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- JUN.28.2025 - #30
JUN.28.2025 - #30
Incredible app updates, domed switch innovations, heatwaves, and one very noisy keyboard
Andrew McKee
June 28, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
Hi all 👋, this week I've been extremely hyped for the release of Death Stranding 2—the first game was incomparable, and I'm so glad to see the new game looks (and runs) great even on the base PS5. In other news, popular fitness tracking app Any Distance went open-source, and reading the blog deep dive into its award-winning design has been astounding and informative. For some more reading (and gaming), this interactive article about the mental health benefits of cozy, stress-reducing games really caught my attention.
Aside from that, I am currently melting as it has been a real scorcher in Toronto for the past few days, so I hope everyone out there is staying safe and cool 😎.
Onto all the amazing features for this week!
clicks 🔗
→ A huge update for my all-time favourite media tracking app, Sequel, is finally here! Custom collections, quick “open in” links to other media sites, better organization, superfast syncing, and so much more was added this week in the monumental update. Sequel 2.5, teased for a while now by developer Romain Lefebvre and in beta for the past week or two (which I've had the pleasure of testing), brings some of my most anticipated features to the app. Particularly the “open in” linking which helps me reduce app-hopping when needing to divert to IMDB, Wikipedia, or anywhere else for extra information. For a long time I switched frantically back and forth between other media trackers: a few good, most bad, and some which (unfortunately) halted development, until I found Sequel. It does everything I need and more—I can track my Movies/TV/Video Games/Books, it has Trakt integration, a design that makes sense, and a developer that listens and cares. 10/10, probably the best (and most used) app on my phone right now, give it a try here.
→ Speaking of great apps, here's three more to try! Development studio VogelHaus, started by friends Flo and Clemens, recently launched a new workout planner called Whistle to join their existing app lineup, Peaks and Macaw. I've been testing Whistle in beta (I think you're starting to see my beta-testing addiction now) for a bit, and it has blown me away. Whistle has deep Apple Watch integration which I have never seen before in a workout app—any Whistle activities are sent straight to the default workout app on your watch, making it easy to sync and access your workout plan without launching an extra app on your wrist. Additionally, it has beautiful workout summaries, a simple design, and an AI coach built right in! I used the AI coach to schedule morning runs only if the temperature and conditions were suitable, and it was context-aware enough to plan my other strength training and cardio workout goals around the week accordingly. The free version allows you to manually plan your workouts, while the Pro and Ultra plans grant access to customized workouts, templates, and of course the AI coach.
→ The next evolution in meeting transcription and personal recording is here from HiDock—the P1 and P1 Mini. Although this device is on Kickstarter, which should always come with some caution, HiDock has been making other products in the communication hardware space for a few years now, and met with mostly positive praise. This new portable, handheld recorder format is interesting as it enables a plethora of use-cases compared to a desk-confined tool—you can take it on-the-go, to online meetings, or even in-person conferences. The “Whisper Mode” on the P1 intrigues me the most. Simply hold the device near, press the main button on the device and speak to quickly record any thought or idea. Makes you really feel like you're in Star Trek using a communicator or Tricorder. All your recordings and notes can be transcribed for free using the HiNotes app, while some advanced summarization and AI features are available with an additional (subscription-based) cost.
clacks ⌨️
→ This board is the culmination of the hard work from a ton of awesome people in the keyboard community. This custom creation by Lightning Keyboards features the Blue Ridge HHKB case designed by Clever Keebs, electro-capacitive (EC) switches developed by DynaCap, a hybrid PCB that supports both EC and MX hot swap switches 🤯 by Cipulot, MTNU Dolch keycaps by GMK Keycaps, and artisans by Alpha Keycaps & Azi Keycaps. A little refresher on EC/Topre switches here, as it has been a while since I talked about them (Issue #17 to be exact). The custom EC/MX style hybrid PCB is the first of its kind, and the switches themselves from DynaCap are an incredible innovation in the EC/Topre switch scene. DynaCap/Clever Keebs/Omnitype also have something special cooking 👀. Overall, this is a truly first-of-its-kind board, and I'm looking forward to seeing more variants of EC/MX hybrid boards in the future. You can buy the Blue Ridge case/set here from Cannon Keys (very limited run).
→ The 21XX keyboard designed by Pontus is a modern take on the “unsaver” keyboard format, which derives from the IBM Model F104 terminal keyboard. It's a ten-keyless format, sporting an extra two rows and two columns of function keys on the top and left-hand side of the alphanumerics, respectively. A little crossover from the last clack as well, the PCB is custom-made again by Cipulot! One of my favourite features of the 21XX is the 5V solenoid to replicate the loud electronic “KA-THUNK” noises made by the old boards this takes inspiration from (sound test here to hear the clackiest of clacks). This beautiful creation is super heavy, super unique, a little costly, and you can grab it here from Cannon Keys if interested (group buy until July 20th).
→ Reddit user u/michaelthatsit DIY-ed this keyboard and Steam Deck combo called Bento to create a true “spatial computer” to game and work on. The Bento takes inspiration from bento boxes (Japanese-style lunch boxes), with the components of the Steam Deck and its accessories acting as the box, while the Apple Magic Keyboard functions as the lid. To complete the setup, a pair of XREAL One AR glasses provides spatial video output. This entire project is open-sourced if you want to dive a little deeper into it, or even tinker with it yourself. Creator u/michaelthatsit also has plans to continue the project and expand greatly on his prototype—which I am very excited to follow along with.
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!!
