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Bits: The Byteside Blog

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The future of Byteside

Preamble this week is some transparency in the thick of tricky times. To be clear, I’m not stopping or closing or pausing or anything. So don’t fret, faithful readers! I hope the future is bright! My aim in the second half of 2020 is to put more emphasis

The future of Byteside
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Sonos Arc review: raising the bar for the future?

Sonos Arc resets the home theatre experience for Sonos fans, ready for the decade ahead with Dolby Atmos support alongside best in class audio streaming.

Sonos Arc review: raising the bar for the future?

Who's driving?

You can’t plot a course and then give everyone a steering wheel, or just give everyone their own map whether they know how to read it or not.

Who's driving?
Games

Minecraft Dungeons Review: Diablo for families in the best possible way

Here with Minecraft Dungeons, Mojang Studios and Double Eleven have built a full fledged action RPG with a gorgeous Minecraft skin.

Minecraft Dungeons Review: Diablo for families in the best possible way

Stifling aggregation

Market domination puts the rest of us in cultural hot water while the big players buy and sell the hot tub.

Stifling aggregation

One year on... what do you think?

I started this newsletter one year ago! Well, more than… but this is the 50th issue so I feel confident I’m definitely past the one year datestamp. I just double checked: it was April 26, 2019. I wish I had something poignant or exciting to say. 50 feels like

One year on... what do you think?
Business

At the speed of necessity

Progress has just had a very swift kick toward digital transformation.

At the speed of necessity
Technology

Imagining the soundbar all over again with Sonos Arc

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a Sonos nut. Long time user, over a decade of digging on their various speakers and now there's one in every room of the house.

Imagining the soundbar all over again with Sonos Arc

In the tunnel. Somewhere.

I’m seeing some of my contract workload slow down right now. Some other parts are picking up. And freelance journalism is slooooooow. So overall, it’s not entirely balancing itself out. But I know I’m still far luckier than many. My best guess is that we’re past

In the tunnel. Somewhere.
Technology

iPhone SE Review: a powerful new iPhone just like your old iPhone

If you want to stick to that familiar, comfortable old physical design, then the iPhone SE will be that next device to cling to for another 5 years to come.

iPhone SE Review: a powerful new iPhone just like your old iPhone

Perfect Visibility

8K TV is a joke. But that means it also points to the fact a 4K TV is likely to be the longest lasting television purchase you'll make since the cathode ray era.

Perfect Visibility

Infowars (good and bad)

Information is on every front line in this crisis: in health management, in overcoming isolation, and in the most unnecessary battle of them all – disinformation.

Infowars (good and bad)

One day at a time

“How are you?” is too expansive and hard to consider clearly. But “today” is contained and easier to respond to.

One day at a time
Games

Godzilla and friends are coming to Magic: the Gathering

Wizards of the Coast and Toho Co have partnered to bring a special Godzilla series of cards to the next Magic: the Gathering premium card set.

Godzilla and friends are coming to Magic: the Gathering
Business

It's time for 5 minute default meetings

The 30 minute default must die. Cut the defaults to 5 minutes to show the time vampires that enough is enough, especially in the coronavirus crisis.

It's time for 5 minute default meetings

Cut yourself some slack

It's chaos all the way down. Give yourself a break. It's OK to take a breathe right now.

Cut yourself some slack

Tech Has (Some) Answers

A lot will change permanently from here – especially around this tech adoption. Platforms like Zoom will be here to stay.

Tech Has (Some) Answers
Home

10 Years of WFH: My Experience

I've worked from home for about 10 out of the past 16 years of work life. There is no template for perfection, but here's some tips for how to find a system that works for you.

10 Years of WFH: My Experience

The Bright Future Edition

Woah. Like, WOAH. It’s been a rough start to 2020. So it’s time for a special “Look At How Amazing The World Can Be” week. I actually spent more time this week stepping back from social media (because while I’ve mostly-quit Facebook I’m still an avid

The Bright Future Edition

The Trouble With Presence

Is there a way to make more active remote presence a possibility beyond the bounds of a viral outbreak?

The Trouble With Presence