An update to Android 16 can cause issues with some glucose monitors (Image source: Abott)
Connection issues with Bluetooth devices or missing notifications are often just minor inconveniences. However, these can also lead to serious health problems for certain users, such as diabetics who are using a blood sugar monitor.
A new Android version usually brings more or less significant visual changes to smartphones. Sometimes, and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, there are various less noticeable changes deep within the operating system that users typically don’t notice. For a considerable number of users, smartphones aren’t just communication and entertainment devices, but also a hub for medical devices. Specifically, we’re talking about continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), particularly Abbott’s FreeStyle series, including the FreeStyle Libre 3 and Libre 3 Plus. After the recent release of Android 16, there’s new uncertainty as users report several issues. Abbott itself states that its smartphone app is not yet compatible with Android 16, at least officially.
This warning doesn’t seem to be baseless or overly cautious. There are various user reports of problems, but also some positive feedback. For instance, one user reports that since the update, the app on their Google Pixel 7 has been using a lot of battery and drastically decreased the phone’s standby time. Additionally, there are reports of connection drops that couldn’t be resolved by reinstalling the app. One user mentions connection drops and sensor shutdowns, which can also turn into a financial issue. Similar reports exist for Dexcom products, such as insulin pumps that can be paired with said blood sugar monitors. Interrupted connections, especially to glucose sensors, can potentially pose a health hazard if an unnoticed drop in blood sugar levels occurs. We reported on a similar issue back in 2023.
I have been active as a journalist for over 10 years, most of it in the field of technology. I worked for Tom’s Hardware and ComputerBase, among others, and have been working for Notebookcheck since 2017. My current focus is particularly on mini PCs and single-board computers such as the Raspberry Pi – so in other words, compact systems with a lot of potential. In addition, I have a soft spot for all kinds of wearables, especially smartwatches. My main profession is as a laboratory engineer, which is why neither scientific contexts nor the interpretation of complex measurements are foreign to me.
Translator: Enrico Frahn – Managing Editor Accessory Reviews, Tech Writer – 4821 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2021
My fascination for technology goes back a long way to the Pentium II era. Modding, overclocking and treasuring computer hardware has since become an integral part of my life. As a student, I further developed a keen interest in mobile technologies that can make the stressful college life so much easier. After I fell in love with the creation of digital content while working in a marketing position, I now scour the web to bring you the most exciting topics in the world of tech. Outside the office, I’m particularly passionate about motorsports and mountain biking.
Captain Joe Clarke thrashed a fourth half-century of this season’s Vitality Blast before 17-year-old Farhan Ahmed helped Notts Outlaws seal a thrilling one-wicket derby-day win over Leicestershire Foxes at Trent Bridge.
With two runs needed in pursuit of 189 and nine wickets down, last man Ahmed dug out a Logan van Beek yorker and scampered a nerve-shredding two to give Notts their first-ever one-wicket win in T20 cricket.
To add to the drama, Ahmed was short of the crease when coming back for two as Tom Scriven’s throw arrived, only for wicketkeeper Ben Cox to drop the ball and allow Ahmed in.
Clarke had earlier set up the chase by hammering 50 in 24 balls inside the powerplay, including eight boundaries, while Tom Moores’ innings of 42 came off 30 and contained six boundaries.
Within the Foxes’ innings, Calvin Harrison and Daniel Sams claimed the wickets of Sol Budinger and Rishi Patel, respectively, as they posted 188-2 after winning the toss.
However, their score proved narrowly not enough, as the Outlaws powered through tricky conditions before sensationally holding their nerve to seal victory with one ball to spare.
Having initially enjoyed a confident start in restricting the visitors to 18 from the first three overs, the Outlaws were forced to fight their way back into the contest.
Patel and Budinger remained unbeaten through the first half of the innings, posting their century partnership in 62 balls, before Harrison produced the breakthrough.
Finding some turn to beat the bat, Harrison teamed up effectively with Moores, whose rapid wrists behind the stumps saw Patel stumped for a 34-ball 51.
Moments later, one brought two as Sams then struck to see off Budinger for 56, splattering the opener’s furniture to end a 45-ball knock and throwing in a roar of delight in celebration.
That was as far as the hosts got in the wickets column, as Sams finished with 1/34 and Harrison collected 1/37, but the run rate did remain consistent as the Outlaws battled hard with the ball.
