The BirchTree Podcast

The BirchTree Podcast

100: Sticking With It

Jun 18 • 9 min

It’s hard to create one of something, but it’s a whole other level of challenge to make something over and over and over again, all the while keeping yourself and your audience engaged. BirchTree is my 3rd blog, and this podcast is my 4th podcast. None of…

099: Auditing Your Digital Workflow

Jun 14 • 8 min

People have a tendency to always be looking for the latest and greatest software to do their work with. They want something new, something shiny. And while tools are important and when possible you should try to use the best tool for the job, this quest…

098: It’s Beta Summer!

Jun 12 • 9 min

Just a progress report on how the iOS, watchOS, macOS, and Android betas are going for me. The short of it is that nothing is going horribly wrong, but all of these are definitely still beta releases that come with all the expected bugginess.

097: Demystifying Shortcuts in iOS 12 and watchOS 5

Jun 11 • 10 min

Shortcuts might be the coolest new addition to iOS and watchOS coming this fall, and today I do my best to demystify the many layers of this feature. https://birchtree.me/blog/understanding-shortcuts-in-ios-12/

096: 10 Awesome Features Coming in watchOS 5

Jun 5 • 11 min

Apple unveiled watchOS 5 yesterday and here are my 10 most exciting features I’ve seen and used in the first beta so far. 1. Automatic workout detection 2. Advanced running features (steps-per-minute, rolling pace) 3. Walkie talkie 4. Podcasts 5. Audio…

095: Hugely Smarter, my WWDC18 Keynote Impressions

Jun 4 • 8 min

Is “hugely smarter” grammatically correct? I hope it is because I said it with confidence in today’s second episode of the podcast. These were my immediate impressions following the keynote. I had no notes and the Apple site hadn’t been updated in time…

094: Pre-WWDC Warm Up

Jun 4 • 3 min

A quick show this morning to talk about what I’m doing for this WWDC keynote day.

093: Castro 3 Review

May 25 • 6 min

Castro 3 came out on Monday of this week and it’s a very opinionated podcast player. Listen in to hear why I think this app works so well for me, even if it’s not an app for everybody. Get Castro 3 on the App Store:…

092: Why I’ve Already Switched Back to the iPhone

May 24 • 6 min

Castro 3, Spark 2, OmniFocus 3, Apollo, and Pocket-Run Pool all came out for iOS since I switched to Android 16 days ago. In that same time there have been zero updates or new apps for Android that have me really exacted.

091: Dumb to Clever to Smart, My History with Watches

May 23 • 8 min

I have been wearing watches for my whole life. Long before the Apple Watch became my obsession, I lived for having the time on my wrist. This episode takes you through my history of being a kid with a cheap Timex, to the wonder introduced by the Pebble,…

090: Android P Isn’t That Miserable After All

May 21 • 6 min

I’ve been using Android P for 2 weeks and it might just be the least painful time with Android I’ve ever had. I’m not switching any time soon, but if I were an Android fan I think I’d be happy with this update. Also, it was basically a monsoon outside…

089: Google Pixel Buds Update

May 18 • 8 min

The Google Pixel Buds got a few new gestures for controls this week and it got me thinking again about how these stack up to AirPods, their clear competitor.

088: Google News First Impressions

May 16 • 6 min

Google News is now available for iOS and Android (if you know where to look) and I have been spending some serious time with the app. Here are my first impressions. Android APK:…

087: Wear OS is Treading Water

May 14 • 7 min

Google only showed off Wear OS at one developer session this year, which was realtively disappointing from a smart watch fan’s perspective. They didn’t show off anything that got me jealous of their wearable platform, and that was a huge disappointment…

086: Podcasts, iPads, and Headphone Jacks

May 10 • 6 min

How I produce my podcast, why I think the iPad is great for content creation, and why needing to use a headphone jack is actually kind of inconvenient these days. Unco episode 14: https://www.unco.fm/unco/014

085: Google I/O At Lightning Speed

May 8 • 11 min

Google I/O’s keynote ended literally 2 minutes before I hit record on this episode, so enjoy my completely off the cuff thoughts about the event. There’s more to come from Google this week, so expect to hear more about I/O in the coming days.

