If you love the idea of your Apple Pencil magnetically attaching to the side of your iPad, this ‘Inseparable Notebook Pen’ brings a similar concept to your analog diary or notepad. With a clever clip-on base and a magnetic pen, this piece of stationery ensures you’re never left searching for a pen. The magnetic interaction ensures the pen’s always attached to the side of your notebook, available at a moment’s notice whenever you need to sketch a concept, make a doodle, jot down an idea, or take notes during a meeting.
The Inseparable Notebook Pen, as its name suggests, pairs your pen with your notebook to ensure they’re always together like the happy couple they are. The pen comes with a three-part design, featuring a plastic protector, a metal clip, and the ballpoint pen itself. The device works practically on any notebook, whether soft or hard-bound, giving you a convenient way to store your pen when not in use. However, just like the Apple Pencil sits diligently on the side of y23-our iPad, this pen waits patiently on the side of your notebook, diary, or pad too, waiting to be grabbed and used.
Effortless Writing, Anywhere You Go
To pair your book and pen, first start by placing the plastic protector on the edge of your book’s back cover. This ensures that the metal clip doesn’t accidentally damage your book (it would be a shame if your Moleskine had marks on them, no?) Once the plastic protector’s in place, fix the minimalist metal clip onto the back cover, ensuring it’s gripping your book cover securely. You can now ‘dock’ your pen onto the notebook of your choice. Once the notebook’s over, simply shift the protector and clip onto another notebook and you’re ready to go all over again!
A Daily Companion That Enhances Your Life
The Inseparable Notebook Pen is an adorably minimal piece of stationery that does something so simple, you’ll wonder why nobody’s ever thought of this before. We’re so used to placing pens in pockets or in stationery kits, it’s strange how nobody thought of putting it in the one place it NEEDS to be… your notebook! The pen sits flush against the side of your book, with a magnet that’s just strong enough to ensure that accidental bumps don’t dislodge the pen while in transit. A fabric pull-tag on top allows you to un-dock the pen when you need to write, and the clip’s satisfying magnetic action lets you snap the pen back when you’re done writing… or even if you just feel like fidgeting for a bit!
Everyone knows the iPhone has a great camera – Lexar gives you a great SSD to match.
When I bought my iPhone 15 Pro Max, I knew for a fact that storage was going to be a problem in the long run. With the ability to record in 4K ProRes, and shoot high-quality images, the iPhone’s cameras are pretty state-of-the-art. The problem is that they’re so good they blast through your phone’s internal storage in a month or so if you’re not careful. It’s all by design, unfortunately. Apple also makes money off its iCloud subscription. iCloud might work for a solid 80% of regular consumers out there, but for mobile photographers/videographers, content creators, and camera enthusiasts, having to constantly interface with a cloud drive isn’t just a hassle, it’s counterintuitive.
That’s where Lexar comes in with its Go Portable SSD and Multiport Hub, designed specifically for people recording media in high-res formats. Barely the size of your thumb, the Go SSD boasts a capacity of up to 2TB and plugs right into your phone, giving you the benefit of recording directly on the device without clogging your phone’s storage or having to upload to the cloud. It plugs right into your phone, eliminating the need for extra wires. Alternatively, it can be paired with Lexar’s USB-C hub, which also lets you connect other devices like a power bank to keep your iPhone running over long shoots that can take multiple hours.
Designed specifically to complement the iPhone 15 Pro models, this innovative SSD + Hub tag-team offers up to 2TB of additional storage, a significant boost for those who demand ample space for their projects. In fact, Lexar designed the SSD specifically for people who like recording in ProRes 4K@60fps.
With up to 2TB storage and extra USB-C ports, it’s perfect for shooting bulky ProRes videos.
By offloading footage to the SSD, users can continue recording without interruptions, allowing for longer takes and more ambitious productions. However, the benefits extend beyond storage capacity. The integrated USB-C hub transforms the iPhone into a versatile production hub, enabling the connection of essential accessories such as microphones, lights, and external power sources.
Both the SSD and Hub boast the same machined aluminum design, with a slim form factor that complements the iPhone and MacBook’s anodized metal finish. The SSD and Hub click together perfectly too, becoming almost one product visually, with a mere thumb dimple to help you unplug them once you’re done. The Go Portable SSD and Hub are envisioned to be used together but can operate independently depending on the filmmaker’s specific needs. The SSD itself is particularly compact, measuring just 1.71 x 0.98 x 0.32 inches. It has a bent connector to neatly fit behind the iPhone when plugged in, maintaining a streamlined setup without protruding cables.
