EN on Vladimir Campos

The TLSp sidebars are full of surprises (I didn't see this coming)

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 17:27:14 +0100

It’s been a few weeks since I started porting the Timeline System to a paper notebook (TLSp), and the most important thing about this experiment is that I’ve gone completely all-in. I’ve been managing all my activities and taking my notes strictly in it. In other words, I’m forcing myself to find workarounds for the various inconveniences of the analog world.

Anyway, the plan for today is to share some new ideas I had for the sidebars, because they have been way more useful than I ever could have imagined.

Before we get into it, though, I thought it would be interesting to share a quick backstory. The very first page of my notebook doesn’t even have sidebars, because the only rule I set at that initial moment was to write everything down in chronological order.

What’s interesting is that by the middle of page 2, I was already looking for a way to categorize things. You can see in the image above a rudimentary first version. By page 3, it had already taken its current form.

Something taking shape that fast felt almost as inevitable — and it probably was. When I started reflecting on where this idea came from, it occurred to me that I’ve been doing this for years and years. Decades, actually!

The physical books I read don’t just have notes on the margins; I also draw small icons that help me find specific notes just by glancing at the drawings as I flip through the pages.

The Action Symbol

One thing that I was missing was a way to distinguish between an activity I gave up on and one that is actually completed.

The system I came up with works like this. If I shade the entire box in, it means it’s done. An X indicates that I abandoned it. That way, if, for some reason, I end up working on an abandoned activity in the future, I can just shade right over the X.

More Freedom

On page 15 of the first booklet, I was writing a long text about an idea when it struck me. One of the sentences I was writing was actually related to something I had to do, and I instinctively drew an Action box next to that sentence in the sidebar. Further down that same page, I needed to link another specific sentence to something from the past. That link was also placed in the sidebar.

In the second article of this series, I explained that I was adding the links within the sentence itself, but it occurred to me that I can also use the sidebar area near that sentence. After doing it a few more times, I realized it made the information much easier to find, so I adopted it as a practice.

Linkbacks

And speaking of links, I decided to also create linkbacks. If I write a reference (10) on page 16, I’ll go back to page ten and write (16) in its margin. This allows me to easily jump back and forth between these analog hyperlinks.

This whole thing reminded me of the book Weaving the Web by Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the World Wide Web. When he explained the concept of hypertext, he used a dictionary as an example of something with self-contained hyperlinks.

According to him, every single word used in a dictionary essentially has a link. If you think about it, it’s true. There is a definition for the very words used to explain the word you looked up in the first place. I think that analogy is pure genius.

Post-its

Another idea I had for the sidebar was using square Post-its, which I’m folding right along the sidebar line.

I’ve been using the TLSp heavily over the last few days to manage everything I need to do for my website’s migration project, and the system is working incredibly well. However, at one point, I realized I needed a dedicated spot to jot down random minor things I had to adjust on the site before releasing the new version. Things I was noticing while doing something completely different.

I needed to remember to work on those small details, but I didn’t want to stop what I was doing and interrupt the respective notes I was taking about it at that moment. So, I stuck two Post-its on the sidebar right where I was writing my main note and folded them outward along the sidebar line. I kept writing my longer note, and in parallel, I used the sticky notes for those quick reminders.

Once I moved on to the following pages, I left the Post-its behind as a historical marker of when I started writing on them. But, of course, nothing stops you from moving them to the next pages to simplify those quick notes.

Pencil vs. Pen

I absolutely love that I recently switched from pen to pencil. However, I quickly realized that it was best to keep using a pen for the sidebar lines and page numbers as it creates a clearer separation of notes and symbols.

By the way, since using paper is so new to me, I can’t really tell if the lead that came with the mechanical pencil was really terrible, or if the new one I bought based on a recommendation is just incredible.

Of course, it could easily be both things at the same time :-D. The fact is, I noticed a massive improvement in the writing quality. It’s been days, and I’m still using the same first lead, which, by the way, has never broken once. The previous one, on the other hand, snapped constantly.

More to Come

There are a few other new features I’ve added and that I am currently testing, but for this post, the plan was to stay focused on what I’ve been doing with the sidebars. I’ll share those other updates soon.

An update on the Timeline System on Paper (and why I might switch to pencils)

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 17:29:51 +0100

Since I started the Timeline System on Paper project, I’ve been dedicating some time to finding out what the best pen is for the notebook I’m using. And when I say “the best,” keep in mind that it’s just a way of saying “the one I like the most.” Oh, and by the way, I’ll probably be referring to this project as TLSp from now on.

Anyway, back to the pen. What if it is a pencil instead? A couple of days ago, I watched Michael Stevens talking for half an hour about mechanical pencils and why he prefers to write with them instead of a pen. You know what, he has a point. So, I decided to try that in my notebook. But 0.3 mm — or 0.2 mm 😮 — is too wild for me. 0.7 it is.

That said, let’s talk a little more about how the TLSp works, what I changed, and what I added to the project. But remember, this is a work in progress and things will certainly keep changing.

Proactive vs. Reactive

And there’s another disclaimer. A system like this will not work for those who need to be constantly reminded of what to do. My approach to doing things is on the mindful side of the spectrum.

I do need information and some sort of log to keep track of what I have to do, but I never rely on notifications to tell me what to do and when. What I do is constantly look a day and week ahead in my calendar and check all my work in progress to then decide, based on the current circumstances, deadlines, etc., what makes the most sense to work on now.

Pin this information for a moment. I’ll soon get back to it.

Timeline

Like I said before, the entire notebook is the Timeline and, as a follow-up to my last post, I ended up deciding to add the time to each new entry. And because of the absolutely crazy heatwave in Europe right now, I decided to also include the temperature.

The image below shows a condensed version of what I’m doing. Just imagine the lines on the sidebar farther apart from each other, many times even on different pages.

A thicker horizontal line indicates a new day. You could argue that the date is already there doing that job, but the line is much easier to spot when flipping pages. Then, every time I start taking new notes, I’ll use a thin line, add the time and the symbols I mentioned in my last post.

Here’s an updated list:

Status

🔳 - Action
📄 - Static

Type

J - I’m constantly taking notes, but I don’t actually journal. These are more like thoughts and ideas.
M - Maker projects. It can be a note, sketch, or even measurements to keep with me as references for future projects.
b - Idea for a blog post.
YP or YE - Idea for a YouTube video in Portuguese (YP) or in English (YE).
W - Anything related to web development, like changes that I’d like to do to my website.

Other

↑ - The arrow pointing up is just to quickly visualize that the thought started on the previous page. Again, this is just to help me quickly navigate information when I’m flipping pages back and forth.

The idea is to always combine a Status icon with a Type icon. As for which one comes first, I’m still hoping a standard will emerge by itself as I use the system. So far, it’s whatever comes to mind first when I start writing.

As for why “blog” is the only one in lowercase, I don’t know. It happened naturally since the very first time I did it. Perhaps my brain thinks of the lowercase as a better representation.

I believe we should always use symbols that make sense to us when we are doing something as personal as this. Creating a rule that all Type icons should be capital letters would only add unnecessary discomfort and friction to the system.

Bookmarks

Remember, there are no sections; I just keep writing. The icons do the job of telling me what that information is, in case I need to go back. And that has already created an issue that I addressed with two bookmarks.

When I use the square icon, that means it is an Action and I need to do something about that entry. And this is where we return to the “Proactive vs. Reactive” topic I mentioned in the beginning. I don’t mind going back a few pages to check if there’s something I haven’t done yet, but flipping pages all the way back to the beginning of the notebook every single time doesn’t make sense.

That’s where the first bookmark, in the form of a red ribbon, comes in handy. I’m using it to bookmark the last page with an Action still uncompleted.

That does two things: I’ll have quick access to what I still have to address and, by how far that ribbon is from “now,” I’ll also be able to tell if there’s something too old that I should be taking care of to be able to move the ribbon some pages ahead.

As for the other ribbon, it’s there just to facilitate access to the next blank page. In other words, today.

Hyperlinks

Again, because there are no sections or any sort of topic separation, I needed a way to link new notes to older, related ones.

I chose to do that using parentheses with numbers inside. If it has a single number (p), that’s a page in the same notebook. Two numbers (n,p) will indicate the notebook number, then the page.

At first, I was trying to keep things as simple as possible and didn’t number the pages. Well, that’s not an option anymore. As for the hyperlink indicator, it can be in the sidebars next to the entry, or inline in a sentence. I decide it by context. If the sentence or word is related to the old note, I’ll use it inline. If the entire note is related to the previous one, the number goes in the sidebar.

Sections

This isn’t the first time I’ve tried to build a paper-based system, but this time I decided to embrace a simple fact. If there’s no way to edit anything on paper — meaning, I can’t move things around, create extra space, etc. — why fight it by creating elaborate control systems and complications? Fighting the inevitable is probably what made me fail miserably every other time I tried something like this.

That’s why all my notes are now going into the same notebook following one simple order: time. The symbols are what help me visualize what is what.

This means I don’t have to worry about having multiple notebooks, setting aside a specific number of pages for this or that, creating indexes, or any of that. Everything is in the same place, with icons that help me quickly realize what kind of note it is and if there’s an action I need to take.

That’s it for now. If you decide to try this, I’d love to know your thoughts and any ideas you have to improve it.

The Timeline System on paper: exploring an analog version.

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 11:41:51 +0100

Knowing that many people love or prefer paper, I’ve been studying the viability of an analog version of the Timeline System.

There is no separation of topics across different pages, sections, or anything like that. Everything is written in chronological order. I just write down today’s date and start taking notes. I haven’t decided yet, but I’m also thinking about including the time for each entry throughout the day, as long as things stay simple and intuitive. Basically, the entire notebook is the Timeline.

In the margins (image below), I add the Status indicator (Action or Static) as well as the tags or note type, simulating the type: property I use in my Obsidian. In my case, that means M (maker), b (blog), and so on. I’ve also established a rudimentary form of hypertext and other elements that mimic many of the conveniences of the digital world.

Although the core idea is already defined, the Symbols are still being added in a somewhat chaotic way. As I said, I want it to feel as natural as possible, so I haven’t established the best pattern for myself yet.

For example, what should come first in the margins: the Status icon or the note type? What about the date? On the right, left, or center?

I believe I’ll only figure out the best position for all these elements after writing a lot and having to go back to find something from the past. Anyway, I still want to make several adjustments, but I’ll soon publish a video for supporters on Patreon and YouTube sharing my first experiences.

P.S. The different ink colors mean absolutely nothing 😄. I was just experimenting and trying to find out which pen tip I liked the best. I ended up deciding on the blue one, but I wish the ink were black 🤪. Anyway, for now, it is what it is.

Returning to my roots: building a platform-agnostic site with a minimalist design.

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:06:55 +0100

Yesterday, I wrote about the Micro.blog Paradox, and that ended up triggering so many questions. Why am I even using a platform to host my site and blog? Why not build something the way I want? What if I try it by first going back to the basics, just like when I began sharing content online in 1997?

Back then, we would write all the code on our computers and upload the files to a server. It’s a lot of work to do it yourself and many extra details to pay attention to. But once the main structure is built and running, it’s just a matter of incremental changes.

So, I started looking for places where I could host a site like that, and there are actually many places available: GitHub, Netlify, and Neocities, just to name a few. I chose Neocities for now as a testing bed and as an homage to where my online presence started: GeoCities. Which is also an irony in itself. The mess Yahoo did to GeoCities can easily be classified as one of the first enshittification processes of the Internet era.

In the end, it doesn’t really matter where I keep my site. The files on my computer can be easily uploaded to a different place, and in no time, everything will be running as if nothing ever changed.

It took me a few hours, but the first draft is already live using the free Neocities tier. The plan is to start publishing on both sites and keep tweaking things to make sure I can build this the way I want to.

I guess the Digital Caveman project is more like a never-ending path.

The Micro.blog Paradox: are its mindful features creating a Fediverse island?

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 17:24:07 +0100

Before I start, here’s some context:

This is not a criticism. I really appreciate what Manton is building, but, more often than not, I feel like something is missing.
This post is about social integration. I have no complaints about the “blog part” of Micro.blog.
I’m using Mastodon as my main social media platform, though I would prefer to be using Micro.blog instead.
I’m not looking for online fame or anything like that, but there are some engagement features that can be genuinely useful. And that’s the main reason I do not use Micro.blog as my primary social media tool.

With the above said, please read this post as a conversation starter. Maybe you have solutions to some of the issues I’m facing, and I’d love to hear your thoughts.

The Micro.blog Paradox

There’s a lot that I love in Micro.blog, starting with the all-in-one solution. It’s a simple blogging platform with a cool photos page and probably the best social media integrations out there, just to mention a few.

Then there’s the mindful approach: no infinite scrolling and other almost unnoticed small details that make a big difference. However, some of these design choices also create side-effects which, to be honest, constantly annoy me. So, I ended up giving them a name: The Micro.blog Paradox.

Likes & Reposts (or the lack thereof)

I completely understand the reason behind the lack of “reposts” and “likes”. However, as I said before, there are side-effects and missing benefits that have nothing to do with SEO or the social media equivalent of it.

Because Micro.blog is part of the Fediverse, people can still use the “like” or similar buttons when reading our posts from other platforms. However, as a reader using the Micro.blog feed, I’ll never see that signal coming from the Fediverse.

On Mastodon, when people “like” my posts, I go check their accounts because there’s a good chance we share similar interests. More often than not, that’s the case, and I start following that person.

Then there’s the fact that people from outside Micro.blog are not aware of this hidden “like” design choice. I know it was built this way to stimulate conversations, but, again, outsiders have no clue.

I don’t have access to internal data, but I imagine it creates a variation of an echo chamber — meaning most conversations are happen internally because Micro.blog users are the only ones who understand why those features are missing.

There’s also what I call the “kind like”. What I mean by that is showing appreciation and love for a post without necessarily having anything specific to say.

The lack of “reposts” comes with similar side-effects. If a person I’m following reposts something I shared, that triggers my desire to check who they are and, eventually, start following them. The same is true if someone I follow reposts something; I’d like to see it because they are probably sharing content that I care about.

Even Manton’s posts about great new features being added to Micro.blog would benefit from this. Many times, I myself repost his updates, upgrades, and iconic posts — like the one below — on Mastodon. By the way, the screenshot shows that people are actually reposting it on Mastodon. It is a post that deserves to be shared to help spread the news about the great work he is doing.

In a way, the lack of both features is isolating Micro.blog users. Manton himself has complained many times that articles about the Fediverse frequently ignore the existence of Micro.blog. I agree with him; it’s not fair. He’s doing a great job. So, maybe they and potential new users genuinely don’t know about it because it is a more closed community by design.

Again, I don’t have internal numbers; I’m just assuming this is the case based on the Fediverse statistics. As you can see here and in the image above, Micro.blog has a considerable community with 256.6K accounts and 7.1K MAU. So, maybe journalists and bloggers really don’t know about it despite its community size.

I also miss…

I honestly don’t care about the number of followers I have, but many times I’ve needed that information for technical reasons. One instance that comes to mind was when I migrated my Micro.blog followers to Mastodon. There was no way to know if the migration fully worked because I didn’t know how many followers I had to begin with.

Then, after moving to Mastodon, I would like to know if new people are following me on Micro.blog so I can keep a closer eye on my mentions. Since Mastodon became my primary social media platform, I rarely check Micro.blog, and the “Mentions” tab is constantly forgotten about. The same applies to Direct Messages.

Can you see the mess this situation creates? I moved away from Micro.blog because of the lack of certain features, and that decision, in turn, created other problems.

Anyway, speaking of followers, here’s a missing feature that isn’t an intentional design choice, but something I constantly wish Micro.blog had.

On Mastodon and Bluesky, one can follow hashtags, and that’s something I constantly do when I’m learning something new. Again, I ended up discovering so many great people to follow just because I was tracking a specific tag.

On a similar note, another detail I miss is a simple way to share my Fediverse handle so people can easily follow me. I know there’s a page for that, but people arriving at https://micro.blog/vladcampos have to click on my Fediverse address and then enter their own username to start following me.

For those who have been using the Fediverse for a while, that’s not a problem at all. But I see these steps adding a lot of friction for someone just starting out.

Maybe a short explanation and a “copy handle” button — similar to what Mastodon has done — would be a better way to help people new to the ActivityPub universe understand what to do.

Closed by Design?

As I was writing this post, I started noticing a pattern: how these missing features really seem to make discovering new people to follow outside the Micro.blog ecosystem much harder.

And I say that from experience. I started my Fediverse journey on Mastodon from scratch back in 2022 after leaving Twitter. That’s how I discovered the first accounts to follow, only to feel isolated from the Fediverse when I later migrated to Micro.blog.

There, I had a really hard time finding interesting people to follow, and that led me back to Mastodon. Which, by the way, also has a few problems of its own. Starting with not allowing us to use a custom domain as a handle.

Ideas

Regarding likes and reposts, maybe add a switch to turn those interactions on per account. Only those who choose to would see them. As for the follower count, that could simply be hidden from the public and placed on the admin page. Or, again, be an optional configuration toggled by the user.

Alternatively, to avoid temptation, maybe there could be two types of accounts: one with social interactions turned on, and another just like what we have today.

What about you?

Anyway, those are some of my thoughts. There are many honest reasons why I’d like to have access to those metrics, and none of them have anything to do with the ridiculous “influencer state of mind” that has been degrading traditional social media for a long time now.

I would love to hear your thoughts and possible fixes or workarounds to the issues I described above.

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 08:19:35 +0100

I’m 256 km away from home, and after testing it at different points, one of my #MeshCore messages reached the radio I left there connected to the Raspberry Pi! 🤯

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 15:15:09 +0100

Summer meeting of the Slow Walkers Club. 🐌

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 07:42:51 +0100

As someone who started with an Apple II and DOS, I’m finding the Linux shell out of this world. I’m barely scratching the surface and am already impressed by how capable and powerful it is.

Why I'm switching all my Meshtastic radios to MeshCore.

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:13:56 +0100

I started my LoRa journey with two radios, but it didn’t take long to get two additional ones. It’s been a little over a month of running Meshtastic on all of them, and meanwhile, the dust has settled on the MeshCore split drama. So, I’ve decided to switch all of them — including the one linked to my Pi — to compare both networks in Portugal, more specifically in the Porto region.

The final setup will be one repeater at home, another at the office, a radio I keep with me all the time, and the one connected to the Pi — staying at home for now. The first three are already on MeshCore, and this weekend, I’ll flash the Pi one and rewrite my Python script. By the way, I’m doing all the flashing via the new meshcore.io website.

You can read all my posts related to Meshtastic here, but long story short: I ended up with a map full of nodes, however, there was very little activity on the channels. To be honest, it was a bit frustrating; nevertheless, during this Meshtastic month, I did a lot of cool tests.

Back to the MeshCore testing, I switched my personal radio yesterday, and a few hours later, I started seeing messages on the public channel. Earlier today, I switched the office repeater, and I just did the same to my home repeater before writing this post. And although the home repeater will only go back to my balcony tomorrow, just like yesterday, I’m getting messages on my everyday carry radio.

Anyway, this is just the first two days, and it could be a coincidence. So, in another month, I’ll share the results with you.

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 18:57:47 +0100

I’ve been on a quest to build a completely private, 100% local #AI system for my #Obsidian vault and I finally have a working proof of concept to share.

For now, I’m using #Ollama and the Obsidian CLI to search my notes and generate answers locally on my Mac. In other words, nothing is leaving my computer!

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:15:06 +0100

🕵️‍♂️ Can you spot #Obsidian in this picture? Spoiler: It’s hidden, but it’s definitely there. If you can’t find it, check this video, it explains the experiment I’m trying.

My All-in-One portable computer project now has Meshtastic, a camera, automations, and more. But that's just the beginning.

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:34:30 +0100

This is an update on my Portable Computer project. For those of you who don’t know anything about it, my goal is to use a Raspberry Pi 5 as a multipurpose device. Think of it as a thick iPad mini for content consumption, and, at the same time, a device that I can connect to a USB-C hub at home and my office to do real work. However, I’m starting my journey with a Pi Zero 2 W as my testing bed.

Synching

One thing I knew I wanted to do from the very beginning was to install Syncthing on the Pi to be able to synchronize content with my phone and computer. This was pretty hard because it had to be done using the command line — a new skill I’m learning as I go. Actually, I’m learning everything in this project as I go: the Raspberry Pi itself, Python, and Linux.

My approach has been asking Gemini to tell me what commands to use in each circumstance, and also to write the Python scripts for me. However, as soon as the AI gives me the answer, I read it, try to understand it, and ask countless questions about it. Then I type out what I understood along with some examples, asking if that’s correct. Most of the time, the student in me gets it only partially right, but I can clearly see my progress. I’m actually learning, and that’s a really cool feeling.

It takes me much more time to do things like this, but I don’t want AI to give me a finished product. I want to learn and do it my way. However, since learning takes a lot of time and dedication, I thought this approach would provide me with some partial, but practical results, which, in turn, keep stimulating me to move forward.

Why start with a Pi Zero 2 W

There are actually two reasons. First, I had no idea if I would be able to learn all I needed to make this project work, so I didn’t want to spend a lot of money upfront. The Pi Zero 2 W price was perfect in case I gave up.

Then there’s the command line. If I was going to learn Linux, I wanted to really learn it. After all, the Linux GUI is similar to macOS or Windows, and understanding it would have taken me just a few days. Because of that convenience, I knew I would never make the extra effort to open the Terminal.

Looking back, I’m so glad I chose this approach. What I managed to learn in just a few weeks is unbelievable. I’m even using the Terminal on my Android phone now. Can you believe that?

Meshtastic

My original plan for the Portable Computer didn’t include a LoRa radio, but after all the fun stuff I’ve been doing with these radios, I had to add one to the list.

In the last few days, I connected a Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 and Wio-SX1262 to the micro USB port and asked Gemini to create a script to log all messages being captured by my node. This is just the first step — a testing bed, if you will. What I have in mind for the future is using a companion Meshtastic app similar to the ones we can install on our phones. But to do that, I had to first make sure the radio would play nice with the Pi.

The 30-minute picture

When I got the Pi, I included some other items in the basket, like a small camera. At that point I had no idea what I would do with it, but here I am testing possibilities. As I learn everything one can do with these little computers, ideas are exploding in my head by the minute.

I’ll probably end up with several of them for other projects like automation and a Home Assistant. For now, the Pi is taking a picture every 30 minutes and saving it in the folder I have synchronized with my computer and phone. It’s one of those completely useless things that are, at the same time, really cool to see in action.

Obsidian

Remember Syncthing? Well, there’s only one folder that I’m synchronizing with my computer and phone: ~/Bridge. However, inside it, there are three other folders: Action, Static, and Timeline. Can you see where this is going?

Action is currently empty, but Static has the Scripts sub-folder where I’m keeping all the Python scripts. There’s also KB (Knowledge Base), where I’m saving some notes explaining the scripts and other Pi and Linux learnings. As for the Timeline, it’s an endless flow of everything the Pi is capturing: information that it logs on every boot, the pictures I explained above, Meshtastic messages, and so on.

Why it is not a Cyberdeck. Or is it?

Despite loving the Cyberdeck concept, I’m not sure if what I’m trying to build here is actually one. My idea from the very beginning was to build something the industry has been denying us for years.

I want a portable computer where I can do what I do on my real computer. Something like an iPad running macOS. And because of the current state of AI everywhere for no good reason — and enshittification in general — I want it running Linux. It has to replace my iPad for media consumption, but also be capable as a real everyday computer when connected to a screen, keyboard, mouse, and any other accessories needed to do my work at the office or have fun at home.

Since my Palm days, I envisioned this idea of one device doing it all. I never thought I’d live to see processors and miniaturization evolving to a point where something like that would be possible. Unbelievably, we ended up getting there pretty fast. However, now, what seems to be preventing this from becoming a reality is greed.

Why do I need to buy a Mac, an iPad, and an iPhone, when they all use the same processor and basically the same under the hood? In other words, all these portable devices are pretty capable of doing what I envisioned decades ago, but no company builds it because that would mean less profit.

Fortunately, devices like the Raspberry Pi and its peers have opened the floodgates to people willing to make their decades-long dreams come true. So, I’m building it myself!

📷 Exploring new worlds.

Sun, 31 May 2026 09:15:34 +0100

Wed, 27 May 2026 20:25:31 +0100

I was already impressed by the performance of #KOReader on my 2012 Kindle, but installing it on my Supernote was a game changer. Compared to every other ePub app I’ve tried — including the default #Supernote reader — this is proving to be the best by far.

As for the wine… well, it was just okay, but it definitely added to the overall reading experience 😉

Timeline System update: small tweaks, different analogies, but the same essence.

Mon, 25 May 2026 10:46:51 +0100

The Timeline System is a living system. As I used it and explained it to others, I realized that small nomenclature adjustments and new ways of visualizing the flow would make it a bit more intuitive. In this article, I’ll talk about how I’m currently using Obsidian Bases to cross-reference information, why I’ve simplified folder names, and which physical analogies may better represent the system’s digital structure.

Information Containers

In the Timeline System, Information Containers represent spaces where we keep everything related to a specific topic. For example, when I started experimenting with the Raspberry Pi, I created a new folder in Obsidian for what I was studying and learning:

Static/Knowledge Base/Raspberry Pi

However, I’ve also been adding information to two other pre-existing folders:

Static/Knowledge Base/Linux
Static/Knowledge Base/Syncthing

The Pi runs on the Linux operating system, and one of the first things I wanted to install on it was Syncthing. I knew there was already content on both topics in my Obsidian; and since they are knowledge-related, it was easy to find them in the Static folder to keep adding new information and insights.

Nothing new so far. This is exactly how I idealized and started using the Timeline System in my Obsidian. However, as I’ve mentioned several times, keeping content only in folders makes cross-referencing information much harder.

Bases

Bases was the solution I found to create relationships and find content easily within my vault. Let’s go back to the Raspberry Pi example. I created a table called Pi Project.base and set it up as follows:

Rule for all views:

file path | contains | Static

The goal is to limit all views to content inside the Static folder. After all, there is other content in my vault that contains tags related to the topic but isn’t part of this learning process. The note for this post, for instance, has tags like Raspberry-Pi and Linux that would make it show up in a table without the rule above.

The table contains many views: Linux, Syncthing, etc. In the one I called Linux, the filter has only one rule:

file tags | contains | Linux

Since the main rule already limits the filter to the Static folder, I just needed to specify which tag I want for each of the other views.

Shelves

Since Containers move between the three system folders — Action, Static, and Timeline — an analogy that immediately occurred to me was that of a cargo ship carrying containers. However, the more I explained the system to students and on my YouTube channel, the more I realized there are better analogies.

The one I’m more inclined to use from now on is a bookshelf with three shelves. At the top, clearly visible, is where we keep everything we are currently working on; that’s where the boxes — subfolders or Bases tables — from the Action folder are kept while in progress.

In the middle, we have what supports our work and what we need to use with some frequency: Static. And finally, at the bottom, where access is a bit more complicated, is the Timeline.

The boxes represent the Containers that can be moved from one shelf to another. This is an analogy that occurred to me some time ago, which I finally used in a recent video.

There is, however, another possibility that occurred to me recently while producing that same video.

Could our office desk or a dresser be a better representation? The Action folder is always expanded — visible — in my Obsidian, while Static and Timeline remain closed.

When I keep the Action folder always expanded and also recommend this to my clients, I’m thinking of the things sitting on top of my desk, representing work in progress.

In terms of my everyday use, Static is the second most checked folder. I expand and close it a few times a day, just as I do with the drawer under my desk. Much like in the Timeline System, my desk drawer stores items that help me with my work but aren’t things I’m working on at that exact moment.

On a dresser, doors are a good way to represent the Timeline because it’s something we use much less frequently. The slightly more difficult access of boxes stacked inside a cabinet doesn’t represent a big challenge, as we’ll rarely need to access them.

Under my office desk, there’s a set of drawers, which could also be a good analogy, as accessing it is more laborious compared to the desktop or the drawer right below it.

Nomenclature

In the past, I used Action Containers and Static Containers. But I started seeing clients and friends simplifying things, dropping the word Containers, and that made a lot of sense to me. So, I also dropped them.

It’s a System

All these changes do not touch the original conception: Containers to group content and their movement between Action, Static, and Timeline. By the way, it is a system and not a methodology precisely because it is systemic — a set of elements that interact with each other. In other words, the three main spaces are directly related, and information flows from one to another and can even return to a previous position.

From a dead 2012 Kindle rescue to the Supernote reclaiming its throne. All thanks to KOReader.

Sun, 24 May 2026 16:58:40 +0100

As you may know, Amazon recently made many older Kindle devices obsolete.

Thank you for being a longtime Kindle customer. We’re glad our devices have served you well for as long as they have. Starting May 20, 2026 — 14 to 18 years after their initial launches — we are discontinuing support for Kindle devices released in 2012 or earlier. Here’s what this means for you:

You can continue to read books already downloaded on these devices, but you will not be able to purchase, borrow, or download additional books on them after that date.

If you deregister or factory reset these devices, you will not be able to re-register or use these devices in any way.

Affected devices include Kindle 1st and 2nd Generation, Kindle DX and DX Graphite, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle 4, Kindle Touch, Kindle 5, and Kindle Paperwhite 1st Generation.

That made me pull the trigger on jailbreaking my 2012 model and installing KOReader. At first, I thought that would be a cool weekend project, but to my surprise, it opened my Kindle to an impressive number of features that I never thought would be possible on such an old device.

I was so happy with all the features and possibilities that, for the first time since I started using it in 2024, I left my Supernote at home and started bringing the old Kindle with me.

For several weeks I read many books, tweaked the unbelievable number of settings available, installed dictionaries, exported highlights and notes to Obsidian, and much more.

Wow! How come I never tried KOReader before?

KOReader on my Supernote

Although I first installed it on my Kindle, the list of compatible devices is long, including an app for Android, which brings us to my click moment. I was so focused on the Amazon enshittification that I completely forgot the Supernote is an Android device.

First, using the Android Sideloader, I installed the koreader-android-arm64-v2026.03 APK file on my Nomad. That in itself blew my mind! When I saw the exact same app working on my Supernote, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I know, I know, I’m late to this game, but at least I’m here.

Next, I needed to move my ebooks and all the associated metadata to the Supernote. However, I wanted to use the SD Card to store all that, and no matter what I did, I couldn’t see the card from the KOReader file manager.

The solution was hidden in the plus (+) menu. Where you see Switch to internal storage in the image below, you’ll originally see the option switch to the card (or similar wording).

Once you do that, the card folders will be visible and you can use one of the available folders for your library, or create a new one like I did. In my case, I created eBooks and set it as my Home folder.

After that, I imported the books and their metadata from my Kindle. This couldn’t have been easier. I connected the Kindle to my Mac, navigated to my books folder, and copied them to the computer. If you are doing this, remember to also copy the .sdr file for each book. That’s where the metadata is kept.

To have access to the Supernote folders from my Mac, I used OpenMTP, navigated to the library folder, and moved the .ePub and .sdr files there. And that’s it! The books and everything else related to them are now on my Supernote exactly as they were on the Kindle. Reading position, bookmarks, and everything else is there. Amazing!

I then downloaded the dictionaries I use and adjusted the font sizes, margins, and other details to better fit the Supernote screen size.

I really enjoyed bringing my Kindle back to life, and if that’s what you have, I encourage you to take a look at KOReader. But, from today on, my beloved 2012 Kindle is going back to the shelf, as the Supernote just reclaimed its place in my everyday bag.

Sat, 23 May 2026 20:33:08 +0100

Today I set up Syncthing on my Raspberry Pi. It was a massive pain to get everything done via command line, but now I’ve got a folder constantly syncing with my Mac and I’m already seeing endless possibilities 😁

📷 Pi Zero Selfie

Fri, 22 May 2026 16:01:43 +0100

First selfie (en) — Primeira selfie (pt)

Sat, 16 May 2026 09:40:02 +0100

Thought this was appropriate after switching to KOReader for my DRM-free eBooks.

Wed, 06 May 2026 20:53:51 +0100

I have no idea what I did, but the emoji row disappeared from my phone keyboard. No worries; I’m Generation X, and neither my first internet experience nor my first mobile phones had emojis. They had emoticons. Well, if you know, you know ;-)

Meshtastic: from frustration to a lot of fun.

Mon, 04 May 2026 11:45:49 +0100

After a few days of intense experimentation, I was pretty impressed by the Meshtastic network. However, the beginning of this journey was frustrating, to say the least.

It all started a little over a week ago, on April 25th — the day after the kits arrived. At that point, I had already been reading and watching everything I could find about the topic and decided to begin my tests with MeshCore. That went fine, and after a few hours of getting to know how things work, I decided it was time to get the second radio running on Meshtastic.

Well, that’s where things started getting difficult. The screen on the second radio was not turning on, which meant I could not see the random PIN number needed to pair it with my phone. There’s a lot of content online about these radios, but after trying every suggestion I found, nothing seemed to work. At this point, I was convinced it was a hardware problem and sending them back was inevitable.

The fact that it would take another week before I could restart this project was really annoying. I don’t know why, but most ETAs I see on online stores are around 5 to 7 days, and that was probably what was making me so angry about the situation.

Trying to minimize the chance of the same problem happening again, I started reading reviews and came across someone who solved a screen issue by connecting the device via USB instead of Bluetooth. I didn’t know that was possible, but doing so meant not having to use a PIN for pairing.

At the time, I was only aware of the Meshtastic option, but I later discovered that this is possible on both networks. In case you need it, just connect the radio using a USB cable and use the corresponding address below:

Meshtastic: https://client.meshtastic.org
MeshCore: https://config.meshcore.io

Everything was already packed to be returned, so back to unpacking I went.

The Solution

As I expected, the USB connection creates a direct link, and there’s a web interface where everything can be set. In other words, the screen is just a convenience. I even found a setting to change the Bluetooth PIN from randomly generated to a number of my choice. At that point, I was convinced I would keep the device despite the defective screen, as long as everything else was working fine.

While testing all possible configurations, I probably did something wrong because one radio stopped seeing the other on the network. “No problem, I’ll flash it again and resume the tests,” I thought. When I did that, the screen came to life! It is still working, over a week later, as I write this.

I lost count, but all told, I probably flashed it three times, hard reset it twice, and soft reset it many, many times. So, if you have a defective screen, maybe keep going until it comes to life.

So Cool!

I decided to spend a few days on one network and then move to the other. With both radios on Meshtastic, I added a larger antenna to the one staying on my balcony and set its role to CLIENT_BASE, based on the instructions on this page.

Personal base station: always rebroadcasts packets from or to its favorited nodes. Handles all other packets like CLIENT.

At first, nothing was happening, but after a few hours, nodes started popping up one after another. The next day, I could see nodes in cities as far as 40 km away from me. Mind-blowing, to say the least.

Every time I left home, I sent messages back to the unit there. I had no success until it finally worked in a dog park about 1 km away.

On Monday, I went to my studio located on the other side of the city. Again, most messages were failing to reach home, but when I went downstairs, two attempts got the “Delivered to the Mesh” icon. However, I never got the “Received” checkmark, and later that day, I confirmed the messages never arrived.

I think I understand the problem. My office window faces away from downtown, where I can see most of the nodes on the map. As for my balcony at home, it’s angled toward downtown but on the other side of the city.

It’s a mesh network, so the messages should be hopping from one point to another even though the two radios are 12 km apart in a straight line. My guess is there are probably some gaps along the way.

Week Two

At the end of week one, I had switched both radios to MeshCore and ordered two more radios — one to stay at home and the other for my studio. This time, I went with much cheaper ones with no screen or battery. I found them in a local store with two-day delivery. Then, a few days ago, there was a split between MeshCore developers, so I decided to stick to Meshtastic for the time being.

The graph above is an Obsidian Bases map where I’m cataloging all the tests I’ve been doing near my house. Green means the message reached the home device, Red is for errors when sending, and Grey is for those that reached the mesh but never got to my other device. One arrow represents a small antenna, and two arrows are for the larger one.

The farthest I could message so far was 2.24 km from the top of a hill, using the small antenna. In the map, it’s the one you see under many grey dots at the bottom of the image. The other green one next to it was from midway up the hill.

There’s a lot that I still want to try, so if this is something that you are interested in, stay tuned. Meanwhile, if you are looking for a fun and cheap hobby, I couldn’t recommend this more.

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:20:03 +0100

The LoRa kits arrived early today 🤩, but I’ll have to wait until tomorrow to have some fun. My plan is to install Meshtastic on one and MeshCore on the other to test both networks.

Why I’m building a decentralized communication fallback.

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:43:38 +0100

I’ve been dreaming about a global mesh network since the 2000s, and I just came across two that are actually working: Meshtastic and MeshCore. It’s finally time to have some fun.

I first learned about mesh networks many years ago, in the 2000s, when I read an article about the OLPC program. As Wikipedia puts it, “One Laptop per Child (OLPC) was a non-profit initiative that operated from 2005 to 2014 with the goal of transforming education for children around the world by creating and distributing educational devices for the developing world, and by creating software and content for those devices”.

To understand why I found mesh revolutionary back then, I invite you to travel with me to the world’s reality at that time. We are talking about a moment when the Internet was clearly going to change everything, but it was slow, expensive, and far from as ubiquitous as it is today. When you read my explanation below, you’ll understand how this type of network had the potential to bring communication to isolated areas where the OLPC computer was intended to be used.

In parallel, another revolution was also happening. Mobile phone technologies were converging toward the GSM standard most of the world uses today. I knew a lot about that type of network because I was working in the telecommunications sector during that transformation.

After all these years, one detail remains the same: telecommunication networks are centralized. If you text a person standing right in front of you, the words travel a very long distance. First, they leave Person A’s phone and go to the nearest cell tower. From there, they travel to a central location, probably via fiber optic cables. There, the carrier system checks many details — including your payment status — to see if that message is allowed to be delivered. Then it has to find where the recipient is in the network and send the message to their nearest cell tower. Finally, it travels to Person B’s phone over the air.

Please keep in mind that this is an oversimplification, but what is important to understand is how dependent on a centralized system all our modern communication is.

If you are using an app like Signal, that message has to travel all the way to Signal’s servers before coming back. In a way, it’s a double centralization.

A mesh network works in a completely different way. Each device can be used as a transfer point. If Person A and B are in front of each other, the message simply moves from device A to B over the air. That’s it. If they are far apart, the communication hops from one device to another in the network until it finds the destination. There is no central point; every device helps transport the message.

If you are a fan of The Expanse, this is essentially how they communicate. A ship’s computer finds the most efficient route through the existing cloud of satellites, orbital stations, and even other ships that have agreed to act as nodes, and sends the message hopping from one point to another until it reaches its destination.

Now, instead of spaceships, imagine a lot of OLPC computers creating a network even without all of them being connected to the Internet. It was revolutionary back then, and it still is today.

Community Working Together

However, the only way a network like this can work is if there are enough nodes to pass the message along. Depending on how you count, there are between 6 and 9 billion mobile phones in use today. They were not built to work as mesh devices, but I’m certain that number would be enough to build a quite reliable mesh network.

Imagine for a second you could reach anyone for free, with no central entity controlling your communication. It’s one of those inertial things that drive me crazy when I think about it for too long. It feels like we are doing what we are doing today just because this is what we have been doing since forever.

It’s a chicken-and-egg situation that I’ve been thinking about for years, ever since that OLPC article. And then, YouTube showed me this video and I couldn’t believe my eyes. There’s a pretty large mesh network called Meshtastic that is already covering many parts of the world and a huge part of Europe.

How Does It Work?

Here’s the catch: our phones are not built to work as mesh devices. The people behind Meshtastic solved that with a small radio that pairs to our phones via Bluetooth. You use the phone’s screen and keyboard to interact with messages, while the radio handles the receiving and delivering.

All this was already so cool that it took me just a few hours to order two kits to try it. But I kept reading the official documentation, browsing articles, and watching videos until I found out about another mesh network called MeshCore. Two mesh networks? That’s too good to be true.

They are technically incompatible, but most devices can be set to use either one. You can try both and use the one that works best in your region. Moreover, some of the radios are so cheap that nothing stops you from using both.

Just Text

Let’s set expectations: we are talking about exchanging text messages. They can be public or encrypted direct messages, but only text. There is no voice, images, or anything fancy. And to be honest, I like that.

Why?

When I first posted about Meshtastic, people asked about my plan or use case.

Guess what crossed my mind many times during the full-day blackout in Portugal and Spain that happened almost a year ago? Everything stopped working, including mobile phones. Imagine if I had a Meshtastic or MeshCore device with me.

Apart from a fallback for that extreme scenario, I plan to use it when hiking and during my car trips around Europe. But above all, a mesh network is only as good as the number of people using it. I’ll be happy even if I’m just an additional node in the network helping other people’s messages reach their destinations.

Not to mention that this is probably the most Digital Caveman tech project I could be working on.

How come I had no idea Meshtastic existed?

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:51:22 +0100

I just came back from a trip down the Meshtastic rabbit hole, and I’m sold. It took me only a few hours — from learning a bunch of incredible things about the project to ordering two kits. I don’t even remember how long I’ve been telling my wife I wish something like this existed; the funny thing is, she still has no idea what I’m talking about 🤣.

Anyway, not only does it exist, but it’s a pretty large network — at least as far as I could see on the maps.

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:35:46 +0100

This is the first time I’ve heard from people on the other side of a Bending Spoons acquisition. The Chief Technology Officer and Product Manager start talking about the experience in more detail around the six-minute mark.

At the time, we felt Bending Spoons would provide the resources and operational expertise to help us realize those ambitions at scale. What I didn’t know was how the transition would be handled.

What they didn’t tell us was the high cost of that subscription model. We had some very different ideas of what that should be, and there was a firm disagreement with Bending Spoons, and they decided to take a very different direction than what we recommended.

I was never given a clear explanation about why we were let go. Looking back, it now appears to be part of a broader acquisition strategy employed by Bending Spoons, but at the time it was a genuine shock. I think most of us were blindsided.

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:59:49 +0100

This pretty much sums it up.

The platform Musk took over was imperfect but impactful. What exists today is something else: diminished, and increasingly de minimis. —EFF

Testing version 3.5

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 16:03:50 +0100

I finished working on version 3.5 of my Car Kitchen yesterday — just in time to test it today on a hike near the Douro river. Comparing it to previous pictures, it may look just like version 3, but I put a lot of hours into this project and the build quality is much better. It doesn’t feel like a prototype anymore.

After the hike, I made lunch, which my wife and I enjoyed from our camping chairs while taking in the view of the beautiful Douro. I love this river.

Caffeine — my dog — didn’t care for the view or the brand-new kitchen build, but looking at his face, anyone can tell he was having a lot of fun. Dogs definitely understand what life is all about.

Is the AT Protocol really decentralized?

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:48:08 +0100

It’s really hard for me to truly understand the technical differences between ActivityPub and the AT Protocol, but every time I read a comparison like the one below, I end up siding with ActivityPub.

On ATProtocol, while initiatives like Blacksky and Eurosky have built alternative hosting infrastructure, genuinely decentralizing control over the network, they still depend substantially on Bluesky PBC’s core moderation infrastructure. This demonstrates how commercial actors can retain de facto norm-setting power across an ecosystem, even where the protocol itself is open. — Open Future.

I like that the AT Protocol lets us move everything — including our identity — to another service. However, what my limited tech capabilities take away from explanations like the one above is that the protocol is not truly decentralized in practice.

As for the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) mentioned in the same article, it only reinforces my preference for ActivityPub. Not only is it a W3C standard that anyone can use to create a compatible service, but there are already multiple solutions using it.

Why create a new network with taxpayer money when there is already a decentralized and diverse Fediverse that anyone can tap into? If European citizens' money is to be used, it would be better spent helping companies and institutions start their own ActivityPub instances.

Which begs the question: Why has Eurosky decided to use the AT Protocol? Their website tagline is “Hosted in Europe, governed in Europe,” and their vision starts with “Eurosky exists because Europe needs technological sovereignty and democratic resilience in its digital infrastructure.” As I mentioned in a previous post, I prefer an internationalist world, but based on what they are promoting on their site, why choose a US protocol that many say is not actually decentralized? Honestly, that’s beyond my comprehension.

I love version 3, but I'm already working on 3.5

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 22:11:00 +0100

It’s been a few months since I merged the sliding prototype with the kitchen box that traveled with me across Europe last summer, and I’m absolutely in love with it. This version 3 has come with us on several short trips through Portugal and Spain and on countless trails — like this one.

A quick note: Although most of the pictures I’ve shared so far of the car kitchen are about making coffee, that’s just a tiny portion of what it’s actually used for. I often cook meals after a hike or at resting areas while traveling. In the picture above, for example, I was making coffee after we had lunch.

That photo is also a good example of how the space below the platform serves as a regular trunk. If you look closely, you’ll see our bags there during a recent trip to Lisbon. And yes, the wind shield I hacked many months ago is still in use. I guess if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.

Below, you can see the sketch of the base that stays in the trunk. I had to make some changes, so it’s not exactly the final design, but it’s pretty close. Either way, the part you see in the photo above can be easily removed when we are not using it.

Like I said, version 3 is working like a charm. I love it, but since it was a proof of concept, it was built with 10 mm plywood. Now it’s time to make it stronger and give it a proper finish.

Today, I bought the wood and started disassembling the external shell, which is the part that will be rebuilt. Once I’m done with that, I’ll publish a video showing how everything works — including the drawers 😉.

My 2 tips on preserving your memories.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:28:23 +0100

When I imported my notes from Evernote, I wasn’t entirely sure how I wanted my properties, folders, and other Obsidian settings to be. Long story short, I ended up with a backlog of hundreds of notes that I’m still reorganizing — and I’ll probably be doing this for a long, long time.

It’s a lot of work, but it has never felt like a burden. From the very first note, it brought me so much joy that I keep looking for excuses to go back to it. These are my memories. Every single time I work on one of those notes — even the ones with just a couple of words — it makes me smile or shed a tear. Either way, being able to revisit a moment so vividly is absolutely fantastic. That’s why, whenever I have some free time, I immediately dive back in.

Which brings me to Tip Number 1: Write down your experiences.

It doesn’t have to be fancy. A single sentence will do, as long as it’s sincere. Trust me. Just do it! One day, you’ll have so much joy returning to these moments.

Here’s a note I wrote in Evernote about my conversation with the immigration officer in Atlanta while heading to the 2013 Evernote Conference in San Francisco. For those who never used the app back then, that was probably peak Evernote. Everyone knew about it, even the people who didn’t use it.

— What’s the purpose of your visit?
— I’m going to a conference.
— What conference?
— The Evernote Conference.
— What’s that?
— You don’t know what Evernote is?

My face was probably so honestly surprised that he actually wanted to know more about it. That automatically triggered an explanation about everything you could do with the elephant app. I was such an enthusiast that I’m pretty sure, at some point, the guy was thinking, “Oh god, enough. Just go. Here’s your stamp.”

This is basically the entire note. The title is “At the immigration in Atlanta.” There’s also a picture of my wife and me having a coffee while waiting to board for San Francisco. Reading that simple note brought back so many memories of those days.

Use paper if that’s your thing, but date it. Also, make sure to include the city and the time; those details help trigger so many other memories. If you want to make it even cooler, include a picture or two and the geolocation. I absolutely love seeing all my notes on a map. But remember, it’s not about the complications. It’s about memories. Actually creating the habit of writing is the most important part. If you are not a journal person, try a blog to help you kick-start the process.

This leads to Tip Number 2: If you use an app, make sure you can export your notes.

Export some notes and make sure you can actually use them somewhere else. The last thing you want is your memories being used as a way to trap you. Apps and online services come and go. You have to own your data. If you end up choosing Obsidian and would like some inspiration, you can check my setup here.

And talking about memories, yesterday a friend asked me about regrets and feelings related to Evernote. What I told him is this: I have no regrets and no hard feelings whatsoever. Evernote was such a significant part of my life, and it also helped me keep all these memories that I now have the pleasure to revisit in Obsidian. There’s no other way to put it — I’ll be forever thankful.

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:19:08 +0100

I grabbed the mug without even looking at it. Cold! Blerg! 😝 No worries, microwave it is. Yes, I do that with my coffee.

⏲️ Ting!

When I opened the door, I found two mugs instead of one. Talk about hyperfocus. That, or this Airbnb has a food duplicator 🫣.

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:46:51 +0100

A friend who was moving asked me if I wanted this speaker system, which I don’t even know exactly how to define. It’s basically two speakers and a larger one in the middle that I’m guessing is a subwoofer for the bass. Anyway, the moment I noticed that 3.5 mm plug, I immediately said yes!

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:32:39 +0100

I use only one Obsidian vault for everything personal and professional. However, I do keep several other vaults for testing things and recording YouTube videos. To keep things cleaner and more organized, I recently moved all these additional vaults to the external drive where I edit my videos, and I had a vision that I can’t stop thinking about.

As you already know, my Obsidian works almost like a Finder replacement. Now imagine having all that in a small external drive like this one that I could carry around on a keychain. Crazy, right? Well, like I said, I can’t stop thinking about it. It would be the ultimate Digital Caveman manifestation.

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:46:55 +0100

We went hiking this weekend, and when I saw this tree almost growing from its ashes, like a phoenix, I stayed there for a while admiring its perseverance.

I had already found that amazing, but a couple of meters ahead, there was an entire group of them doing the same. It was incredible to catch nature doing its thing in “real time”.

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:31:37 +0100

No streaming here. I listen to great music on what I consider to be the best device ever to organize and enjoy a music collection. I recently bought a second used one on eBay, just in case I need spare parts to keep it running for as long as I’m around in this world.

Specs:

iPod Video (aka 5.5 gen).
New battery.
iFlash SD card adapter.
60 GB SD card for my full music library and a lot of room to spare.

Yesterday I got U2’s new EP on iTunes for €5,99, synchronized it with the iPod, and that’s it. Started listening just like the old days.

P.S. Everything in my library was purchased as an MP3 or ripped from my CDs many, many years ago.

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 11:42:52 +0100

I like to give cool names to my files, computers, external disks, etc. My MacBook Air has 500 GB of storage, but because of video editing and so much local stuff like photos, music, etc., I keep a 1 TB external SSD with me all the time.

The name I came up with for it a long time ago was “Extra Air.”

Every time I look for it and click on that name, I have this inward smile. When my eyes finally lock onto it on the Finder sidebar, moving the mouse pointer to click feels like reaching for extra air to keep everything running on my Air 😉.

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 09:52:32 +0100

I’m in the middle of an operation to import old Flickr photos to my blog, and that has brought back some interesting memories. Not only of the places, but of the entire process of snapping the photo and tuning it to a style I like.

When smartphone cameras started having image editing controls, I discovered this therapeutic process of changing small details here and there to create something like a specific filter for each image.

I can clearly remember how I enjoyed that. I wonder if my worries about social media were already brewing at that time, and that’s why I stopped.

Let’s see if this photo sparks that habit again. 😊

A 10K human milestone in an AI and algorithm world. Thank you!

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 18:01:36 +0100

Technically speaking, YouTube subscribers don’t mean what they did a decade ago when I started my first channel. Back then, it was the primary way to reach an audience. Today, it’s all about the algorithm.

But to me, this number still means a lot. Because I rarely invite people to “hit that subscribe button,” reaching this milestone feels genuinely organic. It’s a signal that 10.001 people actually want to see a human on the other side of the screen in an ever-growing AI slop environment.

Thank you so much for being part of the @vladcampos community!

P.S. I asked Gemini and it told me 10.000 subscribers puts me in the top 6% of all creators globally. Wow. Double thank you, guys!

My brain perception vs. OpenAI’s new privacy policy

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 15:52:43 +0100

Like most of us, I recently got an email from OpenAI, and I couldn’t help but mentally translate some sentences while I was reading it. Here’s how my brain was perceiving things:

“Finding friends” — Oh, we are building a social media platform and, along the way, spying a bit on you just like our friends at Meta taught us to do.
“Age prediction” — By the way, we need to spy a little more, if that’s okay with you.

After that — for some inexplicable reason — I decided to read part of the new privacy policy, and it gave me goosebumps. Just saying.

I have no doubt OpenAI is not the only one trying to collect as much personal data as possible. Even just thinking about what Google’s and Meta’s AI are already doing with all the personal information they’ve been collecting for so long activates my self-defense mechanism and puts me in denial mode. And no, I don’t believe Apple’s discourse. As for Discord, let’s not even start on that.

Anyway, I just added one more item to my Digital Caveman project. Running a local model is already past due at this point.

P.S. I noticed that my name had a typo in the email from OpenAI, and I decided not to fix it. In the future, if a company or someone I’ve never heard of before contacts me with that same typo, I’ll know exactly where the leak came from.

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:02:53 +0100

Regarding the YouTube AI problem I mentioned yesterday, I just had an idea. Another way to check if a voiceover-style channel is real is to go back two or three years in its timeline. If there are older videos, we can compare their style to the present-day ones.

Enough AI: YouTube voiceovers are a no-no

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 14:55:50 +0100

I use YouTube a lot — for watching news from TV channels, scientists sharing content about their specialties, and independent journalists. It’s also a great place to follow creative people building cool things, and, of course, for learning and teaching. But the AI problem is becoming uncontrollable, gradually making the platform less enjoyable.

It feels like every day there’s a batch of new channels entirely created by AI. They usually follow an AI voiceover paired with an AI B-roll formula. It used to be easy to identify the ones made by humans — but as AI gets better, it’s becoming nearly impossible to tell the difference.

YouTube itself is part of the problem, since they keep suggesting this type of content without any warning. And something tells me that a company that runs Gemini is fully capable of distinguishing what’s real and what’s not. Anyway, I digress.

Trying to fix this myself, I’ve decided that if I don’t see a face — or other signals that help me identify the content as human-made — I’m not watching or subscribing. In addition to that, I’m making sure to click those three dots and select “Don’t recommend channel,” hoping that sends a signal to the algorithm. I’m probably being too naive to think that will change anything, but at least I’ll stop seeing part of those annoying videos in my feed.

If you are a creator, don’t worry about having a tight studio or expensive setup. Many of the most interesting channels I watch are just a person talking in front of a super-basic background. Just focus on your message. I’ll definitely watch captivating content with the ugliest possible background — but without any doubt, I’ll turn away from the most beautiful AI-generated channel in no time.

As for my channel, although I believe it is still possible to know it is not AI-created, I’ll start adding a “Made by a Human” stamp on the thumbnails, just like I’ve already done on my website.

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 11:20:43 +0100

Some of you may not know, but in addition to having graduated in economics, I have an MBA in international affairs. These are subjects I deeply enjoy, and I am constantly following the news and reading articles on these topics.

I consider myself an internationalist who believes institutions like the UN are extremely relevant and important. Needless to say, I am saddened by the current moment we are living in — and even sadder to find myself protesting by stepping away from US products and services. But the pragmatist in me knows that — at least for now — this is necessary.

Here are the latest items added to my protest list:

Google Wallet: I’ve switched to MB Way, a local payment system, for contactless payments on my phone. By doing this, I’m ensuring that even fractions of cents from my transactions aren’t being sent to the US.
Uber: I’ve removed the app from my phone to build the habit of using Bolt instead, which is an EU-based company.

