Back to Work

Discussed: Why Tuesday is the optimistic day; pourover coffee for Dan's wife; confirm shaming; updates on iPad keyboards and covers; approximately annual history of "Bawk Bawk!"; some thoughts on Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart; kids and learning Programming; the things that are difficult to teach anyone. Links for this episode:Jay Little on Twitter: "@danbenjamin if you're still looking for a cheap ipad case, this one has been fine with strong magnets when closed and in the triangle https://t.co/I4DqGljeYi"Amazon.com: MoKo Smart Folio Case Fit iPad Pro 11" 2018 - [Support Magnetically Attach Charge/Pair] Slim Lightweight Shell Stand Cover, Strong Magnetic Adsorption, Auto Wake/Sleep for iPad Pro 11 Inch - Black: ElectronicsconfirmshamingMelitta Coffee Maker, 6 Cup Pour-Over Brewer with Glass Carafe, 1-Count: Amazon.com: Home & KitchenAmazon.com: Logitech Keys-To-Go Ultra-Portable Bluetooth Keyboard for Android and Windows, Black: Computers & AccessoriesAmazon.com: Logitech Wireless Keyboard | Keys-to-Go: Ultra Portable Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad, iPhone, Apple TV, Desktop and More (Red): Computers & AccessoriesThank you Easter Bunny, Bawk Bawk! - YouTubeSwift Playgrounds - AppleWhy this awful sounding album is a masterpiece - YouTubeCaptain Beefheart - Frownland - YouTubeLogo (programming language) - WikipediaTurtle graphics - WikipediaReconcilable Differences #39: Rocks Aren’t Magic - Relay FMThis week’s main topic covers teaching kids about technology. When, how, and what should young students learn about computers at school? How far have things come since Merlin’s Business Administration class and the lectures John suffered on RAM vs. ROM? Monster Factory: Fallout 4 — Episode 1 - YouTubeGriffin and Justin play around with Fallout 4, and incidentally create one of the most horrific creatures to ever roam the wasteland. Brought to you by: Squarespace (Start your free trial site today, at Squarespace.com and when you sign up make sure to use the offer code ITSYOURSHOW to get 10% off your first purchase). RXBAR (For 25% off your first order of the best seller variety pack, visit RXBAR.com/backtowork and enter the code BACKTOWORK at checkout).

Discussed: Thanksgiving; spatchcock chicken; kids and their stupid eating; Dan's concern about how we talk to each other; Merlin encourages people to try not to be terrible. Also, some odds and sods on iPad Pro updates, and thanks to our nice listeners. Links for this episode:Foobot - it's all about Indoor Air Quality MonitoringFoobot Indoor Air Quality Monitor for Homeowners Renters & HVAC Pros - Measures VOC PM2.5 Humidity Temperature - Works with 120+ IoT Devices via Wifi - Best Protection from Mold & Indoor Air Pollution: Amazon.com: Industrial & ScientificNebo | MyScriptNebo 2.0: Boost Your Productivity – MyScript Apps – MediumWe’re coming with a new version of our note-taking application based on artificial intelligence. It’s super-duper, and it’s super easy. Ztotop Case for iPad Pro 11Use Notes on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple SupportBrought to you by: Molekule (Visit Molekule.com and use the code BACKTOWORK at checkout for $75 off your first purchase). Squarespace (Start your free trial site today, at Squarespace.com and when you sign up make sure to use the offer code ITSYOURSHOW to get 10% off your first purchase).

Discussed this week: Dan's MOSH setup on iPad; Dan's new NEW iPad; ease of setup on iOS; some iOS photo editing app recommendations; two things Merlin learned this week; and a little rant about how everybody apparently already knows everything. Links for this episode:welcome home : vim onlineKrissy Brierre-Davis on Twitter: "How come you guys never told me this iPhone trick? I feel duped.… "How come you guys never told me this iPhone trick? I feel duped. Brought to you by: FreshBooks (To claim your month long unrestricted free trial, go to FreshBooks.com/backtowork and enter BACK TO WORK in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” section). Care/of (For 25% off your first month of personalized Care/of vitamins, visit TakeCareOf.com and enter promo code BACKTOWORK50). eero (Get $100 off the ‘eero base unit and 2 beacons package,’ and 1 year of eero Plus by visiting eero.com and enter BACKTOWORK at checkout).

