Blog

Notes from the lab

Practical writing on the tech we build — Android, automation, electronics, and productivity.

ProductivityLifestyleAudioHome AutomationAndroidESP32IoT

Time Blocking to Beat Procrastination for Good

The most effective way to beat procrastination is time blocking — here is the exact method, template, and rules that survive a busy day.

Lifestyle 7 min

The Perfect Organized Day: Plan, Shop, and Unwind

A three-loop routine — plan, shop, and listen — that turns an ordinary day into a calm, organized one you actually finish.

Audio 7 min

Internet Radio vs FM: How Listening Is Changing in 2026

Internet radio's global reach, presets, and sleep timers are pulling listeners from FM — here's what's changing and how to listen free.

Lifestyle 7 min

Fight Grocery Inflation With a Seasonal Shopping List

Buy in season, track baseline prices, and stock staples only on real sales — a practical playbook for cutting your food bill as prices climb.

Productivity 7 min

Quarterly Planning for Q4: A 30-Minute Reset

Before the year-end crunch hits, do a 30-minute quarterly reset: three questions, one two-week sprint, and a digital detox to protect your focus.

Audio 7 min

Turn Your Commute Into a Learning Hour With Audio

Turn your commute into a daily learning hour with the right audio — a practical system for choosing what to listen to, plus the podcasts worth starting with.

Lifestyle 7 min

How to Build a Grocery List That Actually Saves Money

Plan meals first, check the pantry, sort by aisle, and compare unit prices — a categorised list cuts both overspend and food waste.

Home Automation 8 min

Building Radio Khushbu: A 24×7 Internet Radio on a Home PC

How we turned a folder of 773 songs on an ordinary desktop into a self-healing internet radio station streaming to the world at pblab.in/radio.

Android 5 min

Why Offline-First Matters for Android Apps

Flaky networks are the norm. Building local-first with Room and sync gives users a fast, reliable experience everywhere.

ESP32 7 min

ESP32 for Beginners: From Blink to Connected

A practical path to your first Wi-Fi-connected ESP32 project, including OTA updates and MQTT basics.

Home Automation 6 min

Planning a Smart Home That Actually Works

Avoid the common pitfalls: start with a topology, choose reliable radios, and keep control local-first.

Productivity 5 min

Automating the Boring Tasks in Your Business

A field guide to spotting repetitive work and replacing it with small, maintainable tools.

IoT 6 min

IoT Security Basics You Shouldn't Skip

Default credentials, unencrypted MQTT, and open ports — and the simple fixes that close them.

Android 5 min

Designing Calm Android UIs with Material 3

Dynamic color, motion, and spacing that make utility apps feel premium without heavy custom design.