Finished reading: Hangdog Days by Jeff Smoot 📚

These true stories of early climbers, their feats and feuds reads like fiction. But people are incredible!

Yesterday was a perfect day to visit the top of New York State! Andrew visited from Toronto on his east coast tour, and, despite having never been up a mountain before (let alone one in the ADK) made a blistering hike up to the summit of NY’s tallest peak in under 4 hours. And that was with dodging ice that’s now on the trail near the top. We rested on top, enjoying the splendidly clear and sunny view, and chatted with fine folk also out for a hike — including a couple working on their 50 state high points, of which Mt. Marcy was their 47th! They’ll finish up in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine in the next few days.

Big thanks to Andrew for the delightful conversation and joy of just being in the mountains. Hope to see you back in the winter!

The new dropdown text editing menu in iOS 26 is getting even better in 26.1, according to Ryan Christoffel at 9to5Mac:

As discovered by X user Beta Profiles, you can now swipe left to make the dropdown menu appear even faster.

I like the dropdown, but the abrupt change to my swiping muscle memory was a bummer. This is the right solution!

Started reading: Hangdog Days by Jeff Smoot 📚

Nick Heer: ‘On Liquid Glass’

Apple justifies these decisions by saying its redesigned interfaces are “bringing greater focus to content”. I do not accept that explanation. Instead of placing tools in a distinct and separated area, they bleed into your document, thus gaining a similar level of importance as the document itself. […] But, in my experience, the more the interface blends with what I am looking at, the less capable I am of ignoring it. Clarity and structure are sacrificed for the illusion of simplicity offered by a monochromatic haze of an interface.

A fair and cogent review.

Ryan Christoffel brought the iPhone Air to Disney World — with its harsh environment for smartphones — and came away thoroughly impressed:

Battery life was similarly a champ. I brought the Air’s new MagSafe battery with me, fully expecting to use it every day.

I didn’t use the MagSafe battery once.

He also didn’t miss the telephoto lens. Your mileage may vary, but I think Apple may have finally made a good mid-tier iPhone that will actually appeal to folks.

Amazon’s new Search Party feature sounds very cute and helpful… until they update it to track down anything (anyone) other than pets. Aren’t they already well-known for being super police-friendly? I’m not thrilled with regular citizens contributing to a CCTV-like situation.

There are big adventures to be had within an hour of the road, and Prelude to Overture (5.8) is one of them! The positioning is wild with so much air under your feet. And Upper Washbowl is offering some of the most stunning views of our peak fall foliage here in the ADK. 🧗🍁

A climber ascends a steep rock face using a rope and gear, surrounded by a misty environment with some greenery. Text reads Prelude Overture (5.8) Upper Washbowl. Climber ascending a large rocky cliff face surrounded by dense forest with autumn foliage and a nearby dark lake under a cloudy sky in a mountainous landscape. A climber scales a rugged rock face wearing climbing gear and a helmet surrounded by a scenic mountainous vista under a cloudy sky. A climber wearing a green helmet smiles while another climber ascends a rocky cliff. Vibrant autumn foliage covers the surrounding forested landscape below. A climber in red ascends a steep rock face using a rope amidst a vibrant autumn forest with a river and lake visible below. A climber ascends a steep rock face using safety gear and ropes against a backdrop of expansive, colorful autumn forests stretching to the horizon under an overcast sky. A climber in a red jacket scales a steep rock face surrounded by lush green and autumn-colored forested mountains under a cloudy sky. Climber ascends steep rock face under overcast sky with forested mountains in the background. Climber ascending a steep rocky cliff face using ropes while surrounded by a dense forest exhibiting vibrant autumn foliage in shades of green red and orange in a remote mountainous region. A climber scales a steep rocky cliff, surrounded by vibrant autumn foliage and overlooking a winding road and calm lake below. A person climbs a vertical rock face gripping tightly wearing safety equipment. An autumn forest with colorful foliage stretches below providing a vibrant scenic backdrop. A climber wearing a helmet and backpack ascends a steep rock face attached to a red rope overlooking a forested landscape with autumn foliage below. Two climbers wearing helmets smile atop a mountain holding climbing ropes overlooking a forested landscape and a lake partially obscured by clouds Clouds hover above mountain peaks covered in colorful autumn foliage, creating a serene, misty atmosphere in a vast, hilly landscape.

Okay, I’ve been procrastinating rope cleaning day for a while, but it actually went pretty quick! Can’t wait to get these freshly scrubbed beauties back on the rock. Thanks @beal.official for the easy rope wash!

Today was a special day guiding Fern and Kevin up the classic Pete’s Farewell (5.7) on Pitchoff. Why? It’s their honeymoon! 😍 It’s wonderful to see partners in climbing be partners in life — full of encouragement and support. They crushed the climb, despite some wet conditions, and got to enjoy peak Adirondack fall foliage. Best wishes (including many more pitches together) for the happy couple! 🥂

Hold onto your hats, things are about to get a lot more generative and a lot more advertise-y. Ben Thompson discussed how Google is barreling toward endless generated videos and auto-tagged products in every video and picture you see.

Roxane Gay: ‘Civility Is a Fantasy’

Within this framework, incivility is refusing to surrender to hatred, refusing to smile politely at someone who doesn’t consider you their equal, refusing to carve away the seemingly unpalatable parts of yourself until there is nothing left. To be uncivil means pointing out hypocrisies and misinformation. It means accurately acknowledging what people have said, with ample documentation and holding them accountable for their words and deeds.

Well-written, and well-worth reading.

