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PODCAST

Comfort Zone

Christopher Lawley, Matt Birchler, and Niléane

Comfort Zone is a podcast that pushes its hosts outside of their, well, comfort zone. Every week, each host will bring new technology they"ve tried to the show to discuss whether it worked and how it pushed them out of their comfort zone. Then, at the conclusion of each episode, one of the hosts will issue the dreaded challenge to the others to try something new, and perhaps even something they might not like. It"s a fun, fresh way to learn something new, along with the hosts every week.

technology tech news

All Episodes

01:16:17

Is That Elvish?

Comfort Zone ·

2024/11/07

Chris breaks down Apple Intelligence, and while Matt is under the weather, he brings the good Nintendo vibes. Then we all do our best to speak a different language, with delightful results. Weekly Topics Apple Intelligence Nintendo Music Other Things Discussed Niléane’s AppStories appearance Omnivore is shutting down The Verge full-text RSS feed Lego mugs Nintendo Alermo Apple Translate app Duolingo Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on

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01:16:32

One Dad at a Time, Please!

Comfort Zone ·

2024/10/31

Matt buys his first ereader, Niléane has moved to a new calendar app, and for the challenge everyone did something with Stage Manager. Weekly Topics Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Fantastical Other Things Discussed The House on Mango Street Kobo ereaders Phanpy for Mastodon Libby Goodreads Readwise Dato menubar calendar (Mac App Store) Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon

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01:16:08

There's Gold in That Computer!

Comfort Zone ·

2024/10/22

Chris has the brand new iPad mini, Matt made a big change to his RSS, and Niléane introduces a new segment: Our Tech Stories. Then we get fun, weird, and thirsty in the game picks. Weekly Topics The new iPad mini Official Game Picks Okay…? Vampire Survivors Gubbins Other Things Discussed Lichess Balatro Zenless Zone Zero Sonos updates the Arc and Sub The Apple Pencil situation is healing BasicAppleGuy’s colorful MacBook Air concept “Margin” blog post Razor Kishi Ultra Follow the Hosts

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01:34:58

Get Me a Dr. Pepper Robot

Comfort Zone ·

2024/10/17

Niléane is fired up about the state of tech, Chris is enjoying the sweet, sweet sounds of a V12 engine, and Matt is really into a new web browser. Weekly Topics Some general examples of things sucking. Sonos Arc Sonos Sub Zen Browser Other Stuff We Discussed Matt’s northern lights over NYC photo Sonos Beam Arc browser -Amazon Astro Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon

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01:19:24

Oh, I'm a Limb!

Comfort Zone ·

2024/10/10

Niléane is back and she’s brought the long-awaited Mastodon 4.3 update, Matt brought Omnivore, and Chris rounds out his new Apple product reviews with the Apple Watch Series 10. Then we see who took the best photo with an iPhone and introduce a fun new, accessible challenge. Weekly Topics Mastodon 4.3 is out Omnivore Apple Watch Series 10 Other Stuff We Discussed Niléane’s photo Matt’s photo Chris’s photo Tangerine UI 2.0 Chris’s Nomad watch band Matt’s Nomad watch band MacStories watchOS 11

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01:19:00

Ryan Gosling and Gladiator

Comfort Zone ·

2024/10/03

Surprise! Matt got a new iPhone (you’re shocked 😅) and Chris brings the new AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (yes, that’s the name!). Then it’s time for movie corner and a review of 2023’s film, Ferrari. Weekly Topics iPhone 16 Pro AirPods 4 Other Stuff We Discussed Chrome uses a ton more battery than Safari, right? Right??? Matt’s iPhone 16 Pro review on YouTube Chris on Letterboxd Matt on Letterboxd Ferrari Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon

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01:20:22

One True Voorhees

Comfort Zone ·

2024/09/26

With Niléane out on assignment, Matt and Chris are joined by MacStories’ own John Voorhees! Chris and John bring brand new, embargoed products, while Matt brings…checking my notes here…a Thunderbolt dock from years ago (but he swears it’s cool). Weekly Topics OWC Thunderbolt Dock iPhone 16 Pro Logitech MX Creative Console Other Stuff We Discussed VIA Tailscale Longplay Things Logbook (opens in Obsidian) GoodTask Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort

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01:33:06

Nicolas Cage Works Just Fine with MagSafe

Comfort Zone ·

2024/09/19

Matt needs to praise the iPad, Chris drops some iPadOS knowledge, and Niléane is intrigued by what window management on other tablets looks like. Weekly Topics M4 iPad Pro Chris’s complete iPadOS 18 walkthrough The MacStories iOS and iPadOS 18 review Video of Android 15’s windowing mode Other Stuff We Discussed Retro Gameboy case not linked due to…well…legal issues. You can find it if you want 😉 Nick Cage case Bang!Case Clicks keyboard case Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree

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01:17:37

Don't You Want to be Anxious?

