Issue 37
  1. A notepad and e-reader in one
  2. A beautiful, open-source password manager
  3. A router by Google
  4. A free speech recognition text editor
  5. A book for your inner escapee
  6. A relaxation-help in the form of an app

Hey friends!

I'm back! Apple has fixed my Macbook Pro and I'm knee-deep in my inbox writing and answering emails for the next issue of Offscreen.

By the way, late last week I launched a special bundle deal in collaboration with the talented people at Made Publishers. You can grab a copy of Offscreen and the latest issue of the amazing MADE Quarterly for one modest price. The deal ends on Thursday. Details here.

As our subscriber list is growing I want to give a long overdue shout-out to Campaign Monitor for their ongoing support. They've been on board with Offscreen and now TMD from the beginning and I couldn't ask for a nicer experience and a more friendly bunch of people to work with. Without them I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing. <3

— Kai
 

Sponsors in TMD?

Since we're talking about supporters... I've been thinking about different options to make this newsletter a sustainable project. Working with a sponsor for each issue seems like an acceptable way to do it. Of course these sponsor slots would be subtle, relevant, and clearly marked as such. 

I would like to 'test' this idea with a few issues by offering a free sponsor slot to a handful of companies in return for providing a give-away prize for our readers. 

So if you/your company makes a product that our readers may like, please reply with a short pitch about what it is and what you are able to offer as a prize. It should be something fairly substantial – 10% off your monthly subscription fee or a free copy of your book wouldn't qualify. ;)
 

This Weekʼs Line-Up
Photo by gearmoose.com
Noteslate
A notepad and e-reader in one
 01

Although I sold my Kindle (horrible UI/UX and not enough time to read) I remain a big fan of e-ink screens. The Noteslate is an interesting e-ink reader that doubles as a notepad. The stills on their website look very promising. I'll certainly keep my eyes on that one. Pre-orders only for now – ships early next year.
 
Padlock
A beautiful, open-source password manager
 02

I'm pretty happy with my 1Password set-up for managing passwords. If I was in the market for a new app I'd definitely check out the open-source-powered Padlock. From what I can see on their website it looks like a brilliant alternative!
 
OnHub
A router by Google
 03

Has anyone tried Google's new wifi-router OnHub yet? To me it seems that there is definitely room for innovation in that segment of the hardware industry. OnHub promises super simple wifi connectivity, a human-language admin interface and auto-updates in the background. I like the sound of it.
 
Speechnotes
A free speech recognition text editor
 04

When I compile long emails I sometimes use Mac OSX' built-in speech recognition tool to give my wrists a break. It's not perfect. Speechnotes does the same thing, and after testing it for a few days it seems to do a slightly better job at recognising my weird Australian-German accent. It's fun to play around with it, even if you don't use it regularly.
 
Cabin Porn
A book for your inner escapee
 05

The Cabin Porn blog has long been a popular site for dreaming about an alternative life closer to nature. You can now put those dreams on your coffee table: the Cabin Porn book has arrived. Read more about the design process here.
 
Pause
A relaxation-help in the form of an app
 06

Pause is an app (of all things) that promises a break from the stresses of our always-on lifestyle. From their website: "Pause brings the act of ‘focused attention’ to the mobile screen. With a grounding in cognitive psychology and physiology, Pause uses a patent-pending technique to activate the restoration process and the relaxation response."
 
In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.
— Shunryu Suzuki
 
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The Modern Desk is a brief, once-a-week newsletter with a handful of apps and accessories to help you create a more productive and enjoyable work environment. Unless clearly marked as sponsor/advertiser, we do not receive compensation for any of our recommendations. Follow us on Twitter for related updates.

TMD is a project by brizk, 20 Breese St, Brunswick VIC 3056, Australia. Kindly supported by Campaign Monitor. Header photo via Blood & Champagne, Houzz or Minimal Desks.