Reading more
Why I got a Kindle and set a goal to read 24 books in 2017
Stuff I use
Updated Sept 2020 · /changes.xml
Table of contents
Display
The nano-texture Apple Pro Display XDR
For several years I relied upon my Dell UP2718Q 4K display; originally described in my 2018 article, Building a Lightroom PC. At the time it was a great 27" monitor with both Mac and PC support, 4K resolution and impressive color accuracy. It served me well.
I had always kept my eye on the new computer displays ever since then but the options for non-gaming displays continued to feel stagnant. There weren't any new traditional 5K panels, just lots of ultrawide 5K displays being introduced. The LG 5K remained the only other good contender if your machine could run 5K over Thunderbolt 3 and you didn't mind the ridiculously glossy, reflective display and dull aesthetics.
Then the 32-inch Retina 6K Apple Pro Display XDR was announced. I could rattle off the long list of specs but I'd prefer to just keep it simple and only mention the ones really important to me: 6K resolution, nano-texture matte glass, 1000/1600 nits with full P3 wide color gamut, as well as the stunning design and simplicity of it with just one cable to charge and run from my 16" MacBook Pro.
The problem with running 4K on my prior 27-inch display was that I always had to be running a scaled resolution to be able to see things large enough to interact with. Running at the native 3840x2160 was possible but everything was impossibly tiny. With the XDR, there's more resolution and a physically larger display, so this is less of a problem.
Of course, the Retina 2x mode is only 3008x1692 on the XDR, so when I find myself wanting more screen real estate and am okay with sacrificing some sharpness, I use SwitchResX to move to a 3840x2160 scaled resolution.
First impressions
The size: After the typical lovely unboxing with Apple's insane attention to detail, I found myself looking at a huge XDR display on my desk. I had never been in front of such a large computer monitor. It honestly took about a week to get used to the size. It felt like I more actively had to move my neck around to look at the whole screen.
The simplicity: Setup was a breeze and I can't stress how refreshing it was to take down my older monitor and all of its required cables. The XDR just needs power and one single Thunderbolt 3 cable. The integrated USB-C hub in the XDR takes care of accessories I need like my webcam, security key and Logitech USB dongle for mice.
The impressive nano-texture glass: My Dell display was matte but I still couldn't use it in my living room when I had a light on behind me. The glare was too annoying for doing any real work. That's not an issue at all with the nano-texture Pro Display XDR. I'm incredibly impressed with its performance in a variety of lighting conditions.
There were, however, some concerns as well. First off, I did notice a kind of vignetting with the display and have heard this directly from a few other XDR owners. Not a traditional vignetting where the corners are darker, but more so stemming from my field of view. Looking at parts of the screen that are not directly in front of my field of view felt slightly darker but appear normal as I move my head closer to them or moved further back.
Another significant concern is with the nano-texture glass. It requires a special cleaning cloth and cannot be cleaned by any other means. I'm just very worried that one day I will accidentally splash coffee on it, sneeze on it or something else and it won't be easy to clean and will leave permanent splotches on the screen. The manual says nothing about ever using any liquid to clean the display so I'm not sure how I might safely remove any liquids that splash on it. So for now, I remain 100% paranoid about using liquids near the XDR.
That being said, the special cleaning cloth is very effective. I had one fingerprint on the side from adjusting the position of the display that I was worried it wouldn't be able to clean (fearing my finger oils maybe seeped in) and the cloth instantly cleaned it with one light swipe.
Overall, I'm thoroughly impressed with this display and it's exactly what I was looking for. Is it overkill for someone that uses it for hobbyist photography and design and development needs? Definitely. I'm not putting it to its full potential as I rarely have a use for things like its reference modes, though other functionality like True Tone is incredibly convenient and easy on the eyes when not doing any color-sensitive work.
It's not possible to talk about the Pro Display XDR without bringing up the price. Yes, it's ridiculously expensive when comparing it to what an all-around good computer monitor usually costs: $800-1200. With the nano-texture option, the stand, Apple Care (with a display like this, you absolutely want it) and tax, the XDR weighs in at just over $8,150 USD.
I was able to purchase it for considerably less with the help of an employee friend discount as well as receiving 6% back from using my Apple Card during a holiday promo. I think it's worth it—especially for something I will hopefully be using for the better part of a decade—but that's understandably a very personal decision. I also, admittedly, place a lot of value in its physical aesthetics.
I also needed to get a webcam since the XDR, meant for professionals that would likely be mounting several of these together in a studio, does not have one. I had an old Logitech webcam for many years and used that for a bit but it wasn't great: the mounting bracket was too deep for the XDR's thin bezel and would touch and hide part of the screen.
Logitech 4K Pro Webcam for Pro Display XDR
4K webcam with a magnetic mount and perfectly-sized USB-C cables.
The only Apple-endorsed solution was a special edition of the Brio 4K called the Logitech 4K Pro for XDR. The case design is a little different and it comes with a short USB-C cable that's the perfect length.
Laptop
16" MacBook Pro
While I do most of my casual daily computing on my iPad Pro, I turn to my MacBook Pro for the heavy lifting like iOS development, web development, design and photo editing.
I have gone through phases over the years, oscillating between having a powerful desktop computer and an ultra-portable laptop like the 12-inch MacBook to having a more powerful all-around laptop and an even more powerful desktop computer.
Most recently my laptop was a 14" Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon (since sold). It had an excellent keyboard, had an integrated LTE modem, a bright 500 nit IPS display with 100% AdobeRGB coverage and weighed of only 2.5lbs. I loved using it for photo editing and web development on the go. I had originally gone with a Windows laptop to simplify Lightroom catalog sharing with my desktop Windows PC, since remote volumes—like my NAS—use different paths between macOS and Windows. But over time that wasn't enough to keep me on the Lenovo.
Eventually I ordered the Apple Pro Display XDR and found myself in need of a way to drive it before it arrived. There were two turn-key solutions: get a new MacBook Pro or a Mac Pro. Other solutions involved doing some gymnastics to upgrade my desktop PC (or hackintosh it) to support the display. I've ended up loving the MacBook Pro + XDR setup combination and easily being able to have the portability and power I need. And with the move to Apple Silicon, I'm no longer interested in going with an Intel Hackintosh setup.
I also got the BookArc from Twelve South so I could claim more desk space by having my MacBook Pro vertically mounted. I prefer using my laptop like this and have never liked having it open to use as a second display. Besides, I have all the real estate I need with the XDR alone.
Twelve South BookArc
Nifty space-saving vertical stand for my 16" MacBook Pro so I can keep it tucked away behind my XDR and reclaim desk space.
