Pixel and Nothing: my favorite Android smartphones.

I've been using the Pixel 7a for over a year now, and it has been one of the best user experiences I've had so had with a smartphone so far. The only smartphone that come close, is the Nothing Phone 1 , so much so that when the time comes to replace my Pixel 7a, it will come to what Pixel and Nothing have on offering on the mid-range at the time.

While I'd like to have to latest, and greatest, flagship smartphone out there, with the experience I had with both the Pixel 7a, and the Nothing Phone 1, I've come to reilase that a good mid-range smartphone gives mee all what I need. Not only that, the user experience is just as good.

Besides, with Nothing offering at least 3 Android upgrades, and Google offering 7 on Pixels, the devices become all that better for me. Knowing that my smartphone will receive at least 3 years of OS upgrades is something that gives a lot more value for me. Specially since I know now that 3 years is the minimum amount of time I want to be able to use my smartphone before considering upgrading the hardware.

I've been using Android since 4.4 Kit Kat, and since then Android has become my go to mobile OS. And since Android 12 I've been able to use each yearly realize. The biggest user facing change has been with Android 15, and I really like it.

The way Android work, keeps me for even considering to making the jump to the iPhone. Not that the iPhone is bad, but Android gives me both the hardware, and software, that makes my user experience the one I want. Not to mention that Android devices are the ones that fit better to my lifestyle.

Linux has become much more user friendly.

One of myths that persist about Linux that bugs me the most, is that Linux is not user friendly. It once was true, but it hasn't been true since at least 2010.

While Linux distributions like Arch Linux and Debian require some expertise to use, there are other distros like Ubuntu and Linux Mint that are as easy to use as Windows or macOS. While coming from Windows, or macOS, might mean needing to some time to get used to Ubuntu, or Linux Mint, the jump is not all that big.

To be honest, the question you need to make before making the jump to a Linux distro is if the apps you need run in Linux, or if it has an alternative. For most user, the answer is in the positive. It is becoming the case, that only niche user cases can't make the jump because of an app doesn't work, or it doesn't have an alternative, on Linux.

Even working on remote desktops running Windows, or macOS, is easy on Linux. I've been using Remmina for years now, and it works like a breeze. Not only that, it works better that doing so from a Windows machine; mainly when printing.

Currently I use Linux Mint on a laptop, and it just works. I've been able to pair Bluetooth keyboards, mice, and headphones without problems. The same goes connecting a keyboard or a mouse using a 2.4G. Want to connect a HDMI or VGA monitor? No problem at all, you just need to plug them in.

The battery life on laptops have been getting better over the years, not Apple levels good. And modern distros are implementing power setting that extend battery life when you need to. Personally, I've been getting around 4 hours while on performance setting, and about 8 when I use the lowest one.

Linux is a solid option, and not only for users with high computer skills.

Change in work paradigm.

Turns out that companies need workers to return to the office, not because the work needs to be done at the office. It turns out, that they need the tax cuts they get for people going to the office.

State, and county, governments, give companies tax incentives if a certain number of employees work at an office they open. The more employees, the bigger the tax incentive they get, as such they need people to come in to the office in order to receive that incentive. So, it doesn't matter if the work can be done as well, or better, remotely. It doesn't matter how long the commute is either, they just want the worker to show up so the company reaches the head count needed.

There are some companies that refuse to adapt, they fail to see that some of the jobs they have can be done as effectively, or better, remotely. It even motivates their employees to work harder to be able to keep the job, or not having to go the office. It also increases moral, since remote workers feel better overall since they feel their work-life balance is better off.

At the end, the return to office policies are not for the benefit of employees, but for the benefit of the companies.

Other reason given, is that more jobs  would be created for the services needed for the workers that return to the office. Yet, those same jobs could be created at the place where those employees work from. So, the argument that employees have to return the office to create service jobs is dead on arrival, since those same jobs could be created where those employees work from.

The pandemic showed that remote work is more than feasible, there are jobs that can be done remotely. What is need is to change the paradigm of the relationship of the companies with their workers. If how work is done can be adapted to remote work, even tax incentives and breaks can me adapted to make remote work feasible for governments and companies. Modern technologies can make it work, what needs to be adapted are tax codes.

State, and local, governments that facilitate remote workers to live there could see a lot of benefits to their economy if they do it right. So do the companies that do the same, since a growing number of employees see remote work as non negociable. If companies what top talent, and local governments the tax revenue that come with them, remote work might be the only way they can get that talent and tax revenue.

Employees are aware that remote work is viable, and there is no way to put the genie back in the box.

Thunderbird: my preferred email client.

I never really used email clients before I started made the jump to Ubuntu over a decade ago. When I first installed Ubuntu, I saw that Thunderbird was one of the included apps, and since I already used Firefox, which is also made by Mozilla, I decided to give a try.

