⚡ 07SEP2025: Attaching Sensors to Plants
A new digital note taking device, making plants sing, charging all your headphones at once, getting price drop alerts, and more...
Happy Sunday everyone!
This week, I've been checking my couch cushions for a couple of extra million dollars to try and get the original Darth Vader lightsaber that was at auction this week, adding this indie documentary about birdwatching to my viewing list, playing the original Hollow Knight and Star Wars Outlaws on the Switch, and laughing my backside off while watching the new The Naked Gun.
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On to the good stuff!
🗒️ reMarkable Paper Pro Move - I've been coveting reMarkable's e-ink notepads for a few years, and their latest offering is the most compelling yet. This new one shrinks it down to a pocketable/handheld digital note-taking tablet reminiscent of a reporter's notebook with a high-resolution color e-ink display. I'd be all over this one if it wasn't for the eye-watering price.
🎧 Mophie Max Headphone Charging Stand - This is a really clever new release from Mophie that lets you simultaneously charge both your AirPods Max and AirPods Pro in a single, attractive stand. I ordered one as soon as I saw it—I would like to use my AirPods Max more, but it seems like they need a charge every time I reach for them.
🍄 Pocket Scion Synth - This funky little, pocketable synth was made by Instruo in collaboration with Modern Biology, the creator of some really fun bio-feedback driven synth tracks. In short, the synth comes with two small sensors that you can attach to plants and mushrooms, creating a small closed circuit, and the minute electrical signals from the plant will be interpreted as signals to make music with the synth. I have the Pocket Scion's bigger brother, the original Scion, in my Modular Synth rack and have had a blast with it. Kind of gimmicky? Totally. Do I want one to get the new smaller one? 1000%
📈 AnyTracker for iOS - I downloaded this app a while back and never actually put it to any use, but this week had cause to try it and am really liking it. In short, it lets you select any data on a website, and it will monitor that data for changes. For example, it can monitor for pricing changes, pre-order announcements, and more. You just surf to a website, select the text/number you want it to monitor, and it will alert you when it detects an update. You can even set thresholds like "Just notify me if the price drops below $100."
📱 AstroPad AR Screen Protector for iPhone - AstroPad launched this week a new anti-reflective screen protector for iPhones that promises to reduce reflections and glare on your screen by 75%. The side-by-side comparison photos are pretty startling... As someone who loves AstroPad's Rock Paper Pencil paper-like iPad screen protector and pencil combo, I'd be all over this screen protector if there weren't rumors that the iPhone 17 Pro will have similar tech built into its display. We'll find out this week.
That's it for this week! Be sure to tune in next week where I'll be featuring some of my favorite apps upgraded for iOS 26.