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# Numeric Citizen Introspection Newsletter #16
- URL: https://numericcitizen.me/2021-11/
- Published: 2021-11-29T13:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2023-10-06T21:39:24.000Z
- Description: My numeric life summary for the month of November of 2021. Is a nine days vacation a sign of the return to normalcy? A newly discovered COVID variant is a reminder that we’re not done yet. #newsletter #apple #photography #privacyprotection #climatechange
- Author: JF Martin
- Tags: Newsletter, climate, photography, Apple, privacy protection

![Montage by Basic Apple Guy. I find this to be welcoming.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/90/db90e17a-b0ed-4eb3-8db1-a5b434dbead1/content/images/2021/11/FinderMacIconsEvolution.jpeg)

Montage by Basic Apple Guy. I find this to be welcoming.

![](https://numeric-citizen-introspection.ghost.io/content/images/2021/11/NCI-Sections-Banners-001-1.jpg)

Post ***highlights*** from [my Numeric Citizen Blog](https://numericcitizen.me/), my [microblog](https://numericcitizen.micro.blog/?ref=numericcitizen.me), [my Medium page](https://numericcitizen.medium.com/?ref=numericcitizen.me) or from [my Numeric Citizen I/O](https://numericcitizen.io/?ref=numericcitizen.me) blog for the month of November.

`Which device I use and for what?`

As you probably know, ***I’m a big Apple user***. As such, I own an iPhone, a MacBook Air, a Mac mini and an iPad Pro. As a content creator, all these devices are used at one point or another. I was so curious to know how much time I spend on each device that [I started tracking my time](https://numericcitizen.me/2021/09/19/why-and-how-im-tracking-time-with-toggl/). [Results are surprising](https://numericcitizen.me/2021/11/04/which-device-i-use-and-for-what/).

`Remembering the early days of the Macintosh`

It’s always fun to remember the old days. This is what happened when I found [this little floppy disks box](https://numericcitizen.micro.blog/2021/11/06/remembering-macintosh-floppies.html?ref=numericcitizen.me), dating back to 1985\. Floppy disks for the ***Macintosh 512Ke***.

`Enough for the exposure notifications`

I’m living in Canada. More than 85% of the population is vaccinated. I recently turned off the ***exposure notifications*** feature on my iPhone. I explain why in [this blog post](https://numericcitizen.micro.blog/2021/11/07/exposure-notifications-still.html?ref=numericcitizen.me).

`Sometimes: JPEG > ProRAW`

If you are new to the iPhone 12 or iPhone 13, you probably know that you can take pictures in ProRAW format instead of the default format, which is JPEG. ***ProRAW format*** can take up to ten times more storage space on your device and in iCloud. Is it worth it? Not always, find out when exactly in [this article](https://numericcitizen.micro.blog/2021/11/07/from-proraw-to.html?ref=numericcitizen.me).

`The Love Story Continues With the iPhone`

This year, I upgraded to the ***iPhone 13 Pro*** after skipping last year’s iPhone 12\. Coming from the iPhone 11 Pro, [it is a significant upgrade](https://numericcitizen.me/2021/11/13/upgrading-from-the-iphone-11-pro-to-iphone-13-pro-the-love-story-continues/). It’s the best and most portable camera I ever owned. The best camera is the one that you have in your pocket, all the time.

`YouTube Dislike the Dislike Button`

YouTube is removing the ***dislike button*** feature. It is a controversial decision. While trying to help some YouTubers, others find the decision highly questionable. [My take](https://numericcitizen.me/2021/11/13/like-the-dislike-put-the-decision-in-creators-hands/): let the content creator decide.

![](https://numeric-citizen-introspection.ghost.io/content/images/2021/11/NCI-Sections-Banners-002-1.jpg)

1️⃣ Since the ***iPhone*** got the ***MagSafe*** technology, Apple put it in good use to display the iPhone on display tables. [Photos of the iPhone standing in the air](https://9to5mac.com/2021/08/02/apple-retail-store-magsafe-iphone-dock/?ref=numericcitizen.me) give a great look at the setup. The stand design puts the device closer to the potential customer's hands and reduces clutter. If Apple made those stands for a single iPhone, they could sell a boatload of them. Don’t miss [this visual summary](https://9to5mac.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/iPhoneDisplayEvolution.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&ref=numericcitizen.me) of the iPhone display stand evolution.

