When software was new, you would buy an application for a lot of money upfront and then get major new versions at discounted prices. There were no free minor updates because the software had to be delivered on physical media (which also meant that an application had to be bug-free out of the gate, an art that was lost in the age of weekly, automatic updates).
Today, software vendors love subscriptions because they guarantee a steady income. Many users are not so fond of them, so every time an app switches from a one-time purchase to a subscription model, it receives a slew of angry one-star reviews.
Maybe that’s why Apple’s Creator Studio subscription is confusing. While an incredible value by itself, it includes software that has been included for free with macOS and apps that many already bought as a one-time purchase. Nothing changes with the Creator Studio, but if you want, you can pay $12.90 per month or $129 per year to see what happens.
I own Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, and MainStage. I also subscribe to Logic on the iPad for $50/month. Should I get the Creator Studio to get Final Cut Pro, which I (currently) don’t really need?
Apple has probably lined up subscription-only features to entice users to switch. I just wish for a little discount on licenses I already own, so I would not feel like throwing away good stuff.
I have a special relationship with Star Wars: The first installment, Episode IV, was the first feature film I saw. Of course, at nine years old, I was mightily impressed and saw the movie many times in theaters.
Reading about the upcoming Episode X, the 10th episode of the original trilogy, makes me sad. The first Star Wars was original and innovative, but stretching a single idea over nearly 50 years (and counting) feels disheartening for human creativity. AI can probably do better.
I’m not particularly interested in car racing or spectator sports in general. I did follow Formula 1 casually in the 90s and watched a race from start to finish once on TV, which I found to be an almost meditative experience.
Yesterday, we watched the movie, and I loved it. It proves that it is possible to create big-screen excitement with an original story if you just follow time-tested rules. A rookie vs. seasoned pro trope, a Hollywood superstar in the lead, a believable love interest, and a Hans Zimmer soundtrack. Add some nail-biting action elements, and the movie is fun to watch.
The mastery of director Joseph Kosinski in F1 is evident in how well-measured these elements are. There were plenty of twists and turns, but the story always moved forward and left the big question open until the very end: Will Sonny Hayes win his first grand prix?
I put my Apple Watch down on December 18 and, by now, have traded it in to Apple. So far, I still feel liberated. There is nothing wrong with wearing the Apple Watch, but:
The health tracking makes you want to wear it day and night. Now I don‘t need to care anymore. The health tracking is good for sure, but honestly, I didn‘t pay too much attention to it.
The handwashing timer is stressful. I know, I could have turned it off, but thorough handwashing is a good habit. Of course, you can do this without the watch, too.
Some things don‘t work, and some things take longer on the watch. And the worst, some things only sometimes work. Now I do everything on the iPhone, which is usually easier and more efficient.
I‘m torn about notifications. It’s nice to get them on the watch and see them at a glance. However, they’re also more distracting than the deliberate act of pulling your phone out of your pocket.
My old watch is still in repair, and I miss not having a wristwatch at all. I used to read the time from my phone for a long time, but I don‘t want to go back to it.
When it comes to writing, AI is the elephant in any room. Large Language Models are very good with language, but how much can you use them without losing the essence of why you started writing in the first place?
I still find Seth Godin’s take “Walk Away or Dance” valuable here. You often hear advice that using AI is not good or authentic enough. But on the other hand, your work does not automatically become good simply by not using AI. Moreover, if you need significantly longer to reach the same quality level without AI than with AI, you have also failed.
Walking away from AI is for geniuses in their field, who are also great at selling their work. Everybody else has no choice.
For glamglare, we use AI as a spellchecker, fact-checker, and editor. We select the song and write the initial copy. From there, we dance with AI.
I love the start of a new year. It gives you the illusion of a clean slate, and often that’s all you need to make changes and start new things. It’s not about life-changing resolutions; it’s about saying that this will be the best year ever and believing in it, at least for a while.
The Apple Watch is an amazing device. I have been using the Ultra 2 with cellular for the past two years, and it’s incredible what it can do. With this tiny little thing, you stay fully connected, access much of your data, and tap into the world’s knowledge (as long as you can make yourself understandable to Siri).
I almost never take advantage of these features because you usually have your iPhone nearby as well. So in the spirit of this, I plan to give up my Apple Watch and start using my old Citizen Eco-Drive again (if I can get the battery to work). Let’s see how it goes.
On Thursday, a man with a tripod and a camera with a huge lens was running past me. When I turned around, I saw the shot he was aiming for. I only had an iPhone, but the 8x lens works pretty well.
It’s a feast for the eyes. More photos 
On Thursday, a man with a tripod and a camera with a huge lens was running past me. When I turned around, I saw the shot he was aiming for. I only had an iPhone, but the 8x lens works pretty well.