Category: Apple

Categories
Apple Fun iOS Retro Computing

iPadOS on a CRT

I have lots to post about related to my recent vintage / retro computing adventures, but in the meantime here’s iPadOS on a CRT.

It’s actually kind of nice! The biggest downside, however, is that the CRT only ran at 1280×1024@60Hz. The resolution is fine, but the refresh rate is quite low for a CRT – my eyes wouldn’t be able to handle it very long. I’ve always been sensitive to rates lower than 85Hz on CRTs.

The hardware to make it work:

  1. A CRT.
  2. An iPad.
  3. An Apple Digital AV adapter which has HDMI output, such as this USB-C one.
  4. An active HDMI -> VGA adapter such as this one (it has to have external power).
  5. A USB hub is nice for wired peripherals, but optional. I have a wired Microsoft Optical mouse with a Keychron C1 (reds) connected in this video.
Categories
Apple Scripts

A dog timer Shortcut

Shortcuts User Guide - Apple Support

I’ve played with the Shortcuts app a few times and although their power is impressive, I haven’t found a need for any in my day-to-day workflow. This Shortcut may finally change that.

Here’s the problem

Our dog literally can’t handle the heat. She’s a Miniature Schnauzer born with a microtrachea so she struggles to regulate her body temperature. If she gets overheated it’s bad news.

I typically let her out multiple times a day while working from home. All I have to do is open up our back door, let her out into her fenced doggie area, and let her back in when it’s time.

That last item is trickier than it sounds – if I don’t set a timer I risk getting into the zone at work and losing track of the world. That could be disastrous, so up until now I’ve set a timer and altered the duration depending on the temperature outside. I wondered if I could improve that with a Shortcut.

Continue reading “A dog timer Shortcut”
Categories
Apple Thoughts

The Mac Studio

I’ve had a Mac Studio for a month now, so I have thoughts to share.

tl;dr – It’s great and is what I’ve wanted from Apple for a long time.

Mac Studio packaging.
Unboxing the Mac Studio.
Back of the Mac Studio showing plenty of ports.

The product line gap

There’s been a gap in Apple’s Mac product line for years, though most consumers wouldn’t have noticed, and that’s the reason it existed.

Here’s a user who fits the profile:

  • Wants a desktop
  • Wants complete control over their displays
  • Wants modularity
  • Wants a bunch of ports
  • Wants high(er) performance
  • Needs macOS

The user is me.

Continue reading “The Mac Studio”