The Hub, which is slightly larger at 2.71 x 1.71 x 0.32 inches, sits flush with the SSD, offering four USB-C ports for connecting additional peripherals like microphones, power banks, gimbals, and other accessories. The thoughtful design also includes a 30W power delivery feature, making it easy to charge devices while simultaneously supporting data-transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps.
The Go Portable SSD stores all your media locally, letting you access/transfer/process media files on multiple devices without needing a stable internet connection. This SSD offers read speeds of up to 1050MB/s and write speeds of up to 1000MB/s, providing near-instantaneous access to files and allowing quick data transfers that boost workflow efficiency. This makes it a compelling option for photographers, videographers, and other digital professionals who need reliable, high-speed storage solutions.
With your data stored offline, it’s impermeable to hacks, leaks, and breaches. For users concerned about theft, the Go Portable SSD also has 256-bit AES encryption, allowing you to password-protect your media from being accessed by unauthorized people. Go ahead, sign that NDA before filming!
While the focus is largely on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max users, Lexar’s new products are also compatible with the iPad and Android devices that support USB-C and OTG functionality. This widens the scope for mobile filmmakers across platforms, although the primary market remains centered around Apple’s latest devices. The Go Portable SSD is available in 1TB and 2TB capacities, catering to different storage needs, and both models boast IP65 ratings, ensuring protection against dust and water splashes, enabling users to film in a variety of conditions.
You can either spring for just the SSD, or opt for the SSD + Hub combo. The latter also includes a silicone protective case, a male-female adapter, a male-male adapter, a cold shoe adapter cable for camera rigs, a storage box, a storage bag, and 20 label stickers you can apply onto the SSD to help you keep track of the media stored on it. The Lexar Professional Go SSD and Hub both ship globally, with a 5-year warranty on each product.
Your sleep health is more linked to your regular health than you think. A lack of sleep (or just bad quality sleep) can lead to fatigue, cognitive issues, or even physical illnesses… and 1 in 3 people are at risk of these, because of bad quality (or quantity) sleep. The reason? Exposure to screens, working odd hours/shifts, inconsistent bedtimes and wake-up times, or even jet lag. However, this slick wearable device hopes to remedy this problem using just light.
The retimer 3 emits specific wavelengths of blue-green light underneath your eye, retimer 3 works in tandem with the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. This light has been scientifically proven to adjust the body clock and regulate melatonin production, the hormone responsible for inducing sleepiness. Consequently, consistent morning use of retimer 3 can help regulate the body’s internal clock, making it easier to fall asleep at night and wake up refreshed.
Designed by Re-Time, an Australian sleep-tech company working in tandem with researchers from Flinders University in Adelaide, the retimer 3 builds on an existing ecosystem of healthcare wearables… but in a different way. “We are seeing a proliferation of wearables like smartwatches, smart rings, and apps designed to monitor and track sleep behavior,” say the folks at Re-Time. “While improvements in sensor technology and AI have made these wearables increasingly sophisticated, they primarily serve as monitoring tools.” The retimer 3, on the other hand, gives you control over your sleep patterns. The retimer 3, comes with its mobile app, which provides consumers with a simple method to create, manage, and monitor the usage schedule to effectively address sleep issues – whether arising from travel, odd-hour work, or misaligned body clock.
The retimer 3 sports a slick form factor, reminiscent of an under-eye rimless spectacle frame. It is designed to rest on the bridge of your nose, with under-eye light delivery. In fact, the retimer 3 can even be worn with your spectacles on. The device is designed to be fairly lightweight at just 36 grams or 1.2 ounces, and comes with a foldable design that makes it easy to carry around to work or even to travel with.
The folks behind the retimer 3 recommend wearing it for just 45-60 minutes each day for the device to help restore your circadian cycle and body’s melatonin production. The app offers personalized recommendations based on individual sleep patterns and goals. Users can set sleep schedules, create personalized light therapy routines, and monitor their progress over time. Integration with popular health platforms like Apple Health and Android Health Connect further enhances the device’s utility by syncing sleep data along with fitness data and overall health metrics. This data-driven approach allows users to identify potential correlations between sleep patterns and other health metrics, alongside actually seeing a difference in sleep scores over the weeks and months.
While light therapy is a cornerstone of retimer 3, the device’s impact extends beyond simply regulating sleep-wake cycles. Your sleep quality is intrinsically linked to your mental and physical health. By improving said sleep quality, users can expect enhanced cognitive function, mood elevation, and increased energy levels. Adequate sleep is also essential for physical health, aiding in muscle repair, immune function, and overall well-being.
The retimer 3 builds on over 25 years of research, and 12 years of market understanding (the first Re-Timer launched in 2012). Whether dealing with onset insomnia, struggling to adjust to new time zones, or facing the challenges of shift work, retimer 3 offers a practical method to regain control over their sleep patterns without medication or side effects. retimer 3 is now available for pre-order, with international shipping as early as October 2024.