Ultimately, the Foxes were kept below 200 as Pakistan batter Shan Masood struck 40 not out and Rehan Ahmed added a further unbeaten 30.
In response, Clarke slammed another half-century at the top of the order to kickstart the Outlaws chase and see them to 62-2 after six overs.
Spinners Liam Trevaskis and Louis Kimber put the brakes on somewhat following the end of the powerplay to drag the visitors back into the contest, with the Outlaws requiring another 112 to win from the final ten overs.
However, Moores and some crucially colossal hitting from Daniel Sams, who added 33 from just 12 balls, put the chase back on track as the latter stages approached.
The duo shared in a stand worth 54 from just 24 balls for the fifth wicket as, at one point, 51 runs came off just 18 balls, meaning that with four overs to go, the Outlaws required 34 more.
Regular wickets stretched out the drama even as Moores hammered van Beek for back-to-back sixes to start the 18th over of the innings, before his wicket ramped up the nerves.
Dillon Pennington and Liam Patterson-White added a priceless further four runs for the ninth wicket across the first three balls of the final over to take the Outlaws to within two.
However, the tension then reached white-knuckle levels once more as the latter fell to a Sam Wood catch off van Beek, leaving the equation at two off two.
The prodigious Ahmed, though, once again displayed skill and maturity beyond his years to partner Pennington in seeing the Outlaws over the line in the most dramatic of circumstances.
*******
The Outlaws are back in action on Friday 11 July, as Durham visit Trent Bridge (6.30pm) as part of a Vitality Blast double-header. Secure your seats here…
Tennis players often say it’s hard to play against a friend, the killer instinct never quite as easy to call on as it might be against someone else. Aryna Sabalenka, the world No 1, has rarely had that problem, but she was pushed hard by her former doubles partner Elise Mertens before winning through 6-4, 7-6 (4) to reach the quarter-finals.
Mertens had won just two sets in their past nine matches but played as good a match as she has ever done at Wimbledon, and still came out on the wrong side. Sabalenka hit 36 winners and made just 18 unforced errors, coming from 3-1 down in the second set to set up a quarter-final against Laura Siegemund of Germany.
“It’s tough to play against someone you know quite close,” Sabalenka said. “She’s a great player, great person. It’s tricky facing her. I know how smart she is, I know she’s going to fight til the very end and she will be trying to find something. She really challenged me today, I’m super happy with the win.”
This is the only grand slam event in which Sabalenka has yet to make the final, but the Belarusian said her belief was growing. “I always dreamed of winning it. Every time on this court, I’m trying to give my best tennis, trying to fight for every point and really hope for the best.”
Challenged by Emma Raducanu in the previous round, Sabalenka broke in the fourth game on her way to a 4-1 lead. But Mertens, returning sharply and using her forehand slice when out of position to make life awkward for Sabalenka, hit back and levelled at 4-4. But every time it seems as if Sabalenka is on the back foot, she takes back control. A good hold of serve put her in front again and she ripped a backhand winner to take the set.
Aryna Sabalenka waves to the crowd after her victory against Elise Mertens. Photograph: Visionhaus/Getty Images
Mertens continued to play with poise, mixing nice touch with crisp groundstrokes and good serving and the Belgian claimed a 3-1 lead in the second set. Again Sabalenka dug deep, breaking back for 3-3 and taking command of the tie-break to win it 7-4 and take her place in the last eight.
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Siegemund reached the quarter-finals here for the first time, following up her win over Madison Keys in the previous round with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Solana Sierra, the lucky loser from Argentina who took out Katie Boulter in round two.
Israeli warplanes launched a wave of strikes in Gaza on Sunday, killing at least 38 Palestinians, according to hospital officials, as talks over a ceasefire in the devastated territory reached a critical point.
Officials at Nasser hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis said 18 people were killed by strikes in al-Mawasi, a nearby coastal area that is crowded with tented encampments of those displaced by fighting elsewhere.
According to the health ministry in Gaza, 80 people were killed and 304 wounded in Israeli attacks there over the last 24 hours.
Late on Sunday the Israeli military also said it had attacked Houthi targets in the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa and Salif, and the Ras Qantib power plant in Yemen.
This was in response to repeated attacks by the Iran-aligned group on Israel, the Israeli military said.
Israel has escalated its Gaza offensive in recent days, as momentum gathers in negotiations over a US-sponsored proposal that could lead to an end to the 21-month war.