084: Microsoft Build Is All Business

May 8 • 7 min

My initial reactions to Microsoft’s lengthy, and all business keynote presentation from Build 2018. As someone who focuses on consumer tech, there really wasn’t a lot for me at this show, but Microsoft did have a few things of note to talk about.

083: Pocket Casts Changes and Cancelling Spotify

May 4 • 6 min

There was some news about Pocket Casts yesterday, and people are a bit conflicted on what to think about it. Also, my one dollar month of Spotify is almost up and I had to make a decision about if it would replace Apple Music for me. The answer was a…

082: Prioritizing “Quality of Life” Features

May 3 • 6 min

On iteration and making time for those features that don’t make money on their own, but make your experience better so that people stick around.

081: Apple Made a Ton of Money Again

May 2 • 8 min

Apple seems to be pretty good at making a stupid amount of cash, huh? See also my post from this morning with some fancy actions for you Drafts users out there. https://birchtree.me/blog/draft-5-actions-the-birchtree-collection/

080: Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Trust

May 1 • 5 min

I just travelled to Austin, Texas for a long weekend and learned a little about myself when it comes to which mapping service I trust more to get me where I’m try to go.

079: What I Value Most in a Task Manager

Apr 26 • 5 min

There is a reason I keep going back to OmniFocus.

078: A Straight Up Windows 10 Rant

Apr 25 • 10 min

How am I annoyed by Windows on a daily basis? Let me count the ways ;)

077: Ideas are Always Better Than Reality

Apr 23 • 7 min

This week is a case study in how this impacts the Apple Pencil charging situation, which some have called bad design. I disagree, and I only do so after working out the implications of making other choices. There are complications with ever product…

076: 3 Ways I’m Stepping Ever So Slightly Outside my Comfort Zone

Apr 19 • 7 min

I’m experimenting with computer platforms, media, and content creation mediums, all in the interest of challenging my own assumptions about who I have decided I am. These are not life-changing differences, but they are small steps to challenge some…

075: Drafts 5 Micro-Review

Apr 18 • 4 min

Drafts 5 will be releasing today and it’s a great update! I am not going to post a full review of the app because I’m far too casual of a user to provide much insight into it, but I had to take a few minutes and talk about why I love it and how it fits…

074: Expanding Your View Outside Yourself

Apr 17 • 6 min

It’s easy to tell the world what you think is important, or what you see and good and bad. It’s much harder to step outside yourself and understand, or even argue for, the opinions and world views of others. But just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it’s…

073: Try Another Browser, It Won’t Hurt

Apr 16 • 5 min

So many people just seem to use Chrome these days, and odds are you are too. I’d seriously recommend trying something like Safari, Firefox, Vivaldi, or Opera. https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/15/17239548/firefox-chrome-safari-competition

072: The Ridiculously Brilliant Breath of the Wild

Apr 11 • 4 min

Quick episode today where I gush about the latest Zelda adventure.

071: Strongly Held Opinions, but Opinions Nonetheless

Apr 10 • 5 min

I love the Magic Keyboard, and I actually really like the new MacBook keyboards too. These keyboards are not factually great, but they’re great for me.

070: My Android adventure lasted 6 days

Apr 9 • 6 min

I spent less than a week back on Android full time and it was just more trouble than it was worth. I’m a little harsh on Android in the episode, so maybe skip today if you’re a die-hard Android fan, but I had to be honest.

069: How I’d fix AirPods and Google Pixel Buds

Apr 6 • 5 min

The AirPods and Pixel Buds have features I wish they’d steal from each other.

