Geek Gear

Computers

• MacBook Air M5 EverydayMy main machine. I’m not always at my desk, so the Air goes where I go.
• Samsung M8 27-inch monitorI plug the Air into it when I want the big screen.
• Mac mini M2Stays at the desk.

Phone

• Google Pixel 11 Pro XLMy phone now. Before this I had the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Communication

• Live TranscribeReal-time captions for everyday conversations. I use it all the time.
• SL2T (sign to text) FavoriteGoogle’s sign-to-text on my phone. I sign my messages instead of typing them out.

Writing and reading

• Perch I built thisMy own Micro.blog app. Posting, my timeline, and reading articles and blogs.
• Draft Studio I built thisMy own editor for longer posts.
• Micro.blogHome of this blog.

Building the blog

• ClaudeWrites the HTML and CSS for my theme and tools.
• Visual Studio CodeWhere I look over the code.
• GitHubI review, commit and push, then update the design on Micro.blog myself.

Photos

• My phone’s cameraEvery photo on the blog, edited in the phone’s built-in editor.
• SnapseedFor when a photo needs a little more.

AI helpers

• Claude Go-toMy AI best friend. Drafts, editing, ideas and coding work.
• GeminiMostly on my phone, sometimes on the Mac.
• ChatGPTNow and then to check something, and it’s great at making AI images.

Browser

• Brave Phone and MacI’ve tried other browsers, but I always come back to Brave.
• SafariSometimes, on the Mac.

Off the screen

A few LEGO sets still waiting to be built, a pile of colored pencils, and books I want to get back to. The plan is the new sunroom: no phones, no screens, just a comfy spot for reading, coloring and maybe some LEGO.