Speaking as he left Israel for talks with Donald Trump in Washington on the ceasefire and other regional issues, Benjamin Netanyahu said late on Sunday that he was determined to ensure the return of hostages held in Gaza and to remove the threat of Hamas to Israel, reiterating promises he has made repeatedly throughout the conflict.
He also spoke of regional opportunities in the aftermath of Israel’s brief war with Iran last month, which was ended by a US-imposed ceasefire after Trump sent bombers to attack three Iranian nuclear sites.
“We have never had such a friend in the White House … We have already changed the face of the Middle East beyond recognition, and we have an opportunity and the ability to change it further and to enable a great future for the state of Israel, the people of Israel and the entire Middle East,” Israel’s prime minister told reporters at the airport.
It will be Netanyahu’s third visit to the White House since Trump returned to power nearly six months ago.
Trump said he believed a hostage release and ceasefire deal could be reached this week, which could lead to the release of “quite a few hostages.”
“I think there’s a good chance we have a deal with Hamas during the week,” Trump told reporters before flying back to Washington after a weekend golfing in New Jersey.
A draft of the proposed agreement for a 60-day pause in hostilities seen by the Guardian specifies that Trump himself would announce a deal, which some hoped could be concluded before his meeting with Netanyahu scheduled for Monday evening US time.
Relatives of Palestinians killed after Israeli airstrikes on a school in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City on Sunday. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
On Tuesday, the US president said in a social media post that Israel had agreed “to the necessary conditions to finalize” an agreement, while Hamas said on Friday it had responded in a “positive spirit” to the US-backed proposal.
Israel on Saturday rejected a series of changes to the proposed deal demanded by Hamas, and Netanyahu stressed on Sunday that negotiators he had sent to a new round of indirect ceasefire talks in Qatar had “clear instructions” to achieve an agreement but without making concessions.
“We are working to achieve the much-discussed deal, on the conditions that we have agreed to … I believe that the conversation with President Trump can definitely help advance that result which we are all hoping for,” the Israeli leader said.
In Gaza City, there was tension, hope and anxiety.
“We pray to God that the ceasefire succeeds this time. Even though we’ve heard so many times before about a possible truce, it always fails, and now we’re afraid to even feel hopeful,” said Abu Adham Abu Amro, 55.
“There is no more trust left because of the ongoing disagreements between the Palestinian and Israeli sides – one side agrees, the other refuses, and so it goes.”
The war in Gaza was triggered on 7 October 2023 when Hamas launched a surprise attack into southern Israel, killing about 1,200, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. Hamas is still holding approximately 50 hostages but fewer than half are thought to be alive.
In Israel, public pressure is mounting for a deal to free all the hostages still in Gaza.
Vicky Cohen, the mother of a soldier being held by Hamas in Gaza, said Israelis could only recover from the trauma of the 2023 attack if all the hostages were returned.
“Israelis care for each other … we will not leave anyone back there and we will bring them all back. These are the values that Israel is based on. I hope our prime minister is brave enough to do the right thing,” she said.
Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, displaced almost all of the 2.3 million population and reduced much of the territory to rubble.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had no immediate comment on the individual strikes in Gaza reported on Sunday, but said 130 targets were struck across the territory in the previous 24 hours, including militants, Hamas command and control structures, storage facilities, weapons and launchers.
People remove a metal scaffolding from a building hit by Israeli bombardment in the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip. Photograph: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images
The IDF also said a strike on a cafe in Gaza City last Monday that killed or wounded about 100 people, including many women, children and elderly people, had targeted a meeting of senior Hamas commanders. Experts have said the strike, which involved a 500lb bomb dropped on to a terrace crowded with waiters, families and students, could constitute a war crime.
IDF sources told the Times of Israel newspaper that Ramzi Ramadan Abd Ali Salah, who led Hamas’s naval force in northern Gaza, and several other Hamas commanders died in the attack.
Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers in recent weeks as they have gathered in large crowds to get food from looted convoys, from distributions by the UN, or from sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a controversial US- and Israel-backed private organisation that started operations last month.
On Saturday, Israel’s security cabinet said it would allow aid organisations to resume convoys into northern Gaza, where the humanitarian crisis in the territory is most acute. The move was opposed by far-right members of Israel’s ruling coalition, who say any aid will be stolen by Hamas and that none should be allowed to enter Gaza.
The head of a Palestinian armed group opposed to Hamas and accused of looting aid in Gaza confirmed in an interview with public radio on Sunday that it was coordinating with the Israeli military.
