This episode was originally published on February 1, 2022.

In this episode, Kris and Erik return after their Winter break 'sabbatical.' Kris gives an update on the latest books he's read on work productivity, specifically those that force us to rethink how we work. Our co-hosts also discuss their work resolutions/goals for using technology and being productive.

SHOW NOTES

Books
*The Four Hour Work Week - Tim Ferriss
*ReWork - Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson
*Remote - Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson
*Make Time - Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky

Tools mentioned
*Pinboard
*IFTTT
*Day One
*No code tools

EDTECH EXAMINED CONTACT:
Website: edtechexamined.com
Email: hey@edtechexamined.com
Twitter: @EdTechExamined

TEAM INFORMATION

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Twitter: @egchristiansen
Blog: tech-bytes.net

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca
Twitter: @KrisHans
Market Grade: marketgrade.com

Christopher Hoang, Audio Producer & Sound Engineer
Website: chrishoang.ca

In this episode, Kris and Erik discuss the legacy of Windows 10 (successes and controversies), Windows' evolution, how to get an extra year of Windows 10 support for free, and our favourite Windows features.

SHOW NOTES

Bloomberg: Apple is enticing Windows 10 users to switch to Mac/iPad

Paul Thurrott: Windows 10 Legacy

Lex Fridman podcast: Dave Plummer interview (former Microsoft veteran)

Dave’s Garage: Dave Plummer’s YouTube channel on PC/software history, deep dives into hardware, retro hardware, and interviews with industry legends.

Steven Sinofsky's book: Hardcore Software: Inside the Rise and Fall of the PC Revolution

TIPS

Engadget: Get extended Windows 10 support for free!

Reddit: Hidden/lesser-known Windows features

TIME STAMPS

00:00:53 - Reflection on Windows

00:06:02 - Legacy of Windows 10

00:25:54 - Apple going after Windows 10 users to switch

00:27:22 - Get a year of Windows 10 support for free!

00:32:01 - Favourite Windows features

00:41:54 - Wrap up

CONTACT

Website: examining.ca

X: @examiningpod

LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/company/examining



TEAM INFORMATION

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
X: @egchristiansen

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca
X: @KrisHans

In this episode, Erik and Kris discuss the new Sora 2 video generator from OpenAI and a startling Wired report about how public and government information was gathered from satellites using only $800 worth of equipment.

SHOW NOTES

• Sora 2 AI video generator
• Wired: Satellites are leaking the world's secrets

TIME STAMPS

00:02:51 - Sora 2 AI video generator

00:22:49 - Satellites are leaking the world's secrets (Wired)

CONTACT:

Website: examining.ca
X: @examiningpod
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/company/examining

TEAM INFORMATION:

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
X: @egchristiansen

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca
X: @KrisHans

This episode was originally published September 21, 2021.

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In this deep dive episode, Kris and Erik discuss Cal Newport's most recent book "A World Without Email." Newport argues that email and messaging apps (asynchronous communication) have led to what he calls "the hyperactive hive mind." Newport explains that email is taking up too much of our time at work and proposes several solutions to make us more efficient.

SHOW NOTES

Key concepts:

*Email is abused and we spend too much time writing emails

*We often offload our brains using email. It's easier to ask questions via email than find answers ourselves.

*Email, like physical mail and instant messaging, is a form of asynchronous communication.

*Our work has become more reactive than proactive. Newport says email and messaging apps have led to the "hyperactive hive mind" approach to work.

*Boundaries around email can be implemented on a personal basis (i.e. Deep Work strategies), but real change has to be institutional (processes and expectations).

Other books by Cal Newport:
*Deep Work
*Digital Minimalism

Tools for collaboration:
*Trello
*ITP Metrics

EDTECH EXAMINED CONTACT:
Website: edtechexamined.com
Email: hey@edtechexamined.com
Twitter: @EdTechExamined

TEAM INFORMATION

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Twitter: @egchristiansen
Blog: tech-bytes.net

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca
Twitter: @KrisHans
Market Grade: marketgrade.com

Christopher Hoang, Audio Producer & Sound Engineer
Website: chrishoang.ca

In this episode, Erik and Kris do their Fall 2025 productivity tips roundup and summarize some advice from author David Pink. They also compare sleep tracking apps, cover some mindblowing Microsoft data centre news, and share some early impressions of the new Apple Watch SE 3.

