Iterate Weekly - Issue 215
This week, the Pixel Watch 4 becomes the most repairable smartwatch, paper shredders, electric coaching, climate talk in a log cabin, and "Such Great Heights"!
Welcome to issue 215 of Iterate Weekly.
Let’s jump into this week’s stories shall we?
Thank you as always for reading!
🖥️ Tech
Pixel Watch 4 is most repairable smartwatch
I’ve been wearing my new Pixel Watch 4 for the past couple of days. The quick review is that it is pretty darn similar to my Pixel Watch 3. It’s a trend that has permeated all of Google’s products this season. They are very incremental updates from the previous versions.
But here is one major improvement for this year’s Google smartwatch. The Pixel Watch 4 can now be called “the most repairable” smartwatch on the market!
Maybe that’s an odd title. And hopefully your watch works seamlessly for a long time and you won’t need to worry about repairability. But this is actually a huge deal in terms of sustainability and hopefully future smartwatches follow suit.
If your screen inevitably gets cracked, you shouldn’t throw the watch into the garbage and buy another one (even if you can afford it). No one is confusing a Pixel Watch 4 with a timeless Rolex or something that will be passed down to your grandchildren. But there is absolutely no reason why it can’t be repairable enough to at least last as long as your phone. Five years should totally be doable if you can swap out the screen or replace the battery.
I do miss the days of easily swappable batteries on smartphones. I’m not saying that we’ll get there with smartwatches anytime soon, but I do get excited about the possibility of easily upgrading the battery or RAM on my watch without needing to always by the latest and greatest version each year.
🎓 Productivity/Work/Software/Gear
The simple satisfaction of a paper shredder
Ok, this may sound strange but I’ve really been enjoying using a paper shredder lately.
I’m sure you all probably have one of these things tucked away somewhere in your office or in a closet. I totally forgot that we even had one, but it has come in handy as I’ve been cleaning up my garden shed office space lately.
The sound it makes can be intoxicating. The smell of freshly shredded paper is lovely. And it just feels really good to clean out drawers that have been filled with old receipts or documents that seemed important at the time but likely live somewhere else in a digital cloud.
Am I telling you all to drop everything and go buy a paper shredder? No, it’s probably not necessary. You can just as easily tear up these papers manually or just pitch them into the recycling bin in full sheet form. But personally, the allure of the shredder really motivated me to tidy up this week. And it might just do the same for you too.
♻️ Health/Environment/EVs
Rewiring America Electric Coach Certification
I’ve written a bit about all of the home projects I’ve been looking to get done this year before Inflation Reduction Act incentives dry up on December 31st.
While these may seem like pretty straightforward projects to tackle, I’ve had to do a whole lot of research. So much so, that I’ve considered myself to be somewhat of an expert lately on things like heat pumps, solar panels, backup batteries, induction cooking, etc.
So why not get some official certification to prove that proficiency in all things efficiency?
It actually took me a couple of rounds of applications to get accepted into this highly in-demand program but it was well worth the wait. I thought I already knew a lot about decarbonizing my home, but it turns out I was really just scratching the surface.
I’ll likely have more to share as I come to the end of the four-week intensive program, but it has been an amazing experience thus far to connect with other like-minded folks from around the U.S. The goal once the program is done is to be able to work 1-on-1 with homeowners who are (understandably!) overwhelmed with all of the options out there when trying to make environmentally friendly upgrades to their home.
If that sounds like you, stay tuned and I’ll likely have some availability to coach you through the process starting next month!
🛍 Grab Bag
An evening of climate talk in a log cabin
A few weeks back, I recommended that you check out the amazing What if we get it right? Substack publication & podcast.
It’s been my go-to source for climate knowledge, truth, and general entertainment in what has been a very rough year for the earth.
Well recently I was fortunate enough to go see
speak in person as part of the PointBlue Speaker Series in San Francisco.It was a lovely evening of climate talk in a historic log cabin nestled in the Presidio. There was amazing energy at the sold out event and I think it’s safe to say that we all left feeling more energized and ready to tackle the immense climate work that lies before us.
Let this act as a friendly reminder to seek out and attend events like these in your community. Find like-minded individuals who can help you rally behind causes you believe in.
And I can’t wait for the release of the updated paperback version of “What if We Get it Right?” coming this spring!
💬 Quote of the Week
"Change before you have to."
-Jack Welch
📕 Content Review
Such Great Heights
Here’s a book recommendation for all of the indie rock fans out there.
’s “Such Great Heights: The Complete Cultural History of the Indie Rock Explosion” has felt like it was written precisely for my musical tastes.DeVille and I may be about the same age and experienced a similar journey through the world of indie rock. And I’ve enjoyed every page flip down memory lane.
As the title implies, each chapter breaks down a distinct era in the evolution of the indie rock genre. The included playlist at the start of each chapter is much appreciated and helps set the mood for a deeper discussion on the artists who shaped a generation of music fans.
When I heard DeVille’s interview on the “60 Songs That Explain the 90s: The 2000s” podcast with
I instantly added the book to my reading list. It has absolutely not disappointed and I’m sad to be finishing it.If any of those bands listed on the cover resonate with you, then you must give this book a read. And be sure to follow Chris DeVille’s Substack publication too while you’re at it!
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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Thanks for the shout out!