The Rabbit r1 is intriguing.

your pocket companion

Haven’t quite wrapped my head around it yet, but the teachable “large action model” feels like a solid step forward. I don’t really want another gadget to carry around in my pocket though. It’s the sort of thing that embodies “you’re a feature, not a product” and it’s gotta be coming to smartphones soon enough.

I’m all for constraints — I think they’re where creativity sparks — but so often I’m slamming against the 300 character limit on microposts that feel appropriate for the Micro.blog timeline. They’re hard to edit without losing context. A 500 character limit, consistent with Mastodon, is so enticing.

Thanks @imyke@myke.social for giving me fresh perspective on Frozen 2, which I did not originally enjoy, but now have a new appreciation for.

overcast.fm/+DAvKuT9G…

🔗 Curb Cuts // Steven Aquino

As to what a “curb cut” is, it’s the cut-out in sidewalks so wheelchair users can cross the street. Colloquially, the so-called “curb cut effect” references how accessibility aids like curb cuts not only help disabled people, but they also help an abled person more easily push a stroller across the street.

For me and my reporting, the “curb cuts” phrase is meant to show people that covering accessibility and assistive technologies deserves a permanent and utterly relevant place in mainstream tech news coverage.

Blogging is a lifeline, a connection to people and a world that might not be possible offline because of the reticence to interact and the fear doing so generates. I can’t think of a better reason to do it.

— @colinwalker // colinwalker.blog

⛷️ Got Jo out on her skis in all this beautiful new snowfall. So fun! Then spent the day de-Christmas treeing the house and getting the place back in order after the holidays. 📷

A person is cross-country skiing on snow-covered ground, flanked by snow-laden evergreen trees. They are dressed in winter gear, including a blue jacket and red pants. A person cross-country skiing on a snowy track with trees and overcast sky in the background. A person cross-country skiing on a snow-covered trail flanked by snow-laden evergreen trees. They’re dressed warmly in a blue jacket and red pants.

🔗 Inside Apple’s Massive Push to Transform the Mac Into a Gaming Paradise — inverse.com // Raymond Wong

From what I can tell, the company does seem genuinely serious this time about getting new games simultaneously (or very shortly after launch date) released on Mac alongside PC and consoles.

“We’re innovating at this tremendous pace,” says Martin. “When you look at this from a macro level, it becomes much easier to see how all these pieces are coming together in a way that hasn’t happened before.”

I wish them the best of luck.

I s’pose now is as good a time as any to remind you that if you’ve been enjoying my shortcuts and want one built specifically to solve one of your own tech annoyances, I’d love to help! I do commissions for custom shortcuts. (You can find an example on my Library page)

I’ve been thrilled with the response to my two latest shortcuts. Seems like everyone’s pretty jazzed to get help with crafting alt text (🥳 for a more accessible web), and Micro.bloggers really like new ways to get their images on the web in Markdown. It’s a joy to build tools for this community. 😁

I think I really missed the mark on my Vision Pro launch predictions. I now presume, since nothing was mentioned in today’s press release, there won’t be another preview “event” prior to pre-orders at all. I expect units are now in the hands of reviewers and we’ll see embargoes lift early next week.

I’ve been doing a lot more writing than reading lately, which certainly isn’t a bad thing, but it does leave me feeling a bit… lacking? I love reading my favorite writers, and I’ve just left them behind.

🔗 This Philips door lock turns your palm into a key - The Verge // Emma Roth

Philips created a new smart lock that doesn’t require a key or a code — all you need is your hand. The company showed off its new $359.99 Wi-Fi Palm Recognition Smart Deadbolt during CES 2024, which comes with a built-in palm scanner that unlocks your door when it detects your unique palm print.

Interesting…but not a super helpful feature for places like here where we wear gloves outdoors for like 5 months of the year.

🔗 Basecamp Resubmits Its Calendar App, Includes Dates in Apple History to Get Past App Review – 512 Pixels // Stephen Hackett

It’s a real bummer to feel like I’ve been ripped off by a much bigger company, seeing them pitch something I’ve worked hard on as a free feature in their app. There’s some irony there.

