NOV.08.2025 - #48

Hi all 👋, this week I've been playing the new Fornite x Simpsons season, testing out Tor Browser's vertical tab overhaul, and loving that Apple finally re-designed the web App Store (featured links to there should look much better now). I was also amazed at how quickly Affinity has grown in less than a week since its “going-free” announcement by new parent company Canva.

Early Black Friday deals are happening at some keyboard manufacturers/vendors like Glorious, Nuphy, and MilkyWay Keys. Omnitype is holding a giveaway to win a $100 gift-card in the form of a golden ticket, available only to US residents, but all you need to do is buy a Bauer Lite weight or mail-in an entry! Canadian vendor KeyBay also announced a new community event called Clackmas—every 2 weeks there will be a new competition with lots of prizes and keeb-stuff being given away!

Roll out the red carpet, 'cause its time for the main event!

clicks 🔗

One Board to rule them all

→ The Board is a brand new tabletop gaming experience that combines classic board game fun with modern touchscreen tech. When I spotted this, I was immediately intrigued by how its tactile play pieces interact with the display. Each game on the Board (12 at launch) comes with unique physical game pieces that interface with the digital games on the device's touchscreen—mini spaceships, Tetris-style blocks, magnifying glasses, and kitchen utensils are just the beginning. My second thought was hoping that it isn't completely locked down and that the creators would allow the community to develop third-party pieces and games—and it looks like exactly that is happening! The SDK is planned to be open, a Dev program is launching, and side-loading apps is totally allowed! The device itself is a bit pricey, but if the library of games consistently grows, I could see this product really taking off.

In the Zone

→ As an extension of my Apple Calendar and Reminders usage mentioned in the last issue, I've been testing out Suganth's to-do app Zone this week. It's super simple, has an abundance of gorgeous theming options, and the ease of dragging synced calendar/reminder items into the “to-do zone” is truly useful. The built-in focus timer is also a blessing because that's another feature I would usually need another app for, but combining it with already existing calendar/to-dos really streamlines productivity for me.

Mac Malware Management

→ When it comes to security software on Mac, I've usually suggested MalwareBytes' scanner—it's uncomplicated, identifies problems only when you think an incident has occurred, and is lightweight. A new challenger, called MoonLock by MacPaw, has entered the arena and is putting up a good fight. MacPaw is the dev behind popular apps like CleanMyMac and SetApp—I think their strong suit is distilling complex actions/features and making them accessible for a broader audience. MoonLock does just that, and aside from being a malware scanner, it has a built-in VPN, network inspector, settings/system suggestions, and even a “Security Advisor” to learn about a wide range of cybersecurity topics. Now, unlike MalwareBytes, it isn't free (annual plan is $54, or included in SetApp sub) but I believe for users that want a slight step up in security, this is it.

clacks ⌨️

I shall call it…Minimi

→ Designed by Keebibi, the Minimi40 is a small but mighty 4”x12” 40% keyboard. The lid for the plastic case acts as a wrist rest when deployed, and the bundle comes with a colour-matched travel pouch and strap. Speaking of colours, the pastel variants for this board are stunning. I am very tempted to pick it up as my new travel board, but I just can't decide between all the options. A huge plus for me is the price—starting at $125 USD it's certainly a steal. International availability is through CannonKeys here as well.

GMK Mictlan

→ This past weekend was Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, where friends and family gather to celebrate, honour, and remember those who have passed on. Back for a second round to mark this occasion is the keycap set GMK Mictlan—styled after the aesthetics of the holiday and named for its roots in Aztec tradition. This time around the keycap set is being offered in the original CYL profile, as well as a brand new MTNU profile. NovelKeys is the main vendor for this re-release, and as is usually the case with NK collabs, there are many other beautiful deskpads, keyboards, and artisans available for purchase.

Shhhh… 🤫

→ Capping off this week for clacks is the ATM 98 by Dry Studio, a sub-brand of Angry Miao and the same creators behind Ice Ring 63 RT from #21. The ATM 98 rocks the same oversized knob present in their other products, but this keeb is designed to satisfy both work and play. It's made for use in a quiet office with silent (I mean like really silent) Bsun Light Sakura Linear Switches, but also packed with the performance and features of a high-end gaming keyboard. I love the colourway that is featured in the photo above, CNC'ed aluminum base with a translucent acrylic top. Pre-orders for this board just began recently on Angry Miao's Indiegogo.

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. Email [email protected] (or reply to this issue!) and have a great weekend!!