I ended up going with a 16" MacBook Pro with the upgraded 8-core Intel Core i9 CPU, 32GB RAM, a 2TB SSD and the upgraded Radeon Pro 5500M 8GB GPU. It's a fantastic machine and I find the updated keyboard to be a great improvement (though by no means perfect). I've been using the machine for close to a year now and have been very impressed by it, especially with all the Xcode development I've been doing on it during COVID-19 quarantine. It was definitely worth the money.
Desktop computer
For the heavy lifting: photo editing, web dev & gaming
Update
I have not used this machine much ever since I got the Apple Pro Display XDR. The PC won't work with the XDR as-is. I think it's possible to get it to drive the XDR but may require a new motherboard, a Thunderbolt 3 add-in card, a larger case to accomodate the larger motherboard needed for the extra PCIe slot and a new case to fit everything.
Drivers for the XDR exist in the Apple Boot Camp drivers and I think it should be possible to extract them to Windows with brigadier but it hasn't been updated in years and I have yet to try. However, even if that worked, I'm not sure the USB functionality like brightness control would work, nor would the XDR's integrated USB 3 hub operate as intended.
It's more feasible to get all XDR functionality when running the PC as a hackintosh with macOS. But for that to work well I would likely also need an AMD graphics card instead of my Nvidia RTX card.
In short: While my 8-core 16-inch MacBook Pro is a fast machine, there could always be faster with a desktop machine. I used to want a more powerful desktop computer to pair with the XDR but I am no longer interested getting a PC to work with it as I have been doing a lot of iOS development this year. I'm also no longer interested in going with a Hackintosh setup with the move to Apple Silicon and would prefer running a real Apple Silicon system going forward.
My desktop computer usage is primarily comprised of photo editing with Adobe Lightroom, basic web development, occasional gaming and light video editing with Adobe Premiere Pro.
Around 2015, when I was only using a 13" MacBook Pro, I wanted something faster and a larger display to pair with my growing desire to edit and publish more photography on this site. So I wound up with a 27" 5K iMac (and 12" MacBook). But two years with that setup I began to feel the same need to have modern hardware and wanted something faster again.
While the 5K display on the iMac was phenomenal, the inability to run top of the line hardware was starting to get to me. And you can't upgrade the CPU and motherboard on an iMac if you wanted to jump to the latest generation processor. I really wanted a much faster GPU and was interested in going with Windows build this time instead of a hackintosh build as I had done before.
I built that Windows 10 PC and wrote about it in detail in my longest article ever: Building a Lightroom PC. It served me very well and was a fun project. It also received a bit of attention from PetaPixel, DPreview and others.
Published my longest blog post ever: 32,000 words on Building a Lightroom PC: Why I switched to Windows and built a water-cooled 5.2GHz 6-core editing machine https://t.co/FGRUr85JKO pic.twitter.com/qnWCT8Bnra
— Paul Stamatiou 📷 (@Stammy) January 22, 2018
Then a year passed and I moved to New York. I wanted to downsize my possessions for the move and the expectation that I would have a smaller apartment in NYC. I shipped that large computer home and built small form factor (SFF) Windows 10 PC. Despite the size with its mini-ITX motherboard and SFX-sized power supply, it's even more powerful than my last desktop.
It has a watercooled 8-core delidded Intel i9 9900K processor as well as a hefty Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti graphics card but for me the real masterpiece is the lovely and expandable Louqe Ghost S1 case.
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Intel Core i9 9900KCPU, DELIDDED
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NZXT Kraken X52 AIO liquid CPU coolerCPU cooler
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EVGA Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti XC BlackGraphics card
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ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming ITX/acMotherboard
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2x16GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3000 CL15LOW-PROFILE RAM
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2TB Samsung 970 EVO M.2 SSDStorage
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1TB Samsung 960 EVO M.2 SSDStorage (TAKEN FROM LATE 2017 BUILD)
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Custom paracord sleeved cablesPSU cables
SFF PC PARTS
Depending on your needs, you can add so-called "tophats" to provide more room for things from storage to watercooling radiators. Building in the confined space was definitely a challenge but it was made manageable with some custom-length sleeved power cables.
But the biggest surprise is just how quiet this thing is. During regular use the PSU and graphics card fans are completely off and it's just the large radiator fans spinning slowly. I have been extremely impressed with this setup.
But, as mentioned in the update section above, I grew a strong affinity towards the new Apple Pro Display XDR. I ordered the XDR first and then had to figure out how to run it. So now I use it with the 16-inch MacBook Pro until I decide how/when I'd like to get it running with a more powerful desktop computer.
Desk & task chair
Floyd desk + Herman Miller Cosm
After using cheap desks for a decade I thought it was time to invest in a high-quality desk for the next decade. In particular I wanted a sit/stand desk that I could easily adjust; I'm a bit picky when it comes to setting the height of my desk.
I also wanted one that did not look like it belonged in the office. One that was pretty small by office standards at only 48-inches wide. One with a nice wood top that could fit in with the rest of my furniture and wasn't too long, unlike most popular desks that seem to be 60 inches wide or more. I ended up with this Humanscale Float from Room & Board with a walnut top (pictured below). It looks great and is very sturdy.
I used it for almost 4 years and loved it, but when it came time to move to New York, I decided to have it shipped back home instead of come with me to New York. It was a great desk but was extremely heavy and I worried I may not have space for it in a smaller New York apartment.
Likewise, I sold my Herman Miller Embody when I moved. It served me well over the ~7 years I've owned it but I was up for something new, in a different color, and ideally lighter. Everything about the Embody felt heavy and hard to maneuver.
I ended up going with a newer Herman Miller model, the Cosm. It's a fairly simple task chair with almost no controls—just height—making it a huge departure from my previous Embody chair that had tons of adjustment knobs.
The Cosm also feels much, much lighter. It's a breeze to move around. I opted for a custom order: low back in Glacier fabric color with a white chassis, no armrests and a polished base.
As for the desk, I knew I wanted something less deep than my previous desk as I really didn't need it to be 30-inches deep. I would have preferred something less wide as well but really did not find many stylish desk options that were small and New York apartment friendly. I ended up going with a simple white and gray Floyd desk.
Keyboard & mouse
It's a three-way tie for mice..
Lets get the keyboard out of the way first. I'm currently using the Keychron K2 mechanical keyboard. I've never really liked mechanical keyboards—always preferred slim and compact keyboards over the years. But after seeing a handful of friends switch to mechanical keyboards, I wanted to give it a try to see if I would still be happier with my Apple Magic Keyboard.
I ordered the Keychron K2 for a few reasons. It's reasonably priced at under $100 and comes with basically ever feature I'd ever want from a keyboard: Bluetooth wireless, USB-C charging (can also use it directly over USB-C if you prefer), support for multiple Bluetooth devices (tap fn+1/2/3 to switch between 3 paired devices easily), a myriad of backlight modes with the RGB model I got, relatively compact with no numpad, and finally MacOS keycaps out of the box (with a button to switch between MacOS and Windows modes).
