Examining

Examining

By Erik Christiansen and Kris HansNewsTechnologyEducationSelf-ImprovementTech News
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Examining episodes

  • 80: Rewind- Digital Detox

    This episode was originally published on February 1, 2022.

    In this episode, Kris and Erik return after their Winter break 'sabbatical.' Kris gives an update on the latest books he's read on work productivity, specifically those that force us to rethink how we work. Our co-hosts also discuss their work resolutions/goals for using technology and being productive.

    SHOW NOTES

    Books
    *The Four Hour Work Week - Tim Ferriss
    *ReWork - Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson
    *Remote - Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson
    *Make Time - Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky

    Tools mentioned
    *Pinboard
    *IFTTT
    *Day One
    *No code tools

    EDTECH EXAMINED CONTACT:
    Website: edtechexamined.com
    Email: [email protected]
    Twitter: @EdTechExamined

    TEAM INFORMATION

    Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
    Website: erikchristiansen.net
    Twitter: @egchristiansen
    Blog: tech-bytes.net

    Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
    Website: krishans.ca
    Twitter:  @KrisHans
    Market Grade: marketgrade.com

    Christopher Hoang, Audio Producer & Sound Engineer
    Website: chrishoang.ca

    1 hr 4 min
  • 79: Alt-F4 for Windows 10

    In this episode, Kris and Erik discuss the legacy of Windows 10 (successes and controversies), Windows' evolution, how to get an extra year of Windows 10 support for free, and our favourite Windows features.

    SHOW NOTES

    Bloomberg: Apple is enticing Windows 10 users to switch to Mac/iPad

    Paul Thurrott: Windows 10 Legacy

    Lex Fridman podcast: Dave Plummer interview (former Microsoft veteran)

    Dave’s Garage: Dave Plummer’s YouTube channel on PC/software history, deep dives into hardware, retro hardware, and interviews with industry legends.

    Steven Sinofsky's book: Hardcore Software: Inside the Rise and Fall of the PC Revolution

    TIPS

    Engadget: Get extended Windows 10 support for free!

    Reddit: Hidden/lesser-known Windows features

    TIME STAMPS

    00:00:53 - Reflection on Windows

    00:06:02 - Legacy of Windows 10

    00:25:54 - Apple going after Windows 10 users to switch

    00:27:22 - Get a year of Windows 10 support for free!

    00:32:01 - Favourite Windows features

    00:41:54 - Wrap up

    CONTACT

    Website: examining.ca

    X: @examiningpod

    LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/company/examining



    TEAM INFORMATION

    Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
X: @egchristiansen

    Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca
X: @KrisHans

    43 min
  • 78: Leaked from Orbit

    In this episode, Erik and Kris discuss the new Sora 2 video generator from OpenAI and a startling Wired report about how public and government information was gathered from satellites using only $800 worth of equipment.

    SHOW NOTES

    • Sora 2 AI video generator
    • Wired: Satellites are leaking the world's secrets
    • TIME STAMPS

      00:02:51 - Sora 2 AI video generator

      00:22:49 - Satellites are leaking the world's secrets (Wired)

      CONTACT:

      Website: examining.ca
      X: @examiningpod
      LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/company/examining

      TEAM INFORMATION:

      Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
      Website: erikchristiansen.net
      X: @egchristiansen

      Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
      Website: krishans.ca
      X: @KrisHans

      1 hr 2 min
    • 77: Rewind - A World Without Email

      This episode was originally published September 21, 2021.

      ----

      In this deep dive episode, Kris and Erik discuss Cal Newport's most recent book "A World Without Email." Newport argues that email and messaging apps (asynchronous communication) have led to what he calls "the hyperactive hive mind." Newport explains that email is taking up too much of our time at work and proposes several solutions to make us more efficient.

      SHOW NOTES

      Key concepts:

      *Email is abused and we spend too much time writing emails

      *We often offload our brains using email. It's easier to ask questions via email than find answers ourselves.

