Comfort Zone

Mine's Bigger than Matt's

Matt needs some help figuring out what browser to use, Niléane has a new game show, and Chris challenges the gang to clean up their desk area. This week's Cozy Zone, the gang discusses their tech white whales. If they had unlimited funds, what would they buy? A nice camera? A beefy computer? A whole company?! Want more from the gang? Cozy Zone is a bonus podcast every Monday where we let loose on all sorts of fun topics. You can get cozy with the Comfort Zone crew for just $5/month [https://macstories.memberful.com/checkout?plan=138191] or $50/year [https://macstories.memberful.com/checkout?plan=138195], which not only makes the bonus episodes possible, but supports Comfort Zone, too. How would you have done our challenges? How would you answer the question at the end of the show? Let us know [https://giant-smash-219.notion.site/2d235e3fe8d880129f22fb81cdd47acc]! Main topics * Helium [https://helium.computer/] * Zen [https://zen-browser.app/] * Dia [https://www.diabrowser.com/] * ChatGPT Atlas [https://chatgpt.com/atlas/] * Perplexity Comet [https://www.perplexity.ai/comet] Other things * Chris' Gridfinity Setup [https://theuntitled.site/images/_IMG_0084.jpeg] * Last.fm [https://www.last.fm/] * HermitCraft desk mat [https://shop.hermitcraft.com/products/hills-desk-mat] * IKEA monitor arm [https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/stubberget-bracket-for-monitor-white-50591934/] * Matt's desk before [https://birchtree.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/2026/matt-under-desk-before.jpeg] * Matt's desk after [https://birchtree.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/2026/matt-under-desk-after.jpeg] * Forecast [https://overcast.fm/forecast] Follow the Hosts * Chris on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisLawley] * Matt on Birchtree [https://birchtree.me] * Niléane on Mastodon [https://nileane.fr/@nileane] * Comfort Zone on Mastodon [https://mastodon.macstories.net/@comfortzone] * Comfort Zone on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/comfortzone.macstories.net]

Our 2026 Tech Predictions

It's the annual predictions episode! The gang reflects on their predictions from 2025 and then make their Guaranteed To Be Correct Predictions for 2026. No boring predictions here, we start at Pro predictions and go all the way to Pro Max. This week's Cozy Zone has everyone discussing the tricky business of streaming music and how we actually get artists paid. Want more from the gang? Cozy Zone is a bonus podcast every Monday where we let loose on all sorts of fun topics. You can get cozy with the Comfort Zone crew for just $5/month [https://macstories.memberful.com/checkout?plan=138191] or $50/year [https://macstories.memberful.com/checkout?plan=138195], which not only makes the bonus episodes possible, but supports Comfort Zone, too. How would you have done our challenges? How would you answer the question at the end of the show? Let us know [https://giant-smash-219.notion.site/2d235e3fe8d880129f22fb81cdd47acc]! Follow the Hosts * Chris on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisLawley] * Matt on Birchtree [https://birchtree.me] * Niléane on Mastodon [https://nileane.fr/@nileane] * Comfort Zone on Mastodon [https://mastodon.macstories.net/@comfortzone] * Comfort Zone on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/comfortzone.macstories.net]

My Pink Booties

Chris reflects on a big year of changes, Matt has turned his garage into a mini-factory, and the gang buys clothes, but in a techy way. On Cozy Zone, we draft fonts…for real this time! Want more from the gang? Cozy Zone is a bonus podcast every Monday where we let loose on all sorts of fun topics. You can get cozy with the Comfort Zone crew for just $5/month [https://macstories.memberful.com/checkout?plan=138191] or $50/year [https://macstories.memberful.com/checkout?plan=138195], which not only makes the bonus episodes possible, but supports Comfort Zone, too. How would you have done our challenges? How would you answer the question at the end of the show? Let us know [https://forms.gle/Hizy8ygsKhGNDUz96]! Main topics * beyerdynamic DT. 770 Pro X [https://north-america.beyerdynamic.com/p/dt-770-pro-x?srsltid=AfmBOooTRUHRFf2sucUsQEHa6fwRMpU9ycEHOO3zqqBFHC7AHIi2wjyb] * Bambu Lab A1 mini [https://bambulab.com/en-us/a1-mini] Other stuff we talked about * The Opposite of Snow Leopard (2025 predictions episode) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs4_iYRQ4Dk] * Ora Browser [https://www.orabrowser.com/] * Ozlo Sleepbuds [https://ozlosleep.com/] * Anker Soundcore A20 [https://www.soundcore.com/products/sleep-a20-sleeping-earbuds?variant=45107133219006] * IKEA SKÅDIS [https://www.ikea.com/us/en/cat/skadis-series-37813/] * Star Wars Galactic Racer trailer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiavNl4qxWY] * Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic trailer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAmkl1jL0fo] * Resident Evil Requiem trailer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T54OWinnymM] Follow the Hosts * Chris on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisLawley] * Matt on Birchtree [https://birchtree.me/] * Niléane on Mastodon [https://nileane.fr/@nileane] * Comfort Zone on Mastodon [https://mastodon.macstories.net/@comfortzone] * Comfort Zone on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/comfortzone.macstories.net]

