The Mini Transparent Speaker ($550)  from Stockholm-based Transparent Sound designed a splendid minimal speaker. The single-piece aluminum frame has side panels of tempered glass, so as to put the dual full-range drivers on display. A built-in amp provides power, built-in Bluetooth provides a wireless option, and "True Wireless" support lets you pair two units together for a broader soundstage. There are a volume control and an input on the front, and a compartment in the bottom that provides both USB power and an input for an Echo, Sonos Hub, Chromecast, or similar additional wireless device, giving you the ability to upgrade the system as needed.

Do you want a smaller, cheaper version of the Nintendo Switch($200)? Now it's here! It does make a few trade-offs to reach its size and price point. Most notably, it won't dock for display on your TV, its Joy-Con controllers aren't detachable, and its screen measures 5.5 inches instead of 6.2. That said, it should also feel more sturdy thanks to the lack of removable pieces, has longer battery life, is slightly lighter — 0.61 lbs versus 0.88 lbs — and yet is still compatible with the vast majority of Switch titles, making it a great entry-level option. Launching in yellow, gray, and turquoise on September 20.

Sony's WH-1000XM3 ($230) are considered the best noise-canceling headphones on the market. Now they're bringing the same tech to the wireless earbud space. The WF-1000XM3 are powered by a QN1e processor, a sibling to the WH's QN1. Dual microphones. One feed-forward and one feed-back to help get rid of unwanted noises, while the 0.24" driver creates amazing full sound. You'll get about six hours of battery life per charge, with a total of 24 available with the charging case, and they come in silver or black.

There are plenty of reasons to choose a bike for transportation, especially in an urban area. But when you have to pick up groceries or bigger objects, hopping into a car seems a little easier. The Convercycle ($1,340+) is the first two-in-one biking option that is both a city bike and a cargo bike. It's equipped with a Shinamo Nexus 5-speed geared hub, 28-inch wheels, and professional disc brakes, and converts to a cargo bike by simply lifting the back end to extend the frame by rolling out the back tire. It can haul over 130 pounds, and there is an electric option as well that is powered by a 250 W motor with a max speed of 15mph. Made to fit anywhere you go, it's easy to ride, park, and lock at your destination.

The 1982 Commodore 64 is making a comeback. It not an old replica either. The C64 Home Computer ($140) houses its internals inside a full-size keyboard, letting you run any software compatible with the original C64 or Commodore VIC-20. In addition, it includes a Games Carousel mode with a micro-switch joystick and 64 pre-loaded titles. It connects via HDMI to modern monitors and TVs, and has a USB port for software updates and loading your own applications.

Released in 1970, JBL's L100 ($4,000) became a classic both for its sound and its eye-catching design. The L100 Classic is updated with modern components. Behind the removable, iconic Quadrex foam grille sits a 1-inch titanium dome tweeter, a 5-inch pure-pulp cone mid-range driver, and a 12-inch pure-pulp woofer with a bass-reflex enclosure and front-firing port. The result is a speaker that can hold its own against contemporary options, with a design that pairs perfectly with vintage pieces, particularly when paired with the JS-120 stand.

Welcome to the new Playlists on The Collective Loop. The Collective Series 007! Today is Summer and Spring is coming to a slow close. So why not spruce it up with some warmer music. New music by Bearson, Valley, Ayokay and more... I even have the pleasure to give a shout out to JWalt who was nice enough to let me put out one of his tracks Go All In!

If you want to check out any of the other older Playlists then click on TCL Playlists in the menu.


Cover art by: Damion S.

Tracklist

TCL Collective Series 007 from The Collective Loop on 8tracks Radio.

This reprinting of the NASA Graphics Standards Manual ($79) celebrates this outstanding identity system, which was used from 1975 to 1992. Recreated for public use for the first time from the personal copies of the original designers, Richard Danne and Bruce Blackburn, it covers the logo, placement, color schemes, and other design standards that helped capture the imagination of a generation and make the American space agency a lasting, iconic part of our legacy of exploration. Included are scans of Danne's personal copy of the original manual, a forward from Danne, an essay by Christopher Bonanos, reproductions of the original NASA 35mm slide presentation, and scans of the 'Managers Guide', a follow up booklet distributed by NASA. Each copy is individually wrapped in a foil static shield, adding even more nostalgic rocket-age flair to this iconic design reference.

220 pages / 129 Image Plates / 9.5" x 11.5" / Hardcover

The Playdate ($149) is an all-new handheld gaming system, that I'm sure you'll want to get your hands on. It has a 400 × 240 black and white display, a d-pad, A+B buttons, a pause button, and, most interestingly, an analog crank that flips out from the side, providing a completely novel control element. The hardware was built in collaboration with Stockholm-based Teenage Engineering, while the games will be delivered wirelessly once a week. The games will be developed by world-class talent. The system will include the first season (12 weeks) of games and will be available for pre-order later this year, with shipments beginning in 2020.