First day impressions of the #Keychron K2:
— Paul Stamatiou 🏡 (@Stammy) May 1, 2020
- it’s super tall. I was most comfortable with a 1-inch foam wrist rest
- it’s not quiet, even w/ brown switches. Getting o-ring dampeners
- soo satisfying to type
- got mostly used to it in 2hrs. Layout of cmd & arrows were main issue pic.twitter.com/EY13ho9UEh
I'll be the first to admit that it's not a pretty keyboard by any means. It's also very tall. I am most comfortable using a tall wrist pad in front of the keyboard. It took a few days to get used to it, though I can't say I'm in love with it just yet. Even with the brown switches and some o-ring dampeners I added, it's definitely a loud keyboard compared to what I'm used to.
Typing on it is comfortable for me but it's not life-changing. It is a bit more satisfying to press keys with more travel but it feels like a bit more work. I haven't experienced any positive or negative effects to my wrist pain compared to my Apple Magic Keyboard. The keycaps on the K2 are made from thin ABS plastic. Over time the ABS keycaps attract your finger oil and become shiny. ABS is not the best material for keycaps—"PBT" is preferred.
After using the Keychron K2 for many months, I now greatly prefer it over the Magic Keyboard—but it's not perfect. After lots of searching though, it is hard to find a mechanical keyboard that has USB-C charging, Bluetooth wireless (with pairing functionality for multiple devices), a compact layout, high-quality (MacOS) keycaps with nice typography and an overall nice keyboard aesthetics.
Keychron did recently announce a new low-profile K3 model that I was able to preorder. My main gripe with the K2 is how tall it is and how it requires a tall wristpad, so I'm very interested to see how the K3 works for me.
Now, on to the mice. Yes, I have three. For the past few years I have had some recurring wrist RSI pain from my computer and phone use in my right wrist. To keep it in check I've found it helpful to use a variety of input devices. I have the Wacom tablet, a regular Logitech MX Master 3 and finally a Logitech MX Vertical.
I try to use the Wacom tablet the most and reduce the amount I articulate my wrist and instead move the stylus pen with my whole arm. I haven't used the Wacom that long, so I'm still learning proper form. I tweeted my impressions on using a Wacom tablet after my first two weeks with it in this thread.
As for the Logitech mice, I'm a huge fan of their large ergonomic shape that makes it much easier for me to use for long periods than something low profile like the Apple Magic Mouse for example. I also appreciate the Logitech mouse customization software and the use of their unifying receivers and the ability for each mouse to switch between three channels. This proves hugely useful when use the same mice between various devices. I use this functionality constantly when switching between using it with my personal laptop, my work laptop and my desktop PC.
iPad Pro
While I do the heavy lifting on the PC, I take care of my casual couch and travel computing with my iPad Pro. I used to have a 13" Touchbar MacBook Pro that I used for the majority of my casual computing but I ended up getting rid of it after finding a way to weave the iPad Pro into my daily life. I wrote an article about how I use it.
After just over 2 years with the TouchID 12.9" iPad Pro I decided to upgrade to the newer 4th gen 2020 model. While my first iPad Pro was still plenty fast I wanted to try something different: a smaller iPad Pro and one with an LTE modem so I could use it more easily outside the house without using my phone's Wi-Fi hotspot.
Got the 11” LTE iPad Pro with magic keyboard and pencil 2 just in time for some vacation next week. 😀
— Paul Stamatiou 🏡 (@Stammy) August 13, 2020
So tiny compared to my pre-FaceID 12.9” one. And my @googlefi LTE data SIM worked out of the box. Keyboard is solid so far, though I wish i could tilt it further back https://t.co/ybp53SoczJ pic.twitter.com/uX0G2Tf8MF
Going from a TouchID-generation 12.9" iPad Pro to a newer 11" iPad Pro with FaceID and a much thinner bezel is quite a change. While I enjoyed the large display on the last model, the added thickness from the bezel ended up getting annoying over the years, especially when stuffing in my backpack.
The new 11" iPad Pro changed a few things for me. The form factor is a bit more convenient and I find myself using it a good bit more, even for small things as it's less of a hassle to grab and setup.
11" iPad Pro
Space Gray 2020 4th gen, FaceID, 256GB, with LTE. This replaced my 2018 12.9" iPad Pro and I wanted to mix it up and try the smaller 11" model with LTE.
Apple Pencil 2
Tilt & pressure sensitive. Double-tap to switch modes. Magnetically attaches to iPad Pro to charge.
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro
Backlit keyboard with a trackpad featuring a floating cantilever design that magnetically attaches to the iPad Pro and provides an additional USB-C port (though only pass-through for charging the iPad).
Second, the magic keyboard with trackpad really changes things. The keys are easier to type on than the last generation iPad Pro keyboard and it's easier to setup—just move the iPad Pro near the magic keyboard and strong magnets snap it into place. The last keyboard required a bit more finesse and some occasional reseating to get the connection to work. And of course then there is the trackpad on the Magic Keyboard, making it effortless to use a pointer when it makes sense, especially when doing lots of text editing.
The keyboard is not without its flaws though. The backlight for keys is not easy to control. It will automatically turn off with inactivity or certain tasks but other than that you can only control it by doing deep into settings. It would be nice if there was a control center widget to toggle the key backlight. My other nitpick with the keyboard is that I wish I could angle the iPad Pro up a bit more.
And finally, I find myself using the Apple Pencil a lot more than I used to with my old iPad Pro—purely from the Pencil being magnetically docked right atop the iPad Pro. It's so convenient now.
Apple Watch
A new must-have for me
I'm not a watch person. Haven't been for a decade. Always felt it was annoying to have on my wrist and annoying to have on while typing.. but I became more and more intrigued with all the health tracking functionality that the Series 4 Apple Watch brought to the table, including the new ECG feature. So I got one and surprisingly I fell in love with it and have been wearing it daily (and nightly) since I got it.
Alright I got my first Apple Watch. Series 4 40mm. Wanted the lightest one. Not really a watch person but now I’m thinking I just had a bad experience with my last heavy link band chrono years ago. This thing is light! Most curious about the health tracking ❤️ pic.twitter.com/W4yVLfLmZa
— Paul Stamatiou 📷 (@Stammy) September 26, 2018
The heart rate and activity/workout tracking is first rate (I also love a sleep tracking app called Pillow). Controlling music on the go from my wrist is great. Having notifications on my wrist is of course a nice to have—don't always need to pull out my phone for what likely ends up being a notification requiring no action. Then I found myself using Apple Pay more and more as it was so convenient. I opted for the smaller 40mm non-LTE model and a few straps: black sport loop, black sport band, olive sport loop, space black milanese loop.
