Tag: iPhone

2022 Home Screen – iPhone 14 Pro

Nick MomrikLeave a comment

Here’s the yearly share of my iPhone home screen.

Not shown here, but during the golf season, the Golfshot app does move over to the bottom row on screen 1. The noticeable changes this year are:

  • New wallpaper.
  • Switched from Bear to Apple Notes since Brandi and I share several notes to organize and plan. It was easier for me to stick to one app instead of swapping between the two for different use cases.
  • Changed from Deliveries to Parcel for package tracking.
  • Stopped wearing a WHOOP band, so I moved the Settings app there.

Check out previous screenshots from 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2010.

Hidden Wireless Charging in my Desk

Nick Momrik1 Comment

After getting a set of AirPods this year I thought it would be nice to have wireless charging at my desk. I like using the touch pad on my MacBook pro, so this mouse pad drawer doesn’t get used and I got the idea to embed a charger in it.

img_2886.jpg

I bought a cheap $10 wireless charger.

img_2887

It won’t charge very quick, but it doesn’t have to when I’m sitting there working most of the day. I figured it would be a fun project and the worst that could happen is I fail and I’m out $10. I opened up the case and there wasn’t much to it.

img_2888

Then there was only one small screw to remove and the electronics were free.

img_2889

img_2890

I forgot to take any other pictures until I had put everything back together. After pulling up the top of the mouse pad, there was some foam underneath. I traced the electronics and USB cable to make a cut out in the foam. Then I used a chisel to carve out the particle board until there was a deep enough recess. I drilled a few holes for wires and the LED. I had cut the LED off of the circuit board so I could route it to the front of the drawer. I soldered on some wires to connect the LED back to the board, hot glued everything in place, and then used super glue to put the mouse pad top back on. Overall it was an ugly hack job. Over to the right is a picture of the holes and wiring underneath.

Check out this short video of the charging in action.

BTW, the mouse pad drawer has two identical halves, so if I ever decide to use a mouse again (it’s been at least 5 years since I had one), I’m good to go.

I Switched from AT&T Wireless to Spectrum Mobile

Nick MomrikLeave a comment

AT&T has been shit inside my house for the last six months or so. My phone makes weird noises to the people on the other end of a call and often cuts in and out unless I’m standing by my big kitchen window. So I’d been planning to switch to Verizon. Then a friend told me about Spectrum Mobile, which actually uses the Verizon network. They have two plans:

  • By the Gig: $14 per GB of data usage
  • Unlimited: $45 a month

The By the Gig plan sounded really cool and perfect for me because I usually use less than 1GB of data per month and rarely more than 2, unless I’m traveling. In the Spectrum account you can set notifications and it’s easy to switch between the two plans in the middle of a month, with no penalties. So if I was going to go over 3GB of usage, I’d just change to Unlimited for the month and then back after the billing cycle.

I’ve been paying about $73 a month for service through AT&T! That’s ridiculous for how little data I use and the handful of times I talk on the phone each month. If you don’t have a family plan, these cell phone companies basically rob you. $14-28 for most months with a maximum of $45 is much more reasonable.

The decision to switch was a win-win; better network and cheaper bill. I paid off the remaining 5 installments for my iPhone X and made the request for AT&T to unlock my phone. Then I ordered a free SIM card from Spectrum, paying a one-time activation fee of $10, plus $14 for the first month of service.

Screen Shot 2019-06-08 at 9.13.25 AM

Apparently the monthly charges even include the taxes and fees here in Michigan.

Screen Shot 2019-06-08 at 9.12.50 AM

I couldn’t believe how easy the entire process was. I never had to talk to anyone at AT&T to pay off or unlock my phone, which felt like a miracle. The Spectrum sign-up process was much better than any other time I’ve signed up for something with them (or the old Charter). After the SIM card arrived (in 3 days) I went through the activation (also a breeze) and I did have to call AT&T to cancel service with them.

Yesterday I called my mom for her birthday and I was able to have a conversation from my office, so it’s already much better than AT&T.

Skip iPhone X S?

Nick Momrik1 Comment

I’ve been getting the new iPhone every year since 3 or 4 I think, even the S models. I think I’m going to skip this year though. My iPhone X still runs great and I wasn’t too impressed with the updates for this round.

Are you upgrading from an X? If so, what got you excited?