OCT.18.2025 - #45

Hi all 👋, this week while writing clicks 'n clacks I've been on a Tron-kick, watching Ares twice in theatres already—contrary to some reviews I think it's an exceptional sequel and pays a multitude of homage to the '82 movie. Raycast released an update to their iOS app, adding a new dedicated keyboard for less context-switching. EB Games Canada officially opened their largest physical store in Montreal, and unlike the US-equivalent GameStop, EB games is taking big bets on physical media, trading card games, and live events to bring traffic back to its stores. I am foreseeing some backlash after the news that Apple will be taking over the F1 US broadcasting rights starting in 2026, although bundling it with Apple TV sounds good to me (but who knows what Canadians like me will get).

Keyboard vendor Kinetic Labs is starting their Halloween sale early, with up to 15% off many boards and accessories. Nuphy is teasing a brand new board (these guys are releasing non-stop these days), and Osume is re-launching their deskmats with a revamped material and new styles!

$ init-system --start
System initialization: [#####...............] 25%
$ load-modules --fast
Modules loading: [##########..........] 50%
$ sync-issue --optimize
Issue synchronization: [###############.....] 75%
$ systemctl status cnc.service
● cnc.service - clicks 'n clacks Newsletter Delivery
____Loaded: loaded (/etc/systemd/system/cnc.service; enabled)
_____Active: active (running) since Sat 2025-10-18 12:00 EDT
$ clear

$ printf ">>> Greetings Program, welcome to clicks 'n clacks. Enjoy this issue.\n"
>>> Greetings Program, welcome to clicks 'n clacks. Enjoy this issue.

clicks 🔗

The click called Click

→ I've been testing out a brand new MacOS browser from Jack Bogdan (who also created Lutíere from Issue #38) this week and it's looking very promising so far. Click started off as a side project/proof-of-concept but quickly gained some major attention on Threads. It's built to be private, simple, Mac-native (WebKit), and Arc-inspired—a lot of what this browser has to offer (even in its infancy) has already fulfilled a lot of what I look for in a browser. Jack is iterating quickly, pushing constant updates, and sharing all the progress on Threads. It's in TestFlight right now and you should request access as soon as you can because I think this one is going to be big.

Coffee o'clock

→ Discovered this ultra-unique watch, Metric by Brew Watch Co. thanks to Adam Molina and his amazing newsletter Cool Supply. Brew Watch Co. and their collection of watches were made to celebrate coffee culture, brewing experiences, and “savoring that very moment in time”. The Metric watch is especially dedicated with a built-in digital display that tracks espresso shot extraction time. Just like another watch discussed here recently, the Fossil x FF collab, I've been really digging the fusion of Analog and Digital elements into one watch face—seems to be a growing trend I hope to see more of soon.

Entering hyperspace…

→ One of my favourite elements of the Apple and Macbook ecosystem is the Magic Trackpad—I've grown so accustomed to it that I barely ever use a mouse for productivity anymore. This product, the HyperSpace Trackpad Pro by Hyper, aims to bring a lot of Magic Trackpad features to Windows, like multi-touch, gestures, and haptics. But it doesn't stop there—it's loaded with a ton of other features including zone-specific shortcuts for apps, adjustable haptic feedback, and an online community to share configurations. It's currently on Kickstarter, but I've seen a few news outlets and tech reviewers get their hands on early samples and so far the feedback is pretty positive. Looking forward to the final release of this one.

clacks ⌨️

Tiny keeb

→ Keyboard designer Niuniu has made a compact, electro-capacitive, small-form-factor keyboard called the HX-40, sold by zFrontier. Just like some other SFF boards from Niuniu, they are based off of the general style of a 40% board, but each one has their own unique shapes and key layouts. The newest addition is inspired by a retro laptop-style computer called the Epson HX-20. I love the HX-40's colourways, which give you some vintage beige and silver aesthetics but also offer a vibrant purple and red in opposition. If I were to get a 40% board and dive into that realm of keebs, this certainly is at the top of the list—the few extra num keys and the fact that it's EC seals the deal. Might pair well with these simple, fun, and minimally coloured accent caps from Hibi.

Goodbye touchscreen keyboards

→ If you are sorely missing the days of physical keys on phones, tapping away on your Blackberry, or sliding out that keyboard on the Nokia N97, this may be the phone accessory for you. In the same vein of the more popular and slightly pricier Clicks cases, Akko has released the MetaKey, sold at $60 and aimed towards mechanical keyboards enthusiasts. The detachable 9 gram weight on the back of the case is supposed to replicate how full-size keebs come with metal weights to alter the sound and increase stability on a desk—or in this case, in your hand. I like the idea of adding back real buttons to phones, but the trade-off of turning your phone into an even taller rectangle has never appealed to me.
#bringbacksmallphones
#iwantamodernslidingkeyboardphoneplease

GMK Keycap design contest

→ Popular keycap manufacturer GMK is giving anyone with an idea for a keycap set the chance to turn that dream into a reality. You don't even need to provide detailed renders, images, or sketches—all you need is a description of your colour choices, themes, and/or motifs. A panel of GMK experts will select which designs move forward to public voting, then the community gets to choose whose idea is best! Sounds like a great chance for all to attempt to create something tangible in the keyboard hobby, even if you have no idea how to design caps. I might even give it a go! If interested you have until December 31st of this year to send in your idea to “[email protected]”.

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!!