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: Drop CSTM80 Default Hot Keys for LED Backlighting

I own a Drop CSTM80 Mechanical keyboard. It's pretty sweet TKL keyboard. I was worried I would lose the piece of paper in the box that explains the Drop CST80M default hot keys. Rather than run that risk, typing them up here so I always have them, and you, internet traveler, has them too. Here is your list of default hot keys for the Drop CSTM80 so you can customize the LEDs and more. LED KEYS Hold Fn key + listed key to activate W - LED Brightness Increase S - LED Brightness Decrease E - LED Animation Speed Increase ...

Guide: Best iPad Mini 2024 Screen Protector

Finally! Apple has announced a long overdue update to the iPad mini (it only took 1,127 days!). The good news is (aside from faster A17 processor and support for Apple Intelligence) is the new 2024 iPad mini is the same size as the 2021 iPad. This means you can get a screen protector now, today and don't need to pay a premium. The best screen protector for the iPad mini 2024 is this one from ESR. It's under US$10 and easy to install with the include install guide frame. ESR is my go to trusted brand for screen protectors, easy ...

Guide: How to Adjust RGB Backlight on ASUS Laptop (Works!)

I own an ASUS Vivobook S. It's one of the new generation of Windows ARM laptops running the Snapdragon X Plus processor. It's amazing and proves Windows ARM is really ready for prime time. The ASUS Vivobook S has a 3K OLED display which makes it even better (here's the laptop on Amazon and Best Buy). The ASUS Vivobook S has a backlit RGB keyboard and it's not intuitive of where you adjust the RGB backlight, well it's easy, here's how. How to set custom RGB backlight colors on the ASUS Vivobook S These instructions work on the ASUS Vivobook ...

Guide: Remarkable Paper Pro Compatible Pens / Remarkable Marker Alternatives

The Remarkable Paper Pro aka Remarkable 3 is Remarkable's full color update to the Remarkable 2. See here for my comparison of Remarkable 2 to the Remarkable 3. Unlike the Remarkable 2, the Remarkable 3 does not work with EMR pens and you can't use your old Remarkable 2 pen on the Remarkable Paper Pro. With the Remarkable Paper Pro, Remarkable have continued their tradition of charging a lot for pens (from US$79). But what happens if you lose your pen, need an urgent replacement? Are there after market pens? Yes! Do they work? Yes! And that's the purpose of ...

Answer: Do Remarkable 2 Pens / Does the LAMY Pen work with the Remarkable Paper Pro

Short answer. No. Remarkable 2 Pens are not compatible with the Remarkable Paper Pro. Long answer. Remarkable changed the technology used for the Remarkable Paper Pro (Remarkable 3). The Remarkable 2 used EMR technology, meaning you could use pens like the LAMY Al Star EMR. The Remarkable Paper Pro uses Active Pens, a technology from Wacom. It also means tips that you used in a Remarkable 2 pen will not work in the Remarkable Paper Pro Marker. There are also more things you should know. The Marker for the Remarkable Paper Pro needs to be charged. This is done magnetically ...

Guide: Remarkable Paper Pro v Kindle Scribe

With the release of the Remarkable Paper Pro aka Remarkable 3, we now have a full color eink tablet. During the announcement, I wrote up my first impressions of the Remarkable Paper Pro here. Remarkable have not upgraded the Remarkable 2 and they also ditched EMR pens for the Paper Pro. This means if you want an eink tablet with a backlit, it's either the Kindle Scribe or paying a significant premium for the Remarkable Paper Pro. If you're after a quick comparison of the Remarkable Paper Pro vs Kindle Scribe, you're in luck. I have this for you below ...

Guide: Trade in Remarkable 2 for Remarkable 3

I am not affiliated, associated with, nor sponsored by Remarkable or Best Buy. This trade in offer only works in the US. For Remarkable fans, it was great to see a full color Remarkable announced, the Remarkable Paper Pro aka Remarkable 3. There are some good and bad things about the new color Remarkable. One of the bad things is Remarkable isn't offering an upgrade / trade-in program similar to companies like Apple. The good news for US residents is that Best Buy sells the Remarkable Paper Pro and offers (currently) US$140 trade in credit on your old Remarkable 2. Yes, ...

Guide: the Remarkable Paper Pro (Remarkable 3) vs Remarkable 2

This is a post event summary of all the news from Remarkable Big News Event and a comparison of the Remarkable 3 (Paper Pro) vs the Remarkable 2. If you're interested, I also live blogged the Remarkable 3 announcement. As a Remarkable 2 owner, I love my Remarkable. It has been over 4 years since the release of the Remarkable 2 (May 2020). Since then, Remarkable has upgraded the OS, added keyboard support, and revised the Connect subscription pricing. We've also seen new competition emerge. Amazon dropped the Kindle Scribe in 2022, adding increased pixels-per-inch, backlighting, Amazon Kindle eBook support, ...