The Birchtree Podcast

- Amount of work for a blog post: minimal - Amount of work for a podcast: a bit, but not terrible - Amount of work for a video: for-freaking-ever Support the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/birchtree

The biggest question surrounding the Surface Go since its launch a few weeks ago is how well it performs. I didn't want to weigh in too early on this one, but I feel like I know what this device is and I need to talk about this.

The Surface Go is only making me appreciate my iPad more, but it's also making me feel a little less enthusiastic about the mobile Mac lineup. If the Mac is going to stick around for the long haul, I'd love to see Apple start to play around more with the form factors they offer, because this Surface is making me desperately want a Mac in this type of hardware.

The Microsoft Surface Go definitely still runs the same Windows we know and love(?).

I've spent a couple days with the Surface Go, my first Surface device, and I, of course, have a few thoughts.

Apple sent out an email last night that was crushing to a lot of people in the Apple community. They are ending their affiliate program for the App Store. This was a reliable, important revenue source for many creators out there, and this program's demise means that a lot of these people are going to have to reassess how they make a living.

Apple will announce their Q3 2018 financials, and I am as mildly interested as always. So instead of talking about the numbers (they're not out yet!) today I'm talking about how those numbers can and can't be used in debates on how good specific products that Apple makes.

There have been people asking Apple to switch the iPhone and iPad to USB-C for years now, and Apple seems as uninterested as ever in actually doing this. Today I pondered why that is and if we can expect to see them change their tune in the near future. I’m skeptical, to say the least.

Sometimes I fail to understand why people make the tech decisions they make. It seems so clear to me what the best smartphone or laptop is, but most of the world gets something different. I always have to remind myself that the way I look at a hammer is how many people look at computers: I need one, but I don’t really care that much about getting “the best,” I just need something that works.

Ulysses has been my writing app of choice for years, and I get questions about it all the time. I know writing apps are very personal, and what makes an app great for me might not make it great for you, but here are some of the things that make Ulysses the undisputed king of writing apps for me. Download from the App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ulysses/id1225571038?mt=8&uo=4&at=10l8rH

I'm launching a Patreon and you can sign up for it right now! Take a listen to the episode for the details, and the blog post (below) goes into more details about what I'm trying to accomplish with this. This may work or it may be a dud, but I had to try. I really want to use Patreon to enhance the quality of work I can produce for you, so let me know any feedback you have. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/birchtree Blog post announcement: https://birchtree.me/blog/support-birchtree-on-patreon/

Apple updated the MacBook Pro lineup today and I'm just over here doing my best to generate any personal excitement for these new machines. My heart just isn't in it for the Mac right now, it's all iOS for me right now.

People have different ideas for what "automation" means on iOS and Android, and it can have a negative impact on how we talk to each other about our respective automation services. As someone who lives in both worlds, hopefully I can clear things up a little.

The year is half over and I thought it was a good time to reflect on some of the best media I've enjoyed so far this year. ## Video Games God of War Celeste Hollow Knight ## Movies Annihilation Blockers ## Music Pusha T - Daytona Kanye West - Ye Kids See Ghosts - self-titled Courtney Barnett - Tell Me How Your Really Feel CHVRCHES - Love is Dead

Apple announced they are doing a major overhaul of their map data and it reminded me that there is a ton going on in the world that we have no visibility to, even at companies we follow intensely. Smart to give yourself a little wiggle room and stay away from definitive statements when it comes to future plans.

I got a Nest Thermostat over the weekend. It's my first foray into smart thermostats and my initial impressions are really positive.

Sometimes a passion project you do on the side pays off in your regular day-to-day life. I have had this happen a few times in the past couple years and I find it to be incredibly rewarding every time. I was reminded of this phenomenon this week as I had to step slightly outside my product shoes and do some iOS development work at my 9-5 job.

Status update episode that I recorded from my closet because my office area isn’t set up yet. Also, 30 seconds of tech, just so I can call this a “tech podcast”.

The Walkie Talkie app on coming in watchOS 5 is one of my more anticipated features coming this fall to the Apple Watch. I think I’m going to get a lot of use out of it.

It's hard to create one of something, but it's a whole other level of challenge to make something over and over and over again, all the while keeping yourself and your audience engaged. BirchTree is my 3rd blog, and this podcast is my 4th podcast. None of my older projects got off the ground, partially because they weren't great, but also because I wasn't invested in keeping them going. On today's show, I talk about how I personally keep myself working and why it can be hard to keep up sometimes.