Android.

The more I use Android smartphones, the harder I find it to move the iPhone. The question is more about which Android smartphone OEM I'll choose at the time come for me to replace my current device.

Although I consider the iPhone to be great, it simply doesn't give me what I want the user experience I want on my smartphone. Meanwhile, I can get Android devices to fit my needs like a glove. Not only that, smartwatches using Wear OS also are a better fit for me.

Android devices give me what I want on my smartphones, while Wear OS smartwatches make for quite a great side kick.

I'm planning on changing my current smartphone, which is a Nothing Phone (1), by the end of 2024. So far, the main contender is the Nothing Phone or the Google Pixel released in 2024. And the best thing about Android, is that there will be more options to consider by the time I come to a final decision.

For example, I might end up choosing the Samsung Galaxy S that comes out for 2024.

At the end, it all will come down to what Android OEM gives me the best value for my money. And that's what I love about Android smartphones, there is a wide selection of devices.

Firefox: my favorite web browser.

Hard to to believe that Firefox became my go to web browser all they way back in 2008, with Firefox 3.0. Before that, I sued NeoPlanet, and Opera. I stopped using NeoPlanet when it was discontinued, and Opera never really felt all that good as my daily driver.

Though I've tries Google's Chrome over the the years, it just doesn't work as well for me as as Firefox does. Chrome is my second place web browser, but it is far behind Firefox.

Microsoft Edge is the only other web browser I use regularly, solely for work. Basically because I wanted to try a web browser than Chrome, and the other options available just aren't available on Linux Mint, or just didn't worked for me.

So far, Edge is working well enough that it can over take Chrome but not well enough to displace Firefox as my favorite web browser.

I might give Opera a chance in the near future, since some of the people I trust have recommended it saying that the new released have improved a lot. So, it might be a good time to give it another chance.

I'm an Android fan.

Since I got an Nothing Phone (1), a year ago now, the more I've become convinced that Android is quite the best mobile OS for me. NothingOS has only improved with each upgrade, that I've seen 3 in a space of a year.

Currently I'm on NothingOS 2.0.4, which is based on Android 13, and as whole the user experience I've had so far has been quite a good one for middle range Android smartphone. So much so, that feels a bit better than I expected it to be. It not perfect, but it's more than good enough.

So much so, that so far I'd only outside the latest Nothing Phone, I'd only consider replacing it with the Google Pixel Phone,  Samsung Galaxy S, or a Motorola razr device. While I consider the iPhone to be a great option, Android smartphones just work better for me.

With each new version of Android, the more I like it. Specially with smartphones that have the specs that best suit my needs. And what I like the most about the Android ecosystem, is that it gives me a wider selection of devices to choose from.

To be honest, I'm not against moving to the iPhone. It's more that I don't see the benefit of doing so, since most of the people I interact with professionally and in a personal level don't use an iPhone. Actually, the ones who use an iPhone are the odd ones.

Not only that, most of what the iPhone offers is not really relevant for me or Android offers an equal or better option for my needs.

For now, I'm just waiting for Nothing to release the NothingOS based on Android 14.

Linux Mint: my go to Linux distro and the one I recommend to most people.

I've been using Linux Mint continuously since 2017 not, and it has proven itself to be the best operating system for my needs. To be honest, I've being jumping between Linux Mint and Ubuntu since 2012, but since Ubuntu replaced Unity with the GNOME Shell with Ubuntu 17.10 (Artful Aardvark) update Linux Mint became my go to Linux distro.

The Cinnamon, Linux Mint's desktop environment, had all the bugs that irked me ironed out at the time. As such, making the jump was only natural since I don't really like the GNOME Shell. And since the version that came with Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia, it only has gotten better.

And with each update, Linux Mint has proven to be the best choice for me. Besides, that Linux Mint is based on the LTS version of Ubuntu is something I've come to appreciate. It has made Linux Mint just an stable operating system, that just works for me. It might not ship with the bleeding edge of most software, but it supports the latest versions of the software I use on the regular basis like Firefox, Thunderbird, and Spotify.