Forget bulky, pricey, and intrusive smartwatches! Smart rings are the new black, providing key insights into your health without weighing down your wrist or distracting you with notifications. Like David versus Goliath, RingConn boldly faced giants to bring an accessible smart ring to the masses and it continues to challenge the status quo even with the arrival of even bigger names in the market. Taking its game to the next level, RingConn is introducing its next-gen smart ring boasting not only a discreet, comfortable design and AI-powered comprehensive health tracking but also a battery life that will last you almost two weeks, ensuring that you will never miss a beat when it comes to taking control of your well-being, especially the all-important sleep that we often take for granted.
The original RingConn already delivered a more convenient way to keep track of your health and sleep quality 24/7. You only had to take it off after a few days to charge it briefly, and it didn’t get in your way or distract you with notifications. Best of all, it offered all the data and insights into your health without any subscription fees. It empowered everyone to take control of their health by giving them the tools and knowledge to create the path to healthier living.
The RingConn Gen 2 builds on that solid foundation and takes it up to eleven, improving not only the technology inside but also the design that will make you proud to show the ring off. At only 2g and only 2mm thick, it is the thinnest and lightest smart ring on the market. You might even forget that you’re wearing it, freeing you to go about your life without giving it a second thought. And with an IP68 dust and water protection rating, you don’t even have to worry when your hand gets wet, accidentally or intentionally. Wear it outdoors, in the shower, under the rain, or for a swim, the RingConn Gen 2 will be able to keep up with whatever lifestyle you live.
Its ultra-thin profile belies the amount of technology that the RingConn Gen 2 packs inside. From the basics like 3D accelerometers to advanced PPG (photoplethysmography) and temperature sensors, this discreet and lightweight smart ring has everything necessary to paint a complete picture of your body’s health. Unlike a smartwatch, the RingConn Gen 2 takes advantage of the finger’s thin skin and abundant blood vessels to provide precise tracking, taking note of key metrics like heart rate, heart rate variability, and blood oxygen levels. All of this data is fed into the RingConn app which presents a holistic view of your well-being, including stress levels and monthly cycles, without hiding anything behind subscription fees.
One of the biggest innovations that this next-gen smart ring brings to the table, or to the bed rather, is AI-powered sleep tracking. Sleep is easily overlooked and quickly sacrificed on the altar of productivity, but it is ironically one of the most important factors in living a healthy and productive life. Using next-gen sensors and advanced AI, the RingConn Gen 2 can evaluate your nighttime breathing, respiratory variations, sleep stages, and overall sleep efficiency, allowing you to detect critical sleep risk events and issues like sleep apnea so that you can take the right steps to improve your sleep quality and your overall well-being.
With all the features it provides, your mind will probably be blown away by the RingConn Gen 2’s 10-12 day uptime on a single charge. Add in the charging case and you can get an accumulative 150 days of use before you need to plug it in. That’s five months of continuous sleep and health tracking, generating a comprehensive picture of your health directly available on your phone. So ditch the smartwatch, put on your favorite timepiece, slip on the RingConn Gen 2, and live your healthiest life today!
The BYOK device is a meticulously designed tool that enhances the writing experience by providing a distraction-free environment that fosters creativity and productivity. Digital distractions constantly threaten focus, making BYOK an essential device for writers seeking to immerse themselves in their craft without interruptions. Its minimalist LCD screen, combined with the flexibility to use your own keyboard, makes it a versatile and powerful companion for any writer.
Designer: BYOK (Bring Your Own Keyboard). Nick Sjolinder
At the heart of BYOK—short for “Bring Your Own Keyboard”—is the principle of flexibility and freedom. This device is not tied to any specific keyboard, giving users the autonomy to connect their preferred keyboard, whether it be through USB-C, Bluetooth, or even a standard USB with an adapter. This level of customization allows writers to tailor their workspace precisely to their liking, making BYOK an adaptable tool that fits seamlessly into any writing routine.
One of the key features that makes BYOK a must-have for writers is its ultra-portable size. Small enough to fit into a bag or even a large pocket, BYOK is designed to accompany you wherever inspiration strikes. Despite its compact form, it doesn’t compromise on power. With a battery life that supports up to 20 hours of continuous use or 5 hours with the highest backlight setting, BYOK ensures you can write for extended periods without needing constant recharging.
Features that Cater to Every Writer’s Needs
Night Mode
BYOK offers a comprehensive suite of features aimed at enhancing the writing process. The adjustable backlight is particularly noteworthy, allowing writers to toggle between three brightness levels—low, medium, and high. This feature ensures that writing can continue in any lighting condition, from dimly lit environments to late-night sessions. The backlight’s thoughtful design reduces eye strain, making it easier to stay focused and productive, no matter the time of day.
The design of BYOK is as functional as it is sleek. It has a magnetic design and a pop-out stand, allowing for versatile positioning that can be customized to your comfort. With a built-in magnet at the back, BYOK supports different viewing heights and angles, promoting an eye-level viewing option that reduces strain and enhances ergonomic comfort. Whether placed on a flat surface or elevated using magnetic stands, BYOK offers unlimited viewing positions, ensuring that you can set up your workspace to reduce strain and enhance comfort. This flexibility makes BYOK suitable for various environments, whether working at a desk, standing, or lounging.
Versatile connectivity is another strength of BYOK. The device supports multiple data transfer options, including Wi-Fi syncing, allowing seamless integration with platforms like Google Drive. This ensures that your work is always up-to-date and accessible across devices. For those who prefer a wired connection, the USB-C port provides a quick and reliable way to transfer data directly to your computer. With these options, BYOK guarantees that your documents are securely backed up and easily retrieved.
Storage is another area where BYOK excels. The device has 16MB of internal storage, enough to hold over a million words. This ample space means you won’t have to worry about losing your work, even if the battery runs out. The intuitive and simple menu, which includes features like word count display and battery monitoring, keeps you informed and focused on what matters most—your writing.
Design Excellence
Another highlight is the device’s fast-refresh monochrome LCD screen, which provides a smooth typing experience without the lag commonly associated with e-ink displays. This ensures that every keystroke is captured accurately, allowing you to maintain your writing flow without interruption.
The product’s simplicity extends to its user interface, which is navigated using three tactile push buttons. This intuitive design enhances concentration and productivity by allowing you to focus solely on your writing without getting bogged down by complex menus or unnecessary features.
Seamless Integration into Your Writing Workflow
BYOK’s thoughtful design ensures that it integrates seamlessly into any writing workflow. The process is straightforward: power the device, connect your preferred keyboard using wired or wireless, set up wireless syncing if desired, and start typing. This simplicity allows you to dive straight into your writing without distractions, making BYOK an invaluable tool for writers.
The specifications of BYOK further emphasize its practicality. An ESP32-S3 processor powers the device and features a 129.00mm by 37.60mm LCD screen, offering ample space for your text. It’s available in sleek black and white, with a potential third color option. The device also provides three different font sizes and three backlight brightness levels, catering to various visual needs and preferences.
Designed with Writers in Mind
Niklas Sjolinder, the founder of BYOK, was inspired by the challenges he faced with existing writing tools. As he worked on his own book, he found it difficult to maintain focus due to endless tabs, notifications, and distractions. While using a distraction-free device, he appreciated the concept but quickly noticed drawbacks such as high costs, limited performance, and restrictive built-in keyboards. These frustrations led him to envision BYOK—a writing tool that would be both budget-friendly and versatile, offering exceptional value by providing the flexibility to use any keyboard while eliminating distractions. This personal journey and desire to create a better writing experience drove Sjolinder to develop BYOK, focusing on what truly matters: the freedom to write without interruptions.
Last year, the folks at Horizon Ruler designed what I believed to be the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of stationery and sketching. The Horizon Helvetica® Max expands on its predecessor’s credit card-shaped design, bringing even more functionality into a timeless-yet-future-forward compact form.
Designed as the ultimate creative companion, this slim stainless steel tool is built with precision and versatility in mind. It’s crafted for those who demand both portability and performance, seamlessly integrating into a designer’s workflow. Horizon Helvetica® Max might look and feel like a slim ruler, but on the contrary, it’s a compact, comprehensive toolkit that fits comfortably in any A5 notebook, enabling creators to draw, measure, and design on the go without compromising precision.
The design of the Horizon Helvetica® Max is inspired by the iconic Helvetica typeface, a choice that’s as much about cultural resonance as it is about form and function. Helvetica holds legendary status in the font world, being the only font to have an exhibition at MoMA and also having its own documentary by design-driven documentarian Gary Hustwit. In public life, Helvetica can be found in the fonts of brands like Nestlé, Lufthansa, and BMW (among Microsoft and Apple using it in interfaces in the past too). The Helvetica typeface’s clean, minimalist design is synonymous with precision and clarity, values that resonate with the intended users of this tool. Meanwhile, text on the Horizon Helvetica® Max is written in the Bold Helvetica Neue typeface too, making it easily visible. Additionally, the cuts are made using a Swiss-made Bystronic cutter, ensuring precision and sharpness. The markings remain clear and legible even after prolonged use.
Draw perfect circles with Horizon Helvetica® Max.
Draw quick circles with circle stencil.