068: Love for Apple’s Under-appreciated Calendar App

Apr 5 • 4 min

I’ve found myself very happy with and impressed with the Calendar app for iOS recently. There are few apps that I have made such a full 180 on and it’s a good illustration on how software is deeply subjective and how a change in circumstance can totally…

067: 3 Things I Love About the Google Pixel 2

Apr 4 • 5 min

It’s all about the camera, the feel, and the speed.

066: A Platform that Inspires no Passion (from me)

Apr 3 • 5 min

I’m a few days into Android again, and it really struck me already how little passion I feel for this platform. The types of experiences that make me really appreciate iOS and macOS just aren’t here. There are some surface-level customizations that are…

065: I’m Back on Android, Baby!

Apr 2 • 5 min

I moved my SIM card back to the Pixel 2 yesterday and I’m going to try and do a full month on Android. There’s not intention of writing anything specific about the differences between iOS and Android this time, so I am curious to see if using Android in a…

064: Privacy on BirchTree

Mar 26 • 7 min

I audited the tools I’m using to collect user data on BirchTree and have made some decisions on how to trim down what I’m collecting so that even the most privacy-oriented person feels comfortable browsing my site. DuckDuckGo gives my site a B rating,…

063: (Bonus episode) “Only” vs “Main” Computer

Mar 22 • 5 min

Watch The Verge’s video that inspired this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm_zQP9JIJI

062: Paying for Time or for a Result

Mar 19 • 6 min

Today I discuss why I like doing my freelance jobs for a flat rate and not by the hour. People have many differing opinions here, and different work may call for different payment methods, but for me, this has always seemed better.

061: The iPhone 7 Plus: Power and Damn, What a Camera!

Mar 17 • 6 min

The iPhone 7 Plus may have looked similar to the 2 generations of iPhones that came before it, but the tech inside was really something else, and it stands in my memory as the best iPhone upgrade in recent years (besides the X, of course).

060: A Ridiculously Good iPad

Mar 16 • 5 min

The 10.5” iPad Pro is a marvelous computer, and is just so damn good. It’s the best iPad I think Apple has ever released, and in some ways the best personal computer they’ve ever made.

059: The Apple Watch Series 3 Was Finally “Enough”

Mar 15 • 5 min

The Apple Watch hit what I would consider the threshold where it was finally “good enough” for almost everyone. It’s fast and new wireless capabilities made it more independent from your iPhone. It’s a great product, and one that I’m happy to be wearing…

058: The iPhone X Changed the Conversation

Mar 14 • 5 min

The iPhone X was released in November 2017 and has been Apple’s best-selling phone ever since. That’s pretty impressive for a $1,000 phone, and even though I don’t personally own one, my experience as well as what I’ve heard from friends who have one has…

057: AirPods are Apple’s Best Hardware Release in Years

Mar 13 • 5 min

It’s time to gush a little bit about the best products Apple has released in the last couple years. Today we’re talking AirPods. https://twitter.com/mattbirchler/status/972868569158639618

056: Opportunity Cost

Mar 12 • 7 min

When I was 21 I didn’t have to grapple with opportunity cost. If anyone wanted me to do anything, I’d do it. 10 years later I have found myself in a different place and I have to weigh the pros and cons of everything I choose to do, because doing one…

055: They Annoy the Hell Out of Me, but I’m Keeping Them

Feb 26 • 8 min

I reviewed the Google Pixel Buds for BirchTree and took to the microphone to rant a little about them. There’s a lot of progress to be made here and I hope Google is listening to the feedback from not only me, but most other critics.…

054: Desks, how do they work?

Feb 20 • 5 min

Does anyone know what they’re doing with their desk? I feel like I’m always just winging it and have no grand plan to “optimize my work flow” or anything like that. Either there is something I’m missing, or we’re all just guessing our way through.