Most importantly, it fully supports the hardware of the laptop I use as my daily driver for personal and professional use. And I've used 2 different laptops since 2017, and both worked like a charm with Linux Mint. So much so, that I've made the move to using Bluetooth headphones since they work for me and they just work.

And since Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu and Debian, all the software that works made for them can be used on Linux Mint. Even software served as Flatpak works well, giving users even more options.

Linux Mint is a distro that just works for casual users, and for users just want a Linux distro that works and who don't want spend time under the hood to make it work for them.

Nice addition to Spotify on Linux Mint with the last update.

Spotify just added the capability of being able to run on the background on Linux Mint at the last update, and with that it got the 100 score for me as a music streaming service. To be honest, I might be nip picking about it, but being able to close my music player, and it being able to stay open on the background while playing music, is something I expect.

I use Rhythmbox to play my music local music library, and it has continually supported playing music on the background when I closed the window, so Spotify not supporting the same behavior kind of baffle me for a while. But, now that the capability has being added to Linux Mint, it has improved my perception of it.

While not being able to do so wasn't a deal killer for me, since it is something nice to have but not vital for the user experience, being able to do so now is one of those thing that it's really nice to have.

To be honest, I was weary of media streaming services when they first came out. But, Spotify won me over when I tried it about it ten years ago. While it doesn't completely substitutes having my favorite music on my laptop, it's a great complement and my go to music and podcast platform on my smartphone. Specially since Movistar adds Spotify as one of the apps on which they give me unlimited usage with my GigaMove 6GB plan.

Spotify has become my go to music streaming and podcast platform, and now being able it can keep playing on the background, it has made it even better for me.

Bluetooth headphones have become affordable.

A few years ago, when Bluetooth headphones where starting to be pushed to consumers on smartphones was starting to be pushed on consumers by omitting the 3.5mm jack connector on some models, my problem was pricing.

At time, finding a decent pair of Bluetooth headphone under $25 USD was almost impossible. Now, you can find some well under that price point easily, since the tech has become common place not only in smartphones, but also in other consumer electronic devices like smart TVs, most smartphones, and laptops. That has helped to bring down prices of devices with Bluetooth connection, and the price point of a decent pair of Bluetooth headphones will only come down with time.

While the audio quality of most Bluetooth headphones will not be what an audiophile wants, it will be more than good enough for casual use. I use wireless headphones on the go with my smartphone, and at work with my laptop when I need to focus, and they work quite nicely. So much so, that I won't go back to wired headphones on my smartphone, and have headphones that use the 3.5mm jack just in case the battery dies on my headphones.

As time goes by, and Bluetooth become more ubiquitous I only expect the tech to become more affordable and better for audio.

Its quite amazing that in my lifetime Bluetooth headphone have become something that only businessman would have, with a bad audio quality reputation, to something with a decent audio quality that more people could afford.

Missing remote work, since in made me better at my job.

After a few months of coming back to the office, after more than a year of working remotely, I've come to affirm how important is for me to be able to work remotely.

Working remotely make work a lot less stressful, cut down on transit time, and makes me a lot more effective. It also helps me to focus more on being more productive, since I don't face most of the interruptions I face on the office, like coworkers coming to ask about unrelated stuff of having to fix printer jams when they occur. Not only that, not having to face the transit times, means that I can use more of my time to actually focus on my job and not worrying if I'd be able to make on time to the office, or if I'd be able to do personal stuff when I go out.

Working remotely also saves me money, since I don't have to pay for transportation or meals if I can't prepare food at home. Most importantly, since I can better manage my work and personal time, I stress less about it making me more productive and focused on my job when I'm on the clock.

It also helps me to make less mistakes at work, since not being interrupted constantly, or have to worry about things outside work, helps me focus on the task at hand. Being able to completely focus on what I've to do at the moment, knowing I won't be interrupted, means less stress and feeling more satisfied about my work, and allows me to be able to see if there is anything wrong with what I've to do in order to correct any prior mistake, or propose improvements to the process if needed.

