This 12 months was one of these years that did not utterly suck. We noticed some horrible issues and a few nice issues in 2023, however most of the 12 months simply chugged alongside being common, and after the previous few years, I believe all of us wanted just a bit bit of common in our lives.
There had been a handful of issues I personally loved about 2023, in addition to issues I loved quite a bit much less, however I like to finish issues on a constructive word each time I can. Here are the highest ten issues I’ll keep in mind fondly — some of them are even about tech!
The Fairphone 5 is superior
The Fairphone 5 is the perfect worth of any cellphone made at this time and a giant step up for the corporate.
Yes, it prices greater than different telephones with comparable specs and greater than its predecessor at €699.00, however one factor makes it value it — actual long-term assist.
In 2028, it’s possible you’ll be utilizing the identical Samsung or Pixel cellphone you obtain in 2023 when you’re keen to pay somebody to swap batteries a couple of occasions. If you obtain a Fairphone 5, you simply purchased a battery and swapped it your self — it is probably the most repair-friendly cellphone we have ever seen.
It even makes use of the brand new QCM6490 chip from Qualcomm that has an extra-long assist cycle, so the updates will preserve coming and coming. You will not discover something that comes shut for much less cash, and no firm is as pleasant to the planet and staff as Fairphone is.
These want to return to North America.
The Raspberry Pi will get a refresh
I have not gotten my Raspberry Pi 5 but, however it’s one of the uncommon issues I’ve preordered.
On paper, it does not appear to be an enormous leap in comparison with the Raspberry Pi 4. It’s extra like a typical improve the place all the things is a era newer and barely sooner, so it will likely be higher, however that is not why I used to be excited to see it. What I like about it’s that it reveals the Raspberry Pi Foundation continues to be dedicated to what it does finest — offering low-cost options for college students and hobbyists alike.
You can discover lots of single-board computer systems which might be extra highly effective or higher suited to a particular software than the Raspberry Pi is, however I’ll all the time say you might be higher off shopping for one as a result of of the assist from the muse and the neighborhood the little board has. This is a product that can assist form the longer term, and I’m behind it 100%.
Baldur’s Gate 3 confirmed us all the things improper with the gaming trade
If you’re keen on gaming and have not performed Baldur’s Gate 3, you actually ought to give it a go.
It’s a terrific recreation even when you’re not into tabletop gaming or turn-based video games, however that is not why it’s best to test it out. You ought to take a look so you’ll be able to see how unhealthy the gaming trade is and the way straightforward it could be to repair.
Larian Studios is not precisely some impartial studio making video games in a storage someplace, however in comparison with firms like Bethesda, Sony, or Blizzard, the corporate can simply be seen as “the little man.” Yet, they delivered a recreation that is full with out microtransactions, received nice critiques with out utilizing company affect, and paid immediate consideration to the inevitable bugs as they come up. There have been 5 hotfixes since launch for the smallest of points, however I’m nonetheless ready on the 4GB reminiscence repair for Fallout New Vegas promised to us in 2012.
It’s additionally fairly enjoyable to play, particularly when you like performing like a whole fool and being rewarded to your artistic pondering. For me, it units the bar in opposition to which I’m going to measure all new video games.
Google Meet is sort of like being there
My household is unfold throughout the United States from Florida to Oregon. It’d be good if I had a non-public jet to go go to anytime I favored, however I’m only a common dude with common means, and Google Meet is sort of like being there.
My oldest granddaughter began college in 2023, and I even received to observe her very first vacation singing present thingy by way of Google Meet, which was cool. It’s good to see college methods use expertise the proper means so prolonged households can really feel like they’re half of all of it.
The youngsters even know name us by way of their mother’s Nest Home to allow them to speak to Grandpa and Nana. It’s one of the perfect issues Google has ever carried out, so far as I’m involved.
The Garmin Venu 3: lastly a health look ahead to folks like me
If you are a wheelchair person and excited by a health smartwatch, the Garmin Venu 3 is the one you should purchase.
Making a smartwatch might be actually tough to do, a minimum of when you’re making an attempt to make a very good one. That goes double when your watch begins specializing in being half of a health platform. Do you understand how to make that even tougher? Emphasize health for individuals who use a wheelchair.
I do know that is arduous to do as a result of the world’s largest and finest tech firms have not figured it out but. It was arduous for me to get excited over a brand new Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch as a result of it appeared like they weren’t designed for folks like me, and truthfully, I gave up on caring about the entire wearables sector. I do know they had been engaged on it, and there have been enhancements in lots of areas, however they are not there but.
