JUN.21.2025 - #29

Hi all 👋, this week while writing this issue I've been spending my free time playing The Division 2 after the release of their new DLC, I've also been enjoying the discourse surrounding the new Xbox/Asus handheld PC—I love and hate this: love the form factor and Xbox expanding into more of a service instead of just a box, but I hate to see a world of gaming without physical games. In terms of reading, I loved learning about the history of the JPEG in this article—information applicable to this newsletter, as I've always wondered which file format is best for email newsletters/online article archives. Other super exciting news from the world of comics—a new digital distribution platform called Neon Ichiban will be available soon! This service comes from ex-Comixology founders (a platform I used to be a huge fan of until Amazon bought and ruined it) looking to innovate in the digital comics space. This venture seems to be similar to Veve comics (a service I am also a fan of) who, like Neon Ichiban's ambitions, puts emphasis on making comics a hot digital commodity with same-day-as-print releases and exclusive variant art/covers. I'm all for this—digital comics are in dire need of competition and innovation if the medium wants to survive this modern age.

Now, put on your running shoes and sprint into the amazing features this week!

clicks 🔗

No thoughts, just brews

→ Octave is a simple and no-nonsense app with an equally no-nonsense mascot of the same name here to walk you through your coffee brewing. Made by the Laziest Barista, Octave recently released after a few months in development, and I was watching all the previous iterations of the app teased over on Threads—amazing to see how the app evolved over time. It's a simple concept, well-executed with an eye-catching design, and absolutely no frills—just teaching you how to make perfect pour-over. I'm not a big coffee person—I simply don't have the time/money to dive into another potentially expensive niche hobby—but I do dip my toe into it here and there. Pour-overs are completely new to me (we are an Aeropress family), and I feel this could be a perfect starting point to jump in and learn a little more, without an overly-complicated app/setup.

Minimal, functional headset

→ Fractal is a high-end PC peripheral company who got their start in PC cases, standing out from the crowd with minimal, functional designs instead of rugged, flashy, or aggresively RGB-overloaded aesthetics. I've always appreciated their design language and products, which eventually branched out into office chairs, PC fans/cooling systems, power supplies, and other accessories. Now, another item is being added to that list—headsets. The Scape is Fractal's first gaming headset and focuses on delivering high-end 24-bit/96 kHz wireless audio, of course keeping true to their simple design philosophy while also being as comfortable as possible. These have me super hyped as they include many features I look for in a headset (specifically for gaming)—the over-sized memory ear cushions with cloth padding, removable boom-mic, physical audio knob + controls, long-battery life, and no Active Noise Cancellation. That last one is a bit of unpopular opinion, but I have never had a headset with ANC that I liked (apart from AirPods which are in-ear), and while gaming/working I prefer to have a more open-ear audio experience to hear some outside sounds and allow for more breathability. I am 100% going to consider getting the Fractal Scape when they become available in Canada.

Transform your Apple Watch

→ I discovered this simple piece of tech right after WWDC last week, and it looks like it could be right at home with the new Liquid Glass design. The NightWatch is a solid piece of clear resin (looking like a glassy bubble) designed to hold your Apple Watch and transform it into a brilliant alarm clock. The NightWatch amplifies the watch screen, charges it at the same time, and amplifies the sound emitted from the Apple Watch speakers. It's a nifty little idea suitable for any setup or nightstand, you can nab it here on Amazon.

clacks ⌨️

Mechanical keys meet ergo-ease

→ Bringing back the classic Microsoft ergonomic and “sculpt” keyboard designs with a mechanical twist is the Kinesis Ergo mWave series board. It focuses on elevating those original designs—keeping the ergonomic split but adding Gateron Low Profile Brown switches, easier customization/programmability, more connectivity, and an integrated numpad. My only personal qualm with this device relates to the switches, which are not hot-swappable. I believe Kinesis did this to save costs and the target demographic for this device most likely isn't looking to tinker with those components, but I mention it nonetheless. The mWave also comes in a Mac layout version which adds all the necessary macOS modifier keys to the board. Both these versions just recently got re-stocked, and they seem to be quite the popular replacement choice for die-hard fans of the original Microsoft versions so grab one while you can!

Gaming at light speed

→ For this feature, I wanted to highlight both the keyboard and the YouTuber through which I discovered the product. The keyboard is the Syntech Chronos 68, a seemingly standard hall effect gaming keyboard with all the bells and whistles—Rapid Trigger, Snap Tap, aluminium case, 8000Hz polling, etc, etc. But where this board shines is its raw speed—the Chronos 68 seems to outpace the competition in switch latency, beating out other higher priced HE boards. The latency test was conducted by Migss, a keyboard YouTuber who focuses mostly on gaming peripherals—he creates fantastic deep-dives, tier-lists, budget board comparisons, and reviews like this one on the Chronos 68. I found Migss' videos super informative, well-produced, and incredibly honest. I really appreciate that the sound tests for the reviewed boards come right after he unboxes the product, and the real-life gameplay/usage clips are great as well to see the keyboard in action.

Wrist-mounted proto-keeb

→ Adam LeBlanc created this amazingly bonkers keyboard prototype which straps to your wrist to allow for one-handed typing action in any environment. It gives off a cyberpunk-esque, netrunner, body-hacking vibe that feels right at home in any futuristic-tech fantasy. Adam says he created this project to experiment with 3D modelling and ergonomic design—this prototype serves as a proof-of-concept for the form-factor, hopefully expanding the idea to solve real-world accessibility issues in the future. The project is entirely open-sourced here, and check out this video directly from Adam to learn more about the development process and see a demonstration of this unusual keyboard.

That’s all for this week! I hope you enjoyed it, and now it’s time to hear from YOU 🫵. I want to know your opinion—what you liked, what you loved, what you didn’t like, what you skipped. Reach out at mail.clicksnclacks.com (or reply to this email!) and have a great weekend!!