Kyle Slattery

© 2023 Kyle Slattery

Colin’s Tips for iOS 11 Upgraders

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Colin Devroe has a great list of tips when upgrading to iOS 11 tomorrow. Driving Mode in particular sounds really great:

Turn on automatic Driving Mode detection. This setting could save your life and those of others. You have no excuse good enough to justify being able to text while you drive. iOS 11 does a good job of detecting when you are driving and turns off all notifications. Almost immediately when you exit your vehicle at your destination your messages are waiting for you. I love this setting. Settings > Do Not Disturb > Do Not Disturb While Driving.

Norm Macdonald is a Comic Genius

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I enjoyed this video on Norm Macdonald, who’s one of my favorite comedians. I honestly can’t explain why I find him so funny, but I laugh harder at his jokes than just about anyone. His roast of Bob Saget always leaves me in tears (though, sadly, the video of it seems to have disappeared from the internet).

Somehow, I missed that he has a new special out on Netflix—I’m looking forward to checking that out.

(via kottke.org)

Apple Event Notes

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I’m not as up on Apple news as I once was, but I love my iPhone, and I’ve been upgrading nearly every year, so I was naturally interested in what was being announced today. Some jumbled thoughts:

  • The new Apple Watch looks great. I’m still not entirely sure I need one, but having seen a few people using Slopes while skiing last year, I just might spring for a Series 3—checking your wrist for stats while on the chairlift is so cool. I’m interested to see what the plans look like for cellular models.
  • Apple TV updates were largely uninteresting to me. I think my TV supports 4K, but having the highest possible resolution just doesn’t matter to me. No need to upgrade from my existing 4th-gen model.
  • The iPhone 8 updates are pretty solid—better display, camera, new design, etc. I’ll probably end up skipping the X this year and going with an 8.
  • There’s a lot to like about the iPhone X, and I really like that Apple is pushing things forward outside of the standard line. I’m guessing it will be hard to get your hands on one at launch.
  • The iPhone X notch doesn’t really bother me.
  • Not sure how I feel about Face ID. I get that it’s better than existing face unlock solutions, since it’s using all sorts of crazy sensors, and they claim it’s more secure than Touch ID, but at the end of the day, it just doesn’t feel as secure. Definitely interested to hear some real world notes on how this works out.
  • At $999, I don’t necessarily think the X is overpriced, but I’m willing to wait a year to see how things shake out. I’d rather they get the kinks out over the next 12 months and I’ll get the 2nd version.
  • I didn’t think I cared about wireless charging until I thought about how awesome it would be in the car—no need to find the cord that’s always caught between seats, just toss your phone on top of a charging mat. Charging multiple devices on the same charger is pretty great too.

What I’ve been enjoying recently

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I recently got the itch to get my site going again (which just seems to be what I do in the fall, judging by the last time I posted). In an effort to get the ball rolling, here are a few things I’ve been enjoying recently, in no particular order:

  • Rick and Morty – I’m definitely late on this, but man is this show good. It’s like a darker, cruder Futurama. So great.
  • Bissell Brothers Baby Genius – Last time we visited Maine, we grabbed a couple 4-packs of this delicious beer from their brewery. It’s the perfect summer beer: low alcohol, hoppy, hazy, and delicious. I pretty much love any beer hopped with Citra.
  • Do By Friday – I originally started listening to Max, Merlin, and Alex on their Top Scallops podcast, and of course I followed them to their new, more general purpose show. It’s super funny—definitely the podcast I most look forward to every week.