This list is growing longer every day, and I will keep adding to it for as long as necessary. However, the optimist in me still believes this is temporary. For the record, I really hate how often “pragmatic me” has to fight with “optimistic me.”

As humans, I’m sure we can do better than this mess. We’ve done it before, and I am confident we will do it again.

How to use custom Callouts in Obsidian.

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:39:38 +0100

EN | PT

I don’t really use Callouts in Obsidian, but I know many people who love to format their notes with features like this. So, here’s a video about it for my Quick Tips series.

The em dash is not an AI thing — have you ever read a book?

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 13:01:00 +0100

A few days ago, while listening to episode 658 of the 99pi podcast, I was stunned to learn that people are relating em dashes to ChatGPT and even calling them the ChatGPT dash. What?! Don’t these people read books?

Then, when the next podcast in the queue started — I was probably being hunted by an AI ghost at that point — the TWiT hosts began the episode also talking about “the dash thing.”

— No! Please, no.

It might come as a shock to those who never opened a book, but authors have been using them for centuries.

My preferred writing style is conversational — with somewhat related thoughts in the middle of sentences — and that’s likely why I love em dashes. But they can be used in so many ways and circumstances. Which, by the way, comes with consequences — it’s pretty challenging to learn how to use them correctly.

I learned — or I like to think so — the old-fashioned way. Reading, reading, and reading. Brute-forcing my way into it, that is.

My preferred author — Fernando Sabino — used it a lot. And if I’m being honest, as a teen I couldn’t really tell what to do every time I faced that horizontal line in the middle of a sentence. I even remember bookmarking pages where it appeared to compare them to learn how to read a sentence with that strange symbol. So, at least in my case, I’d say that the mystery is part of its beauty.

Because all these books were printed the old-fashioned way, it took me a long time to perceive there were different dashes — I mean their sizes. To this day, I use em dashes for dialogues as well. It’s my thing as an author — I guess.

By the way, after many years of use, Shift + Option + - became ingrained in my muscle memory. Together with Shift + Option + 2 for the Euro currency symbol, these are the two keyboard shortcuts I use all the time on my Mac’s US-International keyboard.

But there’s one thing I never got. Since the beginning of the spellchecker era, many of them keep suggesting I use the em dash connected to the words next to them. The books I read — in Portuguese or English — usually leave blank spaces around them, and that’s the style I like. But because the spellchecker kept putting that annoying curly underline below them, I kept accepting the correction.

Well, while writing this, I just realized I don’t need to do that. If there’s any good coming from this ordeal, it’s the fact that I remembered the obvious option — power? — I have to disable spellchecker rules.

Every so often technology, automation, and currently AI make us forget that — at least for now — we are the ones in control. My blog, my rules.

P.S. If someone ever accuses me of using AI to write my texts, I’ll reply with, “Have you ever read a book in your life?”

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 11:49:53 +0100

I love the Map View plugin for Obsidian, but I just realized I didn’t have a “for beginners” video about it. In this tutorial you’ll learn the basics. How to install the plugin, how to add notes to the map, and how to change the pin icons to match the topic of the note.

The old Obsidian update I didn't appreciate until now.

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 11:58:23 +0100

Months ago, I was looking for the path of an old run tracked by Google Fit—a service, by the way, that I stopped using in 2023. Since I wasn’t willing to reinstall the app, the alternative was to download my data via Google Takeout, which resulted in over 3,000 files.

I knew more or less when the run happened, but being able to see the paths on a map would make finding it much easier. That’s when I had the idea to move the files to a second, temporary Obsidian vault and use the Map View plugin (not the Maps for Bases) to zoom in and find that specific run. To have some fun along the way, I brought all 3,000+ files into that vault.

I’m not sure if you are aware, but a past update to the Map View plugin allows it to read many types of path files. This ranges from popular formats like .gpx to the more obscure .tcx used by Google Fit. Seeing the path on the map is as simple as having the file anywhere in your vault. If you’d like to learn more about how that works, you can watch the video below.

With the paths in the temporary vault, I started looking at all that roaming around history, and by the time I found what I was looking for, I was tempted to bring many other files into my main vault. That’s when a reality check stopped me.

Because of the sheer number of files the plugin had to read, it was taking 13 seconds to populate the map. This meant Obsidian was taking a little over 13 seconds just to start up. So, I simply copied that specific run file to my main vault and moved on.

The Unexpected Surprise

Yesterday, I went back to that temporary vault searching for another file. To my surprise, Obsidian didn’t struggle at all. It simply opened. At first, I thought I had deleted all the Fit files and forgotten about it, but that wasn’t the case.

Long story short, a past update changed how Obsidian handles data-heavy plugins. It used to be that the app had to scan all the notes for map or table data before it would even show the interface, leading to the loading screen you see below.

The new behavior is much better. Now, Obsidian opens immediately and moves the plugin processing to the background—unless, of course, the consolidated map or table is set to be open when Obsidian starts.

Back then, this was the case. I had the map tab constantly active because I was searching for that run, which meant every time I opened Obsidian, the map tab had to be populated with all the coordinates before I could work. That was not the case yesterday.

As you can see in the video below, starting Obsidian with and without the map tab active results in entirely different experiences.

This startup behavior changed many months ago, and I do remember reading about it at the time. However, apart from the struggle described in this post—which I treated as an outlier—I never noticed any real difference in my day-to-day use. The irony is that the feature was probably already working when I was playing with those Fit files, but because the map tab was always active, it couldn’t save me any time.

Regardless, if you watch the video above, you’ll clearly see the difference it makes. If a data-intense plugin is not something I need to use every second, it’s fine to have it installed and running in the background. I’ve even started moving many of those files from the second vault to my main one. I love maps, and having those paths will make my travels, runs, and trails even cooler to contemplate.

The properties I'm currently using in every Obsidian note.

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 11:48:34 +0100

EN | PT

All my notes in Obsidian are created using the Unique Note Creator plugin and a single template containing all the properties I may need to find a note or to add it to a Bases table. You can read more about my setup here.

After some trial and error, I settled on a group of properties that I was happy with, but I still tweak it here and there from time to time. This is the latest iteration that I’m currently using.

title
Format: Text
For the note title without worrying about prohibited characters.

date
Format: Date & Time
Date and time auto-filled using {{date:YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm}} in the template.

duedate
Format: Date
Notes that I have to come back to in the future are listed in a Bases table ordered by the duedate property and with the status property set as unchecked. It can be something that I have to revisit, a document expiration date, or anything that I need to do in the future. This was also added in preparation for the upcoming calendar view in Bases.

number
Format: Number
As the name implies, it’s for numbers. Some examples are kilometers I ran, podcast episode numbers, document numbers, and, more recently, I started using it to track fuel consumption, previously handled by the liters property.

value
Format: Number
Anything related to money. It can be the price of something, what a client or a collaboration paid me, a receipt, etc.

location
Format: Text
For geographic coordinates separated by a comma.

url
Format: Text
Links to my blog posts automatically created by the Micro.publish plugin and Web Clipper links.

file
Format: Text
Sometimes I need to have a link to a file on a Bases table. For example, a podcast episode MP3 file or a client invoice.

card
Format: Text
If a note has an image, the address is also added to this property. In the future, if I create a card view on Bases, I’ll know which property will show images on the card.

type
Format: Text
For specifying the type of the note. For example: Blog, Session, Meeting, Clipping, Itinerary, etc. This, together with the tags property, are the core elements in most of my Bases tables.

collection (formerly “company”)
Format: Text
The name of any group, entity, or collection. If it is a company name (clients or collaborations), this property links to the note containing corporate details like address and tax number. If it is the name of one of my YouTube channels, the note likely contains a future video script. If it is a book title, the note will include details such as the cover and bibliographic information.

unit (formerly “people”)
Format: Text
A sub-categorization of collection. For a team member note, the title would be the individual’s name, collection would be their company, and unit would define their position or department – for example, “Marketing.

tags
Format: List
Used as a sub-categorization of type. For example, for type: Itinerary, I always add cities I’m traveling to as tags. In the case of type: Blog, I’ll include the main topics I mention in the post, e.g., Obsidian, Bases, etc.

status
Format: Checkbox
It is pre-set to false (unchecked), and I use it as an indicator of something I still have to do on that note or with the information in that note. For example, I have a Bases table set to look for notes with type: Clipping and status: false. When I read that article, I simply set the checkbox as completed, and that item is automatically removed from the table.

List of the Categories

(in case you want to copy them)

title:
date: {{date:YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm}}
duedate:
number:
value:
location:
url:
file:
card:
type:
company:
people:
tags:
status: false

Where is my blog traffic coming from? My 6-month experiment to test the reach of social media.

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 15:08:56 +0100

I already knew that thanks to Medium’s canonical feature, my blog receives significant traffic from there. Bluesky and Mastodon are also quite link-friendly. But what about the others? How effective—or detrimental—are they really for a blog?

To find out, I started an experiment in December 2025 that I hope to continue until June or July 2026 to gather a reliable sample. Almost every post on my blog—whether long or short—is being shared on as many social media platforms as I can reasonably manage.

Thankfully, I’ve been able to automate cross-posting to Bluesky, Mastodon, Threads, Tumblr, and LinkedIn using Micro.blog. However, there is still some manual “copy-and-paste” work involved. For instance, links to long-form articles are manually added to my YouTube Community tab and Substack. Occasionally, I even post something to Instagram.

After a few weeks, I’m already seeing unexpected traffic. It’s just a few clicks, but there are people coming from Threads, LinkedIn, and even a couple of visits from Instagram. The one I’m most intrigued by is LinkedIn. The cross-posting there is super basic: no image and no preview, just the title of the post and a link. Even then, some people are clicking. To track all of this, I’m using GoatCounter.

As a final note, the only places I am truly active are Bluesky, Mastodon, and YouTube. I don’t keep any other social media apps on my phone. For everything else, I use a browser on my computer to do what needs to be done, and then I leave. If you’re curious, you can find all my social accounts listed here.

Why are my note titles so weird?

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 15:27:54 +0100

EN | PT

First things first, it is important to understand a key distinction. Many people, myself included, constantly use the term “note title” when referring to our Obsidian entries. However, if you look at Obsidian’s documentation and official social media, the correct term seems to be “file name”.

This isn’t just a matter of semantics. Files must follow specific rules; for example, they require extensions and cannot use “prohibited characters,” such as a colon (:). And because Obsidian notes are simply files on our computers, these guidelines apply to your notes as well.

These limitations are more prominent in languages that use extended Latin characters, but even English isn’t exempt. For instance, Windows and Android do not allow question marks in file names, while macOS does. For someone like me, who uses both Android and Mac, this may create headaches as synchronization services usually skip incompatible file names.

The Solution

That’s why I decided to simplify my file names using the format YYYY-MM-DD HH.mm. In addition to avoiding prohibited characters, this makes it incredibly easy to sort all my files in reverse chronological order.

I use the Unique Note Creator to automatically add this timestamp to the file name and the date property. As for the actual title of the note, I simply add it to the title property. By the way, if you’d like to learn more about my Obsidian setup, click here.

Side Effects

I’ve been using Obsidian this way since October 2025 and I’m very happy with it, especially when creating notes on my phone. However, this system makes it nearly impossible to find a note without the Bases tables I’ve built into my vault.

These tables act as pre-populated filters for finding specific types of notes—such as blog posts, journal entries, clients, or companies I’m collaborating with. I have tables for all of these and more, all powered by the properties in my single template for all notes.

Without these tables, I would be relegated to searching using [title:]. Furthermore, it’s impossible to use [[]] to link to another note, as I will never remember the ~~stardate~~ sequence of numbers for every entry.

Linking notes is something I rarely do, so I don’t mind heading to my Bases tables to find a note when I need to connect things. However, I have to admit that in rare cases, this disrupts my flow slightly.

Regardless, the benefits currently outweigh the problems by a large margin, and I have no plans to change this system anytime soon.

I don't remember ever regretting a macOS upgrade—until now.

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 12:50:19 +0100

This wannabe new macOS Aqua is so, so bad.

If the transparency implementation wasn’t terrible enough, the rounded window corners and that resize icon look like they were designed by people who have never actually used a Mac. Naturally, my first thought was to turn it off, so I went to Google to find the settings.

Is this true? The only option is really an accessibility workaround? You’ve got to be kidding me! I honestly don’t know which is worse: the failed new Aqua interface itself or the workaround to hide it.

Apple is definitely pushing me to accelerate my switch to Linux.

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 11:43:51 +0100

Apple adopting a subscription model was the first thing that came to mind when they purchased Pixelmator Pro. Well, here we are.

I know they’ve said the standalone apps will continue to work, but we’ve seen this movie before. One doesn’t have to be a genius to predict that the versions in Creator Studio will receive more and more attention as time goes by.

One of the reasons I opted for Final Cut and Motion in the first place was the one-time purchase. They are far more advanced than I actually need and quite expensive, but since there was no subscription, the investment felt worth it.

In a way, this situation is encouraging me to take a major step in the Digital Caveman project: switching to Linux. But to accomplish that, I first have to get used to a few new apps, and one of them is certainly a big challenge. It’s time to learn DaVinci Resolve.

Obsidian 1.11.4 for Android first impressions

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 19:40:20 +0100

I just installed Obsidian 1.11.4 for Android, and the first thing I wanted to test were the new widgets. While I don’t personally use the Daily Note plugin, I’m certain many users will be thrilled to see that option included.

As for the New Note widget, it’s a great addition, though I’d love to see more configuration options—such as the ability to create the note in a specific folder. A setting similar to the “Query” field in the Search widget would be perfect. By the way, being able to tap and jump straight to a list of notes matching a specific query makes it a pretty cool widget, and I can already see several use cases for it.

For my current setup, I’ve only enabled the Open Note widget. It will give me instant access to my “Home” note, which, as you know, acts as a dashboard for the files and links I use most frequently.

One widget I would use constantly is the Unique Note creator, but unfortunately, it was left out of this release.

The Android Quick Settings (the pull-down “curtain”) is another place where we can now add some shortcuts. I added the Open Note there as well. Searching for notes is not something I usually do, but to keep the layout balanced, I included the Search shortcut there too.

Beyond the widgets, the user interface has become slightly more rounded, making menus and buttons easier to identify and tap. I’m pretty happy with the new look.

These were literally my very first impressions since I just installed the upgrade a few minutes ago. I’ll keep sharing my thoughts as I use it.

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 16:49:58 +0100

Re-reading what’s possibly my favorite book of all time 🥰

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 10:53:18 +0100

I just got an email from Starbucks telling me I was downgraded because I didn’t earn enough stars in 2025. Actually, that sounds like a prize to me. The goal was to avoid it and choose local EU coffee shops instead. ✅

How to connect your WordPress blog to millions of Fediverse users

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 16:17:03 +0100

Did you know WordPress has a native setting to connect your blog to the Fediverse? With one simple toggle, you can instantly expose your posts to millions of active users.

There’s a simple setting that will automatically expose all your posts to 12.2M accounts and 964,290 active users. That’s the current size of the Fediverse—a group of independent platforms and initiatives interconnected by the ActivityPub protocol. In practice, this means users from one service can follow, like, and even comment on posts from another. It’s truly revolutionary!

Setting It Up

In your WordPress admin area, navigate to Settings and look for the ActivityPub option. Click there and follow the steps to make your site part of the Fediverse.

Using It

Now, every time you write a new post, you’ll see the Fediverse option under the Post tab. From there, you can choose how you want the post to appear across the network.

As you can see in the image below, there are settings for everything—from adding a Content Warning to choosing not to share a specific post at all.

When you decide to federate a post, it becomes visible to all Fediverse members, regardless of the service they use. Moreover, they can comment on your post from their platform of choice, and that reply will automatically be added to your blog’s comment section.

A real-world example is the WordPress-powered blogs I follow on Mastodon. When they publish, I see it on my Mastodon timeline. I can reply right there, and my response becomes a comment on their blog—all without ever leaving Mastodon.

I’ve been using the Fediverse since 2022, and integrations like this still blow my mind.

Further Integrations

The ActivityPub feature is available even on the free tier. However, if you are on a WordPress plan that allows for a custom domain and plugin installations, things get even better.

For instance, you can use your own domain as your ActivityPub handle (e.g., @vladcampos@vladcampos.com). Depending on your tier, you can even set individual handles for other writers on your site.

That’s it. Turn it on, join the astonishing world of decentralized social media, and have fun.

Supernote app installation with Android Sideloader | 2026 update — the super-easy way!

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 14:10:12 +0100

Although the official app store has just a few apps, under the hood, the Supernote is an Android device with the option to sideload apps. In other words, install the apps ourselves without needing to use the official store.

But before I show you how, I have some disclaimers. I am not a developer. I’m simply sharing what I learned researching online. It worked for me, but you should always do your own research. As for the Android apps, please be careful with what you are installing. Apps downloaded from the Internet, known as APKs, are not checked by the Google Play Store.

The video below is a how-to guide, but, for those who prefer to read, this post also contains the written steps and links to the files.

1. Enable Sideloading on the Supernote

The first step is to prepare the Supernote to receive Android apps. Go to Settings, then Security & Privacy, and turn on Sideloading. This means that you are allowing the Supernote to accept the installation of Android apps.

2. Install Android Sideloader on your computer

Install Android Sideloader on your computer. You can download it here for Mac, Linux, or Windows.

3. Connect the Supernote to your computer

Open the Android Sideloader app and connect the Supernote to your computer. I suggest using the Supernote USB cable, as not all USB cables are the same, technically speaking.

4. Install the APK file

On the Android Sideloader app, click on Choose APK file, select the file you’d like to install, and then click on Install APK. When you see the App successfully installed! message, you are done. That’s it!

An APK file is the technical name for Android apps.

You can search for them online, or
Copy them from your Android phone by using the Files app and navigating to the Apps folder, or
Download them from the source. Obsidian, for example, provides the APK file for downloading.

I recommend using options 2 or 3 above. As I mentioned before, the files you find online are susceptible to being malicious.

The simple feature that would make the Supernote much better (at least for me)

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 13:40:15 +0100

I was never happy with the Obsidian interface on the e-Ink display, so I finally removed it from my Supernote. While I’m aware of themes designed to address the screen issues, they never made much of a difference for me. Ultimately, that’s likely why I rarely even remembered I had it installed.

BookFusion is another app I sideloaded to the Supernote, but in this case, I use it almost every day. That’s not to say it works flawlessly. While I have no complaints when reading, the main interface—where the library and book metadata live—and some reading mode controls suffer from similar e-Ink ghosting or visibility issues as Obsidian. However, that’s acceptable since I spend most of my time focused on the pages of the book.

I understand that Ratta likely has its roadmap, but I’d love to see them put some love into supporting Markdown. A dedicated app would be great, but even just allowing us to create and save .txt files with the .md extension would be an incredibly valuable addition.

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 12:02:17 +0100

One.

2025: How leaving Evernote helped my POSSE strategy

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 18:51:41 +0100

Transitioning from Evernote, a corporate ecosystem, to a sovereign one based on Obsidian and Micro.blog.

2025 was the year I fully switched from Evernote to Obsidian, but it was not an easy task. In addition to all the content I had been adding for more than a decade, there was also a sentimental connection to the app—and especially to the fellow Experts with whom I used to interact almost daily.

If I’m being honest, I preferred the path the company was taking before Bending Spoons' acquisition. That said, if we consider the current note-taking marketplace, that original size and structure would likely never be on par with younger, smaller, and more agile competitors. As I’ve said before, without Bending Spoons, Evernote would have probably slowly disappeared.

That doesn’t mean, however, that I agree with the new path. For example, as you already know, I like to keep AI far away from my personal notes. I’m aware that Evernote’s implementation is opt-in, but a year ago when I was still using the app, it was far too easy to perform an AI search accidentally. This meant that several of my notes were being sent to a model somewhere “out there.”

Although I only left the Evernote Experts program in May, if you look at my first posts of the year, you’ll find the seeds of The Digital Caveman project. This project is the result of merging two incredible philosophies: Obsidian’s Local-First approach and the IndieWeb’s POSSE.

Not an Easy Path

At first, Obsidian Publish seemed like the logical choice, and that’s why I left Micro.blog in favor of it. As a product, it is fantastic; unfortunately, it lacks several basic web features I value—from a usable RSS feed to the ability to access the <head> of the site to include code like rel="me" verification.

Another challenge was automating my POSSE strategy. For that, Micro.blog is a great choice, as they constantly add new cross-posting options. So, after a lot of consideration, I decided to go back and, as before, use the Micro.publish plugin to still keep all my files local in Obsidian while publishing them across the web via Micro.blog.

Because my files were already in Markdown, switching back to Micro.blog wasn’t hard—but it wasn’t seamless, either. I’m still reorganizing parts of my site because of this back-and-forth, but it has been worth it. I’ve learned so much, and I’m in love with how the site functions now.

The Most Important Decision

To improve the site, I started using AI to help me learn Hugo and understand how Micro.blog works. This gave me the courage to finally merge my Portuguese and English content into a single site and domain.

With Gemini as my “technical partner,” I created separate menus for each language and rebuilt the internal structure to create a truly bilingual site. It required a lot of planning and trial and error, but the process is now complete.

The Portuguese and Brazilian visitors land at the /pt/ section, while the rest of the world goes to /en/. On social media, I added the line Posts = English + Portuguese to all my bios and began posting in both languages.

The surprise? A boost in site traffic. It’s nothing astronomical, but the graph clearly shows an upward trend. I always had this nagging thought that a bilingual site would hurt my numbers, but I was clearly wrong.

No Tracking

As the Digital Caveman project progressed, it opened my eyes to the remarkable open-source alternatives available to replace Big Tech. For instance, while using the Vivaldi browser, I realized that by having Google Analytics code on my site, I was effectively helping a corporation spy on my visitors.

I switched to GoatCounter in November, meaning that the site is now completely free of anything that helps corporations spy on you. That makes me incredibly happy!

Cool Features

The more I learned, the more I wanted to implement. First came the Library. It’s a simple grid of book covers built directly from blog posts. And because everything starts in Obsidian, I even have a local version of the Library built using the new Bases core plugin.

I also finally built a map with pins linking to posts about places I’ve been. Building this made me twice as happy: I love the final result, and I was able to share the code on GitHub. Giving back to the community felt wonderful.

And, of course, there’s also a local and more detailed version in my Obsidian built with the Map View plugin.

The Digital Caveman Year

I never wrote a “year in review” post, but I’m glad I did this time. It allowed me to clearly perceive the progress I’ve made. Back in January, I knew what I intended to build, but it took months to truly understand the soul of the Digital Caveman project.

Looking back, 2025 was the year I finally aligned my digital life with the philosophies I love and promote: Local-First and POSSE.

I wish you a great 2026!

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 12:17:23 +0100

People eventually ask me questions about my #Obsidian setup, so I put together a page describing how I use it and will keep it updated as I change things: vladcampos.com/en/obsidi…

How I created a map for my Micro.blog site

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 14:53:14 +0100

I’ve always loved maps, and the idea of creating a digital version of the pins from the physical world map on my wall has been with me for a long, long time. When I first saw websites with embedded Google Maps, I knew I wanted to do something similar on my blog.

How it works

Every post related to a trip or a specific place on my blog has at least three tags: city, country, and earth. For example, porto, portugal, and pale-blue-dot. If you don’t know what “Pale Blue Dot” refers to, do yourself a favor and watch the beautiful video on this page. So, the site map is built by checking a list of city coordinates linked to those categories.

In Obsidian, however, my location property contains the precise coordinates where a note was taken and creates the super detailed map below that I absolutely love. But the tags, which Micro.publish converts to categories in my blog, are also there.

For privacy reasons, I’ve chosen to make the public map on my site less detailed, which is why I opted for general city coordinates instead. Here is an example of the data structure I use for the public version:

- name: "Boston, USA"
  slug: "boston"
  lat: 42.3601
  lon: -71.0589
  url: "/categories/boston"

- name: "Porto, Portugal"
  slug: "porto"
  lat: 41.1579
  lon: -8.6291
  url: "/categories/porto"

To render the map, I simply add the small snippet of code below to any page. You can see the live example here.

<div id="categoryMap" style="width: 100%; height: 400px; border-radius: 12px;"></div>

Creating a map for your Micro.blog site

This isn’t a plugin, so it isn’t a “plug-and-play” solution, but it is relatively straightforward to set up. I’ll soon publish a video demonstrating the steps, but if you are a Micro.blog user, you can already follow the instructions and use the code in this GitHub repository.

How I built it

I’m not a developer, but I learned enough HTML to build my first site back in the 90s, and from there I actually tried learning some other languages. Although that wasn’t for me, and I never fully dedicated myself to programming, that “almost-skill” became incredibly useful. Understanding the logic of how programs work eventually led me to managing projects and leading developer teams.

For this map, I used AI as my developer team. I didn’t simply ask it to “build a map”; I instructed it on exactly how I wanted things to work. For example, I knew I needed a table associating coordinates with categories. Initially, Gemini created a .json file. As a proof of concept, that worked. However, I knew it wouldn’t be practical long-term, as it meant uploading a new file every time I added a city.

When I made sure everything was working, I asked the AI to rewrite the code to read the list from a data file instead.

I approached this project and others similar to it as if I were the one writing the code. I start with the architectural concept and ask the AI to execute the syntax. From that first version, I keep asking it to make changes here and there. And to learn from the process, I always review the code and ask Gemini to explain specific lines. Finally, when I can’t find something in the code, I ask it to tell me where that routine is. I’ll clearly never become a full developer this way, but it certainly makes me better at building these projects.

What’s next?

I’m happy with the result: it’s simple, private, and easy to update. But I also see it as a starting point and a proof of concept. A plugin would be much more practical for general use, and I can already imagine new features—like a field for adding coordinates to a specific post to generate a unique map just for that entry.

If you are a developer and see the potential, go have some fun with it!

Final note

I have a lot of respect for the work developers do, and I find it fascinating that the mysterious codes they write created so many incredible things that make our world run—pun intended 😉. I’m not one of those brilliant minds, but I’m incredibly happy to see something I envisioned published on GitHub. It’s truly an honor.

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:47:32 +0100

It’s 15°C, but with no wind, a bit of heat from the sun, and a good amount of imagination, I may be able to transport myself to summer.

Merry Christmas! 🍻📖

PS. The book is Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse.

Kindle's DRM-free label will finally mean real DRM-free files

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 21:28:06 +0100

EN | PT

At the beginning of this year, Amazon announced that downloading purchased Kindle books from their website would no longer be possible after February 26.

Needless to say, that sparked a lot of anger online. In my case, it triggered a new stage of the Digital Cavemen project. I downloaded all my books, removed the DRM, and switched to the duo of Calibre and BookFusion. I also decided I would only buy new eBooks on Amazon if they were unavailable anywhere else.

That was that, or so I thought. Last week I received an email entitled New eBook Download Options for Readers Coming in 2026. While it might look like they are reverting the February decision, that’s not the case. This is something different.

Starting January 20, 2026, Amazon will make it easier for readers to enjoy content they have purchased from the Kindle store across a wider range of devices and applications by allowing new titles published without Digital Rights Management (DRM) to be downloaded in EPUB and PDF format.

As a KDP author, I could always choose to publish my books without DRM. However, that never meant you could read the book anywhere you liked. Not using DRM simply meant the file could be opened on another Kindle device not registered to you, but the file still wouldn’t work on a Kobo, for example.

So, what this email reveals is that books labeled as DRM-free will finally behave like real DRM-free files. You’ll actually be able to download and read them anywhere. But, there’s a catch.

If you take no action, the DRM-status of your previously published titles will not change but the EPUB and PDF downloads will not be enabled for existing DRM-free titles. If you want to allow reader downloads for these titles, follow the directions below on or after December 9, and select the option not to apply DRM.

As you can see, authors have to manually open each book and confirm they accept the change. I have already started doing this for my books, but I wouldn’t expect it to happen for the majority of the existing catalog. An author has to dig into the settings, select a new DRM box, and wait several minutes for the process to finish for every single title.

Does this change my Digital Caveman strategy? Not really. It is good to see Amazon opening up, even if it is just a bit and basically for show, but there’s no going back for me. The moment I started managing my files in my own system rather than relying on a platform’s permission to download and use them, something clicked, and I started seeing another much more reasonable path.

BookFusion finally made it to my home screen

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 17:39:49 +0100

BookFusion has been my go-to reading app since I freed my Kindle library. Not only can I read on my computer, phone, and even the Supernote, but it automatically sends all my highlights and notes to Obsidian. However, it was only a few days ago that I moved the app icon to my home screen.

There are many new features in version 2.20.17 for Android, but the one that made my day was the support for adaptive icons. When I use an app a lot, it gets added to my home screen—but only if the icon matches my theme.

It’s a small detail, but it matters to me, and that’s why I’m constantly asking developers of apps I love to implement this feature. BookFusion’s icon has finally made it, and I’m hoping Micro.blog will be next. I’ve been asking them to add this for quite a while now.

Back to Obsidian Sync: my first thoughts

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 13:18:38 +0100

Yesterday I subscribed to Obsidian Sync Standard to test the plan I mentioned a few days ago. Trying the new ideas by actually doing things usually reveals different perspectives, and that was certainly the case here. While setting up selective sync, I started weighing the potential for conflicts with Syncthing, and I’m fairly confident in the current flow.

The Mac Mini in my office is on 24/7, essentially acting as a second backup. So, even though Syncthing is set to bidirectional, in practice, the files always flow from my MacBook Air to the Mini.

Here is how I see the scenarios playing out:

Change on MacBook Air: Obsidian Sync updates the phone, while Syncthing updates the Mini.
Change on Phone: Obsidian Sync updates the Air, which then triggers Syncthing to update the Mini.

It’s been less than two full days, but since I’m constantly taking notes in Obsidian, many files have already synced across all three devices without issue.

While the Obsidian side is resolved, my automatic Google Photos backup and the Android-Mac file transfer I built via Syncthing are now gone, and I’ll need to find a new workaround for those. As for the Supernote, I can simply turn on Obsidian Sync there as well.

Simplifying my new Obsidian Sync strategy

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:30:23 +0100

It may be possible to simplify my new Obsidian Sync strategy with a little help from my Timeline System containers and the Selective Sync feature.

I was here checking some numbers, and the Plus plan can handle all the content from my Action and Static Containers. The official Syncthing app will take care of the Timeline, synchronizing it between my two computers—home and office.

I may still explore replacing the Time Machine backup with Carbon Copy Cloner, but that is not entirely necessary now, as separating what each system syncs should prevent conflicts. At least, I think so. 🤭

Syncthing drama and my new Obsidian Sync strategy

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:46:09 +0100

EN|PT

If you are not following the Syncthing-Fork drama, which, by the way, is not an official Syncthing Foundation app, here’s the TL;DR: the person who was maintaining the Android app is not in charge of it anymore, and it looks like people don’t know much about the new person, which is raising concerns about security.

I’m not familiar with the development history or many of the usernames mentioned in the discussion, so I’m not adding any more information to this post to avoid complicating things even further. If you’d like to learn more about the situation, there’s a topic about it on the Syncthing forum, which started on November 13th and is still going.

My plan for this post is to share with you what I’ll be doing about this situation.

Since I’m not technically capable of making sure everything is okay with the code of potential future updates, I turned off the Play Store auto-updates while I was waiting for things to calm down. That also gave me some time to think about what I should do.

What I’m worried about is the fact that Syncthing has to have access to all the files on the device, and to add insult to injury, the Syncthing-Fork app is not an official Syncthing Foundation app.

I was an Obsidian Sync user in the past and moved to Syncthing because of the number of files and the backup system I created. However, a while ago, my vault got so large that I had to set up Syncthing-Fork to sync just a few folders with my phone. It didn’t occur to me at the time, but that may be the solution to my problems. I still need to ensure technical viability, but here’s my plan:

Go back to Obsidian Sync and set the selective sync to the same folders I’m synchronizing now using Syncthing-Fork.
Replace the Time Machine backup I currently use at home with something like Carbon Copy Cloner.
Since using different sync solutions may cause a conflict, I also need to establish some sort of mechanism that will copy that backup to the computer I have at my office located in a different part of the city. Maybe I can even do this with Syncthing for Mac, which is still a Foundation official app.

I was a Carbon Copy Cloner user in the past, but that was a long time ago. So, the first step of this journey is to download the trial version and learn what I can do with it.

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:51:42 +0100

Talking about Open Web, I see more and more news outlets using what I’m calling a free paywall. Many are requiring us to create an account to access free content.

I understand that we all have bills to pay, even corporations, and there’s probably a commercial strategy there. But in contrast, fakenews is free, open, and shared by algorithms to exhaustion.

In the end, journalism is getting more hidden and exclusive every day, while fake news remains widely available.

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 15:47:07 +0100

Even though I’m using Bases for almost everything on my Obsidian Vault, the Map View plugin is still my go-to for plotting my notes on a map. This is especially true after the recent upgrades that brought us paths.

Maybe starting with small kindnesses, we'll change the world a bit

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 11:24:50 +0100

Every time I go for a walk with my dog, especially at night, I can clearly see that people are more excited for Christmas this year. At least where I live, there are more lights, wreaths, and all sorts of decorations compared to the previous years, plus big inflatable Santa Claus figures on many balconies 😊. That was not a thing in the past!

My neighbor even wrapped the main door as a present. So cool! Not to mention that after many, many years, we have a new Christmas tree at the entrance of our building, along with more decoration than usual.

I’m not a Christmas person, but I always enjoy the contagious aspect of the lights and other decorations. Anyway, a few days ago I replaced my trusty coffee mug with the cup my wife got me last December.

I know, the world is super crazy, as we haven’t seen for a long time. But maybe if all of us do a little to improve it a bit, we may be able to build up from there. What about we start by being kind to others? Even a simple “thank you” can change a person’s day.

Merry Christmas! 🎄

My website is a small version of my Obsidian Vault

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 21:00:56 +0100

After some back and forth between Micro.blog and Obsidian Publish, I’m finally finding some peace. Since March 2025, when I decided to go back to Micro.blog, I’ve been building a smaller and public version of my Obsidian Vault.

I believe I thought Publish was the answer to that idea because everything was already in Obsidian, but there are so many pieces missing: from a reliable RSS feed to JavaScript and other web tools.

Every single post and page on my site was and still is an Obsidian note, which I uploaded using Publish in the past and the Micro.publish plugin now. But going back to a ‘normal site’ opened up so many possibilities for things I always wanted to have on my site.

For example, the Library, which I think turned out to be a beautiful page with the thumbnails of books I read, is a representation of a collection of posts about the books. And that also works in my Obsidian Vault using Bases. I started with just a few, but I keep adding new ones all the time.

More recently, I created the Map with pins linked to posts about each city. It was created on top of tags that are converted into categories when Micro.publish sends the note to the site. Again, the tags also work on my Vault, but, of course, there are many more notes there. And, similar to the Library, for now, there are just a few cities on the website. But I’ll keep uploading new posts.

One thing Micro.blog has that I love is the Photos page. It’s automatically built based on images from posts, but I kept it hidden since March because it was a bit messy.

The mechanism of the page is pretty clever. Only .jpg files are added to the grid. So, I use .png files in all my how-to posts. But because of how I imported the posts from Obsidian Publish, everything was converted to .jpg, and I was not happy with that mess, so I decided to hide the page. I finally finished organizing that, and the page is now public.

And just like the Library and the Map, I use Bases filters in Obsidian to display my journal pictures. Some of those are the same photos you can now see on the public Photos page.

Another thing I could never do using Obsidian Publish was to create a system that would automatically show posts in Portuguese for visitors from Brazil and Portugal and in English for the rest of the world.

If I’m being honest, that was something I was always afraid of, thinking it would affect how Google and other search engines index the site. That’s why I never put too much energy into joining the two sites and domain names previously. To my surprise, though, there are now more visitors than the sum of the separate sites I had before. That’s something I would never have guessed.

In conclusion, a site is so much cooler to build than a social media page.

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 11:39:02 +0100

My next phone will definitely be a Fairphone, but since my Pixel 7 is still working perfectly fine, I have no idea when that will happen. On the other hand, the earpads of my current Bluetooth headphones are in terrible condition. One even fell off, but I refuse to create e-waste by buying another one just to see the same thing happen again.

The image below from Fairphone’s website sold me. The new Fairbuds XL not only look awesome, but we can buy spare parts. Even the battery is replaceable! Take note of that, Index 1.

It looks like I just found my Christmas gift.

Is this WhatsApp AI antitrust probe missing the core privacy threat?

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:16:41 +0100

I’m not an AI specialist nor a WhatsApp user, but antitrust looks to me like the least of the problems here.

“Meta to face competition probe over AI use in WhatsApp, Ribera confirms.” —Euractiv

If there’s an AI feature working inside WhatsApp, isn’t it reasonable to assume that at least parts of the conversation are leaving the app? After all, it has to be analyzed by a model sitting in a server somewhere, undermining the end-to-end encryption Meta is constantly bragging about?

And whatever Meta is claiming to do to keep the conversations encrypted will never convince me. If history can tell us something about this company, it is how irresponsible they are with users' data.

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:52:19 +0100

Yes, I know most people will never visit my site, but I’m always adjusting small things here and there as a gardener who takes great care of his plants simply because he loves them.

Sat, 29 Nov 2025 20:55:09 +0100

Just found out that, of the 364 GB of disk space that I am currently using on my Mac, 101 GB is dedicated to my #Obsidian vault. Or, 109 GB if I count the vaults I use to record my YouTube videos.

iPhone market share is much smaller than I thought

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 20:34:37 +0100

I found the Hey there! You are using WhatsApp: Enumerating Three Billion Accounts for Security and Privacy a fascinating read. Unfortunately, it confirmed once more my perception of how Meta couldn’t care less about users' personal information. How is it possible that a single server could download all that data? Unbelievable!

Because of my love for numbers and graphs, I also spent a lot of time on the ones in the paper that, by the way, go way beyond WhatsApp. For example, the one below has to be the best representation so far of the Android-iPhone market share. I’m not a statistician, but I believe a 3.5-billion sample can generate a pretty accurate representation of reality.

To be completely honest, I thought Apple had a bigger market share in both the US and Europe, and it would be cool to see how things changed in a year or two. Meta said they patched the data downloading issue, but given their history of data leaking, I’d say there’s a good chance we’ll be able to see an updated graph in the near future.

Steppenwolf

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 14:50:18 +0100

It’s been so long since I first read Hermann Hesse’s Steppenwolf—back when I was twenty-something—that it feels like I’m encountering it for the very first time. But even barely remembering anything, my subconscious was probably doing its thing, because I’m still at 60% on Caliban’s War—yet for a while now, I’ve been fighting a constant urge to begin following those wolf’s steps one more time.

I couldn’t help myself anymore and started reading it today. Wow! One memory it immediately brought back was about how deep Hesse goes into our troubled human minds—essentially the polar opposite of the vastness of The Expanse. What a contrast! Let’s go!

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 10:49:26 +0100

Just a few weeks after the AWS issues, Cloudflare reminded us, yet again, of how centralization can make the web break so easily.

I'm not taking my chances anymore. From Apple II to Obsidian—My digital memories now stay local.

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 18:25:07 +0100

I can see how appealing something like the Pixel Journal can be to many people. It’s super convenient and will probably be connected to every single Google service—even Gemini—at some point. But just like the iPhone counterpart, in my opinion, it’s yet another way to imprison users in their platforms.

Pixel Journal now available for the Pixel 8 and 9 series. 9to5Google

I’ve lost just about all my digital notes from before 2008 because of how unreliable backup solutions were and the many times I switched to a different system (Apple II, DOS, Windows, and Mac) and software (WordStar, Word, etc.).

Even many of my posts online, which started as static HTML and then moved to proprietary platforms, were lost several times along the way. Thankfully, I could recover some of them by digging through the Internet Archive, but that’s far from ideal.

In 2008 I started using Evernote, which from the very beginning had something called the 3 Laws Of Data Protection:

Your Data is Yours
Your Data is Protected
Your Data is Portable

The “Portable” part is technically true, and I could move all my notes to Obsidian last year, but it’s not as straightforward as they want you to believe. Anyway, I learned my lesson with the process and decided that my precious memories need better care.

I’m not saying Obsidian is for everyone or that it is the best solution, but having my memories in Markdown format and locally saved first gives me an immense peace of mind. I’m not taking my chances anymore; even my blog posts start as Markdown notes and are locally preserved in that format.

I'm delighted with my library in an Obsidian Bases table

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 21:04:10 +0100

There are some posts on my blog about books I’ve read, and, of course, their notes in Obsidian are categorized with properties, making it pretty easy to create a super-cool Bases table. The one below is one of the views of my Blog.base file, created by filtering notes with the type:Blog and tag:Books properties.

I enjoyed this aesthetic so much that I created a similar view for the Library page on my website. Of course, they are organized in reverse chronological order, and even with only nine books, it’s easy to see how my reading choices changed in 2025.

I remember saying to many friends and family members a few times that I needed a pause from the real world, as it is too crazy to bear. Maybe that’s why I’m reading a lot of fiction this year.

Anyway, because this represents just a tiny fraction of the books I’ve already read, I can’t stop thinking about how cool it would be to have my entire collection displayed like this.

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 12:50:59 +0100

There’s no point in waiting anymore. GoatCounter stats provide me with all the information I need, and I just removed the Google Analytics code from my website. I’m proud of one more small step, as I’m no longer contributing to the tracking and spying done by big corporations.

The Timeline System: A Unified Framework for Information and Activity Management

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:42:00 +0100

Author: Vladimir Campos
Date: November 10, 2025

Abstract

The Timeline System can be used for managing digital and physical assets by structuring information based on activity status. At its core are Information Containers (or Containers), which define three distinct operational states—Action, Static, and Timeline. This structure is designed to manage content flow, reduce cognitive load, and unify task management with both active information and retained knowledge. This paper outlines the system’s structure, mechanism, and practical application.

pt: Timeline System: Uma Estrutura Unificada para Gerenciamento de Informações e Atividades

1. Introduction: The Container Metaphor

The Timeline System presents a low-friction methodology for managing information based on activity status. At its core are Information Containers (or simply Containers)—virtual spaces that hold pieces of information related to the same activity, topic, or project.

The system itself is defined by three distinct operational states: Action, Static, and Timeline.

To simplify understanding, this paper employs the vertical organization metaphor. Imagine three shelves and cardboard boxes to universally illustrate the movement of content. It is important to note, though, that these conceptual tools are purely descriptive, as the actual storage mechanism varies widely across digital applications (e.g., folders, notebooks, or boards).

2. System Architecture: The Three Container Types

The Timeline System defines three primary Container types, each corresponding to a distinct status in the lifecycle of an activity or knowledge asset:

Container Type	Status	Function
Action	In Progress/Active	Ongoing activities, projects, and immediate work in progress.
Static	Support/Reference	Short-term support and frequently referenced materials necessary for daily operations.
Timeline	Complete/Historical	Completed activities or long-term support materials.

Central to the Timeline System is the act of moving notes or folders between Containers to indicate a change in status. This mechanism reduces friction and leverages visual cues for activity tracking, redefining digital organization by merging time awareness, task management, and information structuring.

Examples of how the Containers are represented across various applications:

Computer: Folders
Evernote: Notebooks
Real World: Boxes
Obsidian: Folders

3. How it Works: The Shelf Analogy

The system can be visualized as a structure with three shelves. By moving an Information Container (or content within it) from one shelf to another, this signals a change in the status of the related activity.

3.1. Action (The Top Shelf)

The top shelf is the working surface. It holds the Action Containers—the boxes in use and the active work in progress.

Definition of “In Progress”: An item is considered “in progress” the moment it enters the user’s active thought sphere. This status applies across the entire execution cycle: from the earliest stage of conceptualization and planning (even without a written structure) to the final phase of content creation. For example, a note for a video script can start as basic as a rough title and remain “in progress” until the work is formally concluded (e.g., the video is published) or the idea is completely abandoned.

3.2. Timeline (The Bottom Shelf)

The bottom shelf serves as the historical record. Once work is finished in the Action Container, its content is moved to the Timeline.

Content vs. Container Movement: To maintain the structural integrity for future work (e.g., future video projects), the default action is to move only the content (e.g., the completed script note) to a corresponding Container structure on the Timeline shelf, rather than moving the entire project folder. This allows for the movement of specific content from one status to another while keeping the main project structure ready for future reuse.
- Retiring Containers: There are three scenarios where the entire Container should be retired from the Action or Static shelves and moved to the Timeline:
  - The activity is definitively abandoned and will not be revisited.
  - The activity was a one-time task (e.g., a short, self-contained project) for which the organizational structure is no longer needed.
  - The broader category of activity it represents is no longer active or relevant (e.g., ceasing video production or client consulting).
The Roles of the Timeline: Content in the Timeline is never discarded; it retains critical value by fulfilling several roles:
- Long-Term Reference: It serves as a comprehensive knowledge base or memory, allowing users to reference old data, documents, or images to connect past activities and inform current work.
- Reuse: It allows for the retrieval and reactivation of past projects. If a client returns, their Container can be located and moved back to the Action shelf for immediate reuse.
- Historical Archive: It securely stores all information that may never be consulted again. By defaulting all completed content here, the risk of data loss or uncertainty is minimized.

3.3. Static (The Middle Shelf)

The middle shelf, positioned between Action and Timeline, is the Static shelf. It houses Static Containers—assets that assist in day-to-day operations but are not necessarily tied to a specific project milestone. Extending the desk analogy, if the Action shelf represents the active working surface, the Static shelf can be likened to the drawers beneath, where frequently accessed reference and support materials are kept.

Purpose: Static Containers hold frequently used or constantly consulted support materials. Examples include a Knowledge Base, family documents, or essential departmental manuals and templates.
Flow: Content on the Static shelf must maintain utility. If an asset (like an expired document) ceases to be frequently used or current, it is moved to the Timeline for long-term storage, and the updated or new asset is placed on the Static shelf.

4. Conclusion

The Timeline System offers a robust and adaptable framework by unifying activity control and information organization. Unlike systems that separate task management from knowledge storage, the Timeline System treats the Information Container itself as the fundamental unit of work.

This unification delivers two advantages:

Instant Status and Context: By linking the status (Action, Static, or Timeline) directly to the information (the Container), the system ensures that the context required to understand an activity is always immediately available alongside its current state. There is no need to reference a separate task list to know what a project is about or where it stands.
Streamlined Flow: The act of moving content between these three defined states transforms organization from a cognitive burden into a simple, natural reflection of the work lifecycle (e.g., in-progress, support, or complete).

By clearly defining status through the Action, Static, and Timeline Container types, the system provides a visual and cognitive advantage, successfully merging time awareness and information structuring into a single, cohesive methodology.

Timeline System update: small tweaks, different analogies, but the same essence.

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 17:16:12 +0100

I needed a way to easily carry my #Pi Zero, along with all its cables and connectors, back and forth between home and the studio. To solve this, I decided to build a mount using an acrylic board in true MacGyver style 🤓. Now I can just throw it in my backpack and start learning #Python and getting familiar with #Linux wherever I am.

I dubbed this one myself with my real voice. No AI involved. If it doesn’t start in English, you can switch to it using the settings/language selector (gear icon ⚙ at the bottom of the video player).

Pi Zero

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 10:38:11 +0100

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 01:26:16 +0100

I’ve been using the Vivaldi browser for a few weeks, and overall, I’m pretty happy with the experience. Among its many interesting features, there’s a tracker-blocking feature, which made me aware of how much tracking Google is doing on my visitors because of the Analytics code I added to my site.

Of course I knew that was a thing, but seeing the numbers was a bit shocking, especially because the stats Vivaldi shows me are only counting my visits to my website. So, I decided to do my part and am now trying GoatCounter, which, in their words, “doesn’t track users with unique identifiers” and “identifies unique visits without cookies or persistently storing any personal data.”

I’ll be testing it for a few weeks, and if I’m happy with the results, I’ll remove the Google Analytics code from my site.

📷 Dog vs. Seagull

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 15:54:37 +0100

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 18:18:21 +0100

I’ve been gradually replacing my Action Containers subfolders and notes with Obsidian Bases tables. Each one has at least two views: (1) list of notes in progress, and (2) list of all notes of that kind. They are created using the status checkbox property.

Notes is a list of all my .md files (notes) in reverse chronological order.

As for Organizing Blog, that’s a table of posts I have to fix. Long story short, I made a mess when I imported my blog from Obsidian Publish and have been reviewing all my posts since. The status checkbox property is also how I can tell what notes I still need to work on.

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 09:59:36 +0100

Using the Unique Note Creator to save all of my notes and files in a single folder and my Notes table on Bases to find anything, as shown in a recent video, is working so well for me. The only thing I’m missing is a way to take a picture from inside a note on my phone. Imagine if the #Obsidian toolbar had an option like Open Camera to take a picture and have that picture saved in the default folder and the link created in the note.

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 13:22:49 +0100

I found this wonderful chair in the trash the other day! The broken leg is the only problem, and I can definitely fix it. Everything else is in perfect condition, so I just couldn’t leave it. I don’t know if you’ve ever sat on a chair like this, but the mesh is so comfortable, and it brings back so many memories from my childhood. My grandmother had many furniture pieces like this one.

Did I find a bug on Micro.blog? Somehow, Bluesky cross-posting survived a domain removal.

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 17:50:47 +0100

I’m sharing the following because I’m not sure if this is how it’s supposed to work or if there is a bug. I had two sites with two different domains, each one in a separate Micro.blog account connected to separate Bluesky accounts. To make things easier to explain, let’s call them site A and B.

After moving all the posts from A to B, I went to CloudFlare and redirected A’s domain name to B’s domain name, removed the domain name from A’s Micro.blog account, and downgraded that account to a free tier.

Everything was working fine, but every post I made on B was being cross-posted to A’s connected Bluesky account. At first I thought the CloudFlare redirect was interfering with it, but I realized that was unlikely, as the redirect was moving site traffic from A to B, which was the opposite direction of the problematic cross-posting.

Then today it clicked. Although I had removed the domain name from A and downgraded it to a free account, the Bluesky cross-posting was still set on that account. So, maybe, somehow the CloudFlare redirect is creating some sort of loop.

I just removed the cross-posting setting from A and will keep an eye on my next posts on B, starting with this one.

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 13:29:30 +0100

I always wanted to use these guys in a project. It’s finally time 👏🏻

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 13:50:20 +0100

I’ve been doing so many experiments with #Obsidian Bases, but one of the first things I did was to make a list of all my notes to try to mimic the way I used the #Evernote list of notes.

I’m pretty sure some of you will ask me why I blurred tags and other information that doesn’t seem that private. Well, they are. For example, I have my car license plate as a tag, and because it starts with a number, it’s the first one that pops up in the list. Some of the Bases views have the names of places, like where my new home will be. The People property has the names of family members, clients, etc. Anyway, there’s a reason for everything I blurred.

As for having a separate account for the videos, I do have one and use it for most recordings. However, every once in a while I like to share my real account because it has so many details I tailored over the years, and it’s impossible to keep a 100% accurate copy of that in a second account.

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 23:18:10 +0100

The first time I watched The Expanse, I treated it like an action story I could casually watch. But after reading books 1, 2, and half of 3 and rewatching seasons 1, 2, and 3, I’m impressed by the sheer amount of details I missed the first time. Not to mention that all the details in the books expanded the story universe so much more 😆. Now, excuse me, I still have a lot to rewatch and read. Time to get back to the Rocinante! 😉

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 17:19:11 +0100

Blog transition completed. Since I have all my posts locally and in Markdown, it was much easier than I anticipated. CloudFlare was also of great help, as I could set the old domain name to automatically redirect all posts from one domain to another. There are still some small details that I have to adjust here and there, but it feels so good to use the same website for everything and, at the same time, have the posts delivered to you in the correct language.

Special thanks to people all over the world who checked if the correct website language was being displayed.

Of course, as I mentioned before, if you filter posts by one of the categories, that will display posts with that category in both languages. Also, social media posts will be in both languages because everything I post on my blog is automatically published to connected social media accounts.

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 09:25:31 +0100

Hi there, I need a favor from someone who doesn’t live in Brazil or Portugal. Could you please visit my website by typing only vladcampos.com (just the main address) and tell me if you were redirected to the English version?

From now on, I'll post in two languages.

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 18:29:21 +0100

When I got access to the multi-language audio on all my YouTube channels, I thought I’d finally be able to start posting videos in English and Portuguese on the same channel. But when I tried the feature, I quickly realized that dubbing the videos with my voice would be much harder than recording two full videos in both languages. However, I couldn’t stop thinking about how cool that would be, and maybe that’s what triggered another idea, a ‘why not?’ moment.

Embracing the Mess

I currently have two separate blogs mainly because of the mess categories or tags create when I use the same blog to write in both languages. For example, if you filter the posts by “obsidian”, the list will contain articles in both languages. I ended up opting for two separate blogs because I’m not a developer and have no intentions of having a complex multi-language site. Furthermore, I enjoy the simplicity and social integrations Micro.blog has.

But what if I embrace the mess? And by “I”, I mean you! 😂

The Tiny Theme, which is what I use on my blog, has a Microhook for the navigation menu, meaning I can set it up however I want. My idea was to use PT and EN categories for the posts and use those to create separate menus for the pages and a timeline in each language.

After a few hours of going back and forth with Gemini, we came up with a pretty cool solution to switch from one language to the other. But since all other categories are basically the same in both languages, there will be no separation in the list of posts if a category filter is used.

It’s a bit messy, but it’s also how my brain works. This post in particular will probably be translated because it’s an explanation of what’s happening to the blog, but my posts are rarely translated. Sometimes I feel like writing in English; other times, I prefer Portuguese.

Merging the Socials

Anyway, since I’m doing this with the blog, I also decided it would be a good idea to unify my social media accounts as well. Currently I have two Mastodon and two Bluesky accounts, and that’s a lot of work. So, expect posts in both languages there as well.

Oh, you can also expect missing menus, pages, and posts while I merge everything into a single blog.

This is just the latest chapter in my two-blog problem that’s been haunting me since forever.

Welcome to the newly merged (and slightly chaotic) blog!

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 20:56:14 +0100

I’m finally down to a single template with every property I need, which greatly simplifies the process of creating #Obsidian Bases tables. 🫣 What about enough screen space for taking notes?

My own voice in another language! (YouTube Dubbing Upgrade)

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 13:56:00 +0100

I dubbed one of my videos using YouTube’s Multi-language Audio and even though the result was only good enough, I believe it ended up much better than the AI alternative.

The video below has two audio tracks recorded by me: the original in Portuguese and an additional one in English. If your YouTube account isn’t set to Portuguese, you should be hearing it in English.

This Multi-language Audio feature is a much better option in comparison to the AI-created auto-dubbing, but it is a lot of work. I spent the morning doing some tests, and I noticed that to achieve a good enough video, a lot of preparation has to be done.

To upload your own dubbing track, go to the Video Details page on YouTube Studio, select Languages, then click the Add language button, choose the language, and, finally, click on Add next to Dub to upload your file.

