Drawn to light

1 day ago

Workflowy note-taking and organising

Workflowy is an online app (so works in a browser - there are apps for phones and PCs too). On the face of it, Worklfowy seems to be just a bulleted list maker and, at the basic level, that's all it is. However, as you use it, it becomes more and more useful: You can embed other files - photos, weblinks, documents - into notes; tag notes with #-tags for categorisation or dates (tag a todo list with #today, #nextweek etc); backlink notes with eachother, so jump from one to another; share and collaborate with others by sharing links and notes. Because it's a cloud app, apps on your computer and phone and on the web are always in sync. There's a free option that includes a lot or an inexpensive paid-for version. I did a lot for free, but now pay. Privacy policy and security are excellent.

Android 12

While most of my friends, colleagues and clients (some are all 3!) are dedicated iPhone users, I inhabit the shadows of Androidland. Happily, I add, as long as I have a Pixel phone made by Google so my device has the same relationship with its operating system as Apple's devices do with theirs. Android 12 which has just been released, has been described as the most significant release of Android since v5. I am updating my phone at the moment and will post any significant discoveries here.

2 days ago

Super Agent Browser Extension

Browser extensions: "a small software module for customizing a web browser" (Wikipedia). They add functionality such as ad-blocking and automation such as Super Agent, today's feature. Be selective and make sure you trust the the extensions you install - too many can slow down your browser and some have contained malware in the past. Super Agent is an extension that automates accepting those annoying cookie pop-ups while maintaining your privacy. "We're all tired of complex cookie consent pop-ups that are hard to read, understand and navigate. Oftentimes, we just click accept to quickly get to the content. With Super Agent, you can now choose your preferences once and, for every supported website, this extension will automatically consent to your preferences for you." (Super Agent's own blurb). HT: JR Raphael, Android Intelligence

Super Agent website

3 days ago

File sync and share on your infrastructure

Originally posted in 2018: Using NextCloudPi, a preconfigured Raspberry Pi image with NextCloud, I now have a working online file depository using my own infrastructure and equipment. A Raspberry Pi connected to a USB external drive is all the hardware needed, and a download of the NextCloudPi image and a domain host at NoIp.com takes care of the software and domain handling. NCP's set up wizard and a little network port-forwarding tinkering made the whole set up a breeze. Bravo.

NextCloudPi