Most importantly, it made my more satisfied with my job. Since I had a better time management ability, I could focus better on my job, and, most importantly, stress levels were far more manageable. I wish to be able to go back to work remotely, and at least go to a hybrid work model.

Remmina: a great option for Windows remote desktops on Linux.

For about 4 years now, I've relied on a remote Windows desktop for work. At first I used a desktop using Windows 7 provided by employer, and it did a great job. To be honest, Windows 7 and Windows XP are the two best OSes released by Microsoft, but I prefer using Linux Mint as much as possible.

Then, the pandemic hit and forced us into home office to keep going. To be honest, I was a bit worried that I wouldn't be able to work from home since at home I used Linux Mint on my laptop, and I wasn't sure I'd be able to connect remotely to the work server in order to keep my job.

After a few hours of research, I found Remmina. Since I know my way around computers, yet I'm my technical skills are no really all that advanced, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to configure it correctly. Yet, it was easy to set up the remote desktop quickly.

So far, I still use my laptop even after we have come back to the office. I prefer to use it, because since we use WhatsApp and our email isn't run on the remote desktop, having 2 monitors really helps me to keep on top of what I've to do at work.

Not only that, I've been somewhat of a beta user at work in order to make a case to make the jump to Linux Mint on the end user computers, while only using Windows on the server used for the main software at work. There are some kinks to work out, like being able to use the network printer, but so far the user case looks really good.

For me Linux Mint, is an Linux distro that stands true to its slogan: From freedom came elegance. And it has become my go to OS for my personal and professional computing needs.

The best operating system depends of what you are going to use it for.

Every time I hear that Windows, macOS, or Linux is the best operating system, I can't help to ask the best operating system for what? Each one has its strengthens and weaknesses, that make each the best solution for different set of use cases.

The best operating system for me is Linux, in particular Linux Mint. Linux Mint just works for me, but I'm sure that it isn't the best option for everyone. Some of the people I know are better served by Windows while for other macOS is the better option. At the end of the day, it comes down to what each person does with the computer they own and/or the apps they use to get things done.

For example, I LibreOffice does all what I need from an office productivity software, even at work. For others, Microsoft Office is a most have, so Linux wouldn't make sense for their use case. If a user used Final Cut Pro, then macOS is the only way to go, since it isn't available for Windows or Linux. Most of the most used CAD(computer-aide design) software used professionally only works on Windows.

As such, which is the best operating system depends on each user needs it for. Personally, I'd like more software to be available for Linux. Yet, I understand why sometime that isn't viable, or why developers don't want to make it available for other operating systems.

And while I know there are alternatives for almost all apps in other operating systems, making the jump to those alternatives isn't practical for money issues or you can't make customers or providers to make the jump with you. At the end of the day, it may just boil down to that making the jump is just to muck work to make it work on the long run.

While I prefer Linux Mint, and would love more people to use it as their main operating system, I do understand that it isn't practical for everyone to use it.

Mozilla Thunderbird 115: a leap forward.

After a month of reading good reviews of Mozilla Thunderbird 115, I decided to give it a try getting the Flatpak version.

I've using Thunderbird for about 7 years now, ever since I made my move to Linux as my go to OS on my personal daily driver. While I've tried to use other email clients, like GNOME Evolution and Claws Mail, I kept returning to Thunderbird since I just adapts better to my needs. I can set it up faster to my liking, and just works as I want my email client to do.

Yet, with Thunderbird's new user interface, called Supernova, it really got an upgrade. It doesn't just looks better, but its also easier to use from configuring your email accounts to just using it. The whole experience feels a lot more intuitive, and the fact that my emails are store locally is a big plus for me.

When Mozilla dropped the Thunderbird to focus on Firefox, I was saddened and worried that it would stop being supported in time. Since then, the decision was reversed and it became a long-term support app. Thunderbird becoming a long-term support email client is a good thing for me, since my email client doesn't need to come to the latest and shiny add-ons, it just has to be reliable and easy to use. And Thunderbird also happens to be easily customizable to my needs and to how I like my apps to look like.

