Brothers in Tech Suggestions

Season 3, Episode 29 – August 2022

Alan’s Picks:

Valuable Websites:

·     Photopea: Online (free) web-based substitute for Photoshop.

·     My ____ (decade) TV: Web-based TV set emulator.  Choose the decade, the topics, and flip through shows!

·     Does The Dog Die?: Online search base for all of the fears that you might have…so you know whether you should watch the film or not…

·     McBroken; A crowdsourced database of whether McDonald’s ice cream machines are broken or not.

·     Mic Boom Arm ($37…although there are a lot of similar versions): A table-mounted/clamped arm for your microphone, so that you can get it out of the way while in or out of use.

Brian’s Picks:

·     Blackstone Original 36” Griddle: Channel your inner Waffle House cook dreams…outdoors!  Great outdoor 4-burner griddle/cooktop.

·     1Password: Great password/document manager (~$7/month for a family plan…~$1/person beyond the included 5 accounts). The Brothers chose to use this specifically for the family sharing feature.

Season 3, Episode 24 – July 2022

Alan’s Picks:

·      News Explorer ($9.99 for MacOS version, $4.99 for iOS, included in SetApp). Sync your news stories across multiple devices, including RSS and Twitter feeds.

·      WD My Book Live 3TB Personal Cloud Storage NAS ($154 on Amazon). You can set this hard drive up on your home network, and everyone can wirelessly back-up their files. Great pride for 3TB of storage!

Brian’s Picks:

·     JASP Statistics Software (Free): Open source (but regularly updated) statistical software that is a nice free replacement for SPSS.

·     Thule Gauntlet Sleeve/Case ($65 through Thule, $30 through B&H): Protective (semi-hard structure) sleeve/case for your laptop or tablet with compartments for charger & dongles.

Season 3, Episode 20 – June 2022

Alan’s Picks:

·      Hunter Cavera Simple Connect Wi-Fi Fan with HomeKit (~$160 Amazon, $219 Home Depot): Smart ceiling fan that you can control (light and fan separately) with an app/voice assistant.

·      Letterboxd (Free, $19/year for Pro): Social media for film and movie lovers! Keep track of the movies you have watched (or want to watch), suggestions from friends, etc. And, if this sounds familiar…yes, Alan is recycling BiTs here.

·      BONUS PICK! Amazon Smile: Designate a portion (0.5%) your Amazon purchases to the charity of your choice.

Brian’s Picks:

·       JASP Statistics Software (Free): Open source (but regularly updated) statistical software that is a nice free replacement for SPSS.

·      Thule Gauntlet Sleeve/Case ($65 through Thule, $30 through B&H): Protective (semi-hard structure) sleeve/case for your laptop or tablet with compartments for charger & dongles.

Season 3, Episode 15 – May 2022

Brian’s Pics

·      HX HECLX Mug Warmer ($22): Keep that coffee warm/hot throughout the day with this desk accessory. 3 temperature options, auto shutoff, and digital screen. 

·      Atomi Smart WiFi Ceramic Tower Heater ($120): Space heater with smart features (phone app, schedules, Alexa/Google Home compatible). 

Alan’s Picks

·      4-in-1 Multi-Port & Apple Watch Charger ($18): Tired of carrying multiple cables with you when you travel?  Four connections in one cable!

·      Gemini 2 ($45 for one-time purchase, $20/year subscription): Efficiently search for and delete duplicate files from your Mac (or iPhone, for a separate fee).

Season 3, Episode 12 – March 2022

Brian’s Pics

·      Duplicate File Finder by Nektony (Free, or Pro for $19.99): An app that can help you clean out your duplicate files on you Mac.

·      Firefox Browser by Mozilla (Free): With the ability to sync bookmarks and history across multiple (cross-platform) devices, Firefox may be worth another look!

Alan’s Picks

·      Stream Deck by Elgato ($80-250): An external usb device with programmable physical buttons for all of your computer’s repetitive tasks (and even a magic 8-ball!).

Season 3, Episode 8 – February 2022

Brian’s Pics

·      Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbell system ($399): A way to have access to a wide range of dumbbell weights without the need for large square footage.

·      MagBak MultiCharger ($129) & Car Charger ($79): For those in the MagBak phone case ecosystem, these are sleek solutions for charging. Expensive, so look for sales!

Alan’s Picks

·      Detail App: A slick way to switch between camera sources while on video calls…even using your phone’s camera!

·      Fantastical by Flexibits ($3.33/month): Our favorite calendar app, recently adding a number of great new features. 

Season 3, Episode 4 – January 2022

ALAN’S PICKS:

  • Using Quicktime (Mac only) to present or record your phone/tablet’s activity.
  • Sleep Watch: Sleep tracking app (iOS, Free or $4.99/month for Premium) providing feedback and coaching from wearing your watch at night.

BRIAN’S PICKS: