Andy Ihnatko
@ihnatko.bsky.social
Intermittently-beloved technology journalist and pundit. Tech contributor to WGBH Boston Public Radio. Podcaster (MacBreak Weekly on TWiT.tv and Material on Relay.fm). Former Chicago Sun-Times and Macworld columnist. Opera riff-raff. He/Him.
Business idea: a service that will go around at the start of Autumn and replace all of a client property's high-visibility orange cones with high-visibility green ones, in the interests of higher visibility when all the leaves are orange.
November 10, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Business idea: a service that will go around at the start of Autumn and replace all of a client property's high-visibility orange cones with high-visibility green ones, in the interests of higher visibility when all the leaves are orange.
I think this exhibit was some sort of art piece. Therefore, I chose to project my perceptions and preconceptions into it. @museumofscience.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 2:02 AM
I think this exhibit was some sort of art piece. Therefore, I chose to project my perceptions and preconceptions into it. @museumofscience.bsky.social
Q: Is there anything more cool than a two-story-tall working Van de Graaff generator?
A: Possibly a two-story-tall working Van de Graaff generator with Elvis Costello performing selections from "My Aim ls True" inside the safety birdcage. Otherwise...no.
A: Possibly a two-story-tall working Van de Graaff generator with Elvis Costello performing selections from "My Aim ls True" inside the safety birdcage. Otherwise...no.
November 5, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Q: Is there anything more cool than a two-story-tall working Van de Graaff generator?
A: Possibly a two-story-tall working Van de Graaff generator with Elvis Costello performing selections from "My Aim ls True" inside the safety birdcage. Otherwise...no.
A: Possibly a two-story-tall working Van de Graaff generator with Elvis Costello performing selections from "My Aim ls True" inside the safety birdcage. Otherwise...no.
Nice guy. Kept asking me if I needed a place to hang up my hat. Big hockey fan.
November 1, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Nice guy. Kept asking me if I needed a place to hang up my hat. Big hockey fan.
It's the obligation of an artist to be patient and thoughtful, rather than accept the first furtive flash of inspiration.
(Also, that @museumofscience.bsky.social exhibit is so large that a selfie with my hand up one of the nostrils wasn't really possible. So, to hell with it: I went with "arty.")
(Also, that @museumofscience.bsky.social exhibit is so large that a selfie with my hand up one of the nostrils wasn't really possible. So, to hell with it: I went with "arty.")
October 29, 2025 at 4:25 PM
It's the obligation of an artist to be patient and thoughtful, rather than accept the first furtive flash of inspiration.
(Also, that @museumofscience.bsky.social exhibit is so large that a selfie with my hand up one of the nostrils wasn't really possible. So, to hell with it: I went with "arty.")
(Also, that @museumofscience.bsky.social exhibit is so large that a selfie with my hand up one of the nostrils wasn't really possible. So, to hell with it: I went with "arty.")
The debut of Apple's big "Great ideas start on Mac" campaign happened during the same week as the demolition of the East Wing and the disclosure of Apple's financial contribution supporting it.
I wonder if Apple Marketing regards this as Bad Timing, or _Perfect_ Timing?
I wonder if Apple Marketing regards this as Bad Timing, or _Perfect_ Timing?
October 24, 2025 at 7:09 PM
The debut of Apple's big "Great ideas start on Mac" campaign happened during the same week as the demolition of the East Wing and the disclosure of Apple's financial contribution supporting it.
I wonder if Apple Marketing regards this as Bad Timing, or _Perfect_ Timing?
I wonder if Apple Marketing regards this as Bad Timing, or _Perfect_ Timing?
My panel/talk at the @museumofscience.bsky.social went great! Why, I felt as though I had the whole world at my back...
October 24, 2025 at 3:38 PM
My panel/talk at the @museumofscience.bsky.social went great! Why, I felt as though I had the whole world at my back...
In legal terms, this mini basketball hoop up on a phone pole is the very definition of an "attractive nuisance." Any sensible person walking by would stop underneath it and pretend to be a Catholic saint. If I'd been hit by a car, the hoop's owner would be held liable for my medical expenses.
October 18, 2025 at 3:33 AM
In legal terms, this mini basketball hoop up on a phone pole is the very definition of an "attractive nuisance." Any sensible person walking by would stop underneath it and pretend to be a Catholic saint. If I'd been hit by a car, the hoop's owner would be held liable for my medical expenses.