2️⃣ Apple runs surveys from time to time to ask its users what they think about their product. They did just that with the ***discontinued 12” MacBook***. Is Apple thinking about bringing it back? I certainly hope so, if such a MacBook would look like this one:

> I'm in love. [https://t.co/YmQK8K7HJO](https://t.co/YmQK8K7HJO?ref=numericcitizen.me)
> 
> — 🅰🅿🅿🅻🅴\_🄾🄱🅂🄴🅁🅅🄴🅁 (@apple\_observer) [November 13, 2021](https://twitter.com/apple%5Fobserver/status/1459329745993224192?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=numericcitizen.me)

3️⃣ Apple wins patents all the time. Consider [this recent example](https://9to5mac.com/2021/08/24/apple-wins-patent-for-dual-display-macbook-with-virtual-keyboard-and-wireless-charging-capabilities/?ref=numericcitizen.me), as reported by 9To5Mac. It’s a ***MacBook*** using a screen to replace the traditional keyboard. Could this become the next iteration of the ***TouchBar***? Instead of being a stripe at the top of the keyboard, it’s the full thing. I’m not certain if it would be a success. People like physical keys. Recent changes to the MacBook line, that essentially undo five years of bad keyboard designs, should help dissipate any doubts.

4️⃣***Here’s to the crazy ones***. ***BasicAppleGuy*** is certainly one of them. This guy never ceases to impress with his work related to Apple tech. He recently published a piece about the use of the famous lines that Steve Jobs read during the ***Think Different*** ad campaign. Every Apple user can find these lines in plain sight. Don’t miss [this article](https://basicappleguy.com/basicappleblog/heres-to-the-crazy-ones?ref=numericcitizen.me) to find out where. It’s really the result of some great numerical archeologic work.

5️⃣ Not sure if you should ***upgrade*** to the ***iPhone 13***? Check this [clever upgrader guide](https://sixcolors.com/post/2021/09/the-iphone-13-an-upgraders-guide/?ref=numericcitizen.me), which will point you out which features you’ll get compared to the iPhone you currently own. The older your device, the better, obviously.

![](https://numeric-citizen-introspection.ghost.io/content/images/2021/11/NCI-Sections-Banners-003-1.jpg)

As photographers, what should we make of the once-popular [**iPhone photography contest**](https://www.ippawards.com/?ref=numericcitizen.me)? Well, not too much according to Shawn King of [The Loop](https://www.loopinsight.com/2020/07/22/be-wary-of-the-iphone-photography-awards/?ref=numericcitizen.me). Dubious jury composition, pay-to-play business model, scarce information on social media accounts, and finally:

> The 2020 iPhone Photograph Awards “Photographer of the Year” Dimpy Bhalotia’s “Flying Boys” photo also won 2nd place in the “Movement/Street Photography” category of the International Photography Awards. *But the rules of the IPPAwards say photos can’t have been posted elsewhere. Ooops*.

In summary, if you want to submit your best work as a photographer to a photo contest, maybe there are better alternatives. Try **500px’s Quests**, you have to be a paying member of 500px, but submitting your photos is free. [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/awards?ref=numericcitizen.me) is a completely free service, and submitting photos is also free. Please do yourself a favour, and don’t start playing GuruShots. I wrote about this in [GuruShots Tips and Tricks Guide — The 2021 Edition — Part I](https://numericcitizen.me/2021/02/07/gurushots-tips-and-tricks-guide-the-2021-edition-part-i/) and [GuruShots Tips and Tricks Guide — The 2021 Edition — Part 2](https://numericcitizen.me/2021/02/10/gurushots-tips-and-tricks-guide-the-2021-edition-part-2/).

If you like historical photos, take a few moments to appreciate this montage. Old family photos were overlaid on modern views of the same place where the original photos were taken. It’s a great idea in my opinion and the results are quite something.

> I've taken some old family photos of my Grandparents, Great-Grandparents and Great-Great-Grandparents at various sites in Clapham and Hammersmith between 1905 the end of WWII and overlaid them onto modern views of of the locations. [pic.twitter.com/5PAbzvPENm](https://t.co/5PAbzvPENm?ref=numericcitizen.me)
> 
> — BabelColour (@StuartHumphryes) [April 16, 2021](https://twitter.com/StuartHumphryes/status/1382980781488934912?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=numericcitizen.me)

Here is a nice and very touching YouTube video (“***Float***”) entirely shot with the iPhone 13 Pro. A professional videographer would probably see numerous visual imperfections, but for most people, it won’t matter. The story will matter. Considering this was done with a smartphone, it’s quite incredible.

I’ll close this section with a visual peek at something that I’m working on. It will take a full year to complete. [Enjoy the start of it](https://numericcitizen.me/photo-legend-29/).

![Something that I'm working on](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/90/db90e17a-b0ed-4eb3-8db1-a5b434dbead1/content/images/2021/11/My-Post.png)

Something that I'm working on

![](https://numeric-citizen-introspection.ghost.io/content/images/2021/11/NCI-Sections-Banners-004-1.jpg)

Here is something we’re going to see more and more.