“We keep them informed, but we carry out the military actions on our own,” Yasser Abu Shabab said in an interview with Makan, Israel’s Arabic-language public radio broadcaster.
Groundbreaking research by the University of Sydney has identified a new brain protein involved in the development of Parkinson’s disease and a way to modify it, paving the way for future treatments for the disease.
With the aim of finding new treatments to slow or stop its progression, the research team has spent more than a decade studying the biological mechanisms underpinning the condition—which is the second most common neurological condition after dementia.
In 2017, they identified for the first time the presence of an abnormal form of a protein—called SOD1—in the brains of patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Normally, the SOD1 protein provides protective benefits to the brain, but in Parkinson’s patients it becomes faulty, causing the protein to clump and damage brain cells.
The newest study by the same team, led by Professor Kay Double from the Brain and Mind Centre, was just published in Acta Neuropathologica Communications. It found that targeting the faulty SOD1 protein with a drug treatment using copper improved the motor function in mice.
“We hoped that by treating this malfunctioning protein, we might be able to improve the Parkinson-like symptoms in the mice we were treating – but even we were astonished by the success of the intervention,” said Professor Double in a media release.
“All the mice we treated saw a dramatic improvement in their motor skills, which is a really promising sign that it could be effective in treating people who have Parkinson disease too.
ALSO CHECK OUT: First Advanced Parkinson’s Patient to Walk Again with New Spinal Implant, ‘It’s Incredible’
The study involved two groups of mice with Parkinson-like symptoms. One group was treated with a special copper supplement for three months, while the other received a placebo.
Throughout the study (which was partly funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation), the mice receiving only the placebo saw a decline in their motor symptoms. The mice receiving the special copper supplement, however, did not develop movement problems.
“The results were beyond our expectations,” said Prof. Double. “They suggest, once further studies are carried out, this treatment approach could slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease in humans.”
At present there is no known cure and only limited treatments for Parkinson’s disease, which is a degenerative disorder in which dopamine-producing cells in the brain die, leading to a range of symptoms including tremors, muscle stiffness, slow movement and impaired balance.
But researchers hope understanding the causes of the disease will lead to improved treatments.
MORE GOOD NEWS FOR PATIENTS: • Severe Shaking in Parkinson’s Patient Calms Down in Just 6 Days With New Drug –Watch the Transformation • Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms ‘Reversed’ by Mini Implant Bringing Hope
“As our understanding of Parkinson’s disease grows, we are finding that there are many factors contributing to its development and progression in humans – and faulty forms of the SOD1 protein is likely one of them.
“Just as researchers found with HIV, Parkinson’s disease is a complex condition that likely requires multiple interventions. A single treatment may have a small effect when used alone but, when combined with other interventions, contributes to a significant overall improvement in health.”
The researchers’ next step is to identify the best approach to targeting the faulty SOD1 protein in a clinical trial, which could be the start of a new therapy to slow the development of Parkinson’s disease.
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Frank Reynolds as The Golden Bachelor? A second Abbott Elementary crossover from the viewpoint of the Gang? The upcoming 17th season of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia looks as eventful as ever, and you can stream it all with a Hulu account.
The long-running sitcom returns this week after nearly two years away from screens. Season 17 will see Mac, Charlie, Dennis, Dee and Frank “return to shamelessly shed their ‘niche’ label for grander aspirations,” according to a press release. A trailer shows Frank being his unfiltered self alongside IRL reality dating host Jesse Palmer, plus Dennis getting smelly to appeal to women, ambulances, fires and other forms of chaos.
To see all the trouble the Gang gets into this season — and if Frank finds love on a TV show within a TV show — here are the release details for season 17.
When to watch season 17 of ‘It’s Always Sunny’ on Hulu
Episodes 1 and 2 of season 17 will air on FXX on July 9 and stream on Hulu the next day, July 10, according to FX. If you want to know Hulu drop dates for the rest of the season, here’s a full schedule.
Episode 1, The Gang F***s Up Abbott Elementary: Premieres on FXX on July 9 at 9 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT. Streams on Hulu July 10.
Episode 2, Frank Is in a Coma: Premieres on FXX on July 9 after episode 1. Streams on Hulu July 10.
Episode 3, Mac and Dennis Become EMTs: Premieres on FXX on July 16 at 9 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT. Streams on Hulu July 17.