Dan and Merlin talk about their first week using the new iPad Pro. Links for this episode:The Talk Show: Ep. 234, With Special Guest Merlin MannSpecial guest Merlin Mann returns to the show. Topics include the new iPad Pro and the state of iOS as a work platform, the mid-term election results, and holiday parties of yore. 234: ‘Welcome to Dongletropolis’, With Special Guest Merlin Mann — The Talk Show With John Gruber — OvercastAmazon.com: Newly Released Matias Laptop Pro Keyboard for Mac, Version 5: Computers & AccessoriesAmazon.com: Viozon ipad Pro Stand, Tablet Stands 360° Rotatable Aluminum Alloy Desktop Mount Stand for Ipad Pro Ipad Air Ipad Mini Surface and Surface Pro: Cell Phones & AccessoriesBuy iPad Pro 11-inch Smart Folio - AppleBrydge - Award Winning Bluetooth Keyboards for iPad & Surface ProMerlin’s Playlists — Merlin MannSometimes I make playlists, especially for the particularly musical episodes of podcasts I do. I really like making these, so I'll probably do more. In the Penal Colony - WikipediaBrought to you by: Squarespace (Start your free trial site today, at Squarespace.com and when you sign up make sure to use the offer code ITSYOURSHOW to get 10% off your first purchase). FreshBooks (To claim your month long unrestricted free trial, go to FreshBooks.com/backtowork and enter BACK TO WORK in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” section). Hopsy (Go to tryhopsy.com/backtowork and use promo code BACKTOWORK to get the SUB home draft machine, 2 mini-kegs of beer (equivalent to 2 six packs), 2 Hopsy glasses and free membership in the monthly beer Club for $99)!

Discussed this week: coffee water, voting, inertia, new iPads on the way, difficult buying decisions, returning merchandise (as a thing), some TV suggestions, Dan's new ODROID, 80s video game nostalgia, asking for your iPad-at-work input, plus seeking suggestions for apps for new joggers. Links for this episode:Building A Better Ballot Box — To the Best of Our Knowledge — OvercastBrydge - Award Winning Bluetooth Keyboards for iPad & Surface ProCREATE - Logitech SupportBodyguard (TV Series 2018– ) - IMDbstart [ODROID Wiki]Amazon.com: ODROID-GO open source gaming console : Assembly and learning WHY, CODING CAMP: Video GamesODROID-GO Game Kit — ameriDroidODROID | HardkernelGorf - WikipediaLG UltraFine 4K Display - AppleLG UltraFine 5K Display - AppleLindsey Vehlewald on Twitter: "1/[Thread] Storytime. Listen up. It’s a long one. But it's important, I promise."LG Corporation - WikipediaEp. 312: “Always is How” - Roderick on the Line - Merlin MannThe Problem: John hasn’t earned a chair. Reconcilable Differences #90: Cargo-Cult Thoreau - Relay FMThis week kicks off with some Dear Evan Hansen talk, and Merlin admits he still hasn’t earned the second act. This leads John to interrogate this odd affliction of Merlin’s. Both hosts finally address how, whether, and when they commit to the full consumption of cultural products. Why does John so often stick with the whole season of a C-plus TV show, and when does Merlin know he’s ready for the second half of a given Broadway hit? Brought to you by: Slack (Slack: Where work happens. Find out why at Slack.com). Casper (Visit Casper.com/itsyourshow and use the code ITSYOURSHOW for $50 towards select mattresses).

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about Apple's Fall event in Brooklyn today. They liked the event. Brought to you by: Molekule (Visit Molekule.com and use the code BACKTOWORK at checkout for $75 off your first purchase). GreenChef (For $50 off your first box of Green Chef, go to GreenChef.us/backtowork). Care/of (For 25% off your first month of personalized Care/of vitamins, visit TakeCareOf.com and enter promo code BACKTOWORK).

Discussed: nailing it, the optimistic valence of Tuesdays, difficulties finding replacement parts on Amazon, headphone preferences, Alexa's service outage and new whisper mode, Austin's big water crisis and what it says about epistemology, reason, and society, plus 20 years of The Big Lebowski. Links for this episode:Jeff Bridges, John Goodman And Steve Buscemi Talk ‘The Big Lebowski’ In Extended Inteview | TODAY - YouTubeJeff Bridges Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters | GQ - YouTubeAmazon.com: Twisted Veins HDMI Cable 30 ft, 2-Pack, Premium HDMI Cord Type High Speed with Ethernet, Supports HDMI 2.0b 4K 60hz HDR Except with Apple TV 4K and Xbox One X Where it Only Supports 4K 30hz HD: Home Audio & TheaterAlexa whisper mode rolling out to Echo starting today, here's how to enable it - 9to5MacAmazon.com: Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone: Musical InstrumentsAmazon.com: Audio-Technica ATH-M50xDG LIMITED EDITION Professional Studio Monitor Headphones: Musical InstrumentsAmazon.com: Plantronics Wireless Noise Cancelling Backbeat - Headphones (Black & Tan) (Pro 2): Cell Phones & AccessoriesStatus overview | DowndetectorGoogle Home Hub review: the best digital photo frame - The VergeExpanding Brain | Know Your MemeEpistemology - Wikipediamale answer syndrome - WiktionaryAmazon Alexa down? Current problems and outages | DowndetectorHome - Great Wall HardwareGreat Wall Hardware | Your Home Improvement CenterAmazon Dash Wand With Alexa: Amazon.com: Grocery & Gourmet FoodBrought to you by: Squarespace (Start your free trial site today, at Squarespace.com and when you sign up make sure to use the offer code ITSYOURSHOW to get 10% off your first purchase). eero (For free overnight shipping to the US or Canada, visit eero.com and at checkout select overnight shipping then enter BACKTOWORK to make it free).

