Peloton Bike+ →

Finally, after all these years of riding my friend’s and using hotel gyms’ Peloton bikes, I’m pulling the trigger first thing tomorrow morning. So if you didn’t know, this is the new Peloton Bike+. Also, if you wanted a cheaper, less expensive Tread, they also released that.

What’s really cool is that they have a $700 trade-in program and are automatically refunding those who bought the now “regular” Peloton $350 price differnce plus tax. So awesome! And yes, I have have a small investment in stocks and options which are what I’m going to be using to buy this new bike.

Mac Malware Starting to Proliferate →

Though ThiefQuest is packed with menacing features, it's unlikely to infect your Mac anytime soon unless you download pirated, unvetted software. Thomas Reed, director of Mac and mobile platforms at the security firm Malwarebytes, found that ThiefQuest is being distributed on torrent sites bundled with name-brand software, like the security application Little Snitch, DJ software Mixed In Key, and music production platform Ableton. K7's Devadoss notes that the malware itself is designed to look like a "Google Software Update program." So far, though, the researchers say that it doesn't seem to have a significant number of downloads, and no one has paid a ransom to the Bitcoin address the attackers provide.

It’s an amazing concept really, don’t download pirated software!

WWDC 2020 in 18-minutes →

I have to admit that I watched the keynote in almost its entirety while I was at the airport waiting for a flight and even continued it while boarding the aircraft (as a passenger mind you) and was every bit tweeting and excited for what the future is going to bring. I mean, the most exciting for me are Home Screen Widgets for the iPhone but that Translate App is bonkers too; Sleep Tracking on the Apple Watch but I’m a little skeptical on the battery life and management but I’m sure Apple will have more on that with the Apple Watch 6 set to debut this fall; iPad’s continuing growth as a full fledge computing device and of course, Mac’s move to Apple Silicon. That’s huge! Still wondering why no benchmark’s were released but I’m interested in that Development Testing Kit Mac Mini at $500! The surprise was that all the demos of macOS 11 were that they were running on a Mac with Apple Silicon and most apps running natively.

If you didn’t get a chance to watch the Keynote, check out The Verge’s video with the highlights below! That wheelchair is pretty amazing. Almost seems like Apple invented that one.

WWDC 2020, Apple's online developer conference, was full of huge announcements. If you weren't watching live to see what's coming next for macOS, iOS 14, iPa...

Autonomous vehicles help make roads safer →

A new study says that while autonomous vehicle technology has great promise to reduce crashes, it may not be able to prevent all mishaps caused by human error.

Auto safety experts say humans cause about 94% of U.S. crashes, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study says computer-controlled robocars will only stop about one-third of them.

Take a look at the first two paragraphs. The headline itself states, “Autonomous vehicles won’t make roads completely safe,” but you could have also stated it as, “Autonomous vehicles will help make the roads a third safer.” This is what I call bullsh*t headlining. The first two paragraphs already show conflict. We know that autonomous vehicles won’t manage and mitigate 100% of all accidents but we do know that 94% of automobile accidents are caused by human error so… let’s reduce that by a third and that’s lives saved. What’s the freaking issue? Let’s continue to make improvements and not title this articles like it isn’t working.

Trivial Trade-offs with the iPhone SE(2) →

This time, the new SE’s trade-offs seem trivial. No face scanner, shooting photos in the dark or humongous screen? Those are minor inconveniences when you are paying 40 percent less than for an iPhone 11.

Who doesn’t want to save 40% on a new iPhone that uses the fastest and more current mobile processor as well as having an excellent camera? The biggest point that agree with Brian X. Chen on his iPhone SE (2) assessment is exactly this. He goes on to mention that he is more inclined to spend the $999 on an iPhone, as am I, but on day 2, why spend any more money?

“The new iPhone SE’s lack of compromise is what makes it remarkable. Apple took all the best parts from its expensive iPhones — including a fast computing processor and an excellent camera — and squeezed them into the shell of an older iPhone with a home button and smaller screen. At the same time, it managed to include useful features that were previously exclusive to fancy new phones, like water resistance, wireless charging and so-called portrait photos.”

Say Goodbye to the Butterfly Keyboard, Hello Magic Keyboard →

I’m was “fortunate” to wait and wait for a newly designed MacBook Pro since I was going to spend an exorbitant amount and I am more than happy that I did. Consequently, I skipped the entire butterfly keyboard in its entirety and with it, much of it’s many defects and highly publicized issues! Apple debuted the 16” MacBook Pro last November and has since released the new Magic Keyboard along its entire lineup concluding today with the new 13” MacBook Pro. From 2020 on, you won’t be using that butterfly keyboard on any of Apple’s new devices including the new iPad Pro Magic Keyboard which debuted just two weeks ago! I’m contemplating buying it for my 11” iPad Pro but I’m still unsure and disappointed in the price.

