So Freaking Cool

Category: Gear

  • New Sony WF-1000XM5 Muffles Annoying People Around You Way Better

    New Sony WF-1000XM5 Muffles Annoying People Around You Way Better

    Sony recently unveiled its latest noise-cancelling earbuds, the WF-1000XM5 ($300), which boast upgrades like a smaller, lighter design compared to their popular predecessor. The new wireless earbuds are 25% smaller and 20% lighter than the previous model. The reduced size and weight should improve comfort for long-term wear. However, users of the prior WF-1000XM4 models expressed concerns about durability, given Sony’s history of quality control issues. So, the jury’s out on how long the WF-1000XM5 will last.

    The WF-1000XM5s feature a glossy new finish for a more stylish look. The slick surface can make the earbuds difficult to handle when fingers are wet or greasy. Something to keep in mind.

    Audio quality has been improved thanks to larger 8.4mm drivers, up from 6mm in the prior model. This boost in size provides richer sound with stronger bass response.

    Looking at noise cancellation, the XM5s utilize six microphones and dual processors for superior ambient noise reduction. This should allow users to better focus on their music or calls by minimizing distractions from outside sounds.

    WF-1000XM5 will go for $300, so if these hold up, it could be worth getting. But if these die out like some WF-1000XM4s did, best hope it happens before your warranty expires.

  • Leica SL2 Finally Gets Silver

    Leica SL2 Finally Gets Silver

    Leica’s finally decided to give the people what they want. After years of sticking to the all-black finish, they’ve decided to shake things up with a silver finish for their SL2 ($7000). It’s got all the same bells and whistles as the black model – a full-frame 47MP CMOS sensor, an ISO range of up to 50,000, and even IP54-rated dust and water resistance. They’ve taken the old school cool of a classic camera and packed it with all the tech we can’t live without.

    You can get the silver SL2 in a body-only option, a Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70 f/2.8 kit, or a Noctilux-M 50 f/1.2 kit with the M Adapter L. All black has been around since 2015, so not sure why it took eight years to add some silver on it.

    Everyone loves it. Some folks are even saying it reminds them of the Leicaflex SL. But Leica’s got a rumored SL3 in the works coming May 2024. So do you drop $7k now or wait another year for an ever better camera…with possibly no silver colorway.

  • Oakley Made Sunglasses Just for Tom Cruise’s ‘Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’

    Oakley Made Sunglasses Just for Tom Cruise’s ‘Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’

    Here’s some sunglasses news that’s going to make you jump on couches like Tom Cruise himself (well, maybe not that extreme). Oakley teams up with Tommy in the latest installment of the Mission Impossible series, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.

    Oakley’s ECLP23 come packed with features that make even the most jaded sunglasses aficionado raise an eyebrow . High Speed Protection? Expanded field of view? Zero Gravity? These glasses were made to custom fit Cruise’s face. Alas, they won’t help him find his next girlfriend to sign.

    This is a prototype made especially for the movie, so if you want one, you’ll have to make your own in your woodshop and avoid blowing your eyes out.

    * Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One out now and yes, Cruise does his own stunts.

  • Fujifilm instax SQUARE SQ40 Gives You Hipster Cred

    Fujifilm instax SQUARE SQ40 Gives You Hipster Cred

    If you’ve ever thought, I’d love to take a selfie and not share it with 1000 people but only to the the friends I’m with right now, Fujifilm has a new camera for you. The instax SQUARE SQ40 ($150). Even the lowercase and uppercase product names tell you it’s a hipster thing.

    It’s a simple, square black and silver camera that fits in the palm of your hand. Reminiscent of those old-time film cameras.

    And it doesn’t stop there. This nifty device is more than just a pretty face. It’s got automatic exposure, so you don’t have to be Ansel Adams to get a good shot. Just point, click, and let the SQ40 do the rest.

    For those of you who like to get up close and personal, it’s got a selfie mode. Yes, you heard that right. A selfie mode. Because nothing says ‘I’m living in the moment’ like taking a photo of yourself and then immediately printing it out.

    The SQ40 uses instax SQUARE film. It’s like the Polaroid film you remember, but better. Each photo is 2.4 x 2.4 inches of glossy goodness. The best part is that you don’t have to shake it like a Polaroid picture. Just give it a few minutes, and your photo will develop right before your eyes.

    Fujifilm has pricedthe SQ40 at a reasonable $150. Totally reasonable considering it’d be a fun thing to keep around at parties. It also comes with a pack of film, so you can start snapping away as soon as you open the box.

    If you want to relive the glory days of instant film, the Fujifilm instax SQUARE SQ40 might just be the camera for you. It’s retro, it’s stylish, and it’s a whole lot of fun. Just don’t forget to buy extra film. Trust me, you’re going to need it.

