Apple WWDC 2023 live thoughts

I don’t know about the Messages apps being an extra step away. I use the Giphy Messages app a lot. But I do love the stickers coming everywhere and being easy to create. (I’ve loved using Sticker Drop.)

God I hope the autocorrect truly is better/fixed. #ducking

I’ve tried using Day One many times, including paying for it repeatedly. The new Journal app is definitely intriguing. And glad to see their is an API for it. Continue reading “Apple WWDC 2023 live thoughts”

I preordered a ROG Ally

Preorders for the ROG Ally are up at Best Buy.

Got my order in almost right away so hopefully that launch day shipping estimate turns out to be accurate.

I really like my Steam Deck, but have discovered since owning it that my Game Pass “library” is more important (at least lately) than my Steam one. And often the Xbox games I’m playing the cloud streaming options just aren’t good enough. (Streaming is plenty good for some games though, just depends.)

I’ve spent 30+ years as a console gamer, so my biases and history are definitely still there. I’m really wanting primarily looking for a handheld/mobile way to play console type games. Pretty much only PC ass PC games I’ve really spent a bunch of time on over those years were Diablo, SimCity, and Civ and I can always plug the Ally into a monitor if I want to play that type of game. Plus, things like Age of Empires and SimCity are on Game Pass anyways so win-win.

Please don’t call me

I literally tear up every time my kids mention how they’re getting older, but also I am so ready for them to grow up just so I can turn on the iPhone setting to block all incoming calls not in my contacts.

Sony reportedly working on a new PlayStation handheld

Backbone One PlayStation edition product image

With their existing relationship with Backbone, could there be a chance this streaming PlayStation handheld rumor is a PS/Backbone device similar to Razer’s Edge dedicated Android device for Xbox and PC?

“…early prototypes show the console will look a lot like a PlayStation 5 controller, but with a massive 8-inch LCD touchscreen in the center”

I mean the Backbone One PlayStation edition sure already looks like a screen slapped in between PS controllers . I know if I was Backbone I’d certainly have opinions if Sony was doing such a similar sounding device without some sort of partnership.

Something able to use pretty close to off the shelf Android hardware like the Razer device could make the investment much less, and make it more likely Sony didn’t abandon it? I’m liking my Steam Deck and am more likely to pick up another PC handheld than a dedicated Sony device, but I’m glad that the competition in the handheld market is picking back up.

The Verge Color Quiz

The Verge Color Quiz

Take The Verge’s Color Quiz to test your color recognition skills and see if you can identify the hues of the logos of various tech brands. I did pretty terrible and only got 3 out of 8 right. The most interesting bit is post quiz when they give some background of the company logos and how they changed over time.

Valve Announces Steam Deck portable PC console

Steam Deck

Ok, I was already starting getting the itch to buy a gaming PC and then (thanks to watching a lot of LTT) and then today Valve announced the portable PC Steam Deck console.

It looks extremely cool and the price (compared to desktop PCs or even just graphics cards) is surprisingly affordable at $400 for the cheapest model. It looks like a big ass Nintendo Switch with a bit of a kitchen sink approach to control inputs. The claims of power/performance look solid for the tradeoffs of portable hardware and battery life.

As someone who has trouble finding time to sit and game in front of TV, the Steam Deck may be the thing that finally lets me catch up on a huge backlog of games I’ve been missing out on as a console gamer. We’ll see if I pull the trigger tomorrow when preorders open up.