SHOW NOTES

• AutoSleep app
• Streaks habit tracking
• Daniel Pink's advice
  • Schedule Dr appointments in the morning
  • Delay drinking coffee in the morning
  • Showering in the morning vs evening (pros and cons)
  • Morning vs evening exercise
  • "Caffine naps"
  • The "fresh start" effect
• Calendar scheduling hacks: Time blocking and batching
• Benefits of a paper planner for time blocking
• Logging time spent on priority activities helps build accountability
• Apple Watch workout friends (motivation)
• 2/5 minute rule: If it takes 2 minutes or less, it’s better to just do it now
• Permission to be rubbish (Greg McKeown)
• Built-in dictation feature in Microsoft Word
• Microsoft: Inside the world’s most powerful AI datacenter
• PC Magazine Apple Watch SE 3 review

TIME STAMPS

00:01:33 - Autosleep App vs Apple Sleep Score

00:08:35 - Daniel Pink's productivity advice

00:23:13 - Co-host productivity hacks and apps

00:42:59 - Microsoft's mega datacenters

00:47:37 - Apple Watch SE 3 impressions

00:53:05 - Wrap up

CONTACT:

Website: examining.ca
X: @examiningpod
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/company/examining

TEAM INFORMATION:

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
X: @egchristiansen

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca
X: @KrisHans

Following up on episode 74 on the September 2025 Apple event, Erik and Kris discuss Apple’s newly released operating systems for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and macOS. This year brings perhaps the largest design overhaul since 2013’s iOS 7. Across all its operating systems, Apple has introduced a new concept, “Liquid Glass,” a new material and design philosophy that is both new and old. The co-hosts talk about how Liquid Glass is both different and familiar, comparing it to the original macOS and Windows 7, and also review the major feature changes in each operating system.

SHOW NOTES

Apple’s introduction of Liquid Glass for WWDC 2025

Six Colors Blog operating system reviews

• iOS 26 review
• iPadOS 26 review
• WatchOS 26 review
• macOS 26 Tahoe review

Apple operating system standards on Figma (and other platforms)

Steve Jobs introduces Mac OS X, 2000 part 2 and part 3

Windows 7 design principles (transparency)

TIME STAMPS

00:03:46 What is Liquid Glass?

00:13:20 What’s old is new again

00:29:17 iOS 26

00:38:41 iPad OS 26

00:47:08 macOS 26 Tahoe

00:53:37 The future of Liquid Glass

CONTACT:

Website: examining.ca
X: @examiningpod
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/company/examining

TEAM INFORMATION:

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
X: @egchristiansen

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca
X: @KrisHans

In this episode, Kris and Erik break down the September, 2025 Apple event. Apple launched a new iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, the iPhone Air, new Apple Watches (Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3), and AirPod Pro 3.

SHOW NOTES:

Watch the Sep 2025 Apple event

PCMag: You Probably Missed These 7 iPhone Announcements at the Apple Event

MacRumors: Apple Says iPhone Air is Another Step Towards ‘Singular Piece of Glass’

The Verge: The eight biggest announcements during Apple’s iPhone Air event

The Verge: Apple barely talked about AI at its big iPhone 17 event

CONTACT:

Website: examining.ca
X: @examiningpod
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/company/examining

TEAM INFORMATION:

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
X: @egchristiansen

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca
X: @KrisHans

• (00:01:43) - iPhones
• (00:28:14) - Erik's take on the iPhone Air
• (00:36:38) - AirPod Pro 3
• (00:39:57) - Apple Watches

SHOW NOTES:

Bloomberg Law: Anthropic Judge Blasts Copyright Pact as “Nowhere Close to Done”

Reuters: Anthropic Agrees to Pay $1.5 Billion to Settle Author Class Action

Tom’s Guide: Claude AI Will Start Training on Your Data Soon — Here’s How to Opt-Out Before the Deadline

Futurism: Sam Altman Says Dead Internet Theory Is Coming True

Wolfram Media: What Is ChatGPT Doing and Why Does It Work?

CONTACT:

Website: examining.ca
X: @examiningpod
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/company/examining

TEAM INFORMATION:

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
X: @egchristiansen

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca
X: @KrisHans