Of course this does mean one thing: my primary phone is now my iPhone 11 Pro and not my Android. I love Android, but the Apple Watch software and hardware is so compelling. I haven't found any Google WearOS devices that can come close, mainly in terms of aesthetics.
Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock
A higher-end charger for the Apple Watch with a sturdy and heavy base. You can move the charging dock to charge flat or tilted up.
Networking
Gigabit ISP, AmpliFi Alien mesh kit and more
First and foremost — my internet connection. I'm very lucky to have gigabit symmetrical fiber via Verizon FiOS. This definitely comes in handy when backing up hundreds of gigabytes of photos and videos after a trip.
I recently migrated away from my Eero mesh WiFi setup (2 base stations and one Beacon) to an AmpliFi Alien Router and MeshPoint. While my place is relatively small, I have had issues with previous WiFi setups that were not mesh-based, like the Apple AirPort Extreme, providing adequate WiFi coverage. These days I would only consider a modern WiFi system that has WiFi 6, is mesh-based and has an advanced mobile app allowing me customize various aspects of my network and the devices on it, including device profiles and guest networks.
I enjoyed my Eero setup (I had Eeros both at my house and my parent's house) and they had a great mobile app, but it wasn't perfect. Each individual base station wasn't terribly powerful so you really had to invest in extra units depending on the layout of your house. This is true with all mesh-based WiFi but with the Eero the max throughput from each individual base station drops dramatically if you aren't very close to them.
Joining the @ubnt @AmpliFiHome WiFi 6 bandwagon. ⚡️ More to come once I finally set it up pic.twitter.com/m0CltRNG7d
— Paul Stamatiou 🏡 (@Stammy) August 1, 2020
I decided to move to a different mesh WiFi setup: the AmpliFi Alien router and MeshPoint kit. I had never used any Ubiquiti or AmpliFi products before but heard great things. One of the main reasons I was intriguted in this setup was it's support for WiFi 6.
While WiFi 6 supports a much greater theoretical max (9.6Gbps vs 3.5Gbps for WiFi 5), the main benefit of WiFi 6 is better performance when dealing with many wireless devices on the network. While it's still early for WiFi 6—as of right now only my iPad Pro and iPhone 11 Pro support WiFi 6— it's definitely something to look for in a router with new WiFi 6 devices coming out these days.
The AmpliFi Alien (the MeshPoint is a second unit that's almost identical but with no screen) is unlike any other router I've had. It has a touchscreen so you can keep an eye on network status, run speed tests and see connected devices at a glance. It has an internal fan which is nice to see as I know my Eeros always got super hot.
Peformance with the new setup has been great and honestly had me questioning if I even needed more than one unit for my place. When setting up the MeshPoint you have some options for how to connect it to the main Alien router. You can either wire it with Ethernet if you can (what I do) or wirelessly. Here's where the main downside with the Alien comes into play: the Alien doesn't have a dedicated wireless backhaul band for the router and MeshPoint to use to communicate between each other. You can, however, select what band is used for the backhaul: 5GHz for faster speeds or 2.4GHz for extended range.
Finally, the most interesting part of this AmpliFi setup for me is a feature called Teleport. With zero setup you can immediately begin using your home internet connection as a VPN on your devices.
Ubiquiti AmpliFi Alien Router and MeshPoint
Advanced Wi-Fi 6 mesh system with a built-in display.
UniFi Flex Mini Switch
5-Port managed Gigabit Ethernet switch. Can be powered by USB-C or POE. It's tiny—great for hiding behind my Synology NAS.
UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE
8 port Gigabit Ethernet switch with 60W power supply. This thing is meant for controlling and powering several PoE UniFi Access Points but I'm using it as a basic switch for now.
The Alien has a built-in 4-Port gigabit Ethernet switch which was nice to see. However, I try to connect everything possible via Ethernet so I ended up expanding it with some Ubiquiti switches.
Home automation
Basically just controlling lights with Alexa
I use the Amazon Echo along with some Insteon devices to control lighting in my house. It's a wonderfully convenient solution and I have found the Echo to be handy for other basic things like setting alarms, telling me about the news that day, weather and searching for basic info. Insteon has a bunch of other devices to control other aspects of your home but I'm just starting with these.
Eventually, I replaced the original Amazon Echo device with a smaller Sonos One, which features complete Amazon Echo functionality.
And while not exactly home automation related, I added the very affordable Blink home security camera to this list. Blink, an Amazon-owned company, makes small, simple battery powered home security cameras. While they can also be plugged in, the beauty is that they can be placed anywhere and still wake up when motion is detected.
I've also grown quite fond of lights from Pablo Designs. I replaced my kitchen pendant lights with ones from Pablo Designs and then purchased this tall Vella floor light to go in the corner. It has two independently swiveling aluminum louvers so you can control how the light casts itself as well has adjustable LED levels.
Home theater
LG OLED + Sonos
When I moved to New York I ended up selling my black Sonos Play:1's and Sub, as well as leaving my TV and Playbar in my house that I rented out. I loved that setup but thought my New York apartment would be smaller and have more neighbors, so I didn't necessarily need a subwoofer or the most capable soundbar. I knew I loved the Sonos system, I just wanted to downsize a bit.
I went with the new Alexa-enabled Sonos Beam sound bar and two paired rear Play:1s with Sonos Stands. All in white to match a few other accents in my room, along with the lighter floors. I also have another Play:1 in my bathroom and the Sonos One in my bedroom. It's just so easy to play music to any or all of the Sonos speakers with Spotify and other music services.
As for the TV, I was happy to retired my older 1080p 65" Sony TV when I moved. At the time it felt like it was too early to go 4K in terms of the content available. But now in 2019 with a plethora of 4K content available and the 4K Apple TV, it felt like the right time.
This time I went with an OLED TV instead. I opted for the just-released-at-the-time 65" LG C9. It's ridiculously thin, so thin that I had someone come over to help me unbox and mount the stand as I was worried I would crack it.
Why OLED? OLED TVs have extremely high contrast levels, deep blacks and vibrant colors. The downside of OLED displays is that they are not as bright as LED-backlit TVs, making it less than ideal for viewing in bright rooms, and the potential for screen burn-in. I weighed the pros and cons and decided to proceed with OLED regardless. I've had it for a few months now and absolutely love it.
