Saving Time

I recently found myself needed to rename a bunch of files in a fairly repetitive way. Many files, similar changes, but different enough to require visual inspection.

After doing the first set manually, I thought it would be easy to write a script to handle it, but that seemed like overkill. My next thought was to use BBEdit and regular expressions to manipulate the files.

BBEdit has two features that made this much easier than I expected.

• Apply Text Transform
  • Found in the Text menu "Apply Text Transform..." is a feature that lets you manipulate text in one or more files in a programatic way. In my case I added line numbers to the front of a list of file names.
• Pattern Playground
  • Found in the Search menu "Pattern Playground" is a great tool for testing regular expressions against your current text. Once you have perfected your expressions you can use them in to find and replace text in your document.

I used these tools to prepend line numbers, then change the text to a list of unix move commands with the line number replacing part of the destination file name.

There are so many features in BBEdit that I haven't used, but I continue to find it to be better than fancier code editors that I have paid more money to use.

Apple Watch Ultra

This year, I got the Apple Watch Ultra as an early gift. It does everything the Series 8 does plus:

• Larger screen
• Brighter screen
• Titanium case
• Larger case
• 100m water resistance
• Larger / Longer battery life
• More precise GPS
• Depth Gauge
• Water Temperature sensor
• Better speakers
• additional button
• Emergency siren

I can't really explain why, but it feels better on my wrist than the regular large Apple Watch. I think the size is just a better fit for my wrist. I've also had much less of a problem with it locking while I'm wearing it. I'm not sure if the sensors are better or if it's how it fits on my wrist.

This is the first time I've had cellular on the watch, but for now I have not activated it. I'm never without the phone. So, I can't really justify spending extra for cellular on the watch.

It's a tougher, better looking Apple Watch. It has a bunch of features that I will likely never use, but I really love the way it looks and feels.

Valheim - Is Good

VALHEIM Official Site

A new game, now in early access, is taking over on the PC. And, I love it so far. This game is a cross between Minecraft and Skyrim in a world based on Norse mythology. You build and explore to improve your gear and weapons. The world is procedural. Each of the five zones have a boss to fight and new dangers to survive.

Building is intricate and fun, but you will need a lot of resources. It's way more time consuming to collect the things you need to progress than a game like Minecraft. It also feels more dangerous in each new area. So far I think the game has a reasonable balance of grind to reward, but I may change my mind as I advance farther into the game. I waited way too long to fight the first boss. I could have done it way sooner than I did.

I'm now building a new base on the edge of the 2nd boss area, and it looks like getting metal tools and equipment will be very time consuming, but I've only just begun. The game feels amazingly stable and complete for an early access game. I think it's very worth playing in its current form. There should be an amazing set of updates over the next year or two and it should only get better as time goes by. It will also likely get more expensive.

The only big negative I have so far is that it doesn't work on the Mac. It should play fine on any modern mac. It's not that demanding of a game. The developer just don't haven't made a mac port a priority. I really wish this would change with this and many other games.

Disney+ - Magic Of Disney's Animal Kingdom

I have been loving this documentary show on Disney+. Animal kingdom is one of our favorite Disney World parks. Great Zoo with rides and fun experiences and amazing food. It's great to get to see behind the scenes. Wonderful to see just how much care goes into trying to give the animals a great life. Conservation, education, and entertainment can all work together.

I would love to see a similiar show from the NC Zoo.

What have we been watching

We watch so much streaming content. It's hard sometimes to even keep track of it all. We have a running watch later list on Youtube that we update nearly everyday. Then add Netflix, Amazon, HBO, Disney, and Apple TV+ to the list and you have so much content to consume. Here are just a few things that we are watching, or have recently enjoyed.

The Haunting Of Bly Manor

We watched this whole series in two nights. Its by the same people that did The Haunting Of Hill House. I thought this new series was even better than Hill House. Even, thought the start of the series had me thinking about skipping it entirely. Stick it out, it was really fun.

Lovecraft County

I'm amazed at how great and sometimes crazy this series was. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen next, BAM, nope - Didn't see that coming. It was crazy and wonderful and sometimes really hard to watch. I loved it, and would recommened it.

The Girl With All The Gifts

We had this in our watch list forever. I wasn't sure what to watch and took a chance. It was way better than I expected it to be. Very enjoyable.

The Long Way Up

We started watching this latest travel based documentary. Unfortunately its being released weekly, but that gave us time to watch "Long Way Round" and "Long Way Down" the previous installments. And wow, the video quality has really improved over the years.

The Lodge Guys

Youtube vloggers based in the UK. They vlog nearly daily and invite you into their life. We really enjoy keeping up with what they are doing, and lauging at the differences in everyday life between the UK and the US.

The Adams Family

Animated version of the beloved Adams Family. Based on the original comic characters. Really enjoyed this. Much better than I expected.

Prusa i3 MK3S - First Print

It took a couple of sessions to complete the build of my new 3D printer. It was a pretty easy build with a great manual. The online version of the manual has some additional pictures with more detail. The online version was very helpful in a few spots. The computer component was the the only part of the build that I found frustrating. Lots of wires going into a small box that sits at a weird angle. More cable management and maybe a two sided board and enclosure could make this part easier.

I went through the start up process and calibration with ease. There are some helpful videos on the Prusa site that can help with these steps and show you what you should expect. There is even a whole separate manual that talks about common issues and how to resolve them. I did not have a single issue. I do think I could stand to go through the calibration again. I'm not sure I got the first layer height perfect.

For the first print I went with the Benchy model on the included SD card. I get the impression that my print is far from perfect, though it is better than any printer I have previously owned. Hopefully I'll be able to dial this one in as I use it and get even better results.

