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    1. Any recommendations for a future-proof smartphone for a power user?

      I'm gonna have to buy a new smartphone soon, but I want to be able to keep that as long as possible. From my viewpoint, there are mainly three aspects to that: performance, software and battery...

      I'm gonna have to buy a new smartphone soon, but I want to be able to keep that as long as possible. From my viewpoint, there are mainly three aspects to that: performance, software and battery lifespan/replaceability.
      Do you have any recommendations (what I was originally hoping for - but didn't find - is a mid to high range phone with a maintained lineageos build and a replaceable battery)? And what are your ways to handle the problem of the user experience on smartphones degrading so quickly?

      7 votes
    2. What makes a video essay good?

      Youtube channels like CGP Grey, Kurzgesagt, Vsauce and Nerdwriter are all incredibly popular. They bring up interesting topics, explain them fairly well, and have high production quality. But to...

      Youtube channels like CGP Grey, Kurzgesagt, Vsauce and Nerdwriter are all incredibly popular. They bring up interesting topics, explain them fairly well, and have high production quality. But to me, something is missing. I'm not sure how to formulate my criticism, since it has nothing to do with the quality of their videos.

      It feels like the mentioned channels lack depth. They give off an uncomfortable "pop-science" vibe. Pop-science isn't wrong, I have nothing against it. But they feel too "poppy". They provide sources, but the commentary is directed to people who don't read. They don't dare to use precise words, in case the audience won't understand them. I get the feeling that they make their videos for the lowest common denominator: persons who doesn't read, persons who can't google and persons who want to make no effort to actually learn.

      I'd feel bad to only mention bad examples, so here is a list of high-effort video-creators with (in my eyes) good content:

      Lindsay Ellis: Long-form film reviews that actually go into the details.

      Every Frame a Painting: Very high-quality analyses of film directors and their styles.

      3Blue1Brown: Beautifully animated math visualizations explaining multiple areas of mathematics.

      Captain Disillusion: Critically debunking and deconstructing fake videos.

      Historia Civilis: In-depth historical videos about Rome.

      Bliss Foster: A hidden gem, with only 1000 subscribers, analysing runway shows.

      I'd love to hear your thoughts on what makes a good video essay. I'd also really like some suggestions for more creators to follow.

      26 votes