![elago R1 Intelli Case [Black]-[Magnet Technology][Anti-Slip][Lanyard Included][Heavy Shock Absorption] for Apple TV Siri Remote 4K / 4th Generation](data:image/jpeg;base64,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)
RETIRED
Sony 65"
LED, 3D, Android TV
Kitchen
Spending more time in the kitchen
I use my kitchen a decent amount and cook dinner most evenings, at least during the weeks. My mornings usually start by making myself a cup or two of coffee.
I finally ditched the spice grinder I had been using to grind my coffee beans and went with a burr grinder with various settings for how I'm making the coffee. I most frequently just make single cups with a Kalita Wave 185 dripper, but I use my french press often too. Beyond that I love my Heath mugs and plates.
Sous vide
I have become particularly interested in sous vide cooking, a technique generally involving any cooking occuring in a temperature-controlled water bath over a long period of time with the foods placed (ideally) in a vacuum-sealed bag. The main benefit of this style of cooking is cooking the meat the same way the whole way through and getting a tender, flavor-packed result without losing any juices.
There are a million articles online explaining sous vide but here's a good one. In addition to the gear below I also have a container and lid from Everie. I have also been pretty happy with these sous vide bags you can vacuum seal with a simple hand pump.
I originally had the Anova sous vide cooker but began to prefer the ChefSteps Joule. It's smaller, more powerful and has a better cooking app. I constantly had connectivity issues with the Anova model.
After whatever meat (you can sous vide just about anything but I tend to do pork chops and steak quite often) I've tossed into the sous vide container has finished cooking, I just need to finish the meat by searing it. Sometimes I use my cast iron pan for this and sometimes I opt to use my torch with the Searzall attachment.
2.5 hour sous vide ribeye. Don't think I've ever cooked any steak this tasty. @AnovaCulinary #pixel2 pic.twitter.com/NaqIPwGiAY
— Paul Stamatiou 📷 (@Stammy) November 5, 2017
Gaming
An ode to the Nintendo Switch
I was kinda late to the Nintendo Switch train. I had purchased one for my nephew as a gift the year it came out but never really got into it myself. Then a year later I saw my nephew continue using and loving it and decided to bite the bullet and get my own so I could play Mario Kart with him online.
I was curious about the new Nintendo Switch Lite and waited for that to be released, but eventually decided it wasn't for me as I wanted the ability to play Switch connected to my TV (and the haptic feedback/rumble functionality is nice). In the end I was glad I was late to the party as the regular Nintendo Switch received a small hardware update in 2019 to increase battery life and more efficient processor. There is also a rumor that 2020 will bring a Switch Pro model with better performance and hardware specs at the expense of not supporting portable play.
I'm glad I got the Switch. It's such a fun platform and simple system—I was really surprised how much I enjoyed it.. especially considering I have a high-end gaming PC. The graphics aren't the most astounding and the 6.2-inch display only has a resolution of 1280x720.
Here are a few of the games I'm currently enjoying:
Home
A few things around the house
When I moved to New York in early 2019 I downsized a good deal and didn't bring much furniture with me. I outfitted my bedroom with a Casper mattress and platform bed frame. When it came time to add nightstands I went with some simple ones from Floyd and added my Sonos One and Casper Glow to them.
I have become quite fond of the little Casper Glow as my bedside light. It's a rechargeable and wireless smart light. You flip it over to turn it on, twist it to adjust brightness and use the app to have it automatically turn on slowly in the morning at a time you set to naturally wake you up. It also slowly turns off in the evening as you get ready for bed.
But my Dyson handheld vacuum has to be my favorite household appliance. Extremely powerful and versatile, I find myself using it a few times per week.
And finally, I love having plants around the house. I have a few large window sills for succulents that can deal with direct sunlight, then a few others elsewhere in the house: neon pothos, monstera deliciosa, fiddle leaf fig, snake plant, pilea peperomioides, rubber tree plant.
Personal audio
Music & silence on the go and at work
I have gone through a myriad of personal audio setups over the years. I used to have studio monitors (recently Audioengine A5s and Rokit RP5G2s) for my desktop alongside larger circumaural headphones (Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro and Sennheiser HD 650). But I began to prefer having a simpler setup and cleaner desk. While I definitely play music over the Sonos system, I opted to simplify my desk setup when I built my gaming and photo editing PC: I have a small portable Bose bluetooth speaker as the primary audio device.
When it comes to wireless on-the-go and at-the-desk usage, I have begun using my AirPods Pro the vast majority of the time. It used to be the case that noise-cancelling headphones were a hassle: horrible battery life, a bulky case, sub-par performance or a mess of wires. The AirPods Pro changed that and make noise-cancelling headphones so much more approachable—and pocketable.
AirPods Pro are fantastic. 💫 Though always kinda feel like they’re not fully in your ears.
— Paul Stamatiou 📷 (@Stammy) November 2, 2019
Noise cancelling is solid but transparency mode is the real surprise. Better than on my big Sony 1000xm3s.
And they pair flawlessly. Last AirPods always gave me pairing trouble. pic.twitter.com/V0rouYxKDJ
The AirPods Pro retain the same formula from the regular AirPods: great form factor with a wireless charging case, easy pairing and stellar phone integration. It also means another thing: while they will pair with non-Apple devices like Android phones and Windows PCs, they don't work that well. Some of the physical controls don't work and there's sometimes an issue with volume being artificially limited.
I also have a larger set of wireless noise-cancelling headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM3. The Sony also has USB-C charging and a robust set of noise-cancelling optimization options with the mobile app. While both the AirPods Pro and the Sony headphones are great at quieting surrounding office noise and airplane noise when traveling, the larger Sony headset is definitely a bit better at noise-cancelling if you're looking for the absolute best in that area. However, the AirPods Pro have a much better "transparency" mode that lets you clearly hear the world around you when you want that.
I use both a lot, but the convenience factor of the AirPods Pro means I find myself using them much more frequently. However, the AirPods Pro rely entirely on Bluetooth connectivity, meaning you can't use them to connect to an airplane media system to watch a movie on a flight right out of the box. I have gotten around this with a great aftermarket option: the Airfly wireless transmitter. It accepts any audio jack audio input and then pairs wirelessly with AirPods (or any other bluetooth headphones).
Airfly Duo transmitter
Connect any wireless bluetooth headphones to any audio jack output. Useful for in-flight entertainment systems and the Nintendo Switch. Charges via USB-C and supports up to 2 pairs of headphones at the same time.
Bose SoundLink Mini II
Portable wireless speaker. I usually just use this as my desktop PC speaker but sometimes take it out of the house or when traveling. These are discontinued now. If I was in the market for a new portable speaker I would go with the USB-C JBL Flip 5.
