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Jason JournalsWelcome to the personal blog of Jason McFadden: Gen X, Texan, Husband, Dad, Geek, Blogger, Believer.Jason Journals Jason Journals About Contact Welcome to the personal blog of Jason McFadden: Gen X, Texan, Husband, Dad, Geek, Blogger, Believer. Social Media Is Optional By default, social media is “opt-in.” But by the way our culture lives, it seems the opposite is true; you must join social media to be relevant or “in the know.” But as Gen Z-er Gabriela advocates, opting out of social media is a valid option. In fact, for some, it may be the only viable choice. Continue reading… socialmedia February 22, 2025 Less Entertainment Is More Enjoyable Fellow blogger, Brandon, recently posted on his journal a personal dilemma that is, I think, common, “Too Many Hobbies, and Not Enough Time.” Well, it’s safe to say he’s not alone in that sentiment; I feel likewise. And he hits an insightful mark too, pinpointing a key (first-world) problem. It isn’t so much a lack of time but something else. Continue reading… general February 21, 2025 iPhone 16e Budget Buster Apple has announced its newest smartphone, the iPhone 16e, which replaces the old iPhone SE 3rd Gen. in its lineup. At $399 and finally $429, the SE was the “budget” iPhone that let you into Apple’s walled-garden without breaking the bank. But at $599, the 16e kicks your budget in the groin and says, “Get an Android.” Continue reading… tech February 19, 2025 Adobe Is My Photos Abode These days, most people manage their huge photo library with the default app on their phone: Google Photos on Android or iCloud Photos on iPhone. I did likewise, until recently. I took back control of my pictures, trying out Lightroom alternatives: Darktable and Digikam. I almost settled on the latter. But I ended up going with Adobe programs after all: Bridge and Photoshop Elements with Adobe Camera Raw. You might call it something like, "Lightroom Elements." Continue reading… photo February 16, 2025 Orange Wired Earbuds Look And Sound Good True wireless earbuds are a modern marvel of audio freedom. But they come at a monetary and usability cost. My blue JBL Tune 230NC buds are overall great, and they only set me back $50 on sale when I bought them. About a year later, though, they started glitching — ugh. It has worn me down over time. And recently, I was turned onto good ol' fashioned wired earbuds. So I decided to give'em a go. To sweeten the new wired setup, they come in vivid orange — yes! Do low-tech earphones sound like a smart upgrade? Continue reading… tech February 14, 2025 iPad Stretched To The Switching Point As one who can't seem to not switch between gadgets, I enjoyed a recent long post from another switcher. It's someone who identified as “iPad-only” for many years but ended up back on the Mac. Continue reading… tech February 11, 2025 Darktable Or Digikam To Free My Photos Once upon a time, I used Lightroom. It was awesome. But that was before the Adobe cloud rained down the subscription model - thunderbolts, lightning, very frightening. Now there are alternatives that I'm checking out because I migrated my photo library from Google Photos (the cloud) to my laptop (local drive). The two photo apps in focus are Darktable and Digikam. The cherry on top: not only are they subscription-free, they're just plain free! Continue reading… photo February 3, 2025 It’s Groundhog Day Again Well it’s Groundhog Day…again…and I’m enjoying my annual re-watch of one of my all-time favorite movies, Groundhog Day. In the spirit of the film and its repetition, I’m re-blogging my Groundhog Day post from previous years below. Enjoy. Continue reading… fun February 2, 2025 I Miss Point N Shoots Looking at cameras online this evening, I think wistful nostalgia took hold. What happened to the good ol’ days of going to a physical store and having no shortage of cameras to choose from? Pocket-sized, point-n-shoots, bridge cameras, DSLRs… Why can’t I easily pick a pocket camera at my local Best Buy that’s reliable and affordable…and just available at all? Continue reading… photo January 30, 2025 Forty Gigs Is Enough Gigs 8 gigs is not enough gigs. But 40 is. Last year, I wrote about my M1 MacBook Air running great with 8GB of RAM. But let’s get real. It’s 2025, and Apple’s raised its base specs to 16 gigs for new laptops, even the entry-level model. But since switching to a Windows laptop, now my RAM is at 40 GB, plus 4 GB for VRAM. Is