Apple today updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the new Magic Keyboard for the best typing experience ever on a Mac notebook and doubled the storage across all standard configurations, delivering even more value to the most popular MacBook Pro. The new lineup also offers 10th-generation processors for up to 80 percent faster graphics performance1 and makes 16GB of faster 3733MHz memory standard on select configurations. With powerful quad-core processors, the brilliant 13-inch Retina display, Touch Bar and Touch ID, immersive stereo speakers, all-day battery life, and the power of macOS, all in an incredibly portable design, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro is available to order today, starting at $1,299, and $1,199 for education.

If you want to know which configuration of the 13” I would opt for, specifically, I’m surprised that Apple didn’t debut the long-rumored 14” bezel-less MacBook Pro. But I digress. Obviously, the first option, since you can’t upgrade most of these machines after the fact, is to max out the RAM. While the base model starts at $1,299, it only comes with 8GB RAM and I know that macOS Catalina along with Google Chrome or Apple’s Safari web browsers will eat it all up. While the $1,299 and $1,499 only max out at 16GB RAM, the higher model with the Intel 10th Generation CPU starts at 16GB 3733MHz LPDDR4X and can be maxed out at 32GB RAM which is also faster than 2133MHz LPDDR3 found in the lower two models.

So with that, I start at $1,799 base setup then upgrade the RAM, for $400, then upgrade the hard drive to 1TB for $200. If you have anything left over, going from the Intel i5 to the i7 for $200 is a logical upgrade too in my book. You can always add hard drive space with external drives or USB sticks but the RAM and CPU are nonupgradable components. So with all that added up, we’re back at $2,399 or $2,599 with the i7 CPU. Still an amazing little computer and also near the same price as the outgoing model.

An Apple Watch for Health Proves It's a Valuable Tool →

The development of smart technologies paves the way for new diagnostic possibilities. In the case of the Apple watch, after the mobile application is installed, the records an ECG when a finger is placed on the watch’s digital crown. A 30-s tracing is stored in a PDF file that can be retrieved from the application.

Thus, the Apple watch may be used not only to detect atrial fibrillation or atrioventricular-conduction disturbances but also to detect myocardial ischaemia.

An apple a day may keep myocardial infarction away.

Obviously, one isn’t supposed to take this and make it an end-all for the Apple Watch in detecting all heart conditions, but it does serve as a great example that wearables, particularly the Apple Watch, is proving to be more than a wrist decoration but more of a valuable tool for those that wear one. Here is the direct link to the European Heart Journal’s PDF.

DJI Mavic Air 2 →

I finally got my DJI Mavic Mini a few months ago and have been in love. Now, DJI has released a much more capable and HUGE upgrade to the DJI Mavic Air aptly called the Mavic Air 2.

DJI, the global leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, today ushers in a new era of aerial creativity with the Mavic Air 2 drone, combining high-grade imaging, intuitive yet advanced flight performance and revolutionary smart and safe technology in the best all-around drone we’ve ever made.

Created to make capturing unique, high-quality content from the air simple, fun, and safe, Mavic Air 2 offers flagship capabilities in a compact and easy to use folding drone that features 8K functionality. A larger 1/2” camera sensor offers high-resolution photos and videos to make content stand out, while advanced programmed flight modes, intelligent features and imaging technology make capturing professional-looking content effortless. Pilots can now stay in the sky longer with an enhanced maximum flight time, capture vivid imagery with completely revamped autonomous capabilities, and wholly transform their content with in-app editing features.

Watch one of my favorite Drone reviewers on Youtube and friend Aldryn Estacio from FlytPath go over the new Mavic Air 2 down below! One of the best videos on the new drone. If this doesn’t convince you to pick it up, I don’t know what will.

Google Meet Rolling Out to Everyone in the Coming Weeks →

Google just announced that their very popular school meeting app will be made available for everyone with at least a gmail account which, in my opinion, is a very good move for them. I've been wanting to host my own Google Meet and even put in a request for this but didn't want to sign up for the whole G-Suite since it is a monthly membership program. But now, along with Zoom, Microsoft Teams and just about everyone else, including Facebook Messenger Rooms, will be in the business of virtual meetings.

Today, we’re making Google Meet, our premium video conferencing product, free for everyone, with availability rolling out over the coming weeks. We’ve invested years in making Meet a secure and reliable video conferencing solution that’s trusted by schools, governments and enterprises around the world, and in recent months we’ve accelerated the release of top-requested features to make it even more helpful. Starting in early May, anyone with an email address can sign up for Meet and enjoy many of the same features available to our business and education users, such as simple scheduling and screen sharing, real-time captions, and layouts that adapt to your preference, including an expanded tiled view.