Yeah, Basecamp certainly could have done this without making it look like you’re getting such a deal compared to Stephen’s physical calendar. Unfortunate framing, I’d say. (His 2024 retail calendar is great once again, btw.)

🔗 Apple Vision Pro available in the U.S. on February 2

Apple today announced Apple Vision Pro will be available beginning Friday, February 2, at all U.S. Apple Store locations and the U.S. Apple Store online. Vision Pro is a revolutionary spatial computer that transforms how people work, collaborate, connect, relive memories, and enjoy entertainment. […] Pre-orders for Apple Vision Pro begin Friday, January 19, at 5 a.m. PST.

Well, my first few predictions were off by a whole month. But I’m not too upset since it means (hopefully) getting my hands on a Vison Pro that much earlier!

I’m unsurprised and a little tickled that, right on schedule the at the end of the first week of a new year, my post about how to save your Apple Watch stand goal streak has regained the top spot in my site analytics leaderboard.

Alright, that’s probably enough computering for one night. Gotta go catch some Z’s. Goodnight world!

Entry #25 to the Library is a doozy. Introducing my ‘Micro.blog Multimedia Uploader’ shortcut:

This shortcut helps you to upload any file(s) to your Micro.blog account and then copy the resulting URL(s) in the format of your choosing — including Markdown for images, HTML for videos and audio, or a plain URL for other files.

It includes niceties like allowing you to choose to upload images as either JPEGs or PNGs […], recursive encoding of videos […], and an optional function to use another shortcut to auto-generate image description[s].

Get it here from the HeyDingus Shortcuts Library.

A pretty normal number of windows for a Shortcuts coding night.

Multiple overlapping windows open on a computer desktop, indicating multitasking or workflow organization, set against a scenic backdrop of a hilly landscape during sunset.

I just released my first new shortcut of 2024, and it’s one I’ve been dreaming of building for months. Here’s version 1.0 of the ‘Generate Alt Text with OpenAI Vision’ shortcut:

This shortcut helps you to generate a quality image description to use as alt text for images you upload to the internet. […]

You can pass an image file or URL as input to this shortcut, and it will send it through OpenAI’s Vision API along with a specific prompt to generate a unique description for the image, including any text found in it.

Get it here from the HeyDingus Shortcuts Library.

📺 Finished rewatching: Trying (seasons 1-3) created by Andy Wilton

Two people sit on swings, smiling at each other, surrounded by greenery and houses. There’s text reviewing the show “Trying Seasons 1-3 — Created by Andy Walton”, rating it “Great” for humor and emotional impact. Text: Contender for my favorite show of all time. It’s hard to imagine a show more heartwarming than this, and it doesn’t skimp on the cheeky British humor, nor the meaningful and relatable stakes. Every season has at least one episode that makes me happy cry from beginning to end as my heart overflows.

📺 Finished watching: Letterkenny (2016-2023) created by Jared Keeso

Two men stand arms crossed in front of a red wall with “LETTERKENNY” written on it. Text: “Letterkenny 2016-2023 — Jared Keeso & Jacob Tierney A wonderfully fast-paced, quick-witted, and surprisingly charming production. Great show that was well-executed and satisfyingly ended. Over and out.” Buttons below read “Poor,” “Okay,” and “Good,” with “Great” selected.

🆕📝 7 Things This Week [#126]

Humans are just so creative and make the coolest tools and things. Oh, and the launch of the 52 Albums Project. 🎵 Enjoy!

I don’t use it, but I continue to think the omg.lol is one of the coolest, most value-laden services on the web. Its ever-growing services (blog, Mastodon instance, photo sharing, pastebin, and much more) cost only $20/year and are created by a single (super nice) guy.

I can’t help but notice good typography. 📷

An add-your-own-text sign that says “jingle bells, gizmo smells, Marley’s up the tree”.

I think that might’ve been nubble’s best performance yet. They bring together the best crowd with the best energy. Perfect end to one of the best days in a while. (And I loved the Avett Brothers cover — can’t wait to hear more!) 📷

A band is performing in a brick-walled bar with guitars on the wall; an audience member watches from the foreground. A man is carefully pulling a wooden block from a large, stacked Jenga tower in a casual indoor setting while a child, eating, watches in the background.