Sketching with Horizon Helvetica® Max will eliminate a lot of headache in graphic editor tool.
Horizon Helvetica® Max features precise points in circles that allow you to easily draw hexagons, rectangles, and heptagons.
The attention to detail in the Horizon Helvetica® Max is striking. This tool is engineered from high-grade 304 Stainless steel and measures up to 6 inches (15 cm) with both inch and centimeter markings on either side, ensuring easy conversions. It also includes a protractor, compass, and a T-square—features typically found in larger drafting tools—condensed into a slim format. For those working in digital design, the inclusion of pixel and pica measurement scales is a thoughtful addition. These features help users align their physical sketches with digital specifications, bridging the gap between traditional and modern design practices.
What sets Horizon Helvetica® Max apart is its isometric grid and cube sections, which streamline the process of creating precise three-dimensional drawings. Whether you’re sketching out architectural layouts or conceptual product designs, the grid allows for accurate isometric drawing, saving time and reducing guesswork. Alternatively, you can use the Horizon Helvetica® Max to sketch in perspective too, simply by drawing a horizon along with the vanishing points on it, and using the scale to make a series of projecting lines as guides. The tool also offers quick circle guides, making it simple to draw consistent circular shapes of various sizes, from 3 mm to 10 mm in diameter. Each of these functions is accessible within a single, compact device, reflecting the Horizon Team’s commitment to efficiency and practicality.
Color Range
The Horizon Helvetica® Max’s practicality extends beyond its core functions. With no sharp edges, it’s TSA-approved for travel, making it a perfect companion for designers on the move. Whether you’re working in an office, sketching during a commute, or fine-tuning a design at a café, this tool is designed to be discreet yet dependable. The compact design is small enough to fit right into even a tiny A5 notebook, making it hyper-portable and easy to whip out when inspiration strikes. Plus, by merging multiple tools into one, the Horizon Helvetica® Max reduces the clutter and inconvenience of carrying multiple items, offering a streamlined solution for everyday creative challenges… across both digital and analog workflows. Available in 6 colors, the Horizon Helvetica® Max ships globally. You can even grab the smaller Horizon Helvetica® from last year to add to your art/design arsenal.
A clean design, flawless and silent operation, and perfect results with just the right amount of tech. That’s what the Meraki promises, as compared to other espresso machines which can be cumbersome, archaic, and sometimes outright messy.
Ask any true-blue coffee lover and they’ll tell you that the Nespresso and Keurig aren’t coffee machines. They’re merely water boilers that pass hot water through a pod filled with coffee grounds. That isn’t how coffee should be extracted or savored. The true magic is in going from bean to cup, covering the grinding, tamping, extracting, and pouring process in one singular cycle. While the idea of grinding beans every time you want a cup of coffee may feel tiresome to most, devices like the Meraki make the ritual more foolproof and enjoyable. Touted as the ‘ultimate’ espresso maker, this nifty device uplifts coffee-making using a combination of design and innovation.
The first thing that really catches your eye is the Meraki’s design. Best described as futuristic-yet-contemporary, the espresso maker has a matte exterior with metallic accents, sleek surfaces, and a circular display on the top that guides you through the espresso-making process. The somewhat monolithic device handles grinding, extraction, and frothing, and clearly separates the three functions into distinct zones from left to right. This linear approach optimizes and simplifies your coffee-making ‘workflow’ while still preserving the artistry and authenticity of barista-crafted espresso. The Meraki literally takes you on a coffee-making journey, starting first with an NFC reader on top that analyzes your coffee beans to adjust coffee-making practices (which Meraki calls its CoffeeSense tech), and the circular display that either guides you through the fairly automated process, or allows you to manually adjust settings based on your preference. If you already have a favorite coffee-blend, you can use it with the Meraki too, eschewing the entire NFC scanning process. At the end of this journey, you’re greeted with a cup of coffee that feels like it was brewed at a specialty coffee shop, bringing world-class coffee to you instead of the other way around.
Meraki partnered with TIMEMORE®, a leader in coffee grinding technology, to develop a grinder that offers stepless adjustment and utilizes a conical burr design. This ensures consistent grinds, which are essential for unlocking the full flavor potential of coffee beans. Unlike other 3-in-1 machines that often compromise on grind quality, Meraki’s grinder is designed to maintain the integrity of the coffee, preventing heat and moisture from affecting the beans. The grinder’s design also includes an innovative magnetic dosing cup that attaches securely, making the process of dosing and prepping your puck more efficient and stable.
