One of the balances I’m trying to achieve in 2023 is to use technology more efficiently. I like to know what’s going on in the world in the areas of news, sports and finance, but I want to look at an iPhone less. I want technology that works passively, and that’s one of the reasons I’m excited to have Tidbyt on my desk for the new year.
Tidbyt is a retro-style display that lets you track things that matter to you, in short snippets of text. You can add financial quotes, your calendar, what’s playing on Spotify, sports scores, breaking news, and more. I first heard about it last year and I’m thrilled that it will be part of my lifestyle in 2023.
Why Tidbyt is the ideal accessory for working from home
Tidbyt is a retro-style screen that lets you keep track of the things you care about. It displays short updates of the feeds you follow, formatted like telegram or retro It’s both a tribute to early computing and an experiment in using this technology to help people stay focused on what matters most. As someone working from home, I think this is the perfect accessory to help me stay up to date with the world around me without staring at a device all day.
Tidbyt’s brainchild was to create a device that simplified your morning routines. What time is it? What weather is it? What time does the next metro leave? Having to search for an iPhone over and over again to answer these questions was a pain and a distraction, so the team aimed to create something that streamlined access to information without distracting you.
The video is extremely well done and really highlights some of the benefits of Tidbyt. All the information in the world is available to you while you sit at your desk or watch TV without having to look at your iPhone.
I’ve had it on my desk for a few weeks and it’s become one of my favorite tech products that I’ve used for a long time. It works at a glance, keeps me in the loop, and isn’t meant to distract me.
Configure Tidbyt
Setting up your Tidbyt takes about five minutes and is a similar process to setting up a new HomeKit device. You’ll plug it in using the included card and USB-C adapter, open the Tidbyt app, and then it’ll find it via Bluetooth. You will go through the process of creating an account, then you can start choosing your “apps”.
What type of information can Tidbyt display?

Tidbyt has loads of pre-made apps that it can display right away. Some of my favorites are:
- bitcoin price
- When will Georgia football play next?
- How’s the weather ?
- Current date/time
- Bible verse of the day
- Sunrise
- Google Calendar
- Twitter feed
These are just a few of the apps I use with Tidbyt, but there are countless more. Some popular are:
- Google Calendar
- Todoist
- Metro timetables
- Gas Prices at Costco
- NFL Results
- MLB Results
- Twitter feed
- Random tips
Check out the full list to see the possibilities. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can also create your own with Tidbyt’s API. You can create a custom app for a feed in your office with detailed project stats, sales numbers, or whatever else you might find.
Wrap

Tidbyt has all the information you want and need in one place, displayed in a wooden case with a matrix of bright LED lights. You can choose from a catalog of pre-made applications, such as weather, stocks, metro timetables, bitcoin price, calendars, etc., or create your own script on its open platform with just a few lines of code. You’ll set it up once with your phone and it’ll stay up to date with its own Wi-Fi connection.
Tidbyt is a simple way to stay informed without all the distractions of social media apps. You can use it to see what’s happening in your world and track the things that matter to you. If you’re looking for a gift for someone who loves tech, but needs to use it a little less, Tidbyt would be the perfect Christmas present. It’s the perfect way to get the latest information without having to constantly stare at a smartphone. It would look great in a living room, bedroom (includes night mode, kitchen or office. There is no subscription to access all the data, it’s a one-time fee of $179 and it can be purchased directly from Tidbyt.com.
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