At the end of the day, with this version 115 Thunderbird has cemented itself as my favorite and go-to email client.

Linux Mint 21.2: a great point realese upgrade.

After a week of upgrading to Linux Mint 21.2 Victoria, I must admit that while I notice some of the visual improvements, of the most part I'm glad that for the most part all has been the usual for my daily use.

Which, to be honest, is a great thing. Things just keep working great, nothing has broken and I can continue to use by laptop as I expect to be able to do on a daily basis. Which is something I want to be able to do as a user, I just want upgrades not to make my life harder.

Linux Mint is really an elegant OS that just works. Linux Mint has become a Linux distro that I can wholeheartedly recommend to new Linux users, and to experienced Linux users that want a distro that isn't that hands on and just works allowing them to focus on what they use they computer for.

In a way, Linux Mint slogan that from freedom came elegance is true. The whole user experience feels modern, and elegant. I can't talk for the MATE and Xfce versions of Linux Mint, since I use Cinnamon as my desktop environment of choice. Yet, Cinnamon is quite a great desktop environment for any computer with at least 4 GB of RAM.

I used to be an Ubuntu user, until they stop using the Unity user interface. Cinnamon was my second favorite desktop environment, but since Ubuntu moved to using GNOME 3, though is highly modified, it simple doesn't works as well for me as Cinnamon does. And since Cinnamon is a Linux Mint project, I decided to move to Linux Mint since it was always a Linux Mint that I worked for me.

Ubuntu will always be special for me, since it was the first Linux distro I used on a daily basis. Yet, Linux Mint has become the gold standard for what I expect from a Linux distro. The 21.2 Victoria point release make it easier to keep recommending it to users that can see a benefit from using a Linux distro that is easy to use and not that difficult to adapt to coming from Windows and for those user that prefer using Linux but expect their computer to work without much work from the user.

I admit that Linux Mint isn't perfect, but it is close to perfect as a Linux Mint can get.

New Mexican biometric passport.

I renewed my passport a couple of weeks ago, and got my first Mexican biometric passport since they got implemented in 2021. To be honest the whole process was quite simple, but since the only appointments available where on municipal liaison offices to the SRE, I had to wait a couple of weeks to actually get it.

To be honest, I don't mind the wait to pick the passport up. Yet, I'd like to have the option to have it sent to my office or home. Though the wait wasn't that long, it took no more than 20 minutes to be called to be handled my passport, it would be far better to have it delivered since it would mean I wouldn't have had to use a vacation day to go get it.

The passport itself isn't all that different than the one it replaces, which it isn't a big deal on itself. I think that's good, since I've always liked the design of the Mexican passport and the fact that passport one of those things that are an international standard.

Now, its time to get some international travels.

Linux Mint sold me on long-term support software for my OS.

When I was an Ubuntu user, I did enjoy getting a new OS release every six months. It really matter if big upgrades didn't come every time, but it was something nice to have even if it was just for novelty sake.

Now that I've move to Linux Mint, I've come to appreciate long-term support software. Even tough the big releases come every couple of years, the three point releases that come in-between makes the wait worthwhile. The best thing, is that if any big upgrade in a component of the OS can be come with a point release, not having to wait until the next big release to come.

To be honest, the long-term support model for the OS has won me over. Mainly because it simply has proven to cover all the needs I've for my computing needs without having to worry about my system braking every 6 months. Which, with Ubuntu didn't happen to me.

What's best, Linux Mint's point releases keeps my system reasonably up-to-date without having the worries of upgrading completely every time.

So, if you want a good Linux distro for general computing with support for at least 5 years, but with an option to upgrade to a new version every two years, Linux Mint got you covered.

New CEO at Twitter.

Elon Musk appointed Linda Yaccarino as the new Twitter CEO, and the conservative Twitterland went crazy over it. It seems like she is to connected to the progressive and globalist side of things.

To be honest, she seems to have the credentials to at least be given the chance to see if she can manage. I thing she can do a good job, and definitely a better one than Must has been doing so far, but only time will tell.

