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 Sign into Amazon on Kindle Keyboard with 2FA (Works!)

I still use a Kindle 3 aka the Kindle Keyboard, yes, the Kindle that came out in 2010! While the 3G connectivity is no longer supported, you can still register your Kindle 3 on your Amazon account and sync purchases. You will need to make your purchases on Amazon.com, as the Kindle Store on the Kindle Keyboard is no longer available, but as an eReader, the Kindle Keyboard still rocks. Yes, this still work as of 2025! How to Sign In to Amazon on the Kindle Keyboard and Older Amazon Devices Here’s how to sign in using a combined password ...

Guide: JLab Keyboard Windows / MacOS Switching

A quick post to help other owners of the JLAB Epic Mechanical Keyboard and JLab Go. JLAB Keyboards are great value, I mainly use the JLab Epic Mechanical Keyboard which is a multi OS/multi device mechanical keyboard - it works on Windows, MacOS, and Android. This means the keys can switch between CMD/ALT and OPT/Start (without the need to physically remove the keys). The JLab keyboards do not detect your OS automatically, so you manually need to tell the keyboard which operating system you are using, this is done with a keypress combination. MacOS - Fn + Q Android - ...

Best Skype Number Alternative, Transfer your Skype Number now!

Best Paid Skype Number Alternative: Voip.MS If you’re looking for a solid alternative to Skype, VoIP.ms is the best I have found. It’s flexible, with no contracts, and operates on a per-minute basis, which can be really handy for more occasional use. A US number costs just $0.85 per month, making it a very affordable. VoIP.ms also supports number porting (so if you're looking to move numbers from Skype, VoIP.ms is perfect. The process is straightforward, though I’ve found the Skype porting side of things to be a bit slow (probably more on Skype’s end). Pro tip: your Skype account ...

Double Hellix: a Poem about Data Privacy and Weaponized Surveillance

In the light of the 23andMe collapse and the terrifying thought of customer DNA for sale to the highest bidder and the risks, it truly is one of those moments that you need to reflect on the "consent" you give when you share data and the far reaching implications beyond what you imagined when you mindlessly tick a box. The risks to yourself are not just about invasive ads and tracking, it can be an existential personal safety threat to individuals, a class of individuals, and society. I'm not being dramatic. In 2022 US Rep Jason Crow (D-Colo.), a member ...

Lifehack: Why You Should Stop Using Authy for 2FA/MFA

If you’re still using Authy for 2FA/MFA, it’s time to stop. While it was once considered one of the better 2FA/MFA solutions, its lack of an export function, security concerns, and service failures make it clear that Authy is a liability. Worse, it’s owned by Twilio, a company with a troubling track record of security breaches and frequent service outages. If you value portability, security, and control, it’s time to move on from Authy and switch to passkeys while you’re at it. Can You Export from Authy to Another 2FA/MFA Provider? No, you cannot. Authy does not allow you to ...

Unix/POSIX Timezone Codes (TZ) and Daylight Savings Offsets

I've recently become (mildly) obsessed in making clocks out of old kindles and ran into an issue with it correctly offseting for daylight savings time. If you have want to donate an old kindle to someone who could make good use of it, please contact me. To set the time, I was using the POSIX code TZ='EST5EDT,M3.5.0/1:00:00,M10.5.0/2:00:00' But the clock was always an hour out, despite it being daylight savings time. After much research, I finally fixed it and have a proper understanding of POSIX TZ. Think of the TZ variable as a time zone override. In most cases, your ...

Guide: How to Port a Skype Number Out of Skype (2025)

I am not affiliated with Microsoft or Skype. I guess in a few months, Microsoft will no longer be affiliated with Skype either. haha To port it out, just follow the steps below: Contact new provider or phone company, I recommend voip.ms Start the porting process with your new provider. Provide the following: Your Account Number is your Skype Number with country code PIN: 0000 (4 zeros) If you are being ask for a Service Address, you can provide your billing address. Check your billing address on this link https://secure.skype.com/wallet/account/addressTip: Check your Service Address BEFORE you start the migration process, ...

Guide: How to Setup CrazyTel on Groundwire (or Acrobits)

If you're Australian, the best VOIP solution I have found is CrazyTel. They are only available in Australia and for Australian numbers only. To be clear, you can't sign up from outside Australia. If you're outside Australia and need an Australian phone number or a phone number for any other country, I recommend Voip.ms. That said, for Australians needing an Australian VOIP number, CrazyTel is an affordable, reliable VoIP provider. CrazyTel do offer their own app, which is easy to setup (and it's actually a limited feature set skinned version from Acrobits). For most users, CrazyTel's own app would be ...