The sky is a magnificent canvas.

Logitech plans to support HomeKit Secure Video with Circle 2 Wired later this year - 9to5Mac

Circle 2 Wired Cameras will support HomeKit Secure Video with a free firmware update later this year – stay tuned for more details.

Sweet.

Launching a new website tomorrow. That brings my personal total to four. Launched a client one last week and just got a request for two more. Whew!

Dark mode: why was I so skeptical?

Happy Flag Day 🇺🇸

I’m two days into my digital minimalism detox and my thoughts have much to say. Not sure if I should be excited or anxious for my three hours of outdoor chores this evening. (During the detox I’m not going to listen to music or podcasts while working outside, as I usually do).

Sky at first light.

The afternoon snack menu for the kids: cucumber slices and lemonade. Tastes like summer! 🥒🍋

Speculators who park domains in hope of a payday make the Internet so much worse.

Pixelmator is an excellent application.

A wet/dry electric razor. I had no idea!

It would be nice if iCloud Drive put all of the application data folders into an “Apps” folder like Dropbox. Makes it look very cluttered.

PBS CEO warns App Store crackdown on content for kids forcing it to pull apps

these changes will prevent PBS from tracking what features are working in its apps, as well as to know what features to change and improve for the end-user.

I’m dubious.

I just finished decimating my installed iPhone/iPad apps. I always forget how much work is involved restoring an iOS device.

My quest for digital minimalism has been ongoing for a number of years; Cal Newport just gave it a name. I’ve gone through several rounds of app removal, website blocking, and social media curtailing. In fact, it’s been over a year since I left all social media. Yet, as Newport points out in his latest book, Digital Minimalism, one of the biggest challenges any of us face is the “quick glance.” We fill every down moment of our lives by picking up the closest device and getting lost.

With less apps, and fewer websites to visit, I found myself just rechecking the same websites multiple times throughout the day. I hadn’t made any real progress, except in limiting the content that I was consuming.

Enter Newport’s digital detox.

For the next 30 days, I’m going to further limit my digital interaction. I’ll start by restoring my iPhone and iPad, only reinstalling the apps that I absolutely use. I’m also going to assign jobs to each device. For example, I’m only going to install my RSS reader on my iPad. The restore will also give me an opportunity to consider my settings and preferences and align them with my digital values. Once I finish that process, here are the rules that I’m going to set for myself:

When I’m home, my phone will live on the counter.

If my phone is in my pocket, I’m going to use it.

Only my iPad in my bedroom & only for reading.

Most of my reading of news and books is done on my iPad. I don’t need my phone in there.

I’m turning off all notifications except from iMessages.

I don’t need to be interrupted throughout the day. Email, shared Photo Streams, anything with a red number will be turned off.

I will not listen to music or podcasts while doing outside chores.

I will continue my morning walk podcast routine, but when I’m mowing the lawn or washing the cars, I’m going to be alone with my thoughts.

I can check my RSS feeds twice per day.

I have many RSS feeds that I follow, and those became the new social media for me. I’d refresh many times per day. Twice is plenty. Only having my RSS reader on my desktop and iPad should help with this.

I will only read news articles that I’m interested in.

I subscribe to The Wall Street Journal, and they have great, voluminous content. I’m only going to read articles that interest me.

I will not read speculative news articles.

There are plenty of articles that talk about what may happen. Don’t get me wrong, this kind of background research and commentary can be helpful in understanding a story from start to finish. But if things don’t work out as expected, then I just wasted my time. From the FCA/Renault merger to the 2020 election, I’m going to skip any article that isn’t reporting what’s already happened.

I’m limiting my children’s screen time to one hour a day.

A timer will be set, and then the television will go off.

Getting ready to sit down and outline my digital detox a la Cal Newport.

Having your own website is so liberating. I can change the design or any feature whenever I want. So much fun.

Kids at the park: 🌳🏃🏻‍♂️🧗🏻‍♂️🤸🏻‍♂️🌳

Parents at the park: 📱

In the pantheon of great song titles, Okay, I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don’t is certainly up there. 🎵

Writing is difficult, but I find it easier to accomplish early in the morning, right after my walk, and while the house is still silent.