To be clear - they also work with data transfer (well, except the power bank and neck cooler).

I copy ebooks to my reader over USB, transfer photos off my camera, and print photos - all via USB-C.

All my gadgets use USB-C. Bluetooth headphones, eReader, laptop, printer, power bank, 360 camera, they all charge via USB-C.

Hell, even my neck cooler runs off it.

Has anyone here read the book? I enjoyed the film and wondered how they compared.

FireStick is somewhat hackable. You can sideload Android apps onto it. For example, I got Apple Music running on it https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2023/06/yes-you-can-run-apple-music-natively-on-your-android-firestick/

You don’t have to subscribe to Amazon Prime to use the other TV services. You can also install Kodi if you want to play back local media.

The FireStick will use USB power - so you can use your TV’s USB ports rather than a separate plug. It also has an Ethernet adapter - I think only the more expensive Apple devices use Ethernet.

Yes, there are magnetic USB cables which do data. Here’s my review of one https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2021/10/gadget-review-subbytech-magnetic-charge-sync-cables/

Magnets. (How do they work?)

I replaced all my USB-C and Micro-USB connectors with magnetic ones. No more orientation worries, no more fumbling in the dark, no more not-inserting-it-hard-enough. Just bring the two into proximity and them magically snap together.

Bliss.

Discord is where information goes to die.

Please just stick things on a website. I’m happy to help you set one up.

OMG! I still have my DataLink watch somewhere. I remember thinking it was amazing and showing off all the phone numbers I’d programmed into it.

Will your code work with any flashing LED? Or does it need special hardware?

Not everyone has the same level of mobility that you do.

Incidentally, do you get off your arse to change the volume on your TV?

In the UK, you can use Curve. That gives you a physical or virtual card which proxies your existing Visa / MasterCards (not Amex).

But it doesn’t have an NFC app you can use on Android. As far as I can tell, there are no other virtual NFC payment apps.

And, of course, it doesn’t really improve your privacy posture. Your bank still knows who you spent with - as does Curve.

If you want a free fiver, you can use my Curve referral link - http://curve.app/join#D4MK9ZKN

I loved teaching Scratch. And I’ve written about DRAKON - https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2023/04/why-arent-there-more-visual-programming-languages-an-ode-to-drakon/

I think they’re useful for building algorithms. But the tools themselves aren’t powerful enough for anything too complicated. I hope that changes though!