Gone are the days of buying a new gaming console every few years. With Google's Stadia platform, the data center is your console. It provides near-instant streaming of games at 60 frames-per-second in up to 4K HDR quality across laptops, desktops, phones, tablets, and TVs with a minimum of 25mbps connections. While it works with existing controllers, a special Stadia controller will offer a direct WiFi connection to the cloud for easier screen-to-screen transitions, a dedicated streaming button. Just one of the many ways the service will tie into YouTube and give a dedicated Google Assistant button with special help options specifically for Stadia games. Arriving later this year, with further details, including pricing, expected this summer.

Dawid Planeta a concept artist and illustrator has created "The Minipeople" series of mini people finding large animals and statues in the wild. This is a great concept and beautifully eerie but mysterious at the same time.  Check out the whole series here.

Having a bell on your handlebars is more important than you realize. Made in the good old USA, each Spurcycle Bell ($59) is trimmed and hand brushed using brass and stainless steel with a black DLC (diamond-like coating) finish. It also blends simply with your bike, making it almost invisible until you need it. Once needed, it's super loud, with a convincing tone that rings three times longer than other bells, announcing your presence to motorists or pedestrians on your route and ride safely.

Since it seems that companies are coming out with folded phones lets take a look at this one. The Huawei Mate X, which keeps its screens on the exterior of the phone. The result is a logical design that lets both 6.6-inch "sides" of the screen function when folded, yet serve as an 8-inch tablet when unfurled. It also promises high-speed 5G wireless connectivity, excellent image chops thanks to the Leica-engineered camera, and plenty of battery life thanks to a purpose-designed 4500 mAh cell. The cost, however, is up to $2,600 compared to the Samsung Fold which is $2,000.


 

It's a smartphone when folded, a tablet when unfolded, the Samsung Galaxy Fold aims to create a new product category. It has a 4.6-inch AMOLED front display for normal use and a hidden hinge that opens for access to the 7.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED Infinity Flex display for when you want to watch a video, multitask (app continuity), or just view your content on a larger screen. Six cameras with three on the back, one on the front, and two on the inside — allows you to snap photos from any angle, and a 7nm Octa-Core processor, 12GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, two batteries, and an available 5G modem ensure nothing slows you down. Coming April 26 with a whopping price tag of $1,980.

This right here would look great in anyone's home who is looking for a great hi-fi system that has a look to match a high-quality sound. This Loft Record Console ($3,499) from Wrensilva has been carefully curated to give you everything you need for storage and aesthetics. Equipped with a 300 watts per channel Wrensilva amp, a beautiful belt-driven turntable, and Sonos for seamless switching between streaming and vinyl. A standard 3.5mm audio jack and RCA inputs are there when you need them. Comes with a steel shelf with dividers for storage of up to 120 pieces of vinyl and a capture tray for vinyl accessories, allowing for an entire record collection to be stored and played from a console taking up less than four square feet of floor space. Optional matching monitors arrive on speaker stands that are naturally hand welded steel. Available in the limited "Black Tiger" edition that uses ebonized American Oak, or a classic combination of North American Walnut and black acrylic accents. Each is made to order, so please allow 8-to-10 weeks for final delivery.



Sound: Wrensilva solid state pre-amp/ 300 wpc Class D output - IcePower by Bang & Olufsen

Optional Speakers: Wrensilva 2-way bass reflex / LF Driver- 6.5" Nomex cone / HF Driver- 1" Textile dome / Crossover frequency 1700hz / 44 hz - 20k hz +/- 2db

Turntable: Fully decoupled belt driven turntable / Wrensilva 1 1/8" dual layer wood + acrylic, split plinth construction / OA2 precision Gimbal tonearm / Hurst 24v AC synchronous motor / 3/4" Acrylic platter / Ortofon 2m Red MM Cartridge

System + Connectivity: Vinyl / Sonos high fidelity WiFi mesh streaming / Mobile (3.5mm jack) / Auxiliary (RCA) / Connect Additional Sonos Speakers / Pre-amp Audio Output Jacks easily tie into existing in-wall audio systems

Dimensions: 28" Wide / 33" High / 18" Deep

Panasonic has over a decade of experience making mirrorless cameras, so it's no surprise that the S1 & S1R are the company's first to use full-frame sensors. The S1 is well-rounded, with advanced video capabilities and a 24MP sensor. The S1R is built for those who need maximum resolution and is based around a 47MP sensor with a 187MP "High Res" sensor-shift mode. Both cameras are fully weather-sealed, with 5.76M-dot, 120Hz OLED electronic viewfinders, 5-axis in-body image stabilization systems, dual-hinged touchscreen LCDs, quick contrast-detect AF systems, and support for both XQD and SD cards. They both use L-mount glass, a Leica-owned system that will include lenses from Panasonic, Sigma, and Leica themselves. It will run you about $2,500 for the S1R about $3,700. Check out more on the camera's on Panasonic's website.

You carrying that charging cable with you, hoping to find a port or plug if your battery gets super low. The Native Union Jump Cable ($45) does the same job but can save you the search. It has an integrated 800 mAh lithium-ion battery that provides just enough power to get you through the end of a long night, or get a dead device back up and running. Compact and rugged, the battery serves as storage for the MFi-certified, braided Lightning cable, helping to keep your bag organized and sorted.

Width: 1.97" / Height: 1.97" / Depth: 0.51" / Weight: 1.48 oz.

Welcome to the new Playlists on The Collective Loop. The Collective Series 006! The snow has fallen and the chills have set in. So why not spruce it up with some warm music to get you moving. New music by Alesso, Fancy Cars, Ayokay and more...

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 006 from The Collective Loop on 8tracks Radio.