At the end of the day, the most vocal people against the appointment are the ones who aren't happy with anything, or the ones who can't give a chance to anyone that doesn't believe the same thing they do. We'll have to give Linda a chance to prove she is a good option for the CEO role.

Looking forward for Android 14 on the Nothing Phone (1).

Android 14 beta is coming to the Nothing Phone (1) in the coming weeks, and is something that makes me happy.

The Android 13 upgrade for the Nothing Phone (1) came at the start of February, and it has been quite a nice upgrade. I actually participated on the open beta program that started on December 2022, and since then Android 13 felt like a good upgrade. As such, I'm looking forward to upgrading to Android 14, when it comes live.

If an open beta for Android 14 come around, I willing to becoming a part of the open beta. While I know the beta testing for Android 14 might not go as smoothly as the open beta for Android 13 went for me, it seems like a risk I'm willing to take.

I'll see if I make the jump when the know issues for beta testing come, but there is a high probability I might make the jump.

So far, the Nothing Phone (1) has been one of the top 3 Android smartphones I've owned, and it proven that middle range smartphones are a good fit for my use case. So much so, that if I jump brands I'd go for a Google Pixel.

Nothing has become on of my favorite Android smartphone brands, the others being Motorola and Google Pixel.

Software is a tool to fulfill the needs of its user.

When the discussion of which OS, or app, is the best the most important question is often left out of it. People tend to lose sight of what said OS, or app, is going to be used for by the end user.

For example, I've found out that the best OS for me is Linux Mint. Linux Mint runs like a charm on my laptop, and it has all the software I need for my needs. Yet, I wouldn't recommend it for someone who needs to use AutoCAD, or Adobe Photoshop, since they need macOS or Windows to use those apps.

Which OS, or app, is the best for any given user is the one that better fits their needs. There is no one size fits all, at the end of the day most software is developed in order to meet a certain set of use cases in mind.

At the end of the day, the best software is the one that works for you. That software can change as your needs change with time, I used to prefer Windows, then moved to Ubuntu, and finally I'm happy with Linux Mint. It might be that with time I'll move to other OS, but so far I've seen no need to do so.

The same goes for Android and iOS, the best one is the one that just works for you. The whole discussion about how the iPhone can do this that Android smartphones can't, and vice versa, is meaningless for most users. For the average smartphone user, the best smartphone is the one that works for her/him, no matter the technical specifications of the smartphone itself.

Each user have certain needs, and the best option is that one that covers those needs the best.

Flexibility to manage my time more effectively.

After a couple of years of using Remmina as a remote desktop client for work, it has helped me to be quite effective at work and to be able to keep using Linux Mint on my main laptop even after we returned to work on site.

To be honest, since it has been so reliable that I can't see myself no using my laptop for work and personal use since it allows me far more flexibility in both areas than having to use separate computers for both uses. Being able to seamlessly accessing all the data from me personal, and professional, lives from my laptop make managing both a lot easier.

While doing so can present some cybersecurity issues, those issues can be managed a lot easier with modern software and some time management skills so not be overwhelmed.

What I enjoy the most about what the mobility my laptop gives me, by allowing me to connect to the work server remotely, is that I can have more options from where and when I can complete certain tasks. As time goes on, it becomes more apparent that being able to have access to every aspect of my life from a single laptop, and a smartphone, makes managing it a lot easier.

When technology can be manage to better fill your need, it can empower you to become better at what you do, while allowing you to have a healthier personal-work life balance.

Nothing Phone 1 has become my favorite Android smartphone so far.

I've been using the Nothing Phone 1 for about 4 months now, and it has been the best Android smartphone I've used so far. To be honest, since the upgrade to Nothing OS 1.5.3, based on Android 13, I've seen a marked improvement in my user experience.

The only changes I made to how the Nothing Phone 1 comes out of the box, is that I prefer to use the Discreet Launcher and Jugo icon pack. Other than that, I don't make any more changes.

