SEP.12.2026 - #82

Hi all 👋, this week while writing clicks 'n clacks I've been reading ThereminGoat's in-depth switch review on the Kailh Xuan's, traversing through a low-poly neon village, diving even further into the Obsidian/Markdown rabbit-hole with Obsidian's creator's new Knap language, and trying out a new social-recommendation site called Rec League.

Let's dive into the week!

→ Over a year ago, I rambled on in this newsletter about the MindOne by iKKO — a square shaped phone that dared to be different. Back then I praised the uniqueness of that form factor and asked the technology gods for more of it — and this week I was finally heard. Using words I didn't have to describe this format, Apple has now released their own “passport style” device, dubbed Duo. As much as I love this new shape, it's a bit of a double-edged sword for me. Love the one-handedness of it, love the portability, love the Apple-ness, but hate the price. Starting at $3,000 CAD, this thing would really have to go above and beyond to get me to pull the trigger. I'm happy to hear all the positive news coming out about it so far, but the last step for me is always longevity — how long can this new format, especially the folding hinge and inside screen, hold up to everyday use. And that's something only time can tell us.

→ Sticking to square aspect ratios, the Traveller is a CRT-esque modern gaming monitor that just went live on Kickstarter, from a brand already well-known for delivering retro emulation products in both hardware and software forms. Aiming to evoke that nostalgic feeling that CRTs provide, it's built to work with older gaming consoles and any modern PC; and since this uses a slim LCD panel, there's loads of space in the rest of the unit where CRT innards would usually lie. This creates a nifty compartment in the back to store your console, or maybe even a mini-PC to create a unified, transportable, retro device! While there are no solid details on final pricing yet, backer prices on Kickstarter seem to have it at around $300 a unit — placing it on par with how much most (higher end) secondhand CRTs go for these days.

→ If you're like me, you love changing up the vibe and look of your daily-use devices, and just like how I like to change out my real keyboards, giving my virtual ones a refresh is nice too. I used to do this all the time when I had an Android, as the third-party keyboard ecosystem is larger (and more unmonitored) over there, but good iOS keyboards are harder to come by. Clink by Will (aka anti) is the first iOS keyboard app I've actually started using as a full-time replacement. It's fast, includes all the stock features you'd expect — autocorrect, multi-language, emojis, etc. — while packing in tons of customization and additional tools. So much here can be tuned — key placement, additional rows, sound, feel, looks, everything! I've been using it for weeks now and I am so happy to see it gain some popularity. Every update brings something new and improved. I'm especially liking Will's journey to get a keyboard company on-board by making a new themed version based on popular brands everyday! @-ing Nuphy — get on it!

→ MW Virtual is a new keycap set designed by Kei Designs that is bringing back an aesthetic I thought I would never (intentionally) see again, Vaporwave. Long ago I was obsessed with this style — bright neon pink, blue, and cyan tones, cyperpunk-y and digital glitchy vibes. Virtual brings back all of it with an entire set featuring some novelties, two different alpha sets, and even a deskpad to match. I was really impressed with the quality and production of my other MW keycap set, Dim Sum, so I'd be happy to pick up another MW set in a heartbeat. Link above is for the Canadian retailer UniKeyboards, who currently have MW Virtual as an in-stock item.

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!!