The fine print detailing that it won't be available to everyone right away and as of this post, I unfortunately still don't have access.

Can the iPhone SE (2) Make You Reconsider $1000 Phones? →

Is all of that worth the cost? Sure, for a lot of people. Is any of it necessary? Other than low-light photography, there’s virtually nothing that I do on those $1,000 phones that I can’t do equally well on the iPhone SE. It is fast, capable, reliable, and familiar. I’d miss those advanced features and more expansive displays, but not as much as you might think.

If I were buying the iPhone SE, I’d seriously consider spending the extra $50 to upgrade the storage to 128GB, just in case I’d want it three or five years down the road. That timespan is the reason the iPhone SE is a big deal. No other phone that costs less than $500 can claim to be this good, nor last that long.

The iPhone SE is not just a good deal. It’s also a really good smartphone.

I'm really liking the videos that The Verges' Dieter Bohn has been putting out and the fact that I concur 100% with this write-up gives me even more confidence that I'll be "fine" for the next 6-8 months. Heck, it'll most likely make me even reconsider purchasing the iPhone 12 for $1149, maybe.¹ I mean seriously, I spoke about this upgrade cycle at length a while back (6 years ago) but I'll break it down again.

The iPhone X 256GB Silver cost me $1149 + tax = $1250 - $320 for trade-in = $930 divided by 30 months = 913 days of constant and daily use is about $1 a day for a TOOL that we are accessing day in and day out. Whether that's a good thing or bad, at least we get to track it now and step back. But hell, I just even bought a new 16" MacBook Pro and am producing again! Priceless.

The fact that a $1000 straight out of pocket for a device is definitely absurd hence the reasoning why I was trying to make my iPhone X 256GB Silver last for 36 months!↩

Ordered My iPhone SE (2)

I broke down just less than a week after the initial online orders were made available and consequently, I’ll have to wait until May 8th - May 15th. Apple offered the highest value for my iPhone X 256GB Silver at $320¹ and I ended up having to push for the iPhone SE 256GB White which should be around $229 out of pocket before taxes. Love the white back and the all-black front too! I tried to go with the 128GB version but I looked and I had only 88GB left on my 256GB meaning I was using more than 128GB! Oh well, Being that this phone was around $549 + tax, I’m wondering how much I’ll be able to get for it in 6-8 months when the iPhone 12 comes out? Since it will cost around $300 out of pocket, I’m actually okay with it trading in for that much. Dang, I just looked it up too and my iPhone X 256GB Silver was $1,149 + tax!!! And yes I bought Apple Care back then!

27.8% residual after 32 months… try finding an Android phone that can do that!

And if you didn't catch my hovering "bigfoot" footnote, it reads: 27.8% residual after 32 months… try finding an Android phone that can do that!

Apple's Newest 2019 iPhone SE →

Starting at $399 for a 64GB phone that posses the fastest mobile chip on the market in both iOS and Android ecosystems, this is a steal giving this device either the best value for performance and size or overall best phone for the 2019 year! I know that’s pretty conclusive of an idea but where are you going to get this kind of performance for this kind of price? I would opt to pay an additional $50 for the 128GB model in white.

For someone who has a 2.5-year-old iPhone X, if I go through Apple’s trade-in program, I get $320 credit, to which I can pay $79 to upgrade to the latest device and even have some features that the iPhone 11 (non-Pro) has in terms of camera quality! I’m thinking about this every day but at the same time, I’m deciding on whether to just wait for the iPhone 12 which is looking more and more like it’s going to be delayed due to the current global crisis.

Introduced with iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, A13 Bionic is the fastest chip ever in a smartphone and provides unparalleled performance for every task iPhone SE handles. Perfect for photography, gaming and augmented reality experiences, A13 Bionic makes every action feel fluid.

I’ve always been about having the “latest and greatest” especially for something that you are constantly using everyday and this pricing is key! If you want a great comparison head over to 9to5mac for their iPhone SE vs iPhone XR write-up.

Setting Up My Elgato HD60 S+ with OBS on my MacBook Pro

So, I finally received my shipment from Corsair for their Elgato HD60 S+ Capture Card along with their Key Light Air (but maybe I’m thinking I could have save 50% with this model) so I can… START STREAMING! Stay tuned to my twitch channel which I’m in the process of setting up for some Animal Crossing: New Horizons (digital/physical) goodness. Here a simple video on what I’m doing, but for an extended tutorial on my planned setup, I’m following iMore’s setup guide.