Extraction is made easy thanks to its commercial-grade components. The rotary pump ensures a consistent 9-bar pressure, which is crucial for the rich, flavorful extraction that espresso lovers crave. Additionally, Meraki employs a sophisticated temperature control system that includes an independent extraction boiler, PID technology, and a dedicated group head heater. This triad works in harmony to maintain a steady steeping temperature, eliminating the fluctuations that can ruin a shot of espresso. Real-time feedback allows users to fine-tune their coffee to perfection, whether they prefer a light and fruity shot or a deep, robust espresso. This level of control is typically reserved for high-end commercial machines, but Meraki brings it into the home kitchen.
Beyond its grinding and extraction capabilities, the Meraki also excels in milk frothing – the final step in your coffee-making journey. The machine boasts an independent steam boiler and a 360° adjustable steam wand, allowing for precise control over milk texture. Separate boilers for coffee-extraction and for steaming mean the Meraki can simultaneously handle both tasks. High-pressure steam from the boiler, along with an integrated temperature sensor ensures that your milk is heated to the perfect temperature, whether you’re aiming for silky microfoam or airy froth. The steam wand’s design is also user-friendly, eliminating the wait times associated with traditional machines and allowing for uninterrupted frothing. This makes it easier than ever to create café-quality drinks, complete with latte art, right at home.
Meraki’s user interface is another design highlight, offering an Auto Mode that simplifies the coffee-making process. Users can select their desired coffee grounds, liquid weight, and milk temperature through an intuitive touchscreen, and the machine takes care of the rest. The dual integrated scales in the Auto Mode stop the grinding and extraction processes once the preset parameters are achieved, ensuring consistency with every cup. This feature, combined with the aforementioned CoffeeSense technology, makes the Meraki accessible to both novice coffee drinkers and seasoned baristas. CoffeeSense utilizes NFC chips embedded in Meraki’s coffee bags to automatically set the optimal grinding and extraction parameters for each specific bean type, taking the guesswork out of making great coffee. The folks at Meraki have even worked extensively with coffee roasters from across the world to curate a ‘global coffee library’ that you can tap into, allowing you to explore coffee across different countries and cultures.
The Meraki ships with everything you’d need to make coffee, right down to the minor details like a full-fledged portafilter and tamping setup to a milk-frothing jug and even a cleaning brush to maintain your all-in-one espresso maker. The Meraki comes in both matte black and matte white variants, although I personally prefer the former for its slick, mysterious appeal. With its gorgeous design and simplified coffee-making process, the Meraki is for anyone who loves their coffee but is exhausted by how multiple appliances can complicate the ritual of making a great cup of coffee. By handling every step of the coffee-making process, down from expertly grinding the beans to extracting a shot and even frothing your milk to a silky smooth consistency, the Meraki is your at-home barista that puts you in the ‘driver’s seat’, allowing you to own the experience from start to finish without spending hundreds on sub-standard Keurig coffee-pods, or overpriced lattes at your local cafe. In fact, the Meraki takes you well beyond your local cafe too, giving you the ability to explore high-standard blends from specialty cafes around the world, right in the comfort of your own kitchen. The ‘ultimate’ espresso machine ships to the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Malaysia, Poland and the United Arab Emirates, with a 2-year warranty to cover any issues, and customer service in all aforementioned regions.
The name Godox is probably most synonymous with innovative lighting solutions, but the company’s new Cube-S wireless microphone marks a sharp pivot into audio that’s as much about practicality as it is about portability. Debuting today, on August 19, 2024, the Cube-S aims to be the go-to option for creators on the move who need high-quality audio in a tiny, discreet package.
The standout feature? Its size. The Cube-S is genuinely pocketable, measuring just under 9 cm in length, and is roughly the size of a lipstick tube. This level of miniaturization is particularly impressive given that the microphone still manages to pack features like noise reduction, a 300-meter range, and even Apple Find My. With a sleek capsule design, The Cube-S includes everything a content creator or mobile journalist might need: two wireless mics and one plug-in receiver that attaches to a host of supported devices like your smartphone, tablet, action camera, DSLR, etc.
Godox has nailed the design ethos of “less is more” with the Cube-S. The microphone has an understated matte finish, with clean lines and subtle branding. It’s designed to be both portable and inconspicuous, making it ideal for vloggers or interviewers who need to blend in while recording. The form factor is clever, too. Despite its tiny size, it offers secure magnetized attachment options for clothing or surfaces, ensuring it stays put during use. If you want to get creative, there’s even a lanyard attachment that lets you wear the mic around your neck like modern-day jewelry, and stickers in case you want to jazz your tech up. The device is built with a lightweight aluminum body, adding durability without making it heavier.