At least for now, it doesn’t look like YouTube is doing anything to make sure one track is perfectly aligned with the other. It even recommends having dubbed audios with the same length as the original. This means I had to script the video, record it in one language, and then, when recording the other, I had to make sure it would end up at around the same duration.

It may not look like it, but that was a ton of work. And this is as basic as a video can get. The amount of work it would take to do this on one of my how-to videos, for example, is too much compared to just recording two separate videos. And that’s what I believe YouTube should be doing.

Creators who speak and record in more than one language should be able to upload entire videos in different languages. Depending on the settings of who’s watching, YouTube would play the better-matching video. That would be a game changer.

For now, I’ll only be dubbing just some of my videos - most likely the ones where I’m sharing the screen most of the time.

Nevertheless, this is one more important step towards making creators' content reachable by people from anywhere in the world.

Iterating on the car kitchen

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:51:00 +0100

Even though it was just a very basic prototype, using the car trunk as a space for cooking worked very well. So much so that it inspired me to try another idea. What if, instead, I created a self-contained box with all the kitchen items inside it that I could simply grab from the trunk and put on a table to start cooking?

The upcoming summer trip was the perfect opportunity to test this concept, so I started building it. But this time I wanted something more polished and invested some time planning all the details.

The final product is simple, yet contains everything I frequently use on every camping trip. It’s basically two drawers made with euroboxes with several custom-made dividers.

Oh, that cardboard wrapped in aluminum around the stove is there as a temporary hack to prevent the wind from blowing the fire. I couldn’t find any option to buy with the perfect dimensions, so future me will have to fix this by making one.

During the long summer trip, I took note of a few small details that I’d like to change here and there, but I was super happy with the final product. Final? Well…

After loading and unloading the portable kitchen from the trunk several times during the trip, I came up with a specific way to position it that would give me access to the items in the drawers. Because I could open the trunk and work on simple dishes from there without having to bring the entire box to a table, I had one of those a-ha moments.

What if I create a platform to raise it and include a sliding mechanism like in the first prototype? Something similar to what you can see in the picture above, but higher. That would give me access to the rest of the trunk for storage, and I would even be able to cook without having to remove the entire box from the car.

Honestly, I couldn’t stop thinking about that idea during the whole trip — especially when we stopped at resting areas to make some coffee.

Obsidian and my two-blog problem hunting me since forever.

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 10:15:41 +0100

As you may remember, I have two websites: one in Portuguese and another in English. This is something I have to constantly take into account when looking for hosting, social media, and, honestly, almost any other online activity.

When I was using Obsidian Publish, I ended up creating /en and /pt sections in the same site, but that came with several problems back then and now. For example, Micro.blog offers up to a five-blog plan, but all the posts go to the same ActivityPub feed. That’s not ideal when the blogs have different topics or languages. So, when I decided to move back to Micro.blog, I opted for two different blogs, which immediately created another problem.

I use the Micro.publish plugin to post from Obsidian, and of course, it has to be logged in to my Micro.blog account, which is now two accounts.

The first idea I came up with to fix this was to create two new vaults, one for each blog. Technically speaking, that worked very well. But it didn’t take long to see how incompatible it was with the way I use Obsidian. My notes and files are all interconnected using tags, properties, and even links. For example, I might create a trip journal note and link that to a blog post, or use an image from a note in a post. The web of connection is so deep that when I moved both blogs to different vaults, it broke many links. So, I’m back to having both blogs in my main vault.

After giving it some thought, I came up with a workaround that, to be honest, is not 100% safe. Each site has its own directory in my vault, and my main Obsidian is connected to the Portuguese Micro.blog account. Then, I created a nested vault using the English site subfolder and connected that second vault to my other Micro.blog account.

Yes, that’s a recipe for disaster if one is not careful.

To make it less prone to making a big mess, I took some precautions. The second vault now has a red accent color to make it clear I’m in a dangerous zone. In addition to that, I changed the Default location for new attachments to Same folder as current file and the New link format to Shortest path possible.

To be entirely transparent, saving attachments in the same folder is something I started experimenting with a few days ago, when I went on a trip and only used Obsidian on my phone for 10 days. That was an experience in itself, as I noticed how tricky it can be to use the app on a phone 100% of the time, but that’s a story for another day.

Back to the multiple-blog problem. Yesterday, I posted a test from the second vault, and it worked flawlessly. This will be the second post from there, but this one has links, tags, and other potential failure points.

Anyway, this multiple-language situation has been haunting me since I started my first website back in 1997, and I believe it will stick with me forever.

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 17:32:42 +0100

Hi, this is a test. With #Coffee, of course 😉

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 22:22:11 +0100

Morning of day two of a spectacular trip camping with my wonderful wife and lovely dog in Spain and France. Along the way, we stopped at so many random places to contemplate the view and even make coffee. It was such a great adventure.

We are now on our final stretch heading home, but I’ll never forget the richness of this experience.

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 18:06:39 +0100

#pixelart #invaders #toulouse #france

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 11:27:18 +0100

I’m super impressed by the new #Supernote digest feature. It not only gives me a reason to go back to their #ePub reader (we’ll see about that), but it also solves a problem I’ve been struggling with for a long time: capturing and saving snippets from physical media.

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 15:07:39 +0100

Once I switched my site back from Obsidian Publish to Micro dot blog, I needed a way to make sure I had a copy of all my posts in #Obsidian. It would also be good to keep track of the progress of all the article and video ideas I have. After giving it some thought, I came up with a system that combines #Kanban and the Timeline System, and I’m excited about it.

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 10:11:23 +0100

Hi, this is a test.

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 15:46:02 +0100

Roman Mars' thoughts on efficiency on @99pi.org E641 were so profound that I had to relisten to the segment many times. It completely changed how I’ll think about it from now on. Many thanks, @romanmars.bsky.social. And congrats on the 15th anniversary.

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 23:47:09 +0100

Just watched it on Disney+ and I really liked Thunderbolts*

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 15:08:49 +0100

I was counting down the minutes to start playing with #Obsidian Bases, but I knew something as cool as that would mean disrupting so many other projects in progress. Today, I finally started playing with it, and I’m glad I hadn’t done it before. Wow! 😳 The potential is blowing my mind!

📷 Mastodon

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 09:36:25 +0100

🎉 I finally found my GeoCities address!

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 12:26:10 +0100

For a long time, I’ve been going through all these #GeoCities archives, searching for everything I remember having on that first site I ever created. I tried the title of the site, content I remembered, and so on. But because the results never contained the page itself, I kept ignoring them. This time, I don’t know why—maybe out of curiosity—I decided to open some of the pages, and boom! One of them had a link to my page.

Finally finding the address was so exciting, but unfortunately, the oldest archive I could locate is from 1999, which is too new. It’s a more modern version of the website, not the first one I created. But at least I now have something more precise to keep my archaeology interests alive.

[Update] Just found out that the archived site from 1999 has this at the bottom of the page: © Copyright 1997 - Vladimir Campos. Meaning that I believe it is fair to say that my first website was published in 1997. Almost 30 years ago 😳

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 15:09:43 +0100

Mercado do Bolhão #porto #opo #ff

Careful. This can mess up your Obsidian Vault settings.

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 15:59:36 +0100

What you are about to read is a real story that happened to one of my clients recently.

Let me start with some context. This is a person who was an Evernote user and who recently switched to Obsidian. He contacted me to help him with his company’s workflow and also with his personal life organization.

We started with the personal life part, and as I was showing him how to set up the Timeline System, I was also sharing some Obsidian good practices. There was a lot to do, and that’s why I was gradually introducing him to the system and adding plugins as he needed them. All that to say that it was a bit frustrating for him to see everything going away so easily.

When he shared his screen, the accent color he had already changed was back to the default purple, all the plugins were gone, and there were other small problems here and there. I could clearly see that something had happened to the Obsidian settings folder, but when I asked if he had done something to it, he told me he didn’t even know about it. Just in case, I decided

to show him how to find it, revealing the computer’s hidden files and folders. You can learn more about that by watching the video below.

When you change a setting on Obsidian, that translates to a file or folder inside the .obsidian folder. If you think about it, it’s a pretty clever solution because no matter how you synchronize your Vault, the settings will be synchronized as well.

And that was related to what made him quickly fall in love with Obsidian. Having control over the Vault files, which in his case, contain a lot of strategic information regarding his clients, was a game changer. That brought him a lot of comfort and peace of mind, but also the excitement to move a huge number of files and folders to the Vault at once. I don’t blame him. As you know, I was there too. I learned my lesson the hard way, and I knew that was about to happen to him too.

Things on his side also got a bit out of control, and he decided to restart his Vault. However, instead of removing folders that were creating too much clutter, he decided to move the three Timeline System folders to a different parent folder and then make it his new Obsidian Vault. But he missed one important detail. Remember the hidden .obsidian? Well, among other things, that’s where the Tasks and Homepage plugins were. So, his task system and many other things I’d set up with him were now gone.

Thankfully he had a Time Machine backup, and fixing everything was as easy as recovering that .obsidian folder and moving it to the new Vault folder.

It was a bit scary for him, but the Obsidian file-first approach is something so valuable for him now that in the end, he was completely fine with what happened. He even joked about it.

“With great power comes great responsibility.”

That’s it, one more happy ending story. And by the way, the file-first approach is also something I cannot live without anymore.

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 11:03:59 +0100

As I mentioned the other day, migrating to EU services is much harder than I thought. Creating the redirect rules was proving to be more complex than I anticipated, especially since I also have a website in Portuguese, which is now on a separate domain. Anyway, I would rather not waste your time with this massive can of worms. Long story short, I moved the website domain back to .com. At least it’s still hosted on an EU server.

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 09:47:21 +0100

Good morning #coffee friends.

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 19:19:08 +0100

The Global Search and Replace is yet another incredibly useful #Obsidian plugin that lets us find and change specific text in several notes at once. It really helped me with my most recent project, where I had to change a few details in so many notes.

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 12:42:00 +0100

Moving all the online services I use to the EU will definitely be much harder than I anticipated. Here’s an example. So, I decided to take the small steps I can already deal with.

The Mastodon instance I regularly post to is already in Europe. As for Obsidian, I run my own syncing service between my home and office. A few months ago, I moved my Supernote notes to a server in Europe. And because I was already working on the migration of my site back to Micro.blog, I decided to move it to a server in Europe and also switch the domain from .com to .eu.

In case you don’t know…

According to Wikipedia, “The .com domain was originally administered by the United States Department of Defense, but is today operated by Verisign, and remains under the ultimate jurisdiction of U.S. law.”

As for .eu, it is “based on Regulation (EC) No 733/2002 and was launched in December 2005. EURid, a Belgian not-for-profit organization, manages the .eu TLD registry.” Source

I don’t believe small attitudes like this make any difference in the grand scheme of things, but they definitely make me feel better, and this matters a lot.

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 22:04:27 +0100

I finally replaced the small tripod that used to clutter my mini home office desk. Using too much space wasn’t the only problem; it was also a bit wobbly, causing my separate clips to be slightly misaligned. You probably never noticed, but it drove me crazy during editing!

I’ll be talking more about this on the vladcampos Labs channel, but the white tube holding the articulating arm is actually an upside-down table leg! 😁 They’re cheap, come in multiple sizes, and are super easy to screw into any wooden surface. I have a bunch of them all over my studio, and I love them.

P.S. That iPod is not a decoration piece. I actually use it

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 17:00:55 +0100

The Multi Properties plugin was a lifesaver for my recent project (you know, that one 😉). It made adding and removing properties from several #Obsidian notes super easy. If you’ve been looking for a way to do that, I just published a video explaining exactly how to use it.

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 22:47:41 +0100

I finished importing all my #Obsidian #Markdown notes (posts) into Micro dot blog. Of course, there were some glitches and some problems I created myself, but overall it was as easy and simple as something like this gets. I took many notes along the way and had many ideas that I intend to share in a longer post and some videos.

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 11:01:34 +0100

One thing I would love to be able to do on #Obsidian would be to click on a file in the files list and then use the up and down arrows on the keyboard to switch from one file to another on the list. 🤔 Hmm, there’s probably a plugin that can do that.

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 16:33:38 +0100

My entire website was created using Obsidian notes, all written in Markdown. I already knew that Micro.blog supports Markdown, but when I started entertaining the idea of moving my site back there, I found out about the Markdown import feature, which uses the Frontmatter (Properties) for the post title, publication date, URL, and even tags.

After a few hours testing the tool with some of my posts, I was ready to start cleaning all of them, so I copied them to a new Vault. The Multi Properties and Global Search and Replace plugins were so useful that I’ll probably publish videos about them.

There are people who see Obsidian as a tool for developers, but when I find and use plugins like the above to perform complex tasks with a click of a mouse, what I see is a powerful tool making anyone’s life much easier.

PS. The website migration process is still in progress.

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 19:11:44 +0100

I know, I know. I just told you about my idea of using Micro.blog as a Social Hub but, to be fair, I also said it was a test. Anyway, I changed my mind. I’m moving my entire site back to Micro.blog 😳.

Okay, there will be a longer post or a video about this, but the TL;DR is:

The few posts I’ve published since I started this experiment reminded me how much I felt connected to you guys when I was posting all the time on my blog.
This was the perfect combination of elements to finally switch my site to an EU server and my domain to .eu.

More on all the above later. For now, have a lovely weekend.

PS.: While I’m in the process of moving all my content from my .com address to this new .eu home, both sites will be active.

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 21:55:45 +0100

There’s no such thing as an uncomplicated subject in the #EU.

New euro banknotes spark Franco-Polish dispute over Marie Curie’s name

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:37:48 +0100

They can definitely use a little cleaning, but now that I found the #Pebble straps I have another excuse to finally start fixing the watch.

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 10:47:12 +0100

The more I share my ideas, the more ideas I get. I just made a small improvement to the Tasks system I created on my #Obsidian Home Page. Video coming up soon. Maybe today! 😉

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 09:37:15 +0100

As a Star Trek fan, I had no choice but to immediately click on that YouTube thumbnail: “Official Trailer | Star Trek: Khan.” It was impossible not to!

When I started watching it felt like a game promotion, which was a bit frustrating since I’m not a gamer. But like any true fan, I didn’t give up.

“George Takei? This is definitely a game,” I thought, yet I kept watching. Then came the big reveal: It’s a podcast! 🤯 Wow, I was not expecting that.

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 10:18:51 +0100

I still need to test sharing YouTube videos and articles from my main site, but I’m enjoying the idea of having a Social Hub so far. Especially for sharing short posts like this one. On the other hand, I’ll need to rethink my content organization strategies for my main site because this new “portal” also doubles as a timeline.

As for my videos, I’m starting the tests now 😊. I’ve set them to automatically be posted on my Social Hub, which will in turn send them to Mastodon and Bluesky. So, just a heads-up: some posts might look a little rough around the edges on my Bluesky and Mastodon as I work out the possible glitches.

Have a great week 😉

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 11:23:40 +0100

Do you know those shelving units from #Ikea made of cubes? This one is three cubes high, and I keep it next to my incredibly small home office desk (also from Ikea). The desk itself has already gone through some #IkeaHacks, but I still have many plans for it!

Anyway, it was time to make these boxes more efficient. As you can see in one of the pictures from yesterday, the base of the cube at the top of the stack almost aligns perfectly with my desk. So, the plan is to create a platform that I can pull out and put things on when I’m working at the desk. This is what that sketch I recently shared was all about.

In addition to the platform that will slide out like a drawer, there will also be a shelf. I’m not yet sure if it will slide with the platform or stay inside—that’s for future me to decide! For now, the plan is to finish the platform section.

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 23:42:47 +0100

I’m testing a new idea! I’ve set social.vladcampos.com as my Micro.blog domain and configured it to cross-post to Mastodon and Bluesky.

Now, I can use Micro.blog to post links to YouTube videos (from both channels), and to articles I publish on my main site. As for photos, and short updates, I can do it directly on Micro.blog. This automatically does two things: it shares everything on Mastodon and Bluesky, and simultaneously creates an RSS feed with all my published content.

I think this has the potential to work really well, but I need to test it for a few days!

P.S. This post was created using the setup above 😊

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 21:08:00 +0100

I’m trying to visualize a project I’ve been brewing for a long time. It’s a small one, but it demands a few precisely cut pieces of wood, and that’s why I’ve been postponing it for a while. But this coming weekend may be it. Wish me luck with those cuts! 😁 #Maker #Woodworking #Supernote

It seems like you don't have to wait four hours like they said in the official Obsidian Forum.

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 01:00:00 +0100

After additional experiments with sharing the #Obsidian-Publish permalinks on social media, I discovered that if I do so two hours after the page goes live, the image will appear on the social media post. I haven’t had any luck with a one-hour wait, though.

Next, I’ll try one and a half hours 😉

UPDATE: So, it looks like my two-hour theory is a bit hit or miss. I’m adding this update because it took a bit more than two hours for the image on this one to appear.

My Obsidian Publish infinite loop. The saga of creating new problems by solving others.

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 01:00:00 +0100

It’s incredible how solutions can have a side effect, creating new obstacles. And I secretly love dealing with that challenge.

Like usual, I’m sharing something I just learned. But let’s begin with the issue. If you use Obsidian Publish to post your notes, the address of the page will be something resembling the path to the note in your vault, which creates two headaches.

If you move that note to another folder in your vault, the page address will change if you update it. And the last thing you want is your site pages changing addresses.
I’m not an SEO specialist, and there is conflicting information about this online, but some say the address format is an important signal. I have no idea whether it’s critical or not, but the address created by Obsidian Publish looks horrible.

The solution to both is adding your own address as a permalink, which Obsidian Publish allows you to do with a property:

Long story short, all my notes have a permalink, but of course, that created a new problem. Do you know when we publish a link on social media and it creates a miniature with a thumbnail and some details about that post?

Obsidian Publish has some properties that you can use to tell the social media site where to look for that information: cover: or image: for the thumbnail and description: for the description. You can learn all about this on the Obsidian Help site.

That set me on a quest that led me to this Obsidian Forum post: “Pages with permalink take longer to have a social preview.” There’s a long conversation there, but here’s the TL;DR:

Wait for four hours before sharing the permalink on social media.
Use the original link instead. That link will always exist, even if you create a permalink. Also, it doesn’t take four hours to show the image.

How to Find the Original Link

Open the Obsidian command palette, and type Publish: open in live site. That will first open the page using the original address and then switch to the permalink.

It’s too fast to see, but if you go to your browser history, you’ll notice that page appearing twice in the list. The older one has the original address. Right-click on it and copy the link.

Yes, I know what you are thinking…

I agree. It’s incredible how there’s always a side effect creating new problems. But don’t worry, you’ll be the first one to know when I find out how using the original address creates new complications.

Returning to a beloved book universe.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 01:00:00 +0100

The last time I was so deeply involved with a universe, a book universe, was when I was reading my favorite author to this day, Fernando Sabino.

He would repeat sentences, ideas, and situations across all these completely unrelated stories and books, so I always thought he was talking about his life, but with a little touch of fiction. One could say that there was a universe—the author’s life universe—a parallel world with countless things that readers could relate to and understand.

This was many, many years ago. Decades ago. I read several other authors after finishing all his books, but none of them were able to create the same type of connection.

I’m currently on book two of The Expanse series. About 70 percent of that book, and I can’t wait to read book three. By the way, are there six or nine books? Anyway, what I know is there’s an end to the saga, and I’m already sad about that.

What am I supposed to do when I read all the books?

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 01:00:00 +0100

When I asked Gemini Flash if it could do a specific task or if I should use Gemini Pro for that, it told me that there was no need to use Pro for that. Then, it came up with a detailed explanation of why it was perfectly capable of doing that and what kind of tasks I should ask Pro to do. It was hilarious. 😆 I could only picture a worker telling me something like:

“There’s no need to call my boss. I know how to do that.”

Tweaking some Obsidian plugins (weekend housekeeping)

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 01:00:00 +0100

Yesterday, I spent some time adjusting the settings of two Obsidian plugins — Voicenotes and BookFusion. That inevitably got me thinking about how cool it is to have apps and services automatically send information to a centralized space. What’s even cooler is that even if Obsidian ceases to exist tomorrow, all the files will still be organized and available in my computer’s file system.

BookFusion

When making some small adjustments to what I showed in a recent video, I noticed that the plugin isn’t creating “Lists” in my vault. I even went back to my video and realized that this issue was already present back then.

Anyway, if you look at the images below, you can see, by the lighter green link, that the notes “Completed” and “Currently Reading” don’t exist in my Vault. In other words, the plugin isn’t creating them, even though I have all “Index” options set to synchronize.

By the way, if you’re having trouble understanding what I’m talking about, please watch this video.

Looking at the images below from my BookFusion dashboard, you can also see that the book Caliban’s War is in the “Currently Reading” list and the three others are in the “Completed” list.

It’s possible I’m doing something wrong, but after checking all settings and not being able to figure out the problem, I decided to email the BookFusion team. I’ll update this post when I hear back from them.

Voicenotes Unofficial Plugin

I’ve been testing the Voicenotes Pages feature to produce a video about it, which is why I decided to also dedicate some time to make adjustments to the plugin settings.

Again, I’m not sure if I’m the one doing something wrong, but it looks like the variable that creates the title for the note is also including the date.

Then, there’s a suggestion. As you know, I like to have all my files in the Files folder in my Timeline, but the plugin doesn’t let us choose where to save Voicenotes attachments. My suggestion was to allow us to do that.

That’s it for this one. I just wanted to share the recent updates because, as you know, I’m always tweaking things around here.

Experimenting with Voicenotes integration into Obsidian blog

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Note: Originally posted on my Voicenotes Page.

I’m using the unofficial Voicenotes plugin in Obsidian and I have it set to download everything. Not only the text but also the audio, the attachments, everything. I even have some properties that will capture links, the title, and a lot of other information.

So, I’m here thinking that maybe it is possible to create a copy of this post—that I’m adding to Voicenotes Pages—in my Obsidian blog.

Well, it’s not “maybe”, it is indeed possible because, ultimately, it’s also being created as an Obsidian note. All I have to do is set the plugin’s template to download the post and everything else but with the appropriate properties, the ones that I use to publish on Obsidian Publish.

Hmm, this is an interesting experiment. Let’s see how it goes.

AI as a powerful Tool, not a Commander.

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 01:00:00 +0100

It’s tempting to outsource more and more tasks to powerful AI tools. But how far should we go? Have we already reached a point where we’re blindly handing over too much control? And what harm is this already doing to our growth and critical thinking?

In a recent post, I discussed keeping AI siloed, and here’s an example of what I meant. When I’m with a client, I take notes while we’re talking. This helps me better process everything and puts my brain into an intentional mode. Which, in turn, helps me come up with important questions to ask in real time and also triggers ideas for solutions to their workflow.

Even so, sometimes real-time note-taking isn’t possible. For instance, the other day, when I was helping an independent professional, I was demonstrating how to use the Timeline System to build his workflow by sharing my Supernote screen. In other words, I didn’t have enough hands to type.

However, right after the meeting, I opened Voicenotes, pressed record, and started speaking as if I were typing in real time. If I can’t take notes during a meeting, I make sure to do it immediately afterward to avoid forgetting any essential details. After all, that’s the whole point of taking notes.

I usually write everything out, even if it’s after the fact. But, in this particular case, I had another appointment, and, as I said, I would rather not forget anything. (By the way, any similar application would have worked; I chose Voicenotes because it has a web app.)

After finishing the recording, I went to the web, copied the transcription, and pasted it into the client’s note in Obsidian. There, I fixed the mistakes and added additional details, which ultimately triggered new ideas, also noted down to be shared with the client in the next session.

Yes, I can hear you! Here’s why I haven’t used AI to do everything.

Imagine asking AI to create all the topics for a specific meeting. Then, it emails all participants who, during the meeting, used AI to record and summarize it. Each attendee then asks AI to generate suggestions. Finally, someone consolidates all the suggestions in another AI and asks it to create a plan of action.

You’ve probably seen jokes about this online, but is it that far from reality? If you are afraid of AI taking your job, at least stop helping it by handing everything over on a silver platter.

I know, we’ve passed the point where not using AI is possible. It’s challenging to avoid something that’s excellent for many tasks. However, I strongly believe it is a terrible idea to put it in control. If I had used AI to record, transcribe, and summarize everything, I would never have had the insights, which, in the end, would have made taking the meeting notes pointless.

Good morning, coffee friends

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 01:00:00 +0100

Following the pre-wetting of the filter with hot water, I add the coffee and pour water over it. What you see in the picture is a top-down view of an AeroPress at that stage.

Now it’s time to add the plunger, wait a few seconds, and, finally, press. I love to cook, by the way, but I really do follow recipes to the letter. Time and quantity are frequently eyeballed.

I created my own AI, but it is not what you are thinking.

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 01:00:00 +0100

As I’ve said many other times, I believe there are some technologies that reached a stage of maturity where they could just be used indefinitely. What many people seem not to know is that it’s possible to go back to enjoying that sweet spot.

If we look back a few decades, it feels like things eventually got out of control. I remember using the iPhone when information and even the OS upgrades were done by connecting the phone to a computer. Back then, apps with online synchronization like Evernote were rare.

At some point, everything started becoming so fast and instantaneous. Not only messages, but almost everything. I’m not old enough to remember when breaking news used to be the next day’s newspaper cover. But before the popularization of the Internet, I remember the “We interrupt this program for a special news bulletin” message on the TV and radio. Now, we get flooded by information about everything all the time. Many times inaccurate or, worse, fake news.

If we stop to think about it, unless you are a reporter, stock trader, or work with anything that is time-sensitive, there’s no practical use for all this immediacy. On the contrary, it generates a lot of stress. As ordinary people, there’s absolutely nothing practical we’ll be able to do with most of the instant information we get bombarded with.

The most recent I-must-be-part-of-it-no-matter-what fad is AI. There’s no reason to use AI for everything, nor is there a need for AI in every single app. Also, just so you know, yes, I do use AI. Every day! But I try to keep it siloed.

Back to my point. Although using or repurposing old tech was something I always did, it feels like I’m doing it more and more these days. I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older or because I refuse to subject myself to imposed anxiety.

For example, I did try streaming for a while but never stopped using my iPod 5.5 Gen. The modern Supernote I use and love is constantly bringing me back to a pleasant time when I used my Palm for everything. You’re probably aware of my Digital Caveman project. And there are all those apps, like Instapaper, that look and work just like they did a billion years ago. All these are great examples of the point of ‘tech maturity’ I mentioned at the beginning.

Anyway, the more I look at modernity from the perspective of people who are constantly anxious and chasing novelty just for novelty’s sake, the more I think of products and services I should have never stopped using. The good news is that many of them still exist, and after going back to using some of them, I can now clearly see how good they really are, as they have withstood the test of time.

Maybe that’s why I related so much to Kevin Kelly’s “What Technology Wants” book. Not only does he directly challenge the common perception that old technologies become obsolete and vanish, but he also comes up with several examples of technologies, no matter how old, that still exist somewhere. Perhaps in a modified form, for a specific purpose, or in a niche market.

Of course, using old tech or new tech with old tech vibes, like Obsidian, comes with its challenges. It often demands what I call Attention & Intention, my kind of ‘AI’. For example, I see people complaining all the time about how complicated Obsidian is. It’s difficult to disagree with that, but doing things with Attention & Intention means that you were paying attention and will probably remember where you stored that information.

I’m not going to pretend I didn’t fall for modern tech promises, like social media. Thankfully, many years ago I started disconnecting from all those toxic spaces, and recently, I’m finding that going back to using RSS to follow blogs is bringing me a lot of joy. I don’t have words to describe how pleasant it is to read like this. I’m overwhelmed by how much great content I was missing.

Of course, it’s not as simple or easy as the infinite scroll provided by a mysterious algorithm with a single mission: keep you hooked, no matter what. No matter what! It comes slowly from here and there: from a conversation you had on Mastodon, a page that appeared in a search result, and even trying to remember the names of the websites of those old friends. But since it’s all done with Attention & Intention, it pays off.

It’s true for all the other non-anxious tech I mentioned above. Adding music to an iPod means connecting it to a computer. To find music, you have to know at least a few things about it, like its name, or the singer, or the album, etc. As for the Supernote, it has a simple OS running on a basic device with a monochromatic display. No browser, no notifications, and disconnected most of the time, much like my Palm used to be. And let’s not even start with all the effort one has to put into an Obsidian Vault.

Next in my wishlist of mindful devices is a Fairphone, most likely running /e/OS.

Attention & Intention is beautiful, pleasant, and, most importantly, relaxing.

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 01:00:00 +0100

I started typing “what time…” on Google to find out when a store I want to go to opens, and “what time is it” was the first search suggestion in the list. Seriously? It is highly probable that people would be typing that into a computer or phone. The time is already there, right in front of them! 😳 Sometimes, modern life scares me.

A few cool things I recently discovered about RSS feeds. Spoiler — they have super-powers.

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 01:00:00 +0100

It feels more like a niche thing these days, but RSS is still a powerful tool.

Even if you don’t know what RSS is, chances are you have it on your blog. What you may not know is how it can help you set up a newsletter and automatically share your blog posts on social media, among other things. Is it worth it? Well, I tried some ideas, and I have a few thoughts to share with you.

Where is my RSS?

This will depend on the platform you are using, but it’s usually something like your-domain.com/rss or your-domain.com/feed. If you don’t see a page like this when you try those addresses on your domain, check your website provider’s help page or search for it on Google. And if you are an Obsidian Publish user, unfortunately all I can offer you is a workaround.

With your RSS feed in hand, we can now work on some integrations.

Mastodon

MastoFeed is a pretty cool service I recently discovered. It automatically composes Mastodon posts based on new items that pop up in your RSS feed. To set it up, go to mastofeed.org and log in with your Mastodon account.

Next, click on the “Add Feed” button, paste your RSS feed address, and add it. Finally, click on “Activate” to have access to some settings.

The box below “Format of the message” is where you can use the variables provided to format the final post. For example, I used:

(TITLE) • (SUMMARY): (LINK)

Below you can see an image of a recent post.

However, despite enjoying all the customizations and how good the final post looks, MastoFeed was taking many hours — around 5–7 — to create the new posts. I understand that it is a free service and all the associated costs, but it is too much, especially when I want to share timely news or a recent thought.

I’m now exploring Zapier and similar services to try doing the same in less time. And I can easily do that because I’m basing the automation on RSS.

This is another automation I only recently found out was possible. It is usually part of a paid plan, but many newsletter providers will allow you to use your RSS feed as a trigger to send emails. And that blew my mind.

I spent most of my time experimenting with two services: Brevo and Kit. Both have very detailed explanations on how to set up your RSS, so I’m not reposting that information here. And as you can customize everything, the final result is something pretty cool. But, yet again, I gave up on the automation.

I’m still using RSS to populate the core of my weekly newsletter, but if you are a subscriber, you know that I like to start the email with a personal touch. It’s just a paragraph or two, but I like to do that, as it makes me feel more connected to the reader.

Update: I discontinued my newsletter. You can still follow all my blog posts on Mastodon

Final Thoughts

If you keep a blog and haven’t yet checked RSS’s extra powers, I strongly suggest you explore this vein. Trust me, you’ll find uses that go way beyond a passive sharing of your posts.

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 01:00:00 +0100

🤎 Every morning, I’m inundated by an immense sense of joy as I open Mastodon and enjoy a cup of coffee while looking at the posts tagged with the #coffee hashtag. It is like having a cup of coffee with friends from all over the world.

Refining my note-taking workflow—lessons from Evernote for Obsidian.

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 01:00:00 +0100

As someone who believes that serious note-taking needs a solid system, I’ve frequently encountered a challenge: effectively managing my ever-growing collection of notes.

Dynamically switching between multiple views of the same information is a strategy I used a lot in the past. However, I lost that when I moved to Obsidian, as I find its handling of lists of notes less intuitive than Evernote’s elegant approach.

I can’t think of any note-taking app that handles note lists quite like Evernote. Its “All Notes” list is essentially a dynamic filter displaying all your notes. If you’re an Evernote user, you’ve likely noticed that the list automatically refines as you click on notebooks, tags, and so on, transforming to show exactly what you need. This brilliant method of listing notes is something I truly miss in Obsidian.

When you select a notebook, tag, stack, etc. in Evernote, the items in the list are filtered to show only notes within that group. So much so that you can easily replicate this filtering using the advanced search operators.

For example, typing tag:tag-a in the search box yields the same list as clicking on the tag-a tag. Evernote’s AI-powered search functions similarly; the displayed items adjust based on the elements the AI selects to create the filter.

In Obsidian, however, filtering notes by a tag or using the search box will also list the items, but I’m limited in what I can do with the results. While I can clearly see the list, there’s no way to select all items and, for instance, add a tag to them or move that group of notes to a different folder.

In Evernote, this is not only possible but incredibly easy. You just select and move them to another notebook. While a limit on the number of selectable notes exists now, it wasn’t there before Evernote 10.

This clever way of displaying notes does come with technical challenges, though. For example, I believe the current selection limit was imposed because, in the past, moving long lists often led to significant conflicts.

Because there’s no easy way to filter notes in dynamic lists like in Evernote, I opted for subfolders within my Timeline System in Obsidian. But by doing so, I sacrifice a true timeline of my life’s events, as each type of information is located in a separate subfolder.

I haven’t tested Bases yet, but judging by the official documentation, it appears there’s no limit to the size of lists a Bases file can handle. If true, I’ll finally be able to build a real timeline by creating a single Timeline.base file that lists everything from the subfolders within my Timeline folder. Not only that, but I’ll have access to various dynamic filters within that Timeline.base file.

While I’d prefer not to, if the number of files proves too large for the new Bases feature to handle, I can always split it into yearly files: 2025.bases, 2024.bases, 2023.bases, and so on.

It will not be a perfect replacement for Evernote’s list of notes, as I will not be able to select multiple notes to add tags, move them elsewhere, and any other bulk action. But I’ll at least, have a real timeline and multiple possible filters.

The Bases feature is still in beta, and online discussions suggest the final public version will take some time. Meanwhile, I can ensure my Timeline notes have all their properties populated with the proper data, allowing my Timeline.base to beautifully simulate the visual effect of multiple views of the same list, just as I was accustomed to in Evernote.

Ultimately, my goal with the Timeline System is to create a note-taking system that truly adapts to how we think and behave, allowing us to interact with all the information we deal with in a fluid, intuitive way. Bases seems to be a promising step in that direction regarding using the Timeline System in Obsidian.

What about you? Any plans for the new Bases feature?

Another reason why I love how hackable the Supernote is. It now precisely fits my EDC setup.

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 01:00:00 +0100

That penholder on the Nomad case is very convenient, but when I wanted to bring the Supernote in my EDC pouch, it was always a pain to make it fit. I had to put some pressure on it to fold the holder down while zipping the bag.

Don’t be mad, but I’ve actually thought of cutting it off a few times. Thankfully, I’m not that young and anxious anymore, so I did what I always do in situations like this. Instead of rushing to cut it, I let the search for a solution slowly brew in my brain.

One day, out of nowhere, I had a ‘click’ moment. A good velcro was probably the solution! I grabbed the device, removed it from the case, and, to my surprise, there were just a few stitches connecting the penholder to the case. “No way it will be that easy,” I thought while looking around for my x-acto knife.

It took me just a few seconds to disconnect them. It was so quick and painless that I completely forgot to take pictures or film it. Sorry.

I’ve said this so many times, but here we go again: I love how hackable the Supernote is! Anyway, I then cut a piece of velcro to precisely fit the rectangular space left behind, used contact glue to attach one side to the case and the other to the pen holder, and voilà.

I considered using thinner velcro, but after some tests, it was evident that it wouldn’t hold the pen in place. The 3M strips I ended up using are probably overkill, but I was super excited about my insight, and I already had those in a drawer.

However, because they are a bit thick, the case is no longer flush with the Supernote. Not a big deal, I thought. It’s just slightly raised on the corner where the penholder is, and the magnets are strong enough to keep everything connected.

I’ve been using this hack for a few months now and couldn’t be happier. The pen stays attached most of the time, and when I want to bring the Supernote with me, there’s no more fighting with the Peak Design Tech Pouch. By the way, let me know if you’d like to see a video of what I carry with me everywhere and how I organize my EDC pouch!

The day I almost ditched Medium. It turns out it was saving my site.

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0100

EN | PT

Where is my site? Even a direct search for my name brought back Medium’s logo at the top of the list. Why is Medium now my main digital footprint? Why did my digital home suddenly vanish from Google’s search results?

My first thought was that either the canonical setting was not working or Medium was ignoring it on purpose.

Maybe it was time to ditch Medium for good, I thought.

It was a classic ‘guessing game’ moment, one I found myself falling into more and more recently, despite my background in the cold, hard facts of research and statistics. My father, my wife, and many people around me are researchers. In addition to that, scientific papers, numbers, statistics, etc., were frequent in my graduation and post-graduation courses.

When did I start jumping to conclusions so easily? Perhaps it’s a byproduct of our social media-saturated world, where speculation often overshadows data.

Anyway, before taking the radical step of telling my readers I’d be leaving Medium, I decided to take a deep breath and start doing some research online to try to understand what was happening.

Among other things, my quest made me aware of the Google Search Console, which was a huge rabbit hole I ended up in. But that’s a story for another time. When I came across the explanation “Duplicate, Google chose a different canonical than the user,” I was affected by another guessing moment and quickly blamed Medium. Again!

At this point, my brain was already at full speed trying to figure out a strategy to fix the “Medium problem” when I checked the “Links” menu and saw Medium at the first position of external links bringing traffic to my site. Not only that, but the number was much larger than the second item in the list.

To give you some context, when you start using Google Search Console, the information is not all there at once. It gets built over the coming days after adding a site to be monitored. That lack of all the data probably also contributed to my guessing state. By the way, the “canonical issue” was about other links that had nothing to do with Medium.

Anyway, that’s good news; it was not Medium. Thank you, numbers! But I was now back to square one.

Obsidian Publish

After a lot of reading and long conversations with Gemini to understand all the tech terms I was coming across, it clicked when it mentioned something about the “Disallow search engine indexing” switch on Obsidian Publish settings. “Oh, s***,” I thought, while that unmistakable feeling of “I did something very wrong” permeated my entire body.

When switching to Obsidian Publish, it took me a while to import all my content from the old website, and I didn’t want Google indexing that big mess. That’s why I turned off the search engine indexing. What I completely forgot was to turn it back on, meaning that I completely erased my site from existence for many months. Unbelievable!

The Bright Side

Since I cannot go back in time, I try to always learn something from my mistakes and also look for the bright side of things. And learn I did. A lot! Not just the ins and outs of SEO, but also how important it is for me to regularly check my own online presence, especially since I run my own business. From now on, I must create a task or a calendar entry for the future in cases like this.

Knowing that I would lose Medium’s social element by not publishing there anymore, I had to bring back my newsletter, which was a detour that brought me into another deep rabbit hole. I told you I learned a lot.

Remember the better RSS feed I created for my website? Well, I can now set it as the source of my newsletter, which I rebranded as Friday Fix by vladcampos As the name implies, subscribers will get a list with links pointing to everything I shared during the week: articles, short posts, podcast episodes, and videos.

In hindsight, I’d say that the terrible mistake of blocking search engines from indexing my site ended up working as a trigger to making my online presence a bit better.

As for Medium, how many times have you seen articles stating that it is terrible for your site? I’ve seen many of those. But in my case, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Maybe because I always set a canonical link to the original article on my site. Anyway, the Google Search Console is a good place to start if you really want to know if it’s helping your site. In the end, using facts—numbers—is a great way to avoid guesswork.

Overall, have fun!

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0100

After hacking my own RSS feed for my Obsidian Publish site, it is now time to try some ideas. The first one is automating my blog posts via Mastofeed. I just created a rule that will compose a Mastodon post using the Title, Summary, Link, and Image from my RSS feed.

This first post/test has two goals. Make sure the automation is working and understand what will happen if one of the items, in this case an image, is not present in the original feed.

If you are fed up with Obsidian Publish's limited RSS, here's how I hacked a better feed.

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0100

If you’re an Obsidian Publish user, you’ve probably stumbled upon its default RSS feed by adding /rss.xml to your domain. And if you’re like me, you quickly realized how incredibly limited it is – so limited, in fact, that it’s practically unusable for serious blogging.

I completely get the problem here. As Obsidian Publish doesn’t offer a standard blog feature, there isn’t an actual blog feed. However, that hasn’t stopped us users from hacking our way to a solution. So, I decided to also hack a better RSS feed.

The Problem

As I write this, the official RSS feed is not time-based and doesn’t even have a description for each item, even though there is a “description” property that Obsidian-Publish can read. Anyway, I understand the hurdle of going beyond the simplicity of the meta-information available on our notes, especially if one doesn’t use properties.

What I never got, though, is why it doesn’t display the items chronologically, matching the date a note was posted as a web page. I can’t share something like this with people willing to follow my blog posts.

However, even if I avoid sharing it, many modern feed readers look for and find the feed for the user. So, the two problems I have to solve are:

Having a better RSS feed.
Making the current /rss.xml address point to that better feed.

I’m not a specialist in any of the fields below. I’m sharing the steps I went through as a way to inspire you. Please do your own research and remember to always make backups of your work before trying the directions below.

How an RSS Feed is Created

I’m not a developer, but along the way I was, let’s say, forced to learn some things. When I started podcasting back in 2005—yes, yes, you read that right—I had to learn how to write a feed. Back then there was no such thing as a tool or AI.

The way I see it, a feed is split into two parts. The top part is like the ‘header’ of your blog, containing essential details like its title, overall description, and your website’s address.

Take a look at mine below, and you’ll notice that it’s easy to guess what is what.

<rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" version="2.0">
<channel>
<title>vladcampos Blog</title>
<link>https://vladcampos.com</link>
<description>Thoughts and articles from one enthusiast to another.</description>
<language>en-us</language>
<lastBuildDate>Tue, 17 Jun 2025 10:12:00 GMT</lastBuildDate>
<atom:link href="https://social.vladcampos.com/rss.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
<image>
<url>https://social.vladcampos.com/favicon-196x196.png</url>
<title>vladcampos Blog</title>
<link>https://vladcampos.com/blog</link>
</image>

Below this header are the individual entries, or ‘items,’ for each of your blog posts. Think of each item as a mini-summary of a single post, including its title, a brief description, a link to the full post, and the publication date.

<item>
<title>📃 Things you should know about Obsidian Publish —my struggles and how I'm dealing with them.</title>
<link>https://vladcampos.com/2025-06-16-things-you-should-know-about-obsidian-publish</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vladcampos.com/2025-06-16-things-you-should-know-about-obsidian-publish</guid>
<description>Obsidian Publish has been a game-changer for my online presence, but like any powerful tool, it comes with its quirks. Here are the hurdles I’ve faced and how I’m jumping them.</description>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2025 11:32:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>📃 Turning Bluesky into Instagram - my unexpected workflow.</title>
<link>https://vladcampos.com/2025-06-14-turning-bluesky-into-instagram-my-unexpected-workflow</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vladcampos.com/2025-06-14-turning-bluesky-into-instagram-my-unexpected-workflow</guid>
<description>Apps like Pinksky transform your Bluesky feed into a visual, Instagram-style experience, but there's a catch.</description>
<pubDate>Sun, 15 Jun 2025 10:31:00 GMT</pubDate>
<media:content url="https://publish-01.obsidian.md/access/54a5cde44e33737dbd9582dc8b12cf1f/vladcampos.com/_files/2025-06-14-pinksky-post-cover-art.png" medium="image" type="image/png"/>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>

Basically, every time there’s a new post in the blog, a new item representing it needs to added ti the feed. And that’s it; whatever software is reading that feed will see that new item.

Building my RSS Feed

This is where the magic happens and where my struggles with manual updates finally ended! I partnered with Gemini to create a simple web app I’m calling the RSS Item Generator.

For that I created another website and assign a subdomain to it using a GitHub repository. It’s a free and easy way to host static websites and you can learn all about it here and here. All I had to do after that was use that space to manually write and publish my own feed. I post frequently, but not that much per week. “It will be fine,” the naive me thought.

It is, indeed, kind of fine, since all I had to do was copy the last content inside <item></item>, paste it at the top of the previous one, and replace the old information with the new one. However, after a few manual updates, I quickly realized how prone to errors this approach was. I searched for a basic app that could generate new items but couldn’t find one.

Like I said, I’m not a developer, but since forever I’ve been having these ideas that I could never put into practice. Until now!

That’s when I turned to Gemini. I explained my needs in detail and asked for help creating a web app to automate the process. The first version was not exactly there but super close to what I envisioned. So, I kept chatting with it, and we came up with what I’m calling an RSS Item Generator.

How it Works

First, you need an RSS file, which is a fancy name for a text file with a .xml extension. Usually rss.xml. Copy the initial section of the RSS code (the ‘header’ part) to a new text document and replace my blog/site information with your own.

Below that, you need to start building the items list. Go to my RSS Item Generator, fill in the blanks with the information from your latest blog post, and click on Generate RSS Item. Now copy that and paste it to the rss.xml file. The most recent <item></item> should be at the top of the list. Make sure it looks like the example below.

<rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" version="2.0">
<channel>
<title>vladcampos Blog</title>
<link>https://vladcampos.com</link>
<description>Thoughts and articles from one enthusiast to another.</description>
<language>en-us</language>
<lastBuildDate>Tue, 17 Jun 2025 10:12:00 GMT</lastBuildDate>
<atom:link href="https://social.vladcampos.com/rss.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
<image>
<url>https://social.vladcampos.com/favicon-196x196.png</url>
<title>vladcampos Blog</title>
<link>https://vladcampos.com/blog</link>
</image>
<item>
<title>📃 Things you should know about Obsidian Publish —my struggles and how I'm dealing with them.</title>
<link>https://vladcampos.com/2025-06-16-things-you-should-know-about-obsidian-publish</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vladcampos.com/2025-06-16-things-you-should-know-about-obsidian-publish</guid>
<description>Obsidian Publish has been a game-changer for my online presence, but like any powerful tool, it comes with its quirks. Here are the hurdles I’ve faced and how I’m jumping them.</description>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jun 2025 11:32:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>📃 Turning Bluesky into Instagram - my unexpected workflow.</title>
<link>https://vladcampos.com/2025-06-14-turning-bluesky-into-instagram-my-unexpected-workflow</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://vladcampos.com/2025-06-14-turning-bluesky-into-instagram-my-unexpected-workflow</guid>
<description>Apps like Pinksky transform your Bluesky feed into a visual, Instagram-style experience, but there's a catch.</description>
<pubDate>Sun, 15 Jun 2025 10:31:00 GMT</pubDate>
<media:content url="https://publish-01.obsidian.md/access/54a5cde44e33737dbd9582dc8b12cf1f/vladcampos.com/_files/2025-06-14-pinksky-post-cover-art.png" medium="image" type="image/png"/>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>

But there’s a final touch. Each post item has the publication data inside <pubDate></pubDate>. If you take a look at the top of the feed, there’s also a date inside the <lastBuildDate></lastBuildDate>. That date and time has to be the same as or after the last post you added to the list. So, remember to always copy the date section of the last post published and paste it to the top of the feed.

That’s it. All you have to do from now on is keep adding the new <item></item> code blocks and updating the date at <lastBuildDate></lastBuildDate>.

Publishing the RSS Feed

But an RSS feed is only useful if the entire web can see it. So, you need to publish it.

Remember the GitHub repository I mentioned above? That’s where you’ll do it, and to make both of our lives easier, I suggest watching the video below where I go through each step.

Redirecting the /rss.xml

The last item in our list is to redirect the /rss.xml address to the new feed address. You have to do this because there’s no way to unpublish that rss page created by Obsidian Publish. At least I never figured out how.

The redirect will make sure everyone gets the correct feed, including feed aggregators trying to guess it. In my case, it is a redirect from vladcampos.com/rss.xml to social.vladcampos.com/rss.xml . If your website is powered by Obsidian Publish, you are probably using CloudFlare for your domain.

As for the address, share whatever is best for you. I’ll keep sharing vladcampos.com/rss.xml because it is easier to remember. As for aggregators trying to figure out your site’s feed, as long as you have the redirect running, they will always land at the one you’ve created.

One thing to keep in mind is that you’ll need to manually update your rss.xml file with each new post using the generator. While not fully automated, it’s a small price to pay for a fully functional blog feed.

Things you should know about Obsidian Publish — my struggles and how I'm dealing with them.

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Obsidian Publish has been a game-changer for my online presence, but like any powerful tool, it comes with its quirks. Here are the hurdles I’ve faced and how I’m overcoming them.

A few days ago, I converted my blog to the Timeline System. If you are interested in more details, there’s a walk-around video that you can watch.

Photos Page

The “Photos page” was inspired by how Micro.blog handles our pictures. When there’s a JPG image in a post, that image will be displayed in a Photos page with a link back to the post.

My solution is more manual, like many other things on the website, but that’s okay. As all this AI buzz grows, I’m trying to find comfort in actually doing things with my type of AI in mind: Attention & Intention.

But don’t get me wrong, I use AI, the other type, all the time. For example, I had this long conversation with Gemini to help me come up with the CSS responsible for the /photos page layout.

Obsidian Publish Limitations

I am delighted with the progress I have made thus far. However, I have also encountered a few bugs and issues during the process.

Since I came back to Obsidian-Publish, I’ve been working hard on creating this mix of a blog and learning center. It has to be something useful for you, but, at the same time, I need a system that will make my life easy. Otherwise, I’ll just stop sharing.

You know that thumbnail when people share posts on social media? There’s a way to set an image to do that on Obsidian Publish. Although it’s a fairly straightforward setting, I never found it to be successful. And because of all the other work going on in the process of building my website, I never took the time to report this and investigate the matter.

Yesterday, I finally reported it on Obsidian’s official forum, which ended up leading me to mxstbr’s post about it.

The problem is some sort of incompatibility with the Permalink setting. I tested it on my website, and he is right. So, let’s hope the Obsidian team comes up with a fix to this.

The other issue is a site behavior that, in my opinion, doesn’t make any sense. As you already know, formatting notes in Obsidian is done with Markdown. But it’s also possible to use regular HTML.

What I found out is that any link that points to an external site will open that site in a new tab. First, I thought that I could solve that using a HTML link, but it keeps opening on another tab even if I use target="_self", which is a way to force the link to open on the same page.

After almost going crazy, I decided to inspect my website code, and, to my amazement, Obsidian Publish replaced the target="_self" with target="_blank", which is how we tell the browser to open the site on a new page.

Why? That doesn’t make any sense. We, the site owners, should be the ones deciding where the page should open.

Anyway, there’s also a complaint about this on the forum. So, let’s hope they fix it. For now, be aware that that’s the reason you’ll be sent to another tab when you click on one of my pictures on the Photos page.

No rel=“me”

This is another HTML attribute that is used by Mastodon and other services to make sure the owner of the website is the same person claiming to be that owner on another site.

It’s such a simple and easy setting, but because of the way Obsidian Publish code works, the rel="me" is not visible, and services cannot use it to verify ownership.

I’ve been complaining about this for a long time, but after being ignored for so long, I decided to come up with a workaround. Because I also needed a Linktree-style page, I created social.vladcampos.com on GitHub and that’s where I included the rel="me code.

Not everyone has time or knowledge to do this, not to mention that it’s not ideal. An official way to solve this would be to provide us with access to the <head> of the site via a file, just like we can do with the publish.css and publish.js files.

That, by the way, would address another issue. The Author Attribution verification. For that, regrettably, I could never come up with a workaround.

The Terrible RSS Feed

Finally, there’s the terrible RSS feed. I can relate to the challenges here, but there is already a feed, which, unfortunately, doesn’t make any sense. For starters, I don’t understand what the criteria used to order the notes are. If they could at least make it ordered by last created note, it would already be at least usable.

The workaround I came up with was to |manually create my feed. Unbelievable, right? It’s 2025! Anyway, I’ll do it again on my GitHub page and share the link on my Obsidian site and on the Linktree-style page.

But, please, don’t get me wrong; I’m thrilled with what Obsidian Publish is enabling me to do. It’s something I have tried and failed on so many other platforms, and it’s now a fascinating work in progress.

Turning Bluesky into Instagram - my unexpected workflow.

Sat, 14 Jun 2025 01:00:00 +0100

Apps like Pinksky transform your Bluesky feed into a visual, Instagram-style experience, but there’s a catch.

When creating a Pinksky account, you have the option to either subscribe using your current Bluesky account or create a new profile. There are advantages and disadvantages to both options. In my case, I have decided to use my current account.

If that’s what you choose to do, remember to create a specific App Password to protect your Bluesky account.

I went with that route because of my experience with another decentralized protocol, ActivityPub. In addition to my Mastodon account, I ended up creating profiles for Flipboard, Pixelfed, PeerTube, and many others. Long story short, it was a big mess, and, after a while, I had to invest some time reorganizing everything.

That said, the problem with using my current Bluesky account is that the Pinksky feed will include every single image people post. However, an image is not always equivalent to a picture. For example, news profiles usually include a cover image with the link to the article they are posting.

There’s a filter in the top-left corner of the screen (a) where you can choose the option to see only photos, but that will not do it. At least it didn’t change anything on my feed, probably because of what I explained in the paragraph above.

Ideally, I would appreciate it if Pinksky had a setting to allow us to hide some profiles from our feed there, and I did send a suggestion to the developer. But you know me, I had to come up with an Unexpected Workflow, right? So this is what I did.

On Bluesky, I created a new List, which I titled Pinksky Feed, and added some of the people I follow. Specifically, the ones who frequently post pictures I like. Since Pinksky will only show me their posts with pictures, the next step was to set that list as my feed on Pinksky.

If you need help creating a List, check the video below. If you already know how to do it, keep reading to learn how to select it as your default feed on Pinksky.

On Pinksky, tap on the hashtag icon at the top right corner of the screen (b). Now, at the bottom of the screen, you can see all the ones you created on Bluesky. In my case, one of the options is the Pinksky Feed, which is the one I’ve chosen. The hashtag icon at the top right corner of the screen (b) now has a small blue dot on it, as a reminder that you are seeing pictures from a specific feed.

And that’s it! From now on, as I go about my Bluesky browsing, I’ll simply add any cool, photo-focused accounts I find to that list.

How to create a specific Bluesky password for each App

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 01:00:00 +0100

By creating a specific password for each app, you not only avoid sharing your Bluesky password, but you can also easily revoke access if you need to.

Go to Settings and then click on Privacy & Security. The option we are looking for is App Passwords. Click on it, and if it’s your first time there, you’ll only see the Add App Password button (1). However, as shown in the image below, in my case, there are already some passwords that can be revoked by clicking the trashcan icon (2).

To create a password, click on the Add App Password button and type a name in the box. I always type the name of the app where I’m using that password. It will help me remember where you used that password, in case I want to revoke it in the future.

There’s also a box to Allow access to your direct message. This is precisely what it says, and that’s why I prefer to never check that box. But, of course, it’s up to you.

Caliban's War

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 01:00:00 +0100

When was the last time I read a fiction book as quickly as Leviathan Wakes? I don’t even remember. Even before finishing it, I bought Caliban’s War, which I’m also enjoying very much. But this time I’m reading it on my Supernote.