053: HomePod, HomePod, HomePod

Feb 12 • 11 min

HomePod is here and I’ve been using mine for a couple days now. It’s a very good speaker with some challenges when it comes to other aspects. If you literally just want something that sounds good, then this likely will fit the bill for you. But if you…

052: Apple’s Video Service Might Actually Have a Shot

Feb 5 • 8 min

Apple Music is on pace to overtake Spotify in the US in 2018. This got me thinking about whether Apple is too late to overtake the likes of Hulu and Netflix in the video arena. They have an uphill battle, but giving the success of Apple Music, I’m…

051: 15 Million Switches

Jan 31 • 8 min

Apparently the Nintendo Switch has just about hit 15 million sales worldwide, months ahead of other big gam console launches like the Wii and PS4. Nintendo has a hit on their hands, and I’m just enjoying the ride.…

050: HomePod Eve

Jan 25 • 9 min

We’re t-minus 8 hours from HomePod pre-orders and I did an impromptu episode of the show to get some of my thoughts about how odd this release is for Apple. I still have so many questions about it that are not answered and I can’t remember the last time I…

049: iPad and RSI Issues

Jan 22 • 5 min

The iPad has helped me a ton with some minir RSI issues I’ve had recently. It may not be true for everyone, but for me it’s an absolute godsend.

048: The Apple Watch Doesn’t Really Have a Peer

Jan 16 • 6 min

I discuss the unique challenge of coming up with new features for a product that doesn’t really have anyone to steal ideas from. iOS can look to Android for things to improve, and macOS can look to Windows, but watchOS really has no peers at this point in…

047: A Detail Often Forgotten

Jan 8 • 7 min

We often forget that people make different choices on what computing platforms to use. This leads to heated, sometimes angry debates about why the other person is clearly making a bad decision and they should change. That is not a helpful way to talk…

046: My iPad Pro Setup

Dec 18, 2017 • 7 min

I have 100% more iPad in my life this week than last week so you know I have to talk about it! Today I’m just talking hardware, not software just yet.

045: 3 Reasons I Prefer iOS to Android

Dec 11, 2017 • 7 min

It comes down to 3 main things for me: 1. Third party software 2. General look and feel 3. Sync with my Mac

044: Back on iOS

Dec 7, 2017 • 3 min

I put my SIM card back in the iPhone!

043: The camera you have with you

Nov 28, 2017 • 7 min

My updated thoughts on the Pixel 2 camera and why I am actually pulling out the Pixel before my iPhone when it’s time to take a picture.

042: Tech I’m thankful for this year

Nov 20, 2017 • 6 min

A quick look back on some of the tech that I am thankful to have this year.

041: Third party software on Android

Nov 13, 2017 • 7 min

It’s still terrible, even through the operating system itself has gotten better over the years. Here’s the list I mention in the episode of apps I have not been able to replace yet. Apple News Files Reddit OmniFocus HomeKit Ulysses Mic Scanbot Television…

040: Face ID and changing your engrained habits

Nov 6, 2017 • 7 min

I don’t have an iPhone X yet, but I’ve been talking to a lot of people who do and had to take today’s episode to talk about Face ID, how our habits change, and what I expect we’ll see in Face ID 2.0.

039: The Pixel 2 camera

Oct 30, 2017 • 10 min

Today I’m mulling over my feelings about the camera in the Pixel 2. Does this camera live up to the hype?

038: A key iOS advantage (bonus episode!)

Oct 24, 2017 • 5 min

In an off-the-cuff episode, I talk about third party services and why iOS has a fundamental advantage over Android in this area.

037: Let’s talk fanboys

Oct 23, 2017 • 8 min

Consider this: if you were hired by Apple or Google tomorrow as a social media specialist who’s job it is to report only the good news about their company and only the bad news about their rival, would the things you share online change at all? Are you…

036: It’s officially time to gush about the Nintendo Switch

Oct 16, 2017 • 8 min

The Nintendo Switch was released 7 months ago and for the first time in a while, I feel like the software library available on the console is worth of gushing over for a few minutes.

035: Switching to Android

Oct 11, 2017 • 9 min

I ordered a Google Pixel 2 this weekend and will be using Android as my main phone for at least a month. We’ll see if my results are better than they have been in the past.

