710/original/70cec767a25da8f0.jpeg
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/110/980/702/349/732/085/original/88eec6f039de5411.jpeg

2023-08-22 15:37:13

I will die on this hill; don’t apologize for liking “bad movies” https://birchtree.me/blog/i-will-die-on-this-hill-dont-apologize-for-liking-bad-movies/

2023-08-20 00:52:34

What’s your “shut up and take my money” product Apple could make?
For me I think it’s an iPad mini with ProMotion. Until then, I’ll be the one 11” iPad Pro Stan out there 💪
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/110/919/204/892/193/237/original/e75edf72377ebe67.mp4

2023-08-17 12:29:51

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@npub1xsy…cevg Oh man, the old $9999.99 product 😱

2023-08-17 02:55:17

Good lord, the IAP in Leonardo.ai’s new iOS app are SIGNIFICANT. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/leonardo-ai-image-generator/id1662773014
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/110/902/700/396/821/900/original/7ac7a2e129127a12.jpeg

2023-08-16 11:10:39

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@npub1sdu…w074 @npub1r6r…u73e “welcome to the torment nexus!” ain’t a bad way to kick off a video.
Or for starting a speech if you’re an evil supervillain in a volcano 😂

2023-08-15 11:46:31

Mobile Games Mostly Suck. These are My All-Time Favorites https://birchtree.me/blog/mobile-games-mostly-suck-these-are-my-all-time-favorites/

2023-08-11 22:12:00

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@npub1sdu…w074 @npub19wj…8n03 Now I get it :snake_salute:

2023-08-11 00:00:53

RSS continues to be so dea…oh…alive and well) https://birchtree.me/blog/rss-continues-to-be-so-deaohalive-and-well/

2023-08-10 02:32:52

Doing my semi-annual check in on Apple’s Podcasts app, and I’ll give them this, their now playing screen is absolutely gorgeous.
Just like Apple Music, shows can upload alternate “full screen” artwork that just looks *ridiculous*. That Decoder one is especially 🔥🔥🔥
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/110/862/976/320/113/864/original/22c185ea81c1dac5.png

2023-08-04 23:09:46

Can’t remember if this is new in iOS 17 or not, but I appreciate the reminder that location data is in photos I share by default (tap “options” to remove it), but it should really be off by default IMO.
You can go into Settings > Privacy > Photos and go into each app and turn off location by default, but I don’t see a universal way to toggle it off for all apps.
Will happily update this if someone knows how to turn it off for all current and future apps by default!
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/110/833/865/849/029/822/original/85547f0b68dfc38b.jpeg
https://cdn.masto.host/isfeelingsocial/media_attachments/files/110/833/865/981/123/718/original/5e0f29ce5339b512.jpeg

2023-07-29 18:56:25

This.
Although this is also where I remind people that RSS is still available on basically every news site and blog out there. I follow The Verge and NYT with RSS, for example. Insert your favorite big sites and I bet most of them do as well.
RSS never went away 😁
https://mastodon.social/@round/110798752996946680

2023-06-17 03:54:24

Hank Green is the best https://youtu.be/zU1BdmqyD0k

2023-05-22 16:41:35

Lots of comments recently on my channel from people immediately NOPEing on an app with a subscription.
I'm starting to feel like the App Store wrecked people's expectations for what software they can use with basically zero cost. When everything was like $1-5, you could buy every single cool app that people talked about, and not really feel the pain.
Downside is companies could not sustain themselves on that little revenue, so many didn't make it.