The Anti-smartphone!
Also keycaps and a metal briefcase.
If you spend too long at your desk like I do, you'll eventually get bit by the "I need to upgrade everything" bug. Because overhauling my desk all at once is impractical (and expensive) my desk is in a constant state of evolution. A few months ago I upgraded to a standing desk I found on Facebook Marketplace for $100 USD. Last week I rewired everything so that I can play Pokemon and Hades 2 more easily. A few minutes ago I bought a new set of keycaps. The journey never ends.
in this issue
⌨️ Omnitype GMK Dualshot 2 (CYL)
⌚ Miniphone Ultra (mpu)
💼 KONSTELLA Briefcase
⌨️ Omnitype GMK Dualshot 2
About a year ago I managed to get my hands on a Keychron Q1 Max. In my never-ending quest to make my desk more fun to work at, I asked my co-worker/keyboard guru Andrew for some keycap recommendations. He sent me a list of companies and brands to check out, but the one that caught my eye was this Playstation-inspired set from Omnitype.
Andrew has this same set and every time I walk by it I can't help but admire it. It's mostly the same muted gray as my original PS1 with a few minimal accent colors like teal, yellow, and red. It perfectly matches my aesthetic and personality: mostly gray with pops of color. I tried picking my favorites without looking at prices initially but when I saw this was on sale I knew my search was over. Plus, the katakana set I picked up should totally teach me Japanese right?
⌚ Miniphone Ultra
Whenever someone talks about switching to a dumb phone to use their phone less, my immediate recommendation is a cellular connected smartwatch instead. The smartphone is just too important of a tool in my everyday life. I’d get nowhere without Android Auto and Google Maps. But getting a connected Pixel Watch 3 has allowed me to leave my phone at home when I walk my dog Zuri. It’s also made it easier to stick to my new rule of putting my phone in the bedroom as soon as I get home since I won’t have the anxiety of missing an important call or text. Ed Jelley took this idea to another level and decided to 3D print something that would make his Apple Watch a tiny smartphone. It's awesome.
The Miniphone Ultra is a 3D printed shell for the Apple Watch Ultra that turns it into a mini phone (hence the name). You're still reachable in emergencies, able to listen to music and podcasts, and can even use Apple Maps for navigation all without needing an iPhone in the other pocket. It’s such a great idea and I wish I could make use of it. I'm currently on Android and there isn't a Pixel Watch version of this yet, but the second there is I'm absolutely scooping it up. Disclosure: I've known Ed for years so take my recommendation with a grain of salt if you must. We used to write about gadgets, knives, wallets, and other knick knacks together for Everydaycarry.com, but that doesn't mean that I'm not super into this product. Watching him turn a small one-time print for himself into a fun side-business has been very cool to watch and is such a perfect example of why I think side quests are so important. You never know what problem you might end up solving.
💼 KONSTELLA Briefcase
Hi, my name is Adam and I'm a backpackaholic. During my previously mentioned days writing for Everydaycarry, backpacks were kind of my thing. Not because I was the most knowledgeable (far from it) or because I had deep industry insight (again, no) but just because I really loved learning about them. I've always been fascinated by clever backpack designs. I've used all kinds of backpacks over the years and have finally settled on what I think are the last three bags I’ll likely ever need. But as my hair continues to gray I find myself wanting something I never thought I would: a briefcase. Specifically, the KONSTELLA briefcase.
What? A briefcase? What are you a '60s lawyer? My line of work has no need for a briefcase. I make podcasts and YouTube videos. If anything a briefcase would actively work against me as there is no way to safely store the kind of video/audio equipment. I also mostly wear hoodies and work coats, not suits. But who cares. This thing is so sick. It's made with aluminum and leather so it'll only look better with time and there's plenty of small pockets for carrying everything that normally jumbles up at the bottom of my backpack. There's even a strap for securely holding your laptop in place. The only reason I don't own it yet is because hot damn it's expensive. I'm not sure what the going rate of a good briefcase usually is but at over $500 USD, it's going to take some time to save up for this one.
🆒 Special thanks to Cool Supply members! 🆒
Abstronautica, Taylor Cash, Ben Sorensen, Daniel Hernandez, Becca Farsace, Abraham Perez, Charles Malave, Dean D, Jacob Mitchell, Justin Oster, Jonathan Potopovich, Ali Rabbani, and Airton Zanon! ❤️
