Iterate Weekly - Issue 108
This week we're looking at sideloading iOS apps, managing your energy budget, Renewable energy sources, an AI dog babysitter, and Austin Kleon + Fiona Apple!
Welcome to issue 108 of Iterate Weekly!
Hope you’re all doing well. This is just a friendly reminder that you can always reply directly to these messages or leave a comment on the Substack post. Feedback is highly encouraged and I’m happy to answer any and all questions that come up.
Let’s jump into this week’s stories.
🤖 Tech
Will we finally be able to sideload iOS apps?
For those who aren’t aware, I’ve been a pretty dedicated Android phone enthusiast for quite some time.
I even used to work on a show where I reviewed Android apps.
And for the most part, I feel like iOS and Android have gotten extremely similar in terms of features. There isn’t nearly as much of a difference as there used to be. There should be less of a heated argument on which is the better platform, it really doesn’t matter too much anymore (aside from the never ending saga of green iMessage bubbles) I actually think the homogenization of the mobile experience is a problem, but a problem to discuss another day.
Today I’m writing about sideloading apps, something that has long been allowed on Android phones but darn near impossible on iOS devices. Well that may soon change as rumors are flying that Apple may allow iPhone users to begin sideloading apps in iOS 17.
Is this a big deal? What even is sideloading? Great questions my dear reader!
Sideloading is the act of installing an app on your mobile device that hasn’t been officially approved by your respective app store. And no, this doesn’t strictly mean sketchy apps that allow you to do illegal things. It could be software from small developers who don’t have the time or interest in posting their work in the Apple Store or Google Play. There could be apps that perhaps to closely resemble another app from a big developer who doesn’t want the competition. There may be apps that are only approved for use in certain countries. And sure, there may be some other strange or off-color apps that don’t meet the content requirements of the app marketplace. Keep in mind that this used to be a far bigger issue when the app stores were young. These days, you should probably still be downloading a vast majority of your apps from official sources but it’s still nice to have a little more freedom on an Android device.
Apple has long restricted the installation of apps that haven’t been certified by their App Store. And don’t get me wrong, I think a certain level of scrutiny is 100% necessary when you’re potentially letting software into the lives of millions of users. But many of the Apple sideloading controversies have been less about allow dangerous or controversial software, and more about restricting competition.
There is no guarantee that Apple will ever open up its walled garden, but this is a possible step in the right direction. iOS users may soon have some more viable choices when looking to download apps. Choice is nearly always a good thing. But still a reminder to always do your homework and download reputable apps whether they come from an official app store or not!
🎓 Education/Productivity/Work
Conquering burnout by balancing your energy budget
Consider this an extra shoutout to a Substack I enjoy called
They wrote up a great explanation of optimizing your energy with an energy budget. It reminded me of something I wrote a few years ago about how to “Recharge Your Focus Battery”.
The idea is pretty simple. We only have a limited amount of energy to spend each day. It’s a finite resource just like actual money within our budget. When you run out of money you can’t spend anymore (credit cards be damned) and when your brain and body run out of energy, you need to take a break and recharge.
I love Jani’s idea of starting each day with a set amount of “energy points”. Maybe 100 is your typical budget for the day. But if you had a rough night of sleep maybe you’re already starting at a deficit with only 80 points for the day. It’s up to us to know our energy limitations and allocate these points accordingly!
We all have different energy budgets that fluctuate all the time. And a task that could drain you of a lot of energy could also replenish someone else who enjoys that task more. Overall, it’s just a great concept that we should all think about more when we’re cruising through or days of work, school, or just life in general.
If you’re looking for more ways to avoid burnout to better manage your energy levels, you should really check out the
publication.♻️ Health & Environment
Evergreen energy sources
As Earth Day has come and gone, we should be reminded that honestly every day can and should be a day for the earth. Yes, that may sound cheesy, but we all know that we could be doing more to help our planet.
Consider the idea of renewable energy sources through your local power provider.
Granted, your options will vary quite a bit depending on where you are in the world. But there are a growing number of alternative energy providers that can help power your home through more sustainable sources.
Take for instance my home provider of Sonoma Clean Power. It is “a community choice aggregator (CCA), a class of public energy providers that were created by the California Legislature in the aftermath of the energy crisis in the early 2000s and allowed local communities to create their own alternative to source clean energy.”
These community choice aggregators are becoming very popular in California and popping up in many other states as well. It gives energy consumers a chance to choose where their energy is coming from.
