As we are moving toward the release of iOS 9, OS X 10.11, and Dragon Dictate is about to get an upgrade, I’ve been looking lately a lot at how far along we’ve come with the ability to dictate to our devices.

I’ve long been a fan of dictation but also long felt an outsider in this regard. That isn’t so true anymore. This morning I was sitting in a coffee shop and saw a few people dictating into their phones. I think it was the addition of dictation anywhere on our phones that has brought a lot of people in. This afternoon I made an informal poll of other geek friends, I’m hearing that many are using the built-in iOS dictation on at least a semi-regular basis. You should. It’s faster and easier than typing.

That same informal poll, however, discloses that almost nobody dictates to their Macs. While Dragon Dictate remains in the lead over the built-in Mac OS dictation, I can report that the built-in Mac dictation continues to improve. It still exhibits strange behaviors on occasion but, If nothing else, it’s a free way to find out if you want to dictate more and invest in Dragon Dictate.

While we are in much better shape than a few years ago, I still don’t think dictation is for everyone. We haven’t got to the point where you can just speak and have full confidence your words are being properly transcribed. On iOS, you still need an Internet connection for it to work. (Wouldn’t it be nice if the next iPhone put dictation on the chip so you could dictate without an Internet connection?) Correcting blundered dictation is also still more difficult than it should be.

However, if you are the type that once in awhile just needs to get that first draft of something into your computer, dictation is now definitely up to the task.

I was pleased to see Apple featuring games that don’t harass me for extra money after I start playing them. This “Pay Once & Play” has some great games in it including two of my favorites, Prune and Alto’s Adventure.

∞

I bought my first Waterfield laptop bag seven years ago. Since then, I’ve been a regular customer. Waterfield is based in San Francisco and makes excellent, rugged cases for your Apple goodies. They’re attractive and they hold up overtime. (That seven year old bag is still in service for my daughter.) 

However, my purchases have always been limited to bags specifically made for specific laptops. Just recently I went for something bigger. I got one of the new Waterfield Vitesse Messenger bags. I’ve never used a messenger bag before but now that I’m using the smaller laptop, it makes sense. I wanted a bag the could carry my MacBook along with a few other odds and ends like an iPad, a bottle of water, and even a sweatshirt without going the full-on backpack route. I also wanted something that looked good enough that I could use it in a professional environment. This messenger bag is perfect for the task. 

There’s a large main compartment and a pocket inside the Laptop. There are also three pockets on the inside where I store extra batteries and cables. The bag isn’t overwhelming and slips over my shoulder just fine and yet still holds more gear than I expected. If you’ve used to messenger bag before, you know how convenient it is to slide it around to your back and get on with your day.

There are also front zipper pockets opening to an easily accessible large pocket for easy access. Inside that large pocket is a smaller pocket lined with scratch free material that can hold your phone or your glasses.

The cover closes with a simple closure that you can close in seconds but in my month of extended usages neve come unhooked accidentally. There’s a an adjustable nylon strap to throw it over your shoulder and also a leather handle. The bag material is waxed canvas and quite sturdy.

The bag looks nice enough that I can take it anywhere. I’m finding myself using it for client meetings and afternoon trips to Disneyland. Although I’m using it with the small retina Mac book, you could carry a larger computer in this bag if you wanted. The bag is 1.9 pounds and is 16“–18” x 13“ x 4”. You can purchase it with an optional cycling strap if you are a spinner. I expecting to get many years out of this new bag. You can learn more here.

This week I had the pleasure of guesting on the Connected podcast. We talked about Relay’s anniversary, my new MacBook, and the Apple Music festival.

∞