I Got a Flu From This Keyboard

Chris is making a bunch of changes going into 2026, Niléane has another snazzy audio app update, and everyone navigates the pain of trying to use a new keyboard layout. This week in the Cozy Zone, we drafted fonts! As you can imagine, strong opinions were felt. Want more from the gang? Cozy Zone is a bonus podcast every Monday where we let loose on all sorts of fun topics. You can get cozy with the Comfort Zone crew for just $5/month [https://macstories.memberful.com/checkout?plan=138191] or $50/year [https://macstories.memberful.com/checkout?plan=138195], which not only makes the bonus episodes possible, but supports Comfort Zone, too. How would you have done our challenges? How would you answer the question at the end of the show? Let us know [https://forms.gle/Hizy8ygsKhGNDUz96]! Main topics * Ghost [https://ghost.org] * DaVinci Resolve [https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve] * Canon EOS C50 [https://www.usa.canon.com/shop/p/eos-c50] * SoundSource 6 [https://rogueamoeba.com/soundsource/whatsnew.php] Other stuff we talked about * Alan Dye is leaving Apple [https://www.macstories.net/news/bloomberg-reports-that-alan-dye-is-leaving-apple/] * Colemak [https://colemak.com/] * Dvorak [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvorak%3Cem%3Ekeyboard%3C/em%3Elayout] * BÉPO [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%89PO] * Blot.im [https://blot.im/] * How old is your belt? [https://mastodon.social/@matt_birchler/115555535633033598] * This Year by John Darnielle [https://thisyearbook.com/] * Bamboo Lab A1 Mini [https://us.store.bambulab.com/products/a1-mini] * LEGO U.S.S. Enterprise [https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/star-trek-u-s-s-enterprise-ncc-1701-d-10356] Follow the Hosts * Chris on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisLawley] * Matt on Birchtree [https://birchtree.me/] * Niléane on Mastodon [https://nileane.fr/@nileane] * Comfort Zone on Mastodon [https://mastodon.macstories.net/@comfortzone] * Comfort Zone on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/comfortzone.macstories.net]

Entering My Dad Era

Matt wants to give the AirPods Pro 3 a piece of his mind, Niléane has another old school music app for the Mac, and everyone brings their best Black Friday deals (uh, hope you got them already 😅). This week's Cozy Zone is the challenging TineGuessr, where you look at a photo and guess where and when it was taken. Easier said than done, or is the gang going to set a new world record? Want more from the gang? Cozy Zone is a bonus podcast every Monday where we let loose on all sorts of fun topics. You can get cozy with the Comfort Zone crew for just $5/month [https://macstories.memberful.com/checkout?plan=138191] or $50/year [https://macstories.memberful.com/checkout?plan=138195], which not only makes the bonus episodes possible, but supports Comfort Zone, too. How would you have done our challenges? How would you answer the question at the end of the show? Let us know [https://forms.gle/Hizy8ygsKhGNDUz96]! Main topics * AirPods Pro 3 * beaTunes [https://www.beatunes.com/en/] Other stuff we talked about * AeroSpace [https://github.com/nikitabobko/AeroSpace] * Mos 4.0 [https://github.com/Caldis/Mos/releases/] * Craftsman V20 Tire Inflator [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JLTMQJT?ref=ppx%3Cem%3Eyo2ov%3C/em%3Edt%3Cem%3Eb%3C/em%3Efed%3Cem%3Easin%3C/em%3Etitle] * ChomChom Roller [https://www.amazon.com/Pet-Dog-Cat-Hair-Remover-Couch/dp/B00BAGTNAQ/ref=sr%3Cem%3E1%3C/em%3E6] * Bamboo Lab A1 Mini [https://us.store.bambulab.com/products/a1-mini] Follow the Hosts * Chris on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisLawley] * Matt on Birchtree [https://birchtree.me] * Niléane on Mastodon [https://nileane.fr/@nileane] * Comfort Zone on Mastodon [https://mastodon.macstories.net/@comfortzone] * Comfort Zone on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/comfortzone.macstories.net]