updated to transfer

12 files changed, 1007 insertions, 38 deletions

diff --git a/abstraction.txt b/abstraction.txt
index cc2344d..5fe218b 100644
--- a/abstraction.txt
+++ b/abstraction.txt
@@ -1,11 +1,45 @@
-Historian Oswald Spengler called our age the age of abstraction. Perhaps nowhere is this more apparent than in programming, where abstraction isn't just a conceptual convenience, it's absolutely necessary. Programmers like to talk about their tools as a stack. At the top, the surface most of us encounter first, are simple descriptive languages, HTML being the best known. At the bottom is the "bare metal" of the machine. Thus there is a hierarchy and the further down in the stack you go, the closer you get to the metal.
+Historian Oswald Spengler called our age the age of abstraction. Nowhere is this more apparent than in programming, where abstraction isn't just a conceptual convenience, it's absolutely necessary. Programmers like to talk about their tools as a stack. At the top, the surface most of us encounter first, are simple descriptive languages, HTML being the best known. At the bottom is the "bare metal" of the machine. Thus there is a hierarchy and the further down in the stack you go, the closer you get to the metal.
 
-Except it's not metal. That's just a metaphor. It's sand. Silicon. Impossibly thin layers of silicon dioxide that conduct electrical impulses in ordered patterns we experience as a white rectangle with black text in it, flickering images, and so on. You can see how Spengler, though he died before the age of the digital computer, was on to something when he called our age one of abstraction. 
+It's not really metal of course. It's sand. Impossibly thin layers of silicon dioxide that conduct electrical impulses in ordered patterns we experience as a screen currently showing you a white rectangle with black text on it, flickering images, and so on. You can see how Spengler, though he died before the age of the digital computer, was on to something when he called our age one of abstraction. No one is keeping 1s and 0s in their head, and yet we all manipulate them every day using abstractions.
 
 The danger of living in the age of abstraction is that it's easy to mistake the abstraction for the world as it really is. This, I think, is why programmers often keep diving deeper into the stack as they progress through their careers. We think maybe at the bare metal it will finally be real.
 
 I started like most. At the top of the stack. HTML. 1995. Geocities. Angelfire. Blink tags. Marquee. I'll admit it. I loved me some marquee tag. I loved it so much I ran straight out of HTML to the welcoming arms of Flash. Blame the Matrix website. Coolest animation ever. 
 
-Flash was not really programming. Or, it didn't start that way. It was an animation app, with keyframes and the whole metaphor. An abstraction descended from Loony Toons. But then someone shoehorned a scripting language in there and next thing you know I was writing quadratic easing equations (turns out my high trig teacher was right, I was going to use this stuff one day) rather than playing keyframes. I was drawn to elegance and simplicity of writing code in a text file rather than clicking and dragging things around. I wanted to go lower in the stack. I wanted fewer abstractions.
+Flash was not really programming. Or, it didn't start that way. It was an animation app, with keyframes and the whole metaphor. An abstraction descended from Loony Toons. But then someone shoehorned a scripting language in there and next thing you know I was writing quadratic easing equations rather than playing keyframes (turns out my high trig teacher was right, I was going to use this stuff one day). 
 
-The true antidote to abstraction is something that gets your hands dirty. Digging in the dirt, machining metal, turning wrenches in your engine. For me, at the time, I escaped the abstract world of programming with a day job running a restaurant kitchen. There's nothing abstract about the Friday night rush in a restaurant kitchen. Kitchens 
+I was drawn to elegance and simplicity of writing code in a text file rather than clicking and dragging things around. This felt like the way things should be. Write code. Things happen. But with Flash there was a very limited amount of things that could happen. I wanted to go lower in the stack. I wanted fewer abstractions.
+
+The true antidote to abstraction is getting your hands dirty. Digging in the dirt, machining metal, turning wrenches in your engine. For me, at the time, I escaped the abstract world of programming with a day job running a restaurant kitchen. There's nothing abstract about the Friday night rush in a restaurant kitchen. Oddly enough, this is where I was when I figured out how to get deeper into the stack.
+
+It was 2004 when my best dishwasher, Aaron, a young man who enjoyed solving unsolved math theorems in his spare time (yes it was a lot like working with Good Will Hunting) told me, if you want to go deeper in the stack, learn Python. That was all he said. Learn Python. His solution was Python. He was smarter than me, so I wrote it down. Learn Python. 
+
+The problem with learning in any programming language is that there's a sharp learning curve that involves a lot of drudgery and bashing your forehead into the keyboard when things don't work. There was no Code Academy or Stack Overflow in 2004. We bought books from the likes of O'Reilly and No Starch Press. I bought Learning Python and a skimmed the first few chapters. I had no project though. Without a project that obsesses you, you'll never learn to program.  
+
+I also didn't learn Python then because running restaurant is an all-consuming, life-sucking thing to to do. There is no spare time in which you are not thinking about food. After another year I was burned out. I scraped together what money I had, bought a couple of plane tickets and headed off to lose myself in Asia. Hey, it worked for the Beatles. Sort of.
+
+At some point in my travels I fell in with a couple of English travelers who were not familiar with the great Jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. For shame. Back then we all traveled with iPods, there was a limited amount of music anyone would carry at any one time. I did not have any Django Reinhardt myself. For shame. 
+
+I went down to the internet cafe below our guesthouse in Bangkok to search for some Django Reinhardt music. The problem was that the keyboard, naturally enough, was Thai. I could change the layout in Windows settings, but the symbols on the keys were still Thai, which made it hard to type. I figured Django was a distinctive enough name that that was all I needed (this was back when Google's index held useful information rather than content farm spam. It was also before the movie Django was released.) I typed in Django and sure enough, Reinhardt was right there in the first couple of results.
+
+That's not what caught my eye though. What caught my eye was a website for something called Django, "the web framework for perfectionists with deadlines." (here's the [early 2006 version of the site](https://web.archive.org/web/20060410074810/https://www.djangoproject.com/) as I discovered it). I didn't have any deadlines, but perfectionist? I can't tell you how many times I messed with tabs and spaces to make sure my hand written HTML was properly indented when you viewed source, something no one was ever going to see except my fellow perfectionists. God bless you if you ever viewed source and were appalled by the sloppy unindented source code that confronted you. Was there, possibly, a web framework for people like us? For people like me? Tell me more.
+
+It was the subhead that got me: Django is a high-level Python Web framework. Learn Python. If this were a movie there would have been a bad flashback here where Aaron's face cuts through a cloud of Southeast Asian traveler haze saying, *Learn Python*, *Learn Python*. 
+
+But I didn't learn Python just then because I was busy building Flash websites. I know, I know, but you have to pay the bills. Sometimes you have to stick with what you know to get on down the road. Not very perfectionist of me. Maybe I wasn't ready for Django. Maybe I wasn't ready to go deeper into the stack. 
+
+Six months later, back in Los Angeles, a friend asked me to build a website for a bike charity, Wheels4Life. I agreed to do it, on the condition that I build it using Django. I had a project.
+
+That website turned out well. It led to another. And another. Eventually I built a small business building Django-based websites. It took a couple of years, but I wrapped my head around Python and got to the point where, given a problem, I could work out a way to solve using Python. I am not an expert in Python, but I am capable of creating tangible things from its abstractions. 
+
+So while Python did bring me a little closer to the metal, I never went any deeper. Django, and Python more generally, turned out to be all I ever needed to build anything I ever wanted to build. Along the way, I discovered there are other things that mattered to me more than getting all the way down to the bottom of the stack. 
+
+I went to the first Django conference, ostensibly [covering it for WIRED](https://www.wired.com/2008/09/djangocon-the-long-winding-road-to-django-1dot0/), but I was also there to meet the founders and learn from the community. What I found was a welcoming group of fellow nerds and programmers all working together to solve problems and build cool stuff. It was all very concrete and not abstract at all.
+
+When a project is new, as Django was at the time—it released version 1.0 just before the conference—learning can be painful. While the Django documentation was excellent from the beginning, there is always going to be a gap between documentation examples that help the largest possible audience, and the idiosyncratic problems of your project. In the beginning there aren't many users out there solving problems for you, that's on you. 
+
+This experience of self-directed struggle and then asking others for help creates a tight-knit community of users that help each other out. Or it should. Since Django was the only large project I'd ever participated in I just assumed that was always the case. Later forays into JavaScript frameworks showed me the error of my ways. But in 2008, I thought every community was like the Django community and they were all good. Why would I ever want to use anything but Django and Python? For me, the answer to the question was, I have no idea?
+
+To say that we live in an age of abstraction can be pejorative. Abstractions aren't based on first principles and we tend to view that—often rightly—with suspicion, but I don't see it that way. We live in a world of abstraction. That is neither good nor bad. It's just where we are. In an age of abstraction, you're going to need to work with abstractions. So far as I know, Spengler never commented on this, but it seems me that the quest to get to the bare metal at the bottom of the abstractions is an urge born of earlier ages, when abstractions got in the way. 
+
+For us, for programmers living now, the abstractions are the world. For me, Python provided all the tools I ever needed to create what I wanted.
diff --git a/beat-meeting-guide-list.txt b/beat-meeting-guide-list.txt
index 9467991..ed2350e 100644
--- a/beat-meeting-guide-list.txt
+++ b/beat-meeting-guide-list.txt
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ How to Shoot Film
 Best Wireless Mics
 How to Buy a Camera: A Step By Step Guide
 360 Camera Guide
+**SD Card guide
 
 Nikon zf
 hasselblad 907X & CFV 100C
@@ -25,28 +26,28 @@ Nikon Z8
 # Outdoor
 
 LIVE
-Best Merino Wool Clothes (with Adrienne)
-Best Binoculars
+Merino Wool Clothes (with Adrienne)
+Binoculars
 Camping Cookware
-Best Coolers
-Best Tents
-Best Bird Watching Gear: Everything You Need to Start Birding (with Medea)
-Best Sleeping Pads
-Best Grills
-Best Portable Grills
-Best Barefoot Shoes
+Coolers
+Tents
+Bird Watching Gear: Everything You Need to Start Birding (with Medea)
+Sleeping Pads
+Grills
+Portable Grills
+Barefoot Shoes
 
 IN PROGRESS
 
-Best Kettlebells/Home Workout
+Sleeping Bags
+Hiking Backpacks
 Portable Solar Panels
-Birding Running Photography Guide
-Best Hiking Backpacks
-Best Sleeping Bags
+Kettlebells/Home Workout
 Non Toxic Clothes
 Kit Your Shit
-Non Toxic Clothing
-Best Overlanding Gear (with Martin)
+Overlanding Gear (with Martin)
+
+Birding Running Photography Guide
 
 # Networking/Web
 
@@ -71,7 +72,6 @@ Best Portable Hard Drives
 
 LIVE
 
-Best Chef Knives
 Best Portable Coffee Makers
 Best Organic Mattresses
 Best Tea Accessories
diff --git a/expenses/filed/tripod.pdf b/expenses/filed/tripod.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8a2fdc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/expenses/filed/tripod.pdf
diff --git a/expenses/filed/wired-film-dev-article.pdf b/expenses/filed/wired-film-dev-article.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b504b09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/expenses/filed/wired-film-dev-article.pdf
diff --git a/expenses/filed/wired-film-guide-dwaynes.pdf b/expenses/filed/wired-film-guide-dwaynes.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0c85899
--- /dev/null
+++ b/expenses/filed/wired-film-guide-dwaynes.pdf
diff --git a/expenses/filed/wired-paper-planner-guide.pdf b/expenses/filed/wired-paper-planner-guide.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5798ba9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/expenses/filed/wired-paper-planner-guide.pdf
diff --git a/expenses/filed/wired-paper-planner2-guide.pdf b/expenses/filed/wired-paper-planner2-guide.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c92f97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/expenses/filed/wired-paper-planner2-guide.pdf
diff --git a/expenses/wired-falcon-notebook.pdf b/expenses/wired-falcon-notebook.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..408c602
--- /dev/null
+++ b/expenses/wired-falcon-notebook.pdf
diff --git a/expenses/wired-film-camera-article-film.pdf b/expenses/wired-film-camera-article-film.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fc452fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/expenses/wired-film-camera-article-film.pdf
diff --git a/scratch.txt b/scratch.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2a0ce7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scratch.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+### Barefoot Shoes Deals
+One of our favorite barefoot shoe brands is also have a sale right now. If you're new to barefoot shoes, have a look at our guide to [The Best Barefoot Shoes](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-barefoot-shoes/) before you dive in feet first.
+
+
+#### [Xero Z-Trail Sandals (Men's) for $56 ($24 off)](https://xeroshoes.com/shop/sandals/ztrail-men/)
+
++++button-group
+
+[Xero](https://xeroshoes.com/shop/sandals/ztrail-men/ "Xero"){: target="_blank"}
+
++++
+
+Once [my favorite shoe](https://www.wired.com/story/xero-z-trail-barefoot/) (I've since moved to the even more minimalist [Z-Trek Sandal](https://xeroshoes.com/shop/sandals/ztrek-men/)), these remain a great choice for beginners and experience barefooters alike. Think of these as the barefoot answer to Chacos. Except where Chacos are like putting tractors on your feet, the Z-Trails still flex and bend as you walk, giving your feet the freedom of movement you expect from a barefoot shoe.  The kids Z Trails are also a [great deal at $30 ($30 off)](https://xeroshoes.com/shop/sandals/ztrail-kids/).
+
+
+
+#### [Xero HFS II Lightweight Road Runner for $84 ($36 off)](https://xeroshoes.com/shop/shoes/hfs-men/)
+
++++button-group
+
+[Xero (Men's)](https://xeroshoes.com/shop/shoes/hfs-men/ "Xero"){: target="_blank"}
+[Xero (Women's)](https://xeroshoes.com/shop/shoes/hfs-women/ "Xero"){: target="_blank"}
+
++++
+
+the HFS is [our favorite barefoot shoe](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-barefoot-shoes/#5fa2d9c49d236583d3ba9988) for running on human-made surfaces like concrete and asphalt. It as a bit of extra cushion that's nice when you're pounding the pavement (although you shouldn't be pounding anything when running barefoot). These are comfortable and durable, and they offer about 7 millimeters of padding to soften the impact of hard surfaces.
+
+
+
+#### [Xero Mesa Trail II for $84 ($36 off)](https://xeroshoes.com/shop/shoes/mesa-trail-men/)
+
++++button-group
+
+[Xero (Men's)](https://xeroshoes.com/shop/shoes/mesa-trail-men/ "Amazon"){: target="_blank"}
+[Xero Women's](https://xeroshoes.com/shop/shoes/mesa-trail-men/ "Amazon"){: target="_blank"}
+
++++
+
+
+If you want a heavier lug sole for hiking on rough ground but don't want a full boot, Xero's Mesa Trail II are a good choice. They can also double as trail runners when you want to move faster.The price varies a lot by color so it's worth clicking around. If you don't mind the red pair, they can be had for $36.
+
+
+
+#### [Xero Tari Boot (Women's) for $108 ($27 off)](https://xeroshoes.com/shop/boots/tari/)
+
++++button-group
+
+[Xero](https://xeroshoes.com/shop/boots/tari/ "Xero"){: target="_blank"}
+
++++
+
+The Tari is our top pick for a solid winter boot. My daughter has worn these for two years now everywhere from the icy, windy Colorado plains to the wind-swept Outer Banks and had toasty toes throughout. While technically a slip-on, it does have an adjustable strap that runs from the top of the arch, down to the sole, and then through a buckle near the back, which means you can snug it down a little if you need to. 
+
diff --git a/tmp.txt b/tmp.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc39446
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tmp.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+While knowing that 8x42 means 8x magnification with 42mm objective lenses is a good starting point for choosing binoculars, there are a number of other terms it helps to understand.
+
+- **Objective Lens**: This is the big lens, at the opposite end from from where you look. The size of the objective lens determine how much light reaches your eye. In general, all other things being equal, a larger objective lens gives you a brighter image.
+- **Field of View**: This refers to how much you can see. The wider the field of view the more you can see. The standard measurement is how many feet wide the viewing area is at 1000 yards. This can then be translated to degrees. You'll see field of view (also often just, FOV) listed in both degrees and feet, which can make it hard to compare. It's also abstract and can be difficult to wrap your head around, which is why I like the [FOV visualization tool](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/choosing-binoculars-field-of-view-and-close-focus/) on Cornell's All About Birds website. 
+- **Eye Relief**: Eye relief refers to the ideal distance from your eye to the eyepiece glass. The ideal distance varies, but for most binoculars it'll be in the 10mm to 20mm range. In order to see the full view provided, you eye needs to be at the right eye relief spot. Too close and you'll see black shadows, too far and the FOV shrinks. This is primarily an issue for those of us who wear glasses, as some binoculars make it nearly impossible to get a full field of view when wearing glasses, which is why I try to always note how each model is wearing glasses.
+- **Roof Prism**: This refers to a type of binocular design, the alternative being Porro prism (see below). Roof prism design puts the objective lenses directly inline with the eyepieces, giving you the H-shape common in binoculars these days. This design makes for a lighter, smaller, more streamlined binocular. Nikon has a [nice visualization](https://imaging.nikon.com/sport-optics/guide/binoculars/technologies/technologies_06/) showing how the different designs bounce light to your eye.
+- **Porro Prism**: Porro prism binoculars use offset objective lenses that are not inline with the eyepiece—think the wider, bulkier binoculars you sometimes see. Porro prisms are often sharper (a birding friend of mine has a pair of 1940s Zeiss Porro prism binoculars that have one the sharpest images I've ever seen), but bulkier. Porro often produce a more 3D image with better depth perception, which is why they're still common in hunting and military applications.
+
diff --git a/wired.txt b/wired.txt
index 3a6cfd8..9b5afea 100644
--- a/wired.txt
+++ b/wired.txt
@@ -1,39 +1,559 @@
 # Scratch
 
-## Tuxedo InfinityBook Pro 14 - Gen8
 
-These days mainstream PC makers like Dell and Lenovo offer laptops with Linux pre-installed. In most cases they're great laptops, but I've found that smaller manufacturers dedicated to creating hardware optimized for Linux often provide a better experience, especially if you run into issues with their machines. 
+## Best Coolers
 
-Perhaps the best example of this is System76 machines, which have consistently been among the best Linux laptops we've tested.
+Ah, summer. The beach, the lake, the river—wherever you can find water is the place to be. But while you're beating the heat floating in an inner tube or standing on a paddleboard, your drinks and food are not. They're baking in the afternoon sun, because this morning's shady spot has already evaporated, along with your ice.
 
-Tuxedo, out of Germany, is something like a European System76. The company makes a variety of laptops, but the one on that caught my eye was the InfinityBook Pro 14, which looks somewhat like a Macbook or Dell XPS and delivers an excellent Linux experience made all the better by some of the custom tools Tuxedo has developed.
+The first thing to consider when buying a cooler is how you're going to use it. If you aren't heading out for days at a time, you probably don't need an expensive high-end cooler. All the coolers we've recommend above are capable of holding things at a safe temp for a day provided you keep them in the shade. Similarly, if you aren't going to be hiking into a campsite, don't spend the extra money for a backpack cooler. At the same time, if you do plan to be moving your cooler a lot, a wheeled cooler is well worth the investment. Your back will thank you.
 
-### Hardware
+Here are a few more things to consider when shopping for a cooler:
 
-The InfinityBook Pro 14 is a sleek, slim 14-inch laptop. At 17mm thick, it's not quite as thin as something like the Dell XPS 13, but it's not bulky by any means. It's reasonably small too at 12.2 inches by 8.2 inches (31 cm by 21.5 cm). I carried it around comfortably in my Mountainsmith shoulder bag.
 
-Two things immediately jumped out at me the first time I started up the InfinityBook. First the 2.8K screen is gorgeous. It's a 14-inch matte LCD with a 2880 by 1800 pixel resolution and it looks frankly amazing. The brightness can be cranked all the way to 400 nits and it supports the full sRGB color gamut, but it's really the matte part that got me. It's hard to find a matte display at this resolution and this one is the best I've seen lately.
 
-The other thing I immediately noticed is the European-centric keyboard. Tuxedo sent me a German keyboard, which is fine, I touch type anyway so once I set the layout to US in the settings, the keyboard was mostly fine. Except for the Enter key. Most US keyboards use what's known as a ANSI design, which features a long thin Enter key. Tuxedo uses an ISO format keyboard, which has a taller Enter key and adds another key just to the left of it. This is helpful for European users because it provides another accent key, but it's definitely something that will trip you up if you're used to the ANSI format keyboard. I got around this by remapping the extra accent key to Enter (using [Input Remapper](https://github.com/sezanzeb/input-remapper)) so that even if I mistyped I got the result I intended. 
 
-I should note that otherwise the keyboard was quite nice. The keys are on the tall side for a chiclet-style keyboard and have a satisfying amount of travel. I was able to type just as fast as I do on my Thinkpad T14 (and the screen was much nicer than mine, did I mention that?)
+coleman
+ultra-light
+backpack cooler
+functionality
+ice chest
+orca
+quart cooler
+soft-sided cooler
+best soft coolers
+bottle opener
+campers
+cooler bag
+day trips
+drinks cold
+large cooler
+leakproof
+tailgating
+versatile
+warranty
+yeti roadie
+barbecues
+beach days
+bear-proof
+bear-resistant
+best wheeled cooler
+divider
+drain plug
+pick up
+portable cooler
+quart capacity
+rei
+rubber latches
+tote
+water bottles
 
-Tuxedo also offers a wealth of [keyboard customization options](https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/en/Individual-Keyboards.tuxedo). You can put pretty much anything you want on the keyboard, including nothing. You can also have your custom logo etched in the lid.
 
-The InfinityBook Pro is built around an Intel Core i7-13700H. The model I tested had integrated graphics, but there is an option to configure your InfinityBook Pro with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card. I never felt the need for it, but if you plan to do anything more than light gaming, that's probably the way to go (although the screen refresh tops out at 90Hz). I did a good bit of video editing on this machine and while that did get the fan spinning, it was still plenty fast enough for my needs.
+## /e/OS Review
 
-Speaking of fans, the InfinityBook Pro 14 is equipped with a dual-fan cooling system, which is basically double what you'll get in most thin laptops of this design. It works well too, even crunching 5.2K footage it was never too hot to have in my lap.
+The Android mobile operating system is open source, which means anyone can, in theory, build their own mobile operating system based on the [Android Open Source Project](https://source.android.com) (AOSP). Why then are there not many different versions of Android to choose from? 
 
-As with most Linux laptops, battery life is good, but not great. Doing our usual battery drain test (looping a 1080p video at 75 percent brightness) the InfinityBook Pro managed 6.5 hours. That said, this test was not very representative of the experience of actually using the laptop. In the months I spent testing, I never once felt constrained by battery life. The display is plenty bright for web browsing and document work at about 40 percent, so that's generally where I left it unless I was editing photos or video. Average use, at 40 percent brightness, generally got me between 9 and 10 hours. A full day's work and some change. 
+The good news is that there are a few alternatives to Android, and some of them are excellent, better in my experience than the version of Android that ships with your phone. But that fact that there are only three or four such options highlights the fact that there is more, much more, to the mobile experience than the operating system.
 
-talk about ports and USB-C charging.
+Your Android phone's operating system is open source, but it's also running device-specific drivers, Google's various Play Services APIs, and many, many default apps, most of which are not open source, but absolutely key to a good mobile experience. 
 
-### Software
+All of this stuff is another layer atop the Android operating system and its this layer which is very difficult for other projects to reproduce. It's not that hard for projects to get the AOSP code running, but very difficult to create a great mobile user experience on top of it.
+
+One project that has managed to create a really great user experience on top of AOSP is /e/OS. For the past six months I've used nothing else and I am here to say that the Android alternatives world has never been better. If you're looking to get out of the Google box, come on in, the water is fine.
+
+It's worth pausing here to answer the question of why you'd want to use an Android alternative like /e/OS. Despite my general dislike of surveillance capitalism, initially it was not privacy-related issues that drove me from Andoird, but poor user-experience. I got tired of Android's constant updates. It felt like Windows. Every time I picked up my phone the internet was ridiculously slow because Android was downloading yet another update and prompting me to install it. I lived through Windows 98, once was enough.
+
+Several years ago, fed up with Android, I installed LineageOS (probably the best known of the Android alternatives) and never looked back. LineageOS is a solid platform and provides a good set of basic applications. I never had any trouble with the open source apps I primarily rely on, nor did I have much trouble with the handful of proprietary apps I use (WhatsApp likes to complain when it runs on an alt OS, but it functions fine). Outside of work I don't depend on or use any Google services so my transition away from stock Android was smooth.
+
+However, due to my position at WIRED I still needed to install the Google Play Services layer on LineageOS, otherwise apps I need for work—Slack, Airtable, Gmail, etc—did not work properly. 
+
+While I like LineageOS, the fact that Google was still embedded into my device bothered me because my perspective changed. The underlying assumptions of stock Android began to annoy me. The boot screen was what did it. When you unlock the boot loader of your phone (which is necessary to load an alternative OS) there's a message every time you reboot warning that "software integrity cannot be guaranteed." That is true, it can't, and that could be bad if you happen to be Jason Bourne (more on this below), but what bothers me isn't the techincal details, but the underlying assumptions, namely that the corporation making your device *can* be trusted. 
+
+Perhaps I read too much into these things. Perhaps I dream too much of what's starting to look like an unlikely future where mobile devices are general purpose computers modifiable as you see fit. Whatever the case, I certainly don't trust device manufacturers or Google, especially [on my phone](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/03/android-sends-20x-more-data-to-google-than-ios-sends-to-apple-study-says/), and I wanted Google out of my LineageOS (don't worry Google fanboys, I dislike Apple too). I needed something to replace Google Play Services, which is not open source and therefore can't be run outside Google's version of Android.
+
+While Android is open source, Google has taken a page from the Microsoft playbook of old and uses things like its new "Play Integrity" APIs to ensure that apps will only work with Google's version of Android. This way Google can wave the open source flag while effectively preventing downstream forks from working. Most of the developers I spoke to believe that these anti-competitive practices will ultimately be regulated by governments. I do not share their optimism on that. Google's monopoly is subtle and built out of code, which is difficult for the non-technical to parse. However that susses out legally, in the mean time, a tremendous amount of effort has gone into trying to replicate these proprietary APIs to ensure most apps will work on alternative operating systems.
+
+Luckily for me, I am not the first person to need a Google Play Service alternative. There are several options out there, but the best in my experience is the [Micro G project](https://microg.org). Micro G is a free software clone of Google’s proprietary core libraries and applications, replacing most of the proprietary APIs Google uses. This means your de-Googled phone can still handle geo location correctly, along with a few other core services third-party apps expect.
+
+I ended up combining LineageOS and Micro G to have a phone that was fully de-Googled, but also fully functional, with a couple of exceptions I'll cover below.
+
+The catch is that installing LineageOS and Micro G requires a little technical expertise. You'll need to be able to run command line software and be comfortable rooting your device.
+
+This is where we finally get to /e/OS. Installing LineageOS is not for everyone. That's one of the main problems /e/OS set out to solve. And indeed it has, you can buy a Fairphone pre-loaded with /e/OS and have an excellent, Google-free mobile experience with almost no hassle. I tested this using a Fairphone 4 that Murena, the company that handles the hardware /e/OS supports, but you don't have to buy a Fairphone. Murena sells refurbished Pixel 5s pre-loaded with eOS, as well as its own Murena One (not currently available in the U.S).
+
+I did not specifically test Murena's refurbished Pixels, but when it was time to send back the Fairphone I loaded /e/OS on a Pixel 6a and continue to use it to this day (if you've installed LineageOS, the process for /e/OS is nearly identical save the files you're "side loading"). 
+
+So what exactly is /e/OS? Well, it starts with a base system of LineageOS, adds in Micro G to handle all the Googlely things, and then focuses on replicating the rest of a good mobile OS experience—syncing data through its own servers, providing online backups, and making sure all your favorite apps run as expected. That's very similar to what I achieved on my own with LineageOS and Micro G, but with zero effort on the user's part.
+
+That's not what makes /e/OS special though. The real difference between /e/OS and other versions of Android is the privacy-first design. The core of /e/OS's privacy features lie in the Advanced Privacy app and widget. Here you can block trackers, along with other features such as hiding your IP address or geolocation when you feel like it. The IP and Geo spoofing are nice for limited use cases, but the main privacy feature for most of us is the ability to block trackers in apps. 
+
+The one depressing thing about using /e/OS is getting to see in stark detail how many apps are constantly transmitting data back to servers. Sure, /e/OS blocks all that out of the box so you're not transmitting any data, but everyone else is. 
+
+Thanks to the Advanced Privacy app, I can tell you that in the last 10 days /e/OS has blocked 3,030 apps from contacting tracking servers. While there are apps I am not surprised to see in this list, like Delta's app, which I only had installed for a trip, there are others I was disappointed to see in there, like my birding apps. Both Audubon's app and Cornell's eBird app contain trackers. Ironically /e/OS's System app is in this list. Yes, out of the box /e/OS blocks itself.
+
+An added bonus of this feature is that you'll see very few ads on /e/OS.
+
+While I like the privacy features of /e/OS, and have even taken to spoofing my geo data much of the time, the real killer feature to me is the /e/OS app store, which is named the App Lounge. When I used Lineage I installed apps from several different apps stores. There's F-Droid, which hosts open source apps, UptoDown, which a few apps I use support (Vivaldi being the main one), and then I had a few I could only get through the Google Play Store. As anyone using LineageOS can tell you, it's a lot to keep track of. The /e/OS App Lounge combines apps from a variety of sources, including the Play Store and F-Droid, among others, making them all available in one place (you can also opt to only show open source apps). 
+
+Also nice is the option to stay anonymous when connecting to any of the app stores, although, you will need to to be logged in to get apps you paid for, since those are tied to your user id. I have also had the anonymous login fail a few times, giving me token errors. This is one of the few places I've had issues with /e/OS.
+
+The App Lounge uses a familiar design that looks a bit like Google Play, but adds a few features. This first is that App Lounge provides privacy information about each app, grading it on a 1 to 10 scale, where 1 is horrible for privacy and 10 generally means no trackers. The App Lounge also grades apps according to which permissions they require. The fewer permissions (like access to your photos or geodata) the higher the rating. It's a nice way of providing what is often complex information in a way that anyone can easily parse. In a win for the larger Android-alt community, /e/OS claims to be working on making the App Lounge available as an app that came be installed anywhere (in the mean time, the [Aurora Store](https://auroraoss.com) is close).
+
+## What Doesn't Work
+
+As much as I love /e/OS it's not perfect. I have had some minor issues with geo data. I live on the road, so my location changes every couple of weeks. Sometimes /e/OS is slow to pick up on this and the Maps app will show me search results based on where I was last week. The included Maps app itself is still rough around the edges (and it uses some proprietary code). It's better and more accurate than every other map app I've tried, but it still isn't as good as Google Maps. I don't care what you think of Google, its Map app is unmatched. I still use it as a backup with the default /e/OS app doesn't find what I need.
+
+The other big missing feature for me is Speech-to-text. Right now /e/OS ships without speech-to-text at all. There's a good summary of the options available in the /e/OS forums. None of them are ideal, but I've managed to get by with a combination of Sayboard and GBoard. Yes, it's a pain to switch between keyboards. The good news is that this feature is on the roadmap for /e/OS in 2024. This will also open the door to an /e/OS assistant, which is not currently available. The project is unclear about what form this might take, given the privacy implications of interacting with a server to answer queries, but one possibility is a Large Language Model run locally.
+
+The other missing option is a full backup. At the moment your media, calendar, contacts, and files are backup up if you create a murena.io account, but applications and any settings/data are not backed up. Again, hopefully that will be changing later this year.
+
+In my experience, apps generally just work. I have not had any problems running apps beyond those I've mentioned above.
+
+## Security Issues
+
+It would be remiss not to the point out that to install alternative OSes on your phone requires unlocking the bootloader, which does open a door to attackers. Unfortunately, re-locking the bootloader often does not go well. I have never tried it, given that it's an easy way to brick your phone. 
+
+The reason phones ship with locked bootloaders is to protect against a kind of attack called "[Evil Maid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_maid_attack)" (it would also protect against a rootkit being installed). The way bootloader locking prevents this is to require a private encryption key (which only the phone manufacturer has) to "sign" the OS that's about to load. Without this key, the OS isn't allowed to load. This ensures third parties don't modify or replace the operating system with malicious versions.
+
+The question is, is it bad to have an unlocked bootloader? If you are the target of an attack by state-level groups, then yes, you should not used unlocked bootloaders. Like I said above, if you're a super spy, avoid /e/OS. Also avoid using a phone at all. In the world most of us live in there are no hackers posing as waiters to swipe our phones over lunch and install malicious operating systems, which is what you have to do to pull off a bootloader attack. A bootloader attack requires the attacker to gain possession of the hardware.
+
+I have been running various OSes for years with unlocked bootloaders and have not had an issue. I bring this up mostly because everyone should be informed and make this choice for themselves. In my case I know there is an insecurity here, I am okay with it.
+
+Also, to be clear, despite my initial dislike of the unlocked bootloader message above, this issue is not Google's fault, it's the hardware makers fault. In fact there is a system out there that handles your phone's bootloader just like Microsoft's UEFI system works on a laptop, but hardware manufacturers have not implemented it. Google actually has in the Pixel phones so I can in theory relock my bootloader, but I don't. The risk of a bricked phone is more real in my case than the risk of an Evil Maid attack. It's also worth noting that if you do want an OS that can re-lock the bootloader, GrapheneOS makes that possible. I have not use GrapheneOS, but it is another option. For me though /e/OS does everything I need and does a good job of staying out of my way the rest of the time.
+
+A phone's operating system may not matter to everyone, but if you're someone who wants to leave the binary world of Apple and Google behind, more out of their browsing experience, /e/OS is well worth a try. 
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+## Markdown
+
+In the beginning was the word. The word was stored in plain text. But it was only plain text. Then came Markdown, a markup syntax that made it easy to bring forth the HTML, the LaTeX, the PDF, even the Microsoft Word docx. The people saw that in this form the word was transformed. It was good. The internet rejoiced and put Markdown in all the things.
+
+Today, Markdown is possibly the most ubiquitous piece of code on the web. It's in nearly every online text box you're likely to encounter and there's an entire economy of mobile note taking apps built on its back. 
+
+Yet unlike most extremely successful pieces of code, Markdown is not publicly hosted on the code sharing site de jour, it doesn't have hundreds of people contributing to it, and the last time the original Perl script was updated was 2001. Despite following none of the supposed rules of what makes successful software, Markdown is by any measure extremely successful software.
+
+There are some important assumptions behind Markdown. The big one is that the ideal canonical format for storing data long term is plain text. This is self-evident to programmers because everything is plain text. Code is plain text. We write in text (using text editors, some of which are nearly 50 years old), and we've even created entire operating systems built around the idea that the filesystem is a tree of plain text files (UNIX). Plain text is where all things begin and probably where all things end.
+
+The problem with plain text is that normal people (non-programmers) like formatting. They like more readable displays of words than it possible with plain text. Programmers looked at this problem and said, okay, here's LaTeX, a markup language to turn our plain text files into the beautiful printed documents you crave. Life, once again, was good.
+
+Then came the web. HTML files are interesting because a webpage is technically plain text. However, because HTML blends content (the words you want to read) and form (markup telling a web browser how to display the words you want to read), HTML is not very pleasant to read in its raw, plain text form, even for programmers accustomed to reading code.
+
+This was not a huge problem in the early days because HTML was relatively simple and reading it was not that hard. As HTML grew, working directly with it became more cumbersome and annoying. 
+
+This is the world in which Markdown was born.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+While programmers have an obsession with text, journalists have an obsession with words. Text is a conveyor, not a thing being conveyed. Journalists have taken their words and adapted them to text forms necessary to reach their audiences over time.
+
+Text into the newspaper column. Text into the magazine layout. Text on a publisher’s website. Text on their own website.
+
+
+I first encountered Markdown almost two decades ago when Markdown author John Gruber posted something about it to the BBEdit mailing list. As a writer working almost entirely with digital publishers, Markdown offered
+
+
+## Best Portable Grills
+
+The Skotti Grill is a completely collapsible, lightweight, stainless steel grill that's the perfect overlanding companion. It's quick to set up, cools reasonably fast so you can pack it away, and can cook with propane, butane, charcoal, or wood. I tested it using all of the above, and while I am partial to the charcoal and wood options, it's nice to have propane or butane as an option in this day and age of fire bans. You do have to insert burner pipe and heat dispersing plate, but otherwise cooking is about the same regardless of fuel source.
+
+The Skotti isn't huge. With tk square inches of cooking space, it's best for couples or small families. I was able to feed five grilling the main dish on the Skotti, but I made all the sides on my stove.  
+
+
+
+: It is made out of 9 separate stainless steel pieces that pack flat into the tarp bag that comes with the grill. In combination with its light weight of only 6.6 lbs, this makes the SKOTTI Grill a perfect portable gas grill for any outdoor adventure – use it as a camping grill, take it with you on a fishing trip or simply make a quick BBQ in your backyard after work – the possibilities are endless!
+
+Quick and Convenient Assembly
+You might think that its multi-part makes it hard to set up – you couldn’t be more mistaken! After a few times trying, you’ll be able to set it up in less than a minute. Fire up the grill and you’ll be ready to go in another 2 minutes, allowing you to spend more time enjoying your favorite outdoor activities. Whether you’re on a hiking trip or embarking on other adventures, this swift setup ensures you won’t miss a beat.
+
+Freedom: Choose your fuel source
+While the SKOTTI Grill is a gas grill, it is not just limited to one fuel source. While it excels as a gas grill, it can easily be used with charcoal or wood. For that, simply leave out the burner pipe and radiation plate, fill the bottom of the grill with some dirt of sand and fill it up with charcoal or wood.
+
+Effortless Cleaning
+We understand the importance of easy maintenance, which is why the SKOTTI Grill is a breeze to clean. All nine individual parts are dishwasher-safe, ensuring a thorough and convenient cleaning process. Say goodbye to the hassle of scrubbing and let the dishwasher do the work, providing you with more time to relish your outdoor experiences.
+
+Powerful Performance
+Don’t let its compact size fool you; the SKOTTI Grill packs a powerful punch. With an impressive 8500 BTU/h, this portable gas grill ensures you to achieve exceptional outdoor grilling results.
+
+Embrace the spirit of adventure with the SKOTTI Grill, the ultimate companion for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you’re on a thrilling hike, camping in the wilderness, fishing by the lake, car camping with friends, exploring in an RV, or tailgating before the big game, the SKOTTI Grill will make your experience worthwhile Get ready to savor delicious meals in the great outdoors with this remarkable portable gas grill.
+
+
+## Best Laptops
+
+## Instax Mini 99 Review
+
+Fujifilm's New Instax Mini 99 is an Instax camera for those who love manual controls and creative effects. It's not the sharpest Instax I've tested—that remains the Mini Evo—but it might be the most analog and the most capable.
+
+The $200 price tag is well above the entry-level point and shoot Instax cameras, but here you get exposure and shutter control, a swatch of color effects, even the ability to simulate light leaks just like those thrift store camera finds collect dust on your shelf.
+
+## Camera Fashion
+
+Except for the colorful and bubbly entry-level cameras, Fujifilm's Instax design tends toward a retro-camera vibe, which holds true for the Mini 99. The 99 is all-black, instead of the silver and black found in the Mini 90, but otherwise bears more than a passing resemblance. Fujifilm hasn't officially said the 99 replaces the 90, but they feel close enough to each other that I'd be surprised in the Mini 90 continues.
+
+The lens of the Mini 99 is the same as the Mini 90. It's a 60mm lens made of plastic. It works out to roughly the same as a 35mm lens in 35mm format (or if you prefer, somewhere between 1x and 2x on your iPhone). The shutter is fixed at f/12.7, which means you'll be relying on the flash in all but bright, sunny, outdoor shots. That said, unlike quite a few other Instax models, with the Mini 99 you can turn off the flash for those well-lit shots.
+
+Perhaps the most interesting part of the Mini 99, and something new for the Instax line, are the manual focus options. The Mini 99 does not have true manual focus where you turn a dial on the lens to get precise focus, rather there are three zones of focus—close up (0.3-0.6 meters), midrange (0.6-3 meters), and infinity (3m-infinity). For those not metric-savvy that works out to 1-2 feet, 2-10 feet, and 10-infinity. While that's not as precise as a true manual focus camera, it's more control than you typically get with Instax.
+
+I find the manual focus to be a little inconsistent. Or rather the results were less dramatic than I expected. Keep in mind that the aperture is f/12.7, which means the field of focus is pretty wide, even with the focus zone controls. The Mini 99 is capable of bokeh (the name for out of focus regions in a photo), but only in very specific situations, like a portrait, and even then you have to use the closest focus which means your subject's face will mostly fill the frame anyway. That said, being able to play with focus at all is a step up from most Instax cameras where focus is fixed and the 1-foot close focus distance is nice for macro-style shots like flowers.
+
+The Mini 99's design makes use of two dials, one that acts like an exposure compensation dial, allowing you to adjust Exposure Value (EV) two stops brighter and two darker. I found the L (Lighten) and L+ useful when shooting against snow, which has a tendency to overwhelm small sensors like this one. It's also good for strongly backlit scenes, though those are not Instax's strong suit, don't expect too much. The D (Darken) and D- settings proved less useful as they tended to make images overly dark. I could see them being more useful with black and white film, adding a bit of drama perhaps.
+
+The second dial allows you to add a series of color effects to your shots. Options include Faded Green (FG), Warm Tone (WT), Light Blue (LB), Soft Magenta (SM), Sepia (SP), and Light Leak (LL). Behind the scenes Fujifilm is using LEDs to tone your images and, in the case of Light Leak, simulate a light leak on the film. The results are fun, I especially like the Warm Tone, though once I was done testing, I shot most of my images in Normal (N) mode.
+
+The dials are easy to use, but unfortunately they're also very easy to accidentally turn when the camera is in your pocket or bag. After ruining a couple images because the EV dial had been turned in my pocket, I learned to always check the dials before shooting. It would be nice to have the dials lock in place a little better.
+
+What I found far more fun than the color effects were the shutter speed controls. There are 4 modes available here. The normal mode, an indoor mode (for low light, slower shutter), Sports mode (denoted by a figure running) with a faster shutter, and B for Bulb, which yes, allows you to keep the shutter open as long as you like. In theory you can do night shots with Bulb mode, though in my testing this is tricky as there's no cable release.
+
+The other fun shooting mode is double exposure. I'll confess that I have become used to shooting double exposure's with digital, which allows for more precise framing since you can see the first image, so my first few attempts with Instax were pretty bad. But with a little practice I found this one of the more interesting ways to use the Mini 99. It also gave me something to do with some very expired Instax film that I had lying about. Double exposures, combined with the strange effects of expired film made for some interesting shots.
+
+The Mini 99 uses a removable, rechargeable battery (a NP-70S). Fujifilm is claiming 100 photos per charge. It's a little difficult to test that, but this feels about right, possibly even on the conservative side. I used about one-third of the battery shooting four rolls of film (and its worth noting most of that was shot in near freezing conditions which always results in subpar battery performance). For most use cases the provided single battery is going to be fine. I did not notice much in the way of power lose when not using the camera in the month that I tested. It's also worth noting that you don't charge the battery directly, Fujifilm provides a separate USB-C charger which is nice if you want multiple batteries.
+
+A self-timer and flash control round out the options on the Mini 99, making it one of, if not the most flexible, capable Instax camera in Fujifilm's Instax lineup. See our [Guide to Instax Cameras]() for more options, but if you want manual controls the Mini 99 is the camera to get. The only downside to the Mini 99 in my testing is that in my testing the images it produces are not as sharp as the Mini Evo. The manual controls of the Mini 99, especially the focusing controls, do give you some creative options the Evo doesn't have, but if you're after pure image quality the Mini Evo remains the Instax of choice. If on the other hand you want more manual controls and the fun the color effects The Mini 99 is a fine Instax camera.
+
+
+
+## Best Binoculars
+
+While knowing that 8x42 means 8x magnification with 42mm objective lenses is a good starting point for choosing binoculars, there are a number of other terms it helps to understand.
+
+- **Objective Lens**: This is the big lens, at the opposite end from from where you look. The size of the objective lens determine how much light reaches your eye. In general, all other things being equal, a larger objective lens gives you a brighter image.
+- **Field of View**: This refers to how much you can see. The wider the field of view the more you can see. The standard measurement is how many feet wide the viewing area is at 1000 yards. This can then be translated to degrees. You'll see field of view (also often just, FOV) listed in both degrees and feet, which can make it hard to compare. It's also abstract and can be difficult to wrap your head around, which is why I like the [FOV visualization tool](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/choosing-binoculars-field-of-view-and-close-focus/) on Cornell's All About Birds website. 
+- **Eye Relief**: Eye relief refers to the ideal distance from your eye to the eyepiece glass. The ideal distance varies, but for most binoculars it'll be in the 10mm to 20mm range. In order to see the full view provided, you eye needs to be at the right eye relief spot. Too close and you'll see black shadows, too far and the FOV shrinks. This is primarily an issue for those of us who wear glasses, as some binoculars make it nearly impossible to get a full field of view when wearing glasses, which is why I try to always note how each model is wearing glasses.
+- **Roof Prism**: This refers to a type of binocular design, the alternative being Porro prism (see below). Roof prism design puts the objective lenses directly inline with the eyepieces, giving you the H-shape common in binoculars these days. This design makes for a lighter, smaller, more streamlined binocular. Nikon has a [nice visualization](https://imaging.nikon.com/sport-optics/guide/binoculars/technologies/technologies_06/) showing how the different designs bounce light to your eye.
+- **Porro Prism**: Porro prism binoculars use offset objective lenses that are not inline with the eyepiece—think the wider, bulkier binoculars you sometimes see. Porro prisms are often sharper (a birding friend of mine has a pair of 1940s Zeiss Porro prism binoculars that have one the sharpest images I've ever seen), but bulkier. Porro often produce a more 3D image with better depth perception, which is why they're still common in hunting and military applications.
+
+
+
+Porro prism binoculars, named after their 19th-century Italian inventor, can be recognized by the fact that the front or objective lens is offset from and not in line with the eyepiece or ocular lens.
+
+
+People who wear glasses sometimes get cheated out of part of the image. If the binocular's eye relief is too short, they see only the center of the picture. All that good stuff around the edges is obscured.
+
+The thing is, every binocular is made so that there is an ideal distance from your eye to the glass of the eyepiece. That distance is called eye relief. Each binocular has a particular eye relief, depending on the optical design. Each binocular has a certain eye relief. It's usually between 10mm and 20mm. In order to see the whole picture, you need to locate your eye at that distance from the eyepiece of the binocular.
+
+If your eye is too close, you get weird shadows coming in from the sides. If you eye is too far away, the image will be constricted. 
+
+https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/choosing-binoculars-field-of-view-and-close-focus/
+
+eye relief
+binocular review
+bushnell
+durability
+eyepiece
+roof prism
+show
+adapter
+beginners
+birding binoculars
+budget binoculars
+carrying case
+celestron skymaster
+close focus
+long-distance
+monocular
+optical quality
+price point
+prism binoculars
+spotting scope
+waterproof binoculars
+functionality
+lens size
+light conditions
+night sky
+
+
+
+How We Tested
+
+I look at a number of factors, including the optical quality, AKA sharpness and clarity, the brightness (taking into account objective lens size), color rendition, eye relief (where your eye needs to be to see the entire field of view), weight, and comfort. In the end I will admit I am biased toward sharpness and clarity. If it isn't sharp, nothing else matters. Lately though I've also been carefully testing eye relief not just for human viewing, but also for digiscoping (a fancy neologism for sticking a camera up to the lens).
+
+I am very fortunate to be able to go birding nearly every day. Most of my testing is done birding, though if you ever see me at baseball game with four pairs of binoculars around my neck, please try not to laugh. I test in conditions ranging from the deep, dark forests of the north woods, to the dry desert canyons of the west, to the harsh, glaring sun of the Florida panhandle. I also spend plenty of time out hiking, subjecting these binoculars to life in a bag, life around my neck to get a sense of their durability.
+
+Since a number of readers have asked, I personally own a pair of Nikon 8x42 Monarchs (the older version of our top pick), a pair of Celestron 10x42 Regal ED. When I head of hiking and I don't have anything to test, I use the Celestron Trailblazer ED 8x32.
+
+
+
+The conditions ranged from sunny plains to dark, shady forests. We also took painstaking side-by-side photos through all of our binoculars so our readers could better understand how the optics compare.
+
+Our testing of binoculars is divided into six metrics:
+Clarity tests (35% of overall score weighting)
+Brightness tests (20% weighting)
+Comfort tests (15% weighting)
+Field of View tests (15% weighting)
+Ease of Adjustment tests (10% weighting)
+Close Focus Range tests (5% weighting)
+
+Overall, our test fleet of binoculars was subjected to numerous testing procedures to rate their performance. We put the most weight on the clarity score, corresponding to 35% of each binocular's overall score. This was tested using a standard ISO chart (a chart used to test digital still-imagery cameras) and by placing model birds on a tree to compare the same bird side-by-side in identical lighting scenarios. Brightness was another metric of great importance. By taking photos through each binocular and comparing them side by side, we can compare these metrics objectively.
+
+
+.every binocular is made so that there is an ideal distance from your eye to the glass of the eyepiece. That distance is called eye relief. Each binocular has a particular eye relief, depending on the optical design. Each binocular has a certain eye relief. It's usually between 10mm and 20mm. In order to see the whole picture, you need to locate your eye at that distance from the eyepiece of the binocular.
+
+
+this
+best binoculars
+field of view
+magnification
+vortex
+bird watching
+pair of binoculars
+objective lens
+compact binoculars
+swarovski
+binos
+low light
+eye relief
+birders
+stargazing
+leica
+zoom
+8x42 binoculars
+durability
+zeiss
+roof prism
+nikon monarch
+10x42 binoculars
+binocular review
+bushnell
+show
+high-end
+eyepiece
+multi-coated
+eyecups
+wide field of view
+amazon
+beginners
+budget binoculars
+image quality
+stabilization
+athlon
+adapter
+viewing experience
+bak-4
+prism binoculars
+price point
+close focus
+best compact
+price tag
+optical quality
+monocular
+fogproof
+spotting scope
+waterproof binoculars
+long-distance
+nikon prostaff p3
+celestron skymaster
+canon
+birding binoculars
+focus knob
+pentax
+carrying case
+maven
+prism design
+nature dx
+lens size
+functionality
+night sky
+light conditions
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+## Celstron Trailseeker 8x32ED
+
+I started birding around the age of 0. This is what happens when your parents are birders. I had my first binoculars at 5, an ancient pair of Bushnell 10x50 that I would use when my father wasn't. They were huge, so heavy I could barely lift them, but the world they opened up was well worth the neck strain. Forty five years later, still birding, I am less sold on the neck strain.
+
+These days, when I head out of the house, my binocular of choice is 8x32, especially Celestron's Trailseeker 8x32 ED binoculars, which offer the best combination of image, quality, durability, and price that I've been able to find. Many a time have I brought these to my eye and thought something like, I can't believe these are only $320. They perform well above their price, indeed they match the performance of several I've tested that are double this price.
+
+### Trailseeker Optical Performance
+Celestron's Trailseeker 8x32 ED binoculars have phase and dielectric-coated BaK-4 prisms, which is rare in this size binocular at this price. What that means is that all air-to-glass surfaces are coated with multiple layers of anti-reflective coatings. That means very little light is lost within the prism. More light is reflected off the prism and gets to your eye delivering a brighter, sharper, more contrasty image.
+
+In practice the Trailseeker's deliver an excellent image, with a sweet spot—where the image is sharpest and contrasty—that's absolutely tack sharp and occupies roughly 60 percent of the image, expanding out from the center. That's very good for a $320 pair of binoculars. The image does soften a bit out toward the edges, but not to a degree that I notice unless I go looking for it.
+
+The edges are still sharp enough that I catch motion, at which point I can move the binoculars to center the bird or whatever it is into the sharper center. Additionally, based on my testing, most of the minimal distortion that there is near the edge can be corrected by focusing for the edges. I never felt the need to do this in real world use, but for the sake of testing I did discover it's possible to do (with a corresponding loss of sharpness in the center, since you're adapting to curvature distortion at the edges).
+
+There's very little in the way of chromatic aberrations with these binoculars. I really had to work to find situations where I noticed any purple fringing. Color is vivid with a relatively neutral cast, if anything these tend toward a warm rendition of colors which works well for birding.
+
+Are there binoculars with a larger sweet spot with less focus fall off? Yes there are, but they're generally larger and much more expensive. In terms of what you get for what you pay, these Celestrons are at the top of the pack optically speaking, based on my testing.
+
+The Trailseeker 8x32 binoculars offer a field of view that stretches to 409 feet at 100 feet, which is wide for this magnification at this price. Competitors typically only hit about 390 feet. That might not sound like much, but using these alongside the Nocs 8x32 (which have a field of view of 387 feet) the difference was very noticeable. That extra room goes a long way to helping the Trailseekers avoid the "tunnel vision" feeling that sometimes happens with smaller binoculars.
+
+### Trailseeker Ergonomics and Functionality
+Celestron has chose a very traditional, single hinge design for almost all of it's binoculars. The large, smooth focus knob is just forward of the hinge, well past the eyecup. I find the positioning ideal as my index finger rests on the focus knob, and my pinky still has room to rest against the barrel and isn't in danger of drifting into the front of the glass as sometimes happens with smaller binoculars.
+
+Focusing knobs are one of those things that come down to personal taste (shout out to the old [Knob Feel](https://knobfeel.tumblr.com) website), but I happen to love the focus knob on the Trailseekers. All of Celestron's focusing knobs are large and smooth with good tension that makes for smooth focusing. I don't think I've ever overshot focus with a pair of Celestrons. This is also partly due to the depth of focus being very good in the Trailseerks—it's easy to see when you're close.
+
+The eyecups rotate out with one intermediate click that gives you the option to leave them at about 50 percent. I wear glasses so I usually have the eyecups collapsed, but they're plenty comfortable with a slight inward curvature that helps cup your eye. The diopter is just forward of the right eyecup and is stiff enough that it stays where you put it.
+
+The outer rubber of the body has a bit of texture to it where you grip it on the sides, which makes it easy to hold. Celestron provides a nice, well padded strap, though I am partial to an all cotton strap I got years ago. There's also a chest harness included with the Trailseeker 8x32. I am not a fan of chest harnesses, but this one performed well enough in my testing.
+
+### Conclusion
+As someone with not-so-great vision (I've worn glasses since I was 15) I still love my 10x42 binoculars, but they're heavy and in an effort to lighten my load, especially when hiking, I've discovered that an 8x32 binocular provides a nice compromise between optical performance and portability.
+
+As long as the light is good, until the sun actually sets, I see almost no difference from my 10x42s. Yes, the 10x42 have a larger exit pupil, which gives you a roomier image, but most of the time I'm birding, I'm not roaming around the scene, I've got the bird in the sweet spot or am moving my binoculars to get the bird in the sweet spot.
+
+If you're looking for something for hunting, where low-light performance in late evening and early morning under tree canopy is paramount, then go for the 8X42 Trailseekers, which I also tested and are also excellent.
+
+
+
+Considering the binocular as a whole I think it is certainly worth consideration. Its light physical weight and compact size coupled with its very good center of field performance will make it an attractive package to many individuals.
+
+## Nemo Sleeping Pad Review
+
+
+
+Nemo Equipment's Tensor sleeping pad was my introduction to ultralight sleeping pads. I'll confess that when I unwrapped that Tensor (went for the insulated version) and inflated it for the first time five years ago my first thought was of a hiker joke I'd seen on reddit: inflatable sleeping pads are for people who want to sleep on the ground, just not right away.
+
+How would this impossibly thin, light, seeming fragile pad not leave me on the ground after a couple of night on the trail? Fast-forward five years. That sleeping pad had been under me for over 50 nights now and it still hasn't left me anywhere but comfortable and well-rested. That's not to say it can't fail, many a pad has left me on the ground over the decades, but so far the Nemo Tensor is still going strong.
+
+Last fall Nemo sent me review samples of its new Tensor line, which has been revamped for 2024 and now consists of three pads of varying degrees of thickness and R-value, each tailored to specific backcountry needs.
+
+### The Three Little Pads
+
+Nemo's 2024 makeover for the Tensor line of pads consists of three pads: the Tensor Trail, which is the lightest, but has the lowest R value, the Tensor All-Season, which has an R-value of 5.4, and the Tensor Extreme Conditions, which boasts a whooping 8.5 R-value, and has the highest warmth-to-weight ratio currently on the market.
+
+All of three those come in four sizes regular, regular mummy, regular wide, and long wide. Put it all together and that's 12 different pads to choose from from a single line of pads from a single manufacturer. This is why we have an entire [guide devoted to sleeping pads](https://www.wired.com/story/best-sleeping-pads/) to help you pick the best one for your needs.
+
+The construction of the Tensor pads hasn't changed for the two update pads. Nemo is still using a quilt-like design that helps baffles stay inflated and eliminates the springy sensation you get with vertical baffles. Insulation still consists of a metallized film. The difference in R-value is primarily connected to how many layers of insulating metal film the pad has. The Trail uses one layer, the All-Season gets two layers, and the Extreme uses four layers (and a different type of baffle, more on that below).
+
+Also new this year is a marginally beefier fabric on the bottom of these pads. Nemo is now using 40D nylon on the bottom to make it more durable. Take that Reddit funny guy. 
+
+All of Nemo's new pads are made of bluesign-approved nylon and come with the company's vortex pump sack, which works very well to inflate your bag via the zero-profile valve. I really wish there were some kind of standard for these valves so I could use the Nemo pump sack with other pads, but there isn't (I'm looking at you Therm-a-rest Neoair). There's also a stuff sack to store your pad. The Nemo lifetime warranty covers any manufacturing defects, which is nice, but for more immediate solutions to that much-feared puncture remember to bring the repair kit that's included with each pad. 
+
+### Our Pick: The Nemo Tensor All-Season 
+
+If you want an all-around pad that will keep you comfortable not just in the summer, but on those shoulder seasons as well, so you can head into the wilds even when there's no camper nearby to retreat to, the All-Season is the way to go.
+
+The All-season uses the same baffle construction as the Trail, but adds a second layer of metal film which increases the R-value to 5.4. It also sports the same 3.5 inches of cushioning found in the Trail.
+
+The All-Season is only a few ounces heavier than the Trail at 22 ounces for a regular wide, and the packed size is nearly the same. Given that it's only $30 more, barely heavier than the ultralight Trail, and offers almost double the R-value I think this is the best sleeping pad for most people out of Nemo's current Tensor lineup.
+
+I did not test the 2024 version, but the differences between the previous model, which I have tested are minimal. It's also very similar to the Insulated Tensor I've been using for years (the All-Season has a higher R-value, and is actually lighter than mine). Given that the real point of a sleeping pad is warmth, going for the higher R-value for a barely noticeable weight increase seems like a no-brainer to me—get the All-Season. 
+
+If you don't need the R-value of the All-Season, and you really want to save two ounces, the 2024 Tensor Trail remains the lightest Nemo mattress. For 2024 the R-value gets a marginal increase from 2.5 to 2.8, which still makes it very much a summer-only pad. The thickness has increased from 3 inches to 3.5 inches, and the 
+
+The most amazing thing to me about the changes is that, it got warmer, thicker, more durable and... lighter. The weight of the regular has decreased by .4 oz to 13.5 oz, a small, but welcome decrease. Even the regular wide, which I recommend for most people, is down to 20 oz.
+
+The 2024 Nemo Tensor Trail remains a good pad for ultralight, summer backpacking trips. I don't think the differences between this and the previous model are enough to warrant an upgrade if you have the older version, but if you've been wanting an ultralight pad that's super comfortable, light, and packs down small, this is the way to go. I spent three nights on this pad last fall, including one very windy, cold November night in the dunes of the outer banks, and I was plenty warm. The caveat here is that I sleep hot.
+
+The final Nemo pad in the 2024 lineup is a brand new cold weather sleeping pad, the Tensor Extreme, which is designed for cold weather camping, particularly sleeping on the snow. The Extreme uses what Nemo calls an apex baffle-design along with four layers of proprietary Thermal Mirror film. It all sounds very impressive and when it was announced the whole internet seemed to ask is the Nemo Tensor Extreme worth it?
+
+After spending a week sleeping on this pad I would argue yes. I can say for sure that this is the lightest, warmest sleeping pad I've ever slept on. That said, I have not had the opportunity to test it down into the lower end of its temperature rating, nor have I slept on snow with it. I can say that the difference in warmth between the Extreme and the Trail was, well, extreme. That is to say that I absolutely, almost immediately, noticed the difference when moving from one to the other.
+
+Given the tiny pack size and lightweight to R-value ratio, this also seems like a no-brainer. If I were heading out on a cold weather trip, this is pad I would bring. Now given the kind of conditions this pad is designed for I would also bring a closed cell foam pad like our top-pick [Therm-a-Rest Z-Lite](https://www.rei.com/product/829826/therm-a-rest-z-lite-sol-sleeping-pad). The more distance between your sleeping bag and the snow the better off you will be. While I have no doubt the Extreme does well on snow, having two pads with a combined weight of only 36 ounces and an R-value of 10 is the best of both worlds.
+
+
+
+
+nemo tensor
+backpacking
+baffles
+bluesign
+regular wide
+sleeping bag
+backcountry
+long wide
+packed size
+stuff sack
+therm-a-rest
+ultralight sleeping pad
+hiker
+neoair
+regular mummy
+Typical: 2–6
+‌
+rei
+Typical: 2–6
+‌
+repair kit
+Typical: 1–2
+‌
+tensor all-season
+Typical: 4–12
+‌
+thermal mirror
+Typical: 1–3
+‌
+vortex pump sack
+Typical: 1–2
+‌
+zero-profile
+Typical: 1–3
+‌
+air pads
+Typical: 1–2
+‌
+baffle design
+
+
+
+
+
+## Sleeping bags
+
+
+
+From versatile camping bags to wallet-friendly picks, we've found the best camping sleeping bags for every use and budget.
+We've tested sleeping bags for every type of overnight adventure, every temperature, and every budget, and these are the best of the best
+After testing sleeping bags for every type 
+
+
+
+## Markdown
+
+I would call markdown one of the most widespread and influential
+"apps" of the last couple of decades and it's pretty much just a Perl
+script that's not in version control, was mostly written by one
+person, and hasn't seen a meaningful update in 20 years. It just works
+despite ignoring every supposed rule of what makes good programming.
+Which drives programmers crazy. So much so that they've tried to take
+over Markdown (which, full disclosure, I've written about before) But
+I thought it might be interesting to talk to John Gruber about his
+little script and its impact.
+
+
+## /e/OS Review
+
+lineage is not really about privacy, it's about compatibility and extending the life of older phones.
+
+AOSP is the base of lineage—still phoning home
+
+bug tracker notifications in app store
+
+advanced privacy lets you disable trackers app by app, blocking them you can also fake geo data and 
+
+The apps are coming from Play Store via API. No mods
+open source from FDroid
+web apps from ???
+
+app compatibility is important, but so are services. e provides an service to sync data, 
 
-Like System76, Tuxedo laptops ship with a customized OS based on Ubuntu Linux, though they will run just about any Linux distribution (I tested Fedora to see if it worked and Arch because that's what I use most of the time). Tuxedo OS, which is built around the KDE desktop, provides a good, beginner-friendly experience.  
+major update every year to follow android. maintain devices as long as possible with support.
 
-In addition to the Tuxedo-themed KDE, there are some custom apps, including 
+## Best notebook questions
 
+how to journal effectively
+how to find best journal for my paper
+what is the best journal
+what makes a good journal
+how to journal better
+where can i find journal
+how to find the best journal for your paper
+what is the best time to journal
+what is a good journal
 
 ## Notes
 
@@ -59,10 +579,47 @@ t-shirts
 Top Priority:
 Best Fire tablets (June, September)
 
+EPC Earnings Per Click: an affiliate marketing term that refers to the average amount of money you earn each time someone clicks one of your affiliate links. 
+CVR Conversion Rate: a marketing metric that tells you how many users are converting on your website
+AOV Average Order Value. This is an eCommerce metric that indicates the average amount a customer spends during each transaction.
+GMV Gross Merchandise Volume: shows the total sales value for merchandise sold through a marketplace over a specific time frame.
+CPA Cost per acquisition: financial metric that is used to measure the revenue impact of marketing campaigns
+CAC Customer Acquisition Cost: see above
+
+How do you end up in the people also ask feature on google?
+
 
 
 # Guides Existing 
 
+## Which Instax Camera Should You Buy?
+
+There are not nearly as many choices for fans of Instax Square prints. Our top pick camera is the SQ 40, which is completely analog: press the shutter button and out comes your image, which develops in about 90 seconds. 
+
+There's a film counter near the bottom left side of the back to let you know how many images you have left. The SQ 40 runs on CR2 batteries. Fujifilm includes two when you buy the camera, which should be good for around 300 images. We suggest getting some [rechargeable CR2s](https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Lithium-CR2-Batteries-4-Pack/dp/B07JM6YZ2K/) when those run out.
+
+Using the SQ 40 is about as simple as it gets. Twist the lens barrel to on, frame your shot, hit the shutter button and out comes your photo. The only other option is a selfie mode, designed for use close up. In this case, be sure to frame your images with the mirror on the front rather than the viewfinder as [parallax distortion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallax) is an issue up close. In my shooting experience this most often manifests as closeup images where the subject is not centered as it appeared when you composed. The parallax stops being an issue at about four to five feet.
+
+Alternatives
+
+The SQ 1 is the more colorful predecessor to the SQ 40. In terms of features it's identical, though the body design is slightly different. There's a small grip on the left front side of the body that I find gets in the way more than it provides something to grab. Otherwise the images coming out of the SQ 1 are the same as what I get from the SQ 40, so if you want to save a few dollars (or get a more colorful camera) this SQ 1 is a capable camera as well.
+
+
+instax
+instax mini
+instax mini 11
+
+
+The Instax Mini 12
+
+If you want an instant camera and don't want to spend a lot of money, the Instax Mini 12 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is your best bet. The Mini 12 is functionally similar to the SQ 40 above, but has a very different, colorful, bubbly design. There's also one very important difference: parallax correction works in close-up mode (enabled by twisting the lens to close up). That correction means you don't have to guess where the center of the frame is for close-up subjects. What you see is what you get, eliminating those accidentally ill-framed close-ups that sometimes happened with the SQ 40 or Mini 11.
+
+The lens is a 2-element plastic lens (it's a 60mm f/12 lens in 35mm-speak). There's no focusing. Everything is auto-exposure. If this camera had a motto it would be: Keep it simple. That extends to the flash as well, which is fully automatic, but not always-on like other models. Instead the Mini 12 detects brightness levels and only fires the flast when needed. That said, the Mini 12 fired the flash far more than I would have liked, but perhaps my dream of a good low-light Instax camera is just that. 
+
+Fujifilm introduced a new app with the Mini 12 called Instax Up. The key function is that it will "scan" (photograph) your Instax prints, allowing you to store and share them online. If you have photos in any other Instax apps, you can import them to Instax Up so everything is in one place. 
+
+**Is Instax Mini 11 or 12 better?** The short answer is: buy the Mini 12. Fujifilm continue to sell the Instax Mini 11, but the Mini 12 is unquestionably a better camera. Typically the Mini 12 sells for around $80, while the Mini 11 is a few dollars cheaper. It's not worth it. You want the parallax correction of the Mini 12. Trust me. At current prices, the Mini 12 is a much better deal. If you happen to see the Mini 11 for under $60, that's an okay deal if you're tight on cash, but for most people the Mini 12 is going to produce better images for only a few dollars more.
+
 ## Which GoPro Should You Buy
 
 Insta360's Go series cameras never struck me as true action cams until this third version. The Go 3 is a completely redesigned, hybrid camera that transforms from a traditional action camera form factor to a more portable go-anywhere wearable camera. In action camera mode it's much like everything else in this guide, though the flip up rear screen is a nice extra since makes composing shots with you in them much easier. The Go 3 isn't fully waterproof in this mode, which is a significant downside, but when you remove the camera from the case, the camera itself is waterproof. The case can also continue to act as a remote monitor even when you pull the camera out. Couple that with the extremely strong magnetic mounting system on the camera pod and the Go 3 becomes capable of shots and angles that no other camera in this guide can match.
@@ -1493,6 +2050,323 @@ contain microfibers: http://guppyfriend.com/en/
 
 # Reviews 
 
+## XPS Review
+
+Dell's XPS laptops have always been roughly the Windows answer to Apple's MacBook Pro line. It shouldn't be surprising then that Dell, like Apple, has moved away from it's 15-inch XPS laptop to two models, the XPS 14-inch and XPS 16-inch. 
+
+Both share nearly identical designs and features, though the 16-inch model has a larger screen and battery (in our tests that balanced out to give roughly the same battery life as the 14-inch model). The result are pair of premium Windows machines, with premium prices to match.
+
+### Sorta Svelte
+
+As a long time fan of the XPS 13 I was really hoping the XPS 14 would be a slightly larger version of the XPS 13 Plus, but it really isn't. The XPS 14 is actually more a slighter smaller version of the XPS 15, which is to say while it's relatively light at 3.7 pounds, at tk inches thick it definitely leans more toward the bulky 15-inch XPS of old than the ultralight, ultra thin XPS 13. 
+
+Once I got over this disappointment though there's a lot to like in these new form factors. The design is exquisite, the XPS team has out-Appled Apple in some ways, with the barren, uninterrupted off-white expanse that is the trackpad and palm rests. If you're into a clean, minimalist aesthetic, this is the laptop you want.
+
+About that invisible trackpad: turns out your muscle memory of where a trackpad is is good enough that you probably don't need to see it. At least that was the case in my testing. Is it a little gimmicky? Sure. But that smooth white expanse, putting lines in that is like walking across an unbroken field of freshly fallen snow, what sort of monster would do that?
+
+The trackpad is responsive, which is to say, better than the similar haptic pad in the XPS 13 Plus. Tracking, scrolling, clicking, everything was very smooth and reminiscent of Apple's Macbook trackpads (except you can't see Dell's version).
+
+The keyboard is similarly controversial. First let's say it: yes the XPS 14 and 16 carry over the capacitive touch buttons instead of function keys that Dell debuted in the XPS 13 Plus. I am not especially bothered by this because I have never touch-typed function keys. In fact I just don't use function keys enough to be bothered by the capacitive buttons. If you do however use them a lot or touch type them, forget about the XPS—you will hate this keyboard.
+
+I found the slightly large keys simultaneously annoying and easy enough to type with. In fact I even did a touch typing test on this versus my daily machine (a Lenovo T14) and I was quite sure I'd be slower on the Dell, but I wasn't. I'm not sure what it is, but I just don't like the look of this keyboard. Fortunately, the aesthetics of it have nothing to do with its effectiveness. The one exception to that is the backspace key, which is a little left of normal to make room for the power button (which is also a finger print reader). This wasn't a deal breaker for me, but it did take a few days to adjust to.
+
+The port selection on both the 14 and 16 is fairly limited. There are three, all USB-C, certified Thunderbolt 4. Dell also includes a dongle with USB-A and HDMI ports if you need them. There's a headphone jack On the right side (thank god) and a microSD card slot. I don't want to pick on Dell here because they're certainly not alone, but what the heck does anyone need a microSD card slot for? A full size SD card slot would be fantastically useful, a microSD card slot... not so much. Major kudos to the first laptop maker to bring back the full size SD card slot.
+
+The webcams with the XPS 14 and 16 are surprisingly good, better than most other built-in web cams I've tested this year.
+
+### Pretty Pricey
+
+Dell is selling a number of configurations between these two sizes, but I absolutely do not recommend the base model. The problem with the base model is the screen, which is 1920 x 1200 screen. At 14 inches that works out to a pixels per inch (PPI) of 154. While I have not used this model, I have spent plenty of time testing similar specced screens and you should never pay 1,700 for a laptop with 154 PPI screen (for comparison, a 14-inch Macbook Pro has a PPI of 254). Worse, the 16-inch base model also ships with a 1920 x 1200 screen, which is a PPI so low that frankly it should only be in cheap laptops under $500.
+
+Just don't by the base model mmmkay?
+
+The models I tested both had the gorgeous 3840 x 2400 OLED screens, which are things of beauty, but do bring the base price of both models up by $300. That puts the price of the minimum config I would recommend at $2,000 for the XPS 14 and $2,200 for the XPS 16. Keep in mind that that price only gets you 8 gigabytes of RAM, no dedicated graphics, and a tk GB SSD. While you can always add your own SSD, the RAM is not upgradable.
+
+Adding the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 bumps the price of the 14-inch model to $2,400. This is the config I tested, and frankly performance was wanting in demanding tasks.  
+
+### Middling Performance
+
+I was surprised by the benchmarks I got from the XPS 14 with the RTX 4050, but not in a good way. My results were surprisingly lower than other laptops using the same chip, particularly in Geekbench, which measures graphics performance. After looking up some specs and puzzling through the test results I've come to the conclusion that Dell is underpowering the RTX 4050. The XPS 14 only gives the RTX 4050 40 watts, which is just above the bare minimum of 30 watts that Nvidia recommends. On one hand that keeps down heat, which means the fans spin up less and the battery lasts longer. Indeed, the fans on the XPS 14 and 16 ran less than other laptops I've been testing, at least until I started doing more demanding things like editing video.
+
+The cost of that efficacy though is performance. While the XPS 14 performed roughly on par with similarly specced Windows laptops we've tested this spring, and is very snappy for average tasks like browsing the web or editing documents—neither of which ever caused the fans to spin or the laptops to get warm—the bad news is that if you want a video editing workstation, the XPS is not the best choice. More to the point, the Macbook Pro with the M3 Pro chip costs the same, and quite frankly crushes the XPS, which is disappointing for anyone wanting a Macbook Pro equivalent Windows machine.
+
+For all that performance hit, battery life is still just okay. In everyday use browsing the web, writing documents, and watching the occasional YouTube video, I managed about 6 hours. That's actually pretty much smack dab in the middle of the pack for a laptop with an OLED screen and dedicated graphics. If there's anything to complain about it's really Windows laptops in general. Will anyone ever manage to make a Windows machine with the kind of battery life Apple gets out of the Macbook Pro? So far the answer is no, which is disappointing.
+
+Side note for Linux users: as you would expect, battery life was worse under Linux. Dell also confirmed that for now there will be no official Developer Edition of the XPS 14 or 16. The Linux-support version of the XPS is limited to the 13-inch Plus model. I was able to get Arch running, but the trackpad never worked correctly.
+
+### Recommendation
+
+The XPS 14 and 16 are both beautiful, well-design machines. They're plenty capable for most use cases, though heavy gamers and video editors will want to look elsewhere. My main gripe against both is that they're expensive for what you get. However, if you don't mind paying a premium for first-class build quality with very clean, eye-catching design, then the XPS 14 and 16 are solid laptops.
+
+
+## Hasselblad 907X and CFV 100C 
+
+Hasselblad's new 100 megapixel medium format camera system is capable of truly stunning images and totally incapable of shooting video. This is a photographer's camera for those lucky enough to still be photographers, without demanding video workload tacked on to every job. If that's you, this is the camera you want.
+
+The CFV 100C is a new 100 megapixel digital back which will pair with both Hasselblad's 907X digital body (the smallest medium format camera on the market), as well as older 501c Hasselblads. Throw in an optional drip and you have a medium format digital camera system that can be used like an old Hasselblad film camera (shooting waist level), a more versital digital version using the flip screen of the 907X, or for more traditional SLR-style shooting with the grip. 
+
+### The 907X with CFV 100C
+
+Like most photographers I do not have a Hasselblad 501c just lying about, so I did all my testing using the 907X with the CFV 100c. This combo is incredibly compact, comfortable to shoot with at both waist level and eye level, and easy to carry around.
+
+The 907X portion of the rig is incredibly thin and really little more than something that connects an XCD series lens to the 100C sensor back. The brains and sensor of the package are in the new CFV 100C digital back. 
+
+The 100 megapixel sensor is the same that Hasselblad used in the X2D and it remains mind blowing. Not only is the resolution incredible, but the RAW files capture 15 stops of dynamic range, 16-bit color, and offer some of the best color rendering I've ever seen in a digital sensor. It's difficult to quantify exactly what it is that makes these files special, but I rarely even felt the need to edit them. They already look the way I want them to. 
+
+Naturally this will be up to photographic style and personal taste, but for me at least, Hasselblad's color and tone rendering, even in JPG files, is second to none.
+
+They are huge files though. Be forewarned that the RAW files are around 200 MB each and even JPGs can be up in the high 80 MB range. Like the X2D this camera includes a 1-terabyte drive and a CF Express card slot to expand that storage capacity even more.
+
+The sensor and storage is the same as the X2D, which was underwhelming to me. Its DSLR-style body made shooting with the X2D feel more like using a very high resolution Nikon. Combine that with the lack of video features—which I would prefer to have in a more DSLR form factor—and the X2D fell flat for me.
+
+The 907X with the 100C are the polar opposite despite sharing a sensor. This is the camera Hasselblad fans have been wanting. It's everything that made film Hasselblad's special with a digital soul. It might not actually last as long as the film cameras (electronics being finicky after all), but in every other way it carries that Hasselblad tradition on.
+
+That's not to say there aren't modern improvements here. Autofocus, a place even recent Hasselblad's have struggled, is much better here. There's face detection (no, not eye, just face), which works quite well in all but very low light. I would prefer eye detect, but this works in most situations. That said, I prefer manual focusing most of the time.
+
+Before I get into why I love this camera, let's talk about what it can't do because the missing features are exactly what make this camera special. The big one is that there's no IBIS support. That's right, no image stabilization. While I called it light for a medium format camera (it weighs 1.3 lbs without a lens) this is still somewhat large, somewhat heavy, and totally lacking in image stabilization. That means in all but bright light situations you're probably going to need a tripod.
+
+There's also no electronic viewfinder. There is an optional optical viewfinder you can buy, but it doesn't help focus. To focus you either rely on the autofocus (which is decent, more on that below) or you do what I did 90 percent of the time, and manually focus by zooming on the digital screen.
+
+Would it surprise you to know there's no burst mode? Like none at all. You take a picture. Then you take another. All the wildlife and sports photographers just left.
+
+No viewfinder, no IBIS, no video, no mind-bending frames per second shooting. What's left? A camera that shoots like a medium format film camera. 
+
+To compose you use the rear screen, which is a 3.2-inch 2.36 million pixel display (which works out to a 1024 x 786 screen in 3.2 inches, it's very sharp and plenty bright). It's also a touch display and responds to pinch-to-zoom and other gestures. There is no side to side articulation. You can view it flat against the back (how I used it when shooting with the grip), out at a 45 degree angle (useful on a tripod) or fully extended at 90 degrees (for waist-level shooting).
+
+The screen is relatively bright, but in direct sunlight it can be hard to see. I used a trick I learned years ago shooting with the [Panasonic GF1](https://www.wired.com/2010/02/a-month-with-the-lumix-gf1-and-why-i-no-longer-use-the-nikon-d700/)—overexpose your image to compose, then once everything is focused and positioned where you want, you can set the exposure.
+
+Almost every setting you want to tweak is readily available either through the touchscreen display or the five buttons running along the bottom of it. My personal favorite is the single button press to call up a live histogram.
+
+While the rear screen is what makes this Hasselblad so much like a 500 series film camera, there is an optional grip that turns the 907X 100C into something that feels and operates much more like a modern digital camera. The grip adds two command wheels, four fully customizable buttons, and a gorgeous-looking little joystick for moving your autofocus point around. I like this versatility, and I can definitely see the grip's appeal in situations like a studio portrait shoot, beyond testing it for this review, I really didn't use it.
+
+It might have some nods to the digital camera world, but the heart and soul of the 907X 100C is in the past. And I would argue that to get the most out of this rig you have to slow down and return to a more film-like photography mindset. 
+
+I hand-held plenty of shot out hiking with my kids and got great results even well into the evenings, but there were plenty of times when I had to stop and set up the tripod. I'll admit that at first I found this moderately annoying. I didn't really want to slow down. But I had to so I did and that in turn made me think through compositions more. It made me move a bit to left, or squat down and reframe. All things I should be doing all the time, but often I don't. The Hasselblad forced me to be more deliberate and more conscious of my compositions 
+
+Obviously, this style of shoot works for things landscapes, portraits, possibly even street photography, and it doesn't work for other things. No sane person ever took a Hasselblad to a sporting event. If the 907X 100C fits the style of shooting you do, and you have the money, this is the finest digital camera I have shot with in a very long time, possibly ever.
+
+That said, I only got to spend a week shooting with the 907X 100C, which isn't enough time to find all those quirks that might drive you crazy in the long run. I can say that in the time I used it I didn't hit any alarming quirks, which doesn't mean they aren't there, but it's a sign that maybe they aren't that bad.
+
+The last thing that must be said is Hasselblad's are expensive. The 907X 100C is $8,200. Throw in a 55mm lens as general purpose lens, maybe a 120mm for portraits and you have yourself a roughly $17,000 camera system. If you have the money, and don't need the IBIS, the 907X 100C is a fantastic camera.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+For this review I tested the 28mm and 90mm XCD lenses (the equivalent of a 17mm and 55mm in 35mm format). Having used the 38 and 55 previously, when I tested the X2D, I can now say that off the lenses available currently, I would go for the 55mm in part for the focal length (equivalent to 35mm for full frame cameras), but also because it produced the best images.
+
+
+
+medium format (645 sensor size) 16-bit mount for Hasselblad's XCD lens series. 
+
+color powerhouse that will allow you to see life in a very beautiful and soulful way. 
+
+In addition to the doubled resolution the auto focus has been improved with phase detect (vs contrast detect) and face detection has also been added. There is now a 1TB SSD drive inside of the 100c camera back and the card slot is now of the CFexpress variety. All very good upgrades. Hasselblad has also (thank you) removed the video features of the 907x just as they did with the X2D 100c. It doesn’t need video as this is truly a pure photographers camera. For those who love to seek out the shot, find it, and snap one or two frames and move along. I consider this an artists camera as well, for those who love quality in build, feel and output. It’s a superb option for portraits as well as environmental portraits.
+
+Seems like yesterday when I was walking through the woods snapping photographs with the then new Hasselblad 907X 50C. While it has been about three years since then, the 907x 50c became one of my all time favorite cameras, if not my all out #1 favorite digital camera ever. I loved it for the vintage look and feel, the overall quality of the camera itself and of course the 50 MP sensor that delivered true to life color and depth.
+
+The 907x 50c and 100c are cameras that I put in the “very special” category.
+
+The reason I say this is because there is nothing like shooting with one of these beautiful cameras. The experience is quite unique and the best part is that the file quality is astonishing. I loved the sensor in the 50c but the one here in the 100c is extraordinary and even better. Take a look at this beautiful camera which is indeed the smallest large sensor camera available as of Jan 2024.
+
+The design is classic Hasselblad. The CFV 100C is designed to resemble a classic Hasselblad 500 series film back. The different being that here you get a 100 megapixel sensor, a flip up rear screen, and some buttons to control your settings. 
+
+This may not be ground breaking design, but that's fine because the shooting experience is very much like it was with film Hasselblads. I can't think of anything that's hugely different here. You can flip up the rear screen and shoot waist level just like you would with a tk film body. The touch screen makes it easy to zoom in and check focus or details in your composition, and all your common settings are just a few button presses away.
+
+While the waist-level shooting capablities are excellent, not everyone is going to want to shoot that way. That's why Hasselblad is also selling an add-on grip that turns the shooting experience into something more like a DSLR. There's no viewfinder, but the grip allows you to hold the camera 
+
+
+
+
+
+## UG Monk Analog Review
+
+Many years ago I asked my most accomplished, successful friend what his secret to success was. His answer was simple, but it also changed my life. He said, "I make lists of all the stuff I need to do, then I do it." He happened to use 3 by 5 index cards for his lists, so I copied the idea. 
+
+Over time I took his simple system and worked it into my life, and decades on I still start most days by pulling out an index card and getting to work on whatever it says I need to do. At the end of the day I glance at a longer list of projects (not on an index card), and a list of more strategic goals, along with my calendar, and decide what to put on the index card for tomorrow. 
+
+I wrote about this system in our [guide to paper planners](https://www.wired.com/story/best-paper-planners/) and a WIRED reader emailed me and asked if I had ever heard of [Analog](https://ugmonk.com/pages/analog), which is an index card-based system that's similar to mine. I reached out to Jeff Sheldon, founder of UG Monk the company that makes Analog and he sent over an Analog Starter Kit. 
+
+I've been using Analog for a couple of months now and I am happy to say that it's an excellent way to organize your day and get things done. It's simple, elegant, beautifully made and, well, analog. I wouldn't say it replaced my decades-old system, but it sure does make it look a whole lot nicer.
+
+### Getting Things Done With Analog
+
+There's a slogan on the Analog site that reads "Analog doesn't replace your digital tools, it works alongside them by helping you focus on your most important work." I think that's important to keep in mind. While I use and have almost always used a completely paper-based system, you don't have to. And I don't really either, I keep track of appointments on a digital calendar and I use a custom-built bookmarking system to keep track of everything I need to do for my job here at WIRED. 
+
+Still, when it comes to planning my days and making lists of what I want to accomplish now, I have always been a fan for paper. That's where Analog comes in.
+
+Analog consists of a very cleverly-designed, beautifully-made wooden box (available in either Walnut or Maple), some custom printed index cards, and a metal divider/lid that keeps everything neat and tidy. It's designed to sit on your desk, show you what you need to do, and look good doing it.
+
+There are three colored index cards, white cards for today, cream colored cards for next day, and darker cards for those someday/maybe tasks. The paper is 100 pound smooth, uncoated paper that's sturdy enough to stand up in the provided slot so that you can see your tasks for the day. The back of all the cards has a very faint dot grid printed onto it.
+
+It helps if you're familiar with David Allen's method of organization when you start using Analog. It's not necessary, and not everything in David Allen's Getting Things Done can be done with Analog, but if you are familiar with Allen's concepts like next action lists and someday/maybe lists, you'll hit the ground running with Analog.
+
+If not, don't worry, there are several videos on the Analog site that explain how the system works, and how you can use it to get things done. 
+
+Over time you can bend Analog to work like you do. After experimenting for a while, I was able to turn it into what I needed (about a year ago I started time-blocking my days, which Analog doesn't really cover, but I've put my time block schedules on the back of my daily cards).
+
+If I wanted to get fancier with my time block scheduling, there is the [Analog Weekly kit](), which has a pre-printed card that would allow me to plot my entire week on similarly quality paper, with a matching wood holder. As nice at the Weekly kit is, I found it quite convenient to have my schedule on my daily card. 
+
+The Analog starter kit I tested includes three Analog card packs, each of which include 50 index cards (35 Today cards, 10 Next cards, 5 Someday cards). If you subscribe you can get refill three-packs for $30 sent out every three months. Otherwise if you buy refill three-packs for $39. 
+
+You can also use plain index cards if you like, although good quality, heavy index cards like the ones Analog sells aren't much cheaper than buying the refill from Analog. I keep a good stock of nice index cards around for note taking, and I used those in the Analog holder without issue. That said, I will be buying refills because I like the rounded corners and dot grid backs of the Analog cards (in part because I don't mix them up with cards that need to get filed in my notes holder).
+
+This I think gets to the heart of what makes Analog great: it's a highly fetishized way of organizing something very ordinary. 
+
+Do you need Analog? No, you can go get index cards at a fraction of the price and accomplish the same thing. Will you though? Maybe. I did years ago. Would I today if the habit weren't already ingrained? I'm not sure. I might try some apps and disappear into the rabbit hole of productivity suggestions online. I might re-read David Allen books and try to program a completely custom system that's absolutely perfect and then never use it (guilty). So sure, there are other ways of tracking what you need to do, but Analog is elegant and doesn't involve looking at your phone, which is always a time suck.