Episode 4, Thought Leadership: A Corporate Conversation: Premieres on FXX on July 23 at 9 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT. Streams on Hulu July 24.
Episode 5, The Gang Goes to a Dog Track: Premieres on FXX on July 30 at 9 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT. Streams on Hulu July 31.
Episode 6, Overage Drinking: A National Concern: Premieres on FXX on Aug. 6 at 9 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT. Streams on Hulu Aug. 7.
Episode 7, The Gang Gets Ready for Prime Time: Premieres on FXX on Aug. 13 at 9 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT. Streams on Hulu Aug. 14.
Episode 8, The Golden Bachelor Live: Premieres on FXX on Aug. 20 at 9 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT. Streams on Hulu Aug. 21.
If you’re OK with seeing some ads during your shows, you can sign up for Hulu for $10 per month, or $100 per year. You can avoid commercials with the more expensive version of Hulu, which is $19 per month with no annual payment option.
James Martin/CNET
You can get a standalone subscription to Hulu or bundle it with other services. You can choose a combo of a) Hulu and Disney Plus, b) Hulu, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus or c) Hulu, Disney Plus and Max. Hulu free trials and student discounts are also available.
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League was, as we’re all well aware, an abysmal flop.
Why Rocksteady or Warner Bros. thought it was a good idea to pivot to live-service, I do not know.
Anyway, that’s exactly what it did and Suicide Squad was dead on arrival.
Its final content update landed in January of this year and honestly, I’m surprised it was supported for that long.
The good news is that it confirmed that the Suicide Squad didn’t actually kill Batman; they killed a clone.
That means that Rocksteady can make a new single-player Batman title set within its Arkham universe, and it appears that that’s exactly what the studio is doing.
Rumours suggest that the game may be inspired by Batman Beyond, although details are understandably thin on the ground at this moment in time.
You may recall that a Batman Beyond inspired game was actually the plan prior to the creation of Suicide Squad, with leaked concept having previously surfaced online.
Could Rocksteady be visiting the idea?
Of course, fans are happy to hear the studio is on the path to being back on track, although I think it’s far too soon to say all is forgiven.
That being said, they’re also not thrilled about the inevitable long wait that lies ahead, taking Reddit to roast the entire situation.
“Ok. See you in nine more years,” wrote Game2Late.
“Should have been doing that 10 years ago,” added gknight702.
“I’ll borrow a copy of the game from my grandchildren,” said UsernameError402.
Others were much more critical, suggesting they’d lost faith in the studio completely.
Personally, I think Rocksteady could make a stellar comeback if it’s left to do what it does best.
It’s true though. A new Batman title is going to take many years to develop so that’s something we all better come to terms with.
Ask any computing enthusiast about their motive for running self-hosted services, and you’ll hear a bunch of reasons. Some folks run apps on local hardware to stop large corporations from spying on their data, while others prefer the superior customization features offered by these services. Likewise, you may also encounter FOSS lovers who don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on monthly subscription fees.
Or you might find people like yours truly, who self-host services for all the reasons above. As someone who has been running all sorts of applications and utilities on a home server, here’s my curated collection of self-hosted services that helped me pull away from premium, third-party tools.
7
Immich instead of Google Photos
It has a similar UI, too
Immich is my preferred application for syncing my snapshots, images, and even video files to my NAS, though it’s much more than a mere backup tool. With a UI that’s reminiscent of Google Photos, Immich lets me organize my image collection without restricting the amount of storage available at my disposal. It’s one of the rare self-hosted services that includes a robust mobile app in addition to the web interface.
Immich also features solid tagging support and a handful of search filters to simplify image management. As if that’s not enough, I can even utilize my old GPU to run facial recognition, advanced search algorithms, and hardware transcoding provisions on Immich.
6
Jellyfin instead of Plex
Both can be self-hosted, but I prefer Jellyfin
Unlike every other app on this list, Jellyfin and the app it’s meant to replace can be self-hosted without a lot of effort. But over the last couple of years, Plex has aggressively shifted to a subscription-based model, effectively enshittifying an application that I relied on for my streaming needs. I’ve since moved on to Jellyfin and don’t regret my choice in the slightest.
Related
4 reasons Plex is pushing me further and further towards Jellyfin
With Plex becoming a minefield of clutter and paywalled features, it’s about time I switched to Jellyfin
With Jellyfin, I don’t need to register on an online platform to access media self-hosted on my local hardware. Nor do I have to deal with notifications prompting me to subscribe to a premium plan. Then there’s the fact that Jellyfin offers hardware transcoding without charging me a penny, while Plex locks this must-have utility behind a paywall.