For exercise activities (mainly running) I used to live by the wireless sweat and weather resistant Bose SoundSport Wireless Free. They were my 3rd Bose sport-related headset. I kept coming back to Bose for a reason—I just absolutely love the fit with the little "shark fins" that keep them in place along with a more oval earpiece. However, I have begun using my AirPods Pro for this. While the new in-ear design does not have the equivalent shark fins, I do find the AirPods Pro don't fall out as easily as the regular AirPods do while running.
The Bose SoundSports Wireless Free also had a few downsides from a large case and earbuds to connectivity issues and hard to press buttons, so it was easy for me to migrate to the AirPods Pro.
Everyday carry
A few daily favorites
I don't like carrying too much on me aside from my phone, a thin wallet and a pack of mints. My current wallet, a slim card case from Everlane, only has room for 2-3 cards and a tiny sleeve for cash.
Take a look at my camera gear page for a look at my bags.
Kindle
One of my most treasured gadgets
A few years ago I wanted to try to read more—a lot more. I gave myself a challenge to read 24 books in 2017 and got the Amazon Kindle Oasis. I achieved that reading goal and am still very happy with my Kindle. It has quickly become one of my favorite devices and I've read over 40 books on it so far. Be sure to read my post on the topic:
Pen and paper
Many of my design explorations (and various todo lists) start on paper so I'm always carrying a few pens and notepad in my backpack everyday. I'm a fan of Marvy Le Pen thin point felt tip pens. As for my notebook of choice, it varies. I've gone through a few Moleskines, Baron Fig notebooks, Fabriano notebooks and Dot Grid notepads. If I had to pick one favorite it would probably be the special edition Moleskines with embossed covers. And when I need a bit more space to sketch out some concepts, I switch to a larger Stonehenge sketchpad.
Mobile phones
iPhone 11 Pro, Pixel 3 and Google Fi
I seem to collect mobile devices these days from needing both iOS and Android devices to test designs, prototypes and app builds at work. However, my main devices are the Google Pixel 3 and iPhone 11 Pro. The iPhone is my primary device these days due to my reliance upon the Apple Watch, AirPods Pro and some casual usage of the Apple Card with Apple Pay (usually in coffee shops, stores and taxis).
Google Fi is my wireless carrier of choice, having switched after more than decade on AT&T. I have now been using Google Fi for 4 years and now use it with 2 phone numbers (on a group plan with two Google accounts of mine) and a data-only SIM for when I used it with my Thinkpad X1 Carbon.
I love Google Fi for a few reasons. First, it's just a super easy to use mobile carrier and since it uses your Google account you get great security off the bat since your Google account can be locked down with two-factor auth, security keys and Google's Advanced Protection Program. Second, it works virtually everywhere internationally with no change in price. And finally, the billing is flexible and easy to understand: just $10 per GB. They recently added new $70 per month unlimited plans ("unlimited" until you reach 22GB) which I moved to as I always consume enough gigabytes per month for it to be more cost efficient for me.
That's the general gist but there's more to it, like automatic network switching and automatic VPN if you're on Android. Here's my referral code if you want to give it a try and get $20 of credit. I have sucessfully used Fi on recent trips: New Zealand, Greece, Cayman Islands, Rwanda, Tanzania, the Netherlands and the UK.
Chargers and more
The move to USB-C devices has been a long journey and unfortunately I'm still in an awkward middle ground where I have a few remaining Micro-USB devices, some USB-A cables and some USB-C chargers. I've been trying to move to USB-C chargers where possible, so I have also had to begin investing in USB-C cables.
And you can never have enough battery life when traveling so I always have one of my Anker battery packs in my bag.
Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux
I've been using Anker battery packs for years but it was only recently that they introduced models like this one that let you both charge the battery and other devices over the same USB-C port. This was the last link that means I can travel without USB-A cables entirely.
USB-C Apple Watch Charger
I made sure to get USB-C Apple Watch charger for traveling. I opted for a very short one to make packing easier too.
Omoton C2 phone stand
Sturdy and high quality adjustable angle phone stand. Handy for testing designs and prototypes while designing at my desk.
USB-C to A adapter