that enough? Sure does seem like it. Continue reading… tech January 24, 2025 Files Going Local First Ah, the “Cloud.” That nebulous data storage in the ether. All my files…on someone's else's hard drive, far away. What could go wrong? I’ve relied on cloud storage for years, but now that I’ve got plenty of local storage in my new tech setup, I’m starting to revert to the simplicity of my files on my hard drive. Continue reading… tech January 23, 2025 New To Skyrim Skyrim is lauded by most as one of the best role-playing games of all-time. And I’ve never played it. Yet thanks to another awesome Steam sale, I now own The Elder Scrolls V, costing just $3.99 (it was 90% off). How could I pass up a golden opportunity to at least try one the greatest open-world adventure games ever? Continue reading… gaming January 21, 2025 Steam Gaming Better Than Expected Since getting an HP Victus, I’ve been enjoying Steam PC gaming more than expected. I haven’t yet put my finger on what, exactly, is different and attractive about it compared to Switch console gaming; maybe it’s more accessible somehow. But there are a few specific nice surprises I’ve discovered or realized more than before. Continue reading… gaming January 19, 2025 Nintendo Please Make A Switch Phone The new Nintendo Switch is coming out soon but the specs have not yet been revealed. How cool would it be if we learn there’s a cellular version? I want a Nintendophone running nintendOS or mariOS. Seriously, give me a Switch that has a cell chip, a phone app, and a messaging app (with Zelda stickers of course). I don’t want a smartphone that also plays games; I want a mobile gaming console that also telecommunicates. Continue reading… gaming tech January 18, 2025 Switch 2 Reveal Is Real Nintendo officially confirmed the leaks revealed the Switch 2 today, announcing it in a video trailer. Good news, the successor to the Switch is a Switch! It’s basically the same but bigger and better. The Mario company played it safe and kept it simple, all of which is smart. I predict the Switch successor will be a success. Continue reading… gaming January 16, 2025 Apple Apps On Windows Switching from Mac to Windows wasn’t hard. I had already mostly migrated to Google’s ecosystem from Apple’s. In doing so, I discovered that most of my iTunes movie purchases are also available on YouTube1. But unfortunately, not all are; I don’t know why. Yet no worries because I also discovered that the Apple TV app I enjoyed on the MacBook is — surprise! — also on Windows. Plus one more thing: the Apple Music app is likewise on Microsoft’s OS. Continue reading… tech January 15, 2025 Tiny Glade Hillside Manor Here are images of a hillside manor I’ve been building in Tiny Glade. I’ve always liked split-level homes, so I wanted to try one. Stepped windows on the outside suggest a staircase inside. It’s a small cozy place that’d be great to have in real life. Continue reading… gaming January 11, 2025 Hello New Gaming Peripherals Since getting a big ol’ gaming monitor and gaming laptop, I’ve been in desktop mode far more than laptop mode. But my external keyboard lacked backlighting and my mouse was too low-profile to use for long stretches — the kind where you’re immersed in a time-flying play session. Problems: No backlit keys strained my eyes; the slim mobile mouse cramped my hand. Solutions: photons and ergonomics. Say hello to my first peripherals from Razer. Continue reading… gaming tech January 11, 2025 Hello New Gaming Laptop Nintendo gaming is good. I have a Switch, and there’s a Switch successor coming soon. But for PC and some PlayStation and Xbox titles, I recently bought a gaming laptop, which doubles as a productivity powerhouse. Yes, I switched from Mac to Windows. It’s time to say, “Goodbye,” to my MacBook Air (M1) and, “Hello,” to my new HP Victus 15 as my main personal computer. Here are some of my first impressions. Continue reading… gaming tech January 10, 2025 Moto Razr 2024 Cameras In Focus After using the 2024 Moto Razr for two months, here are some of my thoughts on its camera system. Overall, I’m very happy with it. My most recent camera phone experience is with iPhone 12 mini and 12 Pro. The Razr’s cameras are more than good enough and are a reliable replacement. Continue reading… photo tech January 8, 2025 previous12345…37next Subscribe via RSS Written by a human. Leave a comment. PIKAenen1740283230https://jasonjournals.com

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