I’m onboard with Jason Snell’s prediction that the iPhone Air will see more sales with in-store shoppers outside of Day 1 upgraders:

I guess we’ll have to wait and see, but I’m inclined to believe that the iPhone Air, with its lack of cameras and a heavy lean toward design, will have broader appeal over the course of the entire year. The fall is, in many ways, for iPhone Pro users who will scoff at most of the specs of the iPhone Air. But over time, as iPhone Airs get out into the world, people will see them and feel them, and I think the Air will get a lot of sales pick-up from word of mouth.

It’s too bad Shortcuts doesn’t allow you to choose which lens/zoom in the ‘Take Photo’ action. I wanted to build one that would take a 0.5×, 1×, 2×, 4× and 8× all in quick succession to compare from the same angle and framing.

A smartphone screen displays a camera app interface with options to take a photo using the front or back camera, or use shortcut input, against a colorful gradient background.

Oh boy, if this super-thin iPhone Fold rumor is true and it comes in at that magical 5.5-inch folded size, sign me up!

Model
Depth

iPhone 17
7.95mm

iPhone Air
5.64mm

iPhone 17 Pro
8.75mm

iPhone 17 Pro Max
8.75mm

iPhone Fold (unfolded)
4.5-4.8mm

iPhone Fold (folded)
9-9.5mm

Cutting around 20% off the size of the already-very-thin iPhone Air will be impressive.

Manton Reece proposes swapping the Fediverse to domain-based handles:

Right now, the clear convention is Mastodon / WebFinger-style handles:

@manton@example.com

There are two problems with this: it looks like an email address, even with the “@” prefix, and it implies identity is usually tied to a server that someone else is running. There is no natural progression for solo instances in the way there is with subdomain → domain name .

I would love to see a gradual transition to:

@manton.example.com

And simply:

@manton.org

Seems like the correct endgame. Let’s see it on Micro.blog first! 😉

Back to the Seward Range for our group backpacking trip this week! Jess and Jeff joined us to get all four peaks done in one go — Seward, Donaldson, Emmons, and then Seymour. We adapted our plan due to the forecasted rain, opting to stay in the Ward Brook lean-to. That meant for a longer Day 1 doing the SDE loop, but then we were able to knock out Seymour early on Day 2 and avoid most of the rain. Big kudos to Jess and Jeff for being flexible and up for the challenge. We worked well as a team to get them done, and marveled at the stunning fall foliage. (Extra props to Jeff as these were his first #46er high peaks!)

Check out our other upcoming group hikes on our website.

Finished reading: On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder 📚

Believe in truth. To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power, because there is no basis upon which to do so. If nothing is true, then all is spectacle. The biggest wallet pays for the most blinding lights.

This book is short, but I can’t call it sweet considering the political climate in the U.S. It offers a sobering look at the similarities between Soviet & Nazi regimes, and the first Trump term. It’s shorter than some of your favorite tech podcasts and you should give it a read or listen.

Started reading: On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder 📚

  1. Do not obey in advance.

  2. Defend institutions.

  3. Beware the one-party state.

  4. Take responsibility for the face of the world.

  5. Remember professional ethics.

  6. Be wary of paramilitaries.

  7. Be reflective if you must be armed.

  8. Stand out.

  9. Be kind to our language.

  10. Believe in truth.

  11. Investigate.

  12. Make eye contact and small talk.

  13. Practice corporeal politics.

  14. Establish a private life.

  15. Contribute to good causes.

  16. Learn from peers in other countries.

  17. Listen for dangerous words.

  18. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives.

  19. Be a patriot.

  20. Be as courageous as you can.

Tom and I spent a few days on the trail last week, plugging away at his remaining ADK high peaks. We summited Sawteeth on a gorgeous day for 30/46, and then cruised through the three peaks of the Seward range to bring his total to 33/46. It’s the best time of year for hiking here in the Adirondacks!

What’s happening with the sizes of these icons in this context menu??

A smartphone screen displaying a menu overlay with options such as “Require Face ID,” “Add to Home Screen,” “Purchased,” “Updates,” “Redeem,” and “Search.” Some icons for those options are small while others are large. In the background, app folders labeled “Creativity,” “Travel,” and “Utilities” contain various app icons.

It feels good, for some reason, to know that my phone beats out @siracusa@mastodon.social’s 2019 Mac Pro from just six years ago.

Such a fun weekend watching dear friends pledge their love to one another. I love weddings! 💍 Congrats to @tyler_schlesier.1 and @lauren_schlesier! And thanks for the tip about the balloon festival; it was so cool! 🎈

A couple dances gracefully on a ballroom floor with wooden beams above while guests watch from round tables adorned with colorful flower arrangements. A bride holding a bouquet laughs with a groom who is playfully leaning back in a grassy area surrounded by green trees near a dark wooden building. A man wearing a checkered shirt and tie stands smiling alongside a woman with curly hair wearing a black jacket in a sunny woodland path. A weathered wooden canoe holds metal tubs filled with ice and assorted drinks, surrounded by greenery and string lights. It rests indoors by large windows overlooking a wooded area. A bride in a lace gown and groom in a suit stand smiling with two casually dressed people inside a rustic room with large windows and forest view outside. A person with long curly hair stands by a lakeshore, looking across a calm lake surrounded by a dense forest under a clear blue sky. Hot air balloons shaped like animals rise into the sky while crowds of people watch from a grassy field. The balloons include a penguin and others with colorful patterns. A colorful hot air balloon ascends over a grassy field surrounded by a group of people during a clear day with blue skies. Hot air balloons rise into a clear blue sky with colorful designs while people gather on a grassy field observing the event.

Ooh I should have looked at @robb@social.lol’s Donation Treats page before donating to St. Jude. So many people are offering neat little rewards to accelerate the cause. Check it out!

Hey y’all, cancer sucks so for the next 24 hours, I’m matching donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, up to $250.

Even $1 helps. I hope you’ll join me, and our little tech community, in the fight against children’s cancer. 💪