One of the things I like the most about the Nothing Phone 1, is that it doesn't come with much bloatware. Other than the custom launcher it comes with, and a couple of apps like a weather and Bluetooth paring apps, it is as close to vanilla Android as it comes.

So far, all my coworkers that have seen it have liked the design of the Nothing Phone 1 so far. Some like it because it reminds them of an iPhone without being a copy of it. I can see how, and I don't mind it since I like the iPhone industrial design while I prefer using Android over iOS.

I use my Nothing Phone 1 on Movistar network in Mexico, and so far it has worked like a charm. Since about January, Movistar has started to roll it's 5G network in Guadalajara, and where 5G is available I've been able to use it with no issues at all.

I do recommend the Nothing Phone 1, just make sure its compatible with your mobile provider network before buying it.

I prefer to be able stay mobile.

One of the things which make laptops a better fit for me, is that they allow me to work no matter if I'm not at the office. Being able to keep on top on of my job independently from my location, has become something that invaluable for me.

I'm someone that doesn't like to stay at the same place for long, and being able to work outside the office has become something that keeps me a lot more interested in my job. Being able to work outside the office keeps my job interesting, and helps me to focus a more since staying at the same place bores me easily.

To add to my preference to laptops, is that I like to keep my digital life with me where ever I go. That's why the laptop and smartphone combo works so well for me, since I can take them with me anywhere I go. 

In a way, I'm a digital nomad. I like to able to take my digital life where ever my real world life goes. My real world, and digital, lives have become integrated in ways that it is hard to separate them cleanly. So much so, that both my professional and personal life exist on both worlds.

I guess that I've become one of those who lives life on both worlds seamlessly, and can't imagine not being able to access either one at a moment's notice. While there are people I only interact with only on the real world or digitally, most of the most important people in my life interact with me both ways.

While I never intended to take this path, it came naturally to me. So much so, that I find it hard to give it up. Time has proven to me that a mobile life is possible, even within a single city, and that makes that much harder to give it up.

Beta testing Nothing OS 1.5.1.

I've been testing Nothing OS 1.5.1, which is based on Android 13, since it was released on December 2022. Since then, it has seen a couple of updates and only has improved.

To be honest, so far I haven't seen any bug that has been a deal breaker for me in my daily usage. So, I only expect to be better when the stable version is released, or at least stay as good as it has been so far.

I was somewhat hesitant to sign-up to the beta testing, but when I read what was expected from it when it rolled out I decided to jump in since there was nothing that would break the user experience in my daily use. So far, I've been proven right and it has been better that I was expecting.

Does that means that I'd recommend everyone to beta test? No, since beta testing might brake things for you that you need on the device you use. You need to read what is expected from the software release, and from that decide if you can help with the beta testing.

At this point, if you are looking for a good mid-range Android smartphone, the Nothing Phone (1) is one of the best options out there so far in 2023.

Linux Mint: my Linux distro of choice.

I've been using Linux Mint continuously since 2019, and it only has been getting better with time. Linux Mint was one of the Linux distros I tried when I was choosing a distro to jump to when I was making the jump to Linux back in 2012, which at the time I choose Ubuntu.

Yet, when Canonical decided to drop Unity as its user interface, I decided to make the jump to Linux Mint. I simply like Cinnamon as an user interface rather than GNOME, even if Ubuntu ships with a customized version of it.

To be honest, when GNOME 3 was released I was looking an alternative for it. At the time, I tried both Ubuntu's Unity and Linux Mint's Cinnamon. Unity won because at the time Cinnamon was a bit too buggy for my use, even though I preferred Cinnamon workflow.

As such, when Canonical dropped Unity for the main release of Ubuntu I made the jump to Linux Mint. The Linux Mint team had developed Cinnamon to the point on which all the bugs of the early versions of the user interface had been fixed, and added features that made it more useful for my use. Not only that, by the time I came back to Linux Mint, the decision to base it on the LTS version of Ubuntu made it all that much appealing to me. Specially since I've come to prefer stability over cutting edge technology on my daily driver.

Linux Mint has become my preferred OS by far, since its stable and just works for me.