2025-08-09 22:44:19
I am a big fan of SONOS, always have been, despite the recent controversy relating to the SONOS app. This is an important fact to state up front so you as the reader, know my bias. Every human has biases, and I am no different.
Here is my experience of using the SONOS Ace expressed in over 2500 words
2025-08-07 19:31:43
This is the question I have been asking myself for the last couple of weeks. I lost my father-in-law in a tragic car accident a month ago. Thankfully, my mother-in-law survived the accident.
2025-07-23 18:14:33
We are all familiar with MagSafe on MacBooks. On MacBooks, the MagSafe port is only for charging and does not serve any other purpose. Although the charging speed is decent, its main selling point is that the cable magnetically attaches to the MacBook which provides protection in the circumstances when the cable is unintentionally pulled.
Like most things Apple makes, it is beautifully designed and works well. It seems, as Apple users, we were content to accept whatever Apple gives us.
During my "Without Apple" experiment, I used the Surface Pro as my MacBook Pro and iPad Pro replacement. Microsoft has its own take on MagSafe and therefore, the Surface Pro 11 comes with a Surface Connect port as shown in the image below.
2025-07-17 13:28:10
Since I can remember, I have always used Windows and never had a reason to switch away. Honestly, I didn't even think that there may be viable alternatives. However, in 2010, I bought my very first Mac and that started an epic decade long journey where Apple became my favourite tech company.
We tell ourselves stories. It is funny, actually. I always thought, I bought my Mac because I got an iPhone and fell into the hype that MacBooks work better with iPhone compared to Windows. This narrative is often referred to within the Apple centric media and I suppose, unintentionally, that became my narrative as well.
However, I recently found my first iPhone, and it was an iPhone 5 which I got as a wedding gift in 2013. Therefore, I couldn't possibly be motivated by the iPhone to get a Mac in 2010.
This has been on my mind especially since I started my "without Apple" experiment.
Within a couple of days, the answer was apparent. In 2010, I started working full time and was in front of a Windows PC all day. After spending the whole day working on Windows, I didn't want to use my personal Toshiba Windows laptop. This is precisely what happened when I started using my Surface Pro for work all day.
I didn't switch to Mac because it was superior, but because it offered a distinct experience. It created a separation between my personal and work computing. Using a Mac was a refreshing change, breaking the monotony of using Windows for eight hours a day, five days a week.
Many individuals use Windows for both their professional and personal tasks. Similarly, some people use Macs throughout the workday and then continue using them for personal computing at home. In 2010, I preferred not to, and that's why I bought my first Mac. I probably bought it using funds from my first full-time job.
So, now, I have documented Why I moved away from Windows, 15 years ago. My future self may forget and this blog post will be a useful reminder.
2025-07-06 18:06:11
Vivaldi is a wonderful addition to my workflow. This isn't my first rodeo with Vivaldi, but this seems like the first time Vivaldi and I have clicked. There is chemistry, there is joy and there is delight. The customization options are plentiful. Previously, this deterred me. This time, I used them to create a minimal browser that suits my preferences.
The image above (feature image of this blog) is Vivaldi after tweaking it. This is probably the first time I have set down and considered how I want my browser to look and function.
Before I got into the details of my setup, the following reasons why Vivaldi appeals to me:
Allow me to break it down. The following is an image of my Vivaldi setup with my blog post page loaded:
You notice Vivaldi is minimal, but this is not Vivaldi's default look. After careful consideration, this is what I have settled on. Noting, I have only had this setup for a couple of weeks.
Vivaldi, like most browsers, has an address bar, mostly on the top and a status bar, which is mostly at the bottom. I turned off the address bar and added components of the address bar to the status bar.
The cool yet nerdy thing to know about Vivaldi is the concept of command chain, which allows you to set up a group of commands executed in sequence. You can then assign it to a keyboard shortcut 🆒. My use case is fairly straightforward. Through command chains, I have added shortcuts/features that I prefer in a browser.
Copy link: I missed not having an easy way to copy the link of the current webpage. This allows me to have an icon on the status bar to copy the link of the current webpage. I also assigned the same keyboard shortcut as on the Arc Browser.
Open Split view: this is one of those features that I also missed coming from Arc browser. Clicking this on the status bar, opens a blank page on the right with my favourite websites a link away. Another cool feature of the command chain is that you can add any command chain to your right-click menu. This allows me to open a link in the split view. To assign a command chain to the right link menu, go to Settings > Appearance > Menu Customization > under the drop-down menu. Select Link. Then, drag the specific command chain from the right to the left. As shown below:
I am pretty happy with this setup and having Vivaldi sync between Android and Windows makes life a little easier. I've never been satisfied with Android's browser options. Always end up using Chrome. But I've been happily using Vivaldi for weeks. I think I'll stick with it 🤞.
2025-07-01 19:48:31
Every product you buy comes with some king of warranty which gives you, the consumer confidence that if there is a manufacturer fault, you will be looked after. Warranties are useful PERIOD. However, reading the fine-print is arguably even more important.
18 months into my Logitech MX Master 3S purchase, my beloved mouse refuse to charge beyond 35%. Weird, huh?
I reached out to Logitech Australia, and they confirmed it is a manufacturer's fault but it is outside the warranty period. Interestingly, in Australia, Logitech only provides 12 months of hardware warranty, compared to 24 months in the UK. As an Aussie, feeling like a second-class citizen.
Obviously, I was disappointed with Logitech. This mouse was expensive and rightly expected it to last a few years. I wasn't provided many avenues so I basically said, I will lodge a complaint with Australian Consumer Protection. It was a threat but I knew I would do nothing of that sort. I was told the matter will be escalated and I will hear in 48 hours. Well, that did not happen.
Part of me was convinced that when I bought the mouse it came with 2 year warranty. That is why I reached out to Logitech in the first place, knowing the issue will be covered under warranty.
How lucky am I? Even to this day, the Amazon listing states it comes with 2 year warranty.
This is the benefit of purchasing from Amazon. I reached out to them and explained my situation. The Amazon representative said, they cannot provide a replacement but offered to refund the entire amount (AUD99) upon returning the mouse. So that is exactly what I did. I went back to using the Logitech MX Master 2 that I had kept at my office. Because: The current retail price of the mouse is AUD135, and I've heard rumors of a new Logitech MX Master 4, so I didn't buy a new one right away.
I am still disappointed with Logitech and therefore was not motivated to spend money on Logitech products
Few days later, Logitech reached out to me, offering a replacement under warranty 😀. A week later, a brand new mouse was at my doorsteps. Thankfully, Logitech did not ask me to return the mouse because I had already sent it to Amazon Australia.
This is one of those few circumstances in life where things work out for this Mere Civilian.
There is the matter of the AUD99 refund. This money does not belong to me because I have already received a replacement mouse. To that end, I made a donation to one of my favourite charities, TLC for Kids.
