6/20/2023: An ultrawide monitor changed everything
The ups and downs of ultrawide monitors
Plus: Free money from Google, cheap smart bulbs, and a neat way to use Pandora
A few months ago, I made a big change to my desktop PC workflow, though it had nothing to do with the actual computer or its software.
Instead, the shake-up involved swapping my pair of 24-inch desktop monitors for a single, 35-inch ultrawide display, which stretches much further than a traditional widescreen monitor. My particular monitor, the (oh-so straightforwardly-named) LG 35WN65C-B, has a resolution of 3440×1440, which gives it about 34% more horizontal real estate than a 2560×1440 widescreen monitor.
Ultrawides used to be a luxury in the monitor world, but prices have come down in recent years, and even basic computers like my $300 mini-PC have become powerful enough to push an ultrawide’s extra pixels without dedicated graphics cards. I picked one up partly out of curiosity, but also to address some specific annoyances that arose from my old dual-monitor setup.
While I’m happier with the new monitor overall, it’s been a bigger change than I expected, and not 100% for the better. If you’re similarly curious about living the ultrawide life, there are some things you should know first.
Need to know
Google Photos upgrades: If you pay for a Google One cloud storage plan, you already get a bunch of extra editing features in the Google Photos app. Now, some of those features—but not all of them—are heading to Google Photos’ web version. Those include portrait lighting and blur effects, color pop, and dynamic HDR adjustments. Still unavailable: The “Magic Eraser” that removes unwanted objects.
These are all nice, but I’d settle for a web editor that wasn’t utterly buggy and unresponsive half the time. (I mostly included this news item just to vent about it.)
Advanced Google smart home skills: In other Google news, the company’s throwing a bone to smart home power users with its new Script Editor, which can create powerful automation routines with some lightweight coding. For instance, you can program a motion sensor to turn on nearby lights only during certain evening hours, or turn on a set of fans when temperature and humidity reach a certain level. It may be a response of sorts to Home Assistant, whose deep customization potential has become beloved by tech enthusiasts.
Those who want to dive in can check out Google’s tutorial, examples, or documentation. You can then create routines through the Google Home web app, which is worth knowing about whether you’re mucking around with code-based automation or not.
Disney voice controls: Amazon has added a second voice assistant to its Echo speakers alongside Alexa, using “Hey Disney” voice commands for talking to Mickey Mouse and pals. Disney’s assistant supports basic requests such as timers or the weather, but it can also tell jokes, read stories, and play trivia games, with different characters chiming in depending on the request.
The catch? It costs $6 per year, though it’s included with Amazon’s Kids+ subscription service at no extra charge. You can give it a shot by saying “Alexa, introduce me to ‘Hey Disney.'”
Tip of the moment
Free money from Google: If you performed at least one Google search between October 2006 and September 2013, you can probably get a handful of dollars as part of a class action lawsuit settlement.
The case involves Google’s inclusion of search terms in the “referrer headers” that help websites see where their traffic is coming from. Users sued over this practice in 2010, alleging that it revealed sensitive search data to websites. (Nevermind that measuring inbound search queries is now standard practice on pretty much every website, but maybe I’m missing some of the nuance here. There’s also a complicated backstory on why the settlement is just happening now.)
In any event, those who used Google during the offending timeframe can register for a class member ID on the settlement website, then use that ID—which gets sent via email—to submit a claim.
The whole process only takes a minute or two, and after the settlement gets final approval, you’ll get an estimated $7.70 for your troubles, payable through a variety of options including PayPal or Venmo. That’s at least more than what Google usually pays users for doing what it pleases with their search data.
Now try this
Pandora, but cooler: Pianobar is a delightful little utility that lets you listen to music from Pandora via a command line interface. You can select stations by number, or hit ? to view all available keyboard commands. It’s a fun way to navigate Pandora’s streaming service, but the real kicker is that it seems to avoid commercial breaks and song skip limits.
Download the Windows version (found under “Releases”), then extract the ZIP file and run the included EXE. For MacOS or Linux, use the Terminal app and follow these instructions.
More geeky apps: Pianobar is one of many neat apps I’ve come across while plumbing the depths of GitHub, the software development site that’s also a surprisingly great source of software. I wrote all about Github’s hidden treasures in this PCWorld story.
Around the web
- Uber is larding up its app with video ads.
- Please don’t talk to ChatGPT through your car.
- Some new PC games are starting to drop HDD support.
- Pixel phones are getting more features, including a wallpaper maker.
- Great read on AI and music: “I hope you never listen alone.”
Spend wisely
If you’re looking to get into home automation, smart bulbs are a nice way to get started. Right now, you can get a pair of multicolor BR30 Wi-Fi bulbs for $23 when you clip the on-page coupon. These bulbs from Meross work with every major smart home platform, including Alexa, Apple Home, Google Assistant, and SmartThings, with no hub or bridge required.
Thanks for reading!
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Until next week,
Jared