How can Monterey on an M2 💻 with the Music app still not play smoothly to a stereo pair of HomePod Minis. Seriously, this is stupid; it can’t get through a single music track without a drop out, or switching from stereo to one channel and then back. 🤦‍♂️

What the new Chief Twit seems to want, was said much better in 1989…

(Image credit: SquelchDesign)

With Apple’s very minor updates to the iPad Pro models, I’m even more glad I sold my 2020 iPad Pro 12.9” and Magic Keyboard a couple of months back. I now use an old iPad Mini 2 (2013!) for YouTube – it’s too old to run most things e.g. Netflix – and iPhone (Pro Max) otherwise.

You can’t tell here, but this is a 31-megapixel HEIC photo taken with Halide, and there’s so much detail. I love that it can use the iPhone’s entire 48MP sensor, but still output “normal” processed photos for those of us who are too lazy to deal with RAW.📱📷

“Clever” coffee. ☕️

Cycling into town, after the rain. Taipei, Taiwan, 11:39am. #adayinthelife

Still love the “deep purple” colour; easily my favourite iPhone colour of all time.

Just come out from watching Top Gun: Maverick. Really good, and they nailed the intro. Also very happy to see Taiwan’s flag beside Japan’s on Maverick’s jacket, after it was shown unexpectedly replaced in the trailers. 🇯🇵🇹🇼 🎥

We were a tiny speck in the vast vista of the sea – the ocean that is open to all and merciful to none, that threatens even when it seems to yield, and that is pitiless always to weakness.

Ernest Shackleton, South: The Endurance Expedition 📚

Enjoyed this interview. I think I’ll give Brave Search a try instead of DuckDuckGo.

I haven’t read the full interview about Brave Search yet… but the first thing I did when I installed Firefox is use it as my default search engine. I don’t search too much, but it has been a real joy so far.

Purple Zone. Soft Cell and Pet Shop Boys, what a combo. I think many Brits of 40+ will appreciate this.

The yearly “dancing” musical fountain display started today in Bitan (碧潭). It will continue half-hourly each evening for a month or so.

It starts with just a single sticker, and before long…

First time roasting cashews

The ride home 🏍

Started reading: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (Audiobook) 📚 / Book List

This is the first audiobook I’ve borrowed from a library, using the Libby app and OverDrive. It’s fantastic, and all free.

On the road again 🏍

Finished reading: From Far Formosa by George Leslie MacKay 📚 ★★★★½ / Book List

This year is 150 years since MacKay moved to Taiwan, where he lived as a missionary for over 20 years. It’s very eloquently written, and full of interesting information. Keeping a copy.

Dragon boats (龍舟) 🛶

Just got out of The Batman. Really enjoyed it. “Thumb drive” cracked me up. 🎥