It happens to everyone. You snap a photo, or try to save a document, and you get the dreaded notification: “Storage Full. Upgrade to Google One for just $9.99/month to keep backing up.” In that moment of panic, $10 feels cheap. You want your photos safe, right? You want that red notification to go away. … Read more
For years, I was a proud member of “Team Free.” I scoffed at the idea of paying Google $13.99 a month just to remove ads. I told myself, “I can just wait 5 seconds to skip the ad. Why would I pay for something that is free?” I installed ad-blockers on my browser. I muted … Read more
In the physical world, we understand the difference between Renting an apartment and Buying a house. Renting offers flexibility, but you never own anything. Buying requires a big payment upfront, but you own the asset forever. For decades, we “bought” software. You paid for a CD-ROM of Windows or Office, installed it, and owned it … Read more
It started with a simple notification on my phone at 2:00 AM. “Your payment of $12.99 to [Video Service] was successful.” I stared at the screen in the dark, confused. I hadn’t opened that streaming app in three months. I had signed up to watch one specific TV show, finished it, and promised myself I … Read more
If you have been reading this blog, you know that I view technology differently than most reviewers. I don’t care about “benchmarks.” I don’t care about “unboxing experiences.” I don’t care about having the shiny new toy on launch day. I care about Economics. After writing 20 articles analyzing the hidden costs of our digital … Read more
If you listen to podcasts or watch YouTube tech channels, you have heard the ads. “Hackers are watching you! Your data is naked! If you don’t buy our VPN with Military Grade Encryption right now, your bank account will be stolen!” The marketing is terrifying. It makes you feel like browsing the internet without a … Read more