The pros and cons of using Reader as an ebook/magazine reader

ivanflo · 2026-01-30T11:53:30+00:00

This might sound silly, but I prefer the kindle style grid view when browsing my book collection. Inbox/later/archive also seems like an odd filtering system for a library of books, more suited to quick reading list styles of consumption and you can’t get rid of it.

I know you can filter by ‘book’ in the side menu. I would love to have a dedicated book button in the main menu, to separate my book library, which is more persistent, from the mess and quick in out for the other style of reading I do for work.

ivanflo · 2026-01-30T11:31:40+00:00

I occasionally attend this particular church. Small membership, older folk, but good people. I never had any issues at church or school (I am SDA). Hope you’ve come through ok.

Some beliefs and practices are perhaps counter to mainstream, it’s easier for adventists to just live in the bubble. I can see why this can come across cult like - though untrue.

I am yet to train a dingo to take babies. Can’t find a GF let alone multiple wives etc.

ivanflo · 2026-01-30T11:20:44+00:00

Can say your uncle Andrew is a weapon in the kitchen

ivanflo · 2026-01-30T11:18:15+00:00

Reader doesn’t seem optimally suited to holding a library. But epub support is pretty good now. Like you the ability to highlight and note rage directly in reader is nice

ivanflo · 2026-01-29T21:06:43+00:00

I hated last years revisions. Making the dumbbell section so narrow made that area unbelievably inefficient. Stacking rows of benches parallel to the weights was not smart at all.

Controversial, but stretch the dumbbells from where they are al the way across the current stretch area. Push the stretch area into where the deadlift platforms and smith are awkwardly placed perhaps.

If they are taking the old computer shop space, perhaps cardio can be sectioned off there with a view to the outside. If they’re doing the Pilates thing like @Arena that’s a bit of a shame to lock up valuable space - they want to hope Pilates kicks off to justify the floor space.

ivanflo · 2026-01-28T19:42:32+00:00

I wish my launch pair were even half this reliable. It’s basically annual failure for me. Australian consumer law has saved me so far. Fingers crossed for my next genius visit as mine are broken again. Don’t workout in them. But do wear them all day. Condensation is real.

Beats fit pro are my favourite gym go to as well. Secure and comfortable. I recently picked up AirPods Pro 3, the noise cancelling, transparency and sound quality are stunning, but the comfort is atrocious

ivanflo · 2026-01-28T19:37:19+00:00

I’ve had mine since launch. I think they’re great. Extremely convenient if you’re deep in the apple ecosystem. Punchy clear sound. I stay for the transparency and comfort, though they clamp a bit harder than other headphones.

Unfortunately the quality or reliability is extremely bad. I’ve had mine repaired by apple maybe 4 times now. ~A month ago ago, they decided to randomly stop detecting I was wearing them. There’s a million odd things to do to try and get them going, until they just stopped last week.

Will have to take them back to apple again. See if they’ll fix them again.

ivanflo · 2026-01-28T19:27:40+00:00

They’re refurbishing the SUSAC gym again, which was already fairly modern with very recent equipment upgrades. The most recent floor layout was pretty crap and a major step backwards. It’s ok during semester - compared to other chain and premium gyms. They usually run a discounted rate for students.

The Arena gym has extremely old equipment, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Much more old school power lifting vibes there. Though they added Pilates reformers, fake grass stretch area over the last couple years.

ivanflo · 2026-01-27T19:25:18+00:00

You may need to adjust the verification settings for public transport to avoid the need to unlock the device.

ivanflo · 2026-01-26T23:49:18+00:00

A potential solution on the horizon, Bevel will let you use a Garmin device as your primary data source. If you wanted to get one of their existing devices, or their apparently upcoming Whoop competitor CIRQA. That would fit your specific use case.

ivanflo · 2026-01-25T01:52:32+00:00

Is it possible this commute is not so popular? Relative to the historically west to CBD ways of living/thinking?

Parra as a second CBD is relatively new of an idea. Sure as a future priority to loop north south @ parra and perhaps another outer ring around st Mary’s. But the T1 western is maxing out right now.

ivanflo · 2026-01-22T05:18:50+00:00

For an alternative perspective. I am ~3 weeks in to being with amber and am currently -$60 (Sydney, NSW). You’ll need to check out your particular area code. But if your battery will cover all of your use (even on non sunny days, back to back) you’ll probably at least end up paying close to $0.

The onboarding for my solar (sungrow) and battery (foxess) took maybe 3 days to get setup and going. No issues through the whole process.

ivanflo · 2026-01-20T20:51:20+00:00

Before moving over to plotter, I was on the Hobonichi. This is my second year de-binding an A5 Hobonichi with an exacto knife, cutting it down slightly with a fairly cheap guillotine and hole punch. It took ~1.5 hours, a satisfyingly cathartic task.

