Weird Limitation on this 3 knob 11 key macroboard...

A while back, I'm not sure where, I picked up this macro keyboard that has 3 rotating encoders (knobs) and 11 keys. However, I can't find a use for it at the time, so I put it back in the box. (I actually also have a single knob 6 key version I probably bought off Temu)  Now that I dug it out again, I start to wonder what can I do with it. 

Took me a while, but I FINALLY found the right driver for it. It was made by Videyt, but their download website is NOT well designed. The software listed next to the device actually will NOT work. I had to download the version just above it, the "upgraded" version's software, to see the device. 

And somehow Chrome won't finish the download. Had to bring out Firefox to download the file correctly. 

Then there's the problem of setting "layers". You see, while the software claims to support 3 layers of settings, there seems to be no key or keymapping in the software that lets you toggle through the layers. 

It wasn't until I find better description of the device that I realize there isn't one. There is an EXTERNAL button that toggles among the 3 layers. The button was so tiny and recessed flat I thought it was a reset or Bluetooth pairing request button. It wasn't until I saw a diagram that labelled the LED as layer indicator that I realized there's only a manual switch. Yes, I know this is not an exact match, but it's close enough. And yes, mine has RGB lights... and Bluetooth. 

Probably should have paid a bit more so I can get one that's compatible with GMK or VIA firmware... so I can toggle layers via one of the keys, not a switch. Hahaha. Still, those are like $70-100, whereas this one... is about $35-45. (The little 1 knob 6 key one is like... $10-15?)

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App Discovery: Obsidian may be the best Evernote alternative, with MUCH MUCH MORE POWER through community plug-ins

Obsidian and rings among rocks, via Unsplash

Obsidian started out simple: a way to link and hierarchically organize a bunch Markdown (.md) files which themselves can contain links to other Markdown files, photos, videos, URLs, and much more. However, with a bit of tweaking, it became a full notetaking and note organizing app. And with additional of graph view, it became a visual tool as well, that lead many thinkers calling it "building your second brain". 

And it's free. 

There are two features that the company charge for, such as Obsidian Sync, and Obsidian Publish, but as a personal user, you don't need those features. Sync lets you clone your entire "vault" of Markdown notes and replicate it to other devices such as those of your collaboration team mates with full Git integration, while Publish turns, with a few tweaks, your vault into a public Wiki or Knowledge base, that you can edit on the fly. Personal uesrs don't need these. These are really for companies, which can also purchase at the cost of $50 per year per user, commercial license to receive priority support. But remember, personal use is free, forever. 

And it accepts "Community Plug-ins", developed by the Obsidian community that turns Obsidian into a Kanban board, adds omni-search across entire vault, enhances editing capabilities, quick citing of Wikipedia, and much much more. 

There is a way to migrate data from Evernote to Obsidian, but it's not a quick process, as you need to re-tag and re-arrange almost everything. But once you do, you'll find yourself wondering why you waited so long to do it. 

Restaurant Review: Tommy's Joynt (1 star out of 5, do NOT recommend)

I was at CPMC Van Ness, and for lunch, I decided to try Tommy's Joynt, supposedly a San Francisco institution with a 75+ year history. Never been there, and now I've tried it, never going back. 

(Tommy's Joynt is at 1101 Geary, cross Van Ness)

I decided to try a "slim dinner plate", which is a meat entree (I picked "brisket"), and 2 sides (I picked mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables). 

This is what I actually got: 

Instead of "brisket", what I actually got was shredded beef. 

The mashed potato gravy have sweet bits, doesn't taste like gravy. 

The dinner roll was COLD. COLDER than the butter it was served with. 

And the "steamed vegetables"? I got BOILED string beans (yes, I saw him fished it out of a steel vat.)

I am NOT going back, EVER. 

App Discovery: PEACE and EqualizerAPO for Windows -- what Microsoft should have included

Photo by David James on Unsplash

When you think about it, the sound system in Windows is extremely primitive. It doesn't even have treble/bass, much less an equalizer! 