And over at the Metropolitan Opera House, mezzo Isabel Leonard is featured as Diana in a special Saturday matinee performance of Donizetti's "Golden Lasso d'amore."
(Okay, sorry! But they're actually performing an opera adaptation of Michael Chabon's _Kavalier and Clay...)
(Okay, sorry! But they're actually performing an opera adaptation of Michael Chabon's _Kavalier and Clay...)
October 9, 2025 at 2:01 PM
And over at the Metropolitan Opera House, mezzo Isabel Leonard is featured as Diana in a special Saturday matinee performance of Donizetti's "Golden Lasso d'amore."
(Okay, sorry! But they're actually performing an opera adaptation of Michael Chabon's _Kavalier and Clay...)
(Okay, sorry! But they're actually performing an opera adaptation of Michael Chabon's _Kavalier and Clay...)
Wow. This was another of those times then I gave Gemini a prompt and was so pleased with the result that I uttered a grateful profanity.
(This was definitely the first time I've said "I'm very happy with my speaker headshot.")
"Convert this photo to a 1-bit bitmap, using Atkinson-style dithering."
(This was definitely the first time I've said "I'm very happy with my speaker headshot.")
"Convert this photo to a 1-bit bitmap, using Atkinson-style dithering."
October 9, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Wow. This was another of those times then I gave Gemini a prompt and was so pleased with the result that I uttered a grateful profanity.
(This was definitely the first time I've said "I'm very happy with my speaker headshot.")
"Convert this photo to a 1-bit bitmap, using Atkinson-style dithering."
(This was definitely the first time I've said "I'm very happy with my speaker headshot.")
"Convert this photo to a 1-bit bitmap, using Atkinson-style dithering."
If you know, you know. And if you know, you know that this indicates I've had a spicy week.
October 5, 2025 at 2:36 AM
If you know, you know. And if you know, you know that this indicates I've had a spicy week.
ive been living a lie for the past three or four years and i gotta say i feel much better now that ive gotten that off my chest
September 30, 2025 at 2:15 PM
ive been living a lie for the past three or four years and i gotta say i feel much better now that ive gotten that off my chest
My first sighting of Roof Racc at night. Just chilling and contemplating his evening plans.
He's been around the neighborhood for months. I'm sure he's clocked the dumpster schedules of all of the restaurants nearby.
Some of them are quite fancy. Roof Racc probably eats way better than I do.
He's been around the neighborhood for months. I'm sure he's clocked the dumpster schedules of all of the restaurants nearby.
Some of them are quite fancy. Roof Racc probably eats way better than I do.
September 26, 2025 at 1:31 AM
My first sighting of Roof Racc at night. Just chilling and contemplating his evening plans.
He's been around the neighborhood for months. I'm sure he's clocked the dumpster schedules of all of the restaurants nearby.
Some of them are quite fancy. Roof Racc probably eats way better than I do.
He's been around the neighborhood for months. I'm sure he's clocked the dumpster schedules of all of the restaurants nearby.
Some of them are quite fancy. Roof Racc probably eats way better than I do.
"Futurama" writers' room: "What if Farnsworth and mathematician Georg Cantor are prisoners in Numberland, and they escape by demonstrating that a unique number can exist outside of an infinite set?"
"Family Guy" writers' room: "What if Mrs. Garrett from 'The Facts Of Life' were made out of farts?"
"Family Guy" writers' room: "What if Mrs. Garrett from 'The Facts Of Life' were made out of farts?"
September 19, 2025 at 6:45 PM
"Futurama" writers' room: "What if Farnsworth and mathematician Georg Cantor are prisoners in Numberland, and they escape by demonstrating that a unique number can exist outside of an infinite set?"
"Family Guy" writers' room: "What if Mrs. Garrett from 'The Facts Of Life' were made out of farts?"
"Family Guy" writers' room: "What if Mrs. Garrett from 'The Facts Of Life' were made out of farts?"
It's MacOS Tahoe Update Day!
Always perform routine system maintenance before installing a major OS update:
- Perform a 100% system backup
- Free up space by removing apps and files you no longer need
- Replace the old scuffed-up David Bowie/NASA mashup sticker with a fresh one
Always perform routine system maintenance before installing a major OS update:
- Perform a 100% system backup
- Free up space by removing apps and files you no longer need
- Replace the old scuffed-up David Bowie/NASA mashup sticker with a fresh one
September 15, 2025 at 8:28 PM
It's MacOS Tahoe Update Day!