Great build quality and much more compact than the Apple adapters, but you can't fit two next to each other on a MacBook Pro.
USB-A to C adapter
A less common adapter but I find it handy to plug in USB-C accessories directly into the USB hub in my desktop PC monitor.
USB-C to Lightning cable
While I have a few Apple ones, I also got some of these cheaper Anker ones to have around the house and while traveling.
Anker PowerPort III Nano
Ridiculously small 18W USB-C charger. If you remember the old 5W Apple USB-A chargers, it's the same size but a whole lot more powerful. It can charge iPhones and iPads no problem. Perfect for travel.
![USB C Charger [GaN Technology], Anker 30W Ultra Compact Type-C Wall Charger with Power Delivery, PowerPort Atom PD 1 for iPhone Xs/Max/XR, iPad Pro, MacBook 12'', Pixel, Galaxy S10/S9+/S9/S8 and More](data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBxASDg8REBAPDw8QDw8PEA8PDw8PDw8PFREWFhURExcYHSggGBolGxUWITEhJSkrLy4uFx8zOTMtNygtLisBCgoKDg0NFQ8PFSsdFR0rKysrMTcvNTA3MjgrNysrNys3LSs4NzcvLSsrKzc3LSs3MistLSsrNzctNysrNy0rK//AABEIAPsAyQMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAbAAEAAwEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDBAUGB//EADoQAAIBAgMECQIEAwkAAAAAAAABAgMRBBIhMVFhcQUTIkFSgZGhsQbBMkJy0Qdi4RQVIzNDgpKy8P/EABYBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAv/EABgRAQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABEWEh/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwD9xAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACspWAsQ2ZSzb7cEZ6XtbM/jmXBu6sd6I65cfRkQXJclcvk4v4IKddwfoHW4e6LOCGUop1/D3CxC70yWijiMG0aiexljjlD1LwrtaS9V9xg6QQnfYSQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHPjcZClHPUlljdRXe3J7EimD6Qp1b5HqtsZK0ufFAdZnB3bfkuRNWVotmLqqMW3sinJ8krlFqsrvJF62vJ+FbubJ6tJWWwzwaajeX45PPPg33eSsvI6AMtheMw4lHEI3IZkpmkZXCoaKs0sVaCM2ikompVooxV46p+Xcb0q6ej0ZRozlAiu0HHCs47dV7o6YVE9hBcAAAAAAAAAAfHfWldvE4elrlp0qteSWrc21CFl3u3Wep4P09jMVVoSxM8NLDUoVpUqeaq3XvGTi5SSXZ1VtG0e/9UUnHGRqyuoSpU4Z13ZZzbs9/bv5F62Lw9LBywqkutcHOML5s+aeZ1Ivddtgej0T0jKtFqVnkcby2Zr3smu5nTinfJDxTV/0x7T+EvM8/6apWoZu+cpPyWi+Gd+2q/wCSml5zd37Rj6liOpSLxkc9y8WUdKZLRgpGkZkBxK7DUhxAiMy5i4kxkBdoq0WzFXUQFWirRLmRmKKyRTLu9i7qLel6IjrVvvy1+ANKdd/mT5pG6ZydY/DP/hL9iv8AaLPvXBpq/qRXcCIyuk95JAAAAAAZ16MZxcZxUovRp6pnyfS/09OneVFOpDwbZw5eJe/M+wK1JWTfADzcDRy0qcfDGKfO2pGFd1KXjnKXNLsx9ootWnlpyl3qLa520Jo08sYx8MUvRGkXFwAJTLxkZk3A3jIupHOpF1IDdmNWSXP4JlVsm9y9zz3UbfF+3Eg68/m93eSoye5esmc6l/7eaRrMo16pd7k/RFuqjuvzbfyYOq95Vze8DqWVdyXkiOuRyOQzBW8q3kZTd1Z6oo5EJ3aKjvwd+rjfarr0bNjOguyvX11NDCgAAAAAY4t9m29r9zY5sU9YrmwOPF6qEfFUivJdt/8AU1ZjN3qxXhhKXnJpL2UjDpbGSp0uxbrJvLGcv8uirXlVqPujFXfG1jSO0Hh4HHulTwlKWaq54ivQlUm3mUY1ZKNSXm4K38x7NKrGSvGSkryjdeKLcZL1TXkBoCABJKkQAMsZU0S8/wBjChsb3uy5L+vwZ4uprL0RvKOVJblb07wGYKRncXA1cyMxlmGYDXMQ5Gdw2BdyNMMryObMdvR8db+YHopEgGVAAAAAA4677fJI7DhbvKX6mWDmpazqvjGC/wBsb/MmXq01KMoyV4yWWUe6UXtT4GeE/BfxSnP1k7exsVHl47ovs150283VTdKnb8NbPGqnHnKEdOB5nRlaqqsqNLLCo3Qo1K9WLdODhTc5wgvzzcpVNySVz6cxxeG6yMUpZJwn1kJWTSnllHVbrSYHP0b0tGs7OE6UneVPP+CtSzZVOEtmumm1XPQZ8niaEo0I0Z0Z2VRVKtF1W6U6VCleVShNaq/ZdtO0j6DoaU3hqTqZszTaztOp1eZ9Xna2yyZbvfcDsIlKyb3IkxxcrR5v2A5KSvOK3PM/LX5sdFZ6mWD2ye60V8v7CctWBFyLlWyLgXbIuVuVbA0uLlFIZgJuexgIWXseRT1klxv6Hu4eNooVWoAMgAAAAAHlVKlo1HuU2eqeL0snHrN0otr7osGtKNoxW6MV6IuUUyxUSCCQDV009U00+TVmUw9JQhCCbahCME3q2oqyvxsi4AlM5MbLVLcvk6kediZXbt3uy+EBtRdqfO8vXZ7WMZM1rOyt3Ky8kc8mBNyGytyGwmrXIcityLgWuTFmdyUwO3ARvJ80l9z3Ujy+iKeifC/qeqSrAAEUAAAAADnxuGVSDi9Nz3M6AB89GcoyyzVpL0fFb0dUKh6OKw0akbSXJ96e9Hi4ihOi9e1DumviW4o7Uwc9Ktc2UiosSQAE3ZN7kebH8Ued/RXO3FS7PNo4qe2T3JL1d/sBarLUwky82ZBE3IuQxdd/nyCpIZ8z/eVecc7qOlSrSUISlCNJU71L5oSertSi23su0er0PmyTblUnCVWTouq3KfVbE23rZtNrg0Ueg2THVpb2UOjAwvPl8jU17+AhaPM6SlKNopcC5hoAAAAAAAAAAAiUU000mmrNPVNEgDxsZ0dKHapXce+Hev07+RhQxCf7H0BwY/o1T7UHkqb+6X6v3KMIyLo8+NSUZZZpxlue7et51wmVGWNexcGzlhsfGTfkkl83NcXPtPgYN2jHkvfX7gqsmUuRORRyCL7T5Ppj676PpTqUHU66XapzVOUVG7upRz390fRY2Mp0qsIT6uc6c4Rqbcjkms3kfD4L+E+CjFKviKlS1uzH+iVizsLLXJ0l/EqCUI0cJSlllGFPrH1qhdWTilZvuWh9v0FXxM4OeIcHfKkoRslKyzJO7ur5tTmwf0r0ZRilDDqVvzSUU3zltZ6sqyskkoxirJLYkL6sbOZ7HQ1DVN/qf2R4+FpOUlo+C72z6vBUMkLd71f7Eo6AAZUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABhi8LGorSXJr8UXwZ4lejOi+12oN6TWzk9zPoisoJpppNPRp6pouj5LFVtZefwUq1t25fB19M9CVE89BZ13072kuMW9vI8aGHxOx0Kz3f4ctOGwqN5VSkqxel0Rip/6Uor+aUYndR+m6r/ABdXHm5TforIaPKdcmMZvYrc9D6Sh9PRX4qknwhGMF9zspdD0F+RSe+bc/kmj5GnQcna7k/DBOTPUwfQtR65Mi8VTb5RX9D6eEElaKSW5JJFhquTBYCNPZ2pd8nt8tx1gEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABDZGYsAM3N7iM73GoAx6x7hne41sTYDLOyVJmgApmZNywAhEgAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB/9k=)
Anker PowerPort Atom PD 1
Small 30W dual USB-C PD charger using GaN tech. This charger is a maybe double the size as the 18W unit above but still much smaller than other 30W chargers not using GaN technology. It's enough power to charge a new MacBook Air.