I started reading it using the Supernote’s ePub reader, but after learning about the amazing BookFusion plugin for Obsidian, I had to install the BookFusion app on my Supernote, and that’s where I’m currently reading it. By the way, a video about all these tech adventures is coming soon.

Other books in my library.

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 01:00:00 +0100

🌞 Good morning from Porto. I wish you all a lovely weekend.

Leviathan Wakes

Fri, 23 May 2025 01:00:00 +0100

I don’t remember the last time I couldn’t stop reading a book. Better yet, when I was reading Leviathan Wakes, the first book in The Expanse series, it was comforting to know that I would be able to keep enjoying more stories set in that universe.

I developed a more in-depth understanding of the characters, and the most delightful aspect of this was that it occurred naturally as I was enveloped in the adventure narrative. It’s time to find out if the next books are as good as this one. However, if you like the TV show, you should probably read at least this first book.

I purchased it in paperback while on a recent trip to Ireland, but I chose to go digital for the second book, Calvin’s War. And I’m not using a Kindle or Kobo device or apps. This reading is happening in my Supernote.

Other books in my library.

What is Syncthing-Fork

Fri, 23 May 2025 01:00:00 +0100

After the Syncthing Foundation decided to discontinue the Android client, I’ve been using Syncthing-Fork, which is non-official open-source version based on the original Syncthing for Android.

I seriously need to use the bathroom…

Mon, 12 May 2025 01:00:00 +0100

“… anyway, what time is it?”

I am aware that I should not have done so, but I pressed the upper-left button on my Garmin to illuminate its display.

Every time this happens, there are two possible outcomes. When I see that it is about 2 or 3 in the morning, it’s so difficult to fall asleep again. Yes, I know, that’s why we should never check the time. Anyway, when it is past 5 a.m., I magically sleep seconds after checking the time or coming back from the bathroom. Our brains are so weirdly wired.

But this time I got a strong beam of light coming from the watch. Everything in the display was gone, but a flashlight icon. I had no idea this feature existed, but the moment I saw that, my brain went like: “wow, I can use this instead of turning on the bathroom light. Cool.”

Yes, that was a neat feature, but none of the buttons on the watch worked anymore.

“Okay, how do I turn this off?”

Because there are so many features on this watch, a long time ago I had created a shortcut to bring the display back to the main screen. Well, you guessed it. Holding the bottom-left button for a few seconds didn’t do anything either.

I was already back in my sheets at that point, wide awake and still trying to figure out what to do. “How do I turn off this beam of light coming out of my wrist? I can’t believe I’ll have to get up and look this up online.”

I don’t sleep with my phone nearby, so I would have to go get it in the other room. Then, my dog would wake up and want to play with me. “Definitely a terrible idea.”

“And, what time is it?”

Click, click, click, and it was finally dark again. “How did I do that?” In any case, I could finally check the time. “Two something in the morning! Oh, no!”. But, it immediately clicked when I pressed the upper-left button to turn on the screen. “I bet it turns on and off by double-clicking the light button. I must have done that accidentally earlier.”

“Cool, that’s it. Now, all I need is a way to double-click to turn myself off.”

Pebble fe504504 error

Sat, 10 May 2025 01:00:00 +0100

Yesterday I charged my old Pebble 2, and it seems to want to work. But before troubleshooting this error message, I have to fix the completely melted plastic buttons. And, of course, there’s a 3D file available to solve this. Pebble resurrection project here we go!

Thu, 08 May 2025 01:00:00 +0100

Supernote + VLC + Bluetooth Headset + some music = 🤯

My super simple Google Calendar hack for Obsidian

Sun, 04 May 2025 23:00:00 +0100

Having both Obsidian and Google Calendar constantly open, was driving me a little crazy because of all the back and forth. Now, one click and I’m there. So simple, so helpful.

Yes, I’m aware of the calendar plugins, but, after trying several options, I’m not happy with any of them. So, I came up with a temporary solution that, to be honest, I’m using for a while and, at least for the moment, it made me stop pursuing other alternatives.

Despite its simplicity, it’s been a game-changer for me, and that’s why I decided to share this hack with.

What I did was use the relatively new Web View feature to open Google Calendar inside Obsidian. But there’s more. I also set the Google-Calendar tab as pinned, which makes it always open when I open Obsidian. And because I use Obsidian in dark mode, I also set Google Calendar to dark mode, and it now blends perfectly as if it is an integral part of Obsidian.

If you are having a hard time visualizing all this, you can watch the video below. In my case, I had to also change some setting on another plugin, the ‘Hompage’, which I also explain why and show in the video.

How to instal the DeDRM_tools plugin

Fri, 02 May 2025 01:00:00 +0100

Download the DeDRM_tools plugin, unzip the folder, and set it apart. Next, go to the Preferences under the Calibre menu option. At the bottom of the page, you’ll see the Plugins button. Click on it. Next, click on the button Load plugin from file.

Navigate to the DeDRM_tools folder on your computer, find and select the DeDRM_plugin.zip file. Click on Open, and you’ll see a dialog box asking if you are sure. Click on Yes and in the next dialog box, also on OK.

Now we need to provide the plugin with your Kindle serial number. There are many plugins already installed, so if, for some reason, you can’t see the one we just installed, simply search for DeDRM. Select it and click on the Customize Plugins button and then on Kindle eink ebooks.

You will be asked for your Kindle Serial Number. Add the serial number to the box, and that’s it.

I freed my Kindle library and have it synchronized with all my devices

Fri, 02 May 2025 01:00:00 +0100

First, I converted the books to ePub using Calibre. Next, they joined my Timeline System in Obsidian for automatic synchronization across all devices, Supernote included.

Like many other modern conveniences, the Kindle ecosystem is built to keep us locked in. As you know, I’ve been taking down walls around digital goods I won, and now it’s time to do it with my books. This project has been on my list for a long time, but it was a recent feature removal from Amazon that motivated me to finally pull the trigger.

We used to be able to go to Amazon.com and download our Kindle books, but that’s not possible anymore. A while ago, when Amazon announced the policy change, I downloaded all my books. If you haven’t done that, I believe you can still have access to them by connecting your Kindle to a computer and manually coping the books.

But having the books is just part of the process, as the majority of them are linked to your account via what’s called DRM. Additionally, Amazon uses a proprietary format instead of ePub, which is more widely adopted by e-book readers. In other words, it’s like having your books locked in a box that is locked in another box.

Calibre is the master key that can help us with all of these locks. Additionally, it works as a library management software, keeping all the books in a folder on our computer. That’s just perfect for the Digital Caveman project, right?

When you are first installing the app, it will suggest a folder for your library, but you can change it to what better suits you. In my case, I created a new Static Container (folder) called ‘eBooks’. And because the files in my Timeline System structure synchronize with multiple devices, my library is now widely available. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

As a tip, you can also move the library to a different folder in the future. Just click on the ‘eBooks’ button on the toolbar to choose a new location.

Next, we need to prepare Calibre to be able to remove the DRM from our books. This is done in two parts. First, we need to install and set up a plugin. It’s only after doing this that we’ll be able to tell Calibre to remove the DRM and convert the books to ePub.

Preparing Calibre

First you have to find you Kindle serial number.
Then you can follow this instructions to instal the DeDRM_tools plugin

Add the serial number to the box and that’s it.

Converting to ePub

With all the above done, go to Calibre’s main window and click on the ‘Add books’ buttons. Select one or more books, and they will be added to your library’s folder.

Next, select one or more books in the list and click on the ‘Convert books’ option. You’ll see a new window with countless details that you can tweak on each book. There are even several formats available in addition to ePub, which is the pre-selected on. In my case, I kept everything as it was and clicked on the button to convert.

The Supernote

To understand how my books are being automatically sent to my Supernote, I suggest watching the video below.

But remember, the books are in my Obsidian Vault. And looking at how Calibre creates folders for each author, I’m already having insights about making those folders somehow connected to other content I have in Obsidian. Especially the ‘Knowledge Base’ notes, which share a strong relationship with the books I read. And that’s one of the reasons I chose to set the ‘eBooks’ folder as a Static Container.

The Digital Caveman Project

There are plenty of details I still would like to adjust, but all the digital content I create and own is now local first and free from walled gardens. In other words, 100% under my control.

In addition to my notes and website being created in Obsidian, my music, photos, now my books, every single file I use for my personal life and work, and even my passwords, are on my computer first. I even have my own ‘cloud’ system and a backup strategy.

🪨 I did it!

Our modern society is nothing but a delicate house of cards

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 01:00:00 +0100

If you don’t live in Portugal or Spain, it will be impossible for you to understand the feelings I’m trying to convey below. And I sincerely hope you never have to deal with it.

Around 11:30 a.m., the external monitor I have hooked to my laptop went black while I was editing a video. If the room’s light hadn’t also been shut off, I would think it was a simple connection issue. This type of incident is such a rare phenomenon that at first I thought it was related to my apartment or building and decided to go for a walk with my dog.

Heading to the dog park, I grabbed my phone to share the “morning event” with my wife. Yes, we keep in touch all the time using Signal.

This was the moment I sensed something bigger was happening, but I still thought it was a local thing. My phone data connection was down, and as someone who has worked for 10 years in the telecommunications sector, I know that something like that rarely happens. There are so many contingencies and backups. Something else must be going on.

Maybe the entire neighborhood lost power, and, for some reason, the backup generator at the mobile phone tower closest to me didn’t kick off, I thought, trying to rationalize the situation.

I don’t know if it was instinct, but I immediately sent my wife an SMS: “I have no idea what’s happening, but we lost power and I have no data on my phone”. Again, because of many years of experience, I know how SMS works and how it is such a robust feature of the network.

The SMS took longer than expected to be sent, and that was another undesired sign. Perhaps she didn’t get it. My wife is currently on an overseas trip, so I text a friend here in Portugal: “We lost power, and I have no data on my phone. What about you?” “We also lost power, and I can barely use data. It looks like it’s affecting the entire country.”

This is when I started having very unwanted thoughts. Instant communication is a crucial element that we take for granted. But if you think about it, modern society has been building on top of this core infrastructure since the invention of the telegraph.

Let me provide you with further context of the situation I found myself in at that moment. Every single appliance and piece of equipment in my house is electric, so there’s no way to cook or take a hot shower. The TV cable is an Ethernet connector that plugs into an Internet hub, so there’s no way to watch the news. I also just sold my car, so no analog radio as well.

To make coffee that day, I used my gas-powered camping stove, which I ironically set up on top of its modern induction successor.

Okay, this is a national situation. A big one because the phones went down. If there’s a positive side to this, it’s that there are probably dozens of people working tirelessly to fix it. Again, little did I know.

Here’s when I decided I had to stay calm. I ate the rest of yesterday’s salad, grabbed my iPod, a book (the paper type), and thought to myself, If this is not solved until 4 p.m., I’ll go buy some extra supplies.

I read for two hours, but at some less engaging parts, I couldn’t help but stop and think about this unusual and unexpected situation. Looking around, I began to see all these wonderful sparks of beauty in the midst of the chaos. From my balcony, where I was reading, I could see all the other people on their balconies, kids playing on the street, and neighbors having fun conversations on their doorsteps.

I remember it now. This is how the world used to be when I was a kid, and even a teenager. This is how people used to behave before mobile phones existed.

Back to reality. “It’s 4 p.m. Time to buy some supplies,” I reminded myself.

I decided to bring my dog to a nice place we usually go together to relax, before heading to the supermarket. If there was one happy soul in the house, that was my dog. Ignorance is bliss.

Going to another dog park on the same day must be winning the dog’s lottery, right? It’s a somewhat hidden micro forest on the way to the supermarket. We stayed there, going back and forth from having fun to relaxing for a while. Then we headed to our main mission.

With no shopping carts available and so many people inside, the outcome couldn’t be different. The number of shelves empty was impressive. To give you some context, something like this never happened during COVID-19. Thankfully, I don’t need much, but that’s one more unwelcoming sign to add to my list, I thought to myself.

On the other hand, I kept seeing all these kids playing on the streets and so many adults in front of houses having conversations face to face and laughing without looking at their phones. Those scenes were absolutely beautiful.

As all of this was going on, I still didn’t have any mobile data and, shortly after texting my wife and my friend in the morning, the SMS system stopped working. If you haven’t guessed yet, there was no calling as well.

All the information I had, was collected here and there, talking to others on the street. But because most people didn’t have access to the rest of the world, it was impossible to know what was really happening. Moreover, all the ones I talked to would start the sentence with something like “I heard that…”

Experience, or perhaps hope, was telling me to keep sending journaling messages to my wife, and so I did. At this point, I was already back to using Signal, where I started narrating everything I was doing. That was the only app I kept opened all the time, hooping for momentarily breaths of the network.

If, for some reason, the network comes up for a few seconds or minutes, she’ll get all the updates. I didn’t know it at that moment, but she was doing the same on her side, and at about 7 p.m., a relieving exchange happened. I saw a burst of messages from her, and the read update pop-up on all the messages I had previously sent here. That would never happen again until the power and network came back to life at about 11 p.m. But at least she was now aware of what was happening to me.

I don’t know if this applies to everyone, but as I grew older, I started understanding that many things in life were never supposed to be about me. At some point, I learned that it’s about what I mean to other people, and that’s why I have to take care of myself. That’s for them! And it goes both ways, of course. Anything we do is always affecting the ones who love us, and this perception became so important to me that I’m constantly more worried about the feelings of the others, the loved ones. It’s like going to a funeral. Our main responsibility there is to comfort the ones that are still alive. We are there for them. Loving is seldom about us, and I wish I had learned this early in life.

Anyway, back to my ordeal. You know me, I’ve been detaching my digital life from the cloud for a long time. And I do have equipment to survive in a situation like this for a few days. Of course, I learned some new lessons with this test the world just tossed at me, and I’ll do my homework.

However, as a society, I think we are digging our own grave. Why are we increasingly relying on the cloud for everything? Why do all things have to have an app that has to be connected to the Internet to work? The more I think about it, the more I see unreliable digital conveniences replacing the so-called “outdated” gadgets that are still working so well. This is nothing more than building a gigantic house of cards. And to further add more salt to the injury, it is probably being built on top of a single point of failure.

This digital modern life of ours is so bizarre. Among all the real and relevant concerns I was having yesterday, it also occurred to me that I would lose my 775 streak on Duolingo if I couldn’t do my lesson today. Seriously?! The simple fact that something as futile as that crossed my mind is so absurd!

Today, I woke up feeling slightly stressed from my adventures, and I still have a bit of a headache. Nothing terrible or distressing happened yesterday. Thankfully, I was working from home, and everything was calm in my neighborhood. But, in retrospect, I think the real burden I felt was the thought of possibly not being able to connect with my loved ones living in different parts of the world. That, and the fact that nobody knew exactly what was happening or how many days would be like that. I didn’t miss anything else related to the Internet, just that connection with others and the real-time information that comes with instant communication.

By the way, I’m old enough to say that most of what we did at the beginning of the web was communicating via email, forums, blog comments, etc. It was a lot of fun!

I’m grateful to have power and communication back, but, when walking with my dog this morning, I saw people quickly resuming their lives just like if nothing had happened, and, in a way, that made me sad. Yesterday’s flourishes of harmony and beauty are now gone, like busted soap bubbles.

The insane society we are building for ourselves is now back on track, and the house of cards is sitting there waiting for the next breeze. Until then, the only sign of the now gone problems was a possible bug that kept the public lighting still on during this morning.

Inside my Obsidian Homepage: a portal to what matters most.

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 01:00:00 +0100

UPDATE APR/2026 — A lot has changed in my setup since I wrote the post below, and I thought it was time for a series about it.

The new system is heavily based on Bases. There’s only one template that I use for all my notes, which are created by the Unique Note Creator plugin. I still have a Home page where I keep a summary of what’s in progress, but it’s a simpler version than the last one I shared.

Do you have an Obsidian homepage? Mine gives me instant access to tasks, trips, projects, and family info. It works as an efficient dashboard for what matters most.

First things first. My homepage is basically a note, automatically updated with dynamic information from other parts of Obsidian. In other words, it’s a dashboard created using the Homepage plugin, as demonstrated in the video below.

Since it is the first thing I see when I open my Obsidian, I expect the information there to be what I’ll be looking for most of the time. And what could be more relevant than my next tasks?

Using the Tasks plugin and some basic configuration that you can learn in the video below, I created four dynamic lists: Overdue, Today, Tomorrow, and Upcoming. There’s also a fifth one that is mostly for groceries, but I also use it for anything I need to buy. That’s why it’s called Purchases.

Next is a world map widget with pins on every place I’ve been. It’s a backup of what I have on Google Maps and is built and automatically updated using the Map plugin. There’s also a short list with links to the itinerary notes of my next trips. I could have this list dynamically built like the tasks, but I don’t travel that much, and manually creating it is easier and, as you soon see, more useful.

The dashboard information is ordered by how often I need or use each module. That explains my tasks at the top, but why is the trips section right below it? Well, there are at least two parts to a trip: planning and the trip itself. In my case, there’s also a third part. I love to keep a journal during the trip, and when I return, I adjust the details here and there.

Planing and organizing a trip is more than a list of tasks. So, having the link to the itinerary note means that I can constantly go there to monitor what I have already done and what I still need to do. Then, during the trip, I can easily open the itinerary, and inside that note, find invaluable information, like a link to the hotel on Google Maps.

Since I see the Homepage every time I open Obsidian, there’s almost zero friction. It’s just a matter of scrolling a little bit to get to the links right below my tasks and clicking or tapping.

When I come back, it’s time for some fine-tuning, and that’s when not having the next trips list automated is helpful. If links to past trips have not yet been removed, it means that I still have some work to do. By the way, this is a strategy I use all the time. Keeping things in an undesirable place is a constant reminder.

And it also works for physical objects too. For example, I recently kept a giant bicycle lock on top of my desk to remind me that I needed to make a copy of its key.

Back to the Homepage.

Next is a Canvas widget of my Knowledge Base. It used to be the only one, but below it, I now have another one with all the information related to my Apple IIe project. That project was dormant for more than a year, and it wouldn’t make sense to keep it on the Homepage. Now that I’m working on it again, having a direct link to all that information is very welcome. This demonstrates how dynamic the Homepage is.

And speaking about the Canvas, it has become my go-to feature for visually organizing all the information I have in my Static Containers. My Family Documents container is probably the next contender to be displayed like that. But for now, they are embedded notes on my Homepage.

It’s a long list that sits as the last segment because it is definitely something I frequently use, but it’s the least needed when compared to the other items.

Having a Homepage like this is a game-changer, but it has to meet your needs and reality. If you could see the ones I help my clients build, you would be impressed by how different they are.

Another important detail is that your notes have to be organized using a system that works for you. Of course, I use the Timeline System, but regardless of which one you choose, there must be some sort of predictability to have a good dashboard. Without that, your dashboard will only be adding more friction to your life.

Switching to Proton or similar alternatives is much harder than I thought

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 01:00:00 +0100

Proton has come a long way since I first tried it, but…

The last time I was a Proton subscriber, it was known as ProtonMail, and the calendar feature was still in beta. They have come a long way since then, but for a while, I have been putting off giving it another try. However, the current situation of the world is an invitation to do exactly that.

Based on my early experience, I knew that ProtonMail would work perfectly for me, as I could set up my domain name and the aliases I currently use. That’s why my initial plan was to try the other features first, starting with the calendar. If things go well, I can move away from Google Workspace, which I have been using since 2015.

My first task was to create two calendars: personal and work. Everything went exactly as expected, including the synchronization with the Android app, which, by the way, also offers a minimalist yet useful widget.

Import and export

I don’t remember this option in the menu before, but as I said, it has been a long time since I’ve been there. Anyway, clicking on “Import from Google” revealed three options: Emails, Contacts, and Calendar.

I kept only the Calendar option checked, but I couldn’t go past the Google Authentication page. This issue was probably related to the Obsidian Web View feature (aka, browser) I was using, so it was time to switch to Google Chrome. Problem saved, the connection was established and everything looked fine until… Well, my Google Calendar database was apparently too big for the free account storage, and the process was aborted.

Fine, I moved on to trying the import feature on my contacts, which ended up highlighting another problem I now remember having had in the past.

Although it is possible to start a call from a contact inside the ProtonMail app, there’s no Contacts app for Android. And as far as I could understand, the alternative is to import the contacts from the ProtonMail app to the Android address book. But since this will not keep both apps in sync, it will forever be an inconvenience, as new contacts will have to always be added to both apps. If you know of other options, please let me know in the comments below.

Proton Alternative

A friend suggested Infomaniak, which has a different approach to the above. The kSync app synchronizes Contacts and Appointments with the Google apps we already use on Android. I ran some tests and it works!

Although I haven’t tried it yet, I noticed that there’s also a way to synchronize emails, calendars, and contacts with the corresponding Mac apps. Another point in favor of them is the fact that there’s a videoconferencing tool. Not to mention that it is a cheaper option when compared to Proton. At least I thought so.

But one detail that I cannot stop thinking about is who came up with the Infomaniak name.

Another aesthetic detail to consider is the user interface. It’s not intuitive, and even the dark mode has too much color to it. Proton feels much more comfortable to use.

Too Good to be True?

They are also a Swiss-based company and offer a 30-day free trial, which I enrolled in to fully try the service. And that’s when I faced a major roadblock.

After spending hours on this, I think I finally got it. To have a custom domain, one has to also pay for the “Custom Brand” service. There’s even a “Custom Brand + kSuite” offer for 6.21€ per user/month.

Anyway, I contacted support to make sure my understanding is correct and will update this post when they reach back to me. After all, there’s a 3.99€ per month Proton offer that covers everything I need. Well, not exactly everything. I need videoconferencing, and I’m still puzzled by the annoying Contacts app problem.

PS. Believe it or not, the above is how I spent the majority of this Sunday.

Obsidian is great, but learning is inherently hard

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 01:00:00 +0100

If you are looking into switching to Obsidian, maybe my journey can help you.

The very first video about Obsidian was published on my YouTube channel on March 14, 2023. What some of you may not know is that I had been using it for longer than that to help clients here and there.

However, that amount of time is nothing when compared to the muscle memory I have developed from using Evernote for every little thing in my life for 16 years. The problem with the new is that it is always unwelcoming. It’s not only the different way of doing things; it’s also the constant uncertainty about doing anything. And at that point, Obsidian was not only new to me, but there’s also the sheer number of settings and plugins making it feel so overwhelming.

To make matters worse, I decided to bring my YouTube audience along with me on that new journey. For a long time, I have had the idea of creating a vlog-style productivity series on my channel that would show how I organize life and work. I thought that learning Obsidian would be a great opportunity to try that, but it ended up creating unnecessary confusion, as it is challenging to film myself figuring out things happening in real time.

Back to my point. After so many trials and errors, I’m now much more comfortable with how Obsidian works. Some of the setups I came up with, like the homepage demonstrated in the video below, are now running for a considerable amount of time and working so well. Furthermore, my Timeline System has matured to the point where it allows me to seamlessly navigate my daily activities.

Don’t tell anyone, but because of all of that, I feel like recording many of my past videos again. Anyway, you are not here for this. Let’s go through my tips for switching to a new app.

Before that, a disclaimer is needed, right? The following is how I did things. It’s also based on the strategy I use to help my clients, but it may not be suitable for you. So think of the suggestions below as just that, suggestions.

From Evernote to Obsidian

First, I didn’t abandon Evernote. I knew how things worked there, which mad it my safe haven during the transition period.

With that in mind, the first actual homework was to learn the basics about the mysterious Obsidian. Because of my clients, I had already done part of that before. But now I needed to move a step further and see how things would work in real life. To accomplish that, I created the first of many local vaults on my Mac to work as a sandbox.

Once that was done, I copied, I repeat, copied, not moved, parts of my notes. In some ways, Obsidian is so similar to Evernote, but in others, like how files are stored, it’s an entirely different approach. However, it works in such a way that you can have as many vaults as you wish and easily delete the ones that didn’t work. As long as you are coping your files, you can consider the multiple vaults to be a process of prototyping and iterating.

Like I mentioned at the beginning of the article, there’s a universe of settings and plugins. I suggest avowing all plugins as you are getting to know your way around. As for the settings, try to look for the answers as you need them. For example, when you feel like you have to learn how to format text, go look for tutorials on how to do that.

As you get used to it, move some more parts of your system, but I would still think of what you are doing on the new app as in experimental mode. It will take a while for you to get used to the numerous new things that are still making you uneasy.

If you followed my progress on YouTube, you know that I was constantly changing my setup and being frustrated by all the new ways of doing things. And let’s not forget that I was doing all the above while still using Evernote. So much so that at a certain point, I had a good portion of my activities being managed with the help of both apps, and that was driving me crazy.

To make things even more miserable, Evernote decided to redesign its mobile app. Now, on top of learning a new system, I had to adapt to a new way of doing things on the app I was so familiar with.

It was a lot, but it was worth it. It felt like a final partnership with my old friend, Evernote. The new design and new ways to do things helped me eventually find a way to implement the Timeline System that had been brewing in my head for so many years. Yes, the Timeline System I use in Obsidian and in the Supernote came to be because of my struggles with Evernote.

With that settled, the next step was to replicate the system in Obsidian and start moving all my files. But I did it one notebook at a time. I would export an Evernote notebook, import it to Obsidian, organize all the mess, and, just as a last resort, keep the exported notebook as a backup. In case you are wondering, yes, I still have them in a backup drive.

Plugins

But we are not done just yet. As I have already mentioned several times, Obsidian is full of settings and plugins. My strategy here is the same as at the beginning of this process. Whenever I need something that Obsidian cannot do, I start looking for a plugin.

I try to stick with the ones that do one of a few things, but every so often that’s not possible. For example, the Tasks plugin is too much for my needs, but I couldn’t find a lighter alternative that would work for me. Templater and all its features is one that I’m avoiding, as the Auto Template Trigger does almost everything I require. But when it comes to having fun, it looks like that rule doesn’t apply. I love using and tweaking every detail possible on the Map plugin.

Which brings us to one of the reasons I switched to Obsidian. Evernote has been on a downward trend of removing features since version 10 was released. I thought for a moment that Bending Spoons was going to bring old features back, but they kept removing them.

Guess what, many of the removed features I used to love in Evernote exist on Obsidian as a setting or are available as a plugin. And in most cases, these are better variations of what existed on Evernote. And that makes me so full of joy! It’s like being in a parallel universe, where Evernote evolved to what Obsidian is today. Back to reality, I’m definitely happy. So happy!

In summary, what I’m trying to say is first, have a safe haven. Second, take your time. Really, take your time. This will be a long project. Third, you already have a lot on your plate, don’t create more problems for yourself. Go look for settings and plugins only when you genuinely need to fulfill a specific requirement.

Evernote's new PDF viewer is beautiful, but it's like a new skin over old problems

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 02:00:00 +0100

Perhaps it is time to remove Evernote from the toolbox of options I suggest to my clients.

Let’s start with the toolbar, which was beautifully redone, but as far as I can tell, there’s nothing new there. Actually, I’m missing an important detail — that, to be honest, I’m not sure if existed before or not.

Where is the undo button?

Using cmd+z (Mac) works fine, so the function exists. If they forgot about it, I hope they bring it back as soon as possible. If it wasn’t there, it seems to me that this was a missed opportunity to add it.

Meanwhile, the options Select all annotations and Clear annotations in the dropdown menu help circumvent that. But keep in mind that all means only those on the page being displayed.

By the way, I think the dropdown menu is a pleasing addition. The quick access to the Fit to page width option is a great start to making this a viable PDF reader. Which brings us to a problem so many of you have been complaining about to me over so many years.

It’s a view, not a reader

If the tool doesn’t remember the page we were on when we closed the PDF, it’s just a viewer, not a reader. And that is only one of the details that has been preventing me from using Evernote to read long documents. When reading and taking notes, I was used to relying on a PDF reader instead, but that came with an inconvenience. Evernote couldn’t be the place to store the PDFs.

It’s true that one can use the ‘open with’ option to open the PDF using another reader. But as far as I know, this is only available when using the desktop client, and we’ve been living in a mobile-first world for a long time now.

When the Files feature was added, I presumed that the final goal was to give us direct access to the files we keep in Evernote, but that never happened. Actually, even after all the time that has passed since it was released, it is still a half-backed feature causing more confusion than anything else.

Another step towards Obsidian

A long time ago, I moved all my PDFs to Google-Drive , but that ended up creating all sorts of inconveniences. Ironically, the idea was inspired by how Obsidian stores our files. Fast-forward to today, I gave up on the workarounds. I’m now reading my PDFs using whatever app I feel like, and, at the same time, the files are kept organized in Obsidian. Having the PDFs visible in the computer file structure creates a lot of freedom to do many things.

Bugs, bugs, and more bugs

Back to Evernote. Another nice touch in the dropdown menu is the Include annotation summary option, which in the past used to be a buried checkbook that many people didn’t even know was there.

This is a nice feature, which adds new pages to the beginning of the PDF, including all the annotations. Unfortunately, something is now broken. As illustrated by the video below, many of the PDFs I tried, created a messed up page. Furthermore, the summary now seams to only be visible in the note view. In the past, these notes were also visible in the PDF view mode.

There’s another inconvenience that makes Evernote challenging to use as a PDF reader. If you watched the video above, there’s an annoying flicker happening every time a page is turned. And I’m pretty sure this was not there before. On that same note, if we use the thumbnail to jump to a specific point in the document, that page opens in the middle of the text. And that’s precisely where starting at the top of the page would be a much better option.

I would like to end this post with a more optimistic view for the future of this feature and Evernote in general, but I’m not entirely convinced that that’s possible. The new Files feature is not the only one half-backed. Many of the new features are simply not useful as they are, and more often than not, they arrive with new bugs.

Frankly, I’m tired of trying to tell Evernote’s team that the ‘moving fast and breaking things’ strategy should not apply to something so important as our personal notes. This will deeply sadden me, but maybe it is also time to take Evernote out of the toolbox of options I recommend to my clients.

Three everyday situations where the Timeline System in Obsidian can help you

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 02:00:00 +0100

What I love about the Timeline System is how simple it is to change the status of an activity by simply moving a note from one place to another.

A friend recently came up with a challenge. He told me he would like to know how I would use the Timeline System to organize and keep track of two everyday situations.

Bring it on, I said.

The first one was about a concert. He would like to know what I would do with the PDF tickets, that were incompatible with his phone wallet. Since this is still in progress, it should be in the Action Container.

I’m pretty sure there are other approaches, but this is how I would do it. In fact, I’ve done it before a few times, and it worked pretty well. I think of events like this as trip activities, even though it is happening in the city where I live. So, the Action Container would have a format similar to the one below.

Where the folder ‘2025–04–25 Porto’ is the fake trip storing the concert tickets.

The other situation was an Amazon QR code he needed to show when returning a product. Since this one has no specific date, I’d simply keep it loose inside the Action Containers folder. Without a specific subfolder, it will be easier to find, and it will be an inconvenience working as a natural reminder every time I go to Obsidian to check my activities inside my Action Containers.

It’s a scenario very similar to what I’m currently doing (see video below) with the #Nadsat Glossary that I have to keep around to be able to read A Clockwork Orange.

What I love about the Timeline System is that all the above situations are notes that will eventually be moved to the Timeline container (folder). This will remove them from the list of activities in progress and, at the same time, keep them naturally organized in a place that I can go to retrieve information.

Another step towards repurposing my Obsidian vault

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 01:00:00 +0100

I have been testing the idea below for the past two months, and so far, everything is working wonderfully well.

I had to check the information before writing this post, but it’s been 16 years since I started using password managers. If you are not already using one, please share your secret with me. Given the huge number of passwords we have to deal with these days, they have become indispensable software. However, like many other apps, what was once a one-time fee became a subscription.

I don’t have any problem with paying, especially considering how they make our online presence safer while keeping passwords easy to manage. My issue is with losing control. Compared to a paper notebook kept in a drawer, it’s a much better solution, but our passwords are now sitting on a mysterious server somewhere in the world.

So, after testing the concept of a “digital cave” with many other items, I decided it was time to do the same with my passwords. But to accomplish that, I would need to find an app that keeps all the passwords in a single file, which I could then move to my vault in Obsidian. It would also need to have clients for all the existing platforms. And finally, it would be preferable if it were Open Source.

KeePass checks all the boxes above, and as you can see in the video below, I created the database inside in my Timeline and copied about 20 passwords to test the idea.

I’ve been playing with this configuration for a couple of months and since I’ve encountered no problems, I’m now looking for a way to import the remaining passwords.

If you’d like to try it too, watch the video. And if you know any other software that would also check all the boxes, please let me know.

A Clockwork Orange

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 02:00:00 +0100

I see A Clockwork Orange as part of a group where I also put Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, 1984, and others that depict this dystopian future that, for some reason, attracts me.

Even though I’m sure it would not be a good experience at all, for some unknown reason, part of me has a secret desire to experience this alternative reality in person. It’s not just the dystopian future that attracts me. I also love the future from the perspective of the 60s.

Back to the A Clockwork Orange book, if you need a tip to use the Nadsat Glossary, I suggest watching this video to learn how I set it up in Obsidian.

Other books in my library.

Mountbatten: The Official Biography

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 20:13:00 +0100

I would say the target audience for Mountbatten: The Official Biography is people graduating in history or those, like me, passionate about it.

It’s an impossibly long book, with big pages and a small font, covering so many details of his life. And because it weighs a lot, I wouldn’t always bring it with me on my commute to the office. Long story short, it took me almost one year to finish.

That said, it was an interesting read for a few reasons. Firstly, I learned a lot about Mountbatten and English history, and when I finally arrived at the chapter about India, it was like watching the same movie from a different angle.

I could even remember some passages of Freedom at Midnight when Gandhi met with Mountbatten, and I could picture the scene in my mind as if it were filmed with a 360° camera.

The Digital Caveman project

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 02:00:00 +0100

EN | PT

I love the conveniences of the modern world and have no intention of giving them up. However, the price we are paying to host our entire lives on the cloud is too high. And I don’t mean it in monetary terms, although it can certainly become expensive.

Because I was already using Syncthing to synchronize my Obsidian vault between two computers and a smartphone, and at the same time, keeping two automatic backups of everything — in different parts of the city — I had an idea.

What if I moved all my files to my vault in Obsidian?

I’m already doing that with several resources, like my video production folder, which I’ve been keeping in Obsidian as a Static Container for a long time. The vault is already being synchronized, so everything else I move there will be sent to all my devices. And talking about that, my Timeline System is also playing a big role, as its simple structure is easy to understand and use. Storing and finding information is super intuitive.

I don’t know when exactly the idea of hosting everything myself was born. In hindsight, I’d say that the fact that I still use my old iPod 5 Gen to listen to the music I own, might have played a big role in my plan. Then came Obsidian and the realization that all our files are kept locally and can be 100% managed by us, the users and owners.

Maybe that’s what inspired me to create a local backup of my photos, which are now stored in folders using a basic and simple structure that almost any computer and any regular app can read.

The video above shows the photos being sent to Apple Photos, but I’m not doing that anymore. I now keep them in folders because it’s a way to have them accessible no matter the computer or technology being used. However, there’s another reason. Almost accidentally, I found out that the Apple Photos database was about twice the size of the photos kept in folders.

That not only uses unnecessary storage on your computer but will cost you much more if you are synchronizing and backing up your beloved memories on iCloud. In both cases, Apple is in control and making more money because you are purchasing a Mac with more storage space and subscribing to a larger iCloud plan. I talk more about this in the video below.

Back to my master plan. Here’s what I have already set as local folders in Obsidian:

All my notes and documents.
My website.
Every pin I add to Google Maps, like trip ideas or cool places here in Porto, is also added to Obsidian using the Maps Plugin.
Like already mentioned, all the materials I use to create my videos are in subfolders inside my Static Containers folder, which I usually access from the computer file system.
And there’s also more elaborated things, like the Scrivener files of all my books.

My photos are half way there. Like I demonstrated in the video below, they are synchronized with both of my computers and backed up locally with everything else.

But the final plan is that one day, when storage in our mobile phones is on par with computers, I will move the photos folder to my Obsidian vault. For now, only pictures I’m using in my journal — which is also in Obsidian — or any other notes are already being moved there.

And there’s more. Currently, I’m experimenting with the idea of keeping my passwords’ database in the Timeline folder in Obsidian. I chose KeePass after searching for a solution that would give me control of the database. I’m not sure if I’ll stick to it, but as a proof of concept, it’s working much better than I was expecting (there’s a video about it coming up soon).

Again, because the vault is already being synchronized and the database with the passwords is there, I’m able to log in to it from any computer or mobile device, by linking it to the corresponding KeePass app. Moreover, because of my backup scheme, I’ll always have a backup of the passwords on two different hard disks that are in two distinct buildings.

The Digital Caveman

This is certainly not for everyone, but my plan is to move every single digital file to my “cloud” system, which is not even a cloud. It’s just information being synchronized and backed up on multiple computers that are in different places. I call it the Digital Caveman project because it has this “handmade” feel to it and because everything is kept in “my cave”.

I would have bought even more books in Oxford.

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 01:00:00 +0100

I remember seeing people reading and studding in pubs in the movies, but I always doubted it was a real thing.

Our first site as first-time visitors to Oxford was Blackwell’s Bookshop. My wife and I are passionate about books, and that was a fascinating experience, but I was not expecting to see myself immediately entering another bookshop in the same street. Keep in mind that it happened minutes after spending almost the entire morning trying to control myself not to buy all the incredible books in that maze of shelves.

The first book I bought that day was ‘The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction’, but I would have purchased many others if I weren’t restricted by the size of the cabin baggage I was allowed to bring onboard the plane on my trip back to Porto.

And the bookstores were not the only ones tempting me. During one of our random walks, we came across a secondhand shop selling all sorts of intriguing old items and, of course, books.

It has to be small—I told myself.

‘The observer’s book of manned spaceflight’ from 1975 is indeed very compact, but there’s so much detail in it. It made me think a lot about how hard it was to write a book like this in the past. For starters, think about all the fact-checking.

In hindsight, choosing this book might have not been only a question of size. There must have been a big role played by my subconscious as well. The store had all these signs inviting people to follow them on Twitter, and I couldn’t resist and had to talk to them about decentralized social media, in particular Bluesky and Mastodon, when paying for the book.

The current state of that other social network and that person, whom I’d rather not mention the name, are making me even stop watching some great creators covering SpaceX. Yes, I’m probably not mature enough to separate things. Or, maybe, I’m just a simple human being with a strong sense of ethics. Anyway, back to the city and its countless bookshops.

This time it was a store practically bagging us to go inside. There were so many books outside, just like fruits and vegetables found in boxes on the sidewalk in small European grocery stores. And there it was for less than £3. ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep’ has been on my TBR list for a long time, and I had to get it.

How many bookstores are there in this city?

Then there’s all these people studying everywhere. And they are not pretending; one can clearly see they are really trying to master something complicated. The funniest day, however, was when we went to this restaurant for lunch, and there it was, the funniest sigh ever.

In the same place, a girl at the table behind ours literally told her friend that she was staying for just one more hour, and then she would go to a pub and study there. I remember seeing people reading and studying in pubs in movies set in Oxford, but I honestly did not believe that was a real thing. Not only is it true, but it’s extremely prevalent and widespread.

However, books were not the only items I had a hard time packing. As you know, I still use an old iPod, and a few years ago I started a trend. Buying random used CDs at secondhand shops when traveling to different countries. Then, at home, ripping them and adding the songs to my iPod. Of course, I had to grab a couple on this trip as well. So far, only good surprises.

I had to turn down so many interesting titles like ‘Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory’s Power to Hold on to What Matters’ just because I didn’t have enough space. Yes, I’ll probably end up buying them online, but it’s not the same thing.

If you enjoy reading, you know what I’m talking about, and you should probably organize a trip to Oxford with time to spare in coffee shops and pubs. To read, of course. But remember to leave space in your bag for all the incredible books you’ll be almost forced to buy.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 03:00:00 +0100

Blade Runner is one of my favorite movies of all time, and, for that reason, the book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? has been in my TBR pile for a very long time. It finally happened during a trip to Oxford, where I probably spent too much money on books. No, I take it back. As long as you read them, there is no such thing as spending too much money on books.

Anyway, it is a quick read that I completed by the end of the trip, yet it proved to be highly enjoyable. The essence of what I watched many years ago was there, but it felt like traveling to a parallel universe where there was another version of the movie.

And that brought up many thoughts about another passion of mine, moviemaking. While I was reading, I kept thinking about the director’s process of deciding to change this or that aspect of the movie.

Other books in my library.

The Most Important Journey

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 01:00:00 +0100

A few days ago, I finally got to the part of this book I wanted to read about: India’s independence. I first learned of Mountbatten many years ago, when I was preparing myself for a trip to India and reading everything I could about the subcontinent.

I eventually came across Freedom at Midnight, which is a brilliant book centering on Gandhi’s biography and perspective. Mountbatten’s biography, which is the one I’m reading now, is, of course, based on his perspective. And this is what makes reading both books so unique.

This is a history with other important players, and I hope to learn more about their perspective in the future. For now, I am simply fascinated by what I’m learning from this book, enjoying each new page more than the previous one. To be honest, this moment is what kept me reading it. Even though it is a well-written book, it is also massive, and each chapter has so much detail.

In any case, although it was an almost boring read so far, looking back, I now find it invaluable to have learned more about Mountbatten’s personal life and professional trajectory before his role in India’s independence. But his participation in the country’s history was definitely what I was looking forward to since the day I started reading this book.

I have always been fascinated by history, which ultimately led me to pursue a postgraduate degree in international affairs. But what you may not know is that after that I began a master’s degree program in history. Unfortunately, life had other plans for me, and I never finished it.

I’m a huge fan of history because the paths we took as a society in the past explain a lot about the world we live in today. Which also makes me sad because it seems like as a society we often take too long to learn. It appears to be so difficult for our species. We frequently start over again after moving forward.

Anyway, I feel that after this book, it is time to take a break and invest more time into another passion of mine, cognitive psychology. I don’t know if that will make me less sad about humanity, though.

The vision I have for my Obsidian Vault needs a carefully planned explanation

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 01:00:00 +0100

I am delighted to see that the pieces of my Obsidian setup are starting to come together in this organic way. It seems like as I make small changes here and there, my progress gets stronger. In other words, the more I move forward, the less friction there is.

I’m doing my best to document this journey on YouTube and on my site, but the more it evolves, the more this idea that it needs a carefully planned explanation grows on me. I’m still halfway through writing my current book, but I’m already feeling the desire to write another one about how I’m materializing this vision I have for my Obsidian Vault.

And, speaking of the current book, it is taking its toll on me because I chose to write in English. I don’t regret my decision, but it is exhausting to think and formulate ideas in a foreign language.

Similar to my progress with Obsidian, my writing is getting more and more steam as I move forward, but that doesn’t change the fact that it is taking me much longer than usual to finish it. If I were writing it in Portuguese, it would likely already be published.

Well, I will get there eventually.

Have a lovely week, Vlad.

Obsidian as a writing hub

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 01:00:00 +0100

Scrivener and LanguageTool are remarkable tools that I use all the time, but they don’t have an Android App. Luckily, Obsidian works as an elegant bridge that has clients for multiple platforms.

Please allow me to begin by explaining the situation. I’m a Mac user who switched from the iPhone to Android many years ago and have no intention or desire to go back.

That said, I sometimes come across great writing tools like Scrivener and LanguageTool that don’t have an Android App. Thankfully, Obsidian is an important part of my writing kit and has clients for multiple platform. This is the story of how I use it as my writing hub.

Scrivener is where I’ve been writing my books since 2012. I don’t know how others create, but in my case, I usually start by writing down ideas as they come to mind. When there’s enough content and a lot of mess, it’s time to organize the text, and that’s probably my favorite thing about Scrivener. Coping and pasting is harmless, since the draft file has no formatted text, and it is also extremely easy to rearrange chapters by simply dragging them around.

Another crucial aspect of writing is grammar. For a non-native speaker like myself, a little help with synonyms and sentence construction is very welcome. That’s where LanguageTool shines. It feels as if I have an English teacher constantly suggesting changes to improve the text.

Don’t ask me why, but Scrivener never added support to LanguageTool, despite the existence of an API. So, even when using my Mac to write, I can’t benefit from both of them working together. And when I’m away from my computer, things become even harder because none of them have an Android App. That even affects the Supernote, as it is also an Android under the hood.

Thankfully, there is a way to connect all of these seemingly incompatible pieces. Several months ago, I shared a workaround for using Scrivener’s sync feature to have access to your book’s draft as Markdown files in Obsidian. You can learn ho to do it, by watching the video below.

Yesterday, you learned about another part of the puzzle. There is a LanguageTool plugin for Obsidian that uses the same API Scrivener could be using to make writers' lives more comfortable.

By combining both methods — synchronizing the book with Obsidian and using the LanguageTool plugin — we can create the perfect solution to use the spell checker when writing on a Mac or using an Android phone. Which also includes the Supernote. Isn’t that cool?

However, that is not all the writing I do in Obsidian. This article, for example, started as an idea in my Creator Action Container. The note was born there when I was riding the subway and wanted to write some ideas and drafts of a few paragraphs.

I kept working on it the next day, but this time I used Obsidian on my computer. In both cases, LanguageTool was there helping me. When it was finished, I moved it from the Action Container to the website folder to then make it available online, where you are reading it now.

If you’d like to learn more about all of these interconnected folders, please watch the video below.

My new site took a selfie

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0100

These represent all the page connections through links or tags within my new website thus far.

Create using Obsidian Graph View

I have something new and exciting to show you!

Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:00:00 +0100

Well, I’m not sure if you’ll find it exciting, but I’m thrilled about it.

Over the past few weeks, I have invested a lot of time into revamping my website so that I can share with you all my Blog posts and Knowledge Base in one place. Perhaps we can call it a Knowledge Base Blog. Hum, it looks like KBB would be a good acronym. Anyway, here’s what I’ve done so far.

Oh, by the way, you may be asking yourself why I’m also using Substack to share this post. This may or may not be temporary; however, due to the migration of my website to a different platform, I have lost the newsletter feature that I previously had. Anyway, back to my KBB.

Let’s start with the left-side menu. Except for Books, the first group of items—from About me to Ethics Statement—are the same topics (pages) I already had on the other site.

Toolbox and Maker are where I’m exploring ways to share my Knowledge Base with you. As you can see in the image below, there are many topics, and each one of them contains explanations, how-tos, and other types of resources and information to help you learn more about those areas of interest.

However, the cool part, at least for me, is how I’m connecting all that with the blog posts. Think of all the information as widgets I can add to any post. As a matter of fact, embedding them is part of what I’ve been doing for the last few weeks.

Let’s look at the Books section. For now, there are only three books there, but the idea is to keep adding them. The book Algorithms to Live By, for example, is a page with some of my thoughts about it. Anyone who wants to know what I think about the book can go to that page. But there’s another path to that same information. In fact, many paths.

You may be reading a post, like this one, with that same information embedded. In other words, every time I mention that book in a post, I can include that “widget”. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are several integrations like this all over the new website.

But there’s more. If you take a look at the bottom of the book’s page, you’ll see the Links to this page list. That’s an automatic compilation of all the pages mentioning that book. And if we go back to the Toolbox, each topic also has (will have) a page like that. For example, vladcampos.com/evernote, vladcampos.com/supernote, and vladcampos.com/voicenotes are automatic compilations of posts about those topics.

Don’t leave yet. There’s more. In many pages on the website, you’ll find words that start with hashtags. Those are tags, and clicking on them will open a list of other pages with that tag.

I am still working on many things, and the structure may change in the coming days or weeks, but the main goal is to keep connecting new content to this web of knowledge.

Back to Substack…

As you can imagine, this intricate structure is only possible on my website, and that’s why I have no idea how to “translate” it to a newsletter. But that is a problem I am leaving to my future self to deal with. For now, I invite you to explore my KBB.

I wish you a wonderful 2025 🎉

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I still have a lot of work to do, but this first version represents the initial stages of my vision for a website that is both a learning center and a blog.

Obsidian Publish is far from perfect, and many of the issues I’ve complained about in the past, are still present. However, things changed on my side. I have gained experience, acquired new technical skills, and developed a deeper understanding of topics related to online presence.

Maybe all that helped me understand what my vision was. That’s probably why I now see Obsidian Publish as an appealing option.

What is a canonical link?

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 18:33:00 +0100

A Canonical Link or Canonical URL is the address of a page that search engines will choose as the most relevant version of duplicate pages.

Adding the meta tag below to the <head> of a copy of a page, will tell search engines that the https://site.com/page.html address is the most relevant version.

<link rel="canonical" href="https://site.com/page.html">

Some services, like Medium, have a setting that can be used to include the Canonical URL.

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0100

My Supernote Manta is scheduled to arrive at my office today. 🤞 If it arrives during the morning, I may be able to share an unboxing video with you this evening.

How to set the number of synchronizations per day on Syncthing-Fork

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0100

On 2025-05-23 What is Syncthing-Fork there’s an option to reduce the number of synchronizations per day.

Go to Settings, then Run Conditions, and scroll down, you’ll find the Run according to time schedule option.

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I love having a blog, but building a useful structure of information is very difficult. I’m constantly fighting with it because it is a terrible tool for publishing knowledge in a way that can actually help someone learn from what I’m sharing. Obsidian Publish is a great for that, but it’s a terrible option for hosting a blog.

The solution might be to have both, which would cost twice as much and make me spend a lot of time creating a learning system that nobody will use.

Spending money on a fun distraction that doesn’t pay off is the story of my life.

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0100

There’s a new Supernote in town 👏. I will be sharing my thoughts about the new A5X2 Manta soon, as there is one coming my way as I post this. For now, check the link below for more information about it.

A few thoughts on using the Obsidian app on the Supernote.

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0100

After a few days with the new Obsidian vault I set up for the Supernote, it’s time to discuss some other little tweaks I made and issues I experienced.

I still haven’t found a solution for the context menus that pop up when I hover the pen over clickable items. In the video below, you can see it happening on Obsidian, but it’s also affecting Syncthing.

At first, I thought it was linked to sideloaded apps, but it’s not happening to all the apps I installed, and I can see it happening when I’m using Obsidian on my computer. In other words, it appears to be a normal behavior found in certain apps, and I’ll have to investigate further to resolve this issue.

Battery

The battery is also draining faster than usual. It’s not something crazy fast, but it was bothering me, so I decided to try a different configuration. Syncthing-Fork has a setting to change the the number of synchronizations per day.

I hope it will improve the battery situation. The drawback is that I’ll have to pay more attention to the synchronization status, but I am fine with that.

Supernote Cloud & Tasks

Since we’re talking about sync, I went back to the Supernote cloud. In my opinion, it’s a better option, since I can see and manipulate files seamlessly on the phone and computer companion apps, where, by the way, I can also manage tasks.

I love how the Tasks app works seamlessly with notes, but there’s one thing that’s still driving me crazy. As you already know, I see Inboxes as a huge waste of time, so when a system has a folder like that the user cannot remove, I just ignore it. However, the Supernote forces me to use it.

On the Mac or Android companion apps, I can open a specific list and create takes there, but that’s still not possible to do that when creating tasks on notes.

Syncthing

Back to the sync topic, the one thing the Supernote cloud was not as efficient as Google Drive, was giving me quick access to my sketches exported to JPG or PNG. But, as I show in the video below, I’m now doing this using Syncthing.

I am still working on improving my workflow to efficiently combine what the Supernote and Obsidian do best, but I am already thrilled with what I have accomplished so far.

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0100

After installing Obsidian on my Supernote I can clearly see that the battery it is draining faster. It’s not substantial, like going down in a few hours or days, but it’s definitely draining a little faster. It could also be because I’ve been trying and testing so many new things lately.

There are some settings that I can change on Syncthing to improve the situation, but before I go that route, I’ll give it a few weeks under normal use conditions to see how it performs.

Stay tuned. I will keep you updated.

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I love it when things are as simple as possible, but it took me a while to realize that simplicity only flourishes when I work in a messy and cluttered environment. It’s like if I have to try out every single option just to know what is technically possible and, only then, I can start to simplify.

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I ended yesterday’s video telling you I had an idea that got me really excited. Actually, it’s a plan that combines two visions into one. First of all, I realized that instead of doing all the complicated maneuvers to synchronize only my Action Containers, I could create and synchronize a new vault just for my Action Containers and keep everything else, including the Timeline, in the current vault.

When it comes time to move a file to the Timeline, I can do so using the computer file system. This will have no impact on the way the Timeline System works, and I may be able to come up with an automation in the future to move completed actions to the Timeline on the other vault.

The second part of the plan is to put this new vault in the Supernote SD card. This not only keeps me from using all the Supernote internal storage space with my vault, but also opens up countless possibilities. I’ll show some of them in more detail in an upcoming video, but here’s an example.

Imagine that I sketched a project on Supernote and wanted to add that to a note on Obsidian. In the past, I would have to synchronize the image using Google Drive, for example, then, on my computer, drag it to Obsidian. I can now do it right there on the Supernote.

It’s just a matter of exporting it as a PNG and saving it to the folder where my Obsidian vault is. This will make it instantly available to use on Obsidian, which, in turn, will also synchronize with my computer and phone. Mind-blowing!

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0100

My YouTube channel currently has 7373 followers, which is cool because I love round numbers, sequences, and repetition. And 73 has a special meaning for me, but don’t let that stop you. If you haven’t subscribed yet, and you like what I do, please subscribe.

How to install a Micro SD Card on the Supernote Nomad

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Follow along with me and learn how to open the Supernote Nomad and install a Micro SD Card.

How to install Android apps on a Supernote using a Mac

Sat, 07 Dec 2024 02:00:00 +0100

🚨 UPDATE Jan 9, 2026.
There’s a much easier way to do this. Click here to learn how.

Before we start, I have some disclaimers. I am not a developer, and I have only a rough understanding of what is actually happening when following the steps below. I’m simply sharing what I learned researching online. It worked for me, but you should always do your research.

As for the Android apps, please be careful with what you are installing. Apps downloaded from the Internet, known as APKs, are not being checked by the Google Play Store.

So, if you decide to follow the steps below, know that you are doing it at your own risk. And make sure you have a backup of your Supernote before starting.

The first step is to prepare the Supernote to receive Android apps. Go to Settings, then Security & Privacy, and then turn on Sidloading. This means that you are allowing the Supernote to accept the installation of Android apps.

Next, we have to make sure the Supernote can connect to the Mac. Under the hood, the Supernote is an Android device, so we will need to install an app on the Mac to allow both of them to talk to each other. This step was a bit of a pain for me. After trying different options, MacDroid was the one that worked. If that does not work for you, please search for other options on Google and try them.

I suggest using the Supernote USB cable, as not all USB cables are the same, technically speaking.

Now we need to get the Android apps ready. Obsidian offers the APK on its website, which, I think, is an excellent practice, as they are the company behind the app.

I am also using Syncthing-Fork, which I downloaded from the developer’s GitHub page. However, if you are using Obsidian Sync, you don’t need Syncthing. Please download either one or both and place them aside for now.

Next, download and install Homebrew. You’ll find the instructions on their website. Just follow the steps. This app is needed to install the next app on your Mac.