Since, I haven't looked back. Thunderbird made managing my email a lot easier, specially since I got more than one email address. Not having to enter the webpage of each of them is quite convenient, specially time saving for important mails. Another thing I like, is the fact that I can set up Thunderbird the way I like, and have all my emails in one place. Which means that I don't have to jump around several webpages to see to which email address a particular email arrived.

Over the years I've tried a couple of other email clientes, mainly GNOME Evolution and Nylas N1, I even used Microsoft Outlook at work for a while, but I always come back to Thunderbird. I've found out that Thunderbird gives me the right balance between a simple user interface, and the ability to configure it the way I want it. 

The user interface improvements that Thunderbird has had over time, it was cemented it as my go-to email cliente for personal and work use. And with the roadmap set by the developers on their blogs, it seems like Thunderbird is set to continue to be so on the long run.

What I would like to see in bars.

After listening to an episode of the Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast (Spotify link) about the economic data of the craft beer industry, it got me thinking about what the bars I like have that keep me coming back. Not only that, I also things that I'd like my perfect bar to have.

The first thing in the list, would be the beers I love and some craft beers to taste when I feel like trying something new. Preferably on draught, since I prefer it over the bottle or can options. i just like the taste better, for me it is just better.

Then comes the ambience. It has to be a placer were I can chill either by myself or with friends. The music should be loud enough so the conversations on other tables can be ignored while you can talk with the people on your table or just chill out.

Talking about the music, I prefer it to be rock, pop, lounge, or techno. The reason I prefer this music in the bars I like, is because they help me to chill out or not distract me much about the conversations happening with the people I'm with. Lounge and techno are better for the times when I'm out by myself and just want to chill out, or just want to wind down after a tough day at work.

I also like bars to have terraces to hang out, since I like to sit and just watch the world go by. For me sitting inside, and be surrounded by other people is something that I dislike. It even makes me a bit uncomfortable. That is also why I prefer bars that are not on the floor level, since it can offer better views of the sky line, and you are out of view of the people passing by.

On things that make it better for me as a geek, that the bar has Wi-Fi is a big plus. I'm a big laptop user for work and for personal use. So having Wi-Fi access is something a value a lot, to be able to do some quick work, do some web browsing, or just streaming some media content if I feel like it. As such, the tables and chair that are comfortable to use when I want to use my laptop is also a big plus.

As a sports fan, I'd love more bars in Mexico offering more sports options when they have several TVs. Having several TVs with the same game, and not with several games of different sports is one of the biggest missed opportunities. Specially since most people like more then one sport, and not everyone likes football. So, showing sports other that football, while showing the big games of the Mexican league, is something that would bring more people in.

At the end, bars are places where people come to make connections. I've a couple of friends with whom going a bar we both like is a bonding experience. They should also be places where people can safely be themselves, whoever they are in a safe way. That is why, there is a reason for different kind of bars that cater to different kinds of people rather a generic style of bar that ends up meaning nothing to everyone.

Bars should be more about the people who come to them, than the alcohol served.

Wireless lifestyle.

About a five years ago I decided to give Bluetooth headphones a try for use with my smartphone, and I must admit that not having wires to worry about was a nice thing to have. Before that, the only other wireless device I had was a mouse, because I had being using a laptop as my every day computer for years and not having a cable to use the mouse was also quite a nice thing.

After a I got a laptop that had Bluetooth when I upgraded, I had been using Bluetooth headphones for a couple of years. So, I decided to get a pair of Bluetooth headphones to use with it since I found that the audio of Bluetooth headphones is more than good enough for my use case, since I only use them to listen to music, videos, podcasts, or on video conferences. And it turned out to be quite a great experience for me. It gave a degree of freedom of movement that I appreciate a lot, since I like to stand up and walk a bit from time to time, and not having to take of the headphones to do so is quite nice. The same goes when I have to go for stuff that is nearby.

The next step for me was keyboards, since I was getting interested on mechanical keyboards since some friends where recommending them to me. After some research, I decided to go for it since I wireless ones were getting to be good for my use case on my offices at home and work. I decided to go the Bluetooth route, since I didn't want to lose an USB port to the dongle, and by just turning the keyboards on they connected to my laptop once paired with it. The same can be said to the new mouse I got when the time came to replace the one I had.

Now, I'm keeping wireless as much as I can keep it that way. The convenience is just to much, specially on the headphone and mouse side of things, to move back to wired devices with my laptop. Though buying quality Bluetooth devices can be pricey, if you get good ones they should last long enough to make them good investments.

Wireless technology has come a long way, specially Bluetooth, to make a viable options for those who want less wires to handle and the convenience it bring to they work flow or needs. it also has become cheaper, so getting quality devices at a more accesible price points is realistic for more people.

The choice of wired, or wireless, has become more about what do you need the device for rather than quality. And is a great thing.

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.