LJPUK

My PlayStation 5 is a Gran Turismo 7 machine

January 13th, 2023

When I picked up the PlayStation 5 before Christmas it was to replace our PlayStation 4, which had gotten so loud I needed to turn the volume on the TV up so loud it was unreasonable. When I got it I installed all of the games I could with my subscription to PlayStation Plus but now I’m a few weeks in it’s settled down to be pretty much exclusively for Gran Turismo 7. Just like the Xbox where it’s mainly used for flight simulator, the PS5 is just being used for GT7.

I’ve gotten so hooked into the game, trying to complete all of the races and collect all the cars. It’s borderline too addictive for me at the moment 😀

It’s also got me to move to the cheapest PlayStation plus membership that I could because I’m not playing anything else. (Now I need to do the same with game pass).
My blog is too random to do well

January 13th, 2023

I’ve started to get discouraged about the state of my creative projects, especially the blog. Traffic has fallen off a cliff and I’m struggling to justify keeping it. Especially when I compare myself to others. I think I’ve made the type of posts too random, treating it like social media rather than focusing on a niche might be my downfall. It’s a mix of personal feelings like this one mixed with the odd how to. No idea where I’m going with this right now so I’ll stop.
How to blog more from your smartphone

January 12th, 2023

I’ve been blogging from my iPhone for years and there’s two things that I noticed that I needed to do to blog more.

First thing is remove all of your social media apps to a second home page or the App Library.

Second is put your blogging app on your main Home Screen.

That’s it.

Post your thoughts to your blog first.
PRS SE guitars are now too expensive

January 12th, 2023

I shared a link to all of the new (mostly SE) line up from PRS and it wasn’t until they started being listed here in the UK that I realised how expensive they are. I know the economy isn’t great but I can’t see how an SE is now more than £1000. The whole point of SE is student edition, which £1000 isn’t a student friendly price. I know there are cheaper SE models available but they are older models, the new ones in my opinion are all too expensive.
No, I’m not selling you a course

January 12th, 2023

Wow, when did some sites get so bad. I’m not calling them out but with a little research around growing a blog etc. I’m amazed at the amount of sites now (in fact it’s hard not to find one that does this) that is trying to sell me a course. Even sites I used to read want to sell me some productivity course or other.
A declining blog

January 12th, 2023

I’m not sure what the answer is here but the way my blog is declining in interest is troubling me. This isn’t all to do with my leaving Twitter, that took maybe 20% of my traffic. I have no clue to as why this is happening, well maybe the likes of social media and YouTube has a lot to do with it. I know it shouldn’t bother me given I make nothing but all it does is maybe plant a seed that I should shut this site down and save myself a good bit of money each year.
Apple looking at touch screen Macs

January 12th, 2023

A report from Mark Gurman over at Bloomberg (I’m linking to 512Pixels) is indicating that Apple are starting to look at adding touch to the Mac. Initially I wasn’t for this but now I’m using Logic Pro I’m all for it. This would eliminate the need for Pro apps coming to the iPad if done well. Manipulating an app like logic with touch would be amazing.
How to quickly reset a MacBook Air

January 11th, 2023
I needed to reset my MacBook Air, this wasn’t going to anyone else so didn’t worry about a complete data format like I would do if I was selling it. I didn’t even realise this but in macOS (I’m on Ventura) you can now erase all content and settings just like you do on an iPhone or iPad.

This is a big win for this sort of task.
- Open the SYSTEM SETTINGS app
- Click on GENERAL
- Click on TRANSFER or RESET
- Click on ERASE ALL CONTENT AND SETTINGS
That’s it, took about 5 minutes on my M1 MacBook Air.
PRS Guitars release their 2023 line up

January 10th, 2023

Some nice gear in here.

That SE Hollowbody Piezo looks tempting.
Recording guitar on the iPad Mini

January 10th, 2023

I’m trying to get back into guitar and I’m pretty pleased I can record straight into my iPad mini.

I’m using GarageBand on the iPad as my recording app. I’m not 100% happy with it just yet because it’s onboarding amp models I can’t get rid of. I use a Line 6 POD GO with a load of effects and amp modelling built in. When it’s used with GarageBand it sounds kind of over processed.

Anyone got any ideas?
Lenovo launching a ThinkPad phone

January 9th, 2023

I loved my ThinkPad back in one of my previous jobs. It looked great, was durable and at the time had the best keyboard I’d used on a laptop. Well, Lenovo have announced a ThinkPhone that to my eyes looks pretty cool. I like the look of it with that red accented button. I doubt it’ll shift much volume though. In my experience the enterprise market is already captured but Samsung and this phone is for the ThinkPad fans, it’s a niche but a dedicated one. I just don’t think there are enough people to make this a viable product, but it looks cool though.
Struggling to focus on creative projects

January 9th, 2023

I struggle to manage my time outside of work, I have so many creative ideas but I fall back to playing video games at the end of the day, I’m so tired from work I don’t have the energy a lot of the time to get into a new or existing project.

I’m looking to pair it down to two or three projects but it’s time management that I’m struggling with.

I want to continue here on the blog, my Star Wars newsletter and pick up the guitar again.

I think I’m going to try to do via a habit tracker or reduce my video game time to a few evenings a week or just the weekend.

How do you manage your time on your creative projects?
The iPhone 13 Mini is at it’s best without a case

January 8th, 2023

I’ve been using a case this weekend on my iPhone 13 Mini but I took it off to wipe it over and it’s back with no case. This phone is best without one. It keeps it’s small form factor and with the flat sides and glossy back is nice and grippy.
Willow filming locations

January 6th, 2023

After a shaky start I’ve been slowly warming up to the new Willow series on Disney Plus. As someone that is Welsh I was curious to check out all of the filming locations. Visit Wales has a nice breakdown of the locations here.

It’s exciting to see Wales being used for more filming, it’s also being used for the upcoming Acolyte Star Wars series.

Willow also filmed somewhere not too far away from where I live at Puzzlewood.
Removing apps that aren’t good for you

January 6th, 2023

I’m trying to cut back on apps this year, especially on my iPhone. I know the apps that aren’t good for me, these make me feel worse or are massive time sucks.

I want to pair my iPhone down to just the apps that I need.

The main and first culprit to go is Apollo. I only discovered Reddit a couple of years ago but it’s become my biggest distraction. I get lost down rabbit holes and it’s become one of those apps that is stopping me from creating something.

That’s the first app to go.

How about you?