Sunday, November 9, 2025
In the latest Hiro report, I read about an app called Roll N' Write for iPadOS. I had never heard about these print and play games and was wondering what they were about. I found the idea compelling, although I’m not a big RPG guy. I’ve downloaded the app, which looks decent, but as I am not a heavy iPad and Apple Pencil user anymore, I was more interested in the paper version. Especially because I recently found joy using pen and paper for some things in my life.
The app’s screenshots featured Dungeon Pages. Right now you can get the core set for free on this Kickstarter page. So, I’ve printed a dice tray, bought some normal dice, and laminated some sheets. I still have to defeat my first boss dungeon - the game is quite hard. I had lots of fun playing it whenever I felt I could waste some time doom scrolling through the socials. I haven’t gone down the rabbit hole of this whole new universe yet, but I think I might try 52 Realms next.
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
If I could wish for something completely unrealistic for the Switch 2, it would be Nintendo allowing users to legally digitize old game packs and cartridges on the device, and play them via emulation.
Imagine a Switch Online Plus subscription that permits connecting Nintendo-provided cartridge readers to your Switch. This reader (or readers) would support Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, NES, SNES, N64, Nintendo DS, and 3DS systems. Nintendo could sell them separately, potentially at premium prices.
Games would be copied to the Switch as virtual cards, playable only with a valid subscription linked to your account.
For DS and 3DS games, you could rotate the Switch 2 into portrait mode, attaching the rumored magnetic Joy-Cons (maybe with an optional adaptor) on the sides.
What’s there to lose? Nothing! Users still need an online subscription, and Nintendo could sell additional hardware. It’s a win-win situation, isn’t it?
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 â
The biggest problem with owning multiple gaming platforms is choosing the right one for a particular game. Those are the really tough decisions in life, I guess.
Sunday, May 5, 2024
In continuation of week 17, here are a few thoughts and things that caught my attention in the 18. week of 2024:
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đ Carlo just released a beta of UI Actions. It follows his awesome Actions for Obsidian, but with this you can script macOS apps that lack native shortcut integration. Definitely an app to keep an eye on, as an addition or alternative to Keyboard Maestro.
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đšī¸ It seems like every week a handful of new retro handhelds hit the market. Whether interest will wane due to Delta, I don’t know, but for those like me who have long lost track of all the different devices, take a look at Handheld List.
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đ° Following the humane AI pin disaster, the second AI gadget, rabbit R1, doesn’t fare much better: Rabbit R1: Barely Reviewable. But at least it’s orange, costs only a fraction of its sibbling, and looks totally cute on a shelf next to a playdate console. Speaking of which, in week 12 the crank handle of mine broke, I sent it in for repair, and now the replacement device has been waiting somewhere in America to be shipped for over 4 weeks đĸ. I’m curious to see if I will ever see my playdate again đ¤.
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đĻ On Bento3D you can easily click together boxes for your 3D printer according to your needs and download the corresponding .stl files. I wish it were compatible with Gridfinity.
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â¨ī¸ I am a long-time Typinator user and there are a bunch of other alternatives for text expansion, but someone mentioned Espanso. So, this might be worth checking out if you’re still on the hunt.
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đąī¸ As previously mentioned, I own a KeyCue license, which I don’t really utilize, but a nice feature is its ability to add your own shortcuts to menu entries. If you only want to use this feature and have so far not employed the cumbersome method of doing it via the Settings app, you might want to take a look at the free app CustomShortcuts â Customize menu keyboard shortcuts.
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â For months, the capacity display of my Apple Watch S7 stood at exactly 80%. Apple replaces the battery for free if it drops to 79% and you are paying for Apple Care. I was about to file a class-action lawsuit because I was sure the value would never drop to 79% đ. However, this week it finally happened and my watch was replaced. It’s great not to risk the watch refusing to work in the afternoon. I think this also means I can get by with my current model for another year and not be in a bind wanting a new one in the fall. What I found interesting was that despite a backup, not all settings were transferred to the new one. So, I had to search in vain in the Watch app on my phone and then in the settings directly on the watch for where to set that a simple swipe on the watch face switches to another. I couldn’t find it and had to consult the internet. I’ve had better experiences with Apple’s UI in the past I must say. A few other little things were also not set correctly. It’s as if an intern at Apple had quit, and now the latest settings are no longer included in the backup routine đ¤ˇââī¸.
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đŽ I had actually forbidden myself from buying games for other platforms if I already own them for one. Well, buying Hades for less than 9 EUR for the Steam Deck, even though I already have the PS5 version, was definitely the last exception đ¤Ļââī¸. Luckily, Nintendo stubbornly prevents me from logging into their eShop with my mobile phone (despite the disabled ad blocker and paused pi hole), so at least I’m not in danger of acquiring the Switch version as well.
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đ I wish it wouldn’t cost 300 âŦ to have Reader running on an E-Ink Android device.
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đ Anyone who has ever wanted to test how well they can type can do so by copying a book: Practice typing by retyping ENTIRE novels â TypeLit.io.
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đž The small 88x31 icons in the website footer are enjoying great popularity again. BTW those by Andy are awesome. If you want to take a look at the originals from GeoCities, you’ll find them here: THE 88Ã31 ARCHIVE.
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đŽ I don’t own a Nintendo 64 console, but I’ve already ordered an EVERDRIVE-64 X5 just in case đ¤ˇââī¸.
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đĨ Watched The Terminator with my sons. Also, I resubscribed to trakt.tv. I think the service is worth supporting.
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đ´ Finally got to ride my bike outside several times this week đĨ°.
Have a great week! đââī¸