The Last Campfire

Really loved this little game. Easy puzzles in a new and interesting story. It's short, but complete. I'd love to see more of their world in the future. I played it on the Mac desktop via Apple Arcade. My only complaint was a concern if my progress was saved, it was, but was not obvious. Took me around 5 hours to complete.

Recumbent Trike

What is it?

See this Wikipedia artical on recumbent bicycles

Basically it's a bike you ride in a laid-back reclining position. They come in many variations. Mine is a trike. Two wheels in the front and one in the back.

You can find thousands of videos on Youtube by searching for Recumbent Trikes.

Why might you want one?

• fitness like any bike
• seat comfort even after long periods of riding
• stable and easy to control
• super fun

Brands and differences

• TerraTrike
• ICE
• Catrike
• Greenspeed
• and dozens more

What I decided to get

I did a bunch of research online then bought the best bike I could afford from a local dealer Charlotte Cycles.

I got a TerraTrike Rambler

My rambler has:

• 20" wheels
• Internal n380 NuVinci CVT shifter
• Mechanical disc brakes

It's not the fastest trike you can get, but its fun and easy to ride. I got a basic flag for it and a simple wireless bike computer. I also added a bike rack and a seat bag.

I plan to add some blinking tail lights for safety. I'll likely also change the pedals to clipless.

Pros

• I can ride much longer that I could with the standard bicycle.
• I find myself actively looking for opportunities to ride.
• I have had several people stop to ask about it and where I got it.
• I have not had any incidents of people failing to see me when passing me in a car.

Cons

• I can see myself buying another trike in the future, something that can go faster and has higher gearing.
• The seat could be more comfortable. I can buy additional padding.
• The starting price for a trike is higher than standard bicycle.
• I'm thinking of buying special shoes for riding.

HomePod Mini Review

So I got a HomePod. I did not previously own any of the other dedicated Voice assistant devices.  I could talk to my phone, and my watch, and my TV. But, the power of a dedicated, always listening assistant is just more useful. I have used the Amazon device in other environments and thought it was pretty cool. But, I'm all in on the Apple eco-system.

My short review is it's great.  I think it will get significantly better in the near future.

Sound Quality

This small speaker sounds great.  It does not sound better than my huge Stereo.   I won't be using it when I watch movies, but it is ideal for casual music in the kitchen or in the bedroom.  When cooking or preparing to start or end the day is when it shines.

Siri

Say things like:

• "Hey Siri play some music."
• "Hey Siri shuffle Steely Dan."
• "Hey Siri start a timer for 10 minutes."
• "Hey Siri whats the weather for tomorrow."
• "Hey Siri turn all the lights off."
• "Hey Siri set the thermostat to 68."
• etc....

Siri will most of the time hear you correctly and do what you want.  But, you need to know how to ask for what you want. Trial and error will eventually train you.  All the same issues you have with Siri on the phone are here. Contextual conversation often fails. Siri can't do some things that other devices can. You can only have one timer at a time. You can set alarms and reminders.

Siri needs more 3rd party APIs. Continue to develop and extend the limited apis already added to Siri. Add new apis. Let Spotify decide whether to develop an integration. Let Overcast develop an integration, etc...   I'm sure this will happen. I wish it would happen faster than Apple typically moves.

Siri needs to be consistent everywhere Siri can be used. The phone should be no different than the desktop, which should be no different than the HomePod.

Siri also needs to support multiple users on the HomePod.  I'm sure Apple wants this to be based on the person speaking. Not asking for a new profile to be active.  However, profile switching would be good enough for now.

Conclusion

If you use Apple Music. Don't mind talking to Siri occasionally on your phone. Have a place in your home where a good speaker would be nice. Then sure give it a try.  Don't buy it based on the possibility of future features. It does more than enough to justify the purchase.  If you already have Echo and are happy with it, maybe skip the HomePod.

I liked it so much that I already bought a second one.

iPhone X

I've had the iPhone X for about a week now.  Here are a few of my thoughts.

Pros

The screen is bright, vibrant, and super colorful. OLED has issues, but this is a well implemented screen. It has none of the artificial punch up of colors and contrast you see on some phones.  Accurate  and precise color representation.

Face ID takes some getting used to. You have to retrain yourself. iPhone users have gotten used to using Touch ID and the scenarios where it does and doesn't work.  Face ID works great, but has a different set of cases where you have to re-learn when it will or won't work. If you have "Attention Detection" on, which you probably should, then you need to actually look at the phone to unlock it.  With Touch ID, you could unlock it as you picked the device up.  After a week Face ID is already beginning to feel natural.

The A11 Bionic processor in the iPhone X is the same processor in the iPhone 8. It's super fast and very energy efficient. Apple is getting better and better at processor design.

Battery life seems better to me than on my iPhone 7+. This could just be that its a newer device with fewer recharge cycles.  Or, I could just be wrong.  Either way, it lasts all day.

Wireless Qi charging is convenient and easy.  If you have a metal case then your out of luck.  I have a cheap charger on my desk at work and on my nightstand at home. I got  the Anker wireless Charging Pad from Amazon.

Cons

The new gesture for the Control Center can be awkward with one handed use, but in practice I'm not having problems with it.  I have a bigger issue with the difference in animation between Control Center and the other "Pull Down" animations for search and notifications.

This is an expensive phone.  It's a luxury item. It's also the main computing device I interact with when I'm not working.  We will follow our normal keep it for two years and then sale it. We normally get $200 to $300 when we re-sale iPhones. I'm betting the iPhone X may even sale for more.

Conclusion

It's a great device. It's not perfect, but most of the minor issues I have are fixable with Software updates.