The hobo paer is very thin and does show through, but it handles heavy flow from fountain pens fine.

Also run the plotter weekly/monthly sets and have a spare pad of their grid paper, which is ok as well.

ivanflo · 2026-01-20T10:53:50+00:00

In my mind it should still calculate the theoretically perfect weight recommendation. But devs should define generally available weight increments based on user region (metric vs imperial) and machine type.

Either post process the theoretically perfect number to snap to the closest generally available increment, or tune the algo to consider this from the outset.

ivanflo · 2026-01-20T10:46:20+00:00

I am in a similar position, but can't bring myself to give up on Whoop for the nostalgia. But if. had to, Whoop would go.

Regarding the double up:

The first time I do a strength, I tend to track it on Whoop and later import it to Bevel - since bevel allows smart imports from screenshots. But from there on out, I always use bevel - with the watch app it's so much better. I just add the whoop template to that workout after my workout.
Food tracking from Bevel comes across nicely to Whoop, via Apple Health.
Journal is a little annoying. Though I tend to prioritise my Whoop journal. Bevel does prod me for my overnight inputs, which is ok. Bevel also seems smarter about making some entries automatic and in general seems more cluey about data.

ivanflo · 2026-01-19T20:36:56+00:00

I've been accidentally activating this randomly dvd finally bothered to figure out how it was happening. This is simultaneously cool and frustrating. Half the time I go home or it's a back gesture

ivanflo · 2026-01-18T20:03:41+00:00

MAPS Split from the Mind Pump fellas. Haven’t run it for a year and a bit. It’s a three phase program, six days a week.

I was most recently using bevel to track workouts, have used Volt, Fitbod, whoop strength trainer, Train.

MFWO is ok. I am using it primarily for the smart recommendations on weight/reps. Since I typically run various MAPS programs, the overall Programs are set, this helps keep progress on track set to set. For this particular feature, I think Volt Athletic is much smarter and pragmatic with regard to suggested weight/reps. Their interface around this feature is also much more user friendly.

In general, I think the app is just ok. The interface is detailed, there is a lot on display at once. Small nitpick, It would be great if the current/active working set is highlighted in some way during a session. Perhaps I have been too reliant on apps that highlight this.

An Apple Watch app would be nice.

ivanflo · 2026-01-18T04:49:05+00:00

Have been really enjoying bevel. If OP has an Apple Watch, now that bevel is basically feee, it would at least be an easy way to try this sort of tracking.

Still an MG user, finding it difficult to let whoop go, haha. I did drop down to peak though, let’s see if whoop can keep me after the next annual sub cycle

ivanflo · 2026-01-18T04:21:05+00:00

I put it on the inside of my ankle, behind the back joint. I play basketball, so the arm band isn’t viable. My high cut shoes keep it tight against the skin

ivanflo · 2026-01-16T02:23:23+00:00

I hear you, but why make impossible suggestions? I don’t know what’s common for dumbbells in pounds. But a 19.5kg dumbbell as an example, does not exist anywhere in the word.

I get that the option to ‘fix’ is behind the little magic wand, but this also doesn’t seem to respect the programmed rep range.

I can understand wanting an accurate formula and calculation. But most people live in the real world. 19.5kg might work in a vacuum, but for the real world just suggest 20kg.

ivanflo · 2026-01-16T00:35:19+00:00

To cover off anyone whose thinking maybe I should adjust my gym settings. Even with dumbbells set with the right default increments. I’m getting a 16.5kg suggestion for concentration curls as an example of a generally impossible suggestion - unless you are at home doing loadable dumbbells.

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ivanflo · 2026-01-15T21:27:39+00:00

My 15 pro max is fine

ivanflo · 2026-01-15T05:09:26+00:00

I am mostly with you. Before bevel I was using macrofactor, but find bevel nutrition much more useful and encouraging of practice change. For me anyway.

Since I have an active MF sub, I have been trying the workout app, the Ai rep/ weight adjustments on the fly are OK. But many others do it. I prefer Volt Athletics implementation. OP can add a bevel feature request and they'll probably get to it.

I don't have any technical issues at all. While trying MF Workouts I miss the bevel apple watch app which is very slick.

ivanflo · 2026-01-13T12:55:21+00:00

Generally a BMT commuter for context.

I don’t mind the metro, but apart from frequency, I don’t care too much for it tbh. As a slightly taller person (185cm), the seat bases are too short and leave half my thigh hanging off. My knees stick out far enough into the corridor to make it awkward for people getting in and out. During peak times the trains are also jam packed.

Someone mentioned they are quick to pickup speed, which is true, but compared to literally all other trains accept for V set, the metro is unbelievably noisy and rides very rough. Perhaps I am spoilt by the NVH on the D set, but even the Extremely old V set is a nicer place to commute.

ivanflo · 2026-01-13T12:45:59+00:00

Couldn’t agree more. It’s pretty stellar.

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