Numeric Citizen Blog Posts Monthly Digest
Numeric Citizen Blog
This is the final edition of the Creative Summary newsletter, which will be renamed "The Ephemeral Scrapbook Newsletter." Over the past two weeks, the author has shared 20 posts, 12 photos, and one podcast episode, but no YouTube videos. The author feels conflicted about using Facebook and have rediscovered Medium, where they plan to publish more articles.
The newsletter also includes discoveries from MG Siegler, highlights from the iPhone Photography Awards, and insights on Apple's upcoming event. The author is considering freelancing and will document the journey on Medium. He discusses app recommendations and express concerns over AI in photography and deepfakes.
Footnote: this summary was generated using ChatGPT as an experiment.
2024-09-01 ∞I find myself preferring to listen to podcasts via Apple Podcasts web interface instead of the native app on Mac. It feels lighter.
2024-09-01 ∞Craft developers aren't shy of sharing teasers and opening a private beta for Craft Objects and Style. While we all wait for any official release, I made this video today.
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2024-09-02 ∞2024-09-04 ∞“On your birthday, only do what you like the most and fuck the rest.” — Numeric Citizen
How writing can help you solve problems - Eric Gregorich
Writing is thinking.
So true.
2024-09-04 ∞Today, I had no choice but to request the use of a Cloud PC by Microsoft for using a crappy app: Visio. I like this idea of renting a PC instance in the cloud, though.
2024-09-05 ∞I have one thought regarding apps like Reeder (the new one) and Tapestry. I fail to see any comments regarding the inherent limit of those apps. How do they fare when you are adding a few dozens of sources, some with high volume of posts? Merging those feeds into a single timeline make the latter rather overwhelming to consume.
2024-09-05 ∞My newest Craft video, this time for beginners: what should you do when you are just starting using Craft? I chose to organize these actions into five categories.
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2024-09-07 ∞Today, I'm again giving a serious try to iA Presenter. I want to love this app. It is so different from any other presentation app. I'm working on a YouTube video explaining concepts around Craft Objects.
I did a test login to my Twitter / X account. It still works, but didn't post anything. Scrolled my timeline for a few minutes. 👀🫣 What. The. Actual. Fuck. Is. This. Place. Now? Super random and controversial content appearing. This place has become the Internet dumpster.
2024-09-07 ∞I returned to Medium with enthusiasm but was disappointed by the clickbaity titles that we can find. For example, I read an article titled "iPhone 16 Pro Max Unveils New Features That Left Me Stunned!" only to discover that the author was excited about a potential new photo mode with the telephoto lens (macrophotography) without citing sources for the rumors. The author speculated on the revolutionary nature of the device without testing it. It raises questions about the possible involvement of generative AI in crafting this story. Oh, and the other article: "Why I Stopped Upgrading to the New iPhone Every Year (And You Should Too)"... I can't wait to let someone tell me what to do. 👀🤷🏻
Compare this to my latest post about the M4 Mac mini: "The M4 Mac mini Will Be My Best Mac Ever". I speak for myself only in the title.
The first edition of my third-generation newsletter "The Ephemeral Scrapbook", edition 2024-35, is out! Email version coming out later today! Consider becoming a supporter on my Ko-fi page. 🙏🏻
2024-09-08 ∞Job title of the day1 "SaaS Content Writer". 👀🤦🏻♂️
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Found on Medium. ↩
Dear Apple, Think Differently, Again.
Tomorrow is Apple keynote. I want to be surprised. I want something different. I want to see Apple push harder, differently. I want this "one more thing". I want to see Apple think outside the box. I want them to show the way, the right way. I want them to not be afraid, and do it differently. I want them to stop looking at their past successes. Think like the underdog. Think Differently, again.
2024-09-08 ∞Eight years, really? Time flies.
2024-09-08 ∞M4 Mac mini: Deep black, please.
2024-09-08 ∞It just occurred to me that Apple (and other “gatekeepers”) are getting a bit of their own medicine with the DMA. Developers in the App Store have always had to live with unclear and changing rules, as well as the risk that Apple will effectively shut down your business with an absolute rejection. Suddenly the bully is being bullied, with changing rules and unclear guidelines — and they don't like it.
Well said.
2024-09-09 ∞Apple might have something else to improve in the next AirPods Max beyond USB-C connectivity and noise cancellation. Just sayin.
I’m feeling a bit odd about having an iPhone that’s no longer available (15 Pro Max). It was a great phone, but it only lasted about a year. Yeah, I know, still a great phone.
2024-09-09 ∞I'm going to watch the whole debate tonight. Even as a Canadian, I think it's important to get direct reading values instead of going through social / news networks to help me forge my opinion. If I were an American, I would vote for Harris, without a doubt, but I want to see more of her tonight, to get a better idea of what she really stands for. Hoping for civility and clarity.
2024-09-10 ∞I’m torn between the Apple Watch Series 10 in silver and Jet Black. The silver finish enhances the screen’s visibility, while the Jet Black option blends the screen seamlessly into the casing. Waiting for Sept 20 before making my final call, after visiting the Apple Store and hoping for in-store stock.