Always perform routine system maintenance before installing a major OS update:
- Perform a 100% system backup
- Free up space by removing apps and files you no longer need
- Replace the old scuffed-up David Bowie/NASA mashup sticker with a fresh one
Always perform routine system maintenance before installing a major OS update:
- Perform a 100% system backup
- Free up space by removing apps and files you no longer need
- Replace the old scuffed-up David Bowie/NASA mashup sticker with a fresh one
I theorize that this graph (of how frequently the phrase "wicked pissah" appears in print over time) tracks Gen-X kids growing up and becoming published writers.
September 5, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I theorize that this graph (of how frequently the phrase "wicked pissah" appears in print over time) tracks Gen-X kids growing up and becoming published writers.
The seagull said he was "happy as a clam" about the outcome of his lunchtime forage. The clam could not be reached for comment.
September 3, 2025 at 6:17 PM
The seagull said he was "happy as a clam" about the outcome of his lunchtime forage. The clam could not be reached for comment.
More fun with the "describe what you want" image editing features of the latest Gemini app. I'll post my original photo in a reply later.
(After a day, I've determined that it's still fallible, like any other AI image editor. But it usually does what you asked, maintaining consistency/integrity.)
(After a day, I've determined that it's still fallible, like any other AI image editor. But it usually does what you asked, maintaining consistency/integrity.)
August 27, 2025 at 7:50 PM
More fun with the "describe what you want" image editing features of the latest Gemini app. I'll post my original photo in a reply later.
(After a day, I've determined that it's still fallible, like any other AI image editor. But it usually does what you asked, maintaining consistency/integrity.)
(After a day, I've determined that it's still fallible, like any other AI image editor. But it usually does what you asked, maintaining consistency/integrity.)
My first go with the Gemini app's new image editing improvements, released today. Very impressed. Look at the original photo, followed by the results after three iterations of changes:
"Change the background from asphalt to green grass."
"Put a golf glove on the hand."
"Change the time to 12:34."
"Change the background from asphalt to green grass."
"Put a golf glove on the hand."
"Change the time to 12:34."
August 27, 2025 at 3:59 AM
My first go with the Gemini app's new image editing improvements, released today. Very impressed. Look at the original photo, followed by the results after three iterations of changes:
"Change the background from asphalt to green grass."
"Put a golf glove on the hand."
"Change the time to 12:34."
"Change the background from asphalt to green grass."
"Put a golf glove on the hand."
"Change the time to 12:34."
Roof-Rac Update!
I've seen it once or twice more since his first appearance a couple of months ago. It's clearly healthy. For reasons best explained by a raccoon, it just likes to sleep in the cradle-like divot at the end of the roofline of the building next to mine from time to time. Monday photo.
I've seen it once or twice more since his first appearance a couple of months ago. It's clearly healthy. For reasons best explained by a raccoon, it just likes to sleep in the cradle-like divot at the end of the roofline of the building next to mine from time to time. Monday photo.
July 16, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Roof-Rac Update!
I've seen it once or twice more since his first appearance a couple of months ago. It's clearly healthy. For reasons best explained by a raccoon, it just likes to sleep in the cradle-like divot at the end of the roofline of the building next to mine from time to time. Monday photo.
I've seen it once or twice more since his first appearance a couple of months ago. It's clearly healthy. For reasons best explained by a raccoon, it just likes to sleep in the cradle-like divot at the end of the roofline of the building next to mine from time to time. Monday photo.
Pro tip: if your walk includes a half-hour stop at a bench or table along a popular path, many awesome dogs will come up to you for head skritchies while they're being walked.
July 4, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Pro tip: if your walk includes a half-hour stop at a bench or table along a popular path, many awesome dogs will come up to you for head skritchies while they're being walked.
They say that the Altamont tragedy marked the official end of the 1960s. The appearance of this chair on the curb today marks the official end of the 1990s.
July 3, 2025 at 5:43 PM
They say that the Altamont tragedy marked the official end of the 1960s. The appearance of this chair on the curb today marks the official end of the 1990s.
...and _then_ I remembered that this library where I'm working has a pay-per-page color printer that patrons can access right through the library's website. SUPPORT LOCAL LIBRARIES THEY'RE UNIFORMLY AWESOME
June 23, 2025 at 7:21 PM
...and _then_ I remembered that this library where I'm working has a pay-per-page color printer that patrons can access right through the library's website. SUPPORT LOCAL LIBRARIES THEY'RE UNIFORMLY AWESOME