034: Siri, Alexa, and Google

Oct 2, 2017 • 13 min

I’ve been using the 3 major voice assistants constantly for the past year, and took today as a chance to reflect on what I like and don’t like about each of these services.

033: iPhone 8 First Impressions

Sep 27, 2017 • 10 min

My thoughts after a couple days with the iPhone 8 Plus.

032: watchOS 4 Review Preview

Sep 18, 2017 • 6 min

Why watchOS reviews are fundamentally different from iOS reviews, and 3 of the features in watchOS 4 that I think you’ll love.

031: This isn’t some generic sky!

Sep 12, 2017 • 15 min

My first impressions of the Apple iPhone event. We talk iPhones and Apple Watches and Apple TVs, weeeee!

030: Lessons from first week on the App Store

Sep 5, 2017 • 7 min

My first app, Today’s Forecast, on the App Store was released 7 days ago and I’m still catching up on sleep and emails as we roll into week two. There is lots to do when releasing an app, and I wanted to take a few minutes and talk about some of the…

029: Crappy privacy policy? Get out of there!

Aug 28, 2017 • 9 min

AccuWeather and Sarahah have both been hit with news stories in the past week about how they are sharing your personal data for shady purposes.Today I walk through why stories like this get under my skin and why all of us (including me) need to take a…

028: Embarrassing code that works

Aug 21, 2017 • 8 min

I’m getting close to being done with my new weather app for iOS, and I took a few minutes this morning to reflect on the process of going from web to iOS development. It’s messy, it’s challenging, and I’d be ashamed to show a professional developer my…

027: Figuring out your competitive advantages

Aug 14, 2017 • 5 min

This week we’re thinking about your personal advantages and how to leverage them. It’s hard to always know what you’re advantages are over everyone else in the room, so hopefully this episode will get you thinking about that a little more this week.

026: Be aware of your own narrative

Aug 10, 2017 • 6 min

A quick bonus episode on a trapball of us fall into all day, every day. We all have pre-conceived notions for how the world works, and that carries over to tech. This impromptu episode had no prep and was recorded and posted in 15 minutes!

025: The Nintendo Switch 3 months later

Aug 7, 2017 • 8 min

I’ve owned a Nintendo Switch for about 3 months. Today we’re taking a look at how my initial impressions have panned out over time.

024: Of course there’s an asterisk next to iPad

Aug 1, 2017 • 6 min

I take a quick look at Apple’s Q3 2017 earnings. Growth! iPhones up! Macs flat! iPads up! But are they the right iPads?

023: Quick Podcast Update

Jul 28, 2017 • 4 min

The podcast is getting back to its regular schedule soon! See the video version of this episode here: https://youtu.be/eAfpzzleX-A

022: WWDC Take 2

Jun 12, 2017 • 13 min

I wanted to take another look at WWDC now that I have played with some of the betas more and watched some of the developer sessions.

021: WWDC Reactions with Matt Bonney

Jun 7, 2017 • 44 min

Recorded immediately after the WWDC 2017 keynote, special guess Matt Bonney and I discuss Apple’s latest announcements. Follow Matt Bonney on Twitter or at Bonney.io

020: 2 Years of Apple Watch

Apr 22, 2017 • 7 min

The Apple Watch is about to turn 2 year old, and I’ve been there since day one. I reflect on what the last 2 years have been like for me with the Watch. This episode sounds a lot different from normal, and that’s because instead of recording this in my…

019: Talking about Apple’s new Clips app

Apr 11, 2017 • 5 min

Sorry I’ve been away for so long! Quick thoughts on my first week with Clips for iOS. Links Discussed This isn’t a vlog (using Apple’s new Clips app) Clips on the App Store

018: C by GE’s rocky first impressions

Mar 20, 2017 • 5 min

I got some new C by GE smart bulbs over the weekend and my first run with them is pretty shaky at best. We’ll see how they grow on me, but my advice after one day is to stay away and spend a little more on Phillips Hue bulbs.

