March 2025
Mets reliever A.J. Minter pleased with ‘successful’ spring debut
Left-hander reliever A.J. Minter figures to be a huge piece of the Mets’ bullpen this season, and the veteran took a big step in his recovery from hip surgery in his Grapefruit League.
Stock market today: Tech rally leads Nasdaq, S&P 500 higher as Tesla, Nvidia surge after cool CPI print
This Mac Screen Blurring App Actually Helped Me Focus
Study after study shows that humans can’t really multitask but we all keep trying to do it anyway. Why is that?
In part, I blame our nice big computer monitors, which can fit lots of open windows at once. I have a habit of leaving a chat window open in the background when I should be focused on my writing, and I bet you do something similar, even if you know—and agree—with the research that suggests this only increases your distractibility. Recently I stumbled upon Monocle, a $4 indie Mac application that seeks to solve this problem.
Monocle blurs everything on your screen except for your current window. The idea is that this will force you to focus on the task at hand, instead of constantly monitoring several open windows. Sure, you could do the same thing by using all of your applications in full screen or by only having one application open at the time, but this approach means you can still switch easily between windows when that’s actually useful (as opposed to whenever your attention wanders).
If this sounds a bit abstract, perhaps some screenshots will make things a bit more clear. Here’s a cluttered Mac desktop with multiple windows open:
Credit: Justin Pot
And here’s what that same desktop looks like with Monocle running:
Credit: Justin Pot
The currently open window is clear, as is the menu bar. All of the other windows, not to mention the wallpaper, are blurred. In theory, blurring everything you’re not currently working on will make it easier to focus.
If this strikes you as too extreme, Monocle offers a compromise of sorts: an option that blurs only the bottom three quarters of each window. This allows you to note what’s open without getting sucked in:
Credit: Justin Pot
There are a few more features in the settings worth exploring. You can exclude certain applications from triggering the effect, if you want. You can also adjust the graininess of the blurring and set up keyboard shortcuts for turning the feature on and off.
I tested out Monocle for a couple of days, mostly while writing. That, for me, is the primary task I do better at when I am solely focusing on the task at hand. For this use case, I found Monocle super helpful. It’s also the only time I really left the blurring turned on.
That’s because there are all sorts of tasks that actually require typing in one window while looking at another. When I’m researching, for example, I tend to have two windows open: Obsidian for my notes, and a browser for the information I’m gathering. I constantly need to be looking at both of those windows at once. I think most people have at least some tasks that likewise require multiple windows, and leaving blurring on during tasks like that isn’t going to be useful at all.
The good news is, you can toggle the blurring using either a keyboard shortcut or by clicking a menu bar icon. I recommend doing this often—it’s a good way to learn the kinds of work where you do (and do not) benefit from having multiple windows open. I also recommend hiding your Mac’s menu bar in addition to turning on the app—that blocks out even more things that could disrupt your focus.
If you’re curious about Monocle, the app offers a seven-day free trial. Try it out for yourself and see if it’s helpful.
Mets Notes: A.J. Minter makes spring debut; Dedniel Núñez nearing game action
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza provided updates on relievers A.J. Minter and Dedniel Núñez.
My Favorite Amazon Deal of the Day: The Google Pixel 8a
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The new Pixel 9 lineup launched last summer—and the Pixel 9a is around the corner—so it’s no surprise there’s been a drop in prices for the Pixel 8 lineup. Amazon is offering the higher end Pixel 8 Pro for $599 (though prices seem to vary a bit based on location), but if your budget is a bit tighter, you can get the Pixel 8a for $399 (originally $499) after a $100 discount. That matches the Pixel 8a’s lowest-ever price, according to price-checking tools. (The Pixel 9a is likely to cost $499 when it launches, so if you want to save yourself some money and don’t need the latest device, this is a great choice.)
The Pixel “a” series is the Pixel lineup’s budget option. These devices tend to be missing some features of their pricier counterparts, but they often end up a better value for the money. For example, the Pixel 8a was available to preorder last May, and the biggest “cut” from the Pixel 8/8 Pro was the camera. Here is what assistant tech editor Michelle Ehrhardt had to say about the differences between the two:
The 8a’s camera is 64MP main wide/12MP ultrawide on the rear and 13MP on the front. By comparison, the regular Pixel 8 is 50MP main wide/12MP ultrawide on the rear and 10.5MP on the front. However, due to improved light sensing and pixel size, the Pixel 8’s camera may be a better choice for some.
The Pixel 8a has the same Tensor G3 processor as the Pixel 8/8 Pro, a slightly smaller 6.1-inch 120Hz “Actual” display, and a slightly better camera system in terms of pixels, but it may have weaker sensors. Still, the 8a is getting Google Gemini Nano support, like the other Pixels, along with seven years of guaranteed software support as well as the same new drop features. (You can read our full review of the 8a here.)
Paul Blackburn fires four perfect innings, Francisco Lindor smacks RBI single as Mets beat Cardinals
The Mets faced the Cardinals on Wednesday as their 2025 MLB spring training slate continued.
Analysis: Why Dodgers don’t necessarily need Shohei Ohtani to pitch to start the season
As the Dodgers prepare to begin the season in Japan against the Chicago Cubs, here are five takeaways on how things went during spring training.
Everything You Can Expect to See at Google I/O 2025
Google I/O, the company’s annual developer’s conference, doesn’t start until May 20, but expectations are already swirling about what will be announced during the event. Here’s what we think might show up at this year’s Google I/O, plus details on how to watch.
When and how to watch Google I/O 2025
This year’s Google I/O is scheduled for May 20 and 21, with the first keynote beginning at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET). The event will be live streamed online at io.google and on YouTube. Anyone can view the keynotes and sessions without registering, though developers can register for free to receive event communications.
What’s coming to Google I/O 2025
The schedule for I/O 2025 hasn’t been published, and what we think we’ll see is (so far) based on rumors, speculation, and leaks. That said, there are a few things we can reasonably expect—or at least hope for.
First is the launch of Android 16, which Google has already pegged to Q2 2025. According to Android Police, leaks suggest an official release date of June 3, meaning an announcement at I/O is likely. Public betas have been rolled out with new features for photography, security, device management, foldable detection, and small tweaks to accessibility and health functionality.
Another possible release date announcement could come for Wear OS 5.1, which has some relatively minor new features and stability improvements. And while Google isn’t expected to launch Wear OS 6—which would follow suit with the release of Wear OS 4 in July 2023 and Wear OS 5 in July 2024—or even announce any of its features, it could hint at what we’ll see in Wear OS in the future.
Finally, Google recently confirmed the launch date for the first Android XR-powered headset and revealed more details about specs and features. This came following Samsung’s extended reality (XR) prototype reveal during January’s Galaxy Unpacked event. Other hardware news is less likely, as the Pixel 9a is expected to drop in March ahead of I/O.
Of course, AI is expected to be heavily featured at I/O 2025, with possible updates about Project Astra. The “advanced seeing and talking responsive agent,” announced at I/O 2024, is billed as a next-gen AI assistant that can receive real-world inputs and respond to what it sees. The event lineup could also include updates on Gemini features like Circle to Search, AI Overviews, and integrations with Android, Search, and YouTube—and maybe even the official switch from “Hey Google” to “Hey Gemini.”
Simulation Station: How likely is a Celtics-Thunder Finals matchup?
The Celtics and Thunder are among the NBA title favorites. Strat-O-Matic simulated the playoffs 100 times to see how many times they’d meet in the Finals.