The Cube-S comes with two thumbnail-sized microphones, along with a receiver that plugs right into the base of your phone (with both USB-C and Lightning variants available). Clip the mics on using their powerful magnetic snaps, fire the Godox MIC app, and you’re ready to start recording. The microphones support 48kHz high-resolution audio capture, delivering crisp, clear sound that stands up to professional standards. The omnidirectional mic capsule does a commendable job of capturing detailed sound while minimizing ambient noise. For those who regularly produce content on the go—whether it’s interviews, vlogs, or field recordings—this level of audio fidelity is a significant advantage.
Even for its tiny size, the mics have built-in noise reduction, activated simply by tapping the button on the mics. Similarly, the receiver module on your phone has a button too, for remotely triggering recording by double-clicking the button. The Cube-S also offers a substantial transmission range of up to 300 meters. This makes it ideal for scenarios where the subject needs to move freely, whether in a wide-angle video shoot or across a large indoor space. Battery life is another highlight, with the mics themselves lasting for 10 hours on a full charge, extendable to 30 hours in conjunction with the capsule-shaped charging case.
One of the strengths of the Cube-S lies in its versatility. The microphone comes with a variety of accessories, including additional magnetic clips and noise shields, making it adaptable to different recording environments. Furthermore, the Godox MIC app offers remote control over key settings such as gain and monitoring, allowing users to fine-tune their audio without constantly interacting with the mic itself.
For those embedded in the Apple ecosystem, Godox has integrated several features that make the Cube-S a seamless fit. It’s fully MFi certified, ensuring reliable performance with iPhones and iPads. Even more intriguing is the inclusion of Apple Find My support—a particularly thoughtful touch given the mic’s small size. Misplacing something this compact is easy, but thanks to this integration, locating the Cube-S is as simple as tracking down your lost AirPods. This feature, however, is limited to the Cube-S Kit 2, which includes 2 mics and 1 receiver along with the charging case.
So who stands to benefit the most from the Cube-S? Essentially, anyone who values a portable, high-quality audio solution without the usual technical overhead. Whether you’re a content creator recording on the fly, a mobile journalist capturing interviews in dynamic environments, or a professional needing a discreet and effective microphone for presentations or streaming, the Cube-S checks all the right boxes. With its official release date set for August 19, 2024, this could quickly become a go-to device for those who need reliability and performance in a compact form factor.
With each knife having a pattern that is unique to it, almost like its own fingerprint, the Greno puts the beauty of hand-forged VG-10 Stainless Damascus steel in your grip, giving you a knife that’s equal parts magnificent and masterful.
They say that the true process of making Damascus steel was lost to history, although the art has certainly flourished again, with a lot of forgers building their own techniques of making the gorgeously marbled metal. One such creator is Shaggs LLC, the designer and builder behind the Greno – a hand-forged fixed-blade knife with perhaps one of the most unique-looking marbled steel blades we’ve seen. While most Damascus steel blades rely on a dual-color design that highlights the marbling, the Greno is different. It employs VG-10 steel – a premium cutlery-grade stainless steel produced in Japan, which results in a marbling quite like no other. Add that to a 4.5-inch blade with a 4.3-inch handle and you’re left with a knife that doesn’t disappoint. When not in use, the Greno is an art piece, a visual representation of a one-dead handicraft… and when in motion, it’s a knife designed to dominate and get the job done every single time.
Measuring a staggering 9 inches from tip to end, the Greno is fairly larger than any of the flippers or folders we feature here. It comes with a fixed blade design too, and ships with a Top Grain Italian cow leather sheath to help you carry it around wherever you go. The knife’s handle comes crafted from green Micarta, used extensively in the knifemaking industry for its durability, balanced weight, and the unique texture it provides to the handle, giving it a superior grip. To supplement this, the Greno’s handle boasts an ergonomic grippy design that’s innately ambidextrous, allowing you to grab it confidently as you maneuver its crown jewel – that spectacular blade.
A self-taught knifemaker, Shaggs managed to master the art of forging Damascus steel, although their experiments with the Greno are different from any other Damascus steel you’d find on the market. To state things plainly, a lot of the Damascus steel you see today is simply a laser-etched marbling pattern on regular steel. True Damascus steel is created by folding and forging two different kinds of steel together, before acid-etching the blade to reveal a zebra-like pattern. Greno’s take on Damascus steel is similar, but the results are stunningly different. The blade shimmers with a chrome-like finish, but instead of being dual-colored, comes with contour lines, almost like the knife has its own fingerprint.
The blade itself has a drop-point design, a very popular template in the knife world. With a long 4.5-inch edge that culminates in a sharp tip, the Greno is perfect for pretty much any indoor or outdoor tasks. Whittling wood, slicing paracord, cutting meat or veggies, and self-defence, the Greno’s blade holds up remarkably well to any form of abuse. The VG-10 steel is inherently corrosion-resistant and has remarkable edge retention, which means spending more time using the knife and less time sharpening it. The rest of the blade travels through the handle, or what the industry calls a ‘full tang’ format. This effectively boosts the knife’s overall durability and allows you to lean into the Greno while using it. The full tang design means being able to apply forward and downward pressure with ease, along with also being able to twist your knife while using it to do things like open metal cans or gut your hunt.