Now download the Android SDK Platform-Tools, which is what will actually talk to the Supernote. To install it, you’ll have to use a command on the Terminal.

To open the Mac Terminal, hold the Command key and press the Space Bar. Type Terminal in the search box and click to open the Terminal. In the Terminal window, write the following code:

brew install android-platform-tools

When you hit Enter, Homebrew will install the Android SDK Platform-Tools on your computer. You’ll see some code scrolling on the screen and then a message that says it was installed successfully.

Now it’s time to connect your Supernote to the computer, and make sure MacDroid can see it as a device.

If you get a screen like the one above, go back to the Mac Terminal and type the code below to make sure the system is seeing it:

adb devices

You should get a message similar to the one below.

Finally, it’s time to install the Obsidian APK (Android file). Go back to the Mac Terminal and type adb install, followed by the path to the APK file on your computer. In my case, it looks like this:

adb install /Users/office/Downloads/Obsidian-1.7.7.apk

Alternatively, you can type adb install, hit space, and using the mouse, click and drag the APK file to the front of the command. That will create the path for you. Hit Enter and wait until you see the success message.

That’s it. To install other apps, repeat the adb install command, adding the path to the app on your computer.

If you are curious to see how Obsidian performs on the Supernote, I invite you to watch the video below.

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Sometimes doing things on a Mac is much harder than it is on a PC/Win. Today, I was finally able to sideload Obsidian onto my Supernote. Meaning that we’ll soon have some fun installing and testing the Minimal theme on it as well.

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0100

The Obsidian Minimal theme looks great on the Penstar. But that’s not all I’m showing in today’s video. Did you know that each device you sync with the same vault can have different settings?

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0100

When I start working with a new client, I already know their main objective, but I always like to know what their specific concerns are. Most of them mention they want to create automations.

It is interesting to me that some people view automations as a way to solve problems, instead of simply using them as another tool. I am not opposed to its use, but a well-thought-out Kanban board with a thoughtful approach is all that is needed most of the time.

And it just happened again. When I asked today’s client if he was still interested in creating automations, he said no.

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0100

It’s November 4th, and I published four videos. Based on the numbers, it appears that my December challenge is doing well. The problem is the current production pace. Each video is taking me a long time to finish. But I’m not giving up so easily.

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I added the Gemini Flash API, but keep getting the “Missing Authentication header or invalid API key” message when I try to use the new Obsidian Interpreter. As a non-developer, I have no idea what an “Authentication header” is, so I’m switching to another project to refresh my mind.

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I installed both Syncthing and Obsidian on the Penstar eNote and my notes are now synchronizing 🤯 (for now, only on my tests account). You’ll see it in the second part of today’s video. The first part is a quick demonstration of some of the device’s features.

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0100

The Penstar eNote is extremely thin, the screen resolution is impressive, and it feels as if I’m writing on paper. I’d say it might even be too realistic. But there’s more. It blew my mind when I could install Android apps by just clicking on the APK.

📷 Good morning, December

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 01:00:00 +0100

🎄 Good morning, December.

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0100

People will naturally gravitate towards something that makes them feel good. There is no need to lock me in with an algorithm or by throttling posts with links. Bluesky, thank you for constantly reinforcing my feeling of wanting to return by not controlling what I see.

I 💙 Chronology

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Tomorrow is December 1st, and I haven’t turned on the heater or lit the fireplace yet. Additionally, I have the living room windows fully open right now (8pm). Portugal has better weather than most of Europe, but this is not normal for this time of the year. And no, I am not complaining 😊

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I was reorganizing things in my office and found this stand I built for my wife many years ago. It happened a long time ago, but I still remember it as if it were today.

As we were rearranging her desk, she said she would love to have “normal” access to the ports and power button. ‘This is how it should be,’ she said, while putting it vertically on the desk.

I pulled out some leftover pieces of wood and put this together. It is not shown in the pictures, but the space between the feet was measured to accommodate the external hard drive below the computer.

There was no sophisticated measuring, perfect sending, Danish oil, or anything like that. The whole thing was built on the fly, with the Mini itself being used to figure out all the measurements. And yes, you should imagine it with all the cables hanging. But, remember, the point was easy access to the ports and power button. She loved my solution.

🤫 Please, please, don’t tell her about the new Mini power button.

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Some people think that if you make your hobby your work, it will not be fun anymore. I respectfully disagree. The issue, at least in my case, is that the hobby, the fun, rarely makes money.

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I’ve been keeping the original Final Cut files of all of my YouTube videos, and I do occasionally need and use them for future projects. However, storage for this is starting to become a little too expensive, and I came up with an idea.

Keep the originals for a few months, then delete them and only archive the final video and thumbnail. The question I’ve been asking myself for the last couple of days is: how many months is a few months? Three? Six? One year?

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0100

If everyone who owns a domain name were to verify it as their Bluesky user, it would be much easier to tell which account is real and which is not. I’m confused as to why, especially corporations, organizations, etc., don’t do it from day zero. It’s so quick to do, and it makes all the difference.

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0100

At times, the smallest of things can bring us the greatest joy. The Obsidian Web Clipper is great, but the fact that we can set it to always show highlighted text when we return to a webpage is such a nice touch. I 💜 it!

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Don’t laugh at me, but I didn’t realize I could go to an open-source project at GitHub and add suggestions or ask for new features. I assumed that only developers could do this, and as a user, I was limited to reporting bugs. Thank you, Ivo, for explaining it to me.

Because of my YouTube channel, I’m constantly trying new software, plugins, etc., and almost always have ideas to share. This new superpower, which I didn’t know I had, changes everything. I’m so happy.

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I’ve been using the Penstar for a few days now, but it offers so many features that I decided to produce multiple videos, starting with an overview and my first impressions. If you have questions, please let me know below, and I’ll answer them in the video.

1M views on YouTube

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Today, I woke up to a milestone message sent by YouTube. It took me a while to do what big channels do in a day or a single video, but it means a lot to me. You guys are absolutely outstanding. Thank you for being there and helping me grow my channel.

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Many years ago, long before the current Twitter drama, the company introduced an algorithmic feed. We were told that it was optional, but in reality, the app kept pushing us out of the chronological timeline. I remember hating that decision and implementation so much, and in hindsight, that was probably when my love for Twitter started fading away.

Threads’s approach is an even worse version of what Twitter started back then. That’s why I never liked it. Mastodon was my choice, as it had a chronological feed, but also because of the many cool things the ActivityPub protocol can enable.

Then came Bluesky. Why they didn’t choose to collaborate on the ActivityPub protocol instead of creating yet another one is beyond my comprehension. The good news is that the ATProto is also decentralized, at least as far as I can technically understand. But there’s more.

For some reason that I also don’t comprehend, people, institutions, and companies are recently choosing it as their new home. I know what triggered the move, but I’m not sure why Bluesky was the choice of so many people at the same time. Anyway, as I previously mentioned, that means that nearly half the users I was following on Twitter are now on Bluesky.

All the above means that I’m back to a feed that I absolutely enjoy. As you know, I’m a Timeline person. But I’m not only following posts happening in real time (a.k.a. in the correct order); I’m now interacting with others in a way I was missing without knowing.

By the way, I just created a Started Pack of some of the hardware and software I have in my Toolbox that have already joined Bluesky. If you don’t know what a Starter Pack is, please watch the video below.

There are a lot of configuration options in the new Obsidian Web Clipper

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0100

There are a lot of configuration options in the new Obsidian Web Clipper. And I love it! For example, I set it to create the clipped note with the properties I always use. But there are many other options, such as choosing between creating a new note or adding to a specific position in an existing note. Anyway, it’s going to take me some time to test everything and then make a video about it.

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I’m having so much fun with NotebookLM lately. It behaves more like a companion AI as it uses the information and knowledge we have added to it to give the answers. I’m curious as to why there’s so little discussion about it. Anyway, there’s definitely a video coming up soon.

I'm still perplexed as to why so many users are choosing Bluesky.

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Please don’t get me wrong, I love that people are finally moving away from Twitter, and I do like Bluesky. However, I am still perplexed as to why so many users are choosing it at the same time. As I write this, Bluesky is about to reach 20,000,000 users, which in my case translates to nearly half the people I was following on Twitter. When I started using Mastodon, the number was considerably lower.

Speaking of which, I think Mastodon would be a better place for companies, news outlets, and institutions to be because of how servers work there, but perhaps Bluesky’s approach was a better one. Since there is currently only one server to choose from, it may be easier for people to understand it.

As for Threads, I don’t like the fact that they are constantly pushing the “For You” feed and are taking so long to properly join the Fediverse. It’s also important to keep in mind that it’s a Meta product.

I’ll still post on my blog first and from there automatically share on social media, but it’s great to see so much enthusiasm and so many people joining a decentralized platform.

Finally, if you are new to Bluesky, the video below will help you learn how verification works on the platform. Even if you are not planning to verify your account, I believe it’s important to know if you are actually following the real person or institution.

Bluesky User Count

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I was considering the recent migration to Bluesky as a fad, but at the rate at which the Bluesky User Count number is growing, it will reach and exceed 19M users very soon. To give you some perspective, there are almost 11M ActivityPub users as of now.

Of course, if Threads was already fully integrated into the Fediverse, the situation would be entirely different. Which brings us to the question I’ve been asking myself for quite some time now: is Threads even serious about being part of the Fediverse?

It's time for me to leave Twitter

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Are you in control of your content and how it is distributed?

I strongly agree with Nilay Patel when he talks about “leaning into federated distribution and owning your own distribution”. I’ve been advocating for that for a long time. But I don’t see the problem that he sees regarding waiting to know “which protocol will win”. There’s no need for that. Just have your domain and blog and post there first. The irony is that The Verge already has a good and active website. They could build a system to integrate it with all federated social media, like some services that already exist.

The tool I use to automatically cross-post is Micro.blog, which by the way has a beautiful integration with Bluesky, but that’s beyond the point and there are other options out there. In my case, I even have a local copy of everything by writing and publishing from Obsidian, but that is not necessary. I believe the most important detail here is controlling your distribution if you are a creator.

That’s why, a few months ago, I finally left Substack. That’s not a newsletter anymore, it’s a trap! They are moving in the opposite direction of the open web. Instead of allowing users to control their audience, as all federated services are doing, Substack is locking every author into the platform, just like any other traditional social media.

Please note that when I say “leave,” I’m referring to not using the service. As a creator who was impersonated in the past, I try to do my best to protect my followers from scammers, and that’s why I rarely delete accounts from services I no longer use.

Anyway, from January 1, 2025, I’m not posting to Twitter anymore. Until then, I’ll be manually cross-posting there, and including in each tweet the information I’ll be leaving soon. Considering my recent Substack experience, I am confident that I will be fine.

It’s been a few months since I left Substack, and I can undoubtedly say that it proved to be less problematic than anticipated. I still have a newsletter, but it’s now one that I fully control. Furthermore, my blog is federated, automatically cross-posting everything to Bluesky, Mastodon, and Threads.

In other words, it was not less problematic than anticipated, it was actually much better than expected.

Sat, 16 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Penstar sent me this device, and before turning it on, I was already shocked by how thin it is. It’s extremely thin, almost as thin as the USB-C charging port. Then, when I started the onboarding process, I couldn’t believe my eyes. The text is so sharp.

I literally got it out of the box now, and these are just my initial impressions. If you’d like to learn more about it, stay tuned. After playing with it for a few days, I’ll start sharing more thoughts and reactions on my blog and YouTube channel.

Bending Spoons was the best thing to ever happen to Evernote

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Update: I still believe in what I wrote below, but I switched to Obsidian. You can read more about it in this other post, where I discuss my first year without Evernote.

The more I learn about how Evernote was operating before Bending Spoons bought it, the more I love how well it’s been taken care of now.

Although I began using Evernote in 2008, it was only in 2012, when I joined the Ambassadors Program, that I found myself gaining access to some inside information. But just like what happens today as an Evernote Expert, there was never full access to all the details, strategies, or plans for the future. For those, I’ve always done my homework, consuming every bit of public information and connecting the dots myself.

Things got slightly more complicated when they were acquired by a company I had never heard of before. That meant starting from scratch to learn all about Bending Spoons.

Like in the past, I found myself reading, watching, and listening to everything I could find related to that unknown company. And I mean anything. Even if it is about products unrelated to Evernote, like the recently acquired StreamYard.

As a non-developer, I don’t follow the Pragmatic Engineer Podcast because I wouldn’t be able to understand the majority of the conversations. But when I noticed a trio of executives from Bending Spoons in the same episode, I had to watch it and do whatever it took to understand what they were talking about.

Fortunately, the episode was not as challenging to follow as I was expecting. Everything that Luca Ferrari (cofounder and CEO) and Federico Simionato (Evernote product lead) said, I understood. But the many technical details explained by Francesco Mancone (CTO) meant pausing the podcast every few seconds to go learn about new terminology.

I had to watch it a few times because of his technical explanations. The first time was on a plane when I was going on vacation. Without the internet, there was no way to research anything online, but the one-hour-long episode gave me a good sense of how dense the material was. Back at my office, I could delve into it and “translate” all the technical jargon. The video below has my take on it, but that’s not the only thing I talked about.

I like to understand the reasons behind anything I’m learning, so it was incredibly helpful to listen to the cofounder go over the history of Bending Spoons. Not only that, but as I explained in the video above, the company operates in an unusual but fascinating way.

And there’s more. Being a fan of a lot of the Agile principles, I couldn’t help but notice some of them in Luca’s words. It would be wonderful to have him on my YouTube channel some day for a conversation about Bending Spoons.

Although I’m frequently in touch with Federico, there’s always something here and there that I’m learning from his appearances on podcasts. This time, it was the standalone app that will be released to showcase how great Evernote’s transcription feature is.

I have extensive knowledge about Evernote’s history, but it’s quite uncommon to get access to inside information. This is where listening to Francesco was instrumental in bridging certain gaps. When I contrasted the information he shared to all the moments I’m familiar with, I could realize the impressive amount of work the team is doing.

He was the one who helped me understand how much work is in progress to bring Evernote’s technical capabilities to the level of modern apps. And I’m not talking about new features; it’s about rebuilding almost everything under the hood. In other words, things that people don’t see, but that are instrumental to a seamless experience.

Now that I have a more in-depth understanding of how Bending Spoons operates and what is actually happening to my beloved app, I’m more confident than ever that Evernote is in great hands.

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I make every effort to avoid these planes, but sometimes it is not possible. Before boarding, I already knew it. It is easily identifiable by looking at the turbines. If they have a zigzag pattern on the back of the engines, it’s a Max. This was a 737-8200 variant, but a Max is a Max. I would be lying if I told you I was not scared, but everything ended up fine.

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Voicenotes Believer Plan, which is a single payment for life, will stop being offered at some point this week. The email they sent does not specify a date, but I just checked, and it is still available when I write this.

If you are still on the fence, this could be the perfect opportunity to buy it. And if you decide to do it, please consider using my affiliate link. You will pay the same amount, but I will receive a small commission.

The email also mentions some upcoming features that I’m really curious to try:

Meeting note-taker with timestamps, speakers, and insights.
Share notes with other accounts for work and personal use.
Intelligent insights based on past notes.
Desktop app & Chrome extension.

The inspiration behind the Timeline System

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 01:00:00 +0100

A brief history of the pitfalls and struggles that ended up leading me to create the Timeline System. And how Evernote helped me twice.

Years ago, when I worked for big corporations, I quickly realized how much of a problem it was not to have a good system for organizing information and keeping up with activities.

After trying many existing options, it became clear to me that they often felt rigid and unnatural, forcing users to adapt to the system rather than the other way around.

The closest I got to something that would work in a more intentional way was Agile, which I studied for many years. I ended up adapting some of its core concepts to Kanban boards, which I still use to help companies. But it is far from ideal for managing life. Anyway, this learning experience led me to Kaizen, which also heavily influenced the way I see mindful work.

Back to my journey. I knew my system needed to output information based on how we move things around. In addition to that, it had to do more than one thing with a single action from us, the users.

Some examples of the system accomplishing that are the auto-updated number of notes in the Action Containers and the dynamically created list of tasks, as shown in the video below.

Another important “discovery”, was the realization that time passes. In other words, there’s nothing we can do about it.

Time. Will. Pass.

The good news, is that it will democratically happen in the same way for all of us. However, if there’s no way to slow it down, accelerate it, or go back or forward, we are nothing but slaves to time. In other words, the most accurate representation of our lives is a timeline.

The third element was the recognition that human memory is much worse than many of us believe it to be. There are several great books on this topic, but there’s one I enjoyed the most: Memory Illusion by Julia Shaw. And that’s why I strongly believe that a system will only be truly efficient if it starts with good note-taking.

If we put all the above together, we have the Action Containers representing all the work in progress and, at the same time, clearly showing us the number of activities going on. Then, there’s the Static Containers, which help us with all the information we constantly need and wish we were able to always remember. Think of them as a memory caches.

Finally, there’s the Timeline, to where everything goes. That’s your long-term memory. It’s a representation of everything that happened in your life. And because it is chronologically ordered and categorized with tags, you can go to a specific moment, and that will trigger other memories. Going there is like recollecting facts when someone shows you a picture of something you don’t remember happening. It’s almost a flashback experience.

If you haven’t, please watch the video below. It will help you understand the Timeline System dynamics.

Ditching the Kanban Board

Although notes are a much better way to store information, a Kanban board is unbelievably better at representing the current state of activities in progress. One might think that it is possible to address the problem by making cards as rich in information as notes. That’s technically possible using, for example, an Obsidian plugin that I tried for a while. However, it ends up creating another issue. We would require a multitude of boards to manage all aspects of our lives, which, in turn, makes the system excessively complex.

Notes it is

If you look back to my first videos, you will notice how I was struggling with making it work with multiple Filtered Notes Widgets on Evernote Home. I could never find a seamless solution, and Evernote made my life even harder when they removed Home from the mobile client. Yes, I’m aware that it is still there, but it is so many clicks away that it feels like it is not there.

Anyway, that forced me to go back to using the Shortcuts area to replicate the mess I created on Evernote Home. Little did I know that its constraints would push me in the direction of figuring out the solution that I had been seeking for a considerable amount of time. Interestingly, many years ago, after fighting with how Evernote organizes our notes, I realized how powerful chronology is. Evernote’s features probably make it the best place to run the Timeline System, but I didn’t want it to be exclusive to one app. So the next step was to make it as simple as possible to enable it to run in as many apps as I could.

That was not an easy task, but to be honest, the hardest part has been figuring out a way to explain how the system works and all its benefits in a way that it’s easy to understand. After so many years, it all happens naturally when I’m doing things or teaching my clients. But putting that in words has been a challenge.

Anyway, after the first video explaining how to set it up on Evernote, there’s now the one below explaining how I’m using the system on Obsidian.

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Hi there! If you like what I share on my YouTube channel, kindly subscribe to it. We are just a hair away from 7K subscribers.: https://youtube.com/@vladcampos

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Because it was the first time I asked AI to create an image for a post, I didn’t know if I could simply use it. So I asked for permission 😊. By the way, I always say please and thank you when I talk to Gemini.

(…) Thank you. Can I use this image in my article?

— Yes, you can definitely use the image in your article. As an AI language model, I don’t have ownership rights over the images I generate. They are intended for your personal use. Please note that if you are using the image in a commercial context, you might want to consider adding a credit line like “Image generated by Gemini AI.” This can help clarify the image’s origin.

— Would you like me to help you with anything else?

— No. Thank you.

The problem with Evernote’s AI, is Evernote

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Navigating Evernote’s AI Journey: Balancing Privacy and Functionality.

Although Evernote has gradually evolved into a more collaborative space, it has been a place for personal note-taking since its inception. Furthermore, the company has consistently emphasized its privacy-first approach throughout the years.

If we compare that to how AI normally works, I believe it is a bit difficult to create an environment that will make both pro and against AI users happy and comfortable with the app experience.

An immersive AI experience like we see on Voicenotes would mean giving the Large Language Model access to all the notes and everything in our Evernote. Some people would never accept something like this, but that is precisely how to create an outstanding experience of fully interacting with our notes and all the memories and knowledge we have saved over the years.

I appreciate the way Bending Spoons approaches this challenge by always asking permission when the topic is AI, but that means there is no complete or fully immersive experience going on. For example, as I explain in the video below, AI-Powered Search sends just a handful of notes to the LLM.

Perhaps the solution is to give users choices. Option number one would be the current one, with a pop-up constantly reminding us that part of the information is being sent to the AI model. Option two would be to add a setting that would allow us to select which notebooks can be fully scanned by AI. The other ones would be susceptible to the current opt-in system.

I believe this approach would also be useful to make the proposed chatting with Evernote to be something with a higher degree of quality in the answers.

And since I’m playing with the idea of options, why not a ‘turn off all AI’ toggle? This would disable all current and future AI features, giving skeptical users the confidence that they would never accidentally send notes to the AI Model.

What about you? Which group are you part of? Privacy first or AI superpowers?

Visiting Twitter just to check Federico Simionato's posts about Evernote

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 01:00:00 +0100

In yesterday’s video (below), I complained about having to visit Twitter just to check Federico Simionato’s posts about Evernote. I mentioned that I tried to create an automation on IFTTT, but was unable to do so because that is now a paid feature. And Zapier, which is the service I use, doesn’t work with Twitter anymore.

Well, the solution came from a friend who is also a subscriber. He created the automation and then shared the notebook with me. How cool is that? Thank you, Fernando! 💚

PS. I have an automation that shares my posts across multiple social media sites, but I’m a happy Mastodon user. That’s where you’ll find me in non-automation mode, aka, my Human Form. 😄

This is the perfect device for an immersive and mindful music experience.

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Why can’t companies simply leave perfect tech alone? Okay, we all know why, but well-built things are so special.

Every so often, a piece of equipment reaches a point where I believe new versions should not be released anymore, and it should be sold that way forever. I’m not talking about perfection; there’s no such thing. But there are these rare cases where moving forward would only disrupt a delicate and elegant balance. That’s how I see so many things that came and went, like the iPod in its 5.5 model.

The so-called 5.5 generation, also known as iPod video, which came after the 5, is a terrible device for watching movies. Not so much because of the small screen as because of the even smaller battery. But it was an okay device for keeping family pictures back then, and it was such a great music player.

Even its imperfections were among its best features. I recall being so impressed by the animations and other fancy elements on the more modern iPod Classic interface, but little did I know that all that was a detour. The 5.5 arranges our music collection using a very basic interface, which is all one needs to find the perfect tune, click, and listen.

Not to mention how mindful it is to know the name of the singer, the title of the album and even the name of the song you are looking for, and gracefully find it using the click wheel.

The distractions created by the beautiful interfaces on modern phones have nothing to do with getting into the flow when listening to music.

Then, there was the storage capacity. Being able to carry all my music library with me was something magical back then, and it still is. Yes, I still use my iPod, which brings us to another great feature.

Another positive technical aspect of the iPod 5 and 5.5 is the ease with which it is possible to take them apart. Their successor, the Classic, on the other hand, is a classic example of Apple’s policy of making it harder for users to repair their devices.

As a Maker, I love to make, fix, and improve things, and that’s what I did with my iPod. To be honest, things got a little out of control, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

Fixing the iPod 5.5 audio cable

The first modification I made was replacing the original spinning hard drive with a Compact Flash adaptor, which I later replaced with an SD adaptor. That not only prolongs the battery life, but after all these years, spinning drives are likely to stop working eventually. The battery was also replaced, but that can’t be considered a modification, right?

After that, I decided it was time to replace the click wheel because of a small dent. Talking about it, can we stop for a moment and appreciate how remarkable the click wheel is in terms of innovation? Such a simple and intuitive interface enables access to every single feature of the iPod. Which reminded me of a beautiful passage in Steve Job’s biography about the sleep button that gives me chills.

Anyway, I bought some parts online, and when they arrived, I started to take apart the iPod using an iFixit guide. The only issue with these devices is how breakable the old plastics are after so many years. And, yes, I broke a small lever that holds a flat cable in place. Great! Instead of resolving an insignificant aesthetic issue, I was left with a broken iPod.

That piece not only holds the cable in place, but it also keeps the circuits inside in contact with the board below. So, duct tape would not do it. I’m pretty sure I would find this part online, but there’s no way I would be able to replace it, as I don’t have the skills or the tools. The iPod then went into a drawer, where it remained for a good number of months.

A few days ago, I had an idea. Perhaps, if I could insert the cable into the connector and slide a thin piece of plastic above it, I could create enough pressure to force the cable to come in contact with the board below. After trying many materials, I finally found one that did the job.

Next, I had to make sure everything was working fine. Yes, it was. I did it! The last piece of the puzzle was to figure out how to make that MacGyver-inspired solution stay in place.

I have a generic double-sided tape with a foam inside that I avoid at all costs because it is the opposite of what 3M sells. It’s always difficult to remove it from anything, which means it’s perfect for my hack. You can see it in the picture above, showing the iPod circuits board. It’s the red rectangle.

Lesson learned

The iPod is not meant to be in pristine condition. It exists to play music, which is something to listen to, not to look at. And before you start talking about vinyl records and cassette tapes, I grew up listening to those, and I can appreciate how the experience can also be immersive. But I see the iPod 5.5 in the right spot to bring together the best of the past and current experiences of appreciating music.

It can hold my entire music library, and thanks to the SD adaptor hack, I can even expand the storage space if I need to. Then, there’s the click wheel, which makes the music selection as manual as it can be in a digital music player, without adding any friction to the process. And, believe it or not, I’m still able to use Apple Music on my modern MacBook to synchronize all my music with this masterpiece of its era.

My music. No subscription.

Have I mentioned it even has a headphone jack?

An almost hidden setting on Mastodon Lists brought joy to my feed again

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Tired of your Mastodon timeline being overrun with noise from big accounts? I’m using a simple trick to reclaim my feed and focus on the conversations that matter most.

When I started using Mastodon, all the conversation going on made me feel like I was going back to the old days on Twitter. I found it so enjoyable that it eventually became my primary social media platform, and it remains so to this day. However, at some point, all those remarkable conversations disappeared.

It took me a while to understand what was happening, but I eventually figured it out. As news and tech groups started joining Mastodon and other ActivityPub platforms, I naturally began following the ones I cared about. But because they post so often, regular people’s thoughts and conversations are constantly drowned out.

I tried so many strategies, for example, unfollowing some news and tech accounts, but that didn’t make the others more prominent. As usual, the solution was right in front of me all the time. Using the Lists feature on its own wouldn’t work, but there is a configuration I missed all this time. There’s a way to hide from the timeline everything that is in a list.

The solution I came up with was creating the News and Tech lists, adding the respective accounts to each one, and setting both to Hide the posts there from home, aka the main feed. I’m loving this. The conversations are back in my feed, and I can always go to a list to check the sea of posts there.

If you would like to try it, here’s how you do it:

First, you have to add the accounts to a list. This will take time, but it will be worth it. Go to a profile, click the three dots, and select Add or Remove from Lists.

Don’t worry if you don’t have any lists, you can use the Add button to create them on the fly. If you already have a list, just use the add button.

Repeat the above for all the accounts, and stay with me. There’s a last step. Click the Lists icon on the sidebar. This is how you’ll be able to read all the posts from each list, but for now, they are still showing up on your main timeline. Open one of the Lists and click on the gear. Switch on the Hide this post from home option, and there you have it.

The old posts will still be on your home, but from this point on, the new publications will only be shown inside each list.

I love this. It’s a simple and elegant solution that provides me with the best of both worlds. Great conversations and thoughts are back on my main feed, and when I want to check the news, it’s just a matter of going to one of my Lists.

I dubbed the video above myself with my real voice. No AI involved. You can switch to the English audio track using the settings/language selector (the gear icon ⚙ at the bottom of the video player).

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I was jogging as if nothing had happened, and suddenly I saw this big tree blocking the path I usually take.

We’ve been getting “Severe Weather” and “Coastal Event” warnings for a few days, and today we woke up to severe winds. Then, about noon, the weather started to return to the norm, and I could even run at the end of the day. Things were not so normal, though. There were branches and scattered materials everywhere.

Porto went from wildfires to storms and strong winds in the span of a few weeks. It seems to me that Mother Nature is pretty unhappy with us humans.

First, explain what it is, then make it look nice

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Picasso once said, Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working. In other words, one must be doing it — putting itself into the zone — to finally find the solution.

This is evident in Picasso’s museum in Málaga, Claude Monet’s house and garden in Giverny, or Van Gogh’s museum in Amsterdam, where you can see these master’s art in a chronological order, starting from the beginning of their careers.

It’s been a while since I’ve published anything on my blog, but this doesn’t mean I’m not writing. On the contrary, I’ve been incessantly working on my book. But that, on the other hand, doesn’t imply that I’ve made a lot of progress. In reality, it was only today, after starting the third draft, that I was finally happy with the book format.

In addition to Picasso’s mantra, what helped me find my way was a strategy I use when I can’t figure out a solution. What frequently helps is to first explain what it is, then make it look nice. Ironically, that doesn’t seem like it applies to understanding art.

Anyway, when I restarted the book for the third time, I did it from the middle, explaining what the Containers of Information are. It was then that I gradually began noticing that parts of it connected to many things I had already written in the two previous drafts, which I started repurposing.

Another strategy I tried was to use Obsidian Canvas to create a simple diagram of how the book should be structured. That’s what you see at the beginning of this video, but that was also a first draft. I moved those boxes around a lot and created new ones until I finally found the structure I was looking for.

Some people might see it as working twice or three times, as it was in this case, but if that means a book structured in a way that’s easier to understand, I’m fine with it. Furthermore, the parts that have already been written are being put to good use in a different order in this new version, which leaves me with a mystery to solve: how could authors do it with typewriters or, before that, pen and paper?

Those were the real geniuses.

✍️ PS. If you are not familiar with the Containers of Information concept, you can learn more about it by watching the first part of the video below. Even if you are not an Obsidian user.

Apple is still in a much better position

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Based on the videos I watched, the Orion AR glasses appear to be a huge step in the right direction. However, when I look at the entire kit, I cannot help but think that Apple is still in a much better position.

All the data processing being done by that little brick can probably be handled by an iPhone. As for the wristband, guess what? There’s an Apple Watch that, by the way, already knows a thing or two about gestures. Additionally, I’m pretty sure Apple is gathering a lot of data from its own AR headset users. But, the most important element is the well-known walled garden.

If Apple feels threatened by a future commercial version of Meta’s product, I bet they will release a kit similar to the one I described above.

My cluttered workspace 🫣

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I took the pictures below to illustrate a point in a conversation I was having on Mastodon, but something unexpected ended up happening.

I arranged my desk so that I can comfortably type on the K380 and, at the same time, easily reach the Touch ID sensor on my MacBook Air. At my right, not visible, there’s a Mac Mini and another screen where I produce my videos. I use the same keyboard and trackpad through Apple Continuity.

It took me many trials and errors, but I love this arrangement. Not only that, I’m proud of my creation. I built several of the parts, including the sliding extension for the keyboard. Everything is easily accessible and highly efficient. Now, can you guess how the AI-generated captions of the pictures start the description of my desk?

“A cluttered workspace”. 🤪

The video below will give you an idea of my workspace. It’s from 2023, and I have made minor adjustments, as predicted at the end of the video. Nevertheless, the computers and most of the items remain the same.

Strip down Evernote and go back to basics to focus on notes.

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Tired of Evernote’s clutter? Too many features overwhelming you? This is how you can strip it down to a pure note-taking app.

Those of you who have already watched the video at the end of this article, know how happy I was when I first tried that new Sidebar Configuration feature. I was both nostalgic and overjoyed to see my decade-old companion working as a note-taking app again.

If that’s also your goal, here are some tips to convert Evernote into a plain, simple note-taking app. But first, make sure you have the correct version. The settings below are only available on version 10.107.3 or later.

Removing Distractions

Click on your name in the top-left corner of the screen, open the Settings menu and go to the Sidebar tab.

Uncheck the Show Task and Event Creation buttons option to remove the big, super-distracting purple and red buttons from below the Note button. However, as a reminder—or tip—they are still accessible by clicking on the three dots.

The Show note count is an important element in my Timeline System and I kept it checked. As for Show recent notes, I prefer them on the Home page because I can see the thumbnails. As a side note, both of these settings have always existed.

We’ll soon get back to the last option on that list. For now, scroll down to the section below and click to close as many eyes as possible 🤣. Jokes apart, here’s what I left visible on my sidebar:

Home
Shortcuts
Note
Notebooks

We are not done yet, but I need to take a moment to share a tip with those of you who love keyboard shortcuts.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Even if you remove, for example, Home from the side menu, you’ll still be able to use the option + command + 1 keyboard shortcut on a Mac to open Evernote Home. And that’s true for many other items. To open the Tasks page, you can use option + command + 3. The Calendar is option + command + 5.

To see all the available shortcuts (Mac or Windows), click on the keyboard icon on the lower-left side of the Evernote desktop app and go to the Navigation section.

Hiding Everything

Let’s return to the top section of the Sidebar tab and discuss the Group hidden options in More. This will create a four-square icon that will provide you with access to the items you just made hidden.

I want the cleanest sidebar possible, and, in my case, I also unchecked this option. But, as with everything else in this article, this is just how I’m doing things on my Evernote. There are many combinations that you can and should explore to find what’s the best for you.

Only Notes

We are almost there. If note-taking is your focus, go to the Application tab, and select Start on Notes under the When opening Evernote section. This will open Evernote on your notes list as it used to be before Evernote 10 was introduced.

Congratulations! Your Evernote is back as a note-taking app now. But if you need it, there’s always a calendar and list of tasks a click away on Home. To learn how I set up a minimal Evernote Home, you can watch this other video.

Express Your Love

Now, if you truly love Evernote and take many notes every day, why not automatically open the app when you turn on your computer? Since you are already on the Application tab, check the Open Evernote at start-up option. That’s how you show your true love 💚

Have Fun 😆

Finally, go watch the video below to make fun of me trying to find the Show Task and Event Creation buttons option.

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

One thing is for sure: you’ll never become good at something not doing it.

Building a community online—a personal experience.

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Let’s talk about building a community online, not just selling products. Blogs, newsletters, and social media can be used to connect with like-minded people. I’m interested in an authentic and fulfilling way to build an online presence. What about you?

From time to time, I see people complaining on social media about how they miss the old days when blogs were so prevalent. I never reply, but I do have this answer ready to fire.

—Blogs still exist. There are plenty of them being updated every day.

And the second part of the answer would be: —Start one!

I mentioned the above because this blog post you are currently reading was inspired by another blog post from Molly White, which was inspired by a Platformer post. And it was a post on Mastodon that made me aware of all this.

What I’m trying to say is that blogs and social media can and should coexist and help each other. Let’s also add newsletters to that mix as I try to connect all my thoughts to write this post.

A few days ago, I finally left Substack, and Casey’s post on Platformer also discusses his decision to leave. Of course, his newsletter is much larger than mine, but some of his reasons line up with my decision.

Substack was never my first choice, but I needed a place to go after Revue was discontinued by Twitter, and Substack had this seamless import feature. I’m not going into details again because I have already explained it here and here, but like Casey, I love my blog and website, and I use a newsletter to make people aware of my new posts.

All I’m looking for is a gradual, but real, growth. That’s it. In other words, a community, not numbers. Here’s how he puts it:

“Let’s get into some specifics. As I write this, Platformer now has 190,196 subscribers — up about 35,000 from last year. That’s a much slower growth rate than year three, when in the midst of Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter, our audience doubled. But it also feels like more honest, durable growth than we saw in 2023. Unplugged from the dark pattern of Substack’s growth hacks, we still managed to grow significantly.”

That honest and durable growth is also the same feeling I have about my social media presence, especially the Fediverse. And Casey also talks about this in his recent post. Ghost, where his newsletter is hosted now, has this incredible plan to convert itself into a fully integrated ActivityPub service, which I’m following step by step. I feel like I’m stocking them in a frequent search for any piece of new news about their progress.

If they can accomplish the vision the CEO shared on an episode of the Dot Social podcast, not only will we be able to comment using an ActivityPub compatible account, but also subscribe to any newsletter. Imagine adding your username to a subscription box and seeing the new issues of the newsletter on your Fediverse app of choice. That’s mind-blowing!

Another thing Casey says is:

“We also stopped posting to X. It felt bad contributing to a site that had actively dismantled its own content moderation operation and predictably soon filled up with hate speech of all sorts.”

I agree with him, and leaving has also been on my list of goals for a while now, even though I’m only cross-posting to Twitter. Anyway, the Fediverse seems to be the solution again.

Like he pointed out, more and more people are switching to Threads. I would prefer them to be choosing Mastodon, but since Threads is gradually implementing ActivityPub features to the platform, I guess it’s going to be okay. All I have to do is keep following people from Mastodon, like I’m already doing.

If you haven’t, please start educating yourself on the Fediverse. It’s such a great project. And go find some blogs to read. There are many of them out there, publishing top-quality content.

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Of course, I’m always trying to convince my family and friends. But whenever I work with a company or any organization, I invite them to create a Mastodon or other Fediverse account. I must admit that the conversion rate is fairly low, but I’m happy to be doing my small part in promoting such a great space.

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

The more I use the Supernote, the more I appreciate how the system incorporates chronology everywhere. Check out the Recent Files section. It fits perfectly with my Timeline System. How cool is that? Not to mention the Last Opened Document/Note. I use these three buttons all the time.

Reading e-books is much more comfortable than paper books

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Recently, I realized why I find reading e-books to be much more comfortable than paper books. I thought it was something related to weight, shape, size, etc., but it turns out to be something that makes more sense.

Reading the electronic version of Mountbatten has proven to be considerably more comfortable and fluid, and that’s what prompted me to start exploring this situation. The pages in the real book are pretty big, and the book itself is super heavy, but none of that is related to the act of reading.

The customizable font and line spacing make all the difference. I noticed this the other day while I was flipping through a book at a bookstore. My eyes were uncomfortable with the lines. Picking up a random book off the shelf confirmed my theory. Again, the lines seemed to be too close together.

Maybe I got used to spacing the lines, maybe my eyes are getting worse, whatever the reason is, it doesn’t really matter. What matters is how simple it is to fix this when reading e-books 😉

Have a lovely week, Vlad.

PS. If you’re looking for some inspiration for books to read, you can always check out my library.

I finally said goodbye to Substack

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

It took me much longer than I anticipated, but today I finally said goodbye to Substack. As previously mentioned, what initially began as a newsletter platform has evolved into a social media platform. Since then, the number of people who follow me instead of subscribing via email has been increasing every day.

This position is contrary to many of my beliefs regarding a free and open web and federated social media.

As you read this, I have already moved all the emails to the new system hosted by my website provider. If everything goes well, the next time I write an article, the email will be sent from the new system, and you’ll be able to read it here on my cherished website.

I'm often surprised by how simplifying things can end up being a daunting task

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Several months ago, I got stuck trying to code a complicated set of rules to try to automate the process of building my newsletter, while also making it more intuitive for readers to understand. That turned out to be a huge task because I’m not a developer, and I went back to the laborious manual process.

However, for some unknown reason, my brain refuses to let go of some projects and continues to secretly work on them. After a few days, years, or hours, when I’m lucky, these bursts of insight begin to emerge in no particular order or interval. For example, In June, I was here doing something completely unrelated, and my brain asked me this:

🧠 “—Why don’t you just send an email for each article you post?”

It was indeed a good idea. It’s not only much easier technically speaking, but Substack, the platform I was already using, had that feature. So, it was just a matter of copying the post from my blog and pasting it on Substack. In hindsight, I don’t even remember why I decided to send a monthly compilation of posts.

Of course, the new plan came with its own set of problems. Because that made things so much easier, at some point I decided to post the articles across more platforms, which led me back to a time-consuming task. Not to mention that I’m unsure if it’s worth the effort.

Little did I know, my brain had been secretly plotting to automate the process I gave up many months ago, and today it came up with another brilliant insight:

🧠 “—Compared to what you attempted to do in the past, I’m pretty sure it is much easier to create an automation on your blog platform to send a single article instead of that compilation.”

That’s a great idea, I thought. And here we are. This is a test article to make sure posts like this get sent automatically. If everything goes as planned, I will be able to centralize all the processes of posting and sending the newsletter in a single place. And it will all be done on its own. Finally!

Update: It worked!

It is amazing that, while trying to simplify a situation, we often end up making things even more complicated. As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, sometimes it’s just a matter of turning things around a little to see how simple a solution can be.

Bending Spoons has a vision for Evernote

Sat, 21 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0100

As a longtime Evernote user and frequent collaborator with the team, I’ve always felt a deep connection to the app. But a recent Vergecast episode with David Pierce and Federico Simionato made me see things from a different perspective.

However, before that, “The Great Evernote Reboot” episode title evoked a wave of nostalgia. It made me remember all the years I went to the Evernote Conferences and when the company and its products were on the news all the time. Ironically, that nostalgia made me freeze for a moment and skip that episode. I wanted to listen to it with attention and give it the deserved respect and treatment. In honesty, it felt like a special moment.

The features discussed didn’t surprise me, though. For example, I just published a video about the sidebar customization. But Pierce’s approach was like turning things around just enough to give me a new perspective on Evernote’s direction after the Bending Spoons acquisition.

The goal is not to give users all the features they’ve been asking for quite some time. That’s great, but the main goal seams to be re-examining many things, from what Evernote is about for its users to the company’s revenue model. It is about focus and making the company sustainable for years to come. In a way, it feels like a reboot of the “100-year start-up” mantra, and I love it.

But listening to this episode also taught me a valuable lesson: sometimes, all it takes is a well-crafted question to gain a fresh perspective, even on something as familiar as Evernote.

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

It rained for a couple of hours early in the morning, but it was enough to bring Porto’s sky and sun colors back to normal. Concerning the wildfires, I’m not an expert and have no idea how effective the rain was in reducing or extinguishing them. The only thing I can say is that the map on fogos.pt shows a significantly smaller number of ongoing fires plotted. But let’s not forget that firefighters are the real heroes here. They work hard to protect us. I greatly appreciate it, guys. Thank you!

Tidying up my mess is inspiring me to create delightful memories on Obsidian

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

One important element of my Timeline System is what I call the Containers of Information, which can be created using any grouping feature, even tags. However, I typically opt for folders, such as in the case of Obsidian and Supernote, or Notebooks, when utilizing the system on Evernote.

One of the Containers is the Timeline, which may initially appear to be an archive, but in reality it is a dynamic part of the system that also serves as a temporary storage space.

The others, known as Action Containers, are where I keep notes about activities in progress. When an activity is completed, the note is moved to the Timeline. But since information kept there, may need to be accessed or used again in the future, it has to be easy to find.

Since there is a book explaining the system coming soon, I am not going into further details about it in this post. I just wanted to give you a brief overview of how I use the Containers to convey a sense of doing or being done. My goal today is to tell you what the videos “Preparing Obsidian to Set Up My Timeline System” are about.

Preparing Obsidian for the Timeline System

When I start using a new device or app, I often don’t spend much time organizing things. My main focus is to learn how the information I’m saving there can benefit from some of the features I’m still figuring out how to use.

However, one thing I usually do is set up Containers, as they provide a dedicated space to intuitively save all the notes and files related to a specific ongoing topic. And that’s what I did when I started using Obsidian.

When the moment came to implement my Timeline System, I had to first figure out a categorization scheme that would allow me to find all information moved to the Timeline Container. I’m not 100% there yet, but it’s already good enough, and I started moving several notes, as shown in yesterday’s video. In other words, I’m currently tidying up the mess I left behind.

As I said in the video, I am now focusing on the Trips folder. But before I talk about that, here’s how I first organized my trips on Obsidian.

As you can see, I created a hierarchy of folders, which, by the way, is something I really don’t like. But it’s quick, and it gets the job done.

My goal now is to dismantle all that by moving PDFs and other files to the Files folder, explained in the first video of this series. Regarding the Itinerary note, which contains all the trip information and links to the files, it will be moved to the Timeline.

However, the first step is to date everything, including YYYY-MM-DD in each note’s title. I also explained the reason for this in that first video:

2024–09–19 Paris Itinerary
2024–09–19 Flight OPO-PAR-OPO

The Itinerary note also has the word “Itinerary” in the “type” property, and all the tags and geolocation coordinates to make it appear in the Map View plugin. By the way, I’m very excited about how cool that map will be when all of my relevant memories become a dot there.

With all that done, I can start removing all files from the Trips folder, leaving only my next trips there. In other words, it will be converted into an Action Container. Meaning that whatever is inside is in progress. The final touch was to create the search below and save it as a bookmark to easily filter all my old Itinerary notes.

[type:Itinerary]

To learn how to create a search like the one above and to better visualize all the explanations in this article, please watch the video below.

Before I go, there’s actually one more thing. Remember my Photos folder? I came up with the idea of using it to save some precious photos from each trip and drag them to the correct position in the Itinerary note. And the same works for blog posts. I’m also dragging the ones I wrote while on a trip, creating this captivating snapshot of the entire journey.

And it doesn’t stop there. Anything in the Timeline related to the trip is also being added to the Itinerary notes, creating a mini journal inside a larger journal: the Timeline. I’m so overjoyed with it that I’ll definitely produce a video to show you how it works and how to build something like this.

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

😞 The sun is still covered with a red hue, as it had been yesterday. Thankfully, rain is expected within a few days. I’m hoping it will help put out the fires.

Wildfires in Portugal

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I took the picture below this morning at around 8:30 a.m., and, so far (5 p.m.), there have been no visual changes. The sky has been this unusual orange hue since yesterday because of the wildfires that have burned an estimated 38 square kilometers in the central and north regions of Portugal 😞, according to Google Maps. Even the moon appeared red last night.

Some are close to us here in Porto, but the Aveiro district has the most area affected. Seeing the devastation on the news is heartbreaking. My thoughts are with the firefighters and everyone impacted by this disaster.

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

My client didn’t show up, so let’s use that time to record another video. This one is about Evernote, as I really want to discuss a recent tweet from Federico.

Voicenotes describing my goodbye picture

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

When I asked Voicenotes to describe the picture shown in today’s video, I wasn’t expecting so many details.

As you can see below, it got very few things wrong. For example, the “I❤️🐘🏠” (I love Evernote Home) was hilariously converted to “I ❤️ 🦛”. As for the chemical structure, it is indeed caffeine, but the sticker is on my tumbler, not the laptop.

The image shows a person smiling at the camera, sitting in front of a laptop with several stickers on it. The background features a decorative wall with a geometric pattern and a window showing outside reflections. The laptop stickers include ‘I’m not being rude, I’m taking notes in Evernote’, a star icon inside a speech bubble, ‘ActivityPub Enthusiast’, ‘I ❤️ 🦛’, and a chemical structure, possibly caffeine. There is also a stainless-steel tumbler with the same chemical structure sticker.

As a side note, that is a goodbye photo. On that day, I was told that the Starbucks would be closing for a period of 18 months. Like what happened when I lived in Boston, it took me a few weeks to find the best Starbucks in Porto to take breaks from working at my office.

This one had a fairly evenly split number of local and international customers. It was never full of tourists, and, at the same time, that peaceful feeling of listening to people speak so many different languages was still present. Then there were the enjoyable conversations with many baristas who started talking to me because of the sticker with a caffeine molecule on my tumbler. One even asked me if I was a chemistry professor 😄

I’ll now have to go on a new quest to find another similar fun place. Maybe it’s the Universe’s way of reminding me that change can bring unexpected positive outcomes.

Have a lovely week, Vlad.

Sat, 14 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

From just a few days ago, when I recorded yesterday’s video about the changes I’m making on Obsidian, to today, my setup remodeling has already evolved significantly. My Maker Dashboard, for example, has been greatly improved.

Remember that I said in the video that I am constantly trying to find ways to make things have multiple purposes? The logos inside each Canvas group in the image below are there to help me quickly navigate to a specific topic, but they are also resources I can use on my video thumbnails.

I have a “Logos” folder in my Obsidian, and that folder is also a shortcut on my Mac Finder. However, it is not the only one. Many other Obsidian folders are shortcuts that make files easily accessible from other apps.

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Curious about my minimalist Obsidian setup? A detailed video is coming soon, with screen recordings from my real account, showcasing most of my workflows. For instance, why only five plugins? This will probably be one of the longest videos on the channel. Due to that and the necessary blurring, it’s unlikely I’ll be able to release it today. However, tomorrow seems feasible.

I always wanted to produce my content in English

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

When I started my YouTube channel in English three years ago, I thought it would be one of the most challenging things I’d ever do. I always wanted to produce my content in English, but fear held me back for years. Thankfully, I finally took the plunge.

Despite living in the US several times, I’ve always struggled with the language’s nuances and quirks. I’m sure you can easily remember at least one time I used the wrong pronoun, verb, expression, or pronunciation. I can clearly see my mistakes in older videos.

Yes, I do watch past videos, as this helps me do my best to improve with each new one, but English will never be my first language, and mistakes are inevitable. The bright side is that things are getting easier every day. Or should I say less hard?

But why simplify when you can always complicate a bit? I have published books before, but always in my native language. As some of you may be aware, I recently started writing a new book, but this time in English. Which, like the channel on YouTube, has been just as intimidating.

Thank you for your patience and support. You guys are spectacular! By the way, what’s something that scares you? Maybe it’s time to take the leap and do it!

PS.: This is the first video I published in English. However, the channel is not only about Evernote anymore.

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

From time to time, I go on a quest searching for a basic macOS photos app that reads images from a folder on my computer, like Picasa did before Google bought and discontinued the app. I could never find a good option. Any suggestions?

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I opened Mastodon, and suddenly, I’m reading posts about the Apple event from Threads, Flipboard, Micro.blog, Medium, and even Mastodon 😊. All in one place! The Fediverse and the ActivityPub protocol are mind-blowing. What a time to be alive!

This book weighs 1.1 Kg

Sat, 07 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

That’s insane. It is likely the 786 pages containing text plus four inexplicable blank sheets at the end. Anyway, I picked this one up secondhand because it’s out of print and there’s no e-book version I know of.

I love reading on subways, trains, and planes, but, as you can imagine, bringing this book with me is always a challenge. It’s like reading and doing cross-fit at the same time 😂. Not to mention how unbalanced it was to hold when I began reading it. Now that I’m reaching half of it, it’s easier to manage. But as soon as I cross to the other side, things will become unbalanced again.

That’s probably why it’s taking me ages to finish it, so I came up with a plan to make it more portable. I started testing my idea yesterday and just completed the process. I can now read it on my Supernote, and you can learn how I did it watching the video below.

On how am I rediscovering my creative freedom with digital scribbling.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

The Supernote is helping me to rediscover the joy of handwriting my scripts. It’s like using magical paper to seamlessly capture and reorganize ideas.

Years before Evernote, I would write many of my first podcast scripts on any piece of paper I could get my hands on. I’d usually have the ideas during of after jogging, and it still happens today for the YouTube videos. But even though writing them down was a great way to remember later, trust me, the final “document” was typically a big mess.

Let’s be honest, it’s tough to keep handwritten notes as organized as a bullet list. Ideas don’t always flow in a neat, linear way, so it can be a real challenge to make sense of them later. My drafts were often ugly and pretty challenging to understand because of all the small text inserts. On some occasions, I would use arrows and even a second piece of paper with numbers on both parts of a sentence to try to connect them. I suppose you can imagine that it was often difficult to decipher.

In hindsight, I’d say I moved to digital writing as soon as technology was portable enough, probably because of the impossibility of inserting new text in between lines on paper. When I finally started using a Palm, I wrote down so many notes on it that I became an expert at using the Graffiti alphabet.

Today, I frequently write on my computer; however, typing comes with its limitations. For example, sketching can be difficult to integrate with typed text. That’s great on paper, but again, there are all the problems mentioned above. Furthermore, I’m not good at drawing, so I frequently have to erase and fix things as I go.

For example, the thumbnail you see in the image below was created at a much larger size. It was the first thing I did on that page. When I was happy with it, I resized it to fit the corner of the screen (paper?). All the text you don’t see — more on that in a moment — was rearranged several times as I was writing, just like the pieces of a puzzle slowly falling into place.

It’s impossible to do that on paper, but the Supernote brought back the freedom and joy I remember having many years ago, and improved the process. It is like having the best of both worlds. And the most convenient part is that I can easily send the final version to Evernote or Obsidian.

As for the hidden text, there’s no secret there. I’m just trying to keep a mystery aura because I have already started to produce this video and don’t want to spoil the surprise. But if you cannot contain yourself, the untouched drawing is available for supporters on Patreon and YouTube.

Anyway, I think that you can probably tell by the thumbnail and the other drawing that the video has something to do with sending content to the Supernote via Evernote.

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Every time Gemini answers my questions, I type “Thank you” 😊

Obsidian Canvas as a resources space with images and PDFs—my new experiment

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I have a new idea that I’d like to share with you. Yes, again. Changing things up, like I’ve been doing lately, makes me feel inspired.

I believe I’ve finally found a good way to use Obsidian Canvas. Instead of creating notes just to be able to filter them by tags, I’m trying Canvas groups for images or PDFs.

This approach may not work for everything, but the zoom in and out feature may make it easier to find the resources I use on my Maker and IT-related projects, especially when compared to sorting notes by tags. It’s a visual space, so I believe it will be easy to spot the item based on the color and format of the image or PDF. Time will tell, though.

For testing how efficient, or not this will be, I’ve created the “Maker Dashboard” Canvas that I’m using for everything related to my creativity process. For now, it has just a few notes (image above), and the following groups: macOS, Writer, Woodworking, and some loose content that I’m sure will end up being grouped with other future images or PDFs.

Side note: Keen eyes will notice that there’s also a “Palm OS” group, and, although it is not possible to clearly see, there are some images related to other vintage passions of mine next to that group.

And just like what I mentioned yesterday regarding the single folder for all my pictures, all these files can also be easily added to other Obsidian notes, or used from my computer file system.

Consolidating all photos into one Obsidian folder

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Since I am currently on a reorganization spree, I decided to experiment with an idea. Currently, I have multiple subfolders for images used on my blog posts, Journal, Office, and Home folders on Obsidian. Maybe even others. One thing I always wanted to try was to have some folders dedicated to certain types of files, such as images, PDFs, etc.

Here’s the plan. I’ll consolidate all the images into one folder, which will serve two purposes. First, it will work as an album. However, it will also serve as a centralized storage space from which I can drag pictures to use in any of my notes.

And because of the way Obsidian works, those pictures will also be easily accessible from the computer’s file system if I need them for other projects. Below, you can see how easy it is to interact with the images using the Mac file system (Finder). By the way, the kids in the picture are my sister and me, captured during my first move to Boston. I absolutely love that city.

Another benefit is how straightforward it is to save pictures there. I can simply use the “save as” option on any image editor and choose the Photos folder on the file system, which in reality is located in Obsidian.

I’ve successfully moved 40 images and am pleased with the results. But there’s a catch. Because of the way I imported some of my content to Obsidian, the creation dates of many files are all messed up. So, I’m also adding the date (YYYY-MM-DD) to the beginning of each file name (thumbnails above). This will help me see the pictures in chronological order by ordering the files alphabetically. I hope that makes sense.

