Dustin Newman

Linktree is so simple and does its job perfectly. It took me 5 minutes to set up, and now I can direct my Instagram followers to my shop, my blog, and my latest YouTube video all from one link. The Pro plan is worth it for the analytics and customization options.

We started using GrowthBook for its feature flags, which are super easy to implement with their React SDK. It's made our release process much safer. The A/B testing analytics are good, but not as polished or 'point-and-click' as some of the big enterprise tools. But for the price (we're on the cloud plan), you can't beat it.

It's rock-solid for secure communication. However, it lacks some of the 'fun' features of WhatsApp or Telegram, like animated stickers, channels, or extensive formatting options. It's a utility, not a social network, which is both a pro and a con. The desktop app is also very reliable.

We installed CarePredict for my mom who lives alone. The AI insights are amazing—it alerted us that she was spending way more time in the bathroom than usual, which turned out to be a UTI. We caught it before she ended up in the hospital. The fall detection is also very sensitive. The subscription is pricey, but cheaper than assisted living.

I've been a long-time user since version 4. The move to subscription-only was a hard pill to swallow. The software itself is still top-tier—secure, syncs well, and looks good. But I dislike having another monthly bill. Also, the new Electron-based desktop app doesn't feel as native or snappy as the old versions used to. It's still secure, which is the most important thing, but the user experience has taken a slight dip for power users.

Recent changes around how Meta uses content for AI training finally pushed me over the edge. The opt-out mechanisms are confusing at best, and it feels like they assume consent by default. I don’t want my private messages or photos feeding black-box models. I’m in the process of deleting my account and asking friends to move to other platforms.

The interface was easy to use, but the results were mixed. It struggled with my curly hair texture, making it look a bit 'painted' in some shots. Also, about half the photos didn't really look like me—more like a cousin. However, the few that worked were good enough for a Slack profile picture. It's a numbers game.

I use Otter for interviews. The live transcription lets me see if I got the quote right instantly. The 'takeaways' feature usually captures the main points well. It struggles a bit when people talk over each other, but it's still the best automated tool I've found. The export options are solid.