+
+Analog works because it's fetishized. It sits there, looking good on your desk, with an inviting quality that says, "hey, you should use me." Because what jumped out at you when I told story of my friend? If you're like me, what jumped out was the bit about index cards. But you know which part matters? The part where he said, "**then I do it**." All the lists in the world will do you no good if you don't do the things on them. 
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+## Nemo Mayfly 2-Person Tent Review
+
+Nemo Equipment's backpacking gear is not cheap, but it's some of the lightest, best-made, and well-thought-out gear you'll find on the market. The company's new Mayfly Osmo 2-person backpacking tent exemplifies this, it's quick to set up, lightweight, cleverly-designed, and in my testing, durable enough for life on the trail.
+
+The Mayfly comes in 2- and 3-person versions and sits in Nemo's backpacking tent line between the ultralight Dragonfly and Hornet series and the roomier, heavier Dagger series ([8/10, WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/review/nemo-dagger-osmo-3p-tent-2023/)). The Mayfly is a good choice for backpackers looking to pick up a quality Nemo tent that weighs a little more but at $400 costs quite a bit less money than the ultralight Hornet.
+
+### The Basics
+
+The Mayfly is a 2-person, 3-season backpacking tent with a trail weight of 3 pounds, 8 ounces. Purists might take issue, but to me that puts it firmly in the ultralight tent category. Split between two people each is carrying under 2 pounds. That's not as light as the Nemo Hornet, which has a trail weight of just 2 pounds, but it's well under our suggestion to keep tent weight under 2.5 pounds per person. The Mayfly is also $250 cheaper than the Hornet, making it easier on the pocketbook if you're just starting out.
+
+The Mayfly uses a semi-freestanding design, much like the MSR Freelite we [reviewed last year](https://www.wired.com/review/msr-freelite-2-person-backpacking-tent/). This design saves on weight since there's fewer poles, but it does mean you have to stake out or otherwise secure the foot-end of the tent. If you're headed somewhere you might camp on hard rock, it's worth adding some extra cord in case you need to get creative stake these out. 
+
+There are two tent poles, both aluminum. One is a hubbed three-piece pole that forks above the door. The second spreader pole goes across the middle and helps maintain the steep sidewalls that make the Mayfly surprisingly roomy for its dimensions. 
+
+The Mayfly offers 27.9 square feet of living space, with two 7 square foot vestibule areas for gear storage. In practice this works out to a livable, though not roomy tent for two. Since I happened to be testing Nemo's new Tensor Trail sleeping pads as well, I can say that two of those fit side by side, but just barely (see photo). There's a few inches of room down at the feet for gear, but whatever you put down there will be touching the sidewalls, which is often a recipe for wet gear. 
+
+At this weight, the Mayfly's living space is about average. It's nearly identical living space to the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL 2, and it's a couple square feet smaller than the MSR Freelite. In practice I did not notice this, in fact the Mayfly feels bigger than the Freelite thanks to wider roof (though it's worth nothing the Freelite is almost a pound lighter). The Mayfly is a good size for couples or anyone who doesn't mind being a bit chummy with their partner. It was a perfect fit for me and my 9-year-old son.
+
+The doors are quite large and it was easy to get in and out of them, which was my main gripe about the Dagger, which is much harder to access. The floor of the Mayfly is made of 68D ripstop polyester, and feel more substantial than others I've used. That said, I always recommend carrying a ground sheet of some kind, whether [a piece of Tyvek](https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/comments/v987fg/diy_footprint_tyvek_thickness_alternative/) you cut to shape or the [Mayfly footprint Nemo sells for $70](https://www.nemoequipment.com/collections/footprint/products/mayfly-osmo-backpacking-footprint).
+
+Setup and take down are both super fast and easy. I was able to get the Mayfly up in under three minutes without reading the directions. Adding the fly and staking and guying it out completely takes a bit longer, but the basic tent is very quick to setup. The poles snap into Nemo's custom Axial corner anchors, and the color-coded webbing makes it simple to figure out which loops go to which pole. 
+
+The corner anchors deserve special mention, the snap in pole loop is nice enough, but the clip in rain fly anchors are genius. Because they attach both the pole and the rain fly to a single point, you can adjust the tension just by tightening or loosening a single strap. It's the best tent pitching system I've used.  
+
+As you would expect, Nemo gives you some stakes and guy lines, which get the job done though I prefer MSR's [Carbon Core stakes](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006ZJI83Q?tag=bravesoftwa04-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1&language=en_US). They're expensive, but they're the strongest ultralight stakes I've tested, provided you use the properly. Nemo also includes a pole splint should you damage a pole on the trail. 
+
+Like the Dagger I reviewed last year, the Mayfly's rainfly uses Nemo's OSMO fabric. Osmo fabric is a nylon-polyester blend made with 100 percent recycled nylon and polyester yarns, woven in such a way that it stretches less and repels water more than nylon alone. It's also made without the use of flame-retardant chemicals or fluorinated water repellents (PFC and PFAS). Osmo is also now [bluesign approved](https://www.bluesign.com/en/), which is a certification that ensures fabrics meet certain ecological and chemical requirements that lower their overall impact. After reading Alden Wicker's [To Dye For](https://www.amazon.com/Dye-Toxic-Fashion-Making-Sick-ebook/dp/B0BGXKYY7D) I've become somewhat cynical about claims of this sort, but given how toxic many outdoor fabrics are, it's nice to see Nemo making an effort in this direction.
+
+In practice, Osmo does a good job of repelling rain and as you can see from the photos, the rain fly does indeed stay nice and tight.
+
+Overall the Mayfly is a very solid tent. It's best suited for backpacking. You could use it in the front country as well, but if you're just car camping you'd probably be better off with something cheaper, heavier, and roomier. Within the realm of backpacking tents the Mayfly is a good entry-level option. It's reasonably priced for what you get, and you get everything you need to hit the trail.
+
+
+Dagger is designed to be versatile. The symmetric pole structure lends itself to be a super roomy backpacking tent, but durable enough for car camping. For customers who want one tent to suit most adventures, Dagger is a good balance of weight and space. With OSMO fabric, included Landing Zone, and more space than the competition, it’s a performance product for an experienced user.
+
+ 
+
+Mayfly OSMO, on the other hand, is a dedicated backpacking tent for an entry-level backpacker. The tapered floorplan and semi-freestanding pole structure mean it doesn’t have the spaciousness of Dagger, so customers will find it too small and fussy for car camping. It’s a good choice for a backpacker looking for premium features (OSMO fly, custom hardware) on a budget, or for someone who values comfort and durability > weight savings.
+
+
+
+## Nikon Zf Review
+
+The Nikon Zf is Nikon's latest full-frame Z-series camera though you'd be forgiven for thinking it was a film camera. With a design borrowed from Nikons of yore, but a decidedly modern 24MP BSI CMOS sensor, the Zf is in many ways the best of both worlds—high quality digital sensor married with dial and button heavy case. Think of it as a full frame version of Nikon's popular Zfc camera.
+
+The result is a camera that's a ton of fun to shoot. I almost never had to go hunting around in menus, and using it was very nearly as simple as using my FE2. It doesn't have the speed you'd want for wildlife or sports, but for everything else, this camera is hard to beat.
+
+### Classic Stylings
+
+I've seen quite a few people compare the Zf design to [the 1970s FM2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nikon_FM2_in_black.jpg), but I don't think you need to go back that far, [the Nikon Df has similar lines](https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/dslr-cameras/1526/nikon-df.html)), as does [the Zfc](https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/mirrorless-cameras/z-fc.html), which is the APS-C little brother to this new Zf.
+
+|||||Image of FE2 Side by Side|||||
+
+One thing to note, whichever old Nikon you think it looks like, it's decidedly larger and heavier. As you can see in the picture above, next to my film FE2 (which is very similar to the FM2), it's about 20 percent larger all the way around and weighs almost 6 ounces more.
+
+Much of the Zf's weight is a good thing, it's because this thing is incredibly solid. The body is all-metal and totally weather sealed. The two large dials are both made of brass and turning them feels just like turning the dials on an old film camera. The Zf is the best constructed digital camera body I've ever tested. It's a tank. In a good way. 
+
+The cost of great construction comes in the weight—22.29 ounces without a lens, and 40 ounces with the included Nikkor 24-70 f/4 lens. That's not outrageous, but it sometimes feels that way because there's almost no grip. The little lip provided reminds me of my old Nikon F3, which was also awkward to hold after a while. This isn't a huge deal, there are plenty of [third-party grips](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1788762-REG/smallrig_4262_l_shape_grip_for_nikon.html) you can add.
+
+Other than the weight, the handling of the Zf is excellent. The dials are easy to turn and allow you to set shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation, shooting mode, metering mode, and shutter speed without even lifting the camera to your eye. Note that shutter speed is displayed on a screen and with most lenses will be changed via a dial since quite a few Z lenses lack aperture rings.
+
+One thing I didn't like is the lack of joystick on the back. There's a D-pad to control things like the focus point, but a joystick is just faster and smoother to operate. 
+
+On the plus side, another aspect that reminded me of film camera is the big bright viewfinder. Like Nikon viewfinders on the F-series, this 3.68M dot OLED viewfinder is a pleasure to use.
+
+The only caveat there is that nearly everything I liked about using the Zf is because it reminds me of my old Nikons. As someone who learned photography on 1980s Nikon film cameras, this is very much a 1980s Nikon film camera, at least on the outside.
+
+On the inside the Zf has a very nice 24 megapixel CMOS sensor, which appears to be very similar to the sensor in the Z6 II. That's a few years old at this point, but it's still very capable. The sensor is paired with a new processor (the Expeed 7 processor), which gives the Zf some tricks other Nikons lack. 
+
+The best of these is the autofocus system. The Expeed 7 processor brings subject recognition in the 3D tracking (which is borrowed from the very high end Z9), and it is amazingly accurate. I didn't shoot any sporting events, nor do I have a wildlife lens, but it had no issues tracking my kids running around. That's not to say it didn't miss focus at times, but far less than most camera's I've tested. 
+
+Speaking of speed, the Zf can shoot at up to 11 frames per second when going for Raw images and up to 15 fps in JPEG mode. The Zf also offers a JPEG-only shooting mode that uses video 
+to capture 30fps images similar to what you'll find in the Z9. The 11fps is going to be fine for 96 percent of people, but probably not wildlife, sports, and some other edge cases.
+
+One very nice feature in the Zf is a black and white mode. There are two things that make this better than the black and white mode in most cameras. First, you can activate it with a switch under the right side dial. No hunting around in menus, you just flip the switch and flip it back when you're done. This enabled me to use black and white mode not just to record black and white images, but as a quick was to view a scene without color, which I find helps with composition. Sometimes elements you don't notice as distracting until later, become so when you view the scene in black and white. This is the number one thing I will miss about the Nikon Zf.
+
+The Black and white images themselves are also better than most. You don't get Fujifilm-level image customization, but there are a few options. You can shoot in three modes, plain monochrome, "flat mono", and "deep tone mono". There isn't a huge difference between these three, and there's no way to customize the profiles the way you can in a Fujifilm camera, but it's a start. I'd like to see Nikon expand on this feature in future cameras.
+
+While I did not expect it given the obvious nods to Nikon's film past, the Zf is a surprisingly capable video camera. It shoots up to 4K/60 using an APS-C size crop of the sensor. If you want to use the whole sensor you can get 4K/30. That's not going to wow video professionals, but again, it's good enough for most photographers who just want the possibility of shooting some 4K footage.
+
+Overall I loved shooting with the Zf and were I in the market for a new camera this is the camera I would buy. That said, there are few things about Zf I truly dislike. The first is the card slots. There are two of them. One is a standard SD card slot supporting UHS II cards. The second is a MicroSD card slot that only supports UHS I. The slow speeds I could live with, but it's so difficult to get the microSD card in an out that I ended up just leaving it in and treating it as an emergency overflow. There should have been too matched full size SD card slots.
+
+The other thing I thoroughly dislike is that it doesn't ship with a battery charger. A $2,000 camera shouldn't require you to buy a separate battery charger (for $80 retail no less). 
+
+As noted above, the Zf wouldn't be my top pick for sports or wildlife, in part because of the autofocus and shooting speed, but also because the 24 megapixel sensor, while sharp, and delivering those characteristic Nikon colors, is probably not what wildlife and sports pros are after. The Z7 and especially the Z9, with their much higher megapixel sensors and faster autofocus are the cameras you want for wildlife and sports.
+
+Nikon did not have one to send me, but I think the ideal lens for this camera is probably the new Nikkor Z 40mm f/2 Special Edition. This may be personal prejudice, but something about this camera cries out for a short, fixed-length lens—a fast 50, or in this case 40. It's going to balance well with the camera, and make a good reportage and street photography setup, both of which feel like ideal use cases for the Zf.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+## Tuxedo InfinityBook Pro 14 - Gen8
+
+These days mainstream PC makers like Dell and Lenovo offer laptops with Linux pre-installed. In most cases they're great laptops, but I've found that smaller manufacturers dedicated to creating hardware optimized for Linux often provide a better experience, especially if you run into issues with their machines. 
+
+Perhaps the best example of this is System76 machines, which have consistently been among the best Linux laptops we've tested.
+
+Tuxedo, out of Germany, is something like a European System76. The company makes a variety of laptops, but the one on that caught my eye was the InfinityBook Pro 14, which looks somewhat like a Macbook or Dell XPS and delivers an excellent Linux experience made all the better by some of the custom tools Tuxedo has developed.
+
+### Hardware
+
+The InfinityBook Pro 14 is a sleek, slim 14-inch laptop. At 17mm thick, it's not quite as thin as something like the Dell XPS 13, but it's not bulky by any means. It's reasonably small too at 12.2 inches by 8.2 inches (31 cm by 21.5 cm). It weighs 2.2 pounds. I carried it around comfortably in my Mountainsmith shoulder bag and it never felt overly heavy.
+
+Two things immediately jumped out at me the first time I started up the InfinityBook. First the 2.8K screen is gorgeous. It's a 14-inch matte LCD with a 2880 by 1800 pixel resolution and it looks frankly amazing. The brightness can be cranked all the way to 400 nits and it supports the full sRGB color gamut, but it's really the matte part that got me. It's hard to find a matte display at this resolution and this one is the best I've seen lately.
+
+The other thing I immediately noticed is the European-centric keyboard. Tuxedo sent me a German keyboard, which is fine, I touch type anyway so once I set the layout to US in the settings, the keyboard was mostly fine. Except for the Enter key. Most US keyboards use what's known as a ANSI design, which features a long thin Enter key. Tuxedo uses an ISO format keyboard, which has a taller Enter key with another key to the left of it. This is helpful for European users because it provides another accent key, but it's definitely something that will trip you up if you're used to the ANSI format keyboard. I got around this by remapping the extra accent key to Enter (using [Input Remapper](https://github.com/sezanzeb/input-remapper)) so that even if I mistyped I got the result I intended. 
+
+I should note that otherwise the keyboard was quite nice. The keys are on the tall side for a chiclet-style keyboard and have a satisfying amount of travel. I was able to type just as fast as I do on my Thinkpad T14 (and the screen was much nicer than mine, did I mention that?)
+
+Tuxedo also offers a wealth of [keyboard customization options](https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/en/Individual-Keyboards.tuxedo). You can put pretty much anything you want on the keyboard, including nothing. You can also have your custom logo etched in the lid.
+
+The InfinityBook Pro is built around an Intel Core i7-13700H. The model I tested had integrated graphics, but there is an option to configure your InfinityBook Pro with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card. I never felt the need for it, but if you plan to do anything more than light gaming, that's probably the way to go (although the screen refresh tops out at 90Hz). I did a good bit of video editing on this machine and while that did get the fan spinning, it was plenty fast enough for my needs.
+
+Speaking of fans, the InfinityBook Pro 14 is equipped with a dual-fan cooling system, which is double what you'll get in most thin laptops of this design. It works well too, even exporting large 5.2K video footage down to 4K the laptop was never too hot to have in my lap.
+
+As with most Linux laptops, battery life is good, but not quite what you can get with Macbooks. Doing our usual battery drain test (looping a 1080p video at 75 percent brightness) the InfinityBook Pro managed 6.5 hours. That said, in this case the results of our test are not very representative of real world battery life using the laptop. 
+
+In the months I spent testing, I never once felt constrained by battery life. The display is plenty bright for web browsing and document work at about 40 percent, so that's generally where I left it unless I was editing photos or video. Average use, at 40 percent brightness, generally got me between 9 and 10 hours. A full day's work and some change. This can be further improved and tweaked using Tuxedo's excellent Control Center app (more on that below).
+
+The InfinityBook offers a solid selection of ports. There's a Thunderbolt 4/USB-C port that can charge as well, a USB-C 3.2 Gen2 port, two USB-A ports, a full size SD card reader, HDMI port, headphone/mic port, and a separate power plug. The latter is the fastest way to charge up, though you can use a standard USB-C cord to charge. The catch with the latter is that you're going to want a 100 watt charger. My 60 watt charger worked, but under heavy load—exporting video for example—it could not keep up. Tuxedo's website has a whole page devoted to [the best settings to charge from USB-C](https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/en/Charging-via-USB-C-power-supply-Power-Delivery-DC-In.tuxedo).
+
+### Software
+
+Like System76, Tuxedo laptops ship with a customized OS based on Ubuntu Linux, though they will run just about any Linux distribution (I tested Fedora to see if it worked and Arch because that's what I use most of the time). Tuxedo OS, which is built around the KDE desktop, provides a good, beginner-friendly Linux experience.  
+
+Probably the best part about Tuxedo OS is the Tuxedo Control Center, which has some very good tools for managing power. There are a number of profiles provided, including a very low power option, which is what I used most of the time, along with some more performance-oriented profiles. What I really like though is that you can quickly and easily create your own profile, dialing in exactly that settings you need to optimize battery life for your particular workload. 
+
+It does take some experimenting to figure out how much power you need (for example you can cap the number of cores the CPU uses) to get by, but once you do it's nice to have a custom low power and custom high power profiles. Set up a keyboard shortcut and you can flip between the two as needed. Even better, this app is available even if you opt to run a different OS. If you're using a Debian-based distro like Ubuntu, all you need to do is add the Tuxedo repository and install it. I used it in Arch via the AUR. 
+
+One interesting thing I haven't encountered before is [Tuxedo's WebFAI](https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/en/TUXEDO-WebFAI.tuxedo). The name is short for fully automated installation, and it provides about a dozen different distro/desktop combos all tweaked to work with Tuxedo's hardware. You can use them to create USB install sticks using an included app. The catch is that you can't download them over Wi-Fi. Tuxedo includes a USB to Ethernet adapter for laptops like the InfinityBook Pro (which doesn't have an Ethernet port). Unfortunately, as a Starlink user, I could not test this since Starlink does not offer wired connections (there is an adapter, but I do not have it). It is nevertheless a welcome feature that should make it easier for Linux newcomers to try different distros and desktops or reset a laptop to its factory settings.
+
+As you may have noticed from the links I sprinkled through above, Tuxedo has excellent documentation. Just about every question you're likely to have has probably been answered in the company's [online documentation and FAQs](https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/en/Infos/Help-Support.tuxedo). 
+
+The InfinityBook Pro 14 is one of the best Linux laptops I've used. It stacks up very well against System76's Lemur Pro (our top Linux laptop for most people). The InfinityBook Pro offers a few things the System76 does not, including up to 64 gigabytes of RAM, and a nicer 2.8K screen. The Lemur Pro wins when it comes to storage though, with space for two drives and up to 8 terabytes of storage. 
+
+The InfinityBook Pro 14 as I tested it, with an Intel i7 chip, 16 gigabytes of RAM and a 1-terabyte SSD is 1.226,05 Euro (including shipping to the US). That's less than a similarly specced Dell XPS Developer addition and gets you a laptop that's every bit as nice and powerful, as well as top-of-the-line Linux support.
+
+
+
 ## Ecoflow Glacier Refrigerator Review
 