5
Hoarder instead of Pinterest
For my never-ending bookmark collection
Pinterest offers a neat way to create an idea board of my favorite links, but I prefer using a private application that doesn’t keep tabs on my browsing history. After going through numerous bookmark managers, I eventually settled on Hoarder. Capable of pairing with my locally-hosted LLM setup, Hoarder can also use AI models to automatically create tags for newly added pins.
Besides depicting my links, notes, and images inside a Pinterest-like library, Hoarder can archive entire web pages, so I don’t have to worry about losing access to my favorite content if the website goes down. Add its built-in compatibility with RSS and the ability to store entire YouTube videos, and Hoarder becomes a solid alternative to Pinterest.
4
PairDrop instead of AirDrop
It even works with non-Apple devices
If you’ve ever used Apple devices in the past, you probably love AirDrop’s ability to seamlessly share files between your gadgets. But just like other proprietary tools, AirDrop’s Achilles’ Heel lies in its inability to support non-Apple products, which is a real shame when you’ve got a mixed bag of Apple, Windows, and Linux devices.
PairDrop offers a similar no-nonsense drag-and-drop interface for transferring files, except it works over the LAN and is compatible with any device that supports a web browser. Since I end up taking multiple screenshots of my projects, PairDrop makes it easy to share my image collection between devices (including the ones I captured for this very article).
3
Docmost instead of Notion
A polished web app for managing my tasks
Although I adore Notion for taking notes and organizing my schedule, its free version feels somewhat neutered, especially compared to the extra features offered in paid subscriptions. Couple its lack of a proper offline mode with the fact that my documents are stored on Notion’s servers, and it’s clear that Notion isn’t the best option for privacy-loving folks such as myself.
Docmost is the closest thing I’ve found to a self-hosted Notion alternative. Besides offering solid note-taking provisions, the app includes everything from LaTeX expressions and tables to media embeds from other apps. I often use pictorial data to make my gibberish notes comprehensible, and Docmost’s compatibility with Draw.io, Excalidraw, and Mermaid diagrams makes it perfect for my documentation needs. Plus, Docmost supports simultaneous editing, inline comments, and unlimited spaces, making it easy to collaborate with my coding buddies and colleagues on projects.
2
n8n instead of Zapier
Perfect for software automations
By tackling tedious chores, automated workflows make it easy to focus on the more pressing tasks. Zapier is a popular utility for creating trigger-action tasks for other apps, and is undoubtedly great for non-developers who want an easy way to create complex automations. But if you’re willing to put in a little work, I recommend self-hosting n8n instead.
For starters, a locally-hosted n8n instance features unlimited task executions, which lets me test experimental workflows without worrying about running out of the free monthly quota. Unlike Zapier, n8n also supports webhooks, making it easy to create complex automation procedures involving multiple apps.
1
Nextcloud instead of Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive
Remember to arm it with the right apps
Cloud storage platforms are a neat way to archive and share files, but they’re afflicted with the same paid subscription shenanigans and privacy issues as other premium utilities. Enter Nextcloud, a personal cloud that can run on my local NAS and deliver the same storage and collaboration facilities as its freemium counterparts.
However, Nextcloud’s real potential emerges into the light when you pair it with the apps hidden in its App Store. My favorites are Collabora Online and Nextcloud Office, which turn the self-hosted cloud into a full-on productivity hub. Arm it with the Forms, PDF Annotations, Notes, Tasks, and Automatic PDF conversion apps, and you’ve essentially got a Microsoft 365 alternative that’s as great at storing files as it is at editing documents.
Related
How I turned my old Raspberry Pi into a home office suite that’s better than Microsoft 365
Why spend your hard-earned money on Microsoft 365 when you can host a local office server on your Raspberry Pi?
Say adios to privacy issues and subscriptions by self-hosting FOSS utilities
Considering the sheer number of applications in the self-hosting landscape, this list is far from over. If you’re a casual user looking for a UX/UI design application, you can ditch Figma and Canva in favor of Penpot. Navidrome is a great alternative to Spotify for audiophiles who own large music collections, while Calibre-Web is my go-to app for organizing my ebook collection. For finance management, I prefer Firefly III over YNAB and other cloud-based rivals, though ActualBudget is a worthwhile option for folks who prefer zero-sum budgeting services.