      *Email, like physical mail and instant messaging, is a form of asynchronous communication. 

      *Our work has become more reactive than proactive. Newport says email and messaging apps have led to the "hyperactive hive mind" approach to work.

      *Boundaries around email can be implemented on a personal basis (i.e. Deep Work strategies), but real change has to be institutional (processes and expectations).

      Other books by Cal Newport:
      *Deep Work
      *Digital Minimalism

      Tools for collaboration:
      *Trello
      *ITP Metrics
       
      EDTECH EXAMINED CONTACT:
      Website: edtechexamined.com
      Email: [email protected]
      Twitter: @EdTechExamined

      TEAM INFORMATION

      Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
      Website: erikchristiansen.net
      Twitter: @egchristiansen
      Blog: tech-bytes.net

      Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
      Website: krishans.ca
      Twitter:  @KrisHans
      Market Grade: marketgrade.com

      Christopher Hoang, Audio Producer & Sound Engineer
      Website: chrishoang.ca

      36 min
    • 76: Fall 2025 Productivity Roundup

      In this episode, Erik and Kris do their Fall 2025 productivity tips roundup and summarize some advice from author David Pink. They also compare sleep tracking apps, cover some mindblowing Microsoft data centre news, and share some early impressions of the new Apple Watch SE 3.

      SHOW NOTES

      • AutoSleep app
      • Streaks habit tracking
      • Daniel Pink's advice
        • Schedule Dr appointments in the morning
        • Delay drinking coffee in the morning
        • Showering in the morning vs evening (pros and cons)
        • Morning vs evening exercise
        • "Caffine naps"
        • The "fresh start" effect
        • Calendar scheduling hacks: Time blocking and batching
        • Benefits of a paper planner for time blocking
        • Logging time spent on priority activities helps build accountability
        • Apple Watch workout friends (motivation)
        • 2/5 minute rule: If it takes 2 minutes or less, it’s better to just do it now
        • Permission to be rubbish (Greg McKeown)
        • Built-in dictation feature in Microsoft Word
        • Microsoft: Inside the world’s most powerful AI datacenter
        • PC Magazine Apple Watch SE 3 review
        • TIME STAMPS

          00:01:33 - Autosleep App vs Apple Sleep Score

          00:08:35 - Daniel Pink's productivity advice

          00:23:13 - Co-host productivity hacks and apps

          00:42:59 - Microsoft's mega datacenters

          00:47:37 - Apple Watch SE 3 impressions

          00:53:05 - Wrap up

          CONTACT:

          Website: examining.ca
          X: @examiningpod
          LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/company/examining

          TEAM INFORMATION:

          Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
          Website: erikchristiansen.net
          X: @egchristiansen

          Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
          Website: krishans.ca
          X: @KrisHans

          55 min
        • 75: Liquid Glass Design

          Following up on episode 74 on the September 2025 Apple event, Erik and Kris discuss Apple’s newly released operating systems for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and macOS. This year brings perhaps the largest design overhaul since 2013’s iOS 7. Across all its operating systems, Apple has introduced a new concept, “Liquid Glass,” a new material and design philosophy that is both new and old. The co-hosts talk about how Liquid Glass is both different and familiar, comparing it to the original macOS and Windows 7, and also review the major feature changes in each operating system.

          SHOW NOTES

          Apple’s introduction of Liquid Glass for WWDC 2025

          Six Colors Blog operating system reviews

          • iOS 26 review
          • iPadOS 26 review
          • WatchOS 26 review
          • macOS 26 Tahoe review
          • Apple operating system standards on Figma (and other platforms)

            Steve Jobs introduces Mac OS X, 2000 part 2 and part 3

            Windows 7 design principles (transparency)

            TIME STAMPS

            00:03:46 What is Liquid Glass?

