Great technology (as of late 2024)

October 28, 2024 (2mo ago)

Here's some of the technology as of late October 2024 that I've come across (recently or otherwise), and think you should know about:

  • Cursor

    • If you're a developer and not starting to use AI in your development workflow, you're at risk of becoming a dinosaur. Cursor has found the UI that makes AI-assisted code changes quick and easy. If you're a developer born in the early 90s, you may remember some senior devs when you first joined the industry who looked upon Google searching and IDEs with disdain - this will be you unless you jump on the bandwagon. Expect it to save time for simple but tedious code changes - AI is not yet ready for complex changes requiring a lot of context.

  • Meta Quest Headsets

    • VR headsets were always a fun novelty that were limited to being a great party piece. Now with AR and innovations in hand-tracking, visual quality, wirelessness, and comfort, we're finally starting to see glimmers of gold in day-to-day use. I've been impressed with Virtual Desktop, it's to eyes what headphones are to ears - instant comfort and focus anywhere. At a price that's cheaper than a monitor, I can see this becoming a staple for many devs. Especially frequent travellers and remote workers short on living space. Those new to VR should go for the Quest 3S, VR veterans should go for Quest 3.

  • Anthropic Claude

    • I always thought it would be impossible to catch OpenAI when it came to LLMs, but Anthropic have shown there's definitely room for competition. Claude Sonnet 3.5 paired with Cursor (see above) is a brilliant combo. At the moment, for me Sonnet 3.5 gives a little better quality answers when it comes to code compared to ChatGPT 4o. If you're testing the waters and don't want to pay for Cursor Pro, get yourself an Anthropic API key, top it up with $10, and that should see you through for at least a couple months.

  • ESR iPhone Cases

    • This definitely feels like the Finglonger of this list. These cases have a kickstand built into it so you can prop your phone up anywhere. Surprisingly useful for train commutes, video calls, and showing videos to people sitting next to you.

  • Heart Rate Monitor for Exercise

    • A bit off the dev theme, but if you want to get fitter, then nothing gets you fit like running does. I've had this for a long time, but I'm always extolling the virtues of these monitors, so I had to add it to the list. Pair it with a smartwatch, then monitor your heart rate as you run. This gets you optimising for effort, not for pace. Ignore your time and keep it in the aerobic zone, then running will be comfortable and you'll feel fitter not before long. If running is still uncomfortable after this, then you probably need better insoles or shoes.

  • Aranet4 Air Quality Monitor

    • If you're working from home in a cold country, then the chances are your home is built to keep the warmth in. This can end up restricting ventilation, causing a build-up of CO2. When levels are high it can be hard to concentrate. It's worth getting this monitor if you can afford it, some other devices in my experience don't measure CO2 accurately. If the levels indicated are high, then crack open a window. If you're like me you'll notice you can almost immediately think more clearly. The same improvements can be applied to your sleep, so take this portable sensor into your bedroom at night and see if you need ventilation there. You might find you'll have the best sleep in years.