Long live Skype.

The news that Microsoft Skype, and integrating some of its functionalities into Teams is one that hits in the nostalgia.

To be honest, the news in itself wasn't all that surprising. Microsoft had been pushing teams as a collaborative tool for a while now, while Skype has been largely ignored. While I used Skype in the early 2000s, it has been quite a while since I moved to WhatsApp, and Messenger, for most of my everyday communications including voice and video calls. I even do more phone calls using the phone app.

Though, I did use Skype to keep in touch with friends and family for a while, but we ended up moving to WhatsApp, or the massaging services of Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, Zoom, or other social media sites. Mainly because they are more convenient ways to chat and share files or other media. I can't remember the last time I used Skype for anything.

In someways, when Microsoft purchased Skype I thought it could become a worthy successor to MSN Messenger. I really loved to use MSN Messenger at the time, and most of the people I knew also liked to use it. Yet, Skype did not live to the septations, and we all move on to other instant massaging apps, all of which ended up becoming better with time.

In some ways, Skype is one of the biggest could have been. Yet. Microsoft really dropped the ball with Skype.

Six months later.

I've using a Machenike L16air with Linux Mint for over 6 months now, and it has been a great experience so far. Even though the laptop came with originally came with Windows 11, installing Linux Mint was easy and everything just works.

The upgrade to Linux Mint 22.1 Xia happened without any problems when the time came, and the improvements the Linux Mint made to the new release are quite good. The Machenike keyboards K500 Pro-B94 and K500, that I use on regular basis, also work out of the box with Linux Mint. So much so, that I'm now a fan of mechanical keyboards for when I'm at home or the office.

Not only that, it has made me a Machenike fan, and I wish they would offer their laptops with Linux Mint preinstalled for those who prefer it over Windows. Not only that, that they offered the software for their keyboards for Linux too.

Machenike has proven to be quite a great value for money. So much so, that I'm considering one of Machenike's monitors for when the time comes to upgrade or change the one I got now. The same goes the for the mouse.

As someone who prefers laptops over PCs, Machenike has given me a great option over brands like HP, Dell, or Lenovo, for laptops that fit great for my personal needs. While Machenike might not come with the latest tech, it does offer options are that are better than good enough for everyday use.

The Machenike L16air also gave me the chance to use an AMD CPU, and RADEON GPU, for the first time. And so far, AMD had become a real option for my needs.

So far, Machenike has surpassed my expectations, and remained me why I do prefer laptops over PCs. Not only that, it also proven the Linux Mint is a solid option, that just works with a wide variety of hardware. And what is better, it does in a user friendly way. 

Linux Mint 22.1 Xia: a solid point release.

It has been about a week since I upgraded to the Linux Mint 22.1 Xia,  and it has been one of the best point releases Linux Mint has had in a while.

The change that has proven to have the most impact on me, as an user, is the ability to change the power setting on my laptop. I've seen a mayor battery life improvement when I set the power setting to power saving when not plugged in, and one of several hour. It has gone up from about 4 hours, to about 8 from a full battery charge.

Other than that, it has been a great point release so far for my daily use. Now, I'm looking forward for Wayland to supersede X11.

And that's why I like Linux Mint, it give a modern OS that only changes things when necessary and it just works. It isn't at the bleeding edge of Linux, but I don't need to be at the bleeding edge. I just need at the system that just work.

Linux Mint 22.1 Xia upgrade upcoming.

Linux Mint 22.1 Xia around the corner, I'd be looking to upgrade from Linux 22 Wilma. Even though is a point release, and it focuses more on stability, I'm looking forward to it.

The main reason being the upgrade to Cinnamon 6.4, is that it brings upgrades to the user experience. While user interface is quite good, the upgrades coming up seem to make the user interface better. Which is not a big deal as a whole, but quite welcomed for someone like me that apprentices a both form and function on the the things I use on daily basis.

Also the improved system stability promised, is a great thing. To be honest, Linux Mint has proven to be quite stable for my use, but there is always room for improvement. Personally, I'd like to see a better printer experience with non HP printers. Though is not bad, for time to time the print jobs get stuck, take ages to get sent, or it doesn't play nice with all printers.

Other than that, there isn't much on my wish list for Linux Mint 22.1 Xia. I just hope for another great release by the Linux Mint team.

Google confirms 5 OS updates for Pixel 6 and 7 series.

Google just announced that it would extend the guaranteed OS updates for Pixel 6 and 7 series, from the original 3 to 5. That are great news, since means that those Pixel devices will have a longer life span, and could mean other smartphone manufactures that use Android could consider to follow suit.

To be honest, it is also great news for me. I decided to go with a Pixel 7a, and knowing that I'm guaranteed to get Android 18 makes it that much better prospect for the next 3 years. If the next 3 OS updates go as well as the update from Android 14 to 15 did, I'm looking forward to keep my Pixel 7a for at least 2 years.

While I'd like to see some big updates with each of new update, I rather have each to bring small updates that actually make my smartphone user experience better. For me, the big updates are just the cherry on the cake.

Android 15: a nicer upgrade than expected.

After upgrading my Pixel 7a to Android 15 almost a month ago, the biggest improvement I've seen in the user experience side has been a longer battery life.

Normally on Android 14 by about 8:00 PM, I had about 30% of the battery left. Now, it normally has about 50% with a normal use on workday, on weekends it could be around 40% with heavy use of WhatsApp, social media, and Spotify. Not to mentions between 3 or 4 hours of Bluetooth while I stream music or podcasts on Spotify.

I also feel the Bluetooth connection with my earphones a lot more stable, and the connection feels faster. In general, the user experience feels better with no major downsides so far.

The upgrades from Android 12 to 13, on a Motorola phone, and from 13 to 14, on a Nothing Phone 1, were really good. Yet, they didn't feel as good as the upgrade on the Pixel 7a. Though the one on the Nothing Phone 1 comes close but not enough.

To be honest, unless something changes in a big way, the only two phones brands I'd consider in two years time to upgrade my phone are Nothing and Pixel. Specially because mid-range smartphones offer me the best value of my money for what I want, and need.

Not to mentions that I much prefer Android over iOS. Not that iOS, or iPhone, are bad in themselves, is more than Android works better for me. More far more willing to jump between different brand within the Android ecosystem, that to make the jump to iPhone.

Even more than I'm firmly on the Linux camp with my laptops, specifically with Linux Mint. As such, I rather not move into Apple's ecosystem at all.

When I moved from Symbian to Android, I didn't expect much. But, about a decade later I must admit that I have not looked back. Though, I still would have liked to see Symbian succeed and become a third player on the smartphone OS arena.

Mechanical keyboards have won me over.

After a couple of weeks giving mechanical keyboards a try, I must admit why people who use them recommend them so much. Typing on them really feels nicer, and the sound they make is quite something.

I have come to like mechanical keyboards so much, that I decided to get three of them. A 60% one for the laptop I use mainly for media consumption, and a couple of 80% percent ones for work at my home office and for work.

I decided to get these particular keyboards, because my laptop is from the same brand, and so far it has been quite a great value for my money. So much so, that if all goes as it gone so far when I've to replace it, I'm most likely to choose another one of the Machenike laptops. Specially since they play nice with Linux Mint, which is my go to Linux distro.

And so far, the keyboards have given my no problem at all with Linux Mint, actually they have worked like a charm. Though I could try to dive even deeper, I don't feel like I need to because they cover all my needs out of the box.

As a laptop user, I didn't expect mechanical keyboards to actually win me over. But, they did and now they are a must have for my office.