 When I first saw the Ecoflow Glacier, which was announced at last year's CES, my initial thought was, no one needs this. Well, not no one. I need it. But I live full time in a vintage RV. I am an outlier. Hardly anyone needs a portable, battery powered cooler. Or so I thought.
@@ -1553,7 +2427,7 @@ If your primary use case for the Glacier is two to three day trips, cost-wise yo
 
 Let's be realistic here. 40 hours of claimed runtime from a 300Wh battery? As amazingly efficient as the Glacier is (in fact, it's one of the most efficient I have tested), the manufacturer's claim of 40 hours is a bit lofty. Is it achievable? Absolutely. In cooler, ambient temperatures/weather. Will it last that long in the hot, summer heat or in your car? In my tests, no. The most I was able to get was about 30 hours in 90F ambient weather, or about 23 hours when left in the car's trunk.
 
-At about $1/Watt-hour, this battery is priced about right. It charges rapidly -- in about 3-4 hours -- with a USB-C PD 100W wall charger (I use Goal Zero's Sherpa 100 for portable charging, though I'd only be able to get this EF battery recharged by only about 33% with the Sherpa). Like many chargers, they start off fast and slow down as they reach about 80% so not to overcharge and overheat. I applaud EcoFlow in that they allow the extra battery to be recharged with a standard USB-C PD interface unlike some others who require the purchase of an expensive, proprietary wall charger to do so.
+At about $1/Watt-hour, this battery is priced about right. It charges rapidly—in about 3-4 hours—with a USB-C PD 100W wall charger (I use Goal Zero's Sherpa 100 for portable charging, though I'd only be able to get this EF battery recharged by only about 33% with the Sherpa). Like many chargers, they start off fast and slow down as they reach about 80% so not to overcharge and overheat. I applaud EcoFlow in that they allow the extra battery to be recharged with a standard USB-C PD interface unlike some others who require the purchase of an expensive, proprietary wall charger to do so.
 
 The battery could also be used as a standalone power bank to charge mobile devices with via the same USB-C PD port, including a laptop. However, I would not use the battery for that purpose as there are cheaper power banks you can use. I would reserve this EF battery for powering the EF Glacier it was designed for. Why? There is a limited lifetime on how long these batteries will last. See my next point.