If this works, I may try the same with PDF files. Stay tuned.

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I’m down to 5 plugins on Obsidian now, and I’m happy with that. However, there is still work to be done regarding the organization of information between Obsidian and Evernote. 🤔 Maybe there is an opportunity for a video on this.

Have your website and your domain.

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I am seeing many discussions regarding the fairness or legality of the judge’s decision in the Twitter case in Brazil. I’m no specialist on the matter and cannot talk about that. But there is also a lot of debate over which social media platform is the best one to migrate to. And, in this instance, I have something to say.

It appears to me that moving to another platform is the same as moving problems from one place to another. Today, it was the judge’s decision; tomorrow, it may be another situation on another platform.

Those are your thoughts, memories, pictures, etc. Have your website and your domain. Post there first and share on all social media. You can easily move to another space by doing that, but I went even further. I write on Obsidian and use the amazing Micro Publish plugin to publish on my blog. From there, the post is automatically cross-posted on many social media sites.

How to reset the Garmin Instinct 2

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

My Garmin Instinct 2 screen froze Sunday before a run, and even though there’s a surprisingly simple fix, it took me a while to find it. So, here it is, in case you need it.

To reset the Garmin Instinct 2, hold down the CTRL key for about 15 seconds. The screen will turn off, and after a few moments, it will come back, showing the Garmin logo. If it doesn’t open your selected watch face from there, just press CTRL again for a few seconds.

This was the very first time I had any problems with my Instinct 2. It’s remarkable how reliable this watch is. I love it and stand by everything I said in my first impressions video below.

Unraveling the mess I created using Evernote and Obsidian

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I don’t have any clients today, but I’ve decided not to write scripts or edit videos. I am putting my energy into unraveling the mess I created after simultaneously using Evernote and Obsidian for a while now. Both have strengths and weaknesses, so my goal is to figure out what to use each one for.

There are things I can easily piece together. For example, I love how Evernote handles tasks, and I find the Obsidian Tasks plugin overwhelming. The same is true for the calendar. Evernote does a much better job of bundling it with our notes. At least, in my opinion.

But Obsidian is so well integrated into our computer file system, and I love to use that when creating my Unexpected Workflows.

Roughly speaking, the plan is to keep tasks and business-related content in Evernote. Especially meetings with clients and companies I collaborate with. As for Obsidian, it will still house my Knowledge Base, as it deals much better with PDFs, blog posts, and files I’m currently using (or used) for my books, courses, and video production.

I am also trying to keep the minimum number of plugins possible, having already removed many of them. That includes—don’t panic!—Davaview.

As for my personal documents, that’s still undecided.

And while testing all the ideas above, I’m experimenting with posting without using titles. After making so many posts today, I am looking at it as a far better formatting style for the blog, as well as a much cleaner way to cross-post to other social media platforms.

Connecting a USB-C flash drive to the Supernote

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Some people were asking me this, so I decided to test it. So I bought on to understand how the Supernote deals with it.

It is possible to connect a USB-C flash drive to the Supernote. Thus far, I have discovered that:

There’s no eject option. One can simply physically remove the drive.
There’s no way to rename the flash drive on the Supernote. Renaming it on my computer did not affect its functionality.
Supernote files can be copied or moved to the drive, and I was able to edit notes on the drive, just like I demonstrated with the expansion card.
The drive doesn’t appear in the list of folders that can be synchronized with the cloud.

How I listen to books on my Supernote Nomad

Sat, 31 Aug 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Remember my rant about the microSD expansion on the Supernote? It appears that it’s not as limited as I thought.

Yesterday, I was feeling a bit frustrated, as I couldn’t figure out the full potential of using a microSD card on my Supernote Nomad (A6X2). But today, I stumbled upon something that started to change my perspective.

It turns out the Amazon Kindle app has a hidden gem: the setting that lets you save all your books directly to the expansion card on your phone also exists on the Supernote.

To activate it, simply open the Kindle app, go to More, and then Settings. There, you’ll find the option Download to SD Card.

After enabling this setting, I checked the card and found a new Android folder that looked remarkably similar to the one on my phone. That’s interesting to learn.

Finally, I went to the Supernote storage settings and confirmed that the card was indeed being used. But there`s more!

Now that the books are being stored on the card, I decided it would be worth it to try downloading and check if I could listen to audiobooks. There’s no headphone jack on the Supernote, but it is possible to connect a headset via Bluetooth, and I had to try this. By the way, there’s also an option in the settings to auto-download your audiobooks.

And the answer is yes, it is possible to listen to audiobooks. That microSD card is starting to look more promising now.

The Value of Experience

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I feel foolish in retrospect for not considering some advice given to me by my parents and grandparents. Things change from generation to generation, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing they don’t know anything about our generation. The real lesson we seem to never grasp as young people is how to deal with life’s challenges and setbacks. And that’s generation-agnostic.

When I noticed my kids behaving just like I was in the past, I started each piece of advice with, “Do whatever you see fit with this information; I’m just telling you what happened to me”. Believe it or not, that made them at least pay more attention to whatever I was explaining. Only time will tell if it actually worked or not.

Have a lovely week.

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 01:00:00 +0100

It’s always challenging to decide whether to bring my dog on our quick trips. Caffeine was not with us on Sunday, but I couldn’t help but wonder why I didn’t bring him. Every time we go to Galicia, we find new malls and shops like this. Thank you, guys, for helping us enjoy our furry friends even during the hot summer days 🐾

Will creators have to pay the price?

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Apple’s App Store fees have the potential to make things harder for creators on Patreon.

As a shareholder, I understand that many of Apple’s decisions are driven by the need to make the company more valuable. But sometimes their policies go too far.

If the numbers presented in the video below are accurate, Patreon, the company, is unable to assume the App Store fees. I’ll even go as far as to say that it is mathematically impossible, as Patreon fees are lower than those of Apple. Which leaves two options: either the creator or the supporter will have to bear Apple fees.

I understand that Apple has a great system with almost zero friction, and that there are costs to operate it. What I don’t understand is the percentage. How can Patreon charge much less and even support all its operational expenses? Furthermore, does the amount charged by Apple even make sense when creators or supporters will be the ones paying for it?

My tiers on Patreon are pretty low because I’m not trying to explore anyone. I’m looking to build a community of people who are as passionate as I am and wish to help me by supporting my work. However, when Apple’s policies come into effect in the near future, I’ll have to switch to charging the App Store fee from the new supporters paying from there.

Apple, of course, is entitled to make its own business decisions, but forcing end users to pay more is unfair and, I dare say, unethical. Companies using the App Store should be allowed to explain that there’s a cheaper option to purchase a service. The way I see it, Apple is simply not giving users a choice.

This situation is another reminder that I have to keep my policy of not using any of Apple’s wall-gardened services, despite their quality. It’s also a good example of why the European Commission is constantly creating regulations to prevent big companies from doing whatever they want.

Entropy, the illusion of ultimate perfection, and the birth of the Timeline System

Sat, 10 Aug 2024 15:40:00 +0100

Remember the last time you spent hours searching for an important document or email? I’ve been there, too. I know how the frustration of not finding things can negatively impact our daily activities.

Many years ago, motivated by a lifelong passion for organization, I embarked on a quest to create a system that I wanted to be straightforward to adopt and use. It should have as few steps as possible to set up and use, and it had to be as natural as possible to adopt and maintain. As you can probably imagine, that’s much easier said than done.

Long before thinking about my system, when I started working for big corporations, I realized how much of a problem it was not having a simple way to find information and keep up with activities. However, after trying many existing solutions, it quickly became clear to me that they often felt rigid and unnatural, forcing users to adapt to the system rather than the other way around.

That frequently led to frustration, which in turn meant the team would slowly abandon the plan. But I didn’t give up. There had to be a better approach. Perhaps something more in tune with human behaviors. It would still take several years to find the right solution. In reality, I spent so much energy trying to make this work that it eventually became my job.

Even today, as a consultant, I still dedicate a fair amount of time to listening to how the person does things before coming up with a solution. I then try to build a workflow and adopt software or any technologies that better match how the person does their work. Experience tells me that this approach means more time and effort put into building the system, but it also means it will be a long-term solution.

Helping people resulted in a lot of feedback, which in turn led to the perfecting of the system. It was only over a decade of this feedback loop that I began to realize that basing the system principles and mechanisms on how people naturally think and do things was the correct decision.

I don’t claim to have found perfection because, in a way, it’s physically impossible. As Rudolf Clausius puts it,

“The entropy of the universe tends to a maximum.”

To which I add,

“So does the entropy of your notes and ideas. It’s okay to not obsess over a perfect system, as it is often a waste of your time. Remember that you cannot predict everything, as variables are forever changing.”

It now feels like all this journey has to be converted into a book. But although all these ideas have been in my head for so many years, it doesn’t make it an easy task to organize everything in a comprehensible way. It will take a while to finish, but rest assured that the Timeline System is being documented.

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 01:00:00 +0100

“The entropy of the universe tends to a maximum”

—Rudolf Clausius

So does the entropy of your notes. It’s okay to not obsess over a perfect system, as it may be a waste of your time. Remember that you cannot predict everything, and variables are forever changing.

If you are an Evernote user, and you are finding yourself lost in the multitude of information you created, try AI-Powered Search. It might surprise you 😉

Why I think using an Inbox is a terrible idea.

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 01:00:00 +0100

What if I told you that years ago I decided to ditch the endless inbox organization in Evernote in favor of a more efficient workflow?

Some people collect ideas, tasks and other types of information in an inbox style folder, or notebook, when using Evernote. A periodic cleaning routine is what makes sure the items will be redistributed to the appropriate spaces from time to time. Other people, myself include, do the opposite. We select the destination when saving the information.

I do it because I consider those periodic routines, that some call revisions, to be a waste of time. One can argue that it doesn’t matter whether you choose the destination before or afterwords, as it will take roughly the same time to organize things. That’s true, but it’s not where the problem lies.

When redistributing information in a future moment, one has to go through all the items to remember what each one is about, and only after that, move them to the appropriate spaces. That time spent with the screening process will not happen when picking the destination at the same time the information is being created.

For example, if I have an idea for a YouTube video, it’s instantly clear to me that it belongs to my Creator notebook in my Evernote. It’s effortless because the topic is fresh in my mind. Meaning that I’ll automatically save the information in the correct notebook.

The other option means that I would have all sorts of note topics, from ideas for videos to meeting notes with clients, in the inbox notebook. It’s too divers, and I would always have to waste time going through many notes to remember what they are, and only after that, move them to the correct notebook. That revision, or whatever you prefer to call it, is time I never waste.

But there’s a catch. If you don’t have or know what are the right notebooks or folders, there’s no way to choose the correct one. That’s why I try to keep all the ones I use frequently as accessible as possible. To accomplish that, I’m constantly paying attention to how I’m doing things. When I notice friction, I always make sure to rearrange things to fit my needs, like I show in the video below.

Have I mentioned that one great benefit of doing things like this is that I don’t experience inbox-zero anxiety?

What about you? Do you use an inbox to process information in the future, or do you pick the destination to save information in the correct place?

My Supernote to Evernote workflow

Sat, 03 Aug 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Stuck in traffic? Let your mind wander! I turned a frustrating hour into a productive one. My secret? Capturing fleeting ideas with mental repetition and then using my Supernote to Evernote workflow to forever save them.

Last week, while stuck for nearly an hour in the mother of all traffic jams, I had some insights for an online course, and started building its structure mentally. And by frequently repeating the ideas to myself, I prevent them from fading away. This is a strategy I created and perfected over time to be able to remember the thoughts I frequently have when running.

As soon as I arrived home, I grabbed the Supernote out of my bag, wrote everything I had in mind, and exported the note to the Evernote folder. When I opened Evernote the next day, the ideas were right in front of me thanks to the automation I have in place (video below).

By the way, if you’d like to dive even deeper into my Supernote to Evernote workflow, I suggest also watching this other video.

I previously discussed the importance of chronology in my Evernote system, so I will not repeat myself. Let’s talk about what happened when I opened my laptop to work the next day.

My Evernote is set to always open on the home page, where I have the Notes widget showing me the most recent notes I worked on. In this case, it was the Supernote note.

When the automation sent that note to Evernote, that moment was set as the creation date of the note, making it the most recently used note in my Evernote.

Anyway, because my notebooks are ordered in reverse chronological order, the first note in the Timeline notebook was also the Supernote note. In other words, it was remarkably easy to find the ideas I had the day before.

What I’m doing now is structuring all my thoughts in a notebook. First, I created a Summary note, which I pinned to the top of the notebook. Then I started creating a note for each chapter and dragging them to the Summary note. Chronology will mess up the order of the notes in the notebook, but that’s okay, as the Summary note will keep them in the right order.

It might be possible to have the list of notes ordered correctly by adding chapter numbers to the titles and setting the notebook order to alphabetical. But this would create too much friction every time I wanted to reorder chapters or add a new one in between existing ones. In other words, there’s no point in doing this, as I can easily do it on the Summary note by dragging the items up and down.

I have tried to use Evernote for this several times, but I have not been successful in the past. It was never as fluid as it is now. At first, I thought the new pinned note feature was making me more confident this time. It’s definitely helping because when I’m writing, I tend to jump from one chapter to another a lot.

However, another thing I frequently do when writing is reordering ideas (the chapters). So, after a while, I came to the conclusion that the not-so-new option to drag items up and down in a bullet list is also playing a significant part.

The book, or an online course, or both, is still in its very early stages. But if you are a supporter on Patreon or YouTube, there is a video for you where I demonstrate the notebook in my real account while discussing my process.

One-Time Setup, Longtime Rewards using Evernote Advanced Search

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Unlock the hidden power of Advanced Search! One simple setup can transform the way you use Evernote.

Evernote search was always excellent, but before the AI-Powered Search, the only way to go a step further was by using the Advanced Search, also known as Evernote Grammar. The simplest way to describe it is as a set of commands that we can combine with each other and type in the search box to filter notes in a very specific way.

The Grammar is so powerful that it serves as the backbone for the AI-Powered Search. When you perform an AI search, the AI first converts the information you typed into an Advanced Search syntax. That’s what is used to filter a group of notes that are sent to the large language model, which then generates the answer you end up seeing.

The commands, also known as terms, are not that difficult to understand, but some are pretty hard to memorize. Which means that with the introduction of the AI-Powered Search, there’s no point in using them for everyday searches. However, I see them as super useful for creating dynamic Saved Searches or Widgets.

I could, for example, use the codes below to create a Filtered Notes Widget on Evernote Home that would show me all notes in my ‘Creator’ notebook without the tag ‘Done’.

notebook:Creator -tag:done

If you type the above into the ‘Keywords’ box of the Filtered Notes Widget, you’ll create a dynamic group of notes. Every time you add the tag ‘Done’ to a note in the ‘Creator’ notebook, that note will automatically be removed from the widget.

There’s a series of videos I’m producing to help you understand and use the Advanced Search. You can check out the most recent one below about Reminders to understand how powerful it is. If you decide that the Advanced Search can help you create a better system for your Evernote, take a look at the other videos and have fun.

Brainstorming ideas to add a Chipolo tag to my dog's collar.

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Testing and idea to attach a Chipolo (Google’s Find Device) to my dog’s collar using velcro. It’s inspired by something I did many years ago to attach a Nike+ iPod accessory to a non-Nike running shoe

I’m sure I’ll have to sew and glue parts for the final version. For now, I’m just trying to imagine some real life scenarios, like having to remove the tag to prevent it from getting wet or to replace its battery.

The aha! moment that ended my lifelong organizing struggle

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I spent years searching for a solution! Here’s how Evernote finally helped me conquer information overload and organize everything.

While enjoying some old pictures yesterday, I noticed something that brought back a very specific memory.

Some of them, which date back to my childhood, have a code on the back. I can’t remember exactly what it means, but I know that the comma separates two types of information.

One is related to the order of that picture in a sequence. The other indicates the group, which would translate into something like the digital albums some people create nowadays.

In the example below, it would mean something like the second picture of a group (album) with the number 13. It may also be the other way around. I don’t know which one it was. The codes would be written in a paper notebook with additional information, such as descriptions of the album and pictures.

I used a variation of this system for many years. For example, when I started using a computer to write my letters, I had a two-digit code associated to the name of each person and the date in reverse order. Something like AC19930429. Similar to the pictures, the codes had a description associated with them, but at that point I was using a spreadsheet on my computer to log everything.

When I learned how to use databases, the system further evolved. In addition to storing the codes, the database had keywords from letters, documents, books, and articles from printed magazines.

I spent too many years perfecting this system, but the reality is that it was horrible. Probably because the digital database was only capable of cross-referencing the keywords I added to it. All the related information was still in physical media, and archiving and retrieving it was never a pleasant or efficient experience.

Time to simplify things

I eventually gave up. In addition to being a terrible system, this happened during the 1980s and 90s, a period known for rapid development of computers and the lack of cheap and reliable backup solutions.

However, I was not abandoning the idea of creating a system for my memories. As an early user of the Palm Pilot at the end of the 90s, I created a basic version of my system that I could carry with me everywhere.

Years latter, when Apple released Spotlight, it blew my mind. I understood that I would no longer need to organize information. At some point in the future, I would be able to simply ask for it and the computer would show me the related documents.

Little did I know that that dream would take many years to come true. Furthermore, there was a practical issue to consider. Spotlight was a Mac-only feature, and I needed something that would also run on my Palm Pilot, or simply Palm, as it was known at this point.

Despite there being no apparent solution, I kept adding my personal and professional stuff to that remarkable little computer, which I carried with me everywhere. I was so passionate about it that a website dedicated entirely to it ended up being my first online venture. And in October 2000, I was even asked to write a piece about how the Palm was going to change the world.

In the end, the smartphone did what I thought Palm would do. That’s okay. But one thing that saddens me is that I always thought that shared knowledge would make us a better civilization. I was probably too naive, since I never thought we would become so divided as a society. But that’s a topic for another moment.

16 years ago

I officially began using Evernote exactly 16 years ago today. I know this because I saved the welcome email using Web Clipper. However, it took me many months to fully commit to it.

That was the first time I had to deal with a chronological system to organize notes, with only one level of folders (notebooks). Back then, stacks didn’t even exist. As someone who had only used folders, a complicated coding system, and databases, I guess my perception of Evernote was destined to be the most negative possible.

I stopped using it several times in the first few months. The only thing that kept me coming back was being able to synchronize my notes across multiple platforms. Remember that back then, even the Apple ecosystem would not allow us to synchronize Mac notes with the iPhone.

But what ultimately made me stay was the fact that I decided to fully embrace the simple structure of notes inside a notebook and the chronological order of the notes, which I stand for until these days.

Like magic

I couldn’t see it at first, but Evernote instantly merged the two parts of my unusable childhood system. I could finally have the information and the database in the same place. Even better, I didn’t even have to build the database. It was finally just a matter of searching and finding.

Other times it was just a matter of looking at Evernote and finding. The way it arranges and presents our notes evokes a sense of clairvoyance. But it’s simply the way our brains work.

If I just used a note, it is highly possible that I’ll need it again shortly. Evernote has many features, such as Recent Notes, Switch To, and even the Notes Widget, which displays notes ordered by recently used. If you need to find something, visiting one of these places can be magical.

Even though I graduated as an economist, I always liked reading psychology books about memory. They helped me see how chronology plays a big part in how we remember things. The more I studied and learned, the more I realized how bad of an idea it was to keep excessively categorizing things.

However, it was the book Algorithms to Live By, which I read in 2016, that really connected all the dots. I consider that book to be my manual for organizing everything in both the real and digital worlds.

Old habits die hard

Thanks to a simple 2,13 code on the back of a black and white picture, I now understand that the system I’m currently building is the culmination of something I started many decades ago. I could not accomplish it back then because technology was not there yet.

We now have access to advancements well ahead of anything I could ever imagine. Not only is Evernote finding and showing me related notes, but it is also giving me answers based on my notes.

You’ve been watching me dismantle my entire collection of notebooks in Evernote and letting the tags and chronology help me find related information. What you probably don’t know is that I started sharing some of these ideas many years ago in my workshops, podcasts, and blogs, but I never fully embraced it until very recently.

I’m finally letting it go and trusting Evernote like never before to find what I need. As you know, the few notebooks I still have are there to help me do my work, not to be a knowledge or storage category. I’m still using tags, though. But I hope to also let that go as the search results start serving me the correct information.

2,13 is long outdated and has to go.

To celebrate my 16 years using Evernote, I released a video for supporters on Patreon and YouTube showing and talking about (almost 🫣) all the items I have in my big collection.

A little tweak to my system.

Sat, 20 Jul 2024 01:00:00 +0100

The YouTube notebook was renamed to Creator. Here’s why:

Notes in the YouTube notebook already had to have the “YouTube” tag because that’s how I can filter them once they are moved to the Timeline notebook.
I was already using the YouTube notebook for other creator related notes, like ideas for my articles.

What’s good about having all the Creator related notes in a single place is the fact that when I have an idea, I usually don’t know if that will become a post like this, a video, or an article. I just write it down.

Moreover, it’s not unusual for an idea to become a video and an article. Which means that I can now use a single note with two different tags.

These are the tags I’m currently using for the notes in that notebook:

YouTube
Articles
Posts

PS.: If you missed the explanation about the ECE notebook, please watch this video.

Simplify for Evernote Efficiency

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 01:00:00 +0100

It’s unlikely that sugarcoating will make our system more efficient.

I used to keep notes for each session with my clients or meeting with partners, and other notes for each team member, and even some for other purposes. Since they were all connected, the system worked pretty well.

This was mostly done for two reasons:

To have that information automatically dated, as each note has a creation date.
To be able to reuse the information in other notes. For example, a team member note would be dragged to and linked to a meeting note.

Furthermore, the number of different types of notes would automatically provide statistics based on the backlinks. For instance, I could know how many meetings a client had or how often a team member attended meetings. However, if you ask me how many times I have used this information so far, the answer will be an overwhelming zero.

As you already know, I have been simplifying things on my Evernote. Recently, I decided to try to organize all the above information in single notes with the the help of new Evernote features like headings, links to headings, calendar entries, etc. No statistics, of course. But that’s okay. Although they were always quite cool to look at, I didn’t use them at all.

Anyway, I’m still not quite there yet, but I’ll keep working on it. And, as usual, I will share the results on my channel as soon as I’m satisfied with the new system.

Perhaps we avoid it because it is challenging to simplify things. That’s the reason I keep reminding myself that there are always things that can be removed, especially unnecessary processes.

It’s rare that sugarcoating, categorizing, and a myriad of other routines will result in efficiency.

Evernote Just Made My Life Easier.

Sun, 07 Jul 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Recent quality-of-life improvements to Evernote are making my system even better.

Better Synchronization

Remember that video I published a few months ago about Evernote moving away from the monolith? If you haven’t watched it, think of the project as a lot of work under the hood to enhance the user experience.

Evernote has taken another big step in that project. Synchronization is currently being upgraded to a more modern system. All web clients have already been upgraded and the rollout of desktop and mobile apps is already underway. This is huge news!

All of my apps have recently been upgraded, and after a few days of testing, I’m amazed at how efficient synchronization is now. The video below explains how to know if your account is already running the new system.

Mobile Clients

Based on the results of a recent poll on my YouTube channel, most of you are using the new Create page on the mobile client to create your notes.

That’s not my case. As you already know, I have the app on my phone set to always open on the Shortcuts page, where I have access to the notebooks I use most of the time. In other words, I always open a notebook first, and then I create a note. So much so that I simply don’t remember the Create page exists and rarely go there.

Evernote 10.95.2 (mobile) underwent minor cosmetic modifications that I am in love with. If you go to the notes page, you’ll see a “new note” icon in the bottom-right corner. The same is true for notebooks, tags, and tasks. Not the calendar, though. At least for now. But don’t worry, it’s coming.

The shortcuts page was also upgraded. It’s a small change, but I also loved it. The list of recent notes is now gone, and that translates into more space for my shortcuts, which are a pivotal element of my new system.

You can find further information about the new features and my thoughts in the video below.

Thank you, Evernote, for helping me take good care of my furry friend.

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I would prefer not to share this story today, but real life is certainly not all roses.

My lovely dog, who is incapable of hurting a flea, was bitten yesterday. He was enjoying himself at the dog park when another dog rushed towards him and bit him for no apparent reason. To my untrained eye, that was a giant wound that terrified me to death. But later at the vet, I was told that everything was alright since it was only the skin that was cut. Regardless, almost 4 cm (1.5 in) still seems like a lot to me.

Needless to say, this broke my heart, and it took me a long time to fall asleep yesterday. To be honest, I’m still a bit shocked, and this is definitely a story I would prefer not to add to my Elephant’s Journal. But life isn’t always perfect, is it?

Anyway, it happened late at night, and his usual vet doesn’t have an ER. When we reached out to him, he suggested the one we ended up going to. But since this was our first visit to the place, they did not have a file with my dog’s information. His microchip helped with basic details and some vaccines, but Evernote played an important role as it’s where I keep his entire life history.

As I said in yesterday’s video, all my family documents are in the Family notebook. They all have at least two tags: Documents and the name of the person or dog 🐾 that document belongs to. His birth certificate, passport, vaccine card, etc. are all there. And they are all listed in the Documents note, with links back to each of the notes containing the documents.

So, I can either open the Documents note to see a list of the most used documents, or use the tag with his name to filter all his notes in the Timeline notebook.

Another note that I keep in the Family notebook is called Caffeine’s Routines. Yes, his name is Caffeine 🖤. This note starts with a list of all the veterinary appointments in reverse chronological order, linking back to the notes in my new Timeline notebook. All of them also have at least two tags: Caffeine and Veterinary.

Again, I have two options to get to the notes. I can either open the Caffeine’s Routines note to see the list and click on a specific item, or use the Caffeine plus Veterinary tags to filter and see all the notes.

Below that list, I have several tasks, such as his vaccinations and deworming. I even have a task to remind me to give him a bath 😊. All these tasks will automatically show up on the Tasks' widget I keep on Evernote Home.

There is also a link to the Caffeine’s Routines note in the Documents note. Yesterday, at the vet, all I had to do was open Evernote, which in my case is set to open on the Shortcuts page. From there, I taped on Documents (note) and had access to a list of his more relevant notes to answer all the questions the veterinary had.

When I got home, I used Evernote to scan the receipt and the veterinary recommendations, then added the Caffeine, Veterinary, and Health tags, and saved the note in the Timeline notebook. Finally, I added a link to that note to the list on the Caffeine’s Routines note. It took me less than a minute to update the information, which will give me peace of mind in the future.

I’m sure my furry friend will get better soon, but I’m still heartbroken. When I feel less stressed about all of this, I will make a video to better illustrate all the steps above. For now, please show your pet some love. These little guys are absolutely wonderful.

I broke Evernote 🫣

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Remember I told you in the last video to be careful when making significant changes to your Evernote? I was following my advice, but… 🫣 Also in today’s video, I talk about the recent updates to my system and some unexpected benefits.

UPDATE: I had to put the Timeline notebook back. I just noticed that the reason it's there is to let me easily drag to that notebook completed activities (notes) from any of the Backlog notebooks. To better understand it, please take a look at the image below.

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Yesterday, I ended up not working on my Evernote because the video recording and editing consumed a lot of time. Today, things are moving forward quite well. I am now down to 36 notebooks from the 51 I originally had in that Legacy stack.

Evernote Templates are broken and driving me crazy. But there's a solution!

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

I believe that the Bending Spoons deal was the best thing that ever happened to Evernote, but some new features may be adding even more confusion to old problems. For example, I would love Federico’s team to tackle the huge mess Templates is already making before it turns into an uncontrollable snowball.

There's only one thing powerful enough to disrupt Porto's famed São João street festival.

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Starting tonight, June 23rd, at 9:45 pm and lasting until 1 am tomorrow, lighting paper hot air balloons will be allowed over Porto. And, trust me, they will fly in herds. The white dots in the image below from 2019 are not stars. Each one of them is a balloon that someone lit on the streets of the city.

This unique permission reflects the scale of the famed São João street festival, as even the airport airspace will be closed during this period. But balloons are only one attraction at this incredible party. As you can see in the image below from last year’s Porto downtown, the entire city takes to the streets until the wee hours of the morning.

If Porto is on your wishlist for future trips, I suggest keeping June 23rd in mind. Believe me, you won’t regret it.

The only thing powerful enough to disrupt the tradition for two years in a row was the COVID-19 lockdown. And this year, it will once again interrupt it, as COVID-19 has finally caught up with me. I began feeling sick on Tuesday, and although I’m much better now, there is no way I’ll risk making other people sick. So sadly, it means there will be no festivity for me this year.

I hope everyone has a great São João and I look forward to next year’s celebrations.

The case for By Me a Coffee joining the Fediverse.

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 01:00:00 +0100

If you take a look at my Buy Me a Coffee page, you’ll notice that it is basically a timeline, just like many other social media sites. In my case, perhaps because I talk a lot about it, many of the supporters are Fediverse users. Regardless of the reason, they don’t have access to certain features available to other social media users. Although this is an issue that can be easily fixed with some tweaks to the site, why stop there?

11 Million Possible Supporters

Imagine for a second that Buy Me a Coffee has adopted the ActivityPub protocol and now provides you, as a creator, with a Fediverse feed and address. Probably something like @vladcampos@buymeacoffee.com or @vladcampos@buymeacoffee.social. Or even @vladcampos@bmac.social, to shorten it like Medium did.

In any case, anyone using an ActivityPub-compatible service, like Mastodon, Flipboard, and so many others, would be able to follow your username and see and reply to all your posts from the ActivityPub service they are already using.

It means that creators who are not part of the Fediverse because they believe it is too complicated or who are not familiar with it would be exposed to 11 million users immediately. Since everything is connected, millions of users would not need a Buy Me a Coffee account to follow and engage with the posts of the creators they love.

And there’s no need to change how non-Fediverse users have access to the current Buy Me a Coffee site. For example, my blog is compatible with ActivityPub, but anyone on the open web can read the posts just like they would on any other blog.

As for the creators who are familiar with the Fediverse, they could, for example, use tools to cross-post to their Buy Me a Coffee feed. Another option would be to start using Buy Me a Coffee as their main way to interact with the rest of the Fediverse. That by itself would indirectly promote Buy Me a Coffee to other people on the Fediverse, as everyone would be seeing the company’s URL.

For some creators, this would be their first experience on the Fediverse. Others would probably move their followers to Buy Me a Coffee. In any case, being able to bring your followers with you anywhere is what makes people on the Fediverse move around and try different services. Currently, I’m a Mastodon user, but, I have already moved a couple of times and my followers always came with me.

Restricted to Creators

But instead of letting all users create ActivityPub accounts, I think Buy Me a Coffee should limit them to creators. Running an ActivityPub server is not cheap, and it comes with all sorts of moderation problems, which have caused many companies to give up. Not to mention that there’s no need to open the account creation to supporters since they can use their current Fediverse accounts to follow the creators.

First Steps

This is not a simple project, but it would certainly help Buy Me a Coffee stand out while also helping creators.

However, there are several small changes that can be accomplished with less effort. For example, show the Mastodon icon when the user sets an account on the social links. Another good practice would be to add Mastodon as an option to the “share on social media” feature. But why not create a Buy Me a Coffee Mastodon account or server to start sharing content and interacting with users there? This was the strategy adopted by Medium and Flipboard to get a sense of how things work differently on the Fediverse.

And of course, as I have already mentioned to Jijo Sunny in a recent conversation, many of the above suggestions also apply to Voicenotes.

Anyway, as I said before, I’m biased, but Mastodon is the only social media app I keep on my phone, as there are no ads or algorithms trying to make me addicted to it. I tap the app’s icon and look at my chronologically ordered feed to see and enjoy what people I choose to follow are sharing. In other words, this is the perfect environment to follow and interact with creators I support.

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 01:00:00 +0100

After a few weeks, I thought this was a failed attempt to propagate this plant, but I kept watering the vase to keep the dirt from drying out. Now look at this. I am always astonished by how nature tries to find its way, as if trying to tell us that, given the conditions, life will thrive. Especially during spring.

How Voicenotes supercharged my note-taking workflow.

Sat, 15 Jun 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Until recently, I was using the Supernote to quickly get ideas out of my head, but that has changed. I’m now double-taping the back of my Pixel and recording them on Voicenotes.

I recently published a video explaining how the app works, and you can watch it below. Basically, you record something and the AI will transcribe it. The coolest part, though, is asking anything to Voicenotes and getting answers based on your notes.

Getting contextual answers was already great, but a recently released feature brought things to another level. Now, when you open a note by tapping or clicking its title, you’ll see a list of notes related to that note.

However, that was not available when I started using Voicenotes and was trying to figure out what the app could do. One of the tests I did was record all the ideas that came to mind while I was preparing myself to have a conversation with Jijo Sunny, Voicenotes co-founder.

My original plan was to ask the app to show me a summary of my ideas for the conversation. But, days before the interview recording, when I sat down to work on the script, I decided to use the new ‘Related Notes’ feature. It blew my mind.

Because I was always starting my notes with something similar to “more ideas for my conversation with Jijo” the app easily found all the related notes. Then, it was just a matter of pasting them into Obsidian and refining everything. This process saved me so much time, when compared to how I was writing the scripts before.

The best part was that I didn’t have to go to a specific note or folder in Obsidian to write down the ideas, nor did I need to “translate” them into written sentences. It was much faster because I could just talk about any of my video ideas. The order or where the notes were didn’t matter at all. In the end, the AI did a fantastic job putting them together.

The first attempt was so successful, I decided to try the process with other scripts, and it’s working flawlessly. All I have to do is remember to include the possible title or subject of the video to help the AI group the notes in the future.

I’m still using the Supernote for many other things, but this quick capture and future refinement using Obsidian has been working too well to ignore. You can see it for yourself. One of the final results of this new workflow is shown in the video below. Almost everything I asked Jijo was captured using Voicenotes.

But keep in mind that this workflow is just one possible scenario. I’ve been seeing so many use cases. If you’re already using it, tell us how, and if not, maybe give it a try (there’s a free plan). It might surprise you.

As for the double-tap, I’m not sure if that’s available on all Android phones, but on my Pixel it is under the “Gestures” setting, and it’s called “Quick tap to start action”.

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and the post-recording chat, which could have easily been another podcast episode. Jijo Sunny, shares his personal journey history and how Buy Me a Coffee and Voicenotes came to be, as well as many other details. We even elaborated on the possibility of Voicenotes venturing into the Fediverse and so much more.

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 01:00:00 +0100

People keep asking me how to create new notes with today’s date on Obsidian. So, I just published a quick how-to. And now I’m thinking about the possibility of creating more brief videos on other subjects. Would you like that?

I have been brewing this idea for over 10 years!

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Everything clicked when I looked at a scrap piece of acrylic board from one of my maker projects.

I want to start by saying that this is not for task management. The goal is to have a clearer view of all of my current and upcoming activities by giving me a bird’s-eye view. Apps like Evernote, Obsidian, and others can handle all the details much better. However, there are still some adjustments I would like to make to the system before I share the specifics of how it works.

For now, let’s talk about the form factor.

I used different colored rubber bands just to make the picture more interesting. The real ones are black, as you can see in the picture of the prototype below. In other words, the colors have no special meaning at all. As for the material and size, there is a reason for that.

Given that it will be on my desk most of the time, I would like to always be able to see what is underneath it. That’s why it is transparent. It is the same size as an A4 sheet of paper, which gives me plenty of room to run my system and safely transport it without losing sticky notes. It’s as easy as slipping it into any folio available on the market. Or, like I’m currently doing, just repurpose the paper ones companies give us with proposals or contracts inside.

I wanted something that could be hackable by anyone, and that’s why I used standard measurements. Nevertheless, I am confident that the equivalent of a letter paper size would be a more suitable option for users in the United States.

As things progressed, being hackable became a must-have aspect. For example, at first, the dividers were created with masking tape, but later, rubber bands were used to make the board easier to adapt to new situations or different uses. In the end, they also proved to be useful in preventing sticky notes from falling off.

Vertical lines create stages that work almost like a Kanban board. Almost! Regarding the horizontal divider, it creates what one of my clients nicknamed Driving Lane (top) and Parking Lane (bottom).

I’ll tell you more about the system soon, but don’t expect anything advanced or complicated. On the contrary, it is something simple that covers all of my needs.

I think the hardware is what freed my mind because until now, I couldn’t make my system work 100% with available software. Ironically, following the construction and testing of the board, it opened my eyes to the possibility of implementing my system on some apps. But now, I’m not certain if I want to go that route. Anyway, I’ll also share more about that soon.

All note-taking apps should implement this new Android feature.

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Even before the DMA came into effect, Android users could choose and set their preferred browser, SMS app, and more. This can be done by going to Settings > Apps > Default app. Now, Google has announced that note-taking applications will also be included in the list.

There will be a shortcut on the lock screen to open the note-taking app without having to unlock the device. It looks similar to the Apple-Notes feature on the iPad. But unlike Apple’s walled garden, users will be able to choose their preferred note-taking app.

There are some adjustments to the app that must be made, which are explained in this I/O 2024 video. What I didn’t get is whether this is an Android feature or just meant for tablets running Android.

Even if it’s only for tablets, I think all companies that make note-taking apps should implement the changes needed to use this new feature. We, the users, will appreciate it.

Maybe it's Time to Let GO

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I really love how these guys sound, but they have some design problems that have become annoying over time.

It is great to be able to charge them via USB-C, but we are talking about two unites that must be charged. That is not a problem at my office, where I have a charging station for all of my filming equipment. However, if I am working from home or traveling, I must remember that I will need additional charges and cables. Once, I forgot about that, and it was a waste of time since I was able to only charge one at a time.
More often than not, I forget to turn them off or to plug them in to be charged. Please refer to item one above.
I’m not sure if this is a design problem or if I got a defective unit, but since day one, I have had to press the buttons hard on both to turn them off. That was a big problem when I started using them, as I wouldn’t notice that they were still on. Please refer to item one above.
Although they were considered small when released, the microphone part was always heavy enough to make it difficult to wear on t-shirts. In some cases, I end up holding it in my hand, like in this video. I’m aware that there is an option to connect a lapel microphone, but that would defeat the purpose of using a wireless device.

The DJI Mic 2 addresses several of the issues above, as it is smaller and features a charging case that requires only one USB-C cable. However…

When I came across the Hollyland Lark M2, I was blown away. In addition to the charging case, they are minimal and can be attached to a shirt with a magnet. And who doesn’t love magnets?

How about that combo with a USB-C phone receiver?

The only question I still have about it is: Can something as tiny as that sound as good as the Rode Wireless GO?

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I made myself a tool to make it easier to film the Supernote. It is essentially a miniature table with an acrylic top to let the light through. I also cut it to fit the Pixel camera bump. And yes, the next video will be about sending Supernote files to Evernote 😉

Android's Answer to AirTags is here. Time to switch!

Wed, 29 May 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Wait, there’s another competitor. Who would have believed that Tile would pull such a card from its sleeve?

If you go to the AirTag page on Apple’s website, and check the ‘System Requirements and Compatibility’ information, you’ll see this:

Apple ID
iPhone and iPod touch models with iOS 14.5 or later
iPad models with iPadOS 14.5 or later

As you are already aware, I am a Pixel user, so it was the third item in the list above which convinced me to become an early adopter of AirTags. And even though Apple says the company designed the AirTag to track items, not people or pets, my plan was to do exactly that: attach it to my dog’s collar.

When I asked Drance about parents using AirTags to track their small children (such as during an outing at an amusement park) or pets (we know you’re up to something shady, Fluffy) she was quick to stress that the company designed the AirTag to track items, not people or pets. If parents would like to safely track their young children, she suggests an Apple Watch with Family Setup might be a better choice. (source)

My dog’s AirTag.

When the AirTag arrived, I linked it to my iPad and immediately started testing it. Every time my wife would go on a longer walk with our dog, I would track them simultaneously on Google Maps and Apple ‘Find My’ app. To accomplish that, my wife would leave her iPhone behind and bring an Android that was sharing its GPS location with me.

If she were to take the iPhone with her, it would be too easy for the tracker. My goal was to learn how the AirTag would perform when having to rely on other people’s iPhones to do its thing. And to my surprise, the first tests went very well. The ‘Find My’ app would show our dog about a block behind the Android GPS, which was expected and quite accurate if you ask me.

However, on walks very early in the morning, I would completely lose track of my dog on the map. The same would happen in large and spacious parks. All of that was also expected, but sometimes it was not working, even when she had people around her. Android users, for sure. But that’s not all the problems I experienced.

I don’t know why, but the AirTag alarm would go off every other day even when my dog and the iPad were close to each other. Extremely close to each other. I would be sitting on the couch reading something on the iPad, with my dog lying down by my side.

That, I could never fix. Even after unpairing, resetting and parring again several times. It was so frustrating that I ended up destroying the AirTag.

Relax, it’s not what you are thinking.

We had a trip coming up, and our dog would stay with a pet sitter, which meant she would inevitably face the ‘away from owner’ alarm. As for the ‘AirTag traveling with you’ alert, that’s okay, as I definitely would tell her about the tracker.

Long story short, I decided to disable the speaker altogether. This would also solve the issue of the alarm going off when it wasn’t supposed to. Taking great care, as always, I went about the delicate process. Unfortunately, after the surgery, the AirTag refused to pair.

That was the perfect timing to try the Chipolo Spot, which is compatible with Apple’s network. I bought a 4-pack, and guess what? One of them also had the alarm going off almost every day. Maybe it’s an issue with the iPad parring, since it never happened to the ones paired with my wife’s iPhone.

Google’s Answer to AirTags

A few days ago, I received an email from Google with the news I was expecting for a while and decided to buy new takers.

Find My Device network is coming soon.
You’ll get a notification on your Android devices when this feature is turned on in 3 days. Until then, you can opt out of the network through Find My Device on the web. After the feature is on, you can manage device participation anytime through Find My Device settings on the device.

How it works.
Devices in the network use Bluetooth to scan for nearby items. If other devices detect your items, they’ll securely send the locations where the items were detected to Find My Device. Your Android devices will do the same to help others find their offline items when detected nearby.

Of course, there are plenty of people using iPhones here in Europe, but Apple’s phone is only more popular than Androids in the United States. Android has a much larger market share worldwide, which translates to a potentially wider network for Google’s ‘Find My Device’ service when compared to Apple’s ‘Find My’. And that’s something I’m excited to test.

I purchased another 4-pack, but this time it was a Chipolo Point. Point? What about the Spot? Okay, time to decode Chipolo product line.

Be careful

Similar to Tile, Chipolo already had its own network and was selling distinct tracker models, namely ONE, which resembles a circle, and Card, which resembles, well, a card.

When Apple introduced the AirTags, Chipolo released compatible trackers, which they branded as Chipolo Spot. And now there’s the Chipolo Point, compatible with Google’s ‘Find My Device’ service. The appearance and form factor of the models are the same, no matter the network. So, always pay attention to what you are buying.

The Future

Life360, the parent company of Tile, which has never mentioned trackers compatible with Apple’s or Google’s networks, recently announced a GPS-Bluetooth network in partnership with Hubble Network. What‽

I’ve never heard of this network or the technology before, and am interested to see how a satellite can pick up a Bluetooth signal from Earth. But besides the brief post and hyperbolic video published on Life360 website, there is not much said about anything else. And I have so many questions. For example, will there be a subscription? Will current Tiles work on this network? Does the satellite constellation currently exist?

In any case, I’ll be taking good care of the Tile trackers I still have in my drawer.

🤔 Except for that one.

Sat, 18 May 2024 01:00:00 +0100

No check-in, boarding or any other lines to wait in. Not even security check. Super quick boarding and deboarding. There is a lot of lag space, even in the economy class. And, to top it all off, there is the departure and arrival in the city center. It is impossible to not love trains.

PS. 👆 That’s a Supernote.

Modern travel is weird.

Sat, 18 May 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Half of my backpack has clothes. The other half has filming gear and dongles. A bunch of them. Thank you, Apple.

At least, everything I travel with is USB-C compatible, which means there is always a cable available to plug and charge anything. But not exactly everything. Guess what? All of those cables are useless for one device. I’ve been wirelessly charging my wife’s iPhone with my Pixel because she forgot to bring the Lightning cable. Thank you, Apple. Again.

What if organizing has become a waste of time?

Thu, 16 May 2024 01:00:00 +0100

It has been a few years since I started thinking about how useful organizing actually is. Every time I see something like the AI automations for Gmail shown on the I/O 2024, I am more convinced that organizing is becoming a waste of time.

Then, there’s the recently released Voicenotes, a note-taking app that, as far as I can tell, relies on AI for transcribing, summarizing, tweeting, creating lists, telling us anything about our past, and so much more. For someone like me, that’s a bit… unsettling, to say the least. But, the younger generation may be entirely comfortable with this idea. Anyway, full review of the app coming soon.

Back to my point. It might be time to stop worrying about organizing information.

We now live in a world where knives can't have blades.

Mon, 13 May 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I consider myself to be an optimist, but sometimes humanity makes me question the bright future I see ahead of us.

When I saw the logo on that drawer-style box, there was no doubt. I felt my heart beat faster as I pulled one side of the drawer, slowly revealing what was inside. As if it were the most precious jewelry, a Swiss Army Knife lied protected in a carefully carved space adorned with white velvet.

I was probably too young to carry a knife with me when my father gave me such an exquisite gift, but he knew what he was doing. For as far as I can remember, guns and killing were always serious topics in our home. To give you an idea, I once used the expression ‘I will kill you,’ like many other children were doing, and had to listen to a long, very long speech. So, no killing, no guns (including toy guns), and respect for others, were lessons I learned from a very young age.

That wonderful tool went with me everywhere. And I mean everywhere. It was always in my left pocket as a lucky charm. It went to my classes, concerts, planes, everywhere. Of course, that was a different world, and I never, ever thought of it as a weapon. It was always a MacGyver tool that I loved to used to fix and build things all the time.

When I got older and started appreciating wine and wearing glasses, I gave my beloved pocketknife to my son, as I purchased a new one with a corkscrew that doubles as a place to store a small screwdriver.

At some point, perhaps after September 11, we were unable to bring tools like that on board anymore, so the old and then the new one started traveling in my check-in suitcase. I opened many wine bottles, and even fixed the wheels of a large suitcase we dragged in India for too long. But lately, I’ve been doing fewer of these things on my trips.

It now only travels with me on train journeys, as most of our plane trips in Europe are on board low-cost carriers, bringing only cabin baggage. When we are not staying in an Airbnb, I always buy a cheap corkscrew that I leave behind in the hotel room. Not ecological at all.

It took me a while back then, but I eventually got used to the empty left pocket. Years later, my wallet took that spot as the mobile phone moved into the right pocket. I don’t know if you heard the news, but:

[!cite] The maker of the Swiss Army Knife says it plans to begin offering pocket tools that don’t contain blades. (…) rising violence in certain parts of the world has prompted multiple governments to crack down on what types of blades people can brandish in public, possibly making it harder for consumers to carry the company’s iconic red multitools. (source)

I am not trying to make any point here, and I do prefer to be in a safer environment, but it is always difficult for me to understand why tools are the ones usually punished for human behavior.

Anyway, nowadays, I often have empty pockets because I carry a bag with me most of the time. Inside I have my glasses, my current pocket knife, phone charger, eye drops, the Supernote, and a bunch of other stuff that I probably won’t need, but might be too worried about eventually not having with me.

Maybe that’s what a maker’s fate is. But, that’s a story for another time.

Hello Spring 2024

Sat, 11 May 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Tue, 07 May 2024 01:00:00 +0100

🤔 In summary, the new iPads are even more powerful than my MacBook Air M1, but the iPadOS is still the same, making them lag behind.

Customizing Evernote is a must-have option because everyone uses it differently

Tue, 07 May 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Every so often, I get the impression that Bending Spoons is following some of the same problematic routes that have already been attempted before them.

I love how fast the new mobile experience is, and I’m sure people who create notes mostly on their phones are happier than ever. But what I’m feeling is discomfort. It’s now 5 days since I started using the new Evernote home for mobile, and I’m yet to use the main screen as intended.

Stacey Harmon said it best: “I have to think about it a lot more than I used to”.

[!cite] (…) I’m really struggling to embrace the new Home. It is not clicking for me. (…) I’m missing the customized create button. The options there don’t reflect my preferred capture ways. (source)

[!cite] I also am just struggling to navigate the app and get to what I want. I’m not finding it intuitive… I have to think about it a lot more than I used to. (source)

If we go all the way back to 2014, when Evernote 7 adopted a modern interface to replace the previews skeuomorphic design mimicking a Rolodex, some complaints were about the lack of customization. Which the company ended up addressing.

When Evernote 8 for iOS came out, customization was gone again. And, as inevitable as gravity is, I remember people asking for many settings. One of the more prominent among my community was a way to turn off the recently used notebooks from the top of the notebooks list. Which, by the way, I didn’t felt the need to remove. In fact, I liked it. And that’s precisely my point.

Customizing Evernote is a must-have option because everyone uses it differently. So much so that Evernote 10 brought back many ways to personalize the app. Unfortunately, that’s now gone again.

But credit has to be given when it’s due. Bending Spoons was able to put together a user interface that has the best elements from many older iterations.

The creation buttons that were used on the first versions of the app are back. Then there’s the dock from Evernote 8, which makes it a breeze to switch from one view to another. And there is even a widget borrowed from the original version 10. To top it all off, this might be the fastest Evernote app ever released.

There’s just one missing piece: customization. And that’s something they could’ve learned from history. Evernote users need options simply because each one of us has a different vision of what makes the perfect Evernote experience.

And talking about history, in the second part of the video below, you can see a glimpse of how I try to keep Evernote’s history intact. Ironically, I do that using Obsidian.

Fri, 03 May 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I didn’t know Fallout was a game, but the more I watched it, the more I realized that the story was part of a bigger universe. I thought it was a series of books, but when I looked for it on YouTube, I fell into a rabbit hole, where I have been for the last few days. And I love it.

New Evernote Home for mobile. Did I like it? Well, I have some suggestions

Fri, 03 May 2024 01:00:00 +0100

The Evernote mobile apps for Android and iOS have changed a lot over time. But one thing all the versions have in common is the struggle to strike a balance between using the notes we already have and capturing fresh info.

The creation buttons were always there from the very beginning, but eventually, they would be combined with different ways to get to existing notes. Sometimes, they would be more prominent at the bottom or top of the screen, as in the newly released version. Other times, a drop-down or Rolodex-style would take up more screen real estate to make old notes easier to find.

Around version 4 or 5, a star icon was added to the dock for quick access to the Shortcuts, which back then were called Favorites. Variations of the star would exist for numerous subsequent versions, occasionally being eliminated only to be reintroduced. The one I liked the most was a little notch at the bottom of the screen.

With the introduction of Evernote 7 for iOS, something similar to the current widgets was introduced. Users would be able to select which Rolodex-style cards they’d like to be visible, and sure enough, Favorites was one of the options.

Favorites or Shortcuts were the best way to get to specific notes before Evernote Home existed. But now there’s no quick access to either. Both are two taps away from the new Home screen. So, here’s what I’d like to see improved on this new mobile client.

First, I think we can agree that there’s enough room on that screen for a small star. Regardless of where it is put, we need quick access to a selected group of information in the form of notes, notebooks, etc. Also known as Shortcuts.

I know for a fact that many users love the Scratch Pad. One of my clients even uses it as a way to create all his notes. But I believe there are already enough “creation options” (buttons) on that screen to give advanced users a way to replace the Scratch Pad with another widget. In my case, for example, a Filtered Notes or Pinned Note widget would be of much more value.

Finally, the mobile widgets page settings should be completely independent of the desktop and web clients. As shown in the video below, I still see value on the widgets page, and I came up with a workaround to make it more pleasant to use. However, with quick access to Tasks and Calendar on the dock, there’s no need for these widgets on the old Home anymore. The problem is, if they are removed from there, they will also be removed from the desktop and web clients, where I do need them.

Also regarding settings, I am curious as to why the removal of the Scratch Pad widget from the old widgets page will also remove it from the new Home page.

What about you? Did you like the new Home for mobile? I would love to know your thoughts.

source

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I am not sure if people are fully aware of the impact of Flipboard’s initiative to federate its content. The Fediverse was completely unknown to many of these publications. Thanks to Flipboard, we have access to all of them.

Flipboard Federates 11,000 Magazines by 400 Creators and Enthusiasts

Today Flipboard is taking two big steps toward opening its platform to the fediverse, making 400 creators and 11,000 of their curated Magazines visible to people in the fediverse and integrating fediverse notifications into the Flipboard app.

I use Evernote, Obsidian, and others. Why isn't one app good enough?

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Not all applications in my Toolbox are incorporated into my personal workflows.

There are two groups of apps in my Toolbox. First, there are the ones I use in my workflows and to help my clients. The second group consists of apps that I don’t use. They are options for my clients that are regularly selected from the numerous tests and experiments I’m constantly doing. Occasionally, they are also featured on my YouTube channel.

The Mighty Trio

For example, Trello, which I don’t personally use, is one of my preferred options when it comes to helping companies build workflows. My clients usually don’t have much time and don’t want to spend it with settings. They appreciate how simple and intuitive it is to understand and use Trello.

In other words, the team doesn’t waste time during the implementation of the new process or, after that, in production. Furthermore, it typically takes me only five online sessions to assist small business in establishing their workflows, acquiring knowledge of Agile and Kanban principles, and applying them to Trello.

The same is true for Evernote. I am constantly approached by CEOs and managers, who are overwhelmed with the amount of time they are wasting with all the possible configurations apps like Notion offer.

The fundamental components of Evernote, namely notes and notebooks, require minimal effort to understand and use. Then there’s the outstanding search. Give busy people a way to quickly find information, even in a messy environment, and they’ll be forever grateful.

Its simplicity is still unmatched today. That’s why I still use Evernote for many things, especially the ones related to the calendar, even though I’ve been using Obsidian a lot. More on that soon.

Its powerful search is also very much appreciated. For instance, if someone contacts me, and I’m not sure if we’ve met before, I’ll search for their email address on Evernote looking for notes related to past interactions. This is something I frequently do and it’s magical.

More recently, I moved my tasks back to Evernote to try two new features. The full-screen view and tasks on the calendar.

Then there’s Google Workspace, which is equally easy to use and intuitive. But that doesn’t make it less powerful. The real-time collaboration it offers is unparalleled and almost unbreakable. When you add in the fact that documents can be linked to Evernote, Trello, and so many other services, it’s a truly unique product. Sometimes it even works as a bridge between apps.

Many of my clients, from different industries, adopt a variation of a workflow that starts with outlines on an Evernote note and resources clipped into a notebook. When the time comes, a Google Doc is created and linked to that note. These two simple steps ensure that the research material, outline, and draft of the final document are all easily accessible.

Eventually, the document reaches a stage where more team members are required to collaborate on it, and it is now shared on a Trello board. Other times, it is shared on Slack, instead of Trello. And that’s fine because the document is always the same. No matter where it is, everyone will be able to work on it while Google’s real-time editing will be doing its magic.