Garmin is there. I might have by no means identified if our wearables and health editor Michael Hicks hadn’t advised me to offer the Venu 3 a strive, however Garmin has discovered construct a smartwatch and health platform that does greater than convert steps into wheelchair pushes.
I’ve been carrying my Venu 3 since August, and I solely take it off as soon as every week to cost it for half-hour. I’m unsure if my well being has improved or if I’m turning into healthier, however I do know it is good to really feel like I’m in a position to get pleasure from regular issues.
People are studying how silly AI may be
In 2023, you could not go a single day with out seeing or listening to the time period AI. One good factor all that publicity completed is displaying us how silly the tech is.
AI is not something new — within the Nineteen Nineties, I labored on software program algorithms that would determine if an apple was pink sufficient or if a spring did not have any kinks in it. What’s new is how built-in it has develop into into our each day lives. AI is now half of your life and never just a few massive machine that makes or packages stuff.
Some of it’s nice — AI helps folks hear, see, and talk higher. It can assist detect illnesses or different illnesses. It may even make it easier to take footage value maintaining so you will all the time have particular reminiscences.
It’s not an alternative to a real-thinking individual, although. For each time somebody on the web says an AI can move a university examination or write poetry, there’s an equal quantity of occasions AI does a nostril dive right into a fiery dumpster of hilariousness.
The tech retains getting higher, and years from now, the issues folks say at this time will likely be principally true. Something tells me the expectations and hype will develop on the similar tempo, and we’ll all the time be capable of giggle on the silly computer systems making an attempt to sound like folks.
Gigabit web
I do know I’m behind the occasions right here, however I lastly was in a position to get gigabit web out right here within the woods.
It’s good to have the ability to have YouTube taking part in within the background whereas I’m working and nonetheless be capable of obtain some multi-mega-huge press obtain, and value the fee.
It did take away my excuse for being so unhealthy at Rainbow 6 Siege, although.
Gone fishin’
No matter how good or unhealthy the week has been, Saturday is all the time a terrific day as a result of it has fishing in it.
I’m not one of these guys who has costly fishing gear and may take a ship out to win prizes or something. I want I had been generally, however I principally go fishing as a approach to chill out and discover time away from all of the issues that go beep.
Fishing was a bit of simpler once I might stroll, however I do not let my wheelchair maintain me again. There are lots of locations the place I can wheel out on the dock or all the way down to the financial institution of the creek and toss out my line; each one is particular to me.
I attempted a flip cellphone and did not hate it
I believe folding telephones are an abomination. Taking an enormous factor that opens up into an excellent huger factor is simply one thing I’ve no use for, and all I can suppose of once I see one is how a lot it prices in comparison with a Pixel 7a and an iPad Mini.
“Flipables” are a distinct story. Taking one enormous factor and folding it in half so it is much less enormous and simple to place in my pocket seems like a terrific thought, however I’m low-cost and by no means bothered to purchase one and see if I prefer it. My spouse did get a Galaxy Z Flip 4, however I by no means actually received to mess with it, and it received stolen out of the automotive shortly after she purchased it.
When the Galaxy Z Flip 5 got here out, I assume somebody at AT&T or Samsung was drained of me speaking out of my butt and despatched me one. I turned my different cellphone off and used it for 2 weeks, and to my shock, I did not hate it in any respect.
It’s nonetheless longer and skinnier than I like, and I’m not bought on the plastic display screen, however folding it in half and placing it in my shirt pocket offsets that. I’m nonetheless low-cost and have not but purchased one, nevertheless it’s close to the highest of my listing once I do should spend some of my dusty cash.
Pets are folks too
I spend all day day-after-day working in my spare bed room turned workplace, and I’m not going to lie; it might probably get lonely.
I’ll not have any coworkers right here, however I do have companions to speak to: Henri the parrot and WeeWee the canine. Don’t make that face, the grandkids named her WeeWee as a result of you’ll be able to in all probability guess what occurred the primary time she got here to the home.
While Henri can speak to me, and I’m fairly positive she understands a lot of what she’s saying, WeeWee can talk with me too. Whether I’m preventing with the dumb fowl over a water bottle or watching that foolish canine dance, prance, and beg for a chew of my PB&J sandwich, I do not really feel as alone as I might with out them.
Pets are like folks, and I like mine like they’re my youngsters. Don’t choose.