Blog : Joshua Lowcock

Joshua Lowcock sometimes blogs on non-work-related topics, most of which are posted below. If you are work related thought leadership pieces by Joshua, you can find them here. If you’re after the Audience Attention Dilemma, it can be found here.

If we meet in person and I recommend software or a specific website, you can find Joshua’s tips link here.

The blog posts are organized into the following categories:

There’s a miscellaneous category for things that don’t really have a home. I also have a long blog post full of useful websites, simply called tips. If we meet in person or virtually, odds are I will mention a website listed in tips.

The more popular technically skewed posts, you can find a list of those here. For tips specific to macOS, you can find macOS tips here. If you’re an owner of a Remarkable eInk tablet and what hacks, guides, and utilities start here.

From 2016-2021, Joshua published a weekly email, called Last Week in Digital Media. The newsletter summarizes the latest news in digital media, marketing, and technology of the week. The email newsletter was published for several years and was available as both a (limited) free or paid subscription. The archive is still available.

Need some fun and something less serious? Go here for some fun!

Recent Blog Posts

Guide: How to Fix Apple HomeKit Always Restarting Setup / Operation Error (Works!)

I had this weird Apple HomeKit issue where every time I started HomeKit it went through the entire setup process again, then HomeKit gave an error message "Could not complete operation" on the Intercom feature. What was really frustrating is I had a fully working HomeKit - all of my smart devices were visible, they responded, etc. but I was forced into the HomeKit setup before I could access devices. Read on for the solution! I was so frustrated by the error, out of desperation, I called Apple who suggested I try deleting all devices and setting it all up ...

List of Popular Windows Game Launchers / Game Stores

I just built a new gaming PC and couldn't find a list of all popular Windows Game Store/PC Game Launchers or a Ninite equivalent for Game Launchers. In the absence of anyone else doing it, figured I'd put together a list for others - you're welcome! If you're building a gaming PC, giving a gaming PC as a gift, and want to make sure it's ready to use out-of-the-box, here's all the popular game launchers / game stores you should install on your Windows PC. These game launchers / game stores are essential. I have listed them in alphabetical order, ...

Review: Real User Review Lucyd Smart Glasses (2025)

I have owned a lot of smart glasses, the Rayban Stories v1 and v2; Amazon Frames; Snap Spectacles v1 and v2; and a very early version of the Lucyd Smartglasses. Just before the new year, I was gifted a pair of the Lucyd Lyte Eclipse 2025 edition with prescription lenses. These are my first smart glasses with a prescription lens, making them my first every day smart glasses. This is my personal, unbiased review. In 2024 my glasses prescription updated, and I've always wanted to have every day smart glasses, but most manufacturers make it hard. If you buy Meta ...

Guide: Skype Number Alternatives

In late 2024, Skype phased out Skype Phone Numbers. As a Skype Number user for several years, and on occasional user of numbers for business purposes, this news is a major bummer. For now, if you have a Skype number it seems you're OK and you will not lose your existing number. But how long can we trust Microsoft to retain existing Skype numbers? Who knows. I've started looking for Skype Number alternatives and here's what I have found (and tested) so far. Broadly speaking, for most services you're looking at least $10 a month to get a number and ...

How to Fix WordPress Pagination Page 2 Not Working 404 Error (Works!)

Is WordPress giving you a 404 error on category pages and paginations, especially when you go to Page 2, etc? This is a bug in WordPress that only seems to only occur if you use the permalink structure of /%category%/%postname% This bug was driving me crazy, as I tested enabling/disabling plugins, clearing page caches, resetting permalinks, rolling back my WordPress version, without success. The fix is easy, but make sure you backup your WordPress site before installing, That all said, I take no responsibility if it breaks things for you, all I can promise is it worked for me. Tested! ...

Real User Review: Saily Travel eSIM – best global travel eSIM

If you're in a hurry and just want a Saily eSIM discount code, use JOSHUA5 for 5% off, this is the best discount code for Saily eSIMs. That said, I encourage you to read the review - you'll find some helpful information and advice. Background This is a real actual end-user review of the Saily eSIM. I have used and tested Saily in both the US and Australia. Saily did provide me a 7 day/1Gb Australia trial for the purposes of my fair and honest review. This review is unbiased and based on my personal experience with Saily. I do ...

Guide: How to Delete Locations in Apple Shortcuts (Works!)

If you use Apple Shortcuts for Automations that are triggered from locations e.g. Arrive and Leave, you may find that the list of locations you can choose includes random locations you're not familiar with or don't want, but there's no way to delete them. Neither holding or swiping will delete the locations and there's no clear option. There is a fix for deleting Apple Shortcut Locations, it's weird, but it 100% works. This has been tested by me and works on iOS 18.1.1 (and probably other versions of iOS). I guarantee this will let you delete Apple Shortcut Locations - ...

Lifehack: Free Remarkable Calendar Template (2025)

If you're after a free Remarkable calendar template for 2025, I recommend ReCalendar.me. This creates a PDF calendar with hyperlinks, that you can use on your Remarkable tablet. You just write on the PDF as you would any other document. To create a free 2025 Remarkable calendar, all you need to do is select 2025 as the year in the dropdown. It's 100% free and has all the features you need: no hacks needed hyperlink dates multi-language support custom left or right-hand configuration custom special dates (mark birthdays, anniversaries, etc) 100% Free Please note calendar template is a free PDF ...