When all’s said and done, the knife slides right into its cowhide sheath, which encases the blade so it doesn’t accidentally hurt anyone. Owing to its large size, the Greno definitely doesn’t come with a pocket clip, but it does boast a lanyard hole at the end of the handle, allowing you to loop a paracord or lanyard through the knife to make it easy to carry around with you on outdoor trips, whether it’s camping, hunting, or even showing off to your EDC-enthusiast friends!
It pains me to say but our quality of modern living may have improved visually over the past few years, but it’s come at a cost. The air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink have all degraded in quality over the last decade… and while improving your food intake is a conscious decision most people can make, you can’t really change the air you breathe or the water that flows from your tap. You can, however, install air purifiers to cleanse your air… and there are loads of water purifiers on the market that filter your water of toxins, but none of them do it with the grace and modernity of the Piurify Alchemy Automatic Water Filter Pitcher. Crafted from BPA-free acrylonitrile styrene, this transparent pitcher doesn’t just look good—it actively cleanses your tap water using UF or ultrafiltration tech. Fill your pitcher up and place it on its purifier base and it gets to work. The base does the water purification, pulling water from the pitcher’s inner container and adding back purified water to the outer container, while the clear pitcher itself serves a practical purpose by allowing you to easily monitor the water level. This design choice is particularly beneficial for those who need to keep track of water consumption throughout a busy day, ensuring that clean, filtered water is always within reach.
The Piurify Alchemy employs a robust multi-stage filtration system that goes beyond basic purification. Using Ultrafiltration (UF) combined with Carbon technology, this system is engineered to remove up to 99.9999% of harmful bacteria like E. coli, along with 99.9% of chlorine and other contaminants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and lead. This thorough filtration process ensures that the water you drink is not only visibly clear but also free from a wide range of potential health hazards. Such a high level of filtration is rarely found in similar products, making it a strong contender in the market for those who value both safety and taste.
How to use the pitcher.
Replacing the filter is refreshingly simple, a notable improvement over more cumbersome models. The filter is conveniently located at the base of the pitcher, eliminating the need to insert your hand into the water reservoir—a feature that not only simplifies maintenance but also enhances hygiene. Additionally, the filter has an extended lifespan, capable of purifying up to 130 gallons of water over six months. This long-lasting performance reduces the need for frequent replacements, making the Piurify Alchemy both cost-effective and low-maintenance, ideal for those who prefer a set-it-and-forget-it approach to home water filtration.
Easy to use.
While most water filters can take tens of minutes to purify your water (often prompting impatient people to just go ahead and drink tap water instead), the Piurify Alchemy speeds things up for the sake of your health. It can filter a full pitcher—about 50 ounces or 1.5 liters—in just two minutes. This rapid filtration is particularly useful for families or individuals who need clean water on demand, whether for quick meal preparation or staying hydrated throughout the day. Despite the speed, there’s no compromise on the quality of filtration, ensuring that you can enjoy the convenience of fast, fresh water without sacrificing safety or taste.
In addition to its performance, the Piurify Alchemy is a strong advocate for environmental sustainability. By reducing the need for single-use plastic bottles, it significantly lowers your household’s plastic waste, making it a more eco-friendly choice. The long-lasting filter also contributes to this sustainability by minimizing waste associated with frequent replacements. This focus on reducing environmental impact aligns with a growing consumer trend toward more sustainable living, making the PIURIFY ALCHEMY not just a smart choice for your health but also for the planet.
Every aspect of the Piurify Alchemy’s design has been carefully considered to enhance the user experience. The ergonomic handle, for instance, is designed for comfort, allowing you to pour water easily even when the pitcher is full. Its compact size is another thoughtful feature, enabling it to fit neatly into most refrigerator doors without taking up unnecessary space. Moreover, the smart filter change alert eliminates the guesswork from maintenance, letting you know exactly when it’s time to replace the filter to ensure continued optimal performance. The pitcher also boasts a durable battery that lasts up to 30 days on a single charge, providing uninterrupted filtration and adding to the overall convenience of the product.
tech), and the circular display that either guides you through the fairly automated process, or allows you to manually adjust settings based on your preference. If you already have a favorite coffee-blend, you can use it with the Meraki too, eschewing the entire NFC scanning process. At the end of this journey, you’re greeted with a cup of coffee that feels like it was brewed at a specialty coffee shop, bringing world-class coffee to you instead of the other way around.
