After five years in hiding, I’m back
Long time readers of Pocketables may remember me from several years back — if for nothing else, then for the Tasker articles I used to write. My last post on this site prior to today was on August 14, 2013, which feels like forever ago.
Back then I had just started a new job, as well as a full-time Master’s degree program, and I felt it was time to focus on that instead of writing. In the beginning I missed writing, but I also enjoyed the freedom of not having to care about the tech industry outside of my own personal interests. I initially thought I might go back some day, but as the years went on, that felt less likely.
Now, in 2018, things have changed. Specifically, Pocketables is back in private hands, where it was when I first started writing for Anythingbutipod and later Pocketables. It didn’t take me long from seeing Paul was taking over the site to sending off an email to him letting him know I was interested in coming back. Writing started as a hobby for me, and that’s something I feel is dependent on the site being in private hands.
My presence on this site going forward will be different from what it was five years ago. First and foremost, I have little interest in writing more about Tasker, at least not in the same manner as before. Firstly, Mat is doing an excellent job of that already, and I’m thrilled the Tasker coverage on the site has continued with him. Secondly, while I still use Tasker, I no longer explore every new feature that’s added — which is a full time job with how João Dias revolutionizes it with plug-ins every few days (congratulations to him on taking over Tasker development!). My Tasker use nowadays is pretty limited to some everyday tools that help my phone do its job, with little new going on from one month to the next. That being said, I still think Tasker offers more than Android itself, and there are still some things I can share from my current setup. It is however a pretty finite supply this time around, although there are other customization apps I’ve learned to use since last time that might take its place as my focus.
Other than that, my focus will be on the things I like — which haven’t changed much over the years. In fact, my Editor’s Spotlight from six years ago is still extremely (or perhaps “scarily”) valid today. DIY and squeezing new features out of existing devices is pretty much my tech philosophy these days as well, and I’m still split between iOS and Android (and Windows, with my Surface). Expect topics of that sort, alongside some coverage of the Nintendo Switch, which I bought on release and have been both loving ever since.
It’s great to see Pocketables is still going after so many years, and great to see so many (to me) new faces moving it forwards. Paul has done an awesome job running the site these past years and with him at the helm I hope to help populate the site with independent, honest, and original content.