It’s also a matter of taste. Like many of my clients, I simply cannot stand all the buttons and so many settings on Microsoft products. I’ve been a happy Workspace user since 2015 and have no intention of leaving anytime soon.

These apps are formidable, as they are all intuitive and work seamlessly together. I can’t remember how many companies I helped with this trio.

Obsidian

Some of you may recall the series of videos I made about moving the files I had in Evernote to Google Drive. That idea came from Obsidian, which I started using long before Evernote was acquired by Bending Spoons.

My written content has many media elements. Sometimes it is a thumbnail like the one you see in this article, other times it’s a clip that I plan to use in a future video. Sure, all these files can be added to Evernote, but there’s no easy way to work on them out of the note.

The thumbnail in this article, for instance, was initially created on Pixelmator before being converted to a JPG. And that is an ideal use case for Obsidian, which keeps notes and all files in our computer files system. We can access and use them from Obsidian or from the computer file system. It doesn’t matter. In other words, I can include the thumbnail in a note, like the one I created for this article, and, at the same time, edit it using whatever app I wish.

While we are discussing this topic, I have always had the desire to post directly from Evernote, but I was never able to find the proper solution. That’s not the case anymore. For a while now, all my articles and short posts start their lives as a note on Obsidian, which brings us to another tool I love.

Micro.blog is now my hub from where I manage all my online presence. It’s a great tool and there are many videos about it on my channel.

Another interesting workflow is the draft of my next book, which I can write on Obsidian and synchronize with Scrivener. Again, that’s only possible because of how Obsidian notes and files are stored on our computers.

I believe you got the point. I’m using Obsidian for all file-related workflows.

Workflow as a Concept

Since English is not my primary language, I frequently require assistance from technology. LanguageTool is my grammar and spelling tool of choice, particularly because it’s a European company with a strong privacy policy. Sadly, there is no Android app available, but that’s okay since most of the time I’m writing on a computer. Which brings us to a workflow I established for my writing.

As you can see in this video, LanguageTool saves temporary or permanent texts. When I have an idea, I create a permanent text, work on it for days, weeks, months or for as long as it takes, then I paste it to Obsidian, format it, and publish it on my blog from there. The last step is adjusting the text saving format to temporary, which will automatically delete it from LanguageTool after a few days.

That’s what I call a Workflow as a Concept. You don’t need to use a Kanban board or an app to plan and keep track of all the stages. If the process is clear to you, a simple temporary-permanent text setting will suffice.

Hardware

I recently started using a Supernote, and similar to what I described above, it is now part of a Workflow as a Concept. I don’t know why it happens, but very time I come back from a run, I have this storm of ideas that I have to write down.

Writing all of that on my computer or phone was never a viable option. There’s too much friction. What I do now is grab the Supernote and take notes with tags that will help me filter that information in the future. Sometimes it’s just an outline, other times it’s a sentence or two.

I’m in love with how simple and efficient this is and will soon talk about it on the Supernote series on my YouTube channel.

And talking about running, my watch of choice is a Garmin Instinct 2. I stand for all the reasons I listed in the 2-year-old video below. The only complaint I have is something I found out much latter. Its battery is not replaceable. And although it’s still averaging 20 days in between charges, a sealed device is something that makes no sense in today’s world.

There are, of course, more software like Firefox, Signal, Final Cut, Apple Motion and others, but this article is already too long, and I’d say the above are the ones that really make my workflow flow.

Time to say goodbye to Substack.

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 01:00:00 +0100

The whole point of having a newsletter is to control the distribution of content.

I don’t know when this started, but I’m almost certain it wasn’t possible to just follow people on Substack before. I also don’t know if they are promoting or stimulating the “follow” option, but the number of people following me without subscribing to my newsletter is increasing every day.

Below is the difference, clipped from Substacks Help Center:

Follower: They’ll see your notes and some reading activity such as post likes. When someone follows you, you won’t receive their email, so they won’t get posts in their inbox.

Free subscriber: They’ll subscribe to your Substack and receive free posts via email and/or the Substack app. They’ll automatically follow you and see your notes in their feed.

In other words, if someone is following you, there is no email address, and if you want to switch services, you won’t be able to take the followers with you. That’s not a newsletter. It’s social media.

In a world where more and more services are embracing to the Fediverse, Substack’s move to a closed system is mind-boggling to me. But just leaving the service wasn’t enough. I had to share this information with you. So, if you have a newsletter on Substack, maybe it’s time to start to reevaluate your strategy.

I’m not sure when I’ll be leaving, but it’s likely to happen sooner than later. For now, if you want to make sure to follow me to my next newsletter chapter and keep getting my monthly emails, please don’t follow me. Subscribe.

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 01:00:00 +0100

As an increasing number of businesses and organizations adopt the ActivityPub protocol, it will gain momentum and eventually reach a point where there is no going back. Welcome to the Fediverse, Ghost.

I had to go back to Evernote Tasks

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I was pretty happy with my system running on Google Tasks, but there are so many new things happening to Evernote Tasks that I had to go back.

Not too long ago, I wrote about moving my tasks from app to app and how good it is to rely on a system instead of an app. In other words, it means that I can basically make it work anywhere.

Yesterday I mentioned that Evernote had made the full-page Tasks available to many of us, including me, and that I would use it for a while before expressing my opinion. I also hinted at the possibility of tasks coming to the calendar. Well, as illustrated by the tweet below, that one was quick.

There you have it. I’m back to Evernote Tasks and will be sharing my insights with you along the way.

I have more thoughts on the latest Evernote update

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 01:00:00 +0100

A couple of days ago, I shared my initial thoughts on the new features in version 10.85.4, but there’s more to show you.

Let’s start with the first topic I talked about in video, the calendar. I was so focused on demonstrating the creation of events not connected to Outlook or Google that I missed a subtle new aspect of the Evernote Calendar.

In a recent conversation with Federico Simionato, I told him that I believed everything with dates on Evernote should be in the calendar. Have you watched that video? Do you recall him telling me he was already discussing that with the team? I think the new calendar may be setting the stage for that.

If you go to the Evernote Calendar and take a close look at the My Calendars section, you’ll see that there is a sub-menu under Evernote Calendar (image below). For now, the only item there is Events, but because My Calendars is in the plural, I think we’ll soon see other items there. Maybe Tasks? You never know.

Another addition related to the calendar is the Events item in the three-dots menu next to New Task (image below). It’s great to see that menu getting attention. Let’s hope they keep making it more useful. For example, one other option I would like them to add in the future is the creation of a new note from one of our templates.

Finally, there’s the new full-page Tasks. I haven’t covered this in the video because I’ll be using it for the next few days before sharing my thoughts. But there’s one new detail I’m pleased to see there.

You are already aware of my stance regarding Tasks as an integral part of the fundamental building blocks of Evernote, namely notes and notebooks. So, I believe it is evident that I am delighted to see the addition of the Notebooks filter.

What about you? Anything in particular you liked or that you are still missing? I’d love to hear your thoughts about this update.

How to customize the Tiny Theme Archive page on Micro.blog

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 01:00:00 +0100

In a recent video, I told Manton, the creator of Micro.blog, that I would prefer if the blog categories on the Archive Page were horizontally displayed, instead of the current list. To my surprise, the solution arrived a day after I published the video.

When Otávio finished listening to the episode, he wrote a code (below) to do just the task. Now it’s my turn to give back to the community. The video below shows how you can use Otavio’s code to customize your own Archive page.

Otávio’s code:

{{ define "main" }}
<div class="archive">
	<h2 class="p-name">Archive</h2>
	{{ if templates.Exists "partials/microhook-archive-lead.html" }}
	{{ partial "microhook-archive-lead.html" . }}
	{{ end }}
	{{ $list := ($.Site.GetPage "taxonomyTerm" "categories").Pages }}
	{{ if gt (len $list) 0 }}
	<div class="archive-categories">
		<h3>Categories</h3>
        <span>
	        {{ $sortedList := sort $list "Title" }}
	        {{ $length := len $sortedList }}
    	    {{ range $index, $element := $sortedList }}
        	    <a href="{{ $element.Permalink }}">{{ $element.Title }}</a>{{ if lt $index (sub $length 1) }}, {{ end }}
	        {{ end }}
        </span>
	</div>
	{{ end }}
	<div class="full-archives h-feed">
		<h3>Full Post List</h3>
		{{ $list := (where .Site.Pages "Type" "post") }}
		{{ range $list }}

		<p class="h-entry">
			<a href="{{ .Permalink }}" class="u-url"><span class="dt-published" datetime="{{ .Date.Format "2006-01-02T15:04:05-0700" }}">{{ .Date.Format "Jan 2, 2006" }}</span></a>:
			{{ if .Title }}
			<span class="p-name"><b>{{ .Title }}</b></span>
			{{ end }}
			<span class="p-summary">{{ .Summary | truncate 150 }}</span>
		</p>

		{{ end }}
	</div>

</div>
{{ end }}

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I usually create an email for each service I subscribe to. That’s how I know that the fake McAFee invoices I’ve been getting are from an address I used to create a MyFitnessPal account back in 2015. You are free to use this information however you wish 😉

The first time I used an e-Ink screen device to write an article.

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I’m torn. Part of me wants to make this work because that screen is so good, but at the same time, the writing experience is not as convenient as opening my MacBook Air and starting to type.

My obsession with how simple it is to sit down anywhere, open a lid, and start typing began with an 11-inch MacBook Air back in 2012. I loved that computer. It traveled with me around the globe, allowing me to write books, articles, and blog posts wherever I was. Furthermore, its size was perfect for trains and plane tray tables.

It was eventually replaced by the M1 Air, which is a little bigger, but I still carry it with me to far too many places. Regarding the small screen of both computers, it was never a problem since I always had an external display at my office.

And, yes, I have tried an iPad, but, regardless of what Apple claims, that’s not a computer. Mostly because of iPadOS limitation. Anyway, I quickly stopped using it because, more often than not, I had to also pack my laptop for the non-writing work. So, why bring two devices with me if I can do a much better job with just the MacBook Air.

Enters the Supernote

The Nomad, which is the one I have, is a little bigger than a Kindle, but much smaller and thinner than an iPad. It has an e-Ink screen and the Kindle app. And talking about reading, I love my Kindle and keep it in my bag all the time. Can you see where I’m going with this? But before that, let’s talk about my first attempt to organize my notes in the Supernote (video below).

I’m trying my best to document and share my learning process, but inevitably the videos about the Supernote will always be a few days and many features behind my real-life experience. So, what I showed in the video above has already evolved to a system that I’m thrilled with.

I’m easily capturing and organizing my ideas like never before. There’s almost no friction and, of course, I’ll publish a new video about it in the following days. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that with the above solved, I thought I could probably give the Nomad an extra job.

Yesterday I packed a generic foldable Bluetooth keyboard and a tablet stand and went to a coffee shop. Writers tend to spend far too much time looking at screens, and that combined with the time I spend editing videos has taken a toll on my eyes. So, the first thing I felt when using the Supernote to write was an immense relief. The comfort is almost indescribable. What a gorgeous screen to look at.

However, before that, I had grabbed the Supernote pen, navigated to the article, unfolded a keyboard, unfolded a stand, and only then start typing. Arguably, there are also many steps when using a laptop, but it is a single piece of equipment and there’s no need to lift the hands off the keyboard and trackpad to get to the app and start writing.

Extra gear and fewer features

Using the Kindle app on the iPad was never an option because of the screen, but I can now leave my beloved Kindle behind, and make room for the Supernote.

However, if my goal is to write long texts when away from my home or office, I’ll have to always carry that keyboard and stand with me. I’ll also miss some useful tools, like LanguageTool. Not to mention that I have already expressed my negative thoughts about devices like this.

Fortunately, I’m already old enough to understand that only the fool never changes their minds. Maybe less strain on my eyes and a more mindful writing experience is what I need for a while.

The only way to know it for sure is by trying, and if this extra job I’m giving the Supernote ends up failing, I’ll be fine with it. Like I mentioned above, this lovely device has already become my quick go-to notepad for jotting down and organizing ideas. In other words, it’s already in my everyday bag, coming with me everywhere.

First note on my Supernote.

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 01:00:00 +0100

It doesn’t feel exactly like paper because, well, it’s not paper. But wow, the friction is similar to writing with a harder pencil, and it’s so good.

A Supernote is expected to arrive at my office on Monday.

Sat, 30 Mar 2024 02:00:00 +0100

Some people keep journals, I jot notes down multiple times a day. Together, they form a digital timeline I’ve been crafting since 1999, when I picked up a Palm IIIx. Now, a Supernote is being added to my note-taking workflow.

I first learned about it on cam shand’s YouTube channel, and immediately noticed it checks so many boxes on what I had in mind for a device like this.

Firstly, it is user-serviceable, and as you already know, I like to make, adapt, and fix things myself. Then, there’s the e-Ink screen, the type I prefer on my devices. They not only make reading comfortable, they check another box on my list: battery life. Like my watch and Kindle, I’m expecting the Supernote’s battery to last for a long time between charges.

Have I told you there’s no need to charge the stylus?

I have many ideas I would like to explore and numerous experimental projects I plan to do, such as connecting it to Obsidian. I’m not sure how many of them I will be able to accomplish, but you are joining me on this journey. We’re going to learn how to use it as we creatively push it to its limits.

If this is a topic you are interested in, please subscribe to my YouTube channel and stay tuned. The first video about the Supernote will be released next week.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Two Web Clipper solutions I use to send information to Obsidian.

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Collecting information is an important part of my learning process, but Obsidian doesn’t have something as powerful as the Evernote Web Clipper.

To find a solution, I tried different ideas until I came up with one that works well for me. I use two different tools, and I hope that they will inspire you to create your own system.

There are two types of clippings I do.

Sometimes, I need to preserve the page format, and even Evernote’s Web Clipper is not always good at that. This is the reason why I began using the print to PDF function and then dragging the PDF into a note in Evernote. You can see how I do it by watching the video below.

For this specific type of clipping, I am doing the same on Obsidian. But, since there’s nothing there similar to the ‘forward email to Evernote’ feature, I’m also ‘printing to PDF’ the emails I what to keep. However, like I explained in a recent video, I’m not creating notes for PDFs anymore. I’m simply saving them as files in the related folders.

The other type of clipping I do is text. Most of the time, all I need is the information, the text, and Evernote’s Web Clipper was always excellent at that. As for Obsidian, here’s where Steph Ango amazing solution was super helpful.

Like other Obsidian features and plugins, there are many options and a different one may be more suitable for your needs. In my case, I am enjoying the Web Clipper created by the CEO. A post on his blog even provides instructions for customizing it, which I did. How cool is that?

His post has everything you need to understand how to install, use and customize the Web Clipper. And in my video below, I share my reasoning for doing what I do and how I customized his solution to better work with the Proprieties I use in my Obsidian notes.

Focusing on content creation.

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 01:00:00 +0100

As you may already be aware, I am passionate about learning and sharing what I have learned. What you may not know is how much work that is. It takes me a lot of time to learn new things, try things out, and produce a video or article to help you.

Many of you are supporting all this work through Patreon, By Me a Coffee, and YouTube memberships, and I cannot thank you enough for that. However, because of the benefits I added to some of these platforms, they ended up creating an uncomfortable situation.

I’m a one-man show creator, and working on the perks, diverts my attention from content creation. However, when I don’t do that, I feel bad. Not to mention that keeping you as a supporter and bringing new backers is essential.

After much consideration, I decided to ditch all the perks and focus on creating free content. I will not produce exclusive videos anymore, and the Medium members articles are also open on my blog. Your help is as important as it has always been, but I will fully understand if this new arrangement does not work for you.

Among the three platforms mentioned above, you’ll find options that start from buying me a single €5 coffee or supporting me monthly from as low as €2.

It was not an easy decision, but I have to stand up for what I believe in, and at the end of the day, it’s all about sharing and building a community.

Thank you, Vlad.

The new Obsidian Canvas is another step in the right direction.

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 01:00:00 +0100

A couple of years ago, I tried Obsidian Canvas and was drawn to its simplicity and potential. Nonetheless, it had never been incorporated into my workflows. Until now.

Obsidian is not for everyone, but if you prefer to write as close to simple text as possible and to keep your notes in an open format on your computer, you may fall in love with it.

It was designed to give users control over their files, but that almost changed with the introduction of Canvas in December 2022. At least, that was my sentiment at that time.

Obsidian notes are formatted in Markdown, meaning that I can open them anywhere, even if the app ceases to exist tomorrow. Unfortunately, the same was not true for the Canvas feature. It had its own format, which is why I was always reluctant to use it to create content. If you don’t know what Canvas is or how to use it, you can learn all about it in the first part of the video below.

Fortunately, that recently changed with the announcement that the Canvas file format is now called JSON Canvas, which, in turn, became an open file format. That’s a huge step in the right direction. It means that other people and companies can create compatible apps. And as you can see in the second half of the video below, there are already some compatible apps available.

In other words, we no longer have to worry about our Canvas files becoming locked inside an app. Thank you, Obsidian!

The best productivity and organization books in my library (not what you think)

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 01:00:00 +0100

People often ask me for book recommendations on topics such as productivity and organization, but I can never think of anything to suggest. Instead, I tell them that the books that help me are usually not the traditional ones explaining methods or techniques.

We are all unique and have different needs. Furthermore, we are exposed to such diverse environments. How is it possible that a single method will be effective for everyone? Some authors even claim that, although their method is excellent if fully implemented, you are free to use the parts and processes that best fit you. How convenient is that?

Containers

The way I organize my information is through what I call containers. I have notebooks in Evernote or folders in Obsidian that let me quickly switch from one project or reference material to another whenever I need to or want to do so. And by the way, there’s no archive in my system. Everything is always exposed because that’s where creativity feeds from.

For example, if I’m working on something and have an insight for another project, all I have to do is open the other notebook or folder, take some notes, and then go back to what I was doing before. The cmd + j (Mac) or Ctrl + q (Win) commands on Evernote make it a breeze. Unfortunately, I am still looking for something as efficient on Obsidian.

But if what comes to my mind is entirely new, I will create a new container and decide what to do with it in the future.

I have a video on my organization system coming soon. For now, I suggest you watch the one below to give you an idea of when a new container is created and how it evolves.

When I have reached my limits working on a topic and need a moment or two to relax, switching to another personal or work-related project is what helps me.

I can leave and work on another container because I have all the information and progress in each one. So, when I arrive at the subsequent container or revisit a previous one in the future, everything will be there exactly as I left it.

The Best Books

Let’s get back to the books. The best ones usually have nothing to do with productivity or organization. The more I read about different topics, the more it seems like every book has something that can help me become more efficient. Every so often, it’s a single sentence; other times, a paragraph or two from a 600-page book.

I’m currently reading the biography of Louis Mountbatten, and I came across two strategies that I’ve been using for a while and that I’ve seen mentioned repeatedly in the oddest books and articles.

My System

I learned very early on that I had to take notes to make sure I didn’t forget something. It took me a long time to figure out a system, but when I stopped looking for external solutions and focused on my needs, it all came together.

Creating my own version of a basic CRM with notes about everyone I met was the first thing I did. This happened before Evernote, so I used the description section of each contact on my Palm Pilot to take my notes about the person and each meeting. It was both simple and extremely helpful. People were always amazed at my memory. And every time I told them about my secret, they were even more impressed.

I have never stopped doing it, and the system evolved when I moved to Evernote and then to Obsidian. But what if I told you this idea is as old as time? Take a look at the passage below. Mountbatten was doing the exact same thing in the 1930s.

Do you remember my containers with information? Those were also born on my Palm Pilot, but they were in the Memo Pad app. The topics were organized so that I could easily add or find information.

However, it was only when I started using Evernote that I was able to create containers that would allow me to switch from one project or topic to another when I needed to escape exhaustion. Once again, I will soon release a video detailing my approach to managing all the information I keep in these containers. For now, let’s take a look at the other strategy used by Mountbatten.

When he needed to relax, he would turn his attention to another project. Isn’t that cool?

Now, who is Mountbatten, you ask? A last-century specialist in organization and productivity? Far from it, but I’ll let you do your investigation on that.

Is Evernote becoming an everything app?

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 01:00:00 +0100

There are many changes coming to Evernote. I don’t see any problem with the app becoming more feature-rich, but I do have concerns about how it is done.

Two recent tweets from Federico Simionato, the product lead at Evernote, have led me to believe that the app is on track to become something different. There is currently a space for files being built, and many new features for Tasks are being discussed. Additionally, he told me in a recent conversation that he sees potential for Evernote to become a personal hub.

I don’t see any problem with the app becoming more feature-rich, but I do have concerns about how it is done. Evernote has a very intuitive structure. Notes, inside notebooks and tags to filter notes in a notebook or across many notebooks. That’s how simple it is to understand and use.

Thus far, each new feature that has been incorporated is layered upon this framework. Here’s an example: tasks and calendar entries are always connected to notes. And thankfully, it doesn’t look like the proposed Files feature is trying to compete with Dropbox, Google Drive, etc. It seems to be just another way to interact with the files we already have in our notes.

Out of Place

But based on the recent image shared on Twitter, it seems like the ‘new Tasks’ will not be aligned with Evernote’s framework anymore. It feels to me that it doesn’t belong there, as if an existing task management app has been implanted in Evernote. If this is the case, it may create some problems.

Some of the new ideas, such as ‘Projects,’ may introduce a new layer of classification and categorization of information, which may break the simple structure that makes the app so intuitive.

The Spaces feature on Evernote Teams is a great example of what I’m trying to convey. Just like a Stack, a Space is a group of notebooks. So when should one use one or another? To further complicate the understanding of how things work there, a note can be created outside a notebook in Evernote Teams. If you are an Evernote user, please tell me if this doesn’t feel like a crime.

To be honest, Stacks and Spaces exist for different purposes and are intended for different uses. But they look the same. So much so that it takes me some time to help my clients understand and assimilate the differences between a Stack and a Space.

There’s no other way to say it: Evernote Teams is not intuitive at all. If you have never used it, I suggest you watch the video below to see how confusing things can get.

Another Tasks App

Evernote was never a task management app. Tasks were elegantly incorporated, respecting the note-notebook system, and that’s what makes Evernote Tasks unique.

To be clear, I’m not questioning the need for or use of “Projects” or any other possible new feature like “Priority”. However, adding them has the potential to create distraction, since Evernote will have to compete with well-established task apps. Think about it: how many new features or variations of a feature are enough? How many colors of Flags do you need? How many types of Priorities? What about “Subprojects” or other ideas people have in the future?

Users will never be fully satisfied because there are too many ways to do things. They’ll start to compare Evernote Tasks to dedicated apps like Things, Todoist, etc. In other words, this will constantly create pressure on the development team to catch up.

Evernote is already lacking basic options and settings for features like Templates, Calendar, and even the editor. The situation is the same when we look at other apps that try to do everything. It’s like the old saying: try to do everything, and you won’t be good at anything.

I believe that using the simple, yet powerful framework of the app would allow people to create whatever innovative tasks system they come up with without having to wait for Bending Spoons to release the desired features.

Notebooks names could be used as a filter for grouping tasks inside a notebook, instead of introducing the new “Projects” layer. And if tags could be added to tasks, it would mean another filter option allowing each person to create their own priorities, flags, and anything else they want. This would make Evernote Tasks a space for users to create their own systems instead of complaining about Bending Spoons not working on new features.

Unfortunately, I believe the short-term easy option will prevail. They’ll just give the users another Tasks app like so many out there and hope for the best. Which seems to me like opening a can of worms. I can even imagine it leading to a dedicated task app. After all, there’s no way to compete on equal terms if your tasks are inside a notes app. It takes far too many steps to create a task.

Can you see how this can lead to an uncontrollable situation?

Loosing Focus

The current simplicity of Evernote results in limitations that serve as boundaries, and as a result, numerous non-tech-savvy individuals can efficiently organize their lives. People frequently tell me Evernote’s simple framework helps them with focus. This is not a small group of people, but they are silent on social media. So, I am trying to be as loud as possible for them.

However, I’m just one voice, and we may be already witnessing the birth of an entirely new experience with many new features and layers upon layers of configurations and categorizations. An Evernote that unfortunately has the potential to make many people’s lives much harder.

677 pages to go...

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 01:00:00 +0100

677 pages to go… Every journey starts with the first step, right? Are you looking for inspiration for your next literary adventure? Check my library to see what I am currently reading and some of the books I have read.

Coincidentally, or should I say incidentally 🤔, a few days ago I started writing my next book.

What was the Local Notes feature on Evernote?

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Before the release of Evernote 10, it was possible to set a group of notes to remain unsynchronized with the Evernote servers. The Local Notes as they were known, were kept and could only be accessed on the computer where they were created.

At minute 11 of the video below, Federico mentions that Evernote will not bring back the Local Notes feature. I had to explain this because I have a sense that people may think he’s talking about offline notes.

As for offline notes, as long as you have the Evernote app installed on your computer, all of your notes are accessible, even if you do not have Internet access.

I knew this day was coming.

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 01:00:00 +0100

My studio is between two other offices that were the only ones empty on my floor. They’ve been vacant for the last 3 years, so it was only a matter of time before people started moving in.

In December of last year, a renovation was started on one of them. As far as I can tell, whatever they were up to is over. However, there are now loud noises coming from the other side.

It is not an option to stop producing my videos, so expect some strange noises here and there, as well as some home-office recordings.

Google Tasks is just too convenient not to use

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 02:00:00 +0100

I had already moved my Evernote tasks to Obsidian with the help of the Tasks plugin, but I found out that Google Tasks was a better fit for my needs.

Even though I don’t like tasks, if you check out my videos about Evernote Tasks, you’ll see that I had a system in place for birthdays, bills, and other paperwork for my company. For everything else, I always use Kanban boards.

Similar to many other journeys I shared with you in the past, this one is also about experimenting and finding the best option for my specific needs. As I always say, it’s more important to create a good system that works for you than to try to find a magical app.

Did you know?

Although the Android and iOS apps were available from the very beginning, it used to be that the task drawer (1) was the only way to interact with your to-dos in a browser. That changed a while ago. You can also use Tasks as standalone application by clicking the icon at the top of the screen (2) or visiting tasks.google.com.

All the features are identical, but the dedicated page is more visual. You can reorder lists or move tasks to different positions in a list or to different lists. It behaves more like a Kanban board, but that’s not the reason I switched to Google Tasks.

Another important piece of information to keep in mind is that it doesn’t matter how many lists you create or delete; the first one provided by Google will always be the default list. You can rename or reorder it, but there’s no way to delete the default list. More on that later.

Why have I switched?

There are many reasons. Let’s start with the fact that I have Google Assistant devices all over my home and office, and that makes it super easy for me to create tasks hands-free. There is a caveat, though. All tasks created this way will be saved in the default list. And because of this detail, I had to make a small modification to my system. We’ll get there.

Another convenient feature is seeing my tasks on the Hub Max. It recognizes my face when I look at it and shows my upcoming calendar entries and tasks. And that’s not all. I can even use the touchscreen to see more tasks and mark them as completed.

Then there is my Android phone, where I can also interact with the assistant using voice commands, even when I’m jogging. And, of course, I can use the widget to see what tasks are coming up.

These features are too convenient to ignore.

My system

I only have two lists. The first one is called Activities and it’s all about recurring dates. To understand it, I invite you to watch the video below, even if you are not an Evernote user. That’s the exact system that I have transferred to Obsidian and am currently using on Google Tasks. Including the emojis 😉.

Regarding the other list, it is the default list, even though it is ordered as the second one in my system. Everything I need to buy, from groceries to items for woodworking and other similar projects, goes on that list. It must be the default list because, more often than not, I ask Google Assistant to add items there.

I don’t know why, but at the time of writing this article, there’s no way to make another list the default one. I have learned this the hard way, but you don’t need to. Plan ahead and figure out what kind of tasks you’ll be asking the Assistant to add more often. That should help you with your default list.

Activities is the list I want to always keep an eye on, and that’s why it’s the first one. Every time I open the calendar, I see it. As for the other one, I only need it when I’m shopping and can easily open Google Tasks on my phone to check the items.

But what if I told you that I never open the Tasks app on my phone? Each list has its own widget, which allows me to view the tasks, mark them as completed, and even create new ones. Again, Google Tasks is too convenient to ignore.

One thing I’m always trying to do is remove potential complications from my systems. In the past, I tried splitting shopping items into a grocery list and a projects list, but that only added more friction to the system, as I had a third list to deal with. Since I rarely have a lot of items to buy, my human brain is capable enough to easily tell what is what on the Shopping list.

Naturally, the number of items that have been completed on this that will increase exponentially, but that’s okay because they go to a collapsed space when marked as completed. However, if you really want a spotless list, the ‘Delete all completed tasks’ option will delete only the completed items on that list. So I can easily clean up my Shopping list without messing with my Activities list.

That’s it. As I said before, I manage everything else using Kanban boards because they give me a much better view of the status of each project. But that’s a story for another day.

Thank you to all 5K of you! 🎉

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 01:00:00 +0100

A few days ago, my YouTube channel reached a milestone of 5K subscribers. That would never be possible without you. Thank you so much!

My first channel, in Portuguese, has already crossed 100K subscribers a good while ago, but what keeps me going on both channels is always the community.

You are absolutely amazing and I hope you’re still here at 10K.

Heads up! Evernote Legacy is no more.

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Are you still using Evernote legacy? I suggest you read this post on Evernote’s blog because all versions before 10 on macOS, Windows, and Android will stop working on March 23, 2024. The iOS version has already been decommissioned. Jon Tromans also wrote a great article about it.

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 01:00:00 +0100

The other day, the YouTube algorithm led me into a rabbit hole about devices where we can only do one thing: type. Most of them have a small screen and a keyboard. That’s it. After watching more videos about this topic than I should have, I couldn’t stop thinking about how different people are.

That would never work for me. I frequently [[vladcampos.com/Timeline/Blog/2020s/2022/2022-05-02 Getting away from the problem for a while often leads to new insights|need to escape from my writing when I’m stuck]]. And if I’m being honest, I’m always escaping, regardless of what I’m doing. Distractions are an integral part of my creative process. I need them!

Okay, time to get back to the article I was working on 🫣

Digital archeology.

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 02:00:00 +0100

After a lot of digital archeology using the Way Back Machine, I found the first episode of my first podcast, published on May 10, 2005 😮. It was my first episode ever, so it’s obviously not good at all. But, honestly, it is not as terrible as I expected 😊.

How the Vision Pro caught my attention despite my skepticism

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 01:00:00 +0100

It looks like Apple did it again!

No, I haven’t purchased one and do not intend to do so anytime soon, but this is the first device of this type I would ever buy. Confused? Go with me for a moment. It will make sense, I promise.

Even though the Vision Pro isn’t the only Augmented Reality device out there, I always felt like all the others were made for gamers. It might be because of how they are promoted. I don’t know. But since I’m not a gamer, buying a virtual or augmented reality headset simply never crossed my mind.

It’s a computer

From the very beginning, Apple was clearly positioning the Vision Pro as a consumer device, but because of my gaming perspective and the price tag, it was never an item on my radar. Then I watched Casey’s video about it, and something clicked for me. This is definitely not for gamers. It’s not a gimmick for geeks, either. It’s for everyday people who prefer or have to use computers to do their work.

I’m still putting off buying a US$4,000 (after taxes and some accessories) first-gen gadget, but that video sent me on an endless journey on YouTube. Many people are showing it being used as a computer with several giant screens. In other words, one can use it to “work on a computer” with practically no desk space. All that real-world usage really spoke to me. Well, “real-world” might not be the best choice to describe it, but I think you got it.

I could never use the iPad as a Mac replacement. Despite Apple spending a fortune trying to promote it as a computer, it is not a computer. The restrictions imposed by iPadOS make my work much more challenging. The Vision Pro, on the other hand, can be connected to a real computer, and that makes all the difference.

So many Apps

However, a computer is only as good as the software library available for it. And as far as I could understand, everything that works on macOS will work when a Mac is connected. Which kind of brings us back to the old debate about touchscreen Macs, but I digress.

Then there’s visionOS, which has the potential to unleash a wave of new ideas, much like iOS did a long time ago.

And, of course, the younger generation that prefers mobile devices was not left out. Thanks to Scott Forstall’s advocating for the App Store on the iPhone, there’s now an abundance of Apps already available for Vision Pro.

Why not buy it?

Well, first there’s that price tag. Then there is the fact that it is a first-generation device. I waited until the 3GS to buy my first iPhone, and in hindsight, I should probably have waited until the 4S.

There is one thing for sure: Apple won again. I can clearly see myself purchasing a smaller, lighter, and much, much cheaper version of the Vision Pro in the future. And if it makes the Apple stock go up enough, I might be able to score one for free by selling some of what I own to buy its “4S” generation.

He was very close to locking himself out of Evernote

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 01:00:00 +0100

This is the story of how I helped him save his notes

Evernote, like many other companies, lets us use two-factor authentication. This means that, once you enable this function, you’ll always need to use a randomly generated code in addition to your password to gain access to your account. I see it as a good security feature that we all should turn on in every App where it’s available.

It’s usually activated by scanning a QR code with a so-called Authenticator App, which then starts generating random numbers. But here’s the catch: if you lose access to that App, you are in trouble because no one else has those codes.

As a last resort, there is always a list of one-time-use numbers that can unlock the account in case of an emergency. But not everyone saves that list, despite being instructed to do it every time we turn on two-factor authentication in an App.

The Problem

This unique combination of problems is beyond my comprehension, but criticizing him for not having the printed list of codes would not help. The facts are that this person only had Evernote logged in on his iPad, and he lost access to the Authenticator App.

I don’t believe the support team at Evernote or any other company would be able to help someone in this situation. After all, the codes are generated on the person’s device.

The suggestion

Before anything else, I asked him to try something that would probably not work on the iPad, but who knows? I’ve heard that some people have disabled the authentication layer by accessing the Evernote settings on the computer App. Unfortunately, as expected, it didn’t work on his iPad.

Time for a more drastic approach.

The plan was to move all his notes to a new account. On the iPad, he would have to go to each notebook and share it with the new account. On the new account, he would then create a local notebook and move the shared notes to it.

An important detail to remember is that one can only move 100 notes at a time, and there’s no way to select multiple notes on mobile clients. So, the easiest way to do everything on his new account is on a computer with Evernote’s App installed.

How can you prevent this from happening?

First, you should remember to take care of the Authenticator App you are using and to print the one-time-use numbers list. By the way, a good place to put this list is wherever you keep all your personal documents.

A password management App is another option. Many of them can read the original QR code and generate the authentication codes. As they are synchronized with the cloud, you will still have access to the information, even in the event of losing or permanently damaging your phone.

However, if you don’t like this type of Apps, you may want to also print the first QR code you have to scan when you create the code generator for that account. That QR code can be used to recreate the code generator on a different Authenticator App. Just be extra careful with where you keep it because anyone with that QR code can recreate the code generator.

Will I be able to automatically save my Android photos to Apple Photos?

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Even though I adore Google Photos and the endless slideshows on the Google displays I have at home and work, I wouldn’t entrust my memories to any one company. That’s why, for a long time, I’ve been using Google Takeout to download a copy of the photos from the previous year to add them to Apple Photos as a backup. The system works, but it’s too manual and prone to mistakes.

Maybe you don’t know this, but even when you use Google Photos to manage the pictures you take, Android will keep a copy of them in the DCIM folder on your phone. And as far as I know, they will not be automatically deleted. To free up space, you must use the cleanup option or manually delete them. But what if I told you that this inconvenience could work in your favor?

The other day, I had one of those click moments that helped me see this issue as a blessing in disguise. Here’s what I’m currently trying to do as I write this post.

Remember Syncthing? I set it up to synchronize the DCIM folder on the Pixel with a folder I created on my Mac. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please watch the video below explaining how to do it. On it I’m demonstrating how to sync Obsidian, but don’t worry about that. The steps are the same for the DCIM folder.

I am optimistic that this plan will address two issues. The first one is having an easier way to back up my photos, but it will also help me with cleaning up the images that are constantly piling up on my phone. To give you an example, early today, when setting the system up, I discovered 23 GB of old photos and short clips stored on my Android.

It will take a while for all that to be copied to the computer, but the beauty is that Syncthing works both ways. Once the files that have been synchronized with my computer are transferred to Apple Photos and deleted from the folder, they will be automatically deleted on the phone.

This is the very first test I’m doing to make sure Syncthing is correctly transferring everything to the Mac and then deleting the files on the phone when I delete them on the computer. If everything goes well, the next step will be to create an automation to replace the manual process on the Mac side.

This is all for now. When I have further updates about this idea, I’ll publish part two of this article.

Have I landed on a highway?

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Yesterday’s landing, deboarding, and departure from the Madeira airport were all pretty much the same as the many other airports I’ve been to in my life. But things were about to change in a surprising way.

Today, while driving a rental car, the expressway I was on went below what at first seemed to be a huge highway, supported by an uncountable number of columns. The sight was already impressive, but when I reached the other side and looked in the rearview mirror, I was astonished by what I had just noticed. I had driven below the airport runway.

But that’s not all.

The underpass had many public spaces, such as sports courts, a skate park, a spacious parking lot, restaurants and even a boatyard. Yes, boatyard. Of course, I had to come back at the end of the day to check it all out.

My photos are incapable of accurately depicting the size of the space. It is impressive. According to Wikipedia, there are 180 columns. And in one of Tom Scott’s videos, I learned that they are 50 meters tall, which is another crazy number when we remember that planes are landing and departing from the “roof” above.

His video also explains the reason for the airport’s location. In his words, Madeira is one huge mountain just sticking out of the Atlantic Ocean. And I can confirm that after spending the day going through dozens of the over 150 tunes on the island. It’s hard to imagine something like this, but you can’t drive for more than a few minutes before you come across a new tunnel.

In other words, this was the only place flat enough to build the first runway, which, by the way, was shorter. When the island began to attract more tourists and the planes became larger, it was extended with a platform over the columns, since a landfill was not feasible.

I had a lot of fun geeking out below the airport, and thinking about humankind’s ingenuity, which never fails to impress me. However, this is an amazing island with remarkable sights that humans will never be able to build. Some of them have already blown me away, but there’s still so much to discover.

Have a lovely week, Vlad.

Choose Evernote instead

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Being good at something doesn’t mean it’s easy or that everyone will be able to do it. After helping clients for more than a decade, I can confidently say that the number of people who are not good with technology is much larger than we think.

Today, I started helping a new client who had already told me about his lack of proficiency in technology. In situations like this, Evernote is always my top choice because it’s easy to understand and use.

In about 20 minutes, my client was comfortable with the user interface and the simple structure of notes and notebooks. Tags and tasks were also part of the explanation, but I told him to ignore them for now. Even in such a short time, I was able to show him all the basics and how Evernote Home can be used as a summary of all the information he has in the app.

Next, I helped him strategically think about and create some notebooks that he’ll be using to add content for the next few days.

In half an hour, a person who is very uncomfortable with technology was already creating notebooks, adding information, and moving notes to organize things on his own. That’s how intuitive Evernote is.

If everything goes as planned, he will arrive at the next session with many more notes and some discomfort with organizing and finding information. Yes, you read that right. It is intuitive, but it can’t do miracles.

This is when we’ll start creating his mindful workflow. I’ll be helping him make sense of all his content while introducing strategies using tags, widgets, or whatever else. It will all depend on how he describes what he is having a hard time finding or doing.

Baby Steps

Not only is he uneasy with technology, he also has his business and personal life activities to take care of. Like several others in his position, he cannot afford the time it takes to learn the fancy apps and methodologies productivity gurus love to sell as magical solutions.

That’s why I try to constantly remind myself that many people can only improve their lives with technologies and workflows that are straightforward to understand and use.

That’s it for today. I hope you have a great week.

Social media is destroying our personal history

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 01:00:00 +0100

I often talk about how starting a YouTube channel meant the end of my podcast, but yesterday, while jogging, I realized that something similar had already happened to me. When I started my podcast, I gradually stopped blogging.

The Way Back Machine has been my go-to website lately as I’m trying to figure out what happened to my online presence. It’s a challenge because I used different URLs throughout the years and was never that popular online. This means that there are many gaps in the Internet Archive. However, the transition from only blog posts to podcast episodes mixed with blog posts to finally only podcast episodes is evident.

It seems like the podcast was taking up more and more of my time, which in turn meant the end of blogging. Then, when I moved to YouTube, keeping a blog section on my site no longer made sense, and I moved to a more institutional website format. At the same time, social media was becoming more popular, and I probably started using only it to share content.

The problem is that most of that online past has been erased forever. Some of the services simply disappeared, and other times I closed my accounts. Fortunately, starting in 2008, I’ve been using Evernote to back up some of the content I was publishing. It’s not everything, but it’s enough to slowly re-create a portion of my online past on my own site.

What’s interesting is that the process of recreating my past is awakening my old passion for blogging. You are not seeing many recent publications here because I am spending most of the time filling in the gaps in the timeline by reformatting and republishing the old content I have in Evernote.

It seems like this is going to last forever, but I’m committed to taking it one step at a time. However, I’m not taking any chances this time. All my old content is being moved to Obsidian first, and then I upload it to Micro.blog using the Micro.publish plugin. This means that I have a local copy in an open format and an online version that I can also export if needed. And after a while, I came up with a workflow that I’m happy with and will soon share with you in a video.

You might be wondering why I’m wasting time on this. Actually, I have already asked myself that question, and I was unable to come up with any rational answer. But it feels good to have my past published in a space that I own and control. My domain and my website.

Anyway, if you also find that comforting, you might want to learn more about IndieWeb.

Goodbye, Maccast

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 02:00:00 +0100

The news is from December 2023, but I’m still processing it. It is, honestly, more likely that I am in denial.

The Maccast was the very first podcast I discovered when I started listening to them in 2005, and it was the only one I never unsubscribed from. But the streak of 18 years has ended.

Even though I’m still a subscriber, Adam told us that the December show marked the end of the Maccast.

Community

The Maccast was more than a mere podcast; it was a genuine community. Adam’s expertise, knowledge, and unwavering dedication to research and learning were evident throughout every episode. But if he didn’t know how to do something or answer a listener’s question, he would ask the community for help to share the feedback on the next show.

For example, [[vladcampos.com/Timeline/Blog/2000s/2007/2007-03-18 The intricate task of replacing the iBook G4 hard disk|after replacing my iBook G4 hard drive in 2007]], I emailed him about a mistake I made. As usual, he shared it with the community in one of the subsequent episodes. I was in the middle of a run listening to the show, and suddenly, there he was talking about my email. I’m pretty sure the information helped someone out there.

The feedback loop made us feel like we were all part of a group of people who were constantly helping each other. It was as if we met on a weekly basis by listening to Adam, the conductor of the orchestra. It was amazing how passionate he was about the community.

Inspiration

It’s 2005, and I’m halfway into a big change in my life. If you read my recent article, this was when I was working for the ‘booming telecommunications industry’ after my failure as an entrepreneur.

The iPod Shuffle was released in the same year, and I decided to finally try Apple’s new gadget. Because of this, I had to use iTunes all the time and found the Maccast, a podcast produced by Adam Christianson.

I was so blown away by what he was doing that I picked up a cheap microphone, learned how to edit audio, and how to write the RSS feed to get the podcast on iTunes. If I am not mistaken, it was hosted in an evolution of GeoCities, which was at that time owned by Yahoo.

Back then I was unhappy with my day job, and producing my podcast brought me a lot of joy. All my research would happen during the week, sometimes during lunch, and I’d record and edit the podcast on the weekends.

At that moment, I was already a blogger, but my podcast, inspired by Adam, marked a significant shift in the medium I began using to share content. It led to the creation of my first YouTube channel in Portuguese in 2016 and, more recently, the one in English. In hindsight, it is possible that the sharing and teaching format of the Maccast may have influenced the tutorial format of my podcast and YouTube channels.

Companion

At the same time I discovered the Maccast, I developed the habit of running. The Maccast then kept me going as I ran my first 15K. I took the Maccast with me on numerous flights to remarkable destinations across the globe. It was also a companion in less interesting places, such as traffic jams. But that’s what friendship is supposed to be like, right?

My friend traveled with me on trains and boats. Subways. Buses. We took the Caltrain together to visit 1 Infinite Loop, Evernote, and Flipboard. It followed me when I moved from Brazil to the USA, then Chile, and finally Portugal.

For the past 18 years, it has been a significant presence, and it has had a profoundly positive impact on my life. I’ll eventually come to terms with the fact that my buddy is no longer with me, but I can’t unsubscribe from the Maccast just yet. It’s so hard to let it go.

But I’m also happy for Adam. He’s starting a new chapter in his life, and I wish him all the best!

Thank you, Adam!

Rabbit OS

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 01:00:00 +0100

The Large Action Model (LAM) running on Rabbit OS is a fascinating use of AI. But, if I’m being honest, I was really attracted by the retro vibe of the Rabbit R1 device itself. It’s so cool.

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Heads up! Starting with this post, I’m going to add a little mess to my online presence for a while. I’m trying out Microblog’s cross-posting feature to see if it works for me. The original posts added to vladcampos.com will be automatically shared on Bluesky, LinkedIn, and Mastodon.

There’s no such thing as the perfect App or a magical template

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 01:00:00 +0100

Don’t get sucked into the online drama about productivity. Unfortunately, it’s not an App or other people’s methodology that will help you.

This is the story about how many years ago I was hypnotized by magical solutions that never worked, and how my journey made me realize that everyone can find the perfect system. Yes, you can do it too. It will require more work and take longer, but it’s worth it.

Different, different, and different

Do you remember my article about letting things get messy for a while? This is precisely what I did when I started moving my notes from Evernote to Obsidian. Although both Apps share many similarities, there are still plenty of differences that make it impossible to just use my Evernote system on Obsidian.

If you have already struggled to organize or be more efficient, you may know that it is equally inefficient to use someone else’s workflow to solve your problems. We are all different people going through different moments in life and exposed to entirely different circumstances. I hope I said ‘different’ enough times because it is the most important word in this article. You must realize that your needs are unique.

The early stages of my journey

Years (decades 😮) ago, when I started looking for a solution to my workflow problem, I did what I see many people doing today. I tried to use someone else’s methodology. When that failed, my initial thought was that I was the issue.

Maybe you have been through this too. This is precisely that moment when the evangelists usually show up and tell you that you don’t need to use it the way the ‘guru’ created it.

—You can simply adapt it to your needs.

Hmm. That’s quite convenient, isn’t it?

Well, if I’m adapting something, I better create it myself. And this is when I began experiencing, let’s call it, ‘dishonest thoughts’. If I were to develop my own methodology, I could potentially commercialize it and generate some revenue.

That idea stuck with me for a while, but several books later, I came to the conclusion that all of these so-called incredible methodologies are, in reality, variations of something that came before. Why would I want to add another layer to the onion?

At this point in my career, around the turn of the millennium, my inexperience was evident. Although I gained a lot of knowledge from my degree as an economist and all the books I read about project management, my first company was a disaster. However, it was not all in vain.

That unique combination of failure and acquired knowledge helped me start a career as a project manager in the booming mobile telecommunications industry. But what if I told you that the companies I worked for were also having trouble creating and managing effective processes? Wow, what a relief. It wasn’t me; the problem was significantly more extensive than I initially anticipated.

Figuring things out together

Twelve years later, in 2012, I realized I had enough experience to start another company. But this time, I would do it alone as a consultant. I used social media to spread the word, but I never talked about solving difficulties with this or that particular technique. It was all about collaborating and figuring things out together like I learned to do during my telecommunications career.

Guess what the people I attracted were telling me when they arrived at the discovery meeting?

—I’ve tried countless different methodologies and Apps, but nothing worked. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.

You know what? I still hear this from almost all my clients nowadays.

The first thing I ask all new customers is how they do their job. I don’t even use the word workflow. What I say is, ‘Pretend I’m going to start working for you today. Explain to me the work you do.’

That’s harder than you think and people tend to drift the conversation towards the Apps they use. This is when I reply, ‘Forget the Apps. Pretend they don’t exist and tell me how you do your work. I want to understand the process, the stages, the problems, etc.’

People are so obsessed with the idea that something else is doing the work that I always face several moments of silence after that simple question. It’s really fascinating how it proves my point. People think that something outside is the solution, but they already have the answer with them all the time. I’m merely a facilitator. I provide guidance, and they find the answers by themselves.

Anyway, back to the client. After taking a deep breath and receiving some direction from my side, the explanation begins. This is usually when I see the relief on their faces. It’s as if they broke free.

Long story short, it’s only after I understand the workflow that I start helping them build a system. To make the system more efficient, we’ll certainly use some Apps, but only as tools. Always remember, Apps are not solutions; they are merely tools. And it’s all done together because this is not a magical solution. My main goal is to help the client build its own system.

The good news is that you can solve this by yourself too. It takes more time, but eventually, you’ll have the perfect system for yourself. Start by mapping your work and needs. Ignore the Apps and methodologies. Think of your work as a workflow. One step after the other. Once you grasp that, allow yourself to feel a bit uncomfortable. Don’t add tools just yet.

While you are experiencing the hard work and maybe even the mess, think about what you need to do to make each step of the way more efficient, and then look for the tools that can help you. Congrats! You just built a mindful workflow.

I know it’s easier said than done. After all, it took me some years to figure this out. Maybe the video below will help you. But as you watch it, please pay attention to the process that led me to the dashboard, not the plugins I’m using. I’m never looking for a silver bullet. I’m sorry to be the one telling you this, but that doesn’t exist. Anyway, as you watch, notice that as I go I’m constantly trying to find something that will solve a very specific next problem.

The truth is, you are the only one who has the correct answer. Keep asking yourself what you need to do next to reach the following level of the game.

You can do it!

Isn't it nice when technology makes things simpler?

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 01:00:00 +0100

As I mentioned in yesterday’s article, there are still certain steps to take before I have Micro.blog set up the way I intend it to be. This is a test of two new configurations I’m working on.

If everything goes according to plan, this post will be automatically added to Bluesky and LinkedIn. Cross-posting to other services is possible, but I’m taking it slow and starting with only the ones above.

The Micro.publish Obsidian plugin is another thing I’m trying with this post. It has been created on an Obsidian note and will be converted into a blog post with very few mouse clicks. In other words, you are witnessing the tests and preparation I do when producing a video for my YouTube channel.

What inspired me to move from Obsidian Publish to Microblog?

Sat, 06 Jan 2024 02:00:00 +0100

TL;DR: a gateway to a thriving online presence

What if I told you there is a tool that can replace your blog, website, newsletter, podcast, bookshelf, and more? 🤯 It’s even compatible with the ActivityPub protocol.

In a recent article, I discussed how owning a domain and using permalinks can help you seamlessly move from one hosting service to another without losing your audience. Then I published another article devoted to describing a similar approach for your social media presence

Well, there is a way to combine the best of both words in a single place. Better yet, what if you could also include other services, like a newsletter? Have I mentioned that the price is a fraction of what you would pay for a combination of similar services from other companies?

Since this is too good to be true, I feel like a disclaimer is needed. No, this is not a sponsored post. I paid for my subscription, and no one at Micro.blog had any input on this article or any content I’ve been publishing about them. I’m doing it because, as you already know, I’m an enthusiast.

Anyway, I hope you’ll find the information below helpful.

My previous set-up

I have an institutional website for many years, but have been posting my articles on Medium for a long time to take advantage of the algorithm. Two YouTube channels, one in Portuguese and another in English, a newsletter hosted by Substack, and a presence on multiple social media platforms.

I believe that diversifying like this helps spread the word because I can take advantage of algorithms from multiple platforms. However, my entire business is run by myself, and things can quickly become overwhelming. So much so that last year I was forced to pause my newsletter for several months.

Why Obsidian Publish didn’t work for me

When I moved my website from WordPress to Obsidian Publish, I was trying to simplify things by having my notes and the website in the same tool. But if I’m being honest, it ended up creating more work. Not because of the publishing process, which is easy and straight-forward. The problem was me. I love taking notes, so I suddenly felt compelled to share as much as I could, and that came with its own set of complications.

Instead of just taking notes, I was constantly thinking about how to structure my notes to have them ready for use and, at the same time, good for publishing. Furthermore, my folders structure became a little chaotic due to the numerous additional files needed to create a website. I was constantly afraid of accidentally moving or deleting files.

There’s no way to have a blog when using Obsidian Publish, but I was kind of okay with that because Medium was my blogging platform at the time. I also read numerous complaints about SEO, but I’m not a specialist on this topic and cannot say much about it. However, the final hurdle was the verification process at Mastodon, which could never identify the needed code because of the way Obsidian Publish builds the website.

I couldn’t care less about verification, but I have already been impersonated, and unfortunately, some people following my YouTube channel in Portuguese were scammed. After that, I’ve been constantly trying to do all I can to prevent it from happening again.

What’s next?

In 2022, I tried Micro.blog, but it lasted for less than a year. It was the way the platform handled engagement that made me give up on it. If you would like to learn more about it, have already explained everything in more detail in another article.

For those of you who are not aware of Micro.blog, it’s a complete solution. It is a space to share short posts like ‘tweets’ and pictures, a blog, a website, a newsletter, a podcast hosting service, and many other amenities like bookmarks plus a ‘read it later’ with a highlights feature, a bookshelf, and more. And the price is amazing. US$5 or US$10, depending on the features you need. To learn more about it, I suggest you watch the video below. But beware that it doesn’t cover all its potential.

I still have my two YouTube channels, and they are not going anywhere. But I reactivated my blog on Micro.blog. I won’t stop publishing the articles on Medium, but I started adding a Canonical Link.

Micro.blog can be set to share the same content on other websites, like Medium. However, for now, I’m doing it manually.

ActivityPub

Regarding the newsletter, I am still using Substack, but I also intend to transition it to Micro.blog in the future. However, the feature in which I’m most interested is precisely the one that made me live in the first place. The blog is compatible with ActivityPub and, as explained in another article, anyone can follow it from any Fediverse service.

The strategy Flipboard is using inspired me. Their Mastodon instance — flipboard.social — works as a Twitter alternative, where the community can share and interact with one another. As for flipboard.com, it is being converted to be 100% compatible with the ActivityPub protocol. If all of this seems too much, please watch the video below. It may help you better understand the terminology I used above.

My plan is to rebuild my Twitter community on Mastodon, while Micro.blog will host my blog, site, and other services, acting as a central point to help people access all the content I’m constantly sharing online.

Nostalgia

This doesn’t necessarily count as a rational reason, but since when is feeling at home something that’s rational? When I first tried Microblog in 2022, I noticed a familiar face among the team: Jean MacDonald. I had the opportunity to meet here only twice for brief moments during the 2013 and 2014 Evernote Conferences. Nevertheless, the conversations we had were so pleasant that those moments remain etched in my memory to this day.

In conclusion, there’s nothing terribly wrong with Obsidian Publish. On the contrary, during those months I used it, it proved to be a fast and reliable service. But there’s no blog or ActivityPub there, and those are some reasons why Microblog is gradually becoming my online home.

Another reason, as I mentioned before, is that Micro.blog can work as a hub for publications. At some point in the future, when I finish my migration process, I’ll start using it to automatically cross-post content to other social media platforms.

Combined with all the other benefits I mentioned above, I’m expecting Micro.blog to significantly reduce the work I currently do every time I publish a new article or video.