That's where the free EqualizerAPO comes in. Yes, it's free. Yes, it works in almost ALL versions of Windows, including latest Win11. 

However, EqualizerAPO doesn't have a graphical interface, which is where PEACE comes in. This gives you EQ presets, hotkeys, and more so you can switch setup on the fly. 

Install EqualizerAPO first, then PEACE. 

Now enjoy your Windows audio PROPERLY. 

Completely Metal-less Eyeglasses? AND Cheap? That's Eyekeeper for you!

Recently came across EyeKeeper (affiliate link), who had developed a whole series of eyeglasses frames that are completely metal-less. And what's better, you can buy readers of each style for $30, in 6 different color variations, so you can pick a color that coordinates with your outfit. (AND there's a discount code to take 30% off)  

You want prescription glasses, blue-light-blocking glasses, or sunglasses instead? No problem. They can do that too (subject to extra cost, of course).  Prescription glasses can go as low as $15 each... So you can afford to get it in multiple colors! 

Oh, and check their warehouse clearance section too. Can you believe they have titanium-framed blue light blocking glasses for less than $12 after a discount code? (US warehouse $22.99, use 50CPW to get another 50% off). 

Yes, I bought 2 already.  Use discount code KASEYCHANG for 15% off (or use the affiliate link above). Enjoy! 

App Discovery: Camo -- why not use your smartphone as your PC webcam?

PCs generally do not come with a webcam, though laptops do. Yet the ones come with laptop are... tiny and non-upgradable. Sure, you can BUY a webcam... but why do that when there's usually at least two perfectly great cameras... in your smartphone, that's usually MUCH better than any webcam? You don't know how? Let me introduce you to Camo. 

Basically, you download Camo.Studio on the PC side, and the Camo app on the smartphone side (yes, Android and iOS compatible). Start the pairing mode, scan the QR code with the Camo app (make sure both are on the same Wifi) and voila, your smartphone cam and microphone can be used on the PC as if it's a webcam input. And you can tune it with your Camo.Studio before using it as a video feed for anything else... Zoom, Google Meet, Youtube Live, and so on. 

Your smartphone's camera are usually much more capable than any webcam. On my OG Google Pixel 6 (Pixel 8 is already out, you know) even the FRONT camera is 8 MP. Most webcams are barely capable of 1080p, unless you pay for the premium ones. Why would you? 

Best of all... All this is FREE! Both Camo.Studio and the companion app are free! Yes, they do sell a premium subscription if you want HIGHER resolution feed, more tuning power, more profiles, presets, frames, presets, but that's not my job to explain EVERYTHING to you. 

It's FREE. Just download it and TRY it yourself! How you mount it... I leave up to you. 

Not So Crap Stuff from China: the Xiaomi Mitu Fidget Cube

Another item I picked up from Aliexpress recently (and strangely, it's ONLY available on Aliexpress, not on Temu) is the Xiaomi Mitu Fidget Cube. While they sometimes go as low as $1.00 USD, the usual price is $3 or so, which makes them a little overpriced when you can find a metal version for about $5 on Temu. These are supposed to come in a "blind bag" (i.e. random, could be metallic, ceramic, or just plain plastic in a couple different colorways) Personally, you would probably end up with the most numerous white/gray plastic version, which is why I said it's a bit overpriced if not on sale. 

Anyway, my "cube" arrived UNASSEMBLED. It has no less than 8 small cubes, 8 cross-links, and 16 connecting rods, plus a double-length rod to help alignment in assembly. Fortunately, there are clear graphical instructions. Please study it CAREFULLY. If you assemble it wrong, you won't be able to get it to bend properly, and thus, won't be able to fidget with it. It took me a couple times to assemble it properly, mainly because I missed a few details on the assembly diagram. 

This is someone else's video, but it's basically this, except I got a white and brown with white connectors, not blood orange connectors like the one in the picture.  

At about $1 USD, this would be worth it. Try not to pay $3, okay?