David Chartier
276 Added | 2 Magazines | 4 Likes | 4 Following | 12,443 Followers | @chartier | Content Strategist and writer for hire. Tech Distiller.
In with a new MacBook
In 2015, I switched from a 13-inch MacBook Pro to a first-gen, 12-inch MacBook. In my enthusiasm for iPad and all things thin and light, I figured I …
MacBookTake the Power Back - iA
<b>You may have heard that the best way to deal with the “information overload” is to switch off your devices. To take a break from the Internet. Go for</b> …
Social Media📱 Apple Maps: Use 3D Touch on recent search results to call, open homepage, share
Apple Maps keeps a running list of your recent searches and locations below the search box. If you swipe to expand that list, you can 3D Touch on …
Apps📱 Quick skip between Spotlight result groups on iPad
<i>[Note: This tip was originally published in my newsletter]</i>If you use a keyboard with your iPad, you can use ⌘+Space to trigger Spotlight, just like …
Apps⌚️ Apple Watch is a great remote trigger, viewfinder for your iPhone’s camera
<i>[Note: This tip was originally published in my newsletter]</i>Your Apple Watch can be a remote shutter and viewfinder for your iPhone’s camera. Simply …
Apple Watch📱💻 Using a Commonplace Book to catalog your life’s journey, influences, and more
I’ve used Day One for years as a straightforward, personal journal. More recently, I started cataloging my work milestones and failures in a …
Writing📱 Anti-reminders can help build healthy habits, stick to your values
For a little while now, I’ve been focusing on building healthier habits. I’ve used a combination of creating a morning routine and the habit-tracker …
ProductivityEnlight has great video tutorials for turning your photos into art
Enlight for iPhone and iPad is one of my go-to photo editing apps. It has a strong set of tools for both basic edits and getting more creative with …
Video TutorialsNew habits and hobbies for 2018
I’m not generally one for new year’s resolutions. But I <i>do</i> pay attention to those times one has to draw a line in the sand to start something new. I’m …
Social MediaA guide for developers who bring Mac apps to the iPad
“What do you want our iPad version to do?”is the general question.Even though an increasing part of my business is helping developers to answer this …
AppsAn update on my Brydge Keyboard for iPad
A little while ago, I tried out a Brydge Keyboard for my 10.5-inch iPad Pro. <b>TL;DR</b>: It’s a nice, solid keyboard that works well for its intended …
IPad ProThe daily App Store
A couple months into the major iOS 11 App Store redesign, it’s become a daily “thing to check” for me.The stream of content on the Today tab is …
AppsThoughts on the Mac mini, running a business, and long teeth
Parts of the Apple community have been upset lately about the Mac mini left in update limbo for nearly three years. I get that the mini has a …
FlavorsIntroducing the Finer Things in Tech Patreon
I’ve been running this site for a few years now, and back in March I launched a weekly newsletter that’s received wonderful feedback. I want to take …
WritingThoughts on the Brydge Keyboard for 10.5-inch iPad Pro
I’ve had the Brydge Keyboard for my 10.5-inch iPad Pro for about two weeks now, and I have thoughts. My iPad is space gray, but I went with rose gold …
IPad Pro[Updated] Logitech will swap out my Circle 2 wireless camera for a wired version
UpdateThe wired camera arrived, a full retail unit with a box and all the extras to boot. In fact, I double-checked the box and their original …
Home AutomationGood Google Drive alternatives for collaborating on documents, notes, presentations, and more
Back in the day, Google Drive was early to market with a halfway decent, browser-based collaborative document editor. Relatively bare-bones and free, …
AppsYou can scroll the Files app menu on iPad
Just tap Show More. This is a pretty handy way to quickly get to a recent file.Doesn’t work on iPhone though.<br>Filed under: iOS, Tips Tagged: Files …
HandyThings 3 has kick-butt Siri support, including on Watch
“In Things, remind me to finish my blog posts tomorrow at 2pm.”“Show my Today list in Things.”“Add support Finer Things in Tech on Patreon using …
Apple WatchOscar and Maddy in the Apple Store
Much of the work I do for my business is helping app developers with their content—blogs, social media, documentation, occasional in-app UX, etc. One …
Apple StoreMy favorite behind-the-scenes iOS utilities
I rely on a handful of iOS utilities—things that help me or other apps get things done. I think they all deserve a lot more attention, so here’s my …
AppsA simple way to ease social media anxiety, use it as a positive, healthy distraction
I live in the U.S. and I am the most anxiety ridden and frequently demoralized about our current state of affairs than I have been in my adult life. …
Social MediaThe iTunes moment for Apple Watch
Before 2011, every iPhone and iPad had to be plugged into iTunes before you could use them. A Mac or PC was <i>required</i> for the activation and basic …
Apple WatchThings 3 after 5 months
Over the past few years, I’ve been searching for the right task manager for my needs. Doing both client work and freelance writing—almost entirely on …
Project ManagementMy first macOS ‘meh’ upgrade
I feel strange.There’s a big new version of macOS out today, High Sierra. Since I got my first Mac in 2002 and started writing about them in 2004, …
AppsYou can use your email for iMessage, plus it’s more identifiable
By default, your iCloud account is your iMessage to/from address. If you own an iPhone, your phone number is enabled for iMessage and, as far as I …
iMessageThe Windows Phone failure was easily preventable, but Microsoft’s culture made it unavoidable
<i>How could Microsoft’s Windows Phone licensing business model stand a chance against Google’s free and open Android? None of the Redmond giant’s complicated countermeasures worked—its smartphone platform is dead. And yet, inexplicably, Microsoft failed to use a very simple move, one we’ll explore</i> …
Apple: Watch exercise lab ‘collected more data on activity and exercise’ than any human performance study in history
Apple has granted <i>Men’s Health</i> a behind-the-scenes look at its exercise lab where it develops health and activity tracking features for the Apple Watch. Apple first unveiled its fitness facility in the run up to the original Apple Watch in 2015, and a new Apple Watch with LTE is expected to be …
A guide for switching from Dropbox to iCloud Drive
A while ago, I switched from Dropbox to iCloud Drive. I did it mainly because I realized I was paying for too many clouds and, between the two, …
Apps