Obsidian's new editor is a big step in the right direction

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 01:00:00 +0100

As a user, I enjoy Markdown. However, as an instructor, I almost hate it. Most of my clients find it challenging to understand and use, especially in a world where every basic text editor has a formatting bar.

We, the Markdown enthusiasts, see it as a great invention, and it is, but it is meant for people like us. My first computer was an Apple II+ where I learned to write programs in Basic. If you are a Markdown lover, I bet you have a similar background or passion for technology. But how many people do you think there are like this in the world?

The good news is that the Obsidian team seems to be steadily figuring out a way to allow users to pick their preferred text formatting method without any hassle.

My background

I learned how to create my first website back in the 1990s by looking at other people’s source code. But that’s as far as I went. I was unable to learn any other advanced programming language, even those that are only slightly more complicated than HTML. However, having this background made me look at Markdown and find it to be the easiest thing to learn and use on the planet.

I’m confident to say that people with similar backgrounds, for example, Excel enthusiasts, will also find Markdown super easy to learn and use. However, that is too much for people who only use computers as basic tools. I know this because I have seen it happen to my clients time and time again.

Trello is a great tool I use a lot in my consulting business, but it took them ages to adopt a regular text editor. Before that, the only way to format text was by using Markdown, and only a very few of my clients were willing to use it. It was rare that anyone took the time to learn it.

An entry barrier

All that said, I always saw Markdown as one of the biggest barriers to any non-tech-savvy person thinking of adopting or switching to Obsidian. Again, I’m not making assumptions here. I don’t have numbers, but I’m constantly hearing complaints from clients and reading comments on my videos and articles about how complex it is.

It’s true that one has to memorize just a handful of symbols to use it, but that’s not natural, especially when all the other text editors regular people use have a formatting bar. Most people don’t even use Ctrl+B, I, or other formatting shortcuts. Clicking on icons is significantly more intuitive.

A big step in the right direction

If you haven’t yet, I invite you to watch the video below and stay with me for a moment while I move items from one column to another on a table using Markdown. No matter how much you love Markdown, that’s insane! It’s a huge waste of time.

Thankfully, Obsidian 1.5 added a terrific table editor while keeping all the Markdown behind the scenes for the enthusiasts. Another important addition is right-clicking a word to format it or right-clicking on the note to add items like tables, paragraphs and many others. Again, the Markdown is still there.

The gradual adoption of more familiar ways to format text is a big thing. In my opinion, this is the way to go. It will attract more non-tech-savvy users while keeping the Markdown layer under the hood.

Great move, Obsidian!

Prisoners of Geography

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 01:00:00 +0100

The first book of 2024. I still prefer eBooks for a multitude of reasons, but bookstores and used bookstores are still the kings of discoverability. I found Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall in a random store during my last trip and had already read half of it flying back home.

Will 2024 be my first year without Evernote?

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 01:00:00 +0100

I think it’s fair to say that everyone was a bit astonished when the news broke on the third day of 2023. Bending Spoons, a company barely anyone knew about, had acquired Evernote.

For the past 15 years, I have never considered leaving Evernote. To be more precise, the thought never crossed my mind. Now it looks like 2024 will mean more to me than just a new year. Maybe it will be a year without Evernote. But it’s rare for something so big to happen suddenly. We have to go back to the beginning of 2022 to understand what’s going on.

I was already experimenting with Obsidian for my video production workflow when some of my clients asked me to help them build their workflows on Obsidian. That ended up starting a feedback loop of fresh ideas and more experimenting and teaching. Long story short, by the end of 2022, this learning and teaching system was at full speed. Then, boom! The acquisition news in January 2023. And, let’s not forget the chaos Twitter was in because of its own acquisition. What if Evernote experienced the same fate?

There you have it. It was a perfect storm forming before my very eyes.

What I’m trying to say is that it’s rare for only one event to cause a big change. It is usually the culmination of many small things happening simultaneously that creates the perfect conditions.

Most of my notes—about 80% of them—are still in Evernote. But if I’m quoting Pareto, the 20% of notes I’m using 80% of the time are already in Obsidian. And this makes all the difference. When I need to find something, chances are that Obsidian will have it. Which ended up helping me create the habit of opening Obsidian first. Oops!

Another important aspect of Obsidian is the fact that the mobile clients are fully functional. During short trips or vacations, I do not bring a computer with me, and I can still use Obsidian on my iPad as if I were at my office computer.

It’s not all roses, though

I was an early adopter of Postash.io back in 2014, and I loved the fact that I could convert any of my Evernote notes to pages of a website or blog posts. Sadly, the service never worked properly, and I ended up going back to a conventional website hosting service. Obsidian Publish seemed like the perfect opportunity to try that again, but although it is a very reliable service, it came with its own set of problems. As you already know, I went back to a traditional website hosting service. But this is a story for another day.

For the moment, I will leave you with this. It’s more likely than not that 2024 will be the year I switch from Evernote to Obsidian.

Happy New Year!

L'arbre des 3 Frontières

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 01:00:00 +0100

Thanks to the Schengen Agreement, I started my day in Luxembourg, visited France for a while, and then had lunch in Germany. The fact that anyone in the EU can freely cross borders is a wonderful thing that should never be taken for granted.

My travel coffee kit

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 01:00:00 +0100

I still use my original AeroPress to make coffee in my office, and for a long time, it was the one I took with me on every trip. When the AeroPress Go was released, I had to buy one and include it in the small 🫣 kit that I always travel with to be able to brew my own coffee every day.

Back to the Source: Revisiting Weaving the Web by Tim Berners-Lee

Mon, 25 Dec 2023 01:00:00 +0100

To give you a sense of how long ago I read the book Weaving the Web, I still had a Walkman lying around, and since I accidentally picked it up in cassette format, that’s how I “read” it. Yes, you got that right: cassette tape.

Regardless, I remember hearing Tim Berners-Lee explain that his original concept for the Web was a more interactive knowledge-building and linking process. I don’t recall his exact words, but this was the idea. At least, this is what my memory tells me. Which reminds me of another great book, Memory Illusion by Dr. Julia Shaw. But I digress.

That stuck with me for a long time because, for many years, all we had were websites with static pages. No interaction at all. It was more like a one-way knowledge flow, but it was a start. Then came the blogs and the comments, but it still didn’t feel like what he meant in his book. When social media started gaining popularity, I thought to myself, “Maybe this is it.” Well, I was wrong. We ended up with a lot of “islands” and too much misinformation.

I don’t think a Web based on the ActivityPub protocol is precisely what he meant, but connecting all these online “islands” feels to me more like his vision. Another step in that direction, if you will.

Anyway, it’s been too long since I read it, and I’ll use the last week of 2023 to revisit it. It’s a great book! Dr. Shaw’s book is also excellent, but it’s more recent, and I have already read it twice.

That’s it for this one. I hope you have a lovely day!

Future-proofing my online presence

Sat, 23 Dec 2023 01:00:00 +0100

My thoughts and opinions on ActivityPub and the Fediverse are numerous, and I am already working on an article to share them with you. For this one, the plan is to explain my strategy to future-proof my online presence.

If you don’t know what ActivityPub and the Fediverse are, please watch my recent video about this topic. But the most important information to understand is that one can follow and be followed, as well as engage, regardless of what social platform is being used.

Many services have been compatible with the ActivityPub protocol for a long time now, but I don’t think we can deny the fact that if large corporations adopt it, the chances of it becoming mainstream are higher. And based on the recent announcement by Flipboard and the tests being conducted by Threads, I’m pretty sure this is what’s happening right now.

Again, I suggest watching my recent video on the topic to understand the details and implications. For now, let us discuss the reasons behind my choice of Micro.blog and Mastodon.

Micro.blog

I believe that Micro.blog is a link between the old Internet, before social media, where people used to write on websites and blogs, and the new Internet that is all about sharing everything.

At Micro.blog, you can make a website with static pages and and also have a blog. The cool thing about the blog is that it uses the ActivityPub protocol. This means that anyone using any ActivityPub service can read and engage with your posts.

But there’s more, or, should I say, less? If you read Manton Reece’s book about starting a Micro.blog, or follow him online, you’ll see that he is really into writing short posts. It is also evident in the company’s name and the blog feature on Micro.blog.

If one writes simple posts, such as tweets, they will be added to the timeline, like what happens on Twitter and other similar services. On the other hand, if a long-form text is created, that will become a blog post like this article you are reading. However, it will also be added to the timeline with a link to the article. And, once again, that timeline is compatible with ActivityPub.

All these means that someone, say, on Mastodon, can follow and engage with all the posts without ever being a Micro.blog user. You can use my blog to try it out. Just look for @vladcampos@vladcampos.com on your preferred Fediverse platform.

There are already many great interviews with Manton Reece about Micro.blog out there, but I’m thrilled to share that he recently accepted an invitation to have a conversation about all this on my YouTube Channel.

But if Micro.blog is both services in one, why would I need Mastodon? Well, a year ago, I tried using it alone, but I had no success. I left because of a design decision. There are no likes or re-posts on the Micro.blog timeline. To explain why I care about it, let’s talk about Mastodon.

Mastodon

When I first heard about Micro.blog, I was already a Mastodon user, where I was building a new community after leaving Twitter. On doing so, I quickly learned how important likes and re-posts are. Because of them, I got to know so many nice people re-posted by someone I was following. The same thing happened the other way around. People re-posting me on Mastodon helped me get noticed by others.

Nevertheless, I fully understand Micro.blogs decision. The goal is to stimulate conversations, but, to be honest, I felt very isolated there. And at that particular moment, I did not have a significant number of people following me on Mastodon, and I still do not. Until these days, I keep discovering interesting people and communities through re-posts.

How is this future-proofing my online presence?

First of all, ActivityPub is a W3C protocol. Then, there’s the fact that major corporations are beginning to embrace it. But the most important reason is that ActivityPub-compatible social media allows you to move between different services and bring all of your followers with you. Let’s say that in the future, Micro.blog adds likes and re-posts and I decide I want to leave Mastodon. I’ll be able to easily do it, bringing with me all the followers, whom, by the way, I prefer to call community.

This is such a win-win situation. Whenever and wherever it pleases me, I am free to move, and I don’t have to ask anyone from my community to move to a different social media platform. Furthermore, if they also wish to move somewhere else, that’s fine. As long as it is compatible with the ActivityPub protocol, neither technology nor CEOs will prevent us from keeping in touch with each other.

The Plan

My website has already been migrated to Micro.blog, but I will continue to post on Medium, which is, incidentally, also in the process of adopting the ActivityPub protocol.

In December 2024 I started the processo of moving my site to Obsidian Publish. In August 2025 I moved back to Micro.blog

Regarding micro-posting, I’ll be doing it on Mastodon. So, if one wishes to follow only my articles or only my micro-posts, they can do so. Or, they can also follow both. And the best part is that anyone can follow and interact with me using any ActivityPub-compatible service. This is absolutely remarkable!

What went wrong with Evernote? How did we get here?

Sat, 12 Aug 2023 01:00:00 +0100

I expect negative comments on every video or article I publish about Evernote now. Sadly, talking about it makes me feel anxious.

I don’t think Evernote is doomed, but there is a profound shift in perception going on. It used to be that going to the Evernote Conference was the most important moment I looked forward to every year. It was great to see my friends, clients, developers, and the Evernote team.

Furthermore, sharing news from the conference or anything else Evernote released throughout the year had such positive vibes. Now, it’s difficult to ignore all the negativity out there.

But the mood didn’t shift at once; it rarely does.

It all started many years ago

In July 2015, Phil Libin stepped down as CEO, and Chris O’Neill initiated a series of changes that made many of us, myself included, uneasy with the future of the company, or, in other words, our notes.

Evernote had a family of companion apps, and the new CEO gradually discontinued most of them, making many of us unhappy. But moving Evernote’s database to Google Cloud and the layoffs kicked off the first negative wave I’ve ever seen. At least, I do not recall anything similar during the Libin years.

I have to believe that from a financial standpoint, moving to Google servers was the best course of action. Even Apple used Google’s service in the early stages of iCloud. And I think they still do. However, the public’s perception was distorted by the way the media covered all the other CEO decisions.

For instance, I recall reading articles that referred to Evernote’s headquarters as a “ghost town.” I was furious about that; it made no sense. Back when Libin was CEO, or, in other words, before the layoffs, I visited the company and can attest that the building was not fully occupied. As far as memory serves, floors one and two were completely empty. Not even desks! The idea was to have enough room to grow in the future.

Nevertheless, I can relate to the anger and frustration people felt. The way the story was told made it hard to tell the difference between noise and reality, which leads me to the topic of communication. I’ve always found Evernote to be terrible at conveying decisions to its users. And the problem is still present. For instance, I believe that transferring operations to Europe was an excellent decision, but again, the public perception was different.

When you are hosting people’s memories, you don’t have the luxury of being as secretive as Apple or carless as a cable TV announcing the new version of its app. Every decision has to be over communicated.

I’m not sure why, but one thing that made me upset was the end of Evernote Market. Possibly because some of the products made it easier to organize things in real life, like we were used to doing in Evernote. Anyway, I was sad to see that go.

[!cite] Over the past few years, more than 800,000 Evernote Moleskine notebooks and 300,000 Jot Script styluses were sold worldwide. Through Market’s website alone, we sold nearly 20,000 ScanSnap Evernote Edition scanners.

Market gave us the opportunity to illustrate the true value of Evernote to folks who hadn’t yet considered a Premium subscription. In fact, nearly half of the folks who shopped the Evernote Market were paying us for the first time.

Ultimately though, Evernote is a software company.

Communication, communication, communication. I don’t have all the facts, and I believe all of us try to make the best decisions based on the information we have available at the moment. But the way the official blog post was written suggests that the Market was successful, “but we are ending it anyway.”

As for:

[!cite] Instead of selling and fulfilling orders ourselves, on February 3rd [2016], we will transition the Market to promote Evernote-integrated products made and sold by our partners at Adonit, Moleskine, and PFU. We plan to continue adding partners and integrations that strongly and elegantly complement Evernote to that list.

The transition lasted for a brief moment. It didn’t take long before everything stopped being sold. I have many items in my collection, but the Evernote Market was much bigger.

Recently, I learned in an interview with Libin that when he was the CEO, the Market was profitable, but its benefits went way beyond that. I messaged O’Neill on LinkedIn months ago, inviting him to an interview on my channel to talk about his time as CEO, but I never heard back.

The last thing I remember from O’Neill’s tenure as CEO was the fervor the company generated on social media to unveil a “fresh brand identity”. Once again, the issue of communication was affecting Evernote. There was a lot of criticism about spending time and money on a logo instead of addressing the problems with the app.

Regarding the old logo, did you know that the elephant trunk is hiding the letter e?

A frustrating web client

If you are a subscriber to my YouTube channel, you know that I try crazy experiments all the time. Well, back in 2018, I tried to run my entire consulting business on a Chromebook. The Chromebook paired with Google Workspace and Trello performed exceptionally well, but the Evernote web* client, which was limited at the time, ended up being a major drawback in my plan.

* It should be noted that the decision to oversimplify the web client was taken when Phil Libin was CEO.

My experiment and what was going on with Evernote (the company) at that time made me think about switching to a different app for the first time. My consulting business is about helping companies build mindful Kanban workflows using tools like Trello, so I thought Notion would be a perfect fit for my notes and Kanban workflows.

I moved some of them, played with Notion for a while, and made couple videos for my YouTube channel in Portuguese, but even though I love all the cool stuff Notion has to offer, the database vibe doesn’t appeal to me. If I were to switch to a different app, note-taking would have to be its main feature. Perhaps that is the reason why I am currently enjoying Obsidian.

Ahead of its time?

Sometimes I catch myself thinking about Evernote’s series of managerial missteps along the way, but analyzing events in hindsight is always unfair. Other times, I believe the problem was timing. It is possible that Evernote was too ahead of its time and didn’t find a way to use this advantage in its favor.

For instance, a couple of weeks ago, I decided to test the Obsidian Map View plugin, and I couldn’t stop wondering why Evernote removed the fantastic map feature the app had back in the day.

Most people don’t even know this, but when we create a note, the app always attempts to save the coordinates of where the note was created. Evernote map view would simply show all notes with coordinates on a map. That’s it. We didn’t have to deal with any configuration.

It was a great feature, as were many others that were discontinued. In contrast, the Obsidian Map View plugin is difficult to set up, but at least it exists for people like me who want to see their notes on a map. Why? Well, you should watch the video below to be amazed by how many interesting use cases people can come up with this feature.

Evernote even had AI back in 2014, but the “A” stood for augmented. Features like context and handwriting OCR were among the many innovations the company came up with. To learn more about the challenges and the ideas they had for the future, I encourage you to watch my interview with Phil Libin on this topic.

Even today, with so many of these marvels gone, it’s still hard to find an app that’s both easy for non-tech-savvy people to use and that also packs in so many useful features.

But when a company stops innovating, others will take over. Steve Jobs famously said that if Apple hadn’t taken the iPod’s market share with the iPhone, other companies probably would have.

Do you remember?

Did you know that back in 1999, in the days of dial-up and DSL Internet, there was a service called Yahoo Briefcase that would create a ‘Y’ drive in our computers and allow us to synchronize files to the cloud?

That’s correct; Yahoo had it many years before Dropbox. But I bet that young people believe that Google and other companies invented services pioneered by Yahoo. The book “Marissa Mayer and the Fight to Save Yahoo!” has some chapters about how Yahoo missed the chance to be even bigger than today’s version of Google. Instead, it ended up as a Verizon subsidiary with a financial channel on YouTube.

Palm’s path was much harder than Yahoo’s. They were inventing a new market, and if that wasn’t tough enough for the team to deal with, the company went through numerous ownership changes and never found its way to a stable future. It’s mind-boggling to me that an entire generation is unaware of the remarkable products this company invented.

If you believe that the idea of having a personal assistant in your pocket was created by Apple with the iPhone, here is a good book for you: “Piloting Palm: The Inside Story of Palm, Handspring, and the Birth of the Billion-Dollar Handheld Industry.”

The Apple II was the first computer I owned as a teenager, but my Palm PDA and Yahoo services were tools I used professionally for a long time, and I still miss some of Palm’s features. I wish these companies had continued to evolve, but, as I mentioned before, market forces cannot be controlled.

A bright future?

The year is 2018, and here we go again. Evernote has a new CEO, Ian Small. I’d say his main accomplishment was solving a problem that no one else had the courage to deal with before him.

Evernote had apps for Android, iOS, Mac, Web, and Windows, but I always referred to them as “versions” because they were so different from each other. The original management team had a reason for this approach, but in retrospect, it never worked well for us, the users. For instance, formatting a note using one of these “versions” would, more often than not, break it in another. However, I believe the worst consequence was that it slowed down innovation.

Evernote 10 was a necessary evil that created so many complications for the end user. It had to be done. It was a long-overdue project. Furthermore, it took longer than expected, and it was hit by COVID-19. And, again, more features were removed from the app.

Can you see a pattern here? From a user’s perspective, Evernote is constantly removing features and working to fix new bugs.

But for the first time, Evernote established an astonishing channel of communication with its users. The behind-the-scenes videos with the CEO, the blog posts, and many other projects created a new kind of collaboration between us and the company.

Small’s courage to rewrite all the clients was both bold and necessary. But it also means that from a technical standpoint, Evernote 10 was an entirely new app, and like every new piece of software, there may be several unknown bugs.

The good news is that 10 opened the doors to innovation. Evernote Home and its great widgets, such as the calendar and filtered notes, tasks, notes filters, and backlinks, came after 10 was introduced. Even the Real-Time Editing feature was being worked on by Ian’s team for many, many months before the Bending Spoons acquisition.

There are frequent complaints about bugs, but the way I see it, Evernote had no other options. They had to deal with the multiple apps that were incompatible with each other. It was either no more innovation or dealing with some bugs for a while.

However, my concern is somewhat distinct. I think Small’s decision to move development towards the “Accomplish Anything” vision was a great idea. The new features his team created brought our notes to the next level, and the way he spoke about Evernote was a clear indication that many more similar features would be coming. Unfortunately, I have no idea what Bending Spoons plans are for Evernote.

I am a fan of Small and his accomplishments, but what I hope to understand one day is why the company was sold. Was it his decision? The board’s? Was it an offer? What happened?

The Bending Spoons era

I have no doubt that Bending Spoons is working hard to fix all the problems they inherited, but they may be running out of time. The bugs, along with the layoffs, price increases, and other unpopular decisions, may be hurting Evernote credibility too quickly. To add more salt to the injury, the connection Small’s team built with the community by being so transparent is slowly disappearing.

I believe Bending Spoons has everything it takes to make it right, but only time will tell if they will be able to replace the iPod with the iPhone or end up like Palm, Yahoo, and so many other fascinating companies that are long gone.

Building your brand out of a domain name

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 01:00:00 +0100

TL;DR: Social media is a great space to become known, create authority, and grow your audience, but you need a home base that is yours. Buy a domain, create a basic website if you don’t want to spend too much time on it, and always, always promote it on all the social media services you are using.*

How having my own domain gave me so much freedom

Like many of us, I have grown tired of social media, and in recent years my posts have shifted to basically promoting the content I create and getting in touch with other creators and potential partners.

About 20 years ago, after using Geocities and other similar services, I decided it was time to establish a web presence by creating a self-hosted WordPress website with my name as the address. When that became too technical for me, I switched to WordPress.com. But I didn’t stop there. I decided to give Squarespace a shot long before it became the recognizable name it is today, primarily because I wanted a more professional-looking website.

Many years after that, I moved to Google Sites because I was already paying for it on my Workspace subscription. It ended up not working out for me because of some limitations, and last year I went back to WordPress to give it another try.

Between all the switches described above, I also tried Micro.blog and Postash.io for a while. More on this shortly. Finally, last week I moved to Obsidian Publish.

Despite all these transitions, people could always find me visiting my website. Having my own domain and using something called permalinks made this possible.

What is a permalink?

If you search for ‘what is a permalink?’ on Google, many of the results will be explanations based on the SEO benefits. That’s a good reason on its own, but I also think they are a great tool for moving your website to another hosting service. Let me tell you what I mean by this.

This was precisely what I did when going from one service to another. Many times I used the moving opportunity to remove some posts and rearrange others. But because the permalinks were kept the same, rearranging pages in different places didn’t break anything.

Here’s an example:

For a long time, I have had a page listing some of the books I have already read. The address has been vladcampos.com/library since I created it. But when I recently moved to Obsidian Publish, I decided to rearrange parts of my website structure. I now have a ‘toolbox’ directory containing the ‘library’ and other pages, like one for my filmmaking gear. So instead of the address above, I ended up with:

vladcampos.com/toolbox/library

Because the page is now located inside the toolbox subfolder, I set vladcampos.com/library as a permalink. Now, if you type vladcampos.com/library, the website will present you with the correct page. In other words, old visitors and Google Search will still find the page.

Yes, you can set up permalinks on Obsidian Publish.

Why did I move to Obsidian Publish?

Back in 2014, a company called Postash.io released a service to create blog posts from Evernote notes. All one had to do was add the “publish” tag, and the note would be converted into a blog entry. And, yes, removing the tag would unpublish the note.

Until this day, I still believe that this is a genius solution because all of my articles start with an idea that I write down and work on using an app like Evernote or Obsidian.

Postash.io is still available, but it hasn’t been updated in a long time and doesn’t have many important features a website need. That’s why I used it for less than a year back then and quickly moved on. However, as a concept, Postash.io still makes a lot of sense for my workflow, and that’s why I recently moved my site to Obsidian Publish.

Publishing became so much easier, but there are many other reasons that I’ll explore in future articles and videos. Furthermore, having the original posts on my computer as notes is like having a backup of a backup, and this is pretty comforting.

What were the lessons we learned today?

Social media platforms come and go. Use them to your advantage, but make sure you have a home base — a website with your own domain name. And if you wish to experiment with other hosting services, permalinks can help you keep all the old links working.

Without experiencing the unknown variables, it’s impossible to organize efficiently

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 01:00:00 +0100

I believe the best way to organize things, whether they’re physical or digital, is to accept the mess for a while. At least it works very well here. That’s why my strategy for organizing things is to always start with a messy environment, a blank canvas to play with. However, there’s a catch: I have to pay close attention to what I’m constantly searching for and using.

It is only after rearranging things again and again and learning my necessities that I am finally ready to begin building the system that will meet my needs. But, there is no doubt in my mind that that will not be the final version. The world around us constantly changes, and we must adapt to keep up.

The tricky part is figuring out the exact moment when the messy stage has to give way to some order. I like to use a concept I borrowed from economics: Transactions Costs. In other words, if the mess is making me less and less productive, it’s time to pause and organize by choosing the best workflow I’ve come up with so far.

If you haven’t already, I encourage you to watch the video below. It’s about an Evernote notebook being built from empty to fully functional. It started out messy, and I added tags, links, etc. as I learned what I was constantly looking for and using.

And like I said before, it’s a strategy that works in both the digital and physical worlds. Last week, I finally organized my workbench, inspired by the way I moved objects around when I was working on the Apple IIe restoration project. I’m pretty happy with the final result, but I already had new ideas for it.

The messy approach is also a way to foster creativity. There are many good books about this subject. There’s one literally titled Messy, but The Click Moment and Algorithms to Live By also discuss it.

Moving things around forces us to look at a problem from a different perspective, which helps us come up with unexpected solutions. But it is important to keep in mind that the project on which we are currently working is not our sole concern. In my case, the messy workspace was also a project in progress.

Take a look at the shelf and the soldering station; they are all made from scrap wood. By the way, I love that cool industrial vibe. You can even tell from the black circles on one of the shelf legs that the piece of wood was once below the table glass. It was a test; I was trying to figure out how many crossbars I needed to keep everything stable, and I ended up replacing the studs with the thicker ones that are there now. As for the rest of the replaced pieces of wood, they were used on other projects.

But there are more repurposed materials. The desk itself is made up of the top glass of an old kitchen table, supported by some cheap Ikea trestles. As for that Chromebook, it will not get Chrome OS updates anymore, but it is still good enough for Google searches and the Evernote web client.

So, the next time you are working on a complex project, don’t be too hard on yourself. Every so often, a little mess is what you need to unlock a solution that was always there, but you couldn’t see.

By the way, switching to another project also works, but that’s a story for another time.

Generations

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0100

After helping me fix the issue with the ROM chips a few weeks ago, my son got to play Gremlins on the Apple IIe.

Is your computer truly yours?

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0100

It is remarkable how contemporary technology is built around the loss of control over our devices. In contrast, the Apple IIe, which is considerably older, is so open to experimentation and modifications.

One or two years ago, I wanted to try ChromeOS Flex and decided to install it on my old MacBook Air 2012. I enjoyed the process of installing it and had fun with the OS. Now I needed macOS back on the computer to be able to use it on the Apple IIe restoration project, but when it came time to reinstall macOS, things didn’t go well at all.

macOS Recovery

If you start macOS holding command + r, you’ll be prompted to reinstall the OS. I was counting on this when I decided to try ChromeOS Flex. Anyway, I tried all possible variations of the command + r command, but at some point, near the end of the process, a glitch would always stop the installation.

Another issue was that the countdown to the end of the process would display a huge negative number, which would also result in an error message. I searched online and found out that the negative number was related to a network problem, but my network and internet connection were working perfectly well.

I also tried to reinstall macOS by holding the option key. This is how you tell the Mac to search for external drives when it starts up. However, I was unsuccessful there as well. I was probably doing something wrong because the system would never recognize the installation disk on connected drives. It is also possible that the bootable part of the disc was damaged during the installation of Chrome OS Flex. I don’t know. Regardless of the reason, I am puzzled as to why I was encountering such difficulty. After all, it is my computer.

Downloading macOS

We are provided with downloads of older versions of the operating system, but I challenge you to try installing it on a computer with a dead or new hard drive. One must go through numerous workarounds to make it work. By the way, during my saga I also learned that Apple does not provide any official instructions for how to install an older OS over a newer one. Even worse, it tells us that we cannot do it.

Carbon Copy Cloner

After jumping from one website to another and failing miserably, I remembered that my wife didn’t get rid of her old Mac mini from 2012. My new plan was to clone the Mini hard drive using Carbon Copy Cloner. Of course, I had problems there as well. First, I had to find an older version of the program that worked with macOS Mojave. Next, the mini drive is 500 GB, and the Air’s is 64 GB.

To make a square fit into the circle, I created a new admin user (me) on my wife’s computer, and on Carbon Copy Cloner, I unselected her user and all the non-essential files before cloning. Of course, figuring out what are the essential files is easier said than done. After lot of trial and error, I was successful, but I would not be able to use this same strategy on a slightly newer Mac. My 2012 machine has a removable SSD, and I happen to have the correct USB enclosure. In other words, I could remove it from my computer and connect it to my wife’s Mini via USB.

My computer finally started, but the OS was extremely slow. It would take several minutes to boot, and the mouse was jumping all around the screen every time I moved it. Thinking that some issue could have occurred during the cloning process, I repeated it several times, but I had no success. It was time to take a break, like I usually do when I get stuck.

The next day, I remembered that macOS has an Activity Monitor. I ran it, but to my surprise, the total CPU load was over 90%, even though no software or process was taking more than 5% of the CPU time. Back to Google!

Resetting PRAM and SMC

In the end, there wasn’t anything wrong with the cloning process. The issue was with the different computers. Using Carbon Copy Cloner to make a copy is like transplanting a brain from one person to another. The new brain in my MacBook Air was from a Mac Mini. To put it simply, I had to help it adjust to its new body.

I don’t have enough technical knowledge to explain this, but there’s a way to reset basic macOS configurations called PRAM and SMC. I reset them, and the OS started working like a charm.

Finally!

Anyway, all this was just another step in my Apple IIe restoration project. I could finally install the ADTPro software on the MacBook Air to copy old software to the IIe. Of course, I hit a new brick wall. But this is a story for another day.

A thoughtful gift for my father

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 01:00:00 +0100

Before smartphones, my father would always have a pen and notepad like this one in his shirt’s front pocket. Not only that, but he would use them to explain anything I asked him about, drawing and writing every single detail while talking to me.

He always said, “You should write it down if you would rather not forget it." I guess it worked. It seems there’s no other explanation; I got into note-taking because of him.

Have you had the chance to listen to my conversation with Jon on the Triple T Productivity podcast? I am currently on the trip I mentioned, and today I came across this small notepad that I immediately bought for his birthday tomorrow. It’s not exactly like the ones he used to have, but I believe it will bring him good memories.

Invaders Rue Montorgueil

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 01:00:00 +0100

More invaders in Paris

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 01:00:00 +0100

Invaders Mona Lisa

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 01:00:00 +0100

Invading Paris 👾

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 01:00:00 +0100

Watermelon Invaders

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 01:00:00 +0100

I switched to Google Tasks

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 01:00:00 +0100

I’ve recently switched to Google Tasks, and there are a few clues as to why in this post. But detailed information is coming soon. I’m currently working on a script for a video explaining the hacks I used to build my system and why it might be a better choice, depending on what Apps and devices you use.

And talking about tasks, there are many videos on my channel about Evernote Tasks and the tutorial below explaining how to set up and use the Obsidian Tasks plugin.

A captivating and enchanting language

Sat, 07 Jan 2023 01:00:00 +0100

Dogs can’t speak like humans, but they know how to make themselves quite obvious. It is only a matter of paying attention. And we should always listen because they have so many lessons to teach us about a mindful life.

For the past three years, I have been learning a lot about kindness, persistence, compassion, loyalty, friendship, and love. ♥️ 🐾

This is extremely embarrassing, I lost the Tile, not my keys.

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 01:00:00 +0100

The app shows me the circle on the map, pointing me to the approximate position of where it is. I know I’m close to it because I can see the option to make it chime when I approach the area.

For the past couple of days, I have been walking around that spot, staring at my phone and the ground below, as if I were chasing a Pokémon that isn’t there. Despite walking the entire perimeter many times, I never received a signal higher than ‘Moderate’ and could never hear it chiming.

It is a gas station I usually go to; the app tells me I’m in the Bluetooth range, and I even asked inside if they found it. The lost and found box has many keys but no Tiles. Which makes me wonder how people drove from the gas station after losing their keys. Anyway, I have my own problems.

Maybe it is inside a drain. I don’t know. But it’s embarrassing that I lost the device that was supposed to help me find my keys, which I still have.

Maybe indirect revenue is not a thing

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 01:00:00 +0100

Like most of us, I don’t know much about Twitter’s current situation, but I would like to share my thoughts on the recent shutdown of Revue, a newsletter service the company bought in January 2021.

I understand that sometimes ending services that are not profitable is the only option, but what about the indirect revenue these services might be making? Furthermore, Revue was actually earning some money since there were paid newsletters hosted there.

Like many people, I moved to Mastodon several months ago, but since I was using Revue as my newsletter provider, I knew that I would not be able to completely disconnect from Twitter. In other words, I would still see and click on some ads and maybe even become a Blue subscriber. Anyway, all that is in the past now. Switching to Substack was effortless.

My point is that I was already going to the site less and less, and the only reason I don’t plan to delete my account is because I’ve already been impersonated on YouTube once and don’t want to take any chances on other social media.

Evernote and other technologies I used when I was in Morocco

Sat, 31 Dec 2022 03:00:00 +0100

When we entered the boarding area, my wife realized that she had forgotten her phone. In other words, gone were all the messages the travel agency had sent her. Thankfully, Evernote saved our trip to Morocco. At that point, we were unable to go back home and return in time, so I opened my Travel notebook on Evernote to assess the situation. But before I go any further, let me provide you with some context.

Usually, I am the one who organizes our trips, but this time it was different. My wife was doing it. On my side, as I have already shown in past videos, I was saving on Evernote all that she was sending me. Also, I am not a WhatsApp user.

Back to the airport

I had our boarding passes and all instructions in offline notes, but here’s my question. Why would a travel agency send all the information to its clients using WhatsApp instead of email? Also, why would the clients trust WhatsApp with all that information? And I’m not even talking about privacy. I’m talking about access.

Without a phone, which can be lost, broken, or stolen, there is no way to access the messages. However, on a public computer, one can open and even print information using the web client of an email provider or notes saved on Evernote, Google Keep, or others.

I’m convinced that this addiction to WhatsApp has already gone too far and caused many people serious problems. A few days ago, I even saw an article suggesting that people use the note-to-self feature to take notes.

NO! Please do not do this.

If you are not interested in dealing with all that Evernote or similar Apps have to offer, use Google Keep. It’s simple, and you’ll be able to access your notes even without your phone.

Okay, that’s that.

But, since we are here, I would like to share with you the other technologies that made our trip a success, even though we did not buy a local SIM-Card.

Google Maps

You have to do this before loosing Internet connection. Go to settings, select the ‘Offline Maps’ option, choose an area and download it. From now on, even if you do not have Internet access, that map will be available. But there is a caveat: there are no turn-by-turn directions.

The GPS will still work, and you’ll see the blue dot moving on the map. If you are walking as we were, it is pretty easy to follow a route towards your destination. Nevertheless, I’m not certain how efficient this would be for driving.

Google Translate

Just like Google Maps, we can download dictionaries on Google Translate. Before the trip, open the App on your phone, select one or more languages and tap the icon with an arrow pointing down.

For this trip, I downloaded the Arabic and French dictionaries, which were quite helpful.

Canon App

I love the way Google Photos plots all pictures on a map, and there is also a practical use. I often forget a restaurant or another place location, and finding the address is as simple as opening the photo and selecting ‘Open in Google Maps’.

For this trip, a brought my Canon, that doesn’t have a GPS. To fix this, I installed the Canon Camera Connect App, which connects to my phone via Bluetooth and uses its GPS to obtain the location of the pictures I was taking.

Garmin Instinct 2

This one was just for fun. I used my Garmin Instinct 2 to track all our walks, and at the end of each day, I saved the map in Evernote with some statistics, and a picture of the watch showing how much battery was left.

Each day, we walked more than 10 km, and I’m now even more impressed with the battery of this watch. You can learn more about my decision to buy it by clicking here.

Although I wasn’t expecting to need this, I added the hotel’s location to my watch, so I could navigate back there. Google Maps worked great, and we ended up memorizing our way back, but I had to try it. One day I did use the watch to go back to the hotel. It worked like a charm, and the geek in me loved it.

It’s better to be disconnected

My wife and I love to travel, but since the end of the lockdown, we’ve been only traveling within the EU. With the single currency, no border checks, and free roaming, things are too easy. There is no need to prepare thoroughly.

It’s great that we can just pack and go, but ultimately, you feel like you never really visited another country.

Morocco was, however, a different story. I went back to being prepared-for-anything mode, read a lot about it and watched some documentaries. Furthermore, without a local SIM-Card, we were disconnected from home most of the time, and we felt really immersed in an entirely different culture.

What is Markdown and how to use it

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 19:48:00 +0100

Markdown is a set of characters used to format text in compatible editors. For example, if you put one asterisk on *each side of a word or sentence*, the Markdown editor will show it in italics like this: each side of a word or sentence.

To use it, all one has to do is memorize a small set of symbols and use them in a compatible editor. Since there are not a lot of formatting options, dominating and using Markdown is not hard.

Another way to think of Markdown is as a simpler version of HTML, which is the language used to make the pages you access online with a browser.

Related

😮 Oops, I didn’t take my watch off

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 01:00:00 +0100

Remember my video about why I chose a Garmin instead of an Apple Watch? I was sending and painting for a while when I realized I had forgotten to take off the watch. If you look closely enough, you will notice that there are paint drops on my arm. Some of them ended up on the watch, but that’s alright. All you had to do was wash it, and everything worked out fine.

Why not an Apple Watch or Wear OS?

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 01:00:00 +0100

Before the Apple Watch, there was the Pebble (image below). I loved that smartwatch, but the end was inevitable, the company eventually went bankrupt, and was sold to Fitbit. The final nail in the coffin was the watch being discontinued, and the servers turned off.

Without the servers, many features would stop working, and the experience wouldn’t be the same. To save us, a group of enthusiasts created Rebble to bring life back to the Pebble. I appreciate what they did, but it’s not the same. Our watches would inevitably get old and parts would break.

Long story short, I could never find a smartwatch alternative that would check all the boxes: waterproof, buttons instead of touch screen, e-ink display, long-lasting battery, health sensors, and good quality build. I ended-up moving to a G-Shock, that I absolutely love. However, it was not a complete experience. I was constantly missing the health sensors.

It was only recently that I came across an alternative from Garmin. Yes, I completely missed the original Instinct release. But that’s ok. I recently got the Instinct 2, and I’m thrilled. Not only it checks all the boxes, it looks like the G-Sock I was wearing.

Apple IIe not working

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The Apple II was the first computer I ever used. This is a IIe I recently got on eBay, but unfortunately, it is not working. When I plugged it in, I saw smoke coming from what, I think, is a capacitor on the C15 position on the board. Next step, figure out what that part actually is and order a replacement.

I have no experience with electronics, multimeters etc. This is definitely going to be a long-term adventure.

Testing a travel kitchen prototype.

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 14:04:00 +0100

I love camping, but I don’t really enjoy the “setting up” part at the campground. For this trip, I’m trying out an idea: if I can use the car trunk for some of my gear, I might reduce the workload when I arrive at my spot.

This is a very basic prototype I put together in a couple of hours, using materials I already had. The goal is to see if this space works well as a travel kitchen. So far, I’m pretty happy with the height and the “counter” space.

Human Driving

Wed, 04 May 2022 01:00:00 +0100

I lived in this world where most of the cars were self-driving. So much so that I was one of hardly any people still actually driving. For some reason the awake me can’t understand, I was not happy with all those autonomous vehicles and commissioned a bumper sticker to protest:

HUMAN DRIVING

When I woke-up and was proudly sharing my brilliant sticker idea with my wife, it occurred to me how silly that was. After all, no self-driving car would ever read it.

By the way, I love the idea of a world where no humans drive. Or at least I thought so.

Getting away from the problem for a while often leads to new insights

Mon, 02 May 2022 01:00:00 +0100

Taking a break is as important as getting into the flow

It’s my belief most people come here for the free Wi-Fi. Not me. I have an office, that is also my studio, and even a comfortable home office. But I do my best to come to this Starbucks at least once a week to edit a video.

Why?

I call it my Coffee Office Day. And last Friday was a special one. The city streets are not empty anymore. On contrary, everything is getting back to normal. I’m hearing people speaking English, French, Spanish and some other languages I have no idea what they are.

Welcome back, Porto!

Randomness

Have you read The Click Moment, by Frans Johansson? One thing I’m looking for when I come here is getting away from my comfort zone.

You need to take time, even schedule time, to explore things that are not directly related to your immediate goal. You need to take your eyes off the ball in order to see and connect with the possibilities around you.

—Frans Johansson

The Flow State

There’s more. When I’m here, I seldom ask for the Wi-Fi password, or connect my phone to the computer. My goal is to avoid online distractions, and, at the same time, enjoy people speaking a multitude of languages. I love to edit here. As soon as I sit down and open my computer, I enter the Flow State. It’s magical.

Flow is great, but one has to escape from it once in a while to avoid exhaustion and to break the blind alleys’ paralysis. At my office I have a different strategy, but here I do it by raising my head and looking around for a while. It never fails. In essence, this is how the Pomodoro Technique works.

During that moment, I try to guess what a person is doing. Is he working? Is she messaging a friend? Where are they from? I’ve seen it all. From job interviews to friends from different countries meeting accidentally.

It takes no more than a couple of minutes. Suddenly everything becomes background noise again, and I’m back to the computer.

Something tells me I developed this ability when I lived in Boston, back in 2015. But this is a story for another day.

Have a nice week!

Maias' Day 2022

Sun, 01 May 2022 01:00:00 +0100

As in so many other countries, the first of May is Labor Day in Portugal. However, there’s also an old tradition linked to this date. It’s known as “Dia das Maias” (Maias' Day). In fact, it all starts on the 30th of April, when people put yellow genista bushes outside windows and front doors.

There are several theories that explain the origins of this tradition, most of them connected to religion. As an amateur gardener, what resonates with me the most is the symbolism of the end of the winter.

🌱 I love the way plants respond to spring. It feels so magic

Unfortunately, we don’t have giestas amarelas (yellow genisteae) bushes, but my wife picked-up some yellow flowers early today when she was walking our dog.

It feels like driving on a highway not wearing a seat belt.

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 01:00:00 +0100

When I arrived at the checkout counter, all the other cashiers were teasing him. I only understood all that buzz when I looked up. He wasn’t wearing a mask.

I was aware that the government was discussing new measures that day, but my brain took a while to assimilate that a store employee, that person right in front of me, wasn’t wearing a mask. He had this wonderful happiness face, replying to his friends:

—No, I’m not going to wear it anymore!

That was a great smile. Made my day.

Starting on the last last 21st, masks in Portugal are only mandatory on public transportation and health related situations, like hospitals, home care, etc.

It’s remarkable how we humans get used to new habits. It’s a week after the new rules, and it still feels like something is not quite right when I enter a store without my mask.

😯 Feels like driving on a highway, not wearing a seat belt.

Will the world ever get back to how it was before?

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 01:00:00 +0100

Last month, after so many months in lockdown, I finally got fully vaccinated against the Corona-19, and now I’m gradually starting to enjoy simple things again. My wife and I went to some of Porto’s popular tourist sites this past weekend, but something was off. No busy people walking around, no crowds on most streets…

📷 Space Invaders

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 01:00:00 +0100

The Memory Illusion

Sun, 13 May 2018 12:15:00 +0100

The Memory Illusion was one of the most amazing, accidental reads I’ve ever come across. It was recommended by the library to my wife, but I was the one who ended up reading it.

Similar to Algorithms to Live By, this book provides a wealth of scientific insight into numerous practices that I have developed throughout my life pertaining to note-taking. From how I learned to take notes as a child to the way I use tags to connect thoughts, and much more.

I enjoyed it so much that, after reading it more than once on my Kindle, I purchased the paperback edition.

Other books in my library.

The Click Moment

Sun, 04 Jun 2017 08:58:00 +0100

I would describe The Click Moment as a series of stories about the random moments that lead to innovative ideas, creations, and even companies. From there, Johansson proposes that we can actually create or simulate environments designed to spark those click moments.

While reading, I couldn’t help but compare it to Messy by Tim Harford. It feels as though the environment Johansson is advocating for is precisely the kind of mess Harford describes.

Cool Tricks from One of Brazil’s Evernote Experts

Fri, 28 Apr 2017 01:00:00 +0100

NOTE: This article was originally posted on Evernote’s blog by Pamela Rosen on 27 Apr 2017.

Evernote fans are a passionate bunch. But then there’s Vladimir Campos, an Evernote enthusiast in Brazil who turned his affection for organizing notes into a full-time job. As an Evernote Certified Consultant, Vlad helps entrepreneurs make the leap to organizing paperless offices. On top of that, he has a popular YouTube channel to teach Evernote tips and tricks to the public. He also hosts a weekly Evernote-themed podcast, called An Elephant’s Journal, and he’s the author of Organizando a vida com o Evernote (Organizing Your Life With Evernote), a best-selling book in Brazil.

Some of the tips he offers his listeners and readers may already be familiar to long-time Evernote fans, but to those just starting out, Vlad’s recommendations are a revelation. One of his favorites is a simple naming convention that helps him remember which notebooks to send emails to. “I can email directly to a notebook, but I have to remember the name of the notebook to do it,” he says. “So I keep the notebook names as simple as possible. One word. This is especially good for companies, where many people are emailing information into the same notebook. I keep notebooks called ‘Health,’ “Clients’, ‘Public,’ and so forth. I don’t have to remember so many notebook names.”

On the Road to Paperless

Vladimir has a simple strategy for building his business—giving his knowledge away for free. That’s the model behind his podcast and videos, which leads to both consulting jobs from business customers and increased book sales.

“Business clients come to me when they realize they can’t find things, and they know things are not working,” Vlad says. “Realizing they need help is often the hardest part of the journey.” Once Vlad starts with a new client, he starts by figuring out how best to integrate Evernote. Or, if the company doesn’t have one, he collaborates with his clients to build a workflow for them. “I let the clients do most of the work because they have to learn how to do it on their own,” Vlad explains. While he works with management, he makes sure that all team members take his online course, Evernote for Beginners. The goal is to make his business teams as paperless as possible.

“I’m not against paper,” Vlad is quick to point out. “It’s just that it’s harder to find information that way. It’s so much easier to have things stored electronically and then do a search from wherever you are. That’s what I teach my clients.”

“I’m not against paper. It’s just that it’s harder to find information that way.” —Vladimir Campos, ECC

Tag, you’re organized

Before Vlad comes along, the businesses he helps often find themselves repeating tasks needlessly, lost in the paper trail. “If you have several calls with the same customer, and they talk to different employees, sometimes it’s hard to find records of the previous calls. So often, the information is scattered. If you have one shared notebook, and everybody’s working in it, everyone can see the information and pick up where they last left off.” Vlad describes a scenario in which each client has a notebook, and everyone who deals with that client adds to it. “Set up a simple system of tags, and after each contact, tag the notebook with the stage of the sales process each client is in,” he says. “Then everyone will be in the loop all the time.” Vlad notes that many of his clients are surprised how quickly they can find the document they need, even if their new system hosts over 10,000 items.

The keys to a finely-tuned search

Though his business clients are often newcomers to Evernote, Vlad sometimes uses his blog and podcast to geek out over more advanced Evernote features. His favorite trick involves search syntax. “These are words you can use to create a more powerful search combining different needs in one, Vlad enthuses. And if you want to exclude certain items like tags, just use the minus symbol -.”

An example of Vlad’s syntax formula might look like this: notebook:Health -tag:appointment. That would open all the notes in the notebook you’ve named “Health” except for the ones tagged appointment. It sorts through notes for you and helps you find what you need faster. “This syntax isn’t limited to two items, as this example shows,” Vlad advises. “The beauty of it is that you can combine as many parameters as you like.”.

Vlad uses variations of this trick for his own life. “Once you set this search syntax, you can save it to your shortcuts so you can use it again,” he says. “For example, I travel a lot. I set up a rule in Gmail to automatically send travel-related email to my default notebook, called ‘Archive.’ In Evernote, I saved a search for the word “ticket” in the Archive notebook minus the tag ‘done,’ like this: notebook:Archive ticket -tag:done. I use the minus sign to filter out the word “done” so that I don’t see trips I’ve already taken. That will bring up the tickets for all my upcoming trips, all in one click.” When Vlad returns from a trip, he tags the notes from the trip “done” so he can filter his completed trips in or out of future searches.

Producing vast amounts of content for a blog, a book, a podcast, and his increasingly popular live workshops calls for a constant influx of new ideas. Vladimir says that ideas come to him just by going about his daily life, solving productivity problems for his clients or promoting his work. He often says that a successful business means to “change or die,” so he now looks to gain more knowledge about human behavior and machine learning.The more he knows, the more he can teach, but from new editions of his book, more podcasts, and a growing calendar of live workshop dates, he knows that Evernote will be at the heart of it all.

Wow, what an amazing view!

Tue, 10 Jan 2017 01:00:00 +0100

She asked me for my name for the cup-writing thing and said, “Campos.” “That’s my family name,” she replied 🤭. I smiled and said it was in reality my family name too. We both laughed.

That was already a nice story for my journal, but when I sat down and looked out the window, there she was—the Sagrada Famlia church was right there in the corner.

Wow!

It is time to go to Cuba

Fri, 03 Jun 2016 17:46:00 +0100

The fact that President Obama is focusing on reestablishing diplomatic ties with Cuba is a significant development, but it also means that there is a good chance that things will begin to change there at a rapid pace. That’s why we decided it was time to visit Cuba and see the country as it is now.

We are currently living in Chile, but our passports are from Brazil, which created an interesting story.

The consular officer typed a form — yes, you heard that correctly, with a typing machine — and asked me to check if my personal information was correct. When I told him that I was born in Brazil, not Chile, he looked at me like I had done something horrible and started typing everything again.

After I confirmed all the information was correct this second time, he went back to his desk, typed something I couldn’t see, attached it to the wrong form, and filed everything. That was something I was not expecting at all. It is a level of bureaucracy that I thought I would only see in a comedy movie.

Algorithms to Live By

Mon, 30 May 2016 15:14:00 +0100

Algorithms to Live By is, undoubtedly, the most important book I have read. It shed light in the form of scientific explanations for many things I was already doing, but that I had learned the hard way.

If my memory doesn’t fail me, I learned about it in 2016 listening to a podcast while jogging in Santiago, where I lived at the time. The conversation blew me away, and I got the Kindle edition as soon as I got home. I bought the hard cover and the audio version a few years later.

It’s probably not a book for everyone because of the many detailed explanations. My suggestion is to download the sample to make sure it is something that’s compatible with the kind of books I enjoy reading.

Other books in my library.

Where is my red carpet?

Tue, 29 Mar 2016 00:00:00 +0100

Back in the 80s, when I was about 14, I boarded a Fokker F27 from TAM Airlines for the first time. The company was just another small regional airline in Brazil, and to compete with the big ones, part of the strategy was to provide a high-quality service. The memory of those early days is preserved by the phrase “The Magic Red Carpet” painted next to the cockpit windows of present-day planes.

Red carpets were actually placed by the stairs of each Fokker 50 during the boarding process, but this was just part of a broader plan. TAM gradually acquired other airlines and also became a CRM master, at a time, no other company in Brazil was technically prepared to explore this kind of personalized interaction with clients.

Among other magic moments, TAM call center would answer calls knowing the passenger’s names and agents would wish us a happy birthday at the check-in desk. It was remarkable, and it worked perfectly with other strategic moves. By the time I was finishing university, TAM was about to become the biggest airline in the country.

On the other coast of South America, another airline was also working on what would one day become an aviation giant. I didn’t have the opportunity to experience LAN’s services during their first years of operation, but I do remember flying with them when they were still Lan Chile, a single-country company. Years later, while they were acquiring airlines all over South America, I was visiting Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and several other countries on board those beautiful blue planes.

The two companies grew to a point where an acquisition or fusion was inevitable. Latam Airlines Group started as an agreement in 2010 and was officially born in 2011 after being approved by Chilean and Brazilian authorities. It was a logical move. They had strong operations in complementary countries, and it would be a combination of two amazing flying experiences. At least that’s what I thought. Unfortunately, after years of combined operation, costumers are still experiencing problems.

Since I was usually flying LAN on South America I ended up choosing Lanpass as my main frequent flyer program that, by the way, always had an agreement with TAM’s program even before Latam existence. But years after the merger and despite LAN’s Brazilian website informing visitors they should contact TAM, one cannot call or go to a TAM office to buy tickets or exchange millage points from LAN. The only option is LAN’s operation in Brazil, with few offices and a call center available only during business hours.

I ended up getting used to this crazy situation because there was no other option. But last Sunday I couldn’t believe on what was happening. I was trying to purchase a ticket from LAN’s website and the transaction wouldn’t go through. I tried it several times and the payment kept being rejected. I thought the problem could be related to some system at Visa working to prevent frauds, and I called the bank. They told me none of my attempts ever reached their system. That was the information I needed. Obviously, LAN’s website was to blame.

In a perfect world, calling LAN should be the easiest way to fix a case like this, but remember, there’s the crazy Latam situation. LAN in Brazil redirects calls to TAM when agents are off-duty, but TAM has no access to LAN’s system and therefore cannot help LAN’s costumers. Isn’t that crazy? The merger was approved 5 years ago!

After a lot of complaint, the TAM agent finally had an idea. She would create another reservation, and then I would be able to purchase the ticket. TAM’s new itinerary was created using the exact same flights I scheduled at LAN, and it would cost me an extra US$200. How is this even possible?

After four hours, trying to buy a simple ticket, I gave up and complained on Twitter. TAM replied using a pre-formatted answer, and LAN asked for my number and email address. Although I’m living in Brazil, I gave them my US VoIP number because I had already tried the Brazilian call center, and it didn’t work like I mentioned above.

Mr. Rodrigo Ramos called me from Chile on behalf of Latam, and he was wonderful. He patiently guided me through alternative paths and one of them finally worked. Overall, it looks like the problem was related to the ticket being purchased from Brazil on LAN’s website instead of TAM’s.

Did I get this right? Are we supposed to pay more to fly the exact same routes on board the same planes of the same company just because we happen to be in the wrong country? And by the way, I was purchasing a ticker to depart from and get back to Chile and not Brazil.

But what really amazes me is the fact that I was treated in an entirely different way just because I was talking to the same company in another country. If the systems are not yet one, TAM should at least have the decency to connect me to a LAN agent in situations like this. Is this asking for too much?

I can’t stress this enough: 5 years have passed since the merger was approved. Moreover, both companies recently promoted Latam using sentences like “Coming together to take care of people”, “Starting today LAN and TAM have the same rhythm” and “We care so that dreams reach their destinations”.

Gosh, how I miss that red carpet!

Reading

Sun, 27 Sep 2015 20:20:46 +0100

Taken with a real camera and sent to my iPhone 6 via an eyefi card. Then it was edited using Pixelmator for iOS, and finally sent to Flickr using the iOS send to feature.