Sonoma Clean Power offers an option called EverGreen that ensures that 100% of the energy entering your home is coming from renewable resources. All you do is opt-into the service and connect it to your existing energy bill. Now all of my energy will be coming from solar panels or local geothermal resources.
Yes, there is an additional percentage that gets added onto your bill each month to cover this switch (they say the average fee is about $13 per month for the average household). But to me that fee is absolutely worth it. The EverGreen program is a first of its kind in California, but it’s certainly something that is gaining momentum as the climate crisis continues. They’re even offering some rebates and incentives to get more customers onboard with the greener alternative.
You may not have an option like EverGreen available from your local provider, but let this just be a reminder to look into your options! No, you don’t have to go and install solar panels on your house if you don’t have the means, but a simple phone call or check of your billing website may give you some greener options on where your power comes from.
And here is a video that gives a little more insight on the EverGreen program and how it can impact a community.
🛍 Grab Bag
An AI dog babysitter
Finding a good dog sitter isn’t easy. I’ve struggled to find a good spot to leave my pooch. The last place I tried approached the whole petsitting thing like an a la carte menu.
Do you want to leave your dog with us? Great, that’ll cost x. Would you like us to take your dog on walks? That’ll be an upcharge of y. Feel the need to upgrade him to a premium room where he can watch TV 24/7? (no joke, they were playing Kung Fu Panda on repeat) That’s going to be an additional fee.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if we just had high-tech petsitters that could just keep out pets safe and happy while we’re gone? Sure, I rely on a Litter Robot and automatic feeder to take care of the cat, but what can I do for the dog?
Maybe this new AI Dogsitter could be right up my alley!
The product comes from a company called Companion and they’re looking to launch the product in May of 2024. It will cost a $49 per month rental fee and it says it:
“Provides all day scheduled and on-demand engagement for your dog with games, behavioral programs and training,"
It’s sort of like a robot nanny mixed with a tutor or dog trainer. It seems promising right? And with all of the things that AI is doing right now, telling fido to sit seems pretty achievable. And it will even use recordings of the owner’s voice too. So it’s like I’m the one teaching him all these new tricks rather than a robot!
Can a dog’s brain handle this? Will my pet be able to tell the difference between me and robot/AI me? Will it go to the robot for belly rubs while I’m just sitting there with attention to give?
Consider me very intrigued by this. I apparently missed a live demo of the product that took place at the San Francisco SPCA recently, but I’d love to see it in action before I pass any further judgment.
Would you pay for a robot babysitter for your dog?
💬 Quote of the Week
"We could have saved the Earth but we were too damned cheap."
-Kurt Vonnegut
📧 Content Recommendation
Austin Kleon & Fetch the Bolt Cutters
This week we have a special 2-for-1 content recommendation!
First, I want to give a shout out to the amazing writing of
. You may be familiar with his series of books but he also has a wonderful Substack newsletter that covers a wide range of topics around creativity and entrepreneurship. We also had him as one of our “30 Days of Genius” speakers back when I worked at CreativeLive.Second, Austin wrote a post recently that really connected with me. As we move past the 3 year milestone of the start of the pandemic, I think many people are looking back at that time in our lives. Maybe with nostalgia, maybe with fondness or disbelief. But Austin wrote about listening to Fiona Apple’s magnificent album “Fetch the Bolt Cutters”.
And I remember having many of the same feelings when I listened to it while being holed up in our tiny bungalow in Oakland, CA as a relatively new parent to a 6-month old daughter. It became an early pandemic (we didn’t know it to be early at the time) soundtrack that fueled backyard workouts and new cooking experiments. I streamed the hell out of the record and then also bought it on a special limited release purple vinyl. It now serves as one of the more emotive entries of our growing record collection and can’t really be disconnected from the time period when I first heard it.
Fiona Apple and Austin Kleon have both been favorites of mine for quite some time, he’s your chance to enjoy both of them if you haven’t before.
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
Hey! Could you use some help establishing healthy habits? Do you have a big project or new business that you want to get off the ground but could use some advice? Maybe you could benefit from hiring me as your coach. If you’re interested, read more about my coaching services here, or go ahead and book some time on my calendar to discuss further.
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Thank you for sharing Chris! I'm happy that you find the article interesting and helpful!
"Flipboard for Android has been leaked" - Man, what a look back in time. Those certainly were the good days.