Issue 100
  1. Adjustable notebook stand
  2. A unified workspace for teams.
  3. Have duct tape at the ready
  4. Make answering emails fun (sort of)
  5. Live-streaming camera
  6. Performance reviews within teams

Hi there!

This is a special issue: it's the 100th issue of The Modern Desk! I can't believe I've sent out this newsletter one hundred times. It sounds unreal.

A few weeks ago I was thinking about doing a celebratory issue with lots of give-aways, but then as the launch of the new Offscreen was getting closer and closer, time just got away from me. But I still have a little surprise 'present' for you: an opportunity to try a copy of Offscreen for just $5! See below. 

To everyone who's been reading TMD for the last 100 issues (or just joined us): thank you so much for tuning in and letting me fill up your inbox with some random finds every week. To the next 100 – soon in a new look!

Kai

 
 

Celebrating 100 issues: Offscreen for $5

To celebrate the 100th issue of The Modern Desk, I'll make 100 copies of Offscreen Magazine Issues 13 and 14 available for only $5.00! You basically just pay for shipping, and the magazine is on me.

Use this link to buy your copy. Please limit your order to one copy/issue, so more people can take advantage of this offer. 

If you saw this email too late and missed out: very sorry but with a global newsletter some folks will always be asleep/away from their email.

 

This Weekʼs Line-Up

Adjustable notebook stand
01

This notebook stand made from aluminium comes with a metal knob at the front. As you slide it from left to right the angle in which the notebook rests on the stand increases, adjusting to your preferred eye-level. 

 
A unified workspace for teams.
02

With so many tools, it's hard to keep everyone on the same page. Notion unifies things like Google Docs, Dropbox Paper, Basecamp, Trello and others into one interface to manage centrally. I love the design of their website, too.

 
Have duct tape at the ready
03

This keychain has little to do with tech or office items, but I really wanted to feature it here for its ingenuity. If you've ever been in a situation where a bit of duct tape could provide an easy fix, you need one of these: "A stylish way of carrying around that piece of Duct Tape for those unforeseen situations." Refillable, of course.

 
Make answering emails fun (sort of)
04

The Email Game is a little plugin for Gmail that is supposed to make answering your emails 'fun' by limiting the time you have to respond to each email and giving you an indication (via a smiley face) as to how well you're doing. 

 
Live-streaming camera
05

I've never done any live-streaming, but I know there are a lot of cameras available for just that. Mevo is an interesting combination of hardware and software that offers auto-tracking of people on screen and allows you to edit and switch to different camera angle as you're streaming. Pretty smart little thing.

 
Performance reviews within teams
06

With Impraise employees receive and provide feedback on each other's performance – giving everyone a more holistic and up-to-date picture of how they're doing compared to the more traditional quarterly or yearly reviews.

 
If you’re worrying about yourself—if you’re thinking: ‘Am I succeeding? Am I in the right position? Am I being appreciated?’ – then you’re going to end up feeling frustrated and stuck. But if you can keep it about the work, you’ll always have a path. There’s always something to be done.
— Barack Obama