Comfort Zone ·

2024/09/12

It’s all challenge this week as the gang brings (and defends) their phone home screens. Rules were followed by all, but of course there’s a little twist this time as well. Weekly Topics Niléane’s home screen Chris’s home screen Matt’s home screen Other Stuff We Discussed Matt explaining his iPhone on Home Screens Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon

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01:22:28

That’s How I Drive My Truck

Comfort Zone ·

2024/09/05

Niléane and Chris have upgraded their desk setups, but Matt didn’t get the memo and brought a hard drive or something. Then we see who can bend the rules the most to survive the challenge. Weekly Topics Twelve South HiRise Pro BESIGN LSX6 Computer Holder Stand Synology DiskStation DS923+ Other Stuff We Discussed Photo of Niléane’s desk setup Photo of Chris’s stand Microsoft Remote Desktop Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition Microsoft Start Doom (2016) SpaceRex is a Synology guru MONOKEI

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01:18:22

Celsius Has No Character

Comfort Zone ·

2024/08/29

Matt is trying to find the right temperature, Chris is floating on Air(table), and Niléane finds out if she’s feeling lucky about getting 10 blue links. Weekly Topics Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) Airtable Lucky for Safari Wallpapers Matt’s wallpaper Chris’s wallpaper Niléane’s wallpaper (dynamic version) Niléane’s variant 1 Niléane’s variant 2 Niléane’s variant 3 Niléane’s variant 4 Niléane’s variant 5 Niléane’s variant 6 Matt’s bonus 1 Matt’s bonus 2 Matt’s bonus 3 Matt’s bonus 4

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01:17:08

The Statue of Liberty is Full of French People

Comfort Zone ·

2024/08/22

The gang shares their very sane, and not at all controversial 👀 notification preferences. Then they explore some new and interesting Obsidian plugins you might not have heard of. Obsidian Plugins (links open directly in Obsidian) Projects Commander Cards View Image Captions Paste Link Home Tab Trash Explorer Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon

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01:25:33

This Is a Big Week for Apologies

Comfort Zone ·

2024/08/15

Matt has to apologize for the things he said last week, Chris tries to find out if we’re smarter than Apple Intelligence, and Niléane has a quiz nobody could predict. Weekly Topics Pocket Casts Apple Intelligence Other Stuff We Discussed Overcast Raycast Pixel Pro Golf Pile-up-Poker (Puzzmo) Star Wordle Coffee Golf Mini Metro Mini Motorways Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon

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50:47

I like to Read My Podcasts

Comfort Zone ·

2024/08/08

Chris is absent for mysterious reasons, Niléane finds clever ways to watch the Olympics, and Matt explores his podcast app feelings. Weekly Topics Plex The Olympics Overcast Other Stuff We Discussed HDHomeRun Channels app Infuse VLC Marco on the Overcast update Accidental Tech Podcast with tech details Pocket Casts Castro Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on Mastodon

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01:09:10

I Need to Tell You Something

Comfort Zone ·

2024/08/01

Matt is leaving you Unread, Chris is gaming on the go, and Niléane brings an addictive drug you can download from the App Store. Oh yeah, and there are several terrifying reveals. Weekly Topics Unread 4 on the App Store 8BitDo Lite 2 controller Disc Brick Other Stuff We Discussed Dark Side of the Moon on Apple Music Daft Punk on Apple Music Reeder 5 feeeed MacStories feeeed review Feedbin Inoreader The Verge full-text RSS feed Delta emulator Backbone controller 8BitDo Micro Gamesir G8

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01:24:31

Have You Heard the Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?

Comfort Zone ·

2024/07/25

Niléane reviews the AirPods Max, Matt got a new GPU, and Chris keeps things non-controversial by bringing up The Acolyte. Then we get into using the Vision Pro for something new and Niléane challenges us to bring some old tech back to life. Weekly Topics AirPods Max NVIDIA RTX 4070 Super The Acolyte Other stuff we discussed Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones AirCover for Vision Pro SoloTop for Vision Pro Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on

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01:19:28

I Win

Comfort Zone ·

2024/07/18

Chris can finally talk about iPadOS 18, Niléane goes on a quest for great dynamic wallpapers, and Matt brought a tea kettle for some reason. Then they all say nice things about new browsers and Chris has a "visionary" new challenge. Weekly Topics iOS 18 preview on MacStories Dynaper Dynamic Wallpaper Club Fellow Stagg EKG Pro Electric Kettle Other stuff we discussed Arc browser Vivaldi Firefox Quiche Browser Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone

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01:12:40

Who among Us Is Sane?

Comfort Zone ·

2024/07/11

Niléane has a social media surprise, Matt tries to take his email to superhuman levels, and Chris blows his hair back with Wi-Fi speeds you wouldn't believe. Then we reflect on last week's very chill challenge before jumping into the next one where we must be nice. Weekly Topics Twitter (X) Superhuman Deco TP-Link WiFi 7 Router Other stuff we discussed Sidekick notepad Sanebox Mimestream Day One Follow the Hosts Chris on YouTube Matt on Birchtree Niléane on Mastodon Comfort Zone on

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01:19:15

I think it's pretty safe, and here's why

Comfort Zone ·

2024/07/04

Matt goes Infinite, Chris embraces Nothing, and Niléane tries to make a Frame…work. Oh, and we discover two of the hosts have sane travel bags and the other is a maniac. Our thanks once again to ListenLater.net for sponsoring Comfort Zone and MacStories! Let them know you heard about them from us to get 20% more credits with your first purchase. Weekly Topics DC Universe Infinite Nothing Ear (a) Framework laptops Other stuff we discussed Marvel Unlimited Marvel Subscriptions Blankets Fairphone

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01:12:18

I'm Making It Cold

Comfort Zone ·

2024/06/27

Niléane tests the gang on their French knowledge (it goes great...), Chris adds some goblins to this productivity system, and Matt tries to connect to the other side. Our thanks once again to ListenLater.net for sponsoring Comfort Zone and MacStories! Let them know you heard about them from us to get 20% more credits with your first purchase. Weekly Topics Bartender Lenovo Legion Go FotMob Other stuff we discussed iBar Hidden Bar Vanilla Steam Deck Goblin Tools SpiritTalker Naturalisation en

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84 results

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