The Technology That DRASTICALLY Increased My Creative Output in 2023

I love creating stuff. This is something I think that gets missed in some of the talk around toxic productivity. I certainly don’t agree that we should be working every single minute of the day, I do not subscribe to the “grind” mentality.

But I do,however, find myself “working” when I’m supposed to be relaxing. That’s because I really enjoy making things. The Bioneer is a labour of love and, given the choice, I’ll happy spend an evening redesigning my logo, or creating some 3D graphics for my next video. I like to be inspired, and then I like to try and translate the feelings I get from that into my work. 

They might just be “fitness videos,” but I view them as art. Pretentious as that may be. And I think that helps me avoid getting into that “productivity at all costs” mindset. 

I also love writing. My idea of a perfect evening would be sitting in a coffee shop, typing, and watching the world go by. I love creating new training programs that get maximum results in the shortest time. I love creating apps that solve problems. I love exploring different ideas – and feeling like I’m touching something beyond my reach, while sitting comfortably at home. 

That’s why I love technology. The right technology allows me to better bring my visions to life. It makes the process of creating videos, articles, books, and apps more enjoyable and less of a chore. It liberates me to work from wherever I like. 

This year, I’ve made a few purchases that have absolutely changed the game for me, in terms of how I work. I want to share those with you guys, in case they can do the same for you.

GPD Win Max 2: 2023 With the GPD G1

If you’ve frequented this blog enough, you’ll probably have heard me sing GPD’s praises before. GPD is a company that makes tiny computers and tiny gaming devices. I have a weird fetish for tiny computers, so I’ve backed multiple projects of theirs on Indiegogo.

The Win Max 2 is, for me, their crowning achievement. This is a very small laptop that is only just too big to fit in your pocket, but which nevertheless packs insane power for its size. I just upgraded to the 2023 model, which brings with it the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, 64GB RAM, and 2TB of storage. It has excellent I/O with an SD card slot, micro SD card slot, thunderbolt 4, HDMI, USB-C, USB-A, and Oculink.

Why is this so useful? Initially, my interest in small computers began as a writer. I like being able to whip out a device I can type on comfortably, to start writing pretty much anywhere. I’ll often place a computer on the countertop in the kitchen to start writing. This is great if I have an idea and I want to capture it right away.

I also like writing like this because it feels more social. In the evening, I like to chill with my wife on the sofa. If I get out a full-sized laptop, I feel like I’m being antisocial. Using a small, 8”(ish) laptop feels more like using a phone. It’s great for multi-screening and chatting. This might seem like an odd thing to focus on, but it’s actually massive for me.

The fact that the GPD Win Max 2 has built in game controls (thumsticks, triggers, and buttons) also comes in handy. With a flick of a switch, these controls can be used to move the mouse, which means you can actually do upright computing. Stand or sit up and navigate the mouse around, clicking on things with your thumbs and index fingers, rather than being tied to a desk.

As it turns out, I found a better device for typing on. BUT I have still been using the Win Max 2 loads. Primarily, this has become my camera-bag companion. I can sling the GPD Win Max 2 in my camera bag and it will add very little extra weight. I can then quickly and easily view my videos, make backups, clear space on the SD card etc. The GPD Win Max 2 has great battery life (and allows you to alter the TDP) meaning I don’t need to worry about charging, either.

In short, having a full Windows PC in this small form factor is extremely useful for me, and maybe it will be for you.

Oh, and with the GPD G1 GPU, you can increase the graphical horsepower as easily as plugging in a thunderbolt cable or Oculink. This makes 

iPad Mini

I mentioned earlier that I actually found a better device for typing on. That device is the iPad Mini. I have an iPad mini 5, which is pretty old at this point, but it’s still just perfect for my needs. I’ve paired it with a keyboard cover from Brydge and, together, they turn the device into a tiny laptop.

Now, I tried lots of keyboards and most of them sucked. They had terrible key travel and mushiness and layouts. It made typing on the device genuinely impossible. But the Brydge is wonderful. Still a little cramped, of course, but I’m used to it thanks to my experience with tiny computers. In terms of feel, the keyboard is honestly not that far removed from a Magic Keyboard on a larger, newer iPad.

What makes this device incredible is that it turns on in an instant. It’s an ARM processor so, like a phone, it’s always ready to go. Better yet, it automatically connects to my iPhone when there’s no internet available elsewhere. And all the documents are automatically uploaded to iCloud.