  • On’s Cloudboom Echo 3 Are Castor Bean-Powered Shoes That Will Make You Run Faster

    On’s Cloudboom Echo 3 Are Castor Bean-Powered Shoes That Will Make You Run Faster

    In the world of Swiss sportswear, where the hills are alive with the sound of footfalls, the brand On is making a bit of a racket with its latest release. They’ve got a new pair of shoes hitting the market, and they’re not just any shoes. These are the Cloudboom Echo 3 and they’re being touted as On’s fastest ever. A claim that, if untrue, would be a rather swift way to lose customers.

    The Cloudboom Echo 3 ($290), set to be available from July 6, is an elite marathon shoe designed with the feedback of athletes. On has done its best to take the thoughts of marathon runners, distill them into their purest form, and then weave into the very fabric of these shoes. The result is a shoe that features On’s signature CloudTec, a carbon Speedboard, and a new Helion HF hyperfoam derived from castor beans. Lol, yes castor beans.

    Now, this Helion HF hyperfoam isn’t just any foam. On put 46% bio-based materials in it. The shoe is fully recyclable. They should make a shoe you can run in and also eat afterwards. Anyway, the foam provides impact protection and supreme energy return, so you can run longer and feel better doing it.

    The Cloudboom Echo 3 also features a high-tech upper composed of a single cohesive woven structure. This offers zones for high breathability, because let’s face it, no one likes sweaty feet.

    On designed the Cloudboom Echo 3 to provide explosive speed without compromising comfort. Realize your potential without aching feet.

    Serious runners need serious shoes. You won’t do too bad with the Cloudboom Echo 3. And for real, that Cloudboom name is something else. Reminds me of sonic boom!!!

  • Chicken McMadness

    Chicken McMadness

    So, apparently McDonald’s and Tetris teamed up for a groundbreaking collaboration in China. They created a limited edition chicken nugget-shaped handheld gaming device for the 40th anniversary of Chicken McNuggets. Because who doesn’t want to hold a greasy, nugget-shaped contraption while playing games?

    This revolutionary device, available exclusively at McDonald’s locations in China, features a built-in LCD screen and controls for the all-time classic game, Tetris. Because nothing says “fast food fun” like munching on chicken nuggets and maneuvering digital blocks to create lines. Truly, a match made in heaven.

    It’s priced at a mere $4.25 USD. No clue if that’s expensive in China, but here in ‘Murica, that’s less than a Big Mac, no?

    Is this a knockoff? Good question, and no! It’s not. It’s a fully-licensed nugget marvel brought to life through the combined efforts of McDonald’s, The Tetris Company, and Tetris Holding LLC, the worldwide rights holder of the renowned puzzle game.

    The marketing geniuses behind this masterpiece claim they wanted to tap into the nostalgia of both Tetris and McDonald’s. Because, let’s be honest, nothing screams nostalgia like holding a chicken nugget in your hand, right? Who needs fancy controllers or sleek designs when you can have a handheld nugget that might just leave your fingers sticky with barbecue sauce?

    But hey, let’s not judge too quickly. Maybe there’s a hidden genius in combining fast food and retro gaming. Maybe it’s a stroke of brilliance to fuse our love for processed meat shapes with addictive pixelated gameplay. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s a bizarre marketing gimmick that will make you question the sanity of both the companies involved and the consumers eagerly snatching up these nugget consoles. Because it’s sold out. Probably going for an arm and a leg on eBay.

    Either way, it’s hard to deny the sheer audacity and, dare I say, absurdity of this collaboration. And I want one. Kudos to McDonald’s and Tetris for reminding us how to market, because this is now atop my to-do list. Get a McNugget/Tetris game.

  • Foldylocks: These Locks Fit Just Right

    Foldylocks: These Locks Fit Just Right

    Space on bike frames are at a premium. Foldylock ($95) understands that. It folds down from its 90 cm unfolded size to fit on the inside of the frame or in a backpack. Mount it easily to a bike frame’s bottle holder fixing screws. Six hardened steel links make up the lock for strong protection. Plus, it looks stellar.

  • Beyonce Also Wants To Ride These Surfboards

    Beyonce Also Wants To Ride These Surfboards

    Ride it with my surfbort, surfbort, surfbort. Perfect song for Beyonce to sing while balancing on this custom Mercedes-Benz surfboard. The German auto maker built them for pro surfer Garrett McNamara to battle the waves at Praia do Norte in Portugal. See that pic below? That’s Praia do Norte last week. And McNamara went to ride those. Balls. Of. Steel.

    Praia do Norte in Portugal Merceds-Benz Surfboard 02

    Praia do Norte in Portugal Merceds-Benz Surfboard 01

    Not only does this board look great, it comes with a telemetry system to track important stats. Stats like how many phone numbers McNamara gets, and oh, that’s the most important stat probably. No details on mass production, but if you ask nicely, McNamara might let you rest a finger on it. But only one.

    Images Source: The Inertia