> Expect more of this. [pic.twitter.com/xD8CBr2IDc](https://t.co/xD8CBr2IDc?ref=numericcitizen.me)
> 
> — Horace Dediu (@asymco) [November 12, 2021](https://twitter.com/asymco/status/1459071206154551316?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=numericcitizen.me)

![](https://numeric-citizen-introspection.ghost.io/content/images/2021/11/NCI-Sections-Banners-005-1.jpg)

9to5Mac has published a useful guide on [how to use two-factors features in macOS Monterey](https://9to5mac.com/2021/11/16/use-safari-password-manager-and-2fa-autofill/?ref=numericcitizen.me). On ***macOS***, ***Safari*** is the only way to manage your passwords. I’ll refrain from using Apple’s solution for ***two-factors setup*** until Apple builds a real password manager application for all its platforms. Until then, I’ll have to stay on [1Password](https://1password.com/?ref=numericcitizen.me) and [Authy](https://authy.com/?ref=numericcitizen.me).

Things are getting ugly in the ***ransomware*** “business” as [attackers are setting a hefty price tags](https://therecord.media/revil-gang-asks-70-million-to-decrypt-systems-locked-in-kaseya-attack/?ref=numericcitizen.me) to end an attack. The fascinating [story](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REvil?ref=numericcitizen.me) of the ***REvil group*** is documented on Wikipedia. REvil group was operating on the Ransomeware-as-a-service (RaaS) business model.

![](https://numeric-citizen-introspection.ghost.io/content/images/2021/11/NCI-Sections-Banners-006-1.jpg)

> A common mistake I see in UI work is fades/transitions taking too long. UI should work in "game time", not "cinematic time". A transition should happen as fast as an impatient user can button mash–a small-integer number of frames. — ***John Carmack***

> Lies are free on the internet while the truth is behind a paywall. — ***Nathan J. Robinson***

> Meta is just a way to metastasize our social cancer aka Facebook. — ***Om Malick***

![](https://numeric-citizen-introspection.ghost.io/content/images/2021/11/NCI-Sections-Banners-007-1.jpg)

1️⃣ Dear ***Zuck***, I don’t want this future. The future you are envisioning isn’t mine and won’t ever be mine.

> The future no one wants brought to you by the guy no one likes — [@Meta](https://twitter.com/Meta?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=numericcitizen.me) [pic.twitter.com/rUXvMlwDa6](https://t.co/rUXvMlwDa6?ref=numericcitizen.me)
> 
> — jason@calacanis.com (@Jason) [November 16, 2021](https://twitter.com/Jason/status/1460729270435680257?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=numericcitizen.me)

2️⃣ I really wish I knew [these lessons and tips](https://world.hey.com/michaelhe/basic-college-first-year-lessons-f9552c29?ref=numericcitizen.me) when I was attending college and university. Even though many are related to being in a pandemic, others apply at any time while at school. My favourite one: ***learn something you care about***.

3️⃣ ***I admire Microsoft***’s efforts in trying to be on their own with the Surface. Head to this summary of Microsoft’s announcements [here](https://www.macrumors.com/2021/09/22/microsoft-surface-laptop-studio-and-duo-2/?ref=numericcitizen.me).

4️⃣ ***Maintaining a blog or a newsletter is such a fragile endeavour***. I can see myself in the same boat in the future, far, far away. I guess everything comes to an end eventually. Is this [the last post](https://inessential.com/2021/10/04/in%5Fcase%5Fi%5Fdont%5Fwrite%5Fhere%5Fagain?ref=numericcitizen.me) on ***Brent Simmons***’ blog?

5️⃣ Speaking of writing, It is interesting to think about how ***writing habits*** evolve as we get older. [Writing is mostly a reflection of our personal interests](https://om.co/2021/08/07/where-did-the-words-go/?ref=numericcitizen.me).

![](https://numeric-citizen-introspection.ghost.io/content/images/2021/11/NCI-Sections-Banners-008-1.jpg)

It seems ***we’re not done with COVID yet***. Consider this map of COVID infections in the US between August and November. WTF?

> Almost opposites [pic.twitter.com/I3owU5PKse](https://t.co/I3owU5PKse?ref=numericcitizen.me)
> 
> — Eric Topol (@EricTopol) [November 7, 2021](https://twitter.com/EricTopol/status/1457438899580456968?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=numericcitizen.me)

[***Omicron***](https://www.bbc.com/news/health-59418127?ref=numericcitizen.me), a new virus variant, is out. Many countries are re-enabling measures to try to control the contamination, as they don’t know how deadly the new variant is. Symptoms of infected people are extremely mild, apparently [according to Dr. Angelique Coetzee](https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-59450988?ref=numericcitizen.me).

On a more positive note, I decided to back this Kickstarter Project: [a book about application icons](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/flarup/the-ios-app-icon-book?ref=numericcitizen.me) by Michael Flarup “***The iOS App Icon Book***”, a famous icon designer from Denmark who worked at Apple.

---

This concludes the Numeric Citizen Introspection Newsletter #16 for November 2021\. This is the first issue to come out of my new home, as previously [announced on my Substack page](https://numericcitizen.substack.com/p/moving-out-of-substack/comments).

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