Iterate Weekly - Issue 9
Welcome to Issue 9 of the Iterate weekly newsletter! My name is Chris Jennings. If you really have no idea who I am and why you’re receiving this e-mail, take a look at the about page for a reminder.
You’ll see that the content here is broken down into 4 categories.
Tech - This will be the main focus of the newsletter. I’m dedicated to helping people improve their relationships with technology.
Learning - I consider myself an autodidact and like to examine the concept of learning how to be a more productive learner.
Health - None of these other topics are important if you’re not healthy enough to enjoy them.
Grab Bag - This could be something personal, something silly, something fun that doesn’t quite fit the other categories.
Finally, we’ll wrap things up with a quote of the week and a piece of content that I recommend you check out.
Yes, there may be the occasional affiliate link to a product I recommend, but no one is paying for placement in this newsletter. Thank you so much for reading, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment and let me know what you think of this format.
Tech
Gamers want your grandma’s old TV
Just when you thought it was time to get rid of Grandma’s old CRT television, this article in Wired may give you second thoughts.
Much like the resurgence of vinyl records and other forms of analog tech, there is a subset of gamers who are turning back the clock to play their favorite retro games as they were intended to be played. It may sound crazy, but these gamers appreciate the fuzzy visuals and buzzy audio that come from these old TVs.
Retro gaming connoisseurs are checking the dump or recycling centers for these valuable relics from the past. As someone who recently hooked up an old Nintendo Wii running classic games via Homebrew, I can see the allure. I don’t miss how much space these old TVs took up, but I’m happy to see them finding new uses in their golden years.
Learning
A World without email?
Cal Newport’s work has really influenced me and some of the content of this newsletter. His books “Digital Minimalism” and “Deep Work” have become seminal texts for people like me who love technology but don’t love the way it can distract us
Newport’s latest book examines the way we communicate. “A World Without Email” may sound like a scary concept. I say this as I’m sending you a weekly newsletter after all, so it startles me too.
The Next Big Idea Club takes a look at the downfalls of email through the lens of Newport’s new book. They make a pretty strong case for how distracting and inefficient the medium can be for most forms of communication.
Is a world without email really inevitable?
Health
Can Google revive its smartwatches?
Another tidbit that comes from the aftermath of Google I/O. During the event, Google announced a partnership with Samsung to unite their previously competing smartwatch operating systems Wear OS and Tizen.
As someone who has used Wear OS devices from their inception, I’m cautiously optimistic about the news. Since acquiring Fitbit, it was assumed that Google would be integrating better health tracking technology in its Wear OS devices, but that hasn’t really been the case.
Samsung’s Tizen has built a reputation for being easy to use with stellar health tracking capabilities. The only thing these watches were lacking, was access to the Google Play Store ecosystem. Ideally, this partnership will meld the two together into the perfect smartwatch OS to rival the Apple Watch.
I’ve been disappointed before by Google’s smartwatch efforts, let’s hope they actually get it right this time.
Grab Bag
Turn your old balloons into a new pair of kicks
I’m really a sucker for any pair of shoes made out of something interesting. I’ve worn shoes made of Tyvek, merino wool, hemp, and I’d certainly wear shoes made of old balloons.
These shoes come from Lisbon-based brand Undo for Tomorrow, they call them “Nuven” shoes. They’ve vegan, sustainable, weatherproof, and apparently comfortable.
What are the strangest materials you’ve worn on your feet? Would you be into these recycled balloon shoes?
Quote of the Week
"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." – Arthur Ashe.
Content Recommendation
The Last Blockbuster
This week my wife and I watched the documentary “The Last Blockbuster”
As you can probably surmise, it tells the story of the last remaining Blockbuster video rental store in Bend, Oregon. A star-studded list of actors and comedians make cameos here telling stories of their time working in or just being a customer at their local Blockbuster store.
If you have fond memories of spending Friday evenings scouring the shelves of your neighborhood video rental shop (Blockbuster or otherwise) you’ll probably enjoy this movie. It could have been a little shorter in my opinion, but it’s a nice story that’s filled with plenty of nostalgia.
You made it to the end of my newsletter, nicely done! If you enjoyed this and know of someone else who may enjoy it, please share it with them.