Iterate Weekly - Issue 214
This week, the wait is over for the Pixel Watch 4, my top 5 CreativeLive classes, Ford announces the electric Bronco, Oura Rings get colorful, and "Version History"!
Welcome to issue 214 of Iterate Weekly.
Let’s jump into this week’s stories shall we?
Thank you as always for reading!
🖥️ Tech
The Pixel Watch 4 finally releases this week
It feels like so long ago that I purchased the Pixel Watch 4. But finally, it should be shipping out to me in the next few days.
I remember the days when smartwatches launched as proper companion devices on the same day as their flagship phone counterparts. Unfortunately, Google can’t seem to get their production calendars aligned. I’ve been using my Pixel 10 Pro now for a while, and it’s not without its issues. Yet my wrist is still adorned with last year’s tech!
Google’s latest smartwatch is still mostly a mystery. It was shown off during the launch event and there were some “hands-on” videos. I was convinced to make the pre-order purchase at the same time that I purchased my new phone. The trade-in deal for my Pixel Watch 3 wasn’t as good as last year’s deal, but it was enough to make me pull the trigger.
What do I need out of this new watch? It’s really just two simple things that Google needs to solve.
Battery life and better Gemini integration.
I’m so sick of an hour-long GPS-powered run sucking down almost all of the battery life on my Pixel Watch 3. I don’t want to worry about the watch dying overnight and leaving me without an important vibrating wrist alarm. And I want to feel like I’m in the future and the past simultaneously with real-time Dick Tracy-like Gemini conversations! Is that too much to ask?
I think not. Let’s see if Google was able to pull it off or if we’ll be disappointed for another year. I’m sure I’ll have more to say here next week after I’ve had a chance to put it through its paces.
🎓 Productivity/Work/Software/Gear
My Top 5 CreativeLive classes to buy before they go away!
You may have heard the news last week that my former employer CreativeLive is finally shuttering its extensive course catalog once and for all. You only have until the end of the year to purchase new courses or download the ones you already own. Act now or these amazing educational resources will be gone forever!
So in honor of this sad wind down, I’m going to give a few of my personal course recommendations that you should purchase while you have the chance. Maybe I’m biased as I personally produced and/or hosted each of these myself. But they are still as valuable today as they were the day they were created.
#1 - Designing Your Life with Bill Burnett & Dave Evans
#2 - How to Break the Habit of Self Doubt with Mel Robbins
#3 - Essential Storytelling Techniques with The Producers of Snap Judgment
#4 - Heroic Public Speaking with Michael & Amy Port
#5 - The Power of Body Language with Vanessa Van Edwards
Go check these out before they disappear forever! And keep your eyes peeled for your’s truly popping up as host & moderator in many of these!
♻️ Health/Environment/EVs
Ford’s Electric Bronco could be a huge hit
The Ford Bronco has come a long way from the days of the OJ Simpson car chase.
If you’re anything like me, you probably see these things driving around all over the place in a variety of colors. They’ve undoubtedly become one of Ford’s most successful vehicles and now they’re looking to electrify them.
Yes, Ford has announced that they will be selling an electric version of their iconic Bronco. But sadly, this version will only be available in China for the time being.
While it looks a lot like the standard Bronco on the outside, there are some really nice additions to appeal to a more outdoorsy driver. The pop-up camper option for the roof looks really slick. Ford also plans to offer some tailgate cooking options that let you fold down a table on the rear door for food prep.
This formula should absolutely appeal to those Americans interested in Rivian’s offerings in the rugged electric outdoor fun mobile category. It’s certainly an audience that is growing and one that I’d consider myself part of.
There is a huge segment of outdoorsy, environmentally-conscious folks who have been driving Jeeps, Subarus, and other “outdoorsy” vehicles for years. And while Jeep and Subaru have announced some recent EV options, they’re still pretty far behind in terms of EV development.
I have no doubt that the Electric Bronco (it needs a cool nickname of some sort right? the “boltin’ bronco” maybe) would be a hit in the U.S if it ever made it here. We’ll see if that day will ever come.
🛍 Grab Bag
Oura Ring gets colorful
Are you in the market for a new smart ring? Are you tired of wearing a ring that only comes in silver, gold, or black?
Well you are in luck! Oura is launching the new Oura Ring 4 Ceramic and it comes in four lovely colors!
OK, I’ll ditch the home shopping network voice.
Listen, I’ve worn an Oura Ring on my finger since 2020. I think they make some fantastic products. Now they have a new version which appears to be identical to the “regular” Our Ring 4 that currently resides on my right index finger except for one thing. It comes with a ceramic coating that is more fun and colorful.
Ideally, that coating also adds some tangible durability to the ring as well. That seems like a decent selling point. I made the choice to get the brushed silver version of my ring because, sure I thought it looked cool, but I also read some reviews that said it was the most scratch resistant of the color options. Or at least scratches aren’t as noticeable on my ring perhaps?
The ceramic coating here comes in lovely colors such as: Cloud, Tide, Petal, and Midnight (AKA - white, light blue, pink, and dark blue).
Maybe these wouldn’t be the colors I’d choose if I was designing this product line but the variety is appreciated.
I’ve had plenty of people notice my Oura Ring over the years and ask me about it. It’s not a bad conversation starter, but I’m not sure I want to draw even more attention to myself by wearing one that comes in a bright color like this.
Ceramic coatings on tech are generally a good thing but maybe some of these color options could have just been offered as a rubber band to cover your existing ring? I’ll be curious to see how these sell. I have a feeling the colorful models will be the first products to be discounted this holiday season.
💬 Quote of the Week
"Every story I create, creates me. I write to create myself."
-Octavia E. Butler
🎧 Content Review
Version History
Oh why yes! That does appear to be an AI-generated version of a Cybiko in the center of the image above. The much-loved piece of my technological upbringing never ran on AA batteries or had a telescopic antenna, but that keyboard is unmistakable!
When I saw that The Verge was launching a new podcast/video show called “Version History”, I was blown away by their show art image. You could say, “you had me at Cybiko”…
I was very interested in the premise of the show and quite frankly upset that I hadn’t come up with it myself! Nostalgic podcasts obviously do really well. Any content that takes an oral history approach when going down memory lane is right up my alley. Hopefully, this show will not disappoint.
The first episode dives into the world of hoverboards, so no immediate Cybiko content just yet, but you know it’s coming soon enough.
Check it out on YouTube for the video version or wherever else you get your podcasts if you only want to listen.
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
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