![Anker 60W [PowerIQ 3.0 & GaN] Power Delivery USB C Charger, PowerPort Atom III 60W Ultra Compact Type C Charger for USB-C Laptops, MacBook Pro/Air, iPad Pro, iPhone XR/XS/Max/8, Galaxy, Pixel](data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBw8ODQ0NDRANDQ4PDQ0NDQ0NDQ8NDw0NFREWFhURExMYHSggGBooGxUWITIhJSk3Li46Fx8zODYsNygtLi0BCgoKDg0OGw0QFTceHyAtLS0uLjctNy0zKzMrLSsxKy83Lzc3LTctMS0tKzcrKzgrNy4rNzMrNys3LTA4Ljc3Mv/AABEIAPsAyQMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAbAAEAAwEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQMEAgUGB//EADcQAAIBAgMDCQYGAwEAAAAAAAABAgMRBBIxIUFRBRMzYXFyc7HBFCIygZGhBkJSYtHwQ4KSI//EABgBAQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgQD/8QAHxEBAAICAQUBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAxGBBBIhMuEx/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwD9xAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKauJjF22t9W4C4GV4xbtnaR7Rf8wGsGVVH+ryJ5yXH7IDSDPz0uCf1R0q/FP5O4FwKlXj1r5HSqx4r57AOwQpJ6NMkAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIkVOgjuo7W+ZznAqlhUVywhrUycxUYHhnuuc83Nbz0boWQHnZpoc9Lej0HBHLooKx8/1MmNZMtrRSRmp0rtvbbq17Ai1yXA6p11fK9jtdWbSkuKIjF7ortbb8rCeHlJxd1FxbayqK1i1t14hWiNX+stTuZHSn+t/SP8FdOtOFSMKjUoyvllZJprc7EHoAAAAAAAAAAAAAIb3lUcVB6SXzuvMYzoqttebnbtys+D5BxuIqcocrxr5lQoy5PWB3QlGUG6tuLu1t+W4D7lym282XL+XLe/zABUCbkACbk5jkAd5zrOVBgVVp3ZzLWnDdJty60le32RXU1LP8lHsn5MDWDNiuUKFFpVa1Gk2rqNSpGDa4pNmGt+JcFDWvB92M5+SN1w5LetZnh53z46e14jl65nxmtLxPQ8eH4vws5whSjiqzlKMU6WHnJJt2u27WR6+M1peJ6DJivj966aplpeN0nbcADzbAAAAAAAAAABDV1Z6PYzyqnINLY4yqQs7pZlKP32/c9YAZQVxqJu29aprQ7KiQQSBIIAEhkBgZampZ/kpd2fqV1NTt9JS7s/UCMTyXh6s+dq0aVSeVRzTgpPKt23tLaODpQ+ClSh3KcI+SLga77TGts9ld92vKbmbGfFR8T0NBmxnxUfEfkZaegACKAAAAAAAAAAAAAKcRu7SotxGi7SkqJBXU0tpfecSqPa+O1dXuXsBeSUc67q2Wzbtd22K332ndOpm3NaPbwejAsDIDAzVNTp9LS7kziep1LpqXcn5gawQAJM2M+Oj335Gky4v46HffkB6QAIoAAAAAAAAAAAAApxOi7SgvxOi7SgqDIcV/eyxIA4dPamnbqaut38ClTy302pfU7JAEvQgAZqmpMumpeHPzInqJdNS8OfmBrBBE6kY2zNRu0ldpXb0S6wOzLi+kod6XkXU6sZXytSs8rs72fBlGK6Sh3peQInb1AARQAAAAAAAAAAAABTitF2mcvxWi7TOVEggAdAgASCCQM89RPpqXhz8yJ6ifTUvCn5gaKt3GSi7SyyUW1e0rbGfKY7knEZsRJ0/aFPNTi26anFuFFe0Ri3r7klbU9f8AFHKrweDq4iPxKVOEf/KVa0pzUU3CLTevE/Op/iblPFKapS5SpyUXlSwuHwkZPqbjKX3Orp5tWO+Jjn44+qx1y6paJ4++H6thcLCkmoKybcnd32nGI6Wh3peR8/8AgGGMWHk8c8Q5y5tr2mUpTU7Nytm222xXB5W1xPoK/S0O2Xoc1v3zO3XWIiNRGnqAAy0AAAAAIuLnFyMwFlxcrzDMBZcXKsxGcCMY/cvwafp6mNVUa5yTTT2pqz7Dza3ua6fq/ngUalJEmKNRPRliqMI1ApjWO1NAdknNyQKJ6kT6el4U/MT1E+npeFPzA0Simmmk09jTV011oQioq0UorglZAASUVemo/wC3oXmep01L/b0A9W4OFI6TIroEEgAABRci5NiLARc5bJaIaAhyOHMlo4cQOZzM1ZZjS4nDgB5FXASTvCUovqez6HCr16fxJVFxXus9dwOXTAw0uU6b2SvTf71b76GyFRPamn8yqrhIy1SMcuTcu2nKUH+12X0A9VTZYqx4yrYinqlUX/LLqfKcHsmpU3+5bPqio3Smrk1JrnqL3ShOK7drt9jJN7LxakuKdxGtCUclVOyeaLSu4v8Aq1QHqkN212duw8+WLw8VtqVH2yn6swz5TpuolSU5RUZZnljG8rrLaW391+1Ae3zsd23hbbf5nUIe9meu5fpj19b9DBhqtSW9UlvyK82uuTPQpRSVl/Lb4tkVoiztMriixIDtHRyjpAAABVYWO7EWA4sRlLLCwFWUjIXWIsBTkI5svsLAZ+aI5k02FgMvMEezGuxNgMTwiK58mwlqkejYWA8h8h09VeL4xbXkcS5Bg9ZVH2zk/U9uwA8WHIFJflRohybBaJHpWJsBjhhki6NMusLAcKJ1YmxIEEgAAABAAAEEgCASAIBIAgEgCASAIJAAAAAASBBIAAAAAAAAAEAkAQCQBAJAEAkAQCQBAJAEAkAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB//2Q==)
![Anker 60W 2-Port USB C Charger, PowerPort Atom PD 2 [GaN Tech] Ultra Compact Foldable Type C Wall Charger, Power Delivery for MacBook Pro/Air, iPad Pro, iPhone XR/XS/Max/X/8, Pixel, Galaxy, and More](data:image/jpeg;base64,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)
Anker PowerPort Atom PD 2
Tiny 60W dual USB-C PD charger using GaN tech. This one is a bit larger than the PowerPort Atom PD 2 above that has just one 60W USB-C PD port.
Anker PowerStrip Pad
A nice powerstrip with built-in USB-C and USB-A ports that I keep next to my couch to have easy access to laptop, iPad and phone charging.
Aukey Omnia 100W
Another USB-C PD charger packing GaN technology, but this one packs a whopping 100W. That's enough to power my 16" MacBook Pro that had a large 96W charger.
Bagsmart electronic organizer
Affordable small pouch for keeping track of cables and chargers while traveling.
tomtoc electronics pouch
While the same general size as the bag above, this one from tomtoc has slightly better build quality and is a bit thicker with more pockets. I use both depending on how much stuff I need to bring with me.
Security keys
Security keys I use for two-factor auth
And while I'm on the subject of mobile devices, I also own several hardware security keys for use as a second factor for two-factor auth with many of my online accounts. Many websites these days let you authenticate multiple security keys so you can have a backup. I go into great detail about the topic in my recent article: Getting started with security keys.
Getting started with security keys
How to stay safe online and prevent phishing with FIDO2, WebAuthn and security keys.
