What I got up to this week…

Published stuff

For my Stuff column this week, I grumbled about the robotic and prescriptive nature of streaks in I lost my Apple Watch streak – here’s why it should have more humanity. Judging by the response on social media, I’m far from alone in this. It’s quite something how systems designed to engage and maintain interest lack the flexibility to avoid making people instantly demoralised – not least since, as I note, games creator Eugene Jarvis solved this problem in 1980 (and the third-party iPhone Streaks app has solved it today). Elsewhere for Stuff, I updated its list of upcoming Lego sets. Banchu the Bunny looks the business.

Over at TapSmart, Soulver is the latest entry in my classic apps series. I also bring my five-minute wonders up to date and ask What is the point of Apple Vision Pro, and who is it really for?

Upcoming stuff

I’m still surrounded by boxes. For Stuff, I’m digging into interesting hardware. One item is an audio controller unlike anything else I’ve ever seen. It resembles a games controller from 1983. And I also have a massive pen display, which mini-G (8) fell in love with and asked if we could buy. Sorry, kid. Have an Apple Pencil and Procreate instead.

Other stuff

Mini-G’s birthday is imminent and so we decided to get her a Switch. I’m true to form in this, buying a console as it nears end of life. But I’m sure we’ll love it. What I didn’t love was the process of setting the thing up. I think I’ll write a quick second piece on that though…