It’s even smaller and lighter than the GPD Win Max 2 and will actually fit in a pocket. So, I can sit it on the side in the kitchen while I’m cooking, for example, write a few words in Apple Notes or Pages, and then have them available on my MacBook when I’m back at the office or in “work mode.”

It honestly makes for one of the best writing experiences going and I also like using it to take notes and make plans in Notion, or to chat with ChatGPT. 

DJI Osmos Pocket 3

I’ve been into tiny computers for a while. But, this year, I also began an infatuation with little cameras!

The DJI Osmos Pocket 3 is a new little vlogging camera that has a 1” sensor, a 20mm f2 aperture, and a built-in gimbal.

For those not versed in camera jargon… That basically means you get one of the best cameras you’re ever going to find on a camera small enough to fit in your pocket. The one inch sensor is a big deal and, paired with the f2 aperture, means you actually get a little depth of field going on – that slightly blurred out background that is so associated with the “cinematic look.” It’s not tons, mind, but it’s certainly enough to offer some good looking footage. 

The comparatively large sensor and physical gimbal also mean you get excellent low-light performance. And you can shoot in 10-bit LOG, for proper colour grading. Of course, the physical gimbal also allows for smooth tracking shots and other cinematic movements.

Even better is that you can set the Pocket 3 to auto track you. That means I can create the illusion of having a cameraman without having to pay one, and it means I can workout and not worry about changing camera angle.

Even the sound is excellent. Not only the built in mic, but also the DJI Mic 2 which is included in the Creator bundle. This little microphone pairs automatically with the Osmos Pocket 3 (it has a built-in receiver, so you never need to pair it) and it is capable of on-board 32bit float recording. Bottom line: it’s a convenient way to get excellent quality audio. 

I usually film on a Sony A7SIII. Of course, the DJI Pocket 3 is still a significant step-down from that. I’d also much rather a 50mm or similar, as I don’t tend to vlog holding the camera and I like to get that sense of depth.

But, given the incredible convenience of the Pocket 3, I still find myself looking for excuses to use it. For example, if I’m going into London or Oxford (which always look good on camera), it’s no trouble to just bring this in a pocket and to grab some footage. Likewise, it’s amazing as a B or C camera. It turns on in about 2 seconds, too.

Oh, and it also films in vertical if you flip the screen around. Seeing as I don’t need crazy depth of field for shorts, I can see it being extremely handy for that kind of content. 

14” Macbook Pro

This year, I made the switch from Windows to Mac. It took a lot of deliberation, especially because I spent an absolute fortune to get the 14” MacBook Pro. I got one with an M2 Max, 64GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage. It’s the most I’ve spent on ANYTHING that wasn’t a car or a house. And I already had a perfectly good ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 for editing.

So, why did I make the switch?

Simple: while the MacBook Pro isn’t noticeably faster than my old laptop was, it is infinitely more versatile. For those that haven’t tried Apple Silicone, yet, it basically lets you get the performance of a top-end PC without being plugged into a wall, without draining your battery, and without the thing breathing fire out of the cooling vent. The ASUS needed to be plugged in or it would lose nearly all of its serious horsepower – becoming far too slow for Premiere Pro. It only lasted for around 60-90 minutes.

When plugged in, though, it would run extremely hot and make a huge amount of noise. It also weighed an absolute ton, as did the massive charging brick. And the ergonomics were seriously compromised by the, admittedly cool, second screen.

The MacBook, comparatively, doesn’t look like much. But being able to do a last bit of editing on the sofa in the evening, or even on the bus, is game-changing for me. The amazing trackpad also contributes to this being possible.

Combine that with all the benefits of the Apple ecosystem; being able to air-drop photos and other files between my phone and iPad, for example. Or being able to switch my EarPods instantly from my phone to my laptop. Or, again, tethering to my iPhone’s data instantly when I want to go online and don’t have WiFi. It all makes for an incredibly seamless experience that drastically increases my creativity.

Closing Comments

So, that’s the tech that has been helping me be more creative and, yes, productive, in the last year. Soon, I’m hoping to upgrade to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. I’m hoping that the Apple LOG feature will let me grab footage good enough to make it into my videos, wherever I am. 

What tech helps you to get more done, to a higher quality?

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