Physical media has been dying quietly for years, and most people didn't fight it because streaming was just easier. Buying a digital copy felt like the same thing, just without the disc. The problem is that it isn't the same thing at all, and it's not just about ownership; it's about the quality that we're all losing out on.

Most USB cables are boring because they should be simple. The plugs are different on each end for a reason, and that reason is to stop you from doing something that seems harmless but isn't. A USB-A to USB-A cable is not just for show; it is dangerous. I have one, and if you know what you're doing, it doesn't hurt to have one too.

Streaming sticks used to be a really good purchase that was pretty straightforward. You paid the cost, which changed over time, plugged it in, and watched your shows. The same devices now boot into ad-heavy home screens, autoplay sponsored trailers before you've touched a button, and push updates that make the interface worse on purpose. You technically own the hardware, but the experience is designed around someone else's revenue. Building your own box used to sound like overkill, but not anymore now that an option like Fire TV is bad for home labs.

YouTube has become a worse place to learn from. The videos are longer than they need to be and are filled with ads. I am tired of sitting through 40 minutes of a video just for what is probably 10 minutes of real information. NotebookLM (Gemini Notebook) is actually a really good video converter with zero ads. It turns a fluffy video into something you can listen to or a video that stays on point, without any ads at all.

Wireless Android Auto is easy to use. You get in the car, and your phone connects on its own — which is what attracted me to it to begin with. However, as I started to use it more, I realized that the wired setup was actually worth all the hassle. I would rather have a phone that always works than the convenience of wireless.

Most people know texting while driving is dangerous, but they do it anyway. There is so much peer pressure to be considerate of those waiting for you, but the law is pretty clear. Distracted driving is one of those crimes that makes a lot of sense when you see the numbers, but you want to be considerate. Luckily, Google has already thought this through.

For a while, Roku felt like the one streaming platform that hadn't sold out. Ads were not invasive a few years ago, and the OS mostly stayed out of your way. If you've been a Roku user long enough to remember what that felt like, then you're probably disappointed with where the company is going. Roku is more than a way to start streaming, so it makes sense that the company wants more money. Unfortunately, it feels like we're just at the beginning.