017: Reimagining the iOS lock screen

Mar 15, 2017 • 11 min

We’re talking about the iOS lock screen again! Links: BirchTree Podcast episode 15: The next big thing in iOS notifications Concept: iOS 11 lock screen - BirchTree How location-based, persistent reminders could change the game for iOS - BirchTree

016: When pros legitimately need more power

Mar 11, 2017 • 5 min

Okay, so due to some weird scheduling yesterday, I was able to record, but not post yesterday. If only I hadn’t called out the day on numerous occasions in this one! I hope you can still accept me as I am. This episode is all about the very real…

015: The next big thing in iOS notifications

Mar 7, 2017 • 8 min

In which I run down my thought process when writing my piece on location-based, persistent notifications on iOS. How location-based, persistent reminders could change the game for iOS - BirchTree

014: Horizon + Zelda = Heaven

Mar 2, 2017 • 5 min

We’re in a very good couple of weeks for video games, and I had to take a few minutes to gush about them.

013: I just find Android so damn boring

Feb 24, 2017 • 5 min

Quick episode today about my experience using Android Nougat over the past month. It’s just not doing it for me.

012: Calendars as task managers

Feb 22, 2017 • 7 min

I have recently started using calendars to manage my tasks and it’s working out surprisingly well so far! Today I walk through why it works better with my brain and his currently helping manage both my busy and non-busy time better. WWDC17 wallpapers…

011: Apple Pay is the best Apple service you’re probably not using

Feb 15, 2017 • 10 min

I know a thing or two about payments, and Apple Pay is very impressive tech. Much like AirPods, Apple Pay is a simple idea executed incredibly well. I did my best to sum up why you should se this up on your iPhone today.

010: The demise of premium hardware?

Feb 10, 2017 • 5 min

I discuss this argument that some people make about Apple being in a lot of trouble because their high-end hardware will cease to be an important differentiator in the near future as low-cost smartphones start to take off. If hardware is commoditized,…

009: You need to go find inspiration

Feb 8, 2017 • 5 min

Brief discussion on how I make the time to create all the content for BirchTree, and why there is no magic bullet for creating great content online.

008: Upgrading to Android Nougat

Feb 2, 2017 • 7 min

I upgraded my Mogot G4 to Android Nougat this week and have playing with the new things that the latest version of Android offers. My opinion is basically unchanged about Android, as this seems to be a nice, if unexciting release from Google.

007: Siri is no Scarlett Johansson w/ special guest G. Keenan Schneider

Jan 26, 2017 • 29 min

I’m happy to be joined by Keenan Schneider for this extra long episode of the show. We talk AirPods, AirPods, and why we love AirPods. It was a lot of fun! Follow Keenan on Twitter and find his other work at nooctothorpe.com.

006: Could YouTubers’ video editing move to the iPad soon?

Jan 24, 2017 • 5 min

I don’t think there’s any good reason why Apple couldn’t make a very capable version of Final Cut Pro X for the iPad Pro, and I think it could help with Apple’s image of the iPad as a true desktop replacement.

005: AirPods are a quietly brilliant product

Jan 20, 2017 • 5 min

My first impressions after a day with AirPods.

004: Final Fantasy 15’s frustrating conclusion

Jan 16, 2017 • 5 min

I’ve gotten to the part of Final Fantasy 15 that every reviewer said is where the game goes off the rails, and boy where they right. This is a prime example of bad game design and I just had to talk about it for a little bit. Still a great game overall,…

003: I’m not saying PCs are going away soon, but…

Jan 12, 2017 • 7 min

I’m planting my flag in the sand for iOS and Android taking over more and more of the PC marketplace, until we’re all saying “why did I need a PC again?”

002: 3 things I love about Android

Jan 9, 2017 • 5 min

In which I remind everyone who think’s I’m somehow and iOS fanboy that I am using Android as my daily driver and really like some parts of Android.

001: What do you want to talk about?

Jan 4, 2017 • 4 min

It’s been too long, friends. Let’s talk smart home stuff today.