Manage notifications and privacy to reclaim your (digital) life

A step-by-step walkthrough on how to stop your phone from constantly interrupting you. Learn how to filter notifications, disable attention-grabbing screen wake-ups, block ads, and tidy up your digital footprint across big tech platforms. Simple, actionable, and evidence-based. Read more.

Keep in touch

How to find a messaging app that puts your privacy first. A clear-eyed comparison of today’s most popular messengers, what really sets them apart, and why it’s worth having one option that isn’t driven by ads or algorithms. Read more.

Also available in German: 🇩🇪 Kontaktpflege | Chinese: 🇹🇼 留個聯絡方式吧

Taiwan user manual

How to boot-strap your Taiwan trip with convenience and efficiency. Everything you need to know about transportation, directions, communication and a list of recommended mobile apps. No advertisements. Not full-blown a travel guide, just a user manual. Read more.

Also available in Chinese: 🇹🇼 台灣使用手冊

Complete guide to get a motor scooter licence in Taiwan

A structured guideline on how to obtain the Taiwanese scooter licence. Only applicable for participants with resident visa (ARC) or better. Saturated with links to official sources. Read more.

How to prepare high-res artwork for professional printing

A practical guide to DIY mastering image files in GIMP or Photoshop for professional prints. Learn how to source the best possible artwork, choose appropriate DPI, and prepare files in CMYK with the correct output dimensions. Includes screenshots, step-by-step instructions, examples and tips. Read more.

Also available in Chinese: 🇹🇼 如何使用GIMP或Photoshop工具做出專業級印刷的高解析圖檔

Taiwanese Enka music

Discovery of a “Schlager” genre that blends its Japanese origins with Taiwan’s unique sociocultural history. I find Enka’s heritage to be slightly underappreciated by younger Taiwanese, and it is virtually unknown by people abroad. Article comes with playlist (listening examples) and deep links for further research. Read more.

Video games for learning Traditional Chinese (台灣)

A short list of text-heavy, story-driven games that work well for learners of Traditional Chinese in Taiwan, including virtual board games, RPGs, visual novels, and open world adventures. Curated by authentic usage of language (not simply translations from mainland China), including many original Taiwanese-developed titles. Read more.

Open vs. closed networks

A comprehensive overview of alternatives to the most mainstream, commercial social media platforms. The article discusses the benefits of transitioning to open networks and attempts to provide a balanced view on why networks are neither open nor inherently bad (e.g. Telegram and Reddit). Read more.

Also available in German: 🇩🇪 Offene vs. geschlossene Netze

RSS news feeds instead of social media

A thorough introduction into the concept of RSS feeds as a versatile tool to diversify your daily news consumption. Includes reference lists of where to find less commonly known news sources in areas such as politics, tech, entertainment and more. Read more.

Podcasts

A list of podcasts I can actually recommend. Sorted by genre and by how often I frequently I actually listed to it. Includes an introduction into the “why” and “how” of podcast life. Updated in late 2024. Read more.

Miyoo Mini Plus retro game console (review)

My take on this popular retro gaming handheld after weeks of real-world use. Includes video demo and practical insights on CPU vs FPGA emulation, ergonomics, the community-driven operating system, and which genres I think fit best for this pocket-sized console. Read more.

Custom ringtones and notifications on Android

Personalizing your Android notification sounds with custom, self-made ringtones. Article includes tipps on editing tracks (including multi-track remixing of iconic 16-bit soundtracks), a sensible file naming convention to make it easier to find your files within Android’s file picking list and some tips for per-app customizations. Read more.