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about the FitBit Charge 3 and where it fits into their worlds—as well its place in the larger tracker and smart watch ecosystems. Excursions also include: BroBot, weather stations, weather apps, some TV and movie talk, some space talk, plus children's failures to understand how time basically works. Links for this episode:Dew point - WikipediaAmazon.com: AcuRite 01014M Weather Station with AcuRite Access for Remote Monitoring, Compatible with Amazon Alexa: Home & KitchenFirst Man (2018) - IMDbAbove and Beyond: NASA's Journey To Tomorrow (TV Movie 2018) - IMDbThe Girl in the Spider's Web (2018) - IMDbAbove and Beyond: NASA's Journey to Tomorrow | Above and Beyond: NASA's Journey to TomorrowVoyager 1 - WikipediaVoyager 2 - WikipediaFSNotes Appglushchenko/fsnotes: Notes manager for macOS/iOSBrought to you by: FreshBooks (To claim your month long unrestricted free trial, go to FreshBooks.com/backtowork and enter BACK TO WORK in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” section). The Growth Show (Subscribe to the Growth Show on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen).

Discussed: the tyranny of earliness, the benefits of timeliness, an interesting horology episode about Apple Watch, more watch talk, a blog recommendation, a quick look at Merlin's new FitBit, an update on home WiFi options, Merlin raps a little, Dan gets wired for Ethernet, what we'd like so see in an updated Mac Mini, some listener followup on Bear export and (deliberately) slow interfaces, considering oneself touch-ed, skeuomorphic sounds, and various Florida wildlife encounters. Links for this episode:Fitbit Charge 3 | Advanced Health and Fitness TrackerMichael Tsai - Blog - Why Matthew Green Is Done With ChromeGoogle is losing users’ trust.I used to trust some of its products, like Chrome. I increasingly don’t. Apple And The Future Of Watchmaking — HODINKEE Radio — OvercastThis week we’re talking all things Apple Watch. Stephen sits down with Ben and Jack just a few hours after they received their Apple Watch Series 4 sample units to get their first impressions and to hear what else they had to say about the Apple Watch and its relationship to the more traditional watches we tend to cover every day. Also, Stephen has a one-on-one interview with John Gruber, the proprietor of Daring Fireball, the premier blog covering all things Apple. Enjoy.delete Michael Tsai - BlogAmazon.com: Fitbit Charge 3 Fitness Activity Tracker, Graphite/Black, One Size (S & L Bands Included): Health & Personal CareExport your notes - Bear - Faq and supportFlying Meat Software - Awesome SoftwareBrought to you by: Slack (Slack: Where work happens. Find out why at Slack.com). CacheFly (Bandwidth for this show and all shows on 5by5 provided by CacheFly, the world’s most reliable CDN. Learn more at 5by5.CacheFly.com)

This week: some TV and movie stuff, Dark Mode and accessibility, OS stability and beta temptation, Merlin has an anecdote, the powers and frustrations of Siri via Apple Watch, updates to the Fitbit family, tech that does enough, Dan tried Bear, updates on the Chrome login thing, and an intriguing listener comment about Apple's ASP/inch3. Links for this episode:Shop Fitbit Charge 3™ Advanced Fitness TrackerFitbit Charge 3 Hands-On Preview | Digital TrendsFitbit Charge 3 hands-on: Better controls come with a trade-offCary Fukunaga - WikipediaBear - Notes for iPhone, iPad and MacAtomHow to Turn Off the Auto Sign-In Link in Gmail and ChromeInside Amazon’s Warehouse, Human-Robot Symbiosis - MIT Technology ReviewOn the other side of the warehouse, workers pack products into boxes for shipping with help from Amazon’s central computer systems. Items retrieved from storage shelves are automatically identified and sorted into batches destined for a single customer. The computer knows the dimensions of each product and will automatically allocate the right box, and even the right amount of packing tape. Further along, before products are sent to different trucks for dispatching, boxes are weighed to make sure no mistakes have been make in packing. Brought to you by: Squarespace (Start your free trial site today, at Squarespace.com and when you sign up make sure to use the offer code ITSYOURSHOW to get 10% off your first purchase). Linode (Visit linode.com/backtowork and use the promocode backtowork2018 for a $20 credit).