2024-09-10 ∞I've been spending more time on Bluesky in recent days, since the Apple Event. I like the feel and of this service. It's fast, there are no ads, features-wise it's rich and useful.
2024-09-12 ∞This is the second edition of the Ephemeral Scrapbook, edition 2024-36. Email version coming out later today.
2024-09-15 ∞iOS 18, iPadOS 18 are coming out tomorrow. That's cool. But you know what is even cooler? This GPT that can answer your questions about those releases. Try "What's new in iMessage?"
You're welcomed.
2024-09-15 ∞My general sentiment towards iOS 18 is rather vastly positive but improvements come at the cost of complexity. More than ever, we need to « manage » our devices to get them work as we want them to work.
2024-09-16 ∞If I were in charge of IT infrastructure at Apple, I would be more than happy to have a phased deployment of Apple Intelligence. This staged deployment mode allows for better control over resource allocation, performance tweaking based on demand. It is the right time to establish the baseline metrics that will help further larger-scale deployment later in the deployment schedule. People find that Apple is behind, but I say it is more of a realistic approach that makes a lot of sense from a user experience perspective.
2024-09-16 ∞The fact that apparently Microsoft is not using an Intel CPU for their Cloud PC instances says a lot about Intel's future.
More or less random thought: Maybe Apple won't return to live events until Tim Cook leaves the company. When COVID hit, it may have provided some relief for Apple, as it spared Cook from direct comparisons to Jobs' performances at live events. We all know that Cook isn't the showman Steve Jobs was.
2024-09-16 ∞As a long-time Apple fan12, I find it sad to see the downward trends surrounding Apple. It's no longer anecdotal. Something is really going on. Apple is no longer the same under Tim Cook and since the Steve Jobs death. How could this be otherwise? Well, yeah. That's life. Anger, ennui, boredom are just a few things that I'm noticing more and more. This super megacorp is printing money, investors are happy, but meanwhile, something is slowly rotting that will eventually trigger Apple to transform itself. Eventually.
2024-09-17 ∞Currently curating my Bluesky home feed to my liking. If someone on Bluesky didn't post since last year, when Bluesky was red-hot, I unfollow. I'm using Bluesky lists to curate my best accounts and build a custom timeline with them. I did something similar back in the day for Twitter as documented here.
2024-09-17 ∞Apparently, a bunch of compromised old-school pagers exploded remotely in the middle east... what an horrific event (seriously)... THAT is real programmed obsolescence (less seriously).
2024-09-17 ∞
This is the default option for user profiles on... LinkedIn. Did you know that? Thoughts?
The iPhone 16 this year is so iterative in nature that many YouTube reviewers separated the review into two rather short parts: the unboxing (generally less than 10 min1) and the general review (rarely more than 15 min).
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Oh come on, ten minutes to unbox that thing and find out that there is no sticker in the box? Really? ↩
I'm rather happy to skip the iPhone 16 this year. Next year, Apple Intelligence will be more broadly available and more mature, the iPhone 17 will gain more hardware to support Apple Intelligence the newest features, too. As a blogger, Apple Intelligence writing tools are very handy and a year from now, most if not all my go-to apps will gain support for these. On the photography side, I expect more meaningful upgrades to the cameras.
2024-09-19 ∞I plan to go to the Apple Store tomorrow and see the new stuff since I can't make it today. Maybe I'll get the Series 10 if the one I want is available. I'll unpair and reset my Series 6 as I'll get $75 credit for it.
2024-09-20 ∞
Apple Watch backups are not working, they never did. This is what I see on my iPhone now, two old backups, once probably worthless because of it ridiculous small size. Another proof: after unpairing my Series 6 this morning before going to the Apple Store to get a credit for it1, no sign of new backups in the Watch.app. Big fail Apple. We are at Series 10 / iOS 18 for fuck sake!
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I'm upgrading to Series 10. ↩
More crowded than usual of course. 🤗
My Five Minutes Experience With the Camera Control Button
I like the physical design, but it is too flush with the iPhone flat edge for my taste. It is easier to use with my thumb while the iPhone is in portrait mode. The required pressure to take a photo makes me shake1 which is not always good when taking a photo in low light conditions. I kind of "Digg" the UI which feels organic just like for the Dynamic Island but using multi-purposes buttons requires some time to get used to and learn the numerous modes. Apple is still working off the half-pressure mode for taking pictures and I wonder how it will affect the general use... will it make it even harder to use?
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Might be age-related issue, I know. ↩
I have a love & hate relationship with the US as a country. Going to Las Vegas today for a four-day business trip falls in the "hate" part because I think we cannot have those Las Vegas cities any longer. This city is everything but real. I hate to see our resources spoiled like that.
2024-09-22 ∞WTF? 😳 A “social” network with AI-based-only followers? Really? Are we that desperate?
2024-09-24 ∞I'm happy to share the newest edition of my Ephemeral Scrapbook newsletter. Email version coming out much later today.
2024-09-29 ∞