            00:13:20 What’s old is new again

            00:29:17 iOS 26

            00:38:41  iPad OS 26

            00:47:08 macOS 26 Tahoe

            00:53:37 The future of Liquid Glass

            CONTACT:

            Website: examining.ca
            X: @examiningpod
            LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/company/examining

            TEAM INFORMATION:

            Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
            Website: erikchristiansen.net
            X: @egchristiansen

            Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
            Website: krishans.ca
            X: @KrisHans

            1 hr 2 min
          • 74: Thin Air and Budget Devices

            In this episode, Kris and Erik break down the September, 2025 Apple event. Apple launched a new iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, the iPhone Air, new Apple Watches (Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3), and AirPod Pro 3. 

            SHOW NOTES:

            Watch the Sep 2025 Apple event

            PCMag: You Probably Missed These 7 iPhone Announcements at the Apple Event

            MacRumors: Apple Says iPhone Air is Another Step Towards ‘Singular Piece of Glass’

            The Verge: The eight biggest announcements during Apple’s iPhone Air event

            The Verge: Apple barely talked about AI at its big iPhone 17 event

            CONTACT:

            Website: examining.ca
            X: @examiningpod
            LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/company/examining

            TEAM INFORMATION:

            Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
            Website: erikchristiansen.net
            X: @egchristiansen

            Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
            Website: krishans.ca
            X: @KrisHans

            54 min
          • 73: $3000 A Book

            SHOW NOTES:

            Bloomberg Law: Anthropic Judge Blasts Copyright Pact as “Nowhere Close to Done”

            Reuters: Anthropic Agrees to Pay $1.5 Billion to Settle Author Class Action

            Tom’s Guide: Claude AI Will Start Training on Your Data Soon — Here’s How to Opt-Out Before the Deadline

            Futurism: Sam Altman Says Dead Internet Theory Is Coming True

            Wolfram Media: What Is ChatGPT Doing and Why Does It Work?

            CONTACT:

            Website: examining.ca
            X: @examiningpod
            LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/company/examining

            TEAM INFORMATION:

            Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
            Website: erikchristiansen.net
            X: @egchristiansen

            Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
            Website: krishans.ca
            X: @KrisHans

            42 min
          • 72: AI Agent or Data Broker?

            In this episode, Kris and Erik discuss AI Agents. They cover what they are, how they operate, and the pros and cons of having these agents roaming the Internet.

            SOURCES

            The Verge: AI agents are science fiction not yet ready for primetime

            Microsoft: Copilot and AI Agents

            OpenAI: Introducing ChatGPT Agent

            CONTACT

            Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
            Website: erikchristiansen.net

            Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website
            Website: krishans.ca

            39 min
          • 71: AI Companions
            SHOWNOTES

            "AI Coding Tools Could Bring Us the 'One-Employee Unicorn'": Fast Company

            "Chamath Palihapitiya tweet about not studying code": X (formerly Twitter)

            "Interview with Ray Kurzweil": Intelligent Machines Podcast

            "Microsoft Thinks AI Colleagues Are Coming Soon": Fast Company

            "Your Politeness Could Be Costly for OpenAI": TechCrunch

            "Adobe Introduces 'Created Without Generative AI' Label": Fast Company

            "Not Made by AI Logo Pack": NotByAI.fyi

            "How People Are Really Using Generative AI in 2025": Harvard Business Review (HBR)

            "Infographic: How People Are Using Generative AI": HBR

            "Studies Show AI Can Dull Your Thinking Skills—Here’s How It Can Also Sharpen Them": Fast Company

            "GPT-4 Prompting Guide": OpenAI Cookbook

            "A Practical Guide to Building AI Agents (PDF)": OpenAI

            CONTACT

            Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
            Website: erikchristiansen.net

            Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website
            Website: krishans.ca

            (Show notes and timestamp images developed with help from ChatGPT)

            46 min

          About Examining

          From the publisher's feed

          Examining is a technology-focused podcast that dives deep. Our co-hosts, Erik Christiansen and Kris Hans examine the technology industry, productivity, and education, and provide practical tech tips.