This 12 months was a type of years that did not utterly suck. We noticed some horrible issues and a few nice issues in 2023, however many of the 12 months simply chugged alongside being common, and after the previous few years, I believe all of us wanted just a bit little bit of common in our lives.Â
There have been a handful of issues I personally loved about 2023, in addition to issues I loved quite a bit much less, however I like to finish issues on a optimistic be aware each time I can. Listed here are the highest ten issues I am going to bear in mind fondly — a few of them are even about tech!
The Fairphone 5 is superior
The Fairphone 5 is the very best worth of any cellphone made right this moment and an enormous step up for the corporate.
Sure, it prices greater than different telephones with related specs and greater than its predecessor at €699.00, however one factor makes it value it — actual long-term help.
In 2028, chances are you’ll be utilizing the identical Samsung or Pixel cellphone you acquire in 2023 when you’re keen to pay somebody to swap batteries a couple of instances. If you happen to purchased a Fairphone 5, you simply purchased a battery and swapped it your self — it is essentially the most repair-friendly cellphone we have ever seen.
It even makes use of the brand new QCM6490 chip from Qualcomm that has an extra-long help cycle, so the updates will hold coming and coming. You will not discover something that comes shut for much less cash, and no firm is as pleasant to the planet and staff as Fairphone is.Â
These want to return to North America.
The Raspberry Pi will get a refresh
I have never gotten my Raspberry Pi 5 but, but it surely is likely one of the uncommon issues I’ve preordered.
On paper, it does not appear like an enormous leap in comparison with the Raspberry Pi 4. It is extra like a typical improve the place every little thing is a era newer and barely quicker, so it is going to be higher, however that is not why I used to be excited to see it. What I really like about it’s that it reveals the Raspberry Pi Basis continues to be dedicated to what it does finest — offering low-cost options for college students and hobbyists alike.Â
You will discover loads of single-board computer systems which are extra highly effective or higher suited to a selected software than the Raspberry Pi is, however I am going to all the time say you’re higher off shopping for one due to the help from the muse and the group the little board has. This can be a product that may assist form the longer term, and I am behind it 100%.
Baldur’s Gate 3 confirmed us every little thing fallacious with the gaming trade
If you happen to love gaming and have not performed Baldur’s Gate 3, you actually ought to give it a go.
It is an awesome sport even when you’re not into tabletop gaming or turn-based video games, however that is not why it is best to test it out. You need to take a look so you may see how unhealthy the gaming trade is and the way straightforward it might be to repair.
Larian Studios is not precisely some impartial studio making video games in a storage someplace, however in comparison with corporations like Bethesda, Sony, or Blizzard, the corporate can simply be seen as “the little man.” But, they delivered a sport that is full with out microtransactions, bought nice evaluations with out utilizing company affect, and paid immediate consideration to the inevitable bugs as they come up. There have been 5 hotfixes since launch for the smallest of points, however I am nonetheless ready on the 4GB reminiscence repair for Fallout New Vegas promised to us in 2012.
It is also fairly enjoyable to play, particularly when you like appearing like an entire fool and being rewarded in your inventive pondering. For me, it units the bar in opposition to which I’ll measure all new video games.
Google Meet is nearly like being there
My household is unfold throughout the US from Florida to Oregon. It might be good if I had a personal jet to go go to anytime I appreciated, however I am only a common dude with common means, and Google Meet is nearly like being there.Â
My oldest granddaughter began faculty in 2023, and I even bought to look at her very first vacation singing present thingy through Google Meet, which was cool. It is good to see faculty methods use know-how the precise means so prolonged households can really feel like they’re a part of all of it.
The youngsters even know how one can name us through their mother’s Nest Residence to allow them to discuss to Grandpa and Nana. It is among the best issues Google has ever accomplished, so far as I am involved.
The Garmin Venu 3: lastly a health look ahead to folks like me
If you happen to’re a wheelchair person and considering a health smartwatch, the Garmin Venu 3 is the one you can purchase.
Making a smartwatch might be actually troublesome to do, at the very least when you’re making an attempt to make an excellent one. That goes double when your watch begins specializing in being a part of a health platform. Have you learnt how one can make that even tougher? Emphasize health for individuals who use a wheelchair.
I do know that is onerous to do as a result of the world’s greatest and finest tech corporations have not figured it out but. It was onerous for me to get excited over a brand new Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch as a result of it appeared like they weren’t designed for folks like me, and truthfully, I gave up on caring about the entire wearables sector. I do know they have been engaged on it, and there have been enhancements in lots of areas, however they are not there but.
Garmin is there. I might have by no means identified if our wearables and health editor Michael Hicks hadn’t instructed me to offer the Venu 3 a strive, however Garmin has discovered how one can construct a smartwatch and health platform that does greater than convert steps into wheelchair pushes.Â
I have been sporting my Venu 3 since August, and I solely take it off as soon as per week to cost it for half-hour. I am undecided if my well being has improved or if I am turning into more healthy, however I do know it is good to really feel like I will get pleasure from regular issues.
Persons are studying how silly AI might be
In 2023, you could not go a single day with out seeing or listening to the time period AI. One good factor all that publicity achieved is exhibiting us how silly the tech is.
AI is not something new — within the Nineteen Nineties, I labored on software program algorithms that would resolve if an apple was crimson sufficient or if a spring did not have any kinks in it. What’s new is how built-in it has turn into into our day by day lives. AI is now a part of your life and never just a few massive machine that makes or packages stuff.
A few of it’s nice — AI helps folks hear, see, and talk higher. It could actually assist detect illnesses or different illnesses. It could actually even enable you take photos value maintaining so you may all the time have particular reminiscences.
It isn’t an alternative choice to a real-thinking particular person, although. For each time somebody on the web says an AI can move a university examination or write poetry, there may be an equal variety of instances AI does a nostril dive right into a fiery dumpster of hilariousness.
The tech retains getting higher, and years from now, the issues folks say right this moment might be largely true. One thing tells me the expectations and hype will develop on the identical tempo, and we’ll all the time have the ability to snigger on the silly computer systems making an attempt to sound like folks.
Gigabit web
I do know I am behind the instances right here, however I lastly was in a position to get gigabit web out right here within the woods.Â
It is good to have the ability to have YouTube enjoying within the background whereas I am working and nonetheless have the ability to obtain some multi-mega-huge press obtain, and value the price.
It did take away my excuse for being so unhealthy at Rainbow 6 Siege, although.
Gone fishin’
Irrespective of how good or unhealthy the week has been, Saturday is all the time an awesome day as a result of it has fishing in it.
I am not a type of guys who has costly fishing gear and may take a ship out to win prizes or something. I want I have been generally, however I largely go fishing as a strategy to chill out and discover time away from all of the issues that go beep.
Fishing was a bit simpler once I may stroll, however I do not let my wheelchair maintain me again. There are many locations the place I can wheel out on the dock or right down to the financial institution of the creek and toss out my line; each one is particular to me.
I attempted a flip cellphone and did not hate it
I believe folding telephones are an abomination. Taking an enormous factor that opens up into a good huger factor is simply one thing I’ve no use for, and all I can consider once I see one is how a lot it prices in comparison with a Pixel 7a and an iPad Mini.
“Flipables” are a unique story. Taking one big factor and folding it in half so it is much less big and simple to place in my pocket feels like an awesome concept, however I am low cost and by no means bothered to purchase one and see if I prefer it. My spouse did get a Galaxy Z Flip 4, however I by no means actually bought to mess with it, and it bought stolen out of the automotive shortly after she purchased it.Â
When the Galaxy Z Flip 5 got here out, I assume somebody at AT&T or Samsung was uninterested in me speaking out of my butt and despatched me one. I turned my different cellphone off and used it for 2 weeks, and to my shock, I did not hate it in any respect.Â
It is nonetheless longer and skinnier than I like, and I am not offered on the plastic display, however folding it in half and placing it in my shirt pocket offsets that. I am nonetheless low cost and have not but purchased one, but it surely’s close to the highest of my listing once I do must spend a few of my dusty cash.
Pets are folks too
I spend all day day-after-day working in my spare bed room turned workplace, and I am not going to lie; it may possibly get lonely.
I could not have any coworkers right here, however I do have companions to speak to: Henri the parrot and WeeWee the canine. Do not make that face, the grandkids named her WeeWee as a result of you may in all probability guess what occurred the primary time she got here to the home.
Whereas Henri can discuss to me, and I am fairly certain she understands a lot of what she’s saying, WeeWee can talk with me too. Whether or not I am preventing with the dumb fowl over a water bottle or watching that foolish canine dance, prance, and beg for a chunk of my PB&J sandwich, I do not really feel as alone as I might with out them.
Pets are like folks, and I really like mine like they’re my youngsters. Do not decide.
