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# ⚡ 13SEP2026: Various Critters
- URL: https://www.hiro.report/13sep2026-various-critters/
- Published: 2026-09-14T00:00:22.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T00:27:56.000Z
- Description: Two products named Duo, a delightful writing app, a tool for National Park visits, and a fun trip down memory lane.
- Author: Hiro

Happy Sunday, everyone!

This week I've been daydreaming about exploring the countryside in one of these [2027 Frank Lloyd Wright Airstream Trailers](https://www.airstream.com/explore-products/travel-trailers/dual-axle/frank-lloyd-wright-limited-edition/?ref=hiro.report), listening to the retro Japanese sci-fi-infused boom bap beats and rhymes of [Pterodactyl Takes Tokyo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hzEfhIAb%5FE&list=PLNl4ClghIumnyXkjUqnAmA38q%5F3K7zbRb&ref=hiro.report), adding [A Short Hike](https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/a-short-hike-switch/?ref=hiro.report) to my fall cozy gaming backlog, checking out Schematik.io for brainstorming hardware projects, and grabbing my [Hobonichi for 2027](https://amzn.to/4yyGVZk?ref=hiro.report).

*Note that some of the links in this issue of the Hiro Report are affiliate links and may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you.*

**On to the good stuff!**

 [**The Apple Event**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fAHjTPvF1E&ref=hiro.report) \- This week was the Apple Nerd Super Bowl, with the announcement of not only the [iPhone 18 Pro](https://www.apple.com/iphone-18-pro/?ref=hiro.report) (with a killer variable-aperture lens) and updates to the [Apple Watch](https://www.apple.com/watch/?ref=hiro.report), but also the return of the classic "One more thing..." revealing its first folding phone model, the [iPhone Duo](https://www.apple.com/iphone-duo/?ref=hiro.report). I, for one, am super stoked about all of these updates, and while the new camera system on the iPhone 18 Pro is super enticing, I can't help but hold out for the iPhone Duo this year. (Maybe having the slightly downgraded camera system on the Duo will force me to carry around my big-boy camera a bit more for everyday shots?) I’ve loved the iPad mini form factor since Apple first introduced it, and the thought of essentially being able to carry one around in my pocket feels like a dream come true. I’m also excited to see Apple starting to offer even better heart and recovery data with the new Apple Watch lineup. My biggest reservation is the introduction of the [Siri Recap](https://support.apple.com/en-us/148354?cid=general-watch-b3d8fc66-62020270&ref=hiro.report) feature, which will (if enabled) take notes on all your conversations throughout the day. It sounds like a genuinely useful feature, and it seems like it’s being done in a very secure way (no audio recordings are made, notes are all transcribed locally on-device, no speakers are identified, etc.), but I worry about all the other tech giants copying these features without Apple’s firm commitment to privacy and security. It seems like a privacy disaster in the making.

🗒 [**Outerline for macOS and iOS**](https://outerline.so/?ref=hiro.report) \- After an extended beta that I've really enjoyed participating in, Outerline finally went public this week. It's a native Markdown writing/editing app for Mac and iPhone that offers a lot of the basic functionality of Obsidian but with a much leaner, cleaner interface. Every document is a .md file that you own and that lives on your computer, and it can be synced with iCloud. You can create wiki links between notes, maintain version history for documents, and live-preview the rich-text output of your Markdown in a split-view screen while you write. My favorite part is the built-in MCP server, so you can point your AI assistant at your vault to read, edit, and organize your notes. Outerline also has a cool publish feature that lets you publish your work straight to the web from the app. (Also, I lied: my absolute favorite feature is that my quick note capture app, [Capture](https://capture.surf/?ref=hiro.report), works great with Outerline right at launch. Just point Capture at your Outerline folder and you're off to the races.)

📸 [**On This Day for iOS and iPadOS**](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/on-this-day-by-dgr-labs/id6809232138?ref=hiro.report) \- This is a fun (and free) iPhone app that has one function: showing you every photo you've taken on today's date in years past as a stack that you can flip back through. While Apple's own built-in iPhone Memories feature will sometimes do the same, it is always curated and inconsistent, while On This Day just gives you every single photo taken on a given day. Best of all, there’s no server, no accounts, and no tracking; it’s all done right on your phone for free, with no in-app purchases or ads.

⛰️ [**Scratchbook: National Parks for iOS**](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scratchbook-national-parks/id6790084669?ref=hiro.report) \- Scratchbook is a digital passport for all 63 U.S. national parks, and every visit to a new national park earns you an illustrated badge that you literally scratch to reveal. You can then also add photos and notes to document your visit. The app also includes a wildlife log with tips on where and when to look for the various critters you are likely to find in these parks, and it lets you export your poster/card collection for sharing on social media. You can try it with five parks for free, and then there’s a small one-time fee to unlock the full app, with no accounts or additional in-app purchases and everything synced and backed up in iCloud.

👾 [**Retroid Pocket Duo**](https://www.goretroid.com/collections/frontpage/products/retroid-pocket-duo-handheld?variant=54778205831392&ref=hiro.report) \- OK, Apple wasn’t the only company releasing a much-awaited product called Duo this week. I’ve owned several Retroid Pocket retro gaming handhelds over the years and have long hoped they’d tackle something in the Nintendo DS/3DS format to compete with the pricier [Ayn Thor](https://www.ayntec.com/products/ayn-thor?variant=46692546478272&ref=hiro.report). This week, they announced their entry in the space, and it looks pretty fantastic. The handheld features two stacked 120Hz OLED panels, a 16:9 screen on top and a 4:3 one below. The system runs on Android and is capable of comfortably emulating most retro gaming systems all the way up to the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation 2.

That’s it for this week! May you find inspiration in the weirdest of places.

📱

P.S. iOS 27 releases next week and I will be doing my annual special edition featuring my favorite indie apps that are ready to support some of the cool new features of the updated operating system. If you're an indie developer that's been hard at work on integrating iOS 27's capabilities in your app, please let me know!