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I've recently accepted the fact that I am, and always will be, a pen-and-paper kind of gal. When it comes to writing, nothing does it for me quite like the act of scrawling by hand. Im more creative, less distracted and more emotionally invested in what Im doing than when I type on a keyboard. But over the last decade or so of writing professionally, I've become disconnected from writing by hand. I spend most of my time hunched over a laptop, and have unwittingly conditioned myself into writing almost exclusively in this way for the sake of efficiency. While thats undoubtedly what works best for the day-to-day demands of news blogging (I mean, how else could we do it?), my shift away from notebooks has killed my will to do any creative writing outside of work. These days, every time I crack open a laptop to write in my off-hours, it feels like a chore. But what also feels like a chore is typing up pages upon pages of handwritten text after dumping all the words in my brain out onto paper. This burden is what first got me looking into digital notepads; since many of them can convert handwritten notes to text files, theyre kind of the best of both worlds. For a while, though, none of the available options really spoke to me the reMarkable 2 and other E Ink tablets are just too big for my taste. Then, Ratta came out with the Supernote Nomad, and I was sold. The Nomad is perfectly compact. With a 7.8-inch screen, its more like the size of an ereader, meaning I can toss it in a mini-backpack and bring it with me everywhere and I do. My Nomad arrived in May (I ordered the $329 Crystal version, because Im a sucker for a transparent shell) and I've been using it just about every day since. I was cautiously optimistic about what actually writing on this thing would be like, but it exceeded all of my expectations. It took only a few minutes to get used to, which mainly came down to me getting over my somewhat irrational fear that the pen the one thats made for this device would scratch the display. (It was expensive, okay?) The tablet doesnt come with a writing implement, and I shelled out a little extra for the $89 Heart of Metal pen, a decision Im super happy with. Its nothing like a stylus, but instead has a sharp, precision tip like a real pen hence my initial hesitation. The experience of writing on the Nomad is so close to the feeling of actually using a pen and paper. Theres texture to it, something you dont get with the smooth experience of writing on an iPad. I write pretty fast, and haven't had many issues so far with lagging. It comes with a bunch of writing templates, including lined paper with a few different ruling size options, and you can create your own templates or download those made by others. I haven't messed around much yet with custom versions, though, because the built-in offerings have been adequate for free writing, note-taking and organizing my life. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the handwriting recognition tool has been able to convert my chicken scratch to typed text. My handwriting is fine at best, but when I'm working fast, things can get pretty messy. It's not 100 percent accurate itll throw in the occasional string of gibberish but the device mostly gets it right. You can export the converted writing as a .TXT or .DOCX file, and have the Nomad format it for you. This requires some cleaning up, but its never a huge job. Supernote devices can sync with a number of different cloud storage providers, like Dropbox and Google Drive (though Google is currently not working for me, so thats one point against it), along with the companys own cloud. You can lock individual files and folders behind a passcode, too, which I really appreciate. Nothing haunts me more than the thought of someone reading through my unfinished drafts, some of which arent destined to ever see the light of day. And Ive finally ditched my paper planner something I never thought would happen. Supernotes built-in monthly calendar and weekly planner have finally given me an alternative that actually works for me. One of the main things thats kept me using paper planners is that I like to doodle as a way to make important events or tasks stand out, and the Supernote Nomad allows me to do this. The only thing I miss is using stickers and pens of different colors, but Ill survive. In the last month or so using the Supernote Nomad, Ive probably gotten more writing done (the for me kind) than I had in the last year. It just doesn't trigger that dreaded youre at work feeling that my laptop and even other distraction-free writing devices, like the Freewrite Traveler, have. Eventually, I hope to get around to drawing and reading on it as well, but for the moment, all I want to do on this thing is write because I'm having such a great time doing it. And before you ask yes, I wrote this article on my Nomad.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/im-finding-the-joy-in-writing-again-with-a-little-help-from-the-supernote-nomad-130048878.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is reminding several computer companies that "warranty void if removed" stickers are illegal, as is language discouraging consumers from fixing their own devices. The Commission warned ASRock, Gigabyte and Zotech to get rid of them and remove terms threatening to void warranties if users break the seal, it wrote in a press release spotted by The Verge. "Letters to three other companies warn against their use of stickers containing 'warranty void if removed' or similar language that are placed in locations on products that hinder consumers ability to perform routine maintenance and repairs on their products," the FTC wrote. "These letters were issued to ASRock, Zotac, and Gigabyte, companies that market and sell gaming PCs, graphics chips, motherboards, and other accessories." It wasn't just the stickers, but language in the warranties stating that guarantees would be voided if said seals were broken. The practices "may be standing in the way of consumers' right to repair products they have purchased," according to the release. Commission staff will review the companies' websites after 30 days and failure to correct violations may result in law enforcement action. Right to repair laws have spread across US states, but the FTC is actually referencing decades-old rules. Under the 1975 Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, companies can't place restrictions on repairs unless they provide the parts or services for free or receive a waiver from the FTC. This isn't a new occurrence, as we wrote about a similar warning from the FTC way back in 2018. At that time, the watchdog sent warnings to six companies: Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, ASUS, HTC and Hyundai. Such stickers and policies aren't necessarily illegal in other nations though, as iFixit wrote last year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ftc-warns-some-pc-manufacturers-that-theyre-violating-right-to-repair-rules-120009736.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
For the Brazilian market, LG Electronics has unveiled a new technology that combines artificial intelligence with air conditioning to provide relief for (peri)menopausal people experiencing night sweats and hot flashes. Menopause Mode, which is currently in beta phase, uses a smartwatch app to monitor body temperature, heart rate and blood oxygen levels, identifying hot flashes throughout the night. When the app identifies a hot flash, it sends a command to a connected LG Dual Inverter +AI air conditioner to quickly lower the rooms temperature. After cooling for 10 minutes, the air conditioner returns to its original setting.An estimated 29 million women in Brazil, representing 7.9% of the countrys female population, are in perimenopause, the period leading up to menopause, according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. One-third of these women will experience moderate to severe hot flashes, which can disrupt their sleep and significantly impact their wellbeing. As natural and inevitable as it is, menopause remains a taboo topic in Brazil and most other countries. LGs initiative aims to break the silence by sparking conversations, while offering a practical fix for one of menopauses most bothersome symptoms.Menopause Mode, developed by So Paulo-based creative agency AlmapBBDO, underscores the potential for smart home technology to address the unique health needs of specific demographics. By leveraging data from wearable devices and integrating it with home appliances, companies like LG are paving the way for more personalized